San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan: Mt. Balagbag

posted on Monday, February 21, 2022

“Hanap ka bundok, akyat tayo sa Sunday.” This 2022 post-Valentine’s day invite from the hubby sure made this love month beyond compare. Our last climb was before the COVID-19 lockdown last March 2020. And though we have been itching to climb after travel restrictions eased in 2021, we just couldn’t risk taking public transport amid the pandemic. And so, we brought our own car to the jump-off for the first time (ever!). Our mountain of choice is Mt. Balagbag. Hikers can opt to climb from Sitio Karuhame/Sitio Balagbag in Rodriguez, Rizal or take the Dumagat trail from the side of San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan. Being a minor climb with a 3 out of 9 level of difficulty, the Rizal jump-off is great for newbies. The Dumagat trail, on the other hand, is a more challenging route.

We scheduled our Sunday hike with the CSJDM Yapak Tour Guides. They are a community-based organization composed of Dumagat Tribe members and also accredited by the City Tourism Office. They manage the ancestral domain of the indigenous people within the area. And to protect the trail, they provide IP guides for interested hikers for the cost of P350 for a maximum of 5 pax per group. Registration/access fee in the Tourist Assistance Desk is P50 per person. Hikers are required to present their vaccination card and one valid ID. They also have an allotted parking space near the jump-off for only P50/day.

We started our ascent by 5:20 am. We were introduced to our guide---56 year-old Ate Inds San Jose. She is a Mindanao native who got married to a Dumagat. There are around 30 IP guides in the area but due to the pandemic, some had to find new means of livelihood. As of the moment, CSJDM Yapak Tour Guides have around less than 10 active IP guides. They are optimistic that the easing of travel restrictions can help promote their local tourism.

Mt. Balagbag is situated between Bulacan and Rizal. Due to its horizontal position along the two provinces’ boundaries, it is branded in Tagalog as “pabalagbag” or placed crosswise, which is also where the mountain’s name is derived. It took us 1 hour and 20 minutes to reach the 777 meters above sea level summit of Mt. Balagbag and around 1 hour and 14 minutes to descend. It was great to be back on the trail after almost two years of no hiking. I certainly missed catching my breath through the dark route up and savoring the cool breeze while enjoying the overlooking view on our way down. Though the Dumagat Trail is mostly covered with trees, there is also a part that is wide and open to sun exposure. It's highly recommended to start your climbs early or in the late afternoon.

Taking in the sunrise view of the panoramic Sierra Madre mountain range was the weekender treat I needed from my work from home setup. I couldn’t believe it took us this long to schedule a trek amid the pandemic. I am hopeful to see fellow hikers with satisfied smiles upon reaching the peak. May this signify the long-awaited boost in local tourism in PH' new normal.

To schedule Mt. Balagbag climbs, just message the FB page of the CSJDM Yapak Tour Guides.

See also our climb up Mt. Apo, Mt. Pulag via Ambaguio-Tawangan traverse, Mt. Napulauan, Kibungan Cross Country, Mt. Purgatory Traverse, Tarak Ridge, Mt. Ugo, Mt. Arayat, Mt. Pulag via Ambangeg Trail, Mt. Pulag via Akiki Trail, Mt. Amuyao, Mt. Pigingan and Mt. Timbak.