Tokyo, Japan

Staring at you, secretly mesmerized.

I’m glad I was assigned a window seat, giving me a vantage point of viewing Mt. Fuji from 35,000 feet high in the air, during our Manila – Haneda flight. Almost fully surrounded by sea of clouds, it looks majestic; and simply captivated my heart.

It’s nice to be back in Japan. One of the major destination countries of our Filipina marriage migrants and OFWs. A highly developed country with beautiful sakura, mouth-watering ramen, the finest comfort rooms and amazing Shinkansen; and the land where almost everybody loves to walk.

We were based in Tokyo; and though this was an OB trip with my colleagues, we were able to squeeze in some gala after we’ve successfully completed our activities.

Tokyo Tower, a prominent landmark of the city, is just a short walking distance from the Philippine Embassy. The tower is standing 333 meters high and patterned after the Eiffel Tower. It has an observatory offering a sweeping 360 degree view the city and its skyscrapers (really looks romantic at night!). It is the country's tallest structure from its completion in 1958 until 2012 when it was surpassed by the Tokyo Skytree. On the ground floor, it has One Piece theme park, dedicated for the anime fans.

The last time I crossed Shibuya Scramble Crossing (the world’s busiest intersection), I wasn’t aware that Hachiko’s statue is just around the corner (near Shibuya station). This time, I made sure to see the iconic statue of the dog that kept faithfully waiting for its master even after his death.

Akihabara is known as cultural home to diehard fans of gaming, manga and anime - the otaku. It is a major shopping district for video games, electronics and computer-related goods. Icons from popular anime and manga are displayed prominently on the shops in the area.

A colleague recommended that we visit Sensō-ji, an ancient Buddhist temple located in Asakusa. She said that anyone who prays at the temple (Tokyo's oldest and most significant housing some the Seven Lucky Gods) shall have their wish granted for sure. I just wished for my family’s good health. Adjacent to the temple is a five-story pagoda, the Asakusa Shinto shrine, as well as many shops with traditional goods.

I’m fond of maneki neko or popularly known as lucky cat.  The small beckoning cat doll is believed to be a lucky charm that brings in customers and money into the shop. They come in all sizes in Gotokuji Temple, located in the Setagaya ward of Tokyo. In a small corner within the temple complex, over 1,000 lucky cats are put on display. There is also a cemetery located within the temple complex.

Odaiba is a popular shopping and entertainment district on a man made island in Tokyo Bay. I was in awe seeing the replica of the Statue of Liberty, the bold architectural design of Fuji TV Building, and of course the giant Unicorn Gundam Statue.

The highlight of our trip was our day trip to Kawaguchiko and the hiking we did to reach the Chureito Pagoda. I love how the trees burst with color in the fall. From the top, we could clearly see the breathtaking Mt. Fuji. I wish I could climb it one day.

The most exciting part of our everday is none other than having authentic Japanese food. I will never get over Ichiran 5 and Ippudo Karaka Ramen.

The land of the Rising Sun never ceases to amaze me.

And with all the problems happening in the world right now, I hope that soonest the sun will rise again.

Mt. Apo

Summiting Mt. Apo is every Pinoy mountaineers’ dream.

With an elevation of 2,956 MASL and difficulty level of 7-8/9, Mt. Apo is dubbed as the “King of the Philippine Mountains”. It is the highest peak in the country, occupying the provinces of Davao del Sur and North Cotabato. Also known as the center of endemism in Mindanao, the potentially active stratovolcano was declared a national park in 1936.

Last January I, together with my colleagues and mountaineering buddies Mia and Jeff, successfully set foot on the country’s natural rooftop. This was actually my dream since I was a fetus (I sometimes joke).

Jeff has actually been to Mt. Apo twice already. He has a constant guide, Arianne, who is based in Davao City. When he said that he will be climbing again for the third time, I immediately signed up and tagged Mia along. Few weeks prior our climb, we created a group chat with our guide, so that we could ask anything under the sun about the climb.      

Mia’s first question was “Kung papipillin ka, mahal mo o mahal ka?” Arianne only answered this question when we already met hehe. I actually wanted a traverse where we can experience both the infamous Boulder Face and Lake Venado. This would have been possible with Sta. Cruz as entry point and Kidapawan as exit point but unfortunately, the Kidapawan LGU recently passed an ordinance that the Kidapawan Trail is exclusive for Mandangan entry point trekkers (strictly no exit/traverse trek from other points). Di ko alam kung bakit biglang nagdamot ang LGU haha! Well possible pa naman to visit Lake Venado if we will do a circuit trek but that is advisable for a three-day IT. Ours is for two days only; sabi ni Arianne, wasak daw kami kung ipipilit namin. Her other option is that she will refer us to another guide from Kidapawan. Sabi ko “wala nang iwanan”, so in the end, we all agreed to just take Sta. Cruz (Sibulan) backtrail.

Two weeks before our climb, our office annual planning got almost moved on the date of our climb (buti na lang di natuloy); then a week after I was down with the worst kind of fever and flu (hindi naman Corona virus pero naratay ako sa bahay for the weekend), akala ko hindi na talaga ako matutuloy because I was still recuperating on the day of our flight to Davao. Two weeks akong hindi nakapag exercise so wala ako sa tamang hubog. But I really had to try kasi buong buhay ko na talagang pangarap to.

Mia and I arrived in Davao midnight of Saturday. Dumaan muna kami sa satellite office namin sa Davao to fetch Jeff, nagpahinga for two hours, then met up with our guide at Eco-land. Actually this is my first time to avail the services of a guide na siya na bahala sa lahat – food, pati tent, securing permits, pag hire ng porter and habal-habal. Very convenient kasi magbabayad na lang kami. We rode a bus going to Digos. Then took a habal-habal going to the jump-off point in Brgy. Culan. We had a brief stov-over in Kapatagan to have breakfast. Doon sa katabing market bumili na rin ako ng fleece panangga sa lamig.

We arrived at the geothermal energy plant, the jump off point past 8 am. There’s a welcome signage informing climbers that Mt. Apo is a Protected Area, an ASAN Heritage park, home to the Philippine Eagle, Major watershed for Davao and SOCCSKSARGEN Regions, and an ancestral domain.

After our short group prayer, we commenced with our hike. It was a gradual ascend going to the registration area, a small residential community. There we met with our porter. 

We continued going to Sitio Tumpis, passed by some farms, before we entered the forest. Sabi ni Arianne, ang first day daw ang madaling part (jump-off to Tinikaran campsite). Wow ang madali sa kanya ay medyo kalbaryo na sa akin. Naisip ko ano pa kaya ang second day nito?

Within the forest, nadaanan namin ang  Basakan E-Camp, Big Rock E-Camp bago namin narating ang campsite. It took us about five hours, including lunch break under the rain.

We set-up our tents, rested for a while, while si Arianne, nagsimula na magprepare ng dinner namin. Doon ko lang nalaman na pagalingan pala sa pagluto ang mga guides doon. Our call time is 2 am the next day, pero nag request kami kung pwede one hour earlier dahil hindi kami sure sa pacing namin. Bearable naman ang lamig sa taas; wala pa rin makakatalo sa nagmumurang lamig ng Pulag.

By 1 am, gising and all set na kami.  I though madali lang ang Camp 1 to Camp 2. Hindi ko inexpect na very steep pala ang trail. Hindi magpapatalo sa Boulder Face and stage na to.

The Boulder Face stage is unique, moderately hard experience – almost two hour journey on big boulders with pungent smell of sulfur every now and then. Naapreciate ko na lang ang view pagbalik namin nung may araw na. Naawa na rin ako sa cellphone ko (na ginawa kong flash light) na countless kong naihampas sa boulders sa kaka-scramble. Nawala pa nga kami ni Jeff kasi may sinundan kaming grupo na hindi pala kabisado ang trail. Kaya ayun sigawan with Arianne bago kami nakabalik sa tamang trail.

After reaching the end of the Boulder Face, is the final ascent to the summit – pahirap na 87-degree cliff lalo na kung hinahabol mo ang pagputok ng araw.

So f*****g tired (and ready to give up) but very happy na umabot sa sunrise. The summit view is out of this world, worth the long and strenuous climb. We were blessed with a perfect clearing. Yung dati sa postcard at internet ko lang nakikita – pero ngayon tanaw na tanaw ko na ang crater (at naapakan ko pa) at ang rocky mountain backdrop. The mountain is mighty, pristine and lush. We climbed the three peaks of Apo. Sa last peak, dun ko na lang malungkot na tinanaw ang Lake Venado.

Eight hours later back at the jump-off point, I was so worn-out and my legs were aching like hell, hirap na hirap kong igalaw. Natatawa ako maalala na nag-paa na si Mia sa last part ng trek dahil umulan at madulas ang trail; feeling ko andami nyang naapakan na tae ng kabayo at kalabaw haha.

Sa totoo lang, hindi naman sana ganun kahirap ang Apo kung ginawa namin and trek ng 3 days, 2 nights. We joked na ang susunod na aakyatin namin yung mga 500 MASL lang sa Rizal. Though the hike tested my limits, it was a super-fulfilling one. Conquering my dream mountain always seems impossible.  Until it’s done.

Highly recommended Mt. Apo guide – Arianne (https://www.facebook.com/candyckaz). She will take care of everything, mula Davao City. Kahit solo pwede.