Tag Archives: cagayan
Fun with the Fam at Nangaramoan
I could’ve spent the long weekend in either in Calaguas or CamSur and probably didn’t miss Manila Music Festival had I decided not to go home for a friend’s wedding. But I’m glad I chose to attend the wedding, or else I wouldn’t have been in this piece or paradise that is Nangaramoan Beach, located somewhere in the tails of Sta. Ana, Cagayan.
It’s a shame how I like going places but when it comes to my home province, I am almost a stranger. Well, as a kid I used to join Girl Scout camps that somehow showed me a number of places around the province and I had my fair share of wandering as a teenager, but still, it’s not enough. There are lots of nice spots to see in Cagayan but I just didn’t have the opportunity and the money, of course. I guess I’ll try to make it up now before everything gets abused (I’m just being realistic, it’s almost always the case in burgeoning tourist spots).
After that incident in 2005, when our youngest drowned in Tallag Beach in Gonzaga, Cagayan, my parents never allowed us (me and my older brother) to go to the beach again. But I lived in Baguio and likes doing things anyway so I managed to sneak to the beach every now and then without my parents knowing about it. I tell them sometimes though, bawas-dinadala. :p
This is our first trip to the beach as a family since that fateful day. I don’t know how I convinced my mother to go. I know she’s still traumatized but she gave in to my plea, maybe because I was paying for the trip, and she knows how walay (wanderer) I am.
Anyway, let me share the beauty of the northeast.
Pozu Rubo Beach
We started the with the road trip at around 5:20 am and reached our destination at half-past 7. But first, we got lost and randomly found ourselves at the port going to Palaui Island. Our driver has never been to that place before and our companions who’ve been to Anguib couldn’t remember the directions. I myself mistook the signage at the entrance of the road going to Anguib for an advertisement.
Going to Anguib is just like going to Pagudpud, with the long winding road you have to take (about 20 minutes). Thank goodness the road is concrete. How fast things change because those who’ve been there said that in 2011, it’s the usual bumpy ride in a dusty road. The Enriles who own a resort in Anguib must be responsible for this really fast act. I like the comfort but somehow I missed going to the beach through bumpy and dusty roads pass the mountains. Maybe it’s the sense of adventure that comes with it.
Because there is hardly any signage along the way, we just followed the main road that lead us to a dead end, the Pozu Rubo Beach. The beach is empty when we arrived. The non-first timers said it isn’t Anguib so we climbed back and searched for Anguib. If I was with friends, I would’ve preferred Pozu Rubo Cove for it’s isolation but the oldies wanted somewhere there are more people.
Semi-virgin beach
When we saw a sub-road with an arrow pointing to the beach and a sign that says “Golden Beach” we took it without hesitations. We ignored this one earlier because we thought the beach at sight has no shores. Still, it’s not the Anguib Beach we’re aiming for but we settled for it since we were immediately captivated by this breathtaking scene.
Of course we immediately went in to test the waters!
Unlike what people claim, Nangaramoan is no Boracay, instead it’s more like Pagudpud. What sets Nangaramoan apart from the other white-sand beaches I’ve been to is the 200 meter still water before the surf. It’s like a huge pool that spared by the surf for the people to enjoy and at. I wanted to go to that part where the pool-like body of water kisses the surf but I retreat when in the middle because I’m not allowed to go to a distance my parents think is far.
The hills extending on the beach separate Nangaramoan from its neighboring coves, Anguib and Puzo Rubo.
At the bottom of the water is a lush land of seaweeds making snorkeling more lovely with the added sight of rich greens.
They found a wooden board.
One, two , jump!
In Nangaramoan, there are no hotels or resorts in the vicinity. To get a legit accommodation, you have to go to the main highway, a few kilometers drive. However, there are cottages by the beach where you can stay for a day or overnight. This particular cottage costs Php400 and it has an attic where you can change clothes or sleep. Tents are also allowed in the place. Oh, and there’s an electricity in the place! 
There are boats rented out for beach hopping at Php300 for 30 minutes.
How to get there:
Sta. Ana beaches are getting popular among beach lovers and backpackers. However, it’s not easy getting there with the fact that it’s located at the northeastern tip of the Philippines Sta. Ana is 4-5 hours aways from Tuguegarao City (all depends on the driving). Florida bus lines (terminal in Cubao and Sampaloc) have trips going to Sta. Ana. You may also take broken trips by getting a bus bound to Tuguegarao City. Bus lines bound to Cagayan are Victory Liner, Dalin, Ballesteros Bus Lines, Guardian Angels/Everlasting, Northstar, among others. You can also get to Tuguegarao via air. Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific have daily flights to Tuguegarao. From Tuguegarao, take a bus ride to Sta. Ana.
From Sta. Ana (most probably you’ll be dropped at the town commercial center), you can just ask the locals on how to get transportation going to Anguib. I don’t know the particulars because for our trip, we hired a jeepney and paid a total of P2070 for the rent and the gas.
Too steep.
I wanted to take as much photos as I can but I myself preferred to just relax and enjoy the water. As a matter of fact I stayed too long in the water my shoulders were badly burnt. That’s the essence of this trip anyway.
How To Gain Weight in 5 Days
Sa tabi ng bahay namin.
Before that grueling 18-hour trip to hell, I had a heck of a vacation in my hometown.
It is very satisfying to have spent most of the holidays sleeping. Good thing I now get to enjoy hours of sleep anytime at home in Cagayan unlike before, when I was still studying when I should get up at 5:30 during summer and 6:00 on rainy days that is to do house chores. Ngayon, ‘buhay-prinsesa’ na daw pag nagpaparinig ang nanay. Iba na daw ang nagta-trabaho at may sariling pera, more parinig. Anyway, tanggap na nilang tamad ako at ang gusto ko lang gawin pag umuuwi ay matulog at kumain.
A Happy Christmas & Happier New Year!
And so I’m back, from winter wonderland! Happy New Year everyone!
Last year, I grabbed the opportunity to use my VLs so I can have a loooong which I thought would be boring coz I might run out of things to do. You see, since I started working, the longest vacation I’ve had were those four-day weekends and I got used to stuffing up activities in a short period of time. I just pretended to look at my 10-day vacay as the perfect time to de-stress after a year of hard work. (Now that is questionable.) But seriously, I’m doing this for my family. Since college, I can only count how many times they get to see me and so I needed to make time to be with them. Naks.
I left the city on the 23rd on an early trip thinking I would have more time to sleep when I arrive.
Snapped somewhere in Bulacan.
Day 1
My arrival in Cagayan was disastrous.
Half of My Life I’ve wasted
and the rest I wanna spend discovering the Philippines.
Just wow.
I was born and raised in Cagayan- in the North. Yes, in Region II where Batanes is also situated.
I only knew about Batanes, it being mentioned in the Region II hymn we had to memorize and sing every flag ceremony way back in elementary.
Aside from its name and location, I did not have any idea about Batanes. Until I went to college.
Kokak Meal
Maipakaamo kadagiti kakabsat ni Tukak dita Poblasyon Waeg ken dita Barangay Taltalon ta ni Tukak ket pimmusay. Adda nga nakamansayag ti bangkay na sadiay Kaserola. Agur-uray da Asin, Mantika ken Betsin. Ti punpon ket pagtutungtungan da Toyo, Suka ken Bawang. Tuy umaw-awag, GSM.
If you can understand Ilocano, you will LOL. Poor frog. I should feel guilty. Yes, I eat frogs, the ones from the rice fields.
You can’t blame me. Frogs when cooked well taste just like chicken. I’ve tasted the food I think twice already. I’ve tasted deep fried and adobo style.
During these time of the year, in my hometown in Cagayan, when heavy rains fall in time for tilling the fields, frogs, love to stay in the flooded fields. They propagate very fast. In no time at all, you’ll find the nearest field in your house noisy during the night.
My cousins usually go to the fields either early in the morning or at night to catch frogs. But be careful, not all frogs can be eaten. In our place, we only eat palakang-bukid, the small frogs with smooth and clear skin. Maybe it’s Olay. lol
Just make sure the frogs are prepared and cooked well. And voila! You have a yummy pulutan already!
Tip. Make it deep fried. It’s yummier when it’s crispy.
Bagyong Pepeng
Usapan sa Opisina
Umaga pa lang, pinag-uusapan na ng mga ka-opisina ko ang tungkol sa paparating na bagyong si Pepeng. Sabi ng isa, malakas daw ang bagyong ito ayon sa nabasa niya sa internet. Sabi naman nung isa, sana naman hindi muna tumama dito sa Metro Manila dahil kawawa naman ang mga nasalanta ng nagdaang bagyong si Ondoy.
Nung tanghali, parang may komosyon ulit sa opisina nang malaman ng mga tao na umuulan na naman. Gusto kong mag-lunch sa labas pero wala akong payong. Ganun pa man, timing ang pagkaramdam ko ng gutom dahil wala nang ulan paglabas ko.
Paalis na ako nung hapon at nagpapaalam sa aking mga kasamahan na gagabihin pa dahil late pumapasok nang sabi ng isa kong kaopisina, sige, umuwi ka na bago ka pa abutan ng bagyo. Naisip ko, dadaan na naman ba ang bagyo dito. Maaliwalas pa rin naman sa labas habang naghihintay ako ng bus pauwi pero pagdating sa amin, may naiwan pang bakas sa riles ang nagdaang ulan.
Hindi Umaabsent ang Bagyo sa Amin
