How much difference could 15 minutes make?

I had already grown somehow impatient and to be honest, I was already at the point of surrender and acceptance that we traveled more than 12 hours to see a mountain hiding through dense clouds. The fact that my companion, Ran, was still soundly sleeping in the car did not help to appease my impatience. I was starting to feeling uneasy. That prompted me to go out of the car, take a little hike, and take photos of what is visible through the thick mist.

Rock formation by the road side.

As I walked along the road taking photos of the land formations around me, I noticed that the clouds started to be visibly thinner and that the rays of the sun were already piercing through. Out of curiosity, I walked back towards the Mt. Kilang view deck which was literally a stone’s throw away to where we parked our car.

Thankfully I did.

The clouds had started to slowly move away, dramatically revealing in a very gradual fashion what is hiding behind. At that point, I went back to the car, woke Ran up for good, and we headed back to where the grand reveal was happening.

Standing at 1,856 MASL, Mt. Kilang was only summited in 2025. Hiking to the mountain itself is not yet as popular as the nearby Mt. Sicapoo, especially since the trails are not yet established. The view deck facing it, however, which is literally by the side of the road, makes up for it. The mountain stands prominently with its sharp ridges and limestone laden slopes, that when hit by the rays of the sun seem to be glimmering from afar, earning it the nickname Blazing Mountain of the Gods.

Making every moment count.

There are people who would line up for hours just to ride an attraction in an amusement park that would just pump their adrenaline for a few minutes, then it is over. Sometimes, one gets to think about it: is the waiting time all worth it? Well, we did not just spend hours queuing for a ride; we rode for what is equivalent to half a day to see a wonder. Our adrenaline did not rush, but it did more than that. What we experienced did not only tap the senses. It went way beyond the visible, the sensible and the tangible. It was existential, allowing one to immerse in an experience that would make one stand in wonder and awe upon realizing how one’s tiny existence could even be significant in a world as magnificently crafted as the wonders around us.

Thirty minutes after Mt. Kilang showed itself, we were already fulfilled and satisfied. The wait was definitely worth it. I was so happy that our trip did not end up in vain, I turned to Ran and said, Buti na lang tamad kang gumising.

The sun had finally shown up when were about to leave Mt. Kilang. It was an experience that was as if choreographed for our arrival, providing an emotional gymnastics: the sleepless night of drive, the long wait, the almost surrender in frustration, to be topped by the complete opposite of being at peace in beholding the mountain created, blessed and blazed by the gods of old.

On our way back to Ilocos Norte, the road we took earlier either in the dark or in the mist was already visible. It was breathtaking, and we did not allow the chance to pass without us immersing in the wonderful experience.

The beauty of the Cordilleras under the sun.

The boundary marker of Calanasan, Apayao.

It was around 11:30 AM when we were already en route to Paoay when Ran told me that he would want to visit Dingras, a town nearby. Instead of following our DIY itinerary hence, we headed off to that town. I initially had no idea what to expect in Dingras, but after experiencing how Mt. Kilang surprised us, I became inclined to leave it to the unknown whatever it was that was in store for us. That, after all, is how we do it the renegade way.