ANAWANGIN - CAPONES APRIL 2010 ESCAPADE

This trip is dated April 24-25, 2010 in Anawangin Cove and Capones Island of Zambales. This is my second time to be in this beautiful destination wherein the first of which was in March 2008. Anawangin is a good place to unwind since there are no facilities there including the electricity. Only comfort and bath rooms with a supply of deep well water supply are there and the rest will be provided by the guests including the tent, stoves and drinking water. Thus, mountaineers like me, really like the place. The beauty of the cove is relaxing, inviting and gives an aura of goodness to everyone in the place. Thus, all the people there become nice and willing to be of help. One can leave all his belongings and enjoy a swim without being stolen. The place is not commercialized except for the boatmen who charge affordable boat transportation though I noticed that there are already two shops offering souvenirs and a tattoo shop and the rest is all but nature.

This time, we were ten in this trip, namely: Daddy Jay and Mommy Jousie Noscal; Judy Aguinaldo; Avelina Tan and her children: Janina Clare and Leland Robinson; Angel Cruel; Lina Hombrebueno; Mona Bayoging and me. Mommy Jousie, Judy, Avelina, Angel, Lina and Mona are my batchmates in PNU SPED Practicum in P. Burgos Elementary School in Altura, Sta. Mesa, Manila. It was an overnight stay in Anawangin. Mona and I ascended to Anawangin viewdeck which is around 750 feet above see level overlooking the whole stretch of the white-sand cove as well as the picturesque stream which empties to the cove. The following day, we headed to Capones Island and since the waves were quite turbulent, we have to dock in the beach front instead in the harbour front. Thus, Mona and I, had trekked for barely two hours (back and forth) to Capones Lighthouse. Trekking we made was a mix of rock scrambling along the rocky shores and sand trekking of which the later is more exhausting the former is risky since most of the rocks are slippery and one false move will lead one to the Hands of Our Mighty Creator.

This trip is quite memorable as we had much quality time for bonding and getting to know well each other.

THRILLING NIGHT IN CAPONES ISLAND

This is a part of my Anawangin Cove-Capones Island March 19-22, 2008 Holy Week Outing. The tour is just an overnight covering March 21-22, 2008. Capones is just a 25-minute boat travel from Anawangin Cove or 30-minute boat travel from Pundakit Beach of San Antonio mainland, Zambales. How can I forget my Capones Island overnight stay when I was so scared that only Rome Frias and I had camped in the island. We thought then that a lot of backpackers stay there for an overnight as a lot of the campers in Anawangin Cove had most of us desired to cross to the island to enjoy its scenery. Our boat dropped us on the other side of the island at 10:40 A.M. and had to trek for more then 30 minutes along the rocky beach line leading to the scenic Capones Lighthouse. We instructed our chartered boat man to pick us up the following day the same time and he did not tell us that nobody really stay there for an overnight. It was full moon then and the air was so crisp and chilling. The huge full moon was over us and bats were so noisy as if signaling us that witches were very much around. Rome and I had to pray the Holy Rosary aloud. However, the most rewarding was when we experienced both the sunset and sunrise just in the site where we camped and we had a sumptuous dinner. That night, I thought, ghosts and monsters would come to devour us. In fact, I sent text messages to all my family and friends telling them that I was in danger and told them I was camping in the island with only Rome Frias was my companion and any moment our lives would be in danger. The following day, when we asked our boatman, he told us that nobody dares to stay overnight in the island since some of the first to try had experienced haunting nights.

ANAWANGIN COVE

This outing in Anawangin Cove covered the period March 19-21, 2008 located in the slopes of Pundakit's mountain slopes in San Antonio, Zambales. It can be reached either trekking the Pundakit mountain for an average of four to five hours or a 30-minute boat transportation from Pundakit Beach. The bus travel from Manila to San Antonio of Zambales is approximately four hours.