A Mother’s Stuff

Renovated “Bahay Pangarap” for P-Noy

Benito Soliven Municipality

Benito Soliven is a 4th class municipality in the province of Isabela. It has a population of 25,151 people in 4,418 households. The town was named after Honorable Benito Soliven who was then a Congressman of the Ilocos Region during the Commonwealth government.

Benito Soliven is politically subdivided into 29 barangays namely Andabuen, Ara, Binogtungan, Capuseran (Capurocan), Dagupan, Danipa, District II (Pob.), Gomez, Guilingan, La Salette, Makindol, Maluno Norte, Maluno Sur, Nacalma, New Magsaysay, District I (Pob.), Punit, San Carlos, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Sevillana, Sinipit, Lucban, Villaluz, Yeban Norte, Yeban Sur, Santiago, Placer and Balliao.

Aurora, Isabela municipality

Aurora in the province of Isabela is a 2nd class municipality with a population of 31,547 people in 5,896 households. It has 33 barangays namely Apiat, Bagnos, Bagong Tanza, Ballesteros, Bannagao, Bannawag, Bolinao, Caipilan, Camarunggayan, Dalig-Kalinga, Diamantina, Divisoria, Esperanza East, Esperanza West, Kalabaza, Rizalina (Lapuz), Macatal, Malasin, Nampicuan, Villa Nuesa, Panecien, San Andres, San Jose (Pob.), San Rafael, San Ramon, Santa Rita, Santa Rosa, Saranay, Sili, Victoria, Villa Fugu, San Juan (Pob.) and San Pedro-San Pablo (Pob.).

Our Lady of Atocha church

Alicia is famous for having an old Spanish church dedicated to Nuestra Señora de Atocha more popularly known today as Our Lady of Atocha. It was declared by the Philippine’s Department of Tourism as one of the national religious tourist attractions in the country.

The current structure of the church was completed and inaugurated in 1849 with the help of Fr. Tomas Calderon, OP. It is made up of bricks with an antique Castilian architectural design and can be found along the Maharlika national highway and is accessible by land transport.

City of Santiago in Isabela

The City of Santiago is a 1st class city in the province of Isabela. It has a population of 126,244 people in 22,401 households according to the latest census. The city has vast area of predominantly flat and fertile land in the Cagayan Valley, surrounded by the Caraballo Mountains to the south, the Great Sierra Madre to the east and the Cordillera Mountain Range to the west.

The city plays an important part in the regional economy because although it is located at the southern end of Isabela, it is centrally located in the region. It is the commercial center of Region 2 and as such it has many commercial establishments, banks, schools and manufacturing companies.

Santiago City has 37 barangays namely Abra, Ambalatungan, Balintocatoc, Baluarte, Bannawag Norte, Batal, Buenavista, Cabulay, Calao East (Pob.), Calao West (Pob.), Calaocan, Villa Gonzaga, Centro East (Pob.), Centro West (Pob.), Divisoria, Dubinan East (Pob.), Dubinan West, Luna, Mabini (Pob.), Malvar (Pob.), Nabbuan, Naggasican, Patul, Plaridel, Rizal, Rosario, Sagana, Salvador, San Andres, San Isidro, San Jose, Sinili, Sinsayon, Santa Rosa, Victory Norte (Pob.), Victory Sur and Villasis (Pob.).

More of Cauayan, Isabela

Barangays - The City of Cauayan City has 65 barangays namely Alicaocao, Alinam, Amobocan, Andarayan, Bacolod, Baringin Norte, Baringin Sur, Buena Suerte, Bugallon, Buyon, Cabaruan, Cabugao, Carabatan Chica, Carabatan Grande, Carabatan Punta, Carabatan Bacareno, Casalatan, San Pablo (Casap Hacienda), Cassap Fuera, Catalina, Culalabat, Dabburab, De Vera, Dianao, Disimuray, District I (Pob.), District II (Pob.), District III (Pob.), Duminit, Faustino (Sipay), Gagabutan, Gappal, Guayabal, Labinab, Linglingay, Mabantad, Maligaya, Manaoag, Marabulig I, Marabulig II, Minante I, Minante II, Nagcampegan, Naganacan, Nagrumbuan, Nungnungan I, Nungnungan II, Pinoma, Rizal, Rogus, San Antonio, San Fermin (Pob.), San Francisco, San Isidro, San Luis Hacienda Itawis, Santa Luciana (Daburab 2), Santa Maria, Sillawit, Sinippil, Tagaran, Turayong, Union, Villa Concepcion, Villa Luna and Villaflor.

Economy - The city has 18 banks, 11 lending institutions, 24 insurance agencies, 59 real estate businesses and 11 pawnshops. There are over 1,442 commercial establishments that include distributors, wholesalers and retailers. Cosmos Bottling Corporation, now acquired by the giant multinational business conglomerate San Miguel Corporation manufactures soft drinks in the area. It is also here where the regional sales offices of several multi-national companies are located.

Transportation - Transport facilities include a total aggregate length of 512.27 kms. of concrete and gravel roads accessible to all types of vehicles; The Cauayan Domestic Airport just recently undergone upgrading as it is envisioned to become an International Cargo Port by the RDC and BOT. A 50M-Central Transport Terminal likewise has just started operation and is easing traffic in the poblacion area. The Cauayan City has three airline named Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines and WCC Sky Pasada Costal Town and Baguio.

City of Cauayan, Isabela

Cauayan City is a 3rd class city in the province of Isabela, Philippines with a population of 114,254 people in 21,143 households according to the latest census. There are 65 barangays in the city namely: Alicaocao, Alinam, Amobocan, Andarayan, Bacolod, Baringin Norte, Baringin Sur, Buena Suerte, Bugallon, Buyon, Cabaruan, Cabugao, Carabatan Chica, Carabatan Grande, Carabatan Punta, Carabatan Bacareno, Casalatan, San Pablo (Casap Hacienda), Cassap Fuera, Catalina, Culalabat, Dabburab, De Vera, Dianao, Disimuray, District I (Pob.), District II (Pob.), District III (Pob.), Duminit, Faustino (Sipay), Gagabutan, Gappal, Guayabal, Labinab, Linglingay, Mabantad, Maligaya, Manaoag, Marabulig I, Marabulig II, Minante I, Minante II, Nagcampegan, Naganacan, Nagrumbuan, Nungnungan I, Nungnungan II, Pinoma, Rizal, Rogus, San Antonio, San Fermin (Pob.), San Francisco, San Isidro, San Luis Hacienda Itawis, Santa Luciana (Daburab 2), Santa Maria, Sillawit, Sinippil, Tagaran, Turayong, Union, Villa Concepcion, Villa Luna and Villaflor.

Calvary Hills in Iguig

A more modern devotional site is Calvary Hills, located in Iguig, about 16 km. from the capital city, is on an 11-hectare site of rolling hills. It features larger-than-life concrete statues in tableau settings of the 14 Stations of the Cross, depicting Jesus Christ’s suffering and death on Mount Calvary .

SM Bacoor, Cavite City

The family had just attended a birthday party of one of my nieces. It was held at McDonald’s SM Bacoor branch at around 3:30pm. Unfortunately the celebrant got ill before her party. She had measles and she was hospitalized for several days already due to fever. It was sad not having the celebrant around but the party went fun together with our relatives and friends of the celebrant. We had some games and then after that eating time. Yours truly participated in 2 games: Bring Me (see the video) and the group game (sort of Basketball Cups). I both won in the games. Yipee!!! After the tiring games we had our snacks and ended the party well.

The family did not go home immediately. We went in a computer school to buy a new printer to replace our troubled EPSON Stylus C20SX, hehehe. After some canvassing made we decided to buy the CANON Pimax iP1980. Since we had a multi-functional Brother we bought this one for printing purposes only. The printing procedure is very easy and they have great promo on the warranty. It costs Php2,195.00 with inks (black & colored) already. Right after that we went home coz we’re all tired already.
The host told us to get anything that starts with letter “P” (tagalog or English word). As you can see, I almost searched and exposed all the things in my bag to search for the items. Fortunately with the help of my kids, sisters, niece and nephews I got 14 items that starts with letter “P” and I won the game. See video here.

Ibon-Ebon Festival in Candaba, Pampanga

Candaba, Pampanga recently celebrated its colorful and festive IBON-EBON FESTIVAL this month of February. In honor of its patron saint San Nicolas de Tolentino and to boost Candaba’s food production and promote eco-tourism, this annual festival features street dancing, exhibits, trade fair, art contest, variety show and more.

Discover Spain

Spain is one of the favorite destinations among travelers. Traveling to the country is not just about nature, great cuisine, wonderful people, magnificent architectural works but moreover to discover the rich and diversified culture that this lovely country has to offer to its new and recurring visitors.

Madrid is the capital and the largest city of Spain and it serves as the entry point too for those travelers visiting Spain. It is located on the geographic center of the Iberian Peninsula and the climate is characterized by warm dry summers and cool winters. It has great architectural works that you can see on its city hall, cathedrals, railway stations, hotels and more. The city also housed different parklands like Parque del Retiro and the indoor garden situated in the city’s Atocha Railway Station.

If you are planning to visit Spain, check out Hotelsespanol. It is a Spanish site that offers diverse accommodations including those with last minute deals and pre-booked discounts like Barcelona Hoteles, Las Ramblas Hoteles and Madrid Hoteles.

Urdaneta’s 35 barangays

Urdaneta City has 35 barangays namely:

Alexander * Anonas * Bactad East * Bayaoas * Bolaoen *  Cabaruan * Cabuloan * Camanang * Camantiles * Casantaan * Catablan * Cayambanan * Consolacion * Dilan-Paurido * Labit Proper * Labit West * Mabanogbog * Macalong * Nancalobasaan * Nancamaliran East * Nancamaliran West * Nancayasan * Oltama * Palina East * Palina West * Pedro T. Orata (Bactad Proper) * Pinmaludpod * Poblacion * San Jose * San Vicente * Santa Lucia * Santo Domingo * Sugcong * Tipuso * Tulong

Urdaneta City’s historical background

There are many versions on how Urdaneta City officially became URDANETA. One theory suggests that its original name was ORGANITA, roughly meaning “little organ or unit.” This is possible as it was then compose of portions of barrios of the adjacent towns where they converged to create one compound pueblo. Some of the theorists, the so-called purists, believed this by saying that the Spanish root word is organo; therefore, the right word should be organito. These theorists cite education at that time was centered in the Poblacion and the people in the hinterlands were neglected, thus resulting to bad grammar.

Another contention was that the first “cura parroco” of the town, Fr. Nicolas Alonzo Manrique, during the organization of the publeo in January 8, 1858, named the town “Urdaneta”, in honor of another friar, Fr. Andres de Urdaneta. Fr. Urdaneta was the spiritual adviser of the expedition led by Miguel Lopez de Legaspi which arrived in Cebu to explore the country on April 27, 1565. However, doubts still exist on to whom the town is named. Was it after Father Andres de Urdanteta or Fr. Miguel de Urdaneta or Fr. Simon de Urdaneta? The archives of the National Library state that it was after Fr. Miguel de Urdaneta. The historian Fr. Jose Ma.Gonzales, in his book “Labor Evangelica y Civilizadora de los Religioso Dominicos en Pangasinan”, was silent on this. Some articles on the town’s history say that it was after Fr. Simon de Urdaneta while others claimed it was after Fr. Andres de Urdaneta.

The first inhabitants of the town were mostly Ilocanos. They established nearby settlements that occupy portions of the barrios of surrounding towns, namely Asingan, Villasis, Malasiqui, Sta. Barbara, Mangaldan, Manaoag and Binalonan. The settlers joined together and petitioned the Spanish government to allow them to form a separate pueblo for greater ties and stronger unity. Their petition was granted and Urdaneta was formally founded on January 8, 1858.

The City of Urdaneta

The City of Urdaneta is a 2nd class city in the province of Pangasinan, Philippines. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 120,785 people.

The City of Urdaneta celebrates fiesta every eighth of December. This is in remembrance of the city patron Our Lady Of Immaculate Conception. Festivities are held from the 1st to the 8th of December. Activities include a parade, drum & lyre competition, teachers’ night, balikbayan night, ABC-SK night, ballroom and Miss Urdaneta City coronation night. A carnival is also put up every December as a part of the yearly event.

Urdaneta became a city through Republic Act 8480, otherwise known as “An Act Converting the Municipality of Urdaneta, Province of Pangasinan into a Component City to be known as the City of Urdaneta”. This was signed on January 10, 1998 and was voted affirmatively by the people of Urdaneta City on March 21, 1998.

Faith of San Carleñians

The patron saint of the San Carlos City is Saint Dominic de Guzman. He is the founder of the Order of Preachers and credited for performing miracles in the city. Among them was the minimal damage to the city caused by the return of the Americans to the islands during the close of World War II. The parish church built in his honor was once the biggest in Luzon. The parish of San Carlos is the oldest in Pangasinan.

Roman Catholicism remains the faith of majority of San Carleñians, although there are other denominations that co-exist peacefully in the city. Discrimination of religion is discouraged, though religious practices that seem bizaare and unacceptable by society is widely looked down upon.

• Saint Dominic de Guzman Parish Church
• Capilla de Nuestra Señora de Soledad
• Our Lady Queen of the Holy Family Parish Church
• Iglesia ni Cristo - Lokal ng San Carlos
• Iglesia ni Cristo - Ano
• Iglesia ni Cristo - Salinap
• United Methodist Church
• San Carlos Baptist Church
• Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
• Faith Assembly of God