Bulacan | Conquering Mt. Manalmon: A day-hike adventure

view from the Mt. Manalmon summit
I'm not an active type of person; couch potato, you may call me.  No regular exercise regimen, no strenuous activities. Certainly, no outdoor adventures.  For years, I've been like this. Boring, right? :D Recently however, I've decided to go out, to come out of my comfort zone; to join a group of friends on a day-hike adventure to Mt. Manalmon.

Mt. Manalmon is a relatively small mountain (196 MASL) in Barangay Sibul, San Miguel, Bulacan.  Actually, for our experienced mountaineer companions, this mountain seemed more of a hill than a mountain.  It is part of the Biak na Bato National Park, a historical site because of it's significance to the Katipuneros during the revolutionary times.

Instead of commuting, we rented a van going to Bulacan because we thought it would be easier for us.  Anyway, there is only a small difference in terms of transportation cost, whether we commute (take a bus) or we rent a van. We left Manila at around 6am and reached Barangay Sibul (after several wrong turns) by 8am.  Thanks to the guide that we passed by the road who told us the right way to Mt. Manalmon base camp.  When we got there, we registered at the Sitio Madlum Community Center and after a few minutes of rest and after some picture taking, we started our climb to Mt. Manalmon.

Madlum River, at the base camp
our group asking our Lord Almighty for guidance and protection on our trek to Mt. Manalmon
The trail to Mt. Manalmon is considered an easy one by experienced mountaineers. It started with an uphill trek that will lead to the Madlum Cave (also called Manalmon Cave), a relatively small cave which will bring you to a rocky slope down to the beach-like side of the Madlum River.  According to our guide, Madlum Cave and the perimeter hill was the filming location of Mulawin, a drama series of GMA7 from way back.

start of the trek to Mt. Manalmon, a trail that leads to Madlum Cave (photo by Mobius)
the rocky hill just outside the Madlum Cave
the sandy, beach-like side of Madlum River (photo by Mobius)
After the Madlum Cave, we then again crossed the Madlum river, trekked the uphill trail, met some other descending hikers, until we reached the summit. We're supposed to reach the summit in 45 minutes but it took us one and a half hour to reach it, all because of frequent stops and picture taking. :D

crossing the Madlum River (photo by Mobius)
jump shot of my friends at Mt. Manalmon summit, wasn't able to join due to fear of heights :(
After enjoying the view of the summit, chasing and playing and climbing the trees, more picture takings and some rest, we decided to start our descend and just have our lunch at the Madlum riverbank at the foot of the mountain.

the group resting on the riverbank, at the foot of Mt. Manalmon (photo by Aimee)
Madlum River, at the foot of Mt. Manalmon
Madlum River, at the foot of Mt. Manalmon
We stayed a bit longer here, resting under the canopy of trees along the riverbank, dipping our tired feet on the clear and somewhat languid Madlum river, inhaling the fresh and cold mountain breeze, and just enjoying the peaceful and relaxing view around us.  Ahh..., it's good to once in a while commune with nature, to appreciate the simplicity of life, to forget, at least for a while, the chaos and confusion that the city life brings.

Thanks to the Thunders Mountaineers for allowing us to join their adventure, thank you for the wonderful experience.  Looking forward to more happy treks ahead, but no extreme side trips (like Spelunking at Bayukbok Cave) please...hehe!


~oo00oo~
Credits to my friends Mobius & Aimee, for some of the photos used here, thanks very much.

~oo00oo~

Mt. Manalmon
Brgy. Sibul, San Miguel, Bulacan
Date of Visit: January 22, 2012

28 comments:

  1. Such a wonderful experience! sarap siguro mag picnick dyan sa Madlum river!

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    1. Madami talaga nagpi-picnic sa Madlum river, dun sa jump-off site, may iba pa kase activities na pwede gawin dun eh. I'll post about it next time. And yes, that was indeed a wonderful experience. :)

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  2. Awesome photos of a river. May ganyan pala sa Bulacan. Never heard of that river eh.

    Btw, thanks for dropping by. Cheers!

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    1. Hi Mrs. Kolca! Before this adventure, nde ko rin alam na may ganito place sa Bulacan, just heard about it from friends. It's really a nice place, affordable pa. May mga iba pang outdoor activities na available dito. I'll post about it next time, as well as our spelunking adventure sa Bayukbok Cave. See you next time and thanks for the visit. :)

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  3. parang ang sarap naman maligo dun sa ilog! congrats on your new found sense of adventure ;) unti unti lang and then next time you know, nag-s-spelunking ka na din. i would love to do that if given the chance! ;)

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    1. Ok naman yun ilog, medyo malabo lang kase dami naliligo. Nag-spelunking kami sa Bayukbok, at yun ang adventure talaga, extreme! Next post, kwento ko. :)

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  4. ay, nag spelunking ka na pala! how was it? blog mo na kagad ang storya :D

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  5. that's unforgettable experienced, like the river photos...hope u can visit my blog too.

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    1. Unforgettable indeed, esp. its twin adventure, spelunking at Bayukbok Cave. Will post it next time, hope you can visit again. :) Been to your blog, followed you too. :)

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  6. galing naman! good for you, getting off the couch, going outside, and doing amazing stuffs! :)
    thanks for the follow; followed you back.

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    1. Hi Maiylah! Yes, it feels good going out of our comfort zone from time to time, it adds excitement to our life, my boring life...hehe. Thanks for visiting and following, too. :)

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  7. "Ahh, it's good to once in a while commune with nature, to appreciate the simplicity of life, to forget, at least for a while, the chaos and confusion that the city life brings."- very well said talinggaw! :) i like this phrase ^.^ I also want to try mountain climbing and trekking! Another adventure I need to accomplish the soonest! ^.^

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    1. You wanna try mountain climbing too? Let's conquer Mt. Apo Ysay...hahah, feeling mountaineer lang. Thanks for visiting Ysay. :)

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  8. it's good to once in a while you take outdoors activity... it's fun to break the usuals.. :D

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    1. It is indeed fun! And it makes me appreciate the simple things around me. Thanks Rhainnes. :)

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  9. Replies
    1. Hi Michael! My initial reaction on your comment? Raised eyebrows. When I saw your blog, I laughed, hahahah, correct, you found your female counterpart. :) Thanks for visiting. I'll add you in my blogroll (badges & links), will follow you also, hope you do the same. :)

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    2. Hello, I've added your link already. Good morning! ☺

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  10. Ang ganda naman ng vista. Kung ganyan lng din makikita ko sa daan ay game na game ako s akyatan #:-)

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    1. Akyat na din, dali...hehe. And then try spelunking at Bayukbok Cave, adventure of a lifetime yun. :)

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  11. Awesome pics, u surely have this gift of photography.
    Been to Ilocos Norte? U should come and visit, explore, and take hundreds of pics.:))
    Sand dunes, white rock formation, pagudpud beaches , the heritage paoay church, and so forth.

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    1. Hi Sherene! Thank you but I'm just a trying-hard photographer, am uploading here the best photos that I got, but actually I have trash photos too, a lot actually..hehe!

      Haven't been to Ilocos Norte yet but am planning to go there this year, I want to see Bangui windmill and Paoay church and other beautiful places there.

      Thanks for visiting here. :)

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  12. Yay come! Summer time the best time:))
    We should see each other:))

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    1. Hahah, thanks Sherene! Got other plans for summer eh, but we'll see. :)

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  13. Dahil ako ay isang certified na bulakena, syempre nakarating at nakaligo na ako sa Madlum several times. Siguro mga 12-13 years old lang ako non. Nakabalik uli ako sa Madlum nung mga 17 na ako. Nakakinggit, ansarap bumalik uli =)

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    1. Hi Ayie! So, na-try mo na rin Bayukbok Cave? Kung hindi pa, dapat ma-try mo din, bulakena eh, hahah...jowk lang. I don't advise it to first-timers, esp. kung tulad ko na di physically fit, medyo delikado sya eh. Salamat sa pagdalaw. :)

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  14. wow. first step..
    i hope ma-meet kita along the trail or sa travel mo..
    see you around..

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  15. sure na babalikan ko to :]

    http://geejaytravellog.blogspot.com/

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