It was May 2011 when Glenn and Mark invited me to try to explore Mt. Natib in Orani, Bataan. There were news and stories that this mountain was home to insurgents but then, our group, with understanding on how this armed groups peacefully and politely deal with civilians, we pushed the climb without any apprehension.
May 21, 2011; Glenn and I left Dasmarinas at around 4:00 AM and met Mark in Manila. We then took a bus to Orani, Bataan and arrived there at around 7:00 AM. We then proceeded to the market and buy some supplies and proceed immediately to the nearby tricycle station. We arrived at Barangay Tala, the jump off at around 8:30 AM.
Along the way to the jump off, I was surprised to see a chapel dedicated to St. Bakhita, a Canossian saint who spiritually transcend from the traumatic slavery to nobility. In the past days, the life of this saint caught my attention when I accidentally picked a small prayer book while I was on my way to Lipa City. I was not an avid devotee of any saint but curiosity lead me to read something about her life. The night before this climb, I read the whole story about her life full of misery and sufferings that made her spiritually strong rather than keeping a box of anger in her heart. At a certain point, when I was reflecting about her life, I even compared her journey in mountain climbing... a lot of challenges, obstacles and difficulties could be encountered along the way, but acceptance that this is part of the reality of the journey means a better appreciation of the experience of the summit and more meaningful reminiscences of the whole climbing activity. It was then my impression that during the dusk of Bakhita’s life, she looking on a mountain, reminiscing the experiences at the summit… celebrating her successful journey over a very difficult trail.
After registering, around 9:00 AM, we started the trekking. We initially entered a large gate a walked along a winding gravel road that was cut on mountain lopes, passing through large farms. The road was open, thus scorching sun is a huge challenge but the good view of the mountain ranges and vast greeneries were consoling. At 11:45, we reached Pinagbutasan, where we initially saw the highest point of Mt. Natib in the distance. The downhill view of the vast forest is so relaxing that we were enticed to rest in a very small shaded area and spent 15 minutes talking about the beauty of the place.
May 21, 2011; Glenn and I left Dasmarinas at around 4:00 AM and met Mark in Manila. We then took a bus to Orani, Bataan and arrived there at around 7:00 AM. We then proceeded to the market and buy some supplies and proceed immediately to the nearby tricycle station. We arrived at Barangay Tala, the jump off at around 8:30 AM.
Along the way to the jump off, I was surprised to see a chapel dedicated to St. Bakhita, a Canossian saint who spiritually transcend from the traumatic slavery to nobility. In the past days, the life of this saint caught my attention when I accidentally picked a small prayer book while I was on my way to Lipa City. I was not an avid devotee of any saint but curiosity lead me to read something about her life. The night before this climb, I read the whole story about her life full of misery and sufferings that made her spiritually strong rather than keeping a box of anger in her heart. At a certain point, when I was reflecting about her life, I even compared her journey in mountain climbing... a lot of challenges, obstacles and difficulties could be encountered along the way, but acceptance that this is part of the reality of the journey means a better appreciation of the experience of the summit and more meaningful reminiscences of the whole climbing activity. It was then my impression that during the dusk of Bakhita’s life, she looking on a mountain, reminiscing the experiences at the summit… celebrating her successful journey over a very difficult trail.
After registering, around 9:00 AM, we started the trekking. We initially entered a large gate a walked along a winding gravel road that was cut on mountain lopes, passing through large farms. The road was open, thus scorching sun is a huge challenge but the good view of the mountain ranges and vast greeneries were consoling. At 11:45, we reached Pinagbutasan, where we initially saw the highest point of Mt. Natib in the distance. The downhill view of the vast forest is so relaxing that we were enticed to rest in a very small shaded area and spent 15 minutes talking about the beauty of the place.
We entered through the gate of Pinagbutasan and pushed forward. Slowly, the gravel road turned narrower and limatik started to show not in solitary or tandem but in battalion! We pushed faster to avoid limatik. We arrived at a small house where cold water is available. After getting water, we pushed further… met group of armed men pushing a jammed 4 x 4 vehicle and a group of Aeta with some gathered forest products.
At 1:00 PM, we reached a grassy flat area located at the edge of the forest. This area marked the start of a very steep trail leading to the summit. We pushed further inside the forest and dealt with the steep trail by pull-ups, grappling, leaping and to some extent crawling.
We reached the peak at around 3:15 PM. The view was very beautiful! The two volcanic caldera covered by thick forest is amazingly breath taking. Mt. Natib is a geologic wonder on its own right!
We saw various types of birds including an eagle soaring high and showing its dominance among others. We have seen various types of butterflies, stick insects, beetles, dragonflies and at night before the rain, a lot of fireflies.
We saw various types of birds including an eagle soaring high and showing its dominance among others. We have seen various types of butterflies, stick insects, beetles, dragonflies and at night before the rain, a lot of fireflies.
We cooked our late lunch after erecting our tents and enjoyed stories about our previous climbing experiences. We then rested for a while and enjoy the chilling temperature which was brought by the cold breeze and sudden rain shower which lasted for more than two hours. We hibernated in our tent and went out at 6:00 PM when the slight rain shower stopped. We had our dinner while enjoying the lively lights of the cities and towns down below and eventually rested when thunderstorm and heavy rain started.
St. Josephine Bakhita (Image Source: http://iycoalition.org/new-february-8th/) | The rhythmic patterns of raindrops in my tent, sound of thunder, whooshing sounds of wind and the flashing lights joined me while waiting for my eyes to voluntarily retire… That night, under the loud thunder and bright lightning, I couldn’t stop myself from theatrically imagining the very moment when the young St. Bakhita, as told in one of the books about her life, was being dragged away from her village to be sold to slavery market… that night could be the most thunderous in her life. Before sleeping then,I managed to write in my journal… “like Bakhita, who was never wafted by lightning and thunder away from seeing the positive views of her life; I will never let this thunderous night to obscure the joy of my Natib adventure… in the end, I shall remember the delightful feeling of awe”. We woke up at 7:00 AM… this time, the sun was shining in the east… it was a beautiful morning! The rain that almost spoiled our night was now in the form of fog, creating dramatic scene that highlighted the beautiful landscape of Mt. Natib! The thing that caused nervousness and anxiety the night before became the reason of better appreciation of the spectacular view. |
After enjoying our breakfast, we packed our things, and descended at around 9:30 AM with delighted heart and refreshed mind. In my case, spiritually reinvigorated! We reached the jump off at 12:00 Noon and eventually went home to Dasmariñas after neatening ourselves.