Mt. Lubog - Hiking after a bumpy ride

"Fill your life with experiences, not things. Have stories to tell, not stuffs to show."
                                                                                      - Anonymous -

Mt. Lubog and its rocky peak

Mt. Lubog: taken from the jumpoff

"Manong, bakit naman ngayon ka pa umikot ng Morato at E.Rod kung kelan napakaluwag ng EDSA? Timog hanggang Aurora, nakailang traffic light tayo?" 

Okay, that was me badgering the taxi driver who was obviously trying to rip me off by inflating my taxi fare in going to our meet up place in Cubao. Haahaa...fast forward.

As we were five (5) in our group and another group of four (4) hikers joined us in the fx, we decided to just pay for the last slot instead of spending time waiting for a chance passenger to arrive. It was a rather smooth ride through Commonwealth, and Litex in Quezon City, until we finally reached the Total Gas Station in Eastwood (Rodriguez, Rizal), where incidentally a 7-11 convenience store is also located and where we are set to meet our habal-habal driver.

It was still dark when we left the Total Station and went through the different subdivisions in Eastwood, until we finally reached the concrete road leading to Brgy. Mascap. Before reaching Mascap Proper, we however turned left towards Sitio Macaingalan and sooner than we think, we were already traversing an unpaved and bumpy road.

I actually lost count of the number of times that we had to alight from the habal-habal, push it, or just hike until it is able to negotiate the steep and/or difficult portions in the road. We passed by the local chapel and even the so'called Ark (similar in intent and purposes as the Noah's Ark) that was featured in news reports some years back. As we continued to ascend the dirt road, we reached the concrete structure that the locals refer to as "Simbahan" (concrete house with inscriptions in its wall...and what I remember is something like "Paraiso ni Diyos Ama"). After the next Station of the Cross along the road, our habal-habal again encountered difficulties in negotiating the dirt road that is obviously in a severe state of disrepair. Hence, we had to hike (to our surprise) at least 500 meters of continuous uphill climb until we reached the remains of what was supposed to be a "Welcome Arch".

That was actually the longest (but not the last) among the hikes that we had to take.Huffing and puffing, it felt like I already hiked a good deal of peaks even before we actually reached the trailhead.

Our butts definitely took a beating in this roller coaster-like and bumpy ride into the midst of the Sierra Madre. Good thing, our habal-habal had rubber straps for seats. It therefore is Newton's Law simplified, "for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction". More so, the view of the vastness of the Sierra Madre, and the Metro Manila skyline, somewhat made up for the grueling ride. To tell you honestly, we were actually enjoying at that time.



As we were expecting the mechanical bull ride to Sitio Macaingalan to take 2-3 hours, we were surprised that it took us just One hour and a half to do so. The reason for this according to our driver is the improved road conditions during the dry season. As the road tends to become muddy during the rainy season, it becomes more challenging to negotiate the climb to Sitio Macaingalan. Thereby resulting to longer travel time.

At the registration area, we were told to pay the supposed "package fee" of PHP500.00 per climber. While surprised of this development, we decided to just pay the said package fee rather than insist the terms that were previously relayed to us (Kagawad actually said that the habal-habal ride, to and fro, will cost us only Php1,000.00...so you do the math.).

Registration Area

Habal-Habal

And after spending some time to rest, we decided to continue towards the trailhead in Sitio Lubog. At the junction leading to Sitio Ilas, we decided to wait for our guide while making our final preparations. We then continued towards Sitio Lubog after being informed that our guide already went straight to the jumpoff point. And after 10 minutes, we finally arrived at the jump-off point in Sitio Lubog

While Sitio Macaingalan is still within Brgy. Puray in Rodriguez, Rizal, Sitio Lubog (including Mt. Lubog itself) is already within the the jurisdiction of Norzagaray, Bulacan.

Junction to Sitio Ilas...right to Sitio Lubog

Private Property

At the jumpoff

Rock baby rock

From the dirt road, we followed the trail adjacent to the barbed wire fence that surrounds the "private property" dotted with natural limestone formations until we reached and followed the trail adjacent to the limestone wall (which actually forms part of the exterior of Lubog Cave). After 10 minutes, we arrived at the first rest stop, where we had to take an extended break due to some series of unfortunate events that forced Engr. to backtrail to the JOP.

Assault

1st rest stop

Onward, we went deeper into the forest as the trail became considerably steeper. We also had to do some rock scrambling until we reached that part of the trail where we had to go down and climb the other side of the cleft. Hikers are fortunate that the forest canopy in this part of the Sierra Madre is still lush. And as the climb went on, remnants of moss on tree branches and even on boulders and rocks started to become more visible. In this regard, the forest here may be classified as of the mossy type.

sometimes...one needs to scale rocks and pass through boulders

The tree

Moreover, the trail is actually similar to that in Mt. Arayat (especially the approach to the Police Outpost at the North Peak) and even Pico de Loro. The one thing that sets Mt. Lubog apart from the other hiking grounds in Rodriguez, is the thick forest canopy that provides cover to climbers until one reaches the clearing at the rocky summit (Remember that illegal logging is rampart in this part of the Sierra Madre).

At 0920H, we finally reached the 2nd Rest Stop (base of the final climb to the Summit). Since we can hear the group of hikers that climbed before us, we decided to wait for them to get back to the 2nd Rest Stop before making that final push to the summit.

2nd Rest Stop

It was already 0930H when we resumed our climb to the summit. As we climbed higher, we had make our way over rocks and followed the trail. And in 10 minutes, we finally reached the summit which resembles a labyrinth of boulders and karst formations. This is one of the reasons why the summit of Mt. Lubog is also referred to as "Simbahang Bato".

Rocky Summit

Summit of #MtLubog

Mt. Lubog

Group picture

Summit

Simbahang bato

Topmost

We spent a considerable time at the summit for photo-ops, especially the playful shots. There is even a tree where some of us decided to cling on to its branches for that valuable shade. While exposed to the sun, we nevertheless enjoyed the breathtaking view of the southern Sierra Madre. The rock formations made it an opportune time for us to take a lot of pictures.

Enjoying the view

Rock formations

Rocky

Jump shot

We ultimately decided to descend back to the 2nd rest stop when some of the other group of hikers arrived at the summit, but not without giving way to those that are already along the trail. When we arrived back at the 2nd rest stop, some hikers belonging to the group that we have left at the summit were still there taking a breather. In this regard, we decided to continue towards the 1st rest stop.

While the 1st rest stop is just about 10 minutes away from the jumpoff point, we decided to have lunch there so that we can still can go inside Lubog Cave.

That portion of Lubog Cave that can be accessed at the moment is just the first chamber. According to our guide, a lower (2nd) chamber needs further exploration. Inside the cave, air rushing through an opening makes the cavern a lot cooler than outside. There are also stalactites, columns that are now starting to build up, and even traces of minerals. According to our guide, there is another way out of the cave but it would be a lot harder to navigate the same ( because it entails a lot of crawling, among others), as compared with the entrance that we previously took.

Lubog Cave

It is cool and windy inside the chamber

kuweba

Inside the cave

ayos

#LubogCave

After the brief cave exploration, we immediately decided to push back to the jump off point, which we eventually reached after about 10 minutes. We then backtrailed towards the junction leading to the Panintingan Lagoon, where we arrived after a 10-minute hike. We nevertheless decided not to go to the Lagoon anymore since some of us just opted not to, whereas we were then trying our luck if we can still retrieve what Engr. accidentally left at the junction to Sitio Ylas.

Mt. Lubog...at the junction going to the Lagoon / Falls...also leads to Sitio Ylas

As such, while Engr and I continued to backtrail towards the junction, the others took the steep descent to Sitio Ylas Proper where our habal-habal is supposedly waiting for us. Along the way, we continued even if the sun is steaming hot and even chanced upon some Dumagats who even inquired where we came from. We finally reached the waiting shed / junction at exactly 1300H. Too bad however, the action cam is already gone.

We then patiently waited for our companions to arrive at the shed. But after at least an hour, we were surprised to see them approaching from the road leading to Sitio Ylas, still without our habal-habal. With this, we then decided to continue the hike back to Sitio Macaingalan. As summer is already fast approaching, it felt like we were sun-baked  to a crisp at that time. Nevertheless, we just went on and continued to run, walk, hike. What was supposedly an arduous task became enjoyable. As they say, sometimes, it was just in the way you see things.

The 1st junction to Sitio Ylas...where Gani left his action cam

Approaching the registration area, we were so relieved to see a halo-halo stall. It really felt like manna from the above. Mind you, we immediately decided to engorged ourselves with two servings of halo halo in one seating. It was really so refreshing.

The hike up Mt. Lubog may just be an ordinary hike up the mountains for some. But for us, it taught us that in life, you win some, you lose some. And in the battles that you have lost, what matters is that you go on and strive to exceed expectations. Life may be bumpy, it may even knock you down at times, lest we forget that life must go on.

Happy Hiking!

Hoping for rain

#trailrun

Tramping Chronicles #042
003.026.017
Mt. Lubog
Jump off point: Sitio Lubog, Brgy. Puray, Rodriguez, Rizal
Minor Climb: 2/10 (from the base of the mountain in Sitio Lubog)
Highlights: Bumpy Tricycle Ride, Limestone Formations, Summit (Simbahang Bato); panoramic view of the Sierra Madre Mountain Range (Mt. Balagbag; Mt. Oriod; Mt. Irid; Mt. Tukduang Banoi; Mt. Ayaas) and the Metro Manila Skyline, and in some instances Sea of Clouds.


ACTUAL ITINERARY
0400H - Meet-up Jollibee Farmers Cubao
0430H - Depart for Rodriguez, Rizal
0520H - Arrival at Total Gas Station / 7-11 in Eastwood, Rodriguez, Rizal
0530H - Departure for Sitio Macaingalan - Registration Area
0700H - Arrival at Sitio Macaingalan / Register / Secure Guide
0730H - Departure for Sitio Lubog
0750H - Arrival at Junction to Sitio Ylas / Final Preps
0815H - Arrival at Sitio Lubog / Jump-off
0820H - Start Climb
0830H - Arrival at 1st Rest Stop / Lubog Cave
              Long reststop since we had to wait for Engr. who had to go back to the JOP
0850H - Continued Climb to Summit
0920H - Arrival at the 2nd Rest Stop / Final ascent to Summit
0930H - Start Climb to the Summit
0940H - Summit / Mt. Lubog / Simbahang Bato
              Explore / Photo-ops
1040H - Start Descending from the Summit
1050H - Back at the 2nd Rest Stop
1100H - Continued descent to the 1st Rest Stop
1135H - Back at the 1st Rest Stop / Lubog Cave
              Lunch
1215H - Explored Lubog Cave
1225H - Continued Descent to JOP
1235H - Back at JOP
1245H - Reached the Junction to Lagoon / Panintingan Falls
1300H - Back at the Waiting Shed / Junction to Sitio Ylas
               Long Wait for the Tricycle Driver
1445H - Continued Hike to Sitio Macaingalan / Registration Area
1510H - Back at Registration Area / Wash-up
1420H - Depart for Total Gas Station / Eastwood, Rodriguez, Rizal
1720H - Arrival at Total Gas Station
1730H - Departure for Cubao
1830H - Back in Quezon City

The famous root outcrop

Tulog sa Lubog

Summit at last

Mt. Irid and Mt. Tukduang Banoi

Fees. At the time we planned the hike, we were informed by our contact (Kagawad Peter - +639284647447) that the fee for the tricycle is PhP1,000.00 for 5 persons. So we were actually working around that budget. Nevertheless, at the Registration Area in Sitio Macainglan, we were surprised when Manang informed us that they have already started to charge climbers based on a package rate of Php500.00 per person.

Supposedly, this package rate already includes the tricycle fee, registration fee, and guide fee. But this rate is still way too high when compared with the fees applicable before. It is actually more expensive by at least PhP100.00.

***"As we were not in the mood to make an argument over this, we just paid the "package rate" that they required us to pay."



Guides. Although the trail is relatively obvious, it is mandatory for hikers /climbers to secure mountain guides at the registration area. The on-going assignment is 1 guide for every 5 hikers.

Water Source. There is no available water source in Mt. Lubog. So you have to bring your own water for your hydration requirements. Although you may purchase bottled water at the store in the jump off or at the registration area.

Food. One has to bring his / her own food . While there are no eateries in Sitio Macaingalan and Sitio Lubog, home-cooked food available is available at the stalls along the highway in Eastwood Montalban. The eatery that I saw was already open when we arrived from Cubao.

Wash-up. Available at the registration area and at one of the houses along the main road (the house has a variety store in front). They allowed us to take a bath for free.

Panintingan Lagoon / Falls. May be reached after a 20-minute hike from the base of Mt. Lubog. A very good place to unwind and for swimming. We decided not to go to the lagoon anymore since we were trying to look for the action cam that Engr. accidentally left at the junction to Sitio Ilas.

Traverse to Mt. Balagbag. It is possible to do a Mt. Lubog traverse to Mt. Balagbag through the Akayan Trail.

Mt. Balagbag