Camposanto de San Joaquin Iloilo

27 October, 201224 February, 2013 Bernardo Arellano III Leave a comment

San Joaquin Iloilo Camposanto

Because its the Halloween season or nearing Todos Los Santos, I’ll be featuring several Spanish era cemeteries of the province of Iloilo within this week. Known for their unique camposantos, construction and baroque features, these has stood the test of time and an addition to the heritage sites that manifested Ilonggo, Spanish, Chinese and mestizo creativity along with its century old churches and houses.

Located 59 kilometers southeast of Iloilo City towards the province of Antique, this laidback southernmost town of Iloilo of San Joaquin is our first stop for the tour. It was believed to be one of the places of the mythical “Barter of Panay” where Bornean datus traded the legendary golden hat and long necklace to the native Ati or Aborigenies for settling in the lowlands.

San Joaquin Camposanto

Being the farthest town down south, it has maintained its rustic charm with a century old church featuring the relief of the Battle of Tetuan. Maybe a manifestation of the Christian settlers here against the marauding Moro raiders during the Spanish colonial era.

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King Faisal Mosque of MSU

26 October, 201224 February, 2013 Bernardo Arellano III Leave a comment

King Faisal Mosque in Mindanao State University

Eid’ Mubarak to all our Muslim brethren!

For Maranaos and Filipinos alike, Marawi City is the center of education, especially when it deals with Bangsamoro culture and Islamic studies (with numerous madrasahs in the area).

Green domes and spires

In the sprawling Mindanao State University (MSU), King Faisal Center for Islamic, Arabic and Asian Studies served as a vehicle of learning Islamic and Arabic studies, most especially in the Muslim-dominated regions of Southern Philippines. It started as a unit of College of Liberal Arts, it became a separate academic unit and established its own center inside the campus. (more…)

Musuan Peak: Volcano in the Campus Backyard

24 October, 2012 Bernardo Arellano III 1 Comment

Musuan Peak and Fulbright Kiosk of Central Mindanao University. Click the photo to view more images of CMU and Musuan Peak

Bukidnon’s landscape is just simply marvelous. Expanse of hills blanketed in agricultural plantations, bordered with pine trees and towering mountain ranges. One can simply think whether we are still in tropical Pilipinas or not. However, between Valencia City and Maramag, a peak rises abruptly over the valley of Pulangi—Musuan Peak.

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Talicud Island: The Virgin Emerald and Pearl of Davao Gulf

23 October, 201223 October, 2012 Bernardo Arellano III 1 Comment

Talicud Island. Click here or the photo to view more photos

While a lot of sun worshipers who head to Davao would think of neighboring Samal Island, most people haven’t seen the virginal beauty of Talicud Island—a pearl and emerald floating on Davao Gulf. Virginal in the sense that despite its powdery-white sand beaches that stretched for miles and being so close to Mindanao’s urban hub, it is almost relatively untouched by the capitalist party and pa-sosyal business resorts.

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Kabu: The Melancholic Story of Tugaya’s King of Brass

4 October, 20124 October, 2012 Bernardo Arellano III Leave a comment

Kabu - Tugaya’s King of Brass

The town of Tugaya in Lanao Del Sur province is known as the center of Maranao craftsmanship. Majority of the people in the town are engaged in arts and craft industry, particularly creating intricate wood carvings such as baul and debakan drums that are sold in the markets of Davao, Manila, and overseas. However, aside from wood, Tugaynons have another specialty—they are also metal benders—creating intricate works of art with the use of fire and earth—brass works! Kabu, kanyon, and kris are the things Tugaynons are known for.

Kabu on display at home

The community of Bubong is known for brass-making, with the large intricate brass jars called kabu and canons as its main products. The kabu is well known all throughout Mindanao as a decoration of royalty. These large brass jars varies size—from size of plant pots to human sized behemoths. Since these are made entirely of metal, it is considered as a collector’s luxury item. One kabu may reach as expensive as several thousand pesos or even a million—exported to big cities such as Manila and Davao, and even overseas. All of these were craftily made in this sleepy town beside the lake.

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How to Get in and Out of the New Bacolod-Silay Airport

1 October, 20121 October, 2012 Bernardo Arellano III 3 Comments

New Bacolod-Silay Airport

Barely several months after the opening of the new Iloilo Airport in June 2007, the City of Smiles has also opened the newest gateway to Sugarlandia of the Philippines itself-Bacolod Silay Airport. In January 2008, the old Singcang Airport in Bacolod City has ceased operations and transfered to the new facility about 20 kilometers away from the Bacolod, located in Hacienda Bagtic in the City of Silay. In line with the upcoming Masskaracelebrations this October, here are some tips on how to get in and out of the new airport.

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