It was a very active Day 3: sand boarding on the dunes of Ilocos Norte, followed by surfing at La Union. The 4×4 and sandboarding adventure was supposed to be held yesterday, but due to schedule problems, we had to adjust today’s schedule to fit the two activities. The 4×4 off road adventure was certainly much more exhilirating during the day. We saw where our daredevil driver was taking us and screamed accordingly.

Travel bloggers Ferdz and Estan with MNTC’s Frances and NPVB’s Cha

The driver stopped just at the edge of a steep descent. We screamed for him to stop and heaved a collective sigh when he did. That incline was where the sand boarders will be sliding down. All of us were really hesitant to go down, until Ida of Mabuhay Magazine showed some guts and sand boarded all the way down, following the example of a seasoned sand boarder.

Once everyone (those who have the guts, that is) had taken their turn, we all got back into our 4×4 trucks, expecting a relaxing ride back to where our bus was waiting. We were in for a shock when the pick up we were riding pitched forward and proceeded to go down the steep incline. Down one dune and up another — our driver was relentless while us passengers at the back were all cowering on the pick up bed, knuckles white from holding on tightly.

Someone’s head is going to roll…

We were shaken by the experience, but with adrenalin rushing through our veins, we secretly found ourselves wanting more. Sadly, we had a schedule to keep. After a quick stop the historic Paoay Church (a UNESCO World Heritage site), we proceed to Batac (“Where great leaders are born”) for a hearty breakfast of Ilocos Empanada and miki. Satiated and full, we boarded the bus to start our long journey south to La Union. Four hours after, we were pulling into the Surf Shop for an afternoon of surfing.

The Surf Shop offers surfing lessons and gears to their students, as well as accommodation and food for a complete surfing experience in one roof. Each surfing student gets one teacher to instruct them on the basics and go with them into the water to help them catch a wave, to coach and cheer.

From the sun, sea and sand of La Union, we headed up into the highlands to Baguio, where the temperature dropped to just 12 degrees Centigrade. Our shivering bodies was warmed by the warm
welcome of The Manor’s staff and crew, the warm welcome of the Baguio Convention and Visitor’s Bureau and the warmth of the crackling fire in the open air garden reception. They hinted at an exciting day for us tomorrow, and that’s what most of us are looking forward to.

Surfing instructor Luke telling Monica how to stand on a surf board

What I wasn’t expecting though, was a night’s stay at the Manor. The itinerary did not specify which hotel we would be staying in Baguio, except that it would be a BCVB member hotel. The initial list listed me to stay at Microtel, but after another round of shuffling, I ended up billeted at The Manor. Not that I’m complaining.

Our call time this morning was at 5:30am and everybody in the group made sure (or at least tried their hardest) to get some much needed sleep. We started the day with a hearty Cagayan breakfast at Director Bless Diwa’s house, of the Department of Tourism Region 2.

Sabrina at the Alcala Church

From there, we set off for Cagayan’s treasured heritage churches. The first stop was Iguig, where the Stations of the Cross on Calvary Hill was. It was beautiful landscape overlooking the Cagayan River. Next was the Alcala church, a beautiful red brick architecture said to be the widest church in the region. We rushed over to Camalnuigan, where the oldest Catholic bell in the Philippines is (forged in 1595), then over to Lal-lo, the former Nueva Segovia with the 300-year old cross overlooking the Cagayan River. Our last church stop in Cagayan was at Pamplona, another beautiful red brick structure.

One and a half days was not enough for Cagayan, but lunch was waiting for us in Ilocos Norte. From the northeastern tip of Luzon, we made our way across to the northwestern tip. Passing through the Patapat viaduct, we saw the North Korean vessel that ran aground near Ilocos Norte’s beaches last December. It was very close to shore and the locals fear that oil must be starting to leak from the ship, which poses a huge threat on Pagudpod and the nearby beaches.

Kids of Cagayan Valley

It was almost 3 o’clock in the afternoon when we finally rolled into Hannah’s Beach Resort at the Blue Lagoon. We were running behind schedule and 3 hours late for lunch, but we couldn’t stop ourselves from taking photos of the gorgeous blue waters and sparkling white beach.

After a quickie lunch of bagnet, shrimp, lobster and dinengdeng, we were back on the road and racing towards Paoay to try to catch the last rays of sunlight at the sand dunes. We barely made it, so we ended up bouncing about in the sand dunes at the back of 4×4 trucks in the dark. Much to Bong’s (the official trip photographer) dismay, the most terrifying moment in the entire 4×4 drive to the dunes was being caught in the middle of a group of girls giggling and squealing over Derek Ramsey.

Malamang.

We decided to cancel the activities in the sand dunes (in exchange of having another go at it tomorrow morning at the cost of waking another hour early). We were brought to the new Robinson’s Laoag for a performance of Ilocano cultural dances and songs.

I’m writing this from the Saramsan Cafe Too, which is the annex of the original cafe with an added feature: a karaoke! After feasting on Saramsam’s specialties (the poque poque pizza and the Saramsam pasta is an instant favorite), the organizers gave an impromptu game: videoke singing contest! With a North Face jacket at stake, everybody’s giving their all. Hey, after a couple of beers and not enough sleep, we all need a way to de-stress!