san agustin church

one of the four baroque churches in the country, the San Agustin Church is the only structure in Intramuros that survived the indiscriminate aerial bombings of Manila by American forces in 1945. a special sacred landmark both for tourist and religious devotees, the church is also listed in UNESCO World Heritage List.

las pinas bamboo organ

one of the finest old organs in the world, the Las Pinas Bamboo Organ is declared a Philippine Culture Treasure. this nineteen-century pipe bamboo has survived countless earthquakes, calamities and wars. it is housed in St Joseph Parish Church of Las Pinas City.

going to LPBO? from Baclaran take a PUV going to Alabang via Quirino Avenue, or vice versa.

km. 0

the Rizal monument, which mark the exact spot where Gat Jose Rizal was executed by firing squad, is one of the country’s most important historical and geographical landmark. navigational distances of all provinces are measured from this point.

did you know? the said monument was designed not by a Filipino but by Swiss sculptor Richard Kissling.

daranak falls

located in the uplands of Tanay, Rizal, this waterfall has been featured countless of times in Pinoy movies, soap operas and even TV commercials. its accessibility made it a favorite destination of barkadas, families and local tourists especially during summer.

going to Daranak Falls? proceed to Tanay town proper. from there, hire a tricycle to Daranak Falls. arrange also with the driver your return trip. also a fee of P20/head at the entrance.

*everyweek, I will feature a snapshot of an amazing place from my "baul". cheers!*

Biak-na-Bato

unnamed cave, Biak-na-Bato National Park, Bulacan

the Biak-na-Bato National Park is both an important biodiversity area and historical landmark. within its labyrinth caves the Magdalo-led soldiers established the Biak-na-Bato Republic on November 1897. it was the headquarters of the Philippine government for over a month until Gen. Aguinaldo agreed to be exiled in HongKong as part of the peace pact that they signed with the Spanish government.

today the Biak-na-Bato National Park is under threat because of continuous mining and quarrying operations within the park.

going to BnBNP? take a bus to the historical town of San Miguel, Bulacan. from there, take a tricycle to Biak-na-Bato. cave guides are required and will be provided in the registration area. don't forget to bring your headlamps or flashlights :)

*everyweek, I will feature a snapshot of an amazing place from my "baul". cheers!*

higantes of Angono

the Higantes was conceptualized by the people of Angono to show their disgust to the Spanish landlords who occupied their lands. made of paper mache (modern ones are combination of paper and fiber plastic), the Higantes was first introduced during the Feast of San Clemente, the town’s patron saint, and people threw tomatoes and pebbles on it. today, it's a symbol of festivity, color and talent of the people of Angono.

the Higantes Festival, which coincides with the Feast of San Clemente, is celebrated every 23th of November.

*everyweek, I will feature a snapshot of an amazing place from my "baul". cheers!*

Taal Volcano Protected Landscape

main crater of Taal Volcano Island, Taal Lake and Mt. Maculot

composed of the majestic Taal Lake, volcanoes and vents (above and underwater), surrounding mountains and hills, tributaries, sunken towns, ruins and populated barangays, the Taal Volcano Protected Landscape (TVPL) is already on the tentative list for World Heritage Sites. a pride of our nation, this unique ecosystem is home to the country's unique fauna and flora such as the duhol (one of the only three existing freshwater seasnake species in the world) and tawilis (the only commercial fresh sardine in the world).

boats going to volcano island can be arranged either from the town of Talisay, Balete or San Nicholas. sadly, boat rental is a little bit steep. then 45-minutes hike to the main crater.

*every week, I will feature a snapshot of an amazing place from my "baul". cheers!*