Mantons–those dainty embroidered silk shawls from China–found their way into the hands of sixteenth-century Filipinos through the Manila-Acapulco galleon trade. A Spanish colony back then, the Philippines was the port of call for many galleons that sailed to and from Mexico.

Aside from spices, porcelain, and ivory, silk shawls–which would later be known as Manton de Manila–were among the coveted merchandise that passed the Manila-Acapulco route. The Spanish adapted these shawls as part of their fashion and costumes for dance and music. The manton would also strongly influence Philippine embroidery.

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Last of two parts

Colors of Zanorte: The Hudyaka Festival, dubbed the “mother of all festivals,” is celebrated just as summer comes to a close. Photo courtesy of  Aleksi Gumela/Ambibo

Read part 1.

With the popularity of motorcycles in Dipolog, it’s not surprising that one of the biggest spectacles in this city is motocross, which attracts fans from 6 to 60 from all over Visayas and Mindanao. The annual motocross competition happens during the summer, usually a week or two prior to the Hudyaka Festival, a celebration of the province of Zanorte (Zamboanga del Norte). Well-known racers from neighboring regions come over to join.

Locals attribute the popularity of motocross to the fact that in all of Visayas and Mindanao, only Dipolog City offers a good venue for the race. Big motocross enthusiasts like Nards Amatong, who is past 60 and was one of the pioneering members of the local riding group Dipolog Cycles Unlimited, has been to many motocross venues in Visayas and Mindanao and he swears, not only does Dipolog have the biggest stadium  that’s perfect for motocross, but in this city, spectators can watch all day, rain or shine, and remain comfortable.

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Christian Bautista performed for overseas Filipinos at an Independence Day concert at Morden Park in London.

Pinoy OFWs in London and Barcelona celebrated Philippine Independence Day with Asia’s Pop Idol Christian Bautista, who sang their favorite love songs in a concert sponsored by The Filipino Channel (TFC) and Globe Telecoms.

“I’m very grateful to have had the opportunity to spend Independence Day with my fellow countrymen in Europe,” said Christian.

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The sunset on the boulevard is something that should not be missed when visiting Dipolog. (Photo: Kulai)

First of two parts

There’s something familiar about Dipolog, I told myself on my first day in the city. Maybe because the city  reminded me so much of Butuan, where I spent my pre-college teenage years. Or maybe because I could understand the language, having learned it when I was 11. Whatever it was, I could feel this small provincial city growing on me. Manila seemed a universe away.

And indeed it seemed to be. I had left Manila with news of a storm brewing. The dark clouds outside the plane looked threatening, and I wondered if we could make it before the storm hit. But it was all sunshine in Dipolog when I arrived that Thursday morning in May, so even if I hadn’t slept the night before, having come from work, I was feeling energetic and ready to take on Dipolog.

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See the centuries-old architecture of Taal, Batangas, and photograph it, when you join Filipinas Heritage Library’s  “Photographing Architecture” on July 25, 2009.

This fun shoot promises that you’ll get to photograph the old infrastructure of this quaint Batangas town. Professional photographer Jay Alonzo, who’ll guide you through the trip, will teach you how to capture the overall design and intricate details of a structure and reflect its character in digital or film form.

Aside from being a good chance to practice your photography, the trip will enable you to get to know Taal more. One of the most prosperous towns in nineteenth-century Batangas, Taal is home to the largest Catholic church in the Philippines–the Basilica of St. Martin of Tours, commonly known as Taal Basilica. The Caysasay Church, where the miraculous 400-year-old image of Our Lady of Caysasay is enshrined, can also be found in Taal.

Owing to many of its prosperous residents during the Spanish time, Taal has many fine examples of stone houses or bahay na bato. The trip will bring you to the ancestral homes of Marcela Agoncillo, the main seamstress of the Philippine flag; Doña Gliceria Marella de Villavicencio, one of the heroic women who assisted the revolution; and Don Gregorio Agoncillo, a banker and known supporter of the Katipunan.

A short lecture will be held at the Filipinas Heritage Library before the trip to Taal. Alonzo will do on-the-spot critiques during the trip. The best photographs during the trip will be shown in a group exhibit at the Filipinas Heritage Library’s Alcove Gallery.

Workshop fee is P3,000. Those who join the trip must have basic knowledge in photography and a camera. Due to limited slots, interested participants must register before July 11. For inquiries, call (+632) 892 1801 or send an SMS to (+63917) 559 4417. You can also e-mail cruz.ct@ayalafoundation.org.

Homegrown children’s clothing brand Big & Small Co. believes in starting ’em young. Collaborating with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-Philippines) for its newest apparel collection, the company hopes to mold a new breed of environmentalists who will usher in a new “cultural revolution” to save the planet.

“We’d like to communicate to moms that we can teach our kids at an early age the importance of caring for our environment,” says Big & Small Co. president Joanna Duarte.

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