{For more pictures please click AYA.}
On April 9-10, 43 hikers and members of Adventist Youth Association (AYA) South Bulacan II District camped on top of the Madlum Mountain in Bulacan, mulling over the theme, "Pag-Ibig sa Kapwa at sa Tinubuang Lupa." (Love of Fellows and Native Land.)
The group consisted of representatives coming from various Bulacan churches—three from Polo, four from Meycauayan, four from Rockville and five from Obando and 27 from Canumay in Sta. Rita Bulacan which included eight children and two pregnant women.
Before the trek, South Bulacan II District Pastor Tony Salarza led a group in checking the place on April 3, surveying the caves, the campsite and the way to Madlum to assure the safety and minority of the climb.
The group went to two caves—Preserved and Grotto—before reaching the foot of the campsite where a river became their place for lunch, sundown worship, supper and swimming.
During the sundown worship that the officers led, Salarza spoke about the levels of friendship that range from casual to intimate relationships. A group discussion followed where individual hikers participated by sharing their own experiences of how wrong attitudes can ruin relationships.
Not until all the hikers have reached the peak of the mountain and pitched their tents that Salarza started his presentation on family worship activity where after, attendees also grouped for ice breaker.
Alvin Sta. Ana from Obando Church led the morning devotional before the group went to the Sound Cave where the trail was not that easy for children and pregnant women, as told by one of the hikers.
On the way home, in San Ildefonso, the soon-to-be-Adventist family of Erwin Sellote also known as "Kuya Dodong" invited the group for lunch where the hikers enjoyed eating using banana leaves for plates and the heart-warming accommodation that the family gave to the group.
The hikers shared that they enjoyed their hike and even planned for their next activity.
"Ang saya! Sana may next time uli, siyempre sa iba naman." Jade of Meycauayan said. (It’s fun. I hope to have it again, in another place.)
"Makulot naman!" Gigi of Obando added. (How about Mt. Makulot?)
The officers of AYA-South Bulacan II, responsible for organizing the hike are President Aaron Aquino, Meycauayan; Vice President- Relgious Karla Apostol, Obando; Vice President-Social Joy Macalanda, Canumay; Secretary Jeffrey Almirol, Rockville; Treasurer Arlyn Arido, Canumay; and Public Information Officer (PIO) Grace Maximo, Polo.
Madlum can be reached by taking the North Luzon toll way and exit at Sta. Rita/Baliuag (exit 32A/32B). From the exit, head north along the national highway towards Plaridel, Baliuag, San Ildefonso then San Miguel, about 40 km At San Miguel, turn right head eastward until reaching Sibul Springs, about nine kilometers. At Sibul Springs, turn left at the road right after the old Sibul Springs resort and head northeast toward the road to Madlum. As of travelogue time (2001), this road from Sibul Springs to Madlum is about three kilometers of dirt road.
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