Death of Cory Aquino

The death of Cory Aquino in the early hours of August 1, 2009 dealt a blow to democracy not only in the Philippines but the world. She was one credible champion of democracy with unsullied integrity. Her sincerity to help the poor and the country as a whole is beyond question. In a maternal Philippine society she was a clear symbol of a mother ready to protect her offspring from danger, real or imagined.

Her recent politics though confused the people. She asked the resignation of Gloria Arroyo, thinking perhaps that it would collapse from the series of unfortunate events hounding her. She was ready to support breakaway groups that tried to topple the administration Mrs. Arroyo, and as if to spite the President, she even apologized to Erap Estrada who was actually convicted by the courts of a crime.

The scenario being painted by the opposition on the Philippines was very grim. However, a very different and positive color was being put forward by big business and foreign rating agencies This further confused the people, that whatever resignation calls for the president to step down or calls to rally the people, the opposition, just wasn't able to get the numbers, and it gave Mrs Arroyo the needed time to regain her composure.

With the death of Mrs. Aquino, the opposition is leaderless. They are left with the likes of Erap, Binay, Villar and Mar who have neither the integrity or capability to mount a respectable challenge to Mrs. Arroyo.

Good for Cory Aquino, the people perceived her sincerity and her uprightness while she was still in office. The shortcomings of her presidency was overlooked and considered the restoration of democracy as her biggest legacy and that was enough.

Fort Santiago and The Museum of the Filipino People

Have you noticed lately? Fort Santiago is cleaner and well maintained. How did i know this? We visited the place last Saturday, me and my youngest daughter. There were quiet a number of foreign tourists that day. Most of them were Koreans, is there a Korean invasion of the Philippines? you see them everywhere, in malls, grocery stores, in QC, Baguio and SBMA, i think they have already taken over SBMA. Well, at least this validates the claim of DOT people that tourists arrivals are up. One thing that bothered me in Fort Santiago was the parking space. Although the parking space fronting the entrance was vacant, we were directed to a parking lot that charges P40 per 2hrs and with no official receipt. That was expensive, more expensive than that charged by SM or Ayala Malls. I felt that my pocket was raped.

Entrance Fee

Adult P50
Child 25

Museum Hours

8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Open Tuesday-Sunday
Close Monday

After Fort Santiago, we went to The Museum of the Filipino People (Old Finance Bldg.) It was quiet a surprise for me. The Ifugao House in the courtyard was clean and lighted,that you could actually go inside and have your pic taken and the interactive electronic thingies were actually working. Although the audio-visaul room that shows the recent history of the Filipino People was closed. Most probably they are trying to save on electricity. One thing though again bothered me. The reception area was manned by a guard and they charge the museum fee without issuing an official receipt unless you asked for it and there were no flyers or anything.

Museum Fees

Adult P100
Student P30

Museum Hours

9:00 am - 6:00 pm

Open Tueday-Sunday
Close Monday

Tagkawayan, Quezon

The whole family left for Tagkawayan, Quezon last Friday for the golden wedding anniversary party of the wifey's parents. We stayed at RADZ Garden Resort Hotel in the said place.

The RADZ Garden Resort Hotel

The place is relatively new, it has a three (3) floor hotel, an events venue ideal for all occasions, a pool, a small store and an internet cafe. The place is clean and most important of all, it's not pricey. The biggest air con room cost only 900 pesos a day. It has a queen size bed and a sofa bed. The whole family all in one (1) room. Best of all, the T&B has hot water shower. For 900 a day it was a real good deal.

The Travel

It was a grueling eight (8) hour drive and some roads in the province of quezon is really bad. The travel is made worse by tricycles in the national highway. Are tricycles not banned in highways? Our drive back to the city took ten (10) hours precisely because of these tricycles in the highway. They are hazards to motorists. Calling DOTC to do something about this.

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New Year's Greeting

Happy New Year to one and all...wishing you all good health and prosperity ahead....

Tuguegarao, Cagayan, Philippines

Tuguegarao City is in Cagayan Valley province, situated on the northern part of the Luzon island in the Philippines. The city climate is kind of hot, its location being surrounded by mountains. The roads are good, the city has all the amenities typical in Philippine cities.

Airport Code TUG

Carriers Air Philippines

The domestic airport terminal has no airconditioning system in the arrival area.

Hotels /Accomodation

There are quiet a number of decent hotels within the city, but the best is Hotel Roma, It is in the heart of the city, it is near a church, a hospital, restaurants, bars and market.

Sites to See

Capitol Building (Seat of Provincial Government)
The Church
The Basilica Minore of Our Lady of Piat and its Museum
Callao Caves
Cagayan River

Food

Longanisa, (i love the taste of their longanisa, not too much garlic after taste)

Pasalubong /Souvenirs

Carabao Milk bars
Peanuts
Longanisa

Naga City, Camarines Sur, Bicol Region, Philippines

Naga City blooms. It used to be that when someone mentions the bicol region the first thing that comes to mind is Legazpi City. Well, not anymore, today its Naga, CamSur, and wakeboarding. Naga has transformed itself as the center of activity in bicolandia.

Airport

Code: WNP
Carriers: Air Philippines, Cebu Pacific

Airport terminal is relatively new, small and no airconditioning system.

Hotels /Accomodation

There are quiet a number of decent hotels within the city, but the best is A VENUE HOTEL. It is near a mall and near the Basilica Minore of Our Lady of Penafrancia. If you do not have a car, the hotel is in the Jeepney route, accessibility is not a problem.

City

The city itself is clean, lots of business establishments, offers modern day conveniences and walking is safe. They have small parks that offers early 1900 sculptures that is now hardly seen in modern Philippine cities.

Must See

Capitol Building (Seat of Provincial Government)
Basilica Minore of Our Lady of Penafrancia and other churches
The Small City Parks
Wakeboarding Complex

Food

Bicol Express (Caution: Very hot and spicy)
Pili Nut Delicacies

Souvenirs / Pasalubong

Souvenirs are hard to find in the city itself. I tried the market place, i did not see anything worth bringing. Maybe, I just did not know where to go. Souvenirs can surely be bought at the airport although it is a bit more expensive.

NCCA, NHI What is Happening?

I happen to visit intramuros, luneta and the CCP complex just a few days back and here are a few of my observations

The Ang Binhi (The Seed) Scupture

The “Ang Binhi” sculpture was moved near the “Madre Filipina” in a place surrounded by trees…I don’t know if you have noticed, but aren’t sculptures meant to be seen?….this one seems to be hidden…....if the park does not have any space for it, why not give it to….one of the local government of metro manila I think they will only be too glad to accommodate it in their local parks….or better yet….give it to mmda….I am sure Bayani Fernando will be able to put it in a better place…. (please see attache pics)

The Lapu-lapu Statue

The lapu-lapu statue…....the guy deserves a place all his own…its huge size is being dwarfed by the smaller statue of gat jose rizal…and it should be placed near and facing the sea as if guarding the islands from invaders…one suggestion is at the back of folk arts theatre… there is a breakwater there at the end of which there is a small rotunda …. where cars usually makes a u turn…it can be placed there… viewed from the sea …it will be an instant hit…. and it will be a new destination for the locals… or…it can placed beside the film center also facing the sea……there is an open space there that could be developed…....it would be a great sight…it is sad ....putting these treasures to waste….the present location of the lapu-lapu statue ay hindi swak…if you get what I mean…

The Sari-sari store shanties inside the park

What are these sari-sari store shanties doing there…doing in our premier park...if the idea is to give livelihood…to these people at least put them in a uniformly designed kiosk.. (Please see attached pics)

The big clock….is not working

The hands of the clock is held into place by a piece of wood and hollow block…mind you in our premier park…if the park is having a hardtime maintaining it...then they might as well put a maintenance free...well designed sundial....(Please see attached pics)


The National Museum

There is only one word for our national museum….SHAMEFUL…specially the old senate bldg…...did you know that there is an existing museum development blueprint …I think it was during the time of the marcoses…. the present location of the lapu-lapu statue, that space supposedly is to be developed into a lush garden enclosed by glass…. that links the present museum of the Filipino people and the DOT bldg which is also … supposedly have to be turned over to the national museum as part of the 3 bldg museum complex…..Now, i think imelda was way ahead of her time she was misunderstood.....when it comes to this kind of stuff…

Btw...i also e-mailed Fr. Casal?...of the national museum and told them that their website needs a loooootttt of improvement........they can simply compare it with other museum sites and see what i am saying...

The Ninoy Aquino Statue…

Why was the aquino statue placed in front of the magnificent legazpi-urdaneta monument…definitely a no brainer….is this the trend now???….why not put ninoy aquino on the manila hotel side …there is a space there just fronting its present location also.... almost of same size…..leave intramuros alone…

The Cultural Center Complex

CCP
The view of CCP when you are coming from luneta side is now blocked by palm trees...the area now seems to look smaller because of the clutter....those palms should be moved to where they could be put to better use....SPACE...WIDE SPACES...is what makes the complex grand and beautiful....

The PHILCITE
What happened to this bldg?...now enveloped in an ugly structure...of STARCITY...the complex master plan is to make things beautiful and not ugly...

The PICC
Do you see those beautiful sculptures in front of the PICC...what is wrong with that picture.? people cannot actually see and appreciate them...aren't those works meant to be seen?....if i remember it right there was once an scupture park along roxas blvd.....the place has got history those pieces of art should be placed there to add prestige to the ccp complex...(don't give me back the issue of security...that is an stupid excuse)

The Coconut Palace
It should be opened to the public....for appreciation of filipino architecture and showcase manosa's work...he is the only filipino architect.. that seems to be pushing the cause of a filipino architectural design identity

The Film Center
This building should be fixed...let us all accept it that the building has got character..try viewing it from the view bridge of sm mall of asia and you will know what i am saying. The road near gsis and film center should now be linked to the bridge that leads to sm bay city park

Looking back...without these imeldific structures inside the CCP complex the philippines would definitely looked left out by its progressive neighbors....by the way, haven't you noticed? that the very people bashing imeldific and her projects are now the ones sitting in its boardrooms????....


I happen to visit a few countries…and obviously some of you did too… it is only here where we disrespect our heroes and disregard our monuments….

Please do not take these comments negatively..i am floating these issues so that someone or somebody may be able to do something about it....am hoping that you being with the NHI and NCCA will.....