Viajero Outdoor Centre

The “Shop” as we fondly call it, was opened in September of 1994 in an era when camping in the great Mindanao outdoors meant a lot of uncertainty. A time when Philippine mountaineering was either viewed as a pastime for the foolish but courageous types or the rich who has the means go out have fun outdoors and are able to buy imported outdoor gear from last year’s outdoor magazines. Still at the age of innocence, five of us went on this journey. With a total cash capital of twenty five thousand pesos, the “Shop”, took the shape more of a "Tambayan" rather than a mountaineering specialist shop. The day’s profit usually ended in the brew store. “Tagay” was viewed as a marketing strategy to lure future mountaineers. Backpacking equipment production was literally a backyard industry back then. Accessibility of gear was a problem. We had to sew our own gear and eventually sold them to whoever wants them. At this time, there were very few small local companies producing outdoor equipment. We then, made arrangements with these companies and started selling their equipment in the shop. The availability of gear; backpacks, sandals, tents and other useful stuff became a catalyst for outdoor recreation and local eco-tourism. Who knew that your first mountaineering experience would bring so much grief and suffering. “We used to fit nine people in a tent made for four” and “ten kilogram superkalan stoves were the wave of the future”. “With temperatures above freezing, sleeping on a damp sleeping bag was the norm”. After a torturous journey of tears and profanity, an unusual sadistic craving sets in. We’ve come a long way from then. From the original five, two of us remain and ended up getting married with two kids. The shop has grown and molded quite a number of us through the years. We’ve become experts in our field. We’ve had the opportunity to travel, be trained and experience the outdoors extensively. The shop now offers a wide range of local as well as imported equipment and is now proficient to train in the fields of Philippine mountaineering, Caving, Rope Access and everything about outdoor living. We also have a team who specializes in “Outdoor Experiential Learning Programs” for team building and team recreation. We, as a company, believe in giving back to the environment and help preserve its integrity through programs and activities that not only preserve and protect but also improve its existence through outdoor education.