Lessons Learned in Mount Arayat

Last March 21, 2009, we headed to Sta.Ana Pampanga to join our colleagues doing a house visit. The main plan was to go beside the pond and do some tilapia fishing. At around 10AM, we arrived at the site.

While exploring the area, we saw at the forefront of our eyes, Mt.Arayat. Honestly it was already planned that we will doing a day-hike and we did.

The story comes along:



From searching thru the World Wide Web for Arayat information and how-tos, we followed the posting but it did come out the way it was posted on the computer.

We hired a tricycle from the house of our friend and went straight to Mt. Arayat National Park. Upon reaching the gate of the park, we were approached by some bystanders. The first thing that I’ve noticed is the place has no guard-on-duty. The bystanders asked us if we want to climb the mountain, since that is our main goal, we did say “Yes”.

From the moment we’ve entered the gates, I felt some discomfort to the mob that are surrounding us, total of 6 people have joined the craze of asking us if we need a guide. First thing, one man stood up saying that we need to pay 30 pesos each for the entrance fee. The trick that if your vehicle, (rented or not) will enter the premises of the park, you will pay directly. For this, we did not argue nor did we ask for receipt. It was a misfortune at the start.

With no people to ask for more details, we had agreed to have a guide with a prize of P600, bringing the asking monetary down from P1, 700. The next step is going to the Barangay Hall for registration with the amount of P10 per person. The amazing part is that the person we had agreed to guide us was not a legitimate one. These persons are just hecklers. Only that time we had learned that to get a guide, you need to go straight to the Barangay Hall. The person was able to get a guide but he will get a commission on the amount that we will pay. Sad part for the official guide named “Kuya Rey”. The next process is to go the DENR office, it was an uphill street, and we were dropped by the tricycle we rented. On the site, you need to pay P20 per person.

Transcript of Events:
11:00 AM – Start of Trek
02:30 PM – Arrive the Viewing Deck
03:45 PM – Arrive the Viewing Deck
04:30 PM – Start Descent
06:00 PM – Back at DENR office

It was really an uphill climb all through the trek and it was a grueling one. But the view at the deck and summit were spectacular. You will see the rice cradle of our country. It was 180 degrees view of whole Central Luzon. Our water reserve was gone until the last drop at the summit. As for the descent, it was one of the fastest run we had, covering the downhill path for less than 2 hours. The main reason is that we had no water and sun is beginning to fade up away.

The experience was not finished until we were transferred back to the house. Upon stepping out on the tricycle, we asked on how much is the price of the service, the driver replied “P500”, me and my friend stared at each other. Nonetheless, we neither did nor argue again and we just paid him the total amount.

With these lessons learned, we intend to climb again Mt.Arayat in the near future but we will be heading to the Magalang trail.

To all who wants to use still the Mt.Arayat National Park trail, please go directly to the Barangay hall then to DENR office

The experience still the best, from seeing Mt.Arayat numerous times from NLEX to climbing at the summit is the best reward. Nevermind those mafia.

Weekend in Baguio

March 14-16 (2009)

It was early Saturday morning and we are heading to Robinson’s Galleria to meet our Sgt. Hiker (Almont) since we are scheduled to go his place in Laguna.

All we need is a blink of the eye to change our mind and call our President and join them in Baguio which a couple of friends are also there. Since we don’t have ample clothes, the Trio decided to run fast and get some additional clothing.

Thanks to the Sergeant for understanding, one of these days, we will visit your new born cute little girl.

At 10AM, we are in the Victory Bus terminal getting our tickets which are scheduled to leave at 11AM. We had our breakfast at “Fry Me” near the terminal. While eating, I saw this vinegar named “Pinakurat”; it says extra hot and “Sawsawan ng Bayan”. The unique with this product is that they have a website. www.sukapinakurat.com/


Cool thing but we haven’t tasted since it was for sale and the establishment have no free taste available for the customers.

At 11AM, the bus rolled its wheels going to Baguio, during the trip the trio was just amazed that we are now in the Pangasinan area, there is going back from there on. We arrive in Baguio at around 5PM and walked ourselves to SM to meet the group.

Grocery time, we shop for our dinner and breakfast. We didn’t realize we have a Top Chef in the group. Our first menu, chopsuey and butter garlic fish. By the way, we are staying at Teacher’s Camp courtesy of our lady friend.



Time for dinner and it was indeed a full meal, a full meal of vegetables. I guess we overloaded ourselves with Benguet’s pride. The place was really huge and I believe it can accommodate a whole class. We watched TV and prepared ourselves for time of sharing. It was really a fun night, lots of stories, lots of things to talk about but our body and mind cannot cope with the demand. Time to sleep and lights out at 3AM;

After a tranquil nap, our body was up at around 8AM, our lady friends are preparing for our breakfast. Our menu, fried hotdog, chopsuey, bread, milk, Milo, fried rice and egg; the result was the same, an overloaded breakfast, fried rice is on the limelight.

After breakfast, we are now gearing to visit some places. The itinerary is to visit Mines View and buy some goods at Good Shepherd. It was indeed a great day because fog is all over the place even on the middle of the day.



Since the other group is scheduled to be back in Manila in the afternoon, we decided to have a lunch at Good Taste, another huge servings on the table. We are back at the house 2PM.

At 4PM, Mr. President and I decided to go down at the oval where some cadets are practicing their steps with dancing on the side. We saw some wushu team doing some training. For us, we decided to walk on the oval and have our feet exercised. Also we brought cameras to do some picture taking on the group and area.

Night is falling down, so we decided to go back in the house. Our two sleeping friend are still down in the comfort of bed. We decided not to wake them, for now we don’t have an overloaded dinner. Just a glass of milk and at around 9:00 PM, we turn of head down to the waiting pillow.

We scheduled ourselves to be up early and to be at the bus terminal and get tickets for 9:00AM ride back to Manila. At 2:30PM, we are now in Cubao bus terminal.

It was a restful weekend with too much sleeping and eating. I realized that when you go a place not just Baguio, don’t think that it is a prerequisite to go and visit places and make yourself tired. Like Baguio, I believe most of us have seen Baguio a couple of times, visited Mines View, Mansion, PMA and other spots numerous times. Go and give your self adequate and undisturbed doze.

For that, it was indeed a great payoff to have more time with your friends and meeting new faces.



I really love to go back to this place and jog two times a day at the oval, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. The rest of the time, sleep, stories and TV.