Adto na 'ta

For history buffs, this landmark will be interesting. As you exit Sta. Juliana of Capas, Tarlac, you'll pass Capas National Shrine which was constructed to honor the Filipino and American soldiers who died during the infamous Death March which occurred after Bataan fell on the hands of the Japanese. In this exact spot, the soldiers met their death and on the same area of the shrine stands the 70-meter Obelisk. This towering structure has 3 sections representing the Americans, Filipinos and Japanese. Along the marble walls that enclose the Obelisk, are the names of casualties from the American and Filipino troops. The 54-hectare memorial was inaugurated by then President Cory Aquino in 1991 as a reminder of the heroism of Filipino and American troops that bravely fought the Japanese troops which invaded the Philippines during World War 2. Capas National Shrine was the former Capas Concentration Camp where 40,000 Filipino soldiers and 8,000 American soldiers who were captured durin...

Nobody prepared me for the stunning welcome when I finally reached the crater of Mt. Pinatubo one weekend in December 2009. The aquamarine lake water was cool and calm. The surroundings tranquil, but occasionally broken by excited cries of trekkers and mountaineers. The beauty of the lake, mesmerizing. Need I say more? Coming here is not really peanuts. I had to endure an hour-and-a-half ride on a 4 x 4, in addition to the 3 hour ride from Manila and pass through a wet desert where the sand or air dyes my black hair grey and worse, turn the strands into hard wires. The trek to Mount Pinatubo Crater begins at the Visitor Registration Center at Bgy. Santa Juliana in Capas, Tarlac. The registration process is a safety procedure and this is also necessary in order for the town to easily account visitors. After registering and paying for the tour guide and 4 x 4, the long, dusty ride begun. We passed by a bare, lahar-covered area. I learned later on from our guide that we were pass...