Mt. Madjaas NATURAL PARK

MT. MADJA-AS, the highest peak in the island of Panay, was first scaled by a team led by John M. Fortes of Philippine Airlines in January of 1977. In May of that year, Mt. Madja-as was assaulted by a group comprising of members of the Ilonggo Mountaineering Club, among others: the brothers Dodot and Vic Pison; Babes Galuego of the Provl. Governor's Office; Arch. Tony Sangrador; Pakit Mandar and Virgilio of the local DOT Office; and Negrense climber Ed Gatia.

The summit of Mt. Madja-as is 2,117 m above sea level. Its peak is always shrouded with clouds but the mountain can bee seen during clear weather and late afternoons. All year round Madja-as keeps its forest and vegetation evergreen with fourteen waterfalls around its base. Trekking to the summit one has to endure a 15-kilometer stony road leading up to a dry river bed; brave an improvised wooden and bamboo bridge over boulder-strewn river, hurdle numerous hills before reaching a village at its foot where the ascent actually starts; tightrope walk on a two-fool bridge floating on a sea of clouds; clamber up near-vertical slopes precariously holding on rocks, grasses and roots of trees on to more than a thousand feet above, contrive schemes like rubbing soap on pants, tucking in tobacco grains in socks to ward off leeches; be ready with a raincoat for heavy rains occurring anytime. A journey to the mountains of Madja-as is an experience, a beautiful mountain scenery, different species of flora and fauna, rare orchids, pitcher plants, wild herbs, wild deer and boar, cloud rat, a bonsai forest looking neatly trimmed, a lagoon, and a rainforest that provides Madja-as a weather of its own.

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