Where the Heck is Marinduque?: Photo Memories of my College Years as an UPSCAN

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.

Friday, November 2, 2012

Photo Memories of my College Years as an UPSCAN

University of the Philippines Chapel of the Holy Sacrifice in Diliman, Q.C.. My name is one of the 1,000 names buried in the foundation of this church before the start of construction in the 1950's. The chapel is now a historical landmark in the Philippines, being the first circular architectural structure built in the Philippines. A 1:5000 miniature model of the chapel was the decoration at the top of our wedding cake on May 8,1957.

The following are some of the photos during my college years at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines from 1952-1956. My involvement with the activities of UP Student Catholic Action (UPSCA) were the highlights of my college life experiences. At that time I was studying on my Bachelor Science degree in Chemistry. I graduated in October, 1955 then went to US to pursue my Ph.D degree in 1959. The rest is history and for details of my life after my college years please visit my site at, http://davidbkatague.blogspot.com

Macrine( my spouse of 55 years) and my Bachelor Degree Graduation Photos

UPSCANS In front of the Old Chapel after Mass with Fr. John Delaney. Fr John was my inspiration and hero at that time. His words and action still reverberates in my mind today!

During two of our regular monthly meetings

UPSCA Choir, 1953 with Prof Antonio Molina

During one of the many monthly socials during my college years. Dancing with Macrine

UP Men's South Dorm Officers and Residents, 1954. I was one of the officers of Mens South Dorm Association. I am in the front row kneeling first in the far Left.

Macrine and friends, 1953

UPSCANS, College of Liberal Arts

UPSCANS-After the General Meeting

After UPSCAN Board Meeting with Fr. John Delaney. Do you recognize yourself in this photo?

Dave and Macrine at the UPSCA Monthly Social

Note: If you are in any of the above photos, I would like to get in touch with you. I could be reached in my website above and also at http://theintellectualmigrant.bogspot.com I hope you are also aging gracefully.

Here's a short history of UPSCA from www.reocities.com UPSCA can be traced as far back as 1939 when Fr. James McCarthy, a Colombian priest, organized a Student Catholic Action (SCA) in UP as an offshoot from the Scholastic Philosophy Club (SPC) said to have been formed at 1936. SPC was an organization of Catholic UP students who held discussions on theological themes such as Catholic Philosophy and the works of St. Thomas Aquinas.

In 1941-45, UPSCA, like all university organizations, hushed as World War II took over the entire country. But in 1946, UPSCA was the first SCA chapter to reorganize. It was at this time that Fr. John Patrick Delaney stroked the fire that burned in UPSCA. Then, in 1950, the UP flagship was moved from Padre Faura, Manila to Diliman, Q.C. In the new Campus UPSCA spearheaded the construction of the Chapel of the Holy Sacrifice(see photo above).

As its history manifests, UPSCA was formed by the people who cared about something a lot bigger than themselves—other people. As they struggled to bring about change in the country, campus and in the hearts of students and others in the UP community, they carved a niche for a different way of living one’s life in and out of UP. The spirit and mission of UPSCA has been my inspiration and goals in life. I thank the late Fr. John Delaney for his guidance and inspiration during my student years in the 1950's in UP, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines.

ABOUT ME

I am a retired (Chemistry Team Leader from USFDA) Filipino-American who loves writing, gardening and photography. My wife (of 58 years) and I enjoy the snowbird lifestyle between the US and the Philippines. We have a small but very private beach resort( see above video) in the beautiful island of Marinduque, Philippines. I have several blog sites(ten), a personal blog, blogs about retiring in Marinduque and our beach resort and conference center-CHATEAU DU MER. I also write for www.squidoo.com now owned by HubPages.com

Marinduque: A Photogenic Province and Tourists Destination

Marinduque is a photoblogger dream. The province is endowed with unspoiled white sand beaches, pristine blue waters, fringing reefs, virgin coral reefs, coves, limestone caves, meandering rivers, mountain peaks, cascading waterfalls and streams, fabled sulfur and hot mineral springs,old churches and of course beautiful sunsets. The Internet is filled with photographs of the scenic beauty of this island not only from the local professional photographers but also from amateur photographers all over the world. The province has more than six big islands popular to beach lovers, scuba divers and snorkeling enthusiasts. It has Mt Malindig known to mountain climbers and hikers. It has Bathala and Tarug Caves popular to spelunkers and just curious seekers. In one of the eight caves of Bathala, there is a resident python, believed to be enchanted. If he shows himself when you visit the caves, it is suppose to bring you good luck.

Sunset over Tres Reyes Islands- Photo from panoramnio.com The nearest and most accessible islands from the capital town of Boac are the Tres Reyes Islands ( Islands of the Three Kings), Gaspar, Melchor and Baltazar in the town of Gasan. The local names are Laki, Pangkog and Man-nga ( see map above). These islands are located southwest of the mainland. The other three group of islands bigger in area and more populated are Polo, Maniwaya and Mongpong Islands. These are located in the Northeast part of the mainland in the town of Santa Cruz. Maniwaya's Polo Maria White Beach is being develop as an alternative to Boracay. There is a bigger island, Salamongue Island which is not as well known to the tourists and residents.. I really do not know the reason, but I believe it is not as accessible from the mainland . Moreover, it is not as developed( no electricity or running water) compared to the other islands.

One of the most popular white beach located in the mainland in the town of Torrijos is Poctoy White Beach. It is about a 70 minutes drive from downtown Boac. Poctoy White beach with Mt, Malindig as the background is the most photogenic and the most photographed scenery in the island.

Just late last year, the former Elephant Island in Lipata, Buenavista, owned privately, was renamed Bellarocca Resort Island and Spa. It has been converted to look like Santorini Island, Greece with buildings all painted in white sticking in the cliffs. From what I heard, this resort is one of the most expensive and luxurious resort in Southeast Asia. The cheapest room charges $300 per night excluding meals and other amenities. When I was in Marinduque last year, I met a few rich and famous Filipinos( businessmen, actors and actresses, TV personalities)) from Manila as well as Korean and Japanese tourists at Masiga Airport in Gasan on their way to the resort. From the resort advertisement, I know that the most expensive accommodation is a 3-bedroom villa with its own pool and jacussi charging about $ 800 per night without meals. Dong Ho, Oggie Ramos, Ferdz Decena, Allan Barredo, Sydney Snoeck and Dennis Villegas are some of the photographers that I know who have photo blogs about Marinduque. Their pictures are beautiful, unique and mesmerizing. It is worth your time to visit their photo blogs sites. Looking at their photographs of Marinduque, its Tradition and Culture will surely make you proud of the beauty of our island paradise.