Wednesday, March 26, 2008 Wenceslao: More of a trip than a trek By Bong O. Wenceslao Candid Thoughts
MY annual Manunggal ritual has, for this year, become more of a trip than a trek. My usual companions Barok and William went to Tabunan as early as Friday (March 14). The other Manunggal trekker, Nanding, arrived at the traditional assembly area at JY Square an hour earlier than me and later rode the dump truck directly to Manunggal.
I thus found myself without the usual companions for the trek when I arrived at the JY Square. By that time, only few of the trekkers were there (organizers had the dump trucks parked along the road to Camp Lapu-lapu). I texted Nante, who was still in the city, but he said he still had an important errand and may just follow us later in the day.
I would have joined the Elite group that rented a jeepney to Tabunan, the usual jump off point of trekkers for the climb up Manunggal. But they were still waiting for their companions so that when it was already almost 9 a.m., I decided to forget the climb and join instead the trip of the Sun.Star team covering the sports activities in Manunggal.
It was a good decision because Barok and William, together with the group that included lawyer Erwin Heyrosa, Alan, Lope, etc., that camped overnight at the Tabunan river, started their climb to Manunggal at 9 a.m. Since travel to Tabunan takes more than an hour, I would have arrived at Tabunan past 10 a.m. and then trekked virtually alone.
Anyway, the trip with Superbalita's Jun Migallen, Sun.Star Cebu sports writer Marian Baring, fotog Arni Aclao and driver Roger Montes was, as expected, leisurely (we stopped by a roadside shack at the Transcentral Highway to buy boiled corn). It also gave us a closer look at the condition of the highway and the gravel road to Manunggal.
Using the Transcental Highway reminded me that this was constructed during the administration of Lito Osmeña, and that was eons ago. Some parts of the road is in dire need of rehabilitation. And if Manunggal were to attract more visitors, the gravel road needs to be asphalted. If not, railings must be built in areas where cliffs are very steep.
Balamban Mayor Alex Binghay, Vice Mayor Ace Binghay and Councilor Dave Karamihan were in the staff house to welcome visitors. I saw there my cousin Nigel Wenceslao, who seemed to enjoy staying in the mountains (he has a house in Gaas). By the way, the planting of pine trees in Manunggal is paying off; they've become visible.
Dave said that, considering last year's turnout, organizers did not campaign as aggressively for the trek this year, and it showed. The number of campers this year was lesser than last year's, though other factors must have been in play. Last year was election year. And Manny Pacquiao fought Juan Manuel Marquez on the Sunday during the trek.
I would have wanted to stay for the coverage of the Pacquiao-Marquez bout (a Dream disk was installed near the bust of Ramon Magsaysay), but I had to be with family and neighbor for the pay-per-view showing in my house. With Atty. Heyrosa, I rode a habal-habal from Manunggal to Lahug perched on the gasoline tank in front of the driver.
Days before the trek, I thought of letting go of the climb for the first time in years. But my going ahead with it anyway can be considered a good decision.
