🇵🇭 SAN QUINTIN » (2012) Abra River: An Insight of Freedom

In life, we sometimes need to end a certain chapter; but ending a chapter of something also means that we're starting a brand new chapter that could be more meaningful...

» The Abra River is not just a beautiful view; it's also a lifeblood circulating the oxygen of culture, economy, and history.

» I do not romanticize poverty, but I'd like to highlight ingenuity and the ability to live productively within your means.

🇵🇭 SAN QUINTIN » ABRA

It was a sweet escape from harsh reality—the reality that I work at least 8 hours a day and 6 days a week. It is the reality that I am longing for escape, freedom, and extra breathing space. It is a reality that I was thirsty of seeing a wide space, under a time that runs so slow as if it would never end.

Being stuck within the 4 corners of the hospital with my "cheesy" role of giving unconditional care, patience, love, and service to humanity, I almost forgot that there is a wonderful place outside waiting to be discovered by me. It was this day that I found love once again—a love for The Supreme Being that has gone deeper, the Creator of the marvelous wonders on Earth, the love for nature that I tend to miss at times, and the love for peace and righteous freedom.

 ►  Backstory

Swipe/drag to left or right to view more vertical photos. Tap or click the photos to enlarge.

I don't have a problem with my job. I loved it. Sometimes, the job becomes so rewarding even if I have to work under a not so generous compensation; but I am not complaining about it because it is a reality in our profession that we need to work more than what we earn. So, there should be no issue on that. As I said, I love my role and my vocation.

What made me land to those realizations is the fact that I saw a raw natural wonder that is impossible to see in my daily routines. Upon seeing a gratifying wonder, no one should blame me why I have to come up to this point of saying that I am thirsty for freedom and longing to feel the other side of adrenaline rush I always wanted to experience.

In my work, everyday is an adrenaline rush; and I am getting used to the daily challenge that makes me a better nurse. It is an adrenaline rush that signals my role that I need to act because there is something wrong or someone is in danger, and I have to save lives. Well that task is rewarding. Not everyone could do it aside from some trained health care providers like me.

 ►  Vent-out Section

The adrenaline rush that brings out excitement and passion is the one that I long for. But then again, I don't want to hurt anyone; so please don't jump into conclusion that I am "mareklamo."

It is normal for a sound person to crave for something he always wanted to do. Unless if you have an unsound thinking, you will never understand the things I am saying. You might tend to jump into conclusion that I am complaining.

🇵🇭 SAN QUINTIN » The truth will set you free.

I am proud being a nurse; but outside our work (generally speaking), there is this other side of us that has been taken for granted because the system on Earth has programmed us to sacrifice our life passions in exchange of work/money. Inevitably, I am also part of this system.

On my part, I can't deny the fact that I love going outdoors; and I shouldn't be stopped for that.

🇵🇭 SAN QUINTIN » In 2012, the younger Edmar didn't know yet that he carried some childhood traumas, and that the reason why he craved for freedom was because of these unhealed psychological wounds.

🇵🇭 SAN QUINTIN » In 2012, the younger Edmar travelled to temporarily escape a strangulating ecosystem. He didn't know yet that self-love was the first step to healing, but he felt traveling to be very liberating—serving a superficial and temporary treatment to these deeper wounds.

I don't have a problem with my job, and I love it. I'm just expressing the great feeling and insight that consumed my soul upon seeing a natural wonder that I never see in my daily routine. So I should not be blamed if I am expressing these things.

Well, I am just human who is vulnerable, and I should be respected for that. In the long run, I am not against anyone. I am not blaming anyone, and I am not in the position to complain.

 ►  The Search for Freedom Continues

In my previous post, I reached the dead end [of the road], but it doesn't mean it was the end of this adventure. It was actually the start of a greater adventure.

In life, we sometimes need to end a certain chapter; but ending a chapter of something also means that we're starting a brand new chapter that could be more meaningful... like what happened here in San Quintin, Abra.

🇵🇭 SAN QUINTIN » The mountains and the river are free.

As I got off the motorbike, I already knew that I had to experience the nuances of this ride adventure. The adventure was not always along the road. You need to get out of your comfort zone and find another comfort zone. Yeah! There are a lot of comfort zones out there to grab, but we failed to recognize them.

I was expecting a great scenery here, and it didn't fail me. It showed a beauty more than my expectation. Before I came in this town, I was already aware that the Abra River flows through this quiet beautiful town. Thanks to Google Map for showing me that. Unfortunately, we didn't use the Google Maps navigation feature back then to explore San Quintin. We manually asked from locals for the directions. As far as I remember, the navigation feature was not yet available in my app at that time or I just failed to discover it. Of note, Google acquired Waze in 2013. This adventure happened in 2012.

My role back then was to find the road that would lead me here. If there would be no road, I had to walk; and if I had to cross a river, I would. I triumphed.

I actually did the three: I rode on the road. I walked, and I crossed the river.

🇵🇭 SAN QUINTIN » I do not romanticize poverty, but I'd like to highlight ingenuity and the ability to live productively within your means.

I was rejoicing to see this new place I discovered. Ahhhh! That was freedom! This gave the adrenaline rush I was looking for! I set my eyes wide open to see and savor the great space. It was freedom! I enjoyed this moment seeing a frontierless space. It was freedom! It was indeed an endless space beyond my reach.

There was no restrictions as to how should I act or move. I experienced a moment in time of not caring about what people think. It was peace: no pressure, no heavy responsibility or almost none at all.

As I looked at the man riding on a rake, I realized I've made my life so complicated when I could make it simple—but that's for another story.

🇵🇭 SAN QUINTIN » The Abra River is not just a beautiful view; it's also a lifeblood circulating the oxygen of culture, economy, and history.

While enjoying the view, I saw a lady dressed in white coming near us. I was wondering what was her purpose of coming towards our locaton. I let her come close, and I asked why because I was curious. I thought that she was related to the man-on-the-rake fishing in the river.

The moment I had the chance to talk to her, I asked my lingering questions. She told me that she's going to cross the river. Huh? I wondered how, until she told me that a motorized boat is coming to fetch her.

"Really!" I replied. I tried to focus my attention to the other side of the river, and I realized it was real. I saw some boatmen riding on a boat with two more individuals standing near the boat. I knew they were real. They were just too far from where we were standing that I didn't notice they were just there.

🇵🇭 SAN QUINTIN » The zoom function of my borrowed digicam allowed me to confirm that a small boat docked at the other side of this great river.

🇵🇭 SAN QUINTIN » While zooming my camera, I also captured this sandy shore of the Abra River.

After taking several photos of me at the river as souvenir, my spirit couldn't wait to cross the river.

I thought that I had to pay, but the lady told me it was a free ride. I stood amazed. I let her talk and learned that the free boat ride is funded by the provincial government of Abra to help mobilize the people in between villages separated by this great river.

🇵🇭 SAN QUINTIN » Looking at this photo, it personified that kind of freedom I was chasing in 2012.

I later learned why there was a need for the government of Abra to do this. The fact that it was already the end of the road made sense. The other side of the river are other communities, and they are literally isolated from the greater populace because of this great river. There is no bridge to connect these communities, so the road has to end up here.

Zooming my camera, I was able to at least magnify the tiny boat from afar. It eventually crossed the river and came to our location. They knew when to come and go. This free ride in 2012 started at 8am and ended at 5pm, but they may extend as the need arises.

🇵🇭 SAN QUINTIN » The boatmen came to this side of the river to help us cross the river.

Two boatmen approached us. Finally, I would cross the Abra River on a boat for the very first time. Would this give me the chance to see the footprint of the mythical giant Angalo? That would be the second footprint I should see if ever. They said that I could see it better at the other side of the river. At that time, I was ready to cross the river; and I knew it would be fun. It was very spontaneous and unplanned. To be continued...

This is Part 3 of the series: "My First Abra Ride Adventure in 2012"

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 2 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7
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UPDATE HISTORY FOR THIS BLOG POST

2025-August-17:
• The article was rewritten, proofread, and revised (injecting both 2012 and 2025 perspectives). 2025 lay-out update applied.

2012-October-05:
• This post was published.