Claveria: The Lagoon and the Rock Formations in Taggat

Taggat is one of the barangays in Claveria. It is a 5-minute ride from the town’s market. There is a terminal of tricycle going to Taggat in which you pay a P14.00 Fare.

When I arrived, I knew I was early. And it was better. As I have the Lagoon all by myself (and the fishermen.) There are several bancas. I was not so early after all. The fishermen are already cleaning up their fishnets. And all the bancas are “parked” by the shore. 

Claveria: More Relaxing Beaches

More Beaches in Taggat, Claveria

"For me, our beaches have always been a source of personal inspiration."- Thomas Carper 

I walked from Taggat Lagoon towards the high way. Then I saw another part of the beach which is less rocky. I was speechless with what I saw. I have never been here before.

I saw some fishermen fixing their nets. 

From this part of the beach you can see the other end of the Claveria beach. Like it is a never-ending beach. And I told myself, I would like to reach that end. On the other end is the Rock Formation of Ubing Ubing.

Claveria: My Happy Thoughts in the Serene Beach

“To my mind, the greatest reward and luxury of travel is to be able to experience everyday things as if for the first time, to be in a position in which almost nothing is so familiar it is taken for granted.” - Bill Bryson

I have been here so many times before. Sit, wait for the sunset, and listen to the waves.

Then, I began to hate the heat of the sun, the sands that stick to your skin which bonds with you until you reach home. And my mother would remind us and say, “no bringing of sands inside the house, wash up first.” Beyond doubt, they glue to your clothes, hair, and skin, even if you bathe meticulously. That’s why I stopped being in beaches since 18 years ago.

This Claveria Beach we call “BayBay” is just 2-minute walk from my folks’ house. There were even times whenever I visit during the summer or on weekends, that I  don’t even take a glance. I would rather reside in my folks’ home, cook, watch television, or read a book.

From Sentinela, I arrived at the Claveria Beach with thrill.  It was 10 o’clock in the morning. The tricycle driver who brought me there reminded me not to swim, because I was alone. So I just parked myself on the sand and paid attention to what the waves were telling. 

It is a calm ocean, which creates thoughts in your mind. These are the pictures in my mind.       

1. Walk by the shore every sunrise and sunset (I have done this a few times)
2. Have breakfast of “pandesal” and “cheese whiz” (I have done this with my nephew and kids)
3. Use the boogie/body board (my brother does this so smoothly; he has had 2 boogie boards)
4. Lay down at the sand during the night and watch “shooting stars” (I have seen 3 shooting stars)
5. Sleep overnight at the seashore (I did this one time when I was younger)
6. Bonfire (we have done this 3 times)
7. Stage a concert (I have sang The Corrs songs thru a pay-videoke by the beach)
8. Go to the beach when it is raining (I have done this once)
9. Go to Kalayan Islands from this shore
10. Walk this shoreline from end (Taggat) to end (Sentinela)
11. Play Frisbee
12. Wear 2-piece swimsuit (My cousins and I would do in some other beaches, but we don’t understand why not in our beach)
13. Cuddle by the moonlight with my Mr. Right (who has also been looking for me, Ms. Right), whispering sweet nothings.

I will stop on that thought. 

I would always like to associate beaches with good, happy thoughts, especially “BayBay”.

It is the closest to my heart. May it not be taken for granted every time I touchdown at Claveria.

I invite you and make those happy thoughts.

Claveria: Alone with Ubing Ubing at Sentinela

Touchdown Sentinela. Where am I is where Ubing Ubing is. But I have to look for it (him).

In my blog, http://journeyingpinay.blogspot.com/2011/10/taggat-claveria-lagoon-and-rock.html., I mentioned about the legend of the Rock Formations of Lakay Lakay and Baket Baket. In this side of Claveria beach is their lost son called, Ubing Ubing, who turned into a rock, due to some greediness of his father, Lakay Lakay.

From Taggat Lagoon, I rode a tricycle going to “ili” or the town proper. In the market area, there is a jeepney going to Sanchez, Mira which will pass by the barangay Sentinela. I paid P12.00. From Claveria town, it was a 5-minute trip.  I was dropped off by the driver at the Sentinela Shed. There were some men and I asked in a trying hard Ilocano dialect, “Addayo pay mappan diay Beach?” (Is it far going to the beach?). The men said, “Wen. (Yes)” And they started to talk to me in Ilocano dialect, which of course brings me ‘uncomprehendable’ language in my mind. When I begin to talk in little Ilocano dialect, some locals would mistake me as someone who knows it so well. :D  After some processing in my brains, I realized they were asking why I was alone (“agmaymaysa”).

 One of the men offered me a ride in his single motorcycle. So I hopped in.

After a 2-minute rocky ride, there I was.

And I was alone. I told myself, “So this is it.” Alone, all I did was capturing the bright sunny blue sky and the cottony-white clouds, with my camera. 

I sat down on the sand under the scourging heat of the sun. It was a thorn in my skin. I have never been under this kind of high temperature before. I ceased to be in the beach many years ago. I grew weary on beaches. But am back exploring these bodies of water.  So what, with the heat of the sun?!

As I walked, I saw the other side, the rocky part. 

But I feared to go across. Ubing Ubing is there, and I have to find him. It took me a while to just stare at the other part. I was trying to figure out how to cross.

After a few walks, I observed the waves and they were low in that part, so I crossed.  It was knee-deep.

When I reached the rocky part, I can hear the crashing of waves in the rocks while I looked where Ubing Ubing is. It was at the other side. 

I couldn’t go to that area, since I was alone. So I just took a photo of the back part of Ubing Ubing. There, finally, I found him. 

It was looking at the other end of the Claveria beach where his parents were, Lakay Lakay and Baket Baket. It must have been so lonely being away from his mother and father, because of greediness.

I pondered and realized, I, too, was alone there at Sentinela, with Ubing Ubing.

It was a sunny, day at the Sentinela Beach. I was alone, but I did not feel being alone. It was time to restore myself.

I restore myself when I'm alone. - Marilyn Monroe

The soul that sees beauty may sometimes walk alone. - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

It was time for me to go, with my board. I feared to use it, because I was alone. It could have been more exciting. I tried it. But I did not dare anymore. 

I told myself, “Next time.” Since I plan to come back, with a brave-r heart to see Ubing Ubing upfront, and sail with the waves of Sentinela. With family and friends.

 Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much. - Helen Keller

Cagayan River: Boat Ride at the Longest and Widest River

After whispering some prayers at St. Philomene Church, I rode a tricycle going to the area where some folks say, there are boats. Because I was looking for the way to the Cagayan River.  It was near the Philomene Church. But I had to walk a little.

When I was at the riverbank, I asked, “Is there a boat going to the next town? What is the next town?” The boatmen seemed stunned with my question. They asked me, “Why?” That was a simple question, but my explanation is difficult to put into words and the discussion might be as wide and long as the river in front of me. So I said just like in facebook, “I Like.”

Then I asked, “How much? How much is the rent going to the next town?” One boatman told me that it costs seventy pesos to go across. So there are houses across? That was another interesting destination. But I just wanted to take a boat ride along the longest river, from Alcala to Gattaran, the next town from where I was.

So the boatman was good enough to be able to compute. And one boatman was kind enough to accept.

There I was, aboard the boat, with Mr. Boatman, Jun and his assistant. I just savored the ride. Has anyone done this crazy idea?

If my dad was alive, he would tell me, “You crazy, brave girl!”  I really don’t intend to tell my mom yet. Even at my age now, I wouldn’t scare my mom of my whereabouts. If I would tell my relatives, they would just either nod or shake their heads in amazement that there is a crazy traveller in the family.

The deal was just 30 minutes boat ride. The boat man said that he would pull up in the riverbank near the hi-way so that I can take a ride. Before he can even turn the boat to the right, I saw this sandy land. It was low low tide, and it was there, so I asked that we stop over. And watch the sunset. Wooohooo! :D Ang saya koh!

Dusk was starting to cover the sky. We crossed the river. I had to go by the hi-way and take my ride going to my next destination. Wherever that will be.

Nagbarangaynak kang Cagayan River.

St. Philomene Church, Alcala: The Widest Church in the Philippines

Cagayan River seems to keep following me as I travel from Tuguegarao to the other towns of Cagayan Valley. I rode a van from Iguig. As I was beginning to plan my next itinerary for the next few hours before sundown, an attractive brick church was there on the side of the road. So I immediately got off.

St. Philomene Church is a red brick church which dates back to the Spanish colonization of the Philippines. It is located along the Maharlika Highway in Alcala, Cagayan. The largest brick church in the Archdiocese of Tuguegarao at 67 m in length, 24 m in width, and 12.5 m in height. It is also the widest church in the Philippines.

The church sheltered me from the heat of the sun that was blazing my skin.

 This day is full of prayers and reflection. Prayed for a safe boat ride along Cagayan River, happening in a few minutes.

Calvary Hills in Iguig, Cagayan Valley: A Time to Reflect

From Tuguegarao, I rode a van at the Don Domingo Terminal, with an “Iguig” signboard. It was noontime and the van dispatchers were telling me to go to Kambal’s Restaurant in Iguig to taste their Pansit Batil Patong. It was more than enough carbo-load to sustain my walks.

Then I crossed the street, and waited for a ride going to Calvary Hills. It took me a long time before I had the courage to wave my hand to the single motorcycles which ply the road more often than the vans or jeepneys. Finally, a rider stopped passed me. And I said, “Calvary Hills?” He said he was stopping before Calvary Hills so I just had to walk to reach my destination. But since the heat of the sun was pretty much burning my skin, Eric brought me to the gate of Calvary Hills.

The Calvary Hills of Iguig, Cagayan Valley is a 11-hectare land of rolling hills. Enormous concrete statues portraying the 14 Stations of the Cross stand in this vast green. It is a favorite pilgrimage site of Christian Catholics during Holy Week.

Also found in this area are historic sites: a well dating back to the Spanish colonization of the Philippines, the ruins of a Dominican abbey, and one of the few churches with buttresses left in the Philippines -- the Church of San Antonio de Galicia.

The hills have a view of Cagayan River, which can be reached via a stairway at the back of the church.

There is also another church nearby which draws believers: Jubilee Cross Chapel, which boasts an authenticated relic of the true Cross. 

To gain shade from the scorching heat of the sun, I was seated behind the high white wall.  I watched the giant like statues, the abbey, the blue skies, as I reflected and found peace, after days of trekking, spelunking, and travelling.

When I’m done, I had more vigor to continue on. As the Cagayan River seems to have been following on, now, I am thinking of rowing.

Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind. ~ Seneca