Foot and Fire

I had been raring to stop by this museum located at Brgy. Sum-ag, Bacolod City for a long time already. It is located by the street where we pass by each time we go to Bacolod City. Time is always running out because either we pass by the place on an early morning with some errands to do or we pass by there when it is already nighttime and time to go home.  But it was by luck that I was able to pass by the museum while the sky is still with light and the drizzling of the rain stopped. The museum accommodates visitors by appointment only and I was doubly lucky on that day because the owner was around and so, on my first try to visit, I was able to enter the place and chat with the collector and curator Tomiko Casiano. According to Tomiko, he had visitors as far as Russia because he has some pieces from Russia (check the blue chalice held by my mom in the picture below), and the US (of course, because the pieces were from the Depression Era of the US) as well ...

Time is relative. Entering Casa Mariquit is like being transported to the late 19th century and early 20th century. Located just a little walk from Biscocho Haus in Jaro and with Lunok Tree as the corner landmark, this heritage house has an intact brick facade with wooden veranda in good condition upstairs. Upon entering, one is welcomed by the caretaker who will act as the tour guide as he is also the curator and framer as well as the securty guard of the property. We posed beside the portrait of Former Vice President Fernando Lopez and the caretaker informed us that it is a Manansala rendition. The house is not big but it houses some pretty interesting memorabilia like the symbolic keys to the city and lighters housed in a photo frame and a steel plane which also serves as paperweight. The polaroid cameras displayed are also functioning as well as the 116-year-old grandfather clock. What I liked most about this house is that it still has good wooden floors and furnitures. Time see...

Malalison Island is only a small island with a population of 750 and registered voters numbering to 400. The only populated area is concentrated at the back of the sand bar which serves as entrance to  the Island. There, the barangay hall is located as well as the basketball court which serves as their plaza as well. It was a quiet afternoon in November when I visited Malalison the first time and I can sense that the water was not as high as when I revisited the cave part in April shortly just after noon. What I immediately noticed about the rock is the a human head bust in the rock formation. Also, I sensed immediately that the summer sun dried out the same and it looked lifeless, unlike the rock I first visited. See the difference here.  At any rate, here are the quick snaps I managed to get featuring the cave! *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***

From the populated area of the island located just at the back of the portion of the seashore conducive for swimming, lie an easy track leading to the breathtaking hills of Malalison Island. The guide claims that they call it as their "Little Batanes." one can circle the hills for two hours through easy walk covering about four kilometers all in all. One can wait for the sunset there (We went there last April 2015) but one has to bring flashlight as the trail is not lighted at nighttime. The last time I went to Malalison Island, I enjoyed the cave. Check out the other  beauty of Malalison here.   *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***

One of the joys of summer is being able to swim in the salty waters and to embrace the sun's hotness. Hence, summer means sunburns, sands and seas! All of that is in Malalison Island, an island with 750 residents and 400 registered voters. They have a school in the island and a barangay hall which was rebuilt after Bagyo Ondoy toppled the original hall. Please see my previous post on Malalison Island.  Below is a series of photos, I was able to take to show that the island boasts white sand and crystal blue waters! Malalison Island is only 15-minute boat ride from Culasi Wharf. It is the nearest island since Batbatan Island is 45 minutes away and Maniguin Island is 3 hours away.  *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***

One of the joys of travelling is being able to see flowers bloom and beautify the surroundings. The vine with white flowers I am holding above is everywhere in the country and it is also here in Antique, Panay Island, Philippines. Here are the blooms I was able to preserve in frame. One of them is the pitcher plant which grows in the trail towards the hills of Malalison Island.  *** *** *** Cat's tail or Bleeding Heart *** *** Blossom of the Tambis fruit. *** *** Lampunaya with blooms. *** The opened Pitcher plant.  It lures the insects inside it and kills them with its acid.  ***