113th Philippine Independence Day Activities

It's been one hundred and thirteen years since we had our first taste of independence! Now in the age of social media and internet when only few people appreciates our Philippine History and often tagged as old and old-fashioned, let's make a difference. History is also for the young people. Because soon we will be part of history too and a bridge to the coming generation.

Here are some of the Philippine Independence Day activities the younger ones may not find it boring: Sinekalayaan (free movie shows) and Musikalayaan concerts, Martyrdom of Dr. Jose Rizal: A Lights and Sound Presentation (free guided tour at Rizal Park) and free LRT/MRT rides on june 12 (specific time). Anyway when your heart is into something, nothing is boring to do so have a heart that has passion for our past!

For complete details of activities, please click here from the National Historical Commission of the Philippines

Lilianne Cobiao of Wanderlass' Round the World Trip

"When your 35, still single and have saved enough then why not travel around the world?" says Lilianne Cobiao a blogger of Wanderlass who plans to go around the world solo in backpack style. Her trip doesn't have a fixed itinerary but more like wherever her feet will bring her. She didn't know how many particular countries and for how long will she stay on each but most probably would touch all the seven continents in the world and will be for a year.

This trip she said was planned two years ago but it took her only last March to do serious researches like getting visas, what country to start with etc. She happily shared her discovery that there's actually a lot of countries we Filipinos doesn't need to get a visa at all to go there.

Lilianne is an active member of Couchsurfing, a social networking sites of travelers. She said she will has booked her first one-way ticket to Israel first where she hosted Israelis in her home in Quezon City. She emphasized that travelling is not staying in posh hotels  and going to a certain place's first class spots but its about walking in the dirty streets, seeing a flea market, going to the terrains,   catching a sunrise in that side of the world or trying their weirdest food!

Best of all it is all about talking to the locals: sharing them your stories and them too, learning their culture and being part of them at least for some time.  To read her official blog post about it entitled  her RTW (Round the world) trip entitled "The World is My Oyster" please click here [Photo of Lilianne giving a talk in R.O.X Philippines last June 1st at Bonifacio Global City Taguig]

Wanted 150,000 Likes for Jose Rizal's 150th Birth Annivesary Fan Page

 

On June 19, 2011, the Philippines will commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of its national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal. We invite every patriotic citizen of the country to like this page (not this post but the official Facebook fan page :) and be updated of the coming events everyone can be part of. We still have 13 days to go. Let's let the world know that Jose Rizal still rocks up to now! Please click here.

CouchSurfing Manila presents CouchSurfing Manila Summer Scramble 2011

Couchsurfing Manila's one of the most awaited annual event, the CS Summer Manila Scramble 2011 happened in Ninoy Aquino Wildlife Park in Quezon City. At first I thought this Amazing-Race-like event will just be held within the park but I was wrong it was done all over Manila!

Twelve teams each consisting of four people and a total of 48 people walked, ran and commuted to different historical places in Manila to get clues and answers. The team that is first to finish to reach the last place by using the clues given in a paper is the winner.

Trust me but all were dead serious running and finding answers of their clues though most of them just met for the first time through that event. That's how I realized, "OMG! I'm in a real race!" We took, LRTs trains, jeepnes, buses, trikes and really lots, lot of walking and running. I have to admit the clues were really well thought of that it is not something one can guess in a matter of seconds and it is also time-bound.

The Mind Museum at Taguig, Philippines

Twenty prototypes of The Mind Museum‘s science exhibits were exposed to 300 pre-invited guests letting them the first to taste what it’s like to be in the Philippines’ first world-class science musem which will open late this year in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. The country’s P1 billion project which was raised purely through private donations was made into reality by a non-profit and non-sectarian group, Bonifacio Art Foundation led by Fernando Zobel de Ayala.

“The Mind Museum is purely a collaboration of Filipino talents composed of designers & scientists.” says Kai, one of the exhibit managers.  The Mind Museumcan accommodate 500-600 people at a time and it would take more than 4 hours to completely visit the place if one would spend a minute or so to the 250 group of exhibits or close to a thousand if counted individually. The entrance fee is not finalized yet but it may likely be comparative to other science-oriented or local parks in Manila but they also have socialized entrance fees for public students.

Free Backpacking Talk w/ Lilianne of Wanderlass About Her Upcoming Around the World Trip

A free talk about travel and backpacking around the world on Wednesday, June 1, 2011, 7:00 pm at R.O.X. - Bonifacio High St. Lilliane Cobiao is a blogger, traveler, scuba diver and couchsurfer. To read her blog Wanderlass you may click here. Joncy Sumulong is also a blogger and traveler and will share his latest India and South East Asia Trips. To read his blog Banana Pancake Trail, you may click here

Filipinas Stamp Collectors’ Club 0ffers FREE Tour to Manila Metropolitan Theatre

It was 12 noon and it’s so hot but when we went inside this 76-year old decaying theatre I felt a gush of cold wind from ceiling to my head then had goose bumps all throughout my body. I thought it’s only me who felt this way but so are my companions.“Air – cooled by spirits!” I heard someone at my back . It was so dark inside Manila Metropolitan Theater (Met)… so sad seeing this as one of the finest art deco building in the country on the verge of destruction that the tour guide shared “it is better to see this now in decaying process than haven't at all”. Then I saw in one of the posts peeling off this “Philippines Most Haunted” vandal while we go up in a rubbish and wooden stairs that lead us to the other side.

Going inside Manila Metropolitan Theater only requires a brave heart and consent. Filipinas Stamp Collectors’ Club offers a FREE once in a month tour to this place but make sure to let them know a month ahead. This is an effort of preserving postal mails, post cards and stamps at these times when everyone is into online world already.  Who knows perhaps through this tour we develop a new generation of philatelists? In China, stamp collecting is considered as one of the top investments in a highly cultural field because it is a strong hobby that does not perish after only a given time. In the Philippines, culture and heritage it is the last priority... as always.

There is also a brief lecture of Old Manila like the Manila Post Office of 1900 used to house stables so it won't be a surprise if someone carrying a letter sending it elsewhere and he/she smells a pee of a horse etc.  To know more about this Manila Metropolitan Theater tour you can visit their Facebook Fan Page Filipinas Stamp Collectors' Club

1. 
   

Inside Metropolitan Theater    

Serious hobbyists joining a bid for collector's items   

The tourists                                                

Filipinas Stamp Collectors' Club meets every 3rd Sunday at the Main Lobby of the PhilPost Building. Liwasang Bonifacio, Manila