Philippine Travel Notes

Suroy Suroy Sugbo 2009: Explore the Midwest – Lamac Lamac is not a town. It is just one of the barangays of the town of Pinamungahan. So this side-trip to Lamac was actually still part of the Pinamungahan visit. It is far from the center of town and the main highway at 12 kilometers away. The trip going there was amidst farms and forests on hills and valleys. I thought that was far but certainly worth the trip. There was our bus again acting up at the various climbs. The road to Lamac is fine but less trodden. Vehicles on any direction are few in between that I thought it would not be wise going this part of town at night. Well, on this trip, aside from it was early afternoon, we were in a convoy of many vehicles. Again, I reassured myself that there were vans behind us should the lowly bus cease being a useful piece of whatever hehe! Why Lamac? Thanks to the mayor for bringing us there, as we realized it is a place to visit for so many reasons. Our very knowledgeable local tour guide ...

Suroy Suroy Sugbo 2009: Explore the Midwest – Pinamungahan Still far from center of town, the local tour guide from Pinamungahan joined Tony at the microphone. As of this writing, am still busy deciphering my notes for her name. I know I wrote it somewhere! Like Susan and the rest of the Aloguinsan “local tour guides”, Pinamungahan’s also wore a distinct wear. However, it was not just a colored t-shirt but no less than a beautiful a Filipiniana Dress (of the Maria Clara genre). And she was totally made up! I thought that was exquisitely beautiful but to a fault – meaning not necessary for guiding a tour! Imagine the weight of that dress, the layers, the intricate beads and things attached to it, then you ask her to stand holding/talking to a microphone on a bus speeding on a highway?! I thought, “who were we anyway, we were just tourists, so you don’t have to dress that fancily for us”! Then again, on this tour, I have started to realize that each town really put its best foot forward ...