No Filipino Christmas celebration will be complete without jamon (ham) and keso de bola (Edam cheese ball). The the two mainstays are served on the Christmas eve feast , called Noche Buena, which is usually done after the midnight mass attended by the family.
After having just watched the sandals-and-toga epic Immortals recently, I figured I'd feature the sculptures of Greek gods and demigods on display at the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art in the year-ender.
pics, from top: Herakles the Archer, by Emile-Antoine Bourdelle, Diana, by Augustus Saint-Gaudens, and Perseus with the Head of Medusa, by Antonio Canova
Typhoon Sendong has devastated areas of in northern Mindanao, including Cagayan de Oro, Iligan and parts of Zamboanga del Norte. Please help by sending donations (cash and/or in kind):
Donation to Red Cross via mobile phone: text RED<space>AMOUNT to 2899 (Globe) or 4143 (Smart), in amounts of 5, 25, 100, 300, 500 or 1000 for Globe, and 10, 25, 50, 100, 300, 500 or 1000 for Smart.
Philippine Red Cross accounts:
Banco De Oro peso account 00-453-0018647, dollar 10-453-0039482
Bank of the Philippine Islands peso account 4991-0036-52
BPI dollar account 004994-0103-15
Metrobank account 151-3-041631228, dollar 151-2-15100218-2
Philippine National Bank peso account 3752 8350 0034, dollar account 3752 8350 0042
LBC branches accept in-kind donations that they will ship for free
Philippine Airlines will ferry relief goods for NGOs, religious groups and companies to recipients in Cagayan de Oro and Dipolog. Interested parties may contact the PAL Foundation by sending an email to menchu_sarmiento@pal.com.ph
Ateneo and Xavier University are accepting donations:
Ateneo de Manila China Bank dollar account 101-732651-1
Xavier University BPI Peso Account 9331-0133-63
in-kind donations may be dropped at the Ateneo School of Government in Loyola Heights, Quezon City
"The Things You Want to See!" is the promise of this pre-World War II tourist map that highlights the sights of Manila in 1939: Dewey Boulevard for watching the world-famous sunset (now Roxas Boulevard), the Walled City, Rizal Park, Chinatown, the old business district, Manila Yacht Club, the Sta. Ana Racetracks (the finest race track of the Far East, the map says), the Metropolitan Opera House, the Manila Hotel (where world leaders stay during their state visits), the Manila Cathedral, Pier 7 (touted as the longest pier in the world), and the Malacañang Palace - all the finest places of a city in its heyday.
I am feeling a bit of nostalgia when I look at this map, and a sense of loss because some of the stops mentioned here either no longer exist or or are crumbling due to neglect.
(Note: As 2011 is drawing to a close, starting today I will be posting re-caps of my trips in 2011.)
The first recap is the flight from Kansas City, MO to St.Louis - late February snow blanketed the whole city, including sections of the airport. As somebody from the tropics, seeing a city blanketed with snow from the air is an unforgettable sight.
pics, from top: snow blankets Kansas City, including the airport; snow at the side of the runway; the airbridges of the Kansas City International Airport (IATA: MCI), as seen from the window seat of a Southwest Airlines 737-700.
Surfing season started in San Juan, La Union a few weeks ago, and I was able to go twice in a month's period already. Here are some of the snaps, with me trying to ride the waves at the middle pic.
The Malacañang Palace announced the following public holidays in the Philippines. Schedule your trips accordingly:
January 1 - New Year's Day January 23 - Chinese New Year April 5 - Maundy Thursday April 6 - Good Friday April 9 - Araw ng Kagitingan (Monday)
May 1 - Labor Day (Tuesday) June 12 - Independence Day (Tuesday) August 21 - Ninoy Aquino Day August 27 - National Heroes Day (Monday) November 1 - All Saints Day (Thursday) November 2 - Additional Special Non-working Day (Friday) November 30 - Bonifacio Day (Friday) December 25 - Christmas Day December 30 - Rizal Day December 31 - Last Day of the Year (Monday)
Special Holidays February 25 - EDSA Revolution Anniversary (for all schools) TBA - Eid'l Fitr TBA - Eidul Adha
also... December 21, 2012 - End of the World (?) :D
I had the opportunity to watch and support the Philippine national football team - the Azkals - as they play a friendly against the recent MLS champs LA Galaxy. The much awaited (and heavily promoted) match-up featured heavyweights from the opponents, including David Beckham, Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane.
The match, held at the Rizal Memorial Stadium, started around 7:30pm, which is a good thing because there's no sun and heat to worry about.
It all went well during the first half, with the local side keeping toe-to-toe with the visitors and forward Phil Younghusband scoring one to the crowd's delight (the only other circumstance that the crowd cheered more is whenever Beckham kicks the ball).
The second half though, is a different story. A succession of goals from the visitors wilted the spirit of the Azkals, with the hapless substitute goalkeeper Eduard Scapano allowing 6 goals (Neil Etheridge missed the game due to a club commitment).
All in all, the match - although proving to be a handful for the locals - is a good exposure for the national team, and the almost full stadium (despite the high ticket prices) is a sign that football is finally having a renaissance in the country. There's a talk about Real Madrid being the next one that's coming over, so things are looking up from the pitch.
pics and vids, from top: the match in progress; LA Galaxy scores; Azkals fans came in full force to support the team and gawk at Beckham; the Azkals doing the lap around the stadium; Beckham bends one)
After having just watched the sandals-and-toga epic Immortals recently, I figured I'd feature the sculptures of Greek gods and demigods on display at the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art in the year-ender. 
January 1 - New Year's Day 
November 1 - All Saints Day (Thursday)
It all went well during the first half, with the local side keeping toe-to-toe with the visitors and forward Phil Younghusband scoring one to the crowd's delight (the only other circumstance that the crowd cheered more is whenever Beckham kicks the ball).
