Rizal - Mt. Balagbag

Mt. Balagbag
Licao-Licao, Rodriguez, Rizal
777 MASL
Difficulty: Minor, 3/9
Trail Class: 1-2
Trekking Time: 2-3 hours

One of the closest mountain destination at the heart of Manila is mountain that lies between the boundaries of Rizal and Bulacan, the so called Mt. Balagbag. She lies within the ranges of Sierra Madre at Rodriguez, Rizal.

Abundant with water, Mt. Balagbag's greatest asset is it's long river lines that descends from the top creating lots of falls especially during rainy season. But, Mt. Balagbag's features does not end with falls. It's summit offers a wide angle of views as the view of the other parts of Sierra Madre combined with twisted colors of the sun during sunset and sunrise, plus the view of lights of neighboring city at night that looks burning at your cam. Called helipad, it's summit is an open campsite that helicopters can literally land which, as per some, became landing pad for military personnel that are deployed for it's operation against NPA.

Mt. Balagbag have lots of trail which has different jumpoffs yet ends with the same campsite. It has from Bulacan's side and even in Rizal's side, which yours truly is more familiar of. Trail from Licao-licao is a long trail that passes through residentials of the local, you'll even have to pass through a "talipapa" of mini market.

Residentials will end once you've reach the so called "kubo" or the registration place. Trekkers have to enter a gate as the whole place ( registration-summit) is a private property. Continuing, the trails will enter the grassland along it's nice view. Soon, the summit.

Overall, the trails of Mt. Balagbag is not that complicated. As a matter of fact, it is very wide that even mountain bikers love to visit our Mt. The only challenge you might encounter with this destination is that it's trail is well exposed to the sun during sunny day thus, suggest you visit same during rainy day wherein the falls has a better view.

TRANSPORTATION & LOGISTICS

From Cubao, you may ride buses bound to Tungko and ask them to drop you off Jollibee-Tungko. From Jollibee, there is a terminal of jeep bound to Licao-licao just across the street, behind the market.

SUGGESTED ITINERARY

05:00 Take bus bound to Tungko
06:00 ETA Jollibee Tungko, head to Licao-licao
06:30 ETA Licao-licao, start trek
09:00 ETA Summit, rest
10:00 Start descent to Kaytiitinga falls
11:00 ETA Kaytitinga falls, cook lunch
12:00 Lunch
13:00 Enjoy the falls
17:00 head back to jumpoff
17:30 ETA jumpoff

SPECIAL CONCERNS

Last thing yours truly heard, the summit has been closed due to NPA and military encounters atop. But last February 2013, a friend of mine managed to dayhike up to the so called helipad, thus confusing with the status of the summit as were not sure yet if camping is the only forbidden or owner has reopened said.