🇵🇭 SANTA • This beach in Ilocos has stories to tell

This beach area is located at the foothills of the Northern Luzon Heroes Hill National Park—a protected landscape in Ilocos Sur due to its biodiversity and historical significance.

• If this beach could speak, I’m pretty sure it has intriguing stories to tell.

• My admiration for this beach became more profound when I learned the history of its surrounding area.

• ...such a phenomenon is a product of supernatural art created by a supernatural artist.

🇵🇭 SANTA, ILOCOS SUR

It was pandemic period when this story happened. The boredom of being caged due to outside threat and the depression of staying home in the context of quarantine have heightened my yearning to revisit my old self—someone who finds joy in the outdoors, traveling to learn and create new life stories, and journaling based on my adventures. These things define my source of a healthy dose of dopamine activation that add more vivid colors to my life.

 ►  Backstory: breaking free from the quarantine

When the quarantine regulations eased, this beach became one of our spontaneous destinations when we had a quick ride to Santa. You know, this is my favorite spot along the Ilocos Sur segment of the ▼ MACARTHUR HIGHWAY

🇵🇭 LUZON ISLAND • MacArthur Highway or Manila North Road (Travel Blogger's POV)

because of the intertwining of the steep mountain slope and the sea, dissected by the MacArthur Highway (Manila North Road).

In my personal standpoint, such a phenomenon is a product of supernatural art created by a supernatural artist. This beach area in Magsaysay District has always left me in awe everytime I see it on my way down south of my home province. Not everyone may necessarily appreciate this place, but I really find this place special.

🇵🇭 SANTA • THE MOUNTAIN INTERTWINES WITH THE SEA. ON THE LEFT SIDE IS THE SEAWALL THAT PROTECTS THE MACARTHUR HIGHWAY.

🇵🇭 SANTA • JACKSTONE BREAKWATER PROTECTS THE COASTLINE FROM FURTHER EROSION.

🇵🇭 SANTA • THIS IS MY FAVORITE SECTION OF THE MACARTHUR HIGHWAY IN ILOCOS SUR. IT PROVIDES A GOOD VIEWPOINT OF THE MAGSAYSAY DISTRICT BEACHLINE AND THE MOUNTAIN RANGES ON THE OTHER SIDE. IT'S THE BEST VIEWPOINT FOR BOTH WORLDS: MOUNTAIN AND OCEAN.

This beach area is located at the foothills of the Northern Luzon Heroes Hill National Park—a protected landscape in ▼ ILOCOS SUR

LATEST STORIES COVERING ILOCOS SUR

due to its biodiversity and historical significance. It’s great to note that this beach is an extension of a national park.

This beach has no official name though. Since it's located in the Magsaysay District of Santa, I'd like to call it the Magsaysay beach. My admiration for this beach became more profound when I learned the history of its surrounding area. Near the beach is the Pideg Pass that was created by the Franciscans in 1600. It was later renamed to Diego-Gabriela Silang Pass. History told us that Gabriela Silang, the Ilocano freedom fighter, was captured in Pideg Pass by the Spanish forces.

🇵🇭 SANTA • A VIEW OF THE DOWNHILL FOOT TRAIL GOING TO THE BEACH AREA CAN BE SEEN FROM THE SECTION OF THE MACARTHUR HIGHWAY LOCATED AT THE HIGHER POINT ON THE SLOPE OF THE MOUNTAIN.

🇵🇭 SANTA • A NARROW SECTION OF THE MOUNTAIN SLOPE SEPARATES THE ROAD FROM THE SEA.

Learning this history, my brain couldn't help but to think if Gabriela Silang swam in the waters of this beach when she was stationed at Pideg Pass. What did Gabriela Silang think about this beach? I have many scenarios in my head, and these scenarios make this beach more intriguing.

If this beach could speak, I’m pretty sure it has intriguing stories to tell. Did the Spanish forces at that time guarded this beach? Did Gabriela Silang attempt to escape from this beach?

 ►  During This Visit

The beach was adorned by natural decorations like the creeping vine we call "Kadena de Amor," bearing bright pink flowers that provide contrasting colors against the ocean and the sky.

From the elevated section of the MacArthur Highway, I went down to take photos of the beach. There was a concrete stair to access the beach more safely because the terrain here is very steep.

No one frolicked on the beach when I visited. It seemed like none or just a few of my fellow Ilocanos would intentionally visit the beach area for leisure purposes. In my case, I visited the beach area because I want to document it in both written narratives and visual storytelling.

🇵🇭 SANTA • WOULD YOU DARE SWIM IN THE BEACH WATERS?

🇵🇭 SANTA • THIS SECTION OF THE MACARTHUR HIGHWAY DISSECTS THE MOUNTAIN AND THE SEA.

During this visit, I’ve seen some vacation houses/resorts erected at the safer sections of the coastline of Magsaysay. I can see the potential, though. The section of this beach at the Imelda Park is secluded and beautiful, too. But for this particular visit, I only checked the open beach section directly below the MacArthur Highway.

 ►  Ending Thoughts

I'm writing these ending thoughts at 09:55 PM of 2024-Nov-28. It's been 2 years since this experience happened. However, stories are everlasting; so I don't mind publishing this narrative 2 years after.

I’m glad that I found the motivation to write again. It’s a long weekend for me. It’s Thanksgiving Day in the US, and I’m joining their holiday schedule because my work schedule follows theirs.

I’d like to maximize this long weekend by writing stories and updating my blog. Of note, today is a happy pay day because I also received my 13th month pay.

🇵🇭 VIGAN • REAL TIME PHOTO AS I BLOG THIS STORY.

▬ END OF STORY ▬

▼ ILOCOS SUR ▼ BEACHES ▼ NATURAL WONDERS

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UPDATE HISTORY FOR THIS BLOG POST
• 2024-November-28: This post was published.