It's Always Summer in Cagayan

Rain is something common in Metro Manila on the month of August but not in Tuguegarao. Amidst the gloomy weather in Manila because of a typhoon in the Northern part of the country, me and my friends decided to push through with our vacation in Tuguegarao. We just have two goals in our travel that is to visit Palaui and Callao Cave.

Contrary with the gray and old weather in Manila, the sun was up and it was extremely hot in Tuguegarao when our plane made its landing at noon. Tricycles and Vans are all over outside the airport offering a tour at the place or a service going to Sta. Ana where the port going to Palaui is located.

We walked outside the airport and looked for a van going to Sta. Ana. But since it is 12PM we decided to have our lunch first. At a restaurant, we learned that we can ride a tricycle going to the terminal. The tricycle going to the terminal costs only P10.00 per person.

At the terminal there are van going to Sta. Ana however the van that is leaving does not have an aircon so we waited for an hour for the van with an aircon. It will take three hours of travel to reach Sta. Ana from Tuguegarao. It was already dark when we reached Sta. Ana terminal. We called the owner of Marpe Inn where we will be staying for the night. Mang Pepe, the owner was kind enough to pick us up at the terminal with his car which was a good thing because the road going to Nangaramoan was dark and has steep turns.

Nangaramoan has white sand and rock formations. Just near Nangaramoan is Anguib Beach. We were not able to swim in Nangaramoan because we decided to head to Palaui early in the morning.

Anguib Cove

Nangaramoan Beach

While waiting for our boat, kind people of SSS Tuguegarao who are also having their vacation at that time in Nangaramoan gave us Pancit Batil Patong.

The boat ride going to Palaui is about 45mins. The only place to stay in Palaui is at Elsa's homestay. There is nothing much to expect from it. There are no electricity in the island. They battery generators which were charged using Solar Panel.

After settling our bags, we talked to Ate Elsa and our boatmen for our tour in the island. We were able to visit a waterfall, Cape Engaño and Crocodile Island. I will share a separate post about Palaui.

The next day we went back to Tuguegarao. In Tuguegarao we attended a mass in their Cathedral and went to Buntun Bridge where you can also see the Cagayan River.

Buntun Bridge

On our last day in Tuguegarao we went to Penablanca to see Callao Cave where mass was held in the past. I will share a different post with more details for the trip to Callao Cave. After exploring Callao Cave we went to Lighthouse Cooperatives where we bought our pasalubong.

This is just a glimpse of the places to see in Cagayan. 

Going Around Binondo

It was a long time plan to do a photowalk in Binondo but since I was not familiar to the place it has not pushed through. Luckily, the photography club in our office set-up a photowalk in Binondo. The photowalk is different because the objective is taking pictures with the use of cellphone camera although you still have an option to bring your DLSR. I’ve decided to also bring my DLSR to have a highly quality of pictures aside from the ones I’ll get from my cellphone. I’m also planning to enter a streetphotography contest so it is really ideal to have my DLSR with me.

Our meeting place was at the Binondo Church. While waiting for our other companions we started to take some pictures around the church. The church itself is a perfect focus for pictures however it is a challenge to take a picture of the whole church without any vehicles passing through. So most of my photos of the church has jeepneys, trucks and tricycle on it.

There are a lot of children outside the church. Some of them are just sitting and talking with their fellow kids while others ask for alms from the passerby.

Our next destination in Binondo is the El Hogar Filipino Building. We were able to capture different street scenes on our route to El Hogar. 

El Hogar Building is an abandoned building however the place is still busy with the jeepney and boat terminal in front of it. It has also become a home for some of our fellow Filipinos. Makeshift house are lined in front of the buildings. Children are also everywhere not minding the danger in living in the streets.

Amidst thepoverty, it still very inspiring on how these people are still able to smile and would be just happy if you take even one picture of them.

After El Hogar Building, we are back at the welcome arch of Binondo. We crossed the streets of Binondo while taking pictures of things that caught our interest. We were able to reach the famous Ongpin Street.

A kalesa was waiting for passenger when we were in Ongpin Street so we were able to get some picture of it. These old form of transportation is still very famous for tourists going around Manila.

Binondo wouldn't be complete without the charms that is believed to bring good luck, protection and prosperity to one's household.

Our photowalk ended in a fountain outside Binondo. It was a bit hard to get a nice shot at that time because it was already the blue hour.