Filipino Australo-Melanesians

The Aetas are an indigenous people who live in the mountainous regions of Luzon, most notably in the province of Zambales. They are usually darker and smaller in frame and height than the average Filipino, and tend to have curly or kinky hair. Of course, they now live like any other Filipino, and these three young men donned their traditional bahag (loincloth) only to demonstrate several of their traditional dances during our Zoobic Safari tour. But truth be told, like many other indigenous peoples in the Philippines and all over the world, they have problems claiming and protecting their ancestral domain from people who want their land, and their access to basic services (eg, healthcare, education) and employment opportunities are not at par with with the rest of the population.

Camo

The little tiger bus that brought us around Zoobic Safari's many attractions. Except the part with the free-roaming lions and tigers, of course.

Cousins

Spotted near the waiting area of the Zoobic Safari. Cousins, indeed. Both were absolutely determined to ignore me.

Gateway

The Old West Gate in what used to be the Subic-Olongapo Base (now the Subic Bay Freeport Zone) was called the Spanish Gate by the Americans when they took over the base. The plaque on the gate reads:

This gate was the entrance to the original Spanish naval station established in Subic Bay in 1885. The principal Spanish construction lay to the east along what is now Rivera Point and consisted of an arsenal, several warehouses, and a number of shop buildings.

The base at Subic-Olongapo was used by the Spanish Navy to provide repair, supply, ammunition and medical support for ships. The post was commanded by the second commandancia of the base at Cavite and was considered a subsidiary of that command.

The Spanish garrison remained in possession of the Subic-Olongapo base until June of 1898 at which time they were driven out by Filipino forces. The area was formally occupied by the U.S. Navy in September of 1899.

On June 12, 1898, the Philippines declared its independence from Spain. Despite being occupied by the Americans soon after, it is the date that we now commemorate as our Independence Day. After all, what is 48 years compared to 333 years?

What to do at the beach

Stroll, play volleyball, build sand castles, take a bangka ride (you can choose what size bangka you want), or just stand still and enjoy the view. Of course, you are highly encouraged to take a dip in the warm, shallow waters.

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My husband and I celebrated our 17th wedding anniversary at the start of June by treating ourselves to a short beach trip to Subic in Zambales. This was the view from our room. That white wake near the bottom was from a jet ski that had just passed by.

Musical heritage

Portraits of violinist Ramon Corpus hang at the entrance to the music hall (see yesterday's post) in Casa San Miguel in Zambales which is named after him. Aside from Alfonso Bolipata, who started the school and foundation, Ramon Corpus has two other grandsons—brothers of Alfonso—who are musicians: Jaime is a pianist, and Ramon (obviously named after the grandfather) is a cellist.

Bamboo and wood

Since music was the inspiration of the Casa San Miguel in Zambales, it is to be expected that the place has a concert hall, no matter how small, no matter how simple. White cloth stretched between two bamboo poles allows video screenings in the Ramon Corpus Hall. The hall is named after Alfonso Bolipata's maternal grandfather, who was also a violinist. Ramon Corpus was one of the first Filipino musicians to study abroad, completing a solo violin course at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston in 1919, and one of the pioneer musicians of the Manila Symphony Orchestra.

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My prayers for all those who were killed and hurt during the Boston Marathon explosions, their families and friends, and the many men and women who have given their help.

Taste, look, listen

The cafe of Casa San Miguel in Zambales can be accessed from the garden.  The garden has a simple stage (not in the photo, however) for outdoor performances. I love what they did with the garden lights strung between the trees—they're just bare bulbs covered with brown paper bags.
  

Everything that we ordered from their menu was delicious, especially since they use fresh, local ingredients. And as can be expected from a foundation that focuses on music and the arts, the interior is also a feast for the eyes.
   

The cafe even has a piano nook. It was just too bad that there was no pianist in residence when we visited.
 

An artsy R&R

Aside from the school (see yesterday's post), Casa San Miguel in Zambales also has a theater, an art gallery, a museum, a café, and a bed and breakfast.

A beautiful thing

When you put a civic-minded violinist in a province devastated by the eruption of a volcano, you get something like Casa San Miguel in the province of Zambales. In 1993, violinist Alfonso "Coke" Bolipata merely wanted to uplift the spirits of his province mates—still reeling from the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in 1991—by bringing art, music, theater, dance and film to town plazas, orphanages and hospitals. In 1996, a dozen young local children began learning how to draw and play the violin under one of the mango trees in the Bolipata compound. Now, Casa San Miguel has more than a hundred students in music, drawing, painting, photography, film, and creative writing.