My Brother-in-law & other stories
By Johnny S. Novera

Mt. Isarog

Mt. Isarog has the highest peak in Camarines Sur. When a priest-friend of mine, Fr William, from the Ateneo announced that they are organizing a team for a climb to Mt. Isarog and asked if I would join, I immediately accepted. “Sure, count me in, Father.”

I want to behold Mt . Isarog closely. I see it everyday from my window.

D-day came and we started the climb, with our back-packs and tents, foodstuff and, of course, with the reliable all-purpose jungle knife by my side. There were seven of us in one VW combi that brought us to the foot of Mt. Isarog in Tiga-on town very early one Saturday morning.

With two native guides who carried some packs for Fr. William, we started the climb at 6:00 a.m. We stayed overnight midway, witnessing a beautiful sunset as the sun disappeared from the western sky. It was shivering cold up there with a slight drizzle.

We pitched tent by the mountain side under a thick foliage. Tired, we slept well.

After some 6-hours of walking the following day, we finally reached the peak. It was a bright Sunday morning but cold and breezy. In thanksgiving for our successful climb, without any untoward incident happening to us, Fr. William celebrated mass at the peak.

We have a panoramic view of the entire province of Camarines Sur , as well as Albay province with beautiful Mayon Volcano to the east. I have not seen such a beauty of nature before.

Mt. Isarog is a volcano with a crater of about a half- kilometer in diameter but already with some spare vegetation growth. It could still be active, we thought.

As Fr. William was saying mass, I asked our guide to take a picture   of the crater to include the group hearing mass, for   posterity. He obliged and I was so excited while awaiting for the picture. I had the film developed early Monday morning. True, the picture was clear. I did not remember that the mountain was barren, but it was! It was the bald head of Fr. William that was taken.