Philippine Travel Notes

An olden bridge, circa the Spanish era. This as we entered the town of Miagao, Iloilo. This is not anymore in use - in fact there is no more water under the bridge. But thanks to recent attention by younger history and/or conservation enthusiasts and / or travel bloggers like yours truly, this bridge has been gaining traction on the world wide web, being identified as one of the historical remnants of old Miagao. It is nothing but an old aged bridge, designed generally for the main mode of transport in those days (1850s), horse-drawn carriages. But its form and make, though dilapidating now (even ravaged on many parts) evokes a memory of the olden years of our forebears. Thus, the need to conserve it. Taytay Boni literally means "The Bridge of Boni". Taytay is of course a visayan word for bridge, while Boni came from Bonifacio - the name of the foreman in charge of this bridge's construction. Hmm, if all constructions now would only bear the name of foremen... hahah...

Going out and south of Guimbal, we exited through this thing they call Guimbal Steel Bridge. My guide told me this is the longest steel bridge in Western Visayas (Region VI). This is purportedly historical, being, a 350 meter-long bridge made of steel imported from Virginia, USA. And he even knows the name of the material - Pittsburgh Steel. Hmm, if Pittsburgh Steel, then not from Virginia but Pennsylvania! Philosophizing lang hehe, but yes, the port where the seel were shipped from, must probably be Virginia. So this is an American-era bridge. Oh, guide says construction was ordered by President Roosevelt, no less! Wheh?! So I asked, "bakit kaya? What special interest did Americans have south of Guimbal, so that their president ordered this construction"?! The reply was a rather hesitant, "education and expansion". Hmmm, well, okay, if that's what they say! But if I may put this in historical perspective (oh ha, parang historian!), maybe the real score is...

Like a number of towns in the Visayas, there still are remnants of these watchtowers in Guimbal. I went to see one of them! My guide told me there are 4 identified as such in Guimbal, but only 3 are generally intact. We went to the nearest - Balwarte Pescadores. This one is about 300 to 400 meters from the back of the new municipal hall (that's where we came from) heading east towards the seashore. And it sits right on the very side of the street - you won't even need to get off your vehicle (kung tamad ka tulad ko)! By the way, it is called so because it is located at Brgy Pescadores. Another one called "Balwarte Generosa" is located at Brgy. Generosa Cristobal-Colon, adjacent and to the north of Brgy. Pescadores. The third one is called Balwarte Rizal-Tuguisan at the Bantayan Beach Resort, located at, you guessed it, Brgy. Rizal-Tuguisan. All 3 barangays are side-by-side and of course coastal. This last one we could actually have visited while entering Guimbal (ac...

San Nicolas De Tolentino Parish Church, so said my guide. But easier for me to remember "Guimbal Church"! In fact I totally forgot the San Nicolas thing, but good I had some little notes on my phone, that made me recall the name San Nicolas De Tolentino hehe! I have seen this church while at the town plaza earlier. I thought this was real big because the belfry was like tall and big! But its not a huge church after all. Cute in fact! Guide told me this is one of the oldest churches on the island. Many times damaged by war and calamity but always repaired to its usual religious grandeur by the townsfolk. Going inside... this was my view upon entering the main entrance... There is some kind of an "ante-room" defined by that arch and the two holy water fonts, before you actually emerge at the real inside of the church. I have seen this in many churches. This is usually because above this low ceiling is the choir and/or band loft. My first impression was: This i...

Yes plural! There are two, the old and the new! What's the significance? Well, the new one looks good, but the old one is a fine building too that should not be abandoned and forgotten - said my guide, so he took me to both. And I believe in that point of view! The New Municipal Hall You have seen a frontal view of this building in my previous story . Here's a closer look... Other than it also looks good just like the plaza - at least viewed from the outside, I have no idea about the insides of this new building. I did not bother going in to have a look, probably because of my earlier experience at the Tigbauan Municipal Hall hehe! Just for your appreciation, this level is not ground floor as the rampway goes up at least the height of one storey (I think). Just like entering the Cultural Center of the Philippines. From the foyer is a nice view of the amphitheater, even all the way to the park. I wasn't able to take a picture of that view though, for the same reason as...

Oh wow! That is all I can say, I am running out of superlatives! This has been the same town plaza of Guimbal, they just spruced it up - beautifully, I must say. Parang Luneta! Those letters are rather crudely made or improperly positioned. But "identity" enough! The plants, trees, grass, flowers are not simply plucked from anywhere and dumped into this field. They are good quality and must have been purchased from good sources. The town must also have spent for a landscape architect to hatch and fashion this up! The air here feels like Guimbal is taking a cue, or silently replicating the developments or re-development at Smallville and the Esplanade areas over at the Iloilo city centre :) Maybe we should call this a park? For a plaza, its so big and wide it is even hard to take a photo of its entirety. Unless probably if we use a drone for a wider and free vantage. After the greens and a very tall pedestal of Rizal, this is their amphitheater... That building at the ...

Kagimbal-gimbal na kagandahan! That would be my apt term for what welcomed me to this town of Guimbal in the province of Iloilo. This town seemed too differently notches up above the other towns I saw in this province so far. Everything seems to be colorfully lovely bright and new or renewed! Aliw factor! Yes Guimbal, nagimbal ako! Oh for my readers who always look for profundity in my stories or the "sites" I visit, sorry lang, I do not travel to revisit history - incidental lang ang mga yan. I am just a happy go lucky pinoy traveler, who, aside from appreciating nostalgic mementos of yesteryears, I also feast and rejoice on many things superficial - katulad ng pagka-ganda-gandang maaliwalas na plaza! I am not always for the heart-rending "somewhere in time"... I also go for the "wow bongga", or "oi hi-tech" or "ang sosy naman nyan"! Having said that, eto na, just about 7 or 8 minutes from the Tigbauan Plaza (and we even slowed dow...

The Tigbauan Municipal Hall. Looking good, and reminiscent of American Era structures, though my guide says this has received quite a number of facelifts hehe. I thought, eh dapat lang! From an aged brass marker I saw in the building, the original of originals of this building was born in 1960. So this thing is more than half a century old! 55 na! I had a little bit of an issue rounding this building. There were too many eyes all focused on me, and they seemed not friendly at all. It felt like they were watching for one false move and they'd pounce on me hahaha! Kulba! Oh well, Monday, maybe they were all fresh and hyped up to work. But they were not guards, they were ALL employees of the munisipyo. Why were they all out at the lobby at 2:26PM, some even sporting toothpicks in their mouths? Aba, nagpaka layu-layo ako! If I could not take pictures inside, oh eh I turned to the outside. That is their Rizal Monument! As you can tell from the borders of this picture, I took this ...