Rising from ashes

"Disasters work like alarm clocks to the world,

hence God allows them.

They are shouting, 'Wake up! Love! Pray!'"

~ Criss Jami, American poet and essayist

The Basilica de San Martin de Tours, located in the town of Taal in the province of Batangas, is the largest known Catholic church in Asia, standing 88.6 meters (291 feet) long and 48 meters (157 feet) wide. Designed by Spanish architect Luciano Oliver, construction of the church started in 1856 and finished in 1865.

The history of the Taal Basilica, as it is more popularly known, and of the town itself, is much older, however.

Taal was founded by Augustinian missionaries in 1572, in what is now the town of San Nicolas. The first church was built in 1575 by Padre Diego Espina. Then in 1754, the entire town was destroyed during one of Taal Volcano's largest eruptions. The town was then relocated to its present site and construction of a new church began in 1755. That church was destroyed by a strong earthquake in 1849, but the town survived, thankfully.

Mid-day impressions

At La Luz Beach Resort in San Juan, Batangas.
 
Cabanas for day-trippers. If you're willing to rough it, you can stay here overnight too, falling asleep to the sound of the waves. (We stayed in a beach-front air-conditioned room—we're wusses.)
 
Small rocks…

lead to a big rock at the end of the cove which make up the beaches of Laiya and Hugom. The big rock also marks the end of La Luz's property.
  Lady Jane. The bangka is the most common fishing boat and water transport in the country-archipelago that is the Philippines. It is an outrigger canoe, and the outriggers are usually made of bamboo. The roof is optional, and, for smaller boats, so is the engine.
  A floating platform for swimmers who have no fear of deep ocean water.

Will I recommend La Luz Beach Resort? I guess it depends on what kind of accommodations you like when at the beach. Me, I like to constantly feel that I am at the beach, not in a fancy hotel that can be in any city. When I walk out the room, I want to feel sand between my toes after a few steps. And I want to be able to walk around anywhere in my swimsuit, dripping wet and trailing sand, and not have to worry about messing up furniture or carpets. If that sounds like you too, then yes, I highly recommend La Luz.

Kids.

The dogs of the small villages around the area use the beaches of Laiya and Hugom in San Juan, Batangas as their early morning play and exercise grounds. When resort guests wake up and start arriving on the beach, they head back home.

It's going to be a wonderful day

5:40am at La Luz Beach Resort in the municipality of San Juan in the province of Batangas, about 115 kilometers south of Manila, where my husband and I spent four lazy days last week. The beaches of Laiya and Hugom are on Tayabas Bay, like Bellarocca Island Resort in the island province of Marinduque from two years ago.

Postcards from Caleruega

The prayer retreat that I attended over the weekend was held in Caleruega, a prayer and renewal center owned by the Dominican Order in Batulao, Nasugbu in the province of Batangas, a three-hour drive from Manila. This small fountain sits in the middle of its circular driveway.



Caleruega is located in beautiful, lush hills and gardens which should have made it ideal as a retreat center, except that the Dominicans opened it to the public. The many visitors who walk around totally ignore the "Observe Silence" signs and the staff don't bother shushing them. The building which serves as the main entrance to Caleruega features pineapples in its facade. Pineapples are a common product in the province of Batangas. We were served fresh pineapple juice and fresh pineapple slices with some of our meals, and they were so sweet!



Caleruega is named after a small town in Spain which is the birthplace of Saint Dominic, the founder of the Order of Preachers (OP) which bears his name.



The refectory (dining room) was mercifully off-limits to non-retreatants, but since it was located right next to the entrance hall, it could still get very noisy. And worse, we were joined by another group on Saturday, teenagers in a not-silent workshop! In an effort to ignore all the noise, I chose the table nearest this little koi pond and would stare at the fish swimming peacefully in it while I ate.



Santo Domingo de Guzman (St. Dominic, 1170–1221) had his own little garden which was completely surrounded by hedges so the grass wouldn't get trampled on.



Our rooms were in these stone cottages. Each cottage had two rooms, with their own bathrooms, thank goodness. Each room was shared by two people, but could have accommodated another since each room had three single beds. The bedroom was very spare. Caleruega is a retreat center, after all, not a hotel.



Our sessions were held in the 'Gazekubo,' a combination of the words gazebo and kubo (native hut). The awning is made of nipa, still common as a roofing material in rural areas in the Philippines. The thick walls and windows of the Gazekubo kept out most of the noise of the visitors, unless they were walking right beside the windows and shouting.



The view just outside the Gazekubo. I could live with the little noise to have this.



On our first evening, there was a wedding reception in one of the function rooms of this hall. I just have to say that it's quite difficult trying to pray when you can hear Chic's "Le Freak" in the background. Dancing with the Lord, anyone?



I walked around Caleruega right after breakfast on Saturday. Alone. No one else in my retreat group did so and it was too early for visitors, and it was wonderful! The road leading to the nursery, koi pond and picnic grounds was quite steep. A perfect location to follow the Way of the Cross.



The meandering path down to the koi pond should not be hurried at all.



The sunny part of the koi pond. It goes beyond the walkway I was standing on, surrounded by lush trees and bushes.



Beyond the koi pond were more gardens. Behind the fountain is a little amphitheater with a bonfire pit, with the wood stacked and ready for burning.



The hanging bridge crosses a small ravine with lots of big trees and a tiny trickle of water at the bottom. This was the only point I wanted someone with me. Preferably someone who'd freak out when I got the bridge swaying by jumping on it. I skipped and jumped across to get it swaying anyway.



Crossing the bridge brings you to the picnic area at the edges of the Dominican property. I saw little piles of half-burnt charcoal on the ground so I guess people were allowed to grill food there.



Back in the main compound, the Transfiguration Chapel sits on the highest point of Caleruega. The sculpture of the Risen Christ was created by Filipino artist Ben-Hur Villanueva in 1996.



Because of its location, the chapel is very popular for weddings. In fact, there were weddings during each of the three days that we were there.



And finally, a little decorative detail of Caleruega, just because I like it: the lamps made of bamboo, carved out with holes into which are fitted colorful, synthetic 'gems.'