Biak na Bato

I think everyone should take the trip out to biak na bato and visit history and nature. :) a wonderful place. Bulacan isn’t a major tourist destination but it has its fair share of sights and events that have carved its name into Philippine history. Biak na bato National Park is the place to visit for childless couples, singles looking for soulmates and farmers praying for a bountiful harvest. One of the country’s ecological and historical treasures encompassing the southern edge of the Sierra Madre range situated a few kilometers from San Miguel Bulacan. Its name literally translates as “split boulders” taken from its unique rocky environment and caves.

Today Biak na Bato National Park has become a popular tourist destination attracting families who are looking for a refreshing summer retreat as well as busloads of students getting hands-on lessons on Philippine history . The park also offers some pleasant hiking trails, waterfalls and hundreds of caves to explore – more than enough to satisfy a day’s worth of exploration for those with an adventurous spirit. There are some interesting rock formations, trails leading to small rivers, green forests and hanging bridges (which were used by young daredevils as platform for jumping into the water during our visit). 

There were rows of souvenir shops, food stalls and street vendors fronting the entrance of the park. I bought two because the design is beautiful and the rock formation is unique. It was a particularly hot summer weekend so I wasn’t surprised to see how packed the park was. Some of the caverns were pretty easy to explore so we found ourselves inside tiptoeing on a pile of guano and wading through the shallow waters. There are so many bats inside the cave And there are bats flying overhead. Water is still rushing through the cave, and during storms, it even goes up to two storeys high.

We had picnic lunch by the river with our feet soaked in cold running water and lush greens as backdrop. It was quite a scenic place to have lunch in. Eating our food using bare hands made our lunch so much sumptuous. There are comfort rooms all over the place. It was truly majestic in there. Some of the boys were having the time of their life jumping into the water from the hanging bridge.

MADLUM CAVE

Madlum cave/river can be found in Mount Manalmon, San Miguel, Bulacan. This river is a snaky river with shallow clear water along the left side deepening to the right side. It possesses novel landscapes, including those of Madlum River, whose rock formations compensate for an otherwise unremarkable environ. Also, nearby sites such as the Bayukbok Caves (a 2-hr exploration from the River) and Madlum cave can be coupled with a trip to Mt. Manalmon to maximize the Biak-na-Bato experience. Also, complementing Mt. Manalmon is another elevated ground called Mt. Gola; instead of turning right at the bifurcation, going left would lead to this peak, which is also a good vantage point.

Going here can last 2 hours coming from Brgy. Kamias.. It's very tiring because of long hour trip but when you got there, it will fade away. I remembered the last time we visited this place we  need to walked , go upstairs going to the statue of virgin Mary  and passed through the cave.. It's so very dark inside as in we cannot see everything so we better need to bring a flashlight to lighten our way. After passing through the cave we can now enjoy swimming in the river.. :) It's very refreshing because of the clean and cold water. There are parts that so very deep and place that are shallow. The formation of rocks here are awesome. The most enjoyable part for me there is when i need to climbed the rock and dive from there. It's frightening at the first time but later on it's very addictive :D I also remembered that there are some foreigners visiting that place. Camping may be done either after the river, or within the summit area. 

This place is very beautiful and relaxing so you better try to visit this :))

San Miguel de Mayumo

Success, they say, is sweeter when earned the hard way.

We are fascinated with colonial houses. Aside for their remarkable architecture, and historical value, they tell interesting stories about an era when the dons ruled the towns with patrician formality. So off we went to Bulacan to visit the grand ancestral houses in the town of San Miguel de Mayumo.

The town of Miguel de Mayumo was established in 1763. Its original named was taken from its first town mayor Miguel Pineda and the kapampangan word for sweets –mayumo. Inspired by the accidental discovery of the stone image of St. Michael the Archangel in Madlum Cave, the townspeople added San to the town’s original name. Thus the town became known as San Miguel de Mayumo.

About a century ago, San Miguel de Mayumo is a wealthy town where the landed barons have established residence or built vacation houses for running their haciendas in Central Luzon. These grand houses hosted lavished parties for the town’s elite and some even sheltered important officers of a retreating revolutionary government.

But World War II, land reform policy, communist insurgency movement, and the closing of the railroad system made the old rich families leave their San Miguel lifestyle and established their lives somewhere else. San Miguel today is a quiet town with plenty of ancestral houses that tell stories of patriotism and tasteful living


rom the poblacion, we began our walking tour along Rizal Street where most of the prominent families built their stately homes. The house of Don Miguel Slojo, municipal president from 1908 to 1912 was built in1903 and is in good condition.

The house was one of those taken by the Japanese Army. Locals claim that the house is haunted by the ghosts of those who were murdered in the house during the Japanese Occupation.

A few walks from the Slojo House we saw one of the three houses associated with the landed de Leon clan of Bulacan which we were told houses a glass urn containing sand allegedly taken from the spot where Rizal fell when he was shot in Bagumbayan on December 30, 1896.

The house was built in the 1890’s by Pelagio de Leon and Eladia Santiago where they raised five of their children: Ceferino, Felix, Jose, Crispina and Valeriana. Ceferino was the father of beauty queen Trinidad who later married President Manuel Roxas. Felix was the grandfather of former Bulacan congressman Jose Cabochan. Jose was married to Doña Narcisa Buencamino of LVN Pictures. Crispina was married to Damaso Sempio, a nephew of hero Gregorio del Pilar, and Valeriana was married to Catalino Sevilla who built a gorgeous three-storey mansion which we also visited during the trip.



Don Jose “Capitan Pepe” de Leon was gobernadorcillo of the San Miguel in 1892, married Doña Narcisa “Sisang” Buencamino, after being widowed from his first wife. Doña Sisang was a Filipino film industry pioneer and one of the founders of the de Leon, Villonco and Navoa Pictures. LVN Pictures is one of the three leading movie companies during the 1950’s and has produced many of the country’ respected movie talents.

With Capitan Pepe’s political reputation and Doña Sisang’s social prominence, film celebrities and political figures frequently visit their house including President Manuel Quezon who was godfather to their only son, Manuel.

Across the street is another house associated to the de Leons. Damaso Sempio was married to Crispina de Leon. The house may not be as grand as the two de Leon houses but its guest book outshines the other houses in terms of historical value.

Revolutionary hero General Gregorio del Pilar, Sempio’s uncle was said to have spent the night in the house on his way to Isabela to cover the retreat of Aguinaldo. Also in the Sempio’s guest book was General Artemio Ricarte, the general who refused to recognized American sovereignty over the Philippines.

A short distance from Sempio House is the Simon Tecson Mansion. Simon Tecson served in the Filipino armed forces both during the Spanish and American Wars.

The retreating General Emilio Aguinaldo used the Tecson Mansion as headquarters on the days prior to the signing of the Pact of Biak-na-Bato. Descendants of Simon Tecson claim that the actual signing of the said peace treaty took place in the house and not in cave of Biak-na-Bato. The tintero or inkwell used in the signing and the canopied bed used by Aguinaldo are just some of the revolutionary memorabilia preserved in the house.

Among the historic houses in San Miguel, the Tecson Mansion is the only one that has a historical marker. But just as same as the other houses we visited in the trip, walk-in tourists are not allowed to go inside so we relied on stories told to us by the locals.


We left Rizal Street and traveled to Barangay San Jose to visit the 1906 house once owned by Dr. Maximo Viola. Viola was friend of Dr. Jose Rizal. He lent the national hero the money for the publication of Noli me Tangere.

The house has been sold to Ronaldo and Amelia Reyes who worked to preserve the house’s original narra floors and walls, mulawin window ledges, and even the original glass windows which were very expensive during the time of the house’s construction.

The lot across the Viola house that was owned by the David served as a meeting place of Katipuneros. The David House was demolished when it gave way after years of abandonment and disrepair.

Another house that might end up the same fate as with the David House is the Catalino Sevilla Mansion. The three-storey structure still puts of a façade of stateliness. But we were told that the house is in dire need of attentive restoration since its foundation is ready to give in anytime.

Built in 1921 by municipal president Catalino Sevilla, the construction of what the locals referred to as the malaking bahay or the only three-storey structure in the town at that time has inspired a local tale about the male ego.

It has been told that Catalino was a mere famer of the landed de Leon family who became rich enough to marry the landlord’s youngest daughter Valeriana. To outshine his father-in-law, the farmer built the tallest structure in town so that his father-in-law would have to look up to his son-in-law.

The third floor housed a spacious ballroom where the Celia Club, composed of the local elite would throw their luxurious soirees as entertainment.

How to reduce body fats

If you do not have time to face to exercise everymorning to reduce or burn the fats in the body, there are some types of foods that help to do this and keep us physically healthy and prevent any illness.

Eat fish that are rich in protein, why? because our bodies work so hard crushing and melting the foods we eat to produce protein and while doing it, the calories are burning. So its important we eat fish that are rich in protein and omega.

Eat oatmeal. Waist fat definitely not look good unless you're a baby. So the whole grains for the ideal diet is oatmeal every breakfast. Depending on your taste since many flavored oatmeal available now.

Eat spicy foods. We also know that when we eat spicy we start sweating right? It helps melts the fat and spicy elements are free from calories.

Eat fat free dairy products. Proven that people who eat low fat or fat free dairy products are the larger deductible in their weight.

Drink enough water. It helps to burn body fats. Remember that it is not going better to work if the body is dehydrated. Try to drink eight glasses of water every day.

Eat apples. eating an apple a day helps for proper diet. because it has pectin which limits fat that received by our cells.

The Game of Balance

     

DOTA, SF, Counter-Strike, World of Warcraft, League of Legends, GTA San Andres, all these are computer games. Games that are frequently played by most Filipino youth. Although to them it is fun, computer games have somehow caused an issue where students tend to lose their student status. In other words, neglecting their studies and the worse, to forget our own local physical sports and games.
       These games are in the least sense, real addictive proven by a statistic study that six out of ten Filipino youths take more time in online gaming than studying. Combined with modern technology like better graphics and smoother game engines, these computers have been able to achieve their purpose: to attract a lot of players and make good profit. Moreover, field games like patintero get you exposed under the sun and tired you off.
    Most gamers, as how the world refer them, often do gaming in Internet cafes and other establishments that offer computer services for a price. Their prices seems cheap yes, but if you really look on the other side, you won't notice that you already spent much amount of money in the computer shop. Your health is taken for granted due to lack of physical activity. Your eyes gets swollen due to prolonged exposure to radiations.
       On the contrary to most gamers, they benefit much from these games saying it develops their social relations because most games involve teamwork among payers. Games though having bad effects still have some good ones. Games often add to the knowledge bank of people. Overall, it's just matter of control. Though it has pros and cons, let us not put our health at stake for the sake of playing. Like a sport we need to balance everything in order to have a proper life.