My Private Twin Life

Monday, December 1, 2008

For Art's Sake...A Market by Artists

Last weekend, I went to the Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex to check the event, "For Art's Sake"---a market by artists to test their entrepreneurial skills!

One-of-a-kind products from paintings, ceramics, folk art, jewelries and even recycled clothes/books were on sale.

The booth of ballet dancer Lisa Macuja was a big hit with crowd. She was selling old family stuff---toys, clothes, cheap books with prices ranging from P20-P100 (less than US$2). She also gave away a new Iphone as a raffle prize for her "customers."

Some products were for export and can only be found in the Artist Market like the beautiful ceramic vases and some mango bites goodies.

According to theater director Cris Millado who manned the ceramic booth, these vases are sold at Potterybarn---one of my favorite stores in the US! He said we can never see these decorative artworks in the local market. And because of his brother Calvin's sales talk, got one vase for my living room!

The market also featured unique food specialties like barako coffee, tahong and kalabasa chips (really delicious).

While shopping, an ethnic band performed to entertain the buying crowd.

These hand-crafted drums are sold at P5000 (US $ 100), made by the performers above.

The Artist Market was held for only one day but the good thing about it is talents/products were uniquely discovered that eventful Saturday!

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Dating My Mom at the Manila Ocean Park

I had to take time off to bring my mom to the Manila Ocean Park. She booked my schedule a month in advance for the "tour," hehe. It is so easy to get there, from Roxas Blvd, just go near the Luneta Grandstand, and voila, the newest oceanarium is within your reach!

I was with my mom, her sisters and my late grandmother when we visited the Biodome de Montreal in Canada. The biodome was built in a stadium used in the 1976 Olympics. It was converted into four different ecological habitats - rain forest, polar, marine and forest. It was great to see the ecosystem at work! Cute penguins too! I won't compare the two but at least we now have a new attraction to enjoy.

Here are the "Dont's" of our local ocean park:

This is the dome in the middle of the waiting area and ticket booth.

These are cool colorful seats for the visitors.

It's lunch time, folks! Fishes gorge up their meal.

And now, presenting the marine life...

A blue starfish where visitors can touch...

Yellowtail coris

Longhorn cowfish

Lionfish

Estuarine Stonefish

Finding Nemo...Carpet Anemone

Surge Damselfish

Sharks

Porcupinefish

Pajama Cardinalfish (They are very deadma...not moving at all!)

Snubhose Pampano

Spotted Garden Eel---aren't they cool!

Friendly Stingrays

This is my favorite---a hospitable stingray :)

The Oceanarium
Opens Mon - Friday 10AM to 9PM
Sat - Sun 9AM to 9PM
Adults P400 (If Manila resident, P360---bring your ID)

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Discovering La Mesa Ecopark

La Mesa Ecopark is a new discovery for me. It is a surprise that it is located at Quezon City's East Fairview Subdivision! Yes, you enter a village :)

The La Mesa Watershed has 2000 hectares of forest and the watershed is the primary source of drinking water of 12 million city residents. The Ecopark is a good hideaway from the chaos of city life. Fresh, breezy air, tall trees, a lagoon where you can fish, clear blue skies greet every soul who walks on the park.

In this lagoon, I saw a man fishing using a bamboo pole (you can rent it for P20). Families can have picnics too. There is also a mountain bike trail for the adventurers. A big swimming pool (P80 adult entrance fee) awaits the guests. Other amenities include boating and butterfly trail.

To reach this level, lots of sweat and aching legs hounded us. But it is worth it! One can just sit all day and have a terrific time with nature! It is pure bliss.

From the lagoon, a stairway leads you to the dam. As you puff and huff your way with every step (quite steep), when you reach the top, you get to see the dam but there is a sign: NO CAMERA/VIDEO TAKING! But I still managed to click on my cellphone camera. May location hunting si Direk e.

Visit http://www.lamesaecopark.com/index.php for more information

Thursday, October 30, 2008

One Lakers Game at Staples Center

I have watched basketball games since I was in grade school. Blame it on my dad who was a Toyota fan then years after, our TV set was always glued on every Ginebra game. The never-say-die attitude of Big J's team was an inspiration for its fans.

Back in college, I made it a point to watch the intense rivalry of De La Salle University and Ateneo LIVE on the court. Animo forever! I have also watched PBA games because a high school friend's dad used to manage the Astrodome so we have VIP seats when we watch the games live.

During my US trip, a childhood friend (former UAAP basketball player) gifted us with tickets ($100) to a Lakers game. At the Staples Center, I enjoyed checking the souvenir shop, seeing different kinds of Lakers memorabilia! The items were a bit expensive but what the hell, still got some stuff :) The most exciting experience for me aside from seeing Kobe play was the video clip shown to the audience!

When you go inside the arena, at first, you will see a normal basketball court---the players practicing their shots, and spectators going to their respective seats. We were a bit early so we got to see the place filled to the rafters. When the game was about to start, suddenly, there was blackout! A humongous white cloth (circular in shape) came down the court. It became an instant movie theater! A special video on Lakers' 60th year was projected to the big screen. Had some goosebumps watching it. Fabulous concept! The Americans really know how to give a fantastic show! To the max ang entertainment value! You can watch the video below...