The cover story by Julius Vicente features Lingayen, Pangasinan. Cover photo was taken in El Puerto Marina Resort by Rudy Liwanag. Lingayen was also previously featured in Manila Bulletin last year.

Aside from being a great place to visit, this trip to Lingayen was really memorable because it jump-started a whole series of trips for the year. Special thanks to Bernard Supetran for the invite! Here’s to hoping for a great year of travel this 2012.

For more information about what to do and see there, check out the published features in Sunday Inquirer Magazine and Zest Inflight Magazine.

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Because of the historical events that took place here, it’s kind of a tourist spot. The Capitol is open only until 5PM with free admission. From the last time we went, there were already huts on the beach, which is good esp. during summer season.

I want the sun to rise now and shine on me.
Give me this bright light to vanish the darkness I see.
the warmth I need to cover the coldness I feel,
And lead me back to where I should be.

But it’s only 2 in the morning.. And this air-condition bus kills me so nothing else to do but bear this long night and 3 hrs left before sun rises and off this bus to our destination.. ill sleep for now..

watching over the islands?

the boat ride starts here

It is easy to understand why one would want to go the the Hundred Islands. A visit there will mean you are now only looking at 7, 006 islands to visit from our 7,107 islands (101 islands including Luzon mainland where the visitor is presumably coming from). Guess what? There are fewer islands to go to after, because Hundred Islands is actually a total of 123 islands, but it is of course easier to just say Hundred.

a few of the 123 islands

The Tourism Office, I must say, is doing a good job in managing visits to the islands. It is well organized. Banca hires and other fees are regulated, and visitors know exactly what to pay for.

Picnic tables P200, overnight P300

rent the PBB house for P10,000, 30 liters of water P100

motorboats at p800 for a daytour for 1-5pax, a large motorboat rented as "service' for P2,000

Tourism Office

well staffed

and visitors are well-informed

a preview of the islands ahead

A short day tour will typically take guests to three islands: the Governor’s Island, Quezon island, and the Children’s Island.

Governor’s Island

This is the most developed of the islands, and is where the Governor’s House, renamed PBB (Pinoy Big Brother) house is located.

landing at Governor's Island

from the highest point of Governor's Island

the Pinoy Big Brother house

the other end

Quezon Island

Quezon Island is the most popular, and is where day-tourists most often stay for the day, renting picnic tables and spending the day on the beach.

boat landing on Quezon island

Children’s Island

Accommodations in Hundred Islands

Within the islands, the most decent accommodation is the PBB house that rents out for P10,000 overnight. Most visitors prefer to pitch tents, charged at P200 overnight pitching fee. Still, there are private nipa huts in some islands that can be rented out at P2,000 overnight. Arrangements for these can be made with the Hundred Islands national Park office, at telephone numbers (+6375) 5512505/5527406

Those who do not want to spend the night in the islands, especially those who can not not have electricity, can book themselves in the many inns across from the Tourism Office. I checked out a few:

Villa Milagros

Room rates are PP1,400 for 2, P1,600 for 3, and P1,800 for 4. Generous discounts, as much as 30%, are offered during off peak. Rooms have air-conditioning, and cold showers (no hot showers). Contact Milagros Santiago at (+6375) 5513040 or mobile numbers 0920 8502082, 0922 2436624, and 0915 2187220.

Island Tropic

This looks like a modern structure, with a restaurant and bar on the second floor, overlooking the islands. Room rates:

Penthouse                             2 pax with breakfast    P2,500

Barkadahan Room             4 pax                                 P2,000

Matrimonial                         2 pax with breakfast    P1,600

Contact Jerry Noel Mateo, Operations Manager, tel (+63917) 554 0800, (+6375) 6969405

HELDEN RESTHOUSE

one of two bedrooms

This is a privately owned house rented out to visitors. Overnight rate is P2,000, negotiable, and is good for a group that wants a place all its own. Contact Lerence Naniaga at mobile number 0918 731 2151

There are  other options available, with contact details visible from the photos

NAJERAS

I did not have the time to visit this place

but it does look decent and may be considered

MAXINE BY THE SEA

I have dined in this place a year ago, and remember that the food was great. They have accommodations, too.

viewed from the wharf

SOUVENIR SHOPPING

There are tens of stores selling T-shirts, bags, and other souvenirs, in one section of the complex between the Tourism Office and the wharf. Pay toilets are also available.

t-shirts, shorts, hats, bags, etc

MY FAVORITE EATERY

Lando and Yolly are a nice couple

This eatery is the first you will see, coming from the Tourism office. I sat down and asked if they had sinigang, and Aling Yolly said she was still going to cook. I went inside to see what fish she was cooking.

I had freshly cooked sinigang na kitang, and it was so cheap !

choices, would you care for pinakbet?

or crabs perhaps

in a no-frills outdoor setting

HOW TO GO TO HUNDRED ISLANDS

Take the North Luzon Expressway and then the SCTEX all the way to the Tarlac/Luisita exit. In Tarlac, turn left to Camiling. Follow that road, passing thru the towns of Mangatarem and Lingayen. From Lingayer, you will pass by the beautiful coastal towns of Labrador and Sual before you hit Alaminos. In Alaminos, go to the cathedral where the road to the Hundred Islands is just fronting the church itself.

Buses bound for Alaminos and Lingayen originate daily from EDSA and Buendia (Pasay City) terminals. Tricycles can take passengers from Alaminos town to Hundred Islands.

church built in 1609 - now 411 years old !

Deliberately, I checked out the farther end of town, until I got to what seemed to be a dead-end, the fisherman’s wharf.

fishermen, ready to sell their catch in a few minutes at the wharf

I then turned around to get to the resort area, turning at Carmak where the booking station of one of the resorts, Treasures of Bolinao, also stands. A few kilometers onwards and the row of resorts starts. One can see that the bigger and better resorts are able to advertise themselves. Puerto del Sol. Treasures of Bolinao. Punta Riviera.

PUERTO DEL SOL

Puerto del Sol had a blurb on their posters “Pre-Holiday treat. 35% off on Published rates. Book now for as low as Php 1,450.00″ And who would not be attracted to such proposition, seeing with my own to eyes that the resort, indeed, was one of the better resorts in town? I went to the front desk and promptly booked a room. The room, as it turns out, costs P3,900 at promo rates. I asked “what about the P1,450 as advertised? They said it is for an “open cottage”. Talk about truth in advertising. Anyway, tired from a long trip from Zambales, I said I will get a room anyway, and can I please see the room? The front desk clerk showed me photos from a file, and when I requested to see the room so I can decide what type of room to get, she was like dragging her feet to take me to the villas. I liked the room, signed up, and gave my card. And then I was told to deposit P2,000 CASH on top of full payment for my room. I was shocked, and  asked why. The front desk clerk said it was their policy, to cover incidental expenses. I reasoned that they can always charge the expenses to my card, and that by virtue of my visa card being approved as they swipe, I become a known entity. Still, she insisted that this was a policy. Exasperated, I opened my wallet to show her I had much much more than the P2,000 deposit they wanted, but that I won’t do it because it is offensive, and insulting. I told them that I have been to most parts of the world, and to practically all  points in the Philippines, and NO ONE EVER ASKED for a cash deposit. I left, never to return to Puerto del Sol ever again. I went to Punta Riviera instead. Then I realized, everything happens for a reason. (N.B. The moment I learn that this cash deposit policy is changed, I will promptly advise my readers on this blog about this development. I might even try and stay to experience this beautiful resort – - – and of course I will pay for my stay, as decent bloggers do). 

PUNTA RIVIERA is a nice resort with a location that could very well be the envy of other resorts. They are the only resort with a river, a sandbar, and of course the white sand beach. Guests can use the resort’s kayak down the river for free. The infinity pool, while quite small, is beautiful and clean. Most of all, the resort has a super friendly staff, and super friendly owners.

pool to infinity

Because it was off-peak, I was given a room that normally costs P6,000 a night for only P3,500, inclusive of breakfast for two. Published rates start at P2-3,000 for cabanas, with family rooms for 8 persons at P12,000.There is a suite for 6 persons at P13,000, and an El Grande at P14,500 for 15 persons.

clean room, comfortable bed

The restaurant serves good food, and the bar is well-stocked with excellent wines and liquor. The bartender makes good mixed drinks, and the spirits and mixers are all A-1 (take it from someone who knows his drinks).

well-stocked bar, Absolute apeach for my vodka sevens

The waiter, Jethro,  suggested I try “dinakdakan” and it turned out to be the best dish I had throughout this 5-stops trip. And I was only my second stop.

dinakdakan, best dish in my 5-stops trip : fish kinilaw with pork

Punta Riviera can be booked by email  :  punta_riviera_resort@yahoo.com, or by phone (63) 756961350 / 756961274. Website : http://www.puntarivieraresort.com. Look for the owners Aileen and/or Ian, or their very amiable front desk staff, Elvie..

TREASURES OF BOLINAO

Located 5 kms away from Punta Riviera, towards the end of Cape Bolinao, is Treasures of Bolinao. It is a huge complex with villas, cottages, and suites. Rates start at P4.000 for 2, with the Maharlika room at P8,000. Visitors can, of course, ask for off-peak rates (like the villas then were available at only P3,000). Guests at Treasures can use the resort’s facilities like the jacuzzi, the swimming pool, billiards, videoke bar, and corkage is free.

5 kms away from the cluster of resorts

you'd think this sofa is right there on the beach...

but it is inside this Maharlika room, with 2 walls looking out to Cape Bolinao

Maharlika Room : P8,000 published rate

Contact Treasures of Bolinao at :   Manila office : (632) 413 4914 Bolinao Office (075) 6963266, 5544444 Mobile : 0908 2272748, 0920 3818888, 0921 5592732, 0915 4166003

CHEAPER RESORTS

There are a lot of alternative accommodations in Bolinao, with small resorts dotting the entire stretch of the cape. These smaller resorts offer aircon or non-aircon rooms to suit the traveler’s budget. My guess is that even in summer, visitors will find a bed, if not a space to pitch a tent, in beautiful Bolinao.

CAVES

There are several caves in Bolinao. However, those into serious cave exploration will be disappointed. No, they are not like the Jenolan Caves, nor the caves in Sagada. The caves in Bolinao are small, and have been converted into resort-type underground swimming pools. The most famous is Enchanted Cave, where the cast of Marimar once shot a scene with actors Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera. Do not expect to see marvelous stalactites and stalagmites. They have been ripped off, to “make passage to the underground pool less hazardous”. Oh well.

kid-friendly: easy access, shallow underground pool

I didn't bother to find out if it is indeed wonderful

the most popular

disappointing : don't expect to see stalactites or stalagmites

BOLINAO LIGHTHOUSE

A visit to the lighthouse could well be one of the most pleasant things to do in Bolinao. Unlike other lighthouses, this one is easily accessible. I literally drove up to the base of the tower. It is in a public park, the viewdeck for a breathtaking vista of the cape. Built in 1906, its tower is one of the tallest among all lighthouses in the country

a 411 year old lighthouse, with one of the tallest towers

http://en.wikipedia.org /wiki/Lighthouses_in_the_Philippines#List_of_Lighthouses_in_the_Philippines

Cape Bolinao, from the lighthouse

Bolinao is such a well-kept secret. I guess it must be the distance. It is actually isolated, and visitors to Bolinao need to have this town as the destination, not just a side-trip. But having discovered this town, the other Pangasinan towns can be the side-trip, with Bolinao as THE DESTINATION.

How to go to Bolinao:

Shorter route: Take NLEX-SCTEX and exit at Luisita in Tarlac. Turn left to Camiling, first hitting the town of San Jose, and San Clemente before reaching Camiling. After Camiling is Tarlac’s last town, San Clemente. The it will be onwards to the province of Pangasinan : Mangatarem (stop by the church and take a snap shot, it is very beautiful !), Aguilar, Bugallon.  Labrador, Sual, and finally Alaminos. From Alaminos, the Bolinao resorts are an hour away via Bani.

Scenic Route: I took the scenic but longer route via Zambales.  Take NLEX-SCTEX  going to Subic (SBMA). From Subic, go north, passing thru all the Zambales towns. It might be necessary to spend a night in either San Antonio or Iba. From the last town of Zambales, you will hit Pangasinan towns like Infanta, Dasol, and Burgos. Drive on to Agno, Bani, and Anda, until you hit the town of Bolinao.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION is available. I saw a FIVE STAR bus in town, on the way back to Metro Manila. A check with their website showed that rides to Bolinao can be taken from either their Pasay or Cubao terminals. Call them for actual schedules and fares. http://www.angelfire.com/alt/fivestarbus/

I will definitely be back in Bolinao, and Punta Riviera, with their dinakdakan, it will be.

Party at Consuelo Resto Bar

Ok! I give up!

Two (2) years is not enough to drown my longing for city living. But I have no choice, I’m a family man. I need to stand by my decision of prioritizing my family.

Good thing I found a cozy place just enough to pacify my city fangs coz I really hate long travels as much as I hate heavy traffics. In the heart of Pangasinan’s capital, beneath the yellow building fronting the beautiful Capitol façade, lies the answer to my craving. As soon as you see a fountain draped glass wall, you’ll know that you’ve found the Consuelo Resto Bar. As a matter of fact, it’s just on the first floor of the Hotel Consuelo in Lingayen.

The moment you enter, it has enough space for a dance floor. Well, that’s hip-hop dancing only, not the ballroom thingy. And at the deeper right corner of the area lies the inviting black leather couch. It’s my favorite nook because you get to see who’s coming and it’s beside the dart board which is very function or operational, I may say.

I don’t know why people always associate a good ambiance with a good price to pay. Well, not every good-ambianced-place in pricy. This one you will not regret. I usually order the “barkada” combo. It consists of 5 bottles of beer of your choice (lights or pale) and “pulutan” which consist of fish and chips and a hearty dressing. I love the fish filet because the fish is perfectly cooked and fresh. Sometimes when you go to popular resto bars, their fish filets are not that fresh. Well, they’re not really fresh because the fish is already pungent. And I’m guilty of stereotyping Consuelo Resto Bar as such. Got thing, they proved me wrong.

I also remembered ordering my favorite, spaghetti. It tasted good enough to feed my tummy but nothing fancy. Good thing, I like spaghetti. Other food and their preparations are fair. I’ve attended a dozen family affairs done in Consuelo and the food has always been great.

But the best thing I like about the Consuelo Resto Bar, everyone seems so accommodating. I remember going at the bar at 11am and I asked the manager to have the bar opened even though their opening is 4 hours away, they opened the bar for us. As gratitude, I convinced my classmates to celebrate our Christmas Party at the Resto Bar.

For food, I give you 3 stars out of 5.

For price, 4 stars. The price is ok to shove off excess customers. “Para konti lang ang tao”.

For ambiance, 3 stars. It’s one of the best in Lingayen but I have been to other better places in Manila. What’s important is that you’re still the best in Lingayen.

For people, 4 stars. High enough but of course, there always has to be a room for improvement.

Overall, 3.5 stars: Slightly more than being ordinary.

In Nov 3, 2009 and Nov 10, 2009, the Balitang Amianan confirmed that there were still undistributed relief goods in Lingayen which the authorities answered that the goods were ready for distribution. With this, we acquired a copy of the summary of relief goods and total assistance received by the town of Lingayen from the Municipal Social Welfare & Development Office. For your reference, here is the copy:

With the assistance received from several donors, only P 2.34 Million was used from the P 5 Million Calamity fund.  Although we do not know where the remaining calamity fund went, the 24,375 packs of relief goods should be enough to aid every affected family. We also verified with every Barangay Captain and they disclosed that they received a much lesser quantity of relief goods as compared to what was indicated in the summary, which confirms that they really did not distribute all the allotted relief goods for every Barangay.

Moreover, you will also notice that there were allotted relief goods for the evacuees at the Narciso Gym Evacuation Center (#34) . Now check this link to view an article on how Mayor Jonas Castañeda used the said relief goods to deceive the public.

This only proves one thing. They will use the undistributed relief goods for their own personal gain- most probably for campaign this coming 2010 election.

The survey showed the province under the leadership of Gov. Amado T. Espino Jr. posted a record 41.47 percent tourist arrivals as compared to Ilocos Norte, the former top grosser in tourism in the region, with 35.64 percent.

Two years ago, Pangasinan was the tail-ender among four Ilocos provinces in the number of tourist arrivals, according to the DOT. Read more. . .

If it’s good news, it must be Positive News Media!

There you are, Lelong! Locating my maternal great grandfather’s name etched on a bronze plate (at right) on a Rizal monument in the Lingayen town plaza.

(Left) We took part in a good old-fashioned small town religious procession making its way around the plaza…

How much does it weigh? One of the old retired bells from Lingayen Church on display (right)…

At dusk, we strolled along the sprawling, well-kept Capitol grounds and admired Pangasinan’s pride: the elegant Capitol building with its American design, Commonwealth era neo-classical architecture at left.

Better lift those shorts, guys…Night strolling at Lingayen Gulf (right) and enjoying the salty cool breeze and the rhythmic sounds of the waves.

Good food and awesome brood…

Relatives welcomed us with open arms and warm smiles. At left, we were treated to a fantastic feast as we relived memories, went through photos, and updated each other with news regarding family.

Special thanks to Tita Dolly, Tita Nene, Malu and the rest of the clan! We had a blast! We hope to come back soon.  Next, we promise to revisit the ancestral house, pay respect to the rest of our brood and tour more of Pangasinan as well–Bolinao, Sual, and those secret white beaches you guys have been raving about. So excited already…

PAGE 79

Office of the President

of the Philippines

Malacañang

February 12, 1970

Thursday

12:00 PM

Against predictions of violence, the Plaza Miranda rally turned out to be peaceful. Some of the leaders shouted for the crowd to go to Malacañang but the crowd would not follow.

But the KM and SDK violated their word and went through with the rally in Plaza Miranda when they had said that they would not leave the campuses. Some 40 trucks came from Angeles City. The men in them did not look like students and they were the ones crying out for blood.

The northern congressmen, senators and governors came to the palace with completely armed men. I dissuaded them from infiltrating the demonstration and inflicting harm on them.

For a time I secretly hoped that the demonstrators would attack the palace so that we could employ the total solution. But it would be bloody and messy.

Anyway I told the northern political leaders that the situation may develop into a revolutionary situation during my administration and that we should prepare for a military confrontation with the communists. The North should be developed as a last bastion, just in case. We must now cache arms and ammo there, prepare Laoag for jet landings, Lingayen Gulf for our navy and organize provincial strike forces, at the rate first of at least 100 men each province.

But we must win the hearts and minds of our

PAGE 80

Office of the President

of the Philippines

Malacañang

people. So, I argued, we must all be ready to sacrifice our personal interests for the common good. They agreed to this but begged that the men who had sacrificed in the political battles be not forgotten.

We had dinner and a movie. Blas Ople was there for dinner. And so was Emong Salvador, my old Maharlika comrade. Blas is an enigma. Many of the leaders distrust him. Even Col. Ver feels that he is actually one of the communist leaders and that all the attacks in the media against me and the administration may have been his brainchild. But it is best he is in the palace when there is a crisis. Then we can neutralize him or use him.

As of now I am convinced we have to wage a tedious legal, propaganda and economic battle against the communists. So this afternoon I asked the military leaders, Ponce Enrile, Yan, Garcia, and Ramos to prepare for this. There must be an assessment of the voluminous documents captured from the Ma-Maos – for legal action. The intelligence agencies must be sharpened to the sophisticated finesse of the intellectuals and urban communists. For this the NICA and NBI must be reorganized. And we must fund the various anti-subversion and anti-insurgency teams.

If they want a revolution, I will give them one in the economic field. Drastic, dramatic and effective like the rechanneling of the excess money into agro-industrial projects in the farms and resettlement centers.

I met with Vicente Araneta to listen to his priming plan. Assigned Usec. Roman Ong Jr. to study it.

The preceding night was the first time one in which the thunderous boom of 12-inch guns was heard at a distance. But a stray shell shook the house and the nerves of its occupants. Inch by inch the Americans hunted the Japanese, flushing them out of their mountain nests, some of which were settled, about 20 kilometers from Manaoag, along the length of San Manuel through Sison, Camp One, Rosario, Damortis. The sad part of it is that the Japanese are using guns which they had pulled out of Bataan and Corregidor, killing Yankees with Yankee guns.

In Manaoag, the shellings, bombings and mortar fire make us feel and live the war anew. Here in Lingayen the air force prevents us from forgetting the war. Like bees around the hive, at every hour of the day, these giant bees keep buzzing around the air field. To make matters worse, the howling of engines reached our place as the planes took off or landed. They flew so low we felt we could reach them with our hands.

There was another surprise for us since we sang hossana in praise of those who came in the name of the Lord. We feared that the Japanese air force would not give a moment of respite to the fleet and the landed troops, with successive bombings by suicide squads. At least this was what the Japanese radio and press reported every time a landing was made. The Americans just laughed off the reports of Radio Tokyo about the damage suffered by the American convoys and forces, with hundreds of ships sunk and entire divisions annihilated.

Almost every night, the air raid signal rang out, but it was seldom that a Japanese plane penetrated through, coming in a suicide attempt as it was caught between anti-aircraft fire and the clutches of some night fighters which patrolled the occupied areas. It was seldom that a desperate Japanese plane succeeded in dropping a bomb among the innumerable ships anchored on the Gulf. What happened to the zero fighters and the Wild Eagles whose exploits were so much praised by the Tokyo radio? In Lingayen, the Japanese left behind more than fifty planes, and more than 300 in Clark Field.