By Kat Mayuga

The road was so twisted and narrow that it almost convinced me that our van transformed into a roller coaster. I looked outside the window to my left and saw a herd of goats swimming in the sea of grass, as green as the other side.The serene view of greenery instantly made my heart flutter, which led me to wonder why people say it is one of the most underrated places in the Philippines. The scene stayed that way for a few minutes until we reached the first of our many destinations in West Pangasinan – Cabongaoan beach, where we hoped to dive (and come out alive) into what they call the Death Pool. I stepped outside the van feeling eager to explore this hidden gem.

Death Pool

Staying true to its name, the road to the Death Pool is not for the faint-hearted. It took us a few minutes and some scratches to get to the main event, but once we got there, I understood why people would go the extra mile to reach it.Everyone marveled at the body of water that’s as clear as crystal, giving a new meaning to the term “hidden gem,” and the rock formation behind it was the perfect complement to an already amazing view. The natural pool itself is wide enough for you to jump in and swim, but be careful if you are not confident with your swimming skills,as it is around 20 feet deep. Inside, you can see the water rise and fall a rhythmic pattern, like the chest of a human inhaling and exhaling. This is due to the pool being filled up by the sea through a hole underneath. I was feeling a bit daring that time, so I dove right into the pool and through the hole, hoping to get to the other side. It was a frightening move, and for a few seconds, I struggled underwater. I focused and pushed myself through the hole until I emerged to see that I made it to the other side.It was definitely one of the most fulfilling things I did during the trip. I wanted to stay longer, but we had to leave, for there are more hidden gems around waiting to be discovered.

Where the Sun Sets

Around 40km from Cabongaoan beach is Agno, the home of Umbrella Rocks. Its beach was almost empty, and there were at most five other groups aside from ours. The unique thing about this beach would have to be the umbrella-like geological formations,beneath which you can sit for some shade if you’ve had too much sun, just like a real umbrella.Knowing that these rocks were formed naturally will make you appreciate the wonders that nature can achieve. We laid down on the sand for a couple of hours to wait for the sun to set, because we heard that Agno gives one of the best sunsets. Unfortunately, it was cloudy that day, and we weren’t able to get a good view of how the sun dipped into the horizon. Our time spent waiting wasn’t wasted, though. The place was so relaxing that just lying down while listening to music will make you forget everything that you’ve beenworrying about.Agno was the last stop for that day, and we left the beach just before it started to get dark.

Look at the Stars

Some people assume that there is nothing much to see in the province after the sun has set. That is where they’re wrong. A few minutes after we’ve had supper, the power went out, and the whole place was engulfed in total darkness, save for the occasional lights coming from the passing cars.Instead of feeling bad about not having electricity, my friend and I decided to climb to the rooftop and get a wonderful view of the stars. Once we reached the top, my pupils dilated due to the excitement that the view has brought me. The sky was a dark blue and black gradient canvas, and the painter seemed to have decided to splatter as many white stars on it as he can. After a whole day of feasting my eyes on seascapes and landscapes, the night sky was a refreshing scene. As a city girl, it was the first time in a very long time that I have seen so many stars. I stood for a long time, admiring the wonder in front of me.

Island Hopping

The next morning, we woke up early for island hopping. Pangasinan is known to be the home of the Hundred Islands, but there are a lot more less popular islands that Pangasinan has to offer. For our trip, we went to three of them. The first island was Culebra Island, where we spent the most time.One fun fact that I learned is that the island is also called Snake Island because of the sea snakes that live there. Thankfully, we didn’t encounter any snakes while checking the place out. Out of the three islands, this one is the best for swimming and chilling. It’s very spacious, has a lively atmosphere, and even has a volleyball net set up. After an hour of roaming around the island and playing on the sand, we headed on to our next destination. On the way to Cabacungan Cove, we passed by Crocodile Island. We weren’t allowed to set foot on it, so we just admired the crocodile-shaped island from afar.It does look like a real crocodile. When we arrived at Cabacungan Island, our boatman informed us that there is an entrance fee of 100 pesos per boat, which is fair considering there were five of us.We climbed to the top of the island to find a spacious and almost empty place. Going near the edge of the cliff would give you a nice view of the sea and the cove, but be extra careful because the area is full of sharp rocks. After admiring the view, we went down to the beach to dip our feet in the water before heading back to the mainland to bid farewell to Pangasinan. Although the destinations in West Pangasinan aren’t as popular as those in other areas of the country, I think that these places deserve more recognition than what they’re currently receiving. Pangasinan is famous for its Hundred Islands in Alaminos, but its western part also has a lot to offer. If you’re the type of person who loves discovering places that are not so popular, then it is a great idea to follow the sun where it sets – in the west.