"Ian Caasi": Adventure from Mt.Apo to Heaven

"Ang tanging pangarap lang ni Ian ay maabot nya ang tuktok ng pinakamataas na bundok ng bansa. At ito ay nakamit na nga nya sa ilang taon nyang pag aasam. Mt.Apo waited him not to celebrate for his success but for his death.
The pics shown when the rescuers tried to save him from drowning but they failed because of the extreme coldness. Read Ian Caasi story and promise maawa ka habang tumitindig ang iyong balahibo. Nabanggit din sa story nya ang pagbigay ng babala ng isang lumad doon na may mangyayari sa kanya. Ang lumad na ito ay nakilala ko last year climb. His name is Gudi Gudi. Lahat ng dadaan sa bahay nya ay bibigyan nya ng dasal,tulad sa aming grupo noon at kina Ian ngayon na hindi nakatakas sa babala ni Gudi Gudi. Read Ian Caasi story
The adventure from Mt.Apo to heaven begins here. The scene when Ian drowned helplessly.

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Playing with snakes

"Ngayon ko lang alam na may balahibo pala ang mga ahas" It really tickles me when this snake crawled and curled around my neck. This is my first time to touch,(talk) embrace with eye to eye contact. If you happened to visit Malagos Park of Baguio District Davao City, I assume you have probably see this harmful animal lying in a small cage waiting for the flash of your camera (while the owner is waiting for donation..hehe sssh!)

Malagos park is located far far away from the Davao proper. It is one of the sites where the (controversial) watersheds of Davao lie. When Kabataan X press of ABS CBN made their shooting there, sinamantala ko na ang panahon at naglilibot ang ulol sa buong park. Until such time, I met this cute snake. At first, napapa rrrr ako because malakas talaga ang phobia ko sa snakes. As in nakakatakot. But I told myself, it would be a great success when you cope up such fear. I really forced my self and promised to take picture with the snakes. I have to fight my fear within. It is one way of developing your self confidence (Bakit parang takot ka sa pics?) Drama lang para may dating ang pic hehe (play safe). At, kapasin pansin din na medyo oily ang face ko(guimaras oil spill?) It is not just me who is sacrificing from Global Warming noh?

A big sigh of releif was released after the owner took the snake from my neck but I still feel the "balahibo" of his scale"rrrrr". Akala ko lalagnatin ako sa experience na yun. I realized that not all exotic animals are harmful, in fact, the that snake has sweer eyes para bang nagsasabing "alagaan nyo ko ng mabuti ha" pero ang ginawa ko dinilaan ko sya huhu wawa naman!. Anyway, atleast sa buong buhay ko, I've conquered another fear of my life. One thing that I cannot forget while playing with this snake is "ang gumagalaw na balahibo nya sa leeg ko" rrrrr...

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Holy Week in Mt. Apo

This is my second time to spend my Holy Week with the silent beauty of the highest Mountain of the country-Mt. Apo. The 1st picture was taken morning after we spent over night at the Apo's peak. Sunrise is always my favorite subject in all my photographs. With my flute, it makes more dramatic signifying my submission to the mother nature.
My trip was really more challenging than my last year climb. I and my colleagues were experiencing such an exhaustive and dangerous climb for we trek the evil trail- Sibulan trail. I called it evil trail since you will be experiencing lot of challenges ranging from river trekking,the ups and downs hill walk and the forest path finding covered with wild trees and unknown species as different levels of climate splash on the way. River trekking I thought is just a simple way of passing across the river but I was really stiffed as I watched my companions fighting against the current of the river. I even told myself Oh my God, shall I go for this test or shall I surrender? But my willingness to bind with God and nature overruled and gave me extra strenght to pursue what I have started.Thus, I succeeded the first challenge-the river trekking wet and exhaustive.

The second test is to climb the ups and downs of the TUDAYA hills where we really make "hingal"every 10 steps thinking that it is a never ending climb but then, when I and my friends reached the flat mode of the mountain, it was really a sigh of relief for at least it decreases tiresomeness. But, every time we took a glance to the APO's shape lying somewhere else, my knee begun shaking at unti unti akong mawawalan ng pag-asang ipagpatuloy ito. But, I got my special technique! I always put it to my mind that someone is waiting for me in the peak spreading his arms and ready to forgive all my sins-(GOD)So, I was always thinking that what I am doing is a sacrifice before embracing the glory of the Creator.

We spent overnight at the TUDAYA elementary school. That was so freezing and I could not help fighting my feelings against the cold temperature over there. How much more in the peak? The next test is to reach the small town of COLAN to register our names. Hmm walang challenge, sand storm lang naman!Hehehe. Our next night is in the town of GARUK-the favorite site of the most climbers before and after climb.The next day is the most tiring journey.We walked whole day from GARUK to CAMP TINIKARAN 1 and to CAMP 2. WAhhahaa..my legs were shaking that time and my breathe was not normal for I lost almost half of my air. How I wish I could rent a porter to carry my heavy loaded bag. But before I climbed this is what I promised to my self, I will not give my bag to the porter for it signifies the cross of Jesus Christ that is also according to the beliefs of the most climbers since it was Holy Week. If you could carry that load successfully, for me it was a great success. My back was even giving up but I just let the pain for it is part of my penitence.
Now, here comes the BOULDERS (wrongly called as borders) It is the biggest part of Mt.Apo where the rocks and sulfur stones are abundant. This part also is the most harmful and a single wrong step would drop you to death. Here we experience how rocks head and roots of wild berries are important. Rocks so that one can hold and wild berries para sa mga gogutumin. The unpredictable flow of the fogs adds to the challenge because one can hardly see his way because the fogs blurs the trail. According to the belief it is because the nature hates climbers who are so noisy along the way. Kinabahan nga kami kasi biglang umulan ng kunti.Akala ko dun na ako mamatay. But we still did it! Mga apat hanggang limang oras naming inakyat ang part na yun. The 87 degrees slope is the place that most climbers are afraid of because of its dangerous slope but, thanks to God we still climbed it without any harm. With great joy, we reached the most coveting part of all climbers the peak of our dreams the peak of Mt.Apo. Taking pictures is the easiest and effective means of documenting. BOULDERS. where rocks and sulfur are abundant
SUNRISE AT THE PEAK. Isn't it nice???

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Badjao vs Huling Balyan ng Buhi

Do you know this guy? Probably no!Maybe yes. If you are into filmmaking absolutely, you would know this 22 year old man who was awarded as "Best Director" of his film "Huling Balyan ng Buhi during the Cinema One film fest. He is Sherad Sanchez.

I've seen him many times in the newspaper,on TV even in radio because of the award that he brought to DAVAO because he is our pride.

Finally, I met him with all the shake hands (and beso beso..joke. ). He is one my respondents in my story for Kabataan X press since it will tackle about my film "BADJAO" which is the official entry in the Mindanao Film Fest last Dec. Sanchez gave his critique to us since he was one of the judges. And wow, I am happy that he appreciate our film because according to him it has edge to other films since it is a cultural film. However, there is always a negative in every positive. Well, admittedly our film lacks in preparation and other technical strategy since that was our first time to make a film in wide screen (But it is not our first time to hold a camera...to clear hehe)

Durian Cinema Production is my team (the ambitious production...so what?)which we believe the next Davao Films ,like Sanchez, that brings bacon.(Ambisyoso nga talaga). With the help of Kuya Rudolph, my bureau manager of KX, BADJAO made its success for being our technical director.

As the director of Durian Cinema films, its my duty to make every film more interesting (kaya ginagawa ang lahat kahit wala ng makain).

So I am inviting everybody for our next entry of the Minda Film Fest. It is all about mountaineers in Mt. Apo. Title is not yet created.(diba isang ambisyosong film na naman)So be it..bakit kayo meron? hehe WORLD PEACE and GLOBAL WARMING.

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