Before the Eastern Sunset

The Place Where I Stayed at Camotes Island

2012-02-23T21:13:00.000-08:00

My tour around Camotes Island is enjoyable but pretty exhausting. That's why I am glad that my friends from the island sent me to a good place to rest my travel-weary body. They brought me to San Francisco Bay Lodge, which is located in the town of San Francisco. I stayed about three days at this place while waiting for the time for me to go back to Cebu.

I heard that San Francisco Bay Lodge is owned by a foreigner and Filipina couple. The owners are abroad and the caretaker and her helpers manage the whole place. San Francisco Bay Lodge has four rooms that has this bed:

That big bed is perfect for a person like me who moves a lot while sleeping. The room is big enough and has its own toilet and shower. I secretly inspected the second floor of the building where I stayed but there is nothing to see there because its construction is still unfinished. If you are in San Francisco Bay Lodge then the place where you can mill around inside the building is at the lobby.

And have nice talk with these figurines:

Tres Aquarians

The caretaker and her helpers are courteous and friendly. I had a good chat with them while I was eating my meals. I ate my breakfast, lunch and dinner inside the San Francisco Bay Lodge because they offer cooked meals. Eat your dinner at their “restaurant” and have a friendly chat with the caretaker, who has a hard time talking Tagalog.

San Francisco Bay Lodge is not for beach-loving tourists because the place has no beach. The place is located right beside an overhanging cliff that is too high for those who want to swim in the sea.

Overhanging cliff of Camotes Island. At the background is Poro Island.

That's why I said previously that I did not got the chance to swim in the sea during my whole stay at Camotes Island. Nonetheless, I enjoyed breathing the fresh air and looking at the clear waters of Camotes Island.

Sea of Camotes Island is so clear that the rocks underwater are visible.

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This is my last post for the Camotes Island series. The next series is my second adventures around Cebu City.

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Last Stop at Poro Church

2012-02-21T07:23:00.000-08:00

Our tour around Camotes Islands ended with a visit to the oldest church in the island group. That church is located on the island of Poro, at the poblacion of the town of Poro.

Poro Island served as the seat of local government in Camotes Islands during the Spanish Era. This is the reason why the oldest church in Camotes Island is located here. Poro Church was founded in 1847 and built in 1849 under the supervision of Fathers Nicolas Gonzales and Ambrocio Yturiaga. The church was originally made of tabique and stone. The roof is made of tiles. The church’s belfry was built 1963.

My friend told me that Poro Church is the reason why Pacijan Island and Poro Island are now connected with each other. In the past, there is no church on Pacijan Island and nearest church is on Poro Island, which can only be reached by riding a boat. The faithful Catholics, wanting to attend the mass at Poro Church, worked together to build a road to Poro Island. Churchgoers of Pacijan Island carried rocks and soil and threw them to the sea. The result is the land-bridge that connects the two islands. Over time, the land-bridge was widened and became a cemented road that is now used by the people of Camotes Islands.

Cemented road to Poro Island.

The sea on the either side of the land-bridge is covered by mangrove forests. Mangrove trees are plentiful that the local mangrove farmers association has a “headquarters” along the land-bridge. Many people are benefitting from the still rich mangrove forests between Poro and Pacijan Islands.
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Mangrove farmers association HQ.

I am amazed with the faith of the people of Pacijan Island. Their faith enabled them to move stones and dirt so that they can see Jesus Christ in the Eucharist every mass. The product of their faith was not confined to their generation but is also being enjoyed by their children in this generation. This is the faith that I think is lacking in our generation now. I believe that we now lack the faith that enables us to work as a community.

Poro Church bell tower.

I did not have the chance to go inside Poro Church because the place is under renovation. The truth is that I wanted to see more of the place. However, because of the renovation and the lack of time, we ended our tour and returned to the resort where I stayed.

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Computer Desks must be Good

2012-02-20T20:06:00.000-08:00

Research shows that employees work at their optimal performance if their workplaces are neat and organized. My bosses just realized this fact that is why everyone in the office is busy in making our office conducive for work. They implemented guidelines that will ensure that our workplace will be neat and organized.

Part of the effort to create a neat and organized workplace is by checking our office furniture. Our boss told us to make sure that our chairs are not broken, our working tables are free from dust and unnecessary objects, and our files in the filing cabinet are organized. He also talked about some of the computers desks in our office that are already worn out. He insisted we should buy computer desks that are sturdy and have a professional look.
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Computer desks are important furniture in the office that is why I agree with our boss when he said that our computer desks should have a professional look. In the superfast way of deals in today’s economy, first impression is vital. If our client saw how unorganized our computer tables are, I am sure that negative thoughts will pop out of their mind. They might think that we are also unorganized in dealing with our work. They even think that we are doing sloppy job and these may cause us to lose some clients.

I am glad that our office is working to make the workplace organized. And like what my boss said, “computer desks must be good.”

Short Stop at Lake Danao Park

2012-02-17T08:35:00.000-08:00

After touring the many beach resorts around Camotes Island, my friends brought me to another tourist spot, which they say is an important place in the island. That tourist spot is Lake Danao, which is the largest body of freshwater in Camotes Islands.
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I was awed when we reached Lake Danao. It is the first time that I stand close to a lake. The additional bonus is that the first lake that I have seen up close is clean. My friends told me that they work hard to ensure that Lake Danao will not suffer the fate of the polluted Laguna Lake. Their town consider Lake Danao as a protected area and fishing activities are monitored in the area. Tourists have to pay 10 pesos at the checkpoint somewhere on the road to Lake Danao. The 10 pesos is a sort of environmental fee for visitors who are going to the lake using a motored vehicle. Visitors who walked or used a bicycle are not required to pay the fee.
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The Lake Danao Park is a good place for picnic. Visitors can opt to place a mat on the ground or use the benches inside the park. The Lake Danao Park is well shaded with trees and the wind coming from Lake Danao is cool.
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Benches in Lake Danao Park.

My visit to the park is very short but I think that Lake Danao is a good place for bird watching. One of the birds that you can see is the white bird shown on the Lake Danao Park sign:
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Another activity that visitors will enjoy is boat riding to the middle of Lake Danao. The park has one boat that is used to ferry visitors to the middle of Lake Danao, which is near an island filled with mangrove trees.
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Mangrove Island of Lake Danao.

Boat ride to the middle of Lake Danao costs 500 pesos per trip for up to 10 passengers. The boat can accommodate a maximum of twenty passengers. Excess passengers have to pay 50 pesos each. The boat is an inflatable rubber boat that is fitted with a deck that has bamboo chairs.
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I enjoyed my short visit to Lake Danao Park. It relaxed my body after the exhausting tour around the island. How I wish that the Taal Lake and Laguna Lake in Luzon will be as clean as Lake Danao. If you are planning to visit Camotes Islands, I suggest that you drop by Lake Danao Park and enjoy the one of the remaining clean lakes of the Philippines.

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Camotes Island Beach Resorts

2012-02-13T20:57:00.000-08:00

My friends in Camotes Island asked me to visit the tourist spots in their place. Their request automatically received my positive answer because I really wanted to see the sights around the town of San Francisco.

My friends brought me first to the popular beach resorts in their town. San Francisco has plenty of beach resorts but we only visited three of them because our time is limited. My friends brought me to Santiago Bay Resort and the two resorts at Mangodlong Bay.

Santiago Bay Garden and Resorts

Santiago Bay Garden and Resorts is big. It is a resort complex that has a big mansion, various rooms for rent, freshwater swimming pool, and a restaurant. Visitors can enjoy playing billiards or stroll in the well landscaped interior of the resort.

Santiago Bay Resort's restaurant.

Planning to go to Santiago Bay Garden and Resorts? Visit their website or contact them at 345-8599, 344-6899 or 420-3385 for more information.

Mangodlong Resort

Just ten-minute drive from Santiago Bay is the Mangodlong Bay. Here you can find two resorts that share the name of Mangodlong. Of the two beach resorts, it is the Mangodlong Resort that is less expensive.

Mangodlong Resort is the place to go if you just want to dip to the sea and unwind with friends for few hours. Families can have a picnic inside the resort. What’s unique in Mangodlong Resort is the hut located on the rocky outcrop at the edge of the beach.

Mangodlong Paradise Beach Resort

Located just beside Mangodlong Resort is the relatively expensive Mangodlong Paradise Beach Resort. Though expensive, I believe that this is the best resort that I had seen in Camotes Island. The place is well landscaped and well maintained. Visitors will surely like the garden that covers the whole resort grounds.

The resort has a big swimming pool. The water is so still in the pool that I thought that it is like glass.

The beach has fine sand and is also maintained well.

That ends my tour of beach resorts in Pacijan Island. The sad thing is that I did not have the chance to take a dip in the sea. It has been a long time since I soaked in the salty waters of the sea. Maybe I will “swim” next time if I got another trip near the sea.

My friend told me that the town government maintains a public beach so that those who don’t have money to enter beach resorts can still enjoy swimming in the sea. Well, I salute the town government for doing this. The leaders of the town didn’t ignore the need of Camotes Island citizens to enjoy the pristine sea of their island.

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What I Saw in Camotes Island

2012-02-09T21:01:00.001-08:00

I left Danao City and traveled via Jomalia Shipping's RoRo vessel to reach Camotes Islands. The island group is composed of Pacijan Island, Poro Island, Tulang Island and Ponson Island. The islands are located about midway between Danao City and Ormoc City on Leyte Island.

Map showing Cebu and the Camotes Islands.

My specific destination is Pacijan Island, where the town of San Francisco is located. The vessel where I rode docked at the barangay of Consuelo, which is located on the west coast of that Camotes Island. I am fortunate that a service vehicle was waiting for me at the pier. The driver brought me to the town center located at the east side of the island. The driver told me that it is expensive to travel from Consuelo pier to the town center. He said that people has to ride the habal-habal (local term for motorcycle) and pay 100 pesos just to reach the center of San Francisco.

San Francisco is the only municipality that occupies Pacijan Island. The municipality also covers the island of Tulang. The town as simple (payak) but lacks the pollution that I encounter in the complex areas of Luzon. The town has one market (palengke), a church, and few motorized vehicles. Public transportation is by means of tricycle and habal-habal. The people of that Camotes Island also live simply. Most of them are farmers or fishermen. Others are employees of the many resorts on the island.

What I like about Pacijan Island is that it is still pristine and the beauty of nature still abounds. The leaders of the town are serious about their environment that they were given an award by the United Nations (UN). Mangroves are still plenty in the area and the town folks conduct regular mangrove planting as their answer to Climate Change.

I got three days stay in that Camotes Island and I exhausted all of those days exploring the places that the island has to offer. These are what I discovered in Pacijan Island:

Wide Array of Resorts

Pristine beach of Camotes Island.

The coasts of Camotes Islands are still pristine. This is the reason why many people, most of them foreigners, are buying lands located near the seashore. Most of these lands were developed as resorts or private vacation getaways of the rich people. Notable of these people is the owner(s) of M Lhuiller who already bought half of a barangay in San Francisco. I will talk about the resorts in Camotes Islands in upcoming posts.

Danao Lake

My tour guides also brought me to the largest fresh water lake in Camotes Islands, which is the Danao Lake. I will also post about Danao Lake in the future.

Beyond Pacijan Island

The old church of Poro.

I also visited the nearby island of Poro and got the chance to visit their old church. I got an interesting story about the Poro Church and the causeway connecting Pacijan Island and Poro Island, which I will talk about later.

Seems like that I already laid out the upcoming posts in the next weeks. Expect more stories about Camotes Islands in this blog. If you are looking for a place to visit in the coming Summer Season then I recommend that you read my next blog posts and see if Camotes Islands will be your choice.

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Map obtained from Camotes Resorts.

My First Ferry Travel

2012-02-06T16:44:00.000-08:00

I have traveled around the Philippines using land transportation such as buses, jeepneys, and pedicabs. I have traveled to far places using airplane. I even traveled by riding a fisherman's boat around the Gulf of Davao and even in Camarines. But it was in Danao City where I first experienced traveling via the passenger ferry.

Danao City is on my way to my final destination, which is the Camotes Islands. Those islands can only be reached by riding ferry vessels either on Cebu City or Danao City. Regular ferry service can only be found in Danao City and vessels leave Danao pier every two to three hours. Unfortunately, Typhoon Ramon forced me to stay in Catadman Lodge for one night.

I was able to leave Danao City in the late afternoon when Philippine Coast Guard allowed vessels to travel between Danao City and Camotes Islands. There are two shipping lines that are plying between Danao City and Camotes Islands but only the ships of Jomalia Shipping are present at the pier.
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RoRo vessels docked at Danao Pier.

The vessels of Jomalia Shipping is a Roll on/Roll off type of vessel. This type of vessels can take in land vehicles, cargoes and passengers. Here is the travel schedule of Jomalia Shipping:
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Our vessel promptly left Danao pier when all of the cargoes and passengers boarded. The sea is already calm but the night is fast approaching. The travel time is around two hours.
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Leaving Danao Pier.

My travel to Camotes Islands is slow and boring. I chose to ride in the “economy class” of the RoRo vessel. An air-conditioned cabin is also available but it is more expensive than the economy class. I have no seatmate on my bench and I am fortunate enough to lie and doze through the whole travel.
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Jomalia vessel's Economy Class.

My ferry travel to Camotes Islands costs 180 pesos. The travel is not grand but not uncomfortable for a person like me who prefers to commute when traveling.

Are you going to Camotes Islands? Contact Jomalia Shipping at cellphone numbers: 0906-3640873 and 0948-6699345.

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The Old Church of Danao City

2012-02-02T20:45:00.000-08:00

Visiting Catholic churches is a must for me whenever I travel anywhere in the Philippines. I consider my travel incomplete if I fail to go to at least one church located in the town that I am visiting. As a Catholic nation, churches serve as a witness to the history of the town where it is located. The province of Cebu, as the earliest Spanish territory in the Philippines boasts of old churches that are filled to the brim with history. Danao City boasts of an old church and I am glad that I got the chance to pay it a visit.

The Danao City Church, or more officially known as Santo Tomas de Villanueva Parish Church, was built in 1755. The church suffered partial destruction during the Second World War. Partial reconstructions were made to the church but the church’s edifice still stood precariously. Full reconstruction was done in 1985 after a generous donation by Ramon Durano.

The church is quite big and its bell tower serves as a marker for those who are sailing to Danao City. The church grounds are wide enough to allow parking for several vehicles.

Notice the unique shape on the top of the white dome?

The old look of the church was ensured when reconstruction work is being made. Just like most of the Catholic churches built during the Spanish era, Danao City Church’s walls are thick and solid.

The dome of the church has replica of a mitre, which symbolizes the parish’s patron saint. Santo Tomas de Villanueva is an Augustinian friar and the archbishop of the Archdiocese of Valencia, Spain from 1544 to 1555.

Danao City Church's altar.

Danao City Church is cavernous and, I believe, can accommodate all those who attend the Sunday masses. The church is quite empty though during the weekday masses because only few people go to the church during weekdays.

I attended an evening mass in Danao City Church. I can’t understand the mass readings and homily because they were spoken in the Visayan language. Seems like I need to ask my beloved to teach me more to speak Visayan so that I will not have a hard time guessing what other people say when I am in the Visayas.

The four evangelists depicted in the colorful stained-glass windows.

I noticed that the people who attended the evening mass genuflect whenever they enter and leave the church. It is a good sign that some Catholics in Danao City know how to honor Jesus Christ in his temple. My only wish is that the Holy Eucharist be placed inside the church like the way it is placed inside Santa Cruz Church in Manila.

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Tikoy for New Year

2012-02-01T07:54:00.000-08:00

When I was still a kid, my auntie usually send us a box of tikoy for the Chinese New Year. I still remember the oily and sticky tikoy on my plate during breakfast. This memory of the yummy tikoy compelled me to buy some of it last Chinese New Year.

Just like the majority of Filipinos, my family only celebrates the New Year of the Gregorian Calendar. The New Year of the Chinese Calendar is just an ordinary day for us. But this doesn't mean we shun eating popular Chinese New Year delicacies. We love Chinese food, especially tikoy.

Tikoy or Nian Gao is the most sought of food every Chinese New Year and many people queue just to buy from Eng Bee Tin and other food shops in Binondo Chinatown. Ongpin Street is crowded with vendors who only sells tikoy.

Aside from hopia, Eng Bee Tin is also popular for its tikoy. However, I already tasted their tikoy that's why I decided to buy a box of tikoy from Eng Ho. I already posted about Eng Ho when I talked about their mamon cake.
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I bought the medium sized tikoy for 180 pesos. That tikoy is for my family and siblings. The small sized tikoy, which costs 60 pesos, is for my beloved. I bought the small sized tikoy not from Eng Ho but from Filipino-Chinese vendors who set up shop along Ongpin Street.
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The large tikoy is white because its ingredient is white sugar while the smaller tikoy's ingredient is the brown sugar.

My mother sliced the tikoy into strips and mixed it with beaten egg. She then fried it. The final product is this:
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Yummy!

Belated happy New Year to my Chinese-blooded friends. Hope you liked my tikoy.

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Overnight Stay at Catadman Lodge

2012-01-30T06:32:00.000-08:00

Typhoon Ramon forced me to get stranded at Danao City. The Philippine Coast Guard doesn’t allow any vessel to leave the pier. Because of this, I was forced to look for hotel that is affordable and located within the city. I asked one of the crew of Jollibee Danao and he told me to try Catadman Lodge.
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Catadman Lodge is located in Barangay Sabang, Danao City. Visitors had to walk along a poorly maintained dirt road to get to the lodge. Catadman Lodge can easily be reached from center of Danao City. Just go to the public terminal across Gaisano Mall and ride the Sabang bound tricycle there. Tricycle fare costs 8 pesos per person. Buses from Cebu City pass by the entrance of the dirt road to the lodge.

The Jollibee employee is correct when he said that Catadman Lodge is an affordable hotel in Danao City. Overnight stay at lodge cost me 350 pesos. I chose the cheapest room that is not air-conditioned and doesn’t have its own bathroom. The large ceiling fan in my room is enough to give me a cool night’s sleep. My room is clean and has a bed that is big enough for me. I can say that it is perfect for 350 pesos. Visitors who chose the cheap room can use the shared bathroom, which has three separate toilets and three separate showers.
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Any visitors of Catadman Lodge can use any of the facilities like the dining table and the bamboo shed. There is also a garden that can be used for group activities.
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The rocky beach of Catadman Lodge.

Catadman Lodge is located beside the sea and visitors can go to the beach and take a swim. The beach beside Catadman Lodge is not developed, however, and is rocky. There are parts of the sea that is deep enough and suitable for those who want to take a dip.
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The sea is cold during my stay at Catadman Lodge that’s why I did not swim. I just went there to take some photo like this ruined boundary wall of Catadman Lodge. I am practicing the rule of threes when taking a photo.
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Anyone can check in anytime and the check out time is 9 AM. So, if you are in Danao City and looking for an affordable place to sleep then you should try Catadman Lodge. You can call the cellular phone number 0919-6950588 for inquiries. Catadman Lodge is open 24 hours.

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Rainy Day Stroll in Danao City

2012-01-26T20:39:00.000-08:00

I said in a previous post that Typhoon Ramon forced me to be stranded in the City of Danao. Instead of skulk and be pissed off by the typhoon, I used the whole day to roam the center of Danao City and see what the city has to offer.

Danao City is located in the Province of Cebu. It is connected to Cebu City by oversized multicab (Cebu version of jeepney) and public utility buses. Danao City is famous for its cottage industry of hand guns that started before the Second World War. Gun making is currently illegal but many people still flock the city to buy paltik and other hand guns.

Danao City doesn’t look like a city for me because it is far cry from the cities in Metro Manila. The town has one mall, which is Gaisano Mall. The mainstream restaurants in the city are Jollibee and Mang Inasal. What I like about Danao City is the fact that it is cleaner as compared to Metro Manila. The sea beside the city is still clean and resorts abound in the coastal barangays.

There is not much to see in the center of Danao City. There are few public parks in the area and most of them have monuments. An example would be this World War Two monument located inside the public playground:

I am not sure if the statue is angry because of the death of his comrade or he is jubilant because he is standing on the body of an enemy soldier.

Of course, the Filipino icon’s statue will never be absent. Jose Rizal is guarded by a big gun in Danao City.

Located behind the Rizal Park is the Santo Tomas College, which is run by the Augustinian Sisters. Short distance away from Rizal Park is a very old church. I will talk about the Danao City church in the next post.

My walk around Danao City is exhausting. The only means of transportation around the city is the pedicabs and tricycles. Visitors to Danao City should be wary with pedicab drivers because some of them are sly and may ask 50 pesos fare for just a short distance of travel.

I would also like to praise the crew of Danao City branch of Danao City. They are very helpful when I am looking for an affordable accommodation in the city. They pointed me in the right direction.

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Little Discoveries Inside NAIA Terminal 3

2012-01-23T21:10:00.000-08:00

I usually choose the early flights whenever I travel. The reason for this is that I want to spend maximum time to the places that I will be visiting. The more time that I have means that I have time to roam around. More time means more travel experiences for me.

So, for my second visit to Cebu I chose a flight around 7 AM so I can reach the Queen City of the South early. The problem with early flights is that I am forced to go to the airport very early. Airlines usually require their passengers to be at the airport two hours before the estimated time of departure (ETD). I am fortunate because I chose to fly with Cebu Pacific and used their Web Check-in that allowed me to go to the NAIA Terminal 3 forty-five minutes before ETD.

NAIA Terminal 3 is the newest terminal of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). Cebu Pacific, Air Philippines and other airlines use this terminal. The old NAIA terminal is currently being used by the Philippine Airlines. I like NAIA Terminal 3 because it is cleaner and better looking than the old terminal. Another plus points for this terminal is it is spacious enough to accommodate the passengers that come and go in NAIA.

I got time to roam around NAIA Terminal 3 before my flight to Cebu City and I saw many interesting things.

NAIA Terminal 3 – the Unofficial Hotel

Going to NAIA for an early flight is a hassle, especially for those who live in places that are far away for the airport. Because of this, many people choose to go NAIA Terminal 3 the night before their flight and do this:

If you have an early flight then I suggest that you sleep in NAIA Terminal 3 instead of checking into some hotel. The advantage of this is that all you have to do is to wake up few minutes before your boarding time. There is no need for you to rush from the hotel to the airport. This is also perfect for those who don’t have money for a hotel room. All you have to do is to find an unoccupied floor anywhere in NAIA Terminal 3, place some cloth and use your traveling bag as pillow. Voila! You have an instant “hotel room” right within NAIA Terminal 3. Just make sure that you stick to the wall so that you don’t block the path of other people.

NAIA Terminal 3 – the Mini-Mall

Passengers got bored when they wait for their flight. That’s why I think it is a good that NAIA Terminal 3 was developed to have a space for stores and food shops. NAIA Terminal 3 is now a mini-mall thanks to the presence of various restaurants like ever-present Jollibee, 7-11, Ministop, Pancake House and Yellow Cab.

Shopaholics can spend their waiting time by visiting the Mini-mall of NAIA Terminal 3 at the third floor. Assorted things can be found at the mini-mall.

Looking for a bag? Find it in NAIA Terminal 3.

ATMs of BPI and BDO can be found inside the terminal. RCBC also has a branch in NAIA Terminal 3.

NAIA Terminal 3 Chapel

I am delighted to discover that there is a chapel inside NAIA Terminal 3. I took the time to pray inside the chapel. I asked God to keep me safe during the whole duration of my travel.

Inside NAIA Terminal 3 chapel.

I highly suggest that you visit this chapel before you board your plane.

It is time for me to leave after my visit to the NAIA Terminal 3 Chapel. I went to the boarding gate confident that God will be with me throughout my voyage.

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Giant Bells of Manila Cathedral

2012-01-20T07:27:00.000-08:00

I attended a wedding of a friend at Manila Cathedral last week. It was the first Catholic wedding that I attended and I am moved so much that my heart skipped a beat or two. My beloved commented that she felt a heavy feeling during the wedding. Me and my beloved got “emotional” while the bride is walking toward the altar. That scene is still imprinted on my mind. A bride, all adorned in white, walking slowly in a cavernous cathedral to bind herself, for life, with the man she loves. I almost cried during that long, slow, walk to forever.
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Suffice it to say that my friend's wedding went on smoothly. His guests also enjoyed the reception that they hosted in an events place inside Intramuros. What delighted me, aside from my friend's wedding, is the discovery of something big in Manila Cathedral.

While we were waiting for the wedding to start, I decided to walk around Manila Cathedral. I noticed a signboard on the left part of Manila Cathedral. The signboard points to interesting parts of the cathedral grounds like the souvenir shops, basilica office and the carillon bells.
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What caught my attention are the words “carillon bells” because it made me recall my visit to Cebu Cathedral Museum, which showcased very old bells collected all around the island of Cebu. I pulled my beloved to where the carillon bells are due to excitement. What I saw made my jaw drop.
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Giant bells of Manila Cathedral

The bells is truly gigantic! The bells that I saw in Cebu Cathedral Museum can be considered as baby bells compared to the bells of Manila Cathedral. The bells, which are seven in total, are housed inside the Jaime L. Cardinal Sin Ground Belfry. The ground belfry was inaugurated in April 2011 in honor of Cardinal Sin, who is the archbishop of Manila during the turbulent historical events like the Marcos dictatorship and the first EDSA People Power Revolution. The seven big bells were taken down from the adjacent Bell Tower to deload it of 17 tons of weight as a safety measure.
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Manila Cathedral's bell tower

The seven bells of Manila Cathedral were foundered by Friedrich Wilhelm Schilling, who is considered as one of the best bell-founders in Germany after the Second World War. This fact explained the word “teutonicus” that I saw embossed on one of the bells.

According to the plaque outside the ground belfry, the bell of Manila Cathedral dethroned Pan-ay Bell in being the largest bell in the Philippines. Pan-ay Bell can be found inside Santa Monica Church in the province of Capiz. I haven't yet seen the Pan-ay Bell so I can't validate if what plaque said is true. What I can ensure is that the Manila Cathedral is very big. The bell's clapper is thicker than my fist.
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My hand touching the bell's clapper.

What delighted me more is when I discovered that the ground belfry is operational. The belfry guard told me that the seven bells can be rung for just for a small amount of donation to the cathedral. An idea struck me, I want these bells ring during my funeral.
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The machine that makes Manila Cathedral's giant bells ring.

The ground belfry also serves as a souvenir shop of Manila Cathedral. Available inside the souvenir shop are religious items like the Rosary, images of saints and devotional books. The ground belfry is the centerpiece of the Rufino J. Cardinal Santos Bell Garden. Anybody can enter the bell garden and the ground belfry for free. Taking photos of the giant bells are allowed and the person who mans the souvenir shop is courteous.

I highly recommend that tourists visiting Manila Cathedral to also visit the ground belfry. Your visit will not be complete if you only saw the giant pipe organ inside Manila Cathedral. You should also see Manila Cathedral's giant bells.

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Other Parts of Intramuros

2012-01-17T00:28:00.000-08:00

Working in Manila gave me the benefit to be near the historic Intramuros. I have visited the “walled city” for three times already. My last visit is when I brought an office visitor on a tour inside the “walled city.”

I always go to the usual spots during my previous visits to Intramuros. The spots that I never fail to visit are the Manila Cathedral, San Agustin Church, the canons on the walls and Fort Santiago. Most tourists go to these spots because it is the ones listed on the itineraries of tour guides and even of pedicab drivers, who double as unofficial tour guides.

I visited Intramuros again last year to run an errand for a friend. Instead of taking the usual route, I decided to enter Intramuros through the path least taken by tourists. I entered Intramuros through Magallanes Drive. This road is directly connected to Jones Bridge and stretched along the National Press Club office. Since I am walking in front of the National Press Club office, I was not surprised to see a statue of Graciano Lopez Jaena.

Graciano Lopez Jaena founded La Solidaridad, which is the newspaper used by propagandists pushing for reforms in the Philippine colonial government under Spanish rule. Being one of the propagandists and a journalist earned him the right to have a statue in front of the National Press Club office.

There is another statue on the other side of the street, just across the National Press Club office. It is the monument of Queen Isabel II, which marks Puerta Isabel II.

Statue of Queen Isabel II

Puerta Isabel II, which was opened on 1861, is the last gate to be built in Intramuros. The gate was part of the route of tranvia (streetcar) in the 19th Century. The statue of Queen Isabel II was originally unveiled at Plaza Arroceros. The statue was removed, stored and then placed in front of Malate Church. It was finally placed in front of Puerta Isabel II in 1975.

A short walk from Puerta Isabel II is a dilapidated building that is located near the Bureau of Immigration building. The building is called as Aduana, which acted as the Customs House during the Spanish Era. It also housed the Intendencia General de Hacienda (Central Administration), the Treasury and Casa de Moneda (Mint).

The ruined side of Aduana.

The building experienced numerous destruction and restoration. The last catastrophe was in 1979 when it was destroyed by fire. It was partially restored by the National Archives in 1998.

Restored side of Aduana.

Just near the Aduana is an interesting monument that is composed of a concrete pole that has a cross with nailed body of Christ at the top. That monument is called as the Cruceiro and is popular in Spain.

Cruceiro or wayside stone cross are monuments established Catholics in Autonomous Region of Galicia in Northwestern Spain. The Cruceiro serves as a marker for pilgrims going to Santiago de Compostela, where the remains of Saint James the Apostle are located. The wayside cross also serves as a reminder of Divine Protection and place of prayer for Catholics. The Cruceiro inside Intramuros was donated to the City of Manila in 2002.

Before I went out of Intramuros, I managed to get a snapshot of San Agustin Church.

San Agustin Church during the evening.

I believe that there are more things to discover inside Intramuros. All I have to do is to go to the areas that are beyond the usual routes of tourists. The Puerta Isabel II, the Cruceiro and Aduana are just few of the many things that are in store for travelers who are willing to unearth the rich history of Intramuros.

If you are a tourist and tired of the usual Intramuros spots like Fort Santiago, then I suggest that you walking to other nooks of the walled city.

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Want to read more posts about Intramuros? Read my visit to San Agustin Museum. You can also read on my visit to the usual spots in Intramuros like Fort Santiago and Manila Cathedral.

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Another World at Lacson Underpass

2012-01-16T06:49:00.000-08:00

The area around Quiapo Church is not what it seems. Beneath its grounds is another world where hidden people lurk and await humans who are kind enough to give them their cash…

…and it is cash that they will get if you like what they sell. Pretty creepy, eh? I hope not because I am just talking about Lacson Underpass.
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Lacson Underpass is a circular underground complex that connects the roads around the Quiapo Church. Pedestrians use this underpass to cross Quezon Boulevard. I, on the other hand, usually go to Lacson Underpass to pee because the public toilet is located there.

I got the chance to visit Lacson Underpass again one early morning. I also managed to get few photos.
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Lacson Underpass is quite empty in the early morning. Come in the late morning and you will see that vendors fill the whole area, making it hard for pedestrians to pass through.
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Still sleepy vendors in Lacson Underpass.

Lacson Underpass was named after Arsenio Lacson, who is a former mayor of Manila. This guy is quite popular because an avenue, located beside the University of Santo Tomas, was named after him. He also has monument located near Santa Cruz Church.

Since Lacson Underpass is located right beside Quiapo Church, you can expect to see Catholic religious items for sale.
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Looking for image of Santo Nino? Black Nazarene? Mama Mary? You find them here.

Lacson Underpass exit. To the right is Quiapo Church. To the left is Carriedo Street.

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Ikaw na Nga My Househusband

2012-01-16T00:57:00.000-08:00

I only managed to watch two movies in the 2011 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF). I am interested to watch Asiong Salonga's biopic at first because it was a long time since I saw a Pinoy action movie. I heard the issue of Manila Kingpin with its director and the botched up editing, which made me decide to avoid watching it. My beloved wanted to see Maricel Soriano starrer “Yesterday Today Tomorrow” but it was already pulled out of the Trinoma Cinema because it is at lowest end of the box office ratings. In the end, we decided to see Bong Revilla's movie, “Panday II,” and “My Househusband” that stars the real life couple Ryan Agoncillo and Judy Ann Santos.

Panday is terrible because the movie was used as a political propaganda movie for Senator Revilla. I will not talk about Panday. I suggest that you to this review of the movie to understand how terrible it is. It was fortunate that we chose to watch My Househusband because it made up our afternoon that was wrecked by Bong Revilla's movie.

I expected My Househusband to hinge its story on the love triangle between Judy Ann Santos, Ryan Agoncillo and the comedienne Eugene Domingo. This expectation was borne out of the movie's TV commercial that hinted on such story. Thus, it was a relief to discover that Eugene Domingo's character is not a mistress of Ryan Agoncillo's character.

My Househusband is a story of a man who was forced to be a stay-at-home husband (Ryan Agoncillo) after he resigned on his job as bank manager. His wife (Judy Ann Santos) took the helm in earning money for the family. The movie was spiced up by the presence of their “crazy” neighbor (Eugene Domingo) who acted as their conscience, of sorts.

What I like the most with this movie is that it made me laugh. Eugene Domingo is excellent is saying her punchlines. Her scenes is not “pilit” (forced), which is unlike the way Benjie Paras was used in “Ang Panday”.

Ryan Agoncillo and Judy Ann Santos' acting in the movie are good. Being real life husband and wife made them act naturally as a couple in the movie.

Of the many Pinoy movies I watched last year, I rank My Househusband as one of the best. I believe that it is one of the best movie of the 2011 MMFF.

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Carriedo Street – the Little Divisoria

2012-01-10T08:09:00.000-08:00

I talked about the ever-crowded place called Divisoria in a previous post. I mentioned that Divisoria is the place to go to if you are looking for cheap (and bootlegged) items. My Facebook friends reacted on that blog post and they shared their own blog posts about the [in]famous Divisoria. Willy Jose talked about his Divisoria experience when he did his last minute Christmas shopping. Resty Odon posted about his thoughts about Divisoria.

The usual comment that I hear about Divisoria that it is crowded, alongside with other adjectives like cheap and affordable. The set-up in Divisoria is not unique. In fact, being crowded and chaotic is common to marketplaces around the country. Majority of palengke (market) around the Philippines is disorganized with vendors placing their wares in the middle of the streets. One place that is very similar to Divisoria is Carriedo Street, which connects Quiapo Church and Lacson Plaza or Santa Cruz Church.
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Carriedo Street as viewed from LRT-Carriedo Station.

The whole stretch of Carriedo is occupied by street vendors. You can buy pirated DVDs, t-shirts, toys, fruits, religious figurines, and other items just by walking along Carriedo.
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Looking for shirts? Find it in Carriedo.

Street vendors block the entrance to some buildings like the Carriedo Arcade.

Carriedo Street is the most direct route from LRT-Carriedo Station to Quiapo Church but the pedestrians have to pass through a maze. They should be also wary of the presence of criminals who are looking for ways to snatch people’s cellphone and wallets.
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Prepare to pass through this crowd to reach Quiapo Church.

There was a time when the mayor of Manila cleared Carriedo Street of street vendors. Well, it seems that the mayor failed because they are back and Carriedo Street is full to the brim with vendors. If you are looking for an easy way to reach Quiapo Church, I suggest that you avoid Carriedo.

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Why Don't They Fix Picnic Grove Tagaytay?

2012-01-06T20:29:00.000-08:00

Last month, My family and I went to Tagaytay City for our very first family outing. It is my nth visit to this so-called “Baguio of the South” but I still decided to bring my family to Tagaytay City. The reason for this is that it is the first time for my family to visit the place.

I brought them to Picnic Grove Tagaytay and People’s Park, which are the two most popular tourist spots of Tagaytay City. They enjoyed the trip even though they felt tired of so much walking and photo taking. Our last stop is Picnic Grove Tagaytay, where we set up our mat and had our picnic.

My father noticed many things while we are in Picnic Grove Tagaytay. He said that the toilets are not clean. The park is not well-maintained and the Picnic Grove Tagaytay admin building is dilapidated. He also lamented about the many persistent hawkers that keep on pestering the park visitors even they receive a “NO” answer. Hawkers are plenty in Picnic Grove Tagaytay and they offer many things from horse rental to “overnight rooms.” What’s not good is that these hawkers are inside Picnic Grove Tagaytay.
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I have the same sentiments in my last article about Picnic Grove Tagaytay. Many tourists, foreigners included, are complaining about these problems. The question is why the Picnic Grove Tagaytay admin taking so long to solve these problems. The entrance fee to park is a hefty 50 pesos. I believe that the hawkers inside the park also pay the admin some fees. Why doesn’t the admin use the money to improve Picnic Grove Tagaytay?

The park’s only redeeming factor is its great view of Taal Volcano. Many people flock Picnic Grove Tagaytay and pay the expensive entrance fee just to enjoy this view. I hope that the Picnic Grove Tagaytay admin will not be contented with mediocre maintenance of the park. May they renovate the park so that people will not only enjoy the view of the volcano but also the park as well.

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Where to Find Help in Writing School Paper

2012-01-06T19:40:00.000-08:00

Being a student nowadays is tough. Teachers have the habit of giving so much homework and workloads. Sometimes they forget that students are overly burdened with schoolwork. Aside from that, students also have other responsibilities other than studying. That is why students are, sometimes, not at fault they fail to pass some school paper. Too much schoolwork squeezes a lot of time that some of such schoolwork are left behind. Too much schoolwork also affect the students and cause the so-called “writer's block.”

It is not bad to look for help if the student is required to write papers. The only question now is where to find that help and ease the student's burden of schoolwork.

The easiest way to find help is to ask older people to help them in writing their school paper. Students that have tutors are fortunate because they can easily ask their tutors for help. But what if the student doesn't have any tutor nor a supportive older sibling to help them? The answer for this dilemma is what I call as “online help.”

These online help are websites that provide custom essay writing services for students. These online services has reliable and professional writers that will give the students the best school paper that they require. Online writing services is not limited to writing essays because they can also provide papers like computer science papers and physics papers.

Online writing services is one of the way to help students meets their school requirements. If you are a student, I suggest that you check out online writing services.

A Special Moment at Sonyas Garden

2012-01-02T21:27:00.000-08:00

Many of you correctly inferred in a previous post that me and my beloved took our relationship to a higher level. That special moment in our lives happened in a restaurant that is popular for its romantic ambiance. That place is Sonya's Garden.

People mistakenly thought that Sonyas Garden is located in Tagaytay City. The truth is that Sonya's Garden is located in Alfonso, which is about 45-minutes’ jeepney ride from Tagaytay. The garden can be reached by riding a Nasugbu-bound jeepney at Olivarez, Tagaytay. Tell the driver that you will embark at Buck Estate or Sonyas Garden. You must look at the left side of the street so that you will not miss the big signboard of Sonya's Garden. Ride a tricycle at a terminal near the signboard to finally reach Sonyas Garden.

Sonya's Garden looks like a private mansion. The reason for this is that Sonya initially intended it as her private getaway. The place was open to family members and friends only. Many people discovered the beauty of this getaway and soon the owner was convinced to open the place to the public.

There was a sort of comedy when we entered Sonya’s Garden. We entered the area where only the Bed and Breakfast (B&B) guests are only allowed. Sonya’s servants chased and directed us to their restaurant.

The area open to non-B&B guests are limited to the parking lot, the restaurant and a short walkway leading to Sonya’s spa center. The walkway is interesting because it is lined up with numerous flowering plants, benches and the “outdoor” bed that has been the icon of Sonyas Garden.

This photo of Sonya's Garden B&B is courtesy of TripAdvisor.

Of course, we didn’t miss taking photos on that bed. Sonya’s Garden also has a panaderia (bakery) where freshly baked bread are being sold. We entered the restaurant to do what we went to do, which is to eat a sumptuous lunch.

Sonya's greenhouse styled restaurant

The other end of the restaurant where the toilets are located.

Sonya’s Garden offers a three-course meal of salad with freshly-baked bread, pasta and dessert. The food is unlimited so guests can ask for more food ala Mang Inasal. Bottomless dalandan juice is included. Dining at Sonya’s costs 610 pesos per person. The first food that was brought to our table is the salad.

Green, leafy and freshly picked from the garden.

The salad tastes good, especially Sonya’s Secret Dressing. Our salad was accompanied with sliced mangoes, egg, cucumber and pineapple. What we didn’t like with our salad is the purple oxalis, which tastes bitter. Our salad was also accompanied by a piece of bread straight from the panaderia.

What came next is pasta. This can be mixed either with sun-dried tomato or chicken cream with mango. The toppings are shitake mushrooms, black olives, salmon belly and cheese.

My dalandan juice, sun-dried tomato sauce and salmon belly.

My sauce of choice is the chicken cream, while my beloved chose the sun-dried tomato sauce. I tasted both the sauces and I like the pasta with sun-dried tomato sauce better.

Pasta with chicken cream sauce on my plate.

The last course is dessert. They served a slice of home-made chocolate cake, turon (banana roll) with sesame seeds and langka (jackfruit) and glazed camote (sweet potato). The turon and glazed camote were fine but my favorite is the chocolate cake. They also served tarragon tea, which the waitress said is good for digestion.

Yummy chocolate cake.

All in all, we enjoyed dining at Sonya’s restaurant. We took our time eating and chatting and we don’t feel being rushed by the staff. I guess it took us more than an hour eating and talking about a lot of things. We felt a bit out of place at the start but that was because we don’t usually eat at a formal restaurant. The ambiance of the place, the good food, and courteous staff made us more relaxed and allowed us to focus on our food, and of course, on the special moment that unfolded for both of us.

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Looking Back and Looking Forward

2011-12-30T23:09:00.000-08:00

There is a reason why the first month of the year is named after the Greek god Janus. He is the only god that has two faces that enable him to look to the past and to the future. January is the month when we still remember the events of the past year. It is also the month that we have no choice but to move forward to rest of the year.
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It is just few hours before 2011 gives way to 2012. This day is the perfect moment to look back to what happened to the topsy-turvy events of this year.

2011 is a memorable year for me. I have met a lot of people, either online or offline, and some of them became my good friends. This is also the year when I clashed with many people when it comes to controversial issues like the RH Bill. Clashing with other people online helped improve my debating skills. The divisive issue also helped me know where some of my friends and readers are coming from. Unlike the last year, I am not alone in these battles. I have met so many like-minded people who understand how destructive the proposed law is. This is also the year when God poured in so much of His grace for the sake my of my spiritual well-being. There were times when I see everything bleak and hopeless but my God is persistent in pulling me out of the hole I put myself into.

2011 is also the year when this blog grew to “epic” proportions. My blog only has less than a hundred visitors per day last year. The numbers of visitors grew to around 300 to 500 per day readers this year. The increase in number of visitors resulted to an increase of income for me. My income from Google Ads improved and I get more paid posts. Thanks to all the visitors who dropped by my blogs. I do hope that they got the information that they are looking for.
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More important to one-time visitors of this blog are my suking readers who constantly comments to my posts. Special mention should be given to:

Suitapui who is known for posts of yummy foods that usually makes my mouth water.
Anney who is the master in making art works our of foods.
The diligent student Steve.
The always-hiding-behind-the-panda-face Foong. :-)
Dear maarteh and makulit Tine Rojas.
The super-mother Mommy Einz.
Ate Faye of Hollands.
Caroline Ng May Ling who always gives me ideas on the latest beauty trends.
Kuya Diamond in deserts of Middle East.
My good friend Frumpy Mom.
Blogger extraordinaire Bluedreamer.
The not-so-average Tin, who I first knew as the Average Jane.
The food blogger Pinkcookies.
The super-pogi Sendo and Jag.
The poetic Arvin.

Thank you very much for constantly visiting. You all made my blog filled with comments. Of course there are constant readers who don't leave any comments. Well, thank you very much for constant visits. Hope to hear from you in 2012.

A special part of this post is to be given to my beloved, who not only accompanies me to my travel but also accompanies me in my life. She is made my 2011 so colorful (and a little bit topsy-turvy too).

Now, I have dealt with “looking back” face of Janus. Expect more colorful posts from me in the year 2012. May you continue in visiting my blogs and be with me to look forward to the future.

A blessed New Year to everyone! It is time for fireworks!

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Happy New Year to RH Bill Advocates

2011-12-30T22:07:00.000-08:00

I know, I know. 2011 has been a bad year for all of you. The divisive bill that all of you are pushing for are still not passed. Such a sad Holiday Season for you. So, as a consolation, I will share this gift that is being tossed around by many people in Facebook.

Dancing Lights at Ayala Triangle

2011-12-30T07:37:00.000-08:00

My beloved asked me to take her to the now-talked-about Christmas Light show at Ayala Triangle. I instantly answered “yes” to her request. Like her, I also wanted to see Ayala Christmas lights and snap mesmerizing photos like those in Lantaw's blog. What’s more interesting is that those Christmas lights “moves” with the music.
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The big "tunnel," fronting Ayala Avenue, is the entrance to Ayala Garden.

We reached Ayala Triangle at around 7 PM and we saw that the place is packed with people. Well, who wouldn’t be attracted to visit Ayala Triangle and see the Christmas lights show for free? The spectators of the “Symphony of Lights,” as the Christmas Lights show is called, are mostly composed of employees from Makati and families. Professional photographers abound too.
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Kids enjoy the “Symphony of Lights,” especially when the lights started to “dance” and change into different colors.
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It is white Christmas after all.

Kids enjoy playing with this inflatable "star."

Being at the Ayala Triangle Garden for the “Symphony of Lights” is way better than looking at the photos of it. Photos can capture the lights but it can never capture the sounds and ambiance of the place. I almost danced with lights when “Winter Wonderland” was played. What kept me from dancing is my beloved who is too shy to dance.

Each performance last about 30 minutes with 30 minutes gap between performances. Ayala Christmas lights show is open from 6 PM to 9 PM. We used the gap time to take photos. The problem is that it's hard to get good shots because of the crowd.

Ayala's Christmas light show is on its second year. The show is a good respite for employees in Makati Business District. The dancing lights brings to the mind the good things that Christmas brings.

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Overheard Something about Movie Production

2011-12-30T07:32:00.000-08:00

There are many interesting conversations that I overhear whenever I go to the local cafe to sip favorite latte. Yesterday I overheard some students, who are studying film making, talking about the processes that a movie undergoes before it reaches the theaters. They said that movie making is not just composed of shooting the movie but is also composed of other processes like production planning. It is not only the actors, actresses and director who works in making a movie. There are also lots of people who are working behind the scenes. There are the make-up artists, people responsible for costumes, set designers, etc. One of the most important group behind the movies are the production teams.

I also overheard that movie production is not easy. That is why many production teams are looking for way to ease their jobs. Many production teams are now using web-based tools that give them easier manage all the processes that are involved in movie making.. Some of these web tools are already cloud based,which means that the movie production is following the technological trend.

The students continued their chat about movie making. I overheard some jargon like post production, setkick review, storyboard, and many other things. Thanks to their loud chit chat, I know now that making a movie is never easy. I guess I can now appreciate movies more.

Boiled Beef Meat is Not Bulalo

2011-12-27T08:40:00.000-08:00

I have different expectations when I go to a restaurant. The more expensive the restaurant, the more I expect to taste delicious food. I will not complain to eat a so-so meal if I'm at a turo-turo (economy class restaurant). Expect me to grumble if I'm at a relatively expensive restaurant eating a so-so meal. So, here I am to grumble.

We had our first family outing at Tagaytay City. Lunch time came while we are strolling at Olivarez so we searched the area for a place to eat. Olivarez serves as the junction of roads that from Nasugbu, Dasmarinas City, Talisay and People's Park Tagaytay. Located at Olivarez are the usual restaurants like Mang Inasal and Jollibee. We were looking for a restaurant that could not be found in Metro Manila. What we found is Eli's Barbecue.
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Eli's Barbecue is popular, according to the cashier/waitress, for its barbecue. The waitress said that Eli's Barbecue uses real Angus Beef. There are no other customer at Eli's Barbecue during that day. The cashier/waitress said they had been busy during that week because they had busloads of customers that are in Tagaytay for a gathering of sorts.

We are very hungry so we ordered Eli's unlimited meal that costs around 2,000+ pesos. This meal doesn't only have unlimited rice but also unlimited viand. The only thing that is not unlimited is the drinks, which I think is a sly way getting even with a glutton customer. Cooking Eli's unlimited meal takes time so we just enjoyed the view of Taal Lake.

What I like with Eli's Barbecue is its rooftop that gave us a good view of Taal Lake. The cashier/waitress allowed us to climb to the rooftop to take photos of the world-famous lake and its volcano.
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Eli's unlimited meal is composed of Java rice, barbecue, pork ribs, pancit canton, and fried chicken. A cup of macaroni salad served as our dessert. Our sabaw (soup) is bulalo.
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The food on our table are mostly OK. We noticed that the barbecue and pork ribs were rushed. Some parts of the fried chicken is not well-cooked. I have no complaint with pancit canton and I think that it is the best of the food on our table. What got the ire of the family is the “bulalo”.
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This is Eli's "bulalo".

The real bulalo is stewed bone marrow with vegetables. What we got is just boiled beef meat without the bones. The meat is stone hard and the flavoring used is Magic Sarap. In short, even their boiled beef meat is not good.

All in all our lunch at Eli's Barbecue is not satisfying. The food is rushed and the lowdown is the bulalo. The cashier/waitress asked us to eat again at their restaurant when we return to Tagaytay City. I think that we will not grant her wish.

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