Visit to Rizal's Dapitan

Since this month we are celebrating the 150th birthday of our national hero,Jose Rizal, I'd like to share some photos we had when we visited Dapitan last April. This is a small town in Zamboanga in Mindanao Island, Philippines where he was exiled in 1892.

Punto del Desembarco de Rizal (Rizal’s Landing Point). This is the site where Rizal landed in Dapitan on board a row boat from the steamer Cebu at around 7:00 o’clock in the evening of July 17, 1892. Rizal is holding his hat and to his right is the Captain of the steamship Cebu while the other three are artillery men.

This is the entrance of the museum

Pictures of Rizal's love interests. One of them was Segunda Katigbak of Lipa, Batangas

List of his "14 dont's"

According to this, Rizal named some species that he saw in the area.

Replica of his nipa hut. A lone post which supports the staircase is the only remaining material from the original house.

This is the rock formation also called Lovers' Rock, where Rizal and his wife Josephine spent their romatic moments. The one sitting on top was my daughter wanting to know how it feels, sitting there chatting with someone you love. :))

View of Dapitan bay

Replica of Rizal's clinic. This now is the massage/spa hut being managed by Rizalistas.

Our Fledgling

Another school year started last Tuesday. Ariane left for her college studies. How time flies! It seems not so long ago when I brought her to De La Salle in Level 1. Anxiety attacked me. Can she cope in the big school? Can she get along with her teachers and classmates? Well, apparently she did and made it with flying colors.

Now living alone in the big city and studying in a state university, our fears (me and my husband's) are that many. But not letting her study in that university was never an option. As parents, we should let go so our kids will have a better future. Even if sometimes, there were sleepless nights, hoping and praying that everything will go well for her.

Empty nest syndrome they say? No, not yet, because we still have one with us and still in his elementary level... but then maybe yes. And who cares what do you call this feeling? Nothing is more important than securing your nestling and fledgling. Making sure they'll be safe no matter what...that's what mother and father birds should be.