The Other Side

Kaybiang Tunnel, Nasugbu-Ternate Road

What you see is already the edge of the province of Cavite. It is the end of the Cavite side of the Kaybiang Tunnel and also from the other way around, the end of the neighboring Batangas province. We don't have much tunnels in the Philippines so this short 300 meter tunnel is actually the nation's longest.

Now that there is still a community quarantine imposed, surely this provincial border is being checked by law enforcement authorities to control and limit the movement of citizens from one province to the other.

Ternate Church

Santo Niño de Ternate Church, Ternate

Ternate is one of the frontiers of the province of Cavite and faces the sea. Once just a part of Maragondon, this town is bordered by it in all of its area that is not in the coast. As compared to other churches in Cavite, the Ternate church is relatively new because the building that you see was built in the 1900's. The original stone church that was built during the 1600's was put into rubble during the war of Independence against Spain.

Ternate is named after in island in the Moluccas, now a part of Indonesia. During the Spanish Era, the island of Ternate was a very popular island for colonizers since it's rich in natural resources and spices that are very expensive in Europe. The Dutch and the Portuguese are in constant fight with Spain so the Spanish left the island and took of to the Philippines carrying their native allies from Ternate. They were given a certain land to settle and live on and that is where this church has been standing at now. Those Ternatean immigrants or known as the Mardicas named this town Ternate in remembrance of the island where they came from. With them they brought a statue of the infant Jesus, which is still in the church today and is visited by pilgrims every year.

Special thanks to Buhay Bohemio Blog for giving me a good reading about this historical town.

Light at the Tunnel's End

Kaybiang Tunnel, Ternate

We may be in a time of darkness and the pressure that it weighs in every person in the world can be very heavy, we can only hope and think that we are on a tunnel towards a world that is better and more compassionate and mindful of others. But before we reach that part, we have to learn from everything that is happening now. There's always light at the tunnel's end. 

As of today, the longest subterranean tunnel in the Philippines is the Kaybiang tunnel which connects the Cavite portion of the Nasugbu-Ternate Highway with the province of Batangas. About 300 meters long, this tunnel is a famous attraction especially for motorcycle riders who travels a cycle route around Cavite and Batangas provinces. It is built through a hole under a section of Mount Palay-Palay 

Summer Opens Empty Beaches

Marine Base Camp, Ternate

As the north-eastern trade winds decided to blow its final kisses to our islands, the Philippines' summer season (Dry Tropical Season) has just began. By this time, beach would have started to be more crowded  especially during weekends but of course, they are at the moment closed due to the pandemic precautions in the province.

Photo above shows the pristine and quiet Marine Base Camp, or Camp General Gregorio Lim Marine Base. It has been open to the public before and is located at the south-western tip of the province of Cavite. Special permits need to be obtained before going to the camp premises but once you see the sparkling blues, it's just paradise! The sands are not as fine as that of Boracay of course, but the water is clean and perfect for a summer swim.

Here in the Philippines a Senator who is tested Positive just acouple of days ago, escaped and went to the hospital recklessly because "he was excited to see his wife giving birth". Now the hospital (one of the country's best and serves high-priority COVID cases) has decided to close down for the mean time and quarantine all their doctors and nurses on that station. As a politician, instead of being an example, he used his privilege and power to be irresponsible and selfish and decided that he would rather kill a lot of people because he can't wait to see the baby (who is very much exposed now as well, thanks to him).

For now, all we can do is look at photos of these excursions from the past, one above was taken a couple of years ago during a trip with my college pals. Soon, with prayers and doing all our parts to contain this situation, we can all take our towels and lay on the sand with a slice of watermelon on one hand and a selfie stick on the other!