Road Trips: Shrine of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary of Manaoag, Pangasinan, Monasterio de Tarlac and Shrine of St. Padre Pio, Sto. Tomas, Batangas

Shrine of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary

Manaoag, Pangasinan

18 November 2015

It was a long holiday because of the APEC in Manila. We took this opportunity to unwind, escaped the city and traveled  north.

Our destination was the "pilgrim center of the north" in Manaoag, Pangasinan province (The Shrine of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary of Manaoag). It was my second time to visit the church after almost ten years.

We left Manila at 0700H on the 18th of November 2015. We were five - Dr. NRV, Ms. Weng, Jeannie, Rhea and myself. We were aiming to attend the 1000H mass.

We took the Mindanao Avenue, NLEX and then TPLEX. We were so confident that we can attend the said mass since travel time to Manaoag from Manila via TPLEX would normally take two and a half hours only, according to Ms. Rhea who frequently visits the site.

We never thought and underestimated the volume of vehicles going out of Manila and travelling north at that time. Not to mention, there were several vehicular accidents along TPLEX and so instead of two and a half hours normal travel time to Manaog, it took us more than five hours to reach the pilgrim site.

While on a heavy traffic along the express way, we had fun inside the car. We had a game called "Around the World" inside the care. I could not believe that there was such a heavy traffic on an express way like TPLEX.

At 1215H, we were queuing at the church parking lot. Though the 1000H mass celebration was over, the church was still full at that time including the parking area.

I started exploring the church at 1246H. Except for the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary, I could no longer recall the structural feature of the church when I first visited the site.

 

I had an expectation to see an old colonial church similar to those in the Ilocos provinces, however, the present architecture of the church, for me, looked completely new.

 

It could be due to the several restorations done on the structure that made it looked a modern infrastructure.

Nevertheless, I had a good time exploring the site.

The center of the pilgrim site is the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary with the Child Jesus enshrined at the high altar of the Basilica.

According to Wikipedia, The statue of Our Lady of Manaoag is a 17th-century ivory image of the Virgin Mary with the Child Jesus enshrined at the high altar of the Basilica. It was brought to the Philippines from Spain via the Manila galleon from Acapulco, Viceroyalty of New Mexico, in the early 17th century by the priest Juan de San Jacinto.

Documents dating back to 1610 attest that a middle-aged farmer walking home heard a mysterious female voice. He looked around and saw on a cloud-veiled treetop an apparition of the Virgin Mary, holding a rosary in her right hand and the Child Jesus in her left arm, all amidst a heavenly glow. Mary told the farmer where she wanted her church to be built, and a chapel was built on the hilltop site of the apparition, forming the nucleus of the present town.

Our Lady of the Rosary is depicted in other countries with similar attributes, with the accouterments and style of the vestments varying across cultures. The Manaoag image is distinct from other statues in its sculpture and regalia, particularly its crown.

A pilgrim replica of the image also exists and is toured around parishes in the Philippines for veneration.

The image of Our Lady of Manaoag and her bejeweled crown are considered priceless. There have been several attempts to burglaries the Manaoag Shrine of the jewels sewn into the icon's dress and set into its regalia which include crowns, halos, rosary, scepters, and marshal's baton.

Several of her golden crowns and halos are deposited at the shrine's museum, donated by both local and foreign devotees. An expensive collection of liturgical vestments that have been used by the image and the Dominican priests are also on display, as are an array of perfumes used to anoint the image. These are ex-votos given by devotees and pilgrims from around the world.

The image of Our Lady of Manaoag is fully secured within a bulletproof glass enclosure above the new high altar, which has additional wood carvings, an elevated pedestal, and four golden candelabras. The coat-of-arms of the Dominicans is embedded above the image's window as a demonstration of the Order's devotion to her. The bas-relief, made of narra carvings beneath her throne that beautifully depicts the historic events in the devotion to Our Lady, has been refurbished.

The archdiocese, in line with the Filipino custom of venerated an image by touching its body or clothing, constructed a staircase that rises to Veneration Room on the second floor behind the apse. The room has pews in front of the alcove behind the image's shrine. Supplicants kneel before the glass small window behind the image's base to pray and touch the hem of the image's mantle, often dropping written prayers into a nearby box. After venerating the image, devotees pass through the religious goods shop on their way out.

--o0o--

Monasterio de Tarlac

San Jose, Tarlac

8 December 2015

We had a Town Hall meeting at our Subic Branch office on the 7th of December 2015.

The following day while driving along SCTEX, we decided to visit the Monasterio de Tarlac on our way back to Manila.

According to WikiPedia, Monasterio de Tarlac is a popular tourist destination in the province of Tarlac in the Philippines. It is a monastery on top of Mount Resurrection, part of the Zambales Mountain Range in San Jose, one of the municipalites in Tarlac.

In the monastery can be found a relic of the True Cross. Monasterio de Tarlac is located at the Mount Resurrection Eco Park in barangay Lubigan.

There is no entrance fee to the monastery and it is open to the public daily from 7:00AM to 6:00PM.

The Monasterio de Tarlac covers 278-hectare Ecotourism Park which was developed by the former congressman Jose "APING" Yap. It is surrounded by nature with natural and fresh air coming from the mountain. A 30-foot colossal statue of Jesus Christ overseeing the city stands tall at the side of the mountain.

We left Subic office after having a sumptuous breakfast at the hotel at 0730H and took SCTEX. Five of us were on board Jeannie's car. From SCTEX, we took Mabalacat Exit and then drove along Manila North Road (McArthur Highway) and then exit at Capas then straight ahead to the site.

We had few minutes stop over at Mabalacat Shell station for a quick break and to refuel.

The road leading to the site is a long winding road. I felt like traveling along the zigzag road at Dalton Pass.

We reached the site atop the hill at San Jose Tarlac 1045H. There was a mass at 1100H which we all attended.

One of the many highlights of our visit to the Monasterio was our experience to touch the case containing the relic of the True Cross. The golden case is inside the church altar.

 

Aside from the relic of the True Cross, we were so happy to see the 30-foot statue of Jesus Christ overlooking the city similar to the the statue of Christ the Redeemer in Brazil.

 

After taking photos, we left the Monasterio de Tarlac with a happy and fulfilled hearts at 1300H

--o0o--

Shrine of St. Padre Pio

Sto. Tomas, Batangas

20 December 2015

For several times, I had seen the Shrine of St. Padre Pio featured on numerous blog sites and tourist leaflets.

I had been planning to see the Shrine several months ago.

Early on the 28th of December 2015, Jeannie and I met at the Cash and Carry Mall and then proceeded to Dr. NRV's place in Paranaque.

From Paranaque, on board NRV's vehicle, we traveled south and fetched Ms. Weng and Rhea at Robinson's Pala Pala. From there we went straight to Sto. Tomas in Batangas. Melanie was waiting for us somewhere along the Star Express Way. 

We were hoping to attend the 1000H mass celebration at the Shrine. Luckily, we reached the site at 0945H few minutes before the mass started.

It was my first time at the Shrine. Upon entering the site, I was immediately impressed looking at the circular church structure with a dome.

 

Jesus Christ statue hangs at the middle of the dome while the Blessed Virgin Mary stands tall at the top of the dome.

  

Nearby the church is an hexagonal structure that serves as the bell tower.

Under the bell tower is a holy water fountain.

I had the chance to climb up the bell tower and took a photo of the church from above.

The church is surrounded with different status of saints.

At the rear of the church is another cross of Jesus Christ with St. Padre Pio.

The candelaria can also be found at the rear of the church.

I felt blessed and happy to be able to see the Shrine finally and for the first time.

We left the Shrine at 1300H.

--o0o--

Exploring the Stunning Islands of Honda Bay

City of Puerto Princesa, Palawan
03 to 06 December 2015 

Honda Bay, according to Wikipedia, is a bay on the eastern shore of the island of Palawan near Puerto Princesa City in the southwestern Philippines. It is approximately 12 kilometers away from the city proper.

The bay is used for both subsistence and commercial fisheries and recreation. Boats can be rented for the day and used for travel to nearby islands, many less than 45 minutes from the shore by boat. Honda Bay is ideal for snorkeling. Starfish are commonly found near islands such as Starfish Island. Puerto Princesa is the nearest port city, and is accessible by plane.

DAY 02 - HONDA BAY ISLAND HOPPING

I woke up early and prepared my swimming gear for the island hopping tour - Starfish Island, Lu-Li Island and Cowrie Island.

After having a nice breakfast, I boarded the van and headed to Honda Bay Port. Estimated travel time from my accommodation to Honda Bay Port is 40 minutes with one stop over at a swim-wear rental shop along the way.

Photo source: http://s1284.photobucket.com/user/AdrenalineRomance/media/Palawan%20Adventure/Honda%20Bay/Fotor0608182841_zps9b475b63.jpg.html

At 0800H, we had a stop over at a swim-wear rental shop to get additional gears: goggles, rash guard, waterproofing for mobile phone, towel, aqua shoes and a pair of bread for fish feeding activity. I paid P700 for all items.

Starfish Island

At 0916H, we boarded the boat and we proceeded to the Starfish Island. There were seventeen of us including the guide. The only activity for the entire day was swimming.

We reached the island at 0945H. The Starfish Island has crystal clear waters, fine white sand, coral reefs teaming up with Starfish (Sea Star). It's a perfect place for swimming and snorkeling. I enjoyed snorkeling and I did it for the first time ever. I had fun feeding the fish with bread and taking photos of Starfish.
 

I was thinking to take photos of the colorful fish underwater but decided not too for my phone safety. I had a nice view of the coral rocks under the sea and had fun with other guests.

We stayed in the island for thirty minutes. I had minor scratches on my knees as I accidentally hit a coral rock while snorkeling.

Lu-Li Island

We left the Starfish island at 1055H and headed towards the Lu-Li Island.

According to our guide, the island is called "Lu-Li" an acronym for "Lulubog" and "Lilitaw" Filipino words that mean "sink" and "float" as the island sinks on high-tide and floats on low-tide.
 

We reached Lu-Li Island at 1117H. Lu-Li Island has a wide shore of fine sand, crystal clear waters - excellent for swimming and a diving spot. I had good time taking photos and swimming at the beach. I didn't try diving though.

At 1130H we moved to the Cowrie Island.

Cowrie Island

We reached Cowrie Island at 1211H and we had a sumptuous lunch.

According to our guide, Cowrie is named after the small-to-large sea snail, marine gastropod mollusk called "Cowrie".

The island has a number of cabanas, a pavilion and thatched-roof spa huts, all overlooking the sea and creating a beautiful, picturesque scene. Cowrie Island has recently opened to the public as an alternative to the crowded Pandan Island, situated nearby.
 

This picturesque island is ideal for picnics, camping or simply basking under the sun and lazing around the sand. I enjoyed swimming, taking photos at the sand castles and at the shores of the island.

I wanted to try the Banana boat, Jet-ski and the Flying fish but with the limited time that we had at the island, I just enjoyed the beach with the company of fellow travelers.

Finally, we left the Island at 1400H back to the city center.
 

I concluded my second day in Puerto Princesa with a nice dinner at Kinabuch's Restaurant once again feasting on a tasty grilled Tuna and Banana split.  

--o0o--

Day 01: Exploring the Unparalleled Beauty of the Underworld - Puerto Princesa Subterranean River

Day 03: Exploring the Peaceful City of Puerto Princesa

Team Bonding at Mt. Batulao

Nasugbu, Batangas
30 August 2015

Hiking is not for everyone! This is a general statement that I hear whenever I invite friends for a hike. 

They would rather spend the day inside a crowded mall or relax inside a cozy "spa" rather than exposing themselves under the sun on a grassy and sloppy trail - I would like to coin this phrase as "Getting Closer with Nature".

Doing outdoor activities, hiking in particular, is one of my favorite past-time activities. I consider every hike an "achievement" since "it is not for everyone". On long weekends, I would spare time to escape the busy city to enjoy the peace and serenity of mother nature.

I felt so happy to be joined by few of my colleagues in the corporate world for a weekend hike at a nearby Mt. Batulao on a Sunday the 30th of August 2015. None of them has ever climbed a mountain before. They were all "freshmen". 

The day before the climb, I can feel their excitement as we discussed few details of the climb - what to expect, what to bring, difficulty level, etc. I can almost imagine myself on their shoes when I did my first hike several years ago.

Early on Sunday 30th of August, we met at the Nasugbu Bus terminal at the Coastal Mall. Julius, Edwin, Joel and Ms. Jeannie were with me. Two participants Ms. Weng and Ms. Rhea were waiting for us at Robinsons Pala-Pala.

We alighted at the Evercrest Golf Course in Nasugbu at 0615H. There were seven of us. From the highway we took two tricycles going to the jump-off point. We also met sir Allan, our guide, at the Evercrest Golf Course.

We were at the jump-off point proper at 0625H and prepared for the hike. The ground was wet. According to sir Allan, there was a downpour at the area all day and all night long before the day of our hike. Immediately, I thought of the "muddy trail" but I said, we'll charge it to experience.

Jump-off Point

We started the adventure at 0635H. There were many hikers at that time. 

At 0657H we started the challenge of surviving the muddy trail. Because of the volume of hikers and the rain, the trail turned out like a wet rice field.

The mud was thick, sticky and yet slippery. Ms. Weng and Ms. Jeannie had to ask for a rubber boot while Julius, Edwin and Joel had to remove their slippers and braved the muddy trail bare footed. They had mixed feelings of excitement and fun.

 

 

Luckily, we had sir Allan who closely and patiently assisted Ms. Weng, Jeannie and Rhea on this portion of the trail.

Finally at 0759H, we passed the challenge of the muddy trail and we started to ascend as the trail started to slope upward. It was a new challenge for the beginners at this time. We had fun looking at our hiking shoes and rubber boots that turned heavy because of the thick mud.

 

At 0812H we had to stop for a quick break and to regroup. At this point we had seen the sloppy trail of Mt. Batulao. We resumed at 0815H.

At 0822H, we had another stop at a nipa hut for a break and to refresh ourselves with a sweet buko juice.

I had a silly smile along the trail as I was asked several times of the question "Malayo pa ba?" (Is it far yet?) others would also comment "Ano ba 'tong ginagawa natin?, OMG!" (What are we doing here, Oh my God!). I was actually laughing at that time but I never let anyone of them noticed it. I just kept on telling them "Malapit-lapit na... kaunting hakbang nalang..." (It's quite near. Few more steps and we are there).

I had a complete recall of my first climb as I had the same questions and comments as well and my guide would also smile telling me the same words "Malapit-lapit na... kaunting hakbang nalang...".

At 0844H we reached Peak #1 and stopped there for a break and to regroup. We resumed at 0846H. As we go further along the trail, I had to stop more often to wait for others who were having fun along the trail taking pictures. I felt so happy for them that they were enjoying the hike after all.

At 0857H, we reached Peak #4 and we enjoyed the view of the lush green landscape of the slopes of the mountain.

We had fun along the trail as others started to share their experience on the muddy trail and on the slopes.

 

We reached the rope segment at 1002H. All of us had to queue for the single rope. I was the last to take the rope.

 

At 1012H, we started to hike the rocky segment of the trail leading to the summit. I had an inspiring moment when Ms. Jeannie had to "crawl" on the short stiff rock to get to the trail. I remembered at one point in time, I also did the same on my previous hikes.

 

There were few loose rocks and gravels so it was a little challenging for a beginner. We called this the summit assault climbing the last remaining slope that leads to the summit of the mountain.

Finally at 1037H, we were at Camp #10 - the summit.

At the top, we had so much fun enjoying the view, the company of other hikers and also the food.

We had an early lunch at the summit with the tasty "Laing" and "Adobo" prepared by Joel for the rest of the team. We were also grateful to share our food with other hikers including our guides.

 

At 1159H, we started our descent and at this time, there was a clearing and the sun was out and the exposed trail started to get hot and humid. By the time we reached the muddy portion of the trail, it was dry already. We were back at the jump-off point at 1510H.

SIDE TRIP TO CALERUEGA

We took a tricycle from Mt. Batulao Jump-off point to Caleruega. At 1629H, we were at the gate of the retreat site and started to explore the area.

 

We left Caleruega at 1650H.

--o0o--