World's Largest Floating Book Fair will Visit Manila Feb 17 - Mar 3 2012

Philippine Star reports that MV Logos Hope, the world’s largest floating book fair will visit Manila on her maiden voyage around the world. More than 5,000 books at affordable prices will be displayed about science, sports, hobbies, cookery, the arts, medicine, dictionaries, languages, and philosophy etc.  The public can roam around parts of the ship: Experience Deck for wide viewing of horizons, the Welcome Area, where there is a short movie & interactive display presentation and the International Café for snacks.

MV Logos Hope will be docked at Pier 15, Berth 4, South Harbor from Feb. 17 until March 13. Time to visit are 10am - 9:30pm Monday - Saturday, 1pm - 9:30pm on Sundays but closed on Mondays. Tickets are only P20; children under 12 are allowed for free, but must be accompanied by an adult.

Photo courtesy of Philippine Star. To read the whole article of you may click here

Thank you!

Checking my  phone!

Wanna say thank you  to the one who found and returned my smartphone! I was like 'You sure you wanna return this?' Any lessons learned? Haven't learned any yet actually this happened a few times already . If is returned thank you if not, fine.

I live online so having a smartphone really is amazing. I think that the number of hours I  have flirted with a guy  online is way, more than in person . But anyway  I give due credit to the online world for letting me meet a few good men as well for business and non - business  purposes.

Ah pls  don't be surprised if from time to  time I mention about boys. Well I am in the right age and in the right mind totally. What I notice is if I spice up a little about boys there's a lot reading here. Probably much more interested than what this blog is all about. So we have to  go with the flow! No  naming names promise.  I know what  to tell and  what  not tell.

Day 3: Vigan Tour

From Pagudpud, we went back to Laoag city thru bus for 60. From there you can take a bus ride to Vigan for P120 - famous for  its old houses. We went to learn how to do pot-making for free at  RG Jar Factory. Then we went to lola Virginia Quiteviz house (Lola's Homeweaving since 1929 - Home of native Abel Iloco in Naguilian) and  learned weaving this time also for free. The feeling of learning these crafts are liberating. I urge anyone going to any place to not to see the place alone but learn something! We also went to Syquia mansion and Burgos museum - if you want to see old stuff from past you can go there for only P20 eantrance 

Calle Crisologo is perhaps the most beautiful street in the Philippines. Why? It takes back anyone how it feels like to be in the streets of our great-great-grandparents before! We ate at Leona's cafe , a fine dining restaurant. You may try their bagnet - it resembles the lechon kawali version or try poque - poque. I suggest you go their late afternoon or evening because it looks very rrrroooomantic (yeah I guess!) and colorful when the lights are on like you wished you were walking here with someone doing hhww(holding-hands-while-walking). Shut up Rona! This is the best place to buy local handicrafts - the best if not the finest for pasalubong (to bring home and give as gift). Mind you there is a club along Calle Crisolog Street! So if you are a party rat. You're indeed lucky there is one here in a heritage site. Or if you have time as well you may see Vigan in river in a heritage cruise for only P150 every 8AM  and 4PM only.

Lyn my buddy had to go to Manila after and I had to stay in Vigan Hotel for a night. There is wifi everywhere! Unlike other hotels there that only in the lobby you can go online. A must try for breakfast is the durong pandesal - pandesal with flavor of malunggay. I hope they open a store here in Manila soon! What is good thing about Vigan, is their  Tourism council office is located in the heart just a few walk away from Leona's cafe. You may go there if you have questions want to check them out ask where is the affordable place to stay or where to go they have the answers! Just ask any of the tricycle drivers.

Cafe Leona

Old jeep 

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Hi there :) My name is Maria Rona Beltran, the founder of this travel blotg and shop - Travel Maria you are reading right now. I want to stay connected to you to a lot of other ways so I am sharing you other social media accounts.  See y'all online soon:)

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Day 2: Pagudpud Tour

From Laoag to Pagudpud which is also part of Ilocos Norte, take a 2-hour bus ride for P60. This place is quite far from the centro. What is known here are homestays. Homestays are like the local version of Roomorama where a tourist can stay to a family. What is different is you get to talk to them, feel their family atmosphere and of course they cook for you lutong bahay style! The fried lobster was unforgettable. I ate with my bare hands! We stayed at Hannah Lou Homestay which is very cheap P250 per night per person and as low as P50 is their home-made meals. Now what is cool about this is Mang Ruben, the father also offers two tours for P600 with his tricycle! Now this is a different kind of road trip. He first let us see hundreds if not thousands of wild ducks (wild ducks can fly!) in a swamp near to his house, the lovely Bangui wind mills, the Kapurpurawan rock (uniqure limestone formation like you are walking in a desert) and the Cape Bojeador lighthouse that has been operating since the 18th century! We are blessed we have a sunny weather, bring a hat and be ready to walk and walk and walk!

No these are NOT birds flying. These are WILD DUCKS. Yes they can fly!

Bangui Wind Mills

Kapurpurawan Rock Formation

View from Kapurpurawan Rock the South China Sea

Cape Bojeador Light house since 1872 

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Hi there :) My name is Maria Rona Beltran, the founder of this travel blotg and shop - Travel Maria you are reading right now. I want to stay connected to you to a lot of other ways so I am sharing you other social media accounts.  See y'all online soon:)

Like my  blog's Facebook Fan Page here
Subscribe to me on Facebook here
Follow me on Twitter here, Instagram here or Foursquare here

Day 1: Laoag Tour

Laoag City is the the capital city of Ilocos Norte, and the province's political, commercial, and industrial hub. We started here since this is where the Ilocos region's only commercial airport is based.

Laoag to Batac 

Riding in a jeep for only P10, we visited Marcos Museum and Mausoleum where former Pres. Ferdinand Marcos' stuff is housed telling his biography and also his waxed dead body. Entrance to museum is only P50. We also tasted their local delicacy that Ilocos is know for - empanada for only P45. You may also try Tinubo, it is cheese, butter & sugar melt inside a bamboo cane that you need to smash first before you eat.

Marcos Museum 

Batac to Paoay
Another jeepney ride for P10, we visited Paoay Church which is a UNESCO Heritage site. Just adjacent to the church is the Herencia Cafe, a fine dining restaurant that has a very good view of Paoay Church. You can try their Poque - poque pizza and pinakbet. The best!

Paoay Church

Herencia Cafe

Tryke Tour

Just by walking to the nearby blocks of Herencia Cafe, you may approach tricycle drivers and ask them for a Tryke Tour. Itinerary is Paoay Lake, Malacanang of the North, Fort Ilocandia hotel and Sand Dunes.

Paoay Lake

Fort Ilocandia

Saramsam Ylocano Resto

Poque - poque Pizza

Don't forget also to drop by at Saramsam Ylocano Resto at Laoag City - another fine dining restaurant. Known for putting a little twist on every Ilocano dishes they offer. Try their Poque-poque pizza and their malunggay ice cream that you may need to spray a calamansi to make it tastier.  Weird!

Malacañang of the North

Paoay Sand Dunes

Madre De Cacao 

Lots of lovely madre de cacao trees we saw! 

Ilocos Tour: Laoag, Pagudpud and Vigan

For four nights and four days, I and Lyn a friend took a Laoag, Pagudpud and Vigan tour. We started in Ilocos Norte where we visited Laoag City and Pagudpud. Then we went to Ilocos Sur in Vigan. Our favorites are the Paoay Church - one of the most photographed  and UNESCO protected church in the world,  the  Bangui Wind Mills at Pagudpud. Oh boy! We screamed the very first time we saw it from a distance while we are still inside a bus. Heck the people were looking at us! Oh of course who would not fall in love with Vigan - with those old houses that anyone walking there will feel like they've been transported back to our great-great-grandparents days. 

If you need assistance and complete itinerary where to go and where to stay CONTACT US we offer an Laoag, Vigan and Pagudpud Tour Package ANYTIME we will provide you the options where to stay and where to go. Just tell us WHEN is the date.

Day 1: Laoag Tour
Day 2: Pagudpud Tour
Day 3:  Vigan Tour

Bangui Wind Mills

Kapurpurawan Rocks 

Saud Beach

Paoay Church

Inside Herencia Cafe 

Cape Bojeador Light House

Vigan Cathedral

Along Calle Crisologo Street

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Hi there :) My name is Maria Rona Beltran, the Founder of this travel blog and shop - Travel Maria you are reading right now. I want to stay connected to you to a lot of other online ways so I am sharing you my other social media accounts.  See y'all online soon:)

Like my  blog's Facebook Fan Page here
Subscribe to me on Facebook here
Follow me on Twitter here, Instagram here or Foursquare here

HERITAGE CONSERVATION TALK

Lecture 1
WHAT DOES HERITAGE MEAN TO MANG PENDOY?: Challenges and Opportunities
by Dr. Fernando N. Zialcita
This talk will focus on three challenges that make  the preservation of architectural heritage a daunting task in the Philippines: 

1) It is perceived as being elitist and of little relevance to the concerns of ordinary people;
2) Attitudes towards old things range from ambivalence to disdain; and
3) Since many textbooks portray the Spanish legacy as evil, why then should we preserve pre-20th century structures? How can they be Pinoy?

The possible opportunities that Dr. Zialcita will explore are: 
1) The rehabilitation of heritage structures can help tourism (already proven in Vigan) and create social housing (not yet happening here);
2) Events can be created to make old buildings come alive, also young architects could take old structures as inspiration for creating designs that are new yet rooted; and 
3) A closer look at our colonial history will reveal both negativities and positivities. The positive influences remain relevant and can be re-used.

Lecture 2
MAKING HERITAGE CONSERVATION "HOT"
by Ms. Matec Villanueva, President and CEO, PUBLICIS
Discover how to market heritage conservation as if it were a consumer product, who the primary and other target audiences are, how to package the heritage conservation "message", and the elements of a basic marketing plan for heritage conservation.

Lunch will be BYOB (bring your own baon). HCS staff will also be available to purchase your lunch at select restaurants. Please order and pay for your lunch when you register. Please stay at the venue during lunch break for networking and to allow us to start the afternoon lecture on schedule.

1:00 PM   GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND RAFFLE!!!!

• Report on Status of HCS's ongoing activities
• Presentation of HCS Program of Activities for 2012
• Formation of Working Committees

Raffle Prizes:  (To qualify, just bring along two (2) new members)

Sibylla Cumana by Jose Rizal (translations in English by Gemma Cruz Araneta, in Tagalog by Rio Almario) worth P950.00

Myself Elsewhere by Carmen Guerrero Nakpil, worth P500

Heroes and Villains by Carmen Guerrero Nakpil, worth P500

Wala Lang by Dr. Jaime Laya worth P400

Puentes de España en las Filipinas by Arch. Manuel Maximo L. C. Noch, worth P1,400.00

Under the Stacks by Saul Hofilena worth P2,500.00

back-to-back lectures on Saturday, 4 February, 9:00 a.m. at Gota de Leche, 859 S.H. Loyola St., Sampaloc, Manila.  RSVP: Dorie/Luz/Sam at 3534494 * 5854285 * 0917 8668853 * hcs_secretariat@yahoo.com.

Members in Good Standing: FREE registration
Guests: P200
Undergraduate students: P100