Our trips to Bukidnon had leaned towards the spectrum of calm for the two days that we had been there—from RotyPeaks Ridge Camp and the Abbey of the Transfiguration on the first day, to the Communal Ranch and the Del Monte Plantation on the second day. It is not difficult to be in a state of peace, after all, if you are surrounded by lush greenery and when the only noise you would hear are the ones that the natural world lets out. And our own, of course.

It seemed fitting hence, in an ironic way, that we capped our trip in Bukidnon by shifting the gear a notch higher. From the serene mountain environment, we went to Dahilayan Adventure Park where people are known to defy the quiet and allow adrenaline to take charge.

It took roughly around 22 minutes from the Del Monte Plantation to Dahilayan Adventure Park. The park, situated in Barangay Dahilayan in the town of Manolo Fortich, is is the ultimate crossroads for those tired of the beaten path. It is a sprawling playground carved into the mountainside, where the stillness of the trees is constantly interrupted by the mechanical hum of cables and the primal screams of those surrendering to gravity. Here, our renegade juncture was no longer a philosophical one—it was a physical choice between the safety of the sidelines and the urge to feel some sudden, sharp rush of adrenaline.

Misty shower rain welcomed us in Dahilayan Adventure Park.

It was drizzling when we arrived at the park, and though a bright sunny day would have been preferable, the light showers did not stop us from exploring the place, nonetheless. Upon entering the park complex, we went straight to the ticketing booth to check on the attractions that we would try.

There was a lot of rides and activities to choose from, but we settled just for one that is more laidback and that we had not yet tried. We are no longer new to adrenaline-pumping activities, after all, such as when we tried the highest freefall cliff jump in Danao, Bohol. We just wanted to try a ride and chill the afternoon through under the pines. Well, we would be able to do both in the ride that we chose, the Razorback Mountain Coaster.

The Razorback Mountain Coaster is the first alpine mountain coaster in the Philippines, inspired by the ski resorts in Europe. Unlike mechanical roller coasters, mountain coasters makes the most of gravity to do its job. Carts are installed in a monorail operated by the rider with a single lever, where pushing it away releases the break for a continuous freewheeling ride while pulling it back slows it down or completely stops it. The Razorback runs on a 600–meter monorail that curves through the pine forests of Dahilayan. Its name was a nod to the razorback boar that used to inhabit the forests where the rails were built.

A service vehicle takes visitors uphill to the park annex where the coaster ride starts. We waited for the service for a few minutes, and it did not take long for us to reach the starting point. As soon as we went down the service vehicle, we proceeded to the cart hailing area where we were given safety instructions before we buckled up.

A couple of minutes more and off we went down the hills, under the pines, speeding on a monorail while surrounded by nature’s organic beauty, embraced by cold yet gentle breeze.

It tool a little less than a couple of minutes until we reached the end of the rail. It was short indeed, but it was an experience that would linger long within us nonetheless. It served as the perfect, frantic exclamation point to a journey that had, until then, been written in the soft prose of rolling ranches and silent chapels. We had traversed the full spectrum of Bukidnon—from the heights that demand your reverence to the ridges that demand your courage. Standing at the finish line with shaky legs and wide smiles, it became clear that our quest to clasp the world required both the patience to listen to the wind and the nerve to chase it.

There was still time enough for us to appreciate the beauty that surrounded us before we hit the road again. Be it in the pristine wonders of nature or the artistry of human hands in the manmade amenities, Dahilayan Adventure Park did not only provide a place to pause and let the adrenaline do its bidding; it also gave a reason to stop and just be still with how allure meets experience.

The picturesque expanse of Dahilayan Adventure Park.

We came to Bukidnon for the peace, but we stayed for the pulse. From the rolling pine groves to the razor-thin rails, the highlands proved that adventure isn’t always about how far you go, but about the gear shift. As we headed back toward the lowlands, we didn’t just bring back photos of lush greenery; we brought back the proof that sometimes, the most rebellious thing you can do is simply stop overthinking the descent and enjoy the ride.

In the end, every journey is a series of tracks, and we are often content to let the momentum carry us where it will. Our time in Bukidnon, however, reminded us that the best stories live at the junctures where we take control of the lever. Whether we were slowing down to watch the shadows stretch across the Communal Ranch or letting go of the brakes on a mountain coaster, we were choosing to be present in the transition.

We move on now to the next road, the next renegade path, if you may.