Taal Volcano Eruption and the Mapping Initiatives

On the noon of January 12, 2020, a Sunday, coming from an escalated level since March 2019, the Taal Volcano has erupted and billowed out ash plumes up to 17 kilometers up in the atmosphere, spreading its ash clouds from its crater up north to Batanes in just 4 hours. This eruption has enveloped most of South Luzon and Metro Manila with light-brown colored ash from its phreatic-magmatic eruption. The massive evacuation took place and there is a need for a navigation map for efficient response.

Cape Santiago Lighthouse - Guardian of Verde Passage to West Philippine Sea

April 15, 2018 

You have never been to a place if you have never seen all of its corners. As for Luzon, the Philippines' largest island, you have never seen it if you have never been to all its corners. The old lighthouses of Luzon are witness to the awe of the country's beautiful shoreline. In the late 19th century, Spanish urban planners have constructed lighthouses in the corners of Luzon to guide seafarers when navigating its seas. One of the several lighthouses was located at the southwestern point of the island of Luzon - Cape Santiago.

Mataas na Gulod - Palay-Palay Mountain Range Mapping Expedition (Marami to Pico De Loro Traverse)

December 20-21, 2014

One of the nearest jungles in the Philippine capital is the Mataas na Gulod - Palay-Palay Mountain Range that is being occupied by two provinces: Cavite and Batangas. Famous mountains in this range are Mt. Marami and Pico De Loro. Never before mapped and has only been traversed by handfuls few in the past year, Schadow1 Expeditions has explored this jungle by traversing across the mountain range passing through five mountains and crossing several rivers. This article is a journal of our mapping expedition to Cavite's jungle.

Burot Beach - A Stunning Golden Sunset Beach

November 8, 2014
Surprisingly, not too far from the busy and highly urbanized Metro Manila, there still exist a golden sand beach where spectacular sunsets can be viewed. A perfect beach to be one with nature through the absence of posh accommodations. Development of this beach may soon take place. But while it is still virgin as it is, this is the right time to get to this paradise. Situated at Luzon's southwestern edge, Burot Beach is one of the best beaches of this side of Batangas.

The Cavite-Batangas Bus Terminal (SWIPTS) - a year after

Last year, the Southwest Integrated Provincial Transport Terminal (SWIPTS) was inaugurated as first of 3-integrated bus terminals in Metro Manila to decongest the volume of vehicles plying inside the Philippine capital. SWIPTS services commuters to and from the province of Batangas and Cavite. It promised high tech queuing system certified with ISO9001 standards. A year after, let us see what has happened to this promising project of the government.

Mount Batulao, a Gateway to a Mountaineer's Heart

August 25, 2014

Mount Batulao has remained to be one of my favorite climbs and has never failed me a single time on freezing in awe with the scenery it offers from jump-off to summit. A mountain that is a hundred percent laden with grass which captivates every climber who walks along its path and traverses each of its peaks and camps.

Mount Pico De Loro: A Third Time and the Monolith Attempt

December 15, 2013
Every climb is a different experience. And that happens no matter how many times you climb the same mountain. It was the third time we climbed Mount Pico De Loro and the second time for this year. We have done it this time with friends who are first-time climbers. Though this is not the first, this makes it the first time for myself to become a mountain guide and the first time to scale the Parrot's Beak or also known as the monolith.

Southwest IPTS Terminal (Cavite-Batangas Bus Terminal) Opens

The Southwest Integrated Provincial Transport System Terminal (Cavite and Batangas Bus Terminal) opens at August 6, 2013 and will the first of three bus terminals in Metro Manila that will centralize the drop-off point of provincial buses hoping to alleviate the traffic congestion in the Philippines' capital. The SW IPTS will hopefully alleviate traffic by forbidding entry of almost 1000 buses that ply from Cavite and Batangas to Metro Manila. With its state-of-the-art queuing system, it is planned to organize a harmonious dispatch of provincial buses and also only allowing bus companies with proper franchise and authorized drivers without records of crime and grave accidents to enter the facility and serve the commuting populace. Coordinates 14.516436,120.991208

Kaybiang Tunnel - The Gateway to the Western Coves of Cavite and Batangas

Last August 2012 and January 2013 (see here), we have provided an update regarding the status of Kaybiang Tunnel. This article is the final update of the tunnel that serves as the gateway to the once hard to reach areas of the western coves of Southwest Luzon which is home to serene beaches and magnificent sunsets.

New Cavite Batangas Bus Terminal

Starting August 6 July 15 22, 2013, on a Tuesday, buses plying to and from Batangas and Cavite now has a new bus terminal in Paranaque City: Using the previous ground floor parking of Coastal Mall as its new bus station. This means that provincial buses from Cavite and Batangas are no longer allowed to go beyond the Manila-Cavite Expressway.

Coordinates: (14.516373,120.991261)

Ternate - Nasugbu Tunnel and Roadtrip to Western Batangas

January 5, 2013

We had just finished scaling Mt. Pico De Loro (see here) and the under construction Ternate-Nasugbu Tunnel is just a few kilometers away and is right time to check it out. This tunnel once completed will shorten the travel to Nasugbu, Batangas from Manila to about an hour only as compared to 3-hours via Tagaytay and motorists are eagerly waiting for this to be completed as this is the access point to the beautiful beaches of Nasugbu, Batangas.

Pico De Loro Summit 664+MASL Part 2

January 4-5, 2013

It was the first climb for this year and is part 2 of climbing Pico De Loro coming from a failed attempt to scale the summit last August due to the weather. This mountain is an inevitable climb. Being one of the nearest mountains in Metro Manila that offers 360 degrees of beautiful scenery. Every Filipino mountaineer should climb this mountain.

Conquering Mt. Talamitam 630+MASL

December 26, 2012

Our climb to Talamitam is actually a side trip and is unexpected. Talamitam is just about 12 kilometers away from Batulao as we were actually at Mt. Batulao in Nasugbu, Batangas for the second time and the main purpose was to give away donations to the youth of Mt. Batulao. As it happened, then December 26 became a twin day-hike climbing both Batulao and Talamitam.

Outreach: Batulao Slippers for Christmas

Friends,

I am planning for a fund drive this Christmas and proceeds will go to the youth of Mt. Batulao 13 years old and below in supplying them with new slippers. Tentative date of  reaching out is on December 26. This is a self-initiated drive, however it would be great if more people would help me out so more kids can be supplied with slippers.

Conquering Pico De Loro 664+MASL

August 19-20, 2012

Pico De Loro

Another long weekend. It was 24 years ago since I last climbed a mountain. I was 8 years old back then. Having this scar on my lower left leg reminds me of my first ever climb in Mt. Banahaw and since then, my instinct has been telling me to get back to who really I am... to unite with nature and feel the grandeur of setting foot to elevations not meant for a regular man to take foot often and enjoy the peace and fresh air at this altitude. It is the right time to re-unite with the mountains and conquer Mt. Pico De Loro.

Taal Volcano Island (220+MASL)

Taal Volcano Island Trek (220+MASL)

October 27, 2012

Taal Volcano Island

It was late evening of 26th and I was hungry. Almost all establishments where I live is already closed by this time except for some fast food which I was not in the mood to dine at that evening. It was an unexpected road trip until we reached Tagaytay by midnight and thought of having a sip of coffee at Summit Ridge Tagaytay. It was too late though so my wife and I decided to park over at a convenience store in One Tagaytay Place and sleep over inside our vehicle. Suddenly, an idea popped in. Why not trek Taal Volcano as we were already near and besides it has been a childhood dream to go down there. So I took out my laptop and planned over for the trek to this smallest volcano in the world.

Conquering the Malepunyo Mountain Range (1002+MASL)

Malepunyo Mountain Range Climb (1002+MASL)

November 30 - December 2, 2012

The Malepenyo Mountain Range is comprised of two major mountains: The tallest in Batangas, Mt. Malipunyo, standing at a massive 1002MASL which is situated at Lipa city, Batangas and Mt. Manabu (755MASL) at Sto. Tomas, Batangas. Upon knowing that a traverse trail between the two mountains is possible however, seldom trekked. I decided to put an end to this anxiety and decided forward to trace this path.

Mt. Maculot Rockies 705MASL

Mt. Maculot "Rockies" Climb at 705MASL

November 17-18, 2012

 It was Saturday dawn, and I was intrigued by this mountain called Maculot as they say it is one of the fun climbs in Batangas. And it was a regular weekend so I ought to try it just for the heck of it. So we went up to Tagaytay and prepared things over at our usual stay over place at McDonalds Taal Vista. We planned and plotted our trek.

Conquering Mt. Batulao at 811+MASL

November 3, 2012 - Conquering 12 peaks of Mt. Batulao

Coming from a 2-night stay at the cemetery for my departed mom last November 1-2, my wife and I decided to go and climb Mt. Batulao and check out the view from this 811+ MASL summit and grandeur the view around. Being a new climber who haven't tried a night climb ever,  we decided to head to Tagaytay and hang out at Starbucks Summit Ridge for a while and plan ahead our climb with Garmin Basecamp. After checking out the trails and virtualizing the degree of inclination of our climb, we decided that we will go ahead for a Batulao climb. It was already 12AM of November 3 so we decided to sleep for a while in our vehicle while parked at McDonalds - Taal Vista (our favorite temporary sleep-over/stop-over place at Tagaytay).