
I have held the mountains accountable for whatever I have become right now. Compared to many, I am but a novice in the field of mountaineering – I don’t even have the proper gears and equipment to begin with. But I don’t know what spell has been casted by the mountains upon me, that no matter how tired or lazy I am, I just couldn’t resist the call of nature. Just like what happened last Saturday.
I was already sold out to the idea of staying at home over the weekend – to unwind and… just to stay at home. For somebody who has been on the outdoors, staying at home becomes a new experience – free food, comfortable bed, and movies to go with. However, by the afternoon, I began to feel bored and restless. I knew deep down, I have to go somewhere. And just like a fatefully twisted chapter of a novel, the people I have been climbing with insisted on going to an overnight camping at Mt. Naupa. Obviously, it didn’t spark anything in me. First, I don’t favor going to the same place over and over again. Second, as aforementioned, I don’t have proper mountaineering equipment. But you see, when the traveler in you comes in, you don’t have any choice but to give in. And so a memorable journey began.

We met at Sto. Rosario Church at 7:00 in the evening and rode a jeepney bound to Pardo where we rode another jeepney bound to Tungkop, Minglanilla. Because it was a rush hour and the people of Talisay City were celebrating the feast of St. Theresa of Avila, we arrived at Cogon Chapel – the jumpoff area to Mt. Naupa – at 9:15 in the evening. Jet and Lawin were already there, hanging with the locals over a bottle of liquor. By 9:30, we then commenced to the summit. Most of my colleagues inquired if we were not scared with what we did and Dakilanglaagan as I am, I answered a resounding NO. First, it wasn’t my first time to do a late night trek. Second, I have witness the beauty of Mt. Naupa when the stars were gathered together to give light as we headed home during our previous visit last February. Third, I have experienced enough creepier things in life to entertain wild thoughts and stories of locals. Fourth, I knew I was with a tightly-bonded group. Whatever reason it maybe, that late night trek allowed me to witness the beauty of being both scared and elated at the same time. Of course, it’s hard not to entertain crazy thoughts along the way – much more of you are leading the group. But again, the moon was shining brightly, the city lights were totally heartwarming, and the thought of camping gradually became exciting to me. Our desire to reach the summit heightened upon seeing groups of campers at the peak. A sigh of relief came out on all of us. I knew we were all geared for the final assault.




By 10:00 in the evening, we arrived safely at the campsite. Yes, it only took us thirty minutes! Can’t believe it myself either. Probably because there was no sun to bring too much exhaustion or we were just scared of what will happen if we took longer hours on the trail. HAHA.

We then pitched our tent, cooked for dinner (egg and hotdog that does not look like a decent egg and hotdog meal at all 😂😂😂, and spent the rest of the night looking at the view exhibited in front of us. Words began rushing through my head. I can’t even get a hold of them. It was too overwhelming, plus the music played on Jet’s speakers was too sentimental. It’s hard not to cry. HUHU. Because of such sight, instead of squeezing ourselves into the thin sheets of the tent, Lawin, Idas and I, decided to sleep outside the tent.

My body clock woke me at four thirty in the morning. It was all dark, but the hues of the rising sun started to envelope the gloomy skies. It didn’t take long for the sun to start showing its hidden glow, began illuminating the sleeping province of Cebu.





For the concluding statement of this entry, I’d like to quote the schmaltzy exchange-slash-bromance thoughts of Lawin and Jet.
Jet: Wa jud ko nagmahay nga nianhi ko bai. (I didn’t regret coming here, bro.)
Lawin: Ako sad. Mao ni ang mga priceless moments sa atong kinabuhi. (Same here bro. These are the priceless moments of our lives.)
*Not from Cebu? See how TravelBook can hel you!
It has been quite some time since we’ve visited Mt. Naupa.
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A lot has changed sir. There are lots of huts built around the area and Mt. Luisa where the best spot to watch sunrise and sunset has been enclosed already. 😭😭😭
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I ♥ @dakilanglaagan!
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Thanks das. 😍😍😍
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Hahahaha nice one Marj… unsa pa kaha ko if magtrek ug ngit ngit 10 minutes ra guro na abot na haahaha
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Hahaha. Gilibak baya ka namo while nagtrek. 😂😂😂
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hahaha cge ko katawa sa video… ay meshow ol!
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Hahahaha. Sayang gani kaw dili karecord ang cam sa night trek. Flashlight ra sa lighter akong nadala. 😂😂😂
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SMP 😄😄😄
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HAHAHAHA. Try mo rin minsan. Sali ka sa samahan namin 😂😂😂
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Ayaw ayaw hahahaha
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Sige na. Try mo. HAHA
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Yoko nga 😜😜😜😜
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Arte nito. Naka-maldives ka lang. 😂😂😂😂
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hahahahahahahaha ayoko nga maging SMP kasi gusto ko ma experience yung tent. di pa ko nakakapag tent 😦
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Hahaha. Di rin naman samin yang tent. Kaya nga pinalayas kami. Hahaha. Dami mong pera . Bili ka ng sarili mong tent!!!!
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yabang naman nito. hmp :p
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Ikaw mayabang diyan. Dami mo ngang pera. Balato naman diyan.😂😂
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pano ko naging mayabang hmp…gusto ko lang makapagtent. hmp
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Hahaha. Bili ka nga. Wag kang kuripot para makapag-camp kana rin. 😁😁😁
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Hmp. Tapos pag bili ko ng tent at sumama ako sa inyo ibubully nyo ko at palalabasin ng sariling tent ko 😤😤😤😤😤
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HAHAHAHA. Paano mo nalaman ang plano ko. WAHAHAHA. Sama kayo ni Patatas. Samahan ng mga Binubully. WAHAHAHA
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Alam na alam ko na galawang ganyan. Di mo ko maiisahan 😂😂😂😂😂
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wahahahaha. If I know, bully karin dati. WAHAAHAHAHHAA
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WAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHH hinde nooooooo
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Weh? Sabihin mo sa kapitbahay ninyong kalbo. WAHAHAHA
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WAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH wala kaming kapitbahay na kalbo
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Wow. Ang boring naman ng neighborhood niyo. WAHAHAHA
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WAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA anong magagawa ko kung walang kalbo
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Ikaw nalang magpakalbo para cool 😊😊😊
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Grabe ka talaga mambully 😬😬😬
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Wahahahaha. Hindi yan bully no. Suggestion yan. Para naman magkakulay ang buhay niyo. 😂😂😂
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Bully. 😈😈😈
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Haha
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Ang boring naman ng neighborhood niyo. 😂😂😂
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😬😬😬😬
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😂😂😂😂😂
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