PHILIPPINES—Forty-nine brethren from the La Union, Baguio City, Angeles City and Quezon City congregations drove some 375 miles (600 kilometers) round trip from Dec. 29-31, 2024, to the northern-most tip of the archipelago’s main island, Luzon.

Accompanying the group were Preaching Elder Pedrito Cara and his wife Emily, now nearing their fourscore years.

The focus of the year-end trip, planned some years back, were the much-hyped wind farms, a viaduct over the sea, wind-swept limestone cliffs, a Cape Borjeador Spanish-era lighthouse, Malacanang of the North and sand dunes, all in Ilocos Norte, the home province of the ruling Marcos family.

On their way home they walked the Spanish-era streets of Vigan, Ilocos Sur, and spent the night in grass huts on the smooth-stone Marquez Beach in Luna, La Union. Traveling in a convoy of three large vans and four cars, the excited pre-teens, teen, singles and seniors were awed and touched by the sights and sounds they went through in their three-day trip.

On the last night of the trip, the group grilled fresh yellow-fin tuna, cooked fish stews and ate roasted chicken, listening to the roaring waves of the tide-changing West Philippine Sea.

“The whole effort in the planning and traveling were all worth their value in terms of the rich experience,” commented one Manila member.

One single remarked, “The memories will surely last a lifetime. A lot of surprises too, in just 36 hours.”