Laoag City in One Day

The Part 2 of Melanie, Raine and Ali’s Ilocos tour with me takes place in my hometown of Laoag. Like I wrote in Loving Laoag, the cover story of Mabuhay Magazine February 2015 issue, Laoag translates to radiance in the vernacular, hence the sobriquet “Sunshine City.” For not wearing a hat, I got mild sunstroke and had to beg off from another guiding trip for a friend and her friends today. Reminding everyone to drink lots of water and maybe overdose on citrus fruits and put on tons of sunblock and wear protective gear when in Ilocos, especially if you are heading out to the famed Laoag “La Paz” Sand Dunes. Btw, my group the LEAD Movement started the sandboarding adventure in Ilocos, so anybody interested can just contact me, even through the blog. I will answer all your queries.

The Fort Ilocandia’s courtyard with a fountain still looks so much the same. It is so perfect for an evening event. But because the Laoag Parklane Hotel is so very near my house, the girls made Parklane their home in Laoag, and my humble dining table theirs too.

You know how girls are.

Photographed by Blauearth © Blauearth™ All Rights Reserved 2009-2015

LEAD’s The Wild Ride

I had the wonderful privilege of photographing The Zebra first. Only by the innovators of sandboarding in the Philippines Selfie-ready!

Laoag La Paz Sand Dunes is just the perfect backdrop.

Like Ilocos Sand Boarding on Facebook, by the movement that started it all (here).

Photographed by Blauearth © Blauearth™ All Rights Reserved 2009-2014

 

Live guesting on ANC Dateline Philippines

Hello, dear readers! I’ve been keeping this a secret for the past 2 weeks until I was given the green light to enter the gates of the ABS-CBN compound in Quezon City last Sunday. LEAD (Laoag Eco-Adventure Development) Movement was invited by Dateline Philippines on ANC to talk about, first and foremost, its sandboarding and 4×4 adventure offering, the vision, how LEAD is able to promote the not so ordinary thrill that is attracting tourists to Ilocos, and the other things pertinent to Laoag as a travel destination. Though how much I was wired thinking of bright studio lights and a no-take-twos kind of interview, I had to put my best foot forward being the LEAD Movement spokesperson. It saddens me that the late Manong Benny Arce, the LEAD Movement Executive Director, has to be permanently away during events such as this one, but at the same time, the good memories he left us inspire us all the more. He was a genuine LEADer, who was so generous sharing his vision and his time and effort for the advocacy of LEAD.

The live guesting at the ABS-CBN Newsroom, with Stanley Palisada and Caroline Howard as news anchors, turned out fun and not too scary after all. I owe it to my childhood friend and BFF Alma Ajero, her daughter Julia, and my son Eugene for lending me moral support. If you’ve watched it, please forgive me for the goofs. Will be posting a video of the longish interview when I see one.

I brought to the set our new sandboard custom painted by MJ Ruiz and favorite Ilocos products like Adams Bugnay Wine and Marianne Gaces Pasion’s Thought Journals.

Saw the F girls in the corridor! Who would forget the fabulous sisterhood of Cher Calvin, Daphne Oseña-Paez and Angel Aquino?

Resident makeup artist Nicole Elizalde was so nice and I need to thank her for the prerequisite studio makeup.

Direk was so warm. I thought he’d scold me after I did the blunderous bye-bye-chair scene prematurely. Guest coordinator  Janette was also very helpful. In behalf of LEAD, thanking each and everyone behind Dateline Philippines.

© Blauearth™ All Rights Reserved 2009-2013