My last days of summer were spent working and surfing—not a bad way to end my bumness, I think. After a year of study leave, I'm back working, but all I could think of is going back to Bagasbas to surf.
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| surfing lessons |
I never thought I could surf because one, I don’t know how to swim; two, I’m afraid of the open sea—sometimes. But I did learn how to surf, thanks to my ultracool surf instructor Mocca, who is well-known among surfers frequenting Bagasbas Beach in Daet, Camarines Norte. (A documentary about her was made by Samantha Lee, a film major in UP Diliman, titled, Agos). I still don’t know how to swim though.
It was difficult getting up from the surf board because of my heavy upper body, but I managed to paddle and stand up a few times after two hours of surfing. The feeling of riding the waves was pure bliss. I felt calm. It’s as if I was in trance. Balancing while standing up in the surf board made me concentrate on the task at hand. It was the only time I felt that I had a clear mind. I was moving in an endless and limitless space, a feeling of pure freedom.
Now I know why many people get stoked. Never mind the dark face, arms and legs afterwards.
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| after many failed attempts, finally got that thing going |
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| fear the waves no more |
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| soft landing |
Even though Kitch and I spent only a night and a day in Bagasbas, we felt we had been in that place for a few days already. The local surfers were very friendly and they made our trip really memorable. These are the things we did in 24 hours: drink beer (night), surf (next morning), lunch at Catherine’s (inside Bagasbas Lighthouse), shopping at surf store, drink (again!) lychee-flavored lambanog by the beach with our newfound surfer friends while watching people (especially the young surfers), swim until the sun sets.
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| surfers get goofy playing beach volleyball |
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| lambanog by the beach |
They say Bagasbas Beach is the best for surfing beginners. To go there, ride a bus going to Daet. Superlines, Amihan, and Philtranco have daily trips to Daet. Once in the town, ride a tricycle going to Bagasbas. It costs P50 for a special trip, but if you’re on a tight budget, you can go to the tricycle terminal at J. Lucban Extension St. in downtown. Fare is P10 per passenger.
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| where we stayed |
In Bagasbas Beach, there are already many choices for a place to stay even though it is not yet as developed as other beaches in the country. The most popular would be the
Bagasbas Lighthouse, which offers fully-furnished container vans for accommodations among others. Other more budget-friendly inns are available also. Based on our inquiries, average room rates are P500-700 for fan room and P1000-1500 for air-conditioned room. Most inns offer surfing lessons, but owners will refer you to Mocca and her group. You can contact Mocca directly at 09212518748.
Until the next wave.
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| Lilay, a pro-surfer at 12 years old |
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| Mocca's son |
