It all started upon knowing that we have a
waterfall in my hometown. At this point that I have heard about this waterfall,
I would have climbed several mountains and been pinned to nature already.
So, upon knowing I had one on my hometown,
i thought it was but unfair that I have not seen it. In just days, I
immediately visited it. (see here and here for my previous posts on these
visits).
It may not be as mesmerizing as Tinuy-an
falls, or even Ditumabo falls, but there was that enchanting feeling when I
stood in front of the waterfall over sturdy walls of the mountains next to it,
like in a dome of praise. Then I thought about writing an article to give more
information, and hopefully encourage more people to visit what we have.
I got a few comments on my write up which
meant indeed, more people getting interested in the place. I realized this
could be an alternative livelihood for the aetas who can guide guests for some
fees.
Meantime, I did not want these Aetas to be
like those in Cawag, Zambales who wouldn’t have anything with them when they
guide; No tents, no water bottle, no bags whatsoever.
I have a hammock which I use in place of a
tent, and most of those travel/hike buddies who has seen it were asking where I
got it. Then, I thought about using it to raise funds. I bought in bulk, and
topped the price with what they’d normally pay in fare to get to the supplier. I
sold enough to buy 2 sets of bags and tents.
I was looking for an occasion where I can
hand these out, and came up with this bright idea of bringing my mountaineering
group, Sabit Sabit Mountaineers, to the spot and probably conducting a feeding
program too since we’ll come across the aetas along the way. Their diet depends
on their resources which is just basically bananas and yam, and I wanted them
to have a taste of something else.
Further, we thought about gathering some
donation so we have something to leave them with, perhaps at least a kilo of
rice, 2 noodles, and a canned good. Heavens blessed us, we solicited about P30K
pesos of cash and about P20K worth of goods, plus about P10k of funds among
joiners for the feeding program.
Friday came and we met in Victory Liner. I
think we filled the compartment of the bus no 807 with donated goods (not to
mention we have a bulk, probably twice as much, packed and waiting at our house
in Pampanga).
We arrived in Pampanga with our energy
levels as if we have just awoken. The loud voices couldn’t deny; Daes and Nikki
were so confined at their cooking, while the rest were uninterruptible with
their repacking; I am so glad I got the right people.
Just few hours later, I received a message
from Al that they’re close to the where I am supposed to pick them up. The
kitchen crew were almost done so I requested that food be ready so we can do a
boodle fight breakfast before heading to the Municipality where the truck is
waiting. We planned on cooking right in sitio banaba, but then, we thought it
would be most time effective if we rather bring it cooked.
By 8am, we were already in the Municipality.
The truck came after just a little while. Everybody having fun, and everything
was so much in place.
Then again, just less than a kilometer away
from sapang uwak, we start with the slippery mud terrain... The truck can’t
handle it; It was too slippery that gravity and the mud pulls it more than it
can push itself. We had no choice but to disembark. I asked the group to trek
henceforward, while we detoured back to the barangay to chance on 4x4s if not
carabaos; Worst and Unexpectedly, none of these options wanted to help us. Time
was running and I was kind of lost of options.
Soon enough, the sitio’s chieftain has
arrived. As I have informed her of our plans during our ocular visit 2 weeks
ago, she had expected our arrival and was close by when that happened. She
called in some of the local aetas from her sitio, and asked to bring some of
the goods. She has also requested help from the other aetas from Sapang Uwak,
but these people did not want to carry knowing that they are not the
benefactors (whoof!). We had to ask the locals of Sitio Banaba to advance and
to call in additional help; The goods were too heavy though and the movement
was very slow.
Some of my peers have called me and
suggested that we ask the people from sitio banaba to trek down and pick up
their goods individually (per family), but It wasn’t a good idea as I did not
want the Sapang Uwak locals to envy their folks. Besides, it’s really going to
be a riot if we distribute there especially we don’t know who’s from where.
We’re really running out of time, so I asked chieftain Bulaglag to stay while I
walk with my pack and some goods to the Sitio to command some help from the
locals there.
On my way to the Sitio, I’ve seen Rose –
the other head of this event who I have full respect for her genuine desire to
help – from planning to execution. Ahead of even the boys, she was hurrying to
get to the good and help lift. The rest of the team came, including the
not-really-a-trekker doctor whom we have plead to join us to check the medical
condition of the locals.
Gladly, by past 12noon, we were all in the
site with all the goods. We’re almost done with cooking too, and the site is
filled with the expected number of locals already. It’s time we serve food.
I couldn’t forget the spirit there was with
the locals after they’ve eaten. Everyone was cheered up and ready to play fool;
Young ones and even adults were dancing around. At one point, I stood away to
have a wider look, and couldn’t help but smile at my fulfilment. I was at awe
at how much our effort has paid.
It was beginning to rain, and darkness is
catching us. We distributed the goods, took some pictures with our patrons
banners/fans signs and then set up our camp. Instead of the planned camping at
the Porac viewdeck, weather wise, we thought about staying so we can
comfortably conduct our fellowship.
Special thanks to Victory Liner for ever
supporting Sabit Sabit Mountaineer’s activities; Those who donated cash and
goods, and some even coming from overseas (June Kim, Sir Franc Uy, Stat, Renan,
Francis, Cecille, JC of Byaherong Ilonggo, Mami Weng of Byaheng Jologs, Yeng of
Manaloto Accounting Firm, Julie, Josie, Pam, Charisse, Major, Loreen, Ron,
Ozcar, Erwin, Joy, Donna, Dang, Jhopay, and a lot of Rose friends).
It all started upon knowing that we have a
waterfall in my hometown. At this point that I have heard about this waterfall,
I would have climbed several mountains and been pinned to nature already.
So, upon knowing I had one on my hometown,
i thought it was but unfair that I have not seen it. In just days, I
immediately visited it. (see here and here for my previous posts on these
visits).
It may not be as mesmerizing as Tinuy-an
falls, or even Ditumabo falls, but there was that enchanting feeling when I
stood in front of the waterfall over sturdy walls of the mountains next to it,
like in a dome of praise. Then I thought about writing an article to give more
information, and hopefully encourage more people to visit what we have.
I got a few comments on my write up which
meant indeed, more people getting interested in the place. I realized this
could be an alternative livelihood for the aetas who can guide guests for some
fees.
Meantime, I did not want these Aetas to be
like those in Cawag, Zambales who wouldn’t have anything with them when they
guide; No tents, no water bottle, no bags whatsoever.
I have a hammock which I use in place of a
tent, and most of those travel/hike buddies who has seen it were asking where I
got it. Then, I thought about using it to raise funds. I bought in bulk, and
topped the price with what they’d normally pay in fare to get to the supplier. I
sold enough to buy 2 sets of bags and tents.
I was looking for an occasion where I can
hand these out, and came up with this bright idea of bringing my mountaineering
group, Sabit Sabit Mountaineers, to the spot and probably conducting a feeding
program too since we’ll come across the aetas along the way. Their diet depends
on their resources which is just basically bananas and yam, and I wanted them
to have a taste of something else.
Further, we thought about gathering some
donation so we have something to leave them with, perhaps at least a kilo of
rice, 2 noodles, and a canned good. Heavens blessed us, we solicited about P30K
pesos of cash and about P20K worth of goods, plus about P10k of funds among
joiners for the feeding program.
Friday came and we met in Victory Liner. I
think we filled the compartment of the bus no 807 with donated goods (not to
mention we have a bulk, probably twice as much, packed and waiting at our house
in Pampanga).
We arrived in Pampanga with our energy
levels as if we have just awoken. The loud voices couldn’t deny; Daes and Nikki
were so confined at their cooking, while the rest were uninterruptible with
their repacking; I am so glad I got the right people.
Just few hours later, I received a message
from Al that they’re close to the where I am supposed to pick them up. The
kitchen crew were almost done so I requested that food be ready so we can do a
boodle fight breakfast before heading to the Municipality where the truck is
waiting. We planned on cooking right in sitio banaba, but then, we thought it
would be most time effective if we rather bring it cooked.
By 8am, we were already in the Municipality.
The truck came after just a little while. Everybody having fun, and everything
was so much in place.
Then again, just less than a kilometer away
from sapang uwak, we start with the slippery mud terrain... The truck can’t
handle it; It was too slippery that gravity and the mud pulls it more than it
can push itself. We had no choice but to disembark. I asked the group to trek
henceforward, while we detoured back to the barangay to chance on 4x4s if not
carabaos; Worst and Unexpectedly, none of these options wanted to help us. Time
was running and I was kind of lost of options.
Soon enough, the sitio’s chieftain has
arrived. As I have informed her of our plans during our ocular visit 2 weeks
ago, she had expected our arrival and was close by when that happened. She
called in some of the local aetas from her sitio, and asked to bring some of
the goods. She has also requested help from the other aetas from Sapang Uwak,
but these people did not want to carry knowing that they are not the
benefactors (whoof!). We had to ask the locals of Sitio Banaba to advance and
to call in additional help; The goods were too heavy though and the movement
was very slow.
Some of my peers have called me and
suggested that we ask the people from sitio banaba to trek down and pick up
their goods individually (per family), but It wasn’t a good idea as I did not
want the Sapang Uwak locals to envy their folks. Besides, it’s really going to
be a riot if we distribute there especially we don’t know who’s from where.
We’re really running out of time, so I asked chieftain Bulaglag to stay while I
walk with my pack and some goods to the Sitio to command some help from the
locals there.
On my way to the Sitio, I’ve seen Rose –
the other head of this event who I have full respect for her genuine desire to
help – from planning to execution. Ahead of even the boys, she was hurrying to
get to the good and help lift. The rest of the team came, including the
not-really-a-trekker doctor whom we have plead to join us to check the medical
condition of the locals.
Gladly, by past 12noon, we were all in the
site with all the goods. We’re almost done with cooking too, and the site is
filled with the expected number of locals already. It’s time we serve food.
I couldn’t forget the spirit there was with
the locals after they’ve eaten. Everyone was cheered up and ready to play fool;
Young ones and even adults were dancing around. At one point, I stood away to
have a wider look, and couldn’t help but smile at my fulfilment. I was at awe
at how much our effort has paid.
It was beginning to rain, and darkness is
catching us. We distributed the goods, took some pictures with our patrons
banners/fans signs and then set up our camp. Instead of the planned camping at
the Porac viewdeck, weather wise, we thought about staying so we can
comfortably conduct our fellowship.
Special thanks to Victory Liner for ever
supporting Sabit Sabit Mountaineer’s activities; Those who donated cash and
goods, and some even coming from overseas (June Kim, Sir Franc Uy, Stat, Renan,
Francis, Cecille, JC of Byaherong Ilonggo, Mami Weng of Byaheng Jologs, Yeng of
Manaloto Accounting Firm, Julie, Josie, Pam, Charisse, Major, Loreen, Ron,
Ozcar, Erwin, Joy, Donna, Dang, Jhopay, and a lot of Rose friends).
