tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12302685763793156592024-03-14T11:39:52.261+08:00The World According to MarlonMarlonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09787778748318681017noreply@blogger.comBlogger300125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230268576379315659.post-60969812242598938442010-10-15T06:53:00.003+08:002010-10-15T07:10:37.609+08:00Scenes from the Lisbon Oceanarium (A Blog Action Day 2010 post)<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><b>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.<br /></b></span><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzLCmsLAm9pGfsk2INpJhdjK8hCfLnpUk4dVVic25UAUneOvuheoS4pwmEOvFtre6RAS3ESPh3bDb45GIaLBw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Marlonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09787778748318681017noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230268576379315659.post-34188758587651817452010-10-15T06:09:00.012+08:002010-10-15T07:11:55.332+08:00Caramoan in photos (A Blog Action Day 2010 post)<b><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">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.</span></b><b><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnSKUUdPVVddF1WuQWWX-t8lpn1xhIZimRL089FFMnZwWRp-PKxfKcgHaCySTm2qu64qUixPAT9kFcFOx4zlr6TKQ6JbLBgxKDrrPIsgNO01haI2I3ohH-GpfDHPILQWWnYwre-XDdfQ/s320/4251606017_b4bc47f340_z.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 254px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528036488352343138" /></b><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">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 </span><i><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Survivor <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">from various franchisees the world over c</span></span></i><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ame to shoot here. </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Caramoan, after all, is one of the few remaining frontiers of this once lush archipelago.</span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUgoB7EwuftlC7c9bPIB3Yjb5ieGXd4nraQMIUyccI5X1zhQywcaIh1O4SonU8Id7Fw9lEs-zvwUUgVSobbdb-VCK3C2OFCEYaaGtX7jS2mpPkbb5qtMOEOrZb5eLuLiFw5k0HqRZjAw/s320/4249507517_f96cb5d868_z.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 259px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528036493226203026" /></span></span></b></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">There has been a </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">very noticeable increase in local tourism in such a way that there have been </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">talks about </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">building an airport and </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">improving the </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">condition of the roads, something that the impoverished communities in this part of the Philippines could benefit from.</span><b></b></div><div><b><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjemrHPJXlCLze3v7axH1IigUnArfjTYBhQHs-vvtohdvl4lHdLzr6xASbgDfsBiTFgXK5joZsRita2oK8xUkhcK_YHpp5-e7tS4L1SL0BeXzgPABLs7i9QYTsZ3tPPyGZvkmd3KUMYOQ/s320/4250390295_7488ffc832_z.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 259px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528036482133043010" /></span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">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.</span></span><b></b></div>Marlonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09787778748318681017noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230268576379315659.post-82350809455105558722010-10-13T05:27:00.007+08:002010-10-15T07:07:36.917+08:00HOSTEL REVIEW: Hostal Mayrit and Hostal Ivor, Madrid, Spain<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxLPXf3bjfy_fug5qTHkaIw0No-Fm4F3LfBKq5EQEwvm_dGmG8mqnQ8sf54t3PXJEmCcpPgVp_zPWAX9A0twlMJCrqZy9qSmutl4NHOBGMMCZv29augzmtZOSBqjfjkXpWWvDRSJRXFQ/s1600/DSC00444.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxLPXf3bjfy_fug5qTHkaIw0No-Fm4F3LfBKq5EQEwvm_dGmG8mqnQ8sf54t3PXJEmCcpPgVp_zPWAX9A0twlMJCrqZy9qSmutl4NHOBGMMCZv29augzmtZOSBqjfjkXpWWvDRSJRXFQ/s320/DSC00444.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527274709282224818" /></a><b><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">OVERALL RATING: 5/5</span></b><div><b><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">DATE OF VISIT: September 11 to 13, 2010 and September 15, 2010</span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">PLUSES:</span></b><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> 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 </span><i><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Calle Arenal</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span">, which means that you're near both </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span">Puerta del Sol</span></i><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> (Spain's Kilometer Zero) and the</span><i><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Palacio Real</span></i><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">, </span><i><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Catedral de la Almudena </span></i><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">and the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span">Plaza Mayor</span></i><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">. 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. </span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">MINUSES:</span></b><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> 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. </span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span></div><div><b><a href="http://www.hostalivor.com/hotel.aspx?lang=GB&idHotel=1136" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Visit their site</span></a></b></div>Marlonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09787778748318681017noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230268576379315659.post-33619391424221331572010-10-02T07:52:00.005+08:002010-10-15T07:12:26.880+08:00Viva España (The Filipino Version)<b><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">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 </span><i><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Viva España, </span></i><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">originally sung by Manolo Escobar, in a version done by a Filipino strings group called </span><i><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Trio Latino</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span">.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span></b><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/LPTdjEaZ6ao?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/LPTdjEaZ6ao?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">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, </span><i><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">sh</span></i><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">empre). To my mind, it's the best indication of how Spanish would've sounded like had it remained a lingua franca in the archipelago.</span><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><div><div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">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. </span></div></div></div></div>Marlonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09787778748318681017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230268576379315659.post-86996550087534831472010-09-26T06:08:00.005+08:002010-10-15T07:13:58.185+08:00Ondoy, a year hence<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_HUt1ltppLe7ukGLejc1fNPC_QkSAEXEGjPFL69icjIp2ia_QJqEN4gLHdo7pgt_R1gMEXox9OV-3hAocQlSrEyGxPkmIMUm3Y7mHsf8PReWgtH_bammHkR0Ee_l8jtOpKGlGBQTwIw/s1600/pic-09230554090489.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_HUt1ltppLe7ukGLejc1fNPC_QkSAEXEGjPFL69icjIp2ia_QJqEN4gLHdo7pgt_R1gMEXox9OV-3hAocQlSrEyGxPkmIMUm3Y7mHsf8PReWgtH_bammHkR0Ee_l8jtOpKGlGBQTwIw/s320/pic-09230554090489.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520976594767368370" /></a><br /><b><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">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. </span></b><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br /></span><i><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">(Picture courtesy of the Philippines Daily Inquirer) </span></i>Marlonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09787778748318681017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230268576379315659.post-48273096183747176812010-09-11T13:55:00.003+08:002010-09-11T14:04:36.680+08:00Of Qur'ans and religious tolerance<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b>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. </b></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">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. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Christians, Muslims and Jews have for a long time prided themselves </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; ">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. </span></div>Marlonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09787778748318681017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230268576379315659.post-74656996071892846042010-09-01T06:08:00.002+08:002010-09-01T06:23:31.330+08:00Earth's most polluted cities<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/31/photos-most-polluted-plac_n_693008.html#s130666" target="_blank">This is the list</a> of the dirtiest cities on the planet. First place goes to <i>Linfen</i>, located within China's coal belt.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> 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!</span></span></span></b><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> </span></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">But if you think that pollution is a problem in poor and developing nations, think again. Guess which city got the second place. <b><i>Los Angeles</i>, USA</b>, the city with the most polluted ozone! And it's interesting that in this list are included affluent places such as <b>London </b>in the UK and <b>Phoenix</b>, USA. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; "><b>It's now time for these nations to take action. </b> </span></div>Marlonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09787778748318681017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230268576379315659.post-37642529438652437472010-08-29T17:08:00.004+08:002010-08-29T17:29:13.683+08:00Multilingual "A puro dolor"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b>People who know me know this: the song that really made me want to learn Spanish is <i>A puro dolor</i>, perhaps the greatest hit of the now defunct (re-purposed?) Puerto Rican group <i>Son By 4</i>. I first heard it as theme song of the telenovela <i>Mis tres hermanas </i>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)</b></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b><br /></b></span></div><object width="425" height="264"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/kAKVT1HWNsg?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/kAKVT1HWNsg?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="264"></embed></object><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">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 <i>The purest of pain</i>. The translation was great and was able to maintain the spunk of the original. </span><br /><object width="425" height="264"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/YUGUySygZuU?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/YUGUySygZuU?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="264"></embed></object><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">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 <i>THAT </i>brilliant! </span><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/3ch7Hws-lGc?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/3ch7Hws-lGc?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Marlonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09787778748318681017noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230268576379315659.post-52132026158321679762010-08-25T07:22:00.003+08:002010-08-25T07:28:41.800+08:00Mea culpa<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-waLXhv8lpXaDOSh4xMTQySmCw7FgJjdC4WvADkamRvoqZa1XuHAZtTcd2zQF1lTz3WiZfC0qcLO_N1qUwJezBA3lDmQHJ5DlPCThyphenhyphenWFyVE1frKMmqb7LCWi3zD_CeYjGKV_LNfXXoQ/s1600/BlackRibbon.gif"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 145px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 220px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509122228981552242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-waLXhv8lpXaDOSh4xMTQySmCw7FgJjdC4WvADkamRvoqZa1XuHAZtTcd2zQF1lTz3WiZfC0qcLO_N1qUwJezBA3lDmQHJ5DlPCThyphenhyphenWFyVE1frKMmqb7LCWi3zD_CeYjGKV_LNfXXoQ/s320/BlackRibbon.gif" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong>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. </strong></span><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">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.</span> </div>Marlonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09787778748318681017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230268576379315659.post-92105125423488975722010-08-07T12:59:00.002+08:002010-08-07T13:10:41.850+08:00In a Hindu Temple in KL<div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Well the title pretty much says it. I took this while on vacation in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. </span></b><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzhXkRSseCFHefLVme1RYHKa4o5ICeu0dEqJSkQoVsBcbfYRqprgrKG_E_6koXYxTLhy1xRee8XopwFVUo0Og' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">As luck would have it, I was there on the eve of the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Thaipusam</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">, 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.</span></span></b></div>Marlonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09787778748318681017noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230268576379315659.post-40092527789975827502010-07-10T13:18:00.005+08:002010-07-12T19:24:11.332+08:00¡A por ello!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b>España pronto va a jugar su primera final de la Copa Mundial contra Holanda. Y desde aquí en </b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Filipinas, ¿cómo pronosticamos el último partido del Mundial 2010? Esta foto a continuación lo dice todo. ¡ARRIBA ESPAÑA! </span></b><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b><br /></b></span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT5TfvBKqYRt905bdZwwJh4h_pT9itFMZufpG_f0mKVshz9a4LmgCxLjQera798KIbcqh3yn4-xE0c3-zmC93wSmt5fYzo6utPDYthiZFf5xl1jVWgQ_Z3gtTus-hXGGfxHwQNd8BKNQ/s320/4777343330_92b802f74d_b.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 243px; height: 320px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492143066306204610" /></div><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b>ACTUALIZACIÓN:</b> Pues, a estas alturas, seguro que ya sabes, querido lector, lo que pasó en el Mundial. CAMPEONES, CAMPEONES, oé. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">oé, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">oé!</span>Marlonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09787778748318681017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230268576379315659.post-35544524709319062492010-07-06T06:55:00.003+08:002010-07-06T11:22:25.520+08:00Tea at the opera<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b>The Chinese </b></span><a href="http://theworldaccordingtomarlon.blogspot.com/2008/08/afternoon-of-chinese-tea.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b>love their teas</b></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b>. And they have tea even when they </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b><a href="http://theworldaccordingtomarlon.blogspot.com/2008/03/tale-of-love-from-beijing-opera.html">watch the </a></b></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b><a href="http://theworldaccordingtomarlon.blogspot.com/2008/03/tale-of-love-from-beijing-opera.html">Peking Opera</a><span style="FONT-STYLE: normal" class="Apple-style-span">. I'm posting a video of a waiter serving tea <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal;font-family:Georgia, serif;" class="Apple-style-span" ><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b><span style="FONT-STYLE: normal" class="Apple-style-span">a la Jackie Chan </span></b></span></i></span>to audience members who came to watch opera. Camera flashes, oohs and aahs... what a perfect way to drink tea!</span></b></span></i><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzst1oOU-ciY8b69HwbVR73ksy8RQc5LAej5K3FYWlqsx6-jE7X_mrMHP8KgyrRvQSD1DEcLFJF7iZVORJppg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Marlonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09787778748318681017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230268576379315659.post-75677485094520167972010-07-04T16:58:00.003+08:002010-07-04T17:05:30.733+08:00W.A.M.'s new look and great web find!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b>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 <i>Caramoan</i>, <i>Camarines Sur</i>, the newest tourist destination in the Philippines for beach and adventure lovers. </b></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">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 <i>in public transportation</i>! The webpage is called <b><a href="http://www.metromaniladirections.com/">Metro Manila Directions</a> </b>and it provides a lot of info on jeepney routes, LRT/MRT combinations and other travel tips. Great for travelers! </span></div>Marlonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09787778748318681017noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230268576379315659.post-89908451480598530112010-07-03T10:21:00.003+08:002010-07-03T10:36:25.179+08:00The world according to Gaga<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">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. </span></b><div><br /></div><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/vwAWNIzPpl0&hl=en_US&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/vwAWNIzPpl0&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Take this acapella cover of </span><span style="font-style:italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Just Dance</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> 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.</span><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/bW5czKqT05A&hl=en_US&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/bW5czKqT05A&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">The group </span><span style="font-style:italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Noteworthy</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> of the University of California in Berkeley this super funny parody of </span><span style="font-style:italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Poker Face</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">. The Asian guy owned it. </span><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/M8PAuvxCZuM&hl=en_US&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/M8PAuvxCZuM&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">And this one I like. <i>Bad Romance</i>, as performed acapella by </span><span style="font-style:italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">On the Rocks</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> 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!</span>Marlonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09787778748318681017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230268576379315659.post-66364231562579506832010-06-29T06:29:00.004+08:002010-06-29T06:51:44.373+08:00Eating Valladolid<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b>Valladolid, the place where I studied in Spain, is not a tourist destination. Save for a few monuments of note (<i>San Pablo, Colegio de San Gregorio, Antigua</i>...), 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.</b></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b><br /></b></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdNj4R8vn-LkiVjKah5pw1qOXAQe2SCK3YrC_mb6tijUcEwS6M8kKW5TFvXDMmIEGCsbZRbHOBrqJ18IhZSL-uFmYhDjLdl2iWTduSmA8YFivW8kw0HQs9puaAZy8YZCy-cjEcETW_zg/s320/DSC01430.JPG" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487960526479420962" /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Any self-respecting Vallisoletano will be more than glad to take his visitor to sample <i>grilled sepia</i> (cuttlefish) served with garlic mayonnais<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">e</span> </b>in the bar called -- you guessed it -- <b><i>Bar </i></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b><i>L</i></b><i><b>a </b></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; "><i><b>Sepia</b></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; ">. I used to go to the branch beside the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; "><i>Ayuntamiento</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; ">, but there's another one in faraway Parquesol. At 7 euros a </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; "><i>ración</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; ">, it's a nice way to start the evening.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd48_Id68zT2xeH3FpcWCY54UyHR56lsYNixBJcRrVzF8c1HnygWwn3nqbB_wUxMGpNYX4joSy0q6eFbzMAc9Qj5y0_n7BLrZ2kotpjDuR6QvOIZMci0JURgZWfz3TM7bWSWlY8VookQ/s320/DSC01432.JPG" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487960514783152386" /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Since we're in the area, why not go to the nearby <i><b>Restaurante Bar </b></i><b><i>El Jero</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">, a haven of delectable <i>tapas</i> (with cool name, btw) that will make you go wild! I personally recommend the shrimp and boletus with peanut brittle and <i>cecina</i> with <i>dulce de membrillo. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">Be here early because people pack the place to bursting. Closed on Tuesdays. </span></i></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><br /></span></i></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcxVkCUHowj8UEsDrW5xEvQlxE_5qLmpnlEh0fbTk71CPZx02NcT21ArV_f86rH0GzBnyffMmJfORa1buuJDUWSewI18fWiUlAmSLEVszTa8NOIdyCKITv59vq9XprxaIeZOgml_iXmg/s320/DSC01428.JPG" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487960505118613250" /></span></i></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">If you're craving for something heavier, head to <b><a href="http://www.loszagales.com/" target="_blank"><i>Restaurante Los Zagales</i></a> </b>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 <i>rabo de toro </i>(bull's tail) as second plate and you'll never go wrong. </span></div></div>Marlonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09787778748318681017noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230268576379315659.post-21221290659365026782010-06-28T21:49:00.002+08:002010-06-28T21:58:16.012+08:00Good luck!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b>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. </b></span><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwwdnQzC_MJ4LQe1kHWokRzDGrztzUxbgOrxlIOb9vg86UESiO80zgsrcok0ErihNnLbePmXCgfwCk9imtP1w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">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. </span>Marlonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09787778748318681017noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230268576379315659.post-56988734560048427312010-05-17T09:28:00.003+08:002010-05-17T09:43:05.728+08:00Lukayo<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b>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: <i>San Pascual Baylon, Santa Clara de Asís </i>and<i> Nuestra Señora de Salambao</i>. </b><br /><br />While this ritual dancing is well-documented (José Rizal's <i>Noli Me Tangere</i> 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.<br /></span><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/o8L-FHjoW08&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/o8L-FHjoW08&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>(Part 1 of 6. Finish watching the entire video in Youtube)</i></span><br /><div><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">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 <i>Lukayo</i>, 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.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">A related ritual, called <i><a href="http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=342742">Baliw-Baliw</a>,</i> 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 <i>San Vicente Ferrer</i>. Both rituals are steadily being erased by Church authorities, who look down upon such traditions for their "inappropriateness".</span></div></div>Marlonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09787778748318681017noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230268576379315659.post-48221339167151448912010-03-16T07:28:00.009+08:002010-03-16T07:59:38.874+08:00Pigging out in Lisbon<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b>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</b></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv0V7GGnQOPAwmYMiWHq209A-VpLg4RSJi-KkE2vPpsDCYuFLM9wmAdfXqt3GwTC9ky4_7u3bV8Uj3n2BvgX5tqCFPF04HtBraRhyAP0R9JsT1SulyjSWoe1mJWJ-2fNcEKDDbt9Iwew/s1600-h/DSC01233.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv0V7GGnQOPAwmYMiWHq209A-VpLg4RSJi-KkE2vPpsDCYuFLM9wmAdfXqt3GwTC9ky4_7u3bV8Uj3n2BvgX5tqCFPF04HtBraRhyAP0R9JsT1SulyjSWoe1mJWJ-2fNcEKDDbt9Iwew/s320/DSC01233.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449011064423496610" /></a><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b>Bacalhoeiro, Rua dos Sapateiros 224, Baixa. </b>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. <i>Rua dos Sapateiros</i> is the street immediately to the right of <i>Rua Augusta</i> 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.</span></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZF3pcEtBA9q2gyiIByLLAsgIoXATWglx-Oof1_a2_0-jzvZkDxz3KFecaVQghtwcmZKJ7bdF_z5okUdmdfc4hN4RvFAqhzgauKUTNw_ORJ_qYOaQKcohZSVqs9A8-wJ_LeH805JzDPQ/s1600-h/DSC01298.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZF3pcEtBA9q2gyiIByLLAsgIoXATWglx-Oof1_a2_0-jzvZkDxz3KFecaVQghtwcmZKJ7bdF_z5okUdmdfc4hN4RvFAqhzgauKUTNw_ORJ_qYOaQKcohZSVqs9A8-wJ_LeH805JzDPQ/s320/DSC01298.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449011073697651410" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b><br /></b></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b>Casa da India, Rua do Loreto 49-51, Bairro Alto.</b> 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.</span></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibtjasU8e-qmDmuAt_nrvy5Yqh5CQrQw1Egjs1bFFMgw92lELOckC65wVzl8Cu6arAzX1K6yMctE8H85YITEIgBlLWE29_tRSQMz2fqmk3VSbfPL2-ajktssogHrDzAhtvs0BnOTel6Q/s1600-h/DSC01179.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibtjasU8e-qmDmuAt_nrvy5Yqh5CQrQw1Egjs1bFFMgw92lELOckC65wVzl8Cu6arAzX1K6yMctE8H85YITEIgBlLWE29_tRSQMz2fqmk3VSbfPL2-ajktssogHrDzAhtvs0BnOTel6Q/s320/DSC01179.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449011053317888978" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b>Clube do Fado, Rua de São João da Praça 95 (beside the Cathedral).</b> 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.</span></div>Marlonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09787778748318681017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230268576379315659.post-11886697117737440122010-03-16T07:09:00.003+08:002010-03-16T07:23:15.126+08:00My fado night in Lisbon<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">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. </span><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyBJPOQZZcDgxVMUIy_K_eCnD8R5FnTltvIVhdadzsJw0npoveCg8TGdO1_UkJxy_rlTDEQm_1uoY8onkeI6w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">In the end, I decided to go to Portugal, mainly because of food and music. This was when <a href="http://theworldaccordingtomarlon.blogspot.com/2009/07/tudo-isto-e-fado.html">I had just discovered <i>fado</i></a> and wanted to listen to it in an honest-to-goodness <i>fado</i> house. So I googled for a<i> fado</i> 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. </span><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><a href="http://www.clube-de-fado.com/" target="_blank">Clube de Fado</a> 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. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> </span></div></div>Marlonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09787778748318681017noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230268576379315659.post-41589976582784531102010-01-24T17:01:00.002+08:002010-01-24T17:07:44.777+08:00The last note for today is brought to you by... Charice Pempengco!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b>Something to bring a smile to Pinoys the world over. Singing sensation Charice Pempengco returned to Italy and conquered Italians effortlessly. </b></span><br /><br /><object width="320" height="265"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/y0ma7DMAy9Q&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/y0ma7DMAy9Q&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="320" height="265"></embed></object><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">In this show <i>Io Canto</i> (I sing), she once again performed her staple repertoire and sang, for the first time, in Italian. The piece? <i>Adagio</i> (Slowly), a Lara Fabian original, if I'm not mistaken. A happy news to begin the week with. </span>Marlonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09787778748318681017noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230268576379315659.post-31015201579067470052010-01-20T07:26:00.004+08:002010-07-05T16:44:53.456+08:00HOSTEL REVIEW: Rex Tourist Inn, Caramoan, Camarines Sur, Philippines<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLA71LJyMseLZUBj4OLwQ1chPVkfNfU6K1x1zCLPCO0_4kFc9YMLxN0as_ECFBstHlvq5Nxr8eVVcFr4NW9qcykJKM1iCvLXsCd0s9_Ilcpm3TGe_K3oqYhjMwof3tkKgXTTPRZYyxCQ/s1600-h/DSC01693.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLA71LJyMseLZUBj4OLwQ1chPVkfNfU6K1x1zCLPCO0_4kFc9YMLxN0as_ECFBstHlvq5Nxr8eVVcFr4NW9qcykJKM1iCvLXsCd0s9_Ilcpm3TGe_K3oqYhjMwof3tkKgXTTPRZYyxCQ/s320/DSC01693.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428600218634956802" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b>OVERALL RATING: 2/5</b></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b>DATE OF VISIT: January 2 to 5, 2010</b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b>PLUSES: </b>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. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b>MINUSES: </b>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. </span></div>Marlonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09787778748318681017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230268576379315659.post-84081816152963302512010-01-15T08:26:00.003+08:002010-01-15T08:40:52.661+08:00Surviving Caramoan (Part II)<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b>My dormmate from Spain and I went to Caramoan in search of adventure. And boy did we get the adventure we're looking for! </b></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2iVA4wUpt_ixophlBvRdotpxDZuWDmZI4iy4y0XS_AT72QsgW0ZKeZQfljgOg21jB6jWGD7OCAtiW86jAsFXAQCCCzYoLxd9n6KvJEcMkpjs8Af39SAiZqfcJ2JHprj0WTTcqAzovDA/s320/DSC01471.JPG" style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426760030732559154" /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">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. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">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.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">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. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><i>(To be continued...)</i></span></div>Marlonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09787778748318681017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230268576379315659.post-85885937122370063302010-01-06T11:57:00.006+08:002010-01-06T12:22:02.058+08:00Surviving Caramoan (Part I)<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; font-family:'trebuchet ms';">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.</span></div><br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU-kYd2liQP654JPtm3C1zuCEOpaUxYsXfKhwYnoSNnYlUpp2WFi47mNNy33uGunKFUzFj3uCSitRKyGwx-RJOYiOisPgfZE1ZaMTrI87FnBgkClqa7RGRvjg5IqTlGIf7u7Hrq4PrNg/s320/DSC01771.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423475776785427970" /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">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.</span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlC_HUxfvrw7Ckz3XZusRpuC5pfh90w-QASs1cVy-4nMhBOLaQo4uO9YRN0kXAphWE6tyPtcWyU6WspHSgeEErLhWOMaELd58ws29Plm2ZKcYoYkhfy7aXXgKuKhhsi50In6SvO2ak2Q/s320/DSC01746.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423475763527664306" /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">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.</span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJHAyIaHqGB_45Vumc_TgFkl-R0c4dgyGwfY0k3XSVTPOYQDIro1zmS4P-6EK7D2yeVBkFY_lJteFiKknJ4QK2WxliVeHN-kWSiR7h8QFvFSjIrPcao6j9UnDFPWHrT4ePFuyuHVirw/s320/DSC01625.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423475764169584162" /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><i>(To be continued...) </i></span></b></span></div>Marlonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09787778748318681017noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230268576379315659.post-46433205989411643902009-12-10T06:22:00.002+08:002009-12-10T06:50:32.553+08:00HOSTEL REVIEW: Pensao Nova Sintra, Sintra, Portugal<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong>OVERALL RATING: 5/5</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong>DATE OF VISIT: November 6-8, 2009 </strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong></strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjEGj0wpm0hclNKUsGtVwuER8EemrFV-vsZixbCQUN1Pc2EIr3StYoBmv2HXIvrT9Uy4AuGdeGrlpMrJ8jS9w-cUz5xASJDA7uWj9ohagUkMo0K8-syJsHI4pEvsSOPwgYxEKAGeHpRg/s1600-h/DSC01299.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413366091083621938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjEGj0wpm0hclNKUsGtVwuER8EemrFV-vsZixbCQUN1Pc2EIr3StYoBmv2HXIvrT9Uy4AuGdeGrlpMrJ8jS9w-cUz5xASJDA7uWj9ohagUkMo0K8-syJsHI4pEvsSOPwgYxEKAGeHpRg/s320/DSC01299.JPG" /></a>PLUSES: </strong>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 (<em>it almost looks as if it has come out of a vintage postcard or an Audrey Hepburn movie!</em>) 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 (<em>case in point: my phone charger got broken and Rui had another charger to spare</em>). 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 <em>churrasquería </em>(a stand for roasting meat to go) and grab a few humongous slabs of beef or pork or chicken. </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong></strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong>MINUSES: </strong>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.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><strong><a href="http://www.novasintra.com/" target="_blank">Visit their website</a></strong></span>Marlonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09787778748318681017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230268576379315659.post-11491838354821066012009-11-23T15:47:00.003+08:002009-11-23T15:55:06.984+08:00Hope against hopelessness<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbkbinbcax2vaJO0LVJiTBg23q8bbBuqfJDWwQop4xXesXHAtYVE9Ep_chLotmLRNDdfJq8KGfahcx9168-XEXzYI4StQ3W6R8SMeqv2fqEnv9WHfe0sbG0TjkiYZSH4QSz1fY2wSl_Q/s1600/104982793-have-you-voted-for-efren-pe-aflorida-as-cnn-hero.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 281px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407204441931852530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbkbinbcax2vaJO0LVJiTBg23q8bbBuqfJDWwQop4xXesXHAtYVE9Ep_chLotmLRNDdfJq8KGfahcx9168-XEXzYI4StQ3W6R8SMeqv2fqEnv9WHfe0sbG0TjkiYZSH4QSz1fY2wSl_Q/s320/104982793-have-you-voted-for-efren-pe-aflorida-as-cnn-hero.jpg" /></a><br /><div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong><a href="http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20091123-237841/RP-pushcart-educator-CNN-hero-of-the-year" target="_blank">The best news the Philippines</a> 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.</strong></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong>Congratulations, EFREN PEÑAFLORIDA JR., CNN's Hero of the Year! <em>Mabuhay ka!</em> </strong></span></div></div>Marlonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09787778748318681017noreply@blogger.com0