Berks' Climb at Mt. Batulao

We had our climb at Mt. Batulao last Friday (January 25). We started our trek at around 10pm. Yeah, night trek po eto.. hehehe. Fifteen kami lahat and 8 of them are first timers. We had our pre-climb meeting last January 18 pa kaya nainform ang mga first timers regarding sa mga dapat dalin and gagawin (thanks to Apol). Here is the list of the trekkers (in trail order):

01. Apol - ang aming EL (expedition leader). Maraming salamat sa successful na climb. Salamat sa pag guide sa min. Salamat sa mga tent and sa cookset. Salamat sa pictures.

02. Alma - ang first lady ng aming EL. Salamat sa pagbibigay ligaya sa aming EL... hehehe! Berks ka na rin.

03. Renz - ang aming Bombshell babe.. Hahaha! Salamat sa paghawi sa trail ng mga ebs.. Joke! We're so proud of you Renz! Di namin ineexpect na trail monkey ka pala.

04. Ayi - ang pinacute na husband! hehehe! thanks sa mga singit sa pictures! hehehe! Papable talaga!

05. Emma - ang pinakacute na wife! hehehe! thanks sa kakulitan sa pag gising! Salamat sa pagluto ng brunch! Wag ka na malungkot sa pagkawala ng cap mo... May mag reregalo naman sa yo ng ganun... hehehe!

06. Joan - ang pinacute sa cutest! hehehe! Salamat sa mga makukulit na tawanan, makukulit na jokes and everything.

07. Kiko - ang mabuting guide ni Renz! hehehe! Salamat sa trail foods. hehehe!

08. Curls - ang gusto maulit ang pag akyat!

09. May - ang nakakabilib na climber.. napapabilib mo ang ibang tao, di sila makapaniwala nakakaya mong umakyat. Proud kami sa yo, kasi wala kang takot. Aja! aja!

10. Marco - ang walang pagod na guide ni May and Marlee.. Napakagaling!

11. Marlee - ang nag climb kahit galing sa sakit. Salamat sa pagsama kahit galing ka sa sakit. Napasaya mo kami sa yong presensya lalo na si Marco. hehehe!

12. El - ang dakilang climber na ayaw maarawan.. hahaha! Salamat sa masarap na dinner and sa pag prepare ng ating food. Napagaling na food commitee.

13. Magic - ang dakilang guide ni El... sabi ni bing isa kang SM hehehe!

14. Agnes - ang ayaw na ulitin ang pag akyat pero nag enjoy naman at nasiyahan nakapunta sa camp 10? Sabi nga nya "wala na bang mas mataas sa camp 10?" hahaha!

15. Karl - ang aming sweeper & dakilang guide ni agnes. Salamat sa isang pulis pangkalawakan na flashlight! hehehehe.

Haaaaaaaay!!

Whoa! Time flies so fast. It’s already February and it seems like yesterday when I spend my first Christmas and New Year without my family. My saddest holiday season I may say. It feels so unusual that they’re not around. Well, I know we will be able to spend more Christmas and New Year soon, together.

Haaaaaaaay!! (With a deep breath) That’s what I usually do every time I feel sad or a distressing thought pop-up my mind. Sounds like I can’t breathe. And it had been helpful to me coz it helps me divert my attention on the way I breathe. hahaha! 2007 had been a great and tough year for me. At first I thought “ok pa, ok lang to, ok pa lahat” then came the last quarter of the year. Right now, I’m in the state wherein I cay say “nakaya ko yun? Akala ko di ko makakaya.” Last year, naramdaman ko lahat ng pwedeng maramdaman ng isang tao -extreme happiness, extreme sadness, love, extreme love, fear, guilt, excitement, peace, uncertainty, certainty, denial, longing, comfort, security, satisfaction, embarrassment, pride, confidence, strength, anxiety, jealousy, helplessness, reassurance, courage, faith, hope.. and the list goes on.

Haaaaaaaay!! I’m only human and I know we’re allowed to make mistakes; we’re allowed to wallow in our hurts. But we just have to keep going. We actually have no choice but to keep going. Life is beautiful and God is good! Life is a non-stop rollercoaster of a journey, a continuous reassessment of priorities and values, and the one and only chance we have to be the best that we can be.

I know that every single person we meet in our life is a part of us. Whether they were someone we shared our life with, they influenced us in a good way, they hurt us and made us learn a valuable lesson, they were mean and so we vowed not to be mean like them whether the person wore something we liked, smiled and warmed our heart, made us laugh, or cry, all that, is part of us.

For 2008, I’m looking forward for the good things that will happen, and of all the things I’m going to accomplish for this year. I’ve learned to see what I have right now and be thankful for it. And now I’m learning to see what I’ve lost before I can open doors for bigger and better blessings that will come later on.

Haaaaaaaay!! c”,)