Halloween, not actually a Christian event yet a celebration gaining popularity in the Philippines. The event used to be only celebrated in the enclaves of the rish in Makati and other gated communities where children, dressed in "scary" halloween costumes, make the rounds from house to house in the traditional trick or treat

Now, Halloween costumes and decorations dominate malls and other business establishments. Costumes such as pumpkins and ghosts and witches can be bought in supermarkets in October, preceding the national holiday of All Saints Day and All Souls Day, on which Halloween is marked.

On All Saints Day, people flock to cemeteries to remember their departed loved ones, something that used to reserved on All Souls Day. Metro Manila will look like a desert town with people leaving for their home provinces only ti rush back to the city on or after All Souls Day.

Labels: Events

The photo contest turned out to be a poorly organized field trip. I readily noticed the timing-- we had to shoot during the hours regarded as unholy by photographers. Biak-na-bato itself was disappointing with evil yet unknown intentions of vandals whose despicable legacies are highly visible



the organizers were highly prepared-- ironically of course -- where some of them joined us with heels as if they're going to the mall unaware that they'd go trekking. They didn't have an idea how far we're going or where we're going. In short-- they really didn't have the faintest idea of the place 'cause they've never been there. They even assumed all participants were aware of the perils and pitfalls of the place and didn't do their homework.

My superkitlens gang chose to visit Mt Manalmon said to be blasted away by minions of Rosemoor Corporation, with the blessings of the Bulacan Provincial government-- again ironically -- the benefactor of this trip puportively to raise awareness and gain support for saving the historic national park. Made me wonder the event could've just been a PR event to regain "lost ground" (background here and here)

We're hauled into a truck, they call tora-tora, that ferried us to the site looking like hogs hanging on to ropes as the truck navigate the torturous trail of muddy pools . With bad luck hounding us, the truck broke down so we had to trek about 2 kilometers more which the guides told are just 20 minutes away again having no accurate sense of time aside from distance.

The worst is yet to come!

Along the way to Manalmon, 2 inebriated army soldiers and a man, identified as a teacher on board a red pickup truck, questioned us short from an interrogation on our purpose. "Ano ba purpose nyo dyan" (what's your purpose there?), followed up by "pinapatay ninyo mga tao" (you're killing the people) presumably referring to the people who lost their means of living by closing the mines as ordered by the DENR. The teacher, by standard of their income alone, can't possibly afford the red pickup truck. The threesome even invited us to their camp to discuss things but we declined sensing danger. We opted to just continue trekking in spite of their continued “requests” to hop in and join them in their vehicle and apparently eyeing two of my lady friends. We caught up with the 3 again a few hundred meters away taking a cool dip in a deep well with running water with their military uniforms and boots dripping wet maybe to wash away their drunkenness.



At this juncture, we already lost interest in what we’re doing and wanted to go home but we’re left behind by the other participants except for the guide (the sweeper) and two men who were apparently photojournalists working for local newspapers moonlighting as contestants

We arrived at the supposed site to see for ourselves the havoc brought about by blasting the mountain side in search of rose marble where people unaware of the dangers of possible catastrophe



Biak-na-bato: one man’s luck can turn to other people’s misfortune

With our undaunted spirits, we just made fun of our adventures and opted to smile and enjoy ourselves rather than wallow in fear of our close call.

On our way back to the capitol, all the participants voted to divide part of the pot among ourselves as some sort of consolation for our ordeal and suffering due to their incompetence in organizing events much more a photography contest.





The two thousand pesos I received is much less a compensation to defray what we’ve experienced but the friends I met at Kinabuhayan café became closer--- that’s what matters most!

How to get to Biak-na-bato, San Miguel, Bulacan

Commuting to Biak-na-bato is not easy so it's recommended to visit the place by private vehicle.

Related Post:

Biak-na-Bato Part 1
Bulacan Resorts

Labels: Bulacan, Central Luzon

It was supposed to be a photo contest organized by the Bulacan PPAO (meaning escaped me, sorry) announced in one of my numerous mailing lists on a Friday. Deadline of submission of application was the following monday so I hurriedly accomplished the forms.

Visiting the historic Biak-na-bato was foremost in my mind; this opportunity would make me fulfill that wish for free.

My friends and I arrived at the Bulacan provincial capitol in Malolos just a few minutes off the announced time but it turned out we had to wait, as always, for the other participants and organizers to show up. We expected a battalion of photographers but it turned out the organizers lacked the information drive so was only able to reach a handful of people.

After almost 2 hours of waiting, we, numbering around 22, were herded into vans that transported us to San Miguel town we found out are so far from the capitol and encountered traffic along the way and passed by fields and unpaved road going to the national park used as a hideout and camp of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo during the Filipino-American war.

Arriving at Biak-na-bato, we were briefed by the organizers about the trip and divided us into groups according to our preferences on where to go and take pictures. I readily noticed the guides' "brilliance" in estimating distances since they always talk hundreds of kilometers to trek towards certain destinations which only superman can cover in a matter of minutes or seconds. Being human has it's limitations; the guides should've studied the true distances only a few kilometers instead of hundreds.

We first toured the park leading to a bridge, streams, pahingahan cave (resting place in Filipino) and Bahay Paniki (house of bats). Guides kept on telling stories of the cave where Gen. Aguinaldo allegedly signed the Treaty of Biak-na-bato in 1897. Such claims by the guides were erroneous since the treaty was never signed in those caves but in a hut outside the caves. The caves merely sheltered the Katipunan, whose various chambers and passageways, forming a labyrinth, is a deathtrap for any unsuspecting enemy to enter.

Biak-na-bato treaty provided for the surrender of Gen Aguinaldo and his followers, amnesty for those who joined the rebellion, plus pocket money to be exiled to Hong Kong. But even after signing the treaty, the rebellion didn't stop, fighting continued and the money paid by the Spanish government were spent to buy arms. The war continued at such an opportune time when the Americans came with the ships of Dewey...the rest was history.

What picqued me on seeing the historic park was the government's disregard of the ecological disaster waiting to happen when quarrying was allowed, despite it being declared a protected national park. The following pictures will tell you why:


vandals violating sacred place


the desecrated side of Mt. Manalmon blasted away by dynamite in search of the precious marble

a river runs thorough it


aren't people supposed to stay out of protected reserve? even washing their clothes can ruin the water...tsk...tsk...tsk


a shoud've been nice photo if not for the bad lighting :(

the bat cave. wait until 5pm for the friends of the Dark Knight to come out

Continued here.


Bulacan Resorts

Labels: Bulacan, Caves, Central Luzon, Emilio Aguinaldo, Filipino-American War, History, National Parks

to all my Muslim Friends and Brothers!

hope we all aim for peace and unity for our fragmented country to move forward

Labels: Floobydust

to my friends,

I don't aspire much but I have a long wishlist that keeps on growing day by day by day

Apple's alluring MacBook loaded with Mac OS X Leopard
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II
Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
any wide angle (for landscapes) or superzoom (bird watching stuff)

waterproof case for my iPod Video

Mazda 3 or Civic 2003 so I won't have to take a cab anymore...sorry, first things first!

for travel I want to explore Batanes, Batad, Butuan, revisit butandings of Donsol, WW2 trail, Borobudur, Angkor Wat, Taj Mahal and Jaipur India, medieval castles and cathedrals of Europe, pyramids of Egypt, Incas and Mayas of South America (Machu Pichu), the glory that was Greece, Israel, safari trip in Africa, get frostbite in Moscow and a glimpse of St Basil's Cathedral, frolic in Ipanema beach, samurai castles of Japan, Great Wall of China and terra-cotta warriors, eat kimchi in Korea, visit the set of LOTR in NZ, great barrier reef of the land down under, Grand Canyon and natural wonders of North America the moon and outer space!

anywhere I roam
where I lay my head is home

Dream on, tutubi.
You have insurance, pension and other bills coming up in time! :(

3 wishes though: world peace, nature conservation and make poverty history!

after all, it's my day today!

Labels: Floobydust

Somewhere in Quezon city...a place that'll be my future temporary home



a few weeks later, a peryahan sprouted in anticipation of the coming fiesta



Milenyo failed to blow away the sturdy Narra trees of this small barangay. Only Milenyo was able to make this ferris wheel turn just because people here can't seem to afford riding due to worsening purchasing power of the peso :(

A typical Filipino fiesta: mass, food, cock fights (darn, i again failed to take pictures of the llamado/dehado and "kristo" with gamblers having money to launder yet food and first-things-first items not prioritized), beauty contests, marching bands, musicians asking for loose change on every home, sexy "men" dancing to the ati-atihan beat et al

The usual beauty contest where girls aged 14 to 19 were made to ramp on the catwalk and display their talent and intelligence (or rather the lack thereof)


my ears bled today for I again caught that Pinoy penchance for playing the same song all day long - Black Eyed Peas, Pussycat Dolls and a song with a familiar Bollywood beat whose title I forgot.

This is also the time where politicians can be caught sight of-- election time's near that's why!

Milenyo may have ravaged the city, but Filipino fiesta spirit lives on.

Labels: Fiesta

I was just made to go to Greenbelt 3, due to my fascination with Formula 1, to catch a glimpse and actuate my camera shutters again for the Formula 1 car on display that lanky and anorexic models informed me and my friends of while holed out at Pier One, The Fort

Armed with my superkitlens I took pictures, lightings bad and made my canon superkitlens hunt :(

Picture of Ferrari F1 car on display





the Ducati race motorcycle


I thought they're pylons but turned out to be ashtrays...

and wait I won a cool Marlboro lighter even if I really don't smoke-- not even a single yosi stick in my whole life!

Labels: Photography

binondo church
post office bvilding

national press club
the old and the new with carlos and klasmeyts
jones bridge and post office bvilding

Related Posts:

Historical Tour of Binondo and San Nicolas

Labels: Binondo, Churches, Manila, Metro Manila, National Capital Region, Walking Tour

After many failed attempts to join Carlos Celdran's tours, I finally found the chance to join him in a journey of rediscovery through the old districts of Binondo and San Nicolas on kalesas (horse-drawn chariots of Manila). We met up at Basilica Minore de San Lorenzo Ruiz commonly known as Binondo church. A motley crew of an Australian, French, balikbayans from NY and myself completed formed the eclectic group who joined that day.

As with all other tours with comic Carlos, we sang the Bayang Magiliw (Lupang Hinirang) to boot at Plaza Ruiz then hurried to our kalesas-in-waiting to tour us around the old districts of San Nicolas.

Meandering through the streets of San Nicolas in our horse-drawn chariots, countless houses reminiscent of a long gone era are in various state of decay and neglect. Some already demolished or ready for demolition. Carlos made us entered one of the decaying buildings where an entire barangay (hyperbole that is) considers their home yet the usual notion of the place as stinking or reeking of unwanted smell is absent. Learned later the proceeds of our donations will buy "rubber items" for those indigent souls.

We rode again our kalesas and took us to the north bank of the Pasig River turned into a linear park buy the present mayor of Manila. It's here where the El Hogar Filipino building, a magnificent beaux arts building by Irureta Goyena stands forlorn. The ground floor of the building is flooded but the dank smell of the inside is bearable. This building is familiar to the youth of today as the site where contemporary music videos were shot. Beside El Hogar still stands the old headquarters of Hongkong and Shanghai Bank but also in a sorry state.

Continuing our journey, we can see the beautification of the present Manila mayor by clearing the banks of the Pasig of informal settlers, brick paving of the road, planting trees and putting up lampposts making them linear parks ideal for strolling.

Passing by Escolta and up to Carriedo fountain in Sta Cruz, the fountain was dedicated in honor of Don Francisco Carriedo who donated money to build Manila's first water system.

Winding through the narrow streets we ended up on an alley where designer hopias are being sold, then proceeded to a place where Carlos vouched to serve the best dumplings.

Short visits to a Chinese temple on Kipuja Street, a detour at Eng Bee Tin, sample of old-fashioned chocolate factory La Resureccion then finally back at Binondo Church completed the tour.


Wonder why I didn't mention the names of some places we visited? It's so that you'll check Carlos' tours out yourself!

(the crucifix where incense are being offered by Chinese instead of candles)


Related Posts:

Part 2

Labels: Binondo, Manila, Metro Manila, National Capital Region, Walking Tour

Sort of a sticky post I will update whenever I encounter scums behind the wheel of a cab here in the big city.

Signs of a batingting:

1. Tampered or missing meter seal
2. Meter only displays fare and not the distance and waiting time (if present)
3. Taxi name, plate number and operator contact number erased in the cab insides
4. Driver is clicking a switch hidden somewhere
4. Driver would not usually argue/complain if you pay the usual fare since they know what they're really equipped with a faster-than-a-speeding-bullet meter

"Terrorists" behind the wheel:

04/09/07 2100HRS ROMCAT TXA554 SM North to Roosevelt (P57.50 normal is P45)
11/27/06 0700HRS M. STA MARIA TVR420 QC-Pasig
09/24/06 2330HRS JONELENE PWW800 QC-MKT 4553736 (i never learn)
09/05/06 1900HRS MUNICH TWK261 Manda to QC
08/21/06 0008HRS DOLLAR TWD183 QC-MKT
08/13/06 2300HRS ROMCAT TWZ330 QC-MKT
08/09/06 2330HRS JONELENE TVL802 QC-MKT
08/03/06 2340HRS R&E TVY158 QC-MKT (not sure R&E but it's yellow/green)
06/25/06 1000HRS JR AND MARY PVR894 (tried to pull a fast one by turning off meter)
05/03/06 2300HRS DOLLAR deleted the plate number on my phone :(
12/10/05 2200HRS WILKY PXV934 QC-MKT
09/29/05 2200HRS CORNER STONE TWP618 QC-MKT

How to Detect a Tampered Taxi Meter:

The current rate for Metro Manila is a flagdown of P30 for the first 500 meters plus P2.50 for each succeeding 300 meters. Additional P2.50 for every two minutes of waiting-- full stop -- your fare should not increase so much for slow moving traffic.

as an example, my regular (about 3 to 4 times a week) commute from Munoz, QC to Makati is 13.5 kilometers. Using the above rate this will amount to only about P140 and there're only 2 stops: JP Rizal and Makati Avenue since EDSA is now a freeway and fast moving at night when I make my trips.

There are times when I encounter a relatively slow meter but I always make it a point to pay my regular fare :)

Also noticed LTFRB contact number 09214487777 to call or text if there're problems? Forget it, they don't even reply to my complaints.

UPDATE: Starting July 2008, an additional P10 on top of the meter rate is mandated to offset the rising cost of fuel

Labels: Tourist Traps

I chose a different path this weekend after complaining of the lack of electricity at home, after showing remorse to lives lost due to Milenyo and offering an elegy to the fallen trees. I decided to indulge and go shopping and treat my usually stressed out and abused body on a lazy Saturday afternoon when the rest of big city is bored due to lack of electricity

It’s been quite a while since I visited this place called Human Essence Spa at the 3rd floor of Pacific Corporate Center on West Avenue near corner EDSA in Quezon City. The place offers you hot shower and 15 minute steam bath prior to the 1-hour long whole body massage using a combination of Swedish and Shiatsu for just P350.

After sweating out in the steam shower where I got to inhale therapeutic steam coming from seething cauldron of aromatic herbs, I waited for the masseuse to apply pressure to predetermined points of my body as well as rubbing oil to rid me of my somatic and corporal imbalances. It’s not an easy job to do even with my horizontally-challenged build. I was bended, stretched and flip-flopped by the expertly trained masseuse. The entire hour is completely relaxing and relieved me of the recurring pain in my spine typical of guys spending to much time in front of the computer.

A cup of coffee afterwards while watching the UAAP championship games between UST and Ateneo where the Growling Tigers clawed the Blue Eagles to force the match into game three.

Earlier this day, our hedonistic splurge continued by availing ourselves of foot spa services of Ate Fe at 50% off. “twas actually the first time I had my soles scrubbed incessantly for an hour using footscrub and warm water and got compliments from the "scrub" lady for having such nice feet and not much callouses --even if I do trek and walk barefoot at times! :)

Labels: Spas