As part of our course in the Life and Story of Jose Rizal, our class was given the chance to have an educational trip on Mt. Banahaw in the Quezon province. Of course, I chose to come in replacement of submitting a paper. Also, I was eager to capture new photos to keep my Flickr account alive.
All of Dr. Siao Campoamor’s classes, togther with Dr. Nilo Ocampo’s, set out from Cubao in the morning of September 5. After three hours, we reached the Filipino Spiritual Catholic Church, Santoyo Compound. There we received warm welcome from the residents of the area, especially from the owner of the inn we stayed in.
I thought first that the residents idolize Rizal just because he died for his country’s sake, but I was totally wrong. Rizal was part of their religions. I observed many groups that have their way of venerating our national hero. Some even told me that Rizal is Asia’s Jesus Christ.
We were immersed into their religious and cultural practices such as writing our names on a stone that shows a semblance of a book and on a piece of paper and burning the it afterwards. Prayers were said and candles were lit in these places: Ciudad Mistica de Dios, Talon ni Sta. Lucia, Prisintahan-Kuweba ni Sto. Jacob-San Isidro, Sinco Vucales Siete Virtudes Tierra Santa de Jerusalem, Husgado, Kalbaryo, Tres Persona Solo Dios, and Santos Kolehiyo.
Personally, I didn’t consider it a pilgrimage. As much a possible, I made myself an independent visitor, who pulls out commitment when he is immersed into the groups’ practices, in order to carry out the purpose of the trip: to know more about Rizal.
So, what I did was to observe how these groups run their church tied with their belief that Rizal was a savior. The Mistica group believes that God transferred a mountain from Jerusalem to Quezon, and this is what we know as Mt. Banahaw. Many sign boards even tell that the place is the new Jerusalem.
My favorite part of the trip was going through Husgado. It is a narrow spaced cave that is believed to judge someone who enters if he is a grave sinner by receiving wounds before he comes out.
The most tiring part was the Kalbaryo where we had to reach the summit with three standing crosses. People say it is end of the spiritual journey where man can communicate with God to acheive spiritualism.
In the evening of September 6, we bid farewell to the residents of Banahaw. Really, it was one of the most memorable experiences I’ve had.
ganda ng 1st pic.. super berry good!!XD
di ko nga lang agad narealize na berry pala un..
edible ba?XD
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John Carl Reply:
October 8th, 2009 at 10:39 pm
Yup, edible sya. haha! Halos, akala lady bug yun :/
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great site! love the pictures. you sure have talent. =)
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John Carl Reply:
October 3rd, 2009 at 2:30 am
Thank you.
Right now, I’m thinking of what to share with everyone this week.
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seesh, how come we didnt have educational trips for PI 100? Our class, losers. haha.
Looove the first pic. great shot.
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John Carl Reply:
October 1st, 2009 at 10:02 pm
Kuya Yoshke.
I’m getting inspiration from your blog. You are one of the best bloggers I’ve known so far. 
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Yoshke Reply:
October 2nd, 2009 at 9:34 pm
Aaaaaw. Wow. Dunno what to say.
Thanks.
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another great macro shot ahehehe wooot astiiggg
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John Carl Reply:
September 24th, 2009 at 1:31 pm
Kuya Jerson, salamat ulit sa compliment!
Will post a new entry this weekend
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aweeee gusto ko na ring mag PI100! maybe next sem. CRS help?
)
btw, paki-check mo yung link ng twitter page na pinost mo sa last blog entry mu sa multiply. i think you missed the ‘Gozun’ part. ^_^
tata!
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John Carl Reply:
September 24th, 2009 at 1:34 pm
Ay, yes. Mali nakabit ko
Thanks Nic 
Mag-PI ka na this second sem. or Summer. Basta kay Sir Campoamor
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nickee-tickee Reply:
September 25th, 2009 at 12:32 am
yehes, that’s exactly my, kevin and allandail’s plan. ^_^
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nice photos
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haha. ang nice ng shots. my professors in botany would surely love this. galing!
DSLR? waaa. i want! xD
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John Carl Reply:
September 21st, 2009 at 2:25 am
Yes Marvin, DSLR
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The first picture is awesome! Good job!
Keep them coming.
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John Carl Reply:
September 18th, 2009 at 9:47 am
Ivan Thank you! I visited your blog. Nice nice nice!
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PI 100 ba to?
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John Carl Reply:
September 13th, 2009 at 12:55 pm
Yup PI 100
Kamusta sa Cebu?
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Bryan Karl Reply:
September 13th, 2009 at 10:49 pm
Haha same subject pala tayo.
Apparently di pumunta si Rizal sa Cebu so wala. Haha. Wala kaming Banahaw e waaah. Ang lupit ng Rizal class nyo waaah. Ka-inggit.
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Asteeeeg! Favorite ko ung unang pic.. akala ko lady bug at first.. wahaha, ang ganda ng kuha..
*clap* *clap*
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John Carl Reply:
September 13th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
Salamat
Haha! Hindi ako masyado nakakuha ng maraming picture. Ayoko mabasa yung camera ko kasi umuulan. XD
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Magaling yung pic.
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John Carl Reply:
September 12th, 2009 at 11:51 pm
pano yung photographer? :/
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