I'm standing in an elevated ground looking down to a wide, empty space. I feel the gravity pulls me down to the core of the Earth. My body is shaking... cold as ice. I want to close my eyes. The wind seems to blow harder making my feet unstable. My mind is numb and my heart never ceases to stomp as fast as the tick of the clock. My energy depletes and then I fall lightly. Blag! My eyes open yet I feel no pain, I'm alive. Oh, I'm just dreaming. My subconscious mind actively operates again. Consciously I have this biggest fear... heights.

A week before I surrender myself to the battle, I heard my officemates discussing their coming mountaineering activity. Timing! I'm undergoing a recovery, adaptation stage, ah whatever stage it is. I'm pretty sure I'm in a quest for knowing myself better, satisfying myself, trying new things, improving every aspect in my life. Perfect, what a perfect idea! I'm ready. I'll go with the group, Buhawi Mountaineering Club.

Saturday...
All my things are packed. I told myself, "wala na 'tong atrasan", though I used to change my mind, everytime I'm going to start something new, I used to turn back. But this time they're dealing not with the old Melchie (who used to be and feel like a young girl) but with the woman with new and strong perspective in life.

The mountaineers...
Suit in their best sporty attire look more gorgeous with the adrenaline shown in their faces.

The travel...
Traffic intensifies the eagerness to reach the site. We missed the right way, the right road. Yet the hassle isn't that bad because still there is an excuse, it's everybody's first time to get there in Hugom, San Juan Batangas.

The night...
There's no cool breeze as what we expect to welcome us. Only few stars light us as we gather at the shore. It is a night of camaraderie and we are the stars on the shore lighting each other's way. But the night soon will come to end and we need to close our eyes and travel with it until we cross the dawn along the way. But the feeling of excitement and nervous enclose me, I can't sleep. I heard how the sea waves bump each other breaking the silence of the night.

The day...
Only few touch the coldness of the seawater. Everybody prepares, all eyes are sharp as hawk's eyes. We are divided into three groups, I belong to the last. We walk on the white sand, it's a long shore. Now it's trek time. Climb, walk, jump. Amaze with the wild flowers, crush the tall unknown grasses, grasp the big roots of gigantic trees, look up to widened blue sky, feel the humid air touching the pale, perspiring skin. Ignore the back and leg pain, ignore the thirst and hungriness that the poor body dictates. Everybody seems energetic to reach the summit. Almost four hours of trek, I'm now a certified mountaineer. But my phobia strikes again, I can't join them at the peak of the mountain. Yet the powerful words carry me to the peak, "kaya mo yan, andito lang kami". I find myself standing at the rocky surfaces and only few steps will bring me to the ravine. My hands are cold but my mind is fighting back. Go Melchie go! Woooh! I'm on top of the world!

Back to Manila...
I want to thank God and all the people who have been part of the journey to Mt. Daguldul. They are very supportive. I'll never forget this trek even in my old days.