undas

All Saints Day or Undas is solemnity celebrated on the first of November. It is instituted to honour all the saints, known and unknown, and, according to Urban IV, to supply any deficiencies in the faithful's celebration of saints' feasts during the year.

As of writing this, most filipinos are either on their way to the provinces to pay respect to their dead loved ones while some are already in the cemeteries doing vigil. Come Undas or Araw ng mga Patay expect heavy traffic, stay safe everyone.

trick or treat

Trick or Treat!!! I think that is what this angel is saying to me. This angel is located on the left side of the musoleum where i found these angels that i posted last year, yes this photo is still from last year when i visited La Loma Cemetery. I really find this angel cute but the open tomb beside her makes it look scary, could be saying shhh be good or else...

praying angel

It has been a tradition to pray for the dead as part of remembering them during All Souls Day and some even offer a Mass, but nowadays it seems that people forget to say even just a little prayer when visiting the cemetery.

All Saints' Day (also called All Hallows), often shortened to All Saints, is a feast celebrated on November 1, in terms of Roman Catholic theology, the feast commemorates all those who have attained the beatific vision in heaven. While All Souls' Day which is celebrated every 2nd of November commemorates the faithful departed. The Roman Catholic celebration is based on the doctrine that the souls of the faithful which at death have not been cleansed from venial sins, or have not fully atoned for mortal sins, cannot attain the beatific vision in heaven yet, and that they may be helped to do so by prayer and by the sacrifice of the Mass.

I just find it weird that here in the Philippines most people celebrate the Day of the Dead during All Saints Day, do you know why?

Photo: An angel praying atop a mausoleum at La Loma Cemetery.

ghost stories

halloween is fast approaching and whenever this season comes, adult and children alike love sharing ghost stories. i remember watching local movies wherein ithe staple horror story is that of a broken tombstone where a zombie or a dead person tries to go out, gives me the creeps when i was a kid. but now i find those broken tombstone interesting, really! took this photo last year at the la loma cemetery, and i cant help but wonder whatever happened to this tomb. so, what is your ghost story?

mausoleo di sto. entierro

The columns at the left side of the mausoleo di sto. entierro inside the la loma cemetery, i dont know much about this place all i know is that this used to be the place where they bury babies, unborn babies or those who died when they were still an infant. but when you see the place now it has these "apartment" type tombs. but i'm still enchanted at this building, well i am really fascinated inthis area, it look solemn and yet eerily creepy.

All Saints Day or Araw ng mga Patay is really a big thing here in the Philippines, thousands flock the cemeteries to visit their departed love ones and stay all day sometimes even spend the night at the cemetery, most families troop to the cemetery with lots of food and some even bring radio, Cheap Plasma TV, PSP, and other form of entertainment to keep themselves busy, and really cemeteries on Nov. 1 really have this fiesta atmosphere.

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shawarma nights

In the Philippines, shawarma is a popular food found at both street side and indoor shopping mall stalls, mostly in Metro Manila. Shawarma is often cooked using beef in a large pita bread, and served with vegetables such as onion and tomatoes. The shawarma sandwich can usually be topped with locally made cheddar cheese.

simple joy

families, friends, and lovers gather at baywalk just to watch the beautiful manila bay sunset

casino in manila

This casino is located at Mabini st., Manila, i think all the casino's in manila are operated by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), a 100 percent government-owned and controlled corporation created in 1977 by virtue of Presidential Decree 1067-A and was amended to PD 1869 on July 11, 1983, later known as the PAGCOR Charter.

Today, PAGCOR operates 13 PAGCOR branches and 25 exclusive PAGCOR Clubs, open in major cities across the country, 24 hours a day,seven days a week.

The branches offer in-demand, internationally-recognized games like baccarat, blackjack, roulette, craps, big & small, pai gow, stud poker, Super 6, Pontoon and Texas Hold ‘Em Poker. Guests can also vie for the much-coveted jackpot with any of our state-of-the-art slot machines and in-house bingo games. Each PAGCOR branch strives to showcase the best of what the country has to offer while proudly providing world-class gaming. The casinos offer a variety of options even for non-players or those simply seeking wholesome entertainment. You can watch concerts by the country’s top artists, savor live band music, sing on stage or boogie the night away with our ballroom dancing sessions!

pares in manila

This pares store has been around for quite sometime now...  as far as i can remeber, this Man Kok House  pares at the corner of herrera st and rizal ave. ext. has been open to serve anyone, though to be honest i haven't tasted pares yet. 

Browsing the net, i learned that Pares means the pairing of beef and rice or like your value meal of beef and rice in a toppings with free soup.  According to some pares' beef really taste good because it cooked slowly and the meat is so tender.  hmmm i guess i should try this pares.

MOA's royal marching band

SM Mall of Asia's Royal Marching Band

sm mall of asia

The SM Mall of Asia (also known as MOA) is currently one of the largest shopping mall in Southeast Asia and the Philippines and is the 3rd largest shopping mall in the world, after the South Dongguan Mall (China) and Golden Resources Mall (China). SM Mall of Asia opened on May 21, 2006. It is owned and operated by SM Prime Holdings, under the management of Henry Sy, a Filipino-Chinese business tycoon. It has a land area of 14-Hectares and has a gross floor area of an approximate 410,000 m². The mall is located at Bay City, Pasay City, Philippines just near the SM Central Business Park and the Manila Bay. The mall attracts a daily foot traffic of 200,000 people.

one fine day

golden

flower for reyna elena

a flower for the very beautiful and generous reyna elena. thank you so much for giving me a brand new camera :)

i really really appreciate it, means more photos and from hereon all photos that i'll publish in this blog will be taken from the canon SD1100. i soooo love it :D thanks sooo much

PS. i didnt photoshop the above photo, i was tinkering with the settings of my new camera and i achieved the effect using the color swap mode. its really cool

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 2

a close up shot of the life sized sculpture depicting Jose Rizal on his final day on this earth. the plaque below states that this is the exact spot where he stood on that fateful day

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.

anson building

Anson Building, Makati City

I was like a kid when i saw the Anson's Appliance building glowing! the whole building is lighted and i was really amazed to see the colors changing, yeah its my first time to see one like this LOL. i dunno when did they install those lights cause its been a while since i went to that area and i love it!!! i really hang out at the walkway between glorieta and landmark just to capture the building while changing its colors, *grin* (oh yeah, these stuff can easily make happy)


Located between The Landmark and Shangri-la Hotel. The Anson building is seven story tall with the 5 upper levels dedicated to parking. Anson's spacious showcase is in the ground floor housing mostly audio-visual appliances of which the ever coveted multi-brand wide screen LCD TVs are prominently displayed. Other home appliances and the like can be found in the 2nd floor as well as other specialized stores & salons. to know more where the shopping malls are located in Makati please click here

national museum of the Philippines

Pambansang Museo / National Museum of the Philippines
Padre Burgos Street, Ermita, Manila

I've posted a photo of the Pambansang Museo from a different angle before, but that photo was taken using my camera phone. Anyways here's the back entrance to the National Museum although this door isn't used.

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.

manila grand opera hotel

Manila Grand Opera Hotel

A new hotel within the busy intersection of Doroteo Jose and Avenida, just right of the D. Jose LRT station. A new hotel that is historical and hopefully will revive the grandeur of avenida.

This used to housed the Manila Grand Opera House Built in the mid-1800s as the H.T. Hashim’s National Cycle Track, a circular wooden structure with a nipa roof, the complex served as the center of Philippine culture and the primary theater for the viewing of plays, movies and zarzuelas in Manila prior to the construction of the Cultural Center of the Philippines in the 1960s.

This site is also where the first Philippine Assembly was inaugurated on October 16, 1907 by United States Secretary of War, William Howard Taft.

Manila Grand Opera Hotel
925 Rizal Avenue Corner Doroteo Jose St. Sta. Cruz
Website: www.manilagrandopera.com
Telephone: +632 314009099

sources:
Hint of nostalgia on site of Manila Grand Opera House
Manila Grand Opera House in Wikipedia

standing still

sorry if i havent posted here for a while, can't say i am busy but it seems i am busy these days that i havent got the time to go out and take pictures of my beloved manila, for now let me share with you this blue sky with jones bridge's lamp (yes this photo is from my archive again)

theme day: lines

what a great day to start the month of october, its a holiday here in the Philippines because the government declared today a regular holiday in observance of the feast of end of Ramadan but had miscalculated the date LOL! anyways our muslim brothers celebrated the Eid ul-Fitr yesterday, thanks anyways that we have an extra holiday today.

It is another theme day for the City Daily Photo community, and for the month of october it is all about lines.  my photo is from my archive and shows the coconut trees lining manila bay, twas a great afternoon sunset view (cant go out today since we do have a typhoon named Pablo - Metro Manila is now under public storm warning signal No. 2, meaning winds of 60-100 kph.)

Have a safe and eventful day everyone, do check out the other participants of the theme day. Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Albuquerque (NM), USA by Helen, American Fork (UT), USA by Annie, Arradon, France by Alice, Ashton under Lyne, UK by Pennine, Aspen (CO), USA by IamMBB, Auckland, New Zealand by Lachezar, Auckland, New Zealand by Baruch, Austin (TX), USA by LB, Avignon, France by Nathalie, Bandung, Indonesia by Eki Akhwan, Bandung, Indonesia by Harry Makertia, Bandung, Indonesia by Bunyamin, Barrow-in-Furness, UK by Enitharmon, Barton (VT), USA by Andree, Baziège, France by PaB, Belgrade, Serbia by Bibi, Belgrade, Serbia by BgdPic, Bellefonte (PA), USA by Barb-n-PA, Bicheno, Australia by Greg, Birmingham (AL), USA by VJ, Bogor, Indonesia by Gagah, Boston (MA), USA by Ilse, Boston (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Budapest, Hungary by agrajag, Budapest, Hungary by Isadora, Budapest, Hungary by Zannnie and Zsolt, Buenos Aires, Argentina by Karine, Canterbury, UK by Rose, Cape Town, South Africa by JSB, Cape Town, South Africa by Kerry-Anne, Cavite, Philippines by Steven Que, Château-Gontier, France by Laurent, Chateaubriant, France by trieulet, Chateaubriant, France by Bergson, Cheltenham, UK by Marley, Chennai, India by Ram N, Coral Gables (FL), USA by Jnstropic, Durban, South Africa by CrazyCow, Edwardsville (IL), USA by Mdflores, Fort Lauderdale (FL), USA by Gigi, Franschhoek, South Africa by JSB, Geneva (IL), USA by Kelly, Glasgow, Scotland by Jackie, Greenville (SC), USA by Denton, Grenoble, France by Bleeding Orange, Hamilton, New Zealand by Sakiwi, Hangzhou, China by zoe, Helsinki, Finland by PPusa, Hobart, Australia by Greg, Honningsvag, Norway by J., Hyde, UK by Old Hyde, Hyde, UK by Gerald, Islip (NY), USA by Bettye, Jackson (MS), USA by Halcyon, Jakarta, Indonesia by Santy, Jefferson City (MO), USA by Chinamom2005, Karwar, India by Yogesh, Knoxville (TN), USA by Knoxville Girl, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by Edwin, La Antigua, Guatemala by Rudy, Lakewood (OH), USA by mouse, Larchmont (NY), USA by Marie-Noyale, Las Vegas (NV), USA by Mo, Lisbon, Portugal by Sailor Girl, Lodz, Poland by ritalounge, London, UK by Mo, London, UK by Ham, Madrid, Spain by Tr3nta, Mainz, Germany by JB, Manila, Philippines by Hilda, Manila, Philippines by Anthony, Manila, Philippines by Heyokity, Melbourne, Australia by John, Menton, France by Jilly, Mexico City, Mexico by Carraol, Middletown (MD), USA by Bernie, Milton, New Zealand by Milton Daily Photo, Milwaukee (WI), USA by karl, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Mitch, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Greg, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Scott, Molfetta, Italy by saretta, Monrovia (CA), USA by Keith, Monte Carlo, Monaco by Jilly, Monterrey, Mexico by rafa, Muizenberg, South Africa by Pentaxjunkie, Mumbai, India by Kunalbhatia, Mumbai, India by MumbaiiteAnu, Nelson, New Zealand by Meg and Ben, New Delhi, India by Delhi Photo Diary, New York City (NY), USA by Ming the Merciless, New York City (NY), USA by Kitty, Norwich, UK by Goddess888, Orlando (FL), USA by OrlFla, Paderborn, Germany by Soemchen, Palos Verdes (CA), USA by tash, Paris, France by Elsa, Paris, France by Eric, Pasadena (CA), USA by Can8ianben, Pasadena (CA), USA by Petrea, Pensacola (FL), USA by P J, Petoskey (MI), USA by Christie, Philadelphia (PA), USA by Andrew Foderaro, Phoenix (AZ), USA by Sharon, Pilisvörösvár, Hungary by Elise, Port Angeles (WA), USA by Jelvistar, Prague, Czech Republic by kakna, Quezon City, Philippines by ann pablo, Quincy (MA), USA by slim, Rabaul, Papua New Guinea by Jules, Ramsey, Isle of Man by babooshka, Reykjavik, Iceland by Vírgíll, Riga, Latvia by Riga Photos, Roanoke (VA), USA by Tanya, Rome, Italy by Giovanni, Rotterdam, Netherlands by Ineke, Rouen, France by Bbsato, Saarbrücken, Germany by LadyDemeter, Saigon, Vietnam by Simon, Saint Louis (MO), USA by Strangetastes, Saint Paul (MN), USA by Kate, Salt Lake City (UT), USA by Eric, San Antonio (TX), USA by Kramer, San Diego (CA), USA by Felicia, San Francisco (CA), USA by Burd Zel Krai, San Francisco (CA), USA by PFranson, Schenectady (NY), USA by Buck, Seattle (WA), USA by Kim, Seattle (WA), USA by Chuck, Selma (AL), USA by RamblingRound, Sequim (WA), USA by Eponabri, Sesimbra, Portugal by Aldeia, Setúbal, Portugal by Maria Elisa, Silver Spring (MD), USA by John, Singapore, Singapore by Keropok, Singapore, Singapore by Zannnie, Sofia, Bulgaria by Antonia, South Pasadena (CA), USA by Laurie, Stanwood (WA), USA by MaryBeth, Stayton (OR), USA by Celine, Stockholm, Sweden by Stromsjo, Sunshine Coast, Australia by bitingmidge, Sydney, Australia by Ann, Sydney, Australia by Sally, Székesfehérvár, Hungary by Teomo, Tacloban City, Philippines by agnesdv, Tamarindo, Costa Rica by David, Telluride (CO), USA by mtsrool, Terrell (TX), USA by Jim K, Terrell (TX), USA by Bstexas, Test City (MA), USA by , Torun, Poland by Glenn, Toulouse, France by Julia, Turin, Italy by Livio, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina by Jazzy, Twin Cities (MN), USA by Slinger, Vienna, Austria by G_mirage2, Wailea (HI), USA by Kuanyin, Washington (DC), USA by D.C. Confidential, Wellington, New Zealand by Jeremyb, West Sacramento (CA), USA by Barbara, Weston (FL), USA by WestonDailyPhoto, Willits (CA), USA by Elaine, Yardley (PA), USA by Mrlynn