Spiritual Sunday: Iloilo's Must-See Churches

Spiritual Sunday teaches all about life and our Big Boss.

My restless feet had brought me to two historic provinces in our country for two consecutive years in a row.  Aside from their historical features, these provinces also happen to be the home of Philippines' grandiose colonial churches.  One was Albay last year and the other one was Iloilo just this year.  

When I travel, I do away with too much shopping.  What I do is just go around for a leisurely walk, take snapshots, connect with the locals, and eat whatever food the place offers.  It has always been eat, pray, love journeys for me because what I'm after for is the experience!  So for this post, I'll be sharing about Iloilo's finest churches.

Church # 1 Jaro Cathedral

Jaro Cathedral is the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Candles.  I found this church very unique for it has two stairways right in front of its exterior leading to the relic of the patroness.  

  

Situated across the street is the belfry of the original church which stands as a remains after a massive earthquake that shook the place in 1948.  This belfry had been declared as a National Historical Landmark by the National Historical Institute of the Philippines. 

  

The pillars of the cathedral were also unique for its collection of male saints.  I just found this ironic to the name of the church which is devoted to a female saint.

Church # 2 Molo Church

Contrary to Jaro Cathedral, Molo Church is dubbed as a feminist church of Iloilo for it houses a total of sixteen images of female saints.  It is also known as the Parish of St. Anne in honor of its patron saint Sta. Ana.     

The spires of Molo Church put me in a trance, letting me experience a feel of England while watching 'em.  This Gothic-Renaissance architecture is one of its kind especially to a remote province in our country.

The interior of Molo Church is also rich in Gothic elements which is flanked by five wooden altars.  And in contrast to the pillars of Jaro Cathedral, female saints hemmed the place.

Church # 3 Guimbal Church

Guimbal Church is also known as St. Nicholas of Tolentino Church.  It is a humble church reflecting the patron saint's workings with the poor.  The facade is made of goldenrod adobe stones called igang.    

  

As a modest church, there are no extravagant paintings nor statues inside it.  But what made it distinct among the others were the saints outside it, giving a homey atmosphere and warm welcome to anyone who wants to get inside.

Church # 4 Miag-ao Church

As a UNESCO World Heritage Site of Iloilo, Miag-ao Church is a world iconic spot that has two big belfries. 

Also known as the Church of Sto. Tomas de Villanueva, Miag-ao Church is also renowned for its artistic design right on its whole facade.  It is intricately sculpted depicting the way of life of the Filipinos.

At the upper center of the church's facade is the relief sculpture of St. Christopher carrying the child Jesus.  Though the church is in Baroque-Romanesque style, it stays indigenous native to Philippine architecture for the additional coconut tree, guava, and papaya shrubs carved on it.

Going against with the church's grand exterior is its simple interior.  Nonetheless, the altar is being highlighted by a gold-plated retablo with the crucifix at its center.

  

Having gone to a handful of places of worship not just in the Philippines, every church visit is a noteworthy experience for me.  I've come to know that every church has its own story to tell and own pride to boast.  I've come to also realize that every church has its own culture that one must respect and observe while being there.  So for your church visit, take time to solemnly say a little prayer for God's presence to endow the place.

Related Posts:

A Flair for Old Churches

EOS Destination #1!
Himala sa Simala?

Maundy Thursday:  Visita Iglesia

Original Biscocho Haus

Tweet

Whimsical Wednesday: My SG Top Picks

Whimsical Wednesday shows my fancy in a myriad of beautiful things.  

There are places that once I see and experience, I would not want to go back again.  It's either I don't like it or I really made most of my time there that I already had my fill.  But there are also places that once I see and experience, I would want to go back again and again!  It's either I super like it or I really just couldn't get enough of it.  And one of my most fave places on earth is none other than SG!

For my nth time visit in Singapore, I could say that it is now a place I frequent.  It is not that I'm boasting here or what.  It is just that I am so privileged enough to have had an aunt who gifted me with my first SG tour, cousins who invited us for company, and of course, a sister who would just summon us for sleep-overs!  Since 2005, it has been la dolce vita ala SG!  

So what's with SG that keeps me coming back?  For years of SG-ing, I've come up with these SG top picks of eat, pray, and love!

EAT

Laksa - still nothing beats Katong laksa for my taste buds!  There is nowhere in the Philippines that I can find something like this.  Even me, I once tried out a simple laksa recipe courtesy of Del Monte Philippines' Kitchenomics but never did I taste something like the Singaporean laksa does.  Its playful flavors are just so perfect that I keep on missing 'coz I can only taste it there!

PRAY

Buddha Tooth Relic Temple - I maybe a Christian but I do believe that there is no religion that can save us!  For me, salvation comes with a proper relationship between you and your Creator.  So no matter what god (Jesus, Buddha, Allah, or Shiva) you are believing in, you yourself is the one liable for your salvation.  

In my case, I'm getting fond of visiting this Buddhism temple in SG.  Why?  It's because they have these Buddha paper prayers and wishes kind of thing.  I tested it the first time I went there and my wish got granted!  For my second time, I wished for guidance on what to do with my life then I got Fascino!  Then there came my third wish, fourth,  and so on.  Maybe for my next visit, I'm gonna wish for my love life.  Am I already ready for that?  Jeez!!!

LOVE

Light and Fountain Shows - may it be in Sentosa, Marina Bay Sands, or Suntec City.  SG has the most magnificent and spectacular fountain shows ever!  Every time I go there, there is always something new!  These never bore me and these still surprise me until this matured age of mine.  I can fall in love with them over and over again for they tell about life and living it to the fullest!  They bring to life all my wishful thinking of appreciating the beauty of life despite the odds its giving!

Indeed, I can consider SG as my second home.  I'm even more acquainted with all the corners there than our capital city, Manila!  Not to mention, I also feel confident in walking there than walking down the streets of Manila.  It's not just I don't love our own country.  It's just that, I wish that our country can also be as clean, as peaceful, and as disciplined as Singapore!

For those who did not know that I just came from SG, there ain't no pasalubong for you but you may win these SG trinkets!  

Just

1.  click the Tweet and Like buttons below
2. send name, address, and contact number to maryrosalieo@yahoo.com on or before September 13, 2013.

The 10th person to send will be rewarded as the winner and will be notified by mail.

Related Posts:

SG Parks

Singapore by Feet

 Uniquely Singapore

Treating the Tastebuds at Jalan Makanan

Braving a Historical Journey at Fort Siloso

Cute Little Somethings Along Haji Lane

Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum

Tweet

Feature Friday: The Couch

Feature Friday highlights businesses, people, fashion, and basically anything under the sun!

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens

Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens

Brown paper packages tied up with strings

These are a few of my favorite things......

I'm always fond of singing this Sound of Music song since I was little.  When somebody bullies me at school, I just sing this song which instantly vanishes my blues away.  Although the things in the song are not really my favorites, singing the song still makes me smile! :)

By the way, I'm telling you this because I've got this one favorite thing today!  It is soft as a mallow, bouncy as a teddy bear, and homey as a warm embrace.  It is none other than - the couch at Café Eduardo!

The couch has been there for me since last year!  When there are things to celebrate, we celebrate with her!

Reunion with High School Batch Mates

When there are family gatherings, we fellowship with her!

With Tita MM, Ella, and Reija

Playing with Reija

With Cousins

When there are friends in town, we catch up and bond with her!

With High School Friends

With the Balikbayans

With Baby Niña

When there are fresh gossips in the city, we whisper with her!

The Partners In Crime with L-my

And when there are things to confide, we open up with her!

With Atsi Ann Sharon

The couch has seen me through these days that I already considered her as one of my girl friends!  That's the reason why I regard her as "her"!  If only the couch could talk, she could tell you of my ups and downs, my laughters and frowns, and my glories and falls.

I am so glad there is Café Eduardo where I can be so comfortable hanging out in!  It is my place of refreshment not only physically but also mentally and emotionally.  It is my "chicken soup" for my languid soul.  For a hundred bucks of coffee with a friend or two or more can keep me sane from my grueling workaholic attitude!

With the MUHS Gang

 Just some Café Eduardo goodies:

Visit Café Eduardo at Time Square, Juan Luna Cor. J. Sanciangco Jr. Sts., Brgy. Aguada and experience some fun and beautiful memories of the 60's!

Related Posts:

Farronccino Café 

The Coffee Lounge

Tweet

Weeklong 2nd Year Anniv Special: Then I've Got People Reading Me! :)

Although blogging cannot be considered as journalism, it is in a way, a realization of my dream!  Happy two years, The Other Side of Mae! :)

Yes, I've come a long way in this blogging endeavor!  Yes, I've stood by it and became able to maintain it!  But prior into making a blog site, I wondered if there might be people to read what I've written.  Will there be somebody to just click and open my site?  Will there be somebody to take time reading my post?  Will there be somebody to scroll further down?  These are only a few questions which came into my mind as I was getting started.  But despite my doubt, I continued writing and posting, then posting and writing.  I even discouraged myself for doing so because I thought nobody would ever try to read my posts!  Until came such time that my high school classmate, Khristine Marie Peñafiel texted me this message:

“Sang, I’ve read your blog karon lang jud.  Nalingaw kaau ko.  I’m so happy for you.  You seem to enjoy your life jud.  Keep it up! :)”

                                                                                                                      -Sept. 9, 2011 at 4:48 PM

I was beyond glad upon reading her message!  I never expected it to come from her for she was a very busy person holding the accounts of a big enterprise here in Ozamis while studying law at the same time!  I was so overwhelmed for the effort she had put into reading my blog and taking time to text me just to let me know of her delight towards me.

Then the others followed.  My aunt, Mommy Becky called up all the way from Lipa City to let me know that she had read my posts.  She told me to go on and continue to enjoy my life in Ozamis.

Another high school batch mate, Mariel San Diego-Ines sent me this message through Facebook:

“Nalingaw ko sa imo blog madam nice kau. :)"

                                                                                                        -Oct. 30, 2012 at 8:38 AM

Then there came some of my friends who became regular readers:  Tita Elena, Ate Dinah, Yieldeza, Cheryl, Charelle, and Ate Aida!  I also met new friends through this blog namely Cheche Durias and Edz Gutierrez.  And there were also avid readers Zgerth McForest, Effin Hawt, and other Ozamisnons who are my FB groupmates in TOKK.  And speaking of TOKK, I found my never-been-met-in-person uncle, Mario Olandesca who also became very proud of me and my craft!

Moreover, my students also read me because they are my frequent cast of characters for my posts.  And not to mention my family who also supports me all the way!

Last but not least, my previous MUHS colleague, Christ “Kring2x” Zanoria.  She reads me and just like what Patty did to me, Kring2x was also inspired by me into creating her own blog site.  Until now, we are reading each other’s blog, sharing each other’s posts, and commenting to each other’s thoughts.  It is just so great to have somebody who shares the same passion as mine!

And now, here goes my lucky blog winners for sending in their entries for the little contests I have here in my blog:

Then my writings didn't go in vain.  I've got people reading me and that is the best reward any writer would ever receive!  Much more when there was an instant while lining up in a bank that a girl approached me and said:  

"Hey, I'm reading you!"  

I was beyond shocked and became so shy at that moment.  She too was surprised to my reaction, blushed, and walked away.  Gosh, I didn't even had the opportunity to thank her!  It was such a blink of an eye that that swift moment just gone by!  So if ever you're still reading me, whoever you are, wherever you are here in Ozamis, my biggest biggest THANK YOU!!!

Thank you so much, blog readers for continuing to inspire me to go on with The Other Side of Mae!

Tweet

Weeklong 2nd Year Anniv Special: The Evolution of "The Other Side of Mae"

I admit, I am not that much techie until I tried to discover how to create a blog.  Since my idol, Patty Laurel uses blogger as a tool for her blog, I also tried to use it.  At first, I found it very hard navigating where to go and what to do, much more that it is in Filipino.  This is no offense to our national language but I find some Tagalog words super deep in my understanding.  Gladly, Patty replied to my tweet and gave me tips in getting started with blogger!

So here goes my first website design - the Watermark template:

The Other Side of Mae 2011 Look

As a newbie, this is the simplest thing I could ever offer.  So why did I decide the title to be "The Other Side of Mae"?  It is so because I would just like to unfold the hidden part of my being.  I want to expose my thoughts and my feelings.  As a person, I am not really vocal.  I don't say much, I don't talk much, I don't speak much, I don't argue much.  But when I write, I couldn't stop my fingers from tapping my keyboard.  Words just flow and flow out from my mind and that's the time that I speak my mind!  That's the time that my feelings would come out to the open!  That's the time that I can express everything and when I say everything, it is indeed everything!  So in this blog, I am not the usual person that you actually see.  For in this blog is the other side of me coming out from the shell!

For the first year anniversary of this blog, I opted to change its look for something new and modern.  So I tried the Dynamic View template and here it is:

The Other Side of Mae 2012 Look

With this look, I had garnered more page views!  With this look, I had posted more often.  From posting only once a week the previous year, I had managed to post at least twice a week!  And this look also gave me blog readers who are my inspiration in writing and posting more beautiful stories!

Finally, for this second year anniversary, I chose something to describe what my blog is all about.  I chose something to remind me of my vision on what my blog posts should be.  So here it is:

The Other Side of Mae 2013 Look

From now on, I would refrain from posting bad and sad news, negativity issues, and my rants!  (Not that I always do.)  It is just that, in this world where problems just arise here, there, and everywhere, I don't wanna add up to a person's burden.  So my goal is to post stories of positivism, something to make you smile, and something for you to know that life is worth celebrating!  I owe it to my 1,785 Facebook friends, 426 Instagram followers, 98 Twitter followers, 20 Google+ followers, and 3 Blogger followers if I won't share only the good and beautiful things to them! 

Truly, this site has evolved into something better.  But what's with the profile picture if you might ask.  Why did I bring it back to this blog's 2013 look?  Well, that pose simply tells it all.  It symbolizes the real other side of me!  It just explains my inner goddess waiting to be discovered!

               

Tweet

Weeklong 2nd Year Anniv Special: An Ode to Patty Laurel

Post Concept of Patty

Everybody has an idol to look up to - an idol who plays as a role model to make us into better persons.  As for me, my idol inspires me a lot!  By just reading her, she encourages me to write which has been a long-time dream of mine.  By just wasting my time with her, my life turned out to be an interesting and exciting one!  She has been a gift from God above and she is no other than Da great Patty Laurel!

Discovering Patty's blog last August 2011 prompted me to publish my little high school girl compositions.  At first, I never planned to have a regular blog to maintain.  All I wanted was to have a tiny nook for my itsy bitsy compositions.  But as I read more about Patty, I was given the zest to write more!  Because Patty is an extraordinary goddess that every girl would want to become!  I oh-so love her because.....

.....she is a writer

Photo Grabbed from dapattylaurel.blogspot.com

Being me as a writer-wannabe, I appreciate Patty for writing everything from the heart.  She has no hesitations and no reservations in telling her stories and in sharing her feelings.  I applaud her for being a person who is true in expressing herself!

.....she is a model/endorser

Photo Grabbed from Watsons

Looking good and feeling great is what Patty taught me in her Fashion Friday posts.  She shares what every girl should know about fashion yes-yes and fashion no-nos.  Aside from that, she's just got the X-factor to be on print ads.  With those cute little dimples, anybody would be enthralled into buying what she endorses!

.....she is a traveler

Photo Grabbed from dapattylaurel.blogspot.com

With 28+ countries visited, Patty is a great deal of a travel writer!  She writes articles for travel magazines and her travel tips are greatly counted on by small-time travelers like me.  Now, tell me who would not want to become like her?  

.....she is a certified foodie

Photo Grabbed from dapattylaurel.blogspot.com

I love to cook because I love food!  This also made me love Patty more because she always shares food, food, and a whole lot of food!  By just watching her adore food so much makes me wanna taste every bite of what she is eating.

.....she is a teacher

Photo Grabbed from dapattylaurel.blogspot.com

I was super surprised upon knowing that Patty is a teacher!  I never imagined that a writer, model, and traveler would have a heart for teaching.  Through this, I was given some light into pursuing my teaching career with love.  Patty just proves that being a teacher is the most noble job so all my bitterness in becoming a teacher washed away.  Though I never dreamed of becoming a teacher, the teaching career had given me the opportunity into becoming a lot of things!  Because through teaching, I became a role model to my students, a minister to their young minds and hungry souls, and a ma'amy, ma'ama, and ma'amsky!  My salute to Patty for sharing her experiences as a preschool teacher!

.....she is Mrs. Patrick Filart

Photo Grabbed from www.lifeafterbreakfast.com

Patty's love story gives me hope that someday, God will send "the him" to me!  For a no-boyfriend-since-birth-thirty-year-old girl like me, I have a lot of questions, insecurities, and doubts.  Sometimes, I think that I'm a hopeless case because  I get tired of waiting and wishing.  Sometimes, I get to think that I'm already napag-iwanan ng panahon.  But there came Patty's A Love Letter for Singles :).  This post speaks right to me and whenever I'm in doubt again of finding "the one", I just hold on to this post.  I just hold on to Patty's love story which was beautifully written by God.  I just hold on to His great message of love.  So whenever I feel nega, I read and reread this post to remind me that there is still hope!

.....she is God's precious lamb

Photo Grabbed from www.airadeefranco.wordpress.com

Yes, Patty's life is centered in God!  I know she is a Christian through her posts.  As a Christian myself, I backslided years ago from serving God because I wanted to explore the world.  But Patty got me into the right track again.  She motivates me to be back into service because she shows that it is also cool to be a servant of God.  Now, I'm taking time to be busy with the kingdom and the King again.

All in, following Patty for two years now had improved my life!  Of course, I can never be like her because our lives are just so different.  Hers is a glamorous one while mine is just a simple commoner one.  She is on top while I'm not a bit step on the social ladder.  She is close to perfect while I'm loaded with imperfections.  But despite all of these, Patty exudes too much optimism!  She radiates "Happy Vibes, Happy Lives!" which inspires me that I can shine in my own way!  And having her as my idol is making my life a happier one! :)

Related Posts:

Getting Started

One Year Bloggin’ and Still Lovin’ It!

"The Other Side of Mae" @ 3:  A Weeklong Indulgence

Tweet

Planning for a Make-Over

Four years and counting.....  My baby Fascino had turned four years old last August 5, 2013!  Sad to say, I wasn't able to visit my baby that day and I wasn't able to celebrate its birthday due to some inevitable circumstances.  So as a way to make it up for my baby, I'm planning for a huge store make-over!  

Since we're already into kids' party supplies, I would like my shop to become more kid-friendly.  I would love it to look like a colorful candy that is so mouth-watering and pleasing to the eyes.  So now, I'd just like to share some of the photos I had scoured over the net for inspiration and concept for my baby's new look!

Photo from Web

Photo from Web

Photo from Web

But the problem is, I'm not really into construction thingy.  Who will help me out with this?  Oh, I summon the creative side of me!  I really don't have any idea on how to start this out.  Fairy godmother, do bring magic in transforming my shop into a Hansel and Gretel Candy House!

Fascino now specializes on all baptism and birthday party needs!  We accept order for invitation, giveaways, balloons, cakes, etc.  Name it and we have it! :)  Take a look at our party packages here or visit us at Gomez St., Ozamis City (beside Mom's Sweet Delight, across Kinny's Bakeshop)! :)    

          

Tweet