San Guillermo Church of Bacolor: The Phoenix of Pampanga

After travelling for about 8 hours from Gumaca, I finally got a glimpse of what I only see in photos and the TV show May Bukas Pa. Peeking from the trees in a middle of a vast lahar field is the belltower of San Guillermo Church.

The half-buried Church of Bacolor

The church might looks small, or short, considering that it's a Spanish Colonial era edifice. The reason why? Half of it is already buried under lahar.

Detail of a bas relief on the facade, half buried as well

A Beautiful Affair: My Hometown and I

Yep, I know that you noticed the connection of my title to your oh-so-loved Kapamilya primetime teleseryes. My apologies, but that is how I exactly feel about my hometown, Gumaca. You see, it has been in my blood since I learned how to read and write. I've been having an affair with her for almost 25 years (I transferred here from Manila when I was around 2 years old). How can I not fall? It's beauty is striking, as soon as you enter her confines...




It molded me to what I am right now. Brought up in the traditional, Catholic culture that I really treasure and is proud of:

Though traces of history are slowly being forgotten and neglected, pockets of memories are still intact, and give a sense of identity and pride:



Despite modernity creeping in, traditional values and culture are deeply embedded, as strong as a fortress watching over it's people:



And it's faith in God, very evident in it's values, makes them resilient and happy whatever turmoil comes:

Now tell me, how can I not fall in love with her?

Khana, Chalo! Let's Eat!

As a continuation to my India travel posts, I'd like to share to you some of the local cuisine that I tried when I was in Pune. Though I wasn't that adventurous, I was able to have a taste of some local delicacies thanks to my trainees' persistence. LOL!

Biryani is one of my most favorite (and frequently eaten!) food in Pune. Made up of basmati rice, chicken or mutton (lamb), and a lot of spices. Yes, A LOT. I don't know what spices do they put in it, but it was damn delicious! Interesting to know that the meat and the rice are cooked at the same time in the same container. Neat!

Sige, i-microwave mo...

Pune's Divisoria, M.G. Road

After feeling down not celebrating Christmas and New Year in the Philippines, I got perked up when my friend, my training assistant, and I decided to go to a place near where we could buy authentic Indian and Maharashtran stuff, good pasalubong location. Come afternoon, we find ourselves riding a rickshaw speeding towards M.G. Road.

Let's go, sago!

My training assistant met us up at SGS Mall, together with his friend. After some introductions, off we go to the heart of M.G.

Yes, they also have parol here at M.G.!

Nostalgia: India

"So, I need to ask some personal information from you, I'll be filling out your passport application."

This was our account's big boss talking to me on the phone. He's in Eastwood, I'm in Gumaca. Our boss filling out my passport application. Like a boss. And that was the precursor of my journey to the land of a thousand spices: India.

A shrine in Pune, India. Almost every street has one, big  and small.

Here, I trained a class of 10, whom I eventually become friends with. I was hesitant to go around due to difficulty communicating with the locals. They understand English, but find it hard to speak it. But that became one of my biggest regret. Being scared of the unknown, in effect, deprived me of knowing, of knowledge. A once in a lifetime experience, wasted.

Sundo Sa T2: The NAIA Terminal 2 Experience

I wasn't expecting anything this weekend. I turned down my officemate's invitation to come to our company's family day, since I think this is just a hassle for my family <considering the difficulty of commuting in the metro, and we have a kid with us>. But I was in for a treat: a friend from Japan will be flying in on Sunday, so we'll meet her at the NAIA Terminal 2 while she waits for her connecting flight to Davao. It was quite a while since I last seen T2, and I'd love to see how it looks like now.

Manong, Terminal 2 lang po...

Sunday, 1 PM, we got on a bus from 6-11 to get to T2. It's just a 5-minute ride, and just a few secs after we paid, we have to get off. (sayang, sarap pa naman ng air-con!). 

Dubai? Middle East? Nope, our very own Terminal 1 and 2 junction.

Mi Casa, Su Casa. Gumaca!

After a cup of coffee, a few pieces of pan de sal, and a few chats with my friends on Facebook, here I am writing my second entry with excitement and gusto.

Photo credits: San Miguel Exports

No, no, not really this type of gusto... But the dekada 90 babies do love this, don't you?

For the main topic, ladies and gentlemen, and those in between, I'd like to introduce to you mi casa, Gumaca.

Photo credits: Wikipedia