Tag Archives: Naga

Our Lady of Peñafrancia Church

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Do not know much about architecture, but I am a big fun of NEO Classical Architecture in Churches. Its purest form in style was derived from Classical Greece and Rome – very Baroquish (Baroque in short). At the back of the church, also lies an old cemetery. Blast from the past!

Lovely day spent with my brother…

History of Peñafrancia Church, please go here.

Camarines Sur Tourism Guide, please go here.

LRV AGRI-SCIENCE FARM & RESORT

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LRV AGRI-SCIENCE FARM & RESORT

What a well spent day out with family! As always, those unexpected trips are the most fun ones. Plus, no rain and the sky is as blue as you can get…

My sister-in-law suggested LRV Agri-Science Farm Resort in San Bernardino, Calabanga, Camarines Sur. Surprised again!!!!!!!!!!! Just like the Stonehouse Garden Resort in Mt Isarog. So I took my brother, his wife, a family friend and my nieces with me.

LRV Agri-Science Farm is an eco-friendly fully functioning agri-tourism resort and it was founded on November 4, 2010. It was set for an advocacy and promotion of agri-tourism projects to increase the sustainability of livelihood programs for surrounding communities.

For peaceful and tranquil pursuits there are a couple of swimming pools, fishing lagoons and boating lakes. Outdoor leisure and activities also include family picnics, bonfire sites, river rafting, surf biking, kayaking, fishing and it provides pathways for walking, jogging and cycling. How can you beat that…..

We will surely come back but this time we will rent a cabana and spend the night in the agri-farm resort!

For inquiries, Contact The Village @ San Bernardino at:

San Bernardino, Calabanga, Camarines Sur
Landline Nos.:
(054) 698-3511· 698-3128
Mobile:
0999-7659636
Email:thevillage.sanbernardino@yahoo.com

Stonehouse Gardens Resort Part II

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STONEHOUSE GARDENS RESORT

Commadre Gardens

As you know, I love this place so much…That day,  I was like in heaven..Total happiness.

Nature is what I crave for..Not really a city and mall person, I much prefer to be close to nature than among-st sea of people .  So this place helped me decide where to live, I decided today to move to Bicol instead of Manila.

The provincial rate is a lot lower than Manila.  However, with my ingenuity and creativity,  I will find a way to triple or quadruple my earnings. I find that I am more creative and energetic when surrounded by nature.

Plus, my second blog will help promote an organic Bicol based product.  And by living here,  I will be able to help and promote Bicol Tourism too by showing all my wonderful adventures.

So the order from my landlord was really a blessing…This could be my calling.

                                    *************************************

I would like to extend my gratitude to the owners for their hospitality during my visit. I never forget people who treat me with kindness.

Please feel free to visit their website @ Stonehouse Gardens Resorts 

After the hike down Malabsay Falls…

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The pictures were taken by the camping site.  You could see me smiling all the way. Nature gives me that I am in heaven feeling.

By this time, the boys were hungry, thirsty and tired from the trek. Filipinos when they go for an outing – food and drinks is included. Well, not me…The lighter the better.  Bringing your home with you is such a hassle.

Thinking where to go next..Perhaps Caramoan Islands..

Buying some drinks for the me and the gang……

buying 1 kilo avocados – You know what that is for? Avocado smoothie. …Yummy!

Fresh produce from Mt Isarog National Park

A Nipa Hut in the camping site

A rooster in the camping site

My trek down Malabsay Falls, Mt Isarog National Park

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This is part two of my trek to Malabsay Falls. 

Malabsay Falls, approximately 40 ft. high scenic wonder is located on the slope of Mt. Isarog in Barangay Panicuason, Naga City.

Going down to where the falls was definitely more challenging that I taught it was. We had to walk on narrow and steep pathway.  I was thinking of going by myself but thanked God, I decided to take the 4 gang of boys with me. Seeing the falls after the long walk was a truly a rewarding feeling. I was planning to go swimming with my bathing suit but chose not to. I dived immediatly to the falls even with clothes on. Who needs to be all glam up anyway?

To have a clear picture of the magical place, here are some of the shots that I took of the place from the step of the rain forest down to the falls:

Enjoy and click away!

Kambing (Goat)

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Love the pic with the goat (Kambing) looking at me. We were heading down from Malabsay Falls when we saw a herd of goats (Kambing in Filipino).  I got really excited because this is the first time I saw wild farm animals in Mt Isarog besides a Carabao. This is not Africa so to see something like this in the Philippines is truly magical. Well, at least for me.

Hiking up to Mt Isarog Malabsay Falls

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My trek to Malabsay Falls

Mount Isarog National Park harbors rainforest, endemic wildlife, waterfalls and is also home to nomadic Negrito (Agta) tribes people. I will write about my encounter with an Agta Tribe later on.

Mt. Isarog, an inactive volcano, rises in the heart of the province of Camarines Sur, the central part of the Bicol Peninsula. It is the highest forested peak in Southern Luzon. The Philippine government declared it as a national park since 1938 to preserve the pristine rainforest in the area for the enjoyment of local and international tourists.

I took my brother, my nephew and two other guides with me.  The weather was cloudy and it rained while we were in the falls.  The trip also took back memories of my childhood. Our parents would take all of us to visit this majestic mountain from time to time.  According to my father, during the Japanese occupation, the soldiers would trek this mountain to go to the falls to shower.

I only paid P50 for the entrance fee for the five us.  (Only a little over a dollar) How cheap is that!

Visiting the Past

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Visiting the Past

This trip I made in the province is also a pilgrimage to visit family and acknowledged the past that shaped my existence.  Going back and walking through changed landscapes made me feel very nostalgic.  Since my grandmother’s death in 2000, the villa in Villa Conception remained empty for the most part.  When I entered, I can feel my childhood all over again.  Me playing with my siblings and cousins while my grandmother, parents, uncles and aunties are watching and laughing over us.  I felt like I traveled in time. The walk I made today will remind me of those I left in the past, those who often surface in my memories and those who still haunt my spirit.  One cannot go home again but one can touch basis with the past landscapes to better understand of who you become.  However, one cannot live in the past with all the pains, joys and sorrows since this can only create pain and regret.  But it is very important to accept the past and appreciate all the glories and memories that came along with it.  In return, this will help us be a better person and continue to shape our future.  Happy memories in that place!

Naga Carmelite Monastery

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Going to the Naga Carmelite Monastery is like going back in time. When I was younger and everytime my family goes to Naga, we always make a point to come see the nuns. Parents and all the kids together with my long extended family. One thing I remember the most is their communion garlic flakes…The way they raise money for the monastery is by baking communion flakes for all the parishes.. The left over, they add garlic flavor powder to the flakes and sell it the public. As kids, we would get it free. My sister told me that they also sell the flakes to feed the Tilapia fish. When I got there the first time, I saw people buying big bags of discarded communion flakes to feed the fish. That was my biggest regret because it could have been a great photo op. Oh well, next time…

My aunt together with two other nuns would stay in our place every time they are in Manila to do business for the Monastery. They are the only ones allowed to get out of the monastery and so they usually stay with us. When my mother passed away, they offered the wake to be held in the monastery since my parents opened their home to them. Tita Ging was always there for all the family…She never turned her back on us.

For that, I dedicate this post to my dearest Auntie Ging. Thank you for everything.