It is good to be tired and wearied by the futile of search after the true good, that we may stretch out our arms to the Redeemer. 🙏 

How to get there (Public): 

1. If you’re from Manila: From Cubao, ride a bus going to Tungkong Mangga. Alight in the gas station in Tungkong Mangga, then walk your way towards the market where the terminal of Licao-Licao jeepney is located.

2. If you’re from San Jose del Monte Bulacan, you can go directly at Tungkong Mangga and ride a jeep going to licao-Licao.

You have two choices on where you can alight: Sitio Karahume, where the Otso-otso Falls and Kaytitinga Falls are located, and Sitio Licao-Licao where you can directly go to the jump-off of Mt. Balagbag.

What to do there: 

Hiking, swimming, diving, magphotoshoot sa magandang view ng summit 

As per tradition on group hikes, ang maraming nag-confirm na sasama, naging iilan na lang on the exact date. :)

At seven we were at the Tungkong Mangga.
From the gas station, we walked towards the small market where the terminal is located. Then, we rode a jeepney going to Sitio Licao-Licao.

At exactly 8 in the morning, we arrived at the terminal where you can either ride a tricycle going to the base of Mt. Balagbag or walk for i think around 30 minutes before you can get there.

Since we decided to reserved our energy for climbing up the mountain, we just rode a tricycle. (tinatamad lang talaga kami maglakad lol)

Here we go, this is near the Balagbag Elementary School where you need to pay the registration fee for just Php 10.oo

Afterwards, eto na :) ***climbing up the mountain***

These are random shots that i took specially for this blog and i can't really stop myself from clicking the camera every now and then kasi I want you guys to experience the feels kahit na binabasa niyo lang siya. (ayieeeee)

Way up the mountain, It's really hot so you should've apply sunblock or any lotion with SPF. :) (lesson learned)

The Mountain is calling... I must GO!!! 

Happiness can be found everywhere

I was happy to see these kids way up in the mountain, they were living pretty simple and they were cheering us up so we were really motivated that time. Thanks to these children! :) 

So while, walking I just took photos and do some (mini-vlogs) for my instagram story and my-day. (sorry na for being social media addict, i'm admitting it lol) 

....

Pause for a while, and then drink some water, bite some chocolates and energy bars. Wipes all the sweat. And then go ulit sa pag-akyat!

Actually hindi naman siya nakakapagod. It's not that hard to go hiking. Very appropriate tong mountain for beginners na gusto mag hike. Because back in 2015, my first hike was in Mt.Pamitinan, and sa Rizal din siya, Sobrang di ko kinaya sobrang taas nung bundok and it's not really for beginners I'm telling you guys.

So back to our adventure, I didn't noticed that we're almost on top at past 9. Like It took us actually just 1 hr and 30 minutes to reach the summit. To be honest, sobrang bilis na noon dahil hindi naman kami masyadong nagpahinga rin. Didn't realized that we will reached the summit that fast. So here's some photos for you to see

The best view comes after the hardest climb. 

The view on top was really stunning, like you can't stop wondering how God created such a beautiful artwork. 

Everything is perfect. The view, the air, the sun, Everything is so natural.

I regretted na hat and sunnies lang dinala ko for protection against sunlight while hiking, should've apply kahit sunblock sana kaso wala hahaha ayun nognog is me imagine 40°c daw ang temperature that time (didn't expect that) waaahhh ☀ 

out there on the rocks, i feel so exceedingly happy. 😊

woot woot *pose pa rin kahit mainit at pawis na pawis na*

PRAY FOR CARS LOL 

wingardium leviosa ✨

ladies and gentlemen... (👏👏👏) i am floating along, waiting to find out what will happen next lol. ✨

Yes! I am definitely too happy that time to the point that I actually took a photo in every single aspect and shape of the mountain top lol

At 10:30 we had our lunch break, *share share ng foods* HAHAHA 

We had itlog na maalat and tomatoes, hard-boiled eggs, chicharon and rice. (MERON DING TUNA FLAKES) 

Afterwards, at exactly 11 am, we go to the other side of the mountain and then took some photos ulit :)

At 12 pm, we decided to go down the mountain and explore the beauty of Otso-Otso Falls.

***Going to Otso-Otso Falls***

At first, I was very excited to see and swim in the Otso-Otso Falls, but I became disappointed when I saw that the water looks very dirty and muddy, It's not pleasing anymore as what I am expecting. (EXPECTATION VS REALITY IS REALLLLL)

The water is muddy and it really looks dirty so I was very disappointed. :(

(we also wanted to go at Maranat Falls, which according to many, is much way better than Otso-Otso Falls, but unfortunately you need to pay Php 500.00 for ta tour guide and we don't have money anymore because we are not aware of that... maybe next time ;) )

So we decided not to go swimming anymore because of that. I just hope that anyone or i should say everyone should be disciplined and responsible enough in taking care of our natural environment so that it'll not end up like this.

At around four, we descended to the jump-off, arriving there at five o'clock. According to the barangay official, we have two options in going to the jeepney terminal: to ride a tricycle, or to walk. Since we were tired already and the sun's really hot, we raced our way going to the jeep terminal at five-thirty.

..... 

Our Mt. Balagbag trip is truly a sulit adventure. Hope to see more of it next time!

Until our next adventure! :)

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Expenses

*Tungkong Mangga( Licao-Licao Terminal) Sitio Karahume= PhP 25.00 x 2 (round trip) = PhP 50.00

*Registration Fee (Barangay) = PhP 10.00

*Registration Fee (Red Gate) = PhP 20.00

*Total damage sa bulsa = PhP 80.00

(Plus Your alloted allowance for foods and drinks, definitely less than 200 or 300, makakapaghike ka na) 

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Our DIY-style Itinerary 

07:00-08:00 Tungkong Mangga to Sitio Licao-Licao

08:00-8:15 Sitio Licao-Licao Terminal - Balagbag Elem. School

08:15-9:30 Jump off to Mt. balagbag

9:30-10:30 Photoshoot and Seize The Moment

10:30-11:00 Lunch break

11:00-11:30 Going To Summit and Photoshoot ulit

11:30-12:00 Rest at the Veteran’s

12:00-13:30 Veteran’s to Mt. Balagbag base;

13:30- 14:00 Stay at the Balagbag Elem. School (rest time)

14:00- 14:45 Go to Otso-Otso Falls

14:45- 15:30 Stay at the Otso-Otso Falls, Eat Snacks

15:30- 16:00 Wash-up and Picture Picture

15:00- 15:30 Barangay Hall to Jeepney Terminal

15:30- 16:00 Jeepney Terminal to Tungkong Mangga

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Ezequiel’s Tips:

*Wear long sleeves and cap/hat on your way up. Also put a good amount of sunblock, dahil mahapdi sa balat ang pag-akyat sa Mt. Balagbag

*The actual last trip of Licao-Licao jeepney terminal is 6 pm. However, according to the chairman, they extended it at 7 pm during the weekends to accommodate the large volume of the hikers.

*Wear sturdy shoes/sandals. Madulas ang daan pa-Otso-Otso falls even on a sunny day.

* There are several stores along the Mt. Balagbag trail. As of our visit, there is no discovered water source yet even along the trail going to the falls.

*Do not underestimate the power of smile, lalo na kapag wala kang guide. The locals are happy to help you.

*LEAVE NO TRACE. ‘Nuff said.

*And finally, always pray. Pray for your safety and the safety of your loved ones .:)