Five (5) Random Things About Ilocos Norte

I had been planning a road trip for a long time. I wanted to get on a random bus, get to a random destination and enjoy the random things that the said random place has to offer.

I've done exactly that. The destination: Pagudpud in Ilocos Norte.

I came home much wiser when I left.

Lessons learned:

1. If you're planning a trip in the Philippines, make sure it's not the Holy Week.

Yes, that should have been the first thing to check, (I'm a freaking local!) but the lure of a long vacation and going to a romantic place was too much to give up. Just because the rest of the Philippines is celebrating, why should my fun suffer? But I paid dearly for my impulsiveness.

The regular trip of 12 hours is already long enough. My company and I have to wait 12 hours just to get our tickets (I need to emphasize that the 12 hours was spent just waiting for the tickets) because all the buses had been reserved. The trip according to the blogs we read, people we asked and guides we perused, should only take 12 hours but ours took 15.

(I should be thankful we arrived safely in our destination though.)

2. In some provinces, drivers don't travel on Good Friday.

Had we been a few more minutes late, we might have gotten stuck in Laoag, which is two hours away from our intended destination.

As mentioned, our driver was overly cautious. He has to stop at everything alien on the road which has contributed to our 15-hour trip.

When we arrived in Laoag, the last bus for the evening has already left. We have to ride a pedicab and run after the bus just because no bus will service the area on Good Friday. 

3. Just because you asked someone a question doesn't mean they have to answer it.

I'm not sure if we came at the wrong time or we were just unlucky but we seem to end asking the rudest of the Ilocanos. From the bus driver (paging BMW bus), to the conductor, to the waitresses on the hotel, they don't seem to care if you ask them a question and you're looking forward to an answer.

The place we stayed was amazing. Had the people been warmer, it would have been a wonderful vacation.

If you're in Pagudpud, it would be better if you ask other guests or read about destinations in advance. It's not that some natives can't understand what you're saying but from our experience, they plainly choose not to entertain questions.

4. Saud, Blue Lagoon, Kapurpurawan, Pannzian, Bangui Wind Mill. (Repeat 5x.)

If you miss one, you have to get back and redo the whole trip. Pagudpud is not all about the mentioned five places but they are the key places that you shouldn’t miss.

If you have extra time, the Lighthouse, sand dunes, the Cagayan-Ilocos border, Kabigan Falls (and other smaller falls) would be good places to visit but make sure to spend ample amount of time on the mentioned five.

5. Vigan! Vigan! Vigan!

Much has been said and others would tell you that Vigan is overrated. But this is all what you have to remember – it’s a freaking world heritage site and for that alone, it’s worth your time!