Philippines : PANGASINAN

After spending Christmas at home, we had the opportunity to celebrate the last days of 2014 with our relatives on my mother's side in Pangasinan. It was also my Ate Carla's wedding, so we had plenty of reasons to be there. We stayed for five days, and it was really... f u n.

Weddings can get quite hectic! The preparations were exhausting. They set up a tent made of bamboo and covered it with tarpaulin in front of the house since the reception was to be held there. The food was prepared by the best cooks in town—the elders in the family—who were joined by some of our relatives in the kitchen. There was hardly any sleep during the preparations, and to keep the energy up, music played all night long!

THE WEDDING

DECEMBER 28, 2014

DECEMBER 29, 2014

THE BEACH

Not every trip goes as planned, and ours was no exception. We were supposed to visit Hundred Islands, just a 20-minute drive from our house in Mabini, Pangasinan. Everything was in order—we had rented a boat the day before and prepared all our essentials. However, one thing remained uncertain: the weather. The waves were massive, making it impossible for any boat to venture out, even the larger ones. We waited, hoping for a miracle, but eventually, the coast guard canceled all pending trips to the islands.

HUNDRED ISLANDS

So we decided to head to another beach, traveling from Alaminos to Dasol, which took us about an hour and a half. I've been visiting Dasol since I was a kid, but it's only now that I've come to truly appreciate its beauty. As a child, I was mainly focused on the sea, but I've realized that while it may not have fine, white sand or crystal-clear waters, it still holds its charm. I love the view of the palm trees against the sea and the swirling clouds above.

There's no entrance fee, but you do need to rent a cottage, which costs only 300 PHP. This cottage can accommodate 6 to 8 people. You can also grill fish, liempo, eggplants, or whatever you like for free—just remember to bring your own charcoal and utensils!