Our Trip to Monasterio de Tarlac

Last September 29, our church had a pilgrimage to Monasterio de Tarlac. Since Papa was here, we decided to join so that we can bond. The night before our trip, I prepared everything, from Bea's milk and bottles to her extra clothes, to avoid the morning rush. I also layed out the clothes we're going to wear the next day. Morning came, I woke up around 4:30, I was planning to take a bath first before waking up Bea Bulilit. I was ready to go in the bathroom when Bea woke up. Grabe, may sensor ata 'tong batang ito! Biglang nagigising pag wala ako sa tabi nya. Haha! Ayun, sianama ko na sa paligo. Good thing she loves water. Wala kaming drama sa umaga. After that, we headed to our church which is just a few steps away from our house, as in isang kembot, dalawang tumbling lang nandun ka na. Ang daming bus! Di namin alam kung saan yung bus namin, eh wala pang nagbibigay ng directions sa mga tao kung saang bus yung pupuntahan nila. Papa looked for our bus, nasa may bandang kanto pa pala yung bus namin. Papa was already giving a piece of his mind kasi naman wala pang araw, nandun na yung mga tao. Sikat na yung araw nung makaalis kami. Gusto kasi nyan plantsado lahat pag may lakad, walang abi-abirya. Di nalang namin pinapansin ni Mama. Haha!

Init ulo, aga-aga?!? Haha!!!

We took the NLEX and then SCTEX. Mabilis lang yung byahe. Nadaanan namin yung Hacienda Luisita. Ang daming puno! So nice...

Trees making a canopy over the road

After that, we reached Tarlac City and then we saw a sign saying, "MONASTERIO DE TARLAC, STRAIGHT AHEAD." People got excited! Malapit na kami. After a few minutes, we saw another sign, "MONASTERIO DE TARLAC, TURN RIGHT." Grabe ilang sign na nadaanan namin, wala pa kaming nakikitang monasterio.

Are we there yet?

Are we there yet?!?

Oh God, people are getting bored already. Sang lupalop na ba kami ng Pilipinas? Haha!

Picture picture muna to ease the boredom

Good thing Bea Bulilit is well-behaved that time :)

After a few more minutes again, nasa bundok na kami, then we saw this:

Hooray! We're here!!! :D

This 30-foot statue of the Risen Lord welcomed us

The whole place is so serene. It is truly a sanctuary. The Monastery, situated in the 43-hectare property within the 278-hectare Tarlac Ecotourism Park, is the home of the only Relic of the True Cross of Jesus Christ in the whole of Asia.

Truly breath-taking

Isn't it nice?

While the other people find the place a very solemn place to reflect, I believe Bea just find the place a huge open space where she can run around. Yes, I know, she is too young to understand things like this. 

Baby, picture muna!
Bea: No Mama! Let me go, I want to play!!!

Look at Bea's face, halatang irita at gusto ng kumawala. ;P

Doesn't she look cute in her outfit? Hiphop!!! :)

Hala sige gala...

 As usual, Papa is always running after her. Baka daw madapa ang unica apo nya. Kung saan magpunta ang Bulilit, nakasunod lagi ang Papa nya. Sabi ko nga pabayaan nya lang kasi pantay naman yung lugar, hindi naman siguro yan madadapa. Let her be a kid! Eh ang Lolo nyo, praning, baka mauntog, baka madapa. Sige bahala kayong mag-lolo dyan. Haha!

Sige Papa, magbantay ka lang dyan. :)

After a little roaming-around, pilgrims lined up to venerate the Lord Jesus Christ and touch the ark, while praying for their personal intentions. 

As described in the SRC Website:
The Relic is enclosed in a silver arquetta (ark) engraved with catholic symbols of crucifixion such as a pair of dice, the garment of Christ worn during his passion, a hammer with nails, and a ladder. The relic is enshrined beneath the altar. It was authenticated by a papal seal as proof that it is, indeed, the true cross of Jesus.

The Relic of the True Cross

Syempre pumila din kami ni Bulilit, I let her touch the relic. I believed that it will keep her safe. I also prayed that she'll grow up to be a good person. :')

A souvenir pic infront of the Basilica

We decided to eat first kasi naman di pa kami nagbrebreakfast magtatanghali na. Nagkakainan na yung mga bituka ko! Buti na lang maraming kainan dun.  We wanted to try the buffet kaya lang di pa bukas nung time na yun. So we just ate at the carienderia. Masarap naman, affordable pa. Grabe kain namin nun. Galit-galit. Walang usap-usap. Halatang nagutom kami sa byahe. Haha! Even Bea ate alot that time.

A very hungry Baby

We attended the mass that noon. The mass was very solemn. It surely revitalized us spiritually. Kahit na tirik na tirik yung araw, di namin pansin kasi it was so peaceful and naka-focus talaga kami sa misa. Ewan ko ba, Bea is super-mega-hyper that day. As in walang kapaguran, she was running around the whole time.

Takbo dito

Takbo doon

Bea: Habol mo ko, Papa! :D

Papa: Hay naku bata ka! Di ka pa ba napapagod?

After the mass, umalis na kami. May pupuntahan pa kasi.

We will surely come back there some other time

Ang amoy pawis na Bulilit

Papa: Pogi pa din ba kahit pagod? ;)

Bea having her favorite snack, Mang Juan! :P

We headed to Nayong Pilipino sa Clark. I was disappointed when we got there. It was a far cry from the Nayong Pilipino in Manila we used to visit when we were kids. I was expecting miniature versions of the Banaue Rice Terraces, Mount Mayon, Bohol’s Chocolate Hills etc. But I didn't see those there. Sayang lang yung place. Sana ma-improve pa nila. All we saw were replicas of some of the Philippines famous hero’s and political figures houses. Anyways, here are some of the photos we've taken.

Bea with Mama and Papa

Rice Terraces daw yan. Ifugao village.

Mama in Apolinario Mabini's house

Jose Rizal's house

The staff there presented a cultural show for the pilgrims. Enjoy naman. One of the dancers even asked our priest to join her dance Tinikling. Pogi kasi yung pari namin, kaya siguro napansin nung girl, eh naka-civilian lang kasi siya kasi siguro akala ordinary person lang si Father. He tried to beg off pero the church-goers cheered for him. Ayun, he danced naman kaya lang he looked so awkward with the girl. Nahihiya kasi. While they were performing, Bea also put a little show on the side. Nagsasasayaw din ang Bulilit! Hindi papatalo. Haha! She was enjoying the music so much she made a scene when we had to leave. Nagwawala ang bata. Nakakaloka. Iyak ng iyak. Binitbit na lang ni Papa para makaalis na kami. Phew!

Bea: No Papa, I don't want to leave!!! No!!! :'(

Eto eksena namin sa bus, ayan pawis na pawis at nagngangangalngal. It turns out that she's hungry already. Di makapaghintay nung nagtitimpla ako ng milk nya.

Dede, dede, dede *sniff, sniff* *sob, sob*

Dumaan pa kami sa Duty-Free after that. Kumain sa Chowking at umuwi na. Bea fell asleep on our way home. We got home around 8pm. Overall, it was a pleasant experience for our family.