🇵🇭 SAN QUINTIN » (2012) End of the Road, Start of Unknown Adventure

...in Abra (2012), they don't want you to intrude to their "territories." So people under suspicion of spying or destabilizing "their rule" has no room in their territory. As someone from Ilocos Sur, the western neighbor of Abra, I also felt that way in 2012.

» We didn't use any digital maps at that time. We manually explored the place by asking random people for their knowledge and advice.

» I introduced myself that I want to know what are the tourist spots or interesting places to see in San Quintin, until he told me that there is no tourism officer in the town.

🇵🇭 SAN QUINTIN » ABRA

I checked out the gasoline meter of my motorbike. It was close to draining. Oh no! There was no gasoline station nearby; and as far as I remember, the closest gasoline station I was aware of in 2012 was about 15 minutes away.

Time check, it was 3:30 PM. My brother said, "let's go home because it is getting late."

I responded with "No, let's proceed. Parang hindi ka na nasanay (It seems like you are not yet used to it)."

 ►  Backstory

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

Everytime I do a motorcycle ride with my younger brother, we usually go home at night because I really intend to maximize the things we could do under the presence of daylight. Then, we'll just go home at night. I believe that my brother already knew my thing, but he was hesitant to continue this journey in Abra until dark.

Was he afraid? I don't know, but I couldn't blame him if he was. However, I thought he was not a coward. I convinced him, though. We set to travel more, farther, deeper, and oh yeah, that felt good!

🇵🇭 SAN QUINTIN » It's the dead end, but this was only the start of a real off-road adventure. Literally, we had to be on the waters, not on the road.

With a meager gasoline, we tried to find a local resident to ask how far is the San Quintin town hall. Someone said it is about 15-20 minutes more from our current location. We didn't use any digital maps at that time. We manually explored the place by asking random people for their knowledge and advice. I calculated it, and I had to stick with my instinct that we could still do it.

 ►  The Unwanted Encounter at the Town Hall

The thing here is that, the road going to the town hall was not along the main highway. It was off the main road; but still, I knew we could still make it even though we had no idea where we were going.

We arrived at the San Quintin Town Hall, and we were safe. There was nothing special about the building, but I had to go inside to look for the tourism officer.

I saw someone wearing a shirt with the Philippine flag marked on it, and I approached him. I asked him if I could talk to the tourism officer of the town. He asked me why. I introduced myself that I want to know the tourist spots or interesting places to see in San Quintin, until he told me that there is no tourism officer in the town.

Nevertheless, that man seemed excited and willing to help; and he asked more questions about me, until I had to come to the point of telling him that I want to explore San Quintin. I also told him that I may feature it on my travel blog for the whole world to know. He excitedly accompanied me inside the town hall and showed me photos of their interesting spots with potential to become a tourist destination. He showed me a framed old photo of the Tangadan Tunnel with a big smile on his face. He also showed me the legendary Tugot ni Angalo (Footprint of Angalo), a mythical giant footprint of Angalo who once stepped on Abra soil, leaving a big footprint in their town.

He let me see another person, and I couldn't remember exactly his role in the LGU of San Quintin. I was just disappointed that this second man who I met inside the town hall was not accommodating. He asked me who was I and my purpose. I had to introduce myself as a travel blogger to at least give him an idea why I was here. If I would tell him that I just love to travel, it might create a suspicion as to my purpose. You know, in Abra (2012), they don't want you to intrude to their "territories." So people under suspicion of spying or destabilizing "their rule" has no room in their territory. As someone from Ilocos Sur, the western neighbor of Abra, I also felt that way in 2012.

🇵🇭 SAN QUINTIN » This frame is just a portion of the San Quintin Town Hall.

I said: "Sir, I want to visit the potential tourist spots in your town."

Unfortunately, he replied as if I was devalued saying, "Why go there? Just see the blog of GMA 7 (a TV Network). It's there. Just see that. That's it!"

To be honest, I was both embarassed and disappointed.

I replied that I wanted to visit the place personally, and take my own photos. He again replied saying that I just need to copy the photos of GMA 7. However, I insisted that I would want my own photos because his suggestion was the complete opposite of the reason why I visited their town in the first place. I also asked him how could I reach the place (tugot ni Angalo), but he deliberately told me that I should not go there because it's hard to go there.

Well, I was just asking how to go there. I was not asking him to guide or assist me like what they did to the GMA 7 staff. It was not a helpful conversation.

🇵🇭 SAN QUINTIN » This is the view of the Abra River as seen at the San Quintin town hall.

Meanwhile, the man who I first talked with silently guided me out of that toxic conversation; and he was encouraging me to still go there by giving me directions and instructions. I don't know; but when we were in front of that second man, he did not react—maybe because that man was in a position of power and couldn't be questioned? The first man continually shared stories about those places, and I can say he was very proud of his town.

 ►  Wanted: Adventure (No Bounty)

I decided to exit the town hall courteously. Even though I was disappointed, I have to say that the first man was very friendly and accommodating. Thanks to his instructions and guidance, a complete opposite of the second man who've almost driven me away.

I left the town hall and moved on.

🇵🇭 SAN QUINTIN » I saw quarry activities at the river.

Riding on a motorbike, we followed the road the first man instructed us. The road descended from the location of the town hall. We went further, until we found out that it was already the end of the road!

What I saw was a very beautiful river! My disappointment was instantly replaced with joy and excitement!

🇵🇭 SAN QUINTIN » We reached the end of the road. It paused our land adventure. Now, we had to face the water.

That great river was just there, flowing silently! It runs between a series of stunning mountains that stretch alongside the river.

Meanwhile, I saw some trucks at the banks of this great river doing quarry activities.

🇵🇭 SAN QUINTIN » The road ended with this view. Spot the man crossing the river.

We were now getting closer to the river. I knew right then that there is nothing permanent in this world like this road we are taking, and this is not an exception. The road has to come to an end, the dead end.

Nevertheless, we were unstoppable. We went near the river and dipped into its waters until unexpected encounters happened.

🇵🇭 SAN QUINTIN » Dead end scene: Our motorbike | A mechanical mixer | Their motorbike

We had to park our motorbike because we could no longer use it. There's no more road to take.

I was thinking if should we end up this journey here, but I also thought that there's more to discover in this place.

🇵🇭 SAN QUINTIN » At the end of the road, this view welcomed us.

🇵🇭 SAN QUINTIN » The Abra River served as my background in this frame.

🇵🇭 SAN QUINTIN » It's the end of the road, but the adventure did not end yet.

We kept approaching the river, and the view that welcomed us quietly displayed nature's work of art.

I didn't know how would I describe it. Maybe raw? Romantic? Rare? Uh. At a certain angle close to the river, the waters stayed so calm; and the verdant mountains around seemed like they were waving cheerfully, enticing us to enjoy the nature's grand display of beauty! I have found a paradise at that moment. With this, it became the start of real off-road adventure. Literally, there would be no road; but there would be an adventure.

To be continued...

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

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7

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UPDATE HISTORY FOR THIS BLOG POST

2025-August-14:
• Three (3) additional photos added. Cover photo replaced. Article was arranged into sub-chapters placed under each sub-heading. In-article add units added manually..

2025-August-13:
• 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.