Trips - Sibuyan Island, Romblon
Adventure on Mt. Guiting-Guiting
by Kurt - kurty21@hotmail.com
First, let me introduce myself. I’m Kurt 21 years old and taking up
B.S. Biology. I’m a Chinese-Filipino citizen. My ancestry is pure
Chinese, but I was born in the Philippines. The thing I like most here
is the places in the Islands. My first adventure happened this year.
The place was Sibuyan Island which is part of Romblon province. There
are 3 main islands of Romblon: Tablas Island, Romblon Island, and Sibuyan
Island. I went to Sibuyan Island last May 1997 during my summer vacation.
It was 3 a.m. when I left my home in Tablas Island, my parents were
still asleep. I rode the FX jeep for 2 hours to get to San Agustin to catch
the boat for Sibuyan. I was alone. When I arrived at the pier, I didn’t
know what to do because my dad’s friend, Uncle Ando, did not arrive to
pick me up. It was a good thing I brought my mountain bike with me and
I still remembered where his house was. I saw him waiting at the door,
so I greeted him good morning.
The first day, Uncle Ando introduced me to some kids (about 18 years
old) who were very friendly. They took me to Cantingas Falls. The place
was a flowing river from a cold spring coming from the top of a mountain.
I did not stay in the water too long because the water is really cold.
The place was surrounded with thick forest on all sides.
On my second day, I caught some flying lizards in their backyard and
I went biking around the town. The people are friendly but everybody was
watching me. Maybe they thought that I was a foreigner. Later that afternoon
I went swimming at the beach.
On the third day, I started feeling bored at the house and told Uncle
Ando that I wanted to climb Mt. Guiting-Guiting (2,050 m) just for fun.
He asked, “Are you sure?” I said yeah, maybe, he! he! he! (I wasn’t really
prepared to climb). Uncle Ando said OK then, you will go this noon to the
other town and bring your things. You can ask the housekeeper (he had another
house in Magdiwang) to help you find a forest guide.
I met the forest guide that night and we talked a little and he seemed
very kind. He didn’t ask for much money because I'm the only one who was
going to climb so there's not much problem for him. I agreed to pay him
150 pesos but he again asked "Are you sure you want to climb that mountain?"
I spent the night in that small house with a kid named Bornok. The place
has no electricity and the mosquitoes made a nice dinner with my feet.
Early the next day, Bornok and I had breakfast prepared by the housekeeper.
We met the forest guide at around 6 a.m. Also with me was the son of the
housekeeper whose name I forgot. He carried our lunch. Bornok carried my
small backpack full of mineral water. They refused to let me carry my things.
They were very nice and hospitable people.
We walked about 1 km to the base of the mountain. Although we don’t
share the same religion (I’m a Catholic) with the forest guide (who was
7th Day Adventist) we all prayed together before we started the climb .
The trail started up but I couldn’t see where it led because a thick
forest covered the whole mountain. Along the way I saw unusual plants,
big and small trees, and different orchid species climbing trees everywhere.
Some of the trees were cut by illegal loggers. The first stop was the first
rest station. It was only a brief rest because there wasn’t a shelter but
just a clearing. There are four stations on trail to the peak with about
2-km between each. The ground is sometimes slippery especially when the
trail is very steep. I slipped only twice I think. We reached the second
station but there was little to see. I took some pictures and gathered
some samples of unusual plants. Most were orchids that I had never seen
before. Off we go again and I was really worried about the stamina of the
kids with me. But I saw them behind me and they were singing with my Walkman
in their ears, and I said to myself maybe they are probably used to walking
long distances.
I was getting tired and always ask the forest guide if the 3rd station
was near. He said yes about five times during the 3 hour climb toward the
3rd station. Finally, we reached the 3rd station and I laid on the floor
and was really exhausted. The rest of the group seemed not to be so tired.
It was already noontime so the son of the housekeeper prepared the food
but I was too tired to help. Bornok was still singing along with my Walkman.
He was really funny. We all took our lunch and rested for awhile.
I saw some hermit land crabs walking towards me. Birds were signing in
the treetops but I couldn’t see them. I also heard unusual croaks of frogs.
We started back down at about 1 p.m. I couldn’t reach the 4th station
anymore because I was too tired and my head was aching. Going down was
as hard as climbing up. My left knee was uncontrollable because all my
weight was on it. As I touched the ground my knees bend and there wasn’t
much strength. I rested frequently on the way down because of my knees.
The forest guide noticed that a leech was clinging to my back. He had a
hard time taking it of without injuring my skin. I brought the leech with
me (it was colorful). There were a lot of animal droppings on the
trail from different cat species. The forest guide told me that there are
still many leopard cats roaming the mountain. The leopard cat is an endemic
species and is endangered. There was also a picture taken before by some
mountaineers of a fox-like dog roaming the mountain. Many foreigners climb
the mountain to search for undiscovered plant and animal species. Recently
they discovered the smallest bat and three new rodents. Plants are gathered
for medical research.
I reached the base of the mountain at around 5:30 p.m. and I was really
exhausted. As I reached home, Uncle Ando was trying to reach us on the
radio since one o’clock that afternoon asking if I had arrived. I think
he was worried that something might have happened to me. Previously, four
University of the Philippines mountaineers died on the mountain because
they lost the trail and were caught in a flash flood.
The next day I had to leave and I gave 100 pesos each to Bornok and
the son of the housekeeper for their help. At first they hesitated to accept
my money but I insisted and thanked them for their great hospitality.
I made a long-distance call to my brother in Manila and told him that
I climbed Mt. Guiting-Guiting and I said I’m OK and not to tell mom and
dad and especially not to tell Lola (grandmother).
Take me back to Bundok's Trips Page |
