Car Blessing in Antipolo City

Few months ago, my “couple friends” (names witheld at my instance) acquired their brand new SUV, replacing their 9-year old “pick-up” which was two years older than their (only) daughter (well, for now) when it was finally disposed to its new owner (ouch!). What better way to start the service a (new) car than have it blessed, and where else but at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage in Antipolo City, for obvious reasons.

(The Shrine)

Having your car blessed at the Shrine is very simple. Go there during office hours (at anytime before 4:30 P.M.), proceed to the parish office and request for car blessing services. There is no fixed fee but you will be asked to make a “donation” in money which will be duly receipted. A hundred or two may do, but you can donate more for generosity. A lay minister shall be provided to administer the blessing. You will be asked to start the engine and open the hood of the car, as well as the car doors as soon as the minister goes around the car. To end, owners of the car shall have a special blessing by putting their hands together, palms up, and the lay minister shall recite a prayer while pouring holy water into their palms – to bless those hands that will control the steering wheel perhaps?

(The minister, he guide and the car)

Before we reached the Shrine, some few blocks away, there was this boy (in the picture) making a sign as if he knew that we were going to the Shrine, so we followed him until we were led to the parking area of the Shrine. He did not ask for money as I’ve expected, instead, he requested us to buy some native delicacies at his mother’s store which we did.

(Native Delicacies)

Flamingos and Swans

Why do flamingo’s stand on one foot?

“Flamingos frequently stand on one leg. Being able to curl the leg under the body, American flamingo keeps the foot warm and conserves body heat. Flamingo stand on one leg in both cool and warm environments.”

“A flamingo indicates that a shy but good looking stranger will soon make an entrance into your life.” See it here.

(Flamingos and the black and white swan)

“A swan predicts contentment and may symbolise love that has a strange appearance.” Check it here.

(The black swan)

This is the last entry for MMLDC. Images taken at the same place.

Ducks! What do they mean…

Ducks are symbols of love and romance.

While growing up in the province, I thought ducks are only colored white and brown. I did not know that there are ducks of other colors, shapes and sizes. These images are taken, still, at MMLDC’s Bird Santuary.

According to animal signs, “ducks, along with geese share the same symbolism of transition due to their migratory nature. Ducks are also symbol of honesty, simplicity and resourcefulness.”

“Ducks also represent sensitivity, as they tend to be very sensitive to their surroundings. Also viewed as graceful and agile – particularly in the water, ducks are respected for their beauty and adaptation to nature.”

A Symbol of Fidelity – the Peacock!

At MMLDC’s Bird Sanctuary, they have a white peacock, among ordinary peacocks we know and usually see in zoo’s and in pictures. The white peacock stands out among the rest because of its immaculate color. I was amused because I never thought there was until I saw one.

I found a website dedicated to the mystery behind the gorgeous and magnificient feathers of the peacock and some ancient and religious attributes, symbols and meanings to the peacock’s train. See it here.

According to feng-shui, “Peacocks are a symbol of beauty reminding us to take pleasure in the finer things in life. The Peacock is pure of heart, loyal and faithful to their partners. The male Peacock (sic) goes to great lengths to attract his hearts desire. Display the image of the peacock in the relationship area of your home to symbolize fidelity in your relationship encouraging a lasting and loving partnership.”

Venue for learning and more…

The Meralco Management and Leadership Development Center(MMLDC), located along Sumulong Highway in Antipolo City, opened its doors to the public for corporate training seminars five years ago. Today, it has expanded its service to social functions which includes but not limited to weddings, debuts and baptismals.

(One of several shuttels of the same kind)

Before it was acquired by Meralco in 1999, the 9-hectare property used to be a private residence and orchard of a local resident and the terrain is barely untouched notwitstanding construction of several buildings after acquisition, to host and suit the needs of clients, according to a news article.

(Lobby of the Residence Hall
where walls are adorned with black and white blown-up images
of “old” Meralco in Manila and Ortigas; old Meralco ads,
including the old Manila tranvia which captured my interest.
I never thought that there existed such a thing in Manila!)

Aside from being promoted for learning and functions, it has several other attractions such as the bird sanctuary, which I spent most time taking images that I will share in my next posts.

By the way, when I was there, a member of “The Platters” was also there to sing in a wedding reception. Some employees wanted their pictures to be taken but there was no available camera, so I obliged. I hope they will one time find their way to this site to check out their photo.

To know more about MMLDC, check their website here.

Awan Laeng!

Wala lang! That’s what the title means in Ilokano…

Here are some macro shots of a flower called “giant ginger.” The plant (with emphasis on the plant not its flower) looks like ginger but it can grow to more than 6-feet, thus, its name. Its flower, which is very unique and so vivid in color grows not from its trunk but sprouts from the ground.

Yehey, it’s holiday today!

He died a very honorable man and his death defeated an equally great one!

(Image taken at Nagtahan Bridge, Manila
August 21, 2006, 7:00 o’clock A.M.)

Today is a “special non-working holiday” all over the country, to commemorate the 23rd Death Anniversary of Ninoy Aquino. He was assassinated at the former Manila International Airport, later re-named in his honor, upon arrival from several years of exile in the U.S.

He was the leading oppositionist to the famous Ilokano President of the Republic for 20-years, Ferdinand Marcos, and his death eventually catapulted his widow, Cory Aquino to the Presidency three years later, ousting Ferdinand Marcos through EDSA Revolution of 1986.

Ninoy is larger than any establishment or public place named after him, bigger than his face in the 500 peso bill, greater than his famous black and white portrait with his trademark eyeglasses and larger than the father of Kris Aquino…He is a hero!

Ahh, “Kalesa!”

In Ilocos, especially in Vigan and Laoag, the “kalesa,” a horse-driven carriage, is a usual sight plying the busy streets of these cities. For motorists, the “kalesa” may sometimes test their “patience meter” during market days because they move slow and occupy space in the streets.

If I was informed right, Laoag City has an ordinance granting these “kalesas” a right to occupy a space near the city public market as their waiting area in recognition of their importance in preserving the heritage of the city. In fact, they take part in the yearly “kalesa festival” in the annual “fiesta” of Laoag City every February. The official website of Laoag City states: “The Calesa which is known as the “Queen of the Street” has its day on February 8. This festival features most authentic, most colorful and most artistic calesa. The search fot the Kutsero of the Year and the Most Healthy Horse is also an attraction. Cash prizes are awarded to all the title holders.”

Obviously, the “kalesa” was made for riding, however, in Laoag, consistent with preserving it as part of its heritage, it has evolved into a “sari-sari” store! Ayuzz!!!

One of several “kalesa sari-sari stores” at the public park in Laoag City in front of the Provincial Capitol.

Ernie’s Response!

I have received a private e-mail from Ernie (whom I referred to as Eddie in my previous post, now duly corrected with apologies)in response to my quotation of a phrase in one of his previous e-mails which (I thought) was referring to my “lame attempt to present raw imagery,” in general.

I am posting herein, en toto his e-mail because I thought it must be done, if only to demonstrate that I did not take offense but treated it as a constructive criticism; that I do not harbor bad feelings against Ernie but always wish the best for him; that he did not give me reasons not to communicate, but instead encouraged me further to continue posting…

To Ernie, my apologies, likewise, for construing your (previous)e-mail the way I did, and thank you for making me realize what you meant from your end. I recall what I have learned in my philosophy class back in college that “communication, in whatever language, is the best tool for understaning…”

Hereunder is Ernie’s e-mail:

“First off, I wish to apologize if I ever unintentionally “pricked” your sensibility with my last email by my inadvertent use of four words: lame, attempt, raw, imagery! Secondly, I wish to qualify what was in my mind behind these words. These four words, if you still have the email saved, were not alluding to the way you presented your short descriptions/stories, much less the sights and sceneries. In fact, if you recall, I had appreciated and been regaled by the simple, sincere and almost “tactile” way of your story presentation. There’s that uniqueness to it. Those famous four words were referring to that picture you had taken of your friend while bathing in an Ilocos Norte river where he was using fine silt as a body scrub! Raw imagery is the picture itself (you know, a tame reference to the anatomy) and “lame attempt” because it is not a full-blown exposure, you know what I mean. So in effect, I just wanted to tease you or urge you to feature some more of it (which of course you will not and which, in all honesty, I will not even support as a feature of your blogs. I would not want a friend (or that’s how I regarded you) like you to get in trouble! I can vividly recall that there’s even a ha! ha! ha! in that part of my sentence. Anyway, applied to the beautiful sceneries you are capturing through your camera, those are unarguably “raw” beauty, if there’s such a thing. Raw because the scenes and sights, mostly of them, are pristine, untouched and uncommercialized. Is that the reason why I never heard anymore from you for a while? Not that I would have expected you to reply that soon, knowing your preoccupation with other things (work-related, for one) but I am just trying to backtrack and kind of rationalizing the sanity or insanity of what I may have said. Again, “I did not mean to mean what you thought I meant” by those tricky words, Constantine. Having explained my position, this I have to say: I will be one of those disappointed if you do stop posting your blogs. You may not do it or be able to do it regularly as you may want, but do your followers a favor, please continue it. You are doing great. There’s just so much of Ilocos to be discovered. Your article on the “dragonfly” is so appropriate to your final decision to continue on… fly you must like the dragonfly! My best of regards. Eddie… I mean, Ernie!!! Oh, by the way, my last submissions for Ilocos Times are found on the current one on line and on the last four (or is it five) previous issues, if you decide to browse through them. Be hearing from you soon?”

Postcript: See the body scrubbing image here.

The Dragonfly!

It has been over two weeks since I last posted and it’s quite difficult to take off where I have left. Due to some unavoidable circumstances, I was not able to post as regularly as I did for the last four months. When I started this blog, there was nothing on my mind except to present my home province, its sights and culture, through raw display of imagery (that I take whenever I have the chance to go back home) which have been described in a private e-mail as “lame attempt!” (Ouch!- Ernie of Canada, that’s fine, it’s always better to be honest that to be nice! ). There are some other places and events that I have published but only for the purpose of realizing that Ilocos and its people are comparable to wherever, whoever.

Lately, I was confronted with a dilemma (the word!) of whether to continue or end this blog. I wanted to continue because Ilocos would never run out of good features; to end because I may not always have the luxury of time to do so (even if I really wanted to!). Last night, I finally thought of drafting my concluding article and made a list of people to thank. This morning, when I was about to draft my “bye-bye” post, I found myself pressing keys on the keyboard, wishing to continue. However I came to my 180-degrees decision, I don’t know, but one thing is for sure, I wish to continue…

For the image of this article, I am uploading a shot I have taken of a dragonfly that landed in the branch of a plant beside the main door of my apartment. I thought of catching as I did as a small child in the province but I decided to leave it and give it the freedom to fly… in its time…

“Fly when you can…”