Welcome to MyBagac.com

The reason why I conducted the “first and only Bataan Death March Challenge” in April 2000 held along the exact route where the event occured because I was challenged why in the world would the ROTC of White Sands, New Mexico, USA celebrate such event in their desert where a handful of US World War II survivors from that State would be supported and commemorated. Also, there are three other places/States in the US where they commemorate this famous Bataan Death March.

As WWII history and survivors would tell that about 600-650 US soldiers died in that Death March while the 5,000-10,000 Filipino soldiers perished in that long march which took them 2-3 days to reach San Fernando, Pampanga and then boarded a cargo train to Capas, Tarlac as more of them died in those “sardine-packed” cargo trailers. By the number of fatalities on the side of our Filipino heroes of Bataan and Corregidor, we should be the one who should be doing this memorial services to them by way of retracing the route they had taken in order to imbibe in us the sacrifes that our forefathers had to offer in the name of defense to the country and freedom from foreign invaders.

For the past years, a “relay run”, usually known by few runners, had been conducted to commemorate the Bataan Death March during the week-long celebration of the “Araw ng Kagitingan” (Fall of Bataan & Corregidor Day).

The Bald Runner’s Events is now on the planning stage of coming up with a 100-K Ultra Run from Mariveles, Bataan to San Fernando, Pampanga which will be held on 05 April 2009 to commemorate the Bataan Death March on the exact route that our forefathers took (without the beatings, bayonet/sabre killings, famine, lack of water and firing squads, of course!). We will make this as our “Comrades Ultramarathon” in Africa or as our “Badwater Ultramarathon” in the USA for the Philippines. And let the ultramarathon runners worldwide experience our Bataan Death March Memorial Ultra Run. As they say, “build ‘em and they will come”.

Patterned after 100K and Ultramarathon Races held in any place of the world, each participant must meet the following requirements and follow some rules:

1) Runner must have finished at least one (1) marathon race. Age limit—at least 20 years old. Open to male & female.

2) Cut-off time will be observed in particular Aid Stations. Cut-off time for the whole run is 13 hours.

3) Maximum number of participants—100 runners. This is a “solo” race. (This race will push through even if there are only 10 runners or less)

4) Registration is expensive as each Aid Station will be provided with water, energy drinks, and lots of food! This is a non-profit event and this is all for the love of running as we need volunteers for our Aid Stations for this event.

5) “Big and heavy” medal or Plaque and T-shirt will be given to all the Finishers and/or Belt Buckles for winners. Cash Prizes will be available depending on the availability of corporate sponsor or other benevolent sponsors.

6) Each runner can have his/her crew (optional) from the Starting Area and could be only assisted with a pacer from Balanga, Bataan to the Finish Line.

7) Race starts at 4:00 AM of Sunday or midnight of Saturday.

We will come up with a clinic/seminar for ultramarathon to interested runners early next month. This will be free of charge and the final details will be announced here in this blog. If you are interested to join this ultra race and start your 30-week training, you can check my other blogsite at www.baldultrarunner.wordpress.com.

I will join the race and my training starts next week.

I need your comments about this plan, whether they are negative or not. Go to the next level, go ultra!

Popularity: 83% [?]

Rain clouds loomed over Metro Manila yesterday, March 26, but in Bagac, Bataan, the weather turned out to be bright and sunny with clear blue skies. Members of the press were able to enjoy the warm weather during the set visit organized by Annabelle Rama for the stars of the GMA-7 primetime show Zorro.

A bus rented by Annabelle, the managing director of Royale Era Entertainment and Artist Management, carried 34 people to the site, which is located approximately four hours away from Manila. The passengers included select members of the press as well as grandchildren of Annabelle as well as their yayas.

After eating brunch in Balanga, Bataan, our group arrived at the Acuzar compound in Bagac where men and women could be seen walking around in their native camisa de chino and Filipiniana dresses. Zorro director Dominic Zapata pointed out that the land they were renting from Mr. Jose Acuzar, chairman of the board of New San Jose Builders, includes a portion of the mountainside, a long stretch of beach, and a river where a simple bamboo bridge spanned a small river.

At around 3 pm, Richard Gutierrez warmly greeted the press by saying with a smile: “Welcome to Universal Studios!” PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) asked how he feels to be on the Acuzar compound where turn-of-the-century buildings stand proudly to this day.

“Pag nandito kami, nalilimutan namin na nasa modern era na pala tayo ngayon. Hindi nag-e-exist para sa amin ang Manila,” declares Richard.

When one is standing in the cobbled streets of the Acuzar compound, it’s easy to see how the modern world can melt away in the heat. The sprawling 400-hectare boasts of ancestral homes and buildings that were transferred brick by brick to this Bataan coastal estate. Some buildings have been standing since the 1900s but they appear as stately and ornate as ever.

This setting is perfect for the primetime show about a bold caballero who avenged the helpless against tyrannical bureaucrats. Through his many reincarnations, Zorro has become a household name widely known for his outstanding fencing skills, horseback riding abilities, and his trademark black cape and mask.

On that day, PEP was able to observe two indoor scenes: Father Felipe’s (Ricky Davao) incarceration before he was scourged for being wrongfully accused by someone. The same prison was used to detain the bellas composed of Bubbles Paraiso, Bianca King, Maureen Larrazabal, Sheena Halili, Paloma, and Shiela Marie.

There was also one outdoor scene featuring Richard and Robert Villar seated inside a horse carriage while Antonio Aquitania served as the driver of the carriage.

Since some of the old houses in the Acuzar compound have dark histories, it’s not surprising to learn that there are spirits that occupy these old houses. For instance, there is one structure that used to be a morgue in Malolos while another is famous for being a house where a family was massacred in the past.

Bubbles Paraiso recalled one incident wherein they were shooting a scene in the plaza when she noticed that a lonely figure was watching over them from above one of the balconies of the houses. The young actress then admitted that she has always been able to see these spirits but she finally accepted the fact that she had a third eye only three years ago. She also revealed that her mother has the same gift while her brother, actor Paolo Paraiso, is able feel their presence but he cannot see the ghosts. In Zorro, Bubbles plays Magda, one of the bellas who will seduce Silverio (Elvis Gutierrez).

For her part, Michelle Madrigal revealed that the cast members bond with each other by taking turns riding Richard’s jet ski. Apparently, the actor traded in one of his motorcycles to buy this personal watercraft, which he sometimes uses to get to the location from the Montemar resort where they are billeted. Michelle even pointed out that Eddie Gutierrez, who plays Governor Luis Aragon, had so much fun riding the jet ski as well.

Direk Dominic excitedly told PEP that viewers have a lot to look forward to in Zorro in the coming days. They were already building the festive area for two circuses that will add color to the town of Angeles (the fictional town where the story of Zorro is set) and a pirate ship that will actually be built by the production staff.

Zorro airs weeknights on GMA-7 Telebabad right after 24 Oras.

Popularity: 87% [?]

“Welcome to our Universal Studios!” ang bati ni Richard Gutierrez sa PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) at iba pang entertainment press sa set ng Zorro sa Acuzar Compound sa Bagac, Bataan noong March 26. Naging posible ang pagdalaw na iyon sa location—na may three-hour drive from Quezon City to Bagac, Bataan—sa imbitasyon ng ina ni Richard na si Annabelle Rama.

Wala pa si Richard nang dumating ang grupo sa Acuzar Compound dahil 5 a.m. na raw that day natapos ang taping nila sa second location nila sa San Miguel, Bulacan. Kaya si direktor Dominic Zapata muna ang naging “tour guide” ng mga press.

ACUZAR COMPOUND. Sinabi ni Direk Dom kung anu-ano ang mga bahay na nakatayo sa 400-hectare na Acuzar Compound ang binili—kasama ang bundok sa east side nito at ang ilog sa west side—sa nilulubugan ng araw para masiguro ng may-ari na walang magtatayo ng bahay o building at magkakabit ng mga kawad ng kuryente.

Gusto raw kasi ng developer nito na si Mr. Jimmy Acuzar na ma-preserve ang 1900s look na wala pang kuryente. Generator lang ang ginagamit ng production para magkaroon ng kuryente at tubig habang nagte-taping sila roon. Kahit si Mr. Acuzar at ang pamilya nito ay generator lang daw ang ginagamit nila kapag dumadalaw sila roon kung weekend.

Kuwento ni Direk Dom, “Ang ginagawa ni Mr. Acuzar, kapag may nabalitaan siyang matandang bahay sa iba-ibang lugar ng bansa, na naitayo noong 1900 na pwedeng bilhin, binibili niya. Isa-isa itong dini-dismantle, dadalhin dito at saka bubuuin.

“Kung hindi ako nagkakamali, may 26 houses na ang nakatayo rito at may mga ipinatatayo pa siya. Itong pinaka-plaza na napapanood ninyo sa Zorro, hahanga kayo kung paano ito naitayo at ang bilis ng mga manggagawa nila rito. Kapag naayos na ni Mr. Acuzar lahat ito, magiging isang community na raw ito. Ang huli niyang ipapatayo, isang simbahan na made of corals.”

Maya-maya ay dumating na rin si Richard, na naka-costume na bilang Zorro minus the cape nang makausap siya ng PEP.

Paano nila nakuha ang Acuzar Compound, na kapag napanood ang Zorro ay akala mo talagang bumalik ang Spanish era?

“May nakakita na ng lugar kaya lang ayaw pumayag si Mr. Acuzar na ipagamit ito sa taping,” banggit ni Richard. “Kaya ako ang personal na nakipag-usap sa kanya. Sabi niya sa akin, ‘Richard, yung lugar, ipinatayo ko ‘yon hindi for business, it’s passion for me.’”

Patuloy niya, “Every weekend, nandito raw siya with his family. At peace siya rito kasi nga tahimik, malakas ang hangin, at ang isang napakaganda rito, ang sunset. At passion nga raw niyang ibalik yung 1900, gusto niyang buhayin ang Pilipinas ng mga taong iyon, ang culture nito. Kaya nang una raw niyang mapanood ang Zorro, proud na proud siya nang makita niya ang kagandahan ng pinagpapaguran niya rito. Kaya ang Zorro pa lang ang unang nakagamit nitong Acuzar Compound.

“Kay Mr. Acuzar ko rin nalaman na may historical significance pala itong Bagac. Noon daw World War II, ito lang yung place dito sa Bataan na hindi napasok ng Japanese forces. Dito nag-ipun-ipon ang mga Filipino at naka-survive sila rito. Kaya ‘yon, lalong nagkaroon ng interest si Mr. Acuzar na buhayin muli ang panahong ‘yon.”

NOT FAR FROM HOME. Totoo bang halos hindi na umuuwi ng Manila si Richard at doon na lang siya sa Bataan namamalagi?

“Hindi na halos ako umuuwi ng Manila,” pagkumpirma ni Richard. “Kapag may araw na libre, pero kinabukasan ay babalik ulit kami, hindi na ako umaalis dito. Hinihintay ko na lang ang pagbalik nila rito. Nandoon lang ako sa Montemar Hotel, doon kasi naka-billet ang buong cast.

“Pag nandito kasi ako, parang nalilimutan kong nasa modern times na tayo, dahil very peaceful dito. Sariwa ang isda at gulay dito, malamig ang hangin mula sa dagat. Saka may time din namang nakapaglalaro kami rito. Dinala ko rito ang jet ski ko, ang mga toys ko [miniature cars] at ang portable gym ko.

“Malapit lang kasi ang Montemar Beach dito, kaya pumapasyal ako dito tapos babalik din ako doon. Kapag nasa set naman kami at break sa taping, nangangabayo kami around. Mababait yung mga kabayo naming gamit dito. Si Buhawi ang kabayo ko, si Pleasant Dream naman ang kabayo ni Rhian,” lahad ng young actor.

** Alfie Lorenzo:
I have marveled and wrote at it before na yong BAGAC, BATAAN na location ay nagawang mas maganda pa kesa kung nagpunta pa sa Mexico, City ang buong tropa to shoot.Mistulang blessing nga ‘yung matagpuan ang buong subdivision na yon na isang pamilya lang ang nakatira as if sadyang inihanda ‘yun para sa location shooting ng ZORRO…..

Popularity: 86% [?]

I’m calling this place a “CIUDAD REAL DE BATAAN”

This place is a “PRIVATE PROPERTY” since my daughter’s friend is related to the owner of this place, we had an access to enter, view and my daughter even stayed here overnight with their friends and classmate, so we had a privileged to saw what’s new inside these historic houses they’re building. It was like a small village/ community, it was an amazing experience for us to explore and viewed one-by-one all the old houses they’d bought in other provinces and re-built it again. The restoration is superb and they’d bring back to its old self; you can see here how talented the Filipinos’ workmanship really is. The mano-mano (handmade) crafting is… awesome! The hard work, superb lay-out and researching of houses history by only one Architect. You’re the best and very talented man! Advance Congratulations! Great work!

They’d told us, this will be going to be an exclusive beach resort in time it’s open to the public but rather open to selected members, friends, family and associates. In my own opinion, it’s going to be an expensive rate. In coming days, I wish they will have day tour for tourist, balikbayan and other people who love to explore and love historic memorabilia. Maybe because it’s worth millions and millions of pesos to do the work, the construction, restoration, buying, transport and rebuilding of all the houses in one place. Did you get what I mean? This place maybe open in couple of years since they’d have plenty of works to put up here and such a big work ahead them, but as you can see little by little they’d accomplish big already. I fall in love to this place! I will never get tired coming back and looking one-by-one to all the houses. Every time I visited this place they’d always have new interesting houses for us to explore.

I love this place! And I love old houses, I love antiques, I love the beach… it’s all in one place. If only I could have one of my own… I would like to live in this kind of old and historic houses… but sad to say my mother-in-law hates old houses, it gave her a scare… and she love modern stuff…what can I do?!

I just want to share, what I’ve seen and how beautiful this place now and then but in the future when they’d completed all the constructions…I wish I could still visit this place for completion of my travel story page…. this place is like Vigan Houses in Ilocos Sur, Northern Luzon of my country. Some of Spanish old houses that was built 16th century and was still untouched and become one of the most popular tourist attractions in the said town.

I do hope you enjoyed reading and checking all the pictures I put in this travel page. I just want to share with you what we have had experience and how beautiful it can be when it’s finished. We don’t know if we can come back here when it opens… I just wish they will still let us explore the place again. Just check out all my pictures. Have fun!

ALL HISTORICAL STORIES ABOUT FEATURED HOUSES ARE COPIED FROM “THE REAL BANK (the thrift bank)” CALENDAR 2008 ISSUE.

Popularity: 44% [?]

Mga mangingisda ng Bagac, Bataan: Buhay at kamatayan sa dagat (Soliman A. Santos)

PAYAPA ang dagat. Walang malalaking alon na sumasalpok sa buhanginan. Para sa mga turista at taal na taga-Bagac, lalo na ang mga bata, napakagandang pagkakataon ito para maligo sa dalampasigan. Masarap maglublob sa maligamgam na tubig dagat habang hindi pa mataas ang araw.

Masarap ding sumakay sa bangkang de motor para libutin ang ilan pang magagandang tanawin kabilang na ang mga kuweba at gilid ng bundok na sa ilang bahagi ng baybayin.

Pero hindi ito ang nasa isip ni Manolito Garcia. Para sa kanya, isa ito sa magagandang pagkakataon para mangawil ng bisugo.

Isa lamang si Manolito sa napakaraming mangangawil at mangingisda sa Brgy. Pag-asa, Bagac, Bataan. Mga mangingisda silang walang ibang inaasahan kundi ang biyaya ng dagat.

Ang kapayapaan ng laot ay nanganghulugan ng maraming huli para kay Manolito. Sa ganitong mga pagkakataon, maaga niyang ibinubunsod – katuwang ang ama – ang munti nilang bangka para pumalaot at mangawil. Mula pagkabata, ganito na ang nakasayan niyang gawain. Mangingisda rin kasi ang kanyang ama. Ngayong matanda na ang ama, si Manolito na ang nagmana ng kanyang hanapbuhay, kasama na sa pamana ang lumang bangka nito.

Karaniwang bisugo ang nahuhuli ng mag-ama sa laot. Pero kung sinusuwerte, minsa’y may naliligaw na lapu-lapu at iba pang malalaking isda na mas mahal ang presyo kung ibebenta sa palengke.

“Pero napakadalang ng pagkakataong ganoon. Bisugo talaga ang pangunahin naming nahuhuli,” kwento ni Manolito.

Pagpalaot

Baon ang dalawang litro ng gasolina, yelo para sa mahuhuling isda at kaunting pagkain, umaalis sila pagputok pa lamang ng araw at bumabalik lamang kapag may huli nang maibebenta. Gumagastos sila ng kulang-kulang P120 bawat paglaot.

Sa laot, iuumang nila ang dalang kawil at hihintaying kainin ng isda bago pandawin. Depende sa dami ng huli ang itinatagal nila sa laot.

Ang huli nilang bisugo ay ibinebenta naman sa halagang P60 kada kilo. Halos doble o triple naman nito ang presyo ng lapu-lapu. Ayon pa kay Manolito, karaniwang limang kilo ng bisugo ang kanilang naiuuwi. Ibig sabihin, kumikita sila ng di hihigit sa P200.00 sa isang araw na pangangawil.

“Kung maganda ang panahon at madawi, nakakahuli kami ng aabot sa sampung kilo ng bisugo,” ani Manolito. Sa mga ganitong pagkakataon, maaga silang nakakauwi. Medyo malaki na ang kanilang kikitain kapag ganoon.

May mga pagkakataon namang inaabot sila hanggang alas-kuwatro ng hapon sa pangangawil. Iyon ay kung madalang ang isdang kumikibit sa kawil. Ang masaklap, hindi pa umaabot sa limang kilo ang kanilang huli. Halos bawi lang ang gastos sa halos maghapong pagpalaot lugi pa sa pagod.

Nakakawil sa alon

Depende sa panahon ang pangangawil. Hindi maaaring isugal ang bangka at buhay kung maalon ang dagat lalo na kung tag-ulan. Kaya natutuwa ang mga mangingisda kapag ganitong tag-araw, kalmado ang dagat. Tamang-tama para mangawil.

Ito lang ang kabuhayan ni Manolito. Salat na salat para sa isang pamilya. Hindi sapat para makapag-aral ng anak. Mabuti na lamang at wala pa silang anak ng kanyang asawa na ngayon ay wala ring hanapbuhay.

“Ganyan dito, kung pang-araw-araw lang na kakainin, nakasasapat naman ang kinikita sa pangangawil. Pero kung dito pa kukuhanin ang iba pang gastusin tulad halimbawa ng pagpapagamot kung may biglaang nagkasakit, wala kaming nadudukot,” kuwento ng asawa ni Manolito.

Iba pang kabuhayan

May iba pa sanang kabuhayan ang mga taga-Pag-asa. Dahil malapit sila sa baybayin, puwede sanang magtayo ng kubo para paupahan sa mga turista kung tag-araw.

Malaking bagay din sana iyon para sa mag-asawa at iba pang naninirahan malapit sa dalampasigan. Ang kaso, ang baybayin dito ay inuupahan ng mayayaman at ginagawang resort. Wala namang magawa ang mga mangingisda dahil may permit ang mga iyan sa munisipyo.

Isa rin sa pinagkakakitaan ng mga taga-Bagac ang pagpapaupa sa mga bangkang de motor na nag-aalok ng pasyal sa mga turista. Ayon kay Manolito, sapat na rin ang kinikita ng mga bangkero kapag nakapagbiyahe sila sa loob ng isang araw. Pero wala namang pera si Manolito para ipuhunan sa isang bangkang pangturista.

“Kaya nga wala na talaga kaming maasahan kundi ang pangangawil,” ani Manolito.

Marami pang mga klase ng mangingisda sa paligid ng Bagac. May mga gumagamit ng lambat, depende rin ito sa laki ng butas ng lambat kung anong klase ng lamang dagat ang kanilang huhulihin. Iba ang lambat para sa pusit, iba rin para sa borador o flying fish.

Pero iba-iba man, isa lang ang kaibigang inaasahan ng mga mangingisda, dito sa Bagac o kahit saanman sa Pilipinas – ang dagat.

by: Soliman A. Santos & Maricristh T. Magaling

Popularity: 9% [?]

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga – Government agents rescued a Pakistani and a Filipino companion snatched Friday by a suspected kidnap-for-ransom gang in Bagac town in Bataan province, Central Luzon police authorities announced Sunday.

The arrests were implemented using state-of-art and advanced technology which led to the arrest of seven suspects, said police.

Chief Superintendent Leonilo de la Cruz, Central Luzon police chief, identified the victims as Yasser Irfan, 26, a businessman and resident of Doña Angelina Subdivision in Barangay Tenejero in Balanga City and Ramon Becares, an employee of the Pakistani national.

It was not mentioned in the report what type of business Yasser is into.

The report said the victims were on board a motorcycle and was last seen cruising along Governor Linao Highway in Bagac town, when a red Asian Utility Vehicle occupied by heavily-armed men blocked them and at gunpoint herded them to the vehicle leaving behind the motorcycle of the victims.

Police said one of the suspects allowed Yasser to call some of his friends for them to inform his father, Mohammed Munir Tahir.

Tahir, police said, told Bataan police that the suspects were demanding P5 million in exchange for the safe release of the two victims.

Senior Superintendent Manuel Gaerlan, Bataan police chief, immediately sought the assistance of Camp Crame’s Police Anti-Crime Emergency Response (PACER) unit.

Using advanced technology to detect the location of the suspects, Gaerlan said, PACER and local police went to the negotiations as the suspects was initially demanding P5 million.

Gaerlan said the demand was further lowered to P400,000. He said the suspects and Yasser father settled in that amount and agreed that the pay-off be made in Barangay Bacoong in Dinalupihan town.

Police said the place for the ransom pay-off was picked by one of the suspects.

Moments after the pay-off, police said, Yasser father received a phone call informing him that his son and the driver would be found along Roman Highway in Barangay Mambaga in Hermosa town in Bataan.

Government agents said they rushed to the area and found the victims stuffed in an abandoned tricycle there.

After several hours of evaluating all the information fed into the their high-tech gadgets, police said, they launched an assault in several places in Bataan that resulted to the arrest of the suspects.

Police identified them as brothers Sasenado Martin, Gallardo Martin, Nestor Juliano, Renato Obidosa, Leonardo Alingcastre, Ramil Calma and Christina Mendoza, wife of an Indian national Bootah Singh who is allegedly involved in several kidnappings in Bataan.

Police also said that they have also recovered part of the ransom money from the suspects.

The suspects were brought by PACER operatives to Camp Crame for further investigation.

Criminal cases are being readied for filing in court against the suspects.-Jess Malabanan

Popularity: 2% [?]

The first ever Fine Arts School of the University of the Philippines (UP) called the Escuela De Bellas Artes is one fine example of conservation of architecture.

Built in 1867, the two-story bahay na bato structure was designed by Felix Rojas, the first Filipino to earn an architectural degree.

It also served as the residence of the first dean of the school of fine arts. The school eventually moved from R. Hidalgo St. in Quiapo to the Padre Faura campus of UP, dooming Bellas Artes to its derelict state of neglect, disrepair and abandonment.

To save the structure, a team of architects moved each brick, stone and piece of mortar to the Ciudad Real de Acuzar Heritage complex in Bagac, Bataan, and under the sponsorship of the Acuzar family, reconstructed and restored it to its former glory.

Architect Joel Rico, the principal architect of Ciudad Real de Acuzar, will discuss conservation of architecture on August 16th, 2 to 4 pm, at the Lopez Museum. He will draw from his experience in the dismantling, transporting and restoring of the Bellas Artes in Bagac, Bataan.

Rico obtained his bachelor degree in architecture from the National University in 1993. He is an active member of the Philippine Institute of Architects and the United Architects of the Philippines.

He was also a member of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, and the founder of Architectural Archives Philippines.

As an architectural historian, Rico published several architectural books and references such as “100 years of Philippine Architecture”, “Zaragoza ’s Iconographic Collection”, and “Gawad Gintong Likha”.

The lecture complements the exhibition “The Sum of Its Parts” which is ongoing until September 2008.

The exhibition features works which have undergone or are slated to undergo conservation at the Roberto M. Lopez Conservation Laboratory of the Lopez Memorial Museum.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Popularity: 6% [?]

When I was still with my company TPG, we went to Bagac, Bataan for our department’s outing courtesy of my former officemate in TPG. Bagac has so much to offer in terms of its tourist spots and aside from these the places we visited there, it’s also rich in history as this is the place where the famous Death March happened during the World War II. If you really wanted to combine history with some enjoyment like going to its white sand beaches, I recommend to you Bagac in Bataan.

Popularity: 5% [?]