Mt. Gola and Bayukbok Caves: Revisited

Barry Perdana Putra once said "Speed is not a priority, just enjoy your hike- Keep smile." This quote is a spot-on when you asked me to describe my recent re-visit to Sitio Madlum, Bulacan where the majestic Mt. Gola and the ever challenging Bayukbok caves are situated. This is also the home of the famous Mt. Manalmon.

May 21st, a day when me and my former colleagues set-up to re-visit again. A place we picked to create new memories and a place where we chose to happen another milestone on our journey as a professional white-collar slaves and as a seasoned hikers. To some, it was an ordinary hot Saturday, but to us and along with our "new found friends", this is the day we've been waiting for. A time of fun and adventures, a moment to share through the lenses of the camera, another story yet to be told and lastly, it is a make it or break it for us- well at least for me.

"Yes, a make it or break it for us." It is a statement I've thought when they asked me to facilitate this trip.  It is so as this is my first time to handle a different people joining us on our hike that I need to be the coordinator, one that is making the decision, the things that I've could careless before as I'm used that someone who would these things for me. A usual thing any introverted person would do. This time things different. I was the one whose in control. Making an initiative to talk to the rest of the group while on the trip which made me getting out of my comfort zone. I have to be and which I did. The result was rewarding.

We started the trip at 3am and our meeting place was in Cubao. Me and another facilitator came up first. We've bought some things and fix something as we had a slight problem about the van we rented ( The van driver got lost along the way). Fixed. Another cam up. Two members aren't on the meeting place yet. We decided to call them. Called them. Last notice backed out (Shocking!). Fixed. We were minutes late from the itinerary and we were able to at least manage to start the trip right away and it was really exhausting. The moment I sit on my space in the van, the excitement of going back again quickly fades away as my body tells me to rest. I decided to rest.

My eyes last laid the darkness of the sky and I programmed my mind to see the sky again, when the sky is clear, sun rays starts to blind my closed eyes. But again, some programs didn't worked out as the way it was planned. I can't get myself to sleep and I hated it. I rolled my eyes side to side, back and forth to see what the others doing, they're sleeping. Damn it! I was jealous. Depressed, I tried to relax a bit. My body finally gave in and I was able to rest, a little and I was awaken not because my brain tells me to, this time, it was because of the finger that was poking my shoulder asking for the directions as the driver was lost again. That finger who happens to belong to a former colleague and also another coordinator of this trip. Moments after waking up, I started to realized that it was true. We're lost. The route was unfamiliar to me.

 The driver asked a local for the directions and the local replied to go back to the road that was heading to Barangay Sibul (as we're heading to Biak Na Bato, a different Baranggay, maybe). So the driver did and the problem was fixed by the driver. O right! Finally after half an hour being lost, the unforeseen hassles and the registration and stuff, we arrived at our destination. Our first stop, Mt. Gola.

Photo credits to @Kayeh Bacay

#walalang Rock Formation 

This is one of the first few group shots we have on this trip. En route to Mt. Gola. Time check 8:00 am (mostly). We called our team as #teamgolabels.

Madlum River, before start trekking Mt. Gola.

The Picturesque Mt. Manalmon

#feelingnaturelover. The aesthetics of the bended Bamboo trees.

Along the way.

#pahingamoments. Dito ko sinabi na "konti na lang, malapit na tayo sa tuktok." E di pa pala, paasa punyeta.

At the top. Time check. 9 am ( approximately!)

Hindi kami mga fans ng #jumpshot.

Group shot from the top. Isa ako sa mga talikodgenic.

Note: This mountain stands 190 MARL (Meters above river level as one of the tour guides, told me that was the correct way to measure these mountains (including Mt. Manalmon), by  saying "river" and not "sea" as these mountains are surrounded by the Madlum River.)

It was already past ten o'clock when we decided to trekked down and was really hot. As an organizer, I decided to ask the group if they want to continue to hike Mt. Manalmon as I feel that it will be no longer advantageous for us to go through as for me it will too late for us to hike Mt. Manalmon and as the weather forecast thunderstorms at the area around noon and we might stuck. This time, I'll let them decide. Most of them didn't want to continue further. Some of them were beat and peckish (including me). I told my planned that if we will no longer hike the other one, we'll continue to Bayukbok and do the Monkey Rope after then the remaining time will be spend swimming onto the river. They all agreed ( though I hate to break our itinerary). After minutes, they've agreed not to continue and proceed on spelunking right after lunch.

Then we decided to go to Bayukbok and the heat is still raging. When were on the way to the caves, one of the tour guides told us that the only cave that is open for the tourist to be explore is the Bayukbok Cave III and the other caves will  no longer be available exploring for the next decades as these caves, though as it will not pose any danger or risk to the tourists, the locals and the DENR decided to temporarily closed it as these caves have been taking damages from us and as well as, of course to restore the cave's natural beauty. After minutes of hiking again, we reached the entrance of Bayukyok and starting another adventure.

Photo credits to +Czarina Mae Lajara

En route to Bayukbok Cave III.

#teamgolabels

kailangan meron kang acrobatic skills para maka survive dito.

Tulad nito,

Stalagmite tama ba?!

No Dirt, No Glory.

Still fresh after caving.

Trekking down after caving. Luck for us, the weather became worst after spelunking.

Monkey Rope. Unfortunately, only two of them were able to do this challenge.

#nagmaganda. Tuloy pa din ang monkey rope challenge kahit bumabagyo.

Since the weather got worst, #teamgolabels weren't able to finished all the itineraries we planned for them. As we would love them to proceed, it is not advisable to push through (nakakabitin sa totoo lang.) for any safety purposes and I'm glad these guys are amazingly understanding :) Though I know the feeling of being "nabitin", The nostalgia of being able to going back to the place and do things and were able to share the experience for me is not a task but a pleasure. Pleasure, as you can encounter new faces, the feelings of being at home and exchanging stories from them as you set your phase to their phase is surely best way to enjoy your hike, just like Barry quoted, the way I enjoyed mine.

Itinerary:

03:00 AM Assembly Cubao Farmers
04:00 AM ETD Sitio Madlum Jump Off Point
08:00 AM ETA at Sitio Madlum, Prepping
09:00 AM Start Trek (Mt. Gola)
10:00 AM Start decent; Start Trek Mt. Manalmon
11:00 AM ETA Summit (Mt. Manalmon)
12:00 PM Decent
12:30 PM Lunch at Jump-off
01:30 PM Caving
02:30 PM Monkey Rope Challenge
04:30 PM Swim/ Tidy
06:30 ETD To Manila
09:00 ETA To Manila