Imagine if Noah did not believe in his instinct and in the Lord, and did not create that Arc? We wouldn’t have animals left nor humans left. You and I wouldn’t be here today. If not by the strong faith of our ancestors to the things that they couldn’t see, only felt; we’re not alive today. We have been through a lot already and we should honor our ancestors for their faiths and for doing what must be done instead of waiting for approval from the people who would otherwise decline due to lack of faith.
So I’m telling you, that if your body tells you to poop but you’re scared of being caught pooing because poop smells and they will bully you then you will feel the shame or worse scenario would be, “What if there’s no water?” The time you spent thinking about what could go wrong without doing that little thing, “have faith, check it” could have saved you from struggles/disasters.
I went to Mt. Manunggal on Wednesday and head home Thursday morning. The weather was not good, college classes were postponed, electricity was off; It’s so foggy; I missed the Balamban stop over and rode all the way to Poblacion Asturias. I have to wait for another 30 minutes to an hour for a Vehicle going to either Toledo or Balamban Terminal.
I was already feeling uncomfortable, frustrated and angry even if I have no schedules waiting, in fact I don’t need to be in a hurry because I had no commitments that day. I wasn’t scared of anything too. It was just so annoying that I missed the Balamban stop over because I did not tell the driver; I did not bother telling him; I let him focus driving. Telling the driver where to drop me off is a simple thing that could have saved me from that experience.
I hate it when I’m angry or frustrated, because I have to dance, sing or eat, otherwise I will collapse, I cannot breathe. I have general anxiety and it’s scary but I just have to dance anyway and hum like a bird, chewing food is diverting me into focusing on the good instead of the possible danger ahead. I was wondering what triggered my anxiety thinking about a Van or a Vhire heading to Cebu via TCH.
I finally found Jollibee in Balamban so I have to eat even if I am not hungry just to distract myself from freaking out and collapsing but it didn’t help, I tried distracting myself by watching Netflix movie but my battery was also dying, it even made me feel scariest, so I had to turn if off and walk outside. It rained again, the road would be slippery, luckily I had 7eleven umbrella with me.
I kept on walking until I arrived at Balamban Terminal. I was falling in line to get a ticket and a lady handed me her ticket, she said she’s not feeling well and she felt drowsy, exactly the same feeling as I am feeling at the moment but I cannot get stranded; fact check, it’s not as worse as Yolanda, it’s only foggy and rainy; yes, there’s a possibility of landslide but the Van is heading the safe way, the road in TCH are quite strong. We were all feeling startled for sure because the driver did not see the object in front of his vehicle while adding “black oil” to support the wheels from sliding.
Before that I was praying so hard to protect the van, protect us all, guide the driver, etc. I did not stop praying until my fear was gone and I had courage to open my eyes. At that time, the driver already started driving, and the scared woman found her courage, she shared she kept on postponing it because she’s not feeling well, she was for sure thinking so negatively because her family’s at the hospital, so it’s basically not because of the situation at all. I felt relieved that the driver added something to support his wheels. I am sure we will be safe.
I was really feeling scared since I started walking towards Mt. Manunggal on foot. Fog was so heavy, I couldn’t see humans following or approaching, there’s a lot of turns and few neighborhoods. I hear a little strong wood falling as if someone intentionally dropped it but I didn’t show fear otherwise it will attract the wrong people, I passed by workers and suddenly I hear their silence. I just kept on walking. There are dogs in every neighborhood I passed; they barked and I have fear of being bitten but I stayed calm and relax; I did not hesitate; I just kept going.
I decided to stay overnight and rented a tent, the people were nice to me and offered to stay and camp at a building because it was raining so heavily on Wednesday night, March 19th, 2025. I hear someone getting into the room before a group of people came in. My umbrella fell, that’s probably what happened to the wood on my way up, but the dog watching over me was startled, so there was someone trying to get in but it was always open, I decided to stay still and let it pass.
In the morning, I was informed that they were trying to reach me because the store was closing, they want to check if I needed something. If I panicked, it would have been for nothing. Some turbulence are not meant to harm you, sometimes it meant to help you. Some people are just checking in with you if you’re still fine and doing well. Everything is temporary, do not overthink things. As much as possible stay positive and if you’re scared still do it, no matter how fearful that might be, you can’t just run forever. Just do it!
I just stayed and wait for the vehicle to bring me back to Balamban and stopped at the Jollibee. But before that, there was a Vhire that I missed, I should have atleast do that little thing again, “Para!” Or signal the driver to stop because I saw a vacant seat, but I wasn’t sure if it’s going to Cebu or Toledo, regardless “I could have stop the driver and ask rather than just watching and not doing anything.” Anyway, I wasn’t really in a hurry, and the people I was asking for help were concerned about Vans. It didn’t sinked in with me yet until now that they’re also scared of me riding a Van that time, because I remember they’re talking about wheels; so they did not recommend it.
I was offended by the guard’s joke in Asturias and it upsets me even more, it should not have happened if I signaled the driver to stop. A simple joke like, “If you won’t be able to get a bus, I’ll just bring you home.” It’s even scarier than riding a Vhire on that foggy afternoon via TCH Balamban (If you have seen the roads in TCH, you will understand) If you’re an adventurer, you will love it, which I did by the way, in a slightly different way. It was a bit scary that time. We’re into the fogs that day and every turn is exciting because you cannot see who’s approaching, you just have to keep going, trust the driver and pray there’s no crazy driver heading our way.
“I really appreciate the silence of my co passengers that day, for sure there were also praying.”
That adventure strengthen my faith in prayers and in the invisible Lord who’s watching us, you just have to let him in.
Thanks to Mt. Manunggal People for keeping me safe. I will be back for the 7th time since 2021. Hopefully during the fiesta to see more campers and see the event. I hear it’s quite interesting! 🍟I quite like Balamban, Cebu! I feel like I wanted to earn more to invest in that area. It’s Prone to landslide but it’s quite interesting!
Lessons learned:
- Even if you’re not sure, just do it!
- Even if someone is scaring you, just do it.
- Even if someone offended you, just keep going.
- Even if you have fearful thoughts and negative scenarios in your brain, just keep going unless that’s constantly happening.
- Fact check, before you believe and judge.
- If you will be put to shame in the end, then feel the shame, unya?
- If there is no water indeed, then accept it and move on.
- You just have to start, no need for approval, just dance!
- Oftentimes, it’s not about the situation, it’s about your thoughts.
- Clear your thoughts and you will have a birds eye view of the situation, which is not as worse as you think and feel it is.
- Delays are just meant to protect you, so do not freak out into anger or frustration, chose to be patient and know the reason.
Chill and have some coffee ☕
Climbing, Rocks! 