CRESENT MOON CAFE AND GALLERY 2009

This is an ideal place to find relaxation, appreciate nature, various art works and pottery collection can be bought.

A selection of different types of potteries

The gallery also conducts pottery lessons in this little nook along Ascension road in Antipolo. The 5,000 square-meter lot was transformed into a beautiful secret garden with café and a restaurant using its own pieces of pottery pieces to showcase house specialties like the Alagao lumpia. Visitors can buy pottery and other items in the cafe souvenir shop. The gallery was established in 1981.

The company clientele includes some hotels, restaurant chains, posh homes and accepts bulk wholesale orders.

Koi pond

The place an interesting waterfall , a kois pond and a turtle area . Old mango trees are draped with native ferns and orchids .

The place is owned by Ms. Lanelle Abueva – Fernando the niece of national artist Napoleon Abueva.

She graduated from the University of the Philippines- Diliman where she took Visual Communication Fine Arts from 1973 to 1977.

Her impressive credentials included apprenticeship in Hachijo- Jima, Japan, A silver medal award in Japan Amateur Ceramic Competition in 1981, a bronze medal in Japan Competition in 1981. She also had several exhibits of potteries around the Philippines.

For bookings and reservations:

Address: Sapang Buho ,Ascencion Road, Barangay Dalig, Antipolo City

Telefax: 630-58-54

Residence: 658-38-66

Cellular Phone : (0917)523-2356

(orig post date September 19,2009)

VINTAGE CAR 2009

white Cadillac car parked within San Agustin Church

While conducting a Free Postal Heritage Walking Tours within Intramuros last September 20. The tour group chance upon an old vintage  Cadillac car that was used in one of the wedding ceremonies within the San Agustin Church and compound.

The owner bought around 7 old vintage cars and refurbished them . According to the care taker this particular car was rented on a per hour basis with a driver. Lucky for the group that the owner allowed the group to take photographed of this wonderful vehicle for free!!! en gratis !!!

In a tropical climate such as the Philippines , maintaining a vintage car can be very challenging !!!!

(SEPTEMBER 22, 2009)

JARDIN DE MIRAMAR 2009

Jardin de Miramar is situated on a three-hectare property in San Jose Extension in hilly Antipolo, a quiet, genteel area. Little used now by the family, the property was converted into a garden-like venue for parties, and welcomed its first visitors this Christmas season- There is a special house called Casa Santa Clause which housed the vast collections of the owner Ms. Edna Del Rosario accumulated since the late 1990’s . Their were over 1,500 pieces of Santa collections from different parts of the world.

The family decided to convert the place into a party, event, venue place . The property was divided into different themed areas. The family decided to open the place to the public in 2006 and various movie outfit, television stations, morning shows , magazine , travel channels and BLOG sites had already featured the place.

Jardin de Miramar—as the place is called—hosts parties, receptions and other functions in its lush multi-level gardens landscaped by Tony Leano with stately royal palms and serenity waterfalls. Hammocks strung between tall trees tempt visitors to laze an afternoon away with a good book or a nap, lulled by the soothing sounds of water and the wind rustling through the trees.

Galleon replica

A unique feature is a 30-foot boat, reconstructed from an actual 50-year-old fishing boat used by the owner’s family in their deep sea fishing business- The Angelica was retired and some of its wood was used to build the “Noah’s Ark” in the Galera section of the garden, which also features a lighthouse, totem poles and a marine-themed metal sculpture by Eduardo  Castrillo. Dramatic lighting was done by renowned lighting designer Shoko Matsumoto, who also designed the Santa House.

House of Santa

The rest of the wood from the boat Angelica was used for the trellises, benches and other accents throughout the garden.

Behind the Santa house is an area called Intramuros, a mini version of Manila’s old walled city. Featuring adobe walls with an aged look, it is reminiscent of turn-of-the-century Spanish architecture.

This season—and anytime of the year—visit Santa and all his relatives at this very special venue, and put some ho-ho-ho into your life. Likewise enjoy the rest of the place and you’ll surely have a memorable day of your life!

(September 25,2009)

SAINT ANNE CHURCH 2009

Saint Anne Church in Taguig City 

This 400 year old church was a survivor of war and calamities but still held its ground and now the center of Catholic Churches in Taguig City, Philippines. The town celebrates fiesta every July 26.

centuries-old acacia tree within the church patio

The old acacia tree ( Samanea saman ) is a mute witness to the revolution of 1896 , the American occupation of the town , the Japanese atrocities during the war and the post war economic boom of the town.

collection of various church artifacts

The church had accumulated collection of priest vestments, books, baptismal record, old photographs, antique santos set in a museum.

Ms. Sandra Aguinaldo -program host ” I-Witness report “

Ms. Sandra Aguinaldo – I-Witness program host , segment writer and reporter featured this in ” Puno ng Kasaysayan” or ” Historical Trees” episode of the program aired last October 7 , 2008 early Tuesday morning on GMA kapuso channel 7.

In some instances , people within the community believed that there are unseen spirits living within these heritage trees. Cutting or hurting these trees made some environmental group like tree huggers a crusade that is worth emulating .

tree huggers with Ms. Sandra Aguinaldo

In a country plagued with selective amnesia especially in history and heritage , where saving heritage trees are not a priority of the government . It is almost up to the communities where these trees lives to nurture and save these trees.

(ORIGINAL POST@WP SEPTEMBER 30, 2009)