4 Traditions That We Observe During Holy Week

     It’s Holy Week once more, one of the most revered weeks by majority of the Filipinos who are more than 80% Catholics. Holy Week commemorates the days leading to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, starting from Palm Sunday up to Easter Sunday. There are several traditional practices that Filipinos have inherited from Spain. Some of these that we observe are the ‘Visita Iglesia’, padasal (marathon prayers), procession and our family Black Saturday swimming.

Image: Life-size statues of Jesus.

               Visita Iglesia. ‘Visita Iglesia’ is also called Seven Churches Visitation. The general practice is to visit seven churches either on Holy Thursday or Good Friday and recite the Stations of the Cross. The pious would double the number of churches to fourteen, while the infirm and elderly usually visit only one or a handful. Until the 1970s, people recited all fourteen stations in one church (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Churches_Visitation). 

    

Station VIII - Jesus meets the pious women of Jerusalem:
The weeping women met you, With tears they mourn your pain,
May we, too, weep copiously, And never sin again.

     Leo (my husband) and I discovered Kamay ni Hesus, a shrine built by healing priest Fr. Joey Faller in Lucban, Quezon. We have made it a point to do our Stations of the Cross here because it entails sacrifice in climbing 310 steps to reach the summit where a 50-ft tall statue of Jesus Christ is constructed.The 14 Stations of the Cross are depicted by life-size replicas of what happened to Jesus from the 1^st to the 14^th station.

Leo with the breath-taking view of Lucban, Quezon (Background)
on top of Kamay ni Hesus stations of the cross.

     Aside from the sacrifice, you will be rewarded with a breath-taking view of Lucban, Quezon (above). We found out that it was more solemn to pray if it were not Holy Week, where people were not too many.

L (standing): Sonny; L_R (Sitting) Mey, Jo Ann, adventurousPinay.

     Padasal. Jo Ann, my best buddy, invites us on Holy Fridays to their annual ‘padasal’ (marathon prayer) as thanksgiving for all the blessings and also, as prayers for the dead. Last year, two other high school classmates were able to make it to the padasal, Mey and Sonny. This occasion always serves for us to renew our friendship, specially, for those who are not always in the country like Sonny, a ship captain.

Food is meat-less and confined to sea foods and vegetables.

     Any Philippine holiday would not be complete without a feast. As is the custom during Holy Week, no meat is allowed, except sea foods. We love sea foods, so no complaints here.

First in line of Saints during the Aglipayan church procession, Santa Cruz, Laguna.

     Procession.  Catholics and Aglipayans are very much alike in their celebration of the Holy Week. On Good Friday, a grand procession (above) is held as a religious fervor where devotees grandly adorn their floats and dress-up their wooden or resin images of saints.

Floats are colorful and richly decorated. 

     I remember as a child, together with my sister and cousins that we dressed up and joined the procession on Good Fridays. As an adult, I simply watch the procession and not walk around town anymore. 

Family tradition of swimming every Black Saturday.

               Swimming. This is not necessarily a Catholic tradition, but my mother’s side of the family always goes swimming on Black Saturday. We progressed from swimming in Balanac River in Pagsanjan, to the hot springs in Los Baños, and later in the hot springs in Pansol, Calamba. We rent private pools and my sister has been strict that the pools should have a roof so that they wouldn’t get tan lines. Of course, food is prepared and shared by the family.

If there's a feast, there is food. 

     Tradition dictated that Holy Week should be solemn and quiet. But times have been changing. Because this is usually a long holiday weekend, this has become the time for family reunions and get-togethers among friends. We cannot be quiet during times like those. Merry-making is always involved and foods are always served. What is important is to remember Jesus’s sacrifices and observe other relevant traditions and practices. 

My First Snow at the Summit of Pillar Mountain, Kodiak, Alaska; Where was yours?

     

     Trina, my daughter, who was based in Kodiak, Alaska, brought me to Pillar Mountain after seeing Fort Abercrombie State Historical Park. Pillar Mountain is one of 95 mountains with summits and peaks. The mountain stands at 1,204 feet or 366.98 meters above sea level, the largest in Kodiak. Pillar Mountain is an unforgettable adventure for me because of the spectacular view, the snow, the super freezing wind, and the wind mills on the summit. Above is one of the snow-capped peaks found on the way to Pillar Mountain.

     Born-and-raised in tropical Philippines, imagine my delight in seeing my first snow on Pillar Mountain (above). Trina had to take the picture for posterity.

     Seeing is believing. But touching snow makes it doubly believable (above). Remember I was there in summer, but I was surely glad that there was snow even then.

     Maybe, the temperature allowed for snow to melt, this is why water falls (above) are a common sight.

Trina (L) and me (R) with the windmills (background).

     Pillar Mountain plays a very important role in the energy requirement of Kodiak because of its wind farm. The Pillar Mountain Wind Farm has three GE 1.5-MW turbines that provide renewable energy to the town’s residents. Before this was developed, the island relied on expensive hydroelectric plants (80% supply) and seven diesel-powered generators (20% supply) to provide power to the town. Every year, it produces 12.2 million kWh for 12 cents/kWh (http://www.cityprofile.com/alaska/pillar-mountain.html).

     The summit of Pillar Mountain provides a breathtaking view of Kodiak Island (above: Trina (L) and me (R) with Kodiak Island in the background).  Notice the strong wind blowing our hair, which makes it ideal in operating the pioneering utility-scale wind energy project.

      It was so cold on top of Pillar Mountain on this summer day. Trina was just trying to look unaffected, but it’s really chilling for my ‘tropicalized’ body (above). It was about 5°-6 °C that time, where 24° C was the comfortable air-conditioned temperature of any ordinary room in the Philippines. I had to wear a bonnet to protect my already freezing head.

Photo image: Pillar Mountain, Kodiak, Alaska.

     Pillar Mountain summit is ideal for climbing. Today, many tourists prefer to hike to the misty summit and experience the mountain breeze. Another breathtaking view on top of Pillar Mountain (above) shows this spectacular natural scenery, i.e.,snow-capped  mountain and the clouds that are almost near one's reach. On the way below are more breathtaking views of the snowy mountain and the still unpaved twisting road.

Photo image: Windmills, Pillar Mountain, Kodiak, Alaska.

     Pillar Mountain is one of the treasures of Kodiak, Alaska. A visit to this summit is recommended for a spectacular view of Kodiak Island and the scenery surrounding it. Moreover, Pillar Mountain has the wind mills that are a must-see because this is a pioneering project in Kodiak. Lastly, this is an unforgettable spot for me because this is where I had my first encounter with snow. Nothing could be more amazing!!!

Photo: Windmills on top of Pillar Mountain (background) where we, Trina (L) and me (R), just came from.

The Ultimate in Nature Tripping @ Fort Abercrombie State Historical Park, Kodiak, Alaska

    

     In Kodiak, Alaska, Trina brought me to Miller Point in Fort Abercrombie State Historical Park. It is a good place for hiking, camping, bird watching and fishing. If you’re a nature junkie, you’re sure to get an ample dose of nature at Fort Abercrombie. In fact nature is considered ‘good’ as it promotes harmony, balance, timelessness and stability in a person.

Photo: Miller Point in Fort Abercrombie State Historical Park.

     Kodiak was a strategic location during World Wars I and II, specifically at Miller Point in Fort Abercrombie. Nowadays one can still see the remnants of the wars at this Historical Park. One of the naval guns is still on display where a splendid view of the Pacific Ocean may be enjoyed (below).

Photo: adventurous-Pinay beside a Naval Gun.

     This scenic location played a very important role in defending the US during World Wars I and II and the bunker, below,  is still around.

Photo: World War I and WW II Bunker.

      Today, while one is reminiscing about the wars, one can be peaceful and drink in the unobstructed views of the mountain cliffs and the sea. Notice the snow-capped mountains on the background. The weather was mild and lovely in this summer month of May.

Photo: Unobstructed views of the snow-capped mountains and the sea.

      As we walked down Miller Point, I was delighted to see this view, below. On the left is a fresh water lake (Lake Gertrude) and on the right is a salt water ocean (North Pacific Ocean). Trout fishing is usually recommended on Lake Gertrude. The North Pacific Ocean is common for whale watching.

 

Photo: Lake Gertrude (L); Pacific Ocean (R). 

     While in the area, we took some time to hike around and appreciate the seemingly virgin forest, which were, mostly, spruce trees (below). Notice the moss-covered trees, sign of non-disturbance for quite a long time.

Photo: Seemingly virgin forest with Spruce trees (Background).

     Fort Abercrombie State Historical Park was my first stop in Kodiak. Kodiak had a population of 6,130 (2010 census) this was why I did not see a lot of people and houses, there was no traffic and air pollution that highly populated areas usually suffered from. It was a very relaxing and refreshing adventure in this faraway place in North America. There were more things to do and places to see in Kodiak. And I anticipated every experience while I was there.

               

     How to go there:

     To reach the park from the ferry dock, go west on Center Street, and make a right onto Rezanof Drive. Follow Rezanof for 3.7 miles. Turn right onto Abercrombie Drive which leads to the park. If starting from the Kodiak State Airport, make a right onto Rezanof Drive. Follow Rezanof for 8.5 miles. Turn right onto Abercrombie Drive (http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/units/kodiak/ftaber.htm).

Discover Life During The Alaska Gold-Rush: Chena River Boat Cruise

     

     Coming from Seward to see the glaciers, Trina (my daughter) and I proceeded to Fairbanks. Our schedule permitted us to embark on the three-and-a-half-hour Riverboat Discovery Cruise. This cruise demonstrated the life in a native Alaskan village during the times of the gold-rush. Photos above and below show Discovery III, the boat that we used for the cruise.

Image: Discovery III, the boat used for the Riverboat Discovery Cruise.

      Discovery III (above), a sternwheeler boat, brings back passengers to the time of the gold-rush fever into the Alaskan wilderness through the Chena and Tanana Rivers.We chose the 1:15 pm Riverboat Discovery Cruise situated a few minutes away from the Fairbanks International Airport. We took a taxi that took us to Dale Road, the access road. The price for the cruise was $60/adult and $40/child. 

Image: Steamboat Landing, the take-off point for the cruise.

     Passengers were advised to arrive 30 minutes before departure, so we had time to rest at the pier landing for a souvenir photo.

Trina (L) and me (R) before departure.

     This Riverboat cruise has been managed by the Binkley family in Fairbanks since 1950. This cruise with third-and fourth-generation captains allowed the guests to experience the beauty and history of this native Alaskan community through a full narration during the cruise.                   

Image: Boarding Discovery III in this once-in-a-lifetime Alaskan river boat adventure.

     Not long into the cruise, we witnessed one of Alaska's bush pilots taking off right from the river. Most parts of Alaska may only be reached through one of these small planes (below).

Image: Alaska bush plane taking off right from the river.

     The riverbanks were dotted with adorable log cabins and houses (below). We were informed that an American president was once a visitor in one of these houses.

Image: Log cabins found along the Chena River.

      As we went further along the river, we stopped at the training camp for the Iditarod kennel, run by the family of the late four-time-champion Susan Butcher. The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race is an annual long-distance sled dog race run in early March from Anchorage to Nome. Mushers and a team of 16 dogs, of which at least 6 must be on the towline at the finish line, cover the distance in 9–15 days or more (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iditarod_Trail_Sled_Dog_Race).

Image: Iditarod kennel training camp run by the family of Susan Butcher.

     Along the river, we also stopped by a riverside fish camp and learned how Alaska natives traditionally prepared salmon for smoking and drying. Smoked salmon is a gourmet food, native to Alaska.

Image: Smoked salmon being prepared by an Alaska native. 

     We had the opportunity to observe a native Alaskan community as we stopped for one hour at the Chena Indian village. The native Alaskan guides gave us insight in to the rich culture of their Athabascan village.The pretty girl below, wearing the beautiful dress made of animal fur, is of native Alaskan heritage and studies at the University of Alaska, while working part-time as guide. 

Image: Native Alaskan girl briefing the guests
on the traditional way of life of her ancestors. 

     During the tour of the village, we learned about the villagers’ connection to the land and the animals.

Image: Animal hide that they later turn into clothing.

     We also had a close-up view of the animals commonly found in the village.

Image: (L-R) Sitka deer and Alaska moose.

     The cruise offered doughnuts and coffee for free to the guests. Upon our return, we passed by this trading post (below) and bought some souvenir items found in the store.

     This Riverboat cruise is a showcase of the life, specifically, the food and clothing sources of a native Alaskan village during earlier times. This unforgettable experience is recommended to reminisce about the past and appreciate how the people managed to tame the Alaskan wild 

This Valentine's Day, Bring the Family to Uncle Cheffy: The Best Brick Oven BBQ and Panizza

     My sister and I always look for reasons to bond together, sometimes we invent these reasons. This time, it was Pre-Valentine’s Day. So, together with our co-conspirator, my daughter Tisa, off we went to SM Megamall, our usual hang out.

     

Tisa (L) and Ate Nette (R) at the Prestige Lounge.

     Because we came early, we went to the Prestige Lounge of SM Megmall to rest, freshen up and most importantly, keep each other updated on the latest ‘issues’ of the day.

Image: Uncle Cheffy @ SM Megamall (Background).

     After the much-anticipated sister-mother-and-daughter tête-à-tête, we proceeded to Uncle Cheffy: The Best Brick Oven BBQ and Panizza, our restaurant of choice for lunch. Uncle Cheffy specializes in brick-oven global cuisine. They serve brick oven panizza, grilled, roasted and barbecued foods, soups, salads, and desserts.

Image: Uncle Cheffy Menu.

     The dishes here are slow-cooked, so I think it was after 30 minutes that our first order arrived. For starters, we ordered the Uncle Cheffy Favorites Panizza, with oven dried tomatoes, mushroom, garlic, anchovy, chili flakes, basil and 3 cheeses. The cost for a family size was ₱395.00. You’re supposed to take a piece of panizza, roll and stuff with arugula, alfalfa sprouts, and fresh tomato salsa (below). Aside from coming as a square pizza, the not-your-ordinary-toppings made this special. I could have finished the whole serving, except that I was on my pizza-diet-mode.

Image: Uncle Cheffy Favorites Panizza.

     For our main dish, we ordered from their Uncle Cheffy Platter, the Surf and Turf, a combination of Chicken, Leg, Lamb Breast, Beef and Pork Ribs, Cream Dory, Salmon, Tuna Belly and Garoupa priced at ₱880.00.  Good for 4-5 persons, the platter was served with baby potatoes, a salad, and a bowl of rice. There were four dressings, pesto, tomato, mayo, and ‘house sauce’ (which I could not identify). The meats were soft except for the lamb, which we had difficulty chewing. Besides, I am never a fan of lamb meat because of its after taste. The rest were made more flavorful because of the dressings.

Image: Surf and Turf Platter.

     The dessert came next. We had chocolate roulade because it just looked mouth-watering. The cost was ₱150/serving. This was topped by a cherry and whipped cream, dusted with confectioner’s sugar. The filling was light and creamy and the chocolate taste was dense. The flavor and texture were just right and not overpowering. I could have seconds of this. But I was so full by this time so I finished the meal with a glass or two of water.

Image: Chocolate Roulade.

     Our food adventure at Uncle Cheffy was another successful lunch date with my sister and daughter. The foods tasted great and different than the usual bbq restaurant. The square panizza is worth coming back for. Uncle Cheffy, however, is not for those who are strict with their budget. Be prepared to shell out more than your average budget for your family outing.

Image: Inside Uncle Cheffy. 

   Uncle Cheffy is at the 3^rd floor of SM Megamall, Julia Vargas Avenue, Wack Wack, Mandaluyong with tel.no. (02) 401-3658.

Yabu, House of Katsu: Take Advantage Of Authentic Japanese Dishes In The Philippines

Outside Yabu Restaurant.

     My sister had been badgering us to go to Megamall before my brother and sister-in-law left for New Zealand where they have been based. Besides, a very special occasion needed to be celebrated: it’s my birth month. Finally, we agreed to go to Megamall to have lunch because it was the most accessible for us, coming from Laguna. This time we went Japanese. The restaurant of choice was Yabu: House of Katsu. From what I gathered, katsu is short for ‘katsureku’, Japanese for breaded and fried pork cutlet.

Image: Pounding the 'gomashio'.

                Before we were served our orders, a staff briefed us about the menu. Other service crews were very attentive to our needs, as well. To authenticate the Japanese experience of eating, we were made to follow certain steps. I remember that we dutifully pounded the ‘Gomashio’ (sesame seeds with sea salt), as suggested (above), maybe, to bring out the aroma of the toasted sesame seeds. They also added crunch to food.

Image: Adding the tonkatsu sauce.

                Then, we added this ‘tonkatsu’ sauce to the sesame seeds (above).

Bottles of dressings and spices to add flavor to the food (lower L).

     Dressings and spices were available to add flavor to the food (above). I love their spices and dressings, specially, sesame oil for fried foods.

Image: Black Tiger Prawn Set.

     We ordered the Black Tiger Prawn Set (above). This had four pieces of Japanese Black Tiger prawns covered in panko (Japanese bread crumbs) and fried to perfection while retaining its translucent and soft texture. Yabu recommended that we dip it into Yabu's special tonkatsu sauce or sweet tempura sauce for complete satisfaction. This set was served with unlimited Japanese rice, miso soup, Japanese pickles, unlimited cabbage with sesame dressing, a bowl of watermelon fruit and their house blend iced tea. The cost per set was ₱495.00. When this was still called Ebi Tempura in other restaurants, it was easily one of my favorite Japanese dishes. Today, this panko-covered-prawns are on top of my list.

Image: Chicken Katsu Set.

     We also ordered the Chicken Katsu Set with ¾ inch thick deep fried and panko-covered chicken breast fillet served with unlimited Japanese white rice, miso soup, Japanese pickles, organic cabbage, a bowl of watermelon fruit and their house blend iced tea. The cost was ₱385/180g or ₱350/120 g per set. The chicken was tender and the freshly made panko added crunch to the dish. Mixed with the other side dishes, I definitely would come back for this perfectly prepared Katsu set.

                      Image: Family bonding. 

     Yabu: House of Katsu specializes in breaded deep fried foods. It emphasizes the practice of pounding toasted sesame seeds, using sesame dressing with the fresh cabbage and, of course, serving the meal with miso soup. The menu was authentic Japanese. They hired a Japanese chef to make the dishes taste Japanese. Moreover, the chopsticks and the hot/cold towel made this a real Japanese experience. Aside from these, the best part was being able to bond with family through food. I hope to bring my husband with me next time.

     Yabu: House of Katsu is located  at the 2^nd floor, SM Megamall, Julia Vargas Ave, Wack Wack, Mandaluyong with telephone no. (02) 631-1192.