Tag Archives: luzon

Pinas Top News # 12

From July 25 To July 31

1. PNoy’s Second State of the Nation Address (SONA). It is quite surprising that PNoy’s second SONA is not filled with his favorite keyword – GMA, literally but metaphorically Gloria still exists within his SONA. Perhaps, his speech writer have read online Pinoy public forums and newspapers, thus PNoy’s speech is not filled literally with anti-GMA just like before. However, the anti-GMA plot still exist through mentioning irregularities and anomalies on past government departments like the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).

But one thing that never change; his speech is still hypocritical and full of arrogance. If he indeed some of his expose are accurately true and proven to be really happening, then he can speak it loudly in pubic about it, but unfortunately, some of his expose are already proven to be incorrect and inaccurate and some are not true but just a product of a malicious mind and revengefully wrathful heart.

2. Luzon Earthquake and Typhoon Juaning. After PNoy deliver his second SONA, the Luzon region of the Philippines was stricken with a tectonic earthquake coming from the bottom of the adjacent sea with highest magnitude of 6 on the ritcher’s scale then followed by a strong typhoon Juaning that cause heavy rains and floods and deaths.

The sudden onslaughts of earthquake and typhoon Juaning after PNoy’s speech makes some Pinoys think that Mother Nature was offended by Noynoy’s “lying lips” and “forked tongue” because there is a popular Pinoy saying that says “Tamaan ako ng kidlat kung nagsisinungaling ako” (“lighting should strike me if I lie”)

Furthermore, the sudden coming also of typhoon Juaning has caused some to blame the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) for not forecasting accurately causing deaths due to unpreparedness.

3. GMA’s Spine Surgery. Pain in the neck by former Philippine president Ms. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was diagnosed by her doctors to be a misalignment of a portion of her spine at the neck that constrict the nerves, thus causing pain. The doctors recommend a quick surgery for it because according to the doctors who diagnosed Ms. Arroyo, the misalignment could cause an irreversible damage or her cervical spine for according to the doctors this misalignment of spine is cause by aging and stress brought by wearing and tearing of some nerves on it.

Fortunately, the operation was successful according to recent reports.

4. Philippine Azkals Game against Kuwait Team. Unfortunately, though their game was held in the Philippines and was back up by Filipino fans, the Philippine football team –Philippine Azkals never won the game.

5. “We are sorry”??? These are the words of Senior Supt. Rafael Santiago together with his men as their public apology to the Filipino people for admitting that they participated on the alleged election fraud on 2004, that according to them, they are the ones who switch election returns (ER) at the Batasang Pambansa complex in January-February 2005 with fake election returns to reassure the winnings of former Philippine president Ms. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Senior Supt. Rafael Santiago on white polo shirt with DOJ sec.De Lima

These police not only implicated GMA but also ordinary Comelec employees and volunteers who according to them participated on the cheating or fraud. But can they name names?

According to Department of Justice (DOJ) secretary Laila de Lima, everyone involved on the allege 2004 election fraud should be punished. But the question is how they will do it? And how they will prove that the allegations of Senior Supt. Rafael Santiago is indeed very true though he has a so-called “video” and “true ERs” to back up his accusations and punished everyone involved including ordinary employees and volunteers since that was already a very long time ago? How accurate it will be the investigation?

Yes, how will they name names especially to those ordinary employees and volunteers who participated on the so-called alleged election cheating? Will de Lima just pinpoint anyone as long as she saw logical connection on the names without accurate evidence? This is very critical.

Yes, they were really “Sorry” to the Filipino people for inviting an impending civil chaos in the Philippines once this alleged 2004 election fraud keep rolling and hitting innocent Filipinos that can be suspected having connection to the alleged 2004 election fraud if one’s name matches DOJ sec. De Lima’s own logic though one is not involved on it. For according to DOJ sec. De Lima everyone should be punish even the ordinary employees and volunteers then.

6. Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) Coffee Scam. “Misinformed”, that was former chairman of Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) Efraim Genuino label President Noynoy Aquino’s arrogant allegations on his SONA.
According to Genuino, the current Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) chair Cristino Naguit Jr. misinformed PNoy regarding the said alleged anomaly or irregularity and that Naguit’s math is definitely wrong and Naguit was only making revenge against him and against GMA for he was axed then as an audit chief Officer of Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) during the administration of former Philippine president Ms. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo because of incompetency.

Current Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) Cristino Naguit Jr. accusation on the alleged Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) coffee scam was purely Malice and vendetta as his own statement testifies “..scandalous, outrageous, and offensively excessive…”

Former Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) chair Efraim Genuino said that the accusations accused by Naguit that Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) during his term is not true. But the truth is the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) then never paid for the coffee consumption of Casino customers then contrary to Naguit’s claim and there is nothing on the records to prove Naguit’s wild malice and accusations.
He said the patrons who ordered beverages then paid it through Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) ‘s Player tracker System (PTS) or PTS cards that contained points whenever they play Casino games and were used like cash to pay for the coffee or beverages. Moreover, if the Casino customers do not have PTS cards, the customers voluntarily pay in cash for their own coffee.

Philippine Literature

Leave a reply

Philippine literature is vast, informative and entertaining. It is the literature associated with the Philippines and includes the legends of pre-historical and colonial legacy of the Philippines. These are written in both indigenous and Hispanic languages.
Most of the notable literary works of the Philippines were written during the Spanish period. Philippine literature is written in Spanish, Filipino (Tagalog), English and other native Philippine languages.
Compared to other Asian nations, the Philippines have very few artifacts that show proofs or evidences of Philippine literature or writings.

A script called Baybayin was used in Luzon when Spaniards settled in the islands in 1521. Also indigenous people in Manila and among other native groups in the Philippines wrote on bamboo and specially prepared Arecaceae palm leaves, using knives and pointed sticks as pens.

They were using the primitive Tagalog script which has basic symbols. That is easy to write and understand. Modern Filipino literature are award winning. Some literary works are being studied in schools and is part of the learning curriculum. Also some literary works have television, theater and movie adaptations.

Notable Philippine Literary Works:
ï   Biag Ni Lam-ang
ï   Doctrina Christiana
ï   El Filibusterismo
ï   Florante at Laura
ï   Ibong Adarna
ï   Noli Me Tangere
ï   Dekada ë70

The Evolution of the Flag of the Philippines

Leave a reply

The current national Philippine flag today is just a mere derivative flag from the Philippine flags that precedes it. Long before it was wave on General Emilio Aguinaldo’s balcony on 1898, its predecessors already made a mark to some Filipinos who love their countries.

The very first Flag of the Philippines that has been created is said to be the flag of Andres Bonifacio. It is the flag of their Secret Society named Katipunan, which has an acronym of three Ks or KKK. These three Ks stands for Kataas-taasang Kagalang-galang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan or in English word Highest and Most Honorable Society of the Sons of the Nation.

This very first Philippine flag is in full red color with the three Ks on white color on the center of the red flag. You can google the image of this flag to see for yourself what it looks like. This KKK flag was made by Andres Bonifacio’s wife Gregoria De Jesus and Benita Rodriguez.

This Flag of the Philippines have variations that is some put the three Ks in a horizontal position, some in triangular form and some one large K only.

Another distinct variation of this flag is the flag of General Mariano Llanera. His version is of black background with one K on the left side and a skull above a two cross bones on the right.

This first Philippine flag has gone many revisions, variations and versions until it reach the present day flag of the Philippines.

There are variations with the three Ks but with an image of a sun above them but with red as background; there is a version with a white triangle lying down horizontally on the left corner or an equilateral triangle and within this white triangle are the three Ks spread on the three corners of the triangle, while on its center is the image of a rising sun behind a mountain, this version was said to be created by General Pio del Pilar; some version of the Philippine flag is the one called the Sun of Liberty of the Naic Assembly whose only image on the red flag is the image of a sun with a face on it without the three Ks.

Another variation is the Magdalo flag. This flag has only an image of the sun on the center which one letter K at the center of the sun. The letter K here is written on the ancient Filipino alphabet.

However, on the Battle of Tirad Pass and Pasong Balite, General Gregorio Del Pilar introduce a new flag with a striking resemblance of a Cuban flag. But this flag of General Gregorio Del Pilar was not at all sensationalized by Filipinos because of it resemblance to a Cuban flag.

But on 1898, while on exile at Hong Kong, Emilio Aguinaldo made another banner flag. This time the flag have a freemasonry triangle symbol with three stars on the corners and a sun with a face or a mythical sun on the center, Which according to him, the eight rays of the sun represents the eight provinces that revolted against the Spanish ruling, namely Manila Philippines, Pampanga Philippines, Cavite Philippines, Bulacan Philippines, Nueva Ecija Philippines, Bataan Philippines, Laguna Philippines, and Batangas Philippines. While the three stars represents: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

And this flag was wave at General Emilio Aguinaldo’s balcony, and also this flag of the Philippines was revised by former Philippine President Manuel L. Quezon by removing the face on the sun. Thus revised version has now become the current flag of the Philippines. It is now the accepted Philippine flag.

Ilocos Philippines: Ilocos Sur In The Philippines Part 1

Leave a reply

When Filipinos heard the word “Ilocos”, they already Know what the word connotes, that is, Pagudpud beach, Vigan ancestral houses, Laog city Philippines, Fort Ilocandia, Ilocos homes and architecture,Paoy church, the Qurino Bridge, former President Ferdinand Marcos or Sarrat Ilocos, ceramic products, Ilocos garlic and bagoong, etc.

As we or as Filipinos knew, Ilocos in the Philippines is divided into two regions, namely Ilocos Sur Philippines and Ilocos Norte Philippines. Ilocos Philippines is located at the northern part of Luzon Philippines, somewhere at the top of Baguio Philippines and La Union Philippines.

Ilocus Sur Philippines is closely adjacent to La Union Philippines or the southerpart of Ilocos in the Philippines. It is part of Ilocos Philippines that features cultural heritage or Ilocos Sur Philippines is so-called the Heritage Village of the Philippines. This is due because, Ilocos Sur Philippines capital is the well known Vigan City Philippines where the World Heritage Known Ancestral Homes where situated. Vigan City Philippines, as we all know boast of its 16^th century old ancestral homes where UNESCO World Heritage have noted it and included it on their List of World Heritage places in the world.

Another cultural heritage one could see at Ilocos Sur Philippines is the Sta. Maria Church. This church is an ancestral fortress of the Philippine Revolution during 1896.This church is a landmark church, thus you could immediately saw Sta. Maria Church the moment you foot set upon Ilocos Sur in the Philippines, specifically at the Municipality of Sta.Maria Ilocos Sur where Sta. Maria Church is located.

Another cultural heritage that can be found at Ilocus Sur Philippines is the Tirad Pass National Shrine. Tirad Pass is known as the last stand or last defense fortress of General Emilio Aguinaldo’s revolutionary forces. The young Filipino general whom General Emilio Aguinaldo has appointed to head over the forces to defend Tirad Pass is the young General named Gregorio Del Pilar. This National Shrine is located at Municipality of Conception which now known as the Municipality of Gregorio Del Pilar.

Another cultural heritage of Ilocos Sur in the Philippines is the Bessang Pass. Bessang Pass is the last stronghold of the Japanese occupation in the Philippines which fall at the hands of the forces of the United States. Actually, Bessang Pass is a controversial place at the time of Marcos Regime. This is so because President Ferdinand Marcos then claims that he is the “real hero” of the Bessang Pass which sparks shocks among the real Filipinos who suffer and fight at the place itself. Even the guerillas then were shock because they never see any President Ferdinand Marcos trace at the site. They even thought that President Ferdinand Marcos was at Nueva Viscaya Philippines then. But President Ferdinand Marcos then insist that he is the real hero behind it, and since he is dictator leader then no one can rebuke him. But until a late military man named Col. Bonifacio Gillego who becomes a congressman then make a probe of President Ferdinand Marcos claim. He has discovered at the archives of US military that indeed President Ferdinand Marcos is a big Liar or a real fake hero of Bessang Pass.

Zambales In The Philippines

Leave a reply

Zambales in the Philippines and its Popular Municipalities/Cities

This province adjacent Pampanga Philippines is well known of course as the region where Mt. Pinatubo erupted during 1991 where it devastated almost the entire central Luzon Philippines. However, despite of this famous natural disaster, Zambales Philippines still stands out among the provinces of central Luzon Philippines. This is so because of Zambales Philippines prominent municipalities and cities like Olongapo city, Subic Bay Freeport, San Felipe Zambales, Iba Zambales, Botolan Zambales, Palauig Zambales and other famous Zambales municipalities.

Olongapo city Zambales is said to be the first class city in Zambales Philippines. It is said to have 227,270 dwellers within the city and one of cleanest city at Zambales Philippines. However, it is distinct city among the cities or municipalities of Zambales in the Philippines for it is a chartered city. That is, it has its own government and legislation in the city and not in compliance with the local governance of Zambales Philippines. This is due because Olongapo city before it has become One of the Philippine cities or rather one of Zambales municipality, it is under the governance of United States and part of United States naval reserves in the Philippines, it was only by the untiring effort of James Gordon, Olongapo city become Zambales own city but with chartered governance.

Another Zambales City which is adjacent to Olongapo city is the Subic City or Subic Bay Freeport Zone which is of similar situation with Olongapo city. As we know, Subic Bay is a home or former home of United States Military facilities outside the US mainland jurisdiction. And the US Naval Base location at Subic Bay is the one called Freeport Zone where the entire tourist (local and foreigner alike) flocks to play Casinos, rest and unwind at its beaches and resorts, etc. Like Olongapo city, Subic Bay was formerly held in administration of the United States Government but Like James Gordon have done to Olongapo city, his Son Richard Gordon lobbied its independence also.

Another famous Zambales Municipality of town is the home of Mt.Pinatubo which is Botolan Zambales. Botolan Zambales is the host of two major festivities at Zambales Philippines, namely the Domorokdok Festival held during May, and the Fiesta Poon Bato held during January. Botolon Zambales also boast of its fast growing recreational and resort areas like hiking near a waterfalls for example as a recreational activity.

San Felipe Zambales in other hand boast its best access routes into the slopes of Mt. Pinatubo and its Mountain ranges and rivers and beaches.

Iba Zambales,as we all Filipinos know that it is the birth place of former President Ramon Magsaysay and the Provincial Capital of Zambales Philippines. Iba Zambales has also beaches and rivers and its beaches is one of the busiest and most flock beaches in Zambales Philippines.

Palauig Zambales, however, home the highest peak mountain in Zambales Philippines, which is Mt. Tapulao with 2037 meter peak high. It is best for those who love mountain hiking. Actually, a Korean tourist who was impressed by Mt.Tapulao’s beauty has dubbed Palauig Zambales as the Baguio city of the Philippines of Zambales Philippines.

Batangas in the Philippines

Leave a reply

The First Class Batangas Philippines

This Province in the Southwestern part of the Philippines is known as the most popular tourist destinations near Manila Philippines and at the Philippines. And why is it so? Of course because of Batangas Philippines famous beaches and resorts and diving spots, like Matabungkay, Anilao, Punta Fuegeo, Calatagan, and other famous tourist spots. Moreover, the famous Taal Volcano was also located at Batangas Philippines where most tourists flock to see the volcano. Taal volcano is the smallest active volcano known in the world and famous for its crater which has a lake in it. Its crater with lake is now called “Crater Lake” which most tourist love to look into. It is a volcano within a lake (Lake Taal) and the volcano itself has also a lake with its crater. Amazing is not it?

However, there are also interesting stuff about Batangas Philippines than its popular beaches and resorts. That is, Batangas Philippines’s famous fan knife or in local dialect “balisong”. Batangas Philippines has been known of this famous product in connection with its urban legend that a “Batangueno”(or local residents of Batangas ) always carry a secret “balisong” in anticipation to defend oneself from any outsiders who would challenge or offend one Batangueno to fight. Thus, there is a scare saying that “don’t mess yourself with a Batangueno” if you love your life. Batangas knife is a folding pocket knife with two handles counter-rotated at the grip of the blade of the knife. The knife can be concealed and surprise revealed when an enemy is attacking you. That’s really quite terrifying if you happen to bull with a Batangueno.

Batangas Philippines is also known for its cattle species, throughout the Philippines the “Batangas Cow” is sought after and almost every Saturday there is an auction.

However, like other region in the Philippines, Batangas in the Philippines has also other products which it can be proud of like pineapples, tuna fish, bangus, tilapia, coconut belt, etc.

Batangas Philippines is also known as the Cradle of Noble Heroes in the Philippine history because of heroes and statemens it produced, like Teodoro Kalaw,Apolinario Mabini,Jose Laurel,Claro M. Recto, and others. There are number of museums also which depicts this historical side of Batangas Philippines like Marcela Marino Agoncillo Museum and Monument which immortalized the contribution of this semi-hero Marcela Agoncillo who sew the first Philippine flag which was raised and wave during the times of Emilio Aguinaldo. This museum is actually an ancestral house of Marcella Agoncillo or where Marcela Agoncillo used to live during her times.Actually, I thought this was called Apolinario Shrine.

So where Batangas Philippines does located? Batangas Philippines is located at the CALABARZON region of Luzon Philippines, confined with the provinces of Cavite and Laguna. If you are from Manila Philippines, Batangas in the Philippines is 110 kilometers away southward through land transportation. Once you get there, you can ride a passenger jeepney or tricycle to go around the province or you can ride boats if you want an island-hopping adventure.

Vigan City in the Philippines

Leave a reply

The Nostalgic Vigan City Philippines

The moment you step in into this city, a nostalgia of Spanish era in the

Philippines will flashback your soul in this era in the Philippines as if you

immediately return into the past life and settings of the Philippines during the

Spanish times. That is the thrill Vigan City Philippines will give you once you

visit this city. Both local of the Philippines and foreigners who visit this

place were awe by the nostalgic beauty of Vigan City Philippines and exclaim “It

is a place no other”.

The landscape of the whole city or town is all dressed up during the Spanish era

in the Philippines. The town is filled with antiquated houses with a blend of

Spanish, Latin American, European and Asian architecture with cobbled narrow

streets and calesas. However, these ancestral houses were built by the Chinese

taipans at that time but manage to survive during World War II. You could see

these 180 ancestral houses and other historical landmarks strung altogether at

Mestizo District.

Moreover, did you know that Vigan’s historical town was place by UNESCO World

Heritage Convention side by side with the Pyramids of Egypt, Taj Mahal of India,

The Great Wall of China, and other famous world heritage? Yes, you heard it

right, UNESCO World Heritage Convention did. At December 2, 1999 UNESCO World

Heritage Convention inscribed Vigan City among the list of World Heritage

Cultural Properties for the exceptional and universal beauty of Vigan’s historic

town.

So, where is Vigan City in the Philippines located and how to get there? Vigan city

Philippines is located at the northern Luzon Philippines at the province of

Ilocos Sur Philippines. It is 408 kilometers away from Manila Philippines, 139

kilometers away from San Fernando La union Philippines and 80 kilometers away

from Laog city Philippines.

Once you get there, you can either ride their calesas or jeep or tricyle to tour

the town. Moreover, if you like to stay for few days in Vigan’s historic town,

you can pay for board and lodging there at the historical town. For some

ancestral houses there were turn into hotel for the accommodations of some

tourist who want to stay for few days at the area. However, there are also hotels

in Vigan city which of rural settings if you don’t like to stay at the ancestral

houses. However, there are also resorts accommodations in rural settings if you

don’t want to feel the nostalgia effect of the town.

Aside from nostalgic Vigan’s historical town, you could also witness the Burnay

Industry or Vigan’s earthenware jars process how a potter’s hand molds

earthenware. Is that exciting to see? Moreover, we could also see the art of

“abel-weaving”. Abel-weaving is the art of making fabrics using a wooden handloom

and other accessories use in it to produce clothings, blankets, etc. It is one of

the industrial prides of Vigan City aside from earthenware jar making.

There is also the “damili” industry or the terra-cotta craft which indigenous

people of Vigan city in the Philippines made and produces cooking pots, water vessels, charcoal-fed

-cooking stoves, etc.

Angeles City In The Philippines

Leave a reply

Angeles City is located in the Northern part of Luzon. It is also called “The Heart of the North” and also as “The City of Friendship”.

Majority of the people in Angeles City, can speak Kapampangan (Pampango), which is the native language of Pampanga and Tagalog, which is the national language of the Philippines. But old people in Angeles City, most of them can only speak Kapampangan. Because they’re truly proud of their culture and heritage.

The biggest municipality in Angeles City is Balibago. Balibago, is also known as the melting pot of raises. One of the reasons why, is because people in Angeles City are the friendliest people in the Philippines (that’s what they say) and also the so-called “Red Light District” is located in Fields Avenue in Balibago, which attracts a lot of different people all over the world.

People from different countries frequent Angeles City, not because of the friendly people, but also because of the good food, and various party places located in Balibago and Angeles City.

But the reasons given above are not the only reasons why you can frequently spot foreigners in Balibago, Angeles City. Also near Balibago is Clark Air Base. Former Air Base of the United States. But when Mt. Pinatubo erupted in 1991 the troops completely left Clark, because it was greatly devastated by the eruption.

Now, it is known as Clark Special Economic Zone. Where the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport is located. It is named after one of the Philippines former presidents. Also located in Clark are several Duty Free shops, and outsourcing businesses which are popularly known as call centers, which helped the Philippines economic status in a great way.

Angeles City is a very convenient place too. It is highly developed and modernized but at the same time it still has a nice suburban feeling in it.

Churches, markets, parks, bus stations and malls are easy to access. Public transportation is available 24 hours, everyday. Manila which is the capital of the Philippines is just less than 2 hours away from Angeles City.

That’s why Angeles City, is truly a place worth visiting because it’s not only a great place to party, it’s a cozy city with a rich culture and proud of it’s old world heritage.