Scorching Trails: Our Adventurous Hike in Minglanilla, Cebu

Hey there, fellow Hivers!

For the past few months, I've been missing in action from the mountain scene. I have been very busy swimming and chilling by the beach with another group of friends. However, when my hiking friends invited me for a day-hiking adventure in the South of Cebu, I did not hesitate to join.

We set up our meeting place at I.T Park Terminal at 5 AM. While waiting for the others to arrive, we decided to have our breakfast at a fast food chain near the terminal. As the sun began to rise, we departed from the terminal and headed towards Minglanilla.

On that day, our plan was to hike from Brgy. Manduang, Minglanilla to Mt. Naupa in Naga City.

Minglanilla is a town located just before the City of Naga, less than 20 kilometers or a 30-minute to an hour's drive from Cebu City, depending on the traffic.

We arrived at the junction leading to the jump-off point around 6 AM and decided to buy our lunch at a small eatery while waiting for the rest of the group to arrive. The jump-off point was located at Brgy. Manduang, so we hailed motorcycles to take us to the Brgy. Hall of Brgy. Manduang.

The real hike began at 6:30 AM, and we crossed a small river as we embarked on the slow and challenging ascent.

The early morning sun's scorching heat was intense, causing my skin to sting, and I grew concerned about my water supply running out quickly.

Along the way, we encountered locals descending the mountain effortlessly, almost as if it was second nature to them. Meanwhile, we struggled with each step.

During the initial part of the hike, Ate Sherlyn, who had been absent from the mountains for a while, experienced the most difficulty among all of us. She vomited several times along the trail and eventually decided to cut her hike short and head to the next barangay.

Upon reaching the next barangay, we took a break and purchased some cold soft drinks and ice drops.

As we continued hiking, Ate Sherlyn continued to vomit, so @iamcjestrada and I, acting as sweepers, decided to accompany her at her pace to ease any additional pressure. We hoped to find a motorcycle to bring her down. Luckily, she lived in the same town where we were hiking.

As the sun mercilessly continued to torment us, we found motivation in the prospect of reaching the sari-sari store, where we could purchase cold refreshments and hopefully find some snacks to munch on.

Unfortunately, when we arrived near the sari-sari store, it was closed. It was Sunday, and the locals tended to descend the mountain to attend church and participate in mass or other activities.

With only a few water supplies remaining, we made the decision to have our lunch under the shade of the trees. The fate of our hike relied on finding drinkable water, and the closest store was on the other side of the mountain. Consequently, we chose to shorten our hike. Instead of continuing to Mt. Naupa in Naga City, which was a few kilometers away and mostly comprised of open trails, we opted to descend to the river and take a refreshing dip in its cold water.

Descending was no easy feat, but it seemed like a better option compared to heading towards Mt. Naupa. The descent offered more shade, although the trail presented its own challenges at times, with slippery rocks in the river that made it feel like navigating a parkour course.

A sense of relief washed over me as we arrived at the river, as I knew we were almost there. We followed the river trail, searching for the perfect spot to immerse ourselves in the cool water, although I must confess, I completely forgot the name of the river.

And finally, we found the ideal spot to relax in a shaded pool. Waste no time, we promptly decided to take a dip, with me still wearing my leggings, haha! Swimming wasn't part of the initial plan, but I knew they would dry off as we walked towards the exit point.

After spending nearly an hour there, we made the decision to head home. We didn't even venture to the waterfall, as thirst had taken its toll, and reaching the falls required additional time and effort. Hence, we chose to skip it.

Upon exiting the river, our pace quickened. Conversation dwindled, and laughter ceased as the scorching heat of the sun tormented us relentlessly. Our motivation shifted to the thought of ice-cold soft drinks.

Our happiness knew no bounds when we spotted a sari-sari store in Brgy. Guindaruhan. After replenishing our flasks with water, we trekked a few more meters towards the waiting shed, where we hailed a habal-habal to Tungkop, Minglanilla.

I typically prefer hiking on sunny days, but that day was entirely different. It felt as though the sun was determined to torment us. This wasn't my first time hiking in such weather conditions; in fact, it was my second time traversing this trail in Minglanilla. The first time was equally scorching, and I had sworn I wouldn't return, yet here I was, experiencing it once again. Haha!

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