BikolBuyBlog and Baguio Blooms

I know that my blog is supposed to about the Bikol Region, but since Bikol products were brought to the Panagbenga Festival, I’ll use that as an excuse to write about the trip to Baguio City, Philippines.

Baguio is known as the “Summer Capital of the Philippines” because it is the coolest place to be (literally, at 15-21degC) during the summer (March-May) where temperatures rise to 33degC and up in the lowlands.

Flower floats were a beautiful sight.

     

My sister took pictures of colorful flowers, most of the names were never in my memory bank. Will you name them for me?

1 Cactus

2_

3_

4_

5_

6_

7_

8_

9_

10_

11_

12_

13_

14_

15_

16_

17_

18_

19_

20_

21_

22_

23_

24_

25_

26_

27_

28_

29_

30_

31_

32_

33_

34 Strawberry

35_

36_

37_

38_

39_

40_

41_

42_

43_

44_

45 Rose

See? I was only able to identify three.

What we did in Baguio:

Photo-0p at Mine’s View Park (panoramic view of the Benguet gold and copper mines as backdrop for free, horseback riding for P10 per shot, and wear an Igorot costume for P10, unlimited shots; cameras not included)

Burnham Park Boating (it’s not Baguio without the swan boats)

Burnham Park Mini Amusement Park (This is a happy discovery– skating and bump cars)

5-minute bliss

Strawberry-picking at strawberry farm (I suggest, do this during your last day so you get to bring home your freshly-picked strawberries. P300/kg if you want the picking experience; P120/kg if you just want photos and they pick for you. P120/kg is still cheaper than the ones in the market at P150-180/kg. Souvenirs are also more affordable in the shops here. Keychains at 3pcs for P25. Shirts at 2 for P150/180.

Dropped by at the only non-air conditioned SM mall

View from the Burnham Park, SM in the background

Walked down Session Road (Session Road in Bloom is a yearly one-week event that features food and crafts of Baguio and other Philippine provinces; the Bikol booth sold Escaro’s Dried Fish Products, pinangat, Chef Nori’s bottled specialties like sinarapan, sinantol, laing, pili pesto, dinailan, Aronda’s tablea and champorado, coco sugar, pili tarts, and Don Ramon Tropical Wines)

My Mama, the woman behind Don Ramon Wines

Trekking at Tam-Awan Village Garden in the sky (Entrance Fee is P50, if you love art you’ll definitely enjoy the work of the Filipino artists here)

Attended mass at the pink church on top of the hill, Porta Vaga

What I enjoyed eating in Baguio:

Dragon’s Breath Mallow Blast sundae

Solibao’s Shawarma

Footlong hotdog with veggies

KFC’s mushroom soup

Fresh Strawberries

Strawberry Taho

Strawberry Ice Cream

Strawberry Shake

Sinigang na Lechon Kawali at the overlooking resto of strawberry farm

Boiled Sweet Corn

Crispy Crepes by Louis, Pinikpikan, and coffee and cream puffs at Tam-Awan Village Garden in the Sky Cafe

I won’t go to Baguio without these:

Enhancer Skin Conditioning Gel (locks in moisture and keeps my skin supple) and Sunright Sunblock (effective protection from harmful UV rays) both by Nu Skin.

What to do when I go back to Baguio:

Overnight stay in the Ifugao houses at the Tam-Awan Village Garden in the Sky; Visit Good Shepherd Convent; View Arko ni Apo Art Gallery; Bump cars (again); Look for the view  of the sea at Garden in the Sky; eat what I enjoyed eating and add a few more based on Krish’s recommendations at EatsinBaguio; discover something great; be able to name at least 10 flowers; buy a barrel man just for fun.

Tips:

–Please book your tickets for your return trip the moment you arrive, especially during the peak seasons (November – May). We had to wait in line for a chance passenger seat for 3 hours.

-Please please please wear sunblock.

A tiny note of appreciation:

In my trips to Baguio, I always liked taxi drivers. They seldom complain, don’t ask for tips, and give an exact change, which of course make me always say, “Please keep the change”

I hope this will be helpful in planning your trip to the City of Pines.

Etched in Stone – Iriga Church

I know of the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem. I also know that it cannot actually speak.

If stones can speak, what stories will it tell? We will never know, will we?

In this segment, Etched in Stone, I will bring you to Bikol’s well-preserved, often-visited, and beautified churches as I see them, one at a time.

Iriga Church.

According to the stone that speaks, verbatim:

And here’s what the stone was really saying: a longer version with more details.

The church’s patron: St. Anthony de Padua

The altar.

The church.

The angel.

Mangroves and Mermaids

Last April, I crashed my Mama’s school excursion and visited the mangroves of Sorsogon.

From my basic biology knowledge, I can recall that mangroves are habitats for fish and other creatures.  <Benefits of Mangroves>

Alas, more mangroves are destroyed every year.

I was happy to learn that in Bikol, there is a place where mangroves are preserved.

What I didn’t know was that aside from preventing erosion, mangroves can also protect against very strong waves or tsunamis.

See how still the water is? I wonder if can walk on it.

Nah, walking is for people, mangrove mermaids swim.

Penafrancia 2012

“Resuene vibrante el himno de amor
Quen entona tu pueblo con grata y emocion
Resuene vibrante el himno de amor
Patrona del Bicol Gran Madre de Dios
Se siempre la Reina del Nuestra Region
Patrona del Bicol Gran Madre de Dios
Se siempre la Reina del Nuestra Region”

Last time I watched the Penafrancia procession was when I was 8 years old. After that, our parents wouldn’t encourage us to be there because of the possible dangers.

Now that I’m all grown-up and have already exposed myself to different sorts of risks, it’s about time that I see “Ina” again.

Last September 15, 2012 in Elias Angeles St., Naga City, I stand barefoot on a parked motorcyle, with camera fully charged, excitement, and  curious anticipation, I wait…

… with them.

… and them.

Then, “Viva el Divino Rostro” <History of Divino Rostro>

The drama begins… The crowd claps to urge the image forward. Goosebumps.

Devotees believe that if they have handkerchiefs wiped on the image, they will be healed of their physical, emotional, and spiritual illnesses.

This kuya was really helpful, and so were the other guys he’s sitting on below.

This kuya was successful. Wipe…

dive and swim…

The Divino Rostro has left and will wait for Ina at the Bicol River for the fluvial procession.

The sea of men almost crushed the motorcycle and I had to jump for my life. When the crowd thinned, I was able to rescue my flip flops.

I looked for a more strategic and hopefully safer place I can stand on. And waited…

…with them.

Then, “Viva La Virgen” “Viva” <History of the Virgin of Penafrancia>

Brothers are kind enough to wipe hankies for you. But if one gets too close, they don’t think twice prodding you with their long stick.

This is the guys’ way of getting to Ina. The ladies and children prefer the quieter way, one with almost zero chance for injury– lining up in the Cathedral during the 9-day novena.

Ina was able to pass through faster than the Divino Rostro.

These devotees walk to the Bicol River to bid Ina on her way home to the Penafrancia Basilica.

Then, nostalgia. Remember being carried by your father just so you could see better and to be sure you wouldn’t get squashed?

I hope this guy had better luck in capturing the Fluvial Procession. I heard it was really a beautiful sight with the sunset and the lights.

Oh well, there’s still next year.  My post will be good but never as good as the real thing. Hope you make it here next year.

The Village

As promised, one of the seldom-visited places in Bikol: The Village at LRV Agri Science Farm at San Bernardino, Calabanga, Camarines Sur

Our family went to the Farm for a Technology Commercialization Forum sponsored by the Department of Agriculture. My mama, who is a professor at Central Bicol State University, and one of the leading tropical wine manufacturers in Bikol talked to farmers, students, and entrepreneurs about wine-making production and economics.

There were also exhibits of Bikol produce right by the fishing area.

Since mama was a resource speaker, our family had the privilege of staying in one of The Village’s Cabanas.

For us three, the room was really spacious.

After dinner, we walked around to see what The Village looks like at night.

In the morning, we had breakfast at the restaurant, and saw the Don Ramon Guyabano Wine displayed there.

After which, we enjoyed a dip in the pool.

In the afternoon, we took pictures of pretty flowers:

We fed the doves:

And followed them to their home when they flew away:

We explored more of the Agri Science Farm:

And when the sun went down, we bid The Village good bye and see you again perhaps this Christmastime.