#sablayan

Boneheaded groupfie

Posing with my FEU (Far Eastern University) team and the forest rangers of the Tamaraw Conservation Program (TCP) in the TCP midway campsite in the Iglit-Baco National Park, Province of Occidental Mindoro; while I am holding a skull of an endangered juvenile Tamaraw (Bubalus mindorensis) that poachers had killed a long time ago.

This picture was taken circa 2011, during the Annual Tamaraw Count activity of the Tamaraw Conservation Program (TCP) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to monitor the status of the critically endangered Tamaraw (Bubalus mindorensis) in the Iglit-Baco National Park. I was participating in the Annual Tamaraw Count from 2011 to 2014 as a representative of the FEU, as it was in our mandate to help in the conservation status of the Tamaraw being the mascot of the FEU.

Tent nap selfie

Trying to catch some zzzz’s in our campsite kiddie pop tent atop the Iglit-Baco National Park, Province of Occidental Mindoro. Apparently my team from the Far Eastern University (FEU) was thoroughly entertained to see me attempt to fit myself into a small tent and took this picture.

I have used many tents in my years of climbing and camping; from a Vietnam era A-frame canvas tent to a Coleman™ dome tent, however our purchasing officer from the FEU dissuaded us from bring our own tents as they claim to have purchased and tested the tents we were bringing to our climb. We were unable to inspect or test these tents, as they were complete wrapped and packed in our supplies. Little did we know that these were the PHP 300 kiddie tents sold in the nearby Isetan Mall along Recto Avenue in Manila.

So we had to build our own tents out of plastic garbage bags, the rope, and duct tape. And since everyone was crammed into the makeshift tent on that day, I tried to make do with our little pop-up tent.

This picture was taken circa 2011, during the Annual Tamaraw Count activity of the Tamaraw Conservation Program (TCP) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to monitor the status of the critically endangered Tamaraw (Bubalus mindorensis) in the Iglit-Baco National Park.

Jeepney overload groupfie

Overseeing the loading of supplies on top the jeepney of the Tamaraw Conservation Program (TCP) forest rangers, in the Municipality of San José of the Province of Occidental Mindoro. The supplies were for a Christmas community service mission our team from Far Eastern University (FEU) held for the indigenous Buhid and Alangán people of the Mangyan groups residing within the Iglit-Baco National Park.

The Buhid and Alangan peoples are part of the 8 Mangyan ethnic groups found in the Island of Mindoro, and they are crucial in helping TCP in their efforts to conserve the dwindling populations of the endangered indigenous Tamaraw (Bubalus mindorensis) in the Iglit-Baco National Park.

This TCP is a specialized branch of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

The jeepney we used is much larger than the typical passenger jeep, and has a 4X4 wheel drive to traverse the rugged terrain to transport personnel and supplies to the TCP basecamp at the foot of the Iglit-Baco National Park.

The jeepney may have originated in the early 1950s from repurposed World War II Willy’s MB and the Ford GPW U.S. Army 1/4 ton 4×4 trucks, but the Filipino’s knack to decorate and rework their motorized vehicles to add more passengers began in the 1930s with the introduction of the autocalesa that were reworked and highly decorated DKW (Dampf-Kraft-Wagen) and Austin Bantam of the Bacharach Motor Company (BMC).

For more information on the history of the Philippine Jeepney, I wrote the blog article: “Aurora Boulevard, Quezón City: The History of the Jeepney and Jeepney Art” (https://lakansining.wordpress.com/2018/11/29/aurora-boulevard-quezon-city-the-history-of-the-jeepney-and-jeepney-art/)

This picture was taken circa 2011, as I was also preparing to topload ride on the roof of the jeepney.

Final destination selfie

Mid-climb of the Iglit-Baco National Park, Province of Occidental Mindoro. Yes, my team from the Far Eastern University (FEU) and the forest rangers of the Tamaraw Conservation Program (TCP) were on our second day of our climb towards our campsite at the other side of the mountain.

This picture was taken circa 2012, during the Annual Tamaraw Count activity of the TCP of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to monitor the status of the critically endangered Tamaraw (Bubalus mindorensis) in the Iglit-Baco National Park.

Fake Flex selfie

Cropping a photo to appear like a lifestyle influence disembarking a private airplane at the San José Airport in the Province of Occidental Mindoro.

I am actually alighting off a 1998 Bombardier Q300 DHC-8 Dash 8 turboprop aircraft of Airphil Express, as I was part of team from the Far Eastern University (FEU) on a Christmas community service mission for the indigenous Buhid and Alangán people of the Mangyan groups residing within the Iglit-Baco National Park in the Province of Occidental Mindoro.

The first San José Airport was a single strip airfield that the Americans build in 1934, and a second wider airfield was built in 1944 as the Atkinson Drome during the start of the US Liberation of the Philippines. In 1945, it was renamed as the McGuire Field, after the Medal of Honor recipient Major Thomas Buchanan McGuire Jr. (1920-1945) who went MIA (missing-in-action) during a sortie from Leyte to Negros. The airfield was constructed into a commercial airport in 1951.

This picture was taken circa 2011

Postscript:

Boiling frog selfie

Taking a calm and cooling dip in a stream near the base of the Iglit-Baco National Park, Province of Occidental Mindoro. Little would we know that after the respite from days of climbing around Mount Baco (elevation of 2,488 meters / 8,163 feet above sea level) and Mount Iglit (2,364 meters / 7,756 feet above sea level), we would face a greater challenge of crossing a 300 meter long forest path on fire of a kaingin (slash and burn) farm.

This picture was taken circa 2011, during the Annual Tamaraw Count activity of the Tamaraw Conservation Program (TCP) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to monitor the status of the critically endangered Tamaraw (Bubalus mindorensis) in the Iglit-Baco National Park.

For more information on my experience on crossing the blazing kaingin farm in the Mounts Iglit-Baco National Park, I wrote the FB memoire: “Random Memories: Ring of Fire” (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10159358432891404&set=a.10159242840496404)

Things to do in Pandan Island, Sablayan, Mindoro, Philippines

If you want a quiet retreat away from the party crowd in Puerto Galera, go to the gorgeous Pandan Island. On this tropical island with a resort in Occidental Mindoro, you’ll surely be in for a treat! It’s a gateway to a UNESCO World Heritage and one of the best diving destinations in the world, the Apo Reef. Here’s our list of things to do in Pandan Island! Photo from Wiki.mjmasangkay CC BY-SA…