On our way back, we passed by Daraga Church and the Cagsawa Ruins, both in Daraga, Albay; and the towns of Daet and Vinzons, Camarines Norte. Our plan was to wake up at 4 a.m. but that didn't work. So we ended up leaving at 6 a.m.First stop was the great viewpoint of Mayon Volcano along the national highway a few kilometers from the Daraga town proper. You can see the entire town, the church on top of a hill and Mayon as a background. We then proceeded to the Daraga Church to take some photos of the great facade. But we didn't go inside anymore since I knew the interiors were uglified and modernized already.
Our next stop was the Cagsawa Ruins. People have been saying that it was buried further by lahar last year. That is not a bit true. In fact, it was unscathed. Although you'd notice that structures in the park are missing since they were looted after the devastation. Reminds me of the Mount Pinatubo eruption. As people were evacuating, the looters ransacked the entire place. How heartless these Filipinos are, making profits at the expense of a suffering populace.
After a brief breakfast stopover in Ligao City, we started the long drive to Camarines Norte. We finally made it to Daet, the capital of Camarines Norte, in time for lunch. I called up HCS Trustee Melivin Patawaran who is a regular in Daet. What a coincidence since he was on his way there too! He suggested that we eat at Alvino's Pizza in Bagasbas Beach, a popular surfers' haunt. Great suggestion!
Bagasbas Beach in Daet is among the popular surfing areas in the Philippines. Melvin was inviting us to use his long board. But surfing was still later in the afternoon and we had to rush back to Manila. So we had to save surfing for another day.
From Bagasbas, we checked out the very first monument in the Philippines built to honor Jose Rizal. It was on December 30, 1898 that the people of Daet unveiled the Rizal Monument to honor our national hero. From Daet, we drove to Vinzons (formerly Indan) to check out the Vinzons Church and the residence of World War II hero Wenceslao Vinzons, which was declared a National Historical Landmark. Vinzons is popular among UP Diliman students since the student center is named Vinzons Hall.We were still quite a distance from Manila so our stopover in Vinzons was the last. We got back in Manila late in the evening. Check out these photos in Multiply.
Technorati Tags: daraga, albay, daet, vinzons, camarines norte, philippines, mayon volcano, beach, travel, surfing, travel blog, historical sites
Camarines Norte looks gorgeous ... now if only I knew how to surf ... =)
ReplyDeleteHey, you went to Bicol pala. Nice coincidence, I've posted about transportation to Naga, and next, I'll be posting on stuff in the city.
ReplyDeleteah, bicol... lupang sinilangan... nakaka-miss ang bicol express... YUMM!!
ReplyDeletewere you able to see the places affected by last year's typhoons?
Yes, along the road you could see the devastation. Just a few meters from the Cagsawa Ruins, communities were flattened. The ruins however were saved!
ReplyDeleteay naku taga bikol po ako pero di kami dun pinanganak at ang parents ko po ay taga legaspi city. oo naman ah maganda talaga sa bikol lalo na yung mayon at sa cagsawa at yung daraga. pero ni minsan di pa ako naka ligo sa dagat dyan sa may legaspi city dahil ang nakikita ko bahay na malapit sa dagat. naka ligo man kami ayun nag punta kami sa isla ng RAPU-RAPU albay at sa bundok ng CARUGCOG naku ha white sands din yun at take note dagat mag kasalubong ang ilog sarap maligo dun. haaaaaaaaayyyyy kailan kaya kami dun makaka balik para makita na rin ng asawa ko.
ReplyDeleteGot to re-read this post again and finally noticed that you mentioned structures in Cagsawa Ruins are gone. When I first saw these structures, I feel they were too close to the ruins that they spoiled the iconic open-space view of Mayon by the Cagsawa Ruins. I wish they won't be rebuilt in the same manner, and instead preserve the open space.
ReplyDeleteThanks for profiling Camarines Norte. It looks like you might have met "Baker", one of the local surfing pros. A very nice guy and one I would recommend if you decide to learn how to surf. We were there May 10th thru the 15th for the elections. The water in Bagasbas is so nice and warm.
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to read something written about my hometown Daet as viewed by somebody who has travelled a lot.
ReplyDeleteMabalos sa magayon na Bagasbas photos
thanks for featuring the region that is remembered only when typhoons come. there are quite of marvelous spots there, the commercially unexplored, unexploited places. check on the coastal and rinconada towns of camarines sur. isarog is promising. i want to see more of catanduanes and sorsogon.
ReplyDeletewow, i miss my hometown daet... bagasbas is the best....
ReplyDelete