Filed under: WOK in LUZON | Tags: 4x4 jeep, Capas, Lahar, Lahar Canyons, Mount Pinatubo, mt pinatubo, Pinatubo 4x4, Pinatubo Crater Lake, Pinatubo packages, Tarlac
Pinatubo once rebellious scattering its wrath has now come of age and gracefully turned out to be refined and elegant.
Lahar-filled Saturday
2:00 AM. At a very ungodly hour, I was cramming packing my things for a trekking trip to the crater of Mt. Pinatubo. Two weeks before, I got a text message from a good friend inviting me to join her and her officemates for a trek to the crater lake. I was apprehensive at first because I will be joining a group of ten whom I will be meeting for the first time but I told myself that this year will be all about new experiences – and meeting new people is one of them. I gave it a shot and off I went to our meeting place in Ortigas. The fast-food chain, which is the tour organizer’s unofficial meeting place was jampacked with enthusiastic climbers – mostly amateurs like me. It was the Saturday of a long weekend so it was expected that a lot will be joining the trip. Two tourist buses brought the group to the jump-off point in Capas, Tarlac where our adventure will begin.
Lahar dirt road going to the foot of the Mountain.
Filed under: SIDETRIP, WOK in LUZON | Tags: Chinese New Year 2012, FGS Philippines, Fo Guang Shan Mabuhay Temple, Year of the Dragon
Celebrating Chinese New Year at the Fo Guang Shan Mabuhay Temple
I have never attended a Chinese New Year celebration before. So when my friends invited me to join them at the Fo Guang Sha Mabuhay Temple in Manila for the Chinese New Year festivities I made sure not to pass out.
The Fo Guang Shan International Buddhist Center was founded by Venerable Master Hsing Yun whose main philosophy was to promote Humanistic Buddhism which actualizes the values of altruism, joyfulness and universality. Their main headquarters is in Taiwan but they also have temples in the Philippines (Manila, Cebu, Ilo-Ilo and Bacolod).
The main shrine at the Fo Guang Shan Mabuhay Temple in Manila.
The theme of this year’s Chinese New Year Celebration is the cultivation of the mind. The FGS Mabuhay temple has prepared various activities to those who attended the special celebration. At the temple reception area, I was given a sheet of paper with four blank circles and I was told that I have to visit the booths inside to complete four stamps to get a special prize. The activities included Prostrating to the Thousand Buddha, Sutra Transcription, memorizing three statements from Ven. Master Hsing Yun’s calligraphy exhibit and taking part during the incense offering. Being a first timer I found these activities very engaging since this is something new to me. I was very enthusiastic to complete my stamps and I got a special golden envelope with Chinese prayers inside. I have no idea what it was for but it must be a lucky charm!
Filed under: THOUGHTS OF KULOT | Tags: department of tourism camapaign 2012, its more fun in the philippines, one for fun, ramon jimenez
After months of waiting, the Department of Tourism finally launched its new campaign with the tagline “Its More Fun in the Philippines” which I think is better from its predecessor – Kay Ganda.
It's MORE fun in the Philippines logo. Notice the banig (weaved) pattern of the Philippine map.
I have high respect for the advertising industry of our country most especially to the ad agency (BBDO) who came up with this campaign. I know how painstaking it is to come up with a BIG idea that will be easily accepted by the public. In every campaign there will always be bashers & haters but I think DOT Secretary Ramon Jimenez was right when he said that this campaign is actually “a people’s campaign.” Let’s stop hating and looking for its flaws — instead, why don’t we just embrace it as our own and start promoting our country the best way we could. Remember that the campaign is still new and I am optimistic that the creative agency has a lot of succeeding plans for it. It still has to go a long way before we could tell if it was successful (foreign arrivals in the country). But for now, all we can do is support the campaign and let the world know why it is MORE fun in the Philippines. As DOT Secretary Jimenez said in a TV interview (State of the Nation):
“Believe in the beauty of your country. Sell it at every turn. Sell it on Facebook, on Twitter, on Multiply. Talk about your country because we deserve a visit from the world.”
Days after the launch, different versions/meme of the campaign came out and became viral on Facebook and Twitter. I am joining the #itsmorefuninthephilippine’s bandwagon and I created my own copy but still similar to the actual campaign/ads. Enjoy!
Finding your way out. More fun in the Philippines. (Photo: Cave Connection, Sagada, Mountain Province)
Looking back at my year-end post last year, I realized how much I travelled the previous year compared this 2011. I could say that 2010 was the best year for my blog so far with the number of places I’ve been to and with the opportunities that came along the way. But does that mean 2011 was a flop? I don’t think so. Maybe I just lost inspiration and the enthusiasm to blog more this year – breaking my 2011 resolution. But I promise to myself and to those who regularly visit my blog that 2012 will be better! I will update all my backlog posts and the Walks of Kulot will get back on track. More exciting adventures along the way, more people to meet and amazing experiences to blog about!
As we bid goodbye to the year that was, here are 11 highlights of 2011 that I am grateful for (Some of it I haven’t blogged about):
11. Taal Trek
Got the chance to trek to the crater of Taal volcano. Weeks after our visit, tourists were banned from going to the place because of the eruption warning. Lucky us!
Click on this link, to read post about Taal.
Horse back riding to the crater of the lake.
The Taal Volcano crater
Filed under: SIDETRIP | Tags: Ayala Triangle, Christmas 2012, Makati City, Spectacular Spectrum, Symphony of Lights
Spectacular Spectrum at the Ayala Triangle
On its second year, the Symphony of Lights at the Ayala Triangle is a spectacle not to be missed this holiday season. This year’s theme is called Spectacular Spectrum which features thousands of colorful Christmas lights perfectly synced to the tune of famous Christmas songs like Jingle Bell Rock, Last Christmas and All I Want for Christmas is You. My favorite part was when the tune of Winter Wonderland was played and white Christmas lights and falling LED lights lit up the trees. It was really a visual spectacle which left me in awe.
The inflatable star.
