Three unforgettable days in La Union

Behind the thrilling extravaganza you saw on your television is a multitude of untold stories of camaraderie, adventure and passion.

“This is going to be just an ordinary trip, not the usual exhausting travels we do,” said Nikki Del Mundo, our very positive researcher who thinks a three-day non-stop shoot and travel by land is no longer much of a challenge.

At dawn on the third Tuesday of June, our Biyahe Ni Drew team arrived in a small resort in La Union where we were greeted with the famous Bacnotan longganisa, hot soup and puto maya for breakfast whilst enjoying the panoramic view of the vast oceans, blue skies and peeking sun. We started the day with sumptuous food and an impeccable view of skies kissing oceans—perfect combination to fuel our hibernating systems.

First on our to-visit list is a vineyard in Bauang. Lomboy Farms is a huge plantation where visitors could pick the sweet grapes growing on the vine.

By the woods and underneath the fully-grown grapevines was a small store selling thirst-quenching shakes made from freshly picked grapes— basically an answer to our exhausted glands after enduring the blistering heat of the sun.

While sipping the last drops of our fruit shakes, Nikki was already busy contacting a Greek grill house in San Juan approximately 21 kilometers away from our current location where we were supposed to have our lunch.

Gfseis Greek Grill offers a slew of Mediterranean food close to the hearts of many Filipinos—and there was no trace of leftovers on our plates at the end of the meal.

The food was not yet fully digested when we left for our next destination; as production people always say, “We gotta keep going.”

We had two more appointments to attend to—honey- and silk-making in Sapilang, and pottery-making in Taboc. Aside from the breathtaking views of green mountains and blue waters as we traveled, the locals and their rich traditions really caught our attention. Visiting their places made us feel as though we had flown back in time; traditional practices such as manually molding pots are still very evident in the province today.

As darkness engulfed the skies, our team arrivedat the Thunderbird Hotel and Casino, a class A establishment that offers top-notch facilities and quality rest. The place, known for its white solid structures, lived up to its promise of giving tourists "Santorini feels" without having to travel to Greece.

The next morning, we went down to the beach facing the hotel to try out different water activities. The waters were clear. The sand was pure. The heat of the sun wasn’t too harsh to the skin; it was perfect weather to embark on something really exciting.

We left the hotel right after the shoot so as to reach our next stop—which the producers deemed one of the major highlights of the trip—on time: Tangadan Falls.

Roughly one hour was spent riding and another 30 minutes trudging the crooked road leading to Tangadan Falls. The trek was long and exhausting.

Though everyone was going the same way, given our different body compositions and endurances, some of us had to pause from time to time to catch our faltering breaths.

Eleven started the trek but only nine reached the destination; two returned to the base (they had correctly predicted they wouldn't make it to the falls).

Along the way, there were carabaos, wooden shacks, rice fields, and a long stretch of mountain which surprisingly does not have a name yet. After a thousand steps, leaps and hops (ballpark), we could hear the sound of rushing waters in the distance. A few more steps and the heavenly view of a gargantuan waterfalls greeted the team.

With kilowatt smiles on their faces, locals and tourists took selfies left and right, jumping into the watersp. Kids screamed and families sat on the rocks enjoying their home-made lunch. We even joined them, actually.

We were left in awe. The aching leg muscles, trembling hands and drenching sweat—it all paid off the moment we saw Tangadan Falls. Truly a paradise worth the visit.

After the shoot, though, the team faced the same trek on the way back—and it was even more exhausting as we the road sloped upwards.

The trek was exhausting and left us gasping for air, especially as we had to carry heavy luggage containing big cameras and other indispensable equipment. Concern for each other and camaraderie were palpable in those moments. Video journalists helped each other to bring everything safely to the base. Drew, our humble host, even extended a hand to the team by lifting what other crew members could no longer carry.

Even more than the breathtaking Tangadan, the BND team helping each other during that tough time was truly unforgettable and remarkable.

The rest of the day was spent visiting food places that offered cold fruit shakes and a factory that processes basi, a type of wine that is one of La Union's major products.

The next day, we visited weaving shops where some of the finest blankets of La Union are made, tasted seven bagnet delicacies courtesy of Villa de Elita in the municipality of Sudipen, and bumped into a factory where silver jewelry is manufactured (and sold at a much lower price than in Manila).

The shoot ended with smiles all around.

Three days. Roughly 65 hours was spent in search of La Union’s best offerings including food, scenic beaches, waterfalls and classic activities.

Three days that were compressed into an hour to meet the airtime.

Three days. Aside from flavorful food and scenic places, we experienced inspiring camaraderie, laughter,  companionship, passion, hard work.

While these wonderful things were missed by the camera and were not seen on your television screens, we know that these are the same elements that made our #BNDLaUnion adventure exceptional and unforgettable.

Not an ordinary trip, indeed.

— BM, GMA News