A time in EL NIDO

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mAlL Of AsiA - tHe EyE Of mOa MaRcH 2012

tHe fIrEwOrKs CoMpEtiTiOnS At mOa

Want to visit the newest themepark and ferris wheel attraction in Manila? Then head to the SM Mall of Asia or SM MOA as this popular mall will open its uber the top attraction to the public. The SM MOA’s Ferris Wheel called the SM MOA EYE wheel is now the tallest ferris wheel in the country! There is more and more reasons to visit the capital city as you can now enjoy not only Star City but the SM MOA Eye and the theme park where it is at.

Located just across the SM IMAX parking lot, this giant ferris wheel towers at 160 feet overlooking the fame Manila Bay. The ferris wheel carriages and coaches are air-conditioned so its perfect to ride up even if the day is hot. Fee to ride the Philippines’ tallest ferris wheel is at P150 per person, vip gondolas are to be pegged at P200. And the more awesome news is that the SM Moa Eye is located inside the SM amusement park complex, and entrance to the theme park is free and you only have to pay for the rides that you want to try out. Once fully completed, this theme park will be home to 30 or so different heart pumping rides and spectacular attractions. I hope they will have a carousel there too as carousels are perfect backdrop of pictures hehhe. I will be updating this post with the pics of the SM Moa Eye and the official opening and closing time of the sm amusement park. Watch out for that!

Are you ready to watch another spectacular international fireworks competition in Mall of Asia. Get your camera ready and capture great fireworks display from different participating countries for this year’s Philippine International PyroMusical Competition 2012. we watch march 10 2012 australian and canada are the team fireworks in pyromusical

MaJaYjaY FalLs - LaGuNa mAy 2011

MaJaYjaY FalLs - LaGuNa mAy 2010 Majayjay is situated at the foot of Mount Banahaw which stands 1000 feet above sea level and 4th class municipality in the province of Laguna. It’s about 120 kilometers south of Metro Manila. Majayjay is known for its magnificent Taytay Falls or Imelda Falls . Former First lady Imelda Marcos made a huge contribution for promoting tourism in Majayjay. Majayjay is located in a remote area where lush greeneries and vegetation is abundant . In order to get there , you need to trek down the leading to 10-15 minute trail.

again after one year me and my friends dulce and amor went back but this time because of dulce family outing. me and amor are just extra person on the trip. we still had so much fun. the view was still beautiful and the water is still cold. hope that i can still go back just to remember the feel and happiness that i get when i see the beautiful place

MaJaYjaY FalLs - LaGuNa mAy 2010

Majayjay has the Taytay Falls. Others call it the Majayjay Falls or even Imelda Falls, because ex-First Lady Imelda Marcos financed the promotion of tourism in this place. It is a two-storey high falls located in a remote scenery where the forestry is abundant. To reach Taytay Falls, one has to go down the stone steps leading to a kilometer-long trail. Constructed in 2008, during the past, reaching Taytay Falls is a very hard task, as there were no marked trails during that time. Recently, the World Bank has sponsored the promotion of tourism in Taytay Falls.

Taytay Falls, located at Barangay Gagalot, Majayjay, Laguna, has one of the clearest flowing water we have yet seen. The water flows from Mt. Banahaw, through the mountain's lush and untouched forest which keeps the water clear even during heavy rains. The water temperature is VERY cold even during summer but, for people who are not used to cold water, they can still take a swim for a few minutes before their teeth should start to chatter. One must hike about 15 minutes through a small path to reach the falls. No way around this. And the hike is not for the not-so-sure-footed either! The path is slippery at some sections and is just a couple of feet from the almost-vertical side of the mountain.

GETTING THERE SINCE WE ARE FROM ANTIPOLO ME AND MY FRIENDS STARTED AT ANTIPOLO BUT IF YOU ARE STARTING AT EDSA FROM EDSA TO ANTIPOLO - P25 (jeep) EDSA TO TANAY - P40 (jeep) EDSA TO ANTIPOLO - P45 (FX) EDSA TO TANAY - P60 (FX) since we decided to have a stop over to liliw for the tinelas festival again TANAY TO LILIW - P28 - (jeep) LILIW TO MAJAYJAY - P20 - (tricycle) per person MAJAYJAY TO BOUNDARY OF LUCENA - P10 (jeep) BOL TO MAJAYJAY FALLS POINT - P15 (tricycle) entrance for TAYTAY FALLS - P20

DaRanAk fAlLs - TaNaY RiZaL

Enjoy Daranak Falls Daranak falls is a popular summer getaway for locals, neighboring towns and tourists alike. Convenient to get to, about twenty minutes or so from the town proper then a scenic five to ten-minute route into the mountain side from the main road. Even if you came in from Metro Manila, it wouldn’t take you more than three hours to get there, give or take. One of the closest natural bathing grounds near the Metro, Daranak falls is considered to be one of the most beautiful natural formations in the country, protected by government laws and maintained by Tanay’s local government.

A few friends of mine have been to Daranak, so I had somewhat of an idea as to what to expect when we got there. But as to what it is or what I’d see or find there actually wasn’t what I was thinking of on our way to the falls. I was thinking of the name “Daranak” and how it came to be called so. Unfortunately, every local I asked grew up calling the place that and never really did question it, save for one. One answer I got was it was from the phrase “Dadanak ang dugo”, directly translated “the spilling of blood”, due probably to the Katipunero history of the area during the Japanese occupation and where most of the resistance during that time was in the area of Rizal, Tanay included. It wasn’t really a real or sure answer to my question but it was interesting and I figured it made sense. May it be true or not, the story made me smile. I bought it.

It opens daily at 8 am and closes at 5 pm, rates go for twenty pesos for adults and fifteen pesos for children, they have picnic huts, tables and sheds. Complete with all the amenities you’d expect from any resort. Tricycles and jeepneys make special trips to Daranak, so even if you’re without a car, you could still get there conveniently as if you did have a ride. As we were walking on the bridge leading to the falls right after the entrance I was already thinking OMG will I fall will I fall but luckily i did not. Since it was summer that me and my bff went the batis is dried out of water. all you can see for mills are rocks big rocks but as you approach the falls, you could already hear children’s laughter, sounds of people having a great time and a general vibe that this was a place filled with good times and fun memories for countless of generations past and quite possibly for later generations to come.

Reaching the falls, I was now really wishing badly that I could join all those people enjoying themselves cooling off from the hot summer heat and go for a swim myself. I admit that I rarely get this close to nature and just being there, I easily forgot my oversight of not bringing at least a towel. I picked a rock on which to sit on and just took it all in.

The place was pristine; I could imagine it a thousand years ago before anyone ever knew it was here. Approximately sixty to eighty feet high, the falls was amazing, people were scaling the walls, jumping from rocks into the water but most were simply sitting directly under it, letting the water hit their backs. Many have long believed (me included) of the healing qualities of just sitting under a falling body of water. Its like nature giving you a massage I guess. Save for the water and the rocks around, everywhere you looked it was green. Thick, probably century-old trees look down atop the falls, almost making it seem like a natural umbrella that spread around the entire refuge from concrete and industry, making you feel cradled by nature herself. To me there’s nothing more relaxing.

Leaving I formed my own theory as to why it’s called Daranak. It was probably true that it was rooted from the phrase “dadanak ang dugo” and in time got shortened and just morphed into what its called now. I’d like to think now its Daranak not because of its revolutionary violent past, rather than “dadanak ang saya, tuwa at ligaya”, loosely translated “ the coming of fun, laughter and good times”. But whatever you may think the name of the place is derived from, it wouldn’t really matter, undoubtedly you would leave with a feeling of rejuvenation as I did and I didn’t even get into the water.

tiNeLAs FesTiVaL - LaGuNa CitY mAy2008

Tsinelas Festival in Liliw The little town is actually the Footwear Capital of Laguna, being the source of quality footwear, most notably tsinelas (slippers). No wonder not only residents of neighboring towns patronize their products but balikbayans as well. Because of the thriving footwear industry, the local government, through the encouragement of the Southern Tagalog Tourism Council whose main concern is to develop tourism in Region IV through the implementation of FESTIVALS, conceptualize the Gat Tayaw Tsinelas Festival. The festival is dubbed as such in honor of the town’s founder-Gat Tayaw- and its major industry-tsinelas.

First held in April 5-7, 2002, the Gat Tayaw Tsinelas Festival was a raging success with no less than Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as the guest of honor. This almost 4-year old 5-day festival showcases street party featuring all night dancing, street dancing participated in by different cultural dance troops who perform native and traditional dances depicting the life of the early Liliweños in participation, Music in the Making, and the search for Mutya ng Liliw. The festival also showcases other native products such as uraro (arrow root) cookies and lambanog ( coconut wine) and other local delicacies. A visit to Liliw on regular days is already a treat for people, but during the festival, it will be an experience to beat.

HinUluGanG tAktAk - AnTipOlO ciTy

Hinulugang Taktak The Hinulugang Taktak, located at Taktak Road, Brgy. Dela Paz, falls is a part of Antipolo's natural and cultural heritage. Its legendary origin dates back to the 15 th century when legend has it that the waterfalls was where the townsfolk threw the large bell that caused undue disturbance whenever it was rung at Angelus. Its sound was so loud that the people could not endure it. They demanded that the local priest get rid of the bell. Thus "Hinulugang Taktak", meaning the place where the bell was dropped. The place has since become a favorite spots for visitors and clients. The park is an alluring view of natural formation. After soul cleansing at the renowned Antipolo's Lady of Peace Shrine, the park offers physical and spiritual cleansing for pilgrims. The energetic sparks of water bubbling and doubling over as it cascades down the cliff guarantees to revive flagging spirits. The waterfalls of Hinulugang Taktak are famed for this energetic lift. Tourists can plan on a full day picnic with the convenience and comforts of cottages, common barbeque pits, clean public toilets and super-sized pools.

On the contrary, the falls was still in dismal state, as asserted by environmentalists who cried for lack of government will power and interest to save it. Seeing the catch basin with giant detergent foams and foul odor, it can be said that the people of Antipolo themselves don't seem to care less, otherwise, why will they make Hinulugang Taktak such a dirty mess? or may be they dont have anywhere else to go and as they stay at the top of the falls they are not aware of the harm they are causing the place It is a pity that such a majestic natural water formation is allowed to reek and deteriorate.

I encourage everyone who has personally witnessed Hinulugang Taktak's deplorable state to help create awareness of the need to save and rehabilitate it. As a child my grandmother and my mother together with my siplings we always go there every May and i can still remember the clear water and people still can swim on the falls. the place was really full with people swimming get together with family. i personally have not yet been able to swim on that place as a kid. but it was nice to see kids swimming it was fun going back to hinulugang taktak on a sunny day, this was our next stop after our walk in the station of the cross. Entrance fee is 8 pesos.