It is summer time once again. Schools are out and I am sure that parents like me are busy as ever trying to keep those little ones busy (read as not bored) at home.
For this year, my husband and I decided to go local on our vacation plans. Yes we wanted to cut on cost but did not want to compromise on the richness of our two sons' summer experience. So, we came up with a theme for our summer destinations - A Historic Summer.
We will be exploring local sceneries to introduce Filipino history and heritage to our kids. Also, to inculcate sense of national pride and patriotism in their young minds -it is never too early to start them on these, you know!
Our first destination was Intramuros. We went to the Fort Santiago where the boys got close and a little personal with our national hero Dr. Jose Rizal. We were lucky enough to chance upon an exhibit which showcased the Rizal family's furniture and memorabilia. To their young eyes, most fascinating was seeing some of Rizal's personal effects such as his clothes, medical instruments and even his bed as a young boy in Calamba. On the foreground of the Fort, they got a kick re-tracing Rizal's footsteps from his dungeon to his execution place in Bagumbayan.
Then we headed to the Casa Manila-- an old Spanish house which was turned into a museum. The furniture and furnishing were representations of how Manilans lived during the Spanisrd colonial era. The boys learned about the courtyard, entrasuelo, oratorio and others.
Right across Casa Manila was the San Agustin Church-- the oldest stone church in the Philippines. We also viewed its very rich museum which showcased religious relics and art work. It was also here were the remains of notable church patrons such as Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, Juan Luna and Pedro Taverna lie.
