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Post by tomasctt on Apr 4, 2012 22:17:24 GMT 8
Yep, Bayview was rebuilt - but rebuilt on a different lot, away from the original one. I forgot my source though.... Perhaps batteryboy can provide info on it. As for WW2 history, oh you should go up north to the Cordilleras. Relatively lots of signs/monuments of the liberation (e.g. "XXX Division was here" type of monuments - not exact words, of course). I dunno if they've found Yamashita's exact HQ camp at Mt Napaluan though.... And there is a 50/50 chance I might go mountain biking along the Villa Verde trail www.pacificwrecks.com/provinces/philippines_villa_verde_trail.html sometime this year. RUMINT has it there is still remnants of a Sherman tank there, or even some Japanese fortifications.
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Post by tomasctt on Apr 4, 2012 20:25:53 GMT 8
Hi fots! Re: Bayview Hotel, IIRC the current one does not stand on the same plot of land where the notorious WW2 original version stood. I forgot where exactly the original stood, ISTR somewhere further south. We should get together again.
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Post by tomasctt on Feb 1, 2012 8:34:51 GMT 8
Copy that cbuehler. As for seeing evidence of the battle, most likely not much anymore. The place is relatively quite developed already, roads have been made, houses have been built. If you're visiting that area on a weekday, I will be unavailable due to work. If on a weekend, better chances. Wish I could go with you at Fort Drum on 18-19. Unfortunately, I just received an office memo which puts me on duty on those dates.
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Post by tomasctt on Jan 31, 2012 14:17:47 GMT 8
ok, i just googled mt mataba, and lo and behold, I have been near it for the past few months already. It is near a place called Timberland, at San Mateo, Rizal, and I have been biking in that area for the past months, most recently last 28 January 2012. There are two access points for Mt Mataba - one is the road called Shotgun, the other is through Timberland. The Shotgun route leads to a landfill near Mt Mataba. The trail at Timberland (specifically Roxas Trail) connects to Shotgun. Both are partly paved, and then it becomes rough thereafter. If bringing a vehicle, an SUV or 4x4 / ATV is best used because of the condition of the road. It can also be walked/hiked which people do at Timberland. I can easily bring you to Mt Mataba, by parking at Timberland Clubhouse. From there, it's a steady ascent on rough trail (wide fireroad). If you know how to mountain bike, I'll see if I can find a mountain bike that you can borrow. It's best to mountain bike to the place rather than walk. The place you are targeting is considered the mountain bike capital of the Philippines. The one with the lat/long coordinates is Mt Mataba
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Post by tomasctt on Jan 29, 2012 12:51:30 GMT 8
Hi Conrad! I'm interested to join you in the Mt Mataba hike. I'll ask a friend, he might be familiar with the area. He and I got some hiking experience. If my schedule is free, I'll be happy to accompany you in that trek.
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Post by tomasctt on Nov 8, 2011 11:15:35 GMT 8
Caves? Oooh! Me want to check that out!
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Post by tomasctt on Nov 8, 2011 11:09:48 GMT 8
Structural support to keep the ruins in place is one thing. Restoring it to its former state (i.e., complete) is another.
I'm all for adding structural support as it is meant to keep the ruin intact. But if it's restoring it so it can be used to showcase films and such, hell no!
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Post by tomasctt on Nov 6, 2011 18:49:19 GMT 8
I am opposed to this "restoration" work! IIRC, it was during the first Pres. Aquino that Fort Mills became a touristy place. Tramlines were IIRC paved and became the roads nowadays, the hotel was built, guns were painted over, etc etc etc.
And now they'll "restore" the movie house? Restore? It sounds like a wholesale rebuilding of the ruin. So, they'll bulldoze it, and build a NEW one? Even if they'll follow the very same architectural blueprints of the building, that is NOT restoration work. That will be a NEW building, and NOTHING will be restored.
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Post by tomasctt on Oct 9, 2011 21:07:11 GMT 8
Hi Karl, when are you planning to go to Corregidor from Mariveles?
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Post by tomasctt on Jul 27, 2011 19:23:02 GMT 8
Fots and I did the trip yesterday. I hope I didn't scare him with my driving abilities. ;D Places we visited: New Bilibid Prison aka the Maximum Security Compound at Muntinlupa De La Salle University's south wing Rizal Baseball Stadium Fort Santiago and Intramuros (thanks BB for the 120mm gun directions!) University of Santo Tomas Places we passed by (just passing, didn't stop, or stayed for a short while without going off the van): UP Manila Rizal Hall and Philippine General Hospital Provisor IslandMalacanang Park Old Bilibid Prison aka Manila City Jail (now I know why my colleagues feel filthy when they visit it) Is the old Meralco Tegen station still stands today I remember when I was a kid I can always see the smoke stack from our Elementary School in Singgalong. We weren't able to enter Provisor island because the place is said to be now a distillery. I still see the smokestacks though IIRC.
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