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*Me, sitting at Greenbelt Park enjoying my afternoon latte while Sofia, Akihiro and Morgan are shopping to death…* You liked this post? - Subscribe to BISEAN.
The Bamboo Organ isn’t just something with a whimsical name – it’s a real musical instrument that can actually be played! The annual International Bamboo Organ Festival is held here every February. International organists and musicians come to the Philippines to get the chance to play (or at least hear) the world’s only Bamboo organ.
The Bamboo Organ can be found inside St. Joseph Parish Church in the center of Las Piñas City. The church itself is equally historic. It was first built in the 1700s, destroyed by an earthquake, and was rebuilt again in 1819. Its beautiful baroque-style architecture gives the place an almost melancholic feel to it. The sound of the Bamboo organ liven everything up, as we were told.
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YOU ARE NOT GONNA BELIEVE THIS! The chopper came at 9am, brought us to an airbase and took a 6-seater plane to Legazpi City in Albay province -- all because I’m a sucker for volcanoes! Woohoo! I think our hosts are enjoying watching me and my friends -- jump up and down like little kids upon seeing what appears to be a quiet mountain that could explode anytime. LOL!
Mayon Volcano is one of the most picturesque of all the volcanoes in the world. Its perfect cone-shape appears menacing since it really looks like a volcano (unlike the ones in Camiguin) -- And at the same time almost hypnotic as you stare at its powerful presence. Akihiro was like: “It kinda looks like Mt. Fuji without the ice caps” and I was like: “Are you kidding?” Pffft!
Legend has it that once there was a beautiful girl named “Magayon” – meaning “beautiful” in local dialect. She fell in love with a handsome man from a rival tribe. *don’t we all?* Their families did everything to separate the lovers so the 2 made a run for it. As a result, a bloody war broke between the rival tribes; Magayon and her lover felt guilty about it – *oh you betcha!* so they chose to kill themselves to be together for all eternity. When their families found their bodies, they were buried in separate places. After a few months, a volcano grew on the same spot where Magayon was buried. And it was named “Mayon” after Magayon. *Awww, Filipinos do love their love stories, don’t they?* WAIT, I thought “magayon” means “that’s swollen”? Nah! Forget it.
We spent most of our time in the air hovering around the volcano because this is what we came here for anyway – not to mention the time constraint of this unscheduled trip. This region is called Bicol – known for its distinct spicy food and nuts. We landed briefly on an airfield around 3pm and after 15 minutes -- we were in the air again heading back to the base. The chopper was waiting for us when we arrived to take us back to Tagaytay City.
Early this morning, we were driven 60km south from Manila to Tagaytay City in a nearby province called Batangas. Our hosts have a vacation house here and guess what? – Over looking the world-famous “volcano-within-a-lake-within-a-volcano-within-a-lake”. The one in the center is also (apparently) the world’s smallest volcano at 406m high. My mind gets almost numb thinking about it...
Taal Volcano last erupted 30 years ago in 1977, fortunately nobody died. But looking at the surrounding areas, why are there so many houses around? Aren’t they afraid living this close to danger? We were also told that real estates here are one of the most expensive in the Philippines -- But who can blame them? The view is to die for!
A local said that if the volcano is completely covered with clouds and fog and you really wanna see it – you have to yell out to “Maria-something” *I don’t remember the full name, sorry -- I'll edit this later* and ask her to clear the clouds. She is apparently a goddess watching over the volcano. But the day was clear! – so, no point of yelling out to her, is there? You liked this post? - Subscribe to BISEAN.
I noticed there are lots of roadside stalls selling fruits, fresh produce and souvenirs on our way to Tagaytay City earlier -- these are very important to Filipino culture. They call it “pasalubong”, meaning; when you are coming from a faraway place, you have to bring something back for the people who would (possibly) welcome you. You liked this post? - Subscribe to BISEAN.
Tuesday, our 3rd day -- I’m beginning to think this Manila trip is pre-empted. I mean, we can’t go out on our own. We have schedules to go here and there, visit this and that and we are always driven home early! I really wish they would lend us a car to go around without a chauffeur. So, we planned to break our way out! Ha! You liked this post? - Subscribe to BISEAN.
In the recent situation of our neighbors in Burma, we get news from networks a day late. Journalists has to risk their lives smuggling footage or information and most of the time, the reports are censored by the repressive Burmese military government before being aired. You liked this post? - Subscribe to BISEAN.
