Sandugo Wall

Six-feet shorter than King Kong, the Sandugo Wall is 44 feet high situated at the Market Market Mall in Global City, Taguig. It is intimidating if you have that fear of heights but my fear has long been conquered since I rappelled a 60-foot water tank few years back. The climb was set last year with some hyperfriends and last Saturday was the realization of the feat.


We started with a 90-degree wall. There was no enough challenge here since its flat and I have enough muscle power to push me through. I was surprised though when I landed on the floor, I am panting like a dog and my forearms were so tight and I felt a little fatigue.


The intermediate wall looks easy but when I passed the 10-feet mark, the wall started to decline by 10 degrees approximately making my body lean backwards. The pull from the ground started to rest my arms muscle and I tried very hard to cling on the stone grip. I pulled myself up until I reach another declining slope. There was another 10 feet climb to the top but I am already exhausted. Twice I tried to reach the top but to no avail.


Back on the floor, I looked up and scaled the wall with my eyes. This could not be. I took some rest and look at 3 people, two of them were ladies who have successfully scaled the intermediate wall and even the advance one. I envy them.

HB likewise stopped. We thought that we should be prepared to climb those walls by practicing on the shorter but similarly sloped wall. It was very difficult. We keep on falling on the padded floor with our backs, butts, or arms. I guess it was our perseverance to learn that an instructor approach us and taught some techniques. He is very accommodating and he gave us scientific explanations why we should not use our arms muscles in climbing or bouldering. He said that it should be legwork. He showed us the right way and we tried to imitate but to no avail. We spent at least an hour with the instructor until we feel that we have it for the day. Our arms, hands, and fingers were beginning to burn. We thanked the instructor and told him that we will return.

I do not surrender easily. I would be back in the wall and claim it. I have all the time to do it again and again.