By Jose Guillermo
The morning of December 21, 2024 started earlier than usual, waking up at 3:30 AM to be exact. I was set to meet the Sunday Punch Online Team at 5:00 AM at the Malinta exit, and it was my first time venturing out so early. I wasn’t sure if tricycles would be available at that hour, but luckily, I managed to find a couple to take me to Malinta. The ride took about 25 minutes, and I arrived at 4:54 AM, feeling pretty accomplished for being early.
I expected the team, coming from San Pedro, Laguna, to arrive late, maybe by 30 minutes. But my patience was truly tested as I ended up waiting for two hours! Traffic at NLEX built up unexpectedly early, and though there was no congestion from the South, they were caught in a bottleneck around Malinta and Meycauayan. Oddly enough, there was no sign of an accident, just traffic being traffic.
The Journey Begins
By 7:00 AM, I was finally picked up and we hit the road. This was my first time meeting the online team in person, except for Allan Joaquin, an old high school classmate. Sharon, my co-host on Batas Natin Akay Torney, joined us, along with Emz and AD, who decided to nap while the rest of us chatted.
Our first and only planned stop was at the 134 km Petron station in TPLEX. It was there that I formally met Emz and AD. Sharon and I even squeezed in a quick live session to share how light traffic was for anyone heading north.
The ride was smooth until we reached Carmen, Pangasinan, where a brief jam slowed us down. In Villasis, we encountered a detour because the bridge we were supposed to cross was under renovation. At first, we thought the locals waving at us were just friendly. Turns out they were warning us about the closed bridge! For a moment, we laughed at the thought of being “famous,” only to realize we were just hilariously clueless.
Arriving in Dagupan
As we got closer to Dagupan, Allan pointed out a carinderia known for serving the famous pigar-pigar, a well-loved local dish made with deep-fried slices of carabao meat or liver. A quick trivia: carabao meat is leaner than beef, and unlike regular bulalo, carabao bulalo doesn’t develop that solid fat layer when it cools.
We didn’t stop at the carinderia, but Allan guided us to the Sunday Punch office, situated just across a river from the Star Plaza Hotel, the venue for the party. Unfortunately, we didn’t get the chance to visit the office itself, but maybe next time. The total travel time? Four and a half hours, not bad for a trip up north.
A Warm Welcome
The Dagupan team welcomed us warmly in the function room. Ms. Eva Visperas, Ms. Joy, and Mr. Rex Catubig were among the first to greet us, along with former Vice Governor Gonzalo Duque, then Leonardo Micua, Kim Gealogo, Julie Ann Arrogante, Willie Lomibao, Rolly Dioqino, Rod, and Justin (also from the online team) who resides in Dagupan as well. Then Jared who is also part of the online team from Manila. Meeting Sir Ermin Garcia Jr., the boss of Sunday Punch Dagupan, was an honor. He even joked about forming a “Garcia” party list for the upcoming elections!
Lunch was a feast, headlined by a scorching hot lechon courtesy of Mayor Belen T. Fernandez, who joined us later. The food portions were massive, and I couldn’t resist indulging. During lunch, we had a raffle, and I lucked out with ₱500. Others won smaller amounts, groceries, or got to dance and sing for their prizes, ensuring no one went home empty-handed. Former Vice Governor Gonzalo Duque also handed ₱500 to everyone who was there as aguinaldo.
The Journey Home
By 3:30 PM, the event wrapped up. We were handed noche buena groceries as a parting gift, and I’m immensely grateful to our Big Boss for making the celebration possible and to the Dagupan team for their hospitality. And we never forgot to have our “sharon” or takeout.
The ride home took six and a half hours, mostly because of heavy traffic near SM Carmen. We missed out on buying Dagupan’s famous boneless bangus and Calasiao’s puto, and we didn’t stop for pigar-pigar either. Instead, we made fun of it as we drove by. Our only indulgence? McDonald’s Coke Floats and jumbo fries.
In a moment of caffeine-fueled irony, I was mistakenly served a McCoffee Float. Since I’ve avoided coffee for years, the caffeine hit me fast, so I swapped it for a Coke Float instead. (Yes, I’m aware Coke has caffeine too, let’s not overthink it!)
We shared stories and snacks during the drive, and I kept everyone entertained with some celebrity name mix-ups, probably the coffee’s fault! I even joked about how they’d talk about me once I got out of the car, just as we’d chatted about those not on the trip.
A Journey to Remember
This trip wasn’t just about attending a Christmas party, it was about forming connections, sharing laughs, and creating memories. I hope this won’t be our last adventure as a team. Until the next journey!