Ferdz, a fellow pinoy travel blogger, an awesome photographer, and a non-high maintenance hiker (at least not that I know of, heehee), invites everybody to his first solo photo exhibit at the Alcove Perspective, Filipinas Heritage Library on May 12-27, 2008.

ABOUT THE EXHIBIT
From time immemorial, civilizations have thrived and lived near bodies of water. The reason is crystal-clear: water is vital to man’s existence. It is the reason why this exhibition pays homage to water and its significance to how and why people live by the water. Featuring photos that tell stories about the coastal Filipinos’ living conditions, reveal their culture, and relate their stories of survival.

The exhibit will carry a raft of striking images from across our archipelago. The Badjao Stilt Villages of Basilan. The Muslim Stilt Village of Rio Hondo in Zamboanga. The fishermen of Siquijor. The T’bolis of Lake Sebu. The rugged shores of Itbayat in Batanes. And the tranquil coasts of Iloilo.

ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPHER
Ferdinand is a travel photographer and award-winning blogger. A graduate of Fine Arts, Major in Advertising at the Far Eastern University, he got started on film photography during his college years. He worked as a graphic artist and web designer for three years, pursuing photography as a hobby.

Landing his first publication job as an Art Director enabled him to embark on a new career as a professional travel photographer. Getting his fair share of freelance jobs and assignments, his works eventually got published in a number of travel magazines both here and overseas.

His website Ironwulf.net: En Route at www.ironwulf.net, is the chronicle of his many travels and insightful photography. It has received recognition from the both local and international media.

I’ve long been a fan of Ferdz’s work (both his blog and his photos) , and I was so happy that I was able to meet and travel with him three weeks ago. His photos, from what I’ve seen in his blog and his flickr are simply breathtaking. I’m looking forward to seeing what he’ll put up for the exhibit.

For more information about this exhibit or just to read about Ferdz’s travels, head on to Ironwulf.net.

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This weekend seems to be packed with events that you’re spoilt for choice. Rather, make that overwhelmed with options that you wouldn’t know which one to attend!

I will be going to two: The Aliwan Fiesta with Mr. Byahilo.com, and a bunch of Couch Surfing Manila members. Afterwards, we’ll be headed to a CS Manila birthday bash. My first CS party!

The Aliwan Fiesta is a yearly event anticipated by the many. Organized by the media outfit Manila Broadcasting Company (MBC), the Aliwan Festival aims to promote the rich, colorful and vibrant festivals of the Philippines. Through the Aliwan Fiesta, one does not need to hop from one island to another just to experience the non-stop streetdancing, and the loud drumbeating. No need to take a bus and roam all over Luzon and fly to Visayas or sail the high seas going to Mindanao. It’s all being carried here in the country’s capital, Manila. Get the chance to see Cebu City’s Sinulog Festival represented by the Lumad Basakanon perform their Dance ritual. See the Tribu Paghida-et of Iloilo City’s Dinagyang Festival perform their dance routine. It’s also your chance to see other equally colorful and beautiful festivals like the General Santos’ Kalilangan Festival, Zamboanga City’s Hermosa festival, Baguio City’s Panagbenga Festival and Maguindanao’s Padang-padang Festival. Its seeing all the country’s best all in just one sitting.

Source: Byahilo.com

Since the the CS party would be held at the pool deck of one of the condominium buildings lining the Roxas boulevard, I was wondering if we’d be able to see the fireworks at the 3rd World Pyrolympics at the Mall of Asia?

WORLD PYRO SATURDAYS OF MAY
May 3
7.30pm China’s The Glorious Group
9.00pm Germany’s Nico Lunig Event

May 10
7.30pm Canada’s Pyro Studios
9.00pm France’s Fetes et Feux

May 17
7.30pm Italy’s Parente Fireworks
9.00pm Venezuela’s Venefuegos Fireworks C.a.

May 24
7.30pm South Korea’s Hanwha Corporation
9.00pm Australia’s Explosive Productions Pty Ltd

May 31
7.30pm Fellowship of Fire - Collaboration of all Countries with Philippines
9.00pm Philippines! La Mancha Pyromusical Grand Finale

Source: Our Awesome Planet

On the otherhand, a lot of bloggers I know are headed to Greenhills this Saturday, for the Man Blog’s Banana Gangbang Rock Festival.

To the truckloads of fans of The Man-Blog (TMB), here’s your chance to see this awesometastic blog’s denizens do something other than entertain you with finely written dickery. TMB will be having a gig dubbed “The Banana Gangbang Rock Festival” happening on May 3, 2007 at Bela Bar in Greenhills, San Juan.

Marco Palinar, Mike Villar, Ade Magnaye, and Lauren Dado’s bands will be performing. BAM-BAM-BAM-BAM! You’re bound to eargasm four times right there and right then!

Source: Fritzified.com

Or if you choose to stay at home, why not work on your Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf story? Who knows, you just might end up winning a trip to Hollywood!

Share and inspire others with your passion.

Remember your first date over soul-warming cups of Chai Latte? Or when you landed that important business deal over Cappucino? And how relaxing your Me-Time felt curled up in the couch with your Double Vanilla Ice Blended?

The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf invites you to share your most memorable experiences at The Bean online by joining My Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf Story. Tell us what’s brewing and get a chance to win a trip to Hollywood, Los Angeles, USA for 4 days and 3 nights, with accommodations and pocket money.

Source: What’s your Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf Story?

So, where are YOU going this weekend?

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The wedding party started assembling at Paco Park, and Eric and I took that as our cue to leave. It wasn’t long since my last visit to Luneta, but I wanted to visit again to see the gardens that were closed during Good Friday. Eric wanted to see the new Kilometer Zero marker, and we made that our first stop.

Having too much fun with the ball

Similar to our previous visit, Jose Rizal’s Monument was the highlight and starting point of most visitors. Along with the handful of Filipino families having their pictures taken with this famous landmark are the busloads of Korean and Japanese tourists. After a quick photo session, we walked away from where the tour groups are headed. The Artist’s Haven, which I was most looking forward to was still closed, so we went to check out the Chinese Garden instead.

Chinese Garden at the Rizal Park

I know I should’nt compare, but it’s hard not to. The only Chinese Garden I’ve been to was the one in Sydney. I loved it tremendously; it was very tranquil inside. The Chinese Garden in Manila tried very hard to have all the elements of a Chinese Garden. However, probably due to our climate, some of the flora wouldn’t thrive in Manila. Also, its location prety much kills the mood. The Manila Chinese Garden in Luneta was almost next to the busy roads so you can hear the traffic. It was also situated right next to the Open Air Auditorium. Just as we were about to leave, the crew next door (for there was going to be a function of some sort) decided to test out their sound system, and Shaggy’s raggae beat filled the air. Then again, for only Php 5.00, I really shouldn’t complain and compare. It turns out that the Chinese Garden wasn’t so bad; the Japanese Garden was worse. Now, I haven’t been to Japan or to any Japanese garden, but I’m pretty sure they don’t include a yellow pond/lagoon. Like the Chinese Garden, the Japanese Garden was right next to the street, so good luck finding Zen there.

Lapu-Lapu at the Agrifina Circle

It was getting pretty late and we were both getting hungry. We decided to check out Agrifina Circle, where the Orchidarium, Lapu-Lapu’s statue and the Department of Tourism was. Agrifina Circle has a special place in my memories. When I was still working for the travel magazine, I would always go to the DOT office to attend Press Conferences and other DOT events. Agrifina Circle and Orchidarium was also featured in one of my unforgettable trips for work.

Unfortunately, the Orchidarium was closed, for an indefinite period of time (a shame, really). Lapu-Lapu was there, as usual. But I tell you, there was this one time that he wasn’t! And that was just a couple of months after I took a photo of him standing in that very spot.

Dong Bei’s Handiwork Noodles

Eric and I made our way to Taft Avenue to catch a jeep going to Divisoria. Alighting in front of the Binondo Church, we made a beeline for Dong Bei Restaurant on Nueva Street (Yuchengco was the name in the street sign). Sharing a plate of fresh dumplings and a bowl of “handiwork” noodles, it was a perfect end to a great afternoon spent in Manila.

Of course, that didn’t end there. We continued walking along Ongpin street to Sta. Cruz, then walked on to Quiapo where we went our seperate ways — Eric to the LRT station, and me to ride the jeep bound for Proj. 8.

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I can easily count the number of times I have been to Paco Park: three times. And that already includes the time I went there two weeks ago with Eric, the blogger behind Byahilo.com. The first one was for a cousin’s wedding. It was held at night and I think I was just starting high school then. The second one was two years ago, when my sister and I were doing rounds of churches in Manila for a wedding we were supposed to plan. I never really got to explore the grounds, so when Eric asked for a good place to go on a Saturday, the first thing that rolled off my tongue was Paco Park.

Inside Paco Park

Neither one of us knows how to go there, though. The last time I went there with my sister, I vaguely remembered that we took a cab from SM Manila, and in less than 5 minutes we were there. The cab merely drove straight for a couple of blocks; the fare never even went past Php 40. When Eric and I took the same route, however, the taxi driver suddenly turned left at the first corner. He must know of an alternative route, I thought. Five minutes later, we were still on the road and though I’m not that familiar with Manila, I know we were driving away from where Paco Park is. When I reminded the driver for the second time that we wanted to go to Paco Park, he mutters, “Oh, I thought you wanted to go to…” Yeah, right. The Php 40 cab fare became Php 90, including a mini tour of Manila.

St. Pancratius Chapel

Excitement quickly overshadowed all traces of annoyance towards our driver. Just the sight of Paco Park’s walls was enough to dispel any negative vibes. We paid the Php 5.00 entrance fee to the park and wandered in. St. Pancratius Chapel inside Paco Park is one of the favorite choice for weddings in Manila. Last time I went to Paco Park, there were tables set up for a wedding reception in the grounds. This time, there weren’t any tables, but the old couple decked out in their finest piña tells us there’s going to be a ceremony in the chapel that afternoon.

Chapel interiors

The chapel is usually padlocked. There’s no way to see its interiors unless there’s a wedding. We got there just as the organizers were setting up. Sneaking inside the now opened chapel doors, we see a small but elegant chapel. It may not be as fancy as the Manila Cathedral or the San Agustin Church; its simplicity is its main attraction. Not to mention the fantastic park.

Crypts along the inner wall

If you think about it, the park is pretty creepy. The inner walls are actually crypts, and some have been cracked open (though empty). Paco Park was a former cemetery, and it used to be the resting place of four notable figures in Philippine history: the three martyred priests, Mariano Gomez, Jose Apolonio Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora; and our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal.

Moe and Rui bringing flowers to Jose Rizal’s grave

Similar to Fort Santiago, there are steps going up the thick stone walls. Walking around the perimeter gives you a different perspective on the park grounds. It also shows you the nooks and crannies where couples go to for some semblance of privacy.

Walking the walls

Paco Park ranks high in my list of places to visit in Manila. This recent visit re-affirms that. Though it’s a great place to chill with friends, you have to remember that there is a chapel and it was a former cemetery.

How to get there: Flyphilippines.info shares this intruction on how to go to Paco Park by public transport: “from Taft Avenue corner Padre Faura Sts., hail a PUJ ato Paco and get off along Padre Faura, and take a 7-minute walk to the park.”

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While other real estate developers are focusing on their properties south of Manila, Filinvest encourages future home owners to move east to Havila. To showcase what the Province of Rizal has to offer, Havila invited members of the media to tour the Philippine’s art capital: Angono Rizal.

Admittedly, Rizal is not a place I would think to go to. The only time I remember going to Rizal was when we toured the historical churches in Rizal and Laguna ten years ago. I never thought there would be that much art in Rizal. I’m not that cultured, you know?

First in our itinerary was the house of National Artist, Carlos “Botong” Francisco, on Doña Aurora Street. The house where the National Artist used to live and paint is also the site of his grandson’s Second Gallery. Carlos “Totong” Francisco II welcomed us to his grandfather’s home and told us more about Botong’s art.

Paintings by Botong Fransisco

Doña Aurora Street itself is a great art destination. The street boasts of murals depicting the National Artist’s paintings in cement.

A new mural artist Charlie Anorico is working on.

And in the corner, we saw a colorful wall with the most amazing decoration:

Sa Ugoy ng Duyan

The corner lot was dedicated to National Artist for Music, Lucio San Pedro, who also hails from Angono. The words and melody of his Ugoy ng Duyan, the most recognizable lullaby in the Philippines, is inscribed in concrete, paint and metal work.

Balaw Balaw Specialty Restaurant

After a quick look at the San Clemente Church, we headed on to our lunch destination: the Balaw Balaw Restaurant. Known mainly for its menu of exotic meats (frog, cricket, duck, beetle, cow butts and balls), the restaurant also serves as a gallery for Perdigon Vocalan’s art.

With our tummies full, we walked to the corner for our next stop: the Nemiranda Art House. Housing the Angono School of Arts, the Nemiranda Gallery is headed by artist Nemesio R. Miranda, and the collection includes paintings by his children. We were welcomed by Katrina Miranda Tuazon, who quickly demonstrated how to draw a still life in pastel.

Second and third generation artists

Our last stop in Angono was the Blanco Family Museum. Parents Jose (”Pitok” and Loring and their seven children are all artists, and their work are all simply astounding. They all follow the school of Realism, and each painting in the gallery are truly remarkable. They capture the character of their subject and are able to clearly express the feelings of each scene.

Victoria at the Blanco Family Museum

Amazing paintings aside, I couldn’t resist taking a photo of these two:

What are you looking at?

We headed out of Angono and drove into Binangonan to see the Angono Petroglyphs. These petroglyphs are the oldest known work of art in the Philippines. Carved out in the rock wall, these petroglyphs are a National Cultural Treasure.

Angono Petroglyphs in Binangonan. The easiest way to get there is through Antipolo. Identity crisis much?

The tour was headed by tour guide extraordinaire, Alan Nativida. An art and history buff, he’s the perfect guide for touring Angono. If you’re interested to commission Alan’s services, you can contact him through his mobile: +63 919 5111610.

A big thanks to Havila for taking me to discover Angono’s rich art culture. I never would have thought to go there if you haven’t invited me.

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