Day-tripping

THEME DAY: PASSAGEWAY • Alright, I'm cheating again here because we've left Metro Manila. We're on the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway, better known as SCTEx, although where exactly, I have no idea. The SCTex goes through three provinces north of Manila: Pampanga, Bataan and Tarlac. Since it opened in 2008, day trips from Manila to the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, which is located in the province of Zambales, have become easier; it is 110 kilometers away from Manila but the trip now only takes an hour and forty five minutes compared to three hours before the road was constructed. Last year, I took a trip to Subic Bay with my sister and nieces. This time, my girlfriends and I went a bit farther. Come back tomorrow to see where we spent last Thursday.



From the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary: Passage a: a road, path, channel, or course by which something passes b: a corridor or lobby giving access to the different rooms or parts of a building or apartment. Click here to view thumbnails for all participants.

SEE IT SUNDAY: DIRECTION

Big cloud, small sailboat

Watching a most unusual sunset on Manila Bay. The orange color seems to be blocked by the big cloud and the rest of the sky remained blue even after the sun had completely set. I loved that the sailboat crossed the bay while I was taking photos, and I waited for it to get to the exact position—just so.

Visit the Sky Watch Friday home page and tour the skies of our beautiful world.

SEE IT SUNDAY: SUNSET

A lesson in perspective

Two more luxury residential condominium towers in Rockwell Center, and the last of the series for now. On the left is Hidalgo Place, which is across the Ateneo Professional Schools. On the right is the Rizal Tower. This photo is deceiving in two ways. One, Hidalgo Place is a long, rectangular building and this is only its narrow end. Two, Rizal Tower is much farther than it looks here. It is 47 floors high, compared to Hidalgo's 24.

SEE IT SUNDAY: SKYSCRAPER

Morning zombie

7:15am. Waiting for a colleague at the Starbucks across the Ateneo de Manila University to go to a conference in Makati City. Sitting in the sun because anything lower than 24°C makes me shiver. Staring at the school rush hour traffic (grade schools and high schools usually begin classes at 7:30am). This is probably the closest I will ever get to posting a sunrise photo on this blog.

SEE IT SUNDAY: CUP

Pinoy Penman and SMB Light

Jose "Butch" Dalisay Jr. is a Filipino writer, teacher, Mac addict, gadget geek and collector of fountain pens. He was short-listed for the 2007 Man Asian Literary Prize for "Soledad's Sister." San Mig Light is currently the beer of choice in Manila because it's as good as it's big brother, San Miguel Beer pale pilsen, but with fewer calories—perfect for the young ones who are weight and shape conscious, and for older ones who need to watch calories for health's sake. This was taken during a writers' night at Mag:net Cafè Katipunan—art gallery, cafè and bar, which holds exhibits, indie film showings, poetry readings, improv theater, book launchings, and jazz and rock gigs. (PHOTO BY DOGBERRY)

SEE IT SUNDAY: ALCOHOL