Friday last week, we received a call from KrisTV informing us that they were coming over to shoot sand adventure at the Laoag La Paz Sand Dunes. Reny, the LEAD Movement President (of the NGO that innovated sandboarding in the Philippines), asked if Kris Aquino would be coming over, and we got a “yes.” Initially, I thought it was a prank call. Weirdly, we get one of those crazy calls every once in a while. After an exchange of emails with KrisTV researcher Cyrill Tajanlangit, I was still sort of speculative until Wednesday pm when two of Kris’ close-in security aides visit Reny at our home. Don’t get me wrong, of course, we appreciate protocol, after all Ms. Kris is a presidential sister and the undisputed Queen of All Media. Elation sets in.
So real, Ms. Kris Aquino tours Ilocos. Watch out for the airing of the Vigan-Laoag feature on ABS-CBN KrisTV. Its new timeslot is 8AM.
We were more than pleased to have the show’s special guest, the irrepressible John “Sweet” Lapus, on a LEAD Movement sandboard. We watched him go through an emotional roller coaster ride — from a state of frenzy to pride and exhilaration. At the end of the descent, he yelled, “Bongga!” (A Filipino term that means fabulous or awesome.) He heaves a sigh of relief and adds, “Bandang gitna nakakalula. Pero ang sarap, Kris!”
With Bimby in tow, mom Kris goes back to offroad with Junior Fariñas, youngest son of 1st District of Ilocos Norte Representative Rodolfo ‘Rudy” Fariñas.
Entertainment writer Darla Sauler with LEAD Movement Executive Director Benny Arce. In the photo below, with KrisTV segment producer James is LEADer MC Manangan.
Everything went on very quickly. Stole the moment. Sorry, high noon heat!
With special thanks to Ms. Krs Aquino, Sweet Lapus and KrisTV.
No blinking now. Proud Ilocano moment. LEAD, which stands for Laoag Eco-Adventure Development, conceptualized sandboarding in 2009 in hopes of attracting more tourists to Ilocos Norte. Although Reny likes to call it a backyard project, we aimed to market the unproductive, idle vast centuries-old sand dunes for niche tourism helping the essential trickle-down effect. It was a long and ardous road. Those who have followed the blog early on are familiar with that road. It’s almost as old as BlauEarth. We never thought sandboarding would reach this far, this big. We’re moving on to a new adventure. In the works…
On a personal note, I wish to extend my thanks to all those who’ve helped the group in one way or another, to the media for the exposure, and to all those who found hot Ilocos sand adventure cool.
Also to the LEAD Movement sandboarding team who never tires. And to you, lovelies, who follow the blog, like my posts, and keep me inspired writing about anything under the Ilocos sun. Can I say, you give meaning to my world?
Photographed by Blauearth © Blauearth™ All Rights Reserved 2009-2012
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