Infant Jesus Institute Las Piñas

Just the other day, while going to my kiddos' school meeting I accidentally drove past MCA and found myself heading toward my old High school. I kinda felt so many emotions into me like being nostalgic, excited, disgusted, annoyed, and sad about what I saw in front of me.

The Old school building is still there standing in its original place with some added structures on its ground while the facade of the school made a huge improvement giving the impression that this building is no longer a school but a commercial establishment. As I made my way into those familiar spaces I felt like being back the very 1st time I set my foot in this school.

S.Y. 1994-1995 Sophomore Year
Learn More, Achieve More- Sophomore!!!
I was so disappointed and angry at my mom because I don't really like this school. It doesn't have any curb appeal. Only one section per each grade level, can you imagine that?? No Laboratory room, small library, registrar's office is so small, school CR is dark, scary, and "NO WATER!" What the heck is this really my new school? The 2nd-floor classrooms don't have a ceiling, what?? The schoolyard is sooo small nothing compared to my old school and most of all I can't find the area where the school program is being held. New classmates, new teachers- can't comment. Overall this is like a jailhouse where I'll have to spend my entire high school life. I would never really like this school. Per the class roster, a lot of transferred students for this school year. The only thing that makes my every day exciting is seeing my high school crush smiling :)-awww, adds color to my day. Sophomore year?- SUCKS!!!

S.Y. 1995-1996 Junior Year
Act and Dance or you won't feel the beat- Junior Year!!!
They said that this is the toughest year of your high school life. I kinda feel I belong... new classmates, new faces, new teachers, new seatmates/groupmates, etc. new high school crush :) Met Gloria Dela Cruz as our Values Education teacher. A storm hit the country named Katring that blew our school roof causing us to be on an earlier and longer semestral break of the year. JS Prom? I didn't attend cause I am saving it for next year.   

S.Y. 1996-1997 Senior Year
We didn't realize we were making memories
We just knew we were having fun- - Senior Sharks!!!
Some stayed and some went away. A handful of students were left and we became best of friends like it couldn't happen at all. My high school crush is still here- seeing him eyeing another girl kinda hurt and I know it is what makes high school life more colorful. JS Prom- I had my 1st dance with a good friend. CAT Graduation- we had a blast! And just as school is almost ending, we realized that we are kinda close with each other. Our dreams were a few miles away after high school and it is up to us to make them come true. Who says High school is boring? Well, mine isn't!

What a flashback!

Here I am standing in the same school that holds so many good, not-so-good, and wonderful memories of my high school past.

#infantjesusinstitutebuilding #infantjesusinstitute #ijilaspiñas #IJI97 #IJIbatch97 #IJIseniors97 #proudtobeanIJIgraduates #iloveIJI97

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Feeling Bagets si Tariray

BER Months are finally here!!!

Miyerkules ng hapon umulan ng bahagyan kaya eto ako nag-kukumahog isilong ang aking mga nilabhang damit kahapon. Nga pala dahil nagawa ko na yung mga dapat kong gawin kahapon naisip ko na munang matulog bago ko puntahan ang eskwelahan ng aking mga anak. Nag alarm ako ng mga alas dos kasi nga alas tres ay uwian na ng aking mga buging.

Hindi ko na inabala ng malala ang aking sarili bagkus konting kilay, lipstick at pulbos lang umalis na ako ng bahay. Para pa din akong nakalutang sa panaginip gawa nung napa-nuod kong "100 Tula para kay Stella". Grabeh, ang ganda nya. Napaka makatotohanan ng pelikulang ito. Gustong-gusto ko yung mga tula na ginagawa ni Fidel para ke Stella. Kung ma-ibabalik ko yung highschool at college days ko masasabi ko na madami dami na din akong tula na nagawa ngunit di ko na-i-compile ang ilan. Gawa ng pusong nasasabik at na-ngungulila sa taong ni hindi mo masabi ang nilalaman ng iyong puso at ang iyong tunay na nadarama. Yung mga kantang ginamit ay talagang sakto at tamang-tama sa tema ng istorya. Napakagandang paking-gan ito ng paulit-ulit habang na-aalala ko yung mga esksena sa pelikula. Parang ako lang si Fidel nuon, less the speech defect.

Mabanggit ko nga pala humanga at umibig din ako... ang sarap ng pakiramdan... si crush, pag nakikita ko ay isang napakasayang puso ko ang pinaliligaya nya habang sya ay aking tinititigan papalapit sa aking harapan. Haayyy, walang chance na mapansin ako ni Crush. Kasi naman may syota na si crush and all eyes and ears na lang sya syota nya. Kapano wala na man talaga akong hilig mag-ayos, ang lagi kong hawak ay mga aklat at kuwaderno at ballpen ko. Gusto ko kasi ayos ang future ko, kaya wala akong time sa lab layf na sinasabi nilang iyan. Masyadong bata pa para sa mga ganyan kaya okay na sa akin si crush. Makita ko pa lang si crush buo na ang araw ko, masaya na ko at the same time pa bibo ako sa klase pag present si crush. ha ha ha! High School life nga naman.

   

Habang papa-alis ako ng bahay at kasalukuyan kong tinatahak ang Daisy Street naramdaman ko ang napakasarap na simoy ng hangin- malamig, mahinahon na parang malambing na syang sumusuyo sa aking binti papa-akyat sa buo kong katawan. Ang sarap sa feeling- naramdaman ko ang ganitong lamig nuong ako ay nasa Baguio. Bigla ko tuloy namiss ma-mundok kahit saglit. 

Feeling teenager ulit ako- ha ha ha!

Kainis!! 

Talaga itong si Stella at Fidel oo, idagdag pa natin sina Tonyo at Lea hayyy nakow. 

Bagets na bagets ang feeling ko...

#FidelAtStella,

#100TulaparakayStella,

#feelinghighschool,

#feelingbagets,

#kinikiligako,

#bagets,

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#KitaKita,

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High School Classmates

Always remember to slow down in life, live, breathe, and learn; take a look around you whenever you have time, and never forget everything and every person you have met in your lifetime...

A mini high school reunion happened today😊😁💋❤👄

We miss those familiar faces we see each and every day of our high school life. Your presence made our high school life complete. Those laughter and tears that have been shared were irreplaceable.

#IJI97 #IJIbatch97 #IJIseniors97 #proudtobeanIJIgraduates #iloveIJI97

You can view my entire album in this link- IJI Batch '97 Mini-Reunion

Ann Suzette Reposo-Buguis & iSTariray23

From Left to Righ- Ann-Suzette Reposo-Buguis, Fe Marie Manahan, Nerissa Moral & iSTariray23

"Reconnecting with old friends at our high school reunion after two decades felt like stepping back in time,
where laughter and shared experiences bridged the gap of years apart."

From Left to Right- Ria Lee Servidad, Ann-Suzette Reposo-Buguis, Fe Marie Manahan, Nerissa Moral & ISTariray23

From Left to Right- Me, Emarizza Vergara, Marlon Benosa & Michael Angelo Buguis

"Each person who walked through the doors of our high school reunion brought with them a piece of the past, weaving together a tapestry of memories that defined our shared experiences."

Dinner with these peeps- Giligans Vista Mall

"Reuniting with classmates after two decades at our high school reunion was like flipping through the pages of a cherished yearbook, each face carrying stories of growth, loss, and triumph."

Angelita Magdalera, Ann-Suzette Reposo-Buguis & Me

Ann-Suzette Reposo-Buguis, iSTarriay23 and Emarizza Vergara

"Reminiscing about our high school days at the reunion, we marveled at how much we had changed yet found comfort in the fact that some things, like friendship, remained constant over the years."

Ria Lee Servidad, Angelita Magdalera and YoursTruly 

Nerissa Moral, Fe Marie Manahan and iSTariray23

"The high school reunion after 20 years served as a bittersweet reminder of the passage of time, yet it also reaffirmed the enduring friendships that had stood the test of years apart."

Ceferino Delos Santos, Me, Nerissa Moral & Fe Marie Manahan

With Michael Angelo Buguis

"Stepping into the high school reunion after two decades was a blend of emotions – excitement, curiosity, and a deep sense of gratitude for the chance to reconnect with old friends and relive the memories that shaped us into who we are today."

#IJI97,

#IJIBatch97,

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#HighSchool,

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Las Piñas Bamboo Organ Tour

Just the other day, I passed by the location of the infamous Las Piñas Bamboo Organ and saw some construction happening on site. I felt so disgusted upon seeing that the old (though not as old as the church walls) school building has been demolished. I felt sadness as another building in the historical grounds of Las Piñas has come to waste once again that the city government allowed/permitted. Nakakapang hinayang, that old 3-story building stood there and witnessed a lot of concertos, graduations, simbang gabi, and town fiestas on its ground and now it is no more.. gone forever. 

The Old 3story building stood on her glory

The picture was taken in 13Mar2016

I felt sadness and despair while I laid my eyes on it. Nothing remains but ashes of its past. I just can't bear how the townspeople's reaction when that building has been torn down. Why I haven't heard any protests about the demolition? Why demolished rather than do renovations without wrecking the entire building and preserving its old glory? WHY?? A lot of whys and there's nothing that I can do but shake my head in annoyance.

And because I love history and how these affected our future I decided to bring my kiddos with me and tour the museum with them. It is actually walking in memory lane, the church and the bamboo organ were so rich in history and beautiful memories that new generations already long forgotten. I remembered my Values Education teacher Gloria de la Cruz, a retired piano teacher who is a true Las Piñeros (born and raised in Las Piñas) who shared with us the old glory of the St. Joseph Parish ground. It used to be with lots of trees as she said. By the way, she graduated from St. Joseph's school as a class valedictorian way back in the 1940s. She told us that the church bells serve as the town's alarm clock. From the ground of the church, you could see salt beds on the right and rice fields on the other side. She and her classmate used to play on the ground and took their afternoon nap under those Nara trees- were only 3 left as of this writing. I know we cannot bring back the past yet we can only bring back memories of the past. It's a good thing that there is a tour guide explaining to my kiddos some events of the past-thus sparing me from reading them to them.

our tour guide for the day

I took some videos and plenty of pictures to serve as a remembrance and a guide for those who wish to visit. I am encouraging everyone- your time won't be a waste since their museum- the memories it offers and the money you paid were indeed worth it.

There is an entrance fee as follows;

Adult - Php 100.00

Senior Citizens/Persons with Disabilities for local Tourist only - Php 50.00

Student/Children - Php 50.00

Bring a valid ID for verification.

They will also provide you a pamphlet and a postcard as a souvenir. 

You could view my entire album for this tour just click the link below, 

The Infamous Las Piñas Bamboo Organ

I provided several links that you can read with well-detailed information available to help you be more familiar with this article.

Bamboo Organ / Bamboo Organ Foundation INC / Las Piñas City

Piano keys and windpipes

Those piano keys were made out of woods

See the picture of the old parish ground??

Kiddos check the door like a pump called bellows that supplies wind to make the organ work.
Do you know that it is made of pig skin??

old bamboo organ and this one still works!!!

St. Ezekiel Moreno relics 

That Lovely Chandelier

Very simple, rustic yet lovely

Bamboo Organ Festival Posters over the years

1st stairway leading to the 2nd floor

our way up the church's 2nd floor

this room holds history and memories

that stoned thick archway going to the 2nd floor

The 2nd-floor portion of the church

the 2nd floor

Church right-wing interior

The church interiors view from the 2nd floor

The famous Bamboo Organ up close

See those, Bamboo ceilings??

Our remembrance :) :) 

The famous Bamboo Organ up close

How thick are these Adobe columns!!!

Love this adobe archway passage

Sacristan Room

An old Chandelier lighted the stairways leading to the Bamboo Organ

If only these old wooden statues could talk

Old Wooden guards 

Old Church Bell

Other stairs leading to the 2nd floor

Bamboo coin bank

Las Piñas Boys Choir 

Old Capiz Lamp

Visitors Log

Bamboo Organ side view from the 1st floor

Bamboo Organ frontal view from the 1st floor

Church post with grave stamp

The church bell tower and Padre Diego Cerra monument

St. Joseph Parish Church

#Church,

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