Mt. Gulugod Baboy

Freedom Climb is one of the most awaited events in a year in the world of Philippine Mountaineering.  It was formed few years ago by selected groups, and then participated by the other in the same field.  Almost all of the mountaineering groups that I joined online were promoting and creating their own events just for this date.  This date is one of the most important dates in the history of the Philippines as it signifies the independence of our country in 1898 at the house of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo in Cavite.  As part of it, Batang Hamog Mountaneers created our own event on the same purpose, earlier than June 12 - which is the Independence Day.

Boracay Island

Boracay Island is one of the best beaches in the world, that’s according to the travel agencies, websites, blogs, magazines and other people’s reviews and I can say “yes it is one of the best!.” The fine, white sand at the shoreline can be compared to a fine table salt, actually others said, that it’s like a baby powder.  The pristine, crystalline water is really adorable, as it serves as a mirror of the blue skies with cirrus clouds on it.  The reflection is like a painting of Michelangelo, as the blue water and skies forming a horizon, parallel to the shoreline.

Project HELP

Historical and heritage sites, beautiful scenic spots, and mountaineering activities – those are just some of my posts in this blog.  But now, I am proud to bring you a new post about helping other people. Since the members of our group, Batang Hamog Mountaineers are all travel and outdoor activity enthusiasts, so we are open to different people’s economic status and their livelihood in their area.  Just this year, we created an additional group that will focus on helping the less fortunate children.

Sapin sa Paa, Balik Eskwela Program

photo courtesy of Lamyerda Group

This is my first time to organize an event focusing on the less fortunate children.  We exerted all our efforts just to make this outreach program successfully happen.  Based on the faces of the children in this photo, the real happiness that they felt was unmeasurable and nobody can explain what they felt.  Just to give an idea, for each of the beneficiary, we gave two notebooks, pencil, crayon, eraser, sharpener enclosed in a plastic envelope.  But, with that simple things that our online friends sponsored, we received a SMILE and HAPPINESS in return.  Totally remarkable!  If you are interested to help and part with this program, you can LIKE Lamyerda Outreach in facebook, click here: Lamyerda Outreach.  Or email me here: mytravellingcup@gmail.com.  Rest assured that your donations will be given to those children who are really in needs.  Thanks!

Fort San Pedro

This was my twelfth destination in Going Back to the History of Cebu.

After Magellans Cross and Basilica Minore del Santo Niño, I took a short break in the convenience store nearby.  When I felt that I am okay, I left that store and proceeded to Plaza Independencia which Fort San Pedro is situated.

Fuerza de San Pedro is a military defense structure built by the Spanish and locals of Cebu under Miguel Lopez de Legazpi's (Spanish conquistador) command, but the date of the construction wasn't sure.  There were claims that Jesuit Antonio Campioni built the fort in 1630.  But, there were a lot of major renovations in the 19th century for the structural improvements of Cebu.

Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño

This was my tenth destination in Going Back to the History of Cebu

At the back Magellan's Cross I found the entrance going to the oldest catholic church in the country and the home of Sinulog Festival.  There were shops and food court near its gate.  There were guards who checked my backpack for security purposes.  A lot of people were too many that day, even there was no special occasion. 

Basilica Minore del Santo Niño or Minor Basilica of the Holy Child is one of the minor basilicas in Cebu City.  This is the oldest Roman Catholic church in the country built in the same spot where the image of Santo Niño was found in 1565 by Spanish explorers led by Miguel Lopez de Legazpi.  This statue is the same with the statue given by Ferdinand Magellan to the wife of Rajah Humabon, 44 years later, as a gift during their baptism on April 14, 1521 at the exact location of Magellan's Cross today.

Magellan's Cross

This was my eight destination in Going Back to the History of Cebu

After my early lunch in a food stall near Casa Gorordo Museum, I proceeded to my next destination which is the Magellan's Cross. This itinerary was the one that the receptionist in Cebu Cathedral Museum  shared to me, so I followed it.  From the museum, I walked more than 400 meters going to this spot.  There were jeepneys passing the same highway, but I chose to walk to discover new things along the way.

I asked the people if where's the right way going to this site and they were so kind to me.  I didn't use my map because it's more complicated and I don't want to stare on the map while walking on the sidewalk.  Before I reached the cross, I passed by the gate of Santo Niño Museum.  I tried to enter that gate, but the guards didn't allow me, instead, they instructed me to enter on the entrance beside the rotunda of the cross.

Casa Gorordo Museum

This was my seventh destination in Going Back to the History of Cebu

When I am done with Yap-Sandiego Ancestral House this house was my next destination.  There's a huge difference between this two heritage houses in terms of it's architectural structure.  This Gorordo House shows how a prominent family lived during their generations.  From the floor, artistic walls, windows up to the roof top - it's really gorgeous. 

At the main entrance of this house, it's historical background was written and here's what it says: "This house was built in the mid-19th century by Alejandro Reynes y Rosales and was bought by Juan Isidro de Gorordo, a spanish merchant, in 1863.  Four generations of the Gorordo family lived in this house, including Juan Gorordo, first Filipino Bishop of Cebu, 1910-1932.

Yap-Sandiego Ancestral House

This was my Sixth destination in Going Back to the History of Cebu

This house is more than ten meters from Cebu Heritage Monument and less than a hundred meters from Colon Street.  This structure can easily be recognized because of it's unique appearance.  At first, when I saw this house, I was excited but I felt different which I couldn't explain that time, maybe because of the structure itself.

This house was originally owned by Chinese merchant, Don Juan Yap and Doña Maria Florido.  It is one of the oldest residential house in the Philippines.  It was built between 1675-1700 and was made from Coral stones, used egg whites as glue and "Tigas" or clay for the roof.  The wooden pats of the house were made of "balayong" and "tugas" or molave which is the hardest woods in the country. 

Heritage of Cebu Monument

This is my Fifth destination in Going Back to the History of Cebu

While I was in the taxi going to Colon Street for my breakfast, I saw a monument at the left side which looks like so familiar, and when I asked the driver if what was that, he answered: "It's Cebu Heritage Monument."  when I heard that name, I easily grabbed my list and that's it! it's included in my List to Visit.

Heritage of Cebu Monument is situated at the original Plaza Parian.  It occupies a triangular portion near the end of Colon Street.  This Monument showcases the significance and symbolic events in history of Cebu during the reign of Rajah Humabon.  It was a work of art by the National Artist Edgardo Castrillo on July 1997 in cooperation with Mayor Alvin Garcia and was inaugurated in December 8, 2000.

Colon Street

This is my Fourth Destination in Going Back to the History of Cebu

After my tour in Cebu Cathedral Museum, I showed my map to the receptionist if what's the nearest destination in my list and what street I'll take and they responded appropriately.  So from the museum, I was walking on the side going to my next destination when I saw a familiar obelisk in the intersection along Colon Street, I think it's a hundred meters from the museum.

Colon street is said to be oldest street and shortest road in the Philippines.  It was name after Christopher Columbus who bears different names (Spanish: Cristobal Colon, Italian: Cristoforo Colombo, Protuguese: Cristovao Colombo.)  It was established by the Spanish arrived in Cebu in 1565, led by Miguel Lopez de Legazpi (a Spanish conquistador.)  The local government erected Colon Monument in the intersection of the street.

Along this street are commercial centers and shops, catering different services.  When I conducted some short research about this place, I knew that this street serves as the home of prostitutes.  According to the residents, there were a lot of old houses along the street, which looks like Calle Crisologo in Vigan, Ilocos Sur few decades ago.  But now, I didn't see anything that deals with the history.

Cebu Cathedral Museum

This was my third destination in Going Back to the History of Cebu

Just beside the Rajah Humabon Monument, Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral and along the high way, I found an old house with capiz windows and wood as the walls.  When I've checked my map, beside the monument is the Cebu Cathedral Museum, so no need to walk farther.

Just seven steps from the plaza (I counted it) is the entrance of the museum.  It was so early, so the janitor was still cleaning the floor when I arrived at the lobby area.  The caretaker and the guard were so kind to me.  A beautiful and young woman at heart was sitting at the reception area that time,  and she was giving me an instructions about the policies of the museum (like no picture taking on the second floor and chapel.)  She was smiling the whole time while she was giving me the receipt and giving me some information about the museum.  Entrance Fee: 50 Pesos

Pinsal Falls - the pride of Ilocos Sur

This was our tenth destination in Ilocos Sur/Norte: 1,300KM, 10 Destinations within 57 Hours.

After getting off the bed, took a bath and then the delicious breakfast, time for an escapade with nature.  But before going to this gorgeous water fall, we first visited the 40-meter tunnel, Tangadan Tunnel which serves as the boundary between Ilocos Sur and the province of Abra.

Then, while on the way to the water falls, we passed on the road beside the shore near Grotto.  We also bought basi and other local products along the way.  While inside the van, I saw how the farmers of this province cultures tobacco for their livelihood.

Calle Crisologo and the Antiques

This was our eight destination in Ilocos Sur/Norte: 1,300KM, 10 Destinations within 57 Hours.

Enough with the historical background of Ilocos, our stomach were all empty, so it's time for a sumptuous meal. So from Paoay Sand Dunes, we travelled two hours for our next destination - Vigan City.  We parked beside Vigan Cathedral then walked few meters going to a food court that the main attractions are the freshly cooked empanada.  It's just beside the commercial fast food chain, but we chose this food court because there were a lot of people who were eating in and all the empanadas smells great.  We took more than an hour to finish all those stuff, just want to share: I ordered 1 piece empanada, soda and okoy.

So right after the tasteful dinner, we proceeded to Call Crisologo just few meters from empanada food court.  Here, you can see and touch Spanish styled and century-old houses built by rich Filipinos in their ages.  This is one of the major attractions that you MUST include in your list to visit in the province of Ilocos.

Kanlungan ni Maria

Kanlungan ni Maria is a Filipino word which litirally means Maria's shelter.  It is an institution that deals with the elderly; focusing on the health, food and other personal necesities of all the members.  It was opened in 2002, through Father Daryl and with the help of his friends.

Paoay Sand Dunes

This was our Seventh destination in Ilocos Sur/Norte: 1,300KM, 10 Destinations within 57 Hours.

After the century old Paoay Church, it's time for an amazing and extreme adventure in Paoay Sand Dunes.  By the way, a friend of mine, who is now working in a country in middle east, keeps on taking photos from the sand dunes of Dubai and Saudi Arabia.  I thought, Sand Dunes can only be found in the dessert countries around the world, but it's not! 

Here in Ilocos Norte, Philippines, we have the same feature and adventure that the dessert safari have and also, this place is always part of the Filipino movies, like the scenes which has a dessert as the background.  Paoay Sand Dunes have extreme activities like 4 x 4 Ride, sand boarding and All Terrain Vehicle. 

The Buttresses of Paoay Church

This was our sixth destination in Ilocos Sur/Norte: 1,300KM, 10 Destinations within 57 Hours.

After the history happened in Marcos Ancestral House, we drove to our next destination for more than 30 minutes.  But, while travelling, since we were at the back of the van, the topics were still all about the Marcoses.  I didn't participated on that because my age doesn't fit that topic, hahaha.

Century old churches are always part of my post here in my blog and I've been to different places just for to feature them.  I already visited the province of Bulacan and Cebu City just for those sites.  Paoay Church is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Philippines.  If we have Barasoain Church in Bulacan, we also have Paoay Church in Ilocos.

Marcos Ancestral House

This was our fifth destination in Ilocos Sur/Norte: 1,300KM, 10 Destinations within 57 Hours.

Since we were all clean and fresh, time to for a heritage site that was used by a powerful family of Ilocos and even the whole Philippines.  We travelled more than two hours from Blue Lagoon going to this must-visit site of the province.  The highway wasn't that crowded because that day was Sunday.

We parked the van just beside the highway near the ancestral house it self.  Parking space was for free.  After getting off the van, we stretched our muscles and bought cold soda and water.  It was Sunday, so the ancestral was filled with tourists and locals trying to witness what's inside the house.

Blue Lagoon in Pagudpud

This was our fourth destination in Ilocos Sur/Norte: 1,300KM, 10 Destinations within 57 Hours.

It was a hot day, so after our destinations which was Bangui Windmills, we felt we're so haggard.  We needed a something that could ease our tired muscles.  We needed something that could remove the sticky feeling and dirt on our body and Blue Lagoon in Pagudpud is the best way!

Pagudpud is located on the northern tip of Luzon island.  It is a fourth class municipality and a coastal town of Ilocos Norte province.  It is said to be the resort town of the province.  If we have Boracay Island in Visayas which is famous because of its fine, white and crystal clear waters, and also one the best beaches in the world; Pagudpud is considered as Boracay of the north because of the same feature.  When our van entered the coastal area of Pagudpud, we paid 15 pesos per head and then drove going to Blue Lagoon (Maira-ira Beach.) 

Bangui Windmills

This was our third destination in Ilocos Sur/Norte: 1,300KM, 10 Destinations within 57 Hours.

After the relaxing visit in Kapurpurawan Rock Formation, we drove more than an hour for our next destination.  This time, we took the highway going to Bagui, Ilocos Norte; so the simple driving skills of our driver was used. 

Along the highway are the modern artistic houses but some are antiques, which the residents are taking care of.  The human size windmills can also be found on the side of the highway that adds beauty and art.  The highway is totally different compared to the highway of Metro Manila in terms of traffic.

When the driver stopped on the parking space, there were a lot of vehicles, so we were not the first one to visit the place.  When the door of the van was opened, I easily felt the hot temperature, but the wind coming from the ocean was cold.