Mt. Manalmon (196+)
MT. MANALMONSan Miguel, Bulacan
Major jump-off: Sitio Madlum, Brgy. Sibul, San Miguel
LLA: 15°15.11’N; 121°1.22′ E; 196 MASL
Days required / Hours to summit: Half-day / 1 hour
Specs: Minor climb, Difficulty 2/9, Trail class 1-2
BACKGROUND
Part of the historical Biak-na-Bato National Park is an outdoor destination called Mt. Manalmon, in San Miguel, Bulacan. Although merely a hill, strictly speaking, Mt. Manalmon possesses novel landscapes, including those of Madlum River, whose rock formations compensate for an otherwise unremarkable environ. Also, nearby sites such as the Bayukbok Caves (a 2-hr exploration from the River) and Madlum cave (historical due to an 18th century relic) can be coupled with a trip to Mt. Manalmon to maximize the Biak-na-Bato experience. Also, complementing Mt. Manalmon is another elevated ground called Mt. Gola; instead of turning right at the bifurcation, going left would lead to this peak, which is also a good vantage point.
Reaching Manalmon is commenced by taking a bus to Cabanatuan, and then alighting at Brgy. Kamias, San Miguel, Bulacan. From here, a tricycle ride can take you to the jump-off at Brgy. Madlum. From here, the entire trek only lasts for 2 hours. You will first pass through the Madlum cave (also called Manalmon cave); and then the rest of the trail would be passing through / crossing the Madlum River; this is the higlight of the trek. Camping may be done either after the river, or within the summit area. At the peak of Mt. Manalmon, you can see the Sierra Madre range to the east; and Mt. Arayat to the north. Still, it will be the rocky formations, the river, and the caves that will make Manalmon a memorable adventure.
ITINERARY
0500 From Cubao or Pasay; take Cabanatuan-bound bus
0730 ETA Brgy. Kamias, San Miguel; take tricycle to jump-off
0800 Arrive at jump-off; register and get guides at community
0900 Start trek
1030 ETA summit of Mt. Manalmon; take pictures
1100 Start descent
1200 Back at community; lunch
1300 Visit Madlum and Bayukbok Caves
1530 Swim at Madlum river
1700 Back at jump-off; proceed back to Brgy. Kamias
1740 Take bus back to Manila
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Transportation
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Public Take any Cabanatuan-bound bus from Cubao or Pasay (Baliwag Transit, ES Transport, and Five Star Transport). Tell the conductor to drop you off at Brgy. Sibul, San Miguel, Bulacan. Fare is around P130. Then from Brgy. Kamias, you can take a tricycle to jumpoff at Brgy Madlum (P200/tricycle, max 4 persons). This trike trip takes 40 minutes.
Private (1) NLEX, take the Sta. Rita exit; (2) Follow the road to Cagayan Valley, passing by Plaridel,Pulilan, Baliuag, San Rafael and San Ildefonso. (3) At San Miguel, ask directions for Brgy. Madlum – which is 30 minutes away. |
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Registration
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Logbook at trailhead; total fees – P40 including entering the Cave, rafting fee, registration fee
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Guides are required; P300/up to 5 persons
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Tata Carling (Coordinator) – 09195746470
Other numbers: Cecille – 0907779667; Winter – 09193089503 |
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Campsites
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Near the summit or after the river
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Water sources
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Near the trailhead; none at the summit campsite
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Cellphone signal
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Present throughout the trail
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River crossings
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None; one takes a raft through the initial river
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Roped segments
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None
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None
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None
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Rattan
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None
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Hiking notes
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Exercise caution while crossing Melkas Ridge; trails in LB are wide and marked with station numbers; backtrack if trail doesn’t fit this description.
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Sidetrips
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Bayukbok Caves; Victoria Cave; other peaks and historical sites in Biak-na-Bato and Bulacan in general
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Alternate trails
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Mt. Gola can also done as an extra peak; add an additional 30 minutes to 1 hour to the hike
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Yes (1-2 hours to summit; 1 hour down)
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650-950
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TRIVIA
Scenes from GMA-7’s “Mulawin” were filmed in the trails of Mt. Manalmon, including the caves.
Revolutionaries such as Emilio Aguinaldo took refuge in the caves of Biak-na-Bato to hide from the Spaniards. He even made it his headquarters in 1897; the intricate system of caverns faciliated his safety. It is estimated that there are over 100 caves in the area.
In recognition of its rich history, then Pres. Manuel Quezon declared Biak-na-Bato a National Park in 1937.
WEATHER OUTLOOK: SAN MIGUEL, BULACAN
Many thanks to the Tribe c/o Sir Ruben Espinosa for the picture and information on Mt. Manalmon.
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96 Comments on "Mt. Manalmon (196+)"
sir, di pa po talaga open ang Manalmon, pero they can allow climbs depending on the cicumstances. I was there Oct. 10, Sat.
for info about Mt. Manalmon climb, update lang po:
– they do require a permit before climbing
– you have to email or text the POC, Tata Carling at least 5 days before the climb
– then the permit can either be acquired from the Municipal office on weekdays, or the POC will be the one to bring it to the jumpoff point at Brgy. Madlum – fees may be charged for the permit
– if you don’t have a permit, it’s up to the Guides to allow you to climb, but you will have to sign a waiver
– fare/pamasahe is still 117 Php from Cubao to San Miguel, Bulacan (Cabanatuan-bound buses, any bus company on EDS northbound)
– there will be buses every hour starting 2am
– tricycle fare from San Miguel to Brgy. Madlum is 240 php; there will be trikes available to and from Madlum
– bus ride may take up to 3 hours from Cubao, tricycle ride will be around 35 minutes
– registration fee is 5 php only but will be 10 php next month as the additional 5 pesos will go to
environmental fund
– guide fee: 3oo php dayhike, 200 php additional if it includes caving in Bayukbuk; overnight is 600php – it’s fine the guides will stay the night with you
– there is a cable bridge now so you don’t have to ride the raft or use the monkey bridge to cross the river
– there will be just one river crossing, which is just knee-deep but it’s where the headlined flashflood happened
– there are a few trails to the summit, it’s up to you if you want to go the easy or if you want the 70-degree
assault
– the guides are polite, and they really follow protocol here; it’s apt for a protected area, anyway
– if you go home after 4pm, you may experience heavy traffic so it may take up to 4 hrs to go back to Manila
POC email for the permit:
– POC “Ajeck”
ajeckecalne@ymail.com
09155854684
– POC Tata Carling
m.a.d.l.u.m.inc.@gmail.com
09195746470
Sir Gideon,
Ano status po re: opening of Manalmon?
Ka-text ko lang si Tata Carling (0919-574-6470) sabi daw hindi pa raw pinapa-open.
Ka-text ko din ho si Cecille (0948-466-3511), ganon din update sa akin. Nanghihingi nga ho siya ng tulong sa lahat na mapabilis yung desisyon ng Governor at ng PAMB na ibukas yung Manalmon dahil madami na daw sila nare-receive na text asking kung puwede na daw sa Manalmon.
I heard sa isang kakilala ko na ngayong January start ng training ng Guides to prepare them daw.
hi
me and my friends we're planning to go on a trip
and i found this site
ask q lng po
kng magkano po aabutin ng overnight stay and ksma po mga side trip
for 10 persons?
Thanks PinoyMountaineer.com for this very useful blogpost.
Galing na po kami nitong Feb 9, 2014. At may mga naka-set pa akong climb. Btw, I'm a tour guide in North Luzon, mukang paulit-ulit akong magdadala ng guests ko dito. Ang totoo nyan, itong March, 3 sundays na ang naka-sched ko para sa open-group tour. Sa mga gustong magjoin, na ayaw ng hassle, sa konting halaga, txt me po. May sundo kami from QC…
0925 893- one-zero-one-four
Paano po pumunta dyan, mula sa Marilao bulacan? paln namin mag hike february 8, 5 persons po kami. salamat