Guardians Of Pulag
Faces & Tales 2011 

Climbing mountains such as Mt. Pulag is more comfortable and enjoyable if you’re climbing without heavy stuff stuck on your back all throughout the trek. It was my first time to reach the summit of Mt. Pulag through Ambangeg trail on August 20 with the Black Pencil Project Volunteers and I never intended to carry my gears on my own in the first place. Despite telling my companions that I will do it my own, I was still thinking of hiring a porter or guide to lessen out some load and rather enjoy the trek in a most convenient way. My adventurous mind however was convincing me that I can do it, without hiring one and I thought that there would be quite a difference in conquering Mt. Pulag with me carrying my stuff, rather than letting somebody do it for me. But when we gathered to distribute the bags to each porter, I was stunned to see that a lot of them were women. I am not underestimating the strength of these women; I know they have been to the summit and back several times, maybe even a hundred times already while carrying without sweat the heaviest load I can only imagine. But I realized that if I carry my own bag, I’ll understand how it feels having to bear the weight while trekking what seems like an endless terrain, back and forth. The locals consider this an opportunity to earn for a living and boost tourism, thus visitors are somehow encouraged to hire a porter or guide. And I had my chance to experience such job.

The porters as we commonly call them are not just there to carry your bag; they are your guides, your protectors, and sometimes become instant teachers who teach and explain to you uncommon things you notice along the way. And most importantly, they’re new found friends, your guardians. One of the guides named Jane who was already carrying almost more than half of what I was carrying told me after asking her to go ahead and don’t wait up for me: “Okay lang sir, guide kami e, dapat di namin kayo iniiwanan. Akin na po camera bag niyo, sir mukhang nahihirapan na kayo.” It may sound ordinary, but that struck me the most.

I am not a mountaineer, but I know there are more porters and guides out there who do the same thing. So I salute and thank all of them for making us witness spectacular scenes and unimaginable places in this beloved country in our most comfortable, convenient, light, and enjoyable way. Kudos!

Here are 12 of the many guardians/guides/porters of Mt. Pulag who shared smiles and laughter with me as I take each of their photographs… even while they’re still catching their breaths after a long & tiring trek.

August 20-21, 2011
Mount Pulag, Philippines