Planning to Visit the Philippines Soon?

There are hundreds of tourists attractions in the Philippines. But as a lover of the Island of Marinduque (Home of the Morions and Heart of the Philippines), I am indeed partial to its beauty, charm and its friendly and hospitable residents. Therefore, help me achieve my dream of seeing this island becomes a world tourist destination, by telling all your friends and relatives about this site. Welcome, to you all, new readers and faithful followers of this site! The photo above is Poctoy White Beach in Torrijos, Marinduque with beautiful and majestic Mt Malindig in the background. Some of the photos and videos on this site, I do not own. However, I have no intention on infringing your copyrights.

Tuesday, October 10, 2023

My Talk( Speaker of the Month) -All About the Philippines Here at THD

Periods in Philippine History
  • Early Philippines Period, 22,000 BC-1521 AD.
  • Spanish Colonialism Period, 1521-1898.
  • Period of Filipino Nationalism, 1872-1913.
  • American Colonialism Period, 1898-1946.
  • Japanese Occupation Period, 1941-1945.

  • Period of the Philippine Republic, 1946-present.

The red arrow is where Marinduque is- my second home- Heart and Geographical Center of the Philippines.  It is the location of Chateau Du Mer-our retirement home in the Philippines.

Brief History of the Philippines:  Spain first settled in the Philippines in the 16th century. It would go on to colonize the country for more than 330 years, although the British briefly occupied Manila for 18 months from 1762 to 1764. This British occupation of Manila is not emphasize in Philippines History for reasons, I do not know.

In 1898, Spain was forced to sell the Philippines for $20 Million to the US following its defeat in the Spanish-American War.  Americans who advocated annexation evinced a variety of motivations: desire for commercial opportunities in Asia, concern that the Filipinos were incapable of self-rule, and fear that if the United States did not take control of the islands, another power (such as Germany or Japan) might do so.

The US remained in power until Japan invaded during World War II. The Japanese were forced to leave after their defeat in 1945. Colonial remnants can still be felt today. From Spanish architecture to the widespread use of English, the Philippines is not unlike most other countries still reeling from centuries of colonial subjugation. 

The Philippines is much more than a sprawling archipelago of pristine white-sand beaches and lush tropical flora, although those are undeniably attractive features of this Southeast Asian nation. From the rugged mountains and high rolling plateaus of Mindanao to the grand malls and orderly chaos of Metro Manila, the Philippines is one of the most diverse and fastest-growing countries in the region.

Here are some surprising things about the Philippines:

Shutterstock / Ekaterina Pokrovsky- One of the Hundreds of  White Beaches Attracting Tourists all over the World in the Philippines.

For decades, Filipinos thought their country was made up of 7,107 islands. But in 2013, the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA), which is part of the Philippines' Department of Environment and Natural Resources, obtained new technology that allowed them to better assess land formations. As a result, NAMRIA discovered more than 500 previously unknown islands. 

After the discovery, controversy ensued. Some critics alleged that the newfound "islands" were in fact just large rocks, islets, reefs, or sandbars, and that they did not meet the legal definition for an island. 

Either way, most of the new islands won't be habitable. Currently, people live on just a quarter of the country's islands. 

ROUGHLY 80% OF THE POPULATION IS CATHOLIC, MAKING THE PHILIPPINES THE COUNTRY WITH THE THIRD MOST CATHOLICS IN THE WORLD AFTER BRAZIL AND MEXICO.

philippines good friday catholic
A Catholic devotee nailed to a cross is hoisted by participants during a re-enactment of the crucifixion of Christ on Good Friday in 2014 in the Philippines. 
Dondi Tawatao/Getty

majority of Filipinos are Catholic, although some portions of the southern island of Mindanao are majority Muslim. Filipinos tend to be extremely devout. For example, every year on Good Friday, some Catholics reenact the crucifixion of Jesus and flagellate themselves in his honor, although these practices are not endorsed by the official Catholic Church.  These religious performances can be be quite bloody, drawing tourists from around the world to the Philippines to bear witness. 

The island of Marinduque -my second Home is Famous for its Moriones Festival- A Week of Celebration during Easter- reenactment of the Crucificion of Jesus attracts nation wide tourism. 

In 1999 Macrine and I built a retirement home and Beach house we called Chateau Du Mer.  The beach house was burned last year, perhaps due to an electrical malfunction.  However, the main house and the Conference Center are still in good condition. 

https://chateaudumer.blogspot.com/2023/02/good-bye-chateau-du-mer-beach-house.html

THE PHILIPPINES WON A LANDMARK CASE AGAINST CHINA IN THE DISPUTE OVER THE SOUTH CHINA SEA.

south china sea protest
Anti-China protestors in the Philippines mount a protest rally in Manila. 
Dondi Tawatao/Getty

The US isn't the only country with a major stake in the South China Sea debacle.  In July 2016, an international tribunal at the Hague made a landmark ruling in favor of the Philippines in the ongoing territorial dispute in the South China Sea. 

The case was brought on by the Philippine government in response to China's claims of sovereignty over most of the area. The Hague rejected China's arguments and blamed Beijing for causing "irreparable harm" to the marine environment, endangering Philippine ships and interfering with Philippine fishing and oil exploration, according to The New York Times". 

In My October 14 talk, I plan on talking on Filipino food, My employment with the FDA and last but not least is how to age gracefully. 

I am looking forward for your attendance and participation in this planned open Forum On "All you Want to Know about the Philippines, But were Afraid to Ask" and "My Life at FDA and After Retirement".   Put in your calendar _October 14, 2023, Saturday at 11 AM- THD Cinema

The Main House- Chateau Du Mer,  Boac, Marinduque, Philippines


The Lechon- Roasted Suckling Pig- The Main Headliner Dish  in the Philippines Fiesta/Celebrations and other Popular Filipino Dishes.



Friendship Ends when You stop Sharing

Reference: https://www.businessinsider.com/facts-about-the-philippines-that-you-may-not-have-known-2018-1#it-has-7641-islands-but-only-around-2000-are-inhabited-1

Cloyne Court by Dodie Katague-Available at Amazon and My Book -Life Memories of David B and Macrine J. Katague 
Photo Credit: THD FaceBook Page: Looks like the beach in front of our beach house, Chateau Du Mer, Marinduque, Philippines

My Quote of the Day: Success is often defined as the ability to reach your goals in life, whatever those goals may be. In some ways, a better word for success might be attainment, accomplishment, or progress. 

Waiting for the Start of Alix and Brendan Wedding  Ceremony, Berkeley City Club, Berkeley, CA  September 2, 2023. I looked patriachal and was part of the wedding entourage.  

For summary of the Philippine Profile Read: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-15521300

Philippines voted anew ( 12/2022) as best world Tourist Destination

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1189864#

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