My World#76 Batad Rice Terraces

Batad Rice Terraces are different from the more popular ones shown in our P1000 bill. Those are easily seen from the Banaue town while Batad is a more than an hour ride through rough mountain roads and another hour trek through mountain trails. The view, however, upon reaching the mountain town facing this ampitheather-like rice terraces more than compensated the hour-long trek underneath the sweltering sun.


That's our guide walking casually along the rice terraces. Thankfully enough, the pathways that ran on the edge of each rice paddy were mostly thick and wide enough to keep us from getting out of balance. According to our guide, the improvements started happening when more and more tourists from all over the world came to visit.




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Skywatch#36 More on People's Park, Davao City

This is one of the four posts just in infront of People's Park's visitor's centre. The post, as examined by nosy me, was made of concrete but was covered with these panels made of some type of hardened material (I was thinking, aluminum steel). Each panel depicts the different symbols and the indigenous people of Davao City.

These sculptures of children of indigenous tribes were done by Davao sculptor, Kublai Milan. These are located by the park's fountain.


And I found these playing kids among the plants near the centre of the park. Interesting thing about these sculptures are that you can find them unsuspectingly in some corner of the park doing something out of routine(like playing, trying to catch fish, etc.) I find them wistful and really beautiful with their almost golden-colored skin and smiling faces.

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My World#75 People's Park, Davao City

This is the People's Park's visitor's centre. The spiky dome roof looks like the spiky shell of durian fruit which the city is well-known for.

People's Park is formerly the PTA grounds where athletic meets, concerts and huge gatherings were held in Davao City. This was where I jogged with my high school friends years ago but it went into disuse after land squabbles between the local government and the heirs of the donor of the land where it stands started came about. Happily, the issue was resolved and the P75M park project was started with the help of the private sector.

The 4-hectare park was reopened last December 15, 2007. It got its name from a "Name the Park" contest held by the city government.



The park has become a popular destination among locals and visitors. It has a mini-forest, visitor's centre, a manmade waterfalls, a Green Theatre for concerts and shows, and the most well-loved feature of the park are the sculptures made by a well-known and prolific Davao sculptor, Kublai Milan. The sculptures were of the indigenous people of Davao.

Kublai Milan is also the sculptor of the Overview Park in Bukidnon.



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Skywatch#35 Giant Claypot Of Calamba

On the day that I took this photo, overcast skies loomed over us. It was a humid day and I felt my sweat trickling down my spine.

This is the giant claypot found in Calamba, Laguna. One of the landmarks of the town, it is just a stone's throw away from the Rizal House, Dr. Jose Rizal's ancestral home. The claypot which is just across the San Juan de Bautista church has markings indicating the names of the towns of Laguna.

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My World#74 (Philippine Churches Part 6): Church of San Juan Bautista

This is the church where our national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal, was baptized. The church was established in 1779. It has a beautiful glass mosaic of the first Filipino saint, San Lorenzo Ruiz, by its entrance door. Photo of the saint here.




In recent years, the church has added these sculptures on its front yard:

The Sacred Heart of Jesus


Jesus by the well with a sign that says "The Well of Renewal"




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Skywatch#34 112th Philippine Independence Day

On June 12, Philippines will celebrate its 112th Independence Day. I pray and hope for the change for the good of my country and my people.

Photo was taken at the People's Park, Davao City

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My World #72 More on Jose Rizal's Ancestral Home

Thought I'd show some interesting items in and around our national hero's ancestral home in Calamba, Laguna.

I saw this odd-shaped antique glass water inside the kitchen of Jose Rizal's ancestral home.

The hanging glass gas lamp was found hanging on the ceiling of the second level of the house. It may look old but its design on the glass and its holders were intricate and showed European influences.

The small nipa house at the back of the Rizal house. Rizal's father specifically had this nipa house made of cogon, nipa, and bamboo made for the Rizal siblings. Jose or Pepe as what he was called by his family used to spend more time here reading.


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Skywatch#33 Camp Holiday, Samal island

I went to attend another get-together with my high school classmates in Camp Holiday Beach Resort at Island Garden City of Samal. The get-together was the second one in more than two decades since we graduated from high school. The weather was really good that day and really perfect for a soak in the sea. 



While there, a part of the resort was being spruced up for a beach wedding. The beach wedding setting was pretty and I learned later on that there were some fireworks during the wedding reception.

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