My eyes coyly opened in a deviating region. I wanted to get back to sleep but my body was uncooperative. I turned left and right, but my attempts were fruitless.
Time check: 12 midnight.
Temperature check: 6 degrees.
I was wearing layers of clothes: 3 pairs of socks, 1 shirt, 3 sweaters, 1 jacket, 1 shorts, 2 jogging pants, 1 pair of gloves, 3 bonnets, and a scarf to cover my neck. Yet, I was still chilling. I woke up feverish so I grabbed a paracetamol inside my bag to ease my intensifying body temperature. Legs and back ached. My lips also hurt. Good thing that my swollen gums were numb due to 1000mg of pain reliever and anti-biotic I took before I sleep. Battling with Hypothermia was the last thing on my mind.
“I’m going through an ordeal,” I told myself.
At the same time, I was thinking that maybe something is being prepared for me few meters from where I was.
I laid down again wide awake hearing only two palpable sounds apart from my heartbeat. One was emanating from the powerful winds that incessantly strike our tent and second was coming from a man on the other tent that snored like he was being cuddled by a magic bed. At some point, I felt envious at him.
Adding to my tribulation was the call of nature dragging me to get up and face the more freezing temperature outside. The huge formation of fog at Mt. Pulag, Camp 2 was like a monster that would eat me alive once I step out, especially in a wicked hour. Thus, I’ve chosen to curl under my blanket, and let my kidney sustain the fluids that seem to overflow inside my body.
That moment, all I want was to keep my remaining energy and sanity for me to be able to continue the trek before sunrise. For three hours—12 midnight to 3 in the morning—consciousness visited me consistently, leaving me sleepless for the entire night, for the entire freezing night.
At half past 3 I started packing my things to prepare for climbing the summit of Mt. Pulag, the second highest mountain in the country, next to Mt. Apo. I didn’t imagine myself trapped in this once in a lifetime experience. I remember it was only two weeks ago when I saw a wall post on Facebook of two happy campers-slash-mountaineers-slash-couple Dane and Agnes, inviting their friends to join their climb. Since Mt. Pulag is one of my dream destinations (some people are sick and tired of hearing this because I always say this phrase), I gave myself just a night to decide. The next morning, I put all my apprehensions to rest and pressed the green button to join.
I was talking to myself again—but not hallucinating—while packing. “One of my dream destinations. One of my dream destinations. Okay. A dream. A destination. Most of the time, dreams are elusive. In this case, it is not just elusive, it is also high. In order to reach a dream, we have to invest something. And to realize this dream, I invested time, patience and strength.” I was still in deep thought about my other dream destinations when a very familiar voice resonated from outside. He was screaming a name which I recognized immediately.
Leo… Leo… Leo…
One of my friends was calling me, signaling that in any minute we would proceed to conquer the peak of the coldest place in the Philippines. I counted 1, 2, 3, inhaled and exhaled, and opened the thin nylon that served as my shield from the temperature. Then I pronounced that I was one of the bravest men on earth when I finally got out.
Other campers (my new found friends) were huddling in one corner and cursing the coldness of the night that passed while sipping a cup or even cups of coffee. I grabbed a cup too and consumed it in just a couple of seconds. I never realized coffee would taste that good. It even lifted my spirit and my almost immobile blood circulation.
Time check: 4:30am. We then started our assault to the summit.
We started moving our feet towards the highest point of the mountain with high hopes to behold the most impeccable rising of sun and formation of clouds. The entire place was concealed by darkness and fog, making it necessary for one to carry a flash light.
After taking hundreds of steps on the uneven areas of the mountain, I felt that sweats started to ooze underneath my jackets, but still countered by the chilly breeze.
There were about hundreds of people belong to other groups who also joined our attempt to reach the highest peak of Mt. Pulag. Most of them were I think first timers like me, judging it from their reactions while they were pursuing the climb.
The wind blew harder when I was 3 meters away from the summit. It was when I felt that it clashed with my remaining energy. I moved quicker as I conquered Mt. Pulag’s most steep part, until I landed at its peak.
It was still dark when I reached the top. Just like other spectators waiting for the sunrise, I sat and patiently waited while preparing my gear to capture what is perceived to be the most amazing show on earth. After a couple of minutes, slowly, the sun began to peek.
With hundreds of people around me, I stood in the middle steadfastly. Although many of them started to recite their litany of praises for the unfolding scene before us, I heard no voices and I’ve seen no movements. For me, everybody was quiet. Everything in motion became motionless.
I was held in captive by the sun splitting the clouds while stretching its horizons over the mountains. When the sunlight spread throughout the summit of Mt. Pulag, it revealed the seemingly called heaven in the Philippines—the sea of clouds. I knew I wasn’t dreaming nor was I staring at a painting, it was real. Although it was hard for me to believe that a masterpiece such this exists, the scene was real. Reality is awesome!
I touched my back and legs, there was no pain. My body was also callous of the cold. I forgot any physical discomfort this climb brought me for the bliss to see this kind of view was overwhelming. I simply cannot get away with it.
Adorned by grasses trimmed at its perfect shape, Mt Pulag looked like a meadow. But instead of sheep, human beings herd on it to feed our voracious eyes with wonders.
We started descending after more than an hour of stay at the summit. Like other campers, I was very ecstatic as I traced my way back. Never did I anticipate that what I witnessed would be way beyond than what I expected. The long travel time and the easy-but-kinda-strenuous trek for physically inactive employees like me were paid off.
Our complete group picture. (Thanks guys!)
We were back at our campsite for breakfast and to prepare for another 2-3 hours of trek to the ranger station. From there, we endured another long hours of travel back to our home. But I was asleep the whole time, until a man woke me up.
Time check: 2:30am, Monday.
Temperature check: 29 degrees.
Okay. I am back in Manila.
DIALOGUE WITH A WANDERER 