tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30438279456543832682024-03-27T23:42:22.962-07:00San Josenyong GalaPamasahe + Camera = Gala!San Josenyong Galahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17411649494261796294noreply@blogger.comBlogger105125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043827945654383268.post-58823825602606780752020-04-17T03:06:00.002-07:002021-03-16T18:06:59.093-07:00NOVALICHES : Legal Status from Spanish Period to Present<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">NOVALICHES.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">A historical town which played important roles in the Philippine's fight for independence. A town which experienced being tossed from one province to another. A town which still has its own identity even after being stripped of its status as an independent town, and being split into two and placed under the jurisdiction of two different cities.</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zXSMssOBR3w/Xpv9pmwghRI/AAAAAAAACgM/UhqSSAS9xrc-LI95A10ayXHw_I0u91QlgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Novaliches%2BMap%252C%2B1885-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="710" data-original-width="1097" height="414" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zXSMssOBR3w/Xpv9pmwghRI/AAAAAAAACgM/UhqSSAS9xrc-LI95A10ayXHw_I0u91QlgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Novaliches%2BMap%252C%2B1885-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Pueblo de Novaliches was founded in 1856, during the Spanish Occupation Period and has enjoyed its independence for 47 years, 3 years short of reaching its golden age. During the early years of the American Occupation Period, it unfortunately lost its independence due to the local government reorganization acts that the Philippine Commission had passed. Many towns were merged so that larger towns can help smaller towns grow economically, and regain their independent status as soon as they are ready. Many other smaller towns did regain their former status years after being merged with larger towns, but that sadly hasn't happened with Novaliches since it was merged with Caloocan. Worse, it is now divided between Caloocan and Quezon City.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The current status of Novaliches is something that many Novalenos wishes to change, by having their old town become an independent town once again. Retracing important events regarding Novaliches' status since it was founded until the present will help people understand the significance of making Novaliches stand on its own again, and discover the proud past of true-blooded Novalenos.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>1854</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Petition for the Creation of "PUEBLO DE NOVALICHES" Made</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Bulacan's Alcalde Mayor (equivalent to present day's provincial governor) petitioned the Spanish Government to incorporate part or whole of the Haciendas of Tala, Piedad, and Malinta into a new pueblo (town). It will be named NOVALICHES from the title "Marquis of Novaliches" of then recently recalled Governor General of the Philippines, Manuel Pavia y Lacy.</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jHdS3S6CMY8/Xpf-av_0wzI/AAAAAAAACeY/APqnITnHIjEIIDa053Z3C6G8hRym85zwQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Manuel-Pavia-y-Lacy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="603" data-original-width="452" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jHdS3S6CMY8/Xpf-av_0wzI/AAAAAAAACeY/APqnITnHIjEIIDa053Z3C6G8hRym85zwQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Manuel-Pavia-y-Lacy.jpg" width="239" /></a> <a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3f-QFwVstyU/Xpf-auZg0jI/AAAAAAAACeU/-yYV7G44358fctbBRUFhAWbYTEh8HUnlACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Novaliches%252C%2BValencia.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="559" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3f-QFwVstyU/Xpf-auZg0jI/AAAAAAAACeU/-yYV7G44358fctbBRUFhAWbYTEh8HUnlACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Novaliches%252C%2BValencia.png" width="284" /></a></div>
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<i>"Marquis" is a noble title that falls between Count and Duke while "Novaliches" is a village in the province of Valencia, Spain. It can be found approximately 60 kms. from the city of Valencia.</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>1855</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Petition for the Creation of "PUEBLO DE NOVALICHES" Heard</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The petition for the creation of the Pueblo de Novaliches was approved for hearing by the fiscal, heard and found feasible by the court of Real Audiencia de Manila, and subsequently approved by the Governor-General.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>1856</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>PUEBLO DE NOVALICHES Formally Created</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">JANUARY 26. Pueblo de Novaliches was formally created from merging parts or whole of the Haciendas of Tala, Piedad, and Malinta, detaching them from the older towns which has jurisdiction over them, with Polo, Bulacan ceding the largest part. According to a Franciscan account, the following towns ceded lands to the newly established pueblo as follows:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Polo - 1 visita</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Meycauayan - 2 barrios</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Caloocan - small part of the Barrio Soledad</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">SEPTEMBER 24. Manila Archbishop Jose Julian de Aranguren O.A.R. designated the Augustinian Fathers as the spiritual administrators of the newly created town, with Friar Andres de Martin being sent as the first parish priest. Though the Franciscans opined that it is them who should have jurisdiction over the new town because about 3/4 of its parishioners came from the towns of Polo and Meycauayan which has been under their care for 278 years, they accepted the decision of the Archbishop. The spiritual administration of the town were given to the Augustinian Fathers because they are also the administrators of the Haciendas Malinta, Tala, and Piedad since the early 1700's.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>1858</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>NOVALICHES Transferred from Bulacan to Manila</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The decree creating the Provincia de Manila was issued on November 26, 1858. This new province was created from the older Provincia de Tondo plus the town of Novaliches from Bulacan.</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6lCZVEKhQBQ/XpgpMcGWuXI/AAAAAAAACeo/egfNM-aUVlALqvV-5m7aUp_fULxNywNUACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Lalawigan%2Bng%2BMaynila%252C%2B1858.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1256" data-original-width="1440" height="556" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6lCZVEKhQBQ/XpgpMcGWuXI/AAAAAAAACeo/egfNM-aUVlALqvV-5m7aUp_fULxNywNUACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Lalawigan%2Bng%2BMaynila%252C%2B1858.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>1901</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>NOVALICHES Included in the Province of Rizal</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The Philippine Commission Act No. 137 issued on June 11, 1901 created the new Province of Rizal by combining the Provinces of Manila and Morong. Novaliches which is under the Province of Manila naturally became part of this new province.</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pZ2lgg89sWY/XpgrH1ijXUI/AAAAAAAACe8/Gs4SyK0U2PEoD2Wf5lHEeyGQ3RxTLLRwQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Lalawigan%2Bng%2BRizal%252C%2B1901.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1256" data-original-width="1440" height="558" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pZ2lgg89sWY/XpgrH1ijXUI/AAAAAAAACe8/Gs4SyK0U2PEoD2Wf5lHEeyGQ3RxTLLRwQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Lalawigan%2Bng%2BRizal%252C%2B1901.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>1903</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">NOVALICHES Lost Its Municipal Status</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The Philippine Commission Act No. 942 issued on October 12, 1903 reduced the 32 municipalities of Rizal to 15, combining smaller towns with their larger neighboring towns. This can be considered the start of the misfortunes of Novaliches, when the historic town is placed under Caloocan's jurisdiction.</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ySBu_zfuXnc/Xpv9cz1PIpI/AAAAAAAACgI/C4Dua3vKkE0iI7gKpnI2Qgxp9L4n_usugCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Lalawigan%2Bng%2BRizal%252C%2B1903.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1256" data-original-width="1275" height="630" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ySBu_zfuXnc/Xpv9cz1PIpI/AAAAAAAACgI/C4Dua3vKkE0iI7gKpnI2Qgxp9L4n_usugCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Lalawigan%2Bng%2BRizal%252C%2B1903.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>1947</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>NOVALICHES Town Revival - 1st Attempt*</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The people of Novaliches filed a petition for its revival as a town to then president Manuel Roxas. The petition didn't prosper because of the untimely death of the president the next year. This is the 1st attempt of reviving the old town of Novaliches after World War II. </span><br />
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<i>*As of now, no details or evidence of an attempt to revive the old Novaliches town before World War II has been discovered.</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>1948</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">NOVALICHES Split in Two!</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">RA No. 333 was passed changing the boundaries of Quezon City, a new city created in 1939. The southeastern half of the old town of Novaliches was transferred under the jurisdiction of Quezon City, while the remaining northwestern half was left with Caloocan. </span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eD8-XUU-Kbw/Xpg7iSndMRI/AAAAAAAACfI/iSQ_cqKAKM0dt8wfTgy_fCUzXQ21OeazACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Novaliches%2BDivided.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="396" data-original-width="366" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eD8-XUU-Kbw/Xpg7iSndMRI/AAAAAAAACfI/iSQ_cqKAKM0dt8wfTgy_fCUzXQ21OeazACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Novaliches%2BDivided.jpg" width="592" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">This event was a big blow to the desire of the many Novalenos to have their own independent town again, because instead of being granted their petition, the once independent town was split instead! The barrios of San Bartolome, Poblacion (Novaliches), Bagbag, Pasong Putik, Binugsok, Gulod, Santa Monica, San Agustin, and Kapre was ceded to Quezon City. The barrios of Kaybiga, Bagumbong, Llano, Soledad, KayKristina, Kalihayang, Malanting, and others sitios remained with Caloocan.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>1970</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b> NOVALICHES Town Revival - 2nd Attempt</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-55cgh6OIr9E/XplnylXuiyI/AAAAAAAACfs/N0AnZLQaS2ALBRlKgTWTJb8yHkzTJMdQwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_5925%2B%25281%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1335" data-original-width="1600" height="532" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-55cgh6OIr9E/XplnylXuiyI/AAAAAAAACfs/N0AnZLQaS2ALBRlKgTWTJb8yHkzTJMdQwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_5925%2B%25281%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Rizal 1st District Representative Neptali Gonzales filed House Bill No. 2052 reviving the town of Novaliches consisted of all its former barrios now under the jurisdiction of Caloocan and Quezon City. It passed the Lower House but remained pending at the Senate due to strong oppositions from both Caloocan and Quezon City local officials. The bill was finally abandoned when the Senate was abolished due to the imposition of Martial Law.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>1975</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">NOVALICHES Left Rizal Province</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kSvDBP4uOwk/Xph1CWyIQxI/AAAAAAAACfg/RwTyQxXZ5eYWrBcIPuPfH13AbGjiK9oIwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Metro%2BManila%252C%2B1975.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1256" data-original-width="1440" height="558" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kSvDBP4uOwk/Xph1CWyIQxI/AAAAAAAACfg/RwTyQxXZ5eYWrBcIPuPfH13AbGjiK9oIwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Metro%2BManila%252C%2B1975.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">On November 7, 1975, President Marcos issued PD No. 824 formally establishing Metro Manila to include some towns and all the cities of Rizal Province, Valenzuela of Bulacan Province, and the City of Manila. Novaliches, being part of both Caloocan and Quezon City, formally became part of this new entity too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>1976</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">NOVALICHES Town Revival - 3rd Attempt</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">An Almost IMELDA CITY!</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The historical referendum-plebiscite for amending the 1973 Constitution was made on October 16-17, 1976. It was made even more historical for the Novalenos because they were given a chance to once more push for the revival of their old town, with a catch. The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) heeded the petition of the Novaliches barangay officials, and other civic, religious, business, and educational leaders calling for the renaming of their old town after the then First Lady, Imelda Marcos. The ballots for Novaleno voters came with an extra remarks sheets that ran this way: "Do you favor the conversion of Novaliches into a separate city, independent of Quezon City and Caloocan City, to be named Imelda City?". The required answered was either "Yes" or "No" depending on the desire of the voter (Samonte, 2019). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The COMELEC announced that the answers in the remarks sheets would be tabulated and the results would be announced after 15 days. However, Imelda was interviewed one week before the scheduled announcement and she unfortunately declined the proposed Imelda City, saying she would prefer the retention of the historical name of Novaliches. Because of this, the tabulation for remarks sheets was no longer carried out. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>1988</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">NOVALICHES Town Revival - 4th Attempt</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cA_yTxs-1uM/Xpln7Hx1VFI/AAAAAAAACfw/80CfRgwxs60SSh57aIBc_LEfRow2c0rBgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_5926%2B%25281%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1153" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cA_yTxs-1uM/Xpln7Hx1VFI/AAAAAAAACfw/80CfRgwxs60SSh57aIBc_LEfRow2c0rBgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_5926%2B%25281%2529.JPG" width="460" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Quezon City 2nd District Representative Antonio A. Aquino filed House Bill No. 3067 pushing for Novaliches Cityhood which will include both the Caloocan and Quezon City parts. Unfortunately, this didn't even pass the House of Representatives, so it wasn't able to reach the Senate.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>1999</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">NOVALICHES Town Revival - 5th Attempt</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The 5th and latest attempt at reviving the old town of Novaliches is through the RA 8535 signed into law by President Fidel Ramos in 1998. The law states that 15 present barangays of Quezon City contained in the Novaliches District Center (Novaliches Proper, Nagkaisang Nayon, San Bartolome, San Agustin, Kaligayahan, Sta. Monica, Bagbag, Capri, Greater Lagro, Gulod, Pasong Putik Proper, North Fairview, Sauyo, Sta. Lucia, and Talipapa) will be separated from Quezon City to be incorporated as Novaliches City. The Caloocan part of Novaliches is not yet included in this law.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The plebiscite for Novaliches Cityhood was conducted on October 23, 1999. Unfortunately, the "NO" vote won dashing the hope of many Novalenos once again. But how did it happen when majority of Novalenos supported the cityhood? The then Mayor Mel Mathay opposed the cityhood and campaigned hard for "NO". He even petitioned to include all the residents of the whole Quezon City, not just those directly affected residents in the barangays under Novaliches District. Said petition was granted and all residents of Quezon City voted in the said plebiscite. The result showed 143,645 No votes against 46,946 Yes votes. </span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">More than 2 decades had already passed since the last attempt to revive Novaliches Town was made, and Novaliches, both Caloocan and Quezon City part has already shown tremendous progress and capability to stand on their own. Many Novalenos, after all those years, are still longing for the time when they finally have they fervent wish - an independent CITY OF NOVALICHES - before they rest their fiery heart fighting for their "Bayang Tinubuan".</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">REFERENCES:</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Calairo, Rosalina M. & Emmanuel F. Calairo. “Ang Kasaysayan ng Novaliches”. Quezon City, 1997.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Samonte, Severino C. “Postscript to Novaliches City hood: Comelec urged to locate missing 101 plebiscite returns” in Philippine News Agency. Nov. 7, 1999.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">“QC : A Saga of Continuing Process Progress” in Quezonian Newsletter, Special Issue. Retrieved from <a href="http://www.qcpubliclibrary.org/qcmanuscript.php">http://www.qcpubliclibrary.org/qcmanuscript.php</a></span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Republic Act No. 8535. “An Act Creating the City of Novaliches”.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Severino Samonte. Interviews, FB Posts, and Collections.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Jack Dennis Serrano. Interviews, Unpublished personal researches.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Romel Rafor Jaime. Unpublished personal Researches. Collections, printed and electronic.</span><br />
<br />San Josenyong Galahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17411649494261796294noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043827945654383268.post-3062032544105125712019-09-30T23:41:00.000-07:002019-09-30T23:58:43.280-07:00The Watchtowers of La Union<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Watchtowers are integral part of community structures, especially of those settlements found along the coastlines, during the time when the Philippines was still under the Spanish crown. Through these structures, the villagers are warned against impending attack of pirates/enemies, making it possible for them to flee to higher grounds, or prepare to foil the attack. Nowadays, watchtowers serve local fishermen's guides to the shore while many of the old ones serve as testament to the history and heritage of the the town where they are located.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">One of the most famous watchtowers in the Philippines is that of Luna, La Union. It is known to locals as "Baluarte" and is one of Luna's top tourist drawer along with the town's century old church which enshrines the Our Lady of Namacpacan (Namacpacan is the old name of Luna). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">What's not known to many people is that Baluarte is just one of the many watchtowers dotting the coast of La Union stretching from Bauang in the south up to Luna in the north. In 2014, these watchtowers were proclaimed by the National Museum as National Cultural Treasures ensuring that all of these watchtowers will be protected and preserved. Unfortunately, only Luna's watchtower has been given attention by the National Museum as of now. It is also the only one that bears National Cultural Marker installed by the National Museum.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Below are the 6 existing watchtowers of La Union, some of which are 75% still intact and a little bit of restoration would suffice to bring them to their former glory as compared to some others which are in a very decrepit status and needs immediate attention to be saved by the proper government heritage institutions. The first one, Bauang Watchtower, is not part of the National Cultural Treasures inscription of the National Museum, as of now.</span></div>
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</span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>BAUANG WATCHTOWER</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Starting from the south, a watchtower made of river rocks stands at the coast of Barangay Pugo, in Bauang, La Union. Tales about it as ruins of an old church abounds with the locals as stated in the blog of Mr. Ian Gomez, the blogger behind <a href="http://www.pagnapagna.com/2015/11/watchtower-14-bauang-la-union.html#more">www.pagnapagna.com</a> <i>(Mr. Gomez is the one who discovered, and shared information about this watchtower to many people. He is an architect by profession and a hiking artist)</i>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The materials used in the construction of this old watchtower is different from the other watchtowers existing in La Union. It is constructed with river rocks or mamposteria which could make it older than the others which were constructed from coral stones or bricks. Or it can be a newer structure, which just used river rocks.</span></div>
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</span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>SAN FERNANDO WATCHTOWER</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Some 3 kms. north of the present municipal hall of San Fernando can be found the San Fernando Watchtower located in Brgy. Carlatan. A curious thing is that this watchtower can be found far from the old Pindangan ruins (which can be found south of the municipal hall), the former center of the old town of San Fernando. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">This watchtower can be easily reached, being conveniently located near the Coca Cola Plant, in the once beautiful resort of Carille Terraces. From San Fernando proper, one can ride a jeep going north and just ask the driver to drop him off at Coca-cola Plant. At the right side of the plant is a somewhat narrow street that leads to Carille Terraces where the old watchtower is located. Entrance to the property is Php 20.00 (which we be paid to the man who I think is the caretaker of the place).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The watchtower has been altered by the resort owner. It was plastered with concrete cement and decorated with concrete reliefs. It was also fitted with second floor so that the visitors can reach the top of the watchtower. It was painted upon and weeds and plants were left to grow, maybe to add some effects.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The watchtower is originally made with coral stones and is circular in shape just like all the other watchtowers in the area. The local government of San Fernando should do something about the other structures built very close to this watchtower. They should clean and restore the watchtower and allot a clear space around it, with no other structure present in order preserve it and be more well-appreciated just like the one in Luna. This watchtower can still be saved because most of the original part is still there.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>SAN JUAN WATCHTOWER</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uFB7VQ86Tqo/XEgANMvIFoI/AAAAAAAACXk/U9c6nkUZh5Q-8fuZpaENJ_HInYdYl-MMACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/San%2BJuan1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1109" data-original-width="1600" height="442" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uFB7VQ86Tqo/XEgANMvIFoI/AAAAAAAACXk/U9c6nkUZh5Q-8fuZpaENJ_HInYdYl-MMACPcBGAYYCw/s640/San%2BJuan1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Next tower to the north is that of San Juan, which is also very easy to reach. One just has to take the road at the left side of the San Juan municipal hall, walking towards San Juan National High School. At the end of the road at the left side of that high school is the watchtower.</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b0QpwyG3XSE/XEgBtuR5ajI/AAAAAAAACYI/3zKVI0bR0Yc2jks7H3imRsINXkJKv0vWQCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/San%2BJuan2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b0QpwyG3XSE/XEgBtuR5ajI/AAAAAAAACYI/3zKVI0bR0Yc2jks7H3imRsINXkJKv0vWQCPcBGAYYCw/s640/San%2BJuan2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">This watchtower is almost 75% reconstruction. The 25% are the ruins that was left of the old watchtower while the remaining part was rebuilt with hollow blocks. Fortunately, the builders was able to recreate the shape of the watchtower accurately albeit the color and materials used is obviously different.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Aside from the original coral stone, the watchtower was also thickened with bricks, which maybe a later addition. This watchtower stands on a sandy beach and can be found approximately 50-100 meters from the shore.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>BACNOTAN WATCHTOWER</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VXnvNngp6Oc/XIoAWF2L0LI/AAAAAAAACZE/G4diG4LqryoICxtlpHoxO8AhLKF9A8VbQCLcBGAs/s1600/Bacnotan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="640" height="424" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VXnvNngp6Oc/XIoAWF2L0LI/AAAAAAAACZE/G4diG4LqryoICxtlpHoxO8AhLKF9A8VbQCLcBGAs/s640/Bacnotan.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">This watchtower is inside a private property and is not easily accessible. Just like the other surviving watchtowers of La Union, this one is made with coral stones and bricks, and is surrounded by thick vegetation. It can be found at the shore, far from Bacnotan town proper. Ian of pagnapagna.com was able to visit it (and was able to take the picture of a part of the watchtower above) through perseverance and asking help from the right people. </span></div>
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</span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>BALAOAN WATCHTOWER</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">This watchtower stands far from the busy town proper of Balaoan and is located at it's western barangay of Almeida, near its boundary with Barangay Darigayos of the town of Luna. It can be reached by riding a tricycle or jeep from Balaoan town proper going to Barangay Darigayos, or by riding a tricycle from Luna Town Proper.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">There is no sign yet that it is being preserved and maintained by any government institution but fortunately, it is still undisturbed by any nearby constructions. It can be found right at the beach of Almeida, part of what is known as the Darigayos Cove.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The materials used are coral stone with later addition of red bricks. It is currently in the center of a thick foliage but during our visit, it is evident that the thick foliage was cut/cleaned.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">This watchtower is near Camp Spencer and USAFIP NL Military Shrine, a park developed through Proclamation 590 of former president Fidel Ramos as a way of commemorating the important and historic event that happened in the place during World War II.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>LUNA WATCHTOWER</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Capping up this La Union Watchtower tour is the most famous of them all : BALUARTE or the Luna Watchtower! </span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yovaVFJbtes/XEf7EfURgVI/AAAAAAAACXA/tsmu990A_GY1PNZfufVxC6FE0-mjScyKACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/Luna1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1131" data-original-width="1600" height="452" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yovaVFJbtes/XEf7EfURgVI/AAAAAAAACXA/tsmu990A_GY1PNZfufVxC6FE0-mjScyKACPcBGAYYCw/s640/Luna1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Among all the watchtowers, this is the most popular, most easily accessible, and the best maintained. This watchtower was also made with corals stones but with exterior finish of red bricks. Half of the watchtower collapsed during Typhoon Lando in 2015 but was restored to its former appearance and shape by the LGU following the guidelines set by National Museum in 2017.The restoration work was beautiful and the contrast between the old and new wall makes it pleasing to look at.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">It can be easily reached by taking the road at the side of the church towards the beach. Or one may ride a tricycle if s/he is in a hurry or doesn't want to walk. </span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Visiting all these watchtowers could definitely bring satisfaction to heritage buffs like myself even though it might be impossible to ordinary people (just like myself again) because of some restrictions especially that of Bacnotan. I am hoping that there will come a time that all of these watchtowers will be restored and preserved properly (just like that of Luna), and be easily accessible to everyone.</span></div>
San Josenyong Galahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17411649494261796294noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043827945654383268.post-6676645574520978332019-03-23T02:36:00.000-07:002019-03-23T02:51:36.299-07:00SJDM Free College Entrance Exam Review 2019!!!<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A short break from travel related posts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The San Jose del Monte Free College Entrance Exam Review Guild (SJDM FCEER GUILD) now formally announces its 12th year of Summer Review Program to incoming Grade 12 students of different High Schools and Colleges from San Jose del Monte.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">For a brief background, SJDM FCEER Guild is a group composed of </span><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">former students of the different high schools in SJDM who are now students/graduates of different Philippine colleges such as, but not limited to, UP, PUP, PNU, and TUP. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Almost all of the instructors, except the pioneers, are graduates of the project. </span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: justify;">The project has been running for 12 years already and has actually been featured in <a href="http://sanjosenyonggala.blogspot.com/2013/09/san-josenyong-galas-community-project.html">GMA NewsTV's program, Good News</a>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: justify;"><b>BRIEF HISTORY </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: start;">This project started when I, together with my best buddy Euel Von Asuncion and two other equally awesome classmates, Jay dela Cruz and Bernadette Magsalin, met to plan for a college entrance exam review project for our alma mater's, San Jose del Monte High School, incoming 4th year students. The project was first implemented in 2006, and since then has been conducted every summer. </span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> The project's aim is to help graduating students of the different high schools of San Jose del Monte City to prepare for the incoming college entrance exams in their senior year without the need to pay exorbitant fees charged by different College Entrance Exam Review Center.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: justify;">From 2006 to 2012, the review classes were conducted at San Jose del Monte High School while the 2013 and 2014 review classes found its new home at Paradise Farms National High School. It was not conducted in 2015 and 2016 because of the implementation of the K12 program but was conducted again starting 2017.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: justify;"><b>REVIEW CLASS 2019</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: justify;">This year's review will be conducted at Paradise Farms National High School starting April 6 until June 2, every Saturday and Sunday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Because the guild is composed of many kind souls who want to volunteer, <b>their service will definitely be free</b>. We will be shouldering our own food and fare and nothing will ever come from the students for these purposes. However, the instructors would not be able to shoulder the expenses for the review materials that the students themselves will be using. Because of this, <b>a measly amount of 15.00 per day of class will be collected by one of the students (who will be elected as the class treasurer) to be spent for all the hand-outs, test papers, mock exam booklets, and other materials they will be needing. </b>Absolutely, no amount will go to the instructors.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Special Reminders</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">1. This review is for <b>ALL </b>College Entrance Exam Review and not for a specific college entrance exam alone (ex: UPCAT, ACET, DLSUAT, PUPCET, BSUAT, etc.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">2. Because the school where the review will be conducted (Paradise Farms National High School) is far from public vehicles and stores where the students may buy food, it is strongly encouraged that they bring their own snack and packed lunch. They won't be allowed to go out of school during lunch break for their safety. The parents/guardians may also bring them their lunch/snack. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">3. <b>ABSENCES : </b>Incurring four <b>(4) </b>consecutive or six <b>(6)</b> cumulative absences, excused or unexcused, means the student will already be dropped from the roster. Everyone is encouraged to sign up ONLY if they are sure they will not reach the maximum absences stated above.</span></div>
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4. <b>LIMITED SLOTS : </b>This year's review will accept limited number of students. There will only be 250 slots in all.<br />
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5. After the registration (see No. 6 below), join this FB group : <a href="https://web.facebook.com/groups/335773513734767/">FCEER 12</a>. The initial list of students eligible to attend the FCEER 2019 will be posted there on <b>April 1, 2019. </b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">6. Registration for the Summer 2019 Review Program is online. To register, answer the <b>REGISTRATION FORM </b>that applies to you (just click the links): </span></div>
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<b><a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScOdwo8Mx8jQnRw9wHwstrxhWLCrqHk2VVrcgL-Deezp7xKoQ/viewform" target="_blank">For SJDM Public SHS</a></b><br />
<b><a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf6gR1XfEzvypRB8ih2ygomywLyL1iYhvztuum2iDhRez4C5A/viewform" target="_blank">For SJDM Private SHS</a></b><br />
<b><a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScgtTxZgllIMKa2Ee5bKubeQAV4g6xsf-XCbjcsgdJ5FmN7Ww/viewform" target="_blank">For Students of SHS Outside SJDM </a></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">and download the waiver from the registration form above. If you can't download it there, you may download it through the link below: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><a href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=19PZtFGEEslsTdoD-8QblWJSo3CaeCLBk" target="_blank">Summer Review 2019 Waiver</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Please read and answer the form carefully. Waiver should be printed in a long bond paper and will be submitted on the 1st day of the class. Thanks and see you! </span></div>
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San Josenyong Galahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17411649494261796294noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043827945654383268.post-45882153080006714302018-12-07T22:54:00.000-08:002018-12-07T22:54:50.125-08:00EATS and SWEETS : San Miguel, Bulacan Culinary Tour! Part 4<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">San Miguel, the northernmost town of Bulacan, is known for its historicity as well as its many sons and daughters who have played important roles in the country’s path to independence. Biak na Bato, Maximo Viola, heritage and ancestral houses, San Miguel Archangel Parish Church, and Pablo Tecson are just some of the many names, places and things these town is known for. But aside from that, it is also known for its culinary heritage, especially sweets, from where the old name “San Miguel de Mayumo” came from (“mayumo” means “sweet).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I, San Josenyong Gala, was fortunate to be able to be a part of the San Miguel Culinary and Heritage Tour 2018 where a visit to the town’s some heritage sites as well as many food establishments serving culinary and modern cuisine was conducted. The food tour proved that San Miguel is indeed a culinary haven, and a visit to the town will not leave anyone hungry, or unsatisfied.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">This last part (out of 4) features San Miguel Bulacan's emerging leading restaurant and catering business, ARKI's Grill. Its owner, Arch. Ervin Garcia, is the one responsible for this culinary and heritage tour and can be considered as one of the prime movers of the town's restaurant industry, especially when it comes to marketing them outside San Miguel.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">ARKI's Grill, </span></b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">aside from being one of the more famous restaurant in San Miguel, is also the leader when it comes to offering affordable multi-cultural cuisines, bringing the taste of different countries to the people of San Miguel and neighboring towns. In here, aside from excellent Filipino dishes, one can also find Korean, Japanese, Chinese, and Thai cuisines. Customers are also treated to unique way of eating for each cuisine wherein at times, the food is being cooked right in the front of the diners.</span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g6wkbTo7lAo/W8glg7f15HI/AAAAAAAACU8/FnvN1XqR5NYvQ5MBhKSxGJ9la-l8s5TOQCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/Arki7%2B%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g6wkbTo7lAo/W8glg7f15HI/AAAAAAAACU8/FnvN1XqR5NYvQ5MBhKSxGJ9la-l8s5TOQCPcBGAYYCw/s640/Arki7%2B%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">After touring us around San Miguel, Arch. Ervin led us to his restaurant which is conveniently located along the Maharlika Hi-Way, with enough parking space for those who have cars. The restaurant is spacious and can accommodate more than 80 people in one seating. There is also a stage where performers sing while the customer are having their food. The place is well-lit, and the ambience is very good! The best part? The comfort room is very clean, well maintained (with bidet), and definitely gives you that comfort you seek! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Arki's Grille started through the perseverance of Arch. Ervin and his wife. They have experienced failure but their fighting spirit didn’t wane and pushed more. The grille’s name, Arki’s Tambayan, was derived from Ervin’s nickname “Arki” as his friends call him being an architect by profession. The first Arki’s Grille was located at San Juan, San Miguel, Bulacan which opened in May 17, 2014. They decided to move to this bigger place last December 18, 2017.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xj9LjsMA8Is/W8glSoGPiCI/AAAAAAAACU0/WEoQM96TGfkL2dYebOCT52OcsfzQSR2awCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/Arki2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1215" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xj9LjsMA8Is/W8glSoGPiCI/AAAAAAAACU0/WEoQM96TGfkL2dYebOCT52OcsfzQSR2awCPcBGAYYCw/s640/Arki2.JPG" width="483" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arch. Ervin Garcia, Arki's Grille owner</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The food they served us was very good, and new to my taste. We were served with Thai Mookata, and that was the first time I was able to try it. I am accustomed to the Korean Samgyupsal but not with this one so I enjoyed it very much. The (uncooked) seafood, meat and vegetables were served alongside a stove with Mookata utensil (or whatever it is called) which is very new to my eyes. It sort of combines grilled food, hotpot, and noodles in one with Thai spices and sauces at the side. And because I am a big fan of Thai condiments, I definitely eat my food with gusto.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hHZIah2WIxY/W8glSZxgnEI/AAAAAAAACUw/Ak1rlUX6xjU4qrTcc_eYQur_XVrkq47GACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/Arki6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1417" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hHZIah2WIxY/W8glSZxgnEI/AAAAAAAACUw/Ak1rlUX6xjU4qrTcc_eYQur_XVrkq47GACPcBGAYYCw/s640/Arki6.JPG" width="566" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The very delectable Thai Mookata!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">What made this Thai Mookata better than Samgyupsal I think is the soup that comes with it. While the noodles, vegetables, eggs, mushrooms, shrimps, and balls are being cooked in the broth at the side, the juices of the meats being grilled at the top drips towards the broth making it more flavorful. Nothing ever gets wasted in this type of cooking! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Aside from the Thai Mookata I have just described, they also offer other short orders for people who just want to have a light snack. They also have Samgyupsal, Shabu-shabu, boodle fight, and unlimited buffet to serve the different needs and preferences of the customers. They also have a plethora of beverages from where the customers can choose from to combine with their meals. To top it all, they also offer catering services to those who are interested. Simply said, Arki's Grille is a very fitting place for those people who loves to eat 'til their tummy's full!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">To know more about ARKI's Grille, here is how to reach them:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">FB Page : <a href="https://web.facebook.com/arkis.tambayan" target="_blank">ARKI'S GRILLE</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Address : Salangan, Maharlika Highway, San Miguel, Bulacan </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Contact No. : 09358891003</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Open everyday, from 11:00 am to 11:00 pm</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Aside form their San Miguel Main Branch, Arki's Grille also have a branch in <b>BALIWAG</b> (Arki's Cafe) located at Gil Carlos St., Concepcion Baliwag, Bulacan beside Fernandez College and STI in front of Baliwag Transit Terminal. They also have a branch in <b>SAN ILDEFONSO</b>, located inside Bea’s Food Park, Cagayan Valley Rd., Sapang Putol, San Ildefonso, Bulacan.</span></div>
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<i style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">READ THE PART 1 (Amazing Glaze Doughnuts, Milktea Network, Adam's Pizza) here: <a href="https://sanjosenyonggala.blogspot.com/2018/10/san-miguel-bulacan-eats-and-sweets-part1.html">EATS and SWEETS : San Miguel, Bulacan Culinary Tour! Part 1</a></span></i><br />
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<i style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large; text-align: justify;">READ THE PART 2 (Cristy's Pastillas, Inay Goyena's Chicharon, Sweet Bulakenya Foods) here:<a href="http://sanjosenyonggala.blogspot.com/2018/10/eats-and-sweets-san-miguel-bulacan.html">EATS and SWEETS : San Miguel, Bulacan Culinary Tour! Part 2.</a></i><br />
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<i style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">READ THE PART 3 (BJ Snack House, Thumb's Up, Rasta Taco) here: <a href="https://sanjosenyonggala.blogspot.com/2018/10/eats-and-sweets-san-miguel-bulacan3.html" target="">EATS and SWEETS : San Miguel, Bulacan Culinary Tour! Part 3</a></span></i>San Josenyong Galahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17411649494261796294noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043827945654383268.post-86706826772381484322018-10-11T02:39:00.000-07:002018-10-11T02:54:18.662-07:00EATS and SWEETS : San Miguel, Bulacan Culinary Tour! Part 3<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">San Miguel, the northernmost town of Bulacan, is known for its historicity as well as its many sons and daughters who have played important roles in the country’s path to independence. Biak na Bato, Maximo Viola, heritage and ancestral houses, San Miguel Archangel Parish Church, and Pablo Tecson are just some of the many names, places and things these town is known for. But aside from that, it is also known for its culinary heritage, especially sweets, from where the old name “San Miguel de Mayumo” came from (“mayumo” means “sweet).</span></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I, San Josenyong Gala, was fortunate to be able to be a part of the San Miguel Culinary and Heritage Tour 2018 where a visit to the town’s some heritage sites as well as many food establishments serving culinary and modern cuisine was conducted. The food tour proved that San Miguel is indeed a culinary haven, and a visit to the town will not leave anyone hungry, or unsatisfied.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">This 3<sup>rd</sup> part (out of 4) features food places enough to whet your appetite during the most important meals of the day: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They are San Miguel's go to places if you want to have a full tummy and satisfying meals after or before touring the heritage town!</span><br />
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</b> <b style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">BJ Snack House</b><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">This is the very first place we visited during our culinary tour and it was just so perfect because we were hungry after a more than an hour trip from Metro Manila. It can be found right beside San Miguel's Aguas Potables (large cylindrical concrete water tank built during the American period and now considered a heritage landmark) at N0. 328, Victor St., Poblacion. </span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">BJ Snack House traces its history in 1979 when spouses Vivencio Cruz Chico and Felicidad Ligon Chico put up an eatery that mainly serves "Gotong Baboy", matched with their "Pan de Carne", a culinary specialty they created. Their eatery was a hit and many San Miguelenos became avid customers.</span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The eatery was named after Billy Johnson, Vivencio and Felicidad's grandchild from their only child Gracita Chico Dimacale who took over the business when Felicidad died. The business had been open to serve its customer since it was founded but unfortunately closed in 2007. Just recently, it was reopened by Jam, the youngest son of Gracita, with the help of his childhood friend Lei, due to the clamor of their former customers who wants to have a taste again of their famous gotong baboy and pan de carne.</span></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Many additional dishes was added to the menu when it was reopened. It now has a plethora of snack items which include nachos, pares, footlong, mojos, pancit palabok, fries, lomi, mami, and many more! Aside from just being a snackhouse, it also doubles as a hip bar complete with mini-bar in the second floor.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">We were served with a delicious, but not too salty, rice porridge complete with different toppings such as adobong atay, hardboiled eggs, lechon kawali, and chicharon bulaklak. For those of us who wants to eat rice, tuyo, buro, boiled okra, and fried tofu are also available. It was a Filipino breakfast feast to say the least!</span></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">One of the most famous snack item here is their "Goto Overload", a serving of their gotong baboy with 3 toppings according to the customer's choice. It is affordable for only 49.00 and a favorite of the many customers visiting the place. BJ Snackhouse can be reached through 0916-250-6995 ot through their FB page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bjsnackhouse/" target="_blank">BJ Snack House</a>.</span></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The sun is up and the weather so hot but it got hotter when we got to have our lunch at Thumb's Up. It was really hot because all of the dishes that were served to us has just been cooked while some others are in sizzling plates. That kind of hot is definitely the kind of heat I wouldn't want to miss!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">It was past noon when we arrived at the place. It was good timing for there are only small number of customers left from the bustle of lunch time. We made ourselves comfortable while waiting for the food to be served to us and we were in awe because when all the foods were served - there's almost no free space in the table left!</span></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">To illustrate said awesomeness, here are the dishes served to us: Kilawing Tanigue, Sizzling Bulalo Steak, Pork Sisig, Sizzling Squid, Pancit Bihon, Biko (Bibingkang Malagkit), Atchara, and Kalamay sa Latik. Each of these has three servings for only 12 of us. I was so full after that sumptuous lunch!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Among all the dishes served, I liked the Sizzling Bulalo Steak most. The meat is so tender it easily falls off the bone. The gravy that was showered on the Bulalo complements the meat's taste perfectly making it more savory.</span></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Their atchara is also not to be missed. It was delicate, not too sour, but leaves that "tang" in your mouth needed for you to enjoy your sizzling, fried, or grilled food better. We were told that said atchara was prepared by the owner's elderly relative who still follows the old way of preparing atchara. It can be said that it's a heritage food already!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Aside from what's served to us, they also have many other products for sale such as different sizzling plate meals; silog meals; soups such as sinigang, nilaga, papaitan; different noodle meals such as mami, pancit canton, spaghetti, carbonara; and pica-pica's such as chicharon bulaklak, calamares, chicken lollipop, and many others.</span></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">If you want to be full and satisfied just like us, a visit to this place is a must. They are located at Tecson St., Barangay Poblacion, San Miguel and can be reached at cellphone number 0915-865-3540. For full listing of their products, you may visit their Facebook page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Thumbs-Up-552550208166779/" target="_blank">Thumb's Up!</a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">And here comes a hole-in-the-wall goodness that only San Miguel can truly be proud of - Rasta Taco!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">This joint, though named for their tacos, is more popular because of their chicken wings. It started as a snack stall on December 1, 2016 and grew popular since then. The owner, Mary Ann, shares that their recipes came from just watching youtube videos while infusing her own ingredients and style in their preparation. </span></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Their chicken wings come in 4 different flavors : sweet and chili, honey bbq, sri racha, and their signature flavor, rasta taco. And because I am fortunate to have tasted them all, I can definitely vouch for their superb taste. I actually find them better tasting than many of other restaurant's chicken wings. Theirs taste miles better than a korean-sounding name fastfood's chicken where only the chicken's breading has the flavor but the white meat inside is bland. Their best seller is the BFS - Buffalo wings paired with their equaly tasty Shawarma Rice. Their chicken wings can be ordered in bulk, and delivered to you in a bilao!</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-As5FsZqwjbY/W761dOQDtBI/AAAAAAAACTw/Uo9bVeriM0wmLX0BgaWwtp-2P7AwAvmJQCEwYBhgL/s1600/RT3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-As5FsZqwjbY/W761dOQDtBI/AAAAAAAACTw/Uo9bVeriM0wmLX0BgaWwtp-2P7AwAvmJQCEwYBhgL/s640/RT3.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Aside from the chicken wings, their other product includes fries, beef taco, quesadilla, nachos, taco shells, and burritos. Their stall may be visited for take outs at 379 Rizal St., Barangay Poblacion. As of now, they don't have their own dining facilities yet but you can also order from them online or through mobile phone. Their number is 0917-960-5173 and their Facebook page is <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ByChefSancho/" target="_blank">Rasta Taco</a>. You won't regret trying their products, I promise!</span></div><br />
<i style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">READ THE PART 1 (Amazing Glaze Doughnuts, Milktea Network, Adam's Pizza) here: <a href="https://sanjosenyonggala.blogspot.com/2018/10/san-miguel-bulacan-eats-and-sweets-part1.html">EATS and SWEETS : San Miguel, Bulacan Culinary Tour! Part 1</a></span></i><br />
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<i style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large; text-align: justify;">READ THE PART 2 (Cristy's Pastillas, Inay Goyena's Chicharon, Sweet Bulakenya Foods) here:<a href="http://sanjosenyonggala.blogspot.com/2018/10/eats-and-sweets-san-miguel-bulacan.html">EATS and SWEETS : San Miguel, Bulacan Culinary Tour! Part 2.</a></i>San Josenyong Galahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17411649494261796294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043827945654383268.post-46917938793629532382018-10-07T22:03:00.000-07:002018-10-11T02:43:47.059-07:00EATS and SWEETS : San Miguel, Bulacan Culinary Tour! Part 2<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">San Miguel, the northernmost town of Bulacan, is known for its historicity as well as its many sons and daughters who have played important roles in the country’s path to independence. Biak na Bato, Maximo Viola, heritage and ancestral houses, San Miguel Archangel Parish Church, and Pablo Tecson are just some of the many names, places and things these town is known for. But aside from that, it is also known for its culinary heritage, especially sweets, from where the old name “San Miguel de Mayumo” came from (“mayumo” means “sweet).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I, San Josenyong Gala, was fortunate to be able to be a part of the San Miguel Culinary and Heritage Tour 2018 where a visit to the town’s some heritage sites as well as many food establishments serving culinary and modern cuisine was conducted. The food tour proved that San Miguel is indeed a culinary haven, and a visit to the town will not leave anyone hungry, or unsatisfied.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">This 2<sup>nd</sup> part (out of 4) features food establishments producing 2 of the most famous products of San Miguel, and 1 emerging signature product also deserving to be known as Tatak San Miguel. It’s a must to visit them when you are in town!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>CRISTY AND CLAUDINE’S PASTILLAS AND PASALUBONG<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">San Miguel has been, and always be, known as the land of the tastiest PASTILLAS that is loved by many people, not only in Bulacan but also in many other parts of the Philippines and beyond. Pastillas is one of the most treasured product of San Miguel since time immemorial and the people here has already mastered their unique way of making it. One of the most successful pastillas businesses of the town is Cristy’s Pastillas, now known as Cristy and Claudine’s Pastillas and Pasalubong.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">According to the owner, Claudine, their pastillas making business started in 1968 through her Lola Cristine Garcia. Since then, their pastillas has gone on to become famous and reached many different places. It now comes in different variants such as de Leche, de Yema, de Ube, de Langka, de Dayap, toasted, chocnut, and sugar free.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">While there, our group were able to witness how they make their pastillas and some of us were allowed to try mixing the ingredients while they are cooking. It was definitely a fun experience being able to witness how one of our favorite treats is prepared. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The texture of their pastillas is smooth, and the taste, not too sweet. I brought home a box from Cristy’s and my family and GF liked them because they taste creamy with just the right amount of sweetness perfect for pastillas binge-eating.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Their factory is located at No. 45 Tibagan, San Miguel, Bulacan which also serve as the main branch. They have 2 store branches : 803 Progreso St., Brgy. San Jose, San Miguel; and Stall B & C, Cagayan Valley Rd., Salangan, San Miguel. They can be reached at 0917-800-3105/ 0917-578-3186 and their FB page, <a href="https://web.facebook.com/cristyandclaudinespastillas/" target="_blank">Cristy and Claudine’s Pastillas and Pasalubong</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>INAY GOYENA’s CHICHARON</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">San Miguel Town is the very first place that comes to mind whenever one hears CHICHARON. In this part of the country, chicharon sellers and buyers alike always equate San Miguel to quality chicharon. It is one of the 2 most famous products of the town, the other one is Pastillas. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Of the many chicharon factories in San Miguel, one factory is very famous for its white chicharon : Inay Goyena’s Chicharon. Theirs is on the shade of white instead of the more normal brownish – burnt color. The raw materials for their chicharon is sourced from native pigs and not from imported pig skin which has different and lower quality texture and taste. I was able to taste their newly cooked chicharon and it was heaven! Too bad I have to eat in moderation because… BP guys… J</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">We were also shown how they cooked their chicharon. I was amazed by the large kawali they are using in cooking. It is fried twice, first where the pork rinds are ‘awaken” (ginigising) then transferred to another kawali where it is finally cooked to produce the chicharon we know. We were also shown how the crispy chicharon looks before it is cooked. They call them “antala”.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Inay Goyena’s Chicharon is the go-to place for stations, newspapers, and online blogs who want to feature San Miguel’s Chicharon industry. They have been recently featured in Umagang Kay Ganda for their chicharon business. Their factory is located at 49 Tecson Street, Poblacion, San Miguel. They can be reached at telephone numbers (044)764-0074 and 0917-327-5443. Their Facebook page is <a href="https://web.facebook.com/goyenaschicharon/" target="_blank">Inay Goyena’s Chicharon</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Found just beside the highway, SWEET BULAKENYA FOODS is a storehouse of many pasalubong items which will definitely remind you why the old name of San Miguel includes “Mayumo” (meaning “sweets”). They have Halayang ube, Pastllas de Leche, Yema, Polvoron. They also sell other non-“sweets” items such as empanada, chicharon, crispy mushroom. But their signature product is their very own KESONG PUTI.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">What is Kesong Puti? It is the famous Filipino variant of cheese which is more salty than creamy. It tastes like the white part of salted egg and best for pandesal. Unlike normal cheese which takes time to make, kesong puti takes little time and effort. They have shown us how it is made using only warm, fresh carabao’s milk, warm vinegar, and salt. They were hand mixed and after just some minutes, voila! – there’s the kesong puti!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Sweet Bulakenya also developed other kesong puti –based product. They have the empanadang kesong puti - an empanada stuffed with kesong puti (tasty!); kesong puti nuggets – breaded kesong puti which taste is comparable to a cross between chicken nuggets and tofu nuggets (my little nephews loved them so much!); and kesong puti spread!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">My family and I love all of their products (at least those that I was able to bring home)! Every San Miguel visitor should be wise enough not to leave the town without going to this store and bringing home their goods (which are definitely good!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">It can be found at 3001 Maharlika Highway, Santa Rita, San Miguel beside the Milktea Network. They can be reached at number 0915-939-3526 or at their Facebook page <a href="https://web.facebook.com/SweetBulakenyaFoods/" target="_blank">Sweet Bulakenya Foods</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">READ THE PART 1 (Amazing Glaze Doughnuts, Milktea Network, Adam's Pizza) here: <a href="https://sanjosenyonggala.blogspot.com/2018/10/san-miguel-bulacan-eats-and-sweets-part1.html">EATS and SWEETS : San Miguel, Bulacan Culinary Tour! Part 1</a></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">READ THE PART 3 (BJ Snack House, Thumb's Up, Rasta Taco) here: <a href="https://sanjosenyonggala.blogspot.com/2018/10/eats-and-sweets-san-miguel-bulacan3.html" target="">EATS and SWEETS : San Miguel, Bulacan Culinary Tour! Part 3</a></span></i></div>
San Josenyong Galahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17411649494261796294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043827945654383268.post-61175847142289757682018-10-05T06:58:00.000-07:002018-10-11T02:43:44.177-07:00EATS and SWEETS : San Miguel, Bulacan Culinary Tour! Part 1<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">San Miguel, the northernmost town of Bulacan, is known for its historicity as well as its many sons and daughters who have played important roles in the country’s path to independence. Biak na Bato, Maximo Viola, heritage and ancestral houses, San Miguel Archangel Parish Church, and Pablo Tecson are just some of the many names, places and things these town is known for. But aside from that, it is also known for its culinary heritage, especially sweets, from where the old name “San Miguel de Mayumo” came from (“mayumo” means “sweet). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I, San Josenyong Gala, was fortunate to be able to be a part of the San Miguel Culinary and Heritage Tour 2018 where a visit to the town’s some heritage sites as well as many food establishments serving culinary and modern cuisine was conducted. The food tour proved that San Miguel is indeed a culinary haven, and a visit to the town will not leave anyone hungry, or unsatisfied.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">For those who would be coming to San Miguel, a visit to the following food establishment listed below, just the first part of a 4-part review of excellent food establishments of San Miguel, is a must! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>AMAZING GLAZE/ GRABITES</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Who would be able to resist these mouthwatering doughnuts? I certainly can’t!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I was very surprised to learn that the different donut flavors of Amazing Glaze was created through the imaginative mind of its owner, Cherlyn. According to her, her love for baking started when she was in high school and that love, or maybe we can already call it passion, influenced her heavily to finally put up her own snack house featuring her own creations.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Her donuts bring to mind the famous JCO donut, only with her own twist as well as being more affordable. Aside from Amazing Glaze, the store also doubles as a to-go snack house Grabites offering the well-loved fries, burgers, iced coffee, hot drinks, and even shawarma!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The donuts I have tasted are very satisfying with its soft bite and not-too-sweet glazes and toppings perfect to be paired with a cup of either hot coffee or iced drink. Amazing Glaze/ Grabites is located at the right side front wing of Prince Hypermart San Miguel near San Jose Church. They can be reached through the number 09175237637. Their Facebook Page is <a href="https://web.facebook.com/amazingglazedoughnuts/" target="_blank">Amazing Glaze Doughnuts</a>.</span></div>
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</span></b> <b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">ADAM’s PIZZA</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">A hole in the wall pizza house offering affordable special pizza creations? Look no further, you may find it at San Miguel! Located just in front of the famous San Miguel Church, Adam’ Pizza, named after the owner’s eldest child, is known for their famous Bicho Bites and different flavored pizza. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Having a taste of their pizza will make one wonder if they are really just in a small pizza store in San Miguel or in a full blown pizza house. What made their pizza special is the crust which is not a pre-made crust normally used by many hole-in-the-wall pizza stores but was hand pressed and tossed dough by the owner of the store.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">My favorite flavor is their signature Sisig Pizza. The salty and savory flavor of Sisig blended well with the crust and other toppings. As I have also tasted other flavors, I also recommend Adam’s Supreme and Hawaiian Pizza. Other equally tasty flavors are BBQ Chicken, All Meat, Pepperoni and Ham & Cheese.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Adam's Pizza can be reached through contact nos. 0927-1219-724 and 0906-359-4425. Their FB page is <a href="https://web.facebook.com/FreshlyBakedAdamsPizza/" target="_blank">Adam’s Pizza</a>.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">MILKTEA NETWORK</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">It was already afternoon and our food tour is still not finished! After visiting the San Miguel Arch under the heat of the afternoon sun, we next went to a very appropriate place perfect to quench our thirst: Milktea network.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">According to the owner, they started their milktea business at a time where many San Miguelenos are still not that familiar with them. At first, the business was struggling but after the people finally got to acquire the taste for their products, they started to do better and now have two branches in San Miguel.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The store’s ambience is very relaxing and the staff are well-trained. Their products are at par with other known milktea stores in the metro but is definitely more affordable, thus more enjoyable… and one can actually create their own milk tea flavor! </span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_hteJMiLBMk/W7dcBob2_uI/AAAAAAAACSA/W1CZf-3ZOYs93JyFemhHr_GfBeXAsZtmQCEwYBhgL/s1600/MTN1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1559" data-original-width="1600" height="622" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_hteJMiLBMk/W7dcBob2_uI/AAAAAAAACSA/W1CZf-3ZOYs93JyFemhHr_GfBeXAsZtmQCEwYBhgL/s640/MTN1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Milktea Network has two branches: 1. 64-B Tecson St., Poblacion, San Miguel, 2. Maharlika Highway, Old Sta. Rita, San Miguel. They can be reached at 0936-993-8283/ 0995-554-4417.Their FB Page is <a href="https://web.facebook.com/milktea.network">Milk Tea Net Work</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>READ THE PART 2 (Cristy's Pastillas, Inay Goyena's Chicharon, Sweet Bulakenya Foods) here: <a href="http://sanjosenyonggala.blogspot.com/2018/10/eats-and-sweets-san-miguel-bulacan.html">EATS and SWEETS : San Miguel, Bulacan Culinary Tour! Part 2</a>.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">READ THE PART 3 (BJ Snack House, Thumb's Up, Rasta Taco) here: <a href="https://sanjosenyonggala.blogspot.com/2018/10/eats-and-sweets-san-miguel-bulacan3.html" target="">EATS and SWEETS : San Miguel, Bulacan Culinary Tour! Part 3</a></span></i></span></div>
San Josenyong Galahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17411649494261796294noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043827945654383268.post-79187086042019626392018-10-03T21:08:00.000-07:002019-07-24T01:15:55.923-07:00MALITA : A visit to the Capital of the Philippine's Newest Province<br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">My visit to Malita was a race against time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">On the morning of October 1, 2018, I was in Lake Agco, where I spent the night before. I left the place at 8:00 in the morning going down to the Kidapawan Overland Terminal and arrived there just before 9:00 am. Luckily, I was able to catch a departing bus to Digos as soon as I hopped out of the motorcycle (they call it "skylab") I was riding. I was really on the rush because I want to visit Malita before I catch my flight later that night. The trip to Digos was around 2 hours long. From Digos, I rode an ordinary bus going to Malita and it also took another almost 2 hours. I finally reached Malita at 12:30 PM.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">My travel from Digos to Malita is a very feel good experience, I daresay. The mountains, the coves, the verdant rolling hills, the tall trees... the nature... They all made the 2 hour long travel enjoyable. As I soak into the moment of just watching the scenery outside the bus's window, I forgot (well, intentionally forgot after 1 or 2 shots) to take pictures because I don't want the joy of seeing them in split second be disrupted. I just let them be ingrained in my mind.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Upon reaching Malita, I readily get my lunch at Penongs Malita, a Mang Inasal-like fast food in Davao region because I was already starving. The food is good and there are many choices, including seafood dishes. After having my lunch, I readied myself to explore the Malita town proper.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Malita Municipal Hall</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Malita Municipal hall is just beside Penong's so it was an easy walk. I was greeted with a well-maintained cream colored building with a well taken cared of lawn and front garden. After taking some shots, I proceeded to the office of the Tourism Officer-in-Charge and asked about the spots which I can visit in the town proper. He told me that many of Malita's tourist spots are currently being developed so I won't be able to visit them yet. The LGU would want to ensure first that said tourist spots (including caves, diving resorts, etc.) are tourist ready.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">After that small talk, I continued my town proper tour and visited the newly constructed Davao Occidental Provincial Capitol, at the back of the Malita Municipal Hall. The province of Davao Occidental has just been created in 2013 that's why their capitol has just also been erected. It is composed of only 5 former southernmost towns of Davao del Sur: Malita, Santa Maria, Don Marcelino, Jose Abad Santos, and the island town of Sarangani. Of all these towns, Malita is the largest as well as the most progressive.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Davao Occidental Provincial Capitol</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Just some steps away from the capitol is the Museo Malitaño, a beautiful period house housing artifacts and heritage pieces of the town of Malita. I wasn't able to go inside the museum because it is also under maintenance presently and the Malita Tourism OIC told me that there's no museum curator as of now who can guide me through the displays. Even though I wasn't able to have a peek inside, I was contented seeing the exterior of the house because it is already a museum piece on its own.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Museo Malitano = Malita Museum</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The last place I visited is the town church. It is of simple and modern design and can be found at most 600 meters taking the road in front of Museo Malitaño. I was actually also expecting to see mosques in the town but too bad I saw none. Maybe because I wasn't able to roam much around the town or because I was actually touring so fast so that I will already be able to get on a bus and catch my flight to Manila. It would have been nice if I visited a mosque in the town at least once.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Malita Church</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">At 2:00 PM, I was already at the van terminal to ensure that I would be able to catch my flight that night at 8:00 PM. As I was expecting a 4 hour travel to Davao City, I am already very nervous and sweating a lot because I need to be at the airport at least until 6:30 or I may not be able to catch my flight anymore. Finally, the van left the terminal at 2:48. I was crestfallen but still hopeful I will be able to arrive on time. Fortunately, van travel was faster than bus travel and I was able to reach SM Davao at 5:20. Only another 16 km ride from there and I will already be at the airport. In the end, I was able to catch my flight and made it back to Manila successfully.... and 7k poorer. :) </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tubalan Barangay Hall against the green background</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Finally reaching Malita made me feel extremely good because at last, I was able to visit my 77th Province out of 81!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">TRAVEL TIP : If you are racing against time like me but will do it all just to have a glimpse of Malita, take the van instead of the bus. There are vans from Malita going directly to Davao City and vice versa. Travel time is approximately 2.5 hours compared to bus ride's 3.5 to 4 hours travel time. Fare is Php 200.00.</span></div>
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<br />San Josenyong Galahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17411649494261796294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043827945654383268.post-83772710989589081412018-09-11T02:15:00.001-07:002018-09-11T02:33:35.800-07:00CAMALANIUGAN : Cagayan's Heritage Treasure Trove<i>(This post is part of my 4th Cagayan Province Town hopping last August 19-21, 2018)</i><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Visiting Camalaniugan again is one of the highlights of my 4th Cagayan Province excursion. My first visit to this beautiful town was already 4 years ago and I was only able to see then the present church and its famous <b>Sancta Maria</b> bell, considered to be the oldest bell in the Far East, and definitely the oldest bell in the Philippines. Little did I know then that the quiet town actually harbors 2 more precious heritage treasure.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">San Jacinto de Polonia Church (Camalaniugan Church).</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Camalaniugan is the town one passes by before reaching the famous Cagayan town of Aparri, where the mighty Cagayan River opens up to the Babuyan Channel. Just like Aparri, it is one of the earliest towns to be founded along the banks of the Cagayan River which continued to exist in the present. And this long existence is fortunately evidenced by centuries old structures which would leave people in awe, especially people like me who very much appreciate built heritage.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">From Aparri where I spent the night, I took a jeep and told the driver to drop me off at the road leading to the town church. Unfortunately, the driver had forgotten and I alight across the town cemetery, a good 900 meters walk to the church amidst a scorching hot midday sun so I decided to ride a tricycle (which only cost 1o.00). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">When I reached the church, there was a funeral mass (which I am already getting used to because I almost always chance upon funeral masses during visits to different churches) so I just took photos of the church's facade. At the side of the present San Jacinto de Polonia Church is a</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> newly built brick tower housing Far East Asia's oldest bell cast in 1595, as well as other Spanish-era bells.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">It is fortunate that these bells survive because normally, when a bell is damaged, it is melted to be cast as a new bell. <i>Upon seeing these bells,</i> <i>I remember our town's, San Jose del Monte, Spanish-era bells dated 1793 (one of the oldest in the whole province of Bulacan), 1813, 1867, and 1884</i>.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>CAMALANIUGAN CHURCH RUINS</b></span><br />
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</b></span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">And here comes the reason why I was so excited to come back to Camalaniugan: the Camalaniugan Church Ruins! It can be found just some meters away at the back of the present church and was developed to be some sort of a riverside park by the townspeople. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I really can't imagine why I missed this the first time I visited. Maybe it was because of poor research prior to the visit, or because my focus then was the more famous town of Lallo. Whatever the reason may be, I have set my sight to visiting the town again upon learning that there is a church ruins not far from the present church.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">According to the painted historical tidbits about the ruins, the church is the third to be built among the old churches of the whole Cagayan. Unfortunately, the original church was gutted by fire in 1719, was rebuilt, but again destroyed by the typhoon of 1845. Later, the church was transferred to it's present location but the townsfolk cared for the original church site and maintained its ruins. A slope protection project was carried out at the west part of the ruins to prevent it from being eaten wholly by the mighty Cagayan River.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">After spending some minutes appreciating the ruins and the good view of the river beside it, I set out to visit another treasure of the town - which would really impress me later!</span><br />
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</b></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I can say with conviction that the most fascinating heritage structure of Camalaniugan is it's perfectly and wholly preserved giant <b><i>horno</i></b>, which can be found 1 km. from the church.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I was astounded when I saw it because I was actually expecting just some kind of a horno ruins, but no, it was as intact as a new horno can be! It actually looks more like a fortress to me than a large oven at the first glance but I understood better when I saw it fully. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">This horno is the brick kiln used to bake bricks to be used in building different brick structures such as bridges, churches, and municipios in Cagayan, most probably in the northern part of the porovince. It is not being used to manufacture bricks at the present anymore but was preserved for posterity and a remembrance of the past.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The horno, just like the church, can be found beside the river. It was to facilitate the easier transportation of the bricks made in the giant horno to the different places where it will be used due to the fact that the main course of travel then was through water.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Visitors are allowed to go up the topmost part of the horno and get a 360 degrees view of the town, including the Cagayan River. Being situated beside a river, the horno also faced the problem faced by the Calamaniugan Church Ruins: the danger of the riverside where it is located to be eaten up by the river. Fortunately, unlike the ruins which is literally at the side of the river, the horno is located some meters away from the river. Added to that, the local government had successfully finished a slope protection project (same project extending to the ruins) which further ensured the survival of this giant horno for the years to come. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">My second visit to the town was a very satisfying one (despite the heat of the sun) as I was able to visit all the spots I came here for. Next target : Lallo (for the 2nd time around!).</span></div>
San Josenyong Galahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17411649494261796294noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043827945654383268.post-17590578442046487132018-03-18T03:10:00.000-07:002018-03-18T03:18:28.321-07:00San Jose del Monte Free College Entrance Exam Review 2018!!!<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Short break again from travel related posts...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The San Jose del Monte Free College Entrance Exam Review Guild (SJDM FCEER GUILD) now formally announces its 11th year of Summer Review Program to incoming Grade 12 students of different High Schools and Colleges from San Jose del Monte.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">For a brief background, SJDM FCEER Guild is a group composed of </span><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">former students of the different high schools in SJDM who are now students/graduates of different Philippine colleges such as, but not limited to, UP, PUP, PNU, and TUP. </span></span></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Almost all of the instructors, except the pioneers, are graduates of the project. </span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: justify;">The project has been running for 8 years already and has actually been featured in <a href="http://sanjosenyonggala.blogspot.com/2013/09/san-josenyong-galas-community-project.html">GMA NewsTV's program, Good News</a>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: justify;"><b>BRIEF HISTORY </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: start;">This project started when I, together with my best buddy Euel Von Asuncion and two other equally awesome classmates, Jay dela Cruz and Bernadette Magsalin, met to plan for a college entrance exam review project for our alma mater's, San Jose del Monte High School, incoming 4th year students. The project was first implemented in 2006, and since then has been conducted every summer. </span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> The project's aim is to help graduating students of the different high schools of San Jose del Monte City to prepare for the incoming college entrance exams in their senior year without the need to pay exorbitant fees charged by different College Entrance Exam Review Center.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: justify;">From 2006 to 2012, the review classes were conducted at San Jose del Monte High School while the 2013 and 2014 review classes found its new home at Paradise Farms National High School. It was not conducted in 2015 and 2016 because of the implementation of the K12 program but was conducted again starting 2017.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: justify;"><b>REVIEW CLASS 2018</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: justify;">This year's review will be conducted at Paradise Farms National High School starting April 7 until June 3, every Saturday and Sunday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Anyone who is a bonafide senior high school student of a college or high school located in the City of San Jose del Monte are qualified to join the review program. Students who are studying in a high school not located in San Jose del Monte may contact Kuya Romel at 09985743756 or may comment below for consideration.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Because the guild is composed of many kind souls who want to volunteer, their service will definitely be free. We will be shouldering our own food and fare and nothing will ever come from the reviewees. However, the instructors would not be able to shoulder the expenses for the review materials that the students themselves will be using. Because of this, a measly amount of 10.00 per day of class will be collected by one of the students (who will be elected as the class treasurer) to be spent for all the hand-outs, test papers, mock exam booklets, and other materials they will be needing. Absolutely, no amount will go to the instructors.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">1. This review is for <b>ALL </b>College Entrance Exam Review and not for a specific college entrance exam alone (ex: UPCAT, ACET, DLSUAT, PUPCET, BSUAT, etc.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">2. Because the school where the review will be conducted (Paradise Farms National High School) is far from public vehicles and stores where the students may buy food, it is strongly encouraged that they bring their own snack and packed lunch. They won't be allowed to go out of school during lunch break for their safety. The parents/guardians may also bring them their lunch/snack.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">3. We will be asking excuse letter from the parent/guardian whenever the student will be absent in order for us to be sure that the parents know that their ward did not attend the review.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">4. Registration for the Summer 2018 Review Program is online. To register, answer the following registration form: </span></div>
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<b><a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScRqrv3Krj-c1m3DZrK1xMWwt5e0MyAdq6-RhZ10WC662DLxg/viewform" style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;" target="_blank">Online Registration Form</a><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">BE READY WITH YOUR 1x1 clear digital photo to be uploaded in the same form. </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">and download the waiver from the registration form above. If you can't download it there, you may download it through the link below: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YfDBMHi9NQC5oGuCWuokPK7uDxV6Z1G-/view" target="_blank"><b>Summer Review 2018 Waiver</b></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Please read and answer the form carefully. Waiver should be printed in a long bond paper. Thanks and see you on the first day of the review class!</span></div>
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San Josenyong Galahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17411649494261796294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043827945654383268.post-48063178104159859612018-02-27T23:24:00.002-08:002018-02-27T23:25:18.785-08:00San Andres : The Town Once Known as Calolbon <i>(This is part of my Visit Catanduanes 2015 series. For other Catanduanes posts, just click the links after this article)</i><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The third Catanduanes town I was able to visit is San Andres. This town was once officially called as "Calolbon" but was renamed "San Andres" on June 18, 1964. The town was named after its patron saint but is still called by the locals by its former name, Calolbon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The very first site I visited in this town is its church. Just like in Virac, I was not impressed by the church's facade. I thought it was a modern one but when I saw the interior, I was greeted by the church's very thick wall and realized it is also a century-old church! It was a shame the church's facade was renovated. It must have been a beautiful one before the renovation but something must have happened leading to that change of facade. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Parish of St. Andrew was founded, I presume, on 1798 (because that was the date when the first parish priest as well as the first gobernadorcillo served Calolbon) and the original church </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">(of which original walls still stand up to this day) </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">must have been built some years after that. I am very much interested to see how the original facade looks like.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The church's retablo is the same with many other church retablo around the country and there's nothing extraordinary but the over-all feel inside the church is still that of an old one. It must be the extra thick walls that gives that feeling of nostalgia.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Lady of Sorrow Church. Bato sa Paloway.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">After that visit to Calolbon Church, is a visit to another one : the Our Lady of Sorrow Church in Barangay Batong Paloway. This site is a very famous pilgrim destination in the whole island of Catanduanes as well as nearby provinces of Bicol. It houses the famous image of the Our Lady of Sorrow printed on a piece of rock and is said to be miraculous. The story is a man named "Pacio" found that piece of rock under an "iba" tree and this same rock is miraculous and was instrumental in curing ailments and diseases of the pilgrims visiting the ermita where it was enshrined. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Interior of Our Lady of Sorrow Church. Bato sa Paloway.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The church is actually a small but beautifully made chapel. It can be found right at the side of the road and is almost always open to anyone who would want to visit it to see the image.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">San Andres Municipal Hall</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I also visited the municipal hall of San Andres which is located on top of a hill reachable by climbing the concrete steps in front of it. Once in front of the municipal hall, I had a bird's eye view of much of the town of Calolbon.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">One other attraction of San Andres (which I am so regretful I wasn't able to visit) is the Luyang Cave. It can be found just at the side of the road between Virac and San Andres, and it would have been great if I was also able to visit it given that we passed that very same road from Virac going to San Andres! Kuya driver could have told me about it but lo! he didn't...</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GuxSFWq0Zwg/WMuD7twUUVI/AAAAAAAAB4E/VCrHxrhVQxEyler_xFm26OY19_YViHfIgCLcB/s1600/Luyang1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GuxSFWq0Zwg/WMuD7twUUVI/AAAAAAAAB4E/VCrHxrhVQxEyler_xFm26OY19_YViHfIgCLcB/s640/Luyang1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Luyang Cave. (credit to AJSolero of <a href="http://sanandres.catanduanes.gov.ph/luyangcave/" target="_blank">San Andres gov't website</a>)</td></tr>
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For the locals of Calolbon, this cave is a historical one for according to local legend, many people perished inside the cave in an event</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> that happened in the 18th Century. Because of unceasing Moro attack to the place, the people used the cave as a hideout. When the Moros found out that they are hiding in the cave, they moved to attack it and the people hiding there burned the pieces of woods, leaves, and twigs they used to conceal the cave's entrance in the hope that it will deter the Moros from entering the cave. Unfortunately, the wind direction is inward and it blew the smoke towards the people inside, suffocating them to death. Until now, memorial service is celebrated there annually for the memories of those who perished in that tragic event.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sYk0VsYHTTc/VUGgm1hTW6I/AAAAAAAABow/DQSKev713pI/s1600/sanandres6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sYk0VsYHTTc/VUGgm1hTW6I/AAAAAAAABow/DQSKev713pI/s1600/sanandres6.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">San Andres Passenger Terminal. San Andres Port.<br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">After roaming around the town of San Andres (Calolbon), I ate my lunch at a carinderia near the San Andres Passenger Terminal where I stayed waiting for the departure of the ferry scheduled to go to Tabaco, Albay that afternoon. San Andres was the last Catanduanes town I have visited that day... and up to the present. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OaWCfUNdR5c/VUGg5VWVMkI/AAAAAAAABpE/jlaNSiF97Ao/s1600/sanandres8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OaWCfUNdR5c/VUGg5VWVMkI/AAAAAAAABpE/jlaNSiF97Ao/s1600/sanandres8.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">San Andres Port</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Read more about Catanduanes:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Catanduanes : Roaming Around Luzon's Easternmost Province</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Virac : The Island of the Howling Wind's Capital</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><a href="https://sanjosenyonggala.blogspot.com/2018/02/bato.html">Bato : Town of an Old Church, a Shrine, and a Long Bridge</a> </i></span><br />
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San Josenyong Galahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17411649494261796294noreply@blogger.com2Bayan ng San Andres, Lalawigan ng Catanduanes, Pilipinas13.6113216 124.0768101999999513.3644611 123.75408669999996 13.8581821 124.39953369999995tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043827945654383268.post-2729793556527819092018-02-27T23:22:00.001-08:002018-02-27T23:26:47.570-08:00Bato : Town of an Old Church, a Shrine, and a Long Bridge <i>(This is part of my Visit Catanduanes 2015 series. For other Catanduanes posts, click the links after this article.)</i><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The 2nd town of Catanduanes I was able to visit (actually the main target of this trip) is BATO, the home of a very beautiful century-old church. This town lies just 8 kilometers east of Virac, and can be reached by passenger jeeps or chartered tricycle.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OSOwapQuZMQ/VUGOK63RWKI/AAAAAAAABm8/-bRaTw7phzs/s1600/bato3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OSOwapQuZMQ/VUGOK63RWKI/AAAAAAAABm8/-bRaTw7phzs/s1600/bato3.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">San Juan Bautista Church. Bato Church. Bato, Catanduanes.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">The church is the main tourist attraction of Bato because of its old-world charm beautifully preserved by the people of the town. Building of the church was started in the early 1800's and was finished at the middle of the same century - spanning over 50 decades. It is situated by the river and the first one to welcome visitors upon arriving at the town from Virac. </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bato Church Facade</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">The church exudes an elegance comparable to an old but experienced and regale lady capable of making you gasp just by looking at her. This may be because the townspeople was successful in preserving the church's look, altering nothing in its exterior appearance, letting it age gracefully. The growth of small plants on the walls and bell tower made with mortar, coral stones, and lime stones added to the over all aged look of the structure.</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wgBEFz-uFis/VUGRDNQcHpI/AAAAAAAABn8/0TS22SzFAuA/s1600/bato92.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wgBEFz-uFis/VUGRDNQcHpI/AAAAAAAABn8/0TS22SzFAuA/s400/bato92.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bato Church Outer Wall</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On both sides of the church can be seen large buttresses protecting the structure from damages caused by earthquake, if ever there will be. For those parts without buttress, the thick wall of the church does the work.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0OSXYtH6PGc/VUGOIfUEg3I/AAAAAAAABm0/0PFPw43i6v0/s1600/bato2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="515" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0OSXYtH6PGc/VUGOIfUEg3I/AAAAAAAABm0/0PFPw43i6v0/s640/bato2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bato Church Altar</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">While the exterior of the church is perfectly preserved, the interior is another case. Renovation is evident with the modern appearance of the altar and the ceiling, new floor tiles and newer interior pieces of furniture. The growth of mosses on the interior walls of the church gives its age away though. </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bato Church Inner Walls</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Near the church is Bato Municipal Hall, also situated along the right side of the Bato River (if you are coming from Virac). The municipal hall is a full contrast of the church though because of its modern architecture.</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_OWkNCTkMAA/VUGOrlDB_II/AAAAAAAABnM/ewNu89ikCRY/s1600/bato5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="438" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_OWkNCTkMAA/VUGOrlDB_II/AAAAAAAABnM/ewNu89ikCRY/s1600/bato5.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bato Municipal Hall</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Just before reaching the other side of Bato River where Bato Church is located, one has to cross Bato Bridge first from the road on the other side of the river. This bridge is the longest one in Catanduanes, built over Bato River which effectively divides Bato town into east and west district. When the bridge was not yet there, people used to ride bancas to cross the river and reach the other part of the town.</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A-p9FcoZNv4/VUGOm14ForI/AAAAAAAABnE/NGQdM9rNStg/s1600/bato6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A-p9FcoZNv4/VUGOm14ForI/AAAAAAAABnE/NGQdM9rNStg/s1600/bato6.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bato Bridge</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Another historical and religious site one can visit in Bato is the Diocesan Shrine of the Holy Cross of Batalay, located 3.8 kms. southeast of the town proper and can be found near the beach.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4-stNrwGZog/VUGPNKkpGyI/AAAAAAAABnc/9w1HNjIdpZE/s1600/bato7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="528" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4-stNrwGZog/VUGPNKkpGyI/AAAAAAAABnc/9w1HNjIdpZE/s1600/bato7.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Batalay Shrine</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">The shrine is of modern and simple architecture but what is being visited here by the devotees is the location itself where the first cross in the whole of Catanduanes was planted by the Spaniards. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fr. Diego de Herrera's supposed grave</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">In the yard of the shrine can be found the supposed grave of Fray Diego de Herrera who died in Batalay after arriving there on board the galleon Espiritu Santo. He was martyred on site when he tried to introduce Christianity to the natives. Other stories that abound in the internet, about the place and what really happened there in succeeding years need more verification so I chose not to relate them here.</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-52YHkGohkWQ/VUGQOP7exDI/AAAAAAAABnk/AUc5Fb7NH98/s1600/bato9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-52YHkGohkWQ/VUGQOP7exDI/AAAAAAAABnk/AUc5Fb7NH98/s400/bato9.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Batalay Shrine Facade</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Owing to its historicity based on verifiable facts (as against legends), the Rev. Bishop of Legazpi Msgr. Teotimo Pacis signed a decree declaring the Holy Cross of Batalay as diocesan shrine on April 21, 1973, almost 400 years after Fr. Diego de Herrera's death. Likewise, the National Historical Commission installed a historical marker in the site the same year.</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Batalay Shrine Historical Marker</td></tr>
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</span> <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The wordings of the marker is in Filipino. In English, it reads:</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"BATALAY SHRINE</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As an appreciation of the Katandungan people's native custom</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> transmitted across generations, and to commemorate the </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Augustinian priest, Fray Diego de Herrera, the </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">first Christian Missionary of the Legaspi-Urdaneta Expedition </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">buried in this place on 1576. Visited by pilgrims from the </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">whole province of Catanduanes.<br />
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The Bishop of Legazpi declared this site the </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Diocesan Shrine of the Holy Cross </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">on April 1, 1973."</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After my visit to Batalay Shrine, I continued on with my wandering around, now going back to the capital to see more of its attractions.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Read more about Catanduanes:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Catanduanes : Roaming Around Luzon's Easternmost Province</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Virac : The Island of the Howling Wind's Capital</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><a href="https://sanjosenyonggala.blogspot.com/2018/02/san-andres.html">San Andres : The Town Once Known as Calolbon </a></i></span><br />
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San Josenyong Galahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17411649494261796294noreply@blogger.com0Bayan ng Bato, Lalawigan ng Catanduanes, Pilipinas13.6 124.2999999999999513.4765265 124.13863849999996 13.723473499999999 124.46136149999995tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043827945654383268.post-14442593513185680092018-01-23T01:16:00.000-08:002018-01-23T22:20:48.489-08:00Alay kay San Ildefonso : Bulak Festival 2018!<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I was meant to witness this year's Bulak Festival of San Ildefonso, Bulacan.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3dBDduRG_aI/WmcCItd_hBI/AAAAAAAACCQ/mtSLA91tIi8thGNcW6WvIf2RtR_UnEjKwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_4285.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1128" data-original-width="1600" height="449" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3dBDduRG_aI/WmcCItd_hBI/AAAAAAAACCQ/mtSLA91tIi8thGNcW6WvIf2RtR_UnEjKwCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_4285.JPG" width="640" /></a></span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: justify;">That was what I realized when from out of not having any idea that it was already going to happen, I came across a Facebook post saying that it indeed is going to be celebrated this January 22, 2017. I immediately left a private message to the Mayor's FB Page asking about some other details about the celebration but I got no reply - and I understand that they may be very busy for the preparation.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: justify;">At first, I was having second thoughts about attending the festival because I've got no idea what to expect and what parts of celebration I should witness (given that there is so little information in the internet about it). But the curious part of me prevailed. San Ildefonso, after all, is one of the towns of Bulacan and I have plans to visit and witness all Bulacan festivals. Aside from that, I was really curious at how would a festival with "bulak" or "cotton" as its centerpiece would look like.</span><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RiboDhrfYHA/WmcFdbv2JeI/AAAAAAAACC8/aYAq_iC1_Ew65s6FsKEJcYXYs0lgusxWQCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_4318.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1247" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RiboDhrfYHA/WmcFdbv2JeI/AAAAAAAACC8/aYAq_iC1_Ew65s6FsKEJcYXYs0lgusxWQCEwYBhgL/s640/IMG_4318.JPG" width="497" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: justify;">Bulak Festival is San Ildefonso's official town festival. Primarily, the festival is celebrated in honor of the town's patron, San Ildefonso but it also gives honor to the "kapok" plant, also known as "bulak" which played a very important part in the town's history. BULAK is actually San Ildefonso's old name when it was still just a barrio under the neighboring town of San Rafael.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I, together with my girlfriend April, arrived in San Ildefonso at exactly 2:00 PM, amidst heavy traffic and scorching sun. Because the cars were not able to move towards the municipal hall anymore, we decided to just walk towards the venue and saw even more people. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Fortunately, we arrive at the exact moment the street dance and parade are just going to start. And we started witnessing the fun, lively, and colorful Bulak Festival!</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aQro0lPPGmw/WmcAkNWnAmI/AAAAAAAACBw/BIJc1PEQyW42FyVf0a25ixzGeeQMRoZ0QCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_4048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1204" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aQro0lPPGmw/WmcAkNWnAmI/AAAAAAAACBw/BIJc1PEQyW42FyVf0a25ixzGeeQMRoZ0QCEwYBhgL/s400/IMG_4048.JPG" width="300" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ywDx6zdyS8A/WmcCAfopIfI/AAAAAAAACCY/wSyQ6xuxaz8U98nxFbPZV2eOzku9HUnBgCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_4260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ywDx6zdyS8A/WmcCAfopIfI/AAAAAAAACCY/wSyQ6xuxaz8U98nxFbPZV2eOzku9HUnBgCEwYBhgL/s400/IMG_4260.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The costumes of the street dancers are awesome and very vivid with colors. It shows the artistry of the San Ildefonso folks as well as their resourcefulness. I had fun taking shots of the street dancers, and mingling with them even under the heat of the sun. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Aside from the street dancers, included in the parade are many floats which are equally beautiful and colorful. Each float is decorated with materials primarily made with cotton - some are shaped as vegetables, flowers, wings, and as vestments of an image of San Ildefonso.</span><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-51HmivZd9yc/WmcE8x6LGnI/AAAAAAAACC4/EBlMFJd7BuomlRIocmDG8kobuZSg1Hb2gCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_3921.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1045" data-original-width="1600" height="418" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-51HmivZd9yc/WmcE8x6LGnI/AAAAAAAACC4/EBlMFJd7BuomlRIocmDG8kobuZSg1Hb2gCEwYBhgL/s640/IMG_3921.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: justify;">I definitely enjoyed taking part in this years Bulak Festival. Not only because of the street dancers but also because of the reveling audience! The national highway is thick with people watching the parade and I felt the excitement and happiness emanating from the crowd. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: justify;">The only problem I have is a major one though : transportation. The traffic was brought to a stand still that many people who watched the parade cannot go home, even if they want to. It was harder for visitors without their own car like me because no public transportation is available, given that the place where it all happened was a national highway. I was already waiting for a ride home at 5:00 PM but I was only able to ride a jeep </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: justify;">going to San Miguel </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: justify;">at 7:45 PM. </span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It was an adventure as well as a misadventure, but the fact remains that the festival itself impressed me much, though not to the point that I will be back next year to witness it again against all odds, unless the transportation problem is solved. :) </span></div>
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</span>San Josenyong Galahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17411649494261796294noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043827945654383268.post-63499598336745654422017-12-14T00:51:00.000-08:002017-12-21T18:21:44.190-08:00Bulacan's Old Brick Train Stations : Reminders of A Century Past<div style="text-align: justify;">
Before the advent of all light rail transits in the metro (MRT 3, LRT1, LRT2, MRT 7), there was the Ferrocaril de Manila-Dagupan first, a heavy railway that runs from Tutuban in Manila all the way to Dagupan, Pangasinan. This railway was opened during the latter part of the Spanish Occupation in November 1892, just when the revolution against the Spanish authority is about to break out.</div>
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The province of Bulacan, as well as its citizen benefited much from this railway because the transportation became easier for them, and traveling to Manila or up north until Dagupan, became much more comfortable. The movement of products from the province to other neighboring provinces, towns, and cities also became much more fluid. Seven stations were built in Bulacan, starting from Meycauayan, then Marilao, Bocaue, Bigaa (Balagtas), Guiguinto, Malolos Y Barasoain, and finally Calumpit. </div>
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For so many decades, these railway and train stations became part of Bulakenyo's life and consciousness. Everyday, the trains would pass by and people from the towns where stations can be found hustle around riding or alighting from the train. Some of them are busy offering their goods to the passengers around the stations while some are just loitering around to watch the trains and people come and go.<br />
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Now, after more than a hundred year, only the brick train stations of the railways remains. In Bulacan, there are still 5 remaining stations of which one (1) is totally in ruins while 4 are still mightily standing (whole, or in part). Nothing remains from the two of them (Bocaue and Marilao). Let us now trace the Ferrocarril de Manila-Dagupan's remaining Bulacan brick stations starting from south going north.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">MEYCAUAYAN STATION</span></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Sfr5IrHEFQA/WiY_K1mo4RI/AAAAAAAAB84/XKD37S9YinAUywXYPMyYJMGIX8kZOluVgCLcBGAs/s1600/1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1274" data-original-width="1600" height="508" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Sfr5IrHEFQA/WiY_K1mo4RI/AAAAAAAAB84/XKD37S9YinAUywXYPMyYJMGIX8kZOluVgCLcBGAs/s640/1.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meycauayan Station. Philippine National Railways.</td></tr>
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This old train station stands proud in the middle of a grassy land on the left side of McArthur Highway. This is the second station in Bulacan after Polo station. When Polo (now Valenzuela City) became part of Metro Manila in the 1970's, Meycauayan Station effectively became Ferrocaril de Manila-Dagupan's first station in Bulacan.<br />
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Among all Bulacan train stations, this is the only one with a 2nd floor still standing. It is currently dilapidated, and in a very sad state. The last time this station was operational was in 1997, and was closed together with the remaining stations of the PNR North Line (Caloocan, Malabon, Valenzuela).<br />
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<b><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">MARILAO AND BOCAUE STATION</span></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5CaM6LCAy-o/WjIxPiDyW4I/AAAAAAAAB9k/J-3cEk_es5E40zGssGOrwIpPaiDIdVW6QCLcBGAs/s1600/Bocaue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="330" data-original-width="508" height="258" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5CaM6LCAy-o/WjIxPiDyW4I/AAAAAAAAB9k/J-3cEk_es5E40zGssGOrwIpPaiDIdVW6QCLcBGAs/s400/Bocaue.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Bocaue Station. Philippine National Railways. </td></tr>
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After Meycauayan, Marilao Station is next followed by Bocaue Station. Marilao Station serves the whole Marilao town while Bocaue Station serves the whole of Bocaue and some western villages of Santa Maria. Unfortunately, no remains of both station can be found nowadays. A picture of the Bocaue Station (above) survives though. The picture was taken from "Las Estaciones Ferrocarril de Manila-Dagupan" by Maximo Noche Lopez del Castillo accessible<i><b> <a href="http://www.icomosphilippines.com/2006/04/las-estaciones-ferrocarril-manila.html" style="text-decoration-line: underline;" target="_blank">here</a></b></i>.<br />
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These two stations were operational until 1991, and was promptly closed the same year because of the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo.<br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;"><b>BIGAA STATION</b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9Xoo2qvgLKo/WiY-9DiwAyI/AAAAAAAAB8w/U6D-x8c3NEoUqH-xd2j_0Q_MMolCwyQ7ACLcBGAs/s1600/2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1188" data-original-width="1600" height="474" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9Xoo2qvgLKo/WiY-9DiwAyI/AAAAAAAAB8w/U6D-x8c3NEoUqH-xd2j_0Q_MMolCwyQ7ACLcBGAs/s640/2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bigaa Station. Philippine National Railways.</td></tr>
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This station can be found at the present day town of Balagtas (Bigaa is the old name). It still stands whole and serve as an outpost (not sure if barangay or PNR outpost though). It was once a very important station because it serves two northern lines, the first one is the original line going to Dagupan, while the 2nd one is the Cabanatuan line. It actually served as the terminus of that 2nd line.</div>
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The Cabanatuan line starts from Bigaa, passing through different northern Bulacan towns of Plaridel, Pulilan, Baliwag, San Ildefonso, and San Miguel; then Nueva Ecija towns of San Isidro, Gapan, Penaranda, Santa Rosa; then finally, Cabanatuan. This line was abandoned after World War II, was reopened in 1969, and abandoned again in 1980.<br />
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After the Cabanatuan line ceased operation, Bigaa Station continued to serve the people of Balagtas as part of the original main line going to Dagupan. It was finally closed in 1991, together with Marilao, Bocaue, Guiguinto, and Malolos because of Mt. Pinatubo's eruption.<br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;"><b>GUIGUINTO STATION</b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vd3iH_2mO9U/WiY_GXPZ57I/AAAAAAAAB80/NPpbfUDbV94HvLaXsKTX7wqIXSc3YL4-gCLcBGAs/s1600/3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1230" data-original-width="1600" height="492" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vd3iH_2mO9U/WiY_GXPZ57I/AAAAAAAAB80/NPpbfUDbV94HvLaXsKTX7wqIXSc3YL4-gCLcBGAs/s640/3.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guiguinto Station. Philippine National Railways.</td></tr>
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This station used to serve all of Guiguinto town and neighboring villages of other towns. It is now just ruins and only the southern and western wall is standing. This is very much appalling considering this station is part of Guiguinto, as well as the national history. It was made famous by an incident during the revolution when the Katipuneros ambushed Fr. Leocadio Sanches, Guiguinto's parish priest, together with six other Spanish priest and a doctor, as part of the Katipunan's move to lead Philippines to freedom.<br />
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It was operational until 1991 but was closed down along with the others along Marilao-Malolos segment because of Mt. Pinatubo's eruption. </div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;"><b>MALOLOS STATION</b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lh1hl5JQx3w/WiY_77W9l5I/AAAAAAAAB9E/Xqpug9XPp_codONtbGQV4fohWKFt1HqiQCLcBGAs/s1600/4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lh1hl5JQx3w/WiY_77W9l5I/AAAAAAAAB9E/Xqpug9XPp_codONtbGQV4fohWKFt1HqiQCLcBGAs/s640/4.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Malolos Station. Philippine National Railway.</td></tr>
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This station is still maintained and currently serves as an office for some PNR personnel. It was named Estacion de Barasoain Y Malolos for it serves both town then, Barasoain being just around 500-800 meters away from the station.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/philippinetrains/images/2/2c/Barasoian_malolos.png/revision/latest?cb=20170626115848&path-prefix=tl" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="551" data-original-width="800" height="275" src="https://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/philippinetrains/images/2/2c/Barasoian_malolos.png/revision/latest?cb=20170626115848&path-prefix=tl" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old and original Barasoain Y Malolos Station.</td></tr>
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The current station is not the original design but a restructured one. The original one, pictured above, was destroyed in 1945, and was replaced with the current one. This station was closed in 1991, during Corazon Aquino Administration, along with all the Bulacan stations from this to Marilao due to Mt. Pinatubo's eruption.</div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;"><b>CALUMPIT STATION</b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-maPptQSZO1Q/WiY_xqi4f6I/AAAAAAAAB9A/GjlSWazpHOs8cgFOlVIx3tD_oE3vxp_twCLcBGAs/s1600/5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1197" data-original-width="1600" height="478" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-maPptQSZO1Q/WiY_xqi4f6I/AAAAAAAAB9A/GjlSWazpHOs8cgFOlVIx3tD_oE3vxp_twCLcBGAs/s640/5.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Calumpit Station. Philippine National Railway. </td></tr>
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Among all remaining Bulacan Old Brick Train Station, this one is the most complete for even the place where passenger waits still stand complete with the roofings! Calumpit Local Government should be commended for the very good job they have done preserving this piece of history and heritage. This is the last station in Bulacan because the next one is Apalit which is already in Pampanga. It closed down in 1989 when the Tarlac-Malolos segment of the PNR ceased operation.<br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;"><b>In Conclusion... </b></span><br />
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These Old Train Stations <span style="text-align: justify;">serves as a reminder that once upon a time, a mighty railway runs north up to Dagupan, which can be considered a big transportation feat during those times... and Bulacan was part of that! These "estaciones" now become part of the history and heritage not only of Bulacan, but of the whole nation as well, making them deserving to be preserved, even just for posterity.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="text-align: justify;">But the threat to their preservation is real. There is a new Northrail Project which aims to revive the PNR North Main Line, using the same right of way as the old one (because it is still owned by the Philippine National Railways by the way). It means these old stations will also also become part of that revived project. The question is: will they be left alone, or be demolished so that newer and sleeker stations be built in their stead? I hope it will be the former. PNR should find ways on how these stations be preserved without being an obstacle on building new ones. After all, they also forms part of the rich history of the agency/company, as well as the whole nation!</span></div>
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<i>Sources:</i><br />
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</i> <a href="http://pnr.gov.ph/" target="_blank"><i>Philippine National Railways</i></a><br />
<i><a href="http://tl.philippinetrains.wikia.com/" target="_blank">Philippine Trains Wikia</a></i><br />
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<br />San Josenyong Galahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17411649494261796294noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043827945654383268.post-10628074053650804912017-08-17T00:17:00.000-07:002018-01-09T01:37:06.931-08:00Dakak : Food, Beach, Adventure and Many More!<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Who wouldn't want good food, white beach, classy accommodations, thrilling adventures, luxury sports? You can experience them all at DAKAK, the most famous park and beach resort in Mindanao!</span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wW1f1DSZ4fU/WZENlyD5kYI/AAAAAAAAB6o/Rm82yLZGZYAzBPugu9dZyfZjVhY2BRMugCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_9729.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="940" data-original-width="1600" height="376" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wW1f1DSZ4fU/WZENlyD5kYI/AAAAAAAAB6o/Rm82yLZGZYAzBPugu9dZyfZjVhY2BRMugCPcBGAYYCw/s640/IMG_9729.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This resort is tucked in a large "once-upon-a-time-forest" area in the north of Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte. Its name is actually an apt description of the very place where it can be found for it is a portmanteau of two Visayan words "<b>dako</b>" (large) and "<b>kakahuyan</b>" (woods/forest).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Dakak has always been the gem of Dapitan Tourism alongside Rizal Shrine. For many years, tourists from many parts of the world flock to Zamboanga del Norte to experience Dakak and all the things it can offer. With the continuous discovery and increase in popularity of of many other virgin beaches around the country, there was a time that Dakak's popularity waned but through the effort of the Dapitan Tourism Council and the new management of the resort, it is now back with a bang!</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I2zSOnpf9ps/WZENmBfAcNI/AAAAAAAAB6o/vBRoEiiuG440fHpFElB1cL9io_-xEh57ACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_0450.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I2zSOnpf9ps/WZENmBfAcNI/AAAAAAAAB6o/vBRoEiiuG440fHpFElB1cL9io_-xEh57ACPcBGAYYCw/s640/IMG_0450.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the rooms where I stayed</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I personally experienced many of the good things this resort can offer to its guests when I came to Dapitan City to cover the Kinabayo Festival (<i>read more about this festival </i><a href="https://sanjosenyonggala.blogspot.com/2017/07/kinabayo-festival-2017-showcase-of.html" style="font-style: italic;" target="_blank">here</a>) last July 2017. I stayed here for four (4) days and I can definitely say that it is one of the most comfortable stay in a hotel I had in the many years of my travel. When I was there, I learned that the hotel is with a new management and they have recently added many more activities and amenities to its existing range of services in order top further extend its reach. It has opened more restaurants and added more rooms to accommodate the increasing demand for a luxurious yet affordable hotel for the Dapitan City visitors.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PkSC-rhUHT4/WZENnf1oanI/AAAAAAAAB6o/dtHGA94nNlEyt-0nzIJ_jCcLQnAyyFyEgCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_9759.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PkSC-rhUHT4/WZENnf1oanI/AAAAAAAAB6o/dtHGA94nNlEyt-0nzIJ_jCcLQnAyyFyEgCPcBGAYYCw/s640/IMG_9759.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dakak accommodations</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">No one will go hungry in Dakak for it has numerous restaurants for different taste buds. There's the <b>Bamboo Cafe</b> offering Filipino and American cuisine coupled with its stunning view of the Dakak beach; <b>Il Patio Ristorante Italiano</b> for the pasta lover; <b>Tai Restaurant </b>for the Chinese food afficionados; and the newly opened <b>Cliff Asian Fusion Restaurant</b> for Japanese and Korean food lover. It tried dining in all the mentioned restaurant except Tai, and I can say that their food are good, especially that of Bamboo Cafe. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SiRkVjOA5tg/WZUJE0XbQKI/AAAAAAAAB64/t50UrQCyTpQr81i1ksteyUT8WQNR7fH6QCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_9939.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SiRkVjOA5tg/WZUJE0XbQKI/AAAAAAAAB64/t50UrQCyTpQr81i1ksteyUT8WQNR7fH6QCPcBGAYYCw/s640/IMG_9939.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cliff Asian Fusion Restaurant</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There is also no shortage of activities in Dakak. For adventure seekers, there's Dakak Adventure Zone wherein you can try Dual Zipline, Horseback riding, Airsoft Game, and All Terrain Vehicle (ATV). For Aqua Sports, there are scuba diving, jet skiing, kayaking, banana boat, hobbiecat, parasailing, wakeboarding, snorkeling, and pedal boat. For those who enjoy inland sports, you can play lawn tennis, badminton, and beach volleyball. Dakak has also recently inaugurated its 50 hectare golf course comprising a series of 18 holes of which 9 is already open. Of these activities, I only tried Dual Zipline because we also have too much activities to attend and cover in the town proper.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">San Josenyong Gala at Dakak Adventure Park</td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">WEEKEND TRAVELER FRIENDLY</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One of the new offerings of the resort really caught my attention and I think this is the best addition to their range of offerings for it makes it possible for barkadas and families to enjoy Dakak in very affordable price. It is also very friendly to those young professionals who just have weekend to spend in leisure and relaxation activities.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pavillion Room interior</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hnGgMD3DED8/WZENnCC0rGI/AAAAAAAAB6o/_yR_FizmTjYs7ztB4MsFPwsp104EQsKlQCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_9752.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hnGgMD3DED8/WZENnCC0rGI/AAAAAAAAB6o/_yR_FizmTjYs7ztB4MsFPwsp104EQsKlQCPcBGAYYCw/s400/IMG_9752.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pavillion Room exterior</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To be able to satisfy the needs of weekend travelers, Dakak has just recently opened their Pavillion Rooms which can be booked for only 1,399 nett per person (as of writing) with a minimum of 10 people per booking. It already includes: room accoimodation, set breakfast, and Fantasyland tickets.*</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I find it really good that the resort is now trying to reach out to the needs of budget weekend travelers because nowadays, this type of travelers are the ones dominating the local travel industry and it is just fitting that Dakak tries to capture this market.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">All in all, I can say Dakak is a very beautiful resort with great amenities and many different activities to enjoy. There is no way one would be bored while staying there because of the many things he can do, many food he can taste, and many sights and scenery he can enjoy (though obviously, one has to ready his pockets too... :))</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Some other packages can be found in the leaflet provided by the resort below:</i></span><br />
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*<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>I don't know if this price will remain as it is for the rest of the year but it is possible to ask them directly at the following numbers: 09153185238 // 09466431814 // 09274902057 // 09399225401</i></span><br />
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San Josenyong Galahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17411649494261796294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043827945654383268.post-35335145219550320762017-07-31T02:47:00.003-07:002017-08-17T00:19:34.028-07:00Kinabayo Festival 2017 : A Showcase of Dapitan's Deep Devotion and Religiosity <div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">If one wants to witness the piety of the people of Dapitan, he just have to visit this city during their annual celebration of Kinabayo Festival. I did just that this year and marveled at the different activities I witnessed, many of which is in honor of St. James the Greater, also known as Senyor Santiago - the city's patron saint.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A street dancer from Tangub City.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Senyor Santiago is always depicted as a horse-mounted knight ready to strike down adversaries of the Christian faith. During the annual Kinabayo Festival, he is being relived as the one who guided the Spanish Christians to victory against the Moors in the Battle of Covadonga. He is said to have appeared before the Spanish Christian soldiers during the battle and inspired them to continue the fight, and win. This same battle is the one being reenacted yearly as part of the festival. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Senyor Santiago astride his horse. Street dance contingent of Dapitan.</td></tr>
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</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The religiosity of the people of Dapitan is very evident through the way they celebrate this festival. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The religious ceremony starts with a novena, leading to the feast day (July 25). Then on July 24, just one day before the feast day, the "Halok sa Reliquias" is conducted. From 8:00 am-11:59 am, devotees fall in line for four hours for a chance to pay homage to the image of Senyor Santiago. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-align: start;">At exactly 12nn, the "Sinug" starts where the image of St James will be paraded from the church interior into the town plaza outside the church. During this ceremony, one can hear the defeaning "Viva, Sr. Santiago, Viva!" of all the devotees while waving their San Francisco leaves. It was a very hair-raising moment for first time attendees as one can definitely feel the religious fervor of the people around him.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">San Francisco leaves. Used by the Dapitanons as "palaspas" during "Sinug".<br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">All of these I witnessed and I was very entranced by how much devotion the Dapitanons show towards Senyor Santiago! It reminded me of the famed Traslacion of Quiapo's Black Nazarene. I now understand what Dapitan Tourism Officer Apple Marie Agolong was saying during her interview wherein she said that Dapitan is "as Catholic as the Vatican City" when it comes to their deep devotion to the Senyor. She added that she wasn't </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">able to attend Sinug for so long when she was younger that when she finally witnessed it, she experienced "paninindig ng balahibo" and quipped, "I thought then I missed half of my life".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">People wave their San Francisco leaves while animatedly chanting "Viva, Senyor Santiago, Viva!". </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Left: Outside the courtyard , Right; </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Inside the Church</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">During the day of the feast, one of the most long-awaited event is the street dance competition of the contingents from different neighboring cities, towns and provinces. Each contingent renders their own reenactment of the Battle of Covadonga then add some more street dancing of their own while wearing multi-coloured beautiful costumes. They continue their lively presentation paying homage to Senyor Santiago from the street to the event venue, tirelessly dancing and chanting "Viva, Senyor Santiago, Viva!" to the tunes of lyre and drums. The chant and the sounds echo throughout the town proper of Dapitan during this festive event.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A street dancer from Dipolog</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This year's Kinabayo Festival was celebrated from July 16-25 with many activities conducted aside from the religious ones. One of the highlights was the Miss Dapitan beauty pageant which happened on the night of July 23, 2017. A slew of other activities included motocross, bowling tournament, music festival, hiphop competition, tattoo congress, bike race, song writing competition, football tournament, horses on parade, and many others.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Witnessing Kinabayo Festival 2017 is a very unforgettable experience for the first timers (like me!) and will definitely make visitors feel the urge to come back and visit Dapitan for more.</span></div>
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</span> <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>For other Dapitan articles in San Josenyong Gala, you may visit:</i></span><br />
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</i></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i><b><a href="http://sanjosenyonggala.blogspot.com/2017/08/dakak.html">Dakak : Food, Beach, Adventures and Many More!</a></b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i><b>Rizal and Dapitan </b>(coming soon!)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i><b>Gloria's Fantasyland : Dapitan's Very Own Fantastic Theme Park </b></i></span><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">(coming soon!)</i><br />
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</b></i></span>San Josenyong Galahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17411649494261796294noreply@blogger.com0Lungsod ng Dapitan, Zamboanga del Norte, Pilipinas8.6253193 123.394570899999968.1228903 122.74912389999996 9.1277482999999986 124.04001789999997tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043827945654383268.post-56641451709657788082017-07-09T08:34:00.002-07:002017-07-10T18:03:09.070-07:00Dapitan : History, Nature and FESTIVAL!<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Always saving the best for last...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">That's my motto. And that is the reason why in my 5 years of travelling, and of experiencing the different parts of the Philippines, it is only now that I will be visiting the very historical, and beautiful City of Dapitan. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I have been waiting for this time to come for so long. And come 2017, I was fortunate enough to be able to book a flight to the neighboring city of Dipolog, with Dapitan as my main target of course. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kinabayo Festival 2017. One of Dapitan City's Colorful Festivals</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: justify;">It started as a plan for a 5-day long Zamboanga del Norte - Zamboanga del Sur - Lanao del Norte tour from July 27-31 but it all changed when a student of mine who is now a resident of Dapitan tagged me in his FB post about Dapitan Tourism Council's invitation to cover this year's city festival. I readily signified my intention to be part of the festival and with the tourism council's approval, the dates of my visit changed. So my 5 day-long travel is now 10 days because I'll be visiting Dapitan 5 days earlier - on July 22!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: justify;">There are many spots and places that I want to see in Dapitan since I decided to visit the city and here they are:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: justify;"><b>1. RIZAL SHRINE and any other Dapitan sites related to Rizal. </b></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: justify;">As a self-proclaimed history buff, I am very much interested to see the places in Dapitan where Rizal lived and literally walked around. It will be a good story to tell my students (and would be children and grandchildren) that I have already visited some of the places we're talking about during our lessons in Rizal.</span><br />
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<b style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">2. DAPITAN ANCESTRAL HOUSES AND OTHER HERITAGE SITES. </b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: justify;">I would want to see Dapitan's heritage sites including the old church, ancestral houses, old buildings, and other heritage structures as I am also a certified (self-proclaimed again 😄) heritage enthusiast and advocate. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>3. DAKAK BEACH RESORT. </b></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: justify;">Dakak has always been hailed as one of the top beaches of the Philippines. I remember when I was younger, and not yet a travel blogger, many brochures, tourism pamphlets, and advertisements include Dakak in the list of beautiful Philippine beaches so since then, I know it is one of the places I surely won't miss when the time I set foot in Dapitan comes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>4. ALIGUAY AND SELINOG ISLANDS. </b></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A picture paints a thousand words... Definitely Nature at its best!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aliguay and Selinog Island as depicted in a tarpaulin promoting Dapitan City Tourism</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I am definitely hoping to be able to visit all of the places I enumerated above, plus more sites I haven't mentioned yet and might discover upon reaching the city. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">But what I am most excited about is my chance to witness </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">for the first time Dapitan's own brand of festival, the <b>KINABAYO FESTIVAL</b>!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What is Kinabayo Festival?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: justify;">Kinabayo Festival is one of Dapitan City's festivals. In this festival, the apparition of St. James (Dapitan City's patron Saint) riding his horse and guiding the Spanish Christian in their battle against the Moors in the Battle of Covadonga (in Spain), is relived and celebrated. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Though the main day of the festival always fall on July 25, the festivities last for not less than 10 days. This year, the festivities will start on July 16, 2017. There would be street dancing, motocross with live band, national bowling tournament, music festival, hiphop competition and tattoo congress, and many other activities lined up. I hope to attend and witness all these events but I am sure I won't be able to join all of them since I am not a hiphop, a bowler nor a motocross rider... Hehehe... <br /><br />All these activities are going to be made possible through the able guidance and support of Dapitan City's Mayor Rosalina Jalosjos, and Tourism Officer Apple Marie Agolong.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">There are so much I am looking forward to during this trip. As I have long planned and prepared for this, I will make sure I will be able to experience and immerse myself in everything and anything Dapitan has to offer. Expect more Dapitan City posts to come!</span></div>
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San Josenyong Galahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17411649494261796294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043827945654383268.post-75378866790967187782017-03-19T02:33:00.000-07:002017-03-19T05:57:50.278-07:00San Jose del Monte Free College Entrance Exam Review's 10th Year of Fruitful Existence!<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Another short break from travel related posts...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The San Jose del Monte Free College Entrance Exam Review Guild (SJDM FCEER GUILD) now formally announces its 10th year of Summer Review Program to incoming Grade 12 students of different High Schools and Colleges from San Jose del Monte.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">For a brief background, SJDM FCEER Guild is a group composed of </span><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">former students of the different high schools in SJDM who are now students/graduates of different Philippine colleges such as, but not limited to, UP, PUP, PNU, and TUP. </span></span><br />
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<span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Almost all of the instructors, except the pioneers, are graduates of the project. </span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: justify;">The project has been running for 8 years already and has actually been featured in <a href="http://sanjosenyonggala.blogspot.com/2013/09/san-josenyong-galas-community-project.html">GMA NewsTV's program, Good News</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: justify;"><b>BRIEF HISTORY </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: start;">This project started when I, together with my best buddy Euel Von Asuncion and two other equally awesome classmates, Jay dela Cruz and Bernadette Magsalin, met to plan for a college entrance exam review project for our alma mater's, San Jose del Monte High School, incoming 4th year students. The project was first implemented in 2006, and since then has been conducted every summer. </span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> The project's aim is to help graduating students of the different high schools of San Jose del Monte City to prepare for the incoming college entrance exams in their senior year without the need to pay exorbitant fees charged by different College Entrance Exam Review Center.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: justify;">From 2006 to 2012, the review classes were conducted at San Jose del Monte High School while the 2013 and 2014 review classes found its new home at Paradise Farms National High School. It was not conducted in 2015 and 2016 because of the implementation of the K12 program.<br /><br /><br /><b>REVIEW CLASS 2017</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: justify;">This year's review will be conducted at Paradise Farms National High School starting April 1 until June 4, every Saturday and Sunday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Anyone who is a bonafide senior high school student of a college or high school located in the City of San Jose del Monte are qualified to join the review program. Students who are studying in a high school not located in San Jose del Monte may contact Kuya Romel at 09985743756 or may comment below for consideration.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Because the guild is composed of many kind souls who want to volunteer, their service will definitely be free. We will be shouldering our own food and fare and nothing will ever come from the reviewees. However, the instructors would not be able to shoulder the expenses for the review materials that the students themselves will be using. Because of this, a measly amount of 10.00 per day of class will be collected by one of the students (who will be elected as the class treasurer) to be spent for all the hand-outs, test papers, mock exam booklets, and other materials they will be needing. Absolutely, no amount will go to the instructors.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Other Reminders</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">1. This review is for <b>ALL </b>College Entrance Exam Review and not for a specific college entrance exam alone (ex: UPCAT, ACET, DLSUAT, PUPCET, BSUAT, etc.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">2. Because the school where the review will be conducted (Paradise Farms National High School) is far from public vehicles and stores where the students may buy food, it is strongly encouraged that they bring their own snack and packed lunch. They won't be allowed to go out of school during lunch break for their safety. The parents/guardians may also bring them their lunch/snack.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">3. We will be asking excuse letter from the parent/guardian whenever the student will be absent in order for us to be sure that the parents know that their ward did not attend the review.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">4. Registration for the Summer 2017 Review Program is online. To register, answer the following registration form: </span><br />
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<a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScpfQTBi0kVoFWoY7JIVWnR9i54XKell65Hm1qA_5-8ZXSmPg/viewform" style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;" target="_blank">Online Registration Form</a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">and download the waiver from the registration form above. If you can't download it there, you may download it through the link below: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B0pKicxndibBNmFtb0FlWjRmLTg" target="_blank">Summer Review 2017 Waiver</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Please read and answer the form carefully. Thanks and see you on the first day of the review class!</span><br />
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San Josenyong Galahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17411649494261796294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043827945654383268.post-69856498351864684222016-11-15T22:49:00.000-08:002016-11-15T22:53:23.787-08:00The Old Bridges of Romblon, Romblon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Out of all the provinces of Luzon Island Group, Romblon was the last one I was able to visit. Just this year (2016), in the month of August, I finally was able to see it and many of its fine beaches, and rich cultural heritage. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Puente de Romblon. One of the still existing old bridges in the town.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Being a heritage enthusiast as I am, I was very delighted to discover while researching for our Romblon itinerary that a number of old bridges built during the Spanish and American era are still standing and intact in the small capital town of Romblon. It made me feel too much excitement because I am such a huge fan of old bridges (which prompted me to create a Facebook Group specifically focusing on the said topic, the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/367968970077707/" target="_blank">Old Bridges of the Philippines</a> FB Group). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The town of Romblon boasts of not one, not two, but 3 Spanish era bridges. Aside from that, it also has 2 American era-bridges. All of these bridges are still standing and being used. They are located in the busy part of the town especially Puente de la Paz, Puente de Romblon, and Puente de Belen which stands parallel to each other, over a single river that course through the center of the town.</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: yellow;">PUENTE DE RIO CASALOGAN</span></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mJJRbHlFFIQ/WAbn5zySyrI/AAAAAAAAB18/viF2OQdUv0wTVJ6nFC8iSlqqlAin4zdRgCEw/s1600/Rio%2Bde%2BCasalogo%2BBridge1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mJJRbHlFFIQ/WAbn5zySyrI/AAAAAAAAB18/viF2OQdUv0wTVJ6nFC8iSlqqlAin4zdRgCEw/s640/Rio%2Bde%2BCasalogo%2BBridge1.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Puente de Rio Casalogan</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This bridge stands over a small river called Casalogan which is now dry. According to the Philippine Heritage Map, it was built in the 1860's, more than three decades before the Independence of the Philippines was declared. It is in the southern section of Rizal St., Poblacion. </span> </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The deck and parapets of Puente de Rio Casalogan.</td></tr>
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<b><span style="color: yellow;">PUENTE DE BELEN</span></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nd7DXHazifg/WAcSsGd2NVI/AAAAAAAAB20/5MUindxI6voUd_evZxWMVsbfJhYqZpFHwCEw/s1600/Puente%2Bde%2BBelen.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nd7DXHazifg/WAcSsGd2NVI/AAAAAAAAB20/5MUindxI6voUd_evZxWMVsbfJhYqZpFHwCEw/s640/Puente%2Bde%2BBelen.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This bridge is the one closest to the center of the town. It can be found in front of the old as well as new municipal building of Romblon. It is the first of the three bridges that crosses a single river which is now also unfortunately dry. This bridge is also built during the 1860's and can be found along P. Mayor St., Poblacion.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The deck and parapets of Puente de Belen.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">One unique characteristic of this bridge is the existence of benches on either side of its deck. The benches are built as part of the bridge's parapet. It is said that those were for "cocheros" who used to bring their horses to the stream below to drink. While their horses are drinking and resting, they would wait for them in the bench.</span><br />
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<span style="color: yellow;"><b>PUENTE DE ROMBLON</b></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In my own opinion, this bridge is the most beautiful among the 3 Spanish colonial bridges of Romblon. Its parapet is one of a kind, imposing and impactful to anyone who looks at it. It can be found at the middle of Puente de Belen and Puente de la Paz and is located at Bagong Lipunan St., Poblacion. It was also built in the 1860's.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Puente de Romblon's deck and parapet.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deck of Puente de la Paz.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This bridge is one of the 2 American-era bridges of the town. It can be found immediately at the back of the town's wet and dry market, at Fetalvero St., Poblacion. Its exact date of construction is inscribed in its parapet: July 23, 1934. But if one checks the bottom part of the bridge, there is an arch which can be considered a part of an older bridge. There could be a possibility that this bridge was originally a Spanish-era bridge that was just reconstructed in the American period just like what happened in <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/367968970077707/permalink/370538799820724/?match=dGFtcG95" target="_blank">Puente de Tampoy</a> of Malolos. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Puente de la Paz</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Puente Progreso</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This bridge can be found at the southern section of Quezon St., Poblacion, parallel to Puente de Rio Casalogan, thus can be said as over the same river as the latter. This bridge is undoubtedly built in the American period because of the absence of the arching deck which is a characteristic of a Spanish era bridge. Its exact date of construction is also inscribed in its parapet: November 27, 1925. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Parapet of Puente Progreso.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">On March 19, 2013, the 3 Spanish Colonial Era bridges (Puentes de Rio Casalogan, Belen and Romblon) was declared as "Important Cultural Properties" by the National Museum of the Philippines, thereby increasing its chances of survival for the years to come (I fervently hope!). </span></div>
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San Josenyong Galahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17411649494261796294noreply@blogger.com1Romblon, Lalawigan ng Romblon, Pilipinas12.5778554 122.2691290000000212.329891400000001 121.94640550000003 12.8258194 122.59185250000002tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043827945654383268.post-60044548030441455502016-09-07T22:41:00.000-07:002016-09-07T22:50:21.473-07:00Travel Year 2015 : Taking it Slower<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">My 2015 travelling life is a very muted one compared to earlier years. For one, I have mainly traveled to nearby provinces. I have also not been able to update my blog for almost half a year, and hasn't shared any travel-related posts to my Facebook page, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SanJosenyongGala/" target="_blank">San Josenyong Gala</a>. My twitter account must be lonely now for even I haven't visited it for a long, long time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: justify;">But it doesn't mean that I have a very boring 2015 travel year. I still travel and in addition to many nearby provinces I have visited before and visited again this year, I was also able to visit three new provinces: </span><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Catanduanes, Masbate and Bohol</span></b><span style="text-align: justify;">!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">My visit to Catanduanes and Masbate happened in February/March. It was a 5-day backpacking trip that also includes visit to Albay and Camarines Sur. I had a blast touring the province of Bohol in August for 5 days and was able to visit 32 of its towns. My whole year travels are definitely worth of a look-back and a monthly rundown of what happened that year is a must!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>JANUARY.</b></span> I started the year travelling to Cordillera and Cagayan Valley visiting the following provinces: <i><b>APAYAO</b></i> - Kabugao (the main purpose of this January Trip); <i><b>ISABELA</b></i> - Cauayan City, Alicia; <a href="http://sanjosenyonggala.blogspot.com/2015/04/nuevavizcaya.html"><i><b>NUEVA VIZCAYA</b></i></a> - <a href="http://sanjosenyonggala.blogspot.com/2015/04/bagabag.html">Bagabag</a>, <a href="http://sanjosenyonggala.blogspot.com/2015/04/bayombong.html">Bayombong</a>, <a href="http://sanjosenyonggala.blogspot.com/2015/04/bambang.html">Bambang</a> and <a href="http://sanjosenyonggala.blogspot.com/2015/04/dupax-del-sur.html">Dupax del Sur</a>. At the end of this month, I also toured the City of Valenzuela (formerly Polo, Bulacan).</span></div>
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<b style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">FEBRUARY.</span></b><b style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"> </b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">My major travel to Bicol provinces, started from the end of this month to the start of the next month. I was able to visit the following: </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>ALBAY</b></i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> - Oas, Guinobatan, Camalig, Daraga (2nd), Legazpi (2nd); </span><b style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: italic;">CAMARINES SUR</b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">;</span><b style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-style: italic;"> </b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">and </span><b style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><i>CATANDUANES</i></b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> - Bato, San Andres, Virac.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>MARCH. </b></span>The first day of this month was a continuation of my February trip to Bicol Provinces. This time, I was able to visit <i style="font-weight: bold;">MASBATE </i>- Masbate City, San Pascual. At the end of the month, I toured the eastern towns of <i style="font-weight: bold;">LAGUNA</i> with April visiting Longos, Paete, Pakil, Panguil, Santa Maria, Siniloan, Mabitac, and Cavinti towns. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>APRIL/MAY/JUNE. </b></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">These months were spent in touring nearby provinces. First stop is </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-weight: bold;">PAMPANGA</i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> in the month of April were I, together with a Malolos native friend Christopher, visited the towns of Apalit, Guagua, Lubao, Macabebe, Masantol, Minalin, San Fernando, Sasmuan, Santa Rita, and Sto. Tomas. In May, I and my equally galang girlfriend April, toured </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-weight: bold;">RIZAL</i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> and was able to visit Angono, Baras, Binangonan, Cainta, Cardona, Morong, Pililla, Taytay, and Teresa towns. In June, April and I joined a tour to Santa Rosa and Binan, both of </span><b style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><i>LAGUNA, </i></b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">organized by the </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/281865598642489/" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;" target="_blank">Advocates for Heritage Preservation (AHP) Facebook Group</a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> headed by Mr. Tito Encarnacion. In the same month, I also organized an old bridges tour in my </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/367968970077707/?ref=bookmarks" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;" target="_blank">Old Bridges of the Philippines Facebook Group</a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> to Tayabas, </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-weight: bold;">QUEZON </i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> with the help of a Tayabas local historian, Ryan Palad. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">AUGUST</span></b><b style="font-size: x-large; text-align: justify;">. </b>This month was my best travel month of 2015 as I am able to visit the province that I have always longed to visit before: <i style="font-weight: bold;">BOHOL!</i> I spent five days in this historic island and was able to visit 32 of its 47 towns and 1 city. I really did enjoy my time in Bohol though there are some unexpected events like me getting sick and having an unconcerned owner of the lodge I spent the night at. Also during this month, April and I toured the cities of Pateros and Taguig as part of our aim to visit all the cities and municipality of Metro Manila. </span></div>
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<b style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER. </span></b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">These months were also spent visiting nearby areas. In September, I visited the towns of San Isidro, San Antonio and Cabiao near my place in Gapan, </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-weight: bold;">NUEVA ECIJA. </i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In October, April and I toured the cities of Las Pinas, Muntinlupa and Paranaque.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">DECEMBER.</span></b><b style="font-size: x-large; text-align: justify;"> </b>The last month of the year saw me visiting Baguio, <i style="font-weight: bold;">LA UNION </i>(Agoo), and <i style="font-weight: bold;">PANGASINAN </i>(Manaoag) with my mother, cousin and nephews and niece. I capped my 2015 travel year with a tour of three <i style="font-weight: bold;">BATANGAS</i> towns, Lipa, Tanauan and Santo Tomas, and Calamba, <i style="font-weight: bold;">LAGUNA</i>, with April.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The year 2015 has ended and here is the progress of my Tour d' Philippines project, map, courtesy of Eugene Villar:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">*</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>I have shaded the map based on the provinces I have visited and not on the specific places indicated by the creator, <a href="http://forge.codedgraphic.com/lakbayan/" target="_blank">Eugene Villar</a>.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In 2015, I visited 3 more provinces for the first time and at the end of the year, I was able to visit my 64th province.</span>San Josenyong Galahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17411649494261796294noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043827945654383268.post-16308664923070681032016-03-11T00:51:00.000-08:002016-03-11T00:51:43.170-08:0015 Rizal Churches for your Visita Iglesia (Part 2)Every year, Visita Iglesia has been part of many Filipinos' tradition of their observation of the Holy Week. The faithfuls visit seven to fourteen different churches, depending on their own preference and custom. Many would go to far-away provinces while some prefer to do it near their home, especially those from Metro Manila. Rizal, a province which can be found just at the vicinity of Metro Manila, has many churches perfect for a meaningful visita iglesia.<br />
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Rizal is an average-sized province and visitors would not be able to cover all its churches in a day. Depending on what visitor's prefer and from where they will come from, they can choose from two clusters of churches to be visited. They can choose either the <a href="http://sanjosenyonggala.blogspot.com/2016/03/visitaiglesiarizal.html">Northern Rizal (Part 1)</a> or Southern Rizal (Part 2) Visita Iglesia.<br />
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Below is a suggested guide for a Southern Rizal Visita Iglesia:<br />
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1. <b>ST. CLEMENT CHURCH, Angono</b><br />
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<b>Church details : </b>The Parish of St. Clement was officially established in the 1933 but the church, the town, and its history goes back longer than that.<br />
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<b>Location : </b>Dona Aurora St., Brgy. Poblacion Ibaba, Angono, Rizal<br />
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<b>How to get there? </b>From EDSA Crossing (Mandaluyong), you may ride jeep or buses passing by Angono Town. You can also ride FX/Van in their EDSA Central terminal.<br />
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2. <b>STA. URSULA CHURCH, Binangonan</b><br />
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<b>Church details: </b>It is an old church of which construction was started by the Franciscan missionaries in the latter part of the 18th century.<br />
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<b>Location : </b>Brgy, Libid, Binangonan, Rizal<br />
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<b>How to get there? </b> From Angono, ride a jeep going to Binangonan. Ask the driver to drop you off at a place where you can easily reach the church.<br />
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3. <b>OUR LADY OF THE HOLY ROSARY CHURCH, Cardona</b><br />
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<b>Church details : </b>This church was said to be founded in 1872 by the Franciscan missionaries. The church was linked to a story wherein an image of the Our Lady of the Holy Rosary enshrined in it would mysteriously disappear and then appear later.<br />
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<b>Location : </b>Rizal St., Brgy. Real, Cardona, Rizal<br />
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<b>How to get there? </b>From Binangonan Church, take a tricycle to bring you back to the national road, and from there, ride a jeep going to Morong, which would pass by Cardona.<br />
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4. <b>ST. JEROME CHURCH, Morong</b><br />
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<b>Church details : </b>The church was built by Chinese artisans in the early 17th century. This is one of the oldest church in the whole province and was a witness to many skirmishes between the Filipino and Spanish troops during the war. It's unique characteristic is that its very beautiful bell tower also serves as its facade.<br />
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<b>Location : </b>Turentigue St., Brgy. San Juan, Morong, Rizal<br />
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<b>How to get there? </b>From Cardona, take a jeep going to Morong. Ask the driver to drop you off at Morong Church.<br />
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5. <b>ST. JOSEPH CHURCH, Baras</b><br />
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<b>Church details : </b>The Franciscan missionaries started building the first church in 1595 and finished it in the early years of the 1600's. The present church was finished in 1686.<br />
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<b>Location : </b>San Jose St., Brgy. San Juan, Baras, Rizal<br />
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<b>How to get there? </b>From Morong, ride a jeep going to Baras. Alight in front of the old Baras municipal hall and take the road on its left going to the church.<br />
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6. <b>SAN ILDEFONSO DE TOLEDO CHURCH, Tanay</b><br />
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<b>Church details : </b>The building of the present church was started in 1773 and finished in 1783. It has a beautiful retablo and a set of an antique wooden bas relief of the 14 stations.<br />
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<b>Location : </b>M.H. del Pilar St., Brgy. Plaza Aldea, Tanay, Rizal<br />
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<b>How to get there? </b>From Baras, ride a jeep going to Tanay. Alight at the side of Tanay Church.<br />
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7. <b>SANTA MARIA MAGDALENA CHURCH, Pililla</b><br />
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<b>Church details : </b>This church was completed in 1673 but some alterations and renovations were done in the recent century. The foundation and most of the stone walls and buttresses are still original.<br />
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<b>Location : </b>Brgy. Imatong, Pililla, Rizal<br />
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<b>How to get there? </b> From Tanay, ride a jeep going to Pililla. Ask the driver to drop you off at the street where you can easily access the church.<br />
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8. <b>SAN MIGUEL ARCANGEL CHURCH, Jala-jala</b><br />
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<b>Church details : </b>This present church is of modern construction but there are reports of an older stone church built in the early part of the 18th century.<br />
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<b>Location : </b>C. Villaran St., Jala-jala, Rizal<br />
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<b>How to get there? </b>From Pililla, ride a jeep going to Jala-jala. Ask the driver to drop you off near the church.<br />
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Jala-jala Church is the last part of your Southern Rizal Visita Iglesia. You may also opt to do the <a href="http://sanjosenyonggala.blogspot.com/2016/03/visitaiglesiarizal.html">Northern Rizal Visita Iglesia</a>.<br />
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<br />San Josenyong Galahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17411649494261796294noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043827945654383268.post-2910687820533507592016-03-02T23:11:00.000-08:002016-03-11T00:53:36.853-08:0015 Rizal Churches for your Visita Iglesia (Part 1)Every year, Visita Iglesia has been part of many Filipinos' tradition of their observation of the Holy Week. The faithfuls visit seven to fourteen different churches, depending on their own preference and custom. Many would go to far-away provinces while some prefer to do it near their home, especially those from Metro Manila. Rizal, a province which can be found just at the vicinity of Metro Manila, has many churches perfect for a meaningful visita iglesia.<br />
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Rizal is an average-sized province and visitors would not be able to cover all its churches in a day. Depending on what visitor's prefer and from where they will come from, they can choose from two clusters of churches to be visited. They can choose either the Northern Rizal (Part 1) or <a href="http://sanjosenyonggala.blogspot.com/2016/03/visitaiglesiarizal2.html">Southern Rizal (Part 2)</a> Visita Iglesia.<br />
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Below is a suggested guide for a Northern Rizal Visita Iglesia:<br />
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1. <b>OUR LADY OF THE MOST HOLY ROSARY CHURCH, Rodriguez (Montalban)</b><br />
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<b>Church details. </b>The parish was created in the 1870's, during the Spanish era though the present church is modern and newly-built. <br />
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<b>Location. </b>J.P. Rizal St., Balite, Rodriguez, Rizal.<br />
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<b>How to get there? </b>If you are coming from Commonwealth Ave., there is a terminal going to Rodriguez near Litex Market. Just ask around where the terminal is. If you are commuting from Cubao, ride a jeepney bound to Montalban along Aurora Boulevard. There are also FX terminals in Farmers Market - Cubao going to Montalban.<br />
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2. <b>OUR LADY OF ARANZAZU CHURCH, San Mateo</b><br />
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<b>Church details. </b>The parish was created in 1596, during the Spanish era while the church was built at a later year. This is the only Philippine parish named after the Our Lady of Aranzazu, whose image is said to have been brought to the Philippines aboard a galleon trade ship it has protected in the midst of an ocean storm. It is now a diocesan shrine of the Diocese of Antipolo<br />
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<b>Location. </b>Gen. Luna St., Guitnangbayan I, San Mateo, Rizal<br />
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<b>How to get there? </b>From Montalban, just ride a jeep bound to San Mateo. Ask the driver to drop you off at the front of the church.<br />
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3. <b>NUESTRA SENORA DE LA ANUNCIATA CHURCH, Boso-boso, Antipolo City</b><br />
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<b>Church details. </b>The parish and the church was erected in the 1700 by the Jesuit priests. It was destroyed by an earthquake in 1880 but was rebuilt later. In 1930, the town of Boso-boso was abandoned by the citizens because of a planned dam, leaving the church also abandoned. When the building of the dam didn't push through, the people came back to the place. The church was restored in 1995 and became a parish in 2004.<br />
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<b>Location. </b>Sitio Old Boso-boso, San Jose, Antipolo City<br />
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<b>How to get there? </b>Take a jeep bound to Sta. Lucia East and from there ride another jeep bound to Cogeo. After reaching Cogeo, ride a jeep with the "Paenaan" signboard and ask the driver to drop you off at the entrance of Sitio Old Boso-boso. From there, ride a tricycle to the church.<br />
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4. <b>NUESTRA SENORA DE LA PAZ Y BUENVIAJE CHURCH, Antipolo City</b><br />
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<b>Church details. </b>Antipolo Cathedral is one of the most famous pilgrimage site around Metro Manila. This is the church known to many as the home of the image of the Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, visited by thousands of devotees asking for good voyage before going abroad or travelling outside the country. The parish was founded in 1578 while the present church was built in the 20th century.<br />
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<b>Location. </b>P. Oliveros St., Dela Paz, Antipolo City<br />
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<b>How to get there? </b>From Boso-boso, ride a jeep going back to Sta. Lucia East. From Sta. Lucia East, ride another jeep going to Antipolo Cathedral.<br />
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5. <b>STA. ROSA DE LIMA CHURCH, Teresa</b><br />
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<b>Church details. </b>The parish was founded in 1903 while the present church is modern and newly-built.<br />
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<b>Location. </b>M. L. Quezon St., Poblacion, Teresa, Rizal<br />
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<b>How to get there? </b>From Antipolo Cathedral, just ask around where you can ride a jeep to Teresa. Tell the driver to drop you off at Teresa Church.<br />
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6. <b>SAN JUAN BAUTISTA CHURCH, Taytay</b><br />
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<b>Church details. </b>The parish of Taytay was erected in the latter years of the 16th Century and has been part of a long history of the present town of Taytay and neighboring towns and cities. The present church is still the old one but is already renovated where extensions were made since the 1970's.<br />
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<b>Location. </b>Sumulong St., Dolores, Taytay, Rizal<br />
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<b>How to get there? </b>From Teresa, go back to Antipolo Bayan. Ask around (in Antipolo Bayan) where you can find the jeepney terminal going to SM Taytay. From SM Taytay, ride a jeep bound to Angono and tell the driver to drop you off at Taytay Church.<br />
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7. <b>OUR LADY OF LIGHT CHURCH, Cainta</b><br />
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<b>Church details. </b>The parish was erected in 1760, and the church built years after. The church was razed by fire during the Filipino-American War in 1899 but was repaired and renovated years after.<br />
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<b>Location. </b>A. Bonifacio Avenue, San Andres, Cainta, Rizal<br />
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<b>How to get there? </b>From Taytay, ride a jeep going to Cainta. Alight at the back of the church (the church is facing backwards from the national road.<br />
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Cainta Church is the last part of your Northern Rizal Visita Iglesia. You may also opt to do the <a href="http://sanjosenyonggala.blogspot.com/2016/03/visitaiglesiarizal2.html">Southern Rizal Visita Iglesia</a>. San Josenyong Galahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17411649494261796294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043827945654383268.post-8519552326967927212015-05-26T00:53:00.001-07:002015-05-26T01:26:48.091-07:00Travel Year 2014 : The Year I Learned to Slow Down<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When I started travelling the Philippines in 2012, I already told myself that I should be able to finish visiting all the 81 Philippine provinces before I turn 30. Now, I'm turning 31 but I haven't done that yet, and still, I am so much happy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The year 2014 taught me to take it slow. This year, I realized that I am racing with no one so I should try to savor the joy brought to me by travelling by taking it one at a time. The old me who wants to be in different provinces in every different weeks and months is no more. It's now just once a month. ;) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And so, upon checking my bucket list, I discovered I have already visited 61 provinces of the Philippines, out of 81 at the end of the year 2014.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In January, I visited not a province but a tiny historical place located in the nation's capital, <a href="http://sanjosenyonggala.blogspot.com/2014/01/pacopark.html" target="_blank"><b>PACO PARK</b></a>. There, I discovered that Manila still has many things to offer despite its "severe urbanization". The fact is, there are still many historical and cultural spots in Manila that I haven't visited yet.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In February, one of my foremost wish was granted! I was able to visit the most beautiful province of the Philippines (in my own opinion): <b><a href="http://sanjosenyonggala.blogspot.com/2014/02/batanes.html" target="_blank">BATANES</a>!</b> It was an experience I definitely will never ever forget. I think, my visit to this province is the very thing that taught me to slow down, and just savor the beautiful nature in front of me. There's no need to hurry because there're so much to take in, and I need time to take them all in. I learned to appreciate the virtue of being still, and truly experience being one with nature. Towards the end of the same month, I was also able to visit the Heritage Town of <b>TAAL</b> in Batangas. The town, not the volcano and the lake, can rival the beauty of Vigan in Ilocos Sur with its numerous old and ancestral houses as well as its old church touted to be the largest in Asia!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">March was a gala-less month but at the end of the month of April, I was again in <b>PANGASINAN</b> to attend the wedding of a travel blogger friend <a href="https://gelaikuting.wordpress.com/about/" target="_blank">Angel</a> and Nil in Lingayen. I also toured Agno, Bani, and Bolinao during that Pangasinan visit. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">May was another gala-less month while in June, I, together with my girlfriend April, visited the southeasternmost towns of <b>NUEVA ECIJA</b>: <a href="http://sanjosenyonggala.blogspot.com/2014/06/penaranda.html" target="_blank">Penaranda</a> and <a href="http://sanjosenyonggala.blogspot.com/2014/06/papaya.html" target="_blank">General Tinio (Papaya)</a>. There, we had a tour of the two towns, witnessed a century-old traditional play called <a href="http://sanjosenyonggala.blogspot.com/2014/06/araquiofestival.html" target="_blank">Arakyo</a>, and visited the famous <a href="http://sanjosenyonggala.blogspot.com/2014/06/minalungao-national-park.html" target="_blank">Minalungao National Park</a>. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Marinduque Museum</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">During the first weekend of July, I toured the province of </span><b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">CAVITE </b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">and was able to visit 20 of its cities and municipalities. The only towns I haven't visited was Carmona, General Emilio Aguinaldo and Alfonso. At the last weekend of the month, I and April was set to conquer the island of </span><b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://sanjosenyonggala.blogspot.com/2014/07/luzondatum.html" target="_blank">MARINDUQUE</a></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, and we were very succesful for we were able to visit all of its six towns!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">August was another exciting month. Not only my mom's 54th birthday falls in this month, I was also able to visit the three provinces of the Samar Island: <b>EASTERN SAMAR</b>, <b>NORTHERN SAMAR</b>, and <b>SAMAR. </b>During that tour, I was also able to revisit Tacloban and saw how it was after that devastating Yolanda typhoon of 2013. During the same month, I also visited <b>LAGUNA</b> and for the first time, saw the beautiful heritage town of Pila. I also visited Magdalena, Santa Cruz, Pagsanjan and Liliw during that tour with April and my other travel blogger friends.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">September saw my itchy feet travelling to </span><b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">CAGAYAN </b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">to be able to see with my own two eyes the 2nd oldest, untouched church in the Philippines, the </span><a href="http://sanjosenyonggala.blogspot.com/2014/09/malaueg-tuao-and-piat-itawes-towns.html" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;" target="_blank">Malaueg Church</a>,<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> which can be found in Rizal, Cagayan. I also visited the towns of Piat and Tuao with another history buff FB friend Juval Rey Valdez of </span><a href="http://sanjosenyonggala.blogspot.com/2015/04/bagabag.html" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;" target="_blank">Bagabag</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, Nueva Vizcaya.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In October, Jun-jun de Dios of Lakwatserong Opis Worker, invited me and April together with MJ (new found friend) and Manong Unyol (of ManongUnyol.blogspot.com) to tour his hometown, <b><a href="http://sanjosenyonggala.blogspot.com/2014/11/malabon.html" target="_blank">MALABON</a></b>. We marveled at the beautiful ancestral houses of the city as well as its historic churches and <a href="http://sanjosenyonggala.blogspot.com/2014/10/malabonfood.html" target="_blank">mouthwatering food</a>!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">November came and I found myself going to <b>AURORA </b>again. Baler already became a yearly destination for me since 2012. But this time, its extra special because this was the last time I was able to travel and bond with my Tita Salve, together with my niece and my mom. She left us to be with the Lord the next year, just 6 months after our Baler travel. During the end of November, I toured Marikina and other Rizal towns such as Montalban, San Mateo, Antipolo, Taytay and Cainta with William and Juan of <a href="http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1780877&page=29" target="_blank">SSC Bulacan</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">December was a month spent with my family, and I wasn't able to travel to any province...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The year 2014 has ended and here is the progress of my Tour d' Philippines project, map, courtesy of Eugene Villar:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">*</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>I have shaded the map based on the provinces I have visited and not on the specific places indicated by the creator, <a href="http://forge.codedgraphic.com/lakbayan/" target="_blank">Eugene Villar</a>.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And yes, 2014 is another blessed travel year. I now have visited 61 provinces, and looking forward for more, now with some of the provinces to be visited with my beautiful, lovely partner, April... :)</span>San Josenyong Galahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17411649494261796294noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043827945654383268.post-36315535891760240462015-04-22T07:48:00.001-07:002015-04-22T07:48:59.261-07:00Nueva Vizcaya : Roaming Cagayan Valley's 2nd Oldest Province<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This post is part of my Nueva Vizcaya Series chronicling my 2013 and 2015 visits to the province. To see other towns, refer to the linked list after the article.</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">At the start, the whole of the present-day Cagayan Valley Region was just a single vast province known as Cagayan. The first ever division of the province happened when its southern part, from Ilagan down to Aritao, was separated and created into a new province in 1841, paving the way for the birth of the great province of NUEVA VIZCAYA.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nueva Vizcaya Provincial Capitol</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Nueva Vizcaya of old was a very large province but through the passage of time, it lost many of its territories starting from the creation of the province of Isabela in 1856 (</span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">almost half of Isabela province came from the northeastern territories of Nueva Vizcaya</i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">) until the separation of Quirino Province in 1971. Now, the province is left with only 15 municipalities, with a total population of 421,355 as of 2010.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have the good fortune of visiting 5 of Nueva Vizcaya's 15 municipalities during my two time sojourn of the province: one in 2013 and another in 2015. I have twice visited the towns of Bayombong, Bambang and Dupax del Sur, and once, the towns of Bagabag and Solano.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Bayombong, the town's capital has a very spacious and beautiful provincial capitol complex. It has large parks, both in front and at the back of the capitol, auditorium, and a permanent exhibit area at the left side (which was not yet present during my first visit)</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KuuPx2BgcDg/VQD_K3CslII/AAAAAAAABhA/hBzPULXuZO0/s1600/nv2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KuuPx2BgcDg/VQD_K3CslII/AAAAAAAABhA/hBzPULXuZO0/s1600/nv2.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An indigenous house, one of the many houses in the exhibit area</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The new exhibit area will be a permanent fixture of the capitol complex. Each of the province's 15 municipalities has their own space on the lot where they built an indigenous house that best represent their culture, and will be used every time there will be an exhibit. It was nice seeing the different indigenous houses as it features the most prevalent building materials and designs in each of the municipalities.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fJjLg01GA9U/VQD_SuJWEeI/AAAAAAAABhI/6SOk8iwsyAM/s1600/nv3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fJjLg01GA9U/VQD_SuJWEeI/AAAAAAAABhI/6SOk8iwsyAM/s1600/nv3.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A part of the indigenous house meant to <br />
prevent rodents and snakes entering its upper part.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Aside from the capitol complex, the town center of Bayombong is also worthy of a visit. The old Bayombong Cathedral can be found there as well as the old Nueva Vizcaya capitol which is now turned into a museum and library. Bayombong Town Hall can be reached by walking or riding a tricycle.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nueva Vizcaya Provincial Capitol Complex Exhibit Area</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Bagabag, another town of Nueva Vizcaya is also very much worthy of a visit. This town is considered the Eastern gateway of the Cordillera because one has to pass this town to be able to reach different Cordillera provinces such as Ifugao and Mountain Province when coming from Maharlika Highway. One can find here the ruins of Bagabag Church and Belltower as well as a restaurant famous for different buko products such as buko pie and pancit buko!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kEiimGKCai8/VQD_wUIZIaI/AAAAAAAABhg/MD19DF5mtUM/s1600/nv5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kEiimGKCai8/VQD_wUIZIaI/AAAAAAAABhg/MD19DF5mtUM/s1600/nv5.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Solano Church</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">From Bagabag, one can hop on a bus and alight at the bustling town of Solano, one of the main commercial centers of Nueva Vizcaya. Just beside the national highway can be found the (unfortunately) modernized Solano Church as well as many commercial establishments that serves as testaments to this town's livability and vibrance. </span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DMLuxivxX74/VQD_slXYIJI/AAAAAAAABhY/yGTDBRDqK54/s1600/solano1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DMLuxivxX74/VQD_slXYIJI/AAAAAAAABhY/yGTDBRDqK54/s1600/solano1.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Solano is also one of Nueva Vizcaya's oldest existing town having been founded in the latter half of 1700's, but sadly, one cannot find any traces of antiquity anymore. Even its municipal hall (and church as what was stated earlier) are of modern design. The municipal hall is not located at the town center so one has to ride a tricycle to reach it. Though not in the town center, it can still be found along the national highway.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tsQ1NnrwT6c/VQD_1UtduAI/AAAAAAAABho/HXGlVB5XnTU/s1600/solano2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tsQ1NnrwT6c/VQD_1UtduAI/AAAAAAAABho/HXGlVB5XnTU/s1600/solano2.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Solano Municipal Hall</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">From Solano, one can continue his travel to the town of Bambang, another main commercial center of Nueva Vizcaya. Unlike Solano, Bambang was able to preserve its old feel despite its rapid development and progress. The town was able to maintain its beautiful old church, reminiscent of the town's equally beautiful past. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-euz5oH0InVY/VTey95_tPsI/AAAAAAAABlA/to_jJbv2nZU/s1600/bambang2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-euz5oH0InVY/VTey95_tPsI/AAAAAAAABlA/to_jJbv2nZU/s1600/bambang2.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bambang Church</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: center;">Lastly, one can just ride a tricycle from Bambang Church to go to another heritage poblacion: Dupax del Sur. There, one can marvel at the beauty of the old Dupax del Sur Church, and an old Spanish bridge. Visiting this town is definitely a visit to the past.</span></div>
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<tr><td><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FnP_LFFChHM/VTezrAIQYfI/AAAAAAAABlI/nFm0W95uYEo/s1600/dupaxdelsur2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FnP_LFFChHM/VTezrAIQYfI/AAAAAAAABlI/nFm0W95uYEo/s1600/dupaxdelsur2.JPG" height="450" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Dampol Bridge in Dupax del Sur</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>To see more of Nueva Vizcaya, you may visit the following links:</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://sanjosenyonggala.blogspot.com/2015/04/bayombong.html">Bayombong : The Capital</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://sanjosenyonggala.blogspot.com/2015/04/bagabag.html">Bagabag : The Town of Buko and an Old Bell Tower</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://sanjosenyonggala.blogspot.com/2015/04/bambang.html">Bambang : The Agricultural Hub</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://sanjosenyonggala.blogspot.com/2015/04/dupax-del-sur.html">Dupax del Sur : The Home of an Old Church and an Old Bridge </a></span><br />
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San Josenyong Galahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17411649494261796294noreply@blogger.com0Solano, Nueva Vizcaya, Pilipinas16.523889 121.1919440000000316.4021105 121.03058250000004 16.645667500000002 121.35330550000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3043827945654383268.post-56893146316304637002015-04-22T06:49:00.001-07:002015-04-22T22:30:16.559-07:00Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya<i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This post is part of my Nueva Vizcaya Series chronicling my 2013 and 2015 visits to the province. To see other towns, refer to the linked list after the article.</i><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Nueva Vizcaya People's Museum and Library. Bayombong.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The gigantic province of Nueva Vizcaya of the 19th Century has Echague (now a part of Isabela) as its capital. By the time Isabela province was created in 1865, the capital was transferred to Bayombong. The town remained the capital even when Nueva Vizcaya lost some of its northwestern territories when Ifugao province was organized in 1908, and again when finally, Quirino province split from Nueva Vizcaya in 1971. Today, Bayombong still functions as the heart of the now smaller province of Nueva Vizcaya culturally, geographically and politically. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The name of the town came from the Gaddang word, <i>bayongyong</i>, a place name referring to a meeting place of two or more rivers (<i>Gaddangs are one of the earliest settlers in Bayombong and many other parts of Nueva Vizcaya</i>). It is also one of the earliest towns to be founded (1739), even predating the foundation of the province that has the present jurisdiction over it for a full century (Nueva Vizcaya, 1839)!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bayombong Cathedral</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Visiting the town gives one a peek to the past as well as the present way of life of Novo Vizcayanos. The capitol complex which can be found in this town is a very large place where one would be able to discover Novo Vizcayano's fondness for planned parks and beautiful open spaces. (Photos of Capitol Complex <a href="http://sanjosenyonggala.blogspot.com/2015/04/nuevavizcaya.html" target="_blank">here</a>). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Aside from the capitol complex, one major tourist draw of Bayombong is its Spanish-era church which functions as the seat of the Diocese of Bayombong, the Bayombong Cathedral. The said diocese serves the spiritual needs of the whole population of the province of Nueva Vizcaya as well as of the province of Quirino.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Interior of Bayombong Cathedral</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Bayombong Church was first dedicated to St. Augustine by the Augustinians but when they ceded the church to the Dominicans, it was rededicated to St. Dominic De Guzman in 1739. The construction of the stone church started in 1773 and since then, many reconstruction, restoration and addition to different parts of church were made. It became a cathedral in 1966 when Bayombong became a territorial prelature. Finally, Bayombong was elevated into a diocese in 1982, a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Tuguegarao, and the church became a full pledged cathedral. Today, though the facade of the church retains its old look, the interior is very much modern looking.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qCwIZmou63s/VP6nxUmtxgI/AAAAAAAABgA/82BZVde0Wvo/s1600/bayombong5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qCwIZmou63s/VP6nxUmtxgI/AAAAAAAABgA/82BZVde0Wvo/s1600/bayombong5.JPG" height="502" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rear part of the Nueva Vizcaya Museum</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Another interesting landmark to be visited in the town of Bayombong is the People's Museum and Library, better known as the Nueva Vizcaya Museum. The building itself is already a museum exhibit because it has an architecture prevalent in the time before this generation. The museum is actually the old provincial capitol of Nueva Vizcaya, and that adds to its historicity and importance. I was able to visit this museum during both my 2013 and 2015 visits but I still wasn't able to have a look at its museum and library. In 2013, I arrived late and the museum is already closed while in 2015, an exhibit is currently being prepared so we were not allowed to have a tour inside.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FsZXPr2t2U4/VP6ny3sVNCI/AAAAAAAABgM/8dfFwm0UZnE/s1600/bayombong6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FsZXPr2t2U4/VP6ny3sVNCI/AAAAAAAABgM/8dfFwm0UZnE/s1600/bayombong6.JPG" height="320" width="312" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Numerous old houses are also scattered around the town (of which two are pictured above). Some of them are in derelict condition while some are already restored and well-maintained. The last landmark one can visit in Bayombong is its town hall located some meters away from the cathedral. One can walk to reach it or ride a tricycle, which is more convenient. I visited this town hall in 2013.</span><br />
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<tr><td><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hhU3Co3-VaA/VP6m5J3waHI/AAAAAAAABfg/fmyFpJspZ6I/s1600/bayombong3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hhU3Co3-VaA/VP6m5J3waHI/AAAAAAAABfg/fmyFpJspZ6I/s1600/bayombong3.JPG" height="486" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bayombong Municipal Hall</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After seeing what is there to see in Bayombong, I continued my trip, now to another interesting Nueva Vizcayan town south, Bambang.</span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">HOW TO GET THERE?</b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">From Cubao, you can ride Florida, Five Star or other buses bound to Tuguegarao or Ilagan. Just tell the driver to drop you off at Bayombong Junction. From the junction, you may ride a tricycle to bring you to the capitol complex. You may also opt to walk to the capitol if you have ample time and stamina. Just ask around how to get there.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If you are coming from Tuguegarao or any town north of Nueva Vizcaya, you may ride any bus bound to Manila/Cubao and tell the driver to drop you off at Bayombong Junction and follow the directions above. </span></div>
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<i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I visited Bayombong both in 2013 and 2015.</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>To see more of Nueva Vizcaya, you may visit the following links:</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://sanjosenyonggala.blogspot.com/2015/04/nuevavizcaya.html">Nueva Vizcaya : Roaming Cagayan Valley's 2nd Oldest Province</a></span></div>
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<a href="http://sanjosenyonggala.blogspot.com/2015/04/bagabag.html" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Bagabag : The Town of Buko and an Old Bell Tower</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://sanjosenyonggala.blogspot.com/2015/04/bambang.html">Bambang : The Agricultural Hub</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://sanjosenyonggala.blogspot.com/2015/04/dupax-del-sur.html">Dupax del Sur : The Home of an Old Church and an Old Bridge </a></span></div>
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San Josenyong Galahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17411649494261796294noreply@blogger.com0