⚠️ Throwback Alert: This 2015 mountaineering post takes us back to a time when I proudly thought of myself as a seasoned, well-experienced mountaineer. A few grammar tweaks were made, but the story—and the spirit—remains the same. I’m laughing at my past self, but I still love her.
Quick Trail Recap
- 📜 Originally written: 2015 (still true in 2025)
- 📍 Location: Mt. Manabu, Sto. Tomas, Batangas
- 🗓️ Climb Type: Day hike only (started early, home before sunset)
- 🥾 Trail difficulty: 2/9 – beginner-friendly
- ☕ Highlight: All-girl workmates-turned-climb buddies + rain nostalgia + coffee in the forest
A Mountaintop Reflection
Every year on Independence Day, I carve out time for a freedom climb—a personal ritual of movement, silence, and reclaiming space. In 2015, my wanderlust crew decided on Mt. Manabu, Batangas. I didn’t hesitate. Day hikes meant leaner budgets (Php500.00 covered a private van from SM Mall of Asia to Sulok, plus registration), and this climb promised something both timely and soul-sparking.
It was another mountain to check off my list, yes—but also a quiet step toward something bigger: the elusive major climb I’d been dreaming about. I couldn’t name the date, but I knew the destination: Mt. Pulag, a legendary bucket-list peak whispered about by mountaineer friends.
Starting Small, Dreaming Big
I was still a rookie—a wannabe mountaineer hungry for experience but respectful of the process. Minor climbs like Mt. Manabu taught me how to stand firm without being chewed up by the trail. Its name, “Mataas na Bundok,” or Tall Mountain, felt aspirational enough.
Our jump-off point was at Sulok, Brgy. Sta. Cruz, Lipa, Batangas. We joined a bigger group—some hiking overnight, some heading back by sundown. To manage the crowd, we split into mini-teams of six. Post-lunch, our ascent began—packs adjusted, stories shared, bonds forming with each uphill breath.
Tatay Tinio’s Forest Café—A Trail Stop to Remember
Halfway through, a familiar landmark appeared: Tatay Tinio’s hut, quiet and shaded along the trail. Legendary among hikers for one thing—his free brewed coffee.
And true enough, we arrived to find mountaineers sipping tin mugs and swapping adventure tales. There’s something magical about coffee under a canopy of leaves—no baristas, no price tags, just warmth and community. Strangers became kindred spirits, bound by sweat, laughter, and shared climbs.
A Summit Worth Sitting In
Fueled by caffeine and camaraderie, we resumed the hike. At the summit, a large white cross stood proud among guava trees, silent witnesses to the day. Had we stayed overnight, it would’ve been a dreamy campsite.
From there, we spotted Malipunyo Summit and Susong Dalaga nearby, with other beauties—Mt. Maculot, Mt. Makiling, Mt. Banahaw, and Mt. Cristobal—waving across the horizon like old souls.
We began descending around 3 PM. Just meters from the jump-off, the rain fell—soft at first, then steady. Taking shelter in a hut we passed earlier, I felt that familiar blessing: rain during a freedom climb. Not inconvenience, but affirmation. Not just weather, but ceremony.
It wasn’t the first time either—Mt. Batulao had given me a baptism of rain during my first freedom climb, a Php20.00 shower at the jump-off. Travel-style blessings, indeed.
Reflections
In every freedom climb, there’s more than a trail. There’s proof:
- We’re free to walk, to pause, to ascend.
- Free to be with kind strangers, to sip forest coffee, to sit in rain-soaked silence, and to believe in the mountain again.
Mt. Manabu gave me that. It wasn’t just a beginner’s hike—it was a page in the story of who I climbed with and why I love traveling with this troupe.
Tips for Fellow Hikers:
- Beginner-friendly, 2/9 difficulty
- Php500.00 day hike budget (van + registration)
- Don’t miss Tatay Tinio’s coffee!
Have you tried a freedom climb? Share your story in the comments—I’d love to hear your mountain adventures!
