Conquering Mount Pinatubo and Making Friends with the Enemy

The turquoise crater lake of Mount Pinatubo

It was 20 years ago when Mount Pinatubo triggered a cataclysm in Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales and other nearby provinces. The eruption of this long-dormant volcano is considered as the largest eruption in living memory. Yes, it was supposed to be dormant. This sacred abode of Apong Namalyari of the Sambals and Aetas just woke up from its long long slumber and unleashed its centuries old fury.

Pinatubo Crater Lake on August 1991 (from Wikipedia)

I hail from Angeles City, Pampanga and was still very young when the eruption happened. I remember a large cauliflower cloud hovering in our horizon. The only difference was unlike real clouds, it didn't move. It seemed like a bad omen for an event of apocalyptic proportion.


I guess we were luckier compared to those who lived closer to the volcano. We only had to move to our neighbor's house which was sturdier than ours as we were afraid that our half-century old house might not be able to contain the loads of ash spewed by the volcano. We didn't have electricity for some time and had to content ourselves with eating cans of Ligo or 555 sardines while listening to news on DZMM or songs like Peter Cetera's "If You Leave Me Now" on the FM station. It was worse for other people.

Generally, it was as if doomsday arrived. Houses collapsed. Families uprooted. Friends separated. Infrastructures damaged. Lives lost. And memories...for some they're the only precious possessions they've got.

It begins with a bumpy 4x4 ride

Then, a taxing 2 hours or more of trekking

Canyons galore

Boulders blocking the driveway :)

Zooming forward to the Facebook era, the once loathed Mt. Pinatubo is now a favorite tourist destination. Its turquoise crater lake with its cool to lukewarm water depending on the weather is a sweet relief from the dust and smog of the city. Never mind the bumpy 4x4 rider and the 2 plus hours of trek especially now that the skyway leading to the crater is closed for maintenance which would have made the trek shorter by an hour and a half. The picturesque canyons and boulders along the way make up for the extended trek. It may be physically taxing but I bet everyone was having the time of their life.

Finally, heaven!



The Bagets kids reuniting in the lake

I am glad to have been part of Letsgosago.net's ‘Akyat Pinatubo’ Bloggers’ Climb for a Cause' last June 4th. Together with 24 other bloggers and guests, we conquered the once unconquerable Mount Pinatubo. This is the first event I attended as a blogger and it was great to mingle and bond with other people with the same interest. 

Bloggers with BIG HEARTS

I have to admit it was an exhausting activity but on a lighter note, it gave me the chance to make FRIENDS with the giant monster of my childhood.