Pinatubo Lessons

Backstory

Thanks to Cashcash Pinoy, the gang decided to tick the Mt. Pinatubo trek off the bucket list. Online research says that the trek would be wet and slippery and would present all kinds of terrain: sand, rocks and mud. I guess we were just lucky with the weather. It was just 5-10% slippery and most of it was rocks and sand. About 20% were streams that you had to cross over so it's advisable to wear something amphibious. I wore a Sandugo Yatri (relatively budgeted @ 1799 php), which turned out to be a good investment since sandals would give you blisters afterwards.

From the beginning

We arrived at the meeting place (Mcdo Shell at the corner of now Ortigas Jr Drive;formerly Emerald Ave and Ortigas Ave) at around 130 am. Access8, our organizers, said that departure was at 230 but we had companions from Davao who might have arrived late that's why we had to leave at 3am. Almost slept through the whole bus ride and was at the DENR 4x4 jump off point by 6am. It took some time before we left the bus because our organizers still had to register us with DENR. We were off by am and arrived at the jump off trekking point by 8am? The 4x4 ride is simply a bucket list ride. Some of the 4x4's did not look menacing enough to conquer the terrain. But you'd be surprised as it took inclined planes and rough roads with ease. The weather was perfect for trekking. Not too hot and not to dreary. The sun would show at different intervals but didn't bother as much. Apart from the light drizzle at the latter part of trip going back, the weather was pretty much cooperative. The trek terrain consisted of rocks of all sizes, sand and streams. It's going to bet wet because of the streams but they only reach up to the knees. Don't attempt to walk without looking at your feet as the terrain is pretty unpredictable and it's easy to stub your toe with a misplaced rock.
















Our friend was wearing Crocs and she was also comfortable all throughout. It's not advisable to wear sandals as it may give you blisters and rubbing at the tension support points.It's also recommended to bring a med kit consisting of bandaids and such. We reached the summit finally after 3 hours of walking and it was all worth it. Simply exhilarating. The sun was shining by the time we had arrived (really advisable to wear sunblock if only to counter cancer). We ate our packaged meal without spoons and forks and used plastic bags with our hands. The view of the water when it's near is even more amazing. We didn't take a dip because it was too windy and the sun decided to hide itself by the time we were ready.

All in all, a trek to Pinatubo is definitely something you'd want on your bucket list. It has tons of lessons to show you. And its beauty can only be appreciated firsthand. Such a turnaround from spewing ash and lava not so long ago; like a woman scorned. Only goes to show that no matter what nature has been through, time will heal all wounds.

Year Starter

Open publication - Free publishing - More 2012

Two.Zero.One.Two

I was rifling through my notes last year, 2011, in preparation for planning activities this year and found this:

Why Do I write for Tugon

@lividgabo sat infront of his computer at home, not knowing where to end. Several alt+tabs and google searches later, he was still uninspired. He had only till midnight to finish his article. And that is why he writes. The thrill of meeting the deadline and coming up with something apt and beautiful inspires him!

Reading it, I knew that it somehow summarized half of my life and my viewpoint on things. I cram because that breaks out the adrenaline juice. I don't cram as much as I did when I was in College but I still have this notion that things will fall in to place no matter what. If it didn't happen for you, then it's not for you. At the same time I want some semblance of control. Like any walking contradiction, I'm neither here or there; just somewhere in between. And it does not do well for an aching head. Anyhow, the adventure continues. Hold fast but learn when to let go. Because it's going to be a bumpy ride and sometimes the only way to fly is to jump from that diving board.

Happy 2012!

Go figure.

Asked Siri to send a message for me ,"it's ok I'm still on shift" and she recognizes it as ,"it's ok I'm still on sh*t" . Twice. Smart Aleck.

I Don't Get it

I Don't Get it.............

• when people spit gum in the urinals when the trash can is 5 meters away.




• when people cut your lane and try to overtake you but you're both at the same spot when you reach the stop light.




• how people who ride big SUVs still manage to throw garbage away in the streets from their vehicles; your SUV suddenly looks like a jeep.




• why people still insist on using plastic bags when there is already so much trash in the world.




• how people can stand other people cleaning up after them.




• why roads are so ugly despite all the taxes.




• why people still print their account summary after withdrawing money from the ATM when these can be checked online and they just throw it right away after (all that wasted paper!) - thanks voltaire.

• how stores can say that they are on sale when they are not.




• how GMA or the Arroyos are still able to sleep at night.

but a speck in this one big plan

it was a daunting task. and no one seemed to be up for it. as the 9 friends stood on the platform, it seemed impossible for anyone to jump 180 meters away from the canyon and remain unscathed, let alone alive. at the back of my mind, i was already thinking of the other "rides" that would be easier to conquer first. then move on to "the one". kind of like taking the easy questions first in the exam and then going back to the hard ones.

But no. As we got to the hut where the tickets were bought, almost everyone's mind had been set. it was the "plunge" or nothing. it's as if the decision was collective and we were all part of the borg. it didn't make sense to take the less adventurous ones because they were expensive (baka kuripot lang kasi lahat,gusto na masulit kaagad haha)There were 1-2 stragglers but in the end only one of us didn't free fall. I'd have to say that it may have been the best 700php I had to spend.

Lots of questions came racing. Has anyone died plunging? How many times can the rope be used before it snaps? Has anyone hit the canyon yet while swinging? Who the crazy-a**-hell thought of setting up something like this? All the doubts and questions disappear as soon as you plunge through the depths of the canyon and put faith on the 70 meter rope that spelled the difference between life and death. No words can even begin to describe it. Spoiler alert: it's like taking a retreat while adrenalin freely flows. As you swing back and forth among the tree tops and admire the view, you begin to realize how awesome the view is and you're glad to be still in one piece. Feels good to be alive. You realize that you are just a speck in the world. That you can't control everything. Sometimes you just have to let go. and live. and be free. and not think back. I chose to plunge and this is what I get. something awesome and indescribable.

I'd do it all over again.

This is not me but this is how it looks like in video :http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6v5LHodUKdQ. Compared to the gmax , the gmax is still scarier but the plunge is more spiritual ;D

TUGON Fiesta Issue published online!

Tugon has been around for about 7 years now and we're always trying to find ways to reach out to people, parishioners or not. Publishing it online really tops the cake since people from all over would be able to view it.

Check it out!! Click here.