Philippine Travel Notes

So, ganoon na nga... I was inside the Mabuhay Lounge, their TV was playing the live broadcast of Miss Universe. Oks lang naman - but I heard some commotion outside. It was an excited roar with clapping and cheering. Hmm, very easy for me to discern what it was! This country always does that on Beauty Pageants or Pacquiao Fights! I knew it! Most everyone, passengers, crew and employees were fixated on the TVs! Oh the final three was just announced! This is that rare moment where e very mouth in this country is zipped to deafening silence - only the TVs would blare any sound ! Ah, seryosong bagay yan. Open your mouth and you'll get those murderous glances ! People intently listen to what each final candidate has to say in that "final question"! I almost laughed out loud when: while Catriona was saying "I work a lot in the slums of Tondo Manila..." a 'usual' airport announcement was coming in, but someone who knows how-to, pressed the local g...

It is (still) Philippine Independence Day as I write this.., about two hours before midnight.., so the day has not 'expired' yet! Therefore I am not (yet) very late to greet everyone a Maligayang Araw Ng Kalayaan! Guilty feeling. I haven't greeted anyone a Happy Independence Day today. That is not very "me"! If the "senior moments" did not attack, I probably should have seen interesting and memorable things or events as I'm in Clark, Pampanga. There must have been a parade or some ceremony this morning. No wonder... yesterday, after a meeting, I walked to SM Clark as my meeting venue was just nearby, and I saw some display, demo and recruitment booths of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). I know they do this regularly at malls or at public events/venues like at the Hot Air Balloon Fiesta. But it did not occur to me, that this was their way of celebrating Araw Ng Kalayaan with the Filipino public! 'Badness me', even the promi...

Happy New Year ! I waited for this! Why? Wala lang 😎 Just for the fun of it! I don't have many things to say now, other than Happy New Year to you all! I watched all the spectacle from my hotel room's balcony on the 48th floor of Swissotel The Stamford ( story here ). Not "very", but a nice-enough vantage, if only for the idea of shooting photos and videos. Here's my video: Feel free to comment, like and share this blog or the youtube video. Sige na please... hehehe! Oh, I did this in an earlier story (daytime), but just to show you what my prime view was, let's describe the area by using the same picture as above, but with some reference numbers, like in the following: 1 - Flower Dome of Gardens by the Bay 2 - The Float @ Marina Bay (there was a 'countdown concert' by some western singer) 2(also) - the purple lights from the Helix Bridge 3 - Marina Bay Sands 4 - Esplanade Theatres on the Bay 5 - Where the fireworks shot from ( in the...

We talked about the insides of my room in the previous post . And this was the last picture there.., My room's terrace on the 48th Floor, where the most important thing I have to do tonight shall happen! That's the main reason I got this room for an overnight stay, even if expensive, remember? And this was the second pic of that previous post, which I said has many interesting sights in view.., That green field is called 'The Padang' ('padang' means 'field' in Malay). The Padang is a historic place for Singaporeans. Parang Luneta natin. Pero walang bayaning binaril dyan. That's where they first held their National Day Parade (1966) on Singapore's 1st birthday being a country separate from Malaysia. In recent years their National Day Parade, usually referred to as NDP (parang Independence Day natin) had been held in more modern venues like their National Stadium and The Float @ Marina Bay, though it returned to this field in 2015 at it was S...

Alrightieee, I was done with check-in and immediately went to find my room on the 48th floor. I'm here now, it's probably too early to tell, but I can say, if check-in was chaos, this room is, the exact opposite. I cannot say this room is ultra luxurious with new, first class amenities, or hi-tech things we all usually hear about 5-star hotels. This one is actually old, with aged things around, and even almost bare. Still, my relief from that check-in counter pandemonium, made me savor the peace and quiet in this room! I did remind myself about the 'bottomline' why I chose this hotel.., to witness the new year fireworks at Marina Bay, later at midnight. I needed that reminder, because, if I would bother myself with the worth of this room versus the price I paid, I could die of frustration - if there is such a thing! Carpet color and design pa lang, parang Silahis Hotel circa 1986! So I told myself, I am paying for the view. Sige na nga! So, where is this expensive...

I'm not sure how this is called in Waray, but I think (not even sure too) this is the "Pahalik" in Tagalog. I seldom see this nowadays. But as a child, I always saw this ceremony (activity?) every Christmas Day. This is that practice where, on Christmas Day, boys (sakristan) go around town carrying the image of Baby Jesus (reeking in the priest's cologne), for people to kiss. These boys usually come in threes or more. But the sure roles are/were: one boy carries the image of a cute baby, another boy carries and keeps ringing a hand bell, and yet another boy carrying a box or container for people to place money. I said, my recollection tells me it happens on Christmas Day. But this was already the 27th, and Leyte Park is not a residence but a resort hotel! Ah well, maybe the boys have got too many houses to visit, since this is a capital city, or maybe the priest badly needs more funds, or the management of Leyte Park are very religious that they know about this so...

I was in the Kananga-Ormoc-Baybay areas for some 'work-related work', and lunch caught up with me at Ormoc City Food Park Barbecue Plaza. Hah, bisan di kauli'g Sugbo, makatilaw ta'g inasal with puso! As we entered the park though, that sign welcoming EVRAA delegates (athletes), invited my curiosity. Yes, I know what it is! The "Eastern Visayas Regional Athletic Association" Meet, commonly shortened as "EVRAA Meet". Oi, nangarap din ako nyan during my younger years. Who does not want to compete in an athletic meet representing his or her province, di ba? Ang siste, even if I was good at everything I tried in those days, the athletes sent to athletic meets were the best, not just "good"! In short, I did not make the cut. Hehehe, pang-rondalla, science fair, spelling bee at scouting lang pala ako! Anyway.., Once seated at our chosen stall, I asked the waiter when is this EVRAA Meet going to be. The manang owner answered "'aw wa pa...

Passing by the area of Barangay. Baras in Palo, Leyte, I saw kids drenching walking home, obviously coming from the beach. Oh BEACH! So I said why not check that place out. Just to see what is there! I was readily met by this sign which is now common all over the region... Not that the law is something new. It has been such a law for already a long time (I was probably not even born yet) but only gaining attention these days - after the Yolanda / Haiyan devastation of 2013. But the beach is still there and beckons as always (to me at least)... This time, you can't build homes 40 meters from the water line. O di ba ang ganda kung ganun? Sana! Anyway, when I looked around, I saw people doing that uncommon sport - skimboarding! Hmm... Not that I haven't seen or heard about skimboarding, but I said "uncommon" for indeed it still is not a common sight just anywhere. Of course I've watched the skimboarders on Boracay where even dogs ride on the boards. But this th...

2 days, 2 Visayan Cities, 2 SM Cities, 2 Santacruzans! How lucky of me! Yesterday, I was at SM City Cebu for some errands, and I saw this... Yeah, a Stancruzan inside a mall - complete with lovely little girls as angels with flowers, and a little boy as consort! A fashion show really, masquerading as a religious festival! But that was yesterday... Today, I was at SM City Iloilo, just strolling, and I saw this... I asked the guard what was going on. And he said "Santacruzan"! I thought "really now, bakit lahat me sash at corona"? Good I saw a tarp that said "Fiesta In The City"! Ah okay, so ang mga beauties na yan, pinag-pi-fiestahan ng madlang public?! O di pareho lang, di ba? The Cebu event is supposed to be a religious activity. But let's talk real here, would any of the members of the public be in pious pause at seeing those beauties parade on stage? Does anyone really care about the significance of Reyna Banderada, Reyna Emperatriz or Quee...