For a short vacation, we went to the municipality of Binalbagan in Negros Occidental. Binalbagan, originally called Inabagan or “The Haven of Refuge,” is one of the oldest towns in Western Visayas, founded in 1572 along with Oton. Binalbagan even holds the title Banwang Panganay (eldest town). Initially inhabited by Negritos and later by Malays from the ten Bornean Datus, the town became a major Spanish encomienda in 1571.
Month: November 2024
Hinigaran Church
St. Mary Magdalene Parish Church in Hinigaran, Negros Occidental, was originally established in 1848 when Spanish missionaries arrived in the area, notably Augustinian priest Father Jose Maria Pavon. Father Pavon began by constructing a makeshift church using nipa, a local palm that grows abundantly in the swampy areas surrounding Hinigaran.
Vat That Khao in Vientiane
Vat That Khao, also known as Wat That Khao, is a serene Buddhist temple in Vientiane, Laos, located across from the Royal Park and Don Chan Palace on Fa Ngum Quay. It lies near prominent landmarks such as Vat Phiavat, Vat Si Meuang, and the King Sisavang Vong Monument. Most notably, it is nestled beside the revered Vat That Luang, Laos’ most sacred site, which houses a relic believed to be Buddha’s breastbone, dating back to 300 BC.
Pha That Luang
Pha That Luang, the “Great Stupa,” stands as the most revered religious site and a national symbol in Vientiane, the capital of Laos. Originally built in 1566 CE on the site of a 13th-century Khmer temple, it was constructed to enshrine a relic of the Buddha. Over the centuries, the stupa has faced destruction and reconstruction multiple times due to wars and invasions, yet it remains a powerful symbol of the Lao people’s resilience and cultural identity.
Amoj In Wanderland 