reasons why i must go back to Luna, La Union

it is almost 2 months that i went to Luna, La Union. �my first time in that side of North Luzon. �i was told to come with our partner, Ophthalmological Foundation of the Philippines (OFPHIL) headed by Ms. Carla Lopez and i don't have the exact picture of what am i suppose to do. hahaha;-) �

couple of days before my flight to Manila, i received one of the saddest news in my life; my beloved lola crossed over ahead of me. it was so sudden no one in the family aw it coming as she was completely healthy. oh well, sometimes life makes its own reason to call us. so i was torn to go or to stay but since flights have been booked and everything settled, i must go. �

march 13, i met up with doc lea alzola, a volunteer optometrist of OFPHIL and at the same time teaching in languages internationale in makati, michael nuesca or simply 'mike', the mover of this travel, and malou - mike's assistant. �all new faces to me except Ms. Carla. �after a little introduction we squeezed ourselves in a van full of books to be donated to Oaqui Elementary School in Luna. �it turned out Mike, a US citizen, has his roots from Luna and helping the town by donating books. it was a gruelling 9hour trip until we reached Luna.

but i enjoyed the sights along the way. �my first time to see the tobacco plantation ;-)�

the energy and hospitality of Miss Lumen, principal of Oaqui Elementary School, (in tangerine shirt) was unequalled. �We all loved her company and bright and funny disposition. She made sure that we didn't eat the same menu in our 2day stay and that we should all taste their famous 'kakanin'. �true to her words, before the day ends she brought us to their beautiful beach - one the town's source of livelihood where they gather stones, pebbles, and sands and export them. �

On our way to the beach, we passed by for my favorite 'tupig'. �I so love tupig ;-) �i remember my ama housemate, Queenie and her friend Jiggy. �Jiggy is from Nueva Vizcaya (as far as i can remember ;-) and every time he goes gome he would bring lots of tupig for Queenie and of course the bulk of that goes to my stomach. hahaha ;-) �Anyway, we met the oldest tupig maker in town and with this business life has been good for them. �Lola said her tupig is even ordered and sent to other countries (Luna folks who work in other countries and they're to many). �

And not only tupig, Miss Lumen said they also have the best cassava cake and we must try it or else... ;-) �And it was indeed sooooooo good. �Was not on my 2 piece (haha) then so wasn't able to enjoy the beach but how can i complain when my two hands are full with the best tupig and cassava cake and can't decide what to eat first? ;-)