MATAASNAKAHOY-CANADIAN BLOGSITE.
Mataasnakahoy literally means "Tall Tree". Mataasnakahoy is a municipality in Batangas, Philippines. It was created as a town on January 1, 1932. MKAHOY, as it is fondly called, has 16 barangays, population of about 40,000 and total land area of 2,376hectares. Mataasnakahoy is known for its cool climate due to its high elevation 379 metres (1,240 ft). MKAHOY is one of the lakeside towns of Taal Lake and is about 100 km South of Manila.
4/30/2009
Lake Louise
Beautiful Lake Louise -- Canada's Diamond in the Wilderness, and the Hiking Capital of Canada- is 57 km west of Banff.
The Lake seems enchanted.
Most of the visitors you'll see are Asians.
Photo taken from The Fairmont, Chateau Lake Louise.
Dedicated to Our Lady the Blessed Virgin – “Notre Dame” – the small original chapel was operated at first by the Jesuits. The Sulpician Fathers came in 1657 and undertook construction of a larger church. Its construction, in Baroque style was completed between 1672 and 1683. Pope John Paul II celebrated a Mass for children at the Basilica on September 11, 1984. Céline Dion and René Angélil were married at Notre-Dame Basilica on December 18, 1994.
A spirituality inspired by the patron saint of Canada, St. Joseph. Brother Andre, a religious brother of the Congregation of the Holy Cross, realized an impossible dream in founding Saint Joseph's Oratory.
It took 606 takes and re-takes to make this commercial and the total cost was $ 6.2M for this 90 second commercial. Everything is real with no graphics used. The team that made this commercial won the Year’s Best Ad of the World and many other awards.
Please visit the 3 websites that Olga T. mentioned in her recent email below.
Regards to all.
Sam R. ==========
Hi Sam,
I just thought these 3 resorts in our hometown would be of interest to our kababayans who are planning a vacation back home. I’ve been to the first 2 but not the Galilee Place. La Virginia is awesome & a must see!
1. Agnes and EZ Danque family 2. Ruth and Joseph Cunanan (c/o Agnes D.) 3. Julie and Levy Gonzales family 4. Joy Tibayan 5. Jingjing’s family (c/o Joy T.) 6. Marissa’s family (c/o Joy T.) 7. Danny Torres (from Tambo, c/o Sam) 8. Alex Mendoza and family 9. Theda M.Lean 10. Nely and Gord 11. Marylou Carandang 12. Elsie Laqui-Canchela family (Jesse Laqui's daughters and wife, Mimi Laqui's daughter- party of 6 with 1 baby) 13. Sammy Regalado and family 14. Konsehal Egot and family 15. Alona’s family (c/o Kon. Egot) 16. Amy’s family (c/o Kon. Egot) 17. Julius/Isabel C. and family 18. Olga T.’s family (Olga’s 3 sisters and family; Olga’s brother and Dad) 19. Carmen Babadilla ( c/o Olga) 20. Maricel Reyes-Evangelista (c/o Olga) 21. Betty Pesigan (c/o Olga) 22. Loida Lumbera (c/o Olga) 23. Etchil Vergara (c/o Julie G.) 24. Gina Dimaculangan (c/o Julie G.) 25. Bell Dimaculangan (c/o Nely B.) 26. Sonia Aranda /Reynaldo C. family (c/o Nely B.) 27. Louella Morada (c/o Nely B.)
( NOTE: There are still a number of MKAHOY Kabayan's whom we haven't contacted yet. For those who have access or contact to other Kabayans, please invite them or send me their email or phone number.)
1. Agnes & Iszy Danque family 2. Ruth & Joseph Cunanan (c/o Agnes) 3. Julie and Levy Gonzales family (bayaw plus Etchil and Gina D. see item below) 4. Joy Tibayan ( OK to reunion when I spoke to her at Golden Valley after Manong Pilo's service; I still have to contact Jingjing and Marissa. 5. Danny Torres (from Tambo) would like to attend our reunion 6. Alex Mendoza and family 7. Theda M.Lean (offered from Nely/Gord to host our reunion at their place in Aurora) 8. Nely and Gord (I suppose, if the reunion is held at their place) 9. Marylou Carandang 10. Sammy Regalado and family 11. Jesse Laqui's daughters and wife, Mimi Laqui's daughter (Eliza L. sent an email, 6 and 1 baby will attend) 12. Etchil Vergara (c/o Julie G.) 13. Gina Dimaculangan (c/o Julie G.)
Kabayans to be Confirmed:
1) Konsehal Egot and family
2) Julius/Isabel C. and family
3) Amelita Matanguihan
4) Tony "Gov" Hernandez and family
5) Olga and family
6) Dimaculangan family
7) Alice and Heny Sia of Golden Valley (I'll call Alice -Sam R.)
8) Pamangkin ni Emmy Castillo
Others that I'm not aware of, please reach out to them. I would encourage you to invite your extended families as well.. biyenan, bayaw, pinsan, kaibigan.. etc.
1) Initially, I suggested to hold our first reunion with a weekend stay at Niagara Falls. We'll arrive early in the morning of a Saturday, attend Mass in Carmel Church in Niagara Falls, picnic, lots of other activities then leave on Sunday.
2) Early this evening, I received an email from Theda Mendoza Lean who graciously offered a venue for our first reunion. Theda said that Nely and Gord have offered to host our reunion at their sprawling property( with swimming pool, tennis courts and huge backyard) in Aurora. Nely is presently doing kitchen renovation but their place will be available after June.
Theda also offered Lechon for our reunion and volunteered to chair the "Fun Committee".
3) Our first reunion will depend on the number of attendees. I've set a deadline to invite and confirm as many attendees on May 31, 2009. If we don't have a majority attendance on May 31, we will not hold a reunion.
3) We will need a planning meeting before we hold the reunion. I'll invite all interested parties to a meeting at the appropriate date/time.
4) Please try to reach out to other MKAHOY kababayan, by email, by phone, by word of mouth, etc.. There are a lot of things that needs to be done, we better prepare early.
M-Kahoy is politically subdivided into 16 barangays as follows:
Barangay I (Poblacion), Barangay II (Poblacion), Barangay II-A (Poblacion), Barangay III (Poblacion), Barangay IV (Poblacion), Bayorbor, Bubuyan, Calingatan, Kinalaglagan (Lakeside) Loob, Lumang Lipa (Lakeside), Manggahan, Nangkaan (Lakeside), San Sebastian, Santol and Upa
Agriculture/Fishery/Resort
Its economy is primarily agricultural with fruit crops such as coffee, banana and coconut with few hectares of fruitfarms planted with a mixed crop of mangoes, rambutan and lanzones. Tilapia and Bangus fish culture is practiced in the lakeside barangays of Nangkaan, Lumang Lipa and Kinalaglagan. Fishermen near Taal Lake catch and sell Biya, Pauto and Tawilis, a famous local fresh water sardine, caught ONLY in Taal Lake .
MKahoy is also fast becoming well-known for its resorts.
Fiesta and Religious Celebrations
January 3 is Mataasnakahoy's town fiesta and is observed with few marching bands going around town. Food and alcohol are offered in almost every household.
During Holy Week, families usually sponsor a "Pabasa" where readers relate the passion of Christ in hymns, over loudspeakers around the clock, until it is finished.
December 8 is the feast of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception. The Immaculate Conception is also the town's patron saint.
Christmas season starts as early as October ends in early January. Elaborate Christmas decorations, colorful lanterns and lights are displayed in every house in all corners fo the town and Christmas carols are played over the radio. Misa de Gallo or Simbang Gabi or Dawn Masses are observed from December 16 until Christmas.
Schools
There are several secondary schools namely La Purisima Concepcion Academy, Holy Trinity School, Mataasnakahoy National High School and Bayorbor National High School.
Colleges and Universities are in nearby Lipa City and Batangas City, about 30-45 minutes from town as well as in Metro Manila which is just 2 hours away from MKahoy.
Access
The town is easily accessible from Metro Manila via Lipa City by car or public transport such as passenger buses, FX and jeepneys. Tricycles and jeepneys ply the local route to Lipa City. MKahoy can also be reached by air through Fernando Air Base in Lipa City or by boat from Taal Lake.
Taal Lake and Taal Volcano
MKAHOY is one of Batangas' Taal Lake lakeside towns. Taal volcano is a geological phenomenon. It is actually a volcano within a lake (Taal Lake) within a volcano. Taal is the world's smallest volcano but it is quite deadly when it erupts. It is a 45-minute ride on a banca (wooden boat) or a balsa (bamboo raft) and a 15-minute trek to the top of the crater. An older and larger volcano is an hour away.
Manong Pilo Templo passed away on March 23, 2009 in Toronto. He will be missed by his family, relatives and friends. 
