Eastern Hawaii

Eastern Hawaii Hotel room

Another resort that used to be exclusive to Chinese nationals, Eastern Hawaii Casino Hotel and Resort in Sta. Ana Cagayan is opening up to local guests. Instead of one towering high rise, the rooms are spread out in several buildings not higher than 4-storey. The room assigned to me, Izah and Ms. Grace (from MNTC) was a spacious 2-bedroom suite. Each room as its own toilet, while the living room features a couch that seems to swallow you when you sit down and lulls you to sleep. There was a TV, but all I can get were Chinese channels. Of course, what endeared me more to our room (aside from the evil couch), was the strong Wi-Fi signal.

Ida and Ken having fun at the pool

Since we had the afternoon off, we decided to go for a dip in the resort’s infinity pool. The resort actually offer other watersport activity, but that afternoon, we were content to just swim and nap. Breakfast the following morning was a mix of Filipino and Chinese staples. Longganisa, sunny-side up eggs, fried rice and fresh fruits at the Filipino table; congee and dim sum at the Chinese side.

Buguey

King Crab claw &heart;

We were headed west, to Ilocos Norte, making a stop at two coastal towns on the way. Our first stop was at the town of Buguey, at the El Presidente Beach Resort. Being the Crab capital of Cagayan Valley (maybe even the Philippines), we were treated to a lunch of their freshest catch and a tasting of the local lambanog.

Claveria

Rui is not pleased with the weather

Full from the crabby lunch, we dozed off inside the bus and woke up in Claveria, the last town before Ilocos Norte. This small fishing town has big plans to draw in the tourist. Zip line or no zip line, everyone in the group agreed that the beauty of Claveria’s Lakay-lakay beach is enough to get people to come in droves.

The skies was still a drab grey, but it did not hide the gorgeous views from the shore. The stunning rock formations Lakay-lakay, Baket-baket, Ubing-ubing makes this beach unique from any other beach I’ve seen. I’m heading back here when blue skies are guaranteed. Nothing like bad weather to ruin beach holidays. *grumble*

Moe at Palaui Island

Palaui Island

Lying off the coast of Sta. Ana, Cagayan is Palaui island, a protected area teeming with wildlife and timber. Though there is a small community living in the island, it is still largely uninhabited.

View as we hike up to Cape Engagno Lighthouse

The island has a total of 20.6 kilometers of shoreline. This means gorgeous stretches of sand caressed by lapping waves from the blue green waters. The best view of the island is from the Cape Engano Lighthouse. As you go up the hill where the lighthouse is perched, you are treated to an amazing view of the landscape below, making you forget about the physical exertion and the boat ride to and from the mainland.

Huge waves slamming on the island

Lying between the South China Sea and the Pacific meant that the ride to Palaui is one that is guaranteed to land in either your best or worst boat ride you’ve ever experienced list. Due to the strong winds from the amihan (northeast monsoon), the waves were rough, leaving us alternating between screaming (partly in excitement and fear) and shivering in the cold.

Faro de Cabo Engano

But as Dr. Bob Kelso once said, nothing worth having comes easy. That is one boat ride I’m willing to face again, if it meant having the chance to set foot in Palaui again.

First stop: Cagayan Museum

Tuguegarao
Due to the delay, we had limited time to spend in the Cagayan Museum at the provincial capitol complex. Just enough time to eat a Cagayan favorite: pancit batil patong. I love pancit and the unique twist they put in this favorite noodle dish. It’s just noodles sauteed with sauce topped with chopped onions, poached egg, pork broth, and seasoned with calamansi or vinegar and soy sauce.

It doesn’t look enticing, but Pancit batil patong is really quite good

We were also given paoa, a local delicacy that is similar to the Japanese mochi. Locally made snacks like chicharabao (chicharon made with carabao [water buffalo] fat) and chichacorn.

Gonzaga
Matara coral reef and white sand beach, a marine protected area is located in the town of Gonzaga. It was a shame that we got delayed because it was dark when we got there. Very dark since there was no electricity, the area lit only by car headlights and generator-powered lights.

Mayor of Gonzaga sharing some words with the crowd

While we weren’t able to see how gorgeous the place is, we felt the fine sand on our feet and relished the fresh seafood served for dinner.

Gonzaga definitely warrants another visit.

Sun City, Sta. Ana

Inside our villa at Sun City

Rising in the middle of nowhere is a 7-hectare property with 99 luxury villas and a casino. Formerly opened only to Chinese nationals, this Cagayan Economic Zone Authority operated resort will soon be opening its doors to locals soon.

The bedroom at our Sun City Villa

The villa we stayed in last night has 2 rooms with 2 toilet and baths, a dining and living area. The rooms were decorated in warm, cozy tones. The beds and pillows were super comfortable, specially after a long day of traveling.

The Bacolor and Betis churches in Pampanga are two of the most well known and visited churches in the province. They are known for different reasons.

Bacolor Church

San Guillermo Parish Church of Bacolor is known as the church that was half-buried in lahar after Mt. Pinatubo’s eruption. The church is one of the oldest churches in the Philippines and features baroque architecture. After the eruption, the people of Bacolor carefully excavated the altar and retablo (that ornate thingie behind the altar), restored the church back to its former glory, even if it’s 6 meters shorter.

Betis Church

Betis Church in Guagua, Pampanga is unimpressive from the outside. If you grew up surrounded by churches, you probably won’t be impressed upon laying eyes on its exterior. However, the true beauty of the Betis Church lays within. As soon as I stepped inside the church, I realize why they call this the Sistine Chapel of the Philippines.

Betis Church altar, retablo and ceiling

Finely detailed paintings adorn every inch of the ceiling. We walked slowly down the aisle, eyes wide in wonder as scenes from the Bible greet us from each gilded frame.

Atching Lilliane

Continuing with the heritage theme of the day’s itinerary, we had lunch at Atching Lilliane Borromeo’s house. A food historian, Atching Lilliane is a part of history: she hails from a family who has been making San Nicholas cookies for generations. She even has 400-year old molds to prove it.

Buffet spread at Atching Lillian’s

Lunch was a buffet of traditional Campampangan dishes, which of course, includes batute (stuffed frog)

San Miguel, Bulacan

Before heading back to Manila, we had to make one last province hop: Bulacan. Our first destination in Bulacan was San Miguel, a municipality without any shortage of heritage buildings. We went inside the St. Michael the Archangel Parish Church and crossed over to the town hall, a heritage treasure itself to meet with the town’s tourism officials.

Santiago house

We piled back into the bus for a rolling tour through San Miguel’s equivalent to Vigan’s Calle Crisologo. Heritage buffs went crazy with their cameras as we passed houses showcasing the fine craftsmanship of the locals.

Biak na Bato

UIvan taking a picture of Ivan at the entrance of the.. batcave.

There was one last taste of adventure before we end the first leg of Lakbay Norte 2. Biak-na-bato National Park is both an ecological and historical site. The hideout of the revolutionary forces during the Spanish period is now a place where people can get their own adventure (though probably not as exciting as Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo’s adventures in the area). Visitors can hike and explore caves that are now inhabited by bats, not Katipuneros.

C’ Italian’s Panizza

Before leaving for Subic, we had a sumptuous Italian meal at C’ Italian Dining in Angeles. Chef Chris mans the kitchen, whipping up pasta sauces to match every craving and taste. The best seller though, was his original creation: the Panizza. Soft thin crust pizza that you top with arugula and alfafa sprouts then rolled like Japanese maki. The original Panizza trumps any copycats — Chef Chris has perfected the crust and toppings to match the veggies.

Subic Watersports

The rest of the afternoon was spent trying out various water sport activities available in Subic Bay. We rode (and tumbled down) the banana boat, zoomed around on a jet ski, and some even paddled of on a kayak.

Lighthouse Marina

Our room at the Lighthouse Marina

This is the second time Lakbay Norte came to The Lighthouse Marina in Subic Bay, but this time, we stayed for the night. We had more time to enjoy Lighthouse this year — we swam in the pool, had dinner and breakfast at the Sands restaurant and even beers and cocktails at the 720 bar.

Taboo!

What I loved best about our stay was our room. It was done in soothing tones of blues and greens and spacious enough for a group of 4. It had the usual hotel room features (cable TV, minibar, personal safe, desk, etc) but with two interesting addition: a sofa bed and a massage chair. The bathroom also had its share of interesting feature: a glass wall facing the bed. I suppose it’s so you can look out the room window, but luckily it comes with a shade that conceals bathroom activities not meant for public viewing. Other features of the room include a small balcony and a separate shower stall (perfect for those of who don’t like clambering into the tub for a shower).

What made our stay at Lighthouse memorable though, was Taboo. Lighthouse has a collection of board games that hotel guests can borrow. My roommates borrowed a couple of games, and they were right in the middle of a race to 30 points when I came back in the room. It was great way to pass the time and get to know the other participants of the tour.

Benjamin crossing the hanging bridge

Opened just last September 2010, the Pugo Adventure in Pugo, La Union is quickly becoming a favorite among friends and family looking for fun and adventure. While most of the activities offered are not yet available, there’s still a number of things to do. Three zip lines of varying height are available for thrill seekers, while a racetrack for all-terrain vehicles are available for those who prefer to keep close to the ground.

Brian at the ATV racetrack

Those longing for more active pursuits can try wall climbing and rappelling, while those who just want to relax can lounge by the pool. There are plenty of picnic facilities (including a charcoal grill), but if you prefer to stay overnight, you can do so at the nearby Traveller’s Inn, which offers discounted rates for Pugo Adventure guests.

1-minute zipline

The facility is some ways away from the main road. If you are just commuting, you can ride any Baguio-bound bus that pass through Marcos Highway and ask to be dropped off at Flying V in Pugo. Pugo Adventure provides a complimentary shuttle to and from the facility.

Patupat Factory

Cooking patupat in humongous vats filled with sugar cane juice

A local delicacy, the patupat is similar to suman (sticky rice), but with a huge difference: it makes heavy use of sugar canes. In the Patupat Factory in Pozorrubo, Pangasinan, we saw how much work goes into creating this native snack, and how nothing goes to waste (the sugar canes that have been wrung out of juice are used as firewood). The result is a yummy blend of soft, gooey rice tinge with caramel goodness. Sounds weird, but it’s gooood.

Our Lady of Manaoag

Makoto at the Our Lady of Manaoag Shrine

Back in the 1990’s hoards of Marian devotees flocked to Manaoag, Pangasinan to get a glimpse of the miraculous image of the Virgin Mary and of the “dancing sun.” More than a decade and a sex-change surgery later, the crowds have considerably thinned out, but the image of the Our Lady of Manaoag is still venerated by the locals and devotees.
[UPDATE January 26, 2011] I got my places mixed up. Memory and reading comprehension fail. My apologies. The Our Lady of Manaoag had a pretty impressive candle shrine.