peace on earth

the nativity scene at ayala triangle.. i've missed taking picture of the grand display at this heart of makati the previous years when i moved out of working in makati, but hey to make it up here's different images of the belen this year, made more special with the ayala light and sound show

just a few more nights and it's christmas again :D

to view previous nativity scene photos click here

ayala lights and sounds - a symphony of parols at ayala triangle

 the ayala lights and sound show at ayala triangle gardens - a symphony of parols

Symphony of Parols, a Lights and Sound show started last November 17 and will run until December 23, at 6:00pm to 8:00pm (every 30 minutes). There will be a special weekend shows on December 18 and 19.

Official list of activites from Ayala Land event site:

Christmas At The Ayala Triangle Gardens 2010

November 17, 5:30pm - Beginning of Symphony of Parols, a Lights and Sound show and formal launch of restaurants at the Ayala Triangle Garden

November 17 to December 23, 6:00 - 8:00pm - Beginning of Symphony of Parols, a Lights and Sound show (every 30 minutes): Weekdays with special weekend shows on December 18 and 19.

November 23, 6:00pm - Holiday dance fusion at the gardens. Free dance lessons from professional insttructors

December 1 and 8, 6:00pm - Christmas Serenade at the gardens. Free concerts by renowned performers.

December 15 to 23, 6:00pm - Anticipated Simbang Gabi

Own a piece of Manny Pacquiao!

Congratulations Manny Pacquiao!!! You truly are the  best boxer in the whole world! Beating Antonio Margarito in a unanimous decision getting his 8th world title.

Be a champion like Manny Pacquiao! Project PEARLS is doing an Auction for a Cause. We are auctioning Pacquiao's autographed training boxing gloves benefiting the Ulingan Kids' Outreach Project. Bid now and be a champion of the children at Ulingan. Bid at www.ebay.com - Item # 130454794993!

Andrew wrote: My armoire smells like the Pambansang Kamao—the Philippine "National Fist"—and I wants to know how much that's worth. Seriously. I have a pair of Manny Pacquiao's boxing gloves, both of which he signed after training in them—*vigorously*. They emanate without end, these gloves; my underwear, socks, T-shirts and jeans all carry the Champ's glorious musk. Manny gave these gloves to the photographer, Mark Seliger, who shot the portrait that ran with my GQ story earlier this year. Seliger, who brooks no musk, champion or non-, turned them over to the mag, which sent them along to me (as if my underwear didn't already carry a Champion's Eau). I can't do anything with these gloves, ethically or athletically so, as with all my shoes and all my glasses, I just...have them. But now I'm giving them to a charity that helps impoverished children in the Philippines; they'll auction them off.

Andrew Corsello wrote a very beautiful story about Manny Pacquiao for GQ magazine, dubbing the "pambansang kamao" "The Biggest Little Man in the World"

sagada: sumaguing cave

christmas is here!

christmas is just around the corner, so let me be the first to greet you all a merry christmas! :D

Christmas decoration and themes already hit the philippine malls and stores as early as september, and tv and radio stations are playing christmas songs and doing the daily countdown till christmastime. last week the makati business district lighted its street with christmas light and decors (an annual celebration and preparation) and just last saturday, sm mal of asia lighted it's giant christmas tree (50 feet tall) with a bang - with fireworks and circus acts to the delight of kids and young at heart.

P.S. photo taken by Maureen Jaramillo

sagada burial cave

The Sagada Burial Caves is an ancient burial ground full of coffins piled one on top of the other and can be found at the entrance of Lumiang Cave (the start point of the 4-hour cave connection trekking where the exit is the Sumaguing Cave).  Unfortunately, some tourist found a liking to getting some 'souvenirs' from these coffins hence the warning sign you see in the last photo.

sagada

If there is one place you should visit in the Philippines, that is Sagada. You have to at least go and see this place and natural wonders it can offer.  Sagada is a 5th class municipality in the province of Mountain Province, and is located 275km north of Manila.


There are two ways to travel to Sagada from Manila: (1) via Baguio route or (2) via Banawe-Bontoc.  I prefer the the second route because for me it is a much faster route and going back to Manila you can choose to have a side trip to Baguio and get to travel the whole cordilleras region just like what i did. :)

The place is so laid back and the climate is soooo nice. Sagada is 140km away from Baguio but it is much cooler here than in Baguio. The crops are like those of Baguio and Benguet: cabbage, tomatoes, green pepper, potatoes, carrots, beans, and other temperate products.  But they have a special Arabica coffee as well.  And they have rice terraces in Sagada to, though the terraces in Sagada are smaller than the Banawe rice terraces.

According to our guide, Sagada used to be submerged in water hence the abundant limestone mountains at Sagada, kinda hard to believe considering how high is this place but you have to because how else would there be limestones without water right? Also if you look closely in the above photo there are "hanging coffins" in this limestone which is also one of the famous tourist attraction in Sagada.

Sagada is famous for its hanging coffins and burial caves. This was a traditional way of burying people that is not being practiced anymore. But the photo above is the burial cave, you can found this hundreds year old coffins at Lumiang Cave entrance. 

A peek inside Sumaguing Cave. I will post more pictures inside Sumaguing Cave in the next few days.  Spelunking is one of the popular activities in Sagada and doing the cave connection Sumaguing-Lumiang Caves really requires that you are in good health, tiring but definitely worth it. 

Sagada has many natural wonders. Backpackers and tourists can enjoy spelunking, rappeling, trekking, seeing the Bokong and Bomod-ok Falls (which unfortunately i havent got a chance to see when i visited Sagada, but there's still next time hehehe). 

A street in Sagada, the red "house" is actually a Sagada weaving house.

Sagada Church

Sagada Hospital

Sagada was also featured on a local film Don't Give Up on Us.

cordillera

The Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) is the Philippines' only land-locked region. It is consisted of the provinces of Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province and Baguio City (the regional center). The Cordillera region encompasses most of the areas within the Cordillera Central mountain range of Luzon, the largest range in the country. This region is home to numerous indigenous tribes collectively called the Igorot.

Tourist attractions in the region include the world-famous Banaue Rice Terraces in the province of Ifugao. Nations around the world boast of their own self-proclaimed "eighth wonder of the world." The Philippines considers Banaue Rice Terraces as its "Eighth Wonder of the World." The Banaue terraces, ancient sprawling man-made structures from 2,000 to 6,000 years old, are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. They are part of the Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras, widely found in the provinces of Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, and Mountain Province.

Natural attractions of the region include the Sumaguing Cave in Sagada and the mummy caves of Benguet and Mt. Province. There are four National Parks: Cassamata Hill, Mount Pulag, the highest mountain in Luzon, and second highest mountain in the Philippines, following Mount Apo of Davao, with an elevation of 2,922 meters above mean sea level, Mt. Data, and Balbalasang-Balbalan, located in the province of Kalinga.


Source: Wikipedia

banaue rice terraces

The Banaue Rice Terraces (Hagdan-hagdang Palayan ng Banawe) are 2000-year old terraces that were carved into the mountains of Ifugao in the Philippines by ancestors of the indigenous people. The Rice Terraces are commonly referred to by Filipinos as the "Eighth Wonder of the World".

It is commonly thought that the terraces were built with minimal equipment, largely by hand. The terraces are located approximately 1500 meters (5000 ft) above sea level and cover 10,360 square kilometers (about 4000 square miles) of mountainside. They are fed by an ancient irrigation system from the rainforests above the terraces. It is said that if the steps are put end to end it would encircle half the globe.

The Banaue Terraces are part of the Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras, ancient sprawling man-made structures from 2,000 to 6,000 years old. They are found in the provinces of Kalinga, Apayao, Benguet, Mountain Province and Ifugao, and are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The terraces are vastly found in the province of Ifugao and the Ifugao people have been its caretakers. Ifugao culture revolves around rice and the culture displays an elaborate array of rice culture feasts linked with agricultural rites from rice cultivation to rice consumption. Harvest season generally calls for thanksgiving feasts while the concluding harvest rites tungo or tungul (the day of rest) entail a strict taboo of any agricultural work. Partaking of the bayah (rice beer), rice cakes, and betel nut constitutes an indelible practice during the festivities and ritual activities.

Another thriving economy in the Banaue Rice Terraces is tourism. The Tourism industry has developed a number of activities for visitors which may include the traditional sight seeing of the terraces and visits to the tribes at the foot of the terraces.

Source: Wikipedia

chess

Spotted these chess players at megamall this evening...  from the poster learned that it is already the championship tournament sponsored by Shell.

to learn more about the shell national youth active chess championship, click here

book swap

may you be a book lover or not but have some spare books (specially children books) that is just lying around in your house you are invited to a book swap to benefit the abandoned girls of Maritxell, Marikina.

When:    October 23, 2010, Saturday from 10 AM-6 PM
Where:   The Balcony, 110 Dona Angela Building, Carlos Palanca St., Makati City
How to Join:

1. In order to enter you need to bring one (1) educational or children's book plus your unwanted books
2. The educational books go directly to the abandoned girls of Meritxell, Marikina
3. You may choose from the books other people brought and can bring home the same number of books as the amount of unwanted books you brought.

Meritxell, Marikina has been housing marginalized and abandoned girls ages 3 -16 years old since 2007. Those who are old enough to study are sent to private schools for education. Ateneo has recently listed them as one of their NSTP areas. In order for them to further improve their studies, they need more educational books. The event hopes to collect 200 educational books to benefit three more orphanages.


Reposted from Chuvaness