Last June 11, Rock Outdoors - SCAPI undertook the rebolting of 8 routes and installed ring anchors in 8 routes in Nautod (Dingle, Iloilo). Sincerest THANK YOU to all those who made this possible including the Local Government of Dingle and Barangay Nautod. 

We still have a lot of rebolting, bolting and anchor replacements planned, and with this we would like to ask that you continue to support re-bolting initiatives. For donations and inquiries, you may contact Mr. Aldwin Ibanez. 

Rebolted Routes: 
1. Suzanne 
2. Paps 
3. Paula 
4. Chief Suave 
5. September Jinx 
6. Kuya Maggie 
7. Kuya Masel 
8. Brown Beans 

When the boys came out to play. 

By Marie Calica

I’ve been climbing for about 10 years, but ask me about our sport’s superstars and I’ll stammer to give you three names. Talk to me about the most recently opened climbing routes and their grades or which rock god just sent it and I’ll shrug my shoulders and give you a blank look. Tell me to rate a climb or a boulder problem and I’ll scratch my head.

I may not be as technical or experienced as the other “old timers,” but like you, I love to climb. And in recent years, I’ve discovered a love for bouldering.

I’ve had the pleasure of going on two rock trips: CDO’s Goo Goo Gaga in November, and just two weeks ago, to Baguio’s Ambongdolan Rock Trip. And just because the latter is the more recent adventure (and the one my memory will allow me to remember), I’ll chew the fat on this one.
After a five-hour ride up to our country’s summer capital, I was hoping to get to the crag and climb. But Ambongdolan is 1 ½ hours away from Baguio City via a hired jeep (or in my case, Alvin’s 4×4), so the wait only got me more excited. Miles later, we reached the Barangay Clinic—our home base for the weekend.

Want to see what Cantabaco, Cebu climbing has to offer? Check out this teaser video from the recently-held Lust for Lime 6 rock trip put together by Dennis Diaz.

By Miel Pahati

I’ve been climbing all over the Philippines for the last ten years. I’ve seen the outdoor scene grow and progress. Just when I thought I’d seen it all, here was another area with a whole new experience. I visited Cagayan de Oro last August 19 to 24 to check-out the new bouldering spots and meet some old friends.

Right from the first day, I was amazed with the texture, movement and features of the CDO rock. I couldn’t name the type but it’s not limestone. It wasn’t quite like the boulders of Montalban and Manalmon, which were almost frictionless and smooth. Also compared it to bouldering in Baguio, whose weather is as cold as it can get, and friction as best you can get, in the Philippines.

All the areas are also just around 30-45 minutes drive from the city with very easy treks. In the six days I was there, I was bouldering three hours into the trip, down to the last hour I possibly could. It seemed that CDO brings in the friction, variety, and overall complete bouldering experience.

There is much to look forward to even when climbing indoors. The very homey local gym, Alwana, offers a variety of angles in all its walls. Though set up with a top-rope for most clients, the walls are also good for bouldering. It also has a weights room and spa, where you can conveniently get your dose of a full body work-out. If that’s not enough reason to drop by Alwana, then you must know that it is the jump-off point to all the crags.

New routes were established in the country’s favorite crag, Cantabaco (in Toledo, Cebu) during the bolting project held last July 11 to 25. Though challenged by periodic rains, the hardworking team of Mackie, Simon, Boybi, Jao, Raymond, and Gian was able to put up eight new lines graded 5.8 to 5.12, and having a multi-pitch setup, go up as high as 160 feet.

The new routes are located at the left wall of Cantabaco, which meant plenty of pre-bolting landscaping and cleaning had to be done. While this slowed down the actual bolting process, project lead Mackie says that climbers can still expect more routes to be put up in time for the annual rock trip on end-October.

Even more to look forward to is a newly-spotted rock formation located just 30 minutes from Cantabaco. A large rock face with even more potential for hard climbing than Cantabaco, Mackie is eyeing Lamac, Pinamungahan for his next bolting project.

Click on 'read more' to see some photos.

It’s thrilling to find such a quick outcome of putting this website together. In a matter of days, Climb Philippines received word about an existing trad climbing area in Masungi, Rizal.

According to our source, Masungi is blessed with huge and beautiful (and sharp!) limestone towers, and so far, they have already established around 15 routes, graded from 5.5 to 5.12, and ranging between 10 to 60 meters high.

While the crag is open to all climbers, it must be noted that it is located in privately-owned land, so best practice is to still ask permission before heading to Masungi.

As for your burning questions…

Q: Is this purely trad climbing?
A: Yes. Be ready with your full rack.