I didn’t know I climbed a volcano. It has a hidden waterfall

Mt. Natib is a potentially active volcano hiding something beautiful.
Jul 24, 2023
Mt. Natib

Bien Gerald Biong had never climbed a mountain in his life, that is until he decided to join an expedition to Bataan’s Mt. Natib, a sleeping volcano with hidden waterfalls. “I was not aware that Mt. Natib is a potentially active volcano. Hearing this interesting fact makes my first climb more exciting,” Biong tells SPIN.ph.

Bien Gerald Biong

Bien Gabriel Biong, Mt. Natib

Biong is a Digital Design Verification Engineer who graduated Computer Engineering at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines. He considers himself an adventurous person: He does rock wall climbing, rollerblading, dancing, running, obstacle course racing, and biking, among other things he enjoys.

Earlier in July 2023, Biong and a team of mountain climbers from AMCI summited Mt. Natib, whose highest peak stands at 1,253 meters or 1.2 kilometers above sea level.

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Mt. Natib, Bien Gerald Biong

Although there are no historical eruptions of Mt. Natib, a recent study by Dr. Kevin Rodolfo of the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois at Chicago estimates its last eruption was between 11,000 and 18,000 years ago. This was based on his study of prehistoric pyroclastic flow from the volcano that entered Subic Bay in Zambales province.

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Hot springs surrounding Mt. Natib indicate the volcano is potentially active. Hot springs are usually fed by groundwater heated by bodies of magma within earth’s crust.

Mt. Natib With Its 26-kilometer Double Caldera

Mt. Natib

Mt. Natib

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In an interview with SPIN.ph, Biong shares his unique experience of climbing and exploring the volcano.

“There are a lot of things I found interesting in Mt. Natib. Its challenging trails have varying levels of difficulty. I was also awed by the vast diversity of plants and animal species on the Volcano,” said Biong.

“The mountain is also filled with many limatik or blood-sucking leeches. These tiny creatures, though numerous, pose little threat to those who venture into the mountain.”

But Biong’s favorite part of the trek was the Pasukulan Falls, which flows out of the volcano’s caldera. Hidden in the jungles of Mt. Natib, Pasukulan Falls is the highest waterfall in the Bataan Peninsula.

Mt. Natib, Bien Gerald Biong

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Mt. Natib, Bien Gerald Biong

“There are a lot of good things that happened in our climb but my favorite one got to be the Pasukulan Falls. It was simply breathtaking, that when you lay your eyes on it, all the exhaustion from the trek kind of disappears. When I got there, I didn't hesitate for a second to jump into the water,” said Biong.

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“It was simply breathtaking. Got to be the most beautiful falls I've ever seen to date. I will go back there.”

It took two days for the team to climb Mt. Natib.

We spent two days and one night on Mt. Natib. First night was great as it was my first time to actually camp in the mountains,” said Biong. His first worry as a first-timer was whether he was prepared enough for the climb. Fortunately, his Basic Mountaineering Course from AMCI proved very useful.

“I've learned a lot of things too from my fellow experienced mountaineers as they share tips and how-to regarding camping,” he added. “They are very hands-on with us, trainees. They really made sure that we come prepared.

Although the climb took two days, for Bien, the preparation for the climb took a month.

Don’t climb the mountain if you have no training.

Part of responsible mountaineering is training before embarking on any climb. Even seasoned mountain climbers prepare for weeks before tackling a mountain, even something considered “basic” as Mt. Natib.

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Climbers usually train to load on carbohydrates and hydrate before major climbs. Water discipline is also very important because water is scarce on mountains.

Mt. Natib, Bien Gerald Biong

“Our preparation for this climb stretches for about a month. This climb is part of our requirement for this year's BMC (Basic Mountaineering Course) by AMCI. Our training includes a lot of physicals and lectures held by experienced mountaineers of AMCI,” said Biong.

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Part of their training includes mastering a meal plan.

“Going to climb, we have prepared ourselves a meal plan. We have prepared packed breakfast and lunch options on the first day, offering a wide variety of choices. As for dinner, we cooked creamy mushroom beef at the campsite, creating a delicious and hearty meal. On the second morning, we enjoyed tapa as our breakfast. The water isn't a problem for us as there are water sources nearby. However, we have made sure that everyone has at least one liter of water for the group, just in case a water source is not available.”

Check out Bien Gerald Biong’s video of his climb to Mt. Natib.

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Mt. Natib

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