Photos of the Day

With barely a month to go, many people are already busy preparing for the annual Kaamulan Festival. 

Kaamulan Grounds

When we went down Kaamulan Grounds to do a family afternoon walk, we heard the sound of motorcycles. We looked up on the hill on the right side and saw several bike riders racing to the riverside. Preparation for motorcross? Looks like it. As we made our exit, we looked down under the bridge and this is what we saw.

Capitol Grounds

After taking our walk, we went back to Capitol Grounds to play badminton. 

In addition to giving the provincial government offices a new paint job, the trees in front of the buildings were also cut. Wood cutters dug and then chainsawed the base trunk of this big, old pine tree.

Things That Kept My Kids Busy Last Summer

After over two months of Summer vacation, school is back!

The previous summer was the first time that we did not go to Davao to visit my in-laws. But, it became our busiest Summer yet.  

Kite Flying
It started with the kids and I going to Capitol Grounds to fly kites with some friends.

Early Morning Walk
The following week, my son and I began a three-times weekly early morning walk which we both found enjoyable and exhilarating. Sometimes we even do a fourth walk because my son asks for it.

Worksheets
Every day I let my kids answer worksheets that I get online. The worksheet thing all started since my son was in preschool. When my daughter started learning how to hold a pencil I also began to let her do some tracing and coloring which made my browser bookmark overflow. I decided to make a website to make my collection more organized and hopefully make other moms online search easier.

Origami
When my son was still two years old, I bought the biggest origami book I could find at National Bookstore. I wanted to do something fun and creative for both of us. When he turned 3 years old, I enrolled him in nursery and the book was forgotten. A year later, it was summer and I was very busy with my online writing when I handed him the book to keep him occupied. Using the used worksheet bond papers he started doing origami every thing on his own. Everytime he asks me what something means I would just answer, "I don't know because I don't know origami." So he figured everything on his own.

At first it was the easy ones: paper crane, frog, fish, easy boxes and others.

Fast forward to today, these were some of his latest:

 

Verdis Vase

Mouse

Heart Box

Wentworth Dish

Waterlily

Spanish Box

Twist Box

Lambeosauros

He also made a rabbit and a turtle but both were flattened by his sister before I could take snaps. I don't ask him to make an origami, I just wait until he will show something to me. But sometimes, he forgets that's why it will end up not added to my origami pic collection.

Face to Face with a Giant

Together with two of my high school classmates and some friends, we spent Independence Day 2014 with one of nature's attention-grabbing member: the biggest, weirdest and stinkiest flower.

The trip was extra special as we have with us our Biologist classmate. Not only was I able to meet the humongous flower, she also pointed out to me another weird flower which took me by surprise to know that it can also be found in my country.

Rafflesia schadenbergiana in full bloom with black bud looking like a black cabbage or old coconut half-buried in the ground.

 

Like all flowers, R. schadenbergiana also wilts after a few days, and this is how it looks.

The entrance of the fenced area where the world's biggest flower grows and blooms.

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1st Family Road Trip!

Road Trip: a journey via automobile, sometimes unplanned or impromptu. - Dictionary.com

  

Backstory:

Days after I shared a photo of our Palaopao experience on social media , Joy and I got invited to a day hike (Wohoo!!!) by Oyec, a highschool batchmate. Instead of him asking us to let him join us on our next plan, we convinced him to let us join him on his. After all, he's a mountaineer who has explored Bukidnon's mountains. He arranged a hike at the foot of Mt. Lunayon, part of the Mount Kitanglad Range Natural Park (MKRNP).

Fast forward on the day before the hike, Joy told me that she will not be able to join because of some changes in her schedule. Another classmate was supposed to join but a little after 11 o'clock pm (she just got home from work) she had to cancel, too, due to her hectic schedule (She's Mt. Makiling bound by early Sunday). I know I had to cancel as well, because a hike is only half the fun kung wala kay ka-chika nga amiga, di ba? It was almost midnight when I texted Oyec that we three ladies will not be able to join them the next day. Good thing he mentioned that he's got some guests, so I felt less guilt, hehe... 

So, my bag is packed and I was all set for the next day but only a few hours before our assembly time I had to delete the very reason why my purple backpack is ready to be carried on my back. Since both ladies could not make it, I felt that there's a reason why it happened. Does God have a better plan for me? Before I drift off to sleep, I told my husband that my day hike plan is off so I will be able to join him and our son for our early morning walk.

Making the best of the situation

While on our walk at the Capitol and Kaamulan Grounds, I can feel that my adrenalin was still  high. During breakfast, I hated the thought of the four of us getting stuck at home for the entire day. I then blurted out that maybe we should go on a picnic. But I wanted something more activity-packed. I then remembered that just two weeks prior, as we passed by the sign of Kampo Juan on our way home from CDO, we were talking about visiting the place. We noted that it was only 2.8km away from the highway which is rather near, compared to Dahilayan which is 25km away. After breakfast, I hurriedly did an online search about the place. We brainstormed(?) some more (Dahilayan or Kampo Juan?) and finally decided that we wanted a shorter trip. I looked at the time and it was not even 8'o clock yet. I asked my mother to join us but she said that it's my father's turn to join us. By 9:30 am we were on the road for our first family road trip.

Kampo Juan Eco-Adventure Farm (Manolo Fortich)

Kampo Juan has four major attractions: the two anicycles, ziplines, the hanging bridge and rappelling. After my online search, I was thinking of trying the hanging bridge and rappeling. But when we reached the place and saw the very deep ravine (80-90m high), we know that the place is best enjoyed with friends and not with kids. After eating our lunch, we explored the place and then made our exit.

The deep ravine will literally take your breath away. This place is definitely not for acrophobics. 

Can't wait to rappel on our next visit!

At 120 meters long, this is said to be the longest hanging bridge in the country.

General Douglas MacArthur Landmark 

I learned about this landmark also from my Kampo Juan online search. Yes, it sure is worth taking some pictures. Just read the transcription. 

As we were heading to the main road, I was thinking what else to do. It was still too early to go home. Suddenly, the idea of visiting every natural wonder that we will pass by along the way occurred to me (lightbulb moment lugar, haha). And that's when our road trip started to become exciting!

Mangima Canyon (Manolo Fortich)

It's our first time to stop by on the Mangima Viewing Deck. It was very breezy and the site reminded me how beautiful my province really is that I wouldn't trade it anywhere else.

Palaopao Hills (Sumilao)

It was drizzling so I decided not to stop by to take wire-less pictures.

Alalum Falls 
The rain has stopped by the time we reached Alalum Falls so we were able to spend as much time and took as many pictures as we wanted.

Alalum Falls drops at a height of 148 ft (45 m) in the boundary between Sumilao and Impasug-ong.

148 feet or 45 m high - See more at: http://outoftownblog.com/alalum-falls-in-sumilao-bukidnon/#sthash.4dvesrp6.dpuf

148 feet or 45 m high - See more at: http://outoftownblog.com/alalum-falls-in-sumilao-bukidnon/#sthash.4dvesrp6.dpuf

We were about to exit when these two guys suddenly appeared. I couldn't resist zooming my lens. I definitely wanted to sit there myself, haha

CEDAR (Impasug-ong)
The Center for Ecological Development and Recreation (CEDAR) in Impalutao, Impasug-ong is another place that my husband and I long wanted to visit. The last time I visited the place was when I was still in college. I was with my cousins then. I remember that there used to be only two waterfalls. My father and I were surprised that there are now three! Gantungan Falls is 720 meters away from the entrance, Natigbasan Falls is 780 meters and Dila Falls is 960 meters.

It was already 3:30 when we reached CEDAR. Thankfully, the sun was shining. We almost had to scrap this part because of the rain on our way here.

I felt so blessed, grateful to be here with my family and father. Not only was it our first family road trip, it also became our first family hike.

My husband and I took turns with the camera.

 Gantungan Falls

Look at those granite boulders!

 Listen to the sound of Gantungan Falls.

My father wanted to continue to Natigbasan and Dila Falls. But with kids in tow we decided against it. It's also starting to get dark. We let him proceed by himself though. While waiting for him to come back, we got busy taking more photos, including family selfies which we couldn't get quite right. LOL

 Carried on his papa's shoulders, that's how we got our daughter to Gantungan.

My father needed to hold my son's hand the whole time because the trail is narrow and wet. I wouldn't recommend bringing young kids beyond this bamboo bridge though. My kids are just lucky to have big and strong grandfather and father. :) I couldn't believe we brought them that far!

After crossing the bridge, my daughter insisted on walking by herself! Here she is, proudly walking with the boys. She doesn't even want her father to hold her hand.

Surprisingly, not a single complaint was heard from either kids from the start of the trip until we arrived home.

There! A supposedly boring day that became AMAZING! The best part? I got to spend it with my family. Now, I can't wait for our next road trip! Looking forward to sembreak, Christmas break and the next Summer vacation!



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Day Hike #1: Hello, Mt. Palaopao!

Last April, there was a Mt. Kalatungan climb opportunity for me. But I need to be away from my kids for three nights! That was an adventure that I missed for the second time (The first one was two months before my wedding). But I know I should not take it. While it will not be a problem for my son, it will be for my three year old daughter who is my nightly bed mate since she was born.

Two weeks later, I texted my friend Louis, the one who told me about the plan to climb, if we can go to the Kisolon mountain he told me he wanted to summit. That was a Thursday and we agreed to climb it by Saturday. I asked my good friend Joy, if she wanted to join us and she readily said "sure!" Louis' wife, Cecil, will also be joining us.

It's going to be my first climb since getting married and my first mom's-day-off since having kids so I decided that I will not bring an SLR camera because I wanted to enjoy my time, to enjoy the scenery instead of looking for picture-perfect views. But, by the time we cross the hanging bridge I realized that was a bad idea. Later, I learned that mountain climbing and picture taking go together.

I had my phone camera though so I was still able to capture some stills. Thing is, due to my excitement I forgot to change the setting to a higher resolution and the scene mode to "landscape." I'm still happy with the photos though...and here they are!

After we cross the hanging bridge, we learned that Palaopao actually belongs to Manolo Fortich, and not Sumilao, where its full view can be seen. The Kulaman River is the boundary between the two municipalities.

After crossing the bridge, we looked at how high we came from. It also meant that upon going home we will also be climbing that high. 

Let's go up!

 Half-way there!

I was fascinated by the sharp rocks. Years of weathering (wind and rain) made them craggy, sharp, and full of holes that some resemble corals.  

 Part of me was actually thankful I did not bring a bulky SLR or else I'll keep worrying it might get scratched by the sharp rocks (LOL!)

 The other side of the mountain.

Is that Camiguin Island in the distance?

We sometimes need to hold on to the rocks as we climb. 

Almost there!

 The most prominent rock wall that can be seen from the highway.

 Finally reached the top!

The locals do their Station of the Cross on this mountain. This is the biggest cross and it is made of concrete. It was two weeks after Holy Week so we were lucky there were still visible trails and the grasses, which can be slippery, were flattened and have dried up.

Taking selfies. Look at those sharp rocks!

Going down.

After eating our lunch and taking some more photos, we started our descent.

We were blessed with a not so sunny day so our climb was rather fast and not as tiring and hot. We had the perfect weather condition to climb a rocky mountain.

This is not the highest part of the mountain though but Louis said we will be up to this point only. My mind replied: Ah, there's a reason to go back, hehehe...

Cecil said getting there took us an hour and a half, while going back took only 45 minutes!

Mt. Palaopao stands at 836 ft (255 m) above sea level. I'll say the experience made us burn over 8360 calories! Yahoo!!!

Did you know?
Several large caves are found in the Palaopao range including Paiyak, Sumalsag, Lagundang, Basag, and Lahusa caves. Paiyak cave is an ancient burial ground for the indigenous people whose dead are placed in clay pots.

 * Last three photos grabbed from Louis' Facebook page. I thought he was capturing the views. Only after he posted the pictures did we know that Joy and I have lots of photos and they were all candid! Bahala walay poise basta kay naay remembrance! LOL! Thank you for everything, Louis and Cecil! 



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