Region I - Laoag, Bangui, Batac, Vigan

Finally our much awaited trip was successful. That's 7 piso fare tickets for Laoag from Cebu Pacific which costed us barely php3k. It was last June 14, 2011, boarding time is at 1040AM, traffic in C5 from Libis was unbearable and we have arrived there at around 10AM. All those ticket verifications and security check ate up our time, and at 1030AM our group is not yet complete as my father returned an umbrella, deodorant and insect repellent to our driver because it's all prohibited. The boarding time was pushed back earlier at 1030AM, it's our first time on these airport so we're worried. We made it and rode a coaster to the plane. It was an airbus not a fokker, thank God.

Makati Central Business District

Mount Arayat and Pampanga River

At takeoff, the Makati Skyline can be seen, and the coast line of Manila Bay as well as populated Metro Manila. I saw the great plains of Central Luzon as well as Mt. Arayat. We haven't seen the areas of La Union or Baguio, I suspect this is the highest elevation of the plane. By the time the plane lowered down from the clouds, we're in Ilocos Sur already. The plane went past the Laoag airport and u-turned back to land. It was barely an hour trip, the traffic at C5 was longer.

The Laoag Sign just like Hollywood

A rented van from La Union was waiting for us at the airport. We took a drive-thru at Mcdonald's in Laoag and off to Bangui. Some roads are under construction and that was the only hindrance we had, the ride was barely 2 hours, our driver was fast. The road to Bangui was nice, you'll be passing by the mountains before Bangui Bay and the windmills can be seen along the way.

The Bangui Windmill Project

The windmills are so huge in real life. The weather was unpredictable, it was either so cloudy or sunny every minute that we're there. Summer will be the best time to go there for a perfect weather for better pictures. In barely 30 minutes of picture taking we went to Batac to visit the Mausoleum of Marcos. We arrived at 3:30pm, but the attendant got off work early. The Mausoleum viewing was until 4pm. Then we went to Vigan.

The famous Crisologo Street in Vigan

It was our second time in Vigan. Crisologo St, has always been vintagedly beautiful, even more dramatic on sunset. It was drizzling so it's uncomfortable to expose my camera. There's this service from Island Souvenir to print your name above the "♥ Vigan" print, they have sizes for men and women, I spent around php360. Then we ate at Max's at the corner of Crisologo Street.

As long as you can do it, never drive back to Manila in the night because you will miss the beautiful coast line of Ilocos Sur. The Bantay bridge crossing over the Abra river is breathtaking, the old metal bridge was replaced by the new concrete bridge, the former is still there. Unfortunately we drove back in the night. I'll definite go back if I have a chance. Trabajo. Ipon. Travel. Enjoy. TITE.

How to go to Christ the King Parish Church Greenmeadows

DIRECTIONS


By car / tax:

• From Edsa, once you see the People Power Monument turn right at White Plains Avenue.
• Keep right until you see the Church of the Latter Day Saints, turn right at Temple Drive.
• Keep going forward until you reach Greenmeadows Avenue to turn left.
• Keep going forward along Greenmeadows Avenue until you reach the Christ the King Parish Church on the left side of the road.

By jeepney:

• From Cubao, ride a Cubao-Rosario Jeep on Gen. Romulo Avenue cor. Aurora Boulevard in front of Mercury Drug.
• You'll be passing by areas of Cubao, 20th Avenue, Bonny Serrano Avenue(Santolan), E. Rodriguez Jr. Avenue(C5).
• Along E. Rodriguez Avenue don't get off until you reach Jollibee Greenmeadows Branch on the right side of the road.
• From Jollibee, unfortunately, there's no public transportation from here other than a taxi, you may choose to walk for about 500m less or more along Greenmeadows Avenue to get to the church.

Cebu Pacific P1 Fare on all domestic destinations

I was waiting for the right timing for this seat sale. The moment I heard Cebu Pacific's P1 fare, I immediately thought of bringing my whole family to Laoag, I'm unemployed so the parents are paying. I booked 7 adults, chose the go lite fare which is P1, it'll be P101 if with check-in baggage. I thought the seats are automated, but then you're not assigned seats and choosing seats before checkout costs P100 per seat, now that's money. I super internalized if I'll choose seats or not. I chose not to, it's only a 1 hour flight, no pain in there. But my folks are gonna kill me because they'll think I'm such a kuripot.

We paid for a total of:

• Base Fare: PHP 707.00
• VAT: PHP 126.84
• YQ: PHP 350.00  -  YQ stands for Fuel Surcharges
• Go Lite Fee: PHP (700.00)
• Web Admin Fee Fee: PHP 392.00
• Insurance Fee: PHP 1,750.00
• Total: PHP 2,625.8

We booked the before noon flight, to catch a glimpse of President Ferdinand Marcos remains in Batac, I heard the viewing time is up to 3pm. Hopefully we can go to see the La Paz Sand dunes and see the breathtaking views of the North on a bright afternoon.

Baguio nowadays

If you just want to rest in a cold weather for a few days, Baguio is for you. But it isn't a spot for the adventurer. Places to see there are very few and are not that breathtaking. Baguio is mold friendly, better stay away if you have mold allergies.


Baguio tourists may have never missed the mall, SM City Baguio. Its famous verandas are major tourist spots. Here's an awesome view from the topmost veranda.