Mt. Pinatubo Dayhike + Outreach

The Mt. Pinatubo Crate

Beautiful Disaster! 

a word from the movie Crazy Beautiful You that features the majestic view of Mt.Pinatubo and the Aetas of Sitio Tarukan, CapasTarlac. I've been longing to visit that Mountain since I have watched that movie, first because the beauty is mesmerizing, second because of the Aetas, y'know I love to visit mountains with Aetas and have a little outreach.

some donated items left from our previous Outreach

Candies and Biscuits for Local Aetas

After our Outreach Program last May there are some donated items left on us and my Ate want to dispose it right away because its kinda bulky to her little place, so then I suggested that we conduct a mini Outreach in Mt.Pinatubo since it's the only mountain I know where there an Aetas residing. I set it on June a week before the classes resume but we didn't follow our original itinerary due to the conflict of schedule in one of my colleagues so instead of riding bus from Cubao via Victory Liner which is P170 per pax from what I heard, we decided to start in North (Bulacan) in my Ate's place and hire a private van for our convenience.

Our Itinerary: 

12:00 AM	BULACAN (Preparation)
3:00 AM	ETA to Capas Tarlac via Private Van
6:00 AM	Capas Tourism Office
7:00 AM	4x4 goin to the Jump Off
8:00 AM	ETA Jump Off Trek to Crater
11:00 AM	Arrival at the Crater (Lunch, Photo ops)
12:00 PM	Trek back to 4x4
2:00 PM	Arrive at Jump Off
2:30 PM	Dropby at Outreach Proper
3:30 PM	back to 4x4
4:00 PM	back to Tourism Office (wash)
5:00 PM	ETD back to Bulacan/Manila
7:00 PM	Manila/Bulacan

I make reservation a week a head because we're not sure if we can make it on time, 6:00am is the cutoff time for registration at 7:00am is the last trip of 4x4. Mt. Pinatubo has many entry points but we choose the Capas Tarlac because it's the most accessible (at lease for us) via NLEX road. Landmark is Capas Junction McDonalds/7Eleven. Turn left to small road with a not so visible Sign "To Pinatubo"  from there just turn right, right and right until you reach the Satellite Office.

Bulacan to Mt.Pinatubo Capas Tarlac, all thanks to Google Map. ^_^

A day before our trip the tourism office contacted me to confirm our reservation and attendance and since they expecting us a lady in the registration area approached us, asked me if I am Ms.Hasz then they assist us for Registration, Waiver, Payment and Secure our guide and 4x4.

Capas DENR Contact:  Kuya Rojan 0949-123-9685

Trekking Fees:
4x4 Vehicle Maximum of 5 = 3K
Local Guide 1 per vehicle = 500

Other fees charged per pax:
Conservation, maintenance = 300
Aeta share of botolan Zambales = 700

Parking Fee: P50
Toilet Fee Ihi: P10
Bathroom Fee Ligo: P60

Once you get into the satellite Office there are some kids that will approach you to buy their tungkod for P20 it's not necessary to buy but if you'd like to help the locals then get yourself one.

We left at the Satellite Office at 7:00am and stop by in the area near the jump off just to take pictures and give biscuits, candies on Aeta kids.

Stop by to give Candies for Aeta Kids and Photo ops

resuming our 4x4 Ride to the Jump off

arriving at the Jump off, Parking Area of 4x4s

This where the Trail begins

First Stop "Kubo"

these Local Aeta Kids built this kind of Rock Base Camp and wait for Tourist

what we can afford is to give them Candies instead of Money

we HATE this Part, the P700 fee for Botolan Zambales, this is why Mt.Pinatubo is very cozy

we're 20 min. away from the Crate

this is not True, we're fast pacing but we all get there after 20min. see we're not Senior LOL

arriving at the Mt. Pinatubo Crater

Lunch time! Adobo Time! :)

exploring the Crater again before we head back

being a photo bomber

kulitan with my Ate, just having fun :)

I badly need a shot like this LOL

our Photographer MJ

One thing we have noticed is that those people we encountered here is not a co-mountaineer, most of them are Rich Kid, Korean and some Foreigners no wonder because it's a Tourist Spot and it's kinda expensive visiting here.

heading back to the Jump Off

trail running, I still have lots of energy

I wanna Drive

trekking that hill to Sitio Tarukan Village

Before we left in the morning the Driver told us that if we were going to visit Sitio Tarukan there is additional P100 per 4x4 so a total of P200 for 2 Jeeps. I said it's alright for the thought that they're are going to ride us up to the hill but I'm kinda disappointed that the additional is just for Stop by. They made us trek that cardiac trail while the sun is up and hot and the 4x4 is park down hill just waiting and that cost us P200 like WTF we're here to HELP but you treat us like a Business.

let the Outreach begin :)

Actually it's hard, it's like everyone is in chaos, they all want to get something and wanting more, and they are hungry. I notice that most of them are jobless don't have livelihood just waiting for some help and donations. I think government should help Aeta communities with  their livelihood with a long term plan. Actually we want to go back and have a feeding program but the expense in Transpo and Reg Fees, so many Fees is too much for us.

there are some Solar Light Post here donated by Daniel Padilla during Crazy Beautiful You shoot 

he's loosing his feet, he can no longer walk, poor Ian the First Timer :)

We decided to drop by in Capas Shrine I mean Outside the Shrine, we didn't enter because the entrance fee is P20 plus the sun is up! very hot, we're tired and our pocket is totally damaged, we're actually looking for a near ATM.

Each of us spent like P2,700 per head and we're a group of 8! almost equivalent of 3 mountains to climb. Mt.Pinatubo is a very BEAUTIFUL and scenic mountain and that's what's you pay for since Mt. Pinatubo is more like a tourist spot rather than a typical hiking destination. It's not a budget friendly and definitely not recommended for a trail seeker or adventurer only for the TOURIST.

-"Life is more than just surviving!"

-til my next Journey

-Hasz