Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

First up, I want to apologize if I wasn’t able to update the site for a week… I was very disappointed and pissed off because my blog has been ad-free since I put it up, yet the Google people still downgraded my PR to zero! I don’t understand why they have to do that, yet they can’t slap those sites that brutally announce that they’re earning from their blogging! Anyway, I see no reason why I don’t have to continue on with the blogging, so I am back, and with or without PR, this is my site, and it is my responsibility to blog and update it with all my might.

The next moment I have to blog about is about Mark Daniel’s baptism. Mom and I got home from Bolinao, Pangasinan July 12 and as soon as we got home, I started doing the invitations for the baptism — Aunt Linda understood that I cannot do it while I was in Pangasinan (they were with us actually) so she just said they will just distribute the invitations on the event itself, after all, it’s just between the families and close friends. An invitation wasn’t really necessary, but for formality’s sake, they still opted to have one. Sister and I worked on the invitations until 2am of July 13 because we also did invitations for Uncle Pete and family’s send off party, which will be held in the baptism’s reception.

Sister and I arrived in the church early because we wanted to give out the invitations early as well. The people started arriving 30 minutes before the baptism, and because it’s a mass baptism (many babies were baptized), we were all given seminar before it started.

The parents - Dennis and Norma - didn’t have that much friends, so most of the godparents were family members, too. Dennis is my cousin, by the way. Part of the godparents were my cousins Joyce and Leya. This has been the fourth time I will be a godmother, but honestly, this was the very first time I attended a baptism! Weird, eh? Well, certain circumstances got in the way, so I wasn’t able to attend the first three ones.

Some pictures:

*** Us before the start of the baptism. ***

*** Godmothers lighting the candle ***

*** Me and baby Mark Daniel. ***

*** The pretty godmothers and the cute godson ***

*** Welcome to the Christian World, Mark Daniel ***

Reception followed at the Sangkalan Grill in Fairview, Quezon City. That story in the next post.

*** Jenn ***

While traveling back from Bolinao, Pangasinan last 12 August, I saw very dark clouds forming and thought it was a great chance to take out the camera and take pictures of it. I told mom there might be a very heavy rain coming up, but at first we just thought maybe it was smog or the clouds may just be low from afar. However, when we reached that place, oh my gosh, it was so heavy! I thought the rains would puncture the bus! It was so rough that even the windows need wipers! Hahahahaha.

I really love these pictures. It’s really nice that I was to take a picture of rain. These weren’t great great pictures, but I love them just the same. I think not all people can have the chance like this to capture rain from afar.

Happy weekends!

*** Jenn ***

With WordPress’ main man, Photo Matt (Matt Mullenweg) himself. Taken during the WordCamp Philippines 2008 by Mabelle Santiago-Rubia.

*** Jenn ***

With so many factors to consider, mom and I decided it would be much better that we leave Pangasinan on this day, and not the day before, because I don’t want to risk commuting late at night. Uncle Pete’s driver suffered food poisoning from eating too much half-cooked mussels, so their schedules were messed up, too! Supposedly, Uncle Pete will travel to Manaoag with his friends Mike and Mona, but because of what happened to the driver, Mike and Mona just went on their way, while Uncle Pete’s family stayed the night in the fish cages. Mom and I, together with Uncle Carlito and his wife stayed in the main island and was fetched by Uncle Arthur that morning.

Because the driver just got back from the hospital, and that he cannot do two trips anymore, the four of us from the main island just decided to take the bus home. And because we were early at the terminal, mom and I were able to sit at the front row, where I was able to take more road shots.

Here are the chosen shots:

*** That’s me on the boat going to the main land ***

*** The church in Aguilar, Pangasinan ***

*** I am not sure if this is in Mangaldan, or in Mangatarem, but this church really caught my attention ***

*** Sta. Ignacia, Tarlac. I love this road and how the trees kissed each other, but I later found out that this road (not sure if this is it exactly) is haunted when it’s raining. ***

*** I am not sure which part of Tarlac this is, but if my memory serves me right, these sculptures were made by the husband of a good scrapbooking friend. ***

*** Super heavy rains poured in Pampanga, and I slept on the road that time, so when I woke up it’s already Metro Manila, and this one’s in Balintawak. ***

Seeing the different churches in this side of Pangasinan really made me so interested in coming back and doing a church hop one of these days. I still don’t know how will do it, but I am already talking to brother about getting this one done. Hopefully before the year ends, we can do it.

*** Jenn ***

This scenery is just beside the St. James Church in Bolinao, Pangasinan. I don’t know the exact history why it was there, but I am happy there’s a special place to commemorate the heroes that fought for the country’s rights.

*** Jenn ***

ps - The Google Page Rank of this blog dropped to zero. I really don’t know why it dropped suddenly — could it be because I wasn’t able to update it yesterday? This blog doesn’t have any paid adverts of any sort and I cannot understand how it could be. Ugh…

This house-like structure is off limits to the visitors. Well, people are allowed to enter the gates, but there’s a signage telling people that they can’t go beyond that signage. Makes me think this is the residence of the Villa’s owner, but I am not sure. I shot this one from the carabao carriage going out of the villa. The flag waving high and the mountain behind the house was so great, I just have to take a shot of it.

I still haven’t blogged about this place here, but hopefully one of these days, I will be able to share you the experience mom and I had. It was a great place to visit, quite expensive, but still worth it. =)

Happy weekends, everyone!

*** Jenn ***

If the last week’s picture was taken high noon, this was taken around 5:30 in the morning the next day. More details tomorrow — I am breaking the wordless rule again. Hahahaha.

*** Jenn ***

From the beach house, I knew we would take two trips back to the Picucubuan Port again, so I already told mom I would take the first batch out of the beach house and I will ask to be dropped off at the church and I will just wait there for the second batch going to the port. Mom talked to Uncle Pete about it, and I was so happy that Uncle Pete agreed to what I wanted. I wasn’t able to check the Cape Bolinao Light House, so this one I should never miss.

The last time I was in Bolinao (November 2007), my brother was able to take pictures of the church, but his time was so short that he was only able to take pictures of the facade and the altar. Actually, his altar shot wasn’t really that good, so when he found out mom and I will be have a vacation in Bolinao, he really asked me to go to the church and take pictures of it. Actually, I have also planned to check it out, too, because I honestly still hasn’t set foot inside this church, and I have been to Bolinao countless times!

The first thing I looked for was a brief historical background. Normally, tourist spots have these concrete block with a little historical background of the church, but there’s nothing like that there, so I went to the office to ask if they have any leaflet or anything where I could get the history. They said they already ran out of the leaflets, so I will just have to check the net for this. =)

According to two sites I have checked, It is where the Italian priest by the name of the Father Odoric who was a member of Franciscan friars, held his first mass in the Philippines after landing in Bolinao in 1324. In 1585, Father Esteban Marinas, the first Augustinian priest, started the evangelization of the town. In 1607, a Roman Catholic Church was built. This Hispanic church building still remains intact and is presently considered as one of the oldest churches in the Philippines.

Some pictures I took in the church:

*** Well, my cousin Gerry took this picture. Hahahaha ***

*** The look inside the church. ***

*** The altar up-close. ***

*** The pulpit. The most interesting pulpit I’ve seen. Most I have seen has stairs directly leading to the pulpit, but this one has a gate. Hmmm… ***

*** The adoration chapel. ***

Very simple church, but very full of culture. I just hope that the admin would take into consideration beautifying the church because although I love how it looked, they could still make it more beautiful. This is one of the oldest church in the Philippines, and people in Bolinao should take pride in it. Imagine, there were no drastic changes in this church - this is how it looked when the construction was finished, and not all colonial churches are like that! But I love the facade. I loved how the concrete stones look like!

Hopefully, next time I could see some information by the church so tourists can also learn things about the church. Bolinao is one great town. It is slowly becoming a tourist spot, and I know in time the place will flourish as well.

*** Jenn ***

Sources for the little historical background: Diocese of Alaminos and Bolinao Texas

I knew the sunset was facing me the day before, but I still woke up pretty early that day because I still want to see the sunrise even if I know I wouldn’t really see it. I just wanted to greet another day of my life looking at the skies and enjoying its majestic view.

I woke up around 4am, and the skies were still so dark. Good thing my cousin Gerry was already awake, so we got to chit-chat for a while. Seeing the skies turn lighter and lighter, I went to the beach and shutter away. I walked and I walked… it’s like the endless beach has this enticing effect on me. =)

When I got back, most of my family members are already awake, and Uncle Pete, cousin Melissa, and I took a morning dip. Uncle Pete let me borrow his snorkel so I could swim with the fish, and I was happy that I was able to do it properly without hesitations. I still cannot really swim, but I was happy that I could do it in my own little way and in this way, I was able to see the fishes and other marine life.

When I finally went out of the water, I saw this rainbow and went back to the cottage to get the camera. I saw the rainbow as good morning message from God, and I can’t help but smile upon seeing it. Sadly, I had to get back to the cottage as breakfast was served.

After eating, I decided to fix myself because there were only two shower rooms in the beach house, and I don’t want to play a waiting game. So many people in this vacation would mean lots of time waiting for the bathroom to be available. =)

While the others (including me) took a morning shower, some of them went to the beach for a dip. The water was cold, indeed, but it was very refreshing. I just became their photographer since I won’t be taking a dip anymore. Mom really enjoyed using their floatee!

At 9am, it was time to say goodbye to this wonderful place. We still have to get back to the main island because there was a prayer service for grandpa. Our relatives who didn’t join us in the beach house prepared for the prayer service. That story tomorrow.

*** Jenn ***

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

Right after checking the caves, we all head back to the beach house. I was hoping to check out the lighthouse first because I have been dreaming of seeing it, but my mom didn’t want us to check it anymore because it’s nearing night time and that she had a bump in her head by accidentally hitting her head in Wonderful Cave.

I still haven’t had a decent shower that day — if I am not in the beach all day, I was just showering with soap and water and using the clothes I wore when we went on a dip by island shore the day before. My hair was so sticky and dry, so the soonest time we got in the beach house, I gave myself a long cold shower to ease out the burning sensation in my body. I wore a 99% backless swimwear and staying all day in the beach burnt my body way too bad!

I was fixing myself when my cousins yelled on me saying my mom was calling me from the beach. I thought something had happened, but when I heard that she was calling on me because she knew I loved the sunset, I immediately went out with the camera on hand.

I have seen so many sunsets - fiery and all - but this sunset was different. I think this is the reddest or the orangest (?) sky I have ever seen, and my camera just shuttered away! Uncle Pete saw me doing lots of self portraits, so he offered his help in taking my picture. My mom was in the beach that time, and because I already had my long shower, I cannot take her picture by the beach anymore. I just took a shot of her before I went back to the beach house.

*** Jenn ***