The Other Realm that is Mt. Pinatubo

It resulted from a re-scheduled activity.  Came dawn of Saturday, we found ourselves alighting from a bus at the Mc Donald’s branch in Capas, Tarlac, me, my 2 brothers - Dino and Drei, and my cousin Ryan.  It was a good 2 hour trip, spent mostly sleeping, and at past 5 AM, we were ahead of our scheduled arrival.  While waiting for the vehicle that was going to pick us up, we had cups of coffee to counter the early morning chill.  Surprisingly, we were joined by a number of other people eating breakfast or just simply sipping their coffees as well.  Like us, they were also probably waiting for their rides.  Like us, they were also probably headed to one of the town’s leading tourist destination.  Mt. Pinatubo.

To the few who still have not heard of the place, Mt. Pinatubo is an active volcano situated in the vicinities of Zambales, Tarlac, and Pampanga.  Its explosion way back in June 15, 1991 is considered to be the second largest terrestrial eruption of the 20^th century.  I was 11 years old when that eruption took place, and I can still remember how the day was turned into night by the sheer amount of ash spewed out from the volcano’s mouth that prevented the sun's light from entering the atmosphere.  It devastated thousands of hectares of lands and dislocated thousands of families.  But at present time, thousands flock to the mountain to enjoy the beauty of its view which is said to be incomparable.  We have yet to find out.

The drive to Brgy. Sta. Juliana in Capas, the place where all visitors make their registration before proceeding with their tour to the crater, took about 30 minutes.  That part of the trip had been quite relaxing for me personally, due to the scenery mainly.  Wide valleys, rolling hills, foggy mountain slopes, that and the early morning mist.  It was a scene that one gets to enjoy only in movies nowadays.  It was rare, and I was glad I was seeing it again there.

The number of visitors gathered at the Tourism Office in Sta. Juliana was large.  Being there was like being in a festival of some sort.  The crowd varied in ages, class, even nationalities.  But everyone seemed quite friendly, and the overall mood was somewhat jolly.  After the registration, we boarded our 4x4 service again, this time with our tour guide who also had with him our lunch, and proceeded to our destination with much anticipation.

As soon as we rolled out on the 4x4 trail, our cameras just started shooting.  In front of us was a vast expanse of land covered in ash and enclosed by ranges of mountains and mountainous ash formations.  It was a picture straight out of a fantasy movie.  Think of The Lord of the Rings in particular.  What reminded us that we were still in the real world was the constant sighting of locals going about their daily activities, and the horde of scribbles made on the hardened wall of ashes surrounding us.  The trail was challenging, but at the same time fun.  We enjoyed the bumps and the constant feeling that the 4x4 was going to turn over whenever we had to course through slopes and cross rivers.  That part of the trip lasted for about an hour, and then it was time to continue on foot.

The trek to the foot of Mt. Pinatubo can be compared to a walk on the beach, except that the beach had walls of mountains of hardened ashes on both sides, and instead of wading on salt water, it was crossing cold spring water from streams.  What made the trek more exciting (to some frightening), was that you were literally at the mercy of Mother Nature herself, and the weather.  While walking, you can actually hear and see some of the ashes crumbling down, and a heavy downpour of rain will actually wash you out as evidenced by the tree trunks and branches scattered along the trail.  For the most part of the trek, you were also at the mercy of the sun since it was barren desert all over.  Shade will only come once you reach the foot of the route going to the crater, and once at the crater, words will no longer matter.

Speechless.  That’s how we all were when we first caught sight of the Mt. Pinatubo crater.  At that moment, I actually uttered a silent prayer to God, thanking him for the opportunity and chance he gave me to be there.  The sight was simply magnificent, and no word can describe its sheer beauty.  And though many may not agree, the simple additions made by the tourism authorities of Tarlac accented the natural beauty of the famed tourist destination.

We decided to eat lunch first before proceeding down to the crater lake to take a dip.  The meal, which was provided by the tourism office as part of the tour package we availed, was composed of adobong manok bathed in oil, hard-boiled egg, a piece of tilapia, tomato, and steamed rice.  I enjoyed the adobong manok best.  By the way, should anyone have any craving for a cold soda, you can actually buy them there at almost triple its regular price.  Personally, I think the pricing is fair enough considering the toil one has to go through just to get it up there.

Swimming at the crater lake is discouraged due to the uneven water level.  But I don't think anyone has ever heeded that advice.  We didn't, and so did the other visitors enjoying the cold water of the sulphur bath.  Some of the visitors, particularly those from other countries preferred sunbathing.  The others pitched their tents.  Most took pictures.  Everyone enjoyed.

We stayed for almost 2 hours at the crater - swimming, taking pictures, taking others' pictures - before deciding to leave for we still had a long trek back, and a longer trip back to Manila.  At the tourism office, we had our showers at a nearby house for P40 per head, then had Kuya Joel, our 4x4 driver, take us back to Capas to wait for the bus back to Manila.

It's been years since I first learned of the trips to the Mt. Pinatubo crater, and from then on I've been itching to go there to see for myself its beauty that I've only been able to see in pictures through the net.  Last Saturday's visit had been a dream come true.  Asked whether he'd still be coming back, my brother Dino replied probably not, merely because of the long trek needed to reach the crater.  But me, it's a different story.  Regardless of the long trip to Capas, regardless of the dusty 4x4 ride, regardless of the long trek, regardless of the expenses involved, I'd be back any chance I get.

Our itinerary

4:00 AM -  boarded bus (Dagupan Bus Lines) to Capas, Tarlac
4:15 AM -  departure from Cubao
6:00 AM -  arrival in Capas (Mc Donald's)
6:15 AM -  departure for Brgy. Sta. Juliana
6:45 AM -  arrival at Brgy. Sta. Juliana
             -  registration
7:00 AM -  start of 4x4 ride
8:09 AM -  end of 4x4 ride, start of trek
9:24 AM -  arrival at the foot of the Mt. Pinatubo crater, rest
9:29 AM -  start of trek to crater
9:50 AM -  arrival at the crater
             -  take pictures
             -  ate breakfast
10:36 AM -  descend to crater lake
               -  take pictures
               -  swim
12:17 PM -  start trek back to 4x4 parking station

1:57 PM -  arrival at the 4x4 parking station, start ride back to Brgy. Sta. Juliana
3:00 PM -  arrival in Brgy. Sta. Juliana, take a bath
4:00 PM -  leave for Capas
4:30 PM -  arrival in Capas, eat lunch
5:30 PM -  board bus back to Manila