Maria Makiling, kilala din sa tawag na Mariang Makiling, batay sa kwento ay isang Diwata o Lambana ng bundok ng Laguna dito sa Pilipinas. Sinasabi sa matandang kwento na isa siyang napakagandang babae  imahe ng walang bahid dungis. Sinasabi din na naglalaho ang mga kalalakihan na nagtutungo sa bundok na kung saan andon si Maria Makiling, Naging parte na ang kwento ni Maria Makiling dito sa Pilipinas, Nagkaroon ng iba't ibang bersyon. At ikaw din marahil narining mo na din ang kanyang kwento.



 
Traversing Mt. Makiling from Sto. Tomas Batangas to Los Banos Laguna via Sipit Trail is an extreme adventure, or a journey filled by a combination of trail running, seemingly endless trekking, a rock climbing or ridge scrambling and rope action.

Registration Area

The Guides (Hindi ko alam mga pangalan nila)

At 7:15 AM my friend Tina and I (from Mindoro) arrived at San Felix Sto. Tomas,  Batangas at the Sea Oil gas station as the landmark of that place and near the gas station there’s a tricycle terminal, where we rode again going to Eco Park Sitio Jordan (registration area) and we paid 70.00 good for 2 persons (Special ika nga nila). No registration fee is required at the Sipit Trail but if you’re first timer in that trail they recommend to hire a guide for the hikers we paid P50/head.

At the jump off : Flora - Mimie

Ann - Mimie - Tina - Flora

Samu't Sari Mountaineers sabi ni Manong pero hindi naman

Past 8:00AM we started our quest, the trail is gradual and rolling until we reached the station 2.

Sipit Trail

There is no registration, one simply follows the woodland paths until you reach the old house, an inhabited landmark. Beyond it lies the eroded river that is marked by signs starting with Station 1. Further up is a wooden barn where numerous goats stay; it is known to early mountaineers as Kambingan. Take the trails left of the eroded river until you reach the convergence point with the Palanggana Trail. To make sure that you are on the right track, follow the left trail and you should reach Palanggana Peak within 3-5 minutes. Then head back and follow the rightward trail that leads to the Melkas Ridge Campsite. 

the start of the very challenging trail 

Sir Derick  and Manong Guide

Station 2

Years ago they call it (Kambingan) because they used the area for the goat and now lambingan (Hindi ko na tinanong kay Manong Guide kung bakit) and they made as station/rest area for the hikers and water source also.

Station 2: Kambingan

  After we passed the station 2 Kambingan - we were panting for air as we continued the climb. 
We could tell the challenge is on.

 

 

Ann in Action

We were blessed with good weather, We took our Take 5 (5 minutes rest) while others were having a good photo opportunity.

Mimie (Diwata sa Puno)

Ann : Peace

We took our lunch near at the campsite - Station 14

The trail is characterized by abundance of plants and trees, challenging roping segments and some parts were still masukal, after all it is a rainforest.

I can say all of our  parts (katawang lupa) were used in this trek especially because of the ropes of this slippery trail.

There were some parts where you literally had to climb/crawl the trail through the ropes because it's almost 70degrees. It was a luxury to see a flat ground and we'd scream for joy if we found one. 

Assaulting Haring Bato 

Flora's rope moment

Mimie - Ann

Mimie

Flora

Ann

1st Major Climb - Tina

Haring Bato is a rock face that you’ll pass by as you approach closer to peak 3 of Mt. Makiling. On its left side is a very steep trail that has ropes to guide you on your way up. You can grasp on some of the shrubs here while holding the rope and securing your feet. Assuming you can balance well, the given ropes should suffice.                

                    

Ang may Pakana! Mam Jeddah

 View on Top

Finally after the rope action and obstacle trail. This is it Pansit!

ang babaeng walang kapaguran...Mam Jeddah

KALADKARIN at mga NAKALADKAD

Mr. sadface

Going to Peak 2 is the most memorable part for us.
Di ba Ann? ^_^

I remember Mt. Halcon with the mossy forest.

Peak 3

After a picture taking, (konting kwentuhan sa mga nangyari) at the summit, we packed up again and prepared ourselves for a long descent.

at the Summit Peak 3 - Mt. Makiling

There was a time during our descent while walking we felt like forever and we just wanted this trail to end. (Sobrang nakakaurat ang trail) We started descending at 2PM but we reached Agila Base at 4PM, I think. (wala kasi akong relo)

Finally we reached the Aguila base they said that we were almost near but when where at the long wide boring road (Naririnig ko na ang reklamo ng mga paa ko, akala namin malapit na yun pala mahigit 3 kilometro pa pala.)

 Yes!!!!!!! Finally we reached the registration area at the UPLB and I survived.

Matapos ang nakakaurat at paliko-liko na trail pababa.Sumisigaw ang mga tuhod ko sa tuwa

SALAMAT SA MAY PAKANA. MAM JEDDAH. MUAH...MUAH..TSUP..TSUP..