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Skills Rank

CLASSIFICATION OF MEMBERS BY SKILLS RANK:

BATLAKAD (JUNIOR HIKER)
BATLAKAD (Junior Hiker): Derived from the Pilipino words ‘Bata’ for (n) ‘youngster’ or (adj) ‘young,’ and ‘Lakad’ for (v, imperative) ‘walk,’ also the derivative noun ‘walk’ as in ‘A walk in the park.’

Requirements:

  • Aged 14 years or below at the time of regularization (see notes below).
  • Must have complied with all the requirements for regular membership.
    Notes: Usual entry level for members at the age bracket. Also for applicants whose maturity level are at this bracket.
    This rank was adopted on December, 2005 in line with the shift into a family-oriented organization. The adoption of the rank is meant to accommodate any applicant who satisfy the basic requirements for membership (as adjusted for young applicants), but whose maturity of judgment and level of technical skills, at the time of regularization, do not justify classification into a higher rank.

Rights and privileges:

  • May participate in non-climb activities designed for the age bracket, or which, by their nature, are not age or skills restricted (e.g., most skills training modules, snorkelling, artificial-wall climbing, etc.). Any participation is further subject to whatever general pre- requisites apply.
  • May participate in climbs rated as fun-climbs, subject only to the general pre-climb requirements.
  • May serve as assistant-instructor in subjects where duly rated, but only in classes involving participants in the age bracket.

Restrictions:

  • May not be elected or appointed to any office, except as may be specifically related to, and allowed in, the Batang-Sikap program.
  • May not be designated as Expedition Leader in any climb. May, however, be designated as assistant team-leader to co-lead a team composed of participants in the age bracket but only after having completed the ELTLOC.
  • May be allowed to participate in higher level climbs, on a case-to-case basis, only upon approval by the designated expedition leader and by qualified senior members, and subject to such restrictions as may be imposed for each particular climb (e.g., satisfatory completion of a lower level climb within a given prior period, participation of a guardian or elder relative, mandatory porter hire, etc.).
  • May not be allowed to participate, in any manner, in a survey expedition or in a search-and-rescue operation.

 

TAGLAKBAY (TRAVELLER)
TAGLAKBAY (Traveller): Derived from the Pilipino word ‘Lakbay’ for (n) ‘travel.’ ‘Tag/taga’ is a prefix used to denote a doer of the action or as an indication of season or period of doing things (as in ‘tag-ulan’ to mean rainy season). In the present case, the term literally means ‘one who travels.’

Requirements:

  • Lowest entry level for young adults and adults.
  • Must have complied with all the requirements for regular membership.
    Note: This rank was adopted on December 2005 in line with the shift into a family-oriented organization. The adoption of the rank is meant to accommodate any applicant, above age 14, who satisfy the basic requirements for membership, and whose maturity of judgment is satisfactory, but whose level of technical skills, at the time of regularization, does not justify classification into a higher rank.

Rights and privileges:

  • May participate in non-climb activities designed for the skills level, or which, by their nature, are not age or skills restricted (e.g., most skills training modules, snorkelling, artificial-wall climbing, etc.). Any participation is subject to whatever general pre-requisites apply.
  • May participate in fun climbs or minor-B climbs, subject only to the general pre-climb requirements.
  • May serve as expedition or team leader in fun or minor-B rated climbs, after completion of the ELTLOC.
  • May serve as instructor in subjects where duly rated.
  • May be elected or appointed to any office, subject only to general restrictions specific to each office.

Restrictions:

  • May be allowed to participate in higher level climbs, on a case-to-case basis, only upon approval by the designated expedition leader and by qualified officers, and subject to such restrictions as may be imposed on each particular climb (e.g., satisfactory participation in a lower level climb within a prior given period, medical clearance, mandatory porter hire, etc.).
  • May not be allowed as a field participant in any survey expedition or in any search-and-rescue operation, except where particular skills, or familiarity with the terrain and the community are useful. May, however, at the discretion of the designated EL and qualified officers, be allowed to participate as a base camp operative, camp administrator or monitor in such activities.

 

GATLAKAD (HIKER)
GATLAKAD (Hiker): Derived from the Pilipino word ‘Lakad’ (See BatLakad above). ‘Gat’ is an old Tagalog honorific similar to the Spanish ‘Don’ and placed before the name or the title.

Requirements:

  • Must have complied with all the common requirements for regular membership.
  • Must have successfully completed at least two minor-B climbs, or one minor-A climb, while carrying own gear, food, water and supplies, without physical assistance (i.e. no porter or carrier assistance).
  • Must have exhibited sufficient level of skills to the satisfaction of the Skills Development and Classification Committee.

Rights and privileges:

  • May participate in non-climb activities, subject only to the general pre-requisites applicable to a particular activity.
  • May participate in fun climbs, minor-B or minor-A climbs, subject only to the general pre-climb requirements.
  • May serve as expedition or team leader in fun climbs, minor-B or minor-A rated climbs, after completion of the ELTLOC.
  • May serve as instructor in subjects where duly rated.
  • May be elected or appointed to any office, subject only to general restrictions specific to each office.

Restrictions:

  • Must have successfully completed a minor-B (or minor-A) climb within 60-days prior to participation in a major-B (or major-A) climb, or upon approval by the designated expedition leader and by qualified officers, and subject to such restrictions as may be imposed on each particular climb (e.g., medical clearance, mandatory porter hire, etc.).
  • May not be allowed as a field participant in any survey expedition or in any search-and-rescue operation, except where particular skills, or familiarity with the terrain and the community are useful. May, however, at the discretion of the designated EL and qualified oficers, be allowed to participate as a base camp operative, camp administrator or monitor in such activities.

 

GATTAHAK (TREKKER)
GATTAHAK (Trekker) Derived from the Pilipino word ‘Tahak’ for (n/v) ‘trek,’ and the honorific ‘Gat.’

Requirements:

  • Must have complied with all the common requirements for regular membership.
  • Must have successfully completed at least four different minor-B climbs, or two minor-A climbs, or one major (A or B) climb, while carrying own gear, food, water and supplies, without serious injury or discomfort, and without physical assistance (i.e. no porter or carrier assistance).
  • Must have exhibited sufficient level of skills to the satisfaction of the Skills Development and Classification Committee.

Rights and privileges:

  • May participate in non-climb activities, subject only to the general pre-requisites applicable to a particular activity.
  • May participate in fun climbs, minor-B or minor-A climbs, subject only to the general pre-climb requirements.
  • May serve as expedition or team leaders in fun climbs, minor-B or minor-A rated climbs, after completion of the ELTLOC.
  • May participate in a survey expedition, or a search-and-rescue operation, upon approval by the designated expedition leader and by qualified officers, and subject to such restrictions as may be imposed on each particular operation.
  • May serve as instructor in subjects where duly rated.
  • May be elected or appointed to any office, subject only to general restrictions specific to each office.

Restrictions:

  • Must have successfully completed a minor-B (or minor-A) climb within 90-days prior to participation in a major-B (or major-A) climb, or upon approval by the designated expedition leader and by qualified officers, and subject to such restrictions as may be imposed on each particular climb (e.g., medical clearance, mandatory porter hire, etc.).

 

GATBUNDOK (MOUNTAINEER)
GATBUNDOK (Mountaineer): Derived from the Pilipino word ‘Bundok’ for ‘mountain’ (it is also the origin of the American- English ‘Boondocks’ which was brought back by veterans of the Philippine-American War), and the honorific ‘Gat.’

Requirements:

  • Must have complied with all the common requirements for regular membership.
  • Must have completed the Expedition Leader and Team Leader Orientation Course (ELTLOC).
  • Must have completed the Basic Rappel Course (BRC/BKR).
  • Must have successfully completed at least two major-A climbs while carrying complete and self-contained gear (i.e., tenting, stove and cooking gear), food, water and supplies, without serious injury or discomfort, and without assistance (i.e. no porter or carrier assistance).
  • Must have club-issued or club-recognized instructor rating in all of the club-identified nine mandatory skills.

Rights and privileges:

  • May participate in non-climb activities, subject only to the general pre-requisites applicable to a particular activity.
  • May participate in any climb, subject only to the general pre-climb requirements.
  • May organize any level climb in the name, or in behalf, of the club, subject only to the general rules governing official climbs.
  • May serve as expedition or team leader in any club-organized, or club- recognized, climb.
  • May participate in a survey expedition, or a search-and-rescue operation.
  • May serve as expedition leader in a SAR operation in the absence of a GatSagip-rated member.
  • May serve as instructor or chief instructor in subjects where duly rated.
  • May be elected or appointed to any office, subject only to general restrictions specific to each office.

Restrictions:

  • No specific restrictions attach to this rank.

 

LAKAYBUNDOK (SENIOR MOUNTAINEER)
LAKAYBUNDOK (Senior Mountaineer): Derived from ‘Bundok’ (See GatBundok above). ‘Lakay’ is an old Ilokano/Tagalog honorific used before the names of village elders, also used alone to address the same. In this case, it is used to indicated greater experience and skills in climbing mountains.

Requirements:

  • Must have complied with all the common requirements for regular membership.
  • Must have completed the Expedition Leader and Team Leader Orientation Course (ELTLOC).
  • Must have completed the Basic Rappel Course (BRC/BKR).
  • Must have successfully completed at least three different major-A climbs, at least one of which must be in an EL capacity, while carrying complete and self-contained gear (i.e., tenting, stove and cooking gear), food, water and supplies, without serious injury or discomfort, and without assistance (i.e. no porter or carrier assistance).
  • Must have club-issued or club-recognized chief-instructor rating in all of the club-identified major mandatory skills, and at least instructor rating in all of the minor mandatory skills.
    Note: This rank is an expansion of the original GatBundok rank. The qualifications for a GatBundok were reduced from the original, while the qualifications for the higher rank of LakayBundok were enhancements.
    The new ranking was implemented on December of 2004.

Rights and privileges:

  • May participate in non-climb activities, subject only to the general pre-requisites applicable to a particular activity.
  • May participate in any capacity in any climb, and exempted from the general pre-climb requirements.
  • May organize any level climb in the name, or in behalf, of the club, subject only to the general rules governing official climbs.
  • May participate in a survey expedition, or a search-and-rescue operation without restrictions.
  • May serve as expedition leader in a SAR operation in the absence of a GatSagip-rated member.
  • May serve as instructor or chief instructor in subjects where duly rated.
  • May be elected or appointed to any office, subject only to general restrictions specific to each office.

Restrictions:

  • No specific restrictions attach to this rank.

 

GATSAGIP (MOUNTAIN SEARCH-AND-RESCUER)
GATSAGIP (Mountain Search-and-Rescuer): Derived from the Pilipino word ‘Sagip’ for (v) ‘save,’ (as in ‘save from danger..’), and the honorific ‘Gat.’

Requirements:

  • Must have satisfactorily completed a club-recognized search-and- rescue training course (e.g. SAR Course of the 505th ARG of the PAF).
  • Must have actively participated in at least one actual SAR or relief- and-recovery operation.
  • Must be a club-rated GatBundok or LakayBundok.
    Notes: This is a special rank issued to give recognition to SAR trained and qualified members. The club, at the present time, is not qualified nor equipped to provide extensive training of this kind. However, some of the skills taught by the club are enhancements of the skills taught in the existing SAR modules (e.g., map-plotting and topo-interpretation, signalling, intermediate and advanced rope courses).

Rights and privileges:

  • May organize and lead a search-and-rescue operation for and in-behalf of the club.
  • A non-GatSagip ranked member may take command only in the unavailability or inability of a ranked member to do so.

Restrictions:

  • No specific restrictions attach to this rank.

GENERAL NOTES:

  • When referring to qualifying climbs participated in by a member, these include climbs organized by associated clubs. Provided, however, that prior clearance to participate in any such has been obtained from any key officer (i.e., president, vice-president, operations manager), and, provided further, that club climb protocols have been observed.
  • Climbs made outside the Philippines, if duly authenticated and reported, may also be considered.