Museo Pambata, Luneta Hotel and National Library all in one day!

I had plans to visit the Museo Pambata at 8 AM but ended up slumbering in my bed until 10 AM. The timing can never be perfect because I had been wanting to go the National Library to do some research on the history of Philippine postcards for my other blog. The last time I visited the library was in 2001 when I applied for a library card, which I wasn't able to get and use. Now I have more reasons to visit the library.
But my research was cut short because of the commotion of the students in the room. They were rushing to get out because of the earthquake (which twice shaked the building!). Honestly I only felt the second one, and it didn't bother me at all that I still continued reading my books. But for everyone's safety the librarians decided that all should empty the building. With a disappointment in my face, I exited the room and decided to just visit the old Luneta Hotel, one of the few remaining structures that survived World War II. One can easily recognize the hotel if one is leaving the library. I was tempted to enter with hotel (which was undergoing renovation) but decided it's not a good idea (Am alone and an aftershock worried me and workers in the building.) It's the old, abandoned building at the corner of Kalaw and Roxas Boulevard which once was one of the most elegant hotels in Manila. Unfortunately I wasn't able to take any photos.

Philippine Blog Awards 2

Last night we attended the Philippine Blog Awards 2 at the One Esplanade MOA. My other blog, The World Thru Postcards, was nominated and a finalist for Best Blog under the Hobby/Recreation category.

First a little bit background about my hobby. Deltiology is the study and collection of postcards. Worldwide, deltiology is the third largest hobby after stamp collecting and money collecting. Postcards are collected because of their importance in research. For example, I have in my collection a postcard of Hyatt Terraces Baguio's restaurant, which, as we all know, was a casualty of the July 16, 1990 quake. Or I have a Bookmark reproductions of old postcards that shows buildings, images during the American period.

It has been almost 10 years now since I started collecting postcards. Now I have more than 2000 postcards in my collection so last year I decided to start blogging the postcards. I mainly collect Philippine postcards, UNESCO sites, Maps, Paintings, Bridges, Buildings (Hotels, Museums, Palaces, Schools, Airports, etc.), Places of Worship (Churches, Cathedrals, etc.), Planes, Ships, Birthday Greeting Cards.

Now back to the awards night. We arrived at the venue before 6pm and registered, and were then ushered to our seats. There I was able to see the faces behind some of the famous blogs, although I was only able to meet and conversed with just one blogger, Greg Quimpo, who owns the blog Dogs Are Us!, a blog that advocates the protection of dogs. (The Animal Kingdom Foundation Rescue Center is located in Capas, Tarlac.)

We saw several known personalities, Sen. Mar Roxas (who also blogs and gave a speech related to blogging) and Manuel L. Quezon III (one of the judges). I was hoping to meet Ivan Henares and Senor Enrique, two of the blogs I frequently read. PBA gave away 36 awards, including Best Blogs (Hobby, Personal Travel, etc., categories), Best Blog Design, Blogger's Choice Award, etc.

My blog didn't win. But heck, am happy that my blog is one of the finalist. I just want to increase awareness (maybe appreciation) on postcard collecting, and this is a good start!

To all the winners, congratulations. And KUDOS to the Philippine Blog Awards Committee!

29th Manila International Book Fair

The 29th Manila International Book Fair was held at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex last September 12-16, 2008. I only had plans to visit the book fair fora day, but ended up visiting the fair 3 times, and purchasing lots of old/new books, and not to mention they were discounted!


The fair not only showcased books, books and more books, but there were also events like book launchings, book reading sessions, etc. More than 300 exhibitors participated in the bookfair, from National Bookstore, National Historical Insitute, to UST/Ateneo/UP publishers, and others.

historian by heart

some would probably hate history, but i can honestly say i dont. we could learn a lot about ourselves from our history (mostly from books), but i learned a lot more after joining walk tours (i.e., oxford and intramuros), river cruises (i.e., loboc, singapore, bangkok, london), and museum tours.

this past few months, i got hooked with old intramuros or should i say pre-war manila (when we really were the "pearl of the orient"), especially our architecture, from the shopping center of escolta, mansions of ermita, and churches of intramuros! i even joined an online forum that shows images of old manila, bought lots of books (mostly about intramuros), and now am planning to take ab history, join a heritage conservation group and share our history thru this blog.

you can expect not only images from my travels but also little bit of history about the place -- and i hope that this will help our fellow kababayan appreciate our history and become prouder (even learn to conserve) of our heritage..

another survey.....

IF YOU WANT TO GET TO KNOW MORE OF ME. HERE YOU GO....

1. Where were you 5 hours ago?
-- MY BED

2. How did you get the idea for your Friendster name?
-- MISTAKEN IDENTITY (yes, this survey is from friendster)

3. What song are you listening to right now?
-- NADA

4. What color is your phone?
-- SKYBLUE

5. Do you click on pop-ups?
-- NEVER

6. Do you own a phone?
-- YES, LOTS haha

7. What was the first thing you thought of this morning?
-- WHAT'S FOR LUNCH

8. What are you going to do tomorrow?
-- WALK THE PARK, FULLY-BOOKED MODE

9. What did you do last night?
-- FIGHTING TO STAY AWAKE AT WORK

10. What's your favorite memory from high school?
-- CHRISTMAS PARTY, JUNIOR, CAKE ICING FIGHT! hehe

11. What are the last two digits of your phone number?
-- SECRET

12. What was the last thing that you ate?
-- CREAM-O (a chocaholic)

13. Who is the last person you hugged?
-- MY BABY

14. What was the last movie you watched?
-- CLOVERFIELD (BIG SCREEN)

15. What do you dislike at the moment?
-- LAUNDRY

16. What food are you craving for?
-- NEW YORK CHEESECAKE AND SONIA'S CUPCAKES

17. What did you dream last night?
-- NADA

18. What was the last TV show you watched?
-- WAS COFFEE PRINCE haha

19. What is your favorite piece of jewelry?
-- BRACELET THAT MY BABY GAVE

20. Name 2 people on your Top Friends who are most like you?
-- HMMMMM

21. Do you always lock your door?
-- YES

23. Are you on any medication?
-- VITAMINS

24. What side of the bed do you sleep on?
-- FACING THE WALL

10 Things About Me...

1. Are you single?
- NOPE

2. Are you happy about that?
- VERY, VERY HAPPY

3. Are you bored?
- NOPE

4. Are you sad?
- NOPE

5. Are you Italian?
-ERRR... HOW I WISH...

6. Are you pregnant?
- HAHAHA

7. Are you cool?
- VERY COOL

8. Are you Irish?
- ANOTHER ERR

9. Are you sick?
- NOPE

10. Are you punctual?
- ALMOST ALL THE TIME!

TEN FACTS
1. Initials
- FBM

2. Nicknames
- IAN, MARK

3. Birth place
- UP NORTH

4. Hair color
- BLACK

5. Hair style
- SHORT

6. Eye color
- BROWN

7. Birthday
- AM AVIRGO

8. Mood
- HAPPY


9. Favorite color
- BLUE, WHITE


10. Left or right handed
- RIGHT

TEN THIS OR THAT?
1. Love or money?
- LOVE!

2. Hard liquor or beer?
- BOTH HAHA

3. Cats or dogs?
- DOGS

4. A few best friends or many regular friends?
- FEW BEST FRIENDS BUT ALSO HAVE MANY REGULAR FRIENDS

5. Television or Internet?
- INTERNET

6. Pepsi or coke?
- PEPSI

7. Wild night out or romantic night in?
- ROMANTIC NIGHT IN AFTER A WILD NIGHT OUT

8. Money or Happiness?
- HAPPINESS...

9. Night or day?
- NIGHT

10. YM or phone?
- PHONE

TEN HAVE YOU EVERS
1. Been caught sneaking out?
- NOPE

2. Been skinny dipping?
- OH YES!!

3. Done something you regret?
- HMMMM...

4. Bungee jumped?
- ID LOVE TO TRY IT

5. Scuba dived?
- ID LOVE TO TRY IT, TOO; JUST DID SNORKELING

6. Finished an entire jaw breaker?
- NOPE

7. Changed a diaper?
- NOPE

8. Cried because you lost a pet?
- NO

9. Wanted to disappear?
- SOMETIMES

1o. Had dejavu?
- YEAH

TEN PREFERENCES IN A RELATIONSHIP
1. Smile or eyes?
- SMILE

2. Light or dark hair?
- DARK

3. Hugs or kisses?
-LOTSA HUGS & KISSES

4. Intelligence or attraction?
- BOTH

5. Hook-up or relationship?
- RELATIONSHIP

6. Trust or love?
- BOTH...NON-NEGOTIABLE

7. Long distance or close?
- CLOSE OF COURSE

8. Call or text?
- BOTH

9. Older or younger?
- OLDER THAN ME

10. Looks or Personality?
- PERSONALITY...LOOKS IS A PLUS

TEN LAST
1. Last phone call you made?
- TO MY BABY

2. Last phone call you received?
- MY BABY

3. Last person/people you hung out with?
- BABY AND SISTER

4. Last person to text you?
- MY BABY

5. Last person you tackled?
- MY BABY ?!?

6. Last person you im'd?
- ALVIN, COLLEAGUE

7. Last person you got mad with?
- HMMMM.. CANT REMEMBER

8. Last person you hugged?
- MY BABY

9. Last person you laughed with?
- MY CO-TRAINEES

10. Last person you ate with?
- MY CO-TRAINEES

Baguio Will Never Be The Same Again

There is a big difference of Baguio now to Baguio 20 years ago. I could still remember my first time I went to Baguio. That was 1987. No traffic, was very, very cold and still lots of pine trees.

Now, whenever you go to Mines View, you wouldn't be able to see the mines. You'd see houses, lots of them. The park is now too commercialize. The park contains more stalls than visitors! Binoculars, costumes, horses are all for hire! Gone were the days that kids would throw coins and several people would catch them below. Miss those days.

Botanical Garden also suffered the same as that of Mines View. Less plants more stalls, again!

I now hate Baguio. Too bad it wasn't taken cared of. Traffic is worst. Pollution, garbage and over population are as bad as before! No more pine trees to enjoy, but thank God for Camp John Hay. TRIVIA: pine trees at the top of Session Road is concrete!

But the reasons I'd go to Baguio are the weather, Ionic Cafe and Camp John Hay.