By Godofredo S. Samonte*

The San Roque parish church which now house the image of the Lady of Solitude of Porta Vaga is the only catholic church in the City of Cavite today. Originally, Cavite had eight churches, five in Cavite Puerto, the Ermita, Recoletos, San Juan de Dios, San Pedro and Sto. Domingo, one in San Roque, the San Roque Parish Church and two unfinished ones in Caridad. Caviteños therefore, feel justified in feeling proud of this one that still stands today for it is a church with a saga and a history.

According to legends and stories told by Cavite's living patriarchs, it was supposed to be the first church to be build in Cavite. As the stories go this church was said to have taken from from a tiny chapel made of cogon and a small cross on top of its roof. Responsible for its construction was a wealthy Spaniard who purposely came to the Philippines in the early part of the seventeenth century in search of a old man who had miraculously cured him of a pernicious disease. As if guided by the hand of God he came to land in Cavite where he accidentally discovered the little chapel with the image of San Roque on its altar whom, after a while of prayer and meditation, he recognized as the miraculous man to Whom he owed his equally miraculous recovery.

So in gratitude to the man who he had always thought was a mere human, but who was indeed a saint, and in order to reciprocate the good graces received from Him in the return of his health, he decided something worth of offering as a sacrifice, no mater what the cost. So with his vast fortune he built the church and it was enormous one made of adobe stones, bricks, sand, lime and eggs (cement at the time was still unknown). Incidentally however decades later, this church was ordered demolished by then Governor Salcedo together with other churches which were built during he century in order to utilized their materials – the adobe stones – in the construction of murallas (walls) – around the Port of Cavite to serve as fortresses against Moro raider and bandits. This accounted for the two unfinished churches in Caridad which, being under construction, had still unused materials which were also employed in the building of the aforesaid fortress. These walls in Cavite were similar to the walls in Intramuros, Manila, and were to be known as Porta Vaga and Fort San Felipe.

After the last was, all the churches in Cavite Puerto were in ruins but the San Roque church remained standing, spared no doubt by Divine Providence to continue serving, not only the people of the district of San Roque but the entire catholic population of Cavite. The church, however, being small, could not offer room enough during Sunday masses for the church-goers who had therefore been divided among the other churches before their destruction. So in 1951 it was renovated, improved, and a bit enlarged, and for sometime since then, had served the people quite well enough. But as time marched on so did the church, too. Metaphorically speaking, for it kept with progress and the demands of circumstances. Its faithful devotees were continuously on the increase for they constituted as they continue to constitute today, not only the residents of Cavite, but also people from neighboring towns and cities. So once more it was found to be too small to accommodate so many people so that another change was felt necessary. Two wings were added to the main structure. One on each side and a complete remodeling of its interior including the main alter, was undertaken. Now it really offers ample room for everybody and as more pews have been added, it now has a sitting capacity for one thousand people.

This church today though it may not rated the best in the province, is truly beautiful in its simplicity and semi-modern, to say the least in its architectural design both interiorly and exteriorly.

The church has had from hits humble beginning the service and representation of quite a large number of parish priests, among whom may be mentioned the Rev Fathers Godofredo Albeneaser, Pablo Hubabey, Manuel Gatmaitan, Jose Dimba, Severo Buenaventura, Simplicio Fernandez, Cesma, Ruperto de Blas, Gregorio Villanueva, Artemio Casas (now archbishop of Imus) and Francisco Gosioco. Its present parish priest is the Rev. Father Pedro Lerena, who has been in the service of this church for more than thirty years.

So this is the San Roque parish church, our very own, the one** and only church in the City of Cavite today.

  *From Cavite City: Legends and Chronicles Comprising Its Saga and History (Circa 1950)
** Now we also have churches of other denominations in Cavite City.

AGUINALDO HOUSE MUSEUM, Kawit – Home of the first President of the Philippine Republic.
 

CORREGIDOR – The famous last bastion of Philippine-American defense forces is dotted with memorials, shrines, cemeteries, parks, barracks, and batteries. Major attraction is the Malinta Tunnel.

PEOPLE'S PARK, Tagaytay – A mansion in the clouds, built by former President Marcos, but never used.

IMUS HISTORICAL MARKER, Imus - Found in the town plaza, the marker is set near two vintage artillery pieces set on the well-known town plaza lawn.

BATTLE OF JULIAN BRIDGE MARKER, Imus – An old 1859 cannon is the remnant and reminder of a battle that took place long ago between the Spanish and Filipino forces.

HOUSE OF ANDRES BONIFACIO, General Trias – The facade of the house is of red bricks and adobe. Although renovated, its original Spanish style has not changed.

GENERAL MARIANO TRIAS MARKER, General Trias – Located in front of the house where he once stayed, near the town plaza. The marker is set on white concrete with a lamppost standing directly behind it.

HOUSE WHERE BONIFACIO WAS COURT MARTIALED, Maragondon – The place is of old wooden and concrete design and a marker is set in the middle of the structure.

History : The establishment of Cavite City Library & Museum was spearheaded by City Mayor Timoteo O. Encarnacion, Jr. and was given legal mandate by the Sangguniang Panglungsod ( City Council ) through Resolution No. 94-086 which was unanimously approved by the council on November 4, 1994.
 

Mission : The CCLM was created to serve as a repository of historical and cultural information and artifacts in the form of books, photographs, memorabilia , relics old furniture and household objects, that chronicle the city's history and the personages involved in it. It was also conceived to preserve these cultural materials for posterity, so that the future generation of Caviteños may learn about their city's heroic and colorful history.                

Vision : To create a community of Caviteños who are knowledgeable and concerned about their city's heroic place in the history and evolution of the Philippines as a nation. At the same time, their cultural awareness will be enhanced through the museum's permanent displays and special exhibits of contemporary artists' works.

Building : The CCLM building was formerly the City Hall Annex , housing offices such as the Treasurer's Office, Auditor's office and later on the Municipal Trial Court, the Medicare and DSWD offices.                                  

Library Collections : Filipiniana Collection – collection of books written by a Filipino or written about the Philippines. Most of the books here came from the National Library Book Allocation for public libraries. The collection is augmented through purchases and donations. General Collection - collection of books on all subjects, written by foreign authors and published in other countries. Caviteñiana collection – collection of materials written aboutCavite City or written by a Caviteños , whether published or unpublished.

Museum Collections : The museum has a permanent exhibit of photographs ofCavite City's heroes like the Thirteen Martyrs, Julian Felipe, Ladislao Diwa and other prominent Caviteños. Likewise, permanent exhibits of old photographs, memorabilia, relics, old furniture and household objects provides a glimpse of the city as it was during the Spanish period up to the American occupation.From time to time, special exhibits ( historical, cultural or artistic ) will be displayed in the museum. The holding of art classes, particularly during summer, is aimed at developing the artistic skills of the budding young artists in our city. Lectures, workshops, and symposia are also held to commemorate historical events in the city's history.It was designated as an Official Sister Library Site by no less than the former US First Lady Hillary Clinton, to be part of their White House Millennium Council Project on Sister Libraries. CCLM is the ONLY library in the whole Philippines to be chosen as such and was given this plaque in the process.

Information provided by Joy Picache de la Rosa, Librarian & Curator, CCLM

SOURCE: http://www.rogersantos.org/cclm.html

Dining here for the third time I knew what to expect in terms of food. Sonya's Garden specialties include homemade pasta with a choice of two sauces…white sauce with chicken and a hint of mango and a red sauce with sun dried tomatoes. You get a pitcherful of freshly squeezed dalandan (local citrus that's a cross between an orange and lime), a huge bowl of salad greens with their special dressing, and small bowls of fruit, nuts, and other stuff you can put on your pasta. The food's always the same and although good, I sensed something was missing…in spite of dining in the midst of their garden, I could no longer smell the fragrant rosewater that used to linger in the air from the moment you walked into the garden.

Theme: Eclectic/International
Price: US$11-20    » Currency Converter
Comparison: about average
Address: Bgy. Buck Estate, Tagaytay
Phone: +63 917 5329097
source: http://www.virtualtourist.com/

  

MANILA,  August 19, 2004 (STAR) Eating out at Island Cove Resort & Leisure Park, the nearest total tourist destination south of Manila in Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite, is always a royal experience… or something close to it.If you’re partial to Chinese dishes, then the place to be at this Mediterranean-inspired, 12-hectare resort by Manila Bay is the much-talked-about Xiang Li Chinese Fusion Restaurant. Jill Zhang, 27, who was born and bred in Fookien, China recommends the roast Peking duck, which is the real thing from Beijing, he announces with pride. He can prepare it three ways: The meat roasted, the bones boiled to make a rich soup, and the skin wrapped with sliced leeks and cucumber in a pancake to be dipped in black bean sauce. If you’re adventurous, try Island Cove Cafe’s exotic dishes, like ostrich steak, ostrich salad or adobong baboy damo. Chef Winfried Herbst, a German national with over 30 years of culinary experience, is at your service. While you’re enjoying dinner, try the santol juice or dragon fruit for dessert.Those who prefer something native, particularly seafood, should go to Fishing Village. Guests have the choice of catching their favorite fish themselves from an actual fish pen, or they can just order the seafood they want and still be assured of a dinner of fresh seafood. Fishing Village is built over 10-foot-deep seawater and straddles a two-hectare fish pen teeming with all kinds of fish that thrive only in deep seawater. Food, glorious food, says Island Cove’s food and beverage director Jun B. Araneta, is fast becoming the crowning jewel of the resort’s treasure trove of attractions.

Fusion Style Of Cooking

"The food we offer is comparable to the best anyone can get anywhere in the country, if not better," says Araneta. "Our chefs pay attention even to the littlest details that go into the preparation of our food. For our Chinese dishes, for example, we use herbs and seasonings that are grown in China as much as possible. But the large part of the ingredients and vegetables we use, even the meat itself, are procured from the farms of the Remullas (former Cavite Governor Johnny Remulla and his family-owned Island Cove.) in Indang and Trece Martirez, and are thus farm-fresh. Then for authenticity, we hired a young cook from one of the provinces of China and a widely-experienced German chef to take care of European and American dishes."

Prior to joining Island Cove’s kitchens this year, Zhang spent eight years cooking for some of the biggest hotels and restaurants in China.

However, he clarifies that what he brought to Island Cove is a style of cooking Chinese dishes more suited to the Filipino taste. He calls it fusion cooking.

"Where the original recipe, for example, calls for more spices to make it real hot, I use less of it," Zhang explains. "Filipinos are not known to favor real hot dishes, so I tone down on the use of spices. But I throw in some other locally-sourced ingredients to enhance the taste of the dish more to the Filipinos’ liking."

Araneta volunteers that since Zhang’s arrival, the resort has built a following among Filipino-Chinese from Cavite and Metro Manila, who now dine regularly at the Xiang Li Chinese Fusion Restaurant to satisfy their craving for Zhang’s best sellers, like crispy noodles, cold cuts, roast Peking duck, lotus pancake, stir-fried frog legs, fried sliced eel with sesame seeds, Szechuan fried chicken, seafood fried rice and pineapple fried rice.

Though priced at P480 per order, the pineapple fried rice, which is good for three or four persons, is still among the restaurant’s fast-moving dish.

Siomai is as common as siopao nowadays, but Zhang will take pains to explain that what he uses for his siomai are 100 percent shrimps.

"The siomai in other eateries is a mix of shrimps and ground pork, so ours is tastier," he says.

Ostrich Steak

At Island Cove Café, chef Herbst is pushing exotic dishes, such as ostrich steak, ostrich medallions, ostrich meatballs, ostrich salad and adobong baboy damo. Similar to beef in color, flavor and texture, ostrich meat cuts, according to Herbst, are low in fat, calories and sodium, and high in protein and iron.

"Ostrich meat is now considered the ultimate choice of health-conscious people worldwide," adds Herbst, a culinary school graduate in Germany, whose vast experience as a chef includes stints with other five-star hotels and restaurants in Malaysia, Singapore, China and Hong Kong apart from Germany and the Philippines.

Herbst, who worked for three years at the German Club in Makati as executive chef and operations manager in one of his early jobs in the country, says the resort’s supply of ostrich meat comes locally, from Island Cove itself and the Queetown Farm of the Remullas in Indang.

"We raise ostrich right here at Island Cove and at the Remulla farm. They are fed with organic feeds so the meat we get out of these birds is 100 percent steroid- and hormone-free," Herbst explains.

A part of the hotel at Island Cove, the Café serves European and American food, with Herbst supervising its kitchen.

Fishing Village

It’s brisk business every day at the Fishing Village where guests are served the freshest of seafood in any of the venue’s 33 bamboo cottages or three pavilions, all of which straddle a portion of Manila Bay. Open huts are also available on land, part of Fisherman’s Grill, where buffet is an option at lunchtime. Above it is the Fisherman’s Deck from where bar regulars can view the sunset, as well as the skylines of Cavite City and Manila.

Conceptualized by Cavite Rep. Boying Remulla, one of three sons of the former governor who are all into politics, Fishing Village continues to be a big hit largely because of the thrill of fishing that guests can experience for themselves. On weekends, it’s always fully booked with groups of balikbayan and whole families from Metro Manila and nearby provinces and towns turning up for the fun of fishing.

At Fishing Village, the fun is endless as guests cast their lines inside a two-hectare fish pen teeming with lapu-lapu, apahap, pargo, talakitok and barracuda, fish that thrive only in the deep seawaters, as well as milkfish, shrimps and crabs.

"Some fish caught here weighed seven to eight kilos each," says Benjie Pakingan, head of the general services department. "You could just imagine the excitement when guests, especially beginners, landed fish this heavy."

Pakingan recalls a time when one guest caught as many as two large basins of milkfish.

At the end of the fishing, one’s catch is weighed to determine how much he’s going to pay for the fish.

Guests may have the fish grilled or cooked whatever way they want, but what usually happens is that they bring home their catch, like trophies, to show off to relatives and friends.

Busy, Busy, Busy

Great food and great service complement Island Cove’s first-class hotel accommodations, complete with state-of-the-art facilities for relaxation, recreation, entertainment and fun, and for business, as well. There isn’t any day when a function is not being held at any of the resort’s12 open-air or air-conditioned function rooms, banquet halls and pavilions for groups of anywhere from 15 to 20 persons to as many as 500.

Saipan-trained Ferdie Pulia, the resort’s banquet manager, remembers having organized a one-day function for over 3,000 employees of a Japanese firm located at the export processing zone in the adjoining town of Rosario.

"During the peak months, we average eight functions daily," Pulia says.

Araneta proudly points out that the service the resort offers is five-star. "Our hotel may be three-star, but what we give is five-star service, made possible by the expertise of the department heads, polished by years of work here and broad and the kind of training they give to their staff," he adds.

The food and beverage manager himself personifies the extensive experience each department head of the resort brings to his job. He was restaurant manager of Westin Philippine Plaza for 11 years, F&B manager of Cebu Plaza for 1-1/2 years, was involved in the pre-opening stage operations of Shangri-La Makati for three years, and human resource consultant at the prestigious Schallenberg & Associates.

Industry Leader

Island Cove’s proximity to Manila, says resort general manager Norlinda Agustin, accounts in no small measure for its steady success over the years.

"But the one really big factor going for our resort is that we boast several state-of-the-art facilities serviced by an exceptionally- trained staff working under highly experienced superiors," Agustin adds.

Many in the resort industry, she goes on to say, copy what Island Cove is famous for. "But we manage to stay on top of our competitors because we introduce a new facility or a fresh innovation every year."

This year’s new addition to the resort’s existing features is the full expansion of the Island Cove Wild Life Sanctuary, a brainchild of the Remulla patriarch.

Up for viewing in the sanctuary are crocodiles, several species of birds including monkey-eating eagles, hawks and ostrich, African fowls, deer, snakes, monkeys, Bengal tigers and bear cats. In September, 3,000 butterflies from Los Baños, Laguna will be set free in a 1,200 square-meter butterfly farm.

Next time you visit Island Cove Resort & Leisure Park, make it an educational one as well. Tour the Island Cove Wild Life Sanctuary and marvel at some of the most wonderful of God’s creations.

source: http://www.newsflash.org/2004/02/tl/tl012426.htm

Other Equally Interesting Origins of Some Barrios of Imus:

• MalagasangGot its name from the fact that its numerous feuds with neighboring barangays it rarely suffered any loss of human life ? di malagasan, in Tagalog.

• Bucandala Descriptive of its configuration i.e., looking like an open fish net (bukang dala).

• AlapanThe historic barrio where the first successful battle of the second phase of the Revolution took place on May 28, 1898, derived its name from an incident involving a Spanish officer, who, being therefor the first time, inquired about the name of the place were the people were busy sorting out, looking for something from a huge pile of farm implements. Thinking that he was asking what they were doing, one of the natives replied, "Hanapan po ng kasangkapan" (We are looking for farm implements).

• AnabuLegend has it that in barrio Anabu there lived a Chinese who fell head over heels inlove with a lacal lass. However, the maiden did not reciprocated his affection. One day the girl eloped with her lover, and learning about it, the Chinese broke down and ran about the village crying loudly, "Ana bo! Ana bo!" which means "Ana is gone!".

Not long afterwards the Chinese died, and to perpetuated the memory of the incident the place was called "Ana-bo", which eventually evolved into Anabu.

• Karsadang BagoMeaning New Road.

• TinabunanMeaning Covered

• Bayang LumaDescriptive of its name "Old
  Town".

• MedicionMedicion was named after two sisters, Medy and Sion, whose untimely death left their disconsolate mother crying "Medy! Sion! Medy! Sion!"

• ToclongAnother legend, mimicking of the dull, hollow sound of the first church bell in the place, "To clong! to clong!"

Kaakuhan-Kalayaan is an exhibit-theatre-play-poetry performance-bazaar-carnival fair presentation of the Cavite Young Writer’s Association in cooperation with other artist groups of Cavite. It will be held on June 12, our national day of independence, something that Cavitenos can be doubly proud of, because the first Independence Day was celebrated right here in Cavite. As such, it is a celebration of the independent status of artists and of the self as represented in the arts, and of the self as part of the nation.

If the theme sounds familiar, it’s because it’s a spin-off from Alejandro Garcia Abadilla’s Ang Ako, which is only fitting since this is his hundreth year celebration. Abadilla’s representations of an egocentric self, Ako ang daigdig, is taken to another level as CYWA (and others) digs deep into the self to come up with glimpses, bold glances, stolen shots, paintings, dances, music, what-have you of the self in the carnival of the universe.

A carnival with flashing lights, rides, poetry readings, bands and great music, exhibits, plays, all going all at once, no holds barred, the idea for this year’s art event in Cavite. Of the carnival itself, of the self in the carnival, of the carnival of the universe, and of the carnival-like universe, seen at different angles, and conflicting paradigms and shifts, CYWA aims to bring out cultures, sub-cultures, and counter-cultures of Cavite by involving artists, fair-goers, students, the local government, and just ordinary people who came for a show. Definitely, this is one show, they won’t soon forget.

Using the perya as a format and take-off for the ako, the event is deliberately multi-layered to represent, uncover, and add more layers to the ako, the centerpiece of the event. Thus, the following are necessary parts of the celebration:

I. Exhibit- one tent crammed wall to ceiling with artist’s representations of their own ako, their kaakuhan, their daigdig. The artworks will be pasted/ installed side by side, thus the whole exhibit is also one big installation of the ako. When viewers enter the tent, they will be treated to the daigdig of the ako, as the whole installation/exhibit will seem to engulf them in its seamlessness. Their will also be film installations all around the project site.

II. Theatre- the tula-dula, or street theatre will be highlighted in this celebration. Taking one of Abadilla’s plays and adding a modern twist to it, the play is then made accessible to ordinary people. Shown in the open, the tula-dula will call people to watch, take part, and engage in their own ruminations of Abadilla’s and their own ako.

III. Performance Poetry- as poetry is one of the more personal forms of art, the performance of it will speak of the ako of the poet, and also how s/he deals with his/her daigdig. This is synthesized by the poetry chapbook that CYWA will be releasing at the event.

IV. Dance- using the body as canvas, the dancers will elucidate in mimes, gestures, and dance their own ako, and the daigdig of their ako. The fitting backdrop for this dance festival is experimental music from emerging artists.

V. Music- an open-air concert of bands coming from Cavite. Their presence would be a sure crowd-pleaser and the music that they play, part and parcel of the general atmosphere of the perya. The thought that travels in sound is also that which powers the ako.

VI. Bazaars- anything and everything will be put up for sale, auctioned, and inspected to within an inch of their lives. In this marketplace of clothes, food, music, art, and ideas, people come to buy what they need for themselves and their souls.

Efren R. Abueg
Patnugot ng "Tulay na Buhangin at iba pang mga akda" De La Salle University Manila
Bienvenido N. Santos Creative Writing Center Resident Writers
A well-renowned novelist in Filipino, Abueg obtained his M.A. in Language and Literature (Filipino) from De La Salle University. He was the Director of the Student Publications Office of the university from 1984 to 1987. He has published three books of stories and essays: Bugso, Tradisyon (Kasaysayan ng Panitikan ng Pilipinas: Mula Alamat hanggang Edsa), and Ang Mangingisda: Mga Kuwento kay Jesus. His acclaimed novels include Dilim sa Umaga, Habagat sa Lupa, and Dugo sa Kayumangging Lupa. He is a multi-awarded fictionist, winning six Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for his short stories, the Philippines Free Press Award for the short story in Filipino, and four Liwayway Literature Prizes for his novels. He is also a recipient of the Balagtas Memorial Award, Gawad Pambansang Alagad ni Balagtas, and Gawad Quezon sa Panitikan. Abueg’s creative works and essays have graced the pages of magazines like Liwayway, Bulaklak, Tagumpay, Mod, and Homelife.

De La Salle University Press Inc.

Si Efren R. Abueg ay premyadong kuwentista (Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature) at nobelista (Gantimpalang Liwayway). Nahirang siyang National Fellow for Fiction para sa 1998-1999 ng LIKHAAN:

U.P.
Creative
Writing
Center. Propesor ngayon sa De
La Salle University, siya'y masigasig na lektyurer sa wika at panitikan

There are already 21 identified SMEs whose products are now penetrating the global market.  These products include tahong chips, scented candles and accessories, arengga vinegar, processed sea foods, fruits and vegetables, ceramics, novelty items, bags & wallets, bamboo products, processed coffee and cacao and smoked fish.  To enhance their exposure in both local and in global market, the Office of the Economic Opportunities facilitate the participation of SMEs in national, regional and local trade fairs and exhibits.  Meanwhile, the Department of Trade and Industry facilitates the conduct of both local and foreign business matching as well as the conduct of trade missions.

 The Cavite Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), a duly accredited chapter of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry envisions to become the provincial advocate of business development in the province of Cavite. The CCCI is a non-stock, non-profit and non-government organization of small, medium and large enterprises and industries and industry associations representing various sectors of business committed to working together to foster a healthy provincial economy and improve the viability of business. It also commits to help its members achieve sustainable global competitiveness through focused advocacy and business networking services.

Source: http://www.cavite.gov.ph

Source: http://www.cavite.gov.ph