A TRIP TO DAGUPAN

In the old days, going to Dagupan is quite simple. Either you take a bus via Binalonan ( the San Jose-Dagupan route ) or go to Urdaneta on a jeep, then wait for the Dagupan bound bus in the old Pantranco station in the present site of the Urduja hotel. Either that or take a chance with those mini van drivers who would drive like the devil  on the McArthur highway. The Pantranco bus is aleady extinct like the dinosaur but those uncanny mini busses are still very much alive.

When we went to Dagupan in 2003, we had to take the public transportation. We had to walk from home to the jeepney stop in the marketside, then when the jeep reaches Urdaneta it goes to an out of the way disembarkation point. Not in the old place which is the crossing of the Baguio and Dagupan routes. It would be so convenient to have a car in Asingan ( or to know someone from whom you could bum a car ride ). But anyway we finally got some seats in a bus from Manila heading for Dagupan. It said AIR CONDITIONED. But it was hot as hell inside. And it was packed.

I noticed a few changes on the road to Dagupan: it already skips going through the towns of Sta. Barbara and Calasiao. The bus went through some diversion roads then all of a sudden we were already near Dagupan. All roads led to Dagupan for the vehicles are ALWAYS bumper to bumper. They are using the same roads used in the old days while the number of vehicles quadrupled since then. The bus stopped at a point in Perez Boulevard. From there we took a tricycle that brought us to Dagupenia, a restaurant near the old Pantranco station.

The joint is kind of classy ( if you ask for the air conditioned area ). It has the old Philippine motif with capiz shells windows, hand carved wall partitions. Would be nice if the lights were gas lamps like the kind used during the times of Rizal. But it has a good ambiance. The waitresses and waiters were garbed in native Filipino attire.  Just like in the Ilang-Ilang cafe at the Manila Hotel. We ordered mostly native dishes ( kare-kare, sinigang na bangus, tapang bangus and camaron rebosado. ) Bonuan is nearby but heck, you have to waste another hour waiting for a ride and we were already hungry. But I am sure the bangus came from Bonuan. For dessert we had local pastillas. One in our group also ordered Mango juice. It was a nice satisfying lunch. Now we are ready to walk along Bugallon avenue ( the Yonge street or the 5th avenue of Dagupan)

The sun was hot, especially when you cross the bridge spanning the river ( what's the name again?). There are lots of sidewalk vendors in front of the regular boutiques and Chinese Bazaars. I was surprised to see that Ang Ka Tong was still there. I think I also saw Tia Juana's. And also Farmacia Balingit ( I am not so sure ).

But I saw DeLuxe restaurant although the place has became a dump. A new, better one is located on the road going to Binmaley just outskirts of Dagupan. The original store has no air con, just ceiling fans, very noisy, with loud music mixed with the din of plates and waitresses screaming at each other. You have also to swat or shoo your own flies as soon as the food is served on your table. But the food is half the price of the entrees in the new DeLuxe restaurant.

Then my companions saw the Pawn shop. They examined the jewelries so I had to go out and check the pirated movies and music CDs on the sidewalk. And the rag newspapers that were lying beside them. I bought one because a headline caught my eye:BAKLA, BINARITA. ( Homosexual, assaulted with a crowbar). Nice. I wondered where that's why I bought the paper.

Our trek ended at the CSI Square Mall that occupied the former Dagupan public market..It was a huge, air conditioned building with the usual stores that remind one of the North American malls. But since I hate looking at clothes ( and my companions loved them ) I just spent my time in a book store, checking the Philippine periodicals and books. The glossy, big publications have lovely photographs of Philippine sceneries. These are printed elsewhere: HongKong, Singapore,etc. Why? You and I do not want to know. There were also lovely postcards of Dagupan, Bonuan, Lingayen Beach, the Provincial Capitol. Gorgeous pictures.

Eventually,  I came across the electronic stores. Ah, they have home theatres too with surround sound amps and giant TVs too. No LCDs yet at that time. The prices however are astronomical. Only  the people who are crapping money can afford it. The ordinary Juan dela Cruzes can only watch on used or repaired TV or those with rich kinfolks abroad.But again, whats the point of buying a huge, expensive TV if there is no cable or sattelite service in your town? And there are also the list of priorities. The big TV is on the bottom of the list.

From CSI we went to another mini mall which is THE  competition. The goods are different of course but they are not as abundant as in CSI. I bought a pair of slippers that looked like a leather mocassin in the '50s. Like sandals, these are open at the back. Penny loafers; I think thats what they call those mocs  before. They went well with denims and shirts or tees. Popular during the times of Pat Boone, Elvis and James Dean. I still have those slippers in my house. All I have to do is to find them.

Then the day started to end. We had to go back to Asingan. This time, we took a chance with those mini vans with a fresh conductor who start flirting with the girls as soon as he has  finished collecting fares. We reached Urdaneta late in the afternoon. Instead of taking the jeep, we took a couple of tricycles ( 4 passengers in each ). My sister Ester haggled with the drivers about the rates.She is talented in this aspect. In this part of the world you have to know how to haggle like crazy in order to save money---#