Adto na 'ta

In the succeeding photos, allow me to take you to a place which was erected to honor our brave countrymen who gave their lives for honor and country. Situated about 8 kilometers east of Cabanatuan City , towards the provincial capital of Palayan is this memento of the bravery and courage of both American and Filipino soldiers during the historic rescue of POWS from the Pangatian Concentration Camp on Jan 30, 1945. A long dirt road flanked by rows of tall, carefully-trimmed cypress trees is the pathway towards the memorial. Two significant markers can be found upon entering the grounds. To the left side, is this tribute to the soldiers who died while being imprisoned. While on the right side, the West Pointers who died on the Concentration Camp are given recognition. The far end walls are dedicated to the American servicemen who were imprisoned in the camp. This historical site is under the care and management of the US Battlesites Commission, hence both the US's and the Philippine...

Hidden in a secluded area in Quezon City is this ecotourism haven which I finally got to see today, along with the million other people that also decided to come and hold a party in every nook imaginable within the 2000-hectare forest that surrounds the dam. Well, at least it wasn't only me who suffered from the heat of the "kwaresma sun". For those not familiar with the La Mesa Dam , here is a quick backgrounder: It is THE supplier of drinking water to the entire 12 million residents of Metro Manila. Therefore it is very important to every resident in the Metro and each resident should contribute towards it's preservation and maintainance for a sustained drinking water supply. It went into a state of disrepair due to many factors, among them, illegal logging (I knew it) and lack of funds (where'd it go?) Fortunately for us Filipinos, concerned NGOs came together to promote its rehabilitation and today, only about 1/10 of the original area needs to be ...

Quezon City, one of the major cities in Metro Manila, offers scenic landmarks, among them the Quezon Memorial Circle . Quezon City is currently celebrating it's 69th year since its founding. This towering structure welcomes visitors to the premiere city of the country. Just at the bottom of the Quezon Memorial is a museum housing many memorabilia of the great man, who is fondly called "The Father of National Language" Some of the fancy items found in the museum are these decorative artifacts of pure china. Going around the "Circle" makes you appreciate the greenery within the enclosed area, which is a contrast to the car-filled roads and areas outside it. This is a garden named after former vice mayor Charito Planas, who really made the QC Circle the center of many activities initiated by the city government. Exploring further this quiet refuge from the loud horns of cars, buses and what have you, takes you to this therapeutic area aptly called "Reflexol...

Among the many surprises that Bee Farm offers is their excellently prepared food that are not only gustonomical delights but also visually pleasing. This is their famous flower salad which is made up of different petals. A special salad dressing is poured to make it more appetizing. Another gustatory delight is the grilled tanguigue. Each slice is seasoned with herbs freshly picked from their herb garden and made to taste by their secret seasoning. One bite is all it will take for you to give it a thumbs up.

A must-see establishment in Bohol is the Bee Farm which is located in the very famous island of Panglao . It is popular for producing organic vegetables which they also use in preparing the dishes in their restaurant. The Bee Farm offers tours inside their herbal/vegetable garden which are cultivated using organic materials. You are also taken to the bee production site, where an assistant explains how honey is produced and about the different social ranking of bees. It is really very informative and educational. There is a queen bee, working bees, male bees that only mate with the queen, soldier bees, etc. It is a wide society in there. The Bee farm is a hotel/restaurant where tourists can stay and appreciate the verdant surroundings and the ocean view.  There are many chalets for guests to choose from that are equipped with creature comforts. This is one of the chalets that the Bee Farm rents out to guests. The Bee Farm overloo...

After the countryside tour of Bohol, you can also try island hopping and enjoy more surprises. Pamilacan Island is a marine sanctuary and home to many biodiversity. You need to leave at 5:30 in the morning to enjoy the sunrise and catch the dolphins as they usually come out and frolic in the surface at this time of the day. This is one of the closer shot of a dolphin jumping into the surface. If you are lucky, you get to see schools of "flippers" in the surface and whale sharks but on some occasions, you get piecemeals. The trip to Pamilacan Island costs P1,000 per head and this is inclusive of the bangka ride (canoe sail), morning snack (of native root crops that you probably have missed a lot) lunch (of seafood, native dish which became more delicious after snorkeling, swimming and enjoying the sea) as well as for the "dolphin caller" An old Spanish fort built on the island gives it a mysterious air. The coastline and...

The Sandugo Shrine in Tagbilaran is a historical monument depicting the treaty of friendship between the Spaniards and the Filipinos. The blood compact in Bohol was between Rajah Sikatuna, then Bohol chieftain and Spanish conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legazpi on March 16, 1565. This is the final stop of the countryside tour.