Author Archives: Benjie Layug

Lotte World Tower Aquarium (Seoul, South Korea)

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Lotte World Tower Aquarium

Part of Cebu Blue Ocean Academy-sponsored South Korea tour

The family-friendly Lotte World Aquarium, home to the world largest ocean ecology tank, is the longest public aquarium in South Korea.  Located at the bottom floor of the mega popular Lotte World Mall and on the way to Lotte World Amusement Park in the Jamsil neighborhood, it was opened in 2015 and contains thirteen diverse “theme zones” meant to represent different ecosystems, allowing visitors to experience the five oceans of the world. From river to coast and coast to ocean, you can follow the flow of the ecosystem and have a phenomenal experience with nature.

Check out  “Lotte World Tower” and “Lotte World Mall”

E. Ganzon, Inc. at Lotte World Tower Aquarium

The aquarium is home to over 55,000 marine animals from 650 different species, ranging from freshwater fish in the Hangang River to a lone, shy but playful beluga whale (a visitor favorite) from the Arctic, all living in harmony.

After passing through the entrance gates, you can explore the aquarium along a self-guided 840-m. (2,756-ft.) long route (designed so you can experience all 5 oceans zones of the world), starting in the Korean river zone, then continuing through tropical rivers, the Amazon, the Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, Atlantic Ocean and, finally, ending in the Polar Region zone.

You’ll first enter the Nature Zone, which is inhabited by various freshwater fish (check out the color-changing chameleons).

Archerfish and Mono Angel Fish. The former is known for their unique predation technique of “shooting down” land-based insects and other small prey with jets of water spit from their specialized mouths

Black Caiman

Next are the Tropical and Amazon River Zones, where you can see crocodiles, piranhas, and tropical sea creatures, like the pirarucu (Arapaima gigas, the largest existing freshwater fish).

Here, you’ll find Korea’s longest underwater tunnel, stretching 85 m. (279 ft.) in length.  It allows visitors to gaze upon the mysteries of the ocean above their heads. There’s a fast lane and a slow lane for those that wish to take their time watching the sea animals gliding all around them.

The 85 m. long Underwater Tunnel

In the Sea Lion Zone, you can get up close and personal with adorable sea lions from California which can swim at speeds up to 40 kms. per hour and dive down to 247 m..

The Ocean Gallery

The Ocean Gallery, spanning 2 floors, houses the biggest main water tank in Korea, allowing visitors to get close up views of the diverse marine life.  With over 10,000 sea animals in the tank, including cownose rays, nurse sharks, sea turtles, and stingrays, it measures a whopping 7.3 m. high, 25 m. wide and 2,200 tons.  The total volume of tanks in the aquarium is 5,200,000 liters (1,374,000 US gals.).

The Coral Reef Garden

After exploring the colorful Coral Reef Garden, kids can get active in the Play Ocean. There’s an aquatic petting zoo, an interaction area here where, after paying a nominal fee, visitors can physically touch and play with the marine animals such as turtles, smaller fishes, starfish, conch, sea squirts and other water creatures. Bottle feeding the koi fish (paid activity) is also an option.

Play Ocean Area

In the Marine Gallery, look out for anemone, puffer fish, and shrimps.  The soothing Jellyfish Gallery, a perfect time-out from all the activity in the aquarium, is cleverly darkened.  Here, you can watch the neon jellyfish hypnotically bobbing gently in their tanks.

Sea Turtle (sometimes called marine turtles) are reptiles of the order Testudines and the suborder Cryptodina. There are 7 existing species

There’s a second Ocean Tunnel in the Aquarium.  Here, you can see Bella the Beluga, and the creatures of the Ocean Tank swimming above and around you. Belugas are undeniably appealing to look at, but they haven’t done that well at the Lotte World Aquarium. Despite the beluga tank being double the regulated size, 2 out of the 3 original belugas have died, making it clear that these sensitive animals are not meant to be in captivity.  The final beluga – Bella – is currently undergoing wildlife adaptation training, before she’s transported to a wildlife sanctuary next year.

Leopard Shark (Triakis semifasciata), a species of hound shark in the family Triakidae

In the Sardine Zone, you can observe the fascinating schooling behavior of a family of sardines, tightly grouped together and swimming in synchronicity.

Humboldt Penguins at the Polar Zone

The Polar Region, the last of the 13 zones, is full of adorable Humboldt penguins, frolicking in and out of the water. At the end of this zone is a slide that’s very popular with the kids. From here, you’ll pass through the gift shop and back out into Lotte World Mall.

The Gift Shop

Even though the interior of the aquarium is dark, the displays are well-lit and easily locatable. Information about the displays are displayed in Korean and English. The various aquariums are well-kept and information relating to the animals are clearly displayed on an electronic board. There is also a café in the centre of the aquarium.

Napoleon Wrasse (Cheilinius undulatus) is a large species of wrasse mainly found on coral reefs in the Indo-Pacific Region

During feeding time, you can see all the marine animals in the massive tank crowd around the diver to get at the food. You might have a hard time trying to locate the diver as sometimes there are just too many animals around him.  Be on the lookout for MIRO, a robot fish swimming innocently along a school of real fish.

Stingrays which are common in coastal tropical and subtropical marine waters around the world

Lotte World Aquarium: 300 Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul, South Korea. Tel: +82 2-3213-5000 and +82-2-1661-2000. Open daily, 10 AM – 8 PM. Open Mondays – Thursdays, 10 AM – 8 PM, and  Fridays – Sundays, 10 AM to 10 PM.  Last ticketing and admission 1 hour before closing.  Admission: 35,000 won (adults) and 29,000 won (children and seniors).

How to Get There:  Take the subway to Jamsil Station on Line 2 or 8, head out from exit 10 and turn right where you will see the Lotte Mall. Enter the mall and take the nearest escalator down to basement level 1 where you should see the ticketing office of Lotte Aquarium. Directional signs are also prominently displayed to guide you to the aquarium.

Cebu Blue Ocean Academy: Building 5, EGI Hotel and Resort, M.L. Quezon National Highway, Looc, Maribago, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu 6015, Philippines.  Tel: (032) 888-9868.  E-mail: pinesbaguio@gmail.com.  Website: www.cebublueocean.com.  Baguio City (Benguet) Sister School: Pines International Academy, Romel Mansion, 3 Ignacio Villamor St., Brgy. Lualhati, Baguio City, Benguet, Philippines. Tel: 1 754-255-9818. E-mail: pinesbaguio@gmail.com. Website: www.pinesacademy.com.

16,000 Blue Roses Park (Casiguran, Sorsogon)

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16,000 Blue Roses Park

The famed 16,000 Blue Roses Park at the Pier Site in Casiguran, Sorsogon province’s newest attraction, is an open area within Plaza Escudero “planted” with 16,000, 3-foot tall artificial blossoms made up of illuminated blue LED lights.  This gorgeous and breathtaking public art installation, a dazzling nebula of cool blue lights, is best viewed from dusk to nighttime when the lights magically transform the area.

The author

This newest ecotourist attraction was opened last September 11, 2023, the 64th birthday of Sorsogon Gov. Jose Edwin “Boboy” B. Hamor, a former Casiguran mayor.  Since its opening, it became a hit with photographers and visitors have frequented the place to have their pictures taken in a different kind of setting.

This garden is reminiscent of the 25,000 LED Roses (actually just 22,550) at the Dongdaemun History & Culture Park of the famous Dongdaemum Design Plaza, a cultural center in Seoul, South Korea.  Each “rose” houses a micro LED bulb, not much bigger than the size of a thumbnail.

The park is located within the 14-hectare Casiguran Settlement, home to a monumental, multi-arched portal and the equally monumental Statue of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, modeled after the image of Our Lady of La Naval de Manila.

Check out “Casiguran Settlement”

The monumental image of Our Lady of La Naval de Manila in the background

16,000 Blue Roses Park: Plaza Escudero, Brgy. Central, Casiguran, Sorsogon.

Immaculate Conception Metropolitan Cathedral (Roxas City, Capiz

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Immaculate Concepcion Metropolitan Cathedral

The Immaculate Conception Metropolitan Cathedral , considered one of the most beautiful in the country, is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Capiz.  Fronting the city plaza, opposite the Panay River and the Capiz Bridge (built in 1910), it was first built before 1698 but was destroyed during the January 4, 1698 typhoon.

The church’s Baroque facade

The church was rebuilt by Augustinian Father Domingo Horbegozo from 1728 to 1732, was damaged during the July 13, 1787 earthquake and was rebuilt with stone and galvanized iron from 1870 to 1885 by Father Apolinar Alvarez.  Father Alvarez also built the cemetery and installed an organ in 1885.  From 1885 to 1890, Father Lesmes Perez installed a ceiling of galvanized iron and plastered the walls with stucco.  It was reconstructed in 1954.

Following the creation of the Diocese of Capiz on January 27, 1951, the parish church was elevated into a cathedral.. However, the diocese retained the old name of Capiz as it predates the change of the city name to Roxas on April 11, 1951.

The church interior

The cathedral’s Baroque facade has a simple, semicircular arched main entrance flanked by two canopied, statued niches on the lateral panels and topped by a segmental pediment atop the string cornice of the first level.  It also has pilasters (decorative engaged pillars) with floral flutings and windows with segmented arch canopies and Baroque volutes (spiral scrolls).

The choir loft

Its architrave (beam spanning columns), devoid of embellishments, has a rectangular base topped by a broken curvilinear pediment (triangular gable) decorated with a statued niche in the center.  The cathedral is also one of the few churches where the dome and the roof are not held up by a single column traversing the interior of the church.

The main altar

The four-storey, rectangular bell tower on the left has one semicircular arched window on the first level and four in the highest level.  Inside the church is a main altar and two side altars.

Left side altar

Right side altar

Immaculate Concepcion Metropolitan Cathedral: Arsobispo Street, Roxas City, Capiz.  Tel: (036) 621-0617 and (036) 621-0327.  E-mail: immaculateconcepcion1@gmail.com.  Coordinates: 11°35′01″N 122°45′11″E.  Feat of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception: December 8.

 

How to Get There: Roxas City is located 110.5 kilometers (a 2.5-hour drive via the Iloilo East Coast-Capiz Road) from Iloilo City and 77.4 kilometers (a 1.75-hour drive via the Western Nautical Highway) from Kalibo (Aklan).

Church of St. Monica (Pan-ay, Capiz)

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Church of St. Monica

This church is an excellent example of Filipino Colonial Baroque style (defined by the used of attached coupled piers in the Corinthian style) that has blended well with the Neo-Classical influence.  It was first built before 1692 and rebuilt in 1774 by Augustinian Father Miguel Murguia.

The church’s Baroque facade

The church was greatly damaged by the March 5, 1874 (roof blown away) and January 17, 1875 typhoons (transept was toppled) but was rebuilt in 1878, restored by Father Jose Beloso in 1884 and beautifully repaired by Father Lesmes Perez in 1895.

In 1997, by virtue of National Historical Institute (now the National Historical Commission of the Philippines) Resolution No. 3, the church was declared as a National Historical Landmark and, on July 31, 2001, was also listed as a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum of the Philippines.

NHI Plaque installed in 1997

On June 16, 2001, restoration of the church began and it was finished on May 4, 2008. The wooden trusses and the roof were replaced by a steel and galvanized iron structure.

The Augustinian emblem

This Latin cross-shaped church is 80 meters long, 25 meters wide, 18 meters high and has three-meter thick walls of white coral. Its simple but imposing Baroque facade is decorated by shallow paired pilasters (with narrow grooves in between which divide it into symmetrical and well-balanced rectangular sections.

The semicircular arch main entrance

The semicircular arched main entrance is flanked by two small niches with life-size statues of Augustinian saints St. Thomas of Villanova and St. Augustine and is topped by a rectangular carving of the Augustinian emblem.

Statue of St. Thomas of Villanova

The second level has an ornate niche of St. Monica topped by a rose window.  The curvilinear, undulating pediment has a relief sculpture in the center flanked by decorative stone blocks and topped by pineapple-shaped finials.

The church interior

Its richly decorated interior, the best-preserved in Panay, has a terra cotta tile floor (accented by colored marble and black slate tiles), and several elaborately carved, Baroque-decorated  retablos, done by Manila artisans, of silver and hardwood at the large central as well as the four lateral altars, all gorgeously decorated with various high quality, polychromed statues.

The retablo of the main altar

Jose Bergano (also called Sarhento Itak), the town’s greatest sculptor, did most of the bas-reliefs and religious statuary.     

The five-storey bell tower

The five-storey belfry, on the church’s left, has a quadrilateral base with octagonal upper stories (with two sides longer than the other).  It houses the Panay Bell which can be reached by a 63-step, independent steel stairway.  This unusually huge (affectionately called Dakong Lingganay, Hiligaynon for “Big Bell”), said to be the largest in Asia and the third biggest in the world, is 1.5 meters (five feet) high, two meters (seven feet) in diameter and weighs 10,400 kilograms (22,928 pounds).

Panay Bell

It was made from 76 sacks of gold and silver coins collected from the townspeople by Father Jose Beloso and cast in 1878 by the blacksmith and casting shop of Don Juan Reina (who settled in Iloilo City’s J.M. Basa Street in 1868).

View of the town from the bell tower

Its sound was loud enough to reach every nearby town (its echo can be heard seven kilometers away) but, after a month’s time, the bell cracked.

Panay Bell inscription

The bell’s long inscription reads: Soy la voz de Dios que lleva rey en zalzare desde el principio hasta el finde este pueblo de Panay para que los fieles de Jesus vengan a esta casa de Dios a recibir las gracias elestials.  (“I am God’s voice which I shall echo and praise from one end to the other of the town of Panay, so that the faithful followers of Christ may come to the house of God to receive the heavenly graces”).

A smaller bell cast in 1885 by Hilario Sunico

Eight small bells also surround this big bell.  One bell dates from 1721 and was cast by Benitus a Regibus, Hilario Sunico and Juan Reina.  Another was installed in 1867.

Another smaller bell cast in 1822

The L-shaped convent, also built by Father Beloso, was also destroyed by the 1874 and 1875 typhoons, elegantly reconstructed in 1892 by Father Miguel Rosales, O.S.A., finished in 1895 by Father Gregorio Hermida, O.S.A. and restored by Lesmes Perez, O.S.A..  Shortly thereafter, it was intentionally burned, along with the municipal hall, on orders of Spanish Governor-General Diego de los Rios to dislodge rebels from the town during the Philippine Revolution.

The new convent

On December 14, 2008, the modern convent (with remnants of the old convent incorporated into it) was blessed along with a replica of the Panay Bell located beside it.  Behind the church are remnants of a wall, said to have been part of a fortification.

Replica of Panay Bell

Church of St. Monica: Iloilo East Coast-Capiz Rd., Panay, Capiz.  Tel: (036) 651-9765.  E-mail: santamonicadepanay@gmail.com.  Coordinates: 11.555622°N 122.793905°E.  Feast of St. Monica: May 4.

 

How to Get There: Pan-ay is located 7.4 kilometers (a 15-minute drive) east of Roxas City.

Club Filipino (San Juan City, Metro Manila)

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Club Filipino

Club Filipino (pronounced as “Cloob”), the first exclusive social club in the Philippines, was founded as an elite Filipino country gentlemen’s organization on November 6, 1898 by Filipino high society, including Spanish mestizos and members of the illiustrados (prestigious or rich Filipinos) as well as influential politicians.

The current building, with its Spanish-era style of architecture, was designed by the late architect Gabriel Formoso

Some of its members were Pres. Emilio Aguinaldo (he served as its honorary president) and Gen. Antonio Luna. Originally called Club Filipino Independiente, its name was later changed, four years later, to Club Internationale (after the turnover of power to the Americans) and, finally, Club Filipino in 1905.

the club lobby

This storied exclusive, members only club and recreational facility was originally located at the house (along Manga Ave cor. Buenos Aires St., in Santa Mesa, Manila) of Russian–American Jew Emil Bachrach, a successful businessman in Manila during the Philippine Commonwealth. Upon his assignment in the Philippines during World War II, Gen. Tomoyuki Yamashita commandeered the house.  Later on, it was taken up as residence by Gen. Douglas MacArthur and his family.

The National Historical Institute plaque installed in 1997

On September 21, 1956, after arriving directly from a very rough flight from Davao City, President Ramon Magsaysay (who himself joined the exclusive club the very same day) inaugurated it at the Bachrach Mansion. On October 18, 1970, the club was inaugurated on its current building, designed by Arch. Gabriel Formoso, between North Greenhills subdivision and the Greenhills Shopping Center in San Juan.

The National Historical Institute plaque installed in 1988

Throughout its history, the club developed a reputation as a meeting ground for Filipino political progressives.  On November 27, 1907, the club hosted a Velada Artistica to honor the 59 winning candidates of the First Philippine Assembly who were members of the Nacionalista Party. A National Historical Institute (NHI, now the National Historical Commission of the Philippines) plaque, installed in 1996, commemorates that event.  It was the site of several political events immediately prior and during the country’s Post-Martial Law Era.

Painting depicting events during the People Power Revolution. Flanking it are the two NHI plaques

On February 25 1986, at the height of the People Power Revolution, it served as the venue for the inauguration of President Corazon Aquino (her oath of office was administer by Supreme Court Chief Justice Claudio Teehankee), with her mother-in-law Aurora Aquino in attendance, together with Vice-Pres. Salvador Laurel (his oath of office was administered by Supreme Court Associate Justice Vicente Abad Santos).

The Cory C. Aquino Kalayaan Hall

The “Corazon C. Aquino Kalayaan Hall,” the site of her inauguration, was renamed as such on August 25, 2009.  It is now an indoor events/reception room.  Outside the hall is a huge painting depicting scenes (including the inauguration) from the People Power Revolution flanked by the 1996 NHI plaque and another NHI plaque, installed in 1988, commemorating the inauguration.

The Cory C. Aquino Kalayaan Hall, now an events place

On October 9, 2000, at a press conference held here, embattled Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis “Chavit” Singson went public with an alleged illegal gambling (jueteng) payroll scam involving then-President Joseph Ejercito Estrada.

Terrace overlooking the swimming pool

On September 9, 2009, then-Senator Benigno Aquino III (Corazon Aquino’s son) announced his bid at the club to run as the presidential candidate for the Liberal Party in the 2010 general election. Six years later, on July 31, 2015, then-President Aquino III formally endorsed Mar Roxas as the LP’s presidential candidate for the 2016 elections in the “Gathering of Friends” held at the venue itself.

Terrace Cafe

Presently, the club’s amenities include the 1898 Dining Room; an outdoor restaurant; coffee shop (Terrace Café); board room; a swimming pool (adult and children); jacuzzi; tennis, badminton, volleyball and squash courts; bowling alleys; table tennis; gym; men’s and ladies’ locker rooms; pro shop; library; gift shop; bar; beauty salon; and children’s pavilion.

1898 Dining Room

Club Filipino: Club Filipino Ave. cor. Eisenhower St., Greenhills, San Juan 1502, Metro Manila.  Tel:  (632) 8722-2001, 8722-2022 and 8726-9389. E-mail: clubfilipino@yahoo.com.

The Colorful History of Taal Vista Hotel (Tagaytay City, Cavite)

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The present Taal Vista Hotel

A lot of my childhood memories included family visits to Tagaytay  City, the country’s other summer capital (after Baguio City), where we enjoyed the cool and crisp (average temperature is 22.7º Celsius) mountain air and a picture-pretty view of Taal Volcano from its original grand garden view deck – the English Tudor Mansion-style Taal Vista Hotel.

View from Taal Vista Lodge’s Dining Room of Taal Volcano and Lake

View of Taal Lake and Volcano Today. Beyond is the 947-m. (3,17-ft. high Mt. Makulot (or Mt. Macolod), Batangas’ highest mountain

In fact, it was the public viewing ground to major as well as mild to moderate eruptions  of the volcano on September 28, 1965 , from 1966 to 1970 (lasting from three to 65 days), 1976 (September 3 to October23), 1977 (October 3 to 4 and November 9 to 12), 1991, January 12, 2020 and July 1, 2021.

Taal Vista Lodge and its Garden Terrace overlooking Taal Lake and Volcano

Previously known as Taal Vista Lodge, it is the second oldest hotel in the country after the Manila Hotel (built in 1909). The hotel has its beginnings way back in 1935 when the Zamoras of Manila Hotel bought six hectares of flatland perched atop an incline along Ilong Kastila (people say it resembles a nose or ilong) from American teacher Hammon H. Buck, the Superintendent of Schools in Batangas, who lived in the Philippines from 1898 until his death in 1945.

Hammon H. Buck with his wife Dolores Angeles and their six children

Newly elected Philippine Commonwealth President  Manuel L. Quezon, who initiated the development of Tagaytay as a tourism destination (so much so that, on June 21, 1938, he converted Tagaytay into a chartered city by virtue of Commonwealth Act No. 338), instructed the government-owned and controlled Manila Railroad Company to build a lodge and golf course on Tagaytay Ridge.

Commonwealth Pres. Manuel L. Quezon

Under the supervision of the Manila Hotel Company (a subsidiary of the Manila Railroad Company), the lodge was built, its architect probably Andres Luna de San Pedro (son of renowned painter Juan Luna) who, just a few years earlier, renovated Manila Hotel to accommodate a suite for Gen. Douglas MacArthur.

Architect Andres Luna de San Pedro

Its contractor was probably the well-known engineering firm Pedro Soichi who built the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila and the Manila Metropolitan Theater in 1931. Both were favored by Quezon.  Upon the lodge’s opening on October 7, 1939, Quezon frequently held cabinet meetings in its premises.

The spacious Dining Room with a dance floor in the center

Typical bedroom of Taal Vista Lodge with porch ssed as a sitting room

A few years after it opened to the public, World War II broke out and the lodge became a vacation place for American servicemen.

From 1942 to 1945, when the Japanese occupied the country, Taal Vista Lodge was converted as officers’ quarters for the Japanese. After the war, the Philippine government took back control of the lodge.

On December 9, 1954, Alfredo Montelibano (Administrator of the Office of the Economic Coordinator) approved the rehabilitation and development plan for Taal Vista Lodge.

Taal Vista Lodge during the Post-War Period

The renovation included new cottages, cabanas, tea room and bar, three huge dining rooms (Lakeview Terrace, Alta Vista Pavilion and the Veranda), a children’s playground and sports facilities for horseback riding, basketball, volleyball, bowling, tennis and badminton.

Taal Vista Lodge

Between 1956 and 1964, Tagaytay  City began to be promoted as a major tourist attraction of the Philippines and Taal Vista Lodge was one of its leading attractions.

Pres. Elpidio Quirino

Among the prominent officials and personalities who stayed here include Pres. Elpidio Quirino (who also held cabinet meetings in the lodge); noted American newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst, and Senate president Eulogio Rodriguez and his wife.

Japanese Crown Prince Akihito and Princess Michiko

On November 6, 1962, Crown Prince Akihito and his wife Princess Michiko of Japan attended a luncheon at the Lodge given in their honor by Vice-Pres. Emmanuel Pelaez.

Six First Ladies visit Taal Vista Lodge

On October 24, 1966, First Lady Imelda R. Marcos hosted a visit to the Lodge of five First Ladies of heads of state and government attending the Manila Summit Conference – Nguyễn Thị Mai Anh (wife of the President Nguyen Van Thieu of South Vietnam). Claudia “Lady Bird” Johnson (wife of US Pres. Lyndon B. Johnson), Đặng Tuyết Mai (wife of Prime Minister Nguyen Cao Ky of South Vietnam), Zara Kate B. Holt (wife of Prime Minister Harold Holt of Australia) and Jongkol Kittikachorn (wife of Prime Minister Thanom Kittikachorn of Thailand).

Taal Volcano’s 1965 eruption

After the 1965 Taal volcano eruption, Taal Vista Lodge suffered heavy losses due to the decreased number of guests. In 1968, the Office of the Economic Coordinator (OEC) decided to privatize Taal Vista Lodge which was put on the block through public bidding on June 18, 1968.

The Resorts and Hotel Corporation won the bid (the other bidders were Philippine Airlines and the Sulo Hotel Group).  The company refurbished the lodge, constructing new facilities including an annex dining room.

Taal Vista Lodge Dining Room

In 1973, Taal Vista Lodge, now a three-star hotel, boasted a large pavilion for dinner and dancing, a bowling alley, a golf course, a billiards hall and a horseback riding area beside the lodge.

On January 11, 1984, the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) took ownership of the Lodge and changed its name to Taal Vista Hotel. From 1984 to 1988, Hotel Development Corporation, its subsidiary, managed operations of the hotel.

Henry Sy, Sr.

In July 1988, DBP decided to sell Taal Vista Hotel through an unsolicited proposal from SM Investments Corporation (SMIC) headed by its chairman Henry Sy, Sr. who, when he was a young man, was one of the many regular visitors of the hotel, often choosing one spot on the grounds from which to gaze out and dream.

A 1954 photo taken by Ms. Felicidad Sy of husband Henry Sy sitting at the Garden Terrace of Taal Vista Lodge

From 1991 to November 5, 1999, SMIC added a new wing (Mountain Wing) which included a swimming pool where the rotunda is now located.  At that time, the hotel operated 83 guest rooms. On November 6, 1999, SMIC decided to close down the hotel for further renovation and construction of new facilities.

Taal Vista Hotel, 2004

In 2002, Sy had the hotel rebuilt, adding 2 new extensions on the east side of the complex to provide 128 rooms, conference facilities and amenities.  The central building (where the Lobby Lounge is now currently located) was reconstructed in the original English Tudor Mansion style.

AUTHOR’S NOTES:

The English Tudor Mansion style features a steeply pitched roof with an overlapping, front-facing gable; a facade accented with half-timber framing (widely spaced wooden boards with stucco or stone in between) and a prominently placed chimney.

Panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows at the Lobby Lounge allow views of Taal Lake and Volcano

Panoramic floor-to-ceiling glass windows were installed, allowing diners to watch, aside from Taal Volcano and Taal Lake, the 947-m. high Mt. Makulot (or Mt. Macolod), the fog rolling in, the captivating sunset and, at nighttime, the stars or the pinpoint lights of fishing boats and the lakeshore towns.

The Mountain Wing

After its reconstruction and expansion, this reinvigorated and now first-class hotel reopened its doors on March 27, 2003.  In 2004, further expansion of the hotel was made.  The Mountain Wing was extended (bringing the total to 128 rooms) and the swimming pool was moved to its present location.

Ms. Elizabeth Sy

Beginning 2009, SM Hotels and Conventions Corporation (MHCC), established on April 2, 2008, with Elizabeth Sy (Henry Sy’s daughter) as president, took over management of the hotel (the corporation remains to be its owner up to the present).

The Lake Wing

Thereafter, the construction of new hotel wing (Lake Wing) and renovation of the main lobby was started.  In 2012, the Lake Wing, with its new ballroom and additional 133 guest rooms (bringing the total number of rooms to 264), was inaugurated,

Organic Herb and Vegetable Garden

That same year, Taal Vista Hotel started the Organic Herb and Vegetable Garden which supplied the needs of its various food and beverage outlets (they have four – Veranda, Lobby Lounge, Taza Fresh Table and Alta Ridge Bar).

The 75th anniversary of Taal Vista Hotel

In 2014, as part of its 75th anniversary celebration, the old Magnolia Pavilion was reconstructed as Taza Fresh Table, a new restaurant which was opened on January 28, 2015.

Taza Fresh Table

The hotel has hosted many important international gatherings such as:

  • July 1 -3, 2009 – 44th meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Committee on Culture and Information (COCI)
  • March 3 to 6, 2015 – several ministerial meetings of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit
  • September 11 to 14, 2017 – 23rd Senior Officials Meeting for ASCC (ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community) and 18th ASCC Council Meeting during 31st ASEAN Summit

The January 12, 2020 eruption of Taal Volcano

On January 12, 2020, after a hiatus of 43 years, Taal Volcano erupted and, on March 1, 2020, two months after the eruption, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the hotel to close its door to the public.

Taal Vista Lodge during the COVID-19 Pandemic

A few weeks later, the hotel reopened as a quarantine hotel for returning overseas  Filipino contract workers.  On September 4, 2020, the hotel reopened its food and beverage outlets to the general public and, a few days later, its guest rooms,  welcoming guests back under stringent health and safety protocols. 

AUTHOR’S COMMENTS:

I am wondering, with all the history attached to Taal Vista Hotel, why the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) hasn’t installed a historical plaque at the hotel’s facade.  The hotel has the distinction of being the second oldest in the country (after the Manila Hotel) and cabinet meetings of Pres. Manuel L. Quezon and Elpidio Quirino were held there in the past as well as meetings of APEC and ASEAN.

Taal Vista Hotel: Kilometer 60, Aguinaldo Highway, Tagaytay  City 4120, Cavite.  Tel: (632) 7917 8225.  Mobile number: (0917) 89-1254.  E-mail: reservations@taalvistahotel.com. Website: www.taalvistahotel.com.

Casa Real (Lingayen, Pangasinan)

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Casa Real (Banaan Pangasinan Provincial Museum) of Lingayen

The historic Casa Real (Royal House), located beside the town hall in the heart of Lingayen, Pangasinan, served as the provincial seat of government (where the Alcalde Mayor held office as the Provincial Governor and the Judge of the Court of First Instance) and is one of the oldest public buildings in Pangasinan.

The portico facade

Built in the 1840s, it once served as the seat of the provincial government, from the Spanish Colonial era up to 1918 when the seat of the provincial government was eventually transferred to what is now the Pangasinan Provincial Capitol Building.

2019 National Historical Commission Plaque

On February 16, 1901, after the Taft Commission organized Pangasinan as a civil province,  Judge William Howard Taft and his commissioners went to Lingayen, Pangasinan and were given a grand reception at Casa Real.  In 1919, the building was used as a school and later as offices of the Judge of the Court of First Instance.

In 2002, it was declared as a National Historical Landmark by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), noted it as “an outstanding and unique example of civil architecture from the Spanish and American colonial periods.”

Casa Real survived the damages brought by World War II. However, the May 2008 Tropical Storm Cosme (international name: Halong) damaged the building, blowing away its heavy roof.

Later, the provincial government of Pangasinan  allotted funds for its renovation and the building was converted into the Banaan Pangasinan Provincial Museum which was formally inaugurated on September 8, 2023.

Check out “Banaan Pangasinan Provincial Museum”

 

AUTHOR’S COMMENTS

The two-storey, 1,480 square meter building has a portico façade, with square Doric columns that support a balcony, and topped by a triangular pediment with an oval keystone window (with spider web grilles) at the center.  Dentils frame the sides of the pediment. The lower storey has circular arched main entrance flanked by large rectangular windows with segmental arches.  Wooden French doors open out to the balcony.

The granite stairway leading to the second floor

The stairway leading to the second floor still retains its original piedra china, granite stones used as ballast for galleons and Chinese junks.  However, the original balusters are gone as they did not survive looting after Typhoon Cosme.  What you see are replacements. The original tin ceiling from Belgium has been replaced with fiberglass reproductions.

Banaan Pangasinan Provincial Museum: Poblacion, Lingayen, Pangasinan.  Coordinates: 16.019805°N 120.230341°E.

Banaan Pangasinan Provincial Museum (Lingayen)

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Banaan Pangasinan Provincial Museum

The two-storey, 1,480 sq. m. Banaan Pangasinan Provincial Museum, rightfully housed in the historic Casa Real (built in the 1840s) beside the town hall in the heart of Lingayen, the capital town of the province, is a collaborative effort between the Provincial Government of Pangasinan and various cultural institutions, with the primary goal of preserving and promoting the province’s cultural legacy.

Check out “Casa Real (Lingayen)“

Formal opening of the museum on September 8, 2023

Formally inaugurated on September 8, 2023, the name Banaan is derived from the Pangasinense word meaning “meeting place” or “convergence.”  It serves as a storehouse of diverse collection of Pangasinan’s history, heritage, ethnographic as well as contemporary art.

Ancient pottery

Among the collections to be presented in the museum include an assortment of artifacts from Pre-Colonial times such as ancient pottery, tools and ceremonial objects; traditional clothing and accessories, some crafts that will showcase the peculiar identity and customs of local villages; and also some contemporary masterpieces of modern Pangasinan artists.

A bull-drawn cart

The museum features eleven (11) galleries (three in the ground floor) that showcase the story of Pangasinan as a convergence point for culture, history, arts, education and innovation.  Knowledgeable guides lead us through the museum’s collections, providing insights into the region’s history and culture.

“Where the Asin and Bolo Embrace” Gallery at the museum lobby

Our hour-long guided tour of the museum began at the “Where the Asin and Bolo Embrace” Gallery at the Casa Real lobby where Pangasinan’s two major landscapes are featured -a salt farm in Dasol and verdant rice fields with bolo bamboo in the central part.

“Shape of Our Homeland” Gallery

From there, we were led to the “Shape of Our Homeland” Gallery, an orientation room where there are chairs and a huge screen for video showing. It also has maps of the province’s congressional districts and a chart showing the founding dates of the Pangasinan towns and cities.

Contemporary art at the Asin Gallery

The Asin Gallery, the third gallery at the ground floor dedicated for changing exhibits, is an opportune platform to feature local artists and artisans, as well as notable personalities and their contributions in Pangasinan.

Dancing Rings (Joe Datuin, 2008, stainless steel)

Depending on the theme and season, it will feature different art, culture, and history. During our visit, the Kaluyagan (meaning “province mates”) Art Exhibit, featuring works (some of it for sale) by 33 Pangasinense artists, based here and abroad, was ongoing.

“Watered by the Hands of Ama-Gaolay” Gallery

Going up the granite staircase to the second floor, we entered the “Watered by the Hands of Ama-Gaolay” Gallery, the Natural Heritage Room where paintings of Pangasinan’s flora and fauna are displayed.

. The province’s river systems

The province’s river systems are also highlighted.  The Natural History Exhibit, a section dedicated to the region’s biodiversity, features preserved specimens (civet cat, giant clam, etc.), informative displays, and interactive learning stations.

Princess Urduja (Margaret Estelle Blas

The Descendants of Apolaqui Gallery feature myths and legends, such as the Legend of the Hundred Islands plus an painting of Princess Urduja by Margaret Estelle Blas.

World War II artifacts and photo of a war-damaged Provincial Capitol Building

The “Beachhead of Valor” Gallery displays World War II artifacts (helmet, canteen, military patches, etc.), a reproduction of the war-damaged façade of the Provincial Capitol Building and a model of a Japanese Mitsubishi A6M “Zero” fighter hanging on the ceiling. Mounted on the wall is an old photo of the damaged Provincial Capitol Building and wartime newspaper clippings.

Model of a Mitsubishi A6M Zero Fighter hanging under the ceiling

The “Festivals by the Sea and the Fields” Gallery features traditional life and the festivals held by the towns in Pangasinan.

“Pilgrims Who Responded to the Call” Gallery

The “Pilgrims Who Responded to the Call” Gallery delves on the Pangasinense’s religiosity, Our Lady of Manaoag and the religious movement in the 20th century. Here, churches and faith healers are highlighted.

“Patriots and Nation Builders” Gallery

The “Patriots and Nation Builders” Gallery delves on the history and development of the province and the provincial contributions to the national identity of the country.

Salvador Bernal and Fernando Poe Jr.

Featured here are outstanding Pangasinenses such the late President Fidel V. Ramos (from Lingayen); writer and novelist Maria P. Magsano; educator, suffraguette and social worker Geronima T. Pecson (from Lingayen) and Speaker of the House of Representatives Eugenio P. Perez (from San Carlos City).

Victorio Edades and Francisco Sionil Jose

Also given a place of honor are actor, director, producer and National Artist (2006) Fernando Poe Jr. (from San Carlos City); National Artist for Theater and Design (2003) Salvador Bernal (from Dagupan City); painter and National Artist (1976) Victorio C. Edades (from Dagupan City) and writer and National Artist for Literature (2001) Francisco Sionil Jose (from Rosales).

Pantranco Bus

Replica of Manila-Dagupan railway locomotive

The Heritage Exhibits features rich displays of traditional clothing, accessories, and crafts that reflect the unique identity and customs of the local communities.

Replica of Bolinao Skull

Scaled Model of the Casa Real

The other galleries feature hand-embroidered veils; a replica of the Bolinao Skull (with its gold dental ornamentation); scaled models of the Casa Real and Provincial Capitol Building; small replicas of a bahay kubo, a Chinese junk, a Pangasinan Transport Co. (Pantranco) bus, the 0-6-2 side tank locomotive of the Manila-Dagupan Railway and even a bull-drawn cart full of baskets that were sold in a caravan.

Replica of a Chinese junk

To enhance the visitor experience, Banáan also has a carefully curated Gift Shop that offers unique souvenirs, local crafts, books, and artwork.

Gift Shop

Aside from guided tours, Banaan also offers special programs and activities, such as workshops, lecture series and cultural festivals. There are dedicated spaces for educational interactive workshops on traditional crafts, painting, music, and dance, which allow visitors to experience Pangasinan’s living cultural heritage firsthand, as well as for lecture series where invited speakers and experts will share their expertise on various aspects of Pangasinan’s history, archaeology, and culture.

Scaled model of Provincial Capitol Building

Banaan also hosts regular cultural events and festivals showcasing the vibrant traditions and celebrations of the region.

 

Bahay Kubo

Banaan Pangasinan Provincial Museum: Poblacion, Lingayen, Pangasinan.  Coordinates: 16.019805°N 120.230341°E. Entrance to the museum is via an online reservation system (launched last September 4) incorporated in the “See Pangasinan” website.  The link is promoted through the PTCAO/See Pangasinan Facebook page. Walk-ins are not allowed yet.

Garry Point Park (Richmond, British Columbia, Canada)

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Garry Point Park

This 30-hectare (75-acre) Garry Point Park, a public open-air coastal park situated on the Sturgeon Banks of  the Fraser River, was opened in 1989. This popular picnic destination, at the southwestern side of Richmond, near Steveston, is fringed by a sandy, log-strewn shimmering and expansive waterfront, the park’s main appeal. Located next to the Salish Sea, it offers gorgeous and relaxing panoramic views of the Fraser River’s South Arm; the low-rise silhouettes of Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands and the sunset from across the water.

The park’s southern edge has a string of small, log-strewn sandy beaches backed by tangles of driftwood logs where you can sit and watch the fishing boats, tugs and pleasure vessels coming in and out through the fast-moving waters of the Steveston Harbor.

It features a modern sculpture (Steveston Fishermen’s Memorial), a Japanese garden (Kuno Garden), beach access, good washrooms, a picnic area and plenty of benches. The area was used as a location for filming of the Netflix series Midnight Mass.

The gently rolling grassy areas of Garry Point’s are also ideal for spreading out an impromptu picnic blanket. At the eastern edge of the park are two seasonal concession stand counters -Timothy’s Frozen Yogurt (for sweet treats) and local legend  Pajo’s (serves delicious fish and chips).

The park’s understated flora includes colorful bluebells, vibrant azaleas and, every April, the park’s Cherry Tree Garden, undertaken in 2000 during the 35th anniversary of the friendship of the cities of Wakayama, Japan and Richmond, British Columbia.  It features more than 250 carefully cultivated cherry trees that form a canopy over a walkway, making this a magnet for cherry blossom fans. During Garry Point’s annual Pacific Rim Kite Festival, in June, you can watch and kite flying, typically flown from a buggy or a board, taking full advantage of the unobstructed breezes.

Dogs are allowed in the park, but they must be leashed; and feeding wildlife and picking plants is not permitted. Dotted around the park are several well-written plaques, some with excellent black and white photos that transport you right back to the Richmond of yesteryear.

Kuno Japanese Garden

Near the entrance of the park is Kuno Garden, a Japanese garden established in 1989 by the local Japanese community in celebration of the centenary of Gihei Kuno, the first Japanese immigrant from Wakayama, Japan who arrived here in 1888, one of many thousands who fuelled Steveston’s fishing industry.

Donated to the city as a part of the centennial project, it is filled with Japanese horticultural features, symbolic stone structures, lantern and rock carefully placed to achieve the ultimate state of Zen.

Steveston Fishermen’s Memorial

The striking, 25-ft. high, aluminum, bronze and stone Steveston Fishermen’s Memorial, towering over the waterfront, recalls the importance of fishing. Shaped like a giant fishing net needle, it’s a stirring public art reminder of those who have been injured or lost their lives to the industry over the years. Its base is engraved with the names of hundreds of fishermen who lost their lives for their communities. Created by artists George Juhasz and Georg Schmerholz, it was unveiled to the public in 1996.

Along the park’s circuit trail is Scotch Pond, a historic moorage site on the north end of the park that is an evocative reminder of the past.  Home of the Scottish Canadian Cannery, it is one of more than a dozen similar operations that once dotted the Steveston shoreline. Built in 1899, there are still remnants of the raised wooden walkway that once led across the water to this cannery as well as a large, barn-like structure, on piles, that  once housed a busy, family-run boatworks that was constructed here in 1905

Garry Point Park: 12011 Seventh Ave., Richmond, British Columbia V7E 4X2. Open 2 hours.  Tel: (604) 244-1208.

How to Get There: Garry Point Park is a short stroll from the centre of Steveston Village; reach it on foot via a wide walkway that runs alongside the Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site. Steveston is easily reached by public transit.

Steveston Tram Museum (Richmond, British Columbia, Canada)

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Steveston Tram Museum

The Steveston Tram Museum, housing the beautifully restored Tram Car 1220, one of the original trams that ran on Richmond’s interurban rail system and the largest artifact in the Richmond Museum Collection, allows visitors to experience authentic Interurban rail travel and learn about early 20th century transportation.

The left side of the museum

The bright red, 2,370 sq. ft.  museum, opened in May 2013 across the street from where the Steveston Station (which burned down in 1928 and replaced by a simple tram stop shelter in 1929) once stood, was designed by Birmingham & Wood Architects and built by Scott Special Projects Ltd., around the original tracks of the BC Electric Railway (BCER) Interurban Network.

The large windows at the right side of the museum

For 55 years, it provided an important economic and social connection between Richmond and the rest of the Lower Mainland. Today, you can still spot the original railroad path and power poles around the tram.

the Heritage Train Tracks at the rear of the museum

The building has 27-ft. high windows, a winch system to allow the tram  to be pulled out of the building for special events, and public art created by artist Mia Weinberg, a 1994 graduate of Emily Carr University of Art and Design, which will be integrated into the floor of the outdoor platform at the main entrance of the building.  It also has a community meeting room and had a restoration space (now converted into a programming space after the restoration was completed).

Heritage Train Tracks

Here’s the historical timeline of the BC Electric Railway Interurban Network:

  • In 1902, rail connection in Steveston started when the Lulu Island railway, owned by the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR), ran freight and passenger steam trains to the area.
  • In 1905, the CPR leased the rail line to the BC Electric Railway Company (BCER), who electrified it for tram use. This was part of the BCER’s establishment of an Interurban railway network that would connect different communities throughout the Lower Mainland, otherwise difficult to reach.
  • In 1913, BCER added 28 1200-class tram cars bought from the St. Louis Car Company in Missouri (USA). Among them was Tram Car 1220.
  • By the 1940s, it had grown to 72 cars and 140,000 annual passengers

Tram Car 1220

Tram Car 1220, nicknamed the “Sockeye Special,” was discovered in a Mitchell Island warehouse in 1992.  Serving the local residents of Steveston to Marpole (located in south Vancouver), it was made of sturdy steel and wood, it was painted bright red.

The tram car could carry up to 64 seated passengers at a time.  They ran from the BC Electric Building at the southwest corner of Carol and Hastings Street to Steveston Village.

Tram entrance

On February 28, 1958, Tram Car 1220 made its final voyage between Marpole and Steveston, marking the end of an era for the Richmond community and for transportation history in BC.

Tram interior which looks like a glowing, wood and glass jewelry box. Beyond is the smoking area

After decades of being off the tracks, the City of Richmond acquired Tram Car 1220 and, on May 3, 2013, opened the Steveston Tram Museum which was inspired by the architecture of the first Steveston Tram Station.

A mini display.  On Saturday, the last train of the night (12 AM) leaving Vancouver carried Steveston revelers who strewed peanut shells from the snacks they’d bought from the station. Not surprisingly, this last-nigh service was locally known as the “Peanut Special.”

Five years later, after a painstaking, three-year, $400,000 restoration starting in 2016, the tram made an exciting return to its former glory.

Another mini display showing chickens, a milk churn and crates of vegetables that sometimes rode alongside passengers

Tram Car 1220 is one of only seven remaining BC Electric Railway cars, five of them in BC in various states of functionality (most of the interurbans ended up being burnt at the railyard under the Burrard Street Bridge).  Several “sister” trams are located in Metro Vancouver, as well as one in Ottawa (Car 1235 at the Canada Science and Technology).

Vintage advertisements, lining the tram;s interior, of products such as Eaton’s Tea, Dri-Glo, Barq’s and even Goodwin’s “corn dodger” shoes

In Metro Vancouver, you can visit the other surviving BCER cars at the Burnaby Village Museum (Tram 1223) or the Fraser Valley Heritage Railway Society  in Surrey where they offer hour-long rides around Cloverdale aboard Car 1225. 

Check out “Burnaby Village Museum” 

The author donning an motorman’s costume and cap

Jandy

When we entered the tram, a male costumed Heritage Interpreter dressed as a tram conductor immediately greeted us and walked us through, pointing out things that we would never have noticed – the smoking half of the tram with no ashtrays, the screws on the outside that are all aligned, etc.

The mechanical controls and the tiny motorman’s stool

The restoration inside was exceptional – from the rattan seats, graffiti to the match striker plates (where you can strike up a light) at the smoking section.

Vancouver Fares

Exhibits and child-friendly interactive displays also showcase this piece of Richmond history. One exhibit highlights the impact that trams had on Richmond and the Lower Mainland. It includes an extensive timeline on the history of trams which is complimented with footage of trams travelling through Richmond.

Interactive Tram Map

There is also a huge interactive map of all the tram routes that ran through Metro Vancouver.  Push buttons light up the five main lines and the stations that operate on them.

Brake lever, bell cord and conductor’s coin changer

Another interactive aspect of the exhibit is a display explaining how conductors would operate the trams with the ability to use the bell and handbrake that were onboard trams.

Main Station Clock

Another display on the tram car’s restoration process highlights the efforts of volunteers and paid professionals to bring the car to its past glory. Visitors can also dress up as a conductor.

Tickets of the Tram

Evocative artifacts on display include rail spikes, tram tokens, a 1950 employee badge, a 1914 tram whistle and a handsome clock of the type that would have hung on the wall of every station along the network.

1953 motorman’s cap, BCER employee badge, reverse key

Also on display are faded signs from several old stations (Steveston, Trucks and Woodward’s); a 1950s hat worn by a motorman (AKA tram driver); a fare poster from the line’s final years (an adult one-zone fare was just 13c), a brake lever, bell cord and conductor’s coin changer.

Restoring the Rare

Adjacent to the museum is the Steveson Nikkei Memorial, a public art and contemplative garden space unveiled on June 22, 2019, that honors the 75th anniversary of the evacuation, relocation, and internment of 2,500 Japanese Canadians from Steveston during World War II.  It further celebrates the rebuilding of the Steveston community following their return from internment in following the war. 

Steveson Nikkei Memorial

Steveston Tram Museum: 4011 Moncton St., Richmond, British Columbia V7E 3A8.  Tel: 604-238-8081.  E-mail: interurban1220@richmond.ca. Open Tuesdays to Sundays, 12 to 4 PM (Spring, January 3 to May 19); daily, 10 AM to 5 PM (Summer, May 20 to September 4)  and Tuesdays to Sundays, 12 to 4 PM (Fall/Winter, September 5 to December 31). Closed on statutory holidays.  Admission is free.