A "Glimpse of Heaven" (Garin Farm - San Joaquin, Iloilo)

Garin Farm in San Joaquin, Iloilo Philippines is both a farm and a pilgrimage area in one. It's also a resort that integrates agriculture, leisure and pilgrimage, so expect it to be a place where lots of activities can be done; - from feeding the animals, doing leisure activities to Spiritual reflections.

Since I have already talked about the farm in my previous posts, I would only want to share my experience about the additional feature added at the pilgrimage area; - the meditation tunnel and stairway to heaven! It actually went famous in several social media and in the local news, so it caught my attention. With so much interest, I and my husband thought of visiting the place when we went to the Philippines for a vacation.

the path

meditation area

If you want to see the stairway to heaven, you can either do it in two options. Either climb up the 480-step stairways up to the Divine Mercy Cross, or hop on a cart going up with a minimal fee. The most efficient way to do it would be through the stairs; - you get free exercise, and at no cost! ;).

Take note that you have to go through the dark meditation tunnel to reach the stairway to heaven when you are coming from the stairs passing by the Divine Mercy cross.

Once you reached the top, facing the cross, you will be led to a stairs on your right going through the tunnel. It is actually dark because of black walls, and only lit by small LED lights at both sides of the main path. As you walk towards inside, you will then see a meditation area with the image of Christ where you can actually meditate and pray.

At the end of the tunnel is a bright light that actually is breathtaking when you see it...it feels like you are now few steps away to enter Heaven...God's Kingdom!

Once you've passed that bright light out of the tunnel, you will be amazed to see a "stairway to heaven"; a scene that is described mostly in the Bible (a simulation of some sort). The stairs are all pure white, lined by angels blowing trumpets on both sides, until up the main door as you go further inside where you can see more angels all dressed in white facing the Great White Throne, worshipping the Holy Trinity; - God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit on it.

Me and my family

The place has a different photo effects during the night and during daytime. We went there at night and we had the camera flash so it looked brighter. But if you know how to play your camera lights in a darker mode, you might be able to get unique kind of shots during the night. It's just amazing that during night time, the white color appears so distinctively bright.

The experience of seeing a simulated heaven is surely heavenly! You can basically meditate and pray there, plus you get an amazing feeling of how glorious it is to at least get the experience to see a "glimpse of heaven"!

Wonderfully blessed!!!

Campuestohan Highland Resort - Overnight Experience

Campuestohan Highland Resort is situated between the boundaries of two cities; -Bacolod and Talisay, consisting of a 5-hectar property that is surrounded by the lush green mountains of Mt. Makawili, making the place cool most of the time and misty in the late afternoons.

From the mountain is a vintage view of mostly the entire part of Negros Occidental, including the Panay Island.

The resort is located about 800-meters above sea-level making it a great place to commune with nature that also offers a majestic panorama and breathtaking views!

The resort is owned by a couple - Mr. Ricardo Tan and Nita Tan.

Today, this place, which used to be a wide grassy land is now transformed as a wonderland for many children and adult alike which is now considered as one of the most famous tourist destinations in Negros Occidental.

The resort has amenities ideal for vacationing families with smaller kids and adults as well; - children's park and rides, several swimming pools that includes the wave pool (call the resort for wave pool's open hours), big statues and the heroes' hall consisting of marvel characters' statues. The heroes' hall is more than enough to capture a kid's heart (and when you couldn't afford to bring them to Disneyland!)

Someone dared a kiss to spidey! :)

Several outdoor rides and activities for adults are also available such as the famous hamster wheel, bicycle ride, a zip line, rope course, horse back riding and bungee trampoline. All rates can be accessed through their website or better yet call them and verify the prices for all outdoor adventure rides.

I and my family went for an overnight visit so we were given a complimentary breakfast which is applicable for a group of 3 or more, and a free entrance for each. Daytime visitors are charged with a Php 150/person entrance fee. (as of this writing).

A private transportation can also be arranged to pick up and drop off customers if  you have big groups with certain fees. In our case, we chose to get a private group charter, (a private van, good for 15 persons), although we were only 7 in a group. Regardless, we still paid Php 2,500 for the van. No complain about our transportation as it was much more convenient for us not to worry about catching our ferry trip back home, knowing a transportation is readily available upon checking out. The 2,500 pesos - transportation fee was for picking up and dropping us off from and to our destination.

All information including room accommodations and prices can be accessed through their website at www.campuestohanhighlandresort.com but reservations have to be done by phone. Take note that upon reservation, you will be required to pay 50% of your downpayment basing on your room rates, and you have to pay it through their bank account. How I wish bookings and payments can just be done online for convenience. The "paying" part is a bit of a hassle as you have to actually go to the bank to pay it, to get the actual bank receipt to present it upon checking in the resort.

For those who are planning to visit for an overnight trip, I have to be honest regarding their rooms. I find it too expensive for a Php 5,000 room that really needs maintenance! How would you like to pay 5,000 pesos for a room that has moldy ceilings, chipping paints and cracked walls??? I felt I was caught off guard because I know myself I couldn't complain in the middle of the night, and that if I will start complaining at check out, I know it will take time forever, and I didn't want our ferry trip to be compromised!...I wished I had more than enough time to do it.

Some amenities in the room is also lacking like hot water for coffee or tea! There was a thermos but no hot water!

No complaints about the rides!...I would surely prefer to visit it in the daytime, only if perhaps I'm a local and just live around the neighborhood.

It would be a sad experience for others who are quite far from the resort who need to stay for the night. By the way, I reserved 2 Tepee Hut Rooms...they have molds that need to be removed and walls that need to be repainted and fixed.

As I've said, I was caught off guard, but didn't have much time to complain. :(. Maybe, they can read this as a feedback.

We were there November 2016.

Anyway, experience wise about the rides, food and the cool breeze at night were amazing! I love the nature that surrounds the resort!

Burnham Park - "The Mother of All Parks"

When you're in Baguio, Burnham Park is not difficult to find, and in fact the most popular park in the area. The fact that the park is located at the center of the city of Baguio, the accessibility is fast and easy, making it known to be "the mother of all parks" in Baguio City.

The park stretching more than 32 hectares was named after Daniel Hudson Burnham, an architect and urban planner from New York, USA and also helped laid the plans for Baguio City.

Burnham Park is also popular because of its man-made lake located at the center of the park with rowboats for hire which many call up to this day Burnham Lagoon.

In the past years, the park was originally created as a greenery park with clusters of different botanical gardens with colorful floral blooms. Nowadays, Burnham Park expanded its clusters to additional spaces for amusement parks such as bicycle and skating areas and other sports activity areas, plus some food/restaurants shops around.

Inspite of the additional commercial establishments growing in the park, it is still an ideal place for taking good photos, as well as relaxation area for families during weekends and holidays.

Baguio City's Wright Park

Wright Park is just one of the most scenic parks you will witness while in Baguio City, - the city of Pines! The park is just next to the main gate of The Mansion fronting it straight through a long reflecting pool, with a shallow elongated body of water commonly known as the "Pool of Pines".

This area is considered to be the most photographed (post-card type) scene usually taken at the end of the reflecting pool, fronting the main gate of The Mansion.

The reflecting pool - "Pool of Pines"

Both sides of the pool are pathwalks lined with pine trees on the sides and some  street lights are also installed along the paths. Colorful lowering shrubs are also lined on both sides surrounding the pool, making it one reason why Wright Park is famous for perfect picture taking.

Further down from the reflecting pool is a wide stone-made stairway leading down to the park circle where there are stables for horses, and where horseback riding can be done for hourly rates.

The park is obviously mostly enjoyed by kids for pony-riding and horseback riding for adults as well. Take note that the area gets too crowded mostly during weekends and long holidays.

And expect a strong distinctive smell when you are in the area for horses' pees and poops! So, if you want to avoid sniffing the smell particularly for a longer period of time, you might as well skip getting in the park.

Wright Park got its name from Gov. Luke E. Wright who was the architect of the long reflecting pool and who served as Governor-General of the Philippines from 1904-1906 and also served as a Secretary of War from 1908-1909.

The Mansion House (Baguio)

The Mansion is one of the most popularly visited and photographed tourist attraction in Baguio. It is located right across from Wright Park, with a main gate that can be prominently seen which is made of ornate iron works. It is at the front of this gate that is still considered to be one of the most photographed place of the property.

Getting inside the gate is allowed for visitors and can take photos infront, but visiting inside the building is not allowed. I don't have any idea why, but perhaps due to security reasons.

The Mansion is the official summer residence of the current Philippine president and used whenever they visit Baguio city for engagements and/or official visits.

This building was built as early as 1908, being used as summer residences for U.S. Governor-generals who were the American administrators for the Philippines and was formerly called "The Mansion House".

But during WWII, the house was badly damaged, and rebuilt in 1947. It was also used for several essential events like the ECAFE in 1947, the session of Food & Agriculture in 1948 and the Baguio Conference of 1950.

Recently, it has been used as a place of some international conferences as well.

Good Shepherd Convent Visit - Baguio, Philippines

Preserved purple yams (ube), strawberry jams, peanut brittles, and more are just one of those that are considered popular food preserves you can buy when in Baguio. They can be seen mostly all around shopping stalls in Baguio, but the locals would always highly recommend to buy them at Good Shepherd Convent, to ensure freshness quality of the products.

At the center of the compound is a building called "The Mountain Maid Training Center" (MMTC), - a store which is considered to be the only authorized distributor of Good Shepherd products in Baguio City.

The place is just a walking distance from the stall shops of Mines View Park, so mostly, the visitors coming from Mines View Park would always flock here as their next stop to buy food gift items.

Those who have vehicles pass into the driveway to enter the gate that leads to the parking lot into the compound which is very close to the store.

On one end of the parking lot is also an observation deck where you can see the spectacular view of the distant Cordillera mountains and valleys.

There are some plants and garden areas visible within the compound with colorful flowering plants as well.

Mines View Park - Baguio, Philippines

Courtesy photo of fabulousphilippines.com

Being one of the featured and famous tourist attraction in Baguio, Mines View Park is situated 4 kilometers from the city of Baguio.

Its observation deck stands below a winding stone-covered stairway which overlooks the place of Itogon, Benguet, used to be a mining town in the early 20th century started by the Americans. The town was widely known as a mining spot for gold and copper mines.

It also gives you a spectacular view of the Amburayan Valley of the Cordillera mountains.

Crowded observation deck area! ;(

Because this park always gets crowded during the day and peak visiting seasons, many would highly recommend visiting the park very early in the morning if you want to take excellent photos without anyone blocking the view.

Prior to going down the observation deck, you will surely meet a St. Bernard dog (sometimes there are two of them), and can take a photo of them with you for a fee, as well as you can sit on a pink  hair-colored (real horse) for a photo with a fee as well!

Today, there are lots of stalls and mini stores around the park selling various gift items and more...clothings, native bags and delicacies, native accessories and other souvenirs. So, if you really want to shop, Mines View Park offers a lot of shopping items you can take back home with you.

A Visit to Outdoor Adventure Park

The outdoor Adventure Park is located within Camp John Hay compound, but has a different entrance location.

Inside this small park has no entrance fee but there is a paintball game with a fee. It also has a small shooting range within the area with a fee as well.

My brothers and nephews trying the paintball game ;)

On the other side of the park is a short-distance zip line ideally fitted for smaller kids and/or adults as well. Just below the zip-line property are places for rock climbers. It's also an ideal place for fun for both kids and adults.

My nieces being adventurous!

Camp John Hay - Baguio

Camp John Hay is today's one of the most popular visited attraction in the city of Baguio. It is situated on the southeast side of Baguio. It used to be the former rest and recreation facility of the US Armed Forces, making Baguio City became known as "little America."

It was actually a major hill station and designated as a communications station, and was run by the US Air Force in its last days before it was finally turned over to the Philippines in 1991 when the expiration of the RP-US Bases Agreement ended.

Camp John Hay used to be considered as the US Military and Department of Defense base since 1903 and also was used as a concentration camp by the Japanese for both British and American soldiers during WW2, and as a military headquarters when Gen. Yamashita went up north from Manila during the coming end of the Japanese reign in the Philippines.

Camp John Hay got its name after President Roosevelt's Secretary of State, - John Milton Hay. It has an average elevation of 5,000 ft., and is a 690-hectare property.

Philippines began managing the former US Air Force recreational facility from the year it was turned over in 1991 until 1997, and turned it as a resort and ultimately developed as private vacation houses, lodgings, famous Baguio hotels, a shopping center and some restaurants, stores and golf courses.

Below are some photos of me and my family while touring inside Camp John Hay's compound.

Tam-Awan Village

In 1998, Chanum Foundation, Inc. was founded and began constructing huts of Ifugao and Kalinga tribes using original materials, with a goal to showcase model villages to people who are visiting the interior parts of Cordillera region.

Traditional artists reconstructed the houses making them resemble the design of a traditional Cordillera Village. Nowadays, being called Tam-awan village is now also called "a garden in the sky".

More huts were added into the village and are open for lodging with reasonable rates. The entire village today is now a popular place for workshops and exhibits, showcasing the cultural heritage of the Cordillera people. It shows blending of exquisite and aesthetic Cordilleran craftmanship with the concept for a village that adapts with Baguio setting.

The village right up the entrance

Tam-awan Village is also an ideal location for other cultural and art activities enhancing the culture and history of Cordillera life. The word "tam-awan" came from a local word which means "vantage point."

Interested to visit? Check them out at www.tam_awanvillage.com. There is an entrance fee to enter the village.

A Quick Visit to Baguio Strawberry Farm

I and my family

A tourist's visit to Baguio, Philippines isn't complete without strawberry picking.

Strawberry Farm is located 30-minutes away from downtown Baguio situated in La Trinidad, Benguet. It is a unique experience for the whole family picking fresh strawberries direct from the farm itself which is chargeable at a different rates at times. The charging rate is based on weight of how much you have picked per person.

Take note that there are months when the farm doesn't have enough ripe strawberries ready to be picked, so be sure to do your research ahead of time prior to visiting.

Normally, the farm is open for strawberry-picking activity from November to May yearly, but it can change depending on weather conditions such as when typhoons occur that can easily destroy the fruits. If fruits are not available for picking at the farm, there is always the market as an option to buy strawberries. They may not be as fresh as when you pick them directly from the farm, but they still sell good quality strawberries as an option!

You can also get to taste strawberry ice cream, and some popular food sold in the market, including various souvenirs; - T-shirts, trinkets, fruit jams and jellies, etc...

So, if you love strawberries, you get a lot of them in Baguio, be it direct from the farm or not!

Botanical Garden - Baguio City

The Baguio Botanical Garden is not hard to find when you're in Baguio City, Philippines. Its main entrance is easy to locate as you go straight along Leonard Wood Road, just in between Wright Park and the Teacher's Camp.

The famous landmark of the garden is its main gate made of stone and cement, sculptured and shaped by a bas relief reflecting the various rituals of the Cordillera tribes. You can also easily witness at its main gate the presence of old folks; - real live Igorots wearing their tribal attires who are always willing to pose photos with you for a minimal fee.

I and my family with the old folks! ;)

This botanical garden was also both a garden and a zoo and was actually named Botanical & Zoological Garden; also named as Igorot Village, Imelda Park (came from the name of former First Lady, Imelda Marcos), and now called Centennial Park due to the 100th years celebration of Baguio as the Summer Capital of the Philippines.

Although today, many tourists and locals still call the garden Baguio Botanical Garden, perhaps because the main gate says it so ;).

The park not only features pine trees and other variety of shrubs, bushes and flowers but also includes native Igorot huts and statues decorating the park, and designed with narrow and winding pathways, ideal for cool strolls. It's also an ideal place to commune with nature and when you want to relax and be at peace and quiet.

In one corner of the park are rows of souvenir shops that sell gift items, handicrafts and various items for visitors who want to shop for any gift items.

Take note when visiting:

1. the park is NOT wheel-chair friendly, and visitors should wear comfortable walking shoes as path walks and steps are a bit tricky and steep in some areas.

Stay-In Vacation at Golden Berries Hotel & Convention Center

After almost 20 years since I departed Tabuk, Kalinga, - the place where I grew up, it was a blessing indeed to be able to go back and visit. 

Now considered a city (Tabuk City), some hotels have already been up.

It was such a good place to stay while I and my family had a vacation for a week.

Early morning infront of the hotel

Another good thing is the fact that this is the hotel closest to our relatives' residences which are only 5-minute drive going to the houses. While I and my husband got a room in the hotel, the rest of our family chose to stay with our relatives. They enjoyed bonding with them that way ;).

There is one inn much closer to the house and much cheaper, but it didn't have the hot shower my husband wanted. It was basically more on a transient boarding house and we were not so sure about its security as well.

Golden Berries Hotel is located along the provincial road of San Juan, Tabuk, Kalinga province in northern Philippines. This makes it easy to locate because it is close to the road. The hotel is also a popular venue for seminars, conferences, wedding and other occasions.

Golden Berries Hotel has 15 rooms and 3 convention halls for various functions. Rooms are clean and regularly maintained, with amenities; - A/C, cable TV, wi-fi, and with hot and cold showers.

My husband loved their brewed coffee! We actually bought 2 regular packs of this to take with us to the US ;).

Our stay in the hotel also came with a complimentary Filipino breakfast, but only good for one person :(. It wasn't a big deal though, because our family was always cooking for us big meals 3x a day...LOL!

The pool was a plus! Our nieces and nephews went there for a swim while the adults stayed at the poolside, eating! hahaha! It was fun being together with loved ones together with food. :)

We ordered from the hotel and they were all good! 

The Famous "White Carabao" Landmark in Bulanao

Our tour group ;)

While having a tour around Tabuk, we happened to stop by at this famous "white carabao" landmark in Bulanao, Tabuk.

It surprised me now located in a different spot. I learned later that the city government moved it from its old location which was at the middle of the road intersection to the side of the street fronting St. William's Cathedral. It also looked brighter with its tri-colored green-orange-yellow combination and is now a waiting shed, making the carabao on top of it.

I couldn't seem to find answers to my question as to why they transferred the monument, except that there was an issue of the old monument being abused by placing lots of advertising banners, political, commercial ads, etc...losing the monument's historical purpose, thus, there was an executive order issued by the governor of Tabuk prohibiting any streamers and banners of any kind on the landmark.

The "White Carabao" monument symbolizes the main occupation of the residents of Tabuk, - which is farming, and is always a prominent historical landmark when you reach the town of Bulanao - the town it became popular with.

I've witnessed the presence of this monument 15 years in this town while growing up, and being a small child those days, I actually called Bulanao "white carabao" everytime I see it. :) That would also meant I am already 5 minutes close to home! ;)

Honestly, I couldn't complain about the landmark's new location now with a waiting shed below it. it looks like it is now serving its purpose much better with its much improved looks...just my opinion! :)