The recent Taal volcano eruption is a reminder that nature doesn’t always stay silent. Our ancestors knew this and embraced it. But we really don’t have a choice, do we? It’s Like Pinatubo My parents and I visited our relatives in Olangapo a few months after Mt. Pinatubo erupted. Around that time, transportation to Bataan […]
Category: Batangas
Last month we were invited by some friends to eat “bulalo” in Lucky Plaza, the mecca of Filipino overseas workers here in Singapore. During weekends Filipinos, mostly domestic workers, congregate around the area. We shared stories about our diversions. I told them I enjoy biking around the 4 kilometer shoreline of the Bedok Reservoir especially […]
Casay-casay (kasay-kasay) in Tagalog is the word for the kingfisher. It’s a relatively small but eye-catching bird—introverted, territorial but possessing bright colors. My favorite bird (esp. the collared and black capped) because I personally consider them as some kind of a spiritual symbol. When I heard that Caysasay came from casay-casay, I was intrigued to […]
What’s with Taal that draws travelers like a moth to a flame? Well, there’s only a handful of towns like it left. Along with Carcar and Vigan, these townships are the citadels of Filipino heritage conservation. It is not only the number of Antillean houses that had been gratifyingly safeguarded but the attitude of the locals towards their […]
I got this from my inbox awhile ago: A few weeks ago, you signed the petition asking the Archdiocese of Lipa to spare the centuries old Balayan Church school and convent from being leased to a national grocery chain. The Lopez of Balayan Batangas Foundation would like to share some great news: Victory! National historical […]
Apparently the plan is to establish a SaveMore grocery where the old convent and school stands. Yes folks, another SM building thrashing Filipino heritage. What I can’t get my head around is why our dearly loved Church officials, guardians of our religious historical treasures, would allow something like this to happen. Everything is for sale […]
My recent blog reminded me of another interesting relic I saw last year. Around June when I went to see it in Lipa. The relic belongs to San Juan Bautista de La Salle. It’s the saint’s arm bone, sealed in a reliquary adorned with images of bronze angels on each corner. The French known as […]
Balayan Church The church with its red brick bell tower is an impressive baroque. The interior is worth a look because it has structurally remained intact (although the modern paintings & murals are a bit out of place). Declared a National Cultural Treasure because its construction was supervised by Filipinos. A rare achievement in the 18th […]
Although it may appear that there;s not much likeness between the two, the concept and architecture of the bahay na bato are largely based on the precolonial house. My visit to the Ramos house (not sure if they call it that) helped me understand how the kubo (literally “cube”) evolved into something permanent. I’m thankful […]
I was looking forward to attending the feast of San Juan Bautista this year but missed it. I could just imagine the lechon being paraded and devoured after in the streets of Balayan. Since I failed to attend the roasted pig parade and it is only now that I finally got to visit this beautiful […]
Why was it called Casa de Segunda? Ma’am. Lilet, the designated family tour guide said, “well, it is the house she built with her husband (Manuel)”. Why not Casa de Manuel or Casa de Luz or Katigbak y Luz? Probably thinking I was nuts to be asking such things, she ignored my last question. She […]
Tanauan’s population is around two hundred thousand. Considering its substantial land, that’s not a lot of people. Calamba, its next door neighbor to the south, is smaller but have twice the number of people. What’s fascinating about Tanauan is how it remained agricultural. Tanauan retained its rural outlook and agricultural economy as late as the […]
Not far from Manila, Taal is a rarity of a town. It ranks among the most preserved historical towns in the country. A distinction it shares with Vigan, Pila and Silay. Some argue that the preservation is far from satisfactory but I happen to believe otherwise. The manner of which the Taaleños had “reuse” their […]
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