Kawaling Pinoy 5th Anniversary Eyeball

Kawaling Pinoy held the 5th anniversary celebration and eyeball at the historic Aristocrat Restaurant  beside Malate church.

members started to arrived at around past 11:30 am until past 12:30pm 

Photo opportunities, and chit chat between members and camaraderie is evident.

This was made possible thru Chef Ariel Rios who was one of the administrator of the FB group Kawaling Pinoy . With over 16,000 active members not only in the Philippines, but on a worldwide scale.

Aristocrat Restaurant

There were about 25 members who came and enjoyed the sumptuous lunch .  The lunch ended at around past 2:00pm. ( more of the dishes -featured in my next post)

Congratulations to all the members who went to the 5th anniversary eyeball and celebration .

Flower Exhibit at the 71st Philippine Orchid Show

Philippine Orchid Society together with its partner organizations mounted a highly successful opening today at the Hardin ng mga Bulaklak ( Flower Garden ) at the Quezon Memorial Circle. This year’s theme : Philippine Orchids for Beauty , Unity and Prosperity ” .

registration area

Among the distinguished guests of honor includes Ms. Camille Villar , Ambassador Preciosa Soliven , Mrs. Maria Teresa Cancio-Suplico , Presidential Legislative Liaison Office ( PLLO) ASEC Romulo Arugay , Department of Agriculture , Quezon City officials and their representatives , Bureau of Plant  Industry , presidents of other plant societies and affiliate organizations .

Quezon City band

The opening started past 4:00pm with the arrival of the special guest of honors and traditional ribbon cutting ceremony , these also included a short tour of the landscape exhibit and announcement of the winners .

L-R Kelvin Niel Manubay , Presidential Legislative Liaison Office ( PLLO) ASEC Romulo Arugay,  Ms. Evangeline “Vangie” Go ( President POS) Mrs. Preciosa Soliven and Camile Villar 

Allied Botanical Corporation landscape exhibit

Allied Botanical Corporation landscape exhibit booth seems to be a smaller version of the last HortiKultura 2017 show.

VS Orchids and Ornamental Plant– This is a landscape showcasing mostly bougainvillea by the group of Mrs. Rolita ” Baby ” V. Spowart.

Ms. Brenda exhibit booth – the landscape exhibit combines old wooden windows and ornamental plants with interesting array of Phalaenopsis hybrids , strap leaf vandas, oncidiums and native sanggumays.

Unigreen Vertical garden exhibit -showcases different kinds of indoor and foliage plants . Indoor plants are very popular and they have different outlets in malls which sells indoor plant. This is one of the few companies based in the Philippines which exports indoor plants to Taiwan and other countries.

Uni-Green Inc. group of Companies- Contact Person : Mr. Joey L. Mendoza

Head Office : Address 2229 Narra street , United Hills Subdivision , Parañaque , Manila 

Telephone :+63-2( 823-2909) Fax:+62-2-776-1305

Mr. Manuel and Susan Lee orchid landscape exhibit showcases different kind of orange cattleya hybrids, strap leaf vandas and new varieties of orchid hybrids from Taiwan and Thailand.

Mr. Manuel and Susan Lee landscape exhibit also won first place in orchid landscape exhibit

a late afternoon buffet meal was served after the announcement of winners 

Special Partners of the show includes Del Monte , Philippines , Allied Botanical Corporation , Ramgo , Goodwill Bookstore and Villar Foundation.

Tomorrow , the orchid exhibition area will be open to the general public and there is a minimal entrance fees of Php 30 and Php 20 for senior citizens and students with valid Id’s.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Memorable Encounter with Mr. Ben Cab at Ben Cab Museum

Km. 6 Asin Road, Tadiangan, Tuba, Benguet province 

The BenCab Museum is a project of the BenCab Art Foundation, a non-stock organization that supports activities related to the arts and environment. There are 12 founders of the organization and Azalea Residences together with group of media , bloggers and Instagram users visited the museum.

Ben Cab Museum facade

The museum and the restaurant is getting a lot of positive reviews from both local and international travelers . There is also an Eco- Trail , where one can visit the forested area for 2 to 3 hours trek to at least half day trek.  There is an additional fee for the tour guiding, briefing and trek .

an ifugao hut , native hut and forested area 

The forested area were planted with pines and other native trees  by Mr. Ben Cab and his artists friend . Although there is a portion of the property where non-native trees species ( like mahogany  and african tulip trees ) and exotic ornamental plants like bromeliads are incorporated in the landscape .

back portion of the museum 

trip advisor and visitor’s guide

Among the well-known personalities who form part of foundation included Mr. Benedicto “BenCab” Cabrera – Founder , Mr. Rico Hizon ( television and international anchor ) , Mr.Bobby P. Gopiao ( bonsai and antique furniture collector ) , Professor Ambeth Ocampo ( historian, professor , author and columnist) among others.

group photo

It was in early 2008 when we have heard from local people around Tam-Awan Village that Mr. Ben Cab is constructing a museum / workshop / gallery within Benguet and Baguio area.

 steel sculpture 

Unfortunately , We were not able to visit the museum/ gallery in our last visit in 2011 , as we went to different places like  BSU and farms around Benguet , missing the opportunity to visit the famed place.

32 variation of Sabel glaze on Mariwasa tiles 2008 – Edison T. Co Seteng Patio 

nude painting

National Artist Ben Cabrera’s art collection in a four-level building. This is also where BenCab lives and where his actual workshop is located. Exhibits of exciting contemporary artists in Manila  and Benguet can be found here, too.

group photo

We are fortunate to have spotted Mr. Ben Cab while queuing at the main lobby of his museum / workshop area.

museum shop 

There are different galleries , each are thematic which focuses on a particular theme , sketches, drawing , paintings, sculptures ,  contemporary art works , artifacts , furniture . There is also a museum shop , where interesting art works , view cards and postcards by Mr. Ben Cabrera are being sold.

 

GENERAL INFORMATION

Tuesdays to Sundays 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
(last entry at 5:30 pm). Closed on Mondays, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

Admission to the Museum:

General admission – Php120
Students with valid school ID – Php100
Seniors/ PWD with valid IDs – Php80
Special rates for student & organized groups with minimum of 30 guests
EcoTrail tour – same as above

Website: http://www.bencabmuseum.org/

Nissan Philippines Set To Join in New Season of Nissan GT Academy

Dolby Atmos Cinema , Central Square , Bonifacio High Street , Taguig City -Philippines

Nissan Philippines Inc. ( NPI ) confirmed its participation in the upcoming Nissan GT Academy 2016 , which will be launched later this year. This was announced during an exclusive screening of the Nissan reality show , produced by NPI’s broadcast partner ABS-CBN channel 2 .

GT Academy Asia Final Race 

a virtual -to -reality racing competition , the Nissan GT Academy gives aspiring race cars drivers a chance to fulfill their dream of participating in a professional intentional race.

photo gallery of the top 6 finalists

” The Nissan GT Academy is Nissan way of democratizing motorsports, to make it more accessible to the general public ” said SH Huh , NPI General Manager for Marketing ” By doing this , we help fast -track the dreams of more potential Filipino racers to reach the international racing arena”.

Top 6- Mr. Daryl Brady, Mr. Terence Lallave, Mr. Jose ” Joward ” Policarpio , Mr. Rafael Lesaguis , Mr. Joel Agojo and Mr. S.J. Huh – NPI General Manager for Marketing

First launched locally in March 2015 , the Nissan GT Academy saw over 13,000 aspiring racers participate in over 20 live events held in key cities in the country within a four month period. Twenty players with the best race time in the game then advanced to compete in the National Finals, where they were subjected to physical , driving, media and virtual challenges to determine the top six contenders.

Team Philippines Winning Experience video by Nissan Nismo TV

 From the 20 finalists, Mr. Luis Cachero , Mr. Rafael Lesaguis ,Mr. Terence Lallave, Mr. Jose ” Joward ” Policarpio , Mr. Joel Agojo and Mr. Daryl Brady were selected to join the Race Camp at the Silverstone Racing Circuit in the United Kingdom in August 2015 .

Mr. Jose ” Joward” Policarpio -Champion of the GT Academy -Asia

The Philippine Top 6 then underwent a 9-day competition against finalists from Japan , Thailand , India and Indonesia to determine one winner for the Nissan GT Academy Asia leg. Mr. Policarpio bested the rest of the finalists in a qualifying race and was named the first Nissan GT Academy Asia- Champion .

 group photo

For more details and updates on the upcoming new season of the Nissan GT Academy Philippines, please visit  Facebook Page: NissanPhilippinesInc

Website: https://www.nissan.ph/

A Visit to Sibil Cemetery in Bulan , Sorsogon : Reconnecting My Family Roots

Bulan , Sorsogon province -Philippines

MRRL Trading and General Merchandise

It is my first time to visit and stayed in the town of Bulan , Sorsogon , We stayed with my second cousin’s home and hardware store at C. Gotladera street . It used to be known as Manuel Trading and was recently renamed to MRRL Trading and General Merchandise   .

 

C. Gotladera street corner Z.  Asuncion street 

Maternal Great Grandparents

Our maternal family genealogy  can be traced over a century ago, as recounted by my maternal aunts and cousins .  The story started when my maternal great grandfather ( Lolo sa Tuhod ) – Patricio Villanueva Lim from Zamboanga province and maternal great grandmother ( Lola sa Tuhod)  Cristina Tankiko / Tangkeko ( or Tangueco )  who hails from Malabon , Rizal married resulting in the birth of 7  female and 1 male with total of 8 children . The names of the children were  Victorina T. Lim,  Dionisio T. Lim ,  Agueda T. Lim , Otilla T. Lim, Maria T. Lim ,  Rosario T. Lim , Lola Torribia T. Lim and  Asuncion T. Lim. Lola Asuncion or known as Yaya Susoy.  My great grandmother died shortly after she was born .  My maternal grandmother is Lola Torribia T. Lim was born on May 17, 1910.

They settled and stayed in the town of Bulan and their old house is one of the first that got galvanized roof. ( de- galvanizado ) . They also acquired some lands within Bulan and nearby towns . They are considered as one of the prominent families of the place.

marble stoup donated by Mr and Mrs. Juan  R. Grillego and lower marker indicates the name Mrs. Torribia Lim viyuda De Vera 1966 at the Bulan Church

The Bulan church foundation ( one of the pillar ) have the name of my maternal grandmother ( the name of the people who donated to the construction of the church had their name etched in a marker – reconstruction started from 1965 to 1967 ) Unfortunately, the marble marker had been repainted and the donors name cannot be visibly seen .

My maternal grandmother , Lola Torribia Lim- De Vera is one of the siblings of the union. ( Please visit related link : Manila Chinese Cemetery  )

Lola sa Tuhod Cristina Tankiko / Tangkeko  ( or Tangueco ) -Lim is a well -bred mestiza woman , ( Tagala – Chinese lineage ) from Malabon , Rizal – Ms. Myna Uy ( my second cousin ) recounted that she had the privilege to visit the place several decades ago and there were some long lost relatives which visited her few years back from Malabon . She somehow have forgotten the exact barangay and could not recollect . According to her , the family is landed and fairly educated . She probably died around 1912  due to miscarriage, She was between 30 to 35 years-old .She was buried somewhere in Malabon .

According to the stories of my aunts and second cousins, Some of the relatives and nephews of my maternal grandmother would visit them in the mid -1950’s ( around 1954 or 1955 ) in their upholstery store in Gandara aka Sabino Padilla street. They could only remember Mr. Moises Tankiko /Tangkeko ( Tangueco) was around late 40’s  and Mr. Rene Tangkiko/ Tangkeko ( Tangueco) in his late teens.

Lolo sa Tuhod Patricio Villanueva -Lim my maternal great grand father is a mix of Chavacano , Spanish and Chinese who hails somewhere from Zamboanga province. He was probably born around 1860 , since some of my aunts had met him . They told me that he was about 86 years-old in 1946 when they met him. He died a year later in 1947.

My maternal great grandmother died young and my maternal great grand father remarried twice the second wife died shortly . My maternal aunts could not recount her name . I think they have 1 to 2 children .

Lola Tomasa Giro-Lim ( Lola Masa ) from Bulan – They have 2 siblings – Mr. Maximiano Lim and Ms. Salud Lim .

According to the stories of my second cousins: Ms. Myrna Uy and his brothers , My maternal great grandfather  and maternal step great grandmother might have been buried somewhere within this cemetery or was it at the other Catholic cemetery.

l-r Mr.Raymond L. De Vera , Mrs. Nenita L. De Vera and Vice Mayor Tessie Lim-Guran

I think they belonged to the LIM and De Vera family clan . We also paid a visit to the current vice mayor of the town of Bulan and have a courtesy call to Honorable Tessie G. Lim- Guran and her sister whom our maternal lineage are related ( great grandfather is also the same with her ) She is known as ” Para-Bulong ”  sort of faith healer , practicing it for over 30 years ! She lived in Luyo / Loyo or Zone 8  and we saw dozens of people would lined-up and wait for her .

I knew that she would inherit some qualities , since some people would tell us that the family is quite mystical and my maternal grandmother would also conduct some faith-healing session with the locals.

entrance to the civil or sibil cemetery

We have visited the Civil or Sibil cemetery to pay our respects to our Tsinoy fore bearers and to the UY family clan members that were interred at the cemetery . However due to time constrains , We were not able to locate the exact burial location.

 Chinese Martyrs Monument of June 13, 1942 erected on June 13, 1946 during the incumbency of Salvador Escudero – provincial governor 

So Tian Syo Leocadio Corro- Merchant

So Hong Su – Principal

Yap Tiong Kiat – School Teacher

Tan Ka Leong – Merchant

Te Yan Koy – Merchant

Lim Koy Han – Merchant

So Kun Siok – Student

Lee Kim Tian – Student

Tan Lin Siu- Student

Tan Liong Siu – Student

Chinese grave with inscription

Chinese businessmen and students who were shot by the Japanese at the  gate on suspicion of being guerillas or collaborators. Here also lies as the resting place of  many underground guerillas , patriots, fighters and others , both identified and not were interred.

chinese style pagoda entrance

Those who were killed during the many military encounters in Bulan between 1972-76, and hastily buried within the cemetery grounds. .

Mr. Tony Ariado and Mr. Fenito Guan are also buried within the cemetery and  countless of teachers and brave soldiers.

One can easily identify the prominent clans of Bulan, to the west the Geronas, the Galiases, and the De Castro to the eastern portion, the Gillegos and the Gotladeras.

The Sibil / Civil is the resting place of all others, especially of the Tsinoys. In the mid 19th and early 20th century ,  it was only in the  Romano or Campo Santo de Bulan  referring to the old Roman Catholic Cemetery where masses and blessings of the dead were held, but no longer this time. They now say mass in the Sibil.

A visit to the town surely gave a some time to trace my ancestral roots and i think more will surely unravel if i can trace my lost relatives in Malabon , Zamboanga and Sorsogon. Who knows there are more relatives out there .