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Food Trips | Where to Eat in Tagaytay

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Taal Lake and Volcano - from Tagaytay Picnic Grove

Tagaytay is a favorite weekend getaway destination for families and friends in Metro Manila. And why not? It's just two hours (moderate traffic considered) from here; it's climate is cooler; with lots of activities to spend time with, especially nowadays. But it's not just that, of course. Tagaytay is a place for food tripping, too.

Here's the list of restaurants we've tried over time during the several road trips we've made to Tagaytay.

Mushroomburger

Mushroomburger, I guess, will always be in the list of restaurants/food joints to try in Tagaytay. It's famous for its mushroom-mixed burgers but it also has branched out its products, most of which, still mushroom-based, of course. I've tried several of their burgers in the several road trips we've made in Tagaytay but these are the only photos I have from them: mushroom sandwich with cheese and mushroom fries. I like this sandwich since its lighter compared to other burgers and the mushrooms in it tasted fresh really. Mushroom fries is okay, too; a nice variation from the usual fries that we're all familiar with. ^_^

mushroom sandwich
mushroom fries

Mushroomburger
Km. 60, Brgy. Kaybagal
Tagaytay City, Cavite

Tower Ground Bulalohan

If you've been to Tagaytay, you'll notice that most of the restaurants and eateries are lined up on the side where you have the view of the Taal Lake and Volcano. One of these restaurants and/or eateries is the Tower Ground Bulalohan. It's specialty: bulalo. But we just had bulalo from Rose and Grace that day, we opted for kare-kare and crispy tawilis this time. Kare-kare is good but it's the crispy tawilis that got me. It may not look good but it tastes good; so crispy nothing will go to waste, not even the fins and scales...hehe!

crispy tawilis
kare-kare

Tower Ground Bulalohan
Tagaytay-Nasugbu Highway
Tagaytay City, Cavite

Kaye Ryan Grill

Kaye Ryan Grill is the restaurant we've tried on our first road trip to Tagaytay. My friend and I went on a road trip without researching on where or what to eat. We just spotted it, we stopped and we ordered foods. What we had: sizzling seafood and fish sinigang. Foods tasted good but a bit pricey, even a few years ago.
sizzling seafood
fish sinigang, forgot what kind of fish hehe...

Kaye Ryan Grill
Tagaytay Road
Tagaytay City, Cavite

RSM Lutong Bahay Seafood Restaurant


After our Batulao adventure, we stayed overnight in The Overlook Inn, a budget hotel in Tagaytay. On the next day, my friend and I explored some of the attractions in Tagaytay and then went to this restaurant for lunch. My words for RSM restaurant: very expensive, slow service, lots of waiting time! The foods are at least okay, at least the ones we've tried but I don't think it's worth the money. I guess this restaurant is popular because of the nice view it has of Taal Lake and Volcano. RSM: Lutong bahay, presyong hotel! :P

stuffed tilapia, ginataang kuhol, rice and iced tea for almost 900++ Php - very expensive!!!

RSM Lutong Bahay
Aguinaldo Highway
Tagaytay City, Cavite

Rose and Grace Bulalo Restaurant

This restaurant is actually not in Tagaytay but rather in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. It's along the highway going to Tagaytay, though, so this usually is a part of foodies' and families' destination when they go to Tagaytay. Our favorite from this restaurant: bulalo, their bestseller! Rose and Grace is my friend's favorite bulalo restaurant ever since we've tried their bulalo from their branch in Sto. Tomas, Batangas. We've been here several times because we love their food; it's great and the price is reasonable, unlike that of RSM! :P

Rose & Grace's famous bulalo!
crispy crablets
grilled tuna with mango salad

Rose and Grace Bulalo Restaurant
Tagaytay Road, Sta. Rosa Estates
Sta. Rosa City, Laguna

Tagaytay | Overnight Stay at The Over Look Inn

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terrace view from The Over Look Inn

After our Mt. Batulao adventure, we went to Tagaytay to look for a place to stay overnight. It's actually our plan to stay in Tagaytay after the hike so we could explore the city's attraction that day and the next. But due to the unfortunate incident in Batulao, it took us a while hiking down it's already late when we reached Tagaytay. We don't have a specific place to go and just relied on the net again for a nice but budget hotel to stay to overnight. One of the budget hotels we found: The Over Look Inn. It is located very near Tagaytay rotonda and is along the highway so we went there.

We inquired for a standard room for two, were told the cheapest room is 2,600 Php (complimentary breakfast for 2 included). We were tired, sweaty, grimy, soiled and all we want that time was to clean up and rest, so we get the room.

The Over Look Inn Tagaytay
The Over Look Inn, Tagaytay

The Over Look Inn's standard room is very small (reminds us of the hotel we stayed when we were in Singapore during one of our escapades), maybe around 12 - 13 square meters in total area (including the bathroom/CR). It is air-conditioned, with a double bed and a small TV in it.

The Over Look Inn Tagaytay
standard room @ The Over Look Inn, so small it's just around 1 meter, maybe less, from the side of the bed to the wall

The bathroom/CR is equally small but basic toiletries (tissue paper, shampoo/conditioner, bath soap) were provided; with hot and cold shower, too.

bathroom/CR @ The Over Look Inn

We cleaned up ourselves and made the bathroom literally soiled because of all the mud on our hiking slippers (it rained during our descend from Mt. Batulao). After cleaning up, we went out and look for a place to dine out (we didn't dare ask the receptionist for their dinner package, for fear it's somehow expensive and probably, not worth the price; in short, we're on a budget hehe).

We found a row of restaurants/eateries a few meters from the hotel, checked out their food offerings and decided to dine in one of them. I forgot its name but it's on the same building as that of Papa Frito's. We ordered what else but bulalo (Tagaytay = bulalo?! hehe) and crispy tawilis. We enjoyed the meal, the serving is more than enough for us and the price reasonable.

bulalo
bulalo!!!
crispy tawilis
crispy tawilis

After the dinner, we walk back to our hotel and call it a night. But probably due to fatigue and the leg cramps, I got chills that night. I thought I caught a flu but thank God my friend is a girl scout, she gave me some medicines to take. The next day, I woke up fine with only sore legs to endure. We went to the hotel's terrace at the back where we were greeted with the view of Taal lake and volcano (see first photo above). We took our breakfast there: fried egg, slices of bread, bite-sized sausages, a few slices of turnips and banana for dessert; instant coffee to wash down the meal.

complimentary breakfast @ The Over Look Inn

Overall, it's a nice stay, though a bit expensive (considering the cramped space). It's just good for an overnight stay, like ours; just to pass the night. But if you're in Tagaytay to relax and to unwind, I suggest you look for some place else to stay, a place more comfortable and more spacious than this one. We'll do, next time! Till then...^_^

~ oo00oo ~

The Over Look Inn
Emilio Aguinaldo Highway
(a few meters from Tagaytay Rotonda)
Tagaytay City, Cavite
Date of Visit: May 10, 2014

Cam Flicks | 2015 Philippine International Pyromusical Competition

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'Cause, baby, you're a firework
Come on, show 'em what you're worth
Make 'em go, "Aah, aah, aah"
As you shoot across the sky-y-y




Baby, you're a firework
Come on, let your colours burst
Make 'em go, "Aah, aah, aah"
You're gonna leave 'em all in awe, awe, awe


Boom, boom, boom
Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon
It's always been inside of you, you, you
And now it's time to let it through-ough-ough


'Cause, baby, you're a firework
Come on, show 'em what you're worth
Make 'em go, "Aah, aah, aah"
As you shoot across the sky-y-y


Baby, you're a firework
Come on, let your colours burst
Make 'em go, "Aah, aah, aah"
You're gonna leave 'em all in awe, awe, awe


~ oo00oo ~

Text from: Katy Perry's Firework

~ oo00oo ~

6th Philippine International Pyromusical Competition
Venue: SM Mall of Asia (Seaside Boulevard)
Schedule: February 7 - March 14, 2015; 7:30PM onwards
Ticket Prices: 100 (silver), 300 (gold), 500 (VIP), 1500 (patron, w/ food)

February 7, 2015      Philippines (opening exhibition) and Japan     
February 14, 2015 Italy vs Brazil
February 21, 2015Mexico vs Netherlands
February 28, 2015Portugal vs Sweden
March 7, 2015Canada vs United Kingdom
March 14, 2015 China and Philippines (closing exhibition)

Metro Food Trips | Late Lunch at Lam Tin Tea House

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salted fish and chicken fried rice - 105 Php

Kung Hei Fat Choi! Gong Xi Fa Cai! Ahh, whatever! I am a Filipino, proud to be one! But I love Chinese foods (the same way I love Filipino dishes) so the restaurants my friend and I visited are usually Chinese restaurants. Aside from their foods being flavorful, they are usually affordable too, that's why we love them (kurips are us! haha).

Anyway, last Thursday (Chinese New Year), after around four hours of waiting for my washing machine to be checked up/serviced, we went to Banaue for our late lunch. We were supposed to have our lunch at home but it's past 12 noon we decided to eat out rather than prepare some homemade dishes. My friend suggested Lam Tin Tea House for its affordability and large servings. So off we went to Banaue, from FAR-view (Fairview hehe), that is.

As expected, the restaurant is full when we got there (it's Chinese new year, it's almost 1:00PM (peak hour) so what else to expect). But what was unexpected is the quick turnaround of customers. People, mostly Chinese or Tsinoy, went there for lunch, order their foods, eat them then out on to their next activity/destination, they don't stay longer than necessary (at least that's how it looks to me that day). But it may also be because the restaurant's staff are efficient (or afraid? haha :P because the manager/owner and his son are on the premises assisting and welcoming customers).

Anyway, for our lunch we ordered salted fish and chicken fried rice, buttered chicken, hototay soup, pechay in garlic sauce and my friend's favorite: halo-halo congee (not in photo); regular iced tea for me and bottomless iced tea for my friend. Our orders were served after around 10 - 15 minutes. Not bad on peak hours.

buttered chicken - 230 Php

Buttered chicken - flavorful and not too oily nor salty; crispy outside but tender and juicy, too. Enough for 2 persons and I would say reasonably priced, though this one's the most expensive we had that day.

hototay soup - 140 Php

Hototay soup: I asked the restaurant staff for any soup that's clear and this the only one they have, hototay. Unlike the hototay I'm used to (from our fave neighborhood resto), this one's more of meat (pork slices, meat balls) rather than veggies soup; with several shrimps, too. For only 140 Php, this is definitely an affordable add-on, if you're fond of soups to go with your meal.

Taiwan pechay in garlic sauce - 200 Php

Taiwan pechay in garlic sauce: Aside from being a seafood lover, I also love veggies. But this one's not on their menu. My friend noticed it from his previous visit so he asked the staff for it and we were told it's Taiwan pechay.We ordered for it without knowing it's price so when our bill arrived, I noticed the bill says 'broccoli flower' priced at 200 Php. A bit pricey for a pechay, right? Broccoli is more expensive than pechay, if I'm not mistaken. Oh well, veggie I want, veggie I got, special order so never mind.

Salted fish and chicken fried rice (first photo above): this one's a must try! It looks small serving in the photo but don't be deceived, it's good enough for two persons. And it's very flavorful, with lots of chicken chunks too. For only 105 Php, it's definitely cheaper than the salted fish fried rice from the other restaurants we've tried.

Halo-halo congee (not in photo): I only tasted a spoonful of the congee but it's okay, more like the congee we're used to from Luk Yuen, only cheaper; 115 Php compared to Luk Yuen's 180 Php. 

complimentary hot tea

All in all, we spent only 885 Php for our late lunch, cheaper compared to other Chinese restaurants, especially those in the malls. We left the restaurant with our tummies full and pockets half full (haha). Anyway, when you're in the Banawe/Sto. Domingo area, try this resto and share your thoughts/experience in the comments section below. Thanks and happy eating! ^_^

~ oo00oo ~

Lam Tin Tea House
30-U Banaue St.,
Sto. Domingo, Quezon City
Date of Visit: February 19, 2015

Cebu | Solo Trip to the Miraculous Shrine of Simala in Sibonga

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First Shedding of Tears
Before March ended, I was again able to visit Cebu; this time for a summer bonding with teammates from our Cebu office. I was not supposed to join the fun because the duration spans a special day of my life but I realized it would probably be my last visit to Cebu and I still haven't visited Simala Church, so I decided to go.

Monastery of the Holy Eucharist, popularly known as Simala Shrine or Simala Church, is a castle-like church located in Marian Hills, Simala, Sibonga, Cebu. Simala Shrine was built in 1998 by the Marian Monks from Pampanga. This church became popular because of the several miraculous events that were reported to happen in the area. From then on, devotees and believers flock the shrine because they believe their prayer requests would be granted here. The shrine also draws tourists probably because of its castle-like structure, making this church somehow unique.

Anyway, from Badian where we were staying that time, I took a bus going to Cebu City, got off in Carcar and then took another bus (a mini-bus, this time) going to Sibonga. It's a grueling 3-hour ride on ordinary buses and then a 10-15 minutes tricycle ride to Simala Church. And then another 5-10 minutes walk/climb (depends on your pacing) from the entrance.

I was supposed to attend the 10:30AM Saturday mass but I didn't make it. The priest is already giving his final blessings when I get there so I just stayed at the back, wait for most of the churchgoers to leave and then went on one of the pews and prayed silently; thanking the Lord for bringing me there safe, thanking Him for all the blessings I received and praying for continued guidance and protection for me and my family.

Simala Shrine - Marian Hills, Lindogon, Simala, Sibonga, Cebu

Afterwards, I headed for the altar to pay respect to the miraculous virgin mother, Mama Mary. Though it's already holy week season that time, there weren't lots of devotees during my visit. I mean, there were lots of people there, yeah, but unlike queuing up for the altar in say Manaoag or Antipolo which usually took around 30 minutes to one hour, here it only took me around 10-15 minutes. By the way, if you're going up to the altar, you need to leave your shoes/slippers at the entrance; footwear is not allowed inside. Another thing, please make sure to wear proper attire when going there, shorts and/or sleeveless shirt/blouse are also not allowed.

the altar

After paying respect, I then roam around the convent admiring Mama Mary's statues in different colors and features, mostly depicting that of the country where the statue came from. I also saw cabinets from cabinets of letters and memorabilia from devotees whose prayers and requests were granted; from passing the board to getting a job abroad and healing for the sick.

some of Mama Mary's statues


More of Simala Shrine (in photos)












souvenirs/"thank you" letters from people whose prayers were granted

The last photo shows a painting of a pious old man telling his prediction to the local folks. It is believed that the prediction, made around sixty (60) years earlier, is all about Mama Mary and the miraculous shedding of tears and other phenomenon that happened in the area. Here's what's written on the painting's caption:

Ireneo Villamor or Inkong Niyong, a native of Lindogon, once predicted and said "Here comes a time a hill of Lindogon will become balaan (blessed). A white lady will stand soon and she will be the center of all people, but her pious servants will endure great sufferings and persecutions."


Schedule of Masses

Monday - Friday: 12:00PM
Saturday: 10:30AM
Sunday: 12:00PM, 3:30PM
every 13th of the month: 10:30AM, 3:30PM


How to get to Simala Shrine

To reach Simala Shrine, one can take a bus or a van from the South Bus Terminal in Cebu City (click the link to know how to get to South Bus Terminal) near Elizabeth Mall. My colleague advised me to take a bus instead since it's more comfortable. She said van ride is a bit cramped making it uncomfortable. I didn't get to try this route though since I joined them to Badian first. From Simala drop-off point (if you take a bus), you can either take a tricycle or take a habal-habal (motorcycle) for a 20-peso fare. I haven't tried riding a habal-habal yet (don't even know how to ride a bicycle) so I opted for the tricyle. Cebu City (South Terminal) to Simala travel time is around 2-3 hours while tricyle/habal-habal ride will take around 10-15 minutes.


~ oo00oo ~

Monastery of the Holy Eucharist
Marian Hills, Lindogon
Simala, Sibonga, Cebu
Date of Visit: March 28, 2015

Batangas | Trekking (Mt. Gulugod Baboy)/Swimming (Philpan Dive Resort) in Anilao

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@ Mt. Gulugod Baboy, Anilao, Mabini, Batangas

Last April was my brother's scheduled vacation from his overseas job so I went home. I was just supposed to spend the weekend chatting with him and bonding with my nephew but since he just bought a car, we decided to just go on a road trip. We were supposed to go to MonteMaria in Batangas City but later on decided to just go to Anilao and hit the beach. I then remembered that I want to climb Mt. Gulugod Baboy so I suggested we climb it first then go on swimming later.



From our house, it took us around thirty (30) minutes to reach Philpan Dive Resort, the jump off point to Mt. Gulugod Baboy. We then inquired for the trek, got the service of a tour guide (fee is 500 Php) and then registered (registration fee is 20 Php, per person) ourselves for the hike. We didn't let our mom come with us, per advice of the people in the beach, since it's quite strenuous for her age so we rented a cottage for her and my niece first. Afterwards, we proceeded with the trek.



The first kilometer or so (I'm not a good judge of distance) of the trek to Mt. Gulugod Baboy is on an uphill concrete road. I dunno what's it with concrete/cemented roads but I find hiking it a challenge. Add to the challenge the fact that it's almost noon time, I nearly gave up after a few meters of walking. But we keep on going until finally, we got to the starting point of the trail. Upon seeing the somewhat steep trail, my brother and his family decided not to continue anymore. My sister-in-law gave up and feared that their son (a 6 year old) couldn't make it since he's not used to taxing activities such as hiking. So it's just me and my 2 nephews (one of them also a 6-year old who already trekked Taal Volcano) that continued the trek. After more or less three (3) hours, we finally made it to the peak.

beneath this hill is the campsite
Mt. Pinagbanderahan, from the campsite

Mt. Gulugod Baboy, a mountain range in Anilao, Mabini, Batangas, is called as such because its peak's contour resembles that of a pig's spine (gulugod baboy).  It has three peaks, the highest of which is called Mt. Pinagbanderahan (meaning "where the (Japanese) flag was raised" during WW2) and not Mt. Gulugod Baboy but probably because the latter's name is more catchy, this mountain range became popularly known as Mt. Gulugod Baboy.

upper left, I think is the Taal area

At the peak of Mt. Gulugod Baboy, or rather Mt. Pinagbanderahan, is a 360-degree view of Batangas province. On the north/north-eastern side is Taal Volcano and the surrounding towns, Batangas City and its coastline as well as the Batangas Bay on the east, Tingloy island down south and Calatagan/Balayan Bay/Verde Island Passage on the west. It's a magnificent view up there, the reason I try to climb mountains (or hills?) from time to time, even though it's a feat for me. :P

Batangas coastline, if I'm not mistaken
Batangas Bay, if my orientation is right hehe
another view of Taal (upper left), Batangas City coastline/Batangas Bay (upper right)

leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but pictures (down with our litters with us)

More Photos from Mt. Gulugod Baboy

I really enjoyed taking photos here, too bad I only have my cell phone with me. But that doesn't mean I would just stop, here are some more photos I took. I hope you'll enjoy the view...


Sombrero island, the smallest island in the photo




Philpan Dive Resort

Just for diving? What about swimming? And can one dive without swimming? Hehe, I'm just blabbering here. The resort is probably really good for diving/snorkeling and not for swimming as evident of the wounds I saw from the people who swam in this resort, including my brother and nephews.

Philpan Dive Resort is one of the resorts located in Anilao, Mabini, Batangas. It's probably one of the cheapest in the area (if not the cheapest); the entrance is just 150 Php per person (my nephews and niece who are 6-year old and below are free), cottage rental costs 500 Php, packed food and drinks allowed. The beach is stoney though, which I think is common in this area.

the stoney beach of Philpan Dive Resort

But despite the stoney beach, my mom and nephews and niece enjoyed swimming (or should I say dipping their bodies hehe). The kiddos loved it playing with the waves and splashing sea water toward each other. After an hour of swimming, we then prepared to go home. I would want to stay longer to take more photos of the sunset but my brother is not yet accustomed to driving and the road is a bit steep with many twist and turns we decided to go home early. But I managed to take this one, though:

sunset in Anilao

That's it, a weekend of fun and adventure with my family without spending that much. Looking forward for the next fun and adventurous weekend with them.

How to get to Mt. Gulugod Baboy/Philpan Dive Resort

From EDSA (Cubao, Kamuning area) or Buendia-LRT (Taft), take Batangas/Pier-bound bus (Jam, Jac Liner, ALPS) and get off at Batangas City Grand Terminal in Balagtas, Batangas City. From there, take Anilao/Mabini-bound jeepney and tell the driver that you're going to Philpan Dive Resort. You'll be dropped off at an intersection where tricycles going to Philpan are available, take one and you'll be dropped off at Philpan Dive Resort. Travel time from Manila to Batangas Central Terminal is around two and a half hours, moderate traffic considered while Central Terminal To Mabini is around one hour. Travel costs is around 600-700 Php, back and forth.

~ oo00oo ~

Mt. Gulugod Baboy/
Philpan Dive Resort
Anilao, Mabini, Batangas
Date of Visit:  April 19, 2015

Food Trips | Buffet Lunch at Festival Cuisine - Lubao

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Festival Cuisine - Lubao
Road trip is synonymous to food trip for me and my friend. We usually look for a place to eat on our way to our destination and for our Araw ng Kagitingan (Filipino Day of Valor) road trip, we ended up at Festival Cuisine in Lubao, Pampanga.

We left Quezon City late in the morning so we were just in Pampanga during lunch time. We were looking for a place to eat and were resigned to the idea that we'll end up having our lunch in one of the fast food chains available in the area when we spotted Festival Cuisine's poster ads along the road. We saw from the ads that they're offering buffet lunch for 199 Php so we slowed down a bit and look for the restaurant. The restaurant is located along Subic-Olongapo Road in Lubao, beside Lubao's stopover terminal. It offers mainly Filipino dishes like adobo, sinigang, kare-kare and the likes. 

The restaurant has no air-conditioning but the wide screened windows give the diners a fresh feel. And the dining area is big, going to and fro the buffet table is easy. I also noticed function rooms adjacent to the restaurant so I guess it caters to special events, too.

the restaurant's interior
high-tech restroom...hehe :P
Festival Cuisine's facade

Anyway, here are Festival Cuisine's buffet food choices, in photos:

java and steamed rice
chicken dish I think... forgot what this is, hehe
fried tilapia
kare-kare and I dunno...hehe
pancit and beef strips, I think
steamed veggies and fried eggplant with bagoong (shrimp paste, not in photo), love these!!!!
appetizers (pork/tofu, chicharon) and desserts counter (fresh fruits, jellies, halo-halo)
jellies, a bit soft but tastes just right

There's only a limited number of dishes offered by Festival Cuisine but at least it has everything, pork, beef, chicken, fish and veggies. The dishes are not so commercialized, too, more like "lutong bahay" (homemade) which I love. For only 199 Php per person including a glass of iced tea (you can add 5 Php though, to make it bottomless), I would say it's worth the price. I'd rather have my lunch here than spend almost the same amount dining in fast food chains.

If you're traveling north and happens to be in the area, try Festival Cuisine's buffet and share your experience in the comment section below. Or better yet, if you know other place to eat in the area, share it here, may be we can try it on our next food trip up north. 'Til then... ;)

~ oo00oo ~

Festival Cuisine Restaurant
Subic-Olongapo Road
Lubao, Pampanga
Date of Visit: April 9, 2015

Bataan | Mt. Samat: Araw ng Kagitingan sa Dambana ng Kagitingan

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Dambana ng Kagitingan - Pilar, Bataan
Araw ng Kagitingan (Filipino Day of Valor), a national holiday, a day for road trip, yey! For this year's Araw ng Kagitingan, my friend and I were again on a road trip, and that's to Dambana ng Kagitingan (Shrine of Valor) in Pilar, Bataan. It's been a while since I first wanted to visit this national shrine in Bataan. As usual, it's because I am curious of historical sites I only heard from my teachers and read from textbooks before.

Araw ng Kagitingan is observed as a national holiday every ninth (9th) of April to commemorate The Fall of Bataan to the Japanese Army during World War II. It is on this day when thousands of Filipino and American soldiers who fought valiantly in the so called Battle of Bataan surrendered to the Japanese forces, after three months of fighting. On this same day, those captured soldiers were then forced to march to Camp O'Donnell in Capas, Tarlac, wherein thousands died from beatings, maltreatment and exhaustion; hence, it's called Bataan Death March.

I can't imagine the struggles and sacrifices our heroes of the past experienced for us to have the freedom we so enjoy these days. Marching 97 kilometers (during Bataan Death March) with little food and water, beaten from time to time when they fell out of exhaustion; it really is hard to imagine. Our country is facing some threats right now, can you imagine doing and sacrificing what our forefathers have done and sacrificed in the past? I can't and I hope it won't come to that. As the saying goes, there's no winner in war, only who lost the least.


Anyway, to honor the heroism of those Filipino and American soldiers, then-president Ferdinand Marcos commissioned the building of Dambana ng Kagitingan on Mt. Samat, the site being the Filipino-American forces' last stronghold. The shrine was built starting in 1966 but was completed and inaugurated in 1970, during the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the end of World War II.

the colonnade, tourists converging at the museum entrance to take a glimpse of then-first lady Imelda Marcos
stained glass murals at the altar

The shrine complex features the colannade, a marble-clad structure housing the altar and the museum, and the memorial cross, a towering structure on Mt. Samat summit. The memorial cross stands at 92 meters from the base, with lift and a viewing gallery on the cross' arms.  At the base of the cross are sculpture slabs by Napoleon Abueva depicting important figures and events in Philippine history.

Abueva's sculptures, depicting important figures and events in Philippine history

Unfortunately for us, we were not able to go to the shrine's viewing gallery as it was closed during that day. I tried persuading the shrine's staff to let us in but he said it's not allowed as a security measure for PNoy's presence earlier. Note to those who will be visiting Mt. Samat Shrine, the gallery and museum are closed to the public during special events, specially if high-ranking officials (read: president) are visiting the shrine.

then-first lady Imelda Marcos visited the shrine, hours after the celebration and the program where PNoy was the guest

A few minutes after our arrival at the shrine, I saw several police and security personnel securing the place and assisting someone going to the museum. I asked one of them and was told the then-first lady Imelda Marcos has arrived and is paying a visit to the shrine. I didn't see her going in but I manage to take a glimpse of her coming out of the museum. The photo above was taken during her interview at the museum entrance, before she leaves the shrine.

More Photos from Mt. Samat National Shrine




against the light...argg :(

entrance marker
The view from up Mt. Samat is great, probably more so had we get the chance to enter the viewing gallery. But it isn't just the view that I appreciate there, it's more of the sacrifices and hardships our ancestors have done for us. It's a great reminder for us Filipinos to value the freedom that we are enjoying right now. And speaking of freedom, the anniversary of our independence is just a few days ahead, advance happy Independence Day Philippines. ^_^

~ oo00oo ~

Mt. Samat National Shrine
Pilar, Bataan
Date of Visit: April 9, 2015


Manila | Free Entrance at The National Museum of the Philippines

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National Museum of the Philippines

Jobless! Bored! Itching to go out but with a limited budget! Yeah, that's what I am now. Poor me, hehe! Anyway, last week, I saw a friend's FB shared post about the free entrance (until the end of this month) to the National Museum. The next day after I saw the post, I was checking the works of renowned artists. I am no artist myself, don't even know how to draw a simple smiley face but I surely appreciates works of arts from any artists, much more from our national artists.


This famous work of art is what will welcome you at the main gallery of the National Museum of the Philippines: Juan Luna's Spoliarium. The painting depicts that of the bodies of dead gladiators being dragged out of the colosseum after their matches. The Spoliarium is the Philippines' largest painting and the most renowned work of art by a Filipino artist. It won the first gold medal in the prestigious Exposicion de Bellas Artes in 1884.


Also on display at the Gallery Hall VI of the Museum are the artworks of our national hero Dr. Jose Rizal. One of his works displayed there is the terracotta sculpture Mother's Revenge, a sculpture that depicts that of a mother dog (the Philippines and its patriots) trying to rescue her helpless pup (ordinary Filipino citizens) bitten by a crocodile (Spaniards). It is said that this sculpture is Jose Rizal's way of presenting what was happening in the Philippines in the hands of the Spaniards. This sculpture was declared a national cultural treasure in 2008 by the National Museum of the Philippines.


Of the many galleries in the National Museum, I became interested and I learned a lot in Gallery Hall II. This gallery presents a collection of drawings of Philippine plants, some of which I've only seen/read from here. These drawings were made when a Spanish pharmacologist and botanist Juan Jose de Cuellar commissioned a Filipino artist to make drawings of the Philippine plants he collected from his field work here in the Philippines. The collections displayed in the National Museum are just a special copy, though, a gift presented by King Juan Carlos I of Spain to President Fidel V. Ramos.


In Gallery XX of the Museum is where you'll find the works of the national artist for painting, Fernando Amorsolo. Amorsolo is known for his paintings that capture the scenes and landscapes in the rural areas. Fernando Amorsolo is the only artist I'm somehow familiar with because I've heard/read (from textbooks) his name from way back my elementary years. Majority of the artists whose works are on display there are all new to me, though some of them I've heard/read on social media/blogs.


More Photos from the Museum

displays from Gallery IV - features works of sculptor Isabelo L. Tampinco and others
Commonwealth arch
The Fall of Bataan/Bataan Death March, as depicted in this painting by Gene Cabrera
IRRI series by Vicente Manansala - features Filipino traits and practices in the rural area,
looks to me like geometric figures were used and put together to form the images, abstract in some way :)
Gallery XXIII - features works of Vicente S. Manansala, national artist for painting in 1981

Gallery XVIII - features modernist art from the 1940s to the 1980s
Planting of the First Cross by Vicente S. Manansala
sitting on a pedestal :P (Lualhati (a marble sculpture) by Guillermo Tolentino)
old Senate Session Hall - before this building houses the National Museum, it was once a Senate Building
spiral staircase at the National Museum

How to get there

The easiest way to go to the National Museum is by riding the LRT - yellow line. To get there, take the LRT from Taft or Baclaran station (for those coming from the south) or Muñoz or Monumento station (for those coming from the north) and then get off at the Central Terminal station. From there, walk your way to the city hall of Manila, take the underpass in front of the city hall and cross to the other side. From there, walk your way to the National Museum.The Museum is around 100 to 200 meters from the city hall.

The museum is open Tuesday - Sunday from 10AM - 5PM. Entrance fee is 150 Php but it's free during Sundays. For this whole month of June however, entrance fee is waived so for those of you who are art enthusiasts, grab this chance and visit the National Museum.

By the way, there are several galleries from first to third floor of the museum. It would take around 3 to 4 hours to finish checking them all out so be sure your tummy is full before going in. If you get tired, there are several benches inside the galleries and some on the lobby, a place to sit and rest a while.

Note:The following are NOT ALLOWED inside the museum galleries: smoking, food and drink, touching museum objects, flash/commercial photography, videography, tripods, bags and carriers, wrapped packages, umbrellas, pens and art materials.

Again, free entrance until the end of this month (June).

~ oo00oo ~

National Museum of the Philippines
Finance cor. P. Burgos Drive.
Ermita, Manila
Date of Visit: June 3, 2015

Food Trips | Maginhawa Eat Street: Hits and Misses

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Maginhawa Street in Teacher's Village, Quezon City has become a popular food trip destination here in the Metro, with many small restaurants and eateries to choose from. It has become our (my friend and I) go-to place whenever we can't decide where or what to eat. It's a hit-and-miss type of food adventures for us but we still love to go there. Most restaurants/eateries there offer dishes at affordable prices. Here are some of the restaurants/eateries we've tried, so far. By the way, I'll update this post or come up with a new one when I get to try several other restaurants again in the future. :)

Tornado Peri-Peri Chicken

Tornado Peri-Peri Chicken

Of all the restaurants we've tried in Maginhawa, it is Tornado Peri-Peri Chicken that we love the most. It is an open air/carinderia-type restaurant where you can see how your orders are prepared. Tornado offers several dishes in its menu - steaks, burgers, ribs and of course, peri-peri chicken. We've tried the ribs and it's good but it's the chicken we love coming back for.  Their chicken is tender, it's flavorful, it's juicy and the sauce that comes with it is just perfect. No wonder on the several occasions that we've been there, the restaurant is full with lots more queuing up. Tornado Peri-Peri Chicken is definitely a hit for us. :)

Peri-Peri Chicken, with rice and a side dish, mexican barbecue for the sauce @ 125 Php
baby back ribs, quarter slab with rice and a side dish @ 225 Php
2 pieces peri-peri chicken, with rice and 2 side dishes, dragon's breath for the sauce @ 240 Php

Tornado Peri-Peri Chicken
104 Maginhawa Street
Teacher's Village, Quezon City


Gerry's Jeepney

Gerry's Jeepney

Gerry's Jeepney is a Filipino restaurant featuring Filipino's popular mode of transportation - jeepney, in its setting. The owners use jeepney as a prop where customers can dine in it, boodle-fight style. We weren't able to try their jeepney because of the long queue so we opted on their air-conditioned dining room. The restaurant offers typical Filipino dishes, binagoongan, kare-kare, inihaw na isda (bangus, hito, or tilapia), ensalada, etc. These dishes can be ordered ala carte or you can have them in a boodle-set package, all named after the various jeepney routes here in the Metro.

Gerry's Jeepney, sakay na! :p
wash area, used wheels as a sink

For our dinner there, we tried their bestseller - binagoongang lechon kawali. We also had sinigang sa miso (salmon), jeepney rice (fried rice with fried egg bits and crispy dilis on top) and ensaladang talong. My friend found their serving small for its price except for the sinigang but it's just fine with me. The dishes we've tried were all good especially the binagoongan. I love it 'coz it has no "porky" aftertaste and the blending of sweet and salty tastes is just right. Gerry's Jeepney is a hit for me. :)

binagoongang lechon kawali @ 210 Php, serving is small but the taste is great, I love it! ;)
Jeepney rice @ 120 Php, love the crispy dilis on top ^_^
salmon sa miso @ 250 Php

Gerry's Jeepney
Maginhawa Street,
Teacher's Village, Quezon City


Gayuma ni Maria

Gayuma ni Maria

Gayuma ni Maria is a love-themed restaurant along Maginhawa-V. Luna Extension in Sikatuna Village. The restaurant is in an old house; its interior setting homey, it feels like dining in your own home. However, this food adventure is a big miss for us.

no boyfriend since birth

It was just past 8PM when we get there but only few tables were occupied. When one of the staffs came to us to bring the menu, she at once told us that only rock me baby (barbecued pork ribs @ 265 Php), please be careful with my heart (half roasted chicken @ 215 Php) and no boyfriend since birth (pesto pasta with shellfish @ 225 Php) are the only available dishes. Having no choice, we ordered the said dishes. However, a few minutes later the staff came back telling us that rock me baby is not available but instead, nilasing ni eba si adan (roasted pork belly @ 275 Php) is what's available. Again, having no choice we go for it only to be told again a few minutes later that it's also not available. I got annoyed this third time I told the staff that she do something about it. I'm not ordering anything else but the ones she mentioned before. She apologized profusely and left for the kitchen.

When she served our orders, there really is no nilasing ni eba si adan but instead she served us come fly with me (buffalo chicken wings @195 Php) and then told us it's (come fly with me) free. I just shut my mouth and didn't complain anymore. Both the chicken dishes tasted good though they don't look appetizing (see photos below). The serving is just right but they're a bit expensive. So yeah, even if they offered come fly with me for free, we're still disappointed and we're not coming back. This food adventure is a big miss for us both. Walang bisa ang gayuma. :P

come fly with me (buffalo chicken wings)
please be careful with my heart (roasted chicken)

Gayuma ni Maria
123 V. Luna Extension
Sikatuna Village, Quezon City


Ulo-Ulo sa Vet

Ulo-Ulo sa Vet

Ulo-Ulo sa Vet is an open-air carinderia-type of restaurant in Maginhawa Street. It offers ready-to-eat Filipino dishes but their bestseller of course is sinigang na ulo ng salmon (salmon head in sour broth). I forgot the exact price of the sinigang since it's been a while when we tried it but what I remember is that it's not worth the price. The serving is supposed to be good for two but it's so small it's not even enough for me. It tasted good though (sinigang always tasted good anyway), especially when dipped in our all-time favorite dip, calamansi with chili and soy sauce. Anyway, because of its serving size, I would say this resto is a miss.

fish egg adobo - my friend loves this, I dont! hehe
sinigang na ulo ng salmon, looks big but it's not actually

Ulo-Ulo sa Vet
172 Maginhawa Street
Sikatuna Village, Quezon City


The Daily Jusa

photo credit: The Daily Jusa's FB page

The Daily Jusa is a take-out kiosk that sells fruits and vegetables juicesand salads. It also offers detox programs and packages for those health/diet-conscious people. They say their juices are all 100% natural, with no water and sugar added. I got curious and tried one of their bottled juice - the vitality boost which consists of watermelon, spinach, mustard leaves and grape juice extracts. It has this veggie aftertaste but the sweet taste from the grapes makes it bearable. I learned to like its taste eventually; love it actually I bought one again on our next visit. It's a hit for me though the price is not. It's quite expensive, 150 Php per 250ml bottle; discounted if availed in volume.

111-A Maginhawa Street
Teacher's Village, Quezon City

Bataan | Las Casas Filipinas: History, Traditions, Tragedies

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Las Casas Filipinas, Bagac, Bataan
"History is the witness that testifies to the passing of time; it illumines reality, vitalizes memory, provides guidance in daily life, and brings us tidings of antiquity." ~ Marcus Tullius Cicero

A showcase of the Filipino history through old mansions and houses of notable Filipinos, this is what Las Casas Filipinas Heritage Resort offers to its guest. Las Casas built and/or reconstructed (some using the parts and pieces of the original) these old mansions and houses, which came from different parts of our country. These houses are generally built in the 1800s and are included in the resort's list of accommodations. Through these houses and the resort's setting, Las Casas guests get the chance to experience how it is living in the past. They also get to follow or observe some old traditions including that of leaving your footwear at the foot of the stairs or outside the doors as it is still being observed there.

We could have experienced living in one of those old houses, too, but we didn't. First, I may be interested in the history of the houses built/reconstructed there but I'm a coward. I'm afraid of old houses and all the "unseens" that may be lurking in there (haha, it's just me thinking of the "unseens", didn't feel anything of sort actually). Second and most importantly, we don't have the budget. These accommodations cost a fortune (accommodations get as high as 150,000 Php, per night), at least for us, and we don't have it so it's just a day-tour for us.

Casa Mexico - serves as the resort's reception area
Casa Mexico from another angle, at night :P

We went to Las Casas last April, after our visit to the Dambana ng Kagitingan in Mt. Samat. It was already 4PM when we got there. We stopped at the reception area, registered ourselves and paid the required fees (685 Php, per person, entrance only). No separate parking fee was charged so I guess it's part of the entrance fee. From their website, "entrance only" option (the one we availed) does not mention guided tour as inclusion but the receptionist told us to hurry so we can join the last scheduled tour of the day so I guess, guided tour is always part of it, regardless of the option the guest chose.

Dexter, a very lively tour guide, choose him as your tour guide when you visit Las Casas,
he'll make the tour alive and very interesting with the houses' tales of love and tragedies ;)
Casa Luna
Casa Luna is the the first stop of the tour. The house was originally owned by the Novicio/Santoromana family, a prominent family and a relative of the famous Luna brothers (Antonio and Juan Luna). It was originally located in Namacpacan (now Luna, in honor of the Luna brothers) in La Union. Casa Luna housed several mementos (didn't hear the tour guide so I don't know if the items really came from the original house) including an old wooden ironing board and a rolling pin (didn't get a nice photo of it, though) which I saw in several other blogs.

dining room, inside Casa Luna
Casa Jaen - the house of the first mayor of Jaen in Nueva Ecija
Casa Lubao

Casa Lubao, originally situated in Lubao town proper directly in front of Lubao Municipal Hall, was owned by the Arastia/Vitug family and was built in the 1920s. A somewhat interesting tidbit relative to this house (as told by the tour guide) is that there was this boy who usually pass by this house in going to school whom the owner took pity of. The owner, having a good heart, supported the schooling of the said boy. Wanna know who that boy is? Well, he's none other than our former President Diosdado Macapagal, the fifth president of the Republic of the Philippines.

living room, inside Casa Lubao
view from Casa Lubao veranda
Casa Bizantina

Casa Bizantina, a stone house originally located in Binondo Manila, is the most expensive accommodation in Las Casas Filipinas. The published rate of this house accommodation is 150,000 Php per night, a fortune for most of us Filipinos. But maybe it's this house's history and grandeur that made this accommodation so expensive. Imagine living in a mansion that used to have pure gold trimmings.  According to the tour guide, the gold trimmings, or rather, the mansion's original architectural floral designs are made of 24-karat gold. If it's true, then wow! Amazing, right? Unfortunately though, these floral designs were destroyed when the house was occupied by some 50 squatter families, putting the mansion in a state of disarray. This until before Las Casas bought and re-built it here in its present location.

the gold (-plated) trimmings, inside Casa Bizantina
master's bedroom, inside Casa Bizantina

Random Photos

Plaza Mayor de Tobias
batis-inspired swimming pool in Las Casas Filipinas
replica of Hotel de Oriente, Las Casas Filipinas
beach area in Las Casas, with fine sand though a bit grayish
Sunset in Las Casas

Food Trip

Casa Unisan, originally owned by the family of Don Antonio Maxino, is said to be the first stone house in Unisan, Quezon. The house bears a tragic story though, as the entire family, except the youngest daughter Carmen, where massacred here by the bandits. According to the tour guide, Carmen survived because a helper hid her in a "bayong", a storage bin usually used for dirty laundry during those times.

Anyway, Casa Unisan in Las Casas now houses one of its restaurants, the Cafe Marivent. This is where the resort's guests are served their free breakfast. And here we had our dinner too, before we left for Manila that day. We had, for our dinner, kare-kare, kilawin (tanigue), rice and fresh buko juice and watermelon shake for our drinks. Kilawin is superb; kare-kare is just right (am not fond of beef innards, by the way), buko juice is really fresh. The catch? Dining here is expensive! For this dinner alone, we spent 1,359 Php, exclusive of the tip. This amount is almost enough for a buffet dinner for two (2) at Sambo Kojin. Oh well, never mind; at least we got to try and experience dining here. :)

kare-kare, 665 Php per order
kilawin (tanigue, if I remembered it right), 410 Php per order

~ oo00oo ~


Every casas in Las Casas Filipinas has its own story to tell. Some stories are good and inspiring; some others revolve around the love-lust tales of the owners; and there are those that involve tragedy. Yes, these casas are witnesses to our past, our traditions, our stories as Filipinos. And I guess, they will continue to be witnesses of our nation's story, now that they are being taken cared of and maintained properly (I suppose? hehe...).

Before I went here, I have read several accounts of those who are against demolishing and transporting these heritage houses to Las Casas Filipinas. But having been there, seeing those casas in their full glory, as if they were built in the past, made me think that maybe, it's just better that they're brought there. For me, seeing those heritage houses and structures in their new location is better than leaving them where they originally are; abandoned and forgotten, misused, abused and disrespected.

Anyway, this is it for our Araw ng Kagitingan road-cum-food trip in Bataan and Pampanga. 'Til next time...

Note: For queries on  rates and directions to get there, kindly visit their website (link below) and contact them directly.

~ oo00oo ~

Bo. Pag-asa, Bagac, Bataan
Date of Visit: April 9, 2015

Pangasinan | Overnight Stay at The President Hotel (Lingayen)

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The President Hotel - Lingayen, Pangasinan

The President Hotel is a no-frills hotel in Lingayen, Pangasinan. It offers affordable accommodation without stripping off basic conveniences like air-conditioning, hot and cold shower and basic toiletries. It is conveniently located along Maramba Boulevard; very near the provincial capitol and walking distance to some other Lingayen's tourist attractions like the Agbayani Park, Cultural Memorial Park and the Lingayen beach.

I've read a lot of positive reviews of this hotel so for our Pangasinan side trip (we went to La Union first), this is where me and my friend stayed overnight.

standard room - 950 Php/night

We didn't place a reservation at this hotel beforehand but since it was not peak season then, we were still able to get a room the night we arrived. The room is on the second floor of the main building, facing Maramba boulevard. The room is quite spacious for a standard room, and as I said above, it is air-conditioned and is equipped with a TV with cable programming and telephone/intercom. (I read they also have free Wi-Fi but since I didn't try it, I've no idea about the connection speed.) The room is clean; bed is comfy; bed sheet smells fresh and clean. It has it's own bathroom/CR with hot and cold shower and comes with complimentary toiletries. For an overnight stay, the room is priced at 950 Php; good enough, considering the spacious room and the extras.

complimentary toiletries: shampoo/conditioner, bath soap, toothbrush, toothpaste

What I didn't like in this hotel though, is that I felt a bit unsafe there. Although I would say, based on the open-door policy of the capitol, that this city (Lingayen) is fairly safe, I still can't help but feel otherwise. The room doesn't have a secured double lock. It only has a basic/ordinary door knob that can easily be picked and opened from outside. Nothing untoward happened to us there, but still, I think it is better if the room has a double lock system. The room will be more secured that way and guests will feel safer; at least, that's how I'm going to feel being one of the guests. Despite this little inconvenience though, we still had a good and restful sleep. :)

The next morning, we ordered for a simple breakfast; tocilog (tocino, fried rice, fried egg) for my friend, bangsilog (fried bangus, fried rice, fried egg) for me, instant hot chocolate to wash down the meal. The meals are the usual Pinoy breakfast, nothing out of the ordinary so I won't go into details that much. And since it was almost a year after our stay, I now can't remember the price. But for those planning to go there and working on their budget, I think it's around 100-150 Php, per meal.

tocilog
bangsilog

Overall, I would say we still had a nice stay at The President Hotel. It isn't the type of hotel one would want to have a staycation at but it's good enough to spend the night and rest, after a day's journey. And best of all, it's easy on the budget. It's very affordable; affordability that doesn't mean sacrificing some basic conveniences.

~ oo00oo ~

Before we left Lingayen, we headed to the the capitol and the city's nearby attractions. Although we've explored the capitol and the park the previous night, we still checked it out the following morning, for the daylight feel of the city. I'll post about the city tour and Lingayen's tourist attractions next time. 'Til then...

~ oo00oo ~

The President's Hotel
Maramba Boulevard
Lingayen, Pangasinan
Date of Visit: November 29, 2014

Pangasinan | Lingayen Attractions: A Walking Tour

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Pangasinan Provincial Capitol - Lingayen, Pangasinan

Lingayen is a first class municipality in the province of Pangasinan. It is dubbed as "the heart, the soul and the face" of the said province. Being the center of political power and considering its share in its history, I would say the description is just right. Besides these, the town is also known for its bagoong (fermented fish), one of the main produce the province is known for. Lingayen's bagoong (also known as "maniboc", the place of origin of the bagoong), as known to many, is one of the best in the market.

Lingayen may not be a typical tourist destination but for those who happen to wander its lot, there are several attractions worth checking out, most of which within walking distance from each other. Here are some of the attractions yours truly was able to check out during our short visit to my birth province's capital last 2014 (quite late for a post, sensya naman :P).

Pangasinan Provincial Capitol

When I was still working in the government sector, I was able to visit several provincial capitol buildings. Of those I've visited, I've never seen a capitol as open to the public as the Pangasinan provincial capitol. Here, anyone can come and go without any restrictions, even at night (at least that's how it was when we visited Lingayen). I even went to the rooftop of the capitol, took some photos from there, with no one following us. No one questioned me/us, ever. Amazing for a government building, right?

Pangasinan Provincial Capitol @ night

Provincial Capitol grounds and the nearby park @ night, from the capitol's rooftop

Urduja Mansion

Urduja Mansion is the official residence of the incumbent governor of Pangasinan. It is named after Urduja, a legendary warrior princess, believed to have lived in the province. We checked it out late in the evening, after our visit to the capitol building, so we didn't try asking permission to get inside though I've read some online accounts showing that visitors were allowed inside.

Urduja Mansion @ night
Urduja Mansion

Lingayen Beach

Lingayen beach is just walking distance from the capitol building. It is known for its share in the history of our country as it served as the landing place of Gen. MacArthur during the second World War. The beach is a 2 kilometers stretch of grayish sand but it's clean and powdery, you can walk on it barefoot. It was early morning then but we still noticed some tourists preparing for an early swim. We also noticed some fishermen pulling on their fishing net, a typical sight I suppose, on a coastal town such as Lingayen.

Lingayen beach
fishermen pulling on their net; tourist crowding a vendor - a typical morning sight I suppose in coastal cities/towns like this

Veterans Memorial Park

Located at the back of the capitol building, Veterans Memorial Park showcases the heroism of Filipinos and the allied forces during World War II. It also showcases some WW II memorabilia like an old tanker and an aircraft. Also in this site is the Lingayen Gulf Landing Shrine, built to commemorate the Lingayen Gulf landing and the Filipino freedom fighters including the allied forces, which houses photos taken during the said event.

Veterans Memorial Park
remnants of the World War II @ the Veterans Memorial Park

Lingayen Cathedral

As much as possible, whenever we visited a new place, we try to visit the church, too. We weren't able to attend mass here in Lingayen but we still make it a point to at least pay a visit; to say a prayer of thanksgiving and to ask for guidance during our trip. Afterward, I tried taking a photo of the facade but it's only the belfry I was able to capture. We're on a rush and we've no time to move around and find the best spot so I just took this one (photo below).

Lingayen Cathedral
the altar @ the Lingayen Cathedral

That's it for this week's post. Happy and blessed Sunday everyone. 'Til next time... :)

~ oo00oo ~

Attractions nearby Pangasinan Provincial Capitol
Lingayen, Pangasinan
Date of Visit: November 29 - 30, 2014

Food Trips | Maginhawa Eat Street: Hits and Misses II

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Don Day appetizers: kimbap, kimchi, potato balls, veggie fritters, etc.

A few months ago, I posted here our previous Maginhawa Eat Street experiences, some of which a 'hit', some others a 'miss'. Here's another round of our 'hit' and 'miss' food trips in this famous food trippers' haven in Quezon City. In this post, I'll cover four other restaurants all from or near Maginhawa Street in Teacher's Village that me and my friend have tried in the past two months.

~ oo00oo ~

Don Day Korean BBQ & Buffet Restaurant

First on this list is Don Day, a Korean buffet restaurant located in Malingap, also in Teacher's Village. We've been to Don Day several times for the past 2 months. It is our go-to restaurant whenever we feel like pigging out.

Don Day offers Korean dishes - buffet style, with several options to choose from. They offer two types of buffet, one with pork samgyupsal and the other with beef. For pork samgyupsal, it's 299 Php per person, 399 Php for beef. On weekend dinners however, diners don't have the option to choose; all are required to avail of the 399 Php buffet, drinks not included. A 50 Php will be added to your bill if you opt to have bottomless drinks.

Don Day Korean BBQ and Buffet facade
pork/beef samgyupsal; veggies to add in/spice up your samgyupsal

During weekends, pork and beef samgyupsal are automatically included in the dinner buffet for 399 Php. Two plates each of pork and beef meats are automatically served when you avail of the buffet but of course, you can order for additional pork/beef servings anytime.

regular dish offers: mussel, chapchae, spicy korean pork dish, tangsuyuk, fish fillet (not in photo)

Of the readily available dishes, the spicy Korean pork dish and fish fillet (not in photo) are my favorites. I don't know how the pork dish is called but I love its flavorful and spicy taste, I always have it first whenever we dine in at Don Day.

Don Day desserts: maja blanca, buchi, candies

Don Day's desserts are not that special, though; not even native of Korea, I guess. Candies and mallows are always present, buchi and maja blanca I only saw in one of our visits so I guess they're their "best sellers". However, if you want to have a taste of Korea's ice cream, they have several varieties; but for additional charge, of course.

As mentioned, we've been to Don Day several times, so obviously, it's a hit for us. Foods taste good; price is very affordable; staff are all nice; restaurant is quite big with enough number of tables to accommodate large groups. If you've never been to Don Day yet, try it and comment below your take on it. ^_^

Don Day Korean BBQ and Buffet
40 Malingap Street, Teacher's Village
Quezon City
Tel. No.: 02-4350528

~ oo00oo ~

Stuff Over Burger Cafe

I eat burgers but I am no burger fan. My friend, on the other hand, is a meat lover so anything with meat, he loves; burgers included. He'd been to Stuff Over once or twice so one time, he asked me to try it too. Stuff Over is located in Magiting Street, very near corner Maginhawa it can't be missed.

Stuff Over Burger Cafe
blue lemonade - regular lemonade served in not-so-common glass jars ;)
Mushy Suzie Burger - 210 Php, fries and drink included
Hungry Daisy Burger - 220 Php, fries and drink included

Unlike the regular burger where you can see the cheese and mushroom or bacon add-ons, here at Stuff Over, these ingredients are mixed-in/included in the patty itself. My friend and I can't tell which is mushy suzie and which is hungry daisy so we sliced them in half and try both. My friend was satisfied with his shares, he ate them all with gusto (he always eat with gusto, by the way). Me? I find them just like the usual burgers, nothing extraordinary that would make me crave for more. My friend may like their burgers but with the price offering, we still find our experience at Stuff Over not quite remarkable. 220 Php for a burger is somehow pricey for us, even with the fries and drink (instant lemonade) included. Another thing that we found off at this burger joint is the place itself. It's so small it only has around 5 serving tables, a table so small it isn't even good enough for 2 persons. We haven't been back there ever since so yeah, I would say it's really a miss for us.

Stuff Over Burger Cafe
51 Magiting Street, Teachers Village
Quezon City
Tel. No.: 02-4341834

~ oo00oo ~

Fariñas Ilocos Empanada

Fariñas Ilocos Empanada

Ordinary dishes like fried fish and veggies appeal to me more than gourmet ones. I love having simple dinner in simple settings, much like having dinner at home. Fariñas Ilocos Empanada in Malingap offers such food and ambiance. I'm craving for Ilocos empanada so one weekend, we tried Fariñas. For our dinner, we ordered pakbet with bagnet, bagnet/longganisa combo, longganisa meal, and dinakdakan (my friend's favorite). I enjoyed everything we ordered, all are good and flavorful, much like the ones I've tried when we were in Ilocos 2 years ago. Final verdict: a hit, of course. ^_^
 
Fariñas Ilocos Empanada: pakbet - 170 Php, bagnet-longganisa-combo - 140 Php, longganisa-meal - 99 Php, dinakdakan - 130 Php

Ilocos empanada, special - 50 Php
Fariñas Ilocos Empanada
Malingap Street, Teachers Village
Quezon City
Tel. No.: 02-4332584

~ oo00oo ~

Magpie Cafe

Magpie Cafe is located at the famous StrEAT Food Park in Maginhawa, a food hub that offers a smorgasbord of food choices, al fresco style. Magpie though, is different in this aspect as it is glass-enclosed and fully air-conditioned. It offers coffee, pastries and desserts, Korean-style.

Magpie Cafe
chocolate fountain bingsoo - 150 Php

Bingsoo or bingsu - Korean dessert composed of ice shavings with chocolate syrup, ice cream and cherries on top. This is much like our local halo-halo but I would say, ours is better and more flavorful than this one. Except for the ice cream which somehow gives bingsoo some flavor, this Korean dessert is bland and not creamy at all. And the banana waffle below? Well, nothing out of the ordinary; just a waffle with few slices of banana and a scoop of ice cream drizzled with chocolate syrup. For 150 Php each, I'd rather have halo-halo from Chowking and waffle from Belgian waffle. Pricey and not our kind of desserts so yeah, this food adventure is another miss.

nutty banana waffle - 150 Php
Magpie Cafe
StreEAT Food Park
91 Maginhawa Street, Teachers Village
Quezon City

~ oo00oo ~

That's it for our Maginhawa/Teacher's Village food trips part 2. There will be a part 3 to this series so watch out for it. 'Til next time. Blessed Sunday everyone! ^_^

CamFlicks | Shuttering while Cruising: Scenery, Sunset, Belenismo sa Tarlac

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Shuttering while cruising, the thing I love the most whenever on a road trip. Anything that catches my attention, anything lovely to look at -- traffic-free expressway, nature and scenery along the way, beautiful displays on the street, almost anything actually -- I took photos of. 

Last weekend, we've been to another road trip up north. Our destination -- Monasterio de Tarlac. It had been another happy weekend of endless shuttering along the way. So for this week's post, it'll be all photos I took on the road, while plying the route to and from Monasterio de Tarlac.
cruising along traffic-free SCTEX on a clear sunny day, isn't it lovely? ^_^
I wish EDSA will be like this one day (wish upon a star :P)
concrete/cemented road (Lubigan Road) on a countryside, so this is where our taxes go :P
another photo taken while cruising along Lubigan Road
beautiful and relaxing scenery, right? ^_^
when you see a beautiful sunset while driving along a seemingly deserted place, would you stop and take a photo of it?
I did! :P
who wouldn't stop and capture this sunset? Certainly, not me... ^_^
I climbed the bridge's railing to get these sunset photos, am I crazy for doing it?
Passers-by thought so, I guess, 'cause they blew their horn while passing by  ^_^


sunset @ Lubigan bridge in San Jose, Tarlac
when soldiers get creative...
Belenismo sa Tarlac: The AFP Belen
Note: this belen is definitely more beautiful in person, pardon me and my camera phone for this injustice.

Belenismo sa Tarlac is an annual tradition/competition in Tarlac City (the Belen Capital of the Philippines) that promotes the art of making a Belen (nativity scene). Belens are usually made of indigenous/recycled materials showcasing the creativity of the Tarlaqueños. Belenismo sa Tarlac 2015 opened last November 5 while awarding will be held on December 5. Belens, however, would remain on display until early January next year. So what are you waiting for? Go on a road trip and see those beautiful belens!

~ oo00oo ~

“Drive slow and enjoy the scenery -- drive fast and join the scenery.” ~ Doug Horton
23 days before christmas: Maligayang pasko sa lahat! :)
 

Pangasinan | Bani: Surip Coral Beach and its "Baby Pools"

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Surip, Bani, Pangasinan

My mom is a Pangasinense and I was born in Bani but except for a few visits to my relatives, I've never explored this town until May last year. Bani, a coastal town in the province of Pangasinan, is usually overshadowed by its famous neighboring towns, Alaminos and Bolinao. It is a second class municipality known for its sweet watermelon produce and as such, is called “Pakwan (Watermelon) Capital of the Philippines”. Last summer, I got the chance to visit some of Bani's tourist spots Surip coral beach and Surip pilgrimage site. Located in Sitio Olanen in  Barangay Dacap Sur, Surip beach is around 30-45 minutes travel by tricycle from Bani's town proper.

C2: crystal clear! ;)

A rocky coastline on the western side of town facing the South China Sea, Surip beach is covered with coral beds, some of which have shallow openings they call "baby pools". During low tides, these baby pools trap teeny weeny colorful fishes and other marine life. It also serves as the swimming pool of the kids and kids-at-heart who visit this shoreline.

flat coral beds and "baby pools" here and there
kids and kids-at-heart enjoying the "baby pool" in Surip

Surip, being a rocky coastline, is ideal for snorkeling and diving. It sure is a good site for recreational fishing, too, given the many fingerlings and marine species I saw in some of the shallow pools. I actually saw some fisherman throwing their lines not too far from the shore which proves that this area abounds with marine life.

teeny weeny colorful fishes... can you see them? ^_^
flat coral beds

How to get to Surip?

From EDSA-Pasay or EDSA-Cubao, take Bolinao-bound buses (Five-Star - Pasay, Victory Liner, Dagupan Bus - Cubao) and tell the driver to drop you off in Bani. From Bani town proper, take a tricycle going to Surip, (tricycles are parked near the town's plaza). Bus fare is around 400 Php (for aircon buses), tricycle fare is 250 Php, one way for 4-5 persons. Travel time is around 7-8 hours (Manila-Bani), around 30-45 minutes from town proper to Surip.

the coral beach of Surip

Where to Stay?

We never stayed overnight nor avail a cottage in Surip but I saw at least two resorts very near the beach where we went Surip Mountain Beach Resort (recommended by my uncle probably because the owner, then Mayor of Bani, Mayor Gabriel Navarro is his former boss) and Hide A-way Sea and Beach Resort. Take note that I never stayed in any of these two resorts so I've no idea of their services and/or the facilities they offer. It's best that you contact Bani's Tourism Office at (075) 5532010 to get correct and updated information.

~  oo00oo ~

We had fun in the few hours of our stay in Surip. My nephews enjoyed the beach. They get the chance to ride a pump boat, too. Although now that it's past, I realized I was a bit reckless back then. I have with me two kiddos (a 6-y/o and a 4-y/o) and we rode the pump boat with no life vest. I'm just thankful that nothing happened to us considering the sea was a bit rough. Tsk! I'll never do that again.

Anyway, Surip is a recommended destination for those who are into quiet and secluded beaches, for those who just want to escape for a while their busy life. If you are the type, go check out Surip. You'll enjoy it.

Up-next: A Tour to Surip's pilgrimage site. 'Til then...

Blessed Sunday everyone. Kung Hei Fat Choi!
 
~ oo00oo ~
Surip Coral Beach
Sitio Olanen, Dalacap Sur
Bani, Pangasinan
Date of Visit: May 13, 2015

Pangasinan | A Visit to Surip Pilgrimage Site

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It's summer time once again; a time to hit the beach, a time to travel and enjoy a place with your family and/or friends. If you're thinking of going up north and is looking for a place not so touristy to spend a weekend, you may want to consider Surip Beach in Bani, Pangasinan. It's not your typical beach of white fine sand but rather a beach with coral beds and shallow openings they call "baby pools". The beach is good for snorkeling and diving, too. Want to know more about the place, you may click the link above for more of Surip Beach.

Surip beach

Another site that you may want to check out when you're in Bani is the Surip Pilgrimate Site. Surip Pilgrimate Site is located atop a hill with a magnificent view of West Philippine Sea and the Surip Beach below. On the mountain slope is a thousand-step path which features the Way of the Cross, a popular activity during Holy Week season on which an annual Archdiocesan Penitential Pilgrimage is celebrated every Holy Thursday of Lent.

Surip Pilgrimage Site, Bani, Pangasinan

The site used to be the resting place of the matriarch of the Navarro family, a political clan in the town of Bani. The family also owns one of the resort along the Surip shoreline, the Surip Mountain Beach Resort.

Anyway, after our short getaway at Surip beach, we made a side trip to the Pilgrimage site. And even though it's past the Lenten season then, we still followed the Way of the Cross going to the top (hilltop is reachable by car or any other type of vehicle, by the way). Here are some of the photos I took from our side trip to Surip Pilgrimage Site:

start of the hike...




empty tomb
The Cross at Surip Pilgrimage Site
from another angle...
Surip Beach and the West Philippine Sea
marker at the entrance of Surip Pilgrimage Site

~ oo00oo ~

For guide on how to get to Surip Pilgrimage Site, please check out my post on Surip beach (click the link). That's all for now folks, hope you all had a blessed Sunday. Hope you'll have a nice week ahead, too. 'Til next time... ^_^
 
 
~ oo00oo ~
Surip Coral Beach
Sitio Olanen, Dalacap Sur
Bani, Pangasinan
Date of Visit: May 13, 2015

Food Trips | Healthy Grabs at SaladStop!

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tuna san salad - 350 Php

Looking for something healthy and filling at the same time? Check out SaladStop!

SaladStop! is an Asian food chain, with operations in Singapore, Manila, Jakarta and Tokyo, serving its customers with best tasting yet healthy and nutritious foods. Oh, by the way, this isn't a sponsored post peeps. I just love their salads and wraps. And I wish they have a branch here in QC, somewhere near North EDSA (SM or Trinoma) or Technohub. Hopefully soon, SaladStop!? ^_^

Anyway, I first noticed SaladStop! in my current work as one of my bosses there usually bought his lunch from SaladStop!. I got curious and check it out, too, one dinner time. My first try -- Tuna San salad (photo above), sans avocado at that time (they replaced it with grapes, btw). It costs 350 Php, 340 Php for the wrap version. Quite expensive for a salad (or wrap), right? But it's worth it peeps! Lettuce, grapes and cherry tomatoes are all crisp and fresh, even the seared tuna, to think it's a to-go meal. And it's really filling! SaladStop! menu (Pinoy version) says it provides 550 calories (for salad,  697 calories for wrap), more than enough for a one meal calorie requirements.

By the way, I didn't use the dressing (wasabi honey soy) that usually goes with this salad but instead requested for balsamic soy vinaigrette. And I liked it! I've ordered this tuna san salad several times already and I still haven't tried wasabi honey soy dressing so I can't say which is better, maybe next time. :)

tuna san wrap - 340 Php
 also tried the wrap version and it's okay but I like the salad version more,
probably because it (wrap) has less dressing which kinda make it bland

I also tried Oh Crab Lah! and oh la la, this one's so filling I can't finish it in one meal. Oh Crab Lah! has the usual romaine lettuce together with cherry tomatoes, grated eggs, crab sticks, vermicelli noodles, onions and croutons. It is served with Singapore chili crab dressing and contains 833 calories (wrap). No wonder I wasn't able to finish it in one sitting. I usually ordered the wrap version during dinner time, have it sliced into half, eat the first half for dinner and the other half for breakfast. Not too expensive for two (2) meals, right? Sulit! ^_^

oh crab lah wrap - 250 Php
very tasty and flavorful, oh crab lah! is love! ^_^

Niçoise salad composed of romaine lettuce, tuna flakes, egg, potatoes, French beans, cherry tomatoes and black olives, as usual in my fave dressing, balsamic soy vinaigrette. This one's another filling and tasty salad from SaladStop!, packed with 627 calories. Heavy! ;)

Niçoise Salad - 300 Php

SaladStop! has a lot more of signature and classic salads to offer; they even have create-your-own-salad wherein you get to choose which ingredients to go with your salad. So what are you waiting for? Go get out, look for the SaladStop! near you, and try their salad offers. I highly recommend Oh Crab Lah for your first try. It's flavorful, it's filling and it can satisfy two people already; both will feel full afterwards. A warning, though! This one's a bit spicy. :)

~ oo00oo ~

SaladStop!
Palanca Street
(near corner Dela Rosa)
Makati City

Rizal | Regina RICA: A Place of Prayer, Pilgrimage and Peace

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Regina RICA, Tanay, Rizal

Regina Rosarii Institute for Contemplation  in Asia, or simply Regina RICA, is a shrine and pilgrimage site situated in a 13.5 hectare of land at the foothills of Sierra Madre in Tanay, Rizal. Founded in 2005, Regina RICA is under the auspices of the Congregation of the Dominican Sisters of Regina Rosarii. Dominican Sisters of Regina Rosarii's mission is to teach people about contemplative prayer and contemplative way of life.

Our Lady and the sun's rays

Last February, we visited Regina RICA for our weekend road trip. There was a moderate traffic around Marikina/Marcos highway due to some road repair/construction but all in all, it was a hassle-free travel. We arrived at Regina RICA around 3PM, paid the parking fee (50 Php) and registered ourselves at the reception area. Afterwards, we then started walking up the sacred trail, a 300+ steps trail made of bricks, some of which with footprints of those who gave their love offering. The trail is pretty easy to walk through (ascent is gradual) and is lined up with flowers and citrus trees, making the climb a walk in the park.

Dominican Sisters driving around golf carts, could also be used to transport pilgrims who can't walk

At the top of the hill is the 71-meter high statue of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary with its mantle extended at the back and serves as the roof of the area where pilgrims have to wait, listen and participate in the contemplative prayer led by one of the Dominican sisters. After the prayer, pilgrims will then be allowed to line up and climb the statue to pay respect.

inside Our Lady's mantle, pilgrims waiting in line to climb and pay respect to the statue of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary

After the climb, we made a small donation and in return we were given a souvenir card with a small cloth attached to it. The cloth is said to have touched the lips of Our Lady of Regina Rosarii and in the card was printed this prayer:

...Heal my body, heal my mind, heal my spirit, heal my pocket...

Regina Rosarii, Virgin most powerful, intercede for us,
Mama Mary, Mother most merciful intercede for us to Jesus your son.
Amen.
 
After our visit to Our Lady,  we then roam around and took some photos of the place. We also had our snack from their cafeteria, before we bid our goodbye to Our Lady of Regina Rosarii. Here are the photos I took while roaming around Regina RICA:

rainbows and rolling hills,
view from the top of Regina RICA hill
Labyrinth Prayer Walk where pilgrims slowly walk and meditate,
 though I saw some children who take it as a playground running around and laughing
pilgrims walking around the labyrinth path of prayer
Regina RICA men preparing the bricks for footprint-taking
If I remembered it right, I heard the donation is about 500 Php, per brick
though I read from a blog it's 1,000 Php so am not really sure how much  
A woman about to imprint her footprints on the brick
lighted candles, each color represents an aspect of your life you want to pray for
 of course, we prayed for everything - thanksgiving, peace, family, good health, etc.;
we bought a candle set actually, all 12 of them, and lighted them all
Regina RICA chapel
the Chapel's altar
Our Lady and the wishing well
view from the Chapel
notice the lady's skirt? it's what you'll have to borrow when you get there wearing shorts
NOTE: shorts, sandos (men, women and children), sleeveless blouses and blouses with spaghetti straps are NOT ALLOWED

How to get to Regina RICA

Private Vehicle:

* From QC Circle, take Kalayaan Road and head towards Marcos Highway via Aurora Boulevard
* Continue driving along Marcos Highway, past Cogeo and other towns/barangays of Rizal including Camp Capinpin
* At approximately KM66.5, turn right at Aguho Street (with Regina RICA signage at the corner).
* Regina Rica is around 200 meters away after you turned right in Aguho.

NOTE: If you have a smart phone, turn on your GPS and cellular network (you can turn off cellular network after searching) and launch Google Maps. Search for Regina RICA and follow the route provided by the app. Except for some ongoing road repair/construction where you have to do some detours, the route provided by Google Maps is pretty accurate, you won't get lost!

Public Transport - From Aurora Boulevard, Cubao:

* From Mercury-Cubao, take a Cogeo-bound jeepney and tell the driver to drop you off at Cogeo market
* From Cogeo market, take a jeepney bound for Sampaloc and get off at Sampaloc market
* From Sampaloc market, take a tricycle going to Regina RICA in Sitio Aguho

Public Transport - From Star Mall, Shaw Boulevard/Crossing:
* Take a van or jeepney bound for Tanay and tell the driver to drop you off at Sampaloc-bound Jeepney Terminal
* Take the Sampaloc-bound jeepney and get off at Sampaloc market
* From Sampaloc market, take a tricycle going to Regina RICA in Sitio Aguho

Visiting Hours/Mass Schedule

* Regina RICA is open from 8:00AM to 5:30PM everyday except Tuesdays
* Mass:
   Sunday - 11:00AM; 3:30PM
   Monday - Saturday (except Tuesday) - 11:00AM
   every 4th Saturday of the month - 6:00AM

~ oo00oo ~

Regina Rosarii Institute for Contemplation in Asia
Sampaloc, Tanay, Rizal
Note: more infos on their site (link above)
Date of Visit: February 8, 2016

CamFlicks | Marcos Highway: Of Golds, Greens and Blues

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Marcos Highway along Tanay(??) in Rizal

Road trip and photography, two activities I wouldn't get tired of doing. And not just because I wasn't the one who's driving, if I own a car, I'd probably be on a road trip every weekend. I think?! Haha! Anyway, there isn't a single road trip my friend and I made that I didn't take photos while cruising the highway or any road along the way to where we're going. I simply love taking photos that even if we went through the same route several times before, I still can't help but take some photographs.

So for this week, I'd be posting some of the photos I took while cruising along Marcos Highway, during our road trip to Regina RICA in Tanay, Rizal. Fasten your seatbelt folks and come ride along with us, let us all see and appreciate the beauty of nature that God has blessed us with. Enjoy the (virtual) ride... ^_^

In all things of nature, there is something of the marvelous. ~Aristotle

Follow the trail of your dreams, not the highway of others expectations. ~Anonymous

Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful,
we must carry it with us or we find it not. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere. ~Vincent Van Gogh

A sunset here is a sunrise on the other end of the world.
Never give up because what appears to be the end may actually be a new beginning. ~Brahma Kumaris


Sunsets, like childhood are viewed with wonder
not just because they are beautiful but because they are fleeting. ~Richard Paul Evans


~ oo00oo ~

All photos were taken along the stretch of Marcos Highway in the province of Rizal last February 8, 2016. Photos were taken by yours truly using either Canon EOS 550D or iPhone 5. Except for the sunset photos, all else were taken while cruising and all are handheld shots.


~ oo00oo ~

Happy and blessed Sunday every one. Enjoy the rest of the day and welcome the coming week with a happy heart. God bless! ^_^

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