Long Trip North!

Since the outbreak of the COVID 19 Pandemic, I decided to travel to Metro Manila and back by land and sea.

Yesterday, I took another long trip to Manila to personally submit a report on an assignment given to me by my superior two weeks ago.

There are two routes available for me – the Eastern Seaboard which starts in Lipata, Surigao passing through Leyte, Samar and Bicol – and the Western Route which starts in Dapitan City passing through Negros and Panay then Batangas.

In this trip, I took the Western Route to avoid an unpredictable weather in the Eastern Seaboard leaving Dapitan Port at 11 p.m. yesterday and arriving in Dumaguete 3:30 a.m. today.

Indeed, it is a long and difficult trip covering over 3,500 kilometers back and forth but it is a lot safer than riding in an enclosed aircraft.

Besides, I enjoy the long trip as it gives me the opportunity to witness how Filipinos in the countryside live.

It also offers a chance to meet new friends.

In the Bacolod Port today where we will take an ageing barge to bring us to Dumangas, Iloilo, I met a young police officer, PCol. Romy Inway Palque, originally from Cagayan Valley, who is the police provincial commander of Negros Occ.

He gifted me and my team with coffee mugs to mark the new-found friendship.

Police stations along the way and the Philippine Coast Guard also assisted us because we travelled even at night.

#TravelBestTeacher!

(Photos by Bong Piñol, MinDA OC)