The Iloilo River Esplanade at Midday

Yes, I know – we should have visited the Iloilo Esplanade at dusk or evening and not midday. Well, we ran out of time. Our flight back to Manila was scheduled at 5PM and the only time left for us to the Iloilo River Esplanade was… well, midday.

It’s still beautiful though. I can imagine a lot of people walking along the majestic Iloilo River. Hopefully we’ll be able to see this place at dusk or evening – probably next year, during the Dinagyang Festival 2015.

According to Wikipedia, the Iloilo River Esplanade was built at a cost of P58.7 million and was opened to the public August 18, 2012. It was designed by Architect Paulo Alcazaren who designed the Singapore quay and river esplanade. Well, the Iloilo River Esplanade is fabulous.

The marker of the Iloilo River Esplanade reads:

This 1.2 kilometer esplanade celebrates Iloilo citizens’ love for their river. It provides a functional, as well as beautiful, venue that accommodates varied leisure activities open for all to use and appreciate. It also brings everyone closer to the water’s edge, reconnects people back to nature and increases awareness of the environmental balance necessary for the city to sustain those who live within its borders.

Inaugurated on this day, 1st of June 2012 by:

His Excellency Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III, President, Republic of the Philippines

Hon. Franklin M. Drilon, Senator, Republic of the Philippines

Rep. Jerry P. Trenas, Lone District, Iloilo City

Hon. Jed Patrick E. Mabilog, Mayor, Iloilo City

I hope the City Government of Pasig would also hire such architect to develop the Pasig River.

Technorati Tags: The Iloilo River Esplanade,Midday,Iloilo City

Leganes Church, Iloilo Province

The Leganes Church a.k.a. Shrine of St. Vincent Ferrer is located just outside of Iloilo City. It’s just a jeepney away from the Jaro Cathedral. It’s a modern church and is still part of the 10 churches we visited in Iloilo last year after attending the MassKara Festival 2013.

The Leganes Parish was established in 1858 but this modern church (shown below) was rebuild after a devastating earthquake in 1948. Several additions (and improvements) to the church began in 1997. You may visit the website of the Municipality of Leganes for the details of this church’s history.

The Shrine of St. Vincent Ferrer is under the Archdiocese of Jaro. St. Vincent Ferrer is the patron saint of builders. I was actually intrigued by his depiction (with wings, as if an angel) and I found out from a Catholic website that “St. Vincent Ferrer is often pictured with wings. Multitudes of people have witnessed him, in the middle of preaching, suddenly assume wings and fly off to help some suffering person; he would return in the same manner and continue preaching.” Source.

The bell tower of the Leganes Church (Shrine of St. Vincent Ferrer) is just adjacent to the church. 

The interior of the Leganes Church (Shrine of St. Vincent Ferrer), Iloilo Province.

The wonderful stained glass of the Leganes Church with the silhouette of St. Vincent Ferrer.

The Municipal Hall of Leganes, Iloilo is located a few meters away from the Shrine of St. Vincent Ferrer (Leganes Church).

The façade of the Leganes Church (Shrine of St. Vincent Ferrer), Iloilo Province (just outside of Iloilo City).

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Fonts and Cropping

I’ve always wanted to be a Desktop Publisher – those who creates amazing business cards, invitations, posters and newsletters. I used Adobe PageMaker before and Print Artist during my college years. Right now, I don’t know what’s the most convenient software to use for Desktop Publishing. If I’m going to establish a business, I’ll choose Desktop Publishing and Portraiture.

That’s why I’m keeping these two cheat sheets on my Desktop for easy reference. The first one is a guide on choosing the right Fonts and the second one is for Cropping. I know that I should memorize these two guides by heart – but since I’m getting old, I’m having hard time memorizing things.

Thus, these two important Cheat Sheets ended up on this blog. What cheat sheets do you keep on your desktop?

The Psychology of Fonts from visual.ly

The guide for Cropping from Digital Camera World.

Technorati Tags: Fonts,Cropping,Desktop Publishing,Portraiture,Photography

Earth Hour 2014

Mark your calendars – March 29, 2014 8:30 PM is Earth Hour 2014. Let’s participate in this global campaign organized by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) as a symbol of our commitment to our only planet.

Technorati Tags: Earth Hour 2014,World Wide Fund for Nature

Sto. Niño de Arevalo Parish, Iloilo City

Iloilo City has 6 districts and Arevalo is one of those districts. Last year, after attending the MassKara 2013 Festival in Bacolod City, we spent two days in Iloilo City. During our stay in Iloilo City, we managed to visit 10 churches, including the Sto. Niño de Arevalo Parish Church.

I later found out that the Sto. Niño de Arevalo is the 3rd oldest image of the Child Jesus (after the Sto. Niño of Cebu and Sto. Niño of Tondo).

The plaza of San Lorenzo Ruiz and San Pedro Calungsod, Filipino Saints.

The convent near the Sto. Niño de Arevalo Parish Church.

I’ve seen a similar image of this Virgin Mary at the Grand Marian Procession but I don’t know the official title of this image.

The main altar of the Sto. Niño de Arevalo Parish Church, Iloilo City.

There are so many statues of saints at the side of the Sto. Niño de Arevalo Parish Church, Iloilo City.

The belfry of the Sto. Niño de Arevalo Parish Church, Iloilo City.

The main façade of the Sto. Niño de Arevalo Parish Church, Iloilo City.

Bust statue of Ramon Avanceña y Quiusay – patriot, jurist and statesman.

The style of the Sto. Niño de Arevalo Parish Church is somewhat modern.

Technorati Tags: Sto. Niño de Arevalo Parish Church,Arevalo,Iloilo City

The 13th Grand Bambino De Pasig Festival 2014 (Videos)

I’m so sorry for the late post of these videos I took of the most recent 13th Grand Bambino De Pasig Festival 2014. It was a nice festival – and it could have been better if there were some “boundaries” separating the participants and the spectators.

I hope to see a great improvement in how the Pasig City Government handles the 14th Grand Bambino De Pasig Festival 2015 next year.

The 13th Grand Bambino De Pasig Festival 2014.

 

The 13th Grand Bambino De Pasig Festival 2014.

 

The 13th Grand Bambino De Pasig Festival 2014.

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The 13th Grand Bambino De Pasig Festival 2014.

 

The 13th Grand Bambino De Pasig Festival 2014.

 

The 13th Grand Bambino De Pasig Festival 2014.

 

The 13th Grand Bambino De Pasig Festival 2014.

Technorati Tags: The 13th Grande Bambino De Pasig Festival,Videos

Molo Church, Iloilo City

The Molo Church in Iloilo City is one of the 10 churches we visited last October 2013 after attending the MassKara 2013. It’s huge and beautiful and is also known as the Church of St. Anne. The history of the church is written on two markers – one on the façade and the other, inside the church near the entrance.

The marker on the church façade reads in Tagalog:

Simbahan ng Molo

Unang ipinagawang yari sa Tabique Pampango na may bubong na tisa. Pinalitan ng pansamantalang simbahang yari sa nipa ni P. Jose Ma. Sichon, 1863. Iniharap ang plano ng pagpapatayo ng simbahang bato 1866. Inaprobahan ni Obispo Mariano Cuartero, 1869. Ang kasalukuyang simbahan na may arkitektura na istilong Gothic Renaissance ay ipinatayo agad makaraang aprobahan ang plano nito. Iniaalay sa karangalan ni Santa Ana, ito ay nakilalang simbahan ng mga kababaihan dahilan sa may 16 na imahen ng mga santa. Dinalaw ni Dr. Jose Rizal dahilan sa mga biblikong pinta, 1896. Nagsilbing sentro ng ebakwasyon noong Ikalawang Digmaang Pandaigdig. Bahagyang nasira noong Liberasyon. Inayos ni Rep. P. Manuel Alba sa tulong ng mga mananampalataya makaraan ang Liberasyon.

In English, it is roughly translated as:

Church of Molo

It was first constructed using Tabique Pampango with terracotta roof tiles. It was then replaced by a temporary church made of nipa by Father Jose Ma. Sichon in 1863. The plan for a stone church was presented in 1866. Bishop Mariano Cuartero approved the plans in 1869. The current church with architecture of Gothic Renaissance was built immediately after the plans were approved. The church was dedicated to the glory of Saint Anne and was famous as a church for women because of the 16 images of female saints. Dr. Jose Rizal visited the church in 1896 because of its biblical paintings. The church served as evacuation center during World War II. It was partially damaged during the Liberation. Rep. P. Manuel Alba repaired the church with the help of the devotees after the Liberation.

A marker inside the church reads in English:

Church of Molo

This church was constructed in 1831 under the general supervision of Don Josef Manuel Locsin. Construction started under the administration of Rev. Pablo Montano as Parish Priest and completed under that of Rev. Agapito Buenaflor. It has withstood several earthquakes. During World War II it served as evacuation center for the civilians, shelled by the American Forces on Liberation Day, March 19, 1945. The two belfries were totally destroyed, and the church partly damaged after the war. It was reconstructed by the parish priest Rt. Rev. Manuel Alba, D.P. under the supervision of Gov. Timoteo Y. Consing and with the help of the people of God of Molo.

It’s quite ironic to have statues of Greek gods and goddesses in front of the Roman Catholic Church of St. Anne.

An old house beside the St. Anne Church.

A grandmother (“lola” in Tagalog) selling a local delicacy in front of the church.

Corinthian columns adorn the Molo Church (St. Anne’s Church) in Iloilo City (district of Molo).

The main altar of the Molo Church.

Old gravestones adorn the floors of the Molo Church.

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