Mondragon to San Roque

Another short run. It took me about 20 or more minutes from Mondragon town proper to San Roque. It's only a 15km drive, but we stopped (driver's BRB and yosi break for me) somewhere on this scenic road. That, made the trip longer, but enjoyable nonetheless!

Let's start at the Bugko Junction (Brgy. Bugko, Mondragon) 4kms out from town center.

This is a very noteworthy signage located about 500 meters from an important corner - because there are no other signs at the junction itself! The first 3 names are Mondragon barangays, while the last one, 29kms from that junction, is the poor town - Silvino Lobos.

Poor town? Poorest in all of Eastern Visayas, in fact! And we all know that Region VIII (Eastern Visayas) is 2nd-to-last (just ahead of ARMM) among the poorest regions in PHL.

And you may say "but it's only 29kms from this highway so it's not too remote to become the poorest"! Well, it's not that simple. My sources tell me that: the 29kms is not all that finished, especially the bridges, and it takes 3hrs by habal-habal from that corner ahead.

But it is already an improvement. Because, in the past (this became a town in 1965 btw), travel to that town took 3 days by paddling on bancas from Pambujan via the Pambujan River. Then it became 8hrs when "engines" became affordable for river boats. Imagine?!

Interesting! 9.6kms per hour by habal-habal. I asked a friend why motorbikes would be that slow in this area. 9.6kph, halos lakad na yan ah! I learned that no motorbike is that slow. It's just that, they climb mountains, negotiate muddy areas, literally cross rivers, at times driver and passenger have to walk at ridges or makeshift bridges, and so on. OMG!

Thus, don't be deceived by seeing that modernistic signage hehe. It just says 29kms from the corner. But it does not say how grueling your ride will be - if at all you will be riding!

Here is that "famous" corner mentioned above... turn right to Silvino Lobos (good luck!)

Oh, that magnified signage? I don't know that but its the first time I saw that code. I know that turning left on this intersection leads to Bugko barangay proper and the sea, but I'm curious what L20 means! That is something new to my eyes, therefore my mind!

Let us proceed with my Mondragon to San Roque scenic ride...

First thing I noticed, there seems to be no mountains or hills on this strip of highway...

And generally devoid of vehicles and humanity! Where is everyone?

Where there are (a few) houses, there are trees...

Many are already big trees..!

They must have been already planted here before this highway became this nice...

Big trees and good good roads are a wonderful combination, right?

Oh they have a curved bridge here too! Just like in the mountains of Silago...

But that embankment after the bridge seems to be already starting a problem...

Look, in the middle portion, it is starting to fall apart. Oh my earth...

Anyway, this is that place where (I said above) we made a brief stop...

But I can't remember why! Maybe for the view, or naiihi na si driver, or nayoyosi na ako, or even all of the above?! All at the same time hahaha! But a grand view of the pacific!

There is even something about that picture (above)! Look at the coconut tree at right. The bottom part of the trunk looks like it is just one normal "lubi", right? But look at the fronds on top again... they seem to be like two coconut trees, right? For indeed they are!

I wondered how that happens. Driver was quick to say "lubi nga nagsasanga, buynas ito"!

Hahaha, whatever! And anyway, at least I have been to this area of the country...

The beaches here are white. Well, light if we need to be exact. They're not black. They're somewhere brown to light brown when wet. But cream, to pinkish in color when sun dry.

Then we arrived at the town proper of San Roque, Northern Samar.

But let's talk about it in my next blog entry!