more in washington DC, then Germany

THESE ARE PHOTOS TAKEN DURING MY LAST FEW WEEKS IN WASHINGTON DC AND THE FEW DAYS I SPENT WITH FRIENDS IN GERMANY (March 17-22 and March 30 to April 2, 2007). Again sorry for the photos that are not yet adjusted as my skill is still limited. Hopefully, in the future someone can teach me how to adjust the photos that would make them viewer-friendly).



While being with Jack and Ruth Catarata at their home in Neusbach, near Manheim, Germany, they took me for a visit to the nearby city of Speyer, once a very important crossroad in this part of Western Europe. We were having coffee at an outdoors cafe at the very center of the city when we bumped into two Pinays with their daughters. The one in pink is from Maa, Davao City. (Small world). The guy at the back is her second husband who has gone to visit Davao already. The other woman had a very dramatic story; she was sold by her aunt to a German who bought her and made her his slave. Fortunately, she was able to liberate herself from him. These photos were taken by her daughter, Karla.

This is a sculpture of a pilgrim. Centuries ago, pilgrims from Speyer walked on foot from here to the Santiago de Compostela in Spain; some even went as far as the Holy Land. The church in the background is the famous church built by the Italians during the Middle Ages. It is one of the rare churches in Germany built following the Roman architecture.

The cathedral in Speyer, built during the Middle Ages following Roman architecture.

Photos taken at the park adjacent to the Rhine River.

Jack and Ruth with me at the Rhine River.

Inside the cathedral in Speyer. These are sculptures that go back to the Middle Ages.

A contemporary stainedglass window inside the cathedral.

The Mother of Perpetual Help icon inside the cathedral. Note that the Virgin is not wearing a crown which indicates that the cathedral staff are aware of the icon's not having a crown.

Inside view of the cathedral. Notice how clean the lines are of the pillars and ceiling. There are also none of the many statues, paintings and other decorations of most old churches in Europe, especially those with Gothic and baroque designs. The only decorations are large paintings up towards the ceilings. These walls have also been cleaned recently.

This is a side altar inside the catehdral again with very simple decorations and clean lines.

The cathedral seen from its left side.

Jack, Ruth and I also visited an old ritual bath house used by the Jews since the 8OOs. These were dugged up through archaeological efforts. These ruins bring out very interesting facts about the life of the Jews in Germany. The site indicate the years that the Jews underwent pogroms. In fact, these facilities were destroyed long before the era of Hitler.

The center of Speyer with the tower which at one time in the past served as the entry place into the city standing in a very dominant, central position.

Views from the main tower in the center of Speyer which served as entrance gate into the city in the Middle Ages.

From the main tower of Speyer, one can have fascinating views of the city and its surroundings. At the end of the road is the famed Roman-style cathedral built in the Middle Ages.

At the main center of Speyer, Germany with my friend, Jack Catarata. He and his family live in the nearby Neustadt.

At the train station in Neustadt.

Luz, Flora and I posing in front of the Ludvigsberg Palace.

Front view of the Ludvigsberg Palace.

The barogue walls and ceilings of a wing in the Ludvigsberg Palace.

The baroque garden of the Ludvigsberg Palace. It is early spring and the yellow and purple flowers have sprung up. It is a gloomy morning.

With Luz Mercado and Flora Schroeder, a Pinay from Davao at the grounds of the Ludvigsberg Palace. At the foreground is the hunting lodge and the beautiful gardens of the palace.

The Ludvigsbert Palace.

Old houses restored at the very center of Bacnang.

Old restored houses in Bacnang. One can tell by the design which has the wooden braces. In the backdrop is the church tower.

With Luz Mercado, whose family hosted me in Bacnang, Germany. She is a retired nurse, originally from Cotabato.

Photos in Bacnang, Germany near Stuttgart. It shows the belfry of the Catholic church in this parish.

I visited the community in Washington D.C. and this is their

convent which is quite near the Catholic University of America.

This is the image of the Resurrected Christ at the SLI Chapel,

which was a sculpture made by a Jewish woman.

The following are photos taken at the church and convent of the Redemptorists in Anapolis. I visited these sites along with a friend from SLI, Fr. Roy Eco who is working in the Diocese of Florida and Fr. Peter from England. The confreres in the Anapolis community were very hospitable.