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.

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.

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.

Click on thumbnails to view larger image.

Claveria up North

 

Away from the busy metropolis, Claveria, in the province of Cagayan offers a very relaxing and probably one of the places I could say is ideal for retiring. 

 

Retiring of old age or just retiring or leaving the pollution of the city life.

Here, life is simple and yet the convenience of living modern are presented. The people are nice, the foods are okay, surviving is uncomplicated.

Plus the beach is just there somewhere, who would not want a view as beautiful as the sunrise?

This humble town of Claveria is 4 hours away from Tuguegarao, travel time to Claveria from Laoag is also 4 hours, or about 1.5 hour from Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte.

Waiting time for the commuters is another story, it will test your patience. Though shuttle vans going to and outside Claveria can be seen regularly, I would still choose the buses. 

**Manila to Laoag is a 10 hour bus journey at night.

***From Laoag City, take buses bound to Claveria or Tuguegarao. To really enjoy the view of Ilocos Norte, BUY the window seat. :-)

***RCJ Lines and Florida Bus in Sampaloc, Manila, have direct course to Claveria, the former bound to Sanchez-Mira, will pass by Claveria Market. Just ask the bus driver/conductor to drop you off at Claveria Town Proper or at the gasoline station of either Caltex or Petron along the national highway.