away from the city and off to Lingayen

Life in the city can just be tiring and exhausting no matter how fun and fruitful it may be. That’s why when I got the chance last Holy Week to retreat from work and just bond with my parents, see a different view and experience new things, I was really, really thrilled. Two days was all I needed to be fully charged.

Some may find that two days in two towns is not enough, and maybe it really isn’t. There is always something infinite about traveling, about wanting to go further and further and discovering a thing or two even in the simplest of things you see around. But given my work, I don’t have that much luxury of time, and in a way, that helped because I learned to make an itinerary that may be short, but definitely sweet.

After failing to book a flight (sooner… because they’re sold out!) and scouting for beaches in Batangas, Pupi suggested we go to Lingayen and Baguio. I wasn’t really that familiar about what Lingayen has to offer, but Pupi told me they have beaches there. Then I got to read an article about it in Manila Bulletin and got all the more interested.

March 31, Holy Wednesday, we hopped in to Victory Liner bound for Dagupan (buses straight to Lingayen are in their Cubao terminal, and we didn’t want to go there given the enormity of people lining up there lol).

Travel time to Dagupan takes five hours. Once you get there, you’ll have to take a jeepney ride to Lingayen for P20. Trip is around half an hour (traffic included; we got there after lunch). During the jeepney trip you’ll see a lot of fish ponds: fish is one of the main sources of livelihood in Pangasinan. Some of the ponds looked dry though, probably because of the temperature.

We went down the capitol coz that’s where Hotel Consuelo & Resort was located. It’s a very conducive location because it’s so near the capitol, a walking distance to Lingayen Beach, as well as the Veterans Memorial Park. And for this trip I really wanted to go to the beach, and to get some bonus on history and culture makes for an excellent experience (and the hotel an excellent location for that).

Lunchin’ at a not-so-lunch time lol
Hotel Consuelo also has its own resto (and own swimming pool—although we didn’t get to check it out, hehe) were they offer “lutong-bahay” style of dishes (they got a large menu, tell you!). For our first meal out-of-town (and outside lunch time since it’s already 3 PM lol), we ordered their signature Fried Chicken and Pinakbet. I particularly loved the Pinakbet, coz you can really taste the freshness of the veggies, especially the ampalaya, which isn’t bitter and has a certain crunch to it. Fried Chicken with it is a good match. We learned later on that the chickens were from Nueva Ecija. It’s tender and really stuffed. With every bite you will realize how healthy the chicken was.

       
Lingayen Capitol
What adds to the sunshiny aura in Lingayen are the yellow-painted offices in the capitol (not that they’re Team Noynoy or anything, I guess, lol). The place is just so wide, clean, and green (because of the trees). Pupi told me it’s one of the most beautiful capitols in the Philippines. Really fine architecture they got in there, it looks so regal.

Veterans Memorial Park
Lingayen also has a contribution in Philippine history. It was one of the battlegrounds during WWII, between US and Japan. For a time it was under the Japanese, but were eventually liberated thanks to Americans and fellow Filipinos. In this park, one will find replicas of battle tanks and choppers, a photo gallery of its history (very detailed, but I didn’t read it in full coz I was too excited to head to the beach, my bad, haha), and a collection of vintage items from that era. You’ll also find Princess Urduja’s Palace beside the park. Too bad we only got to see the facade.

Lingayen Beach
It may not have white sands or crystal blue waters, but this public beach has a beauty of its own. On a personal level, it’s really easy for me to appreciate any beach because I just really love beaches. To be in that moment to feel the strong yet ironically gentle rush of the wind, the cool yet warm water drenching my feet, and watch how the waters roll over each other, I couldn’t help mutter, “I could live here forever.” I just love how uncomplicated and divine the beach is. It inspired contentment in me.

Lingayen Beach also has the view of a mountain range, which appears in silhouette at sunset. And the sunset, it’s just breathtaking. And to love the place even more, the entrance is for free, and even the public bath house as well. And oh, it’s got a long row of beach cottages where you can hang out.

Dinner time!
We went to dinner with Tita Aida and Tita Noemi, Mu and Pu’s officemates, who were also there at that time (they were on vacation on a nearby town). We had Sinigang na Malaga and Pancit Bihon. We were able to buy a kilo of Malaga from two ambulant women fish vendors. Two pieces of fresh fish for a kilo, equals to 200 pesos. We then had these two biggies cooked at Consuelo for a hundred pesos. When I tasted it, I felt like I was eating the sea… I swear! It really tasted more like the sea than it did like a fish should. That’s how fresh it is.

  

Morning beach & breakfast
We woke up around 7AM the next day, had coffee first before heading to the beach. Nice, warm sunlight, as well as passing, smiling Lingayen people greeted us.

Albeit we only stayed at the beach for an hour (we had to leave soon because we’re heading to Baguio), we really had a great time. Albeit there were a lot of people, it didn’t look too crowded and we were able to find a spot for ourselves, playing a mini-game of defying/braving the waves. It was just so enjoyable.

After beach-ing, taking a bath and fixing our stuff, we had our last meal in Lingayen, again courtesy of Consuelo. What made our breakfast of Daing na Bangus, Scrambled Egg and Sinangag all the more satiating is meeting Mrs. Consuelo herself, the owner of the whole place. She was a really inspiring woman. She told us about how hands-on she is and how important building relationships are, whether it’s with your family or your colleagues or your neighbors. I was also fascinated about the kind of businesswoman she is. She said she tries to give allowances to clients who don’t have that much budget. And she really has that passion and gentleness about her that is just admiring. Twas a pleasure to have met her.

More info on hotel
The twin-sharing room in Consuelo Hotel costs P1, 230 for an overnight stay. It’s got a clean toilet, cabinet, table and mirror, cable TV, and refrigerator. It also has a phone for you to call the reception in case you need something. They also hold events like weddings, parties, and other functions. For more info, visit this site.

And with that, we bid Lingayen goodbye with smiles on our faces. Oh life in the province, so simple, so light.

UP NEXT: Our Baguio Trip! \m/