After Batulao, I consider Mt. Gulugod Baboy as one of the mountains in Southern Luzon that possess a gorgeous slopes and relaxing ambiance on the summit. Situated in Mabini, Batangas, a 2-3 hours land travel from Manila, it became famous because of its proximity and beauty. The name "Gulugod Baboy," or pig's spine English, was given because of its slopes and shapes that is similar to the pigs' spine. If you’re starting to explore the richness of the Philippines on the higher altitude, then this mountain is your perfect start.
THE TRAILS OF MT. GULUGOD BABOY: Its trail is perfect for beginners. From the jump off, it is an ascending walk on an uphill concrete 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 become sticky and slippery because of the mud.
THE SUMMIT AND CAMPSITE OF MT. GULUGOD BABOY: There’s a 360 degrees view of Batangas and the nearby towns and the sea breeze is cool and refreshing. The surface of this mountain is covered with a relaxing green grass while the slopes are picture perfect. The terrain is open, so if you're planning for an overnight, it is highly recommend to start trekking passed four oclock in the afternoon so when you reached the summit, it's already sunset. If a day hike, you can start trekking early in the morning.
REMINDER AT THE CAMPSITE: 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. Also, there are dogs strolling in the evening, trying to steal something from you, so make sure that your leftover foods and garbage are hidden. LEAVE NO TRACE. Mt. 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.
SIDETRIP TO 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 TO MT. GULUGOD BABOY AND SOMBRERO ISLAND: At the Jam Liner Terminal, in Kamuning, we rode in a bus bound for Batangas and alighted in Batangas Grand Terminal. We chartered a jeepney to PhilPan resort in Ligaya, Mabini, Batangas.