El Nido, Palawan (Big Lagoon)

I was looking through my pictures on my computer last week and found this video on our Palawan trip some years ago. I consider Palawan my most favorite place on earth especially El Nido and Coron Islands. These places are just so amazing and I really wish that it will remain the same as always for the next generations.

Here's one of the videos in our Palawan trip. We were kayaking at Big Lagoon, El Nido. I had so much fun. I never thought that kayaking was such a blast but so very tiring.

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My World#30 Corregidor Island

This is Corregidor Island, the biggest of the four islands in Manila Bay, Luzon, Philippines. It is a tadpole-shaped island located just at the mouth of Manila Bay making it an ideal lookout point for incoming and outgoing ships. Along with the other 3 islands nearby, it was fortified by the occupying US government before World War II began.

This was where the last stand of the combined US and Philippine forces stayed for months holding off the occupying Japanese forces. This was also where Gen. Douglas McArthur and the Philippine government led by Pres. Manuel Quezon stayed inside the tunnel plotting their next move while the war raged on.

Our guide told us that the Japanese forces predicted to entirely occupy Philippines in just a few days but because Bataan and Corregidor took almost a month (aside from the resistance they encountered in some parts of the country) to occupy due to the valiant efforts of the combined American and Philippine forces, the plan to occupy Europe was delayed.

Thousands of Japanese, American and Philippine soldiers died on this hallowed ground. When we got there years ago, one cannot help but feel the solemnity of the place and respect for the ones who died there defending the country. I consider this place a must-see for Filipinos and non-Filipinos alike.





More information about Corregidor Island here and here.

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My World#29 Calle Crisologo, Vigan, Ilocos Sur

Stepping into Calle Crisologo is like stepping back into time when the Philippines was still under Spanish regime. Calle Crisologo is part of the heritage village in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur located at the northern part of the Philippines. The centuries old houses in Calle Crisologo are mostly still in use nowadays as inns, restaurants, woodworks, and antique stores. Except for horse-drawn carriages, other vehicles are not allowed inside the well-known street.

With its cobblestone covered street and centuries-old Spanish-inspired houses, Calle Crisologo is a must-see place.

Note: the first pic with the sign "Tongson's Royal Bibingka - The Home of Original Royal Bibingka". The bibingka means "local rice cake". Quite delicious really.

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My World 28# Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage

This is the Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage in Antipolo City, Luzon Island. The church is quite well-known for its miraculous Brown Virgin Mary which is why a lot of travellers go there to pray and request for safety voyage. We went to this church before our trip to China sometime ago. Antipolo City is about 26 kms. east of Manila, the capital of the Philippines.

The brown image of the Virgin Mary was brought to the Philippines during 1600s through the galleon trade. She was credited for the three-month safe voyage of the ship that brought her; thus, she earned the name Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage.

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My World 27# Independence Day Celebration

June 12 is Philippines' Independence Day (Araw ng Kalayaan). We were asked to attend the city government's celebration of the country's Independence Day last Friday, a holiday. A flag ceremony was done at exactly 8am even if it was drizzling a little bit. City government officials and embassy representatives from Japan, Indonesia and Malaysia were there.

This is the wreath laying ceremony for the national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal at Rizal Park after the flag ceremony.

Prayers from different religions were made by a Catholic priest, a Protestant reverend, a Muslim priest and an indigenous tribal leader.

There was a short programme after the flag ceremony. The programme included a performance from the public school teachers' performing guild was presented. This shows the Philippine Revolution against the Spanish government and the couple depicts Dr. Jose Rizal and Josephine Bracken before Dr. Rizal's execution.

Performance by teachers depicting the creation of the Philippine flag.

Another Independence Day related post here.

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My World#26 Eden Mountain Resort

Eden Mountain Resort is located at the mountain slopes just almost an hour from the Davao City downtown. The place was originally denuded by logging but the owners started replanting trees and several years after, the resort was opened. It has its own nurseries for different kind of trees and vegetables. They have also started selling vegetables to supermarkets years ago.

The resort's amenities and facilities are dormitories, cabin houses, swimming pool, fishing area, zipline, convention areas, horseback riding, flower garden, amphitheatre and mountain trail hiking.

This is my entry for:

More pics of Eden Mountain resort here.

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Air France Flight 447

My condolences and prayers for the plane crash victims and families of the Air France Flight 447. The said plane disappeared somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean. A total of 216 passengers and 12 crews, there are no survivors found yet. Today's news revealed that there was a Filipino onboard.

With this current news, my mother’s fear of flying has worsened. She never really trusted those flying things and as much as she would like to travel, her fear of flying prevented her from doing it.

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