First Day Tour in Philippines (2015)

After we arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) on September 23, 2015 at 4:00am, my relatives like my aunts Leonila Magtalas and Estelita Zapanta and my cousin Rodelio Magtalas gave us a tour ride after they picked up us from the airport. Thanks God that our flight was good although there's a rain with thunderstorms during our landing. The rain finally stopped when we arrived at NAIA. Thanks God also that my luggage and my mom's luggage are passed the X-ray inspection after we gave the Declaration Form at the Immigration Department.

Well, from NAIA airport, the traffic begins at Airport Avenue, Domestic Avenue, Tramo Avenue, and then Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA). After 6 years since my last visit in 2009, the traffic conditions are worse than before and there are more vehicles as well. While driving along EDSA, there are more buildings, malls, and new establishments. There are many billboards along EDSA also.

When we reached to Balintawak Cloverleaf, the area is also congested in traffic especially along A. Bonifacio Avenue, Quirino Hi-way, and North Luzon Expressway (NLEX). The NLEX is better now than before because the highways are repaired and the systems of paying at the toll gates are now different also. The traffic there is lesser and faster.

When we exit at Santa Rita exit in Guiguinto, Bulacan, the roads are now crowded with many vehicles like jeepneys and trycycles. The province of Bulacan is now crowded also because there are many factories, industries, subdivisions, and shopping malls. It is also close to Manila.

Once we reached to Baliuag, Bulacan, we went first to Baliuag Memorial Park to visit the grave of my grandparents and my uncles at their mausoleum. My mother didn't see the grave of her parents and her brothers for 12 years. The memorial park is expensive and most of the graves there are came from the rich and business families. We made a promise that we will improve the mausoleum of my grandparents and my uncles later.

Our hometown in Baliuag, Bulacan is also crowded. There are many subdivisions as well as shopping malls like SM Baliuag. The traffic is also congested especially during rush hours and raining. I almost got lost there in finding my grandparents' residence because the surrounding is now different than the last time that I visited in 2009. They put blue gates at my grandparents' residence. The caimito trees that we planted since 1975 are still there at the backyard.

After this, we sleep for few hours because we have jet lag. The time in Philippines is 15 hours ahead from California. The weather here in Philippines is warm right now like 95*F during daylight and 85*F during nighttime. We experienced sweating all the time because it is humid.

#MNL #Parañaque #Rizal #EDSA #NLEX #Baliuag #Bulacan

After we arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) on September 23, 2015 at 4:00am, my relatives like my aunts...
Posted by Armando Magtalas Balajadia on Friday, October 2, 2015