Zamboanga Hermosa

I went home to Zamboanga City - now being touted by local authorities as Asia's (only) Latin City - for my mom's birthday celebration. While there I visited the shrine of Our Lady of Pilar at Fort Pilar, then went to see the sunset at Paseo del Mar, a sea-side promenade just beside the Lantaka Hotel. I had fun watching Badjao kids dive for coins along the sea wall.

pics: top, Fort Pilar; bottom, Paseo del Mar

Rocketship Christmas Tree

Christmas is in the air, about to be launched by this rocketship-shaped Christmas tree in Shangri-La mall

Waiting for Coins

Badjao kids wait for coins from curious onlookers, at Paseo del Mar, in Zamboanga City. Badjaos are sea-faring people who live in small boats in most parts of their lives. They supplement their income by diving for coins thrown by people along the sea wall.

Zamboanga Bound

I'm taking a weekender in Zamboanga City, via an early flight at NAIA 3

Where are the Oompa-Loompas?

Donuts being glazed with chocolate, at Krispy Kreme Greenhills

Take U to the Philippines

Black Eyed Peas' apl.de.ap - who has Filipino roots - collaborated with Philippine Department of Tourism for this music video to promote Philippine tourism. The video was created by motion design and production studio Royale.

Apl.de.ap is in town for a benefit concert at Skydome, SM North EDSA today.

Giving Back

My company, Emerson Electric, joined 31 other companies in Hands On Manila Foundation's annual Servathon last Saturday, where volunteers do charitable work on different parts of Metro Manila.

Our team was dispatched to a school in Multinlupa, south of the metropolis. We helped build toilet facilities for the 500 families occupying the school grounds displaced by the recent typhoon that inundated the city.

Other volunteers delivered relief goods and refurbished village centers and learning facilities, among others.

City Gourmand

Check out this blog (Eating Healthy in the City) of a friend's, which would guide you where to eat healthy food in Manila.

Bon appetit!

Fort Bonifacio

Metro Manila's newest central business district

Father & Son Siesta

Shanghai, China
July 22, 2009

Ortigas CBD

Ortigas central business district, as seen from Megamall

Preparation for the Storm

Manilans prepare for the typhoon Parma by stocking up on emergency materials, like rechargeable lamps. [at Ace Hardware, Megamall]