Hitchhiking in Philippines: Aurora
12th of March, 2025.
I walk. I have a plan of getting two lifts in motorbikes, to specific points, straight road ones, so from there I have a better chance of getting a proper lift to Aurora Region. But as it’s not good even for motorbikes to stop for me here in EDSA, I keep on walking.
I’m saved first by a very humble and nice man. It fills my heart with joy when this very simple people do everything they can to help me. He is not going to Andres Bonifacio Monument, but he insist too much on taking me there, even though I keep telling him that somebody else, someone going that way can take me soon; so I decide to accept. We talk a little bit on the way, and the ride is about 15 minutes.
What happens next is actually also incredible. I walk for about one hour, and then I stop to rest. It’s sunny and hot. I pass by a big group of students, who are siting in front of a 7-Eleven. As I rest, one of them approaches me and ask a few questions. I kindly and patiently explain everything to him. He’s a teenager. After all, he gives me a hot-dog. I am so touched and surprised by his gesture. He’s just a kid, you know? And he doesn’t even ask for a photo or anything. As I am eating the hot-dog, another very young man, wearing very simple and worn clothes, and barefoot, which makes me think he might be homeless, gives me a small bottle of water. I want to cry. I try to refuse and tell him he should keep it for himself, but there’s no way he will accept. We talk a little bit only, because he cannot really speak English, but I can tell that he’s a very sweet boy. I wish I could just snap my fingers and make his life better instantly, giving him everything he might need, a brand new life. But who knows, perhaps just like me, that’s the life he want to lead…?
I walk for another 20 minutes or so, and my destination is still 40 minutes ahead, when a small bus stop and the kind lady inside tells me I can come inside for free. I tell her I only need a ride for five minutes or so, and she’s OK with that. There are a few people on the bus only, and soon enough I am where I want to be.
A few motorbikes pass by and ask where I’m going, even though they can read my sign. So when GreyD approaches me and ask where I’m going, as he’s wearing a uniform for motortaxi, I think he’s just curious, so I am a bit straight forward with him. I know, it’s terrible and I feel really bad about it. But then he explains to me that’s his day off, and he is going to Aurora. What? He’s going to a town called Palayan, only a bit before my final destination, Casiguran. I cannot believe it! Actually, everything that happens next it’s too crazy to be coincidence. Here is the thing…
I decide to come with GreyD, even tough is super hot and sunny, simply because I’m worried I will not get a car anytime soon. Coming with him until Palayan it’s great because outside small towns it’s always easier to get lifts than outside the capitals. As we ride, I start feeling my legs really soar, because of the position I must be sitting for over one hour. Plus, the sun is killing me. So when we arrive to San Miguel, and stop to rest, I tell him that I don’t think I can make it to Palayan (almost two more hours to go), so he can drop me off just outside San Miguel, and I can try to catch a car going all the way to Casiguran from there, because the chances are high. He of course understands and after we take a photo, he drops me off somewhere outside the town.
The next person to stop is a funny character. He is half French and half Filipino, with the French accent. He’s very clever and we have a very nice conversation for the hour we drive together. But even though he’s nice there’s something about his character that quite doesn’t fit with mine. Anyway, the thing is, he’s going just outside Cabanatuan, the biggest city before Casiguran, and before Palayan, where GreyD was going. But it’s OK because being such a big city, I’m sure my chances will be good here. At the ring of Cabanatuan, together, we look at the map and come to the conclusion that, the best place for me to stand is on the way to Palayan, as it shows in the map to be the shortest way to Casiguran. We were wrong.
As I stand in the road, a car stops and a super funny guy comes talking to me. He is almost shouting actually, but in a funny way, telling me that I must cross the street and take the other way around. What? No, I insist. And try to show him on Maps.Me that the shortest way is through Palayan. “Don’t look at the map” – he says, and makes a gesture for me to put my phone away – “Listen to me, I’m from there, from Aurora, and I have just come back from Casiguran this afternoon”. I laugh out loud because he’s super funny, and I trust him. He quickly explains to me that, the road through Palayan is the old road, very dangerous and more sinuous than the “longest” one, through Rizal, but which everyone leaving from Cabanatuan will take.
So do you get it? If I had come with GreyD, all the way to Palayan, I would be damned! I can’t believe that I actually did something right! At least for once…
In five minutes, Rico stops his van. “I’m going to Casiguran” – he says. What? I cannot believe it!
Rico is bringing loads of vegetables and some groceries back to his shop, in Dilasag, right after Casiguran. He’s 59 years old, just like Aamir. Rico tells me they normally do this run twice a week! Unbelievable! Normally it’s not him driving, though, but his son. I guess I’m really lucky today!
I eat one of my snacks. We first stop at a place where Rico has some Balut. He offers me and I kindly refuse. But then he offers me something which seems really nice, but trying to be nicer, I refuse. What an idiot I am! I haven’t eating anything solid since my hot-dog, and by being so gard-damned polite, would not eat anything else after my snack. Even another local, a nice lady also eating by the same food stand, offer me the same thing, a kind of corn pie, and I try a little piece from hers, which is great, but I refuse again. I do ask for some water at a cafe nearby, so at least that I get it. Still… Idiot!
We make another stop soon, this time for coffee. Nice!
Rico stop another time and get himself a beer and chocolates for us. Laugh. He would drink one more beer before we arrive. He offers to call a friend and ask him if I can camp outside his home and restaurant, but by the time we arrive there, around 22.00 hours, they are already sleeping. Rico then brings me to a 24 hours restaurant, and ask the ladies there if I can stay overnight there. They say yes!
I have my tent inside the restaurant but in a small corner, almost not visible for the costumers. I manage to sleep and get up with the first light. Before leaving, I ask for some plain rice, as I explain that I cannot pay for any food. They kind of offer me something else… but not really, so I refuse, only eating some rice. Better something than nothing!
Than I start walking towards the view point to Dinadiawan Beach, which is actually where I am, because my plan was to come here first, and then tomorrow going to Casiguran. Let’s talk about that…
10 Years Around the World 