Riding 2.2 on Concrete

Giant ATX Pro

I decided to go out for my first bike ride after more than month since I injured it during a climb. I took my Giant ATX Pro equipped with 2.2 tires and took it for a spin on the Southwoods cycling circuit in Carmona, Cavite. The circuit, as I call it, is really just a route mapped out by cyclists on the empty roads in front of Splash Island, the water park that can be seen along the South Expressway on the way to Calamba, Laguna. I’ve already done a climb so I was sure my knee would be okay, … Continue reading

The Ultimate Guide to Dirtbag Adventures

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Dirtbag is a term associated with individuals who maintain a lifestyle that foregoes any kind of financial sustainability in order to pursue a specific interest, usually climbing, specifically the climbers who live around the climbing walls of Yosemite National Park in eastern California. I am using this term here loosely to refer to individuals who pursue experiences without concern for financial stability – solely for the love of adventure.   Back in college, my friends and I had an obsession for climbing. We did overnight climbs on the weekends and lunch-break escapades on weekdays, just to go to the mountains. … Continue reading

How To Be A Sponsored Adventurer

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Wouldn’t you like to be a sponsored athlete? The big question on many dedicated adventurer’s mind is whether he, or she, will ever get sponsored as an adventurer. First of all, let us define what adventure is and what kind of sponsorship can an adventurer actually expect. These days, there are all kinds of adventure enthusiasts and adventure activities, what we are concerned about is the kind of adventure that would merit corporate support. My understanding of this topic comes from over two decades of experience working with mainstream brands in the field of marketing and as a competitive adventure … Continue reading

Going To Places Faraway

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Romblon is a province of islands in the geographic heart of the Philippines, it is a place where everything is measured in tides and sea breezes. Visitors to Romblon have no choice but to shift to a slower way of life, from waking up in the morning and through the moments of a day that seem to arrive in little increments. It is a province, after all, where the air still smells like burnt leaves in the morning, wafting from the fires that old ladies light to dispose of dried and withered things. The scent of freshly baked bread drift … Continue reading

The Islands of Romblon – A Picture Gallery

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Romblon is a province of islands in the geographic heart of the Philippines, it is a place where everything is measured in tides and sea breezes that dictate how life proceeds for the day. Visitors to Romblon have no choice but to shift to a slower way of life, from waking up in the morning and through the moments of a day that seem to arrive in little increments. It is a province, after all, where the air smells like burnt leaves in the morning from the fires that old ladies light to dispose of dried and withered things. The … Continue reading

Hindsight and Aftermath

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This is a first-hand account of the search and retrieval operation at the base of the Rockies in Batangas to collect the body of a missing climber. Please set your Youtube player to 480p to watch in HD.   In the world of search and rescue workers the word “retrieval” is an ominous term, one that marks a departure from optimism. When search and rescue workers say that they are shifting to retrieval, it almost always means that they have exhausted all hope for a positive outcome. Usually, the transition is smooth, though it’s never the case for the family … Continue reading