Banza Church Ruins # 3: The Balete Tree

Banza Church Ruins Facade

My friend saw my post yesterday and was so interested in the history of this place, particularly on the Balete tree just behind this little building. I had a post already in mind for today, but she made me change my mind and post more photos of the same subject for two days in a row!

When Banza church ruins is mentioned this structure usually comes to mind. This can be seen from across Agusan river too which was the perspective I first had of this historical site (Banza Church Ruins Blog entry #1).

The building on the picture houses the stone writings regarding the history of this church. I think this was the attempt also to rebuild the church from the destruction done by Moros in the past. The tree behind the building is a Banyan tree or more commonly known to us locals as Balete (Banyan). It is said to belong to the family of fig trees. It is where the actual spot of the destroyed church is located. 

When you see a Balete tree you can't help but imagine all kinds of supernatural happenings- if you believe in that sort of thing. It is a huge tree with a gnarly trunk and frightening looking branches (according to one site, is actually aerial roots instead of branches) that fall from the top part of the tree. 

My friend commented to me that it's quite amazing that at present a tree known by its mystical folkloric stories now ensconced the remains of what was known as the first Catholic church in Mindanao, Philippines. Butuan Government site. 

Photo from Banza Church Ruin Entry #2

I can still remember the stories of how Tikbalang, Diwatas and other Philippine folkloric monsters prefer to live on Balete trees. 

For more stories on Balete trees you can follow this interesting site on Balete trees.

Photos taken using Fuji Xe1, Samyang 12 mm

A Girl Under the Mangrove Trees

When I took this photo, I felt it would be an interesting picture. The framing of the trees on the girl and the questions that passed through my mind: What is she doing? She looks so lonely, why is she alone? etc.

Meanwhile, the girl waited till I finished taking her picture and then after I was done she went back to what she was doing like it was an everyday thing.


Photo taken at Carmen.

Enjoying The Beach

This is how some people reconcile their love of the beach and their fear of getting tanned.


Photo taken at Bolihon, Carmen

Lake Mainit

In our brief stop at Almont lakeside resort, we used the opportunity to take a lot of photos of Lake Mainit.

As I mentioned in my previous post two days ago, lake mainit is the fourth largest lake in the Philippines. And it is also the deepest.

There are four municipalities bordering this body of water namely: Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte, Mainit, Surigao del Norte, Alegria,Surigao del Norte, Jabonga, Agusan del Norte. We are looking at the lake from Kitcharao's perspective. The vantage point of Agusan del Norte that Butuan is a part of.

Lake Mainit is well know for its abundance of fishes, and some are rare like puyo and gabot.

As hadv kindly reminded me, lake mainit got its name from a hot spring that pours into the lake. They called the spring "Mapaso" (scalding or can scald) and the water because it is hot, mainit (which means hot).



For more info about Lake Mainit you can click here and here.

Two Brothers

A few months ago I went on a boat trip across the Agusan river to Magallanes. If you remember from my past post from Lumbocan, I mentioned something about going to the "tip" of Magallanes which can be seen from Lumbocan port. This is one of the pictures that I got from that trip. My brother and I got lost a couple of times going there. It was fun.

Magallanes is a neighboring municipality of Agusan del Norte. It's not strictly in Butuan. This photo was taken at Barangay Sto. Nino.

Lumbocan Port.

Bow.

A cat beside a (dirty) kitchen.

San Vicente/ Lower Taga-Baca

Photo by Bongshiyaw

Diwata

Diwata, Carmen, Agusan del Norte

Diwata definition---In Philippine mythology, a diwata or encantada is a mythological figure similar to fairies. They are said to reside in large trees, such as acacia and balete. They are the guardian spirits of nature, bringing blessing or curses upon those who bring benefits or harm to the forests and mountains. (www.nationmaster.com)

There are some supernatural stories circulating in this area hence the name of the place. (But in my usual fashion I forgot to ask someone about it until the moment when I'm about to post my photo of the day.)

Diwata Cave Resort is also another popular destination for tourist to go to in Carmen. The caves, friendly people and the spectacular view of the sea are more than enough to make people go back again and again- despite the less than pleasant road condition. I know, I'm going back there soon. =)

Oh Carmen... Carmen

Carmen, Agusan del Norte is one of the neighboring municipalities of Butuan. It is not strictly in Butuan but I still consider it as a part of my hometown.

This is the place where my family and I spent the weekend. After much mishaps in the beginning we had a terrific time the rest of the time. I can even say, barring road condition, it was even a better holiday destination than Camiguin. Sort of. (Actually they each have different charms).

Traverse...

After a long walk, a baroto ride across the river, and a non graceful clambering up of a muddy riverbank, we finally reached the hill also known to the Butuanons as "Bood". This is the place where the first easter mass was supposedly celebrated in the Philippines. (I'm not sure if the controversy regarding the true place of the first Catholic mass celebrated here in the Philippines has been resolved or not.)

This area is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, settlement in Butuan before people moved by the Agusan riverbanks.

If you're curious about the wooden structure in the middle of Masao river- it is what I know of as "bungsod"-- a structure especially made to catch fishes and other marine creatures.

Here are some links that might interest you:

Wikipedia
Vistapinas
Bungsod

I feel like I've fulfilled some sort of Indiana Jones fantasy with this trip, to tell you the truth. It wasn't anything terribly exciting but it did fit some sort of criteria of an Indie adventure that I never knew I had. Thanks Shiyaw for humoring me.

Oh and I just wanna tell you that we are planning on going on a trip that never in my wildest dream could come true. This won't be in Butuan but it will be on one of the most beautiful place in the Philippines. Cross fingers. I'll post a very lengthy and descriptive blog about it at my sunsetmindanao.blogspot.com when it will push through.

Knock on the wood.

Blues and greens and...

Bood Trip # 6

Brgy. Pinamangkulan at dusk.

This is the first time I've been to this place. And to think I would never have been interested in going there if not for the photography and the daily blogging thing.

Along South...

Photo taken at sunset. South of Montilla Boulevard

(I really need to get out and get some photos asap!)

The Beach!

We spent one work day at La Vista Conchita, Kinabjangan, Nasipit. Its not really in Butuan but it's close enough. Let us bask in the midday sun while rolling in the inky blackness of the sand.

We were walking. You know, to save on exorbitant tricycle fare... and we saw this.

It was like an atomic bomb explosion. (Or so I tell myself.) Note the telephone (?) wires its so... common.

There is one good thing about trying to shoot cliched nature photos, it always turns out pretty. More or less. Anyways, enjoy your Sunday!

A tragic day in Butuan

To those who frequent this blog I apologize for not updating this site daily as I promised. It seems that sometimes when it rains it really pours and that is what happened. There was a lot of technical difficulties that add up together. Unfortunately this post after my brief absence isn't very sunny at all. There was a fire incident yesterday morning, April 9, 2008 at Brgy. Limaja, Langihan (according to the fire department) Butuan City.

I happen to glance outside from my window and I saw this-

I called the fire station at 10.30 am to make sure that they already know about the fire. I was worried because I didn't hear any sirens at all. I thought the fire was only at Zamora street. Look at how near the smoke looks from my bedroom window and I live at Guingona area. The good news was that the firetruck was already on its way. I just hope there were no casualties (?) I just heard from my mother that approximately 200 houses burned down. I haven't confirmed it yet but I will soon after I finish writing this up.

Before our day is totally ruined by this tragic news this morning I will leave you with a few photos taken at the new crossing of the new bridge. You know, the road at the end of South of Montilla. The place is great for taking photos of sunset and other only- in- the- Philippines happenings.

The Heart Of Butuan

This is another mostly photos than writings blog.

After running some errands my companion and I found ourselves at another Butuan landmark-- the St. Joseph Cathedral. Fortunately (or intentionally) I brought along my camera for just this kind of opportunity. I'm so glad people are very accommodating when it comes to having their photos taken by a stranger.







Not that my model-- the one gazing up at the photos-- is a stranger per se. *wink*

Green and Serene-- The countryside

While flipping through my photo archives from last year, I saw these series of photos that I took with my family.

If you look at the first photo closely you'll see the farmers planting rice in the fields. Greens, rice fields and farmers-- If you're like me, you'll find these photos romantic.

But if you're not, don't worry about it. Hehehehe.

Jeepney’s Torotot-- Random Photos #1

Watching the photos posted at another site inspired me enough to overcome my shyness in posting my pictures. It's not that their photos are so horrible compared to mine that I am confident mine would be better.

On the contrary I have finally accepted that it'll take a lot of time, practice and better equipments to make me a good photographer. So for the meantime I hoped to take interesting (I hope) photos to compensate with these deficiencies.

Lately, I found myself bored with my trees, branches and other nature pictures.

It's probably because my cousin gets all giddy whenever she sees these things.

"Ate Ly! Take that photo!" Bossy little brat that she is. (Says me, with a lot of affection).

Or because I find it extremely difficult to get good pictures of nature (without me in it ).

Right now, in order to serve up a slightly different take on the Philippines I browsed through my files and came up with these:

The girl pressing her forehead against the grandmotherly figure is doing what we call being "blessed" or kissing the hands of the elderly. It is how we pay our respect.

I was inside the calesa when I took this picture. You can see those metallic vehicles parked at the side of the streets. They're called jeepneys. It's one of the Philippine's major means of public transportation.

Have you seen "The Dukes of Hazzard" where Seann William Scott's character, Bo, kept on blowing General Lee's annoying musical horns? That annoying little noise maker was originally a part of a jeepney. That is until laws were put into action prohibiting its use in public. Too bad. No more pesky heckling, mooing and whatever sounds Filipino horn makers could come up with, in traffic.

And this last photo was something that I have always tried to capture until now. You know how my camera is.

Those huge things at both sides of the motorcycles are probably stocks of merchandise that that guy was transporting from one place another.

That is all for today.

It's sunny outside.

Time for me to go out and play.

Take care!