Our Holy Week 2008 was highlighted by no less than a 12-hour drive (inclusive of traffic and stopovers) to idyllic Fort Ilocandia. Li-Ann and I were joined by PJ, Conne, with their 1-year-old son CJ, and other barkadas.
In the season of Lent, we can say that the trip was full of contemplation, since the long trip started with a prayer led by Li-Ann and Conne. The prayer led us through 500+ kilometers of safe journey through Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Pangasinan, La Union, Ilocos Sur, and Ilocos Norte.
We arrived 5:30AM of Holy Thursday in Fort Ilocandia. The sight of the resort's European-inspired red brick edifices and deep green grass gardens instantly took away the fatigue from the long drive we had from Manila. It was indeed worth the trip.
From that moment of sunrise, we took a short nap. We then started enjoying the resort's near perfect facilities such as Olympic-size swimming pool, Sunset Lounge, and videoke. Other rarities in the all-in-one resort are Water Sports (Banana Boat & Parasailing), All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) ride, Hot Air Balloon, Archery, Golf Driving/Putting, Boating, Horseback Riding, and Go-Kart.
Come Good Friday, we drove 75 kilometers to Pagudpud's Saud Beach, the so-called "Boracay of the North". The white sand shoreline -- naturally trickled with coconut trees and seaweeds -- was a perfect backdrop for souvenir photos that would later become the wallpaper/screensaver of our cellphones. We also took photos of the Windmills of Bangui enroute to Pagudpud.
In the evening, we then went to St. William's Cathedral in Laoag City for the customary Via Crucis.
Black Saturday was our time to bid goodbye to the little paradise of Fort Ilocandia. Li-Ann and I went for an early swim in the Olympic-sized pool, after which we had buffet breakfast. We then drove back to Manila, of course with major stopovers at the Marcos Residence in Batac, Ilocos Norte and at the old Spanish ancestral homes (with cobblestone roads) of Crisologo in Vigan, Ilocos Sur.
Overall, it was an unforgettable Holy Week vacation worth telling to our future children and grandchildren.
