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.