Category: Benguet

11th Christmas Ed Kapangan: Five Years Later…

So tell me, how has the new year been treating you? Doing fantabulous already? Or still too early to tell? Personally, I’m still trying to get used to writing 2020 instead of 2019, as is always the case when a new year rolls in. But we’ll get there. But that doesn’t mean that 2019 is completely out of the radar, because it has been quite the year of adventure and new experiences, for me, for you, and for everyone. And this is another experience, albeit no longer a new one, that will never get old: my round two with Christmas Ed Kapangan.

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Badi Falls in Kapangan, Benguet (with IgoAdventure)

It’s that time of the year again. The so-called Adivay Festival of my province, Benguet. The month-long celebration ends in about a week, and before that happens, I thought it fitting to post about this now, that time I went on a dayhike-slash-climb of Badi Falls in Kapangan, as organized by IgoAdventurePH, a Cordillera-based group bound by their love for the great outdoors and adventure while doing good on the side. Incidentally, IgoAdventures is a recipient of this year’s Everlasting Award at the Adivay, for its contributions to various schools and individuals in the province. Well-deserved, ka-IGO! (Warning: A bit image-heavy, but that should no longer come as a surprise, should it?)

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The Binanga Falls in Shilan, La Trinidad, Benguet

Confession time: I’ve lived all my life in La Trinidad (give or take a couple of years), and I never even knew there are waterfalls located within a 6-kilometer radius. Like, it takes less than half an hour to get there. And here I thought my level of awareness was relatively, well, respectable. But still, it’s good to be surprised at times, and this is one type of surprise I wouldn’t mind getting. Continue reading “The Binanga Falls in Shilan, La Trinidad, Benguet” →

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First Climb for 2019: Mt. Ugo Traverse (From Kayapa, Nueva Vizcaya to Tinongdan, Itogon, Benguet) Pt. 2

Normally, when you’re exhausted, it takes no effort at all to fall into sleep. But I doubt that any of us got a decent shut-eye that night because, despite the blankets, it was hella cold. Especially towards the dawn, I think the temperature dropped somewhere between 6 and 8 degrees Celsius. And the wind was so strong, too, that I thought a storm was coming. When the lights turned on at 3:00 am, everyone just roused easily, mayhap because they have been awake all along.

For my part, I woke up countless times through the night, checking the time on my phone and feeling frustrated, thinking “WHY ISN’T IT 3 AM YET!”
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First Climb for 2019: Mt. Ugo Traverse (From Kayapa, Nueva Vizcaya to Tinongdan, Itogon, Benguet) Pt. 1

Like everyone else, I have high hopes for 2019, and it goes without saying that I also look for ways to start the year “right”, and by “right”, I mean by doing something I love and enjoy. My first climb for 2019 (and I say that with certainty, because this sure as hell ain’t going to be my last and only one for this year!) involved traversing through the much-climbed Mt. Ugo, starting from the municipality of Kayapa in Nueva Vizcaya on the first day, and ending at Brgy. Tinongdan in Itogon, Benguet the following day.

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Chasing Waterfalls in Poblacion, Bakun Pt. 4: MANGTA FALLS

“Save the best for last” is definitely a phrase that applies in this situation, because as we’ve come to the last waterfall in our Chasing Waterfalls in Bakun adventure last June, it also happens to be the best one. For me, personally. This is my second visit to Mangta Falls, and dare I say that it felt like the first time, but even better?

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Chasing Waterfalls in Poblacion, Bakun Pt. 3: PATTAN FALLS

Who said chasing waterfalls is a piece of cake? It definitely isn’t, especially when you have to do it under a drizzle, progressing to a shower, then to a downpour. But here’s an upside: once you arrive at the waterfall, getting soaked is no longer such a big deal. In fact, you’d most definitely welcome it. As I did once we got to Pattan Falls.

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Chasing Waterfalls in Poblacion, Bakun Pt. 2: PIKAW and SAKUP FALLS

“If you are scared, you can’t see beauty. Fear kills your ability to see beauty.” These were words uttered by actor Will Smith in one of his vlogs of a family vacation they had somewhere in Italy. And I’d have to agree with what he said, because I have seen a lot of people fail to appreciate nature because they are afraid of this or that when, in the first place, they haven’t even tried it, much less stepped one foot out the door.

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Chasing Waterfalls in Poblacion, Bakun Pt. 1: TEKIP FALLS

Strong – and seemingly nonstop – rains, combined with relentless winds, is one of two things that, in my opinion, can put a damper on a most anticipated adventure. (The other one would be “lousy company”, in case you’re wondering.) I’ve had my fair share of being caught in the middle of an adventure or exploratory trip with the rain pouring, and I gotta say it does screw up even the best-laid plans all around. But there is one adventure that we can still totally rock, yes, even in a downpour. In fact, I think it can actually make the view better. What adventure, you ask? That would be chasing waterfalls.

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The Longog Cave in Balakbak, Kapangan, Benguet

The other day, on the way home from two days of chasing waterfalls, I found myself on familiar roads, and not just because it happens to be in Kapangan, my father’s hometown. There was the Amburayan Bridge where I rappelled off of some years back; the roadside store-cum-coffee stop where we leisurely waited for time to pass… and then I was reminded about my most recent visit to the area, and how I haven’t made a post about it. Yet.

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A Day Hike Up Mt. Pigingan in Itogon, Benguet

Over the past several months, I have been high-key missing the great outdoors, specifically the mountains. It’s just that time was a bit short and there weren’t a lot of opportunities for me to do so. Or the lack of time made it so that I wasn’t able to spot those opportunities. But on one of those very few times that I actually bothered reading through my Facebook feed, I saw an event organized by The Cordilleran Sun, and thought, “why the hell not?”

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Revisiting the Four Lakes of Kabayan, Pt 2: Latep-Ngapos & Bulalakaw Lake

I cannot pinpoint exactly when I developed a deep affection for the great outdoors or nature in general. Sure, I’ve always known that it was something that is worth appreciating, ergo, protecting, but to actively seek it out was not exactly my thing when I was younger and was still going to school. Somewhere along the way, I just started craving to go out there, up there, breathing and soaking it all in. And I like that I live in a place where I can readily do that, even if it requires some commute or a bit of travel.

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Revisiting the Four Lakes of Kabayan, Pt 1: Tabeyo Lake, Incolos Lake + Jr. Pulag

I’ve recently gone back to reading actual, tangible books – you know, the one where you get to flip and fold actual paper instead of swiping or tapping a screen – and it made me feel like setting foot on something solid again. Admittedly, though, I am easing into it slowly, so the pace is not like before, when I practically devoured books. But it’s a start, and to be honest, I don’t think I’d want to go back to that manic reading pace I was on. I guess what I’m saying is that it is nice to go back to old habits, especially the ones that you know were really, really good for you. Or, at the very least, made you feel good. And while we’re at it, let me continue with the reminiscence as I give you a two-parter on my second visit to the Four Lakes in Kabayan a few months back.

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La Trinidad Eats: Kafe Gipas

Wow. It’s been quite a while since my last post. November was pretty packed, you see. First, there was the Bontoc-Sagada trip, followed by an annual convention at PICC, with days of work in between. And, afterwards, “mouse finger” happened. Seriously, though, I’d pick sore muscles and even aching legs over the pain on my right index finger ANY DANG DAY. Still recovering today, actually. Acupressure ball’s been my best bud lately. But enough of that, and let’s talk food!

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