Road Tripping

Hello Hive Fam! Hope you are all good. In this blog post, I will share some photos that my friends and I visited in 2012. It came about from a crazy idea that one of my friends said about posting an invite on social media for people to join us on a road trip around a few provinces where we will be visiting some historical sites, parks, unique restos, and other interesting places for a whole day. Back then, my friends and I hustled a lot and did a lot of crazy,fun stuff; this was one of those times that was a winner in my book. So, the idea revolved around offering a travel and tours package on Facebook, because we loved going out on the road and people signing up means that we get to drive around and visit awesome places - getting paid to do it was a bonus. This was one of those places I enjoyed visiting:

Image #1. At The Entrance.

![DSCF7682 (2).JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/juanvegetarian/23uFefM4KnbXQJGvkCGB5G1oyRMSLUugUCJFWrFrf8NYjviYoKCiruMi6oFfP5mcmwNUN.JPG) This old church is the Saint Peter of Alcantara Church and that is my friend taking a photo of a man sitting near the entrance and selling candles to tourists and devotees. I find it amusing to have an image showing someone taking a photo of something while being the subject of my shot. It's kinda ironic and poetic at the same time.

Image #2. Marker.

![DSCF7686 (2).JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/juanvegetarian/23tmBQejwcqAykkiTXCCJZ2yd1EQmVw9prneVSBcaFETrcGPSmUacGBtuvHiW2zDproqu.JPG) This place had an NHI (National Historical Institute) marker, which means that it is an important church. The marker says that it was initially built using bamboo and nipa as materials and that a Father Pedro De Alcantara had this built in 1676 using bamboo, nipa, and other light materials at first. The foundations for a stronger stone structure were laid in 1732, but there was a fire that burned it down in 1739. The church was finally completed in 1767. Later on, a tower was added in 1777. The marker went on to say that it caught on fire again and was damaged by earthquake twice as well as the improvements and additions to the structure ending in 1984. An important date was 1788 when the Our Lady of Torumba was unveiled.

Image #3. Our Lady of Torumba.

![DSCF7694 (2).JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/juanvegetarian/EogNNcsMbw49gfhygoimfjz2oyiMhLV2b53TTqyBA2op2fW2XZQmcLv3BngRQEgvRZk.JPG) It was really beautiful inside. There were no activities when we got there and only a few people were present so we took our time to just get a feel of the place; to look at and just be in awe that people have been walking inside these walls for hundreds of years already. The painting of the Our Lady of Torumba looked magnificent.

Image #4. Altar.

![DSCF7688 (2).JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/juanvegetarian/23tvijG1SoxkmDTGLGDKBq86mmX9Xnz2UGbhHUgJCwjpxQm9JzdrrJQvbyfiFGGWu7eZr.JPG) Looking at the altar in front was a sight to behold. I can only imagine attending mass here and being mesmerized by the gold trimmings and ornate designs. The priest will surely be calling me out for not paying attention to what he was saying. LOL.

Image #5. Emblem.

![DSCF7685 (2).JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/juanvegetarian/23tbsG4kPXRKU1cXmu8ED7fDTPR7MgcoXmjjxdGjA7eRaXMsw6cgdPMKwdi7Sqdjy4o8U.JPG) I have no idea what this emblem means but we saw it placed at different areas around the church.

Image #6. Tower and side view.

![DSCF7698 (2).JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/juanvegetarian/242Y9ZF4VxNA35QUaeqyAz6Xi3Pmzyv2wx7d69JwxhUE8qihzmJxSNpkWtufsYbP4gf4c.JPG) This is the bell tower and one of the side facades. There were also a few steps leading to the office.

Image #7. Window.

![DSCF7699 (2).JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/juanvegetarian/23x19JPjfY8sqNmKrSkkv5Vfd9pcT6NTavZ8e9Q8XcCwmPRhRX2AR8zdLxBLDrYpqCxPZ.JPG) Last but not least, this shot shows a modern window that was definitely added recently.

Awesome History

I love visiting these places and taking photos. Seeing the designs, the architecture, and when it was built always gets me thinking about how these fit in with the modern world and the design thinking that went on inside the designers' heads. On a side note, the first Catholic community in this place, Pakil, Laguna was organized by a young friar named Fray Pedro Bautista who later on went to #Japan where he was executed along with his companions who became known as the 26 Martyrs of Japan. They were beatified in 1627 and canonized in 1862. He is now know as San Pedro Bautista. That's it for now. Thanks for dropping by. Hope you all have a fun, productive, and safe day ahead. Love and peace! @juanvegetarian

*all photos are mine. [//]:# (!pinmapple 14.380850 lat 121.478860 long Diocesan Shrine of Nuestra Senora de los Dolores de Turumba in Pakil, Laguna, Philippines. d3scr)

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