On October 7, 2015, before we went to
Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Parañaque City,
Philippines, we travelled from Baliuag, Bulacan, the rest of towns in
Bulacan thru North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), Caloocan City, Quezon City,
Mandaluyong City, Makati City, Pasay City, and Parañaque City thru EDSA,
Tramo Boulevard, Domestic Avenue, and finally Airport Avenue.
We left earlier around 12:00pm from Baliuag, Bulacan because we know
that traffic is so terrible and heavy especially in Metro Manila Area.
There was a rain that why the traffic is more terrible and heavy.
The province of Bulacan is also crowded because there are many shopping
malls, establishments, and subdivisions. There are many companies and
industries as well that's why the province is also crowded. Although my
vacation is only 15 days, I enjoyed it with my relatives at my mother's
side. My aunts cooked our meals during our stay. I'm the one will go
back home in USA and my mom will go back home on October 21, 2015. She
will complete her 1 month vacation exactly unlike me, it's only 15 days.
We visited also our relatives and family friends in Caloocan
City. Caloocan City is also crowded when I visit it after 6 years. We
used to live there and spend my childhood days. The traffic along Samson
Road, Rizal Avenue, 10th Avenue, Monumento, and EDSA are terrible and
heavy.
At around 2:30pm, we proceed to NAIA in Parañaque City
thru EDSA. We passed Caloocan City, Quezon City, Mandaluyong City,
Makati City, Pasay City, and then Parañaque City. From EDSA, we took
Tramo Boulevard, Domestic Avenue, and then Airport Avenue. We finally
arrived at the airport around 5:30pm. Not bad because the traffic along
EDSA is moderate.
This is my memorable visit in Philippines
although my vacation is only 15 days. I would like to give thanks to my
cousin, Rodelio Magtalas, who gave us a ride using her sister in law's
minivan. I hope that I can visit in Philippines again on November 2017. I
will attend our Silver Jubilarian later at MIT ChE Chm Alumni
Homecoming.
#Baliuag #Bulacan #Caloocan #NLEX #QuezonCity #Mandaluyong #Makati #Pasay #Parañaque #MNL #NAIA #Rizal
On October 1, 2015, we went to
Panghulo, Obando, Bulacan, Philippines to visit my aunt, Dolores "Nene"
Balajadia Villaluz and her family there. We went there at night because
we came from Holy Cross Memorial Park and we visited our relatives in
Caloocan City. It was raining and we got stuck in traffic that's why we
went there at night.
Because of my hectic schedule, I decided
to proceed my visit to my aunt even at night. I want to see my aunt
there while she's still alive. My two uncles, my aunt, and even my
father are already passed away. I have four aunts left, my father's
remaining siblings. Two of my aunts are residing in Pacifica,
California, USA.
Tiya Nene and her family are long time
resident of Panghulo, Obando, Bulacan. They are big family because her
children have grandchildren. Tiya Nene and her husband, Tito Mario have
great grandchildren. Almost all of them are residing in a same house or
residence. They still have sari-sari store at their house until now.
That's their source of income until now. They are selling foods,
household items, cigarettes, soft drinks and so on. Many of their
children as well as their grandchildren are finished in their college
and have stable job.
Tiya Nene is weak already because she
can't walk very well and she needs an assistant especially for using
restroom and bathroom. Sometimes Tiya Nene is forgetful especially at
her age according to my cousins and their children. Thanks God that Tito
Mario is still in good condition and currently manages their sari-sari
store.
While traveling to Panghulo, Obando, Bulacan along M. H.
Del Pilar Street, we noticed that the Arkong Bato or stone arch is
changed already. The old Arkong Bato is damaged by a huge and big truck.
The Arkong Bato is repaired but they changed the structure slightly.
They removed the printed boundary names which are Bulacan and Rizal
because Valenzuela and Malabon are already independent cities and part
of National Capital Region.
Arkong Bato was built in 1910
during American Period. It was an official boundary of the provinces of
Bulacan and Rizal. Valenzuela was part of Bulacan and Malabon was part
of Rizal. M. H. Del Pilar Street was an official road going to Bulacan
before McArthur Hi-Way and even North Luzon Expressway.
Arkong
Bato is so memorable to me because it reminds my childhood days. We used
to passed Arkong Bato every time we're visiting my relatives especially
during the fiesta of Panghulo, Obando, Bulacan every last Sunday of
May. The residence of Tiya Nene and her family is located along F.
Navarette Street which is second road from Arkong Bato. F. Navarette
Street has a man statue still at the center. If you proceed to F.
Navarette Street straight, it's already a part of Obando, Bulacan. Tiya
Nene's residence is near to Valenzuela and Obando boundary. Panghulo is a
big barangay that is divided into two areas. The first area is part of
Malabon and the other area is part of Obando.
#Balajadia #ArkongBato #Panghulo #Obando #Valenzuela #Bulacan #Malabon #Rizal
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
