EXODUS (my climbing history)

Way back year 2007, my godmother, Irene Castillo, introduced climbing to me.  My first climbing experience was on that summer just after the April – Holy week, were in my cousin, James Evan Perez, and I enrolled on a summer course – of intro to climbing at Power Up Tandang Sora (locally called “TS”).  

I admit I am one cowardly bastard back then. I am afraid of heights, afraid to take risks, afraid of failure, afraid of getting an accident and yes afraid of the unknown. It really sucks to concede to that fact, but yes, redundant may it seem, the key word is afraid.

The first thing we did in TS was to fill-up a form and sign a “consent of doom” = a waiver, that is. I did it for the two of us since my cousin was still a minor back then. After which, harness was strapped on, snuggly fit shoes was chosen then we’re ready for battle.

beau - grabbed from climbphilippines

Our first instructor was kuya Beau dela Cruz – and after teaching us the basic commands, how to climb smart and how to operate the belaying device he showcased us a bit of his climbing skills. 

god he is graceful! It was an instant hit, “idol”.  (hopefully someday i’ll be as good as he is)

He may be very strict but thanks to that from zero, skills wise, we advanced a lot in no time.

My first climbs were in  kiddie wall, molly’s, samson and finals wall which most of them I did not get to finish. Weakling. LOL

I remember we were doing red and green routes on the “kiddie” and “samson” walls back then – although the glory was short lived because our university is way too far from TS and my schedule isn’t helping at all.  (7am-5pm)

TS has been a second home for me, the people there are very welcoming – maybe its not a norm to see corn rows, dread locks, mohawks, body piercing and tattoos – but I assure you – you’ll never be left out once you’re in the system. It is actually one of my comfort zones. 

Believe me when you get in there you’ll say “neverland” really exists.

photo by job wi - "our paradise" a panoramic view of powerup center for fitness and climbing, tandang sora, quezon city Philippines. 

Also, because of climbing I get to meet really cool friends!

I am a sucker for great fun and huge challenges while opening an avenue to conquer my fears yet keeping me humble, that is why after three years and seesawing weight fluctuations I’m still here to stay, climbing.

Climbing is not just a sport but it is a lifestyle that you must embrace and love.

By the way this may look redundant – due to my previous facebook and twitter posts for the love of the sport: please if you guys have time visit http://www.climbphilippines.com to know about climbing in the Philippines and to learn how you could help in flourishing our own brand of this sport.

To wrap it all up, I’m looking forward to my adventures with the sport and it’s future in the Philippines. Hopefully I’ll get to have an outdoor experience before 2010 ends. And come 2011, hopefully by then I’ll get to compete – may it be a fun comp or a serious one. Allez! climb on!

PS: shout out to my fellow batch dawn, claretian weekend warriors and mentors who have climbed previously: CLIMB ULIT TAYO, BALIK KAYO! (Ms. Rani, Dino, Caps, Andrew, Philip, Boogie, Geco, Migo, JP, Mambo, Macalalad, et. al)

To all who haven’t tried climbing GIVE IT A SHOT!

There is a warning posted in the Climb Philippines website that “CLIMBING IS FUN…BUT CAN BE LETHAL IF YOU’RE NOT CAREFUL!”. True enough and even I can attest to that. I have had suffered from some minor injuries like minor whiplash thru some nasty falls. 
So please CLIMB SMART.