How About A Trip to RIZAL?

How About A Trip to RIZAL?

  Because you are my visitor, you will stay in my grandfather’s house located at Luklukan St., Bilibiran, Binangonan, Rizal. That would be our permanent meeting place. The arc sign of our street is already gone so the only mark would be the Cequeña St. which is on the left side of the road facing our street. NOTE: read first the whole schedule before making "larga." :)

1.)    5:00 am – Wake up call: Don’t worry if you haven’t fixed yourselves yet. Go straight ahead to pantalan and enjoy the cold morning breeze. Stay for a couple of minutes and wait for the sunrise. The atmosphere is good for your body. :)

2.)    Go back to house and eat breakfast. Buy pandesal, champorado, sopas or lugaw located just outside the house.

3.)    Before 8:00 in the morning, prepare yourself and we’ll leave the house. Do your stuff and make sure to wear comfy clothes and footwear (Please do not wear sleeveless and skirts). Bring camera if you want but maintain it secured and of course bring MONEY!

4.)    Take a jeepney ride going to Binangonan bayan. 

5.)    Take a short visit at Binangonan Catholic Churh then after that go to palengke/tyangge. Shop or window shop anything you want. If you’re a “photog wannabe,” you might as well enjoy the wide fish port scene.

6.)    If you’re not afraid, take a boat ride going back and forth Binangonan bayan. ( I don’t know the route of the boat and the fare so better not but if you want adventure then why not.)

7.)    For lunch you have two choices:
          a.) Take a jeepney again going back to Bilibiran but go down at Darangan and buy Sr. Pedro                  
               roasted chicken. 
          b.) Take a jeepney again going back to Bilibiran, ask any kid or any Kuya there to gather kuhol at the pantalan. Give him any payment.
           *If you chose (a.) you shall take a jeepney ride again going home (Bilibiran). So that's another seven pesos (P 7.oo).

8.)    Eat lunch and take a rest for a while.

9.)    Take any jeepney ride that will pass by Angono. Passing a mini bridge that indicates your exit at Bilibiran, look at your right and you’ll see the Grandspan factory where the shooting of tv series Rounin before had been done.

10.)  Seeing a funerary stall at a corner on left, go down and take a walk on that street. You might as well take a picture of a nice graffiti wall with yourself. :)

11.)  Go straight forward if you want but it’s hot so better have an umbrella. You will see a wide view of Laguna de Bay with water lilys and a smoggy view of Manila I think.

12.)  Go back to the main road at around 1:00 pm.

13.)  Go to Sta. Lucia Mall by jeepney. I think that costs twenty pesos (P20.oo).  Take note it’s quite far so have something that you’ll do while riding the jeep. I suggest that you ride on a cool jeepney that has a boom boom box beat sound trip. From a farther distance, at your right you’ll see a jail where some jail scenes to tv shows had been taken.

14.) Upon reaching Sta. Lucia Mall, go to the basement and shop ‘till to drop.

15.) Before five in the afternoon, go back to Bilibiran by jeep.

16.)  Deposit your shopping bags, change clothes and go to pantalan.

17.)  Just chill there and buy fishball, kikiam and iskrambol. Take note you must try them all. (If it happens that you don’t see Kuya Manong Fishball at pantalan, go to the house, you will see him there.) Make sure that you do not miss him because he will leave soon to do business on other places.

18.) Before dinner time, take a jeep ride or walk going to San Jose and buy jaribi. If there’s none, go to Darangan where you bought the Sr. Pedro chicken and buy fresh fish that you like.

19.)  Bring those two back to Bilibiran because that would be our dinner.

20.)  After eating you can just stay outside the house. Relax and take with you a guitar or any sound trip.

21.)  Before going to sleep, prepare/fix your things because tomorrow you will leave.

22.)  Take a jeepney ride going to Taytay and go down at Club Manila East Resort. Stay there the whole day. Enjoy and feel refreshed!

*Jeepney Fare:
    Bilibiran to Binangonan Bayan - 7 Php (that's the minimun fare so any place that you'll pass before Binangonan bayan would still cost 7 Php)
    Bilibiran to Angono - 7 Php
    Bilibiran to Sta. Lucia - 26 Php
    Bilibiran to Taytay - 15 Php


*Food:
    Pandesal - 1 Php/piece
    Chaporado, sopas or lugaw - 10 Php/order
    Sr. Pedro roasted chicken - 150 to 180 Php (depends on the part)
    Fishball - 50 cents/piece
    Kikiam - 3 Php/piece
    Iskrambol - 3 to 5 Php/piece
    
*Club Manila East Resort - 350/head 8:00-5:00 pm


All in all the two day trip will cost an estimate of 650 Php. Your shops are not included. 


           Like i said, you're my visitor so I'll be in charge of foods and, if kind enough, include the jeepney fares. :) I hope you'll enjoy and see the greatness of RIZAL! :)

"Pantalan"

"Pantalan"

Shining like the light from the sun, Rizal, a surpassing hometown of mine had never failed to give me a vision of how living is just as good as eating ice cream.  All its noise and color are like notes that must be in my staff. Residing in the waters of Laguna de Bay, fishing is part of its people’s way of living. This body of water is a soldier to the ­province. Beside the bay are some mini ports – a piece of land extending from Rizal. They are like little helping hands that connect the bay and the people. It’s like powerpuff girls for me – everything is sugar, spice and everything nice! 

One port is at Luklukan Street. By the way, we call it pantalan. Among the ports, this one is my sanctuary. Many changes had already happened here. The not so long, car wide, rocky rough path is now smoothly flat. The ones been a pool for refreshment is now a solid ground for play caused by global warming. Either way, it’s still nice. The tide never brings me down, neither high nor low. The breeze by day greets me warmly. The breeze at night calms me. Everything would be great by just sitting at a concrete. Through the end, you’ll have a view of the world.

Every morning the warmth of the lucid sun touches my skin, enough for it to be tan. The water lilies are like un-winged fairies that lay gracefully at the top of the water, giving it a design. By jumping off the concrete, excitement starts. Its walls are giant barriers six feet high. At the bottom, Lilliputians rock the world. There are the basketball players, the gossipers sitting at a dark rock about 20 meters far, the Chinese-garterers, the Pamela one-ers and the backtayb-ers. At night, the white round plate really gives the best luminosity. The smell of evening induces peace. The silence is as loud as listening to Paramore. Day and night pantalan is living.

Mixed people are in my port – normal villagers, fishermen, gun shooters and the king, Kuya Manong Fishball. He’s bald, tan, a bit thin and around 5’8” in height. By the beginning of the night you’ll see him at the middle end of the pantalan with his buddy, the kariton fishball. I’m like in heaven, eating the luscious kikiam and feel my every bite of the mouth-watering fishball. Combo up with some cold sweet iskrambol with tangy milk taste and local cocoa madness that melts in your mouth – really make you gulp with gusto. It is street food yet it is gourmet.

Pantalan is a puzzle piece of Rizal. It’s so strong that even Alzheimer’s can’t obscure it from my memory.

Remember, everything would be great by just sitting at a concrete. Through the end, you’ll have a view of the world.

-Cha :)

Rizal In Zenith And Living ...

Rizal In Zenith And Living ...

          Rizal Province or simply Rizal was named after Philippines' national hero Jose Rizal. It is located in the CALABARZON region, east of Manila. It is a mountainous province lying at the feet of Sierra Madre. Rizal boasts its tourist spot cities like Angono, Binangonan and Antipolo, the province's capital. 

          Angono City is labeled as the "Arts Capital of the Philippines." In fact, it is the hometown of the famous national artist, Carlos "Botong" Francisco. You can't blame its beauty because it's pretty much obvious around the town. You would see sculptures, wall paintings along the road and even "boom boom box" jeepneys which makes Rizal province alive. It is also known for its art galleries like the Blanco Museum and the Carlos "Botong" Francisco Studio. Angono also celebrates the feast of St. Clement every 22nd and 23rd of November with various festivals like Higantes, to name one. Higantes Festival has the traditional "higante" or giants made up of bamboo and paper mache that are included in the parade of bands and dancers. For a short history, the "higante" was the Angono villager's way of protesting to the Spanish colony by forming the giants like them with their arms on their waist. Other than that, Angono before was a barrio but now it is a first class urban municipality of the province.

          Next is Binangonan. Binangonan in English means "first established town around the lake." Prior to this, the city lies along Laguna de Bay, the country's largest lake. It is known for its fish ports and fishing industry. This city is a major supplier of freshwater fish to Metro Manila and up to Batangas. One famous church in Binangonan is the St. Ursula Parish Church.

          Lastly, Antipolo is the capital of Rizal province. The Hinulugang Taktak waterfall is a popular tourist spot that is located here. Many towns of Rizal have Spanish time-old churches but the Antipolo Cathedral is the most eminent. Antipolo is also dubbed as the "Pilgrimage City of the Philippines."

           Rizal people love their food! During merienda or afternoon snacks, people dash on to street food carts loaded with different street food like fish balls, kikiam, dirty ice cream and iskarambol (flavored crushed ice). During nights, binatog (cooked corn with coconut), kalamares (breaded squid rings), jaribi (breaded chicken wings and neck) and barbeque are the best. Also you can still buy a 50-cent worth of candy here and would only spend as low as 15 pesos for a whole belly-loaded complete snack.

        All in all, Rizal is quite an urbanized province. It is the country's least poor province with a poverty rate of 3.4%, which is lower than NCR and Metro Manila. It is also where Philippines' riches town is located. For me, Rizal is at the zenith of its progress and I must say that it remains to be a lively and rich-cultured province! 

-Cha :)

Hometown Childhood Memories :) *dies*

Hometown Childhood Memories :) *dies*

I was born in Morong, Rizal. 

I lived in Angono, Rizal. 

I have had my toddler memories on both Angono and Binangonan, Rizal. 

          Rizal is a beautiful place! Rizal is where my mother’s clan live. My first home is an apartment in Angono. I remember its red-colored floor. Floor wax! yeepee :)) There were 4 doors in the whole apartment. We were on the 3^rd from the gate. Barangay Kalayaan is my first community. Hmmm.. memories. I only recall a few but they mean a lot. I celebrated my 1^st birthday there. I had a party in the apartment where relatives and friends were invited. My parents, with the help of some photographs,  were telling me stories about it. During my birthday, I had this tradition of picking stuffs from a container or, in my case, a "bilao." Elders would say that this must be done by the time a child celebrates his/her 1st birthday. They also say that whatever thing  had been chosen reflects the personality of the child. Four things were given on me, a pen, paper, rosary, 20 peso bill. I chose the pen first then the bill. Ooooh what was that meant? Hmmm.. I don't have an idea but seeing my life as it goes on, I would take it as a good sign :).

          Rizal has this festival called “Higantes.” I’m not so sure but I think my mother was the one carrying me for me to see the parade. Higantes is the celebration of San Clemente (patron of fishermen) where there were giant paper mache-sculpted people, marching bands and dancers or people walking with a fisherman outfit look with their “sagwans” on. Because I’m just a kid, people would think that I might be afraid of the “giants” but I’m not. I dont’t know, maybe, though I’m young, I can see the joy and happiness of the event. Hehe ^^D I had fun witnessing this festival. Aside from the liveliness and smiling faces, it's also my first time to see a fiesta as great as this.

          Besides living in Angono, I also stayed in Binangonan (where my relatives live). We can't afford nannies before so Lola Sonia took care of me. I love her so much, right now I miss her aaawwww :'(. Everyday was always like a happy day there. Play here, cry there, crash! It's like there's no room for sadness because of  the people i see. One morning, my lola took me to a karinderya (mini fast food chain) near their house to eat breakfast. She ordered a lugaw (rice soup) for me. 

"Lola bakit may chocolate?"

I curiously asked. At first she's like "huh?" then eventually she laughed. All I've known was that the "chocolate" I'm talking about is a chicken's liver for real! I wasn't laughing that time because I don't know anything but now, every time I would recall, I always do. HAHA =)) I tasted it but didn't like it so my grandmother ordered a champorado instead. Whoo! I love that karinderya.

          Lastly, why would I forget Rizal? I have had my first embarrassing moment there! ... Interested? Well, here it goes. We were on a clan outing. I remember that I was wearing a red two-piece swim suit. I was in the pool already then I had discovered something. How about jumping into the pool? It’s like diving unprofessionally, you know, for some sort of observational learning. I was young then so I tried it with the help of my mother. Splash! I come out of the water CRYING. My mother was bothered. My relatives were like ‘why what happen?’. Then I touch my head. It was not only “Splash!” but it must be “Splash! Boog!” My head was bumped at the concrete. I was able to jump but not far enough. Epic Fail! They said. Until now I can’t forget it and I keep on laughing about it. In fact, I have a picture of it. 

           I'm loaded of memories in Rizal. How I wish I could visit there again. 

I LOVE RIZAL!

RIZAL = HEARTS ♥♥♥