Mt. Manunggal Balamban, Cebu: The Historical

Mt. Manunggal is situated in Brgy. Magsaysay, Balamban in the Queen City of the South – Cebu. Elevation is measured at 1003 Meters above sea level, making it the highest peak in Central Cebu.

Mt. Manunggal is the crash site of Pinatubo, the presidential plane which carried President Ramon Magsaysay in March 17, 1957. You see, Mt. Manunggal was an unknown mountain until the crash. Today, a commemorative bust of President Magsaysay and a monument embedding Pinatubo’s engine stand at the slopes of this historic mountain. Gallopers member who participated this climb last February 15, 2016 are as follows.

Ana Marie Garcia
Christian Ian Sy
Harry Jim Secusana
Hubert Repunte
Rutchel Baguioro
Vincent Laping
Geraldine April Cale
Shiao Suliano
and the first timer Jonnel Cabrera who accepted the challenge to be one of us.

The sunset faded and blended from pink to peach to mango in a smoothie in the sky.

Trekking at night is kinda scary, the silence of the place added the pressure with our cold feet and  empty stomach. Our goal is to be at the campsite with no estimated time. As it was our first time to climb Mt. Mangungal we didn't realized that we are already the start point going down to the camp site. 

I didn't get the chance to take picture of this post as we are in a hurry to be at the camp site. Note that this post will determine that you are already arrive at the Mt. Manungal.

Along the dark night and winding road the group is thank that mountain has path way that made it quite easy for us to traverse going down and lead us to the camp site. Just follow through it and you will never get lost unless of course you want to. :)

We arrived at Mt. Manunggal monument around 8PM (this is a traverse climb from Mt.Mauyog), we set up our camp, cook dinner, socials and lights off at 10:00PM to regain our energy. 

We woke up at around 6am and got the chance to walk around the area before the rain pours again. 

We saw the actual spot where the plane crashed, the engine etched in the area serving as its marker. Another cemented wall was constructed with a “marble plate” where the names of the 27 passengers of Mt Pinatubo are engraved.

Approximately 8 in the morning we started to trek and live Mt. Manungal with heavy and 
thankful heart. The road is a bit muddy as the sky pours us a blessings.

The famous dog guide in Mt. Manungal. We named his/her "Brownie" , Brownie lead the way up until we reached the town proper even the rain is pouring. I was concerned about brownie on how he/she will go back to the mountain, but I get those feeling that he/she will get there. Brownie is a smart, friendly and awesome dog. 

~ Pose like a boss ~ 

Itinerary

Day 01: 

05:00PM - Start descent and traversed to Mt. Manunggal
07:00PM - ETA foot of Mt. Mauyog
08:00PM - Arrived at Mt. Manunggal Monument, set camp, cook dinner, socials
10:00PM - Lights off

Day 02: 
06:00AM - Wake up call
07:00AM - Cook breakfast, eat breakfast, get water, sightseeing, and picture taking
08:00AM - Start descend for Barangay Gaas drop point going to Manungal
12:00NN - Arrived at Barangay Gaas (to wait our pick up)
02:00PM - ETA JY Square Lahug

Budget and Expenses:
*Hired jeepney to Cantipla junction (PHP2,500 divided to 8pax) 312.50/pax
-pick up at JY Square Lahug > drop off Cantipla junction
-pick up at Barangay Gaas > drop off JY Square Lahug
*Lunch (PHP55)
*Food supplies (PHP100) per pax including water both community and personal/trail)

Total expenses = 467.50/pax

Kalanggaman Island - Come to Paradise

Let me first share a little trivia. Did you know that the Visayan term "Langgam" means bird? I was browsing the web when I chanced upon this islet located in the Western part of Leyte. The islet has sandbars on both tips resembling the wings of a bird the reason why it got the name Kalanggaman.

Kalanggaman Island is located in the municipality of Palompon, province of Leyte, Philippines. It is an hour boat ride from the town proper of Palompon.

First things first
Before finalizing your plan or itinerary to Kalanggaman Island, call first Palompon’s Ecotours Office for reservation of pumpboat and for other important inquiries, especially if you’re going there on peak season like summer and holiday seasons. 

We've rode a tribike also known as "Potpot" going to the Town Hall of Palompon to do our booking adventure going to Kalanggaman. 

Upon arrival I did walked a bit around the area to see what is in the nearby and luckily I saw this old church of Palompon  and I was amazed as structure of the church was built during 1784. Before I left I did offer a prayer thanking God for our safe trip in Palompon and also ask guidance as we are sailing going to Kalanggaman Island.

Going to Kalanggaman Island from Palompon town is a 1-hour boat ride. It is advisable for tourists to call first Palompon’s Ecotours office to book for a pumpboat or ask the officer if you can arrange to share a boat with other passengers to save money. The pumpboats are just anchored at the back of Eco-tours office.

The rates for pumpboats (round trip) are the following:

P3,000 – for 15 people and below
P3,500 – for 25 people and below
P4,000 – for 30 people and below

You will also be paying fees for entrance to Kalanggaman Island at the Eco-tours office. The following are the different entrance fees for different types of tourists (call the desk officer for the latest fees):

Regular Rate (Day Tour)
International Tourists – P500
Non-Palompon Tourists – P150
Non-Palompon College Tourists – P40
Non-Palompon High-school Tourists – P30
Non-Palompon Elementary Pupil – P20
Non-Palomponganon Senior Citizen – P120

Overnight Rates
International Tourists – P750
Non-Palompon Tourists – P225
Non-Palompon College Tourists – P60
Non-Palompon High-school Tourists – P45
Non-Palompon Elementary Pupil – P30
Non-Palomponganon Senior Citizen – P180

Apparently, it can although we were in the ride of our lives. Even in calm weather, the journey was rough and wet as the sea was quite choppy. Huge waves slammed at our boat, eliciting screams of fear and excitement!

Good thing though that our boatman was extremely skilled and considerate to his passengers. Rather than opening the throttle, he slows down when he sees huge waves coming toward the boat.

~ A bumpy ride ~ 

It took us more than two hours to reach our destination since the boat has to slow down a couple of times to counter the waves. But our patience—and wet butts—paid off when we finally saw the pure white shore and verdant coconut grove of Kalanggaman Island.

Just check out that turquoise water. Wait, that is too beautiful to be water! It’s like liquid blue-green crystal! Don’t you just want to jump in?

After a little bit of maneuvering, we finally docked at the fine pearl-white sandy beach of this magnificent island paradise. 

Look at that stretch of fine white sand! In fact, it is so white it exudes an extremely bright glare that can hurt your eyes and possibly damage your retinas. We recommend you wear good-quality sunglasses with a dark or mirrorized tint.

The south side of the island features a gorgeous, long, 100-meter plus sandbar made up of exquisite white sand. Most visitors never fail to walk along this lovely stretch of beach that is surrounded on both sides by liquid lapis lazuli.

Viewed from above, Kalanggaman Island looks like a bird in flight that is viewed straight on. This sandbar forms the right “wing” of the bird. Perhaps this is why Kalanggaman is named so (with the root word langgam, which means bird in Visayan) because it looks like a flying bird.

~And we've got a visitor from far away ~

The eastern side of the island, the side that faces Palompon, Leyte, features an interesting rocky shore. The rocks are formed like concrete slabs that are stacked on each other in layers. It’s pretty interesting, and it’s one of the geological wonders of Kalanggaman Island.

~ Pose like a boss ~

Meet my best friend & Travel buddy. 

featuring "Jocell Casinto" 

HOW TO GET THERE:

Palompon, Leyte  is the jump-off to Kalanggaman Island. Register and pay the fees at the tourism office. They will also assist you with your boat.  It is a 1-hour boat ride from the mainland to the islet.

Via Cebu:

If you are coming from Cebu City, take the SuperCat or Weesam Express going to Ormoc.  The ferry ride takes 2 hours. From Ormoc, take the van going to Palompon. Fare is Php 110.

There are also trips from Malapascua Island. For a minimum of eight persons at Php 800 each, there are boats trips going directly to Kalanggaman. You will probably be joined with other tourist just to complete the minimum number. Trip is around 2 hours

There are rental boats from Bogo City, if you are coming Bantayan Island or somewhere in North Cebu.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

•      The island is bare. There are a couple of wooden cottages for rent, with tables and chairs.

•  Bring your tents and camping equipment. There are no rooms for accommodation/overnight stay on the island.

•    There is a public restroom with saltwater. Request from the tourism office to provide you with portable water for Php 20 per 5-gallons.

•    Buy all your food and drinking supplies from the market before you leave the mainland.

•   There is no electricity in the island. So conserve your batteries and bring a power bank. Bring cook sets and burners to cook your food. There are areas in the islet to grill your food.

•    Mobile phone signal from the major phone providers is decent.

•   The coast guard does not allow boats to leave the mainland in the late afternoon. Make sure to be in Palompon in the morning.

•   There is one decent restaurant where you can eat before you go to the islet and when you get back in the mainland.

•    You can take a bath at the tourism office when you get back in the island.

•    Security is not a problem, there is a tourist police assigned here 24/7.

•   The tourism office will give you two trash bags, one for biodegradable and another biodegradable. Make sure to bring both when you get back to the mainlad, the tourism office will ask it from you.

•    The last trip going back to Tacloban City is 12:00PM (noon), so be sure to be at the terminal before by 11:30AM. If in case you miss the van going to Tacloban, you will need to hire a van (if you are a group) or go to Ormoc City. The last trip from Ormoc is 3:00PM. It takes an hour to get to Ormoc, just ask from the locals how to get a ride going there.

•    There are grillers available on the island in case you want to cook your own food.

• Cellphone signal is inconsistent.There are restrooms as well but don’t expect much.

• There is no electricity in the island so bring your powerbanks especially if you’re planning to stay overnight.

• Follow the leave no trace principle. When we visited, we saw some plastic wrappers and bags on the shore. Be responsible travelers and clean up afterwards.

• The best time to visit the island is during the summer months of March to April. You can visit the island during monsoon season but make sure the weather is good during your visit.

TIPS

 Pack light but do bring the following:

• extra water ( at least 2 liters per person)
• rash-guard and swimming shorts
• swimwear
• aqua shoes or slippers
• sunscreen
• hat
• sunglasses
• sarong or towel
• snacks or packed meals
• personal medication and toiletries
• waterproof camera
• mask and snorkel (for snorkelers)