Delayed Post: An Affair to Remember...
Have you ever felt like giving up without even trying? When you feel like accepting defeat even though it's not yet there... When you're just one step away from finish line and you suddenly feel like backing out?
Last Friday, October 29, is the start of our 4-day journey to Mt. Ugu. a.k.a. Induction Climb of Batch 9. The original itinerary is we're leaving at 10:30pm but was moved to an earlier time. But since it was a long weekend and it’s a payday, for the first time, Panget and I was late (which I later found out that we are not just the ones who were late!).
We moved again from Cubao to Sampaloc, hoping against hope that we can still make it to Nueva Vizcaya. The group is still adamant to make it to Mt. Ugu, no matter what and no matter how. Finally, we get to ride an ordinary bus bound to Tuguegarao. It was uncomfortable, but tolerable. As we progress, we still manage to sleep. At around 2am October 30, we are already in Nueva Ecija and stopped for some food. It is starting to get cold. We sang a birthday song for Abet. And at around 4:30am we are already at Shell Gas Station at Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya. Here we had to wait for Jing and Ka Fred (they came from a 505 activity). From here we rode a jeepney that will take us to Brgy. Kayapa (our jump-off point). The manong driver of the jeep was an excellent driver; it was as if he is driving in a highway than up and round the mountains. It was so dusty that most of us almost looked like somebody who just stepped out of a parlor (parang nagpakulay na ng buhok!).
At Brgy. Kayapa, we visited the barangay hall and registered. After the last minute preparations, we are now set to our 3-day journey. We asked for the Lord's guidance and off we go.
The first part of the trek was unbelievable for me. I had terrible back aches. I hate giving up. I am always up for challenges, but not this time. No matter how hard I tried, tears start to fill my eyes. I decided to talk to Big Leo, our EL, and told him that I want to go back and want to end my suffering. Understanding as he is, he told me not to give up. Even Jing, our very patient sweeper, encourage me to go on. Big Leo allowed me to swap backpack with another member. It was heaven for me. I am so thankful to both of them for giving me the push and the chance to go on.
Our journey continued, with a better and lighter backpack. My back aches did not backed off but at least it is now tolerable. The mountains are so fantastic. I can't find the correct words to describe them, describing what we are seeing is like not giving justice to the real beauty of it.
The first part of the climb was an assault, but after the village where we had our lunch, Indupit Village, it was just a long walk. Then, the "station of the cross", this is the last assault to the summit of Mt. Ugu. Panget and I took pictures and they all look good. =)
It took us some time before reaching the end of the station-of-the-cross. Panget had to play along with me when I told him, let's do the 20 steps. Then, Summit. It was so cold and foggy. Other than us, there are some other campers/mountaineers camping at summit.
It was so cold that nothing much happened, aside from the fact that we will be starting our day early the next day. Everybody is in their tents at around 9:30pm. There are just some uninvited visitors which really made Manny's day... the stubborn wild cows hehehe... they begin to chew up our tarp, Manny was pissed. I attempted to go out of our tent to help him, but as I open the flap of our tent what greeted me was the face of the cow. So, I decided to stay inside the tent and wait up for it to go away. I brought in our shoes. This the most horrible night I've spent inside a tent, all our things are inside, had a misunderstanding with Panget, and to sum it up, it was so damn cold. I got creative and slept inside the garbage bag, it was nicer and warmer minus the fact that I started to have nightmares that our tent caved in because of the cows. Anyways, at around 1:30am, Panget woke me up and asked me to lie beside him, so I did. It felt better. =)
Somebody started to wake us up at around 3:00am, October 31, for the induction rights. Then, we had to wake the rest of the members. I am so cold and so nervous, I don't know what to expect. I can't tell you the details, all I can say is, I AM NOW OFFICIALLY A MEMBER OF OCMI. =)
At around 8:30am we started our trek. As usual, Panget is so alto phobic that we are once again in the end of the line. But it's okay, we had fun taking pictures. =) We had fun joking around. When the trail started to even out, we went faster again. We stopped over for lunch, and after sometime we are heading for the Lusod Community School where we are stopping for the night. At around 2:05pm (time courtesy of Sir Thornz), we are already at the school. Most of us took a bath, some slept, some started cleaning out their clothes, their cook sets and their tents.
We had fettuccini for dinner. While Batch 8 was preparing it, Batch 9 (That's us!) is already discussing what would be a nice project. We agreed upon Mt. Gulugod-Baboy as an Open Climb. We've decided on the date and Abet and Kulaz started on the expenses.
Panget and I were supposed to be sleeping in the classroom together with some of them, but there are a lot of cockroaches which change our mind. We stayed up chatting with King, Abet, Kulaz and Manny until around 11:00pm. There was a wishing star... and I was able to wish... Then, we slept inside our tent; this is something new because for the first time the tent was comfortable. Our bags were inside the room. hehehehe...
At 5:00am, November 1, Abet woke us up. Panget cooked champorado for the two of us. People then started to prepare for the trek. We left the school at 7:30am and we went to the village to thank the people. Abet and Manny performed two songs. Afterwards, Panget lead a prayer then we're off to go. The trek was not as hard as the last, most of us were really having fun while trekking down. We were able to meet the time indicated in our itinerary, despite and in spite all the delays. =)
We went straight for Baguio. We washed up in Divine's father's office. Then, we had stroll in Baguio. SM Baguio, Palengke for the pasalubong and while most of us are in Ukay-ukay, Panget and I seized the moment to visit the cathedral. It was weird because we used the stairs to reach the cathedral even though our legs are all sore. =) It was such a quiet time for both of us. And I am glad. =)
We went to Don Henricos because according to OCMI all the newly inducted members traditionally treat the members there. And it was also Abet's bday treat for all of us. =)
I’m so tired, Panget and I decided to take an earlier trip home. Together with us in the bus are Suzette, Jing, Nowell and Ka Fred.
This trip is so cool... =) I was able to see another view in life. I know starting this trip, our friendship (si Panget at ako) will be put to test.
I don’t know how to end this entry but I guess… until next climb…
Last Friday, October 29, is the start of our 4-day journey to Mt. Ugu. a.k.a. Induction Climb of Batch 9. The original itinerary is we're leaving at 10:30pm but was moved to an earlier time. But since it was a long weekend and it’s a payday, for the first time, Panget and I was late (which I later found out that we are not just the ones who were late!).
We moved again from Cubao to Sampaloc, hoping against hope that we can still make it to Nueva Vizcaya. The group is still adamant to make it to Mt. Ugu, no matter what and no matter how. Finally, we get to ride an ordinary bus bound to Tuguegarao. It was uncomfortable, but tolerable. As we progress, we still manage to sleep. At around 2am October 30, we are already in Nueva Ecija and stopped for some food. It is starting to get cold. We sang a birthday song for Abet. And at around 4:30am we are already at Shell Gas Station at Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya. Here we had to wait for Jing and Ka Fred (they came from a 505 activity). From here we rode a jeepney that will take us to Brgy. Kayapa (our jump-off point). The manong driver of the jeep was an excellent driver; it was as if he is driving in a highway than up and round the mountains. It was so dusty that most of us almost looked like somebody who just stepped out of a parlor (parang nagpakulay na ng buhok!).
At Brgy. Kayapa, we visited the barangay hall and registered. After the last minute preparations, we are now set to our 3-day journey. We asked for the Lord's guidance and off we go.
The first part of the trek was unbelievable for me. I had terrible back aches. I hate giving up. I am always up for challenges, but not this time. No matter how hard I tried, tears start to fill my eyes. I decided to talk to Big Leo, our EL, and told him that I want to go back and want to end my suffering. Understanding as he is, he told me not to give up. Even Jing, our very patient sweeper, encourage me to go on. Big Leo allowed me to swap backpack with another member. It was heaven for me. I am so thankful to both of them for giving me the push and the chance to go on.
Our journey continued, with a better and lighter backpack. My back aches did not backed off but at least it is now tolerable. The mountains are so fantastic. I can't find the correct words to describe them, describing what we are seeing is like not giving justice to the real beauty of it.
The first part of the climb was an assault, but after the village where we had our lunch, Indupit Village, it was just a long walk. Then, the "station of the cross", this is the last assault to the summit of Mt. Ugu. Panget and I took pictures and they all look good. =)
It took us some time before reaching the end of the station-of-the-cross. Panget had to play along with me when I told him, let's do the 20 steps. Then, Summit. It was so cold and foggy. Other than us, there are some other campers/mountaineers camping at summit.
It was so cold that nothing much happened, aside from the fact that we will be starting our day early the next day. Everybody is in their tents at around 9:30pm. There are just some uninvited visitors which really made Manny's day... the stubborn wild cows hehehe... they begin to chew up our tarp, Manny was pissed. I attempted to go out of our tent to help him, but as I open the flap of our tent what greeted me was the face of the cow. So, I decided to stay inside the tent and wait up for it to go away. I brought in our shoes. This the most horrible night I've spent inside a tent, all our things are inside, had a misunderstanding with Panget, and to sum it up, it was so damn cold. I got creative and slept inside the garbage bag, it was nicer and warmer minus the fact that I started to have nightmares that our tent caved in because of the cows. Anyways, at around 1:30am, Panget woke me up and asked me to lie beside him, so I did. It felt better. =)
Somebody started to wake us up at around 3:00am, October 31, for the induction rights. Then, we had to wake the rest of the members. I am so cold and so nervous, I don't know what to expect. I can't tell you the details, all I can say is, I AM NOW OFFICIALLY A MEMBER OF OCMI. =)
At around 8:30am we started our trek. As usual, Panget is so alto phobic that we are once again in the end of the line. But it's okay, we had fun taking pictures. =) We had fun joking around. When the trail started to even out, we went faster again. We stopped over for lunch, and after sometime we are heading for the Lusod Community School where we are stopping for the night. At around 2:05pm (time courtesy of Sir Thornz), we are already at the school. Most of us took a bath, some slept, some started cleaning out their clothes, their cook sets and their tents.
We had fettuccini for dinner. While Batch 8 was preparing it, Batch 9 (That's us!) is already discussing what would be a nice project. We agreed upon Mt. Gulugod-Baboy as an Open Climb. We've decided on the date and Abet and Kulaz started on the expenses.
Panget and I were supposed to be sleeping in the classroom together with some of them, but there are a lot of cockroaches which change our mind. We stayed up chatting with King, Abet, Kulaz and Manny until around 11:00pm. There was a wishing star... and I was able to wish... Then, we slept inside our tent; this is something new because for the first time the tent was comfortable. Our bags were inside the room. hehehehe...
At 5:00am, November 1, Abet woke us up. Panget cooked champorado for the two of us. People then started to prepare for the trek. We left the school at 7:30am and we went to the village to thank the people. Abet and Manny performed two songs. Afterwards, Panget lead a prayer then we're off to go. The trek was not as hard as the last, most of us were really having fun while trekking down. We were able to meet the time indicated in our itinerary, despite and in spite all the delays. =)
We went straight for Baguio. We washed up in Divine's father's office. Then, we had stroll in Baguio. SM Baguio, Palengke for the pasalubong and while most of us are in Ukay-ukay, Panget and I seized the moment to visit the cathedral. It was weird because we used the stairs to reach the cathedral even though our legs are all sore. =) It was such a quiet time for both of us. And I am glad. =)
We went to Don Henricos because according to OCMI all the newly inducted members traditionally treat the members there. And it was also Abet's bday treat for all of us. =)
I’m so tired, Panget and I decided to take an earlier trip home. Together with us in the bus are Suzette, Jing, Nowell and Ka Fred.
This trip is so cool... =) I was able to see another view in life. I know starting this trip, our friendship (si Panget at ako) will be put to test.
I don’t know how to end this entry but I guess… until next climb…
posted by Yoyce at 11:53 PM
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