2025 Year-end Hike in Mt. Manabu, Yet Again!

It has become an annual tradition for my brother and I to do a quick year-end hike on the very last day of the year.  Fortunately, Mt. Manabu in Lipa, Batangas makes it possible for us to be to do this. With my brother driving, traveling early morning of December 31st was fast. It took us 1.5 hours to get to the jump-off, including a brief stop at the registration area (Google map link here) in Barangay Sulok (30 Pesos each). On regular days, taking a bus gets you to Lipa in 2.5 hours, including the stops. 

It took us 1.5 hours to hike from the jump-off to Station 5 (known to local hikers as Manong Pirying/Tata Tino's hut). In Station 2, we passed a store along the trail, owned by a relative of Tata Tino, and just like the old times, they offered free good brewed coffee to hikers. I always make it a point to grab a cup and buy whatever fresh harvest they sold. 

This year however, the trail felt different. Unlike in previous years where we had ran into people along the trail,  my brother and I had the mountain to ourselves. For a moment I worried that this mountain had been forgotten but seeing a nice new signage at the summit probably meant there were more visitors than ever. 

Fortunately, the sky was clear, and while having lunch, we were treated to a beautiful view of Tagaytay and its surrounding lake.  Most of the time I had visited, clouds had covered the entire view, which made this hike extra memorable. 

We were back home by late in the afternoon after a late lunch, just in time for the new year celebration with family.

Thank you, 2025! You were an interesting year.