“Conquering The Peak of Mt. Apo”
“UMians Conquers the Peak of Mt. Apo”
(an experience of Glorio O. Dumandan Jr.)
Trekkers
“I was there”, this was the evident cursor that trends the UM Bnasalan College Mountaineering Group headed by Mr. Gerry S. Nique,RN, a registered nurse of UM Bnaslan College.
The Group decided to climb and trek the peak of Mt. Apo during Summer Clim/ Trail Blazing sponsored by the government of Bansalan, Digos City, Department of Tourism and the GMA Networks. It as transpired last May 2 – 4, 2008. A 3 days battle in mud, cold, rain and fogs.
Team UMians
UM Bansalan Campus was the starting point of the Trekkers. They were composed of a very strong team ever; Mr. Gerry S. Nique, Registered Nurse, Ms. Nova C. dela Cruz, Psychometrician, Mr. Alfie Cabal, Registered Criminologist, Mr. Glorio O. Dumandan Jr, Registered Criminologist, Mr. Modesto Gumapac Jr, Registered Criminologist, Ms Loida Gumapac, Ms. Cristine Lofranco, Mr. Lumen, Mr. Marconi Muhamad Jr,; all commerce students, and 3 others and 1 guide, making it a squad of 14. We prepared our printed shirt as uniform and an identification card w/ sling bearing our name issued by the Municipality of Bansalan, Office of Municipal Tourism.
The 1st day until the 3rd day was so challenging. At the start we ride a motorcycle to deliver us to Balutakay, Bansalan. We were welcome by a rain. The road was so muddy and that the motor needs to use “kadena” to roll the tires w/c was entangled by a sticky mud. At last we arrive there around 11 o’clock. We took our lunch there.
The mission started at the Mt. Apo_Bansalan Trail which was the route of the team. We walk, talk and admire the place we see and discover. We didn’t mind the muddy trail. We jump in the big logs, we crawl in the grassy fields and sometimes we are fallen and slide in the long slope of the ground. “PWERTE JUD KA KAKAPOY UG KALISOD SA AGIANAN AY!”….
In the 1st night, we slept at the 2nd camp. The night was so called and its rainy and foggy outside our tent but still we slept easily because we are so tire enough on the journey. Very early in the morning we prepare our breakfast. We start again to our long trip. That was the 2nd day . We eat and prepare our lunch at Macadak, a nursery place developed by th Lopez’s. “GRAVEH JUD KAYUGNAW HALOS NAGTIKUNKUNG NAMI TANAN UG AKO (GLORIO) NAGGANG-GANG JUD SA AKO KAUGALINGON SA HINALING NGA KALAYO”…..
And now we are so very near at the peak of Mt. Apo. We took our picture. We stated climbing. We hold on to the rope to climdb the slidy slope of the ground. We seen there the the Cotabato Province, the L:ake Jordan, the historical Lake Venado, and the Davao Region.
Finally, we conquered the peak of Mt. Apo around 7 o’clock in the late evening. The place was so called and foggy. We hastely prepared and took our dinner there. We automaticalkly prepared our tent and get inside faster and coat ourselves as many clothes, socks, shoes, jackets we have. We easily got asleep inspite of coldness. “BESAN SA KATUGNAW NAKATULOG MAN JAPON NUON FUD ME; TUNGOD CEGURO SA KAKAPOY UG KALAYO SA AMO GIBAKTAS”…..
In the morning (3rd day), after peparing and taking our breakfast, we roamed around the vicinity. Its so cold even the sun started to shine on the east. We have see and witnessed finally the panoramic views on top of the talles mountain in the Philippines, the Mt. Apo. A lovely place wchis was full of admirable things and rare plants we never known before an an absolute spring of water ever. Two of our team went to the crater and bolders and got some rocks they calle “sulfur”.
After 1 hour of roaming we prepared for our back trail. We arrived on that day at Balutakay around 9 o’clock in the evening. We took our lunch there. But we still manage ourselves. We “pakyaw” a habal-habal to deliver us at the Bansalan proper and arrive there around 12 midnight.
“SOS GRAVEH JUD. NAKAPANUMPA JUD KO SA AKO KAUGALINGON NGA DILE NAKO MUBALIK UG USAB SAKA DIDTO! PERO ENJOY BIYA!
YOU! I challenge you to Conquer the Peak of Mt. Apo! BE THERE!
Dumandan Glorio Jr.
