Dax's Graduation (031813)

Landfill in the Middle of Mt. Makiling

I've been a resident of Los Banos since 1993. I spent my college days at UP Los Banos and fell in love with the town since. I admit  I lose my temper from time to time, but I pay my taxes, I follow the law, I dispose my garbage accordingly and try in my own little ways to be a good citizen. I guess I am an environmentalist by heart.

After week-long dash to meet deadlines and working really hard, I realized that I really need to unwind and take a walk in the woods. I was probably that stressed out so I walked farther than usual. Farther down PCARD-DOST road, I smelled something horrible. Well it buggles the mind, I'm inside a forest-reserve, it is a rain forest and should  smell fresh and nice in there. The first thought that came to mind: dead body, a decaying dead body dumped somewhere in the forest.

And this is what I saw:

Los Banos Landfill along PCARD/DOST Road

A landfill? In the middle of Mt. Makiling? Inside a protective area? Ugh!

Garbage from the landfill are scattered all over; even the creek beside the landfill is actually full of garbage.

Garbage, garbage everywhere and into Mulawin Creek

So one piece of advice to those who like to climb Mt. Makiling VIA PCARD-DOST Road: DONT DO IT!. You'll be disappointed. Take the UPLB route instead.

Puerto Galera

Impromptu vacay...
Ok.. alright.. Puerto Galera.. here I come!!!!!
Yay! 

Me and my cousins...
We are going to paint the town....ok.. we cant paint...

With Clang... at Floating Tiki House
Strong waves.. loud music...lots of laughter.. the works!!!

Chilling at the  Tiki  Floating Bar and Resto
Got really dizzy not sure  if it's the red horse or the waves...

Best warning sign EVER! 

Sunset @ White Beach

Tamaraw Falls

Clang and Ate Raquel.. about to commit suicide.. kidding.. they're about to take a dip...

Our driver was bullied into being our tempo photog....

Clang: Just stand there..
Me: Why?
Clang: I am going take a photo of the falls with you as background...

Breath-taking view... the long drive is all worth it...

The Mangyan Tribe is the indigenous people of Mindoro....  
they've been living in the Island even before the arrival of the Spaniards! They survived! They will probably survived for a long time without any outside intervention. They are tough! They are resilient. I am convinced that if they survive the Spanish colonialism, they would survive everything. Yeah, true. even the zombie apocalypse.. har! har! har!

Clang with the Mangyan kids...

Typical (Modernized) Mangyan house

Mangyan basket design

Me with our Mangyan guide.. talk about multi-tasking... working as guide and baby-sitting..

Mangyan Baskets...

I made a new friend at White Beach..
With her puppy eyes.. its like begging me to feed her
Im a goner..
there goes half of my dinner....

Sunrise @ White Beach....

Ate Raquel and Clang exercising just before eating a huge breakfast....

Last day at White Beach... 

Sigh.. I'll come back again for sure...

There's our boat..
Ok just leave without me..
Go away.. go very, very far away...

Bye Galera!
Sob.. sob... sob..

Vacation's  over...
Some good thing's never lasts....

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.