Philippine Travel Notes

On with the previous story.., so I arrived at the town of Isabel. This is the most prominent landmark. Technically, this is not yet really the center of town as this Gate 1 of the LIDE is still 4kms away to the municipal hall area. But people do already consider 'they have arrived' at Isabel upon seeing this gate. If there's a Gate 1, there must be at the very least a Gate 2, right? Indeed, and it is exactly in between Gate 1 (above) and the Municipal Hall. Why did I say that? Because Gate 2 is still 2kms from Gate 1. Yes, a big estate! This is a "special economic zone" and it is 425 hectares - whatever that means haha! But I did my research, so now I know that 425 hectares is 4.25 square kilometers, Yet I still don't know how to imagine how big/wide that is hehe! But, must be big enough, as it has its own airstrip (RP0E). And then it rained.., heavily :(  But the joyride must go on.., This was as we were just even cruising along the road on the way to G...

From Merida, my next destination on this joyride was the town of Isabel - only 20kms (or less?) via the coastal road. I have to emphasize "coastal road" since there is a (new) bypass road via the mountains, which is purportedly only about 2kms shorter than that original coastal pass! Hmm, does that matter? Doesn't it cast doubts in your mind? It did on mine, of course. But I gather (from reliable sources) that having that new road via the mountains has been proven to be definitely faster - by five minutes haha! For today's joyride, I had to use the (original) coastal road since I intended to see the existing touristic whatevers worth a peep or even exploration by you and me, the curious. Later na yung bypass, okay? So here we go! As we exited Merida, all the way to entering Isabel, there were a scattering of old wooden houses.., Not anymore that many, as most of them are being refurbished to 'modernity'. But there are still those that evoke some memori...

Let’s talk town and city names in the Philippines. Yes, many a first-timer can easily get lost without properly checking or asking around where a town or city is. Often though, the getting lost or confusion stage occurs during the planning of a trip. Research and the ever reliable “asking around” do get us to realize exactly which place we are headed to. Did you know there are more than 120 names in this country that are used by two or more towns or cities? That is counting only those places with exactly the same names! There are still others with the “sounds like” or “seems like” status. Here’s a sample conversation: Me : Yo, we just entered the NLEX and should be there in two hours. Friend : Gosh! You don’t have to fly on the road. Me : Oh San Fernando is just near, can we meet at SM or Robinsons? Friend : Ha? There is no SM nor Robinsons here, ano ka ba? Me : Di ba pagka-exit sa tollway ng San Fernando Friend : ‘Tado, that’s San Fernando City in Pampanga, my house is in La Union Me ...