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

Mt. Batolusong and Kay-Ibon Falls

Mt. Batolusong and Kay-Ibon Falls in Tanay Rizal

ride and roll

 Mt. Batolusong is situated in Brgy. San Andres Tanay Rizal, with an estimated elevation of up to 670 meters above sea level.  There is another jump-off area in Sitio Kayibon near the falls that you can visit as a sidetrip. I'm quite familiar with this place because Tanay is the neighboring town of Antipolo. I climbed Mt. Irid and Mt. Tukduan Banoi way back in 2011 and this mountain is in the same area. There is a significant improvement when it comes to the road as well.

Itinerary

Bulalo and Liempo

0530 Assembly at Cogeo
0630 ETD Sitio Batangasan

Breakfast at Mang Vics

0730 Stop-Over Mang Vics Bualohan (Heavy Breakfast)
0830 Resume Ride
0900 ETA Brgy. San Andres
0915 Register/Arrange Guide/ Secure motorcycle
0930 Start Trek
1000 First Water Source
1030 Peak 1 / Siesta
1130 Summit
1230 Start Descent to Kayibon Falls
1330 ETA Kayibon Falls / late lunch
1500 wash-up / head back to jump-off
1630 ETD Brgy San Andres / Meryenda
1700 ETD Cogeo
1800 ETA Cogeo

Road Trip

In preparation for a Major Climb this coming Holy week, we chose Mt. Batolusong as our training ground as it is the nearest mountain within Antipolo, and it's quite cheaper. We also missed our roadtrips, so we decided to take our motorcycle going there, making this adventure more exciting and thrilling.

We had a stop over at Mang Vic's Bulalohan and took heavy breakfast in order to us to be prepared for a quck hike.

Organized Guide Schedule

Rice Field

River Crossing

Mapatag Plateau

Around 9AM, we reached Brgy. San Andres. We proceeded to their Brgy. Hall and noticed the well organized Guide schedule. Our Guide for that day is Kuya Emiliano. We bought some snacks before commence our trek. The first part of the trail is walk in the park - passing some rice paddies then woodland. There was a short delay due to the wrong trail we pursued after the first water source.

Summit Ridge

Selfie with Mt. Batolusong as the Background

Fly High

Explore High

Eldie almost aborted this climb due to emptiness "feeling incomplete kuno" - he suffered mild hypertension due to over fatigue and lack of sleep. There's no cellular signal through out the trail. Driven by our passion for adventure and eagerness to complete this training, we decided to continue after a short rest. Upon reaching the summit, we were all captivated by the beauty of the surroundings - the beauty of Sierra Madre mountain range at its finest. One can see also Talim Island, including  Mt. Makiling, Mt. Banahaw, Mt. Cristobal and Mt. Irid as the highest point of Rizal.

Group Picture with Kuya Emiliano

Descend to Kayibon Falls

Mapatag Plateau view from the summit

Water Source around the locals house

After enjoying the cool breeze and being able to pose for a few shots, we then headed our way to nearby falls as our sidetrip. We literally descended through out the trail to reach the Kayibon Falls. We dropped by to the last water source around the locals houses and took our lunch at a nearby Nipa Hut. After a short rest, we proceeded to Kayibon Falls. Our excitement heightened when we saw the falls. We were lucky enough to enjoy the falls as we're the only visitors that time. The falls was a bit shallow due to the summer season, It was a very refreshing moment, a natural reward after the long hours of hike.

Late Lunch at Nipa Hut

Kay-Ibon Falls

Enjoying the Falls

the Explorers

Jump-off

By 3PM, we hit again the trail going back to jump-off. After an hour and a half of trekking, we reached Brgy. Hall. We then took a quick "meryenda". Afterwards, we decided to wash-up in our Home and have dinner together.

I would like to thank Eldie and Ronfel for joining this quick training climb of my sweet explorer "Joana". We we're lucky to have a friends who will go out on an adventure and discovery no matter what. Until our next adventure brothers!
Ot Rocks - Outdoor Trippers!

Ride again

Home sweet home (Post Climb celebration)

Group Picture

Mt. Batolusong and Kay-Ibon Falls Video <------

Budget Breakdown:

25 - Cubao -Cogeo
40 - Cogeo - Sampaloc
50 - Habal habal to San Andres
20 - Reg. Fee
500 - Guide Fee 5:1 (700 if overnight)
100 - packed lunch / Snacks
50 - Habal Habal to Sitio Batangsan
40 - Sitio batagasan - Cogeo
25 Cogeo - Cubao