Foot and Fire

Just before calling it a day after the Palawan trip, the Negros bunch had a side trip at The Ruins. That lady beside me is no haggard-looking, no low bat and no frizzy hair... She is the coolest travel buddy ever. She swam and played under the sun but did not burn a bit, unlike girl in blue... hahhaha. Well, my folks were super happy for taking the side trip because they have never been there too. As for me, oh, the allure of The Ruins never fades, indeed. The aunt and the niece *** Triple power! *** Inside the remains of the mansion! *** The unbeatable cousins! *** Lift it! *** He did, okay! *** A poser already after days of posing! *** It's a small world for them. *** No lowbat for her. Overcharged, actually. *** Aba! Don Mariano and Dona Maria Braga! *** Pocahontas, including the sun-kissed complexion! Lovers in The Ruins... hmmm familia...

While planning for our Siquijor trip, I was looking forward to an array of gayuma and other amulets in bottles, small pillow charms, necklace and other pieces for pasalubang but I wrongly anticipated the charm of this island dubbed as the Island of Fire. They do not sell them indiscriminately and one has to purposely go to the mountains and see the faith healers if one really wants to "design" or "cook" a love potion or gayuma, killer portion or hiwit and other more medicines, protection and charms of sort. I am no expert on this, so forgive the amateurish introduction. What I got: It is the smiles of the folks, a thread that sew the common blanket of Filipino trait of warmth and welcoming. Here are some photos of interesting bits I photographed as we roam around Siquijor. POSTCARD FROM SAN JUAN, SIQUIJOR: By the waterway where spring water flow,  residents bathe and do their laundry in this common area. POSTCARD FROM SIQUIJOR: The woman is all smiles...

 You were not in Vigan City if you have not entered the Crisologo Museum which is in fact the old house of the Crisologo's turned into a museum. Since, it is an old house, it is a tatse of an old Spanish house indeed. Here are my favorite and memorable shots during the visit... At the sala, on the second floor of the wooden ancestral house. My favorite shot of me. This is at the kitchen of the Crisologos... Also on the second floor, this room is one of the  bedrooms of the Crisologos. I love this portrait capture of my family. The late Cong. Floro Crisologo. He is the fathe rof the SSS and Virginia Tobacco Laws... One of the nooks in the groundfloor which interests me... A very old American reports... Some titles that interest me... Though not surprisingly, Mr. Crisologo must be fluent in Spanish too. Caretaker's child interrupting albeit pleasantly, my focus on the old typewriter.  The good ol' bags of the lawyer... ...