The Hundred Islands in Pangasinan
The schedule for the meeting with writers in Pangasinan was on a Sunday, and it shoved me good that at 6am, we were on the road to reach Pangasinan by 11am. The SCTEX was lonely, only a few cars were on the road and I was able to have a good view of the highway that made me feel like I was in another country, so clean, so smooth, with such breathtaking views.
We reached Tarlac at 7:30, imagine the fast ride I was enjoying, had breakfast at Chowking Tacrlac, and I was awed at the scenery I saw while traversing Hacienda Luisita. I remembered Ninoy and Cory while we passed the Ninoy Aquino Museum in Tarlac.
What I just don't like is going through palay being dried along the roadside! Yes, it occupies half of the two-lanes road we were coursing through.
We arrived at Pangasinan by 11, just in time for the meeting, I wasn't able to take pictures while there since I was too preoccupied with the meet-up with writers I have only been communicating through my cellphone and through the email. But after the good lunch, one school principal was kind enough to tour us around Binmaley, pointed to us the Lingayen Gulf where McArthur was said to have first landed with his troops.
The creamy colored government buildings were signature colors to welcome the residents of their services. Ilokano, while I cannot really understand the dialect, I have learned to love since I was able to understand and interpret a few of the conversation we had.
The boss treated me to a fine trip to Alaminos, Pangasinan - home of the Hundred Islands. It was awesome, perfect for a lazy day outside the metro where you could soak up and feel the cool breeze of the ocean.
And for sure, it wouldn't be so cool a trip to the hundred islands without the boating experience to be near the protruding islets.
The boat ride was about an hour and we only took the tour without dropping on the islands because we should head back to Manila after that.
The hundred islands, 250 kilometers away from Manila, covers a land area of 1,884 hectares with 123 islands with only 3 developed islands namely the Governor Island, the Children's Island, and Quezon Island.
Pinoy Big Brother House, on Governor's island
Quezon Island
The Hundred Islands, believed to be 2 million years old were also told to be stones Akong threw into the sea...
One of the legends told by old folks who live in the area and passed on to generations of storytelling, is the story of a couple named Akong and Anita. There used to be only one island in the place where the Hundred Islands can be found today. Akong is a fisherman and his wife Anita sells the fish he catches everyday. But discontentment soon crept in Akong’s heart and thought of ways to earn money in an easier and faster way. While he went out to sea one night, Anita had a dream about an old man who visited their hut and told them that if they work hard, they will eventually get rich after three years. She shared this with her husband when he returned but he dismissed her impatiently.
One night, he set out to sea again; his first throw of the net didn’t yield any fish but the second one caught black stones the size of a man’s fist. In disgust, he threw them back to the sea, accompanied by complaints. Just then, he heard a rumbling sound and saw the waves becoming bigger, making him paddle faster towards the shore. Unbeknownst to him, the black stones he threw to the sea became islands. He died that night in his sleep. And once more, the old man appeared in Anita’s dream, telling her about the islands and the fate her husband brought upon himself. Anita just cried as she looked at her dead husband. Read here for another legend of how the islands came to be.
Before, I hear of the hundred islands in legends, and I only saw them in the books I read way back in elementary, The Hundred Islands is more than what the books say to me now.
If I am given a chance to explore it further, way longer than my whirlwind trip to this place, I'd be so glad to bring my children too, as this island is one that will make them proud they are Filipinos.
We reached Tarlac at 7:30, imagine the fast ride I was enjoying, had breakfast at Chowking Tacrlac, and I was awed at the scenery I saw while traversing Hacienda Luisita. I remembered Ninoy and Cory while we passed the Ninoy Aquino Museum in Tarlac.
What I just don't like is going through palay being dried along the roadside! Yes, it occupies half of the two-lanes road we were coursing through.
We arrived at Pangasinan by 11, just in time for the meeting, I wasn't able to take pictures while there since I was too preoccupied with the meet-up with writers I have only been communicating through my cellphone and through the email. But after the good lunch, one school principal was kind enough to tour us around Binmaley, pointed to us the Lingayen Gulf where McArthur was said to have first landed with his troops.The creamy colored government buildings were signature colors to welcome the residents of their services. Ilokano, while I cannot really understand the dialect, I have learned to love since I was able to understand and interpret a few of the conversation we had.
The boss treated me to a fine trip to Alaminos, Pangasinan - home of the Hundred Islands. It was awesome, perfect for a lazy day outside the metro where you could soak up and feel the cool breeze of the ocean.
And for sure, it wouldn't be so cool a trip to the hundred islands without the boating experience to be near the protruding islets.The boat ride was about an hour and we only took the tour without dropping on the islands because we should head back to Manila after that.
The hundred islands, 250 kilometers away from Manila, covers a land area of 1,884 hectares with 123 islands with only 3 developed islands namely the Governor Island, the Children's Island, and Quezon Island.
Shell Island
The islands were really nice, I was fascinated with the lush green,
the rockscapes were awesome. I loved every bit of the tour.
The islands were really nice, I was fascinated with the lush green,the rockscapes were awesome. I loved every bit of the tour.
Pinoy Big Brother House, on Governor's island
Quezon Island
The Hundred Islands, believed to be 2 million years old were also told to be stones Akong threw into the sea...Anita and Akong
One of the legends told by old folks who live in the area and passed on to generations of storytelling, is the story of a couple named Akong and Anita. There used to be only one island in the place where the Hundred Islands can be found today. Akong is a fisherman and his wife Anita sells the fish he catches everyday. But discontentment soon crept in Akong’s heart and thought of ways to earn money in an easier and faster way. While he went out to sea one night, Anita had a dream about an old man who visited their hut and told them that if they work hard, they will eventually get rich after three years. She shared this with her husband when he returned but he dismissed her impatiently.
One night, he set out to sea again; his first throw of the net didn’t yield any fish but the second one caught black stones the size of a man’s fist. In disgust, he threw them back to the sea, accompanied by complaints. Just then, he heard a rumbling sound and saw the waves becoming bigger, making him paddle faster towards the shore. Unbeknownst to him, the black stones he threw to the sea became islands. He died that night in his sleep. And once more, the old man appeared in Anita’s dream, telling her about the islands and the fate her husband brought upon himself. Anita just cried as she looked at her dead husband. Read here for another legend of how the islands came to be.
Before, I hear of the hundred islands in legends, and I only saw them in the books I read way back in elementary, The Hundred Islands is more than what the books say to me now.
If I am given a chance to explore it further, way longer than my whirlwind trip to this place, I'd be so glad to bring my children too, as this island is one that will make them proud they are Filipinos.
Comments
the only time i went to pangasinan was 4th yr high school for NSSPC. i didn't win but the experience was more than reward enough (we had a side trip to baguio!). i remember the people there were so nice and warm.
the last time we went to hundred islands was perhaps 15 years ago! we stayed overnight and wala talagang kuryente!
Have you tried their alaminos longa...ang sarap at panalo :0
Have you tried their alaminos longa...ang sarap at panalo :0
Have you tried their alaminos longa...ang sarap at panalo :0
being from pangasinan myself, i'm glad that you enjoyed your trip to hundred islands. just like laswtude said, sana bumaba ka man lng on d main islands.ganda pumasok sa cave sa governor island pero mas masarap mag-swimming sa children's island as in ang linaw ng tubig. walang sinabi mga beaches nla d2 sa thailand na malalabo kahit mas well-developed.
to jinky, js tell me if kelan mo gusto pumunta at sadyain mo nasa pinas ako pra ipasyal kita don sabay akyat sa baguio kc 40 minutes lng mula sa amin via kennon road.
ive see bloggers posting their captures of HI in their portal but only today i was informed of the legend. i should see this famous Island in my father's hometown.
txs for reminding me.
at may legend pala un. ngayon ko lang nalaman. hehehe. thanks for sharing sheng.
Buti ka pa nakapunta ka na sa Hundred Islands. Ako, hindi pa. Hehe.
buti ka pa, sheng, you've been to hundred islands, kami hindi pa.
tragic naman noong legend ng mga isla.