Stories of town explorations.
This beach area is located at the foothills of the Northern Luzon Heroes Hill National Park—a protected landscape in Ilocos Sur due to its biodiversity and historical significance.
• If this beach could speak, I’m pretty sure it has intriguing stories to tell.
• My admiration for this beach became more profound when I learned the history of its surrounding area.
• ...such a phenomenon is a product of supernatural art created by a supernatural artist.
🇵🇭 SANTA, ILOCOS SUR
It was pandemic period when this story happened. The boredom of being caged due to outside threat and the depression of staying home in the context of quarantine have heightened my yearning to revisit my old self—someone who finds joy in the outdoors, traveling to learn and create new life stories, and journaling based on my adventures. These things define my source of a healthy dose of dopamine activation that add more vivid colors to my life.
► Backstory: breaking free from the quarantine
When the quarantine regulations eased, this beach became one of our spontaneous destinations when we had a quick ride to Santa. You know, this is my favorite spot along the Ilocos Sur segment of the ▼ MACARTHUR HIGHWAY🇵🇭 LUZON ISLAND • MacArthur Highway or Manila North Road (Travel Blogger's POV)
because of the intertwining of the steep mountain slope and the sea, dissected by the MacArthur Highway (Manila North Road).
In my personal standpoint, such a phenomenon is a product of supernatural art created by a supernatural artist. This beach area in Magsaysay District has always left me in awe everytime I see it on my way down south of my home province. Not everyone may necessarily appreciate this place, but I really find this place special.
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🇵🇭 SANTA • THE MOUNTAIN INTERTWINES WITH THE SEA. ON THE LEFT SIDE IS THE SEAWALL THAT PROTECTS THE MACARTHUR HIGHWAY. |
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🇵🇭 SANTA • JACKSTONE BREAKWATER PROTECTS THE COASTLINE FROM FURTHER EROSION. |
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🇵🇭 SANTA • THIS IS MY FAVORITE SECTION OF THE MACARTHUR HIGHWAY IN ILOCOS SUR. IT PROVIDES A GOOD VIEWPOINT OF THE MAGSAYSAY DISTRICT BEACHLINE AND THE MOUNTAIN RANGES ON THE OTHER SIDE. IT'S THE BEST VIEWPOINT FOR BOTH WORLDS: MOUNTAIN AND OCEAN. |
This beach has no official name though. Since it's located in the Magsaysay District of Santa, I'd like to call it the Magsaysay beach. My admiration for this beach became more profound when I learned the history of its surrounding area. Near the beach is the Pideg Pass that was created by the Franciscans in 1600. It was later renamed to Diego-Gabriela Silang Pass. History told us that Gabriela Silang, the Ilocano freedom fighter, was captured in Pideg Pass by the Spanish forces.
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🇵🇭 SANTA • A VIEW OF THE DOWNHILL FOOT TRAIL GOING TO THE BEACH AREA CAN BE SEEN FROM THE SECTION OF THE MACARTHUR HIGHWAY LOCATED AT THE HIGHER POINT ON THE SLOPE OF THE MOUNTAIN. |
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🇵🇭 SANTA • A NARROW SECTION OF THE MOUNTAIN SLOPE SEPARATES THE ROAD FROM THE SEA. |
If this beach could speak, I’m pretty sure it has intriguing stories to tell. Did the Spanish forces at that time guard this beach? Did Gabriela Silang attempt to escape from this beach?
► During This Visit
The beach was adorned by natural decorations like the creeping vine we call "Kadena de Amor," bearing bright pink flowers that provide contrasting colors against the ocean and the sky.
From the elevated section of the MacArthur Highway, I went down to take photos of the beach. There was a concrete stair to access the beach more safely because the terrain here is very steep.
No one frolicked on the beach when I visited. It seemed like none or just a few of my fellow Ilocanos would intentionally visit the beach area for leisure purposes. In my case, I visited the beach area because I want to document it in both written narratives and visual storytelling.
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🇵🇭 SANTA • WOULD YOU DARE SWIM IN THE BEACH WATERS? |
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🇵🇭 SANTA • THIS SECTION OF THE MACARTHUR HIGHWAY DISSECTS THE MOUNTAIN AND THE SEA. |
► Ending Thoughts
I'm writing these ending thoughts at 09:55 PM of 2024-Nov-28. It's been 2 years since this experience happened. However, stories are everlasting; so I don't mind publishing this narrative 2 years after.
I’m glad that I found the motivation to write again. It’s a long weekend for me. It’s Thanksgiving Day in the US, and I’m joining their holiday schedule because my work schedule follows theirs.
I’d like to maximize this long weekend by writing stories and updating my blog. Of note, today is a happy pay day because I also received my 13th month pay.
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🇵🇭 VIGAN • REAL TIME PHOTO AS I BLOG THIS STORY. |
LATEST STORIES COVERING SANTA • SEE ALL IN A SEPARATE WINDOW
▼ ILOCOS SUR
▼ BEACHES
▼ NATURAL WONDERS
MORE TOWNS OR LOCATIONS YOU MIGHT LIKE TO EXPLORE:
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UPDATE HISTORY FOR THIS BLOG POST
• 2024-November-28: This post was published.
NAGUSTUAM DIAY NABASAM/NAKITAM? MABALIN MO MET I-LIKE.
.jpg "[NARVACAN] ▬ BULANOS BEACH AND THE TEMPERATE AMBIANCE
Published: 07 March 2011
Filed Under: Natural Wonders ► Beaches")
