Category Archives: PLACES OF INTEREST

Lake Ashino-ko (Hakone, Japan)

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Lake Ashino-ko

We just finished our late lunch at Izumi Restaurant at Gotemba and we all had to rush back to our bus for the 30-min. drive to the Hakone area of Kanagawa Prefecture if we were to catch the last 4:30 PM ferry tour of Lake Ashinoko (芦ノ湖). It was still rainy when we left the restaurant. The lake is located on the Tōkaidō road, the main link between Kyoto and Tokyo. The bus made it just in time to Togendai-ko Harbor, the sightseeing boat pier at the lake’s northern shores.

Togendai-ko Harbor

The scenic Lake Ashinoko, also referred to as Hakone Lake or Lake Ashi, is a crater lake 720 m. above sea level that lies along the southwest wall of the caldera of Mount Hakone, a complex volcano that last erupted in 1170 CE at Owakudani. The name Ashinoko means “lake of reeds” in Japanese – ashi (芦) means “reed” while ko (湖  means “lake.”

Victory

The lake, situated some 723 m. above sea level, is the largest lake in Kanagawa prefecture.  With an area of 7 sq. kms., it extends 7 kms. from north to south and has a circumference of 19 kms. It is known for its views of Mt. Fuji, its numerous hot springs, historical sites and ryokan (inns).

Vasa docked acrossed from Victory at Togendai-ko Harbor

Royal II docked at Hakonemachi-ko Harbor

At Togendai-ko Harbor, we all boarded the Victory  (modelled after the 18th century British warship, the HMS Victory) one of three ships inspired by the design of sailing warships (the other two are Royal II, a replica of the 18th century French warship, the Royal Louis, and Vasa, a replica of the 17th century Swedish warship) of Hakone Sightseeing Boats, one of two companies (the other is Izuhakone Sightseeing Boats), that operate pleasure boats that traverse and cruise the gorgeous lake between four ports (Moto-Hakone and Hakone-machi and Togendai and Kojiri) at the lake’s northern end.

The passenger cabin of the Victory

It stopped raining when we left the pier but the skies were still overcast. The boat cruise from one end of the lake to the other takes roughly 30 minutes. The lake, with Mount Fuji in the background, is the symbol of Hakone. However, as with our tour of Mt. Fuji, clouds and poor visibility block our view of the mountain. Visibility tends to be better during the colder seasons of the year than in summer, and in the early morning and late afternoon hours.

Still, the view and cool breeze from the wide open-air decks, with plenty of comfortable viewing spots, was still scenic, with small towns in the east and north and a couple of lakeside resort hotels lining the shoreline framed by the nearby mountain range that includes the famous Mt. Fuji. Legend has it that Lake Ashinoko was home to a nine-headed dragon which is presented with an offering of traditional red rice at the Hakone Shrine Lake Ashi Festival on July 31 every year.

Hakonemachi-ko Harbor

Our tour ended at Hakonemachi-ko Port, at the lake’s southern shore, where our bus waited for us.  On our way back to Tokyo, our bus made a short stopover at Odawara Shinkansen Station where a number of passengers took the super fast shinkansen bullet train back to Tokyo.

The author with Kyle at Hakonemachi-ko Harbor. In the background is the Victory and Royal II

Outside the west exit of the station is a bronze equestrian statue of Hojo Soun (1432-1519), first head of the Later Hojo clan, one of the great powers of the Sengoku period.   It shows him with flaming torches tied to his oxen and fooling his opponents that his troops were three times more than what he actually had.

Odawara Station

Back on our bus, we continued on our long haul drive back to Tokyo. Once in Tokyo, we made a number of stopovers at a number of hotels to drop off passengers before being dropped off at the Akasaka Excel Hotel.

The equestrian statue of Hojo Soun

Lake Ashinoko: Hakone, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun 250-0521, Kanagawa Prefecture.

How to Get There:  Frequent buses connect Odawara, via Hakone-Yumoto, with Moto-Hakone and Hakone-machi. The trip from Odawara takes about 50 mins. From Hakone-Yumoto, it takes about 35 mins. The Hakone Free Pass is valid on Hakone Tozan buses (bus line H) but not on Izuhakone buses (bus line Z).

There is also a frequently served Hakone Tozan Bus line from Odawara via Hakone-Yumoto to Togendai  (bus line T). The trip also takes about 50 mins. and is also covered by the Hakone Free Pass. From Hakone-Yumoto it takes about 35 minutes.

A slow and scenic way of approaching Lake Ashinoko, from Odawara or Hakone-Yumoto, is taking the Hakone Tozan Railway to Gora, followed by a cable car and ropeway ride to Togendai. From Togendai, you can continue to Moto-Hakone or Hakone-machi by sightseeing boat . The whole journey is covered by the Hakone Free Pass.

Fuji Subaru Line 5th Station (Japan)

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The partially cloud-shrouded Mt. Fuji

Our  third day in Tokyo was to be spent on a booked Mt. Fuji/Hakone Day Tour. After breakfast at our hotel, we walked to the nearby Akasaka Excel Hotel. Here, we as well as other tour joiners were met by Mr. Hashimoto, our tour guide.  Once all guests were accounted for, we all boarded  our Gray Line Tour Bus and were soon on our way.

Fuji Subaru Line 5th Station

The 138.4-km. drive from Tokyo to our destination, the Fuji Subaru Line 5th Station (also known as Yoshidaguchi 5th Station or Kawaguchiko 5th Station), normally took just a little over two hours and 30 mins. but, it being a weekend (Saturday), traffic was heavy along the way.

Jandy

The Fuji Subaru Line 5th Station is the most popular of the four 5th stations on Mount Fuji and the best developed and easiest to access by public transportation from Tokyo. The only 5th Station with daily bus service during most of the year, it is accessible almost year round, snow conditions permitting.

Gogoen Resthouse

The station is reached by the Subaru Line, a scenic toll road up Mount Fuji‘s lower northern slopes that begins in Kawaguchiko Town. In times of heavy snow in winter, it may temporarily get partially closed.

It lies at approximately the halfway point of the Yoshida Trail, which leads from Fujiyoshida Sengen Shrine at the mountain’s base to the summit of Mount Fuji.

During the majority of the climbing season (July 10 to September 10), the road is closed to private vehicles and shuttle buses can only operate between designated parking lots at the base of the mountain and the 5th station.

Statue of young Japanese men pointing to the summit at Fuji

During the long drive, we had some good views of the 3,776 m. (12,388 ft.) high Mt. Fuji, the highest mountain in Japan.  The peak (not snow clad as it was autumn), however, was partially obscured by clouds.

We arrived at the 5th Station by 12:30 PM. The Fuji Subaru Line 5th Station had parking lots, coin lockers and a few restaurants and shops.

At 2,305 m. (7,546 ft.) above sea level, the Fuji Subaru Line 5th Station is a popular spot even for those who are not intent on climbing the mountain as it offers a commanding view of the Fuji Five Lakes area below.

Start of the Yoshida Trail up the mountain

The Komitake Shrine, behind the shops, has an observation point with unobstructed views of Fujiyoshida City and Lake Yamanaka.

Being that high up the mountain, it was bitingly cold when we alighted our bus.  Here, we used their restrooms (for a fee), bought souvenirs and bought some Japanese-style pancakes (250 yen each) which were incredibly light and super fluffy (because of the whipped egg whites) and were available with cream cheese and custard cheese fillings.

The interior of a well-stocked Japanese store

For departing climbers, it is their last chance to stock up on supplies and purchase hiking sticks, snacks, bottles of water and oxygen, at reasonable prices (though also available along the trail, prices increase as you climb higher), before they head out.

The stall selling Japanese-style pancakes

Fuji Subaru Line 5th Station: Narusawa, Minamitsuru District, Yamanashi Prefecture

Tokyo DisneySea (Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture, Japan)

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Tokyo DisneySea Entrance Plaza

Our second day in Tokyo was to be spent at the 71.22 hectare (176-acre) Tokyo DisneySea theme park at the Tokyo Disney Resort, just outside Tokyo. Getting there would entail us a number to Metro rides.

Resort Gateway Station (3)

The second theme park to open (September 4, 2001, at a cost of 335 billion yen) at the Tokyo Disney Resort and the ninth park of the twelve worldwide Disney theme parks to open, the distinctly different Tokyo DisneySea was the fastest theme park in the world to reach the milestone of 10 million guests, having done so in 307 days after its grand opening (the previous record-holder was Universal Studios Japan 338 days after its opening). Just last year, it attracted an estimated 14.651 million visitors, making it the fourth-most-visited theme park in the world.

Disney Resort Monorail

In 2002, for the concept, design, and construction of the theme park, Tokyo DisneySea won a Thea Award from the Themed Entertainment Association  presented at El Capitan Theater in Hollywood, California.

DisneySea AquaSphere

Tokyo DisneySea has an overall nautical exploration theme to it, with seven nautically themed areas or “ports of call” – Mediterranean Harbor, American Waterfront, Lost River Delta, Port Discovery, Mermaid Lagoon, Arabian Coast and Mysterious Island.

Statue of Mickey Mouse and Walt Disney at Entrance Plaza

Unlike neighboring Tokyo Disneyland, it provides a wider selection of table service restaurants and is one of the very few Disney parks that serve alcoholic beverages (from regular pints of beer to a mix of fun cocktails at kiosks to fine selections of liquor at the elegant Teddy Roosevelt Lounge).

After breakfast at our hotel, we walked over to the nearby Akasaka-Mitsuke Metro Station where we boarded the train for Tokyo Metro Marunouchi. Upon arrival, we transfer to the JR Keiyo Line for the JR Maihama Station and, from there, transferred to the Disney Resort Monorail from the Resort Gateway Station that is adjacent to JR Maihama Station. We reach Tokyo DisneySea at the Tokyo DisneySea Station, the third stop.  The whole trip, including transfers, took us about 45 mins.

Mediterranean Harbor

Within the entrance plaza is the DisneySea AquaSphere, a water fountain with a large model of the earth. Upon entering, the first “port of call” we encountered was the Mediterranean Harbor which is themed as an Italian port city. Unlike entry “lands” of other Disney parks, Mediterranean Harbor’s layout differs is a large “V” shape rather than a main street that leads to a hub (as found in Disneyland‘s Main Street, U.S.A. or Disney’s Hollywood Studios‘ Hollywood Boulevard”). Overlooking a sizeable marina, littered throughout the port are various shops and restaurants. Guests here can board and ride authentic Venetian gondolas at Palazzo Canals.

A Venetian-style canal

Tokyo DisneySea Hotel MiraCosta, built into the architecture of the port, serves as a full-scale reproduction of the various buildings of Portofino and Venice’s ports and serves as the southern berm (or border) of the park.

Magellan’s Restaurant

Bryan, Cheska and Kyle exploring a replica of an old sailing ship

Mediterranean Harbor also features Soaring: Fantastic Flight (a flying simulator) and “Fortress Explorations” (a large-scale interactive play area for guests that features exploration-themed activities and attractions). At night, there’s “Fantasmic!” show which premiered on April 28, 2011 as part of the park’s 10th anniversary celebration.

A bridge reminiscent of Ponte Vecchio, the old bridge in Florence, Italy

To the right of Mediterranean Harbor, the path leads to Mysterious Island, and to the left, the path leads to the American Waterfront, separated by a bridge reminiscent of Ponte Vecchio, the old bridge in Florence, Italy.

Mysterious Island

The Victorian-style Mysterious Island, the smallest of DisneySea’s “ports of call,” relies heavily on the storytelling of Jules Verne and, specifically, the mythology of the volcano fortress mentioned several times in the books called “Vulcania.”

Mount Prometheus

Its centerpiece and most prominent feature is the giant volcano Mount Prometheus and its ride employs technology similar to Epcot‘s Test Track.

While appearing to be a volcano on the water, Mysterious Island is not an island.  It is built into the side of Mount Prometheus, which is part of the show building for the two more popular attractions – “Journey to the Center of the Earth” (a thrill ride) and “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” (a dark ride).

Mermaid Lagoon

The mostly indoors, whimsical Mermaid Lagoon, geared towards younger children, has a facade made to resemble King Triton’s palace, recreating the feeling of being underwater.

Interior of Mermaid Lagoon

It features seashell-inspired architecture and is home to the characters of The Little Mermaid. Attractions at this “port of call” include Flounder’s Flying Fish Coaster; Scuttle’s Scooters; Jumpin’ Jellyfish; Blowfish Balloon Race; The Whirlpool; all children’s rides; and Ariel’s Playground (a children’s playground and extensive walk-through attraction that recreates the various settings in the movie).

Mermaid Lagoon Theater

King Triton’s Concert

At Mermaid Lagoon Theater, we watched “King Triton’s Concert,” a musical show that recreate the story of The Little Mermaid and featured live actors, large-scale puppetry and Audio-Animatronics.

Arabian Coast

The Arabian Coast, themed after Aladdin, recreates an Arabian harbor combined with an “enchanted world from 1001 Arabian Nights.”

Sinbad’s Storybook Voyage

Our boat ride…..

Here, we tried out the  Sindbad’s Storybook Voyage, an indoor dark ride boat ride whose art direction seems to be, at first glance, a variation on “It’s a Small World” (with its own theme song, “Compass of your Heart,” composed by Alan Menken).

Jasmine’s Flying Carpets

Cheska, Kyle and Bryan at the Caravan Carousel

We also tried out the Jasmine’s Flying Carpets and Caravan Carousel, a double-decker carousel that holds over 190 passengers, and ate lunch at its Casbah Food Court.

Casbah Food Court

This “port of call’s” other attraction is the Magic Lamp Theater which houses a combined live-action/animatronic based magic show with a 3D movie featuring the Genie.

Lost River Delta

Lost River Delta, located at the back of the park, the dominant structure in this “port of call” is the ruins of an ancient Aztec pyramid in the Central American jungle which houses the dark thrill ride, Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Crystal Skull. “Out of Shadowland,” a live theatrical show, follows Mei, a young girl lost in a world of shadows who finds confidence and strength through her sojourn there.

Indiana Jones Adventure – Temple of the Crystal Skull

Out of Shadowland

Also in the Lost River Delta is the DisneySea Steamer Line which transports guests from Mediterranean Harbor to Cape Cod and Lost River Delta.

DisneySea Steamer Line

Raging Spirits , an Intamin roller coaster which opened in 2005, is similar to Indiana Jones et le Temple du Péril at Disneyland Park in Paris).

Port Discovery

At Port Discovery, home to the fictional “Marine Life Institute,” Grace, Jandy, Bryan, Cheska and Kyle tried out Aquatopia, a boat ride that uses LPS tracking (the ‘trackless’ technology also used in Tokyo Disneyland’s Pooh’s Hunny Hunt to move and spin through a lagoon amid waterfalls and whirlpools.

Aquatopia

Jandy and Grace taking a spin around the lagoon

We also rode the relaxing and scenic  DisneySea Electric Railway, an overhead electric trolley, on a 2 ft., 6 in. (762 mm.) narrow gauge  track, that transported us the American Waterfront.

Disneysea Electric Railway

The author, Cheska, Kyle and Bryan on board the trolley

The Nemo & Friends SeaRider, opened on May 12, 2017, is based on Finding Nemo/Finding Dory which replaced the former StormRider simulator.

American Waterfront

The American Waterfront, representing the northeastern seaboard of the United States in the early 20th century, features two themed areas – an “Old Cape Cod” section, and a “New York Harbor” section.

Here, we rode some of the area’s “Big City Vehicles,” from the limousine to paddy wagon, delivery truck and more, which roam the streets of the area.

One of the “Big City Vehicles”

The Tower of Terror, an elaborately themed free-fall E-ticket ride, is  the port’s most popular attraction. Its Broadway-themed theater, which plays the show “Big Band Beat,” features 1940s-style swing jazz performed by a 12-piece band, as well as 20 singers/dancers.

SS Columbia

This “port of call,” accessible by the aforementioned DisneySea Electric Railway from nearby Port Discovery, is dominated by the SS Columbia, a large passenger ship which is usually the site for various shows and events. It houses a restaurant and lounge.

Turtle Talk

Here, we watched a special theater-style attraction called Turtle Talk where you can ask questions (though in Japanese) in real time to Crush, the 153-year-old surfer-dude turtle from Finding Nemo and Finding Dory.

Toyville Trolley Park

Toy Story Mania, in a new area called Toyville Trolley Park, is easily one of the most popular attractions in the park.  An interactive 4-D theme park attraction, it opened on July 9, 2012.  Inspired by Disney Pixar’s Toy Story, guests wore 3-D glasses while riding spinning vehicles that travel through virtual environments based on classic carnival games. There are shooters on the vehicles to let guests to shoot targets in those 3-D games like “egg toss” and “balloon pop”.

Toy Story Mania

Tokyo DisneySea: Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. Open daily, typically from 8 AM to 10 PM, admission ends one hour before closing. Admission: 7,500 yen.  For a detailed map of Tokyo DisneySea, check out their website.

Hachiko Memorial Statue (Tokyo, Japan)

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Hachiko Memorial Statue

It was now late in the day when we finished our late lunch inside our airconditioned hotel room and, as many museums close by 5 PM, we decided to just visit Shibuya Crossing and the nearby famous Hachiko Statue.  From the Akasaka Station, it was just a short 10-min. train ride to Shibuya Station.

The bronze memorial statue of the loyal dog Hachikō, between the train station and the intersection, is a common meeting place and, thus, was crowded. Hachikō, was, during his lifetime, held up in Japanese culture as an example of loyalty and fidelity.

This Akita Inu (a Japanese breed from the mountains of northern Japan) dog was born on November 10, 1923 in a farm near the city of Ōdate, Akita Prefecture. In 1924, Hachikō was taken as a pet by Hidesaburō Ueno, a professor in the agriculture department at the Tokyo Imperial University, who brought him to live in Shibuya, Tokyo. Professor Ueno would commute daily to work, and Hachikō, at the end of each day, would leave the house to greet him at the nearby Shibuya Station.

This daily routine continued until May 21, 1925 when, while he was giving a lecture,  the professor suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and died without ever returning to the train station in which Hachikō waited. Still, each day for the next nine years, nine months and fifteen days, Hachikō would still await Ueno’s return, appearing precisely when the train was due at the station and thus attracting the attention of other commuters, many of whom frequented the Shibuya train station and had seen Hachikō and Professor Ueno together each day.

Hirokichi Saito, one of Ueno’s students who developed expertise on the Akita breed, also saw Hachiko at the station and followed him to the home of Kuzaboro Kobayashi, Ueno’s former gardener, where he learned the history of Hachikō’s life. He returned frequently to visit Hachikō and, over the years, published several articles about the dog’s remarkable loyalty. On October 4, 1932, an article about him in Asahi Shimbun (Asahi News), placed Hachikō in the national spotlight, making the dog a national sensation. People started to bring Hachikō treats and food to nourish him during his wait.

His faithfulness to his master Ueno’s memory impressed Japanese people as a spirit of family loyalty to which all should strive to achieve and teachers and parents also used Hachikō’s vigil as an example for children to follow. Throughout the country, a new awareness of the Akita breed grew. Eventually, Hachikō’s legendary faithfulness became a national symbol of loyalty, particularly to the person and institution of Emperors.

Hachikō died on March 8, 1935, at the age of 11, from both terminalcancer and a filaria infection, and his remains were cremated and his ashes were buried in Aoyama Cemetery, Minato, Tokyo, resting beside those of Professor Ueno, Hachikō’s beloved master. His fur, preserved after his death, was stuffed and mounted and is currently on permanent display at the National Science Museum of Japan in Ueno, Tokyo.

A statue based Hachiko’s likeness was first sculpted by well-known Japanese artist Teru Ando and erected at Shibuya Station (35°39′32.6″N 139°42′2.1″E) in April 1934, with Hachikō himself present at its unveiling. During World War II, the statue was recycled for the war effort.

L-R: the author, Kyle, Grace and Jandy

In 1948, Takeshi Ando, son of the original artist, was commissioned by the Society for Recreating the Hachikō Statue to make a new second statue which was erected in August 1948.  It still stands and is a popular meeting spot. The station entrance near this statue, one of Shibuya Station’s five exits, is named the Hachikō Entrance/Exit (Hachikō-guchi).

L-R: Cheska, Kyle and Bryan

Hachikō’s devotion is honored on March 8, each year, with a solemn ceremony of remembrance at the Shibuya railroad station, attended by hundreds of dog lovers who want to honor his memory and loyalty. Well after Hachiko’s death, the dog continues to be remembered in worldwide popular culture, with statues, movies, books, and appearances in various media.  In 1987, the story of Hachiko was depicted in the Japanese film,  Hachikō Monogatari (ハチ公物語,The Tale of Hachiko). The 2009 British American drama film Hachi: A Dog’s Tale,  which starred Richard Gere, Joan Allen and Sarah Roemer, is a remake of the Japanese film. 

Plaque of statue

Hachiko Memorial Statue: 1 Chome-2 Dōgenzaka, Shibuya-ku, Tōkyō-to 150-0043, Japan.  Tel:  +81 3-3463-1762.

Tokyo Here We Come!!!

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Our first clear view of the Japanese countryside from our plane window

Our direct Cebu Pacific (5J-5054) flight to Tokyo left Manila’s NAIA Terminal 3 by 6:15 AM and our flight took us nearly four-and-a-half hours.  We had a pre-ordered breakfast on board our plane.  Our plane landed at Narita International Airport by 11:30 AM (Tokyo time which is one hour ahead of Manila).

Narita International Airport

Grace, Bryan and Cheska exiting the plane

Kyle, Jandy, Cheska and Bryan now inside Narita International Airport

After gathering our luggage and passing through Airport Immigration, Cheska booked all of us on an Airport Limousine Bus that would bring us, from the airport, to Akasaka Excel Hotel Tokyu which was near the hotel we were to stay in for four nights – Centurion Classic Akasaka.

Check out “Hotel and Inn Review: Centurion Classic Akasaka“

Airport Limousine bus

Fare was ￥3,100 per adult (￥15,500 total for me, Grace, Jandy, Cheska and Bryan) and ￥1,550 for my 6 year old grandson Kyle.  We could have taken the Metro and save more than half what we paid, but we decided against it as we were traveling with heavy and bulky luggage. Taking the taxi or Uber would have been more expensive as we would have to board two vehicles.

On board…..

Our airconditioned limousine bus soon arrived and, after our luggage was loaded, we took our seats inside the bus which left promptly at 1:30 PM. Normally, travel time from Narita International Airport to Asakasa (59.7 kms. away) takes just a little over an hour but our bus trip took 30 mins. longer as the bus made a number of stops to drop off passengers at different hotels.  We arrived at the Akasaka Excel Hotel by 3 PM and made the short 5-min. walk to our hotel.

Alighting from the bus at Excel Hotel Akasaka Tokyu

Walking towards our hotel

After checking in at our 5th floor room (Room 509) and freshening up abit, we again went down to the hotel lobby and walked to a nearby 7-11 convenient store where we bought packed lunches, sandwiches and 1-liter bottled water.  That done, we gain walked back to our hotel and had our first meal in Tokyo in the airconditioned comfort of our room.

Centurion Hotel Classic Akasuka

Centurion Classic Asakasa: 107-0052 Tokyo Prefecture, Minato-ku Akasaka 3-11-8, Japan.  Tel: 1-866-599-6674.

Return to Wawa Gorge (Rodriguez, Rizal)

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Wawa Gorge

The day after my grandson Kyle’s 6th birthday, I together with the rest of my family joined employees of E. Ganzon Inc. in distributing relief goods to residents of Sitio Wawa in Rodriguez (formerly Montalban, it was renamed after Eulogio “Amang” Rodriguez Sr., Montalban’s first mayor and Senate president, in 1982) in Rizal. Last August 11-13, the area was hit by flash flooding that also destroyed the bridge that connects Sitio Wawa with Sitio Sto. Niño.

Sitio Wawa

This wasn’t my first visit to this area.  The first time I was in Wawa was way back in 2004 when I was a guest in a demonstration tour, for teacher representatives from 9 different schools, hosted by Lakbay Kalikasan. At Wawa Gorge, we engaged in the adrenaline-pumping sport of rappelling at the gorge’s metal footbridge.

Check out “Rapelling at Wawa Gorge“

Sitio Wawa lies is in between the 426 m. high Mt. Pamitinan and 424 m. high Mt. Binacayan.  Its abandoned reservoir is visited mostly by hikers as the jump-off point for the trek to either beginner-friendly mountain, two of three mountains in the well-loved trilogy hike (the other is 517 m. high Mt. Hapunang Banoi). Guide fee is Php500 per group.

Mt. Pamitinan

The two mountains form a scenic view that appears like a portal to the sky, hence the name wawa, the Dumagat term for “entrance.” Sitio Wawa is a habitat of the Remontado Dumagat, mixed-blood offspring of lowlanders, who fled the Spanish colonizers, and of Negritos, the original setters in the area.

Mt. Binacayan

Legend has it that a giant of extraordinary strength named Bernardo Carpio (our version of Hercules or Atlas) who, in olden times, was trapped by an enkanto (enchanted creature) between Mt. Pamitinan and Mt. Binacayan. He caused earthquakes, landslides and flooding in nearby villages every time he struggles to free himself from his chains or keep the boulders from crushing him or from colliding.

Parking lot for visitors

José Rizal was said to have made a pilgrimage to Montalban to pay homage to Bernardo Carpio, a versatile symbol of freedom. In recent times, Lavrente “Lav” Diaz has used the legend as organic symbol in his 2016 historical fantasy dram film Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis (“A Lullaby to the Sorrowful Mystery”). The riverbed is said to have a boulder with a hollow that forms what look like a gigantic footprint, attributed by locals to Bernardo Carpio.

The E. Ganzon, Inc. group. The author is at left

Historically, the site was used as a hide out by the revolutionary leader Andres Bonifacio who made one of Pamitinan’s caves as the Katipunan’s secret headquarters.  Here, Bonifacio and eight of his men entered the cave on Palm Sunday and came out on Good Friday. Here, they declared independence from Spain on April 12, 1895, over a year before the Revolution started.

The children of Sitio Wawa

Some 500 meters of narrow passage away from the mouth of Pamitinan Cave is the bulwagan (“hall”), a cavern over 50 ft. high and about 50 ft. in radius.  Inscribed on the cavern wall, in what looks like charcoal (possibly soot from a torch), are the words Viva la Independencia.  The Pamitinan pilgrimage is held here in April.

A currently closed hanging bridge

In 1943, the cave was turned into a Japanese armory. Mary Japanese died here from American fire. In 1977, a concrete marker commemorating them was fixed on the cliff wall over the cave’s mouth, above which is a metal plate, inscribed with Japanese characters with English translation, that reads: “Give them eternal rest, O Lord, and let them share Your glory.” In 1985, the cave was declared a National Geological Monument.

The narrow paved trail. along a ridge, leading to Wawa Dam

It is closed for rehabilitation until further notice.  In 1996, the area was declared a Protected Landscape managed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of Tourism.

A waterfall emanating from a cave

After lunch at one of the area’s eateries, we decided to make the 500-m. trek, along a ridge, to Wawa Dam, the prominent landmark of Sitio Wawa. Along the narrow, paved trail are stores selling organic vegetables (eggplant, squash, gabi, takway, puso ng saging, pandan leaves, etc.), river shrimps, crabs, eels, carp, charcoal, assorted fruits (bananas, papaya,) etc., snacks and beverages to tourists.

The author at the steel footbridge near the dam

On Tuesdays and Fridays, foot traffic is heavy on the trail, with young men carrying sacks of fruits and vegetables.  After crossing a metal footbridge, we reached the slightly arched dam.  Coupled with the beautiful landscape of 80-160 feet high white rock walls, limestone crags and marble boulders, the dam was perfect for photography.

Wawa Dam

Wawa Dam, also known as Montalban Dam, is an 85 m. 9279 ft.) long  and 12 m. (40 ft.) high gravity dam constructed over the Marikina River. The slightly arched dam is situated in the 360-m. (1,180 ft.) high Montalban Gorge or Wawa Gorge, a water gap in the Sierra Madre Mountains, east of Manila.

Kyle, Grace and Jandy with the dam in the background

The waters of the Upper Marikina River basin, its headwater said to be in Quezon province, runs through the gorge and descends to the lowlands of the neighboring town of San Mateo and Marikina Valley. During summer, cottages are built at the foot of the dam but, as it was the rainy season, they remove the cottages because of the heavy impact of water.

The old, roofless American-era watchtower flanking the dam

The dam was built in 1904, during the American colonial era, started operating in 1909 to provide the water needs for Manila. It used to be the only source of water for the greater Manila area but it was closed in 1962 due to deterioration and lack of water supply and abandoned when it was replaced by the La Mesa-Ipo-Angat watershed system.

The sparsity of its water was most likely due to the logging and quarrying in the mountains. However, due to insufficiency of water supply for Metro Manila, there is now a strong clamor to reuse the dam. Wawa Dam is also pictured in their official seal of the local government of Rodriguez.

The reservoir behind the dam

For those who are not fans of mountain hiking, Wawa Dam’s has picnic spots. If you don’t want to bring your own food and beverages, sari-sari stores, food stalls and a wet market are available in the place. You can rent a bamboo cottage (Php150-500) and toilets are Php10 per use (bring your own toiletries or buy them at the sari-sari stores).

The roofless interior of the old watchtower

Wawa Dam: M. H. Del Pilar Street, Sitio Wawa, Brgy. San Rafael, Rodriguez, Rizal, Philippines.

How to Get There:

By Car: Despite the usual traffic, the fastest route to Wawa is via Commonwealth Ave., then take Payatas Road going to Rodriguez Highway until you reach M.H Del Pilar Street. Inside Wawa Village, there’s a parking space where the locals look after your car for any amount. Travel time is around 1.5 to 2hrs.

By Public Transportation: In front of Jollibee, Farmers, Cubao, Quezon City, there’s a UV Express Terminal where you can take the van going to Rodriguez (fare: Php50 per head).  Drop-off at Montalban Terminal.  Here, you can ride a tricycle going to Wawa Village (fare: Php20 per head). From  SM North/Trinoma, you can also ride a UV Express van (fare: Php50) going to Eastwood Montalban and drop off at Eastwood Ministop. Then, ride a jeep going to Wawa (fare: Php8). From the parking lot, you have to walk for 5-10 minutes. Alternatively, from Cubao/SM North/Trinoma, you can ride a bus or jeepney going to Litex and, from there, ride a jeepney going to Montalban Town Center and another jeepney to Wawa. This is much cheaper but a bit of a hassle.

The Fountain at Okada Manila

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The Fountain at Okada Manila

The Fountain at Okada Manila, tagged as the world’s largest multicolor dancing fountain, was unveiled last March 31, 2017 in a star-studded launch featuring Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach as host, German-Filipino classical crossover singer Gerphil Flores (performing classical music with the 40-piece Manila Philharmonic Orchestra as accompaniment) and American singer-songwriter Robin Thicke (behind the hit “Blurred Lines”) as the main act.

This iconic destination attraction of the Philippines, capable of moving in rhythm with music and lights, draws guests not only around the country but from the world over. The US$30-million fountain has an area of 9.2 hectares, reportedly taking up a third of the property’s land area. In terms of size, it is bigger than the 3.4-hectare Bellagio Fountain of Las Vegas. Like the Bellagio, The Fountain at Okada Manila was designed by WET Designs, a renowned Los Angeles-based water-feature design firm.

WET team of  fountain choreographers infused a local touch to The Fountain’s twofold design inspirations – the festive traditions of the Philippines, and the sampaguita, the country’s national flower.

The fountain, a spectacular show of lights and sounds, is equipped with 739 high-power water nozzles (which can shoot water beyond the height of the Okada Manila hotel building), including WET’s proprietary underwater robots, 2,611 colored lights and 23 high-fidelity speakers. The water in The Fountain can also fill 50 Olympic-size swimming pools.

The Fountain Show, a gift of Okada Manila Chairman Kazuo Okada to the Philippines, is available for free to guests of all ages who watch the show from 6 PM onward. Before the show begins, the peaceful fountain takes the appearance of a manmade lake from the ground. When the show starts, water jets soar high at the centre of the lake, allowing for the projection of abstract videos from two sides.

The water nozzles and colored lights work together to create a sensory experience like no other.  The fountain’s movements, dazzling as it danced in sync to the tune of classics and modern songs, features jets of water racing and spurts twisting and twirling with the feathery grace of a dancer with water blossoms budding, unfurling and forming the eight petals of a massive sampaguita.

Both sides of The Fountain also feature projections during spectacular water shows. A permanent yet invisible performance stage installed in The Fountain’s lake enables performers to give the illusion of being able to walk on water, interact with the water features, and amaze the audience with an enthralling, unforgettable show.  Accompanying this are two other immersive shows: LED Mapping and World of Wonders.  Joining the ranks of Manila’s most iconic landmarks and a bold take on creating a global icon, The Fountain of Okada Manila’s grandeur and accurately choreographed water, light and music performances will rival those in Dubai’s Burj Khalifa and Las Vegas’ Bellagio. Truly, it is a sight to behold.

Okada Manila: New Seaside Drive, Parañaque City, 1701 Metro Manila.  Tel.: (02) 888 0777.

Fountain Show Schedules: Mondays to Thursdays, one song at the top of each hour (6 PM to 10 PM); Fridays to Saturdays, two songs at the top of each hour (6 PM to 12 AM); and Sundays, two songs at the top of each hour (6 PM to 11 PM). Every 8 PM, from Friday to Sunday, the World of Wonders will be performed on the floating stage. A projection mapping show, meanwhile, will be held from Friday to Sunday from 8:30 to 9:30 in the evening.

Church of St. Isidore the Farmer (Labrador, Pangasinan)

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Church of St. Isidore the Farmer

The town’s first church and convent, built with wood, was started in 1771 by Fr. Domingo de San Joaquin and finished in 1776. By 1865, after renovations, it measured 57.4 m. in length and 16.5 m. in width. In 1952, the church underwent repairs of World War II damage.

The church’s interior

AUTHOR’S NOTES

The church’s single level, Baroque facade, topped by a plain triangular pediment, has a semicircular arched main entrance flanked by massive square pilasters topped by urn-like finials, and semicircular arched windows.

Above the entrance is a small niche with the statue of St. Isidore the Farmer flanked by semicircular arched windows.  The square bell tower, on the church’s left, is probably a modern addition.

The main altar and retablo

Church of St. Isidore the Farmer: Lingayen-Labrador Road, Poblacion, Labrador 2402. Tel: (075) 549-5055. Feast of St. Isidore the Farmer: May 15.

How to Get There: Labrador is located 359 kms. from Manila.  Within the province, it is located 12.6 kms. from Lingayen, 10.5 kms. from Bugallon and 7.3 kms. from Sual.

Kampana Museum (Lingayen, Pangasinan)

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Kampana Museum, probably the only one of its kind in the country

The Kampana (“Bell”) Museum, probably the only museum of its kind in the country, is housed within the compound of the Cathedral of the Epiphany of Our Lord.  It displays an array of six old bells (some dating back to the 1800s) of different sizes (four of them still with their wooden yokes) of the parish on a raised concrete platform within a fenced in, shed-type enclosure.

Check out “Cathedral of the Epiphany of Our Lord“

The array of six bells, a number of which are coated with verdigris

During the term of the first Team Ministry (when the “Three Kings” Parish was renamed “Epiphany of Our Lord Parish” in 1965) of the parish (composed of Fr. John R. Palinar, Fr. Jose S. Estrada, Fr. Manuel S. Bravo and Fr. Victor Z. Embuido), these church bells were replaced by new ones (sourced through donations from civic-spirited citizens here and abroad).

 

Bell inscribed with “Isaias Edralin,” probably a parish priest

These old church bells were, in turn, housed in a museum built during the term of the second Team Ministry (composed of Fr. Alberto T. Arenos, Fr. Camilo Natividad and Fr. Jovino Batecan).  The museum was inaugurated on March 31, 2002.

Bell inscribed with “Francisco Treserra,” probably a parish priest

AUTHOR’S NOTES:

Inscriptions on the bells oftentimes indicates the bell’s date of casting, its weight, the name of the saint (San Juan Bautista, Sta. Teresita, Jesus, Maria y Jose, etc.) to which it was dedicated; the name of the town (Lingayen) for which it was commissioned; the name of the parish priest (Francisco Treserra, Isaias Edralin, Felix Sanches, etc.), bishop (Cesar Ma. Guerrero, on February 22, 1929), pope (Pope Pius XI ); when it was cast; and even the name of the bell caster.

A bell inscribed with the names of Lingayen Bishop Cesar Ma. Guerrero and Pope Pius XI

I noticed one bell was cast in 1874, a second in 1883 and another in 1928. One bell is inscribed with “Fundicion de H. Sunico” possibly referring to metalsmith Hilario S. Sunico who cast 176 bells, dated 1872-98. His last known bell was dated 1937.

A bell inscribed with the year “1883”

Many of the bells are wrapped in a blue-green patina due to chemical reaction with air and sea water, over time, that causes copper, brass and bronze to form verdigris.The verdigris layer, which gives the bell its fragile beauty, actually protects the underlying metal from corrosion and degradation, which is why these bells are so durable.

A bell inscribed with “Jesus, Mary and Joseph”

Cathedral of the Epiphany of Our Lord: Poblacion, Lingayen, 2401 Pangasinan.  Tel: (075) 542-6235.

How to Get There: Lingayen is located 227 kms. (a 4.5-hour drive) from Manila and 94.9 kms. (a 3-hour drive) from Baguio City (Benguet).

Church of Our Lady of the Purification (Binmaley, Pangasinan)

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Church of Our Lady of Purification

This church, once the largest church in the province during the latter part of the 19th century, was first constructed in the 16th century but burned down in 1745. The succeeding brick church, built towards the west of the former, was begun by Fr. Jose Salvador in 1747 finished by Fr. Francisco Barroso, OP, in 1754.

The right side of the church with some of the original brick facing now exposed

During World War II, the church was heavily damaged (only the walls and the partly damaged bell tower were left after shelling by American warships from January 7-9, 1945) and later rebuilt.

The 5-storey bell tower on the church’s right

AUTHOR’S NOTES:

This church’s 3-level, relatively simple Baroque brick (now plastered over) façade has  semicircular arched main entrance, flanked by semicircular arched windows, at the first level; and a semicircular arched statued niche, flanked by semicircular arched windows, at the second level.

On display in front of the church is a huge 1880 bell that bears the logo Fundicion de Metales de Santos Supangco.

The segmental pediment, separated from the second level by 3 rows of cornices, has a recessed octagonal window (above which is a cornice and a centrally located seal in the tympanum) flanked by smaller, recessed octagonal windows. The huge scrolls flowing down from the base of the pediment are typical of the Italian Baroque style.

The 1880 church bell on display outside the church

The 5-storey, square bell tower, on the church’s right, has blind semicircular arched recesses (canopied with triangular segments), at the the first 3 storeys, and semicircular arched open windows at the receding upper levels.  It has 3 bells. One bell, weighing 4,130 pounds and cast in 1804, was once of the three biggest bells in the Philippines.

The main altar and retablo

The church measures 94 m. long and 16.8 m. wide. Juan Fuentes y Yepes, the Bishop of Nueva Segovia, is buried here.  The 35 m. long  transept has a high dome with 4 windows and is supported by 8 elegant columns with Composite capitals. The interior also houses 5 exquisite altars.

The church’s dome

Church of Our Lady of the Purification: Urdaneta Junction, Dagupan–Binmaley Road, Poblacion, Binmaley 2417. Tel: (075) 540-0047.  Feast of Our Lady of Purification: February 2.

How to Get There: Binmaley is located 223 kms. from Manila.