SAN MIGUEL DE MAYUMO

Bahay na Pula ruins in San Ildefonso, Bulacan

The closest province north of Manila is Bulacan. Mention it to local residents and you'd be mildly surprised that it is not the go-to destination for long weekends nor holidays. People only troop to Bulacan for Holy Week for Visita Iglesia or to purchase the usual pyrotechnics for New Year's Eve.  

San Miguel Church

San Miguel de Mayumo is a town on the north-eastern tip with Nueva Ecija and Pampanga on its boundaries. Formerly annexed by the town of Sto. Rosario, San Miguel came into its own as a third class municipality when people started moving into the area. Once an agricultural town, most of the agrarian land have been converted into industrial sites.

Naturally rich in geographical features, its rivers caves and forests serve as a magnet to high profile development attracting multinational corporations to set up operations in the area. Thanks to the residents' political will and determination, strip mining was stopped in the area. The prominent families of San Miguel still manage to keep the town in a quasi pristine state despite efforts to divide the area by then first lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos. It was through her initiative that the Dona Remedios Trinidad municipality was created. Since then, some areas, particularly the Biak-Na-Bato Nature Park have been subdivided and placed under the the jurisdiction of Dona Remedios Trinidad and San Miguel.

Gilbert Dino in the green shirt

Lakad Pamana, organized by Gilbert Dino does local tours of the province of Bulacan. Born and raised in San Miguel and now a resident of Bustos, he makes it a point to bring local tourists to experience what Bulacan has to offer. I wasn't disappointed! All it cost me was a few hours of sleep (due to the early morning drive) and P1,200.00. The van ride, breakfast, lunch and merienda were included. For this round of tours, we visited Biak-Na-Bato Nature Park, Banal na Bundok and Madlum Cave. Prior to that, we walked around the neighborhood appreciating the heritage homes that still survive to this day.

me on the river bank

Breakfast was at this nondescript restaurant called Olive's. Olive herself was on-hand to see to it participants to the walking tour were well-fed with local breakfast fare of either boneless milkfish, barbecued pork or local sausage. I had the garlic longganisa and some garlic rice. From there we had a short ride to Biak-Na-Bato. After a short orientation by the park guides we went straight to the trail.

Pahingahan cave

We first arrived at the Pahingahan cave (where Katipuneros either rested from a long journey to hide in the caverns or to convalesce after having been wounded in the skirmishes with the American forces. For some, and this is apropos, it had become a place of final repose if Trinidad Tecson didn't get to aid them with her healing hands. From that vantage point, one can already see the Aguinaldo cave across the river. 

Aguinaldo Cave

As you go higher up the trail, one ends up in a view deck where a huge gaping mouth of the Paniki cave can be seen. Literally thousands of bats have settled in the cave and they fly out at dusk. you'l know when you reach the viewdeck... the pungent smell of guano wafts up towards the rocks. Since the hanging bridge is in disrepair, we had to trek down to the river floor only to climb up the steps again to the historic rock of Biak-Na-Bato where the urban legend of Bernardo Carpio comes from. According to folk tale, strongman Bernardo used brute strength to prevent the rocks from closing the pathway.

Biak-Na-Bato

Next  down the trail was the "cathedral" when we reached the cave floor through makeshift bamboo walkways. The cavern has crystal clear water running through and it opens up in the other end for a picturesque backdrop. Photo ops were maximized and then we headed back up towards the paved walks to have lunch by the river's edge. After lunch of grilled milkfish and rice we proceeded to Banal na Bundok where a larger than life sized Via Crucis was mounted along a hillside. The top of the 14 stations affords one a magnificent view of Mount Suso'ng Dalaga. Then we descended to the Marian Collection featuring an open air chapel right in the heart of meandering walkways that have strategic stops in images of the Virgin Mary.

Paniki Cave cathedral

The last stop was at Madlum Cave. at least a ten minute drive from the Via Crucis, we reached the Madlum cave area which was at the other end of the cave systems of Biak na Bato. It was obviously popular among young mountaineers and trekkers. They have recreational facilities in the area like a hanging bridges and a monkey bridge where young students cross the river suspended on mere cables. Madlum cave is known as the area where the image of San Miuel was miraculously discovered. Contrary to popular belief, San Miguel de Mayumo was initially named after the town's patriarch, Miguel Pineda who started developing the area for agriculture alongside Mariano Puno of Sto. Rosario. Mayumo is a Pampango word for sweet which was added to the monicker as part of the alliance of the gentlemen. Then the "miraculous" discovery of the image of St. Michael the Archangel on a niche in Madlum cave was deemed enough reason to add the title "San". Ergo, San Miguel de Mayumo was born!

open cavern

We headed back for merienda at the residence of Ms Nats Buencamino whose family name is one of the revered families of the town. There was a refreshing coconut sherbet, empananda with creamy white cheese and pan de Karne (bread done french toast style but with minced meat mixed in). I ate so much merienda, I skipped dinner that evening. I'm trying to squeeze in another visit to San Miguel soon before the rainy season starts. Now, if only my schedule will allow it...

Madlum Cave

*Gilbert Dino organizes various heritage tours to Bulacan. Check out his Fb page Lakad Pamana, or San Miguel de Mayumo. He'll reach out to you if you show interest in his tours. 

** You can view my album on my Fb page. I hope you like them!

40TUDE IS AN ATTITUDE

Finally, I can run the article on this project I've been working on for the better part of 2015... Yes... 2015! you read it right. The play date was set for January 30th, 2016 but like everything else in the performing arts, preparations are made way in advance. So around the first quarter of last year, I was invited to do the costumes by Ms. Nanette Nicerio of Elizabeth Seton School. She took time off from her teaching duties to concentrate on the production as over-all coordinator. By June of 2015, we set out on the initial production meetings and the libretto was set. 

Talent Factory, Inc., pet project of Maestro Jesse Lucas was in charge of over-all production; making sure he held auditions for the cast, did musical arrangements for  dance rehearsals, minus ones for the leads and for hiring support staff and crew for the theater performances. Libretto by Jeoffrey Camanag, Andre Tiangco provided the stage direction for the performers, Gino Gonzalez designed the set. Joseph Mattheu designed the lighting while sir Bodjie was in charge of Technical Direction. Choreographers were Jed Amihan, Joevenelle Palomillo Mallorca, and Lezlie Alberto Dailisan who were with the kids day in and day out teaching them the steps to the specific numbers they were assigned to. I did the costume design.

I gotta hand it to the Founder and Director Emeritus of Elizabeth Seton School, Dr. Josefina V. Suarez for deciding to proceed full out with the production. It's a gargantuan effort to mount a show involving the entire school: students, teacher/trainors, and staff not to mention the production side composed of professionals from theater and the performing arts. Scheduling rehearsals alone takes time away from the regular school calendar so Ms. Nanette made sure the entire process of mounting the show was incorporated into the classes and some of the extra-curricular activities. The students get to perform in the show and learn something in the process, which fits nicely into the mission/vision of Elizabeth Seton School. After all, the school's focus of developing and harnessing the students' multiple intelligence came into play. I'm very certain everyone was awed by the end result.

40TUDE IS AN ATTITUDE absolutely did not disappoint! I would accompany the choreographers to both Main and South campuses to watch them teach and rehearse the students and meet with suppliers for the costumes on occasion. I could see the students' sweaty faces after learning a new dance sequence, hear them singing on the hallway after learning the arrangement of a new chorus. I have seen these kids turn from gangly, clumsy teenagers into accomplished singers and dancers. That was a reward in itself. The bonus was seeing all the proud parents who plunked in their time, effort and money to watch how their kids fared. Gauging their reception at the end of the school hymn, it was obvious they enjoyed the show... a standing ovation, no less!

It's productions like these that validate my work. The first time the kids tried on their costumes they couldn't figure out what to do with them. By the time they got to the blocking rehearsals and  run-throughs at the Theatre at Solaire, they were reveling in delight. Evidence of this was the sarong designed for the tenth grade girls. Timid and shy at first, they couldn't move in the slightly figure hugging sarongs. It was an altogether different story come showtime. It helped, of course, that I spent a session teaching them how to wear and carry themselves with the sarongs. They all looked like beauty pageant contestants. Even the boys in their shiny rainbow-hued costumes looked very masculine in their flowing sarong pants.

Who else would steal the show but the adorable angels? Opening the show were the pre-school kids in their white angel outfits that we enhanced with LED tape lights. each one had their own shiny halo and set of wings. Cuteness overload right there! And then as the grades progressed, we had to give them age-appropriate costumes that fit their respective musical numbers. 1,996 students came out onstage wearing their costumes in their own unique style. I give particular importance to the kids dressed a Filipino comic strip heroes and the indigenous groups in the "Pinoy Ako" number. But to be honest, I liked dressing up all of them... They got to understand that the costumes are just extensions of their individual performance. You're only as good as your last performance! Props, costumes, sets and lights must be used to a performer's great advantage.

Lastly, I would like to pay homage to the faculty and staff of Elizabeth Seton School whose time and effort (and maybe even patience) we've stretched to breaking point. Additional work hours, copious research, frayed nerves and post production liquidation are all very much a part of a successful production. Thank you to Ms Nanette Nicerio, Ms Ruby Maniego, Ms Larcey of Seton South, Ms Beth, Dr Bob, Mr. and Mrs. Ollano, and some teacher trainors whose names I could not (for the life of me) recall.

40TUDE IS AN ATTITUDE was a rush!

WORKING BACKWARDS 3 (GK ENCHANTED FARM)

Scale model of GK Main Hall

Marco Vincent Dive Resort in Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro brings over dive groups from all over. And why shouldn't they? Puerto Galera is quite near the Verde Island Passage which is the center of the center of endemicity in the world. 

lobby installation art

But Marco Vincent Dive Resort not only shows our best dive sites to visitors, they give them a complete Philippine experience by  giving the guests a "surf and turf" experience. They provide the guests a glimpse of Philippine culture along with the beauty of our oceans aquatic wealth and beauty.

guests at the activity center/theater

On this visit by scuba photographers and divers from the United States of America, the dive resort also brought them to Intramuros and to Pandi, Bulacan to immerse themselves in Gawad Kalinga's Enchanted Farm. And this is where all the fun begins. They had this group of men and women ranging in age from late forties to mid sixties all of whom are accomplished (licensed) divers and underwater photogs.

Our Gawad Kalinga guide

 Gawad Kalinga, as we all know, is Tony Meloto's pet project to empower impoverished communities. It is also a platform to train university students to work in [artnership with communities to uplift the lives of the poor and to train them to become leaders. So aside from Filipino students who do volunteer work for Gawad Kalinga, it is not unlikely to see foreign teenagers learning the ins and outs of organic farming or making preserves from farm produce. Some are trained in mushroom culture, salted egg or plush toy production. and from there, these kids become small to medium entrepreneurs in partnership with these communities they work with. So the partnership is symbiotic in that both entrepreneur and community are able to earn and develop into a better working relationship. 

Orientation at the Main Hall sponsored by Hyundai

The time we visited, we were welcomed warmly by some of the volunteers and ushered into the main hall to view an audio visual presentation of the Enchanted Farm history and background. After which we went around exploring the areas of productivity like the salted egg factory, the plush toy making area, spa, rice paddies and the organic farm. The visitors were impressed with the zeal and eagerness of these kids who were around the same age as their children. 

Bamboo Palace

Lunch was served at the mess hall where organic food was served. Volunteers were present in food preparation and in the food service while at the far end were a group of kids in the middle of labeling bottles of jams and all sorts of preserves for distribution to organic markets and outlets of Gawad Kalinga. 

Plush toy factory visit

salted egg factory

The guests were visibly impressed at what they saw and before we departed for Manila, we dropped by the souvenir shop where they purchased locally made purses and some cheese produced on the farm. I myself got a bottle of massage oil and liniment from their signature brand... Human Nature.

GK farmlands

The guests were dropped off at the hotel where they had a good night's rest before they sailed off for Puerto Galera the next day... I so look forward to the next group of divers Marco Vincent is bringing in this March... 

DTI sponsored Bamboo Palace

EPIC APEC (WORKING BACKWARDS 2)

the APEC guides with Ms Beth of DFA

It was a distinct privilege to have served the country in the much ballyhooed Asia Pacific Economic Conference (APEC) that culminated on the 19th of November 2015.

Group briefing at Plaza Armas

A group of accredited tour guides from various groups were tapped by the Department of Tourism in cooperation with the Department of Foreign Affairs to guide for the delegates from different countries. 

Guiding for  staff ofthe different economie

In preparation for the main conference, dry-runs were conducted prior to APEC week. The organizing committee wanted to make sure that everything runs smoothly on the week of the main event. Eventually, the itinerary was tweaked to ease out the kinks after the dry-runs were completed. Sites were added, deleted or changed depending on the requirements met to impress the delegates and the First Ladies accompanying their husbands.

Yael and myself at the fort

Contrary to popular belief, those involved in the side events were not ccorded special privileges. Yes, we had to brave the same kind of traffic jams most Filipinos experienced prior to and on the week of. As a matter of fact, from a meeting at Marriott hotel at 4 p.m., I reached my home at 12 midnight. On another occasion, after having guided the Russian ambassador, Prime Minister and Trade Minister from Antonio's in Tagaytay, I had to walk from the City of Dreams all to way to Evangelista Street in Makati City before i was able to hail a cab to get home... and be ready for a 7 a.m. call the next day.

Antonio's  dining hall

The high point of the guided tours was a Luncheon for the First Ladies hosted by the presidential sisters: Balsy, Pinky, Viel and Kris. A mini presentation of native dances in a wedding setting was held at the Plaza Armas in Fort Santiago. A photo op of the First Ladies was held for media as well.

Wedding tableau at Plaza Armas

After that, the entourage was led to waiting tranvias and brought to San Agustin church for a mini concerto of musica sacra and then to Casa Manila for vignettes of Philippine lifestyle. Then they were ushered to the Ayuntamiento for a special menu of Filipino food.

Ayuntamiento Marble Hall with advance parties of different economies

As a gesture of thanks, we were treated to a luncheon at Nine Spoons at the Bayleaf Hotel by the DOT committee for a job well done!

The Guides with DOT officials

PAWIKAN FESTIVAL (WORKING BACKWARDS)

Pawikan Festival participants

Now that it's Christmas, I get the much needed relaxation time I've been longing for in weeks. And so, it's apropos to catch up on my much delayed blog entries. I have tried to post as regularly as I can but the hectic pace of my work just won't afford me the few precious minutes to compose my blog stories. So permit me to work my way backwards and try to recall the assignments I have taken on.

opening ceremonies by the governor of  Bataan

PAWIKAN  FESTIVAL

In performance

I was honored to have been invited to a seminar/workshop on production design conducted by the Bataan Tourism office last year. The training module was organized by Nilo San Agustin of the Department of Tourism. Invited as SME's (subject matter experts) were: Renato del Rosario for Music, Armando Sta. Ana for Stage Direction, Nonoy Froilan for Choreography and myself for Production Design.

Filipiniana costume

The objective of the workshop was for us to impart our knowledge to representatives of thirteen Bataan municipalities who all participate in the yearly Pawikan Festival. Pawikan is a Filipino term for turtle. Olive Riddley turtles to be exact! There was a whole gamut of activities lined up for the festival. Included in the roster of events were beach volley, on the spot painting competition, installation art from recycled materials, the street dancing competition and the obligatory releasing of turtle hatchlings into the west Philippine sea.

Pawikans in the wings

The long stretch of beach in Morong, Bataan is a nesting ground for turtles. The Municipality of Morong has undertaken the gargantuan task of protecting these turtles from poachers and has built a festival around it. This is in line with their advocacy of educating  the majority in the aspect of environmental awareness and protectionism for endangered sea turtles.

billowing skirts

The Pawikan Conservation Facility in Morong gathers and protects turtle eggs laid on the shoreline and incubates these turtle eggs until they are mature enough for eventual release into the wild. At times, they are also able to rescue turtles caught in fish nets and stranded on the shore. These mature turtles, on the other hand are nursed back to health before they are released into the deep blue.

men's ensemble

Unfortunately, when we were invited for the seminar last year, the festival had just ended. We were not able to witness how the street dancing competition was conducted. This year, having been invited as judges for the street dancing competition, I was quite happy to see that our inputs on production design and choreography were incorporated into the dance presentations. the beach front came alive with contingents from the municipalities of Bataan.

little hatchlings

Each contingent had forty participants outfitted as dancers, plus a few more who were in the production team as set riggers and  production assistants. It was a day long event highlighting the importance of saving the ecological balance, protecting the endangered sea turtle and of course, promoting Bataan as a natural sanctuary of riddley turtles, whose numbers have been steadily dwindling over the years until Morong's authority took action.

impressive backdrop

The poachers were kept at bay, the riddley turtles returned and are starting to multiply again, the local residents have increased their means of livelihood and Bataan's reputation and tourism draw has been enhanced. Judging by the pictures, it would be safe to say that everyone had a grand time. I hope to be back again next year to see how the Pawikan Festival continues to evolve.

Turtles galore