Avenida 12785: February 2009

Che: A Revolutionary Life

>> 25 February 2009

At last, I finally finished the 2-part biopic of Steven Soderbergh's Che: A Revolutionary Life starred by award-winning actor Benicio Del Toro. The first thing that pops out of my mind with the word 'revolution' is none other than the notorious but great Ernesto 'Che' Guevara. Some people think of Cuba or for the patriotic ones Andres Bonifacio, Diego Silang and others. It all started in Cuba when Batista became a military dictator. Che was a Communist yet filled with passion for change in Hispanic America. The word Communist denotes a lot of misconceptions but I must admit that I'm not into Marx's or Engel's ideology on government and politics. I called him great not because of the fact that he was a leader of the revolutionary movement but he was passionate to reform the ways of traditional politics in the region. Corruption, inequality and despair was a way of life in Latin America even the prosperous country wasn't spared. Peasants live like rats, not getting enough services especially on health care and the unequal distribution of land. (Sigh) So much for that I don't want to sound like a geek.

Anyway, I had a great time watching the film despite it was Spanish the subtitles were powerful and moving. You get to see the different faces of Che. After all, he wasn't really a war-freak commendante. He was a physician and a guerilla with a touch of humanity and love for liberty and justice. Guess what, his movement was not really concentrated in Latin America but it also reached the shores of West Africa. Revolution spread like wild fire. I wonder if he lived longer he might be able to visit the Philippines when Marcos ruled with an iron fist. LOL. The film is recommended for students in the liberal arts to spark their own revolution... kidding. Del Toro won Best Actor in the Festival de Cannes for his performance in the film and also the 2009 Goya Awards as the Best Spanish Lead Actor.

This photo was taken moments before his execution.

"Soy no libertador. Libertadores no existen. ¡La gente se libera!"

"I am not a liberator. Liberators do not exist. The people liberate themselves!"

Intramuros: ¡Adios Insigne y Siempre Leal Ciudad...!

>> 22 February 2009

This marks the end of Intramuros, the Heart of Spanish Manila. I don't know what you call this but this shot was taken at Baluarte de Santa Barbara overlooking the dying Pasig River. Let's save the river anyway. I wonder if when and where will be my next trip. I wanna visit Vigan, Ilo-Ilo, Bohol or Palawan (sigh). ¡Hasta luego amigos/amigas! =P

Myko: ¿Adonde vamos ahora?
Me: Me gusta ir a la casa.

I'm still learning the forgotten lingua franca. ¡Viva La Republica Filipina!

Intramuros: Felipé II, Rey de España

>> 21 February 2009

Meet King Philip II of Spain. He ruled the largest global empire the world has ever seen surpassing Alexander the Great of Macedonia conquering some parts of Europe, Africa, Americas, West and East Indies. During his reign, Spain reached the height of its influence and power. He raged war with England following Queen Elizabeth's rejection of a marriage proposal but went home defeated and bankrupt.

"Esta estatua fue erigida en honor a Felipe II, Rey de España de quien estas islas tomaron su nombre." which means, "This statue was erected in honor to Philip II, King of Spain of whom these islands (The Philippines, La Filipina) took his name." Grrr. Barbaric Vandals. =P

Intramuros: Cam Whoring Tour Guide

Cam whoring episodes of Myko, nurse/call center agent/tour guide/lover. We enjoyed our escapades at Intramuros despite the expensive pedicab (20 bucks per person) rides. We really had a great time while his lover takes the head-splitting NCLEX-RN in Makati. LOL. Anyway, Intramuros series will end in a day or two. I hope you enjoyed my shots. =P

Intramuros: Isabel IIa, Reyna de España

>> 20 February 2009

Meet Reyna Isabel Segunda (reigned 1843-1868). Her statue stands in front of Puerta Isabel Segunda. She was Spain's first and so far only queen regnant. According to Wiki, Isabella often interfered in politics in a wayward, unscrupulous way that made her very unpopular. She showed most favor to her reactionary generals and statesmen and to the Church and religious orders, and was constantly the tool of corrupt and profligate courtiers and favourites who gave her court a bad name. She reminds me of the Queen of Hearts of C.L. Dodgson's The Adventures of Alice in Wonderland. "Off with their heads!" =P

Intramuros: Casa Manila

Outside Museo Casa Manila. People live both the old and modern ways of daily living in Intramuros. I haven't got any pictures of the calesas but I guess you can see it at the far right portion. Below is the main gate of Casa Manila entrance costs about 200 pesos. =P

Congratulations To all New RNs of Nov. 2008 NLE

>> 19 February 2009

After more than 2 months of waiting the results are finally out!!! Congratulations to the following:

Jan Paolo Fernandez, RN
Rachel Ann Jandayan, RN

You need Adobe Reader to view pdf files.

To download the list of the 39,455 new RNs click here

CONGRATULATIONS!!! This is your moment to CELEBRATE!

After 3 Years...

>> 18 February 2009

After 3 years of lusting for Sbarro's baked zitti, I finally had a platter of it. Why that long? Well, we don't have Sbarro in Cagayan de Oro City. Pity. The last time I had baked zitti was way back 2006 during my Psychiatry Affiliation at National Center for Mental Health. Sbarro of the old Glorietta Complex is now in the newly erected Glorietta 5. =P

Intramuros: Plaza San Luis

I love the cobbled streets of Intramuros. Plaza San Luis features Casa Manila. It houses Spanish heirloom from furniture, china & even clothes. Fronting Casa Manila is Iglesia San Agustin (pre-restoration) known to be the oldest ever standing Baroque church in the Philippines. In 1993, it was one of four Philippine churches constructed during the Spanish colonial period designated by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. I know I screwed shooting Iglesia San Agustin. I missed the bell tower. LOL. =P

Intramuros: Carlos IV, Rey de España

>> 17 February 2009

Charles IV was the King of Spain from 1788 to 1808. Taken in front of Manila Cathedral. =P

Myko: Gutom na gutom na talaga ako. Kakainin ko talaga ang lahat ng caballo dito sa Intramuros mawawalan talaga sila ng hanap-buhay kapag di na ito mapipigilan. ¡¡¡Tengo hambre!!! Huhuhu. Español yun ha!
Me: Vamos a comer ahora. Jejeje. A mi tambien.

Translate here

Intramuros: A Legacy To The Islands

>> 16 February 2009

Spain left a legacy to the Philippines... as the only Christian nation of the Far East. These plates mark the collaboration of the colonizer and her ex-colony in restoring the Manila Cathedral. Grrr. I hate it when people vandalize.=P

Intramuros: Basilica Menor de La Concepcion Inmaculada

The Manila Cathedral was first built in 1581 actually this is the 6th cathedral built after typhoons, earthquakes and the bombings of World War II. It once had a bell tower until a strong earthquake hit the walled city in 1880, after which the cathedral remained towerless. The cathedral was elevated into the rank of basilica menor by Pope John Paul II in 1981. =P

Intramuros: Palacio del Gobernador

>> 15 February 2009

The seat of power of Hispanic Philippines. Currently, it houses the office of the Commission on Elections. =P

Myko: Gutom na gutom na ako. Huhuhu. Wala bang fast food dito?
Me: May Starbucks nga fast food pa kaya?
Myko: Ai may Chowking at Greenwich sa kabila tara! ¡¡¡Vamos!!!
Me: Ay no me gusta comer!

Translate English to Filipino (Tagalog) click here

Intramuros: Almacen Real

The Royal Warehouse or Almacen Real houses the goods for the governor's palace (Palacio del Gobernador). It does not only keep goods from Spain but also from the Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade back in Hispanic Philippines. =P

Intramuros: Capilla de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupé

>> 14 February 2009

Taken inside the chapel of Our Lady of Guadalupé perhaps the oldest in the country. We got our own shrine here just a few kilometers away from our house. People from different walks of life come here for their pilgrimage & prayers. P.S. I'm not Catholic anyway. =P

Rejoice and Be Glad...

After almost 4 months of burning the midnight candle everything was paid off. We give You back the Glory and Honor FOREVER! Your promises are real. The exam was really tough. Tougher than the notorious local board exam. I almost puke after finally reaching the ground floor of Trident Tower. I ran off towards Buendia Avenue's sidewalk to avoid a major faux pas in the Makati CBD (I don't have motion sickness anyway). I cried the night after the exam. It was tormenting. Everytime I close my eyes, I saw my parents' faces as well as my expectant friends. I saw the figures spent for this head-splitting test. I remember the number of practice test questions I answered before the big day. I remember the number of movies I missed for my preparation. (sigh) It was God's grace. =P

You said, 'For I know the plans I have for you... Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future.' Jeremiah 29.11

*For those (friends) who know me you can check it by clicking here

Intramuros: Baluarte de Santa Barbara

>> 13 February 2009

The citadel of Santa Barbara is one of the original buildings of Fuerza de Santiago (Fort Santiago). It faces the infamous Pasig River and the rest of Manila. What amazed me with this building is that it was once a dungeon from the late 15th century to World War II. Below the railings are chambers with one common entrance. Coins are cluttered on the floor thrown by tourists for reasons that I'm not quite sure. It is currently under restoration so no one had the chance to see the interior. I doubt this is one of the despicable prisons in Philippine history, ceilings are low, no ventilation & of course the stone-cold accomodation for the inmates. =P

Intramuros: Rizal Shrine

José Rizal writing his last poem Mi Ultimo Adios (My Last Farewell). Creepy ha. =P

Intramuros: Cuarto de Repuesta / Plaza de Armas

>> 12 February 2009

Main entrance of Cuarto de Repuesta with my tour guide Miko (he loves cam whoring LOL). The walls are made up of bricks piled on top of each other. This is the prison where José Rizál was detained before his execution by pelotón de fusilamiento (firing squad) in 1896, 2 years before the Philippine Independence. A brief background will suffice. Rizál wanted:

The Philippines be a province of Spain
A representation in the Cortes (the Spanish Court)
The Filipino priests instead of Spanish friars--Augustinians, Dominicans, and Franciscans--in parishes and remote sitios
Freedom of assembly and speech
Equal rights before the law (for both Filipino and Spanish plaintiffs)

But the colonial authorities in the archipelago did not favor these even with the endorsement of Spanish intellectuals in Spain. That made him establish a civic movement La Liga Filipina in 1892. Prior to La Liga Filipina's birth he already became an enemy of the state after writing his two novels Noli Me Tangere (The Social Cancer) & El Filibusterismo (The Reign of Greed). ¡¡¡Vivá La Republica Filipina!!!

Intramuros, The Heart of Spanish Manila

Main entrance of Fuerzá de Santiago (Fort Santiago). Restored after World War II by the Intramuros Administration. It's frustrating to know that a lot of the country's historical treasures were destroyed in the war. Anyway, it bears the original Coat of Arms of the Insigne y Siempre Leal Ciudad de Manila (Distinguished & Ever Loyal City of Manila), conceded in 1596.

The Death Chamber

>> 11 February 2009

The testing center. Trident Tower at Salcedo Village, Makati City. Taken the night before our 'Judgment Day.' =P

See Ya On The 12th

>> 08 February 2009

Wish me luck. Need your prayers. This is it. =P

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