TRAVEL+LIFESTYLE JULY 2011 MABUHAY JULY 2011
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BEYOND SAN FRANCISCO
Romancing the Pacific Coast
BEYOND SAN FRANCISCO
S P E C I A L F E AT U R E S
Best Rainy-Day Retreats The Wettest Place on Earth legend of the t’boli dreamweaver
ISSN 0217-6999
07
PHILIPPINE AIRLINES’ INFLIGHT TRAVEL+LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE
EDITORIAL
Charles C. Chante Simeon S. Ventura Jr. BLANCHE RIVERA-FERNANDEZ NYX MARTINEZ ANIKA VENTURA MICHELLE AYUYAO IAN ESGUERRA CHRISSETTE ANTONIO ADRIENNE RAE PONCE MARK NAKPIL MANUEL N. ROMA JR. ARIEL E. DALISAY
Vol. 33, No. 7 July 2011
Publisher Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Features Editor Editorial Coordinator Editorial Assistant Copy Editor Assistant to the Editor-in-Chief Senior Graphic Artist Graphic Artist Creative Consultants
PHILIPPINE AIRLINES
GOLDEN LOOKOUT. The North Vista Point (Marin County side), with its view of fog-wrapped San Francisco city in the distance, provides the perfect stopover for photographers and tourists.
Lucio Tan Henry So Uy Jaime J. Bautista
Photo by Blanche Rivera-Fernandez
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Deputy Chief Executive Officer President and Chief Operating Officer
EASTGATE PUBLISHING CORPORATION
Charles C. Chante Luis B. Quisumbing Simeon S. Ventura Jr. sammy l. chan Louie Gamboa Thunder Ilustre jeimIE quijano MAU JUSTINIANO-AlbErto Nerie Silvestre-Correa KIM G. VENTURA JANE IRA H. INQUIMBOY Lorie M. Fernandez Efren C. Carag
Chairman of the Board Vice-Chairman President Vice-President, Operations Account Managers
Traffic/Production Coordinator Accounting Officer Operations Manager Senior Accounts Manager Business Services Consultant Legal Counsel Manila, Phils.
EASTGATE WEBSITE: www.eastgatepublishing.com PAL Website: www.philippineairlines.com mobile site: www.philippineairlines.mobi FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/flyPAL TWITTER: www.twitter.com/flyPAL Mabuhay Magazine is published monthly for Philippine Airlines by Eastgate Publishing Corporation. All rights reserved. © Copyright 2011 by Philippine Airlines. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any manner without the permission of the publisher. Opinions expressed in- this magazine are the writers’ and not necessarily endorsed by Philippine Airlines or Eastgate Publishing Corporation. The publisher reserves the right to accept or reject advertising and editorial material. Unsolicited manuscripts, photographs and artwork will not be returned unless accompanied by self-addressed, stamped envelopes. Publisher assumes no responsibility for unsolicited material. Address all correspondence to: Mabuhay Magazine, Eastgate Publishing Corp., Rm. 704 Prestige Tower Condominium, F. Ortigas Jr. Road., Ortigas Center, Pasig City. 1605; Tel: (+632) 635-7348, 635-9067, 633-4004 to 09; Fax (+632) 635-9221; E - mail: info@ eastgatepublishing.com, jventura@eastgatepublishing.com; Mabuhay is authorized in the Philippines under PCFM Cr No. 388. Color separated and printed in the Philippines by Velprint For inquiries on advertising, please e-mail adsales@eastgatepublishing.com or call (trunkline) +632 633 4004 loc. 14 or 15 and (direct line) +632 635 7882.
Advertising RepresentativeS HONG KONG/CHINA EASTERN INFLIGHT MAGAZINE PRODUCTIONS Rita Chow 26/F 625 King’s Road North Point, Hong Kong Tel: (852) 2823 1080 Fax: (852) 2352 6204 E-mail: rita@cinmedia.com PHILIPPINES EASTGATE PUBLISHING CORP. Ad Sales 704 Prestige Tower Condominium, F. Ortigas Jr. Road, Ortigas Center, Pasig City 1605, Metro Manila, Philippines Tel: (632) 633 4004 to 06 633 4008 to 09, 635 9067 Fax: (632) 635 9221 E-mail: adsales@eastgatepublishing.com
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July 2011
JAPAN ADVERTISING COMMUNICATION, INC. Shigeru Kobayashi Yasuda Jinbocho Mansion 302, 3-11-1 Kanda Jimbocho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0051 Tel: (813) 3261 4591 Fax: (813) 3261 6126 E-mail: shig-koby@media-jac.co.jp FRANCE N.M. HELLIN Monique Hellin 6 Bis Rue de la Belle Feuille, F-92100 Boulogne, Paris, France Tel: (331) 460 52577 Fax:(331) 460 33321
KOREA JES MEDIA, INC. Young-Seoh Chinn 2nd Floor ANA Building 257-1 Myungil-Dong, Kangdong-Gu, Seoul 134-070, Korea Tel: (822) 481 3411/3 Fax: (822) 481 3414 E-mail: jesmedia@unitel.co.kr AUSTRALIA Free Sports Press Peter Anderson 37 Richard Avenue Earlwood, NSW 2206 Australia Tel: (612) 9789 5003 Fax: (612) 9789 5004 E-mail: peterando3@gmail.com
SWITZERLAND IMM INFLIGHT MEDIA MARKETING Marcel Wernli Gellertstrasse 18 CH-4052 Basel Switzerland Tel: (+41) 061-319 9090 Fax: (+41) 061-319 9095 Website: www.inflight-media.ch E-mail: inflight-media@swissonline.ch UNITED STATES OF AMERICA LEE & STEEL INC. Michael Lee P. O. Box 2007 Darien, CT 06820, USA Tel: (203) 445 8900 Fax: (203) 445 1885 E-mail: medialee@aol.com
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES Destiny Media Aleem Aziz Destiny Media/ Media One P.O. Box 72247 Suite #602, Bu Haleeba Plaza Al Muraqqabat St., Deira Dubai, UAE Tel: (9714) 297 6978 Fax: (9714) 297 6988 E-mail: mediaone@emirates.net.ae UNITED KINGDOM MAJOR MEDIA David Hammond Hamilton House 1 Wythes Close Bromley Kent BR1 2BA Tel: + 44 020 8467 8884 Fax: + 44 020 8467 5558 E-mail: majormedi@btopenworld.com
EDITOR’S NOTE
One of the Best Drives
in the World
Photo by Bien Bautista
I
f you happen to be in the American West Coast and can spare a few days, you should try to experience a drive from San Francisco to Los Angeles that has been rated as one of the best in the world by, among others, the National Geographic, Travel and Leisure, Lonely Planet and London’s Sunday Times. It is also the subject of our main feature, “Romancing the Pacific Coast,” written by Melissa Josue, a Filipino-American based in San Francisco who still loves traveling this scenic route even though she has done it many times with her family. Officially labeled as the “Pacific Coast Highway” but affectionately called “Highway 1” by Californians, this lengthy 480-mile drive brings you to some of the most beautiful and dramatic landscapes of America like the Santa Lucia and Santa Monica mountains, and the sweeping coastlines of Malibu. It also passes through some of the most expensive, residential real estate in America—places like Monterrey Valley and Carmel where the rich and famous maintain a low profile and live in more modest, rustic mansions. The places and people here aren’t snooty at all; they are bohemian, and it reflects in the way they carry themselves, in the quaintness of their towns and attractions, and the fine arts and crafts that make ideal souvenirs. Highway 1 is a drive that brings you very close to nature. Our writer Melissa narrates that when she paddled on a kayak toward a sandpit in Morro Bay, “a flock of Sand Pipers flew overhead while Harbor Seals bobbed their heads just a few meters away.” This is perhaps one of the many compelling reasons Melissa keeps coming back to Highway 1. Readers send us everyday their humorous photos for our regular feature, “Funny Signages.” Building on its success, we have decided to have a monthly photo essay with a distinct theme for which readers can again send their photo entries. For this issue, we start with a selection of images that depict “anticipation.” We hope you enjoy the photos, and we encourage you to send us some of your own so you can get a chance to be published. The list of photo essay themes for our future issues is on page 56. Just keep on being curious, your eyes open and your camera ready.
Simeon S. Ventura, Jr. Editor-in-chief
(TOP) The Avenue of the Giants on Highway 101 merges with California’s Higway 1 in some areas. Photo by Justin Kern; An entry in this month’s photo essay shows kids anticipating the waves. Photo by Amos Chapple
For comments and suggestions, you can email me at jventura@eastgatepublishing.com. 6 M A B U H AY
July 2011
CONTENTS V o l .
3 3 ,
N o .
7 ,
J u l y
2 0 1 1
48
ROMANCING THE PACIFIC COAST
Taking off from San Francisco, MELISSA JOSUE drives through California’s Highway 1 for a taste of surf, mountains, wildflowers and “sexy coffee.”
Morro Rock. Photo by Howard Ignatius
44 DOWN IN THE DAMP
AMOS CHAPPLE soaks in a different side of India on his trip to the wettest place on the planet, where moss-coated crosses abound and tree-root bridges grow.
54 PHOTO ESSAY: ANTICIPATION
From descending a cave to hitting a pitch, this selection of photos defines in so many ways that familiar moment of prospect—anticipation.
58 RAINY-DAY RETREATS
A camp, cabin or café—we share our favorite places to hole up in on rainy days and Sundays. And they won’t get you down.
78 SCHOOL-AGE DESIGNERS
TAKE FASHION SERIOUSLY Indeed, age ain’t nothing but a number as the New York Times proves with its profile of the world’s youngest fashion designers, starting at age 10.
We, at Philippine Airlines, are happy to have you on board. Please sit back and relax, and allow us to make your flight enjoyable. For your own safety and convenience, please observe the regulations listed on the back pages. “Mabuhay” is a Filipino verb in the form of a command: “Live!” It is also a wish: “May you live!” Whoever says it wishes you the great gift of a long and full life. It is both a blessing and a lusty cheer. “Mabuhay” (ma-boo-high) is such a large word that it lends itself to a wide number of secondary uses: Welcome, Congratulations, Thanks, Godspeed, Hello, Good Luck, Cheers, Posit, Sante, Viva, Kambei, Aloha, and many other expressions of goodwill. All these are a part of life, but it is the gift of life that makes them possible. “Mabuhay,” in other words, is an invocation and a celebration of life itself. 8 M A B U H AY
July 2011
Sections
06 12 14 90 96 97
Editor’s Note What’s Up Travel Log The Lighter Side Last Frame PAL Pages
ON THE COVER
The picket-fenced Point Sur Lighthouse in Pescadero is an interesting detour on a Pacific Coast Highway drive. Photo by Eddie Brady for Lonely Planet Images
CONTRIBUTORS
V o l .
3 3 ,
N o .
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J u l y
2 0 1 1
A Filipino-American writer based in the San Francisco Bay Area, MELISSA JOSUE has been published in Common Ground, Tango Diva, and Your Life Is A Trip, among others. For Mabuhay, she took to the road on California’s Highway 1 to rediscover the romance of the Pacific Coast (page 48). When not writing or traveling, she volunteers as communications director for KAYA: Filipino Americans for Progress, a grassroots organization centered on fostering community political empowerment and leadership development. She says: On rainy days I like to get lost in a good book and make a mess in my kitchen. I can’t live without chocolate, preferably dark with a bit of exotic salt. www.melissajosue.com
AMOS CHAPPLE is a New Zealand-based travel photographer who has worked in more than 50 countries. On page 44, he shares his trip to the wettest place on earth. Photos from his travels are also included in this issue’s photo sections (pages 54 and 96). By yearend, Amos will be living in Russia, hunting out the obscure wonders of the old Soviet states. He says: On rainy days I like to plan trips—the best homework of all. I can’t live without my smile. I lost it once after being beaten up in the Ukraine. Life on the road is impossible without one. www.amoschapple.com
Once a businessman who peddled ore to the Central Bank mint plant in Quezon City, FREGER REYES is now a full-time photographer based in Zamboanga del Norte. Following in the footsteps of his foster parents whose photography studio was his playground as a child, Freger enjoys capturing images of local culture such as the Kinabayo Festival in Dipolog City (page 36). He says: On rainy days I like to watch passersby with a cup of coffee and a camera in my hand. I can’t live without my camera.
Freelance journalist BERT LAPUT has worked with several national newspapers and magazines in Manila before returning to his old hometown in Dapitan to cover Mindanao’s Zamboanga Peninsula. On page 36, he writes about the little-known Kinabayo Festival of Dipolog City. He says: On rainy days I like to stay at our porch and watch the rain, just like I did when I was young, but this time with brewed coffee while listening to my favorite “Silver Threads among the Gold.” I can’t live without the two most important girls in my life—my wife and daughter. www.bertlaput.post781.com
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WHAT’S UP
It Takes Two
New breeds of filmmakers cross paths with movie veterans, while art and science come together as one moving element. Painted with collaborations, the month of July proves that putting two and two together isn’t terrible at all.
HONG KONG
Pixar: 25 Years of Animation Hong Kong Heritage Museum UNTIL JULY 11 See the original artworks behind award-winning animated movies like Up, Wall-E, and Toy Story 3. www.heritagemuseum.gov.hk
PHILIPPINES
Cinemalaya Film Festival Manila Cultural Center of the Philippines July 15-24 The best of veteran and up-and-coming local filmmakers vie for the top spots in the annual independent film festival, Cinemalaya. This year, 31 digital films will be open for public screening. See page 90 for more details on Cinemalaya. Visit www. culturalcenter.gov.ph for screening schedules.
Sandugo Festival Tagbilaran City, Bohol July 23-24 Drums and dancers take to the streets at the Sandugo Festival which commemorates the friendship of Spanish explorer Miguel Lopez de Legazpi and Bohol chieftain Datu Sikatuna. Fireworks, cockfights and sports tournaments are all set, but it’s the reenactment of the sandugo that will show visitors why the festival’s name means “one blood.”
SAN FRANCISCO
Nightlife at the Academy California Academy of Sciences, Golden Gate Park All Thursdays in July It’s okay to party on a school night at the California Academy of Sciences. Mom and Dad can’t possibly be that mad if you sip a sangria while learning about stars at the Planetarium Show or about fishes at the giant Coral Reef Tank. www.calacademy.org
Fourth of July Celebration Pier 39 July 4 Fireworks will not only paint the skies over Pier 39 on Independence Day, it’ll paint the waters too! Prepare to stand in awe. www.pier39.com
HAWAII
First Fridays Chinatown Honolulu July 1 Be one with the island’s fun as art galleries, restaurants, and bars and boutiques in
Hi, how are we doing? I’d be happy to hear your comments, suggestions and concerns on how we can continuously improve our service. Send me a note at jjb@pal.com.ph
Jaime J. Bautista
President and Chief Operating Officer Philippine Airlines 12 M A B U H A Y
July 2011
Honolulu’s Chinatown open their doors for free entertainment from morning till night. Look out for the Martini Madness promo, and a free jazz and vinyl mixdown. www.firstfridayhawaii.com
CHINA
Westlake Lotus Festival West Lake, Hangzhou July 1-August 1 Colors bloom across the waters of Hangzhou as lotus flowers begin to blossom. Main events of the festival include lotus-viewing and lotus seed pods-picking.
THAILAND
Boo Luang and Phi Ta Khon Festival Dan Sai and Loei Districts July 1-3 The Phi Ta Kon Festival celebrates the Buddhist belief that village spirits were overjoyed by the return of Prince Vessandara (the Buddha’s penultimate incarnation) that they came out to celebrate. Today, young men of the community dress up as spirits to reenact the occasion.
Travel log JULY 2011
Benu
“Benu” is an Egyptian word for the mythical fire bird, the phoenix, which symbolizes the rise to greatness. In San Francisco, with James Beard Award-winning chef Corey Lee at the helm, restaurant Benu’s arrival to greatness is not far from sight. Chef Lee looks to the east for menu inspiration, as evident in the house specialty of Foie Gras Steamed in Sake, Peach, Kohlrabi, Perilla and Brioche (US$18), which is reminiscent of eastern China’s steamed xiao long bao buns. Other Asian-inspired dishes include Lobster with Wood Ear Mushrooms and XO sauce (US$36), and Ramp Soup with Abalone Mushroom ($12). Aside from the a la carte menu, Benu offers a sample tasting menu ($160). Though it is just a few months old, Benu has already been listed in The New York Times’ “10 Restaurants Worth a Plane Ride.” Benu is located at 22 Hawthorne St., San Francisco, California. Reservations may be placed two months in advance. Visit www.benusf.com, call (+415) 685 4860 or email party@benusf.com for parties of seven or more. 14 M A B U H A Y
July 2011
TRAVEL LOG
Photo by Nyx Martinez
Photo by Anton Angele
s
Go French at ChampÉtre
Park Avenue Desserts
Chef Marc Aubry, who has been on the Manila food
Pastry chef Buddy Trinidad’s creations have a cult following,
scene for more than 20 years, delights loyal patrons with Champétre, his new French boutique and restaurant. “I don’t play around with the recipes,” he says, “because many who have had the opportunity to travel, are already quite knowledgeable about French cuisine.” Champétre is located at the
which include Hollywood stars like Madonna and Mick Jagger. Despite his Tinseltown fame, the award-winning chef decided to set up shop back home. Park Avenue Desserts— named after his childhood turf of Park Avenue in Pasay City, not New York—offers the Chocolate Hazelnut Crunch Cake
G/F Net One Center, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City 1634. Call (+632) 815
(Php150/mini cake) to the assortment of éclairs with vanilla
8801 or email queries@champetreboutique.com.
bean, raspberry cream, and chocolate fillings (Php100/piece). You can even call (24 hours in advance) to customize your cake with the new neighborhood Buddy. Park Avenue Desserts is located at 7 G/F MagaCenter, Paseo de Magallanes Commercial Center, Makati City. Call (+632) 852 6141 or email parkavenuedesserts@yahoo.com.ph. Find Park Avenue Desserts on Facebook.
BILLY KING’S THE Alpha Chef Billy King got it right. One of Manila’s most talked-about chefs, he has done his fair share of tinkering in the kitchen and has again come up with extraordinary dishes and soul-satisfying meals that we’re only all too happy to shout about. The oven-baked escargot shitake mushroom tart looks deceptively plain, but don’t be fooled—it’s a delectable combination of savory and tangy flavors. The assorted seafood gratin illustrates his deft hand and fertile imagination, with spinach, mushroom and cheese oozing prominently over the moist flesh of salmon, scallop and shrimp mixture. The tender and juicy lamb cutlets with rosemary sauce will caress your palate, a gastronomic indulgence that must be experienced. Dessert is never just dessert. The Chocolate Soufflé, a scrumptious trinity of sugar, butter and chocolate combined with luscious cream, is way too tempting to resist. With generous portions and a huge variety to woo you for return visits, Alpha is a sumptuous treat that is well worth it. -Ernest Reynoso Gala
The Alpha is located on the 6th floor of Alphaland Southgate Tower, 2258 Chino Roces corner EDSA, Makati City. Visit www.thealpharestaurant.com or call (+632) 310 5201.
Photos by Anton Angeles
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TRAVEL LOG
Driving The Benz To Its Limit For more information, visit www. mercedes-amg.com/driving-academy. You can also visit the local Mercedes Benz distributor, CATS at its showroom at 1008 EDSA Greenhills, Metro Manila or call (+632) 723 5808. Visit www.cats.com.ph.
The AMG division is the performance division of Mercedes Benz and defines the gold standard of the exclusive luxury performance market. Simply put, you must be richer than the rest
for
the thrill and bragging rights to acquire a luxury MB sports car. So if you are fortunate to own this expensive toy and raring to find out what it is truly capable of, then enroll at the AMG Driving Academy. Basically, you will be taught by experienced race-car drivers how to go for it and drive your Benz sports car to the limit in a danger-free environment. There are five different programs: Emotion, Basic, Advanced, Pro and Masters. Driving programs start at €290 (“peanuts” if you can afford a Benz), and they guarantee to make your adrenalin flow and put a wide grin on your face.
Chopped-up Carry-On Bag This carry-on set from Truco ends that pesky problem of getting your bag to fit into that tiny overhead compartment. It’s a modular, three-piece carry-on bag that stacks and un-stacks on itself to fit into any tight spot. At US$200, we just hope it fits your budget, too. Visit www.balanzza.com.
- Davey Alba
Senz-ible Cover Born from the designer’s resentment of umbrellas turning inside out in strong winds, the Senz umbrellas (€49.95) were built to withstand up to 100kph winds while keeping your back dry. Now doesn’t that make so much more senz, er, sense? Visit www.senzumbrellas.com.
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TRAVEL LOG
Barnes & Noble’s New Simple Touch Nook If you’re curious about e-book readers but prefer something that simply lets you get on with your reading experience, nothing else, consider Barnes & Noble’s new Simple Touch Nook. The 7.5-ounce Simple Touch has a six-inch Pearl e-ink display, which is great for reading under direct sunlight. Its battery lasts an unbelievable two months-perfect for long road trips. Get a comfier grip with its contoured, rubberized backing. Another nifty feature is the added social layer: Nook Friends lets you follow other Nook users to share new titles so you can curate a reading list to match each of your outings. The Simple Touch comes with Wi-Fi only. It’s driven by an 800MHz TI OMAP 3 processor, has 2GB of onboard storage (expandable with a MicroSD port) and runs Android 2.1. Notably
Available now at www. barnesandnoble.com/ nook
though, it US$139 price tag isn’t cheaper than the
$114 ad-supported Amazon Kindle. - Davey Alba
Olympus XZ-1: The Pocket PRO The Olympus XZ-1 is one of the
LET Google Translate Google Translate for iPhone lets you type or dictate your sentence to input it into the app. It then spits out a translation, which you can audibly play back or show in full-screen text to that confused cab driver you’re dealing with. The app also lets you “star” your commonly used phrases so you can go back to them easily. Free. www.itunes.apple.com
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best compact digital cameras that fits right in your pocket. It has a 10MP CCD sensor and a Zuiko lens (f1.8-2.5 6.0-24mm), a bright 3.0-inch OLED display, HD video recording and full manual controls. US$500.
DISCOVER with Trover Trover, an iPhone app, detects your current location and shows you snapshots of discoveries near you— taken by other users—so you can go and explore the sites yourself. Trover works best in brand-new surroundings where you can stumble on unexpected things. Free. www.itunes.apple.com
P eople .
t re n ds .
eve n t s . . .
a n d
all
t hi n gs
releva n t
InTheNews
Cellphones to be Chargeable by Sound And thus, noise need not be pollution anymore. According to the Telegraph, engineers at the Sungkyunkwan University in Seoul, South Korea, have developed a technology that can transform sound waves into electrical power. When applied to a cellphone, the source of power may come from all types of sound from speech, music or traffic. Charging can be done whether or not the cellphone is in use. The technology lies in a battery which has a sound-absorbing pad that converts sound vibrations into energy. Currently, the battery developed can only power sensors and other small devices, although according to its developers, applying this to smartphones is well underway in the near future.
The NUMBERS
4
years Google reigned as the world’s most valuable brand before Apple overtook it this year.
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July 2011
7.7
million
annual tourists received by Britain for its live music events, according to UK Music.
80
free charging stations for electric cars to be installed in San Francisco in an effort to lessen air pollution.
90
percentage of newborns to be immunized by 2015 in Haiti, a goal set by the country, according to the Pan American Health Organization.
IN THE NEWS
IN THE PHILIPPINES
China Adopts a Kitty
WWF and BDO launch the first ATM donation program in Philippines. The priority beneficiary is Donsol’s whale shark eco-tourism program. Until February 2012, users of BDO ATM machines will have the option to “Donate 5.00” after every transaction.
The Department of Tourism will fund the development of a “heritage village” in Pila, Laguna. Surrounded by 31 centuriesold homes, Pila’s central plaza has all the elements of a Spanish colonial period town. Besting 12 other countries, the Pastry Alliance of the Philippines took home five Golds, two Bronzes and a Team Silver at the Hong Kong International Culinary Classic last May.
The JournalistFriendly Facebook Macau’s New Mega Building As if surpassing Vegas wasn’t enough, it seems Macau also felt the need to house the world’s largest rooftop wave pool, found in its new luxury resort, Galaxy Macau. The US$41.9-billion resort has 2,200 rooms and 50 bars and restaurants.
Google Beats Amazon
The first solar-powered school opens in Nueve Vizcaya. Named the Tan Yan Kee Elementary School, this computerequipped school was funded by the Lucio Tan Group of Companies.
24 M A B U H A Y
A 9.5-ha Hello Kitty theme park will open in China by 2014. Licensed by Japanese company Sanrio, such park is the first to be built outside Japan.
July 2011
Following the creation of Google’s Music Beta, music lovers can now sync as much as 20,000 songs in one online source for free. For those who store music in their laptop, cellphone and tablet, this saves the hassle of having to transfer files. The new app beat Amazon’s similar service which only allowed the storage of 1,000 songs.
Facebook creates a Journalists on Facebook page to encourage the news media to use the site for reporting. Among those who “friended” the page were Katie Couric and Christiane Amanpour.
HISTORY
Somewhere in the Mid-year
Halfway through time gone by, stories about a girl’s rabbithole adventures is created and a simple campaign sign begins a global phenomenon. Sometimes, the birth of certain things come right in the middle.
Philippine hISTORY July 3, 1892 The organization La Liga Filipina is established by Jose Rizal to push for reforms against Spanish oppression. July 4, 1946 Manuel Roxas becomes the first president of the Philippine Republic. July 7, 1892 Jose Rizal is captured and exiled to Dapitan. Almost immediately afterward, Andres Bonifacio establishes the Katipunan, an armed revolutionary movement against the Spaniards. July 16, 1990 A 7.8-intensity earthquake hits the densely populated island of Luzon and claims approximately 1,600 lives.
THE WORLD July 4, 1862 Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, better known as Lewis Carroll, takes a short boat ride down the Thames River with his friend, Reverend Robinson Duckworth, and sisters Lorina, Alice and Edith Liddell. Here he narrates the 26 M A B U H A Y
July 2011
July 1, 1979 The world’s first portable budget stereo is introduced in the Japanese market by Sony. It was called the Walkman TPS-L2.
spontaneously made story of Alice’s adventures underground, which is later written and published as The Adventures of Alice in Wonderland. July 11, 1975 Chinese archeologists announce the discovery of a three-acre burial pit in Xian, China, which shelters 6,000 clay warrior statues. Each soldier in the Terracotta Army was modeled after real members of the first Chinese emperor’s army. July 19, 1941 The “V for Victory” campaign is launched by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, which had Churchill enthusiastically sporting the “V” hand signal now known as the peace sign. July 28, 1900 Louis Lassen, owner of restaurant Louis’ Lunch in Connecticut, is asked by a customer to make something for him to eat on the run. Putting his own blend of ground steak trimmings between two toast slices, Lassen creates the first hamburger.
Famous Birthdays July 1 Diana, Princess of Wales (1961-1997) was a member of the British Royal Family who became a public icon
because of her numerous charity involvements. In a statement after Diana’s death, former Prime Minister Tony Blair called her the “People’s Princess.” July 6 Mexican muralist Frida Kahlo (19071954) is best known for her self-portraits (55 of her 143 paintings are self-portraits). She was quoted as saying, “I paint myself because I am so often alone and because I am the subject I know best.” July 15 Dutch painter Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (1606-1669) is regarded as one of the most important painters in European art history. His play of lights and shadows to create depth and emphasis in his paintings made him one of the masters of the chiaroscuro style.
Sweet Deals ARE M A D E O F T H E S E
Discovery Shores
The Tides
Mövenpick Resort and Spa
When it rains, it pours irresistible deals in the best Philippine hideaways. Check these out soon because you might have only until July 31 to check in. DISCOVERY SHORES – BORACAY, AKLAN THE DIGS: Luxury beachfront hotel with raved-about service. Included in Travel and Leisure’s 500 World’s Best Hotels of 2011. THE OFFER: 3D2N stay in room of choice inclusive of one dinner, a 50-minute massage, buffet breakfast, airport transfers and roundtrip airfare. THE COST: Php18,888 net/person (Junior Suite), Php20,888 net/ person (One-bedroom Suite) and Php23,888 net/person (One-bedroom Suite Premiere). SOLD? Call (+6336) 288 4500 or (+632) 719 6692. Visit www.discoveryshoresboracay.com. THE TIDES – BORACAY, AKLAN THE DIGS: Designer hotel with roofdeck for pool lounging and parties. Included in New York Times’ 44 Places To Go in 2009. THE OFFER: 3D2N accommodations inclusive of roundtrip airfare, boat and land transfers, daily breakfast, and terminal and environmental fees. THE COST: Php8,900/person based on quad sharing. SOLD? Call (+632) 725 3411, email reservation@tidesboracay.com or visit www.tidesboracay.com DISCOVERY COUNTRY SUITES – TAGAYTAY CITY THE DIGS: A cozy family-home-turned-bedand-breakfast. THE OFFER: An overnight stay with country breakfast, wine and cheese buffet at sundown, and a four-course lunch or dinner at its Miele Guide-listed Restaurant Verbena. THE COST: Php8,500++/night on weekdays and Php10,000++/night on 28 M A B U H A Y
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weekends. SOLD? Call (+632) 529 8172, email dcsrsvn@discovery.com.ph or visit www.discoverycountrysuites.com. EASTWOOD RICHMONDE HOTEL – QUEZON CITY THE DIGS: Picky sleepers can look forward to their “signature Luxe bed.” The Eastwood Café’s Mango Crepe Fettucine was labeled one of “25 Yummiest Desserts” by the Philippine Daily Inquirer in 2010. THE OFFER: Discounted room rates for local residents. THE COST: Php4,700 net/night (Superior Room), Php5,200 net/night (Deluxe Room), Php 6,575 net (One-bedroom Suite), Php7,375 net/night (One-bedroom Suite Superior), Php8,175 net/night (One-bedroom Suite Deluxe), Php8,975 net/night (Onebedroom Suite Premier), and Php11,075 net/ night (Two-bedroom Suite). SOLD? Call (+632) 570 7777, email erh@richmondehotel. com.ph or visit www.richmondehotel.com. MÖVENPICK RESORT AND SPA – MACTAN ISLAND, CEBU THE DIGS: A Swiss-run hotel located along a private white-sand beach and marine sanctuary. THE OFFER: The Mövenpick Welcome Promotion includes discounted room rates, breakfast and use of kayak and pedal boat. THE COST: Php6,000/night (Deluxe Room) and Php7,000/night (Suite). SOLD? Call (+032) 492 7777, email resort. cebu.reservations@moevenpick.com or visit www.moevenpick-hotels.com
Special
MENTION
THE ISLANDS GROUP – CEBU Building a name from its value-friendly, stickto-the-essentials style, The Islands Group is an established brand for tourism services in the Philippines. Its Islands Banca Cruises offers tours of Cebu’s famous islands on a fully serviced boat. Its newly opened Islands Stay Hotel is known for its “value chic” rooms.
THE PASSWORD: Mention “Mabuhay” and you get five percent off on island-hopping with Islands Banca Cruises. In the Mactan branch of Islands Stay Hotel, book a Large room (two double beds) for only Php950/night. SOLD? Visit www.islandsbanca. com or www.islandsstay.com.
Islands Stay Hotel
Islands Banca Cruises
Eastwood Richmonde Hotel
Bellevue
ASTORIA PLAZA – PASIG CITY THE DIGS: A Zen-inspired hotel in one of Metro Manila’s main commercial districts, Ortigas Center. THE OFFER: Discounted room rates with free massage and shuttle service to Ortigas Center. THE COST: Php4,500 net/night (One-bedroom Suite), Php6,800 net/night (Two-bedroom Suite). SOLD? Call (+632) 687 1111, email sales@astoriaplaza.com or visit www. astoriaplaza.com. BELLEVUE – ALABANG, MUNTINLUPA CITY THE DIGS: The only five-star hotel in southern Metro Manila. THE OFFER: Discounted room rates for local residents, inclusive of breakfast buffet for two, unlimited Internet access and shuttle
The Peninsula Manila
service to Alabang commercial districts. THE COST: Php6,000 net for two nights (Standard Room), Php9,000 net for two nights (Penthouse Suite). SOLD? Call (+632) 910 4203 or visit www.thebellevue.com. THE PENINSULA MANILA – MAKATI CITY THE DIGS: Old elegance meets modern taste in this hotel that’s home to the famous Salon de Ning. Included in Travel and Leisure’s 500 World’s Best Hotels 2011. THE OFFER: Discounted room rates. THE COST: Book any room category for one night and get the second night at only Php3,500. SOLD? Call (+632) 887 2888 or visit www.peninsula.com.
EYE ON ART
C a r l o
C a l m a
(LEFT) Manila Diamond Hotel’s culinary studio. Photo by Marinel Locsin; (BELOW) Sculpture of a dancer’s movements, inspired by the movie Black Swan. Photo by Brian Fontanilla
Motion in Stills Words by Michelle Ayuyao
C
arlo Calma is the youngest addition to the Philippines’ Calma family known for flawless composition and striking motifs in architectural design. Educated in design and architecture in the United Kingdom, Carlo believes that aesthetic beauty in design is merely secondary if not supported by theory. This was evident in his recent exhibit of an 18-piece carvedwood collection that highlighted the flow of motion. “Grammar of Movement,” he calls it. Through the trails of color used in every piece, Carlo captured actions that often happen too fast to be appreciated. It was his critique on literal movements of the body in rhythm, as seen in pieces inspired by classical ballerinas, edgy hip-hop dancers and graceful swan-divers. A few other exhibit pieces poked fun at the contrast and movement of language, this time from school-taught form and structure to the tasteless text lingo now known as “jejemon.” With some of his smaller sculptures estimated to range anywhere between Php150,000 and Php350,000, it’s no surprise that beauty doesn’t come cheap. Carlo’s creations have been hauled off to Europe and the United States. While his footprints are stamped in various places around the globe, he himself is constantly exploring new methods for design. “Design is the rigorous beautification of built environments,” he says. And beautify is what he did for Aranaz Boutique in 2008, when the local brand of bag exporter tasked Carlo to reinvent the look of its flagship store in Makati City. The designer/architect used the uninterrupted rhythm of patterns on animal skins and hides, a common design element in Aranaz handbags, as his driving force. Through the simplicity of nature’s algorithms, Carlo transformed the boutique into a space of edgy yet symmetric order. The boutique’s walls seemed to slither, appearing almost snake-like, mirroring the veneer of the evening bags up on the store’s display. 30 M A B U H A Y
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Carlo’s interior designs are often born from the marriage of polar opposites, which he uses to breathe life into seemingly dead spaces. In boxy areas where floors end and walls begin, Carlo strives to blur boundaries, stitching them together into a unified structure. “I like the playful elements that go into using various patterns and textures,” he says. He often uses geometric patterns to create particular effects, such as lines in varying lengths which are evenly spaced out to convey the impression of motion. His work on Manila Diamond Hotel’s Constellation function venue, for example, makes use of two-dimensional panes mounted on the room’s ceiling and carved in a certain pattern to give the illusion of depth. The length of the corridors that lead to the main area are covered by circular patterns that give the illusion of expanse. Infinitely fascinated by textures, Carlo plans to create a line of interior fixtures such as wall hangings and small-scale sculptures later in the year. This time, he will take inspiration from the play of shadow, light and color, as if seeing the world through kaleidoscope eyes.
Jejemon, Carlo Calma’s statement sculpture on the shift of language from class to crass. Photo by Brian Fontanilla
CULTURE
L a n g
D u l a y
LANG DULAY,
THE LIVING TREASURE
NYX MARTINEZ revisits the legendary Lang Dulay, a dreamweaver whose tapestries give life to the heritage of the indigenous T’boli tribe of Mindanao. Photos by JAY JALLORINA
In 1998, former president Fidel V. Ramos declared Bey Lang Dulay of Lake Sebu a National Living Treasure.
It is dusk on the banks of Lake Sebu in South Cotabato. A small group of journalists awaits the arrival of an old woman named Lang Dulay, the famous T’boli dreamweaver. She has accepted our request to meet in her traditional longhouse—a nearly bare home with slats for windows, coco-lumber mats, and no electricity. The only ornament inside is a long weaving loom, where she sits every day, deftly crafting the designs she has dreamt about in the night, when it is said that the Spirit of Abaca, Fu Dalu, speaks to her of intricate patterns. Soon, a hunched figure appears, climbing slowly, steadily up a ladder that leads to the threshold of her home. Before formally greeting us, Lang Dulay first changes into her traditional T’boli costume: a long-sleeved shirt Among the T’boli musical instruments with bold designs, a is the bamboo kubing, which makes long, checkered skirt, music when pressed against the lips and and a heavy brass plucked. It is also commonly used by belt with tiny bells to other indigenous people of Mindanao. accessorize. Then she 32 M A B U H A Y
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sits down near a window, her gentle face supple yet strong. There is a soft smile on her upturned lips, and the headdress she wears frames a countenance hardly marked by wrinkles. “She’s more than 90 years old,” says Oyog, our T’boli guide, translator and a teacher in SIKAT (School of Indigenous Knowledge and Traditions). “T’bolis don’t celebrate their birthdays. There are many T’boli weavers, but she is one of the oldest. She is considered a Bo-I; this means a respected woman in the community. Sometimes, she even settles cases in the village.” The trip to see Lang Dulay was part of the Bonamine Basta Pinas campaign with the Department of Tourism. We ask if it’s okay to take the old woman’s picture. “Yes, as long as you show her the pictures afterwards,” Oyog replies. “She likes to see.” I first met Lang Dulay during a documentary shoot with Living Asia Channel four years ago. Back then, she had showed me how to work the hemp fibers between her loom, how the bold colors of red, black and white were used in the traditional T’nalak weave, how her name was woven into each of her designs, artfully displayed like a signature near the hem, and how the native cowry shell was used to polish to perfection the “Grade A” weaves. “I was taught weaving by my mother,” Lang Dulay narrates, the lilt of her tongue strong in the T’boli dialect. Its rhythm resounds like something foreign to our ears, and Oyog is quick to translate each word. “I started dreaming of the designs when I was 12 years
(CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT) The latest adventure attraction in South Cotabato is cruising over five waterfalls, strapped to the highest zipline in Southeast Asia; The Lonon Falls are a group of seven waterfalls in Lake Sebu; T’boli teenagers display their musical instruments after a song-and-dance routine.
HOW TO GET THERE From General Santos City, take a bus to Koronadal or Surallah, then a jeepney or “husky” bus to Lake Sebu, which is 40 km away from Koronadal City in South Cotabato. Call the Lake Sebu Tourism Office in South Cotabato at (+63930) 603 3554 for inquiries or more information. From GenSan airport, you can also hire a van for a few days. Call Stephan dela Mota of Garrie’s Transport Services at (+63930) 842 5652 or (+63927) 648 0285 or (+83) 225 2023. Stephen knows all the best restaurants and stopovers in town.
WHERE TO STAY Monte Cielo Resort is a beautiful, budget-friendly private mountain lodge overlooking the lake and rice terraces, with native-style lodging and homegrown meals. You can arrange visits to the T’boli tribe and Lake Sebu, zipline or hikes. Call Mayette at (+63917) 923 0957 or William (+63920) 460 0690. Email william_e_sy@yahoo.com
WHERE TO BUY T’NALAK PRODUCTS Gono Kem Bo-I “Princess House” Store (across SIKAT School) in Lake Sebu. Call Maria “Oyog” Aros at (+63906) 634 5367.
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old. My mother only knew a few designs. But I kept on dreaming, so I wove even more... And I never forget my dreams.” “But in your dreams,” I ask, “What do you see? The actual designs like they are here? Or is it more a feeling of what you want to create?” Lang Dulay holds up one of her precious three-meter cloths, which is on sale for Php1,000/meter. It has taken her four long months to complete. “This pattern, for example, represents the bubbles of the sea, and here—the shield of a warrior. Whatever I see in my dreams is what inspires me,” she says. Although abaca weaving is an art form familiar all over the world, the geometrical T’nalak designs of the Philippine T’boli people represent their traditions and beliefs. Even the colors are significant: red for bravery, commitment and love, and black for their struggles as an indigenous tribe. The cloth is woven into wall hangings, clothes, bags or wallets. The accessories and jewelry of
the T’boli tribe, often made from horse hair, seeds and beads, are also red, black and white. “The T’nalak is one of the identities of the Tboli people,” Oyog interjects. “Its value is very high in our communities. In the old days, it wasn’t just a pretty cloth. It was used to cover the bride and also as a dowry, in exchange for cattle.” The finesse of Lang Dulay’s craft has earned her the title of “National Living Treasure,” an award which used to be given only to National Folk Artists of the Philippines. Her works occupy a space in the National Museum. With her title came Php100,000, plus pension. By now, any sunlight is gone, and all I can see of Lang Dulay is a dark silhouette, and the silvery outline of her aged body sitting quite still, like a fading remnant of the past. She has one last admonition for the younger folk whom she hopes will be the wisdom-keepers, the ones to continue the heritage she has kept all her life. “I want to tell the young people: Don’t stop weaving. Besides giving economic growth, it’s a skill we need to preserve. Don’t let it die.” It is here that I realize that the dreams of Lang Dulay are not just for the sake of her cloth, but for the sake of her people, her children’s children—this legacy that must be lived from generation to generation.
Riding Religious Local journalist BERT LAPUT shares a Dapitan festival of religiosity, revelry and horses with two feet. Photos by FREGER REYES
Devotees carry an image of Saint James the Greater as they join the noon procession from the church.
Decked in colorful costumes, young women dance on the streets for Dapitan city’s patron saint.
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It was 15 minutes to noon. The mood in Dapitan remained calm, even with the gathering of a huge crowd in front of the church. People talked in subdued voices as street vendors sold snacks. The sun’s heat was intense. When the clock struck 12, sounds erupted—church bells began ringing and the town band played “Himno Nacional de Espana.” Devotees danced, waving Parpagayo leaves and shouting “Viva Señor Santiago!” as the image of Saint James the Greater was carried out of the church for a short procession toward his waiting horse at the plaza. Dapitan celebrates the feast of Saint James the Greater, the city’s patron saint, every July 25 although festivities start at noon on July 24 when the image of Señor Santiago (Saint James) is carried by the town chieftain (now, the mayor)
to the plaza and mounted on a white horse on a carroza. It was in the early 16th century when Jesuit missionaries brought to Dapitan the devotion to Saint James the Greater, also the patron saint of Spain, after learning that the town was constantly harrassed by Muslim pirates. The priests believed that Señor Santiago would protect Dapitan from the Muslim pirates they called “moros” just as the saint saved Spain from Moorish invaders. On the feast day, Dapitanons would reenact the 844 AD battle of Clavijo in northern Spain, where according to Spanish legend, a warrior on a white horse suddenly appeared and led the Spanish forces’ defeat of the Moors. After the battle, the warrior disappeared, leaving the Spaniards to believe it was Señor Santiago.
WHERE TO STAY Dakak Beach Resort, Mindanao’s first luxury resort, rests along the 750-meter white-sand beach in Barangay Taguilon, 45 minutes from the airport in neighboring Dipolog City. It has 152 rooms in 76 native duplex bungalows with room rates at US$90-400/night. Call General Manager Rossini J. Montecalvo at (+63920) 947 0391 or (+63915) 318 5238. If you want a homey place in Dapitan, stay at Home Sweet Home By the Bay on Sunset Boulevard, right at the heart of the city. It has six rooms priced at an average of Php1,000/night, inclusive of breakfast. Call (+63908) 885 5709. Dapitan is three hours by bus (Php200/ person) from Dipolog City.
PAL flies between Manila and Dipolog City five times weekly. PALakbayan tour packages are available. For more information, call PAL reservations office at (+632) 855 8888 or visit www. philippineairlines.com.
(ABOVE, LEFT) An image of Saint James the Greater mounted on a carroza that the mayor will lead out of the church. (ABOVE, RIGHT) Locals make a mock horse to reenact the battle between the Spaniards and the Moors.
Because there were a few horses in Dapitan for the reenactment, some devotees made mock horses out of bamboo sticks covered with paper and slung it on their bodies. At a distance, the image resembled a man riding on a small horse with two feet. When devotees on mock horses were asked, “Asa mo paingon?” (Where are you going?) They would answer, “Magkinabayo!” (To act like a horse). Thus, the feast became known as Kinabayo. Another twist to tradition is the accompanying music. Spanish missionaries and soldiers used to play “Himno Nacional de España” during the feast, which Dapitanons eventually adopted, thinking—wrongly—
that it was Señor Santiago’s “theme song.” Over the years, the feast evolved with the ways of settlers from Bohol and Zamboanga Peninsula’s first inhabitants, the Subanens. Cleofe C. Cortez, a retired Dapitanon teacher, said that early Spanish soldiers waved their swords to salute Señor Santiago, and this was imitated by Dapitanons who used bamboo sticks cut like swords. As the priests taught Dapitanons to avoid violent ways, the bamboo sticks were replaced with Parpagayo leaves endemic to the place. The atmosphere at the festivities, however, thankfully, remained the same.
骑马宗教 当地专栏记者Bert Laput分享一个有关宗教、狂欢和两条腿马故事的达皮坦 (Dapitan) 节日。 午前15分钟那一刻。虽然教堂前人山人海, 但达皮坦市仍然十 分平静。人们压低声音交谈, 街道边小商贩在叫卖。阳光热力 十足。时钟敲响12点, 这时鼓乐齐鸣——教堂大钟开始鸣响, 小镇乐队演奏西班牙国歌“Himno Nacional de Espana”, 信徒们起舞, 挥动Parpagayo叶并高喊 “万岁塞纳圣地亚哥”! 同时圣雅各伯像 被抬出教堂, 向广场上等候他的白马行进。 每年的7月25日, 达皮坦市都举行该市守护神即圣雅各伯的盛 宴, 而庆祝活动自7月24日中午就开始了。当时, 圣雅各伯像由 两位头面人物 (市长) 抬到广场上, 并安装在有华丽马车的一 匹白马上。 16世纪初, 耶稣会传教士知道该市总是受到穆斯林海盗的骚扰, 就将同时也是西班牙守护神的圣雅各福群会, 传播到这里。祭 司们认为, 塞纳圣地亚哥会保护达皮坦免遭他们称为 “摩尔人“ 的海盗骚扰, 如同圣长挽救西班牙免受摩尔人的入侵者一样。 在盛宴日, 达皮坦人重演公元844年西班牙南部Clavijo战役。据 西班牙的传说, 在那里, 有一名骑着白马的武士突然出现, 并且 率领西班牙军队打败了摩尔人。在此战役之后, 这名武士就失 踪了, 西班牙认为它就是 “塞纳圣地亚哥“。 因为在达皮坦参加重演的马有很多, 有些信徒将糊有纸的竹竿 披在他们的身上, 做成模拟马匹。从远处看, 酷似一个人骑着 一匹有两条腿的小马。
人们问马上的信徒, ”你去哪里” (原文是西班牙语) 他们将回答说, “扮马!“ (原文是西班牙语)。该盛宴由此称为马节(Kinabayo)。 同时还有另一个传统, 就是伴乐。西班牙传教士和战士通常在 盛宴期间演唱西班牙国歌“Himno Nacional de Espana”。达皮坦人误 认为那就是塞纳圣地亚哥的 “主题歌”。 随着时间推移, 盛宴在波荷和三宝颜半岛定居者Subanens人的 影响下发生演变。达皮坦的一位退休教师Cleofe C. Cortez说, 早 期西班牙战士挥动手中的剑向塞纳圣地亚哥致意, 达皮坦就用 削成利剑模样的竹竿模仿。祭司教达皮坦人避免用暴力的方 式, 用当地盛产的Parpagayo叶代替竹竿。但是, 盛宴的气氛丝毫 未受影响。 去哪里住 Dakak海滩度假村, 棉兰老岛第一个高档度假村, 坐落在Barangay Taguilon 湾绵延750米长的白沙滩边, 距离比邻第波罗市的机场45 分钟。在76间由竹子和尼帕叶制成的土著复式别墅中, 有152个 精美的房间。住宿费从90美元/宿到400美元/宿。总经理Rossini J. Montecalvo的电话: +63920 947 0391或+63915 318 5238。 如果您想在达皮坦有一个温馨如家的住处，就来城市中心日落 大道上的Home Sweet Home By the Bay (湾畔温馨之家)。每户有 六个房间,房价平均为菲律宾比索1,000/宿,含早餐。请拨打: +65 908 8396 或 +63908 885 5709。
J u l y 2 0 11 M A B U H A Y 37
FOOD
J o h n n y
R o c k e t s
Doing
the
Diner
MICHELLE AYUYAO finds everything that’s fabulous about the ‘50s in a Johnny Rockets burger meal.
In the post-war years of the 1950s, just before fastfood joints sprouted across America, all roads led to streetcorner diners, where people danced on checkerboard floors, to songs played on coin-operated jukeboxes. Perched behind the high service counters and floor-mounted stools were the grills and flat frying pans that cooked up what would later become to the world an American gastronomic icon—the hamburger. It’s said that the birth of the first burger was simply by chance one quiet afternoon in New Haven, Connecticut. A man entered a local diner called Louis’ Lunch and asked owner Louis Lassen for a meal on the run. Taking his own blend of ground steak trimmings, Louis sandwiched it between two slices of toast, creating, unknowingly, the first burger. Since then, the popularity of this sandwich
skyrocketed, making it a staple for diners all across the country. Diners began serving up variations of the dish by adding anything from coined pieces of pickles to bacon strips to thinly sliced cheese slivers. Each burger dish wouldn’t be complete without a siding of French fried potatoes, and a generous serving of tomato ketchup. To balance out the salty kick of the burger, milkshakes came with each meal. Made from a full scoop of ice cream, flavored syrup and sometimes, crushed bits of candy bars, each glass would be whipped with a hand blender until a stiff froth forms. The thick layer of foam cream on each glass would be so smooth that a milkshake was then often called a “velvet.” The burger, fries and shake combination became so popular that it
DID YOU KNOW? Consuming four tablespoons of ketchup will give you the same nutritional value as a whole medium tomato. 38 M A B U H A Y
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The acid in ketchup can be used to restore the glow in tarnished copper pans.
Ketchup started as a sauce for anchovies composed mostly of mushrooms, walnuts and kidney beans.
it became known as the classic American meal. Today, the trio remains to be a staple in many fastfood chains but its faithfulness to the rich taste of the original combo from the ‘50s has dwindled with the use of burger extenders and premixed milkshakes. A few, like international restaurant chain Johnny Rockets, have remained true to the classic American meal’s roots. Founded on the belief that everyone deserves an escape from the world, Johnny Rockets built its restaurants in Art Deco diner fashion, keeping the spirit of the ‘50s alive with its terrazzo floors, bright neon signs and high service counters. The works come with dancing servers, too. Decked in paper hats and coin dispenser belts, servers sporadically take to the floor with a repertoire of retro moves, inviting and delighting patrons in the red plastic leather dining booths. The menu pays tribute to old-time diner favorites like
the Bacon Cheddar Single Burger (Php395), Chicken Club Sandwich (Php415) and Philly Cheesesteak (Php395). The house favorite however, is the Original Burger (Php285), which stands as a tower of fresh tomatoes, shredded lettuce, chopped onions, and a large burger patty on a tender bun. Pair it with a glass of their Butterfinger Deluxe Milkshake (Php275) and a bin of bottomless fries served with ketchup smiles, and you’ll be taking a trip through time. This nostalgic diner has been voted one of the Top 10 FamilyFriendly Restaurants in Philadelphia, San Francisco, Atlanta and New York, with its signature burger being one of the Top 10 in Los Angeles, Atlanta, Miami, Columbus and Rhode Island. Now in the Philippines, Johnny Rockets is your ticket to the ‘50s—to a gastronomic experience that will show you why Americans called this age just absolutely fabulous.
1. Cardboard-cutout servers and a neon-lit sign greet guests outside Johnny Rockets. Photo courtesy of Johnny Rockets. 2. A jukebox customized for Johnny Rockets restaurants plays Billboard hits from the 1950s. 3. Besides the burgers, the Chicken Club sandwich is a good and healthy alternative. Photos by Anton Angeles
THE BEST OF JOHNNY ROCKETS Besting more than 300 other franchises worldwide, Johnny Rockets Philippines bagged the Outstanding International Franchise Award in May 2011. Receiving the award in Hollywood, California was Johnny Rockets Philippines Chief Executive Officer Dr. Miguel Aguiluz IX. Johnny Rockets has branches at the Eastwood Mall, Robinson’s Galleria and T. Morato. SHAKE IT: All their milkshakes are made from a vanilla-based ice cream blend composed of 15 percent butterfat, making their shakes thicker and creamier than others.
BOTTOMLESS FRIES: Burgers come with a bottomless serving of fries, alongside their signature ketchup smiley faces.
PURE PATTY: Their burger patties are a full 1/3-pound premium Australian meat. Johnny Rockets makes use of a special sauce which was created just for them. Vegetarians may request ground turkey or Boca burger replacement for the beef burger patties.
J u l y 2 0 11 M A B U H A Y 39
VILLAGE SPOTS 3 BFAST
Citibank
BDO Plaza
Golden Spoon’s Frozen yogurt
o Pase
5
1
oxas
de R
AYALA TRIANGLE GARDEN ing
Ay a
la
Str
Makati Stock Exchange
Av e
ip
nu
e
PLDT Bldg.
2
Banapple’s Banoffee pie slice
Filipinas Heritage Library
Ave nue
Din
kat i
BPI Bldg.
Ma
Ninoy Aquino Monument
The Enterprise Center Tower 1
The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf
Photo by Babyruth Chuaunsu Glorietta
Ayala Triangle Gardens
SA
ED
Bon Chon Chicken
Photo by Babyruth Chuaunsu
Babyruth Chuaunsu and Nyx Martinez map out Makati City’s newest day crowd-drawer.
The Site Step into the Ayala Triangle Gardens during lunch hour, and you’ll find the busy office crowd in their jollier, noisier selves (we cut them some slack because they deserve the break). This patch of green gives them a place to hang out over coffee or pizza, or to pause from the commercial buzz nearby without being disconnected from the rest of the world (the Ayala Triangle Gardens is a WiFi hotspot). At the gardens, ordinary employees don’t need much to relax and recover some perspective—30 minutes of free time can do wonders for the soul. Come dusk, resident families stroll in the park, and joggers use the nearly two-kilometer path which stretches the length of this refuge linking Salcedo and Legaspi villages, both known for their homegrown neighborhood spots. It takes about 25 minutes to walk around the 42 M A B U H A Y
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Ayala gardens, but it’s a welcome respite that lets you forget that you are, in fact, in Makati, the hectic financial capital of Metro Manila. Developed by Ayala Land’s Innovation and Design Group following the vision of chief architect Joel Luna, the Ayala Triangle is Makati City’s biggest public landscape. It has a pedestrian route built around existing acacia, fire and rubber trees that have long been unnoticed. A scattering of monuments of Philippine heroes— Gabriela Silang, Ninoy Aquino and Sultan Kudarat—dot the grounds, and if these spark enough curiosity, head to the Filipinas Heritage Library for some higher education. The Ayala Triangle Gardens is open daily, 6 a.m.10 p.m. You will find it on the corners of Paseo de Roxas, Makati Avenue and Ayala Avenue.
The Dining Strip 1 Golden Spoon (+632 759 4160, www. goldenspoonfranchising.com) offers free taste to curious strollers. 2 Banapple (+632 756 2675, www. banapplekitchen.com) boasts of its Banoffee Slice (Php85). 3 Probably the greenest restaurant on the strip with its recycled furniture and tableware, Chef Rolando Laudico’s BFAST (+632 621 6100, www. cheflaudico.com.ph) offers exactly that— all-day breakfast cuisine. The Tapangus Silog (Php178) is a must-try. 4 Bon Chon Chicken (+632 621 6188) “paper-fries” its chicken to a crisp then “paints” imported-from-Korea sauce all over it. The Chicken Drumsticks Rice Box comes with Bon Chon’s special houseblend Iced Tea (Php145). 5 Enjoy free Wi-Fi powered by Globe
Omakase’s sushi roll Photo by Babyruth Chuaunsu
Photo by Babyruth Chuaunsu
Telecoms at The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf (+632 621 6112). Recall childhood memories at MoMo Café (+632 621 6162, www. raintreerestaurants.com/momo) with its Milo & Mamon (Php175). The heaps of Milo, condensed milk and whipped cream layered on two pieces of fluffy mamon will bring you back to the days of simple Filipino snacks you grew up with. But if you want to eat like the hungry adult that you are, go for the Sweet & Smokey Hickory BBQ Rib (Php450). Come to Pho 24 (+632 621 6133) for the Pho Dac Biet, a special noodle soup (Php168). Add Sriracha hot chili sauce and dark soy sauce to hit the spot! Singaporean favorite Wee Nam Kee (+632 846 8924, www.wnk. com.sg) finally opened its doors to the Philippines’ Hainanese chickenloving crowd. Enjoy its famous Steamed and Roasted Chicken (Php248) served with a special blend of dark soy sauce, chili sauce, fresh ginger in chicken oil. Pair this with the signature Wee Nam Kee Chicken
Rice (Php40/cup) and you’re in Hainanese heaven. Find classic American goodness at C.B.D. (Cheesesteaks, Burgers & Drinks) By Tender Bob’s (+632 482 6228), home of the NY Bacon Cheeseburger (Php220) and their Cheesesteak Sandwich (Php285). The only Filipino restaurant on this strip, Kanin Club (+632 621 6109) is almost always packed. For an introduction to true local cuisine, try the crowd-favorite Crispy Liempo (Php142)and the Sinigang na Tadyang na Baka (Php366). For pizza and pasta, head to Amici (+632 621 6128), which boasts of its woodfired pizza oven. This restaurant, which had its humble beginnings as a canteen in Don Bosco, is now a must-stop for Italian food lovers. Try the Chorizo e Spinaci (Php420) pizza and the latest big hit, the mildly spicy Spaghetti ai Tesori del Mare (Php290). Top off the Italian meal with gelato from Cara Mia Gelateria (+632 621 6111, www. caramia.ph) Omakase (+632 467 150) is best represented by its Top Platter (Sushi Platter, Php645), which includes the Philadelphia Roll, Omakase Roll and Tiger Eye Maki.
A woman walks over an ancient tree-root bridge near the village of Mawlynnong.
DOWN I N T H E DA M P Photographer AMOS CHAPPLE journeys to the wettest place on earth and finds a people thriving with tree-root bridges as old as their ancestors.
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he woman drifts alongside us as we walk. “Mister, you should go home,” she says, pointing her chin at the sky. “The rains are coming.” That night we’re woken to rainfall so heavy the flashes of lightning illuminate fear on the faces in our dormitory. By morning, however, the sun has steamed the ground dry, and for the next three days the weather of Cherrapunjee, the wettest place on the planet, gives us a benign window, allowing us access to a site of exquisite interaction between Mother Nature and the villages of the jungle below. At breakfast, we talk with Denis Rayen, a Tamil who retired from big-city banking to run the Cherrapunjee Holiday Resort with his wife Carmela. The Bangladesh frontier is visible beneath us through the clear air as Denis recalls the night he chanced on one of the hidden masterpieces of the valley. “It was getting dark, and I was following my Khasi companions. We crossed a bridge and I remember thinking ‘there’s something odd about that bridge,’ so I turned around after we crossed it, and I realized then that it was made from the roots of trees,” he recalls. It was a living tree-root bridge, a construction apparently unique to this region.
We traveled three days to see it. After a one-hour hike from the resort, we arrive at a staircase that drops through layers of increasingly steamy air as we descend the 2,106 steps (we counted) to the valley floor. We arrive in a world different from the India we’re familiar with. The Khasi tribes, which populate this landscape, are Christian. Vivid saris are nowhere to be seen; instead, the women wear delicately colored shawls. Hindu icons are absent; instead, moss-coated crosses jut above the tree line. With butterflies winging past us and pockets of air rich with the smell of papaya and jackfruit assaulting our senses, the place could be somewhere in the South Pacific. We bounce across two wire suspension bridges, over rivers filled with a tumble of boulders, then arrive in the village of Nongriat and the famous “Double-Decker” tree-root bridge. It’s like something dragged up from the deep, trailing its vines and mosses, looking out of place in the hard light of day. We cross, stooping to hold on to the struts that serve as handrails. The bridge gives a hard little bounce as we test it, like the branch of a tree. Underfoot, it’s a solid latticework of ancient roots, the gaps filled by rocks which have crystallized into the structure as the vines expanded. Next to the bridge, we drop our things into our room in the beautiful little guesthouse
GET THERE From New Delhi, you can fly to Guwahati, the gateway city to the Cherrapunjee region and a major transport hub. From Guwahati, it’s best to hire a taxi for the 120-km road journey to Cherrapunjee (US$34). As an alternative, travelers can book a seat on one of the world’s cheapest helicopter flights ($23/ person; www.megtourism.gov.in/ howtoreach.html) from Guwahati Airport to Shillong, and hire a taxi for the remainder of the journey to Cherrapunjee. (MAIN PHOTO) A meeting of nature and humankind, the “Double-Decker” bridge in Nongriat village makes a lot of things possible for the villagers. (INSET) The Atlas Moth, the world’s largest moth with a wingspan that can grow up to 12 inches, is found resting in the shade of a tree-root bridge.
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(FROM LEFT) Picturesque in the dry months, these waterfalls in Nongriat village turn into a tumbling deluge during the monsoon. Here, A Khasi youth enjoys the falls in the dry season; A local girl poses in a jansiem, a toga-like garment worn by women in many parts of the Christian-dominated Meghalaya region; A common tree frog smiles for the camera on a pathway near Nongriat village.
run by Mary Synrem. An English speaker, Mary has a taste for humor which has her face tightening during the build-up to a good story, and then bursting into laughter at the climax. After a lunch of unnameable jungle vegetables, we walk back into the village where we meet the village shopkeeper, Andreas. He buys biscuits and cigarettes from the nearest town, and sells them with a mark-up of INR2 (about US$.06) per item. He’s slightly hazed by drink when we visit. “When the rains come, we cannot do anything,” Andreas says as he sweeps a lanky arm out over the valley. “We cannot go to the jungle to find food; all we can do is rest.” He takes a deep draw from his cigarette. “We sleep like the pig, and we eat like the dog.” The rains Andreas speaks of are the likely reason for the contraption of the unique bridges in this valley. Cherrapunjee is dumped with around 15 meters of rain per year (Auckland in New Zealand receives 1.2 meters, the Philippines two meters), with nearly half of this arriving in a near constant deluge during the monsoon months of June and July. Wooden bridges would rot fast in the damp air. The native rubber tree, Ficus elastica, grows on the banks of rivers in the valley and supports its vast upward growth by sending vines that creep out from its base and grip onto rocks, other trees and soil. 46 M A B U H A Y
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At some point, probably around 500 years ago, this swift growth began to be harnessed by the Khasi tribes. Ancestors of today’s villagers began guiding the Ficus elastica roots in hollowed-out bamboo shoots over the rivers. The roots were made to grow until they reached the opposite bank, eventually sinking into the soil and taking hold. From this initial thread, the handrails and support vines were gradually threaded by the villagers. These roots continue sustaining the tree while also providing a crucial link for the villagers. Instead of wearing down like a conventional bridge, these structures get stronger over time. On the night after we leave the village and hump our way up the staircase to the shelter and rich food of the resort, the rain arrives once more. While the roof roars above us, we sit up late and talk about what life must be like in the village when the monsoons hit, of old Andreas stuck inside his hut and great boulders booming their way downstream. The village of Nongriat has a tough relationship with Mother Nature but, like all long-standing partnerships, somehow they manage to make it work. PAL flies between Manila and New Delhi, India six times weekly. For more information, call PAL reservations office at (+632) 855 8888 or visit www.philippineairlines.com.
WHEN TO GO Anytime from October to April. Monsoon season is in May till September. WHERE TO STAY Nongriat Rest House, alongside the “Double Decker” root bridge, stands above a swimming hole. Rooms for two start at US$8/night. Call Mary at (+91 985) 689 1520. The Cherrapunjee Holiday Resort, the luxury option, has superb food but is at least a two-hour walk from the bridges. Rooms start at US$36/night. Visit www. cherrapunjee.com TRAVEL TIPS First of all, relax. India’s northeast is far less hectic than the rest of the country. You won’t be overcharged or scammed by the locals but might even need to insist on paying for services provided by the villagers. Some paths around Nongriat village are high and treacherous. Ask the locals about track conditions before you set out, and bring sturdy shoes. Pack swimwear. There’s no shower in Nongriat village but there are several swimming holes nearby. MOST INTERESTING TAKE-AWAY Experiencing rain heavy enough to crumple an umbrella
Romancing the
Pacific Coast MELISSA JOSUE embarks on a journey through California’s Highway 1 to soak in the scenery that has long inspired bohemians, book authors and THOSE who simply need a break. hen my family and I would pull away from San Francisco on summer road trips, we’d hit the road in search of scenes that would shake us from our daily routine. Perhaps that’s why the California coast, with its skyward Redwoods and dramatic seaside cliffs, was for many in the ‘60s and ‘70s the road to bohemia and liberation. The California Pacific Coast Highway (known as Highway 1) inspired a sense of freedom and wonder that only the open road can bring.
SANTA CRUZ
(124 km from San Francisco) I had known Santa Cruz for the amusement park rides at the Beach Boardwalk as a child, but after an evening at the Pelican Point Inn, I ventured out to find that there was more to appreciate, like finding the blue Club Ed trailer on Cowell Beach for walk-up surfing lessons, enjoying fennel ice cream at The Penny Ice Creamery after breakfast at the Walnut Avenue Café or sharing tapas at Soif Restaurant and Wine Bar. On the day we went out, Club Ed wasn’t there so we were content to enjoy cold drinks and share stories on the wharf while admiring the Chardonnay II set off on a sunset sail beyond the Mark Abbott Memorial Lighthouse. Also check out: Chaminade Resort and Spa, 1 Chaminade Lane, www.chaminade.com, rates from US$151/night Silver Mountain Vineyards, 402 Ingalls St., State 29, www.silvermtn.com Monterey Bay Aquarium, 886 Cannery Row, Monterey, www.montereybayaquarium.org Point Lobos State Reserve, Highway 1, Carmel, www.pointlobos.org 48 M A B U H A Y
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(CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT) The seemingly endless road on Highway 1. Image courtesy of Stock.Xchng; View from the Pigeon Point Lighthouse. Photo by Blanche Rivera-Fernandez; The Pacific Coast. Photo by Blanche Rivera-Fernandez; The Santa Cruz Boardwalk, one of the oldest theme parks in the U.S. Photo by Melissa Josue; McWay Falls at the Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park in Big Sur. Photo by Melissa Josue; Santa Barbara’s high-end boutiques. Photo by Melissa Josue
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Highway 1 Road Map. Illustration by Audrey Ang
BIG SUR
(240 km from San Francisco) Unusually heavy rains in March buried parts of Highway 1 (by Big Sur) in fallen rock so my only detour into Big Sur was on a narrow, one-lane road that twisted around steep cliffs through the Santa Lucia Mountains. When I finally made it to the Glen Oaks Big Sur Motel, I took a nice, long soak in my cabin and took my time at breakfast the next day, enjoying quiche at the Big Sur Bakery. I imagined what it would be like to live here, stranded by torrential rain but rewarded with a view of mountainsides blooming with wildflowers in the spring or waterfalls cascading from beachside cliffs into secluded blue coves, like the McWay Falls in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. What made Big Sur so memorable to me years ago—and it still amazes me now—is the view from Nepenthe restaurant. While enjoying an Ambrosia burger at lunch, I sat on the deck at Nepenthe and marveled at the majestic cliffs from 808 feet above the crashing surf. It is a panorama that inspires such inner calm, author Henry Miller made Big Sur his creative retreat. Also check out: Post Ranch Inn, 47900 Highway 1, www.postranchinn.com, rates from $595/night Treebones Resort, 71895 Highway 1, www.treebonesresort. com, rates from $65 for campsite and $169 for yurts Esalen Institute, 55000 Highway 1, www.esalen.org (natural hot springs) Point Sur Lighthouse Station, Highway 1, 19 miles south of Rio Road in Carmel, www.pointsur.org
MORRO BAY
(387 km from San Francisco) I was mad at myself for getting on the road so late on my way to Morro Bay, but my mood softened at the sight of green meadows dotted with an ancient rock and a moon that was so big it appeared to rest atop the hills. After a night at the Pleasant Inn, I had a hearty breakfast of eggs and Andouille sausage (and the “sexy coffee” made with chocolate mousse) at Frankie and 50 M A B U H A Y
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Lola’s Front Street Café, and took a half-day kayak tour on the estuary with Central Coast Outdoors. I loved getting on the water because we got so close to wildlife we wouldn’t normally see. As we paddled toward the sandpit, a flock of Sand Pipers flew overhead while Harbor Seals bobbed their heads just a few meters away. I even saw a bat ray glide beneath my kayak, which I was told was a rare occurrence. That day, Morro Rock was shrouded by fog and only the very top of the 576-foot volcanic plug could be seen. It was there where the first Filipinos came ashore (in what is today the United States) as mariners on Spanish galleons crossing the Pacific over 400 years ago. Also check out: Anderson Inn, 897 Embarcadero, www.andersoninnmorrobay.com, rates from $229/night Beach Bungalow Inn and Suites, 1050 Morro Avenue, www.morrobaybeachbungalow.com, rates from $126/night Giovannis Fish Market, 1001 Front Street, www.giovannisfishmarket.com Elephant Seal Rookery at Piedras Blancas, Highway 1, south of Piedras Blancas Lighthouse, www.elephantseal.org
SANTA BARBARA
(587 km from San Francisco) Strolling among the well-heeled Santa Barbara shoppers on State Street, I felt compelled to buy a hat and outfit my travel clothes with a bit more panache. This is, after all, the American Riviera. I explored the Urban Wine Trail and loved cooling off in the airy warehouse of the Carr Vineyards’ tasting room and later listening to the live band at Oreana Winery’s converted garage. After a restful night at the Orchid Inn at Santa Barbara and dinner at Olio e Limone (where my mind still revisits the first bite of eggplant and goat cheese soufflé), I went on a self-guided Red Tile Walking Tour through the historic downtown, starting at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse. The best views came from the bell tower of the Santa Barbara County Courthouse where I saw the Santa Ynez Mountains bordering a city of redtile roofs, white adobe and palm trees.
(CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT) Sunlight showers in Malibu; A kayak tour in Morro Bay with Central Coast Outdoors. Photo by Melissa Josue; A room at Glen Oaks Big Sur Motel. Photo by Melissa Josue
Also check out: San Ysidro Ranch, 900 San Ysidro Lane, www.sanysidroranch.com, Rates from $495/night Montecito Inn, 1295 Coast Village Road, www.montecitoinn.com, rates from $129/night Metropulos, 216 East Yanonali Street, www.metrofinefoods.com Red Tile Walking Tour, 1100 Anacapa Street, www.santabarbaraca.com/ podcasts Old Mission Santa Barbara, 2201 Laguna St., www.santabarbaramission.org
MALIBU
(691 km from San Francisco) I drove down Malibu Canyon Road through the Santa Monica mountains, its rocky slopes dotted with desert brush and the Pacific Ocean sparkling in the distance. When I reached the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), I parked at the Surf Rider beach to catch the last tour of the day at the Adamson House, a small museum offering relics from the Chumash Native Americans to the early west coast pioneers. Walking silently among the halls of the house, I wondered what it was like to live in a house where nearly every wall was adorned with handmade tiles from the Malibu Potteries, a business long closed. For lunch, I tried the reopened Malibu Inn across the street from the Malibu Pier. I sat by the window at a table facing 52 M A B U H A Y
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the PCH, watching motorists yield to the occasional barefoot and bikini-clad surfer crossing the highway. I savored the watermelon gazpacho and iced tea, the fruit crisp and refreshing in my mouth, like the taste of a perpetual summer. Also check out: Malibu Beach Inn, 22878 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, www. malibubeachinn.com, rates from $325/ night Casa Malibu Inn on Beach, 22752 Pacific Coast Highway, rates from $159/ night The Malibu Motel, 22541 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, www. themalibumotel.com, rates from $125/ night Marmalade CafĂŠ, 3894 S. Cross Creek Road, Malibu, www.marmaladecafe.com Malibu Horses Inc., www.malibuhorsesinc.com Zuma Beach, 30050 Pacific Coast Highway
Road trips like the Pacific Coast Highway beckon the adventurer in all of us. Even as a child peering through the car window, I still understood, even if I couldn’t articulate the tickle of curiosity about what lies beyond the next turn, the thrill of steering your own journey and answering the call of the open road.
Before You Go Visit the California Department of Transportation website (www. dot.ca.gov) for highway road conditions and detours. GPS (global positioning systems) are great for directions, but maps can show more than a screen can display and never run out of juice. Check California State Parks Map (www. parks.ca.gov), Thomas Guide California Road Atlas (24th Edition), www.store. randmcnally.com Plan to spend about five or six days touring the coast. You can fly into San Francisco, drive down Highway 1 and depart in Los Angeles or vice versa. Major US rental car companies such as Avis and Hertz offer one-way rentals you can book online. Rates depend on the type of car. Those looking to economize can try a hybrid vehicle like the Toyota Prius, which offers 50-100 miles/gallon of gas. Driving in style? Go for a Ford Mustang convertible. Companies charge a $200-$300 fee for dropping off the car at a place different from its pick-up location. PAL flies between Manila and San Francisco daily. Swingaround tour packages are available. For more information, call PAL reservations office (+632) 855 8888 or visit www.philippineairlines.com.
Cave, by AMOS CHAPPLE
PHOTO ESSAY
What makes a good photograph? Is it the scenery? The subject? The photographer? We at Mabuhay magazine love scenes that draw us right into that captured moment—pictures that show something beyond the landscape or ocean view. This month, we sought the meaning of “anticipation” from you, our readers. Here, we present the best “anticipation” images that were sent in.
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(Waitomo, New Zealand, January 2010) A guide at the Waitomo caves in New Zealand edges into the limestone funnel, which takes intrepid tourists into the beginning of an underground tour. Waitomo, with its extensive underground cave network, is one of New Zealand’s top attractions. (Canon 5D Mark II with 24mm lens, f1.4, 1/5sec, ISO 2000)
Baseball, by Kaid Ashton (Havana, Cuba, December 2008) “I came across these two boys playing baseball in downtown Havana. It was sweltering hot outside but they didn’t seem to mind the heat and were very focused on having fun and enjoying the day. This shot is memorable for me because it was off the beaten path in Havana and I enjoyed how the background really enhanced this game of urban baseball. You can see the determination and concentration in the boy’s face. He was anticipating a pitch right down the middle and hit the ball over my head. The “ball,” it turns out, was a bottle cap wrapped in tape. (Canon 30D with Canon 24-105mm lens)
Child, BY Danny Dungo (Tokyo, Japan, February 2010) “We were walking along the Kamata Station when suddenly Danmark sat down. I saw this interesting moment, so I took out my camera and let the 3:33 p.m. ambient light do its work. (Nikon D300s with 50mm 1.4G lens, f/1.4, ISO 400, 1/100sec)
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Dog, by Amos Chapple (New Zealand, October 2005) “A sheepdog and a Monarch butterfly share a moment above the paddocks of Te Kuiti, a rural town in New Zealand.” (Canon EOS 1D with 16-35mm lens, f2.8)
Beach, BY AMOS CHAPPLE (Colombo, Sri Lanka) “At dusk on the waterfront of Colombo, a boy convinces his little friend to join the others in a game of leaping into the sea when a big wave hits.” (Panasonic L10 with 28mm lens, f2.8, 1/10sec, ISO 200)
Train, by Jasmin Cabrera (Tokyo, Japan, November 2009) “An average of 6.33 million people in Tokyo, Japan ride the Tokyo Metro each day, so having a portion of space in the train is valuable. Once the sliding doors close and the train slowly moves forward, more concretely valuable is the idea and delight that you’re finally on the way to meet friends over drinks, eat hot ramen in stalls on the side streets, off to a meeting to close a deal or reach home to catch the news, feed the dog, get some sweet rest and consequently, do the same things all over again the following day.” (Nikon D60 with Nikkor 18-200mm lens) 56 M A B U H A Y
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Starting this month, Mabuhay’s themed photo essay will be a monthly feature. We invite all our readers—whether you’re a professional photographer, a hobbyist or simply one who accidentally caught a good shot—to share insights from your travels through your images. Our next photo essays will be about RHYTHM AND MOTION (deadline: July 20), DIVERSITY, (August 20) and WHAT I’M THANKFUL FOR (September 20). Send your photos (at least 250ppi) to photos@mabuhaymagazine.com with your contact information, shot details, date and location of the photo, and a short explanation on how your photo fits the month’s theme. Contributors whose entries are chosen for publication will be notified and rewarded.
The Manor at Camp John Hay provides rain gear for guests who would not mind going out in a little drizzle. Photo courtesy of Camp John Hay
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ainy Day
etreats Who says rainy days have to get you down? With our list of the best places to hole up in this season, you’ll be singin’ in the rain before you know it.
page 60
MOUNTAIN REFUGE
page 61
HOT SPRINGS
page 62
CLEANSING WEEK
page 64
FEELING
NANTUCKET
page 66
CITY CORNERS
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MOUNTAIN REFUGE
Wake up early and, if the sky clears, try to catch the sunrise at The Manor's Friendship Garden. Photo courtesy of Camp John Hay
Camp John Hay Baguio City
"Go with the flow" seems to be the come-on of The Manor at Camp John Hay with its rainy-season promo Romancing the Rain. The package provides guests free use of rain gear such as umbrellas, rain coats and rubber boots so they can enjoy the outdoors even in a downpour. And trust me, even in the rain, that’s what you’d want to do. The Manor is located inside the 300-hectare Camp John Hay, in the middle of a pine tree forest, surrounded by hiking and horse trails, historical sites, a Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course, a range of great dining and shopping outlets, and convention facilities. With fewer people and a cool average temperature of 20 degrees Centigrade, which drops lower in the wet months, Camp John Hay is best enjoyed at a leisurely pace. It’s as quaint as it gets. - Jun Ventura
Rainy-Day Deal: Don’t miss the Irresistible Baguio Promo Guests often gather at The Manor's lobby to enjoy the fireplace, just chatting the night away or enjoying some of Baguio's famous strawberries. Photo courtesy of Camp John Hay.
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from June 16 to September 30, which offers 40 percent off on all room types at The Manor and The Suites. Rates start at Php3,350 (from the standard Php5,500).
Camp John Hay is located along Loakan Road, Baguio City 2600. For inquiries, call The Manor at (+6374) 424 0931 to 43 or its Manila office at (+632) 845-0892. Visit www.cjhhotels.com.
(LEFT) The bamboo house at the Majayjay Bed & Breakfast can accommodate up to 10 people. Photo by Blanche Rivera-Fernandez. (BELOW) The Log Cabin in Sagada is known for its good local dishes done by a French chef. Photo by Jose Marcelino A. Nicdao
Majayjay Bed & Breakfast Majayjay, Laguna
As it is, the atmosphere in this bed-and-breakfast at the far end of Laguna is lethargic, thanks to the town’s inherent sleepiness, the surprisingly cold weather year-round and a cozy old house. But in the rain, when the temperature drops even lower and the fog envelops nearby Mt. Banahaw, the place all but inspires the art of doing nothing. Sit on the porch at the back of the main house and watch the rain while the housekeepers serve you the famous Longganisang Lucban, kesong puti and pandesal. Or you can curl up on a hammock beside the bamboo house with one of the owners’ copies of Architectural Digest and other US magazines from the 1990s. When all else fails, you can lock yourself up in the room, close the blinds and let the rain lull you to dreamland. - Blanche Rivera-Fernandez Majayjay Bed & Breakfast is located in Barangay San Miguel, Majayjay, Laguna. For reservations, call Minyong or Encar Ordonez at (+63918) 9181416 or (+63918) 923 7745. Visit www.majayjaybed.com.
Laguna and Camiguin Still hung over from summer? Go and soak up some heat at the country’s best hot springs destinations—Laguna and Camiguin. Aside from providing warmth and relaxation, the water flowing from Mount Makiling in Laguna or Mount Hibok-Hibok in Camiguin is believed to be therapeutic. The water's high temperature and mineral content are known to soothe aching muscles and even cure some disabilities. - Chrissette Antonio
Log Cabin
Sagada, Mountain Province Saturday is known as market day in Sagada. Whatever goes into the shopping bag of French-native-turned-Sagadaresident “Chef Aklay” is served at the cabin’s famous Saturday night buffet. Known for creating quality dishes out of local ingredients, Chef Aklay also bakes fresh bread and has a decent stock of wine available. Following dinner, step out by the bonfire as local artists let you experience live music up in the mountain. Good food + wine in a log cabin—what else can you ask for on a rainy night? - Anika Ventura Log Cabin is located in Poblacion Sagada, 2619 Sagada. Call (+63920) 520 0463 or (+63920) 543 2218. The Saturday night buffet costs Php390/person. Bookings must be made two weeks ahead.
HOT SPRINGS
In Laguna, try the Splash Suites located at Km 58, Barangay Lalakay, Los Baños, Laguna 4030. Call (+632) 520 8365 or (+6349) 536 6399. Visit www. splashmountain.com. Or head to the old-time favorite Hidden Valley Springs. Call (+632) 8184034 (Makati Office) or visit www.hiddenvalleysprings.com.ph. In Camiguin, try the Camiguin Action Geckos Dive & Adventure Resort located at Agoho, Mambajao 9100 Camiguin Island. Email info@camiguin.ph or visit www. camiguin.ph.
The Ardent Hot Springs in Camiguin is worth the trip for a warm dip. Photo by Sandy E. Gabutin J u l y 2 0 11 M A B U H A Y 61
CLEANSING WEEK
The Farm in San Benito Lipa, Batangas
The monsoon is the best season for detoxification—the air is fresh, everything is lush, and the body is more receptive to cleansing. At the foothills of Mt. Malarayat sits The Farm in San Benito, the perfect place for a raincleanse. Its unique purification techniques offer organic and sustainable weight loss programs. Through a combination of medically guided juice fast, colon hydrotherapy sessions, spa treatments, integrated medical services, nutritional support, and sustainable lifestyle discussions and daily activities, you can actually enjoy losing those extra pounds in time for the next season. 62 M A B U H A Y
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Dining at The Farm is also an experience in healthy living. Raw, organic food is grown adjacent to the restaurant. For its vegan cuisine at the Alive! Restaurant, The Farm has received the 2006, 2009 and 2010 Bacarrat AsiaSpa Award for Spa Cuisine of the Year, and the 2007 Spa Asia Reader’s Choice award for Best Cuisine. The Farm’s other notable recognitions include The Country Award for Favorite Spa in the Philippines (SpaFinder, 2010), Asia’s Top Spas (The Wall Street Journal, 2010) and Six of the Best Environmentally Friendly Hotels (CNN Traveller, 2009)
The Farm's Wellness packge provides a holistic getaway, with organic and vegan food, a daily massage and spa therapy. (INSET) The rustic interiors of The Farm's villas is a perfect sanctuary. Photos courtesy of The Farm.
Rainy-Day Deal: Accommodations range from Php7,000 to Php45,000++ per night. Sign up for the seven-day cleansing program and save 30 percent on the entire package. Promo is valid until September 30, 2011. The Farm at San Benito is located at 119 Barangay Tipakan, Lipa City, Batangas, 4217. For reservations, call (+632) 884 8074 or (+63918) 884 8078. Email reservations@thefarm.com.ph or info@thefarm.com.ph
FEELING NANTUCKET
The Brant Point suite, at 75 square meters, is bigger than most condo residences in the city. It has a private terrace with a view of Taal Volcano. (BELOW, LEFT) The 100-square-meter West Quoddy suite or Red Room has an outdoor Jacuzzi. Photos courtesy of The Inn at Cliffhouse; (BELOW, RIGHT) Try the famous steak dinner at Chef Paul Huang's Fire Lake Grill, also at the Cliffhouse. Photo courtesy of Fire Lake Grill
The Inn at Cliffhouse Tagaytay City
“Some guests check in and never come out—until they have to, of course,” says Jennifer Dee, who owns and runs The Inn at Cliffhouse in Tagaytay. If the view of Taal Volcano were not so clear from where we stood, and the suites not so irresistible in their Nantucket-inspired elegance, Jennifer’s statement would have been scary. As it is, once you walk into this suites-only Tagaytay bed-and-breakfast, you'll know exactly why no one would wish to come out of their rooms: two queen-sized beds with 66 M A B U H A Y J u l y 2 0 11
feather pillows and mattress tops, a Jacuzzi on a balcony with a 180-degree view of the world’s smallest active volcano, bathroom amenities that would make any spa jealous, a 50-inch wall TV with a DVD library , free Wi-Fi, and daily surprise treats. Well-traveled and a fan of lighthouses, Jennifer brought the charm and comfort of New England to the Cliffhouse, as evident in the details of every suite at The Inn. But it’s the personal touches, like a handwritten note from the
innkeeper or the daily weather forecast, that define the experience. You wouldn’t mind being locked in here, trust me. In fact, when the rain brings some romance, Jennifer just might have to drag you out of bed. - Blanche Rivera-Fernandez The Inn at Cliffhouse is located on Kilometer 58, General Emilio Aguinaldo Highway, Maharlika East, Tagaytay City 4120. Rates start at Php12,000/night, with breakfast. Call (+6346) 483 2093 or (+632)637 3359. Visit www.theinnatcliffhousetagaytay.com.
CITY CORNERS
Mt. Cloud Baguio City
A little bookshop stationed on Baguio City’s main road is an ode to the solace of reading. Set on the foggy background of Baguio’s pine trees, Mt. Cloud is home to the works of mostly Filipino and Southeast Asian writers, secondhand books, and comic books up for hourly rent. It invites all wanderers to nuzzle up on the shop’s bibliochairs with a cup of hot chocolate tableas or a bottle of cold beer as the gray afternoon lingers. Cloud-dwellers may wish for time there to move just as slowly as the mountain fog does. - Michelle Ayuyao Mt. Cloud is located at Casa Vallejo on Upper Session Road. It is open everyday from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Call (+63074) 424 4437 or email queries@ mtcloudbookshop.com. Visit www.mtcloudbookshop.com.
Photo by Anika Ventura
Resorts World Manila Ultra Cinemas Pasay City
Fully Booked Taguig City
Unlike most local bookstores, the books here can be opened for browsing, given special assistance. And when the books start to bore—though we don’t know how—this Fully Booked branch, its biggest in the country, has a basement theater, albeit for private screenings. It also hosts workshops on topics like writing and photography. What’s more, Starbucks and The White Hat Yogurt Place are just beyond the shelves, for your caffeine or sugar fix. So when the rain starts to pour, pick a corner and prepare to linger. - Anika Ventura Fully Booked is located at Bldg. 6, 902 Bonifacio High St., Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City 1634. It is open daily, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. and until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. Call (+632) 858 7000/858 7036. Visit www.fullybookedonline.com
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Waiting out the rain before your flight? Leave the airport—this is where you should be. Operating 24 hours a day, the movie cinemas at the Resorts World Manila are the best place to cozy up in comfort. Ultra Cinema 1 comes with fully reclining sofas, enclosed private cubicles for couples, unlimited popcorn and drinks, plus personal butler service—all for just Php500 per person. A few steps away, the Newport Performing Arts Theater is equipped with 1,500 luxurious seats, facing a stage large enough to fit an airplane. - Nyx Martinez Resorts World Manila is located on Newport Boulevard, Newport City, Pasay City 1309. Call (+632) 836 6333/908 8833 or email customerservice@rwmanila.comwww. rwmanila.com. Visit www.rwmanila.com
Reclining chairs, bottomless popcorn and drinks, and a good movie make Ultra Cinema 1 the perfect place to get lazy. Photos courtesy of Resorts World Manila
Photo by Adrienne Ponce
Trigo
Café Xocolat
The University of the Philippines’ campus in Diliman, spanning more than 430 hectares of mostly greenery, is one of Metro Manila’s breathing spaces. Naturally, being stuck here in a downpour, inside a non-descript café that serves chocolate tablea cake and hazelnut latte, is not such a bad thing. Accessible through an adjacent art gallery at the back of the Ang Bahay ng Alumni building, Trigo is an almost-secret café which you can often have to yourself. Choose a table by the window and look out—to as far as your eyes and mind can see. Gray skies don’t always mean gloomy days. - Blanche Rivera-Fernandez
If this place were a piece of clothing it would be a knitted sweater—comforting, personal and warm. With its painted chairs and unpolished wooden floors, Xocolat has that lived-in feeling, inviting anyone who walks in through its doors to come and stay awhile. Sit on a couch indoors or outside where you can hear the rain, and enjoy some good ol’ hot choco. Using only premium cocoa beans, Xocolat’s signature blend, Taza de Xocolat (Php145), is a must-try. You can also get salads, paninis, pasta, and desserts here, in case you want to stay till dinner. Anika Ventura
Trigo is located at the Ang Bahay ng Alumni, Magsaysay Avenue, UP Diliman Campus, Quezon City, 1101. It is open Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m.-8 p,m. Call
Café Xocolat is located at 172 B. Gonzales St., Loyola Heights, Quezon City, Metro Manila. Call (+632) 929 4186. Email xocoholics@xocolat.com.ph. Visit www.xocolat.com.ph
Quezon City
Quezon City
Words by Blanche Rivera-Fernandez The best thing one can do when it’s raining, said Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, is to let it rain. And the best place to watch the rain fall, I say, is at home, wrapped in a warm blanket, sipping a cup of thick, hot chocolate and listening to the hypnotic rhythm of the rain’s pitter-patter on the window pane. Of course, the image of a cozy day indoors would be a little hard to conjure when the bed’s unmade, walls are bright red, and lights are blindingly bright. Rainy days are for cool hues, soft music and lots of pillows; it’s for snuggling and movie marathons and undisturbed reading. But how do you turn your home into a cozy rainy-day refuge?
Love is All Around Us, Calligraphy by Fozzy Castro-Dayrit for Heima Php3,100
Pillows are available at all SM department stores.
Café Mocha soy candles from Heima Php500
Photo by Paolo Feliciano To see more of Paolo’s interior photography work, visit www.paolofeliciano.com 68 M A B U H A Y J u l y 2 0 11
Interior designer Rossy Anne Yabut, creative director of Heim Interiors, shares quick and easy home fix-up tips to create the right atmosphere indoors. Don’t worry, no renovation required. Now is the time to change your cushion covers and bed sheets. Linen or cotton fabric is what you’d want to be rubbing your skin against when you hug your pillow or wrap yourself in a nice, warm (preferably cashmere) blanket while watching your favorite movie for the nth time. Silk just doesn’t cut it—it’s too hot. And don’t be fooled by the thread count either. Fabric is the key to comfort. Putting up cheerful and positive messages on your wall needn’t be straight out of a self-help book. You’d be surprised at what a neat statement wall art can do to change the tone of your surroundings. An area rug is the simplest, surefire way to add the cozy factor to your room. Tiled floors can look and feel cold. Complement gray days with ambient or accent lighting. Lamps and candles, particularly on dead corners and bedsides, usually do the trick.Plus, the fragrance from scented candles hangs in the air longer in cold weather. Bring out the duvet and those exaggerated pillows. Turn up the volume on the music that soothes, if you want a soundtrack to complete the setting. Keep your place dry— have some space for the wet gear, especially if you’re having guests. As stylish umbrella racks are hard to find in the Philippines, you can use oversized vases for those dripping umbrellas. Just be careful where you put it (nobody wants precious vases in pieces).
SMOOTH SOUNDTRACKS Coffee and Bossa: Astrude Gilberto
TAPESTRY: Carole King
FRAGMENTED: Up Dharma Down
IN between dreams: Jack Johnson
POETRY AND AIRPLANES: Teitur
come away with me: Norah Jones
ANY GIVEN THURSDAY: John Mayer
JUNO – OST: Various artists
MOVIES TO WATCH Singing in the Rain (1952) An Affair to Remember (1957) Sound of Music (1965) Audrey Hepburn movies Sleepless in Seattle (1993) Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001-2003) Love Actually (2003) Pirates of the Caribbean series (2003-2011)
Heim Interiors is a full-fledged design firm headed by interior designer Rossy Anne Yabut. Highly educated, experienced and welltraveled, Rossy has developed fool-proof themes to suit every personality, lifestyle and budget. For Mabuhay’s July issue, Rossy dressed up the residential studio of Beverly Fernandez in Quezon City to make it an even cozier place for the rainy days. For more inspiration and inquiries on interior design services, visit www.heiminteriors.com. To find products for your home, visit www. heimastore.com Photos courtesy of Heima store J u l y 2 0 11 M A B U H A Y 69
HEALTH
H o m e
R e m e d i e s
Home Remedies for the Rainy Days Words by Sheila Crisostomo Illustration by PAULINA ORTEGA Surviving the cold and damp weather should not be a big deal. Take it from former Health Secretary Dr. Jaime Galvez-Tan—the cures for common ailments like cough, fever and cold are found right at home. “There’s no need to fear the rain. Life goes on. We can find remedies for common illnesses right in our kitchen,” said Dr. Galvez-Tan, a professor of Traditional and Integrated Medicine at the University of the Philippines. Some of these remedies, he said, are even being used as “ingredients in our daily dishes.” See what you have at home.
Lagundi is one of the most popular medicinal plants in the Philippines. It is generally known as a remedy for fever, cough and asthma but it can also be used for the relief of boils, dyspepsia, diarrhea, rheumatism and chicken pox. Lagundi concoction can be prepared by boiling, immersing and straining the leaves, flowers, roots and seeds. Chicken Soup provides relief for common cold and sore throat because of its properties that inhibit the white blood cells, which trigger inflammation. It is prepared by boiling chicken meat or bones in water with various flavorings and vegetables, particularly carrots and onion. Onion may be popular as an ingredient but it is also medicinally beneficial as soup, which has been proven effective in easing cough, cold, asthma and bronchitis. It is also known to treat poor appetite. Siling Labuyo (Bird’s Eye Chili) is known more as a condiment in the Philippines, but its leaves are rich in calcium, phosphorous, iron, and vitamins B and A. The leaves may be eaten raw or cooked. Labuyo can also alleviate arthritis and rheumatism by crushing the fruit, mixing it with oil and applying it on the affected areas. 70 M A B U H A Y J u l y 2 0 11
Guava, common in the backyards of Filipino homes, is very high in vitamins C and A. Best known for disinfecting wounds, a decoction of guava leaves is known to treat chronic diarrhea, gastroenteritis, and swelling of the legs and other parts of the body.
Calamansi is rich in Vitamin C. A glass of warm water (not hot water as it compromises the natural vitamins) with Calamansi juice is a good remedy for dry cough and cold. It can help treat constipation if taken first thing in the morning.
Gumamela (Hibiscus) is usually seen as an ornamental plant in the Philippines but it can be used to relieve sore throat, cold, fever and bronchitis. It can also be an expectorant for cough.
Yerba Buena relieves stomachache caused by indigestion and gas build-up. It can be used to treat headaches, joint pains and toothaches. Because of its mint properties, it is also an effective mouthwash if fresh leaves are soaked in a glass of water for 30 to 45 minutes.
Luyang Dilaw (Ginger root) is the main ingredient in salabat (hot ginger tea) that is drunk to alleviate cold and stomachaches. It can also be used to ease inflammation, gas pains, diarrhea and intestinal disorders. Salabat is said to contain properties that can strengthen the singing voice. In the Philippines, it is a favorite drink of churchgoers after attending the simbang gabi (dawn Mass) at Christmastime. Oregano is a common herb that contains antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. Its leaves are often boiled, and the concoction is drunk to provide relief for cough, asthma, upset stomach and osteoarthritis. It can also prevent degenerative arthritis.
Tsaang Gubat (Wild Tea or Forest Tea) is a remedy for dysentery, gastroenteritis, diarrhea and other stomach problems. It can also be used as mouthwash due to its high fluoride concentration. Chamomile tea can also be a big help to those with sleeping disorders because of its soothing and relaxing properties. It can alleviate cold and stomachache, and eases symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. Mansanilya (Winter Aster or Ground Apple) contains properties that can alleviate gas pains. Mix the flower heads in warm oil, let it stand for 30 minutes, and then apply the solution to the abdomen.
1
SFO Goes Green and Gourmet Words by Melissa Josue
The golden era of air travel where you could blow kisses to loved-ones from the boarding gate seems so long ago from today’s long security lines and almost-ridiculous travel restrictions. Luckily, the skies are clearing in San Francisco. After four years and a US$383-million renovation, San Francisco Airport’s (SFO) new Terminal 2 recently opened with a vision to create “a new sky life” that makes air travel more enjoyable and eco-friendly. SFO’s Terminal 2 (T2) is the first major airport construction in the United States since September 11, 2001, when the world watched as New York’s Twin Towers crumbled in the biggest terrorist attack against the United States. The T2 is the first US airport terminal to obtain a LEED gold status, the nationally accepted benchmark for high-performance green buildings in the United States. T2 not only features energy-efficient lighting, filtered air ventilation that improves indoor air quality, and carpets made from recycled material, it also personalizes the sustainability experience with elements such as preferential hybrid and electric car parking spaces, paperless ticketing, and hydration stations to refill water bottles. Upon entering T2 (Note: Only international passengers with connecting flights at T2 can access the new terminal post-security), passengers are greeted with large woven sculptures suspended from interior skylights that brighten the post-security area with color and natural light. Art installations like the birdthemed wooden xylophones and mechanical butterfly wall designed by artists from the Exploratorium, San Francisco’s educational science museum, function as play areas for children. At the T2, you won’t find metal benches or steel tables on which to recollect your carry-on items. The new “recomposure area” offers comfortable benches, plants and Zen garden-inspired water features to help travelers regroup in a peaceful setting. A gourmet marketplace houses the wine bar Vino Volo, XpresSpa, and restaurants like the Napa Farms Market and The Plant Café, where you can decompress and enjoy the local cuisine. If you’re hungry for a little history, feel free to linger at the SFO, the only US airport that’s an accredited museum. You can access a self-guided tour featuring interviews with artists and behind-the-scenes information via a Guide by Cell audio tour (accessible by dialing a local number shown next to the art pieces.) Who says long layovers are such a bad thing?
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1. Ticketing areas are a mix of natural light, warm finishes and playful lighting. 2. T2’s arrivals area features artist Natori Sato’s “Air Over Under” installation. Photos by Bruce Damonte/Courtesy of Gensler. 3. The lobby leading to the security area is a breathing space. Photo by Melissa Josue.
CHARITIES
K a i d
A s h t o n
New Art on the
BLOCK Nyx Martinez meets Kaid Ashton, a globetrotting Canadian graffiti artist who made a stopover in Manila to teach kids in the slums some art.
T
(CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT) Ashton’s students show off their “homework”; The photographer’s work framed by street life in the Paco Projects, Manila; Class is in session
The Office of Culture and Design (TOCD) aims to build a connection between business entities and cultural actors by putting contemporary art and design to the services of corporate development and Corporate Social Responsibility agendas.Contact Clara Lobregat Balaguer at (+632) 497 6388 or (+63917) 823 3028. Follow the Homeschool project on www.kaidashton.blogspot.com or www. kaidashton.com. To donate or volunteer, visit www.thehomeschoolfoundation.org 74 M A B U H A Y J u l y 2 0 11
wenty art classes, 90 days, hundreds of kids, and one ordinary guy. Kaid Ashton has just finished class number 19 this morning. I meet him for a chat in Rockwell, Makati, a place far removed from the slums of Manila where this Canadian travel photographer and graffiti artist normally spends his days. But in a city of contrasts, it’s also just around the corner. It’s clear that Ashton, who’s dressed simply in a Team Manila shirt matched with khakis, flip-flops, and a warm smile, has no problem connecting with people. Taking his travels a step further, he puts up giant prints of his photographs in rural areas around the world, letting the surrounding life be their frames. His camera captures the raw emotion of people just going about their day: diverse cultures, universal emotions. The streets in these communities and even the unseen back alleys of a city are what fuel Kaid’s creativity, but they’ve also inspired him to pass it on. He recently started Homeschool, a project to help kids in Manila’s poorest slums discover their own artistic talent. “For an hour or two, the kids in these places can forget about their worries and just be kids. They call me Kuya (older brother) Kaid,” he says. Ashton’s art classes usually end with free spaghetti for everyone, a little snack
funded from his own pockets or donations from friends back home. “For artists, it’s hard to not promote yourself,” he admits, “but it’s nice to give back to other people. I can’t live in Manila and not do anything about it.” He is thankful to be welcomed into Manila’s communities with smiles and open minds. A team (which includes—and they must be named—Barry, Alvey, Clara & TOCD, KST Crew, Tito Mel & Tita Yolee, Mitch, Chad, Jonny) helps Ashton with his art classes while others donate and support his project from Canada. I ask Ashton how this can help the children’s future in the long run, and really, how far will one art class go? “Who knows?” he smiles. “They may get confidence from this or self-esteem, or they might begin an artistic career. I just want to be that initial spark. I want to promote their creativity.” He’s off to Hong Kong to raise more awareness with his photos, then more travel around Asia, and then it’s back to the Philippines, to the kids. “You know, an average guy can still instill some kind of change or inspiration in others,” he says. “You just got to go out and do it.” But maybe, just maybe, Kuya Kaid is more than average.
CONVERSATIONS
LO Y AR C E N A S
Broadway Set Designer The Philippine-born, New York-based designer has worked on the sets of Broadway plays like Love! Valour! Compassion, Once on this Island, and Prelude to a Kiss. Known for his multi-set scenes, Loy has won an L.A. Drama Critics Circle Award, among others, and received an Obie for sustained excellence in set design. Besides doing sets, he is also a director and costume designer. Loy shares with Mabuhay his days as a pre-medical student, his favorite Filipino dish, and what’s next after theater. Photos by Gabby Cantero What got you interested in theater? While studying pre-med at the University of the Philippines, I was offered a job in theater with absolutely no credentials. I volunteered to direct a show which was well-received. From then on, my pre-med grades started to go downhill. As a director, and costume and set designer, how would you describe your job to a child of five? I try to create an illusion, do magic. Cite a show where you had to design a multi-scene set and how you overcame the challenge. Love! Valour! Compassion! followed the three weekends of eight gay men in a country house in upstate New York. It was written such that you couldn’t stop to bring in scenery—from five different bedrooms to
swimming in a lake, to playing tennis, and having dinner. I decided to use one element that would encompass everything—grass. I thought about Molave in the University of the Philippines. This residence hall had a green patch of land where we would watch the sunset, talk at night, etc. It was an image of people who want to live forever. I thought that should be the image in the play where the nagging question was: what happens when the party is over? We projected the lake in the back and put the living room on grass. The play ended up being copied and was the first instance to be proven in court as we had very specific design instructions. What do you do to unwind? A lot of traveling. Would love to try to figure out what it means to be Pinoy again, to understand what makes us what we are.
Flipzoids, directed and
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designed by Loy Arcena
s
What’s your favorite Filipino dish? Tinola. Advice for someone who wants to make it in the theater industry. If you’re going to get into theater for fame, you’re in the wrong profession. To do theater, you have to sustain that magic within the two hours that you’re on stage. It needs a sense of commitment. You really have to love it as it’s not a money-making venture. Plans for the future? Done design, done directing. Next thing is movies (Editor’s Note: He has actually done it. Loy’s movie, Niño, is a finalist at the Cinemalaya Film Festival 2011) If you were to have a superpower, what would it be? To age gracefully.
Words by Eric Wilson
© 2011 New York Times News Service/ Distributed by The New York Times Syndicate
wo years ago, on April Fool’s Day, the menswear edition of Style.com published an article about a hot new design prodigy named Damian Finch, who had wowed the fashion world by showing a full collection at the ripe young age of 12. “It’s like, I can’t do much about my age,” Finch was quoted as saying. “I just like to make cool clothes. And if you use the word ‘tween,’ I’m going to puke.” This was right around the time that real-life prodigies like Tavi Gevinson, a 12-yearold fashion blogger; David Fishman, a 12-yearold food critic; and Jonathan Krohn, a 14-yearold conservative pundit, were being discovered and celebrated, so it was perhaps less surprising than it should have been that a lot of readers took the report at face value and demanded to know where they could buy Finch’s clothes. It was a spoof. “We got requests from many publications, mostly foreign magazines, asking for Damian,” said Dirk Standen, the editor-inchief of Style.com, a slight degree of remorse detectable in his tone. The boy photographed for the story was actually his own son, 12 years old at the time, posing in a ribbed knit cap, a white oxford shirt with the sleeves rolled to the elbows, a natty charcoal vest and skinny jeans. Eighth-grade entrepreneur Madison Waldrop, 13, specializes in evening and bridal gowns and hopes to introduce a full line to buyers in October. © 2011 Brian Wagner/The New York Times Syndicate. 78 M A B U H A Y
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As a parent, Standen said, he had conflicting feelings about children who are obsessed with fashion and, inspired by teenage celebrities and empowered by the Internet, are starting what could be called their careers at such an early age, especially in the fashion industry. But in a case of truth that is stranger than fiction, in the time since his parody appeared, at least half a dozen actual teenagers and tweens have started their own collections, some of them as young as 10. One of the most successful, Cecilia Cassini, an 11-yearold from Encino, California, is marketed on her e-commerce site as the “world’s youngest fashion designer” and a “kiddie couturier.” Her trademark is a large silk bow she often wears in her hair or attaches to the front of a party frock. She has appeared on the Today show, making a custom dress for Jenna Bush Hager, and, according to her father, has sold close to 500 designs since she started her business, back when she was 10. One of her inspirations is Lourdes Leon, the 14-year-old daughter of Madonna, who helps design Material Girl, the singer’s juniors collection sold at Macy’s. “Look at how many famous teens there are now,” Cecilia said in a phone interview. “Fashion is a hot thing to be into when you’re young.” “Kiddie couturiers” are perhaps the ultimate, inevitable result of a fashion culture that is obsessed with youth (Prada, Valentino and Rodarte are now dressing young stars like Hailee Steinfeld and Elle Fanning in runway fashions) and a youth culture that is obsessed with fashion (see: Polyvore, Second Life, Project Runway). But the fact that fashion has become a field that is so easy for a tween to crack says a lot about how much the perception of a designer has changed. The allure of fashion is no longer the craft, but the flash. “It is interesting social commentary, more than anything,” said Michael Fink, the dean of the school of fashion design at Savannah College of Art and Design. “The fact that 80 M A B U H A Y J u l y 2 0 11
you can design your own line on almost any fashion website means there is very little mystery out there at any age as to how an industry works today. It’s overly accessible.” Often, with incoming freshmen, he said, “we now have to kindly erase the notion of what fashion is from their minds.” While there is far more information available to them online, and more of an understanding of the glamorous side of the business, many of their impressions are based on what they see on styling shows or at their local malls. “That’s the thing about these tween designers,” Fink said. “Where is the celebration of the art and the craft? Where is the historical knowledge?” Questions also arise about exposing children to public scrutiny, and there are further worries that some of them are being manipulated for the novelty of their age. Cecilia Cassini was originally managed by Pilar DeMann, who has also promoted the Kardashians (Cecilia’s parents have since discontinued that relationship), and many of the teenage bloggers have been courted by designers for promotional purposes. It seems hard for anyone to be able to say no. “I’m not sure it’s up to us to say whether this is healthy or unhealthy,” said Standen of Style.com. “If you take Tavi as an example of a writer and a blogger, she really loves
(ABOVE LEFT) Grant Mower, when he was 11, won a design contest at a Dallas retailer with a simple and elegant one-shouldered white gown. © 2011 Matt Nager/The New York Times Syndicate. (BELOW) Cecilia Cassini, 11 and self-described as the “world’s youngest fashion designer” poses with her trademark large bow. © 2011 Kevin Scanlon/The New York Times Syndicate.
Sketches of Madison Waldrop’s design concepts. © 2011 Brian Wagner/The New York Times Syndicate.
this stuff and she is really knowledgeable about it, so you think, why shouldn’t she be doing it?’” Then, too, there is a new generation of designers who began introducing collections right out of college—fashion stars like Alexander Wang, Jason Wu, and Jack McCollough
and Lazaro Hernandez of Proenza Schouler. Their overnight successes inspired other designers to follow suit, at ever earlier ages, like Esteban Cortazar, when he was 14, and Pedro Lourenco, a Brazilian who showed at Paris Fashion Week when he was 19. “I would tell people they
who breed champion toy poodles, attended the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Madison, a fashion newbie from Chattanooga, Tennessee, is developing a dress collection called Designs by Malyse, specializing in evening and bridal gowns. She hopes to introduce a full line to buyers in October, at the Wedding Channel Couture Show. The fact that she is still in the eighth grade is not likely to stop her. “This is something that I truly love to do,” Madison said. “For me, it’s not just about designing that cutesy dress; it’s the whole process of actually making clothes that I love.” Madison Waldrop lies in one of the dresses she designed on the front yard of her family’s home in Tennessee. © 2011 Brian Wagner/The New York Times Syndicate. Last March, while waiting for a flight, she shouldn’t wait until they’re 20 to be in presenting their fall collections in New had started doodling a sketch, and, fashion,” Cecilia said. “Even if you’re 5, York, Madison Waldrop, 13, was just encouraged by her mother, Christine you can still do it.” getting started on hers. She shopped Waldrop, she decided this is what she Recently, as hundreds of for fabrics along the side streets of the really wanted to do as a career. Her established fashion designers were garment district, while her parents, parents—her father, Mark Waldrop, is a
Wellness at the West: Bioessence launches a bigger branch on West Avenue Quezon City By Rhea L. Quesada It was a day of satisfaction and wellness for the staff and guests of Bioessence, as their new branch on West Avenue in Quezon City was launched. The guests, along with Bioessence celebrity endorsers Jessa Zaragoza and Geneva Cruz, toured the spa clinic where all the new facilities were showcased. The 144 square meter clinic, with its elegant interiors and complete services ensure customers of total relaxation. Strategically located along the busy street of West Avenue, Bioessence is on its way to being a choice relaxation destination. Jessa Zaragoza and Geneva Cruz are the two celebrities characterize Bioessence perfectly. “We have chosen them not only because of their looks but also because of their positive outlook in life. They are very much like Bioessence, [which] once started at the bottom and rose to fame due to hardwork and perseverance. Aside from this, they have entrusted themselves to Bioessence with no second thoughts,” Dr. Emma Guererro, CEO of Bioessence said.
The spa clinic has 51 branches to date, with more branches underway. Bioessence caters to the needs of both women and men, and provides separate pampering areas for each. It’s their way of saying skin care knows no gender.
chief operating officer for a health care company in Georgia—helped her establish a business, contract local seamstresses, create a website and hire a publicist. Her first dress was a silver halter mini in Dupioni silk, with a large rosette of orange and blue petals at the neckline. Her least expensive dresses will cost around $500, she said. “I like making my own trends, and very confident bold pieces,” she said. Madison’s mother, when asked if she thought it was a good idea for her daughter to start a business at 13, said that Madison is very focused, mature and grounded, and that designing clothes is a way for her to express herself creatively. “We have had conversations about it, that this can take you in two directions, and, like anything in life, you have to choose which path you are going to take,” Christine Waldrop said. Still, Cecilia and other child designers have been the subjects of vicious online commentary. This happened to Megan Kent, 11, of Vero Beach, Florida, soon after she was
Grant Mower, now 12, stands in front of a set of his own designs. © 2011 Matt Nager/The New York Times Syndicate.
interviewed by GirlsLife.com about starting a T-shirt line. Some readers called her spoiled, or worse, a few classmates derided her designs. Megan came up with the idea and name for the line, called Love Gone, when her parents were going through a difficult divorce last year. Her mother Tricia Kent said she encouraged her daughter because she felt it was a means of empowerment. “Megan says she wants to take it as big as Ed Hardy, but not as tacky,” Tricia Kent said. Several of these collections include a charity component. Cecilia Cassini donates a portion of proceeds to the Children’s Hospital
Los Angeles, and the Waldrop family is establishing a foundation to benefit children’s charities. Megan’s mother said she is looking to link Love Gone with a charity—something she said would help cast the venture in a friendlier light. Jane Keltner de Valle, the fashion news director of Teen Vogue, views it as a positive sign that teenagers are taking advantage of online resources to get an early start in their careers. “This is the Now Generation,” she said. “To see that drive and followthrough and resourcefulness is really great
01 Use a reliable camera. Landscape or outdoor photography means you are in an uncontrolled environment. It is essential that you use a camera that will not falter in any condition. Canon EOS Digital SLRs have been tested to perform amid these conditions.
02 Read the manual. When I first entered into photography, I asked this famous North American photographer for some tips in an international forum. His best advice: you have to know your gears and their capability.
03 Use RAW. RAW is the digital equivalent of film negatives. More information is captured using this medium than JPEG. Also, in post processing, you can correct certain aspects of the photos such as white balance, picture style, etc.
04 Research. Going on a trip? Have you booked the hotel? Have you also considered researching the place for potential landscape scenes? Research plays an important role in taking a photograph. It gives you more time to visualize and compose your shot even before going to the place.
05 Depth of Field. Maximizing your
CHASING THE LIGHT Here are some tips to help you capture those timeless and enduring scenes hotography has long been a form of creative outlet. The dawn of digital technology has made this art form more accessible, thus the emergence of so many enthusiasts in the country today. Landscape photography is one genre that is gaining popularity. With countless scenic and coastal areas, the Philippines is the best place to practice this type of photography.
depth of field is the most common way to ensure that majority of your scene is as focused as possible. The simplest way to do this is to choose a small aperture setting (Read tip number 1).
06 Use a tripod. Since you will be dealing wih smaller apertures, less light will reach the camera’s image sensor. To compensate, use a slower shutter speed and use a tripod.
07 Filters. These are the primary weapon of landscape photographers. Neutral density filters are used to diminish light producing a silky smooth water effect. Graduated neutral density filters balance exposures between the sky and foreground.
08 Use a focal point. Landscape photos should always have a focal point to lead your eye to the rest of the photo. A good foreground element is usually critical for visual design and composition.
09 Get yourself into the action. The most successful landscape shots are not taken on the road or by the safe sandy beach. You have to explore and at some point, trek to get those timeless landscape photos.
10 Get it right at the click of the shutter and not the mouse. Always have that discipline of getting the shot correct off the LCD. Doing digital doesn’t mean sacrificing discipline. It’s not the number of shots that is important but the quality of these shots. You have all the equipment in your hands to get the right exposure, the right white balance, etc. Don’t waste this technology by relying on postproduction editing later on. ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPHER Edwin A. Martinez is one of the country’s premiere landscape photographers. A Canon EOS brand ambassador and managing partner of Chasing Light, Edwin has won many awards and has been featured in local and international publications including the 2008 Digital Camera World (U.K.), which named him Photographer of the Year (cover). He was also the the 2008 DCMAG Landscape Photographer of the Year, and the 2008 Editor’s Choice in Practical Photography, also in the U.K.
FOLKTALES
Illustration by Jerome Jacinto
THE MYTHS: Philippine Folk Literature by Damiana L. Eugenio Published by the University of the Philippines Press, 2001. Paperback, 513 pages. University of the Philippines Press, E. de los Santos St., University of the Philippines Campus; Call (+632) 928 2558. Visit www.press. up.edu. ph. Email up.press@ gmail.com
86 M A B U H A Y J u l y 2 0 11
The Origin of the Sunflower
Rosa and Artemio were two happy lovers who had exchanged vows of eternal love. They were in the first flush of youth and happiness and were therefore fully confident of the future. Artemio’s faith in Rosa was not to be shaken by the stories circulated by gossips concerning any possible change in the love of his sweetheart. As years passed, Rosa’s love slowly waned until finally she declared her desire to estrange herself from Artemio. Artemio’s remonstrances could not dissuade her from her determination to cut the bonds that had bound them. The poor man would go to Rosa’s garden daily, and, from a hidden corner, would gaze at the inconstant girl whom he could not forget. The unfortunate man rapidly pined away and was one day found dead at his daily haunt. Here he was buried. After a few months, a plant sprouted from the place. Its flower constantly faced the sun as Artemio gazed at Rosa. This plant died after bearing its first flower just as Artemio had died after the death of his first love.
(ABOVE) Toilets at the International Space Station are made to address the lack of gravity. (LEFT) The Swiss knife-like Vertebrae is designed by Design Odyssey Ltd. This award-winning ceiling-tofloor tile mural by artist Matt Noel is found in a washroom at the John Michael Kohler Arts Center. The Social History of Architecture, 1999. Photo courtesy of the John Michael Kohler Arts Center
The Coolest Ways to Go
R
aise your hand if you’ve ever taken your phone to the bathroom with you to text or check Facebook. That’s okay, no need to shrink in shame. Fact is we spend three years of our lives in that sacred place. Of course, not all spaces are created equal. Here are some cool thrones that just might make you do a travel detour just to, you know, try it. They’re all worth an honest toilet tweet.
Artsy Fartsy: John Michael Kohler Art Center, Wisconsin, U.S.A. Resident artists unite “art and industry” (and personal matters) through six decorative bathrooms at the John Michael Kohler Art Center. As Travel+Leisure noted, “a must-see and must-use.”
The Royal Flush: Dolce and Gabbana’s Gold Room, Milan, Italy The gossip says Paris Hilton, Kylie Minogue, and Giselle Bundchen have all sat their royal backsides on this dazzling throne. Hey, if you’ve got to go, go for the gold!
Cityslicker: Felix Bar, Peninsula Hotel, Hong Kong A loo with a view: the Hong Kong cityscape enthralls when you visit this bathroom for a brief relief.
Hot Seat: Hyatt Hotel, Tokyo, Japan Showcasing Japanese ingenuity and efficiency, this one’s got it all—a toilet heater, air drying mechanism, deodorizer, DVD player and plasma TV.
The Vertebrae: For sale online With this “Swiss Army Knife Bathroom,” you get a toilet, sink, storage, and even two showerheads in just 4.3 square feet of space. Now there’s a solution for tiny condos—if only it didn’t cost half a house! This £9,000 invention can be purchased online. www.designodyssey.co.uk The Aquarium: Mumin Papa Café, Japan This extraordinary bathroom (for women only) gives underwater tourism a whole new dimension. Ladies, just don’t keep your dates waiting while you’re enamored with all the sea creatures. 88 M A B U H A Y J u l y 2 0 11
Project Runway: Changi Airport, Singapore Waiting for your flight? Why not try the bathrooms at the new Terminal 3 in the Changi Airport to watch some cool runway action? Out of this World: International Space Station, Milky Way Galaxy This bathroom break off the Google radar means strapping yourself down to the ground (you don’t want to float away while going!), then allowing suctioned air to handle the storing of your waste. Thanks, NASA, for leading the way.
LOCAL LOO Check out the toilets at the Italianni’s restaurant in Bonifacio High Street, Taguig, which have Japanese-style gizmos and buttons for pampering preferences.
Squat for a Cause: World Toilet Day (Nov. 19) highlights the importance of sanitation and raises awareness for the 2.6 billion people who don’t have access to proper toilets. Why Jon? The flushing toilet was invented in 1596 by Sir John Harrington, a godson of Queen Elizabeth I. An interesting tale, however, goes that it was King Richard the Lionheart, who, angry at the way his brother Prince John was running the kingdom while he was away on The Crusade, called a toilette in France “the john.”
B O O K S . M U S I C . visual ar t s . G A D G E T S . wor t hy causes . . . a n d every t hi n g else
TheLighter Side
Philippine Cinema Experience
If you’re wondering where to find it, perhaps you should rethink the mall. Now on its seventh year, the Cinemalaya festival is the go-to for Philippine independent films. Contrary to commercial venues, Cinemalaya focuses on promoting fresh and original works from upcoming artists, thus its tagline: See the unseen. Scheduled for screening are short and full-feature films from new directors. Works from established directors will be shown as well, and for the first time this year, eight Asian directors will be featured in the Focus Asia category. Organized by the Cinemalaya Foundation, the festival takes place on July 15-24 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines and Greenbelt 3 in Makati City. Cinemalaya is presented by the Cinemalaya Foundation, Cultural Center of the Philippines, ECO-LINK Investments, and the Film Council of the Philippines. For ticket inquiries, call CCP Box Office at (+632) 832 3794 or Ticketworld at (+632) 891 9999. Visit www.cinemalaya.org. 90 M A B U H A Y J u l y 2 0 11
THE LIGHTER SIDE
That Nordic Feeling Known for its neon-bright pieces, the Space Encounters furniture store has delightfully moved into a more subtle style while retaining its fun flair. Its new collection, “Hunting Season,” features Nordicinspired mid-century pieces. Focused on textures, the collection has hints of wood, fur, stones and essentially, warmth—which is all one really needs this rainy season.
Space Encounters is located at Unit B Mezzanine, Padilla Condominium Bldg., F. Ortigas Jr. Ave., Ortigas Center, Pasig City, Philippines. Call (+632) 910 8031 or email info@ spaceencounters.net.
Read.
Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother Amy Chua The Penguin Group Php999 (US$23)
We’ve heard about being raised by wolves, how then by a tiger? Sparking international discussion and landing on the cover of Time, Amy Chua describes her role as a “tiger mother” while raising her two daughters in America. No sleepovers, no play dates, and with threats to burn her daughters’ stuffed animals. Such upbringing may seem absurd but through Chua’s perspective, it will make both parents and children, Western and Chinese, reflect on how raising a family can become a burden or ultimately, a sacrifice.
Path A social network for those who tire of social networks, Path keeps things intimate with its 50-friend limit. www.path.com
Born to Run
Christopher McDougall Profile Books Php599 (US$14)
Tastebuds Here’s one for the musically discriminating. Indicate your type of tunes and this site lists single people who share the similar taste.
CLICK.
www.tastebuds.fm
Unusual & Unique Hotels of the World Lodging for the less-than-typical traveler. Pick among properties that include those themed around chocolate, made from salt and built in a tram. www.unusualhotelsoftheworld.com
Instructables From the simple task of preparing pizza to building a bike out of bamboo, this reference is for those who believe that if you want something done right, you’ve got to do it yourself. www.instructables.com
92 M A B U H A Y
Twitterature
Alexander Aciman and Emmett Rensin The Penguin Group Php499 (US$12)
Hint Fiction: An Anthology of Stories in 25 Words or Less W.W. Norton & Company Php698 (US$16)
BOOKS AVAILABLE AT FULLY BOOKED, FORT BONIFACIO, GLOBAL CITY
July 2011
Strap it like a Schoolboy
Or girl. Whichever, the traditional school bags have gained a modern revival, thanks to UK’s Cambridge Satchel Company. Made from quality leather, the bags have been featured in magazines like Vogue and ELLE and are now available in Manila. Prices start at Php5,500. Get them at the Chocolate Schu Bar (www.schushopmanila. blogspot.com) or the Madison boutique at the Power Plant mall (+632 896 0010). For more information, visit www.cambridgesatchel.co.uk
Not Another Organic Brand
Sick of her skin problems, poet and writer Neva Talladen created her own skincare products. Handmade, natural, organic— the result is Leyende. The Philippine brand’s ingredients are certified by ECOCERT, one of the biggest organic certification organizations in the world. It also employs disadvantaged women, training them half the day and supporting their studies the other half. For some serious business, its products come in fun names like Clean Slate Cleanser, Rapunsilk shampoo, and Taming of the ‘do conditioner. For more information, call (+63915) 671 3154, email info@leyende.com. Visit www.leyende.com.
Listen.
IRON AND WINE
Kiss Each Other Clean Warner Bros. Records
THE CAMERAWALLS
Bread And Circuses Lilystars Records
Two years after their acclaimed 2009 debut Pocket Guide To The Otherworld, ex-Orange & Lemons singer/guitarist Clementine and his current outfit, The Camerawalls, are back with a modest follow-up, the six-track Bread and Circuses EP. The band’s sophomore release showcases a significant degree of sonic evolution from the indie-pop trio, with new drummer Bachie Rudica providing more agile beats, while subtle flourishes of keyboards and strings succeed in making infectious songs like My Life’s Arithmetic Means and the title track even lovelier to the ears. By Jason Caballa
Share. Art. Music. Culture. Environment. Worthy causes. And anything fun. We’re looking to cover them. Email us at lighterside@ mabuhaymagazine. com
Available from iTunes and in selected bookstores.
J u l y 2 0 1 1 M A B U H A Y 93
Funny signages Some things just get lost in translation! Never send a man to do a woman’s job Taken by Rhoel Fernandez in Quezon City
uired.
Strong stomachs req no Taken by Kim Filome
in Hong Kong
Be an icon and get copied
Taken by Jason Jose in Bata
c, Ilocos Norte
Funny Signages Send us photos of amusing signs, such as the ones above, and indicate where you took them. If your image is published, you get Php500. All materials must be original, and photos must be at least 300 ppi.* Email your entries to Eastgate Publishing Corporation at funnysigns@mabuhaymagazine.com *Eastgate Publishing Corporation does not guarantee the publication of entries and is not responsible for returning materials that have been sent.
r?
Perhaps Medusa is a regula gzhou Taken by Angie Kho in Guan
94 M A B U H A Y
July 2011
LAST FRAME
Freedom February 2009
In Waitangi, where New Zealand’s controversial treaty was signed, a Maori tribe member stretches his arms in a known symbol of a savior as he prepares to leap into the waters surrounding the Bay of Islands. The Treaty of Waitangi was sealed by the British and the Maori here in 1840, and although it is considered the founding document of New Zealand, significant details were lost in its translations, sparking endless debate on what the treaty really meant for New Zealand’s people. Whatever it was, this man, whose carefree life was snapped by Auckland-based photographer AMOS CHAPPLE with his Canon 5D Mark II, definitely knows freedom. To see more of Amos Chapple’s works, visit www.amoschapple.com.
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Give us your best shot Mabuhay Magazine is accepting high-resolution (at least 300 ppi) digital images of interesting people, places and things from around the world. You may email your photos to photos@mabuhaymagazine.com.
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July 2011
www.philippineairlines.com
PAL PAGE
OUR FLEET
ASIA'S FIRST AIRLINE Philippine Airlines—Asia’s first airline—is the flag carrier of the Republic of the Philippines and pioneer domestic airline of the country, with a 70-year history that is steeped in tradition and modernity. PAL first took to the skies on March 15, 1941 with a small twin-engine Beech Model 18 airplane, flying 212 kilometers from Manila to Baguio City, carrying a full load of five passengers. Upon the outbreak of World War II in December 1941, the PAL airplanes were commandeered by the military and eventually destroyed in combat. Post-war operations resumed February 14, 1946 with five ex-military Douglas DC-3s. In July, 1946, PAL chartered DC-4s to carry American servicemen home to Oakland, California, making PAL the first Asian airline to cross the Pacific. In May 1947, PAL also became the first Asian carrier to fly to Europe by opening regular service to Madrid. This was followed by rapid expansion of services to Asia and the Middle East in the next two decades. By the 1970’s PAL international route network covered two-thirds of the world. PAL keeps in step with advancements in aircraft technology, acquiring the latest aircraft type suited to market demands and local aviation conditions. From DC-3s that serve as a workhorse in the 1940’s and 1950’s, Vicker Viscount turboprops and Fokker F-27s were added to the fleet in the 1960’s. After the BAC1-11 jets were introduced in the 1970’s, the McDonnel Douglas DC-10—PAL’s first wide-body aircraft—went into service on the transpacific route in 1974. The Boeing 747-200Bs jumbo jet replaced the DC-10s in 1979 on long haul routes, while the Airbus 300B4s replaced the DC-8s on regional services. In November 2009, the Boeing 777-300ER (extended range)—the most fuel efficient, twin-engine jet that can fly long-haul—joined the fleet. It boasts of one of the most spacious cabins, fitted with state-of-the-art inflight entertainment system. Today, the fleet consists of Boeing 747-400s, B777-300ER, Airbus A340-300s, A330-300s, A320s and A319s. They carry an average of 12,000 passengers and 180 tons of cargo daily on domestic routes, and 10,000 passengers and 170 tons of cargo daily on international sectors. PAL’s modern aircraft and equipment are complemented by frequent customer service enhancements, both inflight and on ground. The PAL website— whose features are regularly upgraded—can now be accessed by WAP-enabled cellphones, making PAL available at the palm of your hands. Mabuhay Class passengers now get to enjoy fine-dining in the sky through a new personalized inflight meal service known as One By One. PAL’s seven-decade tradition of warm Filipino hospitality has always been coupled with strong commitment to continuous improvement of services and operations. Despite the many challenges, PAL remains focused on its vision of becoming a world-class Filipino airline.
Since its first flight on March 15, 1941, Philippine Airlines has flown almost 30 types of aircraft to fulfill various roles in its mission of providing the Philippines with efficient and reliable air transportation as the flag carrier. Now with a fleet of 36 aircraft, PAL operates one of the youngest and best-maintained fleets in the region.
B777-300ER NO. OF AIRCRAFT : A B U H AY C L A S S M
:
FIESTA CLASS
:
2 42 passengers 328 passengers
B747-400 NO. OF AIRCRAFT : A B U H AY C L A S S M
:
FIESTA CLASS
:
5 42 passengers 383 passengers
A340-300 NO. OF AIRCRAFT : A B U H AY C L A S S M
:
FIESTA CLASS
:
4 44 passengers 220 passengers
A330-300 NO. OF AIRCRAFT : A B U H AY C L A S S M
:
FIESTA CLASS
:
8 42 passengers 260 passengers
A320-200 NO. OF AIRCRAFT : M A B U H AY C L A S S
:
FIESTA CLASS
:
13 12 passengers 144 passengers
A319-100
98 M A B U H A Y J u l y 2 0 11
NO. OF AIRCRAFT : A B U H AY C L A S S M
:
FIESTA CLASS
:
4 8 passengers 126 passengers
PAL NEWS
Blue Eagles soar, fly PAL for U.S. training camp
before ure as a gift from PAL nny Pacquiao’s signat to by Ma Pho h . wit sco s nci cap Fra ar we San varsity team Trillo—left for Members of the Ateneo Norman Black and team manager Paolo ch the squad—led by coa Roy Bonghanoy
With three straight championships under their wings, the Ateneo Blue Eagles know the competition would not be less formidable in this year’s UAAP season. Thus they are leaving nothing to chance. Last May, they went on board with Philippine Airlines on a flight to the United States for a three-week training camp. Such preparation is aimed at an unprecedented four-peat in the Philippines’ oldest and premier collegiate league, the University of Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP). “The camp further honed the team’s preparations for the UAAP” says team manager Paolo Trillo. “We stayed in San Francisco for four days and then flew to Las Vegas, the venue of our training camp.” The Eagles played tune-up games in San Francisco before traveling to Las Vegas for the Joe Abunassar Camp. “The training helped us improve not just the team’s skills but also the individual skills of each player,” stresses Ateneo coach Norman Black. “We were able to bond with each other during camp. We’re all roommates and we enjoyed breakfast, lunch and dinner together everyday. It’s a good time for us to rebuild our chemistry as a team.” The team and the coaching staff, headed by Black, took the PAL flight as they have done since the inception of the training camp six years ago, a vital component of Ateneo’s basketball program, which is geared toward developing athletes inside and outside the basketball court, their character formation and fighting spirit. Trillo cites the alumni factor as one of the reasons the squad chose PAL as their “official carrier.” “Besides PAL being our favorite airline, we always book ourselves for a PAL flight because we like to take the Vancouver route where many graduates from Ateneo have settled and with whom we can bond and relive old times,” adds Trillo. Fr. Nemesio Que, S.J., the team’s chaplain had other reasons, chief, among them, the convenience of having exit row seats.
“The crew make[s] us feel comfortable by giving us exit seats,” he says. “They are friendly and very accommodating.” Sizing up the competition, Trillo sees last year’s runner-up, Far Eastern University as Ateneo’s toughest rival followed by Adamson University and perennial arch-rival La Salle. “Don’t forget NU (National University),” Que interjects. “I have no prediction on what can happen during the course of the year. But for the past years, I think we have been very lucky in terms of having more key players and no serious injuries during practices and games. I hope we could maintain the luck. As a new team, we’d be able to rebuild our chemistry and I think we have good chance [of winning the title],” says Black. With starters Greg Slaughter, the seven-foot center of the Smart-Gilas 5, forwards Frank Golla, Nico Salva, guards Kirk Long and Emman Monfort, the Eagles are tipped to figure again in the Final 4 and possibly a berth in the Finals, despite the departure of previous popular players like Rabeh al-Hussaini and Eric Salamat. “Our strength is that majority of our veteran players from last year are back with the team. That’s 10 of the top 14 players. We also have rookies that are very talented. We also have Slaughter,” Black says. “We have a pretty good team this year,” Trillo adds, “which is composed of veterans and talented recruits.” He was referring to 5-foot-11 Kiefer Ravena, who led the Blue Eaglets to their third straight title last year in the UAAP junior division. Ravena was named Finals MVP. The other members of the team are Ryan Buenafe, last year’s Finals MVP, Bacon Austria, Gwyne Capacio, Justin Chua, Chris de Chavez, Arthur dela Cruz, JP Erram, Jeric Estrada, Tonino Gonzaga, Von Pessumal, Mark Tallo, Juami Tiongson, Paul Siarot and Oping Sumalinog. The odds may be too close to call, but with a deep bench and a tested system, the Eagles may be a wise pick to capture their fourth straight UAAP title. J u l y 2 0 11 M A B U H A Y 9 9
WELCOME ABOARD
Welcome to Philippine Airlines! Here are a few reminders to ensure your safety and comfort on board. Have a pleasant trip!
H A N D L UGGA G E One hand luggage small enough to be placed in the overhead rack or under the passenger seat of the aircraft cabin may be carried without charge. The hand luggage must not exceed a total linear dimension of 115 cm or 45 in, and should weigh not more than 7 kg or 15 lbs. If hand luggage fails to comply with the required applicable dimensions and weight, hand luggage will be checked in and charged with the corresponding excess baggage charges (if applicable). In addition to the free hand luggage allowance, the following items are allowed onboard: a laptop with case; a small handbag; a coat, wrap or blanket; a walking stick or a pair of crutches; a small camera or a pair of binoculars; a reasonable amount of reading material; and infant’s food and carrying basket.
Fun and treats are in store for PAL Junior Jetsetter passengers from ages 2-11 when they hop in on their flights. On flights between Manila and San Francisco, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Vancouver, Honolulu, Sydney, Melbourne and New Delhi, kids are provided with Junior Jetsetter Activity Kits featuring some of the most beloved cartoon characters of all time, Mickey Mouse and Friends.
S EC U R I TY I T EM S The following items are prohibited from being loaded in the hand luggage or inside the aircraft cabin on all Philippine Airlines flights: liquids and gels; sharp items and blunt instruments; explosives, munitions and fireworks; weapons (including replicas), accessories and martial arts devices; large and heavy tools; and other dangerous items contained in, but not limited to, Section I.D. 8 of the U.S. Transportation Security Administration Model Security Program. All passengers travelling from/to the United States (including Guam) will be prohibited from carrying any type of lighter in their carry-on luggage and into security checkpoints. Please contact any Philippine Airlines Reservations or Ticket Office for the complete list of prohibited items.
The kits contain activity books, coloring materials, puzzles, stickers and toys, which provide children with hours of fun, while educating them on various travel destinations. Two different activity sets, packed in easy-to-carry bags, are available on flights originating from Manila and on flights bound for Manila.
Prohibited items discovered during the security search will be immediately referred to law enforcement officers or appropriate authorities at the airport for disposition. Security Removed Items (SRI) shall be loaded in the aircraft cargo / baggage compartment subject to security clearance procedures by airport authorities. When traveling in the U.S.A., please give enough lead time for the stricter screening of both checked and hand luggage at all commercial airports. All bags will be subject to search; bags that set off alarms or otherwise raise security concerns will have to be opened for inspection.
C OM PLI M ENTAR Y BEVERA GE Complimentary beverage service is offered on all international flights. On long-haul flights, distilled water is passed around every-hour-on-the-hour in between meals to promote passenger well-being. AL C OHOLI C BEVERA G E Red Wine / White Wine / Gin* / Vodka* / Whiskey* / Brandy / Selection of Beer (*Available only on long-haul flights) Alcoholic drinks are served only to a passenger aged 18 years or over. Government regulation prohibits passengers from opening and drinking alcoholic beverage other than what is served inflight. For the safety and comfort of all concerned, the cabin crew may decline to serve alcohol to passengers who appear to be intoxicated. Alcoholic drinks are not available on domestic flights and Vancouver - Las Vegas -Vancouver flights.
T A K E - O F F / L A N D I NG During take-off and landing, ensure that seat back is in the upright position and the tray table is folded or secured properly. Hand luggage should be stowed in the overhead compartment or under the seat in front.
NON-AL C OHOLI C BEVERA GE Cola / Diet Cola / Uncola / Diet Uncola / Orange Juice / Apple Juice / Ginger Ale / Absolute Distilled Water / Tonic Water / Soda Water / Lemon Iced Tea / Lipton Tea / Coffee
S E A T B E L T S It is Philippine Airlines’ safety requirement that passengers must fasten their seatbelts for the entire duration of the flight even when the seat belt sign is off. When a passenger is asleep, the seat belt must be fastened over the blanket for easy inspection by the cabin crew. While you are sleeping, please fasten your seat belt over your blanket for the easy inspection by the cabin crew. This is to assure uninterrupted rest during the flight even during moments of turbulence.
INFLI GHT SNA CKS On flights between Manila and Los Angeles, San Francisco, Vancouver and Honolulu, Philippine Airlines invites passengers to enjoy our complimentary snack selection. These include Asian noodle soup, meat-filled buns, and pastries. Preferred snacks may be requested from the Cabin Crew during anytime of the flight.
E L EC T R O N IC E Q U I PME N T In the interest of flight safety, any transportable electronic equipment are not to be operated during take-off, climb out, descent, final approach and landing, except for personal electronic life support systems.
READIN G M ATERIALS We carry a number of Filipino and foreign language newspapers to keep passengers abreast with the lastest news and current events. Our inflight magazine, Mabuhay, is available for all classes of service on all international flights.
Electronic devices which intentionally transmit radio signals should never be used for the whole duration of the flight. These include, but are not limited to: radio transceivers, CB radios, cellular phones, and electronic remote control transmitters.
Our Mabuhay Class service on international flights carries an array of News, Business, Fashion, Travel and Sports Magazines, including some Foreign Magazines on selected flights. These may be requested from the Cabin Crew onboard the flight.
Transportable electronic equipment which are non-transmitters and without any accessories that would transmit/receive radio signals, such as laptop computers without Wi-Fi and wireless peripheral devices, video cameras / players, tape recorders / players, CD/DVD/MP3 players, calculators, electronic entertainment devices and electronic shavers may be used after the safe use of these has been announced.
BEFORE YOU LEAVE Passengers must ensure that all personal belongings are in their possession before disembarking. If anything is forgotten, passengers may check with ground staff or write to Philippine Airlines, P.O. Box 1955, Manila, Philippines, Zip Code 1059.
Some flight conditions may require the discontinuance of the use of electronic devices and will be announced by the crew. Personal electronic life support systems such as hearing aids, electronic nerve stimulators, respirators may be used throughout the flight.
N O SMO K I NG In compliance with the Administrative Order 121 of the Air Transportation Office, smoking is strictly prohibited on all PAL flights, including when the aircraft is on the ground prior to take-off and/or after landing. EME RG E NCY O XYGE N S U P P LY A N D L I F E V E S TS In the event of a sudden drop in cabin pressure, oxygen masks will drop automatically in front of the passengers. An inflatable life vest is located beneath the seat or in/under the armrest. Please watch the live or film demonstration of safety procedures, which will be given or screened prior to take-off. F I E S T A B O U T I Q U E A selection of duty-free liquor, cigarettes, perfumes and other high-quality gift items can be purchased during the flight from our Fiesta Boutique. Payment may be made on selected currencies. Credit cards acceptable on major routes. The minimum amount for credit cards is US$10.00 and the maximum amount is US$250.00. Please refer to our Fiesta Boutique Catalogue or inquire from our cabin crew. I N F L IGH T AM E N I T I E S On long-haul flights, you receive an overnight kit that contains grooming items and other travel essentials to make your flight as comfortable as possible. Mabuhay Class passengers are treated to additional amenities in their kit, such as branded toiletry products and handy travel accessories. Our cabin lavatories are also stocked with other toiletry products to help you freshen up for your arrival at your destination. For a more comfortable rest especially during long-haul flights, pillows and blankets are available upon request or can be found on the seat. Seats can be reclined except those that remain fixed for safety or other physical reasons. We also suggest that passengers tune in to the Tranquil Traveler channel of our Flights of Fancy inflight radio program to keep them relaxed during the flight.
100 M A B U H A Y J u l y 2 0 11
DEEP VEIN THRO MBOSIS (DVT) DVT is the formation or presence of a blood clot (thrombus) in any of the deep veins of the body, most frequently involving those of the legs, thighs or pelvis. The blood clot may interfere with the circulation and manifest as combinations of pain, soreness, heaviness, swelling, warmth, skin discoloration, or prominent superficial veins over the affected area. It may also break off (an embolus) and travel to the lungs or other organs, sometimes leading to undesirable complications. Warning signs of lung involvement (or pulmonary embolism) include shortness of breath, sudden unexplained coughing, or abrupt chest pain. If you experience any of these symptoms during the flight, please inform any of our cabin crew right away; or if you already left the aircraft, please seek medical attention immediately. 1. Internal Risk Factors: DVT especially affects people with pre-existing medical conditions, such as a history of thrombosis or embolism, heart decease, stroke, or malignancy. Other risk factors include advanced age, obesity and paralysis, use of oral contraceptives, pregnancy, recent childbirth, blood coagulation disorders, varicose veins, recent major surgery, and fractures of the pelvis and lower extremities. Prolonged immobility due to illnesses or injuries may also predispose one to DVT. Before you make travel plans, consult your physician to determine your fitness to take a flight. You might also need to secure clearance form our PAL Medical Office before you purchase a ticket. 2. External Risk Factors: Sitting or sleeping in cramped positions for extended periods may occasionally induce DVT. For your comfort and relaxation, we suggest you perform in-seat exercises. Extreme dehydration can also increase the risk of DVT, so drink plenty of water and minimize alcohol and caffeine intake before and during the flight.
YOUR FEEDBA C K WILL BE APPREC IATED We encourage any comments or suggestions on how we can further improve our products and services. Please call our Customer Relations Office at telephone numbers 777-5932, fax number 777-5928 or email wecare@pal.com.ph.
TOUCHDOWN MANILA
Get acquainted with the Philippines even before you arrive. These tips will guarantee a carefree and informed stay.
P H I L I P P I NES AT A GLAN C E Stretching 1,839 kms. north-to-south off the southeast coast of Asia, the Republic of the Philippines has a total land area of 300,000 sq. kms. Its 7,107 islands comprise one of the largest island groups in the world. About 92 million Filipinos make up the population, 55% of whom occupy the largest island of Luzon. Filipinos comprise 111 cultural and linguistic groups of Malayo-Polynesian origin, with varying degrees of Chinese, Spanish and American influences. Majority are Roman Catholics, though a significant number are Protestants and Moslems. The Philippines is the world’s third largest Englishspeaking country after the United States and the United Kingdom. Filipino is the national language; English is used for commercial and legal transactions. Literacy rate is a high 94%.
P
C L I MA T E The Philippines is a tropical country with an average temperature of 32°C (89.6°F). March to June are hot and dry (36°C); rains and typhoons abound from July to October; November to February are pleasantly cool (around 23°C) and dry. In mountainous regions, temperatures dip to about 15°C. Light casual clothing is recommended for daily wear and Barong Tagalog or coat-and-tie for business and formal functions.
The secret to a satisfying shopping expedition is to go where the locals go, whether it be to world-class malls, bargain-rich flea markets or “tiangges,” ubiquitous sidewalk stalls, or tiny “holes-in-the-walls.” Handicraft stores can be found all over the country, selling export-quality products like native baskets and hand-woven fabrics, exquisite shellcraft and fine jewelry, or one-of-a-kind home accessories. Antique shops are a rich source of Philippine antiquities such as carved wooden furniture, old religious images, unique tribal artifacts, or vintage collectible pieces. The country’s upscale malls carry international brands with prices comparable to those in Hong Kong or Singapore. Don’t forget to check out the kiosks scattered throughout these sprawling spaces. They sell interesting items you may want to bring back home – from household bric-a-brac to curio items, native delicacies, or even the must-buy souvenir T-shirt.
NIGHTLIFE Metropolitan Manila is considered a pleasure-seeker’s paradise,
C U R R E NCY The monetary unit is the peso, divided into 100 centavos. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas supervises authorized foreign exchange dealers (at airports, hotels, major commercial establishments and all bank branches), and posts official exchange rates for most international currencies.
with an array of nighttime activities, from the soothing to the sinful. No wonder it has been consistently voted as Asia’s number one destination for entertainment and relaxation by expatriates. You can listen to whatever music you fancy from the country’s popular bands and singers, take advantage of “happy hour” drink promos at bars and pubs, dance up a storm at clubs and street parties, or cap an exhilarating night with a calming cappuccino at the corner café. Hotspots not to be missed are bohemian Malate in Manila, cosmopolitan Fort in Taguig, upscale Ayala and Rockwell Centers in Makati, and the trendy Libis and Timog districts in Quezon City.
T R A N S P ORTATION Philippine Airlines flies between Manila and 19 cities
FOOD Filipino food may puzzle the first-time eater. Philippine history is largely
and towns throughout the country. In Metro Manila, taxis, buses, jeepneys and a four-line Mass Transit System (LRT and Metrorail) provide public transport. In certain areas like Binondo (Manila’s Chinatown) and the old walled city of Intramuros, horse-drawn carriages or calesas ply short routes. International and local car rental companies provide chauffeured or self-driven limousine service. Large groups may hire medium-sized passenger vans or tourist coaches.
S H O P P I NG The Philippines is fast becoming a shopping haven, yielding great
responsible for this complex cuisine: on a matrix of native dishes akin to those in the rest of Southeast Asia, Chinese traders added their culinary influence, Spanish colonizers threw in touches of Castillan and Mexican cooking, and U.S. colonization brought in convenience and fast-food meals. Eating in the Philippines can therefore be an outstanding experience at all budget levels. In recent years, a profusion of restaurants has emerged, many catering to continental European or exotic Asian tastes. There are some good Japanese restaurants, too, plus a smattering of Korean, Thai, Vietnamese and other cuisines.
bargains if you know what to look for and where.
AIRLINE PARTNERS To serve you better, Philippine Airlines broadened its route network through Codesharing with its Airline Partners, offering you more destinations worldwide. Together, PAL and the Airline Partner, sell the flight sector operated by the Airline Partner. In Manila, Codeshare Flights operated by PAL’s other Airline Partners arrive/depart at NAIA1. For details on Codeshare Flights, please refer to the PAL Flight Facts and Flight Schedule on pages 105 and 106. When traveling on any of PAL’s Codeshare Flights, Mabuhay Miles members enjoy certain privileges. For specific Mabuhay Miles privileges per Airline Partner, especially on baggage allowance and lounge access, please contact the Mabuhay Miles Service Center at (632) 817 8000. Mabuhay Miles members can redeem travel awards on PAL operated sectors only. The privileges listed in the table shown are applicable provided ticket sales and reservations are under PAL’s seat allocation (ticket should reflect “PR” in the carrier designation box) and upon presentation of the Mabuhay Miles membership card.
SECTOR
PRIVILEGES
A I R L I N E PA RT N E R S LEGEND
C E B U - H O NG KONG
M A N I L A - A BU DHABIvv
LOUNGE ACCESS EXCESS BAGGAGE BENEFITS MABUHAY MILES MILAGE ACCRUAL
M A N I L A - B AHRAINvv
M A N I L A - D OHAvv
M A N I L A - D UBAIvv
TRANSFER SERVICE BETWEEN NAIA TERMINAL 1 AND 2vv ELITE, PREMIER ELITE AND MILLION MILER MEMBERS PREMIER ELITE AND MILLION MILER MEMBERS MILLION MILER MEMBERS
M A N I L A - K UALA LUMPURvv NOTE PRESENTATION OF MILLION MILER’S MEMBER SHIP CARD IS REQUIRED TO AVAIL OF ETIHAD PRIVILEGES
102 M A B U H A Y J u l y 2 0 11
MILLION MILER MEMBERS PLUS 1 TRAVELING COMPANION
Allow us to serve you better at Mabuhay Miles! For us to reach you faster and communicate with you better, Update your Mabuhay Miles contact details and stay connected. What’s More! Get a copy of the e-Connections newsletter and your e-Statements and be updated with what’s going on at Mabuhay Miles
Visit www.mabuhaymiles.com
INTERNATIONAL ROUTES
NARIT
DELHI
INDIA
108 M A B U H A Y J u l y 2 0 11
Bangkok / Beijing / Fukuoka / Guam/ Ho Chi Minh / Honolulu / Hong Kong / Jakarta / Las Vegas / Los Angeles / Macau / Manila / Melbourne / Nagoya / Osaka / Pusan / San Francisco / Seoul / Shanghai / Singapore / Sydney / Taipei / Tokyo / Vancouver / Xiamen
NARITA
Brisbane
Auckland
J u l y 2 0 11 M A B U H A Y 1 0 9
YOUR INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT GUIDE
Flights Fancy of
Parental Lock may be enabled upon request. (available on Digital IFE-equipped aircraft with AVOD) 112
Flights of Fancy
CONTENTS 114
Russell Brand and Hugh Laurie lend their voices as the father and son bunny tandem in this month's featured movie, HOP. For more information on the movie turn to page 114, or check page 118 for other movie schedules.
MOVIES
Beastly Diary Of A Wimpy Kid 2 Hop
118
SCHEDULE
Mabuhay Class Fiesta Class
120
122
Home Alone Monster-In-Law Maging Sino Ka Man
Adele Regine & Ogie Bruno Mars
MOVIE LIBRARY
CDS
124
127
Filipino Pop Classic Collection Hitline
Better With You Asian Air Safari Mike & Molly
MUSIC
TV
HOP on board E.B. (Russell Brand), the easter bunny's teenage son leaves home for Hollywood in high hopes of becoming a rock 'n roll band drummer. Once there, he is accidentally hit by the car of Fred (James Marsden), a jobless slacker. Fred takes E.B. under his care and is forced to deal with his seemingly incorrigible behavior. Together they uncover how it truly is to be mature.
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GAMES
In-flight Trivia Challenge Klondike Solitaire Bookworm
After hopping around with E.B. and Fred, relax with this month's selection of music on Flights of Fancy. Tune into the Spotlight channel which features the sounds of Queen, or swing over to the Tinseltown channel for a taste of Broadway. For whatever suits your musical mood, Flights of Fancy is here to provide. Only on Philippine Airlines.
ANIMATION
ADVENTURE
ACTION
MOVIE LIBRARY 12 ROUNDS Rated PG-13 Stars John Cena, Brian White, Aidan Gillen Director Renny Harlin
300 Rated R Stars Gerard Butler, Lena Headey Director Zack Snyder
BATMAN BEGINS Rated PG-13 Stars Christian Bale, Michael Caine Director Christopher Nolan
BAttle: Los Angeles Rated PG-13 Stars Aaron Eckhart, Michelle Rodriguez Director Jonathan Liebesman
BULLITT Rated PG Stars Steve McQueen, Robert Vaughn Director Michael Curtiz
DIE Hard Rated R Stars Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, Reginald ValJohnson Director John McTiernan
Fantastic Four: RISE OF THE SILVER SURFER Rated PG Stars Jessica Alba, Chris Evans Director Tim Story
I, ROBOT Rated PG-13 Stars Will Smith, Bruce Greenwood, Bridget Moynahan Director Alex Proyas
ms congeniality Rated PG-13 Stars Sandra Bullock, Benjamin Bratt, Michael Caine Director Donald Petrie
Ocean’s 11 Rated PG-13 Stars George Clooney, Brad Pitt Director Steven Soderbergh
Ocean’s 12 Rated PG-13 Stars George Clooney, Brad Pitt Director Steven Soderbergh
Ocean’s 13 Rated PG-13 Stars George Clooney, Brad Pitt Director Steven Soderbergh
rush hour Rated PG-13 Stars Jackie Chan, Chris Tucker Director Brett Ratner
SUPERMAN RETURNS Rated PG-13 Stars Brandon Routh, Kevin Spacey, Kate Bosworth Director Bryan Singer
The Dark night Rated PG-13 Stars Christian Bale, Heath Ledger Director Christopher Nolan
The Green Hornet Rated PG-13 Stars Seth Rogen, Jay Chou, Christoph Waltz Director Michel Gondry
The Last Samurai Rated R Stars Tom Cruise, Timothy Spall, Billy Connolly Director Edward Zwick
The Marine Rated PG-13 Stars John Cena, Kelly Carlson, Robert Patrick Director John Bonito
the matrix Rated R Stars Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss Director The Wachowski Brothers
the transporter Rated PG-13 Stars Jason Statham, Shu Qi Director Cory Yeun, Louis Leterrier
TROY Rated R Stars Brad Pitt, Eric Bana, Orlando Bloom Director Wolfgang Petersen
X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE Rated PG-13 Stars Hugh Jackman, Ryan Reynolds, Liev Schreiber Director Gavin Hood
BEOWULF Rated PG-13 Stars Ray Winston, Anthony Hopkins Director Robert Zemeckis
charlie and the chocolate factory Rated PG Stars Johnny Depp, Freddie Highmore Director Tim Burton
harry potter and the CHAMBER OF SECRETS Rated PG Star Daniel Radcliffe Director Chris Colombus
harry potter and the GOBLET OF FIRE Rated PG-13 Stars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson Director Mike Newell
harry potter and the HALFBLOOD PRINCE Rated PG-13 Stars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson Director David Yates
harry potter and the ORDER OF THE PHOENIX Rated PG-13 Stars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson Director David Yates
harry potter and the PRISONER OF AZKABAN Rated PG Star Daniel Radcliffe Director Alfonso Cuaron
harry potter and the sorcerer’s stone Rated PG Star Daniel Radcliffe Director Chris Colombus
LORD OF THE RINGS: the fellowship of the ring Rated PG-13 Stars Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen Director Peter Jackson
LORD OF THE RINGS: the two towers Rated PG-13 Stars Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler Director Peter Jackson
LORD OF THE RINGS: the return of the king
Rated PG-13 Stars Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Orlando Bloom Director Peter Jackson
Planet of the apes Rated PG-13 Stars Mark Wahlberg, Tim Roth, Helena Bonham Carter Director Tim Burton
THE GOLDEN COMPASS Rated PG-13 Stars Nicole Kidman, Dakota Blue Richards, Sam Elliot Director Chris Weitz
Happy Feet Rated PG Stars Elijah Wood, Brittany Murphy, Robin Williams Director George Miller
Hop Rated PG Stars Russell Brand, Elizabeth Perkins, James Marsden Director Tim Hill
ice age Rated PG Stars Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Denis Leary Director Chris Wedge, Carlos Saldanha
RANGO Rated PG Stars Johnny Depp, Timothy Olyphant, Bill Nighy Director Gore Verbinski
star wars: clone wars Rated PG Stars Matt Lanter, Ashley Eckstein, James Arnold Taylor Director Dave FIloni
MUSICAL
THE SIMPSONS MOVIE Rated PG-13 Stars Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright Director David Silvermani
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JUSTIN BIEBER: NEVER SAY NEBER Rated G Stars Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus Director Jon Chu
moulin rouge Rated PG-13 Stars Nicole Kidman, Ewan McGregor Director Baz Luhrmann
DIARY OF A wimpy kid 2: Rodrick rules Rated PG Stars Steve Zahn, Rachael Harris Director David Bowers
HAIRSPRAY Rated PG Stars John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer Director Adam Shankman
HALL PASS Rated R Stars Owen Wilson, Jason Sudeikis Director Bobby Farrelly, Peter Farrelly
HOME ALONE Rated PG Stars Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern Director Chris Columbus
JUST GO WITH IT Rated PG-13 Stars Adam Sandler, Jennifer Aniston, Nicole Kidman Director Dennis Dugan
Music and Lyrics Rated PG-13 Stars Hugh Grant, Drew Barrymore, Aasif Mandvi Director Marc Lawrence
prom Rated PG Stars Christine Elise, Aimee Teegarden, Nicholas Braun Director Joe Nussbaum
THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA Rated PG-13 Stars Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway Director David Frankel
THE Dilemma Rated PG-13 Stars Vince Vaughn, Kevin James, Jennifer Connelly Director Ron Howard
the mask Rated PG-13 Stars Jim Carey, Cameron Diaz, Peter Riegert Director Chuck Russell
THE WEDDING SINGER Rated PG-13 Stars Adam Sandler, Drew Barrymore Director Frank Coraci
Yogi Bear Rated PG Stars Dan Aykroyd, Justin Timberlake, Anna Faris Director Eric Brevig
Beastly Rated PG-13 Stars Alex Pettyfer, Vanessa Hudgens, Mary-Kate Olsen Director Daniel Barnz
BLOOD DIAMOND Rated R Stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Connelly Director Edwatd Zwick
CASABLANCA Rated PG Stars Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman Director Michael Curtiz
country strong Rated PG-13 Stars Gwyneth Paltrow, Garrett Hedlund, Tim McGraw Director Shana Feste
THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON Rated PG-13 Stars Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett Director David Fincher
sherlock holmes Rated PG-13 Stars Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law Director Guy Ritchie
Sweet november Rated PG-13 Stars Keanu Reeves, Charlize Theron, Jason Isaacs Director Pat O'Conor
The Bucket list Rated PG-13 Stars Jack Nicholson, Morgan Freeman, Sean Hayes Director Rob Reiner
the notebook Rated PG-13 Stars Ryan Gosling, Rachel McAdams Director Nick Cassavetes
THE SISTERHOOD OF TRAVELING PANTS 1 Rated PG Stars Alexis Bledel, America Ferrera, Amber Tamblyn Director Ken Kwapis
FILIPINO
Ang tanging ina mo, last na ‘to! Rated GP Stars Ai-Ai delas Alas, Eugene Domingo Director Wenn Deramas
Catch me i’m in love Rated GP Stars Ai-Ai delas Alas, Eugene Domingo Director Wenn Deramas
imortal Rated GP Stars Vilma Santos, Christopher De Leon, Cherie Gil Director Eddie Garcia
maging sino ka man Rated GP Stars Sharon Cuneta, Robin Padilla Director Eddie Rodriguez
working girls 1 Rated GP Stars Hilda Koronel, Carmi Martin, Rio Locsin Director Ishmael Bernal
JOHN Q Rated PG-13 Stars Denzel Washington, Robert Duvall, Anne Heche Director Nick Cassavetes
LImitless Rated PG-13 Stars Bradley Cooper, Robert De Niro, Abbie Cornish Director Neil Burger
THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU Rated PG-13 Stars Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Terence Stamp Director George Nolfi
Before Sunrise Rated R Stars Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy Director Richard Linklater
LAKE HOUSE Rated PG Stars Keanu Reeves, Sandra Bullock, Christopher Plummer Director Alejandro Agresti
DRAMA
Big Momma’s: like father, like son Rated PG-13 Stars Martin Lawrence, Brandon T Jackson, Director John Whitesell
THRILLER
COMEDY
FOR FULL CABIN AVOD* 17 AGAIN Rated PG-13 Stars Zac Efron, Leslie Mann, Thomas Lennon Director Burr Steers
THE Next Three days Rated PG-13 Stars Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman, Michael Caine Director Paul Haggis
THE Prestige Rated PG-13 Stars Russell Crowe, Elizabeth Banks, Liam Neeson Director Christopher Nolan
ROMANCE
THE TOURIST Rated PG-13 Stars Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie Director Florian HenckelDonnersmark
27 DRESSES Rated PG-13 Stars Katherine Heigl, Judy Greer, James Marsden Director Anne Fletcher
Only short films will be shown on the following sectors: Manila – Hong Kong – Manila, Manila – Macau – Manila, Manila – Taipei – Manila, Manila – Xiamen – Manila, Vancouver – Las Vegas – Vancouver and Singapore – Jakarta – Singapore
Monster-inlaw Rated PG-13 Stars Jennifer Lopez, Jane Fonda, Michael Vartan Director Robert Luketic
you’ve got mail Rated PG Stars Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan Director Nora Ephron
Flights of Fancy
* Available in B747 (RP-C7471 / RP-C7472 / RP-C7473 / RP-C7475) and B777
UNKNOWN Rated PG-13 Stars Liam Neeson, January Jones, Diane Kruger Director Jaume Collet-Serra
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MUSIC
MUSIC >> 11
>> 13
>> 12
>> 14
CLASSIC COLLECTION
J A M M I N ’ IN JAPAN
ORIENT EXPRESS
SEOUL GROOVES
Several orchestras this month soothe the airwaves with their mellow renditions of classic songs. Orchestras to listen for include the Hungarian State Symphony Orchestra and the La Setra Basel Baroque Orchestra.
Lose yourself to the live and kicking beats of Japanese pop from artists like Exile, Azu, and Daikichi.
Time to catch a ride on the Orient Express, as this month's line-up includes lively Cantonese and Mandarin hits that set the airwaves ablaze.
It's time to give in to the K-Pop generation, as Korean artists Carl Kanowsky, The One, and Infinite lure you into their infectious beats.
Julia fischer
KARA
In Full Bloom (from “Two Pictures”)
Bartók (Brilliant Classics), Hungarian State Symphony Orchestra, Adam Fischer
Poema Autunnale
Respighi (Decca), Julia Fischer (violin), Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo, Yakov Kreizburg
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No.2 in F minor – II: Romance, Larghetto C h o p i n ( D e u t s c h e
Grammophon), Daniel Barenboim (piano), Staatskapelle Berlin, Andris Nelsons
Gluck (Naxos), Takako Nishizaki (violin), Wolf Harden (piano)
Claire De Lune (from “Suite Bergamasque”)
Melody
Debussy (Naxos), Petér Nagy (piano)
Violin Sonata No.2 – Allegro Amiable Brahms (Warner Classics Jazz), Maxim Vengerov (violin), Alexander Markovich (piano)
String Quartet Op.76, No.2 – Andante Haydn (Naxos), Kodaly Quartet
Piano Trio No.1 in D minor- I: With Energy and Passion
Schumann (EMI Classics), Leif Ove Andsnes (Piano), Christian Tetzlaff (violin), Tanja Tetzlaff (Cello)
Mitridate, re di Ponto
Mozart (Deutsche Grammophon), La Cetra Basel Baroque Orchestra, Andrea Marcon
Piano Concerto No.21 in C Major – I: Andante
Mozart (Sony Classical), Joshua Bell (violin), Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Michael Stern
Les Jeux D’eaux à la Villa d’Este
Liszt (Hänsler Classic), Haiou Zhang (piano)
SEUNGRI
sun yan zi
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Flights of Fancy
TELEVISION OUTBOUND JUST FOR LAUGHS Season 9 Episode 19
Better with You Episode: Better With Firehouse
WALL STREET JOURNAL TECH WATCH November 2010
Be amused with these hidden camera gags performed on the street, in the shopping malls, all around town and in the countryside. For all ages and funny-bones alike!
Mia and Casey go house hunting when they realize that Mia's apartment will be too small for them when the baby comes. But Casey's unusual taste in home selections concerns Mia, especially when he sets his sights on a dilapidated old firehouse.
This program looks at the latest technology applications and cutting-edge innovations and offers insight into the advances that are transforming the industry. It also includes interviews with the most influential players in the technology sector and regular updates on new multimedia products and integrated devices.
INBOUND WORLD BUSINESS SPECIAL EDITION June 2011
Mike and molly
Mike Biggs, a police officer who wants to shed some pounds, and Molly Flynn, a fourth-grade teacher wanting to embrace her curves, meet at an Overeaters Anonymous group and become an unlikely pair.
This program investigates key trends in politics, industry, entertainment and fashion. From discovering the best high-end bars in London or investigating the risks and rewards of investing in Iran, World Business Special Edition is truly global.
ASIAN AIR SAFARI Episode: Bangkok
Capt. Joy visits Bangkok to check out an aviation school which is contributing to the emerging general aviation industry in Thailand. He gets an offer to fly to Phuket. In Phuket he meets some interesting locals and soaks in the beautiful tropical paradise.
FOR AVOD* ASIAN AIR SAFARI
It's more than just travel. It's all about discovery and adventure. Episodes: Cebu, Melbourne, Shanghai, Sydney
WALL STREET JOURNAL TECH WATCH March 2011
WORLD BUSINESS SPECIAL EDITION April 2011
PAL 70th Anniversary
Tech Watch looks at the latest trends World Business Special Edition Philippine Airlines marked its 70th year and innovations in the world of investigates global business trends in as the country's flag carrier in March politics, industry, entertainment and 2011. technology. fashion.
* Additional titles available on Digital IFE-equipped aircraft with AVOD
Flights of Fancy
127
GAMES FOR FULL CABIN AVOD*
to k
BOOKWORM
>> Click
on the letters to link them into words and hit submit to chomp them. The longer the words, the more points you'll get.
>> Use the green, yellow and diamond
tiles for extra bonus points. Beware of burning tiles; if they reach the bottom, it's game over. To scramble all the letters, click on the Bookworm, but this comes at a cost.
Eat your words! Link letters and create words to feed the hungry Bookworm. But watch out for the fiery letters... They'll burn your library down. With thousands of words to form, it's a new game each time you play. No matter your skill level, you'll enjoy this vocabulariffic puzzle.
invasion Hop on board your fighter spacecraft equipped with high-tech weapons and fight biomechanical aliens threatening to destroy the Earth. This challenging game has four difficulty levels.
>> Don't worry about taking too long to spell a word. There's no time limit.
Head-to-head chess Match wits with either the computer or another passenger—even if you are sitting at opposite ends of the cabin—in the multiplayer rendition of one of the world's best-known games, chess!
IN-FLIght TETRIS
in-flight trivia challenge Take advantage of quiz show mania with this cabin-wide multiplayer trivia game. Passengers can compete with each other to determine who the real trivia master is.
KLONDIKE Solitaire Klondike Solitaire is the world’s most popular solitaire card game and is also one of the most difficult variations to play. Amazingly challenging and addicting, you will play for hours.
The object of this game is to keep the blocks from piling up to the top of the playing field. Sounds easy? Well, it could be if you know how to effectively move and rotate the colored blocks as they fall.
>> >> in-flight sudoku
bejeweled
Sudoku, meaning the digits must remain single, features a partially completed grid that the player must fill in. This exciting game presents quite a challenge and is sure to satisfy puzzle lovers.
Catch some fast and furious gemmatching fun in this colorful puzzle game. Just click on two adjacent gems to swap them and make sets of three to score. This colorful game has four great modes to suit all players.
* Available in B747 (RP-C7471 / RP-C7472 / RP-C7473 / RP-C7475) and B777
128
Flights of Fancy
>> >>
Use the block pieces to fill most of the pit, leaving only a one-column gap. Reserve this for the straight piece for heavy scoring. Don't start at an advance level. Your cumulative score will be higher if you start withe the lowest difficulty and work your way up. Try to keep the blocks to the lower half of the pit. Letting them rise any higher is risky. Always take a break from playing after a few rounds or so. This should help you avoid the so-called "Tetris Effect" or involuntary seeing Tetris combinations in your head even when you are not playing. Good luck!