My Home

Hi guys...

Been planning and fixing this blog since June 2011, but I always lack the time to take time to do my first post. So well after a year... TADA! (in a Despicable Me minion tone) Besides having the time I really, really don't know how to start this blog. I've been a TRAVEL BLOG FAN, lurking around for some travel information and tips. So to start one takes a lot of courage.

So what way to start this blog, but to show the world around first in my HOME. So yes, this first post is all about my HOME, THE SOUTH OF METRO MANILA, PHILIPPINES.

So to start off this journey may I introduce to you first Metro Manila 

Metro Manila is Part of the National Capital Region of the largest & Northernmost island of the Philippines, Luzon. It is composed of Cities of Caloocan, Las Piñas, Makati, Malabon, Mandaluyong, Manila, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Navotas, Parañaque, Pasay, Pasig, Quezon City, San Juan, Taguig,Valenzuela, as well as the Municipality of Pateros. Manila is treated as the Capital of Metro Manila since most of the historical sites with great significance is seen here.

As I have mentioned earlier we shall focus on the Southern portion of the Metro, and that is Muntinlupa,  Las Piñas & Parañaque

The South is usually known to others as the laid back Cities of the Metro since most of the night life happens in the North. Well most of that is a bit changing due to the fast paced progress & economic growth of the South.

Let's start with my hometown, Parañaque.

Parañaque was first called Palanyag, which generally means "my beloved", this best describes their affection for their hometown. Another version came from the combination of the terms "palayan" and "palalayag", the former meaning ricefields of which the city once abounded in and the latter pertaining to the sailing and fishing
occupation of many of its residents.

According to oral tradition, the term Parañaque was coined when a Spanish soldier told the driver of his caruaje or horse-drawn carriage, to "Para aqui, para aqui (Stop here, stop here)!" The driver, uncomprehending, kept on prodding his horse to go on while the soldier angrily repeated his instruction: "Para aqui, para aqui!" Onlookers just laughed as the Spaniards empathically said "para aniya aqui para aniya aqui (he said 'stop here' he said 'stop here)." For days the incident was repeated around and term "para aniya aqui" stuck.

Main source : DULCE FESTIN-BAYBAY, Author of the first comprehensive history of Parañaque, courtesy of Parañaque's City Information Office. (copied from: http://www.oocities.org/palanyag/)

A Cityscape of Parañaque

Parañaque has 2 districts, both with 8 Barangays each. Parañaque is rich in culture and is known for its variant cultures and migrants from all over the country. It is also a crossroad of diverse religions. and is home to the National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help (popularly known as Baclaran Church), known to be the most attended church in Asia, which is run by the Redemptorist fathers

Just beside the Church is the famous Baclaran Market which is the counterpart of Manila's Divisoria. Here one could buy clothes, accessories, toys, and all dry goods you can think of. You can have a printed shirt for only Php 50 (less than $1) and still bargain for a lower price especially if you wish to buy in bulk. One precaution though make sure your belongings are always secure and always be mindful of them. And it's better to have a local tag
along with you so you can haggle more and also to avoid getting lost. Avoid also going on Wednesdays since devotees of Baclaran Church come not just for their novenas but also to buy some stuff from the market.

Probably after some shopping one would feel a bit hungry and would think if there are some good restos around. Well, there are some fast food restos around the area or even well known restos but, just a couple of rides away is the Parañaque Fresh Foods Market at Dr. A. Santos Ave. (DASA aka Sucat Road), Barangay San Dionisio, where the seafood products are always fresh. After buying fresh seafoods or pork you could simply bring your purchase to the ihaw-ihaw or barbecure restaurants just next door where you could have it cooked in whatever way you want. Or if you are exhausted and just wanted to eat fast you could go straight to those restaurants and ask them to do the marketing for you.

Parañaque also has its shares of malls and the most popular ever since would probably be the Duty Free Fiesta Mall. It has been judged as among the finest duty-free shopping concerns in the world while its item prices are usually lower than those in its counterparts as an adjustment to the lower cost of living in the Philippines. The whole Sucat Road stretch also houses 2 SM (Shoemart) Malls and another SM Mall in Bicutan. This city also contains one of the south's largest villages, BF Homes. It's entrance President's Ave. is a long stretch of commercial establishments with a lot of restaurants, fast foods and even fine dining. As you pass through the gates you'll find yourself thinking if it is the continuation of President's Ave, but actually it's another street, A. Aguire. The whole stretch is full of restuarants, cafe's, bars, KTVs. Whatever you're looking for it's surely here!

information source: http://paranaque.gov.ph/ 

Now let's see my second home, Muntinlupa City. I call it my second home because I spent 10 years of growing up in this City since I studied and learned life's lessons here and now I am continuing to serve this community.

So before I get sentimental, why the name? The history of the name “Muntinlupa” comes from at least three stories. First, its association with the thin topsoil in the area. Second, residents, purportedly replying to a question by Spaniards in the 16th century what the name of their place was, said “Monte sa Lupa”—apparently mistaking the question for what card game they were playing. Third, the topographical nature of the area, where the term Monte or mountain was expanded to Muntinlupa or mountain land. Muntinlupa is an old term that refers to a barangay hence called as Munting Lupa (which means a smaller branch of a city or a municipality, often referred to a county) now known as the Población.

See ho diverse this city is, high rise buildings and baklads (or fishpens on the farther end)

It is also divided into 2 districts, the first with 4 Barangays and the second with 5 Barangays. Muntinlupa also has its shares of historical landmarks Such as the JAMBOREE LAKE, MEMORIAL HILL, THE DIRECTOR`S QUARTERS, THE JAPANESE GARDEN CEMETERY & the famous BUREAU OF CORRECTION ADMINISTRATION BUILDING (New Bilibid Prison/ Munti) That's why most people when you mention Muntinlupa would ask "Sa loob o sa labas (Inside or Outside)?"  (Meaning if you're from INSIDE the correctional or OUTSIDE)

source: www.muntinlupacity.gov.ph

 The old & the present New Bilibid Prison

The irony of life is somewhat visible, because despite of the presence of the correctional being located in this City, the richest Southerners are also housed by this City. The exclusive village Ayala Alabang is located in the heart of this City, Alabang and is somewhat like the smaller version of Makati City (the central business district). What is outstanding here in Muntinlupa is the boom in development this City is currently experiencing. With 3 distinct malls, a couple of business buildings, a lot of call centers, hotels being sprouting one by one, tertiary hospitals, exclusive villages, exclusive schools, Muntinlupa is definitely a miniature Makati.

Festival Supermall

Alabang Town Center

One can enjoy luxury by checking in in one of the hotels around muntinlupa and prepare one's wallet for shopping! With the finest stores and world renowned restaurants, you will definitely splurge into luxury when heading into Alabang Town Center. Though it has high end stores and restos, it still has that laid back nature-loving feel. If you are for a twist, try going instead to Festival Supermall, it surely would make your afternoon fun with all the amusement park attractions it has inside the mall with the train ride at the heart of it. Around the mall you'll find stores both high end & bargain stalls and even medical clinics and services.

If you're into fitness try catching some marathons around the Filinvest Area or even just jog around the area and take a sumptuous breakfast in any of the restaurants you might bump in the area.

Bamboo Organ

Lastly, the City well known for having the historical and world renowned Bamboo Organ, Las Piñas.

Nature Church

Besides the Bamboo Organ, there is also the Zapote Bridge  wherein on February 16, 1897 The Battle of Zapote Bridge proved to be the signal event that turned the tide against Filipino revolutionaries. There is also the Nature Church. It is built on a 4000 square meter mango orchard, consisting of the church proper, school buildings, a confessional and counseling center and a wide expanse of a well-maintained park and garden. Just at the back of the altar is the Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration (PEA) Chapel where devotees religiously make their daily 24-hour vigil to the exposed Blessed Sacrament. This City also houses the well known manufacturer of the uniquely Filipino means of transportation, the Sarao Jeepney Factory. The Sarao and Francisco jeepney factories started business transforming the G.I. jeeps into commuter transportation which is now known as the "Philippine's King of the Road".

One can actually see this before landing in the airport Photo by Ivan Sarenas for GMA Network

Between the boundaries of Las Piñas & Parañaque, the Critical Habitat and Eco-tourism Area
covers a total area of 175 hectares along the coasts of the two cities. It consists of around 30 hectares of 8 species of mangroves and 113 hectares of mudflats. These mangroves and mudflats are roasting and feeding grounds for 27 species of threatened rare and uncommon water birds. Around 5,000 individuals of migratory birds had been observed in the area in the 2004 census of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines (WBCP).

sources: http://www.visitmyphilippines.com & http://laspinascity.gov.ph

Pictures are from websites and are lawful right of their owners. Sources of the pictures are seen in whenever the mouse is pointed to the picture. Anyone who wishes to bring down their photos from this blog can contact me thru my blogger account. Thank you.