tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-164487922024-03-06T14:53:33.111+08:00YAMBURGER CHRONICLESI Travel, I Photograph, I SurfYam Manuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03328917912004825217noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16448792.post-50206901215323140072013-07-11T19:54:00.001+08:002013-07-11T20:01:30.614+08:00Pilipinas: St. William's Cathedral, Laoag Belfry & Macy's Diner<div style="font-size: 100%;">
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: times new roman;"><em>The “Pilipinas” series is this blogger’s way of expressing how beautiful the Philippine Islands are. This is a detailed account of his experiences while backpacking through the majestic islands of The Pearl of the Orient.</em></span>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/yamburger/9259496567/" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2855/9259496567_327fcb67a2.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; font-size: 100%;">I woke up to the sounds of the bells of St. William’s Cathedral. My intention for the early rise was to capture the sunrise silhouetting the belfry. I grabbed my jacket for it was really cold at that time. After passing a block, I witnessed an amazing picture of the belfry. Too bad the electrical lines got in the way of my shot.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/yamburger/9259495707/" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5550/9259495707_1dfc8bd361.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; font-size: 100%;">After grabbing breakfast at Mc. Donald’s, I went back to the hotel to prepare my stuff. I was scheduled to visit the windmills that day. Before boarding the bus to Pagudpod, I availed of my free breakfast courtesy of Tiffany’s (Breakfast at Tiffany’s!). I really need to be full for the long travel ahead. I was instructed to go to Macy’s just right below.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/yamburger/9262274328/" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3682/9262274328_95e3bac43b.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; font-size: 100%;">Macy’s is not your ordinary food park. It’ll remind you Pop Tate’s Cafeteria made famous by Archie Comics. Macy’s also has James Dean memorabilias all over the place. I had Ilocos Norte’s famous longaniza and boy was it good! Its longaniza is much firmer compared to Pampanga’s. Plus, the unique garlic taste makes it more “katakam-takam” among others.</span></div>
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<br />Yam Manuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03328917912004825217noreply@blogger.com0Laoag City, Philippines18.1960128 120.5926678999999218.075337299999997 120.43130639999993 18.3166883 120.75402939999992tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16448792.post-20866478311530522822012-09-23T22:51:00.000+08:002012-09-26T15:09:54.046+08:00Philippine Sea Sentinels: Faro De Cabo Bojeador<div style="font-size: 100%;">
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; font-size: 100%;">Faro de Cabo Bojeador was my second lighthouse. My first visit to this Faro unexpectedly <a href="http://wrmanuel.blogspot.com/2007/12/rumors-are-true-after-all.html">didn’t go well</a>. The experience was so distressful that <a href="http://wrmanuel.blogspot.com/2011/01/yamburger-chronicles-at-gma7s-misteryo.html">it was even featured in a local television show</a>. But hey, as the saying goes, there is always a second time! I made the better decision this time by bringing along friends with me.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/yamburger/7487441260/" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8005/7487441260_dfd6bc7aac.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: georgia; font-size: 100%;"><strong>Specifics</strong></span> <br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; font-size: 100%;">Faro de Cabo Bojeador is the most western of the sentinels on the northern coast of the island of Luzon. It lights the bend separating the West Philippine Sea and the Babuyanes Channel. It likewise assists ships heading south towards the ports of Salomangue in Ilocos Sur and Curmimao in Ilocos Norte. It also assists ships heading towards the Port of Aparri.<br /><br />Engineer Magin Pers y Pers completed the design on June 1, 1887. Its initial estimate was Php.39,196.89 (<i>Presyong iPhone 5 lang!</i>). It was first lit on March 30, 1892.<br /><br />The tower is 16.3 meters high. Built of locally made bricks, the octagonal shaped tower has an inner dimension of two meters and an exterior dimension of three and half meters. The top of the tower supports an overhanging balcony, which is surrounded and supported by decorative metal brackets. The attic, where the cupola and lantern rest, is cynical. It is important to note that Faro de Cabo Bojeador still retains its original cupola and lantern.<br /><br />The dome supports a ball shaped flue, which emits exhausts from the flame of the original gaslight. The lantern is fitted with a first order Fresnel Lens that is partially intact. As a consequence of the great 1990 earthquake of Luzon, parts of the lens collapsed and the alignment of the mechanism was displaced. The Coast Guard retains the original mechanism of the lighthouse. Such mechanism complies with the basic specification for all first order lighthouses.<br /><br />The pavilion located below contains three apartments, each provided with separate living and sleeping areas, and two offices. One of the offices, the watch room, which is also believed to be the most haunted, is accessed through the gallery; the other through the connecting hallway. The walls of the pavilion are made of bricks while the partitions are a combination of bricks and wood. Interior doors are square headed and crowned by a grilled <i>calado</i>. The doors are made of <i>narra</i>. Unlike other lighthouses designed in the country, the window designed for Faro de Cabo Bojeador did not conform to the usual tripartite division. Only a <i>ventana</i> glazed by glass and protected by wooden jalousies are provided. The pavilion has been transformed as a museum.<br /><br />Located at the lowest level of the complex is the service building and the courtyard. At the center of the courtyard is the cistern, which is accessible by a small well. Straddling the courtyard to the east and west are the three kitchens and three storage areas. The main gate of the lighthouse is located in the southern and western flank of the courtyard. A flight of stairs in a “T” formation directs the visitors to the pavilion.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/yamburger/7487641728/" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8027/7487641728_13541c1ab7.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: georgia; font-size: 100%;"><strong>How To Get There</strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; font-size: 100%;">Faro de Cabo Bojeador is regarded as the most accessible lighthouse among all in the Philippines because it is situated in a hill which is just a 3-minute drive from the main highway going to Pagudpud. For those backpacking, it’s just a 15-minute trek encircling the hill. Biking enthusiasts will also find this a good choice of visit since the road leading to the lighthouse is well paved.<br /><br />If you’re commuting, catch a bus heading to Laoag (Partas, Maria De Leon) or straight to Pagudpud (Florida) where you can request the conductor to drop you over Burgos where the lighthouse is located. If you’re dropping in Laoag, better stay in a hotel there so you can visit <a href="http://wrmanuel.blogspot.hk/2008/04/ang-ganda-ng-ilocos-norte-laoag-city.html">all the historic and nice places Southern and Eastern Ilocos Norte has to offer</a>. In downtown Laoag, just hop into a tricycle and ask the driver to bring you to the bus terminal plying to Pagudpud. Back in 2007, the fare for the tricycle ride within the city is Php.7 and the fare to Burgos is Php.60.<br /><br />Having a road trip up north with your best friends all in one car still tops it all. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: georgia; font-size: 100%;"><strong>Best Time to Visit</strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; font-size: 100%;">The keeper suggested that the lighthouse is open to tourists in the morning and in the afternoon but warned us that he wouldn’t advise anyone to visit beyond 6:00PM because “weird things” happen. These “weird things” were well documented in Halloween specials.<br /><br />Some serious photographers consider doing night shots of Cape Bojeador Lighthouse. However, I am yet to see a night photograph shot within its compound. All I saw were evening shots, zoomed for a star-studded effect, taken by a person positioned at the start of the road connecting the hill to the highway. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: 'book antiqua'; font-size: 80%;"><strong>Reference</strong>:<br />Manuel Maximo L. Noche, <em>Lonely Sentinels of the Sea: The Spanish Lighthouses in the Philippines</em>, (UST Publishing House, 2005)</span><br />
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Yam Manuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03328917912004825217noreply@blogger.com0Burgos, Philippines18.5161111 120.646111118.3956581 120.4881826 18.6365641 120.8040396tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16448792.post-77192164547503100302012-05-18T12:13:00.000+08:002012-05-18T12:24:36.764+08:00Early Morning Shots of Laoag City's Belfry<br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; font-size: 100%;">Most of the time, tourists staying in Laoag, Ilocos Norte are unaware that the best time to take a walk around the city is on early mornings just a few minutes before sunrise. Plus, make it a routine during the early days of December because the cold breeze is just too much to ignore.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/yamburger/7219499098/" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7102/7219499098_300f4cbcc2.jpg"/></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; font-size: 100%;">If the sky will permit, you’ll be able to witness an amazing picture of the belfry silhouetting against the sunlight. Save for some electrical lines, you’ll get a decent shot.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/yamburger/7219487984/" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7079/7219487984_ca51ff5da2.jpg"/></a></div>
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<br />Yam Manuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03328917912004825217noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16448792.post-6989906180933935792012-03-06T00:30:00.007+08:002012-03-06T01:19:51.598+08:00Philippine Sea Sentinels: Corregidor Lighthouse<p style="font-size: 100%; "></p><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: 100%; font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); ">As my first sentinel, Corregidor Lighthouse will always be special.<br /><br />I made the visit during my <a href="http://wrmanuel.blogspot.com/2010/10/parting-words-nfjpia-region-3-2002-2003.html">JPIA days</a> sometime in November 2002, when my friends and I were scouting for a venue for the JPIA Regional Convention that year. We were informed by our friends from PUP-Bataan that there was a casino resort in Corregidor Island (our JPIA Bataan Provincial President actually was vouching for the pretty casino girls). From Subic, Zambales, our group travelled at two in the morning to reach the shores of Mariveles, Bataan just before sunrise. From there, we were greeted by a World War II Veteran who happened to own the fishing boat we rented. His domain, as I recall it, was full of World War II memorabilia. Mariveles was a quiet industrial and fishing town then.<br /><br />One thing I remember about our boat ride then was that our boatman caught a barracuda with his bare hands during the trip. That was all the excitement we had during the 20-minute transfer. Upon arrival at the island, we bargained with the Tranvia operators for a discounted trip around the island. One of the several stops in the tour is a drop over the lighthouse.<br /><br />I didn’t bring my camera during our trip back in 2002. However, I came back with a camera and with my beautiful Lola last 2007 thanks to Sun Cruises.</span></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/yamburger/6810175430/" style="TEXT-DECORATION: NONE"> <img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7193/6810175430_4b34db40ac.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-size: 100%; font-family: georgia; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); "><strong>Specifics</strong></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 100%; font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); ">The lighthouse stands at what was known then as Top Site, the highest portion of Corregidor Island. The original was built on January 20, 1935. Equipped with 2nd order lens, it primarily served as a guide to vessels entering and leaving Manila Bay.<br /><br />The Spanish tower was built using rocks originating from Meycauayan, Bulacan. Unlike most Spanish lighthouses in the Philippines, the Corregidor lighthouse is uniquely built by leaning away from the design prevalent in the former. The base of the lighthouse was composed of quarters before. These quarters are now boutique shops catered to tourists visiting the island. The rooms outside were the kitchen and the storeroom then.<br /><br />Unknown to many, Corregidor Island served as a prison, hence the Spanish word “<em>corregir</em>” or to correct, during the Spanish and American periods. During the Japanese siege, the original lighthouse, like most structures in the island, was not spared from the bombs. It was eventually rebuilt and the tower was redesigned and emblazoned with a crucifix to commemorate those who sacrificed their lives to defend the Philippines. It was recently upgraded and ironically, it was the Japanese government which funded its rehabilitation.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 100%; font-family: georgia; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); "><strong>How To Get There</strong></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 100%; font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); ">Just like what we did, you can rent a private boat to Corregidor Island from Mariveles, Bataan. There are also boatmen in Ternate, Cavite who can bring you to the rock. Just a warning though, the sea can be very rough during the afternoon.<br /><br />If you like it hassle-free, there is always <a href="http://www.corregidorphilippines.com/packages.html">Sun Cruises</a>.<br /></span><br /><br /><p></p><br /><span style="font-family: 'book antiqua'; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size: 80%; "> <strong>Reference</strong>:<br />Manuel Maximo L. Noche, <em>Lonely Sentinels of the Sea: The Spanish Lighthouses in the Philippines</em>, (UST Publishing House, 2005)</span><br /><p></p><br /></div>Yam Manuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03328917912004825217noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16448792.post-55878161421308724502011-12-05T15:57:00.011+08:002011-12-06T12:13:30.817+08:00Philamlife Christmas Concerts<p></p><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/yamburger/6463859837/"STYLE="TEXT-DECORATION: NONE"> <img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7031/6463859837_14d1411fcb.jpg"/></a><br /><p></p><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#666666;">The Philippine American Life and General Insurance Company (Philamlife) maintains the Christmas tradition of conducting, at its Head Office in U.N. Avenue, Ermita, Manila, a series of nightly concerts featuring some of the country’s best chorale groups.<br /><br />Here is the schedule for this year:<br /><br />December 5 (Monday) – Philippine Madrigal Singers<br />December 6 (Tuesday) – UE Chorale<br />December 7 (Wednesday) – UST Singers<br />December 8 (Thursday) – University of the Visayas Chorale<br />December 9 (Friday) – Kilyawan Boys Choir & Voces Aurorae<br /><br />Admission is free. Programs start at 6:00 PM.<br /><br /></span></div>Yam Manuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03328917912004825217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16448792.post-75837560153431881992011-05-20T09:06:00.005+08:002011-05-20T09:17:39.867+08:00Filtering What's Important<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#666666;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color:#666666;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:180%;">Youngblood : Forgetting</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">By Raoul Felipe, M.D.<br />Philippine Daily Inquirer<br />Posted date: May 03, 2011</span></span></span><br /></div><br /><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color:#666666;"><br /><em>“How do you measure a year in the life?... Measure in love.”—“Rent”</em> </span></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color:#666666;"></span></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color:#666666;">IT WAS your usual Monday morning: the hustle and bustle of patients, papers and clinical abstracts that needed to be written, spilled coffee—you know, that kind of Monday. In fact, you would have missed it if you were too busy texting or going about your business. (And indeed, most people did.) There was no fanfare after all, no parade or entourage or flower girls or sweet music, and yet there we were in the middle of Ward 1, a huddle of doctors slowly gathering for the culmination of a most captivating love story. You could feel the charm flitting about the place, a contagious energy infecting a group eager with anticipation yet hushed by the sacredness of what was happening.<br /><br />Lola had been diagnosed with stage 4 nasopharyngeal cancer (a brutal disease), and doctors had given her only weeks to live. The mass had grown beyond normal proportions (it was the size of a football) and it didn’t take long to know that her prognosis was beyond awful. She was unable to stand anymore, crippled and bedridden by a sickness that not only drains you physically but mentally and emotionally as well. She had become dependent and needy, relying on Lolo for pretty much everything, including going to the bathroom.<br /><br />Throughout all this, I never heard Lolo complain. Not one bit. And he never left her side. In the months that I had been rotating in Internal Medicine, I never saw a more committed bantay—running around like a headless chicken, trying to cope with whatever orders we gave: “Lolo, paki lakad po itong dugo sa laboratoryo. Lolo, kailangan po natin bumili ng gamot. Lolo, dalhin niyo na po siya sa X-ray.”<br /><br />It didn’t matter how demanding the task or how intimidating the Philippine General Hospital can get (I actually still get lost here) or how expensive the medicines were, Lolo never failed to deliver. I didn’t know how he managed to make ends meet but every time we needed something, it was Lolo who supplied it.<br /><br />So there we were in Ward 1, underdressed in our scrub suits, trying to contain our kilig. The other patients paid no attention—they had, after all, their own sicknesses to worry about. And the other doctors didn’t mind us too, being too busy doing what was important for them. The nurses were apathetic as well: a celebration like this didn’t need attending when you are too busy doing your job and what-not. But those of us who came, those of us who thought that we couldn’t let the event go unwitnessed, we all learned a lesson we will never forget.<br /><br />And so on Sept. 13, 2010 at 10 o’clock in the morning, Lola and Lolo got married after spending nearly 50 years together. They had spent every waking hour together—literally in sickness and in health—and now it was time to end it together, too. It was Lola’s last request, her dying wish.<br /><br />In a world that values resumés and bank accounts and positions and accomplishments, Lola had nothing to offer. She was beyond poor, had no resumé to brag about, and certainly had no position except what she was by choice: a humble mother and wife who spent her afternoons doing laundry and frying kamote-cue on the street. She had done nothing out of the ordinary, either. She never played in a band or reigned as prom queen or appeared on TV. But when she smiled, she smiled like she meant it. The edge of her eyes were creased with the lines of age and wisdom and her laugh penetrated through you, making you wish that you could smile like she did and laugh like she did—with sincerity and substance. Her bald head, long battered by bouts of chemotherapy, was always covered with a bonnet (the ones you find along Minesview Park, with “Baguio” embroidered along the edge, which never failed to make me smile because like hers some of my best memories were of Baguio).<br /><br />Lolo was as unassuming and normal as Lola. He was a fisherman. His dark skin had been baked by the sun, his hands callused by hauling nets all day, his thin body no longer framed by taut muscles because they could barely afford one meal a day now. When I looked at Lolo I was always reminded that what I was doing was nothing compared to what he did.<br /><br />In spite of all they had done—or rather all they had not done—they taught me what I had known all along but chose to disregard: that <strong>life is not about remembering or even re-learning what is important, but about forgetting what is not</strong>.<br /><br />I believe that deep in our hearts we already know what is important. We were created with that truth and beauty in us. Yet along the way, distracted by a world that places value on what is seen and measured, we have replaced what is important with what is not.<br /><br />We need to develop the habit, <strong>we need to develop the skill of forgetting. We need to because every waking day is a constant battle between what is valuable and what is not. We already know what matters, but we need to forget what doesn’t</strong>.<br /><br />In the twilight of her life, as the sun set and the end of her journey neared, Lola had already forgotten what was unimportant. After 80 years worth of living and working and smiling and laughing, she knew love is all there is to it. That money lasts weeks, positions last years, careers last decades—but relationships are forever.<br /><br />(Raoul Felipe, M.D., 25, is a graduating medical student at UP-PGH.)</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color:#666666;"></div><br /><div align="justify"><br /></div></span></span>Yam Manuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03328917912004825217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16448792.post-57027942127019449222011-02-03T13:25:00.009+08:002011-02-11T17:37:05.519+08:00Can you Dig’ Bus Disasters?<div align="justify"><span style="color:#666666;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><em>The "Can You Dig’ It?" series is this blogger’s attempt in hitting the <strong>ratio decidendi</strong> of a particular case decided by the Supreme Court of the Philippines. This series of self-authored compendiums is this blogger’s way of suppressing the rigorous life in law school</em>.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong>BATACLAN v. MEDINA</strong><br />G.R. No. L-10126 October 22, 1957<br />Montemayor, <em>J</em>.<br /><br />"<em>In case of death of or injuries to passengers, common carriers are presumed to have been at fault or to have acted negligently, unless they prove that they observed extraordinary diligence</em>."<br /><br /><strong>Facts</strong>:<br />A bus operated by its owner defendant Mariano Medina was on its way to Pasay City. Among the passengers was Juan Bataclan. While the bus was running, one of the front tires burst and the vehicle began to zig-zag until it fell into a canal or ditch on the right side of the road and turned turtle. Bataclan and three others could not get out of the overturned bus.<br /><br />After half an hour, came about ten men, one of them carrying a lighted torch made of bamboo, evidently fueled with petroleum. These men presumably approach the overturned bus, and almost immediately, a fierce fire started, burning and all but consuming the bus, including the four passengers trapped inside it. The lighted torch brought by one of the men who answered the call for help set it on fire.<br /><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569333466944377074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 314px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 165px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwuU9zrMIk_KmI7gh0IGsioIDl_EkQSk7gF00Ynf3sqqCgi4UEGIek3VEGEU5zvsy5g-SMBrK2NzQCL95uzQFfSPklqf3oXO3-xa_OgGsppxKfxUR76V5fkW_SbT2Gb8RTmY76/s400/noynoy-tv-ad-3.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><br /><strong><span style="font-family:times new roman;">"<em>Come to think of it, my tenure is filled with bus disasters eh?...</em>"</span></strong></p><p align="left"><br /></p><p align="justify">By reason of his Bataclan’s death, his widow brought the present suit to recover from Mariano Medina compensatory, moral, and exemplary damages and attorney's fees in the total amount of P87,150. After trial, the Court of First Instance of Cavite awarded P1,000 to the plaintiffs plus P600 as attorney's fee, plus P100, the value of the merchandise being carried by Bataclan to Pasay City for sale and which was lost in the fire. The trial court was of the opinion that the proximate cause of the death of Bataclan was not the overturning of the bus, but rather, the fire that burned the bus; that at the time the fire started, Bataclan was still alive, and so damages are awarded, not for his death, but for the physical injuries suffered by him.<br /><br />The plaintiffs and the defendants appealed the decision to the Court of Appeals. The latter endorsed the appeal to the SC because of the value involved in the claim.<br /><br /><strong>Issue</strong>:<br />Whether or not defendant is liable for the death of the victim<br /><br /><strong>Held</strong>:<br />Yes. Pursuant to the provisions of the civil code, in case of death of or injuries to passengers, common carriers are presumed to have been at fault or to have acted negligently, unless they prove that they observed extraordinary diligence.<br /><br />The SC disagrees with the trial court’s ruling. Proximate cause is defined that cause, which, in natural and continuous sequence, unbroken by any efficient intervening cause, produces the injury, and without which the result would not have occurred.<br /><br />In the present, the proximate cause was the overturning of the bus, this for the reason that when the vehicle turned not only on its side but completely on its back, the leaking of the gasoline from the tank was not unnatural or unexpected and that because it was dark, the rescuers had to carry a light with them. In other words, the coming of the men with a torch was to be expected and was a natural sequence of the overturning of the bus, the trapping of some of its passengers and the call for outside help.<br /><br />Moreover, the burning of the bus can also in part be attributed to the negligence of the carrier, through is driver and its conductor. According to the witness, the driver and the conductor were on the road walking back and forth. They, or at least, the driver should and must have known that in the position in which the overturned bus was, gasoline could and must have leaked from the gasoline tank and soaked the area in and around the bus, this aside from the fact that gasoline when spilled can be smelt and directed even from a distance, and yet neither the driver nor the conductor would appear to have cautioned or taken steps to warn the rescuers not to bring the lighted torch too near the bus.</span><br /><br /></p></span>Yam Manuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03328917912004825217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16448792.post-5844601003097279732011-01-16T22:48:00.005+08:002011-01-31T09:21:56.055+08:00YAMBURGER CHRONICLES in GMA7's Misteryo<span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://wrmanuel.blogspot.com/2007/12/rumors-are-true-after-all.html"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">A very popular entry of mine</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> got featured in GMA7's Misteryo, a horror documentary show hosted by Ryan Eigenmann, last 01.01.11.</span></span> <div><span class="Apple-style-span"></span><br /><br /><iframe class="youtube-player" title="YouTube video player" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/0c4FsGXcI-Q" frameborder="0" width="480" height="390" allowfullscreen="" type="text/html"></iframe><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div></div></div>Yam Manuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03328917912004825217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16448792.post-28459048106461194922010-11-16T11:16:00.016+08:002010-11-17T18:50:00.193+08:00Ford Expo 2010: Meeting the Fiesta and the Shelby<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#666666;">Last October 16-17, Ford Group Philippines staged the largest ever Ford Expo at the SM Mall of Asia open grounds. Since Mechanical Engineering is a class of its own, I decided to drag my Mapuan brother to witness Ford’s lineup of vehicles.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#666666;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#666666;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539985961924680514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFoumckb9qdh94Y9W8B6Y23Y0Qp9mBtxlkdWEMc4RFK1f5J_eL-p-78AvC5y4jyYCZNNacBpumCg5n_QQLuxEC6QfYj7gDUUziJUsoHAY2HgcOYVXDrl6ohXHY8gStxEQEaYJi/s400/06_PS+Fiesta.jpg" border="0" /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="center"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;color:#666666;">The Ford Fiesta</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify" align="center"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b><span style="color:#666666;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">The event featured Ford’s newest baby and the mo</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">st anticipated ca</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">r in the Philippines, the Fiesta. For European peeps, the Fiesta need</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">s no introduction since it has been plying their roads for y</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">ears already. Very unique about this car as compared to its competitors is its Voice Control Technology which is available in the Sport version. You can literally talk to your car to control your mobile phone (via Blue</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">tooth) or your music. It’ll also make a pretty good surfer’s car if you ask me.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><?xml:namespace prefix = o /><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#666666;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="BACKGROUND: white; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><span style="color:#666666;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">Although it bears some external resemblance with the </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">Mazda 2, the Fiesta has the upper hand because of its en</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">gine power (121 bhp at 6,000 RPM and peak torque of 15.1 kg-m at 4,050 RPM in the 1.6-liter version). Also, the best part is the price. It starts at Php. 670,000 for the 1.4L sedan with a manual transmission and goes at Php. 816,000 for the top of the line Sport version. This is the Fiesta’s advantage over the Honda Jazz. In comparing it with the Chevrolet Cruz</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">e as to fuel efficiency, the Fiesta is our winner because basically the former weighs more.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="BACKGROUND: white; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color:#666666;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">A replica of the Ford Fiesta DC-Ken Block Rally Car was also </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">available for special display. Ken Block hails from the <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 /><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">U.S.A.</st1:place></st1:country-region> and is widely known for his amazingly insane stunt driving. He is reported to be visiting Manila this early December (Update: His visit will not push through.). I was stunned after watching him do donut tricks with the Fiesta. Try searching “Ken Block gymkhana video” at youtube to see what I mean. Pity the tires.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; BACKGROUND-: justifycolor:white;" ><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#666666;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="BACKGROUND: white; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#666666;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539985326625963858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy_RMc0ItN28FSoj663_foxGeoCYc244jgU0qSny_XnRQyqUPSIs13BryiDGgL5Ym0PLJJcJjQWI-OW74emHBIj7n-9Nu0jQjWYWP4NsKhaL2UmvyUx8UrBn4oUjEaL_0_jIBL/s400/01_PS+Front.jpg" border="0" /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#666666;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="center"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;color:#666666;">The Ford Shelby</span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></p><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="color:#666666;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">The event also showcased the 2009 Mustang Shelb</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">y GT500. Expect 540 hp and 510 lb-ft of torque with this muscled-up car’s 5.4-liter 32-valve Quad Cam V-8 engine.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"> This eye candy also sports a set of 18-inch alloys aside from the racing stripes. Of course, don’t forget the requisite Cobra badge.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#666666;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539984101454312050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcflt59iN88XxhObE8JnTsdnwi9FlyAGsTdHGswj41-UogmSLstUtenputUuBiP6gz8lLyka3x6Qi7yXOyKA6bord15JRiz2OQOo-pYOQ4od9lIyXlZkI9SfgOcfPl-oskYF8m/s400/02_PS+Shelby+Rims.jpg" border="0" /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="center"><b><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#666666;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#666666;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="center"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#666666;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="center"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;color:#666666;">Test Drive & Racing Simulators</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify" align="center"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(102,102,102);font-size:small;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#666666;">All vehicles were available for scrutiny. We were supposed to check out the Fiesta in both its sedan and hatchback variants for ourselves but unfortunately the test drive was only until 6PM.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#666666;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#666666;">Visitors were also treated to test their pro driving skills through the Focus-TRS Racing Simulators. Winners in the challenge received prizes from DC apparel and Ford <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Philippines</st1:place></st1:country-region>. I did not participate and only tried the simulator because my gaming skills are already too rusty for competition.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#666666;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="center"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;color:#666666;">Vroom!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></p><span style="color:#666666;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">In total, the Expo was a huge success and a great weekend alternative for the driving public. Aside from parading the usual steaming models, Ford Group Philippines did a great job in introducing the Fiesta. The marketing guys are also worth commending because of how informative they went in presenting the product while maintaining client interest all throughout, as compared to other dealers.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#666666;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>Yam Manuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03328917912004825217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16448792.post-20868807276788637282010-10-21T10:15:00.004+08:002011-05-03T19:00:19.419+08:00Farewell Message: JPIA Region 3 Council 2002-2003<div align="justify"><span style="color:#666666;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">As I write down this message of mine, I can’t stop from taking a glimpse of my experiences with the council. I placed a photograph of the group in front of me so that each stroke of my pen resembles a fond memory I had with these loving individuals.<br /><br />The council reminds me of the game Chrono Cross. This game gave significance to the Threads of Fate. It says there that every person possess a special and unique kind of thread. Serge, the main character, has a very strong thread. As he embarked on his adventures through time, this thread of his engulfed the threads of his comrades whom he met along his journey. His thread is so strong that whenever Serge makes decisions for himself, the results of his decisions magically affect the fate of his friends, each being different and suiting for that particular individual. This fusion of threads of fate by his team not only made them victorious at the end of the game, but also accomplished each member’s goal by linking their fates together as one.<br /><br />A year ago, the council engulfed my thread the same way Serge did in the game. Conventions, meetings, and gatherings became tonics of togetherness and elixirs of unity. Our term became a sphere of camaraderie.<br /><br />My thread of fate grew stronger in each of our gatherings as it interconnected simultaneously with the others’. What made it more special is that by being a part of the team, my relationship with my two college buddies grew stronger and into the most shining part of my thread.<br /><br />Since our threads of fate became bonded together just like in the game of Chrono Cross, we can now face the challenges that bound us as future Certified Public Accountants and emerge victorious.<br /><br />God Bless us all!</span><br /><br /><br /><em><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><strong>Author</strong>: This is a partly edited version of this blogger’s farewell message published in the second issue of <strong>The Disclosur3</strong> for the School Year 2002-2003. The aforementioned issue featured the 9th Grand Annual Regional Convention held at the Subic International Hotel in Subic Naval Base last January 24-26, 2003.</span></em></span> </div><span style="color:#666666;"><em><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><br /><br /></span></em></span><span style="color:#666666;"><em><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><br /></span></em></span>Yam Manuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03328917912004825217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16448792.post-71707932104267169302010-07-17T09:59:00.003+08:002010-07-18T09:48:50.611+08:00How To Report Internet Scams In The Philippines<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family:'trebuchet ms';">If you think you have received a fraudulent spam email, forward it to the <a href="http://www.ntc.gov.ph/">National Telecommunications Commission</a> at (+632) 926 7722 or e-mail at ospac@ntc.gov.ph .</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><br /></span></span></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgApcN8N6WEiWEtrygf_faONMoVtsjQOVZKztTb1nsii-NbLE4HqBZrwrq8FFRRS1sd2sI9x-NaHCJChr0L03GuQp_LHKOBf_1KGbZUCoafY34DV7O3bVhyVsst4QEMrKR3Yh48/s400/Hack.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 271px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495054531200689442" />Yam Manuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03328917912004825217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16448792.post-44825324461405421592009-04-25T13:33:00.011+08:002012-02-28T11:59:04.910+08:00Pisamban: Church of St. James, Bolinao, Pangasinan<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><em><span style="color:#666666;">"Pisamban" means "Church" in Kapampangan. Philippine Catholic Churches have always been fascinating not just because of their historical significance, but also because of their grand structures which symbolize the strong foundation of the Catholic faith. Come and join this blogger as he documents the Catholic Churches all over the Philippines.</span><br /></em></span><br /></div><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328498759439378594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUdfn1228Z6tiD_k1p2rwHrLNNz6BOmS4Uwz1zwzmb4z_vLsn5VmfH7LF7SVBAPNITtvAZfgsEMnUzq276_7scSw4nP2-vnN9TTe68XpyoVU-3gYNsQGb0hI01zDHYSqT7Daxi/s400/11_Bolinao+Church.jpg" border="0" /> </p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#666666;">The Church of St. James was built by the Augustinian Recollects in 1609. Located at the town’s center, it also served as a fortress for protection against pirate attacks.<br /><br />The church’s façade has positioned columns alternated by windows with arches on the side. You can see wooden statues of saints properly positioned on the façade.<br /><br />The church features a special antique side altar which contains sculptured faces which are Aztec-like in nature. Its monolithic wooden door was beautifully carved with floral designs.<br /><br />Bolinao is 348 kilometers north west of Manila.</span></p>Yam Manuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03328917912004825217noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16448792.post-18979474416298919232008-12-22T16:47:00.013+08:002012-02-28T12:05:11.869+08:00Law School Partying: Curiously Awesome<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgltG1zSFbwmiv_9FZcub_XsuyEqTXObDTHLssjtLPsXDG8pDv7gx0aCXVcXAVCjq0eCfsrZGPQtvo7f5DXjYnAi9aEtqPuTxKIGQNsMOfrnPqRJNjMo1tGIvJGyc9JRr0vKG0R/s1600-h/19_Naubusan+Ng+Lights+SIG.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291540598794467794" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgltG1zSFbwmiv_9FZcub_XsuyEqTXObDTHLssjtLPsXDG8pDv7gx0aCXVcXAVCjq0eCfsrZGPQtvo7f5DXjYnAi9aEtqPuTxKIGQNsMOfrnPqRJNjMo1tGIvJGyc9JRr0vKG0R/s320/19_Naubusan+Ng+Lights+SIG.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#666666;">Last December 18, 2008, my friends from <a href="http://www.sanbeda.edu.ph/law_main.html">SBC Law</a> & I went to attend a party sponsored by the Law School Government. It was a <a href="http://www.cwtv.com/shows/gossip-girl">Gossip Girl</a> themed party. The male to female ratio was really surprising, deflecting from the fact that the law profession is purely dominated by the male species. Besides, what’s the use of a Gossip Girl theme if all the attendees were bro’s. <a href="http://bryski.multiply.com/">Big Bry</a> was also spinning that night so we’re also there for support.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#666666;">I never expect this side of law school to be so much fun. Events such as this give us more than just a break from studying and digesting cases--- these events enable us to get to know the fun side of the community we thrive in as law students. Hey, <a href="http://www.whysoserious.com/">we can’t be serious all the time</a>.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#666666;">Study hard, party harder!</span><br /><br /></div>Yam Manuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03328917912004825217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16448792.post-53023733185237834272008-08-29T21:49:00.006+08:002010-11-16T11:45:31.960+08:00Can you Dig’ Boorish UP Products?<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#666666;"><em>The "Can You Dig’ It?" series is this blogger’s attempt in hitting the <strong>ratio decidendi</strong> of a particular case decided by the Supreme Court of the Philippines. This series of self-authored compendiums is this blogger’s way of suppressing the rigorous life in law school.</em></span><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#666666;"></span></div><p align="justify"><span style="color:#666666;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong>Atty. Melvin D.C. Mane vs. Judge Medel Arnaldo B. Belen</strong><br />June 30, 2008<br />Carpio Morales, <em>J</em>.<br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvh2CF8SZ_t_UBUSp9IS6zrU4W8e_2UuAUPymJ5m_oar4NmZhZellTuMJBkeEfH2xhQe1RrozMK_rTkcobwgb5haMav41WfJG-SQcXIK1e5669k4UNfjeNs3wTNohQGxLXHHMe/s1600-h/Proud+UPD.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239937994957861586" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvh2CF8SZ_t_UBUSp9IS6zrU4W8e_2UuAUPymJ5m_oar4NmZhZellTuMJBkeEfH2xhQe1RrozMK_rTkcobwgb5haMav41WfJG-SQcXIK1e5669k4UNfjeNs3wTNohQGxLXHHMe/s400/Proud+UPD.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">“<em>An alumnus of a particular law school has no monopoly of knowledge of the law.</em>”<br />–<strong>Supreme Court of the Philippines</strong><br /><br /><strong>Facts</strong>:</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#666666;">This case involves a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calamba_City">Calamba City</a> regional Trial Court judge who told a lawyer that since the latter is not a product of the <a href="http://www.upd.edu.ph/">UP College of Law</a>, they could not be equals.<br /><br />In the court proceedings last February 27, 2006, Belen boorishly asked Melvin Mane, the petitioner, if he graduated from the <a href="http://law.upd.edu.ph/">UP College of Law</a>. The petitioner replied that he graduated from <a href="http://www.mlqu.edu.ph/">Manuel L. Quezon University</a> and was proud of it.<br /><br />The judge then responded: “<em>Then you’re not from UP. Then you cannot equate yourself to me because there is a saying and I know this, not all law students are created equal, not all law schools are created equal, not all lawyers are created equal despite what the Supreme Being [said] that we all are created equal in His form and substance.</em>”<br /><br />During the subject hearing, not only did the respondent judge make insulting and demeaning remarks to the petitioner but also engaged in unnecessary lecturing and debating. Belen even directed a court employee to show Mane the judge’s statements of assets and liabilities, among others. </span></p><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#666666;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#666666;">Mane filed an administrative complaint shortly after the incident, and the Office of the Court Administrator (OCA) found cause to file an administrative case, although the lawyer later withdrew the complaint, admitting his “impulsiveness.” The OCA declared that the withdrawal or desistance of a complainant from pursuing an administrative complaint does not divest the Court of its disciplinary authority over court officials and personnel. </span></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#666666;"><div align="justify"><br /><strong>Issue</strong>:</div><div align="justify">The issue at hand here is plainly whether or not the statements and actions made by the respondent judge during the subject hearing constitute conduct unbecoming of a judge and a violation of the <a href="http://www.chanrobles.com/codeofjudicialconduct.html">Code of Judicial Conduct</a>.<br /><br /><strong>Held</strong>:</div><div align="justify">The Court held Judge Medel Arnaldo Belen GUILTY of conduct unbecoming of a judge. Respondent clearly went out of bounds. </div><div align="justify"><br />An alumnus of a particular law school has no monopoly of knowledge of the law. By hurdling the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination">Bar Examinations</a> which this Court administers, taking of the Lawyer’s oath, and signing of the Roll of Attorneys, a lawyer is presumed to be competent to discharge his functions and duties as an officer of the court, irrespective of where he obtained his law degree. For a judge to determine the fitness or competence of a lawyer primarily on the basis of his alma mater is clearly an engagement in an <em><a href="http://philosophy.lander.edu/logic/person.html">argumentum ad hominem</a></em>. </div><div align="justify"><br />The Court cited Belen’s violation of Canon 3 of the Code of Judicial Conduct, which mandates that a judge should be courteous to counsel, especially to those who are young and inexperienced and also to all those others appearing or concerned in the administration of justice in the court. He should be courteous and civil, for it is unbecoming of a judge to utter intemperate language during the hearing of a case. He should not interrupt counsel in their arguments except to clarify his mind as to their positions. Nor should he be tempted to an unnecessary display of learning or premature judgment. He may utilize his opportunities to criticize and correct unprofessional conduct of attorneys, brought to his attention, but he may not do so in an insulting manner. </div><div align="justify"><br />A judge’s official conduct and his behavior in the performance of judicial duties should be free from the appearance of impropriety and must be beyond reproach. He must at all times be temperate in his language for the noble position in the bench demands courteous speech in and out of the Court. </div><div align="justify"><br />Respondent judge’s insulting statements which tend to question complainant’s capability and credibility stemming from the fact that the latter did not graduated from UP Law school is clearly unwarranted and inexcusable. Respondent opted for a conceited display of arrogance, a conduct that falls below the standard of decorum expected of a judge. If Belen felt that there is a need to admonish complainant Atty. Mane, he should have called him in his chambers where he can advise him privately rather than battering him with insulting remarks and embarrassing questions such as asking him from what school he came from publicly in the courtroom and in the presence of his clients. Humiliating a lawyer is highly reprehensible. It betrays the judge’s lack of patience and temperance. A highly temperamental judge could hardly make decisions with equanimity. </div><div align="justify"><br />The Court also reminded Belen that judges should always be aware that disrespect to lawyers generates disrespect to them. There must be mutual concession of respect. Respect is not a one-way ticket where the judge should be respected but free to insult lawyers and others who appear in his court. Patience is an essential part of dispensing justice and courtesy is a mark of culture and good breeding. </div><div align="justify"><br />Respondent Judge was REPRIMANDED and was further warned that a repetition of the same or similar act shall be dealt with more severely. </div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"><br /></div></span>Yam Manuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03328917912004825217noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16448792.post-29545307149568858982008-07-16T17:13:00.008+08:002010-11-08T09:59:34.987+08:00Can you Dig’ Piracy?<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:times new roman;color:#666666;"><em>The “Can You Dig’ It?” series is this blogger’s attempt in hitting the <strong>ratio decidendi</strong> of a particular case decided by the Supreme Court of the Philippines. This series of self-authored compendiums is this blogger’s way of suppressing the rigorous life in law school.</em></span></div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223540199608204818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5PCFrMTlLL4CaMf_rKr46G7gkN_6HWIeqBS_TVv7IheVGIy23lTFSN8mzyU_uOYYTynIcI2TBUZ6ah-1CGa-jI1HyIUiSuLG-u_asqVdP3vWW2grbr6u12E3h7TKVX-Ojb0tO/s400/DeppKeiraGeoffreyPiratesOfTheCaribbeanAtWorldsEnd+Disney+Pictures.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#666666;"><strong>People of the Philippine Islands vs. Lol-lo and Saraw</strong><br />G.R. No. L-17958 February 27, 1922<br />Malcolm, <em>J</em>.<br /><br /><strong>Facts</strong>:<br />On or about June 30, 1920, two boats containing <a href="http://www.minbuza.nl/en/welcome/Netherlands">Dutch</a> subjects sailed from one Dutch island to another. After navigating for a number of days, the second boat, while still on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_East_Indies">Dutch East Indies territory</a>, was surrounded by 6 <a href="http://www.doe.gov.ph/ER/archives/win_opp/cd/vinta2.jpg">Vintas</a> containing 24 armed <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moro_(Philippines)">Moros</a>, which includes Lol-lo and Saraw. The Moros pretended to ask for food to board the boat. Once on the boat, they attacked some of the men, violated two of the women, and took all of the cargo. The Moros took the two women to the island of Maruro and repeatedly violated them. The two women escaped afterwards. After returning to the island of <a href="http://www.tawitawi.gov.ph/">Tawi-tawi</a>, both Lol-lo and Saraw were captured and charged with the crime of piracy.<br /><br /><strong>Issue</strong>:<br />Whether the Philippine Courts have jurisdiction over a crime that happened in the high seas<br /><br /><strong>Held</strong>:<br />Guilty. Pirates are in law <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hostis_humani_generis"><em>hostis</em> <em>humani generis</em></a>. Piracy is a crime not against any particular state but against all mankind. It may be punished in the competent tribunal of any country where the offender may be found or into which he may be carried. The jurisdiction of piracy unlike all other crimes has no territorial limits. As it is against all so may it be punished by all.</span></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#666666;">Piracy is robbery or forcible depredation on the high seas, without lawful authority and done <em><a href="http://www.law-dictionary.org/ANIMUS+FURANDI,+crim.asp?q=ANIMUS+FURANDI%2C+crim">animo furandi</a></em>, and in the spirit and intention of universal hostility.</span></div>Yam Manuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03328917912004825217noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16448792.post-20487552202201294432008-05-19T09:33:00.011+08:002010-10-15T11:08:25.928+08:00Precious Adona's FHM Autograph Signing<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrJup9v0wmmWEOzdSmPhAIjDlYo2EwDpH_oRuKDkRtM0TXKsz8Sue5W9GryAYZqN7_BjEYg4Ea5TItJ3-FsZn1OoVmdAWbW3B_6rqQ1RVld-upTB_vU-7PD-7MpqLFmPnFdWtU/s1600-h/Precious+Adona+Autograph+Signing.jpg"></a><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#666666;">Slim Oriental Morena Chick with Curves at the Right Places = AWESOMENESS<br /><br />I attended the <a href="http://www.fhm.com.ph/index.php">FHM</a> <a href="http://wrmanuel.blogspot.com/2007/08/cristine-reyes-fhm-autograph-signing.html">Autograph Signing</a> of <a href="http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/2679/970385319lhy6.jpg">Precious Adona</a> at Robinson’s Movieworld in <a href="http://www.robinsonsmalls.com/">Robinson’s Galleria</a> last May 9. The line was long and it was filled up by nerds like me (yeah right! :P).<br /><br />Presh was really nice to her fans and she was the exact opposite of everything that is snobbish. She was “<em>kalog</em>” enough: <a href="http://zacharykern.files.wordpress.com/2007/09/dsc06662.jpg">she gestured a peace sign like a Japanese Girl</a> whenever her picture was taken. Presh hugged and kissed her female fans. I think that was very sweet of her. And yes she was hot… she wouldn’t be a cover girl if she wasn’t noh? I don’t know what the judges of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Be_Bench/_The_Model_Search">Be Bench</a> were inhaling when they eliminated her, but hey Presh got up when she fell and right now she’s in front of a huge standing ovation. Pun not intended…<br /><br />I really think she’s that type of girl you can introduce to your Mom that’s why it saddens me whenever I recall that she did “<a href="http://www.gmanews.tv/story/80257/Maui-Taylor-returns-to-the-sexy-genre-via-Torotot">this movie</a>” to elevate her career in showbiz. What’s even more saddening is that she had scenes in the movie with <a href="http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/metro/view/20080430-133775/Police-file-complaint-vs-Baron-Geisler">this asshole</a>. <em>Sigh</em>…</span></div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204489522891773586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSS5DwVeJi_XHXyfpx55rPsLS_XCaqzzeL9P00eguHYVmULDgqlFAw4pkEf1si650Z4dOmeMjpXi6QTLBkdFRKY_E03kZthWPAvyj3M7a8cu3r6q9Il7v8P3xpkHLTd1RMUjsY/s400/Center+Yam+Signed.jpg" border="0" /><strong><span style="color:#666666;"></span></strong> <strong><span style="color:#666666;">"<em><span style="font-family:times new roman;">So Are You...</span></em>"</span></strong><br /><div align="justify"></div></div>Yam Manuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03328917912004825217noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16448792.post-87555824031916409822008-04-14T13:58:00.034+08:002011-09-08T18:02:44.685+08:00Pilipinas: Laoag City & The Heritage Town of Paoay<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#666666;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><em>The “Pilipinas” series is this blogger’s way of expressing how beautiful the Philippine Islands are. This is a detailed account of his experiences while backpacking through the majestic islands of The Pearl of the Orient.</em></span></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#666666;">I have always wanted to go to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilocos_Norte">Ilocos Norte</a>. The province is very rich in culture and heritage. Good thing I was able to avail of <a href="http://www.cebupacificair.com/">Cebu Pacific</a>’s P1 fare. While <a href="http://www.senate.gov.ph/senators/sen_bio/trillanes_antonio_bio.asp">Senator Trillanes</a> <a href="http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view_article.php?article_id=103920">was busy in his latest A-Class Hotel hopping</a>, I was busy preparing for my own personal vacation. This would also be the first time I’ll be traveling with Wiks.</span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#666666;">My flight was delayed for an hour (yes, they still get delayed). That gave me an opportunity to see what kinds of people are in the passenger waiting area. I noticed that most of those bound for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laoag_City">Laoag City</a> were Chinese businessmen. It seems that the article I read about Ilocos Norte as a casino haven was right after all. After flying for an hour, my plane landed on very rough tarmac.</span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#666666;"><a href="http://www.ato.gov.ph/web/airportsLaoag.htm">Laoag International Airport</a> was built from red bricks giving tourists an idea how old school the province is. Also, Ilokanos are known for crafting really nice pottery.</span></div><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188978791531699090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBGrRkIvgGwqXN4YZsl0B_rHM-INXYk32y1c-P7jyeNH5YF5kz3lBliE1JKL7lutz1cn-jkrtKAm84sX8R9RGZya2vOeUakrmlyqoj1NOuhEPtkG5fdLrdsxaILRXOSeWTXPI-/s400/Laoag+International+Airport.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#666666;">I boarded a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeepney">jeepney</a> after getting my baggage. Making things a little spontaneous, I decided not to book a hotel beforehand therefore missing an opportunity for a free airport transfer. The jeepney driver and his son provided me assistance in locating my preferred hotel. The driver was so nice he addressed each passenger as either “<em>madam</em>” or “<em>sir</em>.” This strengthens the notion that <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilocano_people">Ilokanos</a> indeed are one of the nicest peeps here in the Philippines.<br /><br />It was a good 15 minute ride from the airport to Laoag City proper. Before entering the town proper, you’ll be welcomed by a huge arc before the bridge. The town proper is not that huge but very urbanized compared to other provincial cities.<br /><br />Because most reviews I read promoted Tiffany’s as the ideal place to stay in downtown Laoag, I decided to book there. Its proximity to the plaza is a plus. Also, there is a <a href="http://www.jollibee.com.ph/">Jollibee</a> nearby which is open for 24 hours. I was also excited to have breakfast there… because <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcmH1LdPNKA">breakfast at Tiffany’s</a> is always cool. </span>></div><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188979367057316770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMa672JEfZVFYfAFvCl8E3j1zn956RlhsvvF_v49R4Jkj52GL7JWGBDYWeH_pzxptU7ebHXHrDHfVQ9AWkFsrSjgm1evzzmShgu_Oz9wseIJUnidaaaHIkLTWEJavbzPiU_2xr/s400/Hotel+Tiffany.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><p align="justify">Tiffany’s interiors were frolicked with old <a href="http://www.hollywood.com/">Hollywood</a> pictures. The rate for an overnight stay in a single room was P675. My room rained with blue, orange and purple spots. It somehow looked like a hospital room to me though.<br /><br />After parking my things in the hotel, I was off to Paoay Church. On my way to the terminal, I noticed that <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calesa">Calesas</a> here are quite wide. I boarded a jeepney and paid a fare of P25 to <a href="http://www.paoay.gov.ph/">Paoay</a>. I discovered that jeepney passengers in Ilocos Norte pay only upon arriving to their stop that’s why drivers here make sure they have enough coins for change. The ride to Paoay is approximately 35 minutes with stops at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batac_City,_Ilocos_Norte">Batac</a> Public Market, which I heard was the largest in Ilocos Norte, and General Ricarte Park.<br /><br />Paoay Church is heavenly! No wonder it was classified as a <a href="http://whc.unesco.org/en/list">heritage treasure by the UNESCO</a>.</p><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188981033504627634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGwMOaRroE6ozrdQ346s_mI5MPGEqZxTZTbayysP6jSAC9d0xUgSmDenOyXBmIbkHFZa2sTw8hzde8vCpDyHbssknY5fwmcmrM7TJEsvJwfbCCpVjKQw7_jqOtOKRD_FBysxiF/s400/Yam+%40+Paoay+Church.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><p align="justify">At the side of the church are benches made from original Paoay bricks. Behind the church is a tennis court (Ilokanos sure love to play tennis) and a basketball court. I even took a picture of Paoay hoops!</p><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188981574670506946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZrbbYMsESl5r7-NYj8ynWQ60aMqsMaQloPVLOCjqnWCaQDS1yPq_eJzg8hD7iEAa4n1IIvbEU4MT9LnItmI0AOSqoLDQCxJpeZIw9D9TRL7HLhrih0ZXu0IJcoiQbgm_FoIaW/s400/Paoay+Hoops.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><p align="justify">Across the road fronting the church is a souvenir shop. I bought some Ilocos Wine and tried some of its famous empanada. I found out that they use the same breading for <a href="http://www.annalyn.net/2005/08/21/food-heroism-lasang-pinoy-1/">Kwek-Kwek</a>. I tried tuna. It took them 10 minutes to cook my order but it was all worth the time.<br /><br />On my way back to Laoag, I met Vicente Ocol. He was kind enough to make a stop in front of Immaculate Conception Church in Batac for me to take a picture. He also shared a ranting about our country’s current political system and how abundant life was in Ilocos Norte during <a href="http://www.marcospresidentialcenter.com/">Macoy</a>’s time. I find him very educational and will share his story on another blog post.<br /><br />Manong Vicente dropped me in Laoag’s “Barangay Liga Gym” located beside the city hall. I witnessed the championship game between St. Joseph and the team wearing <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FEU_Tamaraws">FEU Tamaraw</a>-ish uniforms. I can tell you that they got game. The fans were also very supportive yet very organized. I miss that type of fan support in <a href="http://www.pampangacapitol.com/">Pampanga</a>.</p><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188982068591746002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-mFGbUqq2dJGQoMSuhN307ADlsIquon5ZMeWaNHPOM_dlOArga8dIlpR2mFk6XgecUKgR4FbtW9ky2EcLMioByyEJ7AlI57taNnIs9wskF2zR58KTya00dY9_4jWX8A5Kn9iG/s400/Liga+ng+Mga+Barangay.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><p align="justify">I visited St. William’s Cathedral after the pre-Sunday mass. The lighting was superb inside which very well supported the church façade. I saw some of the passengers from the morning’s flight visiting the cathedral.</p><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188982691362003938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm13UcDshYihcPAtqmzlnwcaTvP0ODj4Lph8kUNE7Mw8__-VNfAOnlRHRpWEWHm-IP642VN7wMVBxaMcBg3PQfrHfFvv6iEjEhe_TE8h9BgUzcFhNf5_00EsbDUQiOCHMsE5Tr/s400/March29+032.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><p align="justify">Outside the church were talented <a href="http://www.skateboard.com/">skateboard</a> junkies. The kids were about the age of 7. They reminded me when I got my first skateboard. It was then that I also realized how peaceful it is in Laoag City. If you do those skateboard stunts in the streets in <a href="http://www.manila.gov.ph/">Manila</a>, you’ll get ganged up.<br /><br />I was excited to try Macy’s Diner below the hotel. Unfortunately, it was too late for me to discover that restaurants here close at 8PM. I had no choice but to grab my <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/13439158@N00/450283582/">Chickenjoy</a>. It was a first for me to have Jollibee on my breakfast, lunch and dinner. Before I went to bed, I watched the <a href="http://www.nba.com/suns/">Suns</a> <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/recap?gid=2007113021">burn</a> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxVPuNBlk8g">Superman</a> and <a href="http://www.nba.com/magic/index_main.html">his Superfriends</a>. It was an awesome first day for me.</p>Yam Manuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03328917912004825217noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16448792.post-75293393161990324072008-03-14T11:40:00.012+08:002013-06-11T08:48:06.748+08:00Cleaving Myself to Photographs<div align="justify">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidC-mfsVGVHbh4dz-z7QFGLCdtmdDL_fqBO-hHU4YgHF3jF8Vf9xAOTBUCshAB_Qdd8p6qIUmHLmWqGFlHTrJqpYd8OG8yiKwvGCZhZIsBoe2eWuMpDnvqMfaKD5b1KvCV9M2E/s1600-h/Yam+PIA+Photo+Exhibit.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5177440972806991778" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidC-mfsVGVHbh4dz-z7QFGLCdtmdDL_fqBO-hHU4YgHF3jF8Vf9xAOTBUCshAB_Qdd8p6qIUmHLmWqGFlHTrJqpYd8OG8yiKwvGCZhZIsBoe2eWuMpDnvqMfaKD5b1KvCV9M2E/s320/Yam+PIA+Photo+Exhibit.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" /></a><span style="color: #666666; font-family: trebuchet ms;">I love visiting malls on weekday evenings because you don’t get stressed out from the crowd. <a href="http://www.smprime.com/Supermalls.php?MallsID=14">SM Mall of Asia</a> (MOA) is no exception. Actually, it would be a perfect ti<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfVGK2iRkQbqtVuhCkabhqEBoKVuO6Sjwa_1NXNnbfxfDC0N8dBTy8AgS55pjoi7F7nrepsSAFWUohA88YmKWXaDNw_ta_cIUCEPdO40cRTrZ8-b2_Qgg1KVSk1hNO-W9iGkiC/s1600-h/Yam+PIA+Photo+Exhibit.jpg"></a>me to visit MOA these days because the Philippine Institute of Architects is celebrating its 75th Anniversary and is sponsoring a photo exhibit from March 12 to 15, 2008 about the rich history of <a href="http://www.pasay.gov.ph/">Pasay City</a>.
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: trebuchet ms;">I am a photo hobbyist myself so seeing some old photographs provided me tips in improving my angles. </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: trebuchet ms;">There were also pictures of Pasay City’s current structures such as MOA and <a href="http://www.1esplanade.com/main.html">One Esplanade</a>. Wonderful stained glass shots of catholic churches were also featured.</span></div>
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Yam Manuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03328917912004825217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16448792.post-25153560351783378102008-02-29T16:34:00.002+08:002008-02-29T16:37:30.864+08:00Sanukness<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUj2qC4_AliYeIeZOyECQnypd92VKXotx9wQvKdaqmuGMy86SNXHeyBzMtTrmB_c3PiAexstsjVhaoLyCxv-_LaZSpW3nEuwYlQadOuQdVuKTSb3Pmi0hcDpD-q7IkhPqXMXJg/s1600-h/Sanuk.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5172318071766331378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUj2qC4_AliYeIeZOyECQnypd92VKXotx9wQvKdaqmuGMy86SNXHeyBzMtTrmB_c3PiAexstsjVhaoLyCxv-_LaZSpW3nEuwYlQadOuQdVuKTSb3Pmi0hcDpD-q7IkhPqXMXJg/s400/Sanuk.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#666666;">Last night, I got myself a pair of <a href="http://www.sanuk.com/">Sanuk</a> shoes uhmm… I mean sandals because these are not shoes.<br /><br />Sanuk sandals are very comfortable and very easy to wear. These are perfect since summer is just around the corner. Plus, I get to wear some surfer merchandise. Sweet!</span></div>Yam Manuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03328917912004825217noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16448792.post-53563828466461235142008-02-20T11:14:00.004+08:002008-02-29T11:37:59.305+08:00ROAR!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKJQpNf2OFPbt6HPOpz1adSXLAmNxfgevjW1FTemN8I5WTQH8q686zglWhBr1l4fZhNlpfokq3mSFjPozQdniVrx55woXGb2S4qxeEWwND11IG6N4PLa9qyrf7Z3RCeIgOGPCE/s1600-h/875441890_8ccaf02b73.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5172238713655603170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKJQpNf2OFPbt6HPOpz1adSXLAmNxfgevjW1FTemN8I5WTQH8q686zglWhBr1l4fZhNlpfokq3mSFjPozQdniVrx55woXGb2S4qxeEWwND11IG6N4PLa9qyrf7Z3RCeIgOGPCE/s400/875441890_8ccaf02b73.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#666666;">The <a href="http://www.sanbeda.edu.ph/law%20entrance.htm#feb9">results</a> are in and it’s now official: I’m returning to my <a href="http://wrmanuel.blogspot.com/2007/09/revitalizing-my-benedictine-blood.html">Benedictine roots</a>.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#666666;"><br /></div></span><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#666666;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#666666;">I received a superior rating with only a couple of points shy of an excellent rating. This news may be nothing for you but it is a big deal for me, especially when <a href="http://ateneolaw.ateneo.edu/">the other law school</a> denied my admission last year although I know deep inside that I passed its admission tests. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#666666;"><br /></div></span><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#666666;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God">The Big Guy Above</a> always has His reasons. “<em>Salamat po!</em>”</span></div>Yam Manuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03328917912004825217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16448792.post-60931379727761842342008-02-18T16:14:00.007+08:002008-02-18T16:53:37.593+08:00Fine Time at San Fabian<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#666666;">My <em>Pa</em> is an ardent devotee of the <a href="http://www.ourladyofmanaoag.com/index2.HTML">Virgin of Manaoag</a>. Last year, after he got this cool job in <a href="http://www.oxy.com/">an oil company</a>, Pa drove us to the famous pilgrimage site in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manaoag,_Pangasinan">Manaoag, Pangasinan</a> to give thanks for all the blessings the family has received from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God">The Big Guy</a> above. After hearing mass and lighting our candles, we went to the nearby seaside town of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Fabian,_Pangasinan">San Fabian</a>. </span><br /></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#666666;"></div><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5168237476363135154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCP9N79E0CdHL2AprIq8n51gusXIspEIt0NS630_5YPh2gi7lZSo4Xqv106EnXR1x33u6muxMWiFI_m0P0OUeI1khbC9WdJabtwzxeHXOWjETfCIzvcLq9qmkru8zV8jFNL8h7/s400/Yam+%40+San+Fabian.jpg" border="0" /></p><p align="justify">I have been to San Fabian before and my memories of that trip are somewhat bleak. It was during my kindergarten years when <em>Angel Mama</em> tagged my sister and me along in this pilgrimage trip sponsored by the Golden Babies, a parish group for ladies above fifty years of age. ‘Ma Sisa (RIP), my <em>Grandma’s</em> younger sister and our neighbor, invited us to join the trip. ‘Ma Sisa was also one of the prominent members of the Golden Babies. I think we went there during the rainy season. I remember this because we visited typhoon ravaged churches, one of which had its roof totally destroyed. All I can recall of San Fabian is me building sand castles and catching crabs with other kids along this long stretch of beach.<br /></p><p align="justify">Our trip last year made me anticipate the enjoyment of coming back to a place I almost lost in my memory. <em>Pa</em> brought us to this spot perfect for reminiscing: <a href="http://www.philtourism.com/invest_sfbr.html">San Fabian PTA Beach Resort</a> in Barangay Bolasi.</span> </p><p align="justify"></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5168239271659464930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ8asGWjJKAqQCFQedURk5sTpB3i5oBq-mVDSKpPWG5b39xniCTuAl-J7vV4O-hR_Rlz0IW0H188FDRrZWUFVcbdYexk2sSCMU6cviZllXvm1pwyk-EukqsJRakmzXj-4_ZLi6/s400/PTA+Beach+Resort.jpg" border="0" /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#666666;"><div align="justify">SFPTABR was established during the time of former <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferdinand_Marcos">President Ferdinand Marcos</a> and was formerly known as “The Presidential Resthouse.” It served as a place for the first family to unwind whenever they were in the area. Because of its obvious native characteristics, the main building of the resort is much like a <a href="http://www.zambales.net.ph/images/ramakubosa.jpg">Bahay Kubo</a> Hotel. I was also informed that SFPTABR also has a Presidential Suite. It’s always fascinating to imagine getting pampered in a room fit for a President.<br /><br />SFPTABR also has a good share of the tourist market which is quite impressive for a simple town resort. I spotted some Caucasians having coffee at the resort’s spacious veranda. I also saw this American lady playing with the local children by the beach. At the beach entrance, there are two markers, shaped like tombs, commemorating the landing of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_history_of_Japan#Showa_Period_-_World_War_II">Japanese Troops</a> at San Fabian Beach during <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_war_II">World War II</a>.<br /><br />The resort also has a swimming pool near its beach front rooms. Its picnic sheds are ideal for relaxation and comfort. I took a nap in one of these. The addition of the sea breeze blowing right through your face and the soothing sound of sea waves just made napping more special. The picnic sheds are also a good venue for studying alone. I saw a girl reading her books in preparation for the Philippine Nursing Board Examinations in one of the sheds.<br /></div></span><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#666666;">My return to San Fabian is just as special as the sparkle of its clear blue waters under the summer sun. It would always be nice to escape the city hustle once in awhile to enjoy the serenity of San Fabian beach. My felicitations to <em>Pa</em> for the experience.</span></div>Yam Manuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03328917912004825217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16448792.post-11954713508565056892008-01-25T19:52:00.001+08:002008-05-15T11:42:43.402+08:00The City Hall of San Fernando, Pampanga Employs Lebron James & Dwyane Wade Wannabe’s<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-tALcZsShYE5LNlrICgdtKojmhQHIG6xd6Axo8s54y_s7nQpj74QI-TzX5xWxlnn_802ZtompJMKBJXQ33kxsDtcs2YNrIZaMUhqTFKBOHam8y5QRDk6MMU-52mibKDf77jp7/s1600-h/Dwyane-Wade-Lebron-James.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5159381337451648258" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-tALcZsShYE5LNlrICgdtKojmhQHIG6xd6Axo8s54y_s7nQpj74QI-TzX5xWxlnn_802ZtompJMKBJXQ33kxsDtcs2YNrIZaMUhqTFKBOHam8y5QRDk6MMU-52mibKDf77jp7/s400/Dwyane-Wade-Lebron-James.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#666666;">Before 2007 came to an end, I went to our <a href="http://www.cityofsanfernando.gov.ph/">city hall</a> to voluntarily pay our real property tax due for 2007 & 2008. As I entered the city hall, I saw cashiers staring blankly towards space. I can’t blame them for being completely useless since people usually go to the city hall to ask for help rather than to pay taxes.<br /><br />I went to the helpdesk and asked for directions. The girl behind the help desk required me to log my name for <strong>every</strong> question I asked. I guess she needed proof for her quota or else she won’t get paid.<br /><br />I went to the real property tax window for my payment but the guy behind it, after being disturbed from his conversation with his peers, requested me to proceed to the real property assessment office because he doesn’t have access to the official receipts issued for real property tax payments from 2006. So instead of making payments easier for the taxpayer, the city hall actually wastes taxpayer time by having an awful, or should I say terrible, document management.<br /><br />In the real property assessment office, I stood in a small line to wait my turn. I was accommodated by a nice old lady whose name I forgot because she was not wearing any ID. I was there patiently waiting for my turn when <a href="http://www.dwyanewade.com/">D-Wade, aka The Flash</a>, bumped me hard as he drove his paper ball to the makeshift basketball ring <strong>inside</strong> the assessment office. He was followed by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LeBron_James">King James</a> who hit my knee as he hurriedly followed The Flash. After driving to the hoop, the former screamed "<em><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXxIw7UDtt8">Dwyaaaaaaaannneee Waaaaaaaaadde!</a></em>" I was a <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=350017489651">witness</a>! I was pissed!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.cityofsanfernando.gov.ph/cityhall.php">The mayor</a> has always been criticized for hiring too many people, not to mention incompetent ones, to do redundant jobs. Witnessing such lunacy is too much for me. If these two douche bags think that playing basketball inside a government office will raise them to <a href="http://www.nba.com/">NBA</a> glory then the mayor must be a real crack to hire these people. If only they had any form of identification, I swear their names would be posted in this blog entry larger than their butt-fucked assholes.</span></div>Yam Manuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03328917912004825217noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16448792.post-65802026253316908602007-12-06T16:28:00.002+08:002008-10-23T15:27:22.465+08:00Faro De Cabo Bojeador is Haunted!!!<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#666666;">The rumors <a href="http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/lifestyle/10/22/08/climb-cape-bojeador-lighthouse-ilocos-norte">were true after all</a>. Cape Bojeador Lighthouse in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burgos,_Ilocos_Norte">Burgos, Ilocos Norte</a> is freaking haunted!<br /><br />I ignored tales about the old Spanish lighthouse. It was on a TV documentary (I think it was <a href="http://beta.abs-cbn.com/">ABS-CBN</a>’s Nginig, I’m not so sure) when I first learned about the famous Faro. They were doing a Halloween special featuring the scariest places in the Philippines. I thought it was all a hoax since it has been a yearly presentation and that my guess was they were running out of Halloween stories. Man, was I dead wrong! Let me share my story…<br /><br />I was coming from the <a href="http://www.waypoints.ph/detail_gen.html?wpt=windf1">Bangui Windmills</a> when I decided to stop by the Burgos Lighthouse. Actually, I already removed the lighthouse visit from my Ilocos Norte itinerary because the guy from the hotel told me it is inaccessible without an automobile. It all changed when the preacher I met at Bangui told me it was only a kilometer away from the main road. Later, I discovered it was a kilometer of uphill hike.<br /><br />Before I boarded off the bus, I had the following conversation with the people in the bus:<br /><br /><strong>Me</strong>: <em>“Pakibaba ho ako sa may papuntang lighthouse.”</em> (Please drop me off the road to the lighthouse.)<br /></span><br /></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#666666;"><strong>Konduktor</strong>, a bit surprised: <em>“Ikaw lang?”</em> (You’re alone?)<br /></div></span><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#666666;"><strong>Lady at the backseat</strong>: <em>“Bakit ikaw lang? Malayo ang lalakarin mo papunta sa itaas.”</em> (Why alone? It’s a long climb to the top.)<br /><br /><strong>Me</strong>: <em>“Kaya ho!”</em> (I’ll be fine!)<br /><br />Irritated over the lady’s obvious eavesdropping, I hurriedly went off the bus. I was surprised to see all the passengers looking at me with the same look of concern like that of the lady eavesdropper. They were all seemingly worried and uncomfortable.<br /><br /><strong>Elderly Lady</strong>: <em>“Balong, mag-iingat ka sa itaas. Mag-iingat ka…”</em> (Son, be cautious at the top. Be very cautious…)<br /><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#666666;">Before I had the chance to react, the bus sped off.<br /><br />I was very clueless about what the passengers were trying to say for I knew all along that I’ll be fine since there’s a caretaker above the hill. It was too late when I found out.<br /><br />I started my hike towards the lighthouse. The forest was largely wild making the journey a little hotter than usual. I was all sweaty because of the steep climb. In spite of my condition, I started to have goose bumps. I think that was a sign that forest elves were spying on me while I was ascending.<br /><br />I arrived at the concrete stairs connecting the lighthouse to the road. The place was scenic. I took my 1st picture of the lighthouse midway through the stairs. Before I reach the entrance, I heard voices of children getting scolded by an elder. Upon hearing the voices, I was somehow relieved of my anxiety knowing that the caretaker was around. I called for the caretaker but he didn’t answer. My guess is that they were about to have their siesta. So as not to bother them, I decided to enter the courtyard and took my 2nd photo there. This courtyard view of the lighthouse has always been featured in many articles and magazines.<br /><br />I entered the corridor leading to the entrance of the main tower. After I took my 3rd photo, I discovered that the door to the tower was locked. I walked back to the corridor to call on the caretaker. When I was about to knock, I was surprised to see that all four old wooden doors at the corridor were locked. I asked myself “<em>Where the hell is that caretaker staying?</em>”<br /><br />I stood at the terrace to see the two buildings at the side of courtyard. I then discovered that those were actually storage rooms.<br /><br /><em>“If those were storage rooms, where did those voices come from?”</em><br /><br />I gazed towards the lighthouse’s old gate and saw a huge chain vaulted over it. I realized there was nobody in the place except for me. I then felt a gush of cold wind blow over my left ear. Seconds later I was having goose bumps all over my body. I’m serious! Down to the last hair!<br /><br /><em>“Damn it! I’m all fucked up!!!”</em><br /><br />Just as I was freaking out, I started to hear voices again. This time, the voices were right on my ear. I was hearing them all simultaneously. I can’t understand what they were saying. It was like those <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mythology_of_Lost#The_Whispers">whispers being heard on Lost</a>. The children’s voices were filled with pain. They were as if blaming me for something. The elder’s voice was purely madness!<br /><br />I wasted no time in getting my butt out of there. As I was rushing to get down, I tripped on my tripod and there flew my digital camera. When I was picking the camera, there went the voices again. I hurriedly grabbed my damaged camera and ran like crazy, screaming “<em>Sorry po, sorry po! Hindi na mauulit!</em>”(I’m sorry, I’m sorry! It won’t happen again!) all the way to the bottom of the hill.<br /><br /></span></div><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140777036666285794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAjO5KcBag3tgHJt6dUE7joj61sZfLg67wnDTSqjl_DJm9Z0bVFJgPwgwbyIpLcTLuaRiquOHwO76fE-w5nbs8brcxi1Qh7ieVFvMQFsK0qUe7fHpgpIZvPkQoD_vEHDB92Ewv/s400/Faro+de+Cabo+Bojeador.jpg" border="0" /> </p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#666666;"><strong>Picturesque isn’t it? Don’t let its beauty fool you.</strong></span></p><p align="justify"><br /></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#666666;"></span></p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#666666;"><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Actually, it freaks me out to write this article because I have to imagine myself experiencing the whole misfortune once again. I just don’t think I’ll be returning to this place anytime soon, more so without a group. </div><div align="justify"><br />I never thought there will come a time that my digital camera will get damaged, not to mention by <a href="http://www.ghoststudy.com/">supernatural beings</a>. It saddens me to think that it got scratched on my very first travel to document lighthouses here in the Philippines. I hope not all <a href="http://www.unc.edu/~rowlett/lighthouse/phl.htm">lighthouses in the Philippines</a> are haunted. I really do hope so.</span></div>Yam Manuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03328917912004825217noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16448792.post-8072893726180339822007-10-20T14:35:00.000+08:002007-10-26T08:32:43.840+08:00A Day After The Glorietta 2 Explosion...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhap-YCWXo-2uTquxhb0k_BaVaJQkAPym9Qb1_9INiERh1-E3ymQTilKQ-J10xsCR_2GbKylTTWEHl7ZSjnjeEwS58JfaR-0l09fNFuvsXeJijbZBiu9WkcOGQGsvHq5M_sOS8U/s1600-h/A+Day+After+the+Explosion.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124788810042334514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhap-YCWXo-2uTquxhb0k_BaVaJQkAPym9Qb1_9INiERh1-E3ymQTilKQ-J10xsCR_2GbKylTTWEHl7ZSjnjeEwS58JfaR-0l09fNFuvsXeJijbZBiu9WkcOGQGsvHq5M_sOS8U/s400/A+Day+After+the+Explosion.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#666666;"><strong>Angel Mama</strong>:<em> “Anak, nabili mo na ba yung pantalon na gusto mong isuot sa darating mong kaarawan… yung </em><a href="http://www.guess.com/Home.aspx"><em>Guess</em></a><em>?”<br /><br /></em><strong>Little Yummy</strong>: <em>“No Mom, they </em><a href="http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view_article.php?article_id=95571"><em>blew up the mall</em></a><em> yesterday.”<br /><br /></em><strong>Angel Mama</strong>:<em> “Susmaryosep!”<br /></em><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#666666;">Assuming that it was <a href="http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view_article.php?article_id=96375">an accident</a> and that it was all <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methane_gas">shit gas</a> killing <a href="http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view_article.php?article_id=96164">eleven people</a>, I still think that the negligence behind this disaster should be looked into and dealt upon accordingly. It is the responsibility of the management to look after the well being of its patrons. Shopping should be fun, not fatal.</span></div>Yam Manuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03328917912004825217noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16448792.post-87337251032141633462007-09-21T14:21:00.000+08:002007-10-05T14:26:53.939+08:0025th Anniversary: Philippine Martial Law<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAVc8_7NxLAckfpGRbz-sPhZnqdgeZpEMZP9sdIUbJ1NUPIJ48k3XnLDWlnFt_gewscIU-6DLXEy_m0GE5GsWQOdB-vTQadOFVYQY8YNe7DZGZyKUM8Cs4zSjyB0Ar7GPuv4tb/s1600-h/Martial+Law+Marker.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117734527990376850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAVc8_7NxLAckfpGRbz-sPhZnqdgeZpEMZP9sdIUbJ1NUPIJ48k3XnLDWlnFt_gewscIU-6DLXEy_m0GE5GsWQOdB-vTQadOFVYQY8YNe7DZGZyKUM8Cs4zSjyB0Ar7GPuv4tb/s320/Martial+Law+Marker.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#666666;">Never again...</span>Yam Manuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03328917912004825217noreply@blogger.com0