The Freudian Slip Of A Bacolodnon

One place the family can visit this summer vacation is the Enchanted Kingdom in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. Going to E.K. is very easy. On our end, we took the bus (JAC Liner) to Sta. Rosa. The Bus terminal of JAC Liner is at Buendia corner Taft. Their buses are clean and come with free Wifi. We then got off Walter Mart in Sta. Rosa where we took a tricycle (paid 40 pesos for 4 people) which brought us to E.K. During our recent family outing at EK, we arrived at around noon. Elementary students enjoy discounts this summer. It includes a free drink and Tender Juicy hotdog. After having a quick lunch, we immediately went around the park and rode every ride we could. We left EK at around 7pm. Enchanted Kingdom is definitely a cheap place to enjoy international-quality rides. My favorites are still the Rio Grande and the Log Jam. Try to come early to avoid long lines. On weekends, they open at 11am and closes at around 9pm. Be sure to wear sunscreen this summer as you go around EK. ...

So it's our first day of family summer vacation and since I got no vacation leave for the summer, the family decided to spend at least 2 weeks in Manila where I am based and enjoy the sights of the capital city of the Philippines. Family's Day Out in Manila Slideshow : Bien’s trip to Manila , National Capital Region , Philippines was created by TripAdvisor . See another Manila slideshow . Create your own stunning slideshow with our free photo slideshow maker . I have so many pictures to share but here's a slideshow courtesy of TripWow that I feel appropriately captures the experience. The day was spent strolling around Rizal Park, Manila Ocean Park and a late afternoon stroll inside SM's Mall of Asia. Like it? Share it. Get the Share on Facebook widget and many other great free widgets at Widgetbox ! Not seeing a widget? ( More info )Like it.

Finding a perfect place to have lunch with 2 very picky kids is a challenge. So, while "hunting" for "feeding grounds" at SM Mall of Asia, we happened to pass by Pepper Lunch. It was actually my first time to notice Pepper Lunch and since it wasn't that crowded at that time, we decided to try the food. I ordered the Teriyaki Beef Pepper Rice with egg. The kids ordered Teriyaki Pepper Chicken. Seated in a comfortable couch, we waited for only a few minutes. The service was fast. The waiters were friendly. And the food was served sizzling hot. For dessert, we tried the recommended Molten a la mode: a chocolate cake with gooey icing on top with vanilla ice cream on the side. For a complete set of menu, you can visit their official webpage here . The SM MOA branch is just one of many branches of Pepper Lunch. There is one in TriNoma and also one in Robinson's Ermita. There is also one at the Power Plant Mall and also at the Shangri-La Plaza Mall. ...

While I was in Florida over a year ago, I was brought by my host family to Busch Gardens: home of the gorillas. It is actually a zoo and a fun park rolled into one. The park has many highlights other than just the gorillas. There is this insane roller coaster called the SheiKra which is the first Dive Roller Coaster in the US. The name SheiKra is derived from a shikra, an Asian-African hawk that is known to dive straight down for its prey. I really wanted to try the ride but I guess I was too chicken to ride this totally insane roller coaster. Imagine being dropped 90 degrees facing the ground at the height of about 200 feet. Not only that, the train then goes around this insane loop (Immelmann Loop). There are other "safer" features of the park, those that can appeal to the faint-hearted such as myself. There is the Serengeti Safari where I saw giraffes for the first time. Among the ride, I rode the Stanley Falls, almost similar to Enchanted Kingdom's Log-Jam. ...

As part of my "online" Visita Iglesia series wherein I am featuring churches that I have visited in the Philippines and abroad, today I am featuring St. Peter's Basilica, the heart of Roman Catholicism. St. Peter's Basilica, found in the Vatican City in Rome, is definitely a sight to behold. I never knew that I would have such opportunity to see it, let alone step inside its hallowed halls. When I was in Europe a year ago, I was lucky to have found the opportunity to go to Rome when our ship docked at Civitavecchia. Together with some friends, we caught a train to Rome and spent the next 8 hours walking around The Eternal City, where Ceasars and Popes roamed. I was very lucky as well since the trip to Rome coincidentally fell on a Wednesday and Wednesdays are usually scheduled for Papal audiences in the square. By the time we reached St. Peter's square, the Pope was about to make his entrance into the square. I fell in line and waited to see Pope Benedict X...

Looking forward to the Easter Triduum, many Christians around the world will be contemplating and reflecting on the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Looking around for video reflections in youtube, I came across what seemingly at first an awkward video made by somebody on the Passion of Christ. It was actually an MTV with snippets from the movie of Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" but with a different background music: Bryan Adam's "Everything I do, I do it for you." The song is originally a love song but when connected with the Passion story of Jesus, it actually makes sense. Well, you be the judge of the video. The following are also videos that could help you reflect while celebrating the Easter Triduum. Here's another powerful video of the Passion this time with Josh Groban's emotional "You Raise Me Up." Here's a video with a beautiful song, a song that perhaps Mary would sing to her baby Jesus....

As a continuation of my "online" Visita Iglesia, I am highlighting the various churches that I have visited in the Philippines and around the world. For this Holy Wednesday, I am featuring the Church of St. Mark's in Venice. While I was in Venice, I really had to make sure that I would visit St. Mark's Square and the historic Church. There are two ways you can reach St. Mark's Square and the Basilica: you can walk or you can ride the water taxi. The latter is faster. The former is cheaper. If you don't have enough time but have enough money, then take the water taxi. If you have plenty of time to waste, then walking to St. Mark's would also be an exhilarating experience. St. Mark's Basilica is a good example of Byzantine architecture. Adjacent to the church is the Doge's Palace. According to text books, it is also called the Church of Gold. From their official website, the church is described in detail: St. Mark's plan is Greek cross....

As part of my 'online' Visita Iglesia, today I am featuring the Church of the Sto. Nino in Cebu City. Every time I visit Cebu, I would always make sure to drop by in this Basilica. The place in itself is very historic. The altar is very amazing, displaying the images of various Augustinian saints. It has a courtyard where outdoor masses can be held. The church also houses a museum where a variety of Sto. Nino are being displayed, including artifacts and books during the Spanish Era in the Philippines. If you are patient enough, you can also line up at the side of the church leading right to the room where they enshrine the image of the Child Jesus. Taking pictures inside the museum isn't allowed though so I couldn't take any. A few meters away from the Church is the Magellan's Cross which is basically a marker, commemorating the exact spot where Ferdinand Magellan planted the cross in Cebu. Going to the Basilica is not difficult. There are a lot of jeepneys pa...

This Holy Week, Filipino Catholics will be flocking the churches to celebrate this week-long feast which will actually culminate on Easter Sunday, the Catholic Church's highest and most solemn feast. One of the ways Catholic pilgrims would celebrate Holy Week is to do "Visita Iglesia". Pilgrims hop from one church to the other to visit and pray. While there is no rule of thumb regarding the Visita, Pilgrims would say they would need to visit 7 churches for "good luck". As part of my Visita Iglesia (online version), I will try to feature one Church per day (starting today). I will start with the Church of Quiapo, the home of the miraculous Black Nazarene. A visit to the Church of Quiapo would not only focus you on the insides of this minor Basilica but also on the courtyard outside of the Church. Indeed, the courtyard is a mixed of the holy and the mundane. Like it? Share it. Get the Share on Facebook widget and many other great free widgets at...