More of the LOOP feat. Itikan Falls

January 9, 2010 


Blissful Saturday morning, January 9, 2010. Standing on the extensive summit plateau of Mt. Mabilog. With clear skies, on a 360 degrees view window clearly showcasing array of distant mountains sorrounding it. Pure nature's abound handed down to mankind.

Going down from the top. On a quite intrepid mode, chose to descend the hard way. Along boulders and casdading spring waters, hopped and jumped from one rock to another towards a pool of water to cool down from the challenge and finally a refreshing wash before setting the way going home

 

Historical Day Hike

March  7, 2010 

"Balugbog" hydroelectric power plant of the Philippine Power Development Corp. Located at Brgy. Alibungbungan, Nagcarlan, Laguna.

Built between 1933-1938 and considered one of the first and oldest hydroelectric power plant in the country along with "kalibato" and "Palacpaquin" plants of San Pablo City, Laguna.

Kasumuran region is the area from Nagcarlan, Laguna to Lucban, Quezon including Mt. Banahaw, Mt. San Cristobal and Mt. Lucban (Banahaw de Lucban). Puliran Kasumuran thus means Laguna de Bay water source. Puliran Kasumuran most probably is the region from Nagcarlan (Laguna) to Mauban (Quezon).

As a testament to the vast amount of water of the Kasumuran region, the first hydroelectric power plants of the Philippines were constructed in the same region.  The Balugbog Hydroelectyric power plant gets its resources from Liliw and Nagcarlan municipal water supply which comes from mountain springs of Volcan de Agua, the Spanish name of Mt. Banahaw.

 

Tales of the missing ( Mt. Mabilog Jun 2010)

It was a good hike with only one stop on the final turn before the assault. At the summit, after pitching my hammock and laid-on for suppose to be a quick rest when I noticed my cellphone con camera is gone inside my trekking shorts' left side pocket. Oooops!!!

Immediately we descended. And while on our way down, my buddy on several times dialed my number to hopefully locate the lost cellphone on the bushy trail. While approaching the site of our rest stop I heard my cellphone rang. Bingo!

And down we went to conclude our quick Mt. Mabilog hike. Uwian na. I was about to start our ride's engine when my buddy couldn't find his newly purchased Spyder shades inside his rucksack. Ooooohhhh.....
Okay, so we went back to look for it, siyempre.

First approach...ligaw. Next approach...ligaw!!!! he he he....bakit kaya?? Kain muna tayo..parang gutom na kasi tayo kaya ganyan... While eating....."hindi naman pala tayo naliligaw..............kelangan lang daanan natin ang exact trail na nilampasan natin kanina. O, wag ka na magdahilan......aminin mo.....tinatamad ka na lang bumalik bwaha ha ha ha.......

So there we were trying to find a lost tiny object in the immense vegetation of a large paradise. Sana...pwede rin matawagan ang sunglasses para madali namin ma-track down :)

"Pahinga ulit tayo! Ang init na....kokonti na ang tubig natin......" Uuuuy, ano yan, ha? "Saging, nakuha ko sa daan. Gusto mo?" "Ayoko", I replied. "Sana buko na lang...." And while praying for a refreshing buko hunting treat, nagkatotoo nga! Ayun, ang daming buko na hindi matataas ang mga puno! Sugod!!!!!!!
Nenenenenok, nenok,nenok.....ahhhhhh.......ang sarap......!

Lika na, alas dos na! masyado na tayong natagalan dito. And so we moved on. After several minutes, while finding our way to the last turn towads the summit assault...a pomelo tree. Hmmmmm......."pwede na 'to" and so I got one and proceeded to the assault trail while holding a dear pomelo. "I stay here, you go and track down your shades towards the summit. It's just ten minutes from here". I sat down, grabbed the pomelo and peeled it. When i'ts done...kakainin ko na rin bah!!! Yey!!!!!!

Several minutes later, eto na siya. "Nakuha mo?" "Hindi eh, he replied". "Ganon? And still I encouraged my buddy to keep the faith, I said..." siguro, nandyan lang yan sa dinaanan natin pabalik....lika, hanapin natin". And so we went. After less than a kilometer hike...."pomelo na naman!!!" "Ano ba? lika, kuha ulit tayo.......kain ulit tayo, konti lang nakain mo kanina eh. Naku, mas hinog ang mga ito!"

"Ang sarap". We had 3 good pomelos inside our stomach. And so down we went again.....thenafter, a scream...."ayun!!!! ha ha....huli ka!" And so the spyder shades was found. Great!

Habang naglalakad.."sana, langka naman...o santol kaya..."
Ayan na nga ang santol! Sino ang aakyat? ayaw sumagot ng kasama ko...he he he...so, walang aakyat, tara na nga lang!

On our way back, there were enormous "bignays" and "kalumpit" to supposedly fill our cravings but no, they cannot be accommodated though. We had enough of the pomelo.

To cut the story short....the hike was exciting and fun. Ang sarap talaga pag summer.....ramdam mo ang mga biyaya ng kabundukan. Pagkain ng kaisipan at kalusugan, pag summer.....pati na rin ng tiyan!

Lazaan-Bukal Nature Hike

We will take chartered vehicle from Nagcarlan town proper to Brgy Lazaan . At the jump off point (starting point), we’ll take few minutes checking our gears and filling-up our water bottles. The concrete pavement ascend towards the foot trail will warm us up for the nature hike.

May we remind everyone again not to pick floras (and faunas) that may attract our attention along the trail. It is recommended to just satisfy ourselves by taking pictures as souvenirs as we walk our path towards our destination. Upon reaching the concrete bridge overlooking the beauteous eastern flank of Mt. Banahaw, we will regroup and take some pictures before we all together proceed to the tramline.

At the tramline, participants may wish to take a break and have a refreshing early snacks ( or late breakfast) while others take some time to enjoy the view. After everyone has arrived and cooled down, it’s time to take our group picture with the tramline and the magnificence of Mt. Banahaw as our background. Before we descend, perhaps participants may wish to buy some veggies at the locals (in season: pipino, sayote, repolyo and string beans). After which, we will take public transport going back to Nagcarlan town proper to conclude our Lazaan-Bukal nature hike. Though the highest point of our hike is about 679 masl, this is considered a “1-booter hike” since the hike inclination is only about 491 masl . About 188 masl being the elevation of our jump off point. The hike is recommended even for beginners or inexperienced hikers. Please arrive at the assembly area on time so we can arrange participants’ vehicle to bring us to our jump off point.