Only God Can "WOW" Me Like That.

Labor Day started very early for me, as in 1:30 in the morning. I went on a day trip to Mount Pinatubo with close friends and loved ones. Originally, it was my sister Rachel's idea to trek up the volcano, a summer activity for the Saturday cell. Zarene set the date for May 1, obviously a holiday, so all of us can go: Mark, Zarene, Rach, Pau, Drix, me, Smiley, Anj, Maynard, Mimi, and Michelle. Of course the number can still go up, we're always open to anybody who wants to join in the fun.=)

Unfortunately the numbers dwindled to three, and then Drix invited his brother Eboy and his college friend Popie who was still in Singapore. So five of us were super sure. Days prior to the scheduled day trip, a storm was forecasted to hit the Philippine shores. Buti nalang hindi sa Pampanga/Tarlac/Zambales area. Kasi dun kami pupunta! Smiley, who knew our contact, kept texting the coordinator how the weather was in Tarlac. Shempre we didn't want to push through if we were just gonna be informed hours later that the trail was closed due to bad weather. But Maribel, the tour agent, kept saying that it was hot and sunny in Tarlac.

So on Thursday midnight, I packed my bag and slept an hour. (More like, 'I lay in bed and closed my eyes' an hour). Before I knew it, the alarm went off, a text message from Drix came to tell us they'll be here in 30 minutes. 30 minutes!!! Grabe talaga pag mga lalaki sobrang punctual!!! I called Smiley immediately to inform her that we had no time to catch some sleep and to be ready 1:30-ish. We left Merville, Paranaque and were on the road before 2 o'clock, stopped for gas along NLEX and had very early breakfast at Hen Lin. We hit the road again and Popie drove from 3-5:30 a.m. By the time we reached Sta. Ines, we made one or two wrong turns, drove leisurely because there was a lot of time to enjoy the scenery. The sun was just peeking from the horizon so the color of the sky was a deep blue. I just loved it, felt like we were the only car on the road, the only five people awake, while the whole world was sleeping.=) That says a lot coming from somebody who isn't much of an early riser.=s

At 6 o'clock we were already there in Capas, Tarlac. The sign board along the road said that we've reached Spa Town, the place where all trekkers wait for the 4x4's that will take them to the base of Mount Pinatubo. We parked the car, got our backpacks, registered and paid the fees.

The published internet rates range from P1,700 to P5,000.00 (the latter if you want to indulge in an ash spa & massage after the trek). P1,700 if you bring your own car, P1,900.00 if you're riding the public transport via bus. But probably the safest estimate would be P2,000 inclusive of the 4x4, the reg fee, the tour guide, and some packages include a packed lunch. Pero wala pang boat ride yun.

Fortunately for us, the package only cost us P880.00!!! Thank God Smiley's tito gave his contact to us. I think it also helped that Smiley hails from Pampanga and can speak Kapangpangan with the tour guide and the people in charge of the registration.=) We only added P350 each for the boat ride. Sabi kasi nung husband ni Maribel, mas maganda kung mag boat ride pa kami once we get to the crater because there are some areas where the water is warmer.

By 6:30 we were on the 4x4. The air was so COLD!!!

But the sun was rising and it was surely a sign of a great day ahead!

The red 4x4 that we rode for an hour, I think... We had to stop to take pictures kasi ang ganda na ng tanawin. AND ANG LAMIG LAMIG!!! BBBBBRRRRR!!!!!


Popie and Eboy taking pics

Aeta kids enjoying the sunshine. They were the peoples displaced after the Pinatubo eruption last July 16, 1991. Now 18 years after, they still choose to live so very near the volcano.

Troopers one and all.

Kuya Jude, our agent-driver-tour guide rolled into one!

I love the splashes when the 4x4 passes across brooks,
National Geographic ang dating! ;D

Finally, we parked at the base of Mount Pinatubo.
The 30-minute trek starts from here.

Couldn't resist taking a snapshot of this universal reminder.

Mang Dom (as in Dominador) behind Mahal carrying our packed lunch.




Popie taking pictures.



Rest muna rest...



Shiny Adidas moment!



Rest muna rest!!!

On the trek up, we were wondering what the gradient would be had we been in the gym on the treadmill. Sabi ni Popie gradient 15,000. Tumodo!

Finally,



we

reached

the crater!!!!

We were the first people to arrive at 7:30 in the morning. It was absolutely breath-taking, like God was super showing off for us!!! WOW! I've heard a lot of people say they've been to Mount Pinatubo but they never said anything like this! For me, I was definitely in awe, I was like a child who has seen Disneyland for the first time.=)