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San Rafael, Bulacan: Mt. Secret
posted on Saturday, May 6, 2023
Taking on Mt. Secret in San Rafael, Bulacan early April 2023 was quite a welcoming shift from major climbs to a beginner-friendly hike. With a height of 376 MASL, Mt. Secret is considered a minor climb with 2 out of 9 level of difficulty. I was looking forward to this adventure as it is also for work. I was assigned to produce stories in time for the summer vacation. And do you know why the mountain is called Mt. Secret? According to the municipal tourism officer, there are apparently tons of secret passages in the area. And it is not surprising to know that Filipino soldiers used it as hiding place during the Spanish colonization.
Travel time from Quezon City to San Rafael, Bulacan is roughly around two hours. We were at the jump-off as early as 6am. After registration and securing a local guide, we were off to document the hike. First stop is the Malangaan Cave. It usually takes around 15 minutes to pass through the cave. Don’t forget to bring a headlamp as it is dark and narrow inside.
Expect an hour of open trail up Mt. Secret with a minor assault via unique rock formations. The summit offers a 360-degree stunning view of the province with a glimpse of Mt. Arayat. Also, don’t miss conquering the White Rock formation beside Mt. Secret. It has been described as ‘batong buhay’ by the municipal tourism officer and classified as a high-category kind of marble. After the hike, take your time dipping in Malangaan Spring.
This may have been a minor climb but it took us one whole day to finish the shoot. Click here to watch the aired segment.
See also our climb up Mt. Apo, Mt. Pulag via Ambaguio-Tawangan traverse, Mt. Napulauan, Kibungan Cross Country, Tarak Ridge, Mt. Ugo, Mt. Pulag via Ambangeg Trail, Mt. Pulag via Akiki Trail, Mt. Arayat, Mt. Balagbag, Mt. Amuyao, Mt. Pigingan and Mt. Timbak.
Malangaan Cave San Rafael Bulacan 1
Malangaan Cave San Rafael Bulacan 2
Malangaan Cave San Rafael Bulacan 4
Malangaan Cave San Rafael Bulacan 5
Malangaan Cave San Rafael Bulacan 6
Malangaan Cave San Rafael Bulacan 7
Malangaan Cave San Rafael Bulacan 8
Malangaan Cave San Rafael Bulacan
Malangaan Spring San Rafael Bulacan 1
Malangaan Spring San Rafael Bulacan
Mt Secret San Rafael Bulacan
White Rock San Rafael Bulacan 1
White Rock San Rafael Bulacan 2
White Rock San Rafael Bulacan 3
White Rock San Rafael Bulacan
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About Mona
Certified as a PADI rescue diver. Got my first compact camera in 2011. I was simply content then to just capture a glimpse of what I see during my dives. It was only last February 2014 that I fully maximized the use of manual macro settings.
My camera skills and knowledge are still a work in progress. Enjoy browsin’!
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