Mount Manalmon (San Miguel, Bulacan)

After “discovering” the famous Seven Lakes of San Pablo, I once again decided to look for friends who were interested to scale a beginner-level mountain anew. 

While browsing Pinoymountaineer.com, my mountain reference site, I scoured the website for mountains that would cater to non-advanced trekkers, and I chose Mt. Manalmon, which was located in San Miguel, Bulacan. 

According to the said site, trek time duration to the summit Mt. Manalmon takes only an hour. Out of a scale of 1-9, this target destination had a difficulty of only 2. Trail class is 1-2 out of a high of 5.. Class 1: The easiest hike you can take. 

Class 1 means you are on a well established trail the entire time. No route finding skills are needed, and the trail is usually well signed so it’s damn near impossible to get lost. 

Class 2: Stepping up in the world. Class 2 is defined as hiking that could require some route finding skills and may take you over boulder fields or loose rock slopes (loose rocks are also referred to as “scree”). There is a chance you will need to use your hands for balance. 

So, given those details, off we went last September 29, 2013. 

Before we departed from Metro Manila, we all met at the Five Star Bus terminal along EDSA, Cubao, and surprisingly rode the Cabanatuan-bound vehicle at 5:45 AM. Surprising, in the sense that, this was the very, very first bunch of travelers I had who arrived several minutes before the agreed departure time of 6:00 AM. Hats off! Fare was at Php 117.00. 

Five Star Bus Terminal, EDSA, Cubao

We alighted the bus somewhere in Barangay Kamias in San Miguel, Bulacan, and rode tricycles towards the jump-off area near Mount Manalmon. 

Arriving at the jump-off area at around 8:30 AM, we took photos near the Madlum River, wherein the waters were not that clear due to a downpour the previous day. 

Madlum River

Before the start of the trek proper, we had to cross to the other side of the river via a Balsa (bamboo raft) ride worth Php 5.00 per person in order to pay the Registration Fee (Php 5.00 per person) as well as to discuss with the Madlum Guide on what sites in the area do we prefer to explore. 

Balsa Ride

Discussing with the Madlum Guide

After that, we went back to the jump-off area (another Php 5.00 Balsa ride), and began our “supposedly” easy trek at around 9:30 AM towards the summit of Mount Manalmon. 

One major thing we failed to analyze was despite the good weather we were experiencing now, we did not take into consideration the fact that last night, it was raining hard, and therefore, most of the trail that welcomed us was very muddy…tumaas bigla ang level of difficulty. 

The initial parts of the trail were steep uphills and downhills, and after only 15 minutes of these “obstacles” we all rested under a Mango tree. 

Timeout under a Mango Tree

We rested anew after 30 minutes at a rocky stream to refresh ourselves for the final ascending portion. 

Resting at a rocky stream

Finally, after a 1.5 hour trek, which should have been less than an hour, we conquered Mount Manalmon. 

At an elevation of 160 meters above sea level, with Mount Gola and the Madlum River seen at a distance, the view was breathtaking! 

Summit of Mount Manalmon

We started trekking down at 12:30 PM, and once again, we experienced the ankle-deep muddy trail, and after an hour, we arrived at the jump-off point with grumbling stomachs as we rushed to a nearby carinderia and ordered spaghetti (that was the only food at that time). Due to exhaustion, I even drank two bottles of softdrinks to refresh my weary body and had ice cream too from a sorbetero. 

Lunch amidst exhaustion...whew!

After finally filling up our stomachs, we rode a Balsa from jump-off point going to the other side anew since the next part of the trek would be the Madlum Cave exploration, which I did not join due to lack of energy…oldie na e argh. 

Before they went spelunking, some of them dared themselves to cross the so-called Monkey Bridge situated high above the Madlum River, which had no harness. 

Crossing the Monkey Bridge

The Madlum Cave is a prominent feature in the Angat Limestone Formation which occupy most of the whole reservation of Biak-na-Bato National Park and is considered a shrine by the people of San Miguel, Bulacan.

Madlum Cave

While they were inside the cave, rain started to trickle down and after several minutes, a heavy downpour ensued. 

When they arrived back near the Registration Area, they all freshened up, and then paid Php 960.00 (Php 80.00 per head) to our Guide. 

As the heavy rain continued to fall, we were warned by the folks around that if the river would continue to rise up, we would be forced to cross the Monkey Bridge because the Balsa had no capacity to go through raging waters, therefore, we quickly decided to leave the Registration Area via the Balsa going back to the jump-off point. 

As if our arduous trek has come into fruition, we never knew that the last part may have cost our lives. 

Due to the bad weather, before crossing to the area where the tricycles were parked, we have to cross a small concrete bridge with nothing to hold upon. Sounds so easy, but when water overflows, the bridge vanishes from our sight, thus we could only trudge it by feeling what we were stepping on. A miscalculation would turn you into an instant "driftwood" in the Madlum River. 

Crossing an "invisible" bridge...scary!

We were dropped by the tricycle at a gas station along the main road in Barangay Kamias. 

After purchasing some Bulacan delicacies, we then hopped on an ES Transport bus going back to Manila.

The trek to Mount Manalmon could have been a lot easier had it not been for the muddy trails we had experienced, but after that kind of torture, it made it more rewarding for a group expecting only a Level 2 mountain to be a lot more than that. 

For those who just want to experience a beginner level mountain, Mount Manalmon is definitely a recommended place. Just make sure it did not rain the previous day….whew. 

 Explore Pinas!