Giant Lantern Festival, Pasig City

It’s a good thing that I went to the chaotic Paskotitap 2012 early. I was able to take pictures of the giant lanterns that are on display along Caruncho Avenue, Pasig City. These are the participants in the Giant Lantern Festival and were made by the different barangays in Pasig City.

I love the entry of Barangay Caniogan (the angel), Barangay Santolan (the globe with spikes), and Barangay Buting (Himig Pasko). I guess not all barangays of Pasig City participated in this festival. I hope next year, there would be more participants.

I love this lantern. I just don’t know what barangay made this.

Wonderful Belen. I wonder what barangay made this.

The angel was very beautiful.

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The Chaotic Paskotitap 2012

I just came home from watching the chaotic Paskotitap 2012. It’s a yearly event here in Pasig City which features the different high schools in the city in a dance competition. It incorporates street dancing, Christmas lights and floats.

Thank God I took pictures of the venue before the chaotic Paskotitap 2012 program started.

It started in 2007 and now on its 6^th year celebration. It was spearheaded by the Mayor’s Office and co-presented by several non-government organizations and private corporations. This is my first time to see the competition and I can say that it’s – chaotic!

It’s chaotic because the venue is very small compared to the number of spectators. It was held in front of the City Hall and it was jam-packed with people. I managed to watch 3 high schools performed and although they’re very good with the choreography and props, the venue is inappropriate for the occasion.

I will not watch this competition again unless the City Government of Pasig realizes that the venue is very inappropriate for the occasion. I manage to take pictures of the venue BEFORE the chaotic competition started.

I heard Mayor Bobby Eusebio spoke of a vision to make Pasig City the Christmas season capital of the Philippines, if not Metro Manila. Well Mayor, unless you change the venue of the annual Paskotitap, you can just dream on.

 One of the floats in this years Paskotitap 2012

The City Hall of Pasig City before the chaotic Paskotitap 2012 competition started.

This is one of the lanterns that lit up Eusebio Avenue. I’ll post the other lanterns in the coming days.

Nice one!

The Pasig City Council – some of the people behind the chaotic Paskotitap 2012 celebration.

Participants to the chaotic Paskotitap 2012 competition.

It could have been better if the audience is not very close to the floats.

This is how the sidewalk looks like, even before the chaotic Paskotitap 2012 started.

The venue really can’t handle such a crowd. There was even a lady who fainted before the chaotic Paskutitap 2012 program started.

To add insult to injury, the sound system was so bad; there were no first aid stations, no portalets, no water stations, no photographers’ station, etc. Surely, Mayor Bobby Eusebio knows all about this. He just needs to act on these.

This event is very far from being worthy of promoting on blogs. They even keep on mentioning the sponsors (which are mostly construction companies) and the LED displays. These sponsors should have provided the basic necessities first. After all, they keep on mentioning safety first.

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St. James the Apostle Parish Church

I hope you don’t get bored with my pictures of churches lately. I simply love churches – the older, the better. During my teenage years, I dreamed of being an altar boy. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to fulfill that dream. I was a member of Columbian Esquire and Legion of Mary though, up to my college years.

Anyway, back to St. James the Apostle Parish Church. This magnificent old church is located in Plaridel, Bulacan. The marker on the church reads:

Simbahan ng Quingua

(Plaridel, Bulacan)

Ito ang kauna-unahang simbahang itinayo sa lumang bayan ng mga paring Agustino sa pamamahala ni Reb. P. Pedro Vasquez nang mga taong 1580-1595. Inilipat dito sa Kabayanan noong 1605 sa pamamahala ni Reb. P. Diego Pardo. Muling ipinaayos nang taong 1722. Ang kauna-unahang kura parokong Pilipino ay si Reb. P. Victorino Lopez na sumama sa kilusan ng Himagsikan, bilang isang pinuno, sa ilalim ni Kapitan Jose Serapio ng Santa Maria. Ang simbahan at kumbento ay ginawang pagamutang hukbo at kuwartel ng mga Amerikano, 1839.

Again, for the benefits of my foreign readers, specially my Czech friend Honza, I translated it in English:

Church of Quingua

(present-day Plaridel, Bulacan)

This is the first church built in the old town (or old district) by the Augustinian friars led by Rev. Father Pedro Vasquez in the years 1580-1595. It was transferred here in downtown in 1605 by Rev. Father Diego Pardo. It was renovated in 1722. The first Filipino parish priest was Rev. Father Victorino Lopez who joined the Revolution as a leader under Captain Jose Serapio of Santa Maria (town in Bulacan). The church and convent was converted to hospital and barracks by the American soldiers in 1839.

Just across St. James the Apostle Parish Church is the Municipal Hall of Plaridel, Bulacan with a distinct, elevated gazebo and monument to the heroes of World War II (1941-1945).

The municipal hall of Plaridel, Bulacan. The clock is working properly.

St. James the Apostle (Santiago in Spanish) is the patron saint of Spain, blacksmiths, equestrians, horsemen, laborers, soldiers, and veterinarians  as well as patron saint against arthritis.

Quingua is the old name of Plaridel, Bulacan. Plaridel is the pen name of Marcelo H. del Pilar.

St. James the Apostle is on the Rose Window of the church.

St. James the Apostle Parish Church recently celebrated its 410th Foundation Anniversary last September 27. The church was founded in 1602.

Memorial to the heroes of World War II.

The elevated gazebo in front of the municipal hall of Plaridel, Bulacan just across St. James the Apostle Parish Church.

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Shrine of St. Therese of the Child Jesus, Newport City

I’m not a devout Catholic but I really admire Catholic Churches. For me, these houses of worship are Architectural wonders. They showcase the best in building design and aesthetics.

I stumbled upon the Shrine of St. Therese of the Child Jesus in Newport City, Pasay, when I attended the movie screening of “Breaking Dawn Part 2”. It was held at Newport Cinema, Resorts World Manila, Pasay City. I came early to the venue and decided to tour around the vicinity.

Behold, there’s the Shrine of St. Therese of the Child Jesus right beside the Newport Lighthouse. On the facade of the shrine you’ll the statues of Filipino saints Pedro Calungsod and Lorenzo Ruiz. The interior of the shrine is aligned with stained glass.

There is a wonderful garden at both sides of the shrine which is ideal for a quite time. This church is definitely not crowded with worshippers and it looks very elite. I visited the shrine’s website and learned that their goal is to be the center of devotion for St. Therese of the Child Jesus in the Philippines.

Saint Jose Maria Escriva, founder of Opus Dei

I love the stained glass that adorns the shrine

 The main altar of the Shrine of St. Therese of the Child Jesus in Newport City, Pasay

The beautiful garden at the side of the shrine

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