The Golden Gate Bridge made in Philippines

I have this unexplainable fond for bridges. It’s like when you love someone and you are ask why do you love him or her and you just can’t give an exact answer? That’s how I feel about bridges.

It all started way back my college days when one of my classmates presented SAN JUANICO BRIDGE as one of the main attractions in Tacloban, Leyte. It is considered as the longest bridge in the Philippines spanning a body of seawater and is the country’s own version of the Golden Gate Bridge. It was built during the late President Marcos’ regime and was dedicated to his wife Imelda Marcos.

After I heard about it, I promised myself that I am going to cross that bridge. 3 years later I got the chance to visit Tacloban with my friends but fail to croos the bridge. So before I left I requoted what Mc Arthur once said, “I SHALL RETURN!”

And behold after two years, I manage to fulfill that promise.

We left Cebu to Ormoc via fast craft at 6 in the morning of January 14, then rode on a V-Hire from Ormoc to Tacloban. We arrived at the city of Tacloban 12noon that day. The weather wasn’t that welcoming because the rain didn’t stop pouring. But it didn’t hinder us on our voyage. We were so determined to cross the bridge rain or shine. We took a jeepney from Tacloban’s terminal to the foot of San Juanico Bridge.

We started our journey at around 3 in the afternoon and although the weather wasn’t so good we really enjoyed crossing the bridge while we are all soaking wet.

It was a breath taking experience that I somehow forgot how cold and how tired my feet were.

When we reached the middle part of the bridge I kept shouting. It was totally a thrilling experience especially when you feel the vibration of the ground whenever a vehicle passes. But that didn’t scare me a bit as I was welcomed by the panoramic view of Leyte and Samar.

Furthermore, I have finally experience how it felt like to be on two places both at the same time. And it was dreamy just like that scene in the movie “A walk to remember“.

It would have been more dramatic if I had seen the sunset from the bridge apparently, I missed that.

But I would not want to cross the bridge the same way I did that day. The rain actually made the journey more exciting. Also, it was a little foggy when we started walking so I kept praying that somehow I’ll get a clearer view of the whole bridge for documentation purposes.

And alas! God with His awesome power heard my simple request.

I was leaping in joy because when we reached the other side of the bridge the sky turned bright. And I got a chance to strike a pose wearing a big smile on my face with the bridge as my background.

Definitely a memory I can hold on to for the rest of my life.♥