San Juan, Batangas: A Weekend in Mt. Daguldol

My friends and I trekked Mt. Daguldol in San Juan, Batangas last weekend. I've been to a number of mountains and Mt. Daguldol is definitely one bad-ass, beautiful mountain to climb.

We left Cubao on a Friday morning, and boarded an Alps bus bound to San Juan, Batangas. The trip took a longer time due to the road construction projects in Rosario, Batangas.

We took a tricycle ride to Brgy. Hugom from San Juan, and stopped by the registration area to log our names. We were told that guides are required , so we arranged for one.

The Team -- Gaizel, Len, Riena, Mark, and EJ, and I (not in the picture)

After registering, the team trekked all the way to the campsite/jump-off point, which is at Naambon Resort.

The upward trek to the campsite. This made my legs cramp.

The view of Laiya beach from the roadside.

We initially planned to hike to the summit upon arriving at the campsite, however, it was already late in the afternoon so we decided to just spend the night at the campsite and start the trek early the next day.

We had a sumptuous dinner, courtesy of our cook masters, EJ and Mark.

Inihaw na liempo for dinner.

Mark, the liempo master.

Sizzling hotdogs on the side.

After a night of food, fun, and booze, we woke up early to prep for the climb. It was unfortunate that our guide did not show up on the agreed time. It's a good thing that we have experienced climbers with the group (EJ and Mark) who have been to the peak of Mt. Daguldol a couple of times, so we really did not need a guide.

The trail commenced from the sandy shores of Laiya beach. Along the coast are massive rock formations, coarse and pebbly sands, and rocks that all made the trek extra cumbersome. After walking for around 20 minutes, we reached the first community, Sitio Biga, which marks the foot of the mountain.

The ascent trail to the mountain peak was relatively easier compared to Mt. Tarak, but it doesn't mean we didn't break a sweat. We trekked a zig-zaggy and rocky trail for around twenty to thirty minutes before we reached the first resting station.

Despite their frame, these two ladies (Rienna and Len) are experienced mountaineers and they impressed me with their stamina and endurance.

After hiking for another thirty minutes or so, we reached a local's residence. I can't recall the name of the owner though. We stopped here for a coconut break.

Buko break.

We were gladly welcomed by the children of the owner, as their father prepared the coconuts for us.

I enjoyed the break time so much I even forgot we were in the middle of the climb. We decided to move on and continue the trek until we reached the rock formations. Of course, we stopped to get some shots taken.

We met some locals along the way and greeted them enthusiastically.

Horse-carried baskets filled with vegetables to be delivered and sold in the town's marketplace.

The assault to the summit was short (it took us only around 3 hours to get there) but it was steep and extremely exhausting. After passing through a wet and muddy trail past the rock formations, we finally reached the summit.

The view from the summit was exhilarating. The vast sea, the expanse of the wilderness, and the glimpse of the island of Mindoro were a sight to behold.

EJ's signature pose.

The climb was definitely a memorable one. It was short and sweet, and I made new friends as well. 

Jump shot at the summit.

One thing that I like about climbing mountains is that whenever I feel low, bored, unmotivated, or even suicidal, it serves as a reminder of my mortality. Peering into the maw of a steep cliff makes me see my life differently. They say that you’re in real physical danger in the mountains. Facing that ABSOLUTELY makes me appreciate my limited time.

See you again, Mt. Daguldol!