UH-OH! UH OH! UH OH!

Sigh. I fell off my brain diet yesterday and gave in to the temptation of reading the salacious Philippine media once again. Just yesterday, while walking past a newsstand, my eye happened to catch a headline: Piatco sold to the Manila Hotel - see related story in Forbes - and I just had to stop and read it all. And although I should be elated by news that things are inching towards finally resolving the scandal which has delayed the opening of our mothballed international airport, instead I am only bothered and bewildered. Because if the Manila Hotel itself is any measure of what to expect, then were in for a pretty horrific ride. This grand edifice, once listed one of the ten best hotels in the world in the 1980s, has now been reduced to being a dormitory for Taiwanese budget tourists and a mere function room for Manila's political class and their wannabes since its takeover by the group. It's gardens have been uprooted, its facade defaced, and it's antique furniture, personally chosen by National Artist for Architecture Leandro Locsin and internationally acclaimed interior designer Dale Keller, thrown away. The Manila Hotel now suffers from chronic ugliness and amateurishness; a shining testament to the delusion of it's owner, "Don" Emilio Yap (chairman of the strangely resilient, but fading, Philippine Trust Co. and Manila Bulletin Newspaper). And this does not bode well for any of the Manila Hotel Groups new acquisitions. Much less an airport, which relies on professionalism, good service, and beauty to project a safe and favorable impression upon travellers and first-time visitors to the country. And although Don's employees have only nice things to say about him (willingly or not), and no substantial information exists (yet) to sully his reputation, The Don can only be found guilty of vanity and having bad taste. And sadly, unlike tax evasion, these are not criminal offenses.
Photo of soldier guarding the unused Ninoy Aquino International Airport 3: Thank you Albert Garcia of Manila Times

Added note: One really wonders where the Manila Hotel will get the money to pay the rest of the balance to Fraport (only U$50 million out of the U$230million cost was given). Lord knows the Philtrust Group is going broke or at least the condition of all of it's assets give off that impression.

BRAVO! BRAVO! BRAVO!

PASAY REDUX
Well, well, well. Whaddaya know?
Pasay City mayor, Wenceslao a.k.a. "Peewee" Trinidad has finally jumped onto the "urban-renewal-on-the-cheap" bandwagon first initiated by Manila Mayor Lito Atienza four years ago. And that ain't necessarily a bad thing. A few weeks ago, I drove down Harrison Street and saw that a new pocket garden and fountain had been constructed behind the Cuneta Astrodome. And as I drove through the Pasay section of Roxas Boulevard just this weekend, I noticed that the rationalization of the eastern side was in full swing too. I saw construction workers laying brick, planting palms, and setting up lightposts from Libertad Street all the way to the Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex. Moreover, my initial inspections show that the color of the pavement (grey and brick), the patterns (stripes), and the choice of street illumination (black waist high lamps) were actually NOT in exceedingly bad taste either. I hope this augers well for the neighborhood. It would be great to see night clubs and floor shows return to a pedestrianized Pasay City and have it reclaim it's reputation as the night club row of the city. But either way, watch out, Manila City Hall, you're being given a run for your money. Upgrade, rezone and re-green the rather tired looking BayWalk soon or perhaps risk losing the lucrative local tourist market to your competition down the street. Literally.

Photo taken on August 26, 2005 in front of the former headquarters of the Asian Development Bank (now Department of Foreign Affairs).

HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH!

STOP OUR RUNAWAY POPULATION GROWTH RATE FOR ONLY Php1.00 A DAY...

Silently, and while the Catholic Church of the Philippines wasn't looking, the Trust Pill hit the nation's drugstore counters and sari-sari store shelves in major way. Also known as Ethinyl Estradiol + Levonorgestrel + Ferrous Fumarate, or "Birth Control Pills", Trust Pills come in a bright pink package complete with bi-lingual instructions and an illustrated cycle chart. It is similar in almost every way to more upscale counterparts like Marvelon but it's retail cost of Php30.00 + per cycle as opposed to Marvelon's Php190.00, finally brings sensible birth control methods within reach of the Philippine masses. And at such a cheap cost, it should come as no problem for individuals, government units, and non-government agencies to give samples away to women who seek means to plan their families. Of course, having the pills given away free of charge by the government would be the most ideal situation, but for ultra Catholic Philippine society, this is still a heartening start. It's a small ray of hope in the dark abyss that is the Philippine runaway population growth rate. And that's better than nothing at all.

Photo of Trust Pills bought on August 29, 2005 at a sari-sari store in Balaytigue, Batangas.

LOOK! LOOK! LOOK!

In the mad rush of everyday urban living, sometimes one forgets to look up every now and then to notice the dramatic lines and visual rhythms of Ayala Avenue's stunning modernist mid-20th century architecture. I'm glad I took the time out yesterday.

CARLOS RECOMMENDS!

LAI-LAI PALACE

839-843 Ongpin Street, Binondo, Manila. Tel. No.: 733-3130
There are perhaps many other better Chinese restaurants on Ongpin street, but I wouldn't know because I only keep returning to Lai-Lai Palace. It's name, which the owner, Mr. Tan said means "welcome welcome" feels as authentic as a Chinese restaurant can get for Binondo. It's funky carved columns and sepia photo collection of pre-Communist mainland are a wonderful contrast to the typical minimalist - post - modern - new - shanghai inspired decor and exposed flourescent lights of other establishments lining the street. On some afternoons, local matrons even perform Chinese karaoke on Lai lai's second floor to complete the ambience. But whatever the case may be, I only go because their food tastes authentic too (their salted fish fried rice and butter chicken are fabulous) and that's the only thing that really keeps me coming back for more;.
Prices are midrange. Parking available in a secured lot next to Salazar Bakery at the corner of S.Padilla (formerly Gandara).

WORK! WORK! WORK!

THE HEAD HUNTERS DECLARE OPEN SEASON

Yo! All you out there! Are you unemployed? Do you hate your current boss? Are you looking for that next level to move up to in your career? Well then, look no further than John Clements Consultants, the Philippines first and largest recruitment company. You can choose from jobs that range from managerial to executive to even rank and file for career positions both here and abroad. It's the one stop shop for all you people out there who think they are too qualified for whatever deadbeat job they are stuck with right now. So log onto their website and send your resume ASAP and check out what opportunities lie for you ahead. And hurry, they tell me Dell and a whole lot of other companies are expanding in the Philippines and are looking for competent folks to join them.

John Clements Consultants, Inc.
Level 12B, LKG Tower 6801 Ayala Avenue, Makati City, Philippines
Telephone: (+63 2) 884-1227 to 32, 884-1219
Fax: (+63 2) 884-1218
E-Mail your letter of intent and CV to: cvdominguez@johnclements.com

Her name is Carol. Lovely lovely lady. She will be the one checking out all your qualifications. Tell her I sent ya.

CARLOS RECOMMENDS!

METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF MANILA

Artes at Angkan:
Power, Patronage & Production in the 19^th Century

New stuff at the Met Museum! An exhibition on the cultural life of old Manila as seen through the achievements and possessions of the Paterno family is on display right now (the hair-embroidered sceneries of Adela Paterno are particularly spectacular). And aside from their permanent exhibits of traditional Philippine goldwork and pottery, the trip to the MET is always worth it if only for the sampaguita ice cream at the Ilustrado Coffee Shop. Parking available in front.

Monday to Saturday. 10am to 6pm.
P50 adult/professional
P30 student with valid ID
P40 senior citizen

CARLOS RECOMMENDS!

The Cultural Center of the Philippines
Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City
Its a full month of activities at the CCP. Among the performances being offered this season are: a post-modern adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, a recital of the latest trends in opera, a concert of traditional dances by Bayanihan Philippine National Folk Dance Company and a new ballet inspired by the works of National Artist for Painting, Ang Kiukok. Italian art house films are also being shown at their film center, and visual arts exhibitions include: works by 2003 CCP Thirteen Artists Awardee, Dennis Gonzales, and performance, video, installations, sets and props by Jevijoe Vitug. There is definitely something for everyone at the CCP and one need not worry about language barriers either. The CCP Tanghalang Pilipino Theatre Co. installs a supertitling system every now and then for their shows (I dont think Romeo and Juliet uses it though since the plot is universally understood) while the other performances offered are more visual and musical in nature. And apres your culturally pretentious moment amidst Leandro Locsins glamorous modernist architecture, I highly recommend walking across the street to Grappas (the great Italian restaurant from Makati has just opened across from the CCP) for a view of the yachts in Manila Bay, carpaccio and a cocktail. Log on to their schedule here or catch my CCP Walking tour at 1:00pm on Friday, Sept.9 to learn more about the CCP and their programs.
A very 1970s toned shot of the CCP taken on August 19, 2005. Note the lack of electric wires and cleanliness of landscape.

VOTE! VOTE! VOTE!

USE YOUR COCONUT
Here's a bit of good news and a chance for the Philippines to lift it's profile in the international community once again. I was thrilled to discover yesterday that the Philippines' coconut geotextile a.k.a. "the coconet", an invention which combats soil erosion control has been chosen as one of the 12 finalists in Newsweek and BBC's (British Broadcasting Corporation) World's World Challenge. The World Challenge is basically a competition/search designed at identifying groups or individuals all over the world whose projects have had great impact at the grass roots level. A documentary about Philippine Coconut geotextile or coconet industry will be shown on the BBC World cable channel on September 24, 8:30 GMT (4:30PM Manila time) and will also be featured in the August 29 special issue of Newsweek. "The World Challenge" already offers valuable international exposure for the Philippine coconut industry but to win this prestigious competition would be a sure source of national pride, especially during these dark days of political bickering and oil price increases. To vote, please log onto their site here and click on the picture of the coconet.

CARLOS RECOMMENDS!

SUNDAY NIGHT FEVER
PENGUIN CAFE GALLERY (Also known as 604 Cafe)
Remedios Street corner Bocobo on Remedios Circle, Malate.

For almost thirty years, spending Sunday nights at the Penguin was an uninterrupted tradition for Malate's writer/theatre/artist set. And it came as no surprise. In the wasteland that was a Manila Sunday afternoon in the 1980s, Penguin was an oasis of great music and art - especially in an era when the only other things open in the neighborhood were the Aristocrat Restaurant and Manila Doctors Hospital. The parking was plentiful, the drinks were cold and cheap, the menu was eclectic and happy hour started right about the same time that the matinees ended at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Penguin was the definite choice for those looking for an after theater cocktail to cap the weekend or for those looking for the hair of the dog which bit them the night before. The good times rolled all throughout the 80s to the early 90s until the sudden commercialization of the Nakpil-Orosa-Remedios areas sucked the bohemia out of the Malate district and replaced it with Korean fastfood glitz and showbiz karaoke bar glamour. So sadly, somewhere in the early 00s, the tradition faded away and the lights were turned off at Penguin every Sunday night. A tear was shed by many an alcoholic artistic type.

But cry no more and wipe those tears away, dear Dolly. It's time for a holiday at the Penguin once more. Management has been handed over to a younger crowd and the tradition is back. Penguin's doors are now open on Sunday again and the artsy set has returned in full force. So if ever you find yourself in the Malate area and needing a bohemian break at the end of a weekend, be sure to drop in. Beers are three for one at Happy hour (630pm to 8pm) and you just might catch some spontaneous spoken word organized by cultural impresarios Aslie Aslanian and Triccia David of Sanctum Unmasct.

Photo above is of Penguin Cafe, taken on August 14, 2005