Metro Manila with Denise

I don't like going around Metro Manila because of its bad reputation, heavy traffic, suffocating air pollution a hundred reasons hence I haven't been to its cities' tourist spots. The cosmic universe must have taken notice of my absolute lack of eagerness to get to know my own metropolis that it sent me Denise. Denise is our newly found Fijian friend and is such an inspiration. She has the most incredible (to the nth power) stories! Honestly, listening to her was more enjoyable than sightseeing in Intramuros. If only I could take photos of her stories...

Anyway, I did have a few favorites from our tour.

I've always loved wood carvings on church doors. This one is San Agustin Church's main door.

Here's the interior of the church.

Not sure if the pipe organ works. I wish it still does. I remember Davy Jones in the movie Pirates of the Caribbean.

Here's the art they call trompe l'oeil or "deceive the eye".

Manila Cathedral's main doors

"La Pieta"; It may be a replica but it's good enough for me.

So far, Manila Cathedral has the most beautiful stained glass windows I've seen.

a modern cross (i think!)...

another pipe organ...

A kalesa ride in Intramuros costs 350 pesos for thirty minutes and of course it takes longer than that to go around the walled city. Here's Manong Romeo, our "kuchero"/tour guide.

ruins...

oxymoron...

more oxymoron...

This so weird! Spanish era cannon plus WWII bomb? Haha! :D

Casa Manila Museum is a replica of a 19th century Philippine upper class or Ilustrados residence. Although the three-storey house was constructed in 1981, the furniture and decorations inside are all antiques.

Unfortunately, photos and videos are not allowed inside and there are guards dressed in old "guardia civil" uniforms to enforce that.

It's always nice to meet people who love what they do... like this guy. Denise waved at him gesturing she'll take a photo but then he left. We thought he didn't want to have his picture taken and so Denise was like "I wish I didn't tell him." But then he came back, he actually just went to get his hat. Awesome!!!

I didn't take a lot of photos because I'm planning to go back with Naldo. There were museums that Denise and I didn't get the chance to go to- we were beat and a day is simply not enough. I wish to write a comprehensive guide next time. Meanwhile please check Denise's Our Manila Jaunt. Thank you so much!

NHK WORLD - Broadcaster's Eye

There's a program on NHK WORLD TV called BROADCASTER's EYE that shows award-winning documentaries and drama. And they are really amazing! The stories are so beautiful and heartwarming. We're really crossing fingers that they air the first three episodes again so that people who missed them can watch.

Anyway, there's another one entitled "Mieruhi - Coming Home" which will be aired on June 19 this Sunday at these hours: 0:45/ 4:45/ 8:45/ 12:45/ 17:10/ 21:40 (UTC). For your timezone schedule, please click here.

I think this episode is a drama and we're so excited to see it because the dramas are usually on NHK Premium, which is in Japanese. Anyway, it will be about a father and son. The father was having trouble with their family business and so he and his wife had frequent fights which eventually led to a divorce. Their only son then started hating his father and left home. The father didn't hear a word from his son for ten years. And just when the father was ready to move on considering to remarry, the son came back.

So yeah... if you happen to be not doing anything on Sunday and just watching tv and channel surfing and you happen to like Japanese dramas, please check out NHK World. Again, their tv schedule is here. Don't forget to click your time zone and the date June 19.

Have a great day!

Please Help Find Carole Day

The woman in the photo is Carole Day and she's been missing since September 12, 2010 in Manila. We just learned about her from our dear friend Denise and we're posting this to spread the news. We know it's been almost a year but if you have any helpful information, please email her son at jaicool@hotmail.com.

Here's a re-post from THE FEED.

According to the Facebook page put up by her son Jai, she was last seen by her business partner Tschai Ma unpacking and pricing items at the LRI Design Studio building on Nicanor Garcia Street in Makati. The next day, September 13, Ma and the showroom manager supposedly saw all of Day's items neatly stacked. "The lights were turned off, and the door was locked. No sign of a struggle," Jai wrote on the Facebook page.

The former long-distance runner and model was in the Philippines to source decorative items for a local hotel in behalf of her company, Ginger Lily, according to the South China Morning Post. She was supposed to fly to Cebu, then to Thailand, and then back to Manila before returning to Hong Kong. However, Jai said, "I've been told by immigration that she never left the Philippines."

"My brother and I are very worried. Mum's the kind of person who would phone you three times a day just to see how you are. When I last spoke to her, she was fine," Jai, who flew to Manila from Los Angeles to look for his mother, told the London Evening Standard. "I've been to all the hospitals and there are no unidentified women with her description. She had no reason to go missing. If she'd been kidnapped, (someone would have asked for) a ransom. It's been nearly two weeks, and I have no idea what might have happened. It's very frustrating."

Day's friend and business associate Mina Mahtani told the South China Morning Post that Day would not have missed a close friend's funeral on September 15 in Hong Kong. She said, "The Philippine vice-consul was very friendly and helpful. After all those murders in Manila, the consulate has made it very clear to the Philippine police that (Carole) is a Hong Kong resident and (her case) should be given top priority." Day is the widow of District Court Judge Richard Day.

For any information, email Jai Day at jaicool@hotmail.com, or send him a text message (0916-4402851). For more on this story, log on to the South China Morning Post, the London Evening Standard and the Facebook page put up by Jai Day.

When Color is the Holiest

a nice and simple BLUE with a hint of yellow and orange (dawn to morning)

a slightly dull YELLOW with a hint of greenish gray (morning)

a very sweet PINK (afternoon)

an almost cheerless WHITE (afternoon)

a romantic and peaceful BLUE (evening)

orange (night)

purple (night)

All photos were taken from the same location and we didn't enhance the colors nor did we use lens filters. Everything is God's work and we happen to capture them- lucky us! Paying attention is indeed rewarding.

"Of all God's gifts to the sighted man, color is holiest, the most divine, the most solemn."

-John Ruskin