TravelswithCharie

Halfway between Roxas City and Kalibo is the town of Sapian, Capiz which is the home of the lush gardens of Meditation Hills. Yes, it is a great place to meditate amidst nature's beauty and bounty. What I like best about the Healing Chapel is its location halfway up the hill. It has a commanding view of the surrounding countryside and the hills across the road below.  This uphill path leads to the grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes. I didn't venture the climb as we were there at midday and it was really too hot and the sun had sapped away my energy. All I wanted to do was take a nap. The best time to attempt this climb would be early morning or late afternoon. Bring a hat or parasol and suntan lotion.  The grounds are well manicured and the trees seem to have grown and recovered easily after the devastation of the super typhoon, Yolanda.  Above the grotto and many more steps to hurdle is a big white cross which can be seen for miles around. That cr

Exploring our island has led to many wonderful discoveries. On this day trip to Pandan, Antique, we drove from Roxas City to the coastal town of Buruanga in Malay then continued on paved roads to this rustic beach town. We realized soon enough that we should stay longer as there was quite a bit to see and do but we'll have to save that for another day. We'll come back to this laid back and friendly niche, that's thankfully off the grid, soon enough. Eat, beach, relax, repeat This is the first thing that greeted us when we entered the resort. Two hammocks beckoning us to rest from the midday sun. How easy it is to surrender to the whisper of the sea, swaying palm fronds and clear blue skies! Not a wave in sight  It was the calmest sea. And though my room was just across from the beach, it was blissfully quiet except for the whir of the ceiling fan. Glorious sunset I started my walk on the beach at 4:30 p.m. The sun was still high on the hori

Lacaron Elementary School Continuing with our school distribution program, we went to Lacaron Elementary School in Dao, Capiz last July and reached out to approximately 240 children. The last time we were in Lacaron was in December 2011. It was really nice to be able to revisit Lacaron this year.  Typical of July weather, it was a hot and humid day and we stayed outdoors under the UNICEF donated tent classroom. With the school principal, Milagros Jore Derayo, we gave each of the children notebooks, pens and pencils. Some kids took home prizes like crayons, toys, pencil cases, coloring books and more school supplies for giving the correct answer to our math, spelling and history questions. Here are the young students raising their hands to answer a particular question we posed to them. The little ones are sometimes shy but generally eager to answer our questions. They are always excited to receive a prize. Everyone gets involved including teachers and parents who prod their

First Grade classroom, Agsilab Elementary School February was a hectic month for Balay ni Charie. We distributed school supplies in four elementary schools in Capiz. Our first stop was in Sapian at  Agsilab Elementary  School . 300 students received notebooks, pens and pencils from Balay ni Charie. At Agsilab, we saw first hand the damages wrought by super typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda. In one building, three different grades had to share the same room. Blackboards were used to separate one class from the other. The ceiling was gouged out. In another classroom, a red plastic tarp keeps the children dry from the rains. The kindergarten and day care kids were installed at the barangay hall across the street as there were no classrooms available for them. The good thing is that all the children were able to continue with their studies. And maybe the buildings will be repaired during the summer break. Agsilab Elementary School Our next stop was at  Agoho   Elementary School

It's a 35-minute drive from Iloilo City proper to Miag-ao along well paved roads. We left the city around five in the afternoon and arrived in Miag-ao just after sunset. I've had to filter these photos as it was too dark to get any clear images. Miag-ao Catholic Church or the Church of Santo Tomas de Villanueva is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It was completed in 1797 and ravaged during the 1898 Philippine revolution against Spain, during World War II and again during the 1948 earthquake. The walls, the belfries and the facade are all that is left of the original structure.  Miag-ao Church is a fine example of colonial Baroque. The facade of the Church is of yellow ocher limestone which was quarried from nearby mountains. It is decorated in high relief with a palm tree on the top and center of the triangular frame. St. Christopher with the child Jesus on his shoulder is under the palm tree and they are surrounded by indigenous flora. In the niche below S

The Ruins, Talisay City In a residential neighborhood of Talisay is this evocative architectural demonstration of love - The Ruins. When Maria Braga died in an accident in 1911 while pregnant with her 11th child, her husband, Mariano Lacson, built this house in her memory. There's no mistaken whose house this belongs to. The double M (looks like E backwards) on the columns and pillars are the initials of Maria and Mariano.  Mariano Lacson and Maria Braga The house which is reminiscent of European villas, is made of concrete which has the look and feel of marble as it was mixed with egg whites rather than water. The tiles were imported from Spain and have withstood years of exposure to the elements. The four tier water lily fountain is original to the property as is the sugar mill smokestack that is topped by a tree, a not so subtle reminder of a tower in Lucca, Italy. Tiles from Spain A house rule strictly followed by the family including Mariano him

Roxas City, with a population of approximately 157,000 (2010 projection), is a small town with a big attraction, its seafood. Dubbed as the seafood capital of the Philippines, much of its seafood is shipped to other parts of the country but there's plenty of fresh pickings left to savor at beachside restaurants. The Immaculate Conception Metropolitan Cathedral sits in the center of the city, sandwiched between City Hall and a Catholic university. It is one of the oldest churches on Panay Island. It was recently renovated and a dome was added to it. During the feast of the Immaculate Conception (She is the patroness of the city) in December, the city comes alive with the colorful Sinadya sa Halaran parade and a fluvial parade down the Panay river which is right across from the church. On the other side of the river is the public market which is especially busy on Sundays when it spills out onto surrounding streets. It's amazing what you can buy here. Fruit, fresh produc

TWG Tea Salon and Boutique at Greenbelt 5 in Makati is a glass and glitz citadel with some of the finest collection of teas in the world. The Wellness Group (TWG) has its origins in Singapore and today has branches in many countries in Asia, The Middle East, UK, and the United States. I didn't come for afternoon tea. I was famished after a morning admiring the works of Carlos Botong Francisco at the Ayala Museum and TWG was in the neighborhood. I was torn between the salmon entreé and the chicken skewer with rice. I chose the latter. A meal would not be complete without tea, as my late grandfather used to say. While perusing the tea menu, I was overwhelmed by the number of tea selections. In fact, they have over 200 teas to choose from so I thought it best to ask my server for help. What I wanted to try was a combination of green tea and chamomile. It was siesta time after all and I needed a transition tea. My server didn't hesitate at all to recommend the Sweet France

Antonio's Restaurant is located in Tagaytay City which is a popular weekend destination and a short ride from Metro Manila. Taal Volcano rises from the waters of Taal Lake. It is one of the most active volcanoes in the Philippines. The second Antonio's restaurant (called Breakfast at Antonio's) has a commanding view of the lake and also serves lunch and dinner from the breakfast menu. This foyer impresses from the outset. Red paint on the walls provide a warm setting for the personal photos and antique "santos". This room evokes old world charm. The lower dining room is a spacious and elegant room, perfect for large parties. The black and white tiles spell classic! I dined alfresco beside the carp pond. It was a delicious visual treat to be surrounded by overgrown ferns and tropical flora. While the ambiance was casual and relaxed, this restaurant is home to fine dining and guests behaved accordingly. Hence the conversations around me were hush hush

This floral path leads to the dining room. One of three gardens, the scented garden is a joy to explore. So many special touches, it's a pleasure to linger and dream of my own garden. At Sonya's Garden, I've learned to expect beautiful things and attention to detail like this crisp, white tablecloth with minute embroidery and elegant dinnerware. Pickings from the vegetable garden. Iceberg lettuce, oregano, arugula, cherry tomato, Roma tomato, tarragon, and this butter scented flower called butterbush. There's always fresh ingredients from the gardens for all the meals served at Sonya's. And after a most fulfilling dinner, tarragon tea will gently ease your digestive tract. Romance comes into play when evening falls upon the gardens. You can always find a little nook to while the time away with a good book. Wish I could have stayed longer. Sonya's Garden Barangay Buck Estate Alfonso, Cavite info@sonyasgarden.com http://sonyasgarden.co

Only a couple of hours from Metro Manila, this bed and breakfast beckons weary city dwellers for some r&r and organic cuisine. I had resolved to go to Sonya's for mind and body rejuvenation. Instead I experienced a culinary epiphany. I had to ask the waiter if all the good food he spread out on my beautifully set table was for me. And he affirmed. So I slowly made my way through breakfast starting with my eggplant omelette, chicken adobo, mango salad, boneless milkfish, garlic rice and slices of papaya and mango. My stomach whispered "enough, please". Had to forego the egg omelette. Here's the breakfast of champions.

Monastery of the Holy Eucharist The Monastery of the Holy Eucharist or "Birhen sa Simala" as it is locally known is a 2 hour drive south from Cebu City through narrow roads and lush countryside. It's a slow ride considering tricycles ply the roads between the small towns along the way and occasionally, a fiesta or a school celebration may result in traffic jams. In the barangay of Lindogon, the road leads uphill. My first impression when I saw the Monastery was that it seemed out of place in these rustic surroundings. The architectural style is more aligned with European cathedrals. There's no semblance at all to Spanish colonial churches which are predominant in the Philippines. That said, the interior of the church follows the traditional colonial Baroque style. I was caught by surprise when a security guard stopped me from entering the Monastery grounds. He told me that sleeveless dresses were not allowed inside the Monastery.  I wasn't aware of any