2009 - A Year Of Travels and Photos

It was a year of travel-photo journey that took me to amazing places of Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao and a couple of countries outside the Islands Philippines. Year 2009 allowed me to go deep into forests and mountains as well as lazed around some of the most scenic beaches I have ever seen. It was also about learning history first-hand and be accompanied by some of the most awesome bloggers of the land. And speaking of Blogging, 2009 will be fondly remembered because this humble blog was a first-time finalist in the Photo-Blog category of the Philippine Blog Awards. To recap, here are my monthly account of the places I have featured here in Lawstude's Journey:

The lush Sierra Madre Mountain Range was a prominent display in these JANUARY posts that covered the provinces of Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija and Aurora. Posts for this month included the quaint Saint Dominic Church in Bayombong, the foggy Dalton Pass, the beautiful mountainside of Laur, the calming Dupinga River in Gabaldon and the idyllic town of Dingalan.

Adventure in nature best describe posts in FEBRUARY. It was my first time to do White Water Rafting in Cagayan de Oro and also my first time to explore the amazing island paradise of Camiguin. Cagayan de Oro truly exemplified the "Gold" in its name while the volcanic Camiguin Island was indeed a seventh heaven for outdoor lovers.

History and festivities highlighted MARCH. It was my nth time to witness the Panagbenga Festival in Baguio City, and imho, it gets grander and better every year. A visit to Dambana ng Kagitingan located in Mount Samat, Bataan was also posted this month.

APRIL is all about summer and Oh Boy! what an amazing summer that was. Cagbalete Island off the coast of Mauban was just unbelievable with its long and wide shoreline while the beach in Pagbilao has become one of my instant favorites. The scenic Agta Beach and Tinago Falls in Biliran were also featured this month.

The merry month of MAY showed the continuation of the Biliran series visiting the Karaha Falls and the Mainit Hot Springs. A tour around "new" Macau as well as a walk around the "old" Macau were also featured. The month also started the posts on the off-beaten paths of Puerto Galera that included trips to Tamaraw Falls and Sitio Aninuan.

JUNE ushered the start of classroom season but there is no better teacher than the experiences you had while on the road. The beaches of Puerto Galera, the crowded Hong Kong and its harbor and the historic place of Tacloban City in Leyte provided enough experiences for me to learn what no classroom can teach.

I was a kid again in JULY. It was fun, fun, fun in Disneyland without getting my feet wet or my clothes soiled. Ivan Man Dy was also featured this month along with his Malacanang Tour where I got to see the Insides of the Presidential Palace with some of the most awesome Travel Bloggers of the land.

A mix of popular destinations and off-the-beaten tracks were featured in AUGUST. I have revisited the famous Hundred Islands of Alaminos, Pangasinan and have a post each on the three most popular islands (Governor's, Children's and Quezon). Backpacking Bataan was also made starting from Looc Cove in Bagac to Playa de Calete in Morong. A return to Manila's most famous walls of Intramuros capped the month.

Nature at its best is showcased in SEPTEMBER, my favorite month. The rough sea trip to Kabatian Island was all worth when you see the amazing rugged scape of rocks and seas. Imugan and Malico are two captivating spots in Nueva Vizcaya which showcased a wide array of natural high from the falls of the former to the pine forest of the latter. The month also started the series on the idyllic mountain town of Sagada.

OCTOBER featured more of the tranquil mountain town of Sagada. Sagada has been drawing backpackers for decades because of its lovely hikes, yoghurts and lemon pies and the companionship of like-minded travellers. I always wanted to go there and the place truly live up to its hype and more. A return to Blue Lagoon aka Maira-ira was also featured this month. This time around, I was with a different company but equally enjoyable.

Visaya's busiest metro and Ilocos' greatest natural structure were all in NOVEMBER. From the historical Cebu City, waiting until the sun sets in Mandaue City, to the varied scapes of Lapu-lapu City - there is always something new to learn and discover about Metropolitan Cebu. And up north, in Ilocos Norte, is one of the best natural formations I have seen - Kapurpurawan Rocks. Its whiteness and its contrast to the blue sky and sea is just a sight that will linger in your memories forever.

DECEMBER ended with a bang because of Bantayan Island and Taal, Batangas. Prominent in these places were century-old churches and the simple way of living. But the similarity ends there. The relaxed, bucolic little island of Bantayan is famous for its exquisite white sand beaches while the historic, small town of Taal is famous for its old Spanish colonial buildings that seem to take you back in time.

I thank GOD for keeping me safe in my travels and for letting me meet some of the best bloggers in these trips that have become my friends. It was a great 2009 for me but it is difficult not to believe that the next year will be better than the old one. Future is always good, no matter what happens. It will always give us what we need and what we want in secret. It will always bless us with right gifts. Thus in a deeper sense our belief in the New Year cannot deceive us.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!

Our Lady of Caysasay Church @ Taal, Batangas

Some of the best kept-secrets lie in a small package. That certainly holds true with Our Lady of Caysasay Church in Barrio Labac, Taal, Batangas. From the outside, the church is humble and plain looking but once you see the interiors, you will simply be mesmerized.

The present church is a rebuilt version of the one that housed the Nuestra Senora de Caysasay, a miraculous image of the virgin that has guided the town since the 1600s. Originally built in 1639, the church was damaged by the eruption of Taal Volcano and an earthquake. It was later restored and improved by Father Marcos Anton with the interiors painted by Cesar Aberoni.

Just few minutes walk from the Church is the Santa Lucia Twin Wells. The waters from the wells are said to be miraculous and has healing powers. The wells are located on what was left of a stone-arch that has an engraved sculpture of Our Lady of Caysasay destroyed also by the eruption of Taal Volcano in the 1800s.

Our Lady of Caysasay Church's Facade

Old Bricked Walls

Humble Walkways

Impressive Centuries-Old Deco-Art

Amazing Painted Ceiling

Painted Jesus on the Cross

Miraculous Ruins

Sta Lucia Twin Wells

To see other contributions in "My World", please click here.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Fellowship, feasting, giving and receiving gifts are all the buzzwords in a Christmas setting. Make your Christmas a one to cherish for years!

Villavicencio Ancestral Home @ Taal, Batangas

The town of Taal in Batangas is a historic small town with a number of old Spanish colonial buildings. And Villavicencio Ancestral Home is one of them. It was the home of Doña Gliceria Marella de Villavicencio who was one of the heroic women who have contributed great sums of money and energy for the Philippine revolution. A statue in her honor is located at the corner of the street where her house is located.

Unlike other ancestral house in other parts of the country, Villavicencio House burst in bright colors. Its exterior is colored yellow and blue while its interior is painted with elaborate bright colors of red, orange, yellow, green and lot more. The ceiling is decorated with tin, embossed with floral motif while the walls showcase hand-painted canvass by Emilio Alvero. The most prized possession of the house is the Altar de Mesa located in the master's bedroom. Altar de Mesa is a collector's item and worth more than a million pesos.

Metal Crafted Gate

Old-Design of Tiled First Floor

Bed of the Old Times

Elegant Dining Table

Dong Ho Shooting Altar De Mesa

Two Stor(e)y of Beauty

Ceiling Art and Light

Lawstude's Mirror Shot

If you happen to like ancestral houses, you may want to check out some of my previous post like:

Manila Old Houses
Real de Acuzar in Bataan
Vigan Old Houses

I also would like to share this place to "My World" which shows amazing places around the world. To check out other entries, please click here. More of Taal, Batangas in my next posts.

Taal's Basilica of St. Martin de Tours

The historic small town of Taal prides itself with the massive century-old Basilica of St. Martin de Tours that dominates the lawned Taal Park. Built in 1840s to 1860s, this well preserved church has one of the best facades of all the churches I have seen. And not to be outdone is the church's interiors showcasing intricately designed ceiling and a well-crafted altar.

The Church was said to be named after Martin de Goiti, a Spanish explorer and a patron saint to those who have lost their way. Travelers from nearby places also frequent this church to seek guidance and ask for safety in their journeys. This Church is also reputed to be the largest Catholic church in Asia. Its facade resembles that of the St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome and its tabernacle is made of silver, the only one of its kind in the Philippines.

Basilica of St. Martin de Tours

Jesus Christ Statue

Beautiful Church Altar

Intricate Interiors

The Back Door

Stone-walled Belfry

A Small Bell in the Window

The Century-Old Bell Still Working at the Belfry

Philippine Travel Bloggers Unite
Getting there is easy because most Batangas-bound buses from Manila depart every hour. Take a bus (JAM, Alps, RRCG) bound for Lemery as it pass right through Taal Park. Once in Taal, the best thing to do is wander by foot and explore this historic town. More of Taal in my next posts.