This August 2, 2016 the people of Tondo, Manila will commemorate the 44th Anniversary of the Return of the Image of Sto Nino de Tondo. I haven’t been to Tondo so I’m thinking that this is a great time to visit this very famous district of Manila.
The Tondo Church is one of the earliest churches in the country and is definitely something that I should visit.
Sometimes I wonder how famous travel bloggers like Acepedition, Detourista and Biyaherong Barat manages to travel the country very often. I have an idea that they probably have a special deal with the airline companies or hotels. Upon discovering TravelBook.ph I think I’m closer now in unraveling their secrets.
Travelbook.ph is the fastest growing online travel e-commerce company (online travel agent or OTA) in the Philippines. They launched their service in March 2013, and they have been successful in increasing their numbers ever since.
As of June 2016, they have 520k+ Facebook Likes and 2.7k Listed Hotel Properties (one of the biggest listings in the country). Their company’s annual growth is more than 200%. Travelbook.ph was established by Recruit Holdings.
I recently signed up for their Affiliate Program and I’m very glad to be approved. The steps are fairly easy to follow and they even released a PDF form of the Manual.
Fill out this form and wait for their confirmation email
As a newbie blogger, the easiest way for me to post the HTML of TravelBook.ph is by using the Widget.
Go to Blogger.com, click my blog and click again on Layout. I click on Add a Gadget and select HTML/Javascript. Paste the code from TravelBook.ph’s widget and save it.
Now that I’m a member of the Affiliate Program of TravelBook.ph I’m more confident now that I could travel the country more often. I hope we could travel together. Sign-up now and see each other in the next tourist destination.
With TravelBook.ph I’m hoping I could travel the country more often – places like Cabra Island, Bacolod City and Iloilo City. I wish I could create more Post Cards from the different places that I will visit with the help of TravelBook. Visit http://affiliate.travelbook.ph/ and http://travelbook.ph/ today.
Dr Pio Valenzuela (July 11, 1869 – April 6, 1956) was a Filipino physician and revolutionary leader born in Polo, Bulacan. Polo is the old name of Valenzuela City. I’ve known him from history books as the Katipunero who met Dr Jose Rizal in Dapitan in 1896.
The City Government of Valenzuela is holding a celebration to commemorate his 147th Birth Anniversary (July 11) with a week-long activities.
July 10, 2016 – “Yapak ni Dr Pio”. Valenzuela City Landmarks Photowalk. 5:00 AM onwards
July 11, 2016 – Wreath Laying Ceremony and Gathering of Dr Pio Valenzuela Scholarship Fund Donors. 9:00 AM, The Triumvirate Monument
July 12, 2016 – Blessing and Inauguration of Lingunan National High School. 9:00 AM, Barangay Lingunan
July 13, 2016 – Unveiling of Marker of Don Pastor Constantino Park. 9:00 AM, SPED Center, Malinta
Paligsahan sa Kaalaman sa Buhay ni Dr Pio Valenzuela. 1:00 PM, Museo Valenzuela
July 14, 2016 – Blessing and Inauguration of Marulas 3S Center. 3:00 PM, Barangay Marulas
July 15, 2016 – Blessing and Inauguration of Gen T De Leon 3S Center. 9:00 AM, Barangay Gen T De Leon
July 16, 2016 – “Yapak ni Dr Pio” Photowalk Exhibit Opening. 4:00 PM, Museo Valenzuela
July 17, 2016 – “Walk for Your Rights” PWD Fun Walk 2016. 6:00 AM, Puregold Dalandanan to Valenzuela Astrodome
For more information, Like the Facebook Page of Valenzuela City and Follow them on Twitter.
In celebration of the 125 Years of San Sebastian Basilica, Quiapo, Manila (established 1891); the first Q Festival PH will be held on August 12-20, 2016. It’s a 9-day arts and heritage festival in the heart of Manila.
Activities for the first Q Festival PH includes musica sacra, university art, traditional and Halal foods, outdoor films, pop-up library, variety shows, basketball tournament, walking tours, instameets, special masses, medical clinic, among others.
Visit their Facebook page and follow them on Twitter for more information.
Last May 22, 2016 our photography club visited the town of San Juan in Batangas. It’s famous for its beaches. No other than Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO) chief Noelito M Pasco toured us to this wonderful, quiet town of San Juan.
We toured almost all the famous landmarks of San Juan and it’s local industries as well as the famous beaches of Laiya. I learned that the current Church of San Juan was originally built in Pinagbayanan before it was transferred in its present location at the heart of the town. We visited both sites.
There are two markers on the façade of the San Juan Church (in Batangas) and one of it reads:
Simbahan ng San Juan
Unang ipinatayong yari sa pawid at kawayan sa Pinagbayanan, 1843. Nahiwalay sa Rosario, 1848. Ipinagawa ang simbahang bato ni Padre Damaso Mojica, unang Kura Paroko sa tulong ng mga Principales ng Bayan sa pamumuno ng Gobernador-Silyong si Felipe Salud, 1845. Inilipat sa kasalukuyang pook, 1890: at pinasinayaan ang ngayo’y simbahang bato, sa tangkilik ni Padre Celestino Yoldi, Rekoletos, 1894. Pansamantalang pinamahalaan ng mga Paring Kaputsino, 1904. Pinalitan ang San Juan de Bocboc ng Bolboc sa pamamagitan ng Batas Bilang 2390, 1914. Naging San Juan de Nepomuceno ng mga Unang Taon ng 1920.
Here’s my rough translation:
San Juan Church
Originally made from nipa and bamboo in Pinagbayanan,1843. It was separated from Rosario, 1848. The stone church was commissioned to build by Father Damaso Mojica, first Parish Priest, with the help of the town’s Principales under the leadership of Gobernadorcillo Felipe Salud, 1845. It was transferred to the present location in 189 and inaugurated the present stone church, under the sponsorship of Father Celestino Yoldi, Recollects, 1894. Temporarily administered by the Capuchin Priests, 1904. San Juan de Bocboc was changed to Bolboc by means of Law Number 2390, 1914. It became San Juan de Nepomuceno in the early years of 1920.
San Juan de Nepomuceno, the town’s Patron Saint.
There’s a museum besides the church and here are the things you can find there.
Simbahan ng Pinagbayanan
Sa pook na ito na tinawag na Pinagbayanan unang itinayo ang Simbahan ng San Juan na yari sa kawayan at nipa, 1843. Dahil sa madalas na pagbaha rito, isang simbahang yari sa bato ang pinasimulan ng unang Kura Paroko na si Padre Damaso Mojica, sa pakikipagtulungan ng mga Prinsipales ng Bayan sa pamumuno ni Gobernadorsilyon Juan Dimayuga. Ang paggawa ng simbahan at kumbento ay pinagtibay ng Superior Decreto, Agosto 10, 1855. Ang mga guhong matatagpuan sa pook na ito ay mga labi ng naturang simbahan. Isang bagong simbahan ang ipinatayo sa kasalukuyang Bayan ng San Juan, 1890.
Ang palatandaang ito ay sinangayunan sa bisa ng Resolusyon Bilang 2 s. 1994 ng Lupon ng Pambansang Suriang Pangkasaysayan.
Church of Pinagbayanan
In this location called Pinagbayanan, the Church of San Juan was first built, which is made of bamboo and nipa, 1843. Due to frequent flooding, a church made of stone was initiated by the first Parish Priest Father Damaso Mojica, in cooperation of the town’s Prinsipales under the leadership of Gobernadorcillo Juan Dimayuga. The building of the church and convent was enforced by Superor Decree, August 10, 1855. The ruins found in this place are the remains of that said church. A new church was built in the current Town of San Juan, 1890.
This marker was agreed upon by Resolution Number 2 Series of 1994 by the National Historical Commission.
The ruins of the original Church of San Juan in Pinagbayanan.
The Immaculate Conception Cathedral (also known as Cubao Cathedral) is located in Quezon City, Metro Manila. It was built in 1950 by the Society of the Divine Word and belongs to them until 1990 when the Archdiocese of Manila took over its administration. When the Diocese of Cubao was erected, it became the Immaculate Conception Cathedral (2003).
After visiting Our Lady of the Abandoned in Marikina and the Monasterio de Sta Clara in Katipunan, I rode the LRT Line 2 from Katipunan Station to Betty Go-Belmonte Station. Then I walk towards the direction of Cubao about 2 blocks. I rode a jeep going to Fairview and drop off to the Immaculate Conception Cathedral. It’s one of the most beautiful churches I’ve visited so far. I’m surprised that all these time I’ve been passing by Cubao; I haven’t been to this church before.
