AKLANONS AT THE VILLA

About a month prior to the arrival of students from Aklan Catholic College, I had been in touch with Ms Portia Robado, who had made arrangements for the tour of Manila and Villa Escudero. Who would have counted on tropical storm Mario battering the country on those appointed dates? I had blocked off the dates of their tour on my calendar 19th-21st of September notwithstanding my other commitment to be at Ballet Philippines' 45th Season Gala opening of Giselle (that's another story in the works). Well... the weather cooperated on the two succeeding days, thank God!  So they were at least able to salvage some fun days out of the entire weekend.

Luckily for their group, they were able to catch the early morning flight from Aklan and got to Manila by around 7 or 8 a.m. After that, all flights to Manila were cancelled. Despite the heavy rains, I managed to meet them at the Mind Museum at Bonifacio Global City. It was nice that the Mind Museum staffed honored their prior commitment to welcome the students to see the museum. heavy rain and gusts of wind didn't dampen their enthusiasm. Ahhh... the energy of youth...

There were 57 students in all, plus two faculty members in the person of Ms Portia and Ms Aiza who dutifully served as mother hens. About half of the kids were first time visitors to Manila. It was quite difficult to make a good impression of Manila for these kids because the terrible weather almost obilterated everyone's view of what they could see from the rented bus.

Surprisingly the areas of EDSA from the BGC to MOA and Roxas boulevard to Padre Faura weren't inundated by floods. No traffic either, From there, after an lengthy check-in process (due to sheer volume of guests) and a skeletal work force at Lotus Garden hotel, they were to have dinner at Tramway where I made my leave to see to my costuming duties at the CCP. Luckily, Tramway was a short walk away from CCP.  I was prepared and dressed for the fowl weather. 

My next assignment for them was to guide towards Villa Escudero in San Pablo, Laguna. This time, the trip was blessed with glorious sunshine all the way. No traffic at the Sto. Tomas area either so we got to the destination in record time. While taking photos at the site, I had the pleasure of meeting Ms Rosalie Escudero (resort director) who requested one of the workers to escort me on the plantation. 

The students had a fun time with the buffet lunch by the waterfall. After which some of them swam in the pool, Some rented bikes, while some were content to take in all the natural beauty Villa Escudero had tried so hard to preserve. All of them watched attentively while the cultural show went on. with authentic costumes and choreography by the late, great Ramon Obusan (National Artist for Dance) performed by workers of the resort and the villa themselves. This is something the Escudero clan is really proud of. Before we even left to bring the students to Terminal 4 to catch their flight home, they bought some native delicacies and some souvenirs to bring home.

On a personal note, a flood of memories came to mind as I was taking shots of the numerous improvements on the facilities as well as taking snapshots of both old and new attractions at the villa. It seemed like ages ago when we brought my sister's family to Villa Escudero. My sister is married to a Brit and their family reside in Batley, West Yorkshire. They had come for a holiday with my young nieces . We had a fun time frolicking in the pool with the kids and made a go out of all the villa had to offer back then. We even took photos of the kids with Pogi and Tisoy (albino carabaos) for posterity. The kids are all grown up now... One is engaged to be married and the other now has a boyfriend and is working for the Royal Air Force. My mom has since passed on and I... well, I became a tour guide. That's the stuff nice stories are made of....

*Thank you to Mesdames Portia Robado and Aiza Nahil for the opportunity to be of service. and Thank you Madam Rosalie for your kindness and assistance.

MGA MUTYA NG JEEPNEY!

Trust Jeepney Tours to come up with out of the box  tour packages for their clients! 

first level of the double-decker jeepney

I recently got a call from their travel coordinator, Kim to do a tour for no less than "Mutya ng Masa" , Ms Doris Bigornia. It was originally for a rolling tour of Manila on board a double-decker jeepney. I was naturally delighted as I had done tours for this company many times over utilizing their not so standard jeepneys. They have three. So this was going to be different on two fronts: 1) it had media mileage written all over it, and 2) it was a maiden voyage of sorts for the double-dutch jeepney. 

the upper deck

Ms Clang Garcia, owner and tour operator of Jeepney tours is the original Mutya ng Jeepney. She related to me how at the start, people in the hospitality industry thought she was nuts when she approached them with the idea of having foreign guests ride in jeepneys. They were lukewarm to the idea at first. It didn't deter her from pursuing that germ of an idea.

now boarding...

She had a fleet of jeepneys customized, changed the seating configuration, installed air conditioning and videoke and had them painted yellow and designed with different themes. She applied for accreditation with the Department of Tourism and opened shop. She never looked back! It created a stir in the industry and even now, foreigners get wowed when they see a jeepney rolling up the hotel driveway to pick them up.  They start taking selfies and photo ops before they even take the ride.

fun on the upper deck

She's at it again! Together with SkyJeepney Coachbuilders, Inc., they hatched the idea of doing one better by amping the current Jeepney tours coaches with an upper deck. Mr.  Mark Bautista (no, not the singer) who happens to  operate SkyJeepney, says the idea was taken from provincial jeepneys that take on passengers on the roof whilst holding onto baggage railing for dear life . Why not offer a safer ride for more people? Thus the double decker jeepney was created. 

the lower deck with the dining/meeting tsables

Think of it as a jeepney on steroids! It's got everything that the original fleet has and more. This 41 seater has dining tables, a refrigerator, CCTV cameras, and a GPS system.  They can actually track where the double decker is located at any given point in the tour. Only thing missing is wi-fi. Being a prototype, this 80 foot (or is it meter?) ride is still in development mode. In the works is a 90 footer(again, i can't recall) that will have a washroom on the lower deck.

Groupie with Ms Bigornia

The call time  for the tour was at ten a.m. but knowing how media "runs" after their stories, I knew it was going to be a long day. I was right. The staff and crew of Mutya ng Masa arrived near lunch time. Doris Bigornia arrived at two p.m. Soon enough the cameras went rolling and as any TV, show there were numerous interviews and calls of "cut" and " action" so it wasn't really a normal tour. 

Mutya ng Masa staff and crew

As the other Mutya ng Masa ng Jeepney gamely inter-acted and interviewed and exchanged banter with some of the guests, the camera crew were taking valuable footage of guests having fun, singing videoke and waving to crowds. Doris Bigornia even sang an entire song taped as live on videoke which riled everyone up. You'll even find her eating ensaymada and bananas provided by jeepney tours on a regular basis. 

Eileen and the  Skyjeep Coachbuilders  

The shoot was high-octane and lots of fun. By the end of the shoot, Doris Bigornia; the TV host, Mutya ng Jeepney and all around "kalog" obliged us with selfies and groupies and even her crew got into the act.  This is why I love my job!

LUGANG CAFE

Lugang Cafe

I know, the name doesn't sound so appetizing! What's in a name, anyway? I was mildly surprised, though that despite the apparent lack of imagination on nomenclature, the food was rather sumptuous. It was a lazy afternoon which was a nice way to spend the time meandering through stores in the Mall of Asia. 

After a few hours, my companion and myself got hungry. We haven't experienced dining at Lugang and found the name quite odd. So, in we went and decided to experience the food they had to offer. There were only two of us, so it didn't make sense to order everything they had on the menu. but from what we tasted, it was enough to conclude that their food was savory.

Yang Chow fried rice

The service wasn't shabby either. Their staff were friendly and corteuous, taking the time to explain menu items that were unclear to us. We then decided to settle for the asado pork and the sweet and sour fish and a small serving of yang chow fried rice. We were not disappointed!

pork asado

I'm actually quite glad we held back from ordering too much food. The servings were more than enough to be shared by two persons. Either that, or we were too strict on food intake. We managed to finish the food, though. So i guess it wasn't any indication that either of us was on a diet.

sweet and sour fish

The pork asado was tender and  well complimented with the plum sauce dip... or was it oyster sauce? I can't recall which one it was now. It was really good with or without the sauce, though. While the fish was flaky, with bits of tausi (black bean dip) and the tofu that went with it was firm. The gooey sauce was flowing over the large cast iron sizzling bowl. Towards the end of the meal, we felt that the money we spent was well worth it. Don't get me wrong, their prices are mid-range, not too expensive at all! The umami was great value for money. Lugang Cafe is on the ground floor of SM MOA right beside Kultura. You can't miss it.

DRESSING UP ASEAN

Charisse and myself at ASEAN DAY exhibit

Trust Manila Collectible Company's Charisse Aquino Tugade to come up with ideas like these. She called me one morning to ask if I could help her with costumes. I said yes, not thinking what it was all about, only to be pleasantly surprised that I wasn't designing anything but putting up costumes for an ASEAN exhibit.

Mrs. Grechen del Rosario and NCCA Chairman Jun de Leon cutting the ceremonial ribbon

 It was two-pronged. The first area was her take on the evolution of the Philippine weaving techniques and the second was the exhibit of ASEAN national costumes. It was a hectic three days of set-up for the team. I worked for two days. 

T'nalak from original to contemporary

The other  fabrics featured were the ikat, the inaul, the pina, and yakan. These fabrics have retained their ancient weaving techniques through the centuries but have adapted to modern times. As for the national costumes it was set up in two days. The costumes were sent by the ASEAN member nations and each embassy made sure hat the costumes represented their countries in the most dignified way possible.

Maria Clara and Barong Tagalog with a salakot with silver finials

Despite the similarities in the costumes the Maria Clara and Barong stood out as somewhat different. This says a lot about our colonial past. the blusa and panuelo were made of Pina while the sobre falda and saya were of a silk and polyester blend. The barong tagalog also done in pina was embroidered in Lumban and had a finely detailed pechera complimented with a salakot that had silver finials. Very elegant... very refined.

traditional wedding costumes from Cambodia

The costumes say a lot about each nation's national identity. Although most of the other ASEAN member nations featured sarongs (long skirts for the women) and sampot (multi-folded trousers for the men) they added a distinct feature from their country of origin. Show-stoppers were the Thai national costumes which showed a very sublime use of beading for the women's sarong complete with accessories and the ornate Cambodian wedding finery with all the heavy gilded  jewelry to adorn both bride and groom.

Thai traditional costumes

The men's outfits were quite sedate and stately. Even Vietnam's cobalt blue version of the Ao Gam (men's silk robe) complete with headgear showed restraint. The colors were electric but also appropriate for the ocassion.

Vietnamese AoDai and AoGam

The event was the 47th ASEAN DAY, in which all the ASEAN ambassadors were present to commemorate the establishment of the ASEAN to promote culture, the arts and economic and political stability in the region. Mrs. Grechen del Rosario (wife of DFA secretary Alberto del Rosario) and NCCA Chairman Jun de Leon were present to cut the ceremonial ribbon to open the exhibit. 

Diplomats at the exhibit

The diplomats were then treated to a short program with no less than Raul Sunico, chairman of the Cultural Center of the Philippines and a lively children's choir, as well as soprano Annie Luis and a young pianist Regina Montesclaros honored the distinguished guests with their outstanding performances. The buffet of ASEAN dishes was created by chef Jessie Sincioco. What a glittering event!

Traditional Balinese headress

Incidentally, the exhibit will run for two weeks at the DFA lobby and then the NCCA will tour the collection around schools in the metro.

Cambodian wedding finery with head piece, armlets, cuffs and anklets

ONGOING ORDEAL

Patients waiting their turn for consultation

I love my job as a Mabuhay Guide... don't get me wrong! There's just one drawback: the yearly accreditation renewal. I wish they had a better way of doing it for deserving guides. It's just a hassle to have to do it every year. I started getting things ready in May so I can get the accreditation renewal by the time June rolls in. I went to do the necessary medical exams, the police clearance. etc. As soon as I got my medical results, i headed off to the Manila City Hall to get my Health Permit and my Work Permit. Guess what? They no longer accept medical results issued by your personal doctor. All results have to be from the required Manila Health Offices. I thought just any health office in Manila could handle it so I went to the Ospital ng Maynila at the corner of Roxas boulevard and Quirino street. I came in the afternoon with the necessary papers in a folder only to be told to return the following day as the consultations end at noon. The next day i came at nine a.m. and had to contend with a sea of patients that needed more medical attention than myself. I patiently waited and when my turn came up, there was this nice intrern from the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila who gave the requisite tests. Finally, by the time the tests were concluded, it was noon. Then I went back to Manila City Hall to file an application for my health permit.

Residents at Ospital ng Maynila helping the needy

The process is excruciatingly lengthy. One needs to fill up a form for the work permit, line up and submit to the desk after paying the necessary fees, go to the health desk section and get a clean bill of health prior to the work permit being released. Sounds easy? Noooo! There are a million job seekers in Manila! Lucky that I am not a food server so I don't have to submit stool samples. but you guessed it, I needed a drug test and sputum sample which I can only get from Quiricada street Manila Health Services. There was virtually noone there when I got in after lunch, only to be informed that tests were conducted from 8-12 and 1-2 Mondays to Thursday and half day on Fridays. The drug testing exam facility was three blocks away, actually. So I did that first, just so I didn't waste any time going there on a Friday afternoon. So I went the following Monday to get my sputum test done. Paid my fees (nothing is free in Manila's health services anymore), and was told to come back in three days. After which I filed it back in City Hall Health services division which also accepts only in the morning. In between tours I would flit in and out of City Hall to get things done. When I finally got both the health permit and the work permit from City Hall, I had to drop by the Committee on Tourism office in Manila. I was told to call first before I get the certificates and all. and when I came back, the OIC was on leave. Until today I have yet to get my guiding certificate from the Manila City Hall. Needless to say, between the commute to the dingy health offices and hospitals and the waiting amongst a sea of hungry job applicants, I had to get in line with everyone else. I had no problem. I was able to eat something...

Patients waiting at the Ospital ng Maynila

Then I went to the accreditation division of the Department of Tourism. It was noble of them to go paperless. However, their service providers need to be told that not everyone has scanners and fast internet service. Tour guides normally are not techno geeks. I could not access my account on the DOT website simply because I had to change my email address and could not recall my previous password. Ergo, my email is inactive. I had to write an appeal for a change of email address which will be sent to their service provider and acted upon so I can be informed, through email that the settings on my DOT account were now accessible. It has been two weeks... My accreditation is done every June of every year. It is now nearly the end of August. So by the time anyone has read this post, I have been working on my renewal for four months. What is wrong with our government offices?

MUSEO ORLINA

Museo Orlina perspective from the ampitheater

What is it about mountains and wide open spaces that spur artists' creativity? Is it the rugged terrain? is it the cool mountain air? The temperate climate? the scenic vistas? All of the above? No one really knows... But often, artists tend to seek respite from the maddening crowd and in their solace find a cradle of inspiration for their craft.

Mr Orlina on the stairway

If Baguio has the BenCab Museum, Tagaytay now has Museo Orlina! Conveniently nestled in in idyllic hillside with a commanding view of Taal Volcano, this spanking new museum/art gallery gives one a glimpse of Ramon Orlina as a person and an artist. Needless to say, Ramon Orlina's work has been hailed internationally and his glass sculptures have earned him accolades and top prizes in art competitions the world over.

one of the galleries

I first met Mr. Orlina when I was a contributing writer for Lifestyle Asia. I was doing an article on exclusive art pieces to decorate Manila's finest homes. That required a visit to his studio in Sampaloc, Manila to view the artistic process of cutting, polishing and finishing designs. I would bump into him every now and then and sometimes exchange pleasantries (sometimes through text messages.) So when the opportunity to do a tour of Tagaytay came up, I decided to get in touch with him again to inform him of my tour group's impending visit. 

Thai guests

The museum is a  multi-level  building situated in Tagaytay's "sweet spot". Four stories of galleries each one named after his four children, the  place is kept immaculate by a friendly staff ready to answer questions if needed. It has an ampi-theater that can hold small concerts and events and a garage that has souped-up vehicles with an indelible stamp of the artists who enhanced (personalized?) them. 

Sabel- inspired Beetle by Benab

color blocked Volvo by Orlina

Some items in the gallery are for sale. His pieces are of different media, but naturally, his glass sculptures are at the fore front of it all. There are even consigned works by other artists who have become his friends over the decades. His museum is so well planned and conceived his touches can be seen everywhere. An architecture graduate from the University of Santo Tomas, he used his knowledge in building by taking note of Tagaytay's humidity... Even the walls of his museum absorb moisture and the mist and dew are funneled down to ducts within the building. 

a sculpture entitled Pilita with the moisture absorbing walls in the background

He made the visit more meaningful by personally regaling my guests with personal anecdotes and stories to complement the art pieces they were viewing. One particular art piece was for the UST's Quadricentennial  which is now in the university campus. My guests being Thai, he related the story of how he found this factory in Bangkok that does the execution of his installations in the international art market. He even showed us his inner sanctum; his hide-away of sorts when he wants to isolate himself to work. we would have stayed longer during our visit, but we had a lunch appointment elsewhere so we had to made our leave at half past twelve.

scale model of UST sculpture

The Museo Orlina is located at Hollywood Street, Hollywood Subdivision, Tolentino East, Tagayatay City. You can't miss it if you're going there via the Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay road. Your landmark should be the Econo-Inn with its viewing deck. It's worth a go-see!

Thais in Tagaytay

Thai visitors 

On a recent assignment with Jeepney Tours, I was sent to guide a group of 14 Thai nationals visiting the country on a M.I.C.E. trip. MICE is an acronym for meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions... not the rodents or the cartoon character from Disney. We picked them up from Manila Hotel and were given the perfunctory Archives visit of the historic hotel prior to their nine a.m. departure. 

Museo Orlina

First stop was Orlina Museum. The swanky new gallery is  run by Ramon Orlina, multi-awarded visual artist and glass sculptor (more on that on my next post). I got in touch with him to ask if he will be in Tagaytay on the day of the visit. What do you know? He was personally there to welcome the guests! Thank God!!

They were so engrossed with our stop at the Orlina Museum and had a heyday going around the multi-storied galleries and the ampitheater cum garden that they pored over each and every artwork. Mr Orlina was the perfect host telling small anecdotes regarding some of his masterpieces and recopunting how he found a factory in Thailand for the execution of his designs. The Thais had a lot of fun taking selfies and pictures of the artworks... even hamming it up with to of the resin chairs that had male and female derrier for its backrest.

taking shots of the artwork

No one kept track of the time of our visit in the Museum since they were enjoying every bit of visual treat they laid their eyes on. Mr Orlina even welcomed the guests to his private sanctum where he spend his time creating works in his studio that had a fantastic view of the volcano. The Thai guests enjoyed Mr. Orlina's private collection in his art/studio as well as seeing the Murphy bed concealed behind the display case. We had exceeded our stay in the museum so by the time we left for lunch it was half past twelve.

near Mr Orlina's inner sanctum

Then it was lunch at Sonya's Garden. The guests had a great time over the buffet lunch that is standard Sonya's fare. fresh greens with edible flowers, their secret dressing with mango, the pastas and the dips and of course some delectable desserts. Being Thai, they hiked up the meal with some of their very own spices which they brought with them from Thailand. I personally love Thai food, having visited many years ago. I told them that, and of course they knew from my little Thai standard phrases.

This photo shows how Sonya's Garden treats guests after a hearty lunch.

Final stop would have been Taal Vista Lodge. Unfortunately, It was undergoing repairs after Glenda had destroyed parts of the roof. So that stop was definitely out of the itinerary. Quick thinking led me to bring the guests to the Picnic Grove where the guests enjoyed the view of the Taal Volcano for photo ops and of the souvenir buying. They actually enjoyed shopping amongst the stalls in the grove using up all their available Philippine currency. Before we knew it, it was already four p.m. Time to get to the airport so they don't miss their flight to Indonesia.

Taal Volcano

That was a fun trip. So we exchanged pleasantries after setting the luggage in carts and they told me to come back to Thailand. I just might take them up on their offer... I do know where to find them...