HISTORY 201
by Cecille Ronquillo

Have you heard of this group? The 201 OUTDOOR GROUP?

Well, the group was formed on September 01, 1995 while attending a union seminar in PREDA, Olongapo City. The primary reason in forming the group is simply to have fun and to experience a different adventure. They've decided to go mountain climbing even without experience and nobody to ask about it... JUST HAVING FUN... was always their answer to some people who often ask them.

Their first climb was on March 02, 1996 in Mt. Maculot, Cuenca Batangas, with only six(6) original members, DonDon, Jenny, Alvin, Rommel, Lei and Jun. With no formal training in mountaineering(except for Dondon who already climbed Maculot with Sharon & Blessie), they have survived their first-ever climb with a single A-type tent, a car cover, arnis sticks, canned goods and bread. The group eventually enjoyed it and decided to ask their friends to come.

Succeeding weekends were spent in planning and going to different provinces with newly found friends who joined the group. Another climb in Mt. Maculot followed by a climb in Pico de Loro, Majayjay, Famy, Calauan, and series of other destinations filled the group's weekends on its first year and as the cliche goes, the rest is history!

Six years had passed and the group is proud to have reached more than 40 members and is still growing literally with the birth of our own little juniors(Cham & Randy's, Jerick & Archie's, Cham & Wilma soon) who have found each other in the group. Some come and go but a lot are still active. Others have migrated abroad but are still trying to keep in touch with the rest.

Time had passed but we still have the same enthusiasm that we had the very first time we thought of going outdoors... the adventure within us lives on... and it will live on forever.
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Cecille is the Assistant Manager of BPI Family Bank, Imelda Ave Branch
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Note: The name 201 Outdoor was coined from the 202 Del Monte commercial which was taken at the Rockies of Mt. Maculot plus the fact that most of the members are active union stewards having 201 files.