Mt. Samat at last!

I keep a mental note of places that I should visit and tick off my bucket list. A few years back, I promised myself that my feet should touch the three main group of islands in the Philippines (Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao) before I continue exploring other countries. I did just that when I went on a trip with my office mates to Bohol, Camiguin and Cagayan de Oro and left the then-stormy Manila for about a week in July of 2005. I went to a few more places after that (Palawan, Boracay, Vigan, Cebu - excluding my trips abroad), yet somehow there's this one place that remained elusive.

It's ironic that for someone who hailed from Bataan and whose own grandfather was among those who survived the Bataan Death March of World War II, I have never been to Mt. Samat - Dambana ng Kagitingan (Shrine of Valor)... that is until last month.

As kids, we grew up listening to Tatay (Filipino term for father, but in this case, Tatay is my grandfather) and his war stories, including the Death March. I could almost see his eyes sparkling and hear his booming voice as he relived the events. Listening to Tatay's WWII stories sure beat reading about it in history books. (I miss Tatay...)

We would always pass several Death March markers along the highway whenever we go and visit my grandparents, but it was the big white cross on Mt. Samat that never failed to catch my eye. It's just there, standing proud, asking me when I would finally visit the hallowed grounds.

When my uncle told us that he would be going with a group to Mt. Samat, I knew I couldn't pass up the opportunity. I tagged along with them.

The paved road leading to Mt. Samat slowly inclined upwards until we reached the enclosure. We paid Php20.00 (about half a US dollar) per head, paid the parking fee at the gate and continued going upwards until we reached the foot of the cross.

The grounds were covered with greenery and visitors could choose between driving until you reach the foot of the cross or trekking the winded path from the museum that led to it.

Battle of the Pockets wall art at the base of the Shrine of Valor museum  

Detail of wall art at the base of the cross at Mt. Samat.  The sculpture at the bottom center shows Dr. Jose Rizal being shot by a firing squad. 

Detail of marker from the wall art at the base of the cross. My rough translation of the text: On this historical place at Mt. Samat, within Pilar, province of Bataan (lay) buried the stone foundation for building the Shrine of Valor, during the incumbency of President Ferdinand E. Marcos. 14th of April 1966. 

One of the two markers within the foot of the cross that lists some details on its rehabilitation. 

Marker within the foot of the cross that lists the main movers who originally built the cross.  

The Mt. Samat Memorial Cross was as high as a 35-storey building. We rode a small elevator up to the viewing decks. From the two white washed viewing decks, you could see the Philippine Sea as well as the surrounding hills. After getting our fill of the view, we went down the cross, took a few more pictures panning the cross, and then traced the winding path to the museum below.

Inside one of the two viewing decks in the cross. I'm not sure which wing this was as the wings were identical. 

Jing takes a photo of the view from the rose window on one of the viewing decks in the cross. 

Mt. Samat Memorial Cross. 

Me and my green thongs on Mt. Samat.

The winding path at the foot of the cross led to the museum below.

The museum as viewed from above. The frame on the wall to your right enclosed a map sculpture that traced the Death March.  

We didn't get to go inside the museum (downstairs) as it was closed for lunch, but we did go to the top floor where there was a map sculpture that traced the Death March as well as an account of what happened.

I would have shown you pictures of the WWII cannons and other big guns installed at the grounds of the museum, but my phone's battery went dead. So after buying a few souvenir shirts we went on our way back home.

The Mt. Samat Memorial Cross and Shrine of Valor can mean many things to different people, but mainly they serve as a reminder of our country's rich history, the horrors of war, the many unsung heroes and the lessons that we should all learn from them. For me, seeing the Mt. Samat cross, even at a distance would mean this: I am home and I've got my grandparents and your grandparents to thank for it.

i heart you... and other cheesiness

It's February! Well, we're halfway done through February, but it is the month of love and what better way to promote single awareness than through Valentine's Day? ;)

In the days leading to February 14, there were several contests amongst our friends on coming up with the sweetest, if not, cheesiest original lines or love quotes reserved for the occasion. Below are some of the lines, I came up with, in no particular order.

Enjoy, swoon, barf or laugh... I know I did. :D

1. "Ibibigay ko sana sa 'yo ang puso ko, kaya lang nakuha mo na pala." (I was going to give you my heart, but then you already have it.)

2. "Sana bra na lang ako, para lagi akong malapit sa puso mo." (I wish I were a bra, so that I'll always be close to your heart.)

3. "Pag mahal ko, guapo. lahat ng iba pangit na." (If I love him, he is handsome. All else are ugly.)

4. "Wag ka nang maglaro ng 'she likes me, she likes me not.' Hindi kita like. Love kita." ( (Don't bother playing 'she likes me, she likes me not.' I don't like you. I love you.)

5. "I trust you."

6. "Alam ko na ngayon kung bakit di kami nagkatuluyan ng ex ko. Kasi tayo pala dapat." (Now I know why my ex and I didn't end up together... It's because it should be us.)

7. "You're not Mr. Perfect, but you are the perfect one for me."

8. "Love is a choice and I chose to love YOU."

9. "The three sweetest words that a partner can say to another is not 'I love you.' It's 'YOU WERE RIGHT.'"

10. "Hindi ka ba nilalanggam? Ang sweet mo kasi!" (Aren't you being swarmed by ants? You're so so sweet, that's why!)

11. "You're like a defibrillator, you made my heart beat again."

12. "I don't care if I weren't your first, but I wanna be your last."

13. "Sana T-shirt na lang ako, para laging nakayakap sa yo." (I wish I were a t-shirt, so that I'm always embracing you.)

14. "Simple lang naman ang gusto ko sa buhay. Ok na sa akin yung guapo, matalino, may sense of humor, matangkad at mayaman. Madali naman akong pasayahin. Parang ikaw, pwede ka na." (What I want in life are just simple. I'm ok with someone handsome, intelligent, with a great sense of humor, tall and wealthy. I'm quite easy to please. Just like you, you made the mark.)

15. Out of sight, out of mind? or Absence makes the heart grow fonder?

16. "You're like a cigarette, you're a hard habit to break."

17. "Di ko na kailangan ng February 14. Kapag kasama kita, Valentine's Day na kaagad yun." (I don't need February 14. When you're with me, it's automatically Valentine's Day.)

and my favorite...


18. "Bakit ka pa makikipagsugal sa iba, eh panalo ka na sa puso ko?" (Why gamble with others, when you've already won my heart?"

<3 <3 <3

What is your favorite love quote?

Ryan

What do you do if your past stared at you in the face?

Some people would welcome the opportunity to go back in time and take a different turn. I’m not one of them. However, unlike most people, I have been given the chance to resolve my past, uninvited, and through a different person.

It has been a few months ago but the scene is etched in my mind as though it happened moments ago.

It was in Brisbane. My friends and I were on our way to our friend’s house for a fortnightly meeting. It was an unusual night as we had to take public transport that day, so we met at the city before heading to the Denise’s place.

I was about to go home to Manila and was discussing what my plans were while we were standing in the bus. Jo and I were being our merry selves, excited and anxious at the same time, of what lay ahead. Jo was about to get married, and I was to go on a fresh start as well, after doing post-graduate studies in a foreign land.

The bus stopped and freed up some seats. I got to sit next to a blond Aussie guy who, at that time, was busy with his phone.

Jo and I continued our chat, when suddenly, the guy next to me asked for a favor. He wanted to get my opinion on a text message that he was about to send to his ex-girlfriend.

He said his ex dumped him today (Friday), through text, without as much as an explanation. He also said that tomorrow, Saturday, was his birthday.

The SMS draft showed all you would expect from a guy who was faced with such a predicament. It was filled with rage, surprise and a hint of self-pity.

At that moment, only one thing came to my mind. I couldn’t tell him this exactly, but it was a moment of serendipity. Figuratively, I was his ex-girlfriend.

I was taken aback and had to collect myself. Who the heck is this guy? What do I tell him? Should I just hug him and tell him it’s going to be alright?

What I did next surprised even myself.

I said to him, “Look at it this way. Tomorrow, on your birthday, she wouldn’t have to lie to you and say that she loves you. You are now both free to find that someone who will accept you and will love you better. So go and call your mates, get together and have a party. Tomorrow is the first day of the rest of your life.”

I also shared my lollies with him. :)

We never got to formally introduce ourselves to each other. Two stops later, we all got off the bus and went our separate ways. Someone called his phone and he mentioned his name was Ryan.

That night, I shared this story to my sisters and included prayers of peace for Ryan, his ex-girlfriend, my ex-boyfriend and me.

I guess there really was a time machine, just not how I had imagined it would be.