the ruins

a few weeks ago almost immediately after i posted about heavenly declaration, we visited this place. no kids, just us adults. i have already seen this place before and written about it here. the last time we were there we missed the sunset but this time we witnessed it. it was amazing. 

i could try and write a lot about this visit to a beautiful, historic place again but there are already a lot written about it. although it looks majestic and picturesque especially on sunset, what adds to its attraction is the heroic history behind this lovely architecture. if you want more history, you can visit THIS.

ours are just pictures. :-)

believe me, i was holding fast. look at my foot!

jore. still business.

white kid problem. too much sunlight.

arguing who's in-charge of the baby next. lol

beef  lechon. 

first time in army navy 

on the way to the airport

close your eyes at he count of three!

men discussing men stuff. sister, hey, i have wifi!

for the second time i wondered how did that tree end up on that tall tower. probably pollination. or something like that.

i forced him to do this. lol

he forced me to shot this. 

nobody has to forced me for this. haha

discussing the merit of a freshly ground coffee

finally. a sunset shot. jore's work

dusk 

sister & bro-in-law

jore's perspective!

the Ruins

the Ruins. i have heard of this place only maybe two to three years ago... and every time cousins dear of mine posted photos of themselves while touring the place i get really envious. like someone very close to my heart once ask, "how could you have not seen it when you are from negros?" i have been living in cebu now for nearly seven years and the i have't heard of the rise of the Ruins as a tourist spot until three years ago. i have always wanted to go. it looks so majestic in the pictures. 

we originally plan to go around 4 in the afternoon to catch the sunset. they said the sunset is awesome in this place. and also to take advantage of the "golden hour" as they call it, for picture taking. we didn't make it to the "golden hour" though it was dusk when we got there. i was so sorry we weren't able to properly tour the place like a true tourist; you know listen to the tour guide talk about how the finish of the walls shine through because the cement was mixed with egg whites (oh, yes. i did listen for about a minute or two), etc.

pretty fountain by the entrance with (l-r) dayen, me, les and ruby

we were blessed to still be able to see the last nights beauty of the not-so-super moon on our way back to richmond inn for family dinner :), was still so beautiful actually. 

thank you very much to my very generous and wonderful cousin, che-che for the pictures. yes che... even for the blurry ones. lol

if you wanted to see what this place looks like in the sunset and also read an interesting and much more detailed and intelligent history of the ruins, click HERE.

My old town

A recent trip home has reminded me of the past
My old school with its unmanicured lawns and peeling paints
Brought back nostalgic memories
I do not know how to react


A diner we used to hang-out
… the signage has already one screw left
The side walk we trudged up and down during school days
… pavements are now missing
… puddles of rain has collected in the holes were the cement would have been


The plaza with its green grasses and newly painted bench
… with its stadium where we use to cheer our lungs out for our fave team
… with its outlined walks and glittering lights in the late afternoon
– the grasses are now brown; desperately thirsting for rain
– the stadium benches badly needs repair
– the walks dusty and only one yellow bulb hanging in every corner


The old movie house with its creaking chairs and musty-old-moss smell
They once echo the giggling and the sniffling of us…
Now it’s no more – it’s has been turned into a cell phone shop


The sweeping meadows, with stubborn wild grasses swaying in time with the wind
Hectares upon hectares of twisting sugarcane stalks ready to be harvested as far as the eyes can see
-- it’s now subdivided, lonely and dry


Rushing rivers that once has heard the screams and squeals of carefree children
Frantic voices of parents warning us to be careful
…it’s now carabao’s bath… dark and murky.


The wild guavas, tamarind and “kamunsil” plants we plundered
The string beans and peanuts still young enough to be picked
The heavenly sweetened “58” sugarcanes we coveted
-nothing is left, just grasses and hardened soil


The ponds we used to fish with cut off tree limbs and crushed snails for bait
– the ponds have dried and the snails are scattered and few


I could not forget the feel of pure mud on my toes
As we chase dragonflies in the rice fields
Nor the grainy sand on my feet as we picked “tino-tino”




The rest of the world has been modernized now
The cities are shinier
The cars are slicker and faster
The malls are bigger and crowdier
The parks are wider, merrier, more entertaining
The internet has made the world smaller (though still damn big) – more accessible
Movies are available in 3D’s (gasp*) unthinkable


My town has grown old though – wrinkled – aged
Almost everyone in it wants to get out of it
Those who are out want to stay out and have no desire of coming back in…
It’s almost a sin just to think these thoughts,
I mean not coming back?
But it seems to be that way now…


*photo grabbed from Google images*