CamSur to Albay
via Sangay- Joroan Road
Scenic Pilgrim Road
(Bicol Cuaresma Series 1)
Despite the very long non – working holidays
during the Holy Week that begins on Holy Thursday
until Ester Sundays, we are always home
as we schedule our summer
as we schedule our summer
vacations two weeks after the holy week...
...as almost all Filipinos are on
a vacation mode and
it is very stressful traveling on peak seasons
and nothing beats staying home
for some peace and quiet.
and nothing beats staying home
for some peace and quiet.
Even eating out is really very difficult
as the restos are teeming of people
as the restos are teeming of people
...and hotels are fully booked.
The kids weren’t able to wake board as the queue
at the CWC was kilometric even before the long holiday ...
at the CWC was kilometric even before the long holiday ...
Even Haciendas de Naga ran out of official receipts
and had to close gates in the afternoon
to avoid too much crowd.
So we stayed put and
got to enjoy
the very long week end at home,
the very long week end at home,
they can to enjoy the long weekend.
...having home cooked dinners
fit the the season on Lent,
fit the the season on Lent,
...and visiting pilgrimage
sites.
Two of the most popular Pilgrimage Sites in Bicol
are in Naga City for Lady of Penafrancia Shrine ...
...and in Joroan,
Tiwi, Albay
for the Lady of Salvation Shrine
for the Lady of Salvation Shrine
Unknown to many, these two pilgrimage sites
are connected by a very scenic highway that traverses
thru the Partido Area
in CamSur and exits in Tiwi, Albay
We initially intended to go to Calabanga’s Hinulid but we
failed
as every nook and
cranny of the Hinulid Shrine is teeming with people
and it has always been difficult to find a parking space...
...so we decided to have a road trip from
Naga City to the Joroan passing thru the scenic
back roads of Sangay , Joroan, and Sabluyon.
The latter connects two Albay Cities of Tabacco and Ligao,
(bypassing the city if Legazpi, Camalig and Guinobatan towns)
where Kawa- Kawa is located and where our pilgrimage will
culminate.
We left Naga at about 11 PM and we drove thru Pili diversion,
and passed hr the rustic towns of Ocampo , Tigaon and Sangay.
It was past twelve and we intended to eat lunch in Sangay
but to our horror we found
no decent place to eat-
we have not found a single restaurant in that town
except for small roadside carenderias.
We decided to drive back to Tigaon and still found
no restaurant that looked safe enough for young kids to eat,
We drove to the
nearby town of Goa and settled to eat
After lunch we drove back to the
very laid back towns of Tigaon...
...and Sangay,
and off we
went to the scenic mountain road
that leads to Joroan in Tiwi, Albay.
The highway view
is a
feast for the senses.
The deep blue Pacific Ocean
on one side,
...and the green forested mountains
on the other side.
There were several viewing decks but
the most popular, the biggest and the most visible
was the one located in Barrio Patintinan.
The view deck provides a panoramic view
of the Pacific Ocean,
...the popular Agiurangan Island,
...Partido’s isolated and hidden coves ,
...and the beautiful towering mountain range
on the other side of
the road.
Breathtaking is the on way to describe the view
on the whole stretch of this highway-
...which unfortunately punctuated by the
depressing sights of poverty of most of the
people living there.
Sometimes you get to ponder on the thought of
why could something so beautiful be so destitute?
The beautiful view could be seen
all throughout the highway-
....until we arrived at the
Lady of Salvation Shrine in Joroan.
We stopped for a while
to light candles and pray.
We continued our journey
to the resort town of Tiwi,
...this time the Mayon Volcano was already visible
it still shrouded with a curtain of clouds-
...but the view became more breathtaking
when we arrived in Tabacco.
We took the rustic Sabloyon Road which had
the magnificent view of Mayon Volcano on one side
Sabloyon Road also serves a a gateway to
the Mayon Rest House view deck in Tabacco.
From Sangay to Joroan to Ligao
this road less traveled indeed has the most
exhilarating countryside view in the region.
the Mayon Rest House view deck in Tabacco.
From Sangay to Joroan to Ligao
this road less traveled indeed has the most
exhilarating countryside view in the region.
When we arrived at 6: 30 PM in Kawa- Kawa
just as the sun had
set and the hot and humid air
has dissipated in the
late afternoon dusk...
...a weather perfect for a night time station of the cross
We returned to Naga City by the Maharlika Highway
Past 10 PM and had a late sumptuous dinner
at the Macagang Diner in Nabua,
...before heading back to Naga City.
Watch out for my Bicol Cuaresma Blogs
Graceland Goa
( Bicol Cuaresma Series 2)
Kawa Kawa Hill abd Bature Park
Ligao City
(Bicol Cuaresma Series 3)
Macagang Diner Nabua
(Bicol Cuaresma Series 4)
The Grand Naga Good Friday Procession
(Bicol Cuaresma Series 5)
Mang Inasal Plaza Quezon
(Bicol Cuaresma Series 6)
Holy Week Recipe Sharing
(Bicol Cuaresma Series 7)
Watch out for my Bicol Cuaresma Blogs
Graceland Goa
( Bicol Cuaresma Series 2)
Macagang Diner Nabua
(Bicol Cuaresma Series 4)
The Grand Naga Good Friday Procession
(Bicol Cuaresma Series 5)
Mang Inasal Plaza Quezon
(Bicol Cuaresma Series 6)
Holy Week Recipe Sharing
(Bicol Cuaresma Series 7)