PERRY'S PASSION

I call her Tita P out of respect and love. In truth, there isn't much of an age difference between us. It just so happens that I had her as my mentor and close confidant in my journey as a dance artist. Perry Sevidal started her early dance training with Effie Nanas School of Ballet and then eventually ended up with what was then known as the CCP Dance Company (now Ballet Philippines). She paid her dues as a dance artist and reached her status as soloist. Chances are, if there was a need for demi- character roles, she would get it. She is fleet-footed and has the gift of a quick pick-up allowing her to learn her pieces in an instant. She was everybody's pixie, fairy, cygnet and columbine doll rolled into one. Roles she mastered through her stint until she eventually decided  to bid farewell to the company.

Perry's love affair with dance stretches out through a few decades and she is still at it! I was delighted to get an invite to her recent dance recital at the CCP Little Theater and promised to see her show. When she left Ballet Philippines she decided to put up a small dance school in Makati. Her first venture was promising considering there weren't that many schools back then. From a converted warehouse near the railway close to Buendia, she transferred to another spot close by on the top floor of a building and then she moved to her current dance studio along Sampaloc Street in San Antonio Village, Makati. This one is her very own spot. Her studio has a viewing gallery above the dance floor where excited moms can watch their little girls in tutus twirl around to classical music. The studio is a marvel in design. She can elect to take everything apart and pack it away if she does decide to change location; which she hopefully will not do.

This recent recital of Tita P is rather special. It is her 24th Summer Dance Workshop Recital! Yes, the lady has never left the dance world. It's amazing for an independent dance school to survive for nearly a quarter of a century. Tita P has almost single-handedly run the operations of her school with the aid of important and current stars of the ballet-world. She was kind enough to give me the opportunity to design some of her recital costumes in the early years; a task which I took to heart because it gave me the opportunity to explore my creativity. Thank you for that, Tita P. This time around, it is her nephew Michael Miguel who designed her La Bayadere/Rio themed costumes.

The first part of the recital showed dance students of various levels dance to melodic strains of the tragic Indian love story of a doomed temple dancer (Nikiya) and a noble prince (Solor).  The Minkus score is very dramatic with peaks at certain points that are highlighted by strong bravura variations. Thankfully, her soloists and leads were up to par with their dance technique. Nothing can be more disappointing than seeing knock-knee'd dancers and girls dancing off-center. But starting at a young age with Tita P as their dance instructress, these dancers have obviously been trained well. The baby ballet class and the two boys were lovable! There are some girls that are being groomed for bigger future roles and will probably end up in the big three dance companies of the Philippines if not abroad. Solor and Nikiya essayed their roles bravely despite the opening jitters. I see a bright future ahead of them.

The second part of the recital is where everybody tends to relax and just enjoy their performance. The contemporary/modern dance sections danced to the upbeat soundtrack of Rio. It was here where some of Tita P's former dance students paid it forward by being hip-hop, jazz, tap, modern ballet dance teachers along with Ballet Philippines dance artists Gia Gequinto, Earl Sorilla and Sarah Alejandro and Lester Requindin. Katsch Catoy's lighting is another marvel to behold while Teacher Marissa Aboitiz' rousing finale elicited animated applause from the audience. This is the part where kids dance all out gyrating and contorting their bodies to Brazilian beats. This was indeed fun, but at one point, in comes Tita P in her "duster" and  laundry basin dancing to Pilita Corrales' "Dahil Sa Iyo" as choreographed by Earl Sorilla. That number brought the house down, although it only added to the high energy of kids doing their thing on stage. Obviously, everyone was having fun.

This is where Perry Sevidal Ballet stands out as a school. Everyone knows that ballet equals discipline! Tita P's love for children and her innate passion to share her art to the younger generation inspires them to dance well and do their best. I didn't see the usual baby ballerina bawling her eyes out on stage. No stage fright here! It's just Tita P drawing out the same passion she has from her "kids". If the kids love her, so do the mothers. Some of them have even enrolled in their Adult Ballet courses. Why shouldn't they? They're already there watching their kids learn to dance. It's a perfect mother-daughter bonding avenue.

From here, Perry Sevidal Ballet can only move forward... They start training again today, 16 June, 2018. This is the start of their 25th year as a dance school. No mean feat considering she has developed dancers to become members of the professional ballet companies in the country today. The others who, for some reason, could no longer become performers give back by teaching the younger basic ballet classes. And those of us, who neither perform nor teach have continued to keep in touch with her and watch some of her recitals. If there's anything I learned from her, it's that passion is contagious...

NEVER ENOUGH of VAN 2

This post does not bear any reference to the hit song from the film The Greatest Showman. Let me put it out there as it might be cause for intellectual property rights issues. But when you have eight hungry, zany friends who are lumped together in an out of town adventure a full day of travelling  and having fun really is... never enough!

embotido

suman sa lihiya

We decided to meet on a Tuesday evening at Cafe Adriatico to have dinner and exchange stories of places and events, the weather and showbiz, ghost stories and entities. Politics? Maybe just a little... And in all of those topics there was one common unifying thread. Laughter! I agreed to join them as it was close to where I live and the food is/was always a good come on. Despite the slight rain, the group converged on the original Cafe Adriatico in Remedios Circle and spent most of the evening joking, laughing and telling funny stories.

bacon roullade with veggies

Walnut Praline Cupcake from Becky's Kitchen

I used to frequent the area when I was in grade school visiting the homes of friends and schoolmates to do projects and study. The Cafe Adriatico we know today has undergone a few renovations. Up from the time it used to be a "carinderia" for jeepney and taxi drivers, the place was bought and renovated by journalist turned restaurateur Larry J. Cruz and made it into a classy restaurant serving Spanish/Mediterranean food. It is conveniently located in what was formerly the Designer's Row along Adriatico Street in Malate. Ergo, it attracted well-heeled clients and celebrities who were hungry and needed a place to enjoy a cozy and relaxed ambiance. It was closed for renovation sometime in the nineties due to a fire but was brought back to its former state and service continued until the present.

The eight of us started arriving one by one: Del Nuqui, Lea Amante Villapando, Lloyd Anthony Nuestro Rafols, Erlie Querubin, Febe Sevilla, Ness Sembrero, myself and host Ace Burwell came one after another from different points of Manila. Missing were Faviola Torres Hidalgo and Anette Roldan who couldn't make it due to the rains and other personal concerns. The evening got crazier as the food started to arrive. Yes, we were all hungry! Roullade  of Bacon, Embotido, Greens Salad, Mushroom and Cheese Sandwich, Arroz ala Cubana, Seafood Linguine, arrived at our table steaming hot with cold slushies of avocado, and lychee and soda to quench our thirst.

Arroz ala Cubana

Cream of Mushroom soup

All these were devoured with gusto nearly forgetting to say grace but we made up for it when someone instantly led the prayer. I actually prayed by myself ahead of everyone else but joined in with them. Ace was the resident comedian for the evening, talking to his imaginary spoiled son (name withheld please) every time he makes an "aside". And because of this imaginary son... the conversation turned towards the esoteric: ghost apparitions and hauntings, headless photos captured on cellular phone cameras, entities and creepy places. It didn't help when I told them that Remedios Circle was once a public cemetery and that there were Irish priests who died in Malate Church and the Catholic School. Nary a trace of it now... except for the extremely sensitive! The food was just too good... who cares about ghosts?

Mushroom and Cheese Melt Sandwich

Ace's presents

It was a Tuesday evening so there wasn't much attraction for people watching when towards the end of our dinner, actor Ronnie Lazaro walks in with his group of friends. That was it for the evening! Ness brought a box of Walnut Praline Cupcakes from Becky's Kitchen which she served for dessert. But Ace had ordered Suman sa Lihiya. Oh no, double the sugar! More laughter and jokes and then we realized it was half past ten! Cafe Adriatico's gracious waiters are so well trained. I'm glad they didn't kick us out! Shall we do it again? Surely!!!

Dalawa'ng Bahay

L-R: Pheeyah Salones, Mercy Imbuido Nebria, Vica Tigno, Addel De Dios Lapira, Presy Vivar, Ofie Palma, Ferdi Bolislis and myself at the back

I was cordially invited by two friends on the first weekend of May for breakfast and lunch at their homes. It was something I had looked forward to because it was not going to be any ordinary get to together. We had formed a clique of fun loving, heritage admiring, boisterous, gregarious friends composed of different people from different backgrounds. 

Breakfast spread at Bahay Makabayan

Weeks in advance, we received the invite from Maestro Jose Benigno Salvador (a.k.a. Jimmy Corpuz) and Mercy Imbuido Nebria (fondly called momshie Merce) to visit their homes in Marilao and Malolos, Bulacan respectively. Right after the Bacolod and Iloilo heritage tour we attended, Pheeyah Salones, Ferdi Bolislis and myself together with Vica Tigno, Ofie Poblete and Presy Vivar met up early at the Trinoma Parking Area where collective vans to the north wait for passengers. It didn't take long for the six of us to negotiate a reasonable fare to Marilao to visit the Bahay Makabayan which Jimmy Corpuz lovingly put together. We each paid P65.00 for our  UV Express fare with the driver's assurance that we were to be dropped off at the Bahay Makabayan's door step. We took a little time getting there as we didn't exactly know where it was. 

Puto

Karioka

Naturally, when maestro saw us, he welcomed us in and was it ever a welcome!!! The table was already partially laid out with some food that was all there for the tasting. I skipped breakfast that day knowing we were going to be treated to Bulacan's heritage cuisine. I was flabbergasted at the breakfast spread! As in any Filipino home, after the customary greetings of "good morning" (or evening) the guest is normally asked "kumain na ba kayo?" ( have you eaten?) But since we came there specifically for the food, Maestro Jimmy casually waved for us to take our seats at the table. Maestro Jimmy's new millenial mom dotingly served us other items coming from her kitchen. I mentioned millenial mom here because she's 72 and doesn't look a day over forty.

Suman

Puto Maril

Bulog

Now what comprises a typical Bulaqueno  breakfast? Well, for one, you can't escape the usual pan de sal and brewed coffee. Their pan de sal was densely rolled and weighed heftier than what we have in Manila. The bakery it came from has been operating since the 1930's. The itty bitty puto ( steamed rice flour cakes) from Marilao was soft and chewy while another bigger variant of puto had either slices of salted egg or slivers of cheese on top. I tried the  suman (cylindrical steamed rice wrapped in young banana leaves) sweet enough as is, it had a sauce of, get this... BULOG! Bulog is a mixture of condensed milk, dayap (local lime) and smashed jackfruit seeds that's boiled to soften, peeled and then coarsely chopped for added texture. It not so much as crunchy as it is nutty with the consistency of macadamia nuts. I relished the salty taste of queso'ng puti (carabao's milk fresh cottage cheese) and the pan de sal  over steaming hot coffee with cream. What a perfect combination!

Carabao's milk

Plump duhat that I mixed with carabao milk

I also had Karioka (gelatinous sticky rice deep fried to a crispy exterior with the inside staying soft and chewy). It had just the right sweetness and consistency the crunchy part tasting like a caramelized soccarat coating. A brilliant combination I just had to try was the duhat ( a purple endemic fruit) mashed with some fresh carabao's milk. It was unusually tasty. If you've never tried duhat, when it is ripe it has a sweet taste and a little mushy mouthfeel as you eat the flesh of the fruit but having too much of it has a bitter sticky mouthfeel when eaten. The carabao's milk get's rid of that sappy, sticky after taste when you've eaten too much of it. Dessert was kusilba of Kaong, Nata de Coco and langka. Sweet syrup laden jackfruit , coconut jelly (nata de coco) and kaong (sweet palm fruit). 

plows and tillers on the background at Bahay Makabayan

We had our fill and then moved to a later addition of the house to Bahay Makabayan which is sitting over the garage area of Jimmy's home. He has a collection of memorabilia from old magazines, soda bottles, books, artwork and brochures that were culled over the span of his career. It seems that the collection has been assigned different areas in the small addition. Not a single item is out of place. The collection interestingly delves on Bulacan arts and culture. Incidentally, Jimmy is or was  the director of Bulacan heritage studies at the Bulacan State University, ergo the monicker Maestro. The house has been featured in various art and culture shows and magazine shows like rated K. Each item on his collection has a story to tell. Plans are afoot for extending the Bahay Makabayan for Jimmy's ever-growing collection. amid the laughter and the photo ops we had to bid our leave as Jimmy was expecting another set of guests to his home for lunch so he showed us ho to get to Mercy's area by public transport.

Eggplant salad and salted egg halves

We went to the Marilao Public Market so we could take the jeepney to Malolos. The fare was ten or twelve pesos for a short trip to the outskirts of Malolos as Merce instructed us to get to the crossing and alight there which we did. Apparently, Merce's home is inside the gated community right smack along the main highway and in a few minutes she was greeting us and showing us the way inside the village. We were ushered out onto the patio of her home where tents were set up for shade and  tables and chairs were set-up for alfresco lunch. When your with a small group like this, don't be misled into thinking it's going to be a quiet affair. Not ever!

Bagoong rice and grilled tilapia

Funny stories and jokes were being bandied about during the conversation. Some of them were off color. Some were quite demure. All of them were funny. We started to get ready for lunch and one by one the dishes started coming out from Merce's kitchen. We prayed for thanks and praise and then attacked the food! There was a bowl of  red, plump macopa which I totally ignored. I don't eat it, anyway. I started with a fresh salad of pechay and shaved veggies like squash and carrots with a slight drizzle of  vinaigrette that was really restaurant quality. I had a second helping of course. And then as the lunch was getting more animated, who should arrive but dear amigo Addel de Dios Lapira? He was expected to be at Bahay Makabayan with us but didn't show up. It was, indeed, a pleasant surprise that he followed us to Merce's house. Right then, our conversation went totally immodest. Laughter induces one to eat more, I think.

Pansit with anato seed oil

Bowls of Bagoong rice and Tinola with native chicken was served. I could never eat a meal without rice so this was totally welcome. There was a variant of Pansit Bihon that was cooked with anato seed oil. I thought it was of the Malabon variety but I was totally surprised. It was very tasty with a different flavor profile as I could taste the fresh chives on it.  I was just really happy feasting on the grilled Tilapia that I paired with roasted eggplant salad with shrimp paste and onions and salted egg halves . Everything I tasted was so totally delicious. Take note, these are dishes that are not traditionally served for special occasions but  for a gathering of  foodie friends like us, this was indeed special! For dessert, I tried Merce's Turon Camote with a drizzle of caramel. What makes it different is that the filling is not the traditional sweetened banana slices but mashed sweet potato. I baked a loaf of Banana chocolate bread and made a caramel glaze to go with it. It was served for postre as well. We had a short sharing to end the gathering whilst reading some verses to make the gathering more meaningful and had loads of photo ops and coffee to prevent us from going groggy after so much food.

Merce's Turon Camote

Interestingly the way back to Manila was faster. we crossed the main highway and took a van to Trinoma in Quezon City and I took the MRT and LRT to get home. This was just too hilarious a gathering... I now wonder... would there be a part II?

My chocolate banana bread with caramel glaze

BARONS OF BACOLOD AND ILOILO (4/4)

Old Capitolyo

The 28th of April, 2017 was our fourth day of our Bacolod and Iloilo  Advocates for Heritage  Preseervation tour and this being our last day, we wouldn't let it pass without enjoying the sites that Iloilo offers. If you think other areas have a monopoly on heritage buildings, you have another think coming. I wised up after doing the tour without having breakfast the day before. We got up early to have a light meal. The meeting spot was at the Old  IloiloProvincial Capitol formerly known as the Casa Real building which has now been converted into a multi purpose use building. A spanking new Iloilo Provincial Capitol Building has been built behind the old one. It was easy to navigate through the city as the rendezvous point is located right across the Arroyo Fountain that diverts the vehicles to different parts of the city. The Arroyo Fountain is simple in design with four caryatid figures in diaphanous robes of Greco-Roman style. The fountain is named in honor of former Sen. Jose Ma. Arroyo, who happens to be the grandfather of the former first gentleman, Mike Arroyo.  We started out with the tour when all the participants had checked in for the last tour.

Our City Tour was slightly altered in order to maximize the sites to be visited for the participants who had flights back to Manila in the morning and after lunch. It was Roy Gatpatan who was again on duty for our bus tour. I thought it was a great opportunity for me to enjoy his humorous punchlines. This time, The organizers thought it best  for us to experience a staple meal of Ilonggos for breakfast. The bus stopped at the La Paz Public Market and we disembarked for a hearty meal of La Paz Batchoy and also Madge Cafe's local brew.We navigated around the stalls and alleyways of the market until we reached the carinderia area.  I'm glad I had breakfast ahead of everyone! The stalls were full of customers on their way to work for the day. Breakfast is, after all, the most important meal for the day. 

Madge Cafe

What's so special about La Paz Bachoy, you ask? It's a bowl of beefy noodle goodness that's good for any time of the day. The broth is salty, meaty and flavored with copious amounts of fried garlic, chives, slices of liver, slivers of boiled eggs, pork fat and chunks of beef falling off its bone and crushed chicharon. Just describing it makes my mouth water! Meanwhile, the local version of Starbucks is Madge Cafe. They have different strengths of coffee depending on how strong you want your cuppa. They also serve coffee iced and in different preparations. This morning that we visited Madge Cafe, it was full at seven a.m.! We congregated in one table and made do by borrowing chairs from other customers. In this cafe, one has to line up to have your order filled and then you wait for it to be served. We were having so much fun taking selfies and we-fies of the establishment people were becoming curious at the very least because we were mostly in yellow tees. We were getting curious glances from the other diners there. Across Madge Cafe was a smoothie shop whose come-on was an acoustic duo dishing out reggae tunes.So there was so much going on in the area to perk everyone up aside form the local delicacies of puto, bandi, pinasugbo, piayaya and what not. Knowing everyone had eaten the fill, we all boarded the bus and made our way for the rest of the city.

Lopez-Vito heritage house

There was so much to see, really. Familiar names of prominent families peppered the commentaries as we viewed different styles of heritage houses: Antillean, bahay-na-bato, neo colonial, Spanish colonial, bavarian, swiss chalet would describe these styles of architecture. The family names of sugar barons kept ringing in our ears as we passed palatial homes on the bus: Lopez, Locsin, Lacson, Lizares, Ledesma, Lopez-Vito, Araneta, Montinola, Sarabia,  Hofilena, Pison and the list goes on. It doesn't matter that the homes are beside decrepit, decaying neighborhoods or blooming new development. The houses remain as elegant reminders of Iloilo's genteel past. 

Nelly's Garden

Nelly's Garden in Iloilo City would have been our first site visit for the day. Unfortunately, it was a weekend which means the house is usually reserved for its occupants. Sadly no visit was allowed for this day. It doesn't mean we couldn't admire the home from our bus, right? We parked a few minutes along the road so we could take obligatory photos of this lovely home. Nelly's Garden was built in 1928 by Don Vicente Lopez  who was married to Dona Elena Hofilena. The property was named after their eldest daughter Nelly Lopez y Hofilena. The property sits on a four hectare lot and is approximately a kilometer away from the Jaro Cathedral. The story goes that the couple decided to move away from the cathedral to a quieter area. Apparently the Spanish canons that were exploding on special occasions bothered the couple. The house was nearly burned to the ground in WWII when guerrillas wanted to burn down the mansions to prevent the Japanese from using them as headquarters. The mansion was spared from destruction when the Japanese retaliated with guns blazing preventing the house from getting razed by fire. The house is said to have precious paintings and objets' art which the Japanese appreciated. The Beaux Arts style mansion with its colonnaded front porch and fifteen foot high ceilings have welcomed diplomats and royalty in its cavernous halls, the likes of: Imelda Romualdez Marcos, Corazon Cojuangco Aquino, Gov. Gen Frank Murphy, Teddy Roosevelt Jr., Thailand's Prince Chupra were received here. Nelly's Garden is also now open for wedding receptions and events. 

Lizares Mansion

The Lizares Mansion is another heritage home that has been spared from destruction. Languishing in neglect for decades,  this palatial home was built in 1937  by Don Emiliano Lizares for his wife Dona Concepcion Gamboa his three sons and two daughters.  The  mansion has three floors, a basement and an attic. Done in a combination of Spanish and early American architectural style, it has  a wooden winding staircase and 59 wooden doors. The home was commandeered by the Japanese as their headquarters and purportedly used the basement to keep their tortured prisoners. At this time, the Lizares family had left for Pototan, Iloilo for their personal safety. After the war, the family returned to the mansion but their lives were never the same. Don Emilio died in 1950 and the rest of the family moved to Manila. The house was leased to a businessman who turned it into a casino. This was closed by the mayor who felt that gambling was corrupting the locals. It was then left to the care of  a certain Tio Doroy Finolan who kept the mansion intact. It was acquired by the Angelicum School in 1962. The  mansion was turned into a formation house for young Dominicans in 1963. By 1978, the property became the home of the Angelicum School in Iloilo. On our visit, we were allowed into the compound. Unfortunately since there was a formation going on for that weekend, we were not able to go inside the mansion. 

Casa Mariquit

Casa Mariquit is one of the oldest heritage homes in the Jaro district. Built by Fernando Lopez for his wife Maria Javellana Lopez. The more than a century old home is done in traditional Bahay-na-Bato style with a balcony on the facade of the second level framed by waist-high wrought iron scroll work. The lower level served as recibidor for guests and clients since the lower floor was used as a bank. A wide staircase welcomes guests into the caida which showcases memorabilia of the Lopez Family and its prominence in Philippine affairs. Fernando Lopez has the distinction of serving as Vice President of the Philippines for three terms: !949-1953, under  President Elpidio Quirino; 1965-1969 and 1969-1972 under President Ferdinand Marcos. He was also chairman of ABS-CBN from 1986 until his death in 1993. Portraits of the couple are displayed in the caida. Receptions with foreign dignitaries and royalty and official seals of the Office of the Vice-President are lovingly displayed. A Grandfather's clock with its melodious hourly chimes dominates a corner of the room. The large veranda can accommodate a large coterie of guests. the expansive sala with wide planks of hardwood floors  and groupings of seating evokes a long lost time of grand parties where conversation skills were paramount. The master's bedroom with its four poster bed actually has a trap door that leads to the vault. Near the  large kitchen is the formal dining room and a small oratorio with an adjacent room. Behind that is an azotea that leads to the servants quarters. We were fortunate on this visit to see the vault and the tunnel that was said to lead to the Jaro cathedral (now closed). The museum is now owned and operated by Robert Pena Puckett started restoration of the house and museum in 1993. He is the great grandson of Mariquit and is president of the Solar Electric Co. The solar panels on the roof of Casa Mariquit is his concession to modernity.

Jaro Cathedral

We then drove to the Jaro Cathedral  prior to lunch. the Jaro Cathedral is done in Gothic style and is the seat of the Jaro Archbishopric. Dedicated to Nstra. Sra. de la Candelaria, the church was established in 1826 by Fr. Bernardino Alisen. It was damaged in the great earthquake of Iloilo in July 13, 1824 and repaired by Fr. Jose Alvarez from 1833 to 1835. Graciano Lopez Jaena was baptized in the church in 1856. The present church was built upon the initiative of Archbishop Mariano Cuartero, O.P. , first Bishop of Jaro, in 1874. Again it was damaged during the Jan 15, 1948 earthquake and was reconstructed and restored by Archbishop Jose Ma. Cuenco. The belfry made of brick is separate from the church and situated right across the street. It was constructed under Fr. Juan Aguado and restored by Fr. Jose Alvarez from 1833-1835. It was ruined in 1948. 

Jaro Belfry

Our guide had a funny anecdote in which he says that people requesting for a partner should light a pink candle at the shrine as pink represent love. After a year, if their wish had still not been granted then they should return to the Jaro Cathedral and go up the belfry. After which they should light up a mosquito coil to prevent mosquitoes from biting them. 

Megaworld development

We drove around the new development in the city of  Iloilo marvelling at the large tract of land owned by certain Pison, a self-made millionaire whose business was the production of salt. At least 2,000 hectares of salt beds near the coastal area of Iloilo has been bought by real estate developers. New buildings for residential and recreational areas have sprung up in the area to rival posh environs in Metro-Manila. Finally, we reached the lunch venue. Tatoy's Manukan and Seafood started out as a small shack with three tables by the seashore at Villa de Arrevalo. Owned by Honorato Tiburan Espinosa (ergo, Tatoy's) who has parlayed his earnings into more restaurants. Fresh seafood and luscious juicy chicken inasal are his best sellers. That was exactly what we tried. We had calamares, lumpiand shanghai, tuna belly and shrimp with rice. Then Tita Dodi ordered their famous chicken inasal for us to experience. 

Sta. Barbara

Lunch over, I had to get my luggage from the bus so we could proceed to the airport to catch my flight for the afternoon. Only to find out en route to the airport that my flight had been delayed and that I was allowed to re-book my flight to a later schedule. Taking the cue, we had my flight back to Manila re-booked at nine in the evening. This gave me the opportunity to visit the  Santa Barbara Church in Sta. Barbara district. I was extremely grateful for the opportunity. Sta. Barbara is another jewel of Iloilo's heritage churches. Made of hewn sandstone and coralline limestone quarried from Alimondian, the huge blocks of stone were delivered by carabao-drawn carts to the area of Sta. Barbara. The church, though started in 1849 by Fr. Francisco Agueria,  was not completed after Fr. Mateo Rodriguez 1855-1873 continued construction and Fr. Calixto Fernandez completed it until 1878.  It was here where local hero Gen. Martin Delgado declared a military junta to fight the Spaniards on 17 November, 1898. Both church and convent were spared from destruction during the Philippine-American War, WWII and the earthquake of 1948. Sta. Barbara is the patron saint for policemen, artillery men  and soldiers. The church has a neo-classical facade with a semi-circular arched entryway with cut-away doors. Statued niches flank the entryway on each side. Coupled pilasters divide the main facade into three levels. The pediment has urn-like finials as decorative touch. The interior has a long knave with spacious transept has touches of restoration with some tiles introduced into the crown molding. 

Iloilo Golf Club

Fellow AHP member, Tita Dodi Escartin ushered us back into her car and drove us to , arguably, the oldest golf club in the country - the Iloilo Golf Club. We didn't have membership but were allowed to drive in with permission from the security. We went in to the club house and  walked into a mini museum on golf out at the back  where they have the veranda with Tony Chan's name on it. He is the father of Jose Mari Chan who was an esteemed member of the club. Manicured lawns and lots of polished wood on the structures smell old money. The kind that only sugar barons could afford to dispose of on their down time. It was late in the afternoon so we stopped by a coffee shop where we had fresh lumpia and soda and cake and coffee for some. After that Tita Dodi dropped us off at our hotel where we waited a little to get to the airport and catch our flight. 

Iloilo has a strong cultural anchor that goes well with its history. Its storied past regales us with unlimited trappings of wealth and power... Of privilege and pedigree... No matter how you look at it, it will show a great divide among the rich and the very, very rich. But what unifies its gentle people is the food and a knack for the sweet life... La Dolce Vita!

Elizalde Mansion

Thank you Tito Encarnacion, Emman dela Pena, Dodi Escartin Fines Sumerigido, Roy Gatpatan, Raymond Alunan, Cidni Mapa, Mr. Ramon Hofilena; the AHP participants, AHP Manila, AHP Bacolod, AHP Iloilo, AHP San Joaquin, the Tourism officers and staff of  Bacolod and Iloilo, the Mayors of the towns we visited, our coach captains