Davao City

DAVAO ADVENTURE!

by Ivan Ignacio 

The BACKPACKERS' Davao Adventure kicked off on February 14, 2013. The ultimate goal: to scale PH's highest: Mt. Apo! Six BPs, one inductee and three guests joined the expedition. But before the Mt. Apo undertaking, the gang spent the first day roaming around one of Mindanao's busiest cities: Davao City.

The BACKPACKERS

April Bedana

Clue Fajardo

Liz Honrade

Tin Palomares

Heinz Alvarez

Ivan Ignacio

Wilson Galapon *Batch 6

GUESTS

Shine Caballes

Weng Bulaon (author of www.byahengjologslakwatsera.blogspot.com)

Louie Baccay

AMPATUAN RESIDENCE IN DAVAO

Not included in the itinerary but one of the group's cab driver was in a generous 'tourism' mode when he pointed out the huge structure along the highway to SM Davao as the residence of the controversial Ampatuan clan. He let the lucky passengers get out to take souvenir pictures of the gigantic structure. T'was really big!

Mt. Maculot 2013

A Redemption Climb. BP Ivan and BP York's Birthday Climb 
 A Pre-Climb for Mt. Apo Climbers.

Mt. Maculot

By Heinz Lopez Alvarez, Jr.

The BACKPACKERS' Mt. Maculot Climb on February 2 and 3, 2013, was an important activity for the Group because of three main reasons. First, it was the Group's redemption climb after being actually lost in the wilds and slopes during its first attempt to invade the said mountain two years ago. Second, it was the Group's avenue for the BP Lead Ivan and BP York's birthday celebration. And, last but certainly not the least important, it was a preparatory climb for BP members who will climb the highest point in the Philippine archipelago, Mt. Apo, on February 15 to 17 this very year.

Mt. Daguldol

The BACKPACKERS 

Year Starter Climb 

in Mt. Daguldol

by Ivan Ignacio

Eleven BACKPACKERS and five guests kicked off the start of 2013 with the group's adventure at Mt. Daguldol in the coastal town of San Juan, Batangas. Mt. Daguldol is known as one of the mountains near Manila that offers a wide selection of scenic viewpoints from its grassland peaks. This mountain is even included in one tourism site's Top Ten Must Climb Mountains in the Philippines joining the ranks of Mt. Pulag, Pico de Loro and Apo. When the group climbed this mountain last weekend, we definitely agreed that it is truly deserving of these praises as our expectations were satisfied by the wonderful vistas on its peaks.

Real, Quezon Province

THE MISADVENTURE TURNED ADVENTURE FILLED WEEKEND

By: Mark Nickson Garcia

BP Marion & BP Nick @ Real Quezon

                                                     

For two weeks prior to the weekend before Christmas day, Marion and I were completely decided to have a vacation in the beautiful island of Calaguas in Bicol. We both did our research but due to “time” issues and other matters, we found ourselves discovering the simple yet adventure-filled Real at Infanta, Quezon instead.

Mt. Batulao Traverse

I was not able to join the Group when they climbed it for the first time in 2011. Because of that, and though I was aware of an accident that happened to a first-time hiker, who fell to her death attributed to human error, I was very excited and was looking forward to a memorable year-ender climb in a mountain where scenic views of Batangas could be seen - Mt. Batulao.

And yes, with The BACKPACKERS' Way in mind, that is individual sense of responsibility to personal and co-members' safety, we were able to seal the Group's mountaineering activities for 2012 safely and with pride.

The BACKPACKERS Year-Ender Climb

Mt. Batulao Traverse

By Heinz Lopez Alvarez, Jr.

December 29, 2012 - It was an intermittently gloomy Saturday past noon in Metro Manila and it actually drizzled when the Group was waiting to be boarded on a bus bound for Nasugbu, Batangas. Because it was two days before the new year's eve, that terminal along Taft Avenue in Pasay City, for Genesis and BSC buses and jeepneys, was crowded and lines of passengers hurrying to go home to the South were literally lengthy. As a matter of fact, it took almost an hour before we found ourselves finally climbing a BSC bus! But it was totally fine because our Lead, Ivan Ignacio, had already briefed us ahead of time that it was going to be a night trek for us. We were eight in the group namely BPs Liz, Chons, Heinz, York, Resty and Ivan; and guests Wilson Galapon and Alva Zarte Nombrado.