REVIEW | Best Sunblock

Night and day, we can easily feel that summer season just started. The temperature is getting hotter and hotter while approaching the month of April. According to studies, Global Warming is the reason why we are experiencing the sudden change with our climate. But anyways, since it’s summer and majority of us will be having our vacation, it is very important that we know the basics to protecting ourselves from different factors – one of which is the harmful sun’s Ultra Violet rays.

Dakip: A Holy Week Presentation in Bulakan, Bulacan

Our Lady of Assumption Parish Church is a 19th century Neo-Byzantine-Romanesque stone church located in Bulakan, Bulacan and it is one of the old churches in the province. It was declared as Marked Historical Structure of the Philippines in 2007.

During Holy Week or the Lenten season, this church is the center of a famous presentation, they call it Dakip. It is a Filipino word which means to arrest or to abduct. From the word itself, you can easily identify what does this event signifies.  It is a play that portrays on how Jesus Christ was captured before crucifixion. Photos below will describe this play.

Fort San Pedro | Cebu Travel Guide

Fort San Pedro or Fuerza de San Pedro situated inside the Plaza Independencia, in Cebu City. It is is a military defense structure built by the Spanish and the locals of Cebu under Miguel Lopez de Legazpi's (Spanish conquistador) command, but the date of the construction wasn't sure.  There were claims that Jesuit Antonio Campioni built the fort in 1630.  But, there were a lot of major renovations in the 19th century for the structural improvements of Cebu.

Basilica Minore del Sto. Nino | Cebu Travel Guide

Basilica Minore del Santo Niño or Minor Basilica of the Holy Child is one of the minor basilicas in Cebu City.  This is one of the oldest Roman Catholic church in the country built in the same spot where the image of Santo Niño was found in 1565 by Spanish explorers led by Miguel Lopez de Legazpi.  This statue is the same with the statue given by Ferdinand Magellan to the wife of Rajah Humabon, 44 years later, as a gift during their baptism on April 14, 1521 at the exact location of Magellan's Cross today.

Magellans Cross | Cebu Travel Guide

Magellan's Cross is Christian cross made up of wood erected by Ferdinand Magellan (a Portuguese explorer) during his exploration in Cebu, Philippines on April 21, 1521.  This cross can be found inside an octagonal chapel in front of Cebu City Hall and beside Basilica Minore del Santo Niño.  This one of the most prominent tourist spot in Cebu and Philippines.  But, the cross that you can see today is a tindalo wood where the splinters of the original Magellan's Cross were encased.  The wood of the original cross were deteriorated because the people were chipping some parts and making it as a souvenir in the belief that it's miraculous.

Casa Gorordo Museum | Cebu City

Casa Gorordo House shows how a prominent family lives during their generations. From the floor, artistic walls, windows up to the roof top - it's really gorgeous. At the main entrance of this house, its historical background was written and here's what it says: "This house was built in the mid-19th century by Alejandro Reynes y Rosales and was bought by Juan Isidro de Gorordo, a spanish merchant, in 1863.  Four generations of the Gorordo family lived in this house, including Juan Gorordo, first Filipino Bishop of Cebu, 1910-1932."

Yap-Sandiego Ancestral House | Cebu City

Yap-Sandiego Ancestral House was originally owned by Chinese merchant, Don Juan Yap and Doña Maria Florido.  It is one of the oldest residential house in the Philippines.  It was built between 1675-1700 and was made from Coral stones, used egg whites as glue and "Tigas" or clay for the roof.  The wooden pats of the house were made of "balayong" and "tugas" or molave which is the hardest woods in the country.  

Heritage of Cebu Monument: Cebu City

Front View of Cebu Monument

Heritage of Cebu Monument is situated at the original Plaza Parian.  It occupies a triangular portion near the end of Colon Street.  This Monument showcases the significance and symbolic events in history of Cebu during the reign of Rajah Humabon.  It was a work of art by the National Artist Edgardo Castrillo on July 1997 in cooperation with Mayor Alvin Garcia and was inaugurated in December 8, 2000.

Colon Street | Oldest Street in the Philippines

Colon street is said to be oldest street and shortest road in the Philippines.  It was name after Christopher Columbus who bears different names (Spanish: Cristobal Colon, Italian: Cristoforo Colombo, Protuguese: Cristovao Colombo.)  It was established by the Spanish arrived in Cebu in 1565, led by Miguel Lopez de Legazpi (a Spanish conquistador.)  The local government erected Colon Monument in the intersection of the street.

Cebu Cathedral Museum | Cebu City

Cebu Cathedral Museum is an ecclesiastical museum of the Archdiocese of Cebu.  The building itself doesn't have an exact information when it was under constructions because the archdiocesan archives were burned along with the Cathedral and the Archbishop's Palace during the trial bombing of the U.S. forces in September 1944.  But according to some historical people, it was built by Bishop Santos Gomez Marañon during mid-1800s.  Bishop Marañon was known as a church builder.  He designed the Metropolitan Cathedral and other religious structures in the province of Cebu.

Rajah Humabon Monument | Cebu City

 Rajah Humabon also known as Rajah Hamabar was the Rajah or  a leader of Zubu (now Cebu) during Ferdinand Magellan's exploration in the Philippines in 1521.   According to the writings on the marble plate that can be found in Plaza Hamabar Marker: Rajah Humabon was the first Filipino chieftain to embrace Christianity.  Regraded as the wisest and bravest man in the island.  When Ferdinand Magellan landed on Cebu on Sunday, April 7, 1521, Rajah Humabon made a blood compact with Magellan as a symbol of their new found friendship.  Captivated by its noble teachings, Rajah Humabon was converted into Christianity.

Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral | Cebu City

Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral is the center of the Archdiocese of Cebu City.  It was established as diocese on August 14, 1595 and was became the metropolitan archdiocese of April, 28, 1934 with its first archbishop Gabriel M. Reyes.  The construction of the structure was interrupted due to lack of funds and other circumstances.  The facade features a trefoil-shaped pediment decorated with floral carves.

Whang Od Tattoo | Kalinga Tribal Tattoo

A lady named Apo Whang Od (locals pronounced it as Fang Od) is 98-years old and considered as the oldest mambabatok, from the Butbut tribe, in Buscalan, Kalinga, Philippines. She is petitioned to be considered as the country’s National Living Treasure. The tattoos on her skin are proof how powerful she was during her time.

Mt. Tarak | Bataan

Mt. Tarak is one of the mountains in the Philippines which is in debate if it’s a major or a minor climb; major because of its long trail and altitude and minor because of its trail class. Tarak is situated in Brgy. Alas-asin, Mariveles, Bataan, three hours travel from Manila. This mountain has an amazing and cool ambiance because of its rich forest areas.