The Philippine Military Academy

It was almost 2 decades ago when I had a taste of cadet life in the PMA. It molds me to who I am now, a man of discipline and character. It thought me the word professionalism, that no matter how hard the circumstances, through perseverance and positive mental attitude you can overcome all the challenges and still succeed in life. I may not have the privileged to graduate, but the experience is still euphoric, it is something that lasts a lifetime and will always stay in my memory till my last breathe.

"I came from the land of kings where everyone can do what he wishes, I hiked the plains of Luzon and hurdled the mountains of Baguio just to reach my precious destination, the Philippine Military Academy." Now I'm here not as a Plebe but as a Traveler and Blogger.

I just want to share a brief history with regards to PMA when the Corps of Cadets went to occupy on May 20, 1950 the current site of the Academy in Fort del Pilar, Baguio City near the Loakan airport.

A Cavalier once said, "If a cadet is a larva, the Philippine Military Academy is his cocoon where transformations take place, where the larva slowly develops into a beautiful butterfly. PMA is the cocoon that molds a young boy into a man of character and wisdom." The Academy with it's mission: "To instruct, train and develop the cadets so that each graduate shall possess the character, the broad and basic military skills and education essential to the successful pursuit of a progressive military career", equips him the necessary  skills and attributes he needs to be able to face  the many uncertainties of life as he performs the multifaceted role in the society as a soldier.

The cadet's training starts the moment he is received as a plebe. Throughout the  four-year stay in the Academy, he will undergo rigorous physical training to develop stamina to continue even if he feel like quiting, the endurance to withstand pain even if he is pushed to the limits. It is demanding but he has to take it all because he knows that there are more difficulties in the future and he needs all the preparations he can get to be able to meet the demands of an ever-changing environment.

(wordings are excerpt from Peemayer and Gray Notes) 

How to Get There:
1. Once in Baguio City, you can ride a PMA bound jeepney with signboard PMA - Kias

2. Sandals and slippers are not allowed inside the academy, be sure to wear proper shoes.

Big Belly's Resto for a Hungry Tummy

Big Belly's started out as a small kiosk in Robinsons Cybergate Tower 3 and expanded to have their own store and now with different branches including here in Laguna and Batangas.

The food is just average, but they have a good meal package at a very affordable price for only 75 pesos. A variance of  Pork, Chicken and Fish, then you can choose between different sauces (cheese, teriyaki, kung pao and garlic) plus a hefty serving of Rice bowl which also comes with a free drink and of course a generous serving of vegetables, now that is what we call value meal.

What I personally like about the setting of the place are the display of pop culture paintings which features pot-bellied superheroes. Since this is one of the most affordable food station compare to those in food court, they usually have huge number of customers and order time might take a while.

**This is definitely sulit for your money most especially for students and for lunchtime during office hours where we religiously have this for a lunch

The Historical Lingayen Beach

Lingayen Beach (Gulf) played a crucial part in Philippines history. Situated on the northwest coast of Luzon, it suffered two invasions during World War II: the first was in 1941 with by the Japanese; the second was three years later, by the returning American forces. Lingayen Gulf was taken over by the American troops on the 9th of January 1945. This beach was occupied by the Allied forces of US and Filipino soldiers and has become one of the supply depot during the Pacific War.

Lingayen Beach boasts not of white sand or colorful seashells but rather fine grey sand, the shore is a long stretch of more than 2 kilometers  where anyone can relax and enjoy under the sun.

Vintage war memorabilia used during World War 2 are also on display on the Veteran's Memorial Park located beside the Lingayen beach which includes: tank, war plane and an anti air craft gun.

How to Get There:

1.) Take a bus bound to Alaminos/Bolinao (FiveStar), they have terminals in Cubao and Pasay.

2.) Tell the conductor to drop you off in Lingayen Capitol.

Going Back in Time with the 50's Diner

For me, 50's  Dinner is one of the must-visit restos in Baguio City where the whole place was themed from the 50's setting, thus how it was named after. It was just like going back in time and listening to the nostalgic songs from 50's played in the jukebox. Portraits of classic Hollywood actors and actresses who were famous during that era were also displayed on the wall.

When it comes to food serving, they serve American standard size which only means a hefty amount of serving that can be shared by 2 people. They cater any time of the day for snacks, breakfast, lunch and dinner. They will surely fill your appetite with mouth-watering food items on their menu. And hey, the price is really affordable and worth it for every bite.

Rating:

8 out of 10

How to Get There:

1.) If you are in Baguio City

2.) It is located in Upper General Luna Road Corner Brent Road Baguio City, just tell the taxi driver you want to go to 50's Dinner.

Rizal Shrine (Bahay ni Rizal)

The Rizal Shrine is located in Calamba City where Jose Rizal was born on June 19, 1861. He is one of the most celebrated patriots, a national hero whose contributions led to the social transformation and revolution against the Spaniards. The current house is just a replica of the original house which was destroyed during WW2.

In 1949, President Elpidio Quirino passed the Executive Order no.145, facilitating the reconstruction of the house. The Rizal Shrine is a typical rectangular "Bahay na Bato" which is a reminiscent of upper-class Filipino homes built during the Spanish Colonial era. The lower portion is made of adobe stone and brick, while the upper portion consists of hardwood.

Rizal Shrine is open from Tuesday to Sunday 8am to 5pm with no entrance fee.

How to Get There:

1.) Take a bus bound to Sta. Cruz (DLTB), they have terminals in Cubao and LRT Buendia 

2.) Tell the conductor to drop you off in Halang, Calamba.

3.) Once in Halang, you can then ride a jeep bound to Calamba Town Proper, just tell the driver to drop you off in Rizal Shrine.

The Quezon Memorial Circle

The Quezon City Memorial Circle is a 27 hectare park surrounded by the Elliptical Road. The Quezon Monument was built in honor of the late President Manuel L. Quezon wherein a mausoleum can be found inside that contains the remains of Manuel L. Quezon and his wife, First Lady Aurora Quezon. The site was originally intended to be the National Capitol where the house the Congress of the Philippines was to be established.

The Quezon Monument consists of three vertical pylons that represents the three main geographic divisions of the country: Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. It has a height of 66 meters tall, symbolizing Quezon's age when he died.

When President Quezon died on August 1, 1944 in Saranac Lake, New York he was first buried at Arlington Cemetery. After 2 years his remains were then brought back in the Philippines and was buried at the Manila North Cemetery. His remains were reinterred at the Quezon Memorial Shrine on August 19, 1979.

Various shopping stalls (tiangge), food establishments and several amusement park can be seen inside the park which includes: Sky Bike, Merry Go Around, Go Kart, Pedal Bike, Paddle Boat, Zip Line, Botanical Garden and Land of Titans.

How to Get There:

1. Located in Quezon City, ride a bus bound to Fairview and alight in Philcoa where you can find the underpass that leads to Quezon Memorial Park

Kainan sa Dalampasigan

One of the iconic and most popular resto in Los Banos, Laguna is the "Kainan sa Dalampasigan". Having withstood the test of time, Kainan sa Dalampasigan only proves why they are endorsed by the said municipality as part of Turismo de Los Banos.

There are so many fond memories of family lunch/gatherings here (My Mom usually treats us during payday). To be precised, it was more than 15 years ago when we had our lunch here, my despida party when I entered a school in Baguio. Not much has changed in the interiors, though the chairs and tablecloths looked new. What I like about the resto is the restaurant's open air atmosphere and gaze at the Laguna de Bay. Back then, during the 80's and 90's the lake was still scenic compared to it's current condition which is cluttered with fish pens and water lilies.

The resto's specialty is "Halo Halong Inihaw sa Bangka" but we ordered a different menu. Sinigang na Bangus etc. The waiting time for your order is usually 15 to 20 mins.

Rating:

7 out of 10

How to Get There:

1. Ride a bus bound to Sta. Cruz, Laguna. Tell the conductor to drop you off in Los Banos Bayan.

2. Then ask the locals where the old municipal is, that's where Kainan sa Dalampasigan is located (beside)