VBA hikes Mt. Banahaw

VBA hikes Mt. Banahaw

Last September 28, the senior students of class VBA goes to Mt. Banahaw, Laguna, for their outbound trip together with the senior students of class BRC, Mr. Guevarra and their homeroom adviser, Mrs. Rafael. 

VBA was facilitated by Kuya Jansel, a facilitator from Lakbay Kalikasan and lead by Kuya  Ed. They left Marist School at 6:00 in the morning and arrived at their destination approximately 10:00 in the morning. 

                                                                                                             Peak of Mt. Banahaw

They visited a small town at the foot of Mt. Banahaw called, Kinabuhayan village. They also went to a place called Ciudad Mystica where a small church is located, symbolizing the beliefs of the villagers. Kuya Jansel explained the religion, beliefs and the traditions of the people in that village called Rizalistas. 

They had a warm up and visited the first station called Ina ng Awa, a small cave with a heart-shaped-stone on the entrance. 

The second station challenged the strength, thinking, agility and the physical fitness of VBA students by going through a very dark, deep, narrow and small cave which was believed by the villagers as a holy cave. The villagers also said that if you were able to get out of that cave without a single wound or scratch, seven years of your sins will be forgiven.

The whole class had a short lunch break and proceeds to the third station which was called “Kalbaryo”. It was compared to the path that Jesus took to reach Mt. Sinai. They were able to experience what Jesus has gone through in hiking the mountain, except that they don’t have fatal wounds and they don’t have a cross on their shoulders. While they are at the top of the fourth station, Kuya Jansel, their facilitator, explained why the Sto. Cristoval Mountain was called the “Devils Mountain”. 

 

After the exhausting and tiring experience in hiking, the class went to the fourth station. Unexpectedly, they encountered a hive of bees that’s why they took a different route. They went through a 250+ steps of stairs on their way to the fourth station which was believed by the villagers that if you will be able to count the correct number of steps, including in your way back, you can make a wish and it will be granted. 

 

                                                            VBA on the top of Kalbaryo

This was the end of their trip in Mt. Banahaw. They had a short stop over just to buy food for their dinner. They watched “The Dictator” on their way home and some part of “Hunger Games”. 

They arrived at Marist School approximately 10:00 PM. After their last outbound trip in high school, the class of VBA surely learned not only some part of the history, but also how to respect the religion of other people.