Travel Spots in Asia

We just launched a new website on travel for Asia! Please take a close look, explore and let me know your feedback.

Exciting things will happen to this site. As of now, you can book your hotels. And in the near future, we will launch the mobile version initially for iPhone and later on for android phones.

To see the site, see this link : www.travelspotsinasia.com

Filipino Martial Arts (FMA)

One of the things I actively advocate for tourism in the Philippines is that if we want to develop compelling and world class products, we have to look at what we are. We don't have to copy what other countries have done. People don't travel to other places to see the same, but much better stuff they can find in other places. One of the major reasons why they travel is that they look for the unique offerings of the destination.

One of the truly Filipino treasures that can also become a major tourism product is the Filipino Martial Arts, or FMA. Call is Kali, Dumog, Arnis, or Escrima, these age-old practices have helped defined who the Filipino is. The Spaniard masters tried to kill the tradition, but it persisted as "secret" movements in the form of folk dances. Try to read up on the subject and you will be amazed at this treasure of ours.

It is sadly becoming unknown to many Filipinos now, but the FMA has been getting a good number of foreign practitioners and adherents. Heck, its also been used in a good number of Hollywood movies (hmmmm.... do Jason Bourne and The Book of Eli sound familiar?)

If the tourism industry would consider using the FMA as a tourism product many things can be achieved: major products can be offered in urban areas (like Manila?) that sorely lack quality tourist attractions; it could help preserve the culture; and it can help the country gain more respect from other peoples who will realize that we have something worthy we can share to the whole world. Need I add that we can also gain more respect for ourselves?

I've had some conversation from an official at the Department of Tourism and that somebody has become interested in the concept. I'm hoping, praying and crossing my fingers that an FMA Training and Exhibition Center will be established in Metro Manila or Cebu City. Or how about a Dumog Training and Exhibition Center in Ilo-ilo? Or a Kali Training and Exhibition Center in Bacolod City. Well, its easy to dream on. I hope somebody in authority or who has the money to bankroll will read this and realize that there is an investment worthwhile not only for revenue, but also for national culture and pride of the Filipino people.

In doing the research on the FMA, I dug up some of these videos that show how many people worldwide have come to respect, practice and spread the Filipino Martial Arts.







There are a lot more videos out there showcasing Filipino masters. Just keep on clicking on the related videos! :D

Philippines 101

"I have never been in a country where I have been so well treated each and every day. I have spent time in taxis, restaurants and riding horses on Taal volcano. The people are uniformly polite and tranquil."

The statement came from a comment on this blog that paints an inspiring picture of the Philippines.

Make sure you also read the comments!!

http://tourism-philippines.com/philippines-101-origin-of-myth/

A Day in Quezon Memorial Circle

For somebody who spent most of his life in Quezon City and earning all his street smart badges, a visit to the Quezon Memorial Circle can be a very welcome knowledge trip.

The photo above is a far cry from how it looks now. There is now a good amount of trees and the ultra-wide road that encircles the property.

It was president Manuel L. Quezon who opened up this frontier of this part of Metro Manila more than 50 years ago.

The park has more than 20 hectares of property divided into activity centers, playgrounds, dining areas, and the memorial tower.

A nice surprise for the old-timers who have not visited the area for many years is the underpass that straddles the wide and very busy (and dangerous for hard-headed pedestrians!) rotunda road.


This place also hosts a good number of dining facilities that current diners are enjoying by themselves now.

The memorial tower.

Inside the memorial tower is a museum of many things about Manuel Quezon. Entrance is free, but bring a few pesos to drop in the donation box.

That's our man, El Presidente Manuel L. Quezon

This painting reminds me so much of the usual socialist illustration of progress. We go marching forward!!

What?! He kicked Culion to oblivion? Yeah, must read the whole story before thinking of anything. It was a simple case of trying to kick leprosy by finding some sort of a cure for the disease. Culion is an Island in Palawan Province where a leper colony was established. Now that there is a cure for the disease, the colony is now also gone.

You can say your final respect to the man. It was actually a good feeling hearing some locals who ventured into the museum and whispered that it was a nice place, after all.... and that they learned a lot. I saw some who were taking a peek inside the dark chamber leading to the museum and thinking twice whether they would go inside or not. THe guard had to repeatedly tell them that its totally alright to go inside, ha ha... really funny.... and a bit sad...

Much can still be done in the area to make more people take back the park for themselves, and in the process learn and appreciate the land and the man who made Quezon City a prosperous territory in the Philippines.

Return to the Asian Institute of Tourism

Yes, I came back to the Asian Institute of Tourism in the University of the Philippines as a lecturer. After 4 years of being completely offline here, I'm once again walking the pathways and crossing the overpass spanning the 16-lane highway.






The pathway from the gym









Yup, that's the overpass in the middle of the street! Yeah, its somekind of..... whatever! First you look hard to the left to make sure there's no jeepney or bus careening at 100 kph, then you walk fast to the stairs of the overpass!







The acacia trees. You don't see this in many places in Manila now.











The driveway.














One of the maidens :D















The lobby and "Manong Guard"
















The student lounge










"X" marks the spot! Uhmm... did something fun and stupid on this same spot when I was a student in AIT. Let's just say that I had props in the form of newspaper... :D

A Close Look at the Lowly Aratiles

For many Filipinos my age, (well, sort of :D), this photo may bring sudden memories of childhood happiness. It was the time when the aratiles (some kind of a cherry) trees were easily clambered and we tried beating the birds to the juiciest, reddest fruits that the tree never seem to run out of.

I know, this does not seem like a travel thing. But as I go around the country, I can't help but smile whenever I see an aratiles tree. And oftentimes, I can't help plucking out the reddest berry, rubbing it against my shirt to take out any dirt, and sucking the sweet juice while enjoying every moment of childhood memory that I once again lived even for just a minute or two.

Charice? .... Billboards You See in Manila

Taking a break from my travel blogs here.... Here's a huge billboard along Quezon Ave. in Quezon City, Philippines.

If this girl looks like Charice, has (almost) the same size as Charice, will she be Charice?....

Side by side, they look a lot like sisters. And she's also a good singer and a tops composer.

Guess who?