Daytrip in Baguio

0100 ETD to Baguio
0700 ETA Baguio
0730 Breakfast in 50 Diners
0900 White house

0930-1030 Mines View Park / Good Shepherd / The Mansion / Wright Park / Botanical Garden

1030-1300 Camp John Hay

1300 - 1400 Late lunch in oh my gulay

1430 diplomat hotel

1500-1600 Strawberry Farm

1730 strolling in session road
1830 ETD to Manila
0030 ETA Manila

Hear to shoot

Photography to us is special -joshue a blind inspiring photographer. During on a Canon PhotoMarathon a photo walk competition, i met a twins with visually impair since birth competing in this photo walk with the help of their cheerful mom, Joshue and Jerome Nelmida shoot like a pro with their point and shoot cam. 

They both love taking photos during their free time and yes during their free time because they also have to go at their regular school, they’re in grade 6 with high grades. Beside Photography they love to swim and had been winning medals at swimming competitions, even beating sighted swimmers.  They can also win your hearts with their fantastic performance at the piano.

During the event, I have a privilege to shoot with them and their skills are fascinating. With their Mom Helps they can see exquisite subject, they want to level their photography and some of this day they will shoot with out the help of their mom. One of Joshue photos printed and i heard the crew are amaze and whispering wow.  

Photo by Joshue 

We use hearing instead our eye to shoot a subject. Just like normal people we shoot and frame subject too. Its quiet difficult for use but were learning and love this new found skill. And they looking forward to have their own slr and shoot like pro in the future.

And by GOD helps who knows they met shoot you on your wedding day or the debut of your love daughter someday.

Partyin’ in High Altitude

Dancing into the loud music.  Scene from your favorite club in the city, that is how one would describe the bonfire event. Every year, the Sagada Genuine Guides Association a bonfire event and tourists are welcome to join in the celebration. one night between Christmas and New Year (December 27 or 28), and it also the peak season for Sagada, they dance their indigenous cultural dances around the big fire and they invited everyone to dance with them. Open dinner buffet of Pinikpikan, Adobo, steamed vegetables, Pancit. They  did it at Kiltepan Viewpoint. In 2011, they moved the venue to Langtiw, near the mouth of Sumaguing Cave.

Sumaguing Cave

Stalactite and stalagmite inside the Sumaging cave

Sagada, dubbed as the Shangri-la of the Philippines, is a 12-hour ride from Manila via land. Lumiang Burial Cave. Coffins pile up inside. Their ancestors bury their dead by leaving their coffins inside the cave the method of burying the dead under the ground. They also believed that the souls of their dead remains and lurks around the earth. These souls become part of the air, water or the environment which can be called upon in times of need. that they become part of the environment, particularly the Lumiang Cave.

Bomod-ok Falls while totally fruitful was also absolutely exhausting always good but viewing it at Kiltepan is much better. The burst of pale to vivid colors breaking through the peaks and the carpet of clouds rare sights.   Orange-picking at Rock In Café. Tangerine trees are not very common in the Philippines. The farm collects P50 just for entering the orchard, it was P50 per kilo for “take out” ponkans. They also serve Breakfast.

the Rock Inn and Café model

Stop over is the Majestic Banaue Rice Terraces. This 2000 year old Banaue rice terraces has also been recognized as one of the “Eighth Wonder of the World”.

smiling down history

Bacolod, City of Smile kung tawagin sa lalawigan ng Negros Occidental. Sa bansag pa lang sa lugar na ito ay masasabi na nating masayahin ang mga tao rito. Mayroon silang mayamang kultura na maaari nating maipagmalaki sa buong mundo. Halina’t ating pasyalan ang Bacolod at ang makasaysayang nakaraan nito.

Mula Manila hanggang Bacolod, kailangan mong sumakay ng eroplano . Humigit-kumulang limampu lima  minuto  (55mins) ang biyahe papunta ng dito. Pero kung gusto ninyong subukan ang barko, puwede rin, kaya nga lang ay maaari kayong abutin ng dalampu dalawang oras (22hrs).

Mula sa Silay Airport , nagtungo kami sa Balay Negrense (Silay). Ang Balay Negrense ay kilala rin sa tawag na Negrense House. Ito ay itinayo noong 1897 na pag-aari ni Victory F. Gaston. Marami ang namamangha sa mga architecture  at uri nga  pamumuhay ng mga sinaunang residente rito. May naikuwento pa sa amin ang isa sa aming guide  na may mga pagkakataon daw na may mga nagpaparamdam dito. Katabing bahay lang ng Balay Negrense ang HOFILEÑA ANCESTRAL HOUSE (1934). Ito lang ang resident museum dito sa Silay, meaning  dito pa rin nakatira ang may-ari. Ito ay nasa pangangalaga ni Mr. Ramon Hofileña. Dito rin matatagpuan ang kauna-unahang wooden carving printing na gawa ni Mr. Ramon Hofileña. Ilang hakbang lamang ay makikita na natin ang THE CHURCH OF SAN DIEGO  (1927). Mula sa Silay pumunta naman kami sa Talisay. Marami rin ditong makikitang mga historical place katulad ng

The Ruins. Ang The Ruins ay sinimulang itayo noong 1 900 bilang simbulo  ng pag-ibig ni Don Mariano Ledesma Lacson sa kayang asawang si Maria Braga na isang Portuguese. Bago matapos ang mansion na simbulo nang pagmamahalan  nila ay binawian ng buhay si Maria Braga sa panganganak. Sa bawat haligi ng mansiong ito, may inisiyal na MM para sa mag-asawang Maria at Mariano. Ang palitada nito ay pinaghalong itlog at semento kaya kung hahawakan mo ay mapagkakamalang mong marmol ito at kapag tinamaan na ito ng sinag ng araw ay nagkukulay ginto.

Ang Centennial Belfry sa San Sebastian Church na makikita sa Bacolod ay isa rin sa pinaka-kahanga-hangang istruktura . Sa Bacolod din sikat ang Chicken Country Kung saan kaliwa’tkanan ang inasalan, at ang Negros Museum . Mambukal is a 45-minute drive mula Bacolod City ito ay nasa bayan ng Murcia, mayron silang 7 waterfalls.

A salute to the chef (food trip) The restaurant  started 1999 By Executive Chef Joseph Yap and wife Daya Yap, the couple behind the successful restaurant in Bacolod, THE CHEF. The Chef offers an international variety of tasty dishes like Stuffed Baby Lapu-lapu in Mango Sauce and Pesto, Mixed Grill Nebraska, Seafood Carnival with shrimp butter Sauce and Almond Tuilles. The Chef is open everyday to serve and satisfy the craving customer. With the endless surprises that The CHEF has, surely you will crave for their delicious array of dishes taste plus their world class service. They have three branches in Bacolod located at Palmas del Mar, Luxur Place and a mini branch in Transcom. For more info feel free to contact them at 0935-9611111 / (03) 433-5017 / 434-7971-72.

Balay Negrense

The Ruins in Silay

HOFILEÑA ANCESTRAL HOUSE

Toys in Negros Museum

Old train in sugar mill

Executive Chef Joseph Yap of THE CHEF 

Masscara parade

Masscara on sale

Night Street Party

Food trip

Isla de Gigantes Sur

from Past, Back to the Future

Along the peaceful town of Bagac in Bataan, are a collection of century(centuries) old Filipino houses.  With a house built on stone foundation with wooden legs designed to stand earthquakes.  Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar is a brainchild of Mr. Jerry Acuzar who owns a 400 hectare seaside estate in Bagac, Bataan and converted into a historical village resort and started in 2003

In 1999, a simple house in cagayan valley are built on stilts with capiz windows and wood panel. With a lots of daring and lots of audacious , Mr. Jerry Acuzar bought the house, architectural treasures that have been carefully and painstakingly reconstructed from different parts of the country and rebuilt, “brick by brick” and  “plank by plank”  now,  stand resplendent with pride  against a backdrop of majestic mountains, expansive rice fields and   a running river that flows to the sea . Twelve years after , the property has been transformed into an entire community of 27 houses with 2 more under constriction ( Teodora Alonso’s ancestral house and mother of our national hero Dr. Jose Riza l and a maranao house)

One of the most notable structures in the area, the grandest house in its time, is the Casa Quiapo. The house was taken from its original location in Hidalgo St., Quiapo, Manila. The owner is of the house is Rafael Enriquez, a prostrated  artist. He wanted to take fine arts, but his dad order him to take law. As a gift, his dad gave this Enriquez palasiyo  for taking law. But he donate the mansion, and it was used as the first campus of the University of the Philippines School of Fine Arts (1906-1926). It was the first School of the UP College of Fine Arts. Its notable products  were Fernando Amorsolo, Tomas Mapua, Carlos Francisco, and Guillermo Tolentino. Accordingly , when the school was transferred to Padre Faura, the building was poorly maintained it became a bowling alley, dormitory, venue for sex live shows and an abortion clinic.

A building patterned from Escolta’s shopping district stands and serves as the hotel.  Each room is beautifully designed by Mr. Acuzar’s wife, who is also an interior designer herself.

Each house has its own story to tell. The creation of this village is coupled with controversy. The situs  is part and parcel of these old houses’ historical importance, I would rather have it transported to a place where it can be preserved and kept to its former grandeur than letting it decay and perish in a matter of time.

Aside from the historical houses, the village is also a resort. Located next to the beach, one can enjoy swimming.  There’s also a mid size pool available for guests.

The travel transported us back in time. Fortunately, we have witnessed and captivate  world of old Filipino houses, walking along village cobblestone streets or riding one of the caruajes (horse-drawn carriages) commands a feeling of nostalgia and wonder, romance and appreciation  of simple living  at its best.

At Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar, the legacy of our forefathers and the beautiful Filipino traditions live on. It is a step back into the past, reliving the age- old traditions and practices distinct to our culture, without leaving the luxury and comforts of the modern world.  A showcase of Filipino talent, ingenuity and craftsmanship, Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar takes pride in the past... And keeps its hope for the future.

restaurant in Bataan’s Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar called the Marivent Café, 

Hotel in Paseo de Escolta, a street lined with structures that mimic old commercial structures of Manila.

Casa Quiapo, as its name suggests, once stood in the Quiapo District in Manila, on Hidalgo Street. It was the first campus of the University of the Philippines School of Fine Arts, whose first director was the mansion’s owner, Rafael Enriquez.

in the teodora alonzo ancestral house