Yapak ni Pio 2016

Last July 14, I was scrolling down along my Facebook feed, came up to see Valenzuela City’s Facebook post on the last call for professional photographers for the Yapak ni Dr. Pio 2016: Valenzuela City Landmarks Photo Walk. Without hesitations, I e-mailed the organizers, though I am an amateur photographer and consider, a newbie in this field, to secure a slot as per their instruction. Apparently, the only reason why I joined this project was to see the different landmarks around Valenzuela, the city where I grew up and to foster new friends as well. 

Yapak ni Dr. Pio 2016 was one of the events stringed as part of the week-long celebration of Valenzuela City’s local patriot, Dr. Pio Valenzuela on its 147^th birth anniversary. The photo walk primarily involves on the places that are significant on the life of the local hero.

I left 5:00 AM going to the city hall where the meeting place is, will took about 15 minutes upon commuting. Upon reaching the triumvirate monument, located in front of the city hall, an L300 van awaits. We are thirteen participants in all from different barangays of Valenzuela. Mostly are professional photographers while some are taking photography as a habit and a leisure.

We were facilitated by Jonathan Balsamo, museum curator at the Museo Valenzuela and Valenzuela City Museum.  According to Balsamo, Yapak ni Dr. Pio is a pioneering project. The city government of Valenzuela conducted this project to showcase the different landmarks of Valenzuela City and aiming to increase percentage of tourism, at the same time, to give consciousness to the residents of what the vibrant city has to offer. If the event will become successful, the city government would invest monetary contributions to get this launched significantly and be able to conduct every year, as Balsamo said. Indeed, the city was filled with historic landmarks that contributed to what is the city today.

First itinerary was Coloong Fishpond, located at Barangay Malanday, The photo walk started early because we were about to take pictures during the sunrise. Upon reaching Coloong Fishpond, everyone was instructed to be back at 6:30 am. There was a time allotted for every itinerary. I was kind of intimidated because everyone seem to be very precise in getting their own angles; from how their shots to be taken down to their owned instruments, from wide-angled lenses to tripods to different variety of cameras. Amateurishly, I was able to get my shots well and as a newbie, I guess my photos were perfect as of my perspective. Afterwhich, we went to Gary’s in Barangay Pasolo to have breakfast. As per Balsamo’s instruction, breakfast, lunch and dinner was shouldered by the city government of Valenzuela. (Yes to free meals!)

These were the list of the itineraries we went,

1. Coloong Fishpond in Barangay Malanday - Together with Barangay Malanday and the side barangays of district one, comprises with large fish ponds and fisheries and wide vast of farm as their primer source of income in most residents. Its geographical statistics, the first district of Valenzuela was a full body of water and got dumped by land throughout the years making it possible to reside. 

2. San Roque Chapel in Barangay Pasolo - The chapel was once been a fortress of British militaries during the Spanish Colonial era. The chapel attract residents and parishioners for its belief that through dancing inside the church makes one be blessed with a partner. 

3. San Diego Church and Bell Tower - The belfry was over four hundred years already, along its original gateway and arch. The main structure of the church was invaded and destroyed during the Japanese rule. It was renovated and rebuilt leaving the arch and the belfry as main focal point. 

4. Polo Park in Barangay Polo - The Mini-Rizal Park of Valenzuela was the oldest park of the city. 

5. Pio Valenzuela Elementary School - The elementary school which named after our city's local patriot. 

6. Pio Valenzuela's House in Baragay Polo - The house happens to own by the wife of Dr. Pio Valenzuela. Researchers mistakenly stated that Dr. Valenzuela was born in Brgy. Polo where the house was built; when its actually in Barangay Mabolo. 

7. Arkong Bato - The arch served as a boundary between Rizal and Bulacan during the American era. Before NLEX and McArhur Highway existed, it served as the main road to Northern Luzon. Currently, it is the boundary of Santulan, Malabon and Valenzuela City. 

8. Polo Cemetery - It is the oldest cemetery in the city. It lie the bodies of Dr. Pio Valenzuela and his wife. Also lie the bodies of former mayors of former Polo, now Valenzuela, such as Geronimo Angeles who serve the longest as Mayor. 

9. Dr. Buenaventura Tancingco's House in Barangay Pasolo - The house where most of the films of the late Fernando Poe Jr. and other stars were filmed.

10. Polo Train Station in Barangay Dalandanan - One of the dead train station of PNR. It was where Antonio Luna wrote Artikulo Uno and served as his office for quite some time. 

11. Museo Valenzuela - It is one of the city's main historical and cultural landmarks. It houses Valenzuela's precious memorabilia and artifacts. 

12. National Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima - The center of Philippine Fatima Apostolate.

13. Japanese Cemetery - Along Don Pedro Street, lie the bodies of Japanese soldiers during the Japanese rule.

14. Valenzuela City Museum, Valenzuela City Hall,  Valenzuela People's Park - are among of the city's biggest projects during the the term of former mayor, Sherwin Gatchalian and incumbent mayor, Rexlon Gatchalian. 

17. D'Cove Fishing Pond in Barangay Tagalag - a 2-hectare fishpond which offers brightly colored pavillions which built stilts over water. They offer fishing services also! 50/kilo of tilapia and bangus.

The Photo Walk was ended by having dinner at the Valenzuela City Social Hall after we took pictures of the sunset at the view of Meycauayan River. This Photo Walk was fun and gained me experience engaging to something like this. I gained friends who's fond of taking professional photos. I consciously do not have any notions as regards photography however, its worth to try and experiement. Thanks to this! Oh! Actually, we are planning of putting up a club for photographers around Valenzuela City. This project was fun! I hope that the city government will continue to conduct projects such as this. And the best part is, our selected photos will be on exhibit this August.