Tambayan ng MESAU

from izko: hindi ako nag first place, pero nag number 10 ako over all hehehe. till next ultra race….

GREETINGS BRETHREN!

This serves as an invitation catering to all mountaineering aficionados, trekkers, outdoor enthusiasts and anybody bound o feel the earth to the FOURTH NORTH LUZON SUMMIT to be held at Sagada, Mountain Province on June 3-7, 2009.

Endowed wit magnificent subterranean caves, inimitable burial sites, cascading waterfalls, awe-inspiring rice terraces, a rich culture and an amiable people, Sagada has doggedly been a major tourist destination in the country for both local and foreign tourist since the 1970’s

Splendid, unscaled mountain sprawl along its crests but some of these remain anonymous destinations.

The Sagada Environmental Guides Association in (SEGA), a duly recognized and accredited by the municipal government as well as the Department of Tourism in partnership with the Mountaineering Federation of the Philippines Inc. (MFPI) together with the sponsors enjoins everyone on this momentous event.

Come and experience, explore, enjoy another chapter or your mountaineering lives in the mountains of the Gran Cordillera mountain range.

See you there!

For more information, visit us at our website http://sega.sagada.org or you can contact 09197856140 or write us under this address owendapliyan@yahoo.com.

Mountaineeringly yours,

EGBERT DAILAY

President

More pics here.

Mt. Kitanglad Range Natural Park
Province of Bukidnon
April 16-19, 2009

Hosted by NORMMS. With side trip to Camiguin Island

More pics here.

More pics here.

Mt. Guiting-Guiting
Sibuyan Isand, Romblon
March 28 – April 1, 2009

Written by Chito Razon

You’ve heard about them. You must have encountered them in your regular weekend climb or in a jeepney ride from Maculot, Majayjay or Siniloan.

In the campsite, you will most likely spot them in a circle passing clear distilled looking liquid in a small glass. They stay in this position the minute they reach the flat land until early dawn or they’re down whichever comes first.

They say this socializing is what sets MESAU from other groups in their campus, other camps and in the federation. To them this is the tradition which is a non negotiable pre-requisite to membership for 15 years.

In Pinabuto Trek they listed 22 participants. 7 from the alumni with their Xs present. Call them the 3R’s: Richard, Ronald and Raymond. 8 from the incumbents led by their perpetual student and another X Jon. Then the missing 7.

You know the novice from the hard cores-the alumni in their daypacks, the students in their full packs. Again, a tradition they say.

What really are they? Not very different from the 67 other climbers. They take their tasks seriously. See to the delivery of the basics as the jeepney rides, guides, trails, campsite and the return pick-ups. But the difference is, they all show up in the socials and stay.

So when Viper of PNB put in his formal suit and long pants to signal the start of That’s Entertainment, it was socials to the max. PAL MC had an unexplainable presence that night: Aldo Velasco heckling with guest TJ, Joey Verzo explaining his new civil status, Dom Goduco recalling his college days, Jojoy Cadungog contemplating his retirement days, Bond Abad restaging his sacristan days, Jojo Ramos, Juno Moncada with Danny Moncada and Larry Honoridez simply wondering what’s going on, Barry Barcelo with Jun Timbol just enjoying and Chito quietly behaving. The place changed overnight.  Mount Pinatubo turned to Barangay Ginebra.

Socials had the formula to be a hit:
There was quorum.  After the group dinner and small socials, everyone just gravitated to the big circle to await what’s bound to happen.
Guests were open.  Everyone gamely introduced himself or herself, associated with PAL, MESAU, PNB, Globe Telecoms, Loyola, Dennis, Omar, Jessie, Jenny, Jaja, Val, Chio, Joel, Elmer, Popoy, Regie, and Ronald.  Lady trekkers gamely put in a romantic angle for the night.
There’s entertainment: Intros by Bong of PNB, song and dance by Viper and Henry, magic by Rolly, rated x night show of Martin Chambers, CD music by TJ and inspirational messages from the AETA guides.
Important to MESAU and to the others, stainless in various forms and sizes.

As they was no imminent difficulty and danger the next day, socials went on and on up to early morning until no MESAU was left standing.  The loud laughter started to fire at 8 PM, reached its peak towards 11 and slowly faded out before 3 AM.

Pinatubo was an exploration.  The morning after, the mission was done.  We explored Pinatubo, met new acquaintances: faces now have names, names match with faces, set new socializing and drinking levels and understood the “E” in MESAU’s initials, the Exploration Society.  Soon, on some other time, in some other place, we hope to explore too Globe Telecoms beyond Regie and Martin, PNB beyond Rolly and Viper, MESAU beyond Ronald and Richard, PAL MC beyond Chito, Jojoy and the rest, Loyola beyond Jenny and Bosch beyond spark plugs.

Note: Written by Chito Razon. Photos by Regie Pablo.

Put in 89.5 trekkers of various orientations and aggrupations. Of different clubs, age groups, sexual preferences, religions, drinking beliefs, eating patterns, trekking styles, geographical locations and nationalities, speaking tongues. From the silent, to the normal to the dominant, humble and the makukulits. Backpackers, trekkers, hikers, rock climbers or mere walkers. Pediatrics to geriatrics. Bankers, computer specialists, to students to out of school youths. Retiring climbers to beginning climbers. San Marcelino to Katipunan, Luzon to Mindanao. Baliuag, Guiguinto, Valenzuela to Tarlac, Ayala, Binondo, Pasay, Fairview. Add a TL, a trail master, an ex-club president, a host in a dark suit as heavy as a single man’s tent, a song number, getting to know you. What do you get? RIOT in LAVA!

From a simple climb planned by Globe Adventure Club Founder Regie Pablo and Chito Razon of PAL MC last April 1999 to drag Jon Linao, ex-president of MESAU out his computer, the event turned into a monstrous, unforgettable climb of the millennium.

How could this not turn out to be a grand climb? It promised Mt. Pinatubo, the world-renowned volcano notorious for distorting the climate system in Asia and in the world starting 1991. It came after the MFDI federation climb successfully organized by UPM that set the foundation for the bonding of most participants. Banny Hermanos of PAL MC whetted our appetite with his surreal slide presentation. Lakbay TV through its Balikbayan narrator Roel Torres showed us repeatedly on Cable TV that the crater is reachable, even with his physical condition. Richard Rebada, ex-president of MESAU completed the trek this year and volunteered to lead the way. Rolly Villanueva, president of PNB Mountaineering Club brought his 22 strong delegation. Butch Sebastian, MFDI President recognized the event. Lastly, weather cooperated-no strong rains in the past few days.

The climbers themselves were no ordinary climbers. Most completed the Balbalasang Federation, went through a tune up climb the week before. Majority have gone to Halcon, Guiting-Guiting, Napulauan, Tawangan over the past few months. Youngest was Shab which accounts for the .5 counting. He turned 3 last Sunday. Eldest was Martin Chambers, a marathoner from New Zealand who is nearing the 60’s mark. His incredible performance and behavior in the socials make you think he certainly is a lot younger.

All were intrigued by the place as site of massive destruction: Pinatubo from the volcano eruption and Capas, our jump off town associated with the Death March. The heat of up to 38° C on our way to the crater Saturday potentially fatal to our delicate brown skin, the lava river trail, destroying our shoes and our soles, brand new or borrowed.

Nothing stopped the climbers from appreciating the weekend. Richard, Ronald and company of MESAU alumni pre-arranged guides and jeepney rides. Chito handled administrative requirements through contact leaders: Regie for Globe, Rolly and Elmer for PNB, Jon and Jessie for MESAU, Jojo Cadungog for PAL, Teddy for Marco Polo, Jaja Reyes and Jenny Atienza for Loyola Mountaineer. Participants showed up at Capas Public Market before the targeted 8 morning departure. For many, it was their first time to see this market place. Jeepney ride completed the travel up to the kubo reducing our trekking time. The 5 hour trek to the campsite was reduced to a mere 2 ½ on the way back. The dreaded socials just happened spontaneously. What happened next was simply deafening.

Weekend was an enjoyable one perhaps because we were celebrating and thanking. Celebrating that we were spared of death from the destruction that emanated from our trail sites and thankful that the signs of life are beginning to show at the crater and at the ridges. The hot lava waters are supplemented now with mineral waters flowing near the base of the crater. Green leaves are thriving at the mountain ridges. Sounds of insects hover in the night. Best, there is laughter at the site.

The laughter we brought is our contribution in inducing life. Through the roaring noise, heckling, chasing, socializing, drinking, we were acknowledging to the 89.5 climbers, awake, or asleep or pretending to be asleep, the wasted and the unused that we are very much alive. Crashing Mt. Pinatubo also meant renewal – our renewed interest to nature, to our
respective clubs, to the federation, to our selves. Just like the new greens sprouting at the sides, the wild trees growing near the crater rim and the wild insects building their habitats. The clothes, food and other functional items we donated to the Aeta community are our seeds to this renewal. There is always that company of 89.5 whom we will remember in time as the fertile ground for new friendship. Nothing more can better dramatize facing a new life through the Happy Birthday song we dedicated to Shah that Sunday. If we get the message of the gift of life, that to me is the biggest explosion of the weekend. Simply it says, thank you we are alive.

-Chito

What would you do if you have a climb this weekend and knowing the weather for the past few days were freakish? What would you do if after you left the meeting place it rained really hard? What would you do if halfway along the way of your destination it is still raining really hard? What would you do if due to the heavy rain the road to your destination was already flooded? What would you do if after you reached your destination you find the weather cooperated for a while but started to be gloomy again? What would you do if most of the locals inform you that the trail to the campsite would be difficult because of the rain?

Do you want to know what we will do if given all that situation? Take a look at the latest entry in our web album.