When we received a message that on April 13, 2018, my niece Arianne is turning 18, I knew that I am going back to the place where I consider my real home. That place is my beloved province of Batangas. I don’t know what this place had done with me but I fell into it’s charm. I still remember that I used to hate going to province when I was a little boy because Batangas is not as progressive and stunningly beautiful place to visit way back. It was the typical province where you can see lots of greens, old ancestral houses and there are no telcos, electricity to some areas and no malls or establishments that you see today, especially in Lipa City, my mother’s hometown. But what impressed me more was that my fellow batangueños managed to balance the progress and maintaining the traditional looks of my beloved home. Yes! Batangas is my home even though I reside in Parañaque, I embraced my ancestor’s bloodline and consider myself a proud Batangueño.
Since I started blogging, I thought of making a special article on my province and my adventures in the place whenever I went there for vacation. Everyone knows how to go there but since I reside in Parañaque, my first step is to ride a jeepney from Parañaque going to Sucat interchange where I can avail a bus heading to Alabang.
Upon reaching Alabang, the bus will stop at the South Station Bus Terminal and from there we can avail a bus heading straight to SM Lipa terminal. You can either choose to travel the Calabarzon Highway or the old highway where you have to pass through Sto. Tomas, Tanauan, Malvar before reaching Lipa. But I take the first route coz it’s much more convenient and less traffic. I would reach Lipa in less than hour if there’s no traffic. Even when I am going to Cuenca, which is my dad’s ancestral home, I would prefer the first route.
Alabang South Station Bus Terminal
Buses going to Batangas are waiting for you…
A view of the Mt. Makiling while we were on the Star Tollway Road
Feeling goofy while travelling
The South Star Tollway, the easiest path heading to Batangas.
So upon getting to the SM Lipa Bus Terminal, you can drop by to the mall at first if you feel hungry coz there are lots of fastfood chains or food court delicacies if you’re tired of the taste of fastfood. But I would grab a coffee from our version of Starbucks, Café de Lipa. They serve what we call “Kapeng Barako” or simply Strong Coffee. But as the video blog of Mikey Bustos said, why is it called strong if it’s barako or matapang? Should it be that the right term is “Brave coffee.” Hehehehe!! Kidding aside. I am highly recommending Café de Lipa for you to have a taste of our native coffee which is freshly brewed.
Cafe de Lipa at SM Lipa City
Our Kapeng Barako, one of Batangas products you can enjoy
Our very hospitable and hear warming baristas of Cafe de Lipa
When we finally reach our destination, my Tita Lilia’s house, we immediately reacquaint ourselves with our kin. Tita Loring is there, together with her grandchildren. I am always fond of seeing my mom reunited with her two sisters. We always call them “Tres Marias” “Three Marias” or “Tatlong Maria.” Nothing seems to break these trio apart whenever they see each other. And I want my mom also to bond with her sisters and brothers, as well. I can already see myself and my sisters through them when the day comes we reach that age.
My mom in the middle together with her two sisters, Tita Loring who’s standing next to her and Tita Lilia who’s sitting beside her.
But of course, they’re not the only family we have here. This is supposed to be a family reunion due to my niece’s 18th birthday so this would be one big get together of the Silva Clan. So I got to meet my relatives, like the Trio Los Panchos of our family, Uncles Dante Silva, Benny Silva and Lorenzo “Lando” Silva who were musicians til now, though Uncle Lando stopped due to his health condition, but still he practice whenever he had time.
Our very own Trio Los Panchos, Uncle Dante ( wearing Green) the lead guitarist, Uncle Lando (wearing white) the rhythm guitars and Uncle Benny (wearing polo shirt) the bassist.
Added to that are my cousins, my niece, Arianne who celebrated her 18th birthday whom I had a lot of things in common, she’s an artist like me though her skills are more in photography, my cousins and other uncles like Ninong Vic and Ninong Pepe or Pepz as I prefer to call him. Ninong Pepz is kind of the closest to me. He’s like my best buddy.
Me and the women in my life, my mom and two titas
My mom, tita lilia and my nuaghty nephew Lhex
Me and my buddy Ninong Pepz
Me and my mom at the party
Dancing with my niece who celebrated her 18th birthday, Ariane
Sitting with my relatives
So far, this is the best homecoming I’ve ever experienced this last week and I am coming back for more reunions with my kin on my mom’s side. Not to mention the upcoming reunion too with my kin on my dad’s side this coming May.
What I always miss whenever I am here in Batangas, whether I am here in Lipa or Cuenca, is the food or delicacies that I can only find here. One of them is the Tamales which is kind of different here in my area, both in Lipa or Cuenca. Other tamales I find have salty eggs and bits of chicken in it while here, it’s just palin sticky rice with sweet coconut sauce and latik. I remember Lola Biring in Dita, Cuenca, Batangas. She’s one of the best makers of Tamales and during fiesta in Dita, I make it sure that we visit her home just to taste her delicious Tamales. Come to think of it, At the end of May, it’s fiesta there. Hehehe. Something I look forward to.
And there’s another delicacy which I had on breakfast, SUMAN, another delicacy made out of sticky rice or malagkit. There are many different types of suman but I still prefer the one here in my area, not because this is my hometown product but the taste is luscious. Other sumans have no sweetness and you have to pair it with ripe mango just to be sweet but our suman doesn’t have to. Eat it alone is already satisfying and even if you store it for days, all you have to do is to fry it and it is still one sumptuous snack to feast with.
It’s so delicious, I can’t get enough of it.
Suman with Tamales for dinner
If you happen to crave for something that would warm your belly, try our Gotong Batangas, Lomi or Bulalo. There are lots of Gotong batangas served in public markets. Our goto is different also in Metro Manila. In the Metro, goto is what we call “Lugaw” or porridge or congee in Chinese but here in Batangas, it is made of beef broth from cow’s tongue. At first, I don’t want to taste it because of the eeriness of the ingredients but lately, I loved how it can be a viand with rice. But be careful, you’ll need lots of extra rice on this and you might get diabetic due to lots of extra rice meals. Lomi, on the other hand is noodles in a sticky broth with egg and sometimes with bits of meat and crispy pig skin or chicharon. Depending on the area, it has many variations but I would recommend it whenever you visit. It’s very filling. There’s also Bulalo which can be served in markets as well and special restos but I warn you, if you have hypertension, I would recommend that you take precautions when having this dish. The content of fat on the bone of the cow is high in cholesterol and it will elevate your blood pressure. But it is still one of the best dishes. Sinaing na tulingan, a kind of fish delicacy that you can only find here in Batangas. It is cooked with an ingredient we call kamias and wrapped in banana leaf. It’s sauce is very tasty and perfect for lunch or dinner. You can also try our Tawilis and maliputo which is native to Taal Lake. The best way to eat tawilis is by frying it to the crisp. But I tasted a dish where tawilis is cooked with kamias and I love the taste of it. I wish I could get back to my ninong’s place in Calumayin to have that dish again.
Of course, there are other delicacies that you can buy for pasalubongs for your loved ones back in Metro Manila. We also have Panutsa, a kind of peanut brittle; Espasol, another delicacy from sticky rice covered in rice powder; although you can find Puto anywhere, our puto is kind of different because it can last longer than the usual puto we see. It has a taste that distinguishes it’s difference from the usual puto we see in Metro Manila. We also have Carioca, which is like sticky rice balls on a barbecue stick. You have to try it. I almost forgot the Kalamay which is made out of coconut and brown sugar. It is one of my favorites.
Fresh tawilis from Taal Lake
These and a lot more you can find here in Batangas. And by the way, there are food terms here that are kind of different in Metro Manila. For example, the usual Banana Q as we call it in Metro, we Batanguenos call it Sundot-Saging. The Turon which is kind of lumpia filled with bananas and langka or jackfruit strips is referred here as Sagimis. I remember when my younger sister heard someone calling out this term, she thought it was “Saging, Miss?” She thought the vendor was offering her bananas but she didn’t know it was turon she was selling. Hehehehe.
So if you happen to drop by to Lipa Market or any public markets in a certain area of Batangas like Cuenca or Sto. Tomas, be sure to check out one of these and I am sure, you will come back for more.
REMEMBERING OUR FAITHFULLY DEPARTED
For the first time, I had the irresistible desire to pay my Lolo and Lola from my mom’s side a visit even if it’s not All Saint’s Day or All Soul’s Day. Since having a limited budget due to financial problems, we cannot regularly visit our departed loved ones in the province often so having this chance, I decided to pay the graveyard of my beloved grandparents a visit, especially my lolo whom I didn’t get to know more because he died before I was born.
I travelled by walking due to my budget is short. But even though it is distance away from the city proper, I was determined to visit my deceased grandparents’ grave. Despite the scorching heat of the sun, I managed to reached my destination thru walking. I was so excited and upon reaching the corner I was stunned to see the path that leads to my grandparents’ grave was filled with grasses and thorny plants. There might be snakes that might hid in the bushes. Though a little scared, I felt courage to go on due to my desire to visit my grandparents. I moved forward and just be careful with my steps and alert at all times to check if there were any presence of snakes or anything. Luckily, there was none, perhaps due to God’s protection, I finally am in front of my grandparents’ grave. I talked to them coz I believe they’re just around smiling at me and thanking me for paying them a visit. I took out my rosary beads and offer a prayer for their souls and everyone who might be there needing prayers. Too bad, I cannot buy a candle but I think, just my presence and the prayer I offered is enough to put smiles on the faces of those souls who badly need it.
One of the things that I felt is emptiness in my life, is that I never had the chance to know my Lolo Ramon Silva, my mom’s dad. She told me, my lolo has some Spanish physical looks. He’s mestizo and a gentleman. She told me also that my lolo possess a talisman or in our term, Anting-anting. Whenever he sees a tornado coming, he would just recite a prayer or orasyon and that thing will vanish. He’s said to also have encountered an Aswang. My lolo is a farmer and what I love to hear is that he’s 20 years older than my lola. My mom told me that my lolo used to see my lola still playing a game called “Piko” coz she was just a young lass back then and my lolo was married. When his first wife died, he courted my lola even though she’s still young. They got married and resulted to a fruitful family life. Thanks to him, my mom was born. And he’s also a World War II veteran. He’s a brave man just like my other lolo on my dad’s side. They’re both World War II heroes.
The ark that greets you in front of the old public cemetery
Images that guard the dead
The way to my grandparents’ grave
At last, my grandparents’s tomb
RIP lolo and lola..I’ve visited you at last.
LIPA CITY; The Philippine’s Vatican, A Land of Pilgrimage
You maybe wondering why I called my beloved Lipa City, the Philippine’s Vatican, it is because whenever I am here in Lipa City, I feel I am in a holy or sacred ground where the holiness can be felt everywhere especially on Sundays and Holy Week. I have spent my Holy Weeks here before and I can say nothing but the best experience I had. It is here where I felt what a real Holy Week should be spent unlike in the place where I live in Paranaque. People really do reflect, observe the sacredness of the holy days, and there’s even a procession where the station of the cross held on Good Fridays. There’s no drinking session, gambling or any vices but I can hear the traditional Passion or Pabasa being done. The Holy Week atmosphere is around.
Since I wasn’t able to do my Visita Iglesia last Holy Week here in Lipa, I planned to do it when I visited for my niece’s debut. It was Sunday so my first on the list is no other than the church of San Sebastian or the Kathedral as we commonly refer it. It is just right in the middle of the city of Lipa and only a few steps away from my tita’s home so I have no excuse not to attend the mass on Sundays here. I have memories on this cathedral since I was a little boy. I was always mesmerized by the artworks and interior designs of the church. And by just looking at it from the outside, it will remind you of the Vatican in Rome.
My favorite area of the place is the huge Black Nazarene and the Crucifixion image at the right side of the entrance of the church. I see to it that I would always pay and offer prayers in this area because I always believe that the Lord Jesus is guiding my travels and it is in this place where I always seek solace and comfort during my dark times when my life is in ruins and having no sense of purpose. I made a promise to God that I would always pay San Sebastian Cathedral a visit whenever I am here in Lipa. And I cannot believe the devotion of the people here in Lipa because since the earliest mass is 5A.M. until midday, the church is still jam packed with church goers. I don’t see that much even in the parish where I serve as a lay minister.
Another church on my list is the Church of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. This church was famous for the miracle that happened here way back before I was born. Story tells that a certain nun, Sister Teresita, had a visit and also the witness of the famous Shower of Rose Petals in the area where the church stood. Sadly, the Vatican still doesn’t recognize this as authentic and true but with the number of devotees and the devotion of the people, for me, I can consider that it’s already a miracle. As long as the event made people cling to God, that is good enough. I am also one of the devotee of the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. Even now, that I am already a lay minister, I kept my devotion to the Lady and will add this church to one of my places to visit whenever I am having a pilgrimage.
Last on my list is The Redemptorist Church. This is actually on of the first churches when I did my first Visita Iglesia way back. Ever since I started doing that holy tradition, I see to it that this is one of the places to visit. It’s just a simple place but the peace and ambiance surrounded by nature makes you feel more close to God.
Aside from these churches I mentioned, there are other churches I’d like to include on my list. One of them is the Our Lady of Mediatrix which is also in Lipa. If I will visit Pinagkawitan, I can see that church which I had already paid a visit before but too bad, due to budget, I wasn’t able to visit today. It’s lovely. But I will see to it that I would drop by to that place next time. There’s also the San Isidro Labrador Parish in Cuenca. It is a very important place for me because it was there where my parents got married and many of relatives that passed away were given a blessing. It is also the place where my Lolo and Lola from my dad’s side celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. So maybe in the end of May, I will ask my dad to visit that place because I would love to visit also the grave of my grandparents in the public cemetery and also my closest cousin. I would love to visit the Marian Orchard in Balete, which I found interesting and others like the Caysasay Parish, etc.
Mary Mediatrix Parish in Lipa City
San Isidro Labrador Parish in Cuenca, the church where my parents were married.
Marian Orchard in Balete, Batangas
Whenever you’re in Batangas, you cannot help but feel God’s presence in my beloved home. Many provinces experienced lots of disasters like earthquakes and typhoon devastations but my province only felt the slight effect. It seems the devotion of my fellow Batanguenos was so intense that we were being spared and I love to see that kind of loving devotion to our Lord on the next generation.
WALKING THE STREETS OF LIPA
Of course, what’s the use of having a vacation if you won’t walk the streets of Lipa City? I’ve been in Lipa City lots of times and walking the streets of this wonderful city always mesmerizes me. You walk into one corner and you can do your usual food trippin especially in the public market area. This is where you can buy stuffs and go to the second floor and you can find lots of stalls where foods like Gotong Batangas and special halo-halo were serve. I miss that so much.
Always the busy street leading to Lipa Public market
Aling Ninay’s Special Puto and Tamales, the place where I would recommend to buy kakanins or rice cakes
One of the best pancit house in Lipa..come and try it!!
As I also take my daily strolls in Lipa, I see lots of old ancestral houses that I seldom see in the Metro. It reminds me of life during the Spanish era here in our country and the beauty of it’s architecture. Lipa and other parts of Batangas is filled with historical things that if you want to personally get in touch with the country’s history, I would recommend not just Lipa but the entire province of Batangas.
You go to the main road and you’ll see the statue of Claro M Recto. Lipa’s hero and during his time was against American abuses during the American occupation in the country. There are many other heroes in Batangas but let’s focus on Lipa. Lipa is filled with history and the very word “Lipa” came from the word LIPAT or transfer. Lipa City as you see today is not the Lipa we knew. Before, it was near the taal Volcano area. But because of the volcanic eruptions of the one of the most dangerous volcanoes, people of Lipa transfer from one place to another until they permanently reside to the place we see today. Now that’s just a little history for your info, my friends.
Claro M Recto statue, Lipa’s well known hero
Aside from Claro M. Recto’s statue, another historical place that you can visit is Casa de Segunda. The house of Segunda Katigbak, the first woman in our national hero, Jose Rizal’s life. When I studied Rizal during my college years, Segunda struck me because of she’s a fellow Lipa resident. It made me feel proud that the first love of our national hero is from Lipa City, my Kababayan. Everytime I visit Lipa, I see to it that I pass by Segunda’s house to remind me of her part inn our national hero’s life and history.
The gate of Casa de Segunda, home of the first love of our national hero Jose Rizal
So Batangas is not just a land where me and my relatives reunite. It is not just a place of homecoming. It’s also a place of history, holy pilgrimage and adventure. Whether I go to my mom’s ancestral place of Lipa City or my dad’s municipality of Cuenca, I am at home. It is the place where my heritage, blood kins and what makes me who I am. A proud batangueno. My batangas adventures never ends. In fact, I am looking forward to Dita Cuenca, Batangas fiesta. Something to look forward to on my next blog. Ciao!!
The Silva Clan, my kin on my mother’s side
Time to go back in Parañaque
But my adventures in Batangas has just begun, I’ll be back to my beloved real home, the beautiful Batangas
WHEN IN BATANGAS (A Pilgrimage and Homecoming) When we received a message that on April 13, 2018, my niece Arianne is turning 18, I knew that I am going back to the place where I consider my real home.
