April Fool

As I was trying to compose myself once again for my comprehensive review after three days of idleness brought about by the 35th commencement exercise of UPLB, I couldn't avoid but reminisce the days exactly one year ago when I was at the same summer event. I recalled the mountain gimmicks with dear friends who graduated in the same year and some who graduated just yesterday.

The following is a story I composed last year just after our group went to fool Mt. Marami but only to find out that we were the ones fooled! It was earlier posted in Alkin's website to which I am sharing again in here as:

‘Twas again the end of the 2^nd semester SY 2005-2006 – gimmick! Days and weeks of exhausting reports, term papers and exams needed awhile away from it.

Target gimmick place? In Mt. Marami somewhere in the Magallanes-Maragondon boundary in Cavite.

It was April Fool’s Day and nobody in the group seemed to notice it. As usual, we left the IH in the afternoon of that day. We were seven (7) and to name: Veronica “Vero”, Jessie, Alquin, Vijay, Michelle and Jenny (from IH who joined the group for the first time) and me.

Just like our weekend gimmick to Majayjay 3 weeks ago, when we claimed to be all set but our dig cam was not fully charged so we only had few pictures of the place.

Now, for this particular climb, we were also prepared for the best. We were prepared of course because we were able to reach the peak safe and sound at around 10:30 in the night. It was a night trek to the top with a hired guide pa! So, talagang well prepared kami!

Upon reaching the top, of course all were so weary and so hungry and so thirsty so that we were also quick to spot a place to settle down and cook dinner. All of a sudden, a kilo maybe or more of rice grains were all shouting to be cooked! Friends, Romans, Countrymen, Lend me your ears… here at the peak of Mt. Marami, can you hear them? From where are those grains shouting? At either Alquin’s or Vijay’s room back in IH!!! So, what??? Riceless dinner???!!!! Of course!!! ‘Imagine all the people ….’ is all what I can only remember of the song!

Our dig cam kept on displaying, ‘batteries depleted’ and our cooking pots shouted, ‘rice forgotten!’

I just sat down and traced each move of Jessie and tried to figure out if he and these other guys were fooling the girls. I was still waiting for them to tell us that they were just kidding but it seems that Jessie was serious. I then asked for the loaf and peanut butter that one of the guys carried but it was also nowhere to be found. I don’t know where it went; maybe back also to the “land of loaves!” We found out the following day that it had also been shouting overnight because it was left from where we took our last stop of rest.

Let me name our meal that night: 4 packs of pancit canton with calamansi and 2 egg noodles (in the usual package size), 4 small - sized canned goods, 2 small sachets of mayonnaise and 150? gms 3 in 1 ovaltine powder that Vijay and I bought at the Walter Mart in Calamba and to which I was able to carry in my backpack. That was it and nabusog naman po kami!

While preparing the noodles and coffee mix, the atmosphere suddenly became a shooting for a movie. I can’t only discern though if it was to be categorized as drama or comedy. (It’s still for nomination either for Famas or Oscar Awards). Who was/were the main actor/s? Ask the rocks in Mt. Marami. Marami silang alam better than we do.

Anyway, we still found ourselves to have enjoyed the climb. After our late riceless dinner, we spent some moments watching city lights from afar and shooting stars from above. No wishes however, were counted. Bakit kaya?

I became somewhat stupid that moment so that when I saw the blinking lights of an airplane, I made it a shooting star! It’s not common for me to make wishes upon a star, especially upon a shooting star so I don’t say anything upon seeing one except a tailed waaahhhhh… Of course, Vijay and Jessie who were beside me laughed at my shooting star!!!! Heh, inggit lang kayo! “Vero, why are you quiet there?” “Alquin, be careful! One mistake and you will roll down the slope.” Jenny became deaf. She was so engrossed with her music of the night in her MP3!

Around 2:30 in the early morning, that was Sunday na, we went back to our tents and joined Michelle who was already in Disneyland. (She was left in the tent when we passed time at the peak).

The following day, we continued the “shooting” with many pairs of batteries from Michelle’s backpack pocket and kahit papaano e, we were able to produce good pictures enough to tell that we were once at the peak of Mt. Marami. Supported naman with Jenny’s still camera - soooo… prepared kami talaga! ‘di ba?

Enjoyed the morning then had to pack again and hike back. I led the way down until our last stop the night before and found the “lost loaf bread and peanut butter” of Mt. Marami, still on its place. 'Twas good there were no roaming horses or cows during the night, kung hindi e wala na kaming pangbreakfast with the left-over na 3 in 1 ovaltine.

At nearly 11:00 in the morning, we reached the jump-off point at baranggay Ramirez in Magallanes. (please check). Prepared our lunch with the assistance of the Punong Baranggay. At last kakain na kami uli ng ‘rice.’ Ulam? A kilo or more of fish and cubed Indian mangoes, eh, green mangoes pala, tomatoes, onions and savored with salt. Wow sarap!

The group reached back IH at 4:00 in the afternoon. Call it a break!

(Mt. Marami has a rocky peak and stands at 840 masl according to a data from the internet that the group downloaded. A few meters before the peak are vine-like bamboos somewhat thick along the way. Slash and burn farming is so evident in most faces of the lower peaks. Some grassy areas get burned and this has something to do with grazing when rain comes.

A deep hole is found somewhere at one of the edges of the peak and is so dangerous especially at nighttime.

A night trek or bleak day trek is better since it’s deadly hot to hike during the day).