Mt. Manalmon

111 likes on Facebook! Yay! haha! 

It was suposedly a "High school" event but it  turned out to be a "family" bonding time. I was actually so disappointed prior to this hike. I organized this for hs friends yet no one  confirmed and came (maybe they're just so busy). It's  a good thing somehow because the day before the climb, I found out that a "permit" is needed. AND guess what, you need to have it 5 days before the hike! Uh, 5 days? and we will climb tomorrow? Whut???? What to do now?

I hastily call the numbers that I got from different blogs online. Yet, no one answered right away. I way starting to worry (oh nooo). I asked my friends who went there if it's possible to hike  without a permit and they said that we really need it since that's what they did. I still send an e-mail and texted all the numbers that I was calling earlier. I was really sorry this time.

I prayed and just talked to Dad that if it's His will for us to climb, we will. And if not, He's just protecting us.

Just when we're about to give up, I received one  text message! According to him/her, we can still go hiking but we need to sign a waiver. I was so happy! Then I received another one from Sir Rexel (Marketing and Promotions officer of M.A.D.L.U.M. Inc.). He asked me to send a letter of intent and the name of participants in another e-mail address. I also received a reply to my e-mail and he asked me to share this to all of you who wants to hike there as well:

This is to inform you the requirements and procedure to get a permit are as follows:

5 days before the activity/event email your letter of intent and the names of the participants to the following addresses:

sanmiguelbulacan1874@yahoo.com

rrboyflorencio@yahoo.com

m.a.d.l.u.m.inc@gmail.com

Wait for their reply or call these numbers to follow-up your application: 

0447640154 - Municipal Office of San Miguel Bulacan

09053726148 - Boy Florencio (Municipal Tourism Officer of San Miguel Bulacan) 

note:

Pls. call during office hours only!!!

Let us know if your permit has been approved or leave your number when you send your request.

To make your arrangements call or text the following before entering the park:

09195746470 - Carlito "Tata Carling" Carpio President M.A.D.L.U.M. Inc.

09434440033 - Rexel Marketing and Promotions officer M.A.D.L.U.M. Inc.

" Please share "

Regards,

M.A.D.L.U.M. Inc.(Tour Guiding Organization)

How to get there? 

Ride a bus in Cubao going to Cabanatuan/ San Miguel (Five Star/ Baliwag Transit/ ES Transport)                    -I'm not sure how much because we came from our home in San Rafael Bulacan

Say to conductor that you want to down to "Brgy. Kamias, San Miguel" 

Ride  a tricycle going to Sitio Madlum, Brgy. Sibul   (Php 240)

Itinerary

It was so simple for us since we need to go home by 1200 (we have a family lunch).

630 ETD from San Rafael
710 Arrival at Brgy. Kamias

Adventure na, riding a tricycle  pa lang!

750 Arrival at the registration area/ Jump-off

Look for Tata Carling here.

Registration Area, you'll pay Php 10 each, then they'll give you your guide

           
800 Start trek Mt. Manalmon

Mark, our guide talked to us first about the things we need to remember.

Then off we go! We got to pass by the Madlum Cave (Ouch, nauntog ako dito, madilim talaga eh hehe)   then the Madlum River  (yes, you heard it right. The river where 7 students died because of the sudden rush of water. It was so calm at that time. It's hard to imagine how suddenly it could take lives.  Thank God we're safe!!! 

See? 

sa paanan ng bundok

900 At the summit

Thank You for Your love Jesus!!!! (Yes, I shouted this!, but It'll be louder na next time!) 

So happy to be with brothaaa! Joke lang. lol

I really love the sight of mountains!!!!

1000 Start Descent

cover photo!! Aww clouds. One day I will see a sea of you. I'll be higher! Pulag! Pulag! :) 

We were supposed to try caving also but we realized that it will have an additional fee and we're running out of time too if we want to eat lunch at home. So there, we said good bye to our guide, Mark (Tour guide fee is: 300, but we made it 400. Additional 100 for his lunch :)). I felt sad because he thought we'll go caving. :( He was so kind to still assist us because we want to try the Monkey Bridge.

Nakakakaba talaga. Kinabahan ako na mahulog yung hat at eyeglasses ko. hehehe

Yay! I made it! 

Tambay muna while looking for the tricycle. 

So there. It was really short but fun. For those who want to try mountain climbing for the first time or kinakabahan umakyat dahil hindi ka nakakapag exercise, this mountain is good  kasi hindi sya ganon kahirap. Pabebe climb lang. Haha. 

Again, Thank You for Your love Jesus!!! 'til our next climb!

P.S.


Please wag nyo akong gayahin. Kumuha talaga kayo ng permit ah? Thank you!

*Special thanks to Kuya Rexel of M.A.D.L.U.M Inc.!!!

Hope for Rizal

*I'm not  a historian. Most of these are just a  product of my hopes and thoughts. Thank you! 


         History is just fascinating to me since last month .. all because of watching Heneral Luna movie. I just find myself, researching about things in our history.

         One of my new discoveries is that our National Hero, Jose  Rizal almost married a French girl named Nelly Bousted. Almost. But why didn't their wedding push through? It's interesting because it's because of their faith. I started to hope that Rizal might heard the Gospel from her or somehow saw her and her family's faith.

        Nelly is a Protestant (or for me, I rather call her a "believer of God's grace" and Rizal is a Roman Catholic. Nelly wanted Rizal to be a Protestant like her if he wish to marry her. Rizal didn't like the idea and for him it's only Nelly's "caprice". :(

Rizal refused to be converted in Protestantism which Nellie demanded. Later in his life, Rizal would state in his letter, “… had I held religion as a matter of convenience or an art getting along in this life … I would now be a rich man, free, and covered with honors.” (Zaide, p. 185)

The breakup between the very civil and educated couple was far from bitter as the two parted as friends. When Rizal was about to leave Europe in April 1891, Nelly sent him a goodbye letter, saying: 

“Now that you are leaving I wish you a happy trip and may you triumph in your undertakings, and above all, may the Lord look down on you with favor and guide your way giving you much blessings, and may your learn to enjoy! My remembrance will accompany you as also my prayers.” (Zaide, p. 185)

                                                                    source: http://ourhappyschool.com/history/nellie-boustead-jose-rizals-almost-wife
        I admire Nelly for standing in her conviction. But at the same time, sad. They didn't realized bakc then that it's not about religion or convertion but a relationship with Jesus.

        I read more articles and it gave me hope. I really hope he found the love of God! I was sad and worried if Nelly preached the Gospel to him. Or maybe she did and it was just a seed in Rizal's heart?

Fact is after all those incidents , Rizal read the Bible and also The imitation of Christ by  Thomas A. Kempis in his last hours. Maybe he became more curious? :)

http://indiohistorian.tumblr.com/post/39130243698/rizal-was-reading-the-imitation-of-christ-by

Did he read  Mathew, John, Mark or Luke? or Romans perhaps? I don't know but knowing  that he spent his time with THE WORD just made me  happy.

How could I be like this right? Thinking about a thing that happened years and years ago!

I really hope Rizal got saved!  We'll only God would know that. :)

What amazed me more is when  I read articles about Rizal's last hours..  I discovered,  this:

12:00 – 4:00 a.m.
Rizal sleeps restfully because his confidence in the goodness of God and the justness of his cause gives him astounding serenity and unusual calmness.

http://www.slideshare.net/RizdelRio/execution-of-rizal

So that's why! That's why he was so calm before his execution. Really, death will lost it's sting as you trust in  God. :)  Jesus was his strength at that time. I want to believe this! And Jesus is his hope for the future of our nation. :)