One idle time with a newly acquainted friend

An interview allegedly intended for a psychology study.  A Guinea pig perhaps……

1. At what point in your life did you realize your passion in hiking? 

As early as my childhood. But my parents certainly has not given me their consent due to my young age. I gained my parents trust only after I graduated from highschool.

My craving for hiking somehow was partially obtained/enjoyed when I joined Boy Scouts of the Philippines at age 10. At age 13, receiving  the highest award a Boy Scout could ever achieve (Scout Citizen Award) was perhaps the turning point for which my parents started believing my serious interest in outdoor activities especially hiking and camping. After graduation, my parents finally gave-up their security blanket on me and allowed me to go hiking.  Different from what Boy Scouts do during regular scouting activities, I preferred day-hiking outdoorsman style with my lunch being prepared hot and freshly cooked.

I regularly climbed Mt. Banahaw together with older kapitbahays during season of lent.  But I was anxious why these kapitbahays had interest only during holyweek and in one particular place?  

One summer, there was this mountaineering club who climbed Mt. Banahaw whom I got a chance to talk with.  They were quite accommodating and invited me over to join them in Manila, go on training and become a member.  And I did. The rest as one could say is history. 

2. What is it you enjoy most about hiking?

So many things to elaborate.

1. Preparation – physical, mental and skills requirement, gears, equipment, shoes and apparels.  
2. Planning – research, logistics, itinerary, interaction and coordination with local people and ocular hikes.
3. Actual hike- contemplating with nature and the supernatural being, seeing spectacular places for which not many people had been blessed with such opportunity.

 3. Have you attended trainings/schooling? What trainings did you go for?

Yes, basic, elementary and advanced mountaineering courses for which one was taught of different skills as hiking, orienteering, trailblazing, ropemanship, , outdoor ethics, camp and trail management, risk reduction, first aid & rescue and even outdoor cooking techniques.

4. What are the places that you have been through?

Mountains in the Philippines and some parts of Asia

5. What do you think are the main responsibilities of hikers?

A hiker should be aware of nature preservation. They should be more sensitive and conscious on protection of our natural resources.

Every hiker should love and help to work for the conservation of our environment.  Our playground is our natural environment so we need to love, respect and keep them unharmed to enjoy them. 

   

6. What other activities are you familiar with?

Other than outdoor sports activities?  I manage construction projects. I design crafts for exports.

7. What do you do in your free time?

I sleep. 

Currently, I am trying reading.

If “free” means nothing worries me at the moment—I do yoga and meditation.

8. Could you share one unforgettable hiking experience with us?

I was guiding a group of newly graduated Archi students of UST. It was a 3 days-3 nights Mt. Pulag Adventure using the notorious Akiki Trail. We were not so lucky that time because of the bad weather but we have to push through obviously for time and financial consideration.

Our first night near Edet river was wet and cold but everybody managed fairly. We started day 2 early aiming to reach Saddle Camp site before dusk. It was a day-full of joy and fun until we reached the grassland few kilometers away from the Saddle Camp. Grassland is an exposed area: no trees to shelter from the heat of the sun during daytime or strong winds during night time.  And so as we were approaching the area, it was already 5:30 pm. Suddenly we were caught by a heavy downpour of rain. No one was able to get a rain gear from inside their respective backpacks for fear of getting their things wet.  I remember I was only wearing a dryfit shirt and a windbreaker all soaking wet. I was at the back of “Marcus” who due to fatigue cannot move his legs anymore. I am constantly telling him that everything is going to be fine and that I am not going to leave him. I waited for him to move out but he seemed to be loosing his composure. I waited and it was already getting dark while the rain still has been pouring hard.

Mt. Pulag is also known for its cold temperature. Being on the top of it on a super rainy-windy night, with clothes dripping wet and had no chance to wear some protection was delirious.  While Marcus screamed in pain, I am shivering badly that I cannot stop my hands from shaking. As I checked my watch its almost 7 o’clock as I fear myself of hypothermia. Marcus, a big-built person who is much taller and bulkier than me is grasping for help. At that instance I knew I have to leave him and call for help. I talked to him, grabbed his backpack and moved out to ask for some rescue.  As I hiked towards the camp, I barely see anything because of darkness.  I persisted.  At the camp everybody was in a state of trauma. No pitched tent, no hot water. Everybody was trembling. I have to act fast get back and rescue Marcus. I know right at that moment we were in clear danger. I shouted for help. Luckily, a friend who’s not with our group responded and helped me. He took me inside his tent, stayed there for five minutes until I regained my strength and helped me pitched my group’s tents.  In about 10 minutes, we took everybody inside.  Rain has not stopped yet. And together with a group mate we fetched Marcus at the grassland placed him inside the tent and took everyone to safety.

9. What advice can you share to those who are just beginning their passion and love for hiking?

It is not just enjoying walking for fitness or plainly trying to see a beauty visualized on top which not everyone had given the chance because of its physical demands---It’s rather knowing who you really are and your determination to achieve a certain goal. From your jump off point up to your target goal is an interesting journey. A journey where you will discover yourself and the world around you. Enjoying hiking is synonymous to enjoying life. No matter how painful the journey will be. It’s how you do it to realize your aspirations.

10. Would you like to share something that people do not know about you?

I am a reflexologist. 

I have a perennial back pain which I got from my previous university swimming competitions.  I hid my condition from my parents. I was then working in Makati and the pain was giving me so much discomfort and nothing seemed to help me.  Looking for a solution has lead me to a number of eccentric ventures: yoga, homeopathy, accupressure and reflexology.  They all somehow helped relieve my condition for a short term.  I became a licensed Reflexologist and do outreach programs in several AM radio stations in Manila. I once was a Reflexology Consultant in a famous beach resort’s health club in Ternate, Cavite.