My wife and I visited Bohol for the Yuletide holidays. It was lovely to be with son Carlo and his family for the holiday season. Before the New Year, we went for a short adventure on the mountain ranges of Alicia, to bask in its breathtaking sunrise view.
Our journey started with a scenic hour-plus ride from Tagbilaran, cruising the winding coastal road that snakes through the underbelly of the island of Bohol. We left Tagbilaran after lunch, with the intention of reaching our jump-off point in the foothills of Alicia at around 3pm. With me for this end-of-year ascent were my wife, Wit, my Bohol-based kids Carlo and Freedom, plus their young energy-booster kiddo, Buchi. This would be Buchi’s first-ever experience in climbing mountains and camping outdoors, and boy, was he so pumped up for this amazing experience.
The highlands of Alicia are located some one hundred plus kilometers from Tagbilaran. It beckoned with a promise of wild beauty and a terrain that would test our resolve. It would be a 3-hour trek up the rolling hills and grassy mountains. Our packs were light – just enough for an overnight stay – and our spirits high, particularly our 6-year old ball-of-energy, Buchi.
This trip would be a quick hike up the mountain; with the night spent beneath the twinkling stars, to be highlighted by a spectacular view of the glorious sunrise. This, we hoped, would make every step up the mountain worth it.
The ascent began with a slow, steady climb; the trail winding like a whispered secret through grass and grime. The air seemed to thin with every ridge, and the landscape shifted from forested cracks to emerald slopes; each turn revealing a new, more breathtaking panorama.
This new adventure would be relatively easy, compared to the more complicated and difficult trek we had climbing Mt Apo. (Pls read: I survived Mt Apo. Just click on the title.) Still, roots snagged our shoes and the trail demanded careful footing. My breath became more harried as we moved higher. But our Buchi amazed us no end, inspiring us as he walked with an unshakable, wide-eyed curiosity, asking questions about the sky, the birds, the trees, the insects and the streams. His energy was contagious. He never wavered, his curious laughter an energizer that kept our moods light even as the climb grew steep.
When we finally reached the summit, the world opened in a cathedral of soil and sky. The view was majestic in a way that words will struggle to capture. The view revealed a tapestry of distant ridges, with the rolling valleys stretching into a hazy horizon, and the distant blue sea shimmering like diamonds. The wind sang through our hair, carrying the fullness of the clean cool air and the mineral tang of the highlands. Watching the scenic view provided a moment of quiet awe, where time seemed to pause and the heart found room to breathe deeply.
As the night settled, the skies above the highlands of Alicia transformed into a canvas of constellations. A few hikers pitched tents and gathered around small campfires. After a while, the booze came out, giving the younger hikers their chosen protection against the cold wind blowing. For the more senior trekkers like me and my wife, the best defense against the cold was to retreat to the cozy embrace of our tent. We were just so eager to witness tomorrow’s sunrise shining through.
Yes, the real spectacle would come with the first light of day. At around 4am, I was awakened by the distant chatter coming from the fields below us. Coming out of my tent, I discovered from afar a long, long line of moving lights inching toward us. It looked like soldier-ants marching slowly up the trail. Hundreds of sun worshippers were slowly congregating at the overlook, awaiting the birth of the new day, There, they waited, their faces tilted toward the east, where the horizon was preparing for its daily drama. The sunrise arrived with a slow, radiant blush – from total darkness to a soft bue hue to a glorious molten gold, the mountains caught fire with color. We watched Buchi’s face brighten with wonder as the sun spilled its warmth across the valley. It was a moment of pure, unfiltered joy that he will carry with him for years.
The highlands of Alicia gave us more than a physical ascent; it offered a shared memory, a reminder that beauty, when pursued together, becomes a great, memorable experience. For Buchi, the grand adventure was a spark—one that lit up his imagination and our collective gratitude for the wild, wonderful world he will learn to live and love in the years ahead.
For a closer look, just click on the pics.
Color My World 