September 2015, I decided to visit Kanlaon Volcano as a birthday treat to myself. So I decided to book a flight to Bacolod. Incidentally, my boss asked me to attend the Heritage Convention Summit in Silay City On October 10-11, 2015. Although, our office could only shoulder my registration fee to the summit, I decided to respond to the invitation, anyway I was already booked to Negros to climb Kanlaon. My plan eventually became Heritage Summit plus Mt. Kanlaon!
When I learned that the Philippine Airlines’ October 8 flight is much cheaper than October 9, I decided to fly to Bacolod earlier. That’s the time I decided to try Mandalagan Mountain Ranges.
With the help of the information from www.pinoymountaineer.com (thanks to Doc Gideon), I contacted Ms. Donna (09091447528), the very accommodating in-charge of the ‘hospital’, a public resort which was converted from an old medical facility complex in Mandalagan Natural Park in Patag, Silay City. Ms. Donna, reserved a room in the ‘hospital’ where I decided to stay during the summit and helped in arranging transportation service for me.
When I learned that the Philippine Airlines’ October 8 flight is much cheaper than October 9, I decided to fly to Bacolod earlier. That’s the time I decided to try Mandalagan Mountain Ranges.
With the help of the information from www.pinoymountaineer.com (thanks to Doc Gideon), I contacted Ms. Donna (09091447528), the very accommodating in-charge of the ‘hospital’, a public resort which was converted from an old medical facility complex in Mandalagan Natural Park in Patag, Silay City. Ms. Donna, reserved a room in the ‘hospital’ where I decided to stay during the summit and helped in arranging transportation service for me.
When I checked the students’ flight schedule, it was same with me. So I booked them as well in the ‘hospital’ resort. Together, we travelled to Bacolod City and eventually proceed to Silay City through pre-arranged transportation. With almost sleepless night due to the flight schedule, I decided to simply lay down on the vehicle seat, rest my body and silently stare on the beautiful crescent moon that is almost embracing the bright planet Venus and playing with the similarly sparkling Jupiter. Few minutes before we reach Patag, what appeared in our very eyes was the silhouette of the Mandalagan Mountain Ranges highlighted by the beautiful dawn sky and the beautiful moon and star formation just right above it… the scene was so astonishing!
We arrived at the ‘hospital’ in Barangay Patag which I realized to be approximately 775 MASL at 5:00 AM and immediately meet Ms. Donna. Likewise, I asked Kuya Remmy whom I met in the place to guide me in exploring the natural park.
We started trekking at around 5:15 and initially traversed along a concrete road until we reached a World War II monument. Eventually we reached the Hizon’s Resthouse were we stopped for a while and had a quick breakfast. After our 15-minute brief stop, we proceeded back to the trail and traverse through secondary forest.
We started trekking at around 5:15 and initially traversed along a concrete road until we reached a World War II monument. Eventually we reached the Hizon’s Resthouse were we stopped for a while and had a quick breakfast. After our 15-minute brief stop, we proceeded back to the trail and traverse through secondary forest.
Four hours after trekking slowly but almost non-stop, we reached a water source, a lively flowing brook where we stayed upon the request of the guide to have our early lunch. I was surprised with the gesture of our guide who knew that I have no time to packed food for lunch… he prepared food for me! We enjoyed our shared lunch together which was highlighted by simple exchange of stories even though my guide can’t speak Tagalog!
8:45 AM, after our brief and super early lunch, we pushed upward, this time, we dealt with steeply and ‘overgrown trail’ cutting through a much denser forest. All the while, I thought that we are on our way to ‘Tinagong-Dagat’, one of the attractions of the natural park but to my surprise, the guide told us that we are on our way to Marapara Peak and my initially planned visit to Tinagong Dagat (that’s my only target since some of my companions are in the resort) became ‘traverse trekking’. Unknowingly, probably due to communication barrier; I discovered that the guide was leading me to a traverse adventure to Marapara Peak and Tinagong Dagat and back to the hospital in another trail!
8:45 AM, after our brief and super early lunch, we pushed upward, this time, we dealt with steeply and ‘overgrown trail’ cutting through a much denser forest. All the while, I thought that we are on our way to ‘Tinagong-Dagat’, one of the attractions of the natural park but to my surprise, the guide told us that we are on our way to Marapara Peak and my initially planned visit to Tinagong Dagat (that’s my only target since some of my companions are in the resort) became ‘traverse trekking’. Unknowingly, probably due to communication barrier; I discovered that the guide was leading me to a traverse adventure to Marapara Peak and Tinagong Dagat and back to the hospital in another trail!
We reached the mountain saddle at 10:00 AM after hurdling a number of fallen trees and thick vines. From the saddle, it took us ten minutes more to reach the marked highest point of Marapara (1,840 MASL) where we rest for a while and remove the blood-sucking limatiks in our feet. At the peak, the foxholes of the Japanese soldiers who sought refuge in the park during the Second World War were still there. There are still bullet steel boxes and some rusty metals in the foxholes.
At 11:00 AM, we started descending in another trail towards ‘Tinagong-Dagat’, as expected, the trail was steep but bit cleaner than the previous. According to our guide, the trail was the usual way in visiting Marapara Peak.
11:30, after our steep descend, we reached a trail junction to Tinagong-Dagat. We turned right, traversing through a forested knife-edge trail until we reach another junction (leftward would lead to solfatara while the rightward to Tinagong-Dagat). I did not push towards solfatara to be able to go back to the resort before 4:00 PM, The guide instead ask me to climbed an inclined tree and observe the smoking natural wonder that is approximately a kilometer from the trail fork.
After seeing the solfatara from afar, we turned right and descended to the large summit. Upon reaching the crater floor, I reluctantly walked towards the direction of Tinagong-Dagat. To my surprise, the soil was very soft… the mud was more than knee-deep! The guide hurriedly instructed me to step on the roots because there are areas in the crater that has waistline-deep mud.
We reached Tinagong-Dagat 15 minutes after hurdling and jumping from roots to roots to avoid falling to the bog. The surrounding crater wall suggest that the volcano is geologically young considering that majority of the surrounding walls were still unscarred. The configuration of the crater wall suggest that once, there was a large volcanic explosion in the area.
I intended to stay in Tinagong-Dagat longer to enjoy the cool breeze and the pristine environment. However, thunder started to roar and rain started to pour, so I decided to get out of the crater floor and ascend towards the crater ridge.
The rain poured when we reach the ridge but it did not hamper our smooth descend on the mountain by way of the cleaner and wider ‘usual’ trail. We passed through limatik infested but beautiful forest trail and crossed three rivers; and at 5:30 PM, we reached the ‘hospital’.
At 11:00 AM, we started descending in another trail towards ‘Tinagong-Dagat’, as expected, the trail was steep but bit cleaner than the previous. According to our guide, the trail was the usual way in visiting Marapara Peak.
11:30, after our steep descend, we reached a trail junction to Tinagong-Dagat. We turned right, traversing through a forested knife-edge trail until we reach another junction (leftward would lead to solfatara while the rightward to Tinagong-Dagat). I did not push towards solfatara to be able to go back to the resort before 4:00 PM, The guide instead ask me to climbed an inclined tree and observe the smoking natural wonder that is approximately a kilometer from the trail fork.
After seeing the solfatara from afar, we turned right and descended to the large summit. Upon reaching the crater floor, I reluctantly walked towards the direction of Tinagong-Dagat. To my surprise, the soil was very soft… the mud was more than knee-deep! The guide hurriedly instructed me to step on the roots because there are areas in the crater that has waistline-deep mud.
We reached Tinagong-Dagat 15 minutes after hurdling and jumping from roots to roots to avoid falling to the bog. The surrounding crater wall suggest that the volcano is geologically young considering that majority of the surrounding walls were still unscarred. The configuration of the crater wall suggest that once, there was a large volcanic explosion in the area.
I intended to stay in Tinagong-Dagat longer to enjoy the cool breeze and the pristine environment. However, thunder started to roar and rain started to pour, so I decided to get out of the crater floor and ascend towards the crater ridge.
The rain poured when we reach the ridge but it did not hamper our smooth descend on the mountain by way of the cleaner and wider ‘usual’ trail. We passed through limatik infested but beautiful forest trail and crossed three rivers; and at 5:30 PM, we reached the ‘hospital’.
I was so tired but the experience is inexplicably unusual and for sure, memorable. Before going back to Bacolod City, We enjoyed the public pool in the area.
The experience in Mandalagan Mountain Ranges in Silay City is very memorable, the natural beauty and uniqueness of the place is comparable to other natural parks in the country. However, sad experience came after our climb, on our way to Bacolod City.
During our time to go back to Bacolod, the prearranged jeepney spoiled my post hike moods, the driver failed to show up on time. I was in a hurry to go back to Bacolod to meet my friend in one of the shopping malls there before 9:00 PM. I expected that the vehicle will arrive at 6:00 PM; but to my dismay, I heard that the jeepney was still loading charcoal which will be delivered in Bacolod. The jeepney came an hour late and I was surprised to see that it was filled with charcoal… As far as I remember, I was told that the vehicle would be available only for me during the day. So as not to spoil my day, I kept my mouth closed and simply asked the driver for us to leave the place because I am rushing to meet someone in SM Bacolod. However, as we were on our way to Bacolod, the jeepney kept on picking passengers… and what heightened my disgust is when it delivered first the charcoal to a certain unknown place before bringing us to SM Bacolod. And the driver was even sarcastic in giving rejoinder to my queries. The driver even kept on laughing and mocking me in their local dialect… if I would translate it in Tagalog… it would be “eh gago pala kayo, kami ang nirentahan nyo, pasensiya kayo… tandaan nyo, may paglalagyan kayo pagbalik ninyo”. I failed to meet my friend in Bacolod that time.
I enjoyed the beauty of Mandalagan Mountain ranges in Silay City that’s why I decided to initially consider it as one my scheduled climbing destinations on May 1-24 with my Indonesian and Malaysian friends, but with my experience with ‘good’ people there, I am thinking of considering other alternative destination.
The beauty of Mandalagan is punctiliously amazing but I will never go back to the place again… by the way, in fairness, Mr. Severino Pacete, the City Tourism Officer of Silay City was very sympathetic and promised to handle the complaint against the driver.
For those who are planning to explore Mandalagan Natural Park, I would suggest to coordinate with the Tourism Office of Silay City. They could be contacted at (034) 495-55-53 or in www.facebook.com/silaycitypio. After the climb, visiting the historic town proper of Silay, with its architecture wonders is a very rewarding side trip!
The experience in Mandalagan Mountain Ranges in Silay City is very memorable, the natural beauty and uniqueness of the place is comparable to other natural parks in the country. However, sad experience came after our climb, on our way to Bacolod City.
During our time to go back to Bacolod, the prearranged jeepney spoiled my post hike moods, the driver failed to show up on time. I was in a hurry to go back to Bacolod to meet my friend in one of the shopping malls there before 9:00 PM. I expected that the vehicle will arrive at 6:00 PM; but to my dismay, I heard that the jeepney was still loading charcoal which will be delivered in Bacolod. The jeepney came an hour late and I was surprised to see that it was filled with charcoal… As far as I remember, I was told that the vehicle would be available only for me during the day. So as not to spoil my day, I kept my mouth closed and simply asked the driver for us to leave the place because I am rushing to meet someone in SM Bacolod. However, as we were on our way to Bacolod, the jeepney kept on picking passengers… and what heightened my disgust is when it delivered first the charcoal to a certain unknown place before bringing us to SM Bacolod. And the driver was even sarcastic in giving rejoinder to my queries. The driver even kept on laughing and mocking me in their local dialect… if I would translate it in Tagalog… it would be “eh gago pala kayo, kami ang nirentahan nyo, pasensiya kayo… tandaan nyo, may paglalagyan kayo pagbalik ninyo”. I failed to meet my friend in Bacolod that time.
I enjoyed the beauty of Mandalagan Mountain ranges in Silay City that’s why I decided to initially consider it as one my scheduled climbing destinations on May 1-24 with my Indonesian and Malaysian friends, but with my experience with ‘good’ people there, I am thinking of considering other alternative destination.
The beauty of Mandalagan is punctiliously amazing but I will never go back to the place again… by the way, in fairness, Mr. Severino Pacete, the City Tourism Officer of Silay City was very sympathetic and promised to handle the complaint against the driver.
For those who are planning to explore Mandalagan Natural Park, I would suggest to coordinate with the Tourism Office of Silay City. They could be contacted at (034) 495-55-53 or in www.facebook.com/silaycitypio. After the climb, visiting the historic town proper of Silay, with its architecture wonders is a very rewarding side trip!