Mural/Photo Hunt

 "Peace" mosaic mural along Roxas Boulevard.

 

Linking to Photo Hunt

Graveyard and Clean/Saturday Photo-Hunt

Did I tell you that I love graveyards (but hate funerals)?  It's not because they're spooky, or I am morbid.  I guess it's my latent sentimentality.  Graveyards are more interesting and telling than museums...graveyards also give me a sense of peace.

And one of the cleanest and greenest graveyards I have ever been to is the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in Global City.  The lawns are perpetually manicured, the trees are trimmed--a beautiful resting place, a perfect place to reflect and breath in clean air.

This cemetery occupies 152 acres on a prominent plateau.  It contains the largest number of graves of US military who died in World War II, a total of 17,201.

 Clean energy @ Bangui Wind Farm

Linking to Sandi's Saturday Photo Hunt and Gattina's Saturday Photo-Hunting

Taste/Photo-Hunt

I love chocolate---who doesn't?    This fusion of dark chocolate and chili intrigued my taste buds.  And it didn't disappoint...Chilli Chocolate gelato excites the senses.  Tantalizing burst of flavors was brought forth from this union.

   

Here's a chocolate bar so decadent, it must be bad for you---my favorite, Chocolate with Bacon.  The salty-sweet taste, the distinct flavors and textures created an exquisite explosion of yummy.  Definitely one of my guilty pleasures.:p

 

What does your taste in food say about you?

Linking to Saturday Photo Hunt

Photo-Hunt/Scoop and Children

What could be more perfect than a scoop or two of chocolate ice cream on a lazy summer afternoon?  

This is my contribution to Sandi's Saturday Photo-Hunt.

I was also at Cassie's 1st birthday party last Saturday, and the clubhouse was filled with children.  I love this girl eating her cotton candy with gusto---she's one of the children who partied with Cassie, my first apo (grandchild), my godson's firstborn.

Face-painting, cotton candy and balloons excited the young guests.  A clown entertained them with games and magic.  The party was filled with children's laughter, moms and dads were busy taking pictures.

Posted for Gattina's Saturday Photo-Hunting

Join us!

Photo Hunt/Zap and Advertising

Cine Corregidor in Corregidor Island zapped by Japanese bombardments during World War II.   Corregidor is one of the most important historic and tourist sites in the Philippines.

 An inflated advertising balloon at an event in the Mall of Asia.  Too much of this liquor can zap the brain cells and one's common sense.

 

Posting for two Photo-Hunts today---ZAP  for Sandy's Saturday Photo-Hunt and ADVERTISING for Gattina's Photo-Hunt.  Join us!

Old/Photo-Hunt

This old church in  Paoay is one of the most beautiful churches I have ever seen.   The buttresses are impressive and it looks like it was carved in stone.  Its earthquake-proof baroque style architecture is a unique specimen of Filipino architecture from the Spanish era.  The parish was  founded by the Augustinians in 1593, cornerstone of the church laid in 1704.  I took these photos in 2010.  This church is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

More about this church here.

San Agustin Church, Paoay, Ilocos Norte

Linking to Saturday Photo Hunt

Circles & Point/Photo Hunt

Circles used as design element in fashion accessories. 

Through the years, I have noticed that circles are often used by designers 

to create a point of emphasis and interest to hold a viewer's attention.

A combination of colors, complemented with other shapes, 

a circle is a great focal point in fashion jewelry.

Necklaces have been a part of women's outfit for centuries.   

Necklaces can be light and trendy to heavy and elaborate.

It compliments a woman's outfit, enhances the total look.

Taken at Avatar's showroom in Cebu

Linking to Sandy's Saturday PhotoHunt and Gattina's Keyhole Pictures

Fluffy & Dark/Saturday Photo Hunt

Fritz' fluffy fur---

A tongue twister

His dark, adoring eyes,

unconscious of their power

to melt even the toughest heart

Linking to Saturday Photo Hunt and Keyhole Pictures

Animals & Bliss/Photo-Hunt

These two photos were taken in different areas of Busuanga Island.  From Busuanga airport to our hotel, I noticed a herd of cows in the field, some even crossed the road  to join their compadres on the other side (even cows adhere to the illusion that the grasses are greener and tastier on the other side :p). I wondered out loud if there were road accidents here caused by these animals, and our driver confirmed it.  But as everyone who lives in the island knows about cows walking around this pasture reserve, the driver said that running over a cow is just plain recklessness.  The cows belong to the King Yulo Ranch, a 40-hectare cattle ranch that is supposedly the largest ranch in southeast Asia, but the number of cattle has dwindled over the years. The ranch was sequestered by the government more than 20 years ago based on allegations that it was part of the ill-gotten wealth of the owners, who were tagged as cronies of an ousted president.

From Coron town, we climbed Mount Tapyas, the second highest point in the island.  The views from the top were pure bliss---the grass-covered hills, the silhouettes of nearby islands, the natural beauty of this island, are simply soothing to the senses.

Linking to Saturday Photo-Hunt and Keyhole Pictures

Circular/Saturday Photo Hunt

Circular concrete culverts at the embankment of a river in Manapla, Negros Occidental.

Linking to Saturday Photo Hunt

Gather and Drinks/Saturday Photo Hunt

The young and the young once gather around the dancing fountain.
And a drink for the young and old---lemonade.

Wishing you and yours a peaceful and prosperous New Year!

Linking to Saturday Photo Hunt and Keyhole Pictures

Two [Photo Hunt]

Two islands at the background, two kids on the foreground and too many good memories of this place by the beach.  

It takes two to put this boat in the water.

And two makes a good team.


Taken in early March during a family vacation.

Join us at Photo Hunt

High [Photo Hunt]

These are snapshots from the Calamianes, a group of over 80 islands in northern Palawan.  Perched on higher ground overlooking the bay at an 18th century fort in Culion Island is an old cannon.  This was one of the cannons used by Filipinos to defend the island from Moro raiders during the Spanish regime.

One of our destinations in Coron Island was the twin lagoon.   It's a pair of hidden salt water lagoon with remarkable warm and cold water temperatures.  High jagged bluffs surround the twin lagoon, and one couldn't help but feel small amid the magnificence of these granite mountains reflecting on the emerald green lagoon.

Mount Tapyas in Busuanga Island doesn't look that high  although the 700-plus steps I climbed  leading to a giant cross at the summit was challenging.  But the hike was equally rewarding especially when I saw the 360-degree views of Busuanga from the top--from the shimmering waters of Coron Bay, the rolling hills and mountain ranges to the distant and nearby islands of the Calamianes.

Get high at Photo Hunt