|
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
Manunggal
By Rex Vicena
I have been reminiscing over how Mt. Manunggal has changed all these years.
Our group, the Cebu Mountaineering Society, visits the place at least twice a year to have fun, and of course, to pay homage to the late President Ramon Magsaysay.
On March 16, 1989, Manunggal was opened again to climbers after a few years of being declared an insurgency area. It was like going to the battlefront as we seemed to be outnumbered by our heavily-armed escorts. We honestly felt it would be safer for us without them, as we dreaded to imagine what would happen if there were still rebels lurking in the area. We only had Swiss knives and nailcutters at our disposal. Anyway, it was the job of our military escorts to keep us away from harm. In return, we assisted some of them along the way as many were not good climbers.
The road (or was it a big trail?) leading to Cantipla was the dangerous part as our dump trucks could hardly fit in. And we negotiated the way overlooking deep ravines in vehicles overloaded with people, guns and ammo, shoulder bags (backpacks were unknown yet) and other provisions. Lucky for you now who travel in style on what is known as the Trans Central Highway.
In 1989, our jump-off point was Cantipla. We hiked down to Tabunan where we had lunch, then climbed all the way to the crash site. We kind of huffed and puffed as the sun was terribly hot. I never thought that the shade of a small mango tree could shelter more than a hundred climbers. The fastest climber made it at about three o`clock in afternoon while the sweepers made it in the dark. Supposedly there were only two sweepers, but in reality there was a bunch of them.
I considered Mt. Manunggal as still a little bit pristine then. I said, a little bit, because at that time, parts of the ill-fated Mt. Pinatubo might already have found its way to your dirty kitchen as a pan or kaldero. People in the area cut trees so that we visitors could have benches or they built tindahans to cater to our needs. How touching!
March 17, right after Mass, we planted trees. Part of the “bit pristine” was that there was no garbage around. We brought back with us to the city our trash.
Last March, our group, together with Camp, University of San Carlos Mountaineers, and Pangasugan Mountaineers, collected more than 50 sacks of garbage in our clean-up drive. Hmmm, some mountaineers don’t know any better.
We also visited Manuggal in August, and found the place to be tranquil. There was no electricity yet, and we gathered around to experience nature’s loving embrace. We didn’t have bonfires, as these are harmful. Could there be anything better than moonbeams? The fog in the area is awesome. Manunggal is best at night, but it is safer to be in a group. It is now accessible by car, but a four-wheel drive is recommended. Just be extra careful when driving through heavy fog, or better wait till the fog clears. You won’t see much if it’s rainy and the road is quite dangerous.
As time goes by, nature changes for the better. She heals her wounds and reveals her natural beauty. Let us give Manunggal a chance to be, it is something that we could be proud of, so we must protect it. One good person lost his life there, so we respect it. God gave it to us, so we ought to cherish it.
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (April 5, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
