Mount Gulugod Baboy is situated in Anilao, Mabini, Batangas, 2-3 hours travel from
Manila. The name Gulugod Baboy, pig spine english, was given because of its slopes and shapes, similar to pig spine. If
you’re starting to explore the richness of the Philippines that can be
found on higher altitude, then this mountain is your perfect start.
The Trail | The trail of Mount Gulugod Baboy is perfect for those
people starting their career in mountaineering. From the jump off, at
PhilPan Resort, it’s an ascending walk on an uphill road, by the
village. Then, walking on a well-established trail up to the summit,
passing by the residents fences. The terrain has a combination of
shrubs, cogon grass, hardwood and fruit bearing trees and vegetables,
cultivated by the locals. During dry season, the trail is friendly but during wet season, the terrain has a
thick and sticky mud. Also, since these trails are the passage way of the horses and carabaos for transporting their goods, expect something messy.
The Summit | On the summit, there’s 360 degrees view of the province
and the nearby towns. Need to Consider | The wide camp site
and the summit serve as the greener pasture for cattle’s, horses and
goats; it is recommended to take care of your stuff before sleeping.
Another thing, there are dogs strolling every night, trying to steal
something from you, so make sure that your food and garbage are hidden.
Mount Gulugod Baboy has a super wide, as in wayyddd
camp site. According to the residents, these wide grasslands are
owned by private individuals and some of these people might be
collecting fees from the hikers, aside from the registrations fees at
the jump off.
Sombrero Island | After enjoying the nature's beauty above,
our next destination was the small island. Its name Sombrero was derived from its shape that looks like a baseball cap. We
chartered a motorized boat at PhilPan Resort to the islet. Travel time –
15 to 20 minutes. In this islet, there’s a narrow white sand beach with
colorful sea creatures. Need to Consider | The water current is really strong, especially if it’s high tide, so please take care!
How to Get Here | At Jam Liner Terminal – Kamuning, we rode in a
bus bound for Batangas, and alighted in Batangas Grand Terminal. Rented
a jeepney to PhilPan resort in Ligaya, Mabini, Batangas.