MT. BATONG-LUSONG | Tanay, Rizal

Wake up before sunrise

MT. BATONG-LUSONG | Brgy. San Andres, Tanay, Rizal

Rizal, easterly sits from Manila, completes the Southern Tagalog Region – CALABARON.  Its provincial capital is Antipolo, serves as its opening wedge for an urbanized trade and industry. Its dominant language is Tagalog, while Roman Catholic dominates the religious sector. Its topography is very mountainous with manageable slopes, which is appropriate for beginner hikers; water inlet and beautiful waterfalls can be points of interest too.

HOW TO GET TO MT. BATONG-LUSONG | 

Rizal, whether you are coming from the southern or northern part of the metropolis, is very accessible via public land transportation. Cubao, as the point of entry, would be the most accessible route from Quezon City. It is also within reached from Ortigas, Mandaluyong, Marikina and Bulacan.

From Araneta Town Center, Cubao, Quezon City

1. Ride a PUJ or SUV bound for Antipolo; get off at Ynares Center. Travel time depends on the traffic condition but usually takes about an hour; fare is Php 45-50.

2. Ride a PUJ bound for Rizal or Cogeo; get off at Marilaque Diversion Hiway on Sta. Ines Road or Batangas Junction. Travel time takes an hour and a half to two.

3. Hail a tricycle bound for Barangay San Andres (Barangay Hall) Travel time is 20-30 mins; fare is Php 50/head (max occupancy of 4 pax).

4. Register at the municipal hall and pay applicable environmental fees, and hire a tourist guide. A local guide would normally charge Php 500 for a day hike and Php 1200 for an overnight camping; this rate is the same if you are a solo hiker or travelling as a group.

Ratio | 1 guide:5 pax = Php 500

5. Now, move your ass and start the climb!

POINTERS | 

• If you are travelling as a group, hiring a private vehicle is highly advisable and more cost-efficient.
• Try to leave Manila at midnight so you could start the trek just before dawn, and be able to catch sunrise from atop!
• There are two campsites available. Restrooms are only provided at the foot of the mountain, the other one is at the diversion loop: the descent trail that leads back to the jump-off point and the trail leading to Kay-Ibon Waterfalls, where 2 sari-sari stores are being housed. Php 5 is charged for urine and Php 10 if it comes with the works (if you get what I mean, hahaha!). If nature calls in during the time when these facilities are afar, secure a spot and do dig!
• After a long day’s hike, wash-up areas are provided either by your local guide or you may opt to do it at Sangab Cave, where shower areas are installed for a minimum fee of Php 20/head.
• Sangab Cave, a 20-30 minute trek would lead you back to the municipal hall (jump-off point).
• Sunscreen, hydrate and cushion your toes. p

And as always, GET LOST ♡

THE CLIMB |

For mondays are like mountain trails:

long, rugged and forested with grumpy shrubs.

May we all find our own kind of balance.

At the crack of dawn on a Sunday, with favorable weather condition, a leisure ascent was started by our group from the foot of Barangay San Andres. If ever you would decide to climb this giant, you’d get to pass rice fields a few meters from the jump-off point, and so you must too, expect a muddy trail at the beginning of the trek. A few more advances would reveal thick layers of barn, clothing the wide curved area of the land. There are scarcely trees around the area that provide shade for intermittent periods of rest; huge rocks are generally scattered along Mapatag Na Bato might be of help to salvage your cool.

Walang magnum, haagendazs, cornetto,  benandjerrys, coldstone o gelato sa taas. Pero kapag sinuwerte ka, baka makabili ka ng Iced Buko ni Manong. Manginginig mga manufacturers ng brands na to kapag natikman nila ang pinoy version niya. Wala masyadong the works pero sakto. #klasik

POINTS OF INTEREST |

KAY-IBON WATERFALLS

sunbed

Following approximately an hour descent from the summit, would lead you to one the buried sparklers of the mountain – Kay-Ibon Waterfalls. Key features are: lush greens backdrop, solid rock formations at the bottom, and a brief drop upon the uninterrupted shallow bed. No camping gears were sighted in the area as its topography lacks a solid flat land, but very ideal for a quick swim after a day hike. A small store that is sited atop, just before the downhill trail towards the falls, sells basic goods and cold beverages.

SANGAB CAVE

kweba de entrada

Just about half an hour of descent from the topmost trail of Kay-Ibon Falls, and a 20-30 rough road ride via trike along Sta. Ines Road,  is the humble underground beauty – the Sangab Cave. A large tropical garden opens the gates of wonder, leading to the narrow and dark mouth of the cave. Guides would charge Php 600 for a tour inside, or you might just find pleasure lounging on the grassland as you get a windswept hairdo. The trek time in going back to the Municipal Hall from the cave is just approximately 20 minutes.

Malling and shopping?

No, my love, into the woods and camping.

DANG! When you have reached it!

About face.

I'd trade the world to have a 10 minute conversation with this old man

THE STORYTELLER | 

We have all heard it, travelling makes a good storyteller. But, there are moments when we are set against words to fully recount an experience. It is as if we are still learning how to configure numbers, shapes or the letters of the alphabet. Almost too often, we become the story, and whether we like it or not, the world becomes our storyteller.