Some field trips are remembered for the bus ride. This one is remembered for the river, the cave, and the mountain peak. Our trip to Madlum Cave, Madlum River, and Mt. Manalmon in San Miguel, Bulacan was pure learning through adventure.
Note to readers and field trip organizers: This trip happened years before the unfortunate incident in the area that led to the temporary closure of the site. The story below is from that earlier time when the area was regularly visited by schools.
A trip was set. Our destination — Madlum Cave, Madlum River, and Mt. Manalmon. Starting from Bulacan's entry point, we traveled by bus almost two hours more before we got to the location. We alighted the bus and warmed up for at least twenty minutes in preparation for the wading and trekking ahead.
Wading Madlum River: First-Time Joy for Students
Jump off point was several steps away from Madlum Cave and we reached the place after wading the knee-deep river. For many of our students, this was their first time to wade and bathe in a real river — not a pool, but a living, flowing river with cold water and smooth stones under their feet.
You could see the joy in their faces. They held each other's hands, laughed loudly when someone slipped, and helped each other keep balance. It was not just fun — it was learning. They learned to work as a team, to be careful with every step, to respect the strength of the water, and to appreciate nature beyond the classroom walls.
At the campsite later, we were given the chance to plunge into the 7ft. deep clear water while waiting for the first batch to come down from the summit. Students really had fun playing as they ecstatically swam. I could see their heartfelt appreciation of nature and freedom from classroom activities. For a few hours, there were no blackboards, no quizzes — just river, sky, and laughter.
Inside Madlum Cave: Dark, Mysterious, and Educational
Madlum — derived from a Visayan word madulum meaning dark — again impressed me with its disco ball-like stalagmite at the entrance. The formation looks like a lamp shade of capiz and it glistened in the dark.
Inside the cave, the strong odor of guano (bats' excrement) took over as we momentarily invaded the animals' haven. It was a perfect science lesson in real life. Students learned about stalactites, stalagmites, cave ecosystems, and why bats are important to nature. No textbook can replace the experience of standing inside a real cave.
We went out of Madlum Cave one by one through a narrow passage, which brought us to a rocky slope. We trailed through a sandy riverside and waded the shallow body of water again to get to the path which would lead us to Mt. Manalmon.
Climbing Mt. Manalmon: Reaching the Peak Together
Then time to go up the mountain for our group came. The sun cooperated with us during the hike. It hid behind the clouds so we avoided the risk of sunburn as we trekked.
Along the way, a number of shoe soles detached from their shoe bodies were seen — the drawback of wading with shoes on first and hiking afterwards. It became a funny reminder for future organizers: bring slippers for river crossing and hiking shoes for climbing.
As we went up, weariness was observed especially for those who weigh heavier than usual. We proceeded nonetheless, encouraging each other.
The immense rock atop the mountain which actually serves as its summit was finally reached. The way to the peak appeared steep and there was nothing to cling to should a climber lose his balance. In short, it's an activity an acrophobiac would never dare doing.
Most of the hikers took the challenge of getting to the summit with the help of facilitators. I did climb to the peak for the second time and didn't regret doing it, for once again I got to see the magnificent vista of the whole place — the vast fields of Bulacan, the winding river below, and the Sierra Madre mountains in the distance. For students, reaching the peak gave them a real sense of accomplishment — "I did it!" — a confidence that they can bring back to their studies.
Going Home Tired but Refreshed
We left the place feeling refreshed. Going back was a leisure walk — hikers managed to sing in chorus as we followed the trail back to the jump off point. They never spoke of thirst nor hunger as we walked back but atrociously demonstrated both as we reached the area.
Forty-five minutes of trekking to the summit of Mt. Manalmon which couldn't be accomplished without wading the Madlum River and another forty-five minutes of walking back truly drained the energy and emptied the stomach of each hiker.
Everyone ate and quenched their thirst and then waded again the river and walked back to the buses parked at the entrance. Others chose to get to the other side through the zipline — another thrilling experience for them.
As everyone boarded the buses we left San Miguel, Bulacan. I sat and felt the comfort of the cushion against my aching back. Tired, I dozed off.
This trek to Mt. Manalmon which stands 180 meters above sea level may not be as high as Mt. Banahaw, but it gave me total freedom from all my responsibilities and let me feel the soothing caress of the natural wind upon my skin and breathe the fresh scent of the surroundings. Above all, it reminded me of God's immensity as I surveyed the majestic panorama from the top of the mountain.
Why This Trip is Ideal for Field Trips
For field trip organizers, Madlum offers a complete package of learning and joy:
1. River wading teaches teamwork and resilience. Students learn to help each other cross.
2. Cave exploration brings science to life. Geology and biology outside the classroom.
3. Mountain climbing builds confidence. Reaching the peak of Mt. Manalmon gives students pride and a lasting memory of achievement.
Truly, all the efforts we exerted on our climb to the summit paid off — not just in photos, but in lessons our students will carry for a lifetime.
