Bakasyunan - Oyats Annual Getaway

Bakasyunan in Tanay Rizal

Ride with  Oyats

Bakasyunan Resort and Conference Center is situated in Tanay Rizal. We chose this place for our short overnight trip to celebrate a "Decade of Friendship" with our college friends - to get together, bond and enjoy each others company.

 Just an hour from Antipolo, this place is a new resort in Tanay where family and friends can stay  for a while from the crowded places in the city. It is ideal for corporate outing, with a lot of amenities and activities ideal for team buildings.

way to our accommodation

Itinerary:

exploring the area

Day 1

0900 - Meet-up Boni Chekwa
1000 - ETD Antipolo
1100 - ETA Antipolo (Early Lunch)
1200 - Resume ride via Sampaloc route
1330 - ETA Bakasyunan - Check In
1400 - Explore the Area
1500 - Videoke Time/ Snacks (100/per hour)
1700 - Swimming Time/Billiard/Table Tennis
1900 - Dinner
2000 - Videoke Part 2

exploring the area

2100 - Socials
2330 - Lights out


Day 2

0700 - Wake-up Call
0800 - Swimming Time
1000 - Mud Slide Activity
1100 - Wash-up
1130 - Check Out
1200 - Lunch
1300 - Photo ops
1330 - ETD Manila
1530 - ETA Manila

Team Building Activity

Mini - Golf

Videoke - Sky Bar

We chose Sampaloc route in Marcos Highway to avoid large volume of commuters in the route passing through the Tanay Proper.We reached Bakasyunan Resort after an hour. Check-in time is 1:30PM, but we arrived late, around 2pm. Good thing is we don't need to wait - rooms are ready.  Bringing of foods is allowed but you have to pay their corkage fee, though they are not very strict about it.We booked 2 rooms for 11 person which cost 7000php per night. When we got there, the room were already cleaned up. The room were simple - white beddings, a small refrigerator, AC, a  flat screen TV with cable channel and a bathroom.

night swiiming

Billiards / Table Tennis - Activity

Dinner Time

The first thing I saw that really caught my attention when we explored the area was the obstacle course. The ever-adventurous tried some of these while others were relaxing in their rooms. We simply chose some activity that will tailor-fit to the group. We enjoyed videoke in the afternoon, and then swimming at night. It's not an ordinary swimming since we also enjoyed the rain - thus perfectly describing what our event was: "Unang Hirit Sa Tag-Ulan". While waiting for our dinner to be served, some of us played billiards and table tennis, while the others took their time to clean up.

Delicious Food

Dekada na Tayo!

CHEERS for forever Friendship - Happy 10 years ka - OYAT

Having Fun

Having Fun

Dinner's served - a perfect combination of food complements amazing view of scenery from the top of the conference center, where the resto was situated.

Night - While waiting for Bryan and Gho to arrive, some of us washed-up, changed clothes, while the others had another hour of Videoke before heading to our Socials.

Socials -It's a nice time to catch-up again, celebrating our solid 10 years of friendship. Time flies so fast, good friends are hard to come by so I value this friendships I have which definitely will last  a lifetime.

Having Fun

Happy OYATS - Happy TAYO

Finale - Activity

Mud Slide

We took a dip again at the swimming pool early morning then proceeded to our last activity - the much awaited  "Mudslide". We witnessed the first attempt of Marvin and Cris and it looks exciting and thrilling when they reached the muddy area.  Each of us had the slides and laughs of our lives. We really enjoyed the mudslide so much, this being our first try. I’m now ready to conquer a  group mudslide in Caliraya. Most of us had so much fun tried it multiple times.

Having FUN - OYATs in Action

Having FUN - OYATs in Action

MUDDY!

Having FUN - OYATs in Action

Happy OYAT

Mini Golf

For the past few years since we all parted ways from College to pursue our corporate careers, we've been maintaining our agreement to gather annually and it was nice seeing that we're still into it even though some of us already have their own family, while some are busy at work. Still we never forget to keep in touch, set some time to bond, and remind each and everyone of our friendship we built that we never thought would last this long, and definitely for long.

Lunch

Oyat - Hitting the road

Special Thanks to Camille and Eldie who've arranged this, and make this trip successful.

I really appreciate the friendships I have built throughout my career, people I have known throughout my mountaineering journey, but one thing I am certain is that Oyats will forever remain Oyats - no one can replace this. Until next time ka-OYATs  #magkaibiganhabangpanahon

Oyat - Hitting the road

Happy 10 Years - Group Picture

Budget Breakdown:

Mt. Sembrano Dayhike

Mt. Sembrano in Pililla Rizal

Fresh Buko

Mt. Sembrano is situated in Brgy. Malaya, Pililla, Rizal. Elevation is measured at 745 Meters above sea level. Instead of  running on Oval in Marikina, Joana and I decided to join a quick hike, organized by Eldie.We climbed this mountain way back November 2011, so the place was familiar to us. This culminates our four-week of outdoor training.

Manggahan Campsite

Itinerary:

lunch time

0600 Assembly at Starmall Crossing
0630 ETD Tanay Market

0830 ETA Tanay Market (buy packed lunch)
0900 Take tricycle to Brgy. Malaya
1000 ETA Brgy. Malaya (Brgy. Hall) Register
1030 Start Trek
1130 Manggahan Campsite (Lunch)
1300 Resume Trek
1430 Peak 1

ascending

1530 Summit/Explore the area
1730 Start Descent
1830 ETA Brgy. Hall
1930 ETD Tanay Proper
2030 ETA Tanay Proper / Dinner
2130 ETD Crossing
2300 ETA Crossing

Opp! oPP! oPP! oppa gangnam style!

yeah!

ascending

The place is quite near in Antipolo and I'm familiar to the route going there, so I decided to take my motorcycle. We were able to save financially and able to manage our time. We left Antipolo around 8AM and reached Brgy. Malaya around 9AM. We registered first, then endorsed my motorcycle to the on-duty "Police Kagawad". People are more hospitable today compared to the last time I visited the place - they welcome mountaineers as their visitors. Police visibility can also be noticed in the area.

Talim Island seen from peak 1

sound tripping

ascending

sweet revenge

siesta at the summit

siesta at the summit

Joana and I decided to start trek and wait the rest of the group at Manggahan Campsite. The trail was gentle because the first part of the trail is cemented and well established, it allowed us to do some walk in the park before it becomes slightly steep. Around 9:30AM, we reached manggahan campsite. Some of the locals lived there and one can notice that there's a lot of existing trail . After an hour of rest, Ronfel and the rest of the gang reached Manggahan Campsite. They took fresh buko and ordered Halo-Halo to quench their thirst.

OT superman

panoramic view from the summit

Chilling time

group pic at the summit

We resume our trek as a group by 11:30AM. We took our lunch at the last part of the shaded area before entering the grassland. We didn't rush our hike rather enjoyed the bond "baklaan moment" and sound tripping along the trail. As Ronfel said, he just wanted to be happy. And we support him. Hiking should always be about finding freedom in the peace and beauty of the outdoors.
 
The way up is about three hours while going down is approximately an hour and thirty minutes. The grassland reminds me of the ones I have seen in Mt. Batolusong and Mt. Tagapo.

descending

descending

At the Summit, a 360 degree view of the nearby islands and mountains can be watched to one's delight. Fish pens can also be seen, forming different graphical shapes. The grasses are dancing to the wind's roaring tune. For me, this climb serves as a "sweet revenge" as I reached again the summit with my OT family. Hoping that our training is enough to conquer our greatest passion. 

Over all this climb is "Fulfilling".Enjoy our captured moments here in my blogs. Signing off for now as we head into another adventure.

beautiful sunset with lovely girls

solo ride with the photo bomber

Group picture (Mt.Sembrano as the background)

Budget Breakdown:

51 - Crossing - Tanay
20 - Tanay - Brgy. Malaya
20 - Reg Fee
40 - Share Food
10 - Ligo
30 - Lunch
61 - Pililla - Crossing
50 - Meryenda