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Showing posts from June, 2015

Experience Philippines: Clark Stop over

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by: Daniel Soriano Guest Writer From a short vacation at  ferienwohnungen in the Philippines, we went to the North. We had a 1 hour stop over in Pampanga to take lunch. Here I met an iguana! Daniel: Meeting an Iguana. Beside it a Boa Constrictor.  But I  turn to liking the Iguana. Here is a short documentary how Iguana goes and comes around! I think this Iguana must  have travelled far - Carribean! Here is a You Tube video about the Iguana!

Philippines Survival Kit: Going to the Market

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by: Mrs. Melanie T. Bolanos I love going to the market, especially when I know there are fresh food coming from the provinces. If you happen to stay at the furnished apartment in Novaliches there are three fresh food markets, nearby that are clean and not smelly. We have lots of fruits in the Philippines which you cannot find in Europe or any other part of the globe: 1. Carabao Mangoes , the mangoes are at there sweetest starting late April till third week of June. 2. Sinegwelas is a green fruit which has a tarty tasted. Super rich in Vitamin C and anti oxidants. 3. Black Berries, sour salty taste. Its good if you are dieting. It is in abundance starting June till first week of July. 4. Guyabano is the whole year round. The leaves and the fruit is anti-cancer. It kills cancer cells. As it is its good for dessert. 5. Indian Mangoes, great as a side dish for fresh fried fish or when watching a movie. Great to eat with salty sweet shrimp paste. 6. Buko the whole year round. Buko is

Philippines Survival Kit: Hospitals in Novaliches Quezon City

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by: Aileen and Marty  There are three dependable private tertiary hospitals in Novaliches Quezon City that are near the long term rentals in Novaliches:  1. Bernardino Hospital, this is the nearest. Along Quirino Highway in - front of Polytechnic University. It is a hospital that is near a bank, a Pizza resto, fresh food market. This hospital is always full, but during emergency cases, so far you are immediately attended too. This is just 5 minutes away the temporary housing furnished in Novaliches. Telephone No: +029387890 Bernardino Hospital. You can also see this photo from wiki map 2. Novaliches General Hospital is the first hospital in Novaliches. It has the most affordable hospital rooms. The big rooms are okay. The doctors also holds offices in top tertiary hospitals like UST and FEU. NovaGen is also near SM Mall Novaliches, in front of Chanel 5. This is 5 to 10 minutes jeepney ride away from the long term or short term stay in Novaliches . 3 to 5 minutes car ride if there are n

Philippines Survival Kit: Undiscovered Philippines: Spirulina

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Student's going to school by boat.  This is place is somewhere in South Luzon. The lake is full of "spirulina". The children are crossing to get to the other side to attend school early morning. This body of water is also rich in fish. Should you visit the Philippines with a stop in the city , this is a nice place to visit. Fresh food and fresh air. by: Mary Ann Bolanos

Experience Philippines: Catholic Churches to Choose From Part II

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Dagupan Church  St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Baguio City

Documents Needed for a Catholic Wedding in the Philippines

by: JC Bulan If you plan to surprise or plan to get married in the Philippines, Filipino couples should prepare the following: 1.Marriage License, the couple applies for this at the city hall, the couple would need to submit copies of their certificates of birth (NSO-certified), baptism (6 months validity for both), and certificate of no marriage or singleness (CENOMAR) as well as community tax certificates, and valid IDs.  2. Certificate of Baptism 3. Certificate of Confirmation These documents must be in place at least two months before the wedding because the couple’s respective parishes will be posting marriage banns for a span of three consecutive weeks, announcing the pair’s intention to get married on a certain date. The couple would also be required to attend the canonical interview and a Pre-Cana seminar, organized by a parish or an independent Catholic organization.  These events  would touch on the importance of the sacraments, aspects of married life such as communication

Philippines Survival Kit: How to Get Married in the Philippines If I am a Foreigner?

by: JC Bulan Perfect weather, warm people, historic churches, and tasty food.  Nothing beats majestic Philippines as the place to say “I Do” to one’s Pinoy soulmate. Weddings is a big event, so necessarily  paperwork and interviews beforehand so the couple needs to prepare well.  So, how can they get started?   There are two types of preparation, the legal and Catholic Church Preparation. Part I. LEGAL PAPERS The foreign partner needs to obtain the certificate of legal capacity to contract marriage issued by his/her respective embassies or consulates. Americans:  For an American, he/she can book an appointment via the US Embassy website.  Before going to his/her appointment in the Manila-based office, the US citizen needs to prepare printed documents showing that he/she is free to marry, such as death certificates or divorce decrees.  There is a US$50 transaction fee. British National: For a British national, the requirements are similar.  In addition, the he/she is required to bring h

Philippines Survival Kit: Easy June Wedding Preparation

by: N. Lucenario A catholic wedding in the Philippines is fairly easy to arrange because there are many options that cater to all the aspects of the event. The Philippines has an abundance of beautiful churches, both in the middle of cities and in more nature surrounding destinations. The innate Filipino love of food has made sure that there are many options for catering.  Many Filipino designers already have options for venue and table decorations, and even for that perfect wedding dress. Here are a few tips that could help a newly engaged couple work their way to the best deals for their dream wedding: 1. Venue is the best place to start. The biggest question that needs to be answered first is where you want the wedding to be. Do you want a beach wedding, a garden wedding or maybe one in the Manila Cathedral itself? There are many options and the venue can even help dictate the theme of the wedding itself. Either way, the venue is usually the hardest thing to book so you have to do i

Philippines Survival Kit: Catholic Churches to Choose From

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by: Alvin and Queenie   Here are some family collection photos which we will share with our blog readers. We took this during our family excursions. We will be posting more Church pictures in this page to help our readers plan for their wedding. Parokya ng Pagkabuhay Parish (Resurrection Parish) in Novaliches The Resurrection Parish is a church built by the Franciscan Friars. It was a wooden Church before, later on it was re-constructed. It is still a small Church in a small village. I would call it a clandestine Church, because its near two villages. It can accommodate around 100 guests. Here you can have your children baptized too.   St. Bartholomew Church in Novaliches St. Bartholomew Church or locally called "San Bartolome Parish" This church is big and it can hold 5oo guests. It has a bamboo organ, and a big choir loft, and even have side seats, in case you have more than 500 guests. This Catholic Church near the furnished apartment in Novaliches   Just 10 minutes jeepne

Philippines Survival Kit: Last Stretch of Summer in the Philippines

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by: My harvest attire! Charles Bolanos Last week of summer! In the Philippines we only have two season, the rainy season and the summer season. The rainy season are preferred months for most vacationeers, because it is not too hot. June is also the wedding month for most couples, because it is believed to be a lucky month. June is also harvest season month, so there's plenty of rice. When the bride and the groom finishes their marriage vows at Church, the couple typically marches out! Then a shower of a handful of rice awaits them for blessings. As for me, who is still studying - getting married is still far out, but I attend weddings if I am invited. So if you are coming in for your vacation in the Philippines this upcoming June; do not hesitate to attend a wedding. You will surely have a unique experience. Catholic Weddings in the Philippines are festive because of the long preparation the couple typically undertakes. It starts with the formal engagement. Once the engagement is f