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CFC-GK Quezon City – Visita Iglesia 2011: A spiritual journey across Rizal, Laguna and Quezon provinces (Part 3)

2011-04-15T14:00:00.000-07:00

Kamay Ni Hesus Healing Center in Lucban, Quezon City

We almost didn’t have this leg of the spiritual tour.

Late in the afternoon, the group initially decided to head back to Manila from Majayjay, Laguna. However, somewhere along the way, some of the sisters I understand expressed their desire to really see this renowned place established by healing priest Fr. Joey Faller. When Bro. Steve Krueger asked me about it, I asked in return how far the place was to which he replied about 30 minutes away. I said let’s proceed. As it turned out, it was a decision we all did not regret.

From Majayjay, we passed through the municipality of Luisiana and then crossed over to the Province of Quezon. A few kilometers away from the poblacion of Lucban in Barangay Tinamnan, you will find the Kamay Ni Hesus Healing Center.

The Healing Center’s Chapel

I could only describe it as a soothing sanctuary for tired pilgrims like me. In a sense you could say that it has everything. There is a lovely chapel, a “Garden of Eden”, a Via Dolorosa Grotto of Healing, a “Way of Purification” and a 50-foot image of the “Ascending Christ”, all dedicated “to the people of the Philippines and of the whole world who believe in the Infinite Love of God.”

Inside the chapel you see the image of a Risen Christ

The Center’s Stations of the Cross carved out of the mountain

A sprawling 2.5 hectare ‘Garden of Eden’

The Garden featured biblical tales like the story of Creation

“Noah’s Ark” was ‘recreated’ in the Healing Center’s grounds

Famously known as Christ’s Last Supper, the scene more importantly depicts the Institution of the Holy Eucharist

Some brethren like Bro. Omin del Castillo and several others took the challenge of climbing the mountain all the way up to the image of the ‘Ascending Christ’. In my family, Faith and Joshua joined me for the climb along with niece Julia, Maymay our helper and her sister. Junior stayed behind to look after his mother and lola who found difficulty in making the uphill trek.

Jesus falls under the weight of the cross

Despite the difficult climb my children press on

By thy Holy Cross, thou has redeemed the world

Thank you Lord, we triumphantly reach the peak of this holy mountain

Spiritual reflection during the physically challenging climb is an occasion to purify one’s soul…

…while the panoramic view rejuvenates one’s weary spirit

A final picture memento before the long trek down

A close replica of Michelangelo's La Pieta

Back to Noah’s Ark

A closer view of Noah and his Ark

As I found out, the ‘Ark’ also known as ‘Bahay Pari’, was envisioned to be a home for old priests in the Diocese of Lucena which administers the facility. Relatively new, it was solemnly blessed by the Bishop of Lucena, the Most Reverend Emilio Marquez, D.D. along with Bishop Emeritus Ruben Profugo, D.D. only last October 27, 2010. The ‘Ark’s” facilities and amenities also make it as a suitable venue for recollections, retreats and conferences.

Faith tries out the cool and creamy ‘scramble’

If you’re hungry after all the walking and climbing, don’t fret. On the outskirts of the Healing Center’s property are numerous shops that offer food, drinks and souvenir items alike. A welcome surprise in a number of local government units particularly here in Laguna and Quezon is the prohibition on the use of plastic bags. Instead you are given brown paper bags. They’re not exactly the best container of heavy or pointed items but they are relatively more environment-friendly than most plastics.

When you’re in Lucban, don’t forget to try their chami and popular Pancit Hab-hab

One should never forget to try the native noodle products of Lucban particularly their Pancit Hab-hab. For a real authentic Lucban Pancit Hab-hab experience, try eating it the way locals traditionally do, without utensils, using only your hands to place the pancit (sometimes served over banana leaves) near your mouth.

We left Lucban still as a convoy of four (4) vehicles but took on separate routes as we reached Pagsanjan. Our vehicle took the longer western route that went through Pila, Bay, Los Baňos and Calamba, and though the SLEX tollway while the rest took the same eastern route we went through this morning back to Quezon City.

Tired but happy we reached our home sometime around midnight after bringing my in-laws to their home in Project 8. The long distances surely required endurance but also brought us a sense of new discovery, achievement and spiritual fulfillment during this time of Lent.

After all, going through the various places in a pilgrimage and marveling at God’s various creations and thanking Him for everything was already half of the deep religious experience.

CFC-GK Quezon City – Visita Iglesia 2011: A spiritual journey across Rizal, Laguna and Quezon provinces (Part 2)

2011-04-15T13:40:00.000-07:00

Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Turumba, Parish of St. Peter of Alcantara in Pakil, Laguna

The second main leg of this spiritual journey brought us to the Diocesan Shrine of our Lady of Turumba in Pakil, Laguna.

Under the Diocese of San Pablo, Laguna, this church was declared a diocesan shrine in honor of the Lady of Turumba on October 19, 2006 in commemoration of the 330^th founding anniversary of the San Pedro de Alcantara parish.

Statue in honor of Pakil’s native son: Marcelo Adonay acclaimed as a prince of church music in the country

The church’s centuries-old front door

The group prayer continues

Side altar

Main altar and church dome

The La Pieta, the Evangelists and artwork on biblical stories are seen at the church dome

Stigmata

Holy oils and other religious items are made available at the church

Stairway leading to the second floor chapel

The view of the town plaza from the church upper floor

Garments of the Lady of Sorrows

View from the church balcony

The Turumba chapel

Next stop – Liliw, Laguna.

Nestled at the northwest slopes of Mount Banahaw, the natural boundary of Tayabas (now Quezon) and Laguna, Liliw stands beside the banks of a river with the same name, bounded by the towns of Nagcarlan, Majayjay and Magdalena.

According to folklore, the town of Liliw got its name from a singing bird that perched on a bamboo pole raised by Gat Tayaw, the town’s legendary founder.

However, during the Spanish and American colonial periods, Liliw was actually known as “Lilio” because the Spaniards and the Americans had difficulty in pronouncing the letter “w”. It was only in 1965 that the name “Liliw” was formally adopted by the Municipality.

An avenue of saints in front of the St. John the Baptist Parish Church in Liliw, Laguna

As a settlement during the Spanish colonial period, Liliw residents were evangelized in 1578 by Franciscan missionaries Juan de Placensia and Diego de Oropesa. The town remained a dependency of Nagcarlan until 1605 when it was assigned its first permanent minister, Fray Miguel de San Lucas.

Under the patronage of St. John the Baptist, the Liliw parish and town celebrates its feast day on August 29, a date marking the martyrdom of Christ’s humble cousin and precursor.

Picture of the Liliw Church and town of old

The group prayer continues

The Church’s three restored retablo altars

The church structure as well as the parochial rectory is primarily made up of adobe blocks and clay bricks. In 2007, then parish priest Rev. Fr. Philip B. Atienza, inspired by an old document that described the original church design, started a massive restoration that led to the reconstruction of three retablo altars, a confessional and a hanging pulpit.

Capilla de San Buenaventura

An old image of Saint Bonaventure, well known Franciscan theologian, Cardinal-Bishop of Albano and Doctor of the Church is displayed for veneration in a small newly built chapel adjacent to the atrium of the church and rectory. In 1664, the image is said to have been witnessed by the parish priest and 120 persons to have wept and sweated blood.

Side trip along Liliw’s commercial district

From the church, the group decided to have lunch there at Liliw. That of course gave everyone the chance to see the bustling commerce and trade that put this town on the map.

Aside from being a popular destination for its cold mountain water resorts, Liliw is also known as the “Tsinelas (footwear) Capital of the Philippines rivaling Marikina City of metropolitan Manila. There are numerous footwear shops along the main streets of Liliw where one can bargain hunt and haggle for a good price.

Similarly well known are Liliw’s lambanog (coconut sap alcoholic beverage), Uraro biscuits and various leather and fiber products.

OTOP – One Town, One Product concept

Liliw and Footwear synonymous to each other!

Not familiar with the local eateries, my family decided to eat lunch at the small local Chowking outlet. Being a Friday in Lent, I tried to remain true to my promise to abstain from eating meat today. I ate only pancit canton if I recall. Of course, my abstinence didn’t prohibit me from buying some delicious native white cheese and some Pako (vegetable for salads) to bring home.

Local vendor sells Pako

Mt. Banahaw and Mt. Cristobal provide a magnificent background to the figure of the Blessed Mother

Waiting for the rest to come back from lunch gave me a lot of time to appreciate the beauty of Laguna’s natural surroundings. Taking cue from Bro. Terence’s magnificent shots of the Blessed Virgin statue beside the Liliw church, I took some of my own with the two great mountains of Banahaw and Sto. Cristobal as the stunning background.

Mama Mary beside the church tower

Next stop – Nagcarlan

As a young boy, I had many good memories of Nagcarlan. During my elementary years in St. Mary’s College, this area was often a destination for school field trips and Cub Scout camping activities. In this town, we continued our spiritual pilgrimage with a visit to the church of St. Bartholomew.

St. Bartholomew Parish in Nagcarlan, Laguna

Identical in design to many nearby churches also ran by the Franciscan order (OFM), the first church of St. Batholomew was built in 1583. A second church made of brick and stone was constructed in 1752 but was partially damaged by a fire in 1781. In 1845, a choir loft was added to the reconstructed church by Reverend Father Vicente Velloc. Fray Velloc incidentally was also the cleric who had the historically famous Nagcarlan(g) Cemetery and its underground crypt built that same year.

St. Bartholomew’s altar

Statues of the Immaculate Mary with Sta. Catalina of Sena and Sta. Ana

In this station we remember as Jesus was nailed on the cross

A relief painting depicting the purification of souls in purgatory before entering God’s heavenly kingdom

From Nagcarlan, we retraced our travel route passing by the town of Liliw to go to the Municipality of Majayjay. Our travel destination - the remarkable parish church of St. Gregory the Great.

St. Gregory the Great Parish in Majayjay, Laguna

Designated a national treasure by virtue of Museum Declaration No. 2, dated July 31, 2001, the parish church of San Gregorio Magno commands a clear view of the hilly town and the Laguna de Bay from a distance. Despite some alterations on the walls, the church interior’s retablos and azulejo-tiled floor have been well preserved. I didn’t get to see it but access to the bell tower has supposedly been made easier with cement steps. This access way is also said to lead to the so-called ‘langit-langitan’, a catwalk above the ceiling which in turn proceeds to the crossing over the transept.

Originally built by the Augustinian friars out of bamboo and nipa material at Sitio May-it after the conquistador Salcedo pacified the natives in 1571, the first parish church was burned in 1576. It was reconstructed by the Franciscans in 1578 but caught fire a second time around in 1606. The present stone church was put up from 1616 – 1649; partly burned again in 1660 and repaired in 1707. It then underwent expansion and several repairs over the next two centuries due to damages from passing storms. The American colonialists used the church as a base during the Philippine-American War, again undergoing repairs in 1912.

Plant covered buttresses support the church walls

St. Gregory’s bell tower

A statue of the Laguna’s greatest son Jose Rizal nearby

Side entrance

The final Stations of the Cross are reflected over inside St. Gregory’s

The church altar and chancel

Our Visita Iglesia has already brought us to a lot of places but the journey is far from over.

Onwards to Lucban!

CFC-GK Quezon City – Visita Iglesia 2011: A spiritual journey across Rizal, Laguna and Quezon provinces (Part 1)

2011-04-15T13:27:00.000-07:00

The spiritual journey starts here: Along Commonwealth Ave in Quezon City

Our CFC-GK household had been planning for an appropriate group activity this season of Lent for quite sometime. Quite possibly, there might be no better collective action in this regard than to hold a Visita Iglesia, a spiritual pilgrimage across the provinces to pray the Way of the Cross and reflect on the life, passion, death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

So we did embark on such a spiritual journey last April 8 with many of our family members which included my mother in law and a niece from Davao City here in Manila on vacation.

Our group converged near the St. Peter’s Church along Commonwealth Ave. that Friday morning.

From Quezon City, we had a brief stopover at Marikina where our household leader, Bro. Steve Krueger led the group in prayer, after which he gave an orientation regarding our intended travel program. Choosing the Rizal (via Antipolo) to Laguna, our travel route promised to be a long, winding but scenic one.

Bro. Steve Krueger leads the group in prayer

Everyone is briefed about the itinerary and tasking by couple

We encountered significant delay early on as our hired driver wasn’t familiar with the streets of Marikina. Our run around the roads of Marikina trying to catch up with the rest of the convoy cost the group significant travel time. Time constrained, it compelled the group to forego the intended trip to St. Joseph Parish in Baras, Rizal to avoid traffic opting to proceed to the town of Tanay.

First stop: San Ildefenso de Toledo Parish in Tanay, Rizal

The history of Tanay could be traced to a small town on Monte Tan-ay, also called Inalsan. The ecclesiastical administration of the area was under Pililla from 1573 until 1606 when the first church was built and the parish of San Ildefonso was established. Later the town was moved to San Antonio in 1620 but was eventually transferred to its current site in 1783.

While the first stone church in Tanay was finished in 1680, the present church was finished within a ten year period from 1773 to 1783.

Politically, with the establishment of civil government under the Americans in 1901, Tanay became a part of the province of Rizal.

Presently under the diocese of Antipolo, the parish celebrated its 400^th foundation anniversary last November 12, 2006.

Otherwise known as the Church of Tanay, the parish was founded way back in 1606

The baptism of the Lord Jesus accentuates the important function of the church baptistery

The church interior

Bro. Terence and Sis. Thelma Grana leads the group in praying the Way of the Cross

Old church altars are often filled with statues of the saints

Family picture (Sonny Boy wasn’t with us) with Mama Charing (my mother in law and Julia (niece in law)

“Tanay is an open book”

Bestowed by unknown planters, two acacia trees (Samanea saman) on the church’s patio for more than a century have been silent observers to the religious piousness of Tanayans

Pilgrims pose for a group picture

Grand women of CFC-GK

From Tanay, Rizal our group traveled through the Municipality of Pililia and crossing over to the Province of Laguna into the Municipality of Sta. Maria.

Nuestra Seňora de los Angeles Parish in Sta. Maria, Laguna

The parish church of Sta. Maria has visibly gone through a lot of physical changes through the centuries.

According to the National Historical Committee, the town of Santa Maria de Caboan was founded in 1602 but was called San Miguel until 1613. The first parish minister was Reverend Antonio de La Llave. A church built in 1613 was destroyed by the Chinese during an uprising in 1639. Another church built by 1669 later succumbed to earthquakes in 1880. The Reverend Leopoldo Arellano reconstructed the church in 1891 but was again destroyed by another earthquake on August 20, 1937.

Church’s imposing bell tower

The Way of the Cross is continued

At some point there was some confusion regarding the Stations of the Cross which stemmed from the substantial changes to the biblical events depicted in the stations of the new version of the Way of the Cross.

Both the Traditional and the New Way of the Cross have fourteen (14) Stations. However, the newer version presumably in an attempt to include other significant events in the life of Christ opted to merge the three stations regarding the Lord’s fall under the weight of the cross into one station, replacing the station where Mother Mary meets with Jesus on the way to Calvary with a much more heart piercing encounter at the foot of the Cross, and removing the other scenes such as Veronica wiping the face of Jesus and Christ being taken down from the cross. These changes now provided for the inclusion of stations that highlighted the institution of the Holy Eucharist, the Lord’s agony in the garden, His scourging and being crowned with thorns, Jesus’ promise of heaven to the repentant thief, and the most important event in all of history, Christ’s glorious Resurrection.

Modern church architecture is somewhat minimalist in design

Three mothers converge

Antique church bells are displayed

Outside by the side yard were three antique church bells. Locals believe that these bells were around 400 years old. I’m not so sure all the three were that old as there were no clear visible markings to indicate their dates of origin. But since the parish has been around for nearly 400 years, there might be enough truth to substantiate these claims.

A visit to the Kusina ni Ka Rany

Home to the blood relatives of Sis. Baby Krueger, our itinerary included a visit to their ancestral home by the town plaza. The first floor of the historic house has been transformed into an eatery. Our arrival was met with the warm hospitality of Sis. Baby’s brother, Ka Rany who served us with delicious merienda. We were all simply much obliged!

A sumptuous native food merienda

If you are into comfort food, you know how enjoyable it is to eat tasty lugaw (congee) along with all the condiments, hard boiled eggs and lumpiang ubod (spring rolls). There was ice cold Coke (regular and zero for diabetics like me!) to wash all these delicious food down!

A blast from the past: Sis. Baby Krueger as a young contestant in a beauty pageant

The spiritual journey also provided for fellowship and gastronomic nourishment

This poster on the forthcoming fiesta of Our Lady of (Sorrows) Turumba gives a hint to our next destination

With our physical bodies nourished and refreshed, we continued on to the next leg of our Lenten spiritual voyage…

Back at Cabalen Restaurant after 20 years of marriage

2011-01-31T20:30:00.000-08:00

Twenty years ago, we had our wedding anniversary in a relatively new restaurant along West Avenue. Back then, my wife and I had one of our very first dates at this eating place which I particularly liked for its famous Sisig and Crispy Kangkong with white creamy garlic sauce.

At that time, I believe our wedding reception was only the second special occasion they ever handled at Cabalen - West Ave. The first one was I think a baptismal which made our wedding reception their first!

Twenty years after, which was just last Wednesday (Jan. 26), we celebrated our wedding anniversary at that same very site where we trace part of the historical roots of our conjugal life.

The kids get ready to savor Cabalen’s tasty Filipino dishes

On its 24^th year and presently operating at least 12 branches in the country (11 in Luzon and 1 in the Visayas [Cebu] area), Cabalen Restaurant has both gone a long, long way and at the same time, remained the same.

Sure, its West Avenue branch has expanded its space adding a spacious second floor for regular customers and function rooms for special occasions. And it also has been promoting its own catering services offering either its traditional Filipino cookery or a mix of Filipino-Asian cuisine. Significant was the fact that they found their niche in the local restaurant scene with their reasonably priced “all you can eat” offer.

But more importantly, they have been able to retain through the changing years, much of the ‘home cooked’ taste and appeal of their dishes that loyal patrons come back for in the first place.

Which reminds me, whenever we had ‘balikbayans’ or foreign guests who wanted to have a good sense of taste as to what constitutes Filipino food, we bring them to Cabalen.

Native buffet dishes galore

My plate is teeming with a variety of food delights

That special night, I deliberately avoided rice, concentrating more on the delicious viands. I often said that rice was one food item we had very much at home. Ultimately, less rice meant more space in my tummy for the viands. He! He! He!

Focusing on the vegetables and seafood dishes, I chose not to eat much meat that night, passing on the ‘Sisig’ that our two older children are also very fond of.

If you’re on your first visit to one of their branches, don’t miss out on the following food items:

For appetizers: Mango ensalada, ginataang kuhol (escargot in coconut milk), burong isda, crispy crablets and kangkong

Main course viands: Sisig (you can ask for an order and they will serve it to you on a hot plate), kare-kare, paella, sinigang na hipon (sour broth with shrimps), alimasag (crabs), tahong (mussels), adobong Kangkong and native longanisa (sausage).

A family of satisfied customers

To relieve my heavy and bulging but otherwise satisfied stomach, for dessert I munched on some light maja blanco/mais (different flavored sweet rice cakes) and some ube (purple yam). You can actually make a do-it-yourself cool halo-halo or ginumis drink to suit your palate at the dessert bar.

Tonight was a simple celebration of life and love in our family.

Cabalen was a perfect choice for this special milestone in our lives as it brought back so many good memories in the last twenty years. With our family members time and again enjoying the good food and warm ambiance of this place, our generation and future generations of our family are sure to weave more of those good memories at Cabalen in the years to come!

A memorable wedding anniversary dinner at Cabalen

Celebrating Lovey’s 45th birthday at Tong Yang Shabu-Shabu & BBQ Restaurant

2010-11-04T11:08:00.000-07:00

My wife’s 45^th birthday last October 26 couldn’t have started any better.

We heard the 6 a.m. Mass at the Good Shepherd Parish in Fairview to thank God for the gift of life and the blessings she has received for the last forty five years of her earthly existence.

After the Mass, we had a nice breakfast at our favorite Starbucks branch beside FEU Hospital. On birthday leave today, Odette opted to give her mother a visit in Project 8 where I dropped her off before going to work.

In the evening, our whole family went to celebrate at SM Fairview. I chose for us to dine at Tong Yang Shabu-Shabu and BBQ Restaurant because it was a place inside the mall that we haven’t eaten yet and secondly because of its overall gastronomic appeal.

It was way back in 2002 that my family along with my parents last ate at Tong Yang and it was in their well-regarded Quezon Avenue branch. It was a memorable moment as we celebrated my being selected as among one of my office’s outstanding employees of the year. At that time, Odette was on the family way, she was carrying our third son, Joshua.

Not as voracious an eater like me and the two older boys, Junior and Sonny Boy, my wife decided to buy food from a nearby food outlet for her and the two younger children, Joshua and Faith. Agreeably, Tong Yang’s buffet deal is quite good but only if you are really a hearty eater.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at Tong Yang Restaurant

I’m not sure if all Tong Yang branches have the same buffet prices and offerings, but in SM Fairview New Annex where the branch we went to is located, they offer P299 lunch and P399 dinner buffet deals from Mondays to Fridays. During Saturdays, Sundays and holidays both lunch and dinner meals go up to P499. For an additional 65 pesos, you can compliment your “all you can eat” meal with an “all you can drink” deal. Drinks include various soda products, juices, beer, brewed coffee and tea.

Cooking delectable buffet food at the Tong Yang Restaurant

All avid travelers like me know that half the enjoyment of traveling is in the journey itself. By analogy, cooking one’s food at the restaurant’s table pot and hot plate whose outcome is pretty much based on your preferred taste and cooking manner, is nearly half the gastronomic experience in Tong Yang. The remaining half is savoring the food you just prepared, getting up and going for more food and doing it all over again!

Various flavors and spices are available. I chose the spicy soup base for my invented shabu-shabu. Everything else lay grilled, basking in the melted chunks of butter in our table hot plate. Definitely, my Tong Yang food is not for the fainthearted.

Faith looks over the various buffet items

That’s not too say that diet conscious eaters have no place in Tong Yang. Its food selection is considerably extensive covering most food groups including your salt and fresh water fishes and nutritional leafy greens. The store does claim to have more than a hundred (100) buffet items. On the other hand, judging from what I saw myself, to reach that number, they may have counted everything including the onions, the garlic, the various sauces and then some!

Bonding moments at Tong Yang

Personally, I love the Japanese food section at Tong Yang - SM Fairview. The place is not that big but they were able to squeeze in that section beside the glass wall where passersby can have a glimpse of the food items inside. A bit of advice --- if you’re looking for shrimps and don’t find any among the food trays, ask the staff to bring you some. I don’t know if this is some sort of a restaurant policy but some food may only be obtained by request.

My favorite area - the popular Japanese food section

The number of people eating at the restaurant night was fairly big considering it was a Tuesday night. But it’s always practical to arrive a little earlier than most patrons to get the first crack at the food items available.

Overall rating for Tong Yang - SM Fairview: Four (4) out of five (5) stars

Postscript:

My wife’s 45^th birthday couldn’t have ended any better.

Cute and creamy ice cream cake from Dairy Queen

Before going home from SM Fairview, I bought Odette a good sized ice cream cake from Dairy Queen. Earlier we already bought a roll cake for her to bring home but a special birthday called for a special cake. We didn’t have dry ice or any coolant but thankfully it did not melt on the way back home. We were even able to sing a birthday song to Odette before digging in to this frozen delight.

Birthday girl and her cake

She and everyone else in my family simply loved the cake! If you want a taste of heaven, do try them out.

With family friend and neighbor Dennis and nanny Maymay

From young loving family - Happy 45^th birthday, Lovey!

Immaculata Retreat House

2010-09-08T18:52:00.000-07:00

“…let us go off by ourselves to some place where we will be alone

and you can rest a while.”

Mark 6:31 TEV

Everybody needs some time off.

Time to rest. Time to reflect. Precious time to renew one’s relationship with his loved ones…most especially with God.

I can’t remember how I first knew about the Immaculata Retreat House. It was in late 2005 when my former CFC chapter organized a Marriage Enrichment Retreat (MER) 1 at the Immaculata where the unit I shepherd served as the service team. After my ocular inspection of the place, I endorsed it for the MER, believing this venue well suited our activity requirements.

The cross of Christ is the first image you will see as you approach the Immaculata

A few weeks ago, I returned back to a newly refurbished Immaculata Retreat House as retreat master to a new MER 1 my CFC chapter had organized and opened to our cluster. Like the one in 2005, this pastoral activity was a huge success. Thanks to God’s providence, the selfless efforts of his servants and the venue he led us to utilize for this retreat.

The retreat house is run by Conventual Franciscans whose roots can be traced all the way back to the 13^th century during the time of St. Francis of Assisi. There are actually three orders of Friars that make up the First Order of Franciscans, all of which live by St. Francis’ so-called Rule of 1223. The Conventual Franciscan Friars who wore gray colored habits were those early friars who cared for people in large urban areas and lived in houses called ‘convents’. On the other hand, the Order of Friars Minor (OFM) popularly known as the “Brown Franciscans” also date back to the time of St. Francis. Officially though, they received their name from Pope Leo XIII only in 1897, the year he merged many smaller branches of the Order into one. The third branch, the Capuchin Friars (who also wore brown habits) was the result of 16^th century reforms of the then existing branches.

There were several Franciscan Conventual missionaries who set foot in our country during its rich history preparing the ground for their order’s missionary work of evangelization. They include Blessed Odorico from Friuli, Italy, Venerable Giambattista Lucarelli of Pesaro, Italy and St. Maximilian Maria Kolbe, a Polish Friar and Martyr in the concentration camp of Auschwitz during the Second World War.

But it was only in 1979 that the first group of missionary friars of the Casa Mariana in Frigento, a community belonging to the Province of Naples arrived to establish a Mission here in the Philippines.

1982 saw the birth of their first formation house in the country. Under the guidance and protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the house was dedicated to her and named the Immaculata Formation House located in Greenfields I Subdivision, Novaliches, Quezon City.

Outside the main conference hall

Concurrent with its development into an Apostolate and Retreat House in 1994, additional structures were constructed to meet the growing needs of the apostolate leading to the establishment of four entities in the premises: the Immaculata friary (1994), the St. Anthony Clinic-Mission (1994), the Immaculata Retreat House (1994), St. Maximilian M. Kolbe Parish Church (2000).

Generally used for retreats and recollections, Immaculata also offers venues for symposiums, conferences, training seminars or even reception for weddings and baptisms.

With advance notification, the retreat house could provide one’s group with a recollection facilitator if needed. Also, there are resident priests available for the Sacraments, spiritual direction and counseling.

Physical amenities include single bedrooms with their own comfort room, single, double and dormitory rooms with common CR, plus 3 air-conditioned rooms. There is a renovated chapel and 2 very functional conference halls that could accommodate around 70 to 100 participants. The refectory/dining hall is easily accessible and there are kiosks available on the grounds for group sharing.

Sumptuous food for the body

Sisters Mariel and Marjorie Crisostomo form part of Immaculata’s efficient and friendly staff

The renovated chapel lost its carpeting but some of the old ottomans are still around

Madonna and child welcome you at the lobby

Today marks the birthday of Mama Mary! It is in her honor that I compose this blog post about a retreat house Conventual Franciscans named after her immaculate conception of our Lord and Savior.

"Give praise to Him because He is good; exalt Him by your deeds; for this reason He has sent you into the whole world: that you may bear witness to His voice in word and deed and bring everyone to know that there is no one who is all-powerful except Him."

St. Francis of Assisi

The main building of the compound

This building holds the parish offices and priests’ quarters

The rear side of adjacent St. Maximilian Mary Kolbe Parish Church

The parish church’s frontage

Rooms are modest but very functional

Holy Mass at the St. Maximilian Hall

Happy couple participants enjoy a hearty meal at the refectory

Looking for a place to “rest a while”?

Immaculata may just be the right place God had in mind for you.

Immaculata Retreat House is located at the Marytown Circle, Greenfields 1 Subdivision, Novaliches, Quezon City.

Late lunch at the Taaleňa Restaurant

2010-07-08T08:43:00.000-07:00

Hungry for lunch, the kids and my wife have been rather fidgety along the trip from Nasugbu to Tagaytay City last July 1. We have gone to a decent eating place called Green ATS on several occasions already so I thought it was time to try out something different. Risking the ire of my famished family members I decided that we check out one of these restaurants that we often passed by along the Tagaytay ridge for a new gastronomic experience and possibly a great new scenic view of the famous Taal Volcano.

On both accounts, I was right. The delayed lunch was worth our while.

The name of the place couldn’t be more appropriate - the Taaleňa Restaurant. Quite near the Tagaytay Rotonda (around 800 meters away), the Our Lady of Lourdes Church and the Canossa Retreat House, it rests at the very heart of the Tagaytay landscape. With an unobstructed view of the volcano, the restaurant is housed in a Spanish-style manor called Casa Taal which is said to have the capacity to handle as many as 600 people. Aside from an impressive view of the entire Taal Lake and Volcano Island with the Highlands peaks, from its vantage point you can also observe Mounts Makiling, Malarayat, Makulot and the Batulao peaks including some areas of Balayan Bay.

Five years in existence we were told, with good food and a captivating view of the famous volcano, I wonder how we could have passed by such a pleasant site so many times in the past. It must have been the thought of expensiveness that kept us away from places like Taaleňa, a consideration not exactly unfounded.

Joshua and Faith roam the beautiful surroundings

Spacious venue for weddings, baptismal and other special occasions

Restaurant facade facing the lake

Finally...lunch!

But relatively higher prices aside, the food we ordered was delicious! We couldn’t eat in Tagaytay without having ‘bulalo’ so we ordered two bowls of their version of the ‘Bulalong Batangas’. My family and I loved the rich warm beefy soup. Another Taaleňa specialty we ordered was their take of the ‘Crispy Tawilis’. The fast vanishing sardine-like fish from Taal Lake was really crunchy, enough to make you eat the whole thing. Of course, dipping it in spicy vinegar would make it a more pleasurable experience! The pork ‘sisig’ was also tasty but quite sweet for my taste. As appetizer, we had an order of ‘sizzling mushrooms’ which I felt with its golden brown gravy were cooked perfectly!

The long time recipes used by the restaurant are said to come from the De Leon Clan of Lemery and Taal, Batangas famous for their discriminating taste in food and culinary know-how.

Native food worth the long trip

With the restaurant all to ourselves, a singing duet approached us while we were munching on our lunch meals, singing our requested ABBA songs like ‘Fernando’ and ‘Chiquita’ with veteran precision. It was a welcomed distraction though under more regular circumstances, I would more willingly prefer to enhance my eating experience with just the stunning ambiance, of say…the Taal Lake.

Enjoying the stunning ambiance of Taal Volcano

At any rate, it would suffice to say that we’ll definitely be back to try out their other specialties.

Taaleňa Restaurant is located at Casa Taal, Km. 54, Silang Crossing West, Aguinaldo Highway, Tagaytay City.

Overall rating: 4 out of 5 stars

A tale of two Nasugbu beaches (El Cacar and Canyon Cove)

2010-07-05T11:26:00.000-07:00

When I first heard that this year’s June 30 was declared a special non-working holiday on account of President Noynoy Aquino’s inauguration as the country’s 15^th President, I started thinking where I could spend it with the family. So many places I wanted to go, so many things I wanted to do, so many happenings I wanted to experience and share with my family. On the eve of the inauguration day, I even got a text from a CFC (Couples for Christ) brod that he could give me no less than 16 tickets to the said inauguration. They were tickets to reserved seats in front of the stage no less. I didn’t vote for Noynoy but I do wish him well and believe in his sincerity to lead his country out of poverty and endemic corruption mainly through good and effective governance. But historic as it may, the thought of bringing my family through endless queues and checkpoints, sweating it out in a sea of thousands of supporters under the threat of heavy rains was simply not on my mind.

Our final travel destination began to finally form when Odette my wife accepted a two-day team building consultancy job to be held in Nasugbu, Batangas from June 30 to July 1.

I wanted to spare her of at least the hardships of commuting very early to the place considering no company driver and vehicle was assigned for her travel. I thought it was a good compromise because the kids wanted to swim and beach resorts obviously ran abound in the municipality of Nasugbu, a place we have not been for quite a long time now.

With a very timely financial allowance given to employees in my office, good off-season rates and low room occupancy rates and the availability of CFC brod Rico Nicolas whom we hire for many of our out of town travels, our family was off to Batangas!

Our destination - El Cacar Beach Resort.

El Cacar Beach Resort

During the summer months, I have been trying to browse through the internet in search of good beaches to bring my family. Looking at the Nasugbu area, one name came popping out. Formerly known as La Alpea Resort, El Cacar located at Apacible Blvd., Bgy. Wawa, Nasugbu, Batangas seemed to be a popular destination.

The shortest and only route that I know of to Nasugbu, Batangas (from Metro Manila) is via Tagaytay City. You can take either the Coastal Road or the South Super Hi-way (via Carmona). Then take the Aguinaldo Hi-way to Tagaytay. Though I strongly suggest that you take the Sta. Rosa exit from the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) when going to Tagaytay. When you reach the T Junction, turn right, go pass by the Tagaytay Rotonda and straight on to Alfonso, Cavite until you reach Nasugbu, Batangas. Follow directional signs to Nasugbu’s town proper. When you see the only Jollibee in that area on your left side, turn left on that adjacent street. When you reach the dead end or the beach, turn right. About 250 meters away, you will see El Cacar Beach Resort on the left side or the beach side of the street.

Make sure you talk to the resort owners directly instead of the middlemen outside the premises to avoid additional costs. Call up Pam Ramos at their Paraňaque office or look for her brother Eric at the site itself.

Outside our room with CFC Brod Rico Nicolas

The ‘Pamela’ room

The resort itself was more or less what I expected. With no misleading claims that they are class A or B, this unassuming middle of the pack resort is well suited for the budget conscious vacation traveler. The two bed air-con room (‘Pamela’) we got with cable TV, ref and own CR for the off-peak day trip rate of 2,000 pesos was still quite reasonable, though rates posted at their sites were still the old ones and need to be regularly updated.

As soon as we settled in, I accompanied my two younger impatient kids who were raring to swim to the beach itself. The sight we saw bombarded me with mixed emotions. From afar, the sound of rushing waves and the view of the blue sea and fine sand was very inviting. However, as we approached the beach front itself, the unsightly presence of garbage everywhere was very saddening to say the least. Man-made wastes particularly plastic bags, sacks and packaging material lay on the beach sands and came floating on the rushing waters. Name your pick of junk food, chances are you’ll see its wrapper floating around.

The resort’s beachfront

Environmental waste was scattered all over

Apparently, property owners practiced cleaning their respective beach fronts, thus the varying degrees of cleanliness across the stretch of the Nasugbu shoreline. Since a considerable amount of the garbage that ran ashore presumably came from nearby areas, much has yet to be done to raise the environmental awareness and concern of the whole local population.

The kids loved the strong waves

Sonny does a remake of a ‘Karate Kid’ scene

Litter notwithstanding, my family tried to make the most of this otherwise beautiful beach. The moderately strong waves this part of the Batangas coastline was a highlight of our enjoyment. All our four kids loved the challenge the waves posed, anticipating and hoping every one that came was a ‘big’ one! “Is that all you got!” Joshua constantly yelled as if taunting the seas. We would all have a fun time seeing Joshua get what he asked with an onslaught of large waves crashing all over us one after the other!

Surfing, anyone?

Despite the strong waves, the beach was moderately safe for young kids especially with their floaters worn as the shoreline was rather shallow for a considerable distance. Batangas beaches have the tendency to be rocky making it more difficult to walk or swim through them. Fortunately, the beaches here in Nasugbu have fine grayish sand that is gentle to one’s feet.

Lunch with Jollibee Chicken Joy

This white cat pestered us all throughout our lunch time

Rolling with the waves

After lunch, we continued to relish the splashing waves, rolling with them as they moved rapidly toward the seashore.

Equipped with floaters

The route to the beachfront

By mid afternoon, one by one we had to leave the beach to clean up and prepare to accompany my wife to her training venue which was said to be nearby.

Overall rating for El Cacar Resort: 2 and a half out of five stars

By four o clock we were on the move again.

Next stop - Canyon Cove Residential Beach Resort

A short ten minute drive from the Nasugbu poblacion, you enter into a totally different Nasugbu beach property. Canyon Cove Beach resort is a condotel with a stunning beach view and shoreline. Touted as a worry free investment for prospective members, homeowners and unit owners, the resort boasts of world class amenities some of which we did see as we initially went around the place. Actually, the place is still undergoing construction/renovation in many areas being under new management, a joint venture development project between Tagaytay Grassland, Inc. (TGCI) and the United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB).

At the Condotel lobby

Mediterranean-inspired villas that house the condominiums are interspersed inside the cove while Condotels located at the North and South wing of the main building; many enjoying a commanding view of the South China Sea.

Stunning beachfront

Surprisingly, the cove’s beach has white sand. I’m not sure whether this is a natural occurrence or may have been transported there from somewhere else. At any rate, the beach surface as you submerge still tends to be rocky as my kids told me.

Inside Lovey’s assigned room

Junior enjoys the room’s breathtaking view

Captivated by the stunning ambience of Canyon Cove, what we originally planned only as a whole day of rest and recreation became an overnight affair as my wife eventually convinced me for everyone to stay if the company that hired her as a training consultant would allow our family to stay in her room. A request that was happily granted. It was also good that CFC Bro. Rico Nicolas whom we often contracted for his transportation services agreed to stay with us in Nasugbu.

And so…the thrill of Nasugbu continued!

The calm and enticing waters of Canyon Cove

Several villas remained unrehabilitated

Dinner time at Nasugbu's Chowking outlet

My family stayed much of the time inside the room watching cable TV as Odette did her stuff as trainer. We did go out for a while in the evening as we had dinner at the town’s Chowking outlet. Unless you were filthy rich or famous as the actors currently doing a shoot at for a telenovela in Canyon Cove while we were there, I wouldn’t recommend that you dine in at the resort because of the pricey prices.

For all its progress, Nasugbu didn’t really have so many fast food restaurants as one would imagine. But I guess in a sense that actually adds to its somewhat rustic appeal.

Overnight bonding with my family

Breakfast at Jollibee

As my wife had her morning meal with the company officials, we had our breakfast at Jollibee – Nasugbu. It was a fast breakfast as the kids particularly Joshua and Faith have been raring to jump into the Canyon Cove pools and have fun at white sand beach since yesterday.

Faith and Joshua enjoy the wide child-friendly pools...

…and the combed white sand beach!

The older Kuyas (brothers) are ‘allergic’ to the Sun

Like my two older sons Junior and Sonny Boy, I decided not to try the waters anymore content in just exploring the beach front, hanging around one of the beach’s cottages and looking after my two younger children.

Unlike their older siblings, Joshua and Faith basked in the heat of the sun as they enjoyed the resort’s child-friendly swimming pools. I think they better liked those swimming pools as against the beach that while comparatively cleaner than the nearby beaches, still had many of those irritating rocky pebbles that could hurt your unprotected feet.

Still, Canyon Cove is a Batangas destination that I would recommend provided you really, really save for that special family weekend vacation.

Overall rating for Canyon Cove Residential Beach Resort: 3 and a half out of 5 stars

Nasugbu’s St. Francis Xavier Parish Church with its arched ceiling and wood carved chandeliers

As we left Canyon Cove early in the afternoon, we passed by a historic landmark of Nasugbu, the St. Francis Xavier Parish Church to thank God for our safe and joyous excursion.

While the edifice is relatively new considering much of its construction happened only during the 1990’s, the history of previous parishes and churches in Nasugbu, now a 1^st class municipality in Batangas has been rich and for a time underwent a sad and dark turn of events.

The Roman Catholic Church in Nasugbu once was under the jurisdiction of the Parish of the Immaculate Conception in Balayan. The first chapel was constructed in Barangay Looc along with a convent for the parish priest. Later, the town transferred to its present location in the Sitio. An “old church” (lumang simbahan) in 1852 was dedicated to the Nuestra Seňora Virgen de le Escalera and Saint Francis Xavier. Sadly, the church was desecrated during the war for our independence against Spain in 1896. As the people of Nasugbu rose against the Spanish colonial regime, members of the Spanish Army locked up almost 500 men, women and children inside the church and then set fire to it. The Holy Mass was never again celebrated in that church after that ungodly massacre.

Another parish church was built on the present site on Laurel Street. Eventually he growing population in the municipality required the construction of a much larger church which led to the construction of the present Nasugbu Church. One point of interest with regard to the physical features of the church is a whole set of the carillon bells from France installed in 2006 at the church tower.

Of course, one also has to appreciate the beauty of the main altar with its expensive hardwood carvings. The altar has a restored antique wooden cross with the crucified Christ surrounded by statues of the Immaculate Conception, St. Francis Xavier and Saint Joseph, the patron saint of the whole province. The focus of course of the whole altar is on the Tabernacle of the Most Holy Sacrament where the real presence of Christ resides!

Beside the church’s baptismal font

The Nasugbu Church is declared a Pilgrimage Church under the Centennial Celebration of the Archdiocese of Lipa

Thank you, Lord for such a wonderful family outing in Nasugbu! Hope we could come back again to these idyllic places in western Batangas.

That afternoon we had another adventure in store…hopefully a sumptuous late lunch in Tagaytay!

Traversing the Province of Abra (Part 4)

2010-03-12T15:32:00.000-08:00

On top of the hill - Beside the Rizal statue

Day 5 - Our penultimate day in Abra gave me some free time in the morning for some sight-seeing and pasalubong shopping.

The postponed opening of bids yesterday at the Abra DEO reset for today was again mysteriously moved for Monday. We felt that move was highly suspicious to say the least considering they knew we were joining the CCAGG observers. Moving it to next week assured them that we would not be present anymore during their initial proceedings.

Views of Bangued from Victoria National Park

Making the most of our new found free time, I took the opportunity to visit one of the most famous spots in Bangued - the Victoria National Park. The park is located atop a hill overlooking the town of Bangued and neighboring municipalities of Tayum, La Paz, Pidigan and Peňarrubia. A shrine of the Blessed Mother Mary holding the Infant Jesus was built near a reservoir of Bangued waterworks. A swimming pool is also available for swimmers.

The Victoria Park sign post’s decrepit condition reflects the park’s inadequate maintenance and decay

It’s a place with a scenic view but is deficient in the most basic amenities like park chairs

The Abra river can be seen from afar

Up on the large Mama Mary and Child Jesus shrine

From the park, Bert our OMB driver and I scoured the commercial district of Bangued in search of pasalubong items. The walis tambo (native broom) were very expensive so I didn’t buy one. Instead I bought some dried fish from the public market and a bottle of honey from a souvenir shop.

After we went back for Perry and had lunch at a nearby hotel’s restaurant, we bought additional items at the ADTEMPCO Coopmart near the Pastoral Center.

I bought another bottle of honey, two packs of Yema (it was a hard candy version) and a native delicacy, the Balikutsa or Balicutcha. This very sweet hard candy is derived from sugarcane.

Later that afternoon, Perry and I met with CCAGG Chairperson Pura Sumangil where she updated us with the latest activities of the NLCGG and the CCAGG. These activities included the World Bank funded “Road Watch (Bantay Lansangan) Project and a “Pre-Election Activities Training Program.”

We thanked Manang Pura and the CCAGG staff today for their warm welcome, assistance and cooperation on this study knowing we may not be able to see them tomorrow morning as we headed back for Manila.

March 6 - Last day in Abra

The Pastoral Center’s Conference Hall near our sleeping quarters at the third floor

The youth prepare for an upcoming festivity

We left Bangued at around 9:15 a.m.

My planned courtesy call to Bishop Jaucian this morning again fizzled out. If I remember right I was told that he was in Manila.

At any rate, I was able to pass by the Bulda residence in Bangued and personally meet Bro. Moding and Sis. Glo Bulda, our CFC Provincial leaders in Abra and bid them farewell.

With Bro. Moding Bulda and his two grandchildren Kristine Coleen Ballestra and Farelle Baroňa

On our way home, we again passed by Perry’s parents in Candon City, Ilocos Sur, had lunch at an eatery in Rosario, La Union and stopped over places like the Villasis Public Market in Pangasinan to buy some mangoes and garlic. We later took a different route (longer but less traffic) which brought us through Camiling, Tarlac. Somewhere thereabout, we again stopped over for an irresistible round of cheap halo-halo. In Abra, as well as in the other provinces, we saw dozens of tables beside the streets selling halo-halo. The halo-halo we ate was quite the simple version with mostly crushed ice, evaporated milk and a few other ingredients. But the summer heat has a way of making a simple desert so delectable!

Looking back, there were other numerous points of interest we didn’t get the chance to see in Abra. Places like the Libtec underground river in Dolores or the Kimkimay Lake in Taquib, Villaviciosa supposedly a favorite area for town picnickers who go there to swim and fish as well. Next time.

Some have envisioned the province of Abra to be developed as a northern “Gateway to the Cordilleras”. With its rich cultural and historical heritage, I believe this will be very possible. However, local politicians have to come together abandoning their violent ways and rise up above their political partisanship to work for a peaceful and progressive Abra. More importantly, I believe that the vast majority of the people in Abra are peace loving and upright. In the end, it would be their continued vigilance as seen in the volunteerism spirit of CCAGG that would bring lasting peace and prosperity to this rugged paradise.

Traversing the Province of Abra (Part 3)

2010-03-12T14:50:00.000-08:00

March 4 - After having breakfast at Jollibee which became our morning ritual, Perry and I went around the town square again to take some more pictures of the nearby landmarks.

Bangued’s Municipal Hall building

The provincial seal of Abra

Informal morning talk with the provincial governor
(Left to right: Ferddie, Perry, Gov. Eustaquio “Takit” Bersamin and Cris Albolote, ENRO)

Either it was by fate or pure luck that we had the chance to meet and have an informal talk with the present Governor of Abra, “Takit” Bersamin and Cris Albolote, the provincial environment and natural resources officer. We were told that the governor would regularly sit in front of the provincial capitol building and interact with constituents. I appreciated the Governor’s hospitality, receptiveness and candor during our short conversation where we gave our fifty centavo advice on how Abra could further achieve progress. Apparently, he will again run for Governor this coming local election uncontested. If that is the case, I wish him well during his next term of office.

Facade of the St. James the Elder Church

I took additional pictures of the St. James the Elder Parish Church. Since we stayed at the Parish Center, I passed by the church everyday but it was only today that I had entered it.

Inscribed above its main door were the Latin words ‘Domus Dei Et Porta Coeli’ (The House of God and Gate of Heaven).

At the side of the church is the Holy Spirit Academy and
tablets of the Ten Commandments ( in the Ilocano dialect)

Inside the St. James the Elder Church

The DZPA building: Home to the CCAGG

Also home to several offices like the provincial branch of the National Statistics Office (NSO), it is also known as the Arnold Janssen Communications Center housing two radio stations DZPA (‘Puso ti Abra’ - Heart of Abra) 873 kHz and DWWM 96.9, and the local newspaper Abra Today.

The Malanas Left Irrigation System Project in the Municipality of San Juan

Today, we joined CCAGG volunteers look over the ongoing Malanas Left Irrigation System in Barangay Baug in the Municipality of San Juan, some 30 kilometers away from Bangued.

The effects of the El Niňo have been evident in many parts of the country. Abra has been no exception.

Irrigation canals bring much needed water to the rice fields

A deep contrast between the green irrigated rice fields…

…and the brown parched earth on the non-irrigated lands of the countryside

Local folk hunt in the irrigation canals for Hito (catfish) and Tilapia (St. Peter’s fish)

At the horizon is the town proper of San Juan

The ongoing concreting of the Lagangilang- Tabiog Road

From San Juan, we traveled to the Municipality of Lagangilang for the inspection of the Lagangilang-Tabiog Road Project affecting Barangays Presentar, Paway, Nagtupacan and Dalagisan. This particular road project is around 25 kilometers away from Bangued Town Proper.

CCAGG volunteers inspect the concrete roads for compliance to building standards

Half-way through

Stopover at Talledo’s in Dolores municipality

Later, in search of native Abra delicacies to bring home, we made a side trip to a place called Mudiit in the Municipality of Dolores locally famous for miki and canton noodles. We were introduced to Talledo’s Miki Commercial, a home grown food manufacturer assisted by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) through its Special Enterprises Technology Upgrading Program or SETUP. Through this program, the DOST assists small enterprises improve its yield and enhance product competitiveness.

In the case of Talledo’s, DOST-CAR’s intervention involved upgrades of its squash canton processing. I think the DOST also supports this product because Vitamin A-rich squash heightens the nutritional content of commercially sold noodles.

Talledo’s is the home of quality miki and canton noodles

There were actually several differently flavored miki and canton noodles. They included vegetables like ampalaya, saluyot, malunggay, broccoli, squash, and carrot. I bought 400 pesos worth of different canton noodles and half a kilo each of carrots and kalabasa enriched miki noodles at 40 pesos per pack for a total cheap price of 480 pesos! If you visit Abra, these delicious and nutritious noodles are a must buy!

Definitely a must buy for ‘pasalubong’ (homeward bound treats) seekers

Afternoon visit to the District Engineer’s Office of the DPWH in Bangued

We all had a late lunch at a local eatery near the DPWH’s District Engineer’s office. We decided to eat there so as not to be late for a scheduled observation of an opening of bids for a road maintenance project at the said office.

Intriguingly, the opening of bids didn’t push through due to a lack of quorum on the part of the concerned Bids and Awards Committee (BAC). It was tentatively reset for tomorrow without any strong assurance. A classic "don’t call us, we’ll call you" kind of response.

Children near the CCAGG office play war games

Respite beside the great Abra river

After a long, grueling, hot summer day of traveling and inspection, we were all looking forward to an evening of rest and relaxation.

When you’re in Bangued, you can enjoy this respite beside the cool waters of the Abra River. Only 5 kilometers away from Bangued’s town proper, we went to a nipa hut owned by Engr. Brasuela under the almost completed Calaba bridge.

Children enjoy the cool waters

The Abra River is the most popular as well as the biggest and longest river among the numerous waterways crisscrossing the valleys of the province. Said to be an ideal place for swimmers, it is also a favorite spot for fishing enthusiasts with its spacious and clear waters.

Dusk is almost upon us in this tranquil place

Fellowship with the CCAGG volunteers

What is your kind of drink?

Grilled tilapia and catfish with raw shrimps (Jumping salad) in vinegar served as the main ‘pulutan’

Viands of this evening’s dinner are equally enticing to the palate

One thing about rustic places like Abra, you get back to truly enjoying the simpler things in life. Fresh air, fish and vegetables, the tranquil flow of water in a river, the beauty of a sunset and other things we have taken for granted in the hustle and bustle of our busy world.

In a place like Abra, one can rediscover the uncomplicated joys in life.

Traversing the Province of Abra (Part 2)

2010-03-12T14:31:00.000-08:00

Bangued’s Town Plaza

On the morning of our third day in Abra, I told Perry we had some free time in the morning to roam around the nearby sites of the poblacion. So we went around the block taking pictures of the most conspicuous structures standing at the town proper.

The provincial capitol building

Similar to the urban planning of many old towns during the Spanish colonial period, the political, economic, religious and cultural hub of the municipality were all physically situated around the town plaza. A one stop-shop so to speak during the colonial times, much of the most important institutions were built closely beside each other.

A peace covenant is displayed at the lobby of the capitol building

This familiar fast-food restaurant is strategically situated at the poblacion’s hub

I’ve always thought that the presence of a Jollibee fast food restaurant in a provincial locality was a positive sign of progress. In the case of Abra, it was their first and still only Jollibee in the whole province. No rival hamburger restaurants in front of it as always the case in Metro Manila. Not just yet.

The great St. James the Elder Cathedral symbolizes

the great influence of the Church in the province

The Cathedral of Bangued carries a long historic past. Originally under the Diocese of Nueva Segovia, construction of the first church by the Augustinian Friars started in 1722 but was only completed in 1807. Like many old churches, it was heavily damaged during the Second World War with the original altar destroyed; only the walls and tower remained intact. Reconstructed after the war, it was later declared a cathedral and its administration handed down to the Diocesan clergy.

Interestingly, Bangued was inaugurated capital of Abra on the feast day of St. James the Elder on July 25, 1861.

It was only much later that I discovered what “Bangued” meant which was “roadblock”. Evidently, the early native Tingguians opposed the Christianization introduced by the Spanish friars that they established roadblocks including large logs in the Abra river and big rocks across roads which the natives called ‘bangen” or obstacles. The American colonizers eventually modified it to “Bangued”.

The nearby parish rectory

The statue of St. Joseph, foster father of Jesus in front of the parish convent was erected in 1959 to commemorate the 50th year anniversary of the S.V. D. (Society of the Divine Word) in the province of Abra. In 1920, the bishop of Nueva Segovia (Bishop Peter Joseph Hurth) entrusted the whole province to the SVD. During that same year, the S.V.D. transferred its regional house from Tayum to the Bangued Parish Convent. However, in 1964 its seat of the region was again moved this time to Ubbog, Bangued.

At the back of the rectory is the Diocesan Pastoral Center

Inspired by the Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi -

a prayer for CHAMP (Clean, Honest, Authentic, Meaningful and Peaceful) elections

CCAGG maybe focused nowadays in project monitoring but it has never forgotten its roots born out of the 1986 snap presidential elections. It continues to be a significant electoral watchdog in Abra especially with the upcoming synchronized national and local elections this May.

CCAGG’s 2nd office room

Now back to work.

With some CCAGG staff and volunteers, we visited an on-going bridge (Sto. Tomas - Manabo Bridge) construction project in Barangay Sto. Tomas in the Municipality of Manabo approximately 33 kilometers away from Bangued. Intended to connect the municipalities of Bucay and Manabo, as well as neighboring towns of Buliney, Luba, Tubo and Sallapadan, the bridge project has lingered in limbo for decades.

The “longest” bridge in the world - the Sto. Tomas - Manabo bridge

Locals called it the “longest” bridge in the whole world, not so much because of the projected bridge span but because the previous contractors only constructed the middle part of the structure, leaving it without a beginning or an end. Thus, the longest bridge in the world.

Boarding the ferry barge

In order to get to the actual bridge construction site, we boarded a wooden ferry barge along with our service vehicle (Isuzu Crosswind) and other vehicles across the river.

Much of the river bed is exposed during the long hot summer months

Crossing the river

Our service vehicle disembarks

The view from the other side of the river

Our point of destination nears

Concrete columns await placement at the bridge’s Phase 1 area

The “longest” bridge from a closer vantage point

A drill-carrying heavy crane goes off to work

From the construction site, we proceeded to Manabo’s town proper for lunch. Quite expectedly, one couldn’t find a big restaurant in a small provincial town composed of 11 barangays and a population of roughly ten and a half thousand people. So we opted to eat in one of their sari-sari (mom and pop) stores cum eatery.

A simple yet satisfying lunch meal in Manabo

It was like ordering a home cooked meal from that local eatery. We waited while they cooked it at their home at the back of the store.

I was really famished by the time the food got served. But the simple meals were at least worth the wait. While the meatlovers enjoyed their pork adobo, I dug into to the fresh vegetables immersed in fish bagoong.

Vegetables with ‘bagoong’ never looked so delicious

Back in Bangued: The bishop’s office and residence

We went back to Bangued that afternoon where Perry interviewed some CCAGG staff and volunteers on the previous projects they have monitored.

I took some time to visit the Couples for Christ (CFC) leaders in Bangued whose names I got from Bro George Asensi who worked full time at the CFC Home office. The current CFC Provincial Area Director of Abra was Bro. Moding Bulda. I was told that his wife, Sis Glo was working for the Diocese as secretary to the Bishop.

The Bishop’s office and residence was nearby so I decided to just walk and look for Sis. Glo. As previous blog readers of mine would know, I often touch base with local CFC and Gawad Kalinga leaders wherever I go across the country.

Fortunately, I was able to meet Sis. Glo at the Bishop’s residence. Unfortunately though, the bishop assigned to the Diocese of Abra, Bishop Leopoldo Jaucian (a priest from the S.V.D.) wasn’t around that day.

With CFC Sister Glo, secretary to the Bishop and
wife of the CFC Provincial Area Director, Brother Moding Bulda

An informative map of the vast province

Back inside the DZPA building, I took a picture of this painted map of Abra. Maps of Abra are apparently not so common even in the province itself so this picture would really be worth more than a thousand words for our continuing journey through this massive expanse.

Traversing the Province of Abra (Part 1)

2010-03-12T14:02:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Bangued, Abra!

Leaving the office a few minutes after 9 a.m. last March 1, my officemate Perry Galario and I along with OMB driver Bert Dancel set course on a journey to the rugged northern province of Abra. After several stopovers including lunch at Sison, Pangasinan and a brief respite and merienda at Perry’s home town of Candon, Ilocus Sur, we finally arrived half past six at the Municipality of Bangued, the capital of Abra.

Weeks before, our acting director had asked me to join Perry who will be conducting field research regarding empowerment of selected non-government organizations (NGOs) involved in monitoring of government project. NGOs identified in several provinces were all coalition partners of the Northern Luzon Coalition for Good Governance (NLCGG). I obliged, despite our (the RSSB staff) serious questions on current recognition and appraisal of work assignments at the bureau. I knew this was a work challenge I couldn’t pass up. More so, it will give me the opportunity to renew ties with old anti-corruption colleagues in Abra and have a first hand experience of what they have been doing for over two decades now.

And a challenging adventure it proved to be! Fortunately, the exhausting day long 400+ kilometer drive was tempered by my thrill of numerous first time sights.

Our simple but functional accommodations at the Diocesan Pastoral Center

Our friends at the Concerned Citizens of Abra for Good Governance (CCAGG), one of NLCGG’s pioneer member organizations, initially made reservations at a cooperative managed facility for our accommodations but we had inadvertently discovered a cheaper alternative at the nearby Diocesan Pastoral Center. As we would soon find out, the Pastoral Center was just across the street from the CCAGG office.

That night was the first of several exploratory hikes we made around the rustic poblacion of Bangued. We ate dinner at a neighborhood eatery chain locals generally call the “Fastfood”.

There, one encounters the exotic viands of Ilocandia, a mix of meats often including pork and goat (Kaldereta), their innards (Papaitan) sometimes not surprisingly raw (Kilawin). I am not that adventurous, sticking mainly to the rich sour stews and salty condiments they bathe fresh vegetables in. “Diningding” and “Pinakbet” or simply steam vegetables with fish bagoong poured over them, now that’s my kind of Ilocano food!

Foreign participants on a study tour are welcomed at the CCAGG office

Off to work the following day, we went to the CCAGG office that morning located at the 2nd floor of the DZPA building in Rizal corner Zamora Street.

New unfamiliar but warm faces greeted us at the CCAGG office. Some were on-the-job (OJT) students while the others were younger generations of CCAGG volunteers. I was informed that some of the people I knew before were either out of the office or have long gone for other pursuits.

With CCAGG offices and staff with 2 DPWH officials

With CCAGG staff and volunteers

Soon after we were joined by foreign NGO delegates here in the country for a public procurement related training. As part of their training, they were given an orientation by Ms. Pura Sumangil, a founding leader of both the CCAGG and NLCGG. The foreign delegation included representatives from India, Mexico and South Africa. During the briefing, we experienced a minor earthquake whose epicenter was estimated to be somewhere in nearby Cagayan province under Region 2. Nothing like a mild tremor to spice your day around!

Ms. Pura Sumangil of CCAGG/NLCGG gives an orientation

While the foreign delegates were being interviewed over the local radio station, I took time to take pictures of the countryside near the top floor of the DZPA building.

Abra is a landlocked province hemmed between the mountain ranges of the Ilocos provinces to the west and the Cordillera mountains to its east. Part of the Cordillera Autonomous Region or CAR, it covers roughly a fifth of the region’s land area, easily making it the largest province in that locality. Mostly descendants of Ilocano settlers and members of the Tingguian tribe, residents of the province numbered more than 230,000 according to a 2007 population survey.
Not part of any regular sightseeing brochure, Abra is no where to be found in the Arroyo government’s so-called “Philippine Tourism Highway”. Its history of political violence and warlordism doesn’t help change that. Rather, it shuns away tourist and possible investors that could bring greater development to its people.

That’s the great tragedy. As I soon discovered during our stay in this province, relatively devoid of the decadence and degradation that accompanies unbridled commercial development of a locality, agriculturally-based Abra remained quite the unspoiled paradise it has been for so many years. Much of the area within its 27 municipalities has remained the same…as if time had stood still.

Sadly, unscrupulous politicians, bureaucrats and businessmen have exploited Abra’s poverty and rugged terrain for their illicit enrichment. Civil works like bridges across the great Abra River supposedly to promote progress and development into the province ended up incomplete and utterly useless. Corruption was definitely pervasive across Abra’s political landscape. This led to the creation of the CCAGG in 1986 and as they say, the rest is history.

Bangued is nestled in a valley between the majestic mountains of Abra

A simple sumptuous lunch is served!

After lunch, we accompanied the foreign delegates to the first government civil works site we were to observe CCAGG’s project monitoring activities. Located around five (5) kilometers from the town proper, we inspected the on-going bridge construction in Barangay Calaba and adjacent Barangay Modeng of the municipality of La Paz.

The Calaba Bridge up close and personal

Nearly a kilometer in length, the Calaba bridge is finally near its completion

The construction of the Calaba bridge and approaches were funded through national government funds with financial assistance from the Austrian government. It was supposed to have been completed (based on the DPWH’s own target date) mid-August of last year, but for decades that has been the sad story for many of the bridges in Abra.

People, goods and vehicles are ferried across the great Abra river

Engr. Rene Brasuela of CCAGG inspects the on-going construction

All in a day’s work!

Happy 12th Anniversary, Starbucks Philippines!

2009-12-04T17:00:00.000-08:00

Happy 12th Anniversary, Starbucks Philippines!

I don’t exactly remember when I first heard of or got hooked to the so-called “Starbucks coffeehouse experience”. But my earliest recollection of having drunk their product was in the late 90’s.

Back then, I used to write as a contributing editor to a rather academic publication called the Sanggunian: The Philippine Local Government Journal. Its office was along Tomas Morato Avenue near the corner of Timog Avenue. On many occasions as I would go there to submit my articles, they would often serve some merienda like Hen Lin dimsum or tasty éclair pastries with (you guessed it right!) classy Starbucks coffee. Albert C. Lim, editor in chief of the Sanggunian would proudly tell me in the local vernacular, “Pare, simple lang ang merienda natin. Pero Starbucks ang kape naming dito!” (Bro, the snack we serve here is quite simple. But the coffee we serve comes from Starbucks!)

And so that was my early impressions of Starbucks, a tasty but nevertheless, expensive upscale glorification of the common man’s drink. I grew up drinking instant coffee from diamond shape encrusted Nescafe glasses. There was a time that I liked black coffee so much I think I consumed around 6-8 glasses of coffee a day! I eventually shifted back to colas when one day I saw my chest quite uncontrollably palpitating.

So through the years, I considerably lost my penchant for coffee. Starbucks, you might say, in a way revived my interest for what many still considered simply a working man’s beverage by raising the quality standards for its products and providing a totally new drinking experience to share and enjoy!

Family bonding at the SM Mall of Asia Starbucks branch
(Dec. 2006)

Initially, I think I spent more money collecting the shop’s coffee mugs and tumblers than on the coffee itself, drawn to their elegant and yet functional designs worthy to be part of my personal collection.

This time around my Starbucks experience is often shared with the whole family, as new and youthful generations of serious coffee drinkers like my children are set to emerge.

Chilling out at the FEU Hospital Starbucks branch in Fairview after attending an evening Mass at the Good Shepherd Parish (June 2007)

So it wasn’t just the excellent coffee or the mugs and tumblers that I collect, or their wonderful planners I use every year or the ambiance, or the soothing music or the friendly baristas or the countless moments of family bonding that makes me come back….and back all over again to this coffee brand. Rather, it’s the synergy of it all that makes that distinctive Starbucks experience that makes me want to come back and experience it all over again.

Everybody in my family loves a Frappuccino! (Trinoma - November 2009)

Congratulations Starbucks on your 12th year in the Philippines!

May you continue to brew excellent coffee covered with the warmth of that unique Starbucks experience!