In the Eyes of a Probinsyano
By: Aaron Jasper Corpuz, La Union COMMunity Press Corps | Layout By: Joemar Graycochea, PIO | Date: September 2024
Every time I go back home from my university, my heart always gets excited. Not just by the fact that I’ll be back home with my family, but because I’ll be, once again, stunned at the beauty of my province. A two-hour long road trip, who doesn’t love that?
Although the roads and scenery are already familiar from my frequent travel, the beauty of my province never ceases to amaze me with every passing kilometer. The two-hour ride from my boarding house to my barangay starts. The hills and mountains come into view, with their peaks hidden by thick mist in the morning. During the night, the mountains are filled with tiny little lights from the houses, which somehow look like distant fireflies. It feels like watching a scenic movie, where time seems to slow down. Plus you add the feeling of listening to your favorite music while you are enjoying the sight from your seat.
The beauty of La Union is like a living painting, as well. The vibrant green of the rice fields stretches as far as the eyes can see. The rivers, which I look forward to seeing in almost every town, perfectly reflect the golden sunset that snakes through the valleys and provides life to the fields and probinsyanos nearby. It’s a sight that never fails to remind me of the simple yet mesmerizing beauty of the province life.
As I pass halfway through the ride, the view of the ocean appears, peeking through the houses. The view of the sea, with its horizon, is always a welcoming one. The waves crash gently against the shore. The beaches of La Union, with their golden sands and blue waters, are a sanctuary for the soul. They offer relief from the chaos of the world, a place where one can simply be. There’s no doubt why my province is a beach paradise that draws thousands of tourists yearly.
But it’s not just the natural beauty that makes my La Union so special. It’s also the people. Just by looking outside from the bus seat, I can already feel the warmth of the scenarios I’m witnessing. A young boy helping his Lola carry her basket, a happy family lying down on their simple hut from the farm, and a group of students with wide smiles excited to go home from school. They are the warm and hospitable probinsyanos who call this place their home. It is where no one is a total stranger. The sense of community that is hard to find elsewhere. Where every smile and every greeting is genuine which reflects the close-knit bonds that thrive in the province. It’s in the way neighbors look out for each other, the vibrant colors of every fiesta, and the care and love that triumphs amidst the adversities. This warmth, this sense of belonging, is what makes La Union not just a place, but a home.
As I travel through the different towns of my beloved La Union, I am reminded of why I love this place so much. It’s not just the natural beauty, though that is a big part of it. It’s the sense of belonging, the feeling that no matter where life takes me, this province will always be my home. The mountains, the fields, the ocean—they are all part of who I am. They are reminders that there is beauty in simplicity; that in rural life, we find true peace; and that there is so much joy in coming home.
In the eyes of a probinsyano like me, La Union is more than just a place you can find on the map; it’s a refuge. Every time I get the chance to wander around, I am always filled with gratitude. And as the trip ends and I step foot in my town, I know that there is no place I would rather be.
