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.

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CLARK FIELD, Pampanga–Aside from the grand spectacle of seeing gigantic floating balloons dotting the sky, this year’s Hot Air Balloon Fiesta also aims to promote aviation as a career.

Twenty-five hot air balloons of different shapes and sizes took off this morning here for the opening of this four-day event.

These balloons were flown into the country by cargo firm UPS from participant countries including Hungary, Germany, Switzerland, France, United States of America, United Kingdom, Japan, New Zealand, Thailand, Netherlands and Malaysia.

Touted as the country’s biggest aviation event, the event also includes skydiving, paragliding and kite-flying exhibitions by military and privately-run flying clubs.

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By Anna Valmero
INQUIRER.net

Why is duman an expensive rice delicacy?

One pati equivalent to 1.8 kilogram of the very young grain of duman sells for P2,500 or $40. To know about the process of duman making and the state of this industry, we trooped to Sta. Rita, Pampanga.

Pampanga provincial tourism officer Ian Mejia said the existence of the duman-making tradition dates back to pre-Hispanic Kapampangan society.

He said Friar Diego Bernardo has mentioned duman in “Vocabulario de Lengua Pampanga” published in 1700.

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WHO says everyone wants to be fair-skinned?

Every second week of January, Kalibonhons and tourists paint their skins black to become part of the Ati-Atihan Festival. In our recent visit, my colleague Alex Villafania and I had the chance of getting our skin blackened and dress up like an “Ati.”

Dressing up like an Ati was not easy. As early as 4 o’clock in the morning, we braved the cold weather in Kalibo and went to Lucas, also known as “Tatay Oca” Cristobal’s house. Tatay Oca, the leader of the Morongga tribe, welcomed us in their home, where members of the tribe, mostly teenagers, were already eating breakfast.

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By Anna Valmero
INQUIRER.net

THE streets of Ayala Avenue and Paseo de Roxas at the Makati Central Business District (CBD) burst into a sea of colors during the 2009 Caracol festival on January 17.

Hundreds of students from Makati City schools and university clad in nature-inspired costumes joined the Caracol parade, which started at about 4 p.m. and the competition at around 5:30 p.m.

Like in 2005, the students convened at the Gabriela Silang carpark on Ayala and Makati avenues at 3 p.m.

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By Anna Valmero
INQUIRER.net

IS it possible to find in the Philippines a church like Vatican’s Sistine Chapel?

Yes. In the town of Guagua in Pampanga, one can find Betis Church.

Inside the Baroque-inspired church, one can be transported back in time by the ceiling paintings and wall murals that are comparable to the frescos of Sistine Chapel’s ceiling done by Renaissance masters.

Standing at the nave of the church, one can see the ceilings, walls and the retablo styled with paintings and murals of the Holy Family, selected scenes from the bible, Catholic saints and cherubs.

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IN the darkness of the sky, the fireworks twinkle like stars and fall like meteor showers. It gives celebrations a bang. But did you know how fireworks are made or where it was first created in the Philippines?

In a quest for the pioneer in large-scale production of fireworks, I’ve walked in the middle of the fields, crossed barbed wires and found the “Super Lolo” of Sta. Maria, Bulacan. I found Arcadio “Ka-Adiong” Sta. Ana in a fireworks factory called Viva Pyrotechnics.

Sta. Ana, now 69 years old, recalls how his grandfather Valentin Sta. Ana learned fireworks manufacturing from a Spanish priest in Sta. Maria.

According to him, the priest used skyrockets, also known as “kwitis,” as substitute to Church bells. It was the priest’s way of waking up the people for the Simbang Gabi.

However, Sta. Ana says his grandfather did not pursue the fireworks business due to restrictions during the American period.

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We need not go far in our search for the famous higantes of Angono. They were right there along the highway, all lined up and raring to fiesta.

The Higantes Festival dates back to the 1800s when the people of Angono created these giant effigies meant as caricatures in protest of tyrannical Spanish landlords (Angono was a Spanish hacienda during those times).

The art of higante-making has become an age-old tradition in Angono. In fact, the artists have formed a collective called HIMAS (or Higante Makers Sculptors Society), or literally meaning “to caress”, in reference to how they use their hands when creating these huge paper maches.

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By Anna Valmero
INQUIRER.net

TAGUIG CITY, Philippines — Soldiers don’t die, they just fade away.

At the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Fort Bonifacio, this rings true. In the Philippines, deceased personnel who has brought honor and has served the country were interred at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in recognition of their faithful and dedicated service.

Under Proclamation 208 under late president Ferdinand Marcos, a total of 142 hectares were reserved from the Fort Bonifacio Military Reservation for National Shrine purposes.

By virtue of AFP Regulation 161-375, government dignitaries, statesmen, national artists and scientists, former presidents, chief of staff and widow of the last two categories can be interred at the cemetery. At present, it is under the administration and maintenance of the Grave Services Unit (GSU), a unit of the Army Support Command, Philippine Army (ASCOM PA).

A total of 45,680 remains were interred in the cemetery at Fort Bonifacio, said Laine Barbosa, database programmer of GSU, ASCOM PA.

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My Saturday afternoon in San Francisco turned out to be interesting.

Arriving around lunch time September 20 (Pacific time), I decided to take the train instead of the more expensive taxi from the airport to the Grand Hyatt hotel. Several minutes later, I emerged in the Powell St. Station, which is three to four blocks from the Union Square. Placards saying,” No to Scientology” greeted me, as I exited toward Powell St.

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