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April 2009 Archives

SIGHTSEEING by boat in the Hundred Islands in Pangasinan is not enough. If you want to feel nature in this place, it's best to try trekking and kayaking. You can do both in this national park found in Alaminos, Pangasinan.

Our trip to this beautiful place started early in the morning. Didi Camara of Sun and Sea Sports Systems, Inc. gathered people for an eco-tour of the Hundred Islands.

From the sands of Bolo Beach, we passed by a laidback community: I saw a mother bathing her toddler daughter while other kids played with the water pump. We then walked on a narrow bridge made of soil in between fishponds. Good thing the weather was good at that time. It was nice to see the reflection of the blue skies on the water.

We started trekking on a rocky slope. I must admit wearing slippers was not a good idea especially if what you have is not meant for trekking. Fortunately, it survived. But then again, I have to endure minor scratches caused by the sharp rocky floor.

As our team arrived at Camantiles Island, which is two kilometers away from Bolo Beach and located at the Southern side of Alaminos, Camara told us that the area, which could accommodate 50 people, served as a camping site for kayaking enthusiasts and for team building activities.

Val Camara of the Philippine Kayaking Association gave us instructions. Then we put on life vests, hopped into the colorful kayaks and began our nature trip.

Paddling under the summer sun was tiring but the sight of the greenish water, white sands and the blue skies was worth the sweat. As we paddled along, Mae from the Hundred Islands Eco-Tour Association (HIETA) named each island we passed by. The Hundred Islands National Park has actually 123 islands and she memorized all names after eight months of training. She admitted though that there are more unnamed islands.

They usually charged P250 per hour for tourists who wanted to rent a kayak and got members of HIETA to assist them, according to Mae. The most visited islands were the Quezon Island, Governor's Island and Children's Island. Quezon Island, she said, was the most beautiful island.

While we were on our way to the mangrove area, we saw flocks of wild brown ducks. We then paddled through to a century-old cave called Quirino Cave. It has a 27-meter underground stream. As we entered the cave, we saw bats flying around. Under the stream is a rock formation similar to a table top. But no one dared to jump into the water after we were told that sea snakes also live in the water.

As our team got out of the cave, rain began to pour. The rain brought worries to some. Some thought that it might cause strong waves. But our fears were literally doused when we found that it was such as joy kayaking through the rain. Eventually, the rain stopped when we arrived at Shell Island, where our team took a dip into the shallow yet rocky lagoon.

Kayaking a 7-kilometer stretch for almost three hours is an achievement for beginners like me. It might have caused sunburn and aching arms but it was worth communing with nature, especially if you're surrounded by it, literally.

In this episode, guest Master chef Mike Caffrey demonstrates the simple way to prepare the healthy vegetable stack.

Cutud Crucifixion

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By Fung Yu Contributor

Author's Note: This article uses virtual reality technology to provide an immersive experience. Adobe Flash 10 or higher is required to view the 360-degree VRs. Average VR size is 2.5Mb each.

BEING a predominantly Catholic nation, the Philippines is host to 'endless' religious festivals and celebrations. Next to Christmas, the Lenten season, which falls either on March or April, is celebrated throughout the country.

Conventionally, this is a 40-day affair representing the time, according to the Bible, Jesus spent in the desert before the beginning of his public ministry, where he endured temptation by Satan.

The traditional purpose of Lent is to prepare a believer--through prayer, penitence, almsgiving and self-denial--for the annual commemoration during Holy Week of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and concludes on Holy Saturday. The six Sundays in Lent are not counted among the forty days because each Sunday represents a "mini-Easter," a celebration of Jesus' victory over sin and death.

People observe the season by usually reading (or singing) the Passion; fasting or abstinence from eating meat, particularly pork; and on the extreme, self-flagellation and crucifixion.

Although crucifixion rites are performed in many places around the country, nowhere is it more evident than in the small town of Cutud, Pampanga.

A mere two-hour drive north of Manila, the province of Pampanga (its capital being San Fernando City) is located in Central Luzon, it enjoys the distinction of being known as the culinary heart of the Philippines.

The Cutud crucifixion, performed every year on a Good Friday, has now become more of a commercial event that seeks to attract tourists both foreign and local. Anywhere from two to as many as eight persons volunteer to be crucified, both men and women.

Other penitents, with faces covered in thin cloths and wearing a crown of thorns, beat themselves in the back with bamboo sticks tied to a rope as they parade around town. The penitents perform these rites believing it to be for the forgiveness of their sins or as gratitude for prayers answered.

The Catholic Church authority does not endorse crucifixion nor approves of it. Nevertheless, a certain degree of tolerance is granted as being a community "tradition."

All VRs taken on March 21, 2008. Portions of text from wikipedia.org. The author can be reached at: fung@firefly.ph

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