Destination: Makati, Philippines

Yes dear, we dont live in trees. ;)

Photo grabs from skyscraper city. ;)

If you find your photos here and wants proper crediting let me know. I will do that..

Destination: Manila

Manila Ocean Park - One of Asia's Biggest and Best

http://www.manilaoceanpark.com/
Manila Ocean Park

The Philippines' first world-class oceanarium owned by China Oceanis Philippines Inc., a subsidiary of China Oceanis Inc., a Singaporean-registered firm that has operated four oceanariums in China. It is currently under construction behind the historical Quirino Grandstand at the Rizal Park.

Construction composed of three phases:

First Phase - Oceanarium and is set to open on December 2007. The MOP oceanarium is said to be bigger than Sentosa's Underwater World oceanarium in Singapore in terms of floor area - 8,000 square meters (Sentosa Underwater World has 6,000 square)

Second Phase - includes the marine-themed mall and the hotel, to open next year in 2008.

Third Phase - the open marine habitats which is also set to open in 2008.

Manila Ocean Park is divided into sections:

1. Agos (Flow) - a rainforest motiff complete with 8 tanks of freshwater fishes.

2. Bahura (The Reef) - exihibition of artificial corals in 48 tanks

3. Laot (Fishing Ground) - will feature big fish and Eagle-spotted rays in a long tank.

Main attraction

MOP's main attraction of the oceanarium is a 25-meter long walkway tunnel with 220-degree curved acrylic walls similarly seen in Hong Kong Ocean Park, Singapore's Underwater World in Sentosa and Malaysia's Aquaria. The difference between MOP's is a 220-degree curved tunnel as compared to the standard 180-degree curved tunnels seen in other Asian countries

The oceanarium at Manila Ocean Park will be one of the biggest and most advanced in Asia.


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2007 Southeast Asian Games

Start:	Dec 6, '07 11:00p
End:	Dec 15, '07
Location:	Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand

Hopefully we dont get cheated here.

http://www.2007seagames.com/eng/Home/tabid/153/Default.aspx

Manila's Best Kept Restaurant Secrets Book Launch

Start:	Nov 29, '07 6:30p
Location:	One Esplanade

Finally my friend's Elian Habayeb (yes the DJ) and his beautiful mate, the effervescent Ines Cabarrus finally finished the book. :)

Jeepney Party!

Start:	Nov 23, '07 9:00p
End:	Nov 24, '07
Location:	121 (121 Leviste St., Salcedo Village, next to the Goethe Institute)/ The Fort

From Carlos Santamaria:

3 members of the Spanish gang (Javi Laporta, Gorka Otxoa, Carlos Santamaria) invite you to celebrate with us our birthdays and Gorka's -fake- despedida, and who can think of vehicle more appropiate than a JEEPNEY, symbol of this country and people we truly love and that has opened its heart to us even if we are former colonizers... Please join us for drinks as we don´t know if we will all be able to fit into the jeepney and get ready for great music and baduy 80s Spanish songs at 121 in Salcedo Village, before we all head off the the Fort and party till we drop! Nos vemos!

Pimp & Hoe Night!

Start:	Nov 17, '07 10:00p
End:	Nov 18, '07
Location:	Vapor Room, Alchemy

aka Kelly's despedida/birthday!

Guys dress up in your Pimpest outfits.
Gals be daring, sexy & fine.

The hottest Hip-Hop mixes are coming from DJ Domination (http://www.djDomination.com) flying in for this event only.

Location and more details coming soon.. Mark your Calendars now!!


Sponsored by San Miguel!!

In coordination with House Of Soul!!!

If your confirmed on this facebook event your already on the guestlist!!

Stark (Ich Und Ich)

Ich bin seit Wochen unterwegs und trinke zuviel Bier und Wein
Meine Wohnung ist verödet, meinen Spiegel schlag ich kurz und klein
Ich bin nicht der, der ich sein will und will nicht sein, wer ich bin

Mein Leben ist das Chaos, schau mal genauer hin

Ich bin tierisch eifersüchtig und ungerecht zu Frauen
Und wenn es ernst wird, bin ich noch immer abgehauen

Ich frage gerade dich: Macht das alles einen Sinn?
Mein Leben ist ein Chaos, schau mal genauer hin

Und du glaubst ich bin stark und ich kenn den Weg
Du bildest dir ein, ich weiß wie alles geht
Du denkst ich hab alles im Griff und kontrollier was geschieht
Aber ich steh nur hier oben und sing mein Lied

Ich bin dauernd auf der Suche und weiß nicht mehr wonach
Ich zieh Nächte lang durch Bars, immer der, der am lautesten lacht
Niemand sieht mir an, wie verwirrt ich wirklich bin
Ist alles nur Fassade, schau mal genauer hin

Und du glaubst ich bin stark und ich kenn den Weg
Du bildest dir ein, ich weiß wie alles geht
Du denkst ich hab alles im Griff und kontrollier was geschieht
Aber ich steh nur hier oben und sing mein Lied
Ich steh nur hier oben und sing mein Lied

Stell dich mit mir in die Sonne oder geh mit mir ein kleines Stück
Ich zeig dir meine Wahrheit für einen Augenblick
Ich frage mich genau wie du, wo ist hier der Sinn
Mein Leben ist ein Chaos, schau mal genauer hin

Und du glaubst ich bin stark und ich kenn den Weg
Du bildest dir ein, ich weiß wie alles geht
Du denkst ich hab alles im Griff und konrtollier was geschieht
Aber ich steh nur hier oben und sing mein Lied
Ich steh nur hier oben und sing mein Lied

South Bound

Start:	Dec 28, '07 05:00a
End:	Jan 1, '08
Location:	Iloilo, Aklan

Flying to the islands in the south for the New Year.

Walk Faster, Bitch!

I am a fast walker. I am the fastest walker I know. A Belgian friend once told me that no one has ever walk faster than he does. Apparently he has met his match.

For me, walking is getting from point A to point B. And I'll try my damn best to get to that other point fast..and when I walk could probably illustrate my own best example of lifehacking:  straight and direct to the point.

But walking in crowded streets can be a bit of a challenge for me- Thanks to people who seems to hog the whole freakin' road and walking as fast my dead granny (Bless her soul). That is totally disrespectful for other people! Don't you feel that you may want to whack slowpokes in front of you sometimes? I know I do.

A couple of days ago, I was walking on the overpass from Landmark to Greenbelt, and amidst the throng of slowpokes, there was this a group of yuppy wannabes who seemed to hog all the freakin way mindless of the lunchtime rush. As I was totally pissed, and he was on my right of way, I walked straight and geared myself to a collision and BAM! I smacked my shoulder into that annoying piece of shit and without looking back I continued walking as if nothing happened. My friend who was right after me broke into a smile (He was a fast walker himself) when he saw that guy's mad expression on his face. Come on, WALK ON YOUR SIDE OF THE ROAD BITCH! So if you are that ugly motherfucker on a pink shirt and tie two days ago, I hope you'd probably learn your damn lesson.

Years ago, I once muttered, "Walk faster!" while I was walking in the streets of Salcedo Village- the lady in front of me almost jumped to one side when she heard it. Yeah right, baby, this is not a public park, move your smelly arse away from my rampaging presence.

According to a study, people are actually 10% walking faster now compared to a decade ago.

Average walking times over 18 metres (60 feet) in seconds

1) Singapore (Singapore); 10.55
2) Copenhagen (Denmark); 10.82
3) Madrid (Spain); 10.89
4) Guangzhou (China): 10.94
5) Dublin (Ireland); 11.03
6) Curitiba (Brazil); 11.13
7) Berlin (Germany); 11.16
8) New York (United States of America); 12.00
9) Utrecht (Netherlands); 12.04
10) Vienna (Austria); 12.06
11) Warsaw (Poland); 12.07
12) London (United Kingdom); 12.17
13) Zagreb (Croatia); 12.20
14) Prague (Czech Republic); 12.35
15) Wellington (New Zealand); 12.62
16) Paris (France); 12.65
17) Stockholm (Sweden); 12.75
18) Ljubljana (Slovenia); 12.76
19) Tokyo (Japan); 12.83
20) Ottawa (Canada); 13.72
21) Harare (Zimbabwe); 13.92
22) Sofia (Bulgaria); 13.96
23) Taipei (Taiwan): 14.00
24) Cairo (Egypt); 14.18
25) Sana'a (Yemen); 14.29
26) Bucharest (Romania); 14.36
27) Dubai (United Arab Emirates); 14.64
28) Damascus (Syria); 14.94
29) Amman (Jordan); 15.95
30) Bern (Switzerland); 17.37
31) Manama (Bahrain); 17.69
32) Blantyre (Malawi); 31.60


This is actually very surprising as I dont find Singaporeans walk that fast at all.. Or I haven't noticed? No wonder I never had complaints walking in the Lion City. The Chinese on the other hand are very rude pedestrians. They would push and shove if necessary (and they aren't that fast walkers themselves!) - they would actually run you down with their mangy bikes!

So whatever it is, it is just common courtesy everywhere that it if you are a slow walker, make sure you stay on the side of the road reserved for you, don't hog the whole freakin' road, because next time baby, you will get to know me better, after I ran you over. ;)

The Barong Tagalog - The Proud Filipino Fashion

The Barong Tagalog is the National Attire of the Philippines (worn usually by men). Elegant and priced highly, it is usually worn during weddings, and formal occasions. The most expensive of the bunch can fetch up to thousands of pesos. Probably the Barong is the only other National Attire that can rival the tuxes in elegance and universal nature of its usage. Foreigners can wear this attire without looking ridiculous and there is nothing more dapper than being clad in the finest pineapple silk (woven by the weavers of Aklan) and the magnificent embroidery. I am a big fan of the Barong, and contrary to an 2007 APEC in Sydney, information materials described of the shirt as a "peasant shirt", Barongs are expensive  and commands a high price and spells prestige to those who wear it.


According to a wiki article, "

This Filipino tradition dates back to the Spanish Colonial era. A legend persists that the Spaniards made Filipinos wear barongs untucked to distinguish them from the ruling class, its translucent fabric helping the Spaniards to see that the wearer was not bearing any weapon under the garment.

Sociologists have argued against this theory, however, pointing out that untucked wear was very common in pre-colonial Southeast and South Asian countries, and that the use of thin, transcluencent fabric developed naturally given the heat and humidity of the Philippines. Historians, likewise, have noted the absence of a citation to the specific law where the Spaniards supposedly prohibited the natives from tucking in their shirts. They also note that natives during the Spanish Era wore their shirts tucked at times. A common example cited in support of this argument is José Rizal and his contemporaries, who were photographed in Western clothing with their shirts tucked — although the era of the barong predated Rizal's time.

Another disputed theory is whether the barong was a local adaptation or a precursor to the guayabera, a shirt popular in the Latin American communities. According to those who claim that the barong is the precursor of the guayabera (pronounced "gwa-ya-ber-ra" with an almost silent "G"), the guayabera shirt was originally called "Filipina" during the era of Manila Galleon tradeships when it was brought to Mexico from the Philippines. "

There are different fabrics used for the Barong,

1. Piña (Pineapple) Fabric - The most expensive of the lot. APEC leaders wore this during the the `96 Summit in the Philippines as their official costume for the group's photo op. Since then, no one has equalled the elegance of that APEC Photo Op.  The cheapest Piña Barong would set you back about PHP3000. About USD68.88 at 44PHP - 1USD Exchange Rates. Normally the mid-level Barongs would at least command 3 times that price.

2. Jusi Fabric - This is mechanically woven and made from Abaca fabric. But since the '60s has been replaced by the imported Organza Fabric. (Organza fanfare was shortlived though, and got stuck in the campy '80s.)

3. Banana Fabric - is another sheer fabric used in formal occasions. Made and hand woven from banana fiber, and usually comes with geometric design details. This fabric comes Negros Island.

4. Piña-Jusi - this combination is one of the most popular right now. Not too expensive, but quite approaches the same level of elegance of the pure Piña cloth.

There are other less formal versions of the Barong Tagalog: The Gusot-Mayaman (usually used as everyday office wear), The Polo Barong and the Shirt-Jack Barong.

Whatever it is, the Barong Tagalog is a significant fashion but often overlooked fashion contribution by its overall elegance and its cultural origin. Peasant Shirt? Ha!

(ASEAN++ Leaders Wearing their Barongs)

Daily City Photo Blog

http://dailyphotoblog.com/site/

BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | Estrada pardon: Filipinos' views - Me on BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7074878.stm
Me on BBC News Website. :)

Luminaria Bubble Bar Opening ++ Other Halloween 2007 Parties

Halloween parties Manila! (Photos courtesy of Domini and Arnie. :))