The P.I. 100 Tours 5: Casa de Segunda Part 2

Just some of the pictures during the visit to Casa de Segunda.

* a part of what was supposed to be the dining room, notice the material called ‘tatsu’ [2]

* Trailer Pransism on one of the windows [2]

* the bed! [2]

* some of the religious items found inside the house [2]

* the lady herself, Segunda Katigbak [3]

* some of my classmates and our instructor, Prof. Wensley Reyes [3]

* a fountain found outside [3]

* a view of the upper windows [3]

* one house found separate from the main house [3]

The P.I. 100 Tours 5: Casa de Segunda Part 1

* behold, Case de Segunda, 1880 [2]

* the descendant of Segunda, too bad our picture together with her was corrupted [1]

* looking into the Segunda stuff; that’s me on an Inquirer shirt [1]

* Rizal is somewhere here, if I’m not mistaken [1]

My first feeling upon reaching Case de Segunda (House of Segunda) was its proximity to the town proper of Lipa. I remember leaving Robinsons Lipa after lunch in our service van and we only took a few turns and there we were already, gaping into this huge house appropriately named to bring in tourists and visitors.
Of course, Segunda Katigbak was one of the many women who beheld the heart of our national hero. The descendant of Segunda, who welcomed us there, told us that the house is one of the few houses that fortunately survived after the Second World. Perhaps, it is true, but I thought I saw a number of really old houses around Lipa.

* a hat and coat rack?[1]

* reminds me of Amorsolo’s painting for Ginebra San Miguel [1]

* this is the ground floor of the casa, the cuadra or stable at the time of Segunda [1]

* muebles [1]

* a Segunda ancestor(?)[1]

Anyway, the place is a treasure. There is this chessboard where, they say, Rizal used to place chess on. There are also many different small statues and idols, clothes and other items related to the Segunda family.

Again, I could not help but wish that I could own one such house. Even if without those antique stuff; I could fill them in later. Just a house, just a house. Quezon is a treasure place to look into, and also the wonderful town of San Juan in Batangas (an entry would be posted about my visit there presently). Got to save money for it, if time would permit me to accomplish it.

The P.I. 100 Tours 4: Hijos dela Revolucion, Lipa City, Batangas

* the group’s speaker for the visitors, that’s me with the Inquirer shirt [1]

* their ‘Septalogo ng Pagpupulong’ and ‘Tantuin’ [1]

* just one of the things one could read inside the headequarters [1]

The place we went to in Brgy. Bulaklakan, Lipa City was the headquarters of the Legion de Veteranos y Hijos dela Revolucion, Inc. Much of what has been discussed by their speaker were on a note taken by my classmate, but these are but just names and dates that I cannot no longer piece together.

What I do remember was the museum they have inside their headquarters where, they say, some of things associated with the revolution and Katipunan are kept. There was the salakot that was allegedly used by Andres Bonifacio and the first flag of the Katipunan. Perhaps at that time I was not really prepared to have those things I called at that time ‘crap’. I could not help but voice out my doubts on their claims. But nevertheless one cannot just nag at their place. That is their place. Righteous respects and so I just listened. And by the way, one has to take off his or her shoes or slippers as they are not allowed inside their ‘museum’. (But the carpet was not that clean either.)

* a katipuan flag [1]

* the flag, I think, of the the Legion [3]

* that’s me, looking at some of the group’s photos [3]

* this is one of the persons they revere [3]

Aside from that, they are honoring some people who they revere. But I don’t quite recall their roles in their group or even in the revolution or in the Katipunan. Perhaps a revisit would be helpful personally.

In the end, this group gives the Filipinos another dimension to which to look onto about the revolution. True or not, it gives one an idea of how well the revolution is ingrained in the minds of some of our fellow Filipinos.

The P.I. 100 Tours 3: Rizal Shrine, Calamba, Laguna

* replica(?) of a calesa that might have been used during the time of Rizal [1]

* statue of young Rizal with his pet dog, I thought it has name but I don’t remember now [1]

Rizal Shrine has been involved in a controversy recently when it suddenly turned green; avocado-green was the description I had of the place at that time. Opinions were thrown here and there, and Sir Ambeth Ocampo was even compelled to deal with the issue on his Inquirer column. One can look up on his Facebook page to learn more about his explanations about the controversial paint. Although I heard that plans are underway already to repaint it.

* a zoomed-in detail of a personal photo (cut away, of course) showing the green Rizal Shrine in the background

* pail used to get water from their well (which has now been turned into a wishing well) [2]

* view of the house across the street from Rizal Shrine, a note from Nick Joaquin’s book says that the headquarters of the Guardia Civil was situated there [2]

* batalan or banggera?, I get confused with these two [2]

* a view of the house, not yet green when this was shot [2]

* view of the St. John the Baptist Church as seen from the Rizal Shrine grounds [2]

The house of Rizals is found, says the book ‘Rizal in Saga’, on Calle Real, were most of the houses of the principales were found. Also the church, then just a chapel, the plaza, and the market.

* a scale of the Rizal Shrine, the ladies here are my classmates [3]

* one of Rizal’s famous quotations, actually a line from a poem said to be composed when he still young [3]

The house, as we all probably know by now, was destroyed and the contents and the house itself were looted. Through the efforts of the then President Elpidio Quirino, it was restored and inaugurated on 1950. The great Juan Nakpil was commissioned to direct the restoration of the Shrine.

For those who are interested to go to the shrine: from Manila, just board any bus bound for Sta. Cruz, Laguna then drop off at Calamba-Crossing. Essentially from there, one can just hail a tricycle and ask the driver to take you to the Shrine. Good luck to the contracting drivers!

Next stop: Bulaklakin, Lipa City, Batangas

The P.I. 100 Tours 2: Paciano Rizal House

* a statue of Paciano Rizal [3]

* some personal items open for public viewing [3]

* tombs(?) of Josefa Rizal and Trinidad Rizal [1]

It was I think, my first time to go to the town proper of Los Baños, despite having attended the university for several years already. I did not even know at that time that Paciano Rizal’s house is found in Los Baños. Thankfully, I still have surviving notes to reinforce my recollection.

As is widely known already, General Paciano Rizal was the brother of our national hero. He was born on March 9, 1851. During the revolution against Spain, he sought for support for the revolutionary forces as well as subscriptions for ‘Diariong Tagalog’. He was later named general of the revolutionary army.

He was also elected finance secretary in a certain departmental administration in Central Luzon. Later, he was to be assigned as military head of the revolutionaries in Laguna. He also joined in the Filipino-American War but was later captured in 1900. He died in his home in Los Baños on April 13, 1930.

Among the things that can be found inside are some photos of his grandchildren with the author Austin Coates, binoculars he used during the revolution, a pair of his shoes, and a Quiroga bed.

I have been personally attracted by the view of Laguna de Bay there and since that first visit, I have always frequented the park there, named after him. Sunsets are particularly exciting to witness there.

The P.I. 100 Tours Recollection 1

My P.I. 100 class simply overwhelmed me. Insightful class discussions. Historical info discoveries. Excellent teacher (Prof. Wensley Reyes). Active classmates. And best of all, one great outdoor trip.

As I did not have a camera during our trip, I shall resort to the use of the photos from my classmates. I hope that when they come across this entry they would, instead of scolding me for posting their shots, would enjoy a simple recollection of our class.

* Batangas Blades: the balisong of Taal, Batangas
[1 – from classmate Ana’s camera]

* a replica, so they say, of Jose Rizal’s childhood playhouse in Calamba, Laguna
[2 – from classmate Jova’s camera (Ms. Jovelyn Saligumba)]

* the house of General Paciano Rizal in Los Baños-Bayan, Laguna

[3 – from classmate Ana’s camera]

Our trip took us to some parts of Laguna and Batangas. I shall later detail on those places. Enjoy!

Alaminos Church

Just unearthed this photo from my CD-burned files. This is the altar of the Our Lady of Pillar in Alaminos, Laguna.

St. Therese of the Child Jesus Parish, Los Baños, Laguna

* memorial marker for two ROTC guerillas killed during the Los Baños Raid in 1945;
found inside the St. Therese compound

* a view inside St. Therese

* the St. Therese Baptistry erected in 1927

* inside St. Therese baptistry

St. Therese of the Child Jesus Parish (commonly called "St. Therese" or simpley "Therese") is found inside the U.P. Los Baños campus and is a good place for reflection. Despite being within a very busy university (not to mention a very busy street adjacent to it), St. Therese is frequently visited by students and employees alike. Besides having a comfortable area for mass services, the place was infamous for an alleged mass murder or mass grave in the place. This information was mentioned in a paper presentation on history I attended last December.

* St. Therese Dormitory for ladies, found inside the St. Therese compound

* the Resurrection chapels

* a view of St. Therese outside; the road in the foreground is Silangan Road

[How to go to St. Therese of the Child Jesus Parish: From Manila, boarda bus bound for Sta. Cruz, Laguna. Such buses are found near Gil Puyat LRT Station. Drop off at Olivarez Plaza in Los Baños, Laguna or alternatively, at Junction (a Jollibee store branch will be your marker for this place). Then board a jeep bound for UP College Kaliwa. Tell the driver to drop you off at St. Therese. The church is just across the UPLB Mathematics Building.]

The Bath: Los Baños, Laguna 1

An aimless noon at one of the busiest spots in Elbi.

* San Antonio de Padua Church

* inside the church

* staple food of the masses, of the broke, of the solitary ones, etc., etc.