Birthday Gift

Written: March 18, 2013

 On my boyfriend’s natal day (March 17, 2013), I decided to plan him a Birthday climb.

 This time, we went to Mt. Pico De Loro in Cavite. I initially thought of Mt. Batulao in Batangas but as I did my research, I read about a girl who fell from it and although news said it was human error, I still decided not to go there for my own peace of mind. 

This was him before his legs suffered cramps as we're approaching the steep assault part of the mountain.

For more than halfway of trekking (approximately 3 hours), I noticed my boyfriend stops once in a while. I thought he was just exhausted due to lack of sleep and failure to warm ourselves up e.g. stretching before we start, stair climbing, etc. And because I was ahead of him (so as for him to see me all throughout the climb), the next thing I knew I was trekking down to look for him. And then I found him a few steps down, with a guy pushing his left foot towards him as if massaging my partner’s toe. Guilt suddenly overpowered me thinking I was too fast forgetting to even ask him what’s taking him so long to follow me. He was in pain. After a while I asked if he’s ok and he responded that we can continue. We went on with me trusting his words that everything’s fine. Then on a shaded tree, it attacked him again as if he can no longer continue to move his legs! I was in a total PANIC this time. I didn’t know what to do first to help him with his feet now both in cramps.  A group saw us and as great mountaineers indeed, they rescued us. Again two of them massaged my boyfriend’s feet, gave us ointment (Vicks) and even medicines(Vitamin B complex) to strengthen his muscles and bones I assumed. This time I knew we were in total chaos and I am pretty much sure that there’s really no way getting into the summit. The pain lessened gradually as we chose to rest there until he’s already strong enough to go down for certainly, it would be very impossible for him to finish the trek. And then another couple saw us and gave us Skelan and advised us to take our lunch already. That was 1pm I supposed! 

After eating, I felt pity for him considering it’s his special day but life really is one hell of a brusque! More than that, I guess he saw me even more disappointed than sad and so he asked me if I want to reach the peak, but of course alone. And because for me climbing is not about just going there and trying, it’s all about not giving up until the end, I decided to continue the trail, ALONE. I have set my mind that it won’t be easy to trek alone and that time I can’t see anyone going up for its already afternoon, only going down… After an hour, I reached the top and just a few minutes, took 2 or 3 pics (all head shots, of course) am on my way down. Gladly when I arrived where he is that time, he was able to get enough rest and food and relaxation on his feet and is now ready to go down the mountain we chose to be the venue for his birthday….  ;)

 Mountain hiking for me is like living a prolific life. The trail may never be easy, in fact so hard. But no matter how hard it was going up, as soon as you hear the birds singing like they have their own rhythm, see up close the hidden beauty of nature reserved and free from people’s abusiveness, and feel the breeze of being in the summit and looking over the view below as if you’re on top of the world, I guess everything is all so worth it…