I don't think of all the misery, but of the beauty that still remains. -Anne Frank Hiking is a metaphor for self-transformation. It is an experience that hones character, and opens our eyes to find beauty amidst the struggle of life. My quest to learn more lessons from the peaks was not resumed until November, seven months since I summited Mt. Sembrano and Mt. Pico De Loro. 2025: 1st and 2nd quarter hikes. This time, I was deemed to go north: to a place that has left an indelible mark on Philippine history. A volcano that was once a harbinger of destruction but now allures everyone because of its beauty. My next destination is Mt. Pinatubo. Destination: Mt. Pinatubo. This travelogue recounts my hike through the cataclysmic path left by Mt. Pinatubo's 1991 eruption, culminating in the reveal of its beautiful and serene caldera, the ironic origin of it all. * * * Jump-off at Capas trail: The Crow Valley and The Lahar Kingdom of Apo Mallari ...