TUGUEGARAO ADVENTURE by Sonia

On October 20, 2011, seven(7) members of LBPEA NEB namely Pres Lito, Sec Gen Weng, Directors -Sonia, Mario, Manny, Marlon, Atong, left Manila at 8:00 P.M. going to the north. It was a 12 hour trip by land from Manila passing through North Luzon Express Way, Pampanga, Tarlac,   Nueva Ecija, Nueva Viscaya, Isabela, and then finally to Tuguegarao, Cagayan.. 

The travel was really exhilarating although backbreaking  for me as it was the 1st time I went to the farthest North by land and it is the only place in Luzon where I went to aside from Manila.  North Luzon Expressway was more than 2 hours drive and we had a quick stop at Pampanga for the restroom.  We  had another stop at Tarlac before heading to Nueva Ecija and Nueva Viscaya. Unimaginable! There was traffic at  the mountain of Nueva Viscaya particularly the Dalton Bridge by 2 o' clock in the morning and large container trucks were in queue waiting for its turn to pass.  Never have I seen such  humongous trucks in the Visayas and I never thought there would be traffic congestion in the mountain.

By 4:00 in the morning, we were already at Sta Fe, Nueva Viscaya for an early morning snack.  We passed by Santiago, Isabela and we had our breakfast in Felicitas at Ilagan, Isabela for the famous Pancit Cabagan courtesy of Kuya Monching. We arrived at the famous City of Tuguegarao, Northern Cagayan Valley by 7:00 in the morning. We were welcomed by Regl Gov. Bong Cepeda, Jomar Calimag and Alexander Ilarde. Our hotel accommodation was at Meynard Resort.  It was a beautiful place to stay for fun and leisure with 2 huge swimming pools one of which with mechanical waves.

We visited the Regional Office in the afternoon for a meeting with the officers and employees of Tuguegarao Branch and Lending Center.  We were warmly welcomed by the LandBankers there, where I get to meet my idol Atty. James Alilam and Mr. Blackman-Rey Salvador, and the rest.

In the evening, we went back to the Meynard for fellowship.  A function room in the middle of the fishpond was our venue.  The LandBankers in Northern Cagayan showcased their talents in singing. LBPEA presented its best talent Sec Gen Weng Leones.  It was the 1st time in 4 years that I heard Weng rendered a song number.  As she sang I really doubted if she could make it through but then to my relief and surprise she made it.

On October 21, 2011, we were at the Stadium for the Wellness Program of Region 2.  Group Head Wesley Magnaye and Regional Head-Mon Monteloyola were present during the activity.  There was a Cheering Competition where the groups really gave their best during the contest.

LBPEA NEB left Tuguegarao by 11 in the morning.  This time we were able to appreciate the endless stretched of beauty of nature from the largest Cagayan River to the mountains of Nueva Viscaya.  We arrived at LandBank Manila at 12 o'clock in the evening.