Calle Crisologo is the best-preserved Spanish colonial era cobblestone street in Vigan, Ilocos Sur. Most of the houses have been turned into shops, cafés and inns, but a few family residences—which still contain their original furniture and artwork—have been opened to the public as museums. Calle Crisologo is closed to cars but pedestrians still have to share the street with horse-drawn carriages.
October 14, 2012
Stepping into history
Calle Crisologo is the best-preserved Spanish colonial era cobblestone street in Vigan, Ilocos Sur. Most of the houses have been turned into shops, cafés and inns, but a few family residences—which still contain their original furniture and artwork—have been opened to the public as museums. Calle Crisologo is closed to cars but pedestrians still have to share the street with horse-drawn carriages.
October 13, 2012
October 12, 2012
Of lemons and champions
Yesterday, the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles beat the University of Sto. Tomas Growling Tigers 65–62 to win their 5th consecutive University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) basketball championship! Celebrate with us by having a slice of Café 1771's Chewy Lemon Tart.(Sorry, a little inside joke among Ateneans here.)
October 11, 2012
Travel Smart
Even jet bridges at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport have ads. Smart is one of the biggest mobile phone and internet service companies in the Philippines.
October 10, 2012
Still necessary
A metal fence separating the loading bay for public transportation and the highway has a sign which says "Walk and wait on the sidewalk. Not on the road." Both commuters and drivers of public transport here need to be constantly reminded of this. And if no government personnel is around to enforce the rules, they usually don't get followed anyway, with public transport vehicles taking on passengers in the middle of the road.
October 9, 2012
Deli-cious
Almon Marina was the first deli and gourmet sandwich store I experienced when it opened in 1990. It's good to know that they're still around and have even more branches.
October 8, 2012
Student and teacher
September 28, 2012 marked the launch of my husband Exie's first book, a collection of creative nonfiction titled "Trafficking in Nostalgia." His essays and stories have been published in various anthologies many times in the past, but this is his first solo publication. His freshman English teacher Doreen Fernandez (1934–2002), also a writer, cultural historian and food critic, would have been proud.
October 7, 2012
Conversion
The Cathedral of the Conversion of St. Paul is located in the City of Vigan in the province of Ilocos Sur (more than 400 km north of Manila), and is the seat of the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia. The church as it stands now was finished in the early 1800s, but its history goes back to 1574 when a chapel of wood and thatch was ordered built on the site by the Spanish conquistador Juan de Salcedo. Succeeding churches were damaged and destroyed by earthquakes in 1619 and 1627, and by fire in 1739. The church became a cathedral in 1758, when the seat of the Archdiocese was transferred to Vigan. It was occupied by revolutionists during the Philippine Revolution and by American forces during the Philippine-American War.
October 6, 2012
Tapping strings
Abby Clutario, of the bands fuseboxx and HUMANFOLK, with her 10-string Chapman Stick. It was my first time to see one and I found it so fascinating, I ended up interviewing her about it. Apparently, it's been around since the 1970s and can have 8 to 12 strings. You can read more about it in its Wikipedia entry.
October 5, 2012
Charbroiled
An abandoned eatery with a sidewalk counter specializing in charbroiled steaks. Looong abandoned. Manila's phone numbers were changed to seven digits in the early 1980s.
October 4, 2012
Irresistible
The fountain at the water plaza and amphitheater of Bonifacio High Street (BHS) Central.
October 3, 2012
Not eternal
A dreary morning at the runway of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport's Terminal 3, exclusive to Philippine Airlines and its low-budget Airphil Express. Only the yellow tail of rival Cebu Pacific Air's plane and its matching yellow hangar evoked the sunshine of the summer just past.
October 2, 2012
Australia via Florida
Outback Steakhouse is an Australian-themed restaurant that started in Tampa, Florida. It has three branches in Metro Manila. Except for the sign and the posters, the restaurant in Quezon City just looks like a large farmhouse.
October 1, 2012
School spirit
Watching the Sunday afternoon replay of Saturday's cardiac arrest-inducing playoff game between collegiate basketball archrivals Ateneo de Manila University and De La Salle University at the bar of Outback Steakhouse. The Ateneo Blue Eagles beat the De La Salle Green Archers 66–63, making it to the finals and a chance to win its 5th consecutive University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) championship. One Big Fight!
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