Backtrack // The first and the many times
(First of a series. Read second part here.)
No other word could perfectly describe the year 2014 for me but transition.
As early as January, I bid goodbye to my job at a major television network and its top-grossing and highest-rating program — and not without the drama, mind you, as my former bosses were keen on not letting go of me with a clean slate — long story. (If you can, do check out #BuhayMedia in social networking sites. There lies the unadulterated truth behind the glam of media practice.)
I found myself listening to songs by The Script — heartbreak songs I never thought I would ever connect to, accompanying me as I tried to mend my shattered hopes and dreams — and committing myself to a self-imposed exile for about a week because I was too broken to get myself fixed.
A hopeless and meaningless void found its way to penetrate my youthful idealism that I had to undergo a four-day personal retreat to put back the pieces of me together, start afresh, and let go of harbored self-depreciating thoughts.
I was blessed enough to have found a safe haven in my new job, still in media, but while I was transitioning from a life of perennial daily stress (i.e. television production) to a laidback, casual working environment (i.e. digital media), I too was processing my sappy romantic feels for some guy who left me just when I needed him most.
After the first half of the year, though, I found myself being more in control of my life, and that was when things turned from normal and neutral to significant and salutary.
The year marked many firsts for me, as it augmented my many other experiences and made them more memorable.
Hiking
It all started out as a silent wish, which then grew into a spoken desire, until it became a (not-so-well-)planned Saturday activity.
I told my friends Nigel and Zandra about my hope to, one day, be able to climb a mountain, and they were thrilled with the idea; we invited friends. And now, we call ourselves the Hugot Hikers.
^ Founding members of the Hugot Hikers — yes, we are taking this quite seriously.
(From left: Nigel, Zandra, yours truly, Thea, and Mark)
Our first hike was in December at Mount Batulao in Nasugbu, Batangas. We were not particularly “conditioned” for the hike, so the trek proved to be back-breaking-ly, leg-straining-ly, heart-pounding-ly arduous — well, except for Zandra, who happens to be a sprinter, and Nigel, who used to be a mixed martial artist.
^ Technically, we were not in Mount Batulao yet. We dropped by the Don Bosco retreat house in Batulao, one of my favorite places, and I directed the group to the hermitage area.
^ I am setting a bad example here. Seriously, who would wear a pair of jeggings and some white shoes for a hike?
^ The first few steps of thrilled first-time hikers.
We were drawing strength from the view of the mountain as we were hiking, though. It greatly helped that the mountain’s track, both old and new, outlined Mount Batulao and so we could fancy our imagination with what lies by the end of our exasperating journey; and we were not disappointed at all when we reached the peak.
^ The sweet sight of the glorious goal!
^ Standing tall before we were even born
^ Almost... there.
^ The final test: to climb a 90-degree acclivity!
The physical strain — and, at least for Mark, the injury — was all worth it. The panoramic mix of blues and greens at the summit was surreal.
Elevation: 2,667 feet. Check.
We fell enthralled with our masochistic desire to keep hiking. So, by the end of the following month, in January, we climbed Mount Pico de Loro (Parrotvs Beak), also called Mount Palay-palay, in Maragondon, Cavite.
^ Pulled an all-nighter to prepare the group’s packed lunch for the following day’s hike.
^ The group with Ate Megumi, our new recruit
^ Original members of Hugot Hikers, minus Mark who had to attend to a family engagement. I reckon Mark’s spirit stood beside Nigel in this photo. Heh.
The track was easier than that of Batulao, but we were somehow uncomfortable with not having any decent view as we kept going.
Alas, when we reached the pseudo-peak where campers stayed, my jaw dropped, eyes glistened. It was breathtaking!
^ With Zandrabels on the buwis-buhay rock.
We wanted to reach the monolith, but Thea and I had nary any energy and willpower left, while Nigel and Zandra had to back out due to the number of people and the time constraints.
Elevation: 2,178 feet. Check.
^ Here’s the farthest we went.
(Photos without watermark are from Mark Toldo and Nigel Lopez;
post-processed by yours truly.)
I thought mountain-climbing was a fantasy too far-fetched for me. But I figure nothing is ever unlikely if done with utmost support and motivation with and from friends. Looking forward to greater heights! •
No other word could perfectly describe the year 2014 for me but transition.
As early as January, I bid goodbye to my job at a major television network and its top-grossing and highest-rating program — and not without the drama, mind you, as my former bosses were keen on not letting go of me with a clean slate — long story. (If you can, do check out #BuhayMedia in social networking sites. There lies the unadulterated truth behind the glam of media practice.)
I found myself listening to songs by The Script — heartbreak songs I never thought I would ever connect to, accompanying me as I tried to mend my shattered hopes and dreams — and committing myself to a self-imposed exile for about a week because I was too broken to get myself fixed.
A hopeless and meaningless void found its way to penetrate my youthful idealism that I had to undergo a four-day personal retreat to put back the pieces of me together, start afresh, and let go of harbored self-depreciating thoughts.
I was blessed enough to have found a safe haven in my new job, still in media, but while I was transitioning from a life of perennial daily stress (i.e. television production) to a laidback, casual working environment (i.e. digital media), I too was processing my sappy romantic feels for some guy who left me just when I needed him most.
After the first half of the year, though, I found myself being more in control of my life, and that was when things turned from normal and neutral to significant and salutary.
The year marked many firsts for me, as it augmented my many other experiences and made them more memorable.
Hiking
It all started out as a silent wish, which then grew into a spoken desire, until it became a (not-so-well-)planned Saturday activity.
I told my friends Nigel and Zandra about my hope to, one day, be able to climb a mountain, and they were thrilled with the idea; we invited friends. And now, we call ourselves the Hugot Hikers.
^ Founding members of the Hugot Hikers — yes, we are taking this quite seriously.
(From left: Nigel, Zandra, yours truly, Thea, and Mark)
Our first hike was in December at Mount Batulao in Nasugbu, Batangas. We were not particularly “conditioned” for the hike, so the trek proved to be back-breaking-ly, leg-straining-ly, heart-pounding-ly arduous — well, except for Zandra, who happens to be a sprinter, and Nigel, who used to be a mixed martial artist.
^ Technically, we were not in Mount Batulao yet. We dropped by the Don Bosco retreat house in Batulao, one of my favorite places, and I directed the group to the hermitage area.
^ I am setting a bad example here. Seriously, who would wear a pair of jeggings and some white shoes for a hike?
^ The first few steps of thrilled first-time hikers.
We were drawing strength from the view of the mountain as we were hiking, though. It greatly helped that the mountain’s track, both old and new, outlined Mount Batulao and so we could fancy our imagination with what lies by the end of our exasperating journey; and we were not disappointed at all when we reached the peak.
^ The sweet sight of the glorious goal!
^ Standing tall before we were even born
^ Almost... there.
^ The final test: to climb a 90-degree acclivity!
The physical strain — and, at least for Mark, the injury — was all worth it. The panoramic mix of blues and greens at the summit was surreal.
Elevation: 2,667 feet. Check.
We fell enthralled with our masochistic desire to keep hiking. So, by the end of the following month, in January, we climbed Mount Pico de Loro (Parrotvs Beak), also called Mount Palay-palay, in Maragondon, Cavite.
^ Pulled an all-nighter to prepare the group’s packed lunch for the following day’s hike.
^ The group with Ate Megumi, our new recruit
^ Original members of Hugot Hikers, minus Mark who had to attend to a family engagement. I reckon Mark’s spirit stood beside Nigel in this photo. Heh.
The track was easier than that of Batulao, but we were somehow uncomfortable with not having any decent view as we kept going.
Alas, when we reached the pseudo-peak where campers stayed, my jaw dropped, eyes glistened. It was breathtaking!
^ With Zandrabels on the buwis-buhay rock.
We wanted to reach the monolith, but Thea and I had nary any energy and willpower left, while Nigel and Zandra had to back out due to the number of people and the time constraints.
Elevation: 2,178 feet. Check.
^ Here’s the farthest we went.
(Photos without watermark are from Mark Toldo and Nigel Lopez;
post-processed by yours truly.)
I thought mountain-climbing was a fantasy too far-fetched for me. But I figure nothing is ever unlikely if done with utmost support and motivation with and from friends. Looking forward to greater heights! •