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Nangaramoan Beach in Santa Ana, Cagayan

Let's skip Aurora for now. Let met take you to a beach that's at the tip of Northern Luzon - one of the tips that is. I checked the map and just realized now that it is the tip of mainland Luzon.

My first visit here was during the wedding of one of our batchmates who lives in Sta. Ana. His wedding was open to all our batch was invited too. However, only a handful of us were able to attend. I traveled Baguio to Isabela by bus - that's about eight hours or so. There I had to meet with other fellow batchmates. I was the only one who lives from far away. The car we used was not even full. We then traveled from Isabela to Cagayan some 7 hours or more, stopping along the way to eat and freshen up. When we arrived at the groom's place (our batchmate), we were housed in his grandfather's home since he lives alone anyway. We were there a day before the wedding. We did help some in preparation for the wedding but mostly we explored the place and had a few drinks that night. We did attend the dance party the night before the wedding but as audience only. The day of the wedding, we woke up early and to prepare and went to the church for the ceremony and then after that to the reception. After we ate, we then went back to the grandfather's house to rest and freshen up. We got wasted that night, embarrassing myself. The next morning, we headed to the beach. We rented a boat to take us to the beach only to realize there was a road going there. One of my batchmates was telling us that the place looks familiar until she realized it was the same beach she had been only they did not ride a boat but went there by car. I didn't have much photos then for the photos were not saved.

The photo above was posted in my noise profile. That was the second time that we visited Nangaramoan Beach. It was another reunion but still only a few came. This time our batchmate in Cagayan cannot come as well. We went to the beach by car this time.

We rented two huts for we can't fit in one. I forgot how much was the rent. The upper floor is the sleeping quarter and below is the dining area. Back then the restroom is half a restroom. The toilet is enclosed in cider block walls but only about how many feet such that your head is sticking out when you sit on the throne. To complete the enclosure is a GI sheet that serves as a "door." Clean water is not that easily accessible so we have to pay per pail. Even the place where you have to shower is open. There are shops there where you can buy toiletries, some food, souvenirs and clothing.

We did the preparations cooked what needs to be cooked and then ate lunch. We had a lot of time catching up and sharing stories, laughing at memories that we have had in school.

These were the photos that I took at that time. We couldn't explore the whole place earlier for it was hot and it's unbearable. We did buy coconut from a vendor who came in his boat. I think we bought almost all of his coconuts.

That boat in the photo was not the vendor's. I just inserted it there. That was one of the boats that we saw early morning the next day when we got up early to explore the beach.

During the day the water recedes and the breakwater is about a kilometer away. We did photoshoots there but I lost the copies. I don't know if my batchmates were able to save some of those. The ones that I'm posting here are the ones that I was able to keep. These photos are precious to me and I hold them dear. I want to share it here so that hopefully they will live on. The beach of Nangaramoan is cream to white. The sand is a mixed of fine and not. If you go away from where the huts are, there you can find finer sands. We even hiked to a nearby resort but it is not yet fully developed at that time. I like the rawness of the place. It is not yet that developed but I like it the way it is. I was surprised while browsing my fb to see an article posted by someone that the beach was closed because they have to rehabilitate it and clean the place from trash that undisciplined beachgoers just left everywhere. It's sad that the beauty of the place had to be spoilt but these savages.

We have planned on going back but for another reunion there and I hope we can when the pandemic is over. When we went the second time, it was already an extended group for some brought their partners with them. I hope next time the group is bigger and more will bring partners and families with them. *All the photos are mine and edited in Canva.*

I cannot write this properly the way I wanted it for my mind is not at ease. But God is bigger than all our worries and problems so I lift it all to Him. I was browsing my collection in Canva when I saw these photos. Thank goodness I have uploaded these in Canva. I forgot all about the photos I uploaded there. Read and noise were both having issues later so I can't work properly in both platforms. It is late here but I had to publish an article. It is my goal for this August, to publish one article a day. We're not halfway through but I am getting more and more challenged as the day go by. I hope you have a better day ahead of you. Stay safe. Please. Be responsible.

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