Travel bubble? Did you hear the news about it? Ready to travel again? Three intriguing questions and let me answer it one by one. "Travel Bubble", according to gmanetwork.com article, it's among the new phrases born during the COVID-19 pandemic. It's considered as the "new normal" in tourism industry. Furthermore, it's an agreement between countries, especially those with low COVID-19 cases, to open their borders to each other. This will allow people to move freely within the "travel bubble", while keeping others perceived as high risk outside the bubble.
Good Morning! Welcome To Lovely LA UNION!
Also from the article, it is said there, it pretty much works like the "social bubble", where people only interact with others that they consider safe or COVID-19 free. A "travel bubble" is also called "travel bridges" or "corridors" and is now being implemented in countries such as Singapore, Japan, New Zealand, Indonesia, and UAE. The Philippines is also among the countries who will use the "travel bubble" policy to help revive the vigor of its tourism industry.
BALUARTE WATCHTOWER
Fun fact, if you're an avid basketball fan, this term or technique was also used last NBA season. From our friend Wikipedia, it's also referred to as Disney Bubble or Orlando Bubble, was the isolation zone at Walt Disney World in Bay Lake, Florida, near Orlando, that was created by the National Basketball Association(NBA) to protect its players from the COVID-19 pandemic during the final eight games of the 2019-20 regular season and throughout the 2020 NBA playoffs.
NAMACPACAN CHURCH
Now we know, so, are you ready for another adventure? Where would you like to go first? No idea yet? How about La Union? Yes, it's true, there's no room for boredom in this place. There are lovely tourist spots, beach resorts, surf spots and nightlife. It was more than one year ago when I visited this province in the Philippines as a joiner in a group of roughly 15. My fourth time doing this kind of tour. I was with my college classmate, our tour coordinator, and other travel buddies.
"KAMAY NA BATO"
Why as a joiner? Simply because it's affordable and indeed, perfect for budget traveler like me. Imagine, I only paid less than PHP2000(roughly USD40), that's a two days and one night La Union Tour Package, accommodation and transportation were already included. Imagine? That's winner! Not only that, it was less stressful since the itinerary was already set and I met new friends.
Let me not forget the fact that because of this tour, I got ample time to discover awesome places in our country again, gained experiences and knowledge again. It was better than the word "vacation" and it was beyond the usual.
Even before, every time I hear La Union, the first thing that comes to my mind is "surfing". However, it's true, don't judge the book by its cover. Our tour taught us that this province is not only about that. There are also other activities that you can do with your friends or family, like visiting popular tourist spots, from church, museum, resort, to grapes farm. How's that sound?
Locals, especially Filipino millennials also call it "Elyu", it's simply a tagalized acronym for LU or La Union. You know like Los Angeles or LA, it's the same banana.
Moreover, based from Wikipedia, La Union is a province in the Philippines located in the Ilocos Region in the island of Luzon. Its capital is the city of San Fernando, which also serves as the regional center of the whole Ilocos Region.
The province is bordered by Ilocos Sur to the north, Benguet to the east, Pangasinan to the south and to the west by the shores of the West Philippine Sea(South China Sea).
I remember, our call time was one in the morning and the meeting place was in Shaw Boulevard. This kind of tour will really test your patience and cooperation. If you don't want to be judged, rule of thumb is, never ever be late. Be a responsible traveler!
LA UNION - URBIZTONDO BEACH
Travel time from Manila to La Union depends if it's by bus or by private vehicle. Based on our experience, it took us more than six hours to reach this province, via van. Our first stop was the Namacpacan Church, also known as the Santa Catalina de Alejandria Church.
It's a Roman Catholic church located in Luna(Namacpacan). The town is home to the Miraculous Shrine of Our Lady of Namacpacan, locally known as Our Lady Apo Baket of Namacpacan, it was the title given to the Blessed Virgin Mary by the natives of La Union because she appeared to the native people of Cordilleras as an old woman which offered them food and invited them to be baptized. Apo Baket is how the people call the elderly woman as a sign of respect.(www.vigattintourism.com)
We only stayed there for less than 30 minutes, then we looked for nearby store and bought some food. After quick breakfast, our next destination was the Baluarte Watchtower.
According to launiontayo.com.ph, it's a 400-year-old watchtower facing the West Philippine Sea built during the Spanish period, a 5.6 meter high made by reddish bricks structure located at Barangay Victoria, Municipality of Luna. Spaniards created the tower as a lookout point for the approaching attacks of Japanese, Chinese and Moro pirates and other conquerors in the coastal towns of La Union.
THUNDERBIRD RESORTS
The guards were able to warn the locals of Luna to protect and defend their properties from ransackers. The baluarte also serves as a communication tower during World War II. Before the watchtower stands disarray, vertically cut in two because of eroded base and foundation. Its two halves stand with concrete post supports on its sides. Recently, the tower was totally split in half after it was hit by big waves and strong winds spawned by a typhoon. The Philippine government manage to repair the tower maintaining the structure's architectural design and materials.
Today the restored Baluarte looks like a fusion of old and new architecture but it's still a historical landmark in the province that symbolize Luna's stability and unity.
When you visit this place, you will not only see the watchtower, enjoy photoshoot with friends, but you will also see the peaceful view of the ocean. Moving on, another worthy tourist spot that will surely surprise you is the "Kamay Na Bato Open Art Gallery"!
I'll tell you, this is a perfect place not only for those who simply love art but also those who are kid at heart. "Kamay Na Bato" or in English, "Stone Hand". A remarkable tourist attraction also located in Luna, it offers an assortment of arts carved from stones and cool 3D paintings.
When we were there, I was totally amazed with the stone sculptures. It was my first time, I couldn't imagine how they did those. How did they carve it? They are all cute and playful. There is a minimal entrance fee and if you love souvenirs, there's a mini store inside where you can buy, even snacks and cold drinks.
Municipality of Luna was once called Namacpacan, which is an Ilocano word meaning "one who feeds". The change was to honour the Luna brothers: Revolutionary General Antonio and Spoliarium painter Juan; their mother, Doña Laureana Novicio Luna, was a native of Namacpacan.
Our first day was jam-packed, we went to multiple places and yes, same thing happened the next day. No complaints on that though, I was enjoying every moment since it's only a short trip. We stayed in the Municipality of San Juan, where there are lots of resorts to choose from, cheap to expensive. Mainly because, there is Urbiztondo Beach, one of the country's premier surfing spots.
The weather wasn't fine that afternoon, we weren't sure if there was a typhoon or just heavy rain, but that didn't stop us to go to Thunderbird Resorts and Casinos - Poro Point. We were all out, rain or shine.
Talking about luxurious stays, this is a great example. This resort is located at the highest point of Poro Point Peninsula, Freeport Zone, San Fernando City, La Union. As stated on their blog, www.thunderbird-asia.com, it is a concept resort that is heavily influenced by Mediterranean inspired resort, it has been considered as the Santorini of Asia and in Northern Luzon.
The resort has a generous view of San Fernando Bay and West Philippine Sea. Much like any 5-star hotel, Thunderbird Resort comes with luxurious rooms, villas, excellent dining options, state of the art function rooms, and even a world-class casino. It also has a nine-hole all-weather golf course making it a premier resort for travelers who wish for a top-notch experience.
Although we didn't book rooms there, I was grateful with the experience. I never thought I could visit this resort, I could eat there and take some pictures. I only saw this on a catalog when I was working in a travel agency. It also became a word of mouth because it was the setting of one of the highest grossing Filipino films "No Other Woman".
We paid PHP500 per visitor(roughly USD10) for the entrance fee, but good thing, because PHP300 (roughly USD6) out of it, was consumable. We decided to go for gastronomic adventure and spent our money at Olives Restaurant. Their staffs were nice and accommodating, because we were many, they helped us arranging our tables. Since we were new in the place, they also helped us in choosing what to order, shared the best-sellers on the menu. Not only that, the excellent part was when they gave us free water and quality breads, they let us experience this olive oil and balsamic vinegar dipping sauce as our starter for the first time. That's what you call, "go the extra mile".
So, we tried All meat Pizza, Devilled Chicken, Chicken Chorizo Skewers, and sorry I forgot the other dishes. Anyhow, they were all delicious. Before leaving the resort, we couldn't help but go to their local version of LA's Urban Light, an art installation lamp posts, thank God we managed to take some pictures in the pouring rain, just for the gram. If you've been to California before, you would surely recognize. It's a large-scale assemblage sculpture by Chris Burden located at Wilshire Boulevard entrance to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art(LACMA).
MA-CHO TEMPLE
The night is young as they say, after dinner, we decided to go to Flotsam & Jetsam Artist Beach Hostel and tried this vibrant nightlife. Our time wasn't really enough, I couldn't give fair reviews. For sure, we'll go back and spend more hours. Our hostel is also near Mad Monkeys and Tagpuan Sa San Juan(Elyu Classic), two popular restaurants in La Union, sadly we missed these out. Hopefully, next visit!
On the second day, the weather was better, there's a sunshine and waves weren't strong. I thought the morning was good to learn surfing again. That was my third time, my first two was in Baler. The beaches in La Union are perfect not only for pros but also for beginners. There are surf schools and hostels where you can hire a surf instructor or rent a surfboard, like the Elyu Classic School of Surfing and Nano Surf School. Training for beginners ranges from PHP250 to PHP350 for one hour(USD5-USD7). If you don't regularly exercise or didn't warm up, expect to experience muscle pain next day after surfing. Just chalk it up to experience.
Hard to say goodbye but we had to leave San Juan before noon, to accomplish our last day travel itinerary. We made sure that we already had our early lunch before we start the trip. Good thing we did, because the next attraction was a walking challenge, The Ma-Cho Temple. According to their site, machotemple.org, it's the first Taoist temple in the Philippines where the renowned Spider Dome is found.
Located at Quezon Avenue, Barangay II, San Fernando, La Union. The Miraculous Goddess Ma-Cho is enshrined in this temple. Perched atop a hill overlooking the vast China Sea with a panoramic view of the harbor of San Fernando, the Temple is a vast complex of stone carvings of Taoist disciples and lions, arches, water fountain, towers and pagoda, garden, dormitory and many parking lots. Inside this Temple, you will find the awe-inspiring spider-type dome, camphor-wood-carvings of deities and many traditional Taoist interior decors.
Also on their site, Taoist temple is a place for worship and offerings. It is the belief of devotees that those who enter a Taoist temple can communicate with the Gods. Through session called "buyong" in the Ma-Cho temple, devotees try to "communicate" with the gods and ask questions ranging from "will I become rich?" to "will my cancer get cured?"
"HALO-HALO DE ILOKO"
Another must-visit place in La Union province is Halo Halo de Iloko, a popular gastronomic destination in the province. An ancestral house-turned-restaurant-museum. They serve traditional Filipino cuisine, dishes like Okoy Tikyosko, Emparedados, Pansit, and La Unionganisa. Filipino favorite desserts like Fried Halo Halo and Buko Halo Halo. It was scorching afternoon when we arrived and we thought that our main goal which was to buy Fiesta Halo Halo was a perfect timing. The price per order was PHP99(roughly USD2).
PORO POINT LIGHTHOUSE
We went back to San Fernando City to see the Poro Point Lighthouse. It is said that this structure was built during the American occupation in 1905, a concrete tower standing 27 feet high and houses a gallery. However, it's rarely used as a guide for ships since it has no lantern. But every 10 seconds, there's a bright white light that flashes-indicating that the lighthouse is still functional.(launiontayo.com.ph)
Funny to see group of goats freely walking there, they were not scared of us. Seems they had too much freedom to stay there, that's fine though. Few minutes drive you get to see the Poro Point Baywalk.
PORO POINT BAYWALK
It is the most ideal place to stroll and visit in the city. It's aesthetically-landscaped area together with the white-as-the-clouds sands and sparkling sea water beside it is the main attraction of the place. Part of the landscape is a park intended for children but could also be for teens and adults. Indeed, the whole area is a complete package for someone who needs mental and emotional therapy. It is especially designed for relaxation, jogging and walking, and any activity that promotes healthy activities and healthy living.(launiontayo.com.ph)
PORO POINT FREEPORT ZONE
Did you know? Poro Point, also known historically as San Fernando Point, is a headland and peninsula located in the city of San Fernando, La Union, on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. It projects northwesterly about 3.2 kilometers into the South China Sea. It was named after its location within barangay Poro and is the site of Poro Point Freeport Zone, a special economic zone established since 1993.(en.m.wikipedia.org)
PINDANGAN RUINS
Second to the last tourist spot we visited was The Ruins of Pindangan, located at Brgy. San Vicente, San Fernando City, La Union. This moss-covered ruin is interesting. It's an old catholic church, already more than 255 years old for it was built by the Friars or the Spanish priests in 1764. During the Spanish times when Catholicism was greatly introduced in the Philippines, it was where majority of people used to attend mass consistently as the locals slowly learned and embraced the religion. Because it was located near the sea, pirates and foreign invaders who by any chance, step to the coastal areas of the city often attack the place that was why the clergy decided to transfer the church to Brgy. Tanqui then to Brgy. Cabaroan and afterwards to its present location in front of the city auditorium, in which it has its widely-known name St. William the Hermit Parish.(www.launiontayo.com.ph)
According to history, "Pindangan" is the original name of the City of San Fernando, La Union. It is an Ilocano dialect which refers to a place where meat is sun-dried. The place was called "Pindangan" because the people used to make abundant sun-dried meat(with salt) as a way of preservation.(launiontayo.com.ph)
GRAPES FARM
If Baguio City is well-known for Strawberry Farms, La Union province has Grape Farms. Honestly, I didn't know that it's possible because although Philippines is a tropical country, which they say good climate for grape farming, we often get hit by the Typhoons. I only knew it when we went to one of the grape farms, the Calica Grapes Farm. Located at Brgy. Urayong, Bauang, La Union. Totally flabbergasted to see the grapes hanging from a vine, felt I was in Italy or France. The place was crowded when we were there and grapes were not yet ripe, they say that the season happens during the months of March to May.
To sum up, though my La Union trip was short, I was still satisfied with the outcome. We failed to go to Tangadan Falls because of the downpours but I guess the most important is we were able to visit major tourist spots in this province. There's always next time, please God after pandemic. But for now, I'll just continue updating my blog here in Manila. Thanks for reading, Super Folks! Hope you enjoyed and learned something new, especially about travel or vacation ideas.
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