Waterfall [Watery & Outdoor Wednesday]

A small waterfall at Palaisdaan in Tayabas

Leisure is a form of silence, not noiselessness.  It is the silence of contemplation such as occurs when we let our minds rest on a rosebud, a child at play, a Divine mystery, or a waterfall. - Fulton J. Sheen

Posted for Watery Wednesday and Outdoor Wednesday

Puente de Malagonlong [Sunday Bridges]

One of the few surviving arch-type stone bridges in the Philippines that was built during the Spanish regime is Malagonlong Bridge or Puente de Malagonlong. A declared historical site by the National Historical Institute, Malagonlong is a 445-foot long bridge built in 1840-1850. This was the longest bridge ever constructed during the Spanish era with approximately 100,000 adobe blocks used. Located in Tayabas, a town in Quezon province 3 hours south of Manila, Malagonlong Bridge crosses the Dumaca-a River and connects Tayabas to towns of Mauban and Pagbilao.

When I took this photo last year, motor vehicles were no longer allowed to pass this 160-year old bridge for safety reasons. A modern girder type bridge was constructed about a 100 yards from this charming stone bridge.

Posted for Sunday Bridges

Quiet pool [Watery & Outdoor Wednesday]

the quiet pool of the Dumacaa River

I came where the river
Ran over stones;
My ears knew
An early joy.
And all the waters
Of all the streams
Sang in my veins
That summer day.

~ Theodore Roethke, The Waking

Posted for Watery Wednesday and Outdoor Wednesday

Koi pond - Watery Wednesday

When was the last time you spent a quiet moment just doing nothing - just sitting and looking at the sea, or watching the wind blowing the tree limbs, or waves rippling on a pond, a flickering candle or children playing in the park?

I spent some quiet time at this koi pond in Palaisdaan, a restaurant in Tayabas. Koi are cold-water fish but they do not react well to long cold winter temperatures. The best temperature for koi is 15-25 degrees C. Common carp or Koi in Japan were developed in the 1820's, and are still very popular in Japanese culture as a symbol of love and friendship.

Japanese legend says that if a koi succeeded in climbing the waterfalls at a point called Dragon Gate in the Yellow River, it would be transformed into a dragon. Based on that legend, koi became a symbol of worldly aspiration and advancement. In Buddhism, koi represent courage. Humans "swim" through the "ocean of suffering" without fear, just like a fish swims through water. This is probably why the Japanese generally associate koi with perseverance in adversity and strength of purpose.

Koi can recognize the person feeding them and gather around him or her at feeding times. They can be trained to take food from one's hand. Koi can live for centuries. One famous scarlet koi, named "Hanako" (c. 1751 – July 7, 1977) was owned by several individuals, the last of which was Dr. Komei Koshihara. Hanako was reportedly 226 years old upon her death. Her age was determined by removing one of her scales and examining it extensively in 1966. She is (to date) the longest-lived koi fish ever recorded. (Source: Wikipedia)

Get wet at Watery Wednesday

Palaisdaan in Tayabas - Weekend Snapshot

I hope you're not getting tired of my Tayabas series. I'd like to show you the rest of Palaisdaan Restaurant. Obviously, I love this place---the concept of huts by the fish pond and their promotion of traditional Filipino cuisine are wonderful. Palaisdaan is sitting in a 1.3 hectare elevated land at the foot of Mount Banahaw, approximately 136 kilometers from Manila and 8 kilometers from Tayabas town center. I love the food, the rustic ambiance, the lush vegetation, the cool climate and the abundance of water.

Aside from it's idyllic beauty, I've been returning to Palaisdaan for their ginataang suso with pako (native escargot with wild fern cooked in coconut milk). This dish is a native delicacy not easily found in Manila restaurants, and the fact that native escargots are eaten by sucking the meat from the shell makes it more exciting! The authentic feel of country life is something you can't buy in malls and restaurants in the city. The restaurant has 34 huts, 24 of which are floating, and a couple of pavilions for big events. The water in the fishponds, fountains and waterfall is coming from a nearby spring. Prices are reasonable---around P250/person. I also bought kesong puti (white cheese made from unskimmed carabao's milk) and native sweets from a vendor roaming around the restaurant.

with April and Cloyd

I love this nook by the parameter fence...it's a great place to sit quietly while having a cup of coffee, and gaze at the beautiful view of rice fields and Mount Banahaw.

Posted for Weekend Snapshot

Aerating roots at Palaisdaan - Think Green Thursday

My first visit to this restaurant was at night, and I vowed to return for their ginataang suso with pako [native escargot and wild fern cooked in coconut milk] and explore the lush vegetation. Palaisdaan is located at the foot of the mystical Mount Banahaw, along the Tayabas-Lucban provincial road in Tayabas, Quezon. I love the mouth-watering food they serve here as well as the rustic ambiance, the abundance of greens and water, the cool mountain breezes.

In broad daylight, these aerating roots caught my attention. They're probably roots of an epiphytic plant, sometimes called an "air plant" because they don't root in soil. The aerating roots give the place a sense of calm and stillness. I was Thinking Green and breathing in fresh air. The condition of these roots maybe useful in assessing the effects of air pollution and even ozone depletion.

We had lunch at Palaisdaan last Sunday, on our way back to Manila from Padre Burgos.

Posted for Think Green Thursday

Litratong Pinoy: tulay (bridge)

Ang Tulay ng Malagonlong sa Tayabas, isang tulay na bato na ginawa noong 1840 at natapos noong 1850. Isa sa mga nalalabing tulay na bato sa bansa na ipinagawa sa panahon ng pananakop ng mga Kastila.

Ang ganda nga ng tulay na bato na isa sa mga landmarks ng Tayabas. At nakakatuwang isipin na buo pa ang tulay na ito pagkaraan ng 159 taon. Lumakad ako sa ibabaw ng tulay na hindi na pinadadaanan sa mga sasakyan. Tao at mga kalabaw na lang yata ang tumatawid dito. Parang nabawasan lang ang ganda ng tulay na bato dahil sa isang bagong tulay na itinayo sa tabi nito.

Para makakuha ng mas magandang litrato, bumaba ako sa ilog kung saan may mga naglalaba pa. Mabuti naman at wala masyadong pagbabago sa ilog na 'to...malinis pa rin ang tubig. Madadaanan ang tulay galing Tayabas papuntang Mauban, Quezon.

The Malagonlong Bridge in Tayabas, a charming stone bridge constructed in 1840 and was completed in 1850. This is one of the remaining stone bridges in the country that was built during the Spanish colonial times. One of the landmarks in Tayabas, the stone bridge was indeed beautiful. And it's amazing that it still stands after 159 years. I walked across the bridge where motor vehicles are no longer allowed to pass for safety reasons. The bridge was a grassy, muddy trail and it looked like only carabaos (water buffalo) and people have crossed this bridge for a while now. If not for the new bridge constructed beside it, the old bridge would have been perfect. I decided to go down to the river to take better photos. And I found these two ladies washing clothes. It looks like nothing much has changed around this place...the river is still clean. This old bridge is along the highway in Tayabas going to Mauban, Quezon.

naglalaba habang naggi-girl talk ang magkumare

the new Malagonlong Bridge


Posted for Litratong Pinoy

Ruby Tuesday: parasol

A bamboo pole as a makeshift stand for an umbrella. An ingenious way to create a shade for father and son while they soak in the cool waters of Dumacaa River.

Taken in Tayabas on Black Saturday.

Posted for Ruby Tuesday

Weekend Snapshot: meditation garden

A meditation garden at the back of Tayabas Basilica. There are stations of the cross, a spiritual pilgrimage of prayer for Roman Catholics, and benches for those who seek some peace and quiet and a cool shade on a hot Saturday afternoon.

Posted for Weekend Snapshot

Weekend Snapshot: Tayabas plaza

Snapshots of a small plaza in front of the Tayabas basilica. I was particularly attracted to these weather-beaten posts---charming in its rustic tranquility. It looks like they've been in this plaza for a long, long time and are probably as old as the basilica which was concreted in the 1600's. They stand here as mute witnesses to the ups and downs of this town.

Friends from Tayabas told me that this park is not the town plaza, and used mainly during Holy Week and other religious activities. With its well-maintained garden and cool breezes, no wonder town folks find this park an idyllic spot to spend a lazy afternoon in.

Posted for Weekend Snapshot

Ruby Tuesday: red pineapple

Here's a beautiful native Philippine red pineapple I stumbled at the forest in Tayabas. In 2007, Philippines was the second in the world production of pineapple at 233 metric tons. Costa Rica was number 1, and Cote d'Ivoire came third. Aside from puree, juice concentrates, canned products, dried and fruit cocktail, native Philippine red pineapple is also an excellent source of pina fiber.

But do you know how the pineapple got a skin covering that resembles a human eye?

There's a myth that most Filipino children must have heard while seated at her or his grandmother's lap. It started with a farm girl named Pina who lived with her mom as tenants in a fruit plantation. Her mom was the hard-working type, and Pina was also hard-working---but not with the household chores. She loved playing all the time. The myth goes on to say that the mother, used to being too vocal with her careless ill wishes or curses on people who didn't delight her, was liberal on such habit on her daughter, Pina.

One day, the myth says, Pina’s procrastinations went too far for her mom to tolerate them anymore. The mother told Pina to get her wooden shoes from the under their hut. Pina went down their hut and looked under it. But on seeing her old rag doll, Pina's imagination started working. She was soon playing with the doll and forgot all about her task. Her usual dialogue of “I didn't see it,” when actually she wasn’t searching but playing, did it this time. Her mom shouted invectives at her and a curse---“May you grow dozens of eyes!” so Pina would stop mentioning her favorite dialogue. Then suddenly, Pina disappeared.

A search party looked all over the plantation for Pina but they couldn't find her. Then Pina’s mom saw a curious new plant growing at their backyard. It was covered with eyes. She remembered her latest curse on Pina and knew the plant was her. From then on, she called the plant, a pineapple, or “Pinya” in Filipino.

The myth on the origin of pineapple aims at fostering obedience, and that parents ought to watch how they deal with their kids.

Posted for Ruby Tuesday

Watery Wednesday: Dumacaa dam

Dumacaa dam was constructed in 1957 and is one of the critical watersheds supporting irrigation system of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA). It is a major source of water for irrigation of 1,721 farmers located in the towns of Tayabas and Pagbilao, and Lucena City. (Source: DENR)

So this is what the dam looks like at daylight! My friends and I crossed this dam around 9 pm the night before with only a flashlight. It was pitch-dark as there is no electricity in this area. And I probably looked silly with a pillow under my arm as I walked blindly on rocks and water. As Franzia would put it, we were guided by the stars! We stayed in a tenant's house beside the river, there are no neighbors at a shouting distance. Harvey made a bonfire and us girls star-gazed and drank tequila while I was telling them scary stories.:D

This dam is located in Tayabas, Quezon province.

Posted for Watery Wednesday