262 kilometers through CALABARZON.
By eileenleyva
@eileenleyva (27555)
Philippines
February 27, 2020 2:48am CST
For the sake of our mylot friends, CALABARZON is a collective regional name for the Tagalog provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon.
Yesterday, I made an eighteen hour round trip of the region via land travel.
Gosh, my whole physical being is sore right now, especially my lower appendages that were rendered almost immobile from the long trip. The little walking done was courtesy of quick stopovers for breakfast and supper.
I was surprised by the infrastructure development that has made driving through the rural areas real easy. Surprised to see also the food chains and convenient stores and supermarkets along the highways, plus cafes in the once remote barrios. Pretty similar now to the urban cities. Which could probably make me ponder about relocating, just to be near the farmlands.
Yes, the horizon did beckon, especially when the darkness gradually faded for the pale blue skies. Mount Maria Makiling, the sleeping beauty of a lady of a mountain, still remains the spectacle to behold. Glorious!
I could have been fatigued by the necessary activity but I'd like to do it again sometime soon. Just for pleasure. Perhaps visit Villa Escudero again.
9 people like this
10 responses
@eileenleyva (27555)
• Philippines
27 Feb 20
I didn't pass by Tagaytay nor the Taal area. Still an ash-covered calamity area, I think. But the highways are all right. Lots of infrastructure construction. The locals are very helpful and accommodating.
1 person likes this
@rsa101 (40946)
• Philippines
28 Feb 20
Wow that was nice road travel you have. Yes the place has already changed and it looked more urbanized now in the countryside since the City developments is slowly creeping in the nearby towns and cities in those areas. Even in my home province in the south I always am surprised how my place is change by urbanization. The once farmlands are slowly being converted to either commercial or residential lands.
1 person likes this
@eileenleyva (27555)
• Philippines
28 Feb 20
Infrastructure-wise, I am all for it. Capitalist-wise, I am against it.
I still love the fruit stands by the roads and the mazapan outlets like Collette's.
1 person likes this
@rsa101 (40946)
• Philippines
28 Feb 20
@eileenleyva True but it cannot be stopped once it starts in one place. Little by little they are being eaten up by capitalist that will try to make profits from the lands that used to be controlled by nature.
1 person likes this
@eileenleyva (27555)
• Philippines
28 Feb 20
@rsa101 Yes, that was one reason I made the trip - for an ocular inspection and a civilian assessment.
If there's a will, there's a way. A lot of convincing for our folks to preserve our agricultural lands. By the way, I think the COVID-19 is a Divine Intervention. Suddenly, the capitalists are downsizing. Honda has ceased services, I hear. Ha ha. I did see a huge outlet along the highway. Now it will be a white elephant.
1 person likes this
@allen0187 (59648)
• Philippines
28 Feb 20
Been to Villa Escudero before.
Well worth the trip.
1 person likes this
@eileenleyva (27555)
• Philippines
28 Feb 20
Yup. A relaxing commune with nature.
Will reserve for a May stay. Ha ha. It's been three decades since I ate on a raft with my feet submerged on water and the falls gently flowing behind me, tousling my real thick hair.
1 person likes this
@Iam_jauntyjen (5452)
•
2 Mar 20
I grew up in Bacoor, Cavite. Indeed, it has improved a lot. When I was a kid, we had to go to Manila, Harrison Plaza to be exact, to buy school supplies as there were no shopping malls near our subdivision. There were only sari-sari stores.
1 person likes this
@eileenleyva (27555)
• Philippines
2 Mar 20
I hail from that province, too. Ha ha. My father's family were fisher folks.
1 person likes this
@eileenleyva (27555)
• Philippines
2 Mar 20
@Iam_jauntyjen I have heard of Molino but I don't exactly know where that is.
I only go to Cavite once in a blue, blue moon.
@arunima25 (93194)
• Bangalore, India
27 Feb 20
Seems like a long trip that you enjoyed despite of all the exhaustion. You need to take a good rest
1 person likes this
@eileenleyva (27555)
• Philippines
27 Feb 20
Yup. My feet are popped up right now. Ha ha. It was really a long, long trip.
1 person likes this
@eileenleyva (27555)
• Philippines
2 Mar 20
@arunima25 Recovery time for me lasted a day and a half.
Sigh, I am old.
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (93194)
• Bangalore, India
2 Mar 20
@eileenleyva Hope you could get the needed rest.
1 person likes this
@eileenleyva (27555)
• Philippines
27 Feb 20
Not a pleasure trip at all. The journey was for documentation and legal purposes of a project I was tasked to work on. Aside from that, I couldn't divulge anything any more.
Come middle of the year, I vowed to travel for pleasure.
1 person likes this
@eileenleyva (27555)
• Philippines
27 Feb 20
@ZedSmart Ha ha. Actually, it's a thankless job. But who knows, the tides might change and I might get rewarded. Nonetheless, I am fine with just seeing the countryside again.
2 people like this
@ZedSmart (19839)
• Philippines
27 Feb 20
@eileenleyva No problem. I understand the confidentiality. I hope you get paid right for that particular project.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222222)
• United States
27 Feb 20
I'm glad you enjoyed your trip even though it was long.
1 person likes this
@eileenleyva (27555)
• Philippines
28 Feb 20
The countryside is always enjoyable. I saw carabaos in the fields again.
1 person likes this
@almostoveryou (4954)
• Philippines
27 Feb 20
Welcome to our beautiful region :o)
1 person likes this
@eileenleyva (27555)
• Philippines
27 Feb 20
Hmmm, that is warm enough a welcome. Thank you. My ancestors hail from Batangas and Cavite.
@florelway (23339)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
29 Feb 20
Good to know that you still enjoyed the travel after all. I hope you do that in Mindanao too. It would be great to have it with dora and me. When Dora was here last year she was so amazed at the wide cemented road and lots of greens along the way.
1 person likes this
@eileenleyva (27555)
• Philippines
29 Feb 20
Mindanao is a forever 'wish ko lang' travel destination. Some years back, I was a boat away. Dumaguete held me back.
My daughter loves Mindanao. Zamboanga and Marawi were her projects.
Will make a travel bucket list again. Domestic tourism, I hear, is highly recommended these days.
But I think Dora has her mind on something else, especially today, a leap year day. Ha ha. Must be on the hunt.
