Philippine Travel Notes

Let's continue what I was saying in the last paragraph of my previous post. Good road from Balilihan to Batuan. But there is something wrong (see next photo below). The driver is too young! Definitely not even a high school kid. And they were running very fast. After Brgy. Hanopol Norte (Balilihan), we entered a Brgy. Mahayag (Catigbian), which confused me, as I thought Balilihan and Batuan were next to each other. That's when my driver said " It's Complicated "! So, he explained that... After Hanopol Norte, this road touches the southern border of Catigbian (although far from poblacion, at probably still 10 kilometers away). Right side of this road is still part of Balilihan, while the left flank is already Catigbian. Next it enters a short 5km stretch that is, this time, all inside Catigbian. Until you reach a bridge, where these three towns of Balilihan, Batuan and Catigbian are supposed to converge! Complicated nga! Balilihan and Batuan are next ...

From Corella, we drove going further northeast, and the next town we stumbled upon was Balilihan. I think the Corella-Balilihan drive is similar in distance to Tagbilaran-Corella. Probably some 10km too. And just like the Tagbilaran-Corella stretch, this road is also fairly newly paved. Surely an after-effect of the 2013 magnitude 7.2 earthquake. Roads had to be rebuilt, for easy delivery of goods & services. And it was also a scenic drive... amidst green fields and forests. We entered town center with this view that made me say "woah, progressive"! The blue-and-white building at left is their Police Station (that is their usual color now). The red-roofed long arcade-like building is the Public Market. Nice 'no? It's sprawling! As in a whole block to the back! Across them, on the right side of the road, are the munisipyo or town hall and the sports complex. Okay.., here's a 'disclaimer' that I always keep in mind, during "unmeticulously...