A Veil of Rocks Covers The Beauty of BLOL Lagoon

My friend Riza Espital invites us to visit his brother home at Datal Baka, Malungon Sarangani Province. She also told us that there are lots of adventure spots in the place; one of this is the BLOL lagoon a small body of water which is a perfect place if you’re looking for a cold swimming site this summer. Persuaded and curious to the place after hearing all the beautiful stories, I instantaneously ask her to set a date immediately so that we can start backpacking.

All set and done, the day for adventure to Datal Baka finally arrived. I, Rocel and Riza rode a public utility van headed to Polomolok Acasya terminal and there we ride a habal habal motorcycle to transport us to Barangay Datal Batong.  

It’s already 5:30pm when we arrived to the place; it took us an hour to reach our destination. It was a bumpy ride and quite thrilling because the road is covered in sand and it is rocky that makes it hard for the motorcycle tire. We even almost had an accident after it over hang going to a slope road, good thing our driver perfectly maneuver his motorcycle and immediately hits the break. Despite the mishap we encounter during our travel we thank God for arriving safe. I still got my fresh wounds and injury from my motorcycle accident a week ago, so I got a little irrational fear.

This is the house of Toto Awe and ate Lydia where we spend our three days vacation. The design is quite old and conventional, that makes the house more attractive for me.

It’s surprised me for the hospitality that they’ve showed us. We are warmed welcomed and they even prepared a yummy and delicious dinner for us. Kuya Awe cooked a native tinolang manok and adobo for our dinner. It is perfect blend for an exhausting and strenuous travel and also for a very cold evening in their place.

Tinolang Manok and Adobo cooked by Kuya Awe.

Life in this province was simple; they don’t have electricity or hi-tech equipments. I envy this kind of living; it was so peaceful, and at night the only sound you will hear are from the insects and the winds blowing at the roof of the small house. There is no television for past time, just a simple story telling until you get tired and fell asleep.

Drinking a cup of coffee while exchanging stories, and planning the itinerary for the next day BLOL lagoon escapade.

Rise and shine! Lakwatserongmamoy and friends woke up early, the sun is high and the sky is clear I can say the weather is favors on our side. The gangs prepare the food and all the things needed for the day hike.

Then we start our trek to BLOL lagoon, Rocel and Riza wearing full sun support outfits with umbrella.

We stop for a moment to a nearby house to catch our breath and cool off from the heat of the sun.

Here are the awesome views of the landscape we seen on our way to lagoon.

An awesome picturesque view of Mt. Matutum at the background.

And at last, we finally reached the place. BLOL lagoon is so small contrary to my expectation that is so wide and deep. But still the place was worth visiting, because of the nice ambience and serene place. The residents told us that before the BLOL is wide and deep, the water also reflects to the sky that makes it color blue. But because of the landslide it ruins the majestic view of the lagoon.

After a cool and relaxing swimming we then descend and headed back to the village. By 3:00pm we reached the village, and there Kuya Awe is waiting for us because he prepared a bico for a snack to fill our hungry stomach.

Our visit to the place is a memorable experienced and we had lots of fun. I am very thankful for the hospitality of the people living in the village. And Im glad that old Filipino culture is still alive.

The stories for people and culture in Purok Datal Baka, Barangay Datal Batong, Malungon Sarangani Province will be followed soon.

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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

Mt. Maiden Breast, Tampakan’s Hidden Beauty

Tampakan is a 2nd class municipality in South Cotabato; its mountainous and forested area contributes a large number of fruit, fiber, woodcrafts bamboo, rattan and corn. They are also known as a major producer of gold and copper that was utilized by Sagittarius Mines Incorporated SMI. Aside from the abovementioned source of living, they also promote eco tourism that makes Mt. Maiden Breast locally known as “Susong Dalaga” and Taal Falls renowned. 

Mt. Susong Dalaga is a conical hill at its peak resembling the female breast, located at Barangay Lambayong Tampakan South Cotabato. Though in the Philippines there are many places known to have Susong Dalaga, like in Pagadian, Zamboanga Del Sur, Tanay Rizal and Mt. Tagapo in Laguna de Bay. But I in my own view the one located at Tampakan has a perfect coned shape.

Luckily we have given the chance to climb Mt. Susong Dalaga. Nanay Rina Tan Padua also known as Bundokerang Nanay hold an event themed “Advocacy Climb Empowering Local Mountain Guides and Promoting Responsible Tourism through Mountaineering” and we are invited us to join the event.

Nanay Rina Tan Padua Event Coordinator.

Excited to climb and witness the beauty of the said mountain, we took a van from Bulaong Terminal General Santos City headed directly to Tampakan. It was a 45 minutes ride and finally we arrived at Tampakan Barangay Hall for the registration, and there we meet other fellow mountaineers from different group and places.

We are also warmed welcomed by the hospitality of the local officials and locals. They offered us cassava, buko, santol and papaya that fill our hungry stomach from the travel. We then set up our tents on our camp site besides the Barangay hall play ground and enjoyed the night before we go for a day trek to Mt. Susong Dalaga.

Day 2

Rise and shine, after we prepare all the things and foods needed for a day trek, we rode a municipal dump truck that will carry us to Barangay Lambayong our jump off point.

Finally we reached our jump off point, and then we stopped at a nearby hut for courtesy call where we congregate with local officials and introduce everyone.

By simply looking at the beautiful view of Barangay Lambayong, it awakens the inner child in me that want to run and play hide and seek whole day with the young kids in the small hills. I really miss being young. :)

At last we started our trek at Mt. Susong Dalaga headed by local guides and officials.

Picturesque view of Mt. Susong Dalaga trail going to the peak, the vast mountain ranges and the fresh breeze of air will make you feel great.

Mountaineers took a break to catch their breath and as part of the activity, we will free a grass owl named SUDA into the wilderness which the local government took care off after she was wounded.

Headed by Kagawad Vargas everyone is excited to free SUDA.

Suda looks back to the people who took care of her.

She then started to spread her wings.

Due to lengthy time stayed in the cage Suda got a hard time flying so she rest for a while, we also leave her so that she can have a moment and be freed from the stress. Then we continue our trek to the peak.

Mt. Susong Dalaga, though it is not as tall like any other mountains her trail should not be under estimated, that’s one big rule in mountaineering. At first I also thought it will be an easy climb but to my surprise the trail we descend is kind of technical since we used rope and the cliffs are quite dangerous. Also got a modest comment regarding the safety of the participants. The rope has no lock for every curve which makes it more unsafe. Some of the participants including me got a minor injury due to lack of safety equipments.

We got scratches and minor injuries as we descend from Mt. Susong Dalaga.

Though we experienced minor life and death situations, we thank God for the safety thrilling adventure.

For everyone who’s looking for a thrilling and fun adventure, you may want to try Mt. Susong Dalaga. It offers not only exciting venture but the magnificent view of Mt. Parker and Mt. Matutum that can be seen at the peak. 

We would like to give thanks also to Tampakan local officials especially Kagawad Vargas who accompany us up to the peak of Mt. Susong Dalaga, he disregard the exhaustion and the danger just to be with us. And also a big thanks to Denliz Binalot for a very yummy and delicious meal they serve us.

One of the products proudly made by resident of Barangay Lambayong, Tampakan. Avery nice and durable handmade baskets.

Itinerary

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