La Union Quick Getaway with High School Friends

There’s a specific kind of magic that happens when you trade the city’s concrete heat for the salty air of La Union—especially when you’re traveling with the same people who knew the version of you who cried like a baby long before life handed you an actual crying baby of your own. 😅

This 2025, our high school crew decided to stop making plans in the group chat and finally turn them into reality—a quick weekend escape to the Surfing Capital of the North.

It had been almost 15 years since our high school graduation before we managed to get together for an overnight getaway, far from responsibilities, and surprisingly, without asking permission from our parents at all. Most of us in the group are introverts who prefer the comfort of staying at home and only enjoy going out every once in a while—not to mention, usually only with our parents’ approval. 😁

Looking back, it felt surreal seeing us all in one place again—older, busier, carrying different versions of adulthood, yet somehow still the same people who once shared classrooms, secrets, and teenage dreams. It feels so nice to have them within my arms reach again after so many years.

Our First Stop

We headed out from Angono at around 5 AM and first made our way to Antipolo to pick up my friend, Richelle, along with her kids. From there, we went straight to fetch Steph and her husband before stopping by Cubao to pick up Shirlene and Vangie along the way.

It wasn’t exactly the typical barkada meetup setup during travels, but that’s just how our friendship rolls. 😁

The travel time took us nearly six hours from Angono to La Union, mainly because of the stopovers we had along the way.

Since my husband used to run a business buying and selling game fowls, one of our first stops was in Pangasinan to drop off one we had raised in our backyard. At the same time, we also picked up another game fowl from a different farm. Talk about mixing business with a barkada getaway. 😂

Our Lunch at Kabsat

*Had our group lunch at Kabsat La Union*

We had our lunch at Kabsat in La Union, and it was super packed the moment we arrived. “Kabsat” actually means sibling or brother/sister in Ilocano, so the vibe definitely suited our group. I’d heard about this restaurant before, but this was my first time actually dining there.

The first challenge was finding a parking spot. It was almost 12 noon, and the place gets full pretty quickly around lunchtime. Not to mention, we had a game fowl with us that obviously couldn’t be brought inside the restaurant, so my husband had to give the parking attendant a little extra just to keep an eye on the rooster. 😂

The second challenge was the waiting time inside Kabsat. Thankfully, we didn’t have to wait too long for a table because, despite the crowd, most people left shortly after eating—especially during peak lunch hours when everyone just wanted to satisfy their hunger and move on with their day.

That said, the waiting time turned out to be worth every minute. The food exceeded our expectations, and after the first few bites, it became clear why Kabsat remains one of the must-visit dining spots in La Union.

Checking-in at Patio by Balai Norte

We arrived at Patio by Balai Norte before the official check-in time, and as usual, my husband asked the parking attendant to keep an eye on his rooster again during our stay. That way, we could enjoy the hotel and have a worry-free experience before checking out the next day. 😅

It was only a simple overnight trip for us, so we didn’t get to experience many activities during our stay in La Union. Steph also had another commitment the following day, which was why we only booked for one night. However, if you’re planning a short getaway here, you might want to check out these activities and book in advance to make the most out of your trip.

⬇️ Here are some La Union activities worth exploring:

Being the driver for this trip, my husband woke up very early to prepare his game fowl, so I let him stay behind in the room and get the rest he deserved for the rest of the afternoon—especially since we didn’t have any activities planned anyway.

That being said, I took the kids with me, and together with my friends, we rode a tricycle to the beach since the hotel was still a few minutes away. Walking under the scorching heat wasn’t exactly something we were willing to risk. 😅

The Beach in La Union

*Golden hour at the Surfing Capital of the North—La Union 🌅*

I actually didn’t plan on letting the kids swim at the beach that day since it was already nearing nighttime, and I knew I wouldn’t have anyone else to help watch over them if we all decided to go into the water. So, I didn’t bother bringing their rash guards. But in the end, kids will always be kids—and I simply let them play along the shoreline while I sat nearby, watching the sky slowly change into different shades of yellow and gold.

There are moments when I catch myself thinking about how fast time passes. One day, we were all just sitting inside a classroom, laughing together, wondering when we could go back to Sta. Lucia to bond, play, dream, and simply enjoy life. Now, almost 15 years have passed, yet somehow we’re still the same people with the same friendship—only carrying different versions of ourselves, with different priorities and responsibilities.

Being the shyest girl in our circle back then, I honestly thought I’d have kids around 33 or 34 years old. Yet here I am now, chasing after a 6-year-old and a 3-year-old by the beach, trying to keep them from getting completely drenched before heading back to the hotel. Somehow, life turned out differently than I imagined—but still beautifully. 😅

Cheluu and I, along with our families, had dinner at Umi Japanese Restaurant before spending some time swimming with the kids. Steph had other plans with her husband, while She and Van didn’t really feel like swimming at night.

It was nice catching up with Cheluu—sharing stories, reminiscing, and talking about how life had unfolded for each of us over the years. Somehow, despite all the changes, conversations with old friends still have a way of making time feel like it never passed at all.

The night was still young. So we all agreed to meet up again around 10 PM to check out Flotsam and Jetsam Bar because, after years of separate adulthood and responsibilities, it only felt right to let Van and She finally have their moment to unwind and be wild—and possibly get a little drunk. Lol jk. 😂

Failed Attempt at Flotsam and Jetsam

Buuuut… as much as we wanted Van and She to experience the La Union nightlife vibes we kept seeing on Facebook before, things didn’t exactly go as planned. There was a literal long line at the entrance, and I swear, almost everyone there looked like Gen Zs to me. (Why did I suddenly feel so old just by typing that? Huhu. 😭)

Not to mention, I had two kids with me, and we had all just come from an evening swim before heading to Flotsam and Jetsam—so whatever little energy I had left was already hanging by a thread. 😂 The whole staying out late and partying thing started feeling a lot less exciting and a lot more exhausting.

Anyway, we decided to let it go and settled for something much simpler—buying beer and chips from a nearby convenience store before heading back to their room for a much-needed ladies’ heart-to-heart talk instead.

And honestly? Sometimes those unplanned moments end up becoming the better memories. Although in my case, I apparently became too relaxed because I ended up falling asleep while everyone was still talking. 😭 So yes, after years of imagining barkada trips as adults, mine ended with beer on the side, life updates in the background, and me accidentally taking a nap. 😂

Buffet Breakfast at Patio by Balai Norte

We had a buffet breakfast the next morning, and it was honestly the kind of slow, peaceful start you appreciate more as you get older—good food, familiar faces, and no pressure to rush.

Since only a few days had passed since Vangie’s birthday, Steph decided to prepare a little surprise for her. Before we even started eating, we all gathered around and sang Happy Birthday, making the morning feel a little more special. It was such a simple moment, but somehow those are the ones that end up staying with you the longest.

After breakfast, we slowly prepared our things for checkout, still carrying the lingering tiredness from the night before and the bittersweet feeling that our short little escape was already coming to an end.

Before checking out, we made sure to take our final group photos together at one of the aesthetic spots around Patio by Balai Norte—because no barkada trip is ever complete without dozens of photos to look back on years later. 😅

After that, we officially began our journey back home, making a few stops along the way to buy pasalubong for our families and loved ones. It’s funny how bringing home snacks and local delicacies somehow became an unspoken tradition after every trip—as if it’s our little way of extending the vacation a bit longer.

Conclusion:

This La Union trip may not have gone exactly as planned, but maybe that’s what made it special. We came for the beach, the nightlife, and a quick escape from reality—but left with fuller hearts, stronger bonds, and new memories to laugh about years from now.

Fifteen years may have changed our lives, priorities, and even our sleeping schedules 😅, but somehow, our friendship still feels like home. And for that alone, this trip was more than worth it. ✨

Have you tried partying at Flotsam and Jetsam before? How was your experience?

Feel free to share them in the comments! You may also send me a message if you have a question. <3