Sta. Monica Church

I had the opportunity to visit the Sta. Monica church this past weekend. It was Ethel and Edison's wedding and the occasion called for us to drive all the way to Angat Dam in Bulacan. I love weddings! But I wasn't aware of the fact that it was going to be held in a centuries old church like Sta. Monica.

The church of Sta. Monica is approximately 67 km north from Manila and takes about a two-hour drive to reach  . It has been restored quite recently in time for the town's third centennial celebration in 1983. The church follows the Philippine earthquake baroque architecture. Built in 1802 under the  direction of  Fr. Joaquin Calvo, it was destroyed during the 3 June 1863 earthquake.

The knave is done in a Filipino inspired fresco ala Sistine Chapel with touches of local bamboo to divide the vignettes. Arched windows line the knave with posts topped by a composite Corinthian/Doric columns. The retablo is rather simple and unpretentious with the side niches dedicated to the  Mother and Son icons of the order of Augustinian order: St. Augustine and St. Monica.

The doors are made of Philippine hardwood heavily carved with arabesque design dominated by the images of St. Augustine and St. Monica. The facade is flanked by columns and arched windows with the obligatory niches for images of saints. The top is pedimented with a raked cornice ending in jar-like finials at the sides while the bell tower is rather austere  and plain but ends with a balustrade at the top.

The statuary may be quite new, however, the pews are ornately carved in high relief of floral designs. The flooring of black and white tiles and the gold leafed finials on the choir loft posts show a high sense of aesthetics prevalent in the town.

Chillin' at the Skydeck

Dusk at the skydeck

I have already blogged about the best kept secret in Intramuros. And it's catching on...

Buffet spread

Just recently I went to Bayleaf Hotel's Skydeck with my bff. This time I had no foreign guests with me. I had no hidden agenda for impressing anyone else. So it was just two of us, the hotel staff and the hotel's food. This particular evening, we just wanted to chill and be delighted by the sights and flavors of the hotel's outlet.

Long Island Iced Tea

My friend wanted to try a cocktail and he settled for a Long Island Iced Tea. I settled for a can of soda and we had an animated conversation over a bowl of roasted peanuts. Meanwhile, photo ops were in order so I started taking shots of my friend. There was a light breeze blowing and while we were enjoying the setting sun, actor Robin Padilla walks in. Apparently, he was endorsing a senatorial candidate who was preparing for a campaign sortie at the Liwasang Bonifacio situated right across Taft Avenue.

cream of veggie soup

Then we ordered the soup of the day, a cream of Vegie soup. I settled for Lumpiang Shanghai and Okoyitos: fried spring rolls and a patty of shrimp and bean sprouts with a vinegar and garlic dip. We relished every morsel, with me finishing off the okoyitos and vinegar dip.

Lumpia and okoyit

Shrimp and pommelo salad

I then decided on a shrimp and pommelo salad that was bits of julienned mangoes. The salad dressing had just the right amount of acidity to it and the shrimp were plump and juicy. It helped that the greens were fresh and crispy as well.

Angus Steak

The Angus beef steak was perfectly done. It was cooked medium rare. The charring sealed in the juices and the drippings were the perfect accompaniment to baby potatoes and broccoli florets.

Churros y chocolate

We just couldn't let the evening pass without a visit to the Bayleaf Hotel's coffee shop on the ground floor. Cioccolata coffee shop does a really mean Churros y Chocolate that brings back childhood memories of merienda with my grandma. Crisp on the outside and creamy steamy on the inside with a generous amount of chocolate dip, this version made from scratch right on the open counter made me smile with delight. Yeah, good enough to rival the more established Spanish restaurants that offer them on their menu.

This evening was one for the books!

CCP DANCE SCHOOL RECITAL

Daphne and Nino in a brilliant fishdive

I've had a long month overseeing the outcome of the costumes for CCP Dance School's Summer Dance Workshop recital. I made an earlier post on the design process of Coppelia a few weeks ago. This time, the designs become reality as they have been executed with the help of the production design team of Ballet Philippines.

Viennese dolls

The seamstresses of BP worked day and night just to make sure all the little girls and boys enrolled in the workshop look good in their brand new costumes. Credit goes to Manang Terry with the other mistresses, Alma, TonTon, Gemma, Ging and Jenny for cutting, sewing and putting together all the design elements required. While Mang Ago, with the help of Rendo and Arabo took care of the sets and the backdrop.

Waltz babies

Victor Ursabia, the CCP Dance School director and Verna Fajilan, the choreographer and re-stager were on-hand to direct the fine details of corps work and blocking. Teacher Ruby, on the other hand, was backstage making sure the kids were at their best behavior.

Chinese dolls

It was fun to see the kids doing the dress and technical rehearsals. Some were still adjusting to the Kleig lights while others were so at home onstage hamming it up for the motley group of staff and workers watching from the theater. You're likely to spot the divas in the making from the little girls that go up on the stage. They are so cute, you wanna pinch their pink little cheeks.

Spanish dolls

I had a blast taking shots of all the participants! Hopefully, I'll have enough time to see the girls on the actual performance dates:  May 4 and 5 at 3:00 p.m. at the CCP Main Theater. For now, my work with the annual Summer Dance Workshop is done... see you in December?

Prayer corps de ballet

My Day in Court

DLSU 's Jeron Teng

Don't get the wrong notion... I'm not getting sued! I just spent an entire afternoon at the FilOil Arena watching a basketball game between De La Salle University and South Western University. Now, I'm not much of a team sports person except for the fact that I did play varsity volleyball when I was in high school and college, I was more into individual sports like tennis, badminton and swimming. I was quite competitive and yes,  I was actively dancing until my thirties. But I'm not totally a nincompoop as far as basketball is concerned.

DLSU's Van Opstal in a dunk shot

So an invite from a friend to watch the game between DLSU and SWU was a welcome deviation from my daily routine. Alright, I confess I had to wear green! Just to blend in, though. I'm amazed at the high level of school spirit displayed by these kids from the more exclusive universities. They came in droves just to cheer their favorite players on. i came for a slightly different reason. I wanted to take photos!

what a rebound

And shoot photos I did! I had a heyday with all the live action I was taking in. It didn't take long, though, before I realized this was going to be a lopsided game. Notwithstanding the fact that SWU are champions in the Visayas region (CESAFI), the DLSU team made mincemeat out of the poor guests. I'd hate to say it... this went down horribly for the visiting team. Still and all, they put up a valiant front relying on their imports and on Francis Ortega.

SWU's Ortega

The archers were fast and furious eventually piling on point after point so by the time the buzzer went off for half time, it was obvious who's way the game was going. So I was glad the DLSU pep squad was there to sort of add some more entertainment value. I always tend to root a little for the underdog just to give them some credit. Mercifully, the SWU guys were great sportsmen. They gave it their best shot. So thanks for coming to Manila, guys!

DLSU's Torres

This early, you get an idea of just how strong the DLSU team is going to be for the next UAAP season. Pretty sure they're raring to take a shot at the championship. If Jerry Pingoy has to sit out two years of his playing years, they are gonna give the Blue eagles a run for their money. I just found out ADMU lost to UST in the following game which I didn't watch... Careful now!!!

Aliwan Fiesta 2013

Uncle Dougie?

I was at the junction of Quirino Avenue and Roxas Boulevard yesterday afternoon. I met up with new friends at a burger joint and we started talking about random stuff. Then we decided to slowly walk our way to the parade site. We had agreed to go on a photo shoot of the annual Mardi Gras that's organized by the Manila Broadcasting Corporation. Dubbed as the Aliwan Fiesta, the event gathers different regional organizations to take part in a hodge podge of activities that had become a yearly draw on Manila residents.

This year, a lot more regions took part in the parade that snaked its way from the Quirino Grandstand all the way to the Star City headquarters at the side of the CCP where the street dancing competitions were held. The parade, however, did not start on time. So a lot of waiting, eating street food and exchanging funny stories took place as we waited for the parade to begin. 

The parade began at nearly five. So as the first participants started passing us by, we had to make adjustments to our cameras to accommodate the fading light. I learned a lesson here... I failed to recharge my  dslr's battery so midway in my shoot, my dslr lost its juice. Glad I had the foresight to bring my micro four thirds camera.

No it didn't feel the same, but it was the best I could do under the circumstances. I had to take pictures with a minimum of equipment and a maximum of patience. So don't expect the best artsy-fartsy photos. You're not gonna get them this time. Sheeesh! 

It didn't stop me and my new found friends from having fun, though... It was grander this time, but they started later than the previous years. There were so many sidelights from the volume of  human traffic that was worth shooting but well...

I think this will become a major event i shall look forward to every summer. Kudos to MBC for never giving up on their pet project. The logistics are so amazing, I would shudder at how things got organized from planning to execution. There were  so many participants of the gay persuasion I think 20% of the gay population of the country was there either as a street dancer  or as amateur photographers.

Meantime, enjoy the pictures... ;-)

Marine Park and Resorts News

We're at it again! Making waves in the international tourism scene proves to be beneficial for the country these days. We're getting positive reviews from tourism stalwarts with our destinations and with our best tourism practices.

*image from www.elnidoresorts.com

First on our story today is that El Nido has been lauded as one of four leading sustainable tourism businesses and destinations worldwide. This comes as a great honor for the country's tourism drive since it was given by the World Travel and Tourism Council which is based in Abu Dhabi. Tourism for Tomorrow Awards 2013 is considered the "Oscars" for tourism and so it's no ordinary feat to pull this one off. 

*photo from www.elnidoresorts.com

Owned by Ten Knots Corporation, El Nido has three resorts in Palawan: Lagen Island, Miniloc and another one being developed which used to be a privately owned resort. The award recognizes Ten Knots' efforts at sustainability of the islands and its ecological commitment to the environment as well as community development and local employment fro residents in the area. Apparently, at least 90% of its employees are residents in the community and the top management are locals who have worked and have been trained for management positions.

*image from inquirer.net

On a separate note, the Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area (LPPCHEA) was recently included on the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance The wetlands and mangrove area is visible as one enters the coastal road project en route to Cavite. This is the sixth largest marshland in the Philippines and the only one in the greater Manila area. LPPCHEA is a 175-hectare urban coastal wetland that covers two islands—Freedom Island in Parañaque and Long Island in Las Piñas—and some 30 hectares of dense mangrove forests. The Ramsar web post noted, however, that the site is under threat from “ongoing land reclamation projects and mangrove cutting” as well as   residential and industrial wastes from surrounding area.* 

*image from philstar.com

Kudos goes to Pas Pinas representative Cynthia Villar (now gunning for a senate post in the 2013 elections) for opposing the reclamation project in the area. With the RAMSAR certification, the area has become an internationally protected area and can be virtually untouched by any reclamation projects.

*image from globalpost.com

Now for some bad news, it hasn't been long since a US Navy minesweeper USS Guardian ran aground in our Tubbataha marine protected sanctuary. Last April 10 a Chinese fishing vessel that went into the protected marine area and did exactly the same thing, posing a threat to our marine resources in the area. 12 Chinese fishermen were apprehended and will be charged for poaching, damaging corals, bribery to park rangers and carrying explosives in their vessel. Republic Act 10067 which seeks to protect the area should and must be enforced at all costs now that the beauty of our natural resources is being noted worldwide. 

*Read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/386293/bird-haven-defenders-get-international-boost#ixzz2QETWN1CV 

Full Moon Over Amici

Full moon on a Holy Wednesday

It's not a new restaurant! It's been around a long time and I've always liked going there when I'm in the area and I'm craving for an authentic Italian Pizza. I was there with friends when we were together over the lenten season. Holy Wednesday, to be exact.

It used to be a small family owned restaurant that catered to mothers and nannies who were waiting for their kids and wards while the kids were in school. It occupied a small portion of the corner lot right beside the Don Bosco Libreria. It has been renovated over the years, though. I didn't recognize it at first. the cafeteria style lay-out had been upgraded. The stations are still there. But the kitchen areas have been relegated to a back kitchen except for the pizza oven which would have been an effort to transfer to another spot.

Since then, Amici has grown immensely. They now have a branch in Greenhills which I have yet to visit if only to check on the quality control of their food. So far, on this visit to the Don Bosco branch, I still wasn't disappointed. 

We ordered a dish of Salmon Carbonara. It was light and creamy despite the cream sauce. The chunks of salmon were delightfully flaky and the skin was a bit crispy. The bread sticks were just right for dipping into the sauce while the pasta was al dente'd to perfection.

The pizzas we had were of two varieties: the quatro formaggio and the pepperoni. Both were obviously baked in wood fired ovens. The crusts had singe marks on the edges and was as thin as they could possibly be. I kept sprinkling chilli flakes on my pizza slices as I want my pizza hot and salty. 

The pepperoni pizza had nice bits and chunks of meat on it. It had porto bello mushroom slices as well that added to the flavor of the pizza. The quattro formaggio had stringy bits of cheese which I enjoyed. particularly because some of the parts were toasted almost burnt. Yeah, I know... I'm weird that way...