Manila,Queen City of the Pacific 1938

I just thought i´d show this film about Manila taken before World War II....courtesy of travelfilmarchive videos.

It was quiet a pleasant surprise for me to see how was the life of the filipinos before the war. Some buildings and bridges still exist and are well preserved and of use to this date.Not much has been changed in the downtown district of old manila since except for the transit,the passenger jeepneys that replaced the "Karetela" or "Karamata "on the road,the way most filipinos dressed now and the way we immediately acostumed to the western ways & mentality. No longer are the typical filipina dress called Maria Clara even though our lady President and her secreatary´s still use it for formal ocassions already modified & modernized.

I grew up to see my grandmother wearing the same filipina dress with long skirt down to her toes till she passed away in 1997 age 97.She never cut her long hair and never adopted to the modern fashion as most women her age did.As she has always been good to me,I also love to offer her things on her birthdays & christmas, like a nice comb to adorn her hair or a pair of a local step-in adorned with beads as she like and also materials to make her clothings. How I loved to see & look at this old family picture of my grandparents with their siblings and grandchildren after the war ( myself as a baby in my moms arms and my father next to her:))




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Hope you enjoy this video archive of Manila as I did.

Im back...Im still Around

I have´nt noticed that its been almost three months since i last posted something in my blog....the summer heat of August & September must have affected me in a way :)

But its was not the only reason,i´ve been busy surfing the net for airfares from,Lisbon-Hong Kong-Manila in December trying to get a fare price. Planning and preparation for our holidays has always been always my task as hubby has no time and patience for it.He trusted my discretion and judgement on this matter although the last word will always be his. Lol!!

Therefore,in mid September i finally bought our ticket online for a flight to Hong Kong not direct to Manila. We decided to stay a week Hong Kong ,and during this period we will also visit Macau and Guanzhou,China .I also requested my son in Mla. to buy us a ticket from HK-Mla as KLM dont fly HK-Mla and besides their airline partner that can fly us to Mla charge more than another local airline that i checked thru net. So i opted for our local airline and we manage to get a good price for it too, paying only 150.00 Euros for a one way ticket for two from Hong Kong to Manila.

Buying airline tickets online is always cheaper,you get to check on their prices and compare it to other airlines until you are satisfied with the price and can make your reservation in advance. All you need is to have a bank card where they can debit your payment.Reservation fees also are a lot cheaper than when you buy thru travel agencies.

Anyway,we shall leave on an early morning 3 hrs flight from Lisbon-Amsterdam on Dec.4, then we change plane in Amsterdam for another straight 11 hrs flight to Hong Kong to arrive the following day.In Hong Kong we´ll have a chance to adjust our body clock.Its the most difficult part during this travel because when its morning in Europe,its already the end of the day in the Far East.Time difference Europe to Far East is 8 hrs.

For now,i´m still busy replacing our summer clothes to our winter wardroves most especially hubby´s wardrove. He still works you know,therefore i need to prepare all his office winter clothings.

Yesterday,we have already adjusted our clock one hour late.The day is getting shorter and so is the temperature, thermometer is getting lower although i can still enjoy wearing a lighter clothing during the day as in summer only to change to a warmer clothes when the sun goes down.

In my last post,i promised to write about manila but as we will be in Mla within 6 weeks time,I guess i prefer to show and write about a more updated photo of Mla.

Meantime i could´nt resist to show you some photos taken during our last holiday 2 yrs ago.
Photos were taken with my friends at the newly inagurated SM shopping mall said to be the biggest in asia.



The Shopping Mall of Asia and friends photo by the seaside



Inside the shopping mall



Group picture as our shopping bag of seafoods are being weighed before cooking and another picture of our happy faces on the table before we start attacking our food.
After our dinner,we pass by the fruit market section to buy native fruits to take home.




From the shopping mall and few minutes drive from there ,picture were taken when we went to a fish market nearby to buy seafoods and have it cooked in one of the many restaurants nearby for our dinner.We were celebrating one of my friends birtday that same day. Photos were taken before the photos above

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As you can see in the photos of the fish vendors,you´ll note how fun loving and well humored the filipinos are. Oblidging to my hubby´s whim in taking photos of the filipino life and so as to show photos of what our wet markets has to offer. Hubby enjoys going to these type of places and many others to observe and take note of everything around him especially the typical way of life of the people around the world.

Philippine Holiday Part 3

We have to cut short our intended 6 days stay in Cebu.After 2 days,hubbys mood changed he does not seem to be enjoying our stay in the city center.I made him choose where he prefers to stay ,city center or beach resorts and he chose the first option. I guess he was also disappointed because we suppose to be with a friend in cebu that promised to take us arround but unfortunately she was called back to Manila while we were in Davao.Also,i think hubby was disappointed of Cebu because i told him lots of good memories about it and how i enjoyed my trips many years ago. I enjoy nature,sun and beaches whearas hubby a former seaman ( retired merchant marine officer ) he is not really very fond of the sea." 1 hour in the beach is enough, he would say to me " So you see,even if i wanted to be at the beach for the whole day,its not possible!

There was a travel agency near the hotel and i thought of taking hubby to another island.We made inquiries,booked for the ferry boat that would take us to a day trip to Tagbilaran,Bohol.Fortunetely for us ,the agency manage a seat for us for an early morning trip the following day.I think it was about an hour or hour and a half ride to the city of Tagbilaran,the capital of Bohol

Tagbilaran,Bohol

Bohol is an island province of Philippines and is the 10th largest island in the country.The most popular attraction is a natural wonder called the Chocolate Hills and the island of Panglao famous for its diving location and fine white sands,located just southwest of the city.

Upon arrival at the pier or port,there are many taxi/tourist drivers that are recognized by the authorities to take tourist around for a day tour to the island for a certain amount. I have to negociate for the amount,we paid 3,500 pesos + tip( +-50 euros which i think is too much)we still have to pay for the entrance fee, river cruise to Loboc River, 1,000 pesos / head,our lunch including the drivers lunch +- 2,500 pesos,so i guess we spend about 120-150 euros that day but worth the trip.although i would advise the would be travellers to this island to go for a package trip which would come out cheaper.



Our first stopover was a place "Sandugo" ( san means one ,dugo means blood) where the spanish explorer Miguel Lopez de Legaspi and the native king Datu Sikatuna of Bohol sealed their frienship thru blood compact cosidered to be the first international treaty of friendship between two people of different races.

Panglao Island is also seen in the backgroud.



Next stop,(photos above)was taken inside a 400 yr old the century old Baclayon Church/ Museum and another church convent as seen behind hubby´s photo.

Some photos were taken along the way

Here below, were photos taken at Loboc river during a cruise of the river up to its water source.We´ve also seen numerous caves and waterfalls along the way. Photo with the 2nd smallest primate in the world,the "Tarsiers" was taken before our cruise.



After the 30 minute river cruise,we were quite hungry and we were taken to another place where we can have a lunch buffet for 14 euros/head.Native dishes and local fruits only.Our favorite drink is the coconut juice taken straight from the tree.

With full stomach ,we then proceeded to the famous Chocolate Hills but first a stopover photo at the Mahogany forest a man made mahogany park.



The Chocolate hills is a natural wonder composed of 1,200 hills made of limestones leftovers from coral reefs during ice age when the island was submerged. The hills grass turn brown during summer days looking like chocolates,hence their name.
Note that photos of the hill were not chocolate coulored as photos were taken in Sept. still rainy season in Philippines



Last was a trip to cross the hanging bridge to see native craft on the other side. As we were already tired from our expedition of the day,we did´nt bother to see anymore what can be seen on the other side of the river. Took some photos then back at the port to wait for our ferry back to Cebu City.



The following day we were on our way to the airport to go back home to Manila the capital city of Philippines but to pass the time before the flight,we first went to the mall to have a manicure/pedicure ( hubbys favorite past time:) ),had our lunch after wards then back to the hotel to check out while our taxi driver is waiting outside to take us to the airport.Below are some more snap shots of the day up to the aircraft to fly us back to manila.





Next post will be about Manila

Philippine Holiday Part 2

Cont:Holiday Part 1 in Davao City

Forgot to mention that a week before this trip to Davao,we heard in the news about a bomb explosion in a public place that killed several people and these incidents happens from time to time since the last time i visited the city many years ago.

Davao City is in Mindanao region and is the region in Philippines that is composed of all the philippines predominantly Muslims provinces and city.
In the philippine history,the region and most of Mindanao has always been in a seperate territory which enabled it to develop its own culture and identity, therefore it has been a homeland of muslim filipinos even before the spanish colonized most of philippines in the beginning of 1565.The arab missionaries came before the spaniards and converted the natives into Islam.


I was concerned for hubbys safety and i began having 2nd thoughts wether i should take him in that region or not so i told him my preocupation,he told me we should proceed with our plans and not to worry.

After passing all thru a thorough body search,shoes( yes,we have to remove our shoes for x ray check) and baggage inspection,finally we are on board and relaxed during an hour and a half flight.
Another surprise upon arrival at davao airport was the armed military presence inside and outside the building.We were brought to our hotel by a driver who thought we were part of a group he was waiting for but as he realized we were going to the same hotel, no problem he said " I will take you first and come back later for the group"

We stayed in Davao Insular Hotel categorized as 4 star hotel,pleasant sourrounding,beach front but not suitable for swimming,hospitable staff but unfortunately rooms are not well maintained we have to request to change room because of the toilet and the air conditioning that does not function.

On our first day,there was a christian gathering coming from all over the world and they were also belited in the same hotel for a week period.So it was quite a pleasant surprise for us.As we went out to view the hotel sourroundings, we saw people of different nationalities in their own costumes, probobly the presentation and program of the day as a stage was also erected where we saw local tribes in their costumes performing their dance as shown on photos below:




Myself with the pretty and friendly local girls



Holiday Part 2 in Cebu City

Anyway,after a long busy and pleasant week in Davao, we took our next flight to Cebu City dubbed as the Queen City of the south.The mactan-Cebu Int´l Airport is just 20 minutes drive to the city.

Again,even before it was colonized ny the spaniards,Cebu was already a prosperous settlement with trade relations to China and other countries of southeast asia.

The citys is an important cultural center in philippines,the most famous landmark is the Magellan Cross which is housed in a chapel,was supposedly planted by Ferdinand magellan when he arrived in the Phil. islands in 1521.The original cross was encased in a hollow wood to prevent devotees to take it home chip bt chip.it is the symbol of the beginning of Christianity in Philippines.


Photos below:

Magellan Cross and Kiosk in the early 1900´s



A few walk from the cross is the Basilica Minore del Sto.Niño,an augustinian chruch which was elevated to the rank of minor basilica in 1965 during the 400th year aniversary of christianity in philippines.



The Taoist Temple but mostly known as chinese temple,located in Beverly Hills subdivision.Built by cebu´s substantial chinese community with an elevation of 300 meters above sea level and open to public worshipers or non worshippers alike.
A ritual among devotees is where one prays to the gods to grant ones wish.The ritual as weve seen includes washing of hands,going to the chapel barefooted and dropping two blocks of wood.If the blocks of wood are both face up then one could make a wish.If not,the devotee must come back another day for that wish.(We are not allowed to take photos inside)





Cebu photos were all taken with in the city,we did´nt go outside the city where all the beautiful beach resorts of cebu are located.Hubby was no longer in good disposition at the time. We only passed our time mostly going around Ayala Center and also enjoy the good food in one restaurant which i forgot the name.For this reason we have to cut short our intended stay in cebu.

Next post will be about another beautiful place called Bohol.

Philippine Holiday Soon!!

Finally, I will be going on holiday to Philippines few months from now. Actually it will be in December to spend christmas and new year with my family,Yuppeee!!!
I´ve been longing and looking forward for this ocassion as its been a long time since i last spend christmas holidays with my family.Hubby finally gave in to my request.

It was for this reason that i have´nt posted for long time,my head is always afloat and besides i´ve been busy preparing plans for our long holiday of 49 days.Hubby never like to be in one place during these times,there are still many places he must see that is why i need to plan everything for me also to have time to spend with my family.I always make it a point that we have few days all together in a certain place for outings.It has to be this way because my kids also work and dont have much to spend with us except during week ends or if hubby and I are not somewhere around.

During our last holiday in Sept.2006,hubby and I spent almost two weeks getting to know the Visayas and Mindanao region. Although i have been to some of those places,i have to revisit again to show him also places that i know he would enjoy.

The Philippines archipelago comprises of 7,107 islands, commonly divided into three island group,the Luzon,Visayas and Mindanao.I think i have been only to a hundreds of them therefore i am taking holiday opportunities with hubby to see more of my beautiful country.

Here are some 2006 photos taken during our 2 weeks visit in the two biggest island group outside Luzon where Manila is the Capital City.Manila is a very busy and buzzling city,a place where you will enjoy your shopping,good eateries,cultural visits.You may want to head south or north of manila for nature visits.

Philippine Eagle Park in Davao: a sanctuary for our endangered philippine eagle species Pls click photos to enlarged





The Crocodile Park in Davao







Malabagos Garden Resort and Nature Park,Davao


Me under a pergula covered with a beautiful bright red flower hanging above me whereas the other photois the resort garden restaurant where we had our lunch.


Here is a photo where the lady vendor was preparing a local fruit delight called Durian for hubby to taste.You should see his face when he tasted it,cant describe it!!



Hubby and I in our dream house ,the native house called Nipa Hut and in another photo with our native transport pulled by a carabao or rather water bufalo.This animal is also a good friend of our poor local farmers,the carabao is normally used by farmers to help prepare and till their lands before planting rice.

Last but not the least was an enjoyable day trip to Pearl Farm Beach Resort in Samal Island (originally a pearl farm before it was sold to a chain hotel)
Fee for a day trip was 1,500 Pesos or the equivalent of 23 Euros.Buffet lunch,boat trip to and from the resort,use of the resort facilities,all inclusive.all worth the trip!!




Before the boat ride and while we were inside the boat,coins were tossed to the water for the boys to dive into the water to get the coins before it plunges to the bottom.
Photos below were taken upon arrival at the resort,before and after diving into the pool and during a mouth watering buffet lunch after a swim.



Have to stop from here,this post has become too long again and also I filled it up with photos from philippines to show my dear readers the beauty of my country as seen by yours truly and of course by hubby!

Next post will be photos from Cebu City and Tagbilaran,Bohol