This year's summer should be a well-spent one, because I got a feeling that we'll be working on our thesis by the following year. In order to remedy this problem, I decided to become busy this summer, and have the things finished that I want to do before. So the first in my checklist? Another north getaway with my choirmates: an exciting Baler experience!
DAY 1I was allowed to have an overnight stay at Tita Julie's place where the choir will be meeting before starting the trip. The call time for the departure was around 300 am, but I woke up at around 230 am. Yes, I know I'm a slowpoke. Anyway, after a prayer with my choirmates, we hopped into our respective vehicles, and hit the road. After travelling some miles, Tito Rey called Tito Mon and asked who brought the keyboard. Gah, we forgot to bring the keyboard that we will be using for the Sunday mass! And since we are the last one on the line, we were the one who returned for the instrument.
Just to tell how lucky we are (well, sarcastically that is), one interior of the Delica that is with us suddenly popped. So the two of the vehicles (the Delica, and the D-Max where we were riding) stopped to have the wheel replaced. We hit the road again after their work was done.When we arrived at Nueva Ecija, we had first our breakfast at Jollibee. When we took our last sip on our hot choco, we started the engines and continue the trip.We travel through the Sierra Madre mountains, and had our third problem when we encountered a road construction where a crane is flattening the road we are about to take. So we have to rest for a while and wait for them to finish their job.
Meanwhile, Tita Babie gave the workers a free lunch so as to let us pass and get their job done quickly. Then started the trip again.
By noon, we finally reached the place called Sabang beach. We went to our respective cottages and inns that we'll be staying: Tita Dodie's family stayed at the nearby Bahay Kubo, while the rest of the families stayed inside the compound inns. Me, Tito Mon and Tito Ronald, however, took our crib at a large house beside the Bahia de Baler, and we were allowed to sleep at their attic. The house is beautiful, and the owner of the house is very friendly! She sure knows how to treat their customers with hospitality.
After that, we hopped onto the shore to feel the gray sand and the water beneath our feet.
We had our lunch first before attacking the beach, but since the sun's heat is quite unfriendly that time, we decided to take a nap to spend the rest of the time waiting for the sun to set so we can freely swim at the beach without the worry of burning. We slept for about an hour only, and the others decided to savor the beach. Meanwhile, me and Ate Jean decided to spare our first day to have some more rest. We just took pictures while looking at the beach.
When the sun's down, we visited the church that we'll be singing on that Sunday. If I'm not mistaken, the name's Mt. Carmel church.
After some picture taking with the church, we hopped onto the vehicle to return to the resort to have dinner and some rest for the next day's mountain trekking.
DAY 2If I remember it right, we've been told to meet at the resort at around 700 am so that we can hike as early as possible and reach the falls before lunch. I planned to wake up at around 500 am so that I can see the sunrise at the beach's horizon, but as usual I woke up an hour later. Still ,I was able to witness the sun rising to start the day.
We had first our breakfast, and we're off to our first ever trekking! We had to take first a series of smooth road, then the usual rough road begins as we saw the sign leading to the Mother falls. We stopped a while to take photos before hitting a little steeper rough road.
After travelling some more, we reached the place where vehicles can't go further anymore, that tells us that we're now on our own to have fun and start the real mountain trekking! :) We have to cross about 3 rivers where ice-cold water flows and big boulders and slippery stones are big obstacles.
After the first one, we walked the green and leafy road full of trees and grass.
Ate Jean struck a pose in the midst of the heavenly garden.
After a few more minutes of walking, a cold breeze welcomed us with tiny droplets as we saw in delight the very beautiful Mother Falls! All the long walking really paid off! So me as well struck a pose together with the falls. :)
We splashed into the rocky ice-cold river and swam beside the falls, though not near it for there's a big crater under which the water falls. The water is freezing cold, so I didn't swim too long because my body find it difficult to adjust to the temperature.
After the swimming, we headed back to our vehicles to have lunch at Ermita, (not sure for the correct spelling) but it is located at the side of the mountain beside the Sabang beach. The park is beautiful, except for the comfort rooms.
There's a near viewing area where the Sabang beach and some resorts can be clearly seen. We were awed by the scenery so we took photos with it!
By the time we had rested enough and enjoyed ourselves to the beautiful sceneries there, we decided to go back to the resort to have some, uhm, rest to wait for the perfect time to swim at the beach.
DAY 3I woke up a little early this day because this is the day that we will be singing at Mt. Carmel church! Everyone was so excited because of the opportunity given to us to serve with the people there for the Lord. The mass will start at 830 am, so we went there a half-hour earlier to have a run of the songs.
The image of The Resurrection was placed on the altar because it was the second Sunday of Easter. On the left side was San Ildefonso, and on the right Saint Elizabeth.
The way the Holy Eucharist was celebrated was somehow different from the 'traditional' one. They have a series of readings between the parts of the mass,that made the celebration a more solemn and holy one. During the offering, the people themselves are the ones who come in front to give their offerings or money to the priest. To make things even cooler, the celebrant has a very powerful and beautiful voice!
After the mass, we were given a bunch of pancit for our merienda, and they taste so great! We even got the chance to meet their governor Bella (?) Angara.
Located in front of the church is the ancestral house of Manuel Quezon. Really surprised that Quezon's hometown is actually Aurora.
It's almost lunchtime so we drove the wheels to our last destination, the Balete tree, the oldest one in Asia they say. The tree was really, really, uhm, huge! Its twisted trunk looks like a couple of balete trees enveloped in a huge one. We even tried to surround the tree but we just covered about half of it!
We immediately left after some picture taking and returned to the resort for our things. After packing things up, we finally bid goodbye to Sabang beach and Baler as well.
I really enjoyed these three-day vacation with my Santissimum family. I honestly got bored on the first day because some of my friends weren't there and I felt so incomplete, until I discovered the "youth" within my choirmates and enjoyed their company. :D
Wished to have more of these exciting trips with them. Thank God for these wonderful creations! :)
~ So eto pala siya. Marami-rami na rin siyang nalinlang.
