By: Mark Kevin Galang MKG Travel 2018
The Most Photographed View.
Nagpatong Rock Formation is really an impressive formation but not for those who have weak hearts. I admit that I have a fear of heights. Climbing to the top of the rock is a big challenge and its not easy for me, as it involves climbing through bamboo ladders and vertical walls, so climb at your own risk. Risky but a worth it! To accomplish this shot, your guide will assist you to the flat top before going to the other rock formation to take the shot.
Apparently, Rizal has quickly evolved into a mountaineer’s playground with the opening of new spots, trails and peaks for mountain lovers and outdoor junkies. Nagpatong Rock consists of two towering limestone cliffs facing each other. These towers seem to be made up of layers of huge blocks of rock place on top of each other hence the name Nagpatong, from Tagalog word “patong” or to put on top. But how these rock formations were formed is a secret only nature knows.
How to Get there by Public Transport:
Jeep from Cubao to Cogeo (P24 / 30 minutes)
Jeep from Cogeo to Sampaloc, get off at Cuyambay (P45 / 1 hour)
Tricycle to Barangay Cuyambay Hall for registration (P25 per person / 10 minutes)
Tricycle to trailhead (P40 per person / 15 minutes)
Way to the top.
Logistics:
Registration Fee: P100/person
Guide Fee: P500/5 person for Nagpatong, P750/5 person for Nagpatong-Masungki
Tricycle from Cogeo to Cuyambay: At least P600/5 person
Approximate budget: P500/person for a group of five (excluding food)
The first part of the trail consists of gentle slopes with sparse shrubs and trees along the way. Habang tumagal, trees started to increase in numbers, shrubs blocked off our path and pathways became narrow. Slope increased as well, not to mention that we have to climb on boulders of rock formations.
The second part of the trail: mabato, mabagin at masukal
The scorching rays of the sun started to seep to our skin as we climbed sharp rocks and gripped on branches. We have to climb trees and rocks.
Finally we made it on the top!
Note: It is really windy at the top of the rock formation. Several hats were sacrificed in the process, as well as sunglasses, scarfs and sometimes gadgets. One must also be very careful when standing at the top; the wind is really strong and one wrong move might cause someone to topple off. Reaching the top is really buwis-buhay.
After an hour at the summit, we headed back to the jump-off and had our lunch in Martessem Restaurant Rizal. The food is world class. And the mountain view is absolutely gorgeous.
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Mark Kevin Galang 