The Next Harbor

Shore of Mauban Quezon's Cagbalete Island.
This Photo by lakwatsero of LAKWATSERO.com/ visit this site, great finds of travel destinations.

Its nearly the end of school semester and a new travel destination awaits. I was planning to go here before, but due to time constraints I wasn't able to. This island is located at Mauban, Quezon, the place where my brother is a voluntary service nurse that serves the people at the barrio.

This is a not too far destination away from my home town- LUCENA City. (Visit also our City). A drive of at least or more than two hours. This is also a quite distant because it requires boat ride.

Another photo from Lakwatsero.com/ will take my own photographs soon!
A lovely paradise, ang lakas maka-ibang bansa at the less expense.

For this travel 500 php will be barely filling in my needs like food and etc. Going in groups will be a sure less expense. This island is a new discovery, so unlikely Boracay expect that this island is still virgin.

Photo courtesy of Chasingphilippines.com The low leveled shore line of Cagbalete Island.

Fact: Cagbalete island is facing the harbor of the pacific ocean. It will be a surely fun stay there.

Getting Out of the Box

Now, I will not be sticking only the genre of my blog to travel. Because its -uhhhh. Traveling is really difficult to put in schedule. I just realized and remembered that I'am still but a student. School pressures, including organizational works, writing in an independent paper and of course ACADEME. -- this things wont really allow me to do travel.


WHAT NOW?


Ill be making this as open blog for what ever genre it would be. I'm a random person so expect that I will put different articles, relatively to what is happening to my life. But I wont restrict it to those, I still be working on articles that are supposedly written based on events and experiences.


UPDATED
I would keep this blog updated as I could. But I will still be adding travel documentaries sooner or in later time.

My Wishlist on My Birthday

My birthday is just how many days  to count, Another year older for me and hopefully another stage in life being an adolescent. Im turning 17, and get a year old every 26th of June. Other says my age don't fit my looks, for they say Im a bit older in style, well I might say yes, going in a peer of older gangs is the best examples. 

Just like other boys and girls out there, I also have simple wishes on my coming birthday.

Below listed is list in ascending order. (meaning the last on the list is my very wish)

5. 

I don't know the reason behind why I wish for a varsity jacket. It's just I want it. haha

Varsity Jacket.

4. Since Im into photography, I want to have a new lens

Nikkor Lens

3. I want to try using a lomo camera so give me one

Lomo Camera

2. My present laptop is having some problems, So I wish to have this Acer Ferrari. The coolest laptop I know.

Acer Ferrari Laptop

1. A girlfriend given by god's will
I find myself always seeking for a friend's company. And they say that an ideal girlfriend is the one who cares like a best friend. - the reason why I posted in my facebook status just recently that I want a bestfriend turned lovers relationship- haha - but seriously. I'll pray in god's will.

I just have this very simple wishes in my birthday, although I know that this is not attainable at once. But too soon is must have. My best wishes on my birthday is a strong family, good health, great friends, - and a what SEXY girlfriend. haha. kidding aside my serious smile.

Happy Birthday to me too soon.

Pahiyas Festival: The Haven of Glory

As what I promised, I will bring you the season that will surely be missed before the end of summer. Early defined the meaning of Pahiyas Festival along my archive will be redundant.  So I came up for an another sense of writing all the experiences that the 2011 Pahiyas Festival gave. 

As what to be expected the festival is jam packed with both international tourist and local tourist as well. The entire town of Lucban Quezon is decorated by locally made products, products where you can probably found in Lucban, or in Quezon as well.

Their yearly celebration of thanks giving to the patron of farmers San Isidro Labrador is a sign that the Filipinos, especially the Lucban locals doesn't forget the real essence of celebration of the feast or "Fiesta".

Decorations of houses are wide spread inviting each and everyone to experience a day living in a very culture oriented place.

Tourist enjoying their stay on roads of Lucban

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Couple of corns, sold by a corn vendor in the Pahiyas Festival

If you wanted to go and see the next Pahiyas Festival make sure that you make an early booking to the hotels in the barrio, because even locals of Lucban and the nearby towns are booking in the hotels so they can have great view of the town.

Patio Rizal is the most first class hotel in the town, although it is not comparable in the hotels that can be seen in the cities, atleast it can give you the best accommodation in the town at great prices

Patio Rizal view at the Rizal Park of Lucban Quezon, It is also facing the  Bahay Pamahalaan or the Town Hall
Patio Rizal Hotel and Restaurant is situated in 77 Quezon Avenue, Lucban, Quezon Province, Philippines. (Photo by ajpoliquit.wordpress.com)

For those religious traveler, they can also explore the very antique Lukban Church

For those first time travelers who is going to visit in the place, the Pahiyas Festival is annually celebrated on May 15. 

Sarah Lahbati on parade

Here is the itinerary going to Lucban Quezon.
via Commute:
Go to Gil Puyat Lrt station, there lies the two bus lines that bound to Lucena City, (Jac Liner, DLTB Bus co.)
Ask the conductor to bring you in Lucena Grand Terminal wherein the Van ride going to Lucban Can be found.
210 is the bus fare and 40 for the Van, that would be vice versa going back to Manila.

Photo from above is taken in Street parties in Lucban Quezon.
Chanting Gopala the what they call Chant for Peace.

Your visit in Lucban Quezon will surely be a great experience and will drive you to the great ambiance of culture and nature diversity.

Teaser- Pahiyas Festival 2010

Pahiyas Festival is one of the most known fest in the province of Quezon, for it showcases the beauty not only of the place, but the value and culture that the Quezon locals have.

The festival is done yearly as the farmers believe that this festival is considered as a thanksgiving to their patron who is San Isidro Labrador.

They are making the entire town proper of Lucban, Quezon a colorful paradise, creating colorful native materials to attract tourist in their place. 

The colorful leaf like designs are called "Kiping" or rice crips 

The highlight of the festival is a procession along the streets of the image of San Isidro Labrador, to ensure the people's bountiful harvest in the coming seasons. The procession features a pair of giant papier mâché figures of a farmer and his wife. This is followed by the image of the patron saint and his wife Sta. Maria de la Cabeza, who carries a basket with triangulo biscuits, which are given to the children during the procession. This culminates with generous sharing of food among the townspeople.

All the locals' houses are decorated with agricultural harvest (fruits, vegetables, rice grains, rice stalks, flowers, and ferns) and colorful rice wafers, called kiping. These thin wafers made from rice dough are usually arranged into two or three layers of chandeliers called aranya. The locals use different kinds of leaves to add flavor and color to the kiping. They also produce varieties of tastes and textures by using different ingredients such as kabal, coffee, talisay (umbrella tree), cocoa, and banaba leaves.

Each house tries to outdo each other in decorations in an annual competition as they vie for the honor of being recognized for their creativity. After the competition is over and the awards are handed over to the owners of the winning house, the decorations of the house will be thrown away to the huge flock of people as free treats. For the other houses, after the festival, those kipings that were used as decorations are cooked and eaten as rice chips. Also during the festival, the people display their harvest in front of their homes so that the parish priest can bless them as the procession passes by.

Strings and Ties made of Coconut

The highlight of the festival is a procession along the streets of the image of San Isidro Labrador, to ensure the people's bountiful harvest in the coming seasons. The procession features a pair of giant papier mâché figures of a farmer and his wife. This is followed by the image of the patron saint and his wife Sta. Maria de la Cabeza, who carries a basket with triangulo biscuits, which are given to the children during the procession. This culminates with generous sharing of food among the townspeople.

All the locals' houses are decorated with agricultural harvest (fruits, vegetables, rice grains, rice stalks, flowers, and ferns) and colorful rice wafers, called kiping. These thin wafers made from rice dough are usually arranged into two or three layers of chandeliers called aranya. The locals use different kinds of leaves to add flavor and color to the kiping. They also produce varieties of tastes and textures by using different ingredients such as kabal, coffee, talisay (umbrella tree), cocoa, and banaba leaves.

Each house tries to outdo each other in decorations in an annual competition as they vie for the honor of being recognized for their creativity. After the competition is over and the awards are handed over to the owners of the winning house, the decorations of the house will be thrown away to the huge flock of people as free treats. For the other houses, after the festival, those kipings that were used as decorations are cooked and eaten as rice chips. Also during the festival, the people display their harvest in front of their homes so that the parish priest can bless them as the procession passes by.

-WikiPilipinas

Pictures were taken by - Geomyr Delarmente Copyright 2010 

House decorated with "Kiping" and Sitaw

House of a wealthy family in Lucban Quezon

To the interested parties, The Pahiyas Festival will be this coming May 15, 2011 in Lucban Quezon

You may contact me in this number to help you out. 09179601964

Boulevard of a Fatherly Dream- Sampaloc Quezon

If there is one place that is surely near to the family that would be Sampaloc, Quezon. It is where my dad was born from a rural drift oriented family. A fine culture of simplicity and a lithograph of the old age Filipino nation.

A place where the Philippines was like before the present. Not literally, the age of the homoerectus and the like, but the pleasant nation that we had before the colonialism.

My Dad reminiscing the times he had in this place.

It is not so often when our family goes back to the town of my dad. However it is sad to know that for the recent time to go back there, it is a time for weeping. My grandfather died when we go back there, he died at the early age of 75 because of some other complications in his body.

I  have many stories to tell about my father which I often called Daddy. But sad to say, there are such stories that should be kept inside the walls of our family and also with the due respect to Delarmente Clan.

The Entrance of Taquico Bridge

My brother and My Dad on the Bridge

According to my dad this farmer will harvest fruits from the farmland.

Even though my recent visit is not good, I know that for so long time that I've been there, the place has many stories to tell.  

Dad, my brother and I, left the interment of my Lolo for awhile and go back to boulevard where the dreams of my father was built.

Taquico Bridge. The wood bridge that connects the town to its wealthy farm land.

Maapon River in Sampaloc, Quezon

The Huge farm lands of Sampaloc Quezon

Corregidor Island- The Great Wall of Philippine History

I'am studying AB Mass Communication in Lyceum of the Philippines University Manila, and part of my second semester curriculum is the basic photography course. We planned first to do our out of town photography in Tagaytay, where the great view of Taal Volcano lies. 

But we suddenly change our plans, because of some out most reasons. Anyway, Tagaytay is just a drive away from Manila, and everyone of us can get there by anytime we wanted. So we chose a much far distant place that can surely fed the lenses of our camera's.

Not that too expensive, but a sure great find in a photography hobbyist and travelers. - Corregidor Island

Corregidor Island is a bound west coast of Manila Bay. According to our tour guide and some historians, the island serve as the first defense of the Philippines against the Japanese colonialism in the Philippines where the Filipino- American bases and barracks lies.

No wonder why Corregidor Island is full of huge cannons and barrels. The island is well protected by the government the safety and cleanliness is maintained. Many war veterans can be spotted in the place where the battle cry of the Filipinos for freedom is located. 

Corregidor is tadpole shape island which has three elevations. At the first elevation lies the great views on the beach docks and the sea breeze. The middle elevation is where you can find the Malinta Tunnel where the Filipino and American Soldier Barracks is located, historians and guide from the place said that the tunnel was built for ten years, just to suffice the war facilities to defend our nation against the Japanese Empire.

Our class didn't stay there for overnight, so we regret to experience the spooky stories beyond the historic island. The next time that I will go back is a sure experience. Anyway you can see the broken ruins that can bring you the glimpse of the past. GOOSE BUMPS inside the old barracks.

Aside from the historical features of Corregidor, it also embraces the beauty of nature. You can see there an overlook to the nearby provinces and cities beyond. 

Your Corregidor tour will surely be a great experience from the story of the past that brings to the present.

For Great Packages there is only one cruise that bounds to the Island.

Better visit this site for more details about the island. http://www.corregidorphilippines.com/

Kwebang Lampas

Kwebang Lampas is a paradise that can be found at the very eloquent and relaxing place of, Ibabang Polo in Pagbilao Quezon. Pagbilao Quezon is within a kilometer reach bound south of Lucena City, where living and survival is through rice farming, but despite the rurality of the place, there are hidden place where you can surely enjoy to take travel and relax.

Kwebang Lampas or locally called Lukang Beach is a desired paradise and a sure beautiful creation of nature. It is locally called Lukang Beach because of it's Chinese owner named Lukang, which was said a wealthy businessman in the nearby city.

The long hours of exhaustion for travel will be eased for the very relaxing breeze upon the shore that will surely knock off your stress in the cities. You can also see the crystal clear water that goes trembling as the water gets off the shore.

Lukang Beach can be traveled by both land and water. It is more affordable to drive in land but it takes long time upon going to the place.


From Manila:
Go to Gil Puyat (Buendia) LRT Station- Their lies the buses going straight to Lucena City, Via JAC Liner Wifi Buses which cost 209.50 one way to Lucena Grand Terminal.

Upon arrival to Lucena Grand Terminal you can ride a jeepney going to Pagbilao Public Market where the jeepneys going to Bgry. Ibabang Polo is waiting for passengers.

(Lucena Grand Terminal to Pagbilao Public Market costs php. 12) and (Pagbilao Public Market going to Bgry. Ibabang Polo cost 35 php)

When you are already in the terminal of Bgry Ibabang Polo you can either choose walking or renting a tricycle entering the Team Energy Power Plant to enter Kwebang Lampas.
Walking is approximately 5 kilometers from the terminal. And renting tricycle normally cost 150 back and forth.

Note: When having a negotiation to the tricycle driver make sure to get their cellphone numbers if possible, so that they can fetch you back in the afternoon. Also, pay only half of the price if the contract is back and forth.

We hired Manong Rad. He is the current president of the Tricycle Association in Bgry. Ibabang Polo.
This is the contact number of Manong Rad. 09192917549


Upon there you will ask permission to the security of the power plant so you can enter the way going to Kwebang Lampas.

When you reach the gate near going to Kwebang Lampas, you will now walk with about 2 Kilometers or less to get by the shore of the paradise.

Entrance Fee: 50php
Cottages: 300-400php


There is other amenities in the place because it is not commercialized to protect the beauty of the environment.

Going back to Manila is vice versa of the above stated itinerary.
Note: When planned of traveling by boat. Upon Lucena Grand Terminal. You can ride a jeepney going to the city Proper of Lucena where you can actually ride the jeepneys going to Lucena City Port in DALAHICAN.


From Dalahican you can ask and made a contract of the "Bankeros" to bring you in Kwebang Lampas or Lukang Beach.


Boat: 2500 Above - depending on the contract.


The place is well keep to maintain the beauty. So upon leaving the place, make sure that you also don't leave any mess that will cause to damage the environment.

 NO  MATTER HOW GREAT THE PLACE, IF IT WILL NOT BE PROPERLY MAINTAINED IT WILL SOON BECOME A PICTURE OF GROSS NEGLIGENCE TOWARDS NATURE.