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Backpackers accommodation in Manila
2008-04-14 19:07:00 Since I reside in the Metro Manila area, there is no need for me to stay at backpackers accommodation in Manila. But I do get queries about cheap accommodation. So I checked out the backpackers haven of Manila which is in Malate to find out where backpackers can stay. Here are some of them:Friendly's GuesthouseOne of the more popular backpackers accommodation in the Malate area. They have fan dormitory rooms at PHP290 per person and AC dorm rooms at PHP340 per person. Fan rooms with shared bath start at PHP450. AC rooms with common bath start at PHP800 a night. While AC rooms with private bath start at PHP900 a night.1750 M. Adriatico corner Nakpil Streets, Malate, Manila+63 917 3331418Malate PensionneIt's in the same complex as Portico Restaurant. You can't miss it since there is a Starbucks store in front. Fan dorm rooms are PHP350 per person. Fan rooms are PHP750 a night. While AC rooms with private bath start at PHP1400. They also accept credit cards.1771 M. Adriatico Street,...
By: Ivan About Town
World Pyrolympics 2008
2008-03-24 07:57:00 This will be my first time to watch the World Pyrolympics. I'm sure people will be scrambling for tickets. But I'm not going to endure hours and hours of jammed up traffic and or looking for a parking spot. Just imagine the crowds and the race to get at least a decent view of the fireworks display. No way! That's because I'll be watching it on a dinner cruise around Manila Bay!The new schedule of the World Pyrolympics 2008 is out: April 5 China and Germany April 12 Japan and Canada April 19 Italy and Venezuela April 26 France and Korea May 3 Australia and Philippines
By: Ivan About Town
Sunset cruise in Manila Bay
2008-03-14 04:29:00 I was on the exclusive Manila Bay sunset cruise of Rogue Magazine yesterday. I most definitely needed this break! Unlike our Asian neighbors, cruises are not that popular here in the Philippines, maybe because the water pollution leaves a bad impression.But after tonight's cruise, I felt we have a lot to be proud about. It's the first time I saw the Manila skyline. And it does not look like Manila at all! It was just a two-hour cruise but I most definitely enjoyed it.And it's one of the best ways to enjoy the Manila Bay sunset. I hope we start cruises from Manila Bay to Laguna de Bay via the Pasig River, or Manila Bay to the Pampanga River. During the olden days, people traveled from Manila to Laguna and Pampanga via the waterways and it would be great to revive these historical routes as part of a lunch or dinner cruise package. In fact, I think that commuter ferries from Manila to Pampanga's river towns would be a great idea!
By: Ivan About Town
Bollywood serves great Indian food!
2008-03-12 02:50:00 I'm a big fan of Indian food. So when I found out we were eating at Bollywood in Greenbelt, I did not have any second thoughts. And everything we ate was great. We started with the papadums, which are thin wafers made from lentils, accompanied by mint, ginger and yogurt dips.There were also stuffed papads, which are papadums stuffed with shrimps, potatoes and fresh herbs; spicy lamb dumpling called momos; and rogan josh which is mutton with a red curry sauce filled with Kashimiri spices.We also had Star Pizzanaanas which are pizzas with a naan bread crust named after various Bollywood stars. We were served ShahRukh Kham or four-cheese pizza topped with cheddar, ricotta, mozarella and paneer cheese; and Aishawarya Rai which has ham, pineapples and capsicum for toppings. Of course, we had tandoori chicken and biryani as well.For dessert, we had gulab jamum which are fried milk balls in really sweet rose syrup; and Bollywood mafiosi or pannacotta with fresh mangoes and rose water. The...
By: Ivan About Town
More art and architecture from UP Diliman
2008-03-11 15:28:00 In the last entry, we mentioned Cesar H. Concio. Once the University Architect, Concio also designed Melchor Hall which houses the College of Engineering; Palma Hall which serves as the home of the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy; and the student center Vinzons Hall.In front of Vinzons Hall is the first reinforced concrete monument in the country. People often mistake it for a monument of Bonifacio, but the Grito de Balintawak actually depicts a nameless Katipunero. It was transferred here in 1968, saved from an imminent demolition.Beside Vinzons Hall is the College of Business Administration (CBA). Inside the CBA Lobby is a very important work of Jose Joya, National Artist for Visual Arts, known as The Barter of Panay. In front of the building is an artwork of Napoleon Abueva called The Spirit of Business.Abueva actually has numerous works scattered around campus including: the Nine Muses at the UP Faculty Center; the Crucifix with Two Corpora at the Parish of the Holy Sa...
By: Ivan About Town
UP Chapel and the Church of the Risen Lord
2008-03-06 08:09:00 If you remember, I've already featured three campuses and their chapels namely the Ateneo and the Church of the Gesu, La Salle and the Chapel of the Most Blessed Sacrament, and FEU and its chapel. Now I'm featuring UP Diliman and its two chapels.The Catholic church of UP Diliman is the Church of the Holy Sacrifice or the UP Chapel. It is a National Historical Landmark and was designated an Important Cultural Property by the National Museum owing to the fact that it stands as a testament to the creativity of not one, not two, but four national artists!The dome-shaped structure, a fine example of Modern architecture in the Philippines, was designed by Leandro Locsin. Around the UP Chapel are fifteen large murals painted by Vicente Manansala depicting the Stations of the Cross. The marble altar and the large wooden cross above it were sculpted by Napoleon Abueva. And finally, the mosaic floor mural called the ?River of Life? was designed by Arturo Luz.Another renowned architect, Cesa...
By: Ivan About Town
HCS launches 2008 Architectural Conservation Lectures
2008-02-29 08:01:00 The historic Army and Navy Club Building will play host to the first of the 2008 Architectural Conservation Lectures of the Heritage Conservation Society (HCS). In this first installment, Tina Paterno, a professional conservator practicing in the USA, will speak on conservation procedures and issues on Saturday, March 8, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.This project is brought to you by the HCS in partnership with the Manila Historical & Heritage Commission (MHHC) and the Museo ng Maynila. The three lectures of Paterno are (1) Soiling on Limestone: Diagnosis & Cleaning Methodologies; (2) Survey, Research and Diagnosis as Phase 1 of a Restoration Project; and (3) Brief Discussion on the Performance of a Consolidation Treatment (Ethyl Silicate) on Adobe. Lunch will be provided by the MHHC. After lunch, individual consultations on specific project-related conservation issues will be accommodated. Interested parties should make an appointment.The lecture is open to the public. However rese...
By: Ivan About Town
Libingan ng mga Bayani, our national cemetery
2008-02-27 18:34:00 Have you ever visited the Libingan ng mga Bayani? The last time I remember entering the place was way back in kinder during one of our field trips. I've seen the Manila American Cemetery much recently, several times in fact since I'm awed by how grand, serene and well-maintained the place is. And it's sad that our own national cemetery could not compare to an American cemetery on Philippine soil!So while I was killing time in Fort Bonifacio last Saturday, I decided to pass by Libingan ng mga Bayani. The entrance reads: "I do not know the dignity of his birth, but I do know the glory of his death" which are the words of Gen. Douglas MacArthur from his sentimental 1961 visit to the Philippines.At the center of the whole cemetery is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. And around it are graves of various Philippine dignitaries including two former presidents, Carlos P. Garcia and Diosdado P. Macapagal. The older Manila North Cemetery has three presidents namely Osmena, Roxas and Magsays...
By: Ivan About Town
The Garden Room is Pasay's best kept secret
2008-02-20 17:35:00 This nondescript entrance gate gives no hint of the treasure one can find inside. In fact, I got lost looking for it. 2650 Zamora Street is the 1940s residence of Pablo S. Antonio, National Artist for Architecture. It's now open to the public and is Pasay's best kept secret!The house plays host to The Garden Room, a by-reservation dining haven run by his family. Every room of the house has been converted into a dining area and it can host several groups at any given time. It was a perfect venue for our HCS board meeting yesterday.The Garden Room has a refreshing ambiance owing to Antonio's "green" design for his residence. The whole house seemed to be shaded by trees and other plants. Small pocket gardens can also be found around the house. And what is nice about it is the consistent use of natural lighting in the different rooms.There are five set menus ranging from P700 to P900 per head. All set menus come with fresh fruit juice, fresh green salad with oil and garlic dressing, ...
By: Ivan About Town
UP turns 100!
2008-01-09 02:28:00 Yesterday, the University of the Philippines opened festivities marking its centennial. The day started with a huge motorcade from UP Manila in Padre Faura where the university was first established in 1908. Delegations from Los Banos, Pampanga and Baguio also arrived in full force and converged at the entrance of the Diliman campus.At 4 p.m., a grand parade of all the delegations from the various constituent universities of UP marched towards the Oblation where a gargantuan crowd of students, faculty, alumni and well-wishers had gathered. The massiveness of the throng of people which converged in Diliman to celebrate UP's 100 years was nothing but surreal!The Upsilon Sigma Phi joined the parade too as part of the UP Diliman contingent, the only frat that marched to the Oblation. Being the oldest Greek-letter fraternity in the country and in Asia, we made sure to be part of the celebrations!I didn't get to see much of the program in Quezon Hall anymore since we decided to stay in ...
By: Ivan About Town
Paintball at Global Gutz
2007-12-16 14:42:00 Now this was fun! I played paintball with my brods at Global Gutz in Boom na Boom today. We initially paid P500 per head for use of the facilities, equipment rental and 100 paintballs which is not bad since that lasted me three rounds. Then we got more paintballs at P3 a piece. Although the aim is not as accurate as airsoft, there's no way you or your friends can cheat yourself out of getting hit since the evidence is undeniable. Hehe! This is great stress release for students and professionals.
By: Ivan About Town
Sunset at the Manila Yacht Club
2007-12-13 18:37:00 It was a great opportunity to view the Manila Bay sunset! I just came from a frat party at the Manila Yacht Club. And I purposely arrived there early a while ago so that I could take photos of the yachts and the sunset.Itself a piece of history, the club was founded in 1927. Now on its 80th year, it has hosted an international regatta, serves as the training ground for our teams to international yachting events such as the Olympics and SEA Games, and is an important venue for social gatherings.
By: Ivan About Town
International heritage experts gather at the National Museum
2007-12-02 16:51:00 For the next few days, the Philippines will host heritage experts from the International Committee of Vernacular Architecture (CIAV) of the International Council of Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS). To open the ICOMOS-CIAV Scientific Conference 2007, the ICOMOS National Committee Philippines hosted a gathering at the National Museum. The local heritage community came in full force. Me and my tokayo Ivan ManDy had our photos taken with HCS President Gemma Cruz-Araneta (Miss International 1964) and Margie Moran (Miss Universe 1973) among many others. Of course, we took the opportunity to request for a rare private viewing of guess what? Yes, we got the very rare chance to take our photos with Juan Luna's Spoliarium and other Luna and Hidalgo paintings under the strict guidance of a conservator.The Spoliarium won the gold medal in the Exposicion General de Bellas Artes in Madrid in 1884. Another major painting on display is the Assassination of Governor Bustamante, a major and controversi...
By: Ivan About Town
Makati skyline at night
2007-11-28 14:26:00 This is the view from one of my favorite hangouts, the Ritz penthouse apartment of my brod. I was there last Sunday for a frat party. And again on Wednesday, the night before the Peninsula takeover, for another frat event. The second photo was snatched from Bikoy. Hehe!
By: Ivan About Town
Abe Restaurant turns one!
2007-11-17 16:27:00 I was lucky to be invited by Larry Cruz to the first anniversary celebration of Abe Restaurant in Serendra. Named after his father, Emilio "Abe" Aguilar Cruz, a diplomat, artist, bon vivant and gastronome of his generation, the restaurant serves a wide variety of Kapampangan favorites.Guest of honor that night was none other than Gov. Ed Panlilio who was an instant celebrity as soon as he arrived in Serendra since passersby kept on requesting to have their picture taken with him. I did too! Hehe! Here's a photo with him and my brod, PR executive Danny Gozo. As always, the food was great and plentiful!
By: Ivan About Town
Malabon, Metro Manila's hidden gem
2007-10-14 15:15:00 Today, I joined a tour of Malabon called "Halina lusungin natin ang Malabon" organized by concerned people of Malabon led by Atty. Monchet Lucas of Rufina Patis, Leona Nepomuceno of DOT, Terry de Jesus a home owner, and Archt. Richard Bautista of the NCCA.Our tour began with a briefing and a sumptuous lunch at the Pescadores restaurant at Letre Road corner Dagat-Dagatan Avenue. We then proceeded to our first stop, the San Bartolome Church. I had high expectations for this church knowing that it was one of the untouched churches in Metro Manila. But to our shock, it's in the process of being uglified by the current parish priest who is not even a native of Malabon.The current hard-headed parish priest, Fr. Ric Torrefiel, has all but listened to the objections of the local community about his kitsch and tasteless renovations. Sadly, he was the same priest who bastardized the interior of the old Concepcion Church, also in Malabon.I hope the townsfolk of Malabon stops this priest from ...
By: Ivan About Town
Airbus A380 lands in Manila
2007-10-12 01:13:00 The Airbus A380, the largest passenger jet in the world, lands in Manila! That erases all doubts on whether the NAIA is capable of receiving such a large aircraft. I was lucky to witness its arrival first-hand. It's off to Clark today.Related articleLargest passenger jet touches down in Manila
By: Ivan About Town
National Capital Region Planning Board meets; approves plan outlay | INRnew
2007-08-21 04:17:00 New Delhi, India, August 21, 2007 - The National Capital Region (NCR) Planning Board at its meeting today has approved a total plan outlay of Rs.1469 crore for 2008-09 on account of providing loan assistance to the participating states of U.P, Haryana, Rajasthan and NCT of Delhi and for undertaking studies, surveys and meeting expenses incurred in preparation of sub-regional plans and functional plans. This was stated by Shri S.Jaipal Reddy, Minister of Urban Development who chaired today’s meeting. The borrowing programme of Rs 900 crore for the above purposes has also been approved. The Board approved the proposed financing plan for the 11th Five year Plan involving loan assistance of Rs. 11000 crore for infrastructure projects for which the Board will be accessing funds to the extent of Rs. 8000 crore from the International Aid Agencies like World Bank and Asian Development Bank.
The National Capital Region (NCR)
2007-07-24 11:48:00 The National Capital Region was created with a view to curtail migration to the city by developing the adjoining areas and relocating economic... |
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