My Obsession with a Volcano
The Onset: The Failed April Attempt
The expedition to Mt. Bataan started way back in the summer of 1995. TIP-MC members were prospecting new sites to climb, where the challenge is still at its maximum and the logistically near NCR. The first attempt was initiated on April 1995.
To make matters straight, Boying and I (the author), were in fact eyeing a different exploration – the descent of Bathala Cave’s Main Chamber unknown “pothole” in Sta. Cuz, Marinduque. When Mike 1 told us regarding their plan to explore the Mariveles Volcano, Boying got troubled because of the short of navigating knowledge and experience of the club, as a whole.
The first team of the Mariveles Volcano Expedition were: Raul “Angal” Raguidin, Michael “Mike 1” Arellano, Generoso “Boying” Yecla, James “Kulot” Mallen, Jose “BNG” Villanueva, Rawen “Shaggy” Balman, and Hector “Bunso” Cabrieto.
A crash course in land navigation was made 3 days before the said climb.
The team first assembled at Cubao in Quezon City, then went straight to the Philippine Rabbit Bus Terminal in Avenida, Manila. The road trip was long; the lateness of the departure consumed precious time from the expedition.
“Aayy, Mentos kayo dyan…” shouted the lady selling candies inside the bus.
“Mentos!”, Mike shouted.
The lady went to him. Then Mike pointed her to Hector: “Siya, Manang. Bibili yan…”
“Aahh, hindi ah!” Hector disagreed.
“Kayo! Ang hirap-hirap na nga maka-benta, nanloloko pa kayo!” Retorted the lady.
“Ikaw?! Bibili ka?!” as the lady pointed the Mentos pack to Boying.
“Hindi po. Hindi po.” As Boying shriveled timidly.
At that time, Mike 1’s father was an administrator of the Bataan EPZA. It gave the team an advantage to prevent any bureaucratic matter that may lead to failure of the expedition.
The start of the climb was questionable. The location of the group was situated beyond the rightmost portion the map on-hand. There is no clear route taken. The team was criss-crossing plantations and fenced areas. Upon reaching a fine creek, the team established camp and reviewed its location on the map. It was decided that the group shall go leftwards to prevent going beyond the mapped area. We bushwhacked our way to some thick vegetation.
“Ang babagal nyo naman!” Hector snapped jokingly.
Boying and Raul faced Hector and gave him the machete. “Ayan!”
“Nagbibiro lang naman eh.” As Hector whack his way through the thick brushes.
The team camped near a stream. It’s too small to be called a river.
“Gandang hapon po…” Mike said.
The whole group looked where Mike was facing. I “saw” the folks whom Mike greeted. It was an adult man carrying a chopped tree-trunk on his back and a youngster with bits and pieces of firewood. They didn’t answer Mike’s greeting.
The rest of the group looked at Mike and then turned-around.
After some body-warming dinner, the group then retired to their respective tents.
The trek the following day brought the team to a grass-clearing where spring water was found. It was a potential camp ground. The group followed an impacted trail, maybe used by loggers or hunters. We later called the “logger’s trail”. An abrupt left curve of the trail lead us to a foot of a ridge, evidently going straight-up. The group bushwhacked its way reaching a rock outcrop dubbed “Pinagsampalan Rock”. Not long after, the team reached a scree-littered area.
The wind began to howl, as if announcing our arrival and welcoming an old acquaintance. Rumbling of trees for a good 5 seconds followed the howl. This continued until we reached a rock outcrop that we dubbed “Pinagsampalan” the first time we attempted. This was in 1995 when we were with the original group of explorers, Raul Angal, Shaggy Rawen, BNG Jose, Hector Bunso, Mike 1, Boying, and yours truly. Rawen sat down on this rock, thinking this is good place to rest and enjoy the view. But Raul has another thing in mind.
“This is the place where a woman sat down and talked to her husband…”
“…but, the husband was drunk and slapped the woman.” Raul slapped Rawen at that instant.
It was a hilarious episode that everybody thought to be comical. How amazing a simple retreat into the wilderness makes you fall for such simple antics.
The expedition reached the rock base, a high point measured at 1000 masl.
The team’s summit push was only thwarted when the ridge abruptly rose vertically.
The group, with a good 20 meter braided rope in hand, struggled to climb up the precipice, but to no avail. The lack of climbing gear was the deciding factor of the climb.
The team withdrawn from the attempt and set off for the spring to camp for the night.
“Hey Mike!” Raul said to get Mike’s attention.
“Who did you see yesterday at our camp?”
“An old man and a teener.” Mike Answered.
“We didn’t see anyone!” The rest of the group answered back.
“I did!” I added.
“We didn’t see anyone, Man!” Boying exclaimed.
“Oh my God!” Mike and I said in unison.
The disappointment of not reaching the summit grew that year and another attempt was resolved before the end of 1995...
(contact-print scan)
TIP-MC: Raul-Angal, Rawen-Shaggy, Mike-1, Hector-Bunso, Jose-B.N.G., Boying, James-Kulot
taka lang ako, hindi na natin na-trace ulit yung trail na dinaanan natin originally. 
