Malaybalay, a Reminisce

Malaybalay is one place close to my heart because I was born in this city, then a municipality of Bukidnon that just gained its status as a province of Mindanao. This was where my mother who was one of the Maria Orosa girls of the Bureau of Plant Industry met my father who was district engineer stationed in Malaybalay. They settled here after they were married and a year later I was born. This is why I chose to write about Malaybalay...sans pictures of my short visit in the mid 1990's.

Today, Malaybalay is the capital city of Bukidnon and is beneficiary to the construction of a monastery of Benedictine monks on San Jose Hill, the Monastery of Transfiguration, that has attracted local tourists. This was designed by the National Artist for architecture, Leandro Locsin, the chapel in a pyramid shaped structure. The monks did landscaping themselves as observance of the motto of their order - ora et labora - thus, at daybreak, after vespers and mass, the monks and novices would be working, in the fields planting several crops, noteworthy of which is coffee. It goes by the brand Monks Blend Premium Coffee, now available in most supermarkets in Manila. I remember when I first bought this coffee, it was in brown paper bag and placed in a plastic bag for protection against spillage. Dom Martin was selling this to people he knew in Manila...it has since adopted a more modern look, packaged in a foil lined bag with its brand printed on it.

Construction was still ongoing then, we had to stay in unfinished dormitory rooms and the bathrooms were in another building across from where we slept. We were awaken every morning at 4 with ringing of the bells and monks singing vespers. I would go back to sleep even before the vespers were over and woke up only in time to have breakfast at the refectory of the monks. The monastery now that it is completed has a guest house and a museum to house the collection of vestments of Dom Martin featured in a book on vestments, "Worship and Weave". This book won the National Book Award in the art category in 2001.

I was happy to set foot in Malaybalay...and have to thank Cecile Manikan who took me with her in one of Ballet Philippines outreach programs. This was the first time I came to the place where I was born since we left the place right after the war. It still had the laid back facet of most cities in the South...but is lush and green everywhere we looked, prominent in its landscape is Mount Kitanglad. Visible are hills as we drove around the city and I know that Can-ayan is one of them. For this was where we escaped when the Japanese attacked Malaybalay...while watching the rain one day, I said "there is water in the mountains"...my mother related this to me.

On our free day, we were taken to a reforestration project where tree planting was segregated by variety - an area planted with pine trees, another with mahogany, among others. This was under the supervision of the European donor whose grant made this possible. Fr. Columbano (I'm not sure of the spelling) upon learning I was born in Malaybalay acted as our tour guide whenever he was free. He took us into a "forest"...we had to walk on a narrow dirt road leading to a bamboo walkway over a precipice and a river below. I was ready to give-up because of my fear of heights but they were all very patient with me. Then we trekked by the side of a hill or is it mountain and finally we saw what we came for...awesome waterfall! If I am not mistaken, it is the Malingon Falls. We stayed for a while to enjoy the scenery but didn't go further. We had to do the trek back to show our presence to the dance class conducted by Paul Morales. After all that was the reason we were here. We passed Rizal Park where the Kaamulan Festival is held every year about mid-February to March 10 with exhibits and folk dancing by hill tribes, namely: Bukidnons; Tigwahonon; Umayamnon; Talaandig; Matigsalugs; Hagaonon; and, Manobo. It is a very colorful event with each tribe in their best attire and showcasing their talents and workmanship. I would love to see this ethnic festival...maybe next year.

Fr. Columbano introduced me to one of the parishioners whose family knew my father...and to the PAL representative in Malaybalay who when he saw my ticket asked if I was related to Pete Afable. He even pointed to the location of our house. It was dark and raining so I didn't quite see
how the house looked...except for the flicker of lights inside. I told my dad about them when I got back...he had this smile on his face like he remembers those days. I can't remember if he made a comment. This left a void in my heart, not being able to see where I learned to walk and talk...not to have at least looked for some people my parents knew; not knowing then that it mattered.

I'd like to do a trip to Malaybalay again...I have to look over my baby book to know who were their friends. I know that my godparents have all returned to Manila and are no longer living...just like my parents.

On Top Of The World

It surely must feel to be on top of the world to get to a thousand meters above sea level...this is what I am about to relate when the Sosyal Klaymers went for their first major climb at Mount Tarak.

Mount Tarak Ridge is at the western side of Mt. Mariveles where it is jagged and rocky, the climb is steep but along the way, one catches a glimpse of Manila Bay and the historic island of Corregidor. Tarak, it is said, comes from tarik which is steep in the vernacular and tabak, aka hunting knife in tagalog. The ridge is located in Mariveles, a cove at the southernmost tip of Bataan and, from historical accounts, it was a “refilling stop for merchant ships" as they approached Manila Bay. Its name is a derivation from Maria Velez, the lady monk who lived in the forests at the tip of “a peninsula across the Manila Bay corridor,” after being separated from her priest-lover, thus the legend goes.

Mariveles today hosts “the country's first economic zone, first petrochemical industrial estate and plastic city (a petrochemical down stream industrial zone specializing in polyethylene sheets), a grain handling terminal (ATI-SMC) and an integrated footwear manufacturing plants based in the zone.” All these account for its classification as a first class municipality of Bataan.

The Sosyal Klaymers chose Mt. Tarak for their first major climb on the weekend of 31 July to 1 August, taking the super cat from the Mall of Asia to Orion, then a 30 minute drive to Barangay Alas-Asin in Mariveles. The three adventurous klaymers braving the rains and possibly a typhoon were Julius, Merv and Ayie, joining them were climbers who called themselves Tribung Kalat.

The Adventurous Group

Mount Tarak Ridge is an eco-tourism park, a popular destination among climbers especially first timers considering that there are two camp sites in the area, one by Papaya River and the other by the ridge. However, the ridge alone is 1,006 meters above sea level (MASL), the peak is further up about 1,120 MASL. The stats did not deter them, nor did the estimated 6 hours to reach the ridge where they would set up camp. At the start, it was an easy trek, the ascent was gradual, a mountain view was visible as they trekked while behind them was a scenic view of Manila Bay. They trudge on the muddy trail stopping for photo ops and admiring the flora and fauna they saw along the way.

The Trail

Mountain view from the trail

Scenic view of Manila Bay

They had been hiking for nearly 4 hours in relatively easy terrain when it rained...they needed to stop to put on their raincoats...a short respite before venturing on the ascent once more. More picture-taking as they rest their feet.The heavy downpour made the trail more slippery and added weight to their already heavy backpacks...but they slogged on knowing that they were on track to the ridge camp site. But the footpath became steeper after they passed the Papaya River. The trek was getting to be more difficult...the group helped each other and held on to the roots and the sturdy root-stems (bagging in the dialect) hanging from the trees as they climbed. There was thick vegetation cover and trees, but as long as there was a path to tread on they continued on their ascent...with smiles on their faces, optimistic they would reach the ridge. The lush forest helped protect the climbers from the winds coming from the China sea.

Helping hand during ascent

Happy Klaymers

At last! A clearing...as they stood upright from their climb, they saw the camp site from where they stood. Up there the visibility was zero...it was like they (the climbers) “were standing on top of a thick fog!” It was an ecstatic feeling...reaching the ridge. Yes...they made it...their very first major climb! The three sosyal klaymers would have jumped for joy like they usually do upon reaching their destination but they were in a state of disbelief...maybe the effect of the fog...very tired and hungry to boot!

V-sign! On Top of the World

Zero visibility of the world below

Time to set up camp...feast on dinner of sinigang na baboy, a Filipino soup dish complete with local veggies to warm their bodies drenched by the rain and sweat...and of course it’s carousing time and drinking spree...then a good night sleep on “the foggy cold ridge.” Tomorrow will be relaxing...no one thought of the peak...they were reserving that for another day. They would stop by Papaya River and leisurely spend the day going down Mt.Tarak Ridge...taking a dip in the clear waters of the river...sit by the rocks in reminisce...before heading for home.

Papaya River

...and so they did.