Is it really supposed to be this way?

My winning seems to be bundled with problems and issues and whatever you call it. Since the day it was confirmed, I was immersed in the problems that never did I imagine existed. I was like “what are you talking about?” when they were trying to explain it all to me. Anyway, so we had to come up with a plan to address issues. And we did.

Unfortunately, today was a bigger challenge and a bigger headache as well. And this time, I’m directly affected I guess. I was spared the details. It was not something that I should still know though it concerns me. Maybe it was something that I shouldn’t even care about. I was curious at first but I decided not to press on the issue. It might be something that would discourage me, though I don’t feel discouraged at the moment. I just don’t understand why some people would resort to such things. Hayz! But whatda! I have a team to run and that’s where my focus should be.

:)

I won! :) But there’s a big BUT.

The real battle begins and ready or not, I have to face it. So help me God ahihi.

Right at this moment…

I don’t like the way you make me feel, but I hate myself more simply because I don’t have any rights at all to feel this way in the first place.

…?

He was just her acquaintance until they had that long conversation where she realized there’s something special about him. Then she saw that image and started picturing him in that role…and then suddenly, she finds herself starting to fall for him. Should she stop while the fall isn’t still too deep? Or will he catch her along the way? She doesn’t have any idea, she doesn’t have any clue… and so life becomes unpredictable.

Dare Devil Stints @ Mt. Tarak

Ito ang mga pinaggagawa ko sa Mt. Tarak kaya naman ako nasigawan ni A ng kung ilang beses hehehe. Pero sa lagay na yan, di pa ako kontento sa mga pose ko. Inggit pa rin ako sa pose ni R. Mas bongga sa kanya. Anyway...

Mga Kwentong Mt. Tarak

Mamang driver, ang gas!
Si Manong driver naman kasi nakikipagkwentuhan pa sa kung sino sa daan at tuwing nagkukuweto, nakakalimutan ding apakan ang gas. Timang! Ultimo yung nakaupong natutulog sa gilid ng kalsada binusinahan pa para lang magising. (from previous post)

Sabi ni R, gustung-gusto na raw nyang ishake yung driver at iremind na apakan man lang yung gas habang nagkukuwento hahaha.

Malapit na lang….
Mountaineer (M) 1: Pwede bang magtake 5?
M2: Malapit na tayo sa Papaya River. Ituloy na natin.
After 15 minutes of trekking, di pa naming nararating ang mahiwagang Papaya River hehe.
M3: Asan na ang malapit na Papaya River?!

Aux 1
Usapan namin, Socials by 8 PM. Around 10 PM, lumabas si R ng tent, nanggigising. Time for socials daw. Walang ibang lumabas. Ako gising naman. Deadma lang. malamig eh wahaha.

After an hour siguro, si J naman lumabas ng tent. “Gising na ba kayo?” Walang sumasagot. Ako tuloy lang sa pagmumuni-muni. After sometime, bumalik na rin sya sa tent nya hahaha.

The sweetest kiss of all ahihi
J: Aray! Aray! Aray! (Malakas na sigaw, sabay pitik ng langgam na nangangagat sa kanya)
R: (Todo tawa habang hawak-hawak ang ulo. Nang mahimasmasan) Langya pare sumakit ulo ko sa ‘yo. Nablock yung oxygen na papunta sa ulo ko kakatawa.
M: Asan ang camera? Asan ang camera?! (Para icapture ang moment ahihi. Sa pagkakatanda ko may nacapture ako. Di ko lang makita sa shared pictures. J, san na nga ba yun? Hehe.)

‘Charon ‘charon ‘charon
Habang kami ay masayang nagkukuwentuhan ni R sa bus, binulabog kami ng mga nagtitinda pagdating sa stopover. Deadma lang kami nung una kasi dumadaan-daan lang sila sa aisle ng bus.

Ang isang tindero, napagod na ata sa kakalakad so naisipang tumigil muna. Huminto sya sa pagitan namin ni R (magkatapat kami ng upuan), isinabit ang paninda sa may hawakan, sabay sigaw ng “’charon ‘charon ‘charon kayo dyan. Bili na kayo ng ‘charon pasalubong!”

Para kaming pinaglaro ni manong ng peek-a-boo dahil sa pagkakaharang nya sa amin wahahaha. Nung magkakitaan, tawa na lang kami ng pigil. Hahaha!

Words during the climb:
The audacity of this flamboyant pakiderm (pakihanap na lang sa dictionary ang meaning!)

Buffuer, threshold, push it, move it, hugot hininga, 5th wheel, tukod mukha, kudkod puwet

Day 2: Kudkod Puwet!

We woke up at around 5 AM to catch the sunrise. Unfortunately, we did not see it because it was still cloudy. After a round of hot chocolate to warm us up, we started preparing for breakfast. By 8 AM, we were already breaking camp. After breakfast, we went to the summit. The scenery was more beautiful. It was a complete view of the earth and sky. It was still windy. We saw the movements of the wind in the nearby grassland. One particular movement that amazed us was like that of the ripple effect in the water. For me, it was witnessing one of nature's magic. In between breakfast, break camp and before descend, we had our photo ops of our dare devil stints hehe.

By 8:30 AM, we were already on our way down. Since it was steep going down, tendency would be for us to use our butts for added support hehe. By 9:45 AM, we were already at the Papaya River. Swimming, rest, lunch and duyan time! We stayed here until 12:30 PM. When we were about to leave, dumating sina pogi. Wala lang hehehe.

So as not to prolong the agony of feeling the pain of our tired muscles, we tried to walk faster and even jog/run in some of the easier trails. We dropped by Nanay’s place and treated ourselves to Buko Juice. While resting, we were discussing about work wehehe. Nasa bundok pa rin, work na ang topic? Huwell.

By 3:30 PM, we were back at Brgy. Alas-asin. Wash-up time. We also dropped by the same carenderia where we ate the day before for an early dinner and post climb meeting. By 5:30 PM, we were already on board the bus bound for Manila. In the bus, we had the chance to get to know R better. Nakuwentuhan nya kasi kaming kanyang work experience with matching personal details on the side hehe. By 8:30 PM, we’re back to reality.

Overall, it was a wonderful climb. Though there were only 5 of us, we still had fun fun fun! It was easier to manage. Maybe, this is the reason why we were able to follow most of what’s in our itinerary.

Command of the day: Move it! Move it!

Day 1: Assaulting Mt. Tarak (Tukod Mukha)

The cast: Rhone, Jayz, Dang, Anne, My

The group met at Five Star terminal station (call time was 5 AM). Shortly before 6 AM, we were already traveling to Balanga, Bataan. From there, we rode a mini bus that will bring us to Brgy. Alas-asin in Mariveles. It took us one hour to reach the barangay instead of the expected 30-45 minutes travel time. Si Manong driver naman kasi nakikipagkwentuhan pa sa kung sino sa daan at tuwing nagkukuweto, nakakalimutan ding apakan ang gas. Timang! Ultimo yung nakaupong natutulog sa gilid ng kalsada binusinahan pa para lang magising. Anyway, we reached the barangay at 9 AM. We first registered then bought our food supplies. After repacking, we had breakfast. At exactly 10 AM, we started the trek. So far, we were on schedule based on our itinerary.

The trek started with a walk in the barangay road until we reached the house of Nanay. They again required us to register. We also saw other climbers there. May mga pogi! Sila an gaming naging energizer para mas mabilis ang lakad hihi. After the road, it was already a trail but no assaults yet at this point. It was just like walking in the park hehe. After maybe 30 minutes, may assault na. Medyo madali pa ‘tong part na ‘to pero hingal to the max talaga. We also passed by grassland area where the grasses were taller than me wahaha so I got scratches from head to toe. There were many obstacles along the way like fallen trees right in the middle of the trail (pahirapan para sa mga short-legged tulad ko hmp!) or the long branches that if you’re not careful enough, bagong tuhog na bbq labas mo hehehe. Sa liit kong ‘to, kailangan ko pang magbend para lang umiwas sa mga sanga, so yes, ganon kababa. This time, disadvantage naman ‘to sa mga matatangkad ahihi. We also passed by a landslide na ang tanging hawakan mo lang ay lubid but you cannot entirely rely on it to support you. Kailangan pa rin tama yung maaapakan mo, or else, diretso ka lang naman sa creek kasi wala talagang mga puno na haharang sa ‘yo. Dito ako sa part na ‘to kinabahan. Ewan ko ba. Di ko naman first time dumaan sa ganon pero kabado lang talaga ako.

After 3 hours, we reached Papaya River yifeee! It means LUNCH, a dip in the river and longer rest hehehe. The water was clean and cool and refreshing and it’s potable! At 2:10 PM, we resumed our trek. Puro assault na this time. May part talaga na halos hahalik ka na sa lupa sa tarik or kulang na lang itukod mo mukha mo para maakyat mo hehe. Pero nag-enjoy ako kahit puro mga ugat yung mga kailangan kong daanan. Feeling ko kasi, para akong naglalaro ng maze na dapat kailangan kong hanapin yung tamang daanan para lesser pressure sa tuhod ko and mas maiksi yung hakbang na gagawin ko. Buti na lang mapuno yung daan and mahangin so hindi ganon kaiinit.

At 4:30 PM, we reached Tarak Ridge! (we were 30 minutes earlier than expected despite the fact that we were already late by 1 hour upon reaching Papaya River :)) The view was awesome. We saw Coregidor, endless mountain ranges and further away, MOA! It was windy but we didn’t mind.

While we were having our rest, dumating sina pogi! Weeeee! Hihihi. Nanghihingi ng mantika ahahaha. Kaming mga girls syempre oo agad na may extra kami wahahaha. Tinanong kami kung anong gusto naming kapalit. Gusto kong sabihing pwede bang sila na lang? bwahaha kaso as if kaya ko hehe. Yung isa sa amin, chocolate hiningi wahahaha. Nakipagkwentuhan pa sila sa amin ng medyo matagal. Palibhasa, ang aming lead, kilala yung org nina pogi kaya they have something to talk about. Di ko na masyado matandaan napag-usapan. Busy kasi ako kakahanap ng way at ng timing para masulyapan sina pogi wahahaha. Pero eto pala, kasabayan din namin sila nung nag-Pinatubo kami. Sumama pa raw sila sa group namin para don ata sa security and ride. Bakit di ko sila nakita noon?! Wahahaha.

Anyway, by 6 PM, dinner na. By 7 PM, inaabangan na namin yung fireworks sa MOA. Yep, napanood namin hehe. Isn’t that amazing? Nasa bundok ka pero napapanood mo ang mga kaganapan sa syudad hehe. After the fireworks, we decided to take at least one hour rest. Usapan namin, socials namin by 8 PM. So nagkanya-kanya nang pasok sa tent. At kanya-kanya na ring pwesto at baluktot ng katawan para labanan ang lamig…at kalimutan na may socials ng 8 PM hahaha. Aux 1 lang dapat eh pero nag-extend ng break at nagleave pa kasi yung sumunod na gising namin, 5 AM na. Ayos! Hahaha. May mga nagising naman at nanggigising din pero ako, tinamad na lang akong lumabas hehe. Yung isa naman, nagising nung nakabalik na yung isa sa tent nya wahaha. Di nagpang-abot ng gising.

Command of the day: Push it! Push it!

Mt. Tarak Actual IT

IT

Day 1
5:45 AM: Bataan
9:01 AM: Alas-asin, Registration, shopping for food, breakfast
10 AM: Start trekking
1:05 PM: Papaya River/Lunch
2:10 PM: Ascend
4:30 PM: Tarak Ridge!
5 PM: Food preparation
6 PM: Dinner
7:30 PM: Lights off wahahaha!

Day 2
5 AM: Wake-up call, prepare breakfast, picture-taking, break camp
8:30 AM: Prepare for descent, prayer, final reminders, start trek
9:45 AM: Papaya River, wash up, water refill, trail snack, lunch on trail
12:30 PM: Reume Trek
3:30 PM: Alas-asin, wash-up, prepare to depart for Manila
5:30 PM: Depart for Manila
8:30 PM: Manila

Expenses (per person)
Fare to Bataan (2 way): 500
Registration (brgy): 40
Food: 165
Registration kay Nanay: 10
Total: Php 715.00

Mt. Tarak Climb

When: September 6-7, 2008

Day 1

5 AM: Last Man out from Site

6 AM: Assembly time/ETD Bataan (Assembly area: Five Star/Bataan Transit terminal CUBAO, beside BALIWAG TERMINAL)

9 AM: ETA Alas-asin

9:30 AM: Registration, shopping for food

10 AM: Start trekking

12 PM: Papaya River/Lunch

1 PM: Ascend

5 PM: Tarak Ridge

6 PM: Food preparation

7 PM: Dinner

8 PM: Socials

10 PM: Lights off

Day 2
6 AM: Wake-up call, prepare breakfast, picture-taking, break camp

8 AM: Prepare for descent, prayer, final reminders, start trek

11 AM: ETA Papaya River, wash up, water refill, trail snack, lunch on trail

1 PM: Reume Trek

4 PM: ETA DENR, regroup, final rest

5 PM: ETA Alas-asin, wash-up, prepare to depart for Manila

8 PM: ETA Manila

On going the distance and other things

Short break lang. :)

The journey continues.

Today, I gave my word that I’ll go the distance, and that it will be my priority. I’m not sure yet of winning though. I’ll see by next week if it’s a make or a break. I’m staying neutral. I don’t have any high hopes but I’m not also very pessimist about it. Nasa gitna lang.

What’s good about this journey is that I was able to receive positive feedback. There are areas of improvement but the reason why they’re called such is because these are areas that you can still improve on, right? :)

Iba naman.

Si Lord magaling talaga. The other day, I realized that I miss some things that I used to do because for the past weeks, I was only focused on my steps in order to go the distance. To my pleasant surprise, I was able to do one of those things yesterday. It was history repeating itself. :)

:) :) :) :) :). Indeed, there are many reasons to smile today. :)