Philippine Travel Notes

This was not really in my itinerary, although somewhere in the recesses of my brain was saying, I'd love to drop by, even for just a while. And it happened... Opportunity! Let's start from the very beginning... From the previous story , I hopped on a van at Gamay with Oras as my destination. It went well, with just one little caveat , that I would give up my Seats 1 & 2 at Arteche. Arteche Arrival Van stopped at the side of Arteche Covered Court ( Multi-Purpose Building ), to let off some of its Arteche-bound passengers. Here. This was the last pic in my earlier story . I learned, not all Arteche-bound passengers have-to or need-to alight here, although I saw people get-off or wait-for their rides here. The 3 ladies with 5 'big suitcases' did! Those of us not getting off, sat tight waiting (due to offloading of bags and boxes). Tricycles strategically wait for passengers also at this corner (babaan at sakayan nga naman ng vans & buses) , alth...

Potong, Lapinig, Northern Samar . This was my next destination on this 'tour' of Northern Samar's Pacific Towns . And I stayed at this barangay's busier place (dadalawa lang naman sila!) - Momoy's Resort ! Not sure about the "correct nomenclature"! That billboard says Momoy Beach. Then I heard some friends call it "Sinulog Beach". But, the only two resorts in this location are beside each other - they are "Momoy Resort" and "Sinulog Resort". Ta, nga linop! Nano ngaran san beach?! Pending any "official clarification" (why do I sound so legal-minded today), why don't I just call this Potong Beach , since this is at Brgy. Potong, Lapinig, Northern Samar ! That way, in this story, I can say Momoy Beach Resort and Sinulog Beach Resort at Potong Beach . But I stayed at Momoy's, so my stories will mostly revolve around it. Fact check: that is Momoy's Resort behind the signage. Sinulog Resort is to ...

From Araw Beach , near the northern end of Gamay, I was en route to Gapo Beach, at next-to-last southern-most barangay of this same town. Before entering the gate to Mika's Gapo Beach Resort though, I saw the inviting gate of Marcela's Resort Hotel . I told my driver "let's pass there first, to check it out". And so, we entered ! Nicely done, therefore 'enticing entrance' to a hotel/resort in the middle of nowhere. Yet dumb, because not easily readable. I call that material "the damn stainless steel" . There are many of that all over the world. The latest I can recall are Adamson U, UP Tacloban, Brgy Sampaguita Village, Oakridge Business Park, Adoration Convent etc. Some of those who sought my advice had to paint them over so the letters wouldn't reflect anything! My joke: "di lahat ng mamahalin ay mabuti"! But stainless steel lasts. Anyway, 'wag na natin pag-deskitahan yan. It's artsy anyway. Let's go in! ...