THE SENTI . MENTALIST

"Scent of a City" by Ana Marie Pamintuan

2011-06-22T19:02:00.000+08:00

I so agree with this article that I just had to share it. This was published in today's issue of Philippine Star. Accompanying photos also sourced from the web,

It’s the City of Pines, the City of Flowers. It has a parade and a park dedicated to flowers, both called Panagbenga.
But this must be the wrong time of the year to look for flowers in Baguio City. Or at least the flowers that I remember from the days when I visited the country’s summer capital at least once a year.
Back then the entire city was blanketed with flowers, from parks to public buildings to private homes surrounded by gardens, usually terraced plots along sloping ground. Bleeding heart vines and other creepers trailed over roofs and trellises.
I always associated Baguio with dahlias of all sizes and colors, gladiola, roses, hydrangea, azaleas and giant sunflowers – all the flowers that have difficulty blooming in the hot lowlands. There was nowhere in the country like Baguio when the flowers were in full bloom.
The flowers filled the city with a riot of scents, serving as natural air fresheners together with the bracing aroma of pine. At night dama de noche, with its bewitching scent sometimes overwhelmingly sweet it was cloying, truly ruled the night.
I always knew when I was approaching the city from the smell of pine. During summer wild sunflowers greeted you along Kennon Road.
At the start of the toll road in Benguet, pink-cheeked, chinky-eyed tribal girls approached vehicles, offering souvenir trinkets.

The drive along Kennon Road (we called it zigzag) was always part of the fun of going up to Baguio. Last Saturday after nearly two decades I drove up again, and was pleased to see the picturesque slopes and familiar landmarks. The lion’s head had a garish coat of paint, but maybe the aesthetics here is a matter of personal taste.
At the toll road entrance there were no pink-cheeked girls, and I guess it’s not wild sunflower season. As the city neared, Kennon Road also smelled more and more like EDSA.
For those who remember a slower time in Baguio City, the biggest disappointment has to be the disappearance of the pine trees along the slopes, and their replacement with houses whose residents obviously do not have the luxury of bothering about gardens and aesthetics.

* * *

The Our Lady of Atonement Cathedral, with its rose-colored exterior, at the top of Session Road used to be one of the city’s imposing landmarks. At 6 p.m. the church bells would toll the Angelus, and a hush would fall over the city as the fog crept in with the change of temperature at dusk. At that time, and at dawn, the scents of pine and flowers were at their strongest. Inhaling that air was a precious experience.
Last Saturday afternoon it was difficult to find the church, whose façade is now blocked by a shopping strip and jeepney terminal at Cathedral Loop.
Session Road itself, except for the sloping terrain, now looks like most other city streets in the Philippines – crowded and traffic-choked. I had to search for my favorite Chinese restaurant, Star Café, amid stores selling phone cards alongside the popular fast-food chains. At the foot of Session the public market has been expanded to a building with a covered overpass, adding to the sense of crowding.
Traffic around the market was worse than in Divisoria, even on Sunday morning. Inside at least the market looked the way I remembered it, with baskets of strawberries being sold together with Igorot souvenirs. Over “everlasting” garlands and strands of garlic and shallots, a prominent sign warned the public to watch out for pickpockets. All the vegetables associated with the highlands – broccoli, cauliflower, giant carrots and Baguio beans – were sold alongside the native kalamay they call “sundot kulangot.” A relatively new product is the giant navel orange from Sagada. And the longganiza stalls now offer low-fat versions.
I didn’t see any pink-cheeked tribal girls at the market, even in the stalls selling native woven shawls and blankets.
Near the market is Burnham Park, pretty much unchanged except for the absence of flowers. But the surrounding area is also overcrowded. Wright Park, where the horses are, also looked the same. The Good Shepherd nuns have also preserved their convent, and on Sunday afternoon there were long lines at the compound waiting for their bottles of ube and strawberry jams. The nuns have added civet and mountain coffee and some organic products to their line.
But Mines View Park was a disappointment, with shops and inns built on the edge of the cliff ruining the view. Why can’t zoning be imposed in the city? Baguio is destroying its unique and important assets.
In neighboring Benguet’s La Trinidad Valley, the “Strawberry Fields” seem to have shrunk considerably and can use better packaging. In places such as China, there would be a giant strawberry sculpture at the entrance to such a field, with the farms and mountains as backdrop, for those who want souvenir photos. There would be a place featuring different types of strawberry-based products, and where visitors can watch how strawberry jam is processed. Cafés would compete to offer the best strawberry shortcake.
At least the pine trees and other greenery around the expensive pieces of Baguio real estate have been preserved. Mansion House is intact, and so are the Baguio Country Club and most parts of Camp John Hay.
At the Country Club the pine trees are still around, and hydrangeas stood out in the dreary “Egay” weather. The club’s famous raisin bread remains unchanged, but its restaurant staff could use better training.
At Camp John Hay I don’t know why they had to destroy that landmark, the 19^th Tee. Was the chef pirated by Emirati employers? Was the building eaten by termites? We have no sense of history.
Baguio City could use an airport. The drive from Metro Manila is fine, and made faster by the highway that ends in Tarlac. But not everyone has the time for a five-hour leisurely drive from Manila to Baguio, even through scenic Kennon Road.
The city still has much beauty to offer, and I enjoyed the trip. But someone should step in before Baguio’s attractions are ruined and lost forever.
This is one of the country’s top tourist destinations. Baguio used to look and smell like a world-class natural spa. Now it smells mostly like urban blight.

(My two cents worth - Pine's Hotel is a Baguio landmark that echoes Baguio's genteel, romantic past. It was destroyed by fire in the 80s and in its place stands --- the ubiquitous SM Mall. )

Intramuros rehabilitation should take inspiration from Macau's Senado Square

2011-06-19T13:01:00.002+08:00

Macau's Senado Square. A tourism gem that our guys from Department of Tourism can learn from.

Starbuck's at Senado Square

In my opinion,the publicized plan for the rehabilitation,or should I say revitalization, of the Intramuros district into a viable hub for tourism and commercialization should take inspiration from Macau's Senado Square. From what I know, Senado Square is the colonial center of Macau when it was under Portugal. The square houses the old Senate building, the post office and various churches including the iconic ruins of St. Paul's Cathedral. I had the pleasure of visiting the square and was amazed to see a happy and successful integration of modern businesses and the historic district's colonial architecture.

I would love for our Intramuros Administration to consider this, and the other suggestion to make Manila's Walled City a no-car zone. Maybe not the entire complex but that block where the Manila Cathedral, San Agustin and Casa Manila still stand.

Philippines' historic walled city to rise again | ABS-CBN News | Latest Philippine Headlines, Breaking News, Video, Analysis, Features

2011-06-13T17:11:00.004+08:00

Philippines' historic walled city to rise again ABS-CBN News Latest Philippine Headlines, Breaking News, Video, Analysis, Features

You know what would be nice? The "new" Intramuros should look like Senado square in Macau where they are able to incorporate colonial architecture with modern retail shops, cafes and hotels. The Starbucks near the Buluarte de San Diego is actually a great start (see photo above) They just have to relocate the squatters and maybe make the entire complex a "no-car" zone. Whatever it is, I hope these efforts become succesful and lead to the resurrection of the "Walled city".

YOODLOO-LE-EEYO, YOODLOO-LE-EE-II, Life in the country is the life fer me..

2010-11-27T12:58:00.001+08:00

This is probably one of my favorite ditties in Sesame Street.

In the 70s, Dad would take us on weekend trips to his hometown in Santa Maria Bulacan. He'd be in the driver’s seat, my Mom making small talk beside him and their 4 little brats “behaved” in the car seat behind them. I recall playing this ditty in my head as the vista outside the car window changed from paved highways and buildings to rice fields , coconut trees, cows and stray chickens. Hehehe. I’m such a nerd!

Bye Y'all!

2010-11-08T11:08:00.001+08:00

Sound of Music, Hi-Ro Cookies, Jam Morales and a Lecherous Capt. Von Trapp!

2010-11-01T22:05:00.000+08:00

One of the world’s most beloved movie musical just happens to be one of Oprah’s favorite things. That’s why it was such a treat to watch her swoon over the cast of The Sound of Music as they celebrated the film’s 45^th anniversary in her TV show. And true to Oprah’s well-meaning but grandiose generosity (remember “you get a car… and you get a car…?) she flew the whole cast to her Harpo studios, the first time the Von Trapps got together since they premiered the film in 1965. And you know what? I could not help but feel the same way I felt when I first saw the movie on betamax in 1985. You know what I mean, that warm fuzzy feeling on the inside that immediately evokes warm milk and Hi-Ro chocolate cookies, afternoon Bugs Bunny movies, Six Million Dollar Man lunch boxes and the lyrics of the Jam Morales pop ditty “A Smile of The Heart”. The actors that played Von Trapp children are so much older now, even the little girl that sang “the sun has gone and so must I…”. One even became a Playboy model! The Captain (Christopher Plummer) came across as a bit stand- offish, even admitting to once calling the film The Sound of Mucus. But redeemed himself to the studio audience when he eventually acknowledged that it could be “one of the best cinematic version of a musical” . That said, he then managed to be a creepy lecherous old man when it was revealed to him during the interview that the actress who played Leisl, Von Trapp’s sixteen-year old daughter, had a crush on him during filming. To this he said “where was your room?” Ugh. Ms. Julie Andrews of course remains as the light and spirit of the lot. The world’s favorite nanny (Mary Poppins and Sound of Music were made within a span of one year and has remained to this day one of her most memorable roles) has lost her singing voice because of a botched throat operation. But her writing collaborations with her real life daughter has enabled her to find “a new voice”, co-writing children’s books. Watch the interview (in three parts) in YouTube.

Goldilocks New Logo

2010-10-30T14:55:00.002+08:00

Out with the old...

..and in with the new.

The Goldilocks of our childhood has succumbed to the demands of global economics. The most obvious indicator is the company's decision to modernize its logo. They've retired the freckled Pipi Longstocking-esque (who incidentally reminds me of that bratty contravida of Melissa Sue-Anderson's version of Little House on the Prairie in the late 70s' ) to a rendering of their company name in today's font-of-the-moment. Which is kind of odd because in my humble opinion, the market relates so much to the brand's ability to evoke nostalgia,old fashioned and white picket fence values through its fresh from the oven goodies. Sayang.

Fried Prawns in Cereal!

2010-10-04T00:36:00.000+08:00

My first experience with Fried Prawns in Cereal was in a street market in Kuala Lumpur. I've never had privilege of trying that dish again. There are not too many restos in Manila that serves it so my taste buds watered ( nag water-water ako) when I read this review. Would love to try it soon.

http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/food/food/view/20100603-273492/Peking-Duck-fried-prawn--in-cereal-2-way-chicken-good-Chinese-cuisine-comes-to

World Embraces Charice

2010-09-26T18:07:00.000+08:00

Please allow me one more post about Charice. I chanced upon this You Tube post about the diminutive singer from these isles. Maybe a few months before her Glee debut. Its a love fest of international proportions with Oprah, Justin Timberlake, Ellen Degeneres, Patti LaBelle, Michael Buble, David Spade, Leno and other marquee names from around the world singing praises to, whom I will know christen as P-4 (Pintt-sized Pinay Pipe Princess). Watch and let your inner Pinoy swell with pride.

Sunshine Rains on Rachel's Parade!

2010-09-25T11:59:00.000+08:00

The Philippines' "pride of the moment" Charice debuts in the first episode of GLEE Season 2. The little lady with the big voice delivered the goods. Especially during the audition sequence where members of New Directions cheered her delicious performance while resident diva stewed and simmered in her own insecurity. The episode's twist? - Charice gets pirated by New Direction's arch nemesis - Vocal Adrenaline.

Very High End Mooncakes I'm Sure!

2010-08-30T23:26:00.001+08:00

http://www.raffleshotelmooncakes.com/index.php

Would You Sell Your Mother-In-Law To Check In Here?

2010-08-15T23:14:00.000+08:00

Lobby of the Peninsula Hongkong

What is it about grand heritage hotels that fascinate people like me? Is it the lure of nostalgia? The fond remembrance of a gentler, more noble past? A longing for simpler times when a great divide separated humanity and technology. When time was quantified in days and years and months, not milliseconds. When people labored on perfecting their manners as well as their penmanships. When Sunday’s Best meant dressing up for Mass and when men wore dapper suits, tipped their hats and offered a ready arm for the ladies to hold on to while strolling along open aired paseos and tree-lined boulevards.

It may also stem from an interest in colonial history. Most of Southeast Asia’s grand residences were built under the watch of occupying masters. The Grand Dame of Manila, The Manila Hotel was built during the American occupation. The Raffles Hotel of Singapore and Peninsula Hongkong where protectorates of the mighty British empire. I’m not too sure about the 130-year old Bangkok Mandarin Oriental. But isn’t Mandarin Oriental a Chinese/ British company? That said, these hotels must have been a showcase for the colonial administration to show off their achievements to the watching world. Like showing off the best silver and china when you have friends over for dinner. “See what we’ve done. We’ve civilized the natives . Educated them. Built roads and bridges.. and nice hotels.”

The Author's Lounge, The Oriental Bangkok

Drawing Room, Raffles Singapore

Champagne Room, Manila Hotel

Despite that, these are legacies worth keeping. All, except for The Manila Hotel have maintained their standing. It is my hope that I will get to experience them. Sooner than later I hope.

A Loaf of Bread, A Container of Milk, And a Stick of Buttah!

2010-08-14T16:12:00.001+08:00

Hehehe. Mommy, Mommy I remember!!!! But when I was young, I always thought it was " a loaf of bread, POTATO AND MILK, and a stick a' butter." Harhar!

5 Minutes of Fame For Those Sentenced 5 Years to Life

2010-08-14T15:15:00.003+08:00

Hardened criminals turned into You Tube celebrities. Petty and professional crooks in the southern island of Cebu became the toast of the internet world after their "Thriller" production number became the novelty act of 2008. Quick to capitalize on the death of Mr. Jackson, Hollywood flew to the island and made this video which they plan to include in a commemorative album for the "Gloved One". I just hope the Gringos paid the city government enough to better the living conditions in the Cebu pentitentiary. The Philippines as a whole has uber deplorable jail system. Here's hoping something positive comes out of this stunt.

2010-03-28T11:14:00.007+08:00

Last night, my company participated in the world-wide observance of Earth Hour. This entailed diligent coordination with our Operations, Engineering and Housekeeping departments. We turned off our lights from 8:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. Customers had to endure very minimal lighting for an hour but its all good because they know it was done for a great cause. This event was replicated by several households, companies, communities, municipalities and cities around the Philippines, and is also being implemented in major cities around the planet. It's a call for awareness and decisive action against climate change. We sent out advisories to our tenants asking them to switch off their lights on the appointed time. Our lobby and guest hallways went dark. The only source of light were solitary candles in the hallways. Beside each candle was a tentcard with the earth hour logo with an explanation of why our company is supporting this effort. One of our function room was set-up with a projector, a giant screen and sofas where people can lounge and watch Al Gore's "Inconvenient Truth". I sat through it and got a chill up my spine. Mr. Gore's movie is a warning to us all. Humanity's greed for power and profit is taking its toll. We are on the verge of environmental havoc and demise of our civilization if we do not take action. I wish for our leaders and our children to see this so we get off our bed of complacency and take part in restoring our planet back to health.

Hotttttt!

2010-03-21T22:29:00.003+08:00

I do not remember a summer that's hotter! I am in my room right now bearing the heat. It's 10:30 pm but it feels like 12 noon. I have two electric fans running currently. One fan is blowing air at me, while the other one has the job of circulating a tepid breeze in my room. The national weather agency says to brace for higher temperature, like 40 degrees. Room temperature right now is 35 degrees. Arrgh!! This must be what hell is like.

My friend has cancer?

2010-03-16T22:23:00.009+08:00

What does one say or do when a close friend is diagnosed with cancer? I got a text message from an old college friend. She said one of the girls in the gang just went through a mastectomy. True to her quiet, unassuming nature, this particular friend went through the procedure without telling any of us.Had it not been for a friend of a friend, we wouldn't have known about the operation.

Once a upon a time, about twenty odd years ago we were a tight-knit group of 18-year olds enrolled in pre-med vying to be the next doctors of the land. We were inseparable bonded not only by our dreams and our course cards but also because we had common interests. We all dealt with stress of college life by laughing at each other's jokes, and spending our parent's money watching movies at Harrison Plaza, playing Where in the "World is Carmen San Diego?" in the computer store across our campus and eating in restaurants that stretched our meager allowance. Once, we ate in this Chinese restaurant in Roxas Boulevard. For the life of me, I do not remember how we convinced ourselves to eat and order up a storm knowing the limitation of our individual budgets. We ended up counting pennies (literally) just to pay the bill. It was such an embarrassing moment especially when the other patrons of the restaurant saw us emptying our wallets of coins to pay up a visibly annoyed and impatient waiter. We went through crises big and small. Crushes, annoyances, intrigues, back bites, snub fests and the like but we managed to grow and accept each other's idiosyncrasies and grew up together. Through the course of finding our individual selves some, like me, found out that my calling was not in medicine but in arts and communications. I left the circle and charted a different course. Most of them remained on track and enriched their lives further in medical school, residency, love, marriage, and career specialties. Through it all we remained in touch. And as we evolved from building our careers to building relationships and families we kept in touch knowing that our bond of twenty-years or so will always keep us at arms reach for hugs and understanding.

The suddeness of cancer makes me think about these things. The randomness of who it chooses to afflict scares the hell out of me. She was one of the prettiest, humble, the most unassuming of us. I pray and hope for the best.

Pfftt!

2009-10-04T13:07:00.001+08:00

Destroyed. Wasted. Beat to a pulp. Blasted to smithereens. My bank account. One that I've been painstakingly building up for a grand vacation was eaten up by the demands of an ailing 12-year old car. I'm down to a measly eight grand. Efforts to revive will require something akin to a European Marshall Plan. There's no use crying over it. Time to re-build. Damn it!

Pizza, Chicks n' Chips After Flood Disaster

2009-09-29T00:11:00.002+08:00

The family gathered over boxes of Shakey's Pizza and Chick n Chips tonight. A quiet celebration of sorts meant to shake off three days of anxiety.

My sister Mia, and her family, including my one-year old niece, were stranded on the second floor of their home in Riverside Pasig. No phone, no electricity, and no means to communicate to the outside world. My brother-in-law's text on Saturday, at twelve noon was a plea for help because the flood waters were rising and about to reach the second floor. There was no communication after that.

My parents were beside themselves. Not knowing what to do. It was foolish to go to them, especially when radio and television report of epic destruction (and even casualties) along the long road to Pasig. Even the driver was dealing with his own crisis, a house also submerged in violent waters.

Another sister, Janet, was dealing with a monstrous traffic jam while bringing home her husband who has just been discharged from St. Luke's after minor surgery. Theirs would be a five-hour journey from the hospital to their home in Donya Carmen Subdivision. Her child, my two year old niece, was at home. The yaya phoned to say that flood water was slowly creeping into their house as well.

My sister at Riverside recounts days of waiting in fear, especially at night when it was pitch black. The residents in that townhouse complex slept with one eye open, hoping to hear the sound of rescue workers. My brother-in-law saved a drowning puppy, a dachshund. It was their neighbor's. It died a few hours later. It could have been the shock, or ingestion of dirty water, he said. Potable water became scarce and my sister decreed that whatever remained will be kept for the baby. The parents and yaya were ready to drink from the faucet if it came down to it.

Meanwhile my parents are crazed with worry. Hoping to hear from Mia. No one recalls their address, or her husband's next of kin. I check Facebook regularly, hoping to read an update. I sent messages to my brother in law's FB account but got no responses. Sunday, rubberized boats from the Philippine Navy arrive at Riverside and assessed the damage. Yet, no rescues were made. They arrived a few minutes later with relief goods. My sister lifted her baby for the rescuers to see. That merited an extra supply of food. It was straight out of a disaster movie. But it was real. This morning we got a call from my brother in law. The flood has subsided. The house in shambles. But at least they are all right.

The family gathered over boxes of Shakey's Pizza and Chick n Chips tonight, at Fonda Street. The two nieces are noisy. They like playing with each other, and watching Elmo and Sesame Street. The adults wolf down slices of Garlic n Cheese, Pepperoni and Manager's Choice. We kid around, debating on who gets the bigger slice, we horse around on who gets the heftier fried Chicken. Sister Janet says jokingly- it’s like Thanksgiving dinner. I couldn't agree more.

"I'm Six Year Old Today! " from Sesame Street

2009-07-25T12:13:00.001+08:00

On my 6th birthday, back in July 1975, I remember re-enacting this bit infront of my bemused parents. I just turned forty right now and I still remember that morning. Just goes to show how Sesame Street became an integral part of the childhood of our generation. We were called "Martial Law Babies" because we were born shortly before or right after the declaration of Martial Law in the Philippines. Our parents sheltered us from the realities of what is now considered the most tumultuous period of Philippine history. Our generation grew up in sheltered environments, singing the songs churned out by the Children's Television Workshop while the people outside our comfortable periphery fought the conjugal dictatorship of Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos.

OLD MAN GLASSES?

2008-01-04T22:07:00.001+08:00

Left Eye: 225 + 25 astigmastism / Right Eye: 25
Blood Pressure Reading at 12:20 pm today : 120 / 80

My hedonist ways have taken their toll on me. The late nights, high cholesterol diet and smoking have resulted in a high blood pressure reading of 140 / 90. My blood pressure readings a day after registered the same figures. That means I am a candidate for chronic hypertension and that I may need to micromanage what I eat, exercise religiously and quit smoking.