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.

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Click here for more photos!

Halo-halo in Filipinas

When you say summer, aside from family and barcada outings, floral dresses, and drinking ice-cold beverages, the two most familiar words that come to mind are beach and halo-halo! Because everybody loves to go to the beach and eat halo-halo during the summer heat! :)

Preggy me and Juanito beside the city plaza of our adoptive hometown of San Pedro Tunasán, La Laguna during this year's Palm Sunday. There is an unnamed stall here which serves delectable halo-halo.

Here in our country, you will see halo-halo stands in almost every corner of the street during summer as we Filipinos enjoy its cold, sweet, and milky taste which gives us comfort from the sweltering heat of the sun, satisfying and completing our summer experience.

And take note of the price: it's inexpensive. And it's up to you if you want to indulge on a much costly version (those that come from expensive restaurants). Some sell it for only ten pesos or anywhere near that price, But whatever the price is, we still order it because of the hot weather and of course to try and experience the delectable taste it offers.

At Lucy's Central Restaurant in Biñán, La Laguna during this year's Black Saturday. You can ask for extra shaved ice here for your halo-halo.

Wherever you buy it anywhere in the country, it is always halo-halo that you call it. Usually, its delicious selection of ingredients are banana, camote, beans, and corn (those that are cooked in a very sweet way). Optional ingredients are nata de coco, caong, sago, gelatin, and pinipig. And some even prefer their halo-halo to have fruits such as melon or langca. Then there's sugar and evaporated milk to taste, and of course crushed ice. And it's usually topped with original Filipino favorites such as leche flan, ice cream of any flavor, ube, or macapuno. Voilà, you have your summer halo-halo!!! :)

Treating ourselves to the famous halo-halo of Razon's of Guagua at the food court of Alabang Town Center last Easter Sunday.

And ooops, I have a question for all of you: how many glasses of halo-halo have you had this summer? I'm sure that a lot of you did, because this craving for halo-halo is natural in us. It's an old summer tradition that keeps us craving for it. This sweet and refreshing dessert is something that we Filipinos should be proud of. And even if it's not summer, we still keep on liking it, craving for its tempting coolness, looking forward to its sweet, milky taste that forever lingers in our taste buds, most especially the memorable crushing sound of ice you hear whenever you mix the flavors together with your spoon. And that signals that it's about time to taste your halo-halo.

Check out our summer photos enjoying delicious halo-halo from various stores!

At Dekada during Momay's 10th birthday. Instead of the usual tall glass, all the ingredients of Dekada's halo-halo are placed inside a coconut shell still with the meat inside! 

Enjoy the few remaining days of summer and halo-halo, everyone!!! :)

❤ YEYETTE❤

Happy 10th birthday, Momay!

First of all, we're sorry we weren't able to go to that waterfalls we promised. As me and Mommy have already explained to you, your Ate, and your two brothers, we're in some sort of, uh, dire straits at the moment. But we'll definitely sort this out. I promise you all that.

Evil is not forever. And your birthday, which falls on the feast day of Our Lady of Fátima, proves that; we're all safe and sound and happy together. And we'll always remain that way. =)

¡Muchas gracias, Dekada!

And at least, Dekada's awesome culinary experts and crew made up for that lost summer treat. And we're glad you still enjoyed this day at... you know where (sorry folks: it's classified at the moment). =)

¡Feliz cumpleaños, Momay!

Batangas City: more than just an industrial port

For many years, my only recollection of Batangas City is whenever we go to its pier: the Batangas International Port. My first visit there was in the summer of 2001 when Yeyette was to take me and Krystal (who was then our only child) for the very first time to her hometown of Abra de llog, Mindoro Occidental. Since then, that's the only part of Batangas City I have known: its seaport. We had never gone to any place in Batangas City save for its pier whenever we go to Abra de Ilog or for a brief dip in the famous waters of Puerto Galera in Mindoro Oriental.

But for Yeyette, it was like a homecoming of sorts when we decided to stroll around the city proper last April 1 (in celebration of Juanito's fifth birthday) because she had stayed there for sometime. As a young girl, she used to visit her mom who was then boarding and studying in the city; her mother was then finishing her studies at St. Bridget College (back then, it was exclusive only for girls). That is why she was able to roam around the city proper and was a bit familiar with it. However, she seemed at a loss when we got back there weeks ago. The establishments she once knew have long disappeared. Gone was that ice cream parlor near her mom's school which she frequented. Gone was her namesake cinema at the población. The city got noisier because vehicles have multiplied. Modern structures are now everywhere, making the few remaining ancestral houses seemed out of place, not to mention out of time. Nevertheless, she told me that she felt like she was a young girl again as we walked the narrow streets of the city proper. The surviving ancestral houses still reminded her of those brief vacations that she had in Batangas City.

Batangas, the eponymous capital of Batangas Province, was founded by Augustinian friars in 1572. The name was said to have been derived from an old Tagalog word called "batang" which meant "huge logs". Hence, "batangan", another form, meant "a place of huge logs". Eventually, the name batangan became Batangas. At around that time, the Spanish-created province of which the old town of Batangas was situated was then called Bonbón (named after the ancient name of Taal Lake, the site of that world-famous smallest volcano. When that volcano erupted in 1754, it buried the original town of Taal (now the site of the Municipality of San Nicolás; the new Taal was moved further westward, away from the volcano) which was then the province's capital. Because of the tragic incident, the capital was transferred to present-day Batangas. Later on, the whole province of Bonbón adopted the name of its new capital. Agustín Casilao was appointed as the first gobernadorcillo.

The city still has many well-preserved ancestral houses scattered all over the población, mingling with modern edifices.

More than two centuries later (23 July 1969), the old town/city of Batangas became a city through Republic Act. No. 5495 which was signed by former president Ferdinand Marcos. Since then, rapid industrialization of Batangas City began. Aside from the international port, major industries with their huge plants and factories sprouted all over, making the city an economic powerhouse.

Although its local government promotes Batangas City as the "Industrial Port City of CALABARZON", we found out that there's more to it than just the business-like appelation. The city's charm lies in its old town proper with its nostalgic ancestral houses, as well as the serene countryside and seaside vistas at the outskirts. All you need to do is to simply walk around, eagle-eyed.

We bought a cake from this bakery along Calle José Rizal for Juanito's birthday and some bread for our báon in Kamantigue Beach Resort.

Juanito requested that we celebrate his birthday here in Jollibee. Inside the fast food, Yeyette became acquainted with these students from nearby Saint Bridget College, the alma mater of her mom.

A simple birthday celebration for Juanito. Basta completo camí tulad ng ganitó, masayá na camí. =)

Momay (far left), Jefe, Juanito, and Yeyette in front of city hall. This building was inaugurated on 19 June 1909 when Batangas (the town, not the province) was still a municipality.

This portion of Calle Marcelo H. del Pilar is beautifully lined and shaded by acacia trees. At left is St. Bridget's College. At right is the elementary department of the University of Batangas.

In front of St. Bridget's College along Calle Marcelo H. del Pilar. This is the alma mater of Mrs. Teresa Atienza de Perey, my wife's mom. This Catholic school was founded by the Religious of the Good Shepherd in 1913.

Basílica Menor de la Inmaculada Concepción. You'll be mesmerized by its interiors!

Juanito at the foot of the Apolinario Mabini monument in Plaza Mabini. This plaza was named after the "Sublime Paralytic" from Tanauan, Batangas who served as one of El Presidente Emilio Aguinaldo's political advisers and was also the country's first Prime Minister.

Resting our feet and legs at Plaza Mabini.

Río Calumpang, on our way to Barrio Pagquilatan where Kamantigue Beach Resort is located. This great river drains towards Bahía de Batangas.

Late afternoon arrival at scenic Kamantigue Beach Resort, named after the camantigue tree (right below). At the background is the northern portion of Isla Verde which is still under the jurisdiction of Ciudad de Batangas.

The next day (April 2) at Kamantigue Beach Resort. Ang claro ng tubig, ¿no?

On our way back to the city proper. Here's a breathtaking view of Batangas Bay connecting towards the Verde Island Passage along the Batangas-Tabañgao-Lobô Road. The mountains beyond are those of  the Municipality of Mabini.

Side view of SM City Batangas along the Batangas-Tabañgao-Lobô Road. I think Uncle Henry's bent on creating a "Republic of SM" sooner or later.

Iglesia de la Santíssima Trinidad. Right beside SM City Batangas. Notice the horrible wires hanging in front of it. A severe lack of aesthetics in city planning is a common problem throughout the Philippines.

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Click here for the complete photo album! ¡Hasta la vista!