One Fine Day in Bagasbas Beach, Daet, Camarines Norte

Bagasbas Beach is famous, not only to the locals, but even to foreign visitors. with its long stretched of beach, about 2 kilometers, with powdery sand. The beach faces sunrise from the shores of Daet. For a public beach, free for everyone, it is relatively clean...free of waste other than seaweeds or dried leaves.

Open cottages for rent lined part of the shoreline. Surf boards are available for rent and so are instructors for a standard rate. 

Going to Bagasbas Beach Last November 01 is a spur of a moment decision…not part of the things to do while we were in Bicol.

The night before, one of my brother wanted to go to the nearby town of Jose Panganiban at four in the morning to buy meat for our meals the whole day. I am not sure how it happened, but in between asking who wants to accompany him…he mentioned Bagasbas Beach and their recent trip with some of our nieces and nephews.

To make the story short, right there and then…we decided to go to Bagasbas Beach. I conducted a meeting with the children, ask them if they want to go and if they do they should sleep early…or they will be left behind. We will have breakfast at Jollibee Daet (the nearest outlet from Batobalani).

After the children left, we discuss about the car arrangement. There are only 2 cars available for 19 passengers: 8 adults, 3 teens, 7 kids and 1 baby…excluded are 4 adults. How in the world are we going to fit in? Then Aster came to the rescue by saying, “I will try if there will be an available van that can be borrowed”. And so it’s settled…

The day of the trip, we were informed that there is no available van. Good thing, my only brother-in-law arrived from Manila…so we have 2 cars and 1 SUV. “Ang galing talaga ni Lord”…perfect timing.

When we left Batobalani, it seemed like it will rain. Initially, Jonjie and I will go directly to Jollibee, to buy our breakfast. But we have 3 kids on board which we think “sayang naman ang moment” with their cousins on the beach if they are going to tag along with us. Jonjie and I agreed that we will bring them first to the beach and if it’s raining, we will pack and go. If not, the two of us will go to Jollibee. Right after we talked, I received a text message from my sister with the same line of thought.

We reached the place. The sun is shining with no hint of rain. The children did not waste any minute…off they go to the beach. I decided to leave Jonjie to take pictures and requested another one of my brother to drive me to Jollibee.

Even the youngest among the children is clearly enjoying the fine sand and the sea. Look at that face...the eyes...the smile. He is just so adorable...

Eating our breakfast...kanya-kanyang puwesto...para-paraan lang...

When we returned, they are already off the beach…hungry…waiting for the food. But no children in sight. Jonjie said, "they are rinsing themselves, some are changing clothes". I was surprised because swimming is not part of the plan.

Apparently, our daughter Daniz started it all. She said she lost her footings and got wet...and the rest is...well, they enjoyed themselves...

I missed the fun, the sun and the sand but I have their stories and the beautiful pictures…

The Cousins, from L to R: Lia, JB, Janna, Daniz (at the back), Jolo, Carmelle, Jovanni, Enzo

Throwback. Daniz first visit in Bagasbas Beach with her cousins, from L to R: Neil in blue, Carmelle, Daniz, Jovanni, Jolo, John Dino, Janna. Taken last August 2008

Footnote:

• The road to the beach from the town proper is already paved and improved, not like the last time that we visited the area. Going there is just a breeze…except the traffic when exiting the town proper because of the large numbers of tricycles and vehicles parked along the side of the roads.
• Daniz wanted to go surfing but we can only stay for a few hours...
• We hailed from Batobalani, one of the 27 barangays of Paracale, Camarines Norte. 

You may also read:

• Journal of our Bicol Road Trip this Undas 2014

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Undas 2014: Journal of Our Bicol Road Trip

Travel time from Mabalacat, Pampanga to Paracale, Camarines Norte during ordinary weekend would only take us about 9~10 hours by car with an occasional restroom break and one coffee or snack break.

Our regular route: North Luzon Expressway > Skyway > South Luzon Expressway > Maharlika Highway > Road leading to our barangay.

This Undas 2014 was so different…in a big way. Getting there took us 14½ hours as well as going back. It’s due to traffic jam caused by the surge of commuters which was expected during this time. But the major reason was the collapsed bridge in Santa Elena, linking Camarines Norte to Metro Manila, due to the onslaught of Typhoon Mario (with international code name Fung Wong).

We, and all the commuters to and from Camarines Norte, had to endure the long journey via Rolando R. Andaya Highway (commonly known as Quirino Highway). It is a regional highway traversing the towns of: Tagkawayan, Quezon; Ragay, Camarines Sur; Lupi, Camarines Sur and Sipocot, Camarines Sur. It is the shortest way to Naga City and the province of Camarines Sur.

But when it was used as the emergency detour going to Camarines Norte, it means an additional 3 ~ 4 hours travel time. With this route, we have to travel across Sipocot to reach the other side of Maharlika Highway passing the busy side of Sipocot and Lupi and then the towns of Camarines Norte which are: Basud, Daet, Talisay, Labo and finally, Paracale (my home town). We use same route, in reverse, in going back to Pampanga…with a few difference when we used diversion roads to avoid the long queue of vehicles on the national roads.

During the entire road trip, I posted bits and pieces of information with pictures on Facebook. And when I reported for work, most of my FB friends who followed our road trip commented, “napagod ako sa byahe ninyo” (I got tired with your travel).

I decided to consolidate all those FB posts plus more of the pictures we have taken along the way. I will be using the time the pictures were taken…not the time of the Facebook post. The trip hashtags: #JADSpirits, #roadtriptobicol #longesttriptobicolever,

October 31, 5:48am

We just passed the “Welcome to Bicolandia” arch (boundary of Quezon and Camarines Norte when I posted the first Facebook post.

Good morning, Everyone!!! Rise & shine! After more than 9 hours on the road…from Pampanga. From the gateway to Bicolandia…at least 100 kms, around 2 hours travel time to our destination.

  

October 31, 6:08am

We were traveling along Tagkawayan, Quezon…

Sights of Quirino Highway! Emergency detour to the towns of Camarines Norte due to downed bridge in Santa Elena brought about by the recent typhoon.

October 31, 7:33am

Part of the comments of the second FB post and some. We were on the Camarines Sur part of the highway…120 kms away from our destination.

Quirino Highway - Ragay, Camarines Sur

  Sipocot, Camarines Sur...5kms to Maharlika Highway

October 31, 9:30am,

After seeing endless roads, trees, sky and vehicles of different types and sizes, we reached the capital of Camarines Norte…Daet.

After almost 13 hours on the road…

We had brunch, Dada were able to have a short rest, stretch his back. And look at our Daniz in her PJs…as if she’s just inside our house…wagas.

 

This is Froggy...13 hours after it left the car wash in Mabalacat, Pampanga

October 31, 10:45am

Not part of my FB post.

We reached the archway to my hometown…around 20 minutes more to reach our final destination.

Footnote:

• Some part of Quirino Highway is under construction…so we experienced “stop” and “go”. From time to time, we also braved some sudden rain fall.

You may also read:

• One Fine Day in Bagasbas Beach, Daet, Camarines Norte

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Unexplored Labnig Beach of Paracale, Camarines Norte

Camarines Norte became popular to tourists, locals and foreigners alike, because of Calaguas Island with its powdery sand that offers peace and serenity to visitors. But unknown to many, including myself, there is another unexplored paradise nearby...a hidden cove called Labnig Beach. From Paracale, it can be reached using a motorized boat in about 5 minutes

Labnig is one of the barangays which are in the outlying area of Municipality of Paracale. Paracale with a population of about 46,856 and its 27 barangays belong to the partly urban areas in the Philippines. While some of the barangays developed modern urban structures, some others, especially those which are seated in the outlying areas, remained rural.

I’ve heard of Labnig since I was small from my maternal grandmother, Lola Nunang…but I’ve never been there. Then last year, Inay mentioned that Tio Simon, his brother who was a stroke-patient, chose to stay at their house in Labnig Beach to recuperate. She said that the place is very beautiful and tranquil and that my brother is interested in owning a small land there. 

Last August 18, a day before the 40^th day of Inay’s death, with some of our relatives, we traveled to Labnig. The main purpose is to visit Tio Simon, who was not able to attend Inay’s funeral due to his condition and also to discuss some family matters.

I do not know what to expect. The last time I saw Tio Simon, he was a big, huggable uncle with a twinkling eyes when he smile. And when I saw him, the smile and the twinkling eyes are still the same except that this time there are tears in those eyes…tears of happiness because he saw us. I can hug him still and he hugged me in return…but with just his left able hand. Only his body has changed, but his mind and his spirit is still the same…the proud, spiritual man that I remember him to be. He temporarily forgot my name but after a while I heard him call me Cita, in his loud but soft voice I remember so well…his heart remember my name.

After the initial greetings, “how-are-you” and “how-have-you-been”, they get down to serious family talk. And while they are busy, I decided to explore the area and take some pictures…

And then…I do not know what happen. But I found myself tasting the fish sinigang in tomatoes and saying a little sour is better and requesting calamansi to add to the taste. Then, I was grilling the fish. And it’s time for lunch…

After lunch, I was at the beach again taking shot, after shot, after shot of pictures…of sky, and sea and sand.

It was a wonderful day. Seeing the happiness in Tio Simon’s face is just an awesome feeling coupled it with seeing the Labnig beach for the first time…I had a blast.

We will definitely come back with Daniz, our “mermaid” daughter, who took to water even before she can walk…who can swim from six in the morning until ten in the evening with just the mealtime as her rest in between.

Labnig Beach…we will be back!!! And we will enjoy everything beautiful about you…

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