Seven Churches for Bisita Iglesia

The Bisita Iglesia is Catholic tradition in this very Catholic country. Devotees visit 7 churches during the Holy Week to observe a solemn — yet at the same time fun — practice. By Betty Samson

The seven churches of your choice symbolize seven moments in Jesus’ life on his last hours before his crucifixion. If the Stations of the Cross had 14 stations, the Bisita Iglesia captures 7 instances in Jesus’s life to meditate on. Devotees choose 7 churches, drive to these places and follow a prayer guide on meditation, just like the Stations of the Cross. But knowing the Filipino spirit some organizations plan large groups to visit 7 selected churches out of town then take in the cultural sights and regional specialties afterwards. Others band together friends or relatives and plan a day-long trip to churches around the city they seldom visit. In my case, my neighbors got together, got a van, and mapped out a visit to 7 churches in Antipolo and its nearby towns armed with prayer leaflets or electronic tablets — and spending money.

A word to the inexperienced: time your moves. 7 churches is just right. If you linger too long in one church to admire its beauty and history or make a “quick dash” to buy souvenirs — you won’t be able to complete all seven churches for the day.

The 7 churches in a Bisita Iglesia symbolize the following:

First church –– a reminder of Jesus’s moment after the Last Supper when he left the upper room with his apostles and went to the Garden of Gethsemane to face his agony of knowing how he was going to die and at the same time to yield to the Father’s plan for salvation

Church visited: St John the Baptist / Parokya ni San Juan Bautista in Taytay

The main altar of St John in Taytay and the bronze bell of the church showing WW II damage

St. Pedro Calungsod, the second Filipino declared a saint by the Roman Catholic Church once served as an an altar boy in this Taytay church located in the town proper. This church first started as a chapel built with light materials in 1579 by Franciscan missionaries along the shore of Laguna Bay and was transferred to a higher site by the Jesuits where it is to this day. The church burned down in 1639, fell into ruins during the Filino-American War in the 1800s, and was rebuilt after the war.

Second church — after Jesus’s arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane he was taken to the house of Annas, the High Priest and was interrogated all night

Church visited: St Ursula Parish Church in Binangonan Taytay, Rizal

Facade of St Ursula Parish Church in Taytay and its very elegant altar.

Sta. Ursula Parish Church in the heart of the Poblacion is a three-centuries old church. It was originally a chapel built in the late 15th century by the Franciscan missionaries. By the 17th century it was expanded into a big church to serve its growing number of parishioners and completed in 1800 by compelling all delinquent male tax payers to voluntarily work in the church’s construction.

Third church — Jesus was moved from the house of Annas to the house of Caiaphas where he was further insulted and accused falsely

Church visited: St. Jerome / San Geronimo Parish Church in Morong, Rizal

Facade of St Jerome Parish Church / San Geronimo in Morong, Rizal

St. Jerome was built by Chinese artisans in 1615 with stones from a hill called Kay Ngaya, lime from the stones of a mountain called Kay Maputi, and sand and gravel from the Morong River. It has a distinct Chinese-Baroque architecture. It has two Chinese lion sculptures at the entrance. The church has pock marks on the walls caused by bullet holes from fights between the Katipuneros and the Spanish Guardia Civil during the revolt of the Filipino Katipuneros against Spanish rule in the later part of the 19th century.

Fourth church –– Jesus faced Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of the region where false accusations were hurled against him by the Jewish religious leaders

Church visited: Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Saint Joseph

The facade of St Joseph Church and its main altar.

The church of St Joseph (or the Church of Baras) was built in 1595 by Franciscan missionaries. It stands on a hill where the miraculous centuries-old image of San Jose de Baras is enshrined. The Baras Church is known to be the oldest parish dedicated to St. Joseph in the Southern Tagalog region. The present church was completed in 1686. The Jesuits administered the parish from 1916 to 1973. The church was elevated as a shrine on December 7, 2021.

Fifth church — Jesus appears before King Herod where he was also reviled

Church visited: San Ildefonso de Toledo, Tanay Rizal

Facade of San Idelfonso de Toledo Parish; main altar; pilgrims entering the church

Commonly known as the Tanay Church, the San Ildefonso church was built in 1773 and completed in 1783. It was declared a National Cultural Treasure Church by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts in 2001. The church houses a relic of a piece of bone of San Ildefonso housed in a monstrance.

Sixth church — Jesus appears a second time before Pontius Pilate. There, he is scourged, crowned with thorns, and condemned to death

Church visited: Diocesan Shrine and Parish of St. Mary Magdalane

Facade of the Diocesan Shrine and Parish of St. Mary Magdalene and the main altar

The church history of Rizal province was said to date back to 1573 when two Franciscan missionaries, Juan de Plasencia and Diego de Oropesa began setting up missions in the towns and villages along the Laguna de Bay. The first church the Franciscan missionaries put up in 1583 was a modest church built of nipa and cogon grass under the patronage of Santa Maria Magdalena. This was burned down in 1632, rebuilt in 1668 then burned down again. A new church was begun made of stone and completed between 1670 and 1673. Church altar and adjacent convent were completed in 1848. The church underwent several renovation projects between 1962 and 1976. The church is also known for its beautiful painted ceiling.

Seventh church — we meditate on Christ’s journey from Pilate’s house to Mount Calvary where he carried the cross on his back. We also remember his crucifixion, death after an agonizing suffering, and burial in the tomb.

Church visited: St Peter of Alcantara Parish and Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Turumba in Pakil, Laguna

Facade of the parish and diocesan shrine, beautiful ceiling paintings

This parish church and diocesan shrine is a favorite of Bisita Iglesia pilgrims. The town of Pakil in the province of Laguna is known for the Turumba Festival, the longest of all Catholic festivals in the Philippines. The church houses the miraculous image of the Nuestra Senyora de los Dolores de Turumba (Our Lady of Sorrows of Turumba). According to tradition the image belonged to some missionaries who crossed Laguna de Bay in a boat. When the boat was shipwrecked some of the relics they carried were washed ashore, including the icon of the Virgin. When some fishermen found the icon in their nets they could not bring it to the parish church because though the painting was small, they found it too heavy. The townsfolk could not carry the image until the parish priest called his sacristans and churchgoers to get the image. When they lifted the image it gave way and they carried it to the church. This caused the townsfolk around to sing and dance, giving birth to the turumba.

Homage to the Virgin of Sorrows is observed by the townspeople by way of song and dance, drumbeats and cries of its devotees of “Sa Birhen! (To the Virgin)!”

Concluding prayer (from “Visita Iglesia for Visiting Churches” by Scribd, a digital document library online)

Lord Jesus Christ, You gave us the Eucharist as the memorial of your suffering and death. May our worship of this sacrament of your body and blood help us to experience the salvation you won for us and the peace of the kingdom where you live with the Father and the Holy Spirit, One God, forever and ever. Amen.

Photos provided by the pilgrims themselves.

MACTAN , CEBU

Our blog is venturing outside of the Tagalog region, and will be observing different vacation options. The month of August was a good time to go to the southern part of the Philippines. In August, Manila was in the middle of the rainy season, but Cebu was just starting to get some early morning drizzles . PAL offered a great promo airfare and there was a wide selection of choices for hotel deals to Cebu and the surrounding islands of the Visayas and Mindanao. Seniors like myself, have the privilege of getting an additional 20% discount on special airfares and hotel stays anywhere in the Philippines.

I decided to book a stay at the private, five (*Star ) hotel, the Shangri-La Mactan. Philippine Airlines left on time and the domestic flight was a swift hour and a half from NAIA Manila to Mactan, Cebu. The car transfer to the Shangri-La hotel took only 15 minutes from the International Airport of Cebu, passing the famous Lapu-Lapu rotunda park where Magellan met his end at the hands of a native warrior.

Located on a private estate, Shangri-La has facilities that include a beach, swimming pools, 9 hole golf course , tennis courts, water sports, spa, children’s activity center, and several restaurants to cater to whatever you might fancy while on a vacation. At my age, I may be away from home for a few days and my stay  at the Shangri-La Mactan has everything I needed and all I  could  possible want for a short vacation. Service was definitely 5 star, with the friendly and helpful staff available for any kind of assistance needed. Each of the rooms are positioned to have a beach view, or garden view and I chose to book a room with a relaxing view of the beach.

I did not hesitate to don my bathing suit and enjoy the crystal waters of the marine sanctuary surrounding the area of Shangri-La ‘s beach front. A poster hanging by the beach cabana serving fresh, cold lemonade and other drinks, detailed the kinds of fish species swimming around. I observed these colorful reef fishes without using snorkel and fins. The water was quite transparent, and I could easily identify a variety of fish swimming right beside me, including the silver scaled local banggus! The law forbids catching these fish, and the coast guard makes sure no fishing, cargo or passenger boats dump wastes that would pollute the clear turquoise waters. The warm and comfortable water in this marine sanctuary was shallow and safe for children as well as seniors like myself.

The following day, I caught up with my college classmate and friend Tonette, who I have not seen for several years. She was so kind to take me around Mactan and also to see the mountain area of Lahug called ” the bukid.” The ride going up the mountains, wound around green rolling hills, passing strawberry farms, cattle ranches and wonderful views of the countryside. The winding pathways to the mountains brought us to a classy, French Cafe , La Vie Parisienne with a terrace that was overlooking the island of Mactan and a spectacular view of Cebu City.

I thoroughly was charmed by Cebuanos, and enjoyed great food, especially the local Cebu lechon that had very crunchy skin, lean, and very tasty! Thanks to Tonette who showed me genuine hospitality on my first visit to Cebu!

Have a Big Breakfast at Hazel’s

When I first saw the cafe I immediately thought, “This is a good place to have breakfast!” By Betty Samson

  The talk of our residential village recently was a new café which opened last November called Hazel’s Café. It was the answer to many of the local residents’ desire for a friendly café they could just take a leisurely walk to for lunch or dinner. The café was a welcome addition to the small commercial Village Corner at the Beverly Hills subdivision because its prices were affordable and the cooking was delicious.

  The café was not only accessible to the local residents it was also along the old zigzag road leading to the Antipolo cathedral,  some 500 meters away from the age-old “Tayo na sa Antipolo” welcome arch.

  When business owners Hazel Rosettes and Regie Santos spotted the vacant commercial space they liked it immediately. They saw a café far from passing smoke belching vehicles arriving to Antipolo yet inviting enough for its ambiance under the trees.  

L-R: It’s both a sidewalk and an indoor cafe. You can sit outside and people-watch, or you can sit inside and bring your work. Chef Hazel and Resto Manager Regie.

  When I first saw the café I immediately thought, “This is a good place to have breakfast!” You can sit and enjoy the cool fresh Antipolo air with your morning cup of coffee.

  You have a choice of two all-day breakfast platters to choose from. The servings are generous so either bring a friend or come really hungry. There’s the Best of Three which is composed of 2 sunny side up eggs, garlic rice, danggit from the Bantayan Island of Cebu, longganisa from Cabanatuan, beef tapa made by Hazel herself, and a vegetable relish.

  Your other choice is the Sausage, Bacon, Eggs and Toast Platter.

L-r: Sausage, Bacon, Eggs and Toast Platter; Best of Three Platter; coffee along the sidewalk; spicy sisig — very hot!

L-r: Indoor dining at the cafe; the cafe at night

  The café was the brainchild of Hazel and Regie, both Industrial Engineering graduates. But Hazel had always loved to cook. She first had a catering business serving small groups then graduated to try a grillery in her town in Cabanatuan. After Hazel took a chef’s culinary course she created her own signature dishes. She also bakes the café’s cakes, breads and pastries at the house. Regie is the store manager.

  The cafe also serves meals. Here are some of them including the baked creations Chef/Eng. Hazel makes herself (photos supplied by Chef Hazel).

Photo: Beef-Ox Tripe Karekare

Photos L-r: Dinuguan Rice with Lechon Kawali; Sausage Gambas

L-r from top clockwise: Ferrero-Strawberry cake; Bibingka Cheesecake; Croissant with cinnamon; Choco-Strawberry Cake 

  Hazel’s Cafe is open from 9am to 9pm.

  ( All photos unless otherwise indicated, are by the author)

67 Lugaw Toppings

The poor man’s porridge (locally known as lugaw) became a king’s feast that day. By Betty Samson

Photo above: Take your pick — 67 ways to enjoy your lugaw.

  Congee, known locally as lugaw, is a rice porridge. Glutinous (sticky) rice is slowly cooked in a chicken broth until very soft then is flavored with salt. That is the base. It was originally considered a poor man’s porridge from where the additional flavors, spices, and toppings depended on what was availble around the house or backyard.

  From here a myriad of combinations evolved. Becaiuse the soup base was so simple it invited an endless play of suggestions, until the dish rose to prominence as a convenient and nourishing all-in-one meal to students, motorists, employees, and public transportation drivers.

  But nothing can beat the birthday bash of Lanelle Abueva-Fernando when she celebrated her birthday with a lugawan to end all lugawans. Owner of Crescent Moon Cafe along Sapang Buho Road in Barangay Dali in Antipolo City, Lanelle loaded a long table at the cafe with 67 lugaw toppings to mark each year of her successful life. The guests were overwhelmed with the array of choices. Now was their chance to try different combinations and flavors. Everything was all there at the table. Each guest had their rice porridge ladled into bowls from a hot steaming vat on a separate table. Then off they went to the main course table to face their life’s decisions.

  Filipinos eat rice as a main staple in their meals so the lugaw was nothing new except that it’s soggy rice in a soup base. You can eat anything with rice anyway. So Lanelle’s lugawan buffet remained true to form, serving up every conceivable food item you can pair with rice.

  After you’ve chosen your meats and vegetables to add to your lugaw the next stop would be how to blend your flavors with condiments and spices so you can have a flavorful bowl. If you’re not happy with your first “experiment,” try again.

  How do you survive a lugawan? Don’t eat breakfast that day.

  I first saw Crescent Moon Cafe when it was in its infant stage in 1996. I met Lanelle’s late husband, Atty. Teodoro (Bey) Cordero Fernando who had a daring idea of not handing their customers a menu for them to choose what they’d like to order. Instead, Fernando, with his penchant for southeast asian cuisine, cooked what inspired him to whip up for that day and whatever he brought out from the kitchen — was what the guests were to eat. The dining concept dared the adventurous spirit in guests game for anything new. The Cafe grew and developed a loyal following through the years.

  Lanelle, meanwhile, who studied ceramic pottery in Japan, opened a pottery studio adjacent to the cafe where she produced her signature handmade ceramic table ware, pottery, jars and vases. Visitors can always pass by the studio to view and bring home any of her creations.

  Crescent Moon Cafe and Pottery Barn serves, what Lanelle calls, “Asian Fusion” cuisine. Guests now have a menu when they sit down to order. The Cafe offers several interesting dishes such as the DuckChoy — mixed duck dumplings with bakchoy and fried duck skin in reduced duck broth; Tahjang — deep fried tamarind-glazed beef ribs with Thai basil; and a signature of the Cafe and a favorite through the years, — the appetizer set of basil, coconut, chili, ginger, onion, green mango, dried shrimp, and peanut sauce which you wrap with a fresh alagao leaf. And pop into your mouth.

  Crescent Moon Cafe and Pottery Barn is open 9am to 5pm, Wednesday to Sunday.

  All photos are by the author.

A Childhood Landmark Revisited

Hinulugang Taktak was breath taking Then we grew up. By Betty Samson

  Antipolo City in the hills east of Manila is known as the Pilgrimage Capital of the Philippines. It is primarily associated with the miraculous image of a black Madonna carved from a dark hardwood in Acapulco, Mexico in the 1600s. The image first accompanied Don Juan Nino de Tavora in his voyage to the Philippines to serve as governor-general of the then colony of Spain.

  The black Madonna was renowned to bring ashore safely all ocean voyages as long as her image was present in the ship. From 1641-1746 she traveled back and forth (Manila and Mexico and back) on 5 galleon ships with both goods and passengers aboard safely each time.

  The city has been visited by pilgrims for the past centuries by travelers asking for a safe journey, or those wishing to have their vehicles blessed at the cathedral.

  Another famous landmark of the city is Hinulugang Taktak, a famous waterfall.

  When I moved to Antipolo in 2017 the park was under renovation. But I could hardly wait for it to open. I must’ve been in kindergarten or early gradeschool when my father took us to Hinulugang Taktak and I saw the falls for the first time. I remember the wonder and awe as my eyes lit up when I saw the waters cascading over the cliff and splashing gracefully down over the rocks. It was the most amazing sight I had ever seen. Hinulugang Taktak was my first time to see a waterfall. The falls were so high, so grand, and so spectacular.

  The falls came from folk lore about a large bell (taktak) that was thrown (hinulog) into a waterfall in the 15^th or 16^th century because the locals found it too loud. Since then the place has been known as Hinulugang Taktak — where the bell fell.

  I admit I saw the falls again when I was older, as an adult. Some 10 years ago I was with friends picking our way through a wooded forest in Antipolo one summer afternoon. We were just looking around. It seemed we were in some neglected park. There were picnic tables in disrepair and a lot of litter. We saw a clearing and approached it. I couldn’t believe what I saw. We were on top of the Hinulugang Taktak. Dry. It had no water. The riverbed was dry too. I hadn’t seen the falls since gradeschool. Was this the Hinulugang Taktak?

  It was a goner.

  When I moved up years later I saw an announcement that the park was undergoing renovation. That was good news. It’s about time.

  When the time came for the park to be finally opened to the public, I visited this famous landmark of my childhood. The Hinulugang Taktak Nature and Adventure Park was located down a forested gully along a gushing stream (during the rainy season). Navigating down to the falls meant a lot of steps down the cliff or via an outdoor elevator. I think that elevator was a new addition.

  The falls were small.

  I laughed to myself when I saw it. The Hinulugang Taktak falls was breath taking. That is, until I grew up. The waters still cascaded gracefully over the rocks. But the height was not as tall as I remembered it to be. Of course, I had grown up.

  The renovation was a good job. There were picnic tables and gazebos along the slopes, a swimming pool for kids, a wall climbing and rapelling facility, a hanging bridge, and a rope spider web platform right above the falls.

  This is a great place to bring the family. Or a gang of friends for an afternoon of fun and bonding.

  What makes one’s visit to the park are its pleasant and friendly employees and attendants. I struck a conversation with one of them about the operating hours and she informed me the only time the park is open 24 hours is on Holy Thursday every year at the Alay Lakad. Devotees that arrive to the cathedral on foot pass the night at the park to rest overnight.  

  The park is open 7am to 4pm

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Clockwise from top: View of the park below upon entry; the Canopy Walk composed of hannging bridges; wall clmbing facility

L-r: View of the Hinulugang Taktak from the street; Hanging Lobster Claw (Heliconia rostrata); flights of stone steps to bring you up and down to the falls below; resident cats

All photos are by the author.

Last-Minute Ball Gowns

This is where to go if you must get married tomorrow.  By Betty Samson

  When I travel abroad, I love to go to the markets and groceries of every country.  It gives me a peek at the people’s lifestyle of the town or city I’m visiting. So when I moved away from the city and left my childhood home, I chose a life in the hills of Antipolo east of Manila. As soon as I got settled, one of the places I visited, of course, was the town market.

  The produce and merchandise I saw on the ground floor was like that of any other market in the country. That is, until I went up to the second floor.  

  I saw ball gowns. Ribbons and ruffles, froth and flowers, in dazzling creations filled the shops and lined the aisles. It was an amazing sight to behold as I navigated past the masses of fluffy ballooned skirts, my eyes drawn to such marvelous confections. There were ball gowns for a prom or debut, gowns for special evening occasions, processions, even wedding gowns complete with coordinated outfits for an entire entourage. There were suits for the men too, for the bridegroom, best man, and secondary sponsors. I never expected to see glittering or beaded gowns selling in a market where they sell fish and vegetables downstairs!  

  These were gowns for rent or for sale. If for rent the shop will adjust the fit for you, dry clean the gown, then you have three to five days rental. If for sale, the outfit is definitely a lot cheaper than if it was custom made. You can have a fabulous gown on the spot. Even the kids can find their suits and dresses there too. An entire wedding entourage can find their needs in any of the shops.

  Photos by the author.

Mali and the Capybara

I never forgot the kid, the snake, and the Manila Zoo. By Betty Samson.

  I remembered a pictorial I did for a parenting magazine many years ago. There was a petting zoo adjacent to the main zoo and visitors were besieged with offers of a souvenir photo shoot with cockatoos, other tropical birds, and the main star of the cast — the zoo’s Burmese albino python (photo above).

  I know, I know, reptiles can get stressed by this over handling by humans. That’s why I didn’t consent to it. I’ve had such a python shoot years previous (I can hardly remember when or where) and when a similarly sized humongous reptile was placed on my shoulders I felt it weighed a ton, as if it was all muscle.

  So when the resident vet suggested her kid could feature in it instead since I was covering for a parenting magazine, I consented. The python was laid on the table and the kid sat beside it. The vet exhibited the most daring parenting technique I’ve ever seen. She didn’t pass on any fear to her child. Children can get fears and hang-ups implanted on them by their parents. Under her watchful eyes, she let her little daughter play with the reptile while I clicked busily away to get the perfect angle.

  I never forgot that mother, her kid, the snake, and the Manila Zoo.

  Soon after, I edited that photo to include the catch phrase of the Philippine Tourism Board’s “It’s more Fun in the Philippines” and submitted the photo but nothing happened to it. So when I featured the newly renovated Manila Zoo, I just had to put that photo in.

  The Manila Zoo first opened in 1959 and as the decades rolled by it fell into neglect. Under the administration of the then Manila Mayor Isko Moreno in 2019 the zoo underwent a total upgrading of facilities which took 3 years. In 2022 it reopened to a new name, the Manila Zoological and Botanical Garden and sported a new and modern look.  

  Alas, the petting zoo where that kid posed with the Burmese python was no more as the zoo enlarged. The python now resides comfortably in the reptile museum whereas that little girl is probably a young woman by now.

  My friend Tracey and I took a drive to this historical landmark recently. The zoo was a popular destination of school excursions. My siblings and I never got tired of visiting it again and again when we were young. When traffic was not as monstrous the way it is now, it was just an easy drive away in those days. A weekend at the Zoo was just a hop away, a convenient kind of “daycare” for busy parents.

  The Manila Zoo covered an area of 6 hectares. But after several decades it was closed in 2019 for upgrade and renovation. The design came from the thesis of an architecture graduate of the University of Santo Tomas, Kevin Siy, who donated his undergraduate work to the Manila City Government.

  Upon our arrival we encountered 9 tourist buses full of schoolchildren from out of town (a similar scene of my own gradeschool days). Parking for private cars was quite limited. The big buses were neatly parked outside the premises along the children’s playground across the street. We were guided to wait outside the parking entrance to wait for any parking vacancy.

  Tickets are ordered online which we had earlier done that day. As we approached on foot after finally parking I saw a very modern and sweeping architectural edifice to welcome all visitors. It’s about time. Welcome to the 21^st century. 

Captions top and clockwise: new signage at the Manila Zoo; dancing fountains; Mali in her shelter; map of the Zoo, Botanical Garden; reticulated python in the reptile museum

  The Zoo boasts of a collection of 1,000 animals from 350 species but Tracey and I arrived at noontime. It was a bad time for the animals to be outdoors. We passed by Ma’ali (or Vishwama’ali)’s  enclosure but she was keeping cool inside her quarters. In 1977 Ma’ali (or Mali for short), a female Asian elephant, was gifted by the Sri Lankan government to the Philippines and 48-year-old Mali still resides at the enhanced Manila Zoo today as its main attraction. Mali has been an issue of concern with various animal welfare groups for many years because of her solitary existence at the Zoo but experts have observed that the elephant may have difficulty adapting to an elephant sanctuary in Thailand. She has grown up at the Zoo since arriving there as a baby and will lose the life she’s grown accustomed to, including her favorite caretakers. We didn’t see any hippopotamus either (I later learned it had died in 2017 at the age of 65, of old age).

  The aviary had little movement; I saw a Painted Stork (Mycteria leucocephala) taking a drink of water in a pail but eventually decided to step in to soak its feet. There was a collection of peacocks (Indian Blue Peafowl or Pavo cristatus) their feathered tails folded in. It was just too warm to do anything. One resourceful pea fowl perched on a tree branch to cool itself and pass the time.

Left: Painted Stork cooling in a bucket. Right: Indian Blue Peafowl

  The 2 tigers (I didn’t know if there were more), the male white Siberian Tiger (Pantera Tigris Altaica) and its Bengal tiger (Panthera Tigris Tigris) companion, were sleeping away in the heat. There was a small lion there (I couldn’t tell if it was an adult or still young because it was small) looked drowsy under the heat and humidity, while a lioness just laid in the shade oblivious to her surroundings.

  The reptile museum was air conditioned, thankfully, thus we saw more movement there. The red iguana (Iguana iguana) displayed itself atop a large branch to show its colors off to an admiring crowd of squealing children, the Monitor Lizard (Varanus marmoratus) bobbed up and down the water wondering what the excitement was all about. Best of all, of course, was a huge crocodile silently submerged as if waiting for its prey, delicate air bubbles rising to the surface while it breathed underwater.

Top and clockwise: Crocodile blowing bubbles underwater; Monitor Lizard; closeup of crocodile

  I saw the Burmese albino python again (I hope it was the same one I photographed).There were the usual snakes which thrilled the children no end. They were moving and slithering around.

Left: Yellow Burmese Python. Right: Red Iguana

  We followed the map provided by the zoo and tried to see what we could. We failed to see the monkeys, though. The enclosed building where they were housed required us to remove our shoes. Why, I do not know and I didn’t want to line up at the entrance to wait our turn. Maybe the monkeys were living in comfortable air conditioned quarters. The noontime heat to me was too oppressive I wanted to get out of there.

  We visited a Butterfly Garden and though the enclosure was beautifully landscaped and pleasant – we saw no butterflies. I didn’t know if butterflies had a season. But we saw more butterflies outside.

  The small Botanical Garden we barely noticed. What with the entire Zoo so carefully landscaped and pleasant, complete with dancing fountains and all, it was just a small slice of the zoo’s 6 acres where doting parents and guardians took a rest among the benches to change the sweaty shirts of their young charges from all that running around.

  The zoo reported of having some 1,000 animals in their care but what we saw didn’t count even close to that number. There were secluded enclosures here and there though, prohibiting the public access and we heard tropical birds screeching in some of them. Why weren’t they in the big aviary, we didn’t know. But they’re probably cooler in those enclosed cages than out there in the heat.

  All in all, I must say the new Manila Zoo is wonderfully renovated. Facilities are top notch. But its animal population seems dwindling (no giraffe, no hippo, etc). You can see the serious effort the city government exerts in taking care of this famous landmark of Manila. It still thrills children through the generations no end. But captive animals raise the concern of animal welfare groups everywhere and I understand it now. They are removed far from their natural habitat. It’s a challenge to enable such animals to thrive under small and enclosed artificial conditions.

  They’re not at home.

  There are plans, I understand, to develop an animal sanctuary away from the congested city and make the Zoo an exhibit area only. The animals stay for a few days at the Zoo then go back to their sanctuary out of town. Sounds like a good idea but when this will materialize we do not know. But it will definitely be kinder to the animals.

Left to right: Bird of Paradise at the Botanical Garden; stuffed toy giraffees at the souvenir shop, Butterfly Garden; 2 Capybaras

  Maybe a good time to visit the Zoo is late in the afternoon when it’s cooler, the oppressive humidity has gone down, and the animals are out.

  The Zoo is open up to 6pm.

  I finally met a Capybara. My friend Tracey pointed to the rodent-looking mammals (never seen one before) snoozing away in the heat. The animals were subject of a ditty popular online showing these furry creatures compulsively chewing away in a video.

  On our way out we finally saw Mali. She was still in her concrete shelter but had emerged from hiding to have a snack from its keeper. She did not go out into the open to meet her visitors.

  At least our day did not end in disappointment. 

  (Editor’s note: A week after our visit to the Zoo we received news that Mali has died. Zoo officials released a statement the following day saying that the 48-year-old mascot of the Zoo expired due to “old age.” The loss has been greatly felt nationwide. The symbol of happy childhood memories of millions of adults has finally gone to the Great Beyond where she will be solitary no more).

  All photos are by the author.

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Sounds Like. . .

Most Filipinos are bilingual. In their attempt to communicate in English but with their native tongue in mind, here are examples of what happens. By Betty Samson

I couldn’t resist collecting some of the most hilarious spelling and grammatical errors committed by Filipinos on a social media platform. This is common with cultures which have English as a second language. The locals strive to show they can speak and write English — but can’t quite hold it down pat. Their native tongue is in the way. The result is two kinds of grammatical glitches: 1) perfect spelling but it’s just … not the right word (such as the sign at right) and 2) outrageous spelling which you must read out loud so you can hear the word and be able to identify it.

Here are a few more examples of the first glitch.

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Above left: Say that again? Yes, read it out loud. The spelling is right. But I won’t tell you what the right word is supposed to be. Above right: I shot this myself. It’s in my neighborhood.

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Left: Pinoy flexibility with the sound of English words is shown in this photo. The current covid pandemic has introduced two new medical terms for the general public : the swab test and the rapid test for suspected cases of viral infection. This food stall caught up quickly.

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Right: Seems like if you’re a foreigner, a balikbayan, well to do, or just an English speaking native — you pay more. But if you’re one of the more humble folk and can read only the Pilipino version — you pay less??

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Left: I’m not sure what this signage intends to convey but even if it’s free, no thanks!

Above: Uh, the sleeves are long — but they’re sleeveless…

We have next a collection of spelling errors which you have to read out loud to hear yourself say the words. Or else you”ll never understand — or will misunderstand — what the signs are saying.

Above: Current slang for a gay man or woman is a “beki” so how did this product become a beki? Again, “sounds like…” take a guess.

You still with me? Here are a few more.

Finally here’s my coup de grace — to end all signages,

Rainy Day Monday

By Betty Samson

It was high time the parched earth got quenched. But the rain poured like a bucket over where I lived and when it was all over the plants drooped from the weight of the water that fell on them.

Over the countryside rose a mist that reminded one of the mountain city of Baguio or even Tagaytay. But after having lived here a few years, I knew better. That was not fog. It was steam.

As the raindrops fell on the street a light steam rose like the curling smoke from a barbecue grill. The asphalted road was that warm.

But a good douse of rain ensures a cooler and fresher air. The plants get a bath and the countryside is refreshed and rejuvenated. I shall expect a concert of frogs and bullfrogs bellowing away in the darkness tonight.

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Captions

1 : a little red rosebud peeps open its petals after a drenching downpour 2 : peach bougainvillea flowers weighed down with water 3 : cherry red and peach bougainvillea against a cloudy afternoon sky 4 : Cosmos is a tropical plant and does not do well in rain. Cosmos attracts butterflies, is resistant to drought, and is seldom subject to insect or disease damage. They repel mosquitoes too. 5 : Dark pink Mirabilis jalapa, known as four-o’clock hang their heads low after having just opened in the late afternoon

Steam rises from the ground and lingers in the atmosphere as a household staffer walks down the road toward the house.

Friends in This Lockdown

Time I got acquainted with my new house. By Betty Samson

What do you do if you’re a senior and stuck at home during this covid 19 quarantine lockdown?

I realized I had a lot more “guests” in and around my house that I wasn’t aware of.

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  Tokay gecko

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  House gecko

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  Tokay gecko

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  Philippine frogs

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  House gecko

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  Wolf Snake

First of all, I chose a property site in a remote and undeveloped forest area outside Manila in the hills of Rizal province. There, I had a house built in 2015. I came from the metropolis so living close to nature was my choice of a new lifestyle.

Gardening and landscaping my unfinished grounds became an obsession. The trend online was gardening as people sought to learn how to grow their own food. I went into the nearby woods and gathered sacks of dried leaves to convert into compost. I thought it was a great idea. I didn’t know it would take me 3 months before I could use them.

So what to do in the meantime?

Meet Tokay the Gecko

It started one afternoon when I saw this monstrous reptile on the screen of my bedroom window (upper left photo, above). I didn’t know what it was. But it was a strange and fascinating creature. I took my cellphone and shot a picture of it from inside my room. Here, I thought, was an example of my new life in the woods. I planned to record it. But then soon after, I saw a large lizard snoozing away the day under the casement window of my walk-in closet (upper right photo, above). I grabbed my cellphone again and took a picture of it. I planned to show it to people who might know what it was. Friends told me both creatures was a gecko, specifically a Tokay Gecko.

“More than 1,000 species of lizards make up six families of the suborder Gekkota. Geckos are mostly small, usually nocturnal reptiles with soft skin. They also posses a short stout body, a large head, and typically well-developed limbs. The ends of each limb are equipped with digits possessing adhesive pads. They have adapted to habitats ranging from deserts to jungles. Some species frequent human habitations, and most feed on insects.

Like snakes, most geckos have a clear protective covering over the eyes. The tail may be long and tapering, short and blunt, or even globular. The tail serves in many species as storehouse of fat upon which the animal can draw during unfavorable conditions. The tail may also be extremely fragile and if detached is quickly regenerated to its original shape.” (britannica.com)

Most geckos have a voice, the call differing with the species. In the Philippines a familiar gecko is locally called the “tuko“, so called because its voice starts with a gurgle as it builds up power then explodes into the familiar cucko-like sound as if to say, “tu koh,” thus its name.

“The Tokay Gecko, native to Southeast Asia, is the largest species, attaining a length of 25 to 35 cm (10-14 inches). It is gray with red and whitish spots and bands and is frequently sold in pet shops.” (britannica.com)

The Asian House Gecko

Now here’s another gecko that I consider a house nuisance, locally called the “butiki.” These are small lizards that scurry around ceilings and crawl on walls, thanks to their adhesive foot pads (center top photo and lower left photo, above). They are everywhere in the house — behind closets and curtains, on bookshelves, under the bed and on window sills, hide inside drawers and cupboards, and leave a trail of pellet droppings all over the place. They are not housebroken. You have to clean up after them.

These little geckos forage on insects. I see them on the carport ceiling should insects swarm a bulb at night, or on walls as they gobble down the ants that cross their path or a careless mosquito that hovers too close.

This lilliputian creeper, typical of all geckos, have its own call, a high-pitched smacking sound (as if it’s kissing) coming from powerful lungs.

Here Comes Wolfie

Perhaps the scariest encounter I ever had was when I lifted a pot to rearrange my grouping of plants. It initially looked like a scrap of printed cloth. But something told me it wasn’t. When I looked again, it was a small snake. I wasn’t used to seeing such things in the wild. Scared the jeepers out of me.

But what was it? Was it poisonous or not? My only alternative was to again, grab my cellphone, took a shot of it, and posted it on a social media platform.

Replies came 5 minutes later, revealing what people have been doing nowadays! Friends within the country to as far as my cousins in the United States answered quickly. I’ve never had such quick responses.

It was Eve, this blog’s partner, who identified it. She said it was a Wolf Snake, a non-poisonous and harmless garden snake (lower right photo, above)

“The Oriental wolf snake…. named after their enlarged front teeth, which gives them a muzzled appearance similar to canines… makes the snout somewhat more squarish than other snakes. … is a slender-bodied snake that ranges from barely three feet to less than one meter. Their snout is duck-billed for digging in soft or sandy ground. They have enlarged front teeth, but these are not used to inject venom. They possess true fangs near the rear of their mouths and they will use these to inject venom into their prey. However, this species is relatively benign (not harmful) to humans.” (Wikipedia)

My maid called it “ahas tulog,” meaning to say, it being a nocturnal animal, is found sleeping during the daytime. My cousin in the US who lived in the Philippines for awhile, joked that when his mother found such a snake under a pot whenever she did her gardening, would just tell the snake to go back to sleep and return the pot back to its position on top of it.

Okay, so Wolfie was harmless. When we poked it with a stick the snake slid under another pot, its long body slithering as if oiled. I didn’t want to rearrange those pots for weeks after that.

The Philippine Frog

I see them hop around the lawn, and when moths swarm a light bulb at night they are there on the ground with their whipping tongues as they gorge at the fallen insects until they’re full. Toward the end of summer when the lockdown started I had a big cement bowl filled with water outside the house for any roaming dog that might stop by to drink. But when these toads decided to swim and soak there at night (center lower photo, above), we changed the water every morning.

It’s too bad I couldn’t capture the bullfrogs (rana catesbeiana) in the culvert that call in the night. They sound like cows, bellowing away in the darkness of their hiding place. When we were newly arrived in this house, at the first rainfall they sang away in a raucous concert that was amusing to my city bred ears. But alas, every year I hear them less and less. Here’s their sound:

There are more that live along with us that I haven’t made my acquaintance yet, creatures who somebody said, “They were there first before you came.” But I think that’s enough for now.

All photos as by the author.