28 DEC. — We thought we'd never find the resort. At almost exactly 100 km from Laoag, we entered the town of Pagudpud, in the northernmost tip of Luzon. The sketch we got from the resort owner gave me the impression that it was moments away. All right, 25 km away through winding mountain roads with breathtaking views of the Sea of Luzon. At several points, I thought we had crossed over to Cagayan. It was nearing sunset and you never knew where the next gas station was. (I did fill up at Laoag, as advised, but that was more than an hour of driving already.)
Finally we got to the landmark Patapat bridge (according to the resort guide, it was five minutes away from the destination.) But not without one last heart-stopper: an 80-meter dirt-road detour that gave you a clear view of the rushing waves of the sea.
At Pannzian, we were treated to welcome leis and fresh coconut juice. Considering the looong drive, I thought I deserved something more soothing (i.e. alcoholic). Pannzian is owned by Bing Alonso, whose son Kenneth is my student. That is another story. Bing is big on many things: Ilokano food, eco-balance. The coconuts are grown on the property, so are the rice and the veggies. The fish, as David will attest, is caught less than 50 meters away.
We even had guard dogs who escorted us to the beach and waited under the dining tables for scraps. At first Maggie (who'd been bitten by a dog three years ago) and Regina were uncomfortable having fur brushing against their legs. On Monday, Regina was: "I can't eat with dogs under the table!" Next day: "I can't eat without the dogs!"Here's the other story. Ken and his thesismates are doing a info campaign to persuade the mostly fisherfolk residents living around the resort to do environment-friendly stuff like recycling garbage, sensible fishing, and not making pulutan out of exotic birds. I am advising them. The trip satisfied Bel's long-drive requirement but it also gave me a better insight into what my students want to do.
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