ArchitectureSightings#4: BICOL │ Our Lady of Penafrancia Church

Our Lady of Penafrancia Church

Our Lady of Penafrancia Church was also visted in our Naga city tour last July 2011 that made me more realize how people there love their religious heritage. We've been to Metropolitan Cathedral and headed to this particular church where temperature then was totally hot.

Our city tour guide said that  hand painted ceilings and fine architectural design are well preserved for Ina's devotees and tourists. It was built by Rev. Miguel Covarrubias in 1711 in fullfillment of his vow that housed the original image of Our Lady of Peñafrancia first which is now situated at Basilica Minore.

Church isle and it's ceiling.

The Virgin of Penafrancia was so miraculous and cured a lot of people from the time Her image was brought in this church during 1710. Honestly, because I'm not into news and current and historical events, I was clueless about INA's abouts.

The Altar.

It was then I knew that there's a fluvial procession and translacion what they called before her feast day. Translacion which means transfer of Our Lady of Penafrancia image transfer from one church to another.

Altar's ceiling

Right wing's ceiling.

Actually I was amazed because there was such religious celebration here in the Philippines, not to mention I'm helpless unupdated person about PH, even it's map. It made me realize how people are really devoted to Her from preparations of 9-day novena, fluvial procession and translacion which are not usual on other feast here
.

Miraculous icon of the holy face on left. Tombstone planted I found inside the church (right).

Once you entered the church you will also feel the oldy feeling from it's structure from walls, ceilings and floor. Even it was late regular day morning, where no church goers usually present, it was still open to everyone unlike here in Cavite which is usually seldom. Upon checking the area, I accidentally saw this tombstone planted on the the church's floorings and promptly asked it to our guide. He said that there were a total of 4 tombs inside the church which were priests' and I just said...ahh but when I looked closer on my pics, they weren't. Well I just noticed that some of his answers were not justifiable, tsk..tsk..

Outside the church, Mysteries placed on walls.

Upon exiting the church we went to the candle area and alley to cemetery that actually surprised me. It's unusual to see this kind of setting that made me ask the tour guide again, he just said that it was there prior to church construction and previous priests were buried there, then I just said...ahh. Because of lack of time, we didn't entered the cemetery, we had to go to next house of Ina, Basilica Minore.

Candles for Ina and our loveones.

There were lots of vendors outside the church offering candles and a copy of Our Lady of Penafrancia mini Prayer and they kept on following potential customers, tourists. As we went to the candle area, we bought  candles to lit and refused to buy the prayer which I can just take a photo of it situated just beside the church.

Cementery at the back of the church.

Our Lady of Penafrancia Parayer Tablet.

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ArchitectureSightings#5: BICOL │ Naga Plaza

Naga city plaza.

From Naga city airport, we were fetched by on-time hotel accommodation staffs , unfortunately plane arrival was the other way around, we noticed this plaza right away in the center of the busy streets, surrounded by different establishments, St. Francis de Assisi church and in front our hotel, 'New Crown'.

Tablet below the statues for the fifteen Martyrs of Bicol.

The place was good, no beggars and little children around like in Manila. It was like a piece of nature surrounded by urbanized blocks of cement, hehe.



The middle of plaza is a monument with three female statues above and a dead man carried one of them at the center  and tablet that is seen below which commemorates fifteen martyrs in Bicol.

Viewed  near from St. Francis de Assisi Church.

Like what I said, the greeniest part of the city serves as the balance for the whole area because of  the ample piece of nature that gives tourist and locals a place to rest and relax for awhile.



After we got back fromour city tour, we ask our guide to just drop us off in the nearest area where we could buy some food which wasn't quite far from our hotel, then we landed on this spot, in front of the plaza.

Waited for the sun to set.

We look for a better place to eat, but then we just decided to buy and take it to hotel because of so much tiredness got from CWC boarding. I planned to wait for the sunset but my muscles started to sore and just took my best subject for the Naga city plaza, the blue Volkswagen Beatle MT.

July 31, 2011

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PostcardPosts#1: BICOL │ "Ina" Our Lady Of Penafrancia

Our Lady of Penafrancia when you peep into the whole.

Because of so many miracles of "Ina", Our Lady Of Penafrancia documented, feast done every year were huge and special due to her devotees.



Luckily, we were able to touch her gold plated stand and her miraculous pure gold mantaeu (original). They say that it wasn't the original image, a replica. Stories tell that because of its ivory hand and face and gold mantaeu (worn in the replica), several years ago, some people tried to stole it but luckily found. However the original one is kept in secret place inside the Basilica and only shown to people during the feast of Our Lady of Penafrancia.

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VacationBlahs#9: CARAMOAN│BIKAL PORT

Bikal port

Bikal port is one of the ports in Caramoan which is main way to outrigger boats for hire that bring tourists to different islands and cave destinations.

We started our journey to our Caramoan Island hopping upon arriving this port . We spent a several minutes because our tour guide, Kuya Joseph, was  fixing something. First we went to a sari-sari store near the port and he had conversation with a man who's the owner of the banka we were going to use, he said. But there was a little problem, it was low tide. Because of this advantageous phenomenon for our Island hopping, our guide had to look for a smaller boat to get into a bigger one parked not quite far; bigger boats tend to be grounded on rocks under so borrowing small boats are really necessary, like we did in Guijalo port upon Sabang boat arrival.

Outrigger boats parking area..:)

Our guide hand held us the towels he was holding, our towels which were free of charge so no need to bring one, left for more couple of minutes, he was gone again then returned asked if we would like to rent 2 pairs of goggles for our snorkeling activity later on. Of course we said yes coz we don't have any, it was for P150, if my memory served me right.

Elevated nipa houses at the port

Temperature at the waiting nipa shed area was totally hot, maybe heightened due to much liquids evaporated from the water; was like sauna bath feeling, hehe., but was ok enjoyed taking pictures of us at the area. Well taking advantage of time kuya was still not present, the humid temperature reminds me of too much skin darkening nightmare I might have, it was my time to apply my sunblock spray, woohoo! I forgot to apply one after we enjoyed our lunch. Actually our sched was late, we arrived at Guijalo 12:30, ate lunch, rest a little and rushed ourselves off to Bikal, in tagalog "di pa natutunawan".

While waiting, I notice a nipa house elevated from the ground with some wooden cuttings to lift it, mangroove-like house for me. I asked kuya Joseph why it's like that? Then my guess was right, there's a time of high tide that houses should be couple of inches higher from the ground. But I was surprised when he said that sometimes level reach up to upper thigh level.



Then after waiting several minutes on a very hot shed, we then off to our island hoping adventure. Finally I felt the wind blows as the boat moves.

Bikal after our Island hopping.

Of course after the island tour, we returned at this particular port. We noticed that it was already high. Waters got into the cemented path, where slopes were not already visible as to compare to first photo above. All in all, island hopping was amazing and this thoroughfare port opened it's gates to every tourists to experience it.

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HikingBlahs#6: TIPS │ Limatic Prevention Tips

Limatik looking for its perfect spot to sip, too bad for him, he's on the wrong place, hehe.

Limatiks are leeches, small worm-like creatures residing at most rain forest areas.These parasitic creatures suck blood on their preys to live through sensing vibrations around them and hitch to make their plans...blood, blood, blood.

Evidences and experiences show that prevention from limatik bites is not necessary, but for female like me, I can't help it but to be conscious about this. Even tiny wounds left by those, the feeling of something's weirdly moving on my clothes and imagining the tendency of those getting it in to my ears and eyes, which is alarming for me (maybe some would not), I formulated these tips. Hope this helps especially girls! :)

LUMATIK PREVENTION TIPS: 



1. Wear appropriate clothes like leggings, long pants, socks and sleeves/jacket. Just keep those shorts, sandals and sleeveless/sandos for the meantime.



2. Cover your ears using a bandanna or ear plugs if you have any. Goggles,if you are comfortable wearing it.



3. Avoid too much contact with leaves, plants and trees around, those creatures are just sensing vibrating signals from their victims.



4. Always check your clothes or ask others if you have any leech hitch hiker already.



>>How to remove it?

They say that it is inadvisable to remove it because this causes the leech to vomit back the blood it has ingested and might worsen the wound condition. However,  in case it just fled to your skin and think there is a greater chance to remove it at once (Limatik will just start the sucking process), you could do this tips.



5.  In case the leech already resting on your skin, remove it by simply getting a dry towel (because it is too slippery) or try pinching it tightly using your nails in the middle of it then pull. Don't worry they'll not break, they're really tough I tell you!





6. Apply any chemical like alcohol/alcogel, perfume, repellant, alcoholic beverage or flame directly on it. However, if Limatik get's into your eyes, you could put "eyemo" if you have one or just do tip #5.



WOUND CARE AFTER THE BITE.

If Limatik succeed from poking your skin and left a wound, this tips could help.

7. Keep the wound clean. I suggest not to cover it after cleaning to allow oxygen circulation and increase healing. You could apply antiseptics like alcohol/alcogel and/or betadine (when you got home).



8. If you have sensitive skin and tend to have skin allergies/irritations after a skin bite, then you could have anti-histamine meds over the counter but try to do tip #7 first to avoid it's side effects like drowsiness.

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HikingBlahs#8: BATANGAS │ (Mt. Gulugod Baboy+Mt. Talamitam Part 2) MT. TALAMITAM: Beautiful Batangas Day Hike

Sun was setting from the slopes of the Mt. Talamitam.

Hiking two mountains in one day was really a challenge. So after hiking Mt. Gulugod Baboy, we went to our next stop, Mt. Talamitam at Nasugbu Batangas.

Several months ago, I noticed this mountain viewed from Kaytitinga I, Alfonso Cavite, I already started mountain climbing that time, and asked my BF, a kinda resident there if it's possible to climb that "unknown mountain" for me back then. Well, most of them, the locals said that there are lots NPAs hiding on that beautiful mountain from afar.

Upon browsing the internet for mountains near Cavite for our 2nd half climb, which are in Laguna and Batangas, I found Talamitam. At first we were thinking where at Batangas this could possibly be, because all I knew was Batulao and that "unknown mountain" that were nearest.

Two hours of travel from Mt. Gulugod Baboy at Mabini Batangas, we finally reached Nasugbu. Upon entrance we turned left and reached Brgy. Aga for 5 mins, then Sitio Bayabasan. You can identify jump-off going to the mountain by simply finding Bayabasan Elementary School on the right side of the road and beside of that is a cemented path going to the registration area and straight ahead to the mountain.

River  on the far right of the trail to Mt. Talamitam.

Because we had our car that time, we look for a place where we can park it, however we don't want to left it at the road side so we decided to enter that cemented path and look for a good one. The way was cemented at first but it was cut by a rough road but still we didn't stopped yet until reached the road limit and parked beside a fenced house and continued our journey. After few walks we reached a brgy. hall-like beside residences and registered for P35 each, day or night hike and headed straight ahead. As we continue our trail, I heard and noticed this river along.

The bridges (left) and the river under it (right) which is the continuation of the river beside the trail.

After a couple of minutes of walk, we reached the two bridges that we had crossed. I was curious about the river and asked if it's possible to freshen up there, my first question back to the registration area. The caretaker say's that they prohibit anyone to go down the river because there females died there last year at a certain part they called "bilog". So I didn't insist anymore and just took a photo it (right).

This is the second bridge to cross, just beside the first one.

After crossing the bridges, we experienced forested area for almost 30-45 minute walk and then exit to grasslands.  From there we totally felt the burst of sun's heat with no chance of hidding from it. I also notice the cows and horses were getting more and more in number each meter lapsed. They were everywhere and they mooooo very hard that made me scared and made me think they were mad!

Resting while enjoying Mt. Batulao's view.

Unshaded shade, just a skeleton. :)

The unshaded hut, but still a help in spite of intense sunlight, a resting spot. From here you can view the Talamitam's perfect landscape for the first time. When we reached this, I found perfect resting place, I can sit well and has a little shade where I can rest my skin from outrageous sunlight through the bamboo frame..haha

Heading mountain's peak along crops land areas.

Trail was not well defined because of plenty crop fields around the area. Moreover gangster cows and horse are everywhere that we tend to walk distant from them and try other paths to reach the foot of the mountain. In short we made our own trail just to walk away from them, it's not hard to locate the trail to summit anyway. If you think you are lost, just look at the mountain, and walk straight ahead! hehe...seriously! :D

From the mountain's foot, 3 trails going to the summit are visible. If you are going to measure the distance of 3 different trails viewed from the grasslands, you will definitely choose the left one which directed straight ahead to the summit.

Mt. Talamitam landscape.

After deciding which trail was the best, we took the left trail expecting to reach the top in shorter time without realizing that it is steeper and slippery because of rocks(unticed from afar). Well, after 1 hour of hike from mountain's base, 2 hours in total from the jump-off, we reached the zenith of Mt. Talamitam.

My solo shot at the summit.

I was surprised because there's no one at the peak, just the two of us, me and my bf which was totally nice experience. We were comfortable resting and taking pictures anywhere, anything we want. It was like we owned the mountain.

Mt. Batulao viewed from the peak.

More Batulao shots, My first ever mountain to climb.

This scene was amazing, it was like Jesus Christ will descend from clouds.

We met a cow shepperd guy at the bamboo shade I mentioned awhile ago in our ascent and he said that temperature at the summit would be totally cold in contrast to what we felt the moment we stepped on the summit. It was like slightly cold temperature but was totally shaded, which amazed me because there were no clouds in our area, they were just around the summit.

Mt. Batulao on the left.

Batulao on the right.

Rocky summit.

With curiosity what the whole area was like, I walked distant from the summit where you can pitch some tents, about 5 and took pictures. To avoid night trek in our descent, after 45 minutes stay at the summit, we took the left (middle if viewed from grass land) path for our descent to experience other trail and avoid that steep and slippery way we went in our ascent.

Grasses as tall as a person on the middle trail which we tried in our descent (left). Huge boulders along the trail (right).

Compared to our first trail, path was covered by tall grasses as high as a human and long walk but not steep as the first one we took, perfect for descent. Also, rocks and huge boulders were greatly viewed from here.

Captured sunset.

Because of fear of benight at trails and possibility of getting lost from branched trails, I haven't had a chance to catch sunset at the summit. When we reached the grasslands and turn our backs to the mountain, I finally saw the mesmerizing sun setting from the right side of the mountain.

November 30, 2011:

 We did two day hikes in one day, just the two of us (me and my bf). Because it was holiday, "Bonifacio day" it fells on a weekday that made summit unpopulated. We owned the mountain that day! That was our 6th mountain and I'm very happy for that and I just started to fall in love with mountain climbing and hoping to conquer more! :)

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HikingBlahs#7: BATANGAS │ (Mt. Gulugod Baboy+Mt. Talamitam Part 1) MT. GULUGOD BABOY: The Easiest Climb, Perfect for Novice Climber

Mt. Talamitam.

After searching on web for an easy and Batangas area mountain for our first day hike, I finally found Mt. Gulugod Baboy at Mabini Batangas. Gulugod ng baboy, "Pig's spine" is how they describe this mountain and I kept on imagining how or on what angle this description would really be obvious.



Because it's our first day hike and first time for just the two of us to climb, me and my bf, we decided to bring car for an easier and convenient travel. This is one disadvantage of climbs with few people, more transpo expense. Then after three hours of travel from Dasmarinas, Cavite, spent too much time asking people the right direction,  via private vehicle, we finally found Philpan Dive Resort at Sitio San Teodoro Brgy. Anilao, Mabini Batangas, the jump off.

Philpan Dive Resort.

Because we're blessed to bring our car in this trek, we were able to skip the cemented very steep road, thanks to "Red" our dearest car rolled its wheels all the way up until we reached this uphill path to the mountain. Well, we can't bring red to peak so we parked and left him beside a store.

Way going to Gulugod Baboy peaks, in front of the store. Placard says "This way to Gulugod Baboy", and "Guide Gulugod Baboy P350"

Trail to peaks is quite easy but there are some path going to different houses that made it kinda confusing. You have to pass residences so be courteous. The hardest part here for me were the "gangster dogs", hehe... There were lot's of them, some walked closer to you, barked a lot and looked like they'll bit your leg, but thank God they aren't, they're just expecting you to give them some "tong", food.

Along the trek up, try to turn your back and see the amazing view of Batangas' bluish waters and floating Islands from afar including Sombrero Island.

Because of the mountain's grassland state, there are cows graze and roam along the area. Moreover, because of absence of trees upon approaching the mountain, temperature was totally increased and tend to sat and hide myself on tall grasses, hehe.

Mother and baby cow.

After forty minutes of walk from where we parked our car, we reached "Pinagbanderahan", (peak 3), place where flag was raised in english.

Pinagbanderahan Peak viewed from peak 2.

Gulugod Baboy Peak 2, The "gitna" or middle.

Panoramic view from Peak 2, with Peak 3 on left side and Peak 1 on right.

Actually when we saw the peaks, we were surprised due to proximity of those to each other, that's why I was puzzled about the itineraries written in blogs with about 40mins to 1 hour of walk...hmmm (?). After taking pictures at peak 2 all by ourselves, we decided to enjoy peak 1, about 10-20 meter distance.

Gulugod Baboy Peak 1. Well, It's just me, the grass and the baby tree. Poor plant, it went down by strong winds and dried by too much sun rays.

Enticing panoramic view from peak 1, with Sombrero Island and Maricaban Island floating over there. :)

This first day hike was nice, easy and memorable because it's the first time were able to hike without anyone to follow, just ourselves (with fear of chance of getting lost), instincts and the trail. Sometimes its fun to be with your bf/gf in a certain place without any people knowing that you were there, but of course it's also fun in a group hike, getting laud and laugh a lot and most of all you won't have a hard time taking picture all by yourself. . haha.



After taking lots of pictures and experiencing Mt. Gulugod Baboy's peaks, we started our descent and took the same trail in our ascent. Actually We didn't spent too much time at the peaks 'cause we planned to hike next mountain destination for that day, Mt. Talamitam at Nasugbu Batangas.

November 30, 2011:

We did two day hikes in one day, Mt. Gulugod Baboy and Mt. Talamitam, just the two of us (me and my bf). Because it was holiday, "Bonifacio day" it fells on a weekday that made summit unpopulated. We owned the mountain that day! It was our 5th mountain and I'm very happy for that, that made me plan conquer more! :)

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