EN ROUTE | Metro Manila - Ilocos Norte - Ilocos Sur

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

The rain pattered through the cold bus window as we navigated the evening traffic through EDSA. We buzzer-beat the time and were soon loading our bags through the back of the rented van we’ll be calling home for a three-day jaunt in Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte.

With two beautiful models and four photographers aboard--two more waiting along the way--I made myself comfortable, plugged in my ultra-morose Ryan Adams playlist, covered my eyes with my Headware and tried to sleep off the ten-hour ride to the Ilocos Region.


After innumerable stops and starts, including a mini shoot at Banaoang Bridge at the town of Bantay near Vigan City, I opened my eyes and was greeted by a glorious sunrise along the road. Everyone was still asleep and I was too shy to ask the driver to stop for another quickie sunrise shoot.

By 6am, we were having breakfast at Laoag City. While they were ordering McMuffins and what-nots, I roamed the empty streets, passing bikers along the massive St. Williams Cathedral. The weather was so fine and the light beautifully radiant, not a bad way to start the trip, I thought.

Walking about, looking for an alternative to McDonald’s, I came across Gilbert Bridge. It spans the Padsan River and connects the City of Laoag and the municipality of San Nicolas. I would’ve checked the river too if I weren’t pressed for time; I still haven’t found my local breakfast yet.

With no other choice, I finally surrendered to McDo. After a quick munch munch, we regrouped at the parking lot, waiting for the others that have roamed off. I looked up and saw an exotic looking bird perched on electric wires. Fumbling out my superzoom, I managed to take a single photo before it flew off.

And we soon flew too; the first stop in our list, Ilocos Sur’s Bangui Windmills.

But a van-load of photographers can have more stops than a camera exposure.

We were soon stopping again for a chance to shoot a bit of seascapes at Burgos’s crashing shore. I half-ran to the far end of the rocky beach, planted my tripod, screwed my darkest filter, set the timer and pressed the shutter. I can feel the northern wind once again, let’s have it Ilocos!


How to get to Ilocos from Manila
There are numerous bus lines plying the Manila-Ilocos route, passing Ilocos Sur where Vigan City is located, Ilocos Norte where Laoag City is situated and going up as far as Pagudpud. 

Here’s a list of Ilocos Buses from Manila: Florida Bus, Farinas Transit Company, Dominion Transit (Up to Vigan Only), Franco Frederico Lines, Maria de Leon Transit, Partas Transportation Company, Philippine Rabbit, Viron Transportation, RCJ Transit

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13 comments

  1. it sounds like a fun trip, but it sounds like a fictional novel. you should write your own novel...

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  2. i would love to do this sometime... great set christian... :)

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  3. I like your captures of Banaoang Bridge and Burgos shore.

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  4. You made it like the coolest thing in the world. B-) but yeah, a van load of photographers can be rowdy.

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  5. i can't imagine ganung set-up ,, andami ninyo sigurong stopover! hahaha .. galing nakunan mo yung bridge na nakita ko din nung pumunta kami ng ilocos galing mo idol!

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  6. Mailap pa sakin ang ilocos kasi parati nalang nacacancel. Naalala ko ulit bakit gusto ko pumunta. :)

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  7. one of my favorite part of Ilocos -- Burgos! :>

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  8. Balak kong bumalik ng Ilocos next week :D Mag-Vigan naman ako hehe

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  9. Where are the pictures of the models? :D

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  10. Fifileigh
    Haha thanks! I guess it does

    Lino
    Thanks Lino, I saw your site and you got some amazing photos too

    BertN
    Thanks Bert :)

    Francis Balgos
    Haha puro stops!

    Kulapitot
    Masaya mag travel with photographers, pag nakakita ng magandang location, babaan agad :D

    Elal Jane Lasola
    Go Elal!

    Anny
    :)

    Micamyx
    Naks next week agad!

    Yam Manuel
    Later Yam :D

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  11. it's nice that we still have exotic-looking birds in the provinces. nice shot. i don't see something like that here in Manila anymore.

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  12. yep, a road trip with a bunch of photogs will have you stop more than necessary.. that's the fun of it all.. :D

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  13. Turista Trails
    I agree wala na talagang ganyang mga ibon sa metro, I don't understand why people shoots beautiful things down

    Rian
    Haha I agree onehundredpercent :)

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