Philippine Travel Notes

My roam of the northeastern towns of Samar Island continued. After the Rakitdakit Rock at Palapag, my scooter ambled the southward run to the next town, Mapanas. It is just about 9 or so kilometers. But there are always things-to-see along the way, right? Right. And I didn't anymore check my list - my driver knows them - plus more! As I marveled at the seemingly serpentine form of this coastal highway, Buyungaw (yes my driver!) was telling me about a waterfall just on the roadside, but "dry" now. But that waterfall topic was quickly 'shelved' (because it has no water now anyway), when we again saw, a number of rocks and boulders on the pacific side of the road! Plus, where there are no fallen boulders, the snake-like road really got my attention! Do roads really have to sway like that? Am just curious. I don't despise them. In fact, as passenger, I like invariably curving roads (when the pavement is smooth lang ha?) . Every ride is more exciting ...

After the Galleon Port visit, it was time to finally say goodbye to Palapag, and hop to Mapanas. Is this far? Not really. Just a little above 20 kilometers. 20 minutes or so? But I had planned stops here-and-there ! This was actually one compelling reason why I hired a habal-habal (aw scooter pala) - as I can't do that with 'regular' vans or buses ! And on a habal-habal, it's slower so you get to see more! Hmm, let's expound a bit about Traveling in The Provinces ... bow! Why not rent a car? (which I didn't mention in my Out Of Palapag story) Mind you, I asked around if there was a real rent-a-car service here arounds. When I say "real" , I mean a true business of renting out cars like that of Haven's in Tacloban. Or Hertz, Avis, Europcar, Budget, etc., etc.! None . I think it is only Tacloban that has, in the likes of Haven's nga - they may not be the best (yet), but I tried & tested them! Rent-A-Car . Not the car ...

I did not even know there was such a thing! Thanks to my driver for suggesting that we pass by this port. Dagdag kaalaman! Oh yes, an additional historical knowledge! Physically, it's actually nothing but a 'pantalan', no different than many little ports all over this archipelago. But it has 'historical value' if you are into those kinds of things. That's where the concrete structure starts jutting out to sea for probably 100 meters. That habal-habal, aw scooter nga pala [pronounced: is-koo-ter] was my ride. And as you can see at right, is a historical marker planted by the National Historical Commission in 2015, describing the historical significance of this very place/locale. I tried zooming another shot I had of the marker, so I can show the words clearly. So what did I learn? Let me English my Tagalog heheh. Hagii, puyde ba Waray nala? Anyway, this port was a last stop of galleons, to load up on firewood, food and water en route to Acapulco...

How do you get out of Palapag? You can count the ways! Yes, there are options. In most cases, travelers just reverse the way they came in. It can be via a bus, van, jeep, tricyle or habal-habal, depending on where they're going - e.g., westward to Catarman, or southward to Lapining, etc.! Syempre, if you're driving your own vehicle check your map. There could be a better way, in terms of "what to see", than via that road you passed coming in. If there are! If you're riding buses or vans , you head out to the transport terminal behind the new public market ( Merkado Palapag ) - via a tricycle, pedicab, habal-habal or even walk. That place is about 800 meters from the municipal plaza passing by their cemetery! Who rides the buses ? Those going to far places like Bicol or Manila would be better off riding the big buses. They just pass by Palapag from far south (as far as Guiuan) . Of course, the reverse is similar: if you're going to places far ...

Let's go (na talaga) ! This was it! To Northern Samar's Pacific Coast I went! How My D-Day Started D-Day (departure day ba!), 2 days after I went to reserve this ride, 06:51AM, I was at 7 Eleven beside the highway, waiting for a call. None so far. It was still early anyway. If the van left their downtown terminal exactly 7AM as scheduled, it probably would take 15~20 minutes max, to where I stood at Nulatula. Not a long wait, but anxious! Enough time for me to ransack the shelves of 7 Eleven! Marlights, seldom do hinter town sari-sari stores have that; Coke Zero, but I cannot cram those in my backpack. I said 'let me drink at least one can before I fast on this beverage for the next few days.' Argh! But happy thoughts lang, maglalakbay tayo! Oks na, sinamahan pa ng Siopao! I usually don't eat breakfast, but hello, this was to be a 7, 8 to even 9-hour ride . Who knows if the driver would even stop anywhere and for how long. Ang Hypoglycemia! Alrigh...