Hiking Meagan

When you hike, you just don’t get to conquer a mountain, you get to conquer yourself with all its weaknesses and fears. There’s just this urge that visits me around when I know I have an upcoming climb. It’s just something that makes me think less and become excited more.

Yes, it could be so much better with my girlfriends in these trips. But I  think that’s just one dream that seems impossible to come true, otherwise, it’ll take about five years.

As we age, plans become more difficult to fulfill, but of course, acting on these plans immediately will definitely bring the best results we are eyeing for ourselves. Dreams are planned. They don’t just happen, do they? Dreams demand sacrifices, action, hard work, dedication, and perseverance.
There are so much realizations you have when you get to hike and conquer a mountain. By conquer, I mean, owning what you’re seeing and feeding your soul with more power and happiness.

I started to try hiking when I was twenty. I have had climbed six mountains since then because of my limited days off and schedule conflicts. My first was in Mt. Pamitinan, Rizal in January 2017. That was the first time I ever appreciated being tired and overwhelmed at the same time. The slopes were treacherous and the height was nerve wrecking which took us two hours to climb. It was rocky and there was traffic above. You get to expect a lot of people during weekends. But as everybody say, it’s all worth it.

It was DIY kind of trip. You just have to ride an FX  from Cubao going to Rizal. And ususally, in their covered courts, the registration booths are ready to welcome hikers with the guides waiting for their guests. It was 500.00 every guide. Being early is the key to getting best guides and better view. Less hikers as the highlight if you want to get the best shots.

Second was in Mt. Gulugod Baboy in Batangas. These first two were just minor trails, five or seven out of ten. It was in December 2017. There was a good spot for camping at the top. It rained so it was like sleeping in the mud on our tent. It was indeed very cold in there as there was even a storm that time. There are bus liners in Taft Avenue in Pasay. We rode the Jam Liner bus for an hour and a half, took a jeepney upon reaching Batangas grand terminal, rode another two hours to Mabini, Batangas then registered before hiking.

This was another DIY trip and you can climb freely as long as you know the route or if you’re with experienced hikers.

Third was in Mt. Ulap on February 2018. This one is a major. A five hour hike to the top. Unfortunately, the sea of clouds was at the other side of the mountains, still, every view was beautiful. It was a day hike and I am a joiner this time, together with my friend Jie and her boyfriend, Brad. There were three peaks. I can say, watching the sun rise while you’re on top of the mountains is one if the best.

When hiking, aside from being priceless, it also wakes up your soul and lets you cling to yourself and even makes you listen to yourself. Number one rule in hiking is to never leave marks and trails. Especially garbages. And if you smoke or cook up there, you better know how to throw them properly. No one wants to go to the jail after a good hike.

You climb to get memories, experience freedom and create inspiration. Because that’s how hiking is supposed to be. Mt. Ulap is located in Itogon Benguet so if you’re a joiner, everything is included from van transfers, guide fee, driver fee, organizers’ fee, food sometimes. So you really don’t have to worry except your climb and trail foods and clothes. It took us about ten hours which includes ascending time, lunch, rest time, and descending.

When you hike, you just don’t conquer yourself, if you’re some introvert and you manage to go on this type of activity often, you’ll slightly learn somehow to interact easily, become friends with other hikers and even tour guides and locals. One of the best things about this adventure aside from boosting self love is that, you’ll also get to share your happiness with strangers who are also trying to find their own happiness.

Happiness after all is another version of success. I cannot define success more than just being happy. We could have all the money, but that does not necessarily define and guarantee happiness within us. If you found what you’re finding, if you’re doing what you love, if you keep that positivity in you, if you get to see the natural creation while standing at a mountain top, then you’re one of the lucky people in the world who has time to define what being real happy means.

Pin pointing your passion and what we love to do most is always subjective. Why? Because you only get to decide on your own;

Whether it’s who you want, what you want, how do you want it, why you want it, where do you want to do it and when do you want to do it. Familiar? The five W’s and H. These are key questions in again, defining what makes us happy. Your options are always available to you and it’s just a matter of choosing what works best for you.

Down to my fourth climb. A very hot summer in April 2018. It was in Mt. Bira-Bira (binabalik-balikan) mountain in Zambales.  I joined my friend Jie’s first self organized hike. So most of us knew each other. I brought my sister here. It took us four hours to get to Nagsasa cove. A hike plus beach this time. It was also a day hike.

My fifth was in Mt. Mt. Marami in Maragondon, Cavite. We were supposed to also visit the Pantihan falls but it was too late as there were hikers who can’t make it to the top or those first timers who don't usually do cardio exercises have weak endurance, which are inevitable.

Then my sixth and my first hike this 2019 was in Mt. Batolusong in Tanay, Rizal. I was with Gelo, my high school batch mate. He invited me to this event, together with some familiar friends from my Mt. Ulap trip, like Christian.

See, there’s a lot of people you can get involved with and are willing to have fun. They are experienced hikers so we did not have any problems wth the slopes, heat, and the major trail. It took us three hours to mke it to the top, three peaks, just like Mt. Ulap. Duhat was the first peak,  then Plateau (the ‘patag’ ones), and last, Rangyes Peak which you would need a rope to be able to make it to the top. Abd the way down was more if just going down, litereally, it's slippery, dry, and dusty. So it also helps if you bring a mask with you.

We started at 5:00 in the morning and finished at 8:30 am. We were then able to make it to the jumpoff at around 11:00 am. One of the fun parts as well is when you get to take a bath and feel the cold water running out of the pipe like a baby trying to get her first bath.

All you really need is arrange schedules, at least prepare your body and go for a cardio workout to help condition your body before the hike if you’re not that active in working out, prepare your budget, don’t eat too much on the way up (you can make up for your tiresome hike after you take a bath and eat whatever you want at the jumpoff LOL), bring what’s only appropriate like flash light, water, face towel, cap, jacket, and light snacks for trail foods. Though I still struggle with packing lighlty, I am working on it. (Wink!)

In addition, you'll know what you’re craving for when you’re tired. Me, it’s just pancit canton with egg, a very very cold small bottle of coke, my pictures taken by my hike mates, and my neat clothes on after a fresh bath. LOL.

Don’t ever tell your parents how high you’re climbing, you have to first make it before telling them. You know you’re safe when you follow the rules in a hike, when you don’t separate yourself from the tour guides or fellow hikers, and you’re wearing your ready to kill hike outfit! Those are the things I do. And my fellow hikers just thinks I’m weird and funny at the same time that I always interview the tour guide and joke around them.

I just had so much fun hiking that I just had today to make a journal like kind of blog about my experiences. Not too many mountains I've hiked yet, but many more to climb and get astounded to. It’s not only sunrise and sunsets in the mountains that make it best. Because when you live in the city, you barely get to see stars as well. So I always am in awe whenever I see inter-galactic creatures, wherever province it is that I am.

Lastly, the question I always hear is that, “Why do these young people spend money to get tired?”

Well, it’s just priceless when you get yourself to the top! When you haven't experienced or you haven’t witnessed yet what kind of nature’s beauty  is out there, you actually haven’t seen anything yet. Thay's for real.

Because not only you will see green all around you, but you get to see through the view. You get to see your soul in freedom and peace. In good condition and health. Most of all, you get to realize how to properly treat yourself. It is to give whatever it demands to have. #

All these photos were taken from my last hike. So please visit my social media accounts to see the other hiking activities !

Please check my photos
ON facebook: Meagan Mangoma
Instagram: @chasingmeagan

Thank you!

Nagsasa & Anawangin Cove Zambales via Mt. Bira-Bira

Your beach babies, monsieur.

Okay, so this trip had cost each of us, Php1, 300.00. Transportation, food, tour guide fee, boat rental with island tour were already included. Yes!

Four months ago, in April 14, at night, me and my sister went to one of the nearest summertowns in Manila. I decided to tag my sister along as it’s summer, it’s her vacation in school and is not doing anything at home anyway.

Of course, as I had been mentioning in my blogs like the one in Magsasa Beach Cove and Mt. Ulap trail (which you can check here at meaganstravelogue.blogspot.com), Jie invited me again to this day hike and island tour. We have this shared desire for mountains and cliffs and beaches. Just like any other independent and single girl would, when they are invited by their friends and they say yes without second thoughts, their answer’s a straight ‘yes’. In Filipino language, they are “kaladkarin”. LOL

So we took a cab to Eton Centris in Quezon City where the meeting place is. They’ve let me sit beside a man who I think for God’s sake hadn’t had any girlfriend in his life. So I just went with the flow and enjoyed the trip with of course, my own playlist on spotify. As far as I remember, there were 13 of us in the van. It was a four hour trip to Zambales and we arrived at the house of the tour guides. We were guided by this little dark man who walks so fast, he’s for the fast and furious haha. Before leaving, we had our light breakfast at their place, a hotdog, egg and sandwich was enough then. Luckily, I haven’t encountered a tour guide that’s not accommodating yet.

God it was a very beautiful morning. At 4:00 am, the starlight zone was still at its brightest, big, and feels so near. They were shining as if the sun won’t substitute their glimmer and glamour anymore. And my eyes were shining so bright like they are that morning. What made me feel more native is the aura of the locals. They were kind, smiles widely and cares so much like my parents do.

MT. BIRA-BIRA (BINABALIK-BALIKAN) – You’ll keep coming back for this.

We started the trail right after we ate. I always wanted to go first when I do trekking. I want to see the view first before my co-hikers do. Even if kuya Rodel was walking fast and furious, I managed to be at his pace. So is my sister’s pace, she was tired but she had long legs so she didn’t have trouble catching up. Haha!

It was a four-hour hike. We started while it was dark. So if you come here, make sure to bring flashlights and trail foods like biscuits and of course, water. As the sun rose at 6:00am, the mountains became orange. What once was dark spot with a sky full of stars became green and orange, and a combination of it with the blue skies above. Sweat and fatigue will be well paid I said. So here I'm sharing you some of my photos from Instagram (@chasingmeagan).

Of course, the view is amazing. There’s this top of the mountain spot where you’ll see the sea extending to the other city there may be across it. It’s like you own the world here. It was very open. And it translates to you feeling open. To yourself and to the other people. This brought my mind to liberation. I have been independent for two years now. And being liberated is a part of it. Being separated and alone but not feeling lonely is something that I think highly of as a gift. Not everyone can have that positive vibe and view in life. I have been saying this in almost every blog I post.

You can refer to (@meagansmotivations.blogpot.com) where I kept talking about seeing the bright in the dark and the positive in negative. Even if your boyfriend already cheated on you, you see the advantage in it. It’s never easy to manage our own life much more than we manage other people’s emotion towards us. It’s something that I adore so much when I see women like me who live independently.

So we descended, at 8:00am, the sun’s heat was striking tremendously but we kept up with it because we’re almost at our destination.

THE ZAMBALES BEACH COVE

So I unpacked my whole wheat bread and everyone joked around, that there should not be a diet plan. We were tired and should eat more. But I still stayed with the plan as the food there was pretty expensive like one gallon costs Php200 and I’ve got bikini shoot to do with my sister!

THE PHOTOSHOOT!

Fast forward to dressing up, removing the marks of tiredness, me and my sister Jessa took a bath together in

one of the rest rooms and put on our bikinis! I wore a stripe one, color blue and transparent light brown square pants. We arrived at the hut and they were watching. We flaunted, because we can! And everyone should be able to do that, no body shaming please.

So we got another company, my sister’s other half at that time who became our photographer. We achieved part of the bloggers Vern and Verniece Enciso’s H&M bikini posts, hi girls! Except that it was not photographed by a professional one and we didn’t have too sexy bodies yet. LOL.

Guys, you will be able to have a lot of time to spend here, you can stay until 4:00pm, take some dip in the sea, take a deep breath of the fresh air because you don’t encounter this everyday when you are living in the metro, drink alcohol, talk about life in the island, play some cool music, do a cartwheel by the shore because there are no pebbles to pick. The sand was a bit dark. Of course Zambales is not a place for white beaches like Palawan. But it’s a place where the sea is surrounded by beautiful mountains.

A small bridge going to the camp site.

Afterwhich, we were picked by the boat and did the island hopping. From NAGSASA COVE we headed to ANAWANGIN COVE. We were about to go to the island where they let tourists do cliff jump but my friends at the time were too drunk and our boat almost got wrecked at the sea. So we got help from the other sailing boats and stayed at Anawangin cove where there’s bridge, where you can camp, no entrance fees.

There was even a big pond there. It is very Instagram photo friendly. In this area, only few people stay as it is for those who wants to spend the night by camping in a mini forest.

After getting our boat fixed, we went on a roller coaster ride at the beach. The sea was not so calm and the fun was more on the journey to our destination. Again, another realization, the challenge most of the time contains more of the excitement when you are still on your way to your dreams than when you already reached it. It’s amazing how you will look back and smile as you imagine how tough ad rough it has been for you all along. But you still thank God for your life. That you are able to do things you want to.

And dream requires every sacrifice you will ever be able to give. Every mistake you will be committing is waiting for you right there. Time, effort, commitment, strength, bravery, determination, courage, money, everything will cost you for your dream. It’s risky, but it’s going to be worthwhile. Of course, there’s reality and expectation. Know what you are able to do and do it. Action and dream is not too far from each other. Remember that when you start moving, you start moving. Slowly as may seem, but you’re on your way.

So going back!

We went home at 7:00pm after we took a bath at one of the houses at the main port which offer their comfort rooms and extension for charging for public use at a minimal payment, around Php20.00, and arrived in Manila at 11:00pm as it was traffic at SLEX. It was a day to remember. Another memory to cherish.

If you have questions, ask me and leave your comments here.

Thank you so much!

‘Til next time! ;)

Some cute sized guitar keychains are everywhere! (Php 30.00)

Sunset at Anawangin Cove.

Middle of the day at Nagsasa Cove.

A small lake at Anawangin Cove.

MT. ULAP, BENGUET, PHILIPPINES

You can actually see these photos on my instagram @chasingmeagan.

It has been three years since I went to Baguio. I stayed here for two months, through the summer of my third year in college. I rendered my on the job training here, one month for a publishing firm for the writing field, the Luzon Morning Sun and ABS-CBN for my production experience. It was fun, nevertheless, it was so much more fun when I went here using my own money for the first time. My friend Jie invited me to this adventure (as she always do). LOL. I remember, we occupied the same place when we were rendering our OJT here in Baguio. Who knew that after three years, we’ll be scheduled to do an adventure here?

But this time, it was in Benguet in what they call Mt. Ulap. Ulap is an Ilokano word, it means clouds. So we’re free to call it the mountain of sea of clouds. We went up as early as 5:00am and was able to reach the peak at around 10am. It was a mind-blowing 5-hour trek, and that’s been my longest trail so far.

Climbing down the hills took us 1 and a half hour. And there was a station where you could buy souvenirs and shirts. On the way up, since it was dark and the light of the sun was slightly showing up, it looked like sunset more than that of a sunrise. It’s cold and you can see the skies are really just right in front of your face and up your head. We did not feel the heat until it was 8:00am, there’s also a pool of people, sea of people wandering, and people soul-searching. But me, I have one thing in mind, it’s to capture the grandeur a natural scene has to offer. I wanted to take my jackets off and show off to the nature, but it was not appropriate. What’s appropriate was that I conquered the trail and I survived the way up with the group.

If you’re asking how we went there, it was an organized trip by a travel partners Christian Anievas and Kaezen Lagrimas. We rented 2 vans, met at the Greenfield district in Pasig City. The travel time was no more than 5 hours.

We paid 900 pesos for the transpo and travel guide fee then we had to pay environmental fee at the barangay hall of Itogon, Benguet before we were assigned to 2 guides. Ours was nanay Susan. She was 55 years old and still had the guts to climb up there!

But if you go on your own, you can ride a bus like Victory Liner and Genesis that can be found in Cubao. The fare is around 400 for every way and upon reaching the city of Baguio, you can ride a jeepneu bound to Itogon, stop at their barangay hall and look for a group or a vacant guide who could take you up there. I was not able to ask how much it eas for every guide though as ut was already covered on our trip.

A good thing about going on a hike with a large group is that you laugh together and get tired together. I even encountered one of ABS-CBN’s staff, a familiar face from my OJT days, Armand Yaccib, now a photographer. We talked and took a photo, until my friends were looking for me already. LOL.

Going off the cliffs was easier as it only took one and a half hour. But it was a different ache, that was more of a squeeze at the back feet and back.
The vast space, the greenery, the best view I have ever seen out of the mountains I climbed, the sea of clouds playing at the top of the mountains and the biggest rocks which can be climbed any time to see how high we have been since we started climbing. That’s the definition of luxury and relaxation for most of the travelers. It’s how your clothes have been soaked from your sweat.

It’s the rest you feel in tiredness that comes with hiking here. It’s the perfect view that comes with the falling sweat on your face. It’s the laughter with the people you’re with that comes with the darkening of your face because of being near to the sun. It’s every second that you go up, it’s every meter that you walk and run that brings you closer to the peak. It’s the courage that you have when you tell yourself you can’t anymore.

They say travelling lets you see more of yourself, lets you realize more of your goals, and make you dream more. And to me, it feels like these adventure I’ve been doing had done more to me. I feel more vibrant, motivated, more positive, more forgiving, patient, beautiful, worthwhile and dreamt bigger.

After an hour of trip from the foggy mountainous from Benguet, we stopped over Good Taste in Baguio City. It was the most famous eatery in the city as it is near the mainstream destinations like the Burnham park, Baguio church, Oh My Gulay restau at the Azotea building at session road and the place for bus and jeep terminals going to the mountain province. The plce was quite big and the food tastes good enough for a restaurant that serves a large number of crowd. Moreover, its cheap! For a hundred and twenty pesos, it shall satisfy your stomach for bout 5-6 hours!

So after that good food experience, we went back to Manila at 6pm, because we were too tired, we were not able to buy local goods anymore and slept inside the van instead. You can call that part of adulting. LOL.

It was 10pm when we arrived in Manila. And the rest was sleep story and fatigue story in the morning.

Until next time! By the way, you can visit my IG @chasingmeagan and @meagan_streetphotography guys.
Thank you so much!

A TREACHEROUS ENCOUNTER - MT. PAMITINAN, RIZAL

Mt. Pamitinan, Rizal, PH

**Nearest Sea of Clouds from Manila**

If you're on a cardio-vascular exercise, this is for you. But test first your endurance. Know how far you can go first. Knowing your capability is a must in this game.

**Don't be like me**

**5:30am**

We rode an FX (public vehicle) routed to Antipolo. They can be found under the Cubao MRT Station.

I went on a trek straight from a night shift work, it was 8:00am when we arrived at Antipolo and guess what, good thing that I did not stumble along the way. One advantage of being young. Funny part is, our guide to the mountains was the first one to give up. She was vomiting when we haven’t reached the half of th trail yet. LOL. So we sent her down the mountains instead. It was a two-hour trek. And there's a lot of people going down and up, it was traffic in the mountains that day.

**What's good about what I did**

We ate before we climbed. I packed a bottle of water. I wore a T.S. 1989 shirt with gray leggings, cheap gloves for the rocks, rubber shoes bought from a young mum, and a military green colored watch. I was far from being wounded. LOL. That’s so literary!

**The view**

It was a complete view of scattered greenery, mountains, a long river, the city from afar. And we were moving upwards, passing by and holding on rocks and trees using them as guide to treacherous slopes. Sadly, it was already late morning when we reached the peak. :(

But I spent this trek with two of my college mates. All of us had a good endurance going up straight and down for 4 hours in total so it was not a problem at all!

And of course, my body was all exhausted when I arrived in my room. Exactly what to expect when you haven’ slept at all, went to te mountains for a day hike, and eating just after arriving in the city.

I arrived at my dorm 2 hours after and still I was tired. I was, I guess, over fatigued. I only drank water, changed clothes, washed a bit, then slept until morning of Sunday.

**And I was so hungry I couldn’t go down the stairs straight**

Didn't imagine myself being hungry like that. But I stood up, shaking and really hungry, then ate and told everyone what I did the day before. To me, aside from posting on social media, everyone should also know I did something fun and exciting.

Travel thoughts?

It's always a great feeling, to share what you're doing and inspire others to do it too. Not the same way as yours, but their own way. :)

You can always take a photo with these rocks!

The bridge to Terrabithia. LOL. The bridge to the mountains!