Flora & Fauna - Limatiks

One factor that adds flavor & spice to the Philippine Mountaineering experience is this creepy guy on the picture, the Limatik.

Limatik is a blood sucking leech that inhabits in Philippine forests, especially at dense and mossy forests thus, a common sight of the mountaineers. Inhabiting at some mountains such as Mt. Makiling, Mt. Banahaw de Lucban, Mt. Halcon, Mt. Natib, Mt. Kanlaon, Mt. Tapulao and more ( see Pinoymountaineer for the full list), the Limatiks are feared or avoided.

In detecting their victims, limatik depends on their sensory receptors that detects warm bloods, movements and Carbon dioxide exhalation. Their saliva have anesthetic substance that made their bites barely felt, and anticoagulant substance that stops blood clotting to help them easily suck blood.  

Based on the Author's observation, there are two species of limatik, the dark brown or black specie and the green/yellow striped specie. Both have nature of leeches, seeking & sucking bloods from humans and animals, but different in techniques in finding their sucking spots. The black or dark brown ones are contented in the tissues around your feet and even has the ability to penetrate in a two-layered socks while, the green/yellow striped ones are the ones that targets soft tissues that are commonly present at the upper body parts of the man such as eyes, ears, nose and mouth. Because of their targets, they are the ones that usually coils up and flip/jump once they sensed  their victims.

Preventing limatik bites starts with physical get up, dressing up with closed gears to avoid them to even approach skin. Wearing of light colored clothes is also advised as it helps you easily spot limatik coming your  way. To avoid limatik in entering your ears, you may use ear plugs. Goggles may prevent limatik in entering your eyes, but will limit your vision thus, hiking can be compromised.  Some also suggests to use fabric conditioners with insect repellent in washing your clothes to be used during your trek to a limatik infested mountain.

Using chemicals applied on your skin are also additional options to avoid limatik bites, but still, they won't give you 100% away from limatik. Off lotion maybe effective in warding off the insects and  even  limatik but, with the personal experiences, the Off lotion is easily washed away once you perspire which  leave you unprotected shortly after you applied the lotion. Rubbing of a detergent soap is also said to be effective way to repel limatik.

Also, the use of natural stuff such as tobacco leaves and jackfruit peels are proven by some locals that resides/lives by the mountains with limatiks.

Removing limatiks already scuking your bloods needs a li'l strategy as pulling it is not advisable. It might vomit everything in it's stomach back to your wounds that may cause irritation or infection. A simple way of removing the limatik is via sliding your fingernail beneath it's mouth. You may also want to use any alcohol based solution to spray to it or apply heat to them.

Laguna - Mt. Makiling

Mt. Makiling
UPLB College of Forestry, College, Los Baños, Laguna
1090 MASL
Difficulty: Minor, 4/9
Trail Class: 2-3
Trekking Time: 4-5 hours

One of the mountains in the Southern Tagalog region that boast it's richness in biodiversity is the so called Mt. Makiling. Lying at the boundaries of Laguna and Batangas, the Mt. Makiling is home for many species of plants and animals, which make her popular not just to mountaineers but also to tourists and scientists. Evidences of Makiling's richness in biodiversity are widely spread throughout the internet as they are already present the moment you start trekking. Plants with lots of thorns, mossy plants, giant trees, different sounds from different birds and insects are indeed evidences. Not to mention that there are species reported seen in Mt. Makiling such as Philippine Rafflesia and even the Author saw first hand, such as Jade Vine, Pitcher Plant, Sampinit, a large variety of Taro w/ leaves as large as a man or what we called Gabe in Filipino, a stinging plant called Lipa, and the fast crawling-blood sucking leeches called Limatik. Unfortunately, the popularity of Mt. Makiling made the mountain suffer from gradual destruction which made Mt. Makiling's inhabitants to likewise disappear.

Mt. Makiling's name came from the name of an enchanted fairy who's rumored to protect the said mountain and bless it's residences. Also, old folks and Philipine mythology are telling tales that the contour of Mt. Makiling is the fairy herself at her reclining position as from Pinoymountaineer was best appreciated along the highway of Los Baños junction going to Bay and Calauan.


Mt. Makiling is one of the hiking destination that needs lots of prepartion and planning as Mt. Makiling is one of the mountains that should never be underestimated. Although all of the mountains should never be underestimated, the Mt. Makiling has the record of numbers of registries of deaths.

Climbing Mt. Makiling has two options, one is via Sto. Tomas, Batangas, which offer harder challenges, and one is via UPLB Trail which starts at UPLB College of Forestry.

The trek via UPLB trail starts at a long rough road. Long enough to test your patience and toughness of feet soles, this road extends up to some few steps before Malaboo campsite, which passed by the Aguila Basecamp and Nursery. You will note that there are optional side trip few meters after station 1, the Flatrocks, and near the Nursery, the Mudsrpings. The end of the road might be the sign to be prepared for Mt. Makiling's mini pets, the Limatik, if you are trekking at rainy season. Not far from Malaboo campsite, is the Wilderness Zone post which tells the guests that camping is not allowed beyond the said site. No worries of getting lost anymore as trails are well established up to assault part and even up to the Peak 2 or the Summit.

TRANSPORTATION & LOGISTICS

Take bus enroute to Sta. Cruz(there are terminals of Greenstar at Buendia/LRT-Gil Puyat and HM Liner at EDSA-Cubao or there lots passing by at Alabang) and tell the operator to drop you off the UP Los Baños Junction. From there, take a jeep bound to UP College (ask the driver if his route will pass the Forestry) or you may rent if you are in a large group.

SUGGESTED ITINERARY

04:00 Assembly at Bus stop
04:30 ETD for Los Baños
06:30 ETA Los Baños, take jeep
07:00 Jumpoff, Register, Start trek
12:00 ETA Summit, Lunch
13:00 Start Descend
16:00 ETA Nursery (optional sidetrip to mudspring & flatrocks or straight home)
18:30 ETA Jumpoff, Take Dinner at the junction
19:00 ETD Home(Don't forget to buy & taste the Buko Pie!^^)
21:00 ETA Home

Batangas & Cavite - Bulalo

Bulalo is one of the so called "sinful foods" dish in the Philippines, not because it is forbidden but because, the dish itself is very rich in calorie. Having high in calorie content, eating Bulalo became a sin for those who are suffering with high calorie, high blood pressure, heart ailments and even those prone to related diseases. But if you are not, then you're lucky! You can enjoy the goodness of this very beef!

Bulalo has gained much popularity to the Filipinos not only in it's place of origin, Cavite & Batangas, but also to it's neighboring places including Mega Manila. This is proofed by many restaurants that serves Bulalo. Stewed along with vegetables such as Chinese Cabbage, Cabbage, Baguio Beans and even Sweet corn, this soup is best served hot thus, making the it as one the the Filipinos' favorite tummy warmer.

Bulalo is made of beef, but not just any part of the beef! Bulalo will not be Bulalo if there are no beef shanks which differentiates this dish from the another dish called Nilagang Baka or the regular Beef stew. Also, the shanks is the main responsible of making the Bulalo a sinful food as it's bone marrows is usually the favorite of the majority of the Bulalo lovers.

Since Filipinos loves condiments, the natural way they enjoy this very Bulalo, is if it is paired with dipping made by the combination of Fish sauce, Green lemon squeeze and chili sauce. So are you one of the lucky ones? What are you waiting for? Loosen up your belt and have your soup bowl ready!

Batangas - Mt. Batulao

Mt. Batulao
Evercrest Golf course, Nasugbu, Batangas
811 MASL
Difficulty: Minor, 3/9(New Trail) & 4/9(Old Trail)
Trail Class: 1-3 w/ 60-70 degrees assault
Trekking Time: 2-4 hours

Mt. Batulao is one of the most popular hiking destination in the CALABARZON(Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) region as Mt. Batulao offers a package of experience and views. This is because, Mt. Batulao has two faces, the Old trail and New trail. Although both are majorly a vast of cogonland(which create muddy trail during rainy season and a well exposed trail during summer season), the two trails still offer different levels of challenges.

Trekking Mt. Batulao will technically starts at a community, few minutes away from the entrance of the Evercrest Golfcourse. Some opt to take tricycle to drop them on the said community, rather than walking as exposure to the sun or rain begins the moment you step your feet at the entrance. But if you are cost cutting, walking is the best option to save money as tricycle may cost you around Php 30.00 if I remember right.

Moving forward, the majority of your trek passes through the ridges of the mountain until the fork of the Old and New trails. A slightly descending trail on the left after a nipa hut will lead the visitors of Mt. Batulao to the Old trail, while continuing straight forward will lead them to the New trail.

Old trail of Mt. Batulao offers a higher level of challenge as this one is steeper, 60-70 degrees assault to be exact, which you will soon after an hour of trek. From the fork, the trail is leading to a forest which gives you opportunity to pass by creeks(active during rainy season)before reaching the campsite.

From the campsite, the trails are now steep and the real challenge begin. The trail from camp 8 to 9 might look challenges for beginners but it is nothing compared to the 60-70 degrees rocky trail of camp 9 to camp 10 or the Mt. Batulao's summit.

New trail of Mt. Batulao is a relaxed trail, although you may have to pass ridges still, the steepness is nothing compared to the steepness of those in the Old trail. But don't underestimate the New trail, as you need to pass the ups and downs the slopes of Mt. Batulao.

Generally, as I said before, the two trails of Mt. Batulao is a vast of cogonland and this made them open in not just sun but also winds which made them cold during night especially around December to February.

TRANSPORTATION & LOGISTICS

You may take the Crow Bus Lines that are bound to Nasugbu which will drop you straight at Evercrest Golfcourse OR you may want to take bus/van going to Tagaytay and having some sidetrips (such as Bulalo festive!:p)before taking jeep bound to Nasugbu. From Evercrest, you may opt to take tricycle or have a warm up trek.

SUGGESTED ITINERARY

Day 1

10:00 Assembly at EDSA-Taft
10:30 ETD to Nasugbu via Crow Busliner
13:00 ETA Evercrest, Take packed lunch
13:15 ETA Jumpoff/Start trek to Old trail
15:00 ETA Campsite/Start Assault
16:00 Summit
17:00 Start Descend to New trail
18:00 ETA New trail campsite/Set camp/Cook
19:00 Dinner/Socials

Day 2

06:00 Wake up call/Cook
07:00 Breakfast/Break camp
08:00 Start Descend
09:30 ETA Jumpoff/Head to Tagaytay for sidetrips

*To maximize the visit, I intentionally made an itinerary of Old-New traverse.

Batangas - Manabu Peak

Manabu Peak
Sulok, Brgy. Sta. Cruz, Sto. Tomas, Batangas
760 MASL
Difficulty: Minor, 2/9
Trail Class: 1-2
Trekking Time: 1-2 hours

Manabu Peak is a good hiking destination for those who are looking for a relaxed climb, and not to mention for beginners, as trails at Manabu does not give you much of challenges, unless of course during or after a heavy rain/storm due to muddy trails(although mud here won't be as much as the mud at Mt. Romelo or Buntot Palos Falls during rainy season). Also, taking Manabu Peak as destination is one of the usual choice of climbers who have constraints in time as trekking Manabu even at night is possible. And not to mention that in just two hours of trekking, visitors of Manabu can reach the campsite which offer much of a scenery.

Campsite of Manabu is like of a natural garden according to a known blogger, which the Author agree. It is like an open area where trees such as guavas and wild flowering plants exists. Also, one can see the peak at the campsite, as if trimmed, the grass here looks nice and extended to the campsite. A white cross is also erected on the top of the summit.

Manabu or Manabo came from the phrase "Mataas na bundok" as termed by the ancestral of the locals here. It is technically a part of Malarayat or Malasimbo mountain ranges but can be a separate hiking destination, although you may have a traverse option which may pass three major peaks of the mountain range, namely Malarayat Summit, Susong Dalaga and the very own Manabu Peak.

Trekking the trails of Manabu is technically easy as aside from low trail class
ascends here are very light(except of-course to the assault part. The first part is a long rolling then a fork which splits up to two directions. One of the trail headed to the Grotto, and the other to the hut of "Guardian of Mt. Manabu", Mang Pirying who offers you kapeng barako each time you rest at his hut(sadly, he is sick, last time the Auhtor visited Manabu, it is his brother we have found taking care of his hut and forest wide farm :p). Although both trails meet at summit, two trails are totally different path.


TRANSPORTATION & LOGISTICS

Take bus enroute to Lipa, tell the operator to drop you at Fiesta Mall before SM Lipa/Bus terminal and take tricycle to Brgy. Sulok(approx Php 150.00 - 200.00 per trip).

SUGGESTED ITINERARY

Day 1

12:00 Assembly at Bus Terminal
12:30 ETD for Lipa/Fiesta Mall
14:30 ETA Fiesta Mall/Take Tricycle
15:00 ETA Jumpoff/Register
15:30 Start Trek
17:00 ETA Campsite/Set Camp/Picture a Peak til sunset
18:00 Cook Dinner
19:00 Dinner/Socials

Day 2

06:00 Wake up call/Cook Breakfast
07:00 Breakfast
08:00 Breakcamp
08:30 Start Descend
10:00 ETA Jumpoff/take tricycle to bus terminal
10:30 ETA Bus Terminal/Board Bus to Manila
12:30 ETA Manila

*Note that itinerary was made 2 days to enjoy the coolness of the night known in Manabu, and early descend to evade the heat at campsite.

Laguna - Mt. Kalisungan

Mt. Kalisungan
Brgy. Lamot II, Calauan, Laguna
760 MASL
Difficulty: Minor, 3/9
Trail Class: 1-2
Trekking Time : 2-4 hours

Mt. Kalisungan is one of the most promising mountain that yours truly would recommend, not just because of yours truly's residences is just 45 mins away and it is his first mountain, but also because Mt. Kalisungan offers a rewarding summit! A 360-degrees-view-summit is waiting after a trek of around 2-4 hours. Back then, the trails used in climbing Mt. Kalisungan is like a continuous assault. Yes,you read it right! The Mt. Kalisungan might have just a trail class of 1-2 but the challenges of the Mt. Kalisungan is a continuous ascend, although not that very inclined, still the what we so called "bonus round" can barely hit you feet. This is a nice preparation climb for those who are planning to climb a harder mountain as Mt. Kalisungan perfectly warms up the muscles in your limbs. Also, Mt. Kalisungan is one of the mountains that have rare sun covers thus, gears for heat protection is needed. But lately, the trail used is much easier. Starting from the jumpoff at Brgy hall of Lamot II, then walking to the school (Field of Faith) where the muddy trail begins. Then finally, the muddy trail connects to the old trails' assault, the Talahiban.

Mt. Kalisungan is a popular pilgrim destination for locals nearby and even some of the next town as back then a white cross was erected at the summit. However, the popularity of Mt. Kalisungan to fellow hikers have declined because of previous security issue. But as per latest visit of the Author, the issue is now been closed as according to a local, the named thief that causes fears is now confirmed dead due to his personal conflict, thus, nothing to fear anymore.

Mt. Kalisungan is a perfect cone thus, fearing for lost track is quite minimal. One said that if your lost and you want to keep going to the summit, you just need to keep going north, which the Author have done at first climb. But to avoid such trail blazing which is so exhausting, one must determine a good jumpoff. Getting a wrong one may lead you to a dead end as you might entered the trail of the farmers. There are lots of established jumpoff here, and personally, the Author uses the closed store few minutes away from Erais farm as he and his friends have already established acquaintance to a local farmer residing there. Many are now using the jumpoff near the Brgy. Lamot hall and locals there said that is a better now but, yours truly haven't tried that on the first hand.

Also, before you reach the jumpoff, you have to drop at Masapang or the "Duck Junction" where many are selling a must try Kinulob na itik.

Trekking Mt. Kalisungan will lead you to a vast of Banana and Coconut plantation which local farmers maintain. Continuing, the last 1/3 of the trek will be a cogon grass which extends until the summit. Like what have been said earlier, the Mt. Kalisungan offers a 360 degrees view which shows the Mt. Banahaw, Mt. Cristobal, Mt. Tagapo, Talim Island, Jalajala peninsula and even the 7 lakes of San Pablo.

Mt. Kalisungan have many names and one might be confused if you are not familiar, one of the is the Mt. Lamot as named after the Barangay the encompasses the jumpoff.

TRANSPORTATION & LOGISTICS

Take bus enroute to Sta. Cruz(there are terminals of Greenstar at Buendia/LRT-Gil Puyat and HM Liner at EDSA-Cubao or there lots passing by at Alabang) and tell the operator to drop you off the Masapang or the "Duck Junction" then take tricycle to Brgy. Lamot for registration.

SUGGESTED ITINERARY

Day 1

12:00 Assembly at Bus stop
12:30 ETD to Masapang
14:30 ETA Masapang, take tricycle
15:00 ETA Jumpoff/Start trek
17:30 ETA Summit/
Cook/Dinner/Socials

Day2

06:00 Wake up call/Cook/Picture
07:00 Breakfast
08:00 Start Descent
10:00 ETA Jumpoff
>>>Optional sidetrip to Bunga Falls

*Note that the itinerary was intentionally made to evade the hottest time of the day as the exposure here may be really exhausting.