The Backpack Adventures

Introduction It was just last 2018 when we last visited Japan. In just a year, we were blessed to be given another opportunity to revisit the Land of the Rising Sun. Finally! Everyone's ready! Ella will revisit Japan for the 3rd time. For this visit, we'll be staying in Japan for only 7 days. Hence, this would be the shortest Japan Diaries series so far. However, unlike the first two series, this one became extra special as my parents and siblings would be part of it. This would also mark our first travel abroad as a family -something that I have long waited for in my 3 decades of life. So, please join me and my family as we recount the daily accounts of our trips and adventures in this awesome country that I call my second home - Japan .  Day 0   Dec. 18, 2019 Arrival It's my parents' and brother's first time in Japan .  Off to Osaka! This international family trip was actually planned a long time ago. However, due to a lot of facto

Visita Iglesia is a Catholic tradition of visiting churches during Holy Week. It is one of the traditions followed by my family that I cherish the most because it gives our family a chance to reunite and go on road trips together.  2018 Visita Iglesia: Cavite Loop 2018 Visita Iglesia: Cavite Loop For our 2018 Visita Iglesia , my family and I decided to follow what is dubbed the Cavite Loop . This refers to the route around the towns in the province of Cavite where Spanish Colonial Era churches are located.  Bacoor Church  - Bacoor City, Cavite Bacoor Church interior Since we live somewhere in Bacoor City, our first destination is, of course, our very own St. Michael the Archangel Parish Church which is simply referred to as Bacoor Church . Despite living in the same municipality, I have to admit that this was only my third time visiting Bacoor Church. The reason behind it is simple, we have our own parish in our subdivision, and Bacoor Church is quite far from where I li

Located at Burgos Street in the town of San Juan in Batangas, San Juan Nepomuceno Church is a Spanish-colonial era church named after Saint John of Nepomuk who the Catholics refer to as the martyr of the confessional and patron saint of Czechoslovakia.  San Juan Nepomuceno Church San Juan Nepomuceno Church History The original church structure of San Juan Nepomuceno was constructed in 1843 in a town called San Juan de Bocboc which is presently called Barangay Pinagbayanan. The original church was built using light materials like bamboo, nipa, and palm which were very abundant in the area. San Juan Nepomuceno Church - San Juan, Batangas San Juan Nepomuceno Church facade I'm quite sure that's San Juan Nepomuceno In 1855, the church underwent its first major renovation when stones were used to replace its original materials. However, the church was destroyed by a strong flood in 1883. To avoid any similar incidents in the future, the church was transferred to