Philippine Travel Notes

This is my 2nd post today, we're still on the last day of the year. Nothing much to do until fireworks at midnight, so I have time to blog. I am guessing I may even have more time for a 3rd or 4th story later! So.., yes this is THE National Museum of Singapore, that I visited for a meeting this morning.., Meeting at the museum? Yes and No! The 'no' means I did not have business discussions with anyone while touring the museum. The 'yes' is because my meeting was at a restaurant in this building. There is such a thing here yes, sosy pa! That's even my next blog entry, nagpaka-sosy tayo. So, abangan yan! This is not a mural nor a painting. It's a projection screen na pagka-lapad-lapad. Ibang klase, di ba? That lens-like circle on the map, in front of the two visitors.., gumagalaw at namamasyal yan! It moves around the map magnifying the areas it passes along. Like when you use a real lens on a printed map! Oops, I won't regale you with what I saw or...

Good Morning! This is the last morning of the year, yey! Let's continue last night's topic - the "YMCA @ One Orchard". As I said last night, I chose this hotel as it is just literally a few steps away from the national museum, that I needed to visit today, since I have a lunch meeting somewhere in there, with a good old client. This is their smoking area, by the roadside, and nearer to the Singapore National Museum Anyway, you may have already known, this is an old building that's already part of the recorded history of Singapore! Why? Ah, you can go to the museum for that (I'm going there later, yey), or go search the world wide web for quicker info! Seryoso yan, this building and location is both historic and historical! Old as it may be however, the hotel maintains its clean and no-frills atmosphere. Yes it is devoid of the bling blings and jaw-dropping whatevers at luxury hotels. This does not also have the instagrammable art deco ek-ek of many bo...

This is now more popularly referred to as "YMCA @ One Orchard" Nostalgia muna... back in the late '80s, to the early '90s when 'backpacker hostels' or the more recent 'boutique hotels' were not yet the 'in thing', this YMCA International House (Singapore) was one of the most sought after hostels for young budget conscious Pinoys visiting Singapore. Include me in that category! That's how I came to know this place. Now, I'm back to re-live the memories of yesteryears! Golly geeee! Drama ini! Look at my room... very 'yesterday'-looking 'no?! Was I really back here just for the nostalgia drama ek ek? Well, partly yes lang. I am actually going to visit the National Museum of Singapore tomorrow morning. And I knew I would be arriving in this city late tonight (1130PM na ngqyon as I write this hehe), so I better be sleeping somewhere near so I can just walk to the museum after breakfast. That is the plan, and that is mainly w...

Back to Singapore after just 4 days! Connecting trips again - Davao to Cebu to Singapore! Not that I did not know there are direct flights from Davao to Singapore. I do. But my circumstances at the time of booking, necessitated that I go back to Cebu, then fly to wherever from there. One example would be: alangan naman dalhin ko pa sa Singapore yung mga sinuot ko sa kasal, di ba? Extra weight! So, after the early-morning garden wedding ceremonies, while fun games and some dancing were still on, when breakfast was not yet served, I had to covertly say goodbyes, to make my way to the airport! No worries though. There is always something I will like inside a Mabuhay Lounge, like cassava cake! Oops, nahurot na diay ang cassava cake! But this guy already prepared a bowl of Arroz Caldo for me.., That's what I like with the Davao Mabuhay Lounge.., when there are not so many people, their service staff would normally ask you what you want, and they get them for you - including heatin...

Discovered by circumstance, accident or fate! 😛 If you have read my previous post , I was in an unfamiliar (to me) area of Davao. Yes, I said in that post I've been many times to this city, but in all instances, there was never a need for me to be in, or stay at Obrero area. So alright, after check-in at Infinity Suites, I strolled to G-Mall. Although night time caught up with me there, food did not come to mind. Only after watching '24 Oras', that my stomach growled! I looked at google maps to check where would be nearby joints to walk to, and grab some dinner or a bit of a semblance of it hehe! Ayun, I thought of walking around the vicinity, with particular propensity towards Loyola St. cor. Maharlika Highway, since I saw on the map that there were eateries near each other in that area - particularly some place that looked like 'a square' or 'a mall' or something like that. While on my leisurely walk, I took note of what I might like as there were c...

I've been to Davao City many times, but I haven't heard about this hotel yet. My recent circumstances however, led me to this "good enough" find for a quick overnight. There was a year-end function that I needed to attend in this area of the city. The event venue is a good hotel itself but I was unable to grab a room there. I gave way to fellow attendees who came in groups or families. Sayang kasi ang space! So, I looked for a nearby accommodation via google maps. One that would be within walking distance to the venue. Why? Because the event was a very early morning (dawn) wedding! Yes kasal, KASAL sa kaadlawon OMG. Hep, just saying OMG but not complaining! I was one of those who 'pushed' for this! That's what the couple wanted, so let them be. It's their day, not yours. Walang basagan ng trip 'no?! About my trip.., this was a hectic run! +29DEC Arrive 4PM from Cebu, +30DEC 5AM attend wedding at Ritz Garden Oases, +30DEC 1030AM Davao to Cebu ...

Time to get moving! Another connecting flight. This time I was traveling Tacloban to Cebu to Davao! The Tacloban to Cebu leg was on Cebu Pacific Flight DG6572 leaving at 1120H and arriving at 1205H Oh boy, oh golly.., was this a blessed morning or what! A group of nuns hogging the check-in counter delaying the smooth flow of passengers. As usual.., yes that is very usual.., they had baggage weight issues, even as a group. Their solution: take away some, then re-weigh; remove some, then re-weigh! Haruy! This delayed everyone, but none could openly complain to these sisters. Hadlok han gaba! For me, the overly idiotic part of this ceremony isn't the passengers and their excessive baggage, but that Cebu Pacific opens only one check-in counter for flights to Cebu. So, whether you've done online check-in or not, whether you have baggage or none, you still line-up at this one and only counter. Duh! At other airports/airlines you can already use your electronic boarding pass, ...

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...