History Markers

Aside from my passion for old Catholic Churches, I also collect history markers. I may not be able to take a snap of all the history markers of the important and historical places that I've been to, but my collection here is quite sizable. Let's take a walk through history.

LapuLapu Monument in Mactan, LapuLapu City, Cebu

Isabelo de los Reyes in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur

Syquia Mansion in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur. This is the ancestral house of Pres. Elpedio Quirino's wife and he also used to live here.

Sto Nino de Cebu Church in Cebu City, Cebu

Urdaneta Marker at the entrance of the Sto Nino de Cebu church in Cebu City, Cebu

Dambana ng Kagitingan in Pilar, Bataan

Calamba Church where Dr Jose Rizal was christened.

Sementeryo sa Ilalim ng Lupa in Nagcarlan, Laguna

Majayjay Church in Majayjay, Laguna

Magellan's Marker in Mactan, LapuLapu City, Cebu

Leona Florentino in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur

Magellan's Cross in Cebu City, Cebu

Ifugao Rice Terraces

Fort San Pedro in Cebu City, Cebu

Cape Bojeador in Burgos, Ilocos Norte

Cagsawa Ruins in Daraga, Albay

Rizal's House in Calamba, Laguna

Antipolo Church in Antipolo, Rizal

Penafrancia Church in Naga City, Camarines Sur

Cathedral of Vigan

Site of the Diocese of Nueva Segovia in Vigan

Casa de Dona Alejandra Singson de Donato in Vigan

Casa de Don Gabriel Florentino in Vigan

Hong Kong Disneyland

Emilio Aguinaldo Statue in front of the Barasoain Church

Malabrigo Lighthouse in Malabrigo, Lobo, Batangas

Daraga Church in Daraga, Albay

Barasoain Church in Malolos, Bulacan

Zoobic Safari

Zoobic Safari is a 25 hectare wildlife sanctuary in Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Olongapo City, Zambales. It is a 3 hour drive from Metro Manila via NLEX and SCTEX. Be prepared to encounter exotic and diverse animals - from birds, snakes, crocodiles, camels, tigers & lions. There is also an Aeta Show that showcases the history, culture & way of living of our Aeta brothers. 

      OPERATING HOURS

• Open daily          :          8:00 AM up to 4:00 PM (even holidays)
• This is a guided tour of about 2 and a half hours.

Zoobic Safari

Breakfast at Subic International Hotel before going to the safari.

The cute buses that transported us around the safari.

An Aeta showing off his dance skills

An Aeta performer, resting after his performance.

Birds!

The King of the Jungle donated by the Ruler of Dubai.

Snakes...

Close encounter with the tigers

Croco Loco

Hinulugan Taktak and Via Dolorosa

It was April 02, 2010 - Good Friday - everyone else were either out of town or doing their religious obligations. We were just lying in our apartment with nothing to do while everybody were in full spirit for the Holy Week. Joey was thinking of where to go. She googled the internet til she came to the Hinulugan Taktak homepage. So off we went - fresh from night shift, no shower, with just our sling bags and the determination to kill boredom.

We took a bus at the corner of Mother Ignacia Ave. and EDSA since the MRT was not in operation for the holiday. We took off below Shaw MRT station then rode a jeep in front of Starmall along Shaw Blvd going to Antipolo City, stopped at the front of Ynares Center and rode a tricycle going to Hinulugan Taktak.

Hinulugan Taktak literally means 'where the bell was dropped' during the Spanish era. The story goes that villagers got so annoyed by the harsh clanging of the church bell that the priest decided to drop it into the stream.

The entrance fee was only P8. The trees are lush green but we were disappointed by what we saw. At the bottom of the legendary falls were all garbage - diapers, soda cans, plastics, styrofoams. I guess the internet reviews about the waterfalls are way superficial.

Despite the floating trash, the waterfalls itself is still picture perfect but the air around it is kinda filthy.

This place has been proclaimed as a National Historical Shrine last 1990 but I wonder why the falls itself is not maintained when it is supposed to be the main attraction of the park.

The place is great for group outings and picnics since there is a supersized pool and umbrella cottages. There are also rooms for rent and the public toilet is so so.

I love the 100-step-stairs but don't try it if you don't have much stamina! (though I was not able to count if it was indeed a hundred :)).

After unwinding for a while at the top of those flight of stairs, we decided to go to Via Dolorosa (Pinagmisahan) or popularly called as White Cross as per recommendation by the tricycle driver which is just an uphill away.

On top of Pinagmisahan Hills are the enormous White Cross and the outsized image of the Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage. It is a grotto-like hill that welcomes pilgrims from everywhere.

Expect to encounter life-sized images of the station-of-the-cross along the way to the top of the hill to sacredly reflect the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Observe silence at all times because it is considered as a sacred place. No cameras and food allowed inside - hmmmpppp - I still hate Joey for being an angel to me that day but I still managed to steal one shot with the White Cross at the background!

We deserve a Cornetto after an exciting Good Friday!