Mt. Sawi (594m) | The Hugot Peak of Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija
Mt. Sawi is a promising yet easy hiking spot at the foot of the Sierra Madre Mountain Range in Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija. Find out why in this new adventure!
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Overshadowed by the prominent Mt. Kemalugong (1,750+) in Laur, Nueva Ecija, and the mysterious and mighty peaks of Mt. Mingan (1,903+) shared by Nueva Ecija and Aurora.
MT. SAWI (MT. SAWING BALITE)
Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija
Major jumpoff: Brgy. Malinao, Gabaldon
LLA: 594 MASL
Days required / Hours to summit: 1 day / 2-3 hours
Specs: Minor climb, Difficulty 3/9, Trail class 1-3
Features: Scenic views of Nueva Ecija
(www.pinoymountaineer.com)
On Suicide and Hugot Culture
With the advent of “hugot” in popular culture as made famous by movie flicks such as ‘Camp Sawi’ and ‘That Thing Called Tadhana’, it is easy to assume that this mountain’s name was coined in reverence to the latter. But, the story behind it was a tragic one.
Mt. Sawing Balete, or Mt. Sawi, was named as such as it came from the story of a young Dumagat girl who committed suicide at the now-dead tree at the summit. Moreover, it was said that he cared for an injured man wandering the mountain and nursed him back to full health. The man promised to come back, but later on, the girl found out that the guy was getting married to someone else.
Chill Pill
Hiking Mt. Sawi is rather easy and can be done by those new to the climbing scene. From the Barangay Hall of Malinao, the hike starts with a 500m walk along the community of Brgy. Malinao. Then it ensues into a moderately steep assault along a semi-forested ridgeline with views of the neighboring mountain slopes.
Right after, around 2.0 kilometers from the jump-off point, the steep ridge resumes into grassland that leads up to the very summit of Mt. Sawi.
Despite its lovelorn name, one will not feel any of it once one reaches the top. At the summit, one will be rewarded with the vast rice fields and the meandering Dupinga River of Nueva Ecija.
Being a chill hike and the higher peaks surrounding the summit, it feels like the starting point of an even longer climb in the unexplored mountains peaks of Aurora Memorial National Park!
The first-ever documented hike was spearheaded by the Nueva Ecija Backpackers and Mountaineers Community, Inc. (NEBMCI) last June 2016 in the aftermath of Typhoon Lando. They are also the ones who accompanied us on a recon hike of Mt. Kemalugong (1,750+) in Laur Nueva Ecija.
Itinerary and Expenses
Mt. Sawi Day Hike
0130 ETD Cubao
0500 ETA Cabanatuan; early breakfast
0520 Proceed to Gabaldon
0700 Arrival at Brgy. Malinao; register / secure guides
0710 Start trek
0800 Take a peek at Simbahang Bato
0820 Resume hike
0930 ETA Mt. Sawi summit
1000 Head back to the trailhead
1100 End of trek. Tidy up.
1200 Head back to Cabanatuan (or continue to Mt. Mapait)
1340 Back in Cabanatuan. Late lunch / Take the bus back to Cubao
1800 ETA Manila
(www.pinoymountaineer.com)
Mt. Sawi with Dingalan, Aurora Sidetrip
Day 0
2300 Meet-up at Cubao
0000 Depart for Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija
Day 01
0330 ETA Brgy. Malinao, Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija, register, secure guide
0400 Start trek
0600 ETA Mt. Sawi (594m) summit, rest, breakfast
0700 Start descent
0830 Arrival at jump-off point, rest, tidy up
0930 ETD to Dingalan, Aurora
1030 ETA Dingalan Feeder Port, register, rent outrigger boat
1130 ETD to White Beach
1200 White Beach, lunch
1300 Start trek to the lighthouse
1330 ETA Dingalan Lighthouse, free time
1430 Start descent, proceed to swimming, caving
1700 ETD to Feeder Port
1730 ETA Dingalan Feeder Port
1800 ETD to Manila
How to Get There
- Sawi is located in Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija with its jump-off point at Brgy. Malinao
- By Commute (once the public transportation resumes):
- From Cubao, Quezon City, take any bus bound for Cabanatuan City (ES Transport, Baliwag Transit, Genesis, or Five Star)
- At the Cabanatuan City Terminal, transfer to another commuter van bound for Dingalan, Aurora
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- Ask the driver to drop you off at Malinao Elementary School just a few hundred meters from the Dupinga River Bridge or just tell them you will be hiking Mt. Sawi
- Proceed to Malinao Brgy. Hall just at the back of the school to register and secure a guide
- You may contact Christian Taay Malanyaon (FB Acct HERE) or you may message him at 0935 427 3243 or 0912 131 9717
- By private transportation: search Malinao Brgy. Hall, Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija
- Registration Fee is 30php/head and a guide fee of 500php for 5-10pax
- There is one water source at Km. 2 of the trail, around 15-20 minutes from the summit
- Signal and data reception is present at the summit
- Check local health and safety regulations before going
- Always follow the LNT Principles
Extend Your Trip
- Little Vigan | Gapan, Nueva Ecija
- Mt. Labi, Nueva Ecija | A Hike into Bongabon’s Primeval Forest
- Where to Bike Next? | Minalungao National Park, Nueva Ecija
- Mt. Lakay (1,390+) | Carranglan, Nueva Ecija’s Rafflesia Mountain
Updated February 02, 2022
