“Mula Aparri hanggang Jolo, Saan ka man halina kayo…”,
One can’t help but hum these lines from the popular noon time show “Eat Bulaga”
when the sign “Aparri” first shows up on one of the many UV Express Vans shuttling
passengers from Tuguegarao to other points of destination within Cagayan. Just
seeing this sign board immediately creates that feeling of being so far away
from the Manila or anywhere in the central or southern parts of the country.
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Cagayan is the northeastern most province in Luzon facing the
Philippine Sea. There hasn’t been much buzz about this province since until the
reality TV show ‘Survivor’ started filming a few of its seasons in a few of its
outlying islands. In fact, this claim to fame is the primary reason the
Stokedtraveler was convinced that the trip to this far off place is worth the
time.
There’s no need to make a note of how the bus ride from
Manila to Tuguegarao was. Victory liner is probably the only credible bus line
to take but even its deluxe buses can be uncomfortable to spend the 11-12 hour
ride on. Save the complaining for the second half of the trip. From Tuguegarao,
you’ll have to take another 3-hour UV express ride sans the air con which are
usually standard in such vehicles.
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| Looking hungry? |
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| Where's the noodle you ask? It's buried deep beneath the mound of meat toppings |
Batil Patong was a deadly yummy dish. It was pancit minus
the veggies topped by lots and lots of sisig-like chopped pork and bagnet/liempo.
It was complemented by lots of chopped onions, soy sauce and lime. One order
costs P70 and was more than enough for one person to finish unless he wants to
take a quick trip to the doctor afterwards.
With their stomachs filled, it was time to take the
second half of the tour going to Sta. Ana, Cagayan…
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| En Route to the Superior Villa |
Cagayan Holiday & Leisure Resort (Sun City) is
possibly the best resort villa one can get in Sta. Ana, Cagayan. It covers a
wide area and houses several villas, a fitness gym and sauna, an infinity pool,
its own casino and even its very own private landing strip. For the reason that
this is the top notch accommodation within the area, it was actually booked for
a few months by the staff & crew of the Survivor while taping the reality
TV show. Just make sure to check the hotel’s policy on the security deposit to
avoid a bill-shock on your first day of stay.
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One downside to this place is that it
is farther inside a complex away from affordable dining options. The group had
to go out almost as soon as they got in the Villa just to buy water and food
for lunch and dinner. There is an in-house restaurant but the Stokedtraveler’s
group opted to dig in on local cooking dampa style for their lunch.
When everything else was settled, it was time to take a
dip in the pool, relax and begin to unwind…
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| Sun City's Infinity pool |
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| Sun City's own casino just beyond their own private runway for planes, talk about BIG |
Itinerary for Day 1:
Day 1
8pm-7:30am - Manila to Tuguegarao, Cagayan
7:30am-8:30am – Breakfast at J-Ren’s (Batil Patong)
8:30am-11:30am - Tuguegarao to Sun City, Sta. Ana, Cagayan
12pm – Villa Check-in at SunCity
<Read day 2 for the Stokedtraveler's Cagayan Trip Highlights>
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