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Philippines |
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CRUISING COASTAL: Just follow the red
line -2 |
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Source: Manila Bulletin |
Author: Pinky Concha Colmenares |
Date: 2000-10-02 |
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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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