Monumento--in Malabon

The monumento: a cultural gem in the midst of urban blight.

Do you know where Monumento is? Many Filipinos would answer Caloocan City. But did you know that a short distance behind the historic Bonifacio monument is another historic monumento?

Jagna cemetery: a time capsule

How do you write the history of a community? That certainly must have been on the mind of Ambrosio Iturriaga, the curate of Jagna, Bohol during the last quarter of the 19th century

But the Augustinian Recollect priest had a big challenge: there were hardly any documents and other historical materials available. Precious records had vanished when the previous town church and convent burned down in 1808. 

A house, a cemetery and a boy named Pepe

The date '1853' is inscribed above the portal of the cemetery chapel of Biñan, Laguna.

Mention Biñan, Laguna to heritage enthusiasts and what usually comes to mind is the sad saga of the Alberto House, which is associated with the family of Teodora Alonzo, the mother of national hero Jose Rizal. The young Rizal also lived in this town between 1869 and 1871 when he studied under a local maestro or teacher, Justiniano Aquino Cruz.

Did Padre Damaso build this cemetery?

The beautiful cemetery gate of Dingras, Ilocos Norte.

Any tour itinerary of Ilocos Norte always goes through a familiar list: Paoay Church, Laoag's so-called Sinking Belltower, the Marcos mausoleum, the beaches of Pagudpud, Bangui's windmills, etc. To a lesser extent, some tourists visit the once-ruined, now-restored church in the town of Dingras.

But what about its Spanish-era cemetery? But that is getting ahead of the story.

The Pantyon: Bocaue's unique, underrated attraction

The Pantyon is a pleasant surprise in a town  usually famous for firecrackers, fluvial parades, and--lately--a fantastic indoor arena.

Just recently, Bocaue, Bulacan became the center of attention throughout the country because of the opening of the Philippine Arena, which is touted to be the largest indoor arena in the world. 

But, not far from this modern marvel stands another architectural gem, which, unlike the steely showcase by the North Luzon Expressway, remains hidden and virtually unknown: the Pantyon. 

Balayan's cheerful checkerboard chapel

The mortuary chapel of Balayan. Apart from its historical value, it is also an architectural delight.

Apart from its walls, the other attraction of Balayan, Batangas' cemetery on a hill is its mortuary chapel. Built in 1887, the structure is unusually large for chapels of this type. 

Balayan's shining landmark on a hill

The steps leading to the 19th-century hilltop cemetery of Balayn, Batangas.

Balayan, Batangas is home to some of the finest ancestral houses in the country as well as a church that is now a declared national treasure. But unknown to many, it also has one of the most impressive heritage cemeteries in the Southern Tagalog region.