Hello hivers, it's me again @leyssa. How have you been, Hivers? I hope you're doing well. This time I would like to share with you our trip to Simala Shrine, Sibonga, Cebu, Philippines. It was already planned to the family of my step-grandfather to go to Simla on his birthday to serve as thanksgiving, to celebrate his healthy body, to ask for forgiveness for our sins, and to thank for the blessings that we received, so it's already planned and prepared.
The night before the day, we already united in one house and spent our night at my grandmother's house so that we could all go together and to ensure that no one was late and left behind.
Simala Shrine, also known as Mama Mary's Castle Church, is inspired by its castle-like architecture and association with the Virgin Mary. It was located in Sibonga, Cebu, Philippines. It was also a renowned Catholic pilgrimage site famous for its miraculous stories, breathtaking architecture, and spiritual significance.We arrived at the place at 10AM in the morning since we drove there at 5AM because we had to spend 5 hours driving toSimala. It was so hot that time since it was almost noon, so we parked the truck and rested for a while.
After we rested, we decided to go inside the palace of Mama Mary. They're strict about the dress code; you can't wear sleeveless, see-through tops, crop tops, or bottoms that are under the knees inside. But if you happen to be wearing one, then you can rent a cloth outside the premises to cover it. Always remember that you have to wear casual/formal attire when you go to the palace of Mama Mary.
The place was so crowded that we hardly passed in the area where the statue of Mama Mary was located. It was a long line of people to have the chance to get near the statue, so we decided to buy candles instead and pray to Mama Mary.
The candles have a lot of colors to choose from since they have a meaningful meaning. Each color has its own meaning. For example, we bought yellow and green. A yellow candle means peace, courage, strength, and hope. It represents inner tranquility and fortitude. On the other hand, a green candle means prosperity and success. It signifies the best things happening in business, career, and performance.
Each candle color corresponds to your intention and prayer, so it depends on your intention or what you have prayed for so that you can select the one you want to light.
After we visited Simala and prayed to Mama Mary, we went right away to Molobolo Spring to celebrate the birthday of my step-grandfather. We drove for an hour to get there, and it was so far. But when we saw the view and how clear the water was, we felt calm and refreshed.
When we arrived, it was already dark since we got there at 5:00 PM. Our family decided to stay overnight, so they inquired about a room for rent. They found a house that was perfect for a family, so we spent the night there and rested.
In the morning, our family decided to have a budol fight, where we could eat all together without plates, using only banana leaves. We divided the dishes to cook; someone grilled pork and fish, while others went to the supermarket to buy vegetables and raw fish for kinilaw. They also made vegetable soup with fish. We ate with our bare hands, teasing each other and discussing what to do after we finished.
After we cleaned up the garbage and leftovers, we decided to rest for a bit, and then we came down to the spring and rented a floating tire—the black one we used to float in the water since we didn't know how to swim. There were two springs: one for adults and one for kids. The left side was the deeper one, but the right side was not as deep and was perfect for kids.
When we saw someone on the beach on the other side having fun with a kayak, we decided to rent a kayak too. At first, during our first ride, we didn’t know how to balance, but after several tries, we learned how to balance the kayak and our bodies. It was very fun and interesting.
After a tiring yet fun day, we decided to go home. We rode back, and while doing so, we were all very tired and slept except for the driver, of course. When we got home, we went straight to bed to sleep, not even bothering to bathe first. That’s all, Hivers! I hope you enjoy my blog and visit this place as well to enjoy with your family. Have a good day/night, HIVE!