Mi senyorita, mi amor..
Mi senyorita, mi amor..
Esposa, amiga mi, mi corazon, mi mundo!

She was still studying when I invited her to try my hobby. Hesitant at first, but eventually enjoyed the hardship ( I guess she don't have a choice but to love it, haha). 

 

 

 

 

There is a saying, that if you want to know the true attitude of a girl, take her to the mountains. No make-ups, no kikay kit and goodbye vanity. Just the pure human that she is.

When we first climbed together, I'm worried that she may not like it. She might complain, but I was wrong. It seems that she's just strolling around the mall carrying bottles of water. And when the call of nature came, she just hid herself behind the bush and do her deed with ants on her feet.

I was pretty amazed, (and even until now on her little gestures), that we really did it.
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Why was I hooked to trekking? Well, it's really a story to tell.

When I was on my primary school days I used to be a patrol leader of Boy Scout.

 ASEAN Jamboree

 Boy Scouts of the Year. The other one is Victor Cabrera, my classmate.

 Boy Scout camping in Baguio

Knot Tying Lecture - Patrol Leaders' Training Course

So, I was introduced to camping at an early age. I enjoyed camping at Mount Makiling, Baguio and Mount Arayat.

Years after, I got excited after learning that my siblings will go camping. I thought it will be the same camping that I used to join when I was a kid, but no I was a newbie (until now) to the term they call MOUNTAINEERING.

So I packed my bag, stuffed with kikay kit and toiletries. Some candies and cookies, clothes, camera and whatever I can put into my backpack.

 On a buko shop. I have my own rain cover made of trash bag.

On the camp, we live the old fashioned way. No stove and flash light. We cooked using woods, lights using "gasera". We slept on a ten-person tent. We call it cathedral tent nowadays.   

 The STOKWAs

Machete - Wannabe 

 Spa, anyone?

The Neophyte

Those were the days. There are more stories on that trip. I'd love to share it on my succeeding blogs but for now join me as I look back and have a nostalgic scenes of childhood and first climb. 

Comment and share your story. 

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Why do I need to feature and talk about signature pose?

Well just like any picture, there is a story behind each one of them whether its a stolen shot, a group picture, or whatever t is.

I have reflected on some of the poses in a social networking site.

 Familiar with this pose? Yes, she's Ma'am Avie of Akyat Aral Org. I knew her before as a "kikay" girl when she was on her university days. I had the chance of introducing her the HOBBY of trekking when they graduated college. Now, she is a full pledged trekker and out-reach giver. The pose for me means beauty even in hardship. Grace under pressure. Seems the pose is getting viral..

I've been following her poses, not for being a perv, because she has all the guts to do the act. Yes Filipinas had evolved. Women empowerment and freedom, that's what this pose taught me.

What? You don't know him? A.K.A GRP.. I don't know his real name but i know the story behind his pose. He is a survivor. Yes, he used to have a colon cancer. A brave man who fought and encourages patients to win over the sickness. He is a regular participant of Climb Against Cancer. He said Cancer Kissed my Ass..


I have no signature pose of my own but I wanted to share my colleague's advocacy to promote the welfare of mother nature. Give hope to the needy.

Do you have your own signature pose or just want to share a story of your hobby? Don't hesitate to comment or share your story.



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Everybody is now in cliche of climbing mountains. I am fond of exploring nature, but have you noticed that our hobby is now a business? Well, if you haven't heard of this news, especially for newbies, I will enlighten you on some aspect how I have said that it is OPEN FOR BUSINESS.

Here are some highlight on how it is done:

1. Local Tour Guide: Way back years ago, tour guiding fee for overnight stay is 150-300php. Well, prices varies on the mountain, so make sure to ask common friends the usual price range for the guide fee. Bad news is some of the local entrepreneur now asking for the guide fee per person. Yes, you heard it right - per head! It is sad to know they outrage our capability to pay. You can haggle the price, but not too low; they can raise high price and we do not have a choice.

So please if you planning to have a climb, please ask some group/page with common interest if they still have contact with their known tour guides. 

2. Event/Climbing Organizers: Do not just hop in to a group if you are invited. First, you have to check the background of the organizers. Ask former participants if how the event was, and if their safety was the priority of the group. If yes, they are credible organizers, then join them. You also have to weigh the cost of the package; if the price is too good to be true - I recommend you not to join, if its costly - ask the organizers the inclusive in the payment.

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A reader shared a photo of their good deed.

The gang picked up trash in Mt. Manabu.

"We were not able to pickup all the trash because there to many of it. Our trash was just one bag while the excess trash of ignorant "trekkers" were 5 bags, full of alcohol glass bottles, food wrappers and water containers (we found most of this BURIED! Such as the glass bottles and wilkins container)."  Emerson C. Benoza

I hope we could go back to Mt. Manabu and have a chat with Tatay Perying over a cup of Batangas coffee. May all the trekkers do the same deed as Sir Emerson did. 

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We went to trek one of the mountains in Batangas. A scene caught my attention which made me think what does hikers really do with their garbage. Does LNT really practiced in Philippine outdoor?

I've got some flicks to share with you guys..

Mt. Pinatubo near the arc, hidden in the bushes

 Mt. Gulugod Baboy, beside the concrete pathway

Mt. Manabu, at the campsite

Batlag Falls in Tanay, located just before the cliff of Daranak Falls

Mt. Batulao summit's edge

I got dismayed seeing such scenery on an outdoor trip. Who's to blame? Of course the trekkers and visitors but I am not saving the camp management, they should also take part of cleaning the area especially if they are asking for fees. 

Holy week vacation have just ended. We all know that it has been a tradition for fanatics and pilgrims to climb Mt. Banahaw in Quezon province. For sure there will be a lot of rubbish left on the trail. When I joined Kabanahaw Clean-up Crusade years ago, I hand picked some soiled diapers together with some wrappings of candies and junk foods.

 Isn't it a disrespect to mother nature? 

My eyes got opened, I wanted to save nature for my child's children. With my little deeds in the city jungle I might help mother nature. Reduce, Recycle and proper waste management will do.

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Lanchiel, our 1 year and 4 month old daughter, have just experienced what her parents loved to do : backpacking. We learned that my wife is pregnant with her after we trekked Mt. Romelo way back 2011 on an event of Kabanahaw's Clean-up crusade. After our friends learned that she is  pregnant with our daughter, it was rumored that she'll be named Romela, a female name of Romelo.

Lanchiel and I had our practice and tune-up training on our barangay and a nearby municipality. Carrying her on an uphill with my daypack filled with goods is one of those exercises. We even pitched a tent in a cemetery introducing her our portable shelter on our trip. I've let her chase me while doing brisk walking. We prayed for a good weather.

The day has come. It's Good Friday. We pushed to Nasugbu, Batangas to hike and camp on one of the province's beauty, Mt. Batulao.

After putting some sunblock lotion on her skin we started trekking. She shouted and screamed, awed with different animals on trail. She saw flock of birds, horses, domestic dogs and chickens. She imitated the sounds of the goat and cow. We knew she's enjoying seeing her sweet smile.

At our first stop we got the chance of taking a zip of fresh buko juice while preparing for a farther and steep trail. She loved the juice and even cried for more.

We greeted every person on the trail and they gave Lanchiel cheers. Carefully, we passed every peak of the trail until we reached the camp site learning that there is another kid, a two year old boy with his parents.

Immediately, I pitched our tent and called my colleague if they are on their way. It's a good thing that we have briefed her to behave so there's no need to run around and chase her. She stayed inside the tent with her mom.

Explorer that she is, she opened every zipper in our bags looking for her favorite stuffed toy Elmo. She found  sweets on our bags and asked her mom to open some for her. Then we had our dinner.

Lanchiel and Lachmi, my wife, played inside the tent while I looked for my colleague on trail. Seems that she's checking if I'm around so from time to time she calls my attention to grab her and let her out of our shelter. She slept around 12 in the midnight.

Our team woke up early to push for the final leg going to the summit for the sunrise. When we got back I learned from her mother that our kid cried looking for me. After having our breakfast and a few clicks from the camera we descended and headed our way back to the city promising that we will be back to this mountain.

Here are some pictures of our trip.

First few steps from the jump off.

Lanchiel and Lachmi with Mt. Batulao from a far.

First stop. The buko hut.

Practicing a signature pose of Ma'am Avie

Lanchiel unpacking the goodies.

Our family's first outdoor picture.

Our 2 year old boy camp neighbor.

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Friends. The new breed of outdoor enthusiasts

The Godfather. Sir Jeff "Derek" H.

Lanchiel playing with the local kids.

The Team

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There are some, but not all, climbing organizers who just aim to collect money from the participants. Admit it or not, we all became part of the massive climbing every Independence Day (I do not name names, I just told what kind of event it is). I feel sorry for the organizer who took advantage of the participants, because he said it is the first in the country. Well, yes let us admit it, it is the first in the country, earned a lot of money from their idea called simultaneous climb (climbing different mountains at the same date), but it is well planned only in papers. What encouraged me to join that time is their word that each mountain will have an assigned coordinator from their group, and there will be crowd control, meaning groups will choose and reserve a mountain. But what happened is - no coordinator. Most of the organizers climbed in only 1 mountain - feeling their victory, while we (as assigned on a certain mountain) are confused on what to do, and is hesitant on what to say to our guests. We paid for the registration, but no coordinator for each mountain, as promised. After the event, did they hear good feedback? All I can say is that they are claiming it is as a successful event. Hmm.. good for them :).

So guys, if you will join a certain event, ask former participants their experience, and on how good the group are in managing the participants. It is not about how expensive/cheap the organized event is, what matter most is how they take good care of the participants, how they are prioritizing the safety of everybody. 

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Looking for a nature adventure this coming Valentine? Join in "A Climb to Remember." Organized by respected people in the Philippine outdoor community for nature loving couples and individuals as well. 

Interested? Text or Call 

Lance 09226118047

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I do apologize for the late post for my husband and I was really busy preparing for our daughter's first birthday.

For the next few days, we will be busy finding gifts this coming holiday season.

Watch out for our next blog as we conquer Divisoria and post great finds, so stay updated and subscribe now!

Thanks!

-PinayNursingMom 
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It's been too long since I've enjoyed the pleasure of being with nature. I'm not an outgoing person who loves to play basketball like my peers, luckily I have some fat burning activities so I may say I am somehow healthy.

Day by day I ride my bicycle going to my work. It will just take 20 to 30 minutes of smooth bike ride against to 1 hour or more using the public transport - (jeepney) due to traffic. Plus the fare increase eats up workers' earnings.

Everyday I use my Buting-C5-Bagong Ilog route plan going to Evergreen Memorial Chapels and Crematory,   my current workplace as a sales person. Going home is a cool cycling using my San Joaquin-Pateros route that made me more convinced that cycling is the best choice of transpo seeing people waiting for their ride to advance in a bumper to bumper traffic.

For months now I've been riding my bicycle using the route. On my rest days, errands were also faster with the help of my ride.
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 Have you tried Fried Siopao? (As you can see Food Trip kaming buong pamilya! Haha)

The difference between the Regular Siopao and Fried Siopao is that the Fried Siopao doesn't need to put sauce in it. It is not messy (because it doesn't have sauce) and has meat and egg filling. 

Look at my daughter - she is really craving for this fried siopao.

 Fried Siopao is really famous in Manila Chinatown (Ongpin). One of the food you must try in going to Ongpin. It cost 18php and is very tasty even without sauce. You can buy it in Chinese Restaurants or Chinese Delicacy Store along Chinatown.

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(Sorry for the uncleared photo as it was taken thru phone)

 

My husband told me we should try the famous Ube Halaya sold along the street of Manila - Sta. Cruz to be particular. Looking at it doesn't seem it is tasty at all but when I bite it - whew! I can't resist eating it. It is really creamy, soft and you can feel the texture of the Ube. My husband said it was made from Kamote and I can't believe it - it is sooo good! No wonder it is one of the best selling Kakanin of Manang Tindera.

And it only cost 6php per slice. Two slices can make you feel full and will surely satisfy your taste buds in this creamy meryenda. 

Tell us if you too have tasted this good food along the street of Manila and share it with us!

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