36 hours in a Philippine bus: Manila to La Union shore

Jeepney. Moto-trike. Banca boat. Kuliglig. (Click through the gallery above if you don’t know what that last one is.)

There are lots of creative ways to get around the Philippines.

To experience the best of the country’s gorgeous countryside and meet its outgoing locals, however, one of the most fun ways is to hop on a bus for a trip through the provinces.

That’s why we dispatched Manila native Gelo Gonzalez to spend 24 hours on a Philippine bus trip and document his trip.

Also on CNNGo: How to be a Manila local: 10 tips for faking it

“Can I head toward the beach?” Gonzales immediately asked.

Now there’s a man who knows how to wring perks out of a business trip. How could we refuse?

Starting at the Victory Liner bus station in Cubao, along the heart of Metro Manila’s main road artery EDSA (Cubao is the location of many bus terminals), Gonzales embarked on a trip with the ultimate destination of San Fernando, capital of the province of La Union, and surf capital of northern Luzon.

For the most part he hopped on and off buses heading northwest of Manila along the MacArthur Highway, the national road named for American World War II general Douglas MacArthur, whose name and legend are still renowned in the Philippines.

Along the way, Gonzales took so many short detours that he didn’t get back to Manila for 36 hours -- see what we mean about a talent for perks? -- before filing the gallery report above.