Off - roading adventure to Mount Pinatubo

Summer season is about to end, so our group decided to have one last trip before rainy days arrived. We chose Pinatubo adventure since we were rooting for this trip for quite a while. Upon searching how to save for this trip we ended up getting the package of Kuya Wendell Mercado (0919-608-4313), the President of 4 Wheeler's Club since among online packages i find his reasonable. We are 8 in the group so we divided the expenses resulting to a 1800 contribution per head which comprised of the following:

• 3000 - 4 x 4 that will accommodate maximum of 5 pax. 
• 500 - conservation fee per head
• 500 - tour guide fee per 4 x 4 
• 150 - Aeta passway fee per head
• 250 - breakfast meal and 2 pcs. Chicken with extra rice for our lunch.

   

We left Alabang 3 in the morning and arrived in Capas Tarlac 5:30 in time for our breakfast. Mcdonalds in Capas just after the public market passing by a Caltex gasoline station is the common stop over among tourists to Pinatubo where you can take your breakfast or buy some necessities at the nearest 7 - 11. It's 7:30 already when we arrived at Santa Juliana where the tourist center is located. I immediately look for Ate Khey (Kuya Wendell's secretary) who assisted us in the entire registration. Please bear in mind that you must do all you bathroom necessities here since there are only 2 available bathroom areas, one is halfway the trek and the other one is on the crater. After settling our waivers and bills the adventure started. 

Tourism Center Sta. Juliana Capas Tarlac - drop off point to Pinatubo

Since we are group of 8, we're divided into 2 4 x 4 vehicles. The off - roading adventure lasted for an hour and you will enjoy a spectacular view along the way. 

Off-roading adventure to Mount Pinatubo

Off-roading adventure to Mount Pinatubo

Off-roading adventure to Mount Pinatubo

Off-roading adventure to Mount Pinatubo

Off-roading adventure to Mount Pinatubo

After the thrilling 4 x 4 ride, our trekking started. Our original plan was to take the short route which will last for about 30 minutes trekking, unluckily, that route was closed (just a week ago) when we got there. So we have no choice but to bear with the long route that consumed us to 2 hours trekking. It was quite an exhausting walk (maybe because we have no enough sleep) but very manageable. You can stop whenever you want and enjoy sharing stories with your guide and your trekking buddies. 

Trekking adventure to Mount Pinatubo

Trekking adventure to Mount Pinatubo

Trekking adventure to Mount Pinatubo

Along the way you will enjoy the scenery of different sand formations created by the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in year 1995. We also encounter the local kids of Tarukan Capas enjoying their huge playground. Seeing them was so inspiring, will make you realized that we are so blessed in many ways. 

Local Kids of Tarukan Capas Tarlac (Pinatubo)

Local Kids of Tarukan Capas Tarlac (Pinatubo)

Local Kids of Tarukan Capas Tarlac (Pinatubo)

Finally, after all the tiring walk, this was our beautiful reward. 

Magnificent Beauty of Mount Pinatubo

Magnificent Beauty of Mount Pinatubo

Magnificent Beauty of Mount Pinatubo

Magnificent Beauty of Mount Pinatubo

Magnificent Beauty of Mount Pinatubo

Magnificent Beauty of Mount Pinatubo

Magnificent Beauty of Mount Pinatubo

Magnificent Beauty of Mount Pinatubo

Magnificent Beauty of Mount Pinatubo crater lake

After taking some photos, we rest for a while and took our lunch picnic style then descend to Pinatubo's crater afterwards. We lasted at the crater for an hour or 2 and started trekking back 1:30 in the afternoon. Going back was so light and fast that it took as only an hour trekking to our 4 x 4 ride. We arrived at the tourist center 3:30 in the afternoon. We rest for a while then took a bathe in the available shower areas just across the tourist center for 50 pesos per head. 

Our Mount Pinatubo trip was an adventure we will never forget since it was our first time to an off - roading adventure using a 4 x 4 vehicle and our first long hike/trek. So much learning and so much beauty. Mount Pinatubo left me in awe wondering how nature and God worked together to create this kind of beauty. A beautiful disaster, indeed. 

Trekking adventure to Mount Pinatubo

Trekking adventure to Mount Pinatubo

How to get there:

Via private vehicle 

Take the NLEX road until you reached the end road of NLEX which is Sta. Inez exit. From there take the Mc Arthur Highway Mabalacat en route Bamban until you reach the Capas Public Market. Just after the market left turn to a small road to Barangay Sto. Rosario and take 25km of countryside road passing by barangays Aranguren, Cristo Rey, Sta. Lucia, O'Donnell and finally Sta. Juliana where the tourism center is located.

Via commute

Ride any bus en route Pangasinan, Baguio or Tarlac and drop off at Capas Junction. Ride a tricycle just across Mcdonald's Capas that will bring you to Sta. Juliana, the jump off point to Mount Pinatubo

The colorful festival of Pahiyas in Lucban Quezon

Every time that month of May comes, our news feed is always filled with photos and blogs about their experience with Pahiyas festival which kindles our desire to visit the said festivity in the flesh.  Our group decided to do it this year, so we planned to have a day trip last May 15.

We decided to travel early to have a good spot in parking lot since some roads to the town entrance are closed. Travel time from Alabang to Lucban Quezon is 2 to 3 hours.  We left Alabang at about 5 in the morning and arrived in Lucban 8 in the morning. From the allowed parking lot we walked for about 100 to 200 meters before reaching the houses with decorations. Good thing we came early to have good photo shots ‘coz people started to flock around 10am and you wouldn’t have a good angle to capture the whole house with beautiful decor.

Pahiyas festival 2014

Pahiyas festival 2014

Pahiyas festival 2014

Pahiyas festival is yearly celebrated every 15^th day of the month of May whatever day it may fall. This festival is in honor to the patron saint of farmers, St. Isidore for a good harvest. It is dubbed as one of the most colorful festivals in the Philippines because houses here participate to showcase colorful arrangement and decorations of “Kiping” (a leaf-shaped wafers made of rice dabbed with bright colors) and harvests.

As you walk around the streets of Lucban, you will be amazed on how dedicated Lucbanins in putting their best effort to beautify their houses with Kiping and different products from their harvest. The houses are dressed in their grandiose decors that can make you utter WOW!

Pahiyas festival 2014

good harvest - Pahiyas festival 2014

Pahiyas festival 2014

Pahiyas festival 2014

Pahiyas festival 2014

Pahiyas festival 2014

Pahiyas festival 2014

Pahiyas festival 2014

Pahiyas festival 2014

Pahiyas festival 2014

Pahiyas festival 2014

Pahiyas festival 2014

Coconut husk decor turn into a peacock - Pahiyas festival 2014

Pahiyas festival 2014

Pahiyas festival 2014

Locals busy finalizing the decor of their houses - Pahiyas festival 2014

Pahiyas festival 2014

Pahiyas festival 2014

The feeling is so magical just being there and how people enjoy the festivity. It’s the effort and the hospitality of Lucbanins that made this festivity stand out. Very traditional, very Filipino. If you want something new and something colorful it’s a must to visit Pahiyas festival and be amazed by their colorful houses and also don’t miss their famous delicacies like Lucban longganisa, yema cake, pilipit and pancit habhab.  

Pahiyas festival 2014

Pahiyas festival 2014

Beautiful Kiping decor - Pahiyas festival 2014

Pahiyas festival 2014

Pancit habhab - Pahiyas festival 2014

Pancit habhab - Pahiyas festival 2014

It was our first time to witness this well-known Philippine festival and definitely, this was a dream come true. A truly great experience that added some color to our summer!

How to go to Lucban Quezon via commute:

There are 3 terminals you can go to catch a bus en route Sta. Cruz Laguna; Alabang, Pasay and Cubao. Just ask the conductor to drop you off at the jeepney terminal bound to Lucban then ride a jeepney with Lucban sign for 45 minutes to an hour.

Via private vehicle:

Take the South Luzon expressway passing by Calamba exit. Take the route passing by towns of Los Banos, Bay, Pila, Pagsanjan, Sta. Cruz, Nagcarlan, Cavinti, Luisiana then Lucban.