Philippine Travel Notes

After four years, I was back in this place. No I was (still) not a pilgrim. My group stayed overnight at two nearby resorts , so I brought them here for a visit in the morning. St. Anthony De Padua yan eh! The last time I was here, that façade was still under re-construction. Now it already looks old! But the parking area, called a "pilgrimage park", remains the same brown sand. Grass does not grow. Here's a clearer view of the whole façade without that parked overloaded jeep above... Everything looks really front of the church now. This was the whole left side last 2010 , right? Many of you will remember, that the red roofed wing on the leftmost side was where their altar was situated. Interior view from the main entrance. Wow! Such a big difference from what I saw last 2010 ! That was right side of this church! And halfway up to the altar was the extension being constructed! Look look! That wall there was where the altar was located in my 2010 visit! As said ...

This is that other of the 2 resorts I accidentally discovered, as told in my previous story . Banago and La Luna Beach Resorts are not easy to find, since there are no signage at the corner of the road before the Sulangan Bridge where you turn right. And it's a dirt road going there, one would initially think 4-wheeled vehicles may not fit on the narrow path! Don't worry, whatever vehicle you are in, you'll make it there without a hitch! This is a view of the resort's "gate" from inside the compound... About 200 meters walk to the right is La Luna Beach Resort. Add another 400 meters onwards and you will be out into the highway going to Guiuan, or the Sulangan Bridge. Anyway, in Banago, the highlight for me was this structure by the water's edge... They do have a name for it but I forgot. Basta, I just know that it is such a great relaxing feeling sitting or lying down there, deep in thought or slumber. It's breezy too! Plus the sound of little ...

This was an accidental find as described in my previous story . We arrived in the evening, and gave the 2 available rooms here to our lady companions. We proceeded onwards to Banago Beach Resort. But we regrouped here for dinner, and breakfast beside that pool! Oh, you see that house-like structure on the water far beyond the pool? That's Banago! But let's dwell on La Luna Beach Resort first. A small 2-level house with 4 rooms... All 4 rooms are upstairs, 3 with lofts facing the sea and 1 at the back facing the garden. And where is the pool? Ah, across the road (left of this photo). But let us go there later! Ground level leading to the stairs, sala(check-in), dining, kitchen and owner's office area Stairs going up to the rooms... First you see is this non-aircon room facing the back of the house garden... Then this, the 2nd level terrace with a sea view fronting all three airconditioned rooms That is just part of the panoramic view from up at this terrace... ...

Accidents happen. Some of them are what I might call "happy accidents"! An example is how I discovered La Luna and Banago Resorts, both in Sulangan, Guiuan, Eastern Samar. The story goes like this... We were a group in 3 vehicles that went around towns on the southern end of Samar Island (all being part of the province of Eastern Samar). It was not for fun. We went to those towns for various reasons like "ocular inspections", "meetings with locals and/or local officials", "meetings with contractors", "FGDs" and other similar 'responsibilities'. We left Tacloban at 5AM. The plan was to finish all activities by 1PM so we could head back to the city by then, to conform with our "sunrise to sundown travel" policy. Yes, we can only start traveling by sunrise, and, must have arrived at wherever we are to spend the night, by sunset. An unpopular safety and security policy, yet followed, or else... hehe! Unfortunately, ...

Almost a year ago since I last passed by this town ( story here ), and I can say it is getting better. This time I was with colleagues on an 'ocular' of various aid/development actions at public places in the southern part of Samar. We rested at their plaza, so I took pics! For those still not familiar, Balangiga is pronounced "ba-lang-hee-ga". Viewed from inside the church... we can see that it's starting to have a roof... That bright area by the altar is the remaining roofless portion, and work is in progress. Viewed from outside, it seems nothing much has happened to this church, right? That would be thanks to the quality materials that our forebears used in the past. Especially those bell towers, looks like they won't crumble to just any super typhoon! The "Balangiga Encounter Monument", not affected, no roofs to blow for Yolanda! This historical event has so many names, depending on who is speaking. For many years it has been called the ...