My 1st Trail Run (32KM) in the Philippines; San Rafael Mountain Run 2024

Filipino Trail Run Slow Runner Solo Joiner 01-Dec-2024 Sunday in Rodriguez, Rizal, Philippines

My 1st Trail Run (12KM) Solo Joiner; North Face Kathmandu Ultra 2016

Your mind will quit a thousand times before your body will. Feel the fear and do it anyway!

This Fun Run served as my First TRAIL RUN IN THE PHILIPPINES as a Solo Joiner, and 2nd in Trail Run following the North Face Kathmandu Ultra (12km) last Jan. 2016, My main objective is just to finish the race (beating my previous PR is optional), I want to enjoy the run at my own pace.

 

Join us and be captivated by the beautiful sunrise over the breathtaking Mount Ayaas of Sierra Madre Mountain Ranges. This trail running event is an eco-tourism project by Trail Crew PH in partnership of the Municipality of Montalban, Barangay San Rafael and Tourism Department on December 1, 2024 for the Leg 3 of San Rafael Mountain Run Series.

 

I've been a Fun Run Solo Joiner since 2007 but not as a runner (walker actually as most of the time I was walking), just for the sake of Race Singlet and being a joiner. My longest distance was even 10km (about 2x only), and usual for 5km. I stopped joining because I was lazy and lost interest. More than 10 years later until April 13, 2024, my first official run training for Fun-Run, I was so bored I had nothing to do and no regular hobby (so somehow it was a spontaneous decision). My main triggering factor was the FINISHER SHIRT (bragging entitlement shirt) and TikTok / FB Reels of running tips randomly (not that motivated, just for a push on my interest). From 10km to a Half-Marathon, I suddenly decided again to elevate the distance to a full marathon (42.2km) as my running interest is getting addicted out of boredom and depression. 

My 1st Trail Run in the Philippines; 32KM San Rafael Mountain Run

Race Name:	SAN RAFAEL MOUNTAIN RUN			Distance:	3/4 MARATHON (32KM)
Registration:	₱3,499	Inclusion:	Race Bib, Event Shirt, Finisher Shirt/Medal, Tote Bag, Post Race Meal
Location:	MONTALBAN, RIZAL (back trail)			Cut-off Time:	01-Dec-2024 Sun (12 hours)
Requirements:	NONE, registration fee only			Shoes I used:	Salomon Supercross 4
Finished:	YES	Time:	09:39:24	Altitude Gain:	2,097m
New PR:	YES	Pace:	16:57	Rank:	61.54% (8th of 13)
ITRA:	1 Point	UTMB:	No	My Rating:	5 of 10 stars

Route difficulty: Malasya back trail is difficult (brutal), especially with continuous rain throughout the race. Lots of steep slippery muddy ascents/descent damaged trail (almost no flat terrain), ideal for experienced competitive trail runners. Mobile signal is deadspot in the entire trail/area. Trails needed to be more marked, I lost a couple of times. There are only 4 Aid Stations available. 

Remarks (My rating: 5 of 10 stars): (1) Weather is horrible, raining throughout the race (2) Not so well-organized, insufficient marshalls, trails were not sufficiently marked. Only 4 Aid stations available. (3) Event / Finisher shirt design is somehow good. (4) Finisher medal is not customized, same for all categories (5) Registration fee is expensive because I'm late and there's an outreach fee. (6) Tote bag full of freebies (black mamba, vitaminboost, lightwater, etc) (7) I won the age category (40-49 yrs old), finished without hiking poles support

If given the chance, would I like to join this race again? Definitely No (don't wanna experience that trail again)

Afternoon Adventure to Masungi Georeserve

19-June-2016 Sunday from Antipolo to Tanay, Rizal Province, Philippines

Afternoon Adventure to Masungi Georeserve is the last part of our Rizal Province Day-Trip adventure and the highlight with a side trip which is the Morning Visit to Pinto Art Museum.

SOME POINTERS IN VISITING MASUNGI GEORESERVE;

1. It is highly recommended to visit this place with private vehicle as it is very hard to commute.

2. Book very early and must be in a group with 7 to 14 members.

3. Admission fee costs PhP1,400 with around 4 hours for the full-round visit.
4. Free 1li drinking water, use of backpack and binocular is provided during the trek and free snacks after.

How to Go to Masungi Georeserve;
Masungi Georeserve is accessed from Garden Cottages along Kilometer 45, Marcos Highway, Rizal, by the municipality of Baras’ boundary with Tanay. Garden Cottages is located at the right side of the Marcos Highway road after Foremost Farms and Palo Alto in Baras, Rizal, if coming from Metro Manila. Take note to only take Marcos Highway and avoid the Manila-East Road if coming from Metro Manila. The latter is a significantly longer route.

MASUNGI GEORESERVE WITH PINTO ART MUSEUM DIY DAY TRIP ITINERARY;

​19-June Sunday

0530H ETD Home; transportation to Shaw Boulevard 53
0700H ETA Greenfield Shaw Boulevard; hired UV Express for day trip 335

0730H ETD Shaw Boulevard
0900H Pinto Art Museum 200 (1 Sierra Madre St., Grand Heights Subdivision near Ynares Center, Antipolo) 
1100H ETD Pinto Art Museum; Lunch 80
1230H ETA Masungi Georeserve 1,400 (Garden Cottages along Km 45, Marcos Highway, Tanay)
1330H Masungi Georeserve Trek Start
1730H Masungi Georeserve Trek End; free snacks 
1800H ETD Masungi Georeserve
1900H ETA Shaw Boulevard; dinner 95; bus going home 53
Total: PhP 2,216

Afternoon Adventure to Masungi Georeserve (Sapot)

Morning Visit to Pinto Art Museum

19-June-2016 Sunday from Antipolo to Tanay, Rizal Province, Philippines

Morning Visit to Pinto Art Museum is the first part of our Rizal Province Day-Trip adventure and a side trip to the major event which is the Afternoon Trek to Masungi Georeserve.

SOME POINTERS IN VISITING PINTO ART MUSEUM;

1. Admission fee costs PhP200, PWD for 180 and 100 for Students with valid ID.
2. Opens daily from 9am to 6pm except Mondays . 
3. Full-round visit can be done on average of 2 hours (advance booking is not required). 

4. Picture-taking for personal use only, no flash photography is allowed.

How to Go to Pinto Art Museum;
From LRT Line 2 Santolan Station, take a jeepney or UV Express bound for Antipolo, Tanay or Teresa. Get off at Ynares Center. Take tricycle and ask to drop at Grand Heights Subdivision (Pinto Art Museum is not famous yet to local drivers). Address is 1 Sierra Madre St., Grand Heights, Antipolo. Phone 02-6971015 and email pintoartmuseum@yahoo.com

MASUNGI GEORESERVE WITH PINTO ART MUSEUM DIY DAY TRIP ITINERARY;

​19-June Sunday

0530H ETD Home; transportation to Shaw Boulevard 53
0700H ETA Greenfield Shaw Boulevard; hired UV Express for day trip 335

0730H ETD Shaw Boulevard
0900H Pinto Art Museum 200 (1 Sierra Madre St., Grand Heights Subdivision near Ynares Center, Antipolo)
1100H ETD Pinto Art Museum; Lunch 80
1230H ETA Masungi Georeserve 1,400 (Garden Cottages along Km 45, Marcos Highway, Tanay)
1330H Masungi Georeserve Trek Start
1730H Masungi Georeserve Trek End; free snacks 
1800H ETD Masungi Georeserve
1900H ETA Shaw Boulevard; dinner 95; bus going home 53
Total: PhP 2,216

Morning Visit to Pinto Art Museum (The Pinto Academy)

Mt. Balagbag (754masl) Traverse to Maranat Self-Guided (DIY) Solo Day-Hike

07-May-2016 Saturday in Rodriguez, Rizal Philippines

MT. BALAGBAG BASIC INFO:
Jump-off: Brgy. Macabud, Rodriguez, Rizal
Elevation: 754masl
Days / Hours required: 5 hours (local guide is NOT required)
Classification: minor trek with difficulty level of  3/9

My 48th solo backpacking trip, 9th local minor hike (4th for 2016) so far and of course, usual budget do-it-yourself itinerary from arrival to departure. My plan is supposedly a twin-hike traverse from Mt. Balagbag to Mt. Maranat. Since DENR Checkpoint in Maranat area is strict on "No permit No Entry" policy, I just did a traverse going back to Licao-Licao. There is a split trail from DENR Checkpoint; left side going to Mt. Maranat and Maranat Falls while the right side is going to Licao-Licao. Permit is issued in DENR Cenro-Tabang (Malolos, Bulacan) Phone # 044-7947090. In regards to hiking experience, almost 70% of the trail is not shaded so be prepared to challenge the scorching heat of the sun (arm sleeve, umbrella, ball cap and enough refreshments).

MT. BALAGBAG TRAVERSE TO MARANAT DIY SOLO DAY-HIKE ITINERARY:

​0600H ETD SM Fairview; jeep to Jollibee Tungko 18
0630H ETA Jollibee Tungko; walk to Licao-licao Jeep Terminal
0645H ETD Tungko; jeep to Licao-licao 27
0730H ETA Licao-Licao; trek to Sitio Balagbag (very smooth ascent)
0800H ETA Balagbag Registration 10; smooth ascent (easy)
0840H Refreshment stop-over 30; Registration again 20
0900H ETA Mt. Balagbag summit; photo-ops and rest
0930H ETD Mt. Balagbag summit; steep and slippery descent (difficult)
1000H ETA Maranat DENR Checkpoint (no permit no entry to falls & mountain). Rest.
1030H ETD Maranat; series of rocky ascent/descent (average)
1215H ETA Licao-Licao; Refreshments 40
1245H ETD Licao-licao; jeep to Tungko 27
1345H ETD Tungko; jeep to SM Fairview 18

BUDGET COST: PhP 190

Mt. Balagbag (777masl) traverse to Maranat Self-Guided Solo Day-Hike (view at the summit)

Mt. Maynoba & Mt. Cayabu (720masl) Twin Hike with Waterfalls Sidetrip

23-April-2016 Sunday in Tanay, Rizal Philippines

MT. MAYNOBA / MT. CAYABU BASIC INFO:
Jump-off: Brgy. Cayabu, Tanay, Rizal
Elevation: 720masl
Days / Hours required: 3 hours (local guide is required)
Classification: minor trek with difficulty level of  3/9

Mt. Maynoba + Mt. Cayabu + 8 Wonderfalls (cascaded only)...

Budget 700 Inclusion (Van service Cubao - Tanay - Cubao, waterfalls entrance fee, registration fee, local guide fee). This trip was an organized event posted in https://web.facebook.com/groups/CLIMBER.Philippines/.

MT. MAYNOBA / MT. CAYABU TWIN HIKE DAY TOUR ITINERARY:

0000H - Assembly – Jollibee Farmers EDSA, Cubao 
0100H - ETD Cubao to Brgy. San Andres, Tanay, Rizal
0245H - Arrival at Batangasan Junction; take left turn to Brgy. San Andres
0315H - Arrival at Brgy. Hall, Brgy Cayabu, Tanay, Rizal registration
0400H commence hike
0600H summit twin hike
0800H Descent & waterfalls exploration for 3hrs 
1400H ETD Brgy. Cayabu
1700H ETA Cubao farmers 

BUDGET COST: PhP700 (fixed rate) + PhP150 (snacks/miscellaneous) = PhP850

Mt. Maynoba & Mt. Cayabu (720masl) Twin Hike with Cascaded Waterfalls Sidetrip

A Visit to Sitio Wawa with Teban 2; Wawa Dam

1st flashpacking and day-tour escapade with my 5-year old nephew
september 17, 2011
saturday

objective: to visit the best tourist spots that fits my taste and budget accordingly
additional task: to train my nephew in the aspect of new adventure in his life

a visit to sitio wawa with beban 1 (pamitinan cave)

continued...

Bernardo Carpio is a legendary figure in Philippine Mythology who is said to be the cause of earthquakes. The basic form of the legend is that Bernardo Carpio, a being of great strength, is trapped in between two great rocks in the Mountains of Montalban. Some versions say he is keeping the mountains from crashing into each other, and some versions say he is trapped and trying to break free. When Bernardo Carpio shrugs his shoulder, an earthquake occurs.

bernardo carpio trapped in between this two great rocks

A Visit to Sitio Wawa with Teban 1; Pamitinan Cave

1st flashpacking and day-tour escapade with my 5-year old nephew

september 17, 2011 saturday

objective: to visit the best tourist spots that fits my taste and budget accordingly
additional task: to train my nephew in the aspect of new adventure in his life

important note (rodriguez, rizal);
Rodriguez, Rizal is a first-class, urban municipality in the province of Rizal, Philippines. The town's old name, Montalban, refers to its mountainous topography. It was also the town's official name from 1909. The town's official name is taken from the family name of Eulogio Rodriguez, Sr., one of the most prominent Montalbeños. The legend of Bernardo Carpio is said to have happened in the mountains of the town.
source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodriguez,_Rizal

along batasan hills overpass