Lakay-Lakay and Baket-Baket

According to the legend - Once upon a time, there was a family who made fortune by fishing, and then one day came an old tramp who begged for food from Lakay-Lakay and Baket-Baket. Since they are like the "fishing magnate" in the village, they acted high and mighty that they pay no attention to the lament of the pitiful, old beggar, no matter what. Swollen with greed the couple were, the strange, old tramp foredoomed their family. As the strange, old tramp vanish into thin air, the couple became uneasy and hurriedly looked for their child who happened to be playing on the other side of the coast. Slowly, their child turned to a mass of rock. Baket-Baket gradually turned to rock as well, and before Lakay-Lakay  realized he's sorry, he himself was turned. This is why Lakay-Lakay and Baket-Baket stood each at other in Taggat while their child, Ubing-Ubing was on Sentinela Cove. 

These extraordinary rock formations in Claveria are dubbed as the sentinel of the fisher folks of the town, it symbolizes the great morals of sharing and compassion, despite the fact that Lakay-Lakay, Baket-Baket and Ubing-Ubing was given a harsh anecdote.

Calayan

 

Only a handful of tourists can be spotted in the island of Calayan, since the visit to this island is already an adventure. Enduring the 5 hour outrigger boat ride, called 'lampitaw", while watching flying fishes and dolphins following the trail of the motorized boat.

Its name according to the locals was derived from the word "laya", which means ginger in Ibanag language. The place was surrounded by ginger in the early times.

 

Once you've stepped in the soil of Calayan, you'll feel like transported to the days of the old. Calayan is not just the rolling hills, the cliffs, the beautiful beaches and the extraordinary landscapes. The food especially seafoods are cooked fresh, lobsters can be in a complete meal of less than P180.00.

The island offers hiking, beach hopping, camping and stargazing. Most spots and the beaches are virgin in their own definition- no loud partying, no huts, its just you, the beach and the sky.

The simplicity of Calayan Island make it one of the the most picturesque. Growth may be inevitable but hoping this Island will retain its humbling environment. There is real beauty in being simple.

Lampitaw, the Ride

From dolphins to the flying fishes of the Babuyan Channel.

Dancing with the wild waves and getting wet all along.  

This is the fun and excitement of the Lampitaw Ride.

It's more fun in Calayan Island!

Taggat Lagoon and the Tale of the Rocks

 Claveria at the north tip of mainland Luzon is mysteriously lovable place. 

From the mini waterfalls, to lagoon, to cove and to everything simple and nice.

The village of Taggat is where a lagoon can be found, a preferred swimming and beach bumming destination. The place is shielded from the immense waves by natural boulders of rock, trapping the composed sea water in a basin-like enclosure, calling it a lagoon. 

During the summer months, the coast of Taggat are filled with people immersing themselves in  the lagoon to beat the heat. Children can swim safely in the lagoon, with adults supervision, without worrying to a great extent that they might be carried by the waves away into the open sea. Just extra precaution stepping on the rocks, they are at times slippery.

Taggat is where the renowned rock formations can be witnessed and was even made distinct and illustrious by its legend, the Lakay-Lakay and Baket-Baket.

Camalaniugan in Cagayan

 The town of Camalaniugan in the province of Cagayan is home to the oldest bell in the Philippines and the Southeast Asia, forged in 1595, the Maria Sancta, also known as the Bell of Antiquity.

In the early days, the church of Camalaniugan, dedicated to Saint Jacek of Poland, now a beautiful ruins that can be witnessed near the Cagayan River banks, was destroyed by typhoon and earthquake in 1845, because of the threats of the river overflowing, they abandoned the old building and erected the modern San Jacinto de Polonia house of worship just nearby.

For the eerie part, the lore says that a headless priest is said to be guarding and roam the place, other apologue has it that the ruins got treasures entombed when the church disintegrated.

  The oldest bell is now housed at the belfry right beside the new church.There are also other antiquated bells placed within, dated 18th and 19th century.

 The Maria Sancta has no traces of how it arrived in Camalaniugan, historical records only says that it was exhibited in the International Eucharistic Congress in 1937.

Related Post: Northern Experience

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Aparri shown

Aparri in Cagayan is located at the northen tip of Luzon island. In the olden days, it was an important trading port in the Philippines, exchanging goods from Mexico in Latin America - the Galleon trade, that is. Aparri is about 2 hours from Tuguegarao City.

There were no records showing how the town got its name, One story says that Aparri got its name from the word "apparian", a derivative of the Ibanag, because of the presence of the priests. Another story says that Aparri was derived from the word "aparte", meaning separate, because it was a part of Camalaniugan and Buguey. 

The town may be sleepy but the people are nice and funny. Funny in the sense that I crack up at the back of my head picturing Jollibee customers ate their spaghetti with a spoon. Yes, fork on one hand AND spoon on the other. Of course  there's nothing wrong with that, I just find it waggish and somehow made me smile broadly. 

Real adventure may be found in an island administered by the municipality of Aparri in the Babuyan archipelago, Fuga Island.  Aparri is where "the river meets the sea".

Dreamy Sentinela Cove

 One of the hidden paradise in the town of Claveria is nonetheless the Sentinela Cove, home to the Ubing-Ubing of the Cagayan. This particular place in Claveria is ideal for beach goers, unlike the coast in the Poblacion area, Sentinela is enthroned with white sand and the current is more tender. And if you're feeling to just dip in an unsalty water, the stream is just around reunited to the sea, the water won't go higher than the knee.

 Ubing-Ubing, as told in the legend, is the offspring of Lakay-Lakay and Baket-Baket, who in their greediness was turned into a rock. At the back of my head, I'm asking myself why the story of the rock formations can be given such partiality?

  Moving on, Sentinela beach is hidden from the national highway. It was about a few hundred meters away when you saw the arch of Barangay D. Leano. There are no markers going there, the only sign that you are not lost is the village's arch and the waiting shed along the road and if you've seen Bantay Kalbo at the far right, the hill with the communications tower, you are already in the stretch of Sentinela beach.

From Claveria marketplace, there are jeepneys bound Sanchez Mira, just tell the driver to drop you off at the Barangay D. Leano archway (I think is the only access going to the cove), that's about 15 minutes or less jeepney ride from the market. Walk straight to the cemented path til you reach the dirt road, portion of the roadway going to the beach is unpaved. 

You may also want to ride the tricycle from Claveria town proper, just tell the driver to bring you to Sentinela beach or tell them to bring you to Ubing-Ubing. Follow the same trail going to the highway and hail for either a jeepney or tricycle back to the marketplace.

Bring your own provisions especially water or your hydro packs if you wish to stay longer. Best time to go there as told is early morning or before sunset.

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Northern Experience

Traveling in the Northern part of Luzon Island in the Philippines can be distressing, I say so because of the availability of buses plying the Maharlika Highway in the North. But if you're seeking adventures in roadtrip, the Northern experience is more likely on your list.

Touring the Northern Luzon Island is tricky. For example, one can go to the town of Aparri in either the eastern road or the west. The western portion offers scenes of the Ilocos Region, the French Riviera of the North, Patapat Viaduct that is, and on the eastern part is the Magapit Bridge in Lal-lo, said to be the "oldest suspension bridge" in the Philippines.

 North experience isn't complete without the visit to the famous Callao Cave in Penablanca, about less than an hour from Tuguegarao. Tuguegarao can be reached by air or enduring the 12 hour bus journey on daylight and 10 hour on a night trip.The best period to travel on daytime is between 4:30AM - 6:00AM or 8:00PM and onwards at night. Florida Bus in Cubao and Sampaloc & Victory Liner in Pasay and Cubao have direct trip to Tuguegarao, Book your journey early for the buses with toilets.

About 2 hours bus ride from Tuguegarao City, you can reach Aparri, you can ride GV Florida bus or shuttle vans. Aparri is where "the river meets the sea", it is at the portal of the Cagayan River.

From Aparri, there are mini buses and shuttle vans going to Santa Ana. Travel time may be 2 hours more. Santa Ana is home to the Cagayan Freeport Zone and is also home to the Anguib beach. Cape Engano can also be reached by hiring an outrigger boat bound to Palaui Island. San Vicente Port in Santa Ana is also home to the jetty port going to Calayan Island.

Proceeding to the site of the church ruins in San Jacinto de Polonia in Camalaniugan, near the banks of the Cagayan River,one can get a ghastly story pertaining to the sentinel of the old church ruins. Near the ruins is the  erected house of worship and the belfry where the oldest bell in the Far East is placed. From Santa Ana, this is after the town of Buguey.

Before heading to the humble town of Claveria, you may want to visit the newly renovated " Asia's oldest suspension bridge", the Magapit Suspension Bridge in the town of Lal-lo. Here is the loading and unloading point for buses and shuttle vans going to Ballesteros, Pamplona, Sanchez Mira, Claveria, Sta. Praxedes, Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur, buses mostly came from Tuguegarao City.

 Claveria in Cagayan is one of my favorite place in the North because of its simplicity. People are nice, good location and everything seems uncomplicated. Plus it's near the less populated beach of Sentinela.

In about an hour from Claveria, you will be in Ilocos Norte's town of Pagudpud. This is where the Boracay of the North can be found. From Pagudpud, places to be explored nearby is at 30 minutes at most. You may want to visit Bangui, Kapurpurawan and Cape Bojeador. You may opt to ride GMW buses going Laoag or Vigan.  From Pagudpud, you may want to pursue with Laoag or visit the Calle Crisologo in Vigan at midnight and took as many pictures as you can while the town is asleep.

Going back to the Metro Manila is easy. Variety of buses like Partas,  Farinas Transit and GV Florida are available along the highways of Ilocos. Bus Terminals can be found mostly in Laoag City.

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For those wanting to try the Tuguegarao-Claveria-Ilocos Norte-Ilocos Sur long trip, I am also posting the Bus schedules for your  information. You may also try the Manila-Santa Ana-Claveria-Ilocos Norte-Ilocos Sur. This will take you 5 days in roadtrips (the least possible).

GV Florida Bus - Cubao Station

GV Florida Bus - Sampaloc Station

Victory Liner - Kamias Station

Victory Liner - Pasay Station

GMW Trans - Tuguegarao Station

Disclaimer: Information contained in this page is accurate at the time of this writing. However, no liability or responsibility is accepted arising from reliance upon the information contained in this page.

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