Not much happening. The shoulder is slowly getting better. We went on a day trip last week. We started in Metro Manila and basically went around Laguna de Bay, a huge lake. I hope all the pictures appear. If not, oh well!
First Stop: Makiling Botanic Gardens
The Makiling Botanic Gardens is situated at the lower elevations of the Molawin-Dampalit watershed. The Maralas and Molawin creeks join within the park vicinities and is drained towards the UPLB (University of the Philippines) campus and finally to the Laguna Lake. MBG hosts several native, endemic, and exotic plants for the visitors to experience. Within the gardens, a Dipterocarp and Molawin plantation can be found. MBG celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2013.
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| A thorn among "roses" |
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| A true stink bug |
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| Funny way to say garbage!
Paete is a fourth class municipality in the province of Laguna, Philippines. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 23,523 people.[4]
The town, pronounced Pī-té, long i, short guttural ê, is located at the northeastern part of Laguna, along the shores of picturesque Laguna de Bay. It was founded in 1580 by Spanish friars Juan de Plasencia and Diego de Oropesa of the Franciscan Order. It is believed that the earliest inhabitants were of Malay lineage, coming all the way from Borneo in their swift and sturdy boats called “Balangay”.
The town has had a long reputation for its craftsmen highly skilled in wood carving and its embellishment. In 1887, José Rizal described Paete as a town where "carpenter shops" were issuing images "even those more rudely carved" (chapter VI, Noli Me Tangere). Even now, its inhabitants (called Paeteños or Paetenians) continue with their centuries-old tradition in carving and painting. Its statues, pulpits, murals and bas relief are found in churches, palaces and museums all over the world, including the St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York, the Mission Dolorosa in San Francisco, the San Cayetano Church in Mexico, the St. Joseph's shrine in Sta. Cruz, California, various churches in the Philippines and the Ayala Museum in Makati, Philippines. The official town hero is not a statesman nor a soldier but a woodcarver, the master artisan Mariano Madriñan, whose obra maestra, the lifelike Mater Dolorosa, was honored by the King of Spain with a prestigious award in Amsterdam in 1882. The town was proclaimed "the Carving Capital of the Philippines" on March 15, 2005 by Philippine President Arroyo. It is also believed that the modern yo-yo, which originated in the Philippines, was invented in Paete.[6][1]
Many descendants of these artisans have found a niche in the culinary world. Ice sculptures and fruit and vegetable carvings done by Paeteños abound on buffet tables of cruise ships and world-class hotels and restaurants. Today the town thrives mainly on the sale and export of woodcarvings and taka (papier maché), tourism, poultry industry, farming and fishing.
Third Stop: Lumban
Lumban is a third class municipality in the province of Laguna, Philippines. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 29,470 people.[5] Lumban is the home of Lake Caliraya, a man-made lake often visited by nature lovers and sports people. It lies 104 kilometres (65 mi) southeast of Manila.
Lumban is one of Laguna's oldest towns. It got its name from "lumbang" tree. The province's capital town, Santa Cruz, as well as Cavinti and Pagsanjan, were once part of Lumban.
Lumban is known as the "Embroidery Capital of the Philippines".[2] Fine Jusi and Piña cloth are embroidered by hand, the finished product is worn by males as Barong Tagalog and Saya (Filipiña) by females, it is also being exported. Lumban is also known for the many beautiful designs of shoes, sandals, slippers and step-ins made from local materials. They usually end up in shopping malls in Metro Manila, of course, at slightly higher prices.
        
Pakil is a fifth class urban municipality in the province of Laguna, Philippines. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 20,822 people.[3] Its land area consists of two non-contiguous parts, separated by Laguna de Bay.
Pakil Church or the Pedro de Alcantara Parish Church in Pakil, Laguna (Luzon island, northern Philippines), was built in 1767 after 35 years of construction. In 1788, the Virgin of Turumba was enshrined in this church. The church’s architectural design has Corinthian and Ionic styles or elements.
Despite calamities such as earthquakes and World War II, Pakil Chuch has survived with most of its architectural features still intact. Along with the rectory, a fire damaged the church in 1851. Repairs were done in the same year. The church survived two earthquakes in 1881 and 1937. Fourteen icons grace its main altar with the Archangel Michael towering above the others. Each icon is housed in an elaborately carved niche in Spanish colonial style.
Although the interior of the church has been renovated recently, the design of the church remains basically the same. The church belfry has four small bells and one huge bell. Today, Pakil Church is now a major tourist destination in Laguna province.
         
While in Pakil, we went to meet and visit Francisco Cajubam who is a member and is doing some wood carvings for us. It was fun to meet him and his family and to watch him carve. What humble circumstances, but what happy people!!!!
 
Next stop: Home
I found some interesting items while shopping: Jack fruit (I always knew my brother was "Fruity") haha, marshmallow twists, and cherries from the good ole US of A!!!!
    
I love this quote by Sylvia Allred: " When we have charity, we are willing to serve and help others when it is inconvenient and with thought of recognition or reciprocation. We don't wait to be assigned to help, because it becomes our very nature. As we choose to be kind, caring, generous, patient,accepting, forgiving, inclusive, and selfless, we discover we are abounding in charity."
Hope y'all have a good week and RWYA and KoKo!
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