OUR AWESOME PLANET

a Memorable Ultimate Kapampangan Show-Off (7.30am-12.30nn)

Related Posts:
Claude Tayag's Bale Dutung - The Best Kapampangan Restaurant in Pampanga
a Memorable Ultimate Kapampangan Show-Off (7.30am-12.30nn)
Lunch with Claude Tayag and Among Ed (12.30pm to 4.30pm)
Ligligan Parul - Pampanga's Giant Lantern Festival (4.30pm to 12.30mn)

First of all, Merry Christmas to all Friends of Our Awesome Planet !

At 1am last Sunday, I was driving Ivan Mandy and Spanky to their house in Oroqueta. We just finished our first and ultimate tour showcasing the Best of Pampanga. All of us were physically tired of the 17-hour Pampanga journey but our spirits were still high. We knew that we just executed the first and Ultimate Kapampangan Show-Off. It was the confluence of events, friends who enjoyed the same interest in travel and 4 bloggers clicking at the right moment that made this Pampanga experience a memorable one.

We would always say it is not a tour but an experience to remember. We wanted to create an experience with people who entered as strangers/ foreigners and who exited as friends because of the memories that we shared.  We will share with you the entire tour and our contacts. We would encourage other people to create their own tours or explore Pampanga on their own. Our vision is to elevate the level of tours delivered in the country showcasing the Filipino hospitality and creativity; and the great food we have in our country.   

Allow me to share with you the Ultimate Kapampangan Show-off Experience....
(Please let us know what you think about it.  And maybe you would want to join us next time.)

Old Manila Walks Gmail Account Hacked!

So That You May Know...and keep your eyes OPEN!

The email address of OLD MANILA WALKS (oldmanilawalks@gmail.com) was hacked last December 18, 2007. There has been VERY DUBIOUS messages under this specific email address going around about us being stranded in an African country and soliciting money. Please DISREGARD this as it is a HOAX.

We are not sure if we'll be able to get back to our system but unless we do, please be wary of any messages from oldmanilawalks@gmail.com, especially those that involve ASKING FOR MONEY. If it doesn't concern Manila or walking tours for that matter, then it was probably not sent by us.

Lessons of the Day:

1. Please be wary of your mails, even if its from the same email company as yours.These hackers can be very, very, VERY deceiving with the way they word their email.

2. This can NEVER be overstated but never, never, NEVER give out VITAL INFORMATION to any one or any company apart from those whom you personally know.

3. Sometimes, the simplest reminders are the ones over looked. In the end, they're the ones who cause the biggest headaches. For those have received the HOAX email and are not sure what it's all about, please visit our website or drop us a message at oldmanilawalks2@gmail.com.

Thanks for your patience and we apologize for any inconvenience, this is a major stub on our toe and we're limping at the moment but for sure, WE'RE STILL WALKING….

Ivan Man Dy
Old Manila Walks
www.oldmanilawalks.com

P.S. Thank you Anton of Our Awesome Planet for helping disseminate our message. Over the last few days, we have received over 30 text messages and phone calls confirming this HOAX email. Thank you to all those who took time to inform us.

Barney Live in Manila!

Aidan was speechless. It was priceless to see the wonder on his face when we saw Barney Live on its opening night last Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2007. We told him that there is a surprise that awaits him that night. I'm sure he did not expect to see Barney live :)

Together with his cousin Carlos, they danced the night away with Barney. He was so happy.


Baby Bop, B.J. and Riff joined Barney in his adventures in Manila. It is like watching the actual Barney CDs live. Rache and I enjoyed seeing Aidan, Carlos and other kids dance with Barney.

This is our favorite Barney song "I Love You, You Love Me" which was the last but memorable song for the night.

I love you, You love me
We're a happy family,
With a great big hug And a kiss from me to you
Won't you say you love me too?

I love you, You love me
We're best friends Like friends should be
With a great big hug And a kiss from me to you
Won't you say you love me too?

You still have time to catch it until Dec. 23, Sunday @ the Araneta Coliseum.
For ticket inquiries call 911-5555. P1,575 | P1,260 | P1,050 | P945 | P735 | P525

The Why Not Forum 2.0

For those who missed the first Why Not Forum, check out the second Why Not Forum at Mag:Net Cafe Bonifacio High Street

The Why Not Forum 2.0
Jim Paredes of the Apo Hiking Society
Leonard Co, Ethnobotanist
Erik Mana, Master Illusionist
Grace Dimaranan, President of the Animation Council of the Philippines
Fr. Jomar Legaspi, Founder of Learn.Ph
The Philippine Everest Team
+ spoken word performance by Juddha Paolo and Kooky Chua

Related Posts:
The Why Not Forum 1.0 -- Bakit Hindi?
Light Symphonies and ROX @ Boni High Street

Ark of Avilon

37 Jesus said to his disciplines: "As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 In those days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, merry making and giving in marriage, up to the day that Noah entered the ark. 39 They did not know until the flood came and carried them all away.

So will it be also at the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Two men will be out in the field; one will be taken, and one will be left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken, and one will be left. 42 Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come. 43 Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour of night when the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and not let his house be broken into. 44 So too, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come." (Matthew 24: 37-44)

This was the Sunday Gospel last Dec. 2 when Ark of Avilon soft opened to the public. Seeing it for the first time gives you a visual feel of Noah's Ark. As we enter the huge facade, you'll start to see the animals interacting with people similar with the setup of Kinder Zoo in Manila (beside the Manila Zoo). The days of Avilon Zoo's Ark of Avilon has arrived (located beside Fun Ranch in Tiendesitas).

Our favorite was Jenny Orangutan. She was playfully innocent and wants to interact with people.

Silverlens Portfolio Review with Romy Vitug, Derek Soriano, and Isa Lorenzo

I wanted to take my photography to the next level and I'm glad that Silverlens organized these portfolio reviews with the photography masters. I submitted my best pictures to the PAL photo contest and it failed to even reach the short list. I was devastated and thanks to Silverlens photos for organizing these portfolio reviews to get direct feedback from the masters on how I can take my photography to the next level.

Portfolio Review with Isa Lorenzo, Derek Soriano, and Romy Vitug. (Dec. 8, 2008)

All of them gave me the feedback that most of my photos were generic. They were postcard perfect but they do not reflect my personality or my own signature style of photography. The photos don't jump out except for those pictures taken with Aidan. It was devastating to hear na walang kwenta ang mga larawan ko.

Isa had some useful suggestions to create a collection of photos about a place and take a lot of photos about that place. I do hope to discover my own artistic style to the point that people looking at my photos will immediately identify that it was my photo.

I also learned that one of my photo strength is Aidan as the subject. Most of the photos were taken with love that's why Aidan comes out alive. I plan to create a portfolio of photos in time for Aidan's 3rd Birthday in January. Maybe I can do an exhibit somewhere in Serendra (if possible)

In the meantime, I'm thinking of selling my photos as postcards :)

No More World Pyro...

I was sad when I learned that there won't be any World Pyro Olympics for this year. What happened? I was looking for more info from the net and I can't find one. Have you heard anything about why they decided to cancel World Pyro this year?

Pampanga's Giant Lanterns

Last December, I met Ivan Henares and he was kind enough to tour me around Pampanga which culminated in the Giant Lantern Festival of San Fernando, Pampanga! Ever since then, I got fascinated with these giant lanterns that are 18th feet in diameter. I vowed to visit these lanterns when they are being constructed to appreciate them better.

Check out how these lanterns are created...