Visit to Barasoain Church, Malolos Bulacan

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Everytime my birthday comes, I always grant myself a special wish. I always wish to go to a  popular  or  special place,  and make my thankful  and prayer to a solemn blessed church. So last year , I have celebrated my birthday and visited a beautiful church in Malolos Bulacan.

Barasoain Church is also known as Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish. It has been called “The Cradle of Democracy in the East.”

Barasoain Church has been considered as the Philippines' most historic church. It is one of the most religious building in our country. It is a Roman Catholic church built in 1630 in Malolos City Bulacan. It is the site of the First Philippine Republic. This church served as the session hall of Malolos Congress, the first congress in the Philippines held in September 15, 1898.

One historical event was happened when the former President Joseph Estrada vowed his oath of presidency in 1998 at the altar of the church, causing him to be the only president who took his oath in Malolos, the same as Emilio Aguinaldo did.

I have read that Barasoain Church is frequently visited by most Filipinos and even foreigners from different sides of the country. And because of its popularity and old age,  many people would plan to celebrate exciting beautiful wedding, baptism, first communion and other religious activities in this church. 

The monument of Emilio Aguinaldo in front of the church. General Aguinaldo established the Malolos Republic (The First Philippine Republic) in the Barasoain Church in the year 1899

A historical marker

I always see the image of the church before when I have a ten-peso Philippine bill together with an image of Apolinario Mabini. And at present, it is in the front side of 200-peso bill.

Post Reunion Random Thoughts

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As far as I remember , after graduating from high school , I haven’t seen many of my classmates and batchmates for 30 years, except of course for some  who became my college class/schoolmates. But then even they, after college, we separated ways.

At first I thought reunions of good old friends here in today’s social network sites  like facebook , friendster (!) is fine enough. But I decided to come to this reunion in January , with excitement, and curiosity. It’s not a very formal reunion anyway. Just a get together sort of our batch.  I was excited to see my old friends, my classmates, clubmates , bandmates  and all.  Curious to see familiar faces and see how they all  have turned out after so many years! I have a good memory of people and events. I am a nostalgic sort of a person. It’s so fun to reminisce things over and over again! Sometimes I think I’m stuck in my childhood.  I think a part of me never grew up.

  

The night was so good, the organizers did a great job. Some of our teachers also showed up. There was a buffet dinner, cocktails, a video presentation of old pictures, a very lively program , games, great speeches. There was also a silent moment of prayer while pictures of  batchmates who died are being shown.

Picture takings are  everywhere as some do  table hopping to greet batchmates of familiar faces. It’s a joy to recognize people immediately and see they looked better than before. Even more joyful when they recognized you at once and tell you haven’t change a bit !  My closest friends’ private joke was , “Oh my, so I looked this matured 30 years back then!! Ha ha ha.”

After the program, and more picture takings, music of 80’s were played and people danced as if they were on their JS prom!  T’was really good to be young again! Some just enjoyed watching. What a night ! It ended with see you soon, see you in fb, email me, call me, text me farewells.

Everyone seemed to be pleased to see each other.  But just one  night of catching up of three decades of being apart wasn’t enough. Almost every group went separately,  in different places, bars , restaurants , or in our case, we went to one of  our classmates’ condominium unit in Makati to cap the night with more stories and plans of more reunions. That was Saturday night , ended until the morning , lunchtime of Sunday!

I’m so glad I went to that evening of celebration of our youth and adulthood, a night of fun and surprises . And yes, it will never stop, as more batchmates and classmates are suddenly coming out to join us. Oh well, reunions and re discovering of people…really never stops, never stops adding color to what we call  Life!

My Alma Mater : PLM

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Last year , I was able to accompany my daughter to her enrollment for the second semester at my very own alma mater , PLM , Ang Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila. the first institution of higher learning in the country and perhaps in Asia to offer tuition-free tertiary education, the first university funded solely by a city government and  the first institution of higher learning in the country to have its official name in Filipino. The campus is situated along General Luna and Muralla Streets in Manila's historical Intramuros district.

There’s nothing like walking down memory lane … remembering the roots of my education, four years of non stop learning and  trying hard for academic excellence ( which is the PLM’s vision) and our goal for maintaining the scholarship we are very privileged of having. We were proudly called “Mga Iskolar ng Bayan!”

PLM has changed a lot since I graduated several years ago.

When I was a student here, the monument of General Douglas McArthur was once situated at the main gate.  It has been changed to the Flame monument, which has become of  one of the PLM's iconography... It symbolizes many things - love of country, nationalism, patriotism, enlightened liberalism, and of course, academic excellence.

Gen. Douglas McArthur’s monument is now located at the southern banks of the Pasig River (near the Philpost Office and directly opposite of the district of Binondo). I wonder if he would again said “I shall Return” to PLM ?

The PLM grounds, and very memorable sheds . Those waiting sheds  have  been  witness to our laughters and tears...as well as to many secrets…

The PLM Grandstand (Tanghalang Bayan) and Open Field.

The Chapel

It’s great to know that the management of PLM has invested so much in infrastructure, faculty and student development.  There were a lot of new buildings, I heard they were fully airconditioned. ), but it’s also nice to know that some  buildings inside the campus still  possess a 19th century or Hispanic architectural design.

This year, PLM has celebrated it's 46th Foundation Day.    I have heard that the Torch of  Flame and Excellence in the front  has been transfer inside the  school and has been replaced by monument of our country hero Jose Rizal.

How time flies !  It’s indeed great to remember that once upon a time I was here, in this  place called "The Pamantasan."

One Fine Day !

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One beautiful Sunday morning , I woke up feeling energetic and wanting to get out and walk around somewhere. So I decided to get on my running, er,  walking shoes and what a better way to spend morning than a stroll at the Manila bay. We used to have our Sunday, or Saturday walks here months before.

With my husband and daughter , we started our walk when ,the morning  still is fairly quite and cool. First is at the Cultural Center of the Philippines complex where there were many health buffs walking and jogging, with their families, or friends, or jogging buddies, some with their pet dogs.

Then we reached up to the Harbor Square ( as we always do, as this place is very memorable to us, one of our favorites). Harbor Square is situated near CCP.

It’s a nice place to hang out.There  are many restaurants and bars to choose from. There are also tiangge where clothings and other stuffs are sold in much cheaper price. You can also spend the afternoon here viewing the famous Manila Bay sunset. 

People of different age enjoys strolling around here. There are many other activities you can join in. There are people playing badminton. If you feel energetic, you can always join in the many aerobic classes or Tai Chi classes that are on going from one end of the baywalk along Roxas Boulevard to the other. Of course, we did join in. Or you can also just sit and simply chill.

Manila Yacht Club is also nearby. I enjoy the sights of the yachts, and the view of the whole place. I always bring my camera as I always want to capture every beautiful sight. I feel at peace whenever I see cool stuffs like these, simple it may be , anything under the sun, the bay, boats, the whole site actually!  I’m sharing here some of my shots. Hope you like it ! 

Everything Flies ! Hot Air Balloons at Pampanga

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I always remember happy trips and exciting festivals i experience to witness.

Last year, 2010, I went to 15th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta was held in Clark Freeport, Pampanga from February 11 to 14, 2010. It is an annual event that features not just hottest balloons but also different aerial exhibitions such as sky diving , aircraft flight demonstration , Aerobic Airshow, Kite Flying competition, and many more .

Me and my husband were able to attend the last day which is Feb. 14, our Valentine’s day date actually. We left Manila in the evening of Feb 13, arrived at Clark before midnight. All hotels were fully booked! So we just strolled around Clark , stay in McDonald’s until 2 am.

We were at the venue around 4:30 AM. The queue to the parking area, as well as the main entrance of the show area was very long. But you can see the excitement from the people.

 It was amazing to witness how hot air balloons unfolded from the trucks ,get inflated ,  burst with fire and finally fly up up away to the sky !

 At around 6 am  the Philppine National anthem was played with a sky jumper carrying a Philippine Flag.

 Moments later , the beautiful sky was filled with different shapes and varied colors of flying balloons !

It was also a great venue for photo enthusiasts, amateur and professionals, with their cp cameras, digicams, videocams, high end cameras and even webcam from their laptops ! 

 

 

It was a fun-filled weekend , full of surprises, filled with everything that flies ! I always hope to be back  !!!