25 Jun 2011
in Camarines Sur, Travel
Someone was inviting me to take a cross country train ride in some part of Asia, I forget who that is now, but then somehow, images of dining on a train just persist in my mind. Maybe its from watching too many movies with trains, who knows?
I have about a thousand images culled from Asian movies with trains, but the titles are elusive, and I am left with no other movie title in mind but a Hollywood one – one that I can’t seem to forget because people tease me about my e-cigarette.
June 29 will be the inaugural run of the Bicol Express Naga-Manila and Vic Nierva just won’t stop teasing us with photos of the train… and now the dining car. Too bad, there would be no day trips until later this year so we can actually experience “dining” during breakfast and lunch. But until then, these photos will suffice.
More
25 Jun 2011
in Camarines Sur, Travel
I count, looking up the gray sky, in the fingers of my two hands the number of godchildren I have the moment I read a text message asking me if I can attend a baptism this coming Sunday. I think to myself, “I’m supposed to be leaving for Manila this Thursday,” followed swiftly by a question I keep asking myself, “Why oh why can’t I just leave for Manila soonish?”
I of course have this urge to say No I can’t but my own mother (God bless her soul) told me to never say no to being godparent, it is a blessing. To say no is bad luck, if not a curse.
More
24 Jun 2011
in Camarines Sur, Wharf Galley Rock Cafe
Because Wharf Galley is not just a rock cafe….
We are premiere-ing with a Nick Olanka night (also known as the Angeli Bayani night), with his short film, Lunes ng Hapis (Cast: Angeli Bayani and McDo Bolano)
Lunes ng Hapis
Nick Olanka, UPFI
TRT: 12min.
Genre: Fiction
Theme: War and peace
Virgie and Ismael are lovers in the midst of a military offensive in Sta, Filomena; Virgia is a teacher of a local elementary school and Ismael is a captain of the troop assigned to infiltrate the rebels. Every monday, they meet and make love passionately and violently. One day, Virgie’s student Tikoy asks her to help find his missing father, Mang Lino, a rumoured rebel symphatizer. Events unfold and point to Ismael as being responsible for Mang Lino’s disappearance, because of this Virgie is overwhelmed by guilt. The next monday, as they make love, Virgie chooses between her love for Ismael and her love for her community.
More
23 Jun 2011
in Camarines Sur, Wharf Galley Rock Cafe
First off, we will be releasing our menu next week (oh it isn’t July yet next week) Tentatively, June 29, Wednesday. Photography was done by Gouldian Colours and lay out by Pencionados DesignPlus. The highlight of this menu would be the release of Wharf Galley’s cocktails by Don Topetito.
July 4 would mark the start of Cinema Mondays at Wharf Galley. And of course, who else would be featured that night but the great Nick Olanka. So July 4 is officially Nick Olanka night. We are showing his Lunes ng Hapis short and his full-length Cinemalaya film Huling Araw ng Linggo. Watch out for more films from Dada Docot, Ray Gibraltar, Raymond Lee, Sigrid Bernardo, Roxlee and other friends. This is going to be exciting!
More
22 Jun 2011
in Camarines Sur, Music, Wharf Galley Rock Cafe Tags: Avenue Square, Bicol, Magsaysay Avenue, metal, Metal Night, music, Naga City, Wharf Galley Rock Cafe
My motto this past month is “No to musical discrimination,” and because of that, I agreed to hold the first ever metal night in Wharf Galley Avenue Square. I had really wanted to go and see it for myself, just to see what the fuss is all about. I wanted to see what this “mosh pit” they all talk about and see how that goes, with men and women in it. I wanted to see a big crowd of black-wearing people and feel their energy. On the personal side, I had wanted to look after what I need to protect, my people, my property, or at the very least, my name. But I was home sick and was only updated via phone.
More
11 Jun 2011
in Camarines Sur, Family
Ever since the local government of Pili, Camarines Sur implemented the no-public-buses-passing-through-the-main-road-of-the-town-proper-from-8am-til-6pm-from-Mondays-through-Fridays ordinance, I have been re-acquainting myself with the road that goes to the baranggays of La Purisima and Curry, while on my way to catch the bus to Naga at the Pili Diversion Road.
One after-drizzle afternoon, while Lia and I were on our way to the bus stop at the diversion road, I finally had the chance to photograph Mt. Isarog.
More
09 Jun 2011
in Camarines Sur
Here is the schedule of events for Naga City’s 63rd Charter Anniversary. It’s quite fun, I must admit, and I have italicized the activities I plan to go to slash attend slash drop by for a quick peek, or something of that nature. Just one of the fun simple things I can do here, and I’m sure I can take Lia along and she will just love it.
I’ll introduce Lia to kinalas, something I do not know myself. Shoot me.
June 10
Dugo para sa Bayan (Blood Donation Drive)
Naga City People’s Hall, City Hall | 8:00AM – 5:00PM
GSM Barangay Night
Naga City People’s Hall, City Hall | 7:00PM
June 11
Public Presentation of Finalists, Pre-Judging and Judging of submitted designs for Pilgrimage City Landmark
Avenue Square Convention | 1:00PM – 5:00PM
GSM Youth Night – Independence Day Party
Naga City Hall grounds | 7:00PM
June 12
Walk, Run & Fun Fun Bitis para sa Altapresyon sagkod Diabetes – BABaD Hypertension and Diabetes Center
5K, 10K and 2K
Plaza Quezon | 5:00AM
113th Proclamation of Philippine Independence
Plaza Quezon | 7:00 – 9:00AM
More
31 May 2011
in Camarines Sur
Vic Nierva, colleague and friend of my brother at the Ateneo de Naga University, and my classmate in the Creative Writing graduate class I took under Charlson Ong at the University of the Philippines Diliman, posted some photos he took on the last test run of the much-awaited return of the Bicol Express, Ltd. With his permission, I am posting the beautiful photos here on my blog as something to look forward to. The inaugural run of the Bicol Express, Ltd. shall be on June 29th, Naga-Manila.
L-R: Karel Brouwers, President of Railways and Industrial Heritage Society of the Philippines, Inc. (RIHSPI); Paul de Quiros, Media Consultant of the Philippine National Railways (PNR); and Jaime Tiongson, RIHSPI Treasurer, on board the refurbished NR1, enjoying conversations on heritage-related topics.
The Naga-bound train chugging along the shores of Villabota, Gumaca, Quezon.
More
05 May 2011
in Albay, Camarines Sur, Travel, Travel Factor Tags: Albay, Bicol, Camarines Sur, Food Trip, travel, Travel Factor
And here we are, the Food Trip Bicol is finally pushing through! The first sked is slated for June 18-19. This is going to be one fantastic food feast!
See and taste what Bicol can offer in the culinary department.. from sinarapan to chili ice cream to laing pizza to pancit bato to laing to bicol express, toasted siopao, lomi, kinalas and all those pili goodies.
FOODTRIP Bicol
Jun 18-19, 2011
Albay and CamSur
Eat your way through Bicol in this awesome culinary tour! Rich flavors punctuated with chili peppers and redolent of coconut milk come to mind as we take you to the best restaurants of the Bicolandia region. Savor the delicate Sinarapan of Lake Buhi. Try Legazpi’s chili ice cream. You’ll even get to learn how to cook these wonderful dishes through cooking demos.
Bicol has never been this delicious. Experience Bicol, the Travel Factor way!
More
Previous Older Entries Next Newer Entries
Twitter
Flickr
YouTube
Facebook
RSS
