Mt. Batulao Mountaineering Experience

Mt. Batulao Summit

TRAVEL - At exactly 6AM from Lipa City, Batangas, i ride in a bus going to Batangas City, terminal and  from there took a jeep in Lawas where the van travelling to Nasugbu is located. It is a 1 and a half  hours smooth ride and i have to get off in the van in Palico, Nasugbu. From Palico mini terminal i ride again in a bus (you can ride in any bus traveling to Manila) to bring me in Evercrest Golf Club Resort and meet my friends there from Manila. It is faster to ride in a bus than in a jeep, the travel took almost 15 min. I reached evercrest Batulao a little bit late 8AM. Evercrest is the starting point of your walk if you're not going to ride in a tricycle to the registration station and you want some warm up. There is a store and a bathroom/comfort room along the way with 5 php charge per use. 

In the Registration station, me and my friends fill up our names in their registration book. A travel guide is now required in Mt. Batulao climb so we have no choice but to get one. They will give you a tour guide, young and some are adults so if somebody asked you if you want a guide along your walk to the registration and you like them you can already accept their offer.

Here's our tour guide, his name is John Paul. His just 16 years old and touring mountaineers for almost 7 years now. I like him personally, his shy silent type but he insist to carry some of our bags though we still did not give it to him. He also caring and holding us in some hard trails. 

THE CLIMB - The walk is fun, exciting and refreshing and eye fulfilling. You have nothing to worry about drinks because there is a buko vendor and some selling a halo-halo along the way. The trail is hot in sunny days cause there is no much tress in the way mostly grass dancing in the wind and big rocks. 

Its getting more brizzy in the midway to the summit and become even narrower and stiff. We still need to hold on in a rope to climb above in the super slope trail. But the view is getting more amazing and breath taking. We have to pass 9 camps to reach the summit of Mt. Batulao. The higher you get, the tougher it takes.

That feeling that you have passed the 9 camps and now heading closed enough to camp 10, the summit of Mt. Batulao.

Finally, we conquired Mt. Batulao!!
It's almost 3 hours of climb to the summit and all our sweat is worth it. We can see the overview landscape of the whole Batangas and Cavite in the other side. Feels the very refreshing air and camp with other climbers. We took our lunch in the summit and eat along with others and sharing our baon. It's so lovely the fact that you can meet strangers that share the same passion and feelings in the place with you. Greet each other and saying, "Ingat kau".

Something you should not missed in the summit is the halo-halo and the ice buko. If you commute going back to Batangas you should not also missed the last trip of van in Palico. 

Padre Pio, Shrine Experience

Padre Pio, Inside the Church

TRAVEL - Saint Padre Pio Shrine is part of Santo Tomas, Batangas. This is the disadvantage of travelling with an own vehicle, you will not be able to know the place and the road you passed on. Unlike when you commute you can talk to people, ask directions and be familiar in the beautiful places. 

I am the only christian in our family but i'm still fond of catholic shrines. When we arrived in the place i was so fascinated with the church architectural design and its structure. The buildings are made of bamboo, awesome!



They remained the place holy and a sleeveless shirt is not allowed inside the church. Like in my case, i stayed and just listen in the mass from outside.

The store inside the shrine is well organized and complete in all items from souvenirs, candles, holy water, rosary and everything.

   

Candles Prayer Symbol

Lighting prayer candles

Many students who will be taking board exam are visiting the place to light a candle for good luck. The candles are in different colors and each have their own meaning / significant purpose prayer. I tried. 

Inside the Sanctuary is a jars and a fountain of holy water. The holy water is unlimited and free.

There's also a pasalubong and refreshment store in the place. Actually there are still many booth and vendors just outside/down the shrine. The day we visited there just few people and some visitors like us in the place but they said it is full of people every Sunday.

"I pray the holiness of Padre Pio shrine will not vanish in the heart and mindset of visitors and believers."

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Kamay ni Hesus, Shrine Experience

Kamay ni Hesus Healing Church and Grotto

TRAVEL - I have no idea what places we passed by going to Lucban, Quezon from Lipa, Batangas cause we are riding a private car. All I knotice is the field, with all tress and rivers along the road, you can feel the province far from the city views. 

It's almost 3 hrs of travel before we finally reached the entrance gate to Kamay ni Hesus and all the parking area were occupied so we just park along the road. Souvenirs and hats vendors strays outside the gate and we bought hats before we walk in.

There are so many people in all ages visiting the place in different purposes. Most of the adults and in old age came to pray and for healing, some young adult (including me) just came to explore, experience and feel the holiness of the place. 

We have to climb the  305 steps grotto to reach the 50ft statue of the Ascending Christ. It's really tiring especially this hot days. The devotees stop by in every station along the zigzag steps to pray. But some just took photos along the way to the top. 

There is a resting bench behind the Christ statue but i prefer to stay in front, overlooking the whole place below. People there are in groups of Barkada, family and couples. 

Going down is just one straight step so it's easier and faster.

Religious Mural

Eden Park

Entrance to Noah's Ark

After going down from the grotto, we did not miss the Religious mural, the Garden of Eden and the Noah's Ark. Unfortunately, we're not able to enter inside the Noah's ark, its closed to visitors. 

Fish Pond

There's also a fish pond beside the

Noah's ark. And several souvenir item stores inside, near the garden of Eden and food and refreshment booth near the gate.

We are done exploring the whole Shrine just before lunch so we decided to eat our baon in the car. The day is still so early to just drive back home.