They became ministry students in Manila, while I became a psychology student in the same old town. Of course, I don’t have photos of them after that because ministry is a sacred learning and social media is highly prohibited. The boys lost contact with me, and it has been three years now since our last game of Roblox.
Memories are what keep the friendship alive, and I am glad to know their lives are secured and stronger now as they will soon have their lives dedicated to faith and bringing people to the words of God. One of my best memories with them was our first visit to a peak in Tabogon, Cebu, where I was often visiting before them. It was not only a visit but a sprout of a new friendship I had found in faith.
Early morning of 2021, we saw ourselves riding a vehicle bound to a place they had never been, not sure of what would happen and what thing would sprout from brotherhood. It cost us 3 dollars each to have an hour ride, and the boys, who were broke and merely students, forcefully paid it. We were not a rich group of friends, but we always wanted to have some trips to near but beautiful spaces. So we made sure to put savings every day in a big container so that we would have pennies when we went hiking or making silly things in the world.
In a neighboring town of Bogo City is a peak of Tabogon, almost uninhabited and known because of its remote characteristics and narrow roads that can only accommodate foot and not vehicle. I already featured this peak before but in a different story and chapter of my life. This one is the very first of the best visits in my whole life living, hence the most memorable from the others.
Towering trees, lush green mountains, and a whole new perspective — that is how I could describe the place. It was a whole new world for the boys, which they later on realized made them keep coming back more. It was our most beautiful escape, so to speak. No one knew us, no expectations, no responsibilities, and no signal. It was a pure camping and nature escape, intentionally but subtly planned to know each other very well for the first time.
When we reached the peak, signal and connections were cut because it is a remote spot. The boys, who were not warriors of the internet, did not even flinch at the news. Instead, they were very happy to know no one would be tempted to play games, and we would have ample time to roam around the bushes and woods and get lost to the world.
We were lost, metaphorically and literally. The latter became true when we visited an unknown cave we had seen on the internet prior to our departure and followed a trail we did not know. The cave was obviously visited freshly by some people because there were still flags on the trail for them (the last people who walked on it) to not get lost. We successfully reached the cave, which has two caves inside, and bats flying above us making a scary sound. I really don’t have good photos of the cave because we didn’t have a sense of photo quality at that time and I just randomly took photos as proof of our case study (as what I told my mom). But you can see that it is a hollow cave and the silhouette of the silly boys proves it all. When we headed back, the trail was confusing and later on we lost each other, and found ourselves laughing on another mountain while facing the actual mountain we should have been heading to.
Sometimes, during our stay, we would install a hammock between trees on a spot we found in the middle of our stroll. A view exactly in front of a mini mountain range and a vast blue sea with a port. I understand why this place is almost uninhabited — because it should be, to maintain the health of the rich biodiversity of this mountain and its overall nature. And yes, it is a rich nature, and I will give some proof later. The view from the hammock is a green gem almost close to each other, enough to lose the paths on the way home. The breeze was fine and the company was pure. We started having a conversation about each other and searched for some common ground before telling important things so we would understand what each of us was saying.
In our words, vulnerability was the primary thing I could observe, and little by little, everyone was trusting each other, as if we were brothers for a long time then. We shared each other’s impressions, talents, ideologies, history, and little by little a friendship sprouted in a green spot of the Tabogon peak. The next thing I knew, that conversation led to a closeness that would help each other heal from the world and serve as safe spaces whenever one needed help.
The funny thing about that spot where we installed a hammock was that some folk found us in the middle of the conversation and asked where we came from. He invited us to eat lunch, and although hesitant, the man was trustworthy for our impression. Later that time, we were on a table inside a little house to eat lunch. We were strangers to that home, but believe me or not, it felt like home and very safe. We were never anxious, and the man we met said the area is almost uninhabited, but there are some people living below our spot who chose to live far from the city.
Remember that I said this place is rich in nature? I realized it when we received a fresh gift from some people there, such as fresh bananas, avocado, and dragon fruits. Flowers in various species were also present in the peak alongside trees that are endemic to the area.
When the sun started to set, we headed to the peakest spot to witness the sunset, but we were late when we arrived there. The sunset above was complete, and it was our first time seeing a sunset as bright as a fully charged light bulb and whole compared to the usual sunsets we encountered.
Before dark, we installed our tent and prepared our things for the night fun. The rest was history, but I must say we were not sober and it was a memorable night, laughing in front of the city lights made by our very own town of Bogo. Our town could be seen from the peak and it was like we were at home but in a different time and place. The next thing I remembered that night was we were sleeping in random spots and the tent became useless.
In the end, this story is simply a reminder that some friendships, even when they drift, leave roots that never really die. What we shared on that mountain lives quietly inside me — proof that faith, nature, and brotherhood can shape a person long after the moments have passed.
