15 LCP's Best Snapshots for 2020

As we get closer to end of the year; we have selected 15 Best Snapshots as it happened and posted originally in Lipa City Philippines or LCP, the biggest social media group dedicated to Lipa.

Netizens of LCP are capturing photos or videos real time and posting it in the group for everyone's awareness or information. They are like walking CCTV seizing the moments or providing notifications for a wider audience.

These photos are basically the summary as well of what happened in our city in the year when the world has been challenged by different tragedies. Let's take a look back and click on each photos to know the stories behind each moments.

Social Distancing in Kite Flying
Photo: Macmac Gagalac

Young man preferred to climb in a tree to fly his kite or "bulador" during the pandemic summer to avoid other kite flyers. Kite Flying became so popular among the youth to lessen their boredom while the whole country is following health protocols.

Lost Snake
Photo: Amboy Amboy

A man risked his life saving a lost snake. This moment created traffic and photo became an instant hit online.

Lipa Youth in Action
Photo: Alleah Abjelina-Martinez

From the day Taal has erupted, there were so many fund raising activities by fellow Batangueños and most of them were young adults. You can see them mostly in the streets soliciting funds or pledges in different ways like singing, dancing, or simply approaching people.

Mayor Seized the Moment
Photo: Luigi Anotonio Leyesa Acepcion

The hardworking Mayor of Lipa has been captured looking at Taal volcano as it emits ashes. He and his team immediately went to this part of Lipa where volcano is visible. Mayor Africa provided assistance not only to his constituents affected by eruption but opened the city's door to nearby towns.

Earning Hard for a Living
Photo: Rafael Mercado Gonzales

The rain did not stop this vendor to pause for a while even without raincoat on. He is selling bread and would like to assure that he has something to bring to his family while on pandemic.

Frontliners In Action
Photo: Bryan Dy

Frontliners are hailed heroes during this pandemic as they are risking their lives to COVID-19 virus. Frontliners are nurses, doctors, hospital staff, government employees, policemen, mediamen, mall employees, and more.

Innocence and Happiness
Photo: Francis Ramil Bendaña

These kids in evacuation center during Taal eruption seemed to be not aware of what was happening as they were seen smiling and playing outside.

No Discrimination
Photo: Gizelle Gajon

A beggar whose intention was just to ask for a small amount of money has been assisted by service crew to sit down and eat his food inside the store.

Ash Plume in Lipa City
Photo: Aldwin Reyes Jose

Many people outside their homes were surprised to see an ash plume in the sky of Lipa because of Taal eruption. It was a scary moment because of lightnings and earthquake at the same time.

Good Samaritans
Photo: Josefhine Malaluan Garcia

A security personnel has been captured giving assistance to an elderly woman. Prior to this photo, a service crew and store manager of the fast food chain were also on the scene providing seat, food and water to her.

Helping Hand
Photo: Jul Paculanang

Another good Samaritan has extended his help to fix a stranger's motorcycle along the street of Lipa.

Everyone Can Help
Photo: Mikel Ebreo

An old man deposited cash online for a charitable organization to help the victims of typhoon despite his status in life.

Smile of Gratitude
Photo: Nelson Valenzuela

This dog has been posted missing and in less than 24 hours has been returned to his human family. The dog seemed to be smiling and very happy with his return.
Humans are also reminded to stop animal cruelty and be kind to every creatures.
There are more same incidents of dogs and personal stuff being returned by beautiful souls after posting in LCP.

Hampered by Pandemic
Photo: Reynato Llave

A stranded family along the street of Antipolo del Sur were begging for food and financial support. They were walking their way home in another province due to non availability of public transportation.

Picture Perfect 

Photo: Von Harley Tec Manguiat

A beautiful scenery in Latag of Barangay Halang became an instant hit among young netizens. Being lockdown or limited for several months and counting, people are looking for alternative activities that will provide breather from pandemic.

Disclaimer: These photos were taken from LCP as posted by the members. If you think you are the real owner of the photo and not the person who posted, please let us know immediately with proof.

"Marikit ng Lipa"

Malepunyo Range or Mounta Malarayat is an extinct volcano located in the provinces of Batangas, Laguna, and Quezon.

Mount Malarayat does not only provide a majestic sweeping scenery to Lipa City but it also serves as a wind breaker in times of typhoons plus it supplies clean and cool air to the city.

The mountain range is home to thousands of flora, fauna, and other forms of life and one of which are civet cats as the source of famous alamid coffee. Water is also seen as the primary ecosystem service of Mt Malarayat to Lipenos.

As previously written in our previous Lipa Status's article, with so many benefits of the mountain to Lipa and nearby towns, the mountain should be given utmost priority and protection not only by Lipa but the rest of the cities and municipalities covered by the mountain range. We should be learning from what's recently happening in other places and the effect of climate change.

More Details: Mount Malepunyo is its highest peak located at Barangay Talisay, Lipa City standing at 1,002 metres (3,287 ft) above mean sea level by the ridge of its caldera. The second highest peak of the range is Mt. Dalaga standing at 755 metres (2,477 ft) above mean sea level situated at the boundary of Santo Tomas, Batangas and Alaminos, Laguna. During the 1990s, the name was changed by the locals of Santo Tomas to Manabu as a shortened Tagalog phrase Mataas na Bundok which means "High Mountain". At the center of the mountain range is a cliff known as Bagwis Cliff by the locals, yet due to its shape that resembles a goat's breast, it is also called as Susong-Kambing (en: Goat's Breast). In time, mountaineers have also mistakenly named this cliff as Susong Dalaga (en. maiden's breast) which is actually the oldest name of Manabu Peak.

How Safe is Lipa from Typhoons?

 With the recent calamities in the country, you will sometimes think how safe is Lipa City? The last typhoon that badly hit Lipa was Glenda (Rammasun) in 2014 which was one of the only two category 5 super typhoons on record in South China sea. Typhoon Glenda put Lipa in total power outage for about 2 weeks and connected to power outage was scarcity in water supply. The typhoon also put damaged to few properties and flooding in some areas of the city.

In general, Lipa can stand strong typhoons which can be attributed to the protection being provided by Mount Malarayat and Mount Maculot. Lipa is also on high elevation which helps the city not to be flooded heavily if having high density of waters from strong typhoons.

However, time is changing so quickly. Lipa became the most populated city in Batangas since 2015 and population at present may now be approximately close to 400K. Lipa being the most commercialized center in Batangas has attracted a lot of real estate developers and currently has the most number of subdivisions in Batangas. In the recent typhoons that visited the country, more areas got flooded in Lipa although not yet life threatening but is getting to be alarming.

The city government of Lipa should have an extensive ordinances that will cover the protection of Mount Malarayat, ecological balance in the city proper, sustainable drainage, sustainable subdivision framework, and other long term projects that will reduce the effect of climate change. Individuals, organizations, and business establishments should always think if their actions or waste products will have unfavorable effect in the environment. It's not yet too late to improve the health of our environment in Lipa.

photo: Arthur Chicky Mijeno

Breezy Lipa

It's time of the year again when people of Lipa are having challenges in taking a bath directly from tap water at any time of the day because of the outside temperature.

Northeast monsoon or "amihan" is bringing chilly weather in Southeast Asia which includes the Philippines and even extreme condition in some areas.

Cold months have more "winter feels" like in Lipa City since it is situated at an elevation of more than 1,000 feet above sea level and visually dominated by Mount Malarayat making its temperature lower than average Philippine temperature all year round same with Tagaytay and Baguio as having the coldest temperature at least for the cities in Luzon.

Winter monsoon is expected to peak on December until February but this year is more active because of La Niña event which will trigger for flash floods, flooding and rain induced landslides on high risk areas.

Lipa Opens Christmas Attractions

Lipa City Government opened its Christmas attractions today in two separate venues. First was at the City Hall grounds where selfie lovers will surely enjoy the Walk of Light and the other one was at the City Plaza where giant Christmas tree is located with a grand fireworks display and Christmas give away to early patrons.

LCP Celebrates 11 Years

Lipa City Philippines or LCP Facebook group is entering a new decade this October. Established in 2009; LCP aims to bridge Lipeños around the world, serve as a platform for city forum on relevant issues, and increase awareness on current affairs.

LCP is a free and private social media group being managed voluntarily by dedicated and passionate individuals who have their own respective professions. With its popularity and extent, LCP plays an important role in communication and serves as a daily journal of Lipa and nearby towns.

The pioneer social media group of Batangas and biggest group dedicated to Lipa has now almost 208K filtered members. Let's take a look at LCP's activities in the past 10 years in this 1 minute video.

Smart Living in Lipa

Lipa City residents will soon experience a smarter way of living after the Lipa City government headed by Mayor Eric Africa signed a memorandum of agreement with Information Technology Business Solutions or ITBS.

The project aims to promote sustainable development practices to address growing urbanization challenges in Lipa. Using technology, the government and residents of Lipa will be able to manage complexities in the way we live our lives and do business.

The level up application of technology in the city will include Citizen Digital Card, Disaster Emergency Management and Operations Ecosystem, Mobile Apps, and High Tech Database. These applications will receive, analyze, and manage data real time to help both local government and citizens of Lipa to improve the quality of life in many aspects. According to the city government, this will be the first in Southern Luzon.

Top Countries where OFWs from Lipa are Based

UAE is the country of destination for most of Lipeños working abroad with 15% population followed by USA with 13.5% and Italy for 3rd spot with 9.5%.

Completing the top 10 list are Saudi Arabia, Canada, Taiwan, Qatar, Australia, Israel, and Singapore.

In top 20 are Japan, United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Kuwait, Spain, South Korea, Vietnam, New Zealand, Malaysia, and Macau. The rest are scattered in 78 other countries.

Metrics are approximates from the total number of OFW members in Lipa City Philippines or LCP with a total population of 16,929 as of Sep 30 out of the total 207K filtered members of the group.

How to be a Better Human?

World Animal Day is a day of action recognized worldwide for animal rights as well as welfare. It is celebrated on 4 October, Francis of Assisi feast day, the animals’ patron saint.

To raise the status of animals and to improve welfare standards worldwide, here are some of our simple recommendations to support this cause:

- Stop buying products with genuine leather and fur materials.

- Adopt and don't shop from breeders. There's a lot of domesticated animals waiting for a home.

- Rescue animals and never hurt any creatures.

- Give your pets the love and care they deserve. Dont leave them in the rain or heat of the sun.

- Support organizations fighting for animal rights like PETA and other local organizations.

- Encourage your local government to boost animal welfare awareness.

- Let's be mindful of our actions if it will negatively affect our environment.

Animals are reminder that Humans have an obligation and responsibility to preserve, nurture, and care for all life. Taking care of every creatures will make us a Better Humans.

Happy World Animal and Pet Day!

Ongoing Alternative Road Projects in Lipa

The scenic 11.367 kilometers Lipa-Padre Garcia Bypass road construction which started in barangay Talisay of Lipa and will end in barangay Bawi of Padre Garcia is still ongoing with clearing operations on the remaining portion of the road. The project was announced in 2017 as part of the long term solutions for traffic in Lipa City by creating new alternative routes.

The other project is the 5.75 kilometers Manila-Batangas Bypass road which was announced last Oct 2019. The construction started in barangay Inosloban will end in Marawoy with intersection in Lipa-Balete road. The other two roads will exit in Fiesta Mall junction and Ayala highway infront of Lipa Medix.

Both major bypass road projects may have been delayed from its targeted dates due to pandemic but the status is still green and should reduce Lipa traffic in the near future.

photo: Portion of Lipa-Padre Garcia road

enhanced screenshot from Updates ni Roby video

Memories: Ala Eh Festival

Who would forget the most celebrated festival in Batangas during the time when Congresswoman Vilma Santos-Recto was the Governor of Batangas?

Ala Eh Festival with tagline "All Here... So Near" was considered as the mother of all festivals in Batangas. It was no doubt the most grandiose festival in Batangas celebrated every first week of December along with Batangas Foundation Day. The festival was being participated by 32 municipalities and 3 cities of Batangas and every year a city or municipality was being chosen to host the event.

Lipa City hosted the event in 2010 followed by Calaca, Tanauan, Batangas City, Sto Tomas etc until it was discontinued by the current provincial administration.

During the week long festival, cities and municipalities were participating and competing in different activities like street dancing, "parol" making, trade fair, beauty pageant, and more highlighting the culture, tradition, and local festival of each towns in Batangas.

Free Tablets for Senior High Students

Mayor Eric Africa personally handed the free tablets for Senior High students in public schools of Lipa. First batch of tablets was given to Integrated National Highschools of San Celestino, San Isidro, Lodlod and Bolbok. Twelve more public schools will be visited until Saturday for distribution.

Few days ago, more than 2,000 free laptops were distributed to public school teachers of Lipa. These projects are the city's assistance for advancement of teachers and students in public schools given the current set up in Philippine schooling.

Photos: Roldan Laygo of BINHS

Free Laptops for Public School Teachers of Lipa

A priority project of Mayor Eric Africa in coordination with Department of Education, laptops were recently distributed for free by the city government to public school teachers of Lipa City.

Not only the teachers will receive the unit but it has been bundled with Maximum Security care of Rotary Club of Lipa West headed by Gina Sy to sustain the project.

The project will serve as advancement for public school teachers on the current set up of Philippine schooling due to pandemic.

Taal Volcano Alert Tracker

Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology or PHIVOLCS-DOST has reminded that Taal Volcano is still under Alert Level 1 since March 19 of the current year.

It can be recalled that Taal volcano has escalated to Alert Level 4 last Jan 12 and eventually lowered back to level 1 after more than 2 months.

Alert Level 1 is interpreted to have low level volcanic unrest and no eruption imminent. Activity of volcano maybe hydrothermal, magmatic or tectonic in origin.

PHIVOLCS-DOST is monitoring the activities of all active volcanoes in the country 24/7.

source: PHIVOLCS-DOST

New Attraction soon at Community Park

Playpoint Philippines Inc released in their FB page a design of fresh themed Playground and Outdoor Gym for Community Park. It will feature a “Giant Stallion” which is a common icon of Lipa for having good horses in the city aside from lomi and kapeng barako.

Project is headed by Councilor Nicole Ronquillo, Chairwoman on Committee on Beautification in partnership with Senator Ralph G. Recto, Congresswoman Vilma Santos Recto, Mayor Eric Africa and the Sangguniang Panglungsod headed by Vice Mayor Makmak Luansing.

The new attraction is soon to be enjoyed and photographed before end of this year.

credit: Playpoint Philippines Inc

Lipa City's Inauguration Day

Lipa celebrated its inauguration as the first City of Batangas province last August 31 1948. The celebration came late after Lipa became a chartered City on June 20 1947.

This should not be confused with Foundation of Lipa which was when the Augustinian Fathers made Tagbakin the first settlement of the Lipeños and a mission center with the name of San Sebastian, perhaps after the installed Patron Saint, which continued to the present. The settlement was made a regular municipality in 1702 (according to Lipa written history).

It is not correct to use Foundation Day on June 20 instead Inauguration or Charter Day should be used.

photo: Lipa City Tourism

Lipa reached 2B Revenue in 2019

According to Commission on Audit or COA published 2019 Annual Audit Reports, Lipa City's revenue increased by more than 203M from 2018 which pulled up its 2019 revenue to 2.12B pesos from local taxes, permits and licenses, services and business income, and internal revenue allotment. City's Asset has increased to almost 5B pesos while Liabilities is also up to more than 1.5B.

Lipa City ranked #9 in CALABARZON for 2018 with highest revenue out of 19 cities. Ranking for 2019 is not yet definite due to reports yet to be posted for the rest of the cities.

While every places in the country is having the most challenging period of the year, 2020 financial reports will be a good indicator on how the administration of each cities and municipalities will be fair in managing its revenues and liabilities.

Lipa’s Interesting Trivia Facts

 

We have updated the 25 interesting trivia facts of the city as follows:
1. Last Villa of Spanish regime in the Philippines.
2. First city of Batangas approved on June 20 1947.
3. Most populated city of Batangas as of Aug 2015 according to Philippine Statistics Authority.
4. Top Ten Next Wave Cities or top locations for information technology business (BPO).
5. Little Rome of the Philippines attributed by Department of Tourism.
6. First coffee tree in the Philippines was planted in Lipa in 19th century and became one of the top coffee bean producers in the world & labeled as the coffee capital of the Philippines that time.
7. Home of the world famous and multi awarded health spa and resort, The Farm at San Benito.
8. Lipa’s highest elevation is 1225 ft above sea level and the city is nestled between two mountains making its temperature 3-5 degrees Celsius lower than average Philippine temperature all year round.
9. Lipa has the most number of shops and restaurants in Batangas making the city as the Lifestyle capital of Batangas. Most of the international and local brands branching in Batangas have first opened or can only be found in Lipa.
10. Epson plant in Lipa City (LIMA) is the biggest manufacturing plant of this Japan based company.
11. Lomi can be originated in Lipa when To Kim Eng from China who came to live in Lipa first introduced lomi in 1968. Everywhere you go in Lipa, there will always be a lomi store to eat.
12. First elected governor of Batangas was from Lipa, Simeon M. Luz, who served in 1903.
13. Aisa Mijeno, world famous and multi awarded SALt (alternative lamp that runs on saltwater) inventor is from Lipa.
14. Bishop Alfredo Obviar who was declared Servant of God of the Catholic Church in 2005 with saint protocol number 2398 was from Lipa City.
15. Lipa’s Miracle and Marian Apparitions of 1948 became known worldwide among Catholics until 1990s.
16. Bienvenido Lumbera, a National Artist of the Philippines and recipient of Ramon Magsaysay Award is from Lipa.
17. Mikaela Dimaano Fudolig, former child prodigy who entered college at 11, graduated summa cum laude in Physics at 16, and took her master’s and Ph.D. degrees shortly after is from Lipa City.
18. Vilma Santos-Recto, famous and multi awarded actress, is the first woman Mayor of Lipa, first woman Governor of Batangas and now the first Representative of Lipa district in Congress.
19. Mataas na Kahoy, Luta Sur of Malvar and Balete were once part of Lipa.
20. Lipa is in the text of Acta de la Proclamacion de Independence del Pueblo de Filipino, also known as the Philippine Declaration of Independence, as read by Emilio Aguinaldo on June 12, 1898 in Kawit.
21. Evangeline Reyes is the first and only Lipena so far to compete in Big Four pageants specifically Miss World and entered in semi finals.
22. Gregorio Y. Zara, a well-known Filipino scientist with 30 devices and equipment patented to his name, was from Lipa City.
23. Dr. Candido Macasaet Africa; doctor of medicine, scholar and researcher was from Lipa. His contribution to medical science made him internationally known and won “for the first time recognition of the Filipino Scientist abroad, thus reflecting glory and honor upon his calling and country.”
24. Darwin Laylo, 2008 Grand Master and World Chess Olympiad is from Lipa.
25. After WW II, a place in Lipa now called “Anilao” became a community of women, children and widows. Their male population was thoroughly wiped out.

Do you have other significant informational items that can be added in the list?
research and compilation: Lipa Status
photo background: Arthur Chicky Mijeno