Heritage Nostalgia: Exploring the Natural Richness at the Museum of Natural History

For the final part of this blog post about my second visit in the Museum of Natural History, it is all about the natural resources and biodiversity of our country which can be found in the galleries in the fifth floor, as well with the reflections that I've gained in this tour.

The replicas of Lolong and a Philippine duck flying above the crocodile.

First, we have the gallery called the Philippine Biodiversity. You can find the different plants and animals which are common in the country. The main attraction in this gallery is the replica of Lolong with flying ducks and other birds surrounded the crocodile.

The comparison of jaws between a present-day bull shark, the smaller ones and  a replica of a megalodon shark.

Different marine creatures (clockwise) such as the nautilus and horseshoe crab, a replica of Jurassic ammonite,
a black marlin and other marine fossils such as the Tridacna gigas and other corals.

Fossils and remains of stegodon, rhinoceros, giant tortoise and a bovid.

Different marine fossils from the prehistoric era.

Don't forget also to visit the gallery of Life Through Time. As you enter the gallery, the first thing that you can see is the comparison of jaws of a bull shark and a replica of megalodon shark, a large prehistoric shark. You can also see different marine fossils and creatures living since the prehistoric era and their similar creatures in the present time. You can also check the fossils and replica of prehistoric land animals such as the rhinoceros, stegodon, bovid and a giant tortoise.

Different igneous rocks.

Various minerals which can be found in the country.

Different energy sources from wind energy, solar energy and geothermal energy.

Different forms of mining such as gathering gold and minerals from the rivers and mining under the ground.

Rehabilitating an open mine pit to an ecopark.

Then, we also have the galleries of Minerals and Energy Resources where you can see different energy sources used in the Philippines such as geothermal, wind, solar  and hydrothermal. Also, you can see different minerals found in our country as well with the places where you can find minerals.

A diorama on how lahar occurs during the rainy season. 

Don't also forget to visit the gallery of Geology of the Philippines. You may see a diorama of the layers of the Earth and a volcanic lava.  You can also see a map which shows the different volcanoes in the country, various igneous rocks and how lahar occurs. According to Wikipedia, lahar is an Indonesian term that  describes a hot or cold mixture of water and rock fragments that flows down the slopes of a volcano and typically enters a river valley. In other words, it is a dangerous debris flow that came from a volcano.

The game will provide 10 to 12 pictures and you will match it on the names below.

If you got it correct, then there will be additional points.

The game will test your knowledge and speed.

A father and his son are playing this interactive game.

In some galleries particularly in the fourth floor, there are interactive games that you can enjoy. These games will test your knowledge about the different flora and fauna in the Philippine forests. I really enjoyed these interactive games because of the additional knowledge and a challenge of memory if you really roamed around the museum and take a closer look of the various species.

Different varieties of birds which can be found in the  Philippine rainforests.

Definitely, my tour here in this museum enhanced my knowledge on how rich the Philippine flora and fauna is. We need to take care of our nature, conserve the plants and animals and save our habitat for the future of our nature.

Date of Travel: November 17, 2018

Heritage Nostalgia: The Second Visit at the Museum of Natural History

After months of waiting, the galleries at the National Museum of Natural History are done. They can be visited by the public and you may explore more about the natural richness of our country in terms of resources from land to sea.

The facade of Museum of Natural History which was formerly known as the Department of Tourism office.

Since its opening, there are many visitors who come to this museum
to see the natural and scientific heritage of our country.

The remains of Lolong are one of the most visited exhibits in the museum.

The replica of our planet Earth.

Remains of the dugong.

A bat-winged slug with its scientific name Siphopteron nakakatuwa. "Nakakatuwa" is a Tagalog word meaning amusing.

When I entered the museum, I visited the gallery on the ground floor which featured the varieties of wood in the country. Also, I visited again the exhibit where the remains of Lolong can be found. Definitely, the visitors come to this exhibition and they have this photo opportunity. Adjacent to the exhibit is the gallery called "Our Natural Inheritance." You can watch an audio-visual presentation of the natural heritage sites in our country which are preserved to save the nature. You can also check the replica of our Earth and the newly-discovered plant and animal species discovered in our country. I also got the chance to visit again the Marine Realm Gallery and this time, I've got the chance to enter inside the Abyss or the deepest part of the ocean. It is creepy at first but you will be amazed with the kinds of creatures that you will see in the mysterious part of the ocean such as angler fish.

A rainforest diorama which reminds me of a canopy trail featuring different trees and animals.

The tamaraw.

Civets and rats.

Philippine boar

Birds and rats living in mossy forests (top) and a canopy train in an evergreen rain forest (bottom).

Different variety of insects from bugs and butterflies in the forest.

A replica of a pine forest (top) and the habitat in a rainforest (bottom).

Replica of dwarf forests.

In this museum tour, I've got the chance to visit the newly opened galleries in the fourth and fifth floor. First, the Lowland Evergreen Rainforests gallery. You can see the different plants and trees found in the Philippine rain forests such as birds, fruit bats, snakes, rats, insects, civets, boars and other reptiles.You may also visit the Mossy, Montane and Pine Forests where you can see the animals living in the pine forests.  In fact, you may also see a replica of pygmy forests which can be found in the provinces of Dinagat Island and Davao Oriental.

A replica of limestone forests.

A diorama of caves with stalactites and stalagmites.

Examples of stalactites and stalagmites.

Don't also forget to visit the exhibit for Limestone and Karst Forests. You can see some examples of stalactites and stalagmites and a replica of a cave and limestone forests. Actually, it's been a long day seeing the sights and sounds of this museum, especially exploring the biodiversity of our country in this museum.

Snails and crabs which can be found in the freshwater wetlands.

Different lakes in the Philippines such as the Taal Lake in Batangas, Twin Lakes, Lake Sebu in South Cotabato,
Paoay Lake in Ilocos Norte and Seven Lakes of San Pablo City, Laguna.

Different aquatic creatures found in the freshwaters. 

You may also visit the gallery of Freshwater Wetlands. You can see there the diorama of different lakes in the Philippines as well with replica of animals found in the freshwater wetlands.

Watch out also for the third and final part of this post which is also included in my second visit in the National Museum.

Note: Thanks to PhotoGrid for some photo collages featured in this blog :)

Date of Travel: November 17, 2018

First Ilocandia Escapade | An Afternoon Visit in a Historic City of Vigan

The Philippines is noted for its several cultural heritage sites traced back to its history. Most of these places are preserved since the pre-colonial times such as the Banaue Rice Terraces, while others are maintained since the Spanish era. Therefore, these historical sites are visited by tourists in order to explore the history and culture of our country.

The UNESCO World Heritage City of Vigan in an afternoon visit.

In this blog, there are posts which are featured heritage cities which are preserved dating back from the Spanish colonial period. Some of these were visited and featured in blog such as Intramuros in Manila, Pila in Laguna and Taal in Batangas. These three heritage sites were featured in my blog which expressing my thoughts of traveling back in time because of the architecture in ancestral houses and structures which are made during Spanish colonial times. Therefore, I visited another heritage city which made my bucket list complete in this tour - the Heritage City of Vigan.

Vigan City is one of the New 7 Wonders Cities.

Before we go home to Cavite, we never missed the opportunity to visit this old Spanish city of Vigan. Located on the western coast of Ilocos Sur, Vigan is one of the few towns left in the Philippines whose old houses and structures are remained intact. The city is known for its sett pavements and a unique architecture of the Spanish colonial era in the Philippines. There are abundance of bahay na bato (literally house of stone) houses and an Earthquake Baroque church. In fact, the entire city was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage City after being declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. In 2015, Vigan City was officially recognized as one of the New7Wonders Cities.

The Saint Paul Metropolitan Cathedral located in Plaza Salcedo.

The bell tower of Saint Paul Metropolitan Cathedral.

Before we begin the roaming tour in the city, we visited the Saint Paul Metropolitan Cathedral. It serves as the seat of the Roman Catholic archdiocese of Nueva Segovia in Ilocos Sur. It was built in 1574 as a church made up of wood and the present day church was built from 1790 to 1800 under the supervision of Augustinians.

Plaza Salcedo

Plaza Burgos

Ilocos Sur Provincial Capitol

The church is located within the Plaza Salcedo which featured a dancing fountain and light show in the evening and an adjacent plaza called Plaza Burgos which is noted for its food stalls. You can also find the Ilocos Sur Provincial Capitol within the vicinity of the town center.

Faded walls and capis windows are evidences of the 

There are many tourists walked in this century-old street.

It is amusing to see Mamang Sorbetero (ice cream vendor) with his ice cream cart.

The Kalesa or horse-drawn carriage is very common in the Philippines until today.

The sights and sounds of Calle Crisologo.

Then, we entered at the Calle Crisologo, the most popular ancestral street in Vigan. You have this time traveling back in time because of the stone houses which were preserved since the Spanish era. The sett pavements (also known as Belgian blocks or sampietrino) which are common during the colonial era and the calesa (a horse drawn carriage) is the most common mode of transportation in the street. Seeing those bahay na bato (stone houses) made and preserved since the Spanish era are quite amusing because it remained intact in the actual place. Nowadays, the ancestral houses are business establishments, historical museums and transient houses and hotels, however, the structure and architecture remained intact.

The Ilocos Sur Provincial Tourism Office.

The ancestral house of Leona Florentino, the first female Filipino poet and her son, Isabelo Delos Reyes
the first Filipino who organized a labor union.

Aside from roaming along the old streets of Calle Crisologo, you may also visit the ancestral house of Leona Florentino, the first Filipina poetess and noted for her poems such as "Blasted Hopes." Her son, Isabelo Delos Reyes played an important role in history which he organized the first labor union in the Philippines and he did a major role in the Aglipayan Church. Today, there are two establishments shared in their ancestral house - a restaurant named Cafe Leona and the Ilocos Sur Provincial Office. In addition, Elpidio Quirino was also born in Vigan, Ilocos Sur.

An afternoon scene in Calle Crisologo.

We've done a lot of things in this place from souvenir shopping, photo sessions, and strolling in the streets of Calle Crisologo. We enjoyed the last part of our Ilocos Tour and definitely, memories will be treasured and if we were given a chance to come back, definitely, we will grab the opportunity to explore more about the Ilocandia. 

Date: August 27, 2018