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2008 Bamboo Organ Festival Las Pinas
2007-12-29 16:00:00
Posting for your information the upcoming 2008 Bamboo Organ Festival schedules, details and programme.33rd International Bamboo Organ Festival Las Pinas City, Metro Manila, PhilippinesFestival Schedule and Programme:Thursday, February 21, 2008 - GALA Solo organ music - Ghislain Leroy (France) Misa de Sales (1826), from Iglesia de Baclayon, Bohol - Las Pinas Boys Choir with Bamboo organ Bach Cantata no. 82 – Noel Azcona, solo baritone, with Festival Ensemble conducted by Chino Toledo Friday, February 22 - AN EVENING OF ORGAN MUSIC Full program of organ music on Bamboo organ and Auditorium organ by Ghislain Leroy (France) Saturday, February 23 - CONCERT UNDER THE TREES Popular music performed in the church patio Sunday, February 24 - Las Piñas Boys Choir In Concert Monday, February 25 - ORGAN AND VOICES Repeat of Gala concert Wednesday and Friday, February 27 and 29 MESSA DI G...

"Entablado" Painting Exhibit by Bayani Ray B. Acala
2007-11-09 14:13:00
Entablado: a painting exhibit by Bayani Ray B. AcalaA painting exhibit by young, talented painter from Paete, Laguna will open on November 25, 2007, Sunday at 2:00PMNineveh Artspace2452 1st Avenue, Villa Silangan SubdivisionSta. Cruz, LagunaTel: (049) 808-6617Exhibit runs until December 16,2007Exhibit Description:ENTABLADO: The Stage of LifeIf life was a stage, it would be interesting how actors weave a story with neither a script nor a director. Acala confronts this seemingly challenging yet intriguing reality of life and its many subplots as he paints a variety of actors performing in the stage of their own setting, often with a play of bright and dark hues, reflective of life’s rich mix of emotions and undertones.What is most welcome in Acala’s pieces is his fresh approach of using ‘the stage’ as a platform for reinterpretation of old and recurrent themes of friendship, courtship and love. From the ballerina whose eyes are held by her partner’s, the flying trapeze chasi...
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An Exotic Restaurant in Laguna
2007-11-08 14:13:00
A nice restaurant in a garden setting nestled on the slopes of the Sierra Madre mountain range whose real name is Exotik Garden Restaurant , it has quaint Filipiniana-themed huts made from indigenous materials and wooden decorations reminiscent of Paete town, from where the owner is former mayor.Actually located in Kalayaan town and not in Paete, like most people associate the place with, Exotik's resident python, Samantha, welcomes visitors to the place though it's sort of a turn-off to some who can't stand the sight of snakes and constrictors.The menu is a combination of native Filipino dishes. The exotic fare, trimmed down to conform to laws on the protection of endangered and protected animals, used to include: bayawak (monitor lizard), baboy damo (wild boar), sawa (python), usa (deer), pating (sharks) and ostriches. Now, only ostrich and non-endangered animals appear on it similar to what used-to-be exotic Balaw-balaw Restaurant in Angono, Rizal once served. Price is mostly ...
More About: Laguna

Pancake House's Adobo Sulipan
2007-11-06 14:32:00
Imagine a hardboiled egg, pickled kangkong (water spinach), fresh tomatoes, steamed rice and shredded adobo flakes with lots of garlic: Adobo Sulipan at Pancake House, Tutubi's favorite adobo incarnation.Now costing around P190, quite pricey for the average pinoy meal, adobo sulipan is worth it although at times the preparation may be inconsistent.the mango crepe is also something to look for as well as their "Best Taco in town" at P70 eachAdobo, the Philippines' "national dish," according to some has far too many versions to be listed but the most popular ones, besides adobo sulipan, are adobo sa gata (coconut milk), adobong matamis (sweet adobo), adobong tuyo (dry), adobong masabaw (soupy), adobo sa pinya (pineapples), and adobo sa kalamansi (philippine lemon).About the history behind adobo, Tutubi is planning to post about it in the future along with his own adobo recipe. Even the origin behind adobo sulipan, whether it's related to barangay Sulipan in Apalit,Pampanga as part ...

Rufina Patis (Nuoc Mam/Nam Pla/Fish Sauce)
2007-11-05 14:22:00
Malabon's famous Rufina Patis factory was also visited during the "Halina, Lusungin Natin ang Malabon" tour where one of the organizers was the affable COO (child of the owner) of Rufina Patis Factory.Patis, called Nuoc Nam in Vietnam and Nam Pla in Thailand, is a pungent condiment made from fish in brine solution left to ferment outdoors. Patis is a major ingredient in Filipino cuisine though westerners sometimes call it "stinking" fish sauce.At the Rufina Factory Patis factory, it was pointed out that the green colored bottles are dipping fish sauce while the orange bottles contain Rufina seasoning for cooking. For those adventurous enough to invade Malabon, they may find patis manufacturers and vendors selling home-brewed patis at the city market while a recommended short visit to Pescadores Restaurant (at the corner of Letre Road and Dagat-Dagatan Avenue) for the patis-flavored beef adobo.several bottles of Rufina Patis at the end of the bottling plant. Didn't get to see the b...
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Angel Cacnio and Bahay Parokyano Art Galleries in Malabon
2007-11-01 13:22:00
During the "Halina Lusungin natin ang Mala bon," a visit to the house cum art gallery of Angel Cacnio, a new house with a bahay na bato look and filled with the artist's work of arts, paintings and scultures, including those of his son Ferdinand Cacnio.Angel Cacnio has won coin design contests of the Central Bank of the Philippines in 1967 where his designs won first prizes for the Lapu-Lapu one centavo coin and the Marcelo H. Del Pilar 50 centavo coin. His designs commissioned by the Central Bank for the P100 and P20 bills are still in circulation.Angel Cacnio's work featuring Sabong (cockfight)The last stop of the Malabon tour was a visit to Bahay Parokyano, an art gallery with exhibits from Malabon's budding artistsA wall clock made from everyday materialsBallerina brass sculpture by Ferdinand "Ferdie" Cacnio at Bahay ParokyanoFerdie Cacnio, in 2005, won 2nd place in Art Association of the Philippines (AAP) Annual Art Competition. He also listed large mixed-metal sculpture “...
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A Tour of Malabon's Heritage and Food Treasures
2007-10-26 15:38:00
Malabon, a former visita of Tondo and called Tambobong before it was changed to Malabon, (in)famous for the floods and the high stainless steel padyak (pedicabs) was the recent conquest of Tutubi, where he joined an event aptly called "Halina Lusungin Natin ang Malabon" organized by people with pride of place in their hometownThe tour's designated meeting place was Pescadores Restaurant (pescadores means fishermen in Spanish) at the corner of Letre Road and Dagat-dagatan Avenue, where a hearty lunch was served gratis to all guests. Notable of the food served were the unique patis-flavored adobo (usual adobo recipes use toyo (soy sauce) and not patis (fish sauce)) and Pancit Malabon, the eponymous comfort food of the city closely related to pancit luglug and pancit palabok.After a brief introduction, the group was arranged into more manageable groupings and proceeded in convoy to our destination. On passing the bridge, Tutubi was able to snap a photo of Asilo de Huérfanos (Asylum ...
More About: Food , Heritage , Tour , Treasure , Mala

Pinoy Big Brother, George Orwell and Burma Connection
2007-10-23 15:35:00
Though not a fan of the popular show on Kapamilya TV, Tutubi was able to take these pictures of Pinoy Big Brother house on three locations shown below. He doesn't find it entertaining watching a bunch of "eye candies" sleeping and living inside a house full of cameras to simulate "reality," the still present flimsy gimmick of the network to create "reel" love teams and the apparent lack of transparency in the effect of the text votes on who will next be evictedOk, but what about the title?During the oppressive rule of the British in Burma, Eric Arthur Blair was a member of the British Imperial Police Force in Burma in the 1920s. Eric left Burma and decided to become a writer using the pseudonym George Orwell. His first novel was titled "Burmese Days." One of his later novel, the futuristic "1984," tells of a dystopian society watched carefully by Big Brother-- the omniscient, omnipresent head of the oppressive government.The phrase Big Brother is now used to refer to any oppressive...
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Quezon Memorial Shrine
2007-10-19 15:05:00
The Quezon Memorial Shrine , a monument built in honor of Pres. Manuel L. Quezon, located inside the rotunda at the heart of the city named after the former president with "edifice complex," is a tallest landmark of Metro Manila's biggest city.The shrine is inside a circle that also hosts a bicycle rental, picnic ground, skating rink, various pocket parks, shopping stalls, various restaurants (Tropical Hut, Max's), food stalls and the World Peace Bell.Many health buffs jog around the monument in the morning, others prefer to play badminton while a group dance their flabs away. During Eid al-Fitr, many Muslims congregate here to celebrate end of Ramadan.Trivia:Designed by architect Federico IlustreHeight is 66 meters representing the age of Quezon when he died (of tuberculosis while in exile in the US during the 2nd World War)3 pylons represent the Philippines' 3 island groups: Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao3 Angels at the top of the pylons holding sampaguita garlands designed by Fran...

Manila Ocean Park: Tutubi's Dream Come True
2007-10-18 15:48:00
Tutubi, the skeptical type when it comes to press releases when he was disappointed on the absence of oceanarium announced during the construction of Mall of Asia (MOA), is now excited on the impending opening of Manila 's own oceanarium, called Manila Ocean Park , that's set to rival, even upstage, Singapore's Underwater World, Hong Kong Ocean Park and Bangkok, Thailand's's Siam Ocean World, all three Tutubi wasn't able to visit due to his priority over things of historic and cultural attractions. The only close one he has was his visit to Subic's Ocean AdventureAccording to the press release and video shown on TV, the park is divided into several sections: rainforest-themed Agos (flow) with an aritifical waterfalls, Bahura (reef) with its artificial reef, Laot (fishing ground), Kalaliman (the deep) with deep-sea fishes and creatures like barracudas, sharks and rays. No whale sharks are to be featured there so you have to visit Donsol for the whale shark interaction (Tutubi's...
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More Than A Hundred Islands
2007-10-15 15:34:00
Pangasinan, a province whose name was derived from asin (salt) due to its salt-making industry, more popularly known for its bangus and the Hundred Islands National Park, a cluster of more than a hundred islands off the city of Alaminos in Lingayen Gulf got a brief visit from Tutubi After the Dagupan bangus overload, a sidetrip to the market for the famed Alaminos longganiza, a so-so lunch at Maxine By The Sea Lodge and Restaurant (not recommended, food is not "pwede na" for the price), a trip to the Hundred Islands National Park for a three-hour boat ride, sadly, due to limited time, weren't able to get wet and wild :(Pictures as usual: One of the group's boat anchored on Governor's IslandView of some of the islands on the viewdeck of Governor's Island and in front of Pinoy Big Brother Housethe cavernous hole of the so called Cathedral Island (didn't have a lens hood for this one, sorry)Quezon island teeming with people frolicking on the beach. The island is only one of the th...

Alaminos Longganisa
2007-10-14 06:46:00
Longganisa, a Filipino version of sausage from a mixture of ground pork, spices, vinegar, and tons of garlic stuffed inside pig intestines as casing, and where every region of the Philippines has their own unique recipe.Pictures of longganisa at Alaminos market. Alaminos' version of the sausage uses toothpicks instead of tying the open ends or using a thread."Those who love sausage and obey the law should not watch either being made," quote attributed to Otto von Bismarck, is so true. Tutubi, however, respects those making sausages for a decent living while resents those making the law who call themselves "honorable" men-- all they know is pork barrel!Back to longganisa topic, other notable variants are Vigan longganisa with their suka (vinegar), Pampanga-style (also the skinless ones), the oregano-laced Lucban, Quezon (available at Buddy's Restaurants in Makati), and the finger-sized ones from Guinobatan, Albay if you happen to visit Mayon Volcano, available at the Legazpi airpor...

Dagupan and Bonuan Bangus Belly Overload
2007-10-11 17:04:00
After the some delay in Tarlac due to a direction-challenged colleague, passed by miles and miles of roads dotted with bangus (milkfish) fisheries and where “Guilon Guilon” or harvesting of the world famous Bonuan bangus can be witnessed, Tutubi finally reached his destination for the day in Dagupan City, and checked it at Star Plaza Hotel strategically located on the banks of the river. (This could have been a good nightscape picture but it was raining for two nights) Twin sharing room at Star Plaza HotelAs expected when in this city famous for the tastiest variety of bangus (milkfish), the Philippines' national fish, breakfast served offered choices of longganisa (Filipino sausages), tocino (sweet marinated pork) and boneless bangus (in ordinary and spicy). Being not like the usual Filipino averse to hot and spicy food, Tutubi opted for the spicy one that isn't really spicy at all. The bangus is just basted with a mild chili sauce similar to tabasco and preferred to be de-...
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Tarlac Tour Through the Car Window
2007-10-11 15:15:00
In just another unexpected turn of events, Tutubi was commissioned to deliver a talk in a company-sponsored seminar in Dagupan with only a few days notice. Being used to the arrangement, he just shrugged it off, prepared the powerpoint slides but wasn't able to prepare for possible sidetrips and itineraries of the opportunity.The following Friday, Tutubi and his colleagues boarded a van on the way to Dagupan and passed many interesting places where people only see outside their car window.The cruise at the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) was a breeze and took the exit at the end of the highway. On passing Capas town, a town made famous by the infamous Death March of World War II from where the endpoint is now the Capas National Shrine while in Sta. Juliana, also in Capas is the most popular jump-off point for trekking Mt. Pinatubo as well the presence of an Aeta community and Korean-owned Pinatubo Spa.On reaching Tarlac City, caught sight of the Hacienda Luisita, owned by the powerfu...
More About: Tour , Window , The Car

Floobydust
2007-10-10 16:32:00
Floobydust, a word borrowed from a book Tutubi used to read in his elementary days. In that book, he got wind of various things, DIY stuff and more on building his own sound system.This is a filler post to update you of the happenings in his alternate blog Paetechie: the Techie side of Tutubi, long neglected, short of being renamed pathetic :)Just a compendium of post in that side of the virtual world:Improve your photos by taking note of these 100 Photography Tips plus know How to Remove Noise from PicturesBe warned of the unscrupulous ways of Prudential Life in selling insuranceGet to know the history of the ATM (Cash Machine)Dive deep into his mind and know his views and comments on RA9372: The Human Security Act/Anti-Terror LawLearn personally 8 things about Paetechie/TutubiReceive Adsense Cash Payments through Western UnionGet the idea that there's a Cheap Replacement Battery for Palm Tungsten E and other PDAs that Tutubi has (even if he's not using it)Some readers asked how ...

Smokey Mountain No More!
2007-10-09 15:55:00
About two weeks ago, Tutubi visited his brother-in-law (husband of his elder sister) confined at Manila Doctors Hospital on United Nations Avenue in Manila, where his parents and sister also dropped by to deliver to Tutubi his annual supply of sweet lanzones Paete.After the brief visit and a tiklis of lanzones in tow, they headed off to Malabon to deliver again lanzones to another brother living there. The driver decided to traverse Roxas Blvd up to Bonifacio Driveand Delpan bridge and came face-to-face with a familiar, once infamous site known as Smokey Mount ain that currently has a new face and offer a ray of hope to Manila's poorest of the poor...About 8 yearsa go, Tutubi always passed by Smokey Mountain when it was still a mountain of burnt garbage. He never saw the notorious mountain in its heyday.This video from YouTube, shot by Romeo Candido, is a timely one to remind us of the struggle of the poor to escape the tight embrace of poverty.How to go to Smokey Mountain, Tondo, M...

Lanzones/Langsat (Lansium Domesticum)
2007-10-06 05:09:00
Known as langsat in Malaysia from where it originated, lanzones is a fruit that grows abundantly on the slopes of the Sierra Madre mountain range in Luzon, particularly Laguna province, in the volcanic island of Camiguin (that also have the Lanzones Festival) and various provinces of Mindanao.Lanzones trees are slender and has only a single trunk growing to about 10 to 20 meters tall (picture above). The fruit has an acidic taste and bitter seeds but the translucent flesh can be very sweet when ripe.In eating lanzones, it's always best to select the fruit already detached from the stem since it means it's ripe therefore sweeter than the ones left connected to the stem. Don't also bite the seed since it's very bitter. Big ones also mean lager seed; go for the medium sized fruit.Tutubi, in his childhood, got to to experience trekking up the slopes of Mt. Humarap, the hill fronting Paete, Laguna, and part of Sierra Madre mountain to harvest lanzones. He still cherishes the thrill o...

Hong Kong Shopping Guide and Tips
2007-10-04 15:15:00
Not in his usual itinerary, Tutubi visited various shopping malls and markets looking for souvenirs and other uniquely Hong Kong stuff.Herewith are the shopping guide, information and tips he accumulated:Lusting for these international brands for cheap prices and discounts:Adidas, Bally, Bauhaus, The Body Shop, Calvin Klein, City Chain, Columbia Sportswear Company, Esprit, Evita Peroni, Folli Follie, Giordano, Joy and Peace, Kingkow, Design Accesories, K-Swiss, Lafuma, La Compagnie Des Petits, Last Call, Laura Ashley, Lens Crafters, Le Saunda, Levi's, Lids, MaBelle, MiRabell, Moiselle, New Balance, Nike, Optical 88, Polo Ralph Lauren, Quicksilver, Rabeanco, Rockport, Samsonite, Seven 7, Timberland, Time + Style, Viviene Tam and other factory outlets and stores.Citygate Outlets, located on Lantau Island, is the first and only outlet mall in Hong Kong, featuring international brand names offering huge discounts from 30% to 70% all year round for cheap, best-value-for-every-dollar-spe...
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Cubao Drive-by Shoot (and Other Information)
2007-10-01 16:12:00
According to an old legend, there was a hill inhabited by mangkukulam (witches), and that a kuba (hunchback) lived there. People passing by the place would say, "kuba, o" upon seeing the hunchback, "Kuba, o" was later shortened to Kubao and the name stuck.But that is just an apocryphal storyWhat's true, however, is that exactly 32 years ago, Araneta Coliseum played host to the historic “Thrilla in Manila” match between heavyweight champions Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier. Muhamad Ali won the fight via a 14th round TKO. He pocketed $6 million for the fight, while Frazier got $3 million richer. (it is for this reason a mall was named after Muhammad Ali: Ali Mall)Crappy "Drive -by" Photos of CubaoGateway Mall, touted as "like no other mall in the world," is one of Tutubi's favorite places to watch movies besides Ayala's Glorietta/Greenbelt/Trinoma cinemas. Recommends Gateway Cineplex's Cinema 10 with lazyboy seats inclusive of popcorn and drinks for a price, of course!Cubao used t...
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2007 Masskara Festival Schedule of Activities
2007-09-28 10:59:00
MassKara festival held in Bacolod City during the month of October. Masskara is taken from a combination of two words "mass" meaning many and cara, Spanish word for face.A video teaser of the upcoming festival this year is shown below as well as schedule of activitiesSchedule of Activities according to the official site of the festival:October 1 - Monday Festival Opening Food and drinks kiosks will operate until Oct. 21 (Public Plaza and SM City) Ongoing till Oct. 31 Magica MassKara (Orange Gallery) Oct. 13, 2007 MassKara Queen Pageant Oct. 18, 2007 Countdown to Charter Day Street Party Street Dancing Competition Schools category Oct. 19, 2007 CHARTER DAY celebration Civic Military Parade Electric MassKara MassKara Fantasy Costume Show Oct. 20, 2007 Street Dancing Competition Barangay Category ...

Ngong Ping 360: A Journey with Buddha
2007-09-26 15:38:00
Lantau Island hosts not only the Hong Kong International Airport, the carefully Feng Shui-planned Disneyland, and Citygate Outlets but also the tourism village of Ngong Ping , featuring the Tian Tan Buddha , popularly known as Giant Buddha, the Po Lin Monastery, The Wisdom Path, Tung Chung Fort and Lantau Peak.Tutubi hopped into a gondola of Ngong Ping Skyrail, an almost 4 mile long cable car, formerly called the Tung Chung cablecar that ferried the flightless Tutubi from Tung Chung to the village of Ngong Ping on the plateau.View of Tung Chung BayNgong Ping Village consists of coffee shops (touristy Starbucks included), restaurants, and souvenir shops. According to the official site:"Ngong Ping Village is set on a 1.5 hectare site on Lantau Island, adjacent to Ngong Ping Skyrail's Ngong Ping Terminal and the Tian Tan Buddha Statue.This amazing cultural themed village has been architecturally designed and landscaped to reflect the cultural and spiritual integrity of the Ngong Ping ar...
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Hong Kong's A Symphony of Lights
2007-09-24 15:33:00
Dubbed the world's "Largest Permanent Light and Sound Show" by Guinness World Records, A Symphony of Lights is a spectacular light and laser show synchronized with music blasting from speakers strategically located on the waterfront. Participating buildings from both sides of Victoria Harbour provide the moving lights for a dazzling, mesmerizing visual delight illuminating the harbour followed by rising colours turning the already picturesque harbour into kaleidoscopic spectacle.('nough said, Tutubi is starting to sound like a copywriter)Tutubi, who waited at Tsim Sha Shui harbourfront near Statue Square, wasn't able to capture the true essence of the symphony due to a mistake when he setup his camera on a tripod aimed at the wrong side of Central and Wan Chai districts of Hong Kong Island. He also had to pack up his camera earlier due to an imminent drizzle. The sky was cloudy still with the mountain and lights of houses that looks like flickering stars on Hong Kong Island and V...

Victoria Harbour : 1 of 1000 Places To See Before You Die
2007-09-21 15:47:00
After all the Philippine historical tours, Disneyland, Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, and free Hong Kong city tour, one of the most recognizeable images of Hong Kong can be experienced through Star Ferry's Harbour Tour.the last authentic Chinese junk still sailing in Victoria Harbour: the Duk Ling moored at the Central PierCentral pier and International Finance Center, the tallest skyscraper in Hong Kong towering over the magnificent skylinethe spaceage-looking Hong Kong Cultural Center and the Clock Tower in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, both landmarks of the modern city. The Clock Tower is what's only left of the Kowloon station of the Kowloon-Canton railway in Tsim Sha Tsui.Nearby are Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong Space Museum, and the Avenue of StarsThe Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai. Behind is the World Plaza, Hong Kong's second tallest skyscraperthe magnificent skyline of Central, Hong Kong Island. The edifice, with unique climbing lines resembling growi...
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A Not-So-Ugly Duk Ling
2007-09-19 16:44:00
The Duk Ling, a genuine Chinese junk still operating in Victoria Harbour like the vessels that used to cross the harbour 150 years ago.Looking for a cheap Hong Kong tour? The best and cheapest tour of Hong Kong is absolutely free. You can board the Duk Ling and sail into Hong Kong's scenic harbour for a 360 degree view of the city's picturesque skyline.Duk Ling Chinese junk near the iconic Star FerryTutubi wasn't able to get a free ride, again, due to memory gap. Only got to take pictures of the not-so-ugly Duk Ling at Central Pier before the Victoria Harbour Cruise (Click on the link to view pictures of the harbour tour)Two piers to choose from:Pier 1: Kowloon Public pier, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon(accessible from Tsim Sha Tsui MTR Exit E)every Thursday 2pm and 4pm and Saturday 10am and 12nnPier 2 Queen's Pier Central, Hong Kong(accessible from Central MTR Exit K)Cost: FREE! nothing's cheaper than a free tour :)Register in advance through HKTB: +852 2508 1234 Chinese Junk, Free H...
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Encounters with OFWs in Hong Kong
2007-09-18 14:24:00
Before retracing Jose Rizal's steps in Hong Kong and visiting the site where Marcela Agoncillo made the first Philippine flag, Tutubi met his affable guide for the day at the posh Mandarin Oriental hotel in Central. Near the hotel, is the granite neo-classical former Supreme Court building of Hong Kong. This old edifice used to house the Supreme Court before the colony was turned over to China in 1997.Beside the building is Statue Square where a bronze statue or Sir Thomas Jackson Bart (bart stands for baronet), former general manager of Hong Kong Shanghai Bank, stands regally watching over the square.Incidentally, the square is a favorite meeting place of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Hong Kong, mostly domestic helpers sacrificing for their family back in the Philippines. It was here where some Filipinos approached Tutubi and offered him various Filipino food including halo-halo, but didn't order one.After visiting the Rizal markers and Morrison Hill Road, went to the nearb...
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Hong Kong's Role in Philippine History
2007-09-12 14:08:00
Tutubi, in his Hong Kong journey, also visited other places in the former British colony that once hosted people who played pivotal roles in Philippine history.Before going to the two markers commemorating Jose Rizal in Hong Kong, Tutubi, ably guided by the affable Isabel Escoda, visited a playground on Morrison Hill, near Queen Elizabeth Stadium on Queens Road East in Wan Chai, and found this marker:"In May 1898, In this vicinity, the first Philippine national flag was sewn by hand by Dona Marcela Agoncillo, wife of Felipe Agoncillo, the first Filipino diplomat, assisted by her daughter Lorenza and Mrs. Delfina Herbosa Natividad, niece of the Philippine National hero Dr. Jose Rizal. This flag, which became the rallying symbol of unity for the Filipino people during the Philippine revolution, was officially unfurled during the proclamation of Philippine independence on June 12, 1898 in Kawit Cavite.This marker is installed to commemorate the historical role of Hong Kong in the Filip...
More About: History , Role , Hili

Jose Rizal Hong Kong Historical Trail
2007-09-07 17:43:00
Unknown to many Filipinos, Jose Rizal left Europe in 1891, with newly-published El Filibusterismo (published in Ghent, Belgium with the financial aid of Valentin Ventura. In the same note, Maximo Viola financed the publication of Rizal's first novel Noli me Tangere in Berlin) and his annotation of Dr. Antonio de Morga's "Sucesos delas Islas Filipinas," to live and practice medicine (opthalmology) in Hong Kong until 1892.Rizal requested his family, persecuted and driven out of their home in Calamba by the Spanish friars aided by the guardia civil, to join him in Hong Kong.Rizal's business card (right)on display at Rizal Shrine, Fort Santiago, Intramuros, Manilathese pictures of places where Rizal lived and held clinic officially marked by The Antiquities Authority of Hong KongMarker of Rizal's residence on Rednaxela Terrace (Rednaxela is Alexander spelled backwards attributed to a Chinese street sign painter who couldn't read English)Written on the marker: "Dr. Jose P. Rizal (18...
More About: Historical , TRAI , Trail

Enchanting Hong Kong Disneyland Adventure
2007-09-03 15:56:00
Hong Kong Disneyland (香港迪士尼樂園), the smallest Disney-themed park, opened in 2005 and divided into four main attractions: Main Street, U.S.A. with it's US-style streets and buildings, Tomorrowland and futuristic rides and shows, Pirateland with Captain Jack Sparrow, and Fantasyland.Tutubi will share pictures and tips here since many information can be gathered from Disneyland's official site.Mainstreet, U.S.A.The brass band, welcoming every visitor, not surprisingly, were all Filipinos :)TomorrowlandThe entrance to Tomorrowland with its futuristic rides and showsBuzz Lightyear from Toy StoryPiratelandMickey Mouse in pirate costume where visitors can pose with for picturesa recommended ride at Pirateland that passes through a manmade river and jungleTreasure Island with Tarzan's tree house made from synthetic materialsChinese-looking Captain Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Carribean. The Golden MickeysElaborate costumes of the Little Mermaid part of the Golden Mickeys...
More About: Hong Kong , Adventure , Enchanting , Advent

Madame Tussauds Hong Kong Wax Museum
2007-08-28 15:51:00
After the supposedly free Hong Kong City Tour, the guide asked where the group wanted to be dropped off. Luckily, a group is scheduled to tour The Peak Tower so Tutubi requested to be there also.At The Peak, it was still raining and Tutubi never got to see, even photograph, the famous postcard view of Hong Kong's city lights.Later explored the mall for various finds and decided to visit the Hong Kong branch of famous London attraction: Madame Tussauds wax museum.at the museum, Tutubi was able to meet Jacky Chan, other Hong Kong and Chinese stars, sports luminaries, famous people and even the British royal family's wax sculpturesJust a few sample pictures for your viewing:Get acquainted with Nelson Mandela of South Africa famous for eliminating apartheidget art lessons from Pablo Picasso, Spanish painter, sculptor and co-founder of Cubismbecome a superspy with Pierce Brosnan as James Bond or simply the new Bond girlget the facts right from Princess Diana on what really transpired o...
More About: Museum , Madame Tussaud , Madame Tussauds

Hong Kong "Free" City Tour
2007-08-22 12:12:00
It was raining the day Tutubi arrived in Hong Kong and the city, as expected is what photographers will always dismiss as not so suitable to their craft owing to the poor lighting.The Hong Kong International Airport is modern and cavernous with its own train ferrying passengers to their terminals or baggage claim counters (but still Tutubi loves Singapore's Changi airport. He's seen airports of Mumbai (India), KL (Malaysia) and Bangkok, by the way). Immigration was a breeze but the airport transfer to the hotel where Tutubi was billeted at Newton Kowloon Hotel in Mong Kok, used a coach (mini-bus), but had to wait for the others booked by the travel agency to arrive add that to the time the coach had to drop off every passenger to their respective hotel. (lesson learned: the airport express is much faster)Since the "free" city tour was part of the hotel package (booked flights himself via Cebu Pacific to save on costs), Tutubi availed it to see firsthand what the city has to offer;...
More About: Free , Tour , City