Mt Sembrano Dayhike

January 4, 2014
First journey ng taong 2014, Mt. Sembrano.
Mt. Sembrano is located at Brgy. Malaya, Pililia, Rizal.

I will never forget my experience in Mt. Sembrano. We almost lose in the forest along with my friend. We didn't get a guide in order to go to the mountain since the brgy. personnel told us that the trail is easy and must turn left at Licudan st and just walk straight then right at the Manggahan area. Both of us didn't know the area since we are new in the area. My friend is a first timer hiker and he just want to experience new things. 

         

Nipa hut along the trail

As we arrived in the barangay hall we register for Php 20.00, they also get our number in case of emergency. As we walk to Mt. Sembrano we didn't know that we have to turn right when the first nipa hut, we just walk and walk until a man told us that we are far from the trail to Mt. Sembrano and need to return from the nipa hut. He also told us that we have to pass by the bukohan. As we return to the nipa hut, we saw a man and ask where to Mt Sembrano, luckily he told us the right way. As we continue our walk to Mt. Sembrano, we encounter a group of mountaineers descending from their climb. They are from Pililia Rizal that conduct their camping at the summit. We asked them if the way is easy to track and no "ligaw" trail, they told us that it is easy.

 Group of mountaineers from Pililia Rizal

We continue our walk and reach the what they call "Manggahan", the manggahan area is a private place thus we need to pay Php 20 as a fee as we enter the premises. After passing by the manggahan area and continue walking, we encounter bouldering. This bouldering is quite tricky as we got lost again for the second time around, we didn't know that there is a right turn again at the bouldering. We reconnect again the trail and found the real trail to Mt. Sembrano.

 Manggahan (private property)

After those lost and found experience we reach the grassland where you can see the north and south peak of the Mt. Sembrano. We though that we can't reach the top but thanks God for keeping us believe that we can reach the summit. When we reach the grassland of Mt. Sembrano, I feel disappointed from what I saw. Part of the grassland where being fired as they conduct "kaingin" in the area. As we go to the South peak we encounter a group of mountaineer descending from their day-hike adventure.

 Mt. Sembrano's grassland

We walk for around 4 hours in order to reach the summit of Mt. Sembrano and took some memorabilia (pictures) at the top. You can see the Laguna de Bay at the top, other part of Laguna like Sta. Cruz. You can also see Talim Island and mountain Mt. Makiling located at Los Banos, Laguna.

View at Mt Sembrano's grassland

 

View from Mt. Sembrano's Summit; Pointing at Mt. Makiling

 Views from the Mt Sembrano's Summit; right side: Sta. Cruz, Laguna

Group of mountaineer resting at manggahan area

After some picture taking at the top, we decided to descend. When we reach the manggahan area, we saw the group that we saw at grassland drinking buko juice that kuya freshly get from one of the coconut tree in the area. The coconut was sold for only Php 10.00. We decided to take a rest before going to the Manggahan Falls which is just a minute away from the manggahan area.

Mountaineer preparing lunch near the falls

 We continue our journey at Mt Sembrano, we go to the manggahan river that is a minute away from the manggahan area and saw another set of mountaineer preparing their lunch. We just refresh for some time and took some picture and decided to go down the mountain.

  We walk and walk until we reach the town, tiring but priceless. We go to the barangay hall to tidy up before leaving the barangay. We eat our lunch at Jollibee Tanay.

Mt. Sembrano Route and Elevation

ITINERARY
0530 Assembly at Valley Golf, Cainta, Rizal. Take jeep to Tanay, Rizal
0630 ETA Tanay Rizal; take jeep to Pililla (there’s a queue of jeeps in the terminal)
0730 ETA Brgy. Malaya, Pililla (jump-off). Register.
0745 Start trek
0930 ETA Manggahan
1045 ETA North Peak
1130 ETA South Peak (summit)
1150 Start descent.
1315 ETA Manggahan Falls.
1445 Back at jump-off, tidy up then take jeep back Tanay
1630 ETA Manila