The day started when the sun was still sleeping tight, on a Sunday dawn. The stars were twinkling on the dark skies and the wind was cold. We travelled to the neighboring municipality to join a climb-for-a-cause activity to help the community of San Antonio, Tukuran, Zamboanga del Sur.
First and foremost, all volunteers gathered at the municipality office to confirm our payment and presence. After the checking of attendance, we were now set to travel an hour through riding the municipality's vehicles.
It was still dark when we reached the Mt. Turong-Turong jumpoff, the community of San Antonio. The wind was so cold and the droplets from the fogs were kissing our skin. The organizers of the activity created a short preliminary program, and it started with a prayer, a zumba, and another attendance checking. A trekking stick made by the locals, fruits, and water were part of the itineraries, so it was distributed by the organizers to the volunteers. The community rules were also read by the Barangay Captain and the volunteers were grouped by ten with a tour-guide for each group.
An hour and a half before the sunrise when the hike started. The trail was so steep that the first five minutes of the hike felt like our lungs were running out of oxygen. The other volunteers were using flashlights but I was just using the light of the moon to see the trail. Some volunteers almost surrendered and some did really surrender, and they just wait at the bottom because they could not climb the ascent.
In order to reach the peak, we needed to climb two mountains. When our group reached the second mountain, the wind started to blew stronger and stronger. I was knocked down by the wind for a multiple times and I almost fell from the mountain, luckily, I got hold unto the grasses. I did not think of being wounded because these tall grasses were slightly sharp, all I thought was only not to fell because it was really dark, they could not find me if I fall because I had no flashlight.
The sunrise was so beautiful that it fully captured my heart and my soul. Everyone was taking pictures and admiring the view from the peak of Mt. Turong-Turong. Every step and hard-breathing was worth it. Nothing compares to the feeling of being at the mountain top.
I am grateful to have this trekking stick made by the locals of San Antonio, if it wasn't for it, the wind my blow me away, and I may wouldn't reach the peak. I will forever treasure this meaningful souvenir. And by the way, they also gave us an appreciation certificate because they said our registration money were big help as donations, but little did they know, we appreciate them more for taking care of this paradise. I'm gonna say it here, "To the locals of San Antonio, Tukuran, I thank you for taking such good care to our mother nature. People like you are blessing to the earth."
We took a picture again when the sun was up because our first picture was taken when it was still dark. This picture was taken on six in the morning and the wind was still blowing strong while the sun was kissing our cheeks.
It was really an awesome experience at the lush greenery mountains of Mt. Turong-Turong. I hope you could experience the peak of this mountain too!
I hope you enjoy our blog today. See you next time<3
P.S. Lead photo was edited using Canva.