Up in Busay

Let’s face it. The urban lifestyle is so stressful that there really is a need for us to detoxify. The demands of work like reports, meetings, and the after-work activities that we engage in like drinking and partying can take its toll on our bodies and can cause burn-out. But don’t worry, Mother Nature can rescue us!

Forget about your corporate clothes, laptops and cellphones and ready your hiking gear. Start your week with an outdoor activity and commune with nature to relieve yourself of toxins. I just did two weeks ago! Columbia Sportswear brand manager Dino de Leon sent out invitations for a leisure hike in Busay. I said yes, with no hesitation. I knew I was up to a challenge and I badly needed a stress buster.

Our call time was originally at 5 a.m., however most of us (including myself) begged to move it to around 7 a.m., to give us more time to prepare. Bad news was, while on our way to the starting point, we were too late to catch the fog. We still felt the cool breeze kissing our cheeks, though. A few members of the Cebu Mountaineering Society assisted the group for the three-hour leisure hike.

After a 15-minute ride from JY Square, we reached the starting point: Babag II, Upper Busay, approximately 400-500 meters above sea level. Busay is a favorite place among nature lovers as it is home to flower, fruits and vegetable farms, and natural wonders like waterfalls and caves.

Although the activity was a leisure hike, I kind of expected a little degree of difficulty along the way. I am no stranger to the outdoors, but my expertise is beachcombing and mountaineering intimidates me. I was so surprised to find an easy all-road terrain!

The weather was perfect for the hike. It allowed us to appreciate the flora and fauna along the way. Dino, being a newbie birdwatcher, took advantage of capturing birds on film while identifying them one by one. We saw pied fantails, brown shrikes, olive-backed sunbirds and even the Philippine bulbul.

The mango and Gemelina trees provided ample shade to protect us from direct heat and the lush greens were soothing to our tired eyes. Once in a while, we would meet locals who were all smiles, as if welcoming us into their unspoiled territory. The people there were busy tending their flower farms that boast of lovely anthuriums, roses, orchids, chrysanthemums, mums, birds of paradise, baby’s breath and other ornamental flowers. We even passed by a group of men slaughtering a goat for a caldereta fiesta later on. The kids playing around made me think how lucky they were to have such a grandiose playground.

It was the first time that I got to hike for three hours without feeling all sticky and sweaty and, with a Columbia Titanium shirt on, I felt protected from the ultraviolet rays of the sun. The laidback environment of Busay was really relaxing. The hills, valleys and plateaus are spectacular sights to behold!

A little later, we reached a portion of Babag I, Upper Busay and Cebu’s panoramic view spread before us. We felt like eagles looking down our dear city, wondering if everything was okay down there. Our last stop was the Mountain View Nature Park where we had a hearty lunch. What a day it was! I was in paradise for a few hours!

So if you want to take a breather from your busy urban life, experience the outdoors and relieve yourself from stress. Go up to Busay!