Our high school days may have been many decades ago, but our Assumption HS ’81 batch remains as close-knit as ever. We have chosen various life paths here and abroad, but somehow manage to keep in touch. Apart from getting together for our Velada homecoming every five years, we travel to new destinations as often as possible.
After enjoying trips to Japan, Thailand and South Korea, our batch recently discovered Taiwan, where our tour leader Popsie Gamboa prepared an exciting itinerary equally divided into shopping, eating and sightseeing. But as always, shopping trumped all.
Our early flight to Taipei on board Philippine Airlines (PAL) was on time. Philippine Airlines lady boss and fellow Assumptionista Tinnette Nisce assisted us with her girls, Chiqui dela Merced and Mariel Mesina, at the PAL ticket office in Makati. PAL has many daily flights to Taiwan so enjoying a short Taipei food trip is quite convenient.
The gang checked in at the centrally located Taipei Fullerton Maison North along Fu-Xing North Road in the city center. Awarded Luxury Business Hotel 2017 and Luxury Modern Hotel 2017, the Fullerton is stylishly appointed with luxe contemporary furniture and modern setting. Our class genius, Maripi Jalandoni, was able to arrange for room upgrades, thanks to her former Citibank colleague Jessica Lee. Jessica’s close friend Cindy Chen is the gracious owner of Taipei Fullerton.
Engineering marvel
After settling in, we headed to the most iconic building of Taiwan, Taipei 101, where we had lunch at Din Tai Fung. The Taipei 101 Observatory is spread over four floors, where visitors can enjoy the fantastic scenery and learn about the engineering marvel of Taipei 101, the tallest green building in the world.
Any free time possible was dedicated to shopping, and the Raohe Street night market was our favorite. The epitome of a traditional Taiwanese night market, this 600-meter path along Raohe Street in Songshan District is packed with interesting snacks, quaint shops and stalls. There is also the Ciyou Temple built by local residents during the Qing Dynasty.
We also found Ximending quite exciting. This shopping mecca in the northeastern part of Wanhua District has been called the Harajuku of Taipei.
Our first touring day included the natural attractions of Taiwan. We drove up the northeast coast to marvel at Yehliu, a rocky cap known for the interesting rocks formed when ocean waves eroded part of the shore. The formations, called hoodoos, can be seen in the Yehliu Geopark. The most famous hoodoo is called the Queen’s Head.
We found more shopping at Chiufen village. Formerly the center of gold mining, Chiufen features an old street full of local snack vendors and accessory stores. We tasted various popular food such as taro balls, fried meatballs and sausages.
After a delicious seafood lunch, we headed to Golden Waterfall near the Gold Ecological Park in Jinguashi. Although there is no actual gold flowing from these falls, the name reflects their golden appearance from the abundance of heavy metal elements deposited in the riverbed, radiating a gold-like color.
Sky lanterns
The highlight of our tour was the sky lantern experience along the Pingxi Railway Line. Every year during the Lantern Festival, people write their wishes on sky lanterns and release them to the skies. Each color on the four-sided lantern represents an aspect, so my sister-in-law Myda Prieto and I wrote our wishes of good health, abundant wealth, endless love and happiness on our own lanterns.
Rosie Tsai, owner of MyCitiHomes, also had this same experience. She recommended dining at the famous Aquatic Addiction Resources. I met Rosie at her office when we taped for Philippine Realty TV for the upcoming launch of their latest project, Sabella Village.
More shopping
Before we headed back to our hotel, we squeezed in some shopping at another night market, Shilin District in Taipei. Offering a combination of eating and shopping, this market has rows of street food stalls and loads of apparel shopping.
Our tour also included a visit to the impressive Taipei National Palace Museum. The splendid architecture of the structure is modeled on the Forbidden City in Beijing and incorporates elements of traditional Chinese royal design in feudal society.
Chinese artifacts
The Taipei National Palace Museum houses the largest collection of priceless Chinese artifacts and artworks in the world, including many possessions of the former imperial family.
Our dinner hosts were the parents of classmate Tessa Alindogan. Nonoy and Cory Alindogan were celebrating their 55th wedding anniversary in Taipei and met us purely by coincidence, so they graciously hosted all 13 of us.
Extremely happy with our Taiwan adventure, we are already planning our next destination. We will be arranging another trip to Samar with the Assumption Alumnae Association for our charity work.
Another generous Assumption batch doing a fund-raiser next weekend is Assumption Convent San Lorenzo High School ’68 Association (ACSLV68). On Feb. 1-3, Birds in Paradise, a unique group of collector friends and classmates, will hold a pop-up shop with artisanal and vintage finds at Makati Garden Club. Now on its fifth year, the annual shop-for-a-cause event will donate the proceeds to help fund the scholarship program of ACSLV68.
The bazaar, with items mostly sourced overseas, is a treasure trove of Victorian-era bamboo furniture, pressed glassware and cutlery, fabric-covered ottomans, handmade jewelry and decorative shell masks. Jenny Paradies, Madlen Faustman and Isabel Aspillera sourced the items from antique markets and auctions all over the world.
ACSLV68 relies primarily on donations for the scholars, and the pop-up store is one major way the group raises funds for the students’ expenses. Please support this worthy project and have fun shopping, too.
Follow @seaprincess888 on Instagram.