The unusual and constant pouring of ashes and dust filling the entire atmosphere was a thing to rejoice for an innocent child who loved playing with his peers. The gloomy cloud that covered the sun and enveloped the whole surrounding was a scenario to observe for a child beginning to be cautious of the things around him.
While running back and forth on the street along his abode, the child’s father rushed to him, grabbed him, and immediately brought him home. Unaware of what was happening before his guiltless eyes, he curiously mumbled, “What is happening?” Nobody seemed to know the answer. After several hours, his whole family and his relatives gathered to his grandparents’ house. They loaded the balcony with sorrow, tears, pain, and prayers as the most vivid of all.
The child continued to wonder what was going on until the angry skies cried almost unceasingly; the thunder and lightning turned wilder than wildest followed by an unimaginable potent quake — force majeure appeared to be competing which of them was the strongest. Subsequently, the child’s house (just beside his grandparents’) collapsed. Good thing before it happened, they were already out to feed his brother’s hungry stomach.
The next morning, the child started waiting for the sun but it was dark all day. He was then informed by his father that Mt. Pinatubo erupted and it would take a long time before the sun spreads its horizons again. Unaware of the damage brought by the eruption, the next thing he knew, he was walking barefooted with his family to a place where they would all be safe — a place away from home.
It was midday of June almost 20 years ago when I beheld the ire of Mother Nature. From then, at the age of four, I developed hatred toward Mt. Pinatubo. However, today is a different story; this hatred mutated into desire of reaching its crater for the reason of discovering how the fuming volcano two decades ago became the most sought-after destination of hikers in the Philippines. Joining the “Akyat Pinatubo Bloggers” Climb for a Cause would not only satiate my lust for adventure-filled life, but also allow me to give aid to Tahanang Walang Hagdanan. And most importantly, it will fulfill one of my dreams: to have a face-to-face with Mt. Pinatubo.
Mt. Pinatubo Crater (Photo from Candice Cerezo)
On June 4, 2011, I will climb Mt. Pinatubo sponsored by:
Media partners include:
Nufffnang Philippines, ChurpChurp Philippines, and Orange Magazine TV.
Package Rate
* Guest Participants P2,300 per person (the event is practically open to everyone at industry rate)
* Blogger Participants P1,800 per person
** Blogger Participants are defined as bloggers who created a blogpost about the event, links to this post, and mentions the sponsors indicated above anytime from May 10 to May 18, 2011.
** P300 of the P1,800 paid by the bloggers go to Tahanang Walang Hagdanan, the beneficiary.
Package Inclusions for All
* Roundtrip Private Van/Bus Transfers
* 4×4 Vehicle to hiking trail (optional skyway)
* Local Guide
* Optional Skyway toll fee
* Conservation Fee
* Usage of Shower Area at Pinatubo Spa Town
* Sidetrip to Capas Shrine
* Pre-Event Briefing on May 25 (venue to be announced)
Additional Package Inclusions for Bloggers
* Jollibee Breakfast
* Jollibee Merienda
* Travel Factor Event Shirt
* Raffle at Pre-Event Briefing on May 25
Itinerary
Akyat Mt. Pinatubo Day Tour
June 4, 2011, Saturday
Tarlac, Philippines
Day Tour
03:00a – Assembly at Panay Avenue, Quezon Avenue MRT
03:30a – Departure to Capas, Tarlac
06:30a – ETA Tourism Office
07:00a – 4 x 4 ride to jump off point
07:30a – Start of 2-hour trek (can be shorter depending on the speed of participants)
10:00a – ETA crater; free-time, swim, explore
11:30a – Lunch break
01:00p – ETD to jump off point (2-hr trek)
03:00p – ETA jump off point; 4 x 4 ride back to Tourism Office
03:30p – ETA Tourism Office; wash-up
04:30p – ETD to Capas Shrine
05:00p – Side trip to Capas Shrine (if time permits)
05:30p – ETD to Manila.
* arrival time in manila may vary, but the ETA would be 9:00pm
For more information and if you’re interested to join, please refer to this site: http://www.letsgosago.net/2011/05/akyat-pinatubo/
DIALOGUE WITH A WANDERER 