Baguio, What Happened To You??

I have been going to Baguio since I was maybe 1 year old. My dad and mom would take us there as if it were an hour away. We would stay at Pines Hotel (which is now SM). After Pines, we moved our vacation home to Monterrazas where my uncle owned a home. We took our Dizon Coaster and enjoy Baguio so much that we would go at least 2x a year.

And then we grew older...and we stopped going that often. Our last trip to Baguio was when this photo was taken. My brother and his family came home for a vacation and it was the first time in a long time that the Dizon Family was 100% complete. Of course, Mom was there and the last baby was of Janina's. Since then, 3 more babies arrived and Mom had left. It will never be the same so I am happy that we have this photo to remind me of one of our happy days in Baguio.


For this recent trip, we would always find our way back to Camp John Hay. Since we didn't live inside the camp, we would try to venture out into our old happy spots such as Mines View Park, Burnham Park and even the wet market.

NEVER AGAIN. Now, I may start to sound like a complaining biatch but seriously, if you were there with me, you would be complaining too. The streets were FILLED with JEEPNEYS and cars all using diesel! You can't roll down the window for that breath of pine tree fresh air. It's so traffic that EDSA on a Friday looks EMPTY! (Ok, I am exaggerating but it is the same level)

It reminded me of Binondo.







I want to cry. The city of happy memories is now a city of trash! We went to the Cathedral like we always did before. I loved the way the grass sprawls out from the front and sides of the church because it made it look like it was a church on top of a hill.

This is what it used to be.



For some reason, they felt they needed to destroy the peaceful surroundings and build a disgusting looking pay parking house.






I remember watching a television show during Holy Week about Jesus Christ getting so angry at people who made the Church into some kind of market that He thrashed them away from the steps of the Church. Parang He should do it again.

You have read this article Baguio / Cathedral / Our Lady of Atonement with the title May 2010. You can bookmark this page URL http://rafaelverga.blogspot.com/2010/05/baguio-what-happened-to-you.html. Thanks!

Casa Vallejo.

Casa Vallejo is where we stayed at over the weekend mainly because it is owned by a good friend GB and friends should support each other not just in CHIZMIZ but also in business.

My dad remembers this hotel too from WAAAY BACK....He said, WHAT? We will stay there???

I told him that it is newly renovated and under new management. Then he relaxed.

When we got there, we were relieved to find new beds, clean bathrooms and super friendly staff! Rates were very reasonable.






There's also a restaurant in the same building but not owned by the Bagatsing's. The place was beautiful. Quaint, dramatic staircase, nice big French windows and wooden floors. But, yes there is a but, we were not very happy with the food. Was expecting something a bit better with the price.









Was a bit scared of a *REDRUM moment but all was good and safe. I liked our hotel.


*The Shining, a thriller movie back in 1980 starring Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall.

For reservations:
http://www.casavallejobaguio.com/

You have read this article Baguio / Casa Vallejo / Hillstation with the title May 2010. You can bookmark this page URL http://rafaelverga.blogspot.com/2010/05/casa-vallejo.html. Thanks!

Trip to Baguio.

On our way, we got caught in traffic because of this. I hope the driver is alright but my dad said it is unlikely.


AG wanted to see some old churches that we are known for. I thought that it would be good to show him Lady of Manaoag in Pangasinan.

My dad wanted to go back to because he remembers it to be beautiful.

I was shocked, disappointed and ashamed.

It was chaotic and commercialized that I imagine Jesus Christ would be very angry with how it has become. Vendors, beggars, jeepneys and "parking attendants" were everywhere. New structures are being built left and right. The gardens are smaller now because of new buildings.

The crowd was crazy! The church was overflowing with people...but people who were texting, taking photos of themselves, feeding their kids, buying balloons and snacks.

We went in, said our prayers and fought our way back out.




Our Lady of Manaoag has many devotees but I think that the parish should have maintained it's gardens and stayed away from the unsightly picnic sheds and parking spaces for jeepneys.



The beauty of the church is no longer there. This photo was how my dad remembers it to be. I just hope that miracles are still coming true despite how commercial it has become.


So on we go up to Baguio but before we get there, we needed to cross Rosario Bridge of La Union. But it was closed.




At this point, I felt so very ashamed of how progress is taking it's sweet time here in the Philippines. We were told that this bridge was destroyed by typhoon FRANK 2008. I mean, seriously?? 2008? One bridge? I may not know about construction but my Dad surely does. He said he can have this fixed in maximum 3 months with the right machinery and workers. We didn't even see a single person working on it. (Shout out to Noynoy, can you just hire my dad please? He's retired but I will force him to take it just so we don't have to cross a dried up, rocky river and destroy our tires.)

What if heavy rains start falling? And that is super soon already! Will the cars still have to cross this river?? I am scared.


I said...NO MORE STOPS!!! Go straight up to Baguio where we can relax.

I was wrong. More on this in my next blog.

You have read this article La Union / Lady of Manaoag / Rosario Bridge with the title May 2010. You can bookmark this page URL http://rafaelverga.blogspot.com/2010/05/trip-to-baguio.html. Thanks!

ACHI and ACHI.

Thanks to you, my feet are ecstatic about having new babies to be fashionable in.



This orange BCBGirls casual shoes will add life and color to my usual black outfits. They are comfortable too! Thanks Ate Jenny!



And just when I thought my day was utterly boring (except for 3 episodes of GLEE that I watched with Jody), I received this!!!



Pucci shoes!! How lucky can a girl get? So happy that Christine thinks of me when it comes to Emilio Pucci brand. They are so adorable especially with what I am wearing today. But I think I will reserve it for another special day.

GWA AI DI Achi!



Thank you so much!!!

You have read this article BCBG / Emilio Pucci / shoes with the title May 2010. You can bookmark this page URL http://rafaelverga.blogspot.com/2010/05/achi-and-achi.html. Thanks!

Tears in Heaven.

I have always loved that song. It was written by Eric Clapton when his son fell off their apartment 53 floors high and died. He was only 4 years old. Imagining the pain for all family members brings tears to my eyes. This happened years ago. But my mom's passing was just 5 months fresh.

Last night, I woke up at 3 am to go tinkle. The whole house was quiet. I talked to Mom...

"Mom, if you are here, make any kind of noise downstairs, ANY KIND, and I promise I won't get scared." I waited...there was none.

I went back to bed and then suddenly, it was daylight. My heavy curtains were missing and the sun was shining through the window so brightly. She came in the door without knocking. She was wearing her leopard pattern shirt, khaki pants and red loafers. I made sure I took notice of everything. Her hair was shorter, right below the ear. She had no make up but still looked fresh. She leaned on the vanity table and said...

"You should take care of Ms. Sandico. And buy a heart shape diamond. We don't have a good quality heart shape diamond yet."

I was too stunned to talk or react. She came over around and sat where my pillow was. I moved to the center of the bed to face her.

I asked, "Mom? Are you happy?", she mumbled, "Oh yeah, I guess...ummm, I am ok." It was unclear. I wanted to know for sure if she was happy so I asked again. And she answered the same way. An unclear yes. I asked her if I could hug her.

"Of course", she said. So we went to the center of my room and I reached out very gently scared that if I held on to her too tight, she will disappear. And then we danced while hugging. I remember telling her, "Jenny and Ginny will be very jealous of me."

She pulled away and told me that she had to go. I wanted to die. It's as if we were in a movie where your loved one is walking backwards towards the door with her hand reaching out. I was reaching out to her begging her not to leave. But she had to.

And she closed the door and I woke up crying like I did when I learned of her death. Like how I am crying now, as I type.

I sat up, cried some more until I woke up AG and Jacqui. They asked me what was wrong and I just told them to go back to sleep.

After an hour or so, I fell asleep only to dream of her once again. And for sure, I woke up crying.

Thought I would share this with you.

I miss her so much.



Wish I could see her laugh again.

You have read this article Choirboys. / Tears in Heaven with the title May 2010. You can bookmark this page URL http://rafaelverga.blogspot.com/2010/05/tears-in-heaven.html. Thanks!

People's Palace, DISCO Night!

I had an assumption as to what this party was going to be like and I was right. It was one of the best party thrown by anyone in a LONG time. AG and I were the first ones there. Literally. The staff wasn't done fixing up. But that's usually how I like it especially when I plan to blog. This way, I can take photos of the set up before anyone messes it up.


The entrance to the party place.





Is it obvious who did the the flower arrangements? Margarita Fores was also present to boogie on down.




The party starts with DANCING DIVAS.




Our DANCING SHOES.


TIME TRAVELLED back to the DISCO ERA with the Party Peeps!!! Almost all the whitey's came in full costume. The Flippers came as FLIPPERS who socialize. We are not that courageous but I think we should be.

ENJOY!

THE WHITEY'S

VS.

THE FLIPPERS

MY HERO AWARD goes to Ruby Gan for being a Flipper in costume.

Show's that she's got GROOVE baby....

PARTY HOST AWARD for the YEAR 2010 goes to Chico Angeles.


AND PARTY HOSTESS AWARD is non other than

Madame Colin Mackay.

You should do this YEARLY!!! It would make the world a much HIP and HAPPY place to be.

Girlfriend of the night. Macky and your bloggerina.

CHEERS to People's Palace for your 10th Anniversary. Many many more to come.

You have read this article 10th Anniversary / Colin McKay / Makati restaurant / People's Palace / Thai restaurant with the title May 2010. You can bookmark this page URL http://rafaelverga.blogspot.com/2010/05/people-palace-disco-night.html. Thanks!