With summer here and school break just around the corner, you might be itching to try your hands on something new. Why not try scaling a mountain? You might discover a new love, just like Engr. Jay Nudo from the School of Sciences and Engineering did.
My very first experience of mountain climbing came about in the summer of 2011. Fueled with excitement and curiosity, I climbed Mt. Mariveles’ Tarak Ridge to behold the picturesque beauty of its landscape, the rising and setting of the sun, the comforting glow of the moon at night, and the mesmerizing patterns of stars in the sky. Tarak Ridge (1,130 MASL) is located at the west face of Mt. Mariveles in Brgy. Alas-asin, Mariveles, Bataan. I consider Mt. Mariveles as my mother mountain, a sanctuary, and a perfect place for soul-searching.
Mountaineering requires enormous physical strength. The climb through the steep trail to Tarak Ridge was physically draining, but the forest ambiance calmed me and the cool breeze perked me up until I reached the summit. The jaw-dropping scenic view from the peak of Tarak was enthralling; I was filled with so much awe!
The immense joy I felt during the first climb sparked interest from my relatives and friends to try mountaineering as well. Trekking the Tarak Ridge with them became even more exciting as we reveled together in the experience despite the discomforts. Being one with nature and the people I hold dear made me feel truly blessed. I must say mountaineering is best shared with the people close to your heart for it can also solidify bonds and strengthen relationships.
Over the last five years, mountaineering in the Philippines has been mainstreamed. New mountains have also been opened for trekking and hiking; each has been rated according to the level of difficulty of the trail.
Every mountaineer has a specific reason for their ahon. Now, I realize that my passion and love for mountaineering goes beyond the fun, excitement, burst of energy, and leisure the activity brings. When I joined a group of hikers to Mt. Ulap in Itogon, Benguet last year, my perspective about mountaineering became more broad and meaningful. From just doing a pleasurable outdoor activity, I started to make use of mountaineering as a channel to preserve the environment and reach out to the local communities. This gave birth to what I eventually coined “ahon na may misyon” (climb with a mission).
In every ahon-na-may-misyon trip, my advocacies are fulfilled with the help of relatives, friends, and fellow mountaineers. Last year, we conducted a tree-planting activity in Mt. Ulap and Christmas outreach activities in Sayo Elementary School in Dalupirip, Itogon, Benguet and in Buscalan Village, Tinglayan, Kalinga. Just recently, I organized a clean-up climb in my mother mountain to help preserve its pristine beauty.
Mt. Mariveles will always be the mountain closest to my heart no matter the difficulty. I always find solace whenever I set foot on its peak. My worst climb experience would be the trek to Mt. Damas in Camiling, Tarlac because of the extreme level of difficulty. Nevertheless, every mountain I climb is a milestone worth recounting. Kaya sama ka na! Tara na’t umahon na may misyon!
To read more stories on this feature, get the latest issue of Universitas this May.
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