• Philosophy

    How The Mountains Are Secretly Teaching Us Stoicism

    An overactive imagination can be both a blessing and a curse.  On the bright side, my imagination can spin a thousand of beautiful scenarios and visualize infinite possibilities in mere seconds. Even when I’m isolated in a cold and dark room, there’s never a dull or boring moment with my playful imagination.  While it often fills my mind with colors and positive energy, it can also pave the road to over thinking and anxiety. And, I had been dealing with anxiety, my entire life, creating conspiracies and imagining bloody scenarios. But, anxiety vanished slowly when I began traveling and hiking. Then, I learned the ultimate vaccine to anxiety: Stoicism. The…

  • Campo 4 To Mount Naupa: A Beautifully Chaotic Itinerary
    Travel

    Campo 4 To Mount Naupa: A Beautifully Chaotic Itinerary

    I was watching in awe at the finale of a seemingly perfectly-orchestrated symphony. Speechless, I was blown away by a cinematic and splendid sunset in Mount Naupa. The dramatic shades of orange, paired with Naga’s trademark rolling hills, created an awe-inspiring and irresistible showcase of natural beauty. And, as I was soaking up the atmosphere and sunset, a philosophical book quote suddenly flashed into my mind. “Under the whirl and chaos of life lies a strange order”.  As picture-perfect as our ending was, our Campo 4 to Naupa hike itinerary was chaotic.   It was unplanned and full of twists and wrong turns. Heck, I even thought we were just…

  • Mount Awayan: The Final Piece Of Our Naupa-To-Calbasaan Puzzle
    Travel

    Mount Awayan: The Final Piece Of Our Naupa-To-Calbasaan Puzzle

    For the past 7 months, I’ve been itching and dreaming of hiking Mount Naupa from Mount Calbasaan. The first time I set foot in Mount Calbasaan, I was so tempted to uncover the trail leading to Naga’s peak from this unheralded peak.  Unfortunately, though, I didn’t have the information, knowledge and tools to pull off this feat back then. Even so, I remained pretty optimistic with my chances of discovering this path. As a matter of fact, yours truly and Beboi searched relentlessly via Google Maps for trails and roads that would hopefully connect these mountains in Cebu. And, one day, we received a sign of hope, when sir Francis,…

  • Naga City: Chasing 3 Mountains And Naupa’s Irresistible Sea Of Clouds
    Travel

    Naga City: Chasing 3 Mountains And Naupa’s Irresistible Sea Of Clouds

    Everyone loves to hike and cherish Mother Nature’s masterpieces in moderate temperatures beneath a sunny and bright sky. Whether you’re hiking a beginner-friendly mountain in Naga City or a scaling the country’s highest peaks, sunny days simply make our outdoor escapes more pleasurable and picturesque. And let’s face it – hiking in the rain can also lead to miserable experiences, like slips, wet gear and blisters. Trust me, hiking in the rain can be literally a struggle, especially if you’re not equipped with the right gear and footwear. Surprisingly, though, there are also perks to hiking in the rain. In steep mountains and ranges with an elevation of more than…