Isdaan sa Calauan

Everytime we go home to Pangil, Laguna, we always see this big floating restaurant along the highway in Calauan, Laguna, just between the towns of Bay (pronounced Ba-ee) and Victoria. In fact, we witnessed how it slowly grew while the big concrete statues of the restaurant were being constructed. We wondered then if this will click among patrons. We realized later that their open parking lot seemed to be always full when we pass by it.

We asked ourselves when will be able to eat there. The opportunity came last Saturday, 22 December 2012, on our way to Pangil, Laguna. It was already past 1 pm and so we decided to try it out.

Penitensya 2012: A Holy Week Ritual

Ever since I met my wife, all of my Holy Week vacations are spent in Pangil, Laguna. Aside from the Good Friday procession, one of the highlights would be watching men performing "penitensya" as part of their "panata" or "religious vow" which they promised to keep in exchange for an answered prayer, like healing from sickness of a loved one, passing the board exam, getting the dream job, etc.

What's ironic though is that although my wife wants to stay in Pangil during the Holy Week, she is still afraid of the penitensya (or what the locals call the people performing the ritual), a fear she had when she was still young. She said she isn't afraid of the flagellants (person performing penitensya or self-infliction of wound by whipping), but rather of being hit by blood splatter or because of the odor of fresh blood.

When I was young, I remember seeing these penitensya in Malibay, Pasay. But I doubt that there are still men practicing that ritual there. I guess most of these are now only being practiced in a few parts of the city but mostly in the provinces.

Stopover in Sta. Cruz, Laguna: Asian Traveller's Inn Resto

Everytime we go to Pangil, Laguna for a short break and pass by Laguna's capital, Sta. Cruz at almost lunch or dinner time we usually buy some food to-go or we just dine-in at the Traveller's Inn restaurant. The Inn is located in Barangay Pagsawitan where the public buses usually drop off passengers bound for Sta. Cruz.

The place is a favorite among the locals since the prices are quite reasonable and the place can easily be reached. It serves basically Chinese and Filipino dishes.

The last time we went there was last Maundy Thursday and the place was almost full, aside from those waiting for take-outs. I guess one reason for it being full is people doing the Visita Iglesia drop by to have their lunch.

Kainan sa Paete, Laguna - Capati Kainan

What does one do when one didn't take lunch because he was in a hurry to get to church as the wedding invitation says the ceremony starts at 1PM but in reality is scheduled at 2PM? That's what happened to us last Saturday, we got to the church before 1 PM, realizing later that no wedding was to take place as indicated in the inviation.

the facade of the church