Domestic Travels Before Lockdown

Bantayan, Cebu

This trip with hometown friends was supposedly the highlight of my birthday celebration. The whole gang was comprised of Nang Lolong and Nanan from Surigao City, Nang Rosshiel and Ruby from Taguig City, and myself. Our reservations at Budyong Beach Resort, in the most beautiful island in Cebu Province, was from January 9-12, 2020.

Nang Lolong and Nanan traveled by boat from Surigao to Cebu on the night of January 8th. If not because of the official trip to Singapore, I should have flown with Nang Rosshiel and Ruby from Manila to Cebu at midnight of January 8th. I tricked them; I only disclosed my official call to Singapore on the day that the four ladies were already reunited at Cebu's North Bus Station. So they went ahead with my instructions to enjoy the island while waiting for me.

As promised, I flew back on January 10th from Singapore and caught a connecting flight at Manila Domestic Airport that early morning of January 11th to Cebu. Now, another hometown friend who worked in Singapore as Head Nurse, Anneth, was at that night on vacation and was in Cebu as well. She decided to come with me to Bantayan Island for my post-birthday celebration. We took the bus together and arrived at Bantayan Island, reuniting with the advance party at lunchtime.

We had a blast and enjoyed the friendship to the highest level.

Upon return to Cebu on January 12th, Nang Lolong and Nanan went straight to the port area to catch their boat trip  back to Surigao. Nang Roshiel was on official business in Cebu, while Ruby and myself proceeded to the airport for the return flight that night.

Early that morning, Taal Volcano erupted and covered some parts of Luzon Island including Metro Manila with ashfall. It triggered the cancellation of several flights going to NAIA including ours. So, Ruby and I had no choice but to extend our stay in Cebu City. We looked for an affordable hotel close to SM Cebu and the airport to pass one night. But the cancellation was dragged on until January 15th, the earliest for rebooked flights. January 15 is a big day in Cebu, the Feast Day of Sr. Sto. Nino. Many pilgrims and tourists usually flock to Cebu for the Sinulog Festival. So room accommodations would be scarce and pricey. Fortunately, Nang Roshiel's accommodation was for the whole week and good for two that fit four persons. We have free accommodations after all.

On January 13th, while Nang Roshiel reported to work, Ruby and I visited one PSBank Branch so that Ruby could punch the day as official. She chose the Banilad Branch whose manager was our schoolmate during college, Delfin. In the afternoon, we decided to visit Simala Church, another pilgrimage site in Cebu Island.

Ruby got her seat in one of the January 14th flights, so I and Nang Roshiel were left. While Nang Roshiel reported again for work, I did a city tour via local transport.

My extended stay in Cebu was a blessing in disguise. Three destinations among my 2020 Travel bucketlist were ticked off: Bantayan Island, Simala Church, and Sinulog Festival.

Baler, Aurora

Our second time in this wonderful place was unplanned. My bestfriends, Ruth and Jun Go, decided to pay Baler a visit on March 7-8, 2020 for a very important purpose. They were able to close a deal of purchasing a lot along the beach in Dipaculao, Aurora, an adjacent town to Baler. The couple brought in the whole family and invited me and my whole family. They paid for everything including our one-night, two-day accommodations at Cube Hotel.

I acted as the tourguide and we drove around, surfed again, while they settled their obligations to owners, meeting the lawyers, and more.

Bolinao, Pangasinan

On March 12th, the Corona Virus have posted reasonable number of cases in the Philippines, especially in Metro Manila. So our office declared a halfday work, and the government declared a lockdown starting on the 16th. Since all of us are working for the government, so we were free from Friday the 13th through 15th.

To realize another travel bucketlist of mine, I decided to bring my whole family to Bolinao, Pangasinan. I immediately booked one family room for a two-night stay at KNB West Villa. We enjoyed the place and we were able to make tours to Patar White Beach, Rock Formation, and Caves.

Cindy's Cave Eco-Park

Wonderful Cave

Enchanted Cave