So we regrouped at the port since the first party needed to reserve ticket going to Odiongan, just to make sure we get a spot on the ferry because its an 8hr trip, mahirap bumiyahe ng 8hrs tapos walang bed or seat, at mas mahirap maiwan, you know we only get a long vacation at least once a year. The second group, including me, finished shift until lunch time, so we hustled up to make it for the 5pm trip. We took ALPS bus from Cubao going to Batangas around 1pm at 170 fare per head and reached Batangas port in just a little over 2hrs. Not much of a rush there since we don't need to buy any stuff. Last buying will take place at Magdiwang, security is tight at ports now a days.
Group picture before boarding (thanks manong guard)
Exclusive Access
On board M/V Matilde, after settling down, the group was divided into 3, some took a nap, the other just lying on the bed chilling out, killing time, trying to cramp themselves w/ a backpack on a snug tiny little bed, while the rest of the girls went missing. Out of curiosity, I tried to look for them since the ferry isn't that big, there's not much to move around. I'm pretty sure they were already enjoying the sunset outside and I wanted to view the sunset too, but to my surprise, i couldn't find them anywhere. Although yung side and back ng ferry lang ang na-check ko kasi yung harap is not accessible because it was supposed to be a "Restricted" area. The rest of the group went out looking for them too only to find them already positioned on the front, taking pictures, the bow side where "Restricted Area" is posted right at the entry. Apparently, they were able to get permission to pass thru, and since we're with them, we can too. Pakapalan na lang ng mukha, hehe. We were the only passengers who had access to the bow (front of the ship), while most of the passengers were crowded at the stern (back of the ferry) and on the sides.
Top Load
Delayed by at least an hour and a half, we departed at around 1930hr. Dun pa lang kinabahan na ako, kasi one of the logistic concerns for climbing G2 is the transportation and the time. Mahirap ma-delay kasi public transpo going to and fro and within the island is very limited. :) After docking at the Odiongan port in Tablas Island at around 0400hrs, we needed to ride a bus for another hour and a half to get to San Agustin port where we need to ride another ferry, leaving at 0500hrs, which will take us to the Ambulong port in Magdiwang. There's no better way to ride a local transpo in an adventurous way but to ride it top load, its already crowded inside the bus and we needed to look after our packs, its 4 in the morning anyway, we don't have to worry about the sun burning our face, it was extremely cold though. I'm still concerned about being late and not making it on time, it's good to know that these "connecting flights" were both from Montenegro Shipping Lines so the ferry waiting at the San Agustin port was somehow advised about the delay, one of the passengers told us. We arrived at the San Agustin port just in time when everything has been loaded and ready to sail. The loading platform was hauled up right away after we board the ferry, and with in few minutes, we were sailing in the water on a cold, gloomy, early Thursday morning. 
A Trip that took Forever (on board M/V Ma Querubin)
The wind blew, I wouldn't say violently, but not the kind of wind you would brave into when sailing on a small fishing boat. Its the kind of wind that brought about big waves, we can hear trucks and vehicles banging from under us at the ship's hold almost smashing at one another. Ok, we were told that it will take 45mins from San Agustin to Romblon Island then another 2hrs to get to Ambulong port in Magdiwang, Sibuyan Island. But with that kind of wind, the ferry was forced to take a different route, because taking the traditional route may capsize the ship and put the trip in peril. The ship took the route passing by the southern side of Romblon island instead of the north, which doubled the travel time. Plus, with big waves smashing onto the ship, we cannot speed up , instead, needed to slow down and take on the sea one big wave at a time.
It's almost 7 in the morning and the sun hasn't showed up, cold wind is blowing under the gloomy gray sky, Im sort of losing hope of getting a good weather for the climb, or at least for that day. We are a group of 8, each with large backpacks and its pretty obvious that we are on our way to climb the well-known climbing destination in Sibuyan, and with that kind of weather, we get a lot of comments such as; "baka matengga kayo sa Magdiwang", or "malabo kayong paakyatin sa lakas ng hangin" or something like "actually, ngayon lang naka-biyahe 'tong ferry, ilang lingo nang hindi makabiyahe sa lakas ng hangin" and then this; "aakyat kayo ng guiting? meron dun, kapag nahawakan mo, mawawala ka" and all other things of that sort. Pretty encouraging 'diba? I dont think so. A week earlier, we got a GO signal from kuya Remy Robiso, the good samaritan who arranged the climb for us, and the president and founder of Guides Organisation, that the weather cleared out and that we are good to go. He said the sun was showing and that it stopped raining. Couple of days earlier, an LPA (Low Pressure Area) has been causing lot of rains and floodings in the Visayas area so we are considering some other mountains like Mt. Sicapoo or Mt. Pulag in the north, where the weather is fine, as an alternative incase we are unable to climb G2. Originally, we were planning to take on Mt. Halcon but it didn't push thru, it was closed to climbing again, after being opened couple of months earlier, due to some conflicts with in local groups and mangyans that handles guideship and porters there. And its also part of the Visayas region so its also prone to bad weather at that time. So a GO signal from kuya Remy was really comforting, considering that this plan to climb G2 has been going on for at least 6 months already.
Another Exclusive Access
Another Trip that took Forever
Now, didn't I say "a trip
that took forever", because after taking pictures at the view deck,
after Liz' interview at the control room and all that, we were still in
the middle of nowhere, treading the high seas with strong winds and big
waves. Yes, after less than an hour setting sail, we were greeted by strong winds and big waves again, as I have mentioned earlier, the
ship took a different route which doubled the travel time. We reached Ambulong port past 12 and kuya Remy was already waiting for us. He assured us
that its still possible to climb the mountain as long as the rain doesn't pour. He said its normal to have that kind of winds (Amihan) in that
time of the year, that's another comforting thing to hear. 
After loading backpacks and taking our lunch, we set for DENR station at Sitio Tampayan to register. That's about 15mins trike ride from the port, less traffic, so that is a pretty long ride. Climbing G2 has been regulated and controlled by the DENR-PASU so everyone must register and get permit from them. However, the newly implemented policies for climbing created a twist in climbing G2 traverse trail via Olango. Since its now strictly required to register before climbing, kuya Remy doesn't recommend mountaineers to take the ferry straight to Olango, San Fernando, the jump off point for traverse trail. Doing otherwise requires mountaineers to travel to the other side of the island just to register at sitio Tampayan, and back to sitio Olango to begin trekking, which will eat up at least another day. Im not sure why they didn't consider just letting the climbers register after the climb, which ends at the DENR station anyway. Well, perhaps its because of the waiver that you need to fill out before climbing, and other information required so they can print the climb certificate. Plus, I think they are now more cautious after that incident that happened to Victor Ayson, a mountaineer who went missing and found dead at Mt. Maculot in Batangas a couple of months back. Apparently, Victor climbed G2 traverse then went straight to climb Maculot on his way back to Batangas. Well, as per sir Andy from DENR, Victor actually registered, but they are a group of 8, at least, and he's the only one registered. Either they are enforcing safety or they are just playing it safe, I leave that to you.
Exaggerated
Going back to our climb, still on our way to kuya Remy's place, a trike ride from DENR, we stopped by Sitio Cajidiocan to buy butane, did another stop over at a market place to buy other stuff for cooking food during the climb. I think that's the San Fernando market center. It took more or less 4hrs to get to the jump off point. Either it was a long ride or we were just too slow, we needed to slow down because a couple of the tricycle's spokes snapped along the way, probably because we were too heavy. Kuya Remy was expecting only 6 climbers and we were 8. Anyway, we arrived at the jump off just when the sun is about to set. Kuya Remy had us transferred to a different trike to take his and have the wheel repaired. We were greeted by kuya Remy's wife, which is as hospitable as he is. And you can tell, they were used to welcoming group of mountaineers, they even managed to build a small hut adjacent to their house and open it to their mountaineer visitors. There we stayed for the night, after dinner, did everything that has to be done like pre-cooking and packing only what is necessary. At around 9pm, kuya Benny arrived and checked on us, he's kuya Remy's nephew and also acts as the vice-president of the guides organisation. He gave us some advise and some bird's eye view of what to expect on the traverse trail. At first I thought he was exaggerating things when he said that not everyone who tried this trail was able to finish the climb, that we needed to leave other stuff not necessary for the climb to lessen the load and that we will only need to bring our trail water, mess kits, toiletries, cold gear and other stuff for camping, the rest must be carried by the porters. I thought that this guy only threatening us or is he just under estimating us? Then kuya Remy arrived at around 10pm and briefed us about the game plan. What he said was consistent to what kuya Benny told us so I thought it really makes sense to somehow take on their advise. That's what they were there for anyway, to assist us and make sure that we make it to the summit and down safely, and most of all enjoy every step of the way.
