Tag Archive: heritage site

Oct
24
2009

Magdalena Laguna: “Hollywood of the Philippines”


Santa Maria Magdalena Church, Magdalena, Laguna

I would like to go to Laguna, the off-beaten track. Palagi na lang kasi sa highway kaya di masyadong maka-pasyal! I was thinking of going to Majayjay with its massive church…however it is very off the way and the sun is setting in few hours time. We’ve finally decided, from Pagsanjan all the way to Nagcarlan via Magdalena and Liliw then San Pablo then head home. We went far interior, into the foothils of the Holy Banahaw.

By the time we reached Magdalena, I was surprised by several billboards claiming its title: “Hollywood of the Philippines.” Really now? How come it became “Hollywood” in the middle of the coconut plantations? I was really clueless.

Yet upon arriving at the town’s church plaza and the municipal hall, I gasped and said, “Ah! Dito pala ang pinagshootingan nung mga pelikula ni FPJ at iba pa!” Indeed, it was a familiar sight and delight. No wonder this rustic town got its own exposure to stardom. At di na nya kinailangang pumasok sa “Bahay ni Kuya” o magpa-audition sa “Starstruck!” True enough, there’s a facility nearby that was donated by FPJ himself!

One of Philippine cinema’s favorite towns indeed!

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Permanent link to this article: http://habagatcentral.com/2009/10/24/magdalena-laguna-hollywood-of-the-philippines/

Aug
11
2009

Viva Turumba! Pakil Laguna

Iglesia de San Pedro Alcantara, Pakil, Laguna

Iglesia de San Pedro Alcantara and drying the rice grains at town plaza, Pakil, Laguna

It was an a hour drive crossing the verdant foothills of Sierra Madre from Pililia, Rizal to the first stop over in eastern Laguna, Pakil. We passed by the junction where the road leads to the Pacific shores of Quezon province, Mabitac, Siniloan and Pangil.

We turned left towards an old and narrow winding road towards Pakil.

I love the place and topography so much. This is the Laguna barely known or touched by tourists and mainstream urbanity. This is rustic Laguna. Peculiar though is the topography, green hills cascade steeply towards the shore of Laguna de Bai. And later we found out, we are at the pilgrimage center of Laguna, just past 12:30 in high noon.

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Permanent link to this article: http://habagatcentral.com/2009/08/11/viva-turumba-pakil-laguna/

Jul
13
2009

A Loss in Ilonggo Heritage: Locsin House of Molo, Iloilo

Locsin House on Lower Bottom Portion of Photo with Molo Church

Locsin House on Lower Bottom Portion of Photo with Molo Church

I was saddened and horrified when I saw another of our heritage houses being torn down and be replaced by something…rumors say it’ll be another commercial building. That old green and white building sitting just across the majestic Saint Anne’s Church in Molo, Iloilo City, has been demolished.

Locsin House Demolished (Photo by Rex Dianala)

Locsin House Demolished (Photo by Rex Dianala)

The old Locsin house which is just at Calle San Pedro in Molo was just demolished to give way to a rumored commercial or residential new space for this area after the old owners sold it to a private investor which the name is withheld. Read the rest of this entry »

Permanent link to this article: http://habagatcentral.com/2009/07/13/a-loss-in-ilonggo-heritage-locsin-house-of-molo-iloilo/

Nov
01
2008

Cemetery Tour: Cementerio de Janiuay

Janiuay Cemetery gates

Perhaps the most notable among all of the cemeteries in central Iloilo would be the cemetery of Janiuay, some 30 kilometers from Iloilo City. This is the town after Cabatuan, so if we started our trip there then its just 15 minutes away.

Janiuay town is settled in the foothills of the Panay Cordillera which its fertile valley is irrigated by Suague River. The church itself is new after some of the guerillas burned the old Spanish colonial era church in World War II. What is remarkable heritage site here is not in the town proper but several kilometers away from the town plaza, another place for the dead…the Filipino-Hispano cemetery.

Built through forced labour and was finished in 1884 under the supervision of the Agustinians, Dominicans and Don Placido Martin, this one hectare cemetery has baroque and gothic designs incorporated at the portals, the stone and wrought iron fences, the camposanto and the walls of the niches. As reported by the Philippine Commission during the American colonial era, this one is truly remarkable. Read the rest of this entry »

Permanent link to this article: http://habagatcentral.com/2008/11/01/patyojaniuay/

Oct
31
2008

Cemetery Tour: El Cementerio de Cabatuan Iloilo

Cabatuan Cemetery

We left the southern coastal towns towards the inland towns. Several kilometers away from Iloilo’s new airport is the town of Cabatuan (well actually the airport itself is in Cabatuan). Another landmark of Iloilo’s ecclesiastical prowess is the massive brick Church of San Nicolas de Tolentino. With this massive church comes a very massive cemetery located just several kilometers south of the town proper.

In fact I think for a Spanish colonial era Roman Catholic cemetery like this in Iloilo, this is already massive. Believed to be about 2 hecatres, the cemetery is guarded by stone and wrought iron fences and three portals with faded inscriptions in the native tongue and cross bones on relief. Read the rest of this entry »

Permanent link to this article: http://habagatcentral.com/2008/10/31/cemetery-tour-el-cementerio-de-cabatuan-iloilo/

Oct
27
2008

Cemetery Tour: Camposanto de San Joaquin Iloilo

San Joaquin Iloilo Camposanto

Because its the Halloween season or nearing Todos Los Santos, I’ll be featuring four of the 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.

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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Permanent link to this article: http://habagatcentral.com/2008/10/27/sanjoaquincamposanto/

Sep
11
2008

Visita Iglesia de Batangas: Lipa City (Part 1)

San Sebastian Cathedral of Lipa City

Black Saturday, the whole Philippines (well except for some pockets of it) is at its somber state. Having a big Catholic population, the economy would correspond to the religious needs in this country. Because no business whatsoever will be done for the day, my barkada (peers) and I decided to visit several heritage sites in the province of coffeebeans and balisongs, Batangas.

7:00AM. Assembly time. Good thing walang traffic. The bus terminal at Buendia corner Taft Avenue in Pasay City is not filled unlike the previous days. So, off for a 2 hour sojourn for Lipa City, ate Vi’s hometown and known for the miracles at Carmel. A bus ride from Manila to Lipa would cost you more or less PhP150+/- for air conditioned trip.

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Permanent link to this article: http://habagatcentral.com/2008/09/11/visita-iglesia-de-batangas-lipa-city-part-1/

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