4x4 vehicles at the wide expanse of the Ilocos Norte sand dunes

Last January 2010, I was invited by the North Philippines Visitors Bureau to join a media tour of travel writers and bloggers to experience North Luzon for seven days starting in Cagayan province all the way to Pampanga to sample the various local cuisines and experience the attractions offered by the various provinces along the route. I first traveled round the northern provinces of Luzon early in the decade just for the heck of it. It’s there, as the mountaineers would say and being a peripatetic and well traveled person, it was just one of the routes that I need to do.

When I was emailed by Ivan Henares, travel blogger and part of the North Philippines Visitors Bureau team, to join them, I immediately said yes. Its an opportunity to go through the route again, albeit at the opposite direction (I traveled Manila – Ilocos – Cagayan – Manila before) and experience these places through food, culture and the various activities. It’s also a venue to meet new people who are in my niche, especially the travel bloggers Ferdz, Nina, Anton and Melo. All these on an all expense paid trip with no worries of where to eat, where to sleep and how much money to bring. All things were taken cared of!

As what Ivan said:

1798 kilometers, 26 people, 9 CVBs*, 8 provinces in 4 regions, 7 days, one bus, one North Philippines! What a trip indeed!

Although I was there for 5 days only. Click here to check out the various posts in the series.

*Conventions and Visitors Bureau

Estan Cabigas is a multiawarded blogger and freelance photographer based in Makati City, the Philippines. A true blue Cebuano, he makes stunning images and meaningful photo stories. He has writtten for CNN Go and his photograph published in the May 2010 issue of the National Geographic Magazine.

To know more about him and his photography, visit estancabigas.com.