Holy Week in Isabela (also my first time in Cagayan Valley Region)

My thoughts of the Cagayan Valley are filled with visions of green surroundings, mountains and hills, rice fields and forests… So when I learned that we will be spending Holy Week at the house of my father-in-law in Isabela, I was really excited to visit this side of the Northern Luzon. Again, memories of grade school Civics and Culture subject came back, as we were required to memorize all the regions in the Philippines and the respective provinces then. And I thought at that time that Cagayan Valley has the prettiest name. 🙂

About to leave Central Luzon..

The picture above was taken when we were about to leave the Central Luzon Region. Nueva Vizcaya is looming ahead. As what I said, it’s my first time to visit the Cagayan Valley Region. And just the view of the mountainous province of Nueva Vizcaya is enough to make me bounce on my feet, hahaha

It’s almost a twelve-hour road trip for us as we had several stop overs: first, to take our lunch at Hacienda Luisita and another one, coffee break at Santa Fe, Nueva Vizcaya. It’s past 10:00 in the evening when we arrived at Echague, Isabela. It was a tiring but memorable road trip, as the road leading to Isabela provided us with spectacular views.

The next day is a Holy Thursday; every commercial establishment is closed in Isabela. Hubby and I took a walk at their neighborhood in Echague, where he used to spend summer vacations when he was younger. It was such a quaint neighborhood, where one can inhale the fresh air, hear the trees swaying, take a bike ride, or simply take a walk without worries that someone might harm you. It’s a town where everyone knows everyone.

We also got to taste the local pancit in Isabela, what they call as “Pancit Cabagan”. We found an eatery selling pancit Cabagan while we were walking in their neighborhood. We did not hesitate to order, and it was gone in an instant. To be fair, it wasn’t just us who ate the local pancit 😀

The next day, we visited our kumare and kumpare in Cauayan City, just two towns away from Isabela. We visited their home, where the delicious local delicacy, dendelot, is waiting to be devoured, LOL! We loved it instantly.

Dendelot. The local sticky rice, with a twist. With sweet sauce.

It was Good Friday then, and they took us to Ramon, Isabela where we could visit the beautiful and breathtaking Magat Dam. But that would be a separate blog entry. 🙂

What made our trip extra special is that we brought our pets with us. They clearly enjoyed the trip as much as we do. 🙂

Would you agree? 🙂

Our 2014 Trips: First-time travels and Revisits

For me and hubby, 2014 is… cliche as it may sound… a roller-coaster ride. But since it’s a brand new year so I will not dwell on the sad memories but focus on the positive. 🙂 2014 gave us so many opportunities to travel, and most of our travels are all-expense paid by clients. While we had more work-related trips than leisure trips, just being together during our work-related trips made the experience feels as if we were just playing. 🙂

JANUARY: OUR 2ND WEDDING ANNIVERSARY AT TAGAYTAY CITY

Windy January at Skyranch Tagaytay.

We started the year by celebrating our second wedding anniversary at Tagaytay City, Cavite. It was a blissful celebration, a day trip at one of the coolest (literally) destinations last January 2014. It was also our first time to visit Tagaytay City as a couple, although we have been there countless times during our childhood and college yeaers.

We had late lunch at Mahogany Market, where we ordered steaming bowl of bulalo and crispy tawilis. Then, a first time visit to Sky Ranch. We endured the long lines in order to ride the Sky Eye, which was then the tallest ferris wheel in the country (as of now it’s the Sky Eye in Pampanga). We ended the day by having dinner and coffee at Bag of Beans. It’s a first time experience for us as a couple and up to this date that 11th day of January 2014 (a belated celebration, our anniv is January 8) will always feel as if I’m on cloud nine. 🙂 ❤

MARCH: RE-VISITING TAGAYTAY CITY VIA TALISAY ROAD

Taal Volcano as seen from Talisay, Batangas

It was during the first week of March when we got to visit again Tagaytay City, for a work-related trip. This time, we went up to Tagaytay City via the Talisay Road or what the locals call the “Sungay Road”. While this route will give you picturesque view of the Taal Volcano and Tagaytay Ridge, this road is not for the faint of heart. One have to be skilled and experienced before traversing this zigzag-gy and very steep road.

APRIL: MOM’S BIRTHDAY AT A MOUNTAIN RESORT IN BAY, LAGUNA

On mid-April, we celebrated my mom’s 61st birthday (and our third anniversary as a couple or “bf-gf anniv”) at Grand Villa Resort and Butterfly Centre, a mountain resort in Bay, Laguna.

Pool area at night

It was a perfect day for swimming, a special day last summer spent with family and relatives. This sprawling resort will provide you tons of activities to engage in, so that you would momentarily forget the stress of city life. To read my review of this mountain resort, click here.

MAY: FIRST GLIMPSE OF THE BEAUTIFUL ISLAND PROVINCES OF MARINDUQUE AND CATANDUANES; RE-VISITED ALBAY

The month of May was totally unpredictable and bittersweet. But as what I said, I will focus on the good things that happened to keep reminding that despite the trials, we are still very much blessed.

On the first week of May, hubby and I got to visit the pristine island of Marinduque. It’s hubby’s second time to visit the province, while it was my first time. It’s a work-related trip as our purpose to go there is to attend a hearing at the Municipal Trial Court  I was enchanted at my first glimpse of Balanacan Port, where the giant statue of Ina ng Biglang Awa welcomes you upon arrival at the port.

Ina ng Biglang Awa at Balanacan Port

On the third week of May 2014, another opportunity to travel beckoned. This is my first time to travel solo, as the trip was sponsored by another law firm and not by our law office. I attended a hearing in Virac, Catanduanes, but before that hearing I first have to travel by air, land and water. Since there were no direct flights at that time to Virac, I took the flight to Legazpi, which is pure ecstasy, as the flight gave me a chance to revisit the province of Albay and see again the beautiful and majestic Mayon Volcano.

View of Mayon Volcano from the plane

After the air travel, my client and I traveled by land since we’ll be riding a Ro-Ro vessel at the Tabaco Port. At the port, I got to witness one of 2014’s biggest phenomena, the solar halo which was seen only in the Bicol Region that 22nd day of May 2014.

Solar halo. Seen only in Bicol region.

Dining alone. Inside Blossoms Restaurant in Virac, Catanduanes.

My experience at the rustic province of Catanduanes is pure bliss. It’s where I had my first media exposure/interview. 😀 And I explored the town of Virac literally by foot. As what I said, it was my first time to travel solo. While I sorely missed my hubby during that trip as he is my constant companion, the chance to travel solo made me braver, more aware of the surroundings, more alert. The three days and two nights experience in Catanduanes reminded me to enjoy my own company and to be independent when the situation calls for it. 🙂

The Bato River. No filter.

JUNE: REVISITED BOAC, MARINDUQUE; FIRST TIME AT GASAN, MARINDUQUE

June is the birthday month of my hubby. We had an overnight trip at Tagaytay City and celebrated his birthday. 🙂 Again, he had post-birthday celebration in Marinduque, when we went there the third week of June, for another work-related trip. But since we brought along my mom and aunt so that they can also visit Marinduque, we extended our trip to three days. 🙂 After touring our companions at Boac, Marinduque, we took a side trip at the nearby town of Gasan, Marinduque, to meet up with another client who is based in Gasan. It’s our first time to visit this time and we got to visit another heritage church perched on a hill, the St. Joseph Church of Gasan, Marinduque.

Another heritage church perched on a hill.

AUGUST: CEBU REVISITED

Last August, we got the chance to visit a city that I missed so much, Cebu City! It’s my hubby’s first time to visit this island, while it’s my second. 🙂 While it’s a work-related trip, we consider it as a beautiful opportunity to explore the historic urban city of Cebu. It’s only a two-day trip but on our two days we were able to go not just to the Capitol Building and Court of Appeals but also to Magellan’s Cross, Sto. Nino de Cebu Church, Ayala Center Cebu, Chapel of St. Pedro Calungsod, buy pasalubongs at Taboan Market, and enjoy buffet breakfast at Wellcome Hotel. 🙂

SEPTEMBER: FIRST TIME AT TRECE MARTIRES, CAVITE

Republic of Cavite

Last September we got to visit another historic town, Trece Martires, the capital and heart of Cavite. We roamed around the capitol compound and after done with work, we can’t help but take pictures of the Capitol building of Cavite and the majestic Legislative Building. We had a walking tour of Governors Drive and dropped by at the Shrine of the Thirteen Martyrs, church visit at the Chapel of St. Jude Thaddeus, and had coffee and ube buchi at Republic of Cavite, a cafe and restaurant often mistaken as the Emilio Aguinaldo Shrine as it is a replica of the same.

OCTOBER: REVISITED CEBU AND FIRST TIME AT LAPU-LAPU SHRINE; HALLOWEEN IN MARINDUQUE

Another work-related trip brought us back to Cebu in October. We had an early flight to Cebu which allowed us to explore Mactan Island and take a side-trip first to Lapu-Lapu Shrine, which is near the airport vicinity.

Larsian barbecue

This trip is a more relaxed one than our previous trip to Cebu, as after we are done at the Court of Appeals, we got to enjoy the city the whole day, with prolonged stay at IT Park and Ayala Center Cebu, and ending the day having late dinner Cebuano style at Larsian Barbecue. On the other hand, the last week of October gave us a chance to spend Halloween in Boac as we took our third work-related trip to Marinduque this year.

Halloween festivities at Case De Don Emilio, Boac, Marinduque.

DECEMBER: REVISITED BAGUIO CITY AND CALAPAN CITY, ORIENTAL MINDORO

strawberry taho

Come December, we were able to squeeze in two work-related out-of-town trips despite the uncertain weather. On the first week of December, just before my birthday, we got to revisit the city of pines, Baguio City. It was a quick trip, less than twenty four hours including travel time. But the trip gave us new experiences, such as getting to taste the strawberry taho, food trip at Good Taste Restaurant, and non-stop travel from Baguio City to Manila via the Genesis Executive Coach, Joy Bus.

By third week of December, we got to revisit Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro due to another work-related trip with our clients. After done with work, we visited my law school best friend and our godparents and stayed at their home. The weekend trip allowed us to explore the bustling city of Calapan, food trips and bonding moments with what we consider as our second family. 🙂

Capitol Building of Oriental Mindoro

We are thankful for a year full of safe travels. Indeed, travel broadened our horizons and made us see how beautiful and diverse our motherland is. This 2015, we are targeting to explore more the Visayas region and perhaps, a first time trip to Mindanao. We are also claiming that we would be able to travel abroad. Anything’s possible, all in the right time. 🙂