Sunday Quote and Photograph: With Great Power Comes

"With great power

comes great responsibility."

Peter Parker (Spider-man)

Trending with the movie “The Avengers” and super heroes, plus the trending summer topic on my recent blog posts, I am inspired to post this photograph.

With me in this photo apart from the two kids are two of my mortal "BFFs" and my best super buddies in costumes are (from left to right) Bruce Wayne (Batman), Clark Kent (Superman), Diana Prince (Wonder Woman), Jay Garrick (Flash) and Hal Jordan (Green Lantern).

Anybody want to guess where this photograph is taken?  No price to whoever can guess the correct answer though, just for pure fun!

Clue:
Peter Parker (Spider-man) is fighting with William Baker/Flint Marko (Sandman) near the entrance of this resort

Our Summer Fun at Club Manila East in Taytay Rizal, Philippines. Part 1

First off, this is not a paid post. LOL. This is the first series of  posts on our fun and adventure in the list of water parks from this post. 

We’ve been to Club Manila East (CME) in Taytay Rizal three times.  Yes THREE!  Consecutively in 2010 and 2011, and a first visit which I still can’t recall the exact year because I can’t locate the photo files yet. The three visits probably explains why CME is on top of my list.  Anyway, as I go along sharing some photos and stories, you can judge if it’s really worth coming back to CME.

What I noticed with CME is that every time we come back, they always have new amenities.  I’m supposed to share our own adventure using their website as a guide, but I noticed that the website is not too updated.  There are amenities that are already operational during our last visit, but I didn’t see some of them mentioned in the website.  Anyway, the best way to feature this water park is by sharing our photos and our story, so here we go!

The entrance signage is nothing extra ordinary. The planet-shape signage shown here is just beside the ticketing window where people wait. It’s bed is a pond-like aquarium cum wishing well.  It has aquarium fishes and people are throwing coins at the pond.
Once inside you will find more useful signage and directions to help you find your way to each of the amenities.  The souvenir shop is in the left side just after the entrance and is almost adjacent to an open food area.

The Beach Wave!
This very inviting wide pool will make you feel you’re in a real beach. It is surrounded with real palm trees and they provide beach benches wherein you can lounge around. There are also open showers just right in front of the pool.  The panoramic photo shot below is taken by hubby upon our early arrival.  The place is still peaceful.  Once they started to release the artificial waves, this area becomes the most crowded and noisiest part of CME.  This is our kids most favorite place here in CME.


The hunk (lol) with the little girl in the first photo is hubby and our little one.  The second photo is me having great fun with the wave.  The third photo are just one fourth of the total number of people in the wave pool enjoying the artificial waves, and in the fourth photo is the little one again making cute poses with the waves.  The photos are taken on different visit dates.


There are different cabanas and cottages that you can rent and there are also free ones. They provide keys to the cabanas so you can lock your valuables while swimming.  We always choose the mushroom-looking umbrella cottage just in front of the beach wave.  Aside that it’s free, it is directly overlooking the kids favorite beach wave.  It enables us to monitor the little one from our umbrella cottage and our things when we’re in the water.  It’s a waste to rent a cabana because we always stayed in pools and we don’t bring valuables when we go swimming.
 

The Ocean Wave.
Another panoramic shot taken by hubby.  It is much wider than the Beach Wave and the waves are bigger and the water is deeper.  On the left side is a diving spot. This is also where the surfing activities is being done. We do not allow the kids to stay alone here but we do let them stay in the “shore” with us.


Boating and Kayaking Area – another kids favorite. You just need to be patient falling in line to have your turn in the kayaks. I am not sure the exact minutes you are allowed to use the kayak, but I reckon it is just for some very few minutes.



The Buzzy River.
The whole family’s favorite.  This is the most relaxing area wherein you can just float away.  You will pass under creatively designed bridges with sprinkling waters beneath the bridges unto the river.  The river’s smooth current is also artificial.


Ooops sorry! I need to break this post into two parts because there are a lot more photos and stories to share with.  Hang around as I complete our CME fun and adventure Part Two.  Meanwhile, you may want to share your (violent) reactions for now.

Waterparks Within and Nearby Metro Manila, Philippines

The heat is on and by the feel of it and according to the country's weather bureau announcement, this freaking heat won't be over soon.  I'm sure a lot of us are looking for ways and places to cool down so I am posting this article that I'm sure will be useful in dealing this "major major" summer heat!

For city dwellers, you might be thinking about that summer get-away in far-away beaches and islands but the problem is, you don’t have the time (or the budget) to travel that far so I am suggesting these perfect summer getaway – water parks!

I have plenty of these water parks on my list because hubby’s schedule sometimes gets in the way on our summer plan, he’s into soccer by the way.  So every time that we got the opportunity to steal him from his hectic summer schedule we think of these summer destinations within or just around the city:

Club Manila East 

Km. 24 Manila East Road, Taytay, 1920 Rizal, Philippines
Telephone Numbers: (632) 660-2801 / 284-4740 to 41 / 284-4736
Fax Numbers: (632) 286-6139 / 284-4752
Website: http://www.clubmanilaeast.com
(they also have branches in Real Quezon, Philippines and Boracay, Philippines

Amana Waterpark

Address:
Santisima St., Bagong Barrio, Pandi, Bulacan, Philippines
Telephone Numbers:
(632) 299-6612 / 299-6703
(644) 661-2383 / 661-2384
Mobile Phones:
Sun: (63)922-8708428 / (63)923-7135874
Globe: (63) 917–8866220
Smart: (63) 908-8736353
Smart : 0908-8736353
Facebook Account: http://www.facebook.com/amanawaterpark
Website:  http://www.amanawaterpark.ph/

Boso-Boso Highlands Resort and Convention Center

Address:
Sitio Cabading Brgy. San Jose Antipolo, City, Philippines
Telephone Numbers:
(632) 4017535 / 7035048 / 8068387 / 7035020
Mobile Numbers:
(63) 920 9544030 / 908 6299254 / 908 3112512
Email:
Hotel/Resort Reservations bosobosohighlands@gmail.com
Banquet & Conference paradisehotel.bbhrcc@gmail.com
Camp & Events events.bosobosohighlands@gmail.com
Website: http://bosobosohighlands.com/

Eight Waves Waterpark

Address:
D.R.T. Highway, Ulingao, San Rafael, Bulacan 3008, PH
Telephone Numbers:
Manila: (+632) 299-8234
Bulacan: (+63) (44) 766-5268 / 766-5936
Fax Number:
Manila: (+632) 742-0063
Bulacan: (+63) (44) 766-5272
Email: info@8waveswaterpark.com.ph / eight_waveswaterpark@yahoo.com
Website: http://www.8waveswaterpark.com.ph

Ciudad Christia Resorts (9 Waves)

Address:
Carrieland Country Homes II, Ampid San Mateo, 1850, Rizal, Philippines
Telephone Numbers:
(+632) 2971111
Mobile Numbers:
(+632) 997-9999, 997-5946, 997-6009,
Fax Numbers:
(63 2) 997-5945
Email: sales.9waves@gmail.com / inquiries.9waves@gmail.com / pergolahall@yahoo.com
Website: http://www.9wavesphilippines.com

The water parks in this list are places that we actually visited.  I have another list of water parks which I categorized as "located just outside Manila".  I will make a separate post for this category. And just like what I promised about the churches, I will also make make an individual post about each of these water parks. So hang around!

Sunday Quote and Photograph: Look at the Flowers

“Look at the trees, look at the birds, look at the clouds, look at the stars...

and if you have eyes you will be able to see that the whole existence is joyful.

Everything is simply happy.

Trees are happy for no reason;

they are not going to become prime ministers or presidents

and they are not going to become rich

and they will never have any bank balance.

  Look at the flowers - for no reason.

It is simply unbelievable how happy flowers are.”

~Osho~

Inspired by this year’s Earth Day celebration, I posted this photograph of hubby taken in Finland during one of his team’s Europe tour.

Here’s a peek of this year’s Google Doodle for Earth Day 2012:

Guimaras Island. Our Unplanned Trip to Paradise

The original plan was a family road trip from Iloilo City to Boracay.  It was supposed to be the culmination of our ten solid days of “family’s escape from the city”.  The day before the trip, the kids expressed their dislikes to the idea of road travel for ten to twelve hours from Iloilo City to Catiklan, then a boat ride to Boracay Island, more so that it’s a round trip.

Finally, we cancelled the plan just the night before the trip.  We all agreed that the road trip is a waste of time and is stressful for the kids, so we will just plan a separate Boracay trip via plane from Manila.  The mission now is to make the best alternative to the cancelled Boracay escapade.  We all wanted to make the most of our last days in Iloilo City so the plan should be better if not good.  Well it was not just good, but it turned out to be the best! Destination - Guimaras Island!

As unplanned as it is, we take whatever available option that will bring us from Iloilo City to the Island.  First step is a boat ride from Port San Pedro to Buenavista Port.  The boat ride is both relaxing and exciting.



Docking at Buenavista Port, we hired a jeep that will take us to one of the beaches in the island.  We bought foods along the way and whatever we might need for our whole day stay in the island.



First sight of the beach…oh wow what a pleasant surprise!, not crowded, white sand, cool, clear, calm sea.
The kids can’t wait! We’re not even settled in our cottage and they went running to the beach. I followed them and and it took a while before I can persuade them to go back to the cottage and have some food first.  The truth is, I myself find it difficult to go back to the cottage.  The beach is so inviting.



Our lunch food is from Jollibee.  The snacks, junk foods, soft drinks, candies are all from the sari-sari (convenience) stores we found in the commercial/residential area near the pier.  The local delicacies, fishes (for grilling) and fruits are from the local wet market.  The fish are fresh catch and the fruits are sooo sweet and cheaply priced!  Just eating the uncontested world class mango of Guimaras island is simply heaven!



We stayed in the beach just lounging around the shore, doing lazy swim, playing in the sand, hunting for drift woods, sea shells, and all sea-shore friendly creatures, building sand castles, rock-throwing , coin hunting, hugging and cuddling in the water and exploring the beach.  They are all just simple but the most joyful things you can do in the beach.  The sun was also friendly on that day, it was not too hot.

We are unmindful of the passing time.  We only noticed that it’s time to go when our hired driver took a kindly peek in our cottage.




The only spoiler that day is that our camera is low in battery and we left the charger.  This is the same reason that we didn’t go island hopping.  The camera is blinking the “low batt” warning and we thought that it would be a waste to go island hopping without documenting it.  Anyway, we are definitely coming back in this island. 

All in all this unplanned escapade surprisingly turned out to be one of the best and memorable among our family bonding.  It also made us forget about the cancelled trip to Boracay.  In Guimaras island we found our own P-A-R-A-D-I-S-E!




 

"The best things in life are mostly unplanned"

The Phantom of the Opera in Manila

Here’s another huge reason to say “It’s more fun in the Philippines”! Not only Hollywood’s hottest actors, actresses and musical artists are flooding Manila, Philippines but something bigger is coming!

After 25 years since the production opened on Broadway, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s mega-musical “The Phantom of the Opera is coming to Manila!


It will  run at the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ main theater from  August 25 (Saturday) to October 14, 2012 (Sunday).  Tickets go on sale to general public starting May 1. For Infinity (Powered by Smart) subscribers and Citibank cardholders, pre-selling of tickets is from March 19 to April 30, 2012.

According to the press statement, this production is as good as the London’s West End or Broadway version, boasting around 130 cast, crew, and orchestra members, great set designs, visual effects and more than 230 stunning costumes by international designer, the late Maria Björnson . The production contains some of Webber’s most popular songs, including “The Phantom of the Opera,” “Think of Me,” “All I Ask of You,” and “Music of the Night.”

The Phantom of the Opera is based on the French Novel Le Fantôme de l'Opéra by Gaston Leroux.  It tells the story of a mysterious existence of a disfigured musical genius’ known as “The Phantom”, and his love for the beautiful and talented soprano, Christine Daaé.

The Phantom of the Opera has won more than 60 major theater awards, including seven Tony Awards and three Olivier Awards. Worldwide, the musical has grossed over $5.6 billion, and has been seen in 145 cities in 27 countries, and played to more than 130 million people.

It also has enjoyed huge success throughout the Asia-Pacific region, having experienced sold-out seasons in cities such as Tokyo, Singapore, Shanghai, and Seoul. The Philippine premier is from the power tie up of Lunchbox Theatrical Productions, Frances Lumen, Smart, and Citibank Philippines

For tickets, call Ticketworld (632) 891-9999 or visit www.ticketworld.com.ph.

For a detailed history of The Phantom of the Opera click here and the Manila production here. Image is from Google images.

Sunday Quote and Photograph: If You Raise Your Children

”If you raise your children to feel that they can accomplish any goal or task they decide upon,

you will have succeeded as a parent

and you will have given your children the greatest of all blessings”

… Brian Tracy

The photograph is the screen shot from my “eight year old clone's” Tumblr blog.  It’s her summer school break and she’s allowed to use the computer on a longer time.  She’s been playing kid’s PC games so I thought of “stealing” some time from her gaming and taught her what mom do best .  But of course, this is with my super strict supervision.

You may want to check her stuff here.  By the way, she also runs.

Friday the 13th. Some Quick Facts

I posted this on my Facebook wall last January 13, 2012.  It was also Friday the 13th then.  I thought about checking a bit about Friday the 13th because we were laughing about one relative who has a scheduled flight on a Friday the 13th.  We were supposed to join him but we can’t find an available flight.  What we got is a flight on the following day, “Saturday the 14th”.  We ended up jesting and frightening the relative who’s flying on Friday the 13th.  It was hilarious.

So here’s sharing some facts about Friday the 13th 

• The fear of Friday the 13th is called friggatriskaidekaphobia.
• Jack the Ripper has 13 letters in his name and so do these serial killers :
• Charles Manson – an American criminal known for the Manson Family Murders
• Jeffrey Dahmer – American serial killer and sex offender
• Theodore Bundy – an American serial killer, rapist, kidnapper and necrophile
• Albert De Salvo – known as the “Boston Strangler”
• Many hospitals have no room 13, some tall buildings skip the 13th floor and some airline terminals omit Gate 13.
  Gregory Johnson bravely included a thirteenth floor in his designs for the Empire State Building in New York.  Three days after its completion, on a Friday, the weight of the building caused it to buckle and it crushed the thirteenth floor.  It has been structurally sound ever since.
• The year 2012 is a leap year starting on a Sunday. There are three Friday 13ths for this year - January, April and July.
• Any month that begins on a Sunday will contain a Friday the 13th, and there is at least one Friday the 13th in every calendar year
• Thursday the 12th is just as rare as Friday the 13th.

So are you scared of Friday the 13th?  Why don’t you share your Friday the 13th experiences here?  It doesn’t need to be a bad and scary story.  Some really got lucky on this date


* Photo from Google images

Vicita Iglesia 2012 Part Two - 14 New Churches Added To My Chronicle

Part two of two.  Continued from this post

8th Station: Parish of St. Francis of Assisi (Church of Meycauayan)
Meycauayan, Bulacan, Philippines

I got so excited at the first sight of this church that I lost an important piece of paper here. I’m imagining horses and carriages, ladies in Maria Clara dresses attending masses and some timid stolen glances from the gentlemen. This church is founded in 1578 and there’s a lot of digging to do to make a special post for this one.

9th Station: St. Michael Parish (Church of Marilao)
Marilao, Bulacan, Philippines

Plants sprouting from all over its walls is the first thing that you will notice from this old church which is founded on April 17, 1796. And once you enter, be ready to be amazed by its breathtaking altar. Watch out as I share the details in a more detailed post


When I was doing Vicita Iglesia in the old days, I don’t eat or drink anything unless I finished the fourteen stations.
This time, my navigator bought some “pastillas” and “yema” candies from the vendor at the second church. I ate just about two pieces because my mouth was so dry from the heat. Then beside this church at around lunch time, I saw him munching “kamote fries”, “banana que”, “quek-quek” and sipping ice cold lemon lime! Oh forgive this hungry human I can no longer resist the temptation and hunger! LOL!

10th Station: National Shrine of the Divine Mercy
Marilao Bulacan, Philippines

As we ask people what is the nearest church from our 9th church, everybody points to one direction, the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy. But we were also warned about the crowd and the traffic. I realized later what was the warning is about when we reached the place, it is sooo crowded. Again, some bits of memories takes me down memory lane but I can’t make a solid one. The place looks familiar but I can’t remember the scene I am seeing now. I probably been here a very long time ago. I need to make some research soon so to give clarity to my bit of memory and I’ll be sharing it to you.

11th Station: St. Martin of Tours Church
Bocaue, Bulacan, Philippines

Another old church. It’s unfortunate that we were not able to take a shot of the church marker. Our time constraint started from here. We need to be home by 2:30PM and we’re running out of time. My navigator wants to have the Barasoain Church as our last station but he’s not sure if our time is ample. I don’t mess around with the time and navigation planning. I’m not good at that, I’m just the spoiled passenger :).

12th Station: San Juan Chapel
Balagtas, Bulacan, Philippines

I suggested that we take this chapel at Balagtas Bulacan to be our 12th station. I surmised that if ever we run out of time, at least I’m done with my main purpose. It’s a very simple chapel that caters to the parishioners of a certain number in this Barangay. The full shot of the chapel doesn’t look good, so I chose to share this shot with a cross. 

13th Station: St. Lawrence Deacon and Martyr Parish
Balagtas, Bulacan, Philippines

A beautifully structured old church with a beautiful arch adorned with the image of the patron saint atop of it and three old church bells, what more could you ask for? But there’s really more to share about this church that I will feature in a more detailed post.

14th Station: Barasoain Church /Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish 

Malolos Bulacan, Philippines 

We drove straight to Malolos, skipping the San Ildefonso Church. My navigator had been in this church once but he’s serious in bringing me here. He said that our Vicita Iglesia in this area would not be complete without visiting the most historical one. The famous church that is printed/engraved in the Philippine Ten Peso denomination, famously known as the Barasoain Church. There are quite a lot to say about this historical edifice and so I will be working hard on the detailed post for this one.



There it is! fourteen churches completed my Vicita Iglesia. 2012 and added to my chronicle. My purpose is accomplished and my adventurer self satisfied.

Of course that was made possible by having the best navigator with me, who happens to by my man = my hubby, powered by his GPS android tablet and his reliable two-wheel drive. Now the challenge is to travel back home speedily but safely. I pray to all the saints and angels that we met from all the churches that we visited, to guide us on our trip back home.

As we drove back home, I can hear the “Mission Impossible” movie theme playing in the background as I held on tight to my hubby feeling like “Katie Holmes” to my "Tom Cruise" as we go back riding home.

“as years go by, the beliefs and traditions are adapting into the modern time and technology,
 but the faith never loosen”

Vicita Iglesia 2012 Part One - 14 New Churches Added To My Chronicle

Under a tight time frame but powered by the best navigator in tow, a GPS, the coolest and best ride, and “an imaginary Mission Impossible” theme playing in my head, I completed my Vicita Iglesia for this year, starting from a “church in the woods” and ended in the historical Barasoain Church.

No offense to my catholic readers if I address this as an “adventure”. Again, this is my way of sharing the experience and the beauty of these churches to non-Catholics. The faith is something personal that will always remain intact in my heart.

1st Station: Our Lady of the Victory Chapel
Malabon, Metro Manila, Philippines

I call it the “Church in the Woods”. A view that I usually see in the movies. It came to us as a big big surprise finding this church in the woods. A detailed post is coming for this one.



2nd Station: National Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima
Marulas, Valenzuela City, Philippines

It looks familiar to me but I can’t find the old memory in my head. It seems that I’ve been into this church a long time ago when I’m much much younger. Let me dig my memory’s archive and the history of this church and a detailed post is on the way.



3rd Station: Parish of the Holy Family
Karuhatan, Valenzuela City

Don’t judge the book by it’s cover so don’t judge a church by its façade. This church looks like just a simple building under renovation. It doesn’t even look like a church when I’m viewing its angle from my camera while I was taking this photo. But when I get inside the church, I was flabbergasted and absentmindedly sit on its bench that made me more agape when my hand touched the bench I’m sitting on. A more detailed post is definitely coming for this one. I am very excited to share it to all of you!



4th Station: Parish of The Holy Cross
Gen. T. De Leon, Valenzuela City, Philippines

A simple yet modernly built church. The consecration marker of this church is dated December 7, 1992. It’s sort of built exactly as it needed by its parishioners, wide and spacious with entrances on all sides. I need to cross the street where it is located before I am able to take a full shot.



5th Station: Our lady of the Holy Rosary Parish
G. Marcelo St., Maysan, Valenzuela City

A majestic site. Obviously another modernly built church established on October 7, 1978. This is one perfect example of a church being the heart of the town. You can never get lost looking for this church. It is built several feet above the grounds and the cross can be seen from afar. I say you need a good pair of legs to reach the main entrance of this church. A more detailed post coming for this one.



6th Station: San Isidro Labrador Parish
Malinta, Valenzuela City, Philippines

Modernly built church almost the same as the church in the 4th station, low edifice but wide. There’s quite a number of churches I visited that are named after San Isidro Labrador, the patron saint of farmers. Our country being an agricultural one is probably the reason. Unluckily, I don’t have the photo of the church marker so I don’t have the data on when this is built. I can’t find it in the internet either. Anybody please leave a comment if you have the details.



7th Station: Parish of The Risen Lord
T. Santiago St. Veinte Reales. Valenzuela City, Philippines

Gasp! This reminds me of roman empires and gladiator movie scenes. Again, you can never be lost if you are looking for this church. It is so majestically built and very colorful! A detailed post is coming. I’m excited with the details.



To describe fourteen churches even briefly is too long so I decided to break this post into two parts. You will find the next seven churches and the culmination of my adventure in the next post. See you there!

Sunday Inspiration and Photograph : John 3:16

“For God so loved the world

That He gave His only begotten Son.

So that whoever believes in him should not perish,

But everlasting life”

I took this photo some few years back using a mobile phone, during a live staging of the “Passion of Christ” (Senakulo) in my provincial home town.  This is during the “Pieta” scene, when the dead Christ is brought down from the cross and the Virgin Mother is holding Him at the foot of the cross.  I have more photos of this Senakulo including the Pieta scene.  I hope I could share the story here some time.

The characters portraying on this live "Senakulo" are from youth organizations in my home town and they are doing the staging for free.

The 14 Churches I Like Most from my Vicita Iglesia Chronicle

Do you believe in reincarnation?  They said that whatever unique interest and quality you posses in your current life is a manifestation of the life that you reincarnated from.

Some of my family and friends used to joke that maybe I am a reincarnation of a “nun” (don’t laugh hey!).  It is because I have always been interested and fascinated with CHURCHES.  When I go to places especially on provincial trips, the first place that I look for is the church.  I know that my being a catholic is one major factor for this interest.  But I also feel that there’s more to that.

So I have always been wanting to write about churches and since it’s the lent season I think this is the best time to start my series of posting about churches.  I am observing “Vicita Iglesia” annually so I have been into a lot of churches within the reach of Metro Manila or the nearby towns.

Some few years back, I started taking photographs of the churches that I have been to.  There are quite a number that are my favorites but what I will share from this post is the most currently available from my file and the most recent from what I call my “Vicita Iglesia” chronicle. 

Here are the first fourteen list of churches that I like most.  I will enumerate their parish name and location in this post, then I will make a separate post about each of them along the blogging way.  The list is according to the the photograph’s chronological arrangement.

1. San Clemente – Taytay Rizal
2. The Manila Cathedral – Intramuros, Manila
3. Our Lady of the Abandoned Church – Sta. Ana, Manila
4. The Shrine of Jesus, The Way, The Truth and The Life – SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City
5. St. John the Baptist and Columbary – Calamba, Laguna
6. St. John the Baptist Parish – Taytay, Rizal
7. San Juan del Monte Parish – San Juan Metro Manila
8. San Isidro Labrador Parish – Biṅan, Laguna
9. San Geronimo Parish (St. Jerome) – Morong, Rizal
10. Sta. Ursula Parish – Binangonan, Rizal
11. St. Polycarp Parish – Cabuyao Laguna
12. Sta. Cruz Church – Sta. Cruz, Manila
13. San Lorenzo Ruiz Parish (Binondo Church) – Binondo, Manila
14. Sta. Rosa De Lima – Sta. Rosa, laguna

Anybody want to guess why is it fourteen?

I do hope that my non-catholic readers will also appreciate this post. Anyway. churches does not only symbolizes religion but also history and heritage.