I had been behind the wheel since we left home. I never complained though. Hitting the road is something that I have already learned to love, especially if doing so will bring me to places I have never been before. Ilocos Norte is one of such places. Its distance from the national capital, let alone its extreme northern location, is enough to tickle every traveler’s curiosity.

We just continued on our road trip which by then has already been going on for 15 hours. Soon enough, famous structures that are among the landmarks of Ilocos Norte started welcoming us from the horizon.

The windmills of Ilocos Norte, concentrated in the town of Bangui, is a result of a private exploration on renewable energy by NorthWind Power Development Corporation but is now controlled by ACEN Energy of the Ayala Group. There is actually a place along the beaches of Bangui where one may come closer to the windmills, but we opted not to stop anymore. An hour more and we found the arch that made us say: Finally!

The town of Pagudpud is considered the northernmost town in the main island of Luzon. Maira-ira Point is located in the town which is the only part of the Luzon landmass that crosses 18°39′N.

While known for its beaches, Pagudpud features picturesque landscapes as well. In fact, the welcome arch itself is surrounded by wonderful sceneries.

After taking our photos by the arch, we then proceeded where we would be spending the night. We chose to stay in Pagudpud Rinnovati Beach Resort which is in the heart of Pagudpud and just a short walk away from the famous beaches of Saud. We didn’t settle down just yet though. In fact, we just checked in, changed our clothes, left our things in the room, then went on the road again to visit Patapat Viaduct, a popular landmark in Pagudpud which literally sits on the edge of Luzon.

Finished in 1986, Patapat Viaduct connects the the roads from Ilocos Norte to that of Cagayan. It faces Paselang Bay and at 1.43 kilometers, it is considered the fourth longest bridge in the Philippines.

The view of and from the bridge is breathtaking. On one side of the viaduct are the foliage-laden mountains; on the other side is the mighty blue sea. No wonder it is a popular tourist destination.

At around 04:30 PM, it had already been 17 hours since we left Malolos City and we haven’t settled down yet. We called off our sightseeing in the viaduct and decided to go back to the resort. We need to get some rest.

As soon as we got back to the hotel, we wasted no time. The sun was already about to set, but we were in Saud. It would be such a pity if we do not get to experience the beaches of Ilocos Norte. Besides, we have to catch the sunset.

We were literally on edge of Luzon, if not of the Philippines. The experience was able to allow us to take the edge off our usual worries in life. I also remember that the day we were in Ilocos was the day after I submitted my resignation from where I used to work back then. A lot has to be taken off the edge.