JessicaRulestheUniverse.com

I’ve seen more of the Philippines this year by attending the My City, My SM launch events at SM malls than I have in my entire life. And I have always lived here. So far I’ve been to Iloilo, Baguio, Pangasinan, Quezon, and this last weekend, Batangas.

My City, My SM showcases the sights and local industries of the host cities. In Batangas there was:

Traditional embroidery. The embroiderers of Taal make fine dresses, shirts, tablecloths, wedding gowns, bed covers, ternos. Their handiwork is available at the public market in Taal. I found a piña table runner for P200.

Native snacks to go with their Kapeng Barako

New knives

Old knives

A Really Big Knife

Traditional dances.

I know what you’re thinking: Was Governor Vi there? No, but the vice-governor gave a speech.

The following morning we visited some beautiful old houses.

This is the house of Mr Antonio Pastor, which was built in 1883.

The interiors are preserved and maintained—you can actually sit on the antique furniture and play the Bosendorfer piano.

After lunch we went to Taal, which is a time travel experience: streets lined with houses over a century old. At Galleria Taal in the Ilagan-Barrion house on Calle Marcela Agoncillo, we saw
Philippine Photography in Changing Times, an exhibition of Philippine photographs from the 1870s to the 1980s and a collection of rare vintage cameras. My friends would plotz over these “parts”.

Among the photos: The Execution of Jose Rizal.

An Aquino family photo—yes, that’s President Noynoy as a child.

We also stopped at house of Marcela Agoncillo, the woman who made the Philippine flag. Visitors often ask the guide which room she sewed the flag in. Ano ba, she sewed the flag in Hong Kong, the Agoncillos were in exile with General Aguinaldo. (I almost asked the same question, haha.)

The preservation and maintenance of these old houses costs a lot, and their owners are often tempted to sell them. The Batangas tourism office and heritage groups step in to make sure the houses are not torn down. It’s a battle.

As always, thanks to Ms Millie Dizon and the SM Marketing and Promotions Group for taking me around the country, and thanks to Batangas Tourism Officer Dindo Montenegro for turning the casual tour into a history class.