musings

Got back from Mt. Tapulao in Zambales. It was a nice getaway for a weekend climb but I'll never climb that mountain again. The trail consisted of stones, rocks and more stones and rocks. I have a blister in my dainty right toe. And it hurts like hell.

I enjoyed the company of the climb group. There's the usual cast of characters like Mama Mench (I have a new name for her), Melody, Eloy, Pat, Mau, Bien, Armin and our fearless group leader, Lorie. Fortunately for us, the trainees assigned to us were a strong bunch. There's Jason (the Queen of this batch), Maricar (who likes to whine), Rendo (a twink, kinda ok for a 1 night stand. Lol) and Happy (who strangely looks like Luli Arroyo. Lol). Most of them are all easy to get along with.

Fortunately, we had good food and a good pine convered campsite. That more than made up for that lousy, hot, rocky trail. Jason cooked a mean pasta meal. I liked the sauce better than the pasta. I brought a whole rhum butter cake. Simon and Shrub lined up for it. I didn't know what Mench and the others had but I left them half the cake. Knowing those hogs, they ate it all! Lol.

My kinda lazy to do a blow by blow account of the climb because I hated the trail. It won't be fair to the nice and funny things that happened during the climb. So I'd rather give the highlights in bullet points.

• I saw this trainee named Alexis, who everyone thinks looks like me, winded, at the 1st water source. How can he look like me when he's short (5'7 feet) and fat. Ok ok I'll admit he's fair skinned and bald. But he's fat and I'm not. I'm a svelte hunk. Lol. But no way he looks like me! I'm tall, cute, bald and reasonably fit with a slight (yes slight) belly. Lol.
• Aling Otik (Ane) needs to examine her pacing. I saw her a couple of times asleep by the trail while her trainee, Francis and he was at a loss on what to do.
• I gave Francis some tips on how to trek up. I also told him that at 42 years old, there are members like Kuya Lito and Pedro who are much older and faster. Apparently it worked!
• Jenny's head finally, yes finally, hit the string holding the sweepers' tarp up. Jig Jig saw this and teased her. I fell off my chair laughing. Picture a midget getting her head caught in a line.
• I needed a tarp for the kitchen area so we can sit on it. Doc gave his tarp to someone else. So I had to ask Shrub (aka Johnny) to lend me his tarp. He (the vermin) asked me to to say three times that De La Salle is better than Ateneo, LOUDLY.
• I ended up drinking in 2 places: with the group of Pam and Greg and the sweepers area with Pres. I saw Bing fall on his back, drunk and dead to the world.
• This bunch of trainees gave the worst presentations during the socials. The look alike contest was even better.
• Jason should have given his "Supermodel" rendition in the presentation. That would have been funny.
• On the way home, the bus should have passed a decent restaurant where we could have had some food.

I'd like to join the 2nd climb but it might fall on sister's birthday. Hmmm... I wonder if the BMC will move the schedule. I wonder if they'll move the schedule for the acquaintance party since I'll be in Bacolod land. I doubt it though. I ain't President anymore and I've been reminded about that so many times. Lol.