rizal park's musical dancing fountain

to attract more visitors, rizal park administrator have added an "attraction" and launched the musical dancing fountain last dec. 16, 2010.  but to those who doesnt know, this fountain is not new, it has been a main feature of the Rizal Park / Luneta as far as i can remember... and how happy i was when they started renovating around the fountain (i think that was way back in 2007) which prompted me to do a nostalgic post about this fountain, only to be disappointed when nothing seemed to happen (because whenever i visited Luneta then i was never lucky to see the fountains at work, just there but not working, like this old post from 2008).. and now finally it was magically restored! :)

my nephews has been begging me to bring them here when they saw the fountain featured in the television (how media really plays a big part in giving information) and even though there were lots of people visiting on New year's day, we have braved the crowd just to see the dancing fountain because there will be school and work on monday already. 

and boy the crowd was really huge! the last time i saw Rizal Oark this crowded was during the 1995 World Youth Day in Manila.  every square inch of the park is full of people, some even brought tents!

Data from the Park admin showed that almost 500,000 Filipinos gathered at the park to celebrate Christmas Eve and Christmas day of 2010 and about half a million was there as well in welcoming 2011.  a good times indeed at Rizal park, and i hope this would continue and tourist (and yes that includes ever filipino) to visit Luneta. 

here's a short video of the dancing fountain, sorry about the quality and the audio, the music playing was "Manila, Manila ... i keep coming back to Manila" :)

dirty ice cream

Sorbetes is a Filipino version for common ice cream usually peddled from carts that roam streets in the Philippines. This should not be confused with the known sorbet. It is also commonly called 'dirty ice cream' because it is sold along the streets exposing it to pollution and that the factory where it comes from is usually unknown; though it is not really "dirty" as the name implies. It is usually served with small wafer or sugar cones and recently, bread buns. (source: wikipedia)

But this shouldnt daunt you to taste dirty ice cream.. i am telling you dirty ice cream's delicious!!! as in yummy! :p

now it really feels like summer's here already :) Notice the man at the background with no shirt on? its already hot in here to think this photo was taken right before christmas... hmm cant imagine the sweat and heat this summer

help ma!

"help ma!" that seems to be what she's saying running away from t-rex... but dont worry folks she's safe, that t-rex behind her is just a sculpture inside rizal park's children playground which has been featured here a few times before.

flagging

a row of Philippine flags at luneta, you'll notice a "door" at the background, actually that is the window of the ticketbooth to the Martyrdom of Jose Rizal light and sound tableu.

text

who doesnt know how to send a text or SMS these days? even 5 year old kids know how to text, specially here in the Philippines where texting has become a new form of communication (did you know that philippines is dubbed as the texting capital of the world? LOL) that is how addicted people are into texting that even you leave in the same house, you even text your brother who is in a different room to ask something... so what happened to good old way of communication? texting is helpful in many ways but i think sometime s the use of sms or text has hindered soem in ways of communicating with each other. other problems with texting is that people, especially kids are getting poor in spelling.

well, anyways, as shown in the photo, the old man preferred using his cellphone and text someone instead of calling or using the phone booth beside him. could be one of the reason is that Prepaid Phone Card is cheaper and the cost of texting is only 1 peso, but if you think about it, you can use Phone Cards in calling someone specially the message you need to seen is urgent or important. and it is also a good thing that Calling Cards are now cheap and international rates has dramatically decreased, so calling or texting someone abroad is also affordable now a days.

so what do you prefer? calling or texting?

human statue

these kids really like this human statue at luneta, i cant remember when did i start seeing human statue at the metro but i know that this kind of entertainment have a long history in Europe.  i really do admire the patience and control of living statues and how they can keep their cool

happy father's day

about two sundays ago, i did a half day tour of manila with diwa of http://walkwithyoung.com

one of the places i showed her is Rizal Park or the Luneta, we passed by the rizal park chess plaza and saw this old man competing with a kid and both players looked serious...
by the looks of it, the kid was winning :)  overheard the proud father of the kid that the little girl (i think he said she's about 11 years old) compete for her school, and her father brings her at the chess plaza to find worthy opponents for her which serves as good training for her, and that they travelled far just to go to the place and wake up early.  what father's will do for the love of their kids huh.

happy father's day to my tatay, and to all the loving father's out there.

busa

manila floating hotel and restaurant

Manila Floating Hotel and Restaurant, docked at the Pier 15 , Port Area Manila, just near the Manila Hotel (seen in the photo as well) since the ship is now owned by the Manila Hotel and serve as an overflow hotel and restaurant. i haven't tried dining here yet but its on my list now because i found the ships history interesting. (By the way, i took this photo from the Fish Spa at the Manila Ocean Park)

The ship's first name was MS Augustus was a 27,090 GRT, luxurious ocean liner built in 1950 for Italian Line. It was designed to sailed on Italy-South America route, run with three classes, the ships' interior were designed to have full air conditioning and swimming pools for each of three classes to make the ship looked like a luxurious hotel and to be the symbol of modern technology.

The Augustus was retired from service in January 1976. On January 15, 1976, she was laid up in Naples. She was sold to Hong Kong and was renamed Great Sea. After a little use, she was renamed Ocean King in 1980. And in 1983, she was renamed Philippines. At that time, she served as an accommodation ship in Manila. She was renamed President in 1985. However, she was laid up in Kaohsiung, and in 1987, she was renamed Asian Princess and in 1997, she was moved to Subic Bay, where she was converted into cruising. However, the ship was failed in making money in this venture. Then she was moved and place at an at anchorage off Manila. She was dry-docked at Subic Bay in mid 1998, and in February 1999, she returned to Manila, where she was refitted and now serve as a floating hotel and restaurant.

jose rizal monument

Another look at Jose Rizal's monument at Luneta (Rizal Park). Photo taken using iPhone on our way home from Manila Ocean Park yesterday (will post photos of the Manila Ocean Park in the succeeding days, hope you wont get tired of it when i start the series hehehe).

I know i've posted Jose Rizal's monument here and here but i just cant resist posting this photo, first time i got the chance to capture it with the Philippine flags flying and showing vivid colors.

reading at the park

... is a nice way to spend your sunday mornings

looking down

true, you get to see things while looking up... but sometimes you need to look down too, you'll be surprised of the things you'll see

la madre filipina

martyrdom of jose rizal

The Martyrdom of Dr. Jose Rizal in Luneta, a Light & Sound Sculptural Tableau is a memorial honoring the Philippine's national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal - an audio-visual and three-dimensional diorama of Rizal's execution, consisting of life-size sculptures by Eduardo Castrillo.

The tableau is an open-air theater presentation, featuring a 30 minute dramatization of the most poignant moments of Rizal's final hours, through 8 monumental sculptural clusters in an interplay of light & sound.

Entrance Fee to the Martyrdom of Jose Rizal:
P 10.00 per head - Day Tour (8am - 5pm)
P 50.00 per head - Evening Presentation
Tagalog version (7pm)
English Version (8pm)

with 50% discount to all students with valid ID

*note that the evening presentation is by schedule only (minimum of 15 persons)

PS. yes those monoblocks from yesterdays photo serve as chairs in the presentation

monoblocks

“The observer, when he seems to himself to be observing a stone, is really, if physics is to be believed, observing the effects of the stone upon himself.”

legacy of a hundred years

Binhi ng Kalayaan monument - Rizal Park, Manila

Seen this monument a couple of times before but only took the time to check it out what its for, found out that it is a time capsule made during the centennial celebration of our independence from Spain 10 years ago. Here's what's inscripted in the base of the monument:

The Binhi ng Kalayaan is an expression of the profound gratitude of this generation for the Filipino men and women who, at the turn of the nineteenth century fougt for the freedom of our country and tolled the fall of a mighty empire.

After three centuries of oppression and deprivation, the Filipinos were free at last. The Spanish forces had been routed and their impregnable bastions lay humbled in the rubble of their own defeat. In their place rose the Philippine Republic, the first democratic government in the entire continent of Asia.

The heroes of the revolution had an unwavering faith in their capacity and right to forge their own destiny. They moved with a common purpose as one indivisble nation - malaya, makatarungan, at marangal - bound by the ideal of isang diwa and isang sambayanan.

This is the legacy they have left us. Remebrance of this legacy is embodied in this Centennial Time Capsule, which contains all the vital documents and many memorabilia related to the significant events in the winning of our freedom.

Let this reminder of the heroic past be opened on June 12, 2098, as a rededication of the Filipino people to the sanctity of freedom. Our hundred years from now, may it continue to vivify the spirit of the Revolution that made our country free.

Kalayaan - Kayamanan ng Bayan!

concert at the park

Concert at the Park is a weekly public service project of the National Parks Development Committee. It was conceived primarily to initiate the masses into the appreciation of the classics. Concert at the Park has come a long way from those initial Sunday afternoons in April of 1978. It has established itself as an alternative venue for local and foreign performing artists.



The concert is open to the public and admission is free. Show is every sunday at 5 in the afternoon. Visited the park last sunday but was too early for the concert and got a chance to catched the performers while practicing. I hoped it didnt rained while they were performing. If you're interested or near the area this afternoon do catch the concert as they go retro this sunday.

For further details, please contact:

The Arts & Culture Division
National Parks Development Committee
Rizal Park, Kalaw St.,Ermita, Manila 1000
Tel. No. 302-7374
Email: arts@nationalparks.ph

mamang sorbetero

manila orchidarium

The Orchidarium and Butterfly Pavilion- Orosa Street corner Finance Drive, Rizal Park, Manila

A park within a park, the orchidarium is located inside the Luneta park and was once a parking lot until developed into a one-hectare rainforest-like park. Established in 1994, the Orchidarium houses orchid species (the Philippines has reputedly the richest collection of orchids in the world) and a butterfly pavilion sponsored by Nokia. The orchidarium is also a favorite wedding venue.

i have always wanted to visit the place because i wanted to see the butterflies but haven't got the time whenver i get the chance to visit Luneta, and thankfully i had the chance to visit last week only to get disappointed to learn that the place is closed and is under going renovation under a new management. According to the guard i spoke with, the Orchidarium is now under the National parks administration, but he cant give me a specific time when will they open the place again, sigh, i guess i just have to wait. I know you want to peek inside as well, do visit Señor Enrique's blog to check out his photos.

under the tree

Living in a tropical paradise, we do get occasional rain showers even if there is no typhoon... and sometimes even if the sun is shining so hard you'll get caught by surprise when the skies immediately turn dark and get wet in the pouring rain. Good thing, this couple find the prefect shelter under the tree :)

the white building in the background is the Department of Toursim building which i already posted here before.