Philippine Travel Notes

Hello San Roque! So I said silently but excitedly. Why? Because just like Rosario and San Jose, I did not know that there was a municipality named San Roque in Northern Samar. I have not heard about this locale as a town - especially that it is not usually news-referenced in relation to something or things like storms, a port, a delicacy, an event etc. Those I learned in 4th grade were only "provinces and capitals"! So hello San Roque! Still a kilometer from town center, I could already sense progress! That kilometer marker is surrounded by big residential houses that ALL double as commercial establishments! And just a block away from that kilometer marker above, I saw this... Wow what a house! Ground level is already concrete, but the wooden walls upstairs look like still intact. We know they won't last long, but most of the capiz-shell window panels are still there. Namnamin na while they last, take pictures, for those too will decay soon. We went straight ahea...

Another short run. It took me about 20 or more minutes from Mondragon town proper to San Roque. It's only a 15km drive, but we stopped (driver's BRB and yosi break for me) somewhere on this scenic road. That, made the trip longer, but enjoyable nonetheless! Let's start at the Bugko Junction (Brgy. Bugko, Mondragon) 4kms out from town center. This is a very noteworthy signage located about 500 meters from an important corner - because there are no other signs at the junction itself! The first 3 names are Mondragon barangays, while the last one, 29kms from that junction, is the poor town - Silvino Lobos. Poor town? Poorest in all of Eastern Visayas, in fact! And we all know that Region VIII (Eastern Visayas) is 2nd-to-last (just ahead of ARMM) among the poorest regions in PHL. And you may say "but it's only 29kms from this highway so it's not too remote to become the poorest"! Well, it's not that simple. My sources tell me that: the 29kms is not ...