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CRUISING COASTAL: Just follow the red line -2
Source: Manila Bulletin
Author: Pinky Concha Colmenares
Date: 2000-10-02
 
Shoppers will enjoy the wood carvings along the roads of Pampanga. Do that on your

way home to Manila, or you’ll put more weight in your vehicle. It would be a good idea

to make a sidetrip to the famous San Guillermo Parish Church in Bacolor, buried in 12

meters of lahar flow. You’ll see the church from the main highway and a sign will guide

you into a narrow road leading to it, about 300 meters away.



Since we had not brought any food or beverage on this trip, we made our first stop at

the Sta. Ines Shell Service Station in Mabalacat, Pampanga. Since we had a Ranger

pick-up and we did not want to put our stuff at the back, we bought a small supply of

food and drinks: One small bottle of mineral water for each of us, a can of juice and

milk, and a small pack of cookies.



From that food supply, our next stop was in Labrador, Pangasinan, at Villa Jireh

Resort. The nice-looking open restaurant was well-positioned along the road, the

Ranger found its way to the curb. It was 12:45 p.m. and we were all hungry.



The open restaurant layout, though very inviting to road travelers, has a catch. You

had to time your spoon-feedings to the swarm of flies attracted to the delicious food

on the table. The waitress tried to get us out of our timing difficulties by flashing a

fly-swatter – which of course we stopped. Or we would have to check for dead flies

in our food!



The hour-long drive to Alaminos was relaxing. We

were now driving along the coastline of Lingayen Gulf.

A piece of history here: Limahong the Chinese

conqueror, had escaped to the Lingayen Gulf when

foiled at his attempt to establish a colony on the

shore of Manila Bay. Pursued by the Spanish

colonizers, he escaped towards the China Sea.



At Barangay Lucap in Alaminos, the jump-off point for

the Hundred Islands tours, a Chinese figure stands in

a concrete gazebo where you can climb to enjoy the

view of the islands. I looked for an explanation for this Chinese figure’s significance

but found none. I suppose it must be Limahong’s statue.



It was only 2:30 p.m. when we finished the pictorial. We all decided it would be a

waste of time to spend the whole afternoon and evening there and then wake up

early in the morning to pursue Cruising Coastal. (Those of you who would like to stay

and enjoy the islands can just walk into any of the many small lodging houses within

walking distance from the boat station in Lucap. They all looked clean and

respectable.)



There are now many beach resorts along the road. Signs will lead you to them. I’m

sure you can always find a place to stay even if you have no reservations.



So we drove on, and on. The scenery began to become more serene with less signs of

urban life. The coastline looked inviting but all we could do was admire the water, the

coves, the coconut trees melting with the green and browns of the terrain.



Ahead of us, the asphalt road looked like a ribbon unfurled through a forest.



There were several zigzags that took us across a mountain, but we hardly felt the

climb because the roads were not too steep. It made me think that whoever did those

roads was not in too much of a hurry to get out of that beautiful forest.



As we entered Iba town, the sun was ready to go to sleep. The sky was now turning

warm orange. Beside us, several billboards invited travelers to stop at beach resorts.

We could see the waves from the main road but we could not stop. (But, you could

stop and enjoy the beach. After all, this trip is about enjoying the coast!)



It would be dark within the hour and we still had to reach Olongapo.



A phone call alerted Dave Ballesteros, public relations man of White Rock in Subic, to

expect us. He had extended the invitation to us last March when Cruising featured

the resort. Five months later, we were at White Rock to enjoy the beach, the pool,

the beer, and of course, the airconditioned rooms where our backs needed to stretch

out after 440 kms of Cruising Coastal.



The next morning, we woke up at a comfortable time, about 7:30, and was out driving

by eight. We found a place open for breakfast near the main gate of Subic.



The set breakfast of tapa, egg and rice, was only R32, but of course, one set could

not feed Anjo and Aris. Then, we had to buy our coffee somewhere else because that

store did not serve it with breakfast.



Finally, we were driving towards home. Aris had to check the defense beat for

updates on the release of the Abu Sayaff hostages; Anjo had to cover the 4WD

Rainforest Challenge at The Fort; and I had to close a page.



We were all in our places of work by 3 p.m. of Saturday, counting the terrible traffic

while getting out of the Fort and into Manila.



Cruising Coastal is a first of a series of trips around the country’s coastal towns

following the staff’s successful 1,900-km journey to seven islands in seven days last

June for the magazine’s first anniversary issue. Next month Pagudpud and other

coastal towns in the Ilocos region will be featured. (Reprinted from Cruising Magazine,

September 2000 issue.)
 

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