Popular Philippine Festivals Featured in Los Baños Horticultural Society Show

Popular Philippine festivals such as Pahiyas, Panagbenga,Niyug-Niyogan festival, Flores de Mayo, Kadayawan where featured in several landscape exhibits at the Los Baños Horticultural Society show held in Senior Social Hall within University of the Philippines, Los Baños Laguna province.

Panagbenga festival

There were over 60 stalls and the show also had a mini-trade fair which sells popular treats from the province.

There is also an active participation from Department of Tourism region IV.

Centerpiece landscape exhibit was executed by the team of ARID N’ AROIDS (Sir Boyet Ganigan, Dr. Jae Silvestre) and ACLCM LANDSCAPING SERVICES (Designed by: Alvin Razon Chingcuangco) which showcases specimen sized ornamental plants, dyckia, bromeliads, tillandsia and foliage plants.

centerpiece landscape

The ribbon cutting ceremony was held at on April 4, 2019 past 3:00 pm with dozens of members, guests and important personalities.

opening

The show also had commercial section where one can buy popular house plants, ornamental plants, orchids, bougainvilleas, pots, garden mixture, annuals, herbs, ferns, cacti, succulents, carnivorous plants, tillandsia, bromeliads, hoyas, fruit trees and others.

Mr. Fernando Aurigue Jr. is the special guest of honor

Recognition

Mr. Fernando Aurigue Jr. was given a plaque of recognition for distinguished scientist award and one of the special guests of honor at the opening of Los Baños Horticultural Society show.

first place landscape exhibit ( Niyog-Niyugan festival)

Try to visit some of the stall holders like Ms. Ann Valenezuela which also had plant stall located at Robelle Garden Center in Calamba City.

Contact : 09193473826

masskara festival

The show is until April 15, 2019 with minimal entrance fees of Php 25 general public and Php 20 for students, senior citizens and people with disabilities with valid identification.  The exhibit opens from 8:00am to 6:00 pm .

pahiyas

Note: Special “Thanks” to Ms. Mary Anne Gatoc Fabale, Arid’s and Aroid and Ms. Ann Valenzuela for the photos.

Search for Aliwan Festival 2017 Queen

Search for the annual Aliwan Festival 2017 Queen comes to a culmination when 20 Festival Queens from different regions of the country .

presentation of candidates 

Manila Broadcasting Company- President Mr. Ruperto Nicdao Jr.

Now on its 15th year, the Manila Broadcasting Company, organizer of the annual extravaganza, presented to the press the 20 official candidates during a special presentation held at Maxim’s Hotel held yesterday April 18 at Resorts World Manila in Pasay City.

contestants 1 to 10

Ms. Rowena Gandeza, representing the Manggahan Festival of Guimaras; Ms. Julie Faith Agsalud, Zamboanga Hermosa Festival; Angelica Doguiles, Pescao Festival of Zamboanga; Patricia Kate Gonzales, Antipolo Maytime Festival; Alexia Sonia Edmund, Bambanti Festival of Isabela;

Ariella Jazmine Roque, Tuna Festival of General Santos City; Cherry Rose Fernandez, Panagbenga Festival of Baguio; Liezel Libria, Sultan Kudarat Fesival of Maguindanao; Maria Ahtisa Manalo, Niyog-Niyogan Festival of Quezon; Apriel Smith, Utanon Festival of Dalaguete, Cebu;

contestants 11 to 20

Kathleen Mae Lendio, Karansa Festival of Danao City; Alyssa Charish Vivas, Kneeling Carabao Festival of Pulilan, Bulacan; Kyla Ocso, Kalivungan Festival of North Cotabato; Elaine Segura, Iloilo Paraw Regatta Festival; Marla Alforque, Sinulog Festival of Cebu;

Maria Vivien Fabella, Boling-Boling Festival of Catanauan, Quezon; Venisse Charm Costibolo, Sangyaw Festival of Tacloban City; Carmela Villaruel, Timpuyog Festival of Sarangani; Angelica Gabriel, Pasay City; and Erna Torreblanca, Masskara Festival of Bacolod.

The pageant night will be held at the outdoor stage in front of the Aliw Theater at the Cultural Center Complex on Friday, April 21, with the coronation night following the grand parade on Saturday, April 22.

There will be a trade fair , street dancing and people from all walks of life are encourage to participate . The street dancing festivities will start at the Quirino Grandstand, Manila at around past 3:00 pm and will end at the Aliw theater , Pasay City

Website: http://www.aliwanfiesta.com.ph/aliwan

37th Grand Marian Procession in Intramuros

The 37th Grand Marian Procession within Intramuros had kicked off with hundred of thousands of devotees from all parts of the country went to the annual procession .

The procession was revived in 1980 by Intramuros administration in partnership with  Cofradia de la Immaculada Concepcion , Philippine Navy , Philippine Army,  schools within Intramuros , local government units and devotees.

Colegio de San Juan de Letran  student band

The event was very solemn and simple back in the 1980’s , eventually more marian statues and images from different parts of the country  joined in the annual procession.

 Nuestra Señora de Asuncion  devotees from Bulakan , Bulacan province

This procession became one of the biggest Marian procession attracting foreign tourists and balikbayans. The holding area was the the entire Magallanes drive , since parts of Fort Santiago is being rehabilitated unlike in the previous years.

Saint John of Bosco

I think this is a good idea , since Magallanes drive is bigger and more people can view the images .

Since it will take a long time to upload photos , here are just some of the Marian statues from different parts of the country.

NUESTRA SEÑORA DE LAS SALERAS

The town of Aliaga used to be part of the province of Pampanga, before  In 1848, Gapan, San Antonio, Cabiao and Aliaga were segregated and made part of Nueva Ecija. It was on the 8th of February 1849 that Aliaga was formally erected as town.

 The name “de las Saleras” was associated with the Blessed Virgin Mary because of the miraculous event.

devotees from Aliaga, Nueva Ecija

The Spaniards in search of new colonies in the pacific usually affix a holy image in their shipping vessels. The image of the Blessed virgin or the “Sto. Niño” were commonly placed to serve as a guide and a patron, and also to introduce the Roman Catholic Religion.

We were given some estampitas with some salt ( for blessing and cleansing ) by some of the devotees.  The estampitas is also one way to spread the devotion to other people who might not be too familiar with these images / representation of the virgin mary .

Website : http://nsdsparishaliaga.weebly.com/history.html

Nuestra SEÑORA de Stella Maris  devotees

The devotees of  Nuestra SEÑORA de Stella Maris also gave away 2 kinds of estampitas .

  Stella Maris  refers to Polaris (α Ursae Minoris); A title of the Blessed Virgin Mary, known in English as Our Lady, Star of the Sea.

Nuestra Señora de Stella Maris 

Our Lady of Montserrat or Nuestra Señora de Montserrat

The devotion of Our Lady of Monserrat originally came from Spain , eventually the devotion spread into the country .

a devotee holding a minor relic from Montserrat, Spain

The image was owned by a private collector and his family friend showed us a minor relic from Montserrat cave in Spain.  The pieces of limestone rocks were just recently acquired a few months ago .

Our Lady of the Barangay 

Our Lady of the Barangay  had a more elaborate balintawak , crown and  aureola or aureole .  The processional carriage was festooned with dozens of  light pink and fuchia colored roses , carnations , white phalaenopsis flowers , star gazers ( liliums) . We got a more traditional Our Lady of the Barangay  bought from a santo collector from Laguna province last month.

Our Lady , The Untier of Knots

Our Lady , The Untier of Knots is also known as  Mary the Undoer of Knots .

This image had started to gain its following in the country , some parishes in Novaliches , Quezon City. The Parish Church of Kristong Hari (Christ the King) and future Shrine of the Youth . There was a travelling pilgrim statue which toured some parishes within Novaliches area few months ago .

The overall mood was very festive and there were a lot of devotees due to clear weather. We have to leave the place by past 4:30 pm .

35th Grand Marian Procession in Intramuros

Intramuros , Manila-Philippines

beautiful ladies greeted tourists and devotees

Intramuros Administration together with Cofradia de la Inmaculada Concepción,  feature some of the best-loved images of the Blessed Virgin under various titles, both local and international.

Fort Santiago

At past 2:00pm, People started trooping inside Fort Santiago , Plaza de Armas area was opened to the public and devotees started lining the main entrance. It was a bit overcast sky and there is a big chance of rains. However , it did not stop people in coming .

Nuestra Señora dela Esperanza Macarena

La Macarena is the traditional and historical name of the area of Seville (Spain). The devotion started in Seville and gradually spread in Latin America and found its way to the Philippines.

a young lady all dress-up for the grand parade

2014 also marked the 35th anniversary of the revival of the annual procession ,which ceases after the second world war. The annual exhibition and procession is very grand and serves as a reminder how deeply religious and faithful .

devotees and friends pose for a souvenir shot

There are some 100 Marian images from different parts of the country and several thousands of people from all walks of life attending the parade.

group photo at the national press club

We organized  the usual postal heritage tour with a side trip to the Marian exhibits and procession route within Manila Cathedral . There were a lot of foreigners and balikbayans .

 Nuestra Señora de Salambao of Bulacan

There are new entries which includes  Virgen de Salambao of Obando, Bulacan  and Cavite’s Rosario de Caracol.

Our Lady of Hope

Our Lady of Hope is the title given to the Virgin Mary on her apparition at Pontmain, France  on January 17, 1871.

A place of pilgrimage, it attracts annually around 200,000 drawn from among the people of the region, with some international pilgrimages, especially from Germany. In the Philippines , there are several parishes like in Pag-Asa and Diliman in Quezon City which bears the titular name.

contingents from Catanduanes province, Bicol region

The Lady of All Nations

beautiful arrangement of flowers

Our Lady of La Salette

(French :Notre-Dame de La Salette) It is an important Marian apparition reported by two children named Maxim Giraud and Melanie Calvat which occurred at La Salette – Fallavaux , France in 1846.

 Pope Pius IX on September 19, 1851 approved the public devotion and prayers to Our Lady of La Salette, referring to its messages of apparition as “secrets”. On 24 August 1852, Pope Pius IX once again mentioned the construction of the altar to La Salette. The same papal bull granted the foundation of the Association of Our Lady of La Salette, formalized on 7 September.

religious and sacristans

sacristans

While IGMP participants are mainly replicas, There are  some original images of Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Imus, Aranzazu de San Mateo, Fátima de Valenzuela, Ina Poon Bato de Zambales, Consolación y Correa de Intramuros, Divina Pastora de Nueva Ecija, and the Soledad de San Isidro, also of Nueva Ecija.

a senior citizen dress in a fine Filipiniana outfit

Malabanan said that in 2013 almost the whole population of Pakil, including its local officials, came in droves to Intramuros to show their support for their patroness, Nuestra Señora de los Dolores de Turumba.

Our Lady of Montserrat

Our Lady Mediatrix of All Graces

On August 18, 1948, Teresita noticed a very heavenly fragrance, and upon entering her room she saw a beautiful Lady in white who spoke to her: “Do not fear my daughter, He who loves above all things has sent me. I come with a message…” The Lady asked Sister Teresita to wash the feet of the Mother Prioress, to kiss it and drink the water afterwards.  Hence , local devotion was initiated in 1991 after several controversies when local bishop  Initially declared  as non-supernatural in 1951.

Virgen  Milagrosa  del Rosario del Pueblo de Orani

According to oral accounts, it was very much accepted that the Spanish Dominicans brought “a mother” to the people of this place. And this “mother” performed continuous and constant miracles for them. As the years passed by, this “mother” became known as Virgen Milagrosa del Rosario del Pueblo de Orani.

Website: http://balangadiocese.org/BishopRupert/birhenngorani.html

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/nsdrorani

Since its launch in in 1980, IGMP has attracted devotees from within the Philippines as well as abroad, some of them tourists and Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) who make it a point to flock to the Walled City every first Sunday of December in honor of the Immaculate Conception.

Organizers are expecting a bigger and grander festival for 2015 !

Chinese New Year event at Robinson’s Place- Magnolia

Robinson’s Place – Magnolia, Quezon City- Philippines

Facade of Robinson- Magnolia

Master Chua Hu Hua

We were invited by Master Chua Hu Hua , a bonsai,  Chinese calligraphy expert . His years of expertise had earn him several accolades from local and international experts.

Master Chua Hu Hua Bonsai lecture: https://renz15.wordpress.com/2013/08/31/master-chua-hu-hua-bonsai-lecture/

horse figurine

There were some half a dozen stalls selling a varieties of products and items. A purchase of any items from their stall entitles a customer  free Chinese calligraphy  translation of their names to Chinese characters .

Master Chua Hu Hua busy writing Chinese calligraphy

Ha Yuan Chinese Store and Deli

Serving hearty Fookien, Cantonese, and old school Binondo dishes since 1956. Following Amah’s legacy of offering up delectable dishes from her home. One of the must try food is their Chinese fresh lumpia .

Note: I would like to ” Thank” the organizers and Master Chua Hu Hua for inviting us to the event.