Our Lady of Manaoag in Tagaytay (June 8-22, 2008)

The Our Lady of Manaoag from Pangasinan is currently at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Church in Tagaytay City from June 8-22, 2008. If you are by any chance in Tagaytay or happen to pass by, it would be good if you drop by.

I happen to be in Tagaytay this (long) weekend and we were suppose to attend the Sunday Mass. We came too late for the last night mass but praying to the Lady was worth missing it.

Bag of Beans Coffee Shop & Bakery: Tagaytay City

After dinner (ahh, fullness!) now it’s time for a good dessert! Very near Taalena where we had dinner is the very cozy, alfressscooo Bag of Beans Cofee Shop & Bakery. I know, I may already be the last one blogging about it (but at least maybe the latest! Hehe!) but can you blame me? It’s my first time in the place though I have heard and read about the place already.

Bag of Beans is suppose to be a cofee shop and bakery. And so I thought!However, maybe because it has gained popularity in its service all through these years, it has now become, a restaurant and in fact offers its amenities for conference.

It is “alfresco” resto and bar open from breakfast to dinner and even after.

Taalena Bar & Restaurant: Tagaytay City

This past long weekend served as a brief respite before going back to full-time work, again. I was with friends who graciously accomodated me, again, and on our last night, we went up to Tagaytay, a short drive from Sta. Rosa where we were staying.

Tagaytay, as it is now, one may find a difficult time looking for a place to eat that is not very Manila. We wanted to try something not “manila” and Tonton was suggesting a certain market-eatery (as of this writing, I cannot confirm with Tonton the name of the place) but because we have a kid with us and we don’t know the circumstances of the place, we aborted.

Sonya’s Garden Bed and Breakfast Cottage Inn

Sonya’s Garden Country Cottages Bed and Breakfast is one of the better sights I’ve seen at dusk lately. More than the imposing structures of what appeared to me as Old-English cottages for (their) accommodation, is the lush and rolling wildflower garden with numerous ground lamps in various colors that come so alive like fireflies at night!

I am sharing with you here a video clip I have made of a scene which I will remember forever, being by nature amazed with anything that lights up and give color to the darkness of the night.

More images at the next page.

What’s New at Sonya’s Garden

What started to be a retirement home for Sonya have become an envy of a retirement home for everyone. It’s not only a sanctuary of wildflower species and herbs, not only known for its dining at the Conservatory and bed and breakfast at the Cottage Inn, but it has extended its hospitality to nourishing the soul through its Sensous Spa; the body by offering freshly-baked breads and homemade spreads through its Panaderia; and The Greenhouse is now open for functions.

I am sharing with you here a short video clip featuring, among others, the three (3) new places at Sonya’s :

Watch the same video on blip.tv HERE. More images at the next page.

Caleruega: The Hanging bridge, Koi pond and Elevated walkway

 

Caleruega, in Brgy, Kaylaway, Batulao, Batangas, 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 encounters, skills training, leadership seminars, art, music, and liturgy workshops and environment and agriculture-related activities.” 

It has amenities like conference and function halls, dormitories and cottages, he Transfiguration Chapel (which has become its famous landmark), and a camp site and reflection garden which I am featuring here. Below is an image of its entrance (located at the back of the chapel and admin bldg.)

Behind the very imposing Transfiguration Chapel and Administration Bldg. of Caleruaga is a camp site, accessible by going through elevated pathways covered by trees.  Waterfalls, fountains and koi ponds provide relaxing sights below. (More images on the next page): 

The Chapel on the Hill and the “Labyrinth”

 

One ’side trip’ I had to Punta Fuego was the Chapel on the Hill in Don Bosco, Batulao, Batangas (also known as the Mary Help of Christians Center of Spirituality). It is situated on ‘top of hill’ immediately beside the entrance of Don Bosco. You can see it from the road going to Caleruega, about a kilometer (only) from the entrance of Evercrest. Below is an image of the chapel’s exterior.

The chapel has a circular floor plan and is so calming not only because of its location but also because of what you see around when inside the chapel. It has a 360-degree view of the surroundings through its glass walls (and windows). What equally interesting is its “Labyrinth” which seek to help meditate and facilitate communion with God your inner self.

Below is a shot of the chapel’s interior. Take notice of the circular pattern on the floor – that’s the ‘labyrinth.’

To explain better what’s significant about the floor pattern, I am quoting hereunder what is written at the entrance of the chapel. I tried to faithfully transcribe the text I got as images, but I still missed some. However, they are not so substantial so as to affect the whole essence of the labyrinth, as explained: