Visiting the Monastery of Transfiguration in Bukidnon

When I was assigned to be in Malaybalay, Bukidnon for a week related to work. I right away made my mind to come back to the Monastery that has a pyramid shape church. I been there last 2008 for the same assignment and visited the farm of monks. It was share by my (late) mother that is was a beautiful place to reflect.

Corner leading to the monastery

It was a foggy morning (its usual for Malaybalay) when I was going to Barangay San Jose. When I went for the first time their is a single motorcycle (commonly known in the are Habal-habal). This time around there is non. I tried to wait for almost 20 minutes. But their  is no free ride nor habal habal available.

I opted to walk. I saw motorcycle going to the road leading to the monastery with a passenger. I wondered why their is no motorcycle travelling in the area. Walking for almost 15 minutes I pass by a house that has a motorcycle. They offered a ride and immediately answered yes. I offered the good samaritan a tip to giving me a ride for the tour around the monastery.

Rocky road on the way to the monasteries entance

Seeing the new church of the monastery from a distance make me feel in heaven on earth.

The new church from a distance

While travelling going to the new church I ask the driver why is it their are no motorcycle leading to the monastery. He answered that it has only a few who usually travel the route. Most visitor has their own vehicle, for some like students opted to walk. According to him the cost of the habal habal ride cost at Php 30/head. He said security guards of the farm toke the route during their day off.

The Alter of the new Church of the monastery

Unlike other churches the church in the monastery has only one saint on it. Aside from the crucified Jesus Christ floating. It is the image of Our Lady of Montserrat. This is a replica of image from Barcelona, Spain. This was a gift for the commemoration of the presence of Benedictine in the Philippines by the abbey of Montserrat. 

From the alter view

The altar table is a simple rock curve to celebrate the Eucharist. 

Kitanglad Mountain range at the background

This place is the best spot to meditate pray and eat, its a way to stay away from hectic schedule and the city life. Kitanglad mountain range also can be seen at panoramic view from the new church. The monastery offer a retreat for a group or even solo who wants to pray and find a silent place to reflect. If you join a retreat you can have a chance to be with the monks. None the less food are prepared by the monks. According to the caretaker of the new church, the cook of the guesthouse is a Kapampangan monks. 

The Guesthouse

Me with the new church in the monastery of transfiguration

After revisiting the new church we went to the old monastery church. It is located near the entrance of the monastery gate. The Church is smaller than the new one. It is also the location of Paul VI institute of liturgy. It is where lay minister and even priest and nuns update the liturgy or having their retreats. 

Altar of the old church

When I went to the church to visit the holy sacrament and take photos. Their was a group of lay minister was having a mass that is about to conclude. I notice this OND nun who looks familiar. When I approach hear, it was my teacher in religion way back my high school days. She was the one of the organizer of the seminar. I was happy to see my teacher (Sr Marivic Ratilla) after many years of not seeing her.

Priests, Nun and lay minister

The flowing brewed coffee of the monks

 I was able to have a breakfast with them when I already attended the mass that they celebrated. Spend time with a bountiful breakfast and a cup of coffee (Freshly brewed by the monks).

With the organizer and speaker

 Paul VI Institute of Liturgy is founded by Fr. Anscar Chupungco, who is also a Benedictine monk.

With Sr Marivic in Paul VI Institute of Liturgy

The monastery has a souvenir shop that sells the famous coffee bean of the monks and different products from their farm. Aside saints and novena books.

Souvenir Shop 

For inquiries  about the retreat in the guest house in the monastery you can contact Fr. Martin at 0917 51505585. The good Samaritan habal habal driver is Anthony at 09057870952. 

Surigao del Sur at a Glimpse

Tinuy An Falls

This falls was known to be the niagara falls of the Philippines. This falls is visited by many local and foreign tourist.

Enchanted river Outlet

Enchanted river is a blue colored river that has an unknown deep. This boats line up for a island hopping going out the outlet of the river

Britania Islet

This islet is compose of 24 islets scattered. It is located in Brgy. Salvacion, San Agustin, Surigao del Sur. It is like the hundred island of Pangasinan.

Hagonoy Islet

One of the island stop in Britania islet is  Hagonoy Islet. This island is the best place for swimming.

Buslon Island

This island has a touch of Christianity. It has the image of Mama Mary. You can walk around the island during low tide. 

Hiyor Hiyoran Island 

When you set on foot on this island. You can say that your not in a islet. Best for taking photo for the nature elements that is present in this island.

Double B Beach Resort

Further north of Surigao del Sur is the island of General Island(AKA Hotchkiss island). This island is rich in blue water(literally). The sand in this beach is finer than Boracay island. 

Libtong Beach

 This resort is located near the populated area of Hotchkiss Island. It is near the lagoon that has a sting-less jelly fish. It has a diving board that is a must when you visit the place.

Consuelo Bridge

This bridge connects the barangay of Consuelo and San Pedro in the town of Cantilan. It is sort as their short cut from the town.

Hotchkiss Houses

This is just one of the many houses of Hotchkiss in Baragay San Pedro. You will pass this house going to Consuelo bridge.

Surigao has a lot to offer in terms of nature tripping. If you want to see place that is unexplored this is the province that you must visit.

Love of Beach

When you travel you make your own standard to chose a destination. For most beach lover this is the best beach you can stay for eternity.

Sampaloc Church Frescos

A side trip to Quezon province is enticing to me. That’s why I agreed with my wife Lyn to visit their relatives in Quezon province to remove the dead time on our four days journey in Luzon. In every journey that we have, we don’t forget to add churches to visit. While eating pancit habhab as our snack on our 1^st day in Sampaloc a relative told me that their church is unique. 

I immediately grab the opportunity to visit the said place. 

Front view

If you look up you will see this at the entrance

The town patron is San Vicente Ferrer. Its church was build in the year 1963 of May 30. This church was under the supervision of a priest from Lucban. 

I notice the pictures that i  toke, its like coming into life when its on the photo. 

The alter with the angels in the roof

 In the entrance of the church you will see it was a church in the 1900s. When you go inside and on the sides of the church you will see different church frescos. Churches build in the 1800s I has large mosaic to add color inside the house of the Lord. The entire interior of the church and right side has fresco showcasing different passage in the bible. The place where the body of Christ situated I has a cloud like cloth, as if you’re in heaven. (I was not able to take photos, because it has an ongoing mass/meditation when I visited the place). In this modern age I was fascinated with the artistic mind of the leader of the church. These frescos would help believers to communicate to the Lord and feel its presents.

I found this Catholic Church unique to all the house of that Lord that I visited.

Risen God at the Belfry 

I found this Catholic Church unique to all the house of that Lord that I visited.

The main gate of the church with angels

APOCALYPSIS Main door

The Man and Women of the Church

Faces of Jesus Christ

Lyns Causin Chloe and Mama Mary

Me Chloe

Christ has risen on the roof as frescos

Must visit in the island born of Fire

Ending the summer without a beach vacation is boring in the Philippines. Having not booked for any vacation this 2013, we decided to head north of Mindanao to experience nature in the island born of fire. Since visiting Bohol with its sand bar, I added Camiguin in my bucket list as it has the same set up on tourism with bohol. I can be room around by a motorcycle for hire.

Having check-in in Mambajao, the Capital city of Camiguin, we decided to visit Katibawasan water falls nearby which is 6 kilometers from the city. It is the highest water falls in the island with a 75 meters high.Going to the area is fully cemented road. Except that the road going is steep. It would be slippery when it rains. The vicinity is maintained by local government. The water is ice cold due to the source of the water is from the mountain peak of Camiguin.(if not mistaken it is from Mt. Hibok Hibok.)

Katibawasan Falls

Heading to south west portion of the island we next visited the ruins of the old church. The church was build  by Spaniards in 16th century and was destroyed by an eruption of the old Vulcan on 1871. It was then preserved by the local government for the future generation. Since then it was never been functional aside to its was used as tourist attraction.  

Position at the front of the belfry of Old Church Ruins 

Next stop on the list is Sto. Nino Cold Spring. It is like a swimming pool, aside from it is flowing it has a cold water. There are picnic huts and a lot of stores around the resort. Stores serve lunch. Were you choose what food to cook. This resort serve as the lunch area, or the midpoint of some tour for the tourist. From the town of Catarman it is 4 kilometers climb to the resort.

At the entrance of Sto. Nino Cold Spring with my Family

While waiting for the food that we ordered we meanwhile deep in the water of Sto. Nino cold spring we proceeded to our next spring. The Bura Soda water park. It is unique for its soda taste of the water that came from the mountains of Camiguin. It is a 4 kilometers drive going in to the resort of Bura Soda from the highway that is cemented to the resort. 

Bura Soda Water Park, While Mt. Hibok Hibok and Mt. Tres Marias at the back ground

Because of the bad weather after a 3 hours stay in Bura Soda Water Park we went to the sunken cemetery. Boat man are very creative in taking your photos here. Some of them will direct you to get the  best shots. We were offered to take a deep and see the sunken cemetery, but because of the bad weather and time, were unable to experience to snorkel in the area.  

Sunken Cemetery Marker

Having an epic fail for a supposed to be sunset shot, we loitered in the old Parola in Mambajao witnessing the twilight. Were locals also wait for the sunset. 

Old Parola

The best vantage point for a sunrise/sunset in the island is the White island. Unfortunately, it is expensive. we only access the white sandbar of Camiguin for sunrise of our second day. It is a 10 to 15 minutes boat ride from Yumbing. You need to pay the fees in the port before going to the horseshoe shape sandbar.

Sunrise On White Island

Going further south of the island on a clockwise loop we pass the cathedral of Mambajao, the San Nicolas De Tolentino Church. The front part of the church looks restored but the sides of the church is a stone type walls possibly made in the time of the Spaniards in the island.

Camiguin Cathedral

Main Entrance of Mambajao Cathedral

The island has it own observatory monitoring the mountains specially mount Hibok Hibok that is active. The station has a museum. And it has a Panoramic view of the northern part of the island and part of Bohol. At the back of the Phivolcs building, a developer is making a view deck as a new attraction in Camiguin. 

PHIVOLCS station in Mambajao

Slowing down to our loop in the island we went to Moro watch Tower. We pass this school for a lot of kilometer, We did not know that the watch tower was just in the back of Guinsiliban Elementary school. This  port is 24 kilometers away from Mambajao. This was the watch tower for incoming Moro pirates  in the island. The walls of the watch tower were destroyed to give way for the school building.

Guinsiliban Elementary School

Moro Watch Tower entrance

 Going back to Mambajao we pass the corner going to Giant Clam Sanctuary. Me personally have not seen any of this creature alive. Because of my curiosity we seen and witness it with our own eyes. According to the guide giant clams has 7 species and 6 can be seen in Camiguin. They sort of culture it to multiply its population in the area as tourist attraction. It has the most steepest road that I drove in the island when you are near the entrance of the sanctuary. So when you drive own your own be extra careful when you arrive near the area. Though it has signage that tells you that it is accident prone. 

Function Room of the Sanctuary showcases shells of giant clams

After a long day on the road, we decided to loiter in the part at the side of the the Cathedral, the heroes shrine which has a nice light at night time.

Heroes Shrine

 Overall, Camiguin island has its own package compared to other tourist destination in the Philippines. For nature lovers like the cold spring and beaches this is the place for you.

Floating J&A Fishpen In Camiguin

J&A fishpen resort and restaurant is situated  on Taguines Man made lagoon on the southern part of Camiguin near Benoni Port. This is the home of good seafood in the island.