Aurora’s Mt. Falcon proved by 7 advance mountaineers as one of Central Luzon highest peaks and toughest to climb

SAN LUIS, Aurora, April 29, 2011-Professor Leonardo Usita, president of the environmentalist group Noble Blue Falcons International (NBFI) said that seven (7) advance men team of his group conducted reconnaissance mission at Mt. Falcon before the 300 mountaineers and environmentalists from the Philippines-South Korea, among others to trek in this town today.

“Three (3) days before the Philippine International Climb 2011 to save Sierra Madre, an advance 7 men team of Noble Blue Falcons Environmental Mountaineers conducted reconnaissance mission in Mt Falcon,” he said, adding that the advance team confirmed that the 2007 findings of last Blue Falcons expedition report that there was a cell phone signal at the top of the mountain.

Usita also reported that they re-establish that in summer time where the Mt. Falcon can be climbed in 6 hours (uphill), and confirmed that it is one of Central Luzon's most difficult to climb and is a rich biodiversity that needs to be protected.

“The seven advance team already put ribbon markings and wood signs to guide the climbers and established camp sites where the climbers can stay,” he said. Usita identified the team as Vicente Porte, Marlon Dulay, Ruel Villar, Eduardo Sarenas, Dominador Bitong, Mar Tangson and Diojeto Minosa.

“The markings were already established for the success of this mountaineering adventure dubbed as Akyat Kalikasan, in support to save the longest Sierra Madre mountain rangers of the country,” Usita said.

Usita said that the climb for a cause activity will start today from April 29 to May 1 as the culminating activity in a lung-busting hike at the top of Mt. Falcon which at 5,231.60 ft. above sea level is one of Central Luzon’s highest peaks and is considered to be the toughest to climb.

“It is our way of promoting Aurora as an eco-tourism haven,” he said, saying that it is said to be Central Luzon’s stiffest mountain.

He said that the Blue Falcons mountaineers, who have become a global organization, will retrace their roots in Mt. Falcon, Ditumabo here in San Luis, Aurora where it was founded on March 19, 1996 by Sir Edward J. England.

Usita said that the jungle trek to kick off today is a peaceful rally in support to the executive order number 23 of President Aquino’s total logging ban nationwide where he noted that the group has opposed illegal logging in the province for 15 years.

“I assured the mountaineers will also witness the testament of the seven advance team who conducted reconnaissance patrol at Mt. Falcon where they could see the bountiful beauty of the mountains,” he said.

Aside from the Blue Falcons and the south Korean mountaineers, it is expected that the other groups will participate in the activity like the Greenpeace,  Hospital, Philippine National Red Cross, DFA-Katribu climbers, Green Philippines. Among others are the media from the Catholic Media Network-CMN, DZMM, Philippine star, DZRH, GMA7, ABS-CBN, Business Mirror, Esports Daily News, Radyo Natin and Bulgar. (Jason de Asis)