Short story and photos by Art G. Valeanzuela A FISHERMAN casts a solitary figure off the shoreline at Bangui Bay in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte taking advantage of the calmness of the sea in pursuing a simple livelihood. Fifteen minutes before sundown I was getting ready to catch the sunset with…
Photos and short story by Art G. Valenzuela Now that a great part of the country is officially down to Alert Level 1, almost everyone is longing for a summer place of his own – that fits the budget, of course — where one could spend a much deserved vacation….
Short story and photo by Art G. Valenzuela THERE IS BEAUTY in the simplistic looks of these tourist destinations as they await “full awakening” from two years of doldrums in the industry. Some have opened up while others are just starting to welcome back the visitors. There really is…
It was a long weekend well spent with family in an off-beach ”Bahay Kubo” resort at Barangay Balingasay in Bolinao which the owner suited up appropriately with props for the “Undas.” This is one place where you can buy fresh seafoods (including lobster) just a few meters from the main…
Photos and narrative by Art G. Valenzuela SUNSET..DUSK..TWILIGHT.. PUIRPLE SHADES.. Call it any name and still it creates a tender image that is almost sacrosanct and yet evocative. It means that another day is ending and soon the moments will transit into evening — with the family, maybe with a…
Photos and short story by Art G. Valenzuela With positivity, our SUNDAY PUNCH online and this contributor always look forward to nice things in life. I am sure you, too, are longing to tour the countryside once more and enjoy a breathtaking sunset in an another place “where two souls…
Photos and story by Art G. Valenzuela THE year was 1982 when I received a call from my friend, the Regional Director of the Ministry of Agriculture for Region 1, Manuel “Maning” Varquez. He asked me if I could come and visit him for official business at his regional office…
Photos and short story by Art G. Valenzuela Perhaps, Isabela is one of the very few provinces in the Philippines which have been endowed with natural beauty and resources by Mother Nature. It used to be a vast rainforest in early times where many indigenous people lived. Many of the…
Photos and story by Art G. Valenzuela HAVE you ever wondered why the famous Dagupan Bangus (sometimes called Bonoan Bangus) tastes deliciously different from the rest of those harvested elsewhere in the country (and, perhaps, in the entire world)? A few years ago, while I was having “Kilawen bangus” (milkfish…
Photos and brief story by Art G. Valenzuela THE MUSEUM (which is officially the Gregoria M. Rivera Memorial Library) used to be an old municipal jail that was constructed in 1657 as mentioned in the commemorative marker. The Ilocanos of old must have been giving the Spanish authorities a lot…
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