Bicol...More than Escapades

My vacation in Bicol does not end on Good Friday. Hey, there is always an Easter Sunday!

We travelled back the following day to Ate Fei’s house just in time for swimming at Villa Sotto resort at Castilla Sorsogon. This is to celebrate Ate Fei’s birthday with the family. As usual, children enjoy swimming so much with the warm water pool and having a grandeur time with the adults until about 7pm.

We attended mass for Easter Sunday at St Gregory Church Legazpi City. Thank God that the mass celebration is in English. After the mass, Ate Fei and Phine also accompany me to tour around Legazpi city i.e visit the Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine, Gaisano mall and Embarcadero. I will always remember the first time to eat the sili ice cream level 1 and 2 at Colonial Grill. Sili ice cream is good although I would not dare try to finish level 2 as I am really not fond of spicy food. Phine also gave me pili nuts directly from their farm. The Farm is almost an hour trek form the main road and thank God that there is a fresh picked buko to quench our thirst. Her husband harvested almost 40 pili nuts for me take as pasalubong. I have also experienced riding at the back of their Carabao, Sinag. Sinag is pregnant at that time and I softly scream as Sinag sway its tail towards its back.

I have never thought of visiting my checklist on my last day at Bicol because I feel that it is more than what I have planned…

        …new words that I have learned : kagurangnan, tugang, dae, iyo

       …new food that I have tasted : lubi lubi gata, sili ice cream, pili nut ice cream, mazapan, fresh guava juice, kinunot, pinangat

      …new places that I have explored : Hoyop hoyopan cave, the chocolate hills in Albay, Jovellar underground river, Kawa Kawa Hill

       ...new faces I have met and shared happy and memorable moments.

I do not regret staying in Ate Fei’s family with Phine’s family. They are such a sweet, thoughtful, caring, and happy family. I also enjoyed bonding with the children as each of them called me “Ninang”.  

It’s been a full 6 days experience in Bicol, the longest out of town I have experienced so far. It is really more than escapades to share. It is really meeting people, feeling their warmth and hospitality, experiencing their traditions, and tasting the best food of the province. I have not expected much about this long vacation but God has given me another “more” to enjoy. Thank you again Lord for experiencing your blessings thru your wonderful creation and the wonderful people that come my way. ;D

Bicol Holy Week at Daraga, Albay

I and my friend, Phine stayed in Balay De la Rama in Albay for a Holy Thursday and Good Friday reflection at Daraga Church. Daraga Church is just a walking distance to/from Balay Dela Rama but for those who are not used to walking, there are tricycles around that can be hired.

Daraga church offers a vantage point of Mayon Volcano. It is one of the most beautiful churches in the Philippines. 

The church is also known as the Our Lady of the Gate or the church of Nuestra Senora de la Porteria. The construction of this Baroque style building is done with the use of volcanic materials that makes it even more special and unique. To prevent it from regular exposure the outer was coated with lime stone so that the future generation can still see the beautiful facade of the church to save it from further degrading. 

We attend the Holy Thursday mass at 5:30pm with the "Washing of the Feet" until 7:30pm. The only thing that is different now is dialect that is used during the mass as I know little of Bicol dialect and most of the time, I will ask my friend to translate the word I just heard. It is just good to know that no matter what dialect the mass is…it will always be the same. Two words that have been used most of the time and thus retained in my mind…”Kagurangnan” and “Tugang” which means  “Lord” and “Brother/Sister”, respectively.

Good Friday hearing of seven last words, sharing and mass reflection were even more a challenge to me as I really have to “hear” the words or plainly “hear-between-the-lines”. I sometimes hear visayans words I am already familiar with. Although, I cannot fully understand, it is really quite heavenly staying in the church from 12nn because of the heavenly voice I am hearing in between the seven last words.

Good Friday procession follows after the mass and Cross adoration. We can see that there are lots of people, including children, who have joined the procession and more are coming in after the mass. I believe that each barangay is with their Patron image in the carriage joining the procession and they are doing this every Good Friday. People coming from the church are also joining the procession as I and Phine are watching the processions from the small patio of Daraga Church.

I could really feel the devotion from the people’s heart especially those joining the procession. I may have not really fully undertand the sharing of each of the people but I could see their faces and feel their hearts. It was really an intimate and meaningful holy week experience.

 Next...Concluding Bicol Experience ;D

Bicol Escapades...Kawa Kawa Hill Ligao City

Today I remember to finish my blog on my Bicol escapades. I almost forgot to finish but The Mayon volcano is currently erupting as if getting my attention to finish my blog and to share more of my beautiful holy week experience in Bicol.

Ligao City-Kawa Kawa Hill

It is still a day before holy Thursday but we already visited Kawa Kawa HIll at Ligao City right after Jovellar Underground adventure. Visting kawa kawa hill has been a regular experience for Bicolano's specially during holy week. It is also has become a popular religious site because of the unique, life size statues which depict the fourteen (14) Stations of the Cross. Theses stations are arranged at the slope of the hill overlooking Mayon Volcano. The Carmelites Nuns of the Holy Trinity put up the Divine Mercy and a life-size images of the Station of the Cross in the area. Divine Mercy Shrine and Carmelite monastery is already built at the foot of the hill.

Visiting Kawa Kawa hill is like being with Jesus in each of the life size station of the cross. It is actually bigger the the life-size statues. Each station has its corresponding guides of readings and meditations. I remembered that we are still doing the final three stations of the cross during sunset on the summit with the cool, calming wind and where sunset rays flashed towards the station of the cross.

I have never felt really tired going up the 250-meter-high hill neither have I heard the children complaining going up until the last station. Maybe it is also because the hill offers a lush scenery and serene ambiance. When you reach the summit you will be amazed to see a six-hectare crater and also a breathtaking view of Ligao City.

Kawa Kawa Hill is a really a place for prayer and reflection.

We arrived back home at 9pm already having kinunot and pinangat. Next day will be another day as I and Phine will be in Daraga, Albay for a Holy week observance. 

Next...Holy week experience at Daraga, Albay ;D