MAJESTIC MASUNGI GEORESERVE

limestone galore

There's only one way to describe Masungi Georeserve - MAJESTIC!

I scaled that monolith

If you have plans of visiting the place, don't worry, this article isn't going to be a spoiler alert. It's just that, I have fallen in love with the place it's hard to have some form of abandonment. I saw a friend's photos when he visited the place. I initially looked up means of getting there. Apparently I wasn't the only one who liked the post. Friends from Advocates for Heritage Preservation  (Pheeyah Salones and Ofie Palma) had the same thoughts as I did. Thanks to Tim Delez, arrangements were made with Ms Elvie Manlulu  for us to visit on the 19th of June. The deal almost fell through after some invitees backed out after learning of the 3:30 a.m. call time.

Wild ground orchid

I was grateful that a party of six expressed interest in joining so all systems were a "go". I was at the eyeball point at half past two. This was due to extreme excitement that the trek was happening on the appointed date. Otherwise I would have had to wait for another slot in September. Whilst motoring down to Baras, the rain started to pour in torrents. Our scheduled slot of a five a.m. was delayed by 45 minutes. But thank God for the downpour, our entire trek was not as  infernally hot as I'd expected.

*photo by Pheeyah Salones

Masungi Georeserve is located at Km 45 Baras (Tanay) Rizal. It is over a thousand hectares of protected area nestled along the Sierra Madre mountain range on the eastern side of Luzon. only about a third of it has been developed for recreation the rest is (thank God) primordial forest. The name Masungi is a derivative  of the word "sungki" meaning jagged. Formerly ancestral lands occupied by Dumagats, the poor indigenous groups were driven away from their precious lands by illegal loggers and poachers. Fortunately, the illegal logging groups have been restricted from the area by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and proclaimed it a protected area. 

me and Pheeyah Salones

Participants are made to sign waivers and signature drives to SAVE MASUNGI. An orientation is given and safety gear is distributed to the party. Groups are limited to 12 persons to allow the guides control over park visitors' attention and safety. I tell you, sometimes you can be unmindful of certain narrow passageways and jagged rocks because there's just so much nature to breathe in. Elmer was our assigned guide. He was courteous and knowledgeable of the plants and the terrain (he is Dumagat, after all). I am having sepanx (separation anxiety) after leaving the place. Proof of fact is, I have 255 photos of the land, flora and a few fauna (just insects).

Nanay peak

The experience was even made memorable with a tasty lunch at Cafe Katerina a few minutes drive away. Native cuisine made even better overlooking the view of Tanay, Pililia windmills and Laguna Lake.  For those who want to experience Masungi, they have a Facebook page or look up Kilometer0PH for bookings. It is so worth every cent of admission paid. 

Thank you, Ms Elvie Manlulu of Kilometer 0 PH for arranging the tour and Masungi Georeserve. This was one for the books!!!

after the trek Masungi Bagets Group