U.P.

MOUNTAINEERS

U.P. MOUNTAINEERS
POST -CLIMB REPORT

Event: Special Induction and Memorial Climb, Mt. Guiting-Guiting thru Tampayan, Magdiwang
Backtrail, Magdiwang, Sibuyan Island, Romblon
Date: May 22-28, 2018
Pre-Climb Meeting: May 16, 2018, 7:00PM, U.P. Mountaineers Tambayan
Purpose: To conduct a memorial climb and induct eligible candidates from recent batch of applicants
to the UP Mountaineers

TEAM COMPOSITION

Team Leader: Siegfred Tuberon

Assistant TL: Jasmin Eve Dela Pena
Team Medic/Sweeper: Paulo Ross Sison
Scribe: Fechi Fajardo
Members: Jhon Jeffrey Reynaldo
Mark Christian Monsanto

Inductees: Michael Tito Pajarito

Michael Arthur Marcelo Obaldo

Guides: Kuya Felium, Jerry and Junnie

Contact Person: Manila: Gene Mora

Sibuyan: Bermar Tansiongco
ITENERARY (ESTIMATED VS ACTUAL):
PLANNED
Day 0 - Tuesday, May 22, 2018
02:00PM - Assembly Area, Jam Liner Terminal, Kamuning-
EDSA
03:00PM - ETD Kamuning-Batangas Port
06:00PM - ETA Batangas Port
10:00PM - ETD for Romblon via 2GO vessel MV St. Anthony
de Padua
Day 1 - Wednesday, May 23, 2018
06:00AM - ETA Romblon, Romblon(Breakfast, Buy Supplies)
07:00AM - Board MV Querubin to Ambulong Port,
Magdiwang, Sibuyan Island
09:00AM - ETA Ambulong Port, Magdiwang
09:20AM - Travel to Manong Lee's House
10:00AM - Proceed to DENR Office
11:00AM - ETA DENR, Orientation, Secure Guides and Porter
12:00PM - Lunch
01:00PM - Buy Supplies, Final Preparation
05:00PM - Set up Camp, Dinner/Socials
09:00PM - Lights Out
Day 2 - Thursday, May 24, 2018-CLIMB PROPER
04:00AM - Wake Up Call Prepare Breakfast and PackLunch
05:00AM - Breakfast and Breakcamp/Final Prep
06:00AM - Start Trek
06:45AM - ETA Dead River
08:00AM - ETA Camp 1
11:00AM - ETA Camp 2 Early Lunch
12:00PM - ETD to Camp 3
03:00PM - ETA Camp 3
04:30PM - ETA Mayo's Peak, Set up Camp
05:30PM - Mayo's Peak Viewdeck, Sunset Viewing
07:00PM - Dinner Socials
09:00PM - Lights Out
ACTUAL (Based on last-person arrival)
Day 0 - Tuesday, May 22, 2018
01:00PM - Assembly Area, McDo Buendia/Gil Puyat near LRT
Taft
01:50PM - Departure, DLTB Bus Station, Buendia/Taft
03:50PM - Arrival at Batangas Port
09:04PM - Departure to Odiongan, Tablas Island, Romblon via
2GO vessel, MV St. Ignatius De Loyola.
Day 1 - Wednesday, May 23, 2018
04:30AM - Arrival at Odiongan Port
04:39AM - Departure to San Agustin Port via rented van
05:30AM - Arrival at San Agustin Port boarded Montenegro
MV Querubin
06:00AM - Departure to Romblon, Romblon Port.
07:00AM - Arrival at Romblon, Romblon. Take breakfast and
buy Boknoy's Siopao.
07:42AM - Departure going to Sablayan, Romblon, Romblon
via rented tricycle.
08:30AM - Arrival at Sablayan, Romblon, Romblon. Rented a
motor boat going to Sibuyan.
08:35AM - Departure going to Abucay, Magdiwang, Sibuyan
Island.
09:29AM - Arrival in Abucay, Magdiwang, Romblon.
10:15AM - Arrived at Manong Lee's house.
01:00PM - Orientation and Registration DENR-Sibuyan
02:00PM - Buy Supplies Magdiwang Public Market.
09:00PM - Lights Out
Day 2 - Thursday, May 24, 2018-CLIMB PROPER
04:00AM - Wake up Call, Prepared Breakfast and PackLunch
05:00AM - Breakfast and Final Preparation
05:32AM - Start Trek
06:18AM - ETA last River
07:32AM - Arrival at Camp 1
09:30AM - Arrival at Camp 2. Take early lunch along the trail
between Camp 2 and Camp 3.
01:41PM - Arrival at Camp 3.
02:43PM - Arrival at Bulod Spring. Reloaded our water bottles
and canteen.
04:18PM - Arrival at Mayo's Peak Campsite. Set up camp.
Members proceed to Mayo's Peak Viewdeck except Jay and
the Inductees.
07:00PM - Dinner Socials
09:00PM - Lights Out
Day 03 - Friday, May 25, 2018
03:00AM - Wake up Call, Prepare Breakfast/Pack Lunch(No
Break Camp-Secure Things, 1Guide to remain at campsite)
05:00AM - Start Trek to Knife Edge
06:00AM - Crossing Knife Edge
08:00AM - Kiss the Wall Area
09:00AM - ETA Mabel Spring
10:00AM - ETA Peak of Deception
11:30PM - ETA 90 Degree Wall
12:30PM - ETA Guiting Summit (2057 MASL), Lunch.
01:00PM - Start Descend back to Mayo's Peak
05:30PM - ETA Mayo's Peak
07:00PM - Dinner/Socials
Day 04 - Saturday, May 26, 2018
06:00AM - Wake-up Call, Sunrise Viewing Photo Ops
08:00AM - Breakfast / Break Camp
09:00AM - Start Descend
12:00PM - Lunch Along the trail
02:30PM - ETA Jump-Off
03:00PM - Proceed to DENR, Log Out.
04:00PM - Wash up / Beach Swimming
05:00PM - Socials, Celebration at Manong Lee's House.
Day 05 - Sunday, May 27, 2018
06:00AM - Wake Up Call, Prepare Breakfast
09:00AM - ETD to Ambulong Port, Magdiwang
10:00AM - ETD from Magdiwang - Batangas Pier
Day 06 - Monday, May 28, 2018
04:00AM - ETA Batangas Port
06:00AM - ETA Manila
Day 03 - Friday, May 25, 2018
03:00AM - Wake up call, cook breakfast and packlunch.
04:30AM - Breakfast and Final Preparation
05:37AM - Start Trek to Knife Edge
09:25AM - Arrival Peak of Deception
10:35AM - ETA 90 Degree Wall
11:00AM - Members arrived at Mt. Guiting-Guiting summit
(Lunch)
12:09PM - Descend from Summit.
05:20PM - Members arrived at Mayo's Peak
06:20PM - Inductees arrived at Mayo's Peak
07:30PM - Dinner
09:00PM - Induction Rites
Day 04 - Saturday, May 26, 2018
05:30AM - Wake- up Call
08:00AM - Breakfast and Breakcamp
09:50AM - Memorial Ceremony at Mayo's Peak
10:20AM - Start Descent
11:10AM - Arrival at Bulod Spring
12:09PM - Arrival at Camp 3
02:47PM - Arrival at Camp 2
04:24PM - Arrival at Camp 1
07:05PM - Arrival at Manong Lee's House
Day 05 - Sunday, May 27, 2018
04:00AM - Wake-up call
08:30AM - Departure to Ambulong Port
10:46AM - Boarded Montenegro, MV Querubin for Romblon
01:44PM - Departure for Batangas aboard Montenegro, MV
Diana.
04:15PM - Post Climb
10:18PM - Arrival at Batangas Port
11:03PM - Departure from Batangas Port to Manila
Day 06 - Monday, May 28, 2018
12:10AM - Jhon Jeffrey arrived at Sta. Rosa, Laguna
12:35AM - Paulo, Mark, Fechi arrived at Buendia LRT Bus
Station
01:00AM - Sieg, Jazzie, Mike and Mikey arrived at Kamias
Terminal
DEVIATIONS FROM ITINERARY:
1. Day 0 -
a. CHANGE of ASSEMBLY TIME AND AREA TO: NEW ASSEMBLY AREA:
McDo Buendia/Gil Puyat Near LRT Station.
NEW ASSEMBLY TIME:
1:00 PM, May 22, 2018
Reason:
Sa kadahilanan recently na mahaba ang pila sa JAM Bus Terminal ng Edsa-Kamuning at inaabot ng more
than 3hours at minsan konti lang nakakabalik na bus according to them. At sa dami daw ng pasahero dahil dalawa na
lang bus company sa QC ang bumabyahe papuntang Batangas Pier dahil sa pagpapasasarado sa ibang bus terminal
ng MMDA in violations of the Nose-in, Nose-out Policy.
b. We boarded DLTB bus bound for Batangas Pier earlier than scheduled kasi maraming bumabyahe at
madaling napupuno ang bus.

2. Day 1
a. There is an adjustment on our Itinerary. We took 2nd option. We are booked Tuesday, for a 2GO 9PM
ETD Batangas-Odiongan(Tablas Island ETA 4AM) port instead of a direct Batangas to Romblon route because it
was earlier been fully booked already. Jazzie should have booked it on-line on the day of our pre-climb but wans't
able to booked it. When I checked it on the following day at a 2GO ticketing outlet in Cubao it was already fully
booked na.
b. There is a slight delay of arrival of 2GO vessel(30Minutes delayed from the 4AM ETA) in the port of
Odiongan which was beyond our control.
c. There is also a slight delay on our arrival in Sibuyan because di na dumederetso ang MV Querubin sa
Ambolong Port sa Magdiwang, Sibuyan ng MWF dahil daw may nauna ng barko(StarHorse Shipping) ealier going
to Magdiwang at wala na raw silang makukuhang pasahero pabalik ng Romblon.
d. We decided na magpahinga muna sa bahay ni Sir Bermar pagkadating namin ng Magdiwang bago kami
dumeretso sa DENR.

3. Day 2
a. Start of our trek was advanced a bit for allowance of unexpected delays.
b. Location of early lunch was along the trail between Camp 2 and Camp 3 because we arrived earlier than
expected arrival in Camp 2.
c. Arrival in camp 3 is more than an hour earlier than expected because of a few rest stop taken during this
section.
d. We took a longer rest upon arrival at the camp 3 thus resulted to almost same time of our actual arrival at
Mayo's campsite from expected.
e. We arrived at Mayo's campsite just in time with our itinerary. We set up camp immediately and members
except Jay(who cooked the dinner) proceeded to Mayo's view-deck for photo-ops, taking advantage of the clearing.

4. Day 3
a. We started 30 minutes late because of some final minutes preparations and photo ops at the Mayo's peak
view-deck.
b. We arrive almost an hour earlier at the Peak of deception. Maybe because we(members) had a good
pacing and we are just a small group.
c. Members arrived at the summit 1.5 hours earlier than the itinerary. We took lunch at the summit and
monitored the Inductees through radio call of their location. They were still arriving at the Peak of deception. At
12:09 we start our descent back to Mayo's peak.
 d. Upon a radio call with Mike at around 12PM(noon) of their location, I talk to their guide(Kuya Jerry) and
confirmed that they are still at the forest line below the Peak of Deception, So I decided and instructed them to take
their lunch and start to go back down. They are already running out of water and Mickey felt the strain on his knees
e. 5 Members(Fechi, Jay, Pau, Mark and Jazzie) arrived 10minutes earlier from the itinerary. Me, and the 2
inductees with one guide arrived 50minutes late because Inductees is very slow on their pace. They have difficulty
in navigating the rocky terrain of Guiting-Guiting.

5. Day 4
a. We started very late on our descent because we started the "memorial" in the morning. There was a strong
wind and rain during the last night Induction rites. Also, we waited for the other Climbers/Hikers who arrived at
Mayo's campsite last night to leave for their summit hike.
b. We arrive late because Mickey already felt the strain on his knees which was bandaged and applied with a
portable electric massage brought by Mike at camp 2.
c. We arrive at Sir Bermar Tansiongco's house already dark. We are supposed to ride a tricycle upon arrival
at the road but there was no tricycle around so we walk/hike it until Sir Toto's house.

6. Day 5
-We arrived earlier than expected at Batangas Port because the Montenegro vessels no longer went to
Odiongan, Romblon to fetch passengers dahil puno na sa Romblon Port, resulting our earlier arrival here in Manila.

TERRAIN AND TRAIL NOTES:

1. Hike to Mt. Guiting-Guiting via Tampayan, Magdiwang trail has two starting point. One, which will start at the
DENR-Office. There is a trail on the left side across the PASU office right at the back of the welcome signage. It
will then continue until one crosses the Dalipi River up to a rolling forested trail going to camp 1. The other one,
which will start at the house of Manong Lee(the one we took), will start with an approximately 30minutes hike on a
pave road until you reach a waiting shed then will go left on a trail going down to a river then to small community
with a pineapple and corn plantations and to a rolling terrain until one crosses the last river. Then will enter the
forest line until the trail meet-up with that from DENR going right until it reaches Camp1. The trail going to camp 1
has a muddy section given it was summer time.

2. Trail going to camp 2 from camp 1 is a steady straightforward ascent along a pristine forested area comparable to
that of the forest line of Pantingan Peak in Mt. Mariveles. Halos puro ugat-ugat ng mga puno ang trail dito sa area
na eto until halfway to Camp 3. There is presence of limatiks at camp 2 area and halfway up going to camp 3. The
trail looks well-maintained and clean.

3. The other half of the trail going to camp 3 composes of grasses and ferns until one enter mossy stunted forest
going up to Mayo's peak. Approximately 15 minutes after Camp 3, one will reach Bulod Spring the last water
source in the area. There is a time according to our guide that Bulod spring goes empty whenever there are many
campers who fetch water in the place. So better plan ahead and ask guides if there are other camper/hikers with you
or before you during your trek.

4. An open area section, after the century tree view-deck(which you can view the saw-tooth if there is a clearing), is
a steep ascent going to Mayo's Peak campsite. There is a latrine on the right side of the ridge upon entering the
mossy forest area to the Mayo's campsite. The Mayo's campsite is still relatively clean.

5. The trail going to the summit of Mt. Guiting-Guitng from Mayo's peak is still the same and I can't see any
noticeable changes.
NOTABLE EVENTS/INCIDENTS (AND ACTIONS TAKEN):

1. After our pre-climb meeting, Jazzie is supposed to booked us online that night a direct route Batangas-Romblon
2GO vessel but wasn't able to do it due to a busy schedule for the AkyatCon event. The morning following day, it
was already fully-booked so I check it with the 2GO outlet in Cubao if there is still remaining slot to no avail, So, I
decided for our option 2 which is to take the longer route from Batangas-Odiongan-San Agustin-Romblon-
Magdiwang. Luckily, I was able to booked a ticket for the 9pax on 2GO vessel for Odiongan. So better to booked at
least a week ahead to secure a ticket if one goes with 2GO vessels.

2. Donna backed out morning a day before we leave. She message me that she has a priority deadline to submit on
May 31, 2018. The morning we leave I was able to visit 2GO in Cubao & ask for the refund of her ticket.

3. Fechi arrived just in time at exactly 1:00PM at our Assembly/meet-up area.

4. Upon arrival at San Agustin port in Tablas Island, we were told by the crew and personnel of MV Querubin, that
they will no longer go to Ambolong port in Magdiwang during MWF(hanggang Romblon lang daw sila) because
there is already a ship(StarHorse) that goes earlier at 4AM from port of San Agustin-Romblon-Magdiwang. That
was an unexpected incident but then I decided to take option 3-To take a small motorized boat from Romblon to
Sibuyan(which I want to avoid because I am not sure of the condition of the waves). So I bought a cup of coffee and
started a chat with the crew at their canteen and ask a better options of going to Sibuyan by small motorized boat
otherwise we will extend a night stay in Romblon.
- First, A motorized boat from Romblon to Sibuyan is more costly and there are already few of them we
could found in the area.
- Second, We should travel an hour to Brgy. Sablayan, Romblon through a tricycle then look for a fishing
boat that will ferry us up to Sibuyan, Island. According to the crew, it s more cheaper there than that in Romblon
port. So I, called up Sir Toto(our contact person in Magdiwang) to confirmed this and to ask the condition of the sea
and/or if it is safe to take this option. He told us, that the sea and waves are very calm on that day and the days
before and the weather is fine and it is safe to take a motorized boat. Assessing the situation, I decided to take this
option. So we rented two tricycles and told the driver to ferry us to Sablayan where there are boats to be rented
going to Sibuyan. Fare is at P100/pax(4person per tricycle). Arriving at Sablayan, there is indeed available boats
waiting us to ferry to Sibuyan. So I called our contact person in Magdiwang, Sir Toto, that we are on our way to
Abucay beach, Magdiwang( Note: we couldn't go directly to Ambolong port 'dahil huhulihin sila ng' Coast Guard
said of out boatman). So we rented two boats, 4 person each boat, ( Me, Jazzie, MC and Paulo on the 1st boat; Jay,
Fechi, Mike and Mickey on the 2nd boat.). Our ride was generally calm, except that we got wet because of the
splash from the waves and we we're caught up by rain along as we're nearing Sibuyan Island. 45 minutes after we
alighted at Abucay beach in Sibuyan Island and 10 minutes later Sir Toto arrived to fetch us.

5. There was somewhat 'init-an moment between Jay and MC during the night before our trek when we are
packing our pre-cook foods at Sir Toto house. Good that it didn't escalate into a tense situation and they are
professional enough to deal with it and cool it down. After the climb we've somewhat known each other and became
more tolerant to each one and of our individual personalities.

6. We sighted some civet cat( musang ) roaming around in the campsite at night and early in the morning. Fechi,
Jazzie and Paulo are keen enough to decide to hang and secure our food supplies safely.

7. On summit assault:
-It was agreed during pre-climb that turn-around time would be 12PM(noon) latest and 1PM cu-off
regardless of location, whether one reaches the summit or not, to safely return to Mayo's Peak so as to not be caught
dark on the trail.
 -Late in the afternoon on the first day, at Mayo's view-deck, I observed that the clouds covers the trail in the
knife edge going to the summit at around 5PM onwards and the wind changes its direction. I ask our 69yrs old
guide, Kuya Felium(one of the assistant of Bulod during the late 80's) what will be the safest turnaround time given
a slowest pace. He told me, that 11-11:30 if one still would not reach summit, one should turn back to Mayo's peak
regardless of its location.
- With this, I discuss it with the team the morning before we hike that It is more prudent, wise and safe that
our turnaround time would be between 11AM to 12noon 'pinakalate'.
- All Members reach the summit of Mt. Guiting-Guiting at 11AM. 11:15 I called Mike on the radio for
their location and situation. They just arrived at Peak of deception and are running out of water. Mickey eventually
slowed his pace because of strain on his knees and difficulty in navigating the rocky terrain. He told me that they
would rest a bit at the peak of deception before proceeding. I told them, to push for the summit and we'll wait for
them at 12noon. He said OK. Around 11:45noon, I call again Mike on the radio for their location and situation, this
time with a choppy line, and He said that they are located below a rock-face so I interpreted it that they are on the 90
degree wall. Come 12noon I call again in the radio to clarify their location and this time I ask Mike to hand-over the
radio to their guide, Kuya Gerry, and the guide confirm that they are still at the forest line below the Peak of
Deception which in my assessment would take 1-1.5 hour away for a regular pace to reach the summit. I ask the
second opinion of their guide, and their guide said that "hindi na nila kaya abutin sa summit ng 1hour Sir, andito
pa lang kami sa forest line baba ng Peak of Deception". Hearing this I decided and instructed Mike to take their
lunch and start heading back as long as they finished, and that we'll follow them down. And then, I told the team that
we'll start going down.
- Naabutan ng team ang mga Inductees sa Mabel Spring resting, with barely enough water and are
exhausted. Jay, Fechi and I give a least 500ml of water to them. I instructed Paulo to take the Lead for members
going back to Mayo's Peak while I stayed with the Inductees as sweeper to them. We had a very slow pace and Mike
is getting difficulty navigating the terrain. Then it was a blessing in disguise, because as we are nearing the Mayo's
Peak around 6PM, kumikidlat na at yong makapal na ulap going to Mayo's Peak namumuo ng ulan. Just in time, as
we reach Mayo's Peak in the dark bumuhos ang malakas na ulan at hangin at may bonus pang mga kidlat. I couln't
imagine, If I allow them to summit and then naabutan kami ng ganun situation while navigating in the Knife Edge
area, it would have been miserable worst disastrous. So, together with my team, I/we stand with my decision for
safety reasons.

10. During our first night at Mayo's campsite while resting at my hammock, Jay woke me up and told me that it's
our dinner time. Upon getting out on my tarp, An unusual sudden gust of cold wind struck me and my whole body
and it makes me shivers in cold like I am getting hypothermia but I was conscious enough to be able to reach to our
kitchen area. I remember someone from the team ask me, Are you OK, Sieg? I couldn't explain what happened
because it my first time to encounter such. The shivering went out as I ate my first subo of the mainit na beef at
pork kaldereta.

11. Minor Accidents/Injuries:

a. Mickey slipped his ankle going down between camp 3 and camp 2. Paulo applied First Aid and bandage.
b. Jay felt already the strain below his knees from going down from summit and going down from Mayos
Peak. But he was able to manage it with sprays and bandage.
c. As we regrouped at Camp 2 going down, Jay administered an electronic pulse massager brought by Mike
to Mickeys knees to lessen the strain in his muscles.
d. The front sole shoes of Jazzie has been damaged and Fechi managed to fixed it around on our descent
after Camp 1 area.
12. The "Memorial" was done in the morning because it was raining hard the evening before. There was many
hikers arrived at Mayo's campsite that night so we waited for all of them na makaalis in the morning before we
conducted the "Memorial".
OTHER CLIMB NOTES:
1. Everybody agreed that the climb was a great experience despite the difficulty navigating such rocky terrain and
the deadly trail of Guiting-Guiting.
2. We are fortunate enough that overall we had a good weather from our trip going to Sibuyan, during and after our
climb, and going back home.
3. Team members are in good vibes, disposition and spirits and are really helping out in their own way. Most
notable was Jay who does mostly the cooking for us. It is really advisable to have at least a "most senior member"
present during this type of climb to guide and suggest wise opinions.
4. It was more easier to manage the small team.
5. Induction rites were cut short because it's raining very hard and winds are strong during that night at the Mayo's
view-deck.
6. "The mountain was very beautiful and very daunting but it was very difficult in reality than what I imagine."
Going to Mayo's peak is manageable after that it's difficult.
7. There is a wish that we should climb together again and see improvements in each other in the future climb.
8. The guide assigned to the Inductee during the summit assault should be in front to guide them on the trail. Not
on the rear, which gave the Inductees additional difficulty in navigating especially in the scrambling portions.
9. The boots(shoes) is difficult on the scrambling side because it is not flexible. Need more upper body strength.

EXPENSE SUMMARY: ( Exclusive of the Individual Food and Overhead expenses)

Bus Fare: P 170/person x 2
Boat Fare:
2GO Btga-Odiongan P 1,100.00/person(inclusive of dinner)
MV Querubin (San Agustin-Romblon) P 80.00/person
Boat Ride(Sablayan-Abucay) P 250.00/person
Montenegro(Magdiwang-Btga) P 1,278.00/person
Terminal Fee:
Batangas Port P 40.00/person
Ambolong Port, Magdiwang P 12.00/person

Chartered Van from Odiongan-

San Agustin P 2,500.00
Chartered Tricycle from Romblon-
Sablayan P 100.00/person( 4pax/tricycle x 2 plus tip of P100/tricycle=P1,000.00)
Chartered Tricycle in Magdiwang,
DENR, Palengke, Sir Toto house P 1,220.00
Chartered Tricycle to Ambolong Port P 400.00
Guide and Porter Fees: P 9,000.00( 2 Guides and 1 Porter; 5:1 ratio of Guide)
Dinner & Breakfast from Sir Toto P 800.00( Sinigang na Fish, Sweet and Sour Fish and Breakfast)
Butane (6pcs) P 480.00
IMPORTANT CONTACT NUMBERS:
Bermar Tansiongco(Head of Magdiwang Guide Association) 0929 512 7563
Sibuyan District Hospital 0918 413 7121
Magdiwang PNP Hotline 0929 200 9058

Prepared by:

Siegfred I. Tuberon
May 30, 2018