It's Wanderful!

3rd Philippine International Pyromusical Competition

2011-12-11T14:20:00.014+08:00

The Brightest Show on Earth!

The schedules are finally out for the 3rd Philippine International Pyromusical Competition happening every Saturdays of next year starting February 11 - March 17, 2012.

3rd Philippine International Pyromusical Competition Schedules

Ticket Prices:

P1,500 - VIP with Dinner

P500 - VIP

P300 - Gold

P100 Silver

You can buy your tickets for the 3rd Philippine International Pyromusical Competition at www.ticketnet.com.ph, www.ticketworld.com.ph and www.smtickets.com

Visit www.pyrophilippines.com for more details.

Cameras ready? :)

Puerto Princesa Underground River among New 7 Wonders of Nature

2011-11-12T09:36:00.002+08:00

I am so excited and happy to announce that the Philippine-famous Puerto Princesa Underground River is now bound to be declared and known worldwide as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature!

Puerto Princesa Underground River*

Puerto Princesa Underground River among New 7 Wonders of Nature

After two years of global voting, the poll for the New 7 Wonders of Nature has ended and here is the list of provisional winners as announced on the n7w website (http://www.new7wonders.com):

Puerto Princesa Underground River - Philippines
Amazon - South America
Halong Bay - Vietnam
Iguazu Falls - Argentina
Jeju Island - South Korea
Komodo - Indonesia
Table Mountain - South Africa

This list is based on the first count of international voting results conducted by the n7w foundation on 11/11/11. The group is currently in the process of checking, validating and verifying the votes. After this, confirmed winners will be announced in early 2012 as the official New 7 Wonders of Nature.

This is wonderful news for me as I am not only from the Philippines, but from Puerto Princesa itself!

Quick Facts: Puerto Princesa Underground River

For those who don't know or haven't been to Puerto Princesa Underground River yet, here are quick descriptions of the national park as quoted from one of my old posts:

"Azure, crystal clear waters and towering limestone karst mountains will welcome you upon entering the famous subterranean watercourse."

Entrance to Puerto Princesa Underground River

"Inside, stalactites, stalagmites and all manner of stunning cave formations abound."

Stalactites and stalagmites inside Puerto Princesa Underground River*

Puerto Princesa Underground River inscribed to UNESCO List of Natural World Heritage Sites

Aside from being one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature, Puerto Princesa Underground River was also inscribed to UNESCO List of Natural World Heritage Sites in 1999 with its representation of a habitat for biodiversity conservation. UNESCO World Heritage Sites List consists of places with exceptional and universal value that deserves to be protected for the benefit of humanity.

Limestone karsts and beach before entering Puerto Princesa Underground River

Puerto Princesa Underground River and its effect on Philippine Tourism

With Puerto Princesa Underground River among the New 7 Wonders of Nature and being blessed with bountiful of other beautiful natural attractions in the entire country, we are closer to becoming the world-renowned Philippines and no longer just an island in the Pacific that most international travelers skip.

You can guess how proud I am right now.

It's Wanderful!

Mabuhay ang New 7 Wonders of Nature!

Mabuhay ang Puerto Princesa Underground River!

Mabuhay ang Puerto Princesa!
Mabuhay ang Palawan!
Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!

*Photo Credit: New7Wonders.com

Earth Hour 2011

2011-03-29T09:38:00.002+08:00

Last March 26, 2011 we went to the Mall of Asia to participate in the Earth Hour 2011.

Earth Hour is an annual event in which people are asked to turn off their non-essential lights for an entire hour, starting at 8:30pm until 9:30pm. This is a campaign started by the WWF as a campaign to fight global warming.

"In 2010, 128 countries and territories took part in Earth Hour. Eighty-nine national capitals participated, as did nine of the world's ten biggest cities, thousands of other communities, countless businesses, and hundreds of millions of individuals, according to WWF, the international conservation nonprofit, which organizes Earth Hour." - National Geographic

Here are some photos of the event at the Mall Of Asia:

"Let us join together to celebrate this shared quest to protect the planet and ensure human well-being. Let us use 60 minutes of darkness to help the world see the light."- Ban Ki-moon, United Nations Secretary-General

Hopefully, Earth Hour doesn't end at 9:31pm. Let us all go Beyond the Hour as we help contribute in our home's preservation.

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Earth Hour 2011: Go Beyond the Hour

Manila Ocean Park: Acquatica's Once Upon an Ocean, White Moon, and Liquid

2011-03-25T08:00:00.009+08:00

Note: This post doesn't include a tour of the Oceanarium. We''ll be visiting that next time together with the Hotel H20.

Last month, I posted a P99 Fountain Show Promo at the Philippines' first and only oceanarium, the Manila Ocean Park. So last Saturday, Mark and I paid a visit to see what's in store for us.

Upon arriving, we went straight to the Acquatica booth to claim our tickets. You just need to show the referral code sent to you thru SMS and pay P99, no more, no less. How cheap is that?

Since the show doesn't start till 6:30pm, we decided to go inside the mall and to the Sunset Quay to witness the magnificent sunset at Manila Bay. At first there were lots of clouds blocking the sun - which ruined a lot of my shots - but after a while, the sun showed itself to us. No time to waste, time to start shooting.

Once Upon an Ocean

After some snacks, we went back to the Acquatica theater for the show. I was surprised about the large number of people inside the theater - most of them coming from the tour around the Oceanarium. We were seated at the top part which was a bad idea because there was a line blocking my camera's view (as you can see in the photographs).

The show is entitled "Once Upon an Ocean". It is composed of live performers on the stage backed with amazing lights, pyrotechnics, laser, computer imaging, water mists and jets that can shoot water up to 40 meters high. They say that it can be compared to Sentosa's Musical fountain, or even better.

After some test runs, a harmony of lights, water, and music started to hypnotize our senses. Animated computer images of different sea creatures were projected on the building behind and on the water mists which greatly amused the audience especially the kids and kids at heart alike.

Here are some of the highlights of the show:

The show lasted for 30 minutes. Overall, the show impressed us with the amazing technology and artistry involved in producing a world class performance like this.

If you're looking for a party or a relaxing drink after a busy life in the city, Manila Ocean Park offers two interesting venues suited for that late night craving.

White Moon

White Moon is an outdoor bar that gives you a view of Manila Bay's sunset at dusk and great music coupled with a drink and scrumptious food - a perfect retreat from the busy life outside. This bar is hidden at the 2nd floor balcony of the park's main building. So if you're planning for a great time with your friends or loved ones, chill-out and unwind at White Moon.

Liquid Pool and Lounge

Liquid, Manila's Pool Party. Don't worry about dress codes. Here, you can wear bikinis and board shorts as you splash and party - Vegas style. Liquid brings you a unique clubbing experience with a bar, dance floor, and a pool all in one place

Click here to view the entire photo set.

Palawan: Coron, Puerto Princesa and El Nido

2011-03-21T16:29:00.014+08:00

I've been flying back home for four consecutive months already and it takes more than the word awesome to call this island province home. To me and Anthony, the first quarter of 2011 definitely belongs here.

We visited three of the most popular tourist destinations of the Philippines' last frontier in two installments: Coron in January then Puerto Princesa and El Nido in February to March.

We've had a grand time and yes, we are here to share with you our amazing travel to one of National Geographic's editors pick for 20 Best Trips of 2011... Palawan!

Coron

Visiting Coron was the most perfect way to start our year and celebrate Anthony's birthday. In this January 2011 trip, we picked Coron Island and the magnificent beaches in the islands around Malcapuya.

Mt. Tapyas (Day 1)
What about the most perfect way to start a tour? Seeing the map first -- from a bird's eye view. Upon our arrival in Coron town, we trekked Mt. Tapyas to have a quick view of what's in store for us and we were rewarded with the amazing panorama of the sun setting on the islands of Busuanga and Coron Bay.

Coron Island (Day 2)
Coron Island enchanted us with its stunning limestone formations, serene lakes, a hidden lagoon and amazing pockets of powdery white sand beaches. Nearby, we also snorkeled with lots of colorful fishes. It was a tour full of tranquil beauty and adventure!

Malcapuya Loop (Day 3)
On the contrary, visiting the islands around Malcapuya is a vacation within a vacation. It is a time when all we did was treat our eyes with the wonderful views of the islands, listen to the calming waves of the sea and bum all day around the powdery white sand beaches and hammocks of Malcapuya, Banana and Bulog Islands.

Dining
Came dining, Coron town didn't disappoint either. There are a handful of good restaurants in town. Three remarkable eating havens we've been to are Village Lodge, La Sirenetta and our favorite Bistro Coron.

Puerto Princesa and El Nido

We flew to Puerto Princesa City a month after Coron. This time, we were with our friends. We headed straight to the Underground River upon our arrival then drove our way to El Nido town in the evening after the tour. We spent two full days in El Nido before we came back to the city to let our friends fly back to Manila and spend the rest of the week in my laid-back hometown, Puerto Princesa.

Our mainland tour can be classified into two parts:
Part 1 - Underground River (Day 1) and El Nido (Days 2 and 3) with friends; and
Part 2 - more of Puerto Princesa City (Days 4, 5, 6 and 7) with just me and Anthony.

Puerto Princesa (Day 1)

Underground River
Underground River on the first day was a grand entrance to visit Palawan mainland. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an entrant into the contest for the New 7 Wonders of Nature. Here we were welcomed by azure, crystal clear waters and towering limestone karst mountains upon entering the famous subterranean watercourse. Inside, stalactites, stalagmites and all manner of stunning cave formations abound.

El Nido (Days 2 and 3)

El Nido Tour A (Day 2)
On our second day, we visited the famous (small, big and secret) lagoons around Miniloc; did some snorkeling along the nearby Simizu Island; and walked and swam around pulvoron-like quality golden sands of Seven Commandos Beach in El Nido. This tour is collectively known as El Nido Tour A.

El Nido Tour C (Day 3)
El Nido Tour C is what was next on our itinerary. It was comprised of a visit to the 'then' Secret Beach in Matinloc Island; Our Lady of Matinloc Shrine (built by the family of our host friend Michelle); Tapuitan beach (which they also own), and our very own version of an extra challenging visit of the Hidden Beach (also in Matinloc Island). At the end of the tour, we were treated to a panoramic view from the golden sands of Helicopter Beach.

Puerto Princesa (Days 4, 5, 6 and 7)

After our friends left for Manila, we were drained, exhausted and literally dead for a day. We spent a day at the hotel sleeping -- timely to rejuvenate for rewarding experiences of the City Tour, Honda Bay and (yes, this deserves a mention and a blog entry of it's own --) Microtel Palawan.

Puerto Princesa City Tour (Day 5)
After a day of rejuvenation, we woke up to a happier, invigorated perspective. We started coming back to our energetic selves by seeing the less popular tourist attractions within Puerto Princesa City, which can usually be grouped and done in a day. Blogs and travel companies collectively refer to these attractions as the City Tour. Some of what we visited and Anthony wandered around by himself when I went to see my family were -- Mitra's Ranch, Baker's Hill, Immaculate Conception Cathedral and Baybay (Puerto Princesa's version of Manila's Baywalk).

Honda Bay (Day 6)
On the morning of our sixth day, we headed to Sta. Lourdes Wharf to go island hopping in Honda Bay. We snorkeled around Pambato Reef, walked along the stretch of Snake Island and took bountiful underwater pictures and videos with the fishes at Pandan Island.

Microtel Palawan (Days 6 and 7)
After the Honda Bay tour, we checked in at Microtel Palawan where we spent our last night. It was the only time we really got to relax -- and just enjoy the beachfront scenery, the freshwater pool (giving our eyes a break from seawater swimming) and the resort in general.

Dining
There abounds a lot of options for food lovers in Puerto Princesa. During our tour, we chose to eat in the famous Kalui, which offers fresh seafood and homey ambience; Leslie's Palawan -- Leslie's Tagaytay's version in Puerto Princesa with same quality food and a new, grander look less Tagaytay's chilly climate; and Bilao's Palayok, my most favorite Filipino restaurant in my hometown, which is incidentally owned and managed by a former classmate.

Traveling to and in Palawan varies from comfortable as is in Puerto Princesa City and Coron and very rough, exhausting or challenging like in farther islands within Calamianes (Busuanga), Sabang (Underground River), and El Nido. But I assure you 101% that these destinations are not famous for nothing. They are all worth seeing. Palawan is a piece of paradise that may never cease in one's best travel stories.

That's just a glimpse of what happened in Palawan. We will blog more about each tourist destination, restaurant and every interesting detail of our experiences in the coming posts. We'll try to cover everything Palawan in the next few weeks so stay tuned!

Earth Hour 2011: Go Beyond the Hour

2011-03-21T08:54:00.010+08:00

Now on its 4th year, Earth Hour is a global event held every last Saturday of March as an act to raise awareness among individuals and take action about the seemingly alarming effects of climate change. In this event, every household and businesses are asked to switch of non-essential lights for an hour. This yearly occasion was initiated by the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) last 2007 in Sydney, Australia with a participation of around 2.2 million residents.

For the past two years, the Philippines topped the Earth hour with a 10-million and 15-million Filipinos who switched-off in 2009 and 2010 respectively. But this year, Earth Hour doesn't only last for an hour, but citizens around the globe are asked to Go Beyond the Hour.

Beyond the Hour is another step of the Earth Hour organization, aiming to bring people to commit to an action in protecting the earth by placing pledges to their website www.beyondthehour.org or by filling in the form below.

“Everyone has the power to make change: a CEO can change an organisation, a 7-year-old can change a classroom, and a president can change a country. What we are announcing today is just the beginning. It is through the collective action of individuals and organisations that we will be able to truly make a difference, which is why we are urging people across the planet to share how they will go beyond the hour this Earth Hour."

- Andy Ridley, Earth Hour Co-Founder and Executive Director

This year-long advocacy asks each individual to contribute and make a change, big or small, to help in sustaining the planet.

Earth Hour is just the beginning, so at 8:30PM on March 26, 2011, lights will be turned off but after and hour, when the lights go back on, it's time to Go Beyond the Hour. How can you help save the earth?

2nd Philippine International Pyromusical Competition - Philippines

2011-03-16T10:31:00.002+08:00

After Australia's dazzling show, the winners of the 2nd Philippine International Pyromusical Competition were announced.

2nd Place: Japan

1st Place: United Kingdom

Champion: China

Too bad we missed Japan and China's presentation.

I was extremely excited for Team Philippines' (Platinum Fireworks) turn because their presentation last year was phenomenal. Thank goodness they didn't disappoint everyone.

Fireworks started firing at our right side during the countdown then the sky was painted with bright, amazing, brilliant bursts of color.

The music selection was perfect and timed excellently with each fire in the sky.

Everyone was shouting and cheering for the Philippines. The whole crowd just went crazy! And just when we thought it was all over, more shots were fired.

During the finale, we were surrounded by fireworks coming from the barge on the water and from the two bridges connected to the Mall of Asia.

Watch the videos to see Platinum Fireworks' truly magnificent show.

I can't wait for next year!

To view the entire picture set, please visit my flickr photostream.

2nd Philippine International Pyromusical Competition

2nd Philippine International Pyromusical Competition - Portugal and UK (Part 1)

2nd Philippine International Pyromusical Competition - Portugal and UK (Part 2)

2nd Philippine International Pyromusical Competition - Australia

2011-03-15T13:38:00.000+08:00

March 12, 2011, the final day of the 2nd Philippine International Pyromusical Competition and again thanks to my sister, we got free VIP tickets.

The crowd doubled or even tripled on this last day of the competition unlike the previous time. Maybe because it was everybody's final chance to watch amazing fireworks and of course, witness Team Philippines' grand finale.

7:40pm, Australia lit up the sky with dazzling fireworks synchronized with mostly, instrumental music which tickled the senses of everyone watching.

The wind was strong that night which made it difficult to capture the firework's amazing forms.

Mark took a vid of the entire show:

But hold on, the best is yet to come.

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2nd Philippine International Pyromusical Competition

2nd Philippine International Pyromusical Competition - Portugal and UK (Part 1)

2nd Philippine International Pyromusical Competition - Portugal and UK (Part 2)

2nd Philippine International Pyromusical Competition - Philippines

Cirque du Soleil in Manila

2011-03-08T20:36:00.010+08:00

Experience the magic of Cirque du Soleil as they visit Manila for the very first time. The company will stage Varekai on June 23 to July 10, 2011 inside the Grand Chapiteau Tent at the Quirino Grandstand, Rizal Park.

Varekai, which means "wherever", is about the story of Icarus who falls into a lush forest, in which the magical creatures teach him to rediscover life and leran how to fly again.

The show will mesmerize you with performances like the triple trapeze, hand-balancing, aerial straps, body skating, Russian wings, and more acrobatic acts.

Russian Swings

Flight of Icarus

Aerial Hoop

Be sure to catch this once in a lifetime spectacle on the following dates:

June 23, 2011 (Thu) 7:30pm

June 24, 2011 (Fri) 3:30pm

June 24, 2011 (Fri) 7:30pm

June 25, 2011 (Sat) 3:30pm

June 25, 2011 (Sat) 7:30pm

June 26, 2011 (Sun) 1:00pm

June 26, 2011 (Sun) 5:00pm

June 28, 2011 (Tue) 7:30pm

June 29, 2011 (Wed) 7:30pm

June 30, 2011 (Thu) 7:30pm

July 2, 2011 (Sat) 3:30pm

July 2, 2011 (Sat) 7:30pm

July 3, 2011 (Sun) 1:00pm

July 3, 2011 (Sun) 5:00pm

July 5, 2011 (Tue) 7:30pm

July 6, 2011 (Wed) 7:30pm

July 7, 2011 (Thu) 7:30pm

July 8, 2011 (Fri) 7:30pm

July 9, 2011 (Sat) 3:30pm

July 9, 2011 (Sat) 7:30pm

July 10, 2011 (Sun) 1:00pm

July 10, 2011 (Sun) 5:00pm

For tickets, visit www.cirquedusoleil.com or hoopla.ph.

Manila Ocean Park: P99 Fountain Show Promo

2011-02-28T13:30:00.000+08:00

Manila Ocean Park is offering a P99 only promo for their Musical Fountain Show. That's a 67% off from the show's regular price of P300!

The show starts at 6:30pm every Monday-Sunday including Holidays. Promo runs from January 24 - March 31, 2011.

Promo Mechanics:

There are two options - (1) via a promo code sent through SMS and (2) Online Payment using a credit card.

1. SMS Promo Code - you just need to register online by visiting www.manilaoceanpark.com and wait for a text message containing your promo code. One promo code per number/person. You just need to present the sms promo coupon at the Acquatica Ticket Booth and pay only P99.

2. Online Paymet - after a successful registration, you can now purchase a maximum of five (5) tickets per transaction. An e-mail confirmation with the promo codes will be sent to your registered e-mail address. All you need to do is print the e-mail and present it to the Reservations Office together with a valid ID to claim your tickets.

We tried the first option and got the sms confirmation instantly. Now we just need to set the date when to claim our tickets.

Updates soon!

DiCAPac: Underwater Camera Case

2011-02-26T13:06:00.001+08:00

Who wouldn't want a picture of the amazing life under the sea - corals, schools of fish - your friends, loved ones, or simply, yourself. But there is a problem, you only have a digicam (or DSLR) that isn't waterproof.

We've had this problem before (when we went to Coron) as I only have a DSLR, so taking pictures while on the beach and in the water became bothersome. Another problem: Sand might enter the camera and get on the mirror or worse, ruin the mechanism of the lens. So we've decided on buying a disposable and underwater camera and a cheap manual camera with a hard plastic case - both using a film.

Using a film camera is such a pain as the ASA and ISO needs to be perfect every time, not to mention developing, printing, and converting them to digital.

Fortunately, thanks to the internet (Woohoo!), I came across this website offering a line of products that will turn any camera waterproof.

DiCAPac is a company that provides you with a reasonably priced case that will fit into any camera that there is. They promise to give your camera protection so you can capture photographs in and out of the water. And oh, it floats too!

I bought one for my Casio Exlim EX-Z40 yesterday. The manual said that you have to test it before using to be sure that the product isn't defective, or else you can ask for a replacement. I placed a piece of tissue paper inside the case and sealed it before submerging it in water. I shook, sank, pressed the case for about five minutes then checked the tissue. And amazingly, it was still dry.

Inside the box is the case and a lanyard for convenient carrying.

Now I have to wait till we get to El Nido this Sunday to really put the case into the test. Hopefully it lives up to their claim or else I just wasted my P1350.00 for this piece of plastic.

I'll post my review about the case and the picture quality soon.

Palawan: Underground River and Bacuit Archipelago

2011-02-25T16:23:00.016+08:00

Sabang, Puerto Princesa City

I am from Puerto Princesa so to me, flying to Palawan is like getting on a bus to your home province. What I look forward to every time I board the plane is the comfort of home - lying on the couch the whole day watching cable, not thinking about the laundry, what I will have for breakfast, lunch or dinner, or having to worry about anything at all. Usually, that's what Palawan is all about for me. Going on a tour or to the beach is just a side trip.

This time it's different. I will be going there as a full-time tourist. I, together with Anthony and the rest of our friends will be touring the Underground River. After which, we will head to El Nido and it will be my first time (yes, you read that right) to set foot in the famous tourist destination so I am extra excited about flying to Palawan on Sunday.

A brief tell-tale about my El Nido excitement

This is what El Nido was like to me before Google and I became travel buddies:

Private. Luxurious. Overly expensive.

Therefore, I left my El Nido hopes to family members sponsoring the trip. Hehe. But thank God going there isn't as costly as I thought!

What I didn't know was -- El Nido is not really about the luxurious resorts costing hundreds of dollars a night. It is about the whole of Bacuit archipelago comprising 45 islands and islets, each with its own unique geological formations. For the budget conscious, there are reasonably priced accommodations and tours you can book in El Nido town. Thanks to Google I learned these things.

After this discovery and an impulsive booking, here we are 39 HOURS away!

So here's what lies ahead...

Underground River, Puerto Princesa City

Bacuit Archipelago, El Nido

Wish us good weather and a lot of beautiful memories to share to all of you!

Diclaimer: I am not claiming ownership to any of the photos above. Clicking on a picture links to the original photo. If you own any picture posted above and you do not want it in this site, please notify the administrators so we can remove it immediately.

2nd Philippine International Pyromusical Competition - Portugal and UK (Part2)

2011-02-24T23:19:00.004+08:00

After a somewhat disappointing performance of Portugal, Mark and I waited anxiously for United Kingdom's turn. I had high expectations for them because they won the 1st Philippine International Pyromusical Competition.

Roy Macgregor-Esposo Espiritu, the Philippines' first and only bagpiper, played during intermission.

Moments later, UK lightened up the sky with incredible fireworks. We were in awe during the entire performance.

The music synchronized perfectly with each fire and burst in the sky.

Then Katy Perry's "Firework" played and the audience went crazy.

The music selection was completely dramatic.

Amazing show from Jubilee Fireworks of the United Kingdom.

For more information, visit www.pyrophilippines.com.

2nd Philippine International Pyromusical Competition - Australia

2nd Philippine International Pyromusical Competition - Philippines

2nd Philippine International Pyromusical Competition - Portugal and UK (Part1)

2nd Philippine International Pyromusical Compeititon

2nd Philippine International Pyromusical Competition - Portugal and UK (Part1)

2011-02-22T21:45:00.029+08:00

Last Saturday, Mark and I went to the Mall of Asia to watch this yearly fireworks spectacle. The countries scheduled to fire are Portugal and, last year's winner, the United Kingdom.

At around 4:30pm, we braved the traffic going to the Mall of Asia. It took us about 40 minutes just to reach Magallanes coming from Mandaluyong. Finally, after 1 hour and a half, we arrived at MOA. I was worried about the parking because based from my previous experiences, you have 1 out of 50 chances of getting a parking space. But luckily, the organizers saw this coming so they turned empty lots into temporary parking areas and charged a flat rate of P30. Not bad at all. We don't mind walking for about 10-15 minutes to reach the venue. Nothing would stop me from going as I'm so fascinated with fireworks since I was a kid.

We got free VIP tickets thanks to my sister. The VIP area is situated around the fountain inside San Miguel by the Bay. It's a free seating so better arrive early for a great view of the fireworks. After picking a spot, I prepared my tripod and adjusted the settings of my Nikon D40 to capture the fire in the sky.

Tip: In shooting fireworks, it is a must to have a tripod or else you need to have very still hands to capture great shots.

Fire dancers performed to entertain the crowd while waiting for the show to start. The weather was perfect - no rain, clear sky, and cool breeze coming from Manila Bay.

Then the countdown began, it's show time.

"Eye of the Tiger" played and fireworks started shooting off into the sky. Most of the fireworks were ok and it bored us even more until seconds before the big finale.

Here are some shots of Portugal's fireworks:

We were disappointed with Portugal's presentation, maybe because of their choice of music - It lacked that feeling of excitement.
You can view the rest of the photo set in my flickr page.
For more information, visit www. pyrophilippines.com.

Related Post:2nd Philippine International Pyromusical Competition2nd Philippine International Pyromusical Competition - Portugal and UK (Part2)2nd Philippine International Pyromusical Competition - Australia2nd Philippine International Pyromusical Competition - Philippines

RENT in Manila 2011

2011-02-21T21:56:00.023+08:00

The award-winning rock musical RENT is back in Manila for its 3rd Major production. Jonathan Larson's masterpiece will run from February 12 to March 6, 2011, every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza.

Based on Puccini's La Bohème, RENT is set in New York's East Village and centers on a group of young struggling artists and individuals fighting the battle of life, HIV and AIDS. While trying to celebrate life, the characters face hunger, love and death.

I had an opportunity to watch one of my favorite musicals again yesterday. The show was a sellout with the incredible performances of the cast. Gian Magdangal starred the role of Roger Davis, a once successful, now struggling musician ex-drug addict. I was lucky to watch him in last year's production of RENT and I can say that he really did own the role. Fredison Lo as Mark Cohen, the aspiring filmmaker and ex-lover of Maureen. Carla Guevara-Laforteza is Maureen Johnson the bisexual performance artist and current girlfriend of the lesbian lawyer Joanne Jefferson, played by Jenny Villegas. OJ Mariano took the role of Tom Collins, the partner of the drag queen Angel Dumott Schunard portrayed by Job Bautista. Job's performance this year is way better than the previous year's run. He entertained the audience with his incredible dance moves silly antics.

As for Mimi Marquez, the HIV positive, drug addict, club dancer from the Cat Scratch Club, Ciara Sotto undoubtedly lacked passion for the role. From the time she entered the stage, even an untrained eyes of the audience will notice that she is uncomfortable performing this very sexy role, which I think contributed in hindering her vocal abilities. But props to her during the pole dance in "Out Tonight". God that girl knows how to climb and make love to a pole. Alternating for this role is Gian's real-life girlfriend, Sheree Bautista.

As for the rest of the company, applause for their incredible voices and versatility in handling different roles for the entire duration of the show.

My favorite parts were "Take Me or Leave Me" and Maureen's "Jump Over the Moon" because of Carla's comedic and highly entertaining performance. Can I hear you Mooooo?

The last 1/3 of the show is very emotional, well for me. As Ciara started singing, my insides shook and before I knew it, I'm crying. Thanks to my friends for laughing at me and Mark for wiping the tears off my cheeks.

The theater and stage was relatively small but the production maximized the space and did an amazing job on the set. For the sound/audio, they should replace the lapel microphones because sometimes you can hear static due to the high frequency of the actor's voice.

To wrap it up, Manila's take on RENT was a success but there is still room for improvement. Especially for the Ciara and Fred, who appeared to be a boy-next-door type of character and lacked the malaise of Mark Cohen.

Don't miss the Tony Award Winning Musical. Visit www.ticketworld.com.ph or contact 9 Works Theatrical for more information and tickets.

2nd Philippine International Pyromusical Competition

2011-02-11T00:46:00.018+08:00

And it's here again! Watch the world's most prestigious names in pyrotechnics in the 2nd Philippine International Pyromusical Competition held at the Seaside Boulevard behind the Mall of Asia.

The world's best teams will showcase their artistry and technical skill by shooting dazzling fireworks, synchronized with heart-pumping musical scores that will make you go "WOW!".

The event will be on for five consecutive Saturdays, featuring:

Febuary 12

South Korea - 7:00pm

Spain - 8:00pm

Febuary 19

Portugal - 7:00pm

United Kingdom - 8:00pm

Febuary 26

China - 7:00pm

France - 8:00pm

March 5:

Japan - 7:00pm

Canada - 8:00pm

March 12

Australia - 7:00pm

Philippines - 8:00pm

TICKET PRICES:VIP (w/ dinner) P1,500 VIP P500 GOLD P200 SILVER P100You can get your tickets at Ticketworld, Ticketnet, and SM Tickets.

Visit www.pyrophilippines.com for more information.

See you there!

2nd Philippine International Pyromusical Competition - Portugal and UK (Part1)

2nd Philippine International Pyromusical Competition - Portugal and UK (Part2)

2nd Philippine International Pyromusical Competition - Australia

2nd Philippine International Pyromusical Competition - Philippines

It's Wanderful!

3rd Philippine International Pyromusical Competition

Puerto Princesa Underground River among New 7 Wonders of Nature

I am so excited and happy to announce that the Philippine-famous Puerto Princesa Underground River is now bound to be declared and known worldwide as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature!

Puerto Princesa Underground River among New 7 Wonders of Nature

Quick Facts: Puerto Princesa Underground River

Puerto Princesa Underground River inscribed to UNESCO List of Natural World Heritage Sites

Puerto Princesa Underground River and its effect on Philippine Tourism

Mabuhay ang New 7 Wonders of Nature!

Mabuhay ang Puerto Princesa!Mabuhay ang Palawan!Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!

Mabuhay ang Puerto Princesa!

Mabuhay ang Palawan!

Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!

Earth Hour 2011

Manila Ocean Park: Acquatica's Once Upon an Ocean, White Moon, and Liquid

Palawan: Coron, Puerto Princesa and El Nido

Earth Hour 2011: Go Beyond the Hour

2nd Philippine International Pyromusical Competition - Philippines

2nd Philippine International Pyromusical Competition - Australia

Cirque du Soleil in Manila

Manila Ocean Park: P99 Fountain Show Promo

DiCAPac: Underwater Camera Case

Palawan: Underground River and Bacuit Archipelago

2nd Philippine International Pyromusical Competition - Portugal and UK (Part2)

2nd Philippine International Pyromusical Competition - Portugal and UK (Part1)

RENT in Manila 2011

2nd Philippine International Pyromusical Competition

Mabuhay ang Puerto Princesa!
Mabuhay ang Palawan!
Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!