my first plane experience

September 16, 2009. I was invited by our company to attend the Catholic Education Association in the Philippines (CEAP) Annual Convention held at the Manila Hotel. This was another experience because (1) first time to attend a convention wherein participants are from education sector and some of them are religious people; (2) first time to ride on a ship because some of the sessions were held in the Manila Floating Hotel and Restaurant and (3) first time to ride in an airplane.

After the closing Eucharistic Celebration, we immediately leave the venue because we have to be at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA)Terminal 3 before 5:00pm. we thank God because we never encounter traffic jam on our way to airport. and because of that, we were in the target place ahead on time.

We entered to the building and i was amazed on its interior. Although the plan is very simple, the design, in general, was amazing because of the drama the have included in the interior.

At 4:40pm, we were advised to board on plane via gate 134. we boarded on the Cebu Pacific plane ________. At 5:10pm, the plane depart from NAIA 3.

since it's my first time to ride on a plane, i was amazed on the aerial view of some places although some areas were not seen due to the clouds covering them. 1 have already seen some aerial views of places but it's different if your are in a higher elevation. At 6:20pm, the plane landed at the Laoag International Airport safely.

after the trip, i was happy bacause we landed safe although tired. but its another experience in my another journey....

Vigan Calesa Parade 2009

CALESA- a horse driven carriage and considered as the heritage ride in some places. Heritage ride because it was already used as mode of transportation by the old folks.

In the Heritage City of Vigan, a tourist's heritage tour is not complete without riding in this "heritage" transpo. Take note that the design of Vigan Calesa is different from the calesas of other provinces in the Northern Luzon.

As part of the celebration of Vigan City's Viva Vigan Festival of the Arts, the City Government recognized the importance of these heritage rides by displaying them with some "make overs". Participants dressed the calesas showcasing the things that people can see and experience in the City.



All photos embedded on this post were taken by adelarosa during the Viva Vigan Festival of the Arts- Calesa Parade on May 3, 2009

meztiso river... now and then

Mestizo River. One of the rivers that surround the core of Vigan City and has a great involvement in the history of the city and on the culture of Vigueños as well. During the pre colonial period, it was used by Asian traders in bringing their mercantile to the old city and sometimes, they used the river bank as trading post. When Juan de Salcedo, a young Spanish conquistador, explored the Northern Luzon, they passed through this river and landed on its bank.

With these contributions, the Local Government of Vigan City gave importance to the said place by including it as one of the tourist spots in the said city. They established the Vigan Heritage River Cruise where tourists will ride in a boat and explore the beauty of the Mestizo River and its history as well. The cruise starts and ends in the port located in Brgy. Beddeng Laud and as the tourist travel along the river, they will see the tableaus erected in different areas along the riverbank depicting the highlights of Vigan’s history held in the said river.

On May 1, 2009, the city government of Vigan headed by its mayor, inaugurated the place which also marked the start of its operation. Said activity was started with a simple program including the blessing of the port and the boats and after which, followed by a tour in the river.

The river, especially in the area where they put the port, was a part of every Beddengians' (people from Brgy. Beddeng Laud)childhood including me.
And as part of my past, I witnessed the said activity. I was happy because the contribution of the place was being recognized and promoted. I also felt bad because the river I have known during my childhood was changed and developed especially in the place where they placed the dock. This is because, in this area, it was consist of stones instead of mud as its base. During low tide, the water level reaches the ankle of an adult person while it reaches below knee during high tide. This was also the area where we get some “soso” and “shek” (a kind of marine mollusks) and kangkong for our meal. We also did some fishing activities aside from swimming. When i got bored, i asked my childhood friends to go to the river to have fun.

Now, that they had developed the area just to promote the history of the place, I’m wishing that its natural beauty will be preserved and respected.




NOTE: photos were taken during the inauguration of the place on May 1, 2009

around the sun

April 7, 2009 around eleven o'clock before noon, while walking in the corridor, a co-worker called my attention. he asked me if i already saw the sun. I answered "no" and asked him "why". Then he described what he saw with the sun. Immediately after our conversation, i looked up in the sky but unfortunately, due to the wide overhang shading the corridor from the sunlight, i was not able to witness the event.

On my way home for lunch, i again looked up in the sky. On the moment, i saw that the sun is surrrounded by a rainbow. The space inside the rainbow is darker (looks like its cloudy) while outside of it is not. I heard from other people that the view is still the same since an hour ago.

Since it's my first time to witness the phenomenon, of course, i was amazed. So, I told myself that i will research a literature of the said event. And i have known that there were already places witnessed the same phenomenon. I have also known that the circular rainbow was a HALO also known as Nimbus, Icebow or Gloriole. Said halo is an optical phenomenon that appears near or around the sun or moon or any light source. It is caused by iced crystals instead of raindrops in cold cirrus clouds found in the upper troposphere. The shape & orientation of the ice crystals is responsible for the halo observed.


Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halo_(optical_phenomenon)

Domingo Ramos 2009

Domingo Ramos or Palm Sunday, the start of the Holy Week. Its a Christian belief which commemorates Jesus Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem before his death...

Me and my family attended the ceremony at the St. William the Hermit Cathedral. we went to the cathedral not only to hear mass and join the celebration but also to inculcate into my child's mind the Christian belief.

Before the mass began, worshippers were gathered at the narthex wherein the priest blessed (through sprinkling the Holy Water) the palms raised by the people. Unfortunately, since we were far from the priest,our "ramos" was not showered with Holy Water. After the blessing, the celebrant immediately proceed to the altar for the mass.

During the homily, the priest told that Palm Sunday is also called the Passion Sunday because its the start of the passion of Christ. He also told the highlight of Christ's life from his entry to Jerusalem to his death.

The mass was ended with final blessing by the priest and palms which were not blessed at the start of the mass were also blessed.

This year's Domingo Ramos is April 5.









The "palms" being sold outside the church







A lady busy in selling the palms outside the church




A "desperate" person who was not able to join the blessing of palm just dipped his "palm" in an empty basin for holy water

Prayer to Our Lady of Manaoag

When i visited the Shrine of Our Lady of Manaoag in Manaoag, Pangasinan, one of the souvenirs I bought is a booklet which contains the prayer below...

Virgin Mother of God,

Queen of the Most Holy Rosary;

thou who hast chosen to raise thy throne of mercy in Manaoag,

to be the beloved protectress and Patron of the Province of Pangasinan,

and therefrom to bestow thy graces on us, thy children,

banished in this valley of tears, look down with thine eyes of mercy upon me,

who am beset with so many dangers of body and soul.

Despise not my petition, O dearest Mother,

but intercede for me before thy Divine Son,

now and at the hour of my death.

Amen

Virgin of Manaoag, pray for us.

(100 days indulgence, granted by Mariano A. Madriaga, DD., Bishop of Lingayen-Dagupan)

tuguegarao cathedral

Dominican priests came to the Cagayan Valley on 1600 and started their mission in Tuguegarao on May 9, 1604. The first vicar is Father Tomas Villa, OP. The construction of the church with belltower was led by Rev. Fr. Antonio Lobato, OP. from 1761 to 1767. It was the biggest church in the province of Cagayan.

The Diocese was established by Pope Pio X on April 1910 and Monsignor Mauricio P. Foley was appointed as the first Bishop on December 6, 1911















The altar of the Cathedral

pinakbet

Pinakbet or pakbet is a native dish in Ilocandia. It is a contracted Ilocano word “pinakebbet” which means shrunk or shrivelled. The basic ingredients are tarong (eggplant), okra (ladyfinger), parya (bitter gourd), kamatis (tomatoes), bawang (garlic) & lasona (onion with or without its spring). These vegetables are usually cooked until almost dry. The flavor of the veggies is accentuated by buggoung (fermented fish) but in some municipalities, they use buggoong aramang (fermented shrimp). Karne ti baboy (pork), sometimes cooked into different dishes like bagnet, lechon or chicharon, is also added.

Aside from the basic ingredients, some Ilocanos put additional veggies like repolyo (cabbage), cauliflower,patani (lima beans), parda (Indian beans), Utong (string beans) karabasa (squash), and chicharo. In some areas, they prefer kamote (sweet potato), sili a pimmasayan (long pepper), kabatiti (sponge gourd), cardis (green peas) and other vegetables available in their backyard garden..

Originally, when Ilocano cook this dish, they just place all the ingredients in a banga (earthen pot), putting the veggies which are harder to cook below the easier ones like the repolyo, kamatis and the like, then stirred frequently until it is almost dry. But in some areas lately, they sauté first the pork, kamatis, lasona, laya and buggoong before putting the veggies.

Ilocano enjoys eating this dish especially when it is cold (even a day after it was cooked) and with fried rice.

2009 Laoag Calesa Festival

As a way of giving recognition to the “cultural rides” of the Ilocanos, Laoageños celebrated the 2009 Calesa Festival on February 8, 2009 with a theme: “An Environmental Friendly Cultural Ride.” The activity was participated by the members of the Laoag City Calesa Association, in which they paraded their horse driven carriages within the city proper. Some carriages were dressed with different styles and participated in the competition. Three of them got the titles Most Symbolic, Most Original and Most Decorative.

This celebration is in line with the 2009 Pamulinawen Festival of the city as they celebrated their City Fiesta in honor to their patron St. William the Hermit.

i travel with a purpose

i travel not only to recreate but also to explore....
i travel not only to have fun but also to accomplish for something...
i travel not only to chat but also to learn and to share what i know...
i travel not only to have apeaceful mind but also to reflect and to think about the future...
Life is a journey.....
and each journey i had, i always make sure that it's worthy for myself and the person i'm with...
I travel with a purpose.... for a purpose...