Beyond the Sea of Clouds: A Conqueror of the Playground of the Gods

When people think of Mt. Pulag, the first thing that comes to mind is the breathtaking sea of clouds. It’s a sacred place known in Cordilleran culture as the “Playground of the Gods.” As the highest mountain peak in Luzon and the third highest nationwide, standing at 2,928 meters above sea level, reaching its summit is indeed one hell of an achievement.

Studying in the City of Baguio, I’ve always been fascinated by how proudly the Igorots share stories of this sacred mountain. They tell tales of their ancestors living here after leaving Earth’s ground. They believe that when you are up here, you are closer to the sky, making your prayers easier to hear. There is also a belief that only those with good intentions and a pure heart will be granted a glimpse of the sea of clouds.

As a non-Igorot, my heart believed all these beautiful superstitions. I eagerly listed “Hike at Mt. Pulag” as a major goal to complete my Baguio girlie diary.

But at first, it was just a fantastical dream. I was never the physically active type who could hike that long and that high.

Then late last year, a friend randomly said, “Sama ka? Hike tayo sa Mt. Pulag.” Something inside me suddenly felt alive — like a childhood wish was finally being acknowledged. We originally planned to hike last November, but life happened, schedules clashed, and the trip kept getting pushed back. Finally, the calendar cleared, and we locked in May 23, 2026.

Looking back, it was a perfectly orchestrated date. Three of us in our circle are May babies, and May 24 happens to be my actual birthday.

We started preparing in every way we could think of — buying gear, booking a travel agency, and walking 10,000 steps every day. My TikTok For You Page became a flood of Mt. Pulag journeys: what to expect, what to bring, and yes, we even watched the engkanto encounter stories. We didn’t skip a thing.

The trail is often rated a hardcore 7/10, especially near the summit. Or maybe a 5/10? Honestly, when I found out the youngest hiker on our date was a 5-year-old, it felt a little embarrassing for a 24-year-old like me to call it a 7/10!

But truth be told, it was a long, exhausting trek. Some parts were muddy and incredibly slippery. The weather was chilly; our bonnets got completely soaked, not from sweat, but from the thick mountain mist.

I honestly thought that seeing the famous sea of clouds with my own eyes would be the ultimate highlight — the one moment I’d carry with me forever. But Pulag ended up showing me something far bigger than just mountains and clouds.

It made me see myself, my friends, and most importantly, the unconditional love of God.

Myself: A blown-out light finally ignites

For a first-time hiker, reaching that 8-kilometer summit in just three hours of trekking felt like a massive deal. After we got back to our homestay, my high school best friend looked at me and said, “Girl, you’re built for Mt. Pulag.”

Entering adulthood had made me feel like the dreams I had in my teens were becoming impossible now that I’m in my 20s. It made me doubt what I was capable of. Sometimes, adulting forces you to choose between passion and practicality, making you settle and hold yourself back.

But Pulag made me see myself as someone determined and perseverant. I realized that sometimes, I am the only one holding myself back from something greater. Pulag made me believe in myself again. I didn’t know this hike would reignite a light that had once been blown out.

Friends: Different Paces, Same Summit

We were a large group — 11 pax to be exact. Along the trail, we naturally separated because of our different paces and stamina. Yet, even miles apart, you could feel that everyone was rooting for all 11 of us to reach the top. We respected our differences and no one took it personally if someone was way ahead or falling behind.

In life, we all have different timelines and phases. It’s a beautiful thing to find friends mature enough to understand that you don’t need to constantly keep up with them just to stay connected.

Sometimes we feel pressured by our peers, but true friends make you feel entitled to follow your own timeline. In the end, we all share the same ultimate goal: to reach our own summit of peace and happiness. And you can rest assured that they will be excited to share that happiness with you, no matter how long it takes you to get there.

God: Peak of Answered Prayers

Our journey was a living testament to answered prayers and fulfilled birthday wishes. We weren’t just lucky; we were deeply blessed.

To be fair, May isn’t the prime season for Pulag. The chances of getting a clear summit and a sea of clouds are technically very low. In fact, just two days before our climb, heavy rains battered Kabayan. We braced ourselves for the worst, and our prayers grew louder. Only one thought kept me anchored: The Lord put this desire in my heart to reach the summit, and I know He won’t disappoint.

The moment we arrived at our homestay? Clear, sunny skies.

That night, the rain held back. The sky welcomed us openly, entirely covered in stars twinkling right above our eyes. My friends even caught a glimpse of a shooting star during the trek.

Our tour guide smiled and told us, “Ang suwerte niyo, maraming bituin, may clearing.”

But I knew it wasn’t just luck. For me, it was miraculous.

The moment we finished our descent and started heading home that Saturday afternoon, the skies finally opened up and the rain poured hard. The timing was too precise to be a coincidence.

Conquering the Inside

This journey became a testament to faith, love, and answered prayers. Mt. Pulag didn’t just bless our eyes with an eye-mazing sunrise or a sea of clouds. I didn’t just conquer a freezing, long trail.

To conquer the Playground of the Gods doesn’t mean defeating the mountain. It means conquering your fears and the doubts you had along the trail. It means pushing through the freezing mist when your breath catches in your throat, and pacing yourself when your friends are miles ahead.

I am a conqueror because the light that adulting had slowly blown out was reignited on that trail. Standing 2,928 meters above sea level, looking at a horizon that felt infinite, I realized that the boundaries I thought held me back were entirely in my mind. I brought a hesitant, doubting girl up that mountain, but I brought a limitless woman down.

I am a conqueror of this playground because I entered it with a prayer, and I left it with an answer. The rain waited for me. The stars showed up for me. I didn’t force my way to the top; I was invited up by Grace.

It takes humility to surrender your plans, the courage to walk at your own pace without comparison, and the faith to keep climbing even when the mist hides the view. I didn’t conquer Pulag by mastering its terrain; I conquered it because I allowed the journey to master my doubts. At its core, this climb wasn’t just a fun side quest — it was a quiet, beautiful moment meant just for me and God.