Philippine Travel Notes

This was not really in my itinerary, although somewhere in the recesses of my brain was saying, I'd love to drop by, even for just a while. And it happened... Opportunity! Let's start from the very beginning... From the previous story , I hopped on a van at Gamay with Oras as my destination. It went well, with just one little caveat , that I would give up my Seats 1 & 2 at Arteche. Arteche Arrival Van stopped at the side of Arteche Covered Court ( Multi-Purpose Building ), to let off some of its Arteche-bound passengers. Here. This was the last pic in my earlier story . I learned, not all Arteche-bound passengers have-to or need-to alight here, although I saw people get-off or wait-for their rides here. The 3 ladies with 5 'big suitcases' did! Those of us not getting off, sat tight waiting (due to offloading of bags and boxes). Tricycles strategically wait for passengers also at this corner (babaan at sakayan nga naman ng vans & buses) , alth...

I came chauffeured c/o Sonny, you know that from my last story ! So, I arrived here: He wanted to drop me off at walking paths on either side, so I would be nearer. But I requested that I be 'ejected' here! He instantly got it and even said aw picture-picture ! That's the St. Michael the Archangel Parish Church of Gamay Northern Samar . The park likely belongs to the church, as with many towns and cities in the Philippines. I say that because there is the statue of St. Michael the Archangel in the very middle. Notice that where that statue stands is a street, but I guess not for big vehicles: I went to that 'plaque' (or whatever that is called) , expecting I would read something about San Miguel or the parish or why he is the patron saint. Aruy, wara mana wara! It's just a very detailed, meticulously written monument of " epal ity" ! Hahaha, oo hindi lang politicians ang epal sa atin! It's part of our culture, salamat ke Padre Damaso?! ...

I roamed around this little village, where Araw Beach is a part of. Not for any special reason, but just a go-see really, at its present-day look , before more changes happen. Why? What changes are happening? Aw, just like everywhere else in this country. By and by , yes, even if too slow, remote rural areas do get upgrades. That's what I mean. Examples: 1) on arrival, I saw that streets are fairly newly-paved; 2) above Nathalie's (since it's a hill, at the back), the street is being extended to 'above the beach'. O ha! Signs of progress. And, I think it will be more towards that situation, as Araw Beach becomes more and more visible, to the local and even international tourist markets. Who knows, baka pag balik natin eh this barangay could already be a crowded area of highrises! O, optimist di ba? It'll be best if we visitors have memories of the past! Ayay, take it from me, I always say now: "if only meron nang phone camera or kahit na digit...

Two blocks away from the municipal hall , I chanced upon the 'also fairly young' Our Lady of the Angels Parish Church of Mapanas , commonly called Mapanas Church . I hope you get the drift of these "fairly young" pronouncements that I keep saying. It is because this town was created from 7 barangays of Gamay only in 1966, and this church was created as a parish only in 1975. So it's rather young compared to many! So I did not expect to find historic things here, like I did at Palapag . It was closed (churches are like that now) . But to my left, there was an open gate. Beautiful new fence & gate. Mala-eskwelahan ang arrive! Thank you sa mga donors! Syempre, enter da dragon na agad - baka mag-automatic close pa yan - malay natin! Like at many churches, I suspected I'd find an ajar side door. Ay, just as I said above, nowadays churches normally close their many entrances, leaving just 1 open or ajar . We already know the rationale behind that, r...

Let's roam around town. I'm like new to this place, since the last time I've been here was many years ago, via a different route, and connecting various transport modes! This time, I traveled direct - Tacloban to Palapag . Just one ride but a story enough! First I visited was the old and new Palapag Church or the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption . This is a historical spot, with both edifices standing beside each other. The old church ruins is at left (never 'built-over'), while the present church is at right. I remember there was a belfry tower to the left-of that old church. It was taller than the new church. I guess It must have been the ruins now in between the 2 buildings. If you notice, there are now 2 historical markers on the front wall of the old church. Although now old too, the white cross on foreground was not part of the old church. It was a later addition, together with those two white pedestals that each had a bell. I wonder where now ...