CNN's “Eye On” Will Visit the Philippines!

According to CNN's website, CNN “Eye On” is a series that takes you to different countries around the world, highlighting influence and innovation. We showcase interesting places and intelligent people who have the potential to change our world.

At the end of April, we're visiting the Philippines. We’d like you to share the sights and sounds that you think capture the true flavor of the country. Send us your photos, or put yourself on video and tell the world what the Philippines is really like.

The best stories and videos will be featured on CNN's Eye On website and on TV. The deadline for submissions is May 11.

FREE Foreign Familiar Photography Exhibition at Shangri-La Plaza

• • 10 November – 21 November 2011
    

    4th floor, Shangri-La Plaza, Mandaluyong.

    
    

    
    

    Nine photographers from six western countries who lived and worked in different Asian countries and later developed a strong passion andinterest in Asia will showcase exhibition that puts an emphasis on the modern urban environment with its dynamic development and on the frictions which result from these dramatic and exuberant transformations.

    
    City of Ambition: FERIT KUYAS / Switzerland – China
    
    Space- In-Between: OLIVIER PIN-FAT / England – Thailand
    
    Babel: WOLFGANG BELLWINKEL / Germany – Thailand Indonesia – Singapore
    
    Home: MARRIGJE DE MAAR/ Netherlands – China
    
    Bangkok Twilight: NICK NOSTITZ/ Germany – Thailand
    
    Salaryman Project: BRUNO QUINQUET / France – Japan
    
    Reflections of Chaos and Calm: PETER STEINHAUER / USA – China – Vietnam – Burma
    
    Rithy, Chéa, Kim Sour et les autres: LAURENCE LEBLANC / France – Cambodia
    
    Voyage imaginaire au Japon: GRAZIELLA ANTONINI Switzerland – Japan
    

    
    

Visit International Bazaar 2011 at PICC Nov. 20, 2011

International Bazaar is an annual event where imported, local goods and merchandise are sold to the public, the proceeds are used to finance projects to those who are most in need of assistance. Dubbed as a "shoppers' paradise where the diplomatic and consular posts in the Philippines, as well as local entrepreneurs, sell choice and unique merchandise."

International Bazaar 2011 will be at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) Forums I, II and III at the CCP Complex on November 20 from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Tickets are P100 only. Please call them at 833-13-20 / 834-3054 (phone) or email ibf.dfa@gmail.com.

Maharlika Filipino Moderno Restaurant Featured in NY Times

“Maharlika is a gateway restaurant — an exotic excursion with a soft landing, a chance to discover an unsung cuisine without getting too down-and-dirty.” says the writer of Authetic Filipino Moderno review at NY Times. It started in January as a pop-up weekend brunch then finally got a space in August at East Village. The owners — three young Filipino-Americans, Nicole Ponseca, Enzo Lim Noel Cruz, and Dominican chef, Miguel Trinidad.

The ambiance of Maharlika the way it is descibed is very Filipinoish - like one is eating back home: a Capiz shell lamp, blown-up photos of the Filipina Miss Universe of 1973 Margie Moran, flamboyantly painted jeepney and portrait of José Rizal.

They serve Arroz caldo, Adidas, Bangus, Sizzling sisig, Crispy pata, kare kare and Puqui puqui. A free plate of crisp chicken skin may be offered too. I bet everyone will agee with the writer when she says “More suka, please! ”

To read more of the review please click here  or go to  Maharlika’s website here as I am also curious what a Puqui puqui is. (Image taken from NY Times)

FREE Seminar: 19th Defense & Sporting Arms Show

The Association of Firearms & Ammunition Dealers of the Philippines, Inc. will present the 19th Defense & Sporting Arms Show on Nov 17 - 21 from 10:00am to 8:30pm at the Megatrade Halls 1-2 Bldg. B., SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City.

There will be free seminars in this five-day gun show to be offered for gun enthusiast and other visitors.  For more information you may check their Facebook Fan Page here

Puerto Princesa Underground River is 1 of the New Seven Wonders ofNature

The Philippines’ Puerto Princesa Underground River, the Amazon rainforest, Vietnam’s Halong Bay, Argentina’s Iguazu Falls, South Korea’s Jeju Island, Indonesia’s Komodo and South Africa’s Table Mountain were named among the world’s new seven wonders of nature, according to the organizers of New7Wonders, a Swiss foundation.

New7Wonders was founded in 2001 by filmmaker Bernard Weber in Zurich, which is based on the same principle of the seven ancient wonders of the world. More than 440 contenders in 220 countries aspired then trimmed down to a shortlist of 77, then cut to 28 finalists. The final seven were voted via telephone, text messages or Internet social networks.

The results announced are provisional and based on the first count of votes. It is possible that there will be changes until finally  winners are confirmed which will be announced early 2012 according to New7Wonders.

Vote for Puerto Princesa Underground River for New7Wonders of Nature

Puerto Princesa’s Palawan Underground River is among the 28 finalists in an online search for New Seven Wonders of the Nature. Palawan Underground River is a unique and magnificent river located at the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, declared as a World Heritage site by UNESCO and one of the most biodiverse conservation areas in the world. As described in the New7Wonders website, this place features a limestone karst mountain landscape with an 8.2km navigable underground river, reputedly the longest subterranean river in the world with major formations of stalactites and stalagmites inside. At the mouth of the cave, a clear lagoon is framed by ancient trees growing right on the water’s edge.

Started last September 2010 and will end this November 11, 2011, Palawan Underground River  needs more votes against :  Dead Sea, Mt. Kilimanjaro, Maldives, Grand Canyon, Jeju Island, Bay of Fundy, Black Forest, Iguazu Falls, Angel Falls, Yushan, Uluru, Galapagos, Milford Sound, Bu Tinah Island, Great Barrier Reef, Halong Bay, Komodo, Amazon, Mt. Vesuvius, Table Mountain, Masurian Lake District and Mud Volcano. Most of these finalists are found in Europe and Latin America.( Image from New7Wonders website)

FREE Entrance to CZECH CINEMA UNDER THE STARS

Top  Czech films will  be shown al fresco at the Rizal Park Open-Air auditorium this month November 5, 6, 12, 13, Saturdays and Sundays starting at 7pm.  It will showcase a popular children's animation, a family comedy, a retro-musical, a historical drama-romance, and an Oscar winner.

List of Schedule

For more information you may check The Embassy of the Czech Republic site here

Free Entrance to Italian Film Festival at Greenbelt 3

Presenting Moviemov: Italian Cinema Now at Greenbelt 3 from November 9-13, 2011. Moviemov is a travelling festival supported by the General Direction for Cinema of the Italian Ministry of Heritage and Culture. Its opening  will be on November 9, 2011 at Greenbelt 5, Fashion Walk. Italian actors, directors and producers such as Dario Argento, Asia Argento, Lina Sastri, Ennio Fantastichini, Gianni Paolucci, Daniele Cipri, Alice Rohrwacher, Camilla Nesbitt, Claudio Cupellini, Carlo Macchitella, Franco Piersanti, and Luciano Sovena will join  together with representatives of Asiatic Film Mediale, headed by Senator Goffredo Bettini, Italo Spinelli and a few local actors.

8:00 PM - Greenbelt 3 Cinema 5

Opening Gala

HABEMUS PAPAM

BY Nanni Moretti (Italy 2011 - 104’) CAST Michel Piccoli, Jerzy Stuhr, Renato Scarpa

8:30 PM - Greenbelt 3 Cinema 3

Tribute to Billante Mendoza

SERBIS

BY Brillante Mendoza (Philippines 2008 - 90’) CAST Gina Pareño, Jacklyn Jose, Julio Diaz

10:00 PM - Greenbelt 3 Cinema 4

Tribute to Dario Argento

DRACULA 3D

BY Dario Argento (Italy 2012 - 20’) CAST Asia Argento, Rutger Hauer and Thomas Kretschmann

5:00 PM - Greenbelt 3 Cinema 5

Italian Showcase

MINE VAGANTI | LOOSE CANNONS

BY Ferzan Ozpetek (Italy 2010 - 110’) CAST Riccardo Scamarcio, Nicole Grimaudo, Alessandro Preziosi

5:30 PM - Greenbelt 3 Cinema 3

Italian Showcase

HABEMUS PAPAM

BY Nanni Moretti (Italy 2011 - 104’) CAST Michel Piccoli, Jerzy Stuhr, Renato Scarpa

9:00 PM - Greenbelt 3 Cinema 5

Italian Showcase

PASSIONE | PASSION

BY John Torturro (Italy 2010 - 88’) CAST John Turturro, Max Casella, Lina Sastri

9:30 PM - Greenbelt 3 Cinema 3

Tribute to Bernardo Bertolucci

IL CONFORMISTA | THE CONFORMIST

BY Bernardo Bertolucci (Italy 1970 - 115’) CAST Jean-Louis Trintignant, Stefania Sandrelli, Gastone Moschin

4:00 PM - Greenbelt 3 Cinema 5

Tribute to Dario Argento

SUSPIRIA

BY Dario Argento (Italy 1977 - 112’) CAST Jessica Harper, Stefania Casini, Flavio Bucci

5:00 PM - Greenbelt 3 Cinema 3

Italian Showcase

PASSIONE | PASSION

BY John Torturro (Italy 2010 - 88’) CAST John Turturro, Max Casella, Lina Sastri

6:30 PM - Greenbelt 3 Cinema 5

Italian Showcase

UNA VITA TRANQUILLA | A QUIET LIFE

BY Claudio Cupellini (Italy 2010 - 100’) CAST Toni Servillo, Marco D’Amore

7:00 PM - Greenbelt 3 Cinema 3

Italian Showcase

MINE VAGANTI | LOOSE CANNONS

BY Ferzan Ozpetek (Italy 2010 - 110’) CAST Riccardo Scamarcio, Nicole Grimaudo, Alessandro Preziosi

8:30 PM - Greenbelt 3 Cinema 5

Italian Showcase

VINCERE | VICTORY

BY Marco Bellocchio (Italy 2009 - 128’) CAST Giovanna Mezzogiorno, Filippo Timi and Fausto Russo Alesi

9:00 PM - Greenbelt 3 Cinema 3

Tribute to Bernardo Bertolucci

ULTIMO TANGO A PARIGI | LAST TANGO IN PARIS

BY Bernardo Bertolucci (Italy 1972 - 136’) CAST Marlon Brando, Maria Schneider, Maria Michi

2:00 PM - Greenbelt 3 Cinema 5

Italian Showcase

UNA VITA TRANQUILLA | A QUIET LIFE

BY Claudio Cupellini (Italy 2010 - 100’) CAST Toni Servillo, Marco D’Amore

4:00 PM - Greenbelt 3 Cinema 5

Tribute to Billante Mendoza

LOLA

BY Brillante Mendoza (Philippines 2009 - 110’) CAST Anita Linda, Rustica Carpio, Tanya Gomez

5:00 PM - Greenbelt 3 Cinema 3

Italian Showcase

VINCERE | VICTORY

BY Marco Bellocchio (Italy 2009 - 128’) CAST Giovanna Mezzogiorno, Filippo Timi and Fausto Russo Alesi

6:00 PM - Greenbelt 3 Cinema 5

Italian Showcase

CORPO CELESTE

BY Alice Rohrwacher (Italy 2011 - 98’) CAST Salvatore Cantalupo, Anita Caprioli, Renato Carpentieri

7:30 PM - Greenbelt 3 Cinema 3

Italian Showcase

CHE BELLA GIORNATA | WHAT A BEAUTIFUL DAY

BY Gennaro Nunziante (Italy 2011 - 97’) CAST Checco Zalone, Isabelle Adriani, Nabiha Akkari

9:30 PM - Greenbelt 3 Cinema 3

Tribute to Bernardo Bertolucci

L'ULTIMO IMPERATORE | THE LAST EMPEROR

BY Bernardo Bertolucci (Italy 1987 - 160’) CAST John Lone, Joan Chen and Peter O’Toole

3:00 PM - Greenbelt 3 Cinema 5

Italian Showcase

CORPO CELESTE

BY Alice Rohrwacher (Italy 2011 - 98’) CAST Salvatore Cantalupo, Anita Caprioli, Renato Carpentieri

3:30 PM - Greenbelt 3 Cinema 3

Italian Showcase

CHE BELLA GIORNATA | WHAT A BEAUTIFUL DAY

BY Gennaro Nunziante (Italy 2011 - 97’) CAST Checco Zalone, Isabelle Adriani, Nabiha Akkari

5:00 PM - Greenbelt 3 Cinema 5

Tribute to Dario Argento

PROFONDO ROSSO |DEEP RED

BY Dario Argento (Italy 1975 - 126’) CAST David Hemmings, Daria Nicolodi, Gabriele Lavia

5:30 PM - Greenbelt 3 Cinema 3

Tribute to Brillante Mendoza

KINATAY

BY Brillante Mendoza (Philippines 2009 - 110’) CAST Coco Martin, Maria Isabel Lopez, Julio Diaz

9:30 PM - Greenbelt 3 Cinema 3

Tribute to Bernardo Bertolucci

THE DREAMERS

BY Bernardo Bertolucci (Italy 2003 - 130’) CAST Michael Pitt, Louis Garrel and Eva Green

 For more information you may check their Facebook Fan Page   here  or or Embassy of Italy in Manila site here

FREE Admission: Taiwan Film Festival 2011 at Shangri-La Plaza

 Schedule:  
 October 21
No Puedo Vivir Sin - 2:00pm
Zoom Hunting - 5:00pm
Gangster Rock - 8:00pmOctober 22
The Magical Washing Machine - 2:00pm
Gangster Rock - 5:00pm
Three Times - 8:00pm

October 23
Zoom Hunting - 2:00pm
Pinoy Sunday - 5:00pm
No Puedo Vivir Sin Ti - 8:00pm

October 24
Three Times - 2:00pm
Jump! Boys - 5:00pm
Pinoy Sunday - 8:00pm

October 25
Gangster Rock - 2:00pm
No Puedo Vivir Sin Ti - 5:00pm
The Magical Washing Machine - 8:00pm

October 26
Jump! Boys - 2:00pm
The Magical Washing Machine - 5:00pm
Zoom Hunting - 8:00pm

For more information, you may check their Facebook Fan Page here

Free Birdwatching Trip at La Mesa Ecopark

Free guided birdwatching trip at the La Mesa Ecopark on October 16, Sunday. Hosted by the the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines.You may visit www.birdwatch.ph for more information.

Check their Facebook Event for more details here

Watch Película: The 10th Spanish Film Festival

Twenty films from Spain and Latin America are now showing from October 5 to 16 at Greenbelt 3 Cinema 1 to celebrate Película, the annual Pelicula Spanish film festival in Manila. There will be special screenings of films: Raya Martin's Buenas noches, España (Good night, Spain) and the classic 1961 Golden Palm Cannes Film Festivalwinner, Viridiana. After watching, you may vote for your favorite film and help it win the Audience Choice Award this year. The screening of the winning film is on October 16, 9:30 p.m. Tickets are at P65 each.

For more information about 10th Pelicula Spanish film festival, visit pelicula.ph

Be Part of The 30 Postcards Project

This is one of the four postcards sent to Kevin Richberg who is the one behind the travel and tourism project, The 30 Postcards Project. Kevin is inviting everyone to write ANYTHING they want about their city, country, favorite travel spot or just something worthy to be shared. It could something strange, unique, interesting, special, intellectual, odd, fascinating, crazy, controversial, weird, amazing, silly or one of a kind. Something you love, something you hate, something you can't resist, something you can't live with, something you can't live without or something you just have to tell the World!

---
By the way, this postcard features the Cave Porn in Sagada, Philippines. According to The 30 Postcards Project website, the cave’s official name is the Sumaging Cave found in Luzon. Lonely Planet featured the cave as a top Adventure Tourist destination, but not because of the “unique” formations. The cave is a living cave (it has water with dissolved minerals that grow the cave flowing through it) and it offers spelunking, swimming, waterfalls, and taking your photograph next to formations that can appear “naughty” from the right perspective.

---
Kevin will be coming to Manila in September to film personally the places sent by the postcards and be included in The 30 Postcards Project. Anyone interested to send postcards, this is his mailing address :

Kevin Richberg

P.O. Box 83

Memphis, NY 13112 USA

---
Anyone who wants to participate in any way or works in the tourism or travel business and want to support the project this is his email address: thirtypostcards@gmail.com

Travelife's Sri Lanka FREE Public Performance

Watch Sri Lanka's top performers including their famous songstress free in Travelife's Sri Lanka Free Public Performance on September 24 (Saturday), 4PM  at The Picar Place Showroom. Organized by Travelife Magazine together with the Embassy of Sri Lanka, this is surely a night of cultural event that should not be missed!

 For inquiries and reservations, please call 813-8400 / 892-2620 or see information below:

Bernice Qua
Marketing Coordinator
Travelife Magazine
Tridem Asia Publishing Inc.
Alexander House 2F, 132 Amorsolo St.
Legazpi Village, Makati City
1229 Metro Manila, Philippines

Tel. no: (+63 2) 813-8400, (+63 2) 892-2620
Fax: (+63 2) 893-7539


VISIT: www.travelife.biz
READ: www.travelifemagazine.com
FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/travelife
TWITTER: twitter.com/TravelifeMag

Who wants to live in a Buddha temple in Bacolod for 3 months FREE?

Fifteen people will be given a chance to live in a temple stay and study program who want to learn a new way of life, to take a break from the world, and to cultivate spiritually, whatever religious background they are from. The project is called FGS Philippines Humanistic Academy of Life and Arts. This will happen from September 15 – December 15, 2011.

This 3-month spiritual program will live in Yuan Thong Temple, Bacolod City with free accomodation and free food. All applicants shall be screened and interviewed by the organizer.

Fo Guang Shan International Buddhist Order behind this practices the fundamental concepts of Humanistic Buddhism headquartered in Taiwan and founded by Venerable Master Hsing Yun. For more information please click here

FREE 5th International Silent Film Festival 2011 at Shangrila Cineplex

For the first time the Philippines will participate with the film “Brides of Sulu” 1937. Silent film festivals are films instead of being "dubbed" to produce sounds and be heard, a band does a music all throughout the duration of these old movies.  For more info about the synopsis of these films you may visit Goethe-Institut, the cultural institute of the Federal Republic of Germany with a global reach.

Philippines: BRIDES OF SULU
John Nelson,1933 (47 min.)                                                                                        Alejandro MORENO, Eduardo DE CASTRO and the MORO WARRIORS

Germany: NOSFERATU
Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau, 1922 (94 min.) (Friday, 26 August at 9pm)

Japan: AKEYUKU SORA/ THE DAWNING SKY  Torajiro Saito, 1929 (71 min.) (Saturday, 27 August at 5pm)

                     Italy: DANTE’S INFERNO Giuseppe de Liguoro, 1911 (71 min.)(Saturday, 27 August at 7pm)

Greece: THE GREEK MIRACLE staged documentary film, 1921(5 min.)      (Sunday, 28 August at 5pm)

                                 Spain:  PILAR GUERRA José Buchs, 1926 (63 min.)                                            (Sunday, 28 August at 5pm)

Cafe Scientifique Invites you to the Science of Moods Talk

Cafe Scientifique is a gathering of science-enthusiasts who meet in a particular time to discuss, share or debate about science-related concerns usually done in cafes, bars,  restaurants and even theaters. There are 42 cities around the it was formed in 1998 regularly participate in this event world since composed mostly of scientists to empower non-scientists to understand the technicalities in a more approachable way. Cafe Scientifique Manila was born only in November 2006 led by only known Pinay science writer Maria Isabel Garcia, also one of the curators of the first ever world-class science museum called "The Mind Museum".

Travelife India Night Brought the Whole Crowd to India!

"Yoga, meditation, Indian mysticism and herbal treatments are some of the reasons why Filipinos keep on going back and forth to India." says Prateek Kumar, Ambassador to India in the Philippines.  "Manila's origin of word as mentioned by historian Ambeth Ocampo has sanskritik link related to the the one in India. These two countries have undeniable millenia-old cultural and civilization links that they continuing to share to each other." he adds.

"Maharadiya Lawana in Mindanao is the Maranao version of Hinduism in the Philippines, the Biag ni Lam-ang among Ilocanos epic and Tagalog Baybayin the script before the current Hispanic form of alphabet are from Palava-Kawi and based from Saka calendar. " he also said. India's multi-awarded Ranjana Gauhar and Odissi dancers amazed the crowd through Odissi - a classical dance style especially its signature pose - 'tribanghi' or the 'triple bend' pose that combines  the bends at the neck, the waist and the knee. Ranjana's one of the many awards she received is the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2007 for her contribution to the field of Odissi dance,  by the President of India H.E Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil. [First photo is Ranjana Gauhar, second are the Odissi dancers and last is Ambassador Prateek Kumar.]

Travelife India Night happened at Dusit Thani Manila last July 16th, 2011 and is brought in reality by TRAVELIFE MAGAZINE which is the Philippines' leading travel & lifestyle magazine according to its official Facebook Fan Page. This page provides travel information & tips, advance notice on travel sales, and entertaining travel stories and updates.

FREE: TRAVELIFE INDIA Night Dance Performance at Dusit Thani Manila

TRAVELIFE India Night is a free performance featuring world-class traditional Indian performers who are among the top kathak dancers in India today. TRAVELIFE India Night Public Performance is on July 16 (Free) and at the TRAVELIFE India Night Gala Dinner on July 18 (PhP 1499 per person).

To reserve a limited seat at either event, please call Rachel or Bernice at 813-8400/ 892-2620 or email travelife@travelife.biz.

For more information on the Travelife India Night Gala Dinner on July 18 that features the gala show and the Indian degustation meal, please visit their Facebook Fan Page here

Bataan Nuclear Power Plant for Nuclear Tourism

"This will be the only tourist-friendly nuclear power plant in this part of the world," Dennis Gana, spokesman for state-owned power firm Napocor that runs the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant. Described as  one of the country's most expensive and troublesome burdens,  this nuclear power plant will be revived for Nuclear tourism to pay for the Philippine site's maintenance budget and also to show it is very safe place.

Built almost 30 years ago under  former Pres. Ferdinand Marcos that costs $2.3 billion, Bataan Nuclear Power Plant never produced a watt of energy. Uranium was actually trucked into the site in 1984.  The plant was closed in 1986 when Marcos was overthrown in a revolution. Visitors are assured there is no uranium at the site -- the nuclear material was sold in 1997 at a huge loss of $35 million.

The  entrance fee is P20  or $.50 cents to Bataan Nuclear Power Plant. For complete details you may read ABS-CBN's  Philippines launches nuclear tourism By Karl Malakunas, Agence France-Presse. You may click here.

[Photo courtesy of THE TECHNOLOGY REVIEW]