Manila Ocean Park

We went to the new Manila Ocean Park yesterday. It only opened last February but a lot of people have visited it already. I promised my nieces and nephews that we will be going there after the end of their classes and last Saturday was the first time that we were all free together. So there were 11 of us that went, 6 adults and 5 children. Good thing they accept credit card payment so my pocket was not drained. Hmmm…it will be later when I have to pay for the fees especially since the entrance fee is not really that cheap (P400.00 for adult and P350.00 for children) but I think it was worth it. It was about time that we had our own and I think it could compare well with other oceanarium. Actually I’ve only visited two so far – one in Hongkong and one in Tennessee but I should say that it was at par with them… the only problem was that there were soooooooooo many people when we came. It was supposed to be in batches. They did not allow every body in at will but we had to fall in line outside but still there were so many when we got in. One staff mentioned that the best time to come and visit was at around 7 pm when there were less people since there were also big crowd even on regular days. I guess it is not just because it is new but because it is already summer break!

Here's a video I got from Manila Ocean Park official website:



The first leg was an open area that simulated a rain forest. There were water falls and big fish cages with exotic fishes there were also some tanks were you can touch creatures like starfish and shells. I touched some starfishes! The first dark area you’ll enter had so many people that we were literally dripping with perspiration. The crowd was too large that I could hear from the sound system that one child was actually lost. I made sure that the nephew I was holding on to was near me. He was finding it hard to go near the small aquariums on the wall since there were many people crowding looking and taking pictures that he was getting restless. Then I gave him my celfone and he was already caught up in taking pictures of the fishes and other sea creatures. We could not really be walking in group due to the big crowd so my nephew and I just cruised along the different parts in the first area till we found each other in the next area which was bigger and cooler. We stayed there for a while then headed for the 25 meter tunnel where you can see the sea creatures in all directions. Well not all directions actually since you can see them from the side and above you but not below you. Then the next area was supposed to be the deepest sea and it also a large area where they have reading centers where tourists (I would say particularly students) could have some activities… then we went out of the first level and could see Manila Bay including the Floating hotel and restaurant (ship). We went up the stairs and saw a fish spa area… A fish spa??? spa for the fishes??? well it is not for the fishes to have a spa but for tourists to dip their feet in the pool with pebbles and fishes that would probably give them massage. We didn’t try it anymore since we had to shell out another P100.00 for it and we couldn’t really stay that long. The tanks with the stingray and sharks that could be seen below in the first level are open in this area. They actually allow some people to volunteer feeding them. One of my naughty nephew was going to put his hands on the shark tank and we all shouted for him to stop it. Geez, we donot want to see one bloody hand floating on the cage! Especially one coming from our family!!! The exit was through a fancy restaurant. Well we sat on the chairs and table there overlooking Manila Bay but did not bother looking on the menu since the kids were already settled in having their lunch in the nearest McDonalds we can find after we leave the park. After the restaurant was the sourvenir shop. It was just a small shop and they did not really have many items in it. I no longer checked the prices since I had no intention of buying but good thing we already got a souvenir bag before we came inside the park courtesy of Insular life… of course it is not entirely free since we had to write our names on a coupon and for sure we will be getting advertisements from the company… Oh well, I shouldn’t really complain considering I have a neat bag :) … then we were back at the entrance which was actually a dome…

Oh boy it was neat being there but it was one draining activity due to the volume of people and the heat outside that I still feel exhausted this time…

But I’m sure glad we already have such park though. It is not yet complete as they will still be adding a lot of features to it but we have seen the main thing and it was great!

Now I’m certainly looking forward to more destinations!

Jones Bridge re-lighted!

After I came from Binondo Church during lunch mass, I saw a poster in Plaza Lorenzo that says that Jones Bridge was lighted by Mayor Lim yesterday (http://www.manilacityph.com/gallery.htm).

Boy, was I excited! I have not been able to have my Tuesday night walks in that direction for a long time since the bridge was really dark... it meant that I could have my walks again!

I was looking forward to Tuesday. However, I wasn't feeling well the whole day today and I decided that I couldn't wait for Tuesday anymore. A good long walk would probably help me feel better and I left the office at 7:00 pm (6:00 pm would still be not totally dark) and started walking. I was doing a brisk walk from my office up to about 20 meters from the bridge and then I started to slow down... there it was the bridge, all lighted. There were definitely more lights than before. Can you see the light posts in the 2 sides and the center lane of the bridge from the picture? I thought it was too much but better lighted than no light. However, aside from the new white lamp posts they also relighted the big round pink lights on the sides which is about my waist level.

I started to walk slowly. There were so many lights but funny, it wasn't that bright. The yellow lights they had at the middle lane before was brighter. The best part in walking on that bridge was seeing the reflection of the lights on the bridge on the other side (Sta Cruz bridge), unfortunately they have not lighted that part. It was very dark on the other side and I sure missed the reflection of the pink and blue lights on the the base of the river. I guess lighting that bridge would be their next project and I will be looking forward to it. What I missed more is also seeing the post office all lighted up... it has lost so much of its business with the advent of text messaging and the internet that it could not sustain lighting the building even on holidays... good thing I still have its memory and I could still recall its beauty as i walk slowly on the bridge.

It felt good walking that I decided to walk till the City Hall... even past it since I headed to Shoemart mall and had a good hot meal at Pho Hoa. The walk sure made me hungry! :)

Lifted High

I got home early last night at around 6:30 pm and there were some spaghetti left so I ate and told them that I would rest first and would wake up when it is time to pray the rosary. I slept in the sofa and they actually did not wake me but I heard them when they were going to start and prayed with them and slept some more. It must have been around 11:30 when I woke up and my niece told me that I slept a long time. I washed myself and headed for my room.

I could not fall asleep since I already slept a lot so I was just there lying in my bed and I prayed some more. It was not actually a prayer full of words but silent praying. Then I felt myself rising. I was being lifted high! It was like someone was below my wooden bed (it is a narra bed with a four inches mattress) and was pushing my mattress up with me in it. I asked myself what was happening. Am I asleep and dreaming? It happened a couple of times and I could feel myself moving up and down. My mattress with my head and upper body was moving higher than the lower portion and I wanted to check what was going on below but the mattress was wide and I could not take a peak. Then I was flat on the bed again and I was wondering if I would once again go up… still wondering what I should do? Should I panic and think that there is a ghost in my room? Am I just dreaming? I told myself I am not dreaming since I still feel the pain in my head which is usually the last thing that I remember before I finally get my sleep. Should I get out of bed and go down to my mom’s room? Everything suddenly made me tired. I was not afraid but I did not know what to do so I decided to just wait… the bed did not move anymore. After a while I fell asleep…

Then it was already morning. I remembered what happened last night. I ask myself once more? Did I dream everything? Ahhh… maybe I did. It is weird, it is the first time I ever experienced it. It is not something that I want to experience again. If I am once again going to be lifted up… could it be straight to heaven already? Ahhh just a thought but a better thought than last night.

Everything's Alright!

Finally the Holy Week. Once again, our office was dismissed early. Only half day work and no work from Tomorrow till Sunday. Most personnel have immediately left the office at 12:00 noon. I came back to the office after a visit to church over lunch. I always like this time in the office… when there are no more people except for the few cleaning people who have to finish up with their work. Only one is assigned in our department so it makes the office quiet! I have no particular thing to do… well I have lots actually but not that time… I just want to hang on to some peace and quiet! And on the next days more peace and quiet!

Finally some needed rest. In the past I would go with my friends to different places during this season but I begged off from going with them for quite a while now since no matter how we want to keep the days holy by limiting our activities the days still turn out to be fun.

The next days also mean some rest from my computer… from the internet! Am not really sure if our faculty would decide to show up during the following days but even that have to wait. Rest! Rest! Rest!

Not just physically but even my spirit.

I’ve been looking for an MP3 file of a song from Jesus Christ Superstar and finally found a link in The Lynnertic. I have been listening to it since last night. I realized that the Jesus Christ Superstar movie was actually the first movie I saw alone. It was a rerun I think when I saw it but the music has stayed on with me for a long time. Sometimes I actually find myself doing a repertoire of the songs particularly those sung by Magdalene. And this particular song I would sing changing my voices to that of Magdalene, Judas and Jesus. I could never find the right pitch for Jesus’ part but I still continue singing them. This song struck me as not just a call to rest but a song to go on despite the difficulties and chaos you see around you.

Yup, despite chaos I know I am still blessed and if I have faith I know that Everything’s alright!


You can download the music from The Lynnertic blog.
Hope you get to listen to it! :)
Here's the lyrics...

Everything’s Alright

Mary Magdalene:
Try not to get worried, try not to turn on to
Problems that upset you oh don’t you know
Everything’s alright yes everything’s fine
And we want you to sleep well tonight
Let the world turn without you tonight
If we try we’ll get by so forget all about us tonight

Apostles’ Women
Everything’s alright yes everything’s alright yes

Mary Magdalene:
Sleep and I shall soothe you, calm you and anoint you
Myrrh for your hot forehead oh then you’ll feel
Everything’s alright yes everything’s fine
And it’s cool and the ointment sweet
For the fire in your head and feet
Close your eyes close your eyes
And relax think of nothing tonight

Apostles’ Women:
Everything’s alright yes everything’s alright yes

Judas:
Woman your fine ointment — brand new and expensive
Could have been saved for the poor
Why has it been wasted? We could have raised maybe
Three hundred silver pieces or more
People who are hungry, people who are starving
Matter more than your feet and hair

Mary Magdalene:
Try not to get worried, try not to turn on to
Problems that upset you oh don’t you know
Everything’s alright yes everything’s fine
And we want you to sleep well tonight
Let the world turn without you tonight
If we try we’ll get by so forget all about us tonight

Apostles’ Women
Everything’s alright yes everything’s alright yes

Jesus:
Surely you’re not saying we have the resources
To save the poor from their lot?
There will be poor always, pathetically struggling
–Look at the good things you’ve got!
Think! while you still have meMove! while you still see me
You’ll be lost and you’ll be so sorry when I’m gone

Mary Magdalene:
Sleep and I shall soothe you, calm you and anoint you
Myrrh for your hot forehead oh then you’ll feel
Everything’s alright yes everything’s fine
And it’s cool and the ointment sweet
For the fire in your head and feet
Close your eyes close your eyes
And relax think of nothing tonight
Close your eyes, close your eyes and relax

All:
Everything’s alright yes everything’s alright yes

Magnified

Do you ever get the feeling that some people you have met and talked with online thinks “more” of you than what you really are?

Sometimes I feel that and it actually embarrasses me… sometimes even scares me!

It is not that I am pretending who I am when I am online nor am I projecting my best self to the other but online talks do not really give you the real picture of who one really is. No matter how honest you are online I guess it can never give the complete picture of another. Oftentimes there are no pressures when you talk with people online… no pressures like the ones you experience with people physically around you… so you don’t get to focus on their negative side. The good is magnified!

I said it scares me… yes it does scare me at times…

But at the same time sometimes it also uplifts me… it puts a smile on my face…

Sometimes I feel so burdened with things that’s happening around me and I get to talk with neat people online and I feel better… and somehow I wish that I do the same with them too!

Okay, I’ve also realized that there are people online that do pretend too. That’s another thing… They may have different reasons for pretending. It is really hard to judge. They could uplift you too but could also hurt you intentionally or unintentionally. Such things happen too. You can think badly of them for hurting you but that will just be magnifying their faults, right? You don’t really know them. I guess the best thing is just to ignore them and forget them…

It is good to magnify the good… and look past the negative things… but it is best to maintain a clear focus on things that are important… to you… to the people around you… the people you meet… the people whose lives you touch.

Jollibee's magic

I borrowed money from my mother for my fare this morning since I spent most of my cash on hand at Jollibee yesterday.

Yesterday I brought one of my nephews to a cathechism class in a chapel near our place. It was only the second Sunday I brought him there.

Yesterday there were also 4 new kids there. They were dirty with chemically colored hair and 2 of them barefooted. One of the cathechist- Kuya Ricky washed them but they were still dirty when they got back. Two of them kept on fighting, shouting and hitting each other on the head and face without care that other people are looking, another kept going around the chapel and sometimes joining in the fight. Only the tallest of them was behaved and would try to pacify them. I’ve talked with this kid and he said that he invited the other 3 to join. The fighting never stopped even when the mass was going on and at one point I was so angry yet pitied these boys for not being able to appreciate the value of what was going on that my eyes welled. When the mass finally ended I checked my pocket and saw that I still have some money left, I asked my nephew if he wants to go to Jollibee with the kids, he said yes. I called the tallest boy and asked his name then I told him to tell the other 3 that I would take them to Jollibee. They got excited. I told them that my money was little and we could not order a lot and they said “kahit ano lang ate” (anything will do) I added that they had to behave since we will surely be thrown out if they were unruly and they agreed. We walked to the nearest Jollibee. I asked them if they knew why I was taking them. And they said it was because of Jesus. “No” I told them. It was because of Edward (the name of the tallest boy). I added that I was very very angry at them but that I admired Edward for bringing them there and seeing him behaved so I was treating them because of him.

They arrived at Jollibee’s entrance ahead of me. The guard asked where they were going and I told him that they were with me and he smiled and let us in. I asked for the prices and finally came up with a combo of burger-french fries and softdrinks for fifty pesos each.

That’s were the magic came. They were behaved and ate their food as they told me about themselves. They were tiny boys but one was already 11, another 9, and two 8’s. The tallest boy was 9 years old. They are scavengers and sell the scraps they find in the junk shop, sometimes they also act as “watch your car” boys and would buy P5.00 rice with soup for their meal and the rest they give to their family. Two of them had no home since it was recently demolished. They belong to big families and they do not go to school at the moment. One of them (Rodel) used to sniff rugby but stopped after a priest told him not to do it that they have also been to another church before and the people there washed them with soap unlike what happened that day where they were only washed with water and no soap. They were boasting that if they give a bottle cap with a Jollibee logo to the guard he will give them Jollibee (I think there’s an ongoing softdrink promo) They kept talking but they were behaved. And at one point they told me that they saw me cry in the chapel. I did not realize that they could be very observant and they would notice that since I knew that I stopped the tears immediately. I told them they were negosyante (businessmen) and shared with them stories of some people I know who were like them but are now famous. I also told them that my father was a shoe-shine boy and sold newspaper and cleaned other people’s home when he was young but also did well in life. Finally I told them that they should know how to read even if they cannot go to school. Edward said he could read a little and I said that it was great. Finally, after they finished eating they put the glasses and the paper wrappers in the tray and they all went to the wash room. It took time for them to figure where that is so that I reminded them that they should learn how to read. They were inside a long time probably enjoying washing (I couldn’t look so I wouldn’t know though). My nephew did not talk but enjoyed eating and joined them in the wash room too. The Jollibee crews including the guard were smiling at us when we left and waved. We had to cross an overpass from Jollibee going back our way and the kids were left behind watching a traffic accident. They were waving at us while we walked the bridge. I couldn’t really see their faces (I had no glasses) but I think Jollibee’s magic worked.

QC TechnoPark

"P6-B UP-based IT park first of its kind in RP"

I have been waiting for this information for quite a while. Everyday, I would pass the construction site and I see how they are being developed. I would ask drivers and other people about it but no one can really answer me and provide informaton till now.

Some of the structures are almost complete and they are starting to work on the landscaping. I actually like the designs and it is definitely better than having another mall in the area which was rumored some time back. The development of the area also blends with the road widening of Commonwealth Avenue with wide sidewalks and bike lanes (I can definitely see the sidewalks but not sure yet on the bike lanes except for this area maybe where I could somehow visualize how it is going to be)

It is an IT park, there are going to be BPOs there, that means that there will be people there even at night. How I wish that my office is just there (of course it can’t be since we are not in IT) so I could just walk home…well not going there, I don’t want to be all sweaty as I start work for the day since our place is still far but it will be nice walking especially on cloudy days and cool evenings (ahhh wishful thinking!).

My niece studying in UP-Diliman says she has heard a lot of complaints and negative feedbacks on the project from the people in the University. I hope they are wrong because I have a nice feeling for that project. It is actually something that makes me smile every time I pass the area.