TYPICAL PALM SUNDAY IN MANDALUYONG CITY (PHILIPPINES)

Worshippers at the Main Door of San Felipe Neri Parish Church

This year, the celebration of Palm Sunday or Passion Sunday in the Philippine by the Catholics was on March 29, 2015. It is usually observed one week before the Holy Week. In the biblical history, Palm Sunday includes a procession of the assembled worshipers carrying palms, representing the palm branches the crowd scattered in front of Jesus as he rode into Jerusalem. The difficulty of procuring palms in unfavorable climates led to their substitution with branches of native trees. In the Philippines for example, worshippers use the coconut leaves as a substitute for palm leaves.

The imposing structure of San Felipe Neri Parish Church

This post is the celebration of Palm Sunday in San Felipe Neri Parish Church in particular located in the corners of Boni Avenue and Rev. G. Aglipay Street of Mandaluyong City. San Felipe Neri Church is one of the oldest churches in Metropolitan City of Manila. It was run by hostile Spanish friars. For sometime, it was the site of bloody encounters between Filipino revolutionaries and Spanish soldiers. Its facade has a semicircular arch main entrance flanked by niches and twin bell towers with pyramid roofs.

Outside the church at 4:30 P.M.

It was still 4:30 P.M. and the sun was still searing hot outside the church and the rest of the Worshippers were waiting for the next mass at 5:00 P.M. for the blessing of the "Palm" Leaves (actually made of coconut leaves) was to be done before the next mass starts.

Worshippers outsie the church just opposite the main door

Most of the churchgoers while waiting for the next mass stayed outside fronting the church but some preferred to stay outside because it was already crowded inside the church and the electric fans can no longer give a cool and refreshing air.

The 4:00 - 5:00 P.M. Holy Mass was almost over!

Churchgoers for 5:00 P.M. Mass schedule were eagerly waiting to get inside the church as the 4:00 P.M.Mass was about to finish. Most of them were carrying their "palaspas". Palaspas is the vernacular term for the coconut leaves designed in varying forms to resemble the original Palm Sunday in Israel.

The 5:00 P.M. holy mass just started with the priest celebrant on the altar

At long last, the 5:00 P.M. Holy Mass started and the huge crown of churchgoers were inside the church waiving their "palaspas" waiting for its blessing by the priest celebrant.

The blessing of the "palaspas"

The churchgoers unendingly waived their "palaspas" as the priest had its blessing in every meter away, whisking the holy water so that these "palaspas" can all finally be blessed. After the blessing, the 5:00 P.M. Holy Mass started.

RIZAL PARK (LUNETA PARK, MANILA)

Luneta Park is a 58-hectare or 140-acre historical urban park in the city of Manila, Philippines divided into three sections, namely: the 16-hectare/40-acre northeastern section Teodora F. Valencia Circle adjoining Taft Avenue where the Department of Tourism and the National Museum of the Filipino People; the 22-hectare/54-acre central section or the park proper that extends down to Roxas Boulevard; and the tail-end southwestern section which is almost next to Manila Bay that includes the Burnham Green, open field 10-hectare/25-acre, the Quirino Grandstand and the Manila Ocean Park.

The magical and dancing fountain of the park

Luneta is situated at the northern terminus of Roxas Boulevard. To the east of the boulevard, the park is bounded by Taft Avenue, Padre Burgos Avenue and Kalaw Avenue. To the west is the reclaimed area of the park bounded by Katigbak Drive, South Drive, and the shore of Manila Bay.

The boardwalk which cuts through the giant raised-relief map of the Philippines in the middle of a man-made lake

This park is established in 1820 when the Philippines was still a colony of the Spanish crown. Formerly called Bagumbayan before Dr. Jose P. Rizal, the national hero was executed here by the Spaniards on December 30, 1896. The park was renamed in honor to Rizal but is commonly known as Luneta Park.

The statue of Lapu-Lapu, as the center piece of the park's first section

Luneta Park has a marker called Kilometer Zero which is located within Roxas Boulevard side fronting the Rizal Monument where it serves the point from which all road distances from Manila are measured.

The statue of Philippines' National Hero, Dr. Jose Rizal where in the same point his remains was buried

Its refreshing scenery and spacious playing and camping grounds continuously attracts local and foreign tourists to visit the place. Besides, there are many attractions here where tourists can surely be entertained. The cluster of magical and dancing fountains is just one of them.

This magical fountain is in the central section or park proper

The park plays a major significance to the Philippines for it was used as a venue for some political activities like staging a huge rally that toppled the dictatorship of former President Ferdinand Marcos and other major rallies against key political leaders and it was twice graced by two popes in the name of the Pope John Paul II now a saint as a venue for World Youth Day and in the January 2015 pastoral visit of Pope Francis.

This photo of Rizal Park in Seattle (Washington) was taken from this link

Dr. Jose Rizal is undoubtedly, one of the most greatest figures in history that even in Seattle, Washington there was a 9.6 acre (39,000 square meters) park which was dedicated to him in 1979 located on the west slope of Beacon Hills. This park consists of a grassy upper area with shelter and picnic tables, a wooded hillside, and an off-leash dog park at the foot of the hill.

HOW TO GET THERE:

This place is very accessible as its location can be asked from any commoner in the city of Manila. Using the LRT transportation system, one can lift at its United Nations (UN) Avenue Station. Various routes of public utility jeep (PUJ) pass through this part of the city whether along the Taft Avenue side in the northeastern section, central section or the Roxas Boulevard side and taxi cabs can take you here, too.

PANGASINAN WHITE ISLAND RESORT (PHILIPPINES)

REGISTERED BUSINESS NAME: Pangasinan Pacific Shore White Sand Beach Resort

LOCATION: Port Lamon, Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, Philippines

SIBADAN FISH CAGE AND RESORT (PHILIPPINES)

LOCATION: P-6 Port Lamon, Hinatuan, Surigao Del Sur, Philippines

Sibadan Fish Cage and Resort is one of the tourist destinations of the Municipality of Hinatuan in the province of Surigao del Sur, Philippines. Hinatual is one of the 71 municipalities in Region XIII which is known as Caraga Administrative Region.



There are more places to visit in this part of Surigao Del Sur where I personally did where it included: Enchanted River, Tinuy-an Water Falls, Pangasinan White Sand Beach, International Doll House, Tinago Cove and Cambatong Fishing Village



Simply a fish cage where fish are cultured, tourists and guests can spend an overnight where there are few comfortable rooms to have a soundly sleep. The accommodation is a cluster of nipa houses on stilts in the middle of the fish cage and the entire place is bordered by fishing nets. The main cage is at the center and the dining area, sleeping rooms, the restobar (restaurant and bar) with huge TV (there is a signal also) and other amenities are lined along its rectangular perimeter.



Guests are served with fresh fish and other seafoods catch in the fish cage. Talking to the concierge, he told me that the cage are inhabited with stingray (for safety purposes its spike has been removed), baby sharks, talakitok, triggerfish and a few others I forgot to remember. In a separate smaller cages, lobsters, crabs and smaller talakitoks are cultured. The small fish catch in the fish cage are even used to feed the bigger ones.



There is enough space to roam around the resort. Guests are entertained watching the sea creatures inside the cage. Some can even see the live sea creature caught and cooked right in front in their dining table in the restobar. Beer is also available while you unwind in the restobar.



A few staff serve as lifeguard like in a baywatch to make sure the kids are safe and those who do not have a swimming skill. The place is good for photography. For those who wanted to hold a party most particularly a fine dining party, the venue can also be turned into one.



The place is really good to chill out for a magnificent sunset viewing. Guests can also enjoy fishing and swim inside the fish cages. I observed that most of those guests who visit the resort are groups or families. Some of them are even coming as far as Manila, Cebu and Davao. I had rarely seen a foreigner in the resort.



Most of the guests take with them their own cars and they just park it in the fishing village of Barangay Cambatong which is just 5 minutes off the coast.



The last photo is another fish cage just across 20 minutes away from Sibadan Fish Cage and Resort. The island at its background is the Pangasinan White Sand Beach which is just 10 minutes away.

HOW TO GET THERE:

You will reach first the Enchanted River before you can take a boat to Sibadan Fish Cage. The habal-habal or any other chartered vehicle after the Enchanted River will have its dead end at the basketball court of Cambatong fishing village where vehicles can safely park. To start with, take a bus from the Butuan Bus Terminal, then take a bus bound for Mangagoy (Bislig) but ask to be dropped off at Dugmanon Junction for Enchanted River. The Tagbina Terminal is your sign that you are close. If you reach the Hinatuan Terminal, you missed the junction. P189 non aircon bus, 4 hours. Take a habal-habal from the junction for P150 if you are alone or P75/pax with other passengers, 12 kms of dusty road until you reach Enchanted River in Talisay. Just tell the habal-habal driver to head further to Cambatong but you also have the option to go inside Enchanted River paying the P30 entrance fee and ask the staff where to go to take the boat ride to Sibadan Fish Cage. It's just a short walk. Don't worry as the enterprising kids at Enchanted River will offer to 'guide you' to the boat area and even offer to do radio calls to Sibadan Fish Cage. If you're not carrying heavy gear, there is no need to take this service. At the boat area, the dispatcher can radio Sibadan Fish Cage if there is vacancy. Take the boat for the 10 minute ride to Sibadan Fish Cage. P100/trip or P20/pax, one-way. If you are alone, chances are, you'll have to pay the P100 fee. But if you are to take a boat from Cambatong, the trip will be even shorter for 5 minutes and costs P50 per head. You can make arrangements with the fish cage staff when to call the boat to pick you up for the mainland.

RESORT FEES AND CHARGES:

Food price here is generally reasonable which is almost comparable to the market prices. They charge P200 for a kilo of Talakitok which are frozen but live ones or fresh catch range to P300 per kilo. The tiger lobsters are at P1,600 and native lobster is at P1,000 per kilo. The prices are inclusive of cooking. There are other seafoods available in the fish cage and they vary in price.

Lodging is charged at P400 for single room for fan only with common washroom while the double room with fan only and common washroom is charged at P800.

CONTACT NUMBERS:

For reservation, contact the following mobile phone numbers: 0916-9291-305; 0927-3936-207; and 0946-5634-927.

INTERNATIONAL DOLL HOUSE (PHILIPPINES)

LOCATION: Ocean View Park, P-6 Brgy. Cumawas, Highway Gamaon, Bislig City, Surigao del Sur, Philippines

CAMBATONG FISHING VILLAGE (PHILIPPINES)

LOCATION: Barangay Cambatong, Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, Philippines

TINAGO COVE (PHILIPPINES)

LOCATION: Brgy. Tinago, Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, Philippines