Phase 2-B will complete the circular design of the mall which also serves as the center-piece of the mixed-used development within the masterplan of Cebu Business Park. Scheduled to be completed in 2013, the four-level structure will add more than 36,000 square meters of leasable space.

This expansion will be an upscale retail development providing high-end outlets and premium finishes for the more discerning shoppers. It will house a mix of luxury signature brands, fashion forward brands, information technology outlets, techtronics, home furnishing and a few carefully selected dining and lifestyle concepts.

Seamlessly connected to the existing mall and The Terraces, the architecture of the building — from the entrance and facade, to its interiors — will be upscale in nature, with an impressive sense of arrival. The over-all ambiance will be enhanced with elegant but warm lighting. The development will have areas for social interaction equipped with premium furnishings customized for the purpose. The common area and walkways will provide excellent connectivity with the existing mall and its surrounding areas. Some areas will be highlighted by creating special features, themes or treatments, to create interest points.

Ayala Center Cebu goes full circle!

With this, Ayala Center Cebu launches an online promo to further introduce the NEW Ayala Center Cebu.

Participants of this activity will be able to feel the Live, Work & Play experience that only the Cebu Park District can offer.

Form that puzzle!

- Every week, two pieces of the puzzle will be released in different areas in Cebu Business Park & Cebu IT Park. (every Wednesday & Saturday)

- The puzzle piece will be physically positioned in significant areas with the “Live, Work & Play” feel.

- The First TEN (10) participants to email their photo with each puzzle piece to liveworkplay@ayalacentercebu.com will get an instant prize for participating.
- The 1st participant to upload a picture of themselves with all 6 pieces of the puzzle will win a 3D2N Trip for TWO to Hong Kong.

MECHANICS

• “Live, Work, Play” promo is from April 25 to May 13, 2012, and is open to Cebu residents currently residing in Cebu, Philippines.
• Like Ayala Center Cebu on Facebook (www.facebook.com/AyalaCebu) and follow @AyalaCenterCebu on Twitter
• Each week, Ayala Center Cebu will be releasing 2 puzzle pieces in different areas in Cebu Business Park and Cebu IT Park.
• Hints leading to photos of the puzzle piece will be posted on Ayala Center Cebu’s Facebook fan page every Wednesday and Saturday at 12:00NN.
• Markers will be placed around Cebu Business Park and Cebu IT Park to direct participants to the location of the puzzle pieces.
• Participants will have to take a picture of the puzzle piece with themselves. Each picture should
be emailed to liveworkplay@ayalacentercebu.com with the subject “Live Work Play Promo”. All pictures should be sent in one thread.
• First 10 participants to send their photos with the puzzle piece will receive a gift certificate worth
P500.00 and TWO (2) Movie Passes. The names of the winners will be announced on Ayala Center Cebu’s Facebook page.
• Pictures of the winners will be posted on Ayala Center Cebu’s Facebook album named “Live Work
Play Winners”.
• The photo entries of the winners will be posted on an album on Facebook called “Live Work Play
Grand Winner” on Tuesday (May 15, 2012).
• Participants are still eligible to win the grand prize, even though they were not able to email their
entry the week it was revealed.
• A notification email will be sent to all winners. Winners must reply and send an email to liveworkplay@ayalacentercebu.com, with their full name and contact number for validation purposes.
• When claiming the prize, winners must present at least one (1) valid ID and a printed copy of a
notification sent to them as winners.
• If the winner is below 18 years old, he/she needs to be with his/her parent or legal guardian to claim his/her prize. Both the minor and parent/guardian should present valid identifications. The latter should also be able to present adequate proof that he/she is the legal guardian of the minor.
• If the winner fails to claim his/her prize within 60 days of notification, the prize shall be forfeited in favor of Ayala Malls.
• All prizes are transferable, but not convertible to cash.
• By joining and participating in this promotion, participant confirms, agrees to and acknowledges that:
– Ayala Malls is permitted to receive his/her registration data and that all personal information supplied by him/her will be used by Ayala Malls in accordance with its privacy policy
– Organizers of the promotions have the right to identify him or her as a winner in the promotions and communicate the same at any time in any territory through any medium of release (mass media, digital media, etc.)
– Organizers of the promotions may, without further compensation to him/her: (a) reproduce, distribute, adapt, modify, make available and/or communicate to the public, exhibit, or broadcast the entries he/she submitted by any means or media without restriction of any kind as to quantity, purpose or time, whether commercial or otherwise, or to any country or territory in the world; and (b) to authorize any of the above activities;
– He/she shall make no reproduction of any part of the websites herein for purposes of selling or distributing the same for commercial gain nor shall he/she modify or incorporate any part of the websites herein in any other work, publication or website
• Employees of MRM, Ayala Land Inc., Alabang Commercial Corporation, Station Square East Commercial Corporation, Fort Bonifacio Development Corp, North Triangle Depot Commercial Corporation, NorthBeacon Commercial Corporation, Accendo Commercial Corporation, their merchants, maintenance and security agencies, advertising and promotional agencies, and their relatives up to the second degree of affinity or consanguinity are disqualified from joining the promo

PRIZES

• 1st prize: The first participant to upload the completed puzzle (composed of 8 puzzle pieces) will win a 3Day/2Night Trip to Hong Kong worth P30,000.00 inclusive of Cebu-Hongkong-Cebu Air
Transfer, Hongkong Airport–Hotel Transfer, Daily Breakfast, Half-Day City Tour. Winner may also award P5,000.00 to his chosen charity/beneficiary.
• 2nd Prize: The second participant to upload the completed puzzle (composed of 8 puzzle pieces) will win an overnight stay for TWO(2) in Imperial Palace Waterpark Resort & Spa Cebu worth P14,000.00
• 3rd Prize: The third participant to upload the completed puzzle (composed of 8 puzzle pieces) will win an overnight stay for TWO (2) in Plantation Bay worth P12,000.00
• Consolation Prize:
4th & 5th participants to upload the completed puzzle will win P3,000.00 worth of Gift Certificates.
6th to 20th placer gets gift certificates or movie passes.

After our enriching Beyond Bohol Tour, we were off to Catigbian. It was actually the first time I heard of the said town and we didn’t know what to expect. We were practically in for a surprise.

From the Baclayon Church, we passed through a secondary road which went through the mountains of Corella. The ride was mostly bumpy as the road was still being developed from its mostly dirt road state to glorious concrete. It wasn’t even on Google Maps.

Wonderful view somewhere off the radar in Corella, Bohol. The tarsiers might be hiding behind those trees!

After around thirty minutes, we were in the town proper of Corella.

Corella Church

Thirty minutes more and we found ourselves at DATE (Dagook Adventure Tour Experience) in the 4th class municipality of Catigbian. While the town of Danao has established itself as the extreme eco-adventure destination in Bohol, this new attraction in Catigbian was not made to complete with its sister. It is on a level of its own, providing thrill-seekers a moderate level of heart-pumping adventures.

Catigbian’s D.A.T.E. Park is the flagship project of the town’s own tourism campaign: G.R.E.A.T. (Green Recreational Eco-Adventure Tour) Catigbian

D.A.T.E. Park is nestled in a 20 hectare area amid mountains and rolling terrain. Located 1.5 km from the highway, the park can be accessed by all types of vehicles. It already has established facilities, trained guides and high-end equipment (sourced from abroad) to offer. The cables, harnesses and ropes are of the highest-standards with tensile strength to ensure the safety of each adventurer. It is not for the faint of heart. I wasn’t really ready for it so I said pass and just served as the photographer of my colleagues.

The activities at D.A.T.E. Park come in a four-level course, designed to test your courage.

LEVEL ONE: Canopy Walk
A 60-meter canopy walk suspended over some 20 meters of seven high tension steel cables lashed against each other to contribute to a staggering load capacity of 91.3 tons that can easily accommodate 60 persons per meter ratio. With a depth of approximately 60 feet above the ground, the negotiator could feel the thrill and excitement while enjoying the diverse species of vegetation.The canopy walk is designed to teach you to recognize the vast wealth of vegetation and tree species around Dagook Falls which benefit the lives of Catigbianons.

LEVEL TWO: Monkey Bridge
The 45-meter bridge with a load capacity of 66.1 tons is a combination of four cables one of which is wherein your safety harness: your lifeline is attached in case the shaking knees betray the stern faces. A main cable is strung to two more cables which act as an adventurist’s handrail all 3 lashed at equal distance to minimize the sag and the sway. The first few steps traversing along the 90-120 feet depth bridge overlooking the magnificent Dagook Falls are terrifying yet fulfilling once you succeed.

LEVEL THREE: Mountain Slide
A mini-zip line locally called mountain slide with a load capacity of 15.7 tons produces the exhilarating experience with the 200 meters distance traversed in about 20-30 seconds across the Dagook Falls and Sampilangon River that showcases a spectacular view of hills and the green and bountiful environment.

Since it was already sunset, they weren’t able to proceed to level four.

LEVEL FOUR: Trekking
The ascending trail about half kilometer that gets through stone steps carved out from the moss covered limestone offers a healthy walk in a pristine and fresh environment to the super Dagook Falls.

Snacks: Puto, Sikwate and Gabi Cakes

Coconut Juice is the perfect for re-hydration after an hour of nerve-wrecking challenges.

Cebu Bloggers and Journalists ready to take the Mountain Slide

Trained local men manning the Mountain Slide to ensure a safe and pleasant ride

200-meters through lush forests

Clockwise from 2nd row, center: Ms. Kristin Aldana-Lerin of Sun.Star Cebu, Angeli, Ruben, Ms. Jules Veloso, Mark, Miong, Ms. Jen Vega of The Freeman, Ms. Vea Alvaro, and Gael The Pinay Solo Backpacker

Even though I didn’t get to experience the adrenaline rush, it still felt good to be one of the first few to discover this top tourist destination of the future and share it with you. I can tell my friends really enjoyed since they had ear-to-ear wide smiles after the whole “ordeal”. It’s summertime and it’s the perfect time to visit D.A.T.E. Park with your family and friends. The four-level course is worth P700 per head. 50% discount is offered to students with valid student ID. Lunch and snacks are also offered at P150 and P60, respectively.

Dinner is up next!

(…to be continued)

With 16 fifteen-minute webisodes to air every Tuesday and Saturday, PHL360 is a cross between a reality and travel show featuring eight indie travelers with totally different backgrounds.Two travelers with different personalities will be paired up and sent to an extraordinary trip to four different destinations in the country, and they will have to navigate through a destination that is not best suited to their personality. Exciting twists will definitely come their way, and the travelers will also have the chance to do some good to their countrymen. Those wanting to embark on an adventure of their own will benefit from PHL360 as well, since the show will tackle everything about the destinations and tips about pre-travel to post-trip.

Get the latest developments about the much-anticipated show and know some clues about the eight indie travelers on their website at http://www.PHL360.com/. Plus, get more updates on Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/phl360 and on Twitter, http://www.twitter.com/phl360.

Super looking forward to PHL360!

Check out their extended trailer below:

After a sumptuous lunch of Filipino favorites, we were then off to our “Bohol and Beyond” Tour. Amorita, in partnership with the Philippine Bohol Arts Foundation, Inc. (PBAFI), has come up with special tours intended to highlight some of the previously “unexplored” attractions of Bohol, allowing visitors to experience authentic Boholano life, art, culture, and history.

Those who have not visited Bohol may only know about the Chocolate Hills or the Loboc River, when there is in fact more that Bohol can offer in terms of cuisine, arts, and culture. One of the Amorita-exclusive tours is the Bohol by Night Tour, which is a walking food trip to at least three restaurants in Alona Beach. Another one is the Bohol and Beyond Tour, led by the Resort Manager himself, Mr. James San Diego. This one’s perfect for non-first-timers, who wish to see a different side of Bohol.

FIRST STOP: Cloribel House, Panglao
Built in 1926, this bahay-na-bato reflects the architectural style during those times. Although some portions of the house have been reinforced with concrete to preserve it, no major renovations have been done so far. It was the home of Gaudencio Cloribel, the first lawyer in the Visayas. Up to now, the house is still being used as a residence when family members are present so access to this heritage piece is limited, either you directly contact the Cloribels or you avail of Amorita’s Bohol and Beyond Tour.

The white-washed exteriors gave the house another name, “Bahay na Puti”. Beneath the larger windows are smaller ones, “ventanillas”, that are opened when there is a need for more ventilation.

This part in the ground floor used to be the garage but has been converted to a multi-purpose room.

The very intricate lattice works all around the house is a prominent feature of houses built during the colonial period.

The two-toned wooden flooring is what I first noticed as we approached the living room, which was full of vintage furniture.

A classic chandelier that lights up the staircase.

Another look at the living room, it’s two-toned wooden flooring and the lattice works.

A closer look at the wooden railings

SECOND STOP: Dauis Jewelry Making
With talent, creativity and perseverance, Erma Bunachita has been appointed as the chairperson of the recently-formed Dauis Jewelry Makers Organization. The Bunachitas are one of the families in Dauis that have continued the colonial tradition of hand-making jewelry through the years.

Ms. Erma Bunachita shares that a lot of the jewelry in Visayas and Mindanao were originally sourced from Dauis but a lot of locals have left their homeland and livelihood to seek greener pastures in the metro.

A closer look at the hand-made jewelry, traditional designs that come in gold in silver.

Machines used to shape raw materials.

Their humble work are where the final touches are done.

THIRD STOP: Shrine of Our Lady of the Assumption, Dauis
See my separate post on this Church here. One feature that makes this Church stand out is its ceiling. Although there are no notable biblical scenes, the patterns on the ceiling were done in Trompe-l’œil, giving an optical illusion that the ceiling is three-dimensional.

The Church, the 3rd oldest in Bohol is said to have been built in a mixture of styles, influenced by Gothic, Byzantine and Romanesque architecture.

The belltower holds Bohol’s 2nd and 3rd oldest bells.

Another notable feature of the Church is its temple-like altar. It was quite unique as it wasn’t a wall-like retablo, which is common in other colonial churches.

I was pleased to see that restoration and improvement works are being done in certain areas of the Church like this side-altar. Cheers to their preservation efforts. I hope it is done tastefully and not haphazardly which would risk its heritage value.

Three years ago, tourists would scramble to get their own “miracle” water from this well. I’m glad that it has been enclosed already.

“The water is a blessing, therefore, this is for free. However, we need your kind donation at no fixed amount for maintenance.”. Those who wish to avail of bottled miracle water may now do so at the back of the right side-altar. This is also something new as there was nothing like this during my first visit.

Behind the Church and facing the sea is this altar, which was meant to shoo away Moro invaders. Townsfolk were said to have locked themselves inside the Church. However, they soon ran out of provisions and water. A miracle then occurred: a well appeared at the foot of the altar. The same well is still the main source of water for the people living close to the church, and, although the well is only a few meters from the sea, the water is absolutely fresh. Three years ago, I got to taste the water and it was a bit sweet. The water is said to have healing powers and some local magazine television shows have even featured some locals who were “cured” by the water.

At the back of the Church is Bohol’s oldest watchtower, meant to protect the town from the invaders.

From the back of the Church, we walked to the Dauis Pilgrim Heritage Center.

Aside from its well-trained staff, Cafe Lawis is known for their cakes and pastries, done with a Boholano flair.

Handuman, a souvenir shop which features the Boholano ingenuity in handicrafts.

At the back of the Dauis Pilgrim Heritage Center is a very-picturesque boardwalk which has become an alfresco dining area, a romantic area for couples, and a cool place to hangout for “barkadas”. Although they can’t be seen in the photo, the area “Terraza de Mariveles” was named after the imposing mariveles palm trees. The centuries-old acacia tree is a reminder that this place has been in existence for a very long time already and should be preserved for the generations to come.

FOURTH STOP: D’Original Osang’s Homemade Pastries, Baclayon

This humble house at the back of the Baclayon Church makes the “best broas (ladyfingers) in the world”! I’ve been eating broas since I was a kid, carelessly munching each one, so I was really just excited to taste what is said to be the best.

She is NOT Osang, but a grand-daughter. She mixes the SECRET recipe of whole eggs, flour and sugar. No fancy machines, all done in the old-fashioned manner.

The secret mix is then “piped” and laid-out for baking.

In oval shapes, they are then baked over charcoal.

Finally, they’re ready to take home and eat! P50 for forty-five pieces and P100 for ninety pieces.

SIDETRIP: Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Baclayon
See my separate post on this Church here.

The Baclayon Church is the oldest church in Bohol and one of the oldest church buildings in Philippine history. It is the oldest made of coral stones. Not much has changed in the beautiful church since my first visit but it was the first time I saw that mysterious thing which has fascinated tourists over the years!

The face of Padre Pio, as seen on one of the pillars outside the church. It cannot be clearly seen by the naked eye and is best seen through a camera. Padre Pio is one of the first Italian priests who served the Baclayon Church. He is believed to have had healing powers. He was canonized in 2002.

It was the end of the Bohol and Beyond Tour, which has allowed me to understand Bohol’s rich culture, history and heritage even better. But our day does not end there. James then turned us over to the Bohol Tourism department for another adventure. Wow!

(…to be continued

What is it all about?

Visita Iglesia is traditionally a visit of only seven (7) churches, done on the evening of Holy Thursday after the Mass Commemorating the Last Supper and Washing of the Feet. The Blessed Sacrament in all Churches are exposed, sometimes elaborately designed or decorated with flowers, candles, dim lighting, others a make shift ‘tomb’ or a rocky garden supposed to represent the “Garden of Gethsemane”. The true and meaningful Visita Iglesia is done up until 12 midnight. The goers or ‘pilgrims’ should visit, pray and adore the Blessed Sacrament.

It is not intended to commemorate the 7 Last Words of Christ (which is done on Good Friday between 12 noon to 3pm), nor the Stations of the Cross (which is traditionally done any day during the holy week or on Good Friday morning before the 7 Last Words), but people may still do so because such devotion add to the solemnity and commemoration of the passion and death of Jesus Christ.

Visita Iglesia should be solemn, full of prayers of adoration before the exposed Blessed Sacrament and humility before the cross of Jesus. It should not be done for the intention of ‘touring around’, or solely for wishing for something. Though it is said that petitions to our Heavenly Father may be lifted up to Him during each church visit, still the main purpose and intention of Visita Iglesia should be the profound commemoration of the Last Supper, Christ’s passion and death, and our renewal of faith to Christ’s victory over sin on the day of resurrection.

Anyway, here are some things I noticed earlier. There are definitely more people this year. I even overheard an old lady comment, “Aba ang daming tao ngayon! At least nagbalik-loob na sila sa Diyos!” which I guess is quite true. Second, the Altars of Repose seem to be simpler this year, but they’re more meaningful probably because the Church wants more people to understand the deeper meaning of the tradition. Third, this is the only Visita Iglesia where we’ve experienced rain, ever. Good thing, we were already on our 7th Church. Rain = blessings poured.

Our first church was the Redemptorist Church. But before the Last Supper mass, we went to the back of the Church for the Sacrament of Contrition. There were too many people though so the Church had to perform the Sacrament of Absolution. Absolution does not require “confession” to a priest. In Absolution, you silently confess your sins to God in the priest’s presence, you request God’s forgiveness, and the priest gives you Absolution of your sins. The priest then gave us our penance. He clarified that this is a “valid” confession, the only difference is that it was done as a community. After the absolution, we went back to our pews and listened to the Last Supper Mass. The Church was really very full with people standing up to the parking lot.

Redemptorist Church’s Altar of Repose, which shows Jesus, ready to sacrifice Himself for the redemption of the world.

Their Altar of Repose last year:

Our second stop was at the Archbishop’s Palace compound located at D. Jakosalem St., in Cebu City. The Archbishop’s Palace of Cebu was built in 1953 during the incumbency of Julio Cardinal Rosales, the second archbishop of Cebu. It is the official residence of the Archbishop of Cebu. Within the compounds of the present residence is the Shrine of Blessed Pedro Calungsod, the first Visayan martyr to be beatified (and soon be canonized as a saint!).

After the Last Supper Mass held at the Shrine of Blessed Pedro Calungsod, the Blessed Sacrament was processioned to the Altar of Repose at the garden within the Archbishop’s Palace compound.

Archbishop’s Palace’s Altar of Repose, which portrays the Blessed Sacrament as royalty

Their Altar of Repose last year:

Our third church was the Sacred Heart Parish located at D. Jakosalem St., in Cebu City. The church was built in modern Gothic architecture. The Sacred Heart Church is the first huge church in the city to be fully airconditioned.

Sacred Heart Parish’s Altar of Repose at the St. Francis Xavier Chapel, a unique one as it was decorated with junk materials in what seems to be a wasteland. It reflects Jesus’ suffering, that he was treated even worse than junk.

Their Altar of Repose last year:

Our fourth church was the Sto. Rosario Church located at P. del Rosario St., Cebu City.

Sto. Rosario Church. Do you notice a face in the sky?! *Goosebumps*

Sto. Rosario Church’s Altar of Repose, with bread and wine.

The Sto. Rosario Church was named after its patron, Our Lady of the Holy Rosary. Completed on August 22, 1933, the church is now one of the busiest churches in the city.

Their Altar of Repose last year:

Our fifth stop was at the St. Ignatius Church located at RR. Landon St., Cebu City.

St. Ignatius’ Church’s Altar of Repose, also with bread and wine.

Their Altar of Repose last year:

Our sixth stop was at the Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church, more commonly known as Capitol Parish. Established in 1962, the church is located along N. Escario St., Cebu City.

TRIVIA: My parents were married here. All of us siblings were also Christened here.

Capitol Parish’s Altar of Repose. You may wonder what the significance of San Diego 1672 is. I did a quick lookup on Google and found out about Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores, a Spanish Jesuit missionary who founded the first Catholic church in Guam. “Believing his calling was to serve as a missionary to non-Christians, San Vitores was granted his request and assigned to a mission in the Philippines.”

Last year, they had a Filipino-themed Altar with color-changing LED-light backdrop.

Our final church for Visita Iglesia 2012 was the Asilo de la Milagrosa Church along Gorordo Avenue, Cebu City. This church is special for me as the feast day of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal is a day before my birthday.

Inside the small but beautiful church

Asilo de la Milagrosa’s Altar of Repose, my personal favorite this year because the overflow of colorful flowers and cascading water was very refreshing and set a reflective atmosphere.

Their Altar of Repose last year:

I don’t know if it’s proper to say but I always find the Visita Iglesia experience fun, and at the same time, I had enough time to reflect on the Lord’s passion, reflect on my sins, reconcile and renew my vows with the Lord, and adore Him for His Supreme Sacrifice. I am extremely glad that more and more people, especially those of my age, go to Church, even just during significant events in the Church calendar such as the Holy Week. So, which Church had the best decorated Altar of Repose this year?

And, how about you? Do you have any Visita Iglesia experiences to share? Have a meaningful Holy Week celebration dear readers!

After saying hello to the dolphins at Misamis Occidental Aquamarine Park, we ate late lunch at one local restaurant along the highway. We still had enough time to explore some key destinations so Eric, Marc and I decided to go further North to visit a National Cultural Treasure, the Church of San Juan Bautista in Jimenez, Misamis Occidental.

National Highway

From Sinacaban, Jimenez is the next town on the north so we boarded the first northbound bus that passed by. Like a lot of colonial churches, this one wasn’t on the main highway so we had to pay close attention to the surroundings. As soon as we saw a massive dome, we knew right away that it was the Church so we asked the bus driver to pull-over. From there, we hired a tricycle to take us to the Church.

Old trees and a wide open field where students spend their afternoons after class.

When I first saw the Church from the outside, it really looked old but simple. I said to myself, I’ve been to better churches. But as the saying goes, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.”

The Church facade

Coral stone is the top material that was used during the construction of this Church.

If you plan to visit the Church, do it during daytime so you won’t struggle taking a decent photo of the facade against the light.

The left side of the Church and the belltower

The Church clock, unfortunately, is not functioning anymore. I hope it’ll be included in the Church’s restoration and preservation efforts.

Image of the Virgin Mary on top of the main entrance of the Church.

Stairs leading to the belfry.

But as I took a step inside the Church, I bit my tongue. Oh my, this must be best preserved Church in Mindanao.

The floor tiles have never been replaced since the Church was constructed in the 19th century. And take a look at those wooden pillars!

While taking photos inside the Church, one of the caretakers approached us and I felt nervous. Baka bawal mag-picture! But no, he actually offered to switch on the altar lights so we could take better photos. Thank you!

The main altar and the side altars.

The Gothic-style altar really had nice fine details that were enhanced by the dramatic lighting. I personally think those fluorescent lamps are an eyesore though.

Not contented with my photo of the altar, I asked permission so I could get closer and take a better photo.

An unobstructed photo of the main retablo.

Probably, the best features of this Church can be found on the ceiling.

Take a look at those lovely details and colored glass!

You may think that the paintings on the ceiling are three-dimensional, but no, they’re just flat.

Church dome.

This amazing effect was achieved through the use of “Trompe-l’œil”, a very intensive technique which involves extremely realistic implementation to create an optical illusion that the depicted images are in 3D. This effect can also be seen in Betis Church in Guagua, Pampanga and Dauis Church, Bohol, among others. Literally eye-rolling, yes?

The caretaker was really very accommodating. He even brought us to a small room behind the altar where a mini-museum of sorts can be found.

Stations of the Cross.

Old Church paraphernalia used through the years.

This bell dates back to 1896! Sad to see it’s quite damaged though.

We were informed that the National Commision for the Culture and the Arts (NCCA) has initiated the rehabilitation and conservation of the Church. I hope that this goes on in the years to come so future generations may still be able to appreciate their heritage, especially that this Church is only one among a few preserved colonial Churches in Mindanao.

- – - – -
Before we left Jimenez, we spent a few minutes strolling around the poblacion and found a lot of interesting old houses. But this one just got our attention:

An abandoned old high school building. I hope it gets preserved.

(…to be continued)

DAY 2.

It was raining while we were on the barge but the sea was very calm, as if it was dead! As we arrived at the Ozamiz Seaport, it was still drizzling so we immediately took a tricycle to take us to Executive Hotel.

Upon arrival at the hotel, we checked-in, settled our luggage, freshened up and then went out for dinner at where-else but Mang Inasal! Hahaha! It was our first full meal after breakfast so you can just imagine us going crazy over the unlimited rice. )

After dinner, we walked back to the hotel, just about 300 meters away from Mang Inasal. There’s really nothing much to do in Ozamiz at night as the city sleeps at 8pm! For that, we just went online, until we felt sleepy and Zzzzzzzzz.

DAY 3.

Eric, Marc and I woke up at 7am the next day as we had a packed itinerary for the whole day.

We started it with breakfast in one of the carinderias across the Public Market. I noticed that fish tinola is really very affordable in Mindanao. Soup was good enough to warm us up for the day. After breakfast, we headed to Gaisano Capital Ozamiz as the LOTRADISCO jeepney terminal is located beside the mall. We were all first-timers in the city so we informed the driver ahead that our destination was the Misamis Occidental Aquamarine Park (MOAP). If not, we could’ve been lost as we didn’t know where to disembark.

MOAP is located in Sinacaban, Misamis Occidental, the third town north of Ozamiz. Thirty minutes after the jeepney left, we were dropped by the national highway near MOAP. It was a relaxed ride. The road was surprisingly smooth. We did not charter the jeep so we couldn’t ask the driver to drop us right by the entrance. Coming from Ozamiz, MOAP is on the right side of the highway.

MOAP is just a short walk from the National Highway

As with other parks, a minimal fee is collected at the entrance for the regular maintenance of the facility, especially since this one is government-owned and operated.

Misamis Occidental Aquamarine Park is famous as it is a habitat for various marine mammals in Mindanao. It features a wildlife park that is home to a wide array of animals, most are native to the Philippines.

An area in the park has been dedicated for ponds where they breed shrimps and other types of fish.

More ponds

But the main attraction of MOAP is the man-made island named Dolphin Island.

A separate entrance fee of P250 is collected to enter Dolphin Island. This fee covers the transportation expense to/from the island

Off we go!

Green Misamis Occidental

As we got nearer to the island, I realized that it wasn’t really an island but just some facilities built around a marine sanctuary.

Dolphin Island is ofcourse home to different species of dolphins. Eric then asked me if I wanted to swim with the dolphins. I was excited. Ofcourse I said yes. I almost forgot that I don’t know how to swim, but he assured me that there will be a life jacket provided.

To swim with the dolphins, we had to shell out P50 which includes the rental of the life jacket, snorkel gear, and half-a-kilo of fish which you would feed to the dolphins.

But gosh, as soon as I got off the shallow waters (in the above photo), I started to feel uncomfortable so I called it off. The guide kept on encouraging me but I really can’t take it. Para akong sinasakal ng life jacket!

So I just contented myself with the fish in the shallow area. Pathetic! LOL.

There’s a restaurant in MOAP.

Hearing from Eric, I know that I really missed a lot. He got to encounter the dolphins up close, touched them, then snorkeled in another area where he saw giant clams and even more fish. “Batallions” as he described. Oh well.

As a consolation, a large sea turtle went by the shallow area so I was able to have a photo taken with him. Of course I won’t post it here. LOL.

While the idea of having a close encounter with the dolphins would definitely attract tourists, especially families, I hope the dolphins are coping well. We all know how groups who fight for animal rights dislike parks like these because it disrupts their ecosystem and natural behavior.

(…to be continued)

It is not intended to commemorate the 7 Last Words of Christ (which is done on Good Friday between 12 noon to 3pm), nor the Stations of the Cross (which is traditionally done any day during the holy week or on Good Friday morning before the 7 Last Words), but people may still do so because such devotion add to the solemnity and commemoration of the passion and death of Jesus Christ.

Visita Iglesia should be solemn, full of prayers of adoration before the exposed Blessed Sacrament and humility before the cross of Jesus. It should not be done for the intention of ‘touring around’, or solely for wishing for something. Though it is said that petitions to our Heavenly Father may be lifted up to Him during each church visit, still the main purpose and intention of Visita Iglesia should be the profound commemoration of the Last Supper, Christ’s passion and death, and our renewal of faith to Christ’s victory over sin on the day of resurrection.

Here is a short recap of our Visita Iglesia last year. What you will see below have always been the seven churches we would visit ever since.

Service of Sorrow

Our first church was the Redemptorist Church. But before the Last Supper mass, we went to the back of the Church for the Sacrament of Contrition. There were too many people though so the Church had to perform the Sacrament of Absolution. Absolution does not require “confession” to a priest. In Absolution, you silently confess your sins to God in the priest’s presence, you request God’s forgiveness, and the priest gives you Absolution of your sins. You are inspired by the Holy Spirit to know the penance or atonement you should make. After the absolution, we went back to our pews and listened to the Last Supper Mass. Ooh my, the Church was overflowing. Good thing it was windy so the Church was still well ventilated.

Redemptorist Church’s Altar of Repose

After the mass, the Blessed Sacrament was processioned was processioned to the Altar of Repose.

Sacred Heart Church interiors

Our second church was the Sacred Heart Parish located at D. Jakosalem St., in Cebu City. The church was built in modern Gothic architecture. The Sacred Heart Church is the first huge church in the city to be fully airconditioned.

Sacred Heart Church’s Altar of Repose at the adjacent St. Francis Xavier chapel

Our third stop was at the Archbishop’s Palace compound located at D. Jakosalem St., in Cebu City. The Archbishop’s Palace of Cebu was built in 1953 during the incumbency of Julio Cardinal Rosales, the second archbishop of Cebu. It is the official residence of the Archbishop of Cebu. Within the compounds of the present residence is the Shrine of Blessed Pedro Calungsod, the first Visayan martyr to be beatified (and soon be canonized as a saint!).

After the Last Supper Mass held at the Shrine of Blessed Pedro Calungsod, the Blessed Sacrament was processioned to the Altar of Repose at the garden within the Archbishop’s Palace compound.

Archbishop’ s Palace’s Altar of Repose. When I first saw the altar, I thought the backdrop was a blade but then I realized that it was actually the Last Supper table. Clever!

Our fourth church was the Sto. Rosario Church located at P. del Rosario St., Cebu City.

Sto. Rosario Church. The church facade was renovated 4 years ago in line with the 75th anniversary celebration of the parish’s foundation.

The Sto. Rosario Church was named after its patron, Our Lady of the Holy Rosary. Completed on August 22, 1933, the church is now one of the busiest churches in the city.

Sto. Rosario Church’s Altar of Repose

Our fifth stop was at the St. Ignatius Church located at RR. Landon St., Cebu City.

St. Ignatius Church’s Altar of Repose

Our sixth stop was at the Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church, more commonly known as Capitol Parish. Established in 1962, the church is located along N. Escario St., Cebu City.

Capitol Parish’s facade

Capitol Parish’s Altar of Repose. Filipino-themed, with color-changing LED-light backdrop. Love it!

Our final church for Visita Iglesia 2011 was the Asilo de la Milagrosa Church along Gorordo Avenue, Cebu City.

The church facade

Side-view

Inside the small but beautiful church

Asilo’s Altar of Repose

I don’t know if it’s proper to say but I always find the Visita Iglesia experience fun, and at the same time, I had enough time to reflect on the Lord’s passion, reflect on my sins, reconcile and renew my vows with the Lord, and adore Him for His Supreme Sacrifice. I am extremely glad that more and more people, especially those of my age, go to Church, even just during significant events in the Church calendar such as the Holy Week. So, which Church had the best decorated Altar of Repose last year?

And, how about you? Do you have any Visita Iglesia experiences to share? Have a meaningful Holy Week celebration dear readers!

Globe Telecom announced that it is the exclusive Philippine carrier of Nokia Lumia 800, Nokia’s latest smartphone device that runs on the Windows platform, featuring Internet Explorer 9, free maps and voice-guided navigation services, and free image and file storage.

Globe subscribers can avail of the Nokia Lumia 800 for only P1,499* a month, complete with unlimited mobile browsing and the most affordable call and text freebies that are changeable monthly**. With Globe My Super Plan Unli Surf Combo, the country’s only customizable unlimited data plan, Globe provides users with uninterrupted surfing, their gadget of choice, monthly load, and freebies all in one subscription. The Nokia Lumia 800 is also offered at minimum cash-out for lower plans.

Nokia Lumia 800 is part of Nokia’s latest portfolio of smartphones, boasting a 16GB memory + 5GB in SkyDrive, 3.7 AMOLED clear black display, 8MP auto-focus camera with HD video recording, corning ®Gorilla glass screen and Carl Zeiss lens, and comes in Cyan and Black colors.

“We are very happy to have partnered once again with Globe in distributing our latest innovation, the Nokia Lumia 800, in the Philippines. The stunningly social Nokia Lumia 800 brings content to life with its head-turning design, Nokia’s best social and internet experience, and familiar Nokia elements such as leading imaging capabilities and new signature experiences,” said Dharmesh Goshalia, General Manager and Head of Sales for Nokia Philippines.

Martha Sazon, Head for Globe Postpaid, added, “We thank Nokia for making us the exclusive carrier of Nokia Lumia 800 in the country. This latest smartphone is best paired with our customizable My Super Plan UnliSurf Combo Plans, which provide users with unlimited and worry-free mobile browsing, call and text freebies plus boosters to boot. And with the Globe Guarantee, subscribers are assured they will never experience bill shock ever again because they will never pay more than P999 as long as they are registered to any of our data plans. On top of that, we guarantee 24/7 access to all our customer service channels and after-sales support for the devices. Truly, Globe and Nokia allow customers to create their own postpaid plan to pair with the most advanced smartphone devices, the way they want.”

Pre-orders have begun last March 26, 2012 via www.globe.com.ph/nokialumia. New subscribers can call the Globe Sales Hotline via toll-free number (02) 730-1010 or visit www.globe.com.ph/nokialumia to place their orders. For Platinum subscribers, they can get in touch with their Relationship Managers for reservations. Regular selling in Globe Stores nationwide and pre-order deliveries will start April 16, 2012.

* With Globe UnliSurf Combo Plan 999, cashout of P12,000 a month via 0% 24-months installment payment with a credit card.

** Also includes 1 freebie from any of the following: free 10 mins calls and 200 texts to Globe/TM, free 5 mins calls and 25 texts to other networks, free 20 mins international calls and 10 international texts to 10 destinations, and free unli call and text to 1 Globe/TM number.

After such an overloaded dinner, it was time to cap of the night.

I wanted to capture the sunrise but since I already have a set of Bohol sunrise photos, I called it off and set the alarm for 6:30am instead. As soon as my alarm rung, I took a shower then headed outdoors.

Good morning Alona Beach!

That “Holy Infant” vessel is the boat we’re going to use to get to Balicasag Island.

Low tide and almost still waters, perfect to start the day.

While waiting for the others, I spent some time under the sunlight. Health experts advise early morning sun exposure for at least thirty minutes as it produces Vitamin D in the body, among a dozen of other health benefits!

When everyone was already in Saffron, it was time for breakfast!

Breakfast at the Saffron Restaurant includes a buffet of drinks, fruits, a sandwich bar with homemade breads, a congee or soup section, and an egg station and a French toast/pancake station.

Guests may choose from a selection of hot main courses including traditional American breakfast fare as well as Filipino-specialty breakfast items, which are prepared ala-minute and served hot from the kitchen. So we ate all we can to jumpstart the day!

Well we actually didn’t eat too much as we might get seasick on our way to Balicasag Island.

Breakfast has settled and it was time for our first adventure of the day! At the viewing deck, our dive master from Sea Explorers, Amorita’s new dive concessionaire, briefed us about the basics and safety guidelines of snorkeling which got us very excited.

Time to get our booties and flaps!”

And we were ready! Since it was still low tide, we had to wade a few meters from the shore to get to the boat. Vroom, vroom, off we were to Balicasag! The boat ride to Balicasag normally takes 30-40 minutes, depending on sea conditions and the speed of the boat.

Ms. Jen Vega of The Freeman and yours truly

The Pinay Solo Backpacker and Mr. Pinoyworld

Trip Ta Bai, Adventurous Lei, Matud Nila and Ms. Kristin Aldana-Lerin of Sun.Star Cebu

So near, yet so far!

A lighthouse at the center of the island.  Balicasag is dominated by palm trees and bougainvilleas.

I was actually expecting the island to be deserted, but we were informed that there are around 200 families that are currently residing the island. Balicasag even has its own school and a church.

And as we got nearer, I was surprised to see tens of other tourists at the island. Wow, so we weren’t alone LOL

Too many pumpboats, yes?

Our boat stopped just a few meters from the shore and it was time to literally jump off the boat, but I said pass. I know I am really going to miss a lot but snorkeling is not for me. I don’t feel comfortable with a life jacket almost squeezing my body. Sigh. Two years ago, I was about to swim with the dolphins in Misamis Occidental but when I was about to go deeper, I just couldn’t take it, so I backed out.

I really wasn’t depressed though since I wasn’t left alone on the boat and I also had another role, which was to take photos of my friends.

The photo reminds me of the whale shark watching in Oslob. Balicasag Island is a famous marine sanctuary, ideal for snorkeling and diving.

Ms. Jen and our dive master

After around thirty minutes, they were back on the boat and I just couldn’t paint the smiles on their faces. They all looked like Anne Curtis with their ear to ear smiles. They shared how they saw schools of colorful fish, corals, and turtles, which made me feel like I was with them snorkeling. Angeli even exclaimed that she felt that she was in a painting, or a dream. LOL.

Goodbyes are sad but we had a schedule to follow, so off we were to another 40 minute ride back to the resort. I normally shriek out during sea travel but thankfully, the seas were calm. I am scared of deep waters but I didn’t think about it. I was preoccupied by the beauty of the surroundings and of course, the people around me, who kept the conversations going. Gosh, I can still remember a traumatic experience four years ago, when the engine of our boat from Puerto Galera back to Batangas broke down in the middle of the sea. They were only able to fix it twenty minutes after so you can just imagine what was going on our minds back then.

Finally, we’re back! Amorita, the surprise on top of that cliff!

Resorts along Alona Beach

Outrigger boats ready to take you to your own sea adventure.

As we got back to the resort, we were given time to rest and freshen up for lunch time!

* * * * *

For lunch at Saffron, we had an amazing set of Filipino favorites, with the Amorita twist!

Beef Kaldereta. Beef is roasted medium rare by default, characterized by warm meat, a hint of red, while most of the center should be pink. But you can actually instruct them ahead of time to cook the meat to your liking, especially if you’re not comfortable seeing reds on your meat. Trust me though, beef is best enjoyed medium rare since it is perfectly juicy and chewy.

PERSONAL FAVORITE: Crispy Pork Binagoongan. Crispy Pork Belly sitting on a generous amount of Bagoong (shrimp paste), topped by green mango salad. We consumed the dish as fast as lightning so we requested for a second serving, haha!

Crispy Pork Sinigang. Pity this is my only photo of the amazing soup dish. Sinigang is usually tamarind-based but Saffron chose to use calamansi instead. They also have a different way of preparing this dish. Crispy pork belly slices are pre-prepared with cooked vegetables and then the sinigang soup stock is poured, thus retaining the crispness of the pork.

And of course, the crowning jewel was the Halo-Halo, every Pinoy’s favorite dessert.

(…to be continued)