#WordlessWednesday: Las Casas Filipinas De Acuzar

Hello everyone!  How are you today?  I wish everything is doing well with you.

I am here to post the first series of my #WordlessWednesday post.  You will find several photos that says it all.  This time I'll feature my latest travel to Las Casas Filipinas De Acuzar.  It is a heritage resort that features old houses as the"panuluyan" which means accommodation.  When you visit this place you will experience the lifestyle during Spanish Era in the Philippines.  They offer cultural shows and Filipino games.  You will be accommodated into their spacious rooms and will be served with Filipino delicious foods.  It is located in the shoreline facing the West Philippine Sea.  You can indulge yourself to swim into the warm water of the sea. A beautiful sunset is one of the beautiful view.  It's a good family destination.

Las Casas Flipinas de Acuzar

Bo. Pag-asa Bagac Bataan

Tel.no.:+632-546-9123; 0917-872-9371

Manila Sales & Reservation Office: 

Mezzanine Floor, Victoria Towers

78 Timog Avenue, Quezon City

Tel.No.: +632-332-5338; 632-355-3032; 632-332-5286

Mobile No.:0917-872-9361; Fax No.: 632-738-4728

Email: reserve@lascasasfilipinas.com

Website: www.lascasasfilipinas.com

Throwback Thursday: Hwebes Santo

Hello Yamisweeters!

It's a start of my #ThrowbackThursday series here on my blog.  It's all about my stories of not so long "past happenings/photos" I want to share.

And here is my story................

In observance of Lenten Season, together with the #walangumay group we had the Visita Iglesia or the Way of the Cross in ten Catholic Churches in Laguna Province, one in Quezon Province and three in Batangas Province last Maundy Thursday.  It was a another great experience for me because it's my first time to do it in different Churches.  Originally,  I planned my Visita Iglesia at Kamay ni Hesus, Lucban Quezon but my husband confirmed to the invitation of our organizer #bokal2016 to hire a van with shared expenses.  It was a nice idea because we saved a lot of time and money plus we had a memorable conversation during travel from one town to the other.  At 7:30 in the morning we're moving.  When I jumped up the van the rest of the group was teasing me because I have a wheat bread and a spread as baon.  It's a Visita Iglesia daw not outing.  I don't want to get hungry kasi. hehehe! To avoid migraine na rin.  I prepared myself because I know it's a long travel.

Here are the photos I got from our 14 station of the cross.

First Station: The Last Suffer at San Sebastian Cathedral, Lipa City Batangas

Second Station: The Agony in Gethsemani at Saint Padre Pio Parish, Sto Tomas Batangas

Third Station: Jesus is condemned to Death at Nuestra Señora Parish, Alaminos Laguna

Fourth Station: Jesus is scourged and crowned with thorns at Our Lady of Pilar Parish, Calauan Laguna

Fifth Station: Jesus Carries the Cross at La Resurrection Parish, Victoria Laguna

Sixth Station: Jesus Falls at San Antonio De Padua Parish Pila Laguna

Seventh Station: Simon the Cyrene helps Jesus carry the cross at Immaculate Concepcion Parish, Sta Cruz Laguna

Eighth Station: Jesus Meets the Women of Jerusalem at Nuestra Sra. de Guadalupe Parish, Pagsanjan Laguna

Ninth Station: Jesus is Stripped of his Garments and Nailed on the Cross at St. Mary Magdalene Parish Magdalena Laguna


Tenth Station: The Forgiven Thief at St. John the Baptist Church Liliw Laguna

Eleventh Station: Mary and the Beloved Disciple at the Foot of the Cross at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church Nagcarlan Laguna

Twelfth Station: The Death of Jesus at Saint Paul Cathedral San Pablo City

Note: No photo

Thirteenth Station: Jesus is laid in the Tomb at Saint John the Baptist Parish Tiaong Quezon

Fourteenth Station: The Resurrection of Jesus at San Juan Nepomuceno Church San Juan Batangas

In every station, we read a Holy Gospel, prayed and reflected together.  We remembered the suffering of our Lord Jesus Christ and reminded us to share more, listen more, care more, love more, be humble, more patience, more perseverance, be responsible, be selfless, be happy, be considerate, be compassionate, be prayerful and  be faithful.  It's indeed one of the nicest thing we've ever done. 

It also became a photography opportunity to me and I was able to use my 10-22mm wide angle lens to the beautiful architecture of the historic Churches.  

The Municipality of Pila caught my attention with how they preserved the old houses and used as commercial stores like Mercury Drugs, Seven Eleven and others.  I love how the citizen value the history and culture of their town.

Tips for this kind of activity:
1. Hire a van and a driver.  
2. Prepare the itinerary.
3. Be strict with the meeting time. Leave your place as early as possible.
4. Bring packed-lunch, water and snacks because finding a restaurant will be difficult. 
5. Secure a devotional prayer booklet for the Way of the Cross.(You can buy it on the first church)
6. Meditate and prepare yourself for your purpose.  
7.  And don't forget to bring along sensible ideas to discuss while on the van to add some thrill and fun.  (oh oh! but not gossip ha!) 

Take note: My wheat bread and spread saved me.  It kept me going and going and going............ parang naka-energizer lang.(lol!)

I hope you like it! 'Til next #throwback! Stay sweet!!!!!

"We adore you, O Christ and we bless you.  Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world."

My Weekend Stories

Magandang Buhay Yamisweeters!

Lahat tayo ay looking forward sa weekend, di ba?  Kasi we can rest from weekdays challenges.  Pero for the #theMacs, no way.  Mas hectic ang schedule kapag weekends. Dahil boring ang Monday to Friday, bumabawe kami sa activities pag weekend.  Social skills ang aming FOCUS.  Eto yung time with our kids, "us time" naming mag-asawa, attending celebration of families, meeting new people at minsan rumaraket pa. Squeezed ang schedule namin into meetings, gathering, husband-wife date, church ministry and household things. Exhausting sya sa totoo lang pero minsan hindi talaga maiwasang magkasabay-sabay at kelangan na lang i-manage ng ayos.  Siguro part ito ng Mid-life Crisis namin.  Ang dami kasi namin gustong gawin.  We are full of ideas at gusto namin itong i-explore.  So thanks be to God for providing physical strength para magawa namin lahat ng mga activities. One best thing about the busy schedule is "bonding moment".  During driving, nakakapagkwentuhan kami.  Exchanging jokes, tsismis(haha!) and future plans.  Yun ang masaya! Kasi naman during weekdays eh stress sa work kaya less time ang kwentuhan.

So bakit ba nagku-kwento pa ako? Eh ano naman kung busy kami? (keber nyo) hihihi! Well, I just want to share our experiences.  Baka kasi nakaka-relate kayo sa amin so para damayan tayo. (lol!) I can give ideas on how to enjoy being together during busy schedules.

After sending our kids to Galileo Center, we drove to Lipa City for a meeting.  In this stage of our life, we want to explore all the opportunities that are being offered to us. We are kinda excited to meet new people, hear their views and opinions, learn new things, exchanging ideas and expertise, seeing new opportunities and learning how to socialize and win friends.  

It's a morning rush and we missed the breakfast at home.  So it's an opportunity for "us time" for brunch.  Kilig!! wala ang kids.  Haaay! sa wakas naka-pagdate din.  (weeeeee!!!!) We enjoyed our brunch at Pancake House-SLEX Petron.

Happy tummy ako at napa hastag CravingSolved ako sa Instagram using the Banana Walnut Waffle photo. During our brunch, we were able to discuss the things that we can share.  We heard each others view about the opportunity and ideas to discuss.  Actually, our conversation played as warm up para ma-stimulate na rin ang concept namin with the proposed project. I realized that it's really nice.  Good conversation can squeezed creative juices.

Tipid Tip for dining:  Wag ng mag-order ng drinks, free water na lang.  Tipid na healthy pa!

After our dining experience at Pancake House, we straight ahead to our meeting place at eto ang aming nadaanan.  Sunog!!!!!! A bush fire at SLEX along Sta. Rosa Laguna.  Scary sya! as in zero visibility.  Nakikita ko na yung apoy, as in parang kakainin kami.  Muntik na kaming bumalik.  Pero naka-move on naman ang traffic. Bumagal lang ang takbo ng mga sasakyan kasi mga ang kapal ng usok. Tsk tsk! sayang ang mga halaman na nasunog.  Sobrang init kasi! Summer na!

Safely, we arrived at our meeting place at sa Banay-Banay pala yun.  A newly-opened Cafe called Tuesday Cafe.  It is along the highway of Banay-Banay San Jose Batangas.

 It's cozy and chic. Parang Azumi Hotel lobby ang peg.  Syempre ang hinanap ko ay kapeng barako nung nag-order ako. Pero sad to say wala pa silang "Barakong Kape".  Sayang!  But the Store Manager promised that it will be available next week. 

I love chalkboard art!

So I tried their Java Chip version.  Masarap naman, hindi naman kasi ako Frap lover kaya I can't comment more. But I enjoyed it while exchanging ideas.

Practicing food photography

 Take note, I noticed that their cakes and pastries are from Purple Oven(my favorite).  Surely it's delicious. Look at the boxes oh.

The place is nice, clean and not crowded.  Good for meet up, business meetings and even for "me time".

 

We had a productive meeting.  Everything was discussed thoroughly, I guessed.   Pag nagkataon, this Cafe will be part of our history. (lol!)

Tipid Tip: Wag nang umorder ng cake o pastries, sabihin mo "I'm sacrificing sweets this Lenten Season."(lol)

Right after the meeting, we drove back to Manila for another meet up for that day.  It's a friendly gathering.  My movie buddy Shali invited us for the blessing of her new home. A lovely home. Me and the rest of my movie buddies enjoyed the sumptuous dinner.

My Movie Buddies

With our hubbies

We also had a very nice conversation and another creative juice was squeezed. I'm excited for our "emergency meeting". (lol)

Tipid Tip:Dagdagan na ang kain sa handaan para hindi na mag-midnight snack.(lol!)

The day was over and bed called us to rest and prepare for our Sunday Ministry.

Every Sunday, we are at The Feast-PICC.  Bisyo na'to! Last Sunday was the first talk of Rock Bottom Series: Down & Out.  It's all about how do you react when you're in a Rock Bottom of your life.  Bro. Bo Sanchez pointed out that "crosses that comes by CHANCE your action should be ACCEPTANCE". 1. Accept Reality 2. Accept Responsibility 3. Accept Rescue.  But if your crosses come by CHOICE, you should ACT.

"Feel what you feel, act what you know."

 My Take away: Aminin at tanggapin mo ang nararamdaman mo.  Pero gawin mo kung ano ang tama.

After the talk, we have a schedule for Servanthood 101.  Yes, we accepted God's calling for us to serve.  I am happy to share my talent into photography, that's why I joined the Media Ministry.  So before I will be considered a servant, I need to undergo 5 talks.  It was fun!  I've met new people.  Different age but same purpose-to serve the Lord.  I realized na sana pala noon pa ako nagsimula.  Pero hindi pa naman huli ang lahat.

I love Dahpne's Journal

So while we are in the Servanthood 101, kids are enjoying with the "Awesome Kids Ministry".  They had also a wonderful experience with other kids while learning the teachings of God.  God is great, he provides everything.

Wall Art outside the room for Kids Ministry

Serving the Lord with Holy Joy!

After the Sunday worship we went home happy and fulfilled.  Kahit pagod ang katawan, refreshed naman ang aming spirits. 

At the end of the day, isa lang naman ang masasabi mo eh.  "Thank you Lord for the physical strength, thank you for providing everything to us. We lift it up to you Oh Lord!"

The moon says "Shine like a diamond and be a light to someone. SMILE, you have a lot to thank for. Beauty of life is just around".

How about you, how's your weekend? Do you have a weekend story?

Cheers for Joy!

#ThinkPositive #BePositive