The Living Genes

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The Living Genes I am Gene. I Explore & Tell. THELIVINGGENESKLOOK

I fell inlove with Guyam Island, Siargao.
21/09/2025

I fell inlove with Guyam Island, Siargao.

I once saw a hiker leave trash on the trail just to save space in his bag. I didn’t want to be confrontational, so I pic...
20/09/2025

I once saw a hiker leave trash on the trail just to save space in his bag. I didn’t want to be confrontational, so I picked it up and carried it down myself. That moment stayed with me—because it revealed something deeper: not everyone who answers the mountain calls is ready to walk with respect.

The mountains are calling more people now than ever. And while that’s beautiful, it’s also a challenge. Through social media, more hearts are discovering the outdoors every day. As a small-time content creator, I want my stories to inspire responsibly. Because the truth is, not everyone who answers that call is prepared for the discipline it asks for.

So how do we invite the right ones? Maybe it begins with the stories we tell. When we only share the views, we attract people chasing beauty. But when we share the struggles, the lessons, and the respect—we invite people who are ready for the whole journey, not just the highlight.

Another way is through education. Aspiring hikers can benefit greatly from the Basic Mountaineering Course (BMC). I haven’t taken it yet myself, but it’s something I believe more of us should explore—not just for skills, but for building a culture of respect on the trails.

We don’t get to choose who answers the mountain call. But we do get to choose what kind of story we pass on. And in that story lies the power to shape the hikers who will come after us—or perhaps even the ones who will walk beside us, with respect.

-Gene

Sana matupad yung wish na ito. Pero Lord, pakiuna pa rin Po yung wish ni Miss Kara David.
19/09/2025

Sana matupad yung wish na ito. Pero Lord, pakiuna pa rin Po yung wish ni Miss Kara David.

Pa-dagat muna tayo. Let us visit the No. 1 tourism spot in my home region - lezgo to Siargao!A friend who works here wil...
19/09/2025

Pa-dagat muna tayo. Let us visit the No. 1 tourism spot in my home region - lezgo to Siargao!

A friend who works here will be hosting us, and she also prepared an itinerary for us. I've been here last 2022, and although I am a local from Caraga Region, masasabi kong isa ito sa mga pinakamagastos na napuntahan ko sa Pilipinas. Check natin kung uubra ba ang "local knows" tipid hacks ng friend ko. And let me share the itinerary of my friend for our group after this trip.

For those who already visited this magical place, magkano nagastos nyo?
-Gene

The trail is full of scammers. 😅Pagbukas mo ng messenger may bagong GC na naman.
18/09/2025

The trail is full of scammers. 😅
Pagbukas mo ng messenger may bagong GC na naman.

Hi Gene here! After three years of documenting my hikes, I’ve noticed a quiet tension between generations of hikers. The...
18/09/2025

Hi Gene here! After three years of documenting my hikes, I’ve noticed a quiet tension between generations of hikers. The older ones often remind us that certain things should not be done, or that the way we hike today is not the way it used to be. Sometimes, even tagging us as “Facebook Mountaineers,” it feels as if sharing our journey makes the experience less valid in their eyes.

I understand where this comes from. The older generation paved the way, and the rules they follow were born out of hard lessons from the trail—lessons that are difficult to match. But times have changed. The mountains now welcome more visitors than ever, and storytelling has become part of how people connect. Taking time to capture and share doesn’t make the experience less real—it can be our way of preserving gratitude, inspiring others, and keeping these trails alive in the hearts of people who may never set foot there. The real challenge now is this: how can we make sure we are inviting the right ones?

At the heart of it, the rules—old or new—were never just restrictions. They were reminders to walk with respect. And respect can take many forms: through LNT principle, through silence, through documentation, or through stories passed on to others. So maybe the real divide isn’t between old hikers and new hikers. Maybe it’s between those who walk with love, and those who walk with ego. And love, whether it stays unspoken or expressed in stories, will always belong to the mountains.

-Gene

No savings. No safety net. I only invested in living so far.
16/09/2025

No savings. No safety net. I only invested in living so far.

I will leave it here.
14/09/2025

I will leave it here.

13/09/2025

Sinamahan kami ng mga katutubong Aeta ng Porac, Pampanga na tuklasin ang kakaibang ganda ng Pinatubo via Sapang Uwak Trail. Halos 30km (backtrail) din ang aming nilakad para masilayan ang magandang kaldera ng Bulkang Pinatubo. Samahan nyo ulit ako sa isa na namang unforgetable hiking experience!

Natulog lang ako, pagkagising ko may event na pala tayo? 😅 Lezgo sa pinakamataas na bundok sa Mountain Province!
12/09/2025

Natulog lang ako, pagkagising ko may event na pala tayo? 😅 Lezgo sa pinakamataas na bundok sa Mountain Province!

Paniki soup, anyone? Paniki or Kaging is a part of the diet of the Aetas of Porac, Pampanga. Last August, we had the pri...
10/09/2025

Paniki soup, anyone? Paniki or Kaging is a part of the diet of the Aetas of Porac, Pampanga. Last August, we had the privilege to join these people (as our mountain guides) to Mount Pinatubo via Sapang Uwak Trail for 2D1N. And this was their supper, a paniki delicacy.

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