A Good Friday Spent in Mt. Manabu

Manabu means literally “Mataas na Bundok” or “Alp” or  “High mountain” though, it is not really that high. It stands at 720 MASL and a good climb for newbies.  Manabu Peak is one of the 7 peaks of Mt. Malarayat Mountain  Range.

I intently chose this mountain not because of anything else but because I am with my sister this time. She wanted climb this long weekend and I was asked to choose something easy for her. So there – Mt. Manabu what I picked.  Lyka will be joining us as well.

How to get there?

There’s supposed to be a bus going to Lipa from Jam Bus Liner in Buendia, but since it was holiday and no operation for most of the bus stations, our options got limited.  There’s no bus going to Lipa at that time, so we rode a bus going to Lemery and we went down to Highway where there are jeepneys going to Lipa and tricycles that you can rent going directly to Sto. Tomas or Sulok.  For us, we chose to ride a Tricycle to get us to Sulok, Jump off of Mt. Manabu.

Lyka, yours truly, and Joan

As soon as we reached the jump-off we went directly to the registration area and attended the orientation for those who want to camp at the top.

They will give you a copy of Do’s and Don’ts and a few reminders while camping.  They will also give you a little blue card that you need to keep as a proof that you have attended the orientation.  That blue card should be kept because they will get it once you get down from the mountain.

The trail is shaped like a rosary with 8 stations.

The Trail map of Mt. Manabu

Once you reached the jackfruit tree (Station 4), you have two options of either take the Grotto (left side, Station 8) or follow the numbering by going to Station 4 (right side).  For us, we decided to complete 8 stations in ascending.

Since it’s holiday, there are a lot of people going up completing the trail as their “penetensya”.

It took us 2 hours to reach Station 6 where there are designated campsites.

Near the campsite

Since, as mentioned, there are a lot of people visiting the famous cross at the top of Mt. Manabu, we weren’t able to get the peace we wanted while staying at the top.

 

Nagpaka-aduy na lang kami sa loob ng tent

Shoes outside our tent

The view at the top is nice.  The city lights can fill your eyes while at the top. It isn’t too cold too though there’s a fine cold breeze available during midnight.

Cold night at the campsite

We woke up at 4am and prepared ourselves for an early trek going to the Manabu Peak.

The Cross at the Summit of Mt. Manabu

Since we don’t have trail food anymore, we hurried going up to the  Manabu Peak as early as 5:30am and descended right away.

Once you reach Station 8, Grotto, you’ll pass again the Station 4, 3, 2 and 1 stations.

Along the way, there are kubo’s which offers different delicacies.

 

They also offer native tinolang manok which they are known for.

It is a Good Friday well-spent at the top of the mountain.

 

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