TEAM CENTRO SPELEO

My group, the Centro Outdoors Sports Unlimited, has agreed to reorganized themselves into a new group - TEAM CENTRO SPELEO and underway finalizing the requirements set by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Up to now, we are open for membership to all interested nature loving individuals, mountaineers, cave divers, cavers all over Samar Island.

For inquiries, just email us at trexpelunker@yahoo.com or txtcall us at 09207675444 for other informations.

We also conduct tour guiding to anywhere in the island, contact us for details and rates.


Thank you,

Ricky J. Bautista

Samar version of world-class natural wonders: A must see!

By Ricky Bautista

This ruggedly beautiful province of Samar has its own version of world-class natural wonders. No kidding, this really a must see for all adventourists and histourists alike.

Though often called as one of the country’s top 20 poorest provinces, one cannot deny the fact that we are also called “the land of plenty” in terms of ecotourism sites, such as majestic waterfalls, white beaches, springs, caves and other awesome places that can even compare or outclass other country’s top destinations.

As we are proud to say, we don’t only offer these beautiful sceneries to those who come, but we also offer a kind of hospitality that every visitor may come to say, “This is a place where you might not wish to leave anymore.”

The name “Samar” is of dialect origin, it was derived from the local term “Samad” which means wound or cut; and it was perpetually adopted due to the island’s rugged and mountainous topography, with large rivers that seemingly dissects the island deeply. It was on June 19, 1965 when the island of Samar, the country’s third largest island, by virtue of RA 4221 was politically subdivided into three, giving birth to new provinces of East and North Samar, and the western part of the island opted to retain the original name SAMAR, being the seat of administrative government that once oversee the whole island.
Within its hard and enthusing contoured terrains and mountain slopes, this province can give everyone the tryst of their lives showcasing what others describe as the “paradise underneath the earth.” Now, that our provincial roads has become moderately comfortable to land trips, perhaps we can start now to market anew these world-class natural wonders that has already been proven to have attracted thousands of inbound and outbound tourists around the world.

Mystical caves & majestic waterfalls

For example, in the small town of San Jorge (about 45 minutes from Catbalogan, the capital of Samar), one may face-to-face with the “Sulpan Cave”, where Samar Island’s 2nd longest river, the Blanca Aurora River originates, and for leaner spelunking, be awed by the gigantic yet absolutely enthralling caverns of the “Guinbag-sangan Cave” featuring its exquisite “water lilies-like” stalagmite formations and “cave pearls” spread all-over its subterranean clear ponds.

In this town, a one-stop-shop adventure route awaits adventurers in which you will indulge in an amazing exploration of a hydro cave just in front of San Jorge’s show cave. Overwhelming 13 underground cascades interconnect with each other and commune with Mother Nature through an exhilarating mountain and river hiking.

Be amazed by the roaring water disgorge of 3-tiered “Pinipisakan Falls” of San Jorge, which immensely towers vertically to more than 60 meters up to the second tier, and sloping third tier covered by greens runs from exit of the Sulpan Cave, and is where Samar’s longest river (Blanca Aurora river) starts and eventually exits on another drop popularly known as the “Blanca Aurora Falls” near the poblacion area, a compelling sight for a destination indeed from start to end.

Also in Samar, be awed by the grandeur of what is believed by many international cavers as an unmatched distinction courtesy of the “Langon-Gobingob Cave” in Calbiga town - an hour road trip south of Samar’s capital. This cave system, known to be East Asia’s biggest karst cave system measuring 2, 968 hectares offers the penultimate caving experience. The cave, composed of 12 interconnecting chambers, is endowed with gigantic columns, underground rivers, sinkholes, magnificent stalactites and stalagmites, the 7- centimeter long hypogean blind fishes (caecogobius cryptophalmus), white crustaceans and the occasional snakes.

It is suitable for trekking, swimming, cave camping and rope sports. Also, be amazed with the swirling “bat flight” at the Langun exit every 5:30 p.m. With a cathedral-like dome estimated to have the size of three “football fields”, it was first explored by Italian speleologists in 1987.

Just lately, another new huge cave was found in this town. An unexplored “Camparina and Bitong Burabon Caves” now awaits future development being laid down by the local government that would somehow cater tourists, especially local and international cavers. These recent discoveries are add-ons to the existing Langun-Gobingob Caves in Brgy. Panayuran and “Kanyawa Cave” in Barangay Caamlongan. The later also offers at least 15 galleries of distinctive features and underground rivers.

Also in this town, your stay is incomplete without visiting the “Lulugayan Falls” in Brgy. Litiron as your appetizer to caving. The most majestic and panoramic 50-meters wide waterfalls has often dubbed by tourist as a “Mini Niagara Falls.” From its source at Lake Kalidongan, hundreds of waterfalls cascade down the 14 kilometers rapids.

What else can you ask in the 4-tiered “Bangon-Bugtong Falls” in Calbayog City that brings to light an approximately 50 meters of clear lagoon on its mezzanine level.

And not to be outdone, is the “Balantak Falls” and the undying prominence of the “Sohoton, Panhulugan and Rawis Caves” in the town of Basey, part of the 840-hectare Sohoton Natural Bridge National Park, which are, in fact, one of Samar’s icon in the tourism industry, being one of the most visited ecotourism sites in Eastern Visayas.

For the mountain climbers, the “Mt. Danglay” in Brgy. San Antonio, also in Basey, will give you a majestic throne while you overlooks to the, so far, longest single-span bridge in Asia - the San Juanico Bridge, its strait and the city of Tacloban. This peak, measuring to 360 meters above sea level is being eyed by the local government as pilgrimage site in the future.

Add-ons to the above-mentioned show-caves is the “Tagacay Caves” of Sta. Rita town, to which 3 carved-wood coffins were recovered in 1967 by a group of antique collectors.

These nature caverns that peppers the province of Samar incidentally is backed up by numerous magnificent water courses evidently marking the richness of the place in biodiversities, thus assuring everyone an absolute 100% adventure with Mother Nature.

Towering rock islands, beaches and festivals

But apart from caves and waterfalls, Samar is very much endowed with natural beauties, intricately designed by nature for everyone to feast on, get a hold of the sea breeze along the beach coves of “Marabut Marine Park” and be impressed by its 15-towering rock islands, plus its spectacular underwater coral gardens.

Get a soothing therapeutic splash at the “Mapaso Spring” in Calbayog City or in an escapade in “Gloritess Beach Resort” and the newly constructed “Leyte-Samar Beach Resort” in their pool and air-conditioned cottages near the beach, both are located in Brgy. San Antonio, Basey Samar. And maybe, after posing a souvenir shot at the famous San Juanico Bridge, everyone can drop a coffee and enjoys the greens of Marjorie’s Garden along the Maharlika Highway of Sta. Rita.

Learn with pleasure Samar’s culture and history as you travel the newly asphalted highways from Tacloban to Calbiga down to Catbalogan until the ends of the DPWH’s working crews - you can drop or stop at the Catbalogan’s Pieta Park and Samar’s obelisks and to the Samar Archaeological Museum in Calbayog that showcases a variety of artifacts unearthed and collected from all points of Samar, and you bet, some even dates back to as early as the 14th century.

Also a must see for every histourists are the ruins and historical landmarks and festivals of every municipalities such as the Sarakiki, Banigan-Kawayan, Patiklos, Bagolan, Pahoy-pahoy, Mangirisda, Alimango, Kima-kima, Mayaw-mayaw, Sadok, Daramsiyaw, Pilipig, Manobo, Sortidos and Pintados.

But exploring Samar doesn’t end by viewing its charms and splendor only, we showcase things that would endlessly remain in your experience, our culture and traditions, our religiously, and most of our entire struggle to protect Mother Nature.

Thus, when you wrapped up your mind for a full rendezvous with nature, or for a historical yet rational jaunt, or for just a simple vacation, Samar province have it all for you the most ideal places you wish to go.

Editor’s Note: The author, Ricky J. Bautista, is a member of the Philippine Caving Society and Centro Outdoor Sports Unlimited that offers tourism inventories, cave assessment and mapping, tour packages and guiding trips to any of the ecotourism sites in Samar. For your reservations and inquiries, you may contact them at 0920.7675.444, or emailed them at trexpelunker@yahoo.com or drop message at their website www.pinoycaver.blogspot.com for transpo & accommodation arrangement, budget estimates including detailed itineraries and routes for your adventure or simple R & R vacations to Samar. Or you may directly contact respective LGU’s of each destinations and sites.

Newest Cave Discoveries in Calbiga town

Views of the Sifone of Poco Prima Cave located in Calbiga, Samar, Philippines
A Huge Gallery in one of the newly discovered caves in Calbiga. Local farmers tipped off cave experts about the locations and entrances of the cavern.
The Burabon Bito (Sinkholes) were found by the local farmers recently.
Some of tourists visiting the Lulugayan Falls in Brgy. Literon enjoys the panoramics views and flows of the falls.
This 50 meters wide waterfalls is a good source of irrigations to communities downhill. This is also the home of the rapids leading to the town's famous river.

Beach in Catbalogan on summer breaks..

SCENE: People from all walks of life - young and adults - do their eating, swimming and picnics during saturdays and sundays in this beach called Sunshine Beach.
SEEN: I am just wondering, and I wish the people in the DOH can answer me. Is it safe for our health, skin particularly, to take a bath there adding the fact that this beach is located few meters away and adjacent to a public cemetery, thus other people calls it "the cemetery beach"? I mean, during rainy days, the water from the cemetery free-flows directly to the beach.

More photos up for grab fellas: Holyweek Event

Photo taken @ cavern chapel:Our Lady of Assumption; The trek-hike to the chapel-cave is indeed worth for the trip. You should go there for a relief.

While our comrades are busy crawling and swimming inside the cave, Me and Irene are also busy in our unforgettable swimming at the Cagnito-an Falls, we're both wet and able hehe..

Am I look tired? Actually yes, but I wish you saw my other fellas, they're dead tired. It's a long and exhausive trekking, on broad day light huh..

It's me and Marriane, Val and Susie at our background. All showed eagerness to walk the jungle, its still a fresh starting line anyway. uu

Jhun Ty, Billy, Me and the Princess Diance.. Say cheese this is a free shot! Let's get it on buddies!

Some Photos on Holyweek Adventures in Maasin

Just arrived from the first camping site, others setting up their tents, others just keep on smiling on who are the ones clicking their camera's. Indeed, they are good models for a close up toothpaste.

Camping site, this is not a good shot though i just wanna put this picture up for grab..

Opps, its an stolen shot, but luckily, I managed to throw back a smile. And wait, she made it slipped to the scene too.

Two of the coolest guys on Earth, My two good fellas. Till we climb again buddies.

Group pix mga amigos, amigas. Everybody seemed to be aware who to take shots. Its a long and winding steps ahead - going to the chapel-cave in Maasin.

PSS Cave Congress: A sort of homecoming this summer

By Ricky J. Bautista

Once a year, club members of the Philippine Speleological Society convene. Every year, other non-member caving clubs in the countryside adds up and joined them. All of us – the cavers, an underground faction of the outdoor community, so to speak, are a relative minority, but given the general conditions of caving, this may be good for the environment.

The last year’s cave congress was held in Cagayan de Oro City and in Sumilao and Manolo Fortich in the province of Bukidnon last March 31 to April 6, 2008. The Speleo Mindanao and the Conservation and Restoration Exercise (Core), both are member-clubs of the PSS, hosted it. It was indeed another successful event of the PSS.

Many of the member-clubs including those fundamentals in the formation of the PSS and the Philippine Cave Guides Association (PCGA) tagged along by their leaders regularly met each other to refresh themselves and impart their advance skills to the newest members and nature-loving individuals. Raising the quality of caving in the Philippines to international levels was always their primary aims. Every event is gatherings of cave enthusiasts, it seems like a homecoming, a sort of “reunion.”

For every men in the outdoors, each congress is not a time to play or to rest, instead, its a time for us to standardize our level through workshops that cover Cave Survey and Mapping and technical rope skills such as SRT (Single Rope Technique), the primary method used by cavers to descend and ascend vertical pitches.

And today, while summer is beginning to heat up, it is once again a time to head out, travel to one unique place where other comrades from different regions would meet up.

The venue and side trips

This year’s venue of Cave Congress is the Balantak waterfalls, Sohoton, Rawis, and other caves, all in Basey, Samar, Philippines. The once sleeping town of Basey is a home of the World’s longest mat-weaved banig as recorded in the Book of Guinness and a home for the mystical caves, golden rivers, panoramic rock formations and the world-famous Sohoton Natural Bridge National Park. In going there, one may pass and see the country’s longest “love” bridge – the San Juanico Bridge, which connected the twin islands of Leyte and Samar.

A side trip to the town of Calbiga town, a home of the East Asia’s largest karsts cave network is now being planned out by the organizers to be included in the itinerary. The cave, which has a total land area of 2,968 hectares featured huge stalagmites & stalactites, giant columns, underground watercourses, rapids, blindfish, snakes and dancing bats are also present in the area.

Like in the previous years, it’s a day we always knew would come, and the thought it would nag at the back of our minds riding at the back of a dump truck to the trailhead, sometime speeding around the tip of road cliff, cruising an inflatable motorboat, chasing the fastest trekker ahead of you that seems you’re into an adventure race huffing and puffing on a long and slippery limestone, trying to be dropped or slide from the muddy terrains.

International cavers to do the talks

“Caves are among the most beautiful places on earth. It has considerable value not only in terms of its beauty but also in its historical, economic, social, scientific and environmental importance. Yet caves are amongst the least explored and understood places. Their ecosystems are among the most vulnerable and easily destroyed.”

These were the event’s guiding tone set up in which three (3) international cave experts and local top executives are expected to impart their expertise on the “don’t and do’s” and the “how’s” of mixing up the process of environment conservation and promotion of tourism during this year’s hosting of PSS Cave Congress in this locality.

Event director Jason Garrido, of the Philippine Cave Guide Association, Inc. (PCGA), informed that at least three international cavers and conservationists had just confirmed readiness to visit Philippines for this caving event, which will last for five days.

They were Elery Hamilton Smith, a task force chairman of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in Australia; Dave Smith, a Biodiversity Programme Manager, Department of Conservation in New Zealand; another expert from the Spellbound Tours in New Zealand.

Other local experts expected to welcome and deliver messages of supports were the regional directors of DOT, DENR, Province of Leyte, and the host town Basey Mayor Didi Estorninos.

Conservation and tourism

Meanwhile, with the theme, “Finding the balance between conservation and tourism,” the Philippine Speleological Society Cave Congress on May 11-15, 2009 will be hosted by the PCGA, together with the Nature Unlimited Leyte Outdoor Club Inc., a local outdoor club based in Leyte, and in cooperation with the Eastern Visayas Department of Tourism and the Municipality of Basey, the host-venue of the event.

DOT regional director Karina Tiopes who helped facilitates the sending out of invitations said “caves are a viable attraction for tourism and the economic benefits it brings effects the whole value chain. But without a solid cave management plan that takes into account the relationship between conservation and tourism, there is always the possibility that we end up destroying the every thing we are promoting in the first place.”

”The establishing of protected areas and cave management programs, by themselves, are not enough to ensure our caves protection and conservation. Proper management of caves demands specific expertise. Education of personnel and communities as well as inter-agency cooperation and streamlining of existing policies are essential for a successful cave management program,” she added.

The “reunions” of local cavers

As of today, the event secretariat said that the expected numbers of participants, both foreign and domestic, is around 300. They also said each participant has to pay Php600 as their registration fee and has to bring their own provision of food and camping gear.

As to the local cavers, the Centro Outdoors Sports Unlimited based in Catbalogan Samar who previously hosted a series of local version (focus only in the Visayas caves) of the caving congress, signified support to the PSS event. They will be heading their affiliate caving clubs from UEP, Catarman, Laoang, Catbalogan, Borongan and in Palo, Leyte, to join the event.

Activities during the event were divided into four (4) categories namely Basic Caving Skills for the beginners; Cave Guiding, Cave Surveying, and Single Rope Techniques for the experienced and expert participants. “Each participant has to choose only one category to attend,” Garrido said in his invitation posted their website designed exclusively for this event.

After the event, the participants would be able to learn about cave ecosystem, navigation and principles of cave surveying; camping equipment familiarization, national laws such the NIPAS and Cave Act, and would be able to learn self-rescue and emergency procedures.

Samar being robbed of gains again?

Samar being robbed of gains again?

By Ricky J. Bautista

The province of Samar, which formed part of the third largest island in the country, one of the richest biodiversity centers in the country; one that has the largest and last remaining contiguous patch of virgin forest is not supposed to be one of the poorest municipalities in the Philippines.

We are not supposed to be because we live in a land of exotic sights and beauty few have ever seen. But in contrary, the people in this “Land of Plenty” have long been impoverished, deprived and denied of everything we desperately need in this time of global crisis.

Let’s discuss this slowly. Well, I am optimistic that some of you will agree that the list of government neglect to our people can be described as very “long like a winding road,” and too familiar to us all why.

Firstly, the tourists and investors are complaining that our provincial roads are “swamps” when it rains and “dustbins” when the sun shines. In year 2001 and 2002 alone, the provincial government of Samar spent some P56 Million on cement, but where are the projects? The COA report said the fund was misused. And I knew you knew it as this was made public.

Our provincial hospital is in miserable condition, and expenditures on public health do not conform to the budget. There’s very little money for medicine, and even so, that is being stolen. Yet we spent millions on Christmas lights and decors and keep on manicuring the park every year.

More than half of our children never finish elementary education because there was no clear accounting of how the Special Education Fund is being spent. Majority of our teachers are municipal paid, underpaid and overworked. Our children cannot study hard due to lack of textbooks. The Day Care centers in the barangay seldom get support from the LGU. Yet we tend to spent millions of the people’s money on electric fans and raffle them away.

Our farmers cannot produce enough to feed their families because 96% of our lowland farms are not irrigated – despite the fact that Samar has so many springs, rivers, and streams.

Our young men and women cannot find work because one of the biggest sources of employment in a poor province like Samar is public works – and the funds for public works are rarely used for public works. And maybe, just maybe, the report of the World Bank on conspiracy between the DPWH, the contractors and our local officials, also applies here.

As for the squandering of our taxes, we are not only talking about public funds that are lost to graft and corruption. The province of Samar has hundreds of millions a year in development fund. That is supposed to be the people’s money, should be spend for the people and by the people, especially the poor. But, sad to say, the poor people of Samar are not consulted on how this money should be spent. That’s why a lot of it lost to graft and corruption. And the few being left is spent on projects that do not truly benefit the poor.

In some places, they are practicing a system of allocating development fund that protects it from graft and ensures that the projects actually benefit the poor. They call it the Cost-Sharing Scheme. Under this system, the barangay officials will ask their constituents what project they think will benefit the whole barangay. The barangay and the province will share the cost of the project. And the people in the barangay will implement the project themselves. If the municipal government joins the Cost-Sharing, which is recommended, the budget for the project will be tripled.

If this happens, the people in the barangay get the projects they need, get more money for the project, and they earn extra income by providing labor for the project. This resolves our problem on unemployment, graft practices, unnecessary projects and the “SOP” on projects.

The benefits do not stop there because money in the hands of the poor is spent on goods and services that are provided by local merchants and traders – and goes on to stimulate the local economy especially now that a “global economic crisis” is being felt everywhere. While the money that is lost to graft benefits only the corrupt officials, and is used to invest in their Lending business and other enterprises outside Samar – like buying condominiums in Manila – and stimulates only the economy in those places.

Here’s an everyday problem of the poor. I don’t know if our officials are thinking on how to address the problem that some of our poor people and their children have denied access of sanitary toilets especially those people living in the uplands? Some of them eats only twice a day – a coffee and pandesal around 9 a.m. and a budget meal on around 4-5 in the afternoon because of the crisis.

Yet, no one from our leaders admitted these facts. No one has showed solution to end this messy plagued. No one suffered the consequences in committing graft and corruption and no one dared to go against this system in this province, not even one of our trusted public officials. Instead, they learned to ride on the system. As the saying goes, “if you cannot beat them, join them.”

Our environment also suffers neglect from our government. For 50 years rewind, the island of Samar was ravaged by giant logging and mining firms. Our forests disappeared, rivers were poisoned, timber and mineral riches were looted, leaving us licking the environment wounds inflicted by alien corporate avarice and again, neglect!

Back in 1980’s, the memory of the destructive effects of mining is still fresh in the minds and hearts of every Samarnons. The land is still feeling the effects of the wounds left by Bagacay Mines who strip-mined for copper part of the Hinabangan town, in Samar. The people of Bagacay, who once enjoyed the brief benefits of jobs offered by the mining company, are now left with a gaping hole in their backyard, robbed of the development options they now need because the land lays dead.

At one time, Samar Island was partitioned into a jigsaw puzzle of mining concessions proposed by at least 41 large-scale mining companies. In another robbery, with the destruction wrought by the massive illegal logging of forests in the late 70’s and 80’s, the full force of nature fatally stricken us with heavy rains surged down treeless hilltops swelling mighty rivers and submerging homes, farms, schools and churches. Samarnons were roused from that deep collective stupor called apathy in 1988 (or is it in 1989?).

Our government never acted heartily in favor of our beloved Samar. Not until a series of an echoing howling of protests by Samarnons that quickly raised the specter of an ecological catastrophe over the loss of the island’s forest cover. From there, an alliance emerged from the deluge. Civil society groups in Samar, swayed by torrents of appeals from thousands of Samarnons made former Pres. Fidel Ramos to declare this island Samar Island Forest Reserve in 1996. This was our first victory.

Then in year 2003, another cry of the Samarnons did not go unheeded. When people across the island – students, elected officials, vendors, priests, media, public workers, men and women -- came together in a historic show of solidarity to support the establishment of the Samar Island Natural Park and oppose destructive mining and logging in the island, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed her PP 442, declaring the 333, 300 hectares of our island’s remaining forests as a “Protected Area.” This is again another victory for us.

But those victories remained in papers only. Corporate mammoths on mining and logging companies, who were put to sleep by the present moratorium, is now kept on stirring a desperate attempt to continue their mining and tree-cutting business. With this, let’s keep our eyes wide open.

Just recently, the 30 thousand board feet of buried logs previously left by the San Jose Timber Corporation is again being retrieved by an influential individual for other places consumption. Without our knowledge, they slipped through behind our doors and get those belong to us. The approval of DENR Secretary Jose Lito Atienza to retrieve these logs and gave it to others is another form of robbing us, digging and holing our places, taking our precious woods to the satisfaction of only one stranger. He should, instead, consult first the Samarnons and the civil groups who fought – by tears and blood -- for these in the past before easily inking a piece of paper that will again rape our forests and hurt us. Even so, he should instead order his men to retrieve these logs, if it is true that this can be more damaging if remain buried, for the consumption of Samar – to our provincial roads and bridges, school classrooms, day care centers, churches, government entities like our provincial hospitals. I am sure we badly need these lumbers for it cannot only save us our development fund, but also save the needs of our poor people who use these structures.

We felt being robbed again when they invited only thirty participants for a dialogue when in fact we are thousands that represents our beloved island. Obviously, we cannot say no for that piece of paper signed by Atienza as we were law abiding citizens. We can do nothing but to ask how about us? I hate to ask this question about “how much” is involved in this system because I hate to think it that way, as others surely think it is.

I don’t know till when my province will suffer this repetitious robbery of our long decade gains. I love this province and the people who live here. I am hurt when I hear somebody is corrupting the public funds intended for the poor. And I knew there are a lot of you out there who also love our beloved province and protects her from any kinds of robbing attempts. I encouraged you to voice out too.

Come on, lets continue to stood still and claim our rights, even so they are claiming their corporate rights. Let us take our pen mightier this time. Let us shout to the world, that Samar no longer want to be robbed again. No, never again!

Mt. Apo Climb reset to October 2009

The Summit of Mt. Apo

The Possible Route to MT. APO, including the estimate Distance and Travel Time including the Means of Transpo/Fare






February 2009

Dear fellow outdoorsmen,

The Centro Outdoor Sports Unlimited, based in Catbalogan City, in coordination with local adventurer in Samar Island invites all mountain trekkers and enthusiasts to this year’s biggest and ambitious climb to conquer the Philippines’ highest peak - The Mount Apo (10, 311 feet above sea level), this coming October, 2009.

Come and join this adventure of a lifetime and enjoy new and captivating ranges of Blue Lake Agko, Boiling Water & Muds, swift-flowing Marbel River, Waterfalls & Hot spring, Holding Camps, Cultural Communities, Lake Venado, Mount Apo Boulders & Crater and the sky-high summit heavens.

Our registration fee is varied from where the participant will come from. Just contact the organizers. IT includes the following:

1. Transportation from:
Davao City – Kidapawan City (Bus) and within the city tour;
Kidapawan Tourism Office to Jump Off-Point (Brgy. Ilomavis);
and from Exit Point to Davao City
2. Climbing Permit
3. Exit Fee
4. Guide Fee
5. Certificate of Successful Climb
6. Activity I.D.
7. Group Streamer
8. Mt. Apo Climbing Guide
9. Detailed Itinerary
10. Checklist of Suggested First Aid Kit
11. Actual Mt. Apo Route Map

NOTE: Maximum of 20 slots will be accommodated on a First-Come-First-Serve basis.

If the adventurer in you feels like joining, get in touch with us or other joining participants for your inquiries, registration forms and or reservation:


For the love of outdoors,


RICKY J. BAUTISTA
Centro Outdoor Sports Unlimited
Catbalogan City
0920.7675.444
trexpelunker@yahoo.com
www.pinoycaver.blogspot.com



Suggested Trek Schedule

DAY 1
1000 Registration & Briefing - Kidapawan Tourism Council Office.
1100 Free Time (Climbers may buy additional provisions for the trek).
1200 Lunch.
1300 Take jeepney to Ilomavis and Lake Agko. Arrange for porters. Camp overnight.

DAY 2
0600 Breakfast.
0700 Start hike up the Marbel River.
1000 Arrive at Mainit Hot Springs. Take side trip to view waterfall.
Take early lunch and fill water bottles.
1100 Start climb towards Lake Venado. Watch for wild monkeys high in the trees.
1500 Arrive at Lake Venado. Setup camp along shore.

DAY 3-4
0500 Early breakfast.
0600 Trek to the summit taking only water and snacks. Earlier "flashlight" climbs can be attempted.
0830 Arrive at summit. Explore the summit crater.
0930 Start back for Lake Venado.
1130 Arrive at Lake Venado. Lunch. Break camp.
1200 Start descent.
1530 Retrace steps down the Marbel River.
1700 Reach Lake Agko Campsite. Take jeepney back to Kidapawan or camp overnight at Lake Agko after soaking tired muscles in the hot pool.


Special Considerations (This is if you wanna go on your own trip)

· Recommended Time of Year for Trek
The climb may be undertaken any time of the year since the area is not within the typhoon belt but preferably during the months of October, November, December, March and April. The Philippine Tourism Authority organizes an annual climb during Holy Week, which attracts many climbers.
· General Weather Conditions
Rainfall is more or less evenly distributed throughout the year. In other words, expect rain and prepare accordingly. Even when not raining the ever-present cloud cover makes for damp conditions. Once wet, drying clothes is difficult so bring enough for a daily change. Keep spare clothing in waterproof bags. Bring wool hat and gloves especially if camping at the summit. A freestanding tent and gas stove are necessities. Finding dry wood for a campfire can be difficult