Shaolin
Already took a photo yesterday for Canon's Daily Photo Theme Contest today. Thus, went back to
Glorietta 5 to submit my entry. Was the first to submit today's theme: Colors.
Then, proceeded to Glorietta cinemas to watch
Shaolin, an action, drama movie starring Andy Lau, with special participation of Jackie Chan. The movie is in Chinese with English subtitle.
An arrogant and bloodthirsty general was forced to take refuge in a Shaolin temple when his family was wiped out and was betrayed. Realizing the error of his ways, he dedicated himself in learning the ways of the monk. The cook (Jackie Chan) provided comic relief to the dramatic weight of the movie. And there's action... and lots of life's insight/s.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Since Glorietta is on my home, decided to visit again the Photoworld Asia 2011. Bought a case for the portable hard disk I bought and an IR trigger to replace my broken one. Also, visited Glorietta 5 to check out the daily photo winner. My "Colors" entry placed 3rd. c",)
Photoworld Asia 2011
The
Photoworld Asia 2011 opened yesterday, January 28. Aside from photography (and photography-related) workshops, there are several stores at
Glorietta for camera and accessories on sale.
Canon Philippines also have a daily photo theme contest.
Yesterday's theme is "Smile". Since the cut-off for submission of entry is 6pm, went to Glorietta for lunch and tried to capture an image for "Smile". Went around Glorietta and was not able to. It seems everyone is too hungry to smile. LOL. So, dropped by
White Hat for yogurt. Ding-ding-ding! An idea! Asked the lady behind the counter if I can take her picture while she is giving to me my yogurt. She was kind of shy but she obliged. It's like "service with a smile". Then, proceeded to Canon booth at Glorietta 5 to have my entry printed and submitted. Yes!
Today's theme is "Model". Canon's model came around 2PM (cut-off of submission is 3PM). Did some shots, trying my hand on shaped bokeh. Not as effective as I hoped since there are only a few lights behind the model. Oh, well...
Had lunch of chicken ala king at
French Baker. Bought camera bag/s at
Lowepro. Attended anticipated Mass and was able to take a photo for tomorrow's photo theme: Colors. Will have to go back tomorrow to Glorietta to submit my entry. And also have my movie for this week.
Had our dinner at
New Bombay.
Dinagyang: Day 4
(Writing this at coffeebreak inside the Iloilo Airport...)
It is our flight back to Manila. Was picked up from our hotel,
The Grand Tower Suites, by an airport taxi around 10AM for our 12:45PM
Cebu Pacific flight to Manila.
Bought additional
pasalubong at the airport: Mama's Kitchen pinipig crunchies and mango chewies, and Rgies yema.
Had hot chocolate and cheese & egg sandwich at
coffeebreeak inside the Iloilo Airport.
(Writing this at home...)Our flight is delayed by 30 minutes. Saw several rock bands at the airport (even have them in our flight). There's Sugar Free, Kamikaze, Parola ni Edgar.
Thank God for our safe trip.
Light of Glory Taxi Services
e-mail: log_ilo2005@yahoo.com.ph
telephone: 329-1316, 328-3427, 328-9028, 320-5147
Dinagyang: Day 3
D-Day! The event everyone is waiting for. And no wonder, the performances are intense. It is the
Dinagyang competition where fourteen (14) "tribes" are competing.
We were earlier at Stage 3 than yesterday but there are already many photographers there. We were not able to get a seat. Thus, have to make to do at sitting on the ground. The sacrifices we have to endure... LOL
After, went back to our hotel for our quick lunch and on our way to check out the churches of
Iloilo. The churches we visited are the
Jaro Cathedral,
Molo Church and
Miagao Church (a national shrine). We also stopped by at
Mama's Kitchen at Arevalo to buy pinipig crunchies and mango chewy and a detour to an open beach to try to capture sunset.
Our dinner is at the hotel. Attempted to go out but because of the volume of people, it was wiser to go back to the hotel and eat there instead.
Dinagyang: Day 2
Woke up really early. It would be the Kasadyahan competition of the
Dinagyang Festival.
After our buffet breakfast at our hotel, the group proceeded to Dinagyang Foundation at Freedom Grandstand to pick-up our IDs. The group was split into Stage 3 and Stage 4. I was assigned to Stage 3.
There were nine (9) contingents (/tribes) participating in the competition with two (2) guest contingents. The event is well-organized and the participants are in their performance-level. The theme of the competition is on the environment--"going green".
After the Mass for the Kasadyahan, the competition started at the same time for all stages. The participants will be judged in all stages (Stage 1 to 4). The competition took all morning, and not one of the audience left until they saw all the participants perform.
Our lunch is at
Tatoy's at the Food Festival. The Food Festival is along Delgado Street, showcasing the food offered by
Iloilo.
Also tried Iloilo's ice scramble for dessert.
Went back to our hotel for a much needed rest (the other half of the group proceeded to
Guimaras.)
By 3PM, we went to
Deco's to buy our
pasalubong and have a taste of their famous original La Paz Batchoy.
Our dinner, again, is at Tatoy's. But this time, it is at their main branch. Learned that the restaurant started small. But because of the
nuno sa punso which they did not try to disturb by building a small
nipa hut around it, their business grew. And, boy, did it grow!
Dinagyang: Day 1
Today would be our flight to
Iloilo to attend the
Dinagyang festival. Took a half-day leave from office because I have to be at the airport two (2) hours before the flight.
Keep on forgetting that I have to check-in my umbrella. Remembered my Swiss knife but not the umbrella. Thus, I have to buy a bag to put my umbrella in. Bought a
Rudy Project dry bag at the airport.
Hayyy,,,
There was a 30-minute delay in our
Cebu Pacific flight to Iloilo. Good thing, the daughter of one of our group is going to pick us up at the airport. Checked-in first at our hotel, the
Iloilo Grand Tower Suites, before having our very late dinner at
Buto't Balat. This is where I tasted the fish
managat, which cannot be found in Manila.
Learned that my photo/s is on exhibit at the Mall of Asia from January 15 to 23, 2011 through an e-mail announcement in our office. Did not know of it. Don't know which of my photo for the Photography With a Difference (PWD) was on display. Wish I have learned it earlier so I can check them out. c",)
Basic Photography Seminar
Woke up early as I have to go to the office. Our office's camera club would have their first general assembly for the year and I was asked to be the speaker on Basic Photography.
Approximately, there are about 60+ attendees. I have to group them by camera type (point and shoot, dSLR) and camera brand. Then, assigned group leaders (the senior members of the club) accordingly to assist.
Would say the seminar is a success as it encouraged the participants to become members of the club. Also got good reviews (asked the participants to rate and give comments). Nice...
Fun Flash Drive
My friend from New Zealand gave me a magnet and a flash drive designed like an Air New Zealand airplane. Nice!
Post New Year Reunion
Met a friend for lunch at
Chili's, Greenbelt 5. She is based in New Zealand. It is always fun to have her around, not a dull moment. She is one of the people I know who has a good heart.
They say, "tell me who your friends are, I will tell you who you are". I guess, I, too, have a good heart. (wink)
Chill
Hair-pampering day...
Normally, would have watched a movie after. But don't like the movies currently being shown. Thus, ate a very late lunch before proceeding home.
Spotlight on Paez
No movies this weekend. Wanted to watch
Shake, Rattle and Roll, one of the movies included in the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF). But it is no longer being shown in
Glorietta's cinemas. Only two movies in the MMFF are still being shown... one I have already watched (
Dalaw) and the other I don't have plans of watching (
Tanging Ina Mo). The other (foreign) movies I don't feel like watching.
Thus, shifted my attention to the red shoes. Huh? Felt like being Dorothy (of the Wizard of Oz). Instead of red shiny shoes, I like a red alpargata.
Breaking-in my
Paez' Palms shoes, looked for a red
TOMS or Paez shoes. Went to
Nothing But Water in Glorietta (for TOMS),
Planet Sports in Glorietta (for Paez), TOMS in
Greenbelt 3, and
Rustans (for TOMS and Paez). All no stock for my size... (sad)
TOMS is on a "One for One"--for every pair you buy, one pair of shoes is given to a child in need.
For Paez, it is an Argentina original and manufactured in "no sweatshop" guidelines, ensuring fair labor practices, with minimal impact in the environment.
With no red alpargata, bought the Flor Coral Negra of Paez instead.
Did a good deed. While eating at Food Choices, saw PhP400.00 on the floor near one of the stalls. Left my food for a few seconds and returned the money to its owner.
TOMS
Been passing the poster for weeks now. And keep on thinking that I would buy one. For every pair I buy, a pair of shoes will be given to a child in need--One for One. Thus, it would be my Christmas gift to myself and to a child.
Finally, bought a
TOMS shoes. A good (working) day to start my year.
MMFF Marathon
Another tradition (although no exact date), is to treat my Nana and our angel/s to movies included in the
Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF). Left the house after lunch.
Our first movie is
Si Agimat at si Enteng Kabisote. A hero from the mortal plane (Enteng Kabisote) and a hero from a magical realm (Agimat) will join forces to fight the combined forces of evil. The movie is really made for children. Although, I think that Enteng Kabisote has more screening time...
Ate
merienda while waiting for the next screening of our next movie.
Our next movie is
Dalaw. Kris Aquino is starting to become a horror movie princess. She started with Feng Shui; followed by
Sukob; and now,
Dalaw. Things started to happen when Stella (Kris Aquino) married her college sweetheart Anton (Diether Ocampo). It is said, the dead is visiting the living for some unfinished business. But in this case, it is for revenge. There is a twist. I guess am used to twists and turns, even midway of the movie, correctly guessed who the ghost is.
While watching, some were already screaming even the unexpected is not yet being shown on screen. This makes the rest of the audience laugh.
After, had dinner at
The New Bombay before proceeding home.
