The Hound of the Wolf

For the strength of Pack is in the Wolf, and the strength of Wolf is in the Pack -Rudyard Kipling

Sunday, October 19, 2008

A Panay sidetrip

On a tranquil and calm Saturday morning, my brain neurons told me that I should visit Panay. Eight weeks of stay in Capiz have passed and yet, I still didn't set my sandals in the ground supposedly grandiose and reknowned Panay Church. Regrets will be haunting me if i didn't pay a visit. To go to Panay from Arnaldo Blvd, Roxas City:

1. Take a tricyle (any color) and tell the driver to drop off to Banica.
2. Out of experience, the driver will be "surprised" most of the time upon hearing Banica. Then they will asked you how much do you pay to get there.

Alison: Sa Banica po ako.
Driver (looks surprised): Magkano ang binabayad mo papunta dun?
Alison: Malay ko, di naman po ako taga-dito. P8, pwede na?
Driver: double pay kasi hanggang dun eh
Alison: ah ok. P15, pwede na? kung di pa iyan pwede, next tricyle na lang ako
Driver: sige, sakay na

Drivers like this can be called as contractual actors.

3. Mount a jeepney in the terminal bound for Panay and Pontevedra. The cost per head is P12.
4. After 15 minutes, you'll already be in Poblacion, Panay.

Exactly in the heart of Poblacion is the Panay Church. So splendid, that i wasn't amazed that the church is book for weddings on Saturdays. And yup, there is a wedding going on. The toyota wedding car in front of the door should be towed away, it unnecessary in the photo.



Built in the 17th hundreds, the Panay church is composed of different congregations. Just read the inscriptions in the tablet below.



What is intriguing about the church are the bells or i must say BELLS. Known as the largest bells in Asia, it is quite interesting to note that these are minted using 7 sacks coins collected from the towns people. Latin inscriptions are etched in the body of the bell. Knowing the technology way back then, one can only appreciate both the creativity and innovation the Filipinos (of course with the "guidance" from the spaniards).




An overview of the whole Panay town can be seen from the top of the church tower. This reminds me of the rape scene in El Fili where Juli jumps from a tower to her death instead of submitting to the lustful will of Father Camorra.





Too bad, I wasn't able to find any souvenir stores selling miniature bells of Panay. Anyway,I'll just buy a small christmas bell to remind me of this experience.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

A day in Dumalag, Capiz

The Suhot spring is situated in the municipality of Dumalag, Capiz. The initial plan is to restore Dumalag RHU's CHITS server but the real hidden agenda is to buy paborita and ugoy-ugoy biscuits and visit the Suhot spring and cave. The day started when our group did a courtesy call to Mayor Lila "Nene" Castro. Doing my official work is a no sweat only that there are lots of patients inside the health center. To make the long wait short, i did a short visit to St Martin of Tours church. The church was constructed way back the Spanish ear only that the interior part is quite modern due to many reconstruction.




In front of the church is the Cakelovers, a bakeshop that sells local biscuits. I bought two boxes of ugoy-ugoy and take some picture of paborita. I would describe the biscuits as crunchy and deliciously powedered with milk and sugar.



One hour later, the official work had begun. Done in 15 minutes. Took a quick lunch of laing made of cassava leaves, bamboo shoots with crabs and steamed rice wrapped in banana leaves. Did a short rest and left for the Suhot spring and cave. 15 minutes passed, we arrived at the venue. Pictures of Suhot in an exhibit look better than the actual view. Mataas ang araw at medyo brownish ang kulay ng spring. Pero may malalakas ang loob na nililigo.




The cave isn't as scary as the one i saw in pictures in the exhibit. Good thing, there are stalactites in the cave. Suhot spring might not be at par with the Los Banos springs but it is worth visiting. Any place which stimulates relaxation and comfort is worth visiting. There is a higher ground in Suhot that would allow the spectator to see Dumalag from atop. I didn't try it because the route looks slippery.

Labels: , ,

Thursday, October 09, 2008

Mobile Internet Blogging

Eksaktong 4:15 ng hapon, nagbrown out sa khabaan ng Arnaldo Blvd, Roxas City. Unfortunately,PHO office is lies in the blvd.Since no batt ng ang laptop ko,wala akong ibang maisip gawin bukod sa pag-iisip ng gagawin.Buhay pa din ang UPS kung saan nakakabit ang wifi router ng opisina.Hmmmm....buhay ang net!!

Dito nasusubukan ang worth ng isang Nokia E61.A few seconds away,i am back online.And there is no other wonderful way to appreciate this exhilirating experience than to blog it using E61.It's a no brainer that my title is Mobile Internet Blogging.Sabog nanaman ako sa lipovitan.

The past few days have somewhat been erratic.Kasing erratic ng pagblog using a smartphone.Instance #1,in an attempt to make a grandiose EMR na touchscreen,i was led to the thought on how to make it marketable with private doctors.Ok din ang mobile-based EMR since SMS technology is very popular and there are many phones that already support java mobile apps.Instance #2,mabilis,mabagal,mabilis,mabagal na coding sa CHITS.Mahal ko na ang mapayapang roxas pero nasa magulong kalunsuran ang aking puso.Instance #3,the way how destiny have turned things around.No need to elaborate.Last instance,erratic wifi connection.

And i am not suprise if chits can now be projected over a mobile phone.It is meant to be versatile,it is designed for superiority and it is destined to dominate.