88DB Trip Ko Kakaiba Travelog Contest

Thrill + Fun: My Mt. Manunggal Escapade

I have so many travel experiences where I haven't shared online yet for many obvious reasons that I wont mention here because it might end up talking about it instead of my travel adventure. I just came to be triggered  when I read in an AD from 88DB where I've bee an member for over a year about a blog contest telling your unusual travel adventure . Why not? who wouldn't grab the opportunity to have the chance of going to Boracay for free! I've never been there and if lucky enough , this might be our honeymoon with my wife since we never had one when we got married last year.

I just love adventure! like beyond the usual experiences that will always leave a remarkable memory. Life's too short so better use every minute of it wisely that's why and how my CEVSAR and CebuEventours blog was born. It is to showcase the different travels and events I went to and Digg on as a Cebuano blogger who aims to promote Cebu's pride.

One of my favorite,unusual and "Astig!" trip was when we do trekking to Mt. Manunggal last March of 2009. Are you familiar with the mountain? It is the crash site of the presidential plane that unfortunately killed president Ramon Magsaysay together with his presidential staff and some reporters on March 17,1957. Mt. Manunggal is located in Brgy. Magsaysay, ( was named after the late president) in Balamban, Cebu. It has the height of 1,003 meters above sea level.

I went with my friends who aspire to become rescue volunteers like me for us to experience the annual trek in the commemoration of the respected President Magsaysay. We discovered this adventure trip from one of our trainers who used to climb the mountain several times but he said there is really a great potential for the mountain to become a great tourist adventure trip and there's really a need for it's beauty to be expose so i thought of exploring for future blog post. Most of those who attended to climb; had vehicles or trucks so it won't be tiresome to climb the mountain since they will be brought near on its foot so it will be nearer but for us beginners and youngsters, we wanted to know how does it feel and explore the way from the main road up to the peak of Mt. Manunggal.

From the main road, our group decided to just walked up to the foot of the mountain. On the way, we saw different flora and fauna that I don't usually get to see those natural beauty. I was able to see rare plants which I never saw in our garden since I grew up in the city . We were greeted with  the warm smile of the locals in the community as we passed by their houses as they are already used to see local tourists.  We even asked some vegetables and fruits from houses just to suffice our hunger so one thing I learn from the trip is to bring food but not too much because that would cause too much load in your bag.

The trail going to the mountain made our trip more adventurous as we  start from the jump-off point of the river where we have to cross a river in Tagbao,Barangay Tabunan that divides the Cebu City from Balamban. As first timers,the steep climbing to the mountain was really hard that goes with the heat of the sun. the closer we get to the  top,the slippery and wet the trail gets caused by the dew of the fogs.

However fun is always there,the jokes and the cam whoring on every beautiful spots ,a shrine made for the relic of the Pinatubo,the plane's main engine block,the campsite where the monument of pres. Magsaysay is also built,the chapel built by the missionaries of San Jose Recoletos for their outreach program and one of the most attractive spot is the very cool spring,rivers and waterfalls which never cease its flow even when there's El Niño. On upland, you can see shrubs and spices planted by locals.

 At the campsite, the view and fog was amazing.Everything for me is a new experience- sleeping in a tent, experienced the fog in the top of the mountain with the frequent rainfalls,eating an "adidas" or chicken feet with it's nail's still intact and drinking the very cold water from the spring. With it's surrounding waters like rivers and waterfall, you may enjoy taking a bath but I decided not to because the climate above is already freezing. It was like I am in a rain-forest. The local government are really extending their efforts to protect the watershed of Manunggal as it was part of a law sponsored by one of Cebu's Congressman Gullas known as the "Central Cebu Protected Landscape". In estimation, it took us  5 to 7 hours to reach the mountain. That was long hours of trekking indeed and to think we haven't eaten breakfast but the fun experience was there that I would definitely say it was my trip beyond the usual. It's beyond ordinary trips of relaxing,food trip or luxurious one. it was a trip of discovering what we should be thankful of that mother earth has given to us and realize how important it is to conserve them.