On September 30, 2015, I went to De La
Salle University along Taft Avenue in Manila, Philippines to visit my
former fellow professors there especially at Chemical Engineering
Department. I've never been in the university since 2009 which is my
last visit in Philippines.
Although it was raining, it's easy
for me to travel and visit in the university by riding at Light Railway
Transit (LRT). The Vito Cruz Station is exactly located besides the main
gate of the university. The security in the university is more strict
right now because all visitors are required to scan your ID pass at the
department that you will visit. If not, you cannot exit at the guard and
you cannot claim your photo ID. Any photo ID is required to enter in
the university. Everything is connected to the computer or system. This
procedure is now different from last time that I visited.
De La
Salle University is one of the prestigious and respected university in
Philippines. Most students there are really came from the rich and well
influenced family. It is also a Catholic university because of the
priests and brothers who are managing the university.
There are
many changes in the university within six years. There are new
buildings added to the university or campus. The Faculty Room for
College of Engineering is transferred to the new building which is Bro.
Andrew Gonzalez Hall. The Velasco Building, the location of the former
Faculty Room for College of Engineering is now classrooms and
laboratories.
I met Julieta San Pedro, the secretary of
Chemical Engineering Department. Thanks God that she's still there. I
taught there for three years in 1997 to 2000 as a part time faculty
member. While teaching, I was studying my masters degree in Chemical
Engineering but I didn't finish my thesis because I got my USA Visa and I
have to go to USA immediately. I was enjoying in teaching Mathematics
to all engineering students during that time. I have a lot of memories
in the university.
During my visit, I met few former fellow
professors there like Ms. Marilou Uy and Dr. Susan Roces. Unfortunately,
I didn't meet the other faculty members because they are attending the
seminar and training of PIChE and some of them are teaching in their
classes. I didn't stay longer in the university because of my hectic
schedules and I don't have enough time to go out and have a dinner with
my former fellow professors. I understand the situation. Most of the
professors are busy and they have hectic schedules.
#DLSU #LaSalleTaft #Malate #Manila
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
