A Hundred and One Reasons To Enjoy HUNDRED ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK

The most exciting plan for a vacation is not to plan your vacation at all. What was supposed to be a planned trip to La Union one weekend ended up in an impromptu trip to Alaminos, Pangasinan, hence visiting the Hundred Islands, where else?

Tess and I again embarked on one of those random weekends when all we wanted was to hit the road, get on a bus up north and find out where our tickling feet may lead us in our quest for finding a lighthouse to add up to our collection.

It all started with the 3am trip to Zambales that Saturday morning with an intention to visit El Faro De Punta Capones, which we successfully accomplished. This is actually our second attempt to visit the lighthouse. (It was storming during the first attempt when boats were not allowed to sail, so sad!)

The lighthouse chase that weekend would have ended in Luz Del Puerto San Fernando in Poro Point, San Fernando City, La Union. Only that we hardly had any idea how to get there from Zambales.

So we took the best possible route. To head north, we had to take the San Antonio to Sta Cruz (both in Zambales) Victory Liner bus, then to Alaminos, Pangasinan. The entire trip took long hours and it was almost midnight when we reached Alaminos. Hoping this is not the end of the road for us that evening, we attempted to find ways to get out of town and continue the journey to La Union but to no avail. We spent the night in a standard hotel near the city center.

We abandoned the La Union plan due to limited time the following morning, and we thought why not go to Hundred Islands instead? Besides, it's just a stone's throw away from where we are!

We hit the road, walked a few steps to the plaza, had a few negotiation from a tricycle driver, who eventually became our guide (and a very good guide, really!) and provided us with all we need! It was a marvelous experience, unplanned yet we managed to see and feel and awe in more than a hundred ways in Hundred Islands,

With Alaminos City Mayor Arthur F. Celeste

Visiting the Hundred Islands? Contact Ronnie.

LakbayLoyd Lighthouse Series 08: EL FARO DE PUNTA PATAR, Bolinao, Pangasinan

As my quest for lighthouses continues, finding one in the remotest location  might be fulfilling, but also disappointing that these structures have been savaged by elements or just left for decay.

So far, I have been to eight of so many known lighthouses all over the country, the latest is this one in Bolinao, Pangasinan.

El Faro De Punta Patar, or Cape Bolinao, also known as the Bolinao Lighthouse or Cape Bolinao, is located in Bgy. Patar. It is the second tallest lighthouse in the Philippines, the tallest being the Cape Bojeador in Burgos, Ilocos Norte. This may not be one of the old Spanish-time lighthouses, but listed as one of the major lighthouses and historically relevant structures in the Philippines.

The lighthouse can be seen on top of the hill overlooking the beautiful fine sand beaches of Patar in Bolinao. Patar is now a popular tourist destination with so many choices to enjoy the beach, waterfalls, caves, and the Pangasinense culture as well.

The Bolinao Lighthouse and the entire Patar is very accessible via private vehicles. But if you are taking he public transports, a tricycle is available to take you in and out Patar for the whole day for P1000.00. This may include trips to the caves, the waterfalls, the rock formations, and the pristine Patar White Beach. 

How Did I Get There

To split with the travel expenses, I brought along my ever clingy and itchy-feet amiga, Tess Nanez. The last minute invite never bothered her and she was more than twice as excited to come along.

This trip was really intended for Capones Island in Zambales where the iconic Capones Lighthouse was located. Due to an unfavorable weather condition, sailing in San Antonio shores was prohibited to our dismay. Nevertheless, we didn't allowed that moment for us to become unfortunate. We immediately hit the road and took the next bus up the Zambales province and beyond, wherever the road may take us. 

It was a long drive to nowhere. We traversed the stretch of Zambales and soon we ended up strolling and rolling in the pristine beaches of Bolinao, Pangasinan.