Discovering Pinas

This lighthouse in Liloan, Cebu has been a guiding light for fishermen and sea captains for more than a hundred years. This 102-year-old lighthouse was built by the order of William Howard Taft in 1908 who was the Governor-General at that time. It is one of the few remaining examples American architecture in the Philippines. The lighthouse is octagonal in shape and is 72 meters high. It sits on top of a small hill and is near the posh AyalaLand subdivision called Amara. There is actually an old Spanish lighthouse around the area but is now in ruins. I didn’t see it when we were there but it was the original lighthouse before the octagonal lighthouse was built.

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Arroceros Forest Park is a bit of land beside the Quezon Bridge and Pasig River, and across LRT Central Terminal Station. You might have heard about it from the new Echo-Kristine soap “Dahil May Isang Ikaw” on ABS-CBN. Echo’s character waits every day for Kristine’s character on the bridge of that park . It’s their supposed meeting place after being separated since childhood.

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(This post is my entry to lagawan.info‘s anniversary contest)

This photo was not taken by me. It was actually taken by a friend who shared my passion for photography. This photo has become my logo for my website discoveringpinas.com. This photo is very memorable to me because it was my first time to travel alone without parents or friends. I’ve never traveled alone before and this trip became an adventure for me. I just met this old friend through a social-networking site and invited me to go to Camiguin Island for the holy week. I never had any second thoughts on what may happen on my trip or if my parents will get mad at me for this decision. I thought that I was on the right age to travel alone and do what I really want in my life and that is to visit new places and discover historical facts. I was really fascinated with the island. The stories about Mt. Hibok-Hibok and the sunken cemetery awakened my curiosity for historical facts.So I practically used most of my month’s salary for this trip which was a big deal because I was getting a real big sum of money back then. As I look back and think of what I did, I’d still use all my money for that trip. Man, Camiguin has a mystical charm on me.

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I’ve noticed this obtrusive structure on the left side of Mall of Asia. I wondered why there is a new church beside a very big mall. When I was in the vicinity of the SMX Convention Center beside Mall of Asia, I thought about the church and wanted to visit there after.

It was noontime when I went to see the church. From the outside, you can see the name of the church. It’s called The Archdiocesan Shrine of Jesus, the Way, the Truth and the Life. A very long name for a church indeed but you can call it The Shrine of Jesus for short. It’s one of the best new places for weddings in Manila, not only because it’s new but it’s also near the bay – therefore a breezy and sunshiny place.  This idea reminds me of a wedding in the Caribbean.

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Bohol may be best known for the famous Chocolate Hills, Loboc River, century-old churches, and the iconic tarsier, but a small town within this pristine province proves that it goes beyond the typical must-sees listed in travel guidebooks.

Following its commitment to bring Philippine tourism beyond the usual destinations and attractions, the Department of Tourism (DOT) is strongly pushing for sustainable, community-based travel, increasing employment and boosting grassroots-led tourism efforts that enjoin everyone in the whole locality.

Secretary Ace Durano commended the endeavors initiated by the people of Danao, appreciating what they have, and actively promoting eco-adventures in their area.  “Danao is a fourth-class municipality with first-rate leadership and first-class tourism experience.  Bohol’s natural beauty, matched with adventurous, creative minds, is reason enough for their huge growth potential in ecotourism.”

The Danao Adventure Park, recently inaugurated on its Charter Day, offers eco-thrills including the Suislide – their kilometer-long zipline, Sky Ride or cable car, and the canyon swing – dubbed The Plunge, which launches you to do a giant swing from a drop of 200 meters below – the first in the country.

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I dropped by Quiapo Church or the Basilica Minore of the Black Nazarene when the jeepney route that I rode from Commonwealth Ave. was only until Quiapo and I was going to Intramuros that day. Nevertheless, I was glad that I made that route because I’ll get to see Quiapo Church. It was a tuesday when I went there. The church is busiest on fridays as the church holds a novena every fridays. It tends to be the reason for the traffic in the vicinity every friday.

Quiapo Church facade seen from Plaza Miranda

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