PAGING THE UNIVERSE!

YOO HOO!
Yo Universe. It's me, Carlos. I want this house. Pretty pretty please?

Walking around Intramuros, I stumbled upon a beautiful 150 ++ square meter house. Done in the 90's but in accordance to Intramuros Administration's rules of having to look "historical", it is located on the corner of Arzobispo and Anda streets just a block away from San Agustin Church.

I don't know why but I really really want this house. I can see it as a little bed and breakfast with an awesome cafe and tapas bar on the ground floor. And it's RIGHT next to the former Ateneo de Manila ruins. The house is just begging to become an attraction in Intramuros with the right amount of renovations and promotions.

Sadly, it costs a little under 8 million pesos and well, I just don't have that kind of money in my life at all. Sigh.

So Universe, help me make this happen. Ommmm.

BRAVO! BRAVO! BRAVO!

KWENTONG KUTSERO
I am a firm believer in the Filipino. Despite the many challenges facing Philippine society and it's values, I truly believe that our moral core is in the right place. Filipinos are not corrupt. It's just the system that makes us do corrupt things. And proof of this moral core lies in a cochero that I know in Intramuros named Luisito Lopes.

Just last week, a Fil-Am guest of mine dropped an envelope with Php50,000.00 pesos in it on the floor. And instead of taking the U$1,000.00 ++ equivalent and using it for his family or for a drinking binge, Luisito simply handed he money over to me to give to the guest.

He did it with no fanfare and with no desire for getting anything in return for this act of honesty and humility. I'm sure it wasn't easy giving back the cash considering how hard life is for these carriage (kalesa) drivers.

And since Luisito won't toot his horn. I will do it for him. Ladies and Gentlemen. Meet Luisito Lopes. Manila's most honest cochero driver.

Postscript: Actually, I've been looking for a way to improve/beautify/organize the pedicab and Kalesa drivers of Intramuros. A new paint job and a price matrix and some uniforms would go a long way in promoting tourism in the walled city.

Perhaps this could be a volunteer effort for #HelpDOT. Anyone wanna help me?

CARLOS RECOMMENDS!

WHEE! WHEE! WHEE!

I HAVE FRICKING ARRIVED! WOOT! Sharon Cuneta gave away two (2) tickets to my tour on her show. I'm looking forward to meeting Roger and Trina Alcantara, the lovely couple who got married in McDonald's. They can hold hands in Luneta and have a Big Mac and Chicken Nuggets at the Luneta branch on Kalaw right after the tour. Whee!

HELP YOURSELF AND #HelpDOT

WALK. PRAY. LOVE. SLEEP.
It cannot be denied that a result of events in Manila, tourism in our capital has fallen to an all time low. Hotel cancellations and international bad press is the order of the day and we are looking at a loss in livelihood at a very large scale.

So as my way of helping out the crisis brought upon our young tourism industry, I've put together a little package that will make it easier for locals to see their own capital, reflect upon it's state, upon recent events, and one's personal mindset while you fill the deficit brought about by this blow.

Be a tourist/pilgrim in your own town by checking into the The Intramuros Hotel, a quaint little budget hotel in front of San Agustin Church, and take a tour with me.

In your free time, wander about Intramuros' historic walls like Jose Rizal, drink San Miguels in Ermita like Nick Joaquin, or pray and pay respects in it's many holy spots and memorials like Filipino Chinese saint, San Lorenzo Ruiz.

Do this all while you immerse yourself in the history of the city that has pretty much defined the state of our entire nation.

Php4,800 (double occupancy)
or Php2,400.00 each

Php3,800.00 (single occupancy)

This includes accomodations at The Hotel Intramuros and tickets to one (1) Carlos Celdran tour.

This deal is only good for the month of September.

Email celdrantours@hotmail.com if you are interested or text 09209092021.

Check www.carlosceldran.com for the schedule of tours.

FROM THE MAILBAG...

A LETTER FROM CHINA.

For the last week, I've been on the line with some international publications (a few in China, some from the US and Mideast) who were asking for my take on the bus hostage situation, its reasons and ramifications. This morning, I received a letter from one of the many journalists I was dealing with in Mainland China. It really put things in perspective for me. And as I hope, for the many Filipinos and Chinese nationals out there who have access to blogspot.com.

Of course, unlike us, Mainland China doesn't have this tricky thing called democracy and freedom of press, so please forgive me for not including her/his name.

Dear Mr Carlos Celdran,

Thank you for your kindness help last week. I think it really helped our readers to understand more about the situation fillippinos are facing, rather than conspiracy and hysteria.

Unfortunately I'm a Chinese Citizen, which means even though our country are now claimed to be the second largest economy I still have to obtain a visa to your country, Even I tried really hard to secure a visa last week, I can't manage to get one on time.

Once again I have to base in China to report international affairs.

I read this blog about this incident on Philippine Online Chronicle today.

http://thepoc.net/commentaries/9522-hostage-crisis-and-a-broken-nation.html

which made me to think the problems our two nation facing are amazingly similar. Inept and corruption also the biggest problems of our administration, and it's also the ordinary people are paying for the price.

I've been reading your blogs these days, and fall in love with the dynamic manila. Through this blog I can see your love of your nation. I've been to XXXX in XXX last year, and only spend X hours at the manila international airport.Maybe next time I will pay a visit to the capital.

If you have time, I would love to have a more in-depth talk to you on phone about Philippine the nation and this incident, hopefully I can bring more sympathy to my readers.

Your's Faithful
XXX XXXX XX

I invited him out for a San Miguel Beer should he come back to visit Manila. But at the end of it all, we must realize that many Chinese out there acknowledge that we have to much in common to throw our relationship away.

Just like us, even they know that this too, shall pass.

ROLLING WITH THE HOMIES...

ROLL WITH ME AND LET'S HELP THE DOT...

In line with the new twitter trending topic #HelpDOT, I'm organizing a little bike ride for the #HelpDOT volunteers around downtown Manila this weekend. Starting at the Manila Film Center, we'll roll all around Malate, Ermita, Intramuros, and Binondo and back again. I want to outline a potential bike/pedestrian tourism corridor between these areas. I would love to see a clean, green, and beautified beltway that links the CCP complex all the way to Chinatown. It would be very beneficial to tourists if we can find a way to link together all our historical spots through proper landscaping, public art, pedestrian paths and bike lanes.

So come with me and let's check it out and brainstorm. It's going to be a great way to re-orient ourselves with Manila's historical spots and maybe have a light snack along the way.


AND DON'T FORGET TO WEAR A HELMET!

Meeting date: September 5, 2010
Meeting time: 6:00am
Meeting place: Manila Film Center

Please text 9209092021 to register for the Sunday morning bike ride. Just send a text with your name.

Route:
Start at Manila Film Center 6:00am
CCP Complex
Roxas Boulevard
Intramuros
Escolta
Plaza Lawton
Luneta Monument
Back to Film Center

WILL BE RIGHT BACK...

Stepping out stage left for a bit. Gotta get away. Gotta take a break. Really do. But before I do, let me present an amazing poem by R. Zamora Linmark. Thank you, man. It certainly lightened up my day. It's dedicated to Coco. And Coco. You know who you are.

Impromptu

for Carlos Celdran

Why are you scatterbrains all scattered? Be simple.

Get into rows of three’s or five’s. Four’s an

unwanted number and I’m two-thirds Chinese.

I’m sorry, I have to be strict. It’s my duty.

You know this is an impromptu, right?

You all came here unannounced, uninvited,

expecting to drop your load and wishful thinking

I’ll drop mine too. Expect again. Do you guys

even have an inkling as to what it means exactly

to be on and not out of commission for once?

Try stretching your imagination to the stacks

and cases of human rights violations I have

to read day in and day out? You, in the tank top,

quit playing with yourself. Everyone stay still,

or I’m out the door. Do you all hear me?

Because I don’t all hear you. No, that side

is not my vantage point. Don’t make me

turn my head just for you. I don’t even know

you or what field you came out of. I repeat

this is an impromptu. And impromptus, if

I’m not mistaken, give me the right not to turn

my head right-left-right-left-up-down-

down-up if I don’t want to. And I don’t want to.

My mind is already overloaded with down-

loaded images of precincts and policemen

in boxer shorts and t-shirts kicking prisoners’ beer

bellies like soccer balls and playing tug of war

with their genitals. You in the green shirt,

you’re ugly, get out of my line of sight. Who

was that that just left? You think I’m doing

this for my benefit? Such simple directions

for your simple minds and I have to repeat myself.

Look at me. All of you look at me. If I’m facing

you this way and not the other way, is that a good

angle to shoot me from? No. The laws of physics

say so. It is always better to shoot up-close

than from behind or way yonder, unless

you’re God. And it doesn’t take God to know that.

Okay, one more worst-case scenario: If you

and I get caught up in a moment like now

and another guy jumps in, is that considered

polite and good hygiene? N-double-O.

I know why you’re here. I thought long and hard

about you, shot you from every angle, every

side, dorsal, anterior, profile, top, bottom,

and the bottom line always remains the same:

calling me Coco doesn’t mean we’re seeing eye

to eye or almost close to coming together.

R. Zamora Linmark

WHEE! WHEE! WHEE!

Thank you Kate Bartlett of www.mysinchew.com for the shout out in your article, "Manila Seeks To Tempt Tourists". It's a really great and balanced article on what Manila has to offer and is currently about. Click on this link for the article.

AND THE WINNERS ARE!

AND THE WINNERS ARE:

ANNA GAMBOA
ALVIN LEVERIZA
CANDICE QUIMPO
SAJAR RAJGOPAL
BERNI REGMALOS
CARLA CAMILLE MENDOZA
JOSEPHINE BONSOL
ELNA ARCANGEL
ROANNE TAN
EDZH BALTAZAR

WHEE!

But since I hate seeing anyone go home empty handed. All the following names are given 2 tickets to any Intramuros Regular Tour or Imelda Tour:

Bernadette Casinabe
Christensene Guevara
Andre Calixto
Kristine Binay
Kristel Salvador Tungol
Maria Haeja Franca
Abi Lasquety
Candy Lasquety
Jey-aiy Reyes
May Corpuz
Rocell Alejo
Ellaine Samson
Chris Ely
Maika Perez
Maria Criselda Yu
Alex Ruelo
Mary Jean Saberon
K-Ann Marpuri
Alexa Villano
Robert Velayo
Ron Nicolas
Adrienne Sarmiento
Kathleen Ann Kho
Dianne Gutierrez
Darlene Monoy Fenix
Caliyah Lillies
Katrina De Dios
RJ Oca
James Betia
Jessica Rayos
Jaziel Oliveros
Ciara Juan
Manuel S. Bernardo Jr.
Kevin Punzalan
Kumiko Mae
Katrine Sales

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL!
Please email celdrantours@hotmail.com to confirm your Intramuros Hotel Gift Certificate or consolation prize walking tour.

LOG onto the site of White Knight Hotel Intramuros and check out the digs. It's a great little budget hotel in the middle of the walled city.