Vote NOW for PPUR

Only few days left before that judging on November 11, 2001 (that is 11/11/11 to you) and NOW is the time you vote!

Please vote for Palawan Underground River to be one of the new 7 wonders of nature at www.new7wonders.com, or by texting PPUR to 2861.

i need a holiday

i seriously need a vacation, a long holiday more like it. it has been more than a month since i last updated this blog, i don't want to make excuses about breaking my promise again to blog regularly but life hasn't been really good the past few months. not good in a such way that i haven't had a real break from work, it has been crazy times, work wise, wherein you just sometimes wanna shout out and say enough, i don't want to do this anymore, i've had enough and i want my life back. sounds melodramatic but it is, i just feel so burned out and i guess i have to make a decision soon if this is the life i want or not. or maybe, just maybe what i need is just a long break and a good holiday away from it all. now, that is something i really want, a good long holiday break, nice and easy - just a 'me' time to put things in perspective. i have been thinking of going away soon, on a real long holiday break not just your usual 3 or 4 day holiday but a week. just thinking about a week long holiday with nothing to worry about makes me wanna go out now and jump to the next available flight but i know it's not that easy. sounds heavenly but there are things i have to consider - biggest factor of course is money and secondly, i have done some traveling and i know it takes time to plan a nice vacation and to finalise an itinerary. i am meticulous in preparing my itinerary and would like to know in advance what to expect in a place i am going to visit, what are the must do and those off beaten track, i just have to have an itinerary although i wouldn't really mind if that itinerary is not followed to the dot. let's just say i feel comfortable knowing that i have a plan. but sometimes, you just wanna have a vacation and don't want to be bothered with anything and it would be real nice to just book a travel agency and let them worry about my vacation. i have been thinking of having a vacation out of the country but i dont know how to go about it. good thing that the internet is at my fingertips and i just look up travel agencies that offer low cost and stress free holiday and one site i have been looking at is www.tropicalsky.co.uk.  i've been looking at three places and the offers they have are real steal, not expensive but with all the perks of a grand vacation.  now you help me decide which i should take - click here for Barbados holidays or this st lucia holidays all inclusive i'm also partial to caribbean because i have read a lot about it, so should i take Caribbean holidays 2012

HELP for Pedring

From Sidney's blog: Last September 27, 2011 a powerful typhoon (Pedring, international name - Nesat) has struck the Philippines. Witnesses said flooding in parts of Manila was the worst in decades. In the shanty village of Ulingan in Tondo (click here) which is facing the sea, most of the homes were destroyed leaving many families homeless. All those families are already living below the poverty line. Project Pearls and Photo Kalye are organizing relief operations. They need your help more than ever.

traditional filipino folk dance - tinikling

Tinikling - Tinikling is considered the national folkdance with a pair of dancers hopping between two bamboo poles held just above the ground and struck together in time to music. Originated from Leyte Province, this dance is in fact a mimic movement of “tikling birds” hopping over trees, grass stems or over bamboo traps set by farmers. Dancers perform this dance with remarkable grace and speed jumping between bamboo poles.

traditional filipino folk dance - sayaw sa bangko

Sayaw sa Bangko - ("dance on a bench") is a folk dance from the Pangasinan province of the Philippines. Performers dance on top of a bench that is normally six inches wide.

traditional filipino folk dance - pandango sa ilaw

Pandanggo sa Ilaw - The word pandanggo comes from the Spanish dance “fandango”characterized with lively steps and clapping while following a varying ¾ beat. Pandanggo requires excellent balancing skill to maintain the stability of three tinggoy, or oil lamps, placed on head and at the back of each hand. This famous dance of grace and balance originated from Lubang Island, Mindoro.

traditional filipino folk dance - binasuan

Binasuan - Originated in Pangasinan Province “meaning with the use of drinking glasses”, this vibrant dance basically shows off balancing skill of the performers. Glasses filled with rice wine are placed on the head and on each hand carefully maneuvered with graceful movements. This dance is common in weddings, fiestas and special occasions.

traditional filipino folk dance

Most Philippine dances were originally patterned after European dances during the Spanish regime. Pandango Sa Ilaw, Cariñosa, Rigodon and Balitao are examples of these dances Filipinos are known for. Aside from these western-influenced dances, ethnic-created dances such as Tinikling made its way to nationwide recognition. Despite its apparent adaptation to western dances, still Filipinos pay tribute to their cultural roots. Every district in the islands has its own folk dance, interpreted attractively in festivals and local shows, which have added to the country’s reputed contribution to world’s illustration of traditional arts.

The following are examples of popular Philippine folk dances :

Binasuan - Binasuan originated in Pangasinan Province “meaning with the use of drinking glasses”, this vibrant dance basically shows off balancing skill of the performers. Glasses filled with rice wine are placed on the head and on each hand carefully maneuvered with graceful movements. This dance is common in weddings, fiestas and special occasions.

Rigodon - Originated from Spain, this dance is commonly performed at formal affairs like inaugural balls where prominent members of the government participate and enjoy.

Pandanggo sa Ilaw - The word pandanggo comes from the Spanish dance “fandango”characterized with lively steps and clapping while following a varying ¾ beat. Pandanggo requires excellent balancing skill to maintain the stability of three tinggoy, or oil lamps, placed on head and at the back of each hand. This famous dance of grace and balance originated from Lubang Island, Mindoro.

Tinikling - Tinnikling is considered the national folkdance with a pair of dancers hopping between two bamboo poles held just above the ground and struck together in time to music. Originated from Leyte Province, this dance is in fact a mimic movement of “tikling birds” hopping over trees, grass stems or over bamboo traps set by farmers. Dancers perform this dance with remarkable grace and speed jumping between bamboo poles.

Maglalatik - Originally performed in Binan, Laguna as a mock-war dance that demonstrates a fight between the Moros and the Christians over the prized latik or coconut meat during the Spanish rule, this dance is also shown to pay tribute to the town’s patron saint, San Isidro Labrador. It has a four-part performance such as the palipasan and the baligtaran showing the intense battle, the paseo and the escaramusa- the reconciliation. Moro dancers wear read trousers while the Christian dancers show up in blue. All dancers are male ; with harnesses of coconut shells attached on their chests, backs, thighs and hips.

Cariñosa - Cariñosa is a word that describes an affectionate, friendly and lovable woman. This dance is performed in flirtatious manner with fans and handkerchiefs to assist the dancers’ hide-and-seek movements.

La Jota Manileña - It is a dance named after the capital city of the Philippines, Manila, where an adaptation of Castilian Jota afloats with the clacking of bamboo castanets played by the dancers themselves. The costume and the graceful movements of the performers noticeably inspired by Spanish Culture.

Source: http://www.camperspoint.com

barbara's intramuros

Barbara's at Intramuros. Started out as a small cafe in Malate in the 1970s, the business soon expanded its operations to catering as well as canteen management. Today, Barbara's is located at the Plaza San Luis complex in Intramuros, Manila. (Just across the San Agustin church.) They serve authentic Filipino cuisine inspired by the colonial time, it feels like dining during the Spanish era.

what i like about this restaurant aside from the fact that it is within the walled city is its cultural show. after dinner they have a cultural show of traditional filipino folk dances, i didnt realised i missed watching folk dance which i took for granted when i was still at school. i guess old age? heheheh but seriously, you should visit this place and get to watch the traditional dance :)


The Dinner Buffet and Cultural Dance Show takes place every day from Tuesdays to Saturdays evening at around 7pm.  Buffet dinner is at PHP 550 per head.

Barbara's Restaurant
Address: Plaza San Luis Complex, Gen. Luna St., Intramuros
Phone: 788-3356 / 527-4083 / 527-3893 / 527-4086
Website: http://www.barbarasrestaurantandcatering.com

cool sunset