Gen. Paciano Rizal Shrine w/ side-trip to LB Therapeutic Massage & Spa

Paciano Rizal is the elder brother of Jose Rizal. During the Spanish regime, he actively supported Propaganda Movement for social reforms and supported the Movement's newspaper known as "Diariong Tagalog". After his younger brother's execution, Paciano joined General Emilio Aguinaldo in Cavite. He was appointed brigadier general of the revolutionary forces, and was elected Secretary of Finance in the Departmental Government of Central Luzon.

During the Philippine-American War (1899–1913), he commanded the Filipino forces in Laguna. U.S. troops captured him on 1900. He was released soon after and settled in the town of Los Banos, Laguna.

Located near the old municipal building, the house was turned into a museum which displays memorabilia and  antiques that belongs to Rizal's family; authentic items which the family once owned and even Paciano’s death bed could still be seen inside the house. The ambiance is good and well maintained, no entrance fee but any amount of donation is accepted.

A park/playground was built in honor of General Paciano near the shrine and a hotspring with massage center is also a nice visit. The place is quite humble in it's facilities but when it comes to service, they are at par with the best. Take a dip with the relaxing hot spring and go for a whole body massage for only 175 pesos, just add 100 pesos if you want to experience Bentosa therapy.

Los Banos Therapeutic Massage Spa

How to Get There:

1. This is a nice side trip after a Mt. Makiling hike.

2. If you are coming from Manila, tell the driver to drop you off in Los Banos Bayan.

3. You have to walk 100 meters, just ask the locals (beside the old Municipal Hall).

Pahiyas Festival (Lucban)

Pahiyas Festival is one of the most colorful celebration in the country held every month of May in Lucban, Quezon. Local houses are decorated with agricultural harvest (fruits, vegetables, rice grains, rice stalks, flowers, and ferns) and colorful rice wafers, called "Kiping".

"Kiping" are leaf-shaped wafers made of rice dyed in brilliant colors. The leaves used include the kabal, kape (brown coffee tree leaf), talisay (umbrella tree), kakaw (cocoa tree), and saba (banana). Rice paste is used to create the kipings. 

Every household competes and gives their best in terms of decorations for the annual competition as they vie for the honor of being recognized for their creativity. When the awards are handed over to the winning house, the decorations of the house are given away to the huge flock of people as a free treats.

How to Get There:

1. Pahiyas Festival is held during the 15th day of May.

2. From Manila, you can ride buses bound for Sta. Cruz, Laguna.

3. Tell the driver to drop you off in Pagsawitan. Once in Pagsawitan, you can then ride jeeps bound for Lucban.

Trampoline Park (Greenfields)

Europe's phenomenal Trampoline Park is now in the Philippines, and is one of the first trampoline park in the country which opened last February 2016. The park is a great place to unwind, workout and experience something different after a busy day from work- some of my colleagues and I decided to try Trampoline Park in Greenfields, Mandaluyong City.

The whole warehouse was converted into a trampoline park with several activities which includes:  Basketball (dunk), Gravity Dodgeball, Air Volleyball, Zumba, Plyometrics (explosive jumps) and fitness classes for adults and kids are taught by professional instructors. 

It was said that a trampoline workout burns more than any normal workout because you’re required to use more energy, all the while strengthening your muscles– I can personally attest to that, my sweat was drifting as if I ran 21 km.

Personal safety and caution should be exercised when in Trampoline park, I was guilty of not following safety guidelines, thus I had a slight sprain. It was a great experience, I just hope they will have an available water dispenser, because their bottled water is way too expensive.

How to Get There:

1. Located in Greenfields, Mandaluyong you can alight in Edsa Shaw and ask for Trampoline Park.

2. You can also buy promo vouchers from Metrodeal which my colleague did.

The Historical Mestizo River Cruise

The Mestizo River Cruise is operated by the City Geovernment of Vigan to reinforce the Heritage Conservation Program using the historical Mestizo River to trace the historical timeline of the said city. Through the 45 minute river tour, a voice over is played narrating the City's origin, historical background and other life sized tableaus. Classical and ilocano folk music will be heard throughout the cruise, and the tour guide also explains more about the stories of the Mestizo River. The graphic representations serves as stopovers to depict the major historical events that shaped Vigan to what it has become today as a UNESCO World Heritage City in the Philippines.

The  recorded narration also  tells why Vigan was able to preserve it's vibrant past. During World War II, Fujihima Takayashi successfully convinced his fellow Japanese soldiers to spare this town from the ravages of war.

How to Get There:

1. Once in Vigan, tell the Trike driver that you are interested in Vigan Heritage River Cruise.

2. A fee of 100 pesos for per person will be charged for anyone who wants to experience the cruise, boat leaves even with a single passenger

Venice Grand Canal

Located in McKinley Hills in Taguig City, the Venice Grand Canal opened last February 2016. It is a mall which is a replica from the famed Grand Canal in Venice, Italy. The design was inspired from the Venetian Gothic architectural style that combines the use of the Gothic lancet arch with Byzantine and Moorish architecture influences. The style originated in 14th century Venice with the confluence of Byzantine styles from Constantinople.

Gondola ride is available for 500 pesos per person and will let you experience the romantic feeling of the emerald waters of the canal together with Italian tune that plays on the background. Restaurants and food stores are located in the mall that is still doing some finishing touches.

How to Get There:
1. You can ride a Citylink buses that are bound for McKinley Hills. 

Baguio Botanical Garden

One of the most popular tourist attraction in Baguio City is the Baguio Botanical Garden. The garden is also known as the Igorot Village where you can find authentic Igorot Nipa huts set in a picturesque landscape adorned with well cultivated landscape of plants, trees and different species of highland flora and fauna. Japanese Tunnel, Chinese/Korean friendship park and different stores that sell different items and "pasalubong"can be found inside the garden.

At the main entrance a group of Igorots are dressed in their authentic native attire and they are more than willing to pose with visitors for a souvenir picture. 

How to Get There:

1.) From Baguio City ride a jeep that passes Leonard Wood St. (Mines View, Pacdal and Itogon)

Manaoag Basilica Minor Church

Manaoag is a first class municipality in Pangasinan bordered by Pozorrubio in the north, Urdaneta City and Mapandan in the south, Laoac in the east, and San Jacinto in the west. Manaoag came from the Pangasinan  word "Mantaoag" which means "to call". The town is a popular local pilgrimage site for Catholics as it enshrines a 17th-century ivory statue of Mary under the title of Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Manaoag.

All sorts of Pasalubongs, religious relics and local delicacies are sold outside the church's premises such as Tupig - a popular native delicacy which is made out of ground glutinous rice and coconuts strips wrapped in banana leaves then cooked over charcoal  &  Patupat - an Ilocano version of suman, a glutinous rice cooked in coconut milk and sugar then wrap in banana leaves and steamed.

Eventhough I am not a Catholic, but as a traveler and photographer I admire the picturesque facade of the church - it is  comparable to European renaissance structures. 

(Patupat)

(Tupig)

How to Get There:

1.) There are buses bound for Manaoag from Cubao.

2.) It is a popular stop over from Baguio.

Revisiting the Philippine Military Academy

On May 20, 1950 the Corps of Cadets went to occupy the current site of the Academy in Fort del Pilar, Baguio City near the Loakan airport.

"I came from the land of kings where everyone can do what he wishes, I hiked the plains of Luzon and hurdled the mountains of Baguio just to reach my precious destination, the Philippine Military Academy." Now I'm here not as a Plebe but as a Traveler and Blogger.

If a cadet is a larva, the Philippine Military Academy is his cocoon where transformations take place, where the larva slowly develops into a beautiful butterfly. PMA is the cocoon that molds a young boy into a man of character and wisdom. The Academy with it's mission: "To instruct, train and develop the cadets so that each graduate shall possess the character, the broad and basic military skills and education essential to the successful pursuit of a progressive military career", equips him the necessary  skills and attributes he needs to be able to face  the many uncertainties of life as he performs the multifaceted role in the society as a soldier.

The cadet's training starts the moment he is received as a plebe. Throughout the  four-year stay in the Academy, he will undergo rigorous physical training to develop stamina to continue even if he feel like quiting, the endurance to withstand pain even if he is pushed to the limits. It is demanding but he has to take it all because he knows that there are more difficulties in the future and he needs all the preparations he can get to be able to meet the demands of an ever-changing environment.

(wordings are excerpt from Peemayer and Gray Notes) 

How to Get There:
1. Once in Baguio City, you can ride a PMA bound jeepney with signboard PMA - Kias

2. Sandals and slippers are not allowed inside the academy, be sure to wear proper shoes.