A WILD ENCOUNTER WITH BABY OWL

 

A close up shot with baby owl. It was one of my best fauna shots in my many years of trekking. It was after an hour hike from Tunaan View Deck in Barangay Portulin, the site where we spent the night. This beautiful avian basked in an early morning sun along the trail heading to Mt. Kilakiron, one of the major summits of Mt. Kalatungan Range in Bukidnon.

Mt. Kilakiron can be accessed from Barangay Portulin, Pangantucan, Bukidnon. A climbing permit should be secured from Pangantucan Tourism Office.    

KAANIBUNGAN RIDGE

Definitely one of the most stunning ridges of Impasugong, Bukidnon, KAANIBUNGAN RIDGE offers grand view of other surrounding ridges, hills and the winding Tagoloan River. 

CABADIANGAN LAKE: Manmade yet Awesome

Cabadiangan Lake used to be unknown. Long before, it was not lake at all. It was just a swamp or marsh. The Small Water Impounding Project (SWIP) of National Irrigation Authority (NIA) made this lovely body of water. This manmade lake supplies water to farms and fields nearby. 

SQUASH MOUNTAIN: Small and Beautiful

Squash mountain is named after a squash where its form resembles. The mountain, estimated to be 400 meter high, is situated among sugarcane and pineapple fields in Maraymaray, Don Carlos, Bukidnon. Being isolated from among its surrounding hills makes it a prominent view added its unique squash-like form. 

MT. KALATUNGAN: Every Climb Seems the First Time

The fifth highest peak of the Philippines, Mt. Kalatungan towers 2,880 meters ASL in the heart of Bukidnon. Being in my town, this mountain is my playground. Every climb to the mountain seems like my first time. Among my countless treks to Mt. Kalatungan, I find the latest the most exciting and memorable because I did it guided solo, I controlled my own time, I did not stick to the original plan, I enjoyed spontaneity and I was governed by instant decisions.  And I find it truly worth sharing.

A GLIMPSE OF MY 2014 JOURNEY

2014 is my year. Indeed, it is. I had the chance to further explore my beloved home province, BUKIDNON. I conquered new peaks, trekked new waterfalls and spelunked new caves. 2014 also marks the beginning of my lifelong journey--- a journey with somebody who's become a part of me. Excitingly, the year is also the arrival of my future trek buddy.

Here's a glimpse of my 20 most remarkable journeys of 2014.

1. TREK TO MIGKARAMAGAN FALLS
A lazy Saturday led me to the foot of Mt. Kalatungan in my hometown. It was almost noon when I reached the place. I planned to visit Lisihan Falls but my guide insisted to visit the unknown Migkaramagan Falls instead. Ignorant of both, I followed where he led me. He also took me to Anikap Falls where a cavern hides beneath the cascades of a roaring water from the mountains.

TREKKING: WHAT DO I GET FROM IT?

Trekking is to journey on foot especially on mountainous areas.

People without passion in trekking, mountaineering or any outdoor activities will never appreciate my hobbies nor understand my point of view. When they ask me what I get from climbing mountains, I simply answer them "NOTHING" instead of wasting my time and their time explaining what I really feel. 

LAKE APO: A Quick Guide

   
Lake Apo in Sitio Lawa, Guinuyoran, Valencia City is a crater lake measuring 24 hectares with maximum depth of 26 meters. It is 11 km away from the Poblacion. Situated in 640 meters elevation, it is one of the cleanest lake in Region 10. 

KAAMULAN FESTIVAL 2014: Celebrating Bukidnon's 100 Colorful Years

 

KAAMULAN comes form the word "amul amul" which means gathering of the 7 hill tribes of Bukidnon namely--- Bukidnon, Higaonon, Manobo, Matigsalug, Talaandig, Tigwahanon and Umayamnon. In this festive celebration, the 7 tribes showcase their culture through dances and colorful costumes which proves the festival as the only authentic and genuine ethnic festival of the country.

RAFFLESIA: A Gigantic Pride Blooming in Bukidnon

Rafflesia (Rafflesiaceae) is a parasitic plant that periodically blooms in some parts of Southeast Asia. In the Philippines, there are recorded sightings of this organism in the mountainous areas of Laguna, Compostela Valley and Bukidnon. Rafflesia blooms 3 to 5 days and gets decomposed. The flower is also called "flesh flower" and "corpse flower" since it smells like a rotting flesh. In Lantapan, Bukidnon, it is commonly called "busaw", a native word for monster or aswang.

SUMALSAG CAVE: Spelunking and More

Sumalsag Cave is counted as one of the 5 recognized caves in Palaopao Range in the municipalities of Manolo Fortich and Sumilao in Bukidnon. Sumalsag Cave stretches to 1.04km long. Its usual caving route starts from Sitio Kilabong, Vista Villa, Sumilao and exits to Sitio Diamante, Dalirig, Manolo Fortich. 

I have heard Sumalsag Cave many times. Some say it's really beautiful. Some say it's truly adventurous. Some even say they have shed tears trekking in this cave. Challenging, indeed!

ALALUM FALLS: A BUKIDNON'S TOURIST SPOT ALONG THE HIGHWAY

Alalum Falls in Kisolon, Sumilao, Bukidnon graces the provincial highway with its glorious 45-meter high cascades. The falls is visible to travelers and passers by. This is situated near the Municipal Hall. The local government established a viewing deck where locals and visitors can see the entirety of the falls. In addition, concrete stairs lead the adventurers down to the base of the falls.

LAKE NAPALIT and LAKE MATA

Top view of Lake Mata, Lake Napalit (far) and the tikog covered marsh in between

LAKE NAPALIT

Lake Napalit in Pigtauranan, Pangantucan, Bukidnon is a tectonic lake which has an area of around 36 hectares and an estimated depth of 80 feet. The lake is situated just outside the range of Mt. Kalatungan.

CEDAR: ANOTHER BUKIDNON'S WEEKEND GETAWAY

 

CEDAR, Center for Ecological Development and Recreation, in Impalutao, Impasugong, Bukidnon is another adventure spot in the province. It is situated just beside the highway. It is equipped with a very cool manmade swimming pool, sourcing from the natural springs surrounding the area. CEDAR is also a reforestation project site of the tribe-dominated town of Impasugong. It has a camping site, venue, basketball court and picnic amenities

TREKKING 2013: MY TOP 25 TREKS IN PHOTOS

My 2013 was not as well trekked as 2012. However, every trek I had was memorable though most were done in my homeland BUKIDNON. Many of my treks were new and still unknown to many. Here are the list of my top 25 trips for 2013.

1. TREKKING MT. DULANG-DULANG (January 2013)

This trek was truly frustrating. The trek was both started and ended under heavy downpour brought by an untimely storm in a dry season. I missed the magnificent view of the mountain's landscape. Dulang-dulang is the second highest peak of the country settles in Mt. Kitanglad Range in Bukidnon.

LALIGAN FALLS: The Marvelous 4-Series Cascades

Laligan Falls in Barangay Laligan, Valencia City is another hidden jewel of Bukidnon. Unknown to many, this 4-series waterfalls is an awesome scenery in a forested rocky cliffs of Laligan. This waterfalls cascades a clear cool water from the highlands down to the barangay giving life to the vast rice paddies that support the Valencia’s battle cry as the City of Golden Harvest. 

ROCKCLIMBING AND RAPPELING IN QUEZON, BUKIDNON

Businessmen and investors recognize the town of Quezon, Bukidnon as the home of Bukidnon Sugar Milling Corporation (BUSCO), one of the two sugar mills in the province.

Travelers and passersby cannot turn their eyes away from the marvelous white rocks that wall the grand mountains while tracking the Pulangui Bridge that borders Quezon and Maramag. Below the white rock cliff is the wonderful, refreshing Blue Water Cave.

The white rock cliff

HOW I WANT TO SPEND MY CHRISTMAS BIRTHDAY

It's a great feeling to immerse with the humble people in the mountains. It's my desire to be exposed to the way they live everyday. If given a chance, I would spend months living in their peaceful community, away from everyday's humdrums.  

While exploring the outdoors, I pass by mountain villages and meet people with innocent but curious looks. While conversing with them, I get to know more of their happy and hassle free life. And I understand that their very simple living teaches them the art of contentment that keeps them the happiest people in the world.

CLIMBING MT. KALATUNGAN: A Quick Guide

THE MOUNTAIN  

 Mt Kalatungan, a.k.a Catatungan, is a volcanic mountain in Bukidnon, Northern Mindanao. PHIVOLCS has no recorded eruptions of this stratovolcano, yet classified potentially active. The mountain range stretches along the areas of Valencia, Maramag, Talakag and Pangantucan. The prominent summits are Kilakiron in Valencia and the twin Kalatungan and Lumpanag summits most accessible in Pangantucan.

GIVE BUKIDNON: Traveling and Giving

The GIVE Project is an initiative by Heiz Ramos, the Journeying Pinay. GIVE stands for Give Intensely, Victoriously, Enthusiastically. Because of her love for the tribe, she wants to impart something to them especially the kids. This lady believes that there's more to travel than by simply seeing places and bragging about them afterwards. She wants to do something that would somehow leave a simple happiness to the community she visited. That's the most meaningful travel, indeed.   

After the successful GIVE Ifugao, she happened to visit the green province of Bukidnon. She then decided to make the province the next venue for the project. After almost a year of conceptualization, GIVE Bukidnon was finally realized. The event would have been conducted earlier, but it was me who couldn't identify the venue. I wonder what took me so long. After all, we ended at my very hometown. Heiz (Journeying Pinay), Lai (Pinay Travelista), Bon (Contour Blog) and I (Trekero) visited the scenic barangay Pigtauranan--- the home of Lake Napalit.

Her initiative leaves me speechless, so I'm just gonna tell you the whole story through pictures...

Upon entering the barangay, the GIVErs Lai, Heiz and Bon excitedly posed before the lake.