was fun, bonding moments with the mean team.

god, we had tons of memories--involving sun sets and sands and kool aids and tents...the list is endless.

realized a few things while on trip.

i am reminded that i am lucky to have these silly, silly lovable friends who believes in me and cares for me deeply.

i realized that the boundaries of friendship are often times blurred...

i never tire of going back to Vigan (where koooya E's parents live--cool folks), and the rest of northern philippines, especially Pagudpud which is in the tip of the country. it has all the charm of boracay minus the maddening crowd.

the windmills of bangui, the house of former President Marcos, the rustic Calle Crisologo...everything's cool. and the food! i had my taste of vigan empanada, pakbet and a lot of delicacies.

the picture above is sunrise at pagudpud...it was--single-handledly, the most breath taking thing i've seen so far in my 29 years. there is something with the play of colors, from light blue to orange, to angry red to yellow as the sun begins it ascent in the sky.

...hope to bring the future hubby there one day. for a sun-worshipper like him, it'll be like christmas.

]]> http://mayetromero.wordpress.com/?p=3 Sat, 23 Aug 2008 09:03:16 +0000 mayetromero http://mayetromero.wordpress.com/?p=3 My Dear Faceless Friends,

When traveling, I follow only 3 cardinal rules: Pack Light, Check Weather, and as my eye doctor hubby loves to say : "ABC" -- Always Bring Camera.

Well, this one time, I "skipped" my rules. The weather was lovely,  lovely enough to bring a boxful of groceries for the lovely people back home in Laoag where it is summer all year round, the cellphone is camera-equipped, hmmm, tonight is going to be just another bus ride.  I got on Maria De Leon Super Deluxe#18 to Ilocos Norte in the nick of time, 'twas 10:15 P.M. The Lady who took my reserved seat, stepped out unceremoniously.

Close to midnight, while Anaconda had put the rest to sleep, the rains came in torrents. The bus slowed down to keep safe on a zero visibility road. The aircon vents were shut but it was freezing inside, these buses never had any inkling what thermostats are for. My seatmate, a congenial dentist's wife was shaking in her windbreakers and a thin batik cloth for a blanket.

The rain didn't stop. The bus did, at an unfamiliar spot. The place is covered in darkness but it was 4 AM at my Anne Klein. The bus conductor went out, followed by the driver and huddled with the men at this lonely road store. The engine was running. The lights went off thrice where the men gathered. It was funny watching them from the glass panes with rain continuously cascading. They morph and melt, disappear and reappear as in a sci-fi movie.  Anyway by 5:30, the conductor got back inside and announced there was a landslide by the bridge which was destroyed by Feria--several storms ago. We had to wait for developments.

The bus moved gingerly in the rain and through the peeping daylight. This is Narvacan, Ilocos Sur about 400 kilometers away from Manila. I just spotted the old tourist inn where close to it , by the ocean, stands the Madonna on the Rocks. Not her real name. I just named her so. The eye doctor, then my boyfriend while I was in my last semester in the University of the Philippines, brought me here for the first time for a brief  stop over. And there Mary is, atop a pile of rocks overlooking the ocean, watching, exuding calm to all souls out there at sea. The doctor didn't know if she had a name, so i called her the Madonna on the Rocks, that was a good 25 years, before Dan Brown came out with the Da Vinci Code :).

Thanks to the cellphone, the earlier bus caught in the landslide had texted: cars, buses and trucks in a long queue, stranded. Now, so were we. The only difference-- we're cold but not hungry. Our driver,perhaps a veteran of past weather disturbances, decided to sit this one out by a roadside restaurant where food is plenty, the coffee comforting and sunny side up came on demand. Those trapped by the landslide before the bridge, between the mountain and the cliff, had nowhere to go and no eatery to take food nor shelter from. Where I was seated at the plastic table with the dentist's wife and her son who just had his oath taking as a nurse at the Mall of Asia the day before, the view was picture-perfect!

Had my daughter and husband been with me, it would have been a beautiful camp out-- the ocean mimics Edgar Allan Poe's The Raven as the waves slammed on the rocks, the mountain side buffer howling winds, the trees swayed with grace, a leaf got blown off across your face occasionally and the rain, growing faint and wild intermitently, slushed like quaint background music. The raw beauty of the surrounding unconsciously drew a serene smile and drawing my wrap tighter, the warm coffee seemed the best thing one could ever want for in the world. Zen.

While storm Karen lashed out at everything on its path, the daily grind---office work, housework, decisions, the cellphone (there was no signal, no TV, no radio) all disappeared in the ether. It was ironic to enjoy such peace and calm in a raging storm! Jesus was definitely aboard, taking in the moment.

Breakfast was over by 7AM and we sat and waited until the driver got the text signal that the DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) had cleared the road of rocks. By 11, the driver judged it was safe to leave the shelter. It was 1 PM when we were able to clear the landslide area-- the mountain to the right threw rocks from its top to the other side of the road-- the cliff on the left,  debris blocked the winding road leading to the bridge which did not allow a two-way traffic. This bridge, the only thing which connects most of Ilocos to the rest of southern Luzon,  was swept by raging waters years before and was hurriedly replaced to allow traffic. Foundations for the replacement jut out of the water parallel to the old reliable. More landslide on the other side towards Vigan. Our driver, eager to get  to destination, passed off the usual bibingka (rice cake) stop. It's 2PM, most roads wereflooded. In some parts of Sinait town where the highway did not seamlessly connect with rice fields to form a sea of silt, the edge of the road turned to muddy waterfalls. It took forever to get to the arch marking Ilocos Norte and Sur (north and south) boundaries. On the high ground along the stretch of highway leading to Currimao, fallen trees and snapped branches lay scattered on both sides of the road as if the Beanstalk Giant had run amok hunting Jack. In my head, bathroom-lunch-bathroom were swirling in a funnel, drowning all other cares.

It was a quarter to 4PM when the bus deposited me on our gates in San Nicolas town after managing the bend after the St. Therese Hospital where waters from the hill ended in a knee-high pool wiping out the onion fields. The foot-high baggages and boxes stored in the bus' holding compartment beneath the seats were drenched and silted. The rest of the passengers bound for the Laoag Station had yet to discover how they will maneuver the usually flooded areas at the approach of the Gilbert Bridge leading to Laoag City proper.  

 It was still pouring, the winds howled in greeting as I got off, on my maroon boots, thoughtfully brought in by my housekeeper Emma. The umbrellas were all limp and inutile and would have carried one off like Mary Poppins had one stubbornly insisted on putting them to their use. But home at last! Bathroom and lunch. Electricity was down, and would be restored only the day after. Generator-powered, we view the disaster from my mobile phone drained of battery from recording the havoc outside the bus' glass panes: flood everywhere, carabaos and cattle out on the rain, a man struggling to lead his stubborn cattle out of thigh-deep flood waters, a submerged hut, low areas inundated waist-deep, waves formed where the rice paddies are, children and teeners braving the storm, negotiating muddy pools where the streets are, old men with grass in the baskets at their backs for their livestock, women salvaging what the floodwaters seem to want to take out from their houses, men clearing the road of debris. But surprise!!! Man, woman,child wave and smile silly at this little phone camera! Despite the bad weather and the grossly sad situation, the people grin and bear it! Fantastic!  

Storm or no storm every Filipino seems to be in perennial struggle for the simplest comfort which is undeniably a luxury, if one's lucky to get a grab at it. Yet, we rise, tooth and nail always, but unbroken. What gives? Perhaps we know deep in the abyss of our psyche, that crisis or fair weather, we are in good company -- He who walks on water.

Peace and love!

Mayet

PS. Will try to upload the video from my cellphone. BYe!

Here are a few pictures and notes of the great Philippine destinations that I had so far visited. In spite of the many obstacles and problems of this country, it is still a glaring fact that God truly blessed the Philippines.

1. Ilocos Norte - History, Beaches, and Nature Trails Combined. Must sees are Saud Beach, The Blue Lagoon, Paoay Church, Burgos Lighthouse, Kaibigan Falls, Malacanang of the North, Fort Ilocandia, and many more churches and natural sceneries. Superb province! (See first 18 pictures below)[gallery]

2. Sagada, Mountain Province - This place is just so tranquil and majestic. The many fascinating views and walks that you can take from your hotel are nothing but a great feast for the eyes. Culture and nature combined - great cool weather too. Everything is just worth seeing - the rice terraces, the hanging coffins, the wondrous falls, the impressive church, everything! [gallery]

3. Boracay - Need i say more? Boracay is JUST the BEST BEACH IN THE WORLD! Whitest sand, best nightlife, clearest waters,a tastiest food...what more can you ask for?[gallery]

To be continued....

Numampay no iti kasta naisibbo iti kabaelanna kabayatan iti pannakapagbalin a kas comite hearing iti regular sesyon gapu iti kinaawan iti kurom, tapno madengngeg iti  panangkontra ni Mr Elpidio Que iti resolusyon a mangadaptar ken Lucio Tan  a kas anak ti probinsya.

Ni Engr. Joselle ket isu iti nangsukat ken mamangna a daydi Cherry Gironella a pimmusay gapu iti sakit a kanser iti pancreas itay laeng nabiit.Isuna met iti inaudi kadakuada nga agkakabsat.

Sakbay iti sesyon, ditoy a binasa ti presiding officer Vice Gobernor Jerry Singson iti appointment iti kabarbaro a bokal.

Maipalagip nga imun unan a pinagsapata ni Gobernor DV Savellano ti baro a bokal kabayatan idi iti CABSAT CARAVAN program sadiay ili iti San Emilio

I and Jun left for Ilocos Norte at around 9pm via the Florida Bus Lines (they're the pink and periwinkle buses) and arrived at around 6:30am the following morning. So thats roughly 9 hours of travel.

We were welcomed by my Mom who just had her daily morning exercise (hahaha) and i was immediately infatuated by the place. It was full of the most beautiful bougainvilleas i have ever seen. And the house was super lovely as well.

I and Jun after settling in our things, went outside and took some pictures. Jun looks happy. I look tired!

My sister, Aljosa who arrived a day earlier (but had no camera) immediately made the most out of our camera and took some headshots using some infamous Friendster poses. Hahahaha.

After a hefty breakfast, we were pleasantly surprised that our itinerary for the next two days was already laid out, planned, and prepared. And we have the best tour guide to accompany us.

First stop: Bangui (where the famous Ilocos Norte Windmills are!)

Even if the sun is scorching and i forgot to buy sunblock, nothing can stop us from taking pictures!

The windmills of my mind! Finally... round like a circle in a spiral... like a wheel within a wheel...

The windmills were an overwhelming sight to behold. I never thought that such place exist in the Philippines; well i always see te Biyahe Tayo TV Ad with Regine Velasquez singing with the Ilocos Windmills as background, but seeing them for the first time is really something else. They're huge!

We were informed that they actually supply a certain percentage of Ilocos' electricity. And they're about 15 windmills now. They'll be adding an additional 5 or 10 more. So, Wow!

Jun trying to grab one of the wings/blades of the windmill (hehehe).

Welcome Arc (Hmmmm.. not sure if that's what its called really) going to Pagudpud.

Saud Beach in Pagudpud. The sand is not as white as Boracay's but hey i'm no complaining.

Me taking the dip with my sister Aljosa. I look freezing and i need to do some ab workout. Hahahaha.

From the Saud beach, we passed Patapat Viaduct. Great sight to behold.

Then we went to what they call Blue Lagoon (ala the Brooke Shields movie!) but i think its really Dos Hermanos Island (not so sure, correct me if wrong).

We went home and got some rest after going to the Blue Lagoon and then got an educational treat by going to the salt making site of Pasuquin.

The salt water undergoing the process.

The formed salt (rock salt!).

Early the following morning, we went to the Cape Bojedor Lighthouse in Burgos.

Mini zoo at Fort Ilocandia.

After FIR, we dropped by Paoay Lake.

(I was sleeping the whole time we were traveling because i was really tirrrrreeed! Look at my eyes in the picture below, they're a bit dreamy.Hehehe.)

Fronting the Paoay Church (my mom and dad steen).

We climbed the tower to see this sort-of historic bell (i guess what made it historic is that almost everybody (excluding us) who climbed the tower and saw the bell left imprints on the bell itself by writing their names on it!hahaha).

The sinking tower of Bacarra.

Our bag. Preparing to go home.

On the way home, we dropped Marsha's. I swear, they sell the best bibingkas and puddings there! Loved them!

That's why i bought a couple..... a couple of boxes. (hehehehe)

Some great random shots during our trip.

We'll surely go back to Ilocos and hopefully get the chance to drop by Vigan and see the ancestral houses there. We were also told that from Ilocos, one can also go to Batanes or Camiguin via motor boat which excites us even more to go back! When we get back, we'll surely tag along some of our best friends para mas masaya ang trip at mas maraming pictures!

The training that I have been conducting at work is over. So I applied for a day and a half leave to visit my family in Ilocos. I will be having that trip tonight after work. My last visit was four months ago. I think much has changed. My auntie kept raving how my cousins miss me. Haha, yeah I miss them too. I haven't shopped for anything to bring home yet. Maybe I won't, I will just buy some pizza at some fastfood there. I have more than enough to carry already.

So I won't be around for at least three days. I hope to bring back some good photos during my vacation. I haven't been posting any photos for the last months so I hope I will have some when I come back.

so, at last, i should not worry about scouring stores for that elusive bottled instant bugguong which is, by the way, "in vogue" in most parts of the philippines, ilocos region included. surely, people is used to these instant mix things like instant sampaloc mix, instant kamias mix, instant ginisa flavor mix, instant meaty flavor mix, instant gata mix and so many other powderized and solidified mixes and other bizarre (but admittedly, nifty and practical) compact concoctions that they now prefer these to, well, instantly and without much ado, flavor their cooking. and bugguong included courtesy of the bottled liquefied brew. no more of the "bagas" of flesh, fishbone and all. gone also are the canned bugguongs which proliferated the market in the past (remember the famous "naimas ken nabanglo" ck bagoong? this was the most popular canned whole bugguong when i was younger). although, of course, you can still have a "sinukat" or a jar of whole bugguong straight from the bugguong vendors who display their bugguong in big plastic vats and some still sealed in plastic container inside huge straw bags. they`re still there, the bugguong traders as there are still bugguong factories in lingayen, dagupan or balayan (in fact, the enormously popular bottled bugguongs are also made by these big bugguong manufacturers). you'll just have to be keen enough and be wary when you buy "sinukat" or "tingi" as some, or most, bugguong vendors has this vicious practice of diluting their wholesome bugguong with boiled tap water just to bloat the quantity of their bugguong. this is one disgusting "business strategy" of most small and big vendors in the philippines. they dilute your bugguong, they put formalin in your meat and vegetables, they sell you stale and expired and substandard goods, etc. this despite you paying the price they want. so, if you buy fresh bugguong or other stuff, you better have a "suki" that you can trust.

instant bugguongs is really the easy way to have your dinengdengs and pinakbets. but if you really want a hearty inabraw or pakbet that you can truly savor and enjoy because it's a labor of love, you should use fresh whole bugguong.

and do the process of panamagbugguong act--the "panagsegseg."

the first of which is of course, you boil some cups of water in a pan. you can calculate the right amount of water according to the type of dinengdeng that you want to cook, or in the amount of veggies, or even in the kind of veggies. soupy or broth types, naturally, need more water. pinakbet types require less or even nothing (some extremely dry pinakbets really need only the bugguong juice and the vegetables' own sweet juice to cook).

the right amount of bugguong also depends on the above considerations. pinakbet types require more, though. but be careful that it won't become too salty. a salty pinakbet, especially if cooked dry, cannot be "remedied" by adding some water later to neutralize its saltiness. not if you really preferred it dry in the first place. mind you, adding water to try to reduce saltiness will spoil your precious pinakebbet.

when the water is bubbling, scoop up boiling water into the bugguong bowl. the hot water will actually cook the bugguong and loosen the fermented fish in it so you could separate flesh and guts from fishbone. use the ladle to squash, mash and squeeze the fish, fishhead and all, until its flesh and other fish parts turn into a kind of a puree and blend with the mixture

then with utmost care, slowly and with calculated balancing act, pour in the liquid into the pan. use the ladle to trap or filter the fishbone while pouring the liquid to prevent fishbone and other thorny bony bits to fall into the pan. others use a fine mesh to filter thereby saving them of accidentally pouring "segseg" or remnants. but then, again, we are doing here the traditional way of panagsegseg, no easy shortcuts, please, use the ladle and test and prove your ilokano skills of the panagsegseg.

first pouring will not at all pour the fleshy liquid so you've got to ladle up some more hot water into the bowl and segseg it again, pour the segregated liquid again, until what's left in the bowl are only fishbones and dregs.

let the bugguong broth simmer for some minutes, just give it time to boil to cook in its juice, in its own salty sweet essence. this way, to eradicate it' "angdod" or for its peculiar bugguongy smell to evaporate and turn into a heavenly dinengdeng/pakbet scent. then you can now blend your vegetables and other ingredients for another savory and wholesome binugguongan mélange.

• Mahilig ka sa suka na may sili at ginagawa pang regular drink ito (nagimas!)
• Paboritong mong sabihin ang Mangan Tayon!
• May nakatanim na paria (bittergourd) o tarong (eggplant) sa iyong bakuran.
• Tuyo ang iyong dinuguan o dinardaraan in Ilocano
• Kumakain ng damo (term ng mga tagalog) tulad ng saluyot at kalunay
• Kuripot ka o nakirmet (kuripot nga ba o matipid lang? Hehe!)
• Mahilig ka sa sayawan o social life ika nga. (hindi lang naman Ilocano ang ganito diba? Hehehe)
• Nagiging bati mo ang mura tulad ng “Ay Ukinnam nakapasyar ka!” o “Opalalam namiss ka!” (expression ba… but Ilocanos are used to it)
• Pagnababad-trip ka madalas mong sinasabi ang “Anya metten!” o “Anya ki din aya!” (it’s the same as “ano ba naman!”)
• Nangisit ka o maiitim ka (pero to mind you hindi lahat ng Ilocano maitim, marami ng mapuputing ilocano ngayon dahil na rin sa sobrang init ng panahon nasa bahay lang o di kaya may mga lahing Chinese at Spanish na)
• May kamag-anak ka sa abroad. Pwedeng sa Hawaii, Italy, o Canada. (kaya maraming tinatawag na Italian village sa Ilocos dahil puro katas ng abroad ang mga naglalakihang bahay)
• Nakapetition ka o kapatid mo sa ibang bansa (why not diba? Greener pasture ba.)
• Nagtatabako ang lolo o lola mo (wanila bet magyosi kaya organic nalang tobacco, sosyal nels)
• Nagbabasa ka o ang mga kasambahay mo ng Bannauag (ang pahayagang delayed pero mabenta parin sa mga Ilocano)
• May kaunting angas (daw)
• Kapag may bisita ipinapasyal sa Marcos Museum sa Batac (in fairness dami paring bisita si lolo) o di kaya mag Pagudpud o Vigan
• Nakatikim ka na ng famous empanada at laging dumadayo sa pinakamalapit na bilihan kapag umuuwi ka (I recommend yung empanada ng Batac. The best yun promise)
• Hindi mawawala sa diet mo ang pakbet o pinakbet at dinengdeng (bakit ang hindi diba? Nutricious kaya ito)
• Maasim ang longganisang gusto mo hindi matamis
• Laging may bagnet, igado, adobo, at pansit pag may kainan
• Matigas ang dila mo. Ang sand dunes nagiging sand jones, amphitheatre nagiging ampityater, crossing ay krassing, etc. (wel ganun talaga hehehe)
• Proud Ilocano/Ilocana ka (dahil narin maraming kilalang tao o persona ang Ilocano o mula sa Ilocos tulad nila Marcos, Biazon, Ricarte, Luna, at marami pang iba)

Ang aking mga nabanggit ay pawang mga obserbasyon ko lamang po. Maaring totoo sa iba maaring hindi sa iba. Masasabi ko pong ipinagmamalaki ko na may dugong Ilocano din na dumadaloy sa akin. Kung may nais pa po kayong idagdag sa listahan ay maari po niyong ipagkaloob. Nawa’y mabuhay tayong lahat! Agyamannak!

We stayed at Agua Seda, a relatively new semi-homestay place ran by a retired teacher Tita Letty. The place was just so-so, the room included a bed, a bedside table, an airconditioning unit and a bathroom. One of the windows was even fake (it was a capiz window on the outside, but a curtain covering a flat wall inside!) which really irked us. It didn’t seem like it was worth its 2500 bucks per night rate, but the amazing view of the sea and the friendliness of Tita Letty and Maricon (her assistant) made up for the price.

We ended up staying at Blue Lagoon instead of Saud Beach (the more popular beach) because most of the resorts we contacted at Saud were already fully booked. We originally wanted to stay at Kapuluan, but all the standard rooms were taken and we didn’t want to spend so much for their deluxe room.

After a much-needed bath, we decided to explore the beach. A part of the beach had residential settlements, there were also two other resorts (Hannah’s Resort which seemed pretty big and Punta Azul which was still in construction.) The sand was white, though not as fine nor as powdery as Boracay’s. The more secluded part of the beach was full of rocks and shells, which made it interesting. We didn’t reach the very end because we were quite tired already. We went back to our room, left our cameras there and headed for the beach for a swim before the dark. The water was very clear and clean, it felt so good to wade around and relax.

We had dinner at Agua Seda – we brought canned corned beef and tuna which was cooked for us, along with diningdeng na malunggay and rice. The food was yummy enough. We retired early because we had such a tiring first day in Ilocos.

Saturday (Day 2)

We missed the sunrise as we woke up almost 7:00am. We went around the beach and took pictures, before heading back for breakfast. Kuya Joseph arrived at exactly 8:00am (our arranged meeting time) but we ran late, so we ended up leaving around 8:30am instead. We paid Tita Letty a total of 2750 for our stay and for the food, with 100 peso discount.

Our tour of Pagudpud then started. Kuya Joseph had a kind face and was rather soft spoken, it was easy enough to like him. He brought us to the following places:

Bantay-Abot Cave – Naturally-made cave on the sea, which sort of looks like a doughnut. It was fascinating to see, but I was actually more frightened of slipping or getting wet because the short trek to the cave was very rocky and the waves were crashing hard against the cave.

Timmarang Rock - This was just a huge boulder of rock on the ocean. We didn't go near it, just took a photo of it on the background.

Patapat Bridge/Viaduct – A bridge provided a stunning view of the South China Sea. The viaduct links Ilocos and Cagayan, which according to Kuya Joseph was started during the presidency of Marcos.

Agua Grande – Just some picnic area near the rocky shore, we just took a look and left without entering the place.

Paraiso ni Anton – It was really nothing spectacular just a mini-waterfalls where the water is supposedly drinkable. Jid drank some and he’s still functioning well, so I guess it’s true.

Kabigan Falls – The 1.5km-trek to the waterfalls was really tiring though most of the views were picturesque. Our guide was Mang Reynaldo who walked rather fast for his age. The waterfall was pretty cool and very cold – almost freezing cold.

Papa Nards – A small canteen where we had lunch. It a popular tourist dining place. We had chicken barbecue (I think) and sinigang na maya-maya. Pretty hearty lunch and quite affordable too, with the meal totaling to only 170 pesos. They had on their wall posted the supposed history of why the place is named Pagudpud.

Saud White Beach – The more popular beach in Pagudpud. It was reminiscent of Boracay, with the white sand, the number of resorts and hotels lined up along the shore and also, the number of tourists. We walked all the way from Polaris to Terra Rika and back before taking a dip. We showered at Polaris for 10 bucks each. My very last shirt got wet, so I had to wear the Vigan shirt I purchased earlier. (Oh what a fashion disaster. Haha.)

Bangui Windmills – It took us 30 minutes or so to reach the place where the famous windmills are found, as they were already located in Bangui and not Pagudpud. I have to say this was the highlight of the trip for me. Even though I look gross in the pictures. It was long been a dream of mine to see the windmills and I was just totally in awe and giddy the very minute we got there. They were so huge and so amazing!

Cape Borjeador Lighthouse – Another 30 minutes was spent going to the town of Burgos to check out the famous lighthouse. It was old and run-down, but still an interesting piece of architecture. Good thing we caught the caretaker and asked him to open the door to the lighthouse. The view up there was great.

The Pagudpud tour rate was 600, but additional standard 600 pesos was requisite for the Bangui and Burgos tours. We initially planned to haggle for a total of 1000, but again, we felt so generous that we decided to give him a total of 1500 bucks. (Yes, we are now so freakin’ poor.) But hey, Kuya Joseph was really very accommodating, his contact number is listed below, if you’re going to need a tourguide in Pagudpud.

We took another minibus to Laoag where I got so paranoid because it seemed as if the lady next to me was “kinukutuhan yung anak niya.” I tried my best to position my hair away from them. We hurriedly bought pasalubong (banig and longganisa) in the Laoag public market before boarding the Florida deluxe bus to Manila. The bus was interesting to me because it was colored pink (inside and out) and has its own CR. The downside was that there were so many stopovers and the driver was rather slow. We left Laoag at 6:30pm Saturday and arrived in Metro Manila at around 4:30am Sunday.

It was a stressful yet also a wonderful trip. I do admit I wasn’t in my best behavior at times because stress and discomfort usually makes me bitchy, for that I really apologize, Jid. Still, I had lots of fun and the long bus hours were worth it. It was definitely bitin.

Agua Seda: 0920-243-1832 or 0920-425-2709
Kuya Joseph: 0921-761-5459

Thursday (Day 0)

Right after work, we met up at Gateway Mall in Cubao. We had dinner first before taking a cab to the Partas Bus Station in Cubao. I’ve never ridden a public bus for long hours of travel before so it was my first time to witness the crowd, the lines and the craziness that goes on in a bus station.

We lined up to buy tickets for Vigan for the 11:00pm departure, but as we were nearing the front of the line, it was announced that there were still seats available on the 10:00pm bus that was just ready to leave. We then decided to board that bus instead, which left Cubao around 10:20pm. Fare was Php. 565 each.

I decided not to drink a lot beforehand so I wouldn’t feel the urge to pee all-through-out the ride. The bus had a short stop-over around 2:00am and so everyone had the chance to stretch their legs, pee or buy food. We slept most of the time, as we tried to feel as comfortable as we could on a moving bus. It’s funny how the songs being played in the bus as we left for Manila were old Air Supply songs, but when we woke up, we couldn’t understand the songs anymore. They must’ve been Ilocano pop songs.

Friday (Day1)

We woke up just as the sun was about to rise and we arrived at Vigan around 5:30am, so it was pretty much a seven-hour bus ride. It was actually a bit eerie as the bus went through town, since the streets were still empty. We took a tricycle to Plaza Salcedo (the driver asked for 30 bucks, we gave him 20) and decided to just walk around the place and take pictures. I was feeling quite icky that time as I didn’t really have a good night’s sleep and I definitely needed a bath.

We took pictures of the different buildings, like the Vigan Cathedral and the Bell Tower, and also the McDonald’s. Most of the establishments were still closed, so we just walked around till we reached Calle Crisologo, the famous cobblestone street. The place was amazing, though a bit foul-smelling and the cobblestones were a disappointment. I don’t really know what I was expecting, but it definitely wasn’t as plain and as gray as the ones in the street. Still, the rundown, battered and almost rotting houses were amazing. It would’ve been super cool to live there right now.

After walking the stretch of Calle Crisologo, we made our way back to the Plaza and we decided to eat breakfast at McDonald’s as it was one of the few restaurants open and we wanted to try their “Hamdesal.” ;P

Right after breakfast we went to this municipal building to inquire about tourist spots and get a map. We were advised to rent a Calesa to bring us around the tourist spots. Our driver was Mang Danny and he toured us around to the following places:

St. Augustine’s Cathedral and Bell Tower – which were really nice, too bad the Bell Tower was filled with graffiti and was not maintained very well.

One of the Pagburnayan Places – where clay pots and jars were made and one of the people demonstrated how this was done.

Crisologo Museum – just some museum about the late Congressman Crisologo. The antique typewriters and weaver were fascinating.

Villa Angela – a heritage house and also, now a hotel. The caretaker was very accommodating and funny, he told us about the films shot there and that Tom Cruise and Piolo Pascual went there as well. ;P

Because of time constraint, we decided to skip the visits to some tourist spots like the Baluarte, Burgos Museum and the Syquia Mansion.

The rate for the Calesa was supposedly Php.150 per hour but we went around for almost an hour and forty minutes. Mang Danny charged us Php225, but we were feeling generous so we gave him Php250 instead. We asked him to drop us off at Café Leona where we had a yummy lunch of grilled chicken and longganisa.

Right after lunch, we bid Vigan goodbye and hopped on another Partas bus to Laoag, where we planned to take another bus to Pagudpud (as there were no buses which go directly from Vigan to Pagudpud.) The bus was crowded and had poor ventilation so it was sweltering hot. We were getting stinkier and stinkier by the hour.

We arrived at Laoag around 1:30pm. We thought we could catch a Florida bus to Pagudpud but it turns out the buses would be leaving around 4:30pm, so the tricycle driver just drove us to the station for Pagudpud-bound mini-buses with no air-conditioning. And so, we road one of those buses.

It was during that bus trip I realized how incredibly friendly the Ilocanos are. Everyone acted as if they knew each other, everyone greeted one another. They were also quite nice to us, being tourists to the place. The uncomfortable bus ride didn’t even bother me that much because it was such an eye-opener.

do omanis, do arabs ever eat saluyot like we ilokanos gobble this "slippery when wet" delicacy?

i thought only ilokanos are crazy about the saluyot.

i was wrong.

of course, they do have saluyot in the hypermarts. after some desperate scouring and foraging in one of those labyrinthine supermarkets, i finally bumped into a treasure trove of bagged saluyot languidly lying frozen and harder than diamond in one cozy corner of those huge freezers, among slabs of hardened spinach, green peas, beans, sweet corn and other frozen veggies. it's called molokhia. or mulukheyya. or molokheyya. whatever. it's the egyptian arabic name, according to wikipedia, of the corchorus plant.

and yes, this one is imported from egypt. and surprise, surprise, saluyot is a staple food in egypt since the time of the pharaohs! some egyptians are even considering molokhia as their national dish. so that fact somehow demystifies our own popular thought that saluyot is exclusively ilokano staple food and that it's supposedly endemic in ilocos land. the egyptians are devouring saluyot since time immemorial, period.

but the way we ilokanos and egyptians ingest saluyot/molokhia differ. while we love it fresh and whole, leaves and all, and boil it, stew it, pakbet it in bugguong, the egyptians and others prefer molokhia in soups or soup base. that's what i've discovered when i finally opened the plastic pouch of the frozen molokhia. i never thought of saluyot being cooked into a soup, a real soup. i only know saluyot soup as dinengdeng soup, boiled saluyot leaves with mixture of other leafy veggies or with bamboo shoots, its traditional ilokano partner.

when i spotted the frozen molokhia, i was enthralled with the perfect picture of fresh saluyot leaves in the packaging and then and there readily dreampt of pinakbet a saluyot, saluyot leaves stewed dry in bugguong, vinegar, garlic, ginger, onion and peppercorns.

and i was horrified when i found out that my precious saluyot was a thick mush of a paste meant to be "soupified," indeed! my desire crumbled. what am i going to do with this mucus-like slimy mess? i wanted to say yuck! yuppie-like, but then this is saluyot all the same and i do not want to blaspheme on the sanctity, the sacredness of the blessed saluyot.

i googled for a possible recipe. and i found out an original egyptian molokhia soup recipe called "egyptian greens soup" or simply "molokhia" (the dish and the plant are one, amongst egyptians and sudanese and other peoples in the mideast). it requires some spices like coriander, chilli, cayenne and bay leaf. and chicken stock for soup base. and butter, to "fry" the soup.

i followed the recipe to the letter and here it goes, the saluyot soup boiling with a distinctly unfamiliar aroma wafting tantalizingly:

and after some time, here it is. it's still saluyot, flavor and fragrance and all. although because of the added spices as contrasted to the simple ilokano way, it become more of the aromatic herb that it was popularly intended and consumed in its egyptian origin. but it's a very tasty, delicious, thick soup best for entrée. or as is the ilokano practice, it can go with your rice as "labay" and of course, it's perfect for that "bumanerber nga igup" that we usually enjoy with dinengdeng broth, especially with saluyot with that distinct "gumalisgalis" texture.

but still i'm not satisfied with my first oman saluyot meal. i still crave for a whole and fresh saluyot with its leaves intact and not chopped or minced or pulped into a paste.

and imagine my joy when i finally came upon fresh saluyot bundles in the vegetable section of the hypermart. this is a local produce and i learned later it's plentiful in the local veggie souks (markets) though its availablity is not regular. and again, a sizeable chunk, or the whole of it, of the saluyot-ilokano-exclusivity myth in me is shattered. of course, omanis, the locals, the arabs love saluyot, too. and it's a part of their own cuisine as well. who else are buying these and for whom are the local farmers are planting these saluyots? certainly, not only for the handful of expat ilokanos or filipinos here. but for themselves. they are also molokhia lovers and this is molokhialand. get that.

and so, without much ado, i cooked my precious saluyot pakbet. you do the usual ilokano way of stewing. the panagdengdeng act. the panamguong act. use only a minimal amount of water. throw in crushed garlic, crushed ginger, sliced onion, cracked or uncracked peppercorns. simmer a bit, then place the washed saluyot tops and leaves. simmer for a while. optionally, put in some sagpaw like dried shrimps, dried fish or meat. simmer some more. if the the saluyot is kind of "slippery" or tender, put in some tablespoonfuls of vinegar (suka ti basi or suka nga iloko is preferred, but other blends like paombong is just well). i do not add the vinegar at the beginning, i wait for some time for the saluyot to cook and only then will i add vinegar. this is for the saluyot to retain some texture and smoothness. sometimes when you add suka by default (at the start), the saluyot "hardens" or "coarsens." but this is optional or preferential. after putting in the vinegar, simmer some more until it dries up with only a hint of broth underneath. be careful to moderate the "broth drying" as it may burn at its base if you don't attend to it. you can retain some more broth if you want, to mix as labay with your rice.

and this is it, my favorite saluyot dish, pakbet basking in all its glory:

once more, a close up of the heavenly dish in its rightful splendor:

but wait, here's more. i soon found out that there's a dried saluyot in the same hypermarket.

look at those gorgeous egyptian saluyot leaves in its petrified state. it's as if it promises a glorious psychedelic trip to gastronomic heaven. no, not to be smoked like a pot, you sucker, but to be ingested pakbet-wise after it is boiled up in bugguong in a pot. that, i have yet to try. but then again, we dry aba or taro leaves, paria leaves, mushroom, kudet or kuditdit, even marunggay leaves in the philippines. and why not saluyot? this dried ambrosia, this saluyot, can be a concocted into an excellent soup or turned into a magnificent pakbet, all the same, fresh or dried or pulverized, it's still saluyot, molokhia or molokheyya. does it matter?

As for DZUP Radio Circle, if you are a member please feel free to join our Multiply groups: http://dzuprc.multiply.com

Anyway, I'm becoming more glib in my Livejournal and have been writing more spontaneous entries about what I have been thinking and relate it to my friends thus very stealthly.

I'll be goin home to Ilocos tomorrow. Yahoo!!!

and this one squash concoction show with confidence the versatility of this incredible veggie: that you can make a wholesome dinengdeng by combining all flower, tops, leaves, tendrils, stalks, and fruit of the squash into one complete sumptous ilokano delicacy. this particular one i garnished with a grilled bangus for flavor and aroma enhancement.

and here's my favorite squash dish, the pure and simple squash flower solo. no tops, no fruit, nothing but the most edible of them all, the flower, just the flower picked fresh in the morning, sweating yet in cool dew droplets, no hot and harsh sunlight has glimpsed on it, not a bee or a butterfly has betrayed its sweetness, it's yours alone to pick and to cook with its pollen and nectar intact, and wallowing in its own juice, it's yours alone to devour and relish with pleasing gusto.

we tried scouring the hypermarkets and stores but no sign of the elusive bugguong. not even those fabled vietnamese nước mắm or fermented fish sauce or paste. what's readily available are those patis, fish sauce, from the philippines and some imported from thailand. and of course those bottled pseudo-bugguongs called bagoong alamang or shrimp paste which are not even the freshest you can get but already sauteed and putrefying in additives.

and you'll wonder why don't some enterprising pinoys try to legally export quantities of export-quality halal bugguong (monamon or tirong) in the middle east? so that you'll not content yourself "smuggling" in a plane a pity jarful of it wrapped and sealed like a stinking mummy and surreptitiously concealed in your luggage.  i've read somewhere in a certain magazine before that somebody has invented a way to solidify bugguong into cooking cubes ala-knorr and maggi broth cubes. i wish this method is popularized and commercialized so you can freely fill in a bagful of bugguong cubes in your hand carry suitcase and cradle it in your lap as if it's your precious child, without fear that its heavenly fragrance may irritate some infidel nostrils, or may threaten to emit a smell as sinister as a malodorous biological weapon of mass destruction.

but enough of those silly protestations. be sensible. those cravings are just a normal condiment of the exilic life, the ofw life. of missing something, terribly missing something treasured and precious to palate. and to your heart. but let alone missing terribly someone, some ones, loved ones. bear with your foolish gastronomic cravings and try and learn to live without a goddamn foul-smelling bugguong!

but why not remedy this silly need? fortunately, sohar, the city where my wife is residing, is a coastal area (in fact, almost all oman cities and towns lie along the coast) facing the gulf of oman. and there are some fishing communities here, with lots of omanis fishing for a living (mind you, even a "small time" omani fisherman is a "big time" compared with say, most pinoy fishers. their fishing gears and vessels are too modern or "high tech" compared to what our ordinary fishermen are using. omani fishing boats are those stylish big and speedy ones with expensive outboard motors similar to vessels used by wealthy sportsmen who gamefish for sheer fun). there are fish ports in sohar where you can buy the freshest catch for a pittance (although, prized fish like yellowfin tuna and king fish are still priced, expensive, costing an omani rial or two a kilo). there are bountiful catch of anchovy, mackerel, sardine, herring, ponyfish, scad fish, squid, cuttle fish and even baby sharks and other smaller fish so fresh some are still wiggling and wriggling. yes, monamon, bilis, sapsap and other small fishes which are fodders for the kumikilaw or mangngilaw monster in you. and yes, the bugguong gourmand in you, why not? eureka! with lots of monamons and bilis and abundant salt around, you can make your own d.i.y. (do-it-yourself) bugguong!

so, there. we bought some kilos of the freshest bilis or herrings (monamons were not available that one thursday day when we went out "fishing") and we stuffed some in a plastic garapon, jar, with ample amount of rock salt, with hopes that in a week or two, we can satisfy our earthly urges with a promising bugguong. a gracious bugguong no matter what the outcome will be it would still be the same luxurious bugguong.

and look, the blessed fermenting fish in its lovely concoction of pure and simple bugguong juice, the sacred juice of ilokanistic life and lives, the divine liquid of ambrosial proportions! what a blessing, what a bliss, indeed!

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This is a picture of the sunset in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte taken with my Nokia N95.  Pagudpud Beach is one of the Philippines' more famous beaches, but unlike other great beaches elsewhere, it remains untrodden by many tourists.  What's good about that is that the beach can escape the exploitative tendencies of commercial tourism.

Pagudpud was our last stop in our Ilocos escapade in September 2007, before heading back to Laoag City and flying back to Manila.  We had gone to and stayed in historical Vigan two days earlier.  Staying in Saud Resort, Pagudpud was a perfect place to celebrate my Birthday (September 27) with two of my closest friends, Atty. Darry and Atty. Cez.

Above is Royal Bibingka from Marsha's Delicacies in Vigan, and i have to say... it's truly the best bibingka I have ever had!  Papa bought some just so we can try it at the town plaza area fronting McDonald's and after I got to sink my teeth into it, i knew we had to get more!  Luckily on our last day we saw a Marsha's stall at the Partas Terminal.  So yeah, do yourself a favor and get a whole bunch of these next time you find yourself somewhere in Ilocos... you won't regret it!

Thanks to the Life & Me blog for the photo :)

Read more about Marsha's Delicacies' Royal Bibingka here.

Here's Marsha's contact information taken from the National Trade Fair 2008 web site:

MARSHA'S DELICACIES
Contact Person : MARSHA CHUA OWNER
Address : NAT'L HIGHWAY, CABALANGGAN Bantay Ilocos Sur
Tel No.: :077 7228119
Fax No.: 077 7228119
Email:marshanavarrochua@yahoo.com

daytoy ti linutok a bunga ti marunggi iti kaaddak ditoy sultanate of oman. it's the usual way of cooking this terrific "fruit" they call here as "drumstick." the pinakbet or pinakebbet way, what else? although you cannot pakbet it to try to shrivel or shrink it as what pakbeting is and what pinakbet really meant. you'll add the usual pinakbet ingredients and condiments like lots of tomatoes, crushed ginger (i prefer to crush the ginger almost to a pulp, not cut into strips. this way it will give more of its gracious yellow juice and assure your palate a satisfactory tang and pungency), shallots, crushed garlic (again, when crushed, you can expect more of the garlic's aroma and essence) and bugguong (though, sadly, i can't find any bugguong in this god-forsaken place, so i comforted myself of using just patis, fish sauce, imported from the motherland filipinas). cook it with minimal water, stew it almost dry as what a real pinakbet dish is made, leave just a hint of concentrated broth.

... and this is it, ti linutok a marunggi pakbet ala omani, enjoy the pic and try to salivate:

This set of lomographs is way way overdue. Robi and I went to Ilocos last October during our semestral break to get a heavy dose of sanity break. From Vigan to Laoag to Pagudpod, Road Trip Baby!

This is also my first roll of 120 film in Holga.

I had the chance to see the beautiful culture of the north, and the place where Panday had his sword fighting antics!

We enjoyed Vigan City, but as much as we wanted to stay, we have to go on our journey. We need to reach our ultimate destination: Pagudpud. So we didn't waste any time, we headed to Laoag City, the capital of Ilocos Norte.

Getting There

From Vigan, we rode a Partas bus to Laoag City. It cost  Php 90/person (3 USD). The trip lasted for about 2 1/2 hours. Since it was already about 3PM, we decided not to have sightseeing in Laoag City anymore. Once in Laoag City, we headed directly to the bus terminal to the town of Pagudpud.

Our journey to Pagudpud was enjoyable! We were never bored because of the nice sceneries that we passed by. Btw, bus fare is Php 70/person (2 USD), and the trip lasted about 3 hours. The bus was not air-conditioned, but AC is not necessary because as you go further, the temperature is getting a little cold because of the mountain breeze.

PAGUDPUD

We were ecstatic when we finally saw the arc, "Welcome to Pagudpud"! This town is located in the northern most edge of the Luzon Island, and it's the last town of Ilocos Norte in the north. It is bless with great sceneries of mountains, rice fields, and best of all white sand beaches! Its beaches remain pristine because commercialization haven't exploited it yet. There are no big hotels or resorts in this place. I hope it will remain that way, so that it will not suffer the same fate as Boracay.

Finally!

Welcome to Pagudpud!

Getting Around

The bus stopped at the town proper, where we rode a tricycle going to Saud Beach. Tricycles are the best way to move around a small place, like Pagudpud. They are like the "tuk-tuks" of Thailand. Btw, tricycle fare to Saud Beach is 50 Php (1.25 USD). Saud beach is one of the popular public beaches of the town.

Accommodation

The tricycle driver, Ronald was very nice and friendly. He told us that he know some inexpensive place where we can stay. He brought us in Saud beach, where small resorts operate. Several attendants approached us offering rooms in their resorts. Since it was the off-peak season, there were fewer tourists, so the prices were at their lowest. We bargained, and finally choose the cheapest: Jun and Carol's Beach Cottages, located at the rocky end of the beach. Our room in the third floor (attic) cost Php 800/night (20 USD), that means Php 400/person (10 USD)! It was a great deal because the room was nice and comfy, with 2 beds, private bathroom, air-condition, and a great view of the Saud beach! It was already dark when we arrived, so we just rested and planned to see the place the next day.

Our room is the one on left-side..

The view from the balcony... nice!

Town Tour

As I said, the best way (and cheapest way) to see the town is by the tricycle. So we rented Ronald's tricycle for the tour of the town. It cost us Php 600 (15 USD), the whole day! The itinerary was as follows:

Blue Lagoon

True to its name, the water was sooo blue, like a blue diamond glittering under the sun! The beach is so pristine, like an untouched island, with powdery white sand drizzled with soft corals. There are no established resorts around the beach; there are just small huts which you can rent during the day at 200 Php (5 USD). We did not swim though, because at the time of our visit, the waves were quite high.

The blue lagoon from the road..

Going down the lagoon..

All I can is WOW!

Bantay-Abot Cave

It's not really a cave, but a huge rock shaped by the action of waves. It was so huge that I was like a dwarf in the photo! I encircled myself so that you will see me he he he..

The cave from afar..

Don't be fooled, it's quite huge than you imagined!

Patapat Viaduct

This bridge connects Ilocos Norte to Cagayan Valley. The magnificent view of the South China makes it a must-see spot. According to the locals, it was actually built with the help of Koreans (komawa!). There are few vehicles passing by, so we decided to stop and savor the breath-taking view. I even had a picture in the middle of the bridge, in a hitch-hiker pose ha ha ha!  

The bridge with a view..

Where's everybody?

Paraiso ni San Anton

Translated as "St. Anthony's Paradise", it is located after the viaduct, it has a small waterfall with a grotto. A grotto has a statue of the Virgin Mary at the top, but to reach it you have to go up several steps. The small water fall is a popular stop-over for the thirsty travelers. The water was as cold as ice.

All the way to the top is the Grotto..

It's true, the water is sooo cold..

Kaibigan Falls

To reach the waterfall, we trekked for about 30-45 minutes into the lush tropical forest. The path was quite easy, even kids will enjoy the trek. The effort was all worthed because the waterfall is magnificent! Btw, entrance fee is Php 20/person, and the guide is Php 100 (less than 3 USD).

We trekked through this forest to see the falls!

The magnificent Kaibigan Falls..

After the sightseeing, we spent the whole afternoon strolling and taking photo at Saud Beach. We swam until the sunset; we just enjoyed the soft feel of the powdery white sand under our toes and the warm, salty water of the sea in our skin. We lay down in the soft sand, with the stars and full moon staring at us, while spilling our deepest emotions, fantasies and frustrations in life ha ha ha! It was like a therapy for our tired bodies, polluted minds, toxic souls and weary hearts? he he he :-)

Photo op first!

Some boats at Saud beach..

With the leaning coconut tree..

The next day, we resumed our sightseeing, but now in the nearby towns of Bangui and Burgos. The tricycle cost this time, Php 700 (18 USD), because these two towns are outside Pagudpud.

Cape Bojeador Light House

Located at the town of Burgos is the oldest light house in the country, built around the 18^th century by the Spanish. The tricycle drove uphill, because the light house is located at the top of the hill. Before going inside, we stopped and looked at the nice view of the sea. We are the first visitor of the day, the early birds! Before going up the light house, we had a peek of their small museum. There's no fee, but atleast give a small amount as donation for the maintenance of the museum. Then we enter the lighthouse and climbed the spiral staircase all the way to top. At the top you will see the "light" of the light house and of course the view. The view from the top was simply exhilarating! It presents a 360-degree view of the town, sea and mountains.

Magnificent!

Can you find me here?

The spiral staircase to the top..

The "light" of the light house..

I'm breathless..

Bangui Windmills

Located at the town of Bangui, the 14 windmills utilize wind power to generate electricity to the nearby towns. It's an eco-friendly source of renewable energy. They are the first in our country, so seeing them was quite an experience. Up close, the windmills are so huge and white as paper! For a moment, I felt I was not in the country!

 The windmills from the tricycle..

So massive!

I'm just so happy to be here!

I was also able to have some snapshots of nice places that we passed by during this tour.

A small hut near the rocky beach..

A hut skeleton?!

The heart of the ocean..

In the afternoon, back in Saud beach, we waited for the amazing sunset! We again spent the night swimming in the beach. Then morning came, so we have to leave this paradise huhuhu... 

The sunset was amazing!

In a diving position..

This is life!

LAOAG CITY

From Pagudpud, we rode a bus going to the province's capital city. We managed to see the nice spots in the city and nearby town of Paoay.

Taken from inside the jeepney..

Fort Ilocandia

It's a must to see this five-star hotel. Everybody is welcome to take photos at the facade, and even inside the hotel lobby. It has complete amenities, with a golf course and beach resort. No fee required if you will just take photos. But I heard that a night in this resort cost a lot!

Welcome to Fort Ilocandia

Outside the hotel's entrance..

The hallway..

Walking around the hotel..

Plaza

We took photos in the plaza, in the famous land mark of the removal of tobacco monopoly. Planting tobacco is the main source of living for most farmers in Ilocos. So the removal of the monopoly was a great relief. There's also this old baroque church in the middle of buildings. It is not being used anymore, but it is being preserve by the local government.

The tobacco monoply monument..

At the plaza..

Behind me is an old baroque church...

Ilocos Norte Museum

While we were looking for an ATM machine, we accidentally stumbled upon this museum and decided to have a peek inside. The museum was neat and well-kept. It has a lot of interesting artifacts inside, even a whole Spanish colonial house. Its aim is to preserve the province's old traditions. Entrance fee is Php 20/person.

We found this treasure!

At the museum's facade..

Let's explore!

There's a house inside!

The art aficionado (?)

Malacañang Ti Amianan

We rode a jeepney from Laoag City to Paoay to see this mansion. Malacañang is the official residence of the President of the Republic of the Philippines, located in Manila. This is called the Malacañang of the North, because it was built by the former President Ferdinand Marcos and served as the first family's residence whenever they are in Ilocos Norte. Now, it is a museum being maintained by the local government.  Inside, you will see the grandeur of the mansion, and how the Marcoses live in luxury during their time. It has a perfect view of the Paoay Lake. The entrance fee is Php 20/person. We rented a tricycle for Php 300 (6 USD), which took us to this place and sites below.

View from the driveway..

The receiving area in the first floor.

The grand living room at the second floor.

Emo moment in the balcony he he he..

Suba Sand Dunes

This is where FPJ shoot the desert scene in his Panday film. It's like you're somewhere in the Middle East or the desert part of Australia. No entrance fee.

Desert safari..

Where are the camels?

Paoay Lake

The trike driver took us to the viewing deck of this lake. According to legend, the lake was before a rich town. When the people in the town got rich, they became arrogant and disrespectful. Their god got angry, and sent torrential rain, which submerged the town under the water, until a lake was formed. Today, Paoay Lake is declared by the Philippine government as a natural park,

Another emo moment?

Paoay Church

Our last destination, the Paoay church is one of the oldest baroque churches in the Philippines. It was surreal; it was like I'm just looking at a painting! Until now, the church is still being used by the people. A guy by the name of Walter approached us and told us info about the church. He even offered to take our photos. Then we noticed this souvenir shop across the street. It was selling native weaved bags. Of course we bought for ourselves and friends as souvenirs!

The church was declared as a UNESCO Heritage Site in 1993.

Of course, I should be included in the photo he he!

We were not able to visit the Marcos Museum in the nearby town of Batac because it was already 4:30PM (public offices close at 5PM). From Paoay we rode another jeepney which took us to the highway where we waited for a bus going home. We're so tired that we slept throughout the trip. We reached Dau at 2:30AM.

Over-all, this trip was a blast! Would you believe that I was able to survive in this trip with only 7,000 Php as my budget!? That's about 175 USD! That included everything, from transportation, food, accommodation, entrance and tour fees! It's just a matter of planning and sticking to your budget. It's also good to have a travel-buddy so that you could share in paying transportation fares and resort/hotel fees. So, our next adventure: this time, we will be going down south :-)

The picturesque Saud Beach!

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PS: Prices may go up, establishments may go bankrupt. So it is recommended that you also check or research about the fares, fees and prices for your own convenience :-)

Exchange rate during the time of travel: 1 USD = 41 Php.

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Random Song of the Day:

LIFE IS WONDERFUL by Jason Mraz from his album "Mr. A - Z (2005). I first heard this song played on the kdrama "Foxy Lady". This song speaks about the different ironies of life, which one can easily relate to.

The x-mas vacation gave me an opportunity to once again satisfy the wanderlust in me! My "itchy feet" took me up north, to the Ilocos region. Btw, I have my new travel buddy Lah-lah. We're colleagues in the academe; we just discovered that we both have "itchy feet". Anyway, Ilocos region is composed of two provinces, Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte. Both are located in the northern part of the Luzon Island.  If you're coming from Manila, you will reach Ilocos Sur first.

GETTING THERE

From Manila, you have to ride a Partas or Farinas bus. These two bus company have direct routes to Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte. Catch a bus going to Vigan City or Laoag City. In our case, we waited for a bus at Dau Bus Terminal. Dau bus terminal is just about 15-20 minutes from Clark (if you're coming from Diosdado Macapagal International Airport). The bus fare is Php 384/person (10 USD). We traveled at night, so we left Dau at about 11:30 PM. After 6 hours, we already arrived in Vigan. Day trip usually last for about 10 hours, night time is much faster because there are no bus stops, and you just have to sleep the whole journey. The only backside of night travel is that you'll miss nice view of the countryside. I have been to Vigan in 2006, so I have seen the view of the countryside of Ilocos. Below are some photos I took inside the bus and also during the bus stops.

a beautiful rocky shore at the bus stop..

if you passed the Quirino bridge, it means you're