March 10-24, 2012
Family Dinner - Plazuela de Iloilo
Garin Farm - San Joaquin, Iloilo
Graduation 2012 - Centerphil Montessori
A Cousin's Wedding
Boracay 2012
March 10-24, 2012 Family Dinner - Plazuela de Iloilo Garin Farm - San Joaquin, Iloilo Graduation 2012 - Centerphil Montessori A Cousin's Wedding Boracay 2012 Add Comment                                                     Trip Date: October 22 - November 4, 2011 In October 28, we finally had our house blessing and house warming party for our home. As usual we asked the help of our beloved pastor (Renato Fetalsana) from Calvario Evangelical Church in Janiuay to grace the event which he happily obliged. Although we know we are now far from Janiuay and now consider ourselves residents of Pavia, that still didn't hinder us from being with them :). The occasion went smoothly as planned. I was able to meet most of my co workers when I invited them to come and join us. Thank you guys! We had a laugh reminiscing all the days way back before. How I wish the day could be longer. Many came including relatives, friends, bretherens and some neighbors. We also would like to thank the generosity of the PARC residences for the cake and pansit donation ;). Thank you! We love the idea of the fact that they give cakes to all residences who usually have their house blessings! That's cool!                                  Damires Hills, Janiuay, Iloilo - November 1.                          Anhawan Beach Resort          Three days after I arrived home, I got the chance to drop by at Imperial Appliance store to finally meet a good friend, Jo who happens to be the store manager ;). After some brief hugs and chats, we finally went through with the business transactions. (Thanks Jo for the big discounts!) We would be certainly looking forward to do business again with you in the near future. Meanwhile, Jo happily obliged to let me try the Samsung 3D LED TV which was really awesome! I haven't seen one like this here in the US yet, except in the movie theaters, LOL! The LED TV is I guess famously known here as HD TV...not sure though, but anyone who happened to be reading this post, I shall stand corrected if I didn't get it right ;). Anyway, wearing that 3D glasses brought us to the real world of movies. It's like we were inside the big screen, but the price is a little bit uncomfortable for the pocket, lol!   Whew! The entire day was busy!  This trip was full of activities, tiring transactions and planning, but the entire trip was still fun. Although the top priority was about our new home, - ( the constructions, expenses, and the moving in), our family is still the main reason. Every celebration is not complete without the beach and the pool, - we should say :). There are lots of fun activities beside swimming, such as all kinds of food! lol. It was also a trip for Craig to experience his first Christmas with the family (Philippine-style) and got hist first taste of witnessing the New Year celebration as well. New Year became so "noisy" for him when he said he couldn't sleep because of the continous loud bangs of firecrackers popping up in the air. He didn't realize that the noise would be until the wee hours in the morning. He woke up with blood-shut eyes on New Year's Day, LOL! But generally, we can say it was all a celebration full of fun with food, the beach, the pool and the mall! See our complete photos HERE. I was getting a little bit anxious thinking that it would be my first time to travel alone going to the Philippines without the hubby. The fact that it's a long trip, I always think of the what if's. But anyway, I braved it. I would be sitting on the plane mostly anyway, I told myself..lol! It was a good thing that Craig was with me in San Francisco International Airport to keep me company while waiting for me to check-in since my flight is not until 1:05AM (Nov. 6.) Craig was going back Baltimore at 10PM so he had to go ahead and left me. I was just suddenly feeling so sad because I won't be seeing him for at least 45 days!!! I got teary eyed while waiting for my turn at the check in area while he was waving goodbye ouch! Anyway, all went well until I got down at HK International Airport and didn't know where to check in and where to board. I asked one of the lady and she was talking like Chinese although she was speaking in English, argh! LOL! I got lost, went back then saw a Filipina lady who happened to be going to Manila, same flight as mine..whew! after figuring out where we were, we finally able to find the checking and security area going to our boarding gate. The only hassle was that our plane going to Manila was 2 hours delayed, and I was starting to get a headache due to lack of sleep. I couldn't afford to nap as I might not be able to wake up in time for boarding, lol. So, after the delay, we finally boarded, and I felt relieved! I don't have to worry about anything as long as my feet would be standing on the Philippine soil...so I said, Manila, here I come :). Landed safely, went to my hotel took a late lunch, and slept like a baby ;). Thank God for a safe travel...I did it, alone!  Now that our trip to the Philippines is officially confirmed and booked via Cathay Pacific, I can say this is really it!...LOL! We just receive the ticket itineraries last week from our travel agent friend, (thanks Dion) who did an excellent job in booking us to the most convenient flight, talking about looong hours of sitting on the plane. I had to request her to book us in a shorter hours, to which she booked us from Baltimore to LA (I can withstand 4-5 hours in this), LA to HK, HK to MLA. The route from LA to HK would now be much shorter for a wait compared to New York - HK route (this one is so far I think the looooongest wait just sitting on the plane) which we had the last time we travelled to the Philippines. Although the total length of our trip will still be the same, (at least 9,000 miles) halfway around the globe, LOL! - the hours of sitting on the plane are staggered, which means we can have enough time stretching our knees and relax. And oh by the way, hubby is a member of Marco Polo Club (a sister company of Cathay), so we would be treated for a free snacks and beverages at the lounge area while waiting for our flight. I had been there twice, and it's really a good place where you can even take a nap, free internet, etc...it's like a small home where you can sit in the living room and watch TV or read the papers, how cool is that, huh? :). I am starting my countdown as of today! :).  We left for Corregidor Island on board Sun Cruises and for an hour and 15 minutes boat ride. While on board, a tour guide will be giving a brief history about the island and a short movie will be played about WWII history, that includes the fall of Bataan, etc...I am not so fond of history, so I fell asleep! :) 
Wake up, sleepy head!
Corregidor is strategically located at the Manila Bay entrance, about 48 kilometers west of Manila.     Awesome views of the the island at various angles! Arriving at our destination at North Dock of Corregidor, a pre-war type streetcars called "tramvias" picked us up for the guided tour. 
Inside the tramvia
First stop: Middleside Barracks Ruins This building ruins housed at least 5,000 men but the day it was bombed, many of them were out to their stations so it was said only 20 men died on that day. In this area, you are not allowed to go further inside the ruins, don't know why but I guess it's for the visitor's safety and security. 
Major Gen. Jonathan Wainright Memorial: Wainright was forced to surrender to the Japanese forces whom he was a prisoner of war in Manchuria for 3 years before he was finally rescued. Part of his letter was engraved on this memorial; ..."with broken heart and head bowed in sadness but not in shame"... ..."Please say to the nation, that my troops and I have upheld the best tradition of the United States and its Army...with profound regret and with continued pride in my gallant troops, I go to meet the Japanese commander." 
Filipino-American Friendship Park - the park commemorates the close friendship and camaraderie between the Philippines and the United States in times of war and in peace which is depicted by ten-foot high statues of a Filipino and American soldier. A plaque at the park bears the following statement: "In these hallowed surroundings where heroes sleep may their ashes scatter with the wind and live in the hearts of those who were left behind. They died for freedom's right and in heaven's sight. Theirs was a noble cause."
It's lunch time...our tour guide said; We had a complimentary lunch at Corrigedor Hotel which was included in our tour package. We were able to taste that famous "pandan juice" that I love.     GUN EMPLACEMENTS: Battery Hearn - The Americans started setting up Battery Hearn in 1918 and completed work on it in 1921 at a cost of $148,105. This 12-inch seacost west-ranged guns had a maximum range of 29,000 yards and was capable of firing in all directions. It was one of the last major additions to Corregidor's defense system which was intended to defend the island against enemy naval threat from the South China Sea. Battery Hearn had been in action firing towards Cavite from February 1942 and on April 8 and 9, 1942, towards Bataan. This gun emplacement was captured nearly intact by the Japanese when Corregidor fell and it was subsequently repaired by them and put back into action. It was, however, completely neutralized by American aerial bombardment in January and February of 1945. 
Inside Pacific War Memorial Museum MALINTA TUNNEL - Our "Malinta Experience" Don't miss this famous landmark. You can catch the Lights and Sound "(Malinta Experience") which is really worth seeing. The tunnel had been dug through solid rock and offered complete protection from artillery or air attack. Command communications and medical units were located there. Gen. MacArthur set up the headquarters of USAFFE inside the tunnel where men and women would live and work during the siege of Corregidor. The tunnel was originally designed to house huge quantities of ammunition, food and supplies, and an underground hospital with a 1,000-bed capacity. The location of the tunnel beneath Malinta Hill made it ideal as a bomb-proof headquarters for the embattled Filipino and Americans defenders of Corregidor during World War II. During the siege of Corregidor, a number of shops and storage areas were added. Malinta Tunnel also served as the seat of Philippine Commonwealth Government under President Manuel L. Quezon. At the vicinity of the tunnel's west entrance in the afternoon of Dec 30, 1941, Manuel Quezon and Sergio Osmena were inaugurated into their second term respectively as president and vice-president of the Philppine Commonwealth in simple ceremonies attended by members of the garrison. Some of the scenes that was like during the WW2 in the tunnel. You can hear recorded voices of famous heroes such as Wainright, McArthur, Pres. Quezon and Pres. Osmena. The tunnel served as a hospital and office while the whole island was being bomb by the Japanese forces. This was also the place where Pres. Quezon was hidden while being treated for tuberculosis during his time.     
Gen. Douglas McArthur Monument The statue depics his famous words ever in Fil-Am history "I shall return." Behind his statue is Bataan.
Other Photos: Fort Santiago, in the medieval Spanish walled enclave of Intramuros, was where political prisoners through the ages, from Spanish to Japanese occupation, were held, tortured and sometimes executed.The fort is shielded by 22-meter-high walls, with a thickness of 8 meters and an entrance measuring 40 meters high. It is located at the mouth of the Pasig River and it was once the premier defense fortress of the Spanish Government in the Philippines. During World War II it was captured by the Japanese, and sustained heavy damage from American & Filipino bombs during the Battle of Manila in February 1945. It was later restored by the Intramuros Administration during the 1980s. Today the fort serves as a museum which houses well-preserved legacies of the Spanish government, Jose Rizal (which is called the Plaza de Armas), Rizal Shrine, and the prison dungeons for criminals used by the Spanish officials. José Rizal, the country's national hero, was imprisoned here before his execution in 1896. Here are our photos below during our visit to the park.      Our tour includes Fort Santiago, the Manila American Cemetery & Memorial tour and some places in the city of Manila. Since I wasn't able to get much photos of the places where we toured in Manila, I would only be sharing this tour and another one from Fort Santiago. These two famous landmarks are the only places where we actually allowed to go down the tourist vehicle and take time to go around and take photos around the place. Other than that are mobile tours in which I think mostly it's not an ideal way of getting photos while you are in motion :) Visit to the Manila American Cemetery: The headstones: These are arranged in concentric circular rows around the high point on which the memorial stands. Burial area is divided into 11 plots of varying sizes.     The Chapel Area: The chapel area stands between the south ends of the hemicycles. The photo above where I am is the chapel's door entrance going inside.
  The Large Hemicycles - within which contains the Tablets of the Missing inscriptions. We actually saw several missing soldiers who died during the war who carries our own family name...whether they are our relatives or not, we felt proud that we have those kind of heroes who died for our beloved countries. This was our first time treating our niece and nephews to a theme park! It was both a first time experience for us as well. The theme park , called Enchanted Kingdom is small, and is commonly called the "Disneyland of the Philippines". Of course, Disneyland is surely incomparable, but Enchanted Kingdom's rides are said to be world-class. In every Filipino kid's eyes, it's still where "the magic begins!" :) Enchanted Kingdom is located at San Lorenzo South, in the city of Sta. Rosa, Laguna, 30 kilometers from Makati where we stayed while in Manila. That day was super hot, but worth it for the kids. We had to buy lots of ice cream for the whole group, as Craig was sweating like crazy, too. lol! That was a relief from the scorching heat!...ad the kiddos were enjoying too. Kiddie rides were the only ones we can get into. No roller coasters or thrill rides for us! We couldn't take iit, really, and we thought the kids are too young and dainty to be on the thrill rides. So, just having fun, fun, and just fun for the kids...nephews, niece and adults alike ;).                   | AuthorI am a Filipina wife, an amateur writer and a blogger, and author of this site, inspired by my husband with God as the only source of our strength and wisdom. PLACES VISITED
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