Hide Away Resort, Surip, Bani, Pangasinan

It was a scene straight out of R.L. Stine’s Fear Street series. We’ve been driving for what seem like an eternity through a rough path surrounded by thick bamboo trees on both sides. We had no idea where we’re supposed to go or what we were looking for to know that we’re there. We checked our phones – no signals. Our colleagues told us earlier that it was a resort, but failed to mention the name. So naturally we thought there would be lots of lights to guide our way, but no. The forest-like trail was jet black except for the small areas that the beam of lights from the car’s headlamps shone through. The sound of crickets filling the air did not help to calm us down either. By then our imagination just started to ran wild. We kept thinking that a ‘white lady’ would appear in front of the car to stop us and the next thing we know she’ll be sitting beside us hitching a ride and holding our hands. As we continued to drive along holding back emotions of fear, we passed by a spotted dog - kinda like a local Dalmatian, o sige askal na - with his eyes glowing brightly reflecting the beams from the car’s headlamps, natural right? Then all of a sudden a huge – when I say huge I meant tall and thick - Acacia Tree appeared blocking our path creating a fork on the road, my eardrums busted as my seat mate shriek in fear as the tree appeared out of nowhere. We tried moving on, but things just kept on getting weirder and weirder. For instance, we passed by the same exact dog twice after our first encounter, and every time we see it, a huge Acacia Tree appears either in front or on the side of the road. For a moment we thought of taking off our shirts and putting it back inside and out, thinking that a super-natural being decided to play with us and we have to counter its curse. And as we were about to expose each other’s body, a sign caught our attention, a sign that sent chills down my spine personally, the hair at the back of my neck stood up as I still try to grasp what I have just read, still thinking that this can’t be true, my knees by now started to tremble, ladies inside the car started crying and yelling.

Despite the modernization of present times and the majority of the Filipinos adapting to Western culture, I was dumbfounded to find out that there are still places in the country that practices true Filipino family culture and values.  I mean, I should have not been shock, the Philippines, after all, is one of the most diverse countries in the world. We still even have a lot of different native tribes scattered all over the region, still preserving their culture, living their way of life as their elders has lived before them, not succumbing to the changing times, though able to adapt but still holding on to their identity and tradition.

Situated on the north eastern side of the town center - Signal Hill, is a natural area where one can peacefully enjoy Kota Kinabalu's skyline with a spectacular view that extends to Likas Bay and to the islands. 

I've been browsing through some of my photos in my old blog and found these babies. I did a short photo walk back then around the Capitol grounds in Lingayen to showcase the great initiative of the current governor, Hon. Amadeo Espino, to revived this historical site, especially the Capitol building which is now a tourist attraction of its own.

Exactly a week ago from now, I was lying in the sand napping at Patar Beach in Bolinao. I was there for a formal pre-nup shoot and what a way to relax after a long tiring day than to just lay down lifeless in the sand, breeze of ocean air cooling my body, and the sound of waves gently crashing into the shore gives off a very soothing sound almost like a lullaby. It was my second time staying at Patar Beach in the span of four weeks and I was thinking I should do it more often. Almost everything I need to have a perfect weekend was there, cheap cottages to sleep in, convenience store for food and the quiet surroundings. But the things that seems to bother me is the rough sand and ocean floor. Hmmmm well given that it's still one of the better beaches in the country, lying in the rough sand made me remember Tambobong Beach.