Miranda

2013-09-03T01:53:00.000+08:00

Dear Friends,

I am still finishing up on a project. Will be blogging again soon.

All the best,

Luna

Abstract 26/NF Abstract

2013-07-31T14:00:00.000+08:00

"...the late afternoon sunlight, warm as oil, sweet as childhood..."

~ Stephen King, Carrie

Linking to NF Abstract

Hablon Weaving

2013-07-29T13:05:00.000+08:00

A closer look at "hablon" weaving in Iloilo.

"Hablon" is a hand-loomed fabric woven by women of Panay Island in the Visayas region for more than a century.

I have always associated the tapping sounds of hablon weaving to that of Tinikling, a traditional Filipino dance. The rhythm and grace of a hablon weaver are comparable to that of a Tinikling dancer, but hablon weaving is definitely more challenging. I've watched the weavers at Arevalo Weaving Center in Iloilo and I came to appreciate the intricacy of this craft.

When the Spanish arrived in Panay in the 1560s, hablon weaving in the island was well-established. Colorful hand-woven fabrics were sold in festive market fairs, local traders bartered with the Chinese, and by 1870s, hand-woven textile was the main export of the province.

The weavers were using natural fibers such as cotton, jusi (banana fiber), pina (pineapple fiber) and maguey fiber. By the 1920s, weavers made innovations by combining man-made fibers and hablon went on to become a major player in the Philippine textile industry in the 1950s up to 1970s. The demand declined in the 1980s when the market was dominated by less labor-intensive, machine-woven textiles. The number of weavers also dwindled as they started to look for better job opportunities. The lack of interest to learn the craft among the younger generation also contributed to hablon's decline. I don't blame them---hablon weaving is not easy.

Hablon weavers are getting old. Lola Mayang, a hablon weaver in her 80's, started weaving at 15 and was able to send her children to college. I watched as her arthritic fingers skillfully handled the spools, both legs pedal the bamboo poles. But her fading eyesight will eventually force her to retire soon.

Patadyong is a multi-colored fabric, also a hablon product, worn by Filipino women in pre-colonial Philippines. It is still worn today by older women in the provinces, especially in the Visayas region. It is worn like a loose skirt, knotted on the waist. It is also worn as a sling and used to carry a baby so the mother's hands are free to do other chores.

Hablon are made into shawls, barong (a formal Filipino garment), dresses and gowns, home textile and scarves.

At Arevalo Weaving Center, I was pleasantly surprised to see 3 young weavers---they're young men in their early 20's. Hablon weaving is still a woman's craft but I wouldn't be surprised if more men would get into this livelihood. The 3 young weavers were field workers in a sugarcane plantation in my home province of Negros Occidental. A nun brought them to Iloilo to help them find jobs that would eventually support their schooling. They expressed interest in learning hablon weaving and the owners of the weaving center took them in.

It was particularly fascinating to watch this young man with tattoos unwinding threads, making spools dance across strands of fibers. I asked if he'd go back to his old job---he said no, hablon weaving is easier than cutting grass in the fields under the hot sun. He smiled and added that his skin became lighter since he started weaving.

To sustain this industry, hablon weaving definitely needs young blood and new market.

Panay is a historic island in the western Visayas region. It is composed of 4 provinces--Iloilo, Aklan, Capiz and Antique. Iloilo is the biggest city and the center of trade. There are numerous sea ports and 4 airports in Panay, 3 of which are for domestic flights, the airport in Iloilo now caters to international flights. It's 55 minutes from Manila by plane.

Linking to Monday Mellow Yellows

Blue Monday
Our World Tuesday

Infested

2013-07-27T15:03:00.002+08:00

Orange-colored bugs infested an okra plant.

"Everything is determined, the beginning as well as the end, by forces over which we have no control. It is determined for the insect, as well as for the star. Human beings, vegetables, or cosmic dust, we all dance to a mysterious tune, intoned in the distance by an invisible piper."
~ Albert Einstein

Linking to Orange You Glad It's Friday

Mandarin Orange Monday

Gone Fishing

2013-07-16T12:00:00.000+08:00

I'll be gone for a week for a much needed break and may not have access to the internet. I'll see you again next week.

Never do anything that you wouldn't want to explain to the paramedics.:p

Sun after a storm/SWF

2013-07-12T04:06:00.000+08:00

The sun shines through the clouds after the storm.

Manila Bay

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass...it's about learning to dance in the rain. ~ Vivian Greene

It takes a real storm in the average person's life to make him realize how much worrying he has done over the squalls. ~ Bruce Barton

Linking to Sky-Watch Friday

Abstract 25/NF Abstract

2013-07-10T03:00:00.000+08:00

Stylized Anahaw Leaves

Linking to NF Abstract

Reflections

2013-07-07T19:35:00.002+08:00

Moonlight

The true joy of a moonlit night is something we no longer understand. Only the men of old, when there were no lights, could understand the true joy of a moonlit night. ~ Yasunari Kawabata

Dawn

We went down into the silent garden. Dawn is the time when nothing breathes, the hour of silence. Everything is transfixed, only the light moves. ~ Leonora Carrington

Sunset

In silence the three of them looked at the sunset and thought about God. ~ Maud Heart Lovelace

Linking to Mandarin Orange-Monday

Monday Mellow Yellows

Beef Bulgogi

2013-07-05T00:22:00.000+08:00

I was 10 minutes away from home when a heavy downpour, courtesy of Mang Gorio, brought the late afternoon traffic to a crawl. Luckily, I was just a few meters away from the mall, and I decided to take shelter instead of wasting gas and sitting in traffic. I haven't been to a newly opened BonChon Chicken branch here and although I'm not that crazy about their chicken, I'd like to try their other dishes.

I got Beef Bulgogi with rice, and extra beef for an additional forty pesos, and ChapChae, a traditional Korean noodle dish (which I had bagged for take-away, hence, no photo.:p). ChapChae is made of black glass noodles (bigger than sotanghon), flavored with sesame oil, thinly sliced vegetables--I couldn't remember if there was meat, and garnished with sliced scrambled egg and sesame seeds. It was a bit too oily but tasty. I'd definitely order it again.

I also enjoyed the flavors of this Beef Bulgogi (Korean pronunciation: pulgogi), but some slices of meat were not as tender. Bulgogi is one of the most popular Korean grilled dishes made from thin slices of marinated sirloin. Bulgogi was listed at no. 23 on CNN's Your Pick: World's 50 best foods.

Linking to Food Friday and Food Trip Friday

Twilight After Gorio

2013-07-02T15:05:00.000+08:00

Twilight at Manila Bay yesterday, a day after tropical storm "Gorio" (international name: Rumbia) left the Philippines. Forecasters predicted typhoon Gorio would hit Metro Manila early Sunday, but it veered away towards Batangas province then blew away towards the West Philippine Sea. But it did leave thousands of commuters stranded after ferries cancelled their trips.

Dark clouds trailed behind typhoon Gorio, a humid day punctuated by light rains, the sea was calm and these fishermen were back at sea. Monday ended with a mellow sunset.

Location: SM By The Bay, Pasay City.

Linking to Our World Tuesday

Watery World-Wednesday

Lomi and Japanese Siomai

2013-06-28T02:44:00.003+08:00

I was hoping to enjoy some sunshine in Cebu last week but the rain seemed to follow me down south. Late afternoon rains got me craving for something hot. These were my snack-cum-dinner at Big Mao in Ayala---Japanese siomai and steaming hot Lomi.

Lomi is a hot, sticky soup made of egg noodles, a medley of veggies (carrots and cabbage), slivers of meat, shrimps and kikiam (a mixture of ground pork, shrimps and vegetables wrapped in bean curd wrapper), topped with fried garlic and slices of spring onions.

Anything warm and flavorful on a wet, rainy afternoon is a comfort food for me.

Linking to Food Friday and Food Trip Friday
Monday Mellow Yellows

Cozy garden/Our World-Tuesday

2013-06-18T04:50:00.002+08:00

Growing up in a place surrounded by trees and flowers, I miss having my own garden, which I never have in over 20 years of living in the city. So I was delighted when I got invited to this "weekend home" in Tagaytay.

Tagaytay is about 52 kilometers south of Manila, and its high altitude gives the place a cooler climate.

The city is lush---flowers and fruits are everywhere.

It was about a two-and-a-half-hour drive---the long and winding road brought us to a house at the end of a dirt road in the middle of a pineapple plantation.

This chair was calling my name!

I love the verdant foliage and cozy nooks surrounded by flowering vines.
Anthuriums graced the pathways around the garden.
Various species of orchids and other tropical flowers filled the property.

The garden set provides a casual yet intimate space for new friends to get to know each other.

Tucked behind the cascading white and purple Angel's Trumpet vine is another set of garden table and stools.

A retired wooden cart sits in the garden surrounded by orchids and bougainvilleas.

Linking to Our World-Tuesday

Ships at sunset/Skywatch Friday

2013-06-14T01:00:00.000+08:00

The compass rose is nothing but a star with an infinite number of rays pointing in all directions.

It is the one true and perfect symbol of the universe.

And it is the one most accurate symbol of you.

Spread your arms in an embrace, throw your head back, and prepare to receive and send coordinates for being.

For, at last you know---you are the navigator, the captain, and the ship.

~ Vera Nazarian

Ships and a mellow sunset

Manila Bay, June 12, 2013

Linking to Skywatch Friday

Abstract 24/NF Abstract

2013-06-12T16:30:00.000+08:00

Russel Hotel in London, 2005

"It is the eye of ignorance that assigns a fixed and unchangeable color to every object; beware of this stumbling block."

~ Paul Gauguin

Linking to NF Abstract

Pond/Watery World-Wednesday

2013-06-12T07:00:00.000+08:00

A small pond at the pastureland we passed by on the way to Monasterio de Tarlac.

Linking to Watery World-Wednesday

Monasterio de Tarlac/Our World-Tuesday

2013-06-10T22:30:00.000+08:00

I had an opportunity to visit Monasterio de Tarlac recently, and the road trip was a pleasant surprise. I've been passing through Tarlac for years---all roads going to northern Luzon pass through Tarlac, and I had an impression that the whole province is flat. So I was amazed that on the way to the Monasterio de Tarlac in San Jose town, we passed mountain ranges and dense forests. The monastery sits on top of the mountain, 300 meters above sea level within the eco-tourism park. This province is landlocked and located in the heart of Central Luzon, about 125 kilometers northeast of Metro Manila.

We were greeted by this imposing 30-foot statue of the Risen Christ, reminiscent of the Christ the Redeemer statue in Brazil. The statue, perched on the edge of the slope, was built in 2002---2 years after the monastery was constructed.

The Servants of the Risen Christ Monastic Community is under the diocese of Tarlac. It is an apostolic-contemplative community of religious men who consecrated themselves to a life of prayer and work. There are also groups of women (nuns) congregation here, the Handmaids, the Oblates and the Contemplatives of the Risen Christ who are taking care of orphans and abandoned children, they also teach catechism in schools and parishes.

This is the chapel that serves as a relinquary house of the Relic of the Holy Cross of Jesus Christ. The relic was given to Father Archie, the priest who started this monastery, by the former custodian of the relic, a priest in Essen, Germany. The relic, the only one in Asia, was brought here in 2005.

A shame I wasn't able to see it---one of the staff told me that taking a photo of the relic is not allowed. There was also a mass in the chapel so I didn't insist on seeing the relic.

Monasterio de Tarlac receives 600 to 800 visitors a week. It's about 3 hours from Manila by car.

This mini castle is said to be the home of one of the priests. Almost lost my footing here---and it was a long way down. Imagine the epitaph on that one!:p

A gazebo by the slopes of the mountain.

Linking to Our World-Tuesday

No boundaries/Skywatch Friday

2013-06-07T01:30:00.000+08:00

When we look up, it widens our horizons. We see what a little speck we are in the universe, so insignificant, and we all take ourselves so seriously, but in the sky, there are no boundaries. No differences of caste or religion or race. ~ Julia Gregson

Photos from the Monasterio de Tarlac

San Jose, Tarlac

Linking to Skywatch-Friday

Abstract 23/NF Abstract

2013-06-05T15:00:00.000+08:00

Coleus leaves

Linking to NF Abstract

Wall fountain/Watery World Wednesday

2013-06-05T07:00:00.000+08:00

Wall fountains at the clubhouse of Luisita Golf and Country Club.

San Miguel, Tarlac City

Linking to Watery World Wednesday

Church flowers/Blue Monday & Monday Mellow Yellows

2013-06-03T06:30:00.000+08:00

Visited the historic San Sebastian Cathedral in Tarlac City on Saturday, and these flowers adorned the aisle and altar of the church. The flowers were for a wedding ceremony held here on Saturday morning. Will post more about this church in the next few days.:p

Linking to Blue Monday and Monday Mellow Yellows

Bruised sky/Skywatch-Friday

2013-05-31T03:02:00.000+08:00

From my archive---sunset from the roof deck of my old apartment.

********

"Mine is the sultry sunset when the skies

Tremble with strange, intolerable thunder:

And at the dead of a hushed night, these eyes

Draw down the soaring oracles winged with wonder..."

~ Lionel Johnson

Linking to Skywatch Friday

Big Mao @ Ayala-Cebu

2013-05-30T22:30:00.000+08:00

Big Mao is one of my favorite Chinese restaurants in Cebu--it's hip, modern and good value for money. A Cebuano friend brought me to Big Mao at the Crossroads a couple of years ago and I'm hooked since. On my recent trip to Cebu, I took two friends to lunch at Big Mao in Ayala. We got a couple of dishes---my favorite appetizer, cold jellyfish salad, mixed vegetables, yang chow fried rice, a chicken dish and this beef dish. I tasted oyster sauce, it has strips of beef with cheese and asparagus on top. The beef was a bit tough, and the cheese didn't blend well with the flavor. Unfortunately, this was not as delicious as it looks.

Linking to Food Friday and Food Trip Friday

Abstract 22/NF Abstract

2013-05-29T15:30:00.000+08:00

The heart is forever inexperienced.

Linking to NF Abstract

Unexpected destination/Watery World Wednesday

2013-05-29T04:20:00.000+08:00

Expect nothing.

Live frugally on surprise.

~ Alice Walker

Linking to Watery World Wednesday

Bird cages/Monday Mellow Yellows

2013-05-27T07:00:00.000+08:00

Spotted these hanging bird cage flower arrangements near the entrance of the Malolos Cathedral. I think these are pretty but a bit distracting when the bride was walking down the aisle.:p

Linking to Monday Mellow Yellows