Baguio Off the Beaten Track

July 8, 2011; We were on our way to the summer capital of the Philippines but not during summer where lots of tourist flock to Baguio to enjoy the cooler weather. But during this time of the year when monsoon rains and super typhoons frequent the country. We would like to enjoy Baguio during the rainy season. We were fortunate enough to borrow for free the log house of Kuya Marlon and Ate Emy which is a 10 minute drive from the city proper.

Since we planned this trip to be a different Baguio trip, we went to visit not the usual tourist destinations in Baguio.  Did you know that somewhere in Baguio you can find a hot spring pool? Yes hot spring pools can be found at the end of Asin Road. To reach the hot spring pools, we needed to cross 2 wooden bridges and a tunnel built even before the world war.

Another interesting place we visited was the Ben Cab museum.  The master pieces of Ben Cab were on display.

Along the way we passed by the Shrine of the Brown Madonna. The Shrine was built inside a cave at road side. It was the same route to the Wood carvers village. 

Very near the log house were we stayed was the Easter Weaving academy. They teach the youth the traditional way of cloth weaving where the Ifugaos are famous for. 

The Tam Awan village was also a stone throw away. They had tried to preseve how the Ifugaos lived during the early days. 

A trip to Baguio will not be complete without dropping by Benguet market where fresh produce from the entire province were brought in for distribution and dispatching to other provinces. 

On our way back from Benguet market, we passed by the Bell Church. A taoist temple in the heart of the city.

The weather cooperated during our stay in Baguio. It was cloudy most of the time and rained only in the late afternoon.   The Francisco family (Jun, Monette, Fran, Carlo) joined us in this fun filled adventure.

It was indeed a memorable trip seeing the other side of Baguio. 

Two Little Angels

May 20, 2011: Two little angels came to us eight years ago. James and John were born prematurely at 37 weeks. Their mom was in and out of the hospital for three months because of placenta previa. We were adviced by our doctors to expect the worst and hope for the best. We prayed hard to our Creator to give these twins a chance to live. Eight years after that day in May, these two little angels get the best out of ourselves. Truly, miracles do happen...

Bisita Iglesia 2011

April 21, 2011: More than a year had passed since my last post. For this year's Bisita Iglesia, we went to Tagaytay and Batangas for the "Way of the Cross". We had been doing this every year for more than 10 years now.

Instead of the normal route from Antipolo thru Ortigas Extension, C5 road, SLEX, and Sta. Rosa, we took Highway 2000 which is now known as C6 road up to Bicutan exit, took the West service road to Alabang, Daang Hari Road and finally the Emilio Aguinaldo Highway towards Tagaytay. Not only did we save on gas and time but also on the SLEX toll fee which recently had a toll fee increase due to the opening of the Skyway.

We read the first and second stations of the Cross at the Little Souls Sisters Convent in Tagaytay.

For the third and fourth stations, we stopped at Monte Maria Shrine.


The fifth and sixth stations was read at the Transfiguration Chapel of Calaruega.


Next stop was at St. Raphael Archangel Parish Church in Calaca Batangas for the seventh and eight stations.


Next was the Basillica of St. Martin de Tours in Taal. This was for ninth and tenth stations of the Cross.


A few blocks walk away was the Shrine of the Our Lady of Caysasay. We had our 11th and 12th stations there. We also dropped by at the Balon ng Sta. Lucia and washed our hands with the miraculous water from the well and climbed the San Lorenzo Luiz steps.




To complete the stations of the cross, we stopped by the San Roque Parich Church in Lemery Batangas.


It was a tiring but fruitful Holy Thursday for the family.