Walking Time On A Holiday

Since it's a holiday today, we had time to bond by having a morning walk in a "forested area" of Alabang in Muntinlupa City. It's not entirely a forest, but because it still has a fair amount of vegetation and several large trees, one might think that it does look like a forest. I'm referring to Filinvest Corporate City.

You will notice many cities today, particularly those in Metro Manila, do not have large parks with forested areas. In the US, a good example of a forested park is of course Central Park which is found in New York City. This huge park in the Big Apple is well known in the world and many tourists wouldn't miss it. New York may seem very urbanized, but it still has such a park whose beauty they are still able to maintain. If we could only have such a park here in Filipinas where many families would be able to stroll. Because as I have noticed this morning, while my family and I were strolling through Filinvest's shaded areas, there were only two other families who were taking a morning walk there though an hour has already passed. So for those who are in charge of public parks and nature preservation, this should be a wake-up call, because it is beautiful to see families bonding together, enjoying nature, rather than see families go to malls often, or are too busy enjoying gadgets at home. Sad but true: families today spend more time in social media that they have almost forgotten what the natural world has to offer. Nature is always the best location for some family bonding.

Filinvest actually is not a park. Its huge lots which still have several large trees, many of which are acacia (A. plicatum), are still unsold or unleased. And this has been so for decades. Alabang was once a huge forest. Daddy Pepe used to live in the Las Pinas-Parañaque area with his Alas relatives when he was still a little boy. They used to pass by Alabang whenever they go to Unisan, that is why he has clear memories of how Alabang used to look like back then. The forest seems to reclaim the vacant lots often, and Filinvest's gardeners try their best to minimize it.

Now, going back to our family walk. Our meeting place is in front of Acacia Hotel Manila. We were to wait for my husand who was coming from his night shift. We arrived early, so while waiting for him, we decided to go inside the lobby. I noticed that there was no chair in the lobby. Other hotels have chairs in their lobbies even for inquiring guests. The only available seats there were meant for paying customers who were to take their breakfast. I was compelled to order food because it would seem awkward for us to stay there without having to eat, hehehe! I ordered some French fries for my kids and brewed coffee for me. That's the only things we could afford from a five-star hotel, hehehe! Anyway, we follow the adage "live within your means".

Daddy Pepe arrived a few minutes later, then waited for us outside as we finished our unplanned "hotel breakfast" (Acacia's French fries tasted very good, and they were big and fresh; we really loved it!). Afterwards, we saw Daddy Pepe waiting for us in a huge, grassy lawn in front of The Mondrian Residences and Parque España. He was hunting for some grasshoppers and butterflies and also looking for rare birds nestled in some trees there (yes, there are unfamiliar birds all over Alabang). We then marched through the shaded length of East Asia Drive. This beautiful street is surrounded by large trees left and right. And there were hardly vehicles there. There were still no buildings, and it has been that way for years. While walking, we saw some wild flowers, but not as many and not as varied as those we saw in Susana Heights last month where we also had a morning stroll. The kids got to enjoy these as well as various forest insects thriving in grass covered with dew. They were running all around chasing butterflies here and there! There were some acacia trees that were not very tall yet, that is why we got to hold their branches and yellowish flowers. There was also an occasional breeze that swayed the trees and shook up their dried leaves. That is why we were showered with leaves as we marched through East Asia Drive!

Morning dews, again!

The tallest christmas tree we have ever seen so far!!! WOW!!! 

There were already Christmas decors hanging by the treets when we reached Parkway Street. We occasionally stopped to take pictures, We then turned left to Spectrum Midway where we saw a group of students practising for some upcoming school activity. There were more trees here, and this is also we stopped by to have eat our packed snacks and where our three boys and Junífera Clarita ran around for a few minutes. We were headed to where we began because Krystal had to meet up with her friends in nearby Alabang Town Center. At The Filinvest Tent north of Spectrum Midway, we found a bazaar with food stalls. What a coincidence, because it was opening day. GMA 7 was there, too. It turned out to be the opening day of Noel Bazaar, a popular traveling bazaar. We had early lunch first before I accompanied Krystal to her friends. The location of food stalls was uncomfortable especially when the sun was already hight. It's because the branches of two acacia trees beside The Filinvest Tent were cut down. Had they not been cut down, they would have provided a lovely shade to the people. Please, let us not cut down trees. We can develop a place without putting harm to nature. Remember: they are our source of oxygen and even peace of mind.

Inside the bazaar, the atmosphere was festive. A huge Belén, the traditional Filipino Christmas decoration, was on display. An acoustic band was playing as shoppers were buying tickets to get inside the bazaar proper. The event was also giving away freebies. We got some from the Philippine Daily Inquirer, one of the bazaar's sponsor.

So if you want to stroll through nature without having to travel too far, there's always Filinvest Corporate City. It's not meant to be a park, but it has been like one for many years already. It's a haven for bikers, joggers, nature lovers, and families!

                                                                  —Yeyette—
                                                                     

Trekking the hilly heights of Doña Susana

Whenever I pass by Susana Heights Access Road (or simply Susana Heights) in Muntinlupà, I always get curious at that long stretch of road filled with trees between the old national highway or Maharlika Road and the toll gate leading to the South Luzón Expressway (SLEX). The road goes up a hilly path and crosses the SLEX via an elevated path or bridge. When one goes to Alabang from Maharlika Road, one will have to turn left to the toll gate that curved towards SLEX. But there's a road that goes straight farther upward that has since caught my curiosity because it's filled with trees and other flowering plants. Daddy Pepe told me that it leads to a gated community and a cemetery, making me curious all the more.

For many years, we remember a gigantic balete tree at the corner of Maharlika Road and Susana Heights. We've been wanting to take a photo of ourselves there. But one day, we were surprised when it was cut down to give way to the Muntinlupa Hall of Justice. We were so disappointed and devastated because we've been admiring that tree for years. According to Daddy Pepe, Susana Heights was named after Doña Susana Paterno de Madrigal, the grandmother of former Senator Jamby Madrigal. The Madrigal family used to own that hilly spot where now stands the tree-filled road connecting Maharlika and the toll gate leading to SLEX. When one is going to Alabang using that road, one should notice a stream towards the right. Daddy Pepe told me that it used to be the border between San Pedro Tunasán and Muntinlupa until 1914, when the government of San Pedro sold that part of what is now known as Susana Heights to Muntinlupa. That is why San Pedro Tunasán today is now known only as San Pedro while that land which Muntinlupa had acquired from San Pedro became Barrio Tunasán.

Yesterday, I led my family to a morning trek to the hills of Susana Heights. Since there had been less sunshine these past few days, I thought that I needed to have a doze of it to at least heal my shortness of breath. I do not have asthma, but since I was sick last month, I feel like I am still weak. That's why I really felt the need to refresh myself with some clean air near our place by having a doze of sunshine while walking amidst trees. Maybe I could bring back my energy by doing that, I thought. So off we went to Susana Heights.

We reached the place past nine. The sun was shining brightly. We walked by the sidewalk that led upwards, together with the road, because Susana Heights is actually a sloped hill overlooking Laguna de Bay. Both sides of the road are filled with trees. We didn't mind the vehicles running past us on the road as we were mindful only with the trees and the grass by the sidewalk. One thing I noticed is that some trees beside the highway are painted white from the root to the middle part. My hubby really hates it and thinks that it is just mindless and a waste of public money. I hope that this will be put to a stop because paints will just ruin the health of trees.

It was really an enjoyable walk! On our way up, we saw a smaller but wide hill covered with low grass. It was part of Águila Homes, a non-gated private subdivision. We stopped for a while and had the kids run around the grass that was still covered with morning dew despite the immense heat that was starting to begin. They chased butterflies and gazed at the small spiders and grasshoppers, things 

that many children living in urbanized areas rarely see today.

Morning dews!

Afterwards, we continued with our road trek and reached the farthest end of the road that I was talking about earlier. We even saw a giant acacia tree there and had our pictures taken. Then continuing further, we reached a gate with two security guards. The gate actually led to Susana Heights Subdivision to the left of the road and Lindenwood Residences to the right. Farther down the road was the cemetery. I asked the security guards if they could allow us to enter, and they did. Anyway, all we're really after were the trees, the flowers, and the grass.

Junífera Clarita is fascinated with the macahiyâ grass.

After enjoying the trees and the flowers, we walked back to where we came from. The sun was already high by the time we had ended our trek, but it did not hurt our skin because of the shade of trees protected us along the way. We then proceeded to Muntinlupa's town proper for some pizza.

The morning walk that we did was really fun and enjoyable even if the place is not a tourist spot. But the part that we really enjoyed was Junifera Clarita touching the small leaves of the macahiyâ plant (Mimosa pudica). She was really fascinated with them because the leaves close upon being touched by human fingers. It was so cute that I took a video clip of her! We even saw several varieties of plants and wild flowers that people have been ignoring and taking for granted every day. They didn't know that they're missing quite a lot. Daddy Pepe said that Susana Heights used to be part of a huge forest, and we could still find traces of that forest because we saw some really old trees along the way. If only people could find time to enjoy nature. Our walking tour of Susana Heights proves to me that walking is traveling too, that walking can be exciting. I remember what my husband told me, that whenever people are inside a mall, they do not notice that they have been walking for miles on end. They just don't know it because they are entertained by the shops and food stalls all around, not to mention that malls are air-conditioned. But walking through nature is much more enjoyable compared to malling because you get to see and enjoy God's creation for free. You get to witness living things moving about in their natural habitat. You get to feel nature itself and feel the wonder it gives to us, not to mention that the memory of enjoying nature lasts for a lifetime. It's for keeps. 

Walking is bonding; walking with nature together with your family is a complete moment to treasure.

                                                                  —Yeyette—





                                           

                      

Thank you so much to Yellow Cab area manager Karen de Guzmán for the pictures!

¡Feliz 38° cumpleaños, mi amor Pepe!

Happy birthday to La Familia Viajera's writer,  young historian, joker, and our "Mr. Know It All", the head of our family,  ¡mi esposo Pepe! May you have more birthdays to come, and may you always stay responsible, loving, honest, and faithful to us! We love you so much! ¡Muchos besos y abrazos! ☺☺  ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ 

Ho Chai Lai (Muntinlupà, Metro Manila).

La Cruz de Tunasán (Iglesia de San Pedro Apóstol, San Pedro Tunasán, La Laguna).

—Yeyette—

Life begins at 40!

Celebrating my 40th birthday at the Fig Tree Café.

I can't believe that I'm already 40 years old! Why? Because I still don't have white hair. I listen to songs being enjoyed by Krystal. And despite having gone through five caesarian deliveries, I can still wear a bikini without batting an eyelash, hahaha! I thank GOD I survived my five CS deliveries and for the second life that I have now.

So does this mean that I'm still young although I've already turned 40 years old? Or am I just feeling young? 😄

I remember when I was still in college back in Adamson University, I used to take six vitamins just to have more energy to survive my course (I took up Bachelor Of Arts, major in Mass Communications). My main health supplements were vitamins C and E (Squibb E 600 I.U. which is no longer available). I also took Propan with iron, and added more supplements such as vitamins B1, B2, B6, B12 (Neurobion), Royal Jelly. And last but not the least I had Glutaphos because I saw in a TV ad that it's good for the brain, something to help you out in memorizing lessons easily! I think it helped because I graduated hehehe! Thank GOD. But take note I did not get addicted to those vitamins. I just needed to take them to survive my hectic college life. I was such a health freak! So I think that's the reason why I'm aging slowly. But right now, I'm only taking two vitamins because I'm not in school anymore, I'm just taking multivitamins and Vitamin C plus eating healthy food, and doing work out from time to time or whenever I feel that I'm putting on weight! 😄

And about the bikini thing, hehe! My Facebook and Twitter friends know that I love the summer season very much. And even if it's not summer, I still go to the beach with my family or just with my hubby Pepe. The reflection of the waters and the sand looks great during summer 'coz you can see the real color of the sands and what lies underneath the waters because of the summer sun, that's why summer is my favorite season. But I actually wonder why some people visit beaches only during summer. I know of course that it's hot during that season, and that we need to refresh ourselves by hitting the beach. But if you visit beaches during the rainy season or the cold months, you will realize that in our country, summer actually never ends! That is how enticing our beaches are. And they will always be that way as long as the quality of the seashore, its sands, and sea breeze remain intact. Oh, what a feeling of enchantment I feel whenever I talk about beaches! Beaches make me feel young! ❤

And what do you expect to wear when you are at the beach, pajamas or casual dress? Of course you have to wear something light and comfortable so that you could enjoy playing with the white waves while smelling the sea breeze, or running around on the seashore, or sunbathing on the fine sands. So you guys can try it for yourself and feel the excitement that beach offers.

So, am I still young, or do I just feel young? Age is just a number. Always remember that.

Now I'm 40 years old, but what I feel now is just the beginning of my life, with my family, relatives, and friends. May the Lord give me more birthdays so that I could continue loving and taking care of my family. Yes, life begins at 40, and I am ready to face the future with much love, and challenges with more courage, so that I can live meaningfully with all the people who love me.

Happy 40th Birthday To Me!!! 😄 ❤

¡Feliz 12º cumpleaños, Mómay!

Hoy celebramos el 12º cumpleaños de nuestro hijo mayor, José Mario Guillermo II (o Mómay). Su cumpleaños siempre no es especial y memorable porque es nuestro hijo favorito sino porque su día de nacimiento es importante para nosotros cristianos. Para aquellos que no lo saben, Mómay fue nacido el 13 de mayo de 2004, durante el 87º aniversario de la famosa primera aparición de la Virgen María en Fátima, Portugal.

En St. John, una tienda en Festival Supermall que vende imágenes católicas y otros artículos religiosos. Momay está llevando una imagen de Nuestra Señora de Fátima.

¡Feliz 12º cumpleaños, Mómay! Que la Virgen de Fátima siempre será tu guía. ¡Te amamos mucho!

Because of "My Bebe Love: #KiligPaMore", we'll never visit an SM mall again

The whole family after watching the film at SM Center Muntinlupà last New Year's Day.

DISCLAIMER: Before I begin, I'd like to remind readers that this is not a blogpost about traveling but a film review, is in fact my very first film review since I was in college. So before anything else, I'd like to paraphrase Maine Mendoza: "Bago pa acó i-bash ng sámbayanan, mauuna na acó". Now, if you wonder why I'm writing a film review on a family travel blog, well, it still has something to do with traveling because me and my family had to take a tedious trip from our faraway palace all the way to plebeian SM Center Muntinlupà. Haha. Kidding aside, all of us in the family are faithful members of AlDub Nation. Most especially yours truly. I was even the one encouraging my wife and kids to watch it the soonest possible time and not the other way around, this in spite of our measly budget. Be it known that I rarely watch TV and Tagálog films. I grew up as a Marvel Comics fanboy, hence the only films I watch are those from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. So just imagine what in the world AlDub did to me. I don't care if my friends from the academe will say that "Pepe has become mababao, too". So be it. AlDub has its inexplicable magic... perhaps one really has to become a fan in order to understand it. Anyway, without further ado...

*L*A*F*A*M*I*L*I*A*V*I*A*J*E*R*A*

It cannot be argued that the saving grace for Vic Sotto and Ai-Ai de las Alas' My Bebe Love #KiligPaMore is its supporting cast. I am, of course, referring to the phenomenal love team of Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza, more popularly known as AlDub. If not for them (or to be more precise, if not for their solid and loyal fan base), its rival, Star Cinema's Beauty and the Bestie, would have clobbered it from day one of the 41st Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF). The trailer, in fact, already gave portents of monotonous things to come. One would even suspect that the movie simply rode on the wave of AlDub's immense popularity. They succeeded on that part because My Bebe Love has been smashing its way to become the highest-grossing Filipino movie of all time despite desperate attempts by Star Cinema to downplay it (it now holds the record for highest-opening day gross for all Filipino films with ₱60.4 million).

This is not to say that either "Bossing" Vic or Ai-Ai has no box-office magic. Of course they do. But in terms of box-office competition, they would have played second fiddle to Vice Ganda whose garbage has been patronized by millions over the past few years.

Hardcore fans will come to My Bebe Love's defense and say that it's just a rom-com (romantic comedy), but that's exactly the point: the film is not just about romance but also comedy, and that's what it's lacking. How we missed the days when Bossing was really able to make us cry out in laughter (remember Hindi Pa Tapos ang Labada, Darling?) But in My Bebe Love, he seemed not to be making too much of an effort to be the comedian that he is. Ai-Ai de las Alas was too noisy to be funny. And we missed so much of it from Maine herself who is already an accomplished comedian on both Internet and TV. There wasn't even one memorable punchline that would have made us guffaw all the way to the exit.

It's quite disappointing that for a phenomenal love team, AlDub's first screen appearance was exactly that: a disappointment. But not because of them but because of the movie itself. For a supposedly family film, the plot is too complicated for youngsters to comprehend, especially the part wherein the characters of both Vic and Ai-Ai were fighting over venue reservations; my three boys were clueless as to what was going on. Other than that, it's so unrealistic to believe that their characters are that wealthy (what with their several employees and huge mansions) considering that they are just events specialists (is that a good enough profession already to make people filthy rich?). And later on in the movie, there's a (suggested) PMS scene between Vic and Ai-Ai's characters somewhere in Zambales. Is that the norm nowadays for family films?

And worse, My Bebe Love was obviously rushed; there seems to be not much of an effort to make it polished it all the more (this reminds me of Lourd de Veyra's "PNY" criticism of another Sotto film two years ago). The filmmakers seemed to have been banking on AlDub's popularity alone instead of putting flesh on the overall product. However, rushing film production is nothing new to the local movie industry. While film production in Hollywood takes at least a year or two to finish before its premiere, here it takes only a few months, if not a few weeks. But that's another story.

That My Bebe Love is replete with product placements is already expected. After all, it's a Vic Sotto film. I was already expecting it. The first few product placements I noticed were OK because they were subtly featured (Bear Brand Adult Plus, Nissan Escapade), but the rest were blatant to the point of irritating (Tide, Solmux). And what's with the junk food products with their front covers turned away from the cameras in a convenience store scene? Just because they're not sponsors of the movie does it mean that the director had to twist reality; aside from real life, that doesn't happen in Hollywood flicks, even in the most inane ones. Many from the audience noticed that goof with the junk foods, and because of that, they lost focus on Alden and Maine (and many, I believe, were too glued with Alden's radiant blue Superman shirt, a wrong choice of color and brand for a brief scene).

Speaking of Maine, I believe that, despite the letdowns seen in the movie, she deserved the Best Supporting Actress trophy she had won from the MMFF Gabí ng Parañgál (awards night). Acting is no easy feat, especially if one has no experience in it. Just ask historian Alvin Campomanes. Yet newcomer Maine nailed it with ease even if she didn't go through any acting workshop at all. She only honed her craft out in the streets — in Eat Bulaga!'s Kalyeserye. But even prior to that, she was a pure rookie. And thanks to her and Alden, My Bebe Love was saved from being overshadowed by its rival. It was their tandem that made up for what My Bebe Love lacked. Their qilíg moments lived up to the hype, delighting film goers. But that's the only compensation the film had. Nonetheless, AlDub's true worth should have been given justice on their screen debut.

If there's anyone to blame in My Bebe Love's failure to deliver, it's Bibeth Orteza because she was the one who wrote the script filled with weak dialogue and cheerlessness. Then there's Director Joey Javier Reyes who co-wrote the screenplay with her. How I wish that My Bebe Love was as funny as previous Vic Sotto movies. Thankfully, this is not an AlDub movie per se. Therefore, AlDub haters cannot say that the power couple's first movie was a fluke because technically, My Bebe Love is a Vic-Ai-Ai starrer. We AlDub fans await a much awesome launching movie for them, something they truly deserve. Not this. I was thinking of Erik Matti who is a good friend of Reyes, or perhaps blockbuster director Cathy García-Molina so that she'd be given a third chance (yes, pun intended) for her recent sins.

PS: As a blow-by-blow Kalyeserye reporter for AlDub Nation, I always rate each and every episode of Kalyeserye that I've watched in a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest. Many of my Twitter friends have been asking me to rate My Bebe Love: #KiligPaMore, too. So here it goes: in view of the foregoing review, I give it a 6/10 rating. I would've given it a 5/5, but AlDub's inclusion in the movie made me kinder towards it. Nevertheless, I still encourage my fellow AlDub Nation members to watch the movie, if only for the love of AlDub. And lastly, I give SM Muntinlupa's cinema a 3/10. The air-conditioning is not cold enough, the popcorn is bland but pricey, and the cinemas don't even have washrooms inside. Patronize other malls. Better yet, patronize those that are owned by the Zóbel de Ayalas. SM is owned by somebody pretending to be a Filipino.

*L*A*F*A*M*I*L*I*A*V*I*A*J*E*R*A*

As the title of this blogpost suggests, this will be the last time that our family will visit an SM mall in protest of the irregularities committed there against My Bebe Love: #KiligPaMore. I am talking about the ticket swapping, shameless SM Cinema crew encouraging AlDub fans to watch Vice Ganda's garbage, and handwritten tickets, something I've never heard of in my entire 36 years of existence! Could it be that Star Cinema and SM have been doing this for years, and that it's only now that their scheme was discovered? This is what Quezon City Rep. Winston Castelo and his team should also look into. Needless to say, the people are not blind. My Bebe Love carries with it a phenomenon, and this phenomenon is the ONLY reason why it is leading in the box-office race. Heck, this phenomenon even compelled me to write my very first film review even though I know I suck in it.

My wife is checking if we were also victims of ticket swapping.

Thanfully, nothing like that happened during our visit to SM Center Muntinlupà.

Now, to those who claim that Vice Ganda's garbage is filling up cinemas, my family experienced first hand how this is all but a lie. Just CLICK HERE to watch a video I took before we entered the cinema and see for yourselves. Now, if Beauty and the Bestie's defenders still don't believe that I took the video during nighttime, take note of the movies' schedule below:

Of course this is just one cinema, and one cinema alone cannot be used to measure if Beauty and the Bestie dominated the box-office. But still, this is one solid proof that My Bebe Love, at the very least, beat Star Cinema's garbage in a mall that is known to be cheating in its favor. So to those who are yet to see My Bebe Love, I advise you to do the same: take videos of the queues in the cinemas, then post it on your respective social media accounts.

Don't underestimate the power of AlDub Nation.

Me and my little princess at our balcony back home, after watching the film. Notice my superhero shirt. =)

Like us on Facebook! ¡Hasta la vista!

A brief visit to the Shrine of Saint Peregrine Laziosi

Since we always pass by his shrine in old Muntinlupa to and from our home in La Laguna Province, Saint Peregrine Laziosi became one of the many saints Yeyette prayed to during her delicate pregnancy last year. After giving birth, she promised to visit all the churches of those saints she sought help for her safe delivery. But it was only last November 14, on a late Saturday afternoon, when we were able to accompany her to the Saint Peregrine Shrine.

Santuario de San Peregrino Laziosi.

Women should wear veils inside churches even if there is no Mass.

Yeyette kept to her promise to come back here to thank Saint Peregrine Laziosi after her safe delivery from a rare pregnancy disorder called placenta percreta last year.

Peregrine Laziosi was born in 1260, the only son of an affluent anti-papal Italian family. An incident with the priest Felipe Benicio (who later became saint in 1671) changed his stand towards the papacy: when a then young Peregrine heckled and struck the elderly priest, the latter unquestionably forgave the young troublemaker. His humility getting the better of him, a remorseful Peregrine took to prayer which eventually led him to a selfless life of priesthood. He gained fame for his preaching and saintly life. Later in his life, he developed a cancerous infection in his right leg. It was decided to have his leg amputated. He took to deep prayer on the eve of the surgery; the next day, the infection totally disappeared. This is the reason why he became the patron saint of those who suffer from cancer and other incurable illnesses (and that his why his image usually shows him with his right knee covered in a cancerous sore). He was canonized on 27 December 1726.

The Saint Peregrine Shrine has a relic chapel which houses an actual rib of Saint Peregrine Laziosi. To those who don't know yet, he is also one of many Catholic saints whose remains remain miraculously preserved. His incorruptible body now rests in his home city of Forlì, Italy.

This shrine also houses something extraordinary: a relic chapel containing a rib of Saint Peregrine. From the relic chapel's dedication marker:

RELIC OF SAINT PEREGRINE LAZIOSI, OSM

(1265-1345)

In line with the desire to spread the devotion of Saint Peregrine, patron of cancer patients, the community of the Order of the Servants Mary in Forlì, Italy donated to the Filipino people a relic in the form of a rib taken from the incorruptible body of Saint Peregrine. The actual body of the Saint is enshrined in the Basilica of Saint Peregrine in Forlì, Italy.

This rib is now in custody of the Fathers of the Order of the Servants of Mary in Tunasán, Muntinlupà. It is preserved in a precious silver reliquary. On October 31, 1998 was solemn consecration of Saint Peregrine Parish and it was during this special occasion that the relic of St. Peregrine was enshrined to the Relic Chapel of the Saint. It is the only outstanding relic in all the world, excluding his body in Forlì, Italy. For this reason, we Filipinos are privileged and loved by the Lord.

San Peregrino Laziosi.

Click here for more photos of our brief thanksgiving visit!

The shrine is located in Barrio Tunasán, Muntinlupà City and is under the care of the Servite Order (Orders of the Servants of Mary). It's right along the old national road, a few meters away from SM Center Muntinlupa (they're on the same row) if you're coming from the north, and also a few walks away from the boundary of Metro Manila and La Laguna Province if you're coming from the south.

Like us on Facebook! Follow us on Twitter! Up next: a day trip to Villa Escudero! ¡Hasta la vista! =)