Misua Co for the soul

Misua Co

Misua soup was the very first edible food I cooked when I was about 11 years old. The ingredients were "gathered" from my grandmother’s sari-sari store and cooked at the backyard using my cooking set made of clay. I remember how my playmates and I got so excited while I sautéed the garlic and onions, and while the soup was simmering, we almost burned down our makeshift tent. I ended up with burned bangs and one girlfriend with a nasty burn on her arm. Misua is my favorite cold weather soup...it’s a no-fuss soup, fast and easy to prepare and cheap, too. And I’m still being teased at home that my specialty is Misua Soup with sardines, usually with a side comment that the fire station should be alerted when I’m cooking misua.:D

Admittedly, one misua that is better than mine is Mann Hann’s Misua Co---the best-tasting misua I’ve ever had. I can live on Misua Co---no kidding! It’s light, simple and tasty and doesn’t hurt the wallet (P145/bowl for 2 persons). Misua Co has ground pork, mushrooms and some leaf I don’t recognize (I’ll ask the next time I’m in Mann Hann). The Mann Hann I frequent are:

Mann Hann @ Lower Ground Level, Bldg A, SM-Megamall, Mandaluyong City
Mann Hann @ 2nd Floor, Market-Market, Global City, Taguig

almost gone :D

If you're interested in my "girl scout" version of Misua, here it is:

saute garlic, onion and tomatoes

tip from my mother: to extract the flavor, make sure tomatoes are thoroughly cooked

add sardines (in tomato sauce)

my tip: you can mix it gently or mash sardines if it's one of those days :D

let it simmer

option: ground pork loin instead of sardines

add water and bring to boil

add a dash of black pepper and mix in the misua noodles

my tip: misua absorbs water so its better to add a bit more water; i tend to add too much water that you can drown in my soup :D

salt to taste

option: a raw, beated egg can be added

garnish with spring onions

serve hot

Misua Co has dried mushrooms, ground pork, scallops and probably spinach. Bon Appetit!

Litratong Pinoy: Dalampasigan (beach, sea shore)

dalampasigan ng Santiago Bay, Camotes Island

Napakaraming magagandang dalampasigan sa buong Pilipinas na umaakit ng mga turista galing sa iba’t-ibang dako ng mundo. Ang Pilipinas ay kasing–lawak lamang ng Arizona ngunit ang ating baybayin ay may haba ng 36,289 kilometro, isa sa pinakamahaba sa buong planeta, at pangatlo pagkatapos ng Canada at Indonesia. Ang United States ay meron lamang 19,924 kilometrong baybayin.

Iba’t-iba ang makikitang dalampasigan sa ating 7,107 na kapuluan. Merong mabato, may mga kabibi at sigay, ang iba ay merong mala-pulbong puting buhangin, at may kulay asul at berdeng karagatan. Sa kasamaang-palad, ang ilan nating baybayin ay nagiging marumi na dahil na rin sa kapabayaan ng bawat isa. Isa sa ating dapat ikabahala ay ang lumulubhang polusyon sa ating mga bakawan kung saan nangitngitlog ang mga isda at iba pang lamang-dagat.

Ang pamahalaan, kasama ng mga komunidad na naninirahan sa tabing-dagat ay kailangan magtulong-tulong sa maayos na pamamahala ng ating mga baybayin upang masugpo ang mga naglalahong dalampasigan at masagip ang ating mga coral reef at iba pang laman-dagat para sa susunod na henerasyon.

tanaw ang dalampasigan sa Samal Island

dalampasigan ng Talicud Island, Davao del Norte

dalampasigan ng Lu-Li (lulubog-lilitaw) Island, Honda Bay

Spectacular sea shores are abundant in the Philippines. Sublime beaches attract tourists from all over the world. Though the Philippines is roughly the same size as Arizona in total area, it has 36,289 kilometers of coastline, one of the longest combined coastlines in the planet (third after Canada and Indonesia). The United States, in comparison, has only 19,924 kilometers of coastline.

Our 7,107 islands have varying coastlines. Some are rocky, some are adorned with pebbles and shells, and some have powdery white sand, with blue-green, crystal waters. Unfortunately, some coastal waters are becoming dangerously dirty. One of our current environmental concerns is the escalating pollution of coastal mangrove swamps, the breeding grounds of fish and other marine life. Not to mention the trash people left behind.

The government, with the support of communities living in coastal areas, should be serious in coastal management to stop the fast disappearing shore-lines, and preserve our coral reefs and other marine ecosystems for future generations.

dalampasigan sa Subic, Zambales

dalampasigan sa White Rock, Zambales

For more photos, please visit Litratong Pinoy.

Babe in the woods

I'm an avid fan of a TV series Law & Order- Special Victims Unit. Special Victims Unit is a unit of NYPD that deals with sexually-related crimes such as rape and murder, kidnapping, pedophilia, among others. Here, we have the Women's Desk at every police station that investigates crimes against women and children. There's also the DSWD and a number of NGO's who help women and children who are victims of abuses. But sometimes, I wonder if the government and all of us, ordinary citizens, are doing enough to help victims of child abuse. Shouldn't we work on the prevention rather than after the crime has been committed?

A few months ago, a local TV network showed a story of 2 sisters who were sexually abused by their own father. The eldest sister was raped when she was 12 and it went on for 5 years. At times when the eldest daughter refused the father's advances, he would punish the younger brother by tying him up and giving him electric shocks. How sick is that???? Then the younger sister was also sexually assaulted by their father. It was only when the older sister sought the help of their aunt that the animal was arrested. The mother, a laundrywoman, was allegedly clueless to the abuses on her children. I couldn't help but get angry at the mother for her failure to protect her son from physical abuse and her daughters from her pervert-husband. But most of all, I was enraged at the father who instead of being a protector, was the predator who preyed on his young children.

my friend Rey with Gawad Kalinga kids

I’m not advocating death penalty because the Philippine justice system is so imperfect. But with criminals like fathers who rape their own children, pedophiles who brutalize children, adults who kidnap children and use them as pawns for their illegal activities, bullies who enjoy degrading children, I wish I’m Jane Bond---licensed to kill!

Aside from sexual abuse, there are a number of hazards that face Filipino children today. Physical, emotional and psychological abuses, emotional and physical neglect, with more than a million children are estimated to live in the streets, begging for food and often engaging in criminal activity. More than 3 million children work under grueling conditions, in spite of legislation outlawing child labor. Children are also at the crossfire of armed conflicts in some parts of the country.

Last week, the story of a 7-year old girl from Cavite was all over the news. She was rushed to the hospital after her own grandmother had beaten her. The cruelty had been going on for months, according to the girl’s 10-year old sister. Her hands and knees were swollen from being hammered by the grandmother [with a hammer]; her leg was burned by a hot flat iron, her body was full of welts. The girl is a daughter of an OFW and was entrusted to the grandmother when the mother left to work abroad. But instead of taking care of her, the grandmother from hell vented her problems on the helpless girl. I hope the evil woman rots in prison!

Sagip kids at Gawad Kalinga

I find it hard to understand why there are people who abuse children. Studies say its poverty, drug addiction, and other socio-economic conditions. This problem is not confined to a third world country like the Philippines---even rich countries have abused children. Reality is, there are really sick people out there, like the Austrian man who held his daughter captive in his own cellar for 24 years and had children with her.

There are parents who confuse discipline and child abuse. Sometimes physical punishment can go too far, and crosses the line from being ‘reasonable’ and ‘moderate’ and causes a child’s body to be injured (from mild bruising to death). Corporal punishment is permissible in our culture that sometimes we forget that children get humiliated, too. I was once a child, so I know that striking a child in anger humiliates and frightens him/her and it never solves underlying problems. When we remind ourselves that it is against the law to hit or hurt an adult---why can it be okay to do the same to a child who is smaller and vulnerable? It helps to put ourselves in the child’s shoes, and think about what it would feel like. When you’re about to strike your kid, ask yourself:

- Would I like someone to do this to me?
- Will this really make a difference to the kid’s behavior?
- Am I letting go of my own frustrations on my child?

I hope parents [and educators] realize that there are more effective parenting and disciplinary strategies beside corporal punishment. Let's all make a conscious effort to uplift the situation of children, and please don’t look the other way when you see an abused child---report the abuser to authorities. Let’s give them the love, nurture, and respect that they deserve...after all, children didn't ask to be born.

Lasang Pinoy-Sundays: Soup

Ted's La Paz Batchoy at SM-Bacolod

A hot, steaming bowl of soup is comforting on rainy days like what we've been having for the past few weeks. Like the traditional chicken soup that has been regarded as a cold remedy for centuries, the Ilonggos’ La Paz Batchoy has been giving more than comfort to Filipinos. Friends go to the local batchoyan to eat and bond, families get together after an afternoon siesta to share this filling noodle soup. Although we enjoy this noodle soup in the summer as well, the craving for something hot during rainy days always leads me to good old Batchoy.

There has been scientific evidence that hot liquids in general can be soothing, if only because they require you to slow down and sip patiently in order to consume them without spilling and scalding yourself. I believe Batchoy has healing powers, not only for the body, but also for the soul…because a bowl of what you fancy does you good.:D

Batchoy or Ba-chui, meaning “pieces of meat”, is a noodle soup, possibly concocted by Chinese immigrants and made famous in a town called La Paz, in Iloilo province. Miki or round noodles is used, mixed with stir-fried pork innards, shrimps, chicken breast or beef loin, beef and shrimp broth, topped with crushed pork cracklings, and garnished with fresh leeks and fried garlic. My mother has a secret ingredient but she's not telling!

This is my first entry to Lasang Pinoy, Sundays. Thank you, Ces, for inviting me.

Photo-Hunter: Hanging

"Hanging" 50 feet above the ground with nothing but a rope between me and the solid ground was an exhilarating experience. That's me, doing a gravity-defying stunt at Sarmiento campsite in Tanay. I was never afraid of heights but as the Army guy (our scout master) was putting harness on me, giving me instructions, and the wind was blowing around the tower, I felt my knees tremble a little bit. It was my first rappel and I thought, "What the hell am I doing here?" I was about to change my mind when he gently asked, "Ma'am, are you sure you're not pregnant?"...I forgot my nervousness and almost jumped head first!:D Of course, I was not pregnant---I'm just a woman of...substance (Ha-ha). I remember gobbling a bag of french fries before climbing the tower. It was probably the french fries that gave me the guts and energy to rappel. :D No regrets, I'll do it again in a heartbeat!

that's my friend Gary, showing-off :D

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Nothing Else Matters

Nothing Else Matters - Metallica

So close, no matter how far

Couldn't be much more from the heart

Forever trusting who we are and nothing else matters

Never opened myself this way

Life is ours, we live it our way

All these words I don't just say and nothing else matters

Trust I seek and I find in you

Every day for us something new

Open mind for a different view and nothing else matters

never cared for what they do

never cared for what they know but I know

So close, no matter how far

Couldn't be much more from the heart

Forever trusting who we are

and nothing else matters

never cared for what they do

never cared for what they know but I know

Never opened myself this way

Life is ours, we live it our way

All these words I don't just say

Trust I seek and I find in you

Every day for us, something new

Open mind for a different view

and nothing else matters

never cared for what they say

never cared for games they play

never cared for what they do

cared for what they know and I know

So close, no matter how far

Couldn't be much more from the heart

Forever trusting who we are

No, nothing else matters...

Litratong Pinoy: sa gawing Kanluran

Katahimikan. Huminga ka ng malalim at namnamin mo ang ganda ng kumikinang na araw, papalubog sa dakong kanluran. Tumingin ka sa kumikislap na dagat, sa nakakabighani at makulay na kalangitan, sa kulay-lila na mga ulap na may halong bughaw at ginto. Wala kang maririnig ni isang kaluskos. Animoy pati kalikasakan ay namamangha rin sa kagandahan ng palubog na araw.

Sa ganitong katahimikan ay panatag ang iyong kalooban. Punuin mo ang iyong puso’t isipan ng kapayapaan. Bago matapos at tuluyang maglaho, kasunod ng paglubog ng araw. At ang kalikasan ay magpapatuloy na rin sa pagiging abala sa umiikot mong buhay. Habang naghihintay ng susunod na paglubog ng araw. At sa isa pang saglit ng katahimikan.

All is quiet. Take a deep breath and savor the beauty of the glowing sun as it dips on the west. Look at the glistening sea, and all the attractive colors, the hues of purple blended with blue and gold. But all around is quiet. As though nature itself is in awe of the beauty of the sunset.

In this silence is a feeling of peace. Fill your heart and mind with this peace. For soon it will end. As the last rays of the sun sink below the horizon, nature resumes its hustle and bustle and you return to your busy life. There to wait for the next sunset, and the next moment of peace.

Location: Buho Beach Resort, Camotes Island

For more photos, please visit Litratong Pinoy.

Eau so macho!

When we wear a fragrance we would like it to reflect our character. I don’t wear make-up except for occasions that happen once in a blue moon---just lipstick and I can face the world, but I don’t feel “dressed” without wearing a scent. Perfume is an everyday accessory I can’t do without. I believe this is pretty common with women. I imagine Cleopatra or an empress in some ancient dynasty used perfume to feel good and sexy, or to seduce their men. And women throughout the ages followed their footsteps. But with men, scent-wearing was not very popular until the modern times. It was even once scorned by many as a menace to masculinity.

Nowadays, fragrance has wormed its way into men’s dressers, and a friend even told me that he uses perfume to make a long lasting impression on women he dates. And I believe he’s been very successful in doing that---the nose knows!:D Although I find his scent a bit too heavy for my taste, his perfume indicates personal style and passion, it speaks of his attitude and defines his own fashion statement.

When I smell men’s fragrances, I recognize the smell of spices, tobacco, sensuous woods, musk, notes of leather and whisky, even old books. But I was pleasantly surprised this morning when I entered the elevator and smelled something new in the air. There was only one passenger and he was male. We stood side by side and I swear, his perfume was floral, and the most feminine flower of all, the rose! It was heady and provocative and elegant! I almost asked the guy what his perfume was, but I was chickenhearted.

So I did some googling while having coffee and learned that rose is taking prominence in men’s fragrance. Paul Smith’s Story has rose at its heart, as does Rose 31 by Le Labo. Les Parfums de Rosine spells it out with its Rose d’Homme, while Tauer has Lonestar Memories---the cowboy on the box reeks of manliness, but the center of the smell is rose. This trend is probably in response to the blending of genders. New fragrances are now not confined within the traditional boundaries of what is masculine and feminine.

Guys, believe it or not---flowers have long played a role in your perfume, but they have not always been flagged up. My favorite men's scent, Dior's Fahrenheit features violet, and one of the 20th century’s classic men fragrances, Eau Sauvage by Dior, features jasmine. Rose is found in ten percent of all men’s quality fragrances, but it’s rare that it has dominated. Now, perfumers believe that creating the perfect rose fragrance for men is the holy grail.

Rose as top notes in men’s scents---I love it! It brings a refreshing new aspect to contemporary men’s personality and challenges the way women look at men. My elevator encounter was a pleasant surprise and yes, memorable. I guess that’s what happens when rules are broken, people stop and take note. Or, in this case, stop and smell the roses.

Photo-Hunter: What IS that?

For this week's Photo-Hunt theme, any idea what are these?

Scroll down...

Top Photo: mother of pearl disks as a coffee table top

Second Photo: hand-painted resin marbles on a round wall mirror frame

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In Too Deep

Phil Collins with Genesis - In Too Deep, 1986

It's probably the full moon, or the two cups of cafe mocca that I consumed after 11 pm last night, or the conversation I had with a friend at dinner. Anyway, whatever it is...it's probably this song---it brings out the mushy-ness in me! I hope you'd join me in this sentimental journey and feel free to sing along (you can even make up your own MTV).:D

All that time I was searching

nowhere to run to

it started me thinking

Wondering what I could make of my life

and who would be waiting

Asking all kinds of questions, to myself,

but never finding the answers

Crying at the top of my voice

and no one listening

All this time, I still remember everything you said

There's so much you promised, how could I ever forget?

Listen, you know I love you, but I just cant take this,

You know I love you, but Im playing for keeps,

Although I need you, Im not gonna make this,

You know I want to, but Im in too deep.

So listen, listen to me

You must believe me

I can feel your eyes go thru me

But I dont know why.

I know youre going, but I cant believe

Its the way that youre leaving

Its like we never knew each other at all

it may be my fault, I gave you too many reasons,

being alone, when I didnt want to

I thought you'd always be there

I almost believed you...

All this time, I still remember everything you said

There's so much you promised

how could I ever forget?

Listen, you know I love you, but I just cant take this

You know I love you, but Im playing for keeps

Although I need you, Im not gonna make this

You know I want to, but Im in too deep.

So listen, listen to me, I can feel your eyes go thru me

It seems Ive spent too long

Only thinking about myself

Now I want to spend my life

Just caring bout somebody else.

You know I love you, but I just cant take this

You know I love you, but Im playing for keeps

Although I need you, Im not gonna make this

You know I want to, but Im in too deep...

Sky Watch Friday: bed weather

At least 20 typhoons hit the Philippines every year, triggering floods, landslides, sea disasters and mass evacuations. The rainy season starts in June through October, this is also the time when most tropical storms hit the archipelago. Three weeks ago, the deadly tropical storm "Frank" left more than a thousand dead and properties worth millions destroyed. This week, we were ravaged by another tropical storm, "Helen". The skies have been gloomy all week, and flooding in some areas of the metro. It's so difficult to get out of bed in this weather---all I want to do it sleep, eat, sleep. Finally, around 2 a.m. this morning, "Helen" went on its merry way to Taiwan and had even slightly intensified. Helen's tail will continue to enhance the southwest monsoon and bring rain over Luzon. The surge of southwest monsoon is also expected to affect the seaboards of Luzon, Western and Central Visayas. I hope the Coastguard is reading this!:D

And I used to think weather is a boring subject!:D

Photos were taken at the Manila American Cemetery last Saturday afternoon.

bed weather

For more sky photos, please visit Sky Watch Friday.

Litratong Pinoy: Luntian (Berde)

luntian sa bundok ng Tanay (green foliage in the mountains)

Manila American Cemetery and Memorial grounds

Ang salitang “berde” ay nanggaling sa makalumang salita na “growan” o pag-usbong, o pag-tubo. Kadalasan, ginagamit ang salitang ito sa paglalarawan ng mga halaman at karagatan, at bilang simbolo ng mga lupon ukol sa kapaligiran. Ang berde ay sinasabing maaliwalas na kulay at iniuugnay sa kalikasan. Upang ipamalas ang "berdeng" tema sa linggong ito, inilalahok ko ang mga litratong kuha sa kabundukan ng Tanay at sa American Cemetery sa Global City.

Green is closely related to the Old English verb growan, “to grow”. It is often used to describe plants and the sea, and has become a symbol of environmentalism. It is frequently described as a “cool” color and is associated with nature. To depict the “green” theme this week, I am posting photos taken on the mountains of Tanay and from the American Cemetery in Global City.

dito masarap magmuni-muni (a place for contemplation)

Cravings

garlic-flavored crab at Claw Daddy

Much of my day is spent managing my food cravings. Holding them at bay, really. The things I desire right now are inevitably fats (bacon, sisig, and crab with aligue), sweets (chocolates, cheesecake) or carbs (pasta)---or a combination of all three (baked potato with cheese and bacon bits). It takes up a lot of brain space, thinking about what I should and shouldn’t eat, and it’s not so rewarding, since in the end I usually give in to my urges.

When I looked up the meaning of craving, I came upon words I’d expect to find in a romance novel: consuming desire, longing, urgent need. Food cravings embody all those overheated descriptions, notoriously defying good sense. I respect my mysterious cravings for cheese, chocolate, fried and creamy foods and indulge them as often as possible without compromising my well-being.

my favorite Mexican salsa

Thank goodness that there are now new ways to cook that figure out how to indulge cravings without guilt. I gravitate toward tomato-based pasta not only because it safely satisfies my longings for carbs, but also because tomatoes contain large amounts of vitamins C, A, potassium and iron. It’s also an antioxidant that lowers the risks of certain cancers. I’m also addicted to salsa…no, not the lively, ballroom Latin American dance. It’s also of Latin American origin, made from fresh tomatoes, onions, peppers and cilantro (plus olive oil, lime juice, salt and pepper). It’s a standard accompaniment to tortillas and tacos, even with fried fish and steak.

salmon carpaccio at Pagliacci, a healthy option

refreshing jelly fish salad with century egg at Zong

I also have cravings for mushrooms---not the mind-altering specie that gives a trip of visual hallucinations, causes a lot of laughter, and an intense trip to never-never-land. I crave for mushrooms my grandmother used to gather at the banana grove after a stormy night. My grandmother said that mushrooms grow where lightning had hit the ground. For a long time, I believed that indeed mushrooms are food from aliens brought to earth by lightning, like manna from heaven (ha-ha). Aside from that, mushrooms are also rich in protein, fiber, vitamins B and C as well as calcium. Researchers believe that maitake, shiitake and reishi have phenomenal healing potential. These mushrooms have shown to lower the risk of cancer, ward off viruses, reduce infection, combat allergies, boost heart health, and help balance blood sugar levels. I love grilled fresh mushrooms like my grandmother’s---toss with a little oil, a pinch of salt then wrap mushrooms in banana leaf and place it over the grill. Dried and fresh mushrooms are also great ingredient in pasta dishes, sotanghon (vermicelli) guisado, mixed veggies, beef and oyster sauce, or just sautéed in butter.

magic mushroom?

“Death by Chocolate” would probably the headline in the tabloids after I was found dead from consuming too much of this dark concoction. Chocolate is one of my comfort foods. And who can blame me? Chocolate has captured the taste of people throughout the ages. The Aztecs and Maya associated chocolate with the goddess of fertility and had been drinking chocolate since 400 AD. Aside from being reputed as an aphrodisiac, dark chocolates are believed to have anticancer benefits. A study reported by the BBC indicated that melting chocolate in one’s mouth produced an increase in brain activity and heart rate that was more intense than that associated with passionate kissing, and also lasted four times as long after the activity had ended. But as we all know, too much of a good thing can do you harm. Every now and then, I still indulge in dark chocolates but with almonds---because almonds are lower in calories, high in vitamin E, protein and fiber, and they can also protect the heart. Dieticians recommend eliminating something bad in our diet and replacing it with almonds.

my favorite maki called Jurassic at Rai Rai Ken

My biggest struggle is usually in the morning, when crisp bacon and pancakes call to me. I was recently surprised to learn that some people, like my brother, Brian, actually crave healthy things, like laswa, an Ilonggo concoction of ampalaya, saluyot, alogbati, okra, malunggay, and the rest of the veggies in “Bahay-kubo”, boiled with shrimps or dried fish and shrimp paste. I absolutely hated laswa when I was a kid, the texture of vegetable leaves made me choke, and it usually resulted with my mother’s slipper hitting my behind. Eating laswa was like torture…the slimy broth reminds me of saliva, bribes, threats and lectures couldn’t convince me how nutritious laswa is. And this is one of my biggest regret…that I never learned to eat vegetables.

the defamed laswa

Of course, one way to surrender to cravings and still feel virtuous is to exercise---the “I ate French fries, therefore I will not use the elevator today” approach. Problem is I simply hate to exercise. Honestly, I am perplexed at people who make time to exercise every day. I’ve read all the benefits of exercise, and I do try…I go to the gym even when my “flesh” is weak and my “spirit” struggles and drags its feet. I have pep-talks with myself before playing badminton because visions of a couch and a good book beckon. Hayyy naku...Next time I have a food craving, I’d probably try a “Fear Factor Diet”! Ha-Ha

Photo-Hunter: Support

Hungerford Bridge

For Photo-Hunt’s “support” theme this week, I’m posting photos of a few London bridges crossing the River Thames. The weight of a bridge, and of any traffic on it, is carried directly to the ground by the “support”, often called piers. The piers take the full weight of the load, and support-piling depth is one of several factors that determine a bridge’s load-carrying capacity. These photos were taken in 2005 while I was on a cruise along River Thames from Tower Bridge to Greenwich Pier.

The top photo is Hungerford Bridge, a steel truss railway bridge, sometimes known as the Charing Cross Bridge. This bridge was designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel and opened in 1845.

Westminster Bridge

Westminster Bridge was built in I862 and was designed by Thomas Page. The Gothic detailing on this seven-arch wrought iron bridge was designed by Charles Barry, the architect of the Palace of Westminster. The first bridge was built between 1739 and 1750, designed by a Swiss architect, Charles Labelye. This is the oldest bridge in the central area of the River Thames.

Southwark Bridge

Southwark Bridge is an arch bridge designed by Ernest Goerge and Basil Mott, and was opened in 1921. This bridge was notable for having the longest cast iron span ever made at 73 meters.

Lambeth Bridge

Lambeth Bridge was opened in 1932 and has a five-span steel arch, designed by engineer Sir Geroge Humphreys and architect Sir Reginald Blomfield. The most conspicuous color in the bridge’s current paint scheme is red. The bridge was used for the movie "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" for the scene where the Knight Bus must pass between two Routemasters.

Waterloo Bridge

Waterloo Bridge was built during World War II by (mostly) female labor---a quirk of the War as the men were away fighting for King and Country. The name of the bridge is in memory of the British victory at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. The original bridge on the site was opened in 1817 but serious problems were found in its construction. The first bridge was demolished in the 1920’s and replaced it with a new structure designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott.

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