The Tagaytay Peak of Sinoron - 747 MASL

A new mountain attraction in Sta. Cruz was successfully launched on February 17, 2023 by the Sinoron Tribal Workers Association (STWA). Locals call it Tagaytay Peak as it stretches from a dominant Sinoron ridge connecting several other sitios of Landig, Pilan and Centro. 

Prior to its launching Tagaytay Peak was already utilized as part of the route of previous trail races in Sinoron such as Sinoron Eco Trail Run and Sta. Cruz Trail Marathon. The peak measures 747 MASL and the total distance from the barangay hall is only 2.8 kilometers. Along the trail highlights beautiful sceneries such as Mt. Loay in Zone II, Sinoron's Mt. Dinor, Mt. Bugis of Saliducon and Mt. Matutum of South Cotabato. 

The entire summit belongs to the Bagobo-Tagabawa Ancestral Domain which is why certain documents were secured prior to its opening such as the Memorandum of Agreement from Kapiid Ka Banua, Inc. and Protected Area Are Management Board resolution. The management of STWA prefers to accommodate day hikes only until the campsite will be fully equipped with important facilities like water source, among others. 

A more challenging traverse trek from the summit to Pilan River's Rock Formation and Bagon Spring can be an option for trekkers to undertake. 

The barangay hall of Sinoron serves as the registration point of Tagaytay Peak. Registration fee is 50 pesos per person and guide fee starts from 500 pesos for a group of 5 guests. No one is allowed to climb Tagaytay Peak without a local guide.  

Tagaytay Peak is the latest offering within the Sinoron Ecopark which already has popular attractions Mt. Dinor, Pilan River, Tacub Laya Falls, Kasisi Falls and Dumagok Falls.  

Photographs from Bogor City, Indonesia

I am sharing a set of photos taken during my 6-day stay in Bogor City, Indonesia during the 7th ASEAN Heritage Park (AHP) Conference. This city situated 2 hours from Jakarta is blessed with a lot of natural landscape. 

The Novotel Bogor Golf Resort was my home for 6 days, definitely an excellent hotel within Bogor that offers wonderful recreation facilities and a unique waterscape in its facade. From a pampering experience in Novotel we travelled to Mt. Gede, an AHP-declared area which is considered as a natural tourist attraction. This nature park offers beautiful canopy of rainforest with amenities such as campsite, established trails, culture-inspired function hall and attractive suspension bridges.

Here are some of the photos. Enjoy. 

My participation to the 7th AHP Conference was made possible through a nomination from DENR XI Regional Executive Director Bagani Fidel Evasco, which was also based on the humble conservation works I have undertaken both officially and personally for my most beloved mountain in the country. I was with the Mt. Apo Protected Area Superintendent Forester Archelito Mallari together with the rest of Philippine delegation from different AHPs. 

At the outset I would like to thank Mayor Jose Nelson Z. Sala, Sr. for allowing me to join the conference, as well as to our Municipal Administrator Atty. Michelle O. Orpilla.

SMB’s "Trees Brew Life" enables me to Plant Trees for my Children

The 2022 version of Trees Brew Life program of San Miguel Brewery, Inc. (SMB) happened in Carmen, Baguio District, Davao City on September 8. It was in close coordination with Euro Generics International Philippines (EGIP) Foundation, an entity that has been propelling sustainable management of ancestral domain forests in the hinterlands of Davao City, now being handled on the ground by my very good friend in Big Year Davao, Inc. Joshua Donato who have successfully reciprocated SMB’s drive towards reforesting key sites in Davao Region. Carmen is still within SMB's area of concern because Davao City is a long-time venue of its business particularly on beverage marketing and distribution. Also, SMB always look for other appropriate places where it can radiate its advocacy on environmental conservation and protection. 

Trees Brew Life has been one of the most comprehensive conservation programs undertaken by a private sector, and this latest partnership with EGIP Foundation gave me (and my club LOGSAC) heavyweight reasons to be involved with despite it not being held in Sta. Cruz this year because two of my very close friends were at the forefront of it, Joshua and Meggy Santos of SMB. Yes, the last two years of this program were conducted in the mangrove reservation sites of Sta. Cruz. 

The exact location of this year’s tree planting and nurturing is close to Panigan River in Carmen, Baguio District, an Ancestral Domain of the Ovu-Manobo which recently faces several challenges due to encroachment of non-IP migrants establishing activities and projects not commensurate to be undertaken within an ancestral domain, a thing which is very common nowadays anywhere else in the country. We reforested one hectare of the site using native tree species in an area bounded by a very important river system and a Local Conservation Area of montane rainforest which according to Joshua a dwelling place of the Philippine Eagle and other critical wildlife within its range.

I planted 15 seedlings during the event. The rest of my team from LGU Sta. Cruz and LOGSAC also contributed the same numbers. It matters as usual to be able to make sure that the planted seedlings should survive, which gives us reason to be back here and check if the planted trees grow. Personally I dedicated two seedlings to my two daughters Majesta and Zara because they deserve a healthy environment when they grow old. I planted one seedling for my wife, too, because just like you and me a fitting gift to our love ones should be more than just cakes and flowers.

Again, I would like to thank SMB for always inviting me and my group to take part to the Trees Brew Life program, especially to Plant Manager sir Larry Santos and to its Communications Manager Meggy Santos for always a good partner in terms of conservation and ecotourism development in Sta. Cruz. Rest assured that LOGSAC will always be an active participant to your endeavors in the future within and out of Sta. Cruz.

I am deeply gratified that despite some busy schedules you were able to made it to this activity Nelson Geralde, Jose Froilan Miagao and Delmer Carillo.