Trekking Mount Apo - Mount Apo stands tall as the chief mountain in The Philippines. With its panoramic view and distinct scenery, Mount Apo features an assemblage of diverse landscapes- bounteous fauna, flora and rocks, lakes, a massive forest, a volcanic crater and a basin of sulphur deposits. We began our climb Friday morning and completed our trek Saturdayevening. The trail begins with an uphill terrain of farmlands, composing of small communities, followed by a tropical forest. After passing through the dense vegetation and streams, you reach the base camp- Camp Goody Goody- after which the steep mountainous portion of the trek begins, where sulphur vents can be found beside a dormant volcanic crater. This segment of the trail gets technical since one has to use both their hands and feet to navigate the rocky, boulder terrain. Allan and his porters provided outstanding service even before the trek commenced and right till the end, accommodating our needs and prepping us for the trip with useful guidance and advice. Despite the rain and strong winds pelting us during the summit climb, it was entertaining with Allan and his team around, cheerful, lively and continually engaging. Meal time at base campwas reminiscent of a gathering of friends, hospitable in equal proportions, and one of the highlights of the day. “Eat more! Have a bit more,” one of the porters always said. One of the guides, with his trusty camera, also took innumerable impromptu and posed shots of us duringour expedition. If you are in Davao, then this truly is an imperative activity. The sense of triumph and accomplishment you get when you reach the summit is beyond doubt remarkable. The spectacle, the nature and the wondrous surroundings - all in one hike to Mt. Apo! The porters were also the true unsung heroes in our climb. Thank you for this splendid experience of a lifetime!