MT. TIBIG CIRCUIT: THE BIG SCENE FOR LOBO AND HER NEIGHBORS
By: Ramon Q. Gayas Jr. (Ser Montaineer)
MOUNTAIN ADVISORY: CLOSED to hiking activities, as of November 08, 2016.
OVERVIEW
“The summit with views of island, mountains and the sea; within
the province bounded by mountain and sea”
A potential hiking destination which offers magnificent views of island,
mountains and sea is the hidden landscape that connects Batangas City and
Lobo Batangas known as Mt. Tibig Range. This mountain is technically under the jurisdiction
of Sitio Tibig Brgy. Talahib Batangas City and at the same time a portion range
of Mt. Banoi Lobo Batangas which is the reason why Prof. Anacleto Caringal of Batangas
State University named it “Tibig Range”. The name Sitio Tibig was adapted from the
moraceous tree “tibig” (ficus nota) which is abundant in that place before.
Tibig means “tubig” (water) since this tree species helps restore, conserve and
recharge spring water along mountain slopes and also serves as an indicator of
high water reserve. According to Prof. Caringal their group’s climbing
expeditions up the Tibig Range started in the year 2009. On December 11 of the same
year, his team from the Society for the Conservation of Coastal and Mountain
Ecosystems (SCCME) celebrated the Annual International Mountain Day at Tibig Range. Thereafter, they also frequented the grassland
and forest of the said mountain to study the Population Density of “Bayuko” (Rysotta).
In the
present time, the community of Hulong Banalo Lobo Batangas served as the jump-off point in climbing Mt. Tibig. This is accessible from Lobo Poblacion
within 20 to 30 minutes travel via local tricycle ride. The trip going to the
jump-off area will passing the coastal areas of Lobo where you can see some marker of attractive
beach resorts as if reminding you of another possible activity after the hike. A
short rough road travel after, the community of Hulong Banalo will be revealed.
At this point, one would feel a totally different atmosphere and community. The people’s
simple way of living is pretty noticeable; local residence raising livestocks,
poultries, and piggeries are very imminent. Locals show their spirit of warmth
by allowing visitors refill their water supplies or even to use their places as
temporary resting place. Thus, hospitality and the simple way of living of
the barrio folks are among the best attractions that this place offers.
Continuing on to the trail to Mt. Tibig, one
will be treated to some different fruit bearing trees; fruits are presence along the way like mango, citrus and Lobo’s famous
fruits; the sugar apple and tamarind. Picking up some for consumption is not prohibited
by the locals, an added treat that hikers can enjoy during the trek especially when
the fruits are in season. Climbing up Mt. Tibig is pretty laid back; this is
only 1.5 to 2 hours to complete the trek up to the summit. Most importantly,
the spectacular views waiting at the pasture summit of Mt. Tibig offers a
priceless feeling of exhilaration to the mountaineers.
TRAIL
TO SUMMIT (DILAWAN TRAIL - SITIO TIBIG)
ROUGH ROAD TO DILAWAN TRAIL |
The trek usually
starts at the last basketball court of Hulong Banalo, the first part of the
trail is a cemented pathway which connects to a short rough road, which then
leads to a small intermittent river stream. The river can get deep after a
rainstorm, hence, depending on the season; hikers might have to prepare to
cross waters during the trip. Crossing this marks the start of the Dilawan
Trail and its trail head can be found inside the left woodland. This trail
offers a challenging steep terrain however, the trail is well established, one need
not feel unsafe throughout the 45 minutes to 1 hour ascend. Locals called it “Dilawan”
because of the strong presence of Turmeric or “Luyang Dilaw” (Curcuma Longa) in
the area during the early 1980’s, however; it is now rarely seen along the open
trail and forest interior. While passing
through this trail take time to observe on several open areas to have a
glimpse to the blue ocean span of Lobo. After an hour of trekking through the
woodland of Dilawan trekkers will reach a place where there is only one house
standing and this will indicate that Sitio Tibig, Batangas City has been
reached. From there, the grassy slope of Mt. Tibig can be seen; a confirmation
that the summit is not that far behind.
MT. BANOI AS VIEWED FROM MT. TIBIG |
Once the
top of the grassy slopes has been reached, hikers will have a chance to have a
360 degree view of the entire span. Interestingly enough, it has been observed
that as one goes higher, the view becomes more exciting to look at. While approaching
the grassy part of the ridge, you will be able to see little by little the back
side of Mt. Banoi displaying its lush green forest. At the slope prior to the
summit, the Lobo San Juan Mountain Range (LSJM) presents an enchanting sight to
behold. The Lobo river delta is also noticeable while the vista of the magnificent
coastline formation of Lobo Beach is spectacular. And once you reached the
summit, directly in front of you, is the breathtaking view combination of
island, mountains and sea; the Verde Island over the sea passage including the
scenic range of nearby mountain peaks of Batangas City --- Mt. Pulot Itaas and
Mt. Pinamucan. Taking the descending trail facing the Verde Island will give
you a closer view of it and on the trek back, some interesting cliffs beside the
summit will be seen.
AS VIEWED FROM MT. TIBIG |
AS VIEWED FROM MT. TIBIG |
CLIFF BESIDE THE SUMMIT |
AT THE CLIFF: SUNRISE AND LSJM ON THE BACKGROUND |
AT THE CLIFF: LOBO BEACH ON THE BACKGROUND |
AS VIEWED FROM MT. TIBIG |
CIRCUIT TRAIL (SITIO BANOI - HULONG BANALO)
HEADING TO SITIO BANOI |
Since Mt. Tibig is in between two towns which is Batangas City and Lobo, a traverse is always an option. The trail from the summit facing the isla verde may lead hikers to one place in Batangas City, while the trail in Sitio Banoi is definitely another gateway to reach the Mt. Banoi.
Overall, Mt. Tibig is a worthwhile hiking spot, with friendly trails and highly recommendable for beginners. Most of all, the exploratory spots and scenery makes it a pleasurable adventurous destination. (See Itineraries, Special concerns, Sample Budget Computation and Trivia below)
LAYON |
3rd VISIT June 29, 2014 |
2nd VISIT May 01, 2014 |
1st VISIT November 02, 2013 |
Mountain’s Profile
|
Jump-off: Sitio Hulo, Brgy. Banalo, Lobo, Batangas
Entry Point / Exit Point: Hulong Banalo - Sitio Tibig -
Sitio Banoy - Hulong Banalo
Elevation: 560+ masl
Days required: 1 to 2 days
Hours to summit: 1.5 to 2 hours
Specs: Minor Climb
Difficulty: 2/9
Trail classes: woodland trail, grassy trail, river bank
trail
Features: Community, Exploratory, Scenic views, Coastal
view, Fauna and Flora, River, Seasonal Waterfalls
|
Transportation: Fare as of June 29, 2014 and travel time:
BUS - Manila
to Batangas City (P157, 1.5 to 2 hours travel)
JEEP -
Batangas City to Lobo Jeep Terminal (2 rides, P10 each, 30 min travel)
JEEP -
Lobo Jeep Terminal to Lobo Poblacion (P56, 1 hour travel)
TRICYCLE -
Lobo Poblacion to Hulong Banalo (last basketball court) (P120 special ride, 20
min travel)
Note that
last trip in Poblacion Jeep Terminal going to Batangas City is 1700 while in Batangas
City Bus terminal going to Manila is 2030.
On the
other hand, for jeep rental you may contact kuya Mario Cortez at 09183801147
(P400 One way service from Batangas Grand Terminal to Lobo Jeep Terminal) and
Kuya Alex Borbon at 09994233169 (P1200 One way service from Lobo Terminal to
Hulong Banalo). Kuya Alex is also willing to stop off at Poblacion
for you to register at PNP and buy supplies at Lobo Public Market.
Registration: Register at PNP
Lobo, there is no registration fees required as of June 28, 2014. Some police
Officials in Lobo are not familiar with Mt.Tibig; it will be helpful to tell them
that your group will climb the mountain via Hulong Banalo so they can note your
entry.
Guideship: As of June 28, 2014, there
are no existing rules requiring guideship. Guides are available at the jump-off
area and getting one maybe advisable for small group. Guide is normally paid P500 (recommended for dayhike). One of the well-known ones is Kuya Gabino Boonggaling (local
guide) and he may be contacted at 09264916824 / 09194403941 if you need his assistance.
Safety Concerns: Layon River may not
be accessible during extreme weather conditions. Heavy rains normally trigger
flashfloods in the area. Hikers are also advised to bring necessary things to
be protected from over exposure to sunlight especially during summer season.
Camping Notes: Overnight camping is
allowed and there are a lot of potential campsites at the entire ridge. The
summit campsite can accommodate 5 to 7 tents only. However, water source is
only available at the jump-off area; bringing 3-4 liters of water for overnight
staying is advisable. Cell phone signal is sporadic starting from the jump-off
and throughout the trail.
Side Trip: Climbers in Lobo
usually take Lobo Beach as their post-climb side trip. You may also try to make
a courtesy call to Prof. Anacleto Caringal to arrange entry to the beach of
Lobo via BSU Masaguitsit. While you are
on the beach, don’t miss out on the chance to visit the Lobo River Delta. This
place is highly recommended to nature photography enthusiasts and it will only
take 20 minutes coastal trekking from the campus. Prof. Caringal is also happy
to assist folks in visiting mountains and other spots in Lobo; he can be
reached at 0936-936-5887 if you want to experience the Eco-Tour around Lobo.
SAMPLE ESTIMATED BUDGET COMPUTATION (For Manila-base Hikers / Commuters)
SAMPLE ESTIMATED BUDGET COMPUTATION (For Manila-base Hikers / Commuters)
NOTE: Adjust the budget computation base on the actual number of participants and days of staying.
Number of participants
|
4 Persons
|
Duration
|
1 Day / Day Hike
|
Transportation (commute)
|
BUS -
Manila to Batangas City (back and forth) = P314
JEEP -
Batangas City to Lobo Jeep Terminal (back and forth) = P40
JEEP –
Lobo Terminal to Lobo Poblacion (back and forth) = P112
TRICYCLE - Poblacion to Hulong Banalo (back and forth)
= P60
|
Guide fee
|
P125 per person
|
Contingency fund
|
P149 per person
|
TOTAL EXPENSES
|
P800
|
SUGGESTED ITINERARIES
NOTE: Kindly secured your coordination to Prof. Anacleto Caringal before proceeding to Batangas State University Masaguitsit campus.
DAY HIKE: MT. TIBIG + LOBO BEACH and RIVER DELTA
0400 From Manila, take bus to Batangas City
0530 Drop off at Balagtas. Take jeep to Lobo Jeepney Terminal (2 rides in the morning)
0600 From Lobo Jeepney Terminal, take jeep to Lobo
0700 ETA Lobo Town Hall / Register at Police Station
0730 Take tricycle to Jump-off
0800 ETA Hulong Banalo (Last Basketball court / Jump-off) / Get Guide
0830 Start trek (Steep Assault) via Dilawan Trail
0930 ETA Sitio Tibig (Single House) (Batangas City)
1030 ETA Tibig Range Summit / Visit Tibig Cliff / Take Picture
1130 ETA Start Descend (Circuit)
1145 ETA Centennial Duhat Tree / Rest stop and Lunch
1300 Resume descend to Sitio Banoi trail
1400 ETA Layon River (River banking)
1430 ETA Jump-off / Proceed to BSU Masaguitsit
1500 ETA BSU / Courtesy Call to Prof. Caringal / Coastal Trek to Lobo River Delta (Optional)
1520 ETA River Delta / Take Picture / Swim at Lobo Beach / Wash and Rest
1630 Headback to Poblacion
1700 ETA Poblacion Jeep Terminal / (1700) Last trip Lobo to Batangas City
1800 ETA Batangas City / Dinner / Head back to Manila
2100 ETA Manila
OVERNIGHT: MT. TIBIG + LOBO BEACH and RIVER DELTA
DAY 1
0900 From Manila, take bus to Batangas City
1100 Drop off at Balagtas / Early Lunch / Take jeep to Lobo Jeepney Terminal (expect 2 rides)
1200 From Lobo Jeepney Terminal, take jeep to Lobo Poblacion
1300 ETA Lobo Town Hall / Register at Police Station
1330 Take tricycle to Jump-off
1400 ETA Hulong Banalo ( Last Basketball court / Jump-off) / Get Guide
1500 Start trek (Steep Assault) via Dilawan Trail
1600 ETA Sitio Tibig (Single House) (Batangas City)
1700 ETA Tibig Range Summit / Summit Camp
1730 Sun set viewing
1800 Prepare dinner / Dinner / Social
2200 Lights Out
DAY 2
0500 Wake-up call / Breakfast
0600 Sunrise viewing / Visit Tibig Cliff
0700 Break camp
0800 Start Descend (Circuit)
0815 ETA Centennial Duhat Tree / Rest Stop / Picture Taking
0830 Resume descend to Sitio Banoi trail
0915 ETA Layon River (River banking)
1000 ETA Jump-off / Proceed to BSU Masaguitsit
1100 ETA BSU / Courtesy Call to Prof. Caringal / Coastal Trek to Lobo River Delta (Optional) / Lunch / Swim at Lobo Beach / Wash and Rest
1630 Headback to Poblacion
1645 ETA Poblacion Jeep Terminal / (1700) Last trip Lobo to Batangas City
1800 ETA Batangas City / Dinner / Head back to Manila
2100 ETA Manila
PAYAT FALLS |