Weekend in Malolos, Bulacan

After months of hibernating from this page. Here I am seriously back in the forms and energized from my latest travel.
As everybody prepares for their semestral break, my preparation was to visit some historical sites in Bulacan.
Planned it last September.

First on the list in touring Bulacan is the historical Barasoain Chuch.
As we all know, we only see the figure of this famous Barasoain Church at the back of our P10.oo bill.
One weekend last month, the church was right in front of my eyes and it was much better than the one I only see in the money.







The church also known as Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish was built in 1630. It has earned the title as the "Cradle of Democracy in the East" and they say that it is the "most important religious building in the Philippines" having been the seat of first government of the country.

Barasoain church was founded by in Augustinian Missionaries in 1859. Considered one of the most beautiful churches in the Philippines for its unique architectural design. Philippines' first president General Emilio Aguinaldo and the 13th president Joseph Estrada were inaugurated in this church.




















(The Altar)




(Barasoain's Garden)







(President General Emilio Aguinaldo's transpo)





(Malolos Museum)



(Tarlac Rep. Jose C. Cojuangco's ancestral home)



(Aside from historical tourist spots, Bulacan is also known for their affordable Christmas decors)





How to get there:
By private vehicle, from Manila, go to NLEX.
Take TABANG exit to your right. Then drive straight until you hit Guiguinto, Bulacan.
Continue driving until you see the Malolos flyover. Do not pass on the flyover.
Take the lower lane and make a left turn.
From that flyover turn, the church is just about 2 kilometers away.
You will see Barasoain Church on your right side.

I think therefore, I am

Need I say more?


.

What's in Hongkong?

For first-timers in Hongkong worry not!

There are online forums that can help you enjoy your vacation to the fullest.
From your itinerary, to the best places to visit.

Hongkong's organized transport system, their public transport to the say the least, it's very reliable and safe.

If you just read and ask around you will hardly get lost, even if you have a map on your hands courtesy of their city information centers.

Hongkong's MTR is one of the best in the world. The buses, included.

Sigh... it will take 50 years for the Philippines to have one.

An efficient, reliable, safe and clean public transport system.

And I share my tight-budget-but-super-fun experience.










Try the Ocean Park Adventure


















The lovable Panda








Botanical Garden




The Big Ben




Museum of the Art







... and not to forget... the best food trip in town.
My sister and I survived, three days and three nights in Hongkong, without rice!!!




















(",)

Inside the prison life

Whew! We used to visit Luzon Street until they changed venue, just near the Petron Gas Station.

If I may say this, has been a frequent visitor inside the Magdalo holding area inside the base.

To those who never had the chance to visit an ordinary prisoner's cell, one will wonder what is inside and how people move around while guards outside do rounds.

I guess all of them, those behind bars are living large inside their prison cell, trying to enjoy the little comforts of an extraordinary living condition lest to say a life in an extra ordinary way.

Gee, I miss the food trip and the chit-chat.

Just wishing them the best of life. May you experience a fruitful new endeavor.


The dining area... table for two!




The kitchen







The play area

An eagle has landed

The 23rd blessing for Mindanao and the rest of the world was delivered on Sunday evening. Kudos to the men and women of the Philippine Eagle Foundation for adding another life for the environment.


A new Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) was hatched Sunday at 6:12 p.m. at the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) conservation in Malagos, Calinan District in Davao City.





The eaglet weighs 137.5 grams is the 23rd eaglet bred and born under the PEF conservation breeding program.





The new baby eagle is the offspring of natural eagle pair Tsai and Princess Maasim. The PEF is responsible for producing eagle icon Pag-asa in 1992 and 21 other Philippine Eagles at the Center.





The PEF’s breeding program is intended to supplement eagle populations in the wild by replacing those lost tohunting and by reintroducing captive-bred birds to vacant habitats and habitats occupied by unpaired wild eagles.





PEF Executive Director Dennis Salvador said the hatch ushers in another new chapter in the organization’s history. “The PEF’s first milestone was Pag-asa’s birth in 1992, when we broke through the challenge of breeding these eagles in captivity. Once our breeding techniques stabilized, we were then able to do the first test release of a captive-bred eagle to the wild in 2004, to see how captive-bred birds fare in their forest habitats," Salvador said.





The PEF is looking for partners to support the release program. The partner will have the privilege of naming the eagle chick.





The Philippine eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) is considered an endangered species because of its rapidly declining population. At least 400 pairs remain in the wild according to estimates from both the government and private conservation groups.