BY: Nathaniel P. Silvano
From a city full of mountains, hills and cliffs, who would think that from its very heart, a perfect haven is hiding and waiting for one’s discovery?
Less than two hours from Manila, Callospa Resort from Antipolo City, Rizal can be explored. Traveling on a rocky road and zigzag highway will be nothing after you landed from your final destination.
On a first glimpse, you will not be attracted from it for it just surrounded by simple gate and barriers, but by the time you enter the entrance way, stimulus perceived by your eyes will flow through your craving body up to your curious mind.
The venue is not as spacious as a typical resort but you will be amazed how big swimming pools, spa rooms, tennis court and cottages occupied the area.
From the start, you will be stimulated to swim first before taking a rest after a long trip because the glamour of the swimming pool awaits you just near the main gate of the resort. The fresh water from the pool invites your tired body to take a shower and dive into it.
But if you want to take a rest, the cottages with cool ambiance will ease your tiredness. Callospa has a cottage constructed just like a home sweet home. It has a living room with a videoke where you can sing out loud. Beside the videoke is a nice dining area where you can eat your delicious food comfortably. Cottages in some beaches and resorts commonly have cooking area outside the cottage; but in Callospa, kitchen just like in the house is provided inside the cottage. The cottage also has a two huge comfort rooms and bathrooms.
If you like to feel stress-free, different kinds of massages and spas are offered by the hands of massage therapists of the resort. You will feel really relaxed after they touch your stressed body and also your skin will be transformed into a smoother and more radiant one because of the secret oil they apply to your skin.
For some athletic persons, badminton court is perfect for you to go for it has a large area where you can show your hidden skill in playing badminton and exert some muscle and adrenalin.
Other offers of the Callospa Resort are the big jacuzzi surrounded by pretty orchids and other plants and a cottage with Wi-Fi access, good for some bloggers and internet addicts, just bring a laptop.
This resort is absolutely perfect for all occasions whether it’s a party, a reunion or you just want to escape from your unending problems.
Visiting the Callospa is really tiring because it feels like hiking the summit of a mountain but you will realize it is time well-spent after the experience.
Monday, January 11, 2010
YOGA MEDITATION
By Maria Criselda Pamela A. Galindez
Two year ago when I first entered the Chaitanya Mission located in Morayta, Manila for a minor subject requirement. At first, confusion burst out of my mind what are we supposed to do. As the session ended, I felt the contentment I had never experienced before. The value of yoga meditation was an indication for us to slow down and take time to smell the roses.
It is harsh to rush everything to its respective deadlines, when all we need is a rest to do it. “Take time to smell the roses”, it means to slow down and rest for a while to continue what should do.
Yoga meditation, as explained by Ms. Tanya Tamayo of Chaitanya Mission and a nurse in Perpetual Help, is done when stress triggers a person. Stress, as defined by her, is a change or a threat to a person’s normal environment and the person will have the reaction to it, either positive or negative, depends upon the perspective of that person. The solution to stress is to understand oneself through introspection, inspection of oneself, and the so-called “yoga meditation”.
Alvin Castrillo, instructor of Chaitanya Mission, stressed the types of meditation; the Bakti Yoga and Hatha Yoga.
Bakti Yoga is done to develop pure love for the Supreme Person (our God) and to link up with the Supreme Person. Hatha Yoga is for healthy living and is very conducive in meditation.
For a stress person, they need to undergo other kinds of meditation that suits them. Gau Ra Anga is the first kind of meditation; it means the Golden One or Lord Chaitanya. There is a melodious pattern which sang as Gau Ra Anga way. This is done for five to ten minutes a day.
Mantra meditation, usually done in India, is a song format as resemblance to Gau Ra Anga, but differs on the lyrics itself. The lyrics comprise the song Hare Krishna Rama.
Japa, the last kind, uses the sense of touch through the use of japa beads. This bead consists of 108 beads and with the chanting of Hare Krishna Rama. Once you have done it, commitment is needed, to do it everyday. It depends upon the person how many rounds he will be doing.
Yoga meditation is a form of relaxation. Some says it’s a practice of devoting your soul to non-creature thing. Christians’ philosophy on yoga does not comprises their trust to it. They do believe in the powers of prayer as their meditation process.
The power of prayer has been proven. It is a practice that extols the kingdom of God. Also, it is a way of talking to the Lord that created the Universe.
By Maria Criselda Pamela A. Galindez
Two year ago when I first entered the Chaitanya Mission located in Morayta, Manila for a minor subject requirement. At first, confusion burst out of my mind what are we supposed to do. As the session ended, I felt the contentment I had never experienced before. The value of yoga meditation was an indication for us to slow down and take time to smell the roses.
It is harsh to rush everything to its respective deadlines, when all we need is a rest to do it. “Take time to smell the roses”, it means to slow down and rest for a while to continue what should do.
Yoga meditation, as explained by Ms. Tanya Tamayo of Chaitanya Mission and a nurse in Perpetual Help, is done when stress triggers a person. Stress, as defined by her, is a change or a threat to a person’s normal environment and the person will have the reaction to it, either positive or negative, depends upon the perspective of that person. The solution to stress is to understand oneself through introspection, inspection of oneself, and the so-called “yoga meditation”.
Alvin Castrillo, instructor of Chaitanya Mission, stressed the types of meditation; the Bakti Yoga and Hatha Yoga.
Bakti Yoga is done to develop pure love for the Supreme Person (our God) and to link up with the Supreme Person. Hatha Yoga is for healthy living and is very conducive in meditation.
For a stress person, they need to undergo other kinds of meditation that suits them. Gau Ra Anga is the first kind of meditation; it means the Golden One or Lord Chaitanya. There is a melodious pattern which sang as Gau Ra Anga way. This is done for five to ten minutes a day.
Mantra meditation, usually done in India, is a song format as resemblance to Gau Ra Anga, but differs on the lyrics itself. The lyrics comprise the song Hare Krishna Rama.
Japa, the last kind, uses the sense of touch through the use of japa beads. This bead consists of 108 beads and with the chanting of Hare Krishna Rama. Once you have done it, commitment is needed, to do it everyday. It depends upon the person how many rounds he will be doing.
Yoga meditation is a form of relaxation. Some says it’s a practice of devoting your soul to non-creature thing. Christians’ philosophy on yoga does not comprises their trust to it. They do believe in the powers of prayer as their meditation process.
The power of prayer has been proven. It is a practice that extols the kingdom of God. Also, it is a way of talking to the Lord that created the Universe.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
enjoy your trip.....to Quiapo:)
by: Nea Mirizma P. Gaspar
Swathed in history and known by most as the old downtown of Manila, these days, Quiapo in many ways confronts the traveller as a living, breathing paradox. Here you can find the old right next to the new, quiet meditation serious masses and the most holy Catholic icon in the country surrounded by occult stalls. All of these things combined make Quiapo quite an adventure and so much more than just another urban centre.
Back in December 2009 we joined Carlos Celdran’s tour , on a walk through Quiapo. The first thing that hit me was the chaos of the area. Everywhere there was traffic and people moving in every direction and a million smells and noises filling the air. On walking up to the SM Clearance Outlet at the end of Hidalgo Street we noticed a very large plume of smoke from a fire a couple of blocks away, but people only glanced at it and kept on rushing about and buying what they needed. Quiapo is known by many as offering some of the cheapest prices in Manila for whatever you need. Hidalgo Street is also known as Camera Street and has become somewhat of a mecca for photographers as any photography accessories you require can easily be found here usually for less than market prices. Stalls line both sides of the street and the middle of the street selling clothes, rice cakes, pasta, fruits, DVDs, CDs, sunglasses, bags, necklaces and much more. Before entering Hidalgo Street, Carlos advised our large group composed mostly of foreigners to follow the buddy system and never lose sight of our partner as it is easy to get lost in Quiapo. On the walk, or rather the shuffle through Hidalgo Street I experienced sensory overload with so much happening around me, but I was always mindful of my valuables and following the buddy system.
Finally we all made it through the hordes of people in Camera Street and came out into Plaza Miranda. This square in front of Quiapo Church was the site of the 1971 Plaza Miranda bombing where 9 were killed and nearly 100 injured during a political campaign rally held by anti-Marcos Liberal Party members. As I walked into the plaza I weaved my way through stalls selling flowers and fruits and caught glimpses of a protest for Human Rights going on in the centre. Plaza Miranda is also the site of the largest religious festival in the Philippines. Every year on January 9th millions of devotees gather to touch the holy Black Nazarene to be miraculously healed or blessed. They walk through the streets barefoot while the figure is carried in a golden carriage. The Black Nazarene was brought to the Philippines from Mexico in 1606 and both Pope Innocent X and Pope Pius VII have placed their blessings upon the statue. At all other times of the year the Black Nazarene is housed high in the altars of Quiapo Church. As we went there in December we were able to walk into the church and up a curving staircase behind the altar to touch the Black Nazarene’s foot. While the site of millions of devotees is something pretty amazing, going to see the Black Nazarene is much easier. When you touch the statue’s foot, you make your wishes or say your prayers and leave some sampaguita flowers which can be bought from the many vendors outside the church.
After this deeply Catholic experience you can step out through the side doors of the church and stock up on your occult supplies. In the shadows of the Quiapo Church all your supernatural needs can be met. If you’ve got a problem with an Aswang (vampire-like witch creature) you can find the solution here. Love potions made from lizard urine and a variety of other herb and animal concoctions can be found in numerous stalls on the edge of the plaza near Evangelista Street. I picked up a pendant for everything to do with travel which has a language that looks like Latin written on the back but is actually a Filipino version of Latin which nobody seems to understand but has apparent mystical properties. Also you can pick up a coloured candle to burn for whatever you need. There are a variety of colours to choose from and Carlos Celdran treated each of us to a candle. Red is for love, Green is for money, Black is for someone who wronged you to develop a conscience.
After an afternoon walking around Quiapo I was exhausted, but I also was kind of sad that my visit was over. Quiapo is a sort of microcosm of the Philippines with different cultural practices all mashed together and living in harmony with each other. The great thing about it is that it is located right here in Manila and is therefore only a short but unforgettable trip for any traveller who wants to experience a slice of Filipino history, culture and traditions.
And as a jounalist-traveller, as a whole really, Ive enjoyed my travel :):):)
Hope you also appreciate your tranportation when going to Quiapo, its not a poor place....its historic and beautiful if you'll look outside the box:)
Swathed in history and known by most as the old downtown of Manila, these days, Quiapo in many ways confronts the traveller as a living, breathing paradox. Here you can find the old right next to the new, quiet meditation serious masses and the most holy Catholic icon in the country surrounded by occult stalls. All of these things combined make Quiapo quite an adventure and so much more than just another urban centre.
Back in December 2009 we joined Carlos Celdran’s tour , on a walk through Quiapo. The first thing that hit me was the chaos of the area. Everywhere there was traffic and people moving in every direction and a million smells and noises filling the air. On walking up to the SM Clearance Outlet at the end of Hidalgo Street we noticed a very large plume of smoke from a fire a couple of blocks away, but people only glanced at it and kept on rushing about and buying what they needed. Quiapo is known by many as offering some of the cheapest prices in Manila for whatever you need. Hidalgo Street is also known as Camera Street and has become somewhat of a mecca for photographers as any photography accessories you require can easily be found here usually for less than market prices. Stalls line both sides of the street and the middle of the street selling clothes, rice cakes, pasta, fruits, DVDs, CDs, sunglasses, bags, necklaces and much more. Before entering Hidalgo Street, Carlos advised our large group composed mostly of foreigners to follow the buddy system and never lose sight of our partner as it is easy to get lost in Quiapo. On the walk, or rather the shuffle through Hidalgo Street I experienced sensory overload with so much happening around me, but I was always mindful of my valuables and following the buddy system.
Finally we all made it through the hordes of people in Camera Street and came out into Plaza Miranda. This square in front of Quiapo Church was the site of the 1971 Plaza Miranda bombing where 9 were killed and nearly 100 injured during a political campaign rally held by anti-Marcos Liberal Party members. As I walked into the plaza I weaved my way through stalls selling flowers and fruits and caught glimpses of a protest for Human Rights going on in the centre. Plaza Miranda is also the site of the largest religious festival in the Philippines. Every year on January 9th millions of devotees gather to touch the holy Black Nazarene to be miraculously healed or blessed. They walk through the streets barefoot while the figure is carried in a golden carriage. The Black Nazarene was brought to the Philippines from Mexico in 1606 and both Pope Innocent X and Pope Pius VII have placed their blessings upon the statue. At all other times of the year the Black Nazarene is housed high in the altars of Quiapo Church. As we went there in December we were able to walk into the church and up a curving staircase behind the altar to touch the Black Nazarene’s foot. While the site of millions of devotees is something pretty amazing, going to see the Black Nazarene is much easier. When you touch the statue’s foot, you make your wishes or say your prayers and leave some sampaguita flowers which can be bought from the many vendors outside the church.
After this deeply Catholic experience you can step out through the side doors of the church and stock up on your occult supplies. In the shadows of the Quiapo Church all your supernatural needs can be met. If you’ve got a problem with an Aswang (vampire-like witch creature) you can find the solution here. Love potions made from lizard urine and a variety of other herb and animal concoctions can be found in numerous stalls on the edge of the plaza near Evangelista Street. I picked up a pendant for everything to do with travel which has a language that looks like Latin written on the back but is actually a Filipino version of Latin which nobody seems to understand but has apparent mystical properties. Also you can pick up a coloured candle to burn for whatever you need. There are a variety of colours to choose from and Carlos Celdran treated each of us to a candle. Red is for love, Green is for money, Black is for someone who wronged you to develop a conscience.
After an afternoon walking around Quiapo I was exhausted, but I also was kind of sad that my visit was over. Quiapo is a sort of microcosm of the Philippines with different cultural practices all mashed together and living in harmony with each other. The great thing about it is that it is located right here in Manila and is therefore only a short but unforgettable trip for any traveller who wants to experience a slice of Filipino history, culture and traditions.
And as a jounalist-traveller, as a whole really, Ive enjoyed my travel :):):)
Hope you also appreciate your tranportation when going to Quiapo, its not a poor place....its historic and beautiful if you'll look outside the box:)
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