How far can Bubbles go?

February 24, 2013      Ryan and I both love history, so we made a side trip to Capas National Shrine after our trip to Mt. Pinatubo.  We even convinced my friends to follow us there.  As what they said “Humi-history na naman kami.” :D      The Capas National Shrine is located in Brgy. O’ Donnell, Capas, Tarlac.  This is the area where the Bataan Death March ended.  An obelisk was built here as a reminder of the Filipino and American soldiers who perished in Death March during the World War II.  A black wall surrounding the obelisk shows the engraved names of the Filipinos and Americans who died in this location, the statistics of the total number of prisoners and deaths, and the poems for peace.       You can also see the box car that used to transport Filipino and American prisoners.  About fifty to sixty men were forced into this car by Japanese soldiers during the intense summer heat of April.  There was no enough ventilation that causes the men to get suffocated. 

February 24, 2013      On our way to Mt. Pinatubo, we dropped by at the Capas Death March Monument which marks the World War II concentration camp.  The monument depicts the heroism of the Filipino and American soldiers, while the other part shows the cruelty of the Japanese.       The park can be a nice and quiet place for recreational area, but is not well maintained by the government.  I wish they do something to revive the park.              

Travel Date: February 24, 2013       When I was just a little girl, I remembered how the Mount Pinatubo erupted in 1991 during the rainy days of June.  It was known as a sleeping giant that awakens after centuries of being dormant.  The eruption was so strong that we even received an ash fall in Alaminos, Pangasinan.  I will not elaborate how much destruction it created.  But today, its crater is a beautiful lake to behold.  A popular tourist destination, not to be missed by an adventure seeker like us.      From Angeles City, we drove for an hour to reach Sta. Juliana, Capas, Tarlac.  Upon reaching the town, we registered and paid at the Tourism Office for our 4x4 ride and tour guide.  We were supposed to meet fellow couch surfers during that time, but they arrived earlier than us.      So we moved on with our trip, riding the 4x4 jeep.  The ride was so bumpy that you need to hold on tight.  You can’t even sleep because you might bump your head on the metal railings fro

Travel Date: February 23, 2013      My first time to watch this popular yearly event in Clark!  And it was on my birthday with my boyfriend and close friends.       Thanks to couchsurfing.org!  I received 3 tickets from couch surfer who cancelled her trip to Clark.  So the free tickets were birthday gift from her and I’m really grateful for that.  I’m very lucky when it comes to getting free tickets.  :)       We arrived at the event as early as 5:30 AM and waited patiently for the hot air balloon flight.  Viola!  The take off of balloons were so beautiful and colorful.  It comes in different shapes, colors, and designs.       Some of the exciting activities were paragliding, sky diving, Breitling Jet Team aerobatic exhibition and aircraft precision show.  You can also do kite flying.        Afternoon activities were quite boring, so we went back to the hotel to rest and came back later in the evening to watch the ballooning and had our supper there.      It

Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City      After we visited the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, we drove all the way to Cemetery of the Heroes or Libingan ng mga Bayani.  It was just 5 minutes away.  As I remember, if I’m not wrong, there is no fee entering this cemetery.  You can even drive inside the cemetery because the area is so big and you will get tired from walking around.       This cemetery was first established on May 1947 as Republic Memorial Cemetery and was later changed to its current name on October 27, 1954 by President Magsaysay.  It is the final resting place for Filipino military personnel, heroes, martyrs, Philippine presidents, defenders of Bataan and Corregidor, and the battlefields of the Allied Liberation of the Philippines during World War II.  There is also the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.      However, those who were dishonored, discharged from service, and convicted of an offense pertaining to moral turpitude are not allowed to be buried here.

Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City      War memorials are not my thing.  But the moment my boyfriend brought me here, I find it really interesting to walk around.  Here you can find the names of the fallen soldiers of the United States of America and the Filipino soldiers inscribed on Travertine limestone walls.  They were the ones who died in New Guinea and during the Battle of the Philippines (1941-42).  The grass is beautifully maintained and the headstones which are made of marble are neatly aligned in eleven plots and in circular pattern.   Among the four rooms are the 25 huge mosaic maps that recall the actions of the USA around the Pacific, China, Burma and India.       The cemetery is open daily to the public from 9AM to 5PM except during December 25 and January 1.  You can also ask for their staff member assistance in case you want some escort to the memorial sites. One of the mosaic maps

     One of my favorite historic districts in Manila!  I will never get tired of it no matter how many times I walk the walled city of Intramuros.  My love for ruins, fortresses, and anything that have to do with history made me visit this place a number of times.  It was built by the Spaniards on the late 16 th century to protect the city from foreign invasion.  But some of the walls were heavily damaged during the World War II and reconstructed in 1951 when Intramuros was declared a National Historical Monument.      Inside the walls, I highly recommend to visit Manila Cathedral, San Agustin Church, Baluarte de San Diego, Casa Manila which is an example of Bahay na Bato architecture, and Fort Santiago.  Also, don't forget to photo the Palacio del Gobernador and the Ayuntamiento.  You can also walk on top of the walls. On top of the Baluarte de San Lorenzo Reducto de San Pedro Cobblestone Road Manila Cathedral was reconstructed in 1950s.  San