Archive for June, 2008
Filed under current events
I rarely watch news on TV. The few times that I do, I am reminded that the Philippines is hopeless.
I’ve been following the news on the disaster that struck MV Princess of the Stars, but it was my first time to watch it on TV last night. It’s different reading about the news from actually seeing the contorted faces of those who are in pain for the loss of their loved ones. The meaning is taken to a different level.
I live just a block away from the center they put up to accommodate the relatives of the sunken ship. My housemate says it’s terrible there. I’ve been thinking of checking it out, but I doubt I’d want to be there. Most of the passengers on that ship were Cebuanos, and quite a few people I know know someone on that ship. I cannot imagine being in their position.
I also cannot imagine how scary it must have been for the passengers to be slapped with waves as big as a mountain. What were the last few minutes of their lives like, especially for the elderly and the children?
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Filed under Photohunt, art, human interest, travel, trivia
This is the Crown Fountain, a fountain of many colors in the Millennium Park of Chicago. The park boasts of one-of-a-kind art pieces, this fountain by Catalan artist Jaume Plensa among them.
The fountain changes colors every few seconds or so. Sometimes a face of a person or a collage of several faces appears on the LED screen. The structure is made of glass, built inside which are the lights that give it color. The sprinkles of water add to the bright effect. If I had brought a change of clothes, of if we had more time, I would have played under the fountain. 
I’m the girl in a blue-and-white striped jacket in the third and fourth photos. Photos were taken by Robert Haggard.
This is my entry for this week’s PhotoHunt.
Filed under technology, work
Less than a year after releasing Leopard, Apple announces Snow Leopard at this year’s Worldwide Developers Conference.
It will be the newest Mac OS X version in a span of seven years, after Cheetah (10.0), Puma (10.1), Jaguar (10.2), Panther (10.3), Tiger (10.4), and Leopard (10.5).
Earlier this year we were told that the 10.6 version would be called Thundercat. I wonder how the old man Steve Jobs gets inspiration for the names of their cats?
(Isn’t she adorable? )
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Filed under Photohunt, travel
When I found out this week’s theme for PhotoHunt, I immediately thought of its purest form—that which flows from a mountain. I couldn’t think of any mountain better than Mt. Banahaw.
Mt. Banahaw is a mystical mountain in Quezon province in the northern part of the Philippines. It is said to be one of the psychic centers of the world. It is said that only those who are ready to heed the call of the mountain can make it there.
Here’s an account of the Banahaw legend. And here’s a shot of one of the streams that flow from the mountain:
Photo taken by my Banahaw buddy, Jeconiah Placio.
I miss Banahaw already. 
Filed under travel, work
I got what I went there for, except the Donsol part. We were told that we needed at least a day to see Donsol, and the boss would have none of it. If it was up to me, I would have gone seeing places first before doing fieldwork. (I am just kidding, future employers. I am a model employee, cross my fingers.)
I also learned that butanding season is from November to May, so I guess we were there at a wrong time. I wasn’t sad at all because the boss said we’re going back there some other time. I’m pinning my hopes on that. Maybe then I’ll get to play with butandings (ha!), and maybe I could go wakeboarding in Camarines Sur (as if, you can’t even swim without a lifejacket).
Jester, I tried the authentic Bicol express, minus the San Mig Light. I took a picture in case you doubt my honesty:
I didn’t even need the pitcher of cold water that I prepared. I’m a brave girl. Tehee.
I’m told the dish in the photo has less sili than the usual. Whatever. Man, that dish was prepared in Sorsogon. It must have the right amount of sili, right? Right.
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