Ilocos Sur Beaches(Day 2 Part 2)

• San Esteban Beach, Ilocos Sur

We passed by San Esteban Beach, Ilocos Sur  just to take pictures.  We were told by our driver that the shooting of the movie "Panday" took place there.  We could see why.  The rock formations along the beach is beautiful.  We also noticed that there is a statue of Mama Mary at the top of one of the tall rocks formation.  

San Esteban Beach (photo by: Krizia Tan)

• Santiago Cove, Ilocos Sur

This was our last stop for the day.  It was already 3:00 p.m., the town processions were about to start and we didn't want to be stuck in the middle of it.  The water was clean since only a few were swimming there.  We recalled the last time we visited there, it was dirty with plastic bags and food wrappers everywhere.  Seeing the clear cool water, we couldn't resist it.  We just had to dip our legs and enjoy the feeling of wet sand rubbing our feet. We then washed our feet at the nearby beach restroom for a minimal fee (5 php).  

• Good Friday in Sta. Lucia, Ilocos Sur

We arrived at Sta. Lucia, Ilocos Sur at 3:30 p.m.  Around this time, the entire town was preparing for the procession.  The church and the plaza was getting crowded.  While waiting for the procession to start, we ordered halo-halo (worth 25 php) from the carinderia by the plaza.  The halo-halo there was different from all others I've tasted.  It had melon strips, pineapple chunks and sweetened bananas. Instead of having ice cream, ube or plain milk as flavoring, it tasted like fruit cocktail syrup.  My companions didn't like it.  But for me it was okay.  It was what I needed be cooled down after being exposed for long hours under the heat of the sun.  After our halo-halo, we bought the tastless "Kwek-kwek" (worth 10 php) from a vendor in the plaza.  The sweet sauce tasted weird too.  At around 5:00 p.m the procession started and we all went downstairs bringing our candles to watch.  

 *photos by: Krizia Tan

• The Brownout

After the procession, there was a brownout.  We ate dinner with candles and lamps.  We called Meralco and they informed us that the electricty will resume by 9:00 p.m.  We played charades to avoid the boredom of waiting for the lights to come back.  However, it was already 11 p.m. and still darkness reigned the area.  We decided we should go back to Candon City, Ilocos Sur to sleep despite the absence of lights and air-conditioning.  Every house and building in Sta. Lucia and Candon City had no lights except for Mc Donalds.  Even at such a late hour, many were inside and outside Mc Donalds.  We were tempted to dine in as well but we resisted since we had to sleep to prepare for our intended early departure for Sagada the next day.   We couldn't sleep since it was hot and we were being swarmed by mosquitoes.  It was only utnil the power came back at 2 a.m. that we were able to sleep.

                       

Manila to Ilocos Trip (Day 1)

• Destination: Sta. Lucia, Ilocos Sur (travel time: 10 hours) 

                  We woke up at 5 a.m., ate our breakfast, loaded our belongings and headed north on a 2-car convoy.  At 7 a.m., we reached the (North Luzon Expressway).  Even at an early hour, the highways were crowded.   As we passed by Pampanga at around 9:00 a.m., we saw individuals or groups of people who re-enacted the crucifixion of Christ.  When lunch time came, we stopped over at "Isdaan Fresh Catch Restaurant" in Gerona Tarlac (see separate entry). At around 1 p.m., we were back on the road again.  When we reached San Fernando, La Union at 3:30 p.m., we knew we were near.  We finally arrived at our house in Sta. Lucia, Ilocos Sur by 5:30 p.m. 

• Native Products of Ilocos

                     Upon arrival, we immediately recognized the familiar scent of tobacco from the dried tobacco leaves that filled the house.  Tobacco leaves which were harvested by the farmers were brought to our place to be hanged and dried, sorted by quality, sacked together and then delivered to the cigarette manufacturers.  There were also peanut pods being separated from the harvest peanut plants.  

• Sta. Lucia, Ilocos Sur 

                 After a short rest, we looked out the window overlooking the town plaza and decided that we wanted to visit the church.  After visiting the church, we saw market-like stalls selling different kinds of fruits, vegetables, toys and snacks.  We bought empanadas (worth 20 php) it was delicious! crunchy like a tortilla and tasty as it was filled with fresh egg and vegetables.  Just across the street there were puto sellers.  We decided to buy and taste them as well.  The puto (worth 6 php) in Sta. Lucia was different from other putos.  It was round and flat and it was filled with shredded coconut and topped with black sesame. 

                      

• Home-cooked dinner

                  At 8:00 p.m., our other relatives also arrived.  We then ate dinner.  All the dishes served were fresh and flavorful.  I liked the malaga or samaral with black beans the best.  My uncle said it is the gold in Ilocos.  It was very tender and it had a clear fresh and sweet taste.  I also loved the pinakbet.  After dinner, we went to my uncle's  place in Candon City to sleep because the house in Sta. Lucia cannot accomodate us all.   Upon arrival, we unpacked our luggage and had our well deserved rest.