Mos Roams

11/07/2026

19/04/2026

Praying for Peace

I recently learned that tourism destinations in the municipality of T’boli, South Cotabato have been closed off two weeks ago due to an armed conflict that happened on April 9, 2026 in Sitio Tbul, Barangay Laconon. This includes hiking in Mt Melibengoy to Lake Holon.

The Philippines is gifted with natural resources and beautiful landscapes. Mindanao is a land with rivers, marshes, forests, and many other places under-appreciated because the land only serves as background to struggles and discord.

I pray that time will come when all of Mindanao truly attains freedom — freedom from cycles of neglect, ill traditions, and selfishness. Where leaders listen and learn with Godly morals for the people’s sake. Then I hope that in that future Mindanao of growth and development, when people thrive and not struggle for basic necessities, these landscapes are not only seen in backgrounds, but as dear places we identify with and advocate for.

Until then, let’s pray for peace — in Tboli, in Mindanao, and in the Philippines.

12/04/2026

Twilight starts to fall over Holon at around 6 pm. After taking a refreshing dip at the lake outlet* which was 15 minutes away from the campsite by boat, it was finally time to rest. We set up our tent near the lake’s edge towards the east to face the moonrise.

We need not see the signage that says “Quiet Time 10:00 PM” because with the lakewaters moving slow and the crickets providing a white noise amidst the falling of the sun, it felt just right to settle down. It is at twilight when one truly perceives Lake Holon as a mystical ecotourism site.

*P.S. The outlet was such an enchanting place, especially with the afternoon rays filtering through the crater forest canopy! How we wished we brought a camera with us. Sadly we did not want to risk our gadgets with the boat ride (ironic cause we also crossed the lake to get to the campsite just earlier). I shall return to Holon if only to take photos of the outlet!

[ holon ‘25 - 20/n ]

05/04/2026

Physical touch pro max doggo 🐕

Nagpalapit pa na sya habang gatambay ko sa tent, kag nag super dutdut sa tiilan 🥹

29/03/2026

Life outdoors 🏕️

22/03/2026

Still afternoons by the lake 🏞️

Photographs from Lake Holon last July last year! Blueness from the oncoming twilight envelope the campsite. How i wish i could spend the rest of my days in this calm place 🥺.

Alas! I have exams and design consul to face…

To be continued!

[ holon ‘25 - 17/n ]

14/03/2026

Katahum Lake Holon ❤️

P.S bukas na daw liwat ang Lake Holon 👀🏞️ !

07/03/2026

Pulag Summit & Photos By Faith 🗻

Camp 2 is found midway along Ambangeg Trail: where the fringes of the forest meet the grasslands of the summit. Stunted montane vegetation provides resistance against the chilly winds in the camp – a helpful cover because it is set in arguably the coldest mountain in the Philippines.

Mount Pulag Protected Landscape is shared among the three provinces of Benguet, Ifugao, and Nueva Vizacaya. Camp 2 is located in Kayapa, Nueva Vizcaya, so we started the hike in Kabayan, Benguet but we camped and woke up in another province!

We pitched our three tents: our trusty family Decathlon for Ayn and Gabi, Manong’s good old MSR to be shared with Bayb and Loik, and a new Naturehike (first use in Pulag!) for Poi, Potchi, and me.

While setting up camp, our camera fell screen-first onto the ground. I picked it up and to my dismay, saw a blackened screen (see video). Thankfully, the lens was not damaged and when I clicked, the shutter sounded the same, and therefore I could still take photos. Unfortunately, the camera has no viewfinder, so I could only guess what the shots would be like. So for the rest of the hike–even up to the summit–I had to take photos in blind faith.

And so from slide 6 onward are photos I took by faith.

Here ends my series on our January hike to Mt Pulag. We are truly privileged because many others have climbed this mountain several times but never experienced clearing. We trained, we prepared months ahead, but it was God who blessed us with the best conditions.

Pulag is now at the top of my list for the best mountain to hike in the Philippines. We don't need a revenge climb, but we might come back next time through a more challenging trail.

[ pulag ‘26 - 6/6]

22/02/2026

Pulag Assault Continued ⛰️

Ten minutes into our Pulag assault, the clouds started to clump around us. But we were ready: the moment nag-ambon, we transformed from green team to blue team with our rainjackets :D.

The drizzle turned out to be a passing stratiform–or perhaps it was us treading through its vaporous mass– because after five minutes there was no longer rain.

By then, we were already entering the rainforest area of Pulag. The summit of Mt Pulag was to be found in a grassland area of which we had a glimpse through an area cleared by a landslide which occurred in November last year.

“Anong bagyo to?” asked my sister.
The kuya guide replied, “yung Uwan po”.

Here is a map of the Ambangeg Trail posted in the DENR Visitor’s Center. Camp 1 was more than an hour away from Babadak Ranger Station (Ambangeg is also called the Babadak Trail). I couldn’t find what Gatmo Area means so if somebody understands maybe you can tell me!
We laid our bags on wooden benches around the camping area. There were some hikers who came ahead of us resting in the kubo. We exchanged “magandang hapons” with them and talked about which provinces we came from, and found amusement to meet a fellow who has been to our town.

After munching some Choco Muchos and gulping down some water, we wore our packs on our backs and continued on our hike. We now head to the Yoyokaw Area, which thankfully I was able to translate in Google as the mossy forest!

The flora here include ferns, dwarf bamboo, colorful hardy trees, and mosses clinging to branches everywhere, making everything look yellow-green. A few segments have been trailproofed with rocks, which made us thankful because the earth is easier to tread. I’d prefer rocks to mossy concrete anytime.

The water source was the sign that we were very near the campsite.

And finally at 3 pm, after two and a half hours, we reached Camp 2 where we will spend the night blanketed by the January cold.

[ pulag ‘26 - 5/6 ]

14/02/2026

Matthew 6:30, 33 🫶