Getting back to those tricycles, please heed this word of caution. It was not bad enough that they were going about 5 kph on a national road, I noticed that they would intentionally put on their brakes to further slow you down. When waiting for oncoming traffic to pass before overtaking these menaces, your tendency is to tailgate the pests. Don’t! They will time it to slow down further right when you are about ready to pass them. You will be fortunate if you have quick eyes and reflexes and these will only work with the tricycles that have working tail lights. I noted that in most stretches there are narrow outer lanes which would appear to be intended for the use of these tricycles but they insist on staying in the very center of the road. This is a very dangerous problem which I think demands the attention of the concerned authorities. These are accidents waiting to happen if they haven’t happened already. SOMETHING MUST BE DONE ABOUT THIS! BAN TRICYCLES FROM NATIONAL ROADS! ]]> Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.blogabond.com/TripView.aspx?tripID=4476 http://www.blogabond.com/CommentView.aspx?commentID=37653 0 14.6041667 120.9822222 Mariveles in Bataan. We gathered that the drive would be 2 hours to get there. We left Subic at 10 AM exiting the Tipo Gate and entering the SCTEX for a short hop to the Dinalupihan exit.

This is one heck of drive. There road is highly elevated allowing magnificent views of the ocean on your left and ahead while on your right you see the majestic peaks that make up most of the backbone of the Bataan Peninsula. The road was not particularly great and this was obviously due to the many fuel tankers coming to and from the refineries. The Death March markers guide you all the way. In an hour and a half we were on a zigzag road heading down to the Bataan Export Processing Zone (BEPZA).

After looking around and deciding that there were no promising hotels or resorts in the area, we spotted a trade fair in the office grounds of the BEPZA. Being with two women, we just had to stop. What promised to be export overruns of the factories in the facility there turned out to be junk from China available in Divisoria and most tianges in Manila. Still, the girls came out of there with bags of supposedly Christmas shopping. We had lunch in a seaside restaurant and were on our way back by 2 PM.

The seaward view is dominated by Coregidor Island and the distant shore and mountains are actually Cavite. Coregidor Island is so close that you can hire a banca to get there. There are several spots along the road that advertise this facility. Heading back, the road level climbs again past the zigzag and there is a place to stop to take in a fantastic and unobstructed view of the island. The milestone for our stop was kilometer 7 of the Death March trail. There is a good concrete road heading down to the shore along which we parked. Behind you will be the equally fantastic sights of the mountain range of Bataan.]]> Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.blogabond.com/TripView.aspx?tripID=4476 http://www.blogabond.com/CommentView.aspx?commentID=37650 0 14.4336111 120.4852778 We left Bolinao at about 10 AM and were informed that the drive would take about 4 to 5 hours. As earlier mentioned we turned southward in the town of Bani instead of going all the way back to Alaminos. The interior roads in this part of Pangasinan are narrow but well paved making for a pleasant drive. The countryside is resplendently green and beautiful as we move inland again before returning by the shore in Zambales. We stopped in Iba for a leg stretch and a smoke midway of the leg and arrived in Subic at about 6 PM. Please note that there is a town before Olongapo named Subic and not to be confused with SBMA which is in Olongapo. It is still half an hour to an hour from the town to Subic to SBMA depending on the traffic which can build up as you get closer to Olongapo proper.

The beaches along this stretch are really great and it is a wonder why no big resorts have been established. There are a number of islands off the coast that make for good day trips and even overnight stays. Past Iba you will notice the profusion of pine trees on the dunes by the shore. Nearer to Olongapo there is Crystal Beach in San Narciso which is a surfing destination but definitely not a place to swim specially for children. There are rooms and cottages for rent right on the beach. Surfing lessons and boards are likewise available.

The problem with the tricycles in the Alaminos to Olongapo road is just as bad if not worse than the Romulo Highway since traffic is denser. I don’t know if these guys talk to each other but they all have same modus operandi of slowing to a crawl when cars behind them are waiting to pass. Better to keep a safe distance from these pests.]]> Wed, 19 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.blogabond.com/TripView.aspx?tripID=4476 http://www.blogabond.com/CommentView.aspx?commentID=37649 0 15.4333333 119.9 There is a further exit from NLEX coming out past Tarlac City but this will cause you to backtrack if you are going on the Romulo Highway. In any case, Luisita was an intended layover as it is such an agreeable place and a pity that they have not been able to make a real go of it. I enjoy the tree-lined streets and the expanses of sugar cane fields but you note a sense of abandonment and disuse. Robinson’s has taken over the mall and this will hopefully start to liven up the place. But in reality, a stop there is a must as it is the last Starbucks until Baguio and the end of civilization as some of us would prefer it.

It is a short distance from Luisita to the junction to Alaminos on the National Highway. It is actually a fork with a roundabout. The Grand Prix Hotel next to the Victory Liner station is a very visible landmark. Turning left on the fork and getting off the National Highway, you enter what I assume is the city proper of Tarlac. As you will often experience along this route, you will get to a one-way road with no signs to inform you what to do or where to go next. Turning right and then left on the first street, we crossed a major bridge after which we stopped to get directions. Fortunately it was a lucky guess and we were soon on the Romulo Highway and back in the countryside.

This road presents a pleasant change from the countryside we are familiar with passing through the National Highway going to Baguio or La Union. The landscape is very green and wooded if not flat and completely planted with rice. The road is asphalted with stretches of concrete and in very good condition. Gasoline stations quickly become few and far in between so I suggest you load up in Tarlac if you are low or particular about your fuel. We also discovered that there are no ATM’s until Alaminos so cash up too for incidentals. Despite the pesky tricycles slowing us down on the road, the towns flew by very quickly and we finally got a view of the sea somewhere between Labrador and Sual. Sual is big of fish with numerous stalls selling fresh catch along the road. Watermelon seemed to be in season too.

The drive from Tarlac to Alaminos is about another 2 hours. Alaminos is the last major town heading the opposite direction from Dagupan and Lingayen. It is really quite small but relatively busy. A mall has gone up since the last time I stopped there 3 or 4 years ago for lunch at McDonald’s on the way to Subic from Baguio. They now have Chowking and the ever present Jolibee as well. All the major banks also have branches there including BPI where we got some money. In the heart of Alaminos is a junction with one branch going to Zambales, another going to Bolinao and the third going to the wharves where you take a boat to Hundred Islands which is a place I must revisit soon. On our way to Subic from Bolinao we take a turn in Bani to Zambales that would meet up with the road starting at this fork.

Alaminos to Bolinao is another hour and a half. We missed the turn to the resorts and stopped at the town proper where we saw this magnificently old church. Getting directions to the resort area, we promised to return to explore the church on the way to Subic. It was another 10 kilometer drive on mostly unpaved road on the way to Puerto del Sol, our first stop. We passed a number of small resorts and I was starting to get worried about the quality of accommodations here specially with our business in mind. Puerto del Sol turned out to be quite a pleasant surprise and nothing near what we expected.

Puerto del Sol is a statement of class and quality. The beach is not that great but the golden brown sand is a great combination for the view of the breakers in the distance. The pool makes up for the swimming you miss in the ocean and the surrounding gardens, arranged and trimmed to perfection, almost obscure the Mediterranean style clusters of rooms made up in simplistic elegance. This theme flows into the dining area which has that old home feel with matching décor and furniture. Staying here comes with a price but worth every penny if you can afford it.

We visited other resorts which paled in comparison but had a treat at the Bolinao lighthouse which was along the way. The short climb rewards you with a sweeping view. The lighthouse and the adjoining building are very old but there was no information to be had as it was completely deserted although the lighthouse itself seems secured and self sustained with solar power and all.]]> Tue, 18 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.blogabond.com/TripView.aspx?tripID=4476 http://www.blogabond.com/CommentView.aspx?commentID=37648 0 16.3888889 119.8916667 We got to know our host and prospective business partner over a nice lunch and got down to business right after. After a bit of negotiating and a lot of banter, we were done by 2:30 PM, signed contract and all. By 3:00 PM we were on a SuperCat headed back to Batangas. How I wish I had more meetings like this. I hope to be able to visit again to see more of Calapan and possibly have a drink with Arnold who is a real nice guy.

The SuperCat is newer than the ferry we took in the morning. The only downside is that they stuffed too many seats in the cabin making for a tight and rather uncomfortable ride. In any case, we slept most of the way back and were in Batangas by 4:00 PM. We wanted to have a snack before hitting the road but that would have meant going into Batangas City which did not appeal to any of us. We decided to just push on and have an early dinner in Rose and Grace or in Leslies in Sto. Tomas.

The Star Toll was just a light as the morning drive and we were in Sto. Tomas by about 5:30PM. Unfortunately, this is the hour when most factories along the road let their employees off so the traffic was heavy and the drive very slow. The restaurants we planned on eating in were on the wrong side of the road and it was going to be a real hassle crossing the traffic on the national highway so we decided to push on a have dinner in Alabang instead. Even more unfortunate was the even heavier traffic on SLEX. We each had a cup of coffee in one of the gasoline stations about halfway to Alabang and finally rolled into Festival Mall by about 8:00 PM. We had a bit of a feast at Serye to reward ourselves and I was home before 10:00 PM, tired but satisfied from the otherwise pleasant jaunt and a mission accomplished.

Calapan Ro-RO

Our Fast Craft Ferry to Calapan

Homeward on Star Toll

We were actually planning to bring the car over by Ro-Ro (Roll On – Roll Off) but decided against it as the hotel was picking us up from the Calapan pier and there was really nowhere else to go. This was a good thing because the Ro-Ro ship we saw was literally a rust-bucket if you ever saw one. It also took the Ro-Ro boats 2 hours to get to Calapan as compared to the 1 hour of fast-craft ferries.

The ferry ride was uneventful and quite pleasant. The remaining coastline of Batangas is dotted with a number of oil refineries. They are quite a site at night as they are all lit up and there is usually flame coming out of some smoke stacks or vents. The seas were very calm and there was very little motion except between tip of Batangas and Verde Island and between Verde Island and Mindoro. The body of water between Batangas and Mindoro is called Verde Island Passage and connects the China Sea with the Pacific Ocean. Acting as a funnel of sorts, the currents can be brutal. I have seen both sharks and dolphins on previous crossings. On one particular night crossing we were treated to phosphorescence all the way.

Tip of Batangas

Passing Ships

Verde Island

Alabang was quite busy for that time of the day and we were glad to be getting on the SLEX. Unfortunately, the pace was slow-going due to the road work going on all the way to the exit to Sto. Tomas, Batangas. This work has been going on for so long and there seems to be no improvement nor end in sight. It almost appears that they are dragging it out. I just dread to learn how much more they will charge for toll after they complete the improvements.

Rust-bucket Ro-Ro in Batangas

Batangas Pier

Oil Refineries on Batangas Coast

I might also add that Bacolod is my favorite place to shop. They have all the regular shops in the malls but there are still the boutiques of old that I always check out. I got all my overrun Nautica shirts in a shop called Mix and on this trip got a pair of the lastest style of Sperry Topsiders which I have not seen in Manila in another called Pelts, both in the Robinsons Mall or Rob as the locals call it. With all the old houses and affluence of the past, Bacolod is also a good place to get antiques. For sure, these people have taste and style in a class of their own.

The trip soon came to end and it did not feel like we were gone for 10 days. It did not feel like we had done much but that was the whole point of the trip. Still, we had fun including the trip from Dumaguete to Hinoba-an. Getting back to Manila on a Saturday gave me a chance to regain my bearings before getting back to work. The trip was also intended as a break after the worries and emotional upheavals related to the illness and death of my mother so she was never far from my mind. Since my wife is primarily responsible for the care and welfare of the kids, I found myself with nothing and no one to worry about for a change. This left a big empty feeling within. A consoling thought is that she has gone ahead to a different kind of trip and adventure which we will all follow at some point in time. It was time to let go.

Happy trails!

Guimaras afar

Bulata afar

Dining in Louise with Friends

Louise Dining Room

A short tricycle ride brought us to the home of my mother-in-law and we must have looked a sight as she could not suppress her laughter upon seeing us but was very apologetic for being the cause of our travails. We had endless glasses of cold water to clear the dust from our throats but it took several showers before I felt properly cleansed and fit. It took two days for me to recover any sense of feel in my rear and for the pain from the bumps and bruises to go away. We did not venture far from the house for the rest of our stay except to go for a swim in Happy Valley and to visit with some family of the wife. Being one of our regular vacation spots, I have written several other entries about Hinoba-an so I will skip further narative on the place.

Approaching Hinoba-an

Sipalay view

Path

House

Trees

Garden

Before all this moaning and groaning started, we were oblivious of our fate and still excited about the ride ahead. It started pleasantly enough as the countryside in this neck of the woods still very rural and still unmarred by developments. Inescapably, new houses and some mansion-like structures of the nouveau middle class and elite dot the roadside as they do in the rest of the country. Past Bacong, the first town after Dumaguete, there is Dauin, site to numerous dive resorts and jump off point to Apo Island. Further are Zamboanguita and Siaton, the southern most tip of the province of Oriental and of the entire island of Negros. From here the countryside starts to get wilder with Bayawan as the last outpost. Basay is the next and last town of Negros Oriental and here starts the agony until the town proper of Hinoba-an on the Occidental side.

By the way, I have heard some locals and in particular some acquaintances from Bais refer to Dumaguete as Doomsville. I can't recall the reason for this but the name stuck. I really do not know the place that well to make a judgement but the people I have met from there I have liked including an old buddy Marichelle Teves-Magalona who is based there. I hope to get a chance to know the place better some day.

On the ferry to Dumaguete

Stopover in Tagbilaran

Port of Dumaguete

Oriental countryside

Hidden valley

Mountain roads

There are several ways to get to Bacolod from Cebu and the most civilized manner is to fly. But civilized we always ain’t. Itching for a bit of adventure, we opted to take the ferry to Dumaguete. There are two ferries leaving daily from Cebu to Dumaguete and both leave between 6 and 7 AM. The ride was smooth as the seas were calm. Including a stopover at Tagbilaran, Bohol, the boat ride took under 5 hours. From Dumaguete, there are buses that go to Bacolod over the mountains via Mabinay in Kabankalan. This cuts across the island of Negros heading first north on the eastern side of Oriental to Bais. The trip to Kabankalan from Dumaguete via Mabinay would take about 3 hours. Since our first stop was Hinoba-an, we would have to take another 3 hour bus ride south from Kabankalan for a total of 6 hours. There are also buses going the western route crossing over from Oriental at Bayawan directly into Hinoba-an in the Occidental side taking only 5 hours. The latter seemed like the best way to go and go we did for the ride of our life.

Miren in Arano's

Angel Ibarlucea (aka Arano)

Water Mirage

Touted to be world-class, the SCTEx is currently 93.77 kilometers long stretching from Mabalacat, Tarlac to just before the Tipo gate of the Subic Bay complex. There is an access ramp giving motorists the option to exit onto the National Road leading to Olongapo. Apparently, plans are already afoot to extend this north from Tarlac all the way to Rosario, La Union where the fork to Baguio and Ilocos is. I have also heard that the road will also extend east to Dingalan, Quezon which will be very welcomed as it will open up the northern Quezon and the Cagayan Valley area.

Awesome Countryside

The old route to Subic from the NLEX would take you through San Fernando, Bacolor, Guagua, Sta. Rita, Sasmoan and Lubao in Pampanga and Dinalupihan in Bataan. Travel time on this stretch would take up to 2 hours mostly dependent on traffic in Lubao. We made it in under an hour on the SCTEx running at the maximum prescribed 100 KPH speed limit. We could have made it much quicker if not for the ever present patrol cars on the road.

Carved Mountain

Getting on the SCTEx from the NLEX was simpler than the instructions we got from a newspaper clipping from the day before. This caused a bit of confusion with so many options coming from or going to Clark or Tarlac and involving the use of the National Highway. We drove down to the last main exit gate which is in Dau. We only started seeing signs to SCTEx at this point. After about a kilometer or so there was a sign to exit to apparently what is the Clark Logistics Gate. This will take you over the NLEX and over the National Highway and onto the interchange getting onto the SCTEx. In case you get disoriented specially for first-timers, watch out for the directional signs. If I am not mistaken this is the only time you actually see a sign directing you to Subic. Make a mistake and you end up heading for Tarlac City.

Green Fields

There was one word that came to mind when first driving the SCTEx and this was AWESOME! The road is magnificent and the countryside (still) pristine. It is amazing how the road cuts through some hills to keep it as level as possible. On some stretches you see it go on and on in a straight line as far as the eye can see. In the midday heat on the way back, the road in the distance shimmered like there was water on it. The pictures we took will not come near doing it justice.

Head For The Hills

For now it is a long and lonely stretch without any services areas nor the gas stations and commercial complexes that will surely sprout soon enough. There will be 4 interchanges between the Clark Logistics and Tipo Gates but you are committed either way until these are built. Toll for this span is P112 then there is the P19 on the Tipo gate if immediately entering Subic.

Lahar River

We headed for Angeles City before heading home the following day. On the way back you practically find yourself inside Clark but there is still no interchange to exit from the SCTEx. Frustratingly, you will need to exit again at the Clark Logistics Interchange and get off onto the National Highway. Again, should you get disoriented, watch out for the sign that will direct you to Angeles City and not Tarlac City. You are now on the National Highway and traffic will be heavier. It is not a long drive to the Clark gate and you will soon be crossing the Mabalacat – Angeles border. If you are in need for a meal or a snack, keep an eye out for A La Crème which will be on your right shortly after crossing the border and right before the Clark gate. The steaks and pastas are good and the cakes and pastries divine.

Misty Mountains

While we are on the topic of food, you might as well know that my passion for driving around is only second to food and to eating. In Subic, there are a growing number of food outlets including some Manila brands but 3 establishments standout. First there is the the MeatPlus Cafe where you get (what else but) good steaks and pure beef burgers. Located on Sampson Road, Meatplus is something of landmark being centrally located and surrounded by a number of duty free shops. Second is Seafood by the Sea which obviously specializes in seafood. Located along Waterfront Drive, you can opt to dine outdoors by the beach. It has a rather unique menu, one portion enumerating the different seafood they serve and the lower part the different ways they can be cooked. A bit pricey but kudos to the cooks. Finally there is the merienda of the of the Subic International Hotel - Delta. For P99 you get to eat all you can. I think the place is called the Terrace Cafe and is located along either Sta. Rita St. or Canal Road. I was assured that breakfast, lunch and dinner are just as good and equally fairly priced. The place is cool and cozy. Coffee is also good and served in full-sized mugs. Not a place for finicky non-smokers though but I smoke so what the heck.

Long Long Road

We traveled on a weekday so there weren’t too many cars on the road although there were more people than usual in Subic but this could be attributed to the Labor Day holiday. In any case, there is more development in Subic and the general feeling and mood is optimistic and upbeat. Thankfully this project has not been touched by controversy as most other projects in the country have but as in any new project there is contention and the farmers are moaning about being displaced from their plots and the businessmen complaining about livestock on the road. Well, if our problems could only be that simple.

Out For A Drive

Happy trails!]]> Tue, 29 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.blogabond.com/TripView.aspx?tripID=2607 http://www.blogabond.com/CommentView.aspx?commentID=20213 0 15.4333333 119.9 At the end of NLEX turn right (not left going to Dau) going to Concepcion. This is a well posted alternate route going through La Paz and Victoria. After Victoria is Pura where you have a choice to turn left ending up in Panigui or right going towards Guimba. Shortly before Guimba you turn left towards Cuyapo and Rosales. At this point you have bypassed the roads of Tarlac. In Rosales you can turn left to Carmen or right through Sta. Maria, Asingan and San Manuel to bypass Urdaneta. In San Manuel, you turn left going to Binalonan. There is another turn that takes you all the way to Pozzorubio but my map does not show details of that area.

Rodel Andaya, Liezel Javellana & Kathy Sulit

Hotel in Baguio

After taking care of business in Baguio, we left the following day for Manila departing shortly before 10 AM. We drove straight through to Tarlac and arrived in Luisita at 12:30 PM without taking any detours as the traffic was light. We left Tarlac at about 2:00 PM and had lunch in a stop along the NLEX. I was home by about 5:30 PM grateful for missing the traffic on EDSA.

It's funny how everything seem to get smaller as you get older and (hopefully) wiser. You wonder how your family fit in a small house that seemed so large when you lived in it as a child. Or a recollection of your grandfather as a tall and imposing figure when your mother tells you he was barely over five and a half feet in height. As a young boy traveling north, I used to get the impression that the plains of Central Luzon went on forever to the distant mountains far away in the horizon. This last trip has made me realize that the Philippines is not very big at all. More importantly, it has brought home the point that we must take care and make proper use of the land because there isn't too much of it. I wonder what my grandchildren will see of this land when their time comes to visit it.

Happy Trails!]]> Thu, 06 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.blogabond.com/TripView.aspx?tripID=2287 http://www.blogabond.com/CommentView.aspx?commentID=17840 0 16.4163889 120.5930556 Cabanatuan heading north you will pass the town of Talavera and then you come to the fork leading either to San Jose and further north on to the Cagayan Valley or west to Guimba where we were heading. Guimba is a nice rural town and sort of a crossroad. On the map it is on a major road that ends up in Paniqui in Tarlac via Pura and Ramos, which was our intended destination to proceed to Baguio. Unfortunately or fortunately, it was the town fiesta and the main roads of the town were closed and we got confused after a detour and ended up taking the road going to Talugtog immediately to the north of Guimba. Again, the few signs that were available were confusing. We backtracked to Guimba where we asked for directions but we once again took a wrong turn and ended up on a road practically adjacent to the road to Talugtog. There was some discussion going on between myself and my passengers and it was nearing 5 PM and I was getting tired so I made a command decision to push on the route we were on which showed on the map as ending up in Rosales and Carmen in Pangasinan bypassing not just the whole of Tarlac but a major busy portion of Pangasinan as well. The state of the roads was a major concern which turned out to be unfounded. Surprisingly the road was well posted with signs to Baguio which was very reassuring. Note that the road to Talugtog was not entirely a mistake. Upon reaching Talugtog, you turn left and end up on the road going to Cuyapo and onto Rosales. Turning right on Talugtog brings you back east to Munoz past the fork after Talavera.

Nueva Ecija

After Carmen you just have Urdanta to contend with and then you are home free. There is an alternate route from Villasis that ends up as far as Pozorrubio but we did not want to get caught in unfamiliar roads in the dark. We stopped in Sison at around 5:30 PM for a leg-stretch and arrived in Baguio at 7 PM.
]]> Thu, 06 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.blogabond.com/TripView.aspx?tripID=2287 http://www.blogabond.com/CommentView.aspx?commentID=17839 0 17.6833333 120.7333333 Cabanatuan around 12:00 PM. Cabanatuan is quite progressive. There are numerous car dealerships along the highway as well as high end subdivisions. There are plenty of small malls along the way and SM will soon make its presence in the area. After visiting the hotel, we had lunch at Rustica which is highly recommended. They have a branch in Tarlac City. The fare is Filipino. A must-try is the fish head soup.

Nueva Ecija

There are quite a number of roads between Cabanatuan and Tarlac to its west. Without backtracking to Gapan, you can end up in any major town in Tarlac and Northern Pampanga. The roads are all well paved and the views very scenic. Unfortunately, road signs are very poor to almost nonexistent.
]]> Thu, 06 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.blogabond.com/TripView.aspx?tripID=2287 http://www.blogabond.com/CommentView.aspx?commentID=17838 0 15.4869444 120.9675 Gapan which is a major population center but not as heavy as Plaridel. Between Gapan and Cabanatuan are San Leonardo and Sta. Rosa. I noted several places selling cheap tilapia as well as fingerlings. Care must be taken driving this stretch as the asphalt on the road is uneven making steering difficult. Volume of traffic was still on the heavy side but overtaking was easy as there was very little southbound traffic.

Bulacan

Bulacan

While there is one notable major road, the route is poorly posted. We came across some forks and there were no signs indicating which led where. On the other hand, I made my first discovery in Gapan where I spied a sign with a left arrow indicating 45 kilometers to San Fernando, Pampanga. Referring to my map, I saw that we could have exited NLEX at San Fernando and gotten to Gapan through the towns of Mexico, Sta. Ana and Arayat in Pampanga and Cabiao and San Isidro in Nueva Ecija bypassing Plaridel, Baliuag, San Ildefonso and San Miguel in Bulacan. In fact you can even skip Mexico, Pamganga by exiting before San Fernando at San Simon.
]]> Thu, 06 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.blogabond.com/TripView.aspx?tripID=2287 http://www.blogabond.com/CommentView.aspx?commentID=17837 0 15.3075 120.9452778 Paranaque. There was the usual rush hour traffic on Sucat Road to get onto the SLEX which was mercifully smooth. I picked up my first passenger in EDSA corner Buendia at around 7:45 and met up with the rest of the team at by 8:15 along EDSA near the GMA station. We stopped for breakfast along the NLEX and exited at Sta. Rita at about 10:30.

Ready To Roll

Home

Sucat Road

EDSA

The first town out of the NLEX Sta. Rita exit is Plaridel in the province of Bulacan and immediately we were met by slow moving traffic on a single lane road. And to think that this is the gateway to the Cagayan Valley! The area is densely populated and very commercial. A number of provincial buses stopping along the way to pick up passengers did not help. After Plaridel, you will go through the towns of Baliuag, San Ildefonso and San Miguel before entering the province of Nueva Ecija. The traffic gets progressively lighter and the countryside opens up more and more as to you travel further away from Plaridel.

SLEX

NLEX

NLEX

Pampanga