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Hiraya Facilitators, Quezon City (2025)

24/10/2023

A 60-ton giant rock, spit out some 200 years ago by Mayon Volcano unearthed in 2017 from Cagsawa, Busay, Daraga, Albay and extraordinarly transported 495 kms. away into the National Museum of the Natural History in Manila as a showcase of the amazing geologic wealth of the Philippines in general and Albay in particular.

17/10/2023

𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝘾𝘼𝙍𝙍𝙄𝙀𝘿𝙊 𝙁𝙊𝙐𝙉𝙏𝘼𝙄𝙉

Built in May 1882 (at a cost of 745,590 pesos) as part of the Carriedo water works system, it was inaugurated by Governor-General Fernando Primo de Rivera on July 24, 1882. The fountain was built in honor of Don Francisco Carriedo y Peredo (November 7, 1690 – September 1743), 18th-century Capitán General of Manila, who conceived of and eventually funded Manila’s pipe water system.

A Basque from Santander, Spain and general of the Santa Familia galleon, Carriedo raised funds for the construction of the water system of Manila and donated 10,000 pesos drawn from his fortune from the Manila- Acapulco trade. However, he did not live to see his resolve of creating a water system in Manila take fruit.

The fountain was moved three times before its current location at Plaza Santa Cruz, right in front of the Santa Cruz Church. Since Don Francisco resided in Santa Mesa, the fountain was first located at the Rotonda de Sampaloc, the intersection between Legarda, Lacson and Magsaysay streets which today forms the Nagtahan Interchange that separates Sampaloc from Santa Mesa.

In 1976, due to traffic concerns, the roundabout was cleared and the fountain was then transferred to the Balara Filters Park, in front of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) Building right after MWSS moved from their office in Arroceros, Manila, in the latter part of the 1970's.

In the 1990s, then-Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim convinced MWSS administrator Mr. Luis E. V. Sison to bring back the Carriedo Fountain to Manila. A replica of the original fountain, using plaster as the primary material, was built by National Artist Napoleon Abueva.

- Benji Layug

16/10/2023

𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙈𝙀𝙔𝘾𝘼𝙐𝘼𝙔𝘼𝙉 𝙊𝙇𝘿 𝙏𝙍𝘼𝙄𝙉 𝙎𝙏𝘼𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉

The Meycauayan Old Train Station was a part of the Manila-Dagupan Railroad, the first rail line in the country.
The construction of the rail line started at 1887 and was finished at 1892. There were many stations that constituted the Manila-Dagupan Railroad, Tutuban being the first and Dagupan being the last. The Meycauayan Station served as the first station for the railroad system in the province of Bulacan.

This old train station stands proud in the middle of a grassy land on the left side of McArthur Highway. This is the second station in Bulacan after Polo station. When Polo (now Valenzuela City) became part of Metro Manila in the 1970's, Meycauayan Station effectively became Ferrocaril de Manila-Dagupan's first station in Bulacan.

Among all Bulacan train stations, this is the only one with a 2nd floor still standing. It is currently dilapidated, and in a very sad state. The last time this station was operational was in 1997, and was closed together with the remaining stations of the PNR North Line (Caloocan, Malabon, Valenzuela).

This station was part of the line until it was closed in 1988. It is currently being rebuilt as part of Phase 1 construction of the North-South Commuter Railway. The old station building will also be preserved.

09/10/2023

𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙈𝙊𝙎𝙏 𝙀𝙓𝙋𝙀𝙉𝙎𝙄𝙑𝙀 𝘾𝙊𝙁𝙁𝙀𝙀 𝙄𝙉 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙒𝙊𝙍𝙇𝘿!

Why Kopi Luwak coffee is so expensive?

The high price of kopi luwak coffee is largely due to the traditional ways it is produced. Production takes a lot of time and energy, with farmers often looking on land and in forests for suitable beans. Ripe coffee berries are ingested by Asian palm civets, which are found in Southeast Asia.

Is there civet coffee in the Philippines?

Matutum, a protected landscape and the highest peak in the Philippines' South Cotabato province, the B'laan natives produce wild civet coffee, a luxury brew that can fetch upward of $80 a cup in markets like the United States. Civets, called balos by the tribespeople,

07/10/2023

𝙒𝙀𝙇𝘾𝙊𝙈𝙀 𝙍𝙊𝙏𝙊𝙉𝘿𝘼 𝘼𝙍𝘾𝙃

The Welcome Rotonda, which was constructed 1948 at the terminus of Quezon Avenue, .España Boulevard, Mayon Street and Senator Eulogio Adona Rodríguez Sr. Boulevard. The Welcome Rotonda is the first monument of Quezon City, and greets visitors coming from Manila. Designed by Luciano V. Aquino of the Quezon City Engineering Department, the monument was commissioned by Mayor Ponciano A. Bernardo (1905-1949), along with the second city hall and park. The monument is a simple rectangular structure with a serif font spelling “Welcome” at the top, and four lions facing the cardinal directions at the base. In 1995, the words were changed with an italic sans-serif font stating the word “Mabuhay” (long live).

04/10/2023

𝙄𝙎𝙀𝙏𝘼𝙉𝙉 𝙍𝙀𝘾𝙏𝙊 (𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙡𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙍𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙎𝙪𝙥𝙚𝙧 𝘾𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙢𝙖 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙧)

The Roman Super Cinerama theater was the most luxurious move house in Asia when it opened at the corner C.M. Recto and Quezon Blvd. in late 1963. Like most Manila film theaters today, it is nothing now but a shopping arcade and a mere shadow of its formerly glorious self.

But the apotheosis of luxury of movie-going in the Manila of the 60's/70s was reached with the opening of the ultra-luxurious Roman Super Cinerama, owned by Pablo Roman and the Rojas family of Cavite in December 1963. It was the BIG screen experience and it brought the latest cinema technology to Manila audiences previously available only in New York, London and Tokyo; and before the IMAX screens of today. The Roman Cinerama also saw a couple of other "firsts" in Philippine history: escalators in the country made its debut there. It was the first with enforced seating before the main feature began; thus "No Standing Room" and every paying patron was assured a seat. And because it was the first fully carpeted (the interior) movie theatre in the Philippines, it became the first to ban the dreaded habit of cigarette-smoking.

Ironically, the Roman Cinerama burnt down in the late 70s (hopefully, not due to lit ci******es); and was then converted into the Isetann Shopping mall with a 5-screen cineplex in 1987.

03/10/2023

𝙌𝙐𝙄𝙍𝙄𝙉𝙊 𝙂𝙍𝘼𝙉𝘿𝙎𝙏𝘼𝙉𝘿 (𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙡𝙮 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙖𝙨 𝙄𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙂𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙙 1946) 𝘾𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙈𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙡𝙖

Originally built as a temporary structure, Juan Arellano's "Independece Grandstand" built in 1946 was rebuilt across Roxas Boulevard ny Frederico Illustre - head of the Bureau of Public Works. Illustre's replica simplified Arellano's decadent motifs, while streamlining the building as was fashionable then.

Because of budget constraints, only the central section was completed in time for Elpidio Quirino's Inauguration in 1949. Its wings should expand every 4 years until reaching it's current length in thr 1960's, where it would be subject to a renovation in the run-up to the Birth Centennial of Jose Rizal.

While Illustre's triumphal arch was removed in the 60's, the grandstand maintains much of its deco-derivative elements, which can be seen on stage and canopy section.

📸ctto

03/10/2023

𝙎𝘼𝙉 𝙅𝙐𝘼𝙉 𝘾𝙄𝙏𝙔 "𝙀𝙇 𝘿𝙀𝙋𝙊𝙎𝙄𝙏𝙊" (𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙬𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙤𝙞𝙧)

The 19th century underground water reservoir of “El Deposito” which supplied potable water to Manila.

The 150-meter labyrinth of tunnels found underneath the grounds of Pinaglabanan Memorial Shrine have been cleared of mud and garbage in preparation of its reopening as a travel destination.

Historical records show that the 137-year-old Roman aqueducts “El Deposito” were established in 1882 as part of the Carriedo Waterworks that supplied water to 19th century Manila during the Spanish colonial period of the Philippines.

According to the newest museum of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) Museo El Deposito which opened February 2019, the cavernous El Deposito held water pumped from Santolan before it flowed to various fountains and hydrants in Manila.

The water reservoir’s tunnel system consists of a central canal that connected 25 smaller canals measuring 5 meters high and 3 meters wide. El Deposito had a capacity of 56,000 cubic meters of water enough to supply to 300,000 people.

Carriedo Waterworks was named after Francisco Carriedo y Peredo, a Spanish official who provided funds to the City of Manila in 1733 to create the volcanic tuff infrastructure that Spanish engineer Genaro Palacios designed and built from 1878 to 1882.

The Americans used El Deposito as an armory. The Japanese turned the cavernous reservoir into a hospital for tuberculosis patients and a firing range.

The restoration project led by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), Department of Tourism, and the San Juan City government, began in 2016 when the University of the Philippines Archaeological Studies Program made an assessment and excavation of the underground tunnels.

send cheers to the people of San Juan and the national agencies involved in the restoration and preservation of the Philippine history artifact in Manila!

📸 Ctto

02/10/2023

𝙈𝘼𝙉𝙄𝙇𝘼 𝘾𝙇𝙊𝘾𝙆 𝙏𝙊𝙒𝙀𝙍

Step back in time and explore the Manila Clock Tower Museum, housed in the city’s most iconic landmark—the Manila City Hall.

Designed by architect Antonio Toledo and completed during the 1930s, the Manila Clock Tower stands almost 100 feet (30 meters) in elevation, making it the largest clock tower in the Philippines. Manila City Hall and the Clock Tower were damaged heavily during World War II and the 1945 Battle of Manila and rebuilt over the decades.

The building has gone through various renovations over the years. In mid-2020, portions of the clock tower which used to be red, and the faces of the three clocks, were painted gold as part of its restoration. The interiors were cleared out, repainted, and refurbished to fit in art galleries, resulting in Manila’s newest modern museum.,

The pandemic delayed the formal opening, but finally, in October 2022, the Clock Tower Museum was officially launched as a major tourist attraction and historic landmark and opened to the public. This unique museum adaptively reuses the structure of the clock tower, with five levels showcasing the history of Manila and modern art galleries, with changing art exhibits.

The main exhibit on the first floor features an immersive exhibit with a brief history about the Battle of Manila during World War II. The museum makes use of video presentations and a 3D-wall installation of key moments during the war designed by Ohm David and Elba Cruz. There’s also a Wall of heroes going up the stairs and photos and paintings of the old tower before it was restored.

It’s not just a history museum, but there are galleries devoted to contemporary art and culture.

Visitors can see the inside workings of the four sides of the clock and get a 360-degree view of Intramuros and nearby Manila at the top two floors. According to the museum attendants, a cafe is in the works on the third floor of the museum. so this is something coffee lovers can look forward to when they visit in the future.

How to visit the Manila Clock Tower Museum?

Since the museum is located inside a government building, the Manila Clock Tower Museum is only open on weekdays from Tuesdays to Fridays from 10 am to 3 pm. The museum is CLOSED on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.

museum visits are free to the public, but they require online bookings. No walk-ins are allowed yet. To schedule a tour, bookings must be made online through their page.

📸 Ctto

29/09/2023

𝗔𝗡𝗚 𝗞𝗔𝗨𝗡𝗔-𝗨𝗡𝗔𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗚 𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗥𝗚𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗗 𝗣𝗘𝗗𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗔𝗡 𝗖𝗥𝗢𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗦𝗔 𝗕𝗔𝗡𝗦𝗔!

Itinayo noong 1960's, ang Lacson Underpass ang kaunaunahang underground crossing sa bansa. Ito ay proyekto ng kauna-unahang alkalde ng Lungsod ng Maynila na si Mayor Arsenio Lacson ngunit hindi na ito naabutang tapos ni Arsenio Lacson dahil siya ay binawian na ng buhay. Ang kanyang successor na si Antonio Villegas ang nagpaguloy at nagpatapos ng nasimulang proyekto. At bilang pag alala sa taong nagpasimula ng nasabing proyekto. Sa kanya ipinangalan ang underpass na ito..

Taong 1999 isang proyekto ang ipinatupad ni Mayor Lito Atienza upang isalba at muling pagandahin ang lungsod na may titulong "BUHAYIN ANG MAYNILA" isa ang Lacson Underpass sa nabigyang ng pansin sa nasabing proyekto, ito ay pinapinturahan, inayos ang floorings, pati ang mga ilaw.. Unfortunately noong natapos ang termino ni Mayor Lito Atienza noong 2007 ay muling sumikip at dumumi ang nasabing underpass.

Sa ikalawang pagkakataon taong 2014 sa termino ni Mayor Joseph Estrada ay muling ipinaayos ang nasabing underpass ngunit humingi na ito ng tulong sa isang private sector na nag ooperate ng mga maliit na retail shopping mall sa bansa ang Victory Mall. And Yes.. Ito ay kapatid ng nagmamayari ng Victory Liner Bus Company.

At sa pagkakataong ito ang dating Lacson Underpass ay kilala na ngayon bilang Victory Lacson Underpass.

Ito ngayon ay pinamamahaalan ng isang private sector ngunit pagmamay-ari pa rin ng Lungsod.

28/09/2023

𝙏𝙐𝘼𝙎𝙊𝙉 𝙍𝙀𝙎𝙄𝘿𝙀𝙉𝘾𝙀 𝙄𝙎 𝙉𝙊𝙒 𝘾𝘼𝙎𝘼 𝙍𝙀𝘼𝙇 𝙄𝙉 𝙐𝙎𝙐𝙎𝘼𝙉, 𝙏𝘼𝙂𝙐𝙄𝙂 𝘾𝙄𝙏𝙔
𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙡𝙮 𝙡𝙤𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙩 (𝙎𝙤𝙘𝙞𝙚𝙜𝙤 𝙎𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙎𝙖𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙡𝙤𝙘, 𝙈𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙡𝙖)

Adaptive reuse has put to good use the old and almost abandoned Tuason Residence which used to stand on Sociego Street in Sampaloc, Manila.

The near century old house, which figured as a setting in a number of Filipino horror movies like "Bahay Ni Lola", was transported piece by piece, rebuilt and transformed into a colonial-era inspired events hall called Casa Real, a new addition to the commercial area of Acacia Estates, DMCI Homes` sprawling development in Taguig City.

The old Tuason residence is now Casa Real; 80 percent of the rebuilt house was salvage from the old house, according to the project's chief architect Rina Soriano

The house was build in the 1930s. The area where it stood has its historic significance as the site where the "First shot that the Filipino and American war was started".

The rebuilt house still maintains the original narra and ipil flooring, include the wide door and window frames. There are ventanillas, sliding pannel between the floor and the window, with original iron grilles. The ipil staircases and various original ornamental woodworks were also restored. While the original concrete balusters and lion's head gargoyle drains for plant boxes were re-used.

DMCI bought the property from the heirs of the Tuason Family to build a new condominium (Sorrel Residences) The developer appreciating the value of the house, decided upon to save the structure and have a new use for it.

26/09/2023

𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙇𝘼𝙋𝙀𝙍𝘼𝙇 𝘼𝙋𝘼𝙍𝙏𝙈𝙀𝙉𝙏
(along Recto Avenue, Manila City)

Built in 1946, the Laperal Apartments represents Manila’s post-war architecture, just as the city was rising from the ruins of World War II. After the Battle of Manila in 1945, the glittering “Paris of Asia,” which used to be dotted with Spanish Colonial, Beaux-Arts, and Art Deco buildings, was barely recognizable. It was a period of emotional havoc.

If the building’s name sounds familiar, that’s because its original owners were actually cousins to the ones who once owned the Laperal Mansion in Arlegui street in nearby San Miguel district. It is also one of the first buildings to be completed after World War II, in 1946 to be exact, and served as one of the symbols of a city striving to recover after the war.

When the building was put up for sale and eventually sold to Stephen Cheng, a businessman who made a name by managing Henry Sy’s SM Appliance Center along with Cheng’s wife. Fortunately, he is also an ardent heritage advocate so he made it a point to preserve the building which he envisioned be a modern student dormitory and community hub at the heart of the University Belt.

Cheng tapped the services of architect Patrick Apacible to spearhead the restoration endeavor, a difficult challenge that was nevertheless accepted. In the process, the facade was preserved, as well as a number of the the building’s original elements.

The Laperal Apartments, now known as Youniversity Suites, is a co-ed dormitory. Male and female friends can be assigned a shared room upon their request. According to the owners, the gender-neutral policy is designed specifically for those who identify with the LGBT community and who may feel more comfortable sharing a room with the opposite gender. Each dormer gets a study table and chair, bed and beddings, cabinet, and shelf space.

© Carla Gamalinda

25/09/2023

Sapatos ni Heneral Gregorio Del Pilar ito ay kasalukuyang naka display ngayon sa Hiyas ng Bulacan Museum sa Malolos City, Bulacan.

19/02/2021

Inventions of the past..

09/10/2020

There are some things you can do to prevent your risk:

❌ Never wash dirty eggs. Dirty eggs may have Salmonella bacteria on their shell and washing them allows bacteria to move from the outside of the shell to inside.
❌ Never use cracked eggs. The cracks allow Salmonella to enter the egg and grow inside 🤢

02/10/2020

ISANG TAON NA SIMULA NG MASUNOG ANG STAR CITY.

Ang Star City ay pagmamayari ng Star Parks Corporation (SPC), ito ay isang subsidiary bg Elizalde Holdings Corporation (EHC). Ang nag mamayari ng SPC at EHC ay ang isang Filipino-Spanish Businessman na si Fred Elizalde, asawa ng kaunaunahang Prima Ballerina ng Pilipinas na si Lisa Macuja. Ang ama ni Liza Macuja na si Cezar Macuja ay nagtatrabaho bilang presidente ng SPC.

Bago pa man magkaroon ng Star City noong taong 1991. Ang ilang bahagi nito ay ginamit bilang isang Carnaval. Ito ay orihinal na parte ng Toy and Gift fair. Isang annual Christmas trade fair na nasa ilalim ng Philippine International Corporation (Philcite). Isa sa mga kompanyang pagmamay ari ng Elizalde.

Taong 1985 di Fred Elizalde ang itinalagang director/chairman ng Manila Broadcasting Company (MBC). Ang MBC ay mayroon lamang 1 AM station at 3 FM stations at 151 Radyo natin Stations, Northern Capiz Agro-Industrial Development Corporation (Norcaic). Nagmamayari rin ng D'Mall sa Boracay noong 2005 itinalaga bilang kasapi ng Boracay Eminent Person Group. At marami pang iba.

October 2, 2019 isang apoy ang sumiklab sa loob ng amusement park.

Hanggang ngayon ay walang kasiguraduhan kung kelan maibabalik muli ang pagbubukas ng amusement park.

Ikaw... Anong Kwentong Star City mo??

Hiraya Facilitators

24/10/2023

17/10/2023

16/10/2023

09/10/2023

07/10/2023

04/10/2023

03/10/2023

03/10/2023

02/10/2023

29/09/2023

28/09/2023

26/09/2023

25/09/2023

19/02/2021

09/10/2020

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