Lemon Squares/Monday Mellow Yellow

Central Azucarera de Tarlac, a 112-year old sugar mill located in a 50-hectare land inside the Hacienda Luisita in San Miguel, Tarlac.

Linking to Monday Mellow Yellows

Tarlac Capitol/Signs

Staff at the Tarlac Capitol building was bringing down the flags and banner when we visited on June 1st.  The National Flag Day was on May 28th.

Spotted this plaque by the door of the Capitol.

Linking to Signs, Signs

Caged/Monday Mellow Yellows

"What do you fear, lady?" Aragorn asked.

"A cage," Eowyn said.  "To stay behind bars, until use and old age accept them, and all chance of doing great deeds is gone beyond recall or desire."

~ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King

Linking to Monday Mellow Yellows

Monasterio de Tarlac/Signs

These are some of the signs at the Monasterio de Tarlac, a Catholic monastery and hermitage along the mountain ranges of San Jose, Tarlac province and within the eco-tourism park.  There is a 30-foot statue of the Risen Christ perched on the mountain.  There is also a small chapel that houses the relic of the True Cross of Jesus Christ.  The relic, the only one in Asia, arrived here in 2007.  Unfortunately, I wasn't able to see it---and taking a photo of the relic is not allowed.

I was with a group of shutterbugs who visited the monastery last Saturday.  It was a 3-hour drive from Manila.

Linking to Signs, Signs

U/ABC Wednesday

I was at the Luisita Golf & Country Club over the weekend with a group of shutterbugs.  This 18-hole golf course sits on a 70-hectare area bounded on the east by a sugar central and by a mountain chain on the west.  I noticed these patio umbrellas as soon as we walked towards the clubhouse.  Wouldn't it be nice to sit here undisturbed by city noise and pollution, under the canopy of ancient acacia trees?

The clubhouse is a 2-storey classic Spanish architecture with a huge patio offering an unobstructed view of the golf course.  The golf course is part of Hacienda Luisita, a 6,400-hectare sugar plantation estate owned by the Cojuangco family, which includes the late former President Cory Aquino and her son, incumbent President Benigno Aquino III.

This visit was part of the local government's efforts to uplift tourism in the province of Tarlac.  Unfortunately, we only stayed here for about 30 minutes to keep up with another group enroute to the national shrine.

Linking to ABC Wednesday

Peace/Signs

Painted on top of an old two-storey house in Malolos, Bulacan.
With the current tensions between Taiwan and the Philippines, territorial disputes with China, the Sultan of Sulu's claims over Sabah, peace in this corner of the world is always threatened.  I hope everybody is seeking peaceful solutions to these conflicts.

Linking to Lesley's Signs, Signs

Shoepaholic

If a "shopaholic" is a person who is addicted to shopping, what do you call somebody who is a compulsive buyer of footwear?

A Shoepaholic?:p

I was in shoepaholic's heaven in late April when we went to the "Tsinelas Festival" in Liliw, Laguna. "Tsinelas" is a Filipino word for "slippers".

This festival is an annual event showcasing various types of footwear---flip flops, slippers, sandals, wedges, mules, loafers, slingbacks, flats, in different materials...all hand-made in Liliw.

We even visited a small factory and observed skilled shoe-makers.

These are fun but would you dare to wear these colorful wedges?

Linking to Monday Mellow Yellows

Blue Monday
ABC Wednesday

Campaign posters/Signs

We had our national mid-term elections on Monday, and hopefully, the candidates will start tearing down their campaign posters soon.  We were following this campaign jeep on our road trip to Laguna in late April. Aside from the posters, this jeep had a loudspeaker blaring out political jingles---and it wasn't even 9 a.m. yet!  Political campaigns here are like a circus---each party/candidate has some gimmick, balloons, colorful tarps, and yes, campaign jingles that can be annoying when you're still sleeping.

Campaign posters on a designated place along the provincial highway in Laguna.

Linking to Signs, Signs

Triboa Bay/Signs

Triboa Bay is a small community within the Subic Freeport Economic Zone, a former US naval base, overlooking Subic Bay. There are 21 villas here originally built to accommodate world leaders who attended the 1996 ASEAN Summit.  There is also a clubhouse with swimming pool which looked dilapidated.  The villas are now for sale/lease.

Linking to Signs, Signs

Z/ABC Wednesday

 Z is for Zoobic Safari

Zoobic Safari is a theme park in Subic Bay Freeport, a former US naval base, in the province of Zambales.  The theme park's main feature is the Tiger Safari where one can have a close encounter with tigers in an enclosed area.  If you're into something gruesome, there are dressed chickens for sale and you can feed them to a tiger from a  window grille of a jeepney.  One can also have an opportunity to bottle-feed a cub and be educated on the mating habits of tigers.:p

At the zoo, I saw a civet cat for the first time---its excrement is the source of the exotic Kopi Luwak, known as the most expensive coffee in the world.  It was also my first sighting of an albino carabao (water buffalo) and cougar.

The old bunkers of the former naval base now house a Serpentarium, Rodent World, a cafe overlooking a pond full of crocodiles, an Animal MuZooeum where skeletal remains and stuffed animals are displayed.  There is also a savannah where ostriches freely roam; and a section called the Bird Walk showcasing birds. 

Zoobic also features a zipline that I haven't tried yet.  To go around this 25-hectare theme park, we rode in the Zooper Train.

 Linking to ABC Wednesday

Missing summer/Signs

 At a rustic beach resort in Pangasinan where we spent a stormy weekend in August.

 

Linking to Signs, Signs

Signs @ Camayan

Signs at Camayan Beach Resort in Subic Bay.  If you get tired of the beach, there are many activities to choose from.  Spent an afternoon here with friends last summer.

This is not a paid ad.

Linking to Signs, Signs

T/ABC Wednesday

T is for Tunnel

Carve a tunnel of hope through the dark mountain of disappointment.

~ Martin Luther King , Jr.

Linking to Mrs. Nesbitt's ABC Wednesday

Grandpa's Inn/Signs

An old mansion converted into an inn at the Heritage Village in Vigan City.  It's affordable and cozy, filled with antique furniture and vintage memorabilia.

Linking to Lesley's Signs, Signs

R/ABC Wednesday

R is for a run-down hut in the middle of a rice field.  A rural scene captured on the way to visit relatives in Valladolid.  I imagine a farmer eating his lunch in this hut, relaxing with a mug of coffee after a grueling day, and resting his eyes on fields of green and gold, anticipating a good harvest.   I sometimes long for the rustic tranquility of a simple country life, away from the noise and haste of city life.  To be surrounded by nature's bounty and kind, simple folks is absolutely Arcadian to me---it rejuvenates the spirit.

Linking to ABC Wednesday

Sign @ Camayan Beach

A sign at Camayan Beach Resort & Hotel, one of the popular resorts in Subic Freeport.  I'm glad there are signs like this to remind people that this planet is not only for humans.

Linking to Lesley's Signs, Signs