Climb 031: Climb for the Master's Cause

DESTINATION 1: Mt. Batulao 811 MASL

JUMP-OFF POINT: Evercrest Golf Course, Nasugbu, Batangas

SPECS: Minor climb, Difficulty 4/9, Trail class 3

SIDE TRIP: Chateau Royale

CLIMB DATE: November 11, 2012

With Marc being in a house arrest due to his injury, I took the initiative to organize events for his cause to raise funds for his upcoming surgery. It was pretty difficult to get people to respond to it because the people in TEAZone group page didn't know me and had not met me in person yet.

Still, I diligently sent out invites and even sent them a private message in FB. Most of these invites and messages ended up ignored. The people whom I had sent the invites and messages were probably had this in mind, "Why her?"

Marc was silently listening to my updates regarding pledges that some had placed. I asked the help of other TEAZone intimates such as Allan Ostrea, Jefferson Aligato, and Lei Inciong. And they have actively helped me out. Some wanted to be anonymous because of the fact that there was an obvious tension between Marc's ex-gf, who is closely associated with TEAZone intimates and participants as she is an active facilitator herself. marc didn't want to entertain the negativity and was merely focusing on the positive side and was asking me to do the same. I heeded his advice.

The day came and I was able to gather 5 people (namely: Lorna, Joseph, Jill, Meggy and Pauline) to climb with me. We were to do a dayhike and were to end the event at a man-made rock for some rock-climbing adventure. It would depict Marc a lot.

We were behind the schedule but were luckily able to squeeze the rock-climbing activity in the event, thanks to my connections in the mountaineering society.

We had some bulalo dinner in Tagaytay before heading back to Manila. I went straight to Marc's house and was surprised that he had his college friends as visitors. He introduced me to them and I only shared a thought or two before heading towards the bed as I so tired from the climb.