Mt. Pinatubo

“Flowers grow out of darker moments.”

- Corita Kent

 

After 500 years of dormancy, Mt. Pinatubo’s eruption on June 15, 1991 was recorded in world history as the second largest terrestrial eruption of the 20th century. Through its pyroclastic flows, ash deposits, and lahar, it severely damaged surrounding areas of Tarlac, Zambales and Pampanga, displaced thousands of people especially the Aetas, and claimed the lives of more than 800 people.

 

Shortly after all the rains and the raging lahar, something wonderful happened about the landscape of the volcano, which used to be inconspicuous and covered with dense forest. Its caldera was subsequently filled with water from monsoon rains and a picture-perfect crater lake was formed. Ever since, it has become a major tourist attraction, providing an alternative livelihood for the locals.

 

The Mt. Pinatubo adventure starts with a 4x4 wheel-drive from the jump off point in Sta. Juliana in Capas, Tarlac up to Lipit Station. It was exhilarating pero ilang beses rin akong nasikmuraan every bump. On a regular sunny day, the seven-kilometer trek to the crater is relatively easy, thanks to the cool waters of the streams that you will pass by along the way. Ang sarap maligo, kung hindi nga lang nakakahiya hehe.

 

Marami na ngayong ipinagbawal sa Mt. Pinatubo. Bawal mag-overnight. Bawal maligo. Bawal mag-kayak. Bawal sumigaw. Bawal na rin nga magpa-picture sa picture den. Malamang pag napatunayang ang pagtalon could cause soil erosion malamang ipagbawal na rin ang jump shot hehe.

 

If you want to see the Spartan living of Aetas, the side trip to Takuran Aeta Village is a life-enriching experience.

 

To cap off your Mt. Pinatubo adventure, a volcanic ash spa treatment is recommended at the Pinatubo Spa Town. Bear the heat of being buried in hot volcanic ash believed to lessen body cholesterol. Dito masarap ibaon ng buhay ang iyong mga kaaway!

 

Difficulties in our life don’t come to destroy us, but to help us realize our hidden potential. If Mt. Pinatubo didn’t erupt in 1991, surely it wouldn’t have realized its true beauty and hidden potentials.