Amazing Aurora

-

If somebody will ask me where I want to retire, I can always say Aurora is not bad at all. We recently visited the place and it was as beautiful as I have expected. Aurora is a province in North Eastern Philippines along the Pacific Ocean coast. The ambience is cool and cozy. The weather is just fine, not too cold and not too hot. The water is abundant anywhere, even at the heart of the capital town of Baler. The forest and fauna is amazing matched with breathtaking beaches and rock formations. Almost everything you see is either moist green or earth brown and it soothes not only the mind and body, but one’s spirit as well.

Aurora reminds me of the unspoiled island of Siargao in Surigao Del Norte. I am not quite sure if the island remained the same nowadays. But as I remember it, it has a resemblance to Aurora. The costly Bermuda grass we painfully buy to dress up our lawns here is endemic both is Siargao and Aurora. This is maybe because of their similar climate and topography. Both are located in the eastern side of the country where the Pacific Oceans ends.

But unlike Siargao, Aurora is just 6 hours away from Pampanga. It is part of Central Luzon and the people, although most of them are Tagalogs, are usually friendly, hospitable and kind. I would love to call them “uncorrupted.”

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Go Potipot!

-
Image
I used to see Potipot Island in Candelaria, Zambales only in photos. I already wrote one post about it. But yesterday (April 15) was one of the best trips I had. Our friends from the Advocacy for the Development of Central Luzon (ADCL) and my sister Stef joined me in the trip to the amazing island. I enjoyed the ride from Botolan, Zambales to Candelaria which is only about 1 hour 20 minutes. As soon as we reached the village of Uakon, we rented a bangka (boat) for P400 to take us in a 10-minute ferry to the white-sand island. Most of the people in Uakon are fishers while they earn extra for boat rentals. One can also reach Potipot island via Barangay Dawal, where a small hotel can be found. It is the village next to Uakon. Potipot has fine white sand, which could be finer than Boracay’s and it seats in deep blue sea like a halo looking from atop. You can go around the island in just 25 or 30 minutes. The shoreline is perfect for beach lovers. You can play, sit, watch, relax or swim in
Read more

Summer Capital

-
Image
It is the home of the now famous Panagbenga Festival or the flower fest in Northern Philippines. Thousands of tourists visit this place because of its beautiful weather. In a tropical country like ours, having a 25 degree-Celsius temperature or lower is a divine consolation from the typical hot and humid summer. That is why Baguio City is known as the country’s Summer Capital. I used to live in Baguio in the mid-90s. My memory of the place is a mixed emotional experience. I spent my happiest teenage years there. I love the people and their culture. But most of all, I love the pine trees. I remember walking up the sloping streets to UP Baguio at 7 in the morning. The air I exhale is usually smoky due to the cold temperature. And the scent of the pine trees is very strong. Until now, if I close my eyes and think of it hard enough, I could still recall the scent. That’s how distinct it was. Also, Baguio City is the best place for liquor drinkers. You can drink vodka, gin, tequila or brand
Read more