Our hosts for this 2024 trip, Mike and Patty Rodriguez, were one such couple, having purchased land in 2013 with a fantastic view of Taal Lake on which they built a farmhouse-style resthouse. A few years later, they bought an uninhabitable antique house in the town, probably from the 1850s, which they dryly refer to as "the ruins," and painstakingly restored it. Both properties now function as bed and breakfast-type accommodations in the different settings of town and country. Mike, with his longstanding interest in Philippine history, also had a hand in the recently concluded restoration of the shrine of Our Lady of Caysasay, a beloved and ancient religious icon of Taal heritage.
Finally fulfilling a yearlong standing invitation from the Rodriguezes, my sister Joanna Duarte, friend in heritage Ivan Man Dy and I drove two hours and a bit on a rainy day last September to revisit "old town Taal." While tooling along the Palico-Balayan-Batangas road on the outskirts of the town, one could already spot many antique houses, adaptively repurposed.
Denne historien er fra October 26, 2024-utgaven av The Philippine Star.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra October 26, 2024-utgaven av The Philippine Star.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
10 WAYS TO DESTRESS YOUR ACHING HEART
When people we care about exhibit intense emotions—whether it's fear, panic, anger, or jealousy—it's common to wrap our arms around them and gently say, \"Hey, calm down. You're hurting your heart.\" While it may seem like a simple expression of sympathy, it highlights an essential truth: Our emotional state can profoundly affect our cardiovascular health.
What America can gain if Trump goes to China
President Trump reportedly wants to visit China within his first 100 days in office.
Charges filed this week vs 3 Chinese 'spies'
Three suspected Chinese spies arrested on Feb. 14 in Laguna will face charges for violating immigration laws and operating a business without documentation, according to the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC).
Comelec can't stop negative campaigning
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) can't stop negative campaigning because it is allowed by law, according to the chief of the poll body.
Slam-bangers in San Vicente
MP Promotions' \"Blow By Blow\" went to San Vicente in Metro Vigan, Ilocos Sur, last Wednesday and staged a 15-fight show that featured eight knockouts, including five in the first round.
Artipelago II: The Phl Pavilion shines at Maison & Objet
The Philippine Pavilion designed by Antonio R. Mendoza was again a top attraction at Maison & Objet (meaning \"home and object\") at the Parc des Expositions in Villepinte, a suburb of Paris, France.
No complacency on media security, says task force
President Marcos' media security task force yesterday vowed to shun complacency and to continue addressing all forms of threats against journalists, following a global report stating that no Filipino journalist was killed in the country last year.
CARRYING SM FOUNDATION'S VISION FORWARD WITH COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS
As we step into 2025, the stories and milestones of the past year remind us of why we began our mission at SM Foundation—and why we continue to move forward.
S&P: Phl banks face risks amid shifts in US policies
Philippine banks, alongside their regional counterparts, are bracing for heightened volatility this year as shifting trade policies in the US under President Donald Trump's administration reshape global financial conditions, according to S&P Global Ratings.
PCG: Three China ships swarm West Philippine Sea
Three patrol ships of the China Coast Guard (CCG) were spotted swarming the West Philippine Sea, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Commodore Jay Tarriela reported.
