Virgen del Carmen - Feastday 2011

The Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Carmel Monastery

The Our Lady of Mt. Carmel is one most revered Marian titles in Lipa. Her devotion is so popular that hundreds of people flock to her Shrine in the Carmel Monastery in Lipa. The devotion has been deep within Lipeños even during pre-war times.

Seal of the Carmilite Order

Sadly there are no accounts on what happened to the original venerated image in the Cathedral, it somehow got loss and no trace was found after the war. On the other hand the devotion is still strong at present.

The processional image

The Apparition site of Mary Mediatrix of All Grace

The mass started with the blessing of the brown scapulars followed by the afternoon Mass and ended with the procession around the Poblacion of Lipa. The procession today is a bit different during the Colonial or the Coffee Bloom years in Lipa. Back then the carroza would stop in a certain house, there a maiden would sung the Ave Maria in Latin just like one describe by Rizal in Noli Me Tangere but at least we today can still see this processions.

A Moment is One Click Away -1st Anniversary

Its been a year since I have stated this Blog, a page that transformed into a travel blog, had several name change. Had over 30 post, a hundred of pictures, been to places seen before, a lot of editing, had over thousand readers and more coming, had zero comments, help many student and answer finders and a walk a thousand miles just to get a topic.

You may wonder how did this started well it began with some reading about this blog titled "Ece Ego, Quia Vocasti Me" and the "The Golden Monstrance", both made me inspired to write about things here in Batangas. One thing I ask back then was" What about those they have not written, somehow may be I can write them myself".So I decided to make my own blogroll, just like any blog, one thing I find hard was creating a name. The first thing that came to my mind is that I'm a Santo-owner and I travel to different places thus my blog first was called "Viajando Camarero" yet in the later part it was converted into "Batangeño Camrero" and finally to "Batangeño Biyahero". Majority of my post are on the religious structures, history and events yet somehow I added some personal insights.

As of today this blog is had been visited by over two thousand seekers, I found out many of them are interested to my post specially in topics like the Sto. Niño de Batangan, Lost Towns of Taal Lake, Our Lady of Caysasay and many more. This is my contribution to the cyber world, giving answers to questions.

Thank you to all those who appreciate my post. This is not the end of this blog its only the beginning of new chapter.

Corpus Christi - The feast when Manila Cathedral was shaken to the ground

The Manila Cathedral after the earthquake of 1863

Some historians remember the tragic day when the Walled City of Manila was shock by a strong earthquake, the day it happened was June 3, 1863, feast of Corpus Christi. The beautiful structure along with other chuches in Manila became the victim's of the quake. Sto. Domingo and Binondo Church both suffered damages in their towers. The Palacio Gobernador collapse while the Ayuntaimento's clock fell to the ground. The rest of Intramuros, the stone houses, suffered from roof collapse. Majority of houses back in the 19th centruy uses tile roof until the introduction of galvanize iron sheet(yero).

The tremor also lead to the rebuilding and relocation residence, for example the Governor Genaral decided to leave the ruins of the Palacio Governador for the Malacañang. The services of the Manila Catheral were temporally held in the V.O.T. Chapel near San Francisco still in Intramuros.

Tragic as it may seen but it did brought new ideas of architecture safety in the Philippines. This was later approve after the 1880 earthquake that shook Intramuros.

Photo courtesy of Robbyandharry of Flickr.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/robby_dela_vega/3697739108/

Campo Santo of Lipa City

Campo Santo de Lipa

Here again is a post and this time I went to the place of the dead, sounds creepy but wort it. The place that I'm mentioning is the old Roman Catholic cemetery of Lipa City Batangas specipically the cemetery in Barangay Antipolo del Norte.

Memorial of the Silva Family

This cemetery offers a glimpse of the former residence of the famous coffee town of Lipa(now a city). In my observation many of these coffee traders later sugar barons, after the infestation of the coffee rust, are now peacefully buried here. The cemetery also has features statues, many are on a sorrowful mood. Angels are also present yet the most prominent is the whited painted cross.

The Old Chapel

Upon entering the cemetery one is amazed by the stone steps leading to the arch, tisa on the other hand flank the pathway going to the mortuary chapel. The side of the pathway are filled with curve tombstones with marble markers. The mortuary chapel in the center is made of stone with an inscription of what was taken from the bible. The interior is simple with large crucifix inside. Below it are the grave stone of the dead some are scattered and others are buried in the walls.

The inscription above the chapel portal

Interior of the chapel.

One of the most well done memorial is that is that of the Olaguivel's, a life size marble Dolorosa stands in the graves of the Olaguivel's. The detail of the image is fine specially the eyes. For me this is one the best sculptures in the cemetery.

Some famous families on the other hand transferred the remains of their ancestors in the mortuary chapel in the Cathedral. Thus some of them are no longer seen in this cemetery. Only a small area of the big cemetery is what was left of the old. Many are demolish to give way for new ones. A new chapel was also constructed to replace the old one. At least the chapel and the graves next to it are still intact.

Akyat Maculot 2011

One of the best attraction of the Batangas is the towering mountain of Maculot. At 830 ASL it one the highest mountain yet an easy climb. The mountain has three destinations, the Grotto , Summit and the Rockies(being the most popular). According to several legends Maculot was named after a giant that saved the a village from the eruption of Taal Volcano. Another tale on the other hand tells that dark skin and curly haired aborigines settled mountain thus the mountain was called "Bundok ng Macuculot" and later simplified as Bundok Maculot.

My fellow climbers. my sister was taking the picture

Majority of climbers go to Rockies, the climb can take about an hour an a half or less. Climbers can choose two trails, the old trail and the new trail. The new trail is considered to be difficult yet adventurous. This trail was created back in 2009 by Philippine Air Force Flying School. But still climbers preferred the old trail. At the camp site there is a Sari sari store called by mountaineers 7-11. Here you buy Halo halo, canned sardines , bottled water , etc.

Rockies is five minute climb from the camp site. Back then the trail going to Rockies had a temporary stair made wood, later this was dismantled probably after the 1994 incident.

Taal Volcano seen from Rockies

View from Rockies

In order for climbers to know if they are on the right path going to rockies here's my guide. First stop at the Barangay out post of Brangay 7 Cuenca, Batangas. Here climber must file there names and pay the P 10 fee. Then proceed to Mountaineers Store this is a ten minute walk from the out post. Then going down the street will be the street sigh of "To Makulot Rocky Road" here is start of the walk going to the mountain. This path is both concrete and gravel. Going down one will see a path going down to the left and the path to the right. The left path is the old trail and the right is the new trail. Since my companions use the old one this will be my analysis.

"Lumang Ilog"

Going left is the old trail as one go down one will see the carved way , then you will see what I call "Lumang Ilog" in my opinion this was originally a stream that later dried out yet during the Monsoon season water runs through. Passing this follow the path going up then turn right, this is what I call "Bato-bato" part is is filled with rocks and ferns. Next is the what I call "Ugat Lupa" this section is literally filled with roots and soil some part have rocks. This is also the longest. Next is the "Bato Cogon" this section is a mix of rocks, soil, and cogon grass. And finally is the "Cogon" this part is covered with cogon grass and mixture of soil and rock. In this segment climbers must take caution, the path is slippery both in dry and wet season. The problem is that there are lose rocks and pebbles. Also when going down there are parts which I call "Biglang dungaw" this are open areas which climber might fall if not taking risk.

"Ugat Lupa"

Rockies

A "Biglang dungaw"

The best time to climb Rockies is during weekends, this is also to have companions in the climb plus meeting new friends. The best time to go to Rockies(the rocky formation in the west) between 6am-8am here one can see Taal Lake and Volcano. In a very clear day the mountains of Mindoro, Tagaytay Ridge, Mt. Makiling. Mt Batulao, and Laguna de Bay are visible.

Anubing Sublian Festival 2011

Last May 1 and 2 the towns of Alitagtag and Bauan celebrated the Anubing Sublian Festival to honor the Mahal na Poon ng Sta Cruz. This festival showcase the dancing of Subli, a dance to hoor the Mahal na Poon. Here are some the clips from the Festival.

Mahal na Poong Sta. Cruz made of Styrofoam

Children of Alitagtag dancing Subli

The Mahal na Poong Sta. Cruz of Bauan

The devotion to the Mahal na Poong Sta. Cruz stated some time in the end of 16th century when a house post made of Anubing, local hardwood, was made into a giant cross. This cross was erected in the place called Dingin, a barrio in lake shore of present day Alitagtag. The cross was erected to protect the natives from a plague of ghost and the impending eruptions of Taal Volcano. Later the cross was place in present day Binukalan.

At that time there was a couple who was living near by whose husband was fierce to her wife. The man treated her like a slave and ask her to fetch water from the lake. Everyday the wife always pass to the giant cross to pray for her husband. One day into her visit she saw a miracle, water came out from the side of the cross, which made for her easy to get water. The husband on the other hand found that his wife gets water in no time that he suspected that someone is helping her. Thinking that the woman has a man with her, he spied on her and saw the miracle of Cross himself. The man became kind to her wife and became devote to the Holy Cross.

Mahal na Poong Sta. Cruz Alitagtag

When the news of the miracle of the giant cross came to the ears of the Friars, they decided to get the cross to their parishes. Time came when to the parish priest of a Taal tried to pull the cross from the ground, yet the cross resisted. Another parish priest took a chance yet thunder and lightning cause him not to continue. When it was the parish priest of Bauan's turn, he prayed first and allow the natives to dance the Subli. The cross was pulled so easy from the ground that the parish of Bauan was declared as the home of the Mahal na Poon. Many miracles has been attributed to the Holy Cross, in fact due to its miracle many have chip of the side of the Poon. It was later decided to cover the sides with silver to protect the Cross.

Magkapatid na Krus of Bauan and Alitagtag

When Alitagtag was separated from the town of Bauan, the people of Alitagtag decided to have a share of the Holy Cross, thus the giant cross was turned into two Holy Cross known as Magkapatid na Krus. Since then a tradition known as Salubong, wherein the the two Crosses meets at Barangay Concordia. Here the Mahal na Poon of Bauan ang Alitagtag are place into a float and heads to Binukalan where a Mass, Lua and the Subli are offered.

"Lua" to the Mahal na Poon

damping water to the base of the Holy Cross of Alitagtag same thing done to the Cross of Bauan

The Mahal na Poong Sta. Cruz of Bauan, standing freely

In the afternoon the Magkapatid na Poon are then place in float to be brought to the Bauan. This motorcade last for hours. In the roadside, devotees awaits for the Poon, when the Two Holy Cross arrives to them they shower it with flowers. At the bridge of Manghinao, the two Cross are brought down and carried in the shoulders of men. This procession goes to the streets of Bauan then to the patio of the Church. Here the dancers of Subli from Sinala awaits, when the two Holy Cross are in place the Subli is offered. Students from elementary and high schools also dance the Subli to honor the Mahal na Poon ng Sta. Cruz. By next day is the Fiesta of Bauan and in May 7 is the Fiesta of Alitagtag. Viva. Sta Cruz!!!

Subli from Sinala, dance to honor the Magkapatid na Sta Cruz

Semana Santa 2011 - Cuenca, Batangas

The Sto. Cristo, only brought out in Good Friday

One of the best places to see Lenten activities is the simple town of Cuenca, Batangas. Unlike other Holy Week destination this town offers an adventurous and religious experience. Noted for its forested mountain, Mt. Maculot, its also have a station of cross where climbers can meditate. At the site of the grotto is a cove where the image of the Our Lady of Lourdes, in its sides are two large crosses and a Pieta nearby. If one wishes to climb further to the summit and go to the site called "Rockies", one can see the beauty of Taal Lake and Volcano Island.

Procession to the Altar carrying the veiled Sto. Cristo

On Holy Wednesday and Good Friday the Poblacion offers the the Religious services and processions. Every year the Good Friday Procession is the main highlight. In the afternoon of Holy Wednesday the procession known as "Estacion Heneral", this procession is focus on the Station of Cross. Several holy images participates this procession such as Señor Nazareno, Santa Veronica, Santa Maria Magdalena, San Juan Evangelista and Mater Dolorosa. A specific place is decorated known as "Kubol" here at each station prayers are offered. The procession then ends to the church.

San Juan Evangelista

Santa Maria Magdalena, part of the original "Tress Marias"

San Pedro

The Good Friday procession is the most important. In this procession the main focus is the image of the dead Christ known as the "Sto. Entierro", this procession is also the longest due to the number of procession attendants. In the morning of Good Friday the ritual known as "Pagpapako" is held in the church Patio. This tradition is believe to have dates back to the the pre-Spanish times.

Mater Dolorosa

The Sto. Cristo, also the Sto. Entierro ,during the ritual of "Pagpapako"

The ritual of "Pagpapako"

The Sto. Cristo about to be brought down know as "Pagtatangal"

This ritual is usually starts from 12 noon to 3 in the afternoon. But due to the request of the parish the ritual was move to 9 am to 12 noon.

Santa Veronica

The original "Tres Marias" are shouldered on andas, due to the lack of carrozas. Yet gives an old feeling since they were originally carried on andas. The rest were place in carrozas. Another tradition that was revive was the clapping of the "Matraka".

Santa Salome

The procession ended in the chapel in Brgy. Bungahan with the pahalik sa Señor as the closing.

The Sto. Entierro being brought down

The Sto. Entierro

We estimated that more people attended this year. The streets was filled with devotees with candles lighting their way.