I went to Mt. Banahaw yesterday. It was like a mini pilgrimage and a little procession. I went alone but met a lot of people along the road.I went out of my house in Manila at around 4:30 in the afternoon of Wednesday. I was running out of time so instead of commuting I used my car that has long been unused in the garage. Everybody knows I love commuting more than driving because I take pictures while on the road. But this time I must drive myself onto destination. It was a almost a two hour and 20 minutes ride form Manila to Lucban, Quezon. I arrived at around 6:50pm. I then parked my car on their municipal parking lot, brought my tent and bags with me, and walk my way to Banahaw Trekkers Inn. I ate first at Banahaw's Kinabuhayan Restaurant, where sumptuous meals are served to me at a very affordable price.
There was a parade of decorated palm leaves or what we call in the Philippines as "palaspas". There are also parades of the patron saints of the different churches in Lucban, Quezon that went atop Mt. Banahaw and then they went back down. But I stayed up there with the others.
Atop the mountain, there was a campsite for people who wants to stay there. About a hundred people set up their own tents including me. After setting up my tent, I took photos all over the place. I saw a big cross located at the peak of the mountain. They call it "ang kalbaryo" or the calvary. There are also vendors and small stores where you can buy souvenir items and other religious stuffs like candles, rosaries, healing beds, healing water, handkerchiefs with prayers and many others.
I went home afterlunch the next day. All in all it was a safe, good trip. I casted all my doubts upon myself, and decided to renew my life. Feels like a new born. That is the main reason why ProTraveler decided that this will be his last post. Thank you all, the new writer will surely be as alive as I am and will definitely be a more experienced Philippine pro traveler. God bless you all.
