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Category: Philippine Travels

Sights, Sounds and Smell of Malatapay Market

June 26, 2014

It’s not your regular flea market. This strip of stalls selling almost anything from dried fish to shirts to ropes to kitchen utensils to knives to brooms to fresh fruits to tin and plastic ware comes alive every Wednesday only. If you’re planning to visit Apo Island, you’d find your boat at the end of this strip where you can also take your breakfast al fresco.

The Road to Malatapay

Malatapay Flea Market. Only on Wednesdays.

While I hardly give any real travel tips in my blogs (mainly I offer musings and ramblings, in case you missed that), let me advise you here and now to time your Apo Island visit on a Wednesday. The sights, the colors, the smell and the variety of goods for sale here are to be experienced.

An assortment of goods for sale. Malatapay Flea Market.

Dried Fish from Malatapay Market.

And the sounds? I know they speak Cebuano here but I didn’t miss hearing many conversations in Chavacano. After all, Zamboangita (next to Dauin) is not called that for nothing. That, plus the sound of livestock up for auction. You heard that right. They auction off animals here: cattle, pigs, goats. I found cattle lined up in a fenced area where men whispered their bids much like they do in fish markets. The goats were pulled by their masters, seemingly oblivious of their imminent fate. But the pigs. Oh, the pigs. They made the loudest noise of all. Makes me wonder if they’re the smartest of the lot. These pigs behaved like they knew their destiny as soon as those men offloaded them from carts pulled by tricycles. 😦

Cattle for sale. Live auction every Wednesday here in Malatapay.

These little piggies went to market…….

It wasn’t easy shifting one’s attention from the wailing animals to the fruits and vegetables for sale. Piglets stuffed into sacks? Poor thing. It doesn’t help that there are lechon (roasted pigs) stalls near the breakfast area. I could have sat down for a lechon breakfast near the wharf if not for those scandalous piglets!

I watched this man drag these pigs. My friends saw him put them — not without a fight — into sacks. So pathetic.

Quite honestly, the veggies for sale looked “tired”.

More dried fish. And so cheap!

Now, another piece of advice. Walk straight up to the end and ignore all the stalls. Have your lechon breakfast and savour the Malatapay version. There’s a table right in front of a Police Station where a local resident plays the saxophone while you’re having breakfast. For the win! After this sumptuous meal, go back to the market for the experience. (You’d feel guilty upon watching, hearing the pigs, but you’re done with the lechon by now) Just don’t forget you have a boat to catch to go to Apo Island. Trust me, you wouldn’t wish to leave the island so late in the day to sail back to Malatapay. more so when it starts to rain and the wind blows stronger. Good luck!

The goats go to market.

Must be a MAMA pig. Malatapay residents are proud of their lechon.

Fine dining? Music from the saxophone for the win!

Tags: Dumaguete, Malatapay Flea Market, Negros Oriental, Philippine Travels, Zamboangita

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Of (Manjuyod) Sandbar, Dolphins & Giant Squids

Filed under: Asian Holidays, Philippine Travels, Travel, travels — Leave a comment

We hired a boat for whale and dolphin-watching and sailed out of Bais’ Capiñahan Wharf some 45 kilometers north of Dumaguete City. The plan is to have lunch in Manjuyod Sandbar but the boat captain dropped anchor only 15 minutes from the wharf so we can enjoy the sandbar before the tide rises later in the day.

Capiñahan Wharf in Bais, Negros Oriental. About 45 kms north of Dumaguete City.

The Sandbar belongs to Manjuyod town, near Bais.

We found the solar-powered cottages here looking like houses on stilts. The Manjuyod Sandbar stretches for 7 kilometers slicing the blue waters of South Bais Bay. Best during low tide, of course, as this piece of paradise is completely submerged when the tide rises. The first time we dropped anchor the water was knee-deep. Tempting to walk the whole stretch out of sheer curiosity but one never knows how fast the waters rise.

Just 10-15 minutes from Capiñahan Wharf you’d spot these solar-powered cottages on stilts.

Like huts floating on water during high tide. Cottages on stilts during low tide.

Right in the middle of the deep, blue sea. A perfect day to take a dip so long as one observes the “boundaries” left and right of the white sandbar. I can imagine myself setting up a table here with a bottle of wine and some pica-picas. But not today.

Time your visit when tide is low to enjoy this fine white sandbar.

Touchdown! Manjuyod Sandbar.

They say some dolphins can be seen this close to the sandbar. There were none. The boat crew said pods and pods of them can be found further along in Tañon Strait. We can wait. For the moment, we frolicked in the sandbar, spotted a starfish, careful to lift it for a closer look and dropping it right back into the water where it belongs.

Stretching all of 7kms, Manjuyod Sandbar slices right in the middle of the South Bais Bay. Paradise Found!

Sourced from the Net. A photo of the 7km. sandbar during low tide. Completely submerged when tide rises.

Just before sailing on towards the deeper section of Tañon Strait, we luckily spotted a fisherman with his singular heavy catch of the day. A GIANT SQUID! One can fit his whole arm inside it. How can you pass up this chance? We brought lunch but a grilled giant squid would be a great addition we can share with the boat crew. Everybody happy!

Spotted a fisherman with his freshly-caught giant squid.

I wonder how many kilos this giant squid weighed!

We returned to the sandbar for lunch. Happy to have the pleasure of meeting them dolphins in their natural playground. Lunch unpacked. Giant squid on the grill. We enjoyed our lunch even as it started to rain, wind growing stronger, tide rising. All’s well. We’re just 10-15 minutes from the wharf where our van is waiting to drive us back to Dumaguete City. Sandbar. Check. Dolphins. Check. Starfish. A bonus. Giant Squid. An even bigger bonus!

Lunch! A giant squid off Bais Bay. Enjoyed, grilled, in Manjuyod Sandbar.

You can’t do this just anywhere! Manjuyod Sandbar. Off Dumaguete City.

For the rest of our adventure on this day, check out my earlier blog on the Playful Dolphins of Bais / Tañon Strait. Happy travels, everyone.

Life is a celebration.

Tags: Bais, Capiñahan Wharf, Day trip from Dumaguete, Dolphins, Dumaguete, Manjuyod Sandbar, Philippine Travels, Philippines, Sandbar

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The Playful Dolphins of Bais Bay and Tañon Strait

Filed under: Asian Holidays, Philippine Travels, Travel, travels — 1 Comment

June 24, 2014

The gods smiled on us. After some rainshowers the first 2 days in Dumaguete, the bright sun and clear skies looked promising as we sailed from Bais wharf towards that area straddling between Cebu and Negros. Our boat — good for 15 pax — served all 4 of us well. We loved the “space”, allowing us to run up front, to the left or right sides of the boat, even to lie down on the long benches while the boat crew navigate along the Strait searching for pods of playful dolphins.

Our boat sailed out of Bais Wharf, an hour’s drive north of Dumaguete City.

If you’re lucky, you’d see dolphins near Manjuyod Sandbar just 10-15 minutes from the wharf.

The deep blue waters of Bais Bay and Tañon Strait is home to these intelligent mammals. I shrieked in delight as soon as I spotted some spinner dolphins playfully showing off from a distance. And these dolphins looked just as happy seeing us and swimming alongside our boat. Like children showing off their talents. Or like marine escorts leading us to more of their friends!

Playful, Intelligent Mammals in their very playground!

Dolphins, blue waters and blue-polished toenails 😉

None of us were fast enough to take a decent shot of those dolphins jumping up and out of the water. But it was still an awesome (pardon the overused word) animal adventure for us. Mimicking dolphin sounds, we enjoyed schools of them in the calm waters of the bay and further along Tañon Strait. Surely, this is their playground!

What a show off!

Swimming alongside of our boat, like marine escorts!

The strait spans 5 kilometers to as wide as 27 kilometers between Negros Oriental and Cebu provinces. But it was in the deep, wide sections of the Strait where we found more dolphins. No luck with the pygmy sperm whales, but the many show-off dolphins made up for the whales’ absence. What a thrill!

Glistening in the blue waters of Tañon Strait.

Up front, left and right of the boat. They’re everywhere!

Travel Tips: Go early and catch them dolphins during their feeding time. From Dumaguete, we drove less than an hour to Bais and took a boat. If the tide’s low, best to stop by Manjuyod Sandbar just 10-15 minutes boat ride from the wharf. If you’re lucky, you can already spot some dolphins here. Further on, you’d be literally surrounded by these far-from-shy creatures. As happy as can be. Them and you. Surely, Negros is so blessed with nature’s bounty!

Dolphins in the wilds. Far from shy.

Tags: Bais, Dolphin Watching, Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, Philippine Travels, Philippines

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IT’S A TURTLE’S LIFE IN APO ISLAND’S MARINE SANCTUARY

Filed under: Philippine Travels, Travel, travels — Leave a comment

June 22, 2014

Pawikan. Marine Turtle. Sea Turtle.

Turtle unmindful of nosy humans, on a feeding frenzy on a rich marine life.

Sea turtles or marine turtles. “Pawikan” as locals call them. I dreamed of swimming with them, but the idea scares me out of my wits. I thought of just waiting for them to break the surface as they quickly catch air but I was sure I didn’t brave a nearly one-hour boat ride to Apo Island just to see turtle heads. I’ve read enough to get me excited to meet some turtles as old as moí.

From the shore, you walk towards these gentle creatures who thrive on shallow coastal waters.

Our diving guide said we saw only the green sea turtle. No hawksbill sea turtles, though if I saw one I really couldn’t tell one from the other. But the ones we found — some as big as an umbrella — were busy feeding on seagrass and algae while flipping their hind flippers completely unmindful of us humans. There were so many of them in shallow waters ( up to 8 – 15 feet? ) and some we spotted we found happily swimming around with barnacles on their hard shells.

Sea Turtles in Their ‘Retirement Village’ In Apo Island

Turtles live long lives and I wondered how many of those we spotted are “senior citizens” like us. As the waves and currents tossed us around, we marveled at the peacefulness of this marine sanctuary where these marine turtles live. Crossing my mind is a perfect “retirement village” for God’s sea creatures. No wonder they chose to live submerged even if they can live on land. It’s more peaceful down there. And lovelier too! Clown fish, sea snakes (they scare me), angel fish, and more marine citizens. How I wish I have turtle lungs too, able to suck in all that oxygen in one quick gulp when they surface from time to time. Wow, a what a lazy, blissful turtle’s life!

The sanctuary is about an hour’s boat ride from the Malatapay Port in Zamboangita area, depending on how calm or rough the sea is. It took us 45 minutes to get there. And longer to get back. Malatapay has a vibrant flea market and livestock auction every Wednesday so you may want to time your Apo Island visit on a Wednesday. Malatapay is just an hour’s drive from Dumaguete City. Go early so you can time your return soon after lunch, which you can arrange in Apo Island Beach Resort.

Apo Island

The Rock

Apo Beach Resort

Tags: Apo Island, Apo Island Marine Sanctuary, Dauin, Daytrip from Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, Pawikan, Turtle Sanctuary

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VILLA ESCUDERO At Iba Pa

Filed under: Food Trip, Philippine Travels, Travel, travels — 2 Comments

March 8, 2014

Been here. Done that. Posted photos here and there.

When friends called to ask who arranged our trip, or that they didn’t know you can swim (in the pool) and go bamboo-rafting in Villa Escudero, I began to realize that many go there just for the lunch by the falls and the cultural performance. Some didn’t even bother to do the museum tour where one finds centuries-old carrozas (floats), religious icons, family memorabilias (Escudero family), the Filipino alphabet, currency and doll collections from all over the world, and so many other antique collections of the Escuderos.

Kundiman Singing+ Carabao Ride in Villa Escudero

Narrow Bamboo Rafts. Great for rowing! Villa Escudero.

In my earlier blog on Villa Escudero, I highly recommended this trip to balikbayans, foreign guests, or simply to families longing to show their young children how life was in earlier times. It’s both a nostalgic and educational trip for the young and adults. The statues to be found there may not look so appealing but they showcase many Filipino traditions and lifestyles. Here’s where you can recount those stories of your younger days to the little ones or those born and grown in foreign lands who only read about them. The statues leave better memories. They complement the stories!

Physical (Rowing) and Soothing at the same time. Villa Escudero.

Lunch is served! By the falls. Villa Escudero.

The highways make these trips a breeze. You can leave as late as 8:30am, driving through SLEX and ACTEX till you reach the boundary of Laguna and Quezon. Soon after you pass the boundary marked by a Welcome Arch, turn left towards Villa Escudero. You register and pay P1,400 for a day tour which includes a Museum Tour, lunch by the falls, carabao rides, use of facilities like swimming pool and bamboo rafts. Senior citizens get a hefty discount and pay only P1,000!

Cultural show at 2pm. Villa Escudero

Performers are ALL employees and their kin. Villa Escudero

Arriving way before lunch, we did the Museum tour then took the carabao ride to bring us to the lunch area by the falls. Lunch was platefuls of grilled fish, chicken and pork belly, caldereta (beef), salad and banana cues! After lunch and while waiting for the 2pm cultural performance, you can take a dip by the pool and/or take one of the narrow bamboo rafts and exercise those arm muscles amidst a grand view of the cottages and trees by the water. Soothing yet physical, the activity renders you longing for a glass of halo halo or young coconut juice to savor while watching the dancers perform on stage.

Villa Escudero dancers.

Cultural show’s choreography by national artist Obusan, no less!

The cultural show ends at 3pm. Early enough to drive a few more minutes from Villa Escudero to visit Ugu Bigyan’s Pottery Workshop. Getting here was a challenge. The only landmark from the Maharlika Highway driving further past Villa Escudero was the Petron Gas Station and Iglesia ni Kristo on your right. Soon after passing them, take a left and look for Alvarez Village. Ugu’s workshop, gardens cum dining place is on your left. No signs, but easy to spot the red brick one-story house with a sprawling garden as soon as you enter the village.

Ugu Bigyan Pottery workshop. Tiaong. Quezon.

Patis Tito. Formerly Kusina Ni salud of Viajes del sol fame. San Pablo City

From Ugu’s place, we drove back towards San Pablo City to check out Sulyap Cafe. On our way there, we found a sign towards Patis Tito, formerly Kusina ni Salud. Really, finding these Viaje del Sol spots is quite a challenge. We had snacks here of suman (glutinous rice) and another forgettable “kakanin” and sat there watching how unkept the place was. Guess they spruce up the place only for big groups. I hope.

Patis tito. Ex-Kusina Ni Salud

By the time we reached Sulyap Cafe after missing several turns and U-turns, we were tired but still full from the merienda. We visited the art gallery inside before an intended supper there, but found the place too gloomy to spend dinner time there. Dark, gloomy, nearly haunted. Maybe the place is suitable for romantic dates. Not for us. So we chose to simply drive back to Manila instead.

Patis Tito

Patis Tito. Kusina Ni Salud. Viajes del sol.

The entire trip to Villa Escudero with sidetrips to Ugu Bigyan, Kusina ni Salud and Sulyap Cafe & Gallery lasted from 8am to 8:30pm. Not bad. It’s a good roadtrip….. Just arm yourself with a good dose of patience looking for these spots with hardly any markers. Happy driving!

Patis Tito. Resto and garden.

Ugu Bigyan’s Pottery Workshop.

Sulyap Gallery Cafe. San Pablo City. Viajes del Sol.

Tags: Kusina ni Salud, Patis Tito, Quezon, Roadtrip, San Pablo City, Sulyap Cafe, Tiaong, Ugu Bigyan, Viajes del Sol, Villa Escudero

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Cool Breeze And All That Space In Alicia Farms (Don Salvador Benedicto, Negros Occidental)

Filed under: Philippine Travels, Travel, travels — 2 Comments

November 6, 2013

Just 42 kilometers and an hour’s drive from Bacolod City is Negros’ very own “Little Baguio” with its cool breeze, mountain vistas and all that space. Don Salvador Benedicto used to be a little-known municipality named to honor a fellow Negrense who was once Vice Governor of the province of Negros Occidental. At 2,495 feet above sea level, this municipality boasts of a lovely mountain range marked by occasional waterfalls. Such unspoilt beauty found in the hinterlands comprising the province’s Northern Territory.

: Don Salvador Benedicto. DSB for short. The Summer Capital of. Negros Occidental. In my book, much more than a “Little Baguio”.

: Malatan-Og Falls viewed from the Lantawan Viewing Deck in DSB.

Malatan-Og Falls in DSB deserves a closer look. Handicapped with kids in tow, we contented ourselves with a distant view of this natural beauty. Thin as a cigarette from afar, DSB has erected a viewing deck —- appropriately called “Lantawan” which literally means “to see or view” —- for visitors eager to see the Falls. I wouldn’t be surprised to find this same area developed as picnic grounds in the future. Come to think of it though, the entire DSB area may well be your own picnic and camping grounds!

: Before long, this Lantawan View Deck will likely transform itself into a picnic ground for visitors.

: ALICIA FARMS. A jewel of a place in DSB.

Nestled in the bosom of Don Salavador Benedicto (DSB) is a leisure place called ALICIA FARMS. Play with the resident horse called George, run around with the friendly children of farm hands and their dogs, pick some flowers, set up a hammock between trees, meditate while viewing Mt. Kanlaon and the rest of the mountain range, or set up your tents while lunch or dinner is cooking.

: Meet GEORGE, the resident horse.

: Your kind of place? Just viewing this photo calms my nerves.

Amidst the empty space stands a hut hemmed in by rows of flowers in vibrant hues. I can only imagine how this place would look like once carpeted with many blooms guarded by trees offering shade. Pitch your tents here, fellas. And savor the silence, stillness, freshness of beauty around you. Soothing to your nerves impaired by the chaos of city living . . . . Definitely good for the soul.

: Pitch a tent. Hang your hammocks. Or just put up your legs, read a book or meditate.

: Local flowers carpet the grounds around the hut.

Once you’ve fed your soul …….then it’s time to feed your bellies. All that running around with George and the resident dog (what’s his name?) revs up one’s appetite. Next time I visit, I’d bring a bike and ride out those slopes! or maybe not. The flowers are enough to keep me busy. KARI NA SA ALICIA FARMS. 😉

: Lunch is served here!

: And that’s the barbecue pit. Think CHICKEN INASAL! ! !

: Back to smelling the flowers……

Tags: Alicia Farms, Bacolod, Bacolod City, Don Salvador Benedicto, DSB, Negros, Negros Occidental

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THE FOOD TRUCKS ARE HERE!

Filed under: Don't Skip Manila!, Philippine Travels, Phlog, Travel, travels — 9 Comments

July 11, 2013

Here’s a quick one. We meant to be dropped off in Glorietta when we were pleasantly surprised with the tents being set up and food trucks parked around that tiny park fronting Glorietta and Makati Shangrila Hotel.

There were burgers, fish & chips, arroz caldo, bbq’s, ice cream, tacos, roast chicken, mac and cheese, kakanin like rice cakes, and so much more!

How exciting to find these food trucks here. As soon as my apos and I got off the car, we lost no time checking out the many stalls. So many choices. And lots of new food dishes to try. We’re waiting for Truck Bun to get ready — planning on trying the Japa-dog, whatever that is. Also Jasper’s Chicken where we can actually sit inside the van! (The Chicken Karaage with Sour cream and their “wet sauce” was good!) Then finish off with Merry Moo’s ice cream. Or you can cross the street towards Family Mart to buy their P25 green tea soft-serve ice cream in the comforts of an air-conditioned space with tidy restroom. Hmmmm. Nice Thursday afternoon.

Tags: Food Trip, Food Trucks, Glorietta, Makati, Philippines

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SAN BEDA CHURCH: The Abbey, The Riots, The Old Rich

Filed under: Don't Skip Manila!, Philippine Travels, Travel, travels — Leave a comment

July 1, 2013

A week after I visited a monastery run by Benedictine Monks down South, I was reminded of my Visita Iglesia back in April earlier this year. Among the 7 churches and chapels I visited, the most striking in my book was the Abbey of Our Lady of Montserrat, more popularly called San Beda Chapel. It is a gem waiting to be discovered and rediscovered…… in an area more remembered as the posh San Miguel district in Manila where the moneyed and high society used to lead elegant lifestyles by the banks of the then clean, oil spill-free Pasig River. Quite ironically, it is also known of late as the Mendiola site that bore witness to way too many rallies, even bloody protests, as rallyists marched towards Malacañang.

Abbey of Our Lady of Montserrat

This neo-Gothic Chapel was designed by a Swedish architect by the name of George Asp. It would have looked even lovelier when it was consecrated in 1925, with those Sistine Chapel-like ceilings painted by artist-monk Fr. Lesmes Lopez, a Benedictine Monk. Awesome is an overused word, but yes, it is indeed awesome!

You would have thought you’re somewhere in Europe. But naah, this is the San Beda Chapel right in Mendiola!

The stars in the galaxy must have conspired to spare this magnificent church from the destruction of the Second World War. Just a block away from Malacañan Palace by the Pasig River, both structures survived the carpet bombing during the Battle of Manila. Many of its historic counterparts in Intramuros were not as lucky. It surprises me though that not too many are even aware of the striking beauty of this college chapel. One look at the painting of the Apotheosis of the Most Holy Name of Jesus, the retablo and many bronze angels holding lamps to illumine the chapel in a “Rennaissance” kind of way, and you’re transported out of the slums, dirt, grime, chaos of Manila. I can imagine the old rich and elite hearing Sunday masses in this lovely college chapel back then. Can you?

Photo Sourced from the Net

Tags: Abbey of Our Lady of Montserrat, Manila, Mendiola, San Beda Church, San Miguel District

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Of Monks, Coffee, Gardens and Landscapes

Filed under: Philippine Travels, Travel, travels — 13 Comments

June 27, 2013

Nestled in the coffee-planted hills of Barangay San Jose, Malaybalay, Bukidnon is the Monastery of the Transfiguration run by Benedictine Monks. Not many know of this spiritual facility, but I’m sure many are familiar with the Monks’ Blend Coffee from this area. Seven times in a day, these monks sing hymns and pray in a place lush with greenery amidst slopes carpeted in various shades of green.

A gentle reminder to SHUT UP. Entrance to the Monastery of the Transfiguration in Barangay San Jose, Malaybalay, Bukidnon.

Here, monks, overcast skies and landscapes seem to work in perfect harmony. No, there are no duvets to cover and wrap tired bodies in the tiny, meticulously clean spartan rooms, but listening to the overriding sound of silence is good for tired souls. Yes, good even for the non-religious.

Sit on the grass and wait for either sunrise or sunset.

This is where one can restore one’s self back to sanity, unloading many of those cobwebs that claimed space in our urban mindsets. Eat, sleep, and be still. The monks pray seven times a day starting with the 3:40 am Matins. The retreatants are welcome to join them. In between the Matins, Morning Prayers and Mass, Vespers and Evening Prayers, you may pray the rosary while walking around the gardens and viewing the hills and perhaps one of the last surviving forested blocks in the entire archipelago. It felt so routinary and familiar to wake up slightly past 3 in the morning and walking out of your “cocoon” of a Guest House towards the Chapel. The bells warn you. The Monks singing in Latin soothe you. It felt so right. So harmonious. And so dark. Before long, varied hues of sunrise colors magically appear on the horizon. Other times, a fog may descend without warning. Literally like touching clouds as they pass by. Feel free to sit on the grass near the Chapel to wait for sunrise and sunset.

The Guest House. Monastery of the Transfiguration in Malaybalay, Bukidnon.

Sunrise at the Monastery of the Transfiguration.

Every 2nd Sunday of the month, the growing popularity of the “Breakfast With The Monks” bring in as many as 300 traveling some distance from Iligan City (3 hour drive), Davao (5 hours) and Cagayan de Oro (2 hours). We missed this, but we had the most charming experience of chatting up 2 monks who may have abandoned their vow of silence while we were there 🙂 Fr. Col and Fr. Elias engaged us in a chat about gardens, joked with us, ate with us. I love how Fr. Elias would laugh with us then bring us back to some life philosophy inspired by the Good Book. We share the same mantra about “celebrating life” but I have tons to learn in the area of detachment. 😦

Soon after the Morning Mass. Monastery of the Transfiguration in Malaybalay.

Our Lady of Montserrat.

The pyramid-inspired architecture by the late National Artist Leandro Locsin is a masterpiece to have combined the conflicting elements of simplicity and grandeur. Inside is a large cross hanging above the altar which simply consists of a huge rock. Behind it and illumined by a lone spotlight is the statue of Our Lady of Montserrat donated by the Benedictine Monks of Montserrat near Barcelona, Spain. You can view the Virgin and Child up close by scaling a few steps behind the rock altar.

Museum of Liturgical Vestments. Monastery of the Transfiguration. Malaybalay, Bukidnon.

The Museum of Liturgical Vestments. Lovingly set up and created by Dom Martin aka Gang Gomez.

Within the Monastery compound is the Museum of Vestments. Dom Martin aka Gang Gomez (yes, that fashion designer and icon) truly made an admirable collection of vestments inspired by tribal designs and indigenous materials. Be sure to drop in, along with a visit to the Store where you can buy peanuts and coffee grown by the Monks. St. Benedict medallions and icons are likewise available here.

The Refectory at the Guest House. Monastery of the Transfiguration. Malaybalay.

Keep your tables neat and clean. Glasses, utensils, food scraps in one corner of the Refectory.

Or…….. You can always head back to the Guest House for your snacks of coffee ( Monks’ Blend, of course) and muffins. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are simple affairs. I love how each diner leaves the dining table clean by putting away all glasses, utensils and food scraps after each meal. Dining in silence? Possible. Unless you chat up a monk. 😉 But if you’re not up for a stroll ( i wasn’t after the 3:40 am Matins), it maybe a better idea to crawl back to your tiny, semi-hard, good-for-the-back bed for a power nap before the next prayer and feeding times. Goodnight!

The Corridor to the spartan rooms. Monastery of the Transfiguration. Malaybalay.

The Spartan Room. Monastery of the Transfiguration. Malaybalay. Bukidnon.

Tags: Bukidnon, Malaybalay, Monastery of the Transfiguration, San Jose

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The Many Legends of Maria Cristina Falls

Filed under: Philippine Travels, Travel, travels — 9 Comments

June 25, 2013

If Loch Ness has its monster, Lake Lanao had its Omaca-An. Emphasis on “had”. Monster gone. Omaca-An was no match to Rajah Indarapatra who went in search of his slain brother Rajah Solaiman, earlier defeated by the same giant man-eating monster. The legend goes that Rajah Indarapatra swam everyday for many years in the waters of Lake Lanao in search for his brother’s ring, but failed. In his search, he gathered many stones stretching some distance which later formed the Agus River, the only outlet of Lake Lanao. The same river dropped down a deep ravine which is now Maria Cristina Falls.

The Majestic Maria Cristina Falls. Iligan City.

Now, why name the Falls Maria Cristina in a region that’s predominantly Muslim at the time? Maria Cristina are really 2 persons. Two maidens living near the Falls, in love with the same man. The sisters loved each other very much and their beauty attracted many Datus and Sultans including the son of a Sultan who happened to love BOTH maidens. For this man’s indecision (or infidelity?), each of the 2 sisters sacrificed their lives by jumping from the top of the Falls. Maria, the younger went first. When Cristina learned of her beloved younger sister’s suicide, she likewise threw herself down the ravine. Both maidens gone. And the Sultan’s son? He never married. He buried their bodies under the Falls and named the Falls in honor of the 2 loving sisters he loved and cherished.

The legend about the name Maria Cristina I’ve heard before. Now I’m told there’s another legend from the Maranaw folklore. And this has nothing to do with romance. Rather, it may have something to do with Divine intervention. The legend begins with a mythical hero named Prince Bantugan. The Prince intended to visit the Maranaws with the intention of conquering this tribe. He thus ordered his men to find the biggest and longest tree, and to fashion a big boat out of it. The floating vessel was named Rinamuntao Mapalao, designed with a prow looking like the mouth of a crocodile. Stocked with food, ammunition, and the bravest warriors, the boat sailed with Prince Bantugan along the Agus River, reaching Maria Cristina in 2 days.

When word reached the Maranaws that Prince Bantugan and his warriors have arrived, they gathered for prayer and “sent a storm and an earthquake”. The gods or “tonongs” allegedly heard their prayers upon which Agus River swirled, overflowed and flooded the entire area. Right where the Rinamuntao Mapalao was anchored, the river opened up and swallowed the big boat along with its warriors. The crevice created the ravine over which the Falls cascaded down. According to this legend, the Prince, the warriors and the boat are still within the area, to “rise” only near the end of the world. Meanwhile, the Prince and his army of brave warriors are “enchanted” and exist around the foot of the Falls. Hmmmmm. Quite a story, don’t you think?