my most memorable road trips (first set)

with an archipelago of 7,107 islands you surely have a good list of your favorite trips of the vein-like road systems of each island. let me share my own list of memorable road trips and i'm sure you've been to most of the trips here. but a trip will definitely differ on the experience. i listed twenty four of the most memorable ones and here's my first batch.

[24] Cebu city to Hagnaya (3hours). i was already in Cebu yet i still don't know where the terminal going to North of Cebu. not that it wasn't on my itinerary, sometimes it's just fun to just get lost and find yourself like you're in Amazing Race. it was a long way up North reaching almost the long Cebu's island tip. we were rushing to reach the RORO that goes to Bantayan island (roll-on-roll-off) in time, not knowing that the RORO doesn't leave the port until our bus arrives, or else, it will have less passengers.
what to see: half of the trip is along coastal beach shores and the other half provincial towns and a beautiful mountain view when the bus starts crossing the Cebu mountain range.
what to expect: no air-conditioned buses available as of my trip last year but it was still comfortable to travel.
trip view: 3.5
trip experience: 2.5
eskapo rate: 6.0[23] Bacolod to Victorias (2hours). i've been to Victorias way back the mid 80s but not a bit of the roadtrip can i remember and so in 2008 i had my chance to go there again. this time riding just this motorcycle traveling for an hour and a half with my cousin. it was only then that i realized how dangerous it was to drive a motorbike while big trucks overtakes at high speed. on our way back it was more dangerous because it was already night time. we made a stop over at Silay and went home safely but extra tired.
what to see: the ancestral houses of Silay, nice mural painting of the Angry Christ, the vast sugar cane field and the remaining Victorias Milling Company.
what to expect: just a long roadtrip in the middle of a sugar can field.
trip view: 2.5
trip experience: 3.5
eskapo rate: 6.0 [22] Baguio to San Fernando (3hours). just early this year when we went to Baguio along with my parents. on our last day there, i realized that i've been taking the Marcos highway for quite some time so i decided that we take the Naguilian highway instead. so we extended our trip to San Fernando La Union and dropped by the beautiful town of Agoo. had our dinner there and drove back to Manila.
what to see: a good view of the Cordillera range that ends down the town of Naguilian, towns of La Union along the highway.
what to expect: nothing much but a road trip along the mountain range.
trip view: 3.0
trip experience: 3.0
eskapo rate: 6.0

[21] San Pablo to Nagcarlan and Liliw (3hours). many Luzon travelers already took this route and most of the time they include the towns of Pangil, Paete and Sta Cruz in their trip. this trip can be extra rewarding if you enjoy visiting churches while driving along mountainous roads. there was a way there where our SUV stopped on a steep curved road and we all have to go down and push it up. after we had it forward, another vehicle got stuck.
what to see: beautiful old churches, underground cemetery, uphill steep curve roads, cheap slippers and sandals in Liliw.
what to expect: at most times, this area is rainy because it is part of Mt. Banahaw's foothill. trip view: 3.5
trip experience: 3.5
eskapo rate: 7.0
[20] Iloilo to Guimbal Miagao (2hours). so many times i've been to Iloilo but never a trip down South to the towns of Guimbal and Miagao. with a chance to visit my friend's resort in Guimbal i decided to take a stop before proceeding to Miagao. this trip is very rewarding because of the beautiful old churches.
what to see: just plain road trip with some coastal views but the churches of the towns there are really impressive.
what to expect: overloaded tricycles competing with the jeepney's speed, very friendly people and a lot of stopover.
trip view: 3.5
trip experience: 3.5
eskapo rate: 7.0

[19] Alabang to Calayo Batangas (3hours). we traveled going there during night time and we didn't appreciate much of the trip except for the sleepless fun trip. the place was great but it was only on our way back did i found out that we actually passed a scenic uphill and downhill trip.
what to see: the mountain range of Pico del Oro was in view from afar.
what to expect: a concrete road going high up giving a panaromic view of the area. this place cannot easily be accessed by commuting because of the limited trips. (3hours)
trip view: 3.5
trip experience: 3.5
eskapo rate: 7.0
[18] Rizal to Laguna (9hours). it was way back 2005 when we had a visita iglesia and we started in Antipolo moving East over the highlands of Rizal province. great mountain views from there and old churches are really beautiful. we continued our way down the towns of Laguna and back to Manila through the South Luzon Expressway. definitely one of my most memorable visita iglesia.
what to see: old churches and Rizal province highlands.
what to expect: roads seems to be endless when you take this route.
trip view: 4.0
trip experience: 3.0
eskapo rate: 7.0

[17] Alabang to Mauban (5hours). how can i ever forget this? we were expecting to take a bus ride by 12midnight but ended up waiting for the air-conditioned bus for three hours. we decided to take a connecting trip to Turbina in Laguna then from there, we took the bus to Lucena. lucky though that upon reaching Lucena, the mini bus immediately left few minutes after we boarded. with this, we ended up arriving just in time having good enough time to roam around Mauban before our trip to the island of Cagbalete. because of that a tricycle driver, even thought we were a combo band.
what to see: nothing much along the way except for the beautiful mystical Mt. Banahaw.
what to expect: the mini bus from Lucena to Mauban is an old type bus but the trip down the coastal town of Mauban went smoothly. just expect a lot of short stopovers.
trip view: 3.0
trip experience: 4.0
eskapo rate: 7.0 [16] Manila to Anda and around Bolinao (5hours). this we had just recently and still to be posted in the coming week. a trip to Anda is not as popular as the trip to Alaminos in Pangasinan. it is a road less traveled but it leads to what i believe is Pangasinan's best beach shore. but what i like the most is the roadtrip that goes to the small town of Bolinao. nice scenic views along the way and the road is well paved.
what to see: long bridge connecting Luzon island to Anda island, Cape Bolinao Lighthouse and the caves of Bolinao.
what to expect: as of this time, expect damaged houses and trees along the way as caused by a typhoon two months ago. nice coastal beach lines on the way to the lighthouse in Bolinao are tempting as it is seen along the way.
trip view: 3.5
trip experience: 3.5
eskapo rate: 7.0 [15] Around Tacloban and to Ormoc (2hours). way back 2007, a van picked us from the Tacloban airport and brought us to the Marcos bridge that connects Leyte and Samar. since parking along the bridge is prohibited, our driver decided to drop us off at the middle of the bridge and left us there. then he returned, after we had a feeling like-there-was-no-tomorrow photoshoot. from there we drove our way to Ormoc. upon reaching Ormoc, i declared that the fastest van drivers comes from Leyte.
what to see: the longest bridge of the Philippines, the Leyte landing monument, and a typical mountain highway trip.
what to expect: children playing and crossing the highway that's despite the vans running at high speed. quite odd.
trip view: 3.5
trip experience: 3.5
eskapo rate: 7.0
[14] Dapitan to Zamboanga (13hours). we attended the boy scout jamboree held in Dapitan and on our way back we chose to take a roadtrip from Dapitan to Zamboanga city. this is one the longest roadtrip i had, it was like traveling from Manila to Legazpi. we chose to take a non-aircon bus not knowing that majority of the road was still unpaved. my black bag pack turned brown when we reached the town of Ipil but it was way back the mid 90s.
what to see: the mountain views of the long Zamboanga peninsula.
what to expect: when you take the airconditioned bus, expect some chickens to be traveling with you. just imagine the smell. but again it was way back the mid 90s. not sure if they still allow it. i hope not.
trip view: 4.0
trip experience: 3.0
eskapo rate: 7.0

[13] Iloilo to Caticlan (6hours). my mother and i took this road trip going to Boracay and i brought this map checking once in a while as we went Northwest of Panay island. the trip from Iloilo to Kalibo is just fine, passing by sugar cane and rice field. but the way from Kalibo to Caticlan is the most exciting. an hour trip passing by a great coastal view while driving beside the mountain heights. we didn't slept during the whole trip despite the lack of sleep the night before that day.
what to see: typical provincial towns of Panay, wide ricefields, great coastal views from Kalibo to Caticlan.
what to expect: overloaded tricycles and jeepneys along the way. some parts of the trip are still unpaved.
trip view: 3.5
trip experience: 3.5
eskapo rate: 7.0the next twelve, to be posted in the coming days. the winners for the ROAM contest will be posted soon.