Trip to La Union and Baguio City for Daniz' 9th Birthday

Daniz’s Birthday Trip started in 2011, a week after she turned 6 years old. It was an accidental weekend getaway in Cagayan De Oro and Bukidnon. On her 7^th Birthday, she chose Hong Kong Disneyland Adventure over a themed party at Jollibee. And on her 8^th, we braved the road to Las Casas Filipinas, a day after typhoon Santi brought havoc to Central Luzon. 

And it became an annual event…

For this year, we took advantage of the long weekend, a 3-day vacation, from Saturday to Sunday (October 4~6).

• Day 1: La Union with an overnight stay at San Juan Surf Resort

• Day 2-3: Baguio City with an overnight accommodation at Camp John Hay’s Forest Lodge Hotel

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5 Things That Makes San Juan, La Union Enjoyable

Last October 4 was our second visit to Brgy. Urbiztondo, San Juan, La Union. The first was last June as our last adventure before the school finally starts.

This time is for the annual trip of our daughter, Daniz, for her 9th birthday (October 10). It's still a week early but we took advantage of the long weekend, a 3-day vacation from Saturday to Monday. We also invited my mother-in-law, Mommy Lydia, to join us on this trip

The highlights of our trip to San Juan:

1. Stay and Dine at San Juan Surf Resort
2. Surfing the Waves of Brgy. Urbiztondo
3. Sights and Sounds of the Waves
4. Beautiful Sunset
5. Early Morning Walk at the Beach

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Daniz Conquering the Waves of San Juan, La Union

Sand, Sea and Sky of San Juan, La Union

San Juan, La Union is known as the surf capital of the north and is the nearest surf spot from Manila. With the fourth longest coastline on the planet, San Juan has dozens of surfing areas waiting to be explored, one of which is Brgy. Urbiztondo.

Jonjie  and  I  consider ourselves as mountain  people…we love  to  climb and  hike  and explore.  But  our  Daniz is  a water person…she has an affair with water, be it in a swimming pool or in an ocean. She's our little mermaid who took to water even before she can walk.

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La Union Adventure: San Juan Surf Resort

From our visit to Our Lady of Namacpacan Church, we headed directly to San Juan Surf Resort located at Brgy. Urbiztondo.

Brgy Urbiztondo is said to be the entry point to the surf spots of the Ilocos region and there are plenty of accommodations to choose from, and many of them are beachfront,  from pricey villas or budget-friendly homestays.

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La Union Adventure: Villa Marand Resort and Spa

After checking three places near the area, we chose this place mainly because everything is new and we were able to avail their promo rate. We stayed in a Deluxe Queen Room, good for 4 persons with free breakfast and free entrance to the resort.

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La Union Botanical and Zoological Garden

Located in Sitio Japan, Brgy. Cadaclan, City of San Fernando that showcase different themed garden: Japanese Garden, Shade Garden, Sunken Garden, Evergreen Garden, Arid Paradise, Fragrance Garden, Fernery and Palmery.

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Historical Church: Our Lady of Namacpacan Church of Luna, La Union

Dada is walking towards the side of the church to look for the entrance.

Our Lady Apo Baket of Namacpacan was the title given to our Blessed Virgin Mary by the natives of La Union because she appeared to the indigenous people of the Cordilleras as an old woman and offered them food and invited them to be baptized. Apo Baket is how the people call the elderly woman as a sign of respect. The image got the name from the town itself. Namacpacan is an Ilocano word which means "one who had given food".

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Historical Church: Cathedral of St. William the Hermit of San Fernando, La Union

Taken by Daday with our ever reliable green car we named Froggy (the silent member of JADSpirits)

Cathedral of St. William the Hermit, also known as the San Fernando Cathedral, is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese in the City of San Fernando, La Union. St. William the Hermit Church was originally situated at Pindangan, now known as Barrio San Vicente. In 1759, Augustinian friar, Padre Jose Torres, convinced the two settlements to fuse into Pindangan (dry fish). He and the natives built a church under the patronage of Saint William the Hermit.

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La Union Adventure...Huling Hirit sa Tag-Araw

The Road Trip to La Union

Our initial plan is to go to Baler, Aurora but because of the distance and most of the hotels and resorts were fully booked, Baler could wait...

Then Dada mentioned that La Union is also a good place to visit and just a 3-hour drive from Mabalacat, Pampanga. It was already Friday night, and when I tried to call some of the hotel and resort in the area, all standard accommodations are taken for the weekend.

But since we are set on a weekend getaway...so off we go without a room to stay and without planned itinerary. 

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