Manila, Philippines – The Manila Bulletin's Travel Magazine recently published the Anilao Fellowship writeup of MU's Pinoy Mountaineer, Paul Gideon D. Lasco ΜΣΦ 2010, last November 13, 2008. The three-page article also showcased photographs by Brods Arjay Bernabe BL ΜΣΦ 2009 and Jay Suarez ΜΣΦ 2012 featuring the mini-paradise of Dr. Willie Sison ΜΣΦ 1974.

Yet, you do not have to be a scuba diver to appreciate Anilao or its marine wonders: the reefs are just steps away from the shore – just be careful lest you step upon the razor-sharp corals!

Imediately I headed to the beach. It was a marine playground, with jetskis, kayaks, and sailboats. A yacht, the Judge, lay further; I swam towards it but not before making a detour to the coral reefs close to shore: there were damselfish, clownfish, sea anemones, nudibranchs, and of course, the varicolored coral clusters in a rich array of colors and textures. And then the warm welcome at sea. Aboard the yacht, I could see the islands further out: Sombrero island, like a floating hat; and the larger Maricaban with its rugged terrain.

Then came the sunset – that celebrated phenomenon as fleeting as other wonders of nature – yet more poignantly so. It takes less than three minutes for the ochre disc to submerge into the waters; and we relished all that time. Finally, with the passage of night came the merriment under the incandescent glow of lights suspended above the mango trees.

The next day, we woke very early to climb Gulugod Baboy, the nearby hilly range that straddles Calumpan peninsula. A year ago, I crossed the range to reach the town of Mabini – during a time when Anilao meant rough roads to motorists.

Gulugod Baboy is thus named because the range resembles a pig’s spine – or so the elders say. Its three peaks, with elevations around 500 meters above sea level, have a variety of names, but the most interesting is the peak they call Pinagbanderahan - “Where the flag was hoisted.” The elders say that once, a Japanese fighter plane crash-landed into the slopes, and the frenzied soldiers instead placed their flag atop the mountain. For me, the name Gulugod Baboy is reminiscent of its pastoral scenes, such as the cows that graze its meadowy peaks.

We started out from the trail closest to the beach house; it was initially lined with mango trees and shrubs, and the ascent was gradual. Soon we could see the waters on both sides of Anilao, as well as coastal Batangas City. After a while, the sun emerged from the mountain’s other side; the trail remained shaded until we ascended the first peak of Gulugod Baboy. Cattle guarded the way, littering the paths with their odoriferous “trail signs.” We didn’t mind, for our mindset was the reach the summit that loomed in front of us. We reached it, after just an hour of trekking.

The refreshing, coastal breeze! The other day it was the waves, and now the winds. I surveyed the scene and identified the shores, hills, and valleys: in front of us lay the high peaks of Mindoro, chief of which was Mt. Halcon; to the east was Mt. Maculot eclipsing a view of Taal Lake, and on the opposite side stood Mt. Batulao. The waters—Batangas Bay to the left and Janao Bay to the right—sparked blue with sunlight, and the islands shone: there was Maricaban and Sombrero; Mindoro; and even Isla Verde southeast. We relished the winds and passing clouds.

Going down was a swift stroll and the only remarkable event was our encounter with a green snake hissing its way across the trail. In the mountain, snakes (especially big ones) always have the right of way and so we waited for it to pass. Then we continued our descent to the beach house.

We scrambled back to the beach for a final taste of salt water, but not long afterwards, it was time for all of us to go back to reality. I wish there was more time, for the islands still loomed far beyond, waiting to be explored; I wanted to try windsurfing and diving; I wished to probe the beauty of the underwater depths; and of course I’d love to revisit the mountains. Maybe the next time the sun will set differently. Our generous host was elated by the retreat, and invited all of us to come back.

Yes, I answered. Surely I’ll come back, and surely I can look forward to many more adventures in Anilao!

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