by Penny Angeles-Tan | Nov 4, 2022 | Entertainment
Many people believe that in order to understand the present and possibly the future, it is important to understand what happened in the past. This is what Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar will attempt to do as it brings to life iconic Filipino characters that played pivotal roles in significant historical events through what is called now Freedom Land. Its revival aims to relive some of the Philippines’ greatest battles to achieve freedom and sovereignty.
Reliving pivotal stories through re-enactment will help us understand the challenges and successes of the past. Rediscover the importance of every event in Philippine history through Las Casas’ Freedom Land. Travel back in time and witness The Execution of Rizal, The Cry of Balintawak, and The Act of the Declaration of Independence.
From Rizal’s most loved novel NOLI ME TANGERE characters, Sisa, Maria Clara, and the infamous Padre Damaso to the iconic face of Philippine patriotism, Heneral Luna, these characters complete the Hispanic era and feel through monologues that will make your experience picture perfect and social media worthy. They can be seen daily at 10 am, 11 am, 1 pm, 2 pm, 4 pm, and 5 pm.
Aside from the iconic characters mentioned, storyteller, Lola Basyang will delight children and the child at heart with an anthology of short stories from Mondays to Thursdays.
Freedom Land theatrical play happens on all weekends of the month until December 2022, from Thursdays to Sundays. One show in the morning at 10:00 am and at 4:00 pm in the afternoon.
Located in Bagac, Bataan, Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar is the only Philippine destination that showcases the best of Filipino heritage and culture through the colorful stories as retold by Jose “Jerry” Acuzar’s collection of restored Spanish-Filipino houses.
From the majestic architectural design to a heart-warming revival of traditions, Las Casas is a complete package for one-of-a-kind travel to the past. All these unique initiations are in line with Las Casas’ mission to bring Filipino heritage to greater heights and have been awarded as the Best Historic Hotel in Asia Pacific in the year 2021.
To visit Las Casas via commute, take the Bataan bus from Cubao or take the ferry from SM MOA esplanade. If you are taking your own car, take the SCTEX road to Dinalupihan exit or San Fernando exit. It takes approximately 3 hours to get to the only heritage hotel and resort in Bagac.
For more inquiries, email re**********@***************as.com or call reservations at +63917.8729361, +63915.8519098, +64933.8224523, or visit our website at www.lascasasfilipinas.com.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jul 6, 2019 | Travel
Corregidor Island holds historical narratives of war that represent the fight for the country’s freedom. Known as the “Isle of Valor” or “The Rock,” the 358-kilometer island holds more treasures beyond the history carefully preserved on the island.
The Corregidor Foundation (CFI), along with the Department of Tourism (DOT) and its marketing arm, the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), and the Tourism Infrastructure and Economic Zone Authority (TIEZA), has unveiled the new brand for Corregidor: Corregidor Now.
Corregidor Now aims to attract tourists by offering them a chance to truly live and experience Corregidor Island in various ways! Visitors are invited to discover the island’s unique history and explore its many captivating spots, making it a distinctive and exciting tourism destination.
The campaign aims to actively promote the island’s diverse attractions, which include:
- Middle-side Barracks
- Battery Grubs
- Pacific War Memorial Complex
- Cine Corregidor
- Spanish Lighthouse
- Japanese Garden of Peace
- Filipino Heroes Memorial
- Malinta Tunnel
- Lorcha Dock
In addition to its historical relics, the island offers numerous opportunities for every type of traveler. Activities like biking, bird watching, camping, fishing, hiking, island runabouts, and kayaking are just a few of the fun options available on the island.
President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed Cynthia Carrion, Chairperson and CEO of Corregidor Foundation Inc., to lead the new strategic campaign called “Corregidor Now.” This initiative aims to create a stronger and unified voice for the island of Corregidor, elevating it as a prominent tourist attraction.
“For years, Corregidor Island has been primarily viewed as a historical site, with its beautiful features unknown to many,” Carrion said. “Through our campaign, we aim to usher in a new era for this eco-historical location, transforming it into a sanctuary where visitors can enjoy a relaxing experience while appreciating the past.”
This initiative, led by TPB Chief Operating Officer Marie Venus Tan, aims to attract more domestic and international tourists to Corregidor Island.
In support of this initiative, TIEZA Chief Operating Officer Pocholo Paragas emphasized their recognition of the island’s historical significance and strong tourism potential, which could establish it as a flagship Tourism Enterprise Zone (TEZ).
TIEZA is creating a detailed master plan for the redevelopment of Corregidor and the proposed rehabilitation of the Corregidor South Dock Pier. As part of their marketing campaign, they will implement more proactive promotional efforts across various media platforms to inform the public and attract target markets to visit the island.
Corregidor Island stands out among the many tourist destinations in the Philippines as a paradise for adventure seekers. It offers a unique opportunity to explore history while experiencing the beauty of tropical Philippines. The island’s landscapes, beaches, and skies provide not just relaxation but also thrilling adventures. Carrion invites Filipinos to come together to enjoy and explore this historical paradise, which serves as the ultimate sanctuary for fun and excitement.
To book a tour or know more about Corregidor, please email in**@******************om.ph or visit www.corregidorisland.com.ph or call +6328233281.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jun 9, 2017 | Business
While commerce has remained a core function in society, the process and nature of the way people do trade have changed greatly throughout the centuries.
The History of Philippine Trade
In the Philippines, it all started with what we know as barter – a manual exchange of “item for item”, oftentimes without the use of money. Neighboring tribes in the country would use barter to trade items or services of equal value, such as 3 hours of labor for a meal.
Chinese merchants
This changed in the 2nd Century AD, upon the arrival of the Chinese as the first foreign traders in the country. Local products were exchanged for corals, gold, cotton, and pearls, some of which can be considered early forms of currency.
The Arrival of the Spaniards
In 1565, the Spaniards marked their first settlement in Cebu when they sought to acquire a share in the lucrative spice trade. It was during this same period that the Royal Company of the Philippines was abolished, making Manila an open port for global traders. This welcomed business from all corners of the world, dubbing the Philippines as the center for commerce in the East.
Americans land on Leyte
During the American period, a distinct advantage that Filipinos gained was access to education. No longer reserved for the privileged, education and a grasp of the English language propelled even the average Filipino further forward into the trade market, allowing him to sell local crops and goods to foreign bodies.
The Millenial Filipino
photo credit to Philstar.com
Through years of exposure to both local and foreign trade, the modern-day Filipino was born with an entrepreneurial spirit; according to research, millennial entrepreneurs have launched at least twice as many businesses compared to their Baby Booming predecessors.
In fact, 55% of millennials in a local study indicated owning a successful business and reaching financial independence as an important value in their lives. Luckily for this generation, they are equipped with a highly distinct tool that allows them to fulfill their entrepreneurial aspirations – the internet.
The internet has changed the way people live, think, and do business. With the emergence of e-commerce, international trade became possible on an individual level. The definition of a free market has found itself in its truest form, with sellers at liberty to position their own products and pricing, and consumers at free reign to choose what they buy.
Lazada opens in the Philippines
In 2012, e-commerce was made known to the Philippine landscape through the entry of a company named Lazada. In the beginning, Lazada sold goods to Filipinos from its own warehouses. After just a year of operations, however, the business model evolved into a marketplace, inviting third-party brands, retailers, and individuals to sell on the site. Today, the e-commerce giant enjoys market leadership in Philippine e-commerce, with a significant portion of its sales brought in by marketplace deals.
Inanc Balci
A key factor that has allowed Lazada to maintain its position as the market leader is the convenience it provides not just to buyers, but also sellers. It is a one-stop shopping and selling destination that makes it easy for Filipinos to trade across cities, across the archipelago, and even across the globe, all with a few simple clicks. Through this, it may be said that Lazada has paved the way for many Filipinos to fulfill their dreams of entrepreneurship, and reach financial independence.
While competition in the e-commerce playing field is tough, Philippines’ CEO Inanc Balci remains confident of the future. In an interview with Anthony Pangilinan of The Boardroom, Balci states “Lazada will continue evolving. We went from being an e-commerce site, to now an m-commerce (mobile-commerce) site. We will increase the social aspects of it, the assortment, the service, etc.”
“In every way possible, we will continue to evolve the company and be the market leader for years to come. It is one of my life goals to make the Philippines a top e-commerce company in the world”.
About Lazada
Lazada (www.lazada.com.ph) is the Philippines’ largest online shopping mall and is pioneering e-commerce by providing a fast, convenient, and secure online shopping experience combined with an extensive product offering in categories ranging from mobiles & tablets, and consumer electronics to household goods, toys, fashion, and sports equipment.
Lazada is continuously striving to offer its customers the best possible shopping experience with multiple payment methods including cash on delivery, extensive warranty commitments, and free returns.
Lazada mobile applications for Android, iPhone, and iPad provide additional convenience to its consumers’ allowing them to shop anywhere, anytime.
For more information, please visit http://www.lazada.com.ph. For updates on Lazada’s latest innovations, as well as activities, contests, and promotions, connect with us via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/LazadaPhilippines).
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Mar 8, 2017 | Entertainment
Gateway Gallery celebrated the second year of its “Sining Saysay: Philippine History in Art” exhibit by launching a digital interface that utilizes augmented reality (AR) to recount Philippine history and make it more interesting to an increasingly digital-savvy generation.
On February 22, the Gallery launched “Sining Lakbay: Philippine History in Augmented Reality,” a project that marries art and technology to give visitors a more enhanced experience of its long-term collection.
The event was attended by guests of honor like:
- Mrs. Judy Araneta Roxas, president of the J. Amado Araneta Foundation president and vice chairman of the Araneta Center, Inc.
- Manolo Roxas, grandson of Philippine president Manuel L. Roxas
- Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc chairperson Stella Marquez-Araneta
- esteemed painter Betsy Westendorp
- Divina Gracia Pascua, OIC of the Culture and Tourism Affairs Office
- Dinky Soliman, former DSWD secretary
- as well as Binibini queens Nicole Codroves, Jennifer Hammond, and Nichole Manalo
- and 2016 Miss International Kylie Verzosa.
During the event, guests were able to test the AR feature and were encouraged to go around the Gallery to experience it first-hand. Ten DOT-accredited history teachers from various Quezon City schools served as Gallery Guides.
Art and AR
The “Sining Lakbay” project is a product of careful and creative implementation spearheaded by artists, filmmakers, historians, curators, editors, and technology providers.
It aims to be a platform for gallery guests to have a more enriched experience of “Sining Saysay”, a collection of 30 large history paintings that resulted from the collaboration between the University of the Philippines and the Araneta Center.
“Sining Lakbay” also aims to create awareness of history among the youth by appealing to their interest in digital technology.
Watching Philippine History unfold on their devices
To Gallery visitors a more immersive experience, 10 paintings from the collection will “come to life” on their WIFI-enabled digital devices like mobile phones and tablets using the Layar app that can be downloaded for free (on iOS and Android).
Users will then be able to scan the selected paintings on their device to watch the video and hear the narration on chapters of Philippine history.
The videos are accurate historical accounts of events depicted in the paintings. Each video lasts roughly three minutes, with the whole tour lasting about 30 minutes total.
This launch is just the first phase of an even bigger project of making all 30 paintings in the collection AR-enabled.
Gateway Gallery: Here and now
Gateway Gallery opened on November 21, 2014. Its long-term exhibit, “Sining Saysay: Philippine History in Art,” opened to the public on Feb. 18, 2015.
The Sining Saysay artists are:
- Grace Alfonso
- Don Artificio
- Bim Bacaltos
- Adi Baen-Santos
- Grandier Bella
- Angel Cacnio
- Romy Carlos
- Cris Cruz
- Dennis Dasco
- brothers Simkin and Vincent de Pio with their father Gig de Pio
- Neil Doloricon
- Norman Dreo
- Ding Hidalgo
- the late Abdulmari Asia Imao, National Artist for Visual Arts
- Ben Infante
- Junyee
- Aileen Lanuza
- Romy Mananquil
- Norly Meimban
- Jonal Salvosa
- Julius Samson
- Randy Solon
- Michael Velasco
- and Janice Young
In over two years of operations, the Gallery has grown its art collection to 50 artworks donated by various artists. Attendance has also risen to an average of 200 visitors a day in the same period.
Last year, it received an accreditation from the Department of Tourism.
The Gallery will continue to expand its horizons this year, providing artists a home to hone and showcase their craft, and giving the Filipino public a haven of learning and creativity. Projects lined up for this year include:
- the Reading Nook, a mini library for all ages, highlighted by story-telling sessions for kids in partnership with Adarna Publishing;
- and Bravo Weekend, which showcases Filipino culture through music and dance.
With its vision to make arts and culture accessible to ordinary Filipinos, Gateway Gallery will continue programs that introduce arts to young children, holding art workshops for hobbyists, portrait sketching sessions for professional artists, and hosting talks by artists and historians.
Located at the 5th level of the Gateway Tower at the Araneta Center, Gateway Gallery is free to the public and is open Mondays to Sundays from 10am to 7pm. It is supported and managed by the J. Amado Araneta Foundation, the CSR arm of the Araneta Group.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Feb 4, 2017 | Advocacy
Philippine Veterans Bank Lauds WWII Heroes, Sets Bataan Freedom Run on Bataan Death March Trail
In time for the 75th Year Anniversary of the Bataan Death March, the Philippine Veterans Bank, together with its partners, once again revisits history by organizing a couple of events to be held in honor of the country’s World War II heroes – the 4th installment of the marathon Bataan Freedom Run, and a new event for running and biking enthusiasts dubbed the Mariveles-San Fernando-Capas Freedom Trail.
Bataan Freedom Run on April 2
Slated on April 2, the Bataan Freedom Run will feature a 42-kilometer full marathon, a 21-kilometer half-marathon as well as 10-kilometers, 5-kilometers, and 1-kilometer courses for running aficionados, kids, and pets. As in previous years, the BFR follows the route of the Bataan Death March and will start at Kilometer Zero in Mariveles, Bataan.
Mariveles-San Fernando-Capas Freedom Trail for teams on April 10 and 11
image taken from https://cdn-az.allevents.in
This event is for bikers and runners. The Freedom Trail will feature a punishing 160-kilometer run with individual and team relay categories for marathoners as well as similar-distanced bike run. The new event will be held from April 10 – 11 and will cover the Death March route from Mariveles, Bataan to Capas, Tarlac.
Roberto F. de Ocampo – President, Philippine Veterans Bank
“Once again, Philippine Veterans Bank, together with our partners, is putting a segment of our nation’s history into the forefront of our national consciousness with the Bataan Freedom Run and the Freedom Trail,” said PVB Chairman Dr. Roberto F. de Ocampo, OBE.
“These events are not only challenging physically but also mentally to the runners and bikers but they are doing this to honor the World War II veterans who endured and made the ultimate sacrifice during the Death March seventy-five years ago.”
The 75th Anniversary of the Bataan Death March will be celebrated worldwide and the twin events are PVB’s contribution to the worldwide remembrance of this infamous chapter in WWII history.
Since 2014, the Philippine Veterans Bank, its partners, and the Provincial Government of Bataan as well as the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) have held the Bataan Freedom Run in honor of WWII veterans who endured the death march in 1942. With the new Freedom Trail event this year, organizers expect to bring together an estimated 5,000 participants apart from local spectators, mostly from Bataan, Pampanga and Tarlac, and in Manila, as well as descendants of the Death March survivors here and abroad.
The Bataan Freedom Run, organized by Without Limits, is presented by the Philippine Veterans Bank (PVB) in partnership with the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO), Provincial Government of Bataan, Freeport Area of Bataan Investor Locator Association (FABILA), History Channel Asia, ANC News Channel, and WhenInManila.Com. Proceeds from the Bataan Freedom Run will be used for the maintenance of Death March markers located in Bataan province.
On the other hand, the Mariveles-San Fernando-Capas Freedom Trail, also presented by PVB and organized by Without Limits, is also in partnership with PVAO, Capas Freedom March, Automobile Association Philippines (AAP Travel), and the local governments of Mariveles, Bataan; San Fernando, Pampanga; and Capas, Tarlac.
To register and find out more about the Bataan Freedom Run and the Mariveles-San Fernando-Capas Freedom Trail, visit http://www.withoutlimits.ph/component/k2/item/66-bfr2017.html.
This changed in the 2nd Century AD, upon the arrival of the Chinese as the first foreign traders in the country. Local products were exchanged for corals, gold, cotton, and pearls, some of which can be considered early forms of currency.
Lazada (www.lazada.com.ph) is the Philippines’ largest online shopping mall and is pioneering e-commerce by providing a fast, convenient, and secure online shopping experience combined with an extensive product offering in categories ranging from mobiles & tablets, and consumer electronics to household goods, toys, fashion, and sports equipment.
The event was attended by guests of honor like:
During the event, guests were able to test the AR feature and were encouraged to go around the Gallery to experience it first-hand. Ten DOT-accredited history teachers from various Quezon City schools served as Gallery Guides.
The “Sining Lakbay” project is a product of careful and creative implementation spearheaded by artists, filmmakers, historians, curators, editors, and technology providers.
To Gallery visitors a more immersive experience, 10 paintings from the collection will “come to life” on their WIFI-enabled digital devices like mobile phones and tablets using the Layar app that can be downloaded for free (on iOS and Android).
In time for the 75th Year Anniversary of the Bataan Death March, the Philippine Veterans Bank, together with its partners, once again revisits history by organizing a couple of events to be held in honor of the country’s World War II heroes – the 4th installment of the marathon Bataan Freedom Run, and a new event for running and biking enthusiasts dubbed the Mariveles-San Fernando-Capas Freedom Trail.
Since 2014, the Philippine Veterans Bank, its partners, and the Provincial Government of Bataan as well as the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) have held the Bataan Freedom Run in honor of WWII veterans who endured the death march in 1942. With the new Freedom Trail event this year, organizers expect to bring together an estimated 5,000 participants apart from local spectators, mostly from Bataan, Pampanga and Tarlac, and in Manila, as well as descendants of the Death March survivors here and abroad.
The Bataan Freedom Run, organized by Without Limits, is presented by the Philippine Veterans Bank (PVB) in partnership with the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO), Provincial Government of Bataan, Freeport Area of Bataan Investor Locator Association (FABILA), History Channel Asia, ANC News Channel, and 
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