We were told that we would spend at least two hours in the Allenby (Palestine) – King Hussein (Jordan) border before finally having our passports stamped by the immigration officers and enter Palestine, the gateway to Israel via Jordan. By 10 AM, we already crossed the King Hussein Bridge and we were already lined up…
Category: Lakwacha
The Holy Land Tour 2022 (Day 3): Madaba and the End of the Jordan leg
Petra was very tiring but it was also really fantastic. We arrived back at Amman around 5:30 in the afternoon – too early for Dinner. Our guide asked us to take some rest or do some walking nearby. As soon as I got inside the hotel room, I immediately started packing my stuff for the…
The Holy Land Tour 2022 (Day 1): Madaba and Amman, Jordan
I am so grateful that I had this opportunity to follow the Bible trail via the Holy Land Tour that me and four other family members participated from 2 to 13 December 2022. We were part of a group of 49 individuals plus one tour leader from the Philippines. For most members, this was a…
My first Ati-Atihan Festival (January 2020)
Hala Bira literally means ‘dispense all means.’ Many times, it also means ‘blessings to us all’. It is an Aklanon phrase that is usually chanted during the Ati-atihan Festival in Kalibo, Aklan. Today’s the phrase is chanted almost all over the archipelago during festivals, parties, and other social gatherings. The last time I heard the phrase chanted live was in…
Siquijor: A Hidden Paradizzze in the Philippines (The Final Part: The Lazi Church)
Currently, there are four churches in the Philippines, inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites: San Agustin Church inside Intramuros in Manila, Paoay Church in Ilocos Norte, Santa Maria in Ilocos Sur, and Miag-ao Church in Iloilo. Collectively, these churches are known The Baroque Churches in the Philippines. These churches possess cultural significance and influence on…
Béguines, or dedicated women for Christ and their béguinages (The Antwerp encounter)
When I was young, I thought I wanted to be a priest. As early as 10 or 11, I knew I wanted to dedicate myself to Christ. I remember my elementary classmates were all excited for high school, while my eyes were all set for the seminary. I was a seminarian – and über proud…
Heritage appreciation tour, or adventures and misadventures in Vietnam and Myanmar (Concluding Part)
On our last day in Yangon, we hired a private charter with the agenda of seeing the spectacle that is Yangon city. On a personal note, I wanted to see only one thing: the Shwedagon Pagoda! Remember the bright golden monument I was describing on an earlier post when we finally entered the city center…
Come on and Ghent/Gent me, Gent me; Baby I’m Yours! (The Castle of the Counts/Gravensteen)
Belgium is my favorite European country. I have several reasons and Ghent/Gent is one of them. Why Ghent/Gent? I thought the city was really charming in a sense that its surroundings reminded me so much of the fairy tales I read in my elementary years and I watched on television and the big screen via…
Siquijor: A Hidden Paradizzze in the Philippines (Part 1)
“We are going to Siquijor,” informing one of my closest friends. She asked me to bring asin (salt) to shoo evil spirits. She also pleaded me not to take anything from the locals. More so, not to drink anything that the locals offer. Then, she asked me to remember Manilyn Reynes and Ana Roces, two…
Heritage appreciation tour, or adventures and misadventures in Vietnam and Myanmar (Part 3)
After an amazing lunch at a local restaurant recommended by Mr. Tam (he used to work there and his wife still works there as a manager), we headed to the Hanoi International Airport for Yangoon. Incidentally, I no longer remember the name of the restaurant but it was really good! It was full house when…
Tanghal Kultura 