Happy 14th birthday, Krystal!

My dearest Krystal: remember what we have talked about this morning inside our parish church. La confianza es muy preciosa. Make your family proud of you. We love you so much. And have a very happy and blessed 14th birthday!

Krystal at the foot of the miraculous and historic Cross of Tunasán taken just this morning after all of us went to Mass and Confession.

35 V

♩ ♫ 35 years and my life is still | Trying to get up that great big hill of hope | For a destination ♬ ♪

"Mozart wrote so many works in his thirty-five years that it would take a lifetime just to write out the notes", said the late US musician Lukas Foss. "We literally do not know how he did it."

Well, here I am. Thirty-five and all without having written a single note yet. But hey, I won't trouble myself with that anymore. I'm already done with melodramatics this morning. This day is still awesome despite all of life's bull and the power outage we've been having since Typhoon Glenda wreaked havoc in our country last Wednesday. And because we still have no electricity, we also have no water supply. And because we have no water supply, I have been playing the role of aguador for the past two mornings, going to and from our neighbor's water pump carrying buckets filled with precious water to our already arid second-floor apartment unit. Afterwards, I bathed in the rain (the first since my unforgettable trip to Mindanáo last year). Then me and wifey treated our kids to their first ever buffet lunch at Cabalén here at Alabang Town Center! And yes, because of the said power outage, we're still here at this mall as I write this.

Feeling kinda Pampangueño here at Cabalén!

Power outage or no power outage, the first day of my 35th year is still electrifying because I am spending it with the people I love the most! =)

Biñán: The Industrial City of CALABARZON

The once iconic old town plaza. Despite attempts at modernity, it has lost its verve with the destruction of the Alberto Mansion, itself a timeless landmark in the area.

Any mention of Biñán will invoke images of José Rizal as a young homesick student, of the historic and controversial Alberto Mansion, of the delectable Puto Biñán, and of course, Splash Island. To history buffs such as myself, Biñán reminds me of a quaint town with a regal past, its opulent sector de mestizos filled with stylish ancestral houses, and its status as a major producer of rice and sugar cane in the Southern Tagalog region.

Then as now, Biñán stands as an economic heavyweight in La Laguna Province. In the early days, it was already known for its various enterprises and was a major rice producer. Its oldest barrios were also famous for their respective industries: Barrio de la Paz for its quality footwear; Barrio Malabán for its fishing endeavors; Canlálay for its special pinípig (crisped rice snack); Barrio Platero for its cloth hats and caps, and; Barrio San Vicente for its Puto Biñán, the famous Lagunense rice cake topped with cheese that is produced using largely traditional methods. Also, the manufacture of baquiâ (spelled nowadays as bakya) or "wooden clogs" was for many years a trademark product of Biñán. But with the loss of a market, the town focused on other products: fine and synthetic leather sandals and slippers.

Laguna Technopark Incorporated (photo courtesy of Ayala Land Premier).

Today, these barrios still produce the local products mentioned above. But the whole town now has morphed into a bustling first-class component city (it has been so since 2010) and is a choice modern industrial zone. Because of Biñán's industrious history, it is aptly known today as "The Industrial City of CALABARZON" (abbreviation for CAvite, La LAguna, BAtangas, Rizal, QueZON). With a land area of 43.50 km², Biñán is host to many well-known multinational companies. It has also been the choice site of property developers and entertainment venues as well as top educational institutions, thus continuing Biñán's legacy as a provider of undisputed quality education know since Rizal's time (no wonder he was sent there for his early schooling).

Laguna International Industrial Park (photo taken from the industrial park's official website).

Before the Spaniards came, the area comprising the Biñán of today was part of an ancient settlement called Tabuco (now Cabuyao). Ancient Biñán did not have a large settlement that resembled today's concept of a town, but it was inhabited sparsely by Tagalog natives. Life then was primitive as the people lived off fish, game, and fruits from the forest. With the arrival of the West, new tools and concepts were introduced which provided a cultural and spiritual revolution in Biñán, thus uplifting social life and thinking. In 1644, the place was turned into a hacienda by the Dominicans. Known as Hacienda de San Isidro de Biñán, it was dedicated to the planting of sugar cane with the smaller remaining land area reserved for the town and its barrios. An irrigation system, a large farmhouse complete with stables, a well, and an orchard were built. By 1747, Biñán was already existing as a separate barrio. And by 1782, it was already functioning as a town.

Iglesia de San Isidro Labrador. Constructed in 1690 and was finished four years later. Throughout the centuries, numerous man-made and natural disasters have altered the features of this church.

Yeyette inspecting the original image of Saint Isidore the Laborer. With her is Gian Litan of the Parish Youth Ministry of San Isidro.

The number of mestizos de sangley and mestizos de español in the town grew not only in number but in societal significance, so much that by the beginning of the nineteenth century, an Augustinian missionary observed that much of the town was in the hands of the affluent. The obvious imprint of this wealth can well be observed along Calle Jacobo Gonzales which runs at the left side of the town church: the grand old Philippine homes we affectionately call as ancestral houses of bahay na bató.

At the garden outside this house once stood the small school where Rizal had studied as a child. We've been inside the vicinity a decade ago (Krystal and Momay were our only children back then). But during our visit last summer, nobody was home to let us in.

Calle Jacobo Gonzales. There are many other grand old houses throughout Biñán, even outside the población. But  it is on this street as well as in Calle Pedro Paterno where you will find the largest and most stylish. Both streets comprise and area which was once known as sector de mestizos.

The Rizal Monument in Biñán's old town plaza (right in front of the ruins of the Alberto Mansion) is said to be the most beautiful. You be the judge.

One edifice that is worth mentioning about Biñán is, to my observation, not always being mentioned whenever the city's history is taught. And this edifice is the Church of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage. During Rizal's stay in Biñán, this small temple was only a chapel and was just two years in existence. Unknown to many, this is the old chapel where he used to frequent. In his diary, Rizal wrote that during his last days in Biñán, he would walk from his place (somewhere in the población) to this chapel —skipping past the town church of Saint Isidore the Laborer— to pray. This chapel had a special affinity to Rizal's heart: his mother, Doña Teodora Alonso, was a devotee of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage in Antipolo, Morong (now Rizal Province). Rizal once traveled to Antipolo with his father to fulfill his mother's pledge — she made a promise to the Blessed Virgin (while she was still pregnant with Rizal) that she would make him go to the church in Antipolo one day to pay homage and as a thanksgiving if her pregnancy becomes a safe one. And so during his homesick days in Biñán, Rizal somehow felt at home in this chapel which is the namesake of that other historic church north of Laguna de Bay.

Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Paz y Buenviaje, constructed in 1867.

The original image of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage which belongs to this historic chapel-turned-church.

We'll be featuring more about this church in a future blogpost.

Krystal and Yeyette with the caretakers of the church (Richie, Christian, and Aling Cora). Thank you for the quick tour! We learned quite a lot!

Not far from Rizal's favorite church is another forgotten landmark: the farola or lighthouse, or whatever remains of it...

The forgotten Spanish-era lighthouse of Biñán. Sadly, it is now surrounded by illegal settlers. Nobody there even knows its importance nor why it is there in the first place.

This old structure is a few meters away from the lakeshore. A long time ago, an old port used to exist near the lighthouse. Ferries to and from Manila and other parts of La Laguna Province carried people and cargo across the lake. It was this same port which was used by a young José Rizal that ferried him back to his home in Calambâ after a brief stay in Biñán for his early schooling.

My wife feeling the old steel support of the lighthouse. Touching history.

But before we bore you to death with too much history instead of travel, let me and my family stop here and instead share to you our photos of our most recent visit there (April 19), as we feasted our eyes on the legacy left by the Biñán of olden times. And we are sorry to say this, but that could probably be our final visit to Biñán proper. Because it really pains us to see a neglected, nay, defiled, Alberto Mansion.

With various kids in Barrio Malabán which lies at the lakeshore. We found them flying kites while enjoying the very strong afternoon breeze!

We had freshly baked Puto Biñán here before going home.

Be that as it may, Biñán, especially its heritage and true identity, will always remain in our hearts. Not the industrial city but the Biñán of our forefathers is the one to be cherished the most.

Baler and the Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day

The Alas Family wishes to greet both our patria grande Spain and our patria chica Filipinas, a very happy Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day!

This least-known diplomatic event is already on its 12th year. But did you know that it traces its roots to Baler in Aurora Province?

The Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day was first celebrated on 30 June 2003. This day commemorates the gallantry, courage, and loyalty of the last Spanish soldiers in our country who made a final stand in Baler, Tayabas (now part of Aurora province). From 1 July 1898 to 2 June 1899, these Spanish soldiers, who numbered less than 40, garrisoned themselves inside the town church without knowing that Spain had already lost Filipinas on 10 December 10 1898 (Treaty of Paris). Because of their display of courage, they earned the respect of President Emilio Aguinaldo. So instead of imprisoning or executing them, the Spaniards were sent them back to Spain (click here for more info).

Hopefully next year, we would be able to visit Baler, famous not only in the annals of Filhispanic history but also reputed to be the "Surfing Capital of the Philippines".

Photo courtesy of Travel Up.

¡Feliz Día de la Amistad Hispanofilipina!

Happy 443rd birthday, dear Filipinas!

My other blogs, ALAS FILIPINAS and FILIPINO eSCRIBBLES, seem to be in a very festive mood today (sorta, hehehe!). So might as well for this one, too. And rightfully so. Because today, June 24, is a very special day: it is the 443rd founding anniversary of our BELOVED and BEAUTIFUL homeland, FILIPINAS!

Internationally acclaimed travel photographer George Tapan's award-winning photo "Into The Green Zone". This was taken in breathtaking Isla Onuc in Balábac, Paragua/Palawan, one of the "last frontiers" of this country. Hope to bring the whole family there one day (hey, dreams are for everyone!).

¡Feliz aniversario a las islas bonitas de Filipinas!

Happy 38th birthday, Yeyette!

Pepper Potts: Am I going to be OK?

Tony Stark: No. You're in a relationship with me, nothing will ever be OK.

—From Iron Man 3—

And so that's what it is with us. You married an imperfect man, somebody whose mind is still trapped in illusions and daydreams, actually still a boy who refuses to grow old. You married a swain who gifted you with (soon-to-be) five kids but equaled it with five times the headache. You married someone who gave you probably more pains than pleasure. Still you chose to stick it out with me.

You chose me to be your concomitant for life, not expecting much out of a brittle promise (I was a college kid back then, remember? dreaming of becoming a rock star with a tennis racket for a guitar) but looking forward to life with hope and joy.

I wasn't able to deliver what needed to be delivered a hunnerd percent. But your love for me is so boundless I am a hunnerd percent sure that you have made God so proud.

Being the perpetual loser that I am, I wasn't able to reciprocate your wifely heroics. And for that, I apologize. I am so sorry for all the tears caused.

Inspite of all the stress and tears I wittingly or unwittingly gave you, you still look younger than me, haha. So there.

Thank you for never leaving my side. Me and our kids love you so much. Of course you know that already. Happy 38th, mi amor.

The refreshing waters of Dampalit Falls

This year's summer season was annoyingly hot that a trip to the beach was not enough to stave off the heat. So we thought of going somewhere else. Somewhere much colder. And oddly, it's located in a place where the waters are normally hot: Los Baños, La Laguna Province.

Refreshingly cool Dampalit Falls. This year, the plunging waters were a bit weak when we visited it a few weeks ago. Probably because of record-breaking temperatures.

It was our second time to visit Dampalit Falls (on my own, it was my third). The first time was two years ago, a day after Momay's eighth birthday. That time, the waters were raging, but still tolerable. When we visited the falls last May 18, the place was very crowded. So many people were apparently trying to escape the record-breaking temperatures. Irritatingly, some wiseguy thought it was a good idea to block the catch basin with piles of soil to create a minipool, thus the dark quality of the waters when we got there (because several happy feet were stirring up the soft ground below the shallow waters). Nevertheless, the place is still clean and pristine because it's well taken care of (there's a DENR office nearby). And the heat of the summer sun was virtually helpless when we went underneath the vertical drop.

Dampalit Waterfalls taken two years ago (14 May 2012).

The word "dampalit" is said to be a contraction of two Tagalog words: "daang paliít" which means a narrowing path. The waterfalls is situated at the foot of Mount Maquiling, at the northern part fronting Laguna de Bay. Amazingly, Dampalit is very near the national road — just a 15- to 20-minute walk. And it's not a boring one because the foot path courses briefly upwards through the small houses of Sitio Dampalit and the natural forests of Mount Maquiling. Various fruit trees and wild flowers can be encountered along the way. And if you have a sharp eye, you might be lucky to spot wild lizards, chameleons, and exotic birds and insects. There is also a vantage point along the path where, on a clear day, a sparkling Laguna de Bay can be seen from afar.

This lovely forested foot path, which gently slopes upwards, leads to Dampalit Falls. From the national road, the walk takes more or less 20 minutes. Even my preggy wife survived it!

Arrival.

¡Aquí estamos! The waterfalls can already be seen to the left, partly hidden by vegetation.

Newfound friends (Kumpare at Kumare bonding from Calambâ). And one of them speaks Spanish! From left to right: Justine, Yeyette, Juanito, Kiko, Xian, Wilma, and Raymart. At the back is Reichelle, the Spanish-speaker.

Nos alegramos de haber conocido aquí a una dama que habla nuestra lengua. Ella es Reichelle Cansicio de Calambâ (la ciudad natal de nuestro héroe nacional). :-)

Dampalit Falls, about three to four storeys high, probably has the most vertical water drop we have ever seen. It may not be as high compared to other popular waterfalls (such as the more famous one in Cavinti), but the waters drop rather calmly and not in a scattershot manner. It's even difficult to take a photo of the whole height from a short distance.

Dampalit Falls is situated on an elevated site. The water from the catch basin flows downward as a serene stream on a rocky course through Barrio Lalacay, crosses the national road, and drains towards Laguna de Bay. Downstream, the people call it Estero de Dampalit  (Dampalit Creek).

Spread your wings and prepare to fly, you toast-colored butterfly!

Our kids and other tourists having an awesome time! Yep, that's me underneath the falls, being massaged by huge buckets of water dropping endlessly.

♥  ♥  ♥

For families living in Metro Manila who are a bit fed up with beach outings and who are looking for an alternative summer venue, Dampalit Falls is the place to be! Amazingly, it's budget friendly for such a nature-filled place!

Me and my family went there from Macati (in front of Dusit Thani Manila) by bus going to Santa Cruz, La Laguna. And wouldja believe? We left at around half past 12 noon and arrived at the falls before 2:00 PM! Well, it was a Sunday. But still, travel time isn't that bad on weekdays I believe. And the entrance fee is only ₱20.00 for adults and ₱10.00 for kids. Me, Yeyette, and Krystal were charged ₱20.00 each, Momay for  ₱10.00, but Jefe and Juanito got in for free (all in all, we were charged just ₱70.00). We bought some báon (mostly junkfood because we already had lunch at the place we're staying) from a sari-sari store along the foot path leading to the falls. You may bring your own báon, too. The only downside is that you will have to bring them on foot because there are no roads for vehicles. There are bamboo tables and cottages for rent, and they are placed all around the catch basin facing the falls. Prices vary from ₱150 to ₱200 (negotiable). We did not rent one anymore because kind-hearted young souls from nearby Calambâ willingly shared their table with us (¡Gracias, amigos!).

This is one place in La Laguna we will never tire of visiting. We plan to go back there on a rainy season to see and experience how strong the falling waters of Dampalit are. See you there!

On our way home.

❤L❤A❤F❤A❤M❤I❤L❤I❤A❤V❤I❤A❤J❤E❤R❤A❤

Click here for more photos!