A nice hop to Singapore !

Travelling is so much fun really! Just cannot exactly describe the feeling while you are in new place! It would only be better said through the photos you get to take every inch of the way!

This afternoon, while i was surfing the great wide web i came across some of the picts- i mean photos when i was touring around that petite place named after a mysterious white animal whose half of its body is of a mermaid while the other half-of a lion. Hmnn... i find it interesting, don't you?

Anyway, let me just recall my few day stint on that very bustling yet lovely city : SINGAPORE! Here goes:



Ok, now you get the picture? I mean, of course you see a photo here but what i meant is- could you feel now how trully awesome travelling is! So, to get more of what i'm talking about, allow me to post more photos of this great LION CITY!





Ahh well, more photos need to be uploaded here but i need a break too! So, might as well do it next time. Ciao!

Lapu-Lapu.. my city... my hero!

Datu Lapu-Lapu

The hero in the great "Battle of Mactan", Datu Lapu-Lapu was the ruler of the tribesmen in that same island he once lived when the Spaniards came to the Philippines. At present, his statue stands proudly near the shores of Mactan together with another marker (Magellan Monument) in the modern city now called "Lapu-Lapu" as a reminder of that great battle. Lapu-Lapu City today surely has grown into a modern bustling metropolis,with an international airport centraly located,and has emerged at par with rest of the world. A brief history goes like this: Lapu-Lapu City: The story behind.

Introduction

For centuries, there have been more than a couple of accounts about a small land mass in Asia, under the Philippine archipelago, near its center, which is now called: Mactan Island. This is under the province of Cebu in the Visayas (one of the three major island groups which compose the Philippines).
Few conflicting historical data about this island have now been sprinkled around like pollen grains carried about by the butterflies all over the country, spreading views pertaining to the actual and the almost perfect truth of this island’s history. I said conflicting due to differences in the dates and varied descriptions of location for the exact landing site made by the Spanish fleet. As a result, a number of researchers have gone out of their ways to explore the reality about the discovery of this petite but significant islet. And within this bulk of information, are various theories as to how, when and why this little island came to be magnificent!
Since I am not exactly from this place (I was already on the fifth grade when we transferred here and established a new habitat), I can only narrate some of the accepted facts, maybe enumerate more data based on research and hope to attain the nearest appropriate truth. Allow me to go back in time, when the Philippines were still on the verge of discovery.

The town
A chapter in Philippine history deals with the migration of the early inhabitants, which were thought to have come from the different regions of Asia who settled during the 3rd century A.D. Others followed suit in the later years more specifically on the 5th century A.D. Emerging as the new Filipino people; they were a mixture of Negroid Aetas, Mongolians, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Malays and Indonesian cultures. These people brought along iron tools and technologies for glassmaking and weaving including seafaring skills.
Forwarding on to the 15th century, it was learned that more traders came in from the far stretch of Asia and the Middle East. They introduced their Islam religion spreading it across the Visayas (central island group of the Philippines) down to the Southern parts of the country. By this time, Chinese merchants of the Ming dynasty were in full trading with the Filipinos.
Then came the Spanish conquistadors (conquerors) headed by Ferdinand Magellan (Fernando Magallanes), who denounced his nationality as a Portuguese and convinced the King Charles I of Spain to find Moluccas islands for spices and herbs, which is in the east, by way of sailing to the west.

According to the manuscripts on March 16, 1521, Magellan, carrying the name of King Philip II of Spain with five (5) Spanish ships landed on the shores of Homonhon, an islet near Samar, an island in the Visayas. The main thrust of their arrival was actually colonization of the Filipinos into Christianity. But these navigators failed in their mission when they came to a neighbor island called Maktan.

An acceptable truth portrays that on April 27, 1521- a little over a month after these Spaniards arrived in the Philippines, they were driven off the island by Datu Lapu-Lapu, a chief of one of the three tribal settlements, who was in control over the other chiefs of Cebu. His soldiers composed of 60 men fought over Magellan's forces. It was learned that Magellan was killed in that battle, as a result of Lapu-Lapu's rage over his refusal to be converted to Christian religion. It was a fierce battle against the Spanish Colonizers, which became famous as: Battle of Mactan, honoring that fearsome incident, and in turn Datu Lapu-Lapu was named the first Filipino hero. It was not until fifty years, or so later that Spain sent another set of warships to the east.

More written documents stated that the Spaniards went back to the Philippines on 1572 (although some manuscripts stated 1565); opposing natives still showed dislike over the conquest, some minor cannon blasts were still heard here and there. But after constant pursue by the Spaniards, eventually they became successful in their colonization and finally established Christianity in Luzon (northern part of the Philippines. They expanded their colony down to the central part reaching eastern Samar. Still further down they reached Sugbu (old name of Cebu). During this period, Spanish colonial settlement was established in the Cebu-Maktan area and named it Santissimo Nombre de Jesus, forming one encomienda system of government together with Camotes Island. Political moves were not fully pronounced yet due to the hefty leadership of the friars who ruled the government at that time.
Then more documents revealed further that more than a century after, specifically June 17, 1690 the town of Opon was born. It was said to be the first town created in the island of Maktan and the seventh town founded by the Augustinian Monks in the province of Cebu, which was called Sugbo then.

The word "Opon" presumably came from the name of the grass, which grew lavishly in the open fields at that time. It was a quiet town with few bad elements or none at all. Most of the parishioners were focused mostly to the teachings of the church. The proliferation of the Catholic religion was of much emphasis, which served as the guiding force for the Spanish colonizers to pursue more on their continuing effort to convert everyone completely into Catholics.
Moreover, it was told that the parish priests played a great role in the encomienda (old government) system in all pueblos (towns) including Opon. Almost all administrative records were kept in the parroquia (parish). Improvements at that time, whether civic in nature or not at all like the construction of structures: casa municipal (municipal hall), school building, military defenses, and the like- were undertaken by its own cura parroco (parish Priest), including of course the church itself and the convent. Some important government positions or leadership like cabezas (governors) and/or Kapitanes (captains of barangays) were given to Opon residents as appointed by the parish priest, with special importance to those affluent natives, who spoke the Spanish language.
For over three centuries, Spain took hold of the Philippines, governing the people and the influencing Filipino culture. That explains why a number of Spanish-speaking in higher echelon of society of Filipinos can be noticed upon on almost every Philippine city in these modern days.

The City

More history books revealed Spain's conquest over the Filipinos lasted three centuries. Series of revolts were continually arising expressing reforms for the Filipino people. It was not until three Filipino priests namely: Gomez, Burgos and Zamora were executed, that revolts fired up forcefully led by reformists group and started a propaganda movement all throughout the archipelago including Opon with issues against the Spaniards. These revolts continued further, which led to a major uprising: Philippine Revolution. This was around the 1800s.

In the local scene, local historians described Opon at that time to be equally sharing revolting chaos more so that a certain Fr. Jose Baztan, an Augustinian priest of Cordova was killed in the town plaza of Opon. It was a horrible incident. The story continued to be gruesome one that it was told the body of the said priest was thrown out in the sea. The reason for that execution was said to be corruption of the clergy, predominant during that time. It was said to be a violent version of the tres de avril incident.
A similar episode relating to the revolution was written about a directorcillo of Cordova (Juan Nunez) for suspicion of conspiracy with the revolutionaries in the printing of the cedulas (residence certificates) in Maktan, which was Opon then. Chaos after chaos sprung up in that particular region.
The government of Opon was said to have patterned after President Aguinaldo's decree providing for the reorganization of its local government. But it didn't last long because Spanish-American war broke out which ceased the leadership of the Spanish government giving way to the Americans establishing a military rule in the entire Philippine archipelago. These Americans did well in their conquest complete with a Constitution to follow, with Manuel L. Quezon as the first commonwealth president, the name given to the civil government during that time.With these new developments, it was told industrialization flourished in the town of Opon. Few factories settled in, town plazas were developed and commerce greatly expanded. Roads were built; with the construction of the Muelle Osmena, a wharf was operational right at the back of the Virgen de la Regla Parish, serving the community. Waterworks system was also built to supply safe drinking water. Inland fishing was taught and encouraged. Records showed that in 1903, Opon became a municipality and eventually was classified as a third class municipality as a result of all these advancements.
Then came the Japanese occupation, 1941 - 1945. It did not last long either because the Americans had a much stronger forces thus Japan surrendered to America after only a swift four-year term in the Philippines. But with that brief moment in time with the Japanese, their army constructed the first airfield on the island of Opon, of course for their own fighter planes to land on. At this time, Americans reacquired the Philippines. But not later than a year after that and when World War II ended, the Philippine Government was granted its political independence. During these times, the economic growth in the municipality of Opon was advancing with the fast establishments of various oil depots around the area.
Then came the most important event of all; Opon Municipality became a city as it was inaugurated formally on June 17, 1961, with Carlos P. Garcia as president of the Republic of the Philippines, under the Republic act 3134, and renaming Opon into Lapu-Lapu, in honor of the first defender of Filipino democracy "Lapu-Lapu" the mighty son of this island who killed Magellan and drove his fleet out of Philippine waters as written in the manuscripts.

After the proclamation of Lapu-Lapu City, on that same year more major developments took place; like the inauguration of a new Mactan Alternate International Airport on September 1. Then came General Milling Corporation, a huge flour company and a grand Supermarket was built to serve the fast growing community. Soon after a few more advancements in this newly proclaimed city, Lapu-Lapu linked vigorously with the rest of the world by erecting the Mandaue-Mactan Bridge, a landmark which made it possible to enhance the high speed trading across the other cities of the Cebu province.

Today, Lapu-Lapu City is a high-speed modern metropolis, proudly imposing its grandeur equally if not highly to its contemporary cities and to rest of the technical world, but still holding on to its rich culture and deep heritage ripened through time attained from its gaudy but heroic past of the forefathers. more

CEBU... is where i was born!

Cebu Province

Beautifuly located near the center in the Visayas Islands proudly spreading its fertile soil from up north the Bantayan island group down to the south tip (Santander) in this radiant archipelago. It holds the record as the "Queen City of the South". This is my very own birth land, that is the very reason why i call it mine, and besides it is where the city (Lapu-Lapu)which i am now residing rests proudly.

Within this province, up north lies a beautiful municipality which is : Bogo. It sits alomost at the tipmost part of the island province and is the turning point in going back to Cebu City as a detour. Neat huh. With this route, the travel wouldn't be as pleasing compared to the main thougroughfare. It leads to another point - Tabogon-which is nearer to the coast but still has high mountains surrounding it.

But before we make this detour, allow me to go back a few kilometers and witness one of Cebu's pride- Bogo Municipality.

This view is the entrance hill of the municipality of Bogo. A shrine dedicated to our Blessed Virgin Mary who sits on top of it. Its magnificent immaculate white texture makes the hill more grand! Plus the fact that the image is in full length complete with a halo on her head.

Please click the images to view it larger.

Ok, going further down, we come into another municipality called Tabogon. It is the my Dad's place. I have my parental roots there. Fiesta time is celebrated every April 21st in honor of San Vicente de Ferrer. I can still remember when i was a little girl, i used to be crowned princess with my two (2) brothers as my personal escorts, one after the other. I think it happened three years in a row,which then my elder sister followed suit as princess too. My,my! those were happy days on my childhood. But i think i didn't enjoy it much as my Mom and Dad did, because, everytime i was princess, i get tobe made up from head to toe. That means, i get to wear a very shiny, shimmery and elegant gown complete with head dress plus a thorough make over my face!

Now that i've grown up, i want to go back there as often as i can. I'm now excited to knowing i didnt get to be that adventurous back then.

some snapshots:

more...

Philippines... my Philippines!

My homeland...

This is my beautiful country Philippines! My birthplace. Philippine history goes back more than a hundred fold for the whole archipelago was subdued by foreign power specifically the Spaniards for more than three hundred years... followed by a variety of other rulers, one after the other.

But today, it is emerging into the world boastfully as the only Catholic country in South East Asia ! And im proud to be one of the few who resides permanently within.

My Spanish Adventures!

This is the powdery fine sand of La Playa del Ingles in Mas Palomas, Gran Canaria, Spain. "Playa" means beach.

Gran Hotel Costa Meloneras @ dusk! Notice the two petite towers on each side of the hotel @ my back?

Gran Hotel Costa Meloneras in the beautiful island of Mas Palomas. This is how it look during daytime.

The little fountains leading to the main hotel lobby.

On the open air bar with my sis.

Amazing shape!

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These are but a few of the many pictures i have on my Spain trip on a very cold December of 2002. Amazingly enough winter time in Canaria isn't too cold compared to the rest of Europe. In fact, I stayed over until the 20th and it was just a cold breeze though near the beach area! One thing i love being there is the sun. It shines to its fullest- noontime- but the air isn't hot at all. My! we were not using air conditioner inside the car, we just let our windows wide open! I know it is almost three years now but happy moments stays in my heart always.

Canary Islands are made up of seven (7) small islets ( Gran Canaria;Fuente ventura; Tenerife; La Gomera; Heirro and last but not least- Lanzarote) the bigest of which is Gran Canaria, where Mas Palomas is located down south. The beach of Playa del Ingles faces halfway to the great Atlantice Ocean. These group of islands are a few nautical miles off the coast of Africa, near its northern tip, just below Morocco. Oh, you must be wondering why i mentioned Africa. Yes, it is where these beautiful islands are located. The Canarias are separated from mailand Spain but they are provinces of Spain since 1821. more...

Roman Episode... simply- Fantastic!

St. Peter Square with the Obelisk @ the background.

ROME, Italy- The eternal city. So many reasons why it is called as such. One of these might be : Rome is comparably alive @ night and on daytime as well. For a very short but pleasurable stay in this magnificent and Holy City, i can still reminisce quite clearly how lovely Rome is. Thanks to my dear friend who stood by me not only as a true friend, my personal tour guide but most specially as my true guide- spiritually speaking.

As we traversed the long narrow streets of Rome(map) by foot (yes, we sure did after a short ride from Piazza Bologna where i stayed over for roughly 6 days only) stretching as far as Basilica of St. Peter; to Piazza Venezia climbing up Emanuele Monument; then to the ever-famous Collouseum while passing by the Roman Forum; and again we went to the foot of the Spanish Steps and climed up a few steps there too; down to Piazza del Popolo, where two twin churches (S. Maria dei Miracoli and S. Maria in Montesanto) proudly stand as if guarding the Piazza(Italian for Plaza) - i can't help but be amazed with much awe to the sights and sounds of this beautiful place! Imagine being in a place as wonderful as Rome!

I can't recall now which Piazza we went first because there are lots of Piazzas all over Rome. I learned now as i studied the places in a comprehensive map here i keep remembering the names and i'm pretty i am sure we went to Piazza Navona where a some few vendors lined up their goods for the tourists- including me of course- and on to the amazing Trevi fountain. It is said that when you throw a coin over your left shoulder, there is a possibility that you can be back to that place. So i did throw a coin with hopes of going back there. After that coin-toss we went inside the Pantheon- the place dedicated to the twelve Olympian Gods. You'd be magnitized to this particular place. Read more here to find out why.

The next few days i went over to Sta. Pudenziana- the church ..."designated as National Church for Filipinos in Rome". My friend who was serving as one of the nun there told me about the martyrs (St. Pudentia or Pudens and St. Praxedes whose remains were kept down the very deep well located inside this particular church. Some three thousand catholics died defending their faith in those early times .

Ahhh! ROME! The very place where the Pope resides! And take note, it was not just my very first time to travel to a foreign land but also- it was my first to be out of my homeland -Philippines. It definitely felt like away from all the hustles and bustles of everyday fuzz. Not to mention i get to see the Pope just a few feet away from his Papal see-thru car while His Emminence was about to crown Mama Mary on Her Feast day (December 8th). Those days were trully great, indeed! ... @ least for me!

It was more than two years now but mind you my heart is deeply rooted there after that tiresome but fun-filled trip plus the true experience i can not simply forget in my entire life! And i am positive i will be back there in due time.

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I titled this "Winter in Rome" because i wanted to portray (in my own personal observation) how cold winter should be compared to our Philippine climate. I thought it would snow on that december-2002 air but didn't. Although there wasn't any snow but i felt the 5 'C degrees as if i was about to freeze! I heard it snowed the year after that but i wasn't around! Grrrr!

Bohol, Philippines!

It is summertime! The skies gets clearer! The breeze hovers faster! The sun shines longer and time for mountain climbing or hill climbing for that matter! Wowieeee! And during these lovely months, what better place to be than in BOHOL! It is where you can find TARSIERS- considered to be the smallest monkeys in the world! How - about - that!

But did you know that Tarsiers aren't monkeys at all. Actually, they belong to a different specie which is: Tarsius syrichta. Its classification is quite obscure and are often considered by taxonomits(researchers on the study of the general laws and principles of classification) to be "...of distinct suborder among the primates." Others classify these Philippine tarsiers along the line with the lemurs, lorises and bushbabies as prosimians. Oh, Whatever!

Tarsius syrichta simply called: Philippine Tarsiers (notice their sizes compared to human hands)

Don't you find them cute?

The last time I was there, these little cuties were put in cages by their captors under small trees for public viewing. But recently my daughter said they aren't imprisoned anymore. Thanks to the caring hearts of the Boholeños. They are free to roam around the wild forests and are reproducing quite fairly. Good job fellows.

Another interesting item in Bohol is the ever famous: Chocolate Hills! Imagine having chocolates as many and as big as hills! They even look like choco kisses, you know that little teardrop-shaped sweet-to-the-mouth goodies? Hmmmnnn... yummy!

Bohol as most Filipinos know is a kind of circular island province rich in nature's goodness. It is located slightly obliquely below Cebu where I am now (actually i'm in Lapu-Lapu). Everywhere you gaze you see nothing but group of pointed hills! I took this picture myself with just a simple SLR still cam. I was truly awed by it! Aren’t you now? There are over three thousand of these hills stretching out the horizon. It is learned that these are corals of the sea bed some thousands of years ago.

Oh, i almost forgot! These hills are called "chocolate hills" due to the fact that during summer (mid march- late April) these green grass that you see here turn brown because of the heat. The blades of grass dry up so much turning them into brownish hues which pre-dominates the horizon scattered around like chocolate kisses. My! Splendid site! I've been back here thee times already yet it still feels super everytime! It feels good to be with these huge mounds and be in commune with nature! I look forward to climbing up the tip of his big one (ha ha) that will be the day huh. Some of the other sites i visited in this gorgeous place! Just click the picts to view larger images.

We visited various spots like: Baclayon Church- considered to be the oldest in the Philippines; The Man-made forest in Loboc- lined upwith huge Mahogany trees all planted withthe vision and hope of a more greener Bohol; The Hanging Bridge also in Loboc displays man's ingeniuty over machines; The Floating Restaurant- winding through Loboc's deep forest. More of Bohol sites are of much significance due to the fact that according to Bohol's hitory it was afterall one to the earliest settlements of the Spanish conquerors; but a little later after Mactan Island.

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More of the Philippines (personal edition)

1. My Cebu...

2. Captivating Lapu-Lapu...

3. Radiant Philippines...

Baguio City, Luzon!

Sunsrise @ Baguio City! Ahhh! The summer place!

I came to Baguio City for the third time! The first time was 1986, way before the Pines Hotel fell and crumbled to the ground brought about by the earthquake which hit the city shockingly! I was with my two brothers, my sister-in-law and of course- can't miss out my hubby too. It was really fantastic! And the second time, i was with my second daughter-Angela. It was her first time then and she was awed too! With all the sites- who wouldn't. She rode on the horse all the way around the rotunda all by herself... i-m-a-g-i-n-e! Oh yeah!

And this time i went there for a four-day official occular inspection of their STP (Sewerage Treatment Plant). I know, it sounds yulks, but mind you i had the greatest time ever! I stayed over @ Baguio City Country Club. It was built on 1905, when the Americans were still here. The picture above was taken on its innaugural opening day - 1905. And this is how it looks today:

And below are the photos i took of the awesome sunrise ! I stayed for four days ! Although raindrops came falling when i got there, but amazingly enough it was only a drizzle. And after that, off i went to the sites (again)!

On the first morning, i woke up quite early and was awed by the view! I think we (sun and me) got up @ the same time! So i took my digicam and click it went... one after another. Click on the pict to enlarge



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You might notice the tags i gave on the picts, i was so excited that i mis- tagged them as "sunset", foolish me huh. Enjoy the views!