Church Hopping in Singapore

In our visits to Singapore, one of the places that we never fail to visit are its churches. Considering the multi-faceted culture of the people in Singapore, almost every race and religion imaginable has its own place of worship in the city. The striking contrast in architectural structures here is something to marvel at...well, at least for me.

Take for example St. Andrew's Cathedral, at 11 Andrew's Road.

Thailand Chronicles: Ayutthaya Elephant Kraal ...

Elephants! 

Clearly, they are one of God's gentlest creatures. 

They are highly revered by the Thais.

So, we couldn't pass up the chance of an elephant ride over at the 

Ayutthaya Elephant Kraal. 

Ayutthaya, Thailand's former capital, is an hour's drive from Bangkok. It is filled with historical architecture and home to a number of elephants, most of which are friendly as they are used to tourists. 

The Royal Elephant Kraal is one of the worlds oldest elephant kraal which dates back to the 1500s or so as we were told by our mahoot (elephant handler). 

For an Elephant ride around Ayutthaya Historical Park, be prepared to shell out 100 - 500 Baht depending on the route. Photos if taken by their official photographer is quite pricey at about 100-150 baht and up. But our mahoot was kind enough to ask a fellow mahoot to take our photo on the elephant using our camera (although we were  getting worried of him running away with our camera tee-hee!!) for a measly tip of 20 baht. :) 

This particular Elephant ride was included in the Ayutthaya tour. For more details on the Ayutthaya tour, be prepared to shell out 1,900 baht for a whole day tour including air conditioned coaches, tour guide, buffet lunch at a hotel and mineral waters and refreshing towels after every stop. :) or check out my other blogpost on the tour here.

For inquiries, contact World Travel Service Ltd at tel (662) 2335900-9 or email them at: kusa@mozart.inet.co.th or visit their website here.

The Opulence of the Manilay Ancestral House

In a secluded corner in Purok Malakas in General Santos city sits this stately old house owned by the Manilays.  It was said that the house was originally located at San Pablo, Laguna, owned originally by Mr. Warren Manilay's grandfather, the esteemed Don Juan Manilay. But in order to preserve the old world splendor of the ancestral house of the Manilay lineage, they transported the entire house piece by piece to its current location in GenSan. 

Coupled with the love of Mr and Mrs Manilay in anything antique, the house served as a perfect backdrop to house their collection of antiques. Mr. Manilay is also an avid collector of antique cars, which makes this vintage truck very at home beside the ancestral house. And i have been a witness to the many pre-nups shot in the area which features this classic automobile.

While going around inside the house, I found this old typewriter. I just had to take a photo of it and imagine what it  must've felt like to be Jane Austen typing a novel in the 1800s. The number of antiques in the house even rival those of the best museums in the country.

This staircase going to the second floor is resplendent of the days of old when the men courted their women in the presence of the prying eyes of a parent or a lolo or lola. :) Hmmm. I think this can still be applied to our household  when my daughter comes of age. hehe. Now, how to get me a staircase like this for our house...hmmm.

On the second floor, there is a bedroom that reminds me of Maria Clara's bedroom should she have lived all those years ago, complete with mosquito netting draped as curtains in the poster bed.

They also have antique trinkets and treasures that are locked in glass cabinets like these pair ofsilver hairbrushes that must've been used by royalty once upon a time. :)

Can you imagine listening to this age old radio? Soap opera anyone?

Harps! Who has them? I haven't seen a real-live harp before, so this one comes as a treat!

Need to make a phone call? Just don't ask me how to use it. I absolutely have no idea how it works. :)

If I've piqued your interest in visiting this majestic house, you can make reservations by calling the Goldenstate College, look for Ms. Rose at (083) 552-5544 (083) 552-5544. They also allow walk in visits as you would in a museum but I'm not sure how much they charge for it. But for pre-nups or photo sessions, they charge P3,000 for 3hours, succeeding hours at P500 per hour.

To Get there: from the National Highway, turn left (or right) at the Shell Gas Station/Jollibee to Mabuhay Road. Just follow the road and turn right at Nunez St. (you will see a Gala Hardware store at Jhonston Building in Nunez) once you reach Goldenstate Little College, turn left and you will find the ancestral house. Tricycles parked at National Highway will likewise take you there just let them know you want to go to the Manilay Ancestral House. 

VINTAGE: A Manny Librodo Workshop

Photo enthusiasts and hobbyists from General Santos City and other cities around Mindanao have converged once more for the GenSan leg of photography workshops given by world renowned and Bangkok based Filipino photographer, Mr. Manny Librodo.

Photo courtesy of Mr. Ronald Rivera

For the first day of the workshop, they had the privilege of having a photo shoot with one of the country's most photographed faces, the very versatile Ms. Kharunisia Jazmin. This lovely lass is a talented young lady who does her own styling and concepts, and is a very competent hair and make-up artist.

The 1st two sets of the photo shoot was shot on location at the Manilay Ancestral House in General Santos city. One of the first of its kind in GenSan housing a variety of antiques and vintage artifacts that the participants had a myriad of picture perfect possibilities to choose from. 

The third set of the photoshoot was shot at Mt. Sabrina, which was supposed to be a sunset shoot but the elusive sun decided not to show herself in this shoot. But still, the photos were still exquisite. 

This Manny Librodo workshop themed: Vintage was organized by Prism Events 

in coordination with the Gensan Camera Club.

Special thanks to Mr. Warren Manilay for allowing us to use the Manilay Ancestral House as well as Mr. Orman Manansala for sourcing out our male model for this workshop.
Thanks also to the following gentlemen who acted as assistants in this workshop: Omar Gallinero, Bong Maliwat, Ronald Rivera, Don Pagunsan and Ybrael Abergas.

For more information on future Manny Librodo workshops in Gen. Santos city, you can check out the facebook page of Prism Events here. Thank you to Sir Manny for letting us use his photos for this blog post. 

Thailand Chronicles: Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

It was my first time to be at a floating market. So you can just imagine my excitement when it was final that we were going on the Floating Market Tour and have a 30-45 minute boat ride to the famous ...

Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

in Ratchaburi, Thailand. 

It is one of the most famously known floating markets, and a major tourist destination in Thailand.

Our guide keeps on stressing that the market has been around for decades. And riding on the small boat, I thought.. "boy.. she sure wasn't kidding!". On the way to the market, there were inhabitants on the sides of the man-made canals which were there probably for years and years. And I think we passed by a huge pipe or two which was literally connected to a Thai house's restroom!  I almost had a heart attack when the water on the stream was literally splashing on our faces. Talk about a real adventure. hehe.

Of course, I was just trying to be sarcastic about the polluted water. But the trip going to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, was like a trip back in history. It was as if I was living in the era where rivers were part of the main thoroughfares of this culture rich country. Most of the houses we passed by have their own boats so it means that in this part of Thailand, most of them still use the streams if only for the benefit of tourists since the floating market is a major tourist destination in Thailand. So it was obvious that most of the people living there mainly benefit from tourists frequenting the area.

At the floating market, the merchants are literally selling their wares in boats. There were fruits of every kind, food and snacks like traditional Thai rice cakes, and souvenirs for every avid tourist. 

A True Blue South Cotabateño

Its been more than a decade since I’ve moved here in South Cotabato. So the question of whether I am now eligible to be called a true South Cotabateño still remains to be answered. To most of you who are from this beautiful province, but are scattered all across the globe in search of greener pastures, let me tell you what I loved about your province, this often misunderstood part of Mindanao and why I came to love living here. Then maybe you can decide for yourselves whether or not I am worthy of being called a true blue South Cotabatenean.

Pictures courtesy of our official lensman: Mr. Omar S. Gallinero :) Taken from his collection of photos. 

1. The T’boli Tribe. What I love about this tribe is their adeptness in preserving their culture despite the modern times. Their culture has been shared to tourists and guests all around South Cotabato. I think the region should thank them for sharing their culture with us and hoping that they get to preserve it for years to come so our children can also enjoy the richness of their way of life. To get a taste of their culture, you can read about some of them in this post here.

2. T’nalak fabric. Although most would not classify it as a fabric or cloth, due to its course texture, the T’nalak fabric is highly revered in the T’boli tribe. This cloth is part of every T’boli’s culture and way of life. You can say that it is similar to the importance the Scottish people give to their kilts. The T’bolis consider the T’nalak part and parcel of every significant event in their life such as in birth, marriage or even in death. And it is in this deep veneration for the T’nalak that South Cotabato adapted it to symbolize the richness of the region’s culture.

3. T’nalak Festival. Aptly called since it holds the T’nalak fabric in high esteem. This festival is a tribute to the T’boli tribes, the first settlers in South Cotabato. I love that this festival showcases T’nalak in a variety of forms, there even has a fashion show using the fabric in modern, hip designs. The street dancing alone is a fun-filled event celebrating the South Cotabatenean’s veneration for the T’nalak and the T’bolis of South Cotabato. 

4. Lake Sebu. Oftentimes referred to as the summer capital of the southern Philippines. What I love about Lake Sebu besides its cool climate is the tranquil view of the lake. We always bring guests from Manila here.

5. Seven falls. Needless to say, the 7 falls is a true gem. I mean, who ever comes across not one or two but seven (!) falls in one place, right? At first, even before I set my eyes on them it sounded crazy… I mean seven falls? :) But then I know most of first time tourists will be in awe of the beauty of these falls. It is nature’s hand at its finest. I do recommend wearing comfortable walking shoes for first time guests. Read more about the seven falls here.

6. The Majestic Mt. Matutum. Of course I couldn’t fail to mention this resplendent mountain towering over all of us in South Cotabato. Despite the qualms that this is a dormant volcano… Mt. Matutum gives the people of South Cotabato a reason for its fertile lands. I don’t know maybe once upon a time it erupted, but the fertile soil surrounding it continues to give farmers a bountiful harvest all year. During the summer months, I was told that it is also an exhilarating feeling to climb the summits of this revered mountain, but I have yet to see this for myself. :) In plane rides over the region, you just know you are in South Cotabato once Mt. Matutum comes into view in your airplane windows. 

7. Kape Alamid. or otherwise known as Civet Coffee. I've been a coffee lover for how many years now, and I just can't find another coffee to equal the robustness of the civet coffee harvested from the coffee trees in Mt. Matutum. Let's just not discuss where the coffee bean actually passes through that gives it that delectable taste. But this makes it to my list of  top 15. :)

photo courtesy of  http://www.telegraph.co.uk

 


8. Pineapples. This is the fruit of life for the South Cotabatenean. Many of the people here breathe (as in literally :) ) and have livelihood thanks to this fruit. I vouch for the truth that the South Cotabatenean - grown pineapple is the sweetest in all the world. 

9. Dolefil. Call me biased or what, but living in Polomolok, South Cotabato, Dolefil has always been an integral part of my everyday existence. My prejudice comes from the fact that most of the people here have a dependable livelihood (well probably me included) because of the existence of this multinational fruit company. And… Polomolok will not be world famous for it’s sweet tasting pineapples if not for Dole Phils. So excuse my being blunt in including them in my top 15 list of favorites. :)

 

10. Kalsangi. Of course Dolefil’s Club Kalsangi also made the cut to my list. Where else can you find a top of the class residential area comparable to Baguio’s Camp John Hay or Clark field’s loghouses other than at Kalsangi? It Is worth mentioning since our country’s leaders such as President Ramos, President Erap, even the late President Marcos and President Cory have all spent the day or night within its boundaries. Its streets are all lined with big acacia and macademia trees. It even boasts of a 9-hole golf course which is one of the best and well maintained in Mindanao. To read more about Club Kalsangi, click here. 

11. Polomolok Sunsets. Living in Polomolok, I’ve come to love my Polomolok sunsets. It’s a rare treat for someone like me from the Metro waking up to a glorious sunrise and ending the day with a breathtaking sunsets. It is only in these parts of Mindanao where we rarely experience monsoon rains or typhoons for days at a row so the sun gets to shine its rays all throughout the region. More pictures on my Polomolok sunsets here.

12.Ukay – ukay. South Cotabato of course is also famous for its “ukay-ukay” or to literally “dig” hordes of used clothes and what have yous for a bargain. I wouldn’t forget the bargaining prowess I picked up in these flea markets. 

13. Fresh food. The standard of living here is not high compared to highly urbanized regions. There is an abundance of fresh vegetables and fruits, plentiful seafood, poultry and meat. It is an adage here that when you live in South Cotabato, you will never go hungry since most of the country’s food come from here. The biggest piggery can be found at Koronadal city. There are also a number of cattle raisers and poultry farms. Not to mention vegetables and fruit farms dotting the entire region. So if you are from Manila, some of your food comes from here. We can literally have steak and vegetable sidings each day here if we wish without burning a hole in our pockets. 

14. South Cotabatenean Charm and Hospitality. Part of the wealth of any place comes from its people. Guests can be prepared to be welcomed warmly in this parts of the island. South Cotabateneans know how to treat guests amiably. 

15. Peaceful living. These parts of the island, I am proud to note that people here live peacefully. There are no Muslim-Christian conflicts here. Nor are there an abundance of street thugs or pickpockets for that matter. Maybe it is one of the reasons why many people have come to relocate in South Cotabato (well me included :)).

“This is my submission for the T'nalak Festival 2012 Blog Writing Contest, which is made possible with the support of sponsors such as Hon. Governor Arthur Y. Pingoy, Jr and the province of South Cotabato, Sun Cellular - get two days of unlimited text to all networks for only ₱15 with SUN TEXTALL15, Dole Philippines, Representative Teddy Casiño & Bayan Muna Party-List,  KCC Malls, SouthCotabato.Org and South Cotabato News.”

Hotel San Marco Exudes Class

Tucked in the middle of the bustling business and commercial areas of Gensan,  

Hotel San Marco

never fails to instigate a second look from passers-by. 

It's imposing structure screams elegance through and through. 

A first for General Santos city I think.

Upon entering the main lobby, I was in awe of its sophisticated interiors. 

The chic furniture was obviously carefully chosen. It made me feel like being in Venice all of a sudden.

It's baroque interiors remind me of the hotels I only see in luxurious hotels in Europe, so the only question left for me to ask was... is it also as pricey as the grand hotels it depicts?

Of course, being in Gensan has its perks... 

and among them is the affordable price of staying in this hotel. 

It was like having a taste of classy Europe without breaking the bank or putting a hole in your pockets. 

Their rack rate starts at P2,500 for a standard single but currently, they offer a promo rate of  P1,750. 

For their superior room, be prepared to shell out P3,200 rack rate/ P2,240 promo rate.

For more information, you can visit their website here. 

Hotel San Marco is located at Laurel East Avenue, Gen. Santos City

Or call them at: 083 301-1818/ 0922-8217332

Photography by Mr. OSG :)

ShutterBlog... A Travel Photoblog Workshop by Ms. Jojie Alcantara

Just the other day, I had the privilege of being one of the lucky 20 Sox Bloggers present for ShutterBlog, a Travel and Photo-blog Workshop given by none other than, idol travel photojournalist, Ms. Jojie Alcantara at the Gensan View Resort, General Santos City.

It was one of the funnest workshop I've ever been to. Ms. Jojie really knows how to give a very entertaining workshop. I think I went home, with a bloated stomach due to excessive laughing. :) Excuse my terms for a lack of a better word to describe gas.. hehe. Excuse also kuya Avel (on the left) sleeping in the background. This picture was taken during our break.

I've learned a lot of very useful tips and ideas about travel photography from Ms. Jojie. And hopefully, I can apply all that I've learned from her in my next travel adventure. Wherever or whenever that may be. 

To Ms. Jojie Alcantara, thank you so much for sharing your wisdom on photography with us! Hoping to see you again one day and hopefully, see you in action in one of your travel shoots. 

Thank you also to the sponsors of ShutterBlog, for sharing your time and resources with the bloggers of Socccsargen. Namely: 

Gensan View Resort located at Nursery Road, Lagao, General Santos City

CameraHaus located at the 2nd floor of KCC mall, General Santos City. It is also worth mentioning that they gave away a Samsung digital camera to the winner of the photo-contest won by none other than fellow Sox Blogger, Aethan Yting of Aethanoscopy. Check out his blog here.

Photo courtesy of Ms. Joyce Mariscal. Sorry wasn't able to be here then. :)

Aromacology for the freebies,

and of course, Gandaeversomuch.com and Gensantos.com for sponsoring another rave worthy event! God bless the two of you for motivating bloggers like me to hone our craft and make blogging such an enjoyable hobby!

Thailand Chronicles: The Ruined Temples of Ayutthaya

Ayutthaya. 

The capital of Thailand around 1350-1767, located in the valley of the Chao Phraya River. It remained an important city of Thailand for 417 years during which an abundance of palaces and temples were constructed as a sign of its economic success. The ruins of temples and palaces of Ayutthaya, whether naturally worn by time or destroyed by activities of war with the Burmese, are a reflection of a golden and glorious past. 

These are some of the pictures of temples we took from our tour...

 Wat Yai Chai Mongkol. According to our tour guide, "Wat" in Thai means temple. So this is the first of four temples that we were going to see in a series of ruined temples. This is included in the Ayutthaya tour. The picture below shows the big Chedi (Chedi meaning mound-like structure containing Buddhist relics)that is what remains of this grand monastery... 

...along with the rows of Buddhas that seem to stand as sentinels to the old monasteries' grand Chedi.

Wat Maha That. This monastery was said to be residence of the Supreme Patriarch during the Ayutthaya period. It was destroyed and burnt during the war with the Burmese in A.D. 1767.

The Head of the Sandstone Buddha. This is a really interesting sight as the head of Buddha seem to have sprouted inside this Bodhi tree. Probably, once upon a time, even before this tree was here, this Buddha image is erected on this spot along with other relics.

According to our tour guide Angela (her Thai name is really a mouthful sorry:) can't remember it), from years of bringing tourists in Ayutthaya, some tourists smuggle artifacts as souvenirs... and some Thai merchants re-sell pieces like Buddha's head as antiques since they are original pieces. So what we saw when we visited was whats left of it ...

more ruins...

the headless Buddhas in Ayutthaya...

Wat Phra Mane. This beautiful temple was unlike the other ruined temples since it is well maintained. Our guide tells us that according to legend, during the war with the Burmese, the Burmese king himself was firing one canon when it blew up, mortally wounding him. When the Burmese returned to finally take Ayutthaya in 1767, they left the temple alone out of superstition about what had happened to their king the last time.

The different Buddhas symbolic for each day of the week.

Buddhists as we were told usually rub pure gold leafs in the Buddhas. Gold in the form of a thin leaf is an item valued for its purity as a religious offering and for its power to placate spirits and request favors. Postage-stamp-size booklets of gold leaves are always on sale along with incense, flowers and candles at temples and shrines for use as daily offerings.

Inside, the columns are painted a very dark red with gold decorations. The coffered ceiling is also intricately decorated in red and gold. On the dais at one end of the ubosot is a crowned Buddha image with a rather sour face, which is typical of the late Ayutthaya style.

Wat Chai Watthanaram.  The only standing temple  amidst the ruins of Ayutthaya. It was a sight to behold since it reminds you of the splendor of the time past when it was built. This is one of the grandest sites and the most elaborate temple construction in Ayutthaya. It is rare architecture for this city because its design is symmetrical, and it was built all at one time.

This is a small scale model of the ancient grounds of Wat Chai Watthanaram from an artists point of view. You can easily see the grandeur past from this temple.

For the Ayutthaya tour, be prepared to shell out 1,900 baht for a whole day tour including air conditioned coaches, tour guide, buffet lunch at a hotel and mineral waters and refreshing towels after every stop. :) 

For inquiries, contact World Travel Service Ltd at tel (662) 2335900-9 or email them at: kusa@mozart.inet.co.th or visit their website here.