Banana leaf lights

In keeping with its theme, even the lighting fixtures of the Asian restaurant Banana Leaf Curry House are shaped like banana leaves. I think that they would have looked better if they were painted green, though, rather than white.

Handsome tree

This is my favorite acacia tree in the Loyola Heights, Quezon City campus of the Ateneo de Manila University. When the Jesuits moved the campus to its present location in the 1950s, they planted acacia trees along all its roads, and what used to be scrawny saplings are now large, handsome trees. This particular tree is right in front of Xavier Hall, the university's main administration building. There are larger, more luxuriant trees elsewhere, but I love this one because of the moss growing on the branches.

Banana leaf plates

At Banana Leaf Curry House, a restaurant that serves Asian food, the plates are real banana leaves on brown paper place mats. Even the chairs look like they're woven banana leaves. Eating with your fingers here is perfectly acceptable (especially if you're having roti with curry dip), though most use the spoon and fork provided. Banana Leaf's menu is a mixture of Indian, Thai, Indonesian, Malaysian, Singaporean and Chinese cuisine. Needless to say, most of the dishes are spicy. Yummy, too!

I can see you!

Of course the Philippines has its own version—what country doesn't?

The Pinoy Big Brother house as seen from the 13th floor roof deck of ABS-CBN, its local producer. The narrow yellow house is its facade and what Filipinos worldwide identify as the house. In fact, though, the "house" is a sprawling sound stage right behind it.

Twenty-six degrees

At some of the street intersections in Ortigas Center in Pasig City, there are huge digital clocks and thermometers. At 9:15 this morning, the temperature at the corner of San Miguel and Lourdes Avenues was already 26 degrees Celsius. It was overcast the whole day, though, so it didn't get hotter than 30 degrees.

Head of the family

Eugenio "Gabby" L. Lopez III is the current Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ABS-CBN, one of the largest media companies in the Philippines. ABS-CBN is into television (both free and cable), movies, music and print publishing. It's tag line is "Kapamilya," Tagalog for "part of the family." Taken during the Ateneo–ABS-CBN Fellowship Night on April 17, 2008.

Outside "The Ledge"

"The Ledge" is the 6th level of Shangri-la Plaza that's set up like an indoor restaurant row. Mexican, Filipino, Japanese, Mediterranean and Thai restaurants, and a Starbucks at the very end. Beside the Starbucks is a glass door leading to the roof deck with iron tables and chairs for smokers. These are the mall's south-facing windows, taken from the roof deck at about 3:00 P.M. on a summer afternoon. Behind those windows is a narrow ledge full of Starbucks coffee tables with umbrellas (I know they're indoors—don't ask me), armchairs and footstools.

In the garden of Gethsemane

At one side of the Ateneo de Manila University's Church of the Gesù is a small lawn with a quiet spot for reflection and prayer, with a pre-cast sculpture of Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane and a stone bench. The sculpture is from the House of Precasts, and the artist is the company's founder, Conrado de Leon. It is the third piece cast from the original, which remains with the company.

Textured entrance

I love the foyer of the Oreta condominium in Pasig City. The wall to the right of the entry used to be just a blank, white wall. But now, I think that the decorative stone beautifully echoes the abstract painting by American artist Jane Bellows.

Japanese great drummers

Two members of the creative wadaiko group Daida, winners of the 2007 Tokyo International Taiko Competition. The word wadaiko is a combination of the Japanese characters for wa (Japan) and taiko (great drum). The 10-member group Daida got its name from Daidarabocci, a legendary nature god with the body of a deer and the face of a baboon. Daida, with the waidako soloist Ryo Shiobara, performed at the Shangri-la Plaza in Mandaluyong on February 23, an event made possible by the Japan Foundation Manila. They were awesome!

In my neighbor's backyard

This is a common sight among most middle- and upper middle-class homes in Manila: a water tank. It used to be essential during the decades of an inefficient, government-managed water utility company when water pressure was weak, there were too many illegal taps into the supply, and distribution was poor. The water distribution is much better now (though there are still some areas with water supply problems), but most homes still have their water tanks. The private water utility companies are changing a lot of the old water pipes and that always disrupts supply. There are also some years where instead of just two months (April and May), we have prolonged summers and Manila's main water reserve, the Angat Dam reservoir, reaches critical levels and water has to be rationed. The water tanks just work using gravity, so they have to be higher than the house. Those flowers are bougainvillea. They're very common here too, and in other places with warm weather. I'll feature them some other time in another post.

Tricycle

People in Manila generally don't like walking. Blame it on the heat (or rain, depending on what season it is), humidity, pollution, and the fact that quite a lot of our streets still don't have sidewalks. If you don't have a car, motorcycle or scooter, this means having to take public transportation. Aside from taxi cabs, public transportation on Manila's major roads includes elevated trains, buses and jeepneys. On smaller neighborhood roads though, the way to get around is by pedicabs and tricycles. This is a tricycle, a motorcycle with a covered side car. Before you ask, no, it isn't safe—no seatbelt, no door, no safety measures whatsoever. Neither is it comfortable—no suspension system, so you feel every bump in the road and if you're tall like me, your head will hit the ceiling with every bump (I've taken to stooping and looking at my feet every time I ride in one). Also, tricycle drivers seem to think that just because they're small, they're exempt from all traffic rules. Notice how this one's parked in a yellow-striped corner (and I won't be surprised if the guy doesn't even know what those black and yellow stripes mean).

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

White and simple

I've been seeing this little white flower since I was a kid, yet until now I don't know what it's called. I don't even remember anyone actually referring to it or talking about it. It grows anywhere and everywhere, and blooms in all three seasons—summer, rainy, cold. Its leaves are round and waxy, and its roots are very shallow, which is why it can grow anywhere, even in the cracks between paving stones. The gentlest tug will uproot the entire plant, yet in the strongest typhoons, the stem bends almost to the ground and it survives. The flowers are simple and don't have any particular scent. Most of them are white with yellow centers and this one with a fuschia center is unusual. The other day, though, I saw a variety with purple blooms. Leave me a note if you know its name. (PHOTO BY DOGBERRY)