Mt. Sawi Dayhike Guide + Little Vigan

Introduction

Nueva Ecija province is widely known as the “Rice Bowl of the Philippines” due to its large agricultural plains that produce masses of rice supply and agricultural products in other parts of the Philippines. On the other hand, very few know that Nueva Ecija is home to many impressive mountains. One of these mountains is Mt. Sawi.

Mt. Sawi is located in Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija. It offers marvelous views of Nueva Ecija plains, rice paddies, and the Dupinga River. Mt. Sawi has an elevation of 594 MASL or 1948 feet. Mt. Sawi became a favorite hiking destination in Nueva Ecija because of its friendly trail and appealing views. Hikers and tourists can get a clear sight at the Sierra Madre mountain range, Dupinga River, plain fields, and other higher mountains of Nueva Ecija such as Mt. Mingan and Mt. Kemalugong.

Sawi is a Tagalog word that means “miserable or unfortunate”. It was said that that mountain was named as such due to the tragic story of one Dumagat girl who committed an act of suicide on the top of the mountain. According to the locals, the girl is broken-hearted and hangs herself at the Balete tree.

Mt. Sawi’s story goes like this, once upon a time, there is a beautiful Dumagat girl who lives beside the mountain and the Dupinga River. One day, while hiking a mountain she saw a man who looked weak, hungry, wounded, and tired at the mountain top. The Dumagat girl helped the guy by giving food to him, curing his wounds, and taking care of him.

Along the way, the Dumagat girl fell in love with the guy. The guy also fell in love with the girl. The girl even brought the guy into their home and present him to everyone. Later on, when the guy was fully restored to good health and able to walk back again, he told the Dumagat girl that he needs to go back to his hometown to tell his family he’s in good shape and condition.

Then the guy left a promise that he will come back for her. The Dumagat girl kept on waiting, holding on to his vow. Unfortunately, plenty of days have passed by, and the guy who hoped to return to him never came back again.

Then one day, she heard that there was a ceremony happening nearby in the town. Little did she know, that the guy she was waiting for a long time was already engaged to marry a woman from a noticeable family. To her surprise, she found out that the ceremony is for the wedding of her beloved guy with another girl.

For this reason, the girl was so shocked, sad, depressed, and broken-hearted with what she has found. Later as the days passed by, the Dumagat decided to hike the mountain again and took her own life by hanging herself on the Balete tree at the summit. Hence the name Mt. Sawi came from.

Name: Mt. Sawi
Difficulty: 3/9
Elevation: 594 MASL
Jump-Off: Barangay Malinao, Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija
Hours to summit: 2 to 3 hours
Features: Forest, grassland, and scenic views of Nueva Ecija plains and Dupinga River

My trip to Mt. Sawi

Hiking is my favorite thing to do because I believe good things come to those who hike. I miss hiking so I decided to join an organized tour going to Mt. Sawi. As usual, I am a solo joiner and I followed the said itinerary in the group chat. It was Saturday night when I arrived at our meetup place in Greenfield Mayflower Parking. We are eight in the group. When all the group members already arrived at the meetup place, our van left Manila and headed towards Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija around 11 pm.

After three hours of land travel including several militaries and police checkpoints along the way, we arrive at the jump-off point of Mt. Sawi which is located at the basketball-covered court beside the barangay hall in Barangay Malinao, Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija at 2 am. Unfortunately, our van arrived so early at the jump-off point so we slept again in the van for almost three hours while waiting for the go signal of our organizer and tour guide to start hiking. At this time, I couldn’t sleep anymore.

We start the hike at 4:45 am after the introduction of the members and tour guide, briefing the mountain trail, and having group prayer. Since the trail is too dark at that time, we opened our flashlights. The first part of the trail is easy in farmland. Then afterward the trail becomes moderately ascending.

Our group takes the first rest at 5:15 am under the mango tree. As we rest, we can see the city lights of Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija. Then we continue hiking on the slope of the mountain. Some of the beginner members included in the hike want to give up hiking and go back to the jump-off point but quitting is not an option said by our guide.

The tour guide and organizer gave motivation to the beginners. As a result, they continue to hike slowly but surely. We have several take 5 rest as we go up the mountain. After several minutes, we walk on a flat forested trail for ten minutes. Then we take another rest at the water source. We refill our bottles and eat some of our trail food. Then we saw another group hiking Mt. Sawi too.

After done resting, we continue the hike. The trail transformed into a mild assault on the mountain slope. I’m sweating already. Later, we reached the grassland part at 5:50 am and we take twenty-minute rest at the wooden bamboo bench. The wind here is cool and refreshing.

As we rest, we talk about the Mingan mountains. According to our guide, it is a difficult mountain because of the super steep trail passing the 100 meters waterfalls but the view is rewarding because you can see Baler and Dingalan. Only several groups successfully summited Mingan. Also, the guide told us that there is still numerous mountaintop of the Sierra Madre mountain range that are still unexplored by locals and mountaineers.

After twenty minutes of resting and sharing thoughts, we continue the hike in moderate rolling hills on the grassy slope of Mt. Sawi. While going up the mountain we take our time to enjoy the trail. At some point, our group can already see the uppermost portion of Mt. Sawi. On the other hand, I can clearly see the evidence of a bushfire in the mountain. Our guide told us that the bushfire is caused by super extreme heat temperature. As a result of bushfires, many cogon types of grass have been wipeout.

Later we pass through the tall grass trail that is four to eight feet high at 6:20 am. We have to be very careful on this trail to avoid any scratches from the talahib grass. As we go up the mountain, we can see some plains of Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija. Our group stop for several minutes just to take a picture of the beautiful view. Also, some members of the group trail run towards the summit. In my opinion, this grassy trail is very good for trail running. After a few minutes, we finally reached the topmost portion of the grassy trail where the summit is located.

We reached the summit of Mt. Sawi at 6:45 am. It took us two hours to reach the plateau summit. The scenery is beautiful, the air is so fresh and the sunrise is superb. The view at the summit is the famous Sierra Madre mountain range, the wide plain fields of Gabaldon, the meandering Dupinga River that stretches as far as the northwest side, some parts of Mingan mountains that are covered in clouds, heavily forested slopes of Mt. Kemalugong, and the municipality of Gabaldon.

To our right side, we can see the dead tree standing on top of white limestone rocks. The dead tree is the symbolism and the highlight of Mt. Sawi. Because there is already one group at the dead tree area taking photos, our group has to wait for a little while, so we enjoy the relaxing view, the fresh cool air, and savor every moment at the summit. As a result, my eyes were full. In my opinion, this is a must-see destination in Nueva Ecija. However, there’s no summit marker in the area because according to our guide it was destroyed during the past typhoon.

We take selfies, group pictures, individual pictures, and several videos at the top of Mt. Sawi. Then our group goes to the dead tree to take pictures again and behold the stunning sunrise. Our group had breakfast at the nipa hut at the summit. While resting, I noticed there’s a cellphone signal at the summit. Our group shared funny thoughts and some mountains that we climbed before.

Also according to our guide, in the years 2017 and 2018, there’s a long line of people at the summit waiting for their turn to take pictures at the dead tree because during that time it’s overcrowded. Unlike now, only a few groups go to Mt. Sawi because of the ongoing pandemic and travel restrictions in the country.

We stayed at the summit for 1 hour and 30 minutes. After done our breakfast and long rest, we start the descent going back to the jump-off point at 8:10 am. Our group did backtrail. Occasionally the weather favored us as we go down the mountain slope because there’s no trees to offer us shade. The clouds give us shade from the direct heat of the sun. 

The descent is so relaxing and the view is fantastic. We can see the plain fields of Gabaldon, the stunning mountains of General Tinio, and the forested slope. Halfway to the descending trail, we visit the stone church or Simbahang Bato. I was amazed by the rock formation in the Simbahang Bato. It is out of this world. According to our guide, many locals and priests visit this place during the Holy Week, it is a well-known sanctified place to native healers.

After staying, resting, and taking group pictures for fifteen minutes inside the Simbahang Bato, our group continue the descend. We reached the water source and we refill our bottles. 

As we go down the forested trail of Mt. Sawi, I can see the fields of Gabaldon. It was so delightful to see it with my own eyes. We didn’t see it when we hike at dawn. Later we reached the lower slope of the mountain and farmland.

Then a few more minutes of walking we were back at the jump-off point. Hiking under the new normal, I noticed that things might have changed but the fun and hiking adventure never will. 

We finish the hike at 9:40 am. Overall, it was a smooth climb and definitely worth the money. We take a rest, clean our shoes, sandals, and feet at the small house near the barangay. At 10:20 am our van departed and headed to the eatery for our lunch.

We have our lunch at Demis Kitchenette in Gabaldon at 11 am. We order Tapsilog and Sisilog to satisfy our tired bodies. In my experience, their menu is so tasty and affordable. For this reason, they have many customers, especially during lunchtime. It is a must-visit place in Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija.

At 11:30 am our van heads to Trestas Paradise Nature Resort. In this wide resort, we enjoy swimming in the pool even though the water in the pool is so cold. Our guide told us that the water from the pool actually came from the mountain spring so that’s why it was so cold. Also in this resort, we have a wash-up. In my opinion, this is a very good place for an out-of-town vacation because the ambiance and the place are so cool, clean, quiet, and refreshing.

We want to drink some beer at the resort but we can’t find any store that sells beer. The store owner said to us that it is out of stock. As a result, our van leaves the resort at 2:30 pm going to Gapan, Nueva Ecija where the famous Little Vigan is located. This is our side trip in the itinerary. Even though I’m so sleepy already, I noticed that the road trip going to Little Vigan is fascinating. We can see the amazing plains and mountains of Nueva Ecija such as Mt. Kemalugong also known as “Paasa Peak”.

At 4:20 pm we arrived in Litte Vigan, we take pictures and ordered Siomai rice and coconut juice. It was so satisfying. We saw many tourists visiting this place because of the similarity in Vigan City in Ilocos Sur province. For the most part, we saw the old Spanish-era houses and streets. We explore the place, witness the beautiful sunset, and later our van left Little Vigan at 5:40 pm and headed back towards Manila. We arrive in Manila at 8:10 pm.

Thanks be to God for the safe trip and unforgettable experience in the province of Nueva Ecija. Another mountain in Central Luzon has been conquered. On this Mt. Sawi hiking trip, I met awesome people and had a fun experience with them. Special thanks to the Kamp Local Outdoors group for this memorable trip. Kindly visit their Facebook page group for more hiking and travel events.

Overall my adventure to Mt. Sawi sums up with this quote “Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go.” Take a risk, be brave, nothing can substitute experience.

Sample itinerary to Mt. Sawi

12:30AM – Assembly, meet-up
1AM – ETD going to Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija
4:30AM – ETA jump-off point of Mt. Sawi, register and secure guides
5AM – Start hiking
7AM – Arrival at the summit of Mt. Sawi, photo-ops, breakfast
8:30AM – Start to descend
10AM – End of hiking, wash-up
11:30AM – Lunch at Demi’s Kitchenette, Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija
1PM – Arrival at Trestas Paradise Nature Resort, photo-ops, swimming
3PM – Going to the sidetrip Little Vigan, Gapan, Nueva Ecija
4:30PM – Arrival at Little Vigan, photo-ops, early dinner
6PM – ETD going back to Manila
9PM – ETA Manila

Note: this sample itinerary is just a basis and not absolute or will not be 100% perfect due to many factors such as the group pacing, weather condition, traffic, delay, emergency, etc.

Things to bring on your visit to Mt. Sawi:

1 to 2 liters of water
Flashlight or headlamp
Trail food
First aid kit
Cap
Plastic bag for your trash
Extra clothes, cash, and slipper
Camera
Powerbank
Toiletries
Sunblock (optional)
Poncho/rain gear (optional)
Trekking pole (optional)

How to Go to Mt. Sawi

By commute

1. Go to Cubao bus station terminal and ride a bus bound to Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija. 
2. From Cabanatuan City terminal ride a van bound to Gabaldon municipality and tell the driver to alight you at the barangay hall of Malinao which is the jump-off point of Mt. Sawi.

By private car

1. From Manila, drive going to NLEX (North Luzon Expressway) and then exit to Mabalacat, Pampanga.
2. Then proceed to SCTEX (Subic-Clark-Tarlac-Expressway) and then exit to Tarlac City.
3. Then take Santa Rosa – Tarlac Road and drive all the way to the barangay hall of Malinao. 
   
   
   

Reminders and Tips:

• Mt. Sawi is considered a minor climb and it’s good for beginner and seasoned mountaineers as well. The trail is not too steep. It is a perfect mountain for the beginner hiker. Mt. Sawi has a total trail length of seven kilometers back and forth. 

• The total hike to and from the summit of Mt. Sawi takes five hours in normal group pacing with several stops along the trail. 

• It is required to go to the barangay first to register before you start hiking for your own safety. Before you visit Mt. Sawi, you need to contact the barangay so they will assign and assist you with a tour guide. 

• Bring an umbrella or sunblock for better protection against the extreme heat of the sun. Mt. Sawi is an open mountain, so expect that it is very hot during the dry season. 

• Most of the hikers start the hike at dawn to avoid the extreme heat of the sun. 

• Check the weather forecast first before going to Mt. Sawi. The hike can be hard and slippery if it’s raining.

• Parking spaces are available at the jump-off point. Drones are allowed.

• Always follow the Leave No Trace principle. No picking of flowers or plants and do not litter. Keep all trash with you in order to keep Mt. Sawi clean. 

• The tour guide fee is 500 pesos. Note: rates may change without prior notice. 

• Wear appropriate and comfortable clothing that will cover your skin especially in the dry season because there are only a few shaded portions at the top of the mountain. In addition, wear hiking pants instead of shorts to avoid scratches and itchy skin. 

• Make sure to fully charge your cellphones and cameras before the road trip going to Gabaldon. 

• You can have a side trip to Dupinga River, Dingalan, or Little Vigan after the hike. 

• Mt. Sawi is the perfect destination for someone who is trying to let go of their emotional rollercoaster feeling as they will see the beauty of the mountain. Reaching the summit can give you the necessary confidence to overcome any test in life including heartbreak and losing someone you love. Also, challenges and trials make life fascinating, and overcoming them is what makes life significant.

• Be grateful for small things, big things, and everything in between. Count your blessings, not your problems.

• For me, traveling and acceptance is the only way to move beyond tough moments in life. Going to destinations you’ve never been to is said to be the cure for broken heart feelings.

• Last but not least, If you’re coming from Manila or southern Luzon province, I highly recommend getting a packaged tour when you plan to visit Mt. Sawi for convenience and don’t have to worry about the transportation going in and out. Inclusion in the Mt. Sawi package tour is roundtrip van transfer from Manila to Nueva Ecija and vice versa, toll fee, guide fee, registration fee, tour coordinator, driver’s meal, and gas/parking. Excluded in the package tour is food.
  
  

Just simplify life but paint it. On the whole, I hope this Mt. Sawi hiking guide and reference has been helpful to you. You’ll never want to miss Mt. Sawi if you’re a hiker and adventurer. Also, don’t forget to share this with your friends, colleagues, and groups if ever you plan on doing the Mt. Sawi day hike too. God bless you in all your hiking adventures. Thanks for reading.