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Thursday, July 22, 2010

Getaway to Gigantes Islands, Carles, Iloilo






       Gigantes Islands or giant islands are huge rock formations on the white powdery sand beach resort in Gigantes, a part of the town of Carles, Iloilo, the northeastern part of Panay Island in west central Philippines.
   Its pristine island and azure waters with its sparkling white sands is comparable to El Nido, Palawan, Philippines because it is unspoiled, isolated and non commercialized area open only for a few tourists. It is also the place of some artifacts discovered few years back, one of our great ancestors, pioneer settlers of the Philippines. Gigantes Islands is also home to some endemic flora and fauna which are critically endangered species. I will never regret visiting this island and if possible, maybe build a vacation retreat house or permanent residence because of the loveliness of the island. You can watch more of the Gigantes Islands or Isla de Gigantes, Carles, Iloilo on Youtube.

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Island Hopping: Pan de Azucar Island, Iloilo




           Pan de Azucar Islands is a group of islands located in Concepcion, Iloilo, Panay Island west central Philippines. It is about 111.4 kms. from the city and be reached through a series of rides of jeepney, van, bus, motorcycle & ferry boat. It is made up of exotic islets with cave-like gateway which tourists can enjoy swimming and feeling the ambience of solitude. The tropical backdrop includes coconut which can serve as foundation for your hammock and can quench your thirst with its juice which is a good cleansing agent for our kidney.
           Pan de Azucar is the biggest and most popular among Concepcion’s 16 islands because of the enchantingly tall and steep mountain, called Mt. Pan de Azucar or Mt. Manaphag, standing like a towering sentinel in the center of the island.
           Pan de Azucar Island, also referred as “Tampisaw Island” or “Tambaliza,” is located 7 nautical miles north of the poblacion or town proper (in mainland Concepcion) with an expanse of 18.4 square kilometers, occupying 19% of the town’s total land area. It is 30 minutes away from the poblacion via motorized bancas (pump boats), which have regular trips to the southern side of the island. Special tours will have to be arranged with the municipal tourism office or with boatmen docked at the fish port in the mainland.
          Mt. Manaphag is a 573-foot land mass considered as one of the steepest in the country. It is frequented by mountain climbing enthusiasts such as the Sigarong Backpackers. The mountain, which can be seen from afar (as far as Negros Island), easily distinguishes itself from its surroundings and provides Conception a magnificent and interesting landmark because of its shape and size. The island was named after “Pan de Azucar” in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil because of its similar appearance.
           At the foot of the mountain are flat lands suitable for farming, one can see a perfect overview of them on top of Mt. Manaphag. If you happen to know a local, try to have him to take you to a coconut plantation and ask for all the coconuts that you can eat. It’ll certainly give you a fulfilling experience.
           Pan de Azucar has thin coasts of golden-yellow sand to white sand. Most of them are inhabited and may not be suitable for swimming, though there are still a lot of sites around the island which are perfect for a dip like Malumpatan, which is a short beach with a pebbled shore and spectacular rock formations in its surroundings.
Along a white sand beach at the foot of Mt. Manaphag, is Pan de Azucar Beach Resort, which offer rooms for those wishing to spend the night in the island. They offer simple accommodations and have water and electricity available.
           Pan de Azucar Island is a unique experience where you cannot see elsewhere in the country.

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Cebu City, "Queen City of the South", A Misnomer




by Cornelio P. Panes

     The title of Iloilo as Queen City of the South before Cebu grabbed it is a misnomer. It was not intended to mean the premiere or leading city outside Metro Manila. This was how it all began.
     At the outbreak of the Philippine revolution, the Ayuntamiento (municipal council) of Jaro was the first to condemn, by way of a resolution, the revolution as "an unpatriotic act." The Ilonggo alta sociedad also responded to the news of revolution with protestation and outrage and evoked pro-Spanish loyalty. The Ayuntamiento of Iloilo followed suit and organized the Iloilo Volunteer Battalion.
      The voluntarios, as members were called, were recruited from among the private population of Jaro and Iloilo and the adjoining prosperous towns of Molo, Arevalo, Oton and Sta. Barbara, and the more distant northern and eastern pueblos. They fought against the army of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo in Cavite and Pampanga. Illustrious personalities like Martin Delgado, Quintin Salas, Pedro Monteclaro and Adriano Hernandez were among the officers of the battalion. The biggest financial contributors to the Ilongo contingent were industrialist Don Eugenio Lopez and shipping magnate Don Felix dela Rama.
      In the battlefield of Cavite, the voluntarios helped the Spanish forces in the initial defeat of Aguinaldo's forces in 1897. It was the most well-equipped and well-trained contingent on the side of Spain. They helped in the fall of Silang and Imus which led to the collapse of the revolutionaries' defenses in Cavite after a fierce battle for Zapote bridge. The Spanish Crown was elated with that Spanish and the voluntarios' victory. Queen Regent Maria Cristina issued a royal decree awarding the city of Iloilo the perpetual title LA MUY LEAL Y NOBLE CIUDAD DE ILOILO or the Most Loyal and Noble City of Iloilo "for its exemplary conduct and all its laudable action during the present insurrection, in organizing and equipping an Ilongo Volunteer Battalion..."
      Since then, Iloilo was known as "THE QUEEN'S CITY," a moniker for the longer title, which, to our present-day term, is the Queen's pet city. This is because Manila was first granted an almost similar title by the Queen. The title was decreed to be incorporated in the official seal of the city.
      Legally speaking, Iloilo has the perpetual right to the title Queen City by virtue of the said decree. But no Ilongo now is bothered if Cebu snatched that title away. It is a title that would perpetually shame us.
      In the 1990's the City Government of Iloilo unofficially removed the title from the city seal as can be shown in its printed letterheads. To make the removal official, the city council of Iloilo should pass a resolution removing the title from the city's seal.

Iloilo City - The Queen Mother of the South




                 by  Tessa C. Mauricio The Manila Times




           “Welcome to the Queen City of the South!” A visitor to Iloilo City is bound to receive this greeting several times—at the airport tarmac, even in quaint, little pastry shops where the city’s famed barquillos and galletas are made. Eight out of 10 such visitors would then most likely scan the immediate vicinity, and check if the plane had landed in Cebu instead. And when the visitor is finally convinced that the sights and sounds are distinctly Iloilo’s, the inevitable question would follow: “How could there be two Queen Cities of the South?” “The original Queen City is really Iloilo; not Cebu,” says the first-ever woman Tourism secretary of the Philippines; a true-blooded Ilongga by the name of Narzalina Z. Lim. And the manner by which she and her kababayans would make the claim— in the typical melodious Ilonggo voice and an amiable smile—can well, in fact, settle the matter immediately. But of course, facts need to be laid down, lest a conflict ensues between the two Visayan cities. Iloilo’s reign Iloilo, or Irong-Irong as it was called before the Spanish invasion, has always been a prosperous province. Its rich agricultural lands and numerous ports have been the major factors toward its continued progress. By the mid-1800s, Iloilo emerged as the biggest center of commerce and trade in the Visayas and Mindanao; second only to Manila. Fast forward to the 1900s—the establishment of roads, a railway line, an airport, and the surge of the sugar industry in between—Iloilo rightly received her crown as the Queen City of the South. And not only did she prosper in agriculture and commerce, but she also regaled the rest of the nation with grand architectural structures, superior educational establishments, the most glittering of socials, and lively cultural festivities. Soon, Her Majesty’s able sons became the country’s most important business pioneers, among them, Eugenio Lopez, Gregorio Araneta, and a host of other prominent family names, who reaped sweet success from sugar planting. Iloilo, of course, was proud of her children, but there was a price to be paid. While these entrepreneurs and hacien*deros continued to spread their wings—whether to find more land in Bacolod, or to set up industries in Cebu and Manila—the dynamic progress that had long been synonymous to Iloilo eventually plateaued, and dulled the luster of Her Majesty’s crown. Thereafter, Cebu was anointed as the new Queen of the Visayas. Her glorious past, alive and well Despite Iloilo’s “dethronement,” a visit to the former Queen City of the South would explain why her sons and daughters refuse to let go of her previous title. She is still majestic, what with rich remnants of her glorious past that stand proud to this very day. If Luzon boasts of Vigan as its Heritage City, then the Visayas should do the same of Iloilo. Spread around the province are ancient churches and vintage homes dating as far back as the 1800s. Her churches. Truly breathtaking—and perhaps Iloilo’s greatest treasure—is the Miag-ao Fortress Church. Built in 1786, the church is included in the Unesco World Heritage List, and remains to be one of the most photographed landmarks in the Philippines. While Miag-ao’s yellow stone structure is reminiscent of the great temples of Aztec art, the church’s details are unique for they bear touches of the local culture. The facade, for example, displays an intricate carving of St. Christopher with the boy Jesus on his shoulders, enjoying the shade of a bountiful palm tree. This very Filipino setting is guarded by two dissimilar bell towers, which according to history, once served as lookout points for piratical attacks in the province. The church of Sta. Barbara is another well-restored old-world structure outside the city proper, while the cathedrals of Molo and Jaro near the center, are also crowd drawers. They too are architectural feats, made more interesting by unique concepts: Molo Cathedral is home to 16 statues of all-female saints, while Jaro houses an all-male counterpart. Her homes. The old world feel of Iloilo does not end with her numerous churches. The Jaro District, which gave birth to the country’s first-ever millionaire’s lane, delights tourists with vintage houses at every corner. Most enchanting is the 200-year-old Javellana ancestral home, whose ownership is passed on to the eldest child of every succeeding generation. Now under the care of solar power entrepreneur Robert “Pan*chito” Lopez Puckett, the restored Spanish house of wood and stone is referred to as “Casa Mari*quit”—Mariquit being Panchito’s grandmother, a third-generation Javellana and wife to former vice president Fernando Lopez Sr. Panchito employed the services of restoration experts from Intramuros when he inherited the house in the late eighties, and they did excellent job in polishing Mariquit’s dark wood floors and balustrades, her wrought iron ventanillas, and colorful stained glass windows. Lining Jaro’s main road, meanwhile, is Nely’s Garden, whose long, tree-lined drive leads to a decades’ old white mansion, the ancestral home of the wealthy Lopez clan; as well as the Boat House, a multilevel art-deco-inspired abode, which serves as the vacation house of the late Eugenio Lopez Sr.’s brood. Her story. What enhances the pleasure of visiting Iloilo’s ancient treasures are the stories that her children are always eager to share at every destination. How Miag-ao became home to refugees during the war; the miracle of Molo Cathedral’s Virgin Mary when El Niño hit the province; and how Panchito’s grandfather happily leased the beautiful Javellana home to a school for a mere P300 in the mid-eighties. These and more are the stories that have sparked a renewed vigor in the Ilonggos to give back the city her crown. “When we look around us,” they say, “we realize she never did lose her crown for Iloilo continues to be as rich as ever.” What she is, without a doubt, is the Queen Mother of the South. She gave birth to many economies in the Visayas, and she has, all these years, kept her treasures alive and well. The city’s sons and daughters More than ever, the Ilonggos are hopeful that they will soon restore their beloved city to her old glory. They find inspiration in the work of reelected mayor Jerry Trenas, who since his first term, has left no stones unturned in ensuring that Iloilo continues to prosper. Trenas has rightly identified tourism as a potent force in furthering the city’s economy, and restoring the distinction she once had in the Visayas. Thus far, the forward-thinking mayor has fueled an equally dynamic group of Ilong*gos to promote Iloilo as a rich tourist destination, as well as a city that can ably host international and national conventions. Formed only in the beginning of the year, the Iloilo City Convention Bureau (ICCB) already shows much promise in fulfilling the task with Ma. Teresa S. Sarabia, Ph.D as president, former Tourism secretary Narzalina Lim as marketing representative and consultant, and representatives from Iloilo’s major hotels as members. “The group is working together to come up with competitive rates and packages that will entice both tourists and those looking for convention sites to consider Iloilo, for the city truly has a lot of potential,” Lim asserts. “We have the facilities to cater to large convention groups, who after business is out of the way, can savor the original La Paz Batchoy; shop for lace and sinamay; visit the old churches and houses; enjoy young attractions like Casa Fiametta where they can go horseback riding or trekking; or even as a starting point for a trip to the beaches of Guimaras and Boracay.” Gifted with such inviting possibilities, the ICCB and the people of Iloilo City are all set to welcome visitors to the province, and put her back on the proverbial map. And with sons and daughters like the members of the ICCB, there should be no reason why the original Queen City of the South cannot shine as bright as before in the island of Visayas. The ICCB would like to thank Cebu Pacific for sponsoring the recent media familiarization tour to Iloilo City.

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Leading Filipino Women Table Of Reference

Name               Parents or Guardian        Dates of Birth & Death            Birthplace
 
Josefa Abiertas          Guillerma Aday                      1894
                                                                    December 25, 1922    Capiz, Capiz


Melchora Aquino        Juan Aquino                    January 7, 1811
                                  Valentina Hanule                 March 2, 1919   Caloocan, Rizal


Teodora Alonzo       Lorenzo Alberto Alonzo    November 15, 1827
                                    Brigida Quinto               August 23, 1911  Calamba, Laguna


Librada Avelino          Pedro Avelino                 January 17, 1873
                                  Francisca Mangali         November 9, 1934  Pandacan, Rizal


Maria Carpena         Camilo Carpena                January 13, 1887
                                   Maria Evangelista           March 14, 1915  Santa Rosa, Laguna


Marina Dizon                Jose Dizon                    July 18, 1876
                                  Roberta Bartolome        October 30, 1950  Trozo, Manila

Josefa Llanes Escoda         Gabriel Llanes                   September 20, 1898
                                   Mercedes Madamba      August, 1944     Dingras, Ilocos Norte


Praxedes Julia Fernandez                              July 21, 1871
                                                                   August 22, 1919           Manila


Leona Florentino     Don Marcelino Tolentino    April 19, 1849
                                    Isabel Florentino          October 4, 1884   Vigan, Ilocos Sur


Maria Josefa Gabriela     Don Tomas Millan    March 19, 1731
   Silang                                                      September 20, 1763   Santa, Ilocos Sur


Fausta Labrador          Policarpio Labrador     December 19, 1858
                                     Nemesia Zarzadias    September 14, 1942  Lucena, Quezon


Teresa Magbanua          Juan Magbanua           October 13, 1868
                                      Alejandria Ferariz          August 1947        Pototan, Iloilo


Pelagia Mendoza       Leoncio Mendoza              June 9, 1867
                                 Evarista Gotianking          March 13, 1939      Pateros, Rizal


Gregoria de Jesus-      Nicolas de Jesus            May 9, 1875
Nakpil                      Baltazara Alvarez-         March 15, 1943       Caloocan, Rizal
                                       Francisco


Maria Y. Orosa        Simplicio Agoncillo-       November 29, 1893
                                        Orosa                  February 13, 1945    Taal, Batangas
                                Juliana Ylagan


Aurora A. Quezon    Pablo Aragon             February 19, 1888
                               Zenaida Molina          April 28, 1949   Baler, Tayabas (now
                                                                                       Quezon Province)


Margarita Roxas     Domingo Roxas           July 20, 1815
                               Maria Ubado          November 1, 1869    San Miguel, Manila


Olivia Salamanca    Jose Salamanca          July 1, 1889
                                Olivia Diaz               July 19, 1913    San Roque, Manila


Trinidad Tecson     Rafael Tecson         November 18, 1848
                             Monica S. Perez      January 28, 1928      San Miguel, Bulacan


Maria Tinawin                                  September 2, 1895
                                                         April 22, 1948       Gapan, Nueva Ecija


Felicing Tirona                                  June 9, 1903
                                                        April 29, 1952          Imus, Cavite


Asuncion Ventura  Honorio Ventura            July 30, 1853
                               Cornelia Horcoma-   November 22, 1923  Bacolor, Pampanga
                                 Bautista


Sofia de Veyra      Santiago Reyes        September 30, 1876
                           Eulalia Tiaozon          January 1, 1958       Arevalo, Iloilo

Sunday, April 4, 2010

Glossary

Agraciada A girl who works in a Catholic convent school for her board and lodging
Alcalde Mayor A Spanish official who held a position like that of a judge of the court of first instance.
Balintawak A place just outside of Manila where Bonifacio and his men started the revolution.
Capitan del Pueblo Captain of the town; a Spanish official whose position was like that of town mayor today.
Carillas Public shows, largely musical or puppet shows.
Cartilla A small pamphlet used for learning to read. It contains the alphabet and syllable of words.
Comparza Trozo. A group of musicians in Tondo. It was popular during the later part of the Spanish days. Trozo is that part of Manila now better known as Magdalena-Benavides section.
Compania Infantil A society that gave musical shows in various places
Counsellors Advisers.
Colegio Literally means college. A colegio is a school for girls and young boys. Many of the Catholic private schools are called colegios.
“Darak” Rice bran; broken coat of wheat, rice, or other cereal.
Death March The trip of the Filipino prisoners from Bataan to the prison camp at Capas
Diligent Hard-working; industrious
Enameling A covering of glass-like substance
Exiles Persons who are not allowed to live in their own country.
Guardia Civiles. Spanish soldiers.
Jesus’ Sacred Heart College A college in Lucena founded be Hermana Fausta Labrador
Insignias Emblem or badges on sleeves or collars showing rank or connection with some organization.
Jota A kind of dance
Katipunan A secret society founded by Bonifacio for the purpose of fighting against the Spanish government.
Kempeitai Japanese secret police
Maltreat To abuse cruelly.
Margarita Lopez Owner of a private school where Librada Avelino went
Marianas A group of islands in the Pacific. Tandang Sora was exiled there.
Martyr A person who chooses to suffer or die for a cause.
Mausoleum A large tomb
McCullough The name of the American boat on which General Aguinaldo returned from Hong Kong
Miguel Vicos A Spanish mestiza who shot Diego Silang
Missionaries Persons sent to various places for religious work.
Mundos Madrid A Spanish newspaper.
Moral crusader A person who fights wrong doings.
Moro-moro A kind of stage play usually based on the fight between the Christians and the Mohammedans. Also the name of a play for children, consisting of tugging and dodging.
Mourn To express sorrow for the dead
Novitiate A person preparing for a religious life
Orphanage A home for those who have no parents
Palanan A town in Isabela province where General Aguinaldo retreated when pursued by the Americans.
Pasong Tamo A place in Balintawak; well-known battleground during the Philippine Revolution.
Fort Santiago An old Spanish fort where Filipino rested by the Japanese were imprisoned
Plaque Marker made of either a piece of wood or thin piece of metal
Pension An amount of money given to a person by the government in recognition for services in the people.
Philippines Anti-Leprosy Society Society which looks after the welfare of lepers.
Purity Freedom from any wrong motive. Cleanliness
Proclaimed. Made known to the public
Quiles A horse-drawn vehicle quite popular among the rich during the Spanish days.
Revolution An armed movement of the people for the purpose of changing the government
Sculptor A person who carves or models figures from clay, chalk, marble, or bronze
Senators Members of the senate, usually the upper house of a legislative body
Social Justice Fair deal for the poor. It usually means providing measures for the improvement of their living conditions.
Talibongs Sharp, big bolos.
Tenant A farmer who tills a piece of land for its owner
Teniente del barrio An official very much like a municipal councilor today
Tuberculosis A disease affecting various parts of the body, oftentimes the lungs. Tuberculosis of the lungs is called consumption.
Vice An undesirable habit like gambling, drinking or cursing
Walang Sugat Title of a play written by Severino Reyes
Welfare Condition of health, happiness, plenty
Woman Suffrage The right of women to vote and hold public office
Women’s Temperance Union A society the principal purpose of which is stop drinking

Saturday, April 3, 2010

Leading Filipino Women: Sofia de Veyra


Sofia de Veyra
Great Civic Leader
(1876 - 1958)

          Sofia de Veyra succeeded in several fields of activity which greatly benefited her country. She gained fame for her work in education, social and civic improvement, and religion. Throughout her busy life for more than half a century, her family remained as her most precious responsibility. In the words of President Elpidio Quirino, Mrs. De Veyra was “the ideal Maria Clara of present-day Philippines.”


Early Life and Education
           On September 30, 1876 in the little town of Arevalo, Iloilo, a baby girl was born to a couple – Santiago Reyes and Eulalia Tiaozon. The child was named Sofia. Little Sofia was a bright child. At the age of eight her brilliant intellect was noticed by all those around her.
           Sofia received her early schooling in a private Spanish school in Sta. Ana, Iloilo, conducted by the sisters of former Chief Justice Ramon Avancena. She worked in the school for her tuition, board, and lodging.
          She attended no other school after studying in Sta. Ana. Her “higher education” was obtained through self-study.


The Educator
          Changes in Philippine history were to affect young Sofia’s life. After the United States won the Philippines from Spain, American teachers were sent to our country. One of these teachers happened to board in Sofia’s home. Sofia quickly took advantage of the presence of this American teacher. She asked the American lady to teach her arithmetic and English. The teacher taught Sofia addition and subtraction, which were the first lessons she mastered, and gave her daily drills in phonetics and grammar.
          Sofia was soon appointed a teacher in Saravia, Negros Occidental. After a year she was appointed matron of the girl’s dormitory connected with the Bacolod High School. From Bacolod, Sofia was transferred to the Philippine Normal School dormitory in 1905 as assistant matron. Two years later, she founded with Miss Mary E. Colemar, one of the most useful institutions in the country – a training school for nurses. She also became the secretary of the Association Feminist, one of the earliest women’s societies.


Sofia’s Marriage
           In 1907, Sofia married Jaime C. de Veyra, then governor of Leyte. He was the first Filipino in the country to get that position. Mr. de Veyra later became the resident commissioner for the Philippines in the United States. He served in this position from 1917 to 1923. While in America, Mrs. De Veyra told the American people about the Philippines. She delivered lectures to convince Americans that their good system of government in the Philippines would be a fine example to other people in the Far East. In this way she helped her husband maintain good relations between the Philippines and the United States.


Mrs. De Veyra’s Social Work
           Sofia de Veyra was one of our first women to engage in work to improve the condition of the people. During her time it was not yet the practice for women to have activities outside the home. Mrs. De Veyra proved that a woman could work to improve her community without neglecting her home. Hers was an ideal home life, as will be described further on.
          Wherever there was social work to be done, Mrs. de Veyra was there. In 1917, she became president of the “Proteccion de la Infancia,” an organization formed to provide charity services to undernourished babies. She helped organize the National Federation of Women’s clubs, of which she was the president from 1913 to 1936. In 1928, she was a delegate to the Pan-Pacific Women’s Conference in Honolulu.


Service to Her Country
          Mrs. de Veyra’s accomplishments were rewarded with greater recognition by her country of her ability. She was appointed to post after post in the service of her country. These positions took much of her time and often there was no pay for her services.
         From 1923 to 1949, she served as a member of the governing body of the Philippine Red Cross. She became the vice-president of Catholic Women’s League. She was also appointed to serve on the board of review for moving pictures from 1923 to 1949 and on the parole and pardon boards.
        Mrs. Aurora Quezon and, later, Mrs. Trinidad Roxas, as First Lady of the country, appointed Mrs. de Veyra as social secretary at Malacanan.
        In 1929, Mrs. de Veyra became the vice-president of the Centro Escolar University, a position she occupied until her death. After the first world war, she received a medal from President Wilson for her gallant Red Cross war work. In July, 1951, she was decorated by President Quirino for her outstanding contribution to social welfare. She was cited as “Homemaker and Civic Leader of the Year.”


The Ideal Mother
         In serving her country well, Sofia de Veyra never neglected her family. She brought up her children as god-fearing, responsible persons who later on took their places as good and useful citizens in the community. She was not only a good mother. She was also a good mother-in-law.
        “In the midst of her busy life,” a daughter-in-law said, “she had time for the family of her married son. She would take time to clip articles and hints on how to improve home life and child care. These clippings she gave to me. There was no place in her disposition for anger, criticism or gossip. She gave all her time to religion, education, civic work and affection for her family and friends.”


Her Last Years
        Sofia de Veyra lived a long and useful life. Old age did not slow down her civic activities. During her last years, she took part in the activities of different civic organizations.
        So when Sofia de Veyra died on January 1, 1958, the whole country mourned the loss of a great woman.
        These were the words of tribute that the President of the Philippines released to the press upon her death: “Mrs. Sofia de Veyra was the embodiment of all the desirable qualities that a true Filipinas should possess. The performance of her duties as an exemplary mother who reared God and country-loving children did not hamper her from doing her other duties to her countrymen, by serving them devotedly in the field of education, religious work and social service. She lived a noble and honorable life and thus she died. Her death is just like the passing away of some sweet music which we will long remember, because in her life she had done much to spread sweetness and light.”