Mt. Humarap...Tatlong Krus with side-trip in Matabungka Falls

At first, when I was invited by The Backpackers, I don't have any idea about Mt. Humarap also known as Tatlong Krus. But known by them, I knew they already know my limits. Di kaya nila ako iinvite kung alam nilang di ko kaya...lakas ng trust noh? But it is...I trusted them that much...

We started our journey by visiting Paete Church. I was amazed by the old structure of the church. And every time I saw an old churches, I was very fascinated with its characteristics. Being old is the very plus factor to me and very picturesque. And I am a big fan of those brainy people who built this kind of architecture. Imagine they only used eggs for cementing those bricks....Ang gagaling nila talaga...

Church of Paete

From Wikipedia.org.:

The first church was built in 1646 by Paete natives under the supervision of Fr. Andres de Puertellano. In 1717, a new church was erected. It was made of adobe bricks and a mixture of egg white and other native materials to "cement" them. The building was constructed in elaborate baroque style with an infusion of oriental artistry. The intricate retablo pieces were made by Paetenian natives, among them were Bartolome Palatino and Francisco Macahumpan.

another old mural inside Paete Church

one of the old murals inside the Paete Church

Old bells inside the church tower...

After uttering some of our prayers and requests, we started to walk and head to our trek...in Brgy. Ilaya, Paete. Having no idea about the mountain, I just walk with the group and enjoy talking with some of them along the way....After a couple of minutes, I noticed that, from a cement road of the barangay, we started to walk on a cement stairs and it seems that it's a never ending stairs. Nagtataka ako kasi bakit puro hagdanan? Bakit wala akong nakikitang tipikal na mountain trail...And no one is talking about what kind of trail we are about to hike...The only word I heard from our leader, sir Ivan of Bp, is that, "guys, this is the easiest trail sa lahat ng aakyatin natin...chillax climb lang ito...so enjoy the trail"...But still I am waiting for a usual mountain trail along the way...yung madamo, may talahib, hahawak ka sa puno or ugat ng puno para makaakyat, ...pero isang oras na mahigit kaming lumalakad, puro stairs pa din! At take note ha...mas mahirap pala umakyat ng pagkahaba-habang hagdanan kesa umakyat ng bundok na maputik at madamo. Ang lakas makahingal....haaaay! Sagana sa "take five"...lol...

 Then after a couple of hours, we arrived at a park which I saw more or less with 5-8 houses on its side. There is a hut for picnics, a public comfort rooms, a sari-sari store and huwaaaah! Ang Tatlong Krus...!!! Eto na yun? Eto na ang peak?...eto na ang summit? And I laugh....eto na pala yun....hahaha. And I call it a "pleasure camp"...or should I say ...a "suit camp"...

Tatlong Krus / Mt. Humarap

Group Picture

me and sir Heinz fixing our condo tent

 We spend the night beside the Tatlong Krus and pitch our tents. It was really a fun day for me and it adds more fun when I saw the big tent that I was assign to sleep at. It was really big and it can accommodate 8 to 10 person and imagine I can stand straight inside of it....hahaha...it was really funny...naka condo kami....LOL

 After having a good breakfast, we started to break our camp and start to descend. Same route, the never ending cemented stairs....And when we reach the cemented resting area, we got confused if we will straight ahead or take the left trail ...we are looking for Matabungka Falls....and since we are all excited to reach the falls...we take the wrong way and only noticed when we are almost near the barangay....We don't have any choice but to stop for a while and wait for the others to arrive. Until one of the Bp told us to return and take the right trail to the falls...which is to turn left when you reach the cemented rest area. Pero kahit naligaw kami, still we are very happy and excited when we saw the falls.....Ang ganda...makatanggal pagod talaga...you cannot resist the cold water coming from the top of mountain and have some dip into its basin...lahat naligo, lahat parang mga batang nagtampisaw sa malamig na tubig buhat sa itaas ng bundok...

And another adventure was added to my memories...another beautiful Gods creation that I can share to all of you...another exciting story that I can tell to my daughter, relatives and friends.  And another reminder to each and everyone...let us help in taking care of our nature...so that the next generation can also see the beauty of our Mother Earth...Tara...Byaheng Jologs na!!!

Special thanks to:
 The Backpackers
http://thebackpackersadventures.blogspot.com/2013/03/unang-hirit-sa-tag-init-paete-church.html

And: Ms. Amber Prudencio of  Diwatang Gala
 http://amberprudenciado.blogspot.com/2013/03/mt-humarap-birthday.html