#zambal

[jezawitha-z]

The calm and peace that the ocean brings.

[joshleyson]

a deeper well.

On this exact day 5 years ago, I was in this same location ensconced by the towering mountains with an overlooking view of a calm, seemingly waveless ocean in the pre-summer blistering heat in San Antonio, Zambales. This time I get to come back with my OG friends slash Zamboanga childhood homies, my friend Karen Blaise who's now based in Clark, Pampanga, and my CPA Lawyer friend Abegail from Dumaguete. After countless discussions of reunions and "travel goals" with some of the important people that we know, and 99% of those plans that never came to fruition, we decided that we would make this outdoor camp happen, and thank God we finally made it happen.

I felt like that 2D1N camping trip was surprisingly one of the longest weekends I had this year. Having to disconnect from our phones for a while because the camping site had no service was the perfect setting for us to reminisce about our adolescent and high school classic moments and teenage angst and how those unforgettable stories from our past (and sometimes politically incorrect moments lol) shaped the people we are today professionally and personally. We had a great time recounting all the crazy stories we had more than a decade ago, planned future travels, played frisbee in the middle of the night, and went hiking after sunrise breathing the cold pre-summer wind overlooking the almost CGI-looking mountains in Zambales. My belief of having this type of "disconnecting" was further reinforced from this trip that, as much as I want so much social interaction with a lot of people, I also like to be alone with the few people I truly trust, and that being alone doesn't have to be lonely and solitude is actually a good thing.

☾

Being on the road while listening to Kacey Musgrave's Deeper Well album (shoutout to Track 6 Sway as my favorite track off the record) revealed so many truths about my current situation and the things I'm dealing with in my personal life, both good and bad, and how I strive to find peace in accepting the pain and the lessons it has taught me, and that I've already arrived in my final destination on some certain aspects of my relationships especially with the people that I love, and that I need to move on. 

My Saturn has returned. 

J

February, 2024 | Nagsasa, San Antonio, Zambales

(Photos were shot using Fujifilm Simpleace 35 mm camera + FUJIFILM X-T100)

Stream Kacey Musgrave’s Deeper Well on Spotify and Apple Music.

Instagram/TikTok/Twitter: joshleyson

[thegreatdenden]

A beautiful disaster indeed.

📍Mt. Pinatubo

[istariray23]

Bato ni Barang morning high tide...

"Bato ni Barang holds the whispers of ancient tales, the secrets of mystical realms, and the enchanting essence of a forgotten time. Within its rugged surface lies a wellspring of magic waiting to be awakened by those who believe in the wonder and mystery of the unseen."

[kuyajermsss]

CAWAG HEXA DAYHIKE 6 mountains. 26 kilometers. 17 hours.

Alam kong masyadong ambisyoso ang pag-akyat ko ng Cawag Hexa (7/9 difficulty) lalo na't Batulao pa lang ang pinakamahirap na experience ko sa bundok—which is 4/9 and just a minor hike.

But I was feeling very bold and confident, I took the challenge. Nasurvive ko naman ang first major hike ko hahaha.

Here's a quick recap (long post ahead):

Una pa lang, sinabihan na agad kami sa jump off na mag water ration. Dahil impyerno ang Cawag due to limited water source, and open trail with hardly any trees to shed from the sun's draining heat, kailangan mo talagang magconserve ng water for 15-20 hours.

Approx 4 hours daw paakyat ng 1st mountain.

We left the jump off at 2am.

Sobrang OA nung pagka-mabato ng trail, parang rock climbing na esp sa last part ng ascent. Certain parts of the trail are slippery. Mahamog na nga, malumot pa.

Syempre hindi kumpleto ang experience kung hindi tayo nadulas hahaha. Good thing wala namang injury but minimal scratches lang on knee. Tanga lang ako for thinking na kaya kong maglakad ng mabilis on slippery slopes despite wearing proper shoes. Wala pang first summit, may sugat na agad si tanga hahaha 😅😅

MT. BALINGKILAT (1100 masl)

Reached the summit by sunrise.

We were told that the ascents of 1st and 4th mountain are the hardest among the six. Naka-ilang 'take five' din kami jusq. Palakasan ng binti at baga itong unang bundok hahaha.

May water source sa summit, yun nga lang hindi ko sure saan galing yung tubig hahaha. Buti na lang malakas sikmura ko sa mga ganito.

The descent from the 1st mountain was the most challenging. Maraming nag-back out dahil dito. Mahirap nga naman kasi dahil sa big boulders + sharp rocks + knife edge. All these while under the sun. 🥵

BUT because I love rocks, and descents are my fave, sobrang na-enjoy ko tooo. Promise para ka lang nakikipag-patintero kay kamatayan hahaha. One small step and you're gone lol 💀

MT. BIRA BIRA (450 masl)

We reached the 2nd mountain by 9am. Too bad, walang signage kaya picture na lang daw as proof hahaha.

*Yung nasa likod ko, yan lang naman yung binaybay namin papunta sa pangalawang bundok hehe 😎

On to the 3rd mountain, banayad na yung daan pero jusq lusaw na lusaw na kami. Hindi kinakaya ng payong at ng pamaypay yung pagkabanas ko hahaha

Buti na lang at mabait si lord. Mga ilang beses din kaming binigyan ng clouds kaya temporarily nakasilong kami mula sa init ng araw. 🙏🏼

MT. NAULAW (450 masl)

Sobrang weird nito kasi itong bumagsak lang na posteng to ang palatandaan mong nasa 3rd mountain ka na hahaha

Wala ulit signage kaya picture na lang kahit hulas na hahaha

Continuing to the 4th mountain, may nadaanan kaming sapa. We decided to regroup and eat our lunch here. Pahinga na rin ng konti.

Anw, wala talaga sa plano ko ang maligo pero dahil banas na banas ako, nagbasa na ko just to beat the heat. Nagpatuyo na lang kami paakyat ng 4th mountain.

Also, huling water source na to kaya after this, tipid na talaga sa tubig.

Nalagas na kami dito. From 26 pax, 12 na lang ang naglakas loob na tumuloy. We were given an option earlier to exit at Bira-Bira, kasi wala na raw exit moving forward. Pag tinuloy mo, you rly have to finish 'til jump off.

Medyo gloomy na yung weather while climbing the 4th mountain. Somehow thankful because the heat from the sun's gone. But still, kabado pa rin dahil baka abutan ng ulan sa summit.

Wala na kaming idea gaano kalayo ang peak. Nilalaban ko na lang ang bawat hakbang kasi pamatay tuhod at baga din tong bundok na to jusq.

MT. DAYUNGAN (935 masl)

Exactly when we reach the summit of the 4th mountain, saktong bumuhos yung ulan. Wala na kaming nagawa, kanya-kanyang payong at kapote na.

The 5 of us in the lead decided not to wait for the rest of them sa summit, dahil bukod sa malakas na ang ulan, kumikidlat-kidlat pa. Bumaba na kami agad and went straight to the next mountain.

Walang signage + walang clearing. Next! 😂😂

Mas lalong naging challenging ang descent from the prev mountain all the way to the 5th mountain. Aside from the cold weather and heavy rain, madulas at maputik na yung trail. The odds of falling are very high this time hahahaha

Well, tumigil na rin naman yung ulan after 20-30mins, pero sobrang dreadful na maglakad because of our wet socks and shoes.

MT. CINCO PICOS (881 masl)

Hindi ko masyadong naintindihan yung talak pero parang sarado raw talaga at hindi pa binubuksan ang Cinco Picos, and will require more than a day to climb it. Kaya diyan lang daw talaga sa area na yan (am not sure if we were at the foot of the 5th mountain) ang mga Cawag Hexa hikers.

Huminto na nga yung ulan, pero umay na umay ako sa talahib. Parang 65-70% ng trail going to the last mountain puro talahib.

Sobrang taas, humahampas na yung talahib sa mukha mo, nahaharangan pa yung path. Madulas na nga yung trail, di mo pa masyadong makita yung dinadaanan mo bc of the tall grass.

Buti na lang talaga naka-raincoat and pants ako. Hindi ako masyadong nagasgasan hehehe

MT. REDONDO (660 masl)

Finally! Ang mga bagong graduates ng Cawag Hexa dayhike hahaha.

Sobrang solid din ng mga kasabayan ko sa lead group, mapupush ka talaga to move forward. Ang lalakas! 💪🏼💪🏼

Hindi na kami masyadong nagtagal dito sa last summit kasi nagparamdam na naman yung ulan. Nag-snacks lang ng konti, pahinga, tapos laban na ulit.

*Akala ko mae-enjoy ko na yung descent pabalik ng jump off. Puro talahib pa rin pala jusq. Umay talaga. 😤

We arrived at the jump off by 7pm. Tinapos ang Cawag Hexa in 17 hours. Pinilit madaliin pabalik para di abutan ng dilim at ulan sa damuhan hahahaha.

Still amazed with my ankle mobility kasi naka-ilang tapilok at dulas ako pababa pero dedma lang hahaha. Hindi naman ako na-injure hehehe.

So that's it. I'm keeping a lot of core memories from this hike 💖

At para sa mga taong nakausap at nakasama ko sa akyat na 'to, congratulations sa ating lahat. Pwede na mag-G2? 👀

Di ko alam na pre-climb pala ang Cawag Hexa for G2. I guess, kitakits na lang sa susunod na ahon!

[scramboileditlog]

Coto Mines, Masinloc, Zambales

Di ako masyado nagni-nature tripping kasi sa road trip na part lang talaga ako natutuwa. Pinilit nga lang ako sumama dito pero di ko ini-expect na sobrang ganda ng place na to. Yung tubig sobrang clear kahit malalim. Ang ganda pa nitong spot na sinuggest nung local guide parang pagmamay-ari namin tong lugar. 😂

"My Perfect You" movie was filmed here too dun sa kabilang side yung Kidz Pool.

Sobrang rewarding nung mahabang biyahe from the south and almost 2 hours na off road sa mismong Masinloc just to get to this place. Sana makabalik ulit ako.

[heyaics]

021624//📍Coto Mines Masinloc Zambales ✨

[themakeupbrush]

Miss Universe Philippines Zambales 2023 National Costume: Lakapati

Lakapati, also known as Ikapati, is a pre-colonial deity worshipped by the Tagalog people of the Philippines. She is considered to be the goddess of agriculture, fertility, and harvest. Lakapati was responsible for ensuring the success of crops and the abundance of harvests. Farmers would offer pravers and sacrifices to her in the hopes of receiving a bountiful harvest. She was also believed to be the protector of farmers and their families. The costume exhibits the beauty and physique of the wearer while showcasing the elements of harvests like grains, carabao horns, and "lusong" or mortar. The color green symbolizes fertility and abundance, while the color gold represents prosperity and royalty.

[zenzennzense]

hell hike with a scenic view

[lonelyicedcoffee]

Any reco sa Liwliwa good for 2 pax. Yung mag private bathroom sana

[jezawitha-z]

▫️Beach | Mountains

📍Zambales

🗓️April 27-28, 2024

Another bus and hike journey. I'm really looking forward to do this atleast once a month. The fulfillment of hiking does for me is really amazing that I can't even put it into words.

I'm not really into beach i swear 😅 so i was just there to finish reading my book and watched the sunset. That was perfect. Yup, that's how skinny i am right now and I'm still working on it to gain some weight.

I really appreciate our big sister/mom/friend Aileen for bringing us to her place in Zambales. I'm grateful that I influenced my colleagues to do hiking.

With my boys—well, kinda boy and kinda girl, mas girly pa sakin mga 'to. Skin care palang nila jusmeyo tinalo na ako na babae hahaha that's why I'm just really comfortable around them.

I can't even believe that this is happening, that i let myself to be with these people, that our vibes really suits well. Last year, lagi lang talaga ako mag isa mag lunch, mag break at wala lagi kinakausap sa work. Kasi sabi ko, ayoko ma attach masyado sa mga ka work ko since yung environment na to ay alam kung aalis at aalis sila anytime soon either sila or ako. And ending nun, sepanx naman ako malala kaya kumakausap lang ako normal sa work at hanggang doon lang.

Not until this past few months na talagang nakakausap chikahan ko sila habang nagtatrabaho, nakakasama ko na lagi mag lunch and break time. Tapos ngayon outdoors pa. Kaya lagi ko sila binibiro na walang magreresign kasi yung sepanx ko malala. Hahahaha 😆 pero syempre di ko parin naman hawak buhay nila. Basta sa ngayon, inienjoy ko nalang moments with our circle of friends.

[meta-holott]

1978 Philippines, Central Luzon, Zambales, Aetas tribe, nomadic hunter-gatherers

[heyyyypril]

beachin

[thegreatdenden]

I've got so many backlogs that I feel the need to dump the happenings of my life here, even though nobody asked. Tumblr has been my refuge from this cruel world. Haven't had Facebook since the last quarter of 2022. Along with that, I archived all my photos on IG; it's just stories now. Mostly motivational quotes and random reels. I rarely post about my travels too because there are too many gossipmongers with shaky big mouths. IYKYK. 🤣

After x number of years, my friends and I finally managed to crawl out for a reunion. Even we’re not complete. I still cherish the fun days when we were teens, a solid crew of 14. And now, just 6 of us remain tight. Half of them don't hang out anymore because they're either in relationships, getting married, already hitched, popping out kids, christening them, or starting businesses. Lol. It's true, you know, reaching a point in life where friendships get outgrown. But that doesn't mean we stop cheering for each other's successes, even if we're not in touch or hanging out as before. Monday drama, right? Anyway, I just want to say that we finally made it happen. Dang!

[istariray23]

"As the sun rises over Sabang Shoreline in Sta. Cruz, Zambales, its golden rays dance upon the gentle waves, painting the sky in hues of warmth and wonder. Let the morning light awaken your soul to the beauty of a new day, filled with endless possibilities and the promise of adventure ahead."

Happy Sun-Yey Morning EveryJuan and mga Ka-Tariray!

🌅🌊 #MorningMagic

[seannesruins]

📍Liwliwa Beach, San Felipe, Zambales

Inside Cafe - Cold Brew 8/10. Need ko sana yung mas matapang haha.