#balerbound

Looking back, my last night in Baguio was the perfect mix of random and intense. Nag-decide ako pumunta sa SM Baguio just to see what’s new. Nabalitaan ko kasi na MMFF season na, so I checked the movie schedules.

Exactly 1 minute before the screening started, impulse buy agad ako ng ticket for Shake, Rattle & Roll. Zero idea sa story, zero idea kung sino ang cast… as in blind buy talaga. It turned out it was Carla Abellana! I actually liked the first segment. Honestly, I’m so amazed na ang ganda na ng special effects ng Pinoy horror ngayon.

After the movie, I had dinner along Session Road and capped off the night at the Night Market. Guys, yung dami ng tourist, nakakaloka! 🤯 Tapos yung lamig? It felt like someone suddenly opened the door of a huge refrigerator and I was just standing there in the middle of it! 🥶 Muntik na akong maging frozen delight sa gitna ng Session Road. Despite the freezer vibes, go pa rin sa pag-ukay2x priority ang aesthetic kahit nanginginig na! Charot! Pero wala talaga akong nabili.

Then came Day 5. Pumunta ako sa terminal originally looking for a bus to Pangasinan. But in a split second, my mind shifted… Why not Aurora? Sabi ko na nga ba, may sariling isip ang paa ko. I’ve always wanted to go there and since may direct route via Baler from Baguio, sabi ko, G! Move over, Pangasinan, may bagong bida sa itinerary.

Habang nasa bus, may pumasok pang vendor offering fresh Baguio Strawberries. Siyempre, di ako kumuha hahaha… may nabili na kasi akong strawberry jams…pabaon ni Baguio bago ako lumipat sa dagat.

The ride was so therapeutic. Crossing a bridge somewhere in Nueva Ecija, I saw these massive mounds of gravel and sand under a bright blue sky. Bye-bye refrigerator weather, hello sunshine! Feeling ko pati yung balat ko nag-celebrate sa init.

Around 4:00 PM, nag-stopover kami sa Cordillera Restaurant and Pasalubong Center sa Nueva Ecija. That was my official late lunch and early dinner combined… Linner 😭or Dunch? 🤣 Bahala na basta busog!

I even checked out some good items being sold by local vendors… ang daming sawsawan at sibuyas! Akala ko mapapa-grocery ako sa gitna ng biyahe.

I finally arrived in Baler at exactly 5:59 PM and by 6:00 PM, nasa accommodation na ako. One minute difference! Ganun dapat kabilis ang galawan. Charot lang! I ended my night buying some pasalubong near the area and luckily, may 7-Eleven na malapit for quick supplies. Ang tunay na travel savior… ang 7-Eleven sa tabi-tabi.