LAVEZARES.DE

Lavezares.de is an internet page with pictures and information from the small harbour town of Lavezares as well as personal information by the author. It may not be of general interest, but I like ist, and that's what this all is about...

Scientific Research, Translation, Public Relations...

That's basically what I can offer after 40 years on this planet, supported by Technical Editing, Online-Editing, Literary Science and the Support of Exam Theses in the area of Humanities. Actually I am providing my knowledge and abilities to a certain embassy, but I am always open to honest offers - for full-time employment in the areas of Public Relations or Scientific Research as well as for sideline activities in one of the mentioned areas. Pls. find out more about me by reading my CURRICULUM VITAE, or you may simply contact me via E_MAIL.

Dissertation "Post-colonial Discourses in Francisco Sionil Josè's Rosales Saga"

Like most of this internet page, my dissertation, with which I acquired the academic degree of a Doktor der Philisophie, the German equivalent of a Ph.D., at the Freie Unversität Berlin in February 2009, has something to do with the Philippines, but not with the country in general, but with the description of the country in the literary opus of one of the most important Philippine authors, whom to meet I was lucky enough. For more information and also access to my dissertation, pls. click HERE klicken...

Lavezares - basically a typically Philippine Small Town

Lavezares is situated in the province of Northern Samar. Northern Samar is situated, as can be relayed from the name, in the North of Samar Island. Samar Island is in the Eastern Visayas, thus in the East of the multitude of islands forming the center of the Philippines. Here is the Typhoon Belt, here all storms arrive having loaded up far out in the Pacific. The result of this was that a economic development of the island never had a chance. For visitors, this has the immense adavantage that the original Philippines can be visited here - ok, as much as possible - but if you are not so much interested in comfort and nightlife, if you can put up with things happening a bit different around here and eating rice three times a day without coming out of your ears, then Lavezares and surrounding might offer you a unique Philippines experience.

The small town of Lavezares itself is a typically Philippine harbour town with harbour and market place, town hall with Rizal monument, plaza and church, everything right in the right angle. There is a primary school with branches in the barrios, and trade school and a private high school operated by the order of the Sisters (and Brothers) of Mary Adorous of the Holy Eucharist. What you won't find here is future. The cards are clearly distributed. The Mayor bears the family name Saludaga or Chan, the biggest commerical building in the centre of town also belongs to the Chan family, and everybody who wants to play along has to be content with the crumbs left over by the big families. Getting into the game as outsider, coming from other places, is almost impossible, and the Kano, the Joe, the foreigner, is left aside anyway. The European arriving here should be aware that he has left behind everything he is used to and that the culture shock a stay in the Philippines brings will catch up with him here in unknown intensity.

When the German scientist Fedor Jagor came to Northern Samar, today's Lavezares still was called "Pinonayan". How it happened that the place was called after Legazpi's successor of Governmor General of the Philippines, Guido de Lavezares, is a secret the fogs of history will keep for themselves. For us, the place has a special meaning, as Yvette grew up in Lavezares and her family still lives here. Therefore, every vacation in the Philippines again leads us to this small town near the shores of the Pacific.

Besides the town of Lavezares, there are also the barrios Urdaneta, Barobaybay and San Miguel, or, in other words, bays, islands, mangroves, coconut trees, ricefields, and somewhere in between also some houses with people living inside. To the west, over the ridge, the way leads to Allen with its ferry port, and to the east, there is San Josè and after 30kms on the road the provincial capitol of Catarman. Towards the ocean, there are the Balicuatro Islands with the main island of Biri. To Manila it takes approximately 11 hours (at night, more during the day) including the ferry trip from Allen, or you can take the plane from Catarman, then you can make it in something like two hours.

Allen - Important as Ferry Port

The small town of Allen at the San Bernardino Strait most of all gains its importance from the ferry connection to Matnog on the Main Island of Luzon, through which Allen becomes a most important point on the Pan-Philippine Highway. Besides, there are a market, a cathedral and a police station in Allen, thus basically nothing else than in similar Philippine small towns.

Everything and everyone on the road between Manila and Samar, Leyte and even Mindanao has to pass by the ferry port of Allen or the smaller ferry port of San Isidro to the South. Thus, the ferry ports of Allen are a most important point on the Philippine map and offer jobs to many inhabitants of the area. North of Allen, there is the big private harbour taking three ferries, and south of the town there is a small public port for one ferry at one time. The way from the ferry to the road here can be used as test site for SUV trucks.

South of Allen, approximately 3kms from the market, at a small bay there is a resort with the fitting name "Spice of Life" . Along the bay, there aren't many houses, and this the polution of the water is limited and a short distance from the shore, you can find a wildlife under water making you feel like in your own aquarium. Additionally, there is the beauty of the San Bernardino Strait, and with luzck, the Bulusan Volcano can be seen on the other side of the strait in its full beauty.

Balicuatro Islands - Rock Islands in the Pacific

Before Lavezares in the Pacific Ocean there are the Balicuatro Islands with Biri as the main island directly bordering the big ocean. Take a bangka from Lavezares to Biri Island. Then, get a guide and let a motor bike rider take you to the other side of the island. Then you only have to tread water to the rocks in front, where a white woman is said to sit and sing, so that the ships are losing their course and hitting the rock... Visiting Biri is an adventure, but it pays of.

Catarman

Capital of Northern Island province, the airport, provincial capitol and the biggest market of the area, additionally campus of the University of the Eastern Philippines (UEP). The provincial capitol is witness of the bad state of the provincial funds, as it was planned big and then never finished. The airport is flown to from Manila every second day, which may be subject to changes anytime because of the weather. For processing passengers, a building is used which would be too small for a small town train station in Germany. The landing strip crosses the coast, by which the main street is closed during the landing times of the plane, and and cars have then to used the bypass. When the plane has gone against, the landing strip can then be used as playground for children and meeting points for the barkadas.

And the the UEP - the university of my dreams alone because of the beaches... The university offers a beoad range of subjects from veterinary medicine, management, nursing, home economics, pedagogics, English, law, engineering and journalism and what else is there in small subjects. In the province of Northern Samar the university is thus an important pillar in the infrastructure for all young people without the funds to study in Manila (or with parents in fear that the child could go under in the big city). You can not go a long way with a degree from UEP, other than leaving the province, as economically nothing happens in Northern Samar, even in the provincial capital of Catarman.

Lope de Vega

Lope de Vega is a small mountain village half way from Catarman to Catbalogan. Wonderful natural, steep rocks and a climate absolutely different from the coast makes on forget being in the tropical Philippines.

Viriato

Southwards from Allen, half an hour on rough road called Pan-Philippine Highway by official sources. The attraction of the place is a waterfall which can be reached by foot from the road.

Palapag and other destinations on Samar Island

The town of Palapag on the island with the same name is still a destination for me. Here was the place reached first by Galleons having crossed the Pacific Ocean from Acapulco, and thus the Spaniards settled shipbuilders from Cavite on the island to repair the damaged boats for the last leg to Manila, or for all the way over the Ocean, coming from Manila. There shall still be traces from those time - thus a destination. Catbalogan and Calbayog are just similar versions of Catarman, provincial capitals. However, I still would like to got to Guiuan in Eastern Samar province, with its former US air base and, it has been said, beautiful beaches. And then there is the Sohoton National Park in the South of the island - almost in Leyte...