MAKINANG NA ALAHAS NG MEYCAUAYAN ( THE JEWELS OF MEYCAUAYAN)

Meycauayan means “a place full of bamboo” in the Castilian language (Spanish). The foundation of this town is dated 1578 to 1579, in which epoch they stretched out to the apostolic work of Fray Juan de Plasencia and Fray Diego de Oropesa[1].  

The old Train Station in Meycauayan

Both part of the 1st Franciscan mission that arrived the Philippines on the first day of July, 1577.[2] Meycauayan was formerly the head of the province, and was situated like ½ league more to the east over a small hill. [3]The Church under the patronage of N.S. P. San Francisco de Asis, was at first made of bamboo and nipa, which was ruined by the typhoon in 1588.[4]

The Church of San Francisco De Asis was rebuilt in the 1950s after the original structure was ravaged by fire in 1949.

A request was made to rebuilt the church, and on November 16, 1588, Dr. Santiago de Vera, made justified by such request, instantly dispatch Secretary Gaspar de Azebo to Christoval de Asquera, Mayor of the Province of Meycauayan.[5] By the order of San Pedro Bautista, it was transferred to a place called Lagolo, by R. P. Fr. Antonio de Nombela, Minister of the town.[6]

The carvings on the main portal were patterned after the Main Door of San Agustin Church in Intramuros. It is a Donation of the Ramirez during the 1980s.

As an early Spanish town Meycauayan was also known as Mecabayan.[7] In 1591 its status was Encomienda.[8] “La encomienda de Mecabayan”, that is of, Menor de la Rea(Captain Don Martin de la Rea) had seven hundred tributes, which are two thousand eight hundred people.[9]

The Church Interior

In the “Relación de las encomiendas existentes en Filipinas el 3 de mayo de 1591[10]Includes: Dilao, Zapa y Pandaca, Mecabayan, Taitay, Pila, Mahaihai, Lumban, Panquil, Millarrit, Minalaua, Ynguinan, Linaguan, Nabua. ... In a report of Philippine encomiendas on June 20, 1591, Meycauayan was included in the encomiendas of the province of Pampanga. “Spanish Governor Gomez Perez Dasmarinas reported to the King of Spain that La Pampanga's encomiendas were Bataan, Betis y Lubao, Macabebe, Candava, Apalit, Calumpit, Malolos, Binto, Guiguinto, Caluya (Balagtas), Bulacan and Mecabayan (Meycauayan).

San Francisco de Asis

 The encomiendas of La Pampanga at that time had eighteen thousand six hundred and eighty whole tributes.”

Lagolo proved inhospitable at the time, so the town center again transferred to what is now known as Barangay Poblacion, where the Parish Church of St. Francis of Assisi still stands.In the year 1668 the church was transferred by R. P. Nicolas Santiago to the place it now occupied. [11]It is made of simple material but strong, With 60 yard long and 12 ½ wide.

The Church Dome was a later addition to the structure built in the 1950s

Meycauayan was then one of the largest municipalities in Bulacan. The towns of San Jose Del Monte, Bocaue, Marilao, Valenzuela, Obando, Santa Maria, Balagtas and Pandi were once part of the political jurisdiction of the town.

With the 2 centuries old bell of Meycauayan

During the Spanish colonization in the Philippines, the Spanish authorities tapped Meycauayan's adobe (volcanic tuff rocks) reserves which were used for building stone houses and fortifications in and out of town. Majority of the adobe rocks that were used in building the walls of Intramuros, Manila's "old walled city", were imported from Meycauayan.

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[1] R.P. Felix de Huerta, Estado de la Provincia de San Gregorio Magno. Imprenta de N. Sanchez, Binondo Manila 1865 p 71

[2] Fr. Jesus Galindo OFM, Commemorative book, “400 years (1578-1978) Franciscans in the Philippines, , (San Miguel Manila. 1979) P. 13

[3] Huerta p. 71

[4] Huerta p. 72

[5] El P. Fr. Juan Francisco de S. Antonio, Chronicas de la Apostolica Provincia de S. Gregorio, Papa. El Magno…. Sampaloc, Extra-muros de la Ciudad de Manila , 1741 P. 31

[6] Huerta p. 71

[7] Paula Kay Byers, Asian American genealogical sourcebook Gale Research, 1995 p. 84

[8] James Alexander Robertson, The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803: explorations, Volume 55 A. H. Clark company, 1909, p. 569

[9] Wenceslao Emilio Retana, Archivo del bibliófilo filipino: recopilación de documentos históricos, científicos, literarios y políticos, y estudios bibliográficos, Volume 4. Impr. de la viuda de M. Minuesa de los Rios, 1898 P. 51

[10] Archivo Ibero-Americano, Franciscans, 1983

[11] Huerta p. 72

CHRISTMAS MESSAGE 2011

A blessed Christmas to everyone!

Christmas is a season of hope and joy, a time to give thanks for the blessing of Christ's birth and for the blessings that surround us every day of the year. We have much to be thankful for His endless graces, which we sometimes take for granted. We should recognize that the pains and sufferings are parts of the process of Salvation.  Jesus calls us to help others, and acts of kindness toward the less fortunate fulfill the spirit of the Christmas season. This year, our country experienced calamities that greatly affected the morale of each and every Filipino. On the same vein, it also thought us, the value of giving and sharing; not only our possessions but most specially our time.  This week, the Vatican confirmed the canonization of the second Filipino saint, Blessed Pedro Calungsod: A 17 year old catechist who offered his life to defend our Faith. May he, be a beacon of grace to us, as we face the challenges of our times.

As we gather with our family and friends again this year to celebrate Christmas, let us welcome God wholeheartedly into our daily lives. Let us learn to recognize Him not only in the faces of our loved ones, but also in the faces of those who, like Jesus, are familiar with poverty, hardship, and rejection. And let us be inspired by His example to serve one another with generous hearts and open hands. In this way we will approach the dawn of a new year in God's abundant grace and strengthened by His timeless promise of salvation.

Muli, isang Maligayang Pasko at Masaganang Bagong Taon sa inyong lahat!

Mark James Santos Evangelista at Pamilya

BEDAZZLING BORACAY

For tourists, honeymooners, teambuilding activities, and other corporate events Boracay is the best place to be.  Boracay started to gain popularity in the late 80s when it was branded as the best beach in the world boasting the finest and whitest sand.

Tourists sunbathing at the beach

Two decades after, Boracay is still the best beach frequented by tourists especially on the Summer months of March to May. Koreans are still the number one foreign tourists visiting the world renowned island resort of Boracay. According to the latest data of the Department of Tourism (DoT), from January 2005 to May 2011, 654,100 Koreans visited Boracay.

The Discovery Shores Suites

There were 100,922 Korean arrivals in 2005, rising to 124,618 in 2006 and 128,909 in 2007. The number plunged to 91,579 in 2008 and to 69,438 in 2009. It rose to 95,711, a 27 percent increase. From January to May 2011, there were 42,923 Korean visitors in Boracay. The Chinese came in second, with 131,335 arrivals from January 2005 to May 2011. The Americans were third with 80,423.

Airphil Express has daily flights to Caticlan. After a 50 minute flight, a chartered van of Discovery Shores will welcome you at the airport. It will bring you to the speedboat. The cruise will only take10 minutes most and you will immediately reach Malay. At Malay, another van will bring you to this AAA hotel.

Discovery Shores is indeed the best accommodation for all kinds of tourists. As they offer tour packages for adventure tourists. The hotel also has the best massage and spa services. For tourists craving for delicious dishes, the restaurant at the beach side has the best menu in the island.

 Binagoongan, a Discovery Specialty

Beach Piggy and Mango shake

The ambiance of the place is soothing to the senses and gives a good relief after months of office work. If you want to unwind or relax with your family and friends, discover Boracay…and it the experience will definitely leave you spellbound.

DUSIT THANI: EXPERIENCE UNIQUE THAI HOSPITALITY

I visited Thailand four years ago and I can say that it left me spellbound, this Southeast Asian city is definitely a tourism hub. Why not? The city boasts a number of tourist attractions which include cultural and heritage sites like the Wat Phra Keo (The Royal Palace), Wat Arun (The Temple of Dawn), Wat Pho (The home of the largest reclining Buddha), Wat Suthat (near the famous  Giant red swing).

If you want to experience authentic Thai  Dining, visit Benjarong, a fine dining restaurant located at the second floor of the famous Thai Hotel Chain--- Dusit Thani.

Boasting a full course menu of Thai dishes ranging from Phat Kraphao, Tom Yam kung nam khon(Prawn Tom Yum in coconut milk), Phat Sio which are my all time favorite . The food will even be served by Thai chef.

Traditional music will also be played live by Thai musicians which made me feel I am really in Bangkok or in Pattaya.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF MALOLOS

The statue of the Triumvirate, Dr. Jose Rizal, Marcelo H. Del Pilar and Mariano Ponce at the Provincial Administrative Compound

Malolos, once the capital of the short-lived Philippine Republic, is linked to many patriots and heroes in the country's history. Names such as General Emilio Aguinaldo, Pedro A. Paterno, Dr. Jose P. Rizal, Marcelo H. del Pilar, Pio del Pilar, Gregorio del Pilar, Apolinario Mabini, Antonio Luna, Felipe Calderón, General Isidro D. Torres and a host of others are forever engraved and enshrined in the annals of Philippine History, all of whom share one commonality.

An allegory to the History and Development of Bulacan as a province

According to Blair and Robertson, the name "Li-han" or "Li Han" was the ancient Chinese name for Malolos, whose leaders bore the title of "Gat-Salihan" or Gatchalian (derived from "Gat sa Li-Han"). It was in 1225 that a "Li Han in the country of Mai" was mentioned in the account of Chao Ju Kua titled Chu-Fan-Chi.The richness of the soil and the convenience of its location made Malolos an important trading post for the native inhabitants and the traders from Cathay. Ferdinand Blumentritt, a Czech Filipinologist and Jose Rizal's friend, and Wang Teh-Ming, a Chinese scholar, supported this historic development of commercial activities which continued undisturbed until the advent of the Spanish era in 1572. This centuries-long trade relations must have resulted in many generations of Sino-Tagalogs, whose descendants are still omni-present in Malolos. The innumerable Malolos families who bear Chinese-sounding surnames attest to these inter-marriages.

The Museo ng Bulacan now named, Gat. Blas Ople Sentro ng Kasaysayan, Sining at Kultura

In 1580, eight years after the Kingdom of Maynila (present day Manila) was captured by the Spaniards from Rajah Soliman and Rajah Matanda, Spanish missionaries discovered a small settlement called Li Han, with 4,000 unbaptized souls. The settlement was named and founded as "Malolos" by the Augustinians under the direction of Fray Diego Ordoñez de Vivar. Later, after clearing forests and virgin lands, the settlement grew, and the population increased. After the construction of a big church, the place was made into a town. From the very beginning, Tagalog made up the majority of the Malolos populace. They were led by prominent families, among them the Gatsalians (Gatchalian), and the Manahans.

The Malolos Cathedral, Seat of the Diocese of Malolos

The name of Malolos was presumably derived from the Tagalog word "Paluslos", meaning " downwards". But many claim that it was originally derived from Kapampangan word "Luslos" meaning many rivers toward the bay (which is the Manila Bay).The name resulted from a misunderstanding among the first Spanish missionaries who reached the place. Searching for inhabited places along the Calumpit River, these priests came upon some natives of a riverside barrio (now Kanalate or Canalate). They asked for the name of the place. The natives, not knowing the Spanish tongue, answered that the flow of the river in that part was downstream "paluslos", which the Spaniards pronounced "Malolos" or "Malulos". Corruption of the word through the years led to present "Malolos".

The newly constructed Hiyas ng Bulacan Convention Center

Malolos was once a part of the old pueblo or town of Bulakan, and then became an independent pueblo in 1673.On August 31, 1859, the town was divided into three districts; "Malolos", "Barasoain, and "Santa Isabel" with respective capitanes municipales and parish priests. With the beginning of American rule in 1903, these towns were again reunited into a single municipality. The two other districts became barangays under the political jurisdiction of Malolos..

To cite all the historical events that transpired in Malolos, one could very well fill a good-sized book. The major events especially those that revolved around the first Republic, cannot be left unmentioned. Some of these are the petition of the women of Malolos, the establishment of the Constitutional Convention, drafting and ratification of the Malolos Constitution, and the inauguration of the first Philippine Republic.

The wealth of Malolos lies not only in its more than four thousand hectares of fertile rice lands and more than two thousand hectares of fishponds, but in the character of its people as well. Its people have long been known for their diligence and ingenuity. In early days, farming and fishing were the town's main sources of livelihood. Later, they went into poultry and pigeon raising, carpentry and woodwork, and other profitable cottage industries and handicrafts. A major factor in Malolos' growth and development was the opening of the Manila–Dagupan railways or Ferrocaril de Manila-Dagupan (Spanish) in April 1892. With the advent of the railroad came new ideas from Manila and other places. Another factor is Malolos proximity to industrial and business centers. Only 42 kilometers from Manila, the town and its people are inevitably subjected to an influx of metropolitan thoughts and commerce.

Under the Centennial Tree

In work methods and tools, it is not rare to find Malolos folk using a combination of the old and the new. Ramshackle shops shake to the whirl of modern electric-powered machines. Fishermen go out to sea in the same kind of dugouts or bancas their ancestors used. Many of these wooden bancas are now equipped with outboard motors. Handicraftsmen, woodworkers and weavers still follow the ageless artistic techniques of their forefathers.

The interior of the Malolos Cathedral. The Immaculate Conception is the Patroness of the Diocese

By virtue of Public Law No. 88 of the Philippine Commission, Malolos became the capital of the province of Bulacan on February 27, 1901.

Malolos was the site of the inauguration of Joseph Estrada on June 30, 1998 in Barasoain Church as the President of the Republic of the Philippines. Estrada, whose real surname is Ejercito, traced his ancestry to the Ejercitos who were prominent in the history of Malolos

The newly constructed Bulacan Capitol Gymnasium

It was in summer of 2004, the construction of the Malolos flyover marks a new milestone in their flourishing history being the first in the city. The structure, part of the former Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's Bridge Program, the construction was undertaken in a record-breaking 60 days only according to the Department of Public Works and Highways. The structure was built to solve the daily traffic jam at the place, which have become a bane to motorist and also to employees in both private and government offices in this city. This remarkable feat hastened not only the city's development in commerce and trade but its neighboring municipalities as well.

The Aguas Potables de Malolos with the monument of the Katipunero, Isidoro Torres on the foreground

During 28–30 July 2008, the city was chosen to host the first National Conference for Philippine-Spanish Relations. The conference's theme was "Philippine-Spanish Relations: Sharing Common History and Culture." This is a project both of the Province of Bulacan's research arm, Center for Bulacan Studies of Bulacan State University and by the Samahang Pangkasaysayan ng Bulacan, Incorporated.

THIS IS BALER! (BALER, AURORA)

Early morning at Sabang Bay

For the last 5 years, tourists frequent Baler for surfing, jet skiing, banana boating and and other forms of adventure sports. Sabang Bay located five minutes from the town center is a perfect spot for surfing.

Huge waves will welcome each and every visitor and if you're a surfer and want to join a surfing competition or just watch it, February and November is the best month to go as Surfing Competitions were held at these months.

Sabang Bay during low tide

Travel time to Baler varies, usually depending on the weather. Normally it will take you a 6 hour drive from Manila via two roads: One is the arterial road (through Palayan city). The other is the Canili road (via Talavera and Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija - recommended as the safest way to Baler).

HISTORY 

(From the book Baler by Senator Edgardo J. Angara)

The site of the Siege of Baler, the home of the Los Ultimos de Filipinas

In 1609, seven Franciscan missionaries, led by Fray Blas Palomino, founded the settlement of Baler. This was later converted into a pueblo (town) by the Augustinians and the Recollects in 1658. Due to scarcity of religious missionaries, the Franciscans again took over the administration of the settlement in 1703.

The ornate altar of Baler Church

On 2 June 1899,the last Spanish garrison in the Philippines surrendered after a year-long siege, effectively ending more than 300 years of Spanish rule in the country.
In 1901, the Americans incorporated the town to the province of Tayabas (later named Quezon province).

The Image of San Luis Obispo de Tolosa graces the Church Facade

Before the Americans came, Baler was under the district of El Príncipe.

In 1942, Japanese troops entered Baler, and under a certain captain Hattori, established a garrison there.
The established of the general headquarters and camp base of the Philippine Commonwealth Army from 1942 to 1946 and the Philippine Constabulary from 1944 to 1946 was stationed in Baler during the Japanese Occupation.

A bronze sculpture of the great President also stands at the center of this landmark .

In 1945, Filipino and American troops landed at Baler, including Filipino troops of the 3rd, 5th, 51st and 52nd Infantry Division of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and 5th Infantry Regiment of the Philippine Constabulary, the local Recognized Guerrilla Unit and the American troops of the 6th Infantry Division of the United States Army which was still occupied by the Japanese. The San Luis de Tolosa church in Baler was destroyed by the retreating Japanese troops.

The Museo de Baler

On 14 June 1951, by virtue of Republic Act No. 648, Baler became the capital town of the sub-province (and later, province) of Aurora.
In 1956, the barrio of Dingalan was converted into a municipal district within Baler. Later Dingalan became a town in its right.

As a heritage buff, my 3 day stay here in this provincial capital was spent on visiting cultural sites which include the Museo de Baler which served as a repository of various artifacts relating to the early, Spanish and Modern History of the Province.  The two story Museum is located at the site of President Manuel Quezons Birthplace as a replica of the old hut where he grew up is constructed on one side.

The Historical marker installed in 1948 also commemorates Quezon as a proud son of Baler.

A  GASTRONOMICAL TREAT

Your Trip in Baler will be incomplete without tasting “Pako” or Fern which are harvested on the mountains. According to the townspeople, these ferns are unique in the province due to the lush vegetation of their coconut plantations. The Pako grows abundantly at the foot of the  coco trees.

My meal here in Baler is incomplete without the pako as a side dish.

I also enjoy the spicy sweet sizzling tanigue or sizzling tuna.  Its not only delicious…its also cheap…For 150 pesos you can enjoy a plateful of tuna mixed with chili, onions and chives.yumm..yum…

(more blog entries on Baler soon...)