Pico de Loro (and Taking Chances)

It was January 22, 2016.

The climb to Pico de Loro was scheduled the next day, and I still don't have my voice yet. I was thinking of bringing my tablet so I can communicate with the organizers through writing. Just like a mute person. Devoid of any words.

(This was also the time when I was so bored at what I do at work and I really really wanted to resign, so I sent applications to various companies. I was tired. I felt so underrated.)

I already paid the downpayment at Trail Adventours and it would be such a waste to back out. Matagal kong pinag-isipan kung tutuloy ba 'ko o hindi. But just the same, on the night of January 22, I went to the grocery to buy the stuff I need. Nanghihinayang ako kung sakaling hindi ako matuloy, aba, lampas 1k din ang down noh! Hindi basta-basta napupulot yun. Haha

Out of nowhere, I told God that I would stop applying for jobs on other companies. I thought that maybe the reason why I lost my voice is that the Lord doesn't want me to leave my company yet. I was at the cashier paying for my items, the cashier asked if I had extra 3 pesos, I said "wala e".

And I almost cried when, after 3 weeks, I heard my voice again.

The next day, January 23, maaga ang meet-up sa McDonald's El Pueblo sa Ortigas: 2am. I immediately looked for Emil, our tour guide, who, as he described himself was "chinito looking". I then registered, paid my remaining balance and submitted the waiver. And voilà, gora na sa van.

Comfortable sa van ng TrailAd. Meron lang akong isang manong na katabi na 50+ na pero malakas pa din ang katawan at namumundok pa. Nagpakilala siya, nagkwentuhan kami at maya-maya pa nakatulog na 'ko.

When I woke up, we were already at the jump off point of Pico de Loro. So registration ulit at meet and greet. Habang binibigay yung bag tag namin, may konting introduce yourself na paandar. Konting stretching after and tadah! Akyatan na!

And because it was still dark, (it was 4:30 am, I think) we needed to bring our flashlights. Dun sa bungad pa lang ng trail, sa mabato at basang part, may nadulas na agad. Pero tuloy ang laban. Onward to the summit.

Maganda ang trail. Hindi mahirap. Mas nahirapan pa nga ako sa Daraitan kesa dito e. Walang malalaking bato, walang 90 degrees assault. Meron lang mangilan-ngilan na punong nakatumba na kelangan mong hakbangan. Mayaman ang gubat. Malinis ang hangin. Mabango ang amoy ng mga puno at halaman. Winner, probinsiyang-probinsiya ang awra.

When we reached the campsite, there were locals who are selling food. The scenery was beautiful. Lakas maka-senti. Pero di kami nagtagal, we needed to reach the summit so we can climb up the monolith while it's still not crowded yet.

The View of the Summit from the Campsite

And reaching the summit? That is the hard part. Rubbles kasi yung inaapakan, and I felt that at any moment pwede akong dumausdos pabalik. Buuuuuuuuuuuutttttttt... I was able to reach the summit.

This is me at the summit. That is the Monolith in the background.

Now the question was: sino ang gustong umakyat ng monolith? I told myself that since I was already here, why not give it a try? Bahala na. When I was climbing the monolith, though, I almost regretted my decision. Dahil nga isang malaking bato lang yun (hello, kaya nga MONOLITH e), sa gilid lang nung bato ang daanan paakyat. Pag dumausdos, edi patay.

There was a part of the monolith where you need to rappel and pull your body weight up using only a rope that at any moment can break. I tried. I couldn't pull myself up. Isa pa natakot ako na baka mag-swing pakanan ang tali at yun na ang pangyayaring maaring tumapos sa buhay ko. I almost told them that I'd just go back coz I really couldn't do it.

The rope at the Monolith

Ngunit, subalit, datapwat...

I suddenly remembered that I have 2 hands and 2 feet that I can use to crawl my way up the goddamn rock. Hala sige! Gapang na parang butiki! Nagbunga naman, narating ko ang tuktok ng tagumpay. At nakapag-jump shot pa 'ko sa taas ng monolith:

Jump Shot at the Monolith

Photo ops sa taas. Ang ganda, kasi saktong pasikat pa lang yung araw. Nagawa ko pa nga 'to oh:

Now, that's a huge energy ball!

Of course, the mandatory "Senti Shot":

No caption available. This is just too beautiful for words.

At siyempre, group pic:

Group pic at the Monolith #TrailAdventours

After nun, isa-isa na kaming bumaba just in time dahil unti-unti ng nag-aakyatan ang mga tao sa monolith.

(As of writing, the Monolith is currently CLOSED for hikers.)

At struggle na ngang muli ang pagbaba galing summit. Sinubukan kong bumaba ng nakaupo para di dumausdos. Thankfully this time, I learned a trick. Sabi ni Liane (one of TrailAd's guide) I should try standing up and bending my knees a little while I trek down the summit. And what kind of sorcery was that?! Nakababa ako with ease and a lot of poise!

At dahil nga Best In Friendship ako, by the end of the hike, ako na ang bestfriend ng lahat. I even befriended this Canadian guy, Tony, and taught him some Tagalog words. Here are some pictures:

At the trail going to the Summit

The whole gang at the Campsite. #TrailAdventours

After climb groupie

With the Team Siblings! (Joseph, Karol and Natalia)

With Tony, the Canadian guy I mentioned.

With Ate Karen and her Hubby.
(They came all the way from Cebu just for the climb.)
It's PHIL in the background, one of TrailAd's guides.

This is Mike and Iya, they are WIRE ARTISTS.
They make art out of wires.
Follow them on Instagram: maikala

And of course, Trail Adventours' awesome guides:

From L-R:
Bugs, Renzo, Emil, Ate D, Phil and Liane
#TrailAdventours

Bago umuwi, kumain pa muna kami ng late lunch sa Bulaluhan somewhere in Cavite.
And then we all parted ways.

And what did I learn this time?

I learned that if you let something stop you from doing something that you really want, then you won't get anywhere. You'll just be stuck where you are right now asking yourself "why am I still here?"

(And the job that I was bored at, well, they transferred me to a different department. And I rekindled the passion that I've lost.)

So take a chance. Go out there. Find your fear before it finds you. And when you do, face it head on. Nothing but God should stop you from anything that you want. Period.