Cory Aquino's historic speech before the U.S. Congress

The Philippines was once a beacon of hope. Today, we desperately search for that lost hope. Just as Ninoy Aquino's death in 1983 unleashed a fiery passion for freedom and democracy, Cory Aquinos's passing away 26 years later today, has reawakened a nation that, just like before, has had enough.

Indeed, her death can serve as a catalyst for genuine change and political maturity in our country. That is if Filipinos ensure that truth and justice will prevail. We must demand from our leaders the utmost sincerity and unimpeachable integrity before they be allowed to shepherd our nation.

Sometimes, I think that Cory's death could not have come at a more opportune time, as our government began an onslaught of photographs and press releases trumpeting the "success" a U.S. trip that had nothing but superficial gains. It was at best, a photo opportunity for shallow bragging rights, done at the expense of Philippine taxpayers. If there was any trip by a Philippine president to the U.S. that had made the biggest impact, it was Cory's. Watching President Aquino's historic speech before the U.S. Congress on September 18, 1986 says it all. No need for government spin doctors here.

Cory Aquino (January 25, 1933 – August 1, 2009)

The Philippine nation mourns the loss of a true icon of democracy. Rich and poor, people continue to line up to pay their last respects to former president Corazon C. Aquino.

Today's generation of young people were born after the People Power Revolution of February 1986. So many do not feel the connection to the momentous events that took place that year. Although born during Martial Law, I was still six then. So my memories of what happened are a bit vague. But while reading some articles, things began to flashback.

In fact, even images of 1983 still linger. I remember people in Makati throwing confetti from the buildings while me and my mom were driving by. Curious as I was, I asked why all these people were throwing pieces of paper (mostly shredded telephone directories) from the buildings. They were angry because of Ninoy's assassination. Today, as Cory's funeral cortege passes by Makati, her remains will be met with the very same confetti that honored and encouraged her as a widow, presidential candidate, and the nation's conscience.

While on the way to Pampanga today, I encountered some traffic along EDSA and decided to take another route to the NLEX via Quezon Avenue. I noticed Times Street along EDSA and took this as a sign that I should stop by the house of Ninoy and Cory Aquino and pay my respects.

Indeed, the house is small and humble compared to those in the vicinity. A crowd had gathered outside. TV cameras continuously covered the arrival of people who leave flowers or light candles by the walls of the house. A historical marker for Ninoy Aquino stands as a poignant reminder that in this house lived a national hero.

Later in the evening, I received a message that the Upsilon Sigma Phi had been allowed special access to Cory Aquino's wake. Ninoy Aquino was a proud member of the Upsilon. And the brods were very appreciative to be given the chance to pay our respects. So I cut short my stay in Pampanga, immediately rushed back to Metro Manila and arrived at the gates of La Salle Greenhills just in time for the group to enter.

The atmosphere was very solemn. Indeed, there was a multitude of people from all walks of life. The original Namfrel blackboard is still there, the chalk entries immortalized in white paint as a stirring reminder that we were once a nation that fought and stood for what was right.

We only had a few seconds to pray in front of her coffin. I feel fortunate I got the chance.

I keep one cherished memento of her, an autograph I was able to get when she visited the Ateneo de Manila High School. As she passed through the corridors on the way out, I rushed to shake her hand. I almost lost this autograph due to some water damage which my room is so prone to. But thank God it's still intact.

I'm sad the family declined the state funeral she most definitely deserved. But I can't blame them. Kris Aquino puts it well, "Now she’s dead, you want to give her honor, but when she was still alive, you want her powerless." This government isn't fooling anyone except themselves.

August 5, 2009 has been declared a special non-working holiday to allow the nation to join her funeral.

Batanes: Around Mahatao, Ivana and Uyugan

I was in Batanes again last May for the Ultimate Philippines tour of the northernmost province of the country. As soon as our SEAIR flight landed in Basco, we went straight to Fundacion Pacita where we were going to stay for the next four days.

For the first day, we toured Batan Island, particularly the towns outside Basco. Just last November, I also did the same tour. So for more details about the places we visited, read Marlboro Country, Mahatao Church and more from Batan Island.

Our first stop was the Mahatao Church, a National Cultural Treasure. According to the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), “ The church was built in the 19th century by the Dominicans and characterized by a stone structure in the courtyard used to house the beaterio, a local institution to assist in the work of the church. Elsewhere in the churchyard are stone monuments used perhaps as guiding lights for fishermen. The entire site gives a good idea of the simplicity of missionary life (as a counter-balance to the ‘baroque’ sensitiveness of more affluent areas).”

We then dropped by Ivana to visit the Ivana Church, Honesty Café where people pay for drinks and snacks they consume by honesty system since the store is unmanned, and the House of Dakay, said to be the oldest stone house in the town. The group got to meet its lone inhabitant, Lola Florestida Estrella who warmly welcomes visitors into her humble home.

The group then had a lunch picnic by the sea in Uyugan. I'll talk about all the great Ivatan food we ate during the whole tour in another post.

Passing through Uyugan town, we got to see the ruins of Songsong (a barangay destroyed by a tsunami in 1953), old stone houses in Barangay Itbud and the poblacion of Uyugan, and spectacular views of waves crashing on the jagged Batanes cliffs in Dekey a Kanayan.

The last stop of the group before proceeding back to the inn was Rakuh a Payaman commonly known as Marlboro Country. It’s one of the best views in Batanes, with cows and carabaos grazing, rolling hills, waves crashing on the shore, with a view of another quaint lighthouse built in the distinct Batanes style. In the evening, we had more Ivatan fare at Therese's Restaurant.

Part 2: Batanes adventure: Chavayan, Savidug, Nakabuang Beach and more from Sabtang
Part 3: Batanes adventure: Valugan Beach, Vayang, Nakamaya Burial Grounds, Diura Fishing Village and Naidi Hill

Related entries
Batanes, undiscovered paradise up north
Marlboro Country, Mahatao Church and more from Batan Island
Batanes stone houses in Savidug and Chavayan, Nakabuang Beach and more from Sabtang Island
Batanes hotels and restaurants plus exploring Batanes by bike

Cagayan: Marian Voyage of Peace in Tuguegarao, Cagayan

The Marian Voyage of Peace was held in Tuguegarao, Cagayan last month which I attended to represent the North Philippines Visitors Bureau. The event was organized by the Cagayan North Convention and Visitors Bureau among others.

As part of the three-day Marian Voyage of Peace from June 26 to 28, ten Marian images from all over North Philippines were brought to Tuguegarao, Cagayan and some neighboring towns for public veneration. These included the Our Lady of Piat from Piat, Cagayan; Our Lady of Badoc from Badoc, Ilocos Norte; Our Lady of Guibang from Gamu, Isabela; Our Lady of Charity from Agoo, La Union; Our Lady of Namacpacan from Luna, La Union; Our Lady of Fatima from Valenzuela City, Metro Manila; Nuestra Senora de Caridad from Bantay, Ilocos Sur; Our Lady of Manaoag from Manaoag, Pangasinan; Our Lady of the Immaculate Concepcion from Malolos, Bulacan; and Nuestra Senora del Mar de Cautiva from Sto. Tomas, La Union.

Part 2: Cagayan: Callao Cave, Pinacanauan River and Iguig Calvary Hills
Part 3: Basilica of Our Lady of Piat in Piat, Cagayan

Pampanga: Things to do in Clark Freeport and Pampanga

Clark Airport has become a major international gateway of the Philippines. Now people are asking, what's there to do in Clark? So I've come up with a list of Top 10 things to do while in Clark Freeport and Pampanga!

1. Eat Kapampangan!
You haven't been to Pampanga if you haven't savored its food. Pampanga's capital San Fernando, just 20 minutes from Clark, is home to Everybody's Cafe where everyday Kapampangan food is as exotic as it can get. Angeles City is the birthplace of sisig and make sure you taste the original at Aling Lucing's. The sisig at Mely's (San Fernando) and Mila's (Angeles) is also worth the visit. At the Historic Camalig Restaurant, Kapampangan pizza is topped with longaniza, salted duck eggs, and pickle relish.

The halo-halo in Pampanga is also suberb! There are three distinct varieties: Guagua (Razon's), Arayat (Kabigting's and Jurado's), and Angeles (Corazon's). There's also a row of kambingans (or goat restaurants) in the Bayanihan Park area (unfortunately, Mila's where Claude Tayag brought Anthony Bourdain, has temporarily closed shop). But Aryln's and its several branches will definitely not disappoint. Also check out the barbeque at Junjun's and Nathaniel's puto pao and buko pandan.

Speaking of Claude Tayag, you might want to bring a group to have lunch at his house Bale Dutung. But it won't be that easy. Finally, if you're willing to drive to the foot of Mt. Arayat, there is Abe's Farm, owned by the LJC Group of Restaurants of the late Larry Cruz.

2. Shop 'til you drop
There may just be a few of them left. But it's still worth shopping around for the best imported bargains. Lest we forget, Clark was the PX center of the country before imported stuff found its way to our supermarkets and department stores.

3. Go horseback-riding along the Sacobia River
One of the activities in Clark is horseback riding at El Kabayo Riding Stables. While you can take the horse around the area, if you are adventurous and up to the task, why not go for a ride down to the Sacobia River and enjoy the lahar canyons created by the Mt. Pinatubo eruption?

4. Take a dip at Puning Hot Spring
For PHP3,000, you can enjoy a visit to the Puning Hot Spring, complete with treatments. The price includes simple lunch, the 4x4 ride from Garden Restaurant to the hot spring and back, entrance fees to the hot spring and use of the facilities, sand steam (that's where they bury you up to the neck under volcanic sand), body mud pack, and a foot massage.

One of the attractions of the place is a steaming hot waterfall. The water in the stream was close to 90 degrees Celsius. And they divert some of the water into various pools with different temperatures ranging from 40 to 70 degrees Celsius. There are eight hot pools and one cold pool. So if one pool is too hot for you, you can take a dip in the next one.

5. Fly over Mt. Pinatubo
We all know about the trek to Mount Pinatubo via Capas, Tarlac. But have you ever wondered how Mount Pinatubo looks from the sky? Thanks to the Mount Pinatubo Sky Tour of Omni Aviation in Clark Freeport, you can now do that at a very reasonable price.

It's PHP4,500 per head, regardless of the number of people who'll fly. That's because they have different sizes of planes. So if you're just alone, they can send you up on a two-seater Cessna 152 plane which I took.

6. Try the international cuisine along Fields and Don Juico Avenues
I already mentioned local Kapampangan food. But the Clark area is a mecca for international cuisine. And Fields Avenue brings you around the world with its international restaurants. Among my favorites are C' Italian Dining, Zapata's (Mexican), VFW, AC Rumpa and Subdelicious (American), Cottage Kitchen (Cajun/Creole), Red Sea (Lebanese), Hana-mi (Japanese)... the list is endless! There's even a Korea Town along Friendship Highway.

Maranao Grill in Oasis Hotel has the RST Buffet every Friday. RST stands for roast beef, roast lamb, sushi, sashimi and tempura. Inside Clark, Mequeni Cafe in Holiday Inn whips up one mean buffet as well. I tried their lunch buffet once and it's worth more than the price.

Now obviously, you can't eat at all these places in one day since that would be gluttony! So why not stay another day?

7. Do a museum and architectural heritage tour of Pampanga
Clark has a historical core from the days of Fort Stotsenberg and Clark Air Base. You can also start your tour in Angeles City at the Center for Kapampangan Studies in Holy Angel University for an introduction of the province. Then head on over to Museo ning Angeles, the Angeles Church, Pamintuan Mansion and the Founders' House. Take a calesa around old San Fernando, a treasure trove of ancestral mansions. Make sure you also visit the San Fernando Cathedral and the churches of Betis (a National Cultural Treasure), Bacolor, Lubao, Minalin, and San Luis to complete your visita iglesia of the province.

8. Swim in Mount Pinatubo's crater lake
Clark is relatively near Barangay Sta. Juliana, Capas, Tarlac. So another must do activity when staying in Clark is to trek to the crater lake of Mount Pinatubo to take a dip. Also check out the Pinatubo Spa Town.

9. Play golf at Clark's many golf courses
Take your pick! There are golf courses in Mimosa, Fontana and Clearwater to suit your golf needs.

10. Try your luck at the casino
If you're a high-roller or just looking for some fun, the Clark area has several casinos including Casino Filipino Angeles, Casino Filipino Mimosa, Fontana Casino and Hotel Stotsenberg's Casablanca Casino.

11. Go wakeboarding!
This one is coming soon! But I'm putting it in the list anyway so that we have something to look forward to. No need to drive all the way to Camarines Sur to enjoy world-class wake boarding since the Philippine Tourism Authority is said to be building a wakeboarding facility in Clark.

Here's more to do in Pampanga...