Livin' High and Takin' it Easy

Surfing the Philippines: North Swell Events

20 Aug 2012 No Comments

in Surfing Tags: Bagasbas, Calicoan, camarines norte, Eastern Samar, Ilocos Norte, La Union, north swell, Pagudpud, Siargao, surfing, surfing 2012, Surigao del Sur, Urbiztondo

Daet, Camarines Norte. August 30 – Sept 2, 2012

Detailed blog post is HERE.

San Juan, La Union. September 7 to 9, 2012

Detailed blog post is HERE.

Eastern Samar. October 9 to 14, 2012

Detailed blog post is HERE.
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3rd Pacific Kaos Camarines Norte Aug 30-Sept 2, 2012

20 Aug 2012 No Comments

in Camarines Norte, Surfing Tags: Bagasbas, camarines norte, LokalSoul, surfing

The Mess That Is Calaguas Island

02 May 2012 45 Comments

in Camarines Norte, Travel Tags: Bicol, Calaguas, camarines norte, CNN, tourism, travel

My blog title may be misleading but two days ago, my Facebook news feed had some really interesting things going on. It started with a blog that appeared on Tramping Philippines:

Nasa Calaguas Parin Ba Ako? had a video of the Calaguas we knew and the Calaguas that the traveler and concerned citizen found on that Saturday night in the beach of Mahabang Buhangin (Long Beach).

The Calaguas is a group of islands in the Philippine province of Camarines Norte. It includes the islands of Tinaga, Guintinua and Maculabo and several other minor islands.

Most of the islands are under the administrative jurisdiction of Vinzons, Camarines Norte while the minor island of Maculabo is under the jurisdiction of the municipality of Paracale, Camarines Norte. The island of Tinaga where the famous long beach called Mahabang Buhangin is located is experiencing influx of tourists in the area despite the absence of accommodation. Campers and backpackers are coming and going daily to experience its powdery white sands. (Source: Wiki)

I have been to Calaguas myself and blogged about it here and here. I can understand the sentiment and know exactly what is going on. Unlike my friends, I opted not to say anything about the issue. Two days later though, I found myself being plagued by it because of the number of posts appearing on my Facebook feed. It turns out, except for concerned citizen on Tramping Philippines and the person who wrote on the Calaguas Island Facebook page, I knew all the people involved here. Now I think would be a good time to share what I know and what I think. I am sorry for all those who will be affected by this.
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Looking Forward to Summer!

19 Mar 2012 No Comments

in Travel Tags: Bagasbas beach, camarines norte, diliman republic, oneill, summer 2012, summer surf festival, superkini, up rashguard

This April, the 5th Bagasbas Summer Surf Festival is happening on April 13-15!

We were there during the very first Bagasbas Summer Surf Festival in 2008 and we we’re also there last year. We arrived and left early so I wasn’t able to fully enjoy the activities but this year I hope to have more fun!

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Travel Factor’s Super Stoked Weekend! April 15-17, 2011

31 Mar 2011 2 Comments

in Travel Factor Tags: camarines norte, Camarines Sur, Travel Factor

How can I not love Travel Factor? How can I not love my friends? They go out of their way to go to my bar in Naga City. This was originally just a Calaguas-Bagasbas trip, but since I now have a bar in Naga City and on the 15th, I have an event, Razorback at Wharf Galley Rock Cafe, they are coming to Naga! Oh-some!!!!

Camarines Super Stoked Weekend (April 15-17, 2011)
Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur

From the evil, evil labs of Travel Factor’s research and development department comes its newest creation, the Camarines Super Stoked Weekend!

Wake up to wakeboard in Camsur or just literally bounce around in CWC’s waterpark. Eat your way through Naga’s fiery cuisine and maybe even cap a night off with a rocking performance at Wharf Galley, a home-grown rock cafe. Head on to sublime Calaguas for some ultimate beach bumming and then finally, sail on to Bagasbas for some pounding surf. Prepare for some serious stoke.

Pain killers not included.
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20 Things to do in Calaguas, Camarines Norte

06 Jan 2011 1 Comment

in Camarines Norte Tags: Bicol, Calaguas, camarines norte, photography, travel

So I came up with this idea of making a “Things to do in Calaguas Island” and first one up is…

1. Go fishing with your best buddy.

“Where be my net at?” as fisherman fumbles on his boat.

2. Play around in/with the sand.

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I’m Well Nourished When I’m Happy

07 Dec 2010 No Comments

in Camarines Norte Tags: Bagasbas beach, camarines norte, Daet, surfing, travel

Someone told me I’m malnourished. It just so happened that today I was looking through some old photos of me, and guess what, I was not always malnourished! Skinny, like the rest of my family, but definitely NOT malnourished.

Bagasbas Beach, Daet, Camarines Norte

And this was a photo I accidentally found on Flickr. I forget how I came to find this photo, but I did. Its title was actually, “Inspired by Love” – for what reason, I have no idea.

(yes, I’m goofy)

Angku and Ewok in Daet

07 Dec 2010 No Comments

in Personal Tags: Bagasbas beach, camarines norte, Daet, Ewok

I found this old photo of me, taken in Bagasbas, Daet, Camarines Norte, back in May 2008. We had driven all the way from Manila, and took our dog Ewok with us, for my 26th birthday weekend. We spent the weekend surfing and doing all kinds of fun activities at the first Bagasbas Surf Camp. This was me after spending the morning out surfing.

Travel Factor’s UBBE Calaguas

04 Feb 2010 No Comments

in Camarines Norte, Travel Factor Tags: Bicol, Calaguas, camarines norte, travel, Travel Factor

UBBE Calaguas + SURFVIVOR Bagasbas (Apr 17-18, 2010)
Camarines Norte, Philippines

BEACH BUMMING + Surfing + Skimboarding in ONE WEEKEND

PACKAGE RATE
P3,900 per pax (ALL IN) – if the group fills 1 bus

PACKAGE INCLUSIONS
- Roundtrip air-con bus: Manila to Daet – Daet to Manila
- Overnight accommodation at Calaguas Island (1 Nipa hut with CR and fresh water + Camping Tents)
- Chartered boat service from port of Daet to Calaguas Island
- Camp meals at Calaguas Island (Day 1:lunch, dinner, Day 2 breakfast)
- Other meals: Day 1: Breakfast, Day 2: Lunch and Dinner
- Guide fees and Environmental fees at Calaguas Island
- Use of skimboards at Calaguas Island
- Half-day room accommodation at Bagasbas tourist inn (for rest & shower)
- Travel Insurance
- Travel Factor Souvenir: ID, Lanyard

Not included:
- Surf Lesson at Bagasbas Beach with surfboard rental and instructor (P400 per pax)

ITINERARY
Day 0, Apr 16 Friday
10:00 PM Assembly at McDo Quezon Ave
11:00 PM Departure to Makati
11:45 PM Pick Up participants at Shell McKinley, Makati
12:00 MN Departure to Daet

Day 1, Apr 17 Saturday
07:00 AM ETA Daet;
09:00 AM ETA Calaguas Island
Set Camp, BEACH BUMMING, Explore the Island
12:00 NN Lunch
more BEACH BUMMING and skimboarding
07:00 PM Dinner and Bonfire Night

Day 2, Apr 18 Sunday
08:00 AM Breakfast
09:00 AM Break camp
10:00 AM Depart camp
12:00 NN ETA Bagasbas, Daet. check-in at Tourist Inn. Lunch. Rest. Explore Bagasbas Beach.
02:00 – 4:00 PM Option to Surf or Skim c/o CamNorte Surfing Association
07:00 PM Check out. Dinner
09:30 PM ETD Daet to Manila via bus (travel time: 7 hours)

Day 3, Apr 19 Monday
3:30 AM ETA Cubao

BOOKING AND RESERVATION GUIDELINES
* Deadline of Registration: Mar 15, 2010 (or earlier)
* Book & Buy Policy. First come, first serve basis.
* No regform, No reservation. To reserve, please fill-out registration form then send to tours@travelfactor.org

Subject: Calaguas – Registration (Apr 17-18, 2010)
* Then you will receive thru email account details where to deposit payment (BPI). For group reservations, please send your registration forms in one file & email.
* Everyone is required to download and submit registration form
* Please register only if you are 100% sure you are joining. And if after registering you need to back-out, please have the courtesy to notify us properly thru email.
* Full payment must be settled within the agreed timeframe. Should you need extension, please coordinate with Travel Factor
* Non-refundable but transferable to other person. Travel Factor must be notified asap or at least 5 days before the trip. In this case, the “proxy” must fill-out and submit registration form.
* The payments made to us are only refundable if we cancel due to weather issues or fortuitous events.
* Upon payment, you will receive a copy of complete guidelines, including things to bring, itinerary, reminders, etc…

FOR INQUIRIES/COMMENTS/SUGGESTIONS
email your concerns to tours@travelfactor.org with your name and contact number
Subject: Calaguas – Inquiries (Apr 17-18, 2010)

or contact Travel Factor at 02-359-2434 / 0917-8475341

DISCLAIMER
Recommended for fun-loving & adventurous people who would like to meet new friends while travelling. Be prepared of the long travel time and the ‘wiwi’ moments on public restrooms.

For more information, click on the image or visit the Travel Factor page at Multiply.

***

A visit to the island of Calaguas is long overdue. It seems to me that I (and Ryan) are the only ones who have not been to the island among all our Travel Factor friends. I know a lot of people in this area and a visit to the island for a day should not be too difficult. I go to Daet often enough. I have a lot of high school friends who have been there and whom I could go with.  I could even organize a trip for the entire family if so desired. My mom keeps saying we should go.

I wasn’t really friends with TF people in 2008, having joined my first trip in March (Ilocos) and met Leia, Rex and Cha there among a good number of others there for the first time. I met Ced for the first time in May 2008 in Bagasbas Beach, after they had just come back from an overnight at the island. I didn’t make it to the legendary Calaguas trip slash Ced’s birthday party in 2009. My baby was barely two weeks old then.

This year I hope to be able to finally step foot on Calaguas Island, dubbed by TF friends as the “Happy Beach”. I don’t mind spending extra (because I have been told by my high school friends that it only cost them P1,000 all-in for two days and one night in the island when they went there on their own, though this cost is coming from Naga City instead of Manila) because I will be with the happy friends that is the Travel Factor. The fun should be worth it. I could always come back..

Surfirsts: A History

26 Jan 2010 No Comments

in Aurora, Camarines Norte, La Union, Travel Tags: Aurora, Bagasbas, Bagasbas beach, Baler, beach, camarines norte, La Union, surfing, travel, Urbiztondo

Baler, Aurora; April 2008

It was in Baler, Aurora that I learned to surf. I went with my grad school friend PJ and her boyfriend, Gerard. I met Daisy Valdez and Jefferson de la Torre for the first time. It was April of 2008.

Jason, also known as Balat and Jeff’s older brother, was the one who taught me how to surf – in Charlie’s Point. I was out there with them, trying to ride big waves for the first time with PJ’s flowered pink fun board. It was indeed, a lot of fun.

Charlie’s Point, Baler, Aurora

Girl determined not to surf that day

Champion surfer Daisy Valdez

Hanging out in front of Surfer’s Inn, Sabang Beach, Baler, Aurora

View the entire set on Flickr here.

More story on Multiply here.

Bagasbas Beach, Daet, Camarines Norte; May 2008

It was the first ever Bagasbas Summer Surf. It was my first time in Bagasbas. More importantly, it was my 26th birthday. This trip was a birthday gift to me.

It was also the first time Ryan drove the car all the way to Bicol and the very first time we took our dog, Ewok, with us on a long trip, or more specifically, a trip to Bicol.

Bagasbas Beach in the early afternoon sun

Ryan and Ewok at the breakwater

Ryan being taught how to skim board

Surfer (name unknown)

Accidentally found this on Flickr. A papparazzi shot. Interestingly, it was titled, “Inspired by Love”. Don’t ask me. I have no idea.

And so this is me.. takin it easy with white water

View the entire set on Flickr here.

Clich here to view more photos of the Bagasbas Summer Surf event on Multiply.

Click here for [more narcissistic] touristy photos.

And click here to view the old blog.

Bacnotan, La Union; July 2008

In my first ever trip to La Union, I did not get to surf in San Juan. We were at Bacnotan for two days instead. First time in La Union, first time in Bacnotan.

Jeff feeling free in Bacnotan

Jefferson dela Torre and Daisy Valdez

(Skinny, skinny me) After an hour or so of surfing in the hot scorching sun

We did stay at Hacienda Peter’s Resort in San Juan so I managed to take a few snapshots of the surf in front as well as the beautiful sunset.

Afternoon glow on a little surfing kid

Click here to view the entire set on Flickr.

Click here to view the story and photos on Multiply.

That surf trip would be the last one in one long year, as I learned I was three weeks pregnant in August of 2008, as I prayed and hoped I would be.

Urbiztondo, San Juan, La Union; July 2009

For this trip, the firsts were…

… first time for Ryan to go to L.U.
… first time to drive the car to L.U.
… Lia’s first time in L.U.
… first time surfing in San Juan

If it weren’t for this post, I would not have realized that I have not managed to upload the photos on Flickr. I did make a blog post of this trip here on this site and made a photo album through Smilebox.

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Click here to go to old post.

I will work on posting the entire set for this trip to Flickr once I am done with this past weekend’s photos.

2008 was a great year for surfing. I went surfing thrice in three different locations.

2009 was dedicated to my daughter. We were literally inseparable for months.

Who knows what 2010 holds?