TBK travels to Kaniyog'n - Brookes Point Fiesta

The great thing about Facebook is it lets you know when all the Fiestas are. Sadly we had to miss the one in Alimanguan as it clashed with my friends Mid Term exams but we made it to Brookes Point for the last day of theirs which was the Grand Parade. My anak, Grecil, had to teach from 7 - 3 but she and John came for dinner at our hotel. We stayed at the same Mountain resort just north of BP that we used when Mark came from Manila.

The day did not start well when my cameraman, Kevin, who was so excited to go to BP, having never been there before. He was told several times that we would leave at 8 am as it was nearly a 4-hour drive and we needed to be there for the Grand Parade at noon. He eventually responded to my messages at 8.05 am saying he had just woken up so Chester and I left without him. Grecil said she was teaching until 330 pm and once I had left Puerto changed this to 5pm.

After that it got better and we had a good journey stopping after 3 hours at 11 am for the CR and water for Chester and Pea and Mint Frittata for me. We arrived in Brookes Point around Noon and found the road into town had just been closed to allow the floats and bands to line up. We got lost on the diversion and ended up back on the closed road which was now closed at both ends! Blocked in we did the only thing possible, parked and ordered coffee. They did not serve food and did not know what time the parade was , in spite of being on the route! However after I had my coffee and water for Chester they found me some Banana bread and I ordered another coffee as the first band stated to play and the Police and “motorcycle outriders “ led the parade into town.

     I loved the way everyone was dressed for the event, Scouts, Bands etc

I felt an immense relief having missed the fiesta in Alimanguan ( my friends had mid-term exams) and the parade in Barutaan being rained off after driving over 6 hours to get there. This time I was on the parade route, before it started, and the sun was shining!

                  The long journey south, good job I left at 8 am

The parade was well worth the long drive with each Barangay having a float or band in the very long procession. At the end came the Carnival Queens with their attendants. The Police, army and coastguard were also present and the event was very well organised and marshalled. Chester got too hot in the sun so he retired to the shade of Brew Point where we were having our coffee. Special thanks to the lovely team at Brew Point for looking after us so well!

I kept filming and taking photos at the roadside and was rewarded with smiles and waves and people posing in groups for photos. 

              So many people stopped to smile and wave at the cameraman!

I hope some of them see this Blog and the Vlog (click the picture below)

 

Vlog pic

The parade was the end of a month of activities and was their “15^th Pista Y ang Kaniyog’n”. Kaniyog'n means Coconut Plantation and Brookes Point is famous for it's coconuts which you see everywhere. The floats were made out of coconuts and the Squirrel was my favourite:

        Imagine how many coconuts were used to make this and how long it took

One thing is for sure here in the Philippines, they know how to party! From the longest Christmas in the world running from September to January, the second most important date of the year follows that- all hearts day ( Valentines) and then there are various holidays in honour of significant events and as summer arrives all the Fiestas. You can of course catch all the holidays on Chester’s calendar- the April edition will be on line from 1.4.23 .

                                                   Mt Maruyog Farm and Mountain resort

After our long drive and watching the parade we headed to our hotel to have a rest before Grecil finished her work. Second disaster of the day- we overshot the turn off. We followed the second route Mr Google gave us which led us down a long track (memories of Port Barton, Kevin) before the track came to an end at a broken bridge. After reversing down a narrow track a local came to our aid and pointed out a place to turn and told us to take the next right which, after several kilometres down a rough track, led us to ….. yes you guessed it, another broken bridge. Sadly, when Google maps asked how well they did in getting me to the hotel there was no smiley face that matched how I felt. At the third attempt we found a concrete road that told me I was 2 minutes from the hotel and once I saw the entrance happy memories of my stay with Mark 9 months ago came flooding back.

                     Chester loved running in the woods at the resort

The hotel is exactly what it says in the adverts ( a mountain resort and farm). Chester loved running through the woods and on the grass while I had a cold drink ( they did not have the Calamansi or Mango juice or water that were in the menu so I had to drink Coca Cola- my first in 6 weeks) and a snack ( breaded Calamari with Marie rose sauce).

 

                 The hotel menu- very reasonably priced and cooked to order

I did not fancy driving into town in the dark and getting lost again so I persuaded Grecil and John to come for dinner at the hotel and we caught up on the chizmizz ( gossip) since we last met at Johanna's surprise 22^nd Birthday party. We shared a fried chicken and my guests had rice and they delivered a jug of chilled service water (which I spilt on Grecil’s phone- sorry Anak) and after dinner and meeting Chester for the first time we had a walk around the beautiful grounds. When Grecil and John left at 6.30 pm Chester and I retired to our room and I typed up my blog (as a Word document as there was no Wi-Fi at the hotel) . Chester had a sleep on the veranda as we listened to the sound of the insects in the trees and saw the Ghekhos running up and down the walls. This is about as close as you can get to living in the jungle!

                      Chester and I walking at the hotel- photo by Grecil

We decided to have an early night’s sleep and took advantage of the 6.30 am breakfast to leave at 7 am for PPC.  We stopped off for Meryenda at our Favourite Blue Cafeteria by the sea outside Aborlan.

                        The Beautiful Mount Maruyog, behind the hotel

So that is our first Fiesta done and dusted and Chester’s first visit to Brookes Point. I hope yo enjoyed reading about our trip and seeing the photos and ,as usual, we would love to hear your feedback- just click the buttons below. Thank you.