A DAY ON THE PURPLE LINE

Was travelling to Antipolo on the LRT 2 when I fancied using my new Nokia 3230's 1.35 megapixel camera. Since cameras are not allowed inside all train systems in the Metro, maybe there are some things a phone camera can capture that a normal camera cannot. Here's what we got.

Going up the Santolan Station


Why is her name spelled completely compared to, say, Legarda or Recto's? *peace sign*

The sleek interiors of the Purple Line, a project made possible through Japan's JICA

Recto Station at night

Kapit, kapit...kapit!

Manila whizzes past below

The yellow sign says, "Do not lean on door."



Can't wait to be home....

Coping mechanisms: Two students find ways of surviving a ride home.


End of the line!

KANYAMAN NA! (IT'S DELICIOUS!)

From Pampanga, with love

From Pampanga comes another long-time secret now being offered to Manila residents. Found only in Robinson's Malls, RAZON'S - established in Guagua, where my father hails from - can be had for only Ps 60 (expensive in these hard times).

While most people would normally look for a halo-halo (literally "mix-mix", referring to the way one puts together several of the ingredients and mixing them together) which is overflowing with ube (yam), sago (round gelatin-like substance), caramelized banana, finely-crushed iced, evaporated milk, langka (jackfruit), and topped with a scoop or two of ice cream and dried pinipig, one might be disappointed with Razon's seemingly blah offering: macapuno (sweet, young coconut shavings), sweetened banana, crushed ice, evaoporated milk and leche flan. That's it?

But man, this is one mean concoction. Mind blowing enough that you might find yourself ordering one more! Pair this with pansit luglog (Pampanga's better version of the Tagalog's pansit palabok), white puto, or cheesy ensaymada.

Kanyaman na pu talaga! Mangan ta na queng Razon's! Mikit mikit ta na karin!

LAST FLIGHT

Source: Mars Ravelo's Official Website


Rosa del Rosario, Philippine actress. The first to portray the Mars Ravelo character Darna in 1951, she took her last flight last Sunday. She was 88.

Thanks to Barnard Miranda of Mowelfund for the information.

WHOAH!

My blog is worth $3,951.78.
How much is your blog worth?

RETURNING TO THE BLOGSPHERE

Recent photos I took of myself, the common desk at the mango farm, and an artsy-fartsy take on aluminum chairs against the red floor. I hope everyone's having a great month so far!

THE 31ST INTERNATIONAL BAMBOO ORGAN FESTIVAL

I have been a resident of this beautiful city for over 4 years now and yet I haven't posted anything about Las Piñas since this blog is about the City of Manila, and not as Metro Manila as a whole. However, with the impending rebranding of the metro as MANILA, proper attention must now be given to this wonderful place tucked between the cities of Bacoor (Cavite) and Muntinlupa.

And what better way to start this tribute than by featuring the opening night of the traditional International Bamboo Organ Festival, now on its 31st year. I attended the second night, the first night being a command performance for her H.E. President GMA. Forgive me for the bad photos (bad camera, slow shutter speed, etc). At any rate, welcome to my home city!

Welcome to Las Piñas City's pride and joy. Established in 1795 (the historical plate mentions a different date though), it is home to the world's one and only mostly-bamboo chamber organ

The facade of the Parish of Saint Joseph the Worker, more known to cab drivers and locals simply as the 'bamboo organ church.'

The commemorative plate by the National Historical Institute (NHI). Click on photo to read inscription. If you need an English translation, do let me know. I'd be glad to provide you one.

UPDATE: An English translation is now available in the comments section below, as per Sidney's request. Cheers!

The belfry tower's bells ring to signal the start of the performance. The statue of Fray Diego Cera, a Spaniard and the first curate of this parish, can be seen on the lower left side.

Detail of the statue showing a Filipino assistant working on bamboos used to build the organ

Guests, both local and foreign, wait for the church's side door to open

The festival souvenir booklet at Ps 60.00 each (Why is it called a "souvenir" if we have to buy it?)

A view of some of the posters used through the years for the festival

The empty stage before the performance

A festival banner near the ceiling

Guests milling infront of the old convento (now a museum and gift shop) during the ten-minute break

Parols - hold-over decor from last Christmas - sway in the night wind

A view of the stage (built behind the main entrance rendering the latter unusable). Notice THE bamboo organ on the top right, the bamboo ceiling. and the choir loft on top of the stage

Curtain call of the performers (taking photos during the performance is forbidden)

2nd curtain call

Some members of the choir which sings during daily Mass give way for the Festival Choir and instead serve as ushers for the 5-night event. That's Irene Marcos, by the way, posing with the ushers.

Dazed, tired after a looong day but uplifted nonetheless. I hope you enjoyed our recent trip! T'will be a great honor to see you around Las Piñas soon.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Luck cat on a taxi dashboard
Photo by Dylan Yap Gozum, c. 2006

LIVES, LOVES, AND LIVING: 2006 SERIES

Subject: Carlo Cruz, chef.
Starbucks Muralla, Intramuros by Dylan Yap Gozum, s. 2005

FLASHBACK: 1966

Teruhiko Kikuchi ©Stars and Stripes

Tokyo, Japan, September 28, 1966: Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos and wife Imelda stand with Japan's Emperor Hirohito during a Tokyo International Airport welcoming ceremony for the Marcoses, who were starting a five-day state visit to Japan. This was made on the occassion of the 10th anniversary of Philippine-Japan relations.

MABUHAY!

You may not be aware of it but we are commemorating this year the 50th anniversary of formal relations between Japan and the Philippines. Yes, we also did the same for China last year and like China, our relationship with Japan - albeit remembered best because of the war - goes a long, long way back.

Activities are being sponsored by the Japan Foundation. These include the Japanese Doll Exhibit, J Pop concert which will bring together some of the best Japanese and Filipino peformers and musicians, and the traditional twice-a-year Eiga Sai, the much-awaited film festival. Because of budgetary constraints (*gasp*), at least three of the films featured a year ago, including the crowd favorite WATERBOYS, will be returned to grace the screens of CCP, UP's Cine Adarna, and Shangri-la Mall's Cineplex.

The opening activity featuring drummers was held early last week although you can still catch the film festival because it runs until March in CCP. Check out the schedule here.

NATIONAL ARTS MONTH 2006

February is National Arts Month in the Philippines. Begun in 1991 through Presidential Proclamation No. 683, the National Arts Month activities are spearheaded by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, or NCCA, which is the country's premier government institution for arts and culture.

This year, the theme is ANI NG SINING: Celebrating a bountiful harvest in the arts. You can visit the NCCA website and download the schedule for 2006.

TEAM MANILA TEES!

Anyone claiming to be a son or daughter of the City of our Affections should be willing to wear their Mother City's name on their sleeves, or in this case, their shirts. Funky, very contemporary and definitely novel without being kitsch, Team Manila has launched its tees (at Php 350 each, ain't it a steal?!) under the Graphic Designed Lifestyle label. Here are my picks from the men's tees collection:

For women's tees, accessories and artworks, visit Team Manila here.

MISSING ELIZA

My Manila discovery tour partner, Eliza, is currently in New York as a student. I've kinda stopped going to Binondo and Divisioria after she left January of this year. Missing her oh-so badly. Doesn't this photo looks like it was taken somewhere in Europe? The clincher would be the coco trees in the corner. Sigh.