South Luzon Loop Day 1: Manila to Bicol + New Year’s Eve at Proxy by Oriental Albay
Road trips have always been one of my family’s favorite ways to unwind and escape the busyness of everyday life. My mom, especially, has always loved spontaneous drives and discovering new places. Over the years, celebrating the New Year together as a family has become one of our most treasured traditions, and every year, we make it a point to welcome another chapter side by side. This year, however, our celebration unfolded in a way none of us could have predicted.
For months, my mom had been talking about visiting Albay, but it always remained just a plan—one of those trips we’d “hopefully” take someday. Little did we know that the opportunity would come on the most unexpected day, with almost no preparation at all. 😂
What was supposed to be a quick trip to buy a New Year’s cake somehow turned into a six-day South Luzon adventure. No detailed itinerary, no hotel reservations, and no packed suitcases waiting by the door—just a family that decided to embrace the moment and see where the road would take us. Looking back now, it all felt strangely unplanned yet perfectly aligned.
It all began on December 30.
My mom asked my hubby to drive for her and my dad so they could buy a cake for our New Year’s celebration. She also invited me, our two kids, and my youngest brother to come along. We headed to SM Megamall, picked up the cake, and enjoyed a quick merienda at Botejyu before making our way back home.
Or so we thought. 😅
One message from my brother led to another, and before we knew it, we had finally decided to make my mom’s long-awaited plan a reality. It also happened to be a dream destination for both my hubby and me—to finally visit Albay and witness the breathtaking beauty of the Mayon Volcano with our own eyes.
Everything happened so fast. We arrived home at around 9:00 PM, unexpectedly packed our bags, and by 10:00 PM, we were already on the road, making our way toward South Luzon. It all felt so unreal. One moment, we were simply out buying a New Year’s cake, and the next, we were embarking on a six-day family adventure. 😂
As we continued driving through the night, I found myself searching for the perfect place to stay so we could celebrate New Year’s Eve somewhere special. Since it was already almost the morning of December 31, I honestly didn’t expect to find any available accommodations, especially with it being a peak holiday season.
To my surprise, there were still a few rooms available, and after comparing several options, we found what turned out to be the perfect hotel for our spontaneous road trip—Proxy by The Oriental Albay.
If you’re planning a trip to Albay, you can also check out my full and detailed review of the hotel in a separate blog post.
It was a very long drive. We left at around 10:00 PM on December 30 and finally arrived at the hotel at around 1:00 PM on December 31. Aside from a few stopovers for fuel, restroom breaks, and stretching our legs, we spent most of the journey on the road. Most of us managed to get some sleep along the way, while my hubby took on the long hours behind the wheel.
As much as I wanted to take turns driving and give him a break, he simply wouldn’t risk it with me. 😂 I guess he’d rather deal with the sleepiness due to the long drive than put the entire family at the mercy of my driving skills. Haha!
Upon arriving at the hotel, we headed straight to Jeremy’s Kitchen (the hotel’s restaurant) for a much-needed late lunch before checking in. Thankfully, they were still serving meals despite the busy holiday season.
One thing that immediately caught my attention was how many of the dishes had a bit of spice to them. Since Bicol is well known for its spicy cuisine, it was something I wasn’t quite used to. The flavors were definitely new to my taste buds, but I genuinely enjoyed the experience. After nearly 15 hours on the road (including the trip to SM Megamall and back), every bite felt well deserved.
After enjoying our late lunch, we made our way to the reception area to complete our check-in. Since it was New Year’s Eve, I couldn’t help but ask if the hotel had prepared anything special for its guests to welcome the new year.
To our delight, they did! The receptionist informed us that the hotel was hosting a New Year’s Eve Dinner Buffet from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM, followed by a New Year’s Countdown Foam Party. We didn’t even have to think twice before availing of the package. After almost 15 hours on the road, it sounded like the perfect way to welcome the new year.
With a few hours to spare, we settled into our rooms, freshened up, and changed into our matching New Year shirts. Wearing them has become one of our family’s traditions every year. Although not everyone in our family could be with us in Albay this time, we all still wore our matching shirts wherever we were. It was a simple reminder that distance may keep us apart physically, but never in spirit. 🥹
ROCK IN RHYTHM 2026 INCLUSIONS:
1. Grand Dinner Buffet
As the evening arrived, we headed to the Proxy Convention Center, where the dinner buffet was held. The venue was beautifully prepared for the celebration, with families, couples, and groups of friends all gathered together to welcome the coming year.
Upon entering the venue, we were each given buffet tickets along with wristbands, which served as our pass to re-enter the event area throughout the evening whenever needed.
Initially, the staff mentioned that my son didn’t need his own wristband since he would always be accompanied by one of us adults. It made perfect sense, of course—but I think he felt just a tiny bit left out after seeing everyone else wearing one. Thankfully, they noticed it too and kindly gave him his own wristband anyway. 😂
We spent the next few hours enjoying the delicious buffet, sharing stories from our long drive, and simply soaking in the festive atmosphere.
2. Free Access to Foam Party and Unlimited Cocktails
After dinner, we made our way to Barcode, where the New Year’s countdown celebration continued. The music was already blasting, guests were enjoying their complimentary cocktails, and everyone was slowly settling into the party atmosphere.
The foam machines were already running, but during the first few minutes, only a handful of children—including my own kids—were brave enough to jump right into the bubbles. The rest of us adults simply watched from our tables, laughing as they happily ran around.
Honestly though… I couldn’t resist either. 😂 Every time the bubbles drifted close to our table, I’d happily reach over just to pop a few before they floated away. It was oddly satisfying, and yes, I probably enjoyed it just as much as the kids did. 😂
3. Live Band, Acoustic Performance & Party DJ
It seemed like everyone else was still a little shy to dance or get wet. But as the night went on, the crowd gradually loosened up. By around 11:00 PM, more and more guests started joining the fun. Before we knew it, the dance floor was filled with people laughing, dancing, and celebrating together. It was one of those moments where strangers no longer felt like strangers—we were simply a group of people welcoming a brand-new year with joy, music, and plenty of foam. 🥳
The entertainment throughout the night also kept the celebration lively. The evening began with a live band performance, which was later followed by a more laid-back acoustic set while everyone enjoyed their drinks and conversations. As midnight drew closer, the party DJ took over, playing upbeat remixes that gradually encouraged more and more people to leave their seats and dance.
One of my favorite moments, though, was seeing not just the kids but even the senior citizens enjoying themselves. Watching them dance, laugh, and celebrate alongside their children and grandchildren was genuinely heartwarming. It was a beautiful reminder that joy doesn’t really have an age limit—everyone was simply there to welcome the New Year with the people they loved. ❤️
4. New Year’s Countdown & The Fireworks Display
About fifteen minutes before midnight, everyone had already gathered at the open area, dancing, singing, and eagerly waiting for the final countdown. You could feel the excitement building as the last few minutes of the year slowly ticked away.
Then, at exactly 12:00 midnight, the sky came alive with a spectacular display of fireworks. As Katy Perry’s “Firework” blasted through the speakers, everyone cheered, sang along, and welcomed the New Year with smiles on their faces. It wasn’t just the guests who were celebrating—even the hotel’s crew and staff joined in the fun, making the atmosphere feel even more lively and memorable.
By around 1:00 AM, we finally made our way back to our rooms, exhausted but incredibly happy after such a memorable evening. We knew we had to get some rest because, come morning, our South Luzon adventure would truly begin.
After all, this was only Day 1. The best was yet to come. 🥰
New Year’s Eve Celebration Highlights at Proxy by The Oriental Albay:
🏨 Read: Proxy by The Oriental Albay Review
🗺️ Next: South Luzon Loop – Day 2
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