By Joel B. Belinan
Almost 25 years ago I was more into mountaineering or anything related to nature. It could have been trekking/hiking, rock climbing, spelunking and the like. Martial arts then were set aside for the time being. Those times could be considered my prime years, when trekking for 3 to 5 days with 30 kilograms on my backpack was nothing to complain about. Even at a few hours’ notice, a trip to a new mountain or cave destination was immediately accepted. Ah, yes, those years were when ecotourism in the Cordillera and the Philippine was only being introduced.
That time I was very fit. With my medium frame and a height of just 5’5’’ my weight was always between 57 to 59kgs in spite of my always good appetite. I was, and still am, a strict vegetarian but I ate a lot with not much effort to watch my calorie intake. Of course, while in the wilds maybe hiking or exploring a cave, I had to be contented with whatever budgeted provisions we had. A couple of sliced and deep fried veggie meat, taken with just two pieces of wheat bread would often suffice for lunch. A wild fruit or a salad of wild vegetables we chanced upon along the way was always a welcome treat for the long trek. It gave us the much needed fresh energy our bodies badly needed. These also would break the monotony of eating the cold food we brought with us from the city.
During those years when I was not in those wilderness trips, I never missed a day without a long run in the morning, at least 16 kilometers. Those days, nobody even my younger buddies could cope up with me when it came to endurance. A straight 5 day trek with a full 30 kilogram back pack was ordinary then. In fact, whenever we passed through far flung villages we attracted so much attention due to our oversized back packs, or should we say, our houses on our backs.
The result of those years of mountain or wilderness adventures, and in many instances underground adventures was we were able to assist some Benguet municipalities and of course the province in the opening of some ecotourism spots. Those included the Ambongdolan cluster of caves in Tublay, the Aran cave in Kennon Road, Tuba, Benguet. Some members of our group also provided assistance in the opening of Mt. Ugo in Itogon. I personally led the assessment of Mt. Kabunian and Mt. Tenglaoan in Bakun.
We also led several summer climbs of Mt. Pulag in cooperation with the Governor’s Office and the Department of Tourism. We also conducted several trainings on mountain search and rescue, high angle rescue, rope obstacle course and rope management, and, yes, the first and only eco-challenge in Benguet that featured its then emerging ecotourism spots.
One thing was a certainty. When I was deeply involved in sports in the wilds, my health or fitness was at its best despite the risks that came with the adventures. **
Latest update on sports– The national IATF announced this week that they are giving their go signal for the return of crowd drawing sports, particularly, basketball and football. The PBA just announced the resumption soon of this year’s season. **
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