2019 Geology Board Examination Preparation: The Road Trip from Bicol to Manila

Goa, CAMARINES SUR

Date: JUL 06, 2019

UP Diliman offers a three-month review session for students who will take the Geology Board Exam. My friends paid P5,000 for the review session, and today, we are heading to Quezon City to search for an affordable boarding house where they will stay until October. We had to wake up early in the morning so we can reach Metro Manila by three or four in the afternoon (since Bicol and Metro Manila are ten to twelve hours apart).

Quezon National Forest Park, also known as "Bitukang Manok" in Atimonan, Quezon (Photo by: Aljhon Marco)

It was 4:00 A.M. when my alarm went off. Aljhon and I already packed our bags the night before, and we went downstairs right after waking up. Everyone’s ready for the trip, and we left their home early in the morning. As we drive to downtown Goa, Aljhon texted Edmarie, telling her to leave her house. Edmarie lives in San Jose, a municipality only three kilometers away. We waited for her in front of Angel’s Burger, and a few minutes later, she arrived.

Our next stop was in Naga City. The trip from Goa, Camarines Sur to Naga City lasts for more than an hour, passing through the municipalities of Tigaon, Ocampo, and Pili. It was almost 6:00 AM when we reached Naga City, and we picked up Che in front of McDonald’s. We loaded her bags inside the van and continued our journey.

From Naga City, we had to drive through the municipalities of Milaor, San Fernando, Pamplona, Libmanan, Sipocot, Lupi, Ragay, and Del Gallego, Camarines Sur; Tagkawayan, and Guinayangan, Quezon; and Sta. Elena, Camarines Norte. We took a short break and ate breakfast at Tabugon Junction.

The gigantic Red Horse monument in Famy, Laguna

We continued our journey as we drive through the municipalities of Calauag, Lopez, Gumaca, Plaridel, Atimonan, Pagbilao, Tayabas, and Lucban in Quezon Province; and the municipalities of Luisiana, Cavinti, Pagsanjan, Lumban, Kalayaan, Paete, Pangil, Siniloan, and Famy in Laguna. It was already noon when we reached Famy, and we decided to eat at a roadside carinderia. The roadside carinderia is situated near the crossing, and a huge Red Horse monument caught my attention.

After eating our lunch, we continued to drive through the municipalities of Mabitac, Laguna; Pililla, Tanay, Baras, Morong, Teresa, and Antipolo City, Rizal. It was already 3:30 PM when we entered Metro Manila, and UP Diliman is still 30 minutes away. Traffic was already building up, but we managed to reach UP Diliman around 4:00 PM. Before the day ends, we were able to find a nice boarding house in Brgy. Krus na Ligas, Quezon City. My friends paid for the boarding house, but we slept elsewhere because the room had to be cleaned first. We stayed at Park Vil-la Apartelle that night.