No Title

Year 2013 is near ending.  Time flies really fast.  I couldn't believe that my blog is more than a year now.  I haven't visited my own blog site for months.  I didn't realize that I already have followers, as in more than one and I'm really happy knowing and seeing it.  My apologies for not able to post updates.  I was so busy then with my new endeavor.  Office and school work are not a good combination.  Anyway, I write just to let my few followers and imaginary readers know that I really miss this blog thing, sharing photos, experiences as well as writing.  I have so many photos to share actually but too little time.  Don't worry btw, I'm planning to post updates the soonest but this time it's more of a photo blog.  I'll write if time permits.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!  Till next time! :-)

Calaruega

Upon entering the gate/main entrance of Calaruega, you will be given a pamphlet showing some photos, facilities available, reservation guidelines (for retreats, seminars and weddings), fees and statements about Calaruega:

“Calaruega is a house of prayer and renewal.  It is open to activities like retreats, recollections, prayer and renewal workshops, study, research, youth camps, marriage and family encounter celebrations, skills training, leadership seminars, art, music, and liturgy workshops and environment and agriculture-related activities.”

Btw, this is my first time to visit the place.  Calaruega was our first place in our T3 (Trip to Tagaytay) itinerary together with family and friends.  It is really advisable to have an early or much earlier visit there.  For those who haven’t been to Calaruega yet, this place is good for nature lover and photoholics like me. I’m not that pro he3 but I really wanted to share some of my shots to you here.























This is their 150-seat capacity Transfiguration Chapel. A beautiful church indeed.











Nice view..







What I like about this blog thing is, posting and writing about places I have visited make me learn more and get attached with the place.  As a blogger, it is a requirement that I know at least the basic of the place I am about to blog.  Here’s how I do it actually.  First, I do my little research before I go to such place, but not to the extent because the excitement might lose especially if it’s my first time to visit.  Second, the up close and personal.  I don’t take notes, just my own and camera’s memory.  I visited places to explore and enjoy which are the primary reason, to blog is just secondary.  Third, I edit and upload the photos taken, then write and post draft to blog.  Fourth, before I publish my blog, that’s the time I read other blogs with the same topic as mine.  And before I publish my Calaruega experience, I realized that there are some spots there that we were not able to take a look at and that was after reading some co-blogger’s post.  So there’s my fifth and last step in blogging, a revisit..not a bad idea after all he3..

Till next time! 

Calaruega – Philippines

Brgy. Kaylaway, Batulao

Nasugbu, Batangas

0921-2709890/0921-8304226

Email: calaruega_philippines@yahoo.com

Website: www.calaruega-Philippines.ph

Buffets at La Luz Beach Resort

What’s nice about La Luz Beach Resort is you don’t have to think where or what to eat, prepare “baon” (food to bring), cook or grill during your stay/summer getaway because buffets (breakfast, lunch, snack and dinner) are included in the accommodation.  Actually, guests are required to avail the food package per person for an overnight stay.

Imagine, all you have to do is wait for the meal time and more time will be spent on swimming, other activities in the resort, bonding with family and friends, relaxing and sleeping.

The only problem with this I guess is if you are a picky eater.  I mean, there are only few main courses to choose from.  You may like one or two kinds of dish but the good thing is, you can eat as much as you can since it’s a buffet but again, leftover is not allowed.

Without further ado, here was the lunch menu during our stay in La Luz.

This is one of their two buffet and dining areas.  The other one is outside this pavilion or gazebo.


Next, photos during snacks or merienda..



I was quite unhappy with their lunch and snack buffet.  But their dinner buffet made me happy and my tummy too hehe.  Let me show you why.

But first, here were the buffet and dining area during nighttime.





And the dinner menu..
























They had this on the spot cooking of fried rice.  We first put the rice on the plate depends on how much we wanted to eat and then picked the desired ingredients.


And let their staff (chefs?) do the cooking.  My choice of ingredients including the spices was perfect (loveeet!).  My son loved it too.


To complete the food package, here was our breakfast.  I had two cups of their Batangas coffee or “kapeng barako.”


Corn flakes with non-fat milk..

They again had on the spot cooking but omelet that time.  I saw the secret ingredient.  They put grated cheese together with the fillings.
   

They had breads, spreads and fruits. 

About the taste, not all are delicious or perfect.  The service, staff (chefs?) are friendly and courteous though they were not in time to refill the buffet food items.  And the price, not too expensive.  It is pricey for a small eater, btw hehe..

Till next time! 


P.s.  To know more about the resort, please read my earlier post re:  La Luz Beach Resort at Laiya, Batangas

Visita Iglesia in Manila

Visita Iglesia is a Spanish word of Visit Church.  It is a Filipino Catholic tradition originating in Rome to visit 7 churches on Holy Thursday (Maundy Thursday).  I have my “panata” (vow, a solemn promise made to God or a repayment for a prayer or wish that was granted) to visit, pray and meditate at National Shrine of St. Jude Thaddeus in Manila every year.  I started this “panata” after I passed the board exam and this year is my 10th anniversary.

This year’s Holy Thursday, I had my first Visita Iglesia in which I together with hubby visited the ff. 7 churches in Manila with St. Jude as our last church in the list.

1.  Manila Cathedral
2.  San Agustin Church
3.  Binondo Church
4.  Sta. Cruz Church
5.  Quiapo Church
6.  San Sebastian Church
7.  National Shrine of St. Jude Thaddeus

We took a jeepney with route going to Sta. Cruz, Pier and dropped at Manila Cathedral, our first destination.  The church was closed that time but the Stations of the Cross (a Filipino Catholic tradition or devotion) was done outside.

Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception (Manila Cathedral)

The Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception is a Roman Catholic Minor Basilica in the capital of the Philippines, Manila.  Having been destroyed several times by natural disasters and fires during its 400-year history, the current structure standing was completed in 1958, the cathedral's sixth incarnation.  (source: WikiPilipinas)

a closer look of Manila Cathedral

Manila Cathedral

From Manila Cathedral, we walked going to San Agustin Church in Intramuros, Manila.

San Agustin Church

San Agustin Church is the oldest existing church in the Philippines.  The San Agustin Church lies inside the walled city of Intramuros located in the capital city Manila.  It is the first European stone church to be built in the Philippines designed in Spanish architectural structure.  It also houses the legacies of the Spanish conquistadores, Miguel López de Legazpi, Juan de Salcedo and Martín de Goiti who are buried in a tomb underneath the church.  (source: WikiPilipinas) 

In 1993, San Agustin Church was one of four Philippine churches constructed during the Spanish colonial period to be designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, under the collective title Baroque Churches of the Philippines.  (source: Wikipedia)

San Agustin Church

There’s a museum in San Agustin Church (with entrance fee).  We didn’t go inside.

San Agustin Museum

 San Agustin Museum

Intramuros (near San Agustin Church)

Intramuros (near San Agustin Church)

From Intramuros, we walked to Manila City Hall and then took a jeepney with route going to Divisoria for our third destination, Binondo Church.

Binondo Church

Also known as the Minor Basilica of San Lorenzo Ruiz, Binondo Church was named after the sacristan, San Lorenzo Ruiz, who was born of a Chinese father and a Filipino mother. He was trained in this church then went to Japan as a missionary, where he was executed for refusing to renounce his religion. He was canonized in 1989.  A large statue of the martyr stands in front of the church, being the first Filipino saint.  (source: WikiPilipinas)

We went to our fourth up to seventh (last) destination by foot.

Sta. Cruz Church

Quiapo Church

Quiapo Church is one of Manila's most famous churches.  It is also known as the "Church of the Black Nazarene" and sometimes referred to as the "Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene."  Located in Quiapo, Manila, the church houses a large black wooden statue of Christ bearing the cross (the "Black Nazarene").  This crucifix was carved in Mexico and was brought to the Philippines from Mexico by Spanish galleon in 1767.  (source: WikiPilipinas)

San Sebastian Church

The Basilica Minore de San Sebastian is known for its beautiful and distinctive architecture.

National Shrine of St. Jude Thaddeus

St. Jude Church is located near Malacañang Palace (the official residence, but not the actual residence, and principal workplace of the President of the Philippines) along J.P. Laurel Sr., Manila.  St. Jude is the patron saint of the hopeless cases.

Btw, this post focuses more on travel, information, personal experience and not religion.  Till next time!