ROAD TRIP 2016 PART 1: ZAMBOANGA CITY TO DIPOLOG CITY

It is March 2016 and we are again on a road trip!!! 

It is exciting again... but I wondered, "Would additional years in our age, still make us (actually me!) flexible for less comfortable trip through the not so perfect National Highway in Western Mindanao and RoRo ... and eventually reaching our final destination in Bacolod City then back to Zamboanga City?"

It is Day 1 and we are expecting a five to six hour road trip from Zamboanga City to Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay for our first stopover at Jollibee Ipil, then onwards through Zamboanga Del Norte to Dipolog City... 307 km. trip!

ROUTE MAP OF ZAMBOANGA CITY TO DIPOLOG CITY 307 KMS

ROUTE MAP FROM ZAMBOANGA CITY TO FIRST STOPOVER:
IPIL, ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY (136 KMS)

Vitali area

We already see the effects of El Nino as we travel through the countryside...

Although, there are few green areas still noted close to the predominantly brown fields.

Finally, we have arrived at Jollibee Ipil where we would have our early lunch and restroom stopover! 

This is the safest place for a stopover because there aren't any larger restaurants for the next leg until we reach Dipolog City.

This is Jollibee Ipil. There are really lots of customers here this Sunday!

From Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay, we are on our way again to Dipolog City, Zamboanga Del Norte which is another 174 kms away.

ROUTE MAP FROM FIRST STOPOVER AT IPIL, ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY TO DIPOLOG CITY (174 KMS)

This is the Ipil Rotonda or Round-about marking the historical chartering of Zamboanga Sibugay as a province.

Here were are on our way as we pass by the beautiful roads in Tampilisan, ZDN.

But there are not so good roads, too!

And here is more...

In fact, this is the so-called TRAFFIC FLAG! RED means STOP while GREEN means GO! 

Some motorcycles, however, still GO even with the RED FLAG!

And here is more evidence of the El Nino Phenomenon!

And of course, interesting things catch our attention... like, KEEP DESTANCE!

And other modes of transportation running through the Philippine highways! 

By the way, I am seeing less animals on the road. I used to see dogs, cats, chickens, goats, cows and horses traversing the highway. For this trip, I did see chickens, carabao and a horse, fortunately, more on the roadside.

As we crossed to Zamboanga Del Norte, we now see the beautiful and rustic seaside views.

Oh! And we now seen the Welcome Arch for Dipolog City!

It was a Sunday and the city streets were quiet as we looked for the Medallion Shipping Lines office to get our ticket for our next leg!

And of course, here is the Dipolog City Rotonda! 

Then, we went to the 4 p.m. mass at the Holy Rosary Cathedral for Palm Sunday Mass.

We passed by Lee Plaza for an early dinner at Chow King!

We reached Chow King by 6 p.m. Our orders were a bit delayed, but, we had to hurry up or we will miss our 7 p.m. RORO (roll on roll off) ride to Cebu!

We immediately went towards the Dipolog City Port for our Boat Trip! We were just on time... and the last to board!

This is a 9-hour ship ride on board the Medallion Shipping, Our Lady of Good Voyage vessel. A new experience for me but the second time for my travel mates!

This is an easier ride to Cebu since we will dock directly at Pier 3, Cebu City. 

We used to ride the vessel at the Dapitan Port to Dumaguete for four hours, then, another 38-minute ferry ride from Tampi-Bato Ferry (Dumaguete) to Santander, Cebu and a road trip again to Cebu City for a total of another 11 hours! 

This is more difficult because you had to know the boat schedules for proper timing.

OLD ROUTE FROM DIPOLOG CITY TO DAPITAN TO DUMAGUETE TO CEBU

With this route, it is 307 km plus 274 km = 578 kms from Zamboanga City to Cebu City.

For our drivers, the new Dipolog City to Cebu City nautical highway is definitely a breeze!

We still have a long way to go for the completion of our trip to Cebu-San Carlos City-Bacolod City and back!

ALTAR OF REPOSE 2016: HOLY WEEK IN ZAMBOANGA CITY

ALTAR OF REPOSE
from: Wikipedia

The altar of repose is an altar where the Communion hosts consecrated on Maundy Thursday during the Mass of the Lord's Supper are placed, or "reserved", for use on the following day, Good Friday. The altar can be found in Roman Catholic, Anglican (especially Anglo-Catholic), and someLutheran churches. Good Friday is the day on which the death of Christ is observed. His Resurrection is not observed until Easter Sunday and the anticipatory Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday. Between the time of his death and resurrection, mass is not celebrated, and so communion hosts cannot be consecrated. Any hosts used on Good Friday must have been consecrated previously

from: EWTN.com

The place of reposition should be as beautiful as possible and should be sufficiently prominent so as to allow for adoration, even by large groups, following the Mass of the Lord's Supper.

In 1988 the Holy See published "Paschales Solemnitatis," a "Circular Letter Concerning the Preparation and Celebration of the Easter Feasts." 

No. 49 of this document refers to our topic: "For the reservation of the Blessed Sacrament, a place should be prepared and adorned in such a way as to be conducive to prayer and meditation, seriousness appropriate to the liturgy of these days is enjoined so that all abuses are avoided or suppressed. 

The altar of repose need not be a real altar and is often a temporary structure. In some places it is customary to make the place of reposition resemble an altar while others prefer locating the tabernacle on a column to make it stand out more clearly. 

The decoration of the altar of repose should be special, At least four or six candles or lamps, and preferably more, should burn around it and should be tastefully arranged with flowers, drapes, fine cloths, carpets and a judicious use of subdued electric lighting in order to create the necessary ambiance of silence and meditation.

In those countries where it is possible, wheat stalks and young olive trees may also be incorporated into the decoration in order to evoke the themes of Eucharist and the garden of Gethsemane. 

"Paschales Solemnitatis," No. 55, reflecting the liturgical reform, specifies: "The place where the tabernacle or pyx is situated must not be made to resemble a tomb, and the expression 'tomb' is to be avoided. The chapel of repose is not prepared so as to represent the 'Lord's burial' but for the custody of the eucharistic bread that will be distributed in Communion on Good Friday."

Any crosses or images that might be behind the tabernacle should be concealed using curtains or drapes of white, gold or some similar hue so that nothing distracts from the tabernacle. 

from: Sancta Missa

I would like to share the Altar of Repose in some of the parishes here in Zamboanga City. Many of the Archdiocese of Zamboanga parish priests are very talented and more so, supported by very entusiastic and creative friends and parishioners.

METROPOLITAN CATHEDRAL OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

La Purisima, Zamboanga City
Parish Priests: Most Rev. Romulo Dela Cruz D.D. (Archbishop)
                         Fr. Moises Cuevas

before completion (Photo credits: Alan B. Dela Cruz)

Photo credits: Alan B. Dela Cruz

Photo credits: Alan B. Dela Cruz

Photo credits: Alan B. Dela Cruz

OUR LADY OF PURIFICATION PARISH
Sta. Maria, Zamboanga City
Parish Priest: Fr. Ferdinand Candido

Photo credits: Alan B. Dela Cruz

Photo credits: Alan B. Dela Cruz

Thank you very to Alan B. Dela Cruz for the creation of the Altar of Repose of the MCIC and Sta. Maria Parish in coordination with their respective parish priests. 

ST. IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA PARISH
Tetuan, Zamboanga City
Parish Priest: Fr. Sulpicio Soliva

Photo Credits: Lilibeth Luna / Marlo Luna FB

Photo Credits: Lilibeth Luna / Marlo Luna FB

ST. ANTHONY DE PADUA PARISH
Putik, Zamboanga City
Parish Priest: Fr. Francis Jacinto

Photo credits: Fr. Francis Jacinto

Photo Credit: Patricia Rochella Borgonia / Che Real FB

OUR LADY OF RANSOM PARISH
Mercedes, Zamboanga City
Parish Priest: Fr. Adriano Ruiz Jr.

Our Repository for tonight's vigil...At Mercedes Parish...idea,talent and done by our Parish Priest-Fr.Adriano Ruiz Jr. (Photo Credit: Estrellita Mancao FB)

Photo Credit: Estrellita Mancao FB

HOLY TRINITY PARISH
Pasonanca, Zamboanga City
Parish Priest: Fr. Michael Ufana

This is repository in Pasonanca Church the group of Raymond has done this thank you Father God for this beautiful place were you be adore by your people.....Fr. Michael Ufana

Photo Credit: Mhond Asana Rabanal FB

OUR MOTHER OF PERPETUAL HELP PARISH

Guiwan, Zamboanga City

Parish Priest: Fr. Marciano Villagracia

Photo Credit: Vincez Cabato FB

Photo Credit: Patricia Rochella Borgonia / Che Real FB

ST. JOSEPH, SPOUSE OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY PARISH
Nunez Street, Zamboanga City
Parish Priest: Msgr. Crisologo Manongas

Photo Credit: Patricia Rochella Borgonia / Che Real FB

OUR LADY OF ASSUMPTION PARISH

Culianan, Zamboanga City

Photo Credit: Vincez Cabato FB

OUR LADY OF MANAOAG PARISH
Tumaga, Zamboanga City

Photo Credit: Paul Mervin Iglesias 

SAN ANTONIO MARIA CLARET PARISH
San Jose, Zamboanga City

Photo Credit: Patricia Rochella Borgonia / Che Real FB

OUR LADY OF CARMEL PARISH
R.T. Lim Boulevard, Zamboanga City

Photo Credit: Patricia Rochella Borgonia / Che Real FB

These beautiful and solemn places of reposition inspire us for Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament this Maundy Thursday of Holy Week 2016!

P.S. The intent of this blog is for thanksgiving, sharing and for appreciation of beautiful expressions for the Blessed Sacrament during Holy Week. Considering this is a holy place, these are not for comparison nor assessment of each design. Other parishes are not included because I don't have access to photos from these parishes, but would gladly include them if given the chance.