TWO PENNIES WORTH...

OK. I lied. This will be my second political post for the week. Sent to me by a lovely lady named Maryanne Moll. It ain't Shakespeare but I just gotta put this out there to balance out all the anti-administration rhetoric infecting the media and blogosphere. I hope this can possibly put things in perspective for all the misled folks who fell for the opposition's propaganda machine. Nothing like the point of view of an outsider to set things straight.

UNITE AND FOLLOW YOUR PRESIDENT

First posted 04:10am (Mla time) Mar 02, 2006
INQ7.net

I HOPE you don't mind -- I am a foreigner (an American).

I understand the frustrations felt by a people who treasure their freedom over the recent events. But those who influence the "masa"[masses] have not acted responsibly in the use of their freedom, as granted within the confines of your Constitution.

The reality is, former president Corazon Aquino and her family are taking revenge against Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for the government crackdown on Hacienda Luisita, which has ill treated life-long employees there.

Former president Fidel Ramos must protect his flanks from prying eyes investigating the PEA-Amari real estate deal made during his presidency as well as an irrigation project in Northern Luzon.

Former president Joseph Estrada continues to provide needed support to his cronies who want their power returned so he can return to power and avoid the conclusion of his trial on charges of corruption.

The senators know the days of the Senate would be numbered if a parliamentary government is installed, so they are doing all they can to delay the change in government for selfish reasons.

The communists, well, they are communists, so of course they want Arroyo and any other democratically elected officials out of business.

Political losers, all of them, because they will always claim cheating regardless of whatever country they are living in.

Your Big Brother, the United States, is not happy that Arroyo has prudently recognized the need to forge healthy trade and security relations with the next world superpower, China. So perhaps Washington is not sitting innocently by?

The Catholic Church insists on no family planning, just growing poor and hungry illiterate families. Why? You go figure.

The above are the principal problems. How to solve them? The means by which Arroyo has shown her forthright determination through tough management and action is the only way to go. It of course would be easier for her to have patronized and placated all the above who are now so determined be rid of her. But I, for one, cannot admonish a leader who has decided to forgo popularity to wrestle down those elements who profit by the country's and peoples' ills and be done with them once and for all.

The financial markets' positive progress tells the real story, and we who are overseas recognize this reality. The military also appreciates the President's resolute determination, because it strives on the basis of Honor, Service and Country, which she has shown to respect.

You, the media should be ashamed for not taking the lead in putting Country first and your opinions second, for it is not the freedom of speech that is being frustrated, it is the irresponsible use of freedom by you, the media, that eventually destroys the freedoms we have all enjoyed.

For once, stop tearing down that which you build because it (the government) utters the wrong answer to your wants, and build on the basis of the laws that have been passed on by your forefathers and which were designed to provide change in an orderly and time given manner. This is called "an election."

Arroyo has made the hard choices. Don't you wonder why? Certainly not for political gain, as they are all the tough choices for the right reasons and they are not popular.

So again, the solution is ever so simple: Unite and follow your President, for she is willing to make the personal sacrifice so that the Philippines may once again become the Pearl of the Pacific and recognize that with few exceptions, those fighting the President are doing so for totally selfish reasons.

MICHAEL VON LANGE SR. (via e-mail)

WHEE! WHEE! WHEE!

RADIO GAGA!
Wild! I'm on the BBC Radio Programme Outlook. But boy does my recorded voice sound odd; whiney and fruity being the first words that come to my mind. Bits and pieces of my CCP tour are played and I sound a little pro-Marcos in the interview (which I'm totally OK with). But I think that some of the things I said will tick off a lot of people who are already ticked off by my big mouth. Then again, you decide for yourself. I personally think it's a finely crafted, well researched piece. It also includes interviews with Soc Villegas, Max Soliven, and Imee Marcos among others. Congratulations Ms. Sarah Toms for a job well done. The webpage is here. Scroll down to the Friday, February 24 radio broadcast: I'm in the first and last part of the segment. The segment - a reflection on the state of the Philippines twenty years after EDSA I - begins somewhere around the 28th minute in the 40 minute programme if you wanna fast forward to it.

LIVING LA VIDA IMELDA!
March 2 - Thursday - 2:00pm - Meet at Figaro Coffee Shop at the CCP Complex
March 10 - Friday - 2:00pm - Meet at Figaro Coffee Shop at the CCP Complex

BARZA CALLING...

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN...
Meet the artist-in-residence for the month of March at The Living Room, Antoni Abad. A 49-year old Catalan who hails from the city of Barcelona, this mid-career conceptual artist has been working on projects which involve giving a voice to marginalized sectors of society through the use of cell phones and the internet. In the last two years, his projects have been about the documentation of daily chores and challenges concerning disabled individuals in Barcelona, taxi drivers in Mexico City, and prostitutes in Madrid. He achieves this by providing them with cell phones and having them send their MMS images down to his website. So far, he hasn't figured out which sectors of Manila's society he wants to focus on, but his short list includes street children, seamen, and/or maybe transvestites. Stay posted to this website for info on a possible exhibition opening and artist's talk. He leaves Manila on March 26. His projects can be viewed online at www.zexe.net.

The Living Room
Unit 24, North Syquia Apts.
1991 MH del Pilar, Malate

I TOLD YOU SO...

THAT SINKING FEELING

Check out this article. More solid evidence confirming my theory that Robinson's Place Ermita is the gateway to hell. Good thing nobody was killed. But Gokongweis and all you folks at Robinson's Land Corporation High Rise Buildings Division, now would be a good time to address some niggling issues regarding the sustainability of this real estate development. I certainly hope that this isn't a reflection on the substandard quality of the materials or technology that you are using to make Adriatico Residences: One Adriatico Place and Two Adriatico Place and soon Three Adriatico Place. It isn't too late to revise the blue prints to include more trees, open space, roadways, parking and better sewage, you know. God help all who bought units in there.
Photo above shows the newly repaired section of road.
Photo below shows the section that caved in with it's new steel retainers
(upper right of photo to the left of yellow crane).

CARLOS RECOMMENDS...

Well whaddayaknow. Apparently one man's den of inequity is another man's idea of a great investment. After the righteous Kings shuttered down the Anito motel/hostel/short-time sex lodge across the street from The Living Room, the owners of Victoria Court wasted no time in picking up where they left off by buying up the place and opening the SOHOTEL. But although this may seem like the same horse only with a different color, SOHOTEL now aspires to be a little more sophisticated than it's predecessor. With it's extensive menu and renovated rooms done in a cream toned minimalist style, the appeal now addresses budget travellers and families as well as the crowd looking for a little clandestine "kootchie kootchie" if you know what I mean.
SOHOTEL
MH del Pilar corner San Andres St.
Next to Malate Church
Malate, Manila

CARLOS RECOMMENDS!

DINING IN THE AGE OF THE IRON FIST
Thanks to EO1017, everything has been feeling a little "New Society" around the metropolis lately. From the Marcosian feel of checkpoints in every corner to the vintage of the personalities we see littering the national airwaves (Imee Marcos and Tito Sotto among others), everything seems to be harking back to the days of disco and Martial rule in Manila. But nothing reminds me more of that era than the fad of eating with one's hands as a fashionable social activity. Kamayan Restaurant being the one and only place to see and be seen doing so. So just yesterday, while on my way to my favorite framer, The Corner Frames in Barangay Pio del Pilar to pick up the photo's for Lori's dessert show, I ducked into their Pasay Road branch. It was a heady swim. Not only did they still have their signature cardiac arrest inducing Paella-Stuffed-Lechon (What an INSANE - albeit delicious - IDEA), but the decor was still pretty much as I remember it from the days of Madame and Da Maharlika. Low ceilings, dark heavy wood, and their famous ceiling of fame (photo below) - a bittersweet reminder that once upon a time, Manila was a chic tourist destination where the likes of Sean Connery, Eartha Kitt, Sigourney Weaver, and even Peruvian Prime Minister Alberto Fujimori would be seen enjoying hand to mouth subsistence.

KAMAYAN RESTAURANT
47 Pasay Road (Arnaiz Road),
Makati City (next to WalterMart)
Tel: 843-3604
Fax: 844-4562/534-3038

OH MY....

GO GLOW GO.
Ok. This will be my only political post for the week.
To all of you "concerned" citizens bitching out there that the coup was pre-cooked by Gloria and that the "State of Emergency" was totally uncalled for, read this article in TIME Magazine. This confirms that La Glue should really start locking some of these jerks up or start shooting them at sunset on the Luneta. Mikee Cojuangco even makes a cameo. Sickening. Frankly, I still support the constitution and our current president. I, along with many many other silent ones voted for her (I can really count with my fingers people who voted otherwise - AND FROM ALL SOCIAL CLASSES TOO). Considering the total ineptitude of the final days of the FPJ campaign, it is not inconcievable to believe that she won fair and square. Doesn't ANYBODY remember out there how FPJ started falling in the polls in the weeks prior to the election due to his lack of a cohesive platform, lack of communication skills, and lack of unity in his team? Godspeed to her in fighting sycophantic twits like Boy Saycon, Tito Sotto, the Estradas, Cory Aquino, Imee Marcos and the irresponsible media that brought all of this insanity to a boil (I won't name names but you know who you are). She has really been too kind. Now excuse me, I'm going out to Harrison Plaza for groceries and to conduct my life as usual. Long live the midget.

WELCOME! WELCOME!

OYE! OIGA!
Brava! It seems that the cultural scene of Ermita has just gotten more exciting (and a leetle more Espaneesh) with the arrival of the spanking new Instituto Cervantes on T.M. Kalaw. Although the location might be a little grittier than their old digs, the current combination of striking architecture, more techonologically advanced facilities, and better parking are a definite upgrade from the old headquarters on Leon Guinto near De La Salle University. Not to mention, the stunning Jose Ma. Zaragoza architecture and authentic Iberian cuisine of The Casino Espanol right next door (apparently their Fabada is still worthy of writing home about) marks the area as an authentic slice of Spain by the Luneta Park. Log onto their website here for their cultural calendar. Look out for upcoming film showings and photo exhibitions.
INSTITUTO CERVANTES MANILA
855 TM Kalaw Street
1000 Ermita, Manila
Filipinas
Tel: 5261482
Fax: 5267449

CARLOS RECOMMENDS...

SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW...
When looking for authentic museum grade artifacts and quality handicrafts in Manila - either the real thing or the made-to-order kind - the malls are definitely not the place to be. Not only are prices immovable in most establishments there, but the sterile, prefabricated ambience compromises the mood to browse for anything at all. Back in the 80's all one had to do was walk down MH del Pilar or A. Mabini (near the Plaza Ferguson area) and it was all antiques, handicrafts, and bric-a-brac from Luneta Park until Pedro Gil. But since the demise of Pistang Pilipino (now the Hyatt Regency Casino) and the decline of A. Mabini Street in the late 90's thanks to the morally fibrous Mayor Lim, the hunt moved to Makati Cinema Square basement and Lao Center (both on Pasay Road). But don't be dismayed because if you still feel the need to find that something-something when in downtown Manila, the energy hasn't disappeared, it only transferred. So march on over to these places for some of the best we have to offer:

PHILTRADE (Hall 6 and 7), Pasay City
(photo above)
Buendia corner Roxas Boulevard (southwest side beside the World Trade Center).
Store upon store upon store of Chinese porcelain, 19th century dinnerware, art deco furniture, 50's and 60's collectibles, and everything else inbetween. Haggling acceptable.

SILAHIS HANDICRAFT,
Calle Luna Street cor. Victoria, Intramuros
One stop shop for all things Filipiniana. Common handicrafts/goods on ground floor, the more expensive stuff on the 2nd floor, and a gallery/bookstore on the third floor. A must for any Intramuros visitor. Have a snack behind it at Ilustrado when you are done browsing. Haggling recommended.

MH DEL PILAR and A.MABINI, Ermita
Both streets between the Ermita Church area and Padre Faura.
Both streets are still chock full of antique stores selling the REAL things. Only for serious collectors and for those not faint of heart when it comes to price. Haggling definitely required.

Not in downtown Manila:

TIENDESITAS
C-5 corner Ortigas Avenue, Pasig
Although new, the selections are impressive and tasteful. The attached food court, pet store central, and fresh produce market, also make a place a worthy visit for any local or foreign tourist. Haggling possible but not in all stalls.

SWAPMEET
24 Kamuning Rd., Quezon City
Tel. 413-3180
Hours open: Open from 11am to 8:30pm, Monday to Saturday
This place is more like Evangelista Street with it's second hand selections, but some gems definitely are hidden in the rough. Haggling acceptable.

NOW LET'S PLAY A LITTLE GAME...

WHAT ON EARTH...?
To commemorate the non-event that was EDSA 1986 and the even more pathetic non-event that was this morning's pseudo coup d'etat, I shall proudly ignore them both. Instead, allow me to invite you all to play a little game once again. And the game is called: "What on earth is this?" Just last week, as I was walking on United Nations Avenue in Ermita, I happened to find this limestone and brick structure that looked like a postbox from the Flintstones cartoons at the corner of MH del Pilar. Now for the life of me, I can't figure out what it is. It's made of adobe and brick, so I guess it must date to the Spanish period and the days before cement construction technology. But what was it used for? Methinks it might be a marker for distance. Unfortunately, I don't know how far it is from Manila Cathedral (the Kilometer Zero of the Philippines before it was switched to the Rizal monument in Luneta during the Commonwealth era) so I can't be certain about it's purpose. Anyone out there have any ideas or thoughts on this?