[Originally posted on 14 June 2008, 8:57 AM]
We went out the same way we came in; the old man was truly God-sent. It was just half past 9 in the morning when we started down the path; it was already almost 1 in the afternoon when we started making our way out. Mukhang inabot nga ng tatlong oras yung isang oras namin. Buti na lang hindi kami inulan.
The hike back was a bit easier but no less dangerous. We had just enough energy to endure the hike; but, alas, we now would have to endure each other. People insisted on stopping to rest, and I just couldn’t sympathize. The old man was our only chance out of there, and no matter how much I wanted to give up or rest, I just couldn’t, because he waited for no one—or maybe it only seemed that way, because I found myself at the back of the pack again. I desperately wanted to just keep him in sight, but, of course, I just couldn’t leave my other friends behind. Oh, the endless frustration!
I had earlier scolded Lyndree—rather harshly, I might add—for taking pictures at inopportune moments. “‘Wag muna ngayon, please,” I snarled. We had no time to stop for more pictures; God knows we didn’t need any more of those. What we needed was to just keep on going. So I gave up on the laggards and just moved ahead, before I could yell another invective at them. I emerged from the forest and into concrete steps we shouldn’t have taken. Some of my other friends were already waiting there, and although I was grateful to see the lake again, I was in no mood to celebrate. I took a quick look at the path we should’ve followed…still a virtual dead-end. This time, neither vendor nor her fish were there. Something about the scene was creeping me out, and I felt uneasy just standing there.
Finally I couldn’t take a minute more of the forest, of the trail, and of all the waiting. I said a curt “I’ll go ahead” to my friends, then I just ran.
It was past 3 in the afternoon when we met up with Tita Ditas at Rizal Beach. I don’t know if the food Tita Ditas prepared was just that good (because it really was), or if we were just too hungry, or if we were still spooked by the events of that morning, but no one talked about the Bulusan Incident over lunch.
Everyone’s spirits, including mine, slowly picked up, the traumatic hike momentarily forgotten as we hit the beach.
Pictures lang pala makakapagpaligaya ulit sa amin. One day we’ll look back at the Bulusan Incident, and should we decide to turn all that drama into a soap/movie, we can take any one of these for the posters we’ll put up all over EDSA—maybe even for a huge billboard in Guadalupe.
And the pictures become more mature and less wholesome.
Clockwise, from top left: [1] “Muling Ibalik”, the teleserye; [2] “Ang Mga Lihim Ni Niccolo”, the fantaserye; [3] The Leading Ladies: Mga Bidang Kontrabida; [4] “Love Will Conquer All”, starring Dette and Nikki.
It was fast growing dark, and soon we had to pack up. We wouldn’t have enough time in the morning to buy pili nuts and other pasalubong, so we had to rush before the stores in the market closed. Not that we were in any hurry for the day to end, but we really wanted to put the drama behind us. Mostly we just wanted to rest.
Later that night, we were all huddled in the “azotea” just talking about that morning’s weirdness. Someone mentioned first how weird it was that we forgot to bring with us the hiking guide we printed out from the net, which almost everyone took turns reading just the night before. Over dinner we checked the guide again, and it clearly stated (even highlighted, I think) that the path just went around the lake. How we managed to forget that crucial detail was beyond us.
It was also weird that no one in the group thought twice about going up the steps and following the trail—plus, when it was already obvious to everyone that we were lost, no one thought about just heading back the way we came. And, apparently, it wasn’t just me who noticed the disappearance of the fish vendor (some didn’t even notice her at all). “She could be an engkanto,” someone proposed. Others admitted to also feeling a bit uneasy.
Come to think of it, it was just a series of strange coincidences. At one point during the hike we heard a strange sound—more like a call—echoing in the distance; we all debated if it was human or animal, but we’d never know for sure. Also, there were always a lot of brightly colored bugs in our trail. Some would just buzz in our ears and then fly off, as if taunting us. Then, Nix said that after he silently prayed for help or a sign or whatever, the bugs suddenly just stayed away. And then people didn’t want to look at their pictures anymore, for fear of seeing things that were not supposed to be in the frames.
It was clear to us what happened. Everyone pretty much agreed with the “na-engkanto” theory.
We thought that maybe it was just a test of our friendship, and maybe even of our character. Looking back, I learned a couple more things about my friends:
· I saw a different side to Lyndree, Laila, and Diane. Although I know them to be mataray (NOT antipatika; there is a difference), they kept cool and composed throughout the ordeal. Not once did I hear any of them whine, especially Diane, who had the most trouble out of the three. I could tell they were also not having the best time, but they just took everything in stride.
· Toti. I didn’t realize he could be so helpful and attentive. I still haven’t thanked him for taking my place in helping Diane. If he hadn’t, I would’ve totally snapped, and I wouldn’t have them all as friends anymore.
· Dette and Nikki. I felt bad for Nikki, because this was the first time she went with us on a trip. These two had the most difficult time out there—and I sure got an earful of it—but it’s probably only because one didn’t want to see the other get hurt in any way. In the end they drew strength from their genuine concern for each other.
· Prince and Carol. The newlyweds. I found it amusing when, at one point during the hike, they “quarreled” about what to purchase first. Carol wanted a new digital camera, which she insisted on getting the moment they got back to Manila, while Prince wanted a new TV (I think). What sticks with me, though, is how they looked after each other and everyone in the group. From the looks of things, these two are gonna make for good parents.
· Jax. He played his “funny guy” role to the hilt, cracking jokes even as people were slipping (and crying). He’s such a positive person, always seeing the humor in even the most trying/traumatic experiences. Kahit corny minsan. Heheh.
· Nix was the youngest in the group. Immature individuals probably would’ve gone crazy in our situation, but Nix kept his fears to himself, and he acted decisively when he needed to. In short he acted more maturely than most of us in the group; if he’d panicked baka nawawala pa rin kami sa gubat hanggang ngayon. We assured him that we don’t blame him for leading us up the steps, and we thanked him for leading us safely.
As for me. Syempre kailangan may pikon sa grupo—and to think I’m the second oldest in the bunch! Like I said, I only explode when things have gone way too wrong to fix—which had been happening quite a lot recently, actually. My YM status message just a few days before the trip even read: “Marunong din akong mapikon.” I guess the forest spirits just wanted to test that assertion. Still, it’s no excuse for the way I behaved. Therein lies a lesson I’d take away from all this: I need to learn how to handle my temper better when things don’t go as planned or as expected.
And we also learned a few practical lessons:
1. Comment on the itinerary when asked; otherwise, you forfeit your right to complain. (Thanks for the lesson, Prince. It hit me squarely, and I apologize.)
2. Buddy systems need to be planned more conscientiously: e.g., people who couldn’t swim shouldn’t go together; two strong individuals shouldn’t pair up; etc.
3. Wear footwear and other clothing appropriate for the scheduled activity; that is, flip flops are not meant for hiking, so bring mojos.
4. “Nakakatakot si Edj kapag pikon.” (Ever-funny Jax contributed this one, and I take no offense.)
We said a prayer before going to bed that night. We thanked the Lord for keeping us safe. And we thanked Him nonetheless for the experience, because all in all it made us realize what we’re made of.
We woke up early to see Toti off. Just like in Palawan last year, he had an earlier return flight than the rest of us. Unlike last year, he didn’t blink back some tears. Hahaha! Other than our return flights to Manila, though, Sunday was also reserved for pasalubong shopping. What’s a trip to Bicol without buying any of their abaca products? But that would have to wait till we get back to Legazpi. (And, lo and behold, I still couldn’t haggle!)
Over breakfast, Tita Ditas mentioned how it was such a waste that we didn’t have more time to explore Sorsogon. We hadn’t even been to Subic Beach (or was it Island?) yet, which is famous for its pink sands. We gladly said we’d like to go there in the future, too.
“Sige po. Pero pwede po ba kaming mag-stay ulit dito, kahit nasa US na si Nix?” we invited ourselves. That’s one other thing about me and my friends: medyo makapal din kami, ‘no? Hahaha!
On the whole, Bicol was a bittersweet experience. It made me realize just how fast time has gone. More important, no matter how old I’ve grown, there’s still so much room left to grow.
Now maybe I can tell what it is about Bicol that will make it stand out in my memory. To date, it has been the only one where the good and the bad come in equal measure, and in equal measure I must take them. Mayon, the fireflies, and the whale sharks…all that will have to be tempered with the ugly memory of Bulusan, as well as the sad thought that yet another one of us is leaving.
As we rode in the van from Sorsogon to Legazpi, and in sharp contrast to the bright blue weather we had at the start of the trip, the rains that had been threatening to pour the entire weekend finally came down, perfectly punctuating the end of our story.
