CASE # 012: La Union Weekend Part 2

The next day was a Sunday and a church day. The first plan was to wake up at 4:00am and go to church by 6:00am. Pero dahil knock out pa kami pareho ni Hubby, we snoozed our alarms and decided to take the 10:00am service. Unfortunately, nagising na pala si Cuz and was already waiting for us. Pero dahil hindi raw kami lumalabas ng room, nagbalik tulog na lang din siya.

We went to church earlier in the day. Cuz went with us. The downside of crashing at her place was hindi kami basta makalabas. There were no tricycles plying that route and we would need to walk almost half a kilometer going out of the subdivision just to get a ride. Idagdag mo pa ang napakaraming naglipanang asong kalye sa paligid na bigla na lang kakahol at a sign of a stranger. Kaya si Cuz ang aming naging official transport service.

I did my research before we left Manila and chanced upon a blog entry from The Pinay Solo Backpacker’s site. Places to go in La Union include: grape farms in Bauang, Ma Cho Temple, Halo-halo de Iloko, Pebble Beach, Bahay ng Bato, Pebble Watchtower, and of course, San Juan's surfing beaches.

Since Cuz was our designated tourist guide for the day, she told us to go grape picking first in Bauang, then go back to San Fernando for Ma Cho Temple and Halo-halo de Iloko. Then at night, she would take us to Poro Point for the Sillag Festival. And now, we have a plan!

Grape Picking in Bauang

We drove a few kilometers back to Bauang. Kung galing ka kasi ng Manila, mauuna ang Bauang bago ang San Fernando. Kaya pabalik talaga ang biyahe. On the way, we saw several people standing along the highway waving banners that said: “Grape Picking”

Ang sabi ni Cuz, kapag nag-avail ka sa kanila, dadalhin ka rin nila sa mga farm nila which is a distance away din. Kaya lang daw sila nakaposisyon sa bungad ng kalsada ay para makauna sa mga kliyente. Apparently, Cuz took us to the farm owners themselves: the Lomboy Farm

Lomboy farms are owned by Avelino and Consolacion Lomboy. Avelino was known as the Philippine Grape King because in 1972, he planted his first cuttings of grapes in his backyard. It was something new during those times because grapes were never among the list of local fruits that would grow in the Philippines. Also, there is that preconceived notion that grapes would only survive in cold temperatures. But who would have known that after two years, this foreign fruit would flourish and soon become one of the locally harvested products in La Union?

The science of grapes and guapple (giant guavas) farming was passed down by the Lomboys to other farmers as well. Soon, hectares of land in Bauang are all growing grapes and guapples. Grape picking became not only a farmer’s thing, but a tourist activity as well.

Cuz took us to a small office on the side of the road. It was surrounded by farmlands of guapples. Pagpasok sa loob, we were welcomed by one of the members of the Lomboy family. There was a group of senior citizens who were already there at siyempre we have to give way. Maraming tanong ang mga lolas which were all answered by the Ate who welcomed us which happens to one of the daughters of Avelino Lomboy.

When our turn came, she told us a quick story about the farm. Sila nga raw ang pioneer ng grape farming sa lugar. The entrance fee to the farm is Php100.00 per head. Free ang bata pati ang driver. The grapes were priced at Php350.00 per kilo. Kung gaano karami ang napitas, titimbangin per kilo at iyon ang babayaran namin after grape picking.

We paid the entrance and got hold of our receipts. Ate ushered us outside the office and introduced us to Kuya Guide. May kanya-kanyang guide bawat group of pickers. Naka-motor si Kuya and we just have to follow him papapunta sa farm. Five-minute drive lang naman from the area. Medyo papasok lang sa isang looban not far away from the office. Kasabay rin pala namin dun sa farm ang grupo ng mga lola.

We entered the vineyard and registered our names sa logbook. Pinakita namin kina Ate Staff iyong receipt. Then she gave us a small basket with a pair of scissors. Nag-offer din sila ng free taste para ma-sample kung anong lasa ng grapes na pipitasin namin. Matamis naman kaso mabuto. Hindi pa raw kasi iyon ang season for seedless grapes.

We then walked underneath the vines and started picking. May staff pa rin na nakasunod sa amin to instruct us how to pick and which grapes were right for picking. Pwede rin makisuyo sa kanya ng pa-picture.

Medyo mababa ang balag nung vineyard na napuntahan namin hindi kagaya nung mga nakita ko nung nag-research ako sa Internet. Iyong parang Napa Valley ang peg ng mga pictures. Siguro kasi may kasama kaming bata kaya doon niya kami pinadala. Mahirap nga naman maabot ng bata kung masyadong mataas ang mga balag.

Pictorial moments muna while picking the grapes, sa vineyard, at sa view sa paligid. Mainit kasi tirik na tirik ang araw. Kahit nalililiman kami ng mga balag, iyong hangin at singaw ng lupa, mainit pa rin. So I suggest to put on a sunscreen with the highest SPF, bring a water to keep you hydrated, and it would be best to wear a cap or any head gear that would protect your face from extreme heat. Wag lang payong dahil hindi iyon uubra sa balag. Sasabit sa vines at makakasira pa sa mga grapes.

Pang-isang kilo lang ang budget namin so nung sa tingin namin ay na-reach na namin ang goal, tama na. Awat na. We went back to the staff sa entrada ng vineyard and have our grapes weighed. Sakto!


After paying, nakitikim ulit kami ng pa-free taste. Sulitin ang free taste!

The staff offered us other products as well. Meron silang grape or guapple wine, candies, jam, tea, atbp. Lahat ng pwedeng gawa sa grapes at guapple meron sila.

Kaya lang if you are on a budget, dapat matibay ka sa mga sales talk nila. Hubby wanted to try some pero sabi ko mahirap magbitbit pauwi ng mga de-bote. Kaya ayun, natahimik na rin si Ate sa pangungulit.

Friendship Pagoda

The whole grape picking thing only took us thirty minutes. Pictures lang naman kasi at pamimitas ng grapes ang pwedeng magawa. Kaya after that, we drove back to San Fernando. Nadaanan namin iyong school ng mga pamangkin ko which is near the Filipino-Chinese Friendship Pagoda. The usual Chinese pagoda pero may viewing deck ng beachline ng La Union magmula Poro Point hanggang San Juan.

Ang ganda ng view! Kaya kahit mainit at mataas, go kami. Masarap tumulala at magmuni-muni. Malakas ang hangin at kitang-kita mo ang kilay blue na tubig ng dagat. Ang alon na humahampas sa puting buhangin.

Lahat iyon for free. Walang entrance fee. Walang kahit anong proof of purchase. Tumayo ka lang talaga sa viewing deck na iyon.

Itinuro pa nga sa akin ng pamangkin ko iyong room nila. Tanaw kasi sa baba ng viewing deck ang loob ng campus ng school nila. Sabi ko nga ang sarap naman mag-aral sa eskwelahan nila. May view ka araw-araw.

Time was of the essence kaya naputol ang muni-muni. We all went back to the car and drove back to San Fernando proper. Idinaan na kami ni Cuz sa Halo-halo de Iloko just to give us a preview of the place. Ang haba ng pila sa labas at double parking na sa kalsada ang mga sasakyan. The place was packed!

Pero ang sabi ni Cuz, magpunta raw muna kami sa Ma Cho Temple. She dropped us off the street papasok ng temple. Pataas kasi ang daaanan at hindi kakayanin ng lowered niyang kotse pataas.

Kapag tapos na raw kami sa Ma Cho Temple, pumara lang daw kami ng tricycle at sabihin lang namin na papunta kaming Halo-halo de Iloko. Alam na raw ng mga driver iyon. She also told us that the fare should only be Php20.00. Baka raw singilin kami ng presyong turista so I took note of that.

Ma Cho Temple

Medyo extra challenge nga ang pagpasok sa Ma Cho Temple. Pataas talaga at paikot ang kalsada. Pero sa ngalan ng pictures, sige. Push!

Ma Cho Temple is a Taoist temple for Mazu (Ma-Cho) the powerful Queen of Heavens and protector of the Sea. She is the patron saint of fishermen and overseas Chinese. It was built in 1977 by a group of Filipino-Chinese devotees led by Dy Keh Hio.

Almost seven stories high ang temple kaya naman kitang kita rin mula rito ang view ng dagat.

Unlike other Chinese temples we've been to na bawal kang pumasok sa loob kung hindi ka Taoist, dito sa Ma-Cho temple pwede. Pwede ka ring magsindi ng insenso at mag-alay kung gusto mo. Pwede rin mag-picture sa loob. May mga Kuya Staff nga na nag-ooffer pa na kuhanan kami sa loob ng temple.

to be continued...


References:

• http://lomboyfarms.com/
• http://www.sanfernandocity.gov.ph/sfcsite/index.php/en/visiting-csf/tourist-destinations/132-ma-cho-temple
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ma-Cho_Temple

Photos by: 

• Allen Jay Manalili
• Bernalyn Manalili