Holyweek Tour 2k18 Part 4: The Black Beach of Buguey and Church Visits// March 28 to April 1, 2018

The last 2 days of our holy week tour were allotted in swimming and church visits.  We stayed at the Crab Hotel (also known as El Presidente Resort) in Buguey, where we obtained free accommodation granted by the owner.  Buguey is a municipality in Cagayan renowned for its Mud Crabs.  Prices of these crustaceans are ranging from 500 to 700 pesos per kilo.  Eating one is definitely a luxury!  The beach has its own fine-black sands.  Swimming at a distance, particularly during the high-tide is quite dangerous as star-performing waves are engulfing the shorelines. 

The Avengera preparing to finish the "monster" inside "their" cave

Dancing sea waves 

Sunset at Buguey

Group picture with the giant crab

Churches and Other Landmarks

St. Anne Parish

A remnant of an old convent beside St. Anne Parish

San Jacinto De Polonia

The tower which houses the oldest catholic church bell in Asia

The Old Church Ruins

Passing St. Dominic Parish, another centuries-old church in Cagayan

Inside St. Dominic Parish

We stopped and had our lunch in the house of a relative of Eric

They served us carabeef stew for the main course.  This was my first time tasting one

We continued our church visits afterward...

Poor Clare Monastery of the Eucharistic Lord was founded on January 9, 1992.  

The Cathedral of St. Paul located inside St. Paul University 

The last church we visited was Saint Peter Metropolitan Cathedral

The church's ceiling

Tuguegarao City Hall

Tuguegarao Airport

Cagayan is a perfect place for recreation.  A week-long adventure is not enough to see and experience all of its greatness.  This would not be our last time visiting this place.  I'm sure that it has other undiscovered wonders just waiting to be explored.  Together with my travel buddies, we will go back and discover the hidden at some other time.


Actual Itinerary

March 27, 2018

10:30 PM - Departure to Tuguegarao City

March 28, 2018

10:15 AM - Arrival Tuguegarao City
10:30 AM - Breakfast
12:00 PM - Iguig Calvary Hill
12:30 PM - Departure Iguig to Callao Cave
1:30 PM - Arrival Callao Cave (caving and boating)
3:30 PM - End of Tour
4:00 PM - Late Lunch / Dinner
5:00 PM onward - Holyweek Ritual (HOD and HIMD Family)

March 29, 2018

6:00 AM - Wake-up Call
7:00 AM - Departure Tuguegarao to Ilocos Norte
12:00 PM - Arrival Ilocos Norte (Pagudpod Blue Lagoon) 
1:00 PM - Beachineering
5:00 PM - Dinner
6:00 PM onward - Holyweek Ritual (HOD and HIMD Family)

March 30, 2018

7:00 AM - Wake-up Call
8:00 AM - Departure Pagudpod to Sta. Ana Cagayan
8:30 AM - Breakfast (Egg Party and Coffee)
9:15 AM - Resume Trip
9:30 AM - Side-trip Portabaga Falls (Photo-Ops)
10:00 AM - Resume Trip
12:30 PM - Arrival Sta. Ana Cagayan
1:00 PM - Port (Lunch)
2:00 PM - Island Hopping (Punta Verde and Crocodile Island)
5:00 PM - End of Tour (Wash up)
6:00 PM - Departure Sta. Ana to Buguey)
7:00 PM - Arrival Buguey (Crab Hotel / El Presidente Resort)
8:00 PM onward - Holyweek Grand Ritual

March 31, 2018

The Whole Day - Crab Hotel (Holy week Grand Ritual)

April 1, 2018

6:00 AM - Wake up Call
8:00 AM - Breakfast
12:00 PM - Departure El Presidente Resort
12:00 PM to 5:00 PM - Visita Iglesia
5:00 PM - Bus Terminal
7:00 PM - Departure Tuguegarao to Manila

April 2, 2018 - Home Sweet Home

Estimated Expenses: 7 to 8k per pax

Worth Remembering (Memories and Thoughts to Look Back)
- Playing with the echoes of Callao Cave
- I've lost my phone 
- Ghost stories during good Friday
- The "week-long couple"
- The "away-bati couple"
- Avengera laban kay _________
- Alcala Milk Candy (Out of Stock)
- Aries got a 2 strikes due to drunkness
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Holy Week Tour 2k18 Part 1: Iguig Calvary Hill and Callao Cave

Holy Week Tour 2k18 Part 2: The Blue Lagoon of Pagudpod

Holy Week Tour 2k18 Part 3: Palaui Island

END

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Holyweek Tour 2k18 Part 3: Palaui Island // March 28 to April 1, 2018

During the 3rd day, we went back to Cagayan into Palaui Island.  The destroyers of traditions performed another ritual last night.   If we just followed the conceptual itinerary, this will be the highlight of our holy week tour.  In the end, we have only visited Punta Verde and the Crocodile Island.  We also had the chance of going inside the Portabaga Falls, located along the hi-way.

Morning coffee and egg party

A natural waterfall in the north which was converted into a water park.  Peace be with you!

The Portabaga Falls

Island hopping begins

We love Palaui Island! One of the local mentioned that the name of the whole Palaui Group of Islands before was Punta Verde.  Today, Punta Verde is just a portion of Palaui.

Punta Verde

The sky was on the verge of tears upon our arrival at Punta Verde.  A lot of great and exciting things can be done on the island but our time was very limited. While others were enjoying the sea, 5 of us went a little deeper and explored the Baratubot Falls.   

A hanging Bridge 

Passing through the hanging bridge, Dave revealed another weakness of him.  He was trembling when the bridge started to move after I jumped on it.  Then he shouted, telling me that he is afraid of passing on hanging bridges.  Being a very good friend, I jumped over and over again... As I expected, xxx! filled the air.  Knowing him for 2 and a half year, despite his bold personality, I discovered many things that he is afraid of.  So I decided to write it in a poem:

Boulder's Holes

JSC

Strong fat Dave, who's claiming he's brave

Some people will hide, to save their day

Join his adventures, on greens and on blues

Then, you will realize, that the boulder has holes too!

A flying roach will make him scream

Adrenaline will rush, with a barking dog

A hanging bridge will make him tremble

A rollercoaster ride will mark his extinction!

Steeping on stones.  It is a very light trail

A verdant ricefield surrounded by mountains

The childish Aries, playing on water flows

Reaching Baratubot Falls after 20 minutes of walk.  

Crocodile Island

Pointing to the sky

HOD on top of the crocodile-like rock formation.  The wind was so strong that I could hardly keep my eyes open

Andy was giving us a signal that it is time to go... Time's Up!

From Sta. Ana, we traveled for 2 hours going to El Presidente Resort in Buguey where we stayed for 2 days.

Dinner Time at El Presidente Resort

The grand ritual has commenced!  
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Holy Week Tour 2k18 Part 1: Iguig Calvary Hill and Callao Cave

Holy Week Tour 2k18 Part 2: The Blue Lagoon of Pagudpod

Holy Week Tour 2k18 Part 4: The Black Beach of Buguey and Church Visits

Holyweek Tour 2k18 Part 2: The Blue Lagoon of Pagudpod // March 28 to April 1, 2018

It's a privilege to be a part of this group of travelers, who highly values traditions.  We're already 2 hours behind our planned trip to Pagudpod.  Most were still asleep at 6 am.  What they have done the whole night?  They gambled and consumed that 2 bottles of mojitos we've bought from the supermarket until dawn. It became the cycle during this 5 days "holy week tour".  Amen!  Did I say destroyers of traditions?  We started to move at 7 am.  

Picture taking at the dubbed coastal paradise of the north - Claveria's view deck.

This bakeshop is selling native delicacies.  Their buko pie is made of thin and crispy pastry filled with coconut custard.  Far from the original buko pie of Laguna, which for me is still the best.   The sweet, cheesy and chewy bibingkas were made from rice flour

Finally, after 5 long hours of travel time, we reached the arc of Ilocos Norte

Patapat Viaduct.  A long bridge constructed during the Marcos Era.  

While Dave and Eric were looking for a place to stay, some of us went off the van and took photos.  It is a real blue sea...

The blue lagoon of Pagudpod.  Simple shots from the simple sight of our theologian and philosopher, Andres Rebato

With the combination of his luck in gambling and rigorous training in drinking alcoholic beverages, Aries hit the jackpot last night - a whole day of bed rest due to hangover award (explore new places and get drunk - his motto constructed by yours truly)! The rest of us spent the whole afternoon in taking photos, trying local dishes, playing on sands, and sitting still while enjoying the views.  

The accountant, the theologian and philosopher, the statistician and his future wife

Random photos far from crowds

The original Ilocos Empanada.  Most vendors in Pagudpod are using mung bean sprout, unripe papaya and Vigan sausage in the stuffing.  Unlike in Manila where it is commonly filled with cabbage and ground meat.

Dinner time

Another day has ended, tomorrow will be another day...
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Holy Week Tour 2k18 Part 1: Iguig Calvary Hill and Callao Cave

Holy Week Tour 2k18 Part 3: Palaui Island

Holy Week Tour 2k18 Part 4: The Black Beach of Buguey and Church Visits

Holyweek Tour 2k18 Part 1: Iguig Calvary Hill and Callao Cave // March 28 to April 1, 2018

Months before the holy week, I was already decided to join a week-long adventure of Sheng in Mindanao.  Everything was settled.  We have already booked a round trip to and from Cagayan De Oro.  A weekend was also allotted in Laguna, to finalize the estimated expenses and conceptual itinerary of our tour.  I was truly excited back then.  It is my goal to explore the 82 provinces of the Philippines, particularly those in Mindanao, which is a haven of natural and man-made wonders.  Unfortunately, 3 weeks before the date, something has occurred, which prevented me from joining the tour.  In the end, I was persuaded by Dave to join their holy week trip.  As I opened my eyes in the morning of Holy Wednesday, we were already heading to Cagayan, at the northern part of the country.   
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Ride via Victory Liner Bus

We passed through the provinces of Bulacan, Nueva Vizcaya, and Isabela.  On our way, we've noticed that farming is a major source of living in Cagayan.  On every roadside, there are vast fields of corn, rice, and pineapple.   After 12 hours of travel, finally, we have arrived at Tuguegarao City.  There at the bus station, Niño, a relative of Eric, was already waiting for us.  He was with us in our 5 days tour in Cagayan and Ilocos Norte.

It's more fun to travel on a full stomach.  Before the tour, Niño brought us in a noodle house.   There, we have tasted a pride of Cagayan in food - Their Pancit Batil-Patong

Inside this kitchen, they showed us the process in making the noodles.  We’ve learned that there are 2 kinds of noodles in Cagayan, and the other one is called Pancit Cabagan.  

A variety of ingredients were placed atop: mixed vegetables, ground meat, chicharon, karahay, liver, and a chicken egg.

After a while, brunch is served! The Pancit Batil-Patong of Cagayan.  Filled with flavors and very delightful!  With so many servings, some of us didn't finish their meals.

Burp! Here we go! 2k18 Holy Week Tour begins! - The HIMD Family and The House of Dave (HOD)

Iguig Calvary Hills and San Antonio De Galicia Parish

Niño suggested that we visit the church and calvary hill of Iguig.  These were not included in our plan, but due to proximity, we decided to explore the place as well.  Eric said that the church of Iguig is one of the oldest in Cagayan.  Inside the Calvary hill, there are 14 stations of the cross and a beautiful view of Cagayan River.

Some Photos Taken

The Calvary Hills of Iguig

Group picture at the 12th station: Jesus died on the cross

She at the 13th station: Jesus is taken down from the cross

A pilgrimage site every holy week

It seems that someone is already missing the life inside a holy ground.  Will he soon pursue priesthood?

Rolling Hills

Iguig Church (Church of San Antonio De Galicia)

Church inside

The Church Ceiling

We didn't stay for too long.  After we've captured moments of laughter, wondering(Aries), and probably, growing love (oh yeah!), Eric said that we should already proceed to our main destination.

Callao Caving and Boating

We traveled for almost an hour in going to Peñablanca.  Located above 184 steps, is one of the prominent tourist spots in Cagayan - The Callao Cave.  The cave consists of 7 chambers.  At the first part, there's a stone chapel where everyone can reflect, or just simply rest.  Sun Rays that passes through the holes, brightened the cave.  Different rock formations can be seen inside.  I was able to form several things within my imagination.  In all of us, Aries was the only one who had reached the 7th chamber.  Eric mentioned that Callao Cave has dramatically changed.   Before, there was no established trail, which makes the way up very muddy.  He also added that several snakes can be spotted inside.  Oh well, gone are the days?

Some Photos Taken

184 steps to enlightenment

Group picture at the cave entrance

The Stone Chapel

A reading from the holy gospel according to Jake...

The cave inside

Rock formation

Rays from heaven

At the 4th chamber

While inside the cave, our minds were filled up of taking pictures. No one has noticed that our guide, who was a kid, had already left us.  Yes! Free of Charge!  As we went out, we've tried the boating at Pinacanauan River.  The cold and clear water is inhabited by aquatic animals.  In fact, we saw some locals setting up nets for fishing.  The ambiance is truly relaxing.  It is surrounded by ranges of limestone formations.  There are also bat caves, and picnic sites for a stopover.  Too bad! We didn't bring anything... Time to go!

Riding the boat

Bat cave within a limestone formation, and the emerald water of Pinacanauan River

A boatman on the moves

Crossing a shallow portion of the river

Picnic Sites

We had a hard time in finding good place to dine.  Most of the famous establishments which Niño knows were closed.  Fortunately, we found one after hours of searching.  

We ended the day in this place.  It should be a day of fasting; but, food is love!  We savored the crispiness of irresistible lechong kawali, and the great taste of their signature Bulalo.  

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Holy Week Tour 2k18 Part 2: The Blue Lagoon of Pagudpod

Holy Week Tour 2k18 Part 3: Palaui Island

Holy Week Tour 2k18 Part 4: The Black Beach of Buguey and Church Visits