Philippines-Jungle Survival Trip

[bearthedog]

Last year (Sept 2011) I had the chance to spend a weekend in the jungle of Subic Bay, Philippines for some jungle living skills with the Aetas.

Miguel

On this past trip to the Philippines (besides the trips up north to Banaue and way down south to Mindanao) I also got another opportunity to meet with some experts in their jungle once again. This time it was with a survival instructor from one of their schools, where they train the PHIL national police and air force in jungle survival that suits Southeast Asia.


Aetas

Within minutes of arriving at their camp, this kid and I were waist deep in muddy water, mud up to my knees, looking for shelfish.

Once we got out of the water and started moving one of the Aetas thought I might get my bag wet and muddy, he insisted on carrying it for me. Before I got the translation, he was off. The bag isn’t big at all, he is just about 4 feet 5 inches tall.

Hiking through a bamboo forest.

Whenever this small slit is seen in bamboo it usually means there are bats.

Sour lemon leaves used for cooking and making a hot lemonade drink.

Series of vines that have killed these trees.

We stopped for lunch and cooked what we found and some rice…but first a fire.

Making fire using a variation of the bamboo fire saw.

While the food cooked, we made some utensils, plates, and cups from bamboo.

My cup

BBQ bats and rice

Onward

Rattan was located and split for lashings

Clean water, or so they said. I think I believe them since this was two weeks ago and I am still fine.

 

[bearthedog]

Making camp/shelter

Eduardo is afraid of his bed crashing down so he really reinforced it with bamboo and vines.

Gear/tools

I had a small fixed blade, but didn’t use for anything except opening a can. Bolo rules in the jungle of Subic Bay.

The night

Once it got dark, we ate again. Rice and a can of tuna.

After dinner, it was time to fish and frog hunt.

The frog hunting was not a success, because there were cobras in the water hunting and it spooked the frogs away.

Bad cobra

My turn to make fire and cook the rice.

The hardest part is splitting the bamboo open carefully and not completely spilling the contents.

Ed is testing my rice.

Water tree

Water vine that you don’t drink from, it’s not milk.

Holy Cross water vine is ok to drink, but doesn’t give to much water. It is mainly used for cordage.

This is used for cuts, just roll it up and squeeze.

Traps

This technique was taught to the US soldiers to alert them when the enemy was near. They use it for wild boar hunting too.

Eduardo is pretending to be the enemy, when he trips the vine the bamboo will crash together in a thunderously violent sound! It is tied securely, then split and propped open.

Since the Aetas trained the US before entering the war with Vietnam, they were versed in traps not only for hunting, but for people.

Crossbow

Cordage from the holy cross vine.

I went to Subic Bay to train with the Aetas and all I got was this silly hat!

 

[kamagong]

You go to the Philippines more than my aunts do. That's pretty awesome.

Sour lemon leaves used for cooking and making a hot lemonade drink.

I didn't know that lemons grew in the wild there. Are you sure it wasn't calamansi?

 

[bearthedog]

You go to the Philippines more than my aunts do. That's pretty awesome.

I didn't know that lemons grew in the wild there. Are you sure it wasn't calamansi?

Good people, good food, and the best outdoor scenery, I think everyone should go there.

I didn't see any lemons there either. The drink they make is like a sour lemon flavored drink. The leaves taste like something sour, kind of bad though. Not calamansi.

-RB

 

[FTR-14c]

Awesome pics dude

 

[kamagong]

Good people, good food, and the best outdoor scenery, I think everyone should go there.

I agree, though I don't think I'll ever get back there. Between my wife and I, we'd have to go to three different islands just to see family. It's not optional either, some seriously hurt feelings will result if relatives find out that we went home and we didn't take the time to visit. Too much work, and it hurts my head (and wallet) to think about it.

 

[Sagewood]

Awesome pics man! That holy cross water vine almost looks like there is philips head screw stuck in the middle LOL!

 

[lambertiana]

Good people, good food, and the best outdoor scenery, I think everyone should go there.


-RB

I have to agree with that. And, unlike Kamagong, my wife's family is all in one area, so we don't have to worry about hurting anyone's feelings.

 

[RyanW]

Reuben, Great report and Photos as always!

How were the Bats? I am guessing there isn't a lot of meat on those little guys.

 

[bearthedog]

Reuben, Great report and Photos as always!

How were the Bats? I am guessing there isn't a lot of meat on those little guys.

Ryan it's like a crispy, chared meat with a little grit, which I assume is the teeth. Not bad at all.

-RB

 

[Angus McGunnigl]

I have a bolo like the one shown. It has a wooden sheath with the JEST crest on it.
Stout and very useful

 

[Northridge88]

Excellent report!! Thanks for sharing!

 

[TPVT]

i will most likely never get to the phillipines. so, i appreciate all the pics and commentary. thanks for sharing. nice hat!

 

[tknife]

Great pics! I was going to ask about the taste of bat as well, definitely sounds like a unique eating experience!

 

[bearthedog]

I have a bolo like the one shown. It has a wooden sheath with the JEST crest on it.
Stout and very useful

It sure would be great to see a photo of it. How long have you had it, and where did you get it?

Excellent report!! Thanks for sharing!

i will most likely never get to the phillipines. so, i appreciate all the pics and commentary. thanks for sharing. nice hat!

Thank you both.

-RB

 

[TheGame]

Thanks for the awesome pics. Never heard of anyone that actually ate bats before, but there is a first for everything.

:thumbup:

 

[willseeyalater]

Thanks for the awesome pics. Never heard of anyone that actually ate bats before, but there is a first for everything.

:thumbup:

Didn't Ozzy Osbourne bite the head off a bat once? Or was that just an Ozzy legend?

 

[bearthedog]

Didn't Ozzy Osbourne bite the head off a bat once? Or was that just an Ozzy legend?

He did. That's were I'm coming from.

I'm just trying to bring Rock N Roll back to Jungle Survival, something we've lost.

-RB

 

[willseeyalater]

Yeah, you have to be careful though because acting like that, you might get stuck that way. Once you go Ozzy there's no going back.

 

[bearthedog]

Yeah, you have to be careful though because acting like that, you might get stuck that way. Once you go Ozzy there's no going back.

That's what I'm hoping for!

-RB