Amyak Maleh Mt. Matutum 2014

Annually the Government Municipality of Tupi, South Cotabato holds a weeklong celebration called linggo ng Mt. Matutum that themed “Amyak Maleh” means climb and plant.  The said event attracts hundred of mountaineers from different places all over Mindanao. Im thankful for the said activity, because again I got the chance to climb the 2293 meters (7522 feet) above sea level Mt. Matutum. 

Fresh from Mt. Susong Dalaga advocacy climb held at Tampakan, South Cotabato we headed directly to the Municipality of Tupi for an early registration of the participants to join Amyak Maleh 2014. When we arrived to the place we seen two Municipal dump trucks already loaded with mountaineers. After the registration we are transported to Glandan, Barangay Kablon Tupi, South Cotabato where we start our jump off.

This is my share to our mother nature, done my part for Amyak Maleh. Feeling proud!

After the tree planting activity we started our trek all the way to “bubon” free flowing spring first stop before going to phase 1. Here you will fill all your empty bottles, the second water source is at the peak.  

After two hours of trek finally we reached the phase 1 of Glandan trail. Some participants did not continue their climb up to the peak and decided to setup a tent in phase 1.

We also met a number of foreigner participant’s during Amyak Maleh.

Some participants stop for a moment to catch their breath. Matutum trail after the phase 1 is no joke, considering the heavy baggage’s we brought, to reach the summit you need to use both your hands to hold the branches and roots of the trees.

Mountaineers life at the peak. Though we are cold and wet because of the rainshowers, nothing can beat the happiness we felt for the successful climb.

Riza, Ian, Angelo and Biboy prepare our breakfast.

At the peak you should need to learn how to conserve your water or else you’ll end up drinking water from the crater though it is drinkable, some people could not take to drink it because of the yellowish color.

Photo opts with fellow mountaineers before we descend back to Glandan.

Young and future mountaineers who joined us all the way to the peak of Mt. Matutum, their age range from 4 to 7 years old. Cool isn’t it?

Event Assessment Amyak Maleh 2014:

For every event mistakes is inevitable, during the event me and my friends setup our tent on peak 2 of Mt. Matutum this is also my first time to camp for the said peak, since there are no vacant place for us to setup on peak 1. An event marshal accompanied us. After we are settled he leaved us and we also instructed him to inform some other participants and ask them what group they belong then if they are from TEAM BUNDOL or FIRST FIVE TREKKERS kindly send them right to us. And then Biboy arrived at the peak, it’s good to know that they told Biboy to go directly to peak 2 where he’s friend “us” waiting  for him. But the thing is, it’s his first time to climb Mt. Matutum he didn’t even know where’s the peak 2, so he was lost and headed directly to crater, man that’s not good but thank God he made it on the peak 2 even if there is no trail sign.

Wew! There are much more things needed to say, but I’ll just let it pass for now and hoping next year for the same event, the organizer and coordinators fixed all the problems and learn from the mistakes from this year’s Amyak Maleh. Overall the event was indeed successful.

Itinerary :

Amyak Maleh 2014 Itinerary of Climb Activities

March 21, 2014 (Day 1)
5:00am - 7:30am Arrival and registration of participants/ Distribution of event jersey and ID
7:30am-8:00am Briefing of participants
8:00am-9:00am Travel from LGU Tupi municipal ground to Sitio Glandang (Jump off area)
9:00am-12:00nn Start trekking from Sitio Glandang to Phase 1
Tree planting at designated area
12:00nn-1:00pm ETA Phase 1
Rest/lunch at Phase 1
1:00pm-5:00pm Trek/assault to Mt. Matutum summit
5:00pm-6:00pm ETA Mt. Matutum summit
Set up camp/tent pitching
Prepare dinner
6:00pm-10:00pm Dinner/tapok-tapok (enjoy the view at the summit with fellow mountaineers)
10:00pm onwards Lights Off

March 22, 2014 (Day 2)
6:00am Wake up call
6:00am-7:00am Prepare meal for breakfast and packed lunch
7:00am-8:00am Breakfast
Break camp/prepare for Descent
8:00am-11:00am Trek to Phase 1
11:00am-12:00nn Lunch at Phase 1
12:00nn-3:00pm trek to Sitio Glandang.
ETA Sitio Glandang
3:00pm-4:00pm Travel from Sitio Glandang to Tupi Municipal Hall
4:00pm-5:00pm Wash up/ prepare for mountaineers night (Awarding of Certificates)
5:00pm-6:00pm Dinner
6:00pm onwards Awarding of certificates/mountaineers night (with Reggae band and raffle prices)

March 23, 2014 (Day 3)
Homeward bound
Registration fee is P400.00 (inclusive of activity jersey, event ID, transportation to and from Sitio Glandang, hosted dinner during the mountaineers night and raffle prizes.)

*For more information, please contact the following:
Maulvi U. Bajunaid - 09194092936/09269031934
Jefferson M. Mateo - 09099977970
Susan C. Manzano - 09983677084
Eugenio S. Sanico 09103894941

One Tough Experience Climbing Mt. Matutum

After long weeks of preparation, the time has come for us to climb the 2,286 meter Mt. Matutum. Everyone is excited, even though it was my second time to climb this mountain I can still feel the ecstasy and the exhilaration. My first climb in Mt. Matutum was actually a day hike only, and it is also my first major climb, but it carried me away to instantly like the mountains. The reasons, why I like conquer the thrill of great heights.

Climbing Mt. Matutum does not require technical skills or special equipments. However the challenge is not to be taken lightly, some mountaineers say that Mt. Matutum trail is more difficult than Mt. Apo.

Me and my buddies meet around 6:00am at TUPI Municipal Hall where kuya Jun Sanico is waiting for us, and provide us some short briefing before we climb. Kuya Jun, from the tourism office is the one in charge in securing our permits and provides us with one porter/guide who will assist us to our venture. We ride a “habal habal” motorcycle going to jump off; there are two passengers for each motorcycle, that cost us Php 150 or Php 75 per head.

Jump off point, for Matutum Glandang trail.

 Arrived at our first water source station, locales call it “bobon”.

Trail going to phase 1 of our venture.

Finally we reached the phase 1 from Glandang trail; we meet some mountaineers who started hiking at 4:00am.

After the phase one, there will be no more wide and nice path. The next trail will be full of challenge; you have to climb the rocks and the slippery roots of the trees.

Taking a rest after hours of hike to catch our breath, the atmosphere is foggy and cold.

We reach the summit at 3:00pm, where we socialized with other mountaineers who shared the same schedule of climbing with us. It’s a relief that you are now on top, all the tiredness and pains we went through is paid off.

We setup our tents; the weather is cold and rainy a perfect time for rest after a long and tiring hike.

Hey it’s 7:00am! Our wake up call, we prepare our breakfast and after we full ourselves time for us to do photo-ops.

Itinerary:

Day 1

06:00am - Assembly Time
06:30am – Travel from Tupi to Jump off site
07:00am – Start trek
10:00am – Arrival at Phase 1
03:00pm – Arrival at the Summit
03:30pm – We start our late lunch
07:00pm – Dinner
08:00pm – Lights Off

Day 2

07:00am – Wakeup call
07:30am – Breakfast
08:00am – Picture taking and exploring the summit.
10:00am – Start descent
01:00pm - Back at Jump off
01:30pm – Take a motorcycle back to Tupi

Mt. Matutum hike is an awesome and a nice experience for adventure. So make it in your bucket list, and be fascinated and rejuvenated by the exquisiteness of nature.

If you want to climb Mt. Matutum you may contact Kuya Jun Sanico of Tupi Tourism, thru his mobile number +63910 3894941.