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