When the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP, formerly National Historical Institute (NHI)) launched the Jose Rizal @150 Heritage Trail Project, Tutubi wasn't able to get even a Rizal passport (you need to get it at the DOT) and though he has been to most of the sites mentioned there to be visited, he didn't bother to re-visit just to get a stamp.

Now here comes the celebration of the 150th birthday of Andres Bonifacio that will culminate on Bonifacio Day, as knows how to get to all the places associated with Andres Bonifacio in Metro Manila (one particular site is within 10 minutes from his home).

Now, he will secure first the Byaheng Bonifacio brochure then visit the sites in Manila, Mandaluyong, San Juan, Pasig and Quezon City taking public transportation, then he will visit the site in Rodriguez Rizal then finally probably a road trip to Cavite with Scarlett (Tutubi's Toyota Innova, can you guess the color? :)

Andres Bonifacio depicted not in the usual (and false) bolo and red trousers

Herewith are the official mechanics, list of sites including "how to get there" information to the sites copied ad verbatim from the official website of the Department of Tourism (hey, government works are not covered by copyright and this is also a press release :)

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Mechanics

In celebration of the 150th birth anniversary of Andres Bonifacio on 30 November 2013, The Department of Tourism (DOT) and the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) cordially invite the public to rediscover and visit the sites associated with Bonifacio’s life.

Be a Bonifacio Pilgrim! Complete the Byaheng Bonifacio: Byaheng Bayani ng Bayan

Visit the sites featured in the Bonifacio @ 150 brochures and paste your photos taken at the sites provided. The first 100 participants to complete shall receive a token and a Byaheng Bonifacio: Byaheng Bayani ng Bayan certificate, subject to validation by the NHCP. All finishers will receive a Ka- Byahe ni Bonifacio certificate.

Bonifacio @ 150 Brochures are available at the following offices:

1. National Historical Commission – Office of the Historic Sites and Education Division
2. Department of Tourism – Information Office
3. Department of Tourism – Regional Offices

Eligibility:

The competition is open to all domestic and international tourists. Organizers, sponsors and members of the Bonifacio @ 150 Technical Working Group Committee / Organizing Committee are not eligible to join.

Redemption of Prizes:

A. The token and certificate may be claimed at the office of the National Historic Sites and Education Division, National Historical Commission of the Philippines, T.M. Kalaw Street, Ermita Manila.
Tel. nos.: (02)254-7482 or (02)523-1019
Email Address: hsed@nhcp.gov.ph

B. Winners shall shoulder all cost they will incur in claiming their prize.

C. When claiming their prize, winners must present to the authorized NHCP representative the completed brochure and a valid ID with name, address, photo and signature.

D. Winners should claim their prizes within sixty (60) days from receipt of notification; otherwise, the prizes will be forfeited in favor of the Philippine government.


Direction for Manila Trail

1. Tutuban, Manila
Tutuban Mall, C.M. Recto Ave., Manila

How to get there:

If taking public transportation:
Via LRT 1 : Alight at Doroteo Jose Station, walk towards CM Recto then ride jeepneys going to Divisoria.

Via LRT2: Alight at Recto Station ride jeepneys going to Divisoria

Via Jeepneys: Jeepneys plying Baclaran- Divisoria/ Cubao to Divisoria pass by Tutuban Mall area

Parking, Dining stops and comfort rooms are available at Tutuban Mall.

2. KKK Foundation Site
El Cano cor. Recto Ave., Manila

How to get there:

If taking public transportation:
Via LRT 1 : Alight at Doroteo Jose Station, walk towards CM Recto then ride jeepneys going to Divisoria.

Via LRT2: Alight at Recto Station ride jeepneys going to Divisoria

Via Jeepneys: Jeepneys plying Baclaran- Divisoria/ Cubao to Divisoria pass by Tutuban Mall area

Taxis are also available going to the area.

The area is near Tutuban Mall. Best to park in Tutuban Mall then just walk towards El Cano Street. Dining stops and comfort rooms are available at Tutuban Mall.

3. Binondo Church, Manila
Plaza Lorenzo Ruiz, Binondo, Manila

How to get there:

If taking public transportation:
Via LRT 1: Alight at Central Station, walk towards the Jones bridge area, ride jeepneys or FX going to Divisoria which passes in front of the church

Via Jeepneys: Jeepneys plying Baclaran- Divisoria pass by the church

Taxis are also available going to the area.

Tips: Best to park along the streets or pay parking areas around the church. Dining stops with comfort rooms are available at Ongpin St and other streets near the church.


4. Cry of Pugad Lawin Shrine, Quezon City
Seminary Road, Brgy. Bahay Toro, Quezon City

How to get there:

Taxis are available going to the area. Tricycles are available along Congressional Avenue going to the site.

Parking available within the park.

No dining and rest stops available near the area. The location is next to the Pugad Lawin High School and Quezon City General Hospital. The Shrine is open daily 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

5. Krus na Ligas, Quezon City

How to get there:

UP Ikot jeepneys are available going to the area then board a tricycle going to the barangay hall.

Taxis are also available going to the area.

Tips: Street parking only.

6. Pinaglabanan Shrine, San Juan City
Pinaglabanan St., San Juan City

How to get there:
From Recto, buses are available going to Ortigas, alight at Pinaglabanan St. in San Juan. Jeeps are available going to the site.

From Ortigas, ride a bus going to Quiapo, alight at Pinaglabanan st in San Juan City.

Tips: Parking and comfort rooms are available on-site. The Pinaglabanan Memorial Shrine is open daily. The Museo ng Katipunan is open from Tuesday to Sunday, 8:00 Am – 4:00 PM.


7. Hagdang Bato, Mandaluyong
Hagdang Bato Barangay Center, A. Bonifacio St., Mandaluyong City

How to get there:
Jeepneys from Kalentong, Quiapo and Pasig passes by Shaw Boulevard. Alight at Bonifacio St. Tricycles are available going to the Hagdang Bato Barangay Center.

Street parking available for buses, small vehicles can park at the barangay center. Comfort rooms available at the barangay hall.


8.Pasig Catholic Church/ Valentin Cruz Marker, Pasig City
Caruncho Avenue, (MH del Pilar St.,) Pasig City

If taking public transportation:

Via MRT (1): Alight at Ortigas Station , walk towards Robinson’s Galleria, FX and jeepneys going to Pasig Bayan are available. The Church and the Marker are within the town center.

Via MRT (2): Alight at Shaw Boulevard Station, FX and jeepneys going to Pasig bayan are available. The Church and the Marker are within the town center.

Via Jeepneys/ FX: Jeepneys and FX plying Quiapo-Pasig Bayan that passes by Shaw Boulevard are available. Church and the Marker are within the town center.
Parking, Dining stops and comfort rooms are available in the area of Pasig Bayan.


16. Pamitinan Caves
Sitio Wawa, Brgy. San Rafael, Rodriguez, Rizal

If taking public transportation:

From Cubao, buses, jeepneys and FX vans are available going to Rodriguez. From the town center, tricycles can bring you to the site.

A designated parking area, registration office and comfort rooms are available at the area. Dining stops are available around the town of Rodriguez.

Visitors need to pay environmental fess (P2.00) upon entrance to the park.
CAVITE TRAIL

9. Imus Plaza, Imus, Cavite
Tirona St., Poblacion, Imus, Cavite

How to get there:

If taking public transportation:

Buses bound for Dasmariñas passes by the Imus junction. From there, jeepneys and tricycles are available going to the Imus Plaza.

Street parking around the plaza, Dining stops are available near the plaza. Comfort rooms available at the Imus City Municipal Hall.


10. Tribunal, Noveleta, Cavite
Gen. Antonio St., Poblacion, Noveleta, Cavite

If taking public transportation:

Buses bound for Cavite City passes by the Noveleta Municipal Hall. Walk towards the tribunal located at the back of the municipal building.

Street parking near the municipal hall, Dining stops are available in the area. Comfort rooms available at the Noveleta Municipal Hall.

Open daily from 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM. No entrance fee.

11. Tejeros Convention Site, Rosario, Cavite
Gen. Trias Drive, Brgy. Tejeros, Rosario, Cavite

If taking public transportation:

Buses bound for Ternate/ Naic/ Maragondon passes by the Tejeros junction. From there, ride jeepneys or baby buses bound for SM Rosario or Cavite City which passes by the Tejeros Convention Site.

Parking and comfort rooms are available at the building compound. Dining stop at nearby SM Rosario.

12. Pinagbarilan, Indang, Cavite
Brgy. Limbon, Indang, Cavite

If taking public transportation:

Buses bound for Indang are available in Baclaran. Alight at the town center of Indang, tricycles are vailable going to the site.

Street parking only. Dining stop available at the Indang town proper.

13. Casa Hacienda de Naic, Naic, Cavite
Brgy. C. Nazareno, Poblacion, Naic, Cavite

If taking public transportation:
Buses bound for Ternate/ Naic/ Maragondon passes by the Naic junction. From there, ride jeepneys, baby buses or tricycles going to the town plaza. The Casa Hacienda is just a few minutes walk away.

Parking and comfort rooms available at the town plaza area. Dining stops are available around town.

Open daily from 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM. No entrance fee.

14. Trial House, Maragondon, Cavite
Col. Riel St., (Poblacion), Maragondon, Cavite

If taking public transportation:
Buses bound for Ternate/ Naic/ Maragondon passes by the Maragondon junction (Brgy. Garita). From there, ride jeepneys or tricycles going to the town plaza. The Trial House is just some few minutes walk away from the public market.

Street parking only. Comfort rooms available at the Shrine. Dining stops are available around town.

Open daily from 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM. No entrance fee.


15. Execution Site, Maragondon, Cavite
Mt. Nagpatong, Maragondon, Cavite

No public transportation going to the site. Because of the all-weather road, private vehicles are best to use during dry months but at a certain point only. Hiking is best going to the site [about one (1)hour].

Tourists are advised to coordinate with local guides at the Local Government of Maragondon before proceeding to the site.

Labels: Andres Bonifacio, Cavite, Mandaluyong City, Manila, Metro Manila, National Heroes, Pasig City, Quezon City, Rizal, San Juan

For information of those people who wants to go to San Juan City hall for mayor's permit, business license, real estate tax (amelyar), drivers license for traffic violation tickets, marriage license and birth certificates for local regisrar

How to get to San Juan City Hall

Map of San Juan City Hall (beside Pinaglabanan Shrine) on OpenStreetMap, Click here

How to commute to San Juan City Hall:

from MRT Ortigas Avenue station, ride G Liner or RRCG bus going to Quiapo and alight in front of San Juan City Hall.
Jeepneys also in front of Robinsons Galleria with signboard San Juan can also take you there (minimum fare)

From Quiapo, you can ride the same G Liner, RRCG aircon bus to get you to San Juan City Hall on Pinaglabanan Avenue

Driving Directions to San Juan City Hall:

these routes may not be the best and fastest but the easiest to follow

follow this route to San Juan City Hall from Quezon City: head to EDSA, turn right to Santolan (ilalim) past Ortigas Avenue,
until you see the city hall on Pinaglabanan

from Makati, head towards EDSA, turn left to Ortigas Avenue via the flyover, past La Salle Greenhills, past Greenhills Shopping Center, turn right to Santolan, past White Cross, La Consolacion Convent, The Arena in San Juan (renamed to FilOil Flying V Arena)

Labels: San Juan

Ever aware of the Manila Day's non-working holiday's historical error, Tutubi passed by City of San Juan en route to Makati but was met by closed roads particularly N. Domingo where he passed by everyday in order to avoid EDSA. It was only when he saw people on Araneta Avenue after SM Centerpoint that made him remember that it's the dreaded "free water" and "free car wash" in San Juan celebrating the feast of San John the Baptist (San Juan Bautista) that gave birth to the water splashing tradition.

On knowing he can't turn left on N. Domingo to get to F. Blumentritt going to Kalentong and Shaw Boulevard, Tutubi didn't try to turn right to N. Domingo to get to F. Manalo and instead made a U-turn to get back to Aurora Boulvard which was also slow moving. What Tutubi for the first time with his own eyes were "rabid" celebrators of the tradition that doesn't distinguish people who actually don't want to be delayed with their official business.

It's a good thing that Tutubi always has a camera ready with him, this time his trusty old Canon Ixus 30 that he was able to take a few pictures (thru the car dash dashboard) of San Juan residents splashing water on hapless and sometimes unsupecting passers-by to the wet world of San Juan.

The west-bound lane of Aurora Boulevard where fiesta people wait for their victims on-board open jeepneys and buses to splash water. (it's quite dark due to the coming typhoon Feria) plus the shadow of LRT 2)
an unsuspecting motorist stopped by San Juan residents "armed" with pails and laddles, who waited for their prey near Lambingan Bridge. Tutubi saw the rudeness of some people in front of his car. A news reported was there to document the event.

Someday, Tutubi can document the event more using his waterproof Olympus camera and when June 24 will fall on a weekend :P

Traffic Advisory every June 24 (the feast day of San Juan bautista):
Avoid the streets of San Juan unless you want to join in the festivities. There he saw people who would be going somewhere got wet. Truck drivers with windows lowered got wet at every corner, some people even tried to board buses (or G-Liner and RRCG) from Cainta going to Quiapo but were ready for them. Tutubi's officemate who lives in San Juan didn't report to work for he can't come to the office in dry clothes.

Lastly, every the last Sunday of January, the streets of Paete, Laguna also celebrates a similar water-splashing festival in honor of the Sto. Nino but people there distinguish revelers from onlookers and passers-by, unlike the people of San Juan.

Related Post:
Manila's Foundation Day

Labels: Fiestas, Metro Manila, National Capital Region, San Juan

An election fraught with allegations of electoral fraud where ballots counted outnumbered voters and orchestrated by the upper class against a plebeian. Man condemned in a trial for high treason. Wife beaten and raped by his arresting officer. Rapist did not stand trial and got away with impunity. Leader executed and buried in an unmarked grave whose body up to now has never been recovered.

These are not current events, but events that happened more than a century ago to a man whose birthday the country celebrates this day: Andres Bonifacio

Born on Nov. 30, 1863, in Tondo, Manila, in present day Tutuban and part of the vast shopping mecca of Divisoria. He was named Andres since Nov. 30 is the feast day of St. Andrew the Apostle. A monument of him can be seen in front of Tutuban Mall on C.M. Recto Avenue.

His parents, Santiago Bonifacio and Catalina de Castro died from tuberculosis, mother first followed by father a year later.

Was present in the house on Ylaya St meeting when Jose Rizal founded the La Liga Filipina

When La Liga Filipina was disbanded with the exile of Jose Rizal in Dapitan, Bonifacio founded the Kataastaasang Kagalanggalangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan (The Highest, Most Venerable Association of the Sons of the People), or the Katipunan, on July 7, 1892 together with Ladislaw Diwa and Teodoro Plata, at a house of Deodato Arellano on Sagunto Street (now Santo Cristo St) in Tondo. There's a historical marker at the site of KKK founding.

Bonifacio used the caves of Pamitinan in present day Rodriguez (Montalban) of Rizal on which he wrote: Long Live Philippine Independence

A poet and well verse in Spanish, his most famous poem's titled 'Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa'

Married twice, the first one to Monica, his neighbor in Tondo, who died of leprosy a year later.

Second marriage to Gregoria de Jesus (Oryang), an 18 year old lass from a wealthy family in Kalookan, at Binondo Church (though church records turned out nil, they could have married under assumed names for Oryang to escape parental objection being a minor at that time)

Notable Bonifacio Monuments:

Cry of Balintawak Monument at the corner of EDSA and Bonifacio Drive in Quezon City by Napoleon Abueva in bronze. There's a plaster version in front of Vinzons Hall at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City.

The Cry of Pugadlawin near Quezon City General Hospital (Did you ever wondered why there were at least two cries?)

Bonifacio Monument, popularly called Monumento, a national shrine with an obelisk at the heart of a rotonda (roundabout), the meeting point of EDSA, MacArthur Highway, Rizal Avenue(Avenue) and Samson Road in Caloocan City. It's sculpted by Guillermo Tolentino, a National Aritst for Visual Arts.

the western part of Monumento in Caloocan.

Bonifacio Monument in front of National Post Office in Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila, also done by Guillermo Tolentino

Bonifacio Monument at the Mehan Garden near Manila City Hall, a work by Eduardo Castrillo. (Ed Castrillo is also the one who sculpted the EDSA Shrine in front of Robinsons Galleria at the corner of EDSA and Ortigas Avenue, the Bantayog ng mga Bayani on Quezon Avenue, Quezon City and the upcoming Montemaria Shrine in Batangas)

an old photo of the monument beside the Manila City Hall with the clock tower in view

Pinaglabanan Shrine in San Juan City, the site of Andres Bonifacio's battle where he met defeat at the hands of the Spaniards

The Tejeros Convention, the site of the election that catapulted Emilio Aguinaldo as president of the Philippines. Allegations of fraud, called Acta de Tejeros, emerged the next day. The election protest was never resolved (old news, eh?)

Bonifacio was executed on May 10, 1897 on Mt. Nagpatong in Maragondon (this was previously listed in textbooks as Mt. Buntis and sometimes Mt. Hulog ). A shrine is now present at the execution site in a place now called Bonifacio Historical Shrine and Eco-tourism Park in Barangay Pinagsanhan, Maragondon.

Lastly, don't ever try to restart the old debate on Andres Bonifacio, and not Jose Rizal as Philippine National Hero.

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Expect Tutubi to visit the places mentioned here in the future :P

Sources:
Ambeth Ocampo's articles on the Philippine Daily Inquirer
here, here and here.
The "rape" of Gregoria De Jesus was postulated by Ambeth Ocampo in his book Bones of Contention
National Historical Institute

Labels: Andres Bonifacio, Caloocan City, Manila, Metro Manila, Monuments, National Heroes, Philippine History, San Juan