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Showing posts from May, 2016

Rediscovering Tanay, Rizal: Calinawan Cave

When we had our roadtrip to Tanay, we made sure not to miss the famous Calinawan Cave. And the thought that we've never tried spelunking before just made us even more excited. Calinawan cave is found in Brgy. Tandang, Kutyo, Tanay Rizal. According to our tour guide Lloyd, its name came from the historical events that happened there where Filipino settled and agreed on their disputes between Spanish colonizers, the agreement promises "linaw" a Filipino word for clarity, hence the word Calinawan. According to him, the cave is composed of five layers but only two were open as the others are not yet explored. Calinawan Cave dates back during the World War 2 as this was said to had been used by the Guerrilla warriors as hospital and hideout against their enemy, the Japanese. The cave is 20-minutes drive from Daranak Falls or Batlag Falls. Entrance to the Calinawan Cave The entrance fee to the cave is PHP20.00 but a tour gui...

Rediscovering Manila: Chinese Garden at Rizal Park

Inside the Luneta Park, lies this garden built by Chinese community as an additional attraction. The serene atmosphere at this garden is perfect for picnic and relaxation. Families frequented the place as the area is just small thus making their bonding intimate. With a touch of nature and Chinese ambiance, one will surely find this place relaxing. Main Entrance There is entrance fee of PHP10. The main entrance is like a Chinatown arch where in Chinese characters and letters are inscribed. Statue of Confucius Confucius was an influential Chinese philosopher, teacher and political figure known for his popular aphorisms and for his models of social interaction. Kong Qui, better known as Confucius, was born in 551 B.C. in the Lu state of China (near present-day Qufu). His teachings, preserved in the Analects, focused on creating ethical models of family and public inte...

Around Rizal Province in One Day

The road to Tanay Rizal may be quite long and winding but there's a lot of paradise hidden behind its rolling mountains waiting just for you. Rizal is a province south of Manila and boasts a number of tourist spots. Rizal is recommended if you want a quick weekend getaway without spending too much. So it was May 1, Labor Day, when me and my friends decided to explore and rediscover the what Rizal Province has to offer specially the Tanay town. This blog is about our roadtrip to Tanay and nearby Pillila town. Below are the places of interest we've visited. 1. Pillila Windfarm The Pillila Windfarm is located at the top of the hills of Barangay Halayhayin, Pillila, Rizal. We all know that the windmills in Bangui are arranged in a single row facing the West Philippine Sea thus creating a dramatic effect in photos. The 54 megawatts, 27 windm...

Rediscovering Tanay, Rizal: Parola

So there, I decided to blog our stop at Parola because I was so inspired by it. After we bathe at Batlag Falls, we decided to drop by at the Parola. It is located at Brgy. San Isidro, on the edge of the Laguna Lake. Parola is "lighthouse" in Spanish. It serves as a sentinel at night to keep an eye to fishermen sailing through the vastness of Laguna de Bay. At daytime, you can climb up the parola and you'll have a 360-degree view of the lake and the mountains of Rizal. You can even see from here the windfarm from nearby Pillila town. It's not the typical lighthouse if you've already seen one, but its unique beauty and its purpose will inspire you. It may look small at first glance but when we climb up to the top, we were as if at 10th floor of a building and were holding the handrails so tight. There's no entrance fee but the personnel on duty required us to ...

Rediscovering Pillila, Rizal: Windfarm

Have you always dreamed of going to Ilocos Norte? Have you dreamed of seeing their famous windmills but is short of budget and time? Don't worry! There's another windfarm in Pillila, Rizal that is equally stunning as those in Bangui. The Pillila Windfarm is located at the top of the hills of Barangay Halayhayin, Pillila, Rizal. We all know that the windmills in Bangui are arranged in a single row facing the West Philippine Sea thus creating a dramatic effect in photos. The 54 megawatts, 27 windmills in Pillila, however, are scattered on top of the mountains and the most you can have as your background in a picture is 3-4. But overlooking the mountainous Rizal plus a view of Laguna de Bay provides a refreshing treat to the eyes if you're from the Metro Manila and have always seen buildings and traffic. This renewable energy project of Rizal is operated by A...

Rediscovering Tanay, Rizal: Daranak and Batlag Falls

It was May 1, Labor Day, a day after I turned 24, when me and my officemates decided to have a quick weekend getaway and we decided to go to nearby Rizal Province. The province is 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) east of Manila. The province is named after José Rizal. Rizal is bordered by Metro Manila to the west, the province of Bulacan to the north, Quezon to the east and Laguna province to the south. The province also lies on the northern shores of Laguna de Bay, the largest lake in the country. We decided to see the famous Daranak and Batlag Falls. To be honest, I haven't seen a falls my whole life. So I'm so excited to finally see one. Welcome Sign Daranak Falls is open from 8:00AM-5:00PM. Below are the entrance and other fees. We went there on a Labor Day and the place is too crowded since it was, of course, a National holiday. We just paid the entrance fee and took photos of the falls. Adults -...

7 Must-Visit Old Catholic Churches in Manila

Philippines is the largest Catholic country in Asia and one of the largest Christian and Roman Catholic country in the world. When Spaniards colonized Manila, churches were built. Today, some of these churches are still present and had continued to be the home of Filipino catholic for several hundred years. Despite Manila's urbanization, these old churches were preserved and are taken due care. When I first came here in Manila, the first thing that I've done was to visit a church and pray. Since then, it has been my habit to visit other churches in Manila, especially those which are old and rich in history, Below are the some of the old churches worth a visit. 1. Quiapo Church (Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene) Quiapo Church is a prominent Mexican baroque Roman Catholic basilica located in the District of Quiapo in the City of Manila, Philippines. The basilica is famous home for the shrine of the Black...