UEP White Beach Resort

After that hefty lunch at Michz's, we proceeded onwards to my joyride destination for the day, Laoang Northern Samar. Alas buenas, going to any eastern town of this province from Catarman, one must pass via UEP - University of Eastern Philippines main campus!

So there, we passed in the middle of UEP main campus (because the highway does so)!

Very unusually, although I took those pics above, I was not my usual excited self passing by this campus. Why? Because, 1) I've been here some time ago. I conducted a workshop in one of the buildings, and I stayed at one of their hostels; and, 2) I know there's a white beach somewhere here, that I have not even seen yet - THAT is what occupied me!

I was like asking the driver to hurry up, get out of the central area, and find the beach!

For those not in the know, UEP is a "ridge to reef university". Just like VSU in Baybay or UPV in Miagao, this university's campus starts from high up the hills and mountains, to farms and fields, the highway, the community, the beach and down to the sea! WOWness!

And then... chadaaaan... the gate to UEP White Beach Resort!

Guardhouse and ticket booth at left, so it was my driver who talked to them and all the 'ceremonies'! While I was like a restless child, twisting and turning to see this and that!

As we drove around looking for a good place to park, driver said " adi sir, "jerapee"...

Attempting to correct the pronunciation, I said "je-raFF" emphasizing the "F". And he said "oo nga, jerapee ha binisaya"! See? It naturally comes out. Lumalabas ang mga isip-bata!

O, o... me elepante! So I shrieked like a child hahaha!

And the driver said "sir, behave..." hahaha! I don't know what's the idea. They're putting up bigger than life size animal replicas. But I like it. It brings out the child in everyone!

That giraffe seems to be a "midget specie" though hehe. It's a bit 'punggok' on the body, with a thicker than usual neck! Well, jerapee la gihap! I saw a lion; a penguin my height; and a dambuhalang gansa? or pato? is as if drinking up the water of the swimming pool!

There were students, well, youngsters huddled under some of the trees...

I was not sure though if they were in this place for "R&R" or if they were in some kind of an 'academic activity'. I was envious just the same, and I wanted to jump off the car na!

Those on the right are, I think, some of the resort's accommodation cottages...

Am not sure where or which is/are the HRM Laboratory School. Probably even all of it!

Ah, still on that picture above, look at the tallest coconut tree at right. There are two young ladies lying down on a mat just under it. Not a good thing to do nor a good place to be. If just a fruit falls down, simba ko 'wag naman sana, goodbye earth kayo mga iday!

The day-use cottages. There only 5 here (east end) plus a pair below that motorbike!

There are more at the western end of this beach. Probably more than 20 huts like these.

We decided to park here as this building looked like a restaurant or an event venue...

To the left (not in picture) there are hand washing sinks, and there is even an 'al fresco' shower area under a Talisay tree! Driver said shower first before swimming at sea hehe!

Unfortunately this building whatever thing was closed. Yes.., on a weekend?!

Okay, maybe it is just an event venue after all, and there were no booked 'events' on this day of my visit. But isn't the arrival of my royal highness an event in itself? Umayos sila!

As if I cared anyway. My eyes were looking at nothing else than only there, oh dear!

I immediately kicked the shoes off and ran towards the middle of that fine sandy beach!

Well, I am not a self-proclaimed, self-professed "SON OF A BEACH" for nothing, right?!

I looked to the left, and clicked...

I looked to the right and clicked...

I remembered I was practicing the 'panoramic shot' thingy on my phone. "click-pan-click"

Not quite.., hands/arms shook, but good enough for me, if only to capture the memory..!

I even turned to also capture a panoramic shot of dry land...

Still not really good. I can't capture the whole length. Looking at it "live" is still the best!

And, and... ah ehh, the rest is history hehe!
All other pics are of me, on the sand. Yaak!

But let's talk about this beach at "UEP White Beach Resort".
My verdict is: It is very much underrated.

Ahem, I am Pinoy Traveler, and I have been to so many beaches not just in this country but in the world. I know what a good beach is, I know what is not. And I'm proud of that.

Having said that, believe me when I say this strip of paradise inside UEP is underrated. It can easily shame many popular beaches in this country. I can name too many of them!

Ironically though, ask the waray-warays if any one of them long to come and see this beach at UEP. I'll bet you will hear none! Lahat nang mga iyan will be blurting beaches like Pagudpud, Batangas, Puerto Galera, Alona etc. But none of those are better than this!

Now, IF we talk about the "resort", I will immediately say "teka, resort nga ba ito?" haha!

Well, they are probably inversely proportional. Meaning, if a beach has popular luxurious good resorts, the beach deteriorates and starts to suffer. While if there are only day-use huts for rent that are all biodegradable anyway, no one ruins the natural environment.

Look at those pics above again. It's even already bad that the university built that building, right? Look at the foreground, pangit na. But look to the left and right - ganda!

I better stop expounding on anything anymore. Lest this place become so popular baka masira ang serenity! Greedy hehe! But seriously, if you're looking for a big wide clean white beach, in a pristine natural setting without modernistic structures, this is damn it!

And then I heard the driver reminding me... "sir, malayo pa ang Laoang".

Okay fine, let's move on to Mondragon hehe! That's my next story!