Mt Samat (Shrine of Valor)

Bataan will always have a special place in the pages of Philippine History and it was considered as the first line of defense against the invading Japanese forces. A tribute was made to honor the heroism and gallantry of soldiers which can be found in Mt. Samat where the Shrine of Valor (Dambana ng Kagitingan) was erected to commemorate the Battle of Bataan. Also stood is a 302ft  (92m) memorial cross which also serves as a viewing deck.

Mt. Samat is located in the town of Pilar in Bataan with a distance of 135kms from Manila. It has an elevation of 1600ft above sea level and a total elevation gain of 1470ft from Linao National Rd. (Diwa intersection). Although Mt Samat is much smaller than the neighboring mountains, Mt Mariveles and Mt Natib but it's historical significance cannot be discounted. One can easily reach its summit by walking through a cemented road or any means of transportation. I opted to walk the 7kms stretch for about 75mins, all for the love of hiking and sightseeing.

"If you want to understand today, you have to search yesterday". ~Pearl Buck

As viewed from the viewing deck of the memorial cross

Inside the memorial cross' viewing deck

Mt Mariveles

How to Get There:

1.) Take a bus bound to Balanga, Bataan (Genesis or Bataan Transit), they have terminals in Cubao and Pasay City
2.) Once you are in Balanga Terminal, you can ride a jeep bound to Cabog Cabog (tell the driver to drop you off in the Diwa Intersection
3.) You can then ride a Trike to the Hero Shrine or walk

Backpacking in Cambodia (Siem Reap)

My sister who went on a tri-country trip to Cambodia-Thailand and Vietnam shares her experience about her visit to the three South East Asian country, thus it was based on her pictures and narration that this article was written. Out of the many pictures that she had, she only shared most of her pictures particularly in the city of Siem Reap, Angkor Wat and Ta Prohm.  

Cambodia is located in the southern portion of the Indochina peninsula in Southeast Asia bordered by Thailand to the northwest, Laos to the northeast, Vietnam to the east and the Gulf of Thailand to the southwest. The official English name of the country is "Kingdom of Cambodia". Kampuchea is the shortened alternative to the country's official name in Khmer which was derived from the Sanskrit name kambojadeśa. The name "Cambodia" is used most often in the Western world while "Kampuchea" is more widely used in the East. The capital is Phnom Penh which is also the most populous city in Cambodia and is more than 300km away from the city of Siem Reap which is the most popular tourist destination in the said country and can be reached by 6hours travel via mini buses. 

Siem Reap's main attraction is the Angkor Wat which literally means "city of temples" that is composed of a numerous temple complex and is considered as the largest religious monument in the world. The name "Siem Reap" means "Defeat of Siam" and is commonly taken as a reference to an incident in the centuries-old conflict between the Siamese and Khmer kingdoms. 

Angkor Wat was originally constructed as a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu for the Khmer Empire and was gradually transformed into a Buddhist temple towards the end of the 12th century. Archeologists consider it as the best-preserved temple at the site, it is the only one that has remained a significant religious center since its foundation. The temple is admired for the grandeur of the architecture and for the numerous devatas which adorn its walls. In fact, Angkor Wat has become one of the most recognizable symbols for  Cambodia.

Night Market in Angkor is also a must try when in Cambodia. My sister was able to buy several souvenirs which usually starts every evening. This is a popular place to buy a bargain and is comparable to a local Tiangge or Divisoria which is filled with stalls, handicrafts, Class-A North Pace bags at very low prices and of course all sorts of Cambodian souvenirs.

The Royal Palace @ Phnom Penh

Here are the following tours that you can take while visiting Siem Reap.

Angkor Tour:

Angkor Wat, Phom Bakheng, Baphuon, Bayon, Elephant Terrace, Phimeanakas

Big Circuit Tour:

Neak Pean, Banteay Samre, East Mebon, Ta Som, Preah Khan

Small Circuit Tour:

Ta Keo, Prasat Kravan, Bantay Kdei, Srah Srang, Ta Phrom

Tonle Sap Lake:

Kompong Phluk Floating Village, Flooded Forest, Tonle Sap Lake

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Reference:
Chandler, David P. (1992) History of Cambodia.
Zhou Daguan (2007). A Record of Cambodia. Translated by Peter Harris. University of Washington Press.

***My sister and her friends bought a promo tri-city tour 

Taal Lake (San Nicolas)

Last February 2018, I visited Taal Volcano via Tabaro trail and the main jump-off point is via a boat ride from the town of San Nicolas, Batangas which is one of the towns that surrounds Taal Lake. I was quite impressed with the baywalk that the local government has built making it worthy for this article.

Just a brief background, Taal Lake is located in the province of Batangas which is the country's third largest lake after Laguna de Bay and Lake Lanao. It was formerly known as Bombón Lake that surrounds the Taal Caldera which is a volcanic caldera and was declared as a national park by Proclamation No. 235 on July 22, 1967.

According to Philvocs, Taal Lake was once an inlet of the nearby Balayan Bay, and can be accessed through it. But when Taal Volcano erupted during 1754 which was also the volcano's largest eruption, it blocked the Pansipit River with tephra that blocked the lake's sole outlet to the sea. This caused the waters to rise which eventually submerged the several lakeside towns. According to the locals, some remnants are still visible underwater to this day.

I'll write my blog post for Taal Volcano via Tabaro trail in the following months. (I have so many pending posts).

References: 

1. "Taal flyer - Chronology of Historical Eruptions of Taal Volcano". PHIVOLCS. 
2. Sawyer, Frederic H. (1900-01-01). The Inhabitants of the Philippines. Library of Alexandria.
3. Crossley, Professor John Newsome (2013-07-28). Hernando de los Ríos Coronel and the Spanish Philippines in the Golden Age. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd.

***I joined an event organized by John Sarco.

Maranat Falls

Maranat falls is part of Mt. Oriod which is located Norzagaray, Bulacan. It is usually hiked together with Mt Balagbag like we did as part of our year-end hike. It is important to know that it is required to get a permit from DENR Bulacan before you plan of going to Maranat Falls since this is a part of Ipo Watershed.

From Mt. Balagbag towards Maranat Falls, one will pass a establish grassland then descend a very slippery and forested trail for a total of 1500ft descend. From there on the trails which leads to Maranat Falls requires several river crossing that passes huge boulders for a total of 3.5km.

The last portion of the trail that leads to Maranat Falls requires some bouldering through slippery rocks and even fallen logs. The falls is characterized by a 3 tiered drop that feeds a catch basin with portions that are deep and we were discouraged by our guide not to swim near the cascade. The water is cold and crystal clear which offers a refreshing dip but not ideal for diving. 

Since Maranat Falls is a backtrail, we have ascended a total of 1500 ft that passes a forested trail and an open grassland on the way back to Mt. Balagbag.

How to Get There:

1. From Cubao, ride a bus bound for Tungko (alight in Jollibee).
2. From Jollibee Tungko, ride a jeep bound for Licao-Licao
3. You can ride trikes towards Mt Balagbag or you can take a walk (we walk of course).
4. If you are interested to visit Maranat Falls you should first secure a permit from DENR Bulacan and it is also advisable that you get a guide since this is a part of Ipo Watershed which is part of Bulacan.

***DENR PENRO is located in McArthur Hi-way, Guinhawa, Malolos, Bulacan. 

Bring a letter of intent together with the names of the participants, or you may email it to denr_bulacan@yahoo.com

Contact numbers: 044-7947090, 044-6620434 & 044-7940152 

No Permit, No Climb. Wag Matigas ang Ulo...

It was Team Una's year-end DIY KKB hike 

The Historical Bessang Pass

Situated along Route 4, which is now known as the Tagudin-Cervantes-Sabangan Road in Cervantes, Ilocos Sur which is considered as the summer capital of the said province by Resolution No. 88 Series of 1993. It also serves as the jump-off point for Mt Namandiraan.

Bessang Pass lies on the southeast side of Langiatan Hill, which reaches a height of 4,000 feet, South of the pass, Mount Namogoian rises to 6,830 feet while the East is Magun Hill at 4,500 feet. The area serves as a gateway to the Cordillera mountains and the city of Baguio. It used to be a stronghold of the Japanese imperial forces under Gen. Tomoyuki Yamashita, known as the “Tiger of Malaya”. It was part of the triangular defense of General Yamashita in the north which defends the Ifugao-Benguet-Vizcaya borders.  

It once played a huge historical importance in the Philippine history and is considered by many historians as one of the greatest victories won by the Filipinos. The battle initially started on February 1945 and ends on June 14, 1945, which paved the way for the entrapment of Yamashita’s forces in the Cordillera until the general’s surrender in September 1945.

In commemoration for the gallantry of men who lost their lives, a monument was erected which honors the 1,395 USAFIP-NL members who were killed during the battle that was unveiled in the park in 1954. The park also contains pine forests as well as mossy type forests. It is crossed by the Bessang Creek and Matukbo River which provides the water supply for Cervantes and other surrounding communities. The park is also the habitat of several bird species, mammals, and reptiles such as the monitor lizard and different species of snakes.

References:

http://www.choosephilippines.com/do/history-and-culture/1508/battle-of-bessang-pass/

http://manilastandardtoday.com/opinion/columns/to-the-point-by-emil-jurado/268049/battle-of-bessang-pass.html

https://tawidnewsmag.com/2017/06/19/battle-bessang-pass-one-greatest-victories-won-filipinos/

http://thestandard.com.ph/mobile/article/268049

***Special Thanks to Daang Hari Mountaineers (DHAMO) for the event invite which is a nonprofit hike that was a fundraising project for Baby Blue. Thumbs up guys (Sayang wala tayo group picture s Bessang Pass) kya hiindi ko naisama sa blog.

Pinoy Basketball Terminologies

Basketball has been one of the most favorite sports and even pastime in the Philippines. In almost every corner, there are makeshift basketball courts where one can see people playing either with their worn-out shoes, slippers or even barefoot.

As part of a common streetball, there are certain terminologies that players use to describe certain basketball plays or remarks which I'm going to share that I have observed during my years of streetball experience.

1. Agawang Buko - Scramble for rebound most especially on the floor.
2. Ankle Breaker - A very good Cross-Over move that breaks the ankle of the defender.
3. Ala Hoy na Tira (Hail Mary Shot) - a very impossible shot with little chance of getting to the basket.
4. Babad sa Laro - a player who has played several games without any substitution.
5. Bakaw - These are players who doesn't believe they have teammates, thus they take all the shots. In simple language, they are greedy players "hog ball".
6. Banban - Pertains to players who are dumb inside the court.
7. Bangko - Second string player who doesn't see the real action, a bench warmer.
8. Batang Milo (Milo Boy) - a player who has great ball handling and dribbling skills.
9. Biyabit - One kind of one-handed layup without the aid of the other hand.
10. Butata - A solid and good block.
11. Children of the Mist (Batang Hamog) - They are types of players, who lives and plays basketball all day as if their address is in the nearest basketball court.
12. Hindi Nag Star Margarine - a miscalculated shot that comes too short towards the ring.
13. Inararo - An offensive player who forcefully drives towards the basket, ala Lebron.
14. Inter Tsinelas - A group of players who are wearing slippers and in some cases barefooted.
15. Ice Tubig - This is the official drink among stretballers, sold at 3pesos. A water that is haft ice and haft water that perfect to give a soothing refreshment.
16. Kalawit Rebound - To rebound with one hand.
17. Magulang - a player who is an expert with all kinds of dirty tactics.
18. Miss - refers to a shot which decides who gets the possession of the ball.
19. Nagkape pa sa Ere - These are players with great leaping ability and hang time which creates poetry in motion.
20. Nana - pertains to those players who repeatedly asks for a foul even with the slightest contact or even with no contact at all.
21. Nangalabaw - To force yourself against a player or a group of defenders towards the basket.
22. Nangitlog - Three seconds violation.
23. Onse/Bente Uno - A kind of round-robin warm-up which involves a long-range shot (2points) and a close shot (1point), first to reach 11 or 21 points wins.
24. Pabanda - Using geometry, it is a shot which utilizes the backboard in order to create a high percentage shot. 
25. Panis - This is a victorious claim, stating that your opponent is no match for you. It can be compared to the word “In your face”
26. Pasang Jawo - A very strong pass even at close proximity.
27. Patay Ang Butiki - It refers to a shot that hits nothing but the board including the side of the backboard.
28. Patay ang Lamok - A defensive player slapping the ball carrier's hand so hard while trying to steal the ball. 
29. Pasikat - A player who loves to perform exhibition moves like: crossover, sidestepping move or even ridiculous layups even though there is no one guarding him.
30. Pektus - It is done by flicking the ball with the wrist usually during layups so that when the ball hits the board it spins towards the ring. 
31. Pinayungan - A kind of defense where a group of players raises their hands towards an offensive player who is underneath a basket.
32. Plakda - When a player falls hard to the ground usually during a block.
33. Pustahan - It pertains to a deal between two opposing teams what price they get after winning a set of game.
34. Rebanse - To bounce back after a defeat or chance for another game.
35. Sakuragi - A very good rebounder.
36. Solar Boys - These are players who can play at all weather conditions, even under the heat of scorching Sun. The more a court is exposed to the Sun, the more aggressive they are.
37. Sumabay ka Pa! - An over confident remark of an offensive player usually during a drive to basket where he thinks he can easily outmove any defender.
38. Tabyos - a miscalculated dunk which comes short wherein the ball is usually blocked by the ring or solidly hit the rim. 
39. Taga Baba ng Bola - Point guard

***Since I don't have any scheduled hiking events, I accepted my college friends' invite and so after almost 5 years I was able to play a nice and competitive game again. 

Mt. Lubo (Patullok)

Mt Lubo is one of the mountains included in the "Bakun Trio" which refers to the three mesmerizing mountains that are situated in the town of Bakun, Benguet. It is the highest among the three which stands at 6850 ft. above sea level and is also the easiest which is ideal for beginners.

It is also known as "Mt Patullok" among the locals because the shape resembles a pointed cone "Patusok". From the jump-off point to the summit, it has an approximate distance of 4.5 km. which gives a total of 9km distance through the back trail with a total elevation gain of 1700ft to the summit. It passes several communities and vegetable plantations passing through a cemented pathway that eventually leads to the final 400ft slope of Mt Lubo's summit characterized by steep rocky trail and loose soil. Safety railings were put in place to aid hikers during the ascent and most especially during the descent.

The summit offers a 360 degree panoramic view of  Bakun and the surrounding Cordillera mountains.

Photo credits to Ron Dubois

Photo credit to Kiko San Luis

How to Get There:

1. Ride a bus bound for Baguio

2. From Baguio, ride a jeep bound for Bakun (chartered jeep)

***I joined an event organized by Emil Gannod of Laqbai