Our first day, or should I say afternoon, in Pangasinan went too fast. From the moment when we arrived in Lingayen to our trip to Daang Katutubo, all the way to the provincial capitol and our pigar-pigar dinner, it was a tiring but enjoyable experience. Our trip was too packed for late afternoon to evening, we crawled to bed early as soon as we returned to our accommodation. We just agreed on one thing: we would wake up as early as 05:00 AM to take and early dip at the beach.

Guess what? We woke up late.

Instead of 05:00 AM, we woke up at around 07:00 AM. We then started our short walk to Estanza Beach.

The walk to the beach was not in anyway a plain walk. On our way, we were welcomed by scenic mountain views and green grass plains, basking under the morning sun. It was stunning.

It did not take long until we finally saw the sea. Under the bright temperate sun, the sea was a gem to behold.

Estanza Beach is directly within the historical Lingayen Gulf, where in 1945 the Allied Forces launched an operation with the aim of liberating Northern Luzon from the Japanese forces. At present day, it serves as a fertile fishing hub that is the major source of livelihood for most Pangasinenses and a famous tourist destination for its long stretch of sandy beaches.

We willingly took a dip in the sea to make the most of the experience and to relax our bodies a bit, knowing that there would be a long road ahead of Ran and me later in the day. Time was passing fast. In a few hours, we would be on our way back home.

Just as how the waves would come in and flatten out the sand on the beach, as if resetting the particles to how it was before it got disturbed by footprints, skid marks and sand castles, our trip to Ilocandia was our much needed reset before facing a year ahead. Life was not always as smooth, just as some of our travels may suggest, and having the Ilocandia trip just as when the year was about to end was our way of letting the waves come in to reset our shores.

Hours of our stay in Ilocandia was already slowly dissolving with every splash of the waves of the sea. So was the year. That was it—the last Renegade Junctures trip of 2025.

We started our way back to our accommodation after more than an hour of beach bumming. After freshening up and checking out, Clark led us to the neighboring town of Labrador to buy some fresh fish for pasalubong, as Ran and I actually brought coolers which we filled with ice just for the occasion. The way to Labrador was an adventure in itself, as Clark made us drive through Labrador–Sabangan Concrete Bridge, a narrow bridge that could only accommodate one vehicle, one way at a time.

My bad that we were not able to take any photos during our trip to the Labrador Public Market. I was not even able to take photos of the fresh fish and seaweeds that we bought. It was an enjoyable experience though whenever we visit a public market of a certain locality where grassroots trade come alive and where local products are highlighted. Markets, after all, are the arteries of the community where local economies connect, social interactions happen, and where essential goods are made available for all.

From the public market at Labrador, we headed back to Clark’s place, the house where our Pangasinan adventures began. Just as how we were welcomed by a sumptuous meal the day before, another meal was waiting for us, albeit that time, it signaled the farewell that was closing in.

After our meal, we asked Clark’s entire family for some souvenir photos. Having hosts as accommodating and hospitable as they were made our trip to Pangasinan a total delight and our journey to Ilocandia at large extra memorable.

Then off Ran and I went.

The hours were dissolving behind us as we travel back home, in the same way that the year was dissolving behind us as we look forward to the year that was about to come. Being in Apayao and the Ilocandia the second time around was basically our 2025 wrapped in a single roll: recollecting, experiencing, connecting.

In the more than three years since we started Renegade Junctures, 2025 was actually the first time that Ran and I decided to have a yearend travel. With all the experiences that packed the last few days of our 2025 together with all the learning, insights and realizations that go with it, it was definitely worth it for a first time. Similar to lots of firsts in our life of adventure though, such would definitely be not the last.