
Since I haven't gone on a trek in a very long time—I think I last went in Mt. Daraitan Tanay Rizal two years ago already—so I've made the decision to go on one again.
I accepted my friend's invitation to climb to Tanay Rizal's Nagpatong Rock Formation. As you can see, Tanay has several mountains that are primarily suitable for beginners. So, if you're a first-timer looking to experience hiking, you can search Tanay Rizal for mountains.
At first, I kinda hesitated to accept my friend's invitation to climb in Nagpatong Rock since I had a bad experience in my very first hike in Mt. Daraitan, even if it's for beginner. The mountain was extremely muddy and had a lot of rock, so you had to pay close attention to your steps to avoid slipping. It's unfortunate that we hike the mountains in the rain, as it made the experience more difficult. We climb for more than two to three hours, and 1.5 hours going down since it became more easy. It was such a horrible experience, that when we got to the base of the mountain, I could no longer feel my body due to over exhaustion. However, everything vanished once we took a bath in the Tinipak River, which was at the base of Mount Daraitan. It was refreshingly calm, hard to climb but it's a nice experience that I will never forget.
And since I kind of missed those feelings, I said yes to my friend's invitation. The closer the trek day come, the more excited I get. We're not doing this on our own, by the way; we've just joined a travel and tour with a coordinator. We're also not exclusive; some strangers have also joined us on the tour, which excites me more because I'll get to know and meet more potential pals.
On the trek day, we decided to meet-up and let us pick-up at Cubao Araneta City Mcdonalds at precisely 4 a.m. since it's the closest location available. Since there was no traffic at that time, we got to the drop-off location earlier than we expected. The barangay hall that required registration was still closed, so we made the decision to eat breakfast first and connect with other participants in the climb. That trek easily gave me an impression like it would be enjoyable because we are already having a great time even if we're not already starting and have gotten along well with the other tour participants.
We registered our names when the barangay hall opened and then we began our ascent. At the start of the hike, I notice that Nagpatong Rock Mountain isn't rugged and muddy like my prior trek, so it became a lot easier to hike and doesn't require much effort to walk. I can also look at the surroundings and environment so well since I'm just casually walking, since I don't need to focus more on my steps.
Along the trip, we laughed a lot, told many stories and joked so much that we forgot how weary we were. Although there were some difficulties while walking, that was manageable and simple.

After an hour of traveling, we had already reached the summit of the mountain. Now, in order to reach the top of the Nagpatong Rock Formation, we must ascend the rock. It was lovely and serene up there, making me want to stay longer till dusk because I know it will be breathtaking to watch it from up there. It was a beautiful view that I will always remember.

Thus, we strolled once more after reaching Nagpatong Rock Mountain in order to wash our bodies at waterfalls. It was soothing. Most likely one of the trip's highlights.

Disclaimer: All images are mine unless stated otherwise.