Monday, December 26, 2005

lighthouse in burgos







This lighthouse, from the account of the caretaker dates back to the 1890's. His earliest recollection of the place was when his lolo (grandfather) took him to visit the place when he was a little boy. The lighthouse is still in use because Northern Luzon is prone to bad weather. While commercial ships are now equiped with radar equipment, the small fishing vessels going into the South China seas still need this lighthouse to guide the fishermen into safety. On the roof of the lower building near the lighthouse, I noticed some solar cells. I was told that the electricity gathered during the day is enough to power the light at night. The lighthouse compound is also equiped with a spanish style kitchen. It was really nothing fancy. It just meant that there was a few wood fired stoves, over it was a hood so that the smoke is enclosed and goes up the chimney. Nowadays, bats reside under the hood so the kitchen does not smell that nice. I wonder if it was really put into use in the lighthouse's early days. Perhaps in those days the cartakers families would stay in the compound and meals would be prepared in this kitchen. Now only one caretaker stays here. His son has left to go to school in Manila. Perhaps a couple of his relatives are in working in foreign countries just like me. all photos © 2005 daddywasabi, all rights reserved.