Top 10 Adventures of 2014

While we say Hello to 2015, The BACKPACKERS recap the Best Adventures of 2014!

It is the time of the year when those year ender posts start flooding the blogsphere. The BACKPACKERS who have attended in at least more than half of the adventures for the year determined those that made it on the list.

Batangas, Bulacan, Camarines Sur, Ifugao, Laguna, Mountain Province, Nueva Ecija, Palawan, Pangasinan, Quezon, Rizal, Romblon, Tarlac --- which province made it on the list? Let's find out now!

Top Ten BACKPACKERS Adventures in 2014
by Ivan Ignacio

10 Mt. Daraitan Traverse to Tinipak River (August)

[Rizal] The BACKPACKERS and friends took on the Mt. Daraitan challenge, a new mountain to almost all participants. It was an arduous assault followed by a wet socials but the BPs and guests pushed through and managed to enjoy it every step of the way. The trip concluded in a very refreshing side trip at the beautiful Tinipak River. Click Here to Read the Adventure

Christmas in October #GiveLove

CHRISTMAS IN OCTOBER

(TheBACKPACKERS #GiveLove in Ifugao 2014)

By: Nickson Garcia

It was exactly a year ago when majority of TheBackpackers and some very close friends made one of the most heartwarming adventure of 2013 in Ifugao Province. In coordination with the KaEswela, they have spread happiness by giving school supplies and sports equipments to students throughout some schools located at the remote but beautiful Mt. Humalophop. 

Every aspect of it was memorable. From the preparation of donations to climbing Mt. Humalophop up until the distribution of the donations to the schools were definitely an event to remember in the hearts of all those who participated. 

Conducting an outreach program is not new with TheBackpackers. In fact, we conducted several outreach events spearheaded by different BP members such as BP Marion, BP Chons and BP Ivan. During that time we refer to it as an outreach but as time passed by it evolved into the term "GiveLove" meaning conducting an outreach. This GiveLove usually happens in the month of October.

Top 10 Adventures of 2013

THE BACKPACKERS' TOP TEN ADVENTURES OF 2013

                         
10    MARINDUQUE ESCAPADE

Four BP Girls explored the heart of the Philippines - Marinduque. Hitting the beautiful beaches, island hopping, resort bumming and a little bit of caving were the sweetest escape for the girls.

Ifugao Outreach

SENDING LOVE TO EVEN GREATER HEIGHTS

by Ivan Ignacio

The BACKPACKERS and Guests woke up that morning feeling blessed and refreshed from the tiresome hike the day before. This was no ordinary morning for us as we knew that we would be affecting the hearts of the simple but beautiful community on top of Mt. Humalophop. The locals  especially the teachers were already touched upon seeing our arrival in their elementary school. They could not believe that people still care - I mean, they've been living their humble lives for years and did not catch a glimpse of any tourists or visitors of some sort in the area. The only support they witnessed was two years ago when PNP conducted a medical mission in the school, estimated to be a thousand meters above the ground.

Mt. Humalophop

MT. HUMALOPHOP:
A HEAVEN IN IFUGAO!

by Ivan Ignacio

Probably one of the greatest feats of The BACKPACKERS is the discovery of a remote but very beautiful mountain in the province of Ifugao. Mt. Humalophop (or Mt. Palo for some), is located in the town of Hingyon and is a haven to spectacular rice fields and terraces. According to the locals, they were surprised to see a group of mountaineers as the place had no visitors except for the PNP who conducted a medical mission in 2011. Our Mt. Humalophop climb was part of our Give Love Ifugao: Sending Love to Even Greater Heights where we brought school supplies, goodies and sandals to the kids of Humalophop Elementary School and nine other schools in Hingyon, Ifugao.


THE LAST ACCESS ROAD 

From Brgy. Mompolia where we had another round of pampering, we geared up for the major activity in our Ifugao adventure: the hike to Mt. Humalophop. At some point in the last access road, we bade goodbye to Ma'am Ermie and to the three KaEskwela volunteers. They were assigned to distribute the donations to the elementary school in the shorter and lower mountain in Sitio Ubuag. We were taking on the longer, higher and more challenging Mt. Humalophop which is nestled at 1,190MASL in the eastern part of the amazing Cordilleras.

Ifugao Province

THE BACKPACKERS AND FRIENDS

ENTER IFUGAO!

by Ivan Ignacio

Probably one of the greatest feats of The BACKPACKERS is the discovery of a remote but very beautiful mountain in the province of Ifugao. Mt. Humalophop (or Mt. Palo for some), is located in the town of Hingyon and is a haven to spectacular rice fields and terraces. According to the locals, they were surprised to see a group of mountaineers as the place had no visitors except for the PNP who conducted a medical mission in 2011. Our Mt. Humalophop climb was part of our Give Love Ifugao: Sending Love to Even Greater Heights where we brought school supplies, goodies and sandals to the kids of Humalophop Elementary School and nine other schools in Hingyon, Ifugao.