The Team Santelmo

I really don’t know much of this team, number of members, the leader, how the group was created, and their first hike as a group and so on (I will just do my interview in the future).

Anyhow, I will speak base on my own opinion, by the way I had my conversations with them and how they treat me (just a spoiler, sometimes I am a bias person).

The Professional. Body built, skin complexion, outfit and the way he carries himself. Someone would not know how old he really is unless you ask him. One that is perseveres to reach what was planned and someone who you will not hear any bad words from his mouth whatever not so good circumstance the hiking went to. As he says, “walang malas, malas, lahat swerte.”

The Road Manager. The person who is behind the team’s hiking itinerary. The one who plans almost all of the team’s hiking schedules (I think). In tagalong, ang promotor ng lahat. He sets when and where the hiking will happen, organizes each hike, informs everyone, provides information about the trip, characteristics of each mountain, necessary gadgets to bring and even the transportation going to the meeting place.

The Boss. With his composure, acts and by the way he talks, he proves that he is a superior. Someone who knows to discern things from what is proper to what must not try when in a mountain. Someone who separates mountaineering to liquor socialization to ensure safety. As quoted, “kapag bundok, bundok lang, kapag nasa baba, inom.”

The Photo Enthusiast. May I say, team’s official photographer. Click. Click. Click. Well, he does not actually press the button of his camera all the time, because he also needs to keep himself safe, but his best friend is always on his side to put in photograph picturesque sceneries that they may see during the trek.

The Chic. Girlish in heart and acts but manly enough to help other ladies he is with. No, no, no. There is no typographical error here. Or the name The Chic does not fit with the he. And I am sure with the chic and a he. Get it? Oh, well. Maybe he got some sort of girly vanity concerns, or kaartehan, but he still manages to act as a man in time that his companion needs a lift.

The Unica Hija. The only girl in the team (Well, the original girl member, because I am just a sabit with them, hehe). Maybe she is the only real girl in the group but not a bratinella like me. She acts independently though she still asks for help from the boys at times that is really needed.

The Big Guy. Big Body. Kinda fatty but still perseveres to finish the trek, because if he will not, he will be left behind (hm, well, he is usually behind the line every trek, left behind means he will be left in the mountain by his companions, which no one will ever do).

The Small Boy. Small but terrible? Not really, silent type but got the hiker moves. With his not so high and not so big body structure, someone will really be amazed seeing him at the top and at the peak of the mountain. People may say he is a lost boy, but he is not, he is just small but got enough to reach the top.

The Gentleman. As he says and he proves it. “Di ka namin pababayaan kahit ganito kami responsable naman kami sa mga kasama namin.” What more can I say, together with Mr. Professional, this person ensures that everyone who is part of the team is safe, especially the ladies, and literally lends his arms whenever someone needs them to lift them up, may it be a river or a cliff.

The Compass. My assistant. Ladies’ bag porter. The team’s GPS guru. He got it all, literally. Almost complete hiking gadgets (I think so, cause I usually borrow from him, hehe), a body that is fit to hike and/or run on a mountain. I usually tell him “nagu-unggoy mode ka na naman,” but not in a negative manner, maybe he just loves to run and dreams to be a ridge runner. He is usually the one who is in front of us and looks if the way is a positive trail.

The hitch-hiker. In tagalong, sabit. A newbie bratinella. But perseveres to reach the top and finish the hike even with a small, weak-looking body. Maarte but knows how to be independent and fortunately safe by the hands of the other team members. (Ever thankful:) 

Collectively, the team has a great collaboration. Helping each other hand-in-hand, and even in hand-in-foot situations (kidding aside, hehe). Team Santelmo,(well, I do not know yet how they came up with the name, lemme do my research when I got time to do so) is one substantial proof of modern Bayanihan and Kapatiran with lots of Katatawanan and kulitan. And why is that so? Well, look at the pictures. Are not these honest proofs? (More pictures to come. Just wait.