On September 27, 2015, we went to
Antipolo City, Philippines with my mother and her best friends or family
friends to visit the main cathedral there which is Our Lady of Peace
and Good Voyage. Antipolo City is considered as The Pilgrim Capital of
Philippines because of many people are visiting to the church at anytime
to visit the shrine of Virgin Mary. The Virgin Mary there is miraculous
and it is known by people in Philippines and even in other countries.
The church is always crowded on Sundays and even in the whole month of
May especially during the fiesta of Antipolo City. The Virgin Mary is
miraculous especially when it comes with traveling, visiting to another
places, and so on. If you are a traveler, working in abroad, or planning
to visit in another places, then that church is good for you. The
miraculous Virgin Mary will help you and guide you while traveling and
visiting to another places. This is also good for those who are
balikbayan, OFW, tourists, and visitors. If you're planning to move and
live in another country, then that church is good for you, too.
Another thing is when you visit to the cathedral, you can go to stairs
at the back of the church to kiss the long veil of the shrine of Virgin
Many at the back. You can do it even there's a mass. Photography at the
back of Virgin Mary especially at the veil is not allowed. There are
security guards that are watching the visitors who are kissing the long
veil.
After visiting the church, we went to the stores besides
the church that are selling foods and delicacies. They are selling
cashew nuts, Suman sa Ibus, kalamay or sweet rice cake, and other sweet
delicacies. We bought some sweets and delicacies as usual before we go
back in Baliuag, Bulacan.
If we have time, we will go and visit
to Hinulugang Taktak. It is a scenic view of waterfall. During my
childhood days, we used to visit in Hinulugang Taktak to have a picnic
there. You will see the waterfall while having a picnic besides the
river. Since it was raining after we visited the church, then we decided
to skip Hinulugang Taktak. Antipolo City is also my memorable childhood
days. Thanks God that I was able to visit and see Antipolo City again.
#AntipoloCathedral #Suman #HinulugangTaktak #CashewNuts #Antipolo #Rizal
On September 27, 2015, we went to
Caloocan City Public Cemetery along A. Mabini Steet in Sangandaan,
Caloocan City, Philippines with my mother, Rosario Magtalas Balajadia,
and her long time best friends Corazon Gallardo Uy and Baby Enriquez
Garces to visit the grave of their long time best friend Felicidad
Gorospe So.
Felicidad Gorospe So or Aling Fely in short was
our long time family friend since my childhood days in 1976. Aling
Fely's daughter, Jonna was my classmate in kindergarten. Aling Fely and
my mother were talking and chatting each other often outside of the
school while waiting for us to finish our classes. From then, my mother
and Aling Fely became friends.
Aling Fely was a vendor for a
long time already in Sangandaan, Caloocan City. Her store was located
along General San Miguel Steet near to A. Mabini Street and Sangandaan
Public Market. On that time, she was selling newspapers, magazines,
fruits, cigarettes, softdrinks, candies, and so on. From being a vendor,
she finished her kids in their studies.
My mother's others
friends Corazon Gallardo Uy and Baby Enriquez Garces become friends in
1979. Their kids and my brothers became classmates in elementary. They
met each other often at the school.
Later, all our family
friends become friends to each other when they become godparents of my
brothers in their baptism. From then, they become friends until we
migrated to USA in 1992.
Although we are living in USA since
1992, we still communicate with them by mail, telephone, and right now
by text messages, and social media like Facebook.
Unfortunately, our family friend, Aling Fely died in 2012 from colon
cancer. We're so sad for the loss of our family friend. Aling Fely is
also considered almost my aunt because she's a close friend of my mother
since my childhood days.
Aling Fely's children and
grandchildren are recently our friends in Facebook and we are still keep
in touch with each other although she's passed away already.
#Cemetery #Caloocan #Rizal
On September 26, 2015, we had a reunion
for our batch at The Bayleaf Intramuros along Muralla Street in
Intramuros, Manila, Philippines.
It's already 23 years since
our graduation at Mapua Institute of Technology in 1992. Our graduation
was held at Philippine international Convention Center (PICC). We
finished B. S. Chemical Engineering and B. S. Chemistry. There are more
women than men in our batch.
Since I have a plan to visit in
Philippines, then I decided to have a reunion with my classmates or
batchmates. With the help of my classmates and our professor, Mrs.
Elizabeth So Espiritu, they suggested to have our reunion at The Bayleaf
Intramuros which is located besides the building of Mapua institute of
Technology. When I checked their website and make a phone call to their
office, I learned that it is a five star hotel. It is also a former
main office of Philippine Savings Bank during our college days. We used
to go to that building to have a Xerox or photocopy of documents,
reports, and books.
With the help of our other classmates, we
got a good attendance. We are 18 in our reunion and I made a reservation
for 15 people at the hotel. Some of our classmates are in abroad and
some of them have appointments. We invited our professors but
unfortunately, they didn't make it in our reunion.
We supposed
to have our reunion at The Skydeck which is the rooftop of the hotel.
We chose The Skydeck because you will see the scenic view of Manila
particularly Manila City Hall, Intramuros, and the campus building of
Mapua. Because of the rain and the rectangular tables are already
occupied, then we decided to move at The Spoons which is the next lower
floor of The Skydeck. Since the menu at The Skydeck and The Spoons are
the same, then we decided also to have our reunion at The Spoons.
Before we proceed to the hotel, we had a tour first at Mapua Institute
of Technology. We want to see the campus again after 23 years. Most of
our classmates didn't see the campus since our graduation. Also, many of
us didn't see each other and because of this, our reunion became
memorable.
Well, the menu is ala carte and we ordered different
side dishes, main dishes, soups, drinks, and 1 bottle of hard drink.
While eating, we are socializing and chatting to each other. Because of
socializing and chatting, we didn't order the dessert. Anyway, our
reunion was so memorable.
This event is also a birthday
celebration of Lourdes Colobong, one of our classmate. The hotel gave a
slice of cake to her for free.
After the reunion, some of our
classmates gave the carpool to our other classmates. Because of having
social media like Facebook, it is possible to have a reunion and keep in
touch with classmates and professors.
#MITChEChm #MITChEChm1992 #TheBayleaf #Mapua #Intramuros #Manila
