The Galleon Trade is here in Manila!

The Philippines, the First ASEAN Culture Capital 2010–2011, will host the International Día del Galeón Festival 2010: Connecting Continents. With a 250-year history that connected four continents, the Galleon Trade was an essential trade route that served as a vessel for cultural exchange.

The trade involved 250-year-old ships called galleons, which were built by expert Filipino seafarers out of Philippine hardwood.

"The whole world knows about the Silk Route, the Amber Road, but what about the Galleon Trade? For more than 250 years, the Philippines was the center of the world, with Asian, European and Latin American goods being traded on its very soil," the NCCA said.

It added, "Via the galleon, Mexican chocolate was brought to Asia, Spanish music was brought to the Philippines, and the world was introduced to Philippine abaca and flowers like the ylang-ylang."

Andalucia

A galleon named Andalucia is said to be the first vessel to have successfully gone around the world.Two hundred and fifty years later, a replica of the galleon sets sail for the Philippines in an effort to highlight the country's role in global trade and cultural exchange.

The new ship, built by the Fundacion Nao Victoria in Spain, will be docked at Pier 13 in Manila from October 6 to 9, 2010.

"Inside the galleon, everything is a replica from the 17th century, from the furniture to everything else. Everything was studied, we even tried to copy the commands (used by the ship's controls) from documents," said Fundacion Nao Victoria's Ignacio Fernandez in Spanish, as translated by Guadalupe Fernandez Morente.

He added, "When they get to see the replica, people will feel how people sailing in the galleon lived in the ship. We hope everybody can enjoy the galleon."

It will serve as the centerpiece for the first international Dia del Galeon Festival, which aims to "assess the impact of the Galleon Trade as a vessel of cultural transmission across the continents of Asia, Americas, Africa and Europe in terms of food, agriculture, arts, customs, knowledge and world views."

Relevance

Dia del Galeon festival director Cecile Guidote Alvarez noted that Filipinos have already expressed "much excitement and interest" over Andalucia's arrival, and is hoping that more people will take part in the events they have lined up this year.

"We want to recharge connectivity and relive history. We also want Filipinos to take pride in their heritage and creativity," she said, adding that they are also aiming for the "advancement of the welfare of Filipino seafarers."

Sen. Edgardo Angara, chairman of the Dia del Galeon festival, said, "We want to come back to these past centuries to remind ourselves of our rich history. Connectedness, that's what we're commemorating."

Asked about the relevance of the centuries-old galleon to modern-day living, Angara said, "The same exchange is actually taking place today, (only through different means)."

The Spanish community, meanwhile, has also commended the Philippines for spearheading the world's first Dia del Galeon festival.

Maria Molina, representative of the Spanish Embassy of the Philippines, said Andalucia serves as a "tool of cultural diplomacy" and "marvelous way to celebrate our past."

(news from abs cbn website)

Here is there schedule...

THE GALEON ANDALUCIA (OCTOBER 6-9THE GALEON ANDALUCIA (OCTOBER 6-9) 

The Galeon Andalucia is a replica of the 17th century Galleon. Guest can hop on-board and jump into history!

WHERE:   PIER 13, SOUTH HARBOR, MANILA (Next to Manila Hotel)

ADMISSION:  FREE

DATES

October 6  1:00 pm - 4:00pm

October 7 9:00am – 12:00 noon, 1:00 pm - 4:00pm

October 8 8:00am – 12:00 noon, 1:00 pm - 4:00pm

October 9 8:00am-12:00pm

 

DAILY SCHEDULE (except october 6,9)

9:00am-12:00pm – LARGE GROUPS

9:00am-4:00pm PUBLIC

 

For Groups of 30 or more, email us your information and desired time between 9:00am-12:00pm. If there are no slots available, we will give you an afternoon schedule.

INDIVIDUAL GUESTS

There is no need for reservation for individuals and groups with less than 30 people

 

AGE LIMIT

Children under eight years old are not allowed due to safety reasons. Children under twelve need to be chaperoned

 

LOGISTICS

The Capacity of the Boat is 100 at a time, and guests will be asked to queue in line. Please expect some waiting.

For large groups and walk ins, it is suggested that you arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled time slot. Late comers will be bumped off their slot

Some walking will be required from the registration to the boat, we advise that you are as comfortable as possible. 

 ACTIVITIES

There will be waiting area where guests can view an exhibit, mural paintings and information on the Galleon Trade. Also, there will be a creative trade fair selling indigenous arts and crafts, and items from around the world.

PARKING

There is no ample parking at the pier, however there will be some at Quirino Grandstand.

FOR RESERVATIONS

E-mail Abi Portillo at diadelgaleon@yahoo.com with your information including: day, time, number of guests, contact information. 

The Galeon Andalucia is a replica of the 17th century Galleon. Guest can hop on-board and jump into history!

For more information, log on to diadelgaleon.blogspot.com

REEL DEAL: Resident Evil After Life

It was my first time to see the Resident Evil series in a movie house, because I always watch it in HBO or other movie channels (of course cuts are already applied) And I was anticipating a different kind of experience with this one as it said to follow the original plot from the game. Also for this version, it also incorporates the newest 3D technology for cinemas (however, the one I watched was not in 3D... too bad)

As I could see it, this one is kinda weak in terms of the plot. Not that I have known the origibnal story, but the other elements are so predictable and was too focused  more in the effects. Also a heartbreaking fact is there are a lot of scenes that one may notice to be too immprobable in reality and physics. The effect however was good and did justify the ambiance of a world filled with zombies.


It seems like a simple family movie plus a lot of bloody violence. Prepare your heart though, since it suspense at is was originally created. I'm currently confused if this may or may not have another sequel. The effort was good but we need more entertainment...

Deliberation time kids!

Movie summary in 3 lines: Plants vs Zombies!
Technical Effects 3 out of 5 stars

(Still decent technical effects, altough it puposely made slow motions to ephasize 3D effects)

Plot 1 out of 5 stars (I know what will happen in the first place)

Popcornmeter (the rating if this movie would make you hungrier while watching) 2 out of 5 stars (Do you want zombies with that?)

Acting and Actors 3 out of 5 stars (fair enough)

DVD worthiness 3 out of 5 stars (given you have a 3D TV)

Sequel worthiness 3 out of 5 stars (works fine with me)

Overall Rating 3 out of 5 stars (Kinda sad since it does have nice effects, but it really seems awkward with the plot, hope they learn from these mistakes)

Blue Water Day Spa Fun Run 2010!

BlueWater Day Spa’ Innovating Wholeness Fun Run

Run with BlueWater Day Spa’s newest faces: SAM MILBY and MIKAELA LAGDAMEO-MARTINEZ together with current endorsers Karylle Tatlonghari, Akihiro Sato and Boom Labrusca. They will participate alongside our Innovating Wholeness Icons: Coach Rio dela Cruz, Daniel Matsunaga and Fabio Ide, with the special participation of Sen. Pia Cayetano, Kiko Rustia Coach Alfrancis Chua and 40 Brazilian Model-Endorsers. Remember the date October 17, 2010 – 5AM at the Seaside, SM Mall of Asia. Also enjoy a soothing massage after the race!

Registration Fee: (NON-REFUNDABLE AND NON TRANSFERABLE)

Distances of : 3K – P500, 5K – P600, 10K – P700

Race Kits include:

Singlet, Towel, Race Bibs, Race Map, and Drawstring

bags with lots of freebies and a Blue Water Day Spa Run singlet!

You may also go to these participating outliets for cash registration:

• Time ( in SM Mall of Asia and Greenbelt )
• Rox ( in Bonifacio High Street )
• Columbia ( in Greenbelt 5 )
• Rest Toe Run ( in Gateway Mall )

For questions please e-mail:

secretariat@bluewaterdaysparun.com
or visit the website
http://bluewaterdaysparun.com/

BlueWater Day Spa holds singlet designing contest for Fun Run

            BlueWater Day Spa encourages participants to join the 'Jazz Up Your Singlet' contest as part of the BlueWater Day Spa 'Innovating Wholeness' Fun Run which will be held on October 17, 2010 at the SM Mall of Asia Grounds Seaside.

            As part of BlueWater Day Spa's celebration of beauty and wellness, the 'Jazz Up Your Singlet' contest enables runners to channel beauty into their own singlets by being able to design it themselves. They can unleash their creativity in a lot of artistic ways like drawing, painting, or putting sequins or buttons on it, provided that the BlueWater Day Spa logo remains untouched.

            Registered participants are all welcome to join the contest. One singlet is equivalent to one entry. Contest winners will get special gift certificates from BlueWater Day Spa and they will have the chance to model their singlets in the fitness catwalk. Consolation prizes are also up for grabs to 100 finalists.

Mechanics:

1. Open to all registration of the Blue Water Spa Run.

2. Participants must jazz up the singlet provided run the race kit by using all kinds of materials 

(ribbons, lace, sequins etc.) The entire singlet maybe decorated and jazzed up provided the blue water day spa run logo is not covered and should be completely seen and highlighted.

3. In order to participate to the contest participant must wear the jazzed up singlet during the race.

4. The criteria for judging: Originality of: Design – 25% Creativity – 25% (use of decoration materials), Adherance to theme – 15% Overall Impact – 35%

5. A total of 100 finalists will be asked to do the fashion show at the end run. Each finalist will be given 15 seconds to wear and show off their creation in the cat walk.

6. Prizes: c/o Blue Water Day Spa.

Blah Blah Blogs: ONDOY Year One

Yes it been a year now, Many things had happened in my life that I could go back to the day Ondoy came. There was not  damage since we were at the 4th floor but after that day. There was also a series ofinfortunate events that happened to me and my family too. But for the people  directly affected by this event, their lives were changed forever. 

Yes we say climate change, we said we are contributors, we are to blame... but was there anything done? For this year, the rain was not severe compared to last year. Are we waiting for another Ondoy to pass by and make another catastrophe? Did we really did measure to prevent this and make our cities safer place to live?

Just this year, Pakistan was also in peril as it experienced the same thing but on a much larger scale. They too are still in crisis, but after aid arrives and homes restored will we all become complacent of these things because we have experienced it? 

To prepare is essential, and to have will is what most of us fail to do. I pray for the souls of those people who lost their lives and the other damages that led to many complicated things for the country. For now, after a year, rebuilding does not stop, it just another beginning and also a time if we did made a change to prevent this one to ever happen again. 

Fight Somatopause in Immuvit’s Run Against Time

Jim Saret, Immuvit endorser

GOING through the somatopausal age (starting late 20s/early 30s) is inevitable, but this doesn’t mean that you can’t manage the physical and physiological changes it brings.

On September 26, 2010 (Sunday), learn how you could best fight the symptoms of somatopause through Immuvit’s Run Against Time at Greenhills Shopping Center (GSC).

Coach Jim enlists Coach Russel Esutaquio

 to show how a squat is properly done

Join us as we hold a fun 3 to 5-kilometer run at the country’s top bargain hunters’ mecca at 5:30 AM and share with you a special fitness program tailor-fit for those in the somatopausal age.The program is called META-FIT and is designed by one of the country’s most-sought after coaches, Jim Saret.

“META-FIT is a workout program that takes less than 5 minutes to do. It has been scientifically proven to trigger the release of somatotropin, a growth hormone whose decline is directly related to the physical and physiological changes brought upon by somatopause,” says Coach Jim, who also currently handles the country’s top three sports teams: the RP Smart Gilas Basketball Team, the RP Swimming Team, and the RP Boxing Team.

Somatotropin is commonly referred to as the human growth hormone and is produced in the human body and excreted into the blood by the somatotrope cells of the pituitary gland. Current research indicates that fast, short, and intense workouts help unleash these natural growth hormones.

“META-FIT is designed to help your own body produce its own natural growth hormones,” says Coach Jim.

Coach Jim tries his Metafit exercise on two volunteers

He adds, “Basically, somatopause is the weight gain and metabolism slowdown stage that typically happens when you hit 30 and above. It's going to happen, whether we like it or not.”

Immuvit’s first Run Against Time was held at Bonifacio Global City, wherein over a hundred participants joined the event. For Immuvit’s Run Against Time at the Greenhills Shopping Center, interested participants may send in their name, age and contact details to: immuvitrunagainsttime@gmail.com. The first 100 registrants will get a free Immuvit Run Against Time singlet.

Runners begin the fun run

Why Travel? I'll Tell You Why...

Tell me one person who does not want to travel, and I will say to him that you just lost the value of living...

Seriously, no one in the world does not like to travel. Because life is a big journey, whoever we are, we need to walk or travel from point A to point B somehow. People are not stationary to one position like plants, we are made to be animated and appreciate the vast and wide world we are living in. That is why, we do love traveling. And this journey never ends as we go to different phases in our lives, if it so, then you have to make the most of your travel experience.

For many traveling could be a luxury, but its not the distance that make it special, its how one can savor and enjoy living in that place. Traveling can also be just a walk around the neighborhood that you have not yet discovered. If there is time and resources, then make the experience more unforgettable by trying new cuisine, going to new heights, enjoying what the world can offer. Philippine Travel is fun yet unforgettable. Our country is blessed with so many wonders that one can avail. From scenic beaches to lush forest and mountains. Even in the urban jungle of Metro Manila Cities are also fun finds in every corner.

Going with friends and family is what makes us happy and make the travel more comfortable and easy. One may go trough a lot of thing while on a journey, but having someone you know lessens the hassle or even get rid of it. I can testify these truths and I believe so will you, Its time to get out of your lonely cubicle and take a good 360° turn around you. Life has so many surprises along the way and even in the most frustrating days and cold nights, you can actually find solace in your soul, relax your mind and body or even flex those muscles that needs exercise.

 That is why my post is always on a journey, traveling to different places makes it more exciting especially whenever I get lost and never ask for directions...

 

 

 

Here are some of my post that I did when traveling to different places 

Misa de Gallo Diaries - a 9 day diary of my experience and travels to churches for the novena masses.

Otaku Expo - a anime inspired that started my love for cosplay, komiks and animé.

Poong Nazareno - the most challenging and exciting travels I've been to, even if its within the city.

I am a traveler so that is why I am joining the contest for the  

Lets Go Sago! Anniversary!

SHIA LABEOUF: BALANCES MILLIONS AND IDEALS IN “WALL STREET: MONEY NEVER SLEEPS”

SHIA LABEOUF:  BALANCES MILLIONS AND IDEALS IN  

“WALL STREET: MONEY NEVER SLEEPS”

            Jake Moore (Shia LaBeouf)  may be worth millions at a ludicrously young age but he is also keen to do some good in the world by investing in green energy amid a fascinating world intoxicated by the sheer thrill of as much money as possible.

In Oliver Stone’s “Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps,” LaBeouf’s Jake is a honest trader who gets embroiled in ominous financial dealings that is bound to spin dangerously out of control.  With Michael Douglas’ Award-wining role Gordon Gekko out of prison and Josh Brolin’s Breton James, “Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps” multiplies greed and avarice where there is no such thing as ‘enough.’

“Wall Street 2” steers Jake Moore (LaBeouf), a smart young proprietary trader into making millions at the venerable Keller Zabel Investments, run by Louis Zabel (Frank Langella), Jake’s mentor.  Jake’s girlfriend, Winnie (Carey Mulligan), meanwhile, is supportive of his drive – fueled by an idealism she finds lacking in her father Gordon – to invest in green energy.  A wave of rumors that Keller Zabel is stuck with billions in toxic debt causes the company’s stock price to suddenly nose-dive, and Louis Zabel is forced to fight for his company’s life.  When the government refuses a bail-out, Bretton James (Josh Brolin), a ruthless billionaire and master manipulator, arranges a takeover of Keller Zabel for a fraction of its worth. This move then propels Jake to avenge his losses by finally forging an unlikely alliance with Gordon.

To play the role of Jake, Oliver Stone cast Shia LaBeouf, star of the hugely successful “Transformers” films, as well as the recent “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” and the thriller “Disturbia.” “He reminds me of a young Tom Cruise [with whom Stone worked on “Born on the Fourth of July”],” says Stone of LaBeouf -- “The same drive, work ethic, and energy.”

LaBeouf was drawn to the role of Jake for several reasons, including his admiration for Stone’s body of work. “I love ‘Wall Street’ – I’m here because of it,” says the actor. “As a movie fan, you learn a lot watching Oliver’s movies. You get a lot of facts as well as entertainment.”

In addition, starring in an Oliver Stone film was a change of pace for the young actor.   “I’ve been making fantasy films for a while,” he explains.  “I wanted something with teeth, and Oliver Stone makes movies with teeth.”

LaBeouf describes Jake as someone who comes from a modest background, and whose tenure as a caddie for Louis Zabel, the head of the esteemed investment bank Keller Zabel, would lead to much bigger things.  “Jake is a guy who came from nothing, in Long Island, with a father who’s non-existent,” the actor explains.  “Jake was hired right out of business school and put into Keller Zabel as a proprietary trader, and starts trading his own account.  He works his way up the ladder and becomes Zabel’s right-hand man at a young age.”

 “When I took the movie I knew little of the world of finance – I didn’t know what a derivative was, I didn’t know stocks, bonds,” he continues.  “Oliver said, ‘If you want to do this you’d better get cracking [and do your homework],’ and I walked into a brokerage house office and asked them to set me up an account.” 

LaBeouf then dove into his research with zeal.  After what amounted to an intensive course in finance at various investment and trading houses, LaBeouf made a modest investment grow exponentially. He also passed his Series 7 test, becoming a licensed broker-dealer.

 “It is amazing. I come from poverty. My mother laughs about it all the time. She went on welfare; we had no money and now I’m trading upwards of $300,000 in the morning. It’s outrageous. It’s really outrageous.  My Mom’s happy as a clam,”  LaBeouf concludes on the current state of his career.

“Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps” opens September 29 in theaters from 20^th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.