Zambales '08 1: Impromptu Mountain & Cave Trekking

Ms. Beng, ako, Ynna, Levi, Rye, Mark (RIP), the Basco sisters (Marly & Tina).

From ms. Tina's cam.

Dec. 21, 2008: Two years ago, the poets of LIRA traveled north to teach poetry to teachers & students in Sta. Cruz, Zambales. May diving sa susunod na araw, pero ang di namin alam, may sidetrip pa pala kami sa mismong Dis. 21.

Ang sidetrip: hiking up and down a mountain to reach the Sagrada Familia Caves. It was my first time to go spelunking -- although we were terribly overdressed (naka-smart casual kami ni Ynna) because we had been prepared to teach, not to trek! Hehe.

2nd time ko palang pumunta sa Zambales for 2008 (the first time for STS Subic, and yes, my first diving experience).

This album is a bittersweet reminiscing, too: this was the first and last time that we were on an out-of-town trip with poet-mountaineer Mark Schwab, who joined his creator in 2009. Pre, pakitagay mo na lang kami sa mga anghel ha.

Madaling-araw nagkita-kita ang mga tao sa Philcoa. Before 9 AM, nasa Zambales na kami, where we were treated to breakfast at Mayor Luisito Marty's house. Dumeretso na kami sa Sta. Cruz North Central Elementary School para magturo ng tula sa pamumuno ni sir Michael M. Coroza & then-LIRA President Beverly W. Siy. (STS Overall Project Coordinator pa lang ako nito, and 2 months away from being elected LIRA President. Kaya mukha pa akong totoy!)

Dahil hindi pa kakailanganin ang mga LIRA workshop facilitators sa morning lecture, ms. Bebang sent us on an excursion to the caves, escorted by local folk. (Bale iniwan namin si sir Mike. Sorry po!)

Excited kami, siempre. Ang kaso, di namin alam na aakyat pa pala ng bundok! Buti na lang at may baon kaming tsinelas. The hilarity of how our pa-pormal clothes are backdropped by the rugged environment is demonstrated by the photos below.

Sakto ang balik namin para sa tanghalian at afternoon STS session...at nasa susunod na album na 'yun.

Halo-halo na dito ang mga kuha mula sa cam ko, kay Ynna, kay ms. Beng, at kay ms. Tina. Pagpasensyahan niyo ang mga pangit kong kuha -- medyo bago-bago pa ang DSLR ko nito at wala pa akong muwang sa tamang composition, among others.

Full album list of our 12/08 Zambales trip:

• Part 1: Impromptu Mountain & Cave Trekking


• Part 2: Teaching Poetry, Mayor's Party


• Part 3: Subic Tour (Spanish Gate to Shipwreck)


• Part 4: Subic Bay Diving (Again!)