get hypnotized

Get hypnotized =:)

It's actually one of the exhibits inside the Tuklas! or the Science Through Discovery Theme at Museo Pambata. You step on the board across this circling thingy and it will automatically start spinning. The instruction said to look in the spinning circle for a minute and then look in a blank wall and you'll see an image :) pretty cool huh? i didn't stared too long coz i'm already getting dizzy so i wouldnt know what image should i see, maybe when you visit Museo Pambata you can check it out for me hehehehe.

By the way, did you know that there is a syndicate called Budol Budol Gang which uses hypnosis as part of their scheme, according to reports these guys are usually well dressed and decent looking . They have various modus operandi and the Philippine Information Agency even have a public warning on this gang. So what do you think of hypnosis?

museo pambata

Museo Pambata is not your traditional museum where all the exhibits are hands-off, here at Museo Pambata you can practically touch everything, its like a hands-on museum! A first of its kind in the Philippines, a children's interactive museum as an alternative to the formal classroom environment. Kids can enjoy learning the different parts of the body in the museums life-size model of the body parts, they even have phones where you get to "talk" to the national heroes, play merchant in its various mock-up stores and other fun activities. They've also included a section where kids can experience and have fun at wall climbing. I'll be posting more photos inside the museum in the next few days as my museo pambata series. Stay tuned :)

Intrigued? Excited? I'm sure you'll enjoy it as much as your kids. So head over now and visit Museo Pambata at Roxas Boulevard corner South Drive, Manila, Philippines

Museo Pambata museum hours
Tuesday - Saturday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM (August to March)
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (April to July)

Sunday
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
The museum is closed on Mondays and other official holidays.

Museo Pambata Admission Fee
General Admission (children and adults) - P 100.00
Manila residents - FREE (with valid ID) on Tuesdays and 50% off on other days
Museum workers and teachers with valid ID, streetchildren, infants - FREE
Tour groups of thirty (30) or more can avail of a special discount

CR short for Comfort Room

CR - short for Comfort Room, the term used in the Philippines by the Filipinos to describe toilet or bathroom, sometimes also referred to as restroom.

Why i posted CR today? Well aside from the need to go to the CR due to the bad taste SONA 2008 left in my mouth, i've been getting some snide remarks by certain FilAms about me using the term CR whenever i excuse myself! Excuse me, but the term CR has been used by filipinos , and i am pinoy through and thorugh!

Photo: a restroom signage beside a mural painting inside the Museo Pambata

SONA 2008

State of the Nation Address (SONA 2008), President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo delivering her 8th State of the Nation Address at the Batasan Pambansa complex this afternoon. Photo taken from our living room :)

"As your President, I care too much about this nation to let anyone stand in the way of our people’s wellbeing. Hindi ko papayagang humadlang ang sinuman sa pag-unlad at pagsagana ng taong bayan. I will let no one – and no one’s political plans –threaten our nation’s survival." Read the full SONA speech here.

Argh i want to barf!!! So what do you think about the SONA?

palabok

Palabok - a native filipino delicacy, a stir fried noodle dsh using round rice noodle smothered with a thick, golden shrimp sauce or other flavored sauce, and topped with: shrimp, chicharon (crushed pork rind), hard boiled eggs (sliced into disc), tinapa flakes, and freshly minced green onion. If you want to know how to cook palabok check out this recipe.

The term palabok is also used colloquially when a person is beating around the bush or trying to add more words to make a story fancier. And i hope President GMA wont put too much palabok in her State of the Nation Address (SONA 2008) tomorrow!

comfort food 2

Colossal choco chip cookies from Old Spaghetti House

comfort food

i know you want an ice cream :)

lonely sunset

sunsets always make me happy and sad at the same time... and i still cant figure out why i still love sunsets

melancholy

“There is no such thing as happiness, only lesser shades of melancholy.”

ospital ng maynila

Ospital ng Maynila, located at Pres. Quirino Avenue, Malate, Manila

The Ospital ng Maynila has been established to provide city residents a better standard of medical care. The hospital is operated and maintained through taxes paid by Manila residents, thereby giving priority to the admission and treatment of patients who are bonafide residents of Manila. It is the laboratory hospital of health science students (students of medicine, nursing and physical therapy) enrolled at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila.

sunset moon

A beautiful sunset greeting the moon. (photo taken at Tagaytay on our way home)

squares

barrels

visit fort santiago

Enter the realm and discover a bit of our history - go and visit Fort Santiago. You can view my previous posts and take a sneak peak here. Fort Santiago is one historical place you shouldn't miss when in Manila, it was restored and now has a beautiful park and this is where Jose Rizal wrote his last poem - Mi Ultimo Adios - and the Rizal Shrine houses staff that belonged to our great hero. Worth visiting also are the ruins and the dungeons which was used by the imperial Japanese troops during world war II as cells.

How to go to Fort Santiago: take the LRT and alight at the Carriedo Station. From there ride a jeepney going to Pier and tell the driver to drop you at Fort Santiago, dont worry all the drivers knows the place and its just across the Manila Cathedral.

andres in manila

Photo: Another angle of the Bonifacio Shrine with the Manila City Hall tower as background.

Andres Bonifacio y de Castro (November 30, 1863 – May 10, 1897), one of the most loved hero by the masses, a Filipino revolutionary leader and one of the main rebel leaders of the Philippine Revolution against Spanish colonial rule in the late 19th century. He is regarded as the "Father of the Philippine Revolution" and one of the most influential national heroes of his country. A freemason, Bonifacio was the founder of the Katipunan organization which aimed to start an independence movement against Spain.

There are many monuments erected for Andres Bonifacio but the most recognized monument is the Bonifacio Monument at Caloocan City, sculpted by Guillermo Tolentino.

bayan ko

Bayan Ko by Freddie Aguilar

Ang bayan kong Pilipinas

Lupain ng ginto't bulaklak

Pag-ibig na sa kanyang palad

Nag-alay ng ganda't dilag

At sa kanyang yumi at ganda

Dayuhan ay nahalina

Bayan ko, binihag ka

Nasadlak sa dusa

Ibon mang may layang lumipad

Kulungin mo at umiiyak

Bayan pa kayang sakdal-dilag

Ang 'di magnasang makaalpas

Pilipinas kong minumutya

Pugad ng luha at dalita

Aking adhika

Makita kang sakdal laya

Bayan Ko is one of the most poignant patriotic songs in the Philippines. It was originally written as a poem by José Corazón de Jesús in 1929, and set to music by Constancio de Guzman. Written as a protest song during the American occupation of the Philippines, it is often sung in protest rallies and demonstrations throughout Philippine history, notably during the funeral of Sen. Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr. and the ensuing People Power Revolution where Freddie Aguilar led the crowd to sing the song's chorus.

Photo: a detail from the Bonifacio Shrine in front of the Manila City Hall

SM city san lazaro

SM City San Lazaro, Felix Huertas cor. A.H. Lacson Sts. Sta. Cruz, Manila

One of the many department stores owned by Henry Sy, but that is not the reason why i posted this photo here. Just trying to remember how it looked liked when San Lazaro Hippodrome, a horse racetrack, was standing here. I can still remember how the men in our area always troop in this area to bet at the karera.

Check out San Lazaro Hippodrome by Señor Enrique

LRT r. papa station

LRT R. Papa Station

LRT R. Papa Station is located in Tondo, Manila. And is the 3rd station from Monumento, near the Rizal Avenue Extension and the river that separates or serve as the boundary between Manila and Caloocan. LRT R. Papa station is also near the Chinese cemetery.

If you look closer at the photo you can see a train approaching. By the way if you're a frequent LRT/MRT commuter you would notice that the passengers seems to double in number, most probably due to the fare increase... yeah better take the LRT, no traffic and cheaper! The LRTA management said that they dont have any plans of increasing the fare which is currently at 12 pesos for minimum fare or for the first 4 stations and only 15 pesos from monumento to baclaran.

take a bow

sunset pink hues

Sunset pink hues at the Manila Yacht Club, Philippines

alternative

the fare increase is taking effect today and more commuters are now relying on the lrt and mrt, which cost less and faster.

and i remembered the original king of the road (the calesa or caritela) from the video in my old manila post. i guess we can use the good old calesa as an alternative way of transportaion since oil prices are getting more expensive everyday.

these folks surely are having a blast in this calesa ride... so why not bring back the original king of the road, what do you think?

puv fare increase

Less than two months ago when i posted about the increase of jeepney fare and with the soaring oil price of petroleum products, another fare increase for public utility vehicles has been approved by the LTFRB starting friday.

"MANILA, Philippines—An additional burden on commuters but a small relief for drivers and owners of public utility vehicles.

Starting this Friday, the minimum fare for public buses, taxis and jeepneys will go up by at least 7 percent, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) announced Tuesday.

LTFRB Chair Thomas Lantion said Malacañang ordered the fare increases. Transport groups seeking fare hikes are usually given 10 days to present their respective positions.

Based on Lantion’s announcement, jeepneys may charge a minimum fare of P8.50, up 50 centavos, and an additional 25 centavos, or from P1.25 to P1.50, for each succeeding kilometer.

Taxicabs may start charging an “add-on” rate of P10. However, there will be no increase in the flag-down rate and waiting time.

Buses plying Metro Manila routes may charge an additional P1, or from P9 to P10 for the first five kilometers, with additional 20 centavos for every succeeding kilometer (P1.75 to P1.95).

Air-conditioned buses may charge P12 from P11.50 plus P2.35 per succeeding kilometer from P1.75." read more here

red, black, and white world

what if the world we knew suddenly lose all its colors and we're just left with is a red, black, and white world... what are you going to do?

mami

A carinderia along Hidalgo Street offering mami for only 5 pesos, and 10 pesos with egg. So do you wanna grab one?

fresh veggies

Fresh veggies available at Hidalgo Street.