Visiting San Miguel de Mayumo: Meeting the Mayor (Part 1)

San Miguel de Mayumo or Municipality of San Miguel, named after the archangel and the Kapampangan word for sweet. The municipality drifted apart from the tradition of Pampanga and made their own distinct identity.

We were shown around the Municipal Hall. On what seems to be a modernized bahay na bato (stone house) with its stone ground floor and wooden second floor.

The building is cool and yet the people are warm. The staff was there to assist us and our host Architect Ervin Garcia mad eusre everything went smoothly.

Despite her problems with her tonsils Mayor Marivee ” Ivy ” Mendez Coronel welcomed us with a smile and even a whiteboard. She tried to answer some questions and talk about her plans for her city.

Our host Architect Ervin Garcia with Mayor Marivee ” Ivy ” Mendez Coronel.

Participants of the event were also given Ceritificates of Participation and also a souvenir pictures all courtesy of Municipality of San Miguel.

Presentation of Certificates by Mayor Ivy and Arch. Garcia.

Mayor Marivee ” Ivy ” Mendez Coronel aims to help the small and medium business of San Miguel and to also promote tourism for her municipality.

The municipality is at a crossroad leading to many destinations and surely the warmth of its people will not fail those people going to north of Luzon.

Our sweet adventure begins with warm greetings and pleasantries.

Group photo with our awesome San Miguel people. (photo grabbed from Tubong San Miguel).

Here are FB links if you want to learn more about this amazing destination: Official Page and Tubong San Miguel

World Architecture Day and World Post Day 2017 with the United Architects of the Philippines - Makati

My wish for a clear day didn't happen. It was rainy and I have lots of stuff on my bag. The rain came and went from time to time. But at least it was not raining really hard.

I went on my way to the Manila Central Post office and waited for the rest of the group. We have some bloggers and also the members of the United Architects of the Philippines - Makati Chapter (UAP - Makati Chapter).

The World Architecture Day 2017 fell on October 2nd with the theme "Climate Change Action." While, the World Post Day 2017 is celebrated with no theme falls on October 9th.

The program starts at with the people of the PhilPost meeting with the guests from the UAP - Makati and bloggers.

We are introduced to the long history of the PhilPost and its legacy as well as the wonderful building it is housed in. Ms. Arlene Labao-Project Officer for the Philately Collection & Museum Division started the program with some videos about the PhilPost and even how to write postcards.

Kiu Pat Long Shiao Taoist Temple

After many years of wondering I was able to see this place up close when a friend of mine invited me to look around. Weirdly enough we were told that the place is closing down and is giving away stuff. I felt sad also somewhat excited for the adventure.

The Taoist temple is just a short ride from Baclaran. It is located in an area called Don Galo, Paranaque.

Visita Iglesia and a wonderful Holy Week vacation (Day 3)

Yesterday we had our breakfast served at the room. This time we take it at the restrant downstairs. The restaurant that serves the hotel and nearby areas is called Mei Wei Chinese Kitchen. It serves good food at good prices. It has food for all kidns of budget and you don't need to worry about the taste. It is good and served by well trained staff.

Visita Iglesia and a wonderful Holy Week vacation (Day 2)

I had a good rest last night. The room is sufficient for a person who just wants to stay locked away from the world. Just like a hermit. You have cable TV and a good internet connection. Just my ideal place maybe if I get too stressed from work.

I was even able to do some knitting during my stay. Hahaha

Visita Iglesia and a wonderful Holy Week vacation (Day 1)

It's Holy Thursday and EDSA has a massive traffic because of another road repair on the south bound lane of EDSA somewhere along the Pasay Area. This is another suffering brought to us by the government. They must be in need of another way to earn more money.

Anyways, I arrived earlier and I just wondered the area of the Baclaran Church. The Church is properly known as the National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help. This is a melting pot on places and of people. There are always people in this area.

I have noticed that jejemons or annoying people are less frequent in the morning. They usually come out at night like evil creatures. My visita iglesia started out well this year.

Minasa Festival, Sto. Nino and Heritage Houses: Lakad Pamana Tour (Part 2)

Now I go into the small Municipal Hall of Bustos. It's tight and fully functional. Again with many government offices the restrooms needs a real good clean. It stinks.

The Municipal Hall could also get an overhaul on how it looks and presents itself. True to its history and function.

The insides as I was told is more in keeping to the original look of the Municipal Hall. The grandstaircase with its big painting captures you.

Looking up you see the different leaders of the Municipality til the present.These are the people who helped contribute to the Municipalities history.

Minasa Festival, Sto. Nino and Heritage Houses: Lakad Pamana Tour (Part 1)

Another great town from Bulacan has opened its door to its rich culture, history, heritage and amazing food.

The tour starts at the Plaza Bustos Bulacan.

The Bustos Heritage Park is a nice quaint place where you can experience fun and art in one place. Do not think of anything like the mall. This is the country side. They are not that stupid and gullible with consumerist lifestyle yet.

Registration is straight-forward and easy. And all of the participants are awesome.

I am here to see what Bustos has to offer and the things that might make the place apart from the rest of historically rich Bulacan.

The New Quezon Memorial Shrine

Under the big pylon of 66 feet is a Museum that has been recently upgraded and presented better. It's FREE for the public.

The doors have an art deco feel and at the same time represents something wonderful to be found inside.

Here is the historical marker.

Torre de Manila versus National Museum of Natural History

The war seems to have been lost for the construction of the Torre de Manila. Many of the people who were fighting against the construction seemed to have quieted.

Meanwhile the Natural History Building once occupied by the Department of Tourism drags on and is even beyond the deadline that was posted in front of it.

With a budget amounting to almost half a billion pesos just to restore the building. You wonder how longer will it take since October 4, 2014.

My guess is that Torre de Manila will be completed first than the National Museum of Natural History. I bet many bosses of the National Museum have had their fare share of that money.

FREE Entrance at the Philippine National Museum for the whole Month of May 2015

The National Museum of the Philippines goes FREE for this month of May 2015 in celebration of National Heritage Month.

You can visit the two Museums for FREE and its waiving its normal free of Php 150.00. That is a lot of savings and at the same time you learn more and be closer to the once rich Philippine culture that has obviously decayed.

See the great Masters of painting, architecture, sculpture and their works on display and marvel how Manila was and what we can do to save it from our jejemon culture, capitalistic mindset of throw away this and that, and the idea that art is for the rich alone.

So instead of wasting your money and time at the mall. Just go to the National Museum and update yourself with so much culture and beauty. BTW the two Museums are fully air-conditioned.

The National Museum of the Philippines
Tuesday-Sunday, 11am-5pm.

P. Burgos Street, Ermita, Manila. 

+63 2 5271215.

Visita Iglesia 2015

So what is the best way to do on a Thursday morning? Hit the road by myself and not join any of those tours led by heritage people. Sometimes they really get on my nerves.

Anyways, I took the jeep going to Malate Church. My first stop. Everything I have in mind was quite random.

The Quezon Heritage House at the Quezon City Memorial Circle

Right in the heart of Quezon City is one of the houses once owned by the Quezon Family. It was their rest house at New Manila. The house is 60% since most of the structure cannot be saved during the move.

The lot used to have this house is now a condo. Good thing the city of Quezon City bought the house and relocated it. Now that is one story of proper conservation. It is now a Museum and you can drop by and see the weekend house of the Quezons.

We go up the second floor like privileged visitors.

They have machuca tiles, hand painted tiles.

Bulacan Culinary and Heritage Tour (Part 6)

The adventures of Bulacan continues. This is the last part.

We now arrive at the Campo Santos or the cemetery owned by the Church. It is a place where many of the people of Bulacan are buried and is resting. Despite the small size it packs some interesting details and again people.

Here is the tomb of the food historian Milagros Enriquez.

SM Manila exhibit on the Churches of Intramuros

History leaves us just two Churches in Intramuros, another one being reconstructed to be an ecclesiastical museum.

Here are some of the models that was displayed at the mall.

Bulacan Culinary and Heritage Tour (Part 5)

We go now to Bistro Maloleno for their food. I mean food that is in keeping with the recipes of Tita Mila as they say.

There is chicken and soup.

Arroz ala Cubana

Pochero and fried rice

Dessert is of course the pinaso.

There is a demonstration of the unique crafts of Malolos.

Then how to glaze your jamon bulacena and pinaso with sugar. Yes tons of sugar are used...

Another interesting food is the empanada de kaliskis. Its unique because of its texture and you can only buy it in one place.

The owner of the store and his family.

They also have their gurgurya or gorgorya and biscocho de sebo.

Then we are off to the shrine of Marcelo H del Pilar. One of the bright minds of the revolution.

The house is bare and is intended as an educational center.

The del Pilar surname was not passed on based on this family tree.

This old simple house is where Juan Luna painted the painting called Una Bulakena. This is her house. Problem is I don't remember the name of the lady painted and also who lived at this house.

Now we are at the Nuestra Senora de Assuncion. This is the place where the Santa Cruzan was born.

The inscription at the top of the tower.

The old doors of the Church.

Like with the other Churches there was a wedding in here as well.

Next time, we look into their Campo Santos or cemetery.