Piddig, Ilocos Norte (Philippines)

The earliest settlers of the place were the Itnegs.
As early as 1770, they cleared the land, tilled the soil and
enjoyed bountiful harvests. Years later, the villagers from
nearby La Union and Ilocos Sur arrived at the settlement and
drove the Itnegs away. Fearing for their lives, the Itnegs
fled to the hills and mountains. They called their new
sanctuary Pidipid, an Ilocano term for a hilly place.
The town was called Pidipid for hundreds of years until
the Americans arrived and changed its name to Piddig, which
literally means a hilly place at the foot of the mountains.
















The people of Piddig are known to be religious
as well as God-fearing. Records of Augustinian monks
indicate that they had an easy time converting the people
to Christianity. In 1902, another religious sect was
organized by Monsignor Gregorio Aglipay. His was the
Philippine Independent Church with Rev. Jose Castro as
the first priest.





























Like the Itnegs before them, the people of Piddig consider
agriculture their most important industry. The farmers raise
corn, rice, sugarcane and tobacco. Basi, an Ilocano wine,
is grown in almost all barangays and is considered one of
the town's principal products.

Piddig, a small town in Ilocos Norte,
specializes in a homemade wine called basi which
is made from crushed sugar cane juice mixed
with barks and berries from local trees.
This backyard brew is a mellow,
pale red drink prized for its tonic and
restorative qualities. They are fermented
and stored in jars kept under the house
until ready to use. Connoisseurs claim
that the best basi is achieved only after
three years of aging.

In Ilocano, the term burnay also refers to a
tree (antidesma bunius) which is small to
medium in size (10 meters tall).
The same tree is called bignay in the
Tagalog-speaking region. Its flowers turn
into berries which grow in clusters on a spike.
Red, fleshy, acidic and edible when ripe,
they are said to make an excellent jam or wine.
Although they grow all over the country,
they are more abundant in certain areas.
It has been an old practice in the Philippines
to name after plants or fruits places where
these are commonly found.

A World Class Mabuhay! (NAIA Terminal 3)

Terminal 3 is built on a 63.5-hectare lot that sits on Villamor Air Base. The terminal building has a total floor area of 182,500 m2, having a total length of 1.2 kilometers. A 4-level shopping mall connects the terminal and parking buildings. The parking building has a capacity of 2,000 cars while the outdoor parking area has a capacity of 1,200 cars. The terminal is capable of servicing 33,000 passengers daily at peak or 6,000 passengers per hour.

Its apron area has a size of 147,400 m2, 34 air bridges, 20 contact gates with the ability of servicing 28 planes at any given time. The terminal has 70 flight information terminals, 314 display monitors, with 300 kilometers of fiber optic I.T. cabling. It also has 29 restroom blocks. The departure area has five entrances all equipped with X-ray machines with the final security check having 18 X-ray machines while its baggage claim has 7 large baggage carousels, each with its own flight display monitor. According to opinions of other tourists, if the terminal 3 opens, there would be more airlines to serve the Philippines which will make the economy boost.



Despite of all the controversies attached to this airport. I'm positive that the new facade of our country will attract more investors, tourist and foreign travelers that will make them wow the moment they land on the Philippine soil and more Filipinos will be proud to see were the government spent our Taxes.

Butterfly Message

Early morning of June 11, 2008. I knew that it's my Lola Rufina's 1st year death anniversary. My mom and dad went to the church to pray for her. Then suddenly I've notice that there is a butterfly inside our kitchen. I knew that my Lola send a message for me to pray for her soul. Obviously "tumayo ang balahibo ko" then suddenly I wispered Lola "walang namang takutan .... ipagsisismba po kita". After that I told the story to my mom then she replied " Si Lola mo yan .... baka daw di mo na siya naaalala." On my way to the office I went to the church in Greenbelt to pray for her soul. I texted my sister to do the same and make some offering and she did. I really missed my grandma, I know that she is watching us above. I LOVE YOU LOLA RUFINA. :)

Published in Friendster June 12, 2007

My grandmother passed away last Monday morning, she was 87 years old although very frail and had enough I am absolutely devastated she is now gone.

"A light from the family is gone A voice we loved is stilled A place is vacant in the home Which never can be filled We have to mourn the loss of one We would’ve loved to keep But God who surely loved her best Has finally made her sleep."

Wherever you are Lola Rufina thank you for taking care of me, for being proud of me, for all the stories, lessons, laughter’s and all the good things you’ve done I know that you wont hear this no more but I know that you see me writing this piece I LOVE YOU LOLA mami-miss kita...

How to Kill a Super Inggiterang Relatives.....would you know??!!

I know that the title is so "rude" forgive me folks. I just can't take and understand how my 2nd level low rated, sick in the mind relatives behave!!!! Instead of focusing their time and energy in improving their own lives they try to re-invent stories and pull us down.
A friend of mine told me to "pray for them" in fact I did but they keep on pursuing thier plan to ruin my family. Oh! boy you dont have an idea about the extent or damage they have done to my parents.
Forgive me Lord for all the things I've said about them but if it's part of your plan that is designed for me and for me to become strong please light and guide my way to overcome these test.