Good Friday (Trek to National Arts Center)

Tanghalang Maria Makiling (National Arts Center Open-air Theater)

Sunrise over over PCARD/ DOST Road

The troops - the really hungry and thirsty kind

Boy Scout Jamboree

Fist time in my life that I almost gave up on a hike. The 6 kilometer trail, is so steep and  it  has  minimal  or no shade at all.  Very conducive for a heat stroke!

St. Marc's Chapel

JJ, Isa and Kate

I have to stop, I need to stop. I am stopping! I stopped and took photos instead..

Dax took off his shoes on the way up

My baby boy

My baby girl

View from NAC..
The first time I was here (uhmnn.. way back '83?), there are very few houses.. now look!

Vist to Calamba City (Maundy Thursday)

I grew up in Calamba, this is where  I spent (and lost?) my youth. Incidentally, Calamba City is also the birthplace of Dr. Jose Rizal. Rizal Shrine is one of the most frequented destinations in this part of the province.

Concerned groups made a lot of noise when the City painted this Spanish colonial home  this ugly puke green color. Personally, I like it better in white, which is actually the original color of the house.  It looked  more dignified that way. Not sure who ordered the repainting or what were they thinking when they decided to repaint it.

                                                                                 

The old wishing well.

I used to throw my extra coins in there, then wish for more coins so that I can buy some donuts. Then whenever someone would give me money, I would think that my wish had come true. At that time there is no Krispy Kreme yet in the Phils. and Dunkin Donuts just made a debut. Honey glazed and Bavarian Cream  is just two of my favorite flavors.

The Rizals' old Nipa hut is an  one of my  old playgrounds of mine. I love going here as a kid. 

I often wonder how can they feed a large number of people in this simple kitchen set up. Gone were the days when meat is simmered the whole day and the only veggies fit for human consumption are those that are freshly picked from the garden. Nowadays, we have gas stoves, electric stoves, microwave ovens, pressure cooker etc but I still make a lot of mess when I cook.

Literally a few steps away from the Rizal Shrine is the Saint John the Baptist church. The church is where Dr. Jose Rizal was baptized and due to it's historical significance, it has been declared  as a National Historic Landmark.

The Church's intererior

A lot of homeless people are live outside the church. I heard that sometimes the Church's caretaker would chase them away. Whatever happened to 'help thy neighbor....'?????

A closer look....
I actually forgot her name but she didn't forget mine...
One thing's for sure, I wont ever forget her face....
Tried to convince her to stay at the homeless shelter... she told me that she's not homeless.. talk about putting someone in its place.

Departure Area

I have mixed feelings about airports. I particularly love the arrival area. The anticipation you see on people’s faces as they wait and the joy in seeing their loved ones once again.

And you guess it right I just hate the departure area as much as I love its counterpart. I just dont like the drama that goes with saying goodbye.

But since we’ve been doing the same routine since I was a kid, I’m used to seeing the ladies in my family crying their hearts out. Ok fine.. that's right...drama is in our blood. So I told myself that I'll be the passive observant to all this cry stories....

So I promise myself that I’ll stay UNAFFECTED! I am not so joining the “cry-athlon”

Tears from the testosterone brigade? I didn’t expect this..

Nor this....

This is the last straw....

I said I am not joining the tear brigade.. i didn't succeed.. 
**sigh**

After the all the drama...  coffee and donuts can make life a little bit better... wait, i hate starbucks.. ugh!

Isdaan Restaurant (Calauan, Laguna)

Our family does not believe in "phone reservation" so we have to go there in person to check the menu, reserve a table and pre-order the food...

Ofcourse a little photo op wont hurt...

My long lost twin :))

What's up tita cory?

Only a blind person would miss the resto with the gigantic merman in front.

Isdaan's Facade

Here we go.. eating time.. it's chaos as usual.. ofcourse we wont settle for anything less

Seafood rice

Bulalo

Inihaw na Pusit

Food Platter

Fried Chicken

The girls definitely enjoyed their dinner

So's Kuya Jr.

We got serenaded too....

Time for more pictures :)

The boys...

The kids got face paint for free

and they think they're cute.. lol

Look who we met... Hello Mr. President

Oh... and Michelle's here too...

And batman too.. lol

Time for the kids to get some souveniers

The place is interesting aesthetically. The food not so much. You can get the same amount and quality food (if not better) from the nearby Palaisdaan restaurant at a much cheaper price. The kids had fun, no one got hurt (only my pride), so its all cool!