Manila: National Geographic’s Big Blue Exhibit

National Geographics Big Blue Exhibit Manila

They are heavier than 25 adult elephants. They have a heart the size of a car. They are larger than the biggest dinosaurs. They can move at the speed of 32km/h. They are the largest and considered one of the most intelligent mammals on earth. And they have existed for 18 million years. They are the Big Blue Whales and they are endangered.

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Manila: The Dancing Jellies of Manila Ocean Park

Manila Ocean Park Jellies Display Hallway

When at sea, jelly fishes creeps me out. When beach waters are populated by these I’m hesitant to swim through. Imagine getting scars, itchiness and even fatal wounds from them. Last thing I want is getting myself pee-ed on just to neutralize the poison, or so I heard. I know I try to avoid them when I see them but I also can’t help but be fascinated by them as well. These semi-transparent sea creatures are very graceful dancers of the sea. And I find them even more fascinating when I saw a lot of them in Manila Ocean Park’s separate exhibit, Jellies, Dancing Sea Faeries.

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Manila: World Pyro Olympics 2009 Launches at The Fort, Taguig

World Pyro Olympics 2009 Sneak Preview at the Fort Bonifacio Global City, Taguig

The much awaited annual sky spectacle is back, the World Pyro Olympics 2009, officially launches and will be shown on November 21, 28, December 5, 12, and 19. The event has a new bigger venue at the Open Grounds of the Fort Bonifacio Global City, exciting first full Pyro-Musical performance from the top pyro-teams from 8 countries. There are also day activities at the venue to keep spectators occupied while waiting for the main events.

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Manila: Loving the Night with Sony Cybershot TX1

Love the Night in Manila

Sony Cybershot TX1 is one of the top of the line compact point-and-shoot from Sony and is one of the first digital cameras to boast a back-illuminated CMOS sensor which Sony called “EXMO R”. So what’s so special about this sensor? To make it short and easy, most sensors are designed with wirings at the front of the sensor photodiodes cutting off light passing through. With back-illuminated sensors, the wires are behind the photodiodes which makes them more sensitive in capturing light. With this increased light sensitivity the Cybershot TX1 boast impressive low-light and ISO performance for a compact point and shoot.

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Manila: Raise the Roof, a Typhoon Ondoy Victim Benefit Concert

Raise the Roof Typhoon Ondoy Victim Benefit Concert

We never expected Typhoon Ondoy to be as devastating as this. It was September 26, 2009, Saturday and I was on my way to Singapore at that time. There were heavy rains on my way to the airport and thought that it was just a natural rain. When we arrived in Singapore, news from Manila came pouring in. Flood waters were rising all over the metro and it got really serious when we heard that flood waters were also rising on places that don’t usually have floods. We found out later that Typhoon Ondoy ravaged Manila pouring a month’s worth of rain in less than a day.

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Manila: Philippine National Railway’s Old and New

Philippine National Railways

I have been fascinated with our Philippine National Railway (PNR) but never really got the chance to jump in on the train and ride it. I got a thing for trains and I was able to ride a few trains on other countries. There’s just this different joy when riding a train for travel. I was really hoping that the PNR would be revived and alas it has recently been re-opened with brand new trains. So one weekend morning we decided to just ride the new PNR and see what has changed.

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Manila: Malacanang Palace Tour with Ivan Man Dy

Old Manila Walks tour in Malacanang Palace Museum

All eyes were on the President Arroyo these past few days since her recent State of the Nation Address (SONA) for 2009. But for now, forget all talks about politics and all that hulabula about the President. Let’s place our gaze instead on the presidential residency, the Malacanang. We’ll go through the extravagant halls of Malacanang Palace. Our Guide? None other than Ivan Man Dy as he gives us a taste of his relaunched tour “Power, Palace and a shot of Beer.”

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