The Ultimate Biking Experience to Darawan, Tarlac

I thought it's just gonna be a typical day of my visit here in Sta. Ignacia, Tarlac until I saw the mountain bikes of my Uncle Matias parked in front of his house this past seven in the morning. Since there was really nothing to do, I asked Granny if she could accompany me to borrow one of the bikes. I just really missed roaming around this town. The weather was so fine, no cloudy skies and the sunshine was really at it's best. I guess it would be a  no-no for me to just stay home, sit in front of my laptop or watch the TV the whole day.

Since Uncle Matias is so kind enough, he lent me one of his bikes. I observed him how he chose the best bike among the three (Yes! Uncle Matias has three bikes; he's rich. Ha-ha). I couldn't hide a sheepish smile as he brought to me the "chosen one". It's a high-end red and white mountain bike with complete accessories--advance breaks and gears plus a functional shock absorber at the back. I can't thank him enough for letting me borrow this.

The excitement had just started when I ride the bike. In each and every push I made to it's pedal, it really felt so comfortable. Though the bike is a little big and higher than my bike in Pangasinan, I didn't find myself having a hard time riding it. 

But wait a minute--Am I just gonna be roaming around the town? I know that this bike can go farther. 

I remembered one lovely place here in Sta. Ignacia that never failed to amaze me everytime I go there with my Aunt Eah and Kuya Joel. The place is called Darawan. Though not it's official name, everybody knows where it is. It already became like a 'minor' tourist destination here. 

So with my awesome bike, I started my long journey to Darawan.

The road is paved so it was never been a pain to my butt while biking.  Wide rice fields and great scenery started now to appear around me.

Until I passed by at this school again: Timmaguab Elementary School. According to my relatives, this school was founded by my Great Grandfather Don Candido Pagarigan, who once owned most of the land  in this baranggay.

As I continued to move farther, I started to realize that the slope was getting steeper--pushing the pedal is now becoming difficult. Adjusting the gears was never been so helpful too! My lower legs were starting to hurt now. I begun gasping my breath and sweat profusely until I came to the point that I already need to stop and take a break. After all, I also thought of quitting and wanting to return back to the town.

Suddenly, I realized that if I back out, I was like losing all my effort to get here. I might be ending up asking myself: :"What if I continue?" So with all the perseverance, guts and courage, I decided to continue my 28-kilometer (round trip) journey.

I suddenly realized that getting to Darawan is not easy without drinking water at all. I wasn't 100 percent ready doing this activity today so I already expected this kind of situation to happen. I felt thirsty already but I don't have any fluids to drink. There are some Sari-sari stores along the way but I forgot to bring any money so I can buy a water bottle or soda.

Until I bumped into these folks:

I saw a house just few meters away from the paved barrio road. Though a little hesitant, I walked to the house where I found these two men enjoying a morning chat at the balcony. I asked for water if they won't mind my request. Without any hesitation, they offered me a fresh bottle of water. I felt so refreshed afterwards. Thanks Manong Willie and to his friend for accommodating a total stranger like me! 

Now I am back to the road again. As the slope went slightly higher, the scenery was becoming astonishingly amazing!

Welcome to Darawan

I parked my bike at the foot of the hill and crazily climb up the smooth terrain. It was like I was on top of the world when I reached the peak of the hill. The memories were back again! I could still remember the days when I went here with my Aunt and Uncle Joel about 5 years ago. Nothing have changed. It's still beautiful as before!

What made this place so special for me was not just the magnificent scenery but the whole experience getting here. This would be my first time getting here through a bike and I could say, the feeling was rewarding. I already felt so tired as I posed on the photo above but as what you can see, I was smiling. It was an indication of overwhelming happiness. I realized that each pedal push I made was never been put to waste but it had given me a kind of adventure worth remembering.

As what Miley Cyrus have said on her song:


Ain't about how fast I get there,
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side,
It's the climb....

Banapple: Not Your Ordinary Sweet Treat

Its extraordinary sweetness is incredibly irresistible. The fun loving atmosphere of this kiddy land-inspired restaurant makes me feel that I'm back to being a kid again. Here's a peak at Banapple located at the Katipunan Extension near Boni Serrano Avenue.

I started to have sweet tooth since college and I found out that there are lots of restaurants and bakeshop here in Manila that satisfy my cravings. Banapple is one of them. I really enjoyed each and every bite of the sweet treats here--from creamy cheese filled cakes, blueberry jam topped pancakes to some of their yummy, oozing, heavenly desserts!! 

Blueberry Pancakes

After office hours, which is supposed to be so tiring, being here turned out to be rewarding as we feast and munch over Banapple's specialties. This place don't just offer freshly baked pies, cakes and cheesecakes, they also offer a wide variety of meals: chicken, beef, pasta and even soup and salads! It's indeed a one stop shop!

With my awesome officemates!

It's a pleasure to be here! I hope to walk in and dine to their other branches some time too! There are still more great food choices here that I have not tried yet and I am crazily, madly, deeply want to try them all!

30 Bizarre Signs and Symptoms of T-Bug Exposure: You Might Possess One of These

This disease had been dormant for years. It stayed in my body unnoticed. There were symptoms but I kept on ignoring them. I tried some type of coping mechanisms but I think it never worked.

The signs and symptoms are becoming more apparent and progressive now. I could no longer deny that this is already becoming worst. There are no vaccines available. No prescription medicines. There is no cure I think. But there is just one thing I know for sure—I am not going to die yet.

Two years ago after visiting Malaysia, the infection has all started after being bitten by the Travel Bug (T-Bug). And from then on, my adventures and misadventures have started!

Here are the signs and symptoms to look out for:

1.    You have a country map on the back of your door or on the walls of your bed room.

2.    You check the internet everyday for airline ticket sale.

3.    Your PC’s “Favorites” tab includes all web links of low cost airlines.

4.    You save extra money so you can buy a new luggage or a backpack.

5.    You daydream while on your regular work routine. You always imagine yourself lying on a sandy beach or walking around a city.

6.    You started to write your very own bucket list.

7.    You envy a travel blogger.

8.    You own two or more travel books.

9.    You bookmark websites like hostelworld.com, and booking.com

10. You are a proud couchsurfer.

11. You have tried and tested most of the sunscreen lotions available—what to buy and not to buy.

12. You can sleep anywhere…effortlessly. While on the train, bus, ship, etc

13. You have tried all modes of transportation.

14. You don't care to travel with or without a plan.

15. You can say “Good morning”, “Thank you” and “Goodbye” in 5 or more different languages.

16. You sell some of your good old things to fund your upcoming trips.

17. You don’t have a plan to invest for a house.

18. Being seasick and jetlagged is just a normal thing not to worry about.

19. You know when to take a Paracetamol or a Mefenamic Acid tablet after a tiring day tour.

20. “Light weight”, “Quick Drying”, “Athletic” are some of the words you always use to describe your travel gears.

21. You have a multi-cultural set of “Friends” on your Facebook’s “Friend’s List”.

22. You own an iPod or an MP3 player.

23. You own a tent or a hammock instead of a car.

24. You hate your day job.

25. You enjoy watching National Geographic, Living Asia and History Channel in five straight hours.

26. You have a vast collection of postcards, key chains and fridge magnets.

27. You don’t mind travelling solo.

28.  When staying home feels like you are in prison.

29.  If feels like home when you are on the road.

30.  You already knew what to see in Djibouti, Liechtenstein and Kiribati.




If you possess most of these signs and symptoms, you are a certified travel maniac. We might have been sharing the same type of disease! There is nothing to worry about getting a cure because it always feels so good as time goes by.

If symptoms persist, please consult the world map.

Santa Ignacia, Tarlac: Fresh Flavors at the Market

As part of my Bisita Kapamilya (Love Ones Visiting) this April that all started in Pangasinan last week, I was back to visit another good Granny here in Tarlac on the second week—it's my Lola Peggy. I have stayed with her for two days which I think it's never enough.

Though nothing much to do here, I got the chance to enjoy the fresh cooked, all-Filipino food.

Dinengdeng - an Ilocano cuisine. The dish contains a variety of vegetables with fish or other meat. Commonly savored with bagoong to create a distinctive flavorful taste.

Have you ever wonder where did we get these fresh ingredients?

Sta. Ignacia Central Market

It all started here—at the Sta. Ignacia Central Market. 

Usually, when we think of marketplaces, there is just one thing that comes to our mind. You might think its crowded, stinky, sticky or maybe dirty and I could have might agree.

But upon seeing this public market here in Tarlac, I started to see it in a different perspective. For me this is a place not just simply built for buying and selling goods but this setting most of the time displays the richness of this little town on agriculture and economy. It's a place where local food, vegetables and commodities meet and being showcased in a unique presentation. It's a small community of vendors that present their own   barangay's unique, exotic and rare products that usually surprise any market goer.

Some of the vegetables here are organically grown at the vendor's own backyards but some of them are  commercially grown in big farms too.

Would you believe that a kilo of tomatoes here just costs as cheap as Php 8? While in Manila, only four medium size tomatoes is my Php 8 can only buy!

There's also one thing here that made me crave instantly for something sweet. There is a small stall at one of the corners of this market that sells the yummiest Latik (rice cake cooked with coconut milk and sugar) in town. I bought a serving and the next day, Lola and I came back to buy more simply because I just can't get enough of its chunky, sweet, milky taste!

If you really want more mouth-watering Ilocano rice delicacy, Patupat is a must-try! Inside of this weaved pouch made of palm leaves is malagkit (sticky rice) cooked and soaked in boiling sugar cane syrup.

The food in the province sometimes the reason why I want to stay here longer. I might not experience the luxury of the city life Manila can give, but the food around here is amazingly enticing, unique and cheap. I just don't have much time to stay here since I work in Manila. But if given a chance to come back during a weekend, I won't hesitate to grab that chance.

Sison, Pangasinan: Crossing the Memory Lane

The air temperature here in the country is rising now. Summer had started and that's good news!

It's now really going fun here in the Philippines (though it's always fun here!). When the sun is up during summer time, people are starting to go out and find a place to cool down. Our beaches are the number one on the list. Some prefer going to the malls too, to feel the cool air-conditioned air. Some enjoy the cool treats: halo-halo, pinipig, scramble, ice cream, etc.

This is my favorite season and it's a no-no for me to just stay here at home, pig out or just watch TV all day.

So from the past two weeks, I settled a plan to visit a place that is worth-visiting for me. It might not be the best summer tourist destination but it's a place that I treasured so much, I have loved and I have been into and resided from the past. This place played an important role on how I grew up to be a better individual. It's the living legacy of lost memories of my childhood, camaraderie and endless love.

I think going back here is a great way to kick start summer:

Sison, Pangasinan

Seeing this place again reminds me of my happy childhood memories. I stayed at Granny's side up until I finished my elementary education.

Fifteen years have passed but the road to their house is still rugged.

Surprisingly, after this crazy, pain on the butt rugged road, here comes the paved part.

As we drew close to the mountain, the view is getting amazingly beautiful—

And back to another rugged road again, I had really a hard time. I have to grip tightly while sitting on back of the tricycle or else, I might fall since the it was already wiggling as it move so fast on this dusty road.

Upon reaching Granny's, I went immediately to see this river. I used to spend most of my leisure time here when I was a child. This is where I first learned how to swim. This river thought me how to be a swimmer without attending any summer swimming lessons. I could remember that I swam with the carabaos (water buffaloes) here too. It's unforgettable also when I chipped my front teeth as I dove to the water!

But change is inevitable. Maybe because of the world's problem on global warming, this river was now affected with it's negative effect. It's no longer flowing as before but was now dry and empty.

Since there are already some households across this river, the barangay have put up a hanging bridge so in cases like the river will overflow during the rainy season, the people on the other side won't be stuck and could still cross the river effortlessly.

A typical house in the barrio: made of grass, wood and bamboo

It was a warm welcome and it's always good to be back here. I miss all the people and the old lovely  memories, specially seeing my Lola Itang again. I want to thank her for everything and she's one of the reason why I returned here. She'll be turning 100 years old next year and I could say, that is so epic and so happy for having her.

Manila: Looking Back, Looking Forward

I couldn't just forget this TV show that I used to watch when I was a small kid. I could still remember how I sit in front of the old cathode ray television with some chichiria (salted chips) and a bottle of soda on the side. For sure the kids of the late 80’s and early to mid 90’s could relate to this classic children’s series that was aired to educate kids about Philippine History. The name of the program is “Bayani” (Heroes).

The series talks about the adventures and misadventure of these two ordinary elementary school student named Noli and Aya as they travel back in time to witness some documented historic events specially the situation during the Spanish regime where the Katipuneros and almost all the country’s patriotic heroes have existed.

If travelling back in time like this is real and really exists, I would have might paid for a ride to bring me back to the past. And if I would be given a chance to choose any destination, I want to see this place back to life—

Plaza Goiti 1920s- Monte de Piedad bank on the left

Sta Cruz Plaza, 1961

Escolta Street, Manila, Philippines, January 1900

Jones Bridge, National Post Office Building circa 1920's

As I take a look at some pictures of Manila way back in the 1920's, I realized how lovely this city was. Very classic, grandiose and clean.

To partially fulfill this impossible dream of time travel, I took time to walk just around here at Sta. Cruz Plaza to somehow relive the lost feeling and memories of the past. Like what I did in Silay City last month, I tried to search for the city's hidden and long lost treasures.

Frustratingly, I might think that some of these were now being lost forever. Physically, they are still in their original location but their beauty was already washed out by the Philippines' ever-changing climate, vanished by time and damaged by the endless urge of the people to urbanize. 

During my short walk here, my imagination never stopped. I couldn't help myself asking same old question:


"What happened? Why?"

Here are some changes that I have observed around Sta. Cruz area. This scenario has already answered my question.

The Monte De Piedad Savings Bank

While I was taking a picture of this building, a lady just threw some sarcasm as she passed by behind me.

As I point my lens up so I can capture the structure's detailed design, I heard her say: "Ay, anong meron?" ("What the heck is up in there?"), in a tone I really disliked.

Obviously, she doesn't know why I was so interested with this building. As much as I want to grab her bicep, speak to her face to face and tell her what really this building is, I just can't do it.

I want to tell her frankly that this old building that she just have ignored is the Monte De Piedad Savings Bank. It is considered as the first savings bank here in the Philippines. It simply means Mountain of Mercy, which is really true since this bank was established to help the poor by giving them collateral-backed loans.

This structure was built on June 24 1887, and fortunately, this building is still standing firmly near Chinatown today.

Unfortunately, this building is already considered abandoned. As what the pictures show, this bank that helped the poor before now needs help.

I was saddened to see that this valuable piece of Neo-Classical architecture is now a great dwelling place for rats, stray cats and some settlers who might not own a house. Some of its windows and doors were already broken, being neglected and were never maintained or replaced. The colors of its painted walls have already vanished.

Again, here I am asking myself: "What happened? Why?"

A Building with No Name

I felt the same way with this building here in Carriedo (just beside Carriedo LRT Station). I tried to search for the building's name but I just failed to come up with an answer.

Like the Ruins in Talisay, Negros, this building has an amazing architectural design too. I love it's Neo-Italian design that we could no longer observe to most of the modern buildings today.

But knowing that it's now abandoned and neglected, I felt a hard grip on my heart again.

I caught myself asking this same old question again: "What happened? Why?"

The Carriedo Fountain

My walk here at Sta. Cruz didn't end frustratingly though because of these old neglected buildings. Upon seeing the Carriedo Fountain in the middle of Sta. Cruz Plaza, I realized that there is still a brighter side of Manila.

The Carriedo Fountain and Monte De Piedad on the side

This original classic masterpiece was constructed in 1882 to recognize the effort and kindness of philanthropist and Spanish engineer, Don Francisco Carriedo y Perredo for introducing the first water system here in Manila. Though the original fountain is located near Legarda, Manila, a replica was built later here in Sta. Cruz by national artist, Napoleon Abueva to commemorate the legacy of considered Manila's greatest benefactor, Don Francisco Carriedo.

Conclusion

We have traveled so far and almost everything around us have gone through different stages of change. We could not recognize these changes if we are unable to recognize them consciously. And so, I decided to write this blog post with the firm intention of awakening my sleeping countrymen about the truth on Manila.

The truth is—Manila is a rich city. It has a very rich history and cultural heritage but we just keep on forgetting that we really “own” these things. We used to dwell on our present condition and we often forget our past. Which for me, forgetting the past by neglecting our heritage like these old buildings, simply means forgetting who and what we really are.

When I saw these buildings in Sta. Cruz, it reminded me of some old heritage buildings in Europe. I appreciate how the people there care, protect and maintain them. However, I was disheartened when some of ours, or might have been most of ours here, were neglected, ignored or worse, were demolished.

We own Manila; thus, we should take good care of it too. I hope and I pray that it’s not yet late. These heritage sites—officially or unofficially proclaimed, deserve an equal right to be maintained and preserved. I would be happy if we could progressively bring these buildings back to life. Let’s continue reviving Old Manila. Let’s give another chance to the next generation to see our history…letting them see who and what really we are.