Taon-taon, sumisikip ang mga kalye sa town proper ilang linggo bago ang fiesta (January 20th). Okay, sabihin na nating hassle ito sa mga may sasakyan na araw-araw dumadaan doon. Pero sa mga mamimiling mahilig sa presyong Divisoria, shopping haven ang tiangge!

Anong hanap mo?

Gamit sa kusina?

Kurtina? Punda? Tuwalya?

Damit? Undergarments?

At iba pa?

Accessories? Bags? Tsinelas? Panglinis sa banyo? Hahay, available ang mga yan sa tiangge. Mas maganda kung pakyaw kang bibili.

Tuwing may tianggi-an o bazaar sa Lipa, dinadayo talaga ito ng mga mamimili kasi nga naman, murang-mura ang mga paninda. Yun nga lang, kelangan expert ka pa rin sa pagtawad. Oh, alam na alam ito ng mga suki ng Divisoria.

Hindi pa rin maiiwasan ang may magsamantala sa dami ng mga taong nagsisiksikan sa tiangge. Ingat pa rin sa mga napakababait na mga snatchers. Pardon the pictures, kuha kasi ang mga yan gamit ang cellphone camera ko na hindi ko alam kung paanong ingat ang gagawin ko kasi baka bigla na lang mahablot. Haha. Syempre, iba pa rin ang nag-iingat. Mas madaling mag-ingat kesa manghabol ng snatcher o kaya mawalan ng walang kamalay-malay.

Ang tiangge, para sa akin, ay hindi lamang lugar pamilihan. Ito ay sumasalamin sa isang makulay na kultura ng mga Pilipino. Kahit kelan, hindi kacheap-an ang mamili at makipagtawaran sa mga tindero at tindera sa tiangge. Ang saya kaya, try mo!

Maraming tao ang umiikot ang buhay sa tiangge. Maraming tao ang nakakahanap ng kaligayahan sa pamimili dito. At maraming bibig ang napapakain at pangarap na pinagiipunang marating dahil sa mga taong tumatangkilik sa mga samu’t saring kung anu-ano sa shopping haven ng mga nagtitipid.

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The MAHAGUYOG Festival 2011 is also part of the festivity. MAHAGUYOG was derived from the town’s main products – mais, halaman, gulay, niyog. The celebration is anchored on this year’s theme: “Turismong Tomasino Payabungin, Kabuhayan Paunlarin”.

We are giving out a Batangas Choice Award for the candidate with the most likes on Facebook. Vote for your candidate by liking her picture in this album.

Last March 2, the pre-pageant was held and we interviewed some of the candidates. See pictures and video here : Miss Sto. Tomas Backstage and the Mahaguyog Festival 2011

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KARAKOL

We traveled all the way to Talisay, first, to witness the Karakol – a religious event held annually to commemorate San Guillermo – the patron saint of the town.

Karakol, as described by the locals is a “sayaw sa patron” (dance to the patron). The elders of Talisay would dance on the streets around town to show their devotion to San Guillermo. The karakol was originally participated by the elder people of Talisay. Later on, women federation from different barangays joined the senior citizens in this religious street dancing.

They have this “daang prusisyon”, or the way where the street dancers would go around. The karakol participants dance to folk and foreign novelty music. Talisay Councilor Eddie Panghulan even composed a Tagalog lyrics of the song Dayang-Dayang whose lines are all in praise of the patron saint and called it “Alay kay San Guillermo”.

Devotees from neighboring towns and even from Cavite have been joining the karakol in Talisay and treat it as their “panata”. There were around 20 groups representing different barangays and organizations of Talisay and non-Talisayeños wherein the largest group was composed of 60 members.

San Guillermo was told to be a son of a duke. He was a believed to be a spoiled brat who did harm to other people. Until he decided to live inside a cave, clad himself with metal wardrobe and there he had his repentance. He came out as a new person since then. The icon of San Guillermo shows a skull on top of a bible. The skull represents the death of his old self.

CONQUERING CLUB BALAI ISABEL

Last month, people have been checking more of this 10-hectare resort when the news broke out that celebrity couple Oyo Sotto and Kristine Hermosa tied the knot in this high-end yet very much Pinoy, Club Balai Isabel. With the endorsement of Ms. Len Barba, Tourism Coordinator, we were able to set our feet in this grandiose destination owned by Terible family, natives of Talisay.

Club Balai Isabel is the largest resort in Talisay. Located strategically along the shoreline of Taal Lake, this resort boasts of a magnificent “hero’s view” of the lake and the “mistaken Taal Volcano” which happens to be Mt. Binintian. Balai Isabel has a total of 212 rooms, 3 swimming pools, a couple of function halls and business centers, a spa and wellness center, a clubhouse which holds one of the restaurants, water sports center, tennis & basketball courts, the Balai Isabel church, and the rest – they’re too many to mention.

The family villas were named after the owner’s family members. The lakeshore condos or the Balais were named after notable Batangueños Mabini, Malvar, Agoncillo, and Recto while the lakeshore suites were named San Nicolas, Balete, Lemery, Lipa, and Mataasnakahoy.

Beside the supposedly original site of the Balai Isabel church are some ruins of the old Taal church. There are a few huge mountain rocks around the facility which were spewed from the last massive eruption of Taal Volacano.

KRUMPING, STUNTS AND TALENTS

Gerlie and I were asked to be part of the board of judges for the modern dance competition. Oh, if Georgina Wilson can be a Showtime hurado, well… kami rin – dito nga lang sa Talisay. But hey, there were a couple of amazing talents that night!

It would be better to have separate divisions for the kids and the adults though. The Freestylers emerged as champions in the competition. This group is truly a huge act for all the krumping, the calculated moves, and the breathtaking (literally) stunts in mid-air!

MARCHING BAND

Day 2, February 9 – Under the scorching hot sun, we joined the locals in watching the street exhibition of the competing marching bands. Ma’am Len, the Tourism Coordinator of Talisay told that this is also an annual event held every Feb. 9, the day before the town fiesta. Each barangay celebrating the town fiesta invites a marching band to join the competition.

This is our first Talisay adventure. We felt too close to Taal Lake and the wrongly identified ‘Taal Volcano’. We promised to be back. Because, Talisay, as described by Alva “is not what you think it is”.

See more photos of these events on WOWBatangas.com Facebook Page.

Special thanks to the people at the Tourism Office of Talisay headed by Ms. Len Barba, most importantly, to the municipal mayor, Hon. Zenaida Mendoza, for the special one-on-one interview. And to Mr. Rod Alejandro, Human Resource and Property Manager of Club Balai Isabel, for bringing us around the facility.

WHAT YOU SHOULDN’T MISS:

We still have more to share from our Talisay sojourn. Watch out for our special feature on Villa Khristalene and other interesting stories behind the real Taal Volcano.

Karakol Festival WOWBatangas Video

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We have started doing that for the past two years (or so). We still have a lot of places in the province that we should reach and experience for ourselves. Everything’s written on our plans for 2011. Luckily, two municipalities have shown their interests on what we do, and next week, we’re off to Talisay and Ibaan!

In the BITS Conference last week, an attendee asked us how we manage a day for WOWBatangas. Sometimes, the hours of stay in the office seem too long. But most of the time, eight office hours aren’t enough to manage all the tasks – WOWBatangas/LikhaInternet responsibilities and other individual projects we try to squeeze in.

But when we’re on the field, the adventure begins!

The team will be in Talisay for their 142nd Town Fiesta celebration and according to our calender, we’d get to stay there on the 8th and 9th. Everytime a town invites us to cover their festivities, the adventure begins as early as jumping into the car. I wonder where we’ll be staying. I wonder how the locals would welcome us. I wonder if someone would quip “Si WOWBatangas!” upon seeing Alva.

On the 11th, we’ll be in Ibaan. And on their foundation anniversary’s calendar of activities, what I’m most looking forward to on the 11th is the “Salo-Salo sa Bayan” part. I bet you know why.

So why do we publish calendar of activities for town fiestas and foundation anniversaries? It’s for you to know what t expect on these events. It’s for you to have the interest in celebrating with the town folks’ merriment. Before you even fly to Baguio for the Panagbenga Festival or to Bohol for their Sandugo Festival, experience first our own festive activities. Love your own, ika nga.

If you want us to feature your fiesta/festival, you may send in your invitation to support@likhainternet.com so we cold mark our calendar for your event. Kitakits!

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Below are the activities to look forward to in the 142nd Town Fiesta of Talisay, Batangas.

HON.MAYOR ZENAIDA S. MENDOZA
Chairman-Comite de Festejos 2011

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Maaga pa lang nasa Lipa na kami para sa grand fiesta parade na kung tawagin. Ginawa na namin ito last year – kumuha ng mga pictures, nakisaya, nakisigaw ng “kendi! kendi!” – pero ngayon lang kami namiyesta ng sama-sama.

Bilang resident food blogger ng team, ako ang naka-toka na magsalaysay ng isang araw ng pagla-umay, haha. Seryoso, kami ay sobrang nabusog kahit tatlo lang ang bahay na napuntahan namin (maunti pa ga ang tatlo?).

After ng parada, naghanap kami ng bahay na puwedeng puntahan para mag-almusal. Sinuwerte naman kami at ayos na ang handa sa bahay ng aming OJT na si Cathy doon sa Balintawak. Ang team, kasama ang mga OJTs ng WOWQuezon, ay talaga namang nasiyahan sa isang nakakabusog na almusal.

Kaming apat ay fans ng morcon. Yung tradisyunal na morcon na mahirap gawin. Tuwing ako ay namimiyesta, ito ang una kong hinahanap dahil madali syang kainin, masarap, at walang marunong gumawa nito sa pamilya namin. Sabi nga ni Gerlie, sa lahat ng handa sa fiestahan, ang morcon ang isa sa pinakamahirap gawin. At kapag marunong kang gumawa nito, parang puno ka ng pagmamahal dahil kaya mong tiisin ang matagal na proseso ng paggawa nito. Gusto namin ang sunog na parte ng morcon.

Pochero. Parang pag-ibig na naman. Minsan matamis, minsan maasim, minsan, sakto lang sa pagitan ng dalawa. Matamis ang pochero kina Cathy. Ito ang swak sa panlasa ko.

Next stop, sa Granja – doon kina Deo na dati naming OJT. Sosyalan ang food styling doon kina Deo. Napatanong nga ako kung sino sa kanilang pamilya ang nag-HRM noong college. Wala daw. Sadya lang lumalabas ang kanilang pagka-artistic at pagka-enthusiastic basta pagakain ang usapan.

Wala nang paligoy-ligoy pa, hinayaan naming kami ay mabighani ng mga pagkain sa kanilang lamesa. WOW! Fresh lumpia, fried lumpia, kare-kare at espesyal na alamang, cordon bleu, pork pastel, fried chicken, leche flan na gawa ni Jane na girlfriend ni Deo at dati rin naming OJT, at strawberry chorva (hindi alam ni Deo kaya ito ang tawag namin). Marami pang iba na maya’t maya ay napapadagdag sa mesa pero dahil sumusikip na ang mga pantalon namin, sumuko na sa unang round pa lang.

Dahil sa kabusugan at sa pinagsamang sumpa ng comfort ng sofa nila Deo at malamlam na kulay ng mga ilaw sa paligid, at some point, ayaw na namin umalis. Pero dahil may naghihintay pa sa amin, pinilit naming tumayo at magpaalam.

Paningit: Dahil talaga namang kami ay nabusog ng sobra sa dalawang bahay na napuntahan namin sa unang kalahati pa lang ng araw, hindi muna kami dumeretso sa pangatlong nag-imbita sa amin. Nag-segue muna kami sa PERYA! Para maalis ang antok at sobrang kabusugan. Ang kwento ng aming trip sa peryahan ay sagot ni Gerlie.

Third stop, sa bayan – doon kita Christine, ang kaibigan naming beauty queen/model. Selosa kasi itong si Christine at nagtampo na last year nang hindi namin s’ya siputin. Sabi ng team, makiki-inom at makiki-chika na lang kami kina Christine, haha. Pero dahil may bago sa aming paningin, go pa rin sa pagkain! Inuna ko ang dessert, ang simple pero napaka-sweet na nata de coco. Tapos sabay-sabay naming tinikman ang pork binagoongan na isa pang bongga ang pagkakagawa. Festive ang dish dahil sa mga strips ng gulay at mga kulay nito.

Bilang pagtatapos, ito ang aking mga narealize tuwing may fiestahan.

There are those who cook dishes which are part of traditional fiesta celebration. These are familiar Filipino fiesta dishes which we considered as staples – because they have been part of the celebration’s menu for decades. They keep these dishes on the menu because they know these are what their visitors would expect to see on the table. Most Filipinos settle for what’s familiar on their eyes and on their palate.

Then there are those who ‘experiment’ on unconventional dishes to include on the fiesta menu. They try to introduce something new and present them in a way that their guests would be lured to try these new food attractions.

Some do not care about how many dishes they should prepare because for them, it’s not the quantity that matters, it’s the sumptuousness of the meals. It’s also a smart idea to have your own version of dishes you often eat from your favorite restaurant. In this way, you don’t have to bring your guests to the resto, you bring the resto to your own kitchen.

Some opt for caterers because (1) they don’t have much time to prepare, (2) nobody in the family really knows how to cook large quantity of dishes, (3) they have the money to pay other people for things they can’t do themselves.

Food trip. Oh how good life is when you eat free good food several times a day!

Hanggang sa susunod na fiesta, Lipa!

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January 11
5:15pm – Start of Novena Mass (San Sebastian Cathedral)

January 14
9:00 am – Opening of Agri-Fair (City Hall Grounds)

7:00 pm – Ginebra San Miguel Show (Plaza Independencia)

January 15
7:00 pm – DepEd Night (Plaza Independencia)

January 16
1:00 pm – Fiestalino (Robinsons Place)

7:00 pm – Gabi ng Kababaihan ng Lipa (Plaza Independencia)

January 17
7:00 pm – Barangay and SK Night (Plaza Independencia)

January 18
7:00 pm – Talentong Lipeño (Plaza Independencia)

January 19
7:00 pm – Coronation and Ball (in honor of Mutya ng Lipa) (Plaza Independencia)

January 20
6:00am – City Parade (Start at SM City Lipa Terminal)

9:30 am – Con-celebrated Mass (San Sebastian Cathedral)

4:00 pm – Mass (San Sebastian Cathedral)

5:00 pm – Procession (Start at San Sebastian Cathedral)

Fireworks Display (after procession) (Cathedral Patio)

7:00 pm – SMB Variety Show (Plaza Independencia)

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The officials of Barangay Uno and Pallocan West lead by Hon. Patricia C. Macatangay, Barangay Chairman, spearheaded the event. Devotees from different areas of the city and even from other parts of the province participated in the sanctified and solemn parade.

According to Lita Maralit, a devotee from Batangas, this is part of their family tradition and yearly they make sure they witness and join the procession.

The Sto. Nino was taken from the Basilica to Wawa and the fluvial procession commenced when the image was taken on a boat as it sails towards the Calumpang bridge. After the fluvial procession on the Calumpang river, the Sto. Nino was then paraded on land along the main streets of the city back to the Basilica where a mass was held.

The routes for this year was merely different from the previous procession. From Wawa as its first spot, Sto. Niño paraded along the Calumpang River and walked to Atienza St, Avenue St, Burgos St. and stopped at the Basilica Church where the mass held.

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PRESS RELEASE
Public Information Office
January 3, 2010
(043) 723 2344

May bagong makikita sa pagdiriwang ng kapistahan ng Batangas sa January 16. Ito ay ang Batangas City Fiesta Float Festival kung saan magpapabonggahan sa float ang mga business establishments at iba pang sektor na lalahok dito.

Kagunay pa rin ng mga inihandang gawain ng pamahalaang lungsod, gaganapin ang taunang Sto. Nino ng Batangan Fluvial Procession sa ika-7 ng Enero. Mula sa Basilica ng Immaculada Conception, ipaparada ang Sto Nino papuntang Wawa. Isasakay ito sa bangka sa Calumpang River patungo sa Calumpang bridge at kaagad susundan ng land procession sa city’s main streets pabalik sa Basilica.

Pormal na ipakikilala sa publiko ang mga kandidata para sa Bb. Lungsod ng Batangas 2011 sa pamamagitan ng isang motorcade sa January 8. Ipapakita nila ang kanilang angking galing sa Bb. Lungsod ng Batangas 2011 Talent Show sa ganap na alas singko ng hapon sa January 14 sa Bay City Mall. At ang paghirang sa Bb. Lungsod ng Batangas 2011 ay sa ika-pito ng gabi ng ika-15 ng Enero sa Batangas City Sports Coliseum.

Bukod sa taunang Alay sa Sto Nino Cultural presentations na isinasagawa sa Plaza Mabini Amphitheater gabi-gabi mula January 5 hanggang 12 at nilalahukan ng ibat-ibang paaralan sa lungsod, kabilang pa rin sa selebrasyon ng kapistahan ang Batangas City swimming competition sa January 9, Children’s Art competition sa January 11, Photo Contest at Children’s Art Exhibit sa Bahay ni Ka Tonying sa January 14 at 15 at ang Mini-band competition na nakatakdang isagawa sa araw mismo ng kapistahan (January 16) sa People’s Quadrangle.

Ang tema ng pagdiriwang sa taong ito ay “Sa pagkakaisa ng mamamayan at pagpapala ng Maykapal, maipagpapatuloy ang kapayapaan, kasaganaan at kaunlaran sa lungsod ng Batangas”. (Ronna Endaya Contreras, PIO Batangas City)

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Ang araw ay sinimulan sa pamamagitan ng isang misa kaninang 7am at magpapatuloy ang pagdiriwang hanggang mamayang gabi sa variety show na katatampukan ng Kapamilya star at Pilipinas Win na Win Host na si Valerie Concepcion. Makiki-party rin ang ilang stand-up comedians at live bands kasama ang mga mamamayan ng Ibaan.

Kahapon ay ginanap ang Mayor Danny Toreja Taekwondo Championship sa Recto Gym kasunod ang band exhibition sa Medrano Plaza na sinalihan ng El Governador Brass Band at Tagaytay Band Drum and Bugle.

Sa mga taga-Ibaan, Happy Town Fiesta!

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