Cuenca: Mountain, Lake, Volcano

Mt. Maculot in Cuenca, Batangas is one of the mountains close to Manila and its proximity to the city makes it a favorite among mountain climbers. People who want to climb Mt. Maculot are advised to register first  at registration sites in the town. A guide can also be hired to help you with the trek to the Rockies. The Rockies is a popular site of the mountain so called because of its rocky terrain. Once you reach the top, you can see a breathtaking view of the Taal Lake and Taal Volcano below.

But unlike mountaineers who follow the trail to the Rockies, I was led to a different route to see Mt. Maculot, the Taal Lake and Taal Volcano. I went to Brgy. Dita, Cuenca  to visit family friends. They live in the Dita side of Mt. Maculot, hundreds of meters above sea level. The air up in the mountain is so cool and the forest supplies fresh oxygen. Fruit-bearing and other kinds of trees abound in the forest but what fascinated me most was the lovely, colorful flowers and ornamental plants, some of which I saw for the first time.

A view of the towns of San Jose and Lipa City from Mt. Maculot

From Dita, our friends’ 78-year old father drove us to the next barangay, Balagbag, so I can have a view of the mountain peak from afar. Maculot is a wide mountain and we were on the other end of the Rockies, but they told me that I can also view Taal Lake and Taal Volcano from Balagbag. We found an elevated spot that gave us a panoramic view of the Taal Lake and the Taal Volcano. The lake was so placid. Some parts were blue, other parts were sparkling like emerald. From a distance Taal Volcano protrudes. From where we were, the place was framed in green foliage with birds flying into the scene, and chickens cackling in the background. A gentle, cool breeze brushed me. Inspired by the scene, I breathe in the fresh air. No pollution, no distraction. I felt at peace.

Philip Yancey said, “Wilderness announces to our senses the splendor of an invisible, untameable God…the world cannot contain the delight God inspires.”* After going up to Mt. Maculot, I begin to think that maybe mountaineers are drawn to the mountains because when they are up there, they sense the presence of God. And indeed, God displays His beauty and power in the mountains, in the volcano, and in the lake. Our appropriate response is awe and praise to Him.

“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth,

    burst into jubilant song with music;

make music to the Lord with the harp,

    with the harp and the sound of singing,

with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn—

    shout for joy before the Lord, the King.

 Let the sea resound, and everything in it,

    the world, and all who live in it.

 Let the rivers clap their hand
 let the mountains sing together for joy.”  Psalm 98:4-8

Here’s an old gospel song about a mountaintop experience with God.

*Source of quotation by Philip Yancey: Our Daily Bread