Palawan Underground River: Now One of the World's Wonders

Don't we just live in a fabulously beautiful country?  Finally, the Palawan Underground River has been officially named one of the seven natural wonders of the world.  I have never actually been to Palawan since I'm not really a nature tripper - but it would be interesting to visit the place, one of these days, and visit this breathtaking work of nature!

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Kapurpurawan Rock Formations in Ilocos Norte

Would you believe that all these fabulous rock formations are in the Philippines?  Specifically in Barangay Poblacion, Burgos, Ilocos Norte!  The weird thing is by blood, I am 3/4 Ilocano, but since I grew up in Cebu, I have never actually visited Ilocos Norte. The farthest north I have been is La Union.  Anyway, I may really have to visit Ilocos Norte this year.  The list of places to visit there is getting longer and longer and longer!

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My Thoughts on the Ongoing Impeachment Trial

I haven't really been watching the Corona impeachment trial very much and it was only yesterday when, during a break from the Australian Open tennis, I decided to watch it - albeit, only for a few minutes.  It really is boring, and although I'm not intimidated by the law jargon they are using, I just find the process too tedious.  Why can't they just fire the guy?  If this happened in a private company, the action will be swift!

One of the things I've also discovered is that it's only here in the Philippines that a person who only earns this much can buy a penthouse condo in an exclusive neighborhood!  And that public officials can demand that their income taxes be confidential!  Seriously?  You are a public official so people can actually demand to see your income tax since we pay for your salary - just in case you forgot!

Well, I just hope they resolve this quickly since there is still a country to run, lest our senators forget.

Pinoy Cuisine: Adobong Caviteño

I love adobo that's why when I read this recipe featuring some weird ingredients like wild mushrooms, I decided to share this with the rest of the Pinoy cooking world who may want to experiment with their tried and tested recipes for adobo. I normally like my adobo to have both chicken and pork though.

With wild mushroom, gizzards, oregano–it’s ‘adobong’ Caviteño!

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‘Septic’ gets 2 nods in Asian Oscars

Our very own Eugene Domingo is nominated for Best Actress in Asia's version of the Oscars. Along with her is Chris Martinez, who got a Best Screenplay nod. It's great that finally a local movie has made a dent in that awards show. I actually thought before that it was just for movies from HK, Taiwan and mainland China and I realized, that award was the Golden Horse award. Oh well, best of luck to Eugene and Chris!

‘Septic’ gets 2 nods in Asian Oscars

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Matud Nila: Rediscovering Cebuano Music Through the Halad Museum

I was reading this article about the newly-opened Halad Museum in Cebu which houses some artefacts and lyric sheets of Cebu's musical past. Growing up in Cebu, it was quite common to hear Cebuano songs being sung since during that time, the local Cebu music scene was quite alive - with Pilita Corrales, Max Surban and Yoyoy Villame, actively composing and singing songs in Cebuano. This song, Matud Nila, was a personal favorite of Papa, which he used to sing during his drinking sessions with his friends. Pilita does a fantastic job of interpreting this Cebuano classic! Will always stay a classic in my heart also!

So This Is How a 48 Million Peso Painting Looks Like

Ronald Ventura's Grayground

Last year, our local art world was shaken to its core when during a Sotheby's auction, a painting by a renowned Filipino artist, Ronald Ventura sold for a cool 48 million pesos!  It's about time our artists are given the recognition they deserve!  I haven't seen the real artwork yet (and may never see it since a private person bought it), from the photograph that was taken of it, it looks quite complex and kinetic.  Not my cup of tea though because of the gray colour but it surely made some rich millionaire very happy!  I hope we get more multimillion dollar sales of our local artworks in years to come!  Mabuhay ang Pilipinong pintor!

The Spectacular Feast of the Nazarene

The Quiapo Church is actually just a 30 minute drive from our house, on a good day, and maybe an hour, on those daily traffic days.  Every January 9, that church is witness to an impressive display of faith that arguably is the most spectacular, in an already very reverent Catholic country like the Philippines!!  I have never actually been to one, and it maybe not a good idea to go unless you are really a devotee, but the pictures alone show you how devoted these men (and women in the periphery) are to the Black Nazarene!

Tomorrow, another batch of procession photos will come out to show the Filipinos' love for the Black Nazarene.

Bourne Legacy Set in Manila

Rachel Weisz

Jeremy Renner

One of the trending topics last week was the presence here in Manila of the Hollywood shooting cast of the upcoming Bourne Legacy movie.  Finally, another big Hollywood movie finds its way into our shores.  I think the government should attract more Hollywood projects since we can speak English well and we have many beautiful sights perfect for many Hollywood movies!

And Paul Greengrass is directing it! Fantastic!  Also Oscar winner Rachel Weisz and Oscar nominated Jeremy Renner are in it!

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