The World According to Marlon

Scenes from the Lisbon Oceanarium (A Blog Action Day 2010 post)

2010-10-15T06:53:00.003+08:00

I took this video when I was in Portugal last year. It's a blood-curling thought that years from now, an oceanarium may be the closest thing we could ever get for an ocean.

Caramoan in photos (A Blog Action Day 2010 post)

2010-10-15T06:09:00.012+08:00

Going to Caramoan, in the province of Camarines Sur in the Philippines, is like going through time to an age when the simple joys of life mattered, when a clear ray of sunlight and the blue waters of the sea were enough to make one smile and feel content. It's like going to a place that city dwellers now only know from books: abandoned islands of white sand and coconut trees, fresh fish for lunch and dinner, miles and miles of clean water that sustained life in the municipalities that surround it.

With its ragged beauty and simplicity, Caramoan has been a favorite destination for Filipinos in search of some R&R. It caught international attention, however, when several seasons of the reality show Survivor from various franchisees the world over came to shoot here. Caramoan, after all, is one of the few remaining frontiers of this once lush archipelago.

There has been a very noticeable increase in local tourism in such a way that there have been talks about building an airport and improving the condition of the roads, something that the impoverished communities in this part of the Philippines could benefit from.

And the challenge now is this: the island withstand the influx of tourists and preserve the very attractions that brought them in in the first place? An answer in the affirmative will be very much welcome.

HOSTEL REVIEW: Hostal Mayrit and Hostal Ivor, Madrid, Spain

2010-10-13T05:27:00.007+08:00

OVERALL RATING: 5/5

DATE OF VISIT: September 11 to 13, 2010 and September 15, 2010

PLUSES: Hostel Mayrit and Hostel Ivor belong to the same owner and are located in the same building. Ivor is on the 2nd floor and Mayrit, on the 3rd. The location of these hostels cannot be more impeccable. It's at the middle of the Calle Arenal, which means that you're near both Puerta del Sol (Spain's Kilometer Zero) and the Palacio Real, Catedral de la Almudena and the Plaza Mayor. The street itself is lined with shops, bars and restaurants, so grabbing a quick bite is not a chore. The nearest Metro stop (Opera) is a stone's throw away. The rooms are simple but are quite well-kept. There's airconditioning in every room should you wish to visit Madrid during the summer. There's a small TV, too, with the standard Spanish channels. The bathrooms are surprisingly very well-furnished for a budget hostel; there's free shampoo and soap, a hair dryer, and perfumed towels. The personnel has an outstanding rapport with the clients.

MINUSES: There's only a small elevator that connects the ground floor to the hostels above. If you're travelling with big luggages, the technique will be to send all the luggages upstairs in the lift while you make your way through the stairs.

Visit their site

Viva España (The Filipino Version)

2010-10-02T07:52:00.005+08:00

As a teacher of Spanish, I always find myself scouring the Internet in search of materials to bring to class. I'm happy to have found today the pasodoble Viva España, originally sung by Manolo Escobar, in a version done by a Filipino strings group called Trio Latino.

If you could allow me this bit of linguistic digression: listen to the song and try finding out how many times the "sh" sound was used (as in, shempre). To my mind, it's the best indication of how Spanish would've sounded like had it remained a lingua franca in the archipelago.

The Philippines might have lost the Spanish language but it is comforting to see that there still remain a lot of the Spanish influences in our language, our outlook and our culture.

Ondoy, a year hence

2010-09-26T06:08:00.005+08:00

One year has gone by after typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana) devastated Manila and caused flooding in many major cities of the Philippines, a day that saw how millions of Filipinos lost lives and properties. W.A.M. joins the Philippines on this day of remembrance.

(Picture courtesy of the Philippines Daily Inquirer)

Of Qur'ans and religious tolerance

2010-09-11T13:55:00.003+08:00

I'm writing this during my lovely breakfast in a very nice hotel in front of Lake Leman in Geneva, Switzerland. As I do this, many Muslims have ended the holy month of Ramadan and have started to protest the plan of American pastor Terry Jones to burn the Qur'an.

As many pundits have already wrote in the blogosphere, it's disconcerting that such an insignificant act of a small but radical Christian church in the USA has caused quite a bit of a stir. And more disconcerting still is that we're creating these problems (a war of civilizations, if you will) all in the name of religion, of a God that supposedly heals and protects and renews.

Christians, Muslims and Jews have for a long time prided themselves for their great monotheistic traditions. It seems to me, though, that whatever name we call it (Him?), our God has been reduced to a primordial and banal concept. War, that is.

Earth's most polluted cities

2010-09-01T06:08:00.002+08:00

This is the list of the dirtiest cities on the planet. First place goes to Linfen, located within China's coal belt. So polluted is the city that, according to reports, laundry hung to dry ends up black even before it finishes drying. A day spent in Linfen is equivalent to smoking three packs of cigs!

But if you think that pollution is a problem in poor and developing nations, think again. Guess which city got the second place. Los Angeles, USA, the city with the most polluted ozone! And it's interesting that in this list are included affluent places such as London in the UK and Phoenix, USA.

It's now time for these nations to take action.

Multilingual "A puro dolor"

2010-08-29T17:08:00.004+08:00

People who know me know this: the song that really made me want to learn Spanish is A puro dolor, perhaps the greatest hit of the now defunct (re-purposed?) Puerto Rican group Son By 4. I first heard it as theme song of the telenovela Mis tres hermanas on GMA7 (If I'm not mistaken, this was also Iza Calzado's first foray into the limelight, lending her voice to actress Scarlet Ortiz in Filipino)

A few months later, I found out that the same group did the English version of the song as it tried to penetrate the US market. The title was The purest of pain. The translation was great and was able to maintain the spunk of the original.

The song is so good that -- lo and behold! -- it has a version in Chinese sung by no less than Coco Lee! I don't know how good it sounds in Chinese, but judging from the karaoke versions done by Chinese-speaking fans, it must the THAT brilliant!

Mea culpa

2010-08-25T07:22:00.003+08:00

No more finger pointing. No more blaming and accusing other people. It's time to mourn the dead and consider this episode as our collective failure to respond. This time, it's OUR fault.

In remembrance of all the lives we lost (the Hong Kong tourists and Rolando Mendoza, the ex-police officer who took them as hostage) in the hostage crisis of August 23, 2010 in Manila, the Philippines. We'll remember. We're sorry.

In a Hindu Temple in KL

2010-08-07T12:59:00.002+08:00

Well the title pretty much says it. I took this while on vacation in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

As luck would have it, I was there on the eve of the Thaipusam, a Hindu religious festival that basically involves the faithful parading in the streets while bearing huge metal arches pierced (yep!) into their skins. Would post Thaipusam pics soon. xoxoxo.

¡A por ello!

2010-07-10T13:18:00.005+08:00

España pronto va a jugar su primera final de la Copa Mundial contra Holanda. Y desde aquí en Filipinas, ¿cómo pronosticamos el último partido del Mundial 2010? Esta foto a continuación lo dice todo. ¡ARRIBA ESPAÑA!

ACTUALIZACIÓN: Pues, a estas alturas, seguro que ya sabes, querido lector, lo que pasó en el Mundial. CAMPEONES, CAMPEONES, oé. oé, oé!

Tea at the opera

2010-07-06T06:55:00.003+08:00

The Chinese love their teas. And they have tea even when they watch the Peking Opera. I'm posting a video of a waiter serving tea a la Jackie Chan to audience members who came to watch opera. Camera flashes, oohs and aahs... what a perfect way to drink tea!

W.A.M.'s new look and great web find!

2010-07-04T16:58:00.003+08:00

HEAR YE! HEAR YE! After resolving to post more blog entries after months of virtual nonexistence, W.A.M. has also been reformatted and has received a new header! The photo was shot in Caramoan, Camarines Sur, the newest tourist destination in the Philippines for beach and adventure lovers.

And while at it, I'm giving an added bonus: the best find in the World Wide Web for people who wish to explore Manila in public transportation! The webpage is called Metro Manila Directions and it provides a lot of info on jeepney routes, LRT/MRT combinations and other travel tips. Great for travelers!

The world according to Gaga

2010-07-03T10:21:00.003+08:00

So how many Lady Gaga videos have you watched? And more interestingly, how many alternate versions have you caught? The thing with the versions people do of Lady Gaga is that the copy becomes even better than the original.

Take this acapella cover of Just Dance sung by Indonesian siblings Gamaliel and Audrey Tapiheru and their friend Cantika. They caused quite a stir in the Philippines blogosphere since most thought that they were Pinoys.

The group Noteworthy of the University of California in Berkeley this super funny parody of Poker Face. The Asian guy owned it.

And this one I like. Bad Romance, as performed acapella by On the Rocks of the University of Oregon. I posted this a couple of months back in Facebook, but since everyone seems to be reposting it now, I might as well repost the video on my blog. Enjoy!

Eating Valladolid

2010-06-29T06:29:00.004+08:00

Valladolid, the place where I studied in Spain, is not a tourist destination. Save for a few monuments of note (San Pablo, Colegio de San Gregorio, Antigua...), the city can be rather tasteless. Not with their food, though, as Valladolid boasts some of the most sumptuous food finds in this part of the world.

Any self-respecting Vallisoletano will be more than glad to take his visitor to sample grilled sepia (cuttlefish) served with garlic mayonnaise in the bar called -- you guessed it -- Bar La Sepia. I used to go to the branch beside the Ayuntamiento, but there's another one in faraway Parquesol. At 7 euros a ración, it's a nice way to start the evening.

Since we're in the area, why not go to the nearby Restaurante Bar El Jero, a haven of delectable tapas (with cool name, btw) that will make you go wild! I personally recommend the shrimp and boletus with peanut brittle and cecina with dulce de membrillo. Be here early because people pack the place to bursting. Closed on Tuesdays.

If you're craving for something heavier, head to Restaurante Los Zagales and sample their delicious Castilian dishes. On a normal day, you can get the entire meal for around 20 euros. It becomes pricier on weekends and holidays. Do order stewed rabo de toro (bull's tail) as second plate and you'll never go wrong.

Good luck!

2010-06-28T21:49:00.002+08:00

Back from a LOOOOONG hiatus. (How's everyone doing?) Keeping up with this blog is becoming a chore and I need all the good luck I could get.

So here, loyal readers, is a video I took when I was in Kuala Lumpur of Malaysian Chinese offering incense to gods. Let's hope that there'll be more regular updates from this corner of the blogosphere from here on now.

Lukayo

2010-05-17T09:28:00.003+08:00

Today, May 17, marks the start of the annual fertility festival in the town of Obando, in the province of Bulacan in honor of its three patron saints: San Pascual Baylon, Santa Clara de Asís and Nuestra Señora de Salambao.

While this ritual dancing is well-documented (José Rizal's Noli Me Tangere talks about how María Clara was conceived after her mother Pía Alba danced in Obando), there are more fertility rituals all over the Philippines that our textbooks and national consciousness fail to notice.

(Part 1 of 6. Finish watching the entire video in Youtube)

In 2006, the late Ramon Obusan, Philippine National Artist for Dance, did a documentary with GMA 7's Howie Severino on the phallic rituals in Kalayaan, Laguna. Called Lukayo, the dance involved women dressed up in gaudy costumes, dancing with artificial penises on the wedding day of a lass in town and singing songs with a lot of sexual innuendos outside the church.

A related ritual, called Baliw-Baliw, used to be performed in Cebu. It involves cross-dressing, throwing animal manure in the chapel and putting on more improvised penises in honor of San Vicente Ferrer. Both rituals are steadily being erased by Church authorities, who look down upon such traditions for their "inappropriateness".

Pigging out in Lisbon

2010-03-16T07:28:00.009+08:00

One of the best stereotypes people have of Portugal is that it's a place for good eats. The short distance between land and sea makes Portuguese cuisine a showcase of flavors from the ocean. A typical Portuguese meal consists of potatoes (boiled or fried), a salad, and a main course of meat or fish, all served on a big plate, with an appetizer of olives, bread and butter. Being the foodie that I am, here's my gastronomic escapades in Lisbon, Portugal's capital city

Bacalhoeiro, Rua dos Sapateiros 224, Baixa. Getting here can be a bit of a chore since the minor street where the resto is at doesn't appear on the map and the people in the tourist booths do not even know where it is. Rua dos Sapateiros is the street immediately to the right of Rua Augusta when you're facing the sea. Once here, savor some of Portugal's most authentic dishes (I got grilled squid and bread soup -- Y.U.M.M.Y!). Locals eat here and the food is insanely cheap and delicious.

Casa da India, Rua do Loreto 49-51, Bairro Alto. Their barbecued chicken is a must-have! It's nice, plump, juicy and cheap. The area where the restaurant is at is a popular place for Lisbon's nightlife.

Clube do Fado, Rua de São João da Praça 95 (beside the Cathedral). A bit pricey, considering that you can have a binge for 9 euros, but it's worth it if you're into fado. Try their fish of the day.

My fado night in Lisbon

2010-03-16T07:09:00.003+08:00

The last time I went to Europe, I was torn between going to Portugal and going to Italy. The decision was one that was difficult to make, since I both love (re: salivate over) the two countries.

In the end, I decided to go to Portugal, mainly because of food and music. This was when I had just discovered fado and wanted to listen to it in an honest-to-goodness fado house. So I googled for a fado house (travel guides recommend reserving beforehand) and found one very near my hostel, right next to the Sé of Lisbon, where I would stay for a couple of days.

Clube de Fado proved to be an exquisite choice that combined glorious music with nice food and ambience; for around 50 euros per person, I think it's an experience no tourist in Lisbon should miss.

The last note for today is brought to you by... Charice Pempengco!

2010-01-24T17:01:00.002+08:00

Something to bring a smile to Pinoys the world over. Singing sensation Charice Pempengco returned to Italy and conquered Italians effortlessly.

In this show Io Canto (I sing), she once again performed her staple repertoire and sang, for the first time, in Italian. The piece? Adagio (Slowly), a Lara Fabian original, if I'm not mistaken. A happy news to begin the week with.

HOSTEL REVIEW: Rex Tourist Inn, Caramoan, Camarines Sur, Philippines

2010-01-20T07:26:00.004+08:00

OVERALL RATING: 2/5

DATE OF VISIT: January 2 to 5, 2010

PLUSES: The personnel was nice, although they could be very lax or shy at times. They could fetch you from the port to their inn upon arrival. The island tour they organized was great and the food was always good. Showers yield abundant water everyday.

MINUSES: The room was very basic: bed, TV without remote, toilet and bath without toilet paper and mirror, and shower without heater. I would've wanted a window toward the outside instead of an interior window toward the hallway. The hostel should begin diversifying its fare for foreign tourists. I mean, food was great if you're Filipino and accustomed to eating rice and fish in the morning, but if you're from another country and you prefer bread, marmalade, butter and cereals, you might have a problem. The interiors and exteriors could be very kitschy.

Surviving Caramoan (Part II)

2010-01-15T08:26:00.003+08:00

My dormmate from Spain and I went to Caramoan in search of adventure. And boy did we get the adventure we're looking for!

The trip started with an early-morning Cebu Pacific plane ride from NAIA 3 to the Pili Airport (which Cebu Pacific markets as "Naga" for better name recall). Budget flights are fast becoming popular in the Philippines and Cebu Pacific -- it has to be said -- is getting a lion's share in the low-cost airlines business here.

The flight to Naga was uneventful, save for the door of the stewardess' pull chair that got unhinged upon take-off. From Naga, the van that we had previously contacted fetched us to Sabang Port. The 1.5-hour trip from the airport to Sabang costs about Php1200 one-way (US$ 26, US$1=Php 46), so the more people that go, the cheaper the shared fare gets. Alternatively, tourists could take a van to SM Naga and from there take another van to Sabang. Travel time lengthens considerably, though.

From Sabang, we took the local outrigger boat to the island of Caramoan. This part of the trip was definitely not for the faint-hearted since the two-hour boat ride traverses waters of the Pacific. The trip costs Php120. Be sure to pee before embarking on this part of the trip, lest you expose all your glory to the fishes of the ocean and the passengers of the boat.

(To be continued...)

Surviving Caramoan (Part I)

2010-01-06T11:57:00.006+08:00

First of all, Happy 2010! W.A.M. has been on a rather longish hiatus since I've been here and there and was -- am -- busy with professional commitments. Having said that, let's welcome the New Year with pictures from the latest trip I did... to Caramoan, Philippines.

Caramoan is an island belonging to the province of Camarines Sur, located on the eastern tip of the island of Luzon, right next to the Pacific. It first caught international attention when the French version of the world-famous reality show "Survivor" has been filmed on the island. Since then, several other versions (Israel, Bulgaria and Serbia) have been shot in this paradise on earth.

My secondary-information research pretty much ends here. I'm not the most physical person on the planet (as you might already know) and the beach will be the last place I'll ever find myself in. So imagine my apprehension when I found myself booking plane to Naga on my way to take a wooden banca to the island of Caramoan.

(To be continued...)

HOSTEL REVIEW: Pensao Nova Sintra, Sintra, Portugal

2009-12-10T06:22:00.002+08:00

OVERALL RATING: 5/5
DATE OF VISIT: November 6-8, 2009

PLUSES: It has to be said that this place is one of those few hotels and hostels that you book with a bit of uncertainty, but would turn out to be the best choice you've ever made for a long time. Words are not enough to cover how great Pensao Nova Sintra is: the entire place is so romantic and enchanting (it almost looks as if it has come out of a vintage postcard or an Audrey Hepburn movie!) that staying inside when you don't feel like going out, or sitting in one of the benches in its porch with a fabulous view of the mountains, is an experience in itself. Everyone in the staff, led by manager Rui Bernardo, has mastered the art of hospitality and will be more than glad to help you out even with your minutest concern (case in point: my phone charger got broken and Rui had another charger to spare). When you google it or look for it in the maps, the pensao's location may initially seem inconvenient for walking to tourist spots. But lo and behold, all of Sintra monuments are on top of the mountain and you wouldn't even want to walk to any! The public bus (was it 425?) that goes to all these monuments departs from the train station, a stone's throw away from this hostel. If you're up for some traditional Portuguese dishes, you may opt to dine in this hostel's restaurant that serves quality food in generous portions, or go a nearby churrasquería (a stand for roasting meat to go) and grab a few humongous slabs of beef or pork or chicken.

MINUSES: There is nothing to complain, but if I would really have to name one, it's probably the chore of doing the reservation. Since they didn't have any automatic reservation online, you have to e-mail or fax your credit card number to them.

Visit their website

Hope against hopelessness

2009-11-23T15:47:00.003+08:00

The best news the Philippines has had this year is a recognition brought in by a man, though not through his force or power, not through his intelligence and cunning, not through what's exotic and peculiar. He earned it because of his good heart.

Congratulations, EFREN PEÑAFLORIDA JR., CNN's Hero of the Year! Mabuhay ka!

HOSTEL REVIEW: Smile Hostel, Lisbon, Portugal

2009-11-18T21:15:00.003+08:00

OVERALL RATING: 4/5
DATE OF VISIT: November 4 to 5, 2009

PLUSES: The hostel is very home-y, a far-cry from the previous Lisboa hostel where I had stayed before. It's right next to the Sé, the city's cathedral, and very near the Castelo de San Jorge, Praca do Comercio and Praca do Rossio. You could also get Lisbon's mythical Tram 28, which goes around the main tourist spots of the historical center, at a stop near the hostel. The breakfast is nice and the fact that you could cook in the hostel's kitchen is an added bonus. Breakfast was okay.

MINUSES: The shared bathroom is small. In the men's room, for example, there two small shower rooms located right next to two toilets. The doors to the showers were also perpetually jammed. Ditto with the girls', I think. If ever you plan to take public transportation, locating the street, Travessa do Almada, will be tough because it's a minor road not located on any city map. The hostel has no sign whatsoever to indicate that you're there.

Visit their site

A bumpy elephant ride

2009-10-28T03:36:00.002+08:00

I guess no one leaves Thailand without doing anything with elephants. I mean, elephants are for Thais what cats and dogs are for the rest of the world. From souvenir items to football games, from T-shirts to temples, the Thais have probably cornered the international market for elephants.

For the more adventurous (or the gullible, depending on your bias), the best way to appreciate Thai elephants is to take a ride on its back and traverse mudfields and rivers during the course. The ride is a bumpy one (my friend Pam's screams and bleep-bleep comments toward the end prove that) but you can never ever fault it ever for being not memorable.

A place called Manila (A Blog Action Day 2009 Special)

2009-10-15T01:25:00.006+08:00

One paradox that this blog W.A.M. has is the fact that it never mentions anything on the capital city of the Philippines, Manila. I was thinking way back then that I would soon have to write a travel article about Manila in a way more special than I did for the rest. That was until two strong typhoons hit the Philippines a few days back.

I wanted to write about the hustle and bustle of Manila, its frenzied traffic and its gregarious people, all smiling and noisy as they head off to work, but times require that we write about how cries echoed throughout the Philippine capital, with families upon families trapped on their roofs of their houses as floodwaters submerged their homes, taking away all their possessions from them and leaving a trail of mud and grime and death.

I wanted to write about how well we eat in Manila, but times ask that we think about how people oxymoronically had no water to drink, even though rivers had overflown, dams let out water so as not to break and a month’s worth of rainwater fell into the city for just 10 hours. The devastation that ensued afterwards — people infested with skin diseases and high fevers, hungry mouths satiated with instant noodles and canned tuna, children unclothed and men in tattered clothes — belies the Filipinos’ reputation for good hygiene and vanity.

I wanted to write about travel — hell, I wanted all of you folks to visit the Philippines! — but there is something greater and far more important than leisure and that is the sad realization that if we do not take drastic and immediate measures right here right now to combat climate change, there will be no more stories to tell about this magnificent island-nation of smiles caught in the destruction of a fast-changing planet.

(***W.A.M. is greatly indebted to Rodel Enríquez for the pics of his hometown, the city of Marikina, which he says has experienced this kind of flooding for the very first time ever after the onslaught of Typhoon Ondoy "Ketsana.")

Manila underwater

2009-09-28T20:59:00.006+08:00

It's one of those days when you feel all alone and no one is around to help. And worse, no one really seemed to care. Typhoon Ketsana (Local name: Ondoy) made landfall in the Philippines last Saturday and flooded the whole of Metro Manila and nearby provinces, the worst typhoon the country has had in the last 40 years with the amount of water on that fateful day equivalent to what should fall for a whole month! This collage made by UP MassComm batchmate Glenn Omanio tells the sad story.

This following video was taken from the UERM Hospital during Ondoy's wrath. See how cars get swallowed by the raging waters... and this was just a snippet of the entire scenario that destroyed cities and provinces and left many people homeless or dead.

Let me just say in closing that as soon as I've gotten back my Internet connection, I tried posting in several groups I have in Internet (e.g., Flickr) to raise awareness on the matter. Unfortunately, many people do not seem to mind and were so apathetic. So, dear reader, I am taking this opportunity to ask you to spread the word that help could be given to the Philippines through its Red Cross. And you coul also get more information from the website of the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Blog Action Day on October 15!

2009-09-24T05:59:00.002+08:00

On October 15, bloggers around the world will once again unite to blog about another cause. We will talk about climate change this year with that hope that blogging would increase awareness on the issue and put into fore the solutions that may be done to avert further damage.

If you're a blogger and are interested to participate, please click on the icon above that will get you to the home page of the organizers. Register your blog and participate!

Eid al-Fitr

2009-09-21T06:27:00.003+08:00

This is video I took in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia right when the Moslem call to prayer was being sounded at 12 noon. Today marks the end of the month of Ramadan according to the Moslem calendar, a day marked by members of Islam with the feast called Eid al-Fitr.

Happy Eid everyone!

Tie a yellow ribbon (A Cory Aquino tribute)

2009-08-03T20:29:00.002+08:00

Finally, a local version of the anthemic song Tie a Yellow Ribbon, revived and revised by DJ Mod in honor of Corazon Aquino. It may be remembered that the song became the theme song of Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino upon his return to the Philippines (then under dictator Ferdinand Marcos) after his exile in the US. Here's a very nice version in honor of the deceased Mother of Philippine Democracy.

One for the ages

2009-08-02T19:19:00.004+08:00

Corazon Aquino, the widow who toppled a dictator, became the first woman president of the Philippines, and eventually restored democracy, has died. The nation mourns her demise.

So much has been said about her that this blog entry is but a speck in a blogosphere teeming with paeans in her honor. And no one should be surprised, for hers was a life well lived, a life that has been shared with many nameless and faceless people who saw in her what goodness and integrity can and should do for the republic.

Cory may not be the holiest of saints. Nor may she be the best leader the Philippines would ever get. She never claimed so anyway. Cory Aquino understood well the part she had to play in the history of this country, a part that many people would readily assume if only to have the fame and fortune that goes with it. And she took on the challenge in the same way she would cede her post years later: unassumingly, quietly, without any pomp and pageantry. In a country whose citizens usually equate "government service" with "celebrity," in a country where everyone hogs the limelight in each action he does, in a country where all people want to be stars, what Cory did was an act of heroism in itself. She knew that everything will soon end and thus it is best to end it on a high note.

We now look back to what she did with pride and thanksgiving.

True, Cory Aquino may not have moved mountains, but she gave later generations of Filipinos a better shot at it. Her example taught us that principles coupled with faith can, in fact, change lives and effect changes. She taught us that tyrants are not toppled with tyranny, but rather with integrity and selflessness.

True, there are things that could've been done better and there might have been certain decisions that should not have been taken. (I've just read some critique on Cory's part in "eradicating" the Spanish language in the country, her wishy-washy attitude toward decision-making, her weak agrarian reform program...) But an individual's worth is never measured by these little things taken separately. The mere fact that people could critique a president of the country who has recently passed on is an indelible legacy Corazon Aquino has left the Philippines.

And even on her last days, when the tides of life were slowly ebbing away, Cory Aquino stayed true to how she chose to live her life and proved to people how a nation so oblivious as the Philippines could be shaken out of stupor and act as one.

Corazon Aquino, the widow who toppled a dictator, became the first woman president of the Philippines, and eventually restored democracy to the country, is dead. The nation mourns her demise. The nation marks the end of an era.

Tudo isto é fado

2009-07-20T18:56:00.006+08:00

Friends know that one of my biggest dreams is to ride a bike through the sunflower fields of Tuscany, Italy. Everyone shall be dressed in white, waving at me, while the song Santa Lucia is playing in the background...

...well, this was until this morning when I rediscovered the fado, the music most representative perhaps of Portugal, a moving proof of the Portuguese's intimate connection with melancholy and things forlorn, the proverbial saudades.

Here's the Queen of Fado herself, the great Amália Rodrigues, singing the anthemic Tudo isto é fado (All this is fado), a song I want to be played if and when I go back to Lisbon to eat sardines along Rua Augusta on one of my melancholy nights.

UPDATE (1 August 2009): We now dedicate this song to the memory of former Philippine President Corazon Aquino, who has just died after months of battling colon cancer. Rest in peace and thank you!

Goooo, Wonder Pets!

2009-07-01T08:04:00.003+08:00

I have two TV addictions right now. First is the Filipino version of the Nickelodeon show Wonder Pets, aired daily from 8 to 8:30 AM over TV5.

It's about three household pets (Linny, a guinea pig; Tuck, a turtle; and Ming-ming, a duckling) who become superheroes when their master is not around and save pets in distress from all over the world; it's easily the Phantom of the Opera of children's television, since most lines are sung! (Anong kailangaaaan? Magtulungaaaan! Linny, Tuck at si Ming-meeeeeng!) I'm actually enjoying the show.

On Sundays, I like QTV's Secrets of the Masters, which starts at 7:15 PM. Host Lisa Litton has the most interesting job in the planet, for she gets to gobble up every plate on the show. Yeah, yeah, the audience members also get their share (btw, how do you become an audience member?), but while Lisa gets the entire plate, the viewers only savor the morsels. So, yeah, hands down, I'm targetting Lisa Litton's job. :-P

R.I.P. Michael Jackson

2009-06-26T06:44:00.007+08:00

I'm getting word that King of Pop Michael Jackson has died today due to cardiac arrest. While the reports are still hasty and unconfirmed, and the details a bit blurry as I write this entry, I hope that MJ finds rest after a life intensely lived, a life of ups and downs, or controversies and lost loves, and, most especially, of great music that has characterized an entire generation and the many that would come afterwards.

UPDATE: We also remember in this entry the American actress Farrah Fawcett, who died hours before Michael Jackson did.

Floating through Bangkok

2009-06-17T11:35:00.005+08:00

One of the most importat tourist attractions of Bangkok, Thailand is its floating market. Located in Damnoen Saduak (about 109kms southwest of the city), any tourist interested to see a different kind of marketplace will be enthralled at the beauty and the quaintness of the place.

Tourists can arrange for special trips from Bangkok to the floating market (with a side trip in an elephant farm and zoo). Do sample the food Thai vendors sell in boats as you wade through the canals of the area. But be very careful about purchasing souvenir items as prices tend to skyrocket in this very touristy spot.

The best commencement speech ever!

2009-06-15T07:16:00.003+08:00

Watch this brilliant speech made by Ellen DeGeneres at graduation of the Katrina Class of 2009 of the Tulane University! Inspiring and funny to very last sentence.

A budget traveler's guide to surviving SINGAPORE

2009-06-03T09:10:00.006+08:00

Singapore is probably Southeast Asia’s cleanest and most disciplined country. Everything is timed and measured, and the feeling of security you get when you walk through even its unknown alleyways is different from when you venture out on your own in any other place this part of the planet.

Since it’s a small country (Manila, the capital of the Philippines, is bigger) with an obvious bias toward anything Western, it’s very easy to find your way with just a metro ticket and a tattered map. So you wanna visit Singapore? Get those backpacks ready as we say a big “Hello le!” to this wonderful city-state.

1. Pay attention. Do you remember the saying, “When in Rome, do what the Romans do”? It never gets any true-r than that when you’re in Singapore. If ever you’ve read that bit on a tourist being jailed for chewing gum or vandalizing, then you better pay attention and follow the rules. After all, it never hurts to wait for the pedestrian light to give the go signal, especially when you do your shopping along the famous Orchard Road, or to throw your trash in the proper containers.

2. Hear. Singaporeans speak Singlish, their own kind of English. The accent is a cross between Chinese, Malay and English, so people not accustomed to hearing other varieties of the language must be more patient in trying to understand what the locals are trying to say. To their credit, Singaporeans are very hospitable and would be more than willing to repeat what they have said if only to make you understand.

3. Get lost. In a country so orderly, getting lost seems to be a difficult task… which makes getting lost even more interesting! Try exploring places with minimal help from your city map: the small streets in Little India with its vast array of restaurants that serve curry and shops that sell spices, the quaint alleyways in Chinatown lined with souvenir shops, Chinese items and watering holes, and the bazaars in the Arab Quarters with their exotic perfumes, handicrafts and fabrics. Enter the numerous Buddhist and Hindu temples, and Moslem mosques that pepper the city. It’s an experience you will never forget.

4. Chomp. Since many cultures converge in this country, the place boasts of a wide array of cuisine to suit your palate. For adventure lovers, a plate of curry might make your day. You can also go for the honeyed chicken biryani that is served in the Arab Quarters, or some noodles and seafood in Chinatown. You can also go to Clark Quay where international restaurants abound, or simply opt for a McDonald’s or Burger King in one of the city’s many shopping malls.

5. Cruise. Singapore used to be a fishing village before Ruffles arrived in the country, so it’s no wonder that a river cuts across its central business district. Go for a 30-minute cruise for S$15 (if I remember it correctly). The best time to do so is at night when the skyscrapers are all lit up. The boat would even take you to the Merlion, Singapore’s most recognizable symbol, with a lavish hotel as its background, and the Esplanade, Singapore’s answer to the Sydney Opera.

Marlon’s Singapore Route (1-2): It’s a small city which can be explored easily, even without an itinerary. If you want to go to Sentosa, the country’s famed leisure resort, it’s best to reserve one whole day for that. During the summer months, the period from 1 to 4 PM is very hot, so you might want to squeeze in your visit to the shopping malls around that time to avoid the heat.

Marlon’s Budget Tip: Ask your hotel or hostel if they have any SG card to spare. It’s the transportation card you acquire at S$7 that allows you to travel throughout the island. The money serves as your deposit and will be returned to you once you surrender the card. To avoid the hassle of returning it to the metro office, some hostels have cards ready for their guests, which the guests would have to load themselves and return to the hostels when they check out.

Charice Pempengco in Italy!

2009-05-28T08:29:00.002+08:00

Once again, Filipina Charice Pempengco did music wonders, this time in an Italian show called Ti lascio una canzone (literally, I leave you a song) where she did duets with Italian kids who also wanted to make a career in singing.

Charice did her staples "I will always love you," "I will survive," "The Prayer" and, in this bit, "I believe I can fly." What with all the Hayden-Katrina sex scandal, this news about the youngest face of Philippine music making waves abroad is more than enough to make us all believe in being Filipino. Mabuhay, Charice!

Curry-ed away

2009-05-25T07:21:00.007+08:00

Talk about Asian food and most people the world over would probably think spices and curries. But since I'm from the Philippines, where food is notoriously sweet than those of its Asian neighbors (Read: sweet spaghetti, sweet meat stews...), I confess that I'm still in the process of thoroughly appreciating typical Asian flavors. Here's a few of my food trips in Southeast Asia.

Malaysia. I ate this in Kuala Lumpur with my good friend Annissa (her treat, btw). It's curried beef with sauteed vegetables and fried oysters. The curry is very mild and palatable, although the resto also sells the regular Malay curry that for Filipino standards is infernal. The veggies and the oysters (I'm addicted to oysters!) cleaned our tastebuds and provided a good combination of salty and bland aftertaste in between the curry.

Singapore. In Little India, my high school classmate Jenny (who now works in Singapore) and I went to this curry restaurant that serves typical Indian dishes with typical Indian bread and typical Indian drink (I mean, Coke). Since I am not familiar with any of the dishes, I just asked for the least spicy. So they gave us curried lamb. The coriander gave a nice touch to the meat but the food was simply too hot for our palates. To add insult to injury, the customers seated next to us and having their snacks kept on pouring curry sauce on their plates as if there's a sugar-coated meal in the menu.

Thailand. What's a trip to Bangkok without sampling the famous Tom Yum soup? It's a tamarind-based soup with seafoods and vegetables, and flavored with a variety of spices (lemon grass, galangal, onions, chilies). I was with my college friends here and we asked for the mildest. Still and all, we ended up teary-eyed and snotty-nosed after a few slurps. The broth was refreshing but after counting to five, we began feeling the intensity of the dish. Yum.

Spain's Fernando Torres caught without his pants on

2009-05-24T10:57:00.006+08:00

Well, at least that's what happened in this elephant show in Bangkok. The cute baby elephant has been named after Torres and dons the colors of Spain.

I actually was tempted to call this entry as "Fernando Torres al desnudo" or "Fernando Torres sin pantalones," but that would've been over the top, ehehe. The elephant, like the Spanish football player, does play the game very well!

I wonder (out loud!) when the Philippines' Manny Pacquiao would get his very own elephant.

HOTEL REVIEW: Baiyoke Boutique, Bangkok, Thailand

2009-05-24T05:27:00.003+08:00

OVERALL RATING: 5/5
DATE OF VISIT: April 30 to May 2, 2009

PROS: For people who think of Bangkok as a shopping Mecca, this hotel is perhaps one of the best choices. It's right in the heart of a shopping district of the city, with daily night markets that sell from souvenirs to clothes, from faux bags and watches to electronics. The buffet breakfast is superb, since you get a hearty selection of Thai, Asian and Western cuisine. The hotel staff is very nice and responsive and the rooms, well-kept. The complimentary water on each day of your stay adds a nice touch of warmth.

MINUSES: Don't ask for a room with a view because the hotel is right at the back of its bigger sister, the Baiyoke Sky, Bangkok's tallest building. And if you like Classic Bangkok (temples, palaces, the River), you might be disappointed because this hotel is far from those places and the mythical Bangkok rush-hour traffic always gets in the way.

Visit their site.

The day after tomorrow... (An Earth Hour 2009 Special)

2009-03-28T20:04:00.003+08:00

Imagine a world, hot, putrid and lifeless, where every drop of potable water, every gust of fresh air, and every spatter of fuel have become rare commodities that only few can afford. And then imagine that this is your world.

Perhaps, whatever place you have reached and whatever travel you have made, there remains but one place you end up in. And that one place is this planet we are trying to save.

The World According to Marlon, in support Earth Hour 2009, downs all its previous entries on its main page from 8:30 PM of March 28 to 8:30 PM of March 29.

Braving a cold Sevillan morning to watch the Macarena

2009-03-19T07:45:00.005+08:00

This is a video I took in 2007 when I was in Sevilla, Spain for Holy Week. Seville's most attended procession is called the Madrugá, the dawn procession on Good Friday. My hostel was right in the heart of the procession route on Calle Sierpes, so I was able to see one of Spain's most famous images of the Virgin Mary, the Esperanza Macarena.

IN PHOTOS: Singapore

2009-03-17T19:27:00.003+08:00

Singapore is different from its Southeast Asian neighbors for having many things that are typically Western. Still and all, Singaporean charm is best felt in its many multicultural enclaves all throughout the city that show that this small country is indeed a slice of Asia.

Earth Hour 2009

2009-03-12T21:16:00.004+08:00

On March 28, Saturday, we are again called to take a stand to protect Mother Nature and say that we care and love this planet. I invite all readers of W.A.M. and all those who would chance upon this post to put off their lights for one hour from 8:30 PM to 9:30 PM (whichever place you are) in support of Earth Hour 2009. One hour globally is one big step in raising our collective awareness on the environmental problems we face and find out ways on how to conserve energy.

More naked Italian men

2009-03-11T20:10:00.006+08:00

It's official: the most popular post of W.A.M. is that one about nude Italian men, closely followed by a hodgepodge of naked European guys. And I'm betting 50 pesos that most -- if not all -- accessed my blog thinking that I'm talking about that kind of nudes, and kept reading the entry with the hope that some flesh would be seen.

But no, since this is a wholesome (ahem!) blog, the most we could show is some hard and smooth... carved marble (ehehehe). Here's more from the Vatican; don't you just wonder why we have so many nudes in the heart of Catholicism? So here you go, dear kinky readers! Look at naked bodies and learn history!

Apollo del Belvedere. The most part of the art collection of Pope Julius II that shows the Greek god of light in his naked best... which seems to say that if you have good bone structure, you could go naked and pose all you want.

Laocoön. Another piece from Julius II's collection. The Greek prophet Laocoön is shown here with his two sons being strangled by serpents sent by the goddess Athena. Talk about revenge.

Hot, hot, hot

2009-03-10T07:05:00.004+08:00

Summer has come to the Philippines, you guys! How's everyone doing?

I've seen in the news that this summer will be particularly long and hot, so it's important that you keep safe. Drink lotsa water (the pure, unadulterated variety and not some bottled juice) and as all Pinoys would know, take frequent showers. I find twice a day refreshing.

Dermatologists also advise putting on sunblock; I started doing so just recently and I find it very useful. I also would advise against putting hairgel so often because it adds to the heat.

Have a happy summer!

Francis Magalona's Kaleidoscope World

2009-03-09T07:27:00.007+08:00

One of the many things that the death of Philippine Master Rapper Francis Magalona did was to bring back to the consciousness of the younger generations the music that we in the 90s loved and enjoyed.

His anthemic song "Kaleidoscope World" is one of those often played. And here is its acoustic version, rendered most beautifully by Perf de Castro, a fitting tribute to an icon whom future generations of Filipinos will remember for his art, his music, his patriotism and his optimism in the face of death.

In Memoriam: Francis Magalona

2009-03-06T14:30:00.007+08:00

W.A.M. pays tribute to Francis Magalona, a consummate artist and the widely acknowledged King of Philippine Rap Music through whose work we, Filipinos, found a medium to express ourselves by adapting a format that used to be detached from our local culture and making it our own.

Francis' most important contribution was his ability to make being Pinoy hip and cool for younger generations who probably couldn't relate to big concepts such as nationhood, freedom and love of country beyond self. In his short life, he achieved what most could not do in a lifetime: to instill pride for one's own heritage and acknowledge the greatness of a nation when it nurtures its people. His is a void that will be hard to fill.

(Picture courtesy of this blog.)

A budget traveler's guide to surviving KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA

2009-03-06T06:48:00.006+08:00

With the low-cost airline Air Asia making a lot of impact in the Southeast Asian travel scene, cities that are generally considered exotic are now within reach at an affordable price. Of course, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s capital city and main hub of Air Asia, has got a lion’s share of visitors from all over the world and is proving to be an exciting destination for people in search of Asian cultures in one compact site.

Whether as a stopover on your way to continental Southeast Asia or a visit done because of low fare rates, Kuala Lumpur (or KL among people in the know) may just be that very elusive hideaway that you are looking for. So wanna visit KL, Malaysia? Take out those passports and say a big “Halo! Apa khabar?”

1. Ride. Whether you’re in a low-cost flight or in a normal transnational airline, you would have to go to the KL International Airport that is about an hour and a half from the city center. Transport is incredibly easy since you could take a cab (about RM 80) or a bus (RM 9) that takes you to KL Central Station, depending on your budget. Whatever you choose to ride, it would be a wise move to have a lot of leeway in both time and money especially if you’re backpacking. Buses start their operations from the KL Central Station at 3:15 AM while the Metro starts at 6 AM.

2. Fall in line. KL’s main attraction for most tourists is the Petronas Twin Towers, which could be visited for free. About a thousand tickets are distributed daily for visits that start at 9 AM with a 15-minute interval for each visit. Do be there early (around 7:15 AM) if you don’t want to spend half a day in the queue. You may also want to visit Menara KL near the Petronas, but you have to pay for this one. The view is more spectacular here but if you only want to be in some tall building in KL and stare at the city, Petronas is more than enough.

3. Savor. What’s KL without its yummy delights? If you’re big on spices and flavors, KL may just be the right place to splurge. There are many self-serve canteens in the city where you could have your binge (and I mean, scoop to your heart’s content) and then the waiter gives you the bill; alternatively, you could just sit and have someone take your order if you totally cannot relate with the procedure. Do try the curries (ask for the least spicy if you can’t stand the heat), and seafood. And please do yourself a favor and drink Malaysian coffee (plain or with milk, hot or cold), the best coffee there is.

4. Shop. Malaysia seems to be placing a lot of emphasis on shopping. Now most people prefer to go to Jalan Petaling in Chinatown to shop for souvenirs, imitation bags, sneakers, belts and electronics, or even to the Saturday night market in Little India. I personally recommend, however, going to the Central Market instead. The items may be a bit pricier but you get to shop in an airconditioned place, something which would prove to be valuable on KL’s intensely hot days.

5. Revere. Malaysia breaks the stereotype most people have on Moslem nations for its being very tolerant toward a lot of faiths. Go to the Masjid Negara (National Mosque) to see how Moslems do it, then to any Buddhist temple especially on a Saturday to see people offering incenses and food. In the outskirts of KL you could visit the Batu Caves, a stronghold of the Hindu religion in the city. There’s a bus that goes there for RM 2 (which could take a lifetime). What I did was to take the Kelana Jaya Line of the Metro to Terminal Putra (about RM 2) and then a cab to the Batu Caves (RM 10). After climbing its 270 steps and ogling at the monkey-filled shrines, I took the bus toward the city center.

Marlon’s Kuala Lumpur Route (1-2 days): Start with Petronas. Then walk toward Menara KL either for a pic or a climb. Then off to the Batu Caves. The period from 1PM to 5PM is hot so either do your shopping in Central Market or the KL Shopping Mall, or eat and relax in Jalan Petaling. Try visiting the National Mosque and taking a pic in the nearby Old Train Station. And then go back around 8PM to the Petronas area to see the Twin Towers all magnificently lit up.

Marlon’s Budget Tip: It’s tempting to think that KL doesn’t have to be a budget destination because it’s budget in itself. But please don’t get too excited with the shiny and sparkly things you see in the bazaars or the insanely low prices for watches and the like. Look for quality and for something which you *really* need.

Eat, shop and see in ZARAGOZA, SPAIN

2009-03-03T09:07:00.006+08:00

You might be in Zaragoza on a package tour to visit the Virgin of the Pillar and some R&R, but that doesn't mean that you have to suffer following your tour guide all day, right?

Eat. Buffet restaurants are hard to find in Spain, which is why I was so happy to find out that there is one in Zaragoza and it's near the Basilica del Pillar. Called the Restaurante Las Palomas, it boasts of a delectable array of veggies, meats, seafood, fish rice, pasta and desserts. It was priced at 12 euros some two years ago, so I'm guessing that they've raised their prices a bit. Budget tip: buy your drinks elsewhere and bring 'em to the restaurant.
Shop. Most souvenir shops in Zaragoza are near the Church and the majority of what they sell are religious items, although the staples of Spanish tourism like the mantón, fans, castanets, etc., are also sold here but can be very expensive. A very cheap and emblematic alternaive that could be bought in bulk and easily transported back home is a ribbon the size of the actual image of the Virgin of the Pillar. It's obtained in the sacristy of the Church (at the right-hand side if you're facing the image of the Pillar) and you get it with a one-euro donation per ribbon.
See. Don't enter all the Roman archaeological sites in Zaragoza (you could see some even without entering... the Roman Theatre, for example). Just go to the one right at the Plaza del Pilar (entrance near the Seo) since it's the most developed and equipped for tourists, plus you save precious time. And oh, do see the World War II bomb meant to destroy the Basilica of the Virgin but didn't inside her Basilica.

HOSTEL REVIEW: Matahari Lodge, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

2009-02-25T09:20:00.003+08:00

OVERALL RATING: 4/5
DATE OF VISIT: February 5 to 6, and then 11, 2009

PLUSES: The location is excellent: it's in front of the Metro, near the main bus station and a stone's throw away from the Central Market and Chinatown. There's a 7-11 right downstairs. Lee is very friendly, helpful and accommodating, and speaks very good English. Zack is also nice, although that other guy, Mann, is not especially friendly to Asians; and I was with my Malaysian friend who spoke to him in Malay as he responded haughtily in English. The schmuck suddenly changes with Westerners. Water is no problem and the beds are comfortable. Everything is squeaky clean.

MINUSES: It's claustrophobia galore with windowless rooms whose only opening is an exhaust fan. The walls are thin, so hope your neighbors are not fond of talking or throwing stuffs around at night. I would've wanted a fluffier pillow, as well. Oh, and have I told you about that guy Mann?

Visit their site

Eat, shop and see in FLORENCE, ITALY

2009-02-24T21:54:00.003+08:00

Let's cut the crap, shall we? While most travel guides provide their readers the standard, sponsorship-driven tips, W.A.M. inaugurates its newest section, Eat, shop and see, to help readers find their way in the city of their choice. And what better way is there to kick off this section than to start in Florence, Italy.

Eat. Other than the usual finds of gelato and bistecca fiorentina, three things in Florence are worth sampling. For cheap but filling pasta and gnocchi, I strongly recommend La Cantinella on Via Borgo San Lorenzo (Tel nº: 055-213-525). Do go downstairs in the tavern to have an extraordinary Florentine gastronomic experience. Then if you're on Via Isole delle Stinche go to the salumería in front of the gelateria Vívoli and sample the shop's herbed cheese in olive oil. Simply divine! And of course, go to the revered lampredotto store in the Mercato Nuovo.
Shop. If you're looking for something to bring home, try the Enoteca Lombardi inside the Mercato Centrale. Their sun-dried tomatoes are yummy and hold well during long trips. The lady who speaks impeccable English is very accommodating and suggests products you could take home.
See. In the area of the Ponte Vecchio in an obscure corner near the opening of the bridge is a metal stand teeming with padlocks. Tourists from the world over are just dying to come back. Who wouldn't?

Straining my neck in Kuala Lumpur

2009-02-22T20:39:00.007+08:00

Gone are the days when Malaysia was an obscure Southeast Asian nation "somewhere there in the map." When I visited Kuala Lumpur a few days ago, the first thing that really struck me was how progressive the country has become. The traditional Malaysian sensibility is still there but now everything seems monumental and advanced.

Take, for example, the Petronas Twin Tower, the tallest twin tower in world that allows visitors to catch a glimpse of Kuala Lumpur from its skybridge for free.

The Malaysian fetish for metal and skyscrapers continues in the nearby KLCC Mall. Though somne of the world's biggest malls are in the Philippines, Filipinos will surely still be amazed.

HOSTEL REVIEW: Superb Hub @ Bugis City, Singapore

2009-02-13T09:09:00.003+08:00

OVERALL RATING: 5/5
DATE OF VISIT: February 8 to 9, 2009

PLUSES: The sharp difference in terms of prices of everything in Singapore can be noted when you're crossing over from Malaysia or Indonesia (and I'm thinking in Philippine pesos here). That said, you get your money's worth in this hostel. The hosts (mother-and-son tandem Sim and Ronnie) are so courteous and helpful. There's air conditioning *and* electric fan in the rooms to help combat the sweltering Singaporean heat; water in the toilets and shower room is abundant 24/7. The minute details of giving you bottled water upon your arrival and lending you the ez-link card (the transportation card in Singapore which otherwise you would have to buy for SG$7) are an added bonus. The location is fantastic. It's in the Arab area of the city filled with bazaars, thrift shops, Middle Eastern restaurants and a 7-11. The Raffles Hospital and the nearest MRT station are about a minute away walking. Strongly recommended, especially if you're backpacking.

MINUSES: There's no elevator here, a problem Ronnie resolves by helping guests with their luggages. Since land is a precious commodity in Singapore, each room (I stayed in Room N) is maximized by integrating the bed with the cabinet and the table. You have to climb up to reach your bed and go down to get things from the table. The setup is sturdy although you could sometimes feel the floors shaking because of people trying to get down their bedposts.

Visit their site

Of balconies and memories (In Memory of Héctor)

2009-01-28T07:42:00.002+08:00

When I was still studying in Spain, I lived in the university dorm reserved for graduate students. It's called Residencia Reyes Católicos, located on Calle Teresa Gil, Valladolid.

I was a nomad for the first 10 months of my stay there, since I was originally assigned to a first-floor room, traditionally reserved for transients. Then I was moved to a fourth-floor room, a small space for students who stayed longer. Finally, I was transferred to Room 307 that had this beautiful and spacious balcony where I used to hang out, cook using my electric paella dish or dry out shoes and clothes. This was where I would stay until I finished my Master's.

In 309 was a Spaniard from Burgos. His name was Héctor. At a young age he was already doing his PhD in Physics. He had studied French, gone to Italy to feed pigeons, tried to date girls, become a member of the Science Museum in Valladolid... too many achievements so early in life. He was a bit weird, too: delayed reactions whenever we told him stories, topics totally unrelated to the conversation, debates over the mundanest topics, a curious gaze, perhaps.

But deep in him was a beautiful soul of a person struggling to fit in while trying to be true to himself. When people began laughing behind his back or started imitating his antics, he was oblivious. He was there to study and study he did. When everyone tried to push him away, he tried his best to move in closer, although he was not successful in every attempt. And when he sensed it was futile, he kept to himself and did not say a word.

The last time I saw him was on the day I left for the Philippines, although I had the opportunity to exchanges a few e-mails with him and chat a bit afterwards. Last Thursday, Héctor passed away after falling from his balcony, the same balcony that we all had in Reyes Católicos where we hang out, cook and dry clothes. No one may ever know what's going on inside his head when he fell -- it was so characteristic of him to be secretive -- but I hope that he was not thinking how lonely and oppressive life could be.

And I hope, too, that somehow, somewhere, Héctor could read this and know that he would be sorely missed, and that other people who may be going through rough times and feel that they do not belong know that there's always a willing ear and a helping hand out there to help.

Descansa en paz, Héctor. ¡Hasta la vista!

Spanish Manila

2009-01-22T07:03:00.002+08:00

Manila, the capital city of the Philippines, is many things to many people. But to those who like history, Manila is a bastion of the Spanish rule in Asia. And this can be seen when one visits Intramuros, the walled city that housed Manila's creme de la creme during those genteel years under Spain.

Peace

2009-01-05T07:41:00.003+08:00

As I write this entry, Israeli troops continue to bomb the Palestine community living in the Gaza Strip a thousand miles away from the Philippines. Closer to home, in the very city where I live, a girl (who for association and affinity is an acquaintance), 7 months pregnant, was found murdered at the backseat of her car, a gunshot wound on her forehead. With her was her boyfried who suffered the same fate.

W.A.M. starts off 2009 with an appeal for peace during a time when respect for life and human dignity doesn't seem to matter at all. In a world where claiming innocent lives is the norm and where violence can be justified by human law, philosophy and self-preservation, we are called to take a stand and be the voices for those who are prevented from speaking, for those who speak but are not heard, for those who choose to remain silent but in their silence speak. We rally behind the oppressed and the marginalized, the innocent people who are caught in the crossfire or found dead at the backseat of their cars, for we see ourselves in them and find in their moments of outmost defenseless how we, too, can be defenseless, voiceless and alone.

And now, in the silence of death, amid the blaring sirens or the murmurs of onlookers, we lay the dead to rest with the hope that one day, the peace that so eluded them could be the same peace that will redeem us who are left behind.

Season of fireworks

2008-12-31T17:01:00.002+08:00

W.A.M. bids farewell to 2008 with this music video of the song Season of Fireworks from the Taiwanese pop group F4. It has been a year of ups and downs, of many events and places we've shared and marvelled at, like the fireworks that dot the skyline on this festive eve, a proof that life, indeed, is a journey and we're all tourists making the most out of it.

As the words of this F4 song go, "I want to hold your hands and share with you this splendid season of fireworks with our beautiful memories."

HAPPY 2009 TO ALL READERS AND FRIENDS OF The World According to Marlon!

Maligayang Pasko!

2008-12-19T08:53:00.000+08:00

W.A.M. wishes all readers and bloggers the world over a very Merry Christmas! Maligayang Pasko sa inyong lahat (or, so says this greeting posted on the doors of the Centro de Idiomas of the Universidad de Valladolid).

Nativity scenes

2008-12-12T19:26:00.003+08:00

As a kid, one of the things I tremendously enjoy was setting up the family belen, the scene that depicts the birth of Jesus. It has an all-star cast: the Holy Family, the Three Kings, the shepherds with their sheep, the ox, the mule and the angel.

So imagine my surprise when, as a student in Europe, I saw that many people love their creche and that they have bigger sets, including anachronic figures such as Renaissance farmers, chandlers and butchers. Here are two of the most memorable I've seen:

Rome, Italy. I forgot the name of the church dedicated to the Virgin but my friend always frequents this place to drink the healing water that wells from beneath the place. Its presepe, for me, was the best feature of the church. It's displayed during the entire year in a room at the left-hand side of the altar under the soft and romantic shimmer of blue lights.

Barcelona, Spain. This guilded belen was located outside the Generalitat of Catalunya. It's a simple set with the Holy Family and the ox and mule, but its glimmer beneath the winter sun was simply divine. It's encased in a glass box which in turn is covered with tall reeds and bamboo-like plants.

Happy Holidays!

IN PHOTOS: Barcelona, Spain

2008-12-08T13:36:00.001+08:00

I spent my first Christmas away from home in Barcelona, Spain in 2005. Although the following pictures were taken during my second visit to this lovely place about a year after, the vibrant city scene in this capital of Catalunya always amazes and attracts. I wouldn't mind spending the holidays here again.

Laksa

2008-12-04T10:23:00.000+08:00

A quick soup for a quick blog post. This is how you make the Malay noodle soup called laksa. And this was me filming how it's done in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia. Perfect for these days of weird Pinoy weather (all rain and no fun!). Yum!

So how are your preparations shaping up for the holidays?

World of graffiti

2008-11-26T19:54:00.000+08:00

People who have been in any public toilet in the Philippines know that the walls and doors of these places offer a slice of the Filipino pysche. From profound philosophical musings to indecent proposals, Philippine graffiti are an exciting source of information about how we, Pinoys, see the world.

But how about in other countries? How do their graffiti look like? Here are two examples:

Beijing, China. I saw this on my way down from the Great Wall of China. It's funny that by using Chinese characters, the graffito looked divine (although I'm willing to bet my 50 pesos that they mean something not for the consumption of the general public). I really wonder what these characters mean. Any one willing to translate to English?

Delphi, Greece. I think these are historical graffiti (ehehehe), although I must say that I'm prone to exaggeration. I wonder how ancient Greeks vandalize public places. Did they use chisels and hammers? :-)

In Memoriam: Brenden Foster

2008-11-26T05:49:00.003+08:00

Brenden Foster's wish was to feed the homeless, something he decided to do upon seeing a bunch of people on his way home from the clinic. He wanted to help the bees, as well, by distributing wild flower seeds.

At an age when most kids his age dream of toys and video games, during an era when everyone is so consumed with material wealth, Brenden Foster had learned something that most of us wouldn't even begin to comprehend.

Last Friday, at the tender age of 11, Brenden Foster died of leukemia in his mother's arms, but left a spark that was to glimmer forever.

Snow

2008-11-24T08:15:00.000+08:00

First, a big HELLO to the followers of this blog (yeah, all seven of you!). I took some time of from blogging since things have been insane, what with all the work I'm doing.

Having said that, I want to bring some Christmas spirit here in this virtual space by putting this video I took during my train ride from Amsterdam, the Netherlands to Brussels, Belgium. If there's one thing I terribly miss about Christmas in Europe, it's that white stuff that falls from the sky that makes everything topsy-turvy and nice.

Dying with class

2008-10-26T16:12:00.001+08:00

Great people, it is said, are immortalized only upon their death. This becomes even more palpable when they are placed in one single place for future generations to see. This is the case of the Basilica of Santa Croce in Florence, Italy, a haven for great Florentines who through their works have moved the world.

Michelangelo Buonarroti. The great sculptor of David and the Pietà, the painter of the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, and the great inspiration for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (hihi), found his resting place in this ornate marble tomb.

Niccolò Machiavelli. The great political thinker whose most famous work is The Prince has this cenotaph erected in his honor, with an inscription in Latin that can be translated as, "No honor is enough for such great a name."

Dante Alighieri. The author of the Divine Comedy, Italy's Sommo Poeta and Father of the Italian Language, he has this tomb in his honor, though his mortal remains are enterred in Ravenna, Italy.

Galileo Galilei. The great thinker and proponent of the heliocentrism, for which he was unjustly accused of heresy, is today honored and acclaimed in this befitting memorial.

IN PHOTOS: Pagudpud, Philippines

2008-10-26T08:41:00.001+08:00

While most international tourists in the Philippines go to Boracay for some fun and relaxation with the sun and the sea, locals know that Boracay can be very overrated and teeming with tourists. If you're like me and you hate truckloads of tourists, a good alternative will be Pagudpud, a coastal town in Northern Philippines, about 12 hours from Manila if you drive or an hour by plane. Within Pagudpud itself, you could go the extra mile and visit the secluded beach of Malingay.

Empanada 101

2008-10-19T09:13:00.000+08:00

One of the many great food finds in the Ilocos Region, Northern Philippines is the empanada, a half-moon-shaped pie filled with vegetables, chorizos and egg, and fried to a crisp.

The empanada always hits the spot so it's no wonder that the Ilocanos eat them as snack or as main meal. It's best eaten with a bit of vinegar (a.k.a., sukang Iloko) in one of the many emblematic empanada stalls in front of the Vigan Cathedral in Ilocos Sur.

HOSTEL REVIEW: Akinabalu Youth Hostel, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia

2008-10-17T07:02:00.002+08:00

OVERALL RATING: 4/5

DATE OF VISIT: July 4 to 6, 2008

PLUSES: The place is located in the central part of the island and is near the Sunday flea market. The back of the hostel is filled with typical Malaysian delis so you wouldn't have to worry about getting hungry. Westerners will likely fall in love with the interior design as it is very Asian (you have to remove your shoes when you enter the premises). The common room is spacious with a big TV with cable connection. Bedrooms are simple but well-maintained. Ditto with the bathroom.

MINUSES: Well, it's free breakfast alright, but for my Filipino tummy, instant noodles or jam and bread just doesn't work. English-speaking tourists might want to be more patient if at first they fail to understand what the receptionist is saying. No elevators.

Visit their site

The truth about poverty

2008-10-15T09:13:00.001+08:00

The truth about poverty is as simple as a black-and-white photo./ La realidad sobre la pobreza es tan sencilla como una foto en blanco y negro.

The empty spaces in between...

2008-10-15T06:09:00.008+08:00

Many people say that the world turns a blind eye towards poverty. I myself did not believe it until I was looking for pictures to put in this blog entry. Friends, these are all the travel pics I have taken with poverty as subject...

And until we ignore the biggest blunder and embarrassment that mankind has committed by deodorizing it with the beautiful things we want to see, we would remain tourists in this world without any place we can rightfully call home.

Muy agradecido por todo...

2008-10-12T13:04:00.000+08:00

Hoy cumplo un año en Filipinas después de dos años de estudios en Valladolid, España. En varias entradas de este blog, W.A.M., siempre digo que estoy muy agradecido por todo lo que aquellos dos años me dieron: los momentos de "juerga" y diversión, los episodios de manía y tristeza, los bonitos paisajes que he capturado con una cámara de fotos... todo.

Pero más allá de esto, lo que para mí es el broche de oro es la oportunidad de hacer amistad con gente de varias partes del mundo, verdaderos tesoros que nunca fallan en poner una sonrisa en mi cara al mirar las fotos que de ellos tengo. Muy agradecido por todo... ¡hasta la vista!

Nuestra Señora del Pilar

2008-10-06T19:55:00.000+08:00

The feast of Nuestra Señora del Pilar merges a religious observance and a secular holiday. Aside from being the patroness of Aragón, Our Lady of the Pillar is also the patroness of Spain and the whole of hispanidad, the term used in reference to all the lands that once belonged to the Spanish Empire, where, it was said, "the sun never sets."

Her feast on October 12 is also the Día de Hispanidad (or, Día de la Raza in some places in Hispanic America, the day Columbus "discovered" the New World), a time when we celebrate the common tie that binds many countries in America, Europe and us here in Asia.

Here's a video I made when I visited the Basilica of the Virgin last year in Zaragoza, Spain on August 15, the feast of the Assumption. You would see the age-old tradition of letting children who have not received their First Communion kiss the cape that covers the sacred pillar where the Virgin Mary was said to have appeared to St. James the Great (Santiago el Mayor) when the latter was evangelizing Iberia. Other than youngsters, ranking members of the Catholic clergy and the Spanish Royal Family, no one is allowed to enter the camarín of the Virgin.

The pillar, made of jasper 1.70 meters in length and 24 centimeters in diameter, is covered with bronce and silver. It remains covered throughout the year except during the feast of the Virgin.

(Va dedicada esta entrada a todas las Pilares de mi vida, en especial a AlmaLeonor que a pesar de la distancia sigue siendo una gran amiga.)

IN PHOTOS: Assisi, Italy

2008-10-05T09:08:00.001+08:00

Assisi, a quaint and idyllic town in the Umbrian region of Italy, has been transformed over the years into a favorite destination for tourists and pilgrims. Other than the distinctly Franciscan air that hovers over town, the peace that seems to envelop Assisi is an added reason for people to go there in droves and, like St. Francis, see the glory of creation in its splendid surroundings.

Papal audience

2008-10-02T08:07:00.001+08:00

I distinctly remember this day, October 2, last year. I was in Rome, spending my last few days in Italy with friends and with the sole intention of attending a Papal audience. A Papal audience, for those who want to know, is the time when the Pope meets Catholic pilgrims in Rome.

I had been in Rome two years back, but I didn't know that audiences are held on Wednesdays so between catching my plane back to Spain and staying to see the Pope, I chose the former. Now many people think I'm overly religious (I think I'm not) but I am fascinated with the Catholic faith and Rome on a Wednesday teems with it. Besides, it's one of those events you could look back to when you're old and grimy and say to yourself, proudly, "I was there."

So on this fateful day of October last year, I was so eager to spend my Wednesday in Rome and be in the audience... But there's just one teensy-weensy problem: I DIDN'T HAVE A TICKET! I had tried talking to some Filipino nuns in Valladolid, Spain before going to Italy and they referred me to a Filipino priest who was supposed to be in the same audience. I waited for the (insert expletive here, ehehe) priest for about one hour and a half but he didn't show up.

It was nearly the start of the audience so I shifted to my Plan B, devised about 10 hours before the actual event. I went to the Philippine Embassy to the Holy See, just a few meters away from St. Peter's (it's probably the Embassy closest to the main square) and asked for tickets. I did get tickets (plural, since I got three just in case two forlorn souls had the same problem as I did) and went in, sat in a place that seemed faraway from all the action since people had wolfed all good seats by then while I was outside waiting for the (insert expletive here, ehehe) priest for about one hour and a half (have I told you this bit yet?). As I was fretting over not being able to see the Pope -- lo and behold! -- he came out right next to where I was seated. Talk about divine justice.

Men in tights

2008-09-22T07:37:00.003+08:00

I was so fortunate when I studied in Florence, Italy last year because I was able to see the opening of the annual Florence Wine Event. The festival featured some of the best wines of the nearby Chianti region.

The ceremony started with a parade of men dressed in the typical Renaissance costume of Tuscany. They marched toward the Palazzo Pitti and then began a very interesting perfomance with flags and music. Once satisfied with all that flag-throwing, kibitzers could get a total of 16 glasses of wine for only 15 euros (if I remember it correctly), in makeshift stations ceded to Chianti's most outstanding winemakers. You gotta love Florence for this, really.

Confessions of a ceiling addict (The comeback edition)

2008-09-19T13:45:00.000+08:00

Just when you thought you've seen the last of my confessions, W.A.M. brings you the comeback edition of the Confessions of a Ceiling Addict, where I post some of the most marvelous ceilings I've seen in my travels. Here are five more from Spain:

Zaragoza. This is the dome of the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar (Nuestra Señora del Pilar), Patroness of Spain and Hispanicity. The geometric pattern laced with paintings is mesmerizing!

Pamplona. This is the ceiling of the Plaza del Castillo, the city's main square. Though the paint is now chipping off, the nice color of the ceiling doesn't fail to get a photographer's attention.

Montserrat. In the outskirts of Barcelona lies this Benedictine monastery dedicated to the Black Madonna of Montserrat. This is one of the numerous murals that cover the wall of the church.

Valladolid. This dome is special since it belongs to the church where I used to hear mass every Sunday when the people of the Real Colegio de Ingleses are on a break. It's in the Basílica Nacional de la Gran Promesa where people have a special devotion to the Sacred Heart.

Segovia. In the fairytale setup of the Alcázar, you see this Moslem-inspired theme.

A te

2008-09-17T07:06:00.004+08:00

This song A te by Italian singer Jovanotti is pure poetry, a song that he originally made for his wife, I've heard. I've been agonizing for days, trying to translate this to English but I'm not at all convinced with my version (it lacks oomphf). So I tried to doing it in Spanish and the version convinced me more.

Aquí está la traducción de la canción al español. Espero que os guste. I hope to make the English translation of the song soon, so please keep on checking this page out.

A ti que eres la única en el mundo
La única razón por llegar hasta al final de cada respiro mío.
Cuando te miro después de un día lleno de palabras,
Sin que me digas nada, todo me sale claro.

A ti que me has encontrado en un rincón con los puños cerrados
Con mi espalda pegada contra la pared, preparado a defenderme.
Con la mirada bajada estaba en compañía de desilusionados.
Tú me has salvado como un gato y te me has llevado.

A ti te canto una canción porque no tengo otra cosa
Mejor para ofrecerte de todo lo que tengo.
Captas el tiempo y la magia que con un solo salto
Nos hacen volar en el aire como burbujas.

A ti que eres, simplemente eres,
La esencia de mis días, la esencia de mis sueños.

A ti que eres mi gran amor y mi amor grande,
A ti que has atrapado mi vida, que la has hecho mucho más de lo que era,
A ti que has dado sentido al tiempo sin medirlo
A ti que eres mi gran amor y mi amor grande,
A ti a quien he visto llorar en mis manos
Tan frágil eras que podría haberte matado
Si te hubiera abrazado un poco más.
Y luego te he visto con la fuerza de un avión,
Deteniendo la vida con tus manos y trayéndola a la salvación.

A ti que me has enseñado los sueños y el arte de la aventura,
A ti que crees tanto en el coraje como en el miedo,
A ti que eres la mejor cosa que jamás me has sucedido
A ti que cambias todos los días pero permaneces por siempre igual.

A ti que eres, simplemente eres,
La esencia de mis días, la esencia de mis sueños.
A ti que eres, esencialmente eres,
La esencia de mis sueños, la esencia de mis días.

A ti que nunca te gustas a ti misma
Aunque eres una maravilla,
La fuerza de la naturaleza converge en ti,
Que eres una roca, una planta, un huracán,
Eres el horizonte que me acoge cuando me alejo
A ti que eres la única amiga que puedo tener,
El único amor que querría por si todavía no te tuviera aquí conmigo.
A ti que me has devuelto la belleza a la vida,
Que consigues trasformar las dificultades en un inmenso placer,
A ti que eres mi gran amor y mi amor grande,
A ti que has atrapado mi vida, que la has hecho mucho más de lo que era,
A ti que has dado sentido al tiempo sin medirlo
A ti que eres mi gran amor y mi amor grande,

A ti que eres, simplemente eres,
La esencia de mis días, la esencia de mis sueños.
A ti que eres, semplicemente eres,
La compañera de mis días, la esencia de mis sueños.

Universities

2008-09-15T14:17:00.000+08:00

One of the best things that studying in Spain could afford any student is the fact that he would have to choose from a variety of universities, most of which date back to the Middle Ages. Here are some of the universities in Spain I was able to visit.

Universidad de Valladolid. This my university in Spain. The historic façade is that of the College of Law in whose center the Tree of Knowledge stands. Sapientia aedificavit sibi domum (Knowledge has built itself a house) is our university motto.

Universidad de Salamanca. This is the oldest university of Spain where many great minds have passed over the centuries. The façade exalts the Catholic Monarchs who founded the university in the 13th Century (I hope I have my data right).

Universidad de Córdoba. As a habit I don't normally visit universities whenever I'm touring. But since the College of Arts and Letters (Filosofía y Letras in Spanish nomenclature) of the University of Córdoba is in the heart of the city, I took time to take a picture of its façade.

IN PHOTOS: Florence, Italy

2008-09-12T19:48:00.000+08:00

A year ago, around this time, I was preparing for my crash course on the Italian language in Florence, Italy. I had been in this citadel of Italian Renaissance before but just for two days, so you could just imagine the excitement (and the anxiousness, of course) that I had in doing the new course. But my short stay in Firenze was amazing and I keep on telling everyone that I have left a chunk of my heart in the city.

A Pucela, en grato recuerdo...

2008-09-08T08:30:00.003+08:00

September 8 is the Nativity of Mary, Mother of God, and her representation as the Nuestra Señora de San Lorenzo is the major feast day in the city of Valladolid, Spain. And to be honest, there's no other place you should be in on this day other than Valladolid.

Heos aquí algunos videos (uno sacro y el otro, un poco más profano) hechos el año pasado por alguien que de por vida ya quedará encantado de esta ciudad castellana. La guarda siempre en su corazón y está convencido cada vez más de que una gran parte de él se ha trasformado ya en pucelana. ¡Aúpa Pucela!

This is the procession of the Patroness of Valladolid toward the Metropolitan Cathedral for the high mass. She is escorted by honor guards and is showered with roses on her way.

It's also an occasion for street parties and endless beers and food. Here's the start of the merrymaking, with the members of social clubs called peñas imposing the pañuelo de fiestas to the statue of Conde Ansúrez, founder of Valladolid, in the city's main square.

Gone, gone, gone

2008-09-01T13:00:00.000+08:00

This used to be the Plaza Roma of Intramuros, the Spanish walled city within the capital city of Manila, the Philippines. It's right in front of the Manila Cathedral and was a nice place to spend the afternoon amid the metro's sweltering heat.

Thanks to the decision of the Intramuros Administration led by Bambi Harper, this once flourishing and verdant respite has now lost its 25 historic trees. A bare lot in a concrete jungle. It really shows how insensitive and crass some people could be, especially during a time when environmental conservation should be promoted.

W.A.M. decries such irresponsibility.

An afternoon of Chinese tea

2008-08-22T15:55:00.001+08:00

If we are to make a gross simplification of things, tea is to China as Coca-cola is to the rest of the world. The Chinese love affair with tea (whatever kind it may be) trascends history, age group and other prejudices; it is not strange, thus, that they have developed and perfected the cult -- the way of life, even! -- that revolves around tea.

Here's me and my family having a crash course on Chinese teas during our trip to Beijing, China some months back. Cheers!

Now is the time to rebuild (or simply put, peace in Georgia)

2008-08-13T18:51:00.001+08:00

This is as personal as it gets. A few days back, we were stunned by the news that Russian troops began attacking Georgian territory. Sadly, with all the hoopla that the Olympic games in Beijing are getting, we failed to see yet another world event happening under our very noses.

The issue becomes more personal because a good friend of mine, Ilya, who also did the Master's program on Spanish as a Foreign Language in Valladolid, Spain, is from Georgia and is caught in the middle of an unjust war. At this age and with all the advances we have achieved, waging a war and inflicting pain on innocent people are the two gravest offenses we could commit against humanity. Any strife, especially the kind that is fueled by greed and ambition, debases human life and no one -- not even those who think they would win it -- comes out triumphant. It is a shame that hands that once built civilizations become the very tool to drive the world to its end.

If you also feel strongly about this issue, I encourage you to please sign a petition whose link you would find here. It's a small act of solidarity which could go a long way. It wouldn't even take a long time (five minutes tops). We are architects of this world. Now is the time to rebuild.

(Va por ti, Ilya, amigo mío, y por todo lo que significa el soñar con un mundo mejor...)

Splurging the world over

2008-08-06T10:59:00.001+08:00

In my first blog entry ever, I have written that food is always a good excuse to travel. One year hence, that personal credo remains strong, as can be gleaned from various gastronomic delights I have willingly surrendered myself to.

In Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, in the restaurant with a Disney-inspired signboard just across the Akinabalu Youth Hostel, my friends and I got peppered beef, lemon chicken, chicken in buttermilk and tom yum soup. No cholesterol or brazenly hot peppers could deter starving stomachs.

This is the Restaurante "Las Palomas" in Zaragoza, Spain. Seldom would you find buffet restos in Spain so it was a pleasant surprise that in the Plaza del Pilar near the Seo del Salvador, there's a good place to eat a buffet lunch at 12 euros and -- in the afternoon -- all the tapas you could gobble (as in the Gran Buffet de Tapas!) A cheap place to eat in the heart of a tourist spot.

The name of this restaurant escapes me but it is in the area of the Piazza di San Lorenzo in Florence, Italy. Facing the church you have to take the street to the left (you don't have to enter the mercato centrale). This is pasta al pomodoro and zucchini ripieni (pasta in tomato sauce and stuffed zucchinis). I showered it with lotsa parmesan cheese, olive oil and pepperoncini; it tastes divine!

This was my family's Peking duck feast in Beijing, China. As a certified gourmet, my Dad swore not to leave China without sampling duck prepared the authentic Chinese way. While many international webpages list down Peking duck (English-speaking) restaurants that would charge you an arm and a leg for a whole bird, try roaming around to look for non-English speaker. They, like this restaurant below our hotel, have good ducks at only a third of the price.

A hefty dose of Chinese-isms

2008-08-05T07:56:00.001+08:00

Don't you just feel that everything seems very Chinese nowadays as the opening of the Beijing Olympics draws nearer? I mean, I watched yesterday the third installment of The Mummy (Brendan Fraser got more irritating, by the way) and The Dark Knight about two week ago, and it's amazing for me still how these two films unshamedly resorted to their stereotypes of China just to get the point across.

And it's even sadder that for all the efforts China has done, most news that come out in the Western media are about how inefficient and disorganized the Chinese are. And we're still not counting here how media lambasts China for Tibet and how it ridicules the country for buildings that fall even at the weakest of earthquakes.

While it is certain that China has never been the quintessential paragon of virtue for the longest time, the country can boast of a lot of things it has achieved that most people from the outside could only dream of. And for a civilization that has gone through a lot and has spanned centuries of strife and challenges, the eventual opening up of China to world is the next big thing. Besides, if China has its Tibet, America has its Cuba, Iraq, Afghanistan, etc... and no one seems to mind.

More than anything else, the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing is an occasion for the entire planet to get to know China and see it under a different light.

Arches

2008-08-04T16:51:00.000+08:00

Frequent readers of my blog know that I am fixated with heights. It is no wonder why I have lotsa pictures of domes, tall buildings and arches. Speaking of arches, I have here four of the many arches that I was able to see in Europe. Enjoy!

The arch on the Praça do Comércio (Lisboa, Portugal). This connects the Commerce Plaza to the Rúa Augusta, which in turn leads to the Praça do Rossío, the main square of Lisbon.

The Arc de Triomf (Barcelona, Spain). Built in 1888 by the Catalan architect Josep Vilaseca i Casanovas, it stands on a long promenade that leads to the zoo of Barcelona.

The arch of the necropolis (Pompeii, Italy). Though the eruption of the Vesuvius wiped out all life in this ancient city in Southern Italy, it also preserved marvelous and monumental structures such as this opening to the cemetery.

The Arc de Triomphe (Paris, France). Probably the world's most famous arch. Being the novice that we were, my friend Archie and I didn't know how to go to the arch found in the center of the rotunda of the French capital. Don't ask how we did it but suffice to say that there were a lot of horns that blared.

Them French love us Filipinos (Koh Lanta goes back to the Philippines!)

2008-07-27T08:50:00.003+08:00

Many posts back, I wrote that Koh Lanta, the French edition of the reality TV show Survivor, was filmed in the beautiful island of Palawan, the Philippines. The show introduced this tourist destination to the French-speaking public and made Palawan an even more popular vacation spot!

For its eighth season, Koh Lanta goes back to the Philippines, this time to the province of Camarines Sur (known locally among hip Pinoys as "Camsur"), on the beach of Caramoan, dubbed as the Philippines' Hidden Paradise. The beach is as glorious as those of Palawan and should really make any Filipino proud of his country.

See the opening credits of Koh Lanta, Season 8, here. And should this post pique the interest of potential tourists from here and abroad, I found this nice blog to help you organize your trip and visit us here in the Philippines soon.

PROUD TO BE PINOY!
(Photo courtesy of the Official Koh Lanta website)

IN PHOTOS: Santiago de Compostela, Spain

2008-07-25T19:12:00.001+08:00

As Christendom celebrates the day of St. James the Great, W.A.M. brings you pictures from Santiago de Compostela, Spain, a city that combines folklore with modernity, a city steeped with a rich Jacobean tradition that dates back to the Middle Ages.

Iacobvs

2008-07-24T19:15:00.003+08:00

Tomorrow, July 25, is the Catholic feast day of St. James the Great, the first martyr among the apostles of Jesus and the patron saint of Spain and of pilgrims. Incidentally, St. James is also my personal patron saint (I owe my second name to him) and when I was in Spain, my stop in his shrine in Santiago de Compostela to venerate his tomb has been obligatory and enriching.

Legend has it that decapitated body of the martyred saint was washed ashore in Galicia. The place where it landed was illumined by a star, hence the name Compostella, which came from the Latin Campus Stellae, Field of the Star. The Cathedral of St. James was later on built on the site where his remains were found and the body was buried in a silver coffin beneath the main altar.

Sancte Iacobe, ora pro nobis.

Ice cream tour in Florence

2008-07-23T18:56:00.000+08:00

One of the fondest memories I have of my short stay in Florence, Italy was the ice cream tour we did as part of the cultural immersion program of the language school where I was enrolled in. It was an afternoon filled with sweetness (literally!) and we visited the three most important gelaterie (gelato shop) of the city.

The best in my opinion is Grom (Via del Campanile, corner Via delle Oche); the gelato here is divine! My personal favorite is cioccolato fondente combined with pistacchio... on second thought, the chocolate is so thick, sweet and rich that it can stand alone. If you're in the area of the Duomo of Florence, Grom is located at the right-hand side facing the façade of the Cathedral. It's a lonely street but everyone knows where good ice cream can be found.

Perchè No (Via dei Tavolini) is the favorite of my foster family. The ambience is very modern and the servings could drown moderate eaters. It's near the area of the Piazza della Signoría, so grab some straciatella before gazing at David's naked body.

Vívoli (Via Isole delle Stinche) is located within the area of the Church of the Santa Croce. It's a family-owned place that has been in Florence for quite sometime (if I'm not mistaken it's the oldest). I was so bloated with sugar when we arrived here so what I did was to go to the salumeria (cheese and cold cuts store) in front and bought a couple of herbed goat cheese in virgin olive oil.

(Dedicated to Walter, Marc, Flor, Jenni and all friends from the world over who shared a cup of ice cream with me in Firenze! Mi mancate troppo.)

Graceful ways of growing old

2008-07-22T19:28:00.000+08:00

As the Beijing Olympics draws near (and with it, the disgusting amount of bad publicity), I can't help but smile as a browse through my slice-of-life pictures from China.

It was a fine weekend and the Chinese are out on the streets to enjoy the sun and do their exercise. Talk about being prepared for the Games! If these pics are any indication, luck seems to be on their side.

Passerà

2008-07-21T07:50:00.001+08:00

Most people who have heard the Italian song Passerà probably know the pop-opera version of Il Divo. But the original (and better!) version was originally sung by the great Aleandro Baldi for the 1994 San Remo Festival. It's a very inspirational song that gets you going even when it seems difficult.

"In un mondo di automobili e di gran velocità... per chi arriva sempre ultimo, per chi si dice addio, per chi sbatte negli ostacoli della diversità... Le canzoni sono lucciole che cantano nel buio. Passerà prima o poi questo piccolo dolore che c'e' in te, che c'e' in me, che c'e' in noi. E ci fa sentire come marinai in balia del vento e della nostalgia... a cantare una canzone che non sai come fa. Ma quel piccolo dolore che sia odio, o che sia amore passerà."

(In a world of vehicles of great speed, for those who come last, for those who say goodbye, for those who falter in the obstacles of diversity... Songs are like fireflies that sing in the dark. The pain that is in you, that is in me, that is in all of us shall pass sooner or later. And it will make us feel like sailors at the mercy of the wind and remembrance... upon singing a song you do not even know how to sing. But that little pain, whether it be hatred or love, shall all pass.)

W.A.M. celebrates its 1st year!

2008-07-17T21:15:00.001+08:00

WOW! The World According to Marlon (W.A.M.) celebrated its first birthday on July 9. What started out as a form of catharsis is now a labor of love... as well as a page teeming with bragging rights. Here are the various headers that graced W.A.M. throughout this year. THANKS TO ALL LOYAL READERS! I really appreciate your comments!

IN PHOTOS: Paris, France

2008-07-14T17:51:00.000+08:00

The magic of Paris, France is so powerful that it can be sensed even in photos. I have repeated many times that one doesn't even have to enter any place to feel its power. The streets of Paris, its many buildings and spires, and the venerable Seine that dissects the city speak of why this City of Lights is special for many people the world over.

Coffee or tea?

2008-07-14T08:47:00.000+08:00

Coffee. Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia. I'm no big coffee fan but Malaysian coffee is the best in the world! This is what's called in Malay as Kopi "O" (without condensed milk). The one with milk is Kopi "C." Best served with ice on a hot day in Borneo.

Tea. Beijing, China. Of course, when in China, the best way to spend a quiet afternoon or a tired evening is with the myriad of teas available. My personal favorite is jasmine tea. It smells divine and is very comforting.

Trees

2008-07-09T21:23:00.001+08:00

I often find myself looking upwards whenever I travel (which is probably the reason why I am fixated with ceilings). In the absence of roofs, however, I do feel happy with fronds and branches. Want some proof?

Assisi, Italy. Olive trees that lead to the Church of San Damiano where St. Francis of Assisi received his calling of rebuilding the church.

Cordoba, Spain. Orange trees that dot the patio of the Mezquita-Catedral, the mosque-turned-Catholic in this former capital of the caliphate of Moslem Spain.

Beijing, China. Pine trees that lavishly decorate the Summer Palace.