group photo
Last October 25, 2008, the group had their monthly field trip in the historic province of Bulacan – cradle of Philippine revolution . One of the first places that was included in the tour itinerary was the Pulilan Butterfly Haven .
“Hu-Tieh”. ” is a Chinese Mandarin word meaning ” butterfly” the second word Tieh means “70 years“, thus these creature is considered as a symbol for a long life. In Chinese culture, butterflies have also become the ultimate representative of young men in love. In ancient China, butterflies are long associated with re-birth and butterflies accessories is commonly used .
In the Japanese culture, butterflies are thought to be representative of young maidens and marital bliss. Many Japanese families use the butterfly in the family crest design or personal emblems .
gate leading to the butterfly sanctuary and museum
While in Germany has a very unique belief about butterflies. As butterflies can often be found hovering about milk pails or butter churns, they have become associated with witches trying to steal the cream. The German word for butterfly is “Schmetterling”, which is actually derived for the Czech word “Smetana” which means “cream”.
In the Christian religion, the metamorphosis a butterfly undergoes is symbolic of the spiritual evolution all Christains go through. In ancient mythology, the butterfly stands for wisdom, hope , everlasting knowledge and re-birth .
The heart and soul of the Haven is its founder, Mrs. Estelita A. Caleon-Aguirre– she was a one time college dean of Institute of Accounts , Business and Finance of Far Eastern University in Manila .
Blessed with boundless creative energy and a passionate desire to champion the cause of public service, she describes herself, with typical modesty, as “a Certified Public Accountant by profession, a Deputy Commissioner of Internal Revenue by designation, and a poetess by avocation.” She loves to hear herself described as a “beautiful” person, but she will tell you that indeed, it is a beauty not seen in physical attributes, but an inner beauty, the kind that comes from the heart, the kind that lasts and never fades.
After placing 10th in the 1964 CPA Board Examinations, she went on to build a career spanning thirty-five years in public service, and was hailed in 1997 as the Philippines’ Civil Service Commission’s Dangal ng Bayan (Pride of the Motherland) Award for Ethical Behavior, all the while managing to raise a family of four beautiful children, and running a Foundation that grants scholarships to gifted but underprivileged children.
Pulilan’s late Vice Mayor Honorato C. Aguirre, and believes the greatest treasures of her life to be their four children and three granddaughters and the 127 young scholars of her Foundation.
Caleon – Aguirre ancestral house
The butterfly haven sits on the Caleon- Aguirre 6,000 square meter property with the ancestral house that sits on a portion of the property. The house was converted into a lifestyle and personal collection museum which housed the old furniture collection of the family, awards, trophies, grand piano , life -sized santos , old family portrait , a collection of dolls dressed in traditional Filipino costumes crafted by noted Filipino fashion -guru Ms. Beatriz ” Patis” Pamintuan Tesoro .
Itik-itik – traditional Filipino folk dance
Bulacan Doll Museum where 17 diorama collections are placed in a glass highlights historical events , cultural heritage, tradition, dances, and values of the Filipino.
Juan Tamad a popular Filipino folklore
The museum with 17 diorama doll collection, pays tribute to Filipino craftsmanship. Among the historical events depicted in the dioramas are the Birth of Katipunan in Bulacan, the Battle of San Rafael, the declaration of Philippine Independence, the Capture of Calumpit by the Americans, the Japanese Occupation in Bulacan, the Independence Day celebration in Bulacan, the Malolos Congress, and the Defense of Cacarong De Sili in Pandi.
1897 Biak na Bato Republic diorama
The museum also features Carabao Festival, Sta. Clara Fertilization Dance in Obando, Fluvial parade of Bocaue, Good Friday procession in Baliwag, Bayanihan and Pamanhikan; Bulacan industries such as Paombong vinegar or suka industry, polvoron- making and other native delicacies, jewelry-making, embroidery and hat-weaving.
Doll collection
The center piece of the collection is the personal collection of butterflies from the dead mounted butterflies to everyday home equipment with butterfly motif, Dean Aguirre collected from her journeys from all parts of the country and from all over the world .
Today, the Haven she created is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Bulacan Province.
souvenir shop and museum
The center had an 1, 600 square meter swimming pool area which can be rented for special function a souvenir shop – were one could choose an array of items from pencils, stickers, fashion jewelry, caps, t-shirts, hand bag, preserved butterflies are sold. There are function area while knowledgeable staffs can provide seminars and lectures about butterfly ( on special appointed group), a butterfly breeding area – where the life-cycle of the butterfly are shown .
There is also a small garden full of tropical plants from orchids, lantana , ixora , hanging plants, ferns among others.
The place is also suitable for family gatherings, company seminars, garden weddings, parties, excursions, location shooting or just being with friends , the seclusion and privacy it offers make it the ideal place for family.
The author, being a stamp collector felt that her collection was still incomplete without a set of stamps on butterfly , gave a framed collection of stamps ( butterfly) a few months after the tour as Christmas gift to the former dean as a token of gratitude .
For visit , function and educational tours:
Contact Information:
Address: Pulilan Butterfly Haven – San Francisco St., Pulilan, Bulacan , Philippines 3005
Telephone # (63-44) 676-1377
#8 Scout Tuazon , Quezon City office: (632) 416-08-66
(632) 376-23-24
Filed under: people, Place | Tagged: ancestral house, Battle of San Rafael, Biak na Bato, Birth of Katipunan in Bulacan, Bulacan, butterfly, Capture of Calumpit by the Americans, Certified Public Accountant, Chinese- Mandarin, Dangal ng Bayan, dean, Deputy Commissioner of Internal Revenue, diorama, doll museum, far eastern university, Farms, Germany, Hu-tieh, Institute of Account Business and Accounts, Japanese, Juan Tamad, Malolos Congress, Mrs. Estelita A. Caleon -Aguirre, Ms. Beatriz " Patis" Pamintuan Tesoro, orchid, people, Philippine Independence, Place, Pulilan, Vice Mayor Honorato C. Aguirre | 1 Comment »
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