UST celebrates 400th anniversary

This month there’s another “Royal” event that will take place aside from the much-awaited Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton in the UK – the 400^th anniversary of the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas (UST) in Manila, Philippines.

I never studied at UST, but it will always be a significant part of my life because I lived in the vicinity of the university for almost two decades.

Whenever someone asked me where I lived, I always replied: “Near UST.” It’s a landmark like no other in that part of Manila, a prominent reminder of the more than three centuries of Spanish colonization of the Philippines.

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Philippine media coverage of Japan disaster

My article posted on the blog of Deutsche Welle-Akademie Asia:

“How media in the Philippines report on Japan”

 

Pho: Iconic Vietnamese dish

My favorite Vietnamese food is undoubtedly the noodle soup pho.

I’m aware that there are many kinds of pho, but so far I’ve only tried beef pho and chicken pho.

Regardless of the variety of pho, the noodles are made from rice, that’s why I don’t miss rice in its “original” form whenever I have a serving of the famous Vietnamese noodle soup.

Pho is a complete meal for me: it’s got soup, rice and meat in just one bowl.

French celebrate sexuality from Paris to Manila

On the grounds of the Louvre

Whether in Paris or in Manila, the French aren’t afraid to talk about sexuality.

When I was in the French capital, I saw depictions of nudity in places frequented by tourists.

I’d say that all of them were artistic.

On a train station (left) and near the Eiffel Tower (right)

The French are really good at expressing themselves through the arts.

I suppose that’s possible if you don’t let inhibitions shackle your creativity.

"Two Cobras" by Agnes Arellano

The Philippine capital

In Manila, Alliance Francaise de Manille and Galleria Duemila are currently holding the art exhibition “Conspirateurs du Plaisir” or “Conspirators of Pleasure.”

It features works of sculptors Agnes Arellano and Duddley Diaz and painter Fernando Modesto.

"Entwined, Shy" by Agnes Arellano

Their works reminded me of the depictions of nudity that I’d seen in Paris.

The Total Gallery of Alliance Francaise de Manille, where the works are presently displayed, seemed like a miniature Paris to me – everywhere I looked there were fine examples of artistic self-expression and French-speaking people.

More about the works tomorrow.

Independence Palace: Where the Vietnam War ended

The Independence Palace is the most prominent symbol of the Liberation of Saigon in the city now called Ho Chi Minh City.

The palace, now known as Reunification Palace, was where the Vietnam War ended on April 30, 1975.

Pieces of the past

On the palace grounds you’ll see two of the tanks that crashed through the gates of that place on that day, now a public holiday in Vietnam.

Once the residence and office of the most powerful man in the former South Vietnam, the Independence Palace is now both a museum and a conference hall.

The Independence Palace is no longer a presidential residence and office, but many places and things there serve as reminders of its former preeminent role as a national seat of power.

One of those places is the office of the president.

I’m thinking that, most likely, during the heyday of the palace, it wasn’t that easy to see that office. After all, it was the workplace of a president.

Now you can see it and many others for about a dollar.

All Saints’ Day scenes at the Manila South Cemetery

Many Filipinos are in cemeteries today, All Saints’ Day, to pay homage to their departed loved ones.

Photographs:

Left: “Apartment-style” tombs

Right: Balloons, food, birds, toys and many others are sold by enterprising Filipinos inside the Manila South Cemetery

The tomb of former Philippine President Elpidio Quirino

The sixth President of the Philippines, Elpidio Quirino, is the most prominent personality buried in the Manila South Cemetery.

His tomb is quite easy to find because it’s at the center of the roundabout at the center of the cemetery.

Quirino served as President of the Philippines from 1948 to 1953. He died in 1956.

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The world of the living and the world of the dead: the Makati skyline and Manila South Cemetery tombs

Police said the number of people inside the cemetery had reached about 15,000 as of 11 in the morning

The main entrance, at the corner of South Avenue and Pablo Ocampo Senior Extension (formerly known as Vito Cruz Extension)

The Philippines is the largest Christian country in Asia

Shanghai World Expo ends today

Flags near the entrance to the World Expo site

Today the World Expo in Shanghai, China ends its six-month run.

I visited the Expo in May and that trip felt like a one-day tour around the world.

Not even the intermittent rains during that visit prevented me from savoring the sights and sounds of various countries, many of which would have been almost impossible for most people to go to, mainly due to financial constraints.

The Expo brought me closer to countries such as Bosnia and Herzegovina, Azerbaijan and Egypt.

In a way, it served as my link to distant places.

However, I wasn’t able to see all of the national pavilions because one day wasn’t enough to explore the more than five-square-kilometer Shanghai World Expo site.

That’s actually larger than two Monacos.

Pavilions from Africa

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Pavilions from the Americas

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Pavilions from Asia and Oceania

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Pavilions from Europe

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10/10/10 reminds me of 08/08/08

Bird's Nest

Today is October 10, 2010 or 10/10/10, and I’m reminded of 08/08/08 or August 8, 2008, the day the Beijing Olympics opened.

I wasn’t there during the event itself, but the following year I was able to visit the Bird’s Nest, where the opening ceremony was held.

I saw it sometime in May 2009 though, and not on 09/09/09.

Behind me is the Water Cube and around my neck is a fake Olympic gold medal

Mabuhay Germany scenes: Germany in the Philippines

This afternoon I went to Bonifacio High Street in Taguig City in Metro Manila to check out the third German Exposition hosted by the German-Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The event’s theme was “Discover Germany! Explore and Experience Diversity.”

It resembled a Weihnachtsmarkt (Christmas Market) in Germany, but of course it wasn’t about Christmas.

It was about all things German.

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That visit was like a trip to a tropical Germany.

Pigeons in Saigon are having fun