Manila one step at a time

Quiapo Church

Itinerary: Start at Quiapo church, walk around Hidalgo to  Carriedo then the Sta. Cruz church passing by the fountain. Go straight to Ongpin street and enjoy the chinese delights and the food to Binondo Church. Walk through Quentin Paredes and cross Jones' bridge and slowly walk your way to Magallanes Drive. Welcome to the gates of Intramuros (well not literally). hehe

Sta. Cruz Fountain

I have been doing Manila City tour for a couple of times for work before and I admit that I didn’t like memorizing the dates and information; I did it simply because I had to, because it was my job. Today during my Costa cruise ship city tour I felt something different like a sense of pride and certainty about telling the tourists about Manila, my Manila and how I saw it. Never had I felt the confidence to talk about its history, glory and most especially its people. This new vigor and enthusiasm of mine is thanks to the Manila walking and photo tour I did with Tumblr friends. It was actually a short notice since I just saw in my dashboard that there was this kind of meet up. I don’t know anyone but this was one opportunity that I didn’t want to miss since I have so longed to walk through old manila with my camera and some friends to share our experience (and even road shortcuts) and love for Manila. I was the oldest in the group, and man these kids really knew Manila so I had to learn history through them and the people we met along the way. I was overwhelmed with all the Filipino culture, I saw through passing by the streets and seeing the daily normal activities of the people. From the vendors in Quiapo, the fortune tellers (which I had tried), the people on the sidewalk, the children playing in Pasig river. Our interaction with these people was priceless. We were causing traffic in Jones bridge while playing and meddling with the kids (they  showed us the janitor fish they caught while swimming in the Pasig River), the kalesas passing by, the smile of the jeepney drivers wanting us to take their photos and the curious glances of people.

children playing in Ilog Pasig

they caught a fish!

Binondo church

welcome to china town

happy smiles

with bubbles!

Pasig River Cruise

Mabuhay and welcome to the Pasig Cruise!

Yes everyone, you heard me right it’s the Pasig River cruise. We embarked at the Escolta station around 5:15 pm on a rainy Thursday afternoon (that’s why the shots weren’t so clear because it was raining and couldn't go to the deck). I was surprised to see a lot of people taking this cruise as serious means of transportation (from China town/divisoria to Makati and Pasig). It can really be a good way to prevent traffic especially during the rush hour. I was surprised to hear that this cruise has been going on for more than two years now; it could be a possible tourist attraction for those who want to see Manila on a cruise like the Seine Cruise! Pasig River was on a better condition sans the smell. This tour is really worth a try!

Escolta (Manila) station to Guadalupe (Makati) took us about 55 minutes.  We passed by beautiful bridges, oil depots, The majestic Malacanang Palace (where taking photos was forbidden by the way) to the beautiful Makati and Ortigas skylines. We arrived at the Guadalupe Station almost past 6pm and the view from the river changed dramatically capturing all reflections in its waters. The rain stopped so I got the chance to view everything from the deck where I saw everything surrounding the Pasig River and the cool air touching my face.

refreshment stand while waiting outside the station

thanks to my sister who went with me :) 

Escolta Station. Post office in front

Bridge Art

oil depots we passed along

EDSA billboards

Under the Quezon Bridge

ending our trip with authentic Pinoy food. 

If you wanna try the cruise you can start from Plaza Mexico or the Escolta Station which is near the Jone’s bridge. If you just want to cruise around then you can get off at Guadalupe Station (the cruise has around 18 stops). Sorry but I lost the time schedules but there’s a ferry every 30 minutes starting 6 am. We only paid 40php for the trip!

For more pictures visit : pusakaldiaries.tumblr.com

Massage me the Ton Ton's way

http://southbound.ph/blog/2008/08/07/trying-out-ton-ton-thai-massage/The rates are so affordable

I love having massages once in a while. It relaxes me and releases all the negative energies I have. I am always eager to try new spa and massage parlors but there is something about Ton Ton's massage that keeps me coming back for more.

I first tried Ton Ton in Cebu at Fuente Osmena. At first I wasn't at ease because there were no private rooms and only curtains to separate you from the other clients. Privacy aside, what's more important to me in a massage is the tenderness, stretching and pressure points; luckily Ton tons have all that. Every time I get a massage from this place I always pray that it would take longer.Each step of the massage is better than the last, its just so good.

There are ticklish parts like when applying pressure on the thighs, and legs (they will ask you how you like it, and I like it hard baby!). But the head massage and the neck part is really stress busting! Can I say they just know where to hit you at the right spot/s! And what's great is that they will finish the massage with a little bit of stretching, one full swing that will make your bones crack to the left then to the right, perfect!

To top it all is the price. Only 250 PHP for an hour massage, well almost 300 if you are generous enough to give a tip or more!

PS.

Good news to Manila people because they have  branches in Las Pinas, BF homes Paranaque,Tagaytay and I heard one in Makati and Congressional as well. Ton ton's massage is really worth a try.

Exploring Maribojoc

This is one of my published articles while I was writing last year for "Make My Trip Travel TV" in their Bohol Sunday Post section. I miss deadlines and pressure. Now venturing in the blogging world could be at least a source of pressure in some way for me to keep it updated. But I am still in a quest, what will I write about? I originally intended this blog for travelling, but I don't see myself in a travel adventure anytime soon. They say that your blog should concentrate on a central topic, but what if you want to talk about a lot of things? Well, anything goes, it will be a process of trial and error I guess.

http://www.maribojocbohol.com/exploring-maribojoc-bohol-philippines/

Jeepney drivers versus the so- called "Call boys"

photo from cgstock.com

The jeepney has been a common form of transportation of the Filipino masses or the proletarians. It is everything Filipino aside from the fact that it’s cheap, it’s accessible and it has become part of every average Juan’s daily  life. Some of bourgeois and the upper class prefer not to ride the Philippines’ King of the Road because of safety reasons (if you know what I mean), discomfort (when full is like a can of sardines) and the pollution (some jeepneys are smoke belchers). 

Being a member of the lower class I took a jeepney and sat on the front seat on my way home one night. As I sit beside the driver I attentively observed how he maneuvered the steering wheel, accepted the money from the passengers, shifted gears, computed and gave change to the passengers simultaneously sans effort. The eight kilometer trip way home made me realize that this guy ain’t got an easy job. Although you don’t need to pass a test to become one, being a jeepney driver really requires some serious skills that I think they learn along the way in order  to survive the locomotive jungle of the Metropolitan Manila. You need articulation, determination, alertness, preciseness, tenacity, accuracy not to mention patience and a strong will with a twist of faith.

In the middle of our course the jeepney stopped to load more passengers on a stop point. I was astounded when I saw a young man approach the driver and asked for money, this was the man who was shouting the destination of the jeepney. He was there standing effortlessly inviting more people to ride the jeepney. He didn’t do anything, just to yell and say “sakay, sakay sakay” meaning to ride. Since when did this career started and what right does it have to own the stop point as if it were some property to be rented by the drivers passing by? Who passed the law stating that the jeepney driver must pay him? I just felt sad for the poor driver seeing that he was indeed a victim not only to the traffic enforcers but to those I don’t know what you call them  maybe “call boys”  who don’t invest anything but their voices shouting. Surprisingly they might be earning even more than those drivers who work hard all day.

Some of you might not picture the situation because you might not have tried riding a jeepney in your entire life. But what I’m trying to say is that this is a sad reality. The perfect image of the “isang kahig isang tuka” (no work, no meal) situation of most Filipino families. I am not really sure whether I am writing about the glory of being a driver or my sentiments against the so called call boys; their abuse, greediness and how they should be put to jail. But all I want to say is that I really appreciate driver’s humble job of being in charge of the safety and lives of the passengers not to mention keeping with the injustices from the traffic enforcers, and the taking advantage of the so called call boys.

Despite all his problems, the jeepney driver still goes on with his route tirelessly everyday; whistling a happy tune, greeting his passengers and giving out a sweet smile and his very known “basta driver sweet lover”  attitude.

Presenting: The Dauis Renaissance Program

Summer heat and white sand beaches is what usually comes to ones mind when they hear of the island Panglao, but the town of Dauis proves that the island can offer more than just a tropical getaway to visitors, thanks to the new project called “ Dauis Renaissance Program”. Indeed it was a rebirth for the Our Lady of the Assumption Shrine Complex, as it is being developed into a pilgrim center for Marian devotees and a tourism hub that promotes the culture and the people of the town.

The restoration is a five year renovation and development program partnership between the Diocese of Tagbilaran through Bishop Leonardo Medroso and Bea Zobel Jr. With the application of adaptive reuse the ground floor of the Convent now houses three of Dauis Center’s operating units that serve pilgrims and tourists. First is the Café Lauis, which serves unique Dauisanon and Boholano Cuisine like ube pandesal and pork humba panini. Out of school youth from the town who serves as waiters are also trained in hospitality management and entrepreneurship. The old courtyard which was developed into a seaside park where wooden decks where built around two imposing acacia trees also serves as an extension to the café where guests can enjoy the wonderful view of the sea, the sunset and Tagbilaran City. A mélange of colonial feel, sophistication and elegance fills the atmosphere as one dines or sips coffee in the Terraza de Mariveles.

On the other side is the Handumanan Shop ( Boholano for souvenir) which showcases local products from the town such as colonial inspired fine jewelries which is one of the shop’s bestsellers and the wood products by the Dauis craftsmen. This does not only promote the local craftsmanship of the town but at the same time it is presently reviving the town’s jewelry industry which slowly died in the 1960s.

Found on the second floor is the Assumpta Museum which displays the history and the story of the town of Dauis. It also houses the priests’ bedchambers and retains much of the original flooring, balustrades, and religious figurines of the early 1900s. The ceiling paintings in the Sala de Recibidor by Filipino painters in the 1920s was also beautifully restored which reminds us of Michaelangelo’s works on the Sistine Chapel.

Indeed the restoration program is worthy of praise for it not only preserves the heritage of the town but also promotes the skills and livelihood of the people.

To contact the Dauis Pilgrim- Heritage Center please call (038) 502 3017 or email dphcenter@yahoo.com

wrote this article for the Make My Trip page at the Bohol Sunday Post.
Information Credits: Ayala Heritage foundation


Photo credits: Paul Kiener

Being a French tour guide

I love this job! Well it’s not even a job because I enjoy what I’m doing. I get to travel, meet different people, improve my French, explore, talk for the whole day (which I’m not tired of doing) and so much more. It’s doing what I love while getting paid and tips are also a bonus! Wee!!I started French tour guiding at Travel People where I had 30 French tourists from the Costa Ship. I was so nervous I also saw Ecleh and Sir Baizas there (fellow UP EL graduates). We had a Manila and Corregidor tour.

Nosebleed ang lola niyo sa mga military terms! I was so lucky because super bait ng mga French na nakasama ko! I had a great time with them and they were so fascinated with my black eyes ( which was not reallt black but brown) wahehehe! It was so fulfilling! I was also invited to go to Baguio, Sagada and Banaue! I haven’t been there so I just interpreted while DJ did the guiding. HE was very cool and fun to be with, our driver Kuya Noni was the expert as well! I really had a great time with the Dreux Family. Suppeeer Lamig!!!!As in!! So 5 days nag nosebleed ang yours truly! Hehe! It was soo fun! Nagpunta kami sa Batad village where we saw the actual planting of rice, watched cultural shows etc. I got so close with the Frenchies that they even bought me a dictionary coz walang kwenta ang pocket dictionary ko. I can say I really got attached to the Dreux Family. They were so cool! We’ll travelled people. I realized that I was so lucky doing this job. Meeting them was indeed a blessing to me. And they even invited me to France! Kailangan ko na talaga mag tipid, this is my chance wahehehe!Aking masasabi: Tourismo Tourismo sagot sa kahirapan