Chingky Quijano ♥: June 2012

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Guimaras: Guisi Beach and Lighthouse

Included in the tour is this beach and lighthouse. I've read a lot of good reviews about the place and that made me excited to discover and prove what they've said.

It is situated in Brgy. Dolores in the town of Nueva Valencia. 15-20mins away from Alubihod Beach and about 1hr 30mins away from Iloilo City.

While on our way to the lighthouse, medyo sumisilip-silip na ang Guisi Beach!

Our tour guide/driver told us that there were actually 3 lighthouses. I am not sure if any of them still functions.

Lighthouse # 1

Lighthouse #2

This 18th century lighthouse was built during the Spanish-colonial time. It was built to guide mariners passing through Guimaras Island.

We went inside though there is a warning saying it is dangerous to climb up the lighthouse. According to Kuya, okay lang daw as long as wag lang sobrang dami. We went to the top one by one. Ang ganda ng view!!! May kaba-kaba factor pa kasi baka biglang bumigay yung tinatapakan mo. :)

Kuya took this photo from the top of the 18th century old lighthouse

Lighthouse #3

Ruins during the Spanish settlement

After staying and camwhoring in the lighthouse, Kuya finally brought us to the beach! There's a secret passage way to avoid paying the entrance fee of the resorts. Hihi. :)

Trekked to the beach.

The sand may not be as white and fine as other beaches but it is perfect as it is! :)

Panoramic view of the beach. Click the photo for a larger view.

Kuya took this photo! Bongga ang photography skills, infairness! :)

Will try to stay in Guisi beach if I'll have the chance to go to Guimaras again :)

Iloilo - Heart of the Philippines | Iloilo City, Jaro, Molo, Guimbal

Iloilo - Heart of the Philippines | Miagao, San Joaquin

Discover Guimaras!

Next post: Alubihod Beach | Raymen Beach Resort! :)

Chinx♥

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Discover Guimaras!

We just stayed in Iloilo for a day tour and checked out at Ong Bun Pension House early in the morning to leave Iloilo for Guimaras. Same plan goes with Guimaras, we'll have a tour then leave Guimaras for Bacolod the next day but plans were changed. Story to be continued :)

By the way, Guimaras is just 15 minutes away from Iloilo by boat. It is located in between the province of Iloilo and Negros Occidental.

Boat ride from Iloilo to Guimaras.

Fare is Php14

The weather is not stable the night before so our tour guide in Guimaras told us to go to Parola Wharf (Iloilo) and ride a boat to Jordan Wharf (Guimaras) but the original route is Parola Wharf to Buenavista Port and Ortiz Port to Jordan Wharf. Ortiz Port (Iloilo) is closed because of the weather, they said that it is not safe to have that route since the rain is on and off, the waves might be deadly!

Bawal is bawal!!

Wag sanang macontaminate ng ibang mango ang Guimaras mango!

Upon arriving, we saw the Tourism desk. The personnel asked me to sign certain information in behalf of our group then discussed places to go to and resorts to stay in.

A man approached us and knew that it was Kuya Cherald, our Guimaras tour guide/driver. We rented a tricycle for the tour but because the weather is not yet okay, we agreed that we'll just have the multicab and immediately proceeded with the tour.

SMALLEST PLAZA

Jordan, Guimaras

A few minutes right after we jump in the multicab, we just stopped in the middle of nowhere then we saw the large sign board saying we are in the smallest plaza.

It was once declared by the Guinness World Records as the smallest plaza in the world. I'm not sure if they still have the title and if they still, they should have posted a replica of the certificate or any recognition by the Guinness just like what Monfort Bat Cave did in Samal Island. :)

Small statue of Jose Rizal then do a few cart wheels and you'll reach the stage! :))

VIEW OF GUIMARAS ISLAND

Had a nice view of Guimaras island from the town of Jordan. It was cloudy!

SAN MIGUEL PUBLIC MARKET

Went to their public market for some mangoes. It costs Php60 per kilo. For pasalubong, you can buy a box which costs Php50, it can only carry maximum of 4 kilos.

They also have dried mangoes, mango jam and mango piaya.

GUIMARAS TRADE AND INFORMATION CENTER

Pasalubong Center, Provincial Capitol, San Miguel, Jordan, Guimaras

MUSEO DE GUIMARAS

Read blogs before we left Manila which was posted like a year ago and they mentioned that it is under renovation. Tagal magrenovate ah!!

THE PITSTOP RESTAURANT
Chavez Bldg., San Miguel, Jordan, Guimaras

Our tour guide/driver asked us if we want to try mango pizza, we answered yes right away! Only in Guimaras!!

TRAPPIST MONASTERY
5045 Jordan, Guimaras
http://www.ourladyofnewhel fta.com/OLP/

Trappist Monastery is run by monks of the Cistercian Order of the Strict Observance. These monks follow the rule of St. Benedict and are best known for the extreme austerity or strictness that characterizes their discipline.

A monk welcomed us in a smiling face, he asked us if we're tourists visiting their place and where we came from. After some talks, he went inside a small room and went back to us with papers and pens. We then wrote our pray petitions.

Busy writing our petitions

He blessed us and we gave our petitions.

The monastery is also popular because of their gift shop. They sell foods and religious items.

Just beside the outside door of the gift shop, we noticed these tree branches cut in different sizes. I didn't immediately noticed what was special about it until I asked. It has a cross image on the center. Sabi ni ate na nagtitinda, SINUKUAN daw ang name ng puno kung saan nagmula ang mga branch na ito. Kinukuha pa daw nila ito sa bundok. At nagkakaroon lang ng cross image kapag pinutol ang sanga ng Good Friday. Kapag daw ibang araw ng taon, walang cross. At kahit hatiin daw sa gitna yung sanga, may cross talagang lalabas.

The cross image.

They also said that it will keep you from harm and from people who doesn't like you. Parang mapipigilan sila as long as you always have the tree branch with you.

No harm in trying. I have it in my wallet. :)

GUIMARAS MANGO PLANTATION

Ayun oh, nakahilera ang mga mango trees!

It is run by the government.

VIEW OF ILOILO

Decided to eat our Mango Pizza we bought at Pitstop while enjoying the view.

Related posts:
Iloilo - Heart of the Philippines | Iloilo City, Jaro, Molo, Guimbal
Iloilo - Heart of the Philippines | Miagao, San Joaquin

Next post: Guisi beach and lighthouse!!!

Chinx♥

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Iloilo - Heart of the Philippines | Miagao, San Joaquin

To continue our Iloilo tour.. Last in the towns we'll be visiting are Miagao and San Joaquin.

MIAGAO CHURCH

Was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site on 1993. It is one of the few remaining Baroque churches in the country. In baroque-romanesque style, the church sinks six (6) meters deep into the ground with walls one-and-a-half (1 1/2) meters thick and buttresses thrice thicker in size.

Only the construction of the church took 10 years to finish. According to the caretaker/lay minister of the church, during that time, the locals were asked to bring block of stones and eggs as their contribution for the construction of the church.

Amazing carvings on the facade of the church.

Baptistery with Mary's image in Filipiniana.

Image of Mary made of pure wood.

Can you see the image of Sacred Heart?

Meron pa daw ibang image pero di ko na matukoy kung sino at nasaan. :)

With the caretaker/lay minister, Noel.

Then he says: Noel in church means Christmas. Noel in politics means No Election but Noel in Miagao means Nothing Except Love!

(like ko to! win! makagawa nga din ng meaning ng name ko. chos!)

GARIN FARM
Purok 2, San Joaquin, Iloilo
http://www.garinfarm.com/

Entrance fee is Php150.00. No student, senior citizen or children-below-4feet discounts. The other activities such as the use of swimming pool, zipline, horseback riding, kayaking, fishing etc. has its separate payment.

Dahil nashock ako sa entrance fee, I tried to haggle and be extra nice with the lady in the cashier. Haha. Anyway, bawal daw e. So, okay na lang. :)

And as expected, we were welcomed by the vegetables and the farm animals.

Vines plus those hanging vegetables on the way to the pilgrimage

We dropped by the Bahay Kubo surrounded with the vegetables in the song Bahay Kubo, in order! Sing as you pass by each of the vegetable.

After passing through the vegetables and animals, we had a view of their lagoon from above.

Many water activities to choose from!

Swimming pool is just beside the lagoon. Infinity pool ang peg? Hihi.

And the pilgrimage starts...

The Creation

456 steps to the 101 ft. Divine Mercy Cross

The Birth of Christ

The Baptism of Christ at the Jordan River

The Last Supper

The Agony in the Garden

The Scourging at the Pillar

The Crucifixion and Death of Christ

The Resurrection

and the Ascension.

Wow ang view! :)

Ganda lang!

Haggard by those steps but my mind time traveled back to my religion class in elementary and high school.

SAN JOAQUIN CHURCH

Was declared as one of the National Cultural Treasures by the National Historical Institute. The church was built in 1869, under the supervision of the Spanish priest Tomas Santaren. It is made of limestones quarried from the mountains of Igbaras and white coral stones from the shores of San Joaquin.

It is known as the ONLY church in the country with a militaristic facade, incoporating the bas-relief mural Rendicion de Tetuan (The Surrender of Tetouan).