It's been awhile since I've blogged...
I've been busy with Tours with the Mabuhay Guides... I've also been busy designing productions...
The first production I accomplished was the CCP Dance School's recital this December at the Main Theater on December 12, 2010. Next came the production design for Perry Sevidal Ballet's Christmas recital. This one will be held at the CCP's Little Theater at a prior date... December 6 to be exact. Finally, the last production I designed was that of Elizabeth Seton's
In between the designing and costume checks and fittings and costume runs, I was busy with the Mabuhay Guides tour of significant churches in Bulacan, Laguna and Cavite for the Visita Iglesia with the College of Saint Benilde students. I'll be posting the photos in succeeding blogs to update you all with where I've been and who I went with...
Meantime, it's 22 days till Christmas... watch out for my blogs on the Misa de Gallo and other Filipino traditions...
Sunset in Coron
Coron, Palawan
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Sunday, September 12, 2010
The Bottomline Experience
Let me categorically state that it wasn't my first time on camera.
I've done the whole scene of performing before a live audience of more than 3,000 pax. I've shot many a TV commercial. I've posed for print a couple of times. I've lent my voice to a few radio commercials. I've also done ramp... Yeah, I guess you can say I've had more than my share of 15 minutes of fame.
But being invited to a show where I would have to be asked about my opinion on national issues and having to exchange banter with Boy Abunda was quite a challenge. I know he's pretty well known and I have seen The Bottomline at least once or twice. So I more or less knew what I was up for. I didn't know, however, that the show was also aired on the Filipino Channel and broadcast to other countries abroad. That was what gave me the jitters.
After fellow Mabuhay Guide handed the assignment to me, I thought it was just one of those things. So I called up the contact person Anne Mirabelles and made the necessary arrangements. I was at the ABS-CBN studios at least half an hour before call time. Two p.m. was the appointed schedule for the staff to meet me at the Starbucks outlet. I was ushered in a few minutes after two. While waiting during the set-up, some of the staff were making small talk with me and I felt that was a good way to start.
One by one the panelists started arriving. First was Nini Borja who is a friend of the host and who runs her own printing company. Then it was Mike Lopez, who I learned is Cebuano and related to Congress representative Cutie del Mar and who flies in every two weeks from Cebu just to tape for the show. Mon was another panelist who is still an undergrad taking up Nursing and is set to take the board exams soon so he was silently reviewing for the exams in one corner of the studio. Then Xian Chua arrived. Xian teaches History at De La Salle University and is also a blogger and an armchair photographer of sorts. then Bianca Lapus arrived and the panelists were complete.
Now if only they could start on time, then my ordeal would be over soon. I kept wondering: "who'd be interested in what I have to say?" After all, I usually keep to myself. I'm the one who usually keeps quiet until someone gets me going... either that, or I totally withdraw from all the attention (which is paradoxical, since I've been in the performing arts for years). At nearly four p.m. I was called into a small glass paneled area and asked to hit a gong twice... apparently the scene is used whenever a panelist's questions are asked. Then all of us were ushered in and made to sit around a glass topped table...
Enter Boy Abunda... I really didn't know what to expect... His reputation precedes him as far as I'm concerned. Then he looked at me noticing that I was an unfamiliar face... I guess he's used to seeing the five other panelists on taping days. With a big smile I was welcomed and put at ease. Ok. Then the cameras started grinding. I was used to TVCs so I was half expecting for some director to scream "cut!!!!" somewhere. Didn't happen! The discussion continued from the time the cameras started rolling till the first gap was called. I was in the midst of a group of lively,intelligent, opinionated (and I mean this in a good way) people all of whom were younger than me and more seasoned in terms of TV appearances.
Perfect host that he is, Boy Abunda would ask me questions periodically if only to hear my two-cents worth. He then proceeded to another set where he interviewed... no ... grilled Vice-Mayor Isko Moreno regarding the horrible hostage-taking at the Quirino Grandstand. Meanwhile we remained in the booth amongst ourselves with the cameras taking in reactions from whatever nuggets we gathered from the interview.
Another gap was called and then Boy Abunda came back to sit with us and discuss our reactions. Then the recap came. All in all, 38 minutes for the first discussion, another 40-45 minutes for the interviewee and then the recap took about another half an hour. Then the whole process was done with... I skipped the invitation to partake of the buffet on the set and made my polite leave fro the guests and staff then I was ushered to the exit. I was out the door sooner than expected. I learned that they tape 2 episodes every other week. So I didn't stay to watch them tape next episode with BIR chief Kim Henares.
The episode of Isko Moreno taped at midnight of Saturday... this is probably why I don't get to watch it as often. I'm usually asleep by ten p.m. I had an enjoyable time meeting the other panelists and Boy Abunda, no less. Then I saw the Facebook reactions... Apparently, I didn't do too badly...
=)
I've done the whole scene of performing before a live audience of more than 3,000 pax. I've shot many a TV commercial. I've posed for print a couple of times. I've lent my voice to a few radio commercials. I've also done ramp... Yeah, I guess you can say I've had more than my share of 15 minutes of fame.
But being invited to a show where I would have to be asked about my opinion on national issues and having to exchange banter with Boy Abunda was quite a challenge. I know he's pretty well known and I have seen The Bottomline at least once or twice. So I more or less knew what I was up for. I didn't know, however, that the show was also aired on the Filipino Channel and broadcast to other countries abroad. That was what gave me the jitters.
After fellow Mabuhay Guide handed the assignment to me, I thought it was just one of those things. So I called up the contact person Anne Mirabelles and made the necessary arrangements. I was at the ABS-CBN studios at least half an hour before call time. Two p.m. was the appointed schedule for the staff to meet me at the Starbucks outlet. I was ushered in a few minutes after two. While waiting during the set-up, some of the staff were making small talk with me and I felt that was a good way to start.
One by one the panelists started arriving. First was Nini Borja who is a friend of the host and who runs her own printing company. Then it was Mike Lopez, who I learned is Cebuano and related to Congress representative Cutie del Mar and who flies in every two weeks from Cebu just to tape for the show. Mon was another panelist who is still an undergrad taking up Nursing and is set to take the board exams soon so he was silently reviewing for the exams in one corner of the studio. Then Xian Chua arrived. Xian teaches History at De La Salle University and is also a blogger and an armchair photographer of sorts. then Bianca Lapus arrived and the panelists were complete.
Now if only they could start on time, then my ordeal would be over soon. I kept wondering: "who'd be interested in what I have to say?" After all, I usually keep to myself. I'm the one who usually keeps quiet until someone gets me going... either that, or I totally withdraw from all the attention (which is paradoxical, since I've been in the performing arts for years). At nearly four p.m. I was called into a small glass paneled area and asked to hit a gong twice... apparently the scene is used whenever a panelist's questions are asked. Then all of us were ushered in and made to sit around a glass topped table...
Enter Boy Abunda... I really didn't know what to expect... His reputation precedes him as far as I'm concerned. Then he looked at me noticing that I was an unfamiliar face... I guess he's used to seeing the five other panelists on taping days. With a big smile I was welcomed and put at ease. Ok. Then the cameras started grinding. I was used to TVCs so I was half expecting for some director to scream "cut!!!!" somewhere. Didn't happen! The discussion continued from the time the cameras started rolling till the first gap was called. I was in the midst of a group of lively,intelligent, opinionated (and I mean this in a good way) people all of whom were younger than me and more seasoned in terms of TV appearances.
Perfect host that he is, Boy Abunda would ask me questions periodically if only to hear my two-cents worth. He then proceeded to another set where he interviewed... no ... grilled Vice-Mayor Isko Moreno regarding the horrible hostage-taking at the Quirino Grandstand. Meanwhile we remained in the booth amongst ourselves with the cameras taking in reactions from whatever nuggets we gathered from the interview.
Another gap was called and then Boy Abunda came back to sit with us and discuss our reactions. Then the recap came. All in all, 38 minutes for the first discussion, another 40-45 minutes for the interviewee and then the recap took about another half an hour. Then the whole process was done with... I skipped the invitation to partake of the buffet on the set and made my polite leave fro the guests and staff then I was ushered to the exit. I was out the door sooner than expected. I learned that they tape 2 episodes every other week. So I didn't stay to watch them tape next episode with BIR chief Kim Henares.
The episode of Isko Moreno taped at midnight of Saturday... this is probably why I don't get to watch it as often. I'm usually asleep by ten p.m. I had an enjoyable time meeting the other panelists and Boy Abunda, no less. Then I saw the Facebook reactions... Apparently, I didn't do too badly...
=)
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Holy Angels Tour Sept 7 & 8
Date of Tour: 7/8 September 2010
Time of Tour: 1200h-1500h
Type of Tour: Metro Manila Bus Tour
Mabuhay Guide: Dennis Maristany, Chito Tayag, Candie Cobiao
Dustin Ancheta, Jeff Velasco and Yael Fernandez
Visitor’s Profile:
Main Guest: 2nd Year HRIM Students
Nationality: Filipino
Age Range: 17-19
Language: English / Tagalog
Planned Itinerary: Standard Metro Manila Bus Tour
Actual Itinerary: Planned Itinerary was followed.
Tour Details:
Tour Preparation:
1. Coordination with client conducted by MG Dennis. Assignments were given a week ahead of planned schedule.
2. Agreed time and date settled with HAU and type of tour to be conducted was agreed upon.
Actual Tour:
07 September 2010
• MGs Dennis, Chito and Candie were at Traders’ Hotel around 10:30 a.m. and we discussed the itinerary at the lobby while waiting for the tour party to check out.
• It turns out there were only two busses and one coaster. I took the coaster and designated it as the lead bus for the convoy.
• By noon, the party had boarded the busses and then we started the tour. Commentaries were started enroute to Intramuros.
• We were right on schedule and we arrived at the Club Intramuros at half past noon for the students to have lunch.
• After lunch, we gave the students a last call for a washroom break as there weren’t any lavatories along the way to MOA.
• We passed through Manila Hotel and to Quirino Grandstand. The spot had inadvertently become a tourist spot.
• Students were taking photos of the site. But I had to warn them not to post the pictures they were taking on social networking sites to prevent any issues from cropping up.
• Some of the students were asleep by the time we had reached Roxas Blvd. enroute to CCP Complex. To keep them awake and listenng to the commentaries, the organizers were giving away small items for prizes to questions asked by the MGs.
• This was a ploy to keep them interested in the commentaries.
• We passed by MOA and then towards EDSA to Market Market!! Traffic was smooth so we got to Makati in no time.
• Students were interested in the homes in McKinley parkway and they were looking through the gates from the height of the busses.
• We reached market Market at around 4:00 pm and we ended our tour on the bus and took our leave.
8 September, 2010
• MG Dustin, Jeff and Yael reported in at Traders Hotel 10:45 as agreed with the client.
• MGs waited until they were approached by HAU tour coordinator Tin.
• After confirming itinerary with Tin, MGs later settled on an itinerary and bus assignments were given.
• Tour began exactly 1203h. Rolling tour was conducted to Club Intramuros for lunch.
• Lunch at club Intramuros for clients. MGs were reserved seats and joined the faculty advisers of HAU students in their table.
• Lunch ended approximately 1315h and itinerary was continued.
• Rolling tour of CCP, MOA and Metro Manila surrounds followed.
• Rolling tour ended without event or incident at Market-Market at expected time.
• Guides were paid immediately after the tour and were relieved of service 1525h.
• HAU faculty coordinator requested signed acknowledgement receipts with Mabuhay Guides Logo. MGs on-site did not have any prepared and so HAU faculty requested it be sent via courier by Sept. 11, 2010. MGs complied, saying that MG team coordinator at that time (Dennis) will provide the request at the soonest possible time.
• Acknowledgement Receipts of all the tours undertaken with Holy Angel University; 19/20 August, 2010 and 7/8 September, 2010 were sent by LBC courier service to Ms. Chriselle Yambao, HATS Coordinator of HAU on 11 September, 2010.
Conclusion: The tour went smoothly. HAU is becoming a favorable client which may help create a continuous stream of tours. Nurturing the relationship with this client may prove to be a worthwhile long term investment.
* Nothing Follows *
Time of Tour: 1200h-1500h
Type of Tour: Metro Manila Bus Tour
Mabuhay Guide: Dennis Maristany, Chito Tayag, Candie Cobiao
Dustin Ancheta, Jeff Velasco and Yael Fernandez
Visitor’s Profile:
Main Guest: 2nd Year HRIM Students
Nationality: Filipino
Age Range: 17-19
Language: English / Tagalog
Planned Itinerary: Standard Metro Manila Bus Tour
Actual Itinerary: Planned Itinerary was followed.
Tour Details:
Tour Preparation:
1. Coordination with client conducted by MG Dennis. Assignments were given a week ahead of planned schedule.
2. Agreed time and date settled with HAU and type of tour to be conducted was agreed upon.
Actual Tour:
07 September 2010
• MGs Dennis, Chito and Candie were at Traders’ Hotel around 10:30 a.m. and we discussed the itinerary at the lobby while waiting for the tour party to check out.
• It turns out there were only two busses and one coaster. I took the coaster and designated it as the lead bus for the convoy.
• By noon, the party had boarded the busses and then we started the tour. Commentaries were started enroute to Intramuros.
• We were right on schedule and we arrived at the Club Intramuros at half past noon for the students to have lunch.
• After lunch, we gave the students a last call for a washroom break as there weren’t any lavatories along the way to MOA.
• We passed through Manila Hotel and to Quirino Grandstand. The spot had inadvertently become a tourist spot.
• Students were taking photos of the site. But I had to warn them not to post the pictures they were taking on social networking sites to prevent any issues from cropping up.
• Some of the students were asleep by the time we had reached Roxas Blvd. enroute to CCP Complex. To keep them awake and listenng to the commentaries, the organizers were giving away small items for prizes to questions asked by the MGs.
• This was a ploy to keep them interested in the commentaries.
• We passed by MOA and then towards EDSA to Market Market!! Traffic was smooth so we got to Makati in no time.
• Students were interested in the homes in McKinley parkway and they were looking through the gates from the height of the busses.
• We reached market Market at around 4:00 pm and we ended our tour on the bus and took our leave.
8 September, 2010
• MG Dustin, Jeff and Yael reported in at Traders Hotel 10:45 as agreed with the client.
• MGs waited until they were approached by HAU tour coordinator Tin.
• After confirming itinerary with Tin, MGs later settled on an itinerary and bus assignments were given.
• Tour began exactly 1203h. Rolling tour was conducted to Club Intramuros for lunch.
• Lunch at club Intramuros for clients. MGs were reserved seats and joined the faculty advisers of HAU students in their table.
• Lunch ended approximately 1315h and itinerary was continued.
• Rolling tour of CCP, MOA and Metro Manila surrounds followed.
• Rolling tour ended without event or incident at Market-Market at expected time.
• Guides were paid immediately after the tour and were relieved of service 1525h.
• HAU faculty coordinator requested signed acknowledgement receipts with Mabuhay Guides Logo. MGs on-site did not have any prepared and so HAU faculty requested it be sent via courier by Sept. 11, 2010. MGs complied, saying that MG team coordinator at that time (Dennis) will provide the request at the soonest possible time.
• Acknowledgement Receipts of all the tours undertaken with Holy Angel University; 19/20 August, 2010 and 7/8 September, 2010 were sent by LBC courier service to Ms. Chriselle Yambao, HATS Coordinator of HAU on 11 September, 2010.
Conclusion: The tour went smoothly. HAU is becoming a favorable client which may help create a continuous stream of tours. Nurturing the relationship with this client may prove to be a worthwhile long term investment.
* Nothing Follows *
Friday, August 27, 2010
Tour with Holy Angels HRM Students
• I was informed of the tour by Ms. Susan Calo-Medina of the Tour around 10:00 a.m two days prior to scheduled tour.
• She partially informed me of the tour at which I accepted and instructed me to get in touch with the contact person.
• I immediately got in touch with Ms Chay Lao to ask about the details of the tour and I sought information regarding the guests, their interests and background. I was informed my guest would be tourism and HRM students, of varying interests and was given the details as to pick-up, time, et. al.
• I agreed to meet them at Trader’s Hotel at 10:00 a.m. on the appointed day/s and said they can’t miss me as I will be wearing a barong. The assigned guides for the 19th were: myself, Yael Fernandez, Chito Tayag, Dustin Ancheta. For the 20th: myself, Chito Tayag, Dustin Ancheta, Jeff Velasco.
• We were very early at the venue on both days. On the 19th however, there was a mix up as one of their coordinators got in touch with DOT. Apparently another set of guides was sent although there was no confirmation on the part of the guests to avail of their services. Ms Chay apparently thought that they were Mabuhay Guides because one of them was in a barong.
• The issue was resolved with the guests using the Mabuhay Guides while the other group was informed that there was no confirmation for using them as guides.
• I started my commentary at the bus and gave the usual commentaries. There were no microphones on the bus so the MGs stood middle of the bus at the same time directing the coach captains to stay in a convoy.
• The tour of Roxas Blvd. to Intramuros went without any hitches. We had to circle back to see Fort Santiago as the last stop before lunch. Lunch was at the Club Intramuros where the kids were treated to a sumptuous buffet and they were given the opportunity for photo ops on the tee off area to the greens.
• From lunch, we boarded at 1 p.m. and proceeded to Manila Hotel, Quirino Grandstand, Roxas Blvd., CCP complex, Buendia Ave., Ayala Ave., McKinley Parkway turning right towards the various camps to Resorts World.
• Busses weren’t allowed to park in Resorts World so all the coaches were on stand-by as the guests took a washroom break. That done, we went back towards Fort Bonifacio as the last stop for the day was the Venice Piazza.
• At McKinley Hill, we were again stopped by security as there was no written request by the party to visit the establishment. With much negotiation on our part, they were allowed to visit and do an ocular inspection of the place. We ended our tour here and bid our leave.
• The 20th was basically the same except the itinerary was altered the evening prior to the tour.
• The rolling tour would take us to Intramuros, MOA, Market! Market! From the Trader’s Hotel, the students boarded their respective busses. And we left at around half past ten in the morning.
• Apparently, the itinerary was altered as there was little to see at Venice Piazza. Ms Celle called to say that they needed to shorten the rolling tour as they needed to be on the way back to Pampanga by 4:00 p.m.
• We were early for the lunch appointment at Club Intramuros but they students welcomed the early arrival. They had more time to enjoy and appreciate the club.
• We left at one p.m. again passing through Manila Hotel, Quirino Grandstand, Army-Navy facilities, Roxas Blvd. The CCP complexwas more of an in-depth rolling tour as we passed all the important buildings in the area.
• We proceeded to Diosdado Macapagal Ave., MOA and then took EDSA to the Global City. Traffic was heavy at EDSA which took longest near the Pasay City/Makati boundary but once we reached McKinley, traffic got better.
• We reached Market! Market! By 4:00 p.m. and we waited for the other busses to arrive. We ended our tour at this point and bid our farewells to our coordinators.
• She partially informed me of the tour at which I accepted and instructed me to get in touch with the contact person.
• I immediately got in touch with Ms Chay Lao to ask about the details of the tour and I sought information regarding the guests, their interests and background. I was informed my guest would be tourism and HRM students, of varying interests and was given the details as to pick-up, time, et. al.
• I agreed to meet them at Trader’s Hotel at 10:00 a.m. on the appointed day/s and said they can’t miss me as I will be wearing a barong. The assigned guides for the 19th were: myself, Yael Fernandez, Chito Tayag, Dustin Ancheta. For the 20th: myself, Chito Tayag, Dustin Ancheta, Jeff Velasco.
• We were very early at the venue on both days. On the 19th however, there was a mix up as one of their coordinators got in touch with DOT. Apparently another set of guides was sent although there was no confirmation on the part of the guests to avail of their services. Ms Chay apparently thought that they were Mabuhay Guides because one of them was in a barong.
• The issue was resolved with the guests using the Mabuhay Guides while the other group was informed that there was no confirmation for using them as guides.
• I started my commentary at the bus and gave the usual commentaries. There were no microphones on the bus so the MGs stood middle of the bus at the same time directing the coach captains to stay in a convoy.
• The tour of Roxas Blvd. to Intramuros went without any hitches. We had to circle back to see Fort Santiago as the last stop before lunch. Lunch was at the Club Intramuros where the kids were treated to a sumptuous buffet and they were given the opportunity for photo ops on the tee off area to the greens.
• From lunch, we boarded at 1 p.m. and proceeded to Manila Hotel, Quirino Grandstand, Roxas Blvd., CCP complex, Buendia Ave., Ayala Ave., McKinley Parkway turning right towards the various camps to Resorts World.
• Busses weren’t allowed to park in Resorts World so all the coaches were on stand-by as the guests took a washroom break. That done, we went back towards Fort Bonifacio as the last stop for the day was the Venice Piazza.
• At McKinley Hill, we were again stopped by security as there was no written request by the party to visit the establishment. With much negotiation on our part, they were allowed to visit and do an ocular inspection of the place. We ended our tour here and bid our leave.
• The 20th was basically the same except the itinerary was altered the evening prior to the tour.
• The rolling tour would take us to Intramuros, MOA, Market! Market! From the Trader’s Hotel, the students boarded their respective busses. And we left at around half past ten in the morning.
• Apparently, the itinerary was altered as there was little to see at Venice Piazza. Ms Celle called to say that they needed to shorten the rolling tour as they needed to be on the way back to Pampanga by 4:00 p.m.
• We were early for the lunch appointment at Club Intramuros but they students welcomed the early arrival. They had more time to enjoy and appreciate the club.
• We left at one p.m. again passing through Manila Hotel, Quirino Grandstand, Army-Navy facilities, Roxas Blvd. The CCP complexwas more of an in-depth rolling tour as we passed all the important buildings in the area.
• We proceeded to Diosdado Macapagal Ave., MOA and then took EDSA to the Global City. Traffic was heavy at EDSA which took longest near the Pasay City/Makati boundary but once we reached McKinley, traffic got better.
• We reached Market! Market! By 4:00 p.m. and we waited for the other busses to arrive. We ended our tour at this point and bid our farewells to our coordinators.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Mabuhay Guide Re-born...
I am Happy!!!! Happy, Happy... Happy!!!!
After an agonizing wait of a month and a half I finally recieved my renewal for accreditation as a tourist guide from the Department of Tourism. Officially, today... I am a Mabuhay Guide again.
I was at the Tourism office this afternoon after Mr Bimbo Cruz of the accreditation department confirmed that my renewal finally went through. He sent me a text message at around 10 or 11 this morning. I went to see him after lunch...a little past two, actually. I just waited a little, was called to her desk by Ms Yoli and then she sent me off to pay the fee of Pesos, 180.00. Down I went to room 114 to pay the fee and was issued a reciept which I presented to the window at room 206. A little more waiting and voila! My accreditation and ID were handed to me. There's just one catch - the laminating machine was busted... talk about bad timing...
For a paperless transaction this one seemed to have taken forever. I hope the new secretary of Tourism resolves this problem soon enough. I guess Secretary Bertie Lim has an eye out for the many opportunities that will boost tourist arrivals in the country.
In the papers today, writer/columnist Bernardo M. Villegas points out certain facts about tourism in the country that the former administration (thanks to former Secretary Ace Durano) has set up like the nautical highway, better airports, improved roads. They had all of nine years to do as much as they could... and the results were astounding!
Get this:
- for the last nine years international tourism grew by 5.2% annually notwithstanding the downtrend in the global markets
- tourist arrivals hit the 3 million mark in 2007 expanding by 1.5% to 31 million in 2008
- tourism dropped by only 3% in 2009 during the worst economic crisis compared to other asian countries
- tourism reciepts grew by 3.9% annually from $2.2B in 2000 to $2.96B in 2007.
- tourism employed 3.3M persons in 2008, 23.7% higher than in 2000.
- the average annual tourism employment was 9.5% which means tourism generated one out of ten jobs over a period of ten years.
- the average annual tourism employment rate was 2.37% which closely approximated the national employment growth rate of 2.7%
- the passenger transport industry was the largest employer at 42.7% followed by restaurants at 23.7%, retail enterprises at 4.7%, hotels at 4%
Given these statistics* Secretary Lim is looking into integrating nature, culture and history as a means of providing a total package for tourist spots so that potential visitors get a "tight"and neat little experience that will make them want to come back.
The poor guy has been much maligned after he was misinterpreted/misconstrued/ misquoted ( you select the proper term) for his pronouncements regarding tourist arrivals. He has a quite an interesting view on attracting tourists to the country opting for quality more than quantity. I think it makes a lot of sense. We can't compete with the tourist arrivals from other countries in europe who can attract 50M tourists each season. Do we really want hordes of noisy, backpacking tourists descending on our virgin beaches and frolicking naked in the sand?
Aside from the physical and moral pollution that it entails, we've been touted for ruining our destinations because of our penchant for catering to every whim of tourists. That's Pinoy hospitality for you. In the seventies and eighties we were known for the sex tours and what a horrible reputation we had back then.
Just go to Boracay during Holy Week and you get the idea... I loved Boracay when it was virtually unknown to the outside world. Nipa huts rented for P500.00 a night and you had to take a shower with a pozo to rinse of the sea water from your body... and then you used a "buhos" toilet to do your morning ritual... That was the Boracay i knew and loved... nowadays, you can't make me go back there specially during peak season. For one, I could no longer afford it. It has become too expensive. For another reason, i dread the hordes of people who go there and party all night.
It's time to rethink what we're known for... eventually visitors will want something of a novelty. They did it in CamSur with the wakeboarding. Caramoan's jagged primeval coastline came alive with it picture-perfect beauty. Danao started to offer extreme activities aside from its historical significance owing to the Dagohoy rebellion. We want to attract tourists who will stay and spend their hard-earned money and not commit acts of loutism while they're here. Naturally, it's families who will want to come and bond with each other while enjoying the best of what our country has to offer. I think this is what Secretary Lim meant when he said it's not the number of people you want to come trampling on our shores... it's the quality of tourists...
I'm with you there... I'm a Mabuhay Guide again...
*Manila Bulletin. Business and Society. "Nature, History, Culture". Bernardo M. Villegas. Monday, 16. August. 2010
After an agonizing wait of a month and a half I finally recieved my renewal for accreditation as a tourist guide from the Department of Tourism. Officially, today... I am a Mabuhay Guide again.
I was at the Tourism office this afternoon after Mr Bimbo Cruz of the accreditation department confirmed that my renewal finally went through. He sent me a text message at around 10 or 11 this morning. I went to see him after lunch...a little past two, actually. I just waited a little, was called to her desk by Ms Yoli and then she sent me off to pay the fee of Pesos, 180.00. Down I went to room 114 to pay the fee and was issued a reciept which I presented to the window at room 206. A little more waiting and voila! My accreditation and ID were handed to me. There's just one catch - the laminating machine was busted... talk about bad timing...
For a paperless transaction this one seemed to have taken forever. I hope the new secretary of Tourism resolves this problem soon enough. I guess Secretary Bertie Lim has an eye out for the many opportunities that will boost tourist arrivals in the country.
In the papers today, writer/columnist Bernardo M. Villegas points out certain facts about tourism in the country that the former administration (thanks to former Secretary Ace Durano) has set up like the nautical highway, better airports, improved roads. They had all of nine years to do as much as they could... and the results were astounding!
Get this:
- for the last nine years international tourism grew by 5.2% annually notwithstanding the downtrend in the global markets
- tourist arrivals hit the 3 million mark in 2007 expanding by 1.5% to 31 million in 2008
- tourism dropped by only 3% in 2009 during the worst economic crisis compared to other asian countries
- tourism reciepts grew by 3.9% annually from $2.2B in 2000 to $2.96B in 2007.
- tourism employed 3.3M persons in 2008, 23.7% higher than in 2000.
- the average annual tourism employment was 9.5% which means tourism generated one out of ten jobs over a period of ten years.
- the average annual tourism employment rate was 2.37% which closely approximated the national employment growth rate of 2.7%
- the passenger transport industry was the largest employer at 42.7% followed by restaurants at 23.7%, retail enterprises at 4.7%, hotels at 4%
Given these statistics* Secretary Lim is looking into integrating nature, culture and history as a means of providing a total package for tourist spots so that potential visitors get a "tight"and neat little experience that will make them want to come back.
The poor guy has been much maligned after he was misinterpreted/misconstrued/ misquoted ( you select the proper term) for his pronouncements regarding tourist arrivals. He has a quite an interesting view on attracting tourists to the country opting for quality more than quantity. I think it makes a lot of sense. We can't compete with the tourist arrivals from other countries in europe who can attract 50M tourists each season. Do we really want hordes of noisy, backpacking tourists descending on our virgin beaches and frolicking naked in the sand?
Aside from the physical and moral pollution that it entails, we've been touted for ruining our destinations because of our penchant for catering to every whim of tourists. That's Pinoy hospitality for you. In the seventies and eighties we were known for the sex tours and what a horrible reputation we had back then.
Just go to Boracay during Holy Week and you get the idea... I loved Boracay when it was virtually unknown to the outside world. Nipa huts rented for P500.00 a night and you had to take a shower with a pozo to rinse of the sea water from your body... and then you used a "buhos" toilet to do your morning ritual... That was the Boracay i knew and loved... nowadays, you can't make me go back there specially during peak season. For one, I could no longer afford it. It has become too expensive. For another reason, i dread the hordes of people who go there and party all night.
It's time to rethink what we're known for... eventually visitors will want something of a novelty. They did it in CamSur with the wakeboarding. Caramoan's jagged primeval coastline came alive with it picture-perfect beauty. Danao started to offer extreme activities aside from its historical significance owing to the Dagohoy rebellion. We want to attract tourists who will stay and spend their hard-earned money and not commit acts of loutism while they're here. Naturally, it's families who will want to come and bond with each other while enjoying the best of what our country has to offer. I think this is what Secretary Lim meant when he said it's not the number of people you want to come trampling on our shores... it's the quality of tourists...
I'm with you there... I'm a Mabuhay Guide again...
*Manila Bulletin. Business and Society. "Nature, History, Culture". Bernardo M. Villegas. Monday, 16. August. 2010
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Missing Ilocos
Same time last year, the Mabuhay Guides embarked on a lengthy and in-depth research trip to Region I... the province of Ilocos!!!
Dustin Arnold Ancheta was given the task of being the team leader and there were ten of us who went to Ilocos for the research trip and we had a blast. The purpose of the trip was not only to enjoy what Ilocos has to offer but also to view the region with an open mind... discover the visual treats along the way and perhaps provide a glimpse of what the people and the province has in store for the erstwhile tourist.
We took an early morning flight to Laoag Airport and we were met by the representatives of the region's tourism office. From there we were taken by coaster to the Palazzo Hotel which is a few minutes off the center of Laoag. The owners were very cordial and it turns out that the lady of the hotel was originally a Manilena but was married to an Ilocano. It was just a few minutes at the lobby to sort out our room assignments and we were ushered to the dining room for sumptuous Ilocano Breakfast that had this soup made out of seaweed in a clear broth and the traditional Ilocano poqui-poqui, pinakbet with barbeque and fish and bagoong.
Then after lunch we were ushered into the van enroute to Curimao, Batac and Paoay. Now, these sites are must sees. Curimao is where Sitio Remedios is located. A collecton of quaint centuries old houses clumped into one compound amid ngarled and ancient trees ans nestled in the rugged coastline. Batac and Paoay are the bastion of the Marcos Family. Batac is where the Marcos Mansion and Museum is located. The Marcos Museum and Mausauleoum is where the family stays when vacationing in Ilocos, whilst the Museum is the final resting place of the former president Ferdinand E. Marcos. His remains lie in state in a temperature-controlled room that is annexed to the rest of the compound.
We also had a short stop at the Fort Ilocandia for merienda and to see the amenities that are available to tourists.
Paoay is noteworthy, as it has the distinction of having one of four World Heritage sites in the Philippines. The San Agustin Church built by the Agustinians during the Spanish regime is a massive architectural wonder featuring flying buttresses in the Philippine earthquake baroque style.
A few minutes from the church is the Malacanan ti Amianan (Malacanan of the North) the official residence of President Marcos overlooking the Paoay Lake. After a tour of the palace, we motored back to Laoag for dinner at the Palazzo HotelOur second day in Ilocos was chock-full of activities. First stop was the Juan Luna Shrine in Badoc, Ilocos Sur. The home of Juan Luna was restored and turned into a museum that features the nationalist's life and works. From there, we proceeded to Vigan, Ilocos Sur where we took the Mestizo River tour.
We also visited a weaving cooperative where The famous Abel Iloco cloth is still woven. Centuries ago, the lowly abel Iloco was the subject of a ban from Spanish weavers as the clothe proved to be sturdier for use in sails of the galleons that plied the Philippine-Mexico route. We went to the Syquia Mansion and was toured around by the caretaker. Then we proceeded to the Arzobispado de Nueva Segovia that's right next to the St Paul's Cathedral to learn about the contributions of the Catholic religion to the simple Ilocano way of life.
Finally we went gallivanting round the Spanish heritage town of Vigan, spared from the Japanese bombs when a Japanese colonel who fell in love with an Ilocana. This after a great lunch at Cafe Leona... known for her poetry and for her strong female presence in Vigan society.
The third day was devoted to a lecture at the Museo Iloco by Father Laeda. Father Laeda enlightened us on the shrinking bell tower of St William the Hermit Cathedral. The Museo is also fondly called "Gameng" Ilocano for jewel. as it holds a virtual treasure trove of Ilocano artifacts from farm implements, fishing equipment musical scores and even a replica of a vigan home within the Tabacalera's restored walls. We also visited the Capitol building and then were whisked off to the North Coast. Along the way we stopped at the Pasuquin Salt factories, we had lunch at Burgos municipality tendered by the Mayor and his staff. Then we went to Cape Bojeador that has witnessed the galleons' voyages throughout the centuries. After that, we went to see the Bangui windmills; a modern concession to the Ilocano culture as it supplies a moajority of the regions electrical power. Then, it was Pagudpud!!! On the way back, we stopped at the REFMAD Dragon Fruit Farm.
The Fourth Day in Ilocos was more of a review of sorts. We visited the Churches of Sta Monica in Sarat. The massive church interior was the setting for the momentous wedding of presidential daughter Irene Marcos to Greggy Araneta. WE also saw the Well that had secret tunnels that led to the river where revolutionaries took refuge during the Philippine revolution. After that we went to the Laoag Market just to find out the curios they had to sell. We also went to St William the Hermit Church in Laoag. We also went back to Batac to view the Artemio Ricarte Museum. After which we sampled local Empanada. From there and many digital photos later, it was back to Laoag for merienda at a joint that served us Ilocano fusion food and then the airport for our flight back home... It's been a year since I was there last...
How fast time flies...
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
The Baguio of My Childhood
I have always had fond memories of Baguio. I used to go to the summer capital quite often when I was a kid. Two of my elder cousins studied there and my dear grandmother would gather all of us cousins and head for Baguio to check on her favorite grandchildren.
Recently, my cousin Alice arrived and she had the bright idea of taking her American husband to see Baguio first-hand. Apparently, she too, had fond memories of Baguio and had told Jim (her husband) stories of how she spent vacations there. So upon her invitation, I tagged along for a weekend there. She had an invite to stay at the Baguio Country Club and she and Jim stayed there while I and the driver stayed at the El Cielito Inn a stone's throw from SM City Baguio ( yes, there's one there now too).
I was surprised by the speed of which we got there. We cut the trip to at least half the time thanks to the modern day convenience of the NLEX and SCTEX which cuts through the face of Northern Luzon. Before it took 6-8 hours to get to the city of pines... nowadays, it takes 4-6 hours. Incidentally the SCTEX also cuts through the Hacienda Luisita ( owned by PNoy's family) and you get a sense of the wealth and power of landed families from the Spanish times to the present as they hold sway over the common Filipinos.
The purpose of the trip was R&R and to show Jim around what the Americans built to make the location a place of refuge and to remind them of home when they were getting bored and home-sick in Manila. Because truly, the city remains far removed from the heat of the rest of country. It's as if you were trasported to a different country while you're here.
When I was a child I stared in awe of the beauty that surrounded me as I craned my neck to see the deep ravines along Kennon Road. At the foot of the mountain one gets a whiff of fresh mountain air. No longer. You only get that now whe you're near the city proper. The rest of the climb all you see is the degradation of Kennon Road and the smell of smoke emissions from the busses that ply the Baguio-Manila Route.
There is so much urban development in Baguio now so much so that there are traffic jams along Session Road ( where we used to do most of the sightseeing and eating) and there are areas where traffic is re-routed one way. The side of the Baguio Cathedral along session Road has so many tall buildings now it has all but obscured the Gothic Baguio Cathedral from that side. I remember eagerly running up the steps to the cathedral and counting the hundred and plus so steps to the top. Pine trees that used to surround the historic church have been sawn off. there's a walkway and fountain that now obscures the faced of the Cathedral.
Thankfully, the sites that make Baguio unique are still there but I can't tell whether it has become a tourist trap or a sign of progress... I guess it's a matter of looking at different perspectives. The observation deck at Mine's View Park has been totally over-run by stall upon stall of curio shops and Photo-ops with dogs and horses. It takes a while before one gets to the view. Apparently there have been a lot of complaints from tourists and there is now a move to re-locate the merchants from the view deck. Igorot Kids used to hang around the cliff face to scrounge around for coins tossed by tourists. The practice has now been stopped. Rightly so, as it has cost the lives of some children falling off the cliff clambering for loose change.
The vista of Baguio remains as spectacular as ever but now, homes are precariously constructed along ridges. Old colonial homes are left derelict or up for sale. Hotels, motels, inns, pension houses, bed and breakfasts have sprung up like mushrooms due to the heavy influx of tourists during the summer. But the landmarks of Baguio remain as enduring as its glorious weather. At two in the afternoon, the clouds set in. Usually, it rains in the afternooons this time of year so don't forget your raingear. It isn't as cold as I remember it to be. But the flood of memorieshas made this trip a very sentimental one for me... and my cousin as well...
Here are some of Baguio's Must See's:
Baguio Country Club ( see the marker for its history)
Camp John Hay- built as an american military facility, the camp is now open to the public with all the great amenities and spectacular views. a certain area now has a row of dining and outlet stores.
Mine's View Park - need I say more?
Burnham Park - named after Daniel Burnham of Manila and London fame... he was responsible for the gridiron lay-out of the city of Manila. Baguio has the same lay-out.
Baguio Cathedral-(see photo)
Lourdes Grotto- we used to run up and down the stairs when I was a kid. Now it's a location for a TV commercial for body pain relief pill.
Mansion House- built as a summer residence for the presidents of the Philippines. Located across the entrance of Wright Park
Teacher's Camp- I stayed at the Teacher's Camp year ago for an Art consrvation and Preservation Seminar conducted by the National Museum. The place is famous for the Urban Legend of "white Ladies" and ghost stories.
Baguio Convention Center- Designed by National Artist for Architecture Leandro Locsin, the convention center is situated right across the UP Baguio Campus. I recommend you visit the Tourism office there to ask for maps of Baguio City.
Wright Park- Pony ride, anyone? I used to ride the sturdy mountain horses when I was a kid. I got a "kick" (pardon the pun) out of it everytime.
Botanical Garden- When I was a child i remember putting my nose on a rose to sniff it and my face was totally covered in pollen.
Mount Sto Tomas
Tam-awan Village- Artist Ben Cabrera is credited for re-creating an Ifugao village with his personal funds and creating a complete arts center with a gallery near Quezon Hill.
Philippine Military Academy- West Point style military Academy that trains the future military leaders of the country. I remember attending a PMA graduation when I was a kid. It was for the graduation of tito Alexander Aguirre who was top of his class. The academy has accepted women plebes a few years back.
Asin Hot springs
Loakan Airport- now closed for commercial air transport. Sea Air now has flights to La Union complete with busses that ferry passengers from La union to Baguio City
Bell Church
Heritage Hill- Site of Baguio City Hall. It houses American Colonial Buildings that are still in use.
Easter Weaving Room- site for local weaving. the most famous weaver that broke into international fame is Narda Capuyan. She popularized the Igorot weave in Europe and the americas
Wood Carver's Village
Baguio City Market- Ever popular place to look for bargains, especially fresh strawberries
Maryknoll Sanctuary
Yes they're still there. But you better go see Baguio before everything completely changes before your very eyes. Getting around isn't a problem as there are jeepneys that go the routes of these sites and taxis are cheaper (guess what? no aircon). there's even a fly-over now that leads from the city to the Marcos Highway that's as smooth as it can get...
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
An Afternoon with Secretary Lim
Yesterday was a red-letter day for the remaining Mabuhay Guides. It was the day when the remaining guides paid a courtesy call to newly-appointed Department of Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim. I say remaining because from twenty-five the number has been drastically cut to fourteen active Mabuhay Guides. Some have opted to leave the group for better pastures while the rest who were stricken of the roster failed to make the desired rating.
Oh yes, Virginia... the Mabuhay Guides underwent an acid-test of sorts for an entire year while taking on various guiding duties. Each and every group we went with were given an evaluation sheet of how satisfied/disatisfied they were with our guiding skills.
But I digress. As a show of solidarity and support for the newly-appointed secretary, we were all instructed to be in our gala uniform and be at the Secretary's office at 1:30 p.m. Suits for the men and for the women, their black pencil skirts and their orange tops and matching blazers.
We were ushered into the recieving room and were made to wait for Sec. Lim as he was still out on a meeting with PNoy. Whilst there, we all exchanged pleasantries and tried to catch up on what each and everyone was doing outside of the Mabuhay Guides. As is usual with our meetings, there was a lot of fun and laughter which we did with a lot of resttraint so we don't make the wrong impression on the Secretary.
At half past two in the afternoon, Secretary Lim enters the door from his office and he was a bit surprised that we were dressed to the nines as if a reception was underway. Apparently the cabinet meeting would have taken till midnight if the president had not included another meeting he had to go to. My first impression of Secretary Lim was that he was a no-nonsense kinda guy. He's a pretty tall man with a serious demeanor. Eventually, he slackened when we each introduced ourselves to him. Of course, our mother-hen, The Susan Calo-Medina was there to steer the conversation to our plans.
I liked that Secreatry Lim was quite supportive of the future plans of the Mabuhay Guides. Like us, he believes in upgrading the quality of the guides in the country and that he is willing to provide us with logistical support if and when necessary. He also believes in strengthening the Mabuhay Guides brand so we can professionalize the guiding industry as an effective conduit to tourism. Like any businessman, he can be direct and exacting to the point that he gets misconstrued... misquoted... perhaps even misunderstood.
All in all, the meeting was a pleasant one and shows lots of promise for the Mabuhay Guides who choose to stick it out and spread the love for country and travel to the rest of the world. Meanwhile, as we all undergo the renewal process for our individual accreditation, we're most anxious for the guests to start pouring in. The rainy season has set in and at the moment, it's quite a long wait for each and everyone of us to get assigned to a tour.
That's tourism for you... we're dependent on the weather. We can make the worst of the rainy season look good but we have an eye out for brighter sunshine to make our guests enjoy what the country has to offer.
Oh well, since it's summer in the US, my cousins have all decided to come home for a spell. For them, this is the best time to come home to Manila. The weather isn't that bad and it's a lot cooler than it is during summer. Since I haven't taken my turn yet I may as well get some practice showing my cousins around...
Oh yes, Virginia... the Mabuhay Guides underwent an acid-test of sorts for an entire year while taking on various guiding duties. Each and every group we went with were given an evaluation sheet of how satisfied/disatisfied they were with our guiding skills.
But I digress. As a show of solidarity and support for the newly-appointed secretary, we were all instructed to be in our gala uniform and be at the Secretary's office at 1:30 p.m. Suits for the men and for the women, their black pencil skirts and their orange tops and matching blazers.
We were ushered into the recieving room and were made to wait for Sec. Lim as he was still out on a meeting with PNoy. Whilst there, we all exchanged pleasantries and tried to catch up on what each and everyone was doing outside of the Mabuhay Guides. As is usual with our meetings, there was a lot of fun and laughter which we did with a lot of resttraint so we don't make the wrong impression on the Secretary.
At half past two in the afternoon, Secretary Lim enters the door from his office and he was a bit surprised that we were dressed to the nines as if a reception was underway. Apparently the cabinet meeting would have taken till midnight if the president had not included another meeting he had to go to. My first impression of Secretary Lim was that he was a no-nonsense kinda guy. He's a pretty tall man with a serious demeanor. Eventually, he slackened when we each introduced ourselves to him. Of course, our mother-hen, The Susan Calo-Medina was there to steer the conversation to our plans.
I liked that Secreatry Lim was quite supportive of the future plans of the Mabuhay Guides. Like us, he believes in upgrading the quality of the guides in the country and that he is willing to provide us with logistical support if and when necessary. He also believes in strengthening the Mabuhay Guides brand so we can professionalize the guiding industry as an effective conduit to tourism. Like any businessman, he can be direct and exacting to the point that he gets misconstrued... misquoted... perhaps even misunderstood.
All in all, the meeting was a pleasant one and shows lots of promise for the Mabuhay Guides who choose to stick it out and spread the love for country and travel to the rest of the world. Meanwhile, as we all undergo the renewal process for our individual accreditation, we're most anxious for the guests to start pouring in. The rainy season has set in and at the moment, it's quite a long wait for each and everyone of us to get assigned to a tour.
That's tourism for you... we're dependent on the weather. We can make the worst of the rainy season look good but we have an eye out for brighter sunshine to make our guests enjoy what the country has to offer.
Oh well, since it's summer in the US, my cousins have all decided to come home for a spell. For them, this is the best time to come home to Manila. The weather isn't that bad and it's a lot cooler than it is during summer. Since I haven't taken my turn yet I may as well get some practice showing my cousins around...
Friday, July 16, 2010
Global Pinoys
Here's a list of Filipinos who have distinguished themselves recently by grabbing the headlines worldwide. I personally, find their stories inspiring and am proud we share the same race.
THE PUGILISTS- Recently, three boxers hogged the headlines: Anna "the Hurricane" Julaton - the first Fil-Am female boxer who captured the WBC title. She has the same coach as Manny Pacquiao in the person of Freddie Roach. Anna flew in just recently and was feted with a ticker tape parade and a courtesy call on P Noy as well as guest spots on various TV Shows. On the same arena (pun intended)are two guys Brian Villoria and Nonito Donaire who pommelled their Puerto Rican and Mexican opponents. The victory is especially sweet for Donaire who recovered his championship belt, albeit, on a different weight category... but a victory, nonetheless.
FRANCISCO "DJANGO" BUSTAMANTE - Recently won the World Pool Championships in Cardiff, Wales. Billiards is a strong arena for Philippine talents. It has gone a long way from the dyas of Efren "Bata" Reyes and Amang Parican both of whom elevated billiards consciousness in the country and elevated the sport into an art form. Incidentally, Mr. Reyes also competed in the same competition but was eliminated in the earlier rounds. Django pocketed the cash prize of 36,000.00 Euros and bragging rights as world pool king.
FRANCISCO DOMAGOSO- Formerly better known as Isko Moreno, the man who was a struggling actor in his younger days has become an icon of sorts when he was invited to and graced a seminar on local governance in the United States. Born of humble beginnings, Francisco was a street urchin who spent his childhood begging for scraps of food and frequenting the mounds of trash in Smokey Mountain. He ended up in Showbusiness as a discovery of German Moreno and eventually entered politics first as a councilor of Manila. He then pursued higher education and continued to serve in the local government. Isko was duly elected and was one of the first to be declared winner in the vice-mayoralty race in the City of Manila in the 2010 elections.
CANDICE ADEA - A diminutive ballerina of no meager talent, Diday, as she is fondly called by friends won the Silver Prize in the recently concluded ballet olympics in Jackson, Mississippi. The International Ballet Competition in Jackson is held every 4 years and is participated in by hopefuls from all points of the world. Young dancers come from far and wide to compete in dance technique which they have finely honed in their own respective countries.
Candice follows in the footsteps of celebrated Filipino dancers Lisa Macuja Elizalde (who won silver in Japan) and Camille Ordinario Joson (again, silver medalist in Paris). Candice is a principal dancer of Ballet Philippines.
ARTHUR AALA- Make no mistake about it, Italians know their food well. So how the heck did one Filipino win the hearts (and stomachs) of a nation that perfected pasta and pizza? Well, give them sushi.
Arthur Aala opened his first Japanese restaurant, Ohashi, in 2002. He is now the owner of 6 Japanese restaurants. Two of them are solely his, while he co-owns the other 4 with his Filipino buddies.
A framed certificate recognizing the quality of their food is proudly displayed in one of his restaurants, Osaka. It was awarded to the restaurant by the Il Gotha del Gusto International Press Association, which has a membership of 300 food critics worldwide.
Aala believes the quality of food and service in his restaurants is the reason why customers keep coming back. He started as a janitor in the Middle East at the young age of nineteen with dreams of providing for his family. He then rose the ranks and learned to make sushi. When he felt he had learned enough, he moved to Turin and established a small Japanese restaurant ( i know, why not Pinoy food?. His business grew and he now owns 6 restaurants employing Filipinos.
UST SINGERS - The University of Sto. Tomas Singers made history when they bagged the Choir of the World- Luciano Pavarotti Grand Prize at the 2010 Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, in Wales, UK -- the oldest and most prestigious choir competition in the world. They won the same award in 1995, making them first and only Filipino and Asian choir to win the celebrated award twice.
The Choir of the World competition (COTW), which is the highlight of the festival, is exclusive for the 1st prize winners of 5 major choir categories: Mixed Choir, Chamber Choir, All-Male Choir, All-Female Choir and Barbershop/Close Harmony Choir.
The UST Singers won the top prize in the Mixed Choir Category, which qualified the group for the COTW competition.
In the COTW competition, the UST Singers triumphed over 4 champion choirs: the Cywair Choir of Wales, winner of the Chamber Choir category and also a Choir of the World winner in 2005; the White Rossettes Choir of England, winner of Barbershop/Close Harmony Choir; Cantabile Choir of Limburg, Germany , winner of the All-Male Choir Category, and the Chanterelles Choir of England, the winner of All-Female choir.
The COTW trophy is named after the great tenor Luciano Pavarotti, who started his career as a singer at the same Llangollen International Musical Eistedfodd stage in 1955 when he was a choirboy in an All-Male Choir in Modena, Italy. His choir emerged as the All-Male Choir Champion in the same competition in 1955. The Pavarotti name was added to the COTW title in 2005.
The University of Santo Tomas Singers was founded in 1992. It is a mixed choral ensemble composed of a select group of students and alumni representing the different colleges and faculties of the oldest university in Asia. The group, under the baton of Prof. Fidel G. Calalang Jr., is completing its tour in some European cities before returning to the Philippines.
Meanwhile, another entry from the Philippines, the DLSU Chorale, also won 2nd place in the Chamber Choirs category.
THE PUGILISTS- Recently, three boxers hogged the headlines: Anna "the Hurricane" Julaton - the first Fil-Am female boxer who captured the WBC title. She has the same coach as Manny Pacquiao in the person of Freddie Roach. Anna flew in just recently and was feted with a ticker tape parade and a courtesy call on P Noy as well as guest spots on various TV Shows. On the same arena (pun intended)are two guys Brian Villoria and Nonito Donaire who pommelled their Puerto Rican and Mexican opponents. The victory is especially sweet for Donaire who recovered his championship belt, albeit, on a different weight category... but a victory, nonetheless.
FRANCISCO "DJANGO" BUSTAMANTE - Recently won the World Pool Championships in Cardiff, Wales. Billiards is a strong arena for Philippine talents. It has gone a long way from the dyas of Efren "Bata" Reyes and Amang Parican both of whom elevated billiards consciousness in the country and elevated the sport into an art form. Incidentally, Mr. Reyes also competed in the same competition but was eliminated in the earlier rounds. Django pocketed the cash prize of 36,000.00 Euros and bragging rights as world pool king.
FRANCISCO DOMAGOSO- Formerly better known as Isko Moreno, the man who was a struggling actor in his younger days has become an icon of sorts when he was invited to and graced a seminar on local governance in the United States. Born of humble beginnings, Francisco was a street urchin who spent his childhood begging for scraps of food and frequenting the mounds of trash in Smokey Mountain. He ended up in Showbusiness as a discovery of German Moreno and eventually entered politics first as a councilor of Manila. He then pursued higher education and continued to serve in the local government. Isko was duly elected and was one of the first to be declared winner in the vice-mayoralty race in the City of Manila in the 2010 elections.
CANDICE ADEA - A diminutive ballerina of no meager talent, Diday, as she is fondly called by friends won the Silver Prize in the recently concluded ballet olympics in Jackson, Mississippi. The International Ballet Competition in Jackson is held every 4 years and is participated in by hopefuls from all points of the world. Young dancers come from far and wide to compete in dance technique which they have finely honed in their own respective countries.
Candice follows in the footsteps of celebrated Filipino dancers Lisa Macuja Elizalde (who won silver in Japan) and Camille Ordinario Joson (again, silver medalist in Paris). Candice is a principal dancer of Ballet Philippines.
ARTHUR AALA- Make no mistake about it, Italians know their food well. So how the heck did one Filipino win the hearts (and stomachs) of a nation that perfected pasta and pizza? Well, give them sushi.
Arthur Aala opened his first Japanese restaurant, Ohashi, in 2002. He is now the owner of 6 Japanese restaurants. Two of them are solely his, while he co-owns the other 4 with his Filipino buddies.
A framed certificate recognizing the quality of their food is proudly displayed in one of his restaurants, Osaka. It was awarded to the restaurant by the Il Gotha del Gusto International Press Association, which has a membership of 300 food critics worldwide.
Aala believes the quality of food and service in his restaurants is the reason why customers keep coming back. He started as a janitor in the Middle East at the young age of nineteen with dreams of providing for his family. He then rose the ranks and learned to make sushi. When he felt he had learned enough, he moved to Turin and established a small Japanese restaurant ( i know, why not Pinoy food?. His business grew and he now owns 6 restaurants employing Filipinos.
UST SINGERS - The University of Sto. Tomas Singers made history when they bagged the Choir of the World- Luciano Pavarotti Grand Prize at the 2010 Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, in Wales, UK -- the oldest and most prestigious choir competition in the world. They won the same award in 1995, making them first and only Filipino and Asian choir to win the celebrated award twice.
The Choir of the World competition (COTW), which is the highlight of the festival, is exclusive for the 1st prize winners of 5 major choir categories: Mixed Choir, Chamber Choir, All-Male Choir, All-Female Choir and Barbershop/Close Harmony Choir.
The UST Singers won the top prize in the Mixed Choir Category, which qualified the group for the COTW competition.
In the COTW competition, the UST Singers triumphed over 4 champion choirs: the Cywair Choir of Wales, winner of the Chamber Choir category and also a Choir of the World winner in 2005; the White Rossettes Choir of England, winner of Barbershop/Close Harmony Choir; Cantabile Choir of Limburg, Germany , winner of the All-Male Choir Category, and the Chanterelles Choir of England, the winner of All-Female choir.
The COTW trophy is named after the great tenor Luciano Pavarotti, who started his career as a singer at the same Llangollen International Musical Eistedfodd stage in 1955 when he was a choirboy in an All-Male Choir in Modena, Italy. His choir emerged as the All-Male Choir Champion in the same competition in 1955. The Pavarotti name was added to the COTW title in 2005.
The University of Santo Tomas Singers was founded in 1992. It is a mixed choral ensemble composed of a select group of students and alumni representing the different colleges and faculties of the oldest university in Asia. The group, under the baton of Prof. Fidel G. Calalang Jr., is completing its tour in some European cities before returning to the Philippines.
Meanwhile, another entry from the Philippines, the DLSU Chorale, also won 2nd place in the Chamber Choirs category.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Subic's Surprises
It was a bit of a surprise visiting Subic with good friends June Recto and Wena Bradley. I had come from the Manila City Hall to work on the release of my Mayor's Permit which I had to wait a week for. I have to go back again on the 16th of July,Friday of next week to recieve my City Health ID. Meantime, there was a trip that was previously planned for the Thursday which did not push through. So on Friday morning I called myh friend to tell him I was done with my errands. Guess what? We were going on a road trip...
The pick up point was June's house at 1pm . We proceeded to Subic on board Wena's van and arrived there around two hours later. Surprise, surprise! Subic is still evolving and shows continued development. From it's high profile background as a former American military facility, the base now serves as an exporft processing zones housing industries that manufacture anywhere from household products to industrial parts.
In my time, the areas around Subic and Clark were associated with establishments of ill-repute. Especially Olongapo, which was designated as a Mecca for wine, women and song. Many a serviceman on furlough would gallivant around the areas of Clark and Subic looking for thrills of the sensual kind. When the Americans were sent back home it seemed time stood still. The girly bars lost its patrons, the women eventually settled down and raised families or made good by turning a new leaf.
Nowadays, Subic and its environs have evolved into an urban center with lots of recreational facilities that caters to different interests. Hotels have sprung up. Casinos have started operating. Fun adventures fit for family affairs are aplenty to entertain and educate guests. Even its environs boast of prime beach resorts and even a cultural haven like Pundaquit.
Here are some of my favorite spots in Subic:
Pamulaklakin Forest Trail - Learn the Aetas' way of life and how they survive using indigenous materials culled from the forest trail...
Tree Top Adventure- Enjoy zipping from one tree to the next. Have fun walking or flying through the tree tops. Or simply enjoy a leisurely afternoon sipping coffee or having snacks way up in the arbod ledge.
Zoobic Safari - enjoy various animal encounters and have an exciting time feeding the tigers in specially equipped vehicles while you drive around rough terrain amid the biggest cats in the world.
Aqua Adventure - Get wet and have fun watching whales and dolphins do tricks and delight kids with these lovable aquatic animals.
Red Dragon Restaurant - Enjoy scrumptous Chinese dishes at the Red Dragon restaurant and watch the waistline go with delicious, nutricious meals...
And then of course... there's always the shopping!!! Originally a port where American goods are brought over for the consumption of the reserved forces stationed at the base, the consumer products found its way into the commissary to be lapped up by Filipinos who could afford top-dollar prices. Now everyone's welcome to shop at the stores that sell American goods.
Every visit to Subic can be summed up in one catch-phrase: "the more things change... the more they stay the same..." =)
The pick up point was June's house at 1pm . We proceeded to Subic on board Wena's van and arrived there around two hours later. Surprise, surprise! Subic is still evolving and shows continued development. From it's high profile background as a former American military facility, the base now serves as an exporft processing zones housing industries that manufacture anywhere from household products to industrial parts.
In my time, the areas around Subic and Clark were associated with establishments of ill-repute. Especially Olongapo, which was designated as a Mecca for wine, women and song. Many a serviceman on furlough would gallivant around the areas of Clark and Subic looking for thrills of the sensual kind. When the Americans were sent back home it seemed time stood still. The girly bars lost its patrons, the women eventually settled down and raised families or made good by turning a new leaf.
Nowadays, Subic and its environs have evolved into an urban center with lots of recreational facilities that caters to different interests. Hotels have sprung up. Casinos have started operating. Fun adventures fit for family affairs are aplenty to entertain and educate guests. Even its environs boast of prime beach resorts and even a cultural haven like Pundaquit.
Here are some of my favorite spots in Subic:
Pamulaklakin Forest Trail - Learn the Aetas' way of life and how they survive using indigenous materials culled from the forest trail...
Tree Top Adventure- Enjoy zipping from one tree to the next. Have fun walking or flying through the tree tops. Or simply enjoy a leisurely afternoon sipping coffee or having snacks way up in the arbod ledge.
Zoobic Safari - enjoy various animal encounters and have an exciting time feeding the tigers in specially equipped vehicles while you drive around rough terrain amid the biggest cats in the world.
Aqua Adventure - Get wet and have fun watching whales and dolphins do tricks and delight kids with these lovable aquatic animals.
Red Dragon Restaurant - Enjoy scrumptous Chinese dishes at the Red Dragon restaurant and watch the waistline go with delicious, nutricious meals...
And then of course... there's always the shopping!!! Originally a port where American goods are brought over for the consumption of the reserved forces stationed at the base, the consumer products found its way into the commissary to be lapped up by Filipinos who could afford top-dollar prices. Now everyone's welcome to shop at the stores that sell American goods.
Every visit to Subic can be summed up in one catch-phrase: "the more things change... the more they stay the same..." =)
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Binondo Bytes
Same time last year, we had a brilliant guest lecturer in the person of Ms. Lorelei de Viana who did extensive research on Binondo architecture. She published a book which is a valuable resource tool for anyone who wants to do a tour of Binondo.
Anyway, all the Mabuhay Guides were so impressed with her knowledge of the area that we keep going back to her book if only to borrow "nuggets" for our commentaries on the Binondo area.
The last time I was in Binondo I noticed black netting on what used to be the British Chancerry, a building that survived the carpet bombing during the Liberation of Manila in 1945. I hope they don't plan to tear the building down. That would be a shame and an outright violation of R.A. No 10066. That's the new law that prevents people from changing, destroying or defacing anything that is more than 50 yars old. I wonder if the authorities at the Manila City Hall have any knowledge of this.
The glory days of Escolta are all but gone but vestiges of its past remain in the old buildings that proliferate the area:
- The Capitol Theater is now heavily guarded and there seems to be some business going on inside, another renovation in progress?
- The Calvo Building - Formerly the headquarters of the Kapuso Station, now the site of the Escolta Museum. The building has remained faithful to its neo-classical design
- The Natividad Building - reminiscent of 18th century parisian buildings in the Beaux Arts style. A favorite site featured in TV commercials.
- Perez-Samanillo Building - Art Deco building that survived the bombing of WWII. Features an Otis elevator with exposed dials.
- Regina Building - Major business address for financial institutions from the early to mid-20th century. It has retained its neo-classic details over the years.
Aside from the buildings, Binondo has other treats to offer... particularly the food!!! Seriously, why wouldn't anyone want to do a walking tour of Binondo when, at every turn, one is faced with the possibility of having a tasty treat? The prospect of trying Chinese food is enough to make one salivate.
The usual hopia and siopao are just part of the usual niblets. The guests will determine just how much food they are determined to try... or how much they can take... I can't enumerate the food they can sample, else I give the tour secrets away. Best to try a Binondo tour with any one of the Mabuhay Guides. The cost is certainly well within reason. After all, the long walk is chock-full of visual and gustatory treats...
Call the Mabuhay Guides for a Food/ histtorical trip to Escolta and Binondo. We throw in a Pasig Ferry ride too if you're coming from the Makati area.
Anyway, all the Mabuhay Guides were so impressed with her knowledge of the area that we keep going back to her book if only to borrow "nuggets" for our commentaries on the Binondo area.
The last time I was in Binondo I noticed black netting on what used to be the British Chancerry, a building that survived the carpet bombing during the Liberation of Manila in 1945. I hope they don't plan to tear the building down. That would be a shame and an outright violation of R.A. No 10066. That's the new law that prevents people from changing, destroying or defacing anything that is more than 50 yars old. I wonder if the authorities at the Manila City Hall have any knowledge of this.
The glory days of Escolta are all but gone but vestiges of its past remain in the old buildings that proliferate the area:
- The Capitol Theater is now heavily guarded and there seems to be some business going on inside, another renovation in progress?
- The Calvo Building - Formerly the headquarters of the Kapuso Station, now the site of the Escolta Museum. The building has remained faithful to its neo-classical design
- The Natividad Building - reminiscent of 18th century parisian buildings in the Beaux Arts style. A favorite site featured in TV commercials.
- Perez-Samanillo Building - Art Deco building that survived the bombing of WWII. Features an Otis elevator with exposed dials.
- Regina Building - Major business address for financial institutions from the early to mid-20th century. It has retained its neo-classic details over the years.
Aside from the buildings, Binondo has other treats to offer... particularly the food!!! Seriously, why wouldn't anyone want to do a walking tour of Binondo when, at every turn, one is faced with the possibility of having a tasty treat? The prospect of trying Chinese food is enough to make one salivate.
The usual hopia and siopao are just part of the usual niblets. The guests will determine just how much food they are determined to try... or how much they can take... I can't enumerate the food they can sample, else I give the tour secrets away. Best to try a Binondo tour with any one of the Mabuhay Guides. The cost is certainly well within reason. After all, the long walk is chock-full of visual and gustatory treats...
Call the Mabuhay Guides for a Food/ histtorical trip to Escolta and Binondo. We throw in a Pasig Ferry ride too if you're coming from the Makati area.
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Ilocos Top Sites
The very first province we went to for our immersion August of last year was Ilocos. There were ten of us Mabuhay Guides who were sent there to learn the routes and visit the spectacular sights that the region had to offer. So to celebrate my first anniversary as an MG, I'm giving you a run down of the best sights to see in Ilocos.
I refuse to be committed to a countdown so I will enumerate my most favorite must see's and must try's in no particular order.
- The Museo Ilocos
The best way to understand the Ilocano psyche is to visit the Museo Ilocos. Archeological artifacts on the Ilocano way of life are aesthetically displayed for everyone's enjoyment. This includes a scaled down Ilocano home that leads to a makeshift theater where one can enjoy Ilocano music.
- The Old Churches
There are many churches that can strengthen one's belief in the Catholic faith. The massive scale of the churches as places of worship and their grandeur can be awe-inspiring:
Sta. Monica church in Sarat is where presidential daughter Irene Marcos was wed to Greggy Araneta. The event was a nationwide spectacle. A few weeks after the wedding the church was damaged partially by an earthquake that rocked Luzon.
St Paul's Cathedral in Vigan was the official seat of the diocese of Nueva Segovia. The religious influence of the Catholic church extended its reach from Manila to the north via the trappings of Catholic dogma.
The Immaculate Conception Church in Batac is a quaint church in neo-classic style with delicate architectural touches.
The San Agustin Church is one of four Philippine churches declared World Heritage Site by the UNESCO. The massive flying buttresses and its earthquake baroque style not to mention its impressive facade are some of the unique details that make the church a true landmark in Ilocos.
- Marcos Mansion/Museum
Batac is where the Marcos Mansion and Museum are located. A stone's throw away from the Ricarte Museum, the Mansion and Museum houses the mauseleum where former President Marcos' remains lie in state.
The Manision is a working household for the Marcos family when they stay in the province.
Malacanan ti Amianan
Located in Paoay, the Malacanan of the north is a stately down-sized presidential mansion replete with golf course and recreational facilities for the former strongman of Ilocos.
- Juan Luna Museum
The home of nationalist and painter Juan Luna y Novicio which has been turned into a museum. The restored home of brick showcases archives, photos and memorabilia owned by the Luna family and chronicling their rise to prominence.
- Sitio Remedios
A quaint villa in Currimao that has a "collection" of old ancestral houses restored and converted as lodging for the resort. It also features a spanish era lighthouse within the property along the rugged coastline. Ideal for weddings and honeymoons.
- Pagudpud
Ilocos Norte's pride is bolstered by the pristine white-sand beaches in Pagudpud. Resort hotels dot the coastline with various accomodations that cater to tourists' budget
- Bangui Windmills
A series of windmills that tap the windpower along the northwestern sea coast. The windmills provide a third of the electrical power demands of the Ilocos region. It has also cut the fossil fuel supply of the region considerably. The assembly of the Bangui windmills is a feat in itself with humongous barges carrying the parts to its location from the west.
- Cape Bojeador
The lighthouse used to serve the region guiding ships (mostly galleons) to safer waters. The lighthouse uses a Fresnel lens and is still operable to this day. There are ATVs that may be rented nearby should one wish to explore the locale.
- The Food
Poque-poque, cabatiti, dinengdeng and vigan longganisa are among the more famous eats one could try in Ilocos. There's also Empanada in Batac. This one is different from the empanada found in bulacan and pampanga. It's orange crust is flaky and best eaten warm. Inside is a melange of grated green papaya, vigan longganiza and a raw egg that cooks when the crusty pocket is deep-fried in boiling oil.
- Vigan
The story goes that a Japanese Imperial officer fell in love with a Filipina and pleaded to the Japanese high command that Vigan be spared from the bombing that took place in World War II. Gladly, they listened to his pleas. This is what saved Vigan from total destruction. To this day, Vigan remains a picturesque town with its Spanish colonial homes still intact.
There you have it... these are some of my favorite sites in Ilocos... There's a lot more I haven't included but hey, tomorrow's another day...
I refuse to be committed to a countdown so I will enumerate my most favorite must see's and must try's in no particular order.
- The Museo Ilocos
The best way to understand the Ilocano psyche is to visit the Museo Ilocos. Archeological artifacts on the Ilocano way of life are aesthetically displayed for everyone's enjoyment. This includes a scaled down Ilocano home that leads to a makeshift theater where one can enjoy Ilocano music.
- The Old Churches
There are many churches that can strengthen one's belief in the Catholic faith. The massive scale of the churches as places of worship and their grandeur can be awe-inspiring:
Sta. Monica church in Sarat is where presidential daughter Irene Marcos was wed to Greggy Araneta. The event was a nationwide spectacle. A few weeks after the wedding the church was damaged partially by an earthquake that rocked Luzon.
St Paul's Cathedral in Vigan was the official seat of the diocese of Nueva Segovia. The religious influence of the Catholic church extended its reach from Manila to the north via the trappings of Catholic dogma.
The Immaculate Conception Church in Batac is a quaint church in neo-classic style with delicate architectural touches.
The San Agustin Church is one of four Philippine churches declared World Heritage Site by the UNESCO. The massive flying buttresses and its earthquake baroque style not to mention its impressive facade are some of the unique details that make the church a true landmark in Ilocos.- Marcos Mansion/Museum
Batac is where the Marcos Mansion and Museum are located. A stone's throw away from the Ricarte Museum, the Mansion and Museum houses the mauseleum where former President Marcos' remains lie in state.
The Manision is a working household for the Marcos family when they stay in the province. Malacanan ti Amianan
Located in Paoay, the Malacanan of the north is a stately down-sized presidential mansion replete with golf course and recreational facilities for the former strongman of Ilocos.
- Juan Luna Museum
The home of nationalist and painter Juan Luna y Novicio which has been turned into a museum. The restored home of brick showcases archives, photos and memorabilia owned by the Luna family and chronicling their rise to prominence.
- Sitio Remedios
A quaint villa in Currimao that has a "collection" of old ancestral houses restored and converted as lodging for the resort. It also features a spanish era lighthouse within the property along the rugged coastline. Ideal for weddings and honeymoons.
- Pagudpud
Ilocos Norte's pride is bolstered by the pristine white-sand beaches in Pagudpud. Resort hotels dot the coastline with various accomodations that cater to tourists' budget
- Bangui Windmills
A series of windmills that tap the windpower along the northwestern sea coast. The windmills provide a third of the electrical power demands of the Ilocos region. It has also cut the fossil fuel supply of the region considerably. The assembly of the Bangui windmills is a feat in itself with humongous barges carrying the parts to its location from the west.
- Cape Bojeador
The lighthouse used to serve the region guiding ships (mostly galleons) to safer waters. The lighthouse uses a Fresnel lens and is still operable to this day. There are ATVs that may be rented nearby should one wish to explore the locale.
- The Food
Poque-poque, cabatiti, dinengdeng and vigan longganisa are among the more famous eats one could try in Ilocos. There's also Empanada in Batac. This one is different from the empanada found in bulacan and pampanga. It's orange crust is flaky and best eaten warm. Inside is a melange of grated green papaya, vigan longganiza and a raw egg that cooks when the crusty pocket is deep-fried in boiling oil.
- Vigan
The story goes that a Japanese Imperial officer fell in love with a Filipina and pleaded to the Japanese high command that Vigan be spared from the bombing that took place in World War II. Gladly, they listened to his pleas. This is what saved Vigan from total destruction. To this day, Vigan remains a picturesque town with its Spanish colonial homes still intact.
There you have it... these are some of my favorite sites in Ilocos... There's a lot more I haven't included but hey, tomorrow's another day...
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Reminiscing
A year ago today, I was in a tizzy. It was the very first time the Mabuhay Guides would be fielded in a major event. This was the acid test! The M.I.C.E. (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, Exhibitions) Mart was a big project mounted by the PCVC. M.I.C.E. Mart is periodically held with the end in view of attracting tour operators/ travel agents to visit the Philippines as a destination for the purposes the MICE acronym stands for.
At least a dozen Mabuhay Guides were assigned to showcase the best that the country has to offer and to ensure that all the foreign guests got the impression that we were competent, efficient guides who were ready for anything. Still, the MICE Mart had a few hitches... Nothing that was not resolved immediately. As the participants left early for their dream destinations, they were issued recycled tarpaulin overnight bags from R.O.X. which they brought with them for the weekend. Each and every activity gave them the opportunity to enjoy the sites and sounds of the Philippines to the max.
Fortunately, the event was a huge success and most, if not all the participants thoroughly enjoyed their stay. And why shouldn't they? The dream destinations included in their itineraries included Boracay, Bella Roca Resort, El Nido, Cebu, Subic amongst others.
Mid-July saw the Mabuhay Guides in action once again showing Intramuros to over a hundred scholars of the Department of Science and Technology. This event was organized by Mabuhay Guide Helen Aranda with the guides offering their services pro-bono. This was our way of "giving back" to the country for all the privileges we've been given. It was a rush guiding young students around the walled city knowing that we were inspiring them and giving them cause to be proud Filipinos.
Then after that, I got to squeeze in a tour of Binondo with, of all people, Melissa Ramos' boss. This tour was very memorable for me... it was the first time I recieved gratuity for a job well-done. I was so inspired by it I never cashed the cheque that was given to me. That same cheque is posted on my bulletin board in my room to remind me that the best reward in being a Mabuhay Guide is the appreciation of my guests for having given them a great time.
Well, a year has passed... another one lies ahead. The memories and experiences of travelling within Manila and its environs as well as the smells, sights and sounds of the provinces we have visited as Mabuhay Guides are so vividly etched in my mind that all I need do is close my eyes and recall... And that's enough to make me smile...
Don't worry, I'll be sharing some of the best places we've been to in my next blogs...Abangan!
Friday, July 2, 2010
MG Interrupted
My accreditation as a Mabuhay Guide officially ended on the same day that President Aquino took his oath of office. That means that a few days before that, I had been working on getting my requirements ready for the application to renew my license as a guide.
I'd have to admire the Department of Tourism's website for having initiated a paperless transaction. However, before one can upload all the requirements needed, a lot of legwork is expected. The rules are simple, really: 1) go to the website, 2) fill out the forms and submit 3) wait for the username and password assigned to be sent via email to be able to send the scanned required documents.
Getting the requirements for application renewal was a task that I completed in 2 days. Thanks to some connections I had made over the years and thanks to planning and foresight. Money, time and effort was dispensed with just to be able to get it over and done with.
To get a Mayor's permit in Manila, one has to submit the following: a health certificate from the Manila City Health Office (P50.00), a Police Clearance (P70.00), Mayor's permit fee (P175.00), a copy of the DOT accreditation. Submit the following to the Business Permit section of the city hall. Releasing is done exactly one week after filing; the fee for the permit is P20.00.
The NBI clearance was fairly easy... I just had to submit my 2x2 photo and last year's personal copy to them yesterday. The fee is P300.00. The NBI clearance was released this morning at no other cost. The chest X-ray which took minutes to do set me back P200.00. I didn't want to go back for it yesterday at 5 p.m. so I picked it up on my way to DOT this morning.
All that accomplished I proceeded to room 206 for my renewal to be completed... It turns out I have to wait until my Mayor's permit is issued. The staff I talked to at the Department of Tourism apparently had not heard about the Mabuhay Guides. Yael, assured me that we had a separate logbook as MGs... hmmmm... no luck there. As of 1 July, 2010, our applications for renewal will be treated as though we are like all the rest. To quote P Noy... "wala'ng wangwang... wala'ng counter-flow..."
It astounds me that after all the hoopla about being a Mabuhay Guide... after all the media exposure... after the press releases and the TV shows... our presence has not been cascaded to the rank and file of the department... I guess only a handful have been informed about us and that handful of people will have to adjust to the changes after Secretary Ace Durano leaves the department.
That mood is reflected in the DOT. Two tarpaulins have been hung in the courtyard to welcome the new Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim... but untill he steps into office and starts to initiate his programs everything is status quo at Kalaw Street. Those with pending applications for renewal may continue guiding duties but have to inform guests should they be asked.
In the meantime, I will have to wait until next Friday, 9 July, 2010 for the release of my Mayor's Permit whch is a pre-requisite to my accreditation. So technically, I'm not accredited until I have succeeded in uploading all my documents to the website...
I just hope I will be missed...
I'd have to admire the Department of Tourism's website for having initiated a paperless transaction. However, before one can upload all the requirements needed, a lot of legwork is expected. The rules are simple, really: 1) go to the website, 2) fill out the forms and submit 3) wait for the username and password assigned to be sent via email to be able to send the scanned required documents.
Getting the requirements for application renewal was a task that I completed in 2 days. Thanks to some connections I had made over the years and thanks to planning and foresight. Money, time and effort was dispensed with just to be able to get it over and done with.
To get a Mayor's permit in Manila, one has to submit the following: a health certificate from the Manila City Health Office (P50.00), a Police Clearance (P70.00), Mayor's permit fee (P175.00), a copy of the DOT accreditation. Submit the following to the Business Permit section of the city hall. Releasing is done exactly one week after filing; the fee for the permit is P20.00.
The NBI clearance was fairly easy... I just had to submit my 2x2 photo and last year's personal copy to them yesterday. The fee is P300.00. The NBI clearance was released this morning at no other cost. The chest X-ray which took minutes to do set me back P200.00. I didn't want to go back for it yesterday at 5 p.m. so I picked it up on my way to DOT this morning.
All that accomplished I proceeded to room 206 for my renewal to be completed... It turns out I have to wait until my Mayor's permit is issued. The staff I talked to at the Department of Tourism apparently had not heard about the Mabuhay Guides. Yael, assured me that we had a separate logbook as MGs... hmmmm... no luck there. As of 1 July, 2010, our applications for renewal will be treated as though we are like all the rest. To quote P Noy... "wala'ng wangwang... wala'ng counter-flow..."
It astounds me that after all the hoopla about being a Mabuhay Guide... after all the media exposure... after the press releases and the TV shows... our presence has not been cascaded to the rank and file of the department... I guess only a handful have been informed about us and that handful of people will have to adjust to the changes after Secretary Ace Durano leaves the department.
That mood is reflected in the DOT. Two tarpaulins have been hung in the courtyard to welcome the new Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim... but untill he steps into office and starts to initiate his programs everything is status quo at Kalaw Street. Those with pending applications for renewal may continue guiding duties but have to inform guests should they be asked.
In the meantime, I will have to wait until next Friday, 9 July, 2010 for the release of my Mayor's Permit whch is a pre-requisite to my accreditation. So technically, I'm not accredited until I have succeeded in uploading all my documents to the website...
I just hope I will be missed...
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Crazy Over Coco
When a Mabuhay Guide's Department of Tourism accreditation is up for renewal he/she tends to look for an outlet to bide time which he/she would have otherwise used in honing his/her skill in selling the Philippines to foreign guests.
In my case, I've been doing my usual haunts of Quiapo, Sta. Cruz and Divisoria either alone or with friends. And when you've developed the habit of going "downtown" as my dear departed parents used to say, you're bombarded with either bootleg fashion knock-offs or bootleg DVD copies.
Yeah, I know... I'm ashamed to admit it... but I have acquired the taste for purchasing pirated Indy Films. I'm not proud of it! But it would be difficult for me to revel in fashion knock-offs. Besides, how could I have the heart to turn away an offer of 4 dvds for a hundred pesos? and from a Muslim brother at that?
Besides, I really wanted to find out what impact/relevance Indy films have on Philippine local cinema. I have always believed that the golden age of filmic arts in the country died with the likes of Lino Brocka, Yshmael Bernal, Eddie Romero and Celso Ad Castillo (on his good days).
Having seen some snippets of these films on youtube, I've formed the opinion that these so-called Indies are no more than a glamorized version of soft porn where some unknown newby actor is given the license to disrobe and show the family jewels on camera. Give it a gay love angle, some steamy same-sex scenes, throw in a squalid setting in some slum area and tons of nudity... and voila!... You have an Indy Film.
I should have asked some pointers from friends of mine who are avid cineastes. Jessica Zafra being one of them! She probably would have bonked me on the head with one of her thick paperbacks. Most of the films I have viewed were horrible!!! The pacing was dragging... the story line idiotic... the actors were (pardon the pun) wooden and there was too much squalor in some scenes you'd probably throw up if it were smell-o-vision.
There was one film where the entire cast had managed to disrobe at different points either individually or in pairs... girl to guy... guy to guy... girl to girl... Ask me for the title and I'll tell you. Meantime, no sense in hyping up this libidinous movie 'coz I don't want to create a cult following. There! I spilled the beans!!!
I saw Kubrador and admired Gina Parreno's acting in it. The support cast was pretty good too. No wonder Ms Parreno won as Best Actress for it. This is a rarity though. Some films I saw were so lame I was laughing so hard till tears rolled down my cheeks. I hadn't realized though, that a majority of the films featured Coco Martin in it.
Coco Martin is a young actor who has a lot of promise in his young career. Born in 1985, Rodel Luis Cortez Nacianceno has gone mainstream and now has a string of Telenovelas in his name. But before he got into that stature, Coco Martin tried ekeing out a niche as the prince of Indy films. Yeah, he did bare it all in some of his films but he has such an innocent aura about him you somehow forget that in one film he shows his but with a boil in it.
Why do Indy films only show the gritty side of life? Isn't it enough that we have to live it day in and day out? That's bad for tourism if you ask me... our 7,107 islands have more to offer than just a ton of garbage on screen... I've seen too much gay sex on camera that I'm concerend we're driving the wrong signals as to the type of tourists we attract.
Then tonight I saw the film by Adolfo Borinaga Ali, Jr. It features just two male actors: Paolo Rivero and... who else? Coco Martin! The scene is just in one spot... a vacation house in Taal, Batangas (what a far cry from the usual slums). True, Coco Martin portrays an under-privileged banquero but he looks so well-scrubbed he would not have been believable save for his dialogue and the way he cusses. Paolo Rivero is a gay pediatrician who's cheating on his wife and who's on the throes of leaving her for the company of his paramour boatman ( I would too, if he looked like Coco Martin).
The storyline explores what two men do when they're in love and left alone to explore seething passion for one another...Kinda reminds me of Brokeback Mountain except this one showcases the lush greenery of Tagaytay with a mansion instead of a tent. I picked to rave about this one because it is decidedly different in treatment from the earlier Indies I saw... the men dine on pasta... they have wine for dinner to wash down their palate... they bathe in marble tiled bathrooms... and they mull the meaning of their existing relationship ala Descarte...
The original songs to heighten the mood in some scenes make for great listening. The sex scenes aren't lurid either... Daybreak is a gay-themed movie I wouldn't be ashamed to show in international festivals abroad if only for the breath-taking shots of Tagaytay at dusk and dawn... The cast makes it all the sweeter...
Now, excuse me while I have some Coco... and I don't mean the kind you drink! ;-)
Monday, June 28, 2010
Pinay wins silver in US ballet competition
Pinay wins silver in US ballet competition
(philstar.com) Updated June 27, 2010 12:00 AM
* reprinted from Philippine Star.com)
MANILA, Philippines - Candice Adea, principal dancer of Ballet Philippines, took the silver prize in the senior women’s division in the 2010 International Ballet Competition held in Jackson, Mississippi from June 12 to 24.
Adea is the first Filipino dancer to make it to the finals of the event, one of the most prestigious dance competitions in the world.
She participated in the grueling two-week, three-round competition, doing classical and contemporary pieces with partner JM Cordero, also of Ballet Philippines.
This year’s competition was divided into men’s and women’s divisions for seniors (dancers aged 19 to 26) and juniors (dancers aged 15 to 18). The women’s senior gold medal was won by Cao Shuci of China, who also took the couple’s gold medal with partner Zhang Xi.
No gold medal was awarded for the men’s senior category; the men’s silver medal went to Kosuke Okumura of Japan.
The International Ballet Competition, which seeks to allow dancers to “test themselves against recognized international standards of dance excellence,” was first held in Varna, Bulgaria in 1964 and in Jackson, Mississippi in 1979. The Jackson competition was designated the official US ballet competition by virtue of a joint resolution of Congress in 1982.
This year, 119 dancers from all over the world competed in the first round, which required competitors to do a pre-selected classical piece. Adea and Cordero performed the technically demanding pas de deux from Marius Petipa’s “Don Quixote.” They will perform this again at tonight’s winners’ Gala.
From here, 50 dancers were chosen to go on to the next round, where they each performed a contemporary number. Adea and her partner Cordero showed off the challenging “Evacuation” choreographed by former Ballet Philippines artistic director Augustus Damian III.
The 34 dancers chosen as finalists were required to perform both classical and contemporary pieces in the final round. Adea did “Diana and Acteon” by Agripina Vaganova for the classical number, and “Sapin-sapin” choreographed by coach Victor Ursabia for the contemporary.
The 13-man international jury, headed by Bruce Marks, artistic director of the Orlando Ballet, noted Adea’s technical excellence as well as outstanding showmanship.
Adea was a ballet major at the Philippine High School for the Arts in Mount Makiling, and joined ballet competitions at an early age. She and sister Carissa are principal dancers of Ballet Philippines.
Interviewed backstage at the Thalia Maria Hall, official venue of the competition, after the winners were announced, Adea said she “treasured every moment” of the competition, but “I can’t wait to go home to share all that I’ve learned here.”
But before she gets on the plane there is one thing she is dying to do: “Go shopping!”
(philstar.com) Updated June 27, 2010 12:00 AM
* reprinted from Philippine Star.com)
MANILA, Philippines - Candice Adea, principal dancer of Ballet Philippines, took the silver prize in the senior women’s division in the 2010 International Ballet Competition held in Jackson, Mississippi from June 12 to 24.
Adea is the first Filipino dancer to make it to the finals of the event, one of the most prestigious dance competitions in the world.
She participated in the grueling two-week, three-round competition, doing classical and contemporary pieces with partner JM Cordero, also of Ballet Philippines.
This year’s competition was divided into men’s and women’s divisions for seniors (dancers aged 19 to 26) and juniors (dancers aged 15 to 18). The women’s senior gold medal was won by Cao Shuci of China, who also took the couple’s gold medal with partner Zhang Xi.
No gold medal was awarded for the men’s senior category; the men’s silver medal went to Kosuke Okumura of Japan.
The International Ballet Competition, which seeks to allow dancers to “test themselves against recognized international standards of dance excellence,” was first held in Varna, Bulgaria in 1964 and in Jackson, Mississippi in 1979. The Jackson competition was designated the official US ballet competition by virtue of a joint resolution of Congress in 1982.
This year, 119 dancers from all over the world competed in the first round, which required competitors to do a pre-selected classical piece. Adea and Cordero performed the technically demanding pas de deux from Marius Petipa’s “Don Quixote.” They will perform this again at tonight’s winners’ Gala.
From here, 50 dancers were chosen to go on to the next round, where they each performed a contemporary number. Adea and her partner Cordero showed off the challenging “Evacuation” choreographed by former Ballet Philippines artistic director Augustus Damian III.
The 34 dancers chosen as finalists were required to perform both classical and contemporary pieces in the final round. Adea did “Diana and Acteon” by Agripina Vaganova for the classical number, and “Sapin-sapin” choreographed by coach Victor Ursabia for the contemporary.
The 13-man international jury, headed by Bruce Marks, artistic director of the Orlando Ballet, noted Adea’s technical excellence as well as outstanding showmanship.
Adea was a ballet major at the Philippine High School for the Arts in Mount Makiling, and joined ballet competitions at an early age. She and sister Carissa are principal dancers of Ballet Philippines.
Interviewed backstage at the Thalia Maria Hall, official venue of the competition, after the winners were announced, Adea said she “treasured every moment” of the competition, but “I can’t wait to go home to share all that I’ve learned here.”
But before she gets on the plane there is one thing she is dying to do: “Go shopping!”
Friday, June 25, 2010
Tour with Colombian
TOUR REPORT
TOUR OVERVIEW
Date of Tour : June 24, 2010
Booking Agency : Elaine Castro
Mabuhay Guide : Dennis Geronimo Red Maristany
Guests : 2 Pax
Type of Tour : Site , Walking Tours
Itinerary :
Planned Rizal Monument/ Fort Santiago/ San Agustin/ Casa Manila
Actual Rizal Monument/ Fort Santiago/ San Agustin/ Manila Hotel/ CCP/ Baywalk
Time of Tour :
Planned 8:00 AM – 12:00 Noon
Actual 8:00 AM – 11:30 AM
TOUR DETAILS
Highlights of the Tour:
• Ms Goya Reinoso called to inform me of my tour duty on the afternoon of 23 June, 2010. The contact person for the tour group was Ms Elaine Castro who informed me that the guests were Latinas Originally, the tour starts at the Fort Santiago and ends at Casa Manila . She just wanted to make sure that the guests would be able to ride a calesa.
• I arrived at the fort at 8:00 am to meet with the tour group. I made arrangements with the calesa drivers that we were to be dropped off at the San Agustin Church after our tour of the Fort. I informed the contact person on her cellphone that I was at the gate. Apparently they had gone in to the Mananzan Store to buy hats for the walking tour.
• I was slightly amused that there were only two guests: Ms Castro and another Latina lady. Initial exchanges were pleasant. I then found out that our guest was from Colombia and she was here for a series of lectures on dermatology. Since we were the first visitors at the fort some areas were closed off. I started my commentaries at the American Barracks.
• Because of our shared history, it was easy to connect with her as she was also asking a lot of questions; seeking parallelisms on the kind of administration the Spaniards were engaging in the Philippines. Obviously, the Spaniards were mostly concerned with expanding the empire and acquiring as much gold as possible.
• The concept of Spaniards colonizing the Filipinos ran parallel with the conquering of El Dorado in Colombia. So the guest identified with my commentaries on so many different levels.
• We did the tour of the fort with the memorial cross and the falsabraga coming after Plaza Armas. We even went down to the gate of the dungeon where we took photos. Then we went up to the Casa Castellana where dozens of photos were taken.
• We stopped briefly at the Plaza Roma and decided we would go back to peek inside the Cathedral. I got them a map of Intramuros after the Calesa ride to San Agustin at the zaguan of Casa Manila. We didn’t bother to view the exhibit but the guests went into the Papier Tole shop where she bought some souvenirs. Then we went to San Agustin church.
• Being Araw ng Maynila, Mayor Alfredo Lim was at the church laying a wreath in honor of Miguel Lopez de Legaspi. From there we back-tracked and went back on foot to Manila Cathedral and we witnessed the ordination of the Bishop of Balanga, Bataan. Ms Castro was lagging behind but the guest was walking fast so I had to make sure I looked behind if Ms Castro was keeping or at least trying to keep pace. She was getting exhausted.
• The driver followed us to the Cathedral and we went next to Puerta Real and the Fern Garden. The guest loved the soothing ambiance of the garden. apparently her husband loves exotic plants and she commented that he would go crazy had he tagged along to the garden. There were so many photo ops I had lost count of the number of times we stopped. As we were leaving Intramuros, she wanted to take photos of the golfers so we had to stop a few times along Padre Burgos for photo ops.
• Next stop was the Manila Hotel. She so loved the lobby of the hotel and took so many photos. We then motored by the Quirino Grandstand and I showed her where the president elect Noynoy Aquino was to be sworn into office. Then we went around to the back where I showed them the Manila Ocean Park.
• Then we went to Roxas Blvd. as requested by Ms Castro; the guest wanted to walk along the bay since she claimed she was cooped up in the hotel and was always sitting down even for her lectures. Along the way, I showed her the Army Navy Club (Manila Museum), the Elks Club (Museo Pambata), US Embassy, and finally, Baywalk.
• We stopped and got off at the Quirino Avenue portion of Roxas Blvd. where we started to walk towards the CCP where we agreed the driver would meet us. Along the way, we bought coconuts and then I pointed out the Manila Yacht Club, the Metropolitan Museum, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and the Navy headquarters.
• As we reached the CCP grounds we went to the area where the dragon boat races are done and then we boarded the car again.
• We got off at the Rizal Monument where we had photo ops. I showed them the Quirino Grandstand from the vantage point of the flag pole. And also pointed out the execution site of Dr. Jose Rizal. It was 11:30 am by then and I went with them back to the car to direct the driver on where to proceed next. They were to have lunch at Tita Muning’s in Malacanang.
• While coasting Padre Burgos I showed them the Planetarium, the Orchidarium, the National Museum, the Philippine Normal College and Technologial University of the Philippines.
• I also showed them the Ayala Bridge and Isla de Convalecencia ( Hospicio de San Jose) and some buildings in the Malacanang Complex. As we were reaching the gates when we turned right on Carlos Palanca Street, I informed them that I was getting off and gave them final directions to the restaurant where they were having lunch.
TOUR OVERVIEW
Date of Tour : June 24, 2010
Booking Agency : Elaine Castro
Mabuhay Guide : Dennis Geronimo Red Maristany
Guests : 2 Pax
Type of Tour : Site , Walking Tours
Itinerary :
Planned Rizal Monument/ Fort Santiago/ San Agustin/ Casa Manila
Actual Rizal Monument/ Fort Santiago/ San Agustin/ Manila Hotel/ CCP/ Baywalk
Time of Tour :
Planned 8:00 AM – 12:00 Noon
Actual 8:00 AM – 11:30 AM
TOUR DETAILS
Highlights of the Tour:
• Ms Goya Reinoso called to inform me of my tour duty on the afternoon of 23 June, 2010. The contact person for the tour group was Ms Elaine Castro who informed me that the guests were Latinas Originally, the tour starts at the Fort Santiago and ends at Casa Manila . She just wanted to make sure that the guests would be able to ride a calesa.
• I arrived at the fort at 8:00 am to meet with the tour group. I made arrangements with the calesa drivers that we were to be dropped off at the San Agustin Church after our tour of the Fort. I informed the contact person on her cellphone that I was at the gate. Apparently they had gone in to the Mananzan Store to buy hats for the walking tour.
• I was slightly amused that there were only two guests: Ms Castro and another Latina lady. Initial exchanges were pleasant. I then found out that our guest was from Colombia and she was here for a series of lectures on dermatology. Since we were the first visitors at the fort some areas were closed off. I started my commentaries at the American Barracks.
• Because of our shared history, it was easy to connect with her as she was also asking a lot of questions; seeking parallelisms on the kind of administration the Spaniards were engaging in the Philippines. Obviously, the Spaniards were mostly concerned with expanding the empire and acquiring as much gold as possible.
• The concept of Spaniards colonizing the Filipinos ran parallel with the conquering of El Dorado in Colombia. So the guest identified with my commentaries on so many different levels.
• We did the tour of the fort with the memorial cross and the falsabraga coming after Plaza Armas. We even went down to the gate of the dungeon where we took photos. Then we went up to the Casa Castellana where dozens of photos were taken.
• We stopped briefly at the Plaza Roma and decided we would go back to peek inside the Cathedral. I got them a map of Intramuros after the Calesa ride to San Agustin at the zaguan of Casa Manila. We didn’t bother to view the exhibit but the guests went into the Papier Tole shop where she bought some souvenirs. Then we went to San Agustin church.
• Being Araw ng Maynila, Mayor Alfredo Lim was at the church laying a wreath in honor of Miguel Lopez de Legaspi. From there we back-tracked and went back on foot to Manila Cathedral and we witnessed the ordination of the Bishop of Balanga, Bataan. Ms Castro was lagging behind but the guest was walking fast so I had to make sure I looked behind if Ms Castro was keeping or at least trying to keep pace. She was getting exhausted.
• The driver followed us to the Cathedral and we went next to Puerta Real and the Fern Garden. The guest loved the soothing ambiance of the garden. apparently her husband loves exotic plants and she commented that he would go crazy had he tagged along to the garden. There were so many photo ops I had lost count of the number of times we stopped. As we were leaving Intramuros, she wanted to take photos of the golfers so we had to stop a few times along Padre Burgos for photo ops.
• Next stop was the Manila Hotel. She so loved the lobby of the hotel and took so many photos. We then motored by the Quirino Grandstand and I showed her where the president elect Noynoy Aquino was to be sworn into office. Then we went around to the back where I showed them the Manila Ocean Park.
• Then we went to Roxas Blvd. as requested by Ms Castro; the guest wanted to walk along the bay since she claimed she was cooped up in the hotel and was always sitting down even for her lectures. Along the way, I showed her the Army Navy Club (Manila Museum), the Elks Club (Museo Pambata), US Embassy, and finally, Baywalk.
• We stopped and got off at the Quirino Avenue portion of Roxas Blvd. where we started to walk towards the CCP where we agreed the driver would meet us. Along the way, we bought coconuts and then I pointed out the Manila Yacht Club, the Metropolitan Museum, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and the Navy headquarters.
• As we reached the CCP grounds we went to the area where the dragon boat races are done and then we boarded the car again.
• We got off at the Rizal Monument where we had photo ops. I showed them the Quirino Grandstand from the vantage point of the flag pole. And also pointed out the execution site of Dr. Jose Rizal. It was 11:30 am by then and I went with them back to the car to direct the driver on where to proceed next. They were to have lunch at Tita Muning’s in Malacanang.
• While coasting Padre Burgos I showed them the Planetarium, the Orchidarium, the National Museum, the Philippine Normal College and Technologial University of the Philippines.
• I also showed them the Ayala Bridge and Isla de Convalecencia ( Hospicio de San Jose) and some buildings in the Malacanang Complex. As we were reaching the gates when we turned right on Carlos Palanca Street, I informed them that I was getting off and gave them final directions to the restaurant where they were having lunch.
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