Walkabout Wednesday | Andres Bonifacio Shrine

01.15.2020 –The walkabout today was busy and crowded since Arroceros Forest Park was closed to the public since the start of the year, which left me with other options to spend a short amount of time ending up at the Andre4s Bonifacio Shrine,. The place has slowly evolved in the past six months into the park near Manila City Hall. Before the change of governance the place was relatively unknown since it was occupied by informal settlers and there was human stench that it became a residential area where they dump their rubbish not to mention their human waste. But that all changed as you may find it unrecognizable if you haven’t been in this place for the past months and it was certainly a new perspective.

Around Manila | Silence at the Bridge

01.14.2020 – The unexpected eruption of Tall Volcano has left Metro Manila covered in Ash, but not as far worse as the 1991 eruption of Mt. Pinatubo that left the country not only covered by its ash for almost a week it was also having dangerous health hazards due to the toxicity of the air that plagued everyone for months. The aftermath for this one was not in major consequences, but most parts of Metro Manila have suspended all government offices and all levels in education on a Monday. Tourist areas in Manila were closed namely some parts of the walled city of Intramuros and Arroceros Forest Park as one of the locations that are not available for the public that leaves a somber week to start.

Around Manila | Rizal Day to Jones Bridge

12.31.2019 – One Hundred Twenty Three years after Dr Jose Rizal was executed in Luneta Park (formerly Bagumbayan) Filipinos continue to celebrate his heroism. But besides the memorial in reminding the locals about the country’s national hero it was also a day to appreciate parts of Manila, which was busy with a huge turnout. Manila has so many places to see and visit, which was limited time in getting to those locations. Decided to head out to some of the familiar place that I’ve frequented to in this year that I rarely see before and here are some photo narratives of that walk…

Traffic Horror Tales | 3 Hour Quiapo Trip

09.26.2019 – The month of September is almost done and as the day goes by traffic has become far worse than you’ll ever think to live in a densely populated area in the Philippines. Every day it has become part of the daily grind for most Filipinos living in a city as things have become gloriously terrible by the hour. If the local mass transportation has not evolved in the last two decades and the dwindling sidewalks that include proper pick-up points were not enough to be taken out by road widening projects. Then things get more horrible than the usual horror stories you encounter every day while on the road in this part of the country.

Quitline | Can It Help Stop You From Smoking?

08.28.2019 – When there is ‘No Hope’ but there is a “Quitline” help services supported by DOH (Department Of Health) that is mainly tasked to assist with those individuals having difficulty in quitting smoking. Surprisingly this was heavily advertised in local commutes like in the LRT (Light Rail Transit). If you’re aware recently the Philippine Government’s DOH stop its support for Suicide Helpline as news came out in the Philippine Star. In other countries that are aware of Mental Health, there should be a Helpline, but for a country that still trying to catch up with the rest of the world, they simply not sold about Mental Health.

Komikon 2018 | Grandiose Surprise

11.19.2018 – One year removed from attending Komikon it feels different not that in a not-so good way, but it was certainly not the event I used to event since 2006. It feels like going to a Mirror Universe of some sort for a long time and emerging back to the Prime Universe that A LOT has change. Well, it looks the same but generally entirely refreshing to visit this event again. Komikon wrapped up its two-day event yesterday and like the usual event everyone was reeling from its successful gathering of the local komiks community. To be honest I wasn’t excited but practically satisfied to seeing familiar faces I haven’t seen in almost two years.

Circuit Makati Holiday | A Night at the Market

11.17.2018 – Making it a festive Makati at last night’s Holiday Night Market at Circuit Makati, where they lighted the Christmas tree and celebrated the night away with its opening of the three-day feast like it’s already that season. The weekend is finally here and things are ramping up with these kinds of events. As usual the traffic was quite normal part of living in a city and it will be busier once the holiday month kicks in. The Circuit Makati Holiday Night Market was in full swing of things when the event opened its doors last night with a diverse sellers and food merchants that tops with the screening of “The Sound of Music.”

A Mouse Re-imagined | Festival of Lights

11.10. 2018 – Every year Ayala Triangle Gardens becomes the center point of events in the City of Makati. It’s the place everyone gathers when the Holiday Season begins. It may not be an equivalent of any other events happening in other countries, but it has become its unique event of its own. Friday night’s spectacle was unveiled to the public near the heart of the park. It has become a tradition for most people to travel all the way to see this happen. Phone cameras raised and ready to go in capturing memories of this place once again as the city brings back and re-imagine the magic that is the Festival of Lights.

Make It Happen | Makati Street Lights

11.07.2018 – When you see bright lights along the streets of Ayala Avenue in the City of Makati this can only mean one thing: The start of the festive season has begun. It has become an annual tradition that the Makati Central Business District has made is a yearly affair to signify that Christmas is just around the corner and the countdown has begun. Early Monday evening the light up of these ornaments that makes up the installation from the corner of Pasong Tamo and Ayala Avenue up to the far end where the street ends with EDSA is as bright as the way Filipinos celebrate the Yuletide season will definitely catch your attention.

Halloween ComicFest | Routine in Manila

10.28.2018 – Halloween Comic Fest in the Philippines just happened yesterday and it was quite a routine for someone who used to worry getting into this event in one area around four comic shops. But here’s the thing about Metro Manila is one big city composed of other cities and too many grounds to cover. Saturday was something unusual for someone who used to live outside the city and in the suburbs that takes you a forty-minute bus ride to town. But the advantage now is the distance no needed to take the bus and you only need is to walk your way to the nearest mall about almost 2 km since it was a busy weekend.

Arrocers Forest Park | The Last Lung of Manila

10.24.2018 – When you live in the city you’d still expect the place with would still maintain to have national parks and wildlife. But in the central part of the Philippines pertaining to Metro Manila that seems not the normal perspective as high rise buildings and malls have become sort that commonality. But there is still hope in some parts of the metro that not only landmarks are being preserved. There is also the Arroceros Forest Park, dubbed “The Last Lung of Manila,” which has become a trend to recently due to its rumours that it will be removed in its place a commercial facility. Would you rather lose what’s left of a small forest in the city for another concrete building? Can anyone #SaveArroceros?

BBC's Toughest Place Feat. The British Bus Driver in Manila!

05.20.2011 - BBC World's documentary program Toughest Place feature about driving the roads of Manila in the Philippines. Josh West, a British bus driver that accepted the challenge to do his job on the world's toughest condition.

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