Twilight from the hill/Sky-watch Friday

around 4:45 PM

I was at the beach in Cebu on Wednesday afternoon taking pictures of sea creatures while my friend's kids were picking sea urchins.  I was waiting for the sunset until my friend told me that the sunset can be seen from the hill where we walked on earlier on the way to the beach.  We retraced our steps and upon reaching the slope, I realized with a tinge of disappointment that we missed the sunset.

We got here around 6:30 PM and the horizon was not as colorful as I expected it to be.

But in a matter of seconds, orange "flames" started to get through the clouds.

In a span of  2 to 3 minutes, the sky turned fiery.

I was mesmerized.

This looks like a ball of fire falling from the sky. 

It felt like the sky waited for us to be here at the right moment.

What a spectacle!

Definitely, the greatest show on earth!

 "There are worlds out there where the sky is burning, where the sea's asleep and the rivers dream, people made of smoke and cities made of song..." ~ Sylvester McCoy

Linking to Sky-watch Friday

Shrine of Our Lady of Charity

Today is the first day of the Holy Week or Semana Santa, a significant religious observance for the Roman Catholics and most Christian groups. And being a predominantly Christian nation, many Filipinos would be busy with church activities this week.  The pious would fast, attend masses and processions; some would take the opportunity of the non-working holidays to go on vacation.  I will be in Cebu for work and some R and R.

Although I'm not a Catholic, I have always been fascinated with old churches and rituals.  This is the Bantay Church in Bantay, Ilocos Sur, also known as Sanctuary of Nuestra Senora de la Caridad and Shrine of Our Lady of Charity.  This was one of the churches we visited during our Ilocos road trip that I forgot to post.  This church houses the image of the Virgin Mary that is believed to be miraculous, and St. Augustine of Hippo, the Doctor of Grace.  The original church was built in 1593 and considered as one of the oldest parishes in the Ilocandia.  It is also famous for its scenic bell tower that sits on a hilltop; it was also used as a watch tower during World War II.

The church was built by Augustinian friars in 1593 and has survived many attacks during the Spanish colonial times, wars and calamities.

Truth, in matters of religion, is simply the opinion that has survived. ~ Oscar Wilde

Linking to Blue Monday

Monday Mellow Yellows

Our World Tuesday

Semana Santa/OWT

For Christians around the world, today is Holy Tuesday.  The Philippines, a predominantly Catholic nation, celebrates Semana Santa (Holy Week) this week.  Semana Santa is a significant religious festival here, most businesses either shut down operations or have later opening and earlier closing times.  Local TV networks and radio stations have limited broadcasting hours or show religious programs only. No rock music over the airwaves during Holy Week.:p

I grew up watching these processions every year on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.   The processions were major events that we looked forward to when we were kids.  Floats with life-size statues representing the Passion of Christ are paraded all over town with accompanying music.  Devotees walking all the way from the church, across town and back.

Prominent families usually own a float which was handed down from generations, some of the antique statues were sculpted in Spain.  A relative on my mother's side of the family owns one of these floats---a parcel of rice field is farmed to finance the expenses of the statue---flowers, decorations, robe/fabric, gas to power up the lights, food to feed those who prepares the statue every year and for the family and friends who walk beside the float.

I had a personal favorite when I was a kid---a statue of the Mater Dolorosa.  She was beautiful, her eyes were so sad, her robe was always stunning, and she left a scent of perfume.  I didn't see her during this procession though--or I missed her because of the crowd.  I hope the owner has not retired her yet.

I am not a Catholic and my Semana Santa pilgrimage is more of nostalgia, of returning to my roots, of reliving my childhood---to hold hands with cousins and aunts while watching the procession passing by our street, to see familiar smiles and faces.

 The Santo Entiero, (the image of a dead Christ) encased in a glass casket is usually the last float in the procession.  The glass casket is guarded towards the end of the procession as people tend to grab the flowers---devotees believe that flowers from the Santo Entiero float bring good luck to fishermen.

This year, I am not going home for the Semana Santa but will visit nearby towns to watch the processions.  I am still thinking if I'd like to see some self-flagellation or crucifixion on Good Friday.  Let's see where my feet would take me.:p

These photos were taken last year on Good Friday in my mother's hometown of Valladolid in Negros Occidental.

Linking to Our World - Tuesday

Caramoan - Matukad Island [Watery & Outdoor Wednesday]

My recent trip to Caramoan is something that I wouldn't forget in a long time. The rugged, natural beauty of this peninsula is like nothing I've seen before. Matukad Island was the second islet we visited on Black Saturday, and it made quite an impression. Nobody lives in Matukad, and it has a short stretch of powdery white sand beach with turquoise water, limestone rock formations and flourishing vegetation. This islet is a favorite island-hopping destination at the Caramoan Peninsula. If you want to stretch your legs, doing a bit of island exploration would reveal a hidden lake behind the jagged rock formations. To see the lake, we had to climb the scraggy rocks. For someone like me who never tried rock-climbing before, the experience was both scary and exhilarating.

this photo was taken by April Manzano

A glimpse of the mysterious Matukad lake from my vantage point.

Here's a better view of the lake taken by April.

Don't try rock-climbing wearing flip-flops! Yeah, that's me catching my breath. Why? Why, why, why, why do I do this????

view from the top

On the way down, I snapped this picturesque splendor of a tropical paradise that is Matukad.

Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Posted for Watery Wednesday and Outdoor Wednesday

Sinakulo in Caramoan [Ruby Tuesday and My World-Tuesday]

As a predominantly Catholic nation, sinakulo or passion play is performed across the Philippines during Holy Week. Every community, in rural and urban areas, has their own version of sinakulo and some even have actual crucifixions. Aside from being a religious tradition, the sinakulo is said to be the root of the conventional Filipino melodrama. The Virgin Mary became the "all-suffering, all-forgiving Filipino mother" and Jesus was the "savior of societies under threat and the redeemer of all those who have gone wrong".

I witnessed this passion play at Tabgon, in Caramoan, Camarines Sur on Good Friday. Red signifies passion and therefore, the color of the day.

My contribution to Ruby Tuesday and My World-Tuesday

Gone fishing...

Gone fishing...to a hidden paradise.

Will be back on Tuesday. Have a meaningful Lent.

Wet 'n Wild in Cagbalete Island - Watery Wednesday

towering coconut trees

Indeed, a tropical vacation in Cagbalete Island was rejuvenating. In the afternoon and early morning, I've walked the long shoreline of sandy beach and found a gem of a beach house! It can be easily missed because of tall dense trees that almost covered the facade of the house. The beach house is owned by a retired couple...and because I was nosy, I was given a grand tour. The house was mainly made of wood and bamboo, furnished in heavy wood furniture. The bathrooms and kitchen are modern---there was even a bath tub in the upstairs bathroom. There were 3 bedrooms on the ground floor and a loft for the masters bedroom. They also have their own power generator. A few meters from the main house is a pavilion with huge molave and kamagong dining furniture. I wondered how they transferred those furniture from Baguio to the island. Oh, the house can be rented, too, according to the owner. And I have their contact details.

Lavina's Aguho Playa

The remoteness of this island is a blessing. There were no bikini open, no loud house music, and no videoke parties. We feasted on fresh sea foods, enjoyed the laid back lifestyle and passed the time by doing nothing. What a heaven!

This is our tent that we rented for 300 pesos (roughly $6.00) a night. There were two mattresses and pillows inside. Everything was cool and dandy---I even fell asleep early (which is not normal for me) until around 1:30 am when I woke up to the rain drops on my face! Yes, it was a rain storm and it really poured. Our mattresses soaked, pillows drenched, even our bags were wet! The rain water flowed into our tent, strong winds outside, it was very cold as we grappled with a flashlight and tried to salvage our bags. Who would think of bringing a rain coat in the middle of summer? It was actually hilarious! Mother Nature has ways of reminding us to be always prepared.

My friend S abandoned ship and took refuge in a small chapel with a monoblock lounge chair. The couple in the neighboring tent ran to the dining area together with the rest of the campers. Guests in the cottages continued to dream and some didn't even know we had a rain storm. While I, the girl scout, stayed inside the tent, slept on one side to avoid getting soaked from the mattress and slept through it. And I don't know how and why, but the wetness didn't bother me...nothing could ruin my vacation! I woke up happy and refreshed. S slept the whole day and complained of a headache (yes, we packed a packet of paracetamol).

sun-bathing standing up

a young surfer

a cute beach bunny

the soloist

our anchorman

the cowboy on his early morning ride

afternoon catch---for our dinner


More watery scenes at Watery Wednesday

Cagbalete Island - Weekend Snapshot

Cagbalete Island. I was longing for some peace and quiet for the Holy Week holiday when I saw photos of this island in Dong's blog. Perfect, I thought. Not the usual Holy Week destination, and less than 4-hour drive from Manila. I found Villa Cleofas' website, called Ed, one of the owners, and booked a tent for a 2 nights/3 days stay. I slept in a tent in Malapascua Island a few years ago and wanted to experience it again---the back to basics sort of vacation.

This is what the shore of Villa Cleofas in Cagbalete Island looked like when we arrived around 10 am on Maundy Thursday. It was low tide so our boat was not able to dock by the beach. The water was waist-deep where the boat captain dropped the anchor and we didn't want to get wet, so we had to transfer to a flat boat that was pulled by 3 macho guys until we reached the shallow waters. We walked about a half kilometer to the beach.

sand ripples at low tide

Like my friend S who hadn't seen this kind of low tide before, a backpacker later told me that he was thinking of a tsunami when he saw the wide waterless sea. Good thing, he didn't panic.

the flat boat that carried us ashore

This is the beach early in the morning---the best time to swim, and explore our side of the island.

early morning high tide

late afternoon after our siesta

looking for treasures and enjoying solitude

pine trees growing along the beach

stranded drift wood

a lazy morning by the hammock

More photos of Cagbalete Island on my next posts...

Posted for Weekend Snapshot