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 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

The Beautiful “Magayon” … Bicol Escapades

This is Mount Mayon view as I arrived at Legazpi City Airport

Mount Mayon or Mayon Volcano. The Local folklore refers to the volcano being named after the legendary princess-heroine Daragang Mayon (English: Beautiful Lady). The cone is considered the world's most perfectly formed volcano for its symmetry, which was formed through layers of lava flows and pyroclastic surges from past eruptions and erosion erupting over 49 times in the past 400 years. It stands majestically at 2,462 meters and is geographically shared by the eight cities and mucipalities of Legazpi, Daraga, Camalig, Guinobatan, Ligao, Tabaco, Malilipot and Santo Domingo. 

Astonished by its majestic shape, will fear conquer me by just being alone in this trip? Nope! In fact I was just alone in my airplane trip but not my whole time in Bicol. I planned this trip since last year and of course with all the must “see”, must “experience”, must “eat”, must “buy”, and must “do”. I can never imagine doing all these just by being alone but at least with my long lost best friend, who is now residing in Bicol together with her family and almost near to her sister.

Excitement overflows as it is my first time to be in Bicol area also knowing that I will be with Phine and family for almost a week of stay. It will also be my first to personally meet all of her children and Ate Fei’s children too…well, except my god children with them. It will also be a different “holy week” as this will also be my first to observe and join lenten activities in a province.

They picked me up at Legazpi airport by 7am. We hugged as if time nor distance has never passed between us. We have so many stories to tell and I know that a day is never enough to compensate the lost time. They have already in mind where they would tour me that day but I just have one wish that I would not let pass…to visit the a church in Legazpi before any tour of the day.

St Rafael Church is only three (3) kilometers east of Legazpi Airport in front of Plaza Rizal, Legazpi City. Just a short visit to thank God for the safe trip and wonderful memories and meaningful holy week that will be set me on this province.  

This what struck me in this church...with a message of comfort...

 After our church visit, we then went straight to Cagsawa Church Ruins.  

CAGSAWA CHURCH RUINS 

For almost two centuries the Cagsawa Ruins has stood as a symbol of Bicol region’s impressive landscape, rich history and the people’s strength and resiliency to face and to rise from the ravages of Mother Nature. The 1814 eruption was recorded to be worst eruption of Mt. Mayon. Some 1,200 people who took refuge and sought the sanctuary of the church during the eruption all died when the church was engulfed by the flowing lava.

I will never forget the great shots we have here with my friend. We are playing with the camera phone thru the great hands of the tourist photographer in Cagsawa. He instructed us a lot of poses that will capture the moment and of course, the beauty of Mt Mayon and the Church.  For just a minimal tip for taking our pictures thru my camera…we already have these historical shots.

the wonder woman jumpshot!

what a great camera trick! amazing shots!

We also briefly visit Daraga Church just before we went to Ate Fei’s home, where I will stay for the rest of my holy week vacation. Thanks to you and your family goodness ate Fei!

More stories of Bicol in next blog…"Bicol Escapades...the Tour Day" ;D