Creative and Industrious Betis, Pampanga

The Town of Betis in Guagua, Pampanga is famous for its woodworking community. Whether it be for trade, commerce or art, the creations of the wood workers and carvers of Betis will surely enthrall the visitor for the unmistakable creativity that goes into every wood carving or piece of furniture. Most craftsmen of Betis are trained at a young age, and this accounts for the rich tradition of woodworking that has been handed down through generations of Betis residents.

Betis is also known for its grand church dedicated to St. James, the Apostle. From the exterior buttresses to the gilded innards, each nook and cranny of this centuries old church is lovingly crafted, carved and hand painted in the tradition of Betis' grand artistry

A short walk around the town will also reveal a delightful surprise of generations old ancestral houses that are remarkably crafted in classic style and well kept despite their obvious age.

Getting to and departing from Betis will get you through the provincial capital of San Fernando, and you can drop by there as well for a taste of the famously rich Pampanga cuisine. But that's another art and story in itself...




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The Feast of Santa Marta in Pateros, Philippines

Every second Sunday of the month of February, the town of Pateros, a suburb of the greater metropolitan area of Manila, erupts in euphoric celebration on the occasion of the yearly feast day of its Patron and Champion, Saint Martha, or Santa Marta, better known in biblical anthology as the elder sister of Lazarus and Mary. The local Church which stands at the very center of the town is dedicated to Santa Marta, and dubbed as the Dambana ng Mahal na Santa Marta. This shows how endeared Santa Marta is to Pateros residents, although the local parish itself is known historically and officially as the Parish of San Roque.

The town of Pateros is distinct from most municipalities in the country, in that it celebrates the feast days of two catholic saints, the first being Santa Marta, while, the second, San Roque, who is venerated on his feast day on the month of August. In the year 2015, Pateros will celebrate the 200th year of the establishment of the Parish of San Roque, and this promises to be an even bigger celebration due to the bicentennial jubilee. Local Parish Priest Fr. Roy Rosales and local Mayor Jose Medina will lead the Festivities, now eagerly awaited by townspeople and observers alike.

 

For the length of the second February weekend, however, residents will revere Santa Marta with masses, floral offerings, and an unaccountable number of parades of street dancing revelers. Capping the celebrations are the two decades old Pandangguhan Festival, and the traditional Pasubo. The Pandangguhan is a celebration of various choreographies and interpretations of the localized Pandanggo dance, joined in by a good number of dance groups all vying for the bragging rights as the year's Pandangguhan Champion. The Pasubo on the other hand is an activity of gift giving, to court warm tidings and good will, where the revelers and devotees of Santa Marta are showered literally by gifts of food and goodies, which include suman (glutinous rice sweetly cooked in leaves of coconut or banana), fruits, and the local delicacy, balut (duck embryo cooked inside its own shell), by the spectators and townspeople. At once the scene looks quite chaotic, and harkens to a period when local peasants look up to their masters and hacienderos for food, support and providence. However, the Pasubo now is celebrated in good fun, and part of the festive reverence for the town's beloved Pintakasi.

Pateros is the smallest municipality of the Metropolitan Manila area, although residents proudly claim its residents have the biggest heart. It was formerly a town of the province of Rizal, before the gerrymandering antics of a former Philippine President. It lies at the junction of the cities of Pasig, Taguig and Makati, even as it manages to preserve its small town charm amidst the bustling modernity of it neighbor cities.



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Lubang Island: A Primer

The Island of Lubang in the province of Occidental Mindoro has hardly caught the interest of travel writers and documenters. And this is a grave disservice, not only to the island and its tourism economy, but to photography and travel enthusiasts everywhere. Many people are just not aware that only 150 kilometers away towards the southwest of Manila, is an idyllic paradise of rustic simplicity, with people as warm as they are enamored to living the simple life of traditional folk. 

Agriculture and fishing are the main livelihood of residents, and this is instantly seen a few meters from the seaport town of Tilik, as the island's circumferential main road cuts between the coastline with its rows of fishing boats and kubos (homes) of fisherfolk on one side and rich lush greenfields of palay, corn, garlic and other food crops on the other. The island is home to a mere 24,000 or so residents. Homes are largely made from wood and thatch leaves, although more modern ones are now built with concrete. While going around, you'll be surprised just how peaceful and serene everywhere seems to be. For Lubang surely possesses one of the lowest crime rates for municipalities in the country, and that's a load off the mind of every photographer who needs to carry around his or her thousands of pesos worth of equipment.

Stories abound in this place which is rich in cultural and historic significance. Oldtimers will recall that Lubang was the venue of the Japanese World War II straggler Hiroo Onoda's exploits, and his re-surfacing sometime in the early 1970s when he became aware of the end of the war. To date there is the Onoda Trail maintained by the local government for thrill seekers wanting to retrace the steps of the former Japanese straggler and have an idea of how he lived in the island during the years he was hidden there.

In the 1960s a group of local school children apparently became the visionaries of the apparitions of the Virgin Mary as the Immaculate Concepcion, in the Island Barangay of Cabra, which is known also for its tasty beef. Although the apparition is not officially recognized by the Catholic Church, local accounts of the story of the apparitions abound, and a small chapel and shrine overlooking the sea stands to mark the exact place of the apparitions. Also, in Cabra Island stands a centuries old lighthouse constructed of brick and mortar which draws visitors for its old time charm and unique location in the middle of a garlic plantation. 

Many people will also be surprised to know that the Pandanggo sa Ilaw, where men and women dance with lighted candles balanced on their heads and hands, which is one of the Philippines' more recognizable traditional cultural dances, has its roots in the island of Lubang. Women folk, it seems, would wait onshore until dusk for their fishermen husbands, with lighted candles and lamps to guide the menfolk home. 

Lubang is one of those places where the richness and simplicity of traditional Philippine lifestyle is still alive and experienced day to this day. It is best to experience Lubang by immersing oneself among its people and their activities, especially in the month of May where the Mayohan culture of Fiesta, music, dance and postharvest euphoria is celebrated every day.



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