SM by the Bay/Signs

I've been busy and was out of town.  I suffered a bad cold when I got home--the weather has been crazy lately.

I was at this park in early July.  It's a row of restaurants and cafes, a giant Ferris Wheel, carnival rides, a zip line, fountains, a park and a long stretch of sea wall facing Manila Bay.  SM by the Bay is a popular place especially when it's hot and humid---it's the best place to enjoy the cooler breezes while having a beer and pizza.  Located at the back of the SM Mall of Asia,  the Port of Manila and the famous Manila Bay sunset can be viewed from this park.

Linking to Signs, Signs

Tarlac Capitol/Signs

Staff at the Tarlac Capitol building was bringing down the flags and banner when we visited on June 1st.  The National Flag Day was on May 28th.

Spotted this plaque by the door of the Capitol.

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Monasterio de Tarlac/Signs

These are some of the signs at the Monasterio de Tarlac, a Catholic monastery and hermitage along the mountain ranges of San Jose, Tarlac province and within the eco-tourism park.  There is a 30-foot statue of the Risen Christ perched on the mountain.  There is also a small chapel that houses the relic of the True Cross of Jesus Christ.  The relic, the only one in Asia, arrived here in 2007.  Unfortunately, I wasn't able to see it---and taking a photo of the relic is not allowed.

I was with a group of shutterbugs who visited the monastery last Saturday.  It was a 3-hour drive from Manila.

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No Trespassing/Signs

@ mirandablue

We were island-hopping the whole day and by late afternoon, we dropped anchor at Lahuy Island, a tiny island in the Caramoan peninsula.  Then we noticed this sign!  We didn't know some of the islands here are owned by private individuals---mostly by political clans, I learned later.  We expected to be kicked out but the the gentleman who lives here told us we can stay to enjoy the sunset and the beach, for free. 

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Peace/Signs

Painted on top of an old two-storey house in Malolos, Bulacan.
With the current tensions between Taiwan and the Philippines, territorial disputes with China, the Sultan of Sulu's claims over Sabah, peace in this corner of the world is always threatened.  I hope everybody is seeking peaceful solutions to these conflicts.

Linking to Lesley's Signs, Signs

Campaign posters/Signs

We had our national mid-term elections on Monday, and hopefully, the candidates will start tearing down their campaign posters soon.  We were following this campaign jeep on our road trip to Laguna in late April. Aside from the posters, this jeep had a loudspeaker blaring out political jingles---and it wasn't even 9 a.m. yet!  Political campaigns here are like a circus---each party/candidate has some gimmick, balloons, colorful tarps, and yes, campaign jingles that can be annoying when you're still sleeping.

Campaign posters on a designated place along the provincial highway in Laguna.

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Triboa Bay/Signs

Triboa Bay is a small community within the Subic Freeport Economic Zone, a former US naval base, overlooking Subic Bay. There are 21 villas here originally built to accommodate world leaders who attended the 1996 ASEAN Summit.  There is also a clubhouse with swimming pool which looked dilapidated.  The villas are now for sale/lease.

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Tsinelas Festival/Signs

These are signs from the Tsinelas Festival in Liliw, Laguna province.  

"Tsinelas" means Slippers.

I was here last Saturday with a group of shutterbugs.

Liliw is a small town at the foothills of Mount Banahaw, about two hours south of Manila and a home to a sizeable hand-crafted slipper and shoe industry.

The festival featured footwear for all ages, in different shapes and sizes.

The town's main street was lined with establishments selling all kinds footwear, and each store has a display of giant slippers.  There was even contest for the best giant slipper design.

It was a fun day at the festival.  

We bought slippers for friends and family, sweets and delicacies, plants, garden soil, and organic fertilizer.

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Graffiti/Signs

Drive-by shots of graffiti along Cardinal Rosales Avenue in Cebu City.  Taken in late March while I was stuck in traffic.

The caption of the painting below is "Bunga Ng Iresponsableng Mga Magulang" or literally, "fruit of irresponsible parents".  I'm not sure if the painting depicts a drug addict or somebody with birth defect.  It reminds me of Gollum, J.R.R. Tolkien's fictional character.

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La Tegola/Signs

I was waiting for two friends for lunch at a coffee shop in Ayala Mall-Cebu in mid-March when I took these photos.  The top photo is the entrance to the mall gardens, there is also a Starbucks and a bookstore.  Zoomed in at the sign of an Italian restaurant below Starbucks.  Love their appetizers and pasta dishes.  

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Old Presidencia/Signs

A sign spotted at one of the streets in Culion Island, a former leper colony (est. 1904).

I'm glad this old prison was empty and padlocked.

It reads:  

Old Presidencia

One of the old prisons of 

the colony where errant 

patients were put into jail.

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Most recognized Sign

At SM...we've got it all for you!

If there is a survey for the most recognizable sign in the Philippines, this will be it.  SM is a chain of shopping malls in the Philippines, with 43 malls across the country and 6 more under construction.  The owner, Henry Sy, now 89 years old, opened the first SM (or Shoemart) in Manila in 1958 and expanded his shoe store chain in the 1960's.  Now, Sy is the retail king of the Philippines--he and his family, have interests in retail, hospitality, banking, mining, education, real estate, and healthcare services.  In 2011, Forbes Magazine listed him as the no. 1 billionaire in the Philippines.

SM City North Edsa is the largest shopping mall in Southeast Asia and third largest in the world in terms of leasable area (496.878 square meters).  The second largest mall in the Philippines is SM Mall of Asia, the 3rd largest mall in Asia and the 4th largest mall in the world.

Even my niece, a toddler, recognizes the SM logo.:p

Note:  This is not a paid ad.

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Smile/Signs

"Smile...the town's convenience store"
I didn't notice products for sale here except for bottled water and prepaid phone cards.

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Rock 'n Roll Never Dies/Signs

A tarp spotted outside Galeria de las Islas in Intramuros last year.
A visual art exhibit that gave tribute to rock music.

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Signs @ San Miguel by the Bay

After dinner with friends on Sunday, we went out looking for a quiet coffee shop, if there was such a place on a post-Valentine weekend.  Coffee shops and restaurants at the bay walk were full and noisy.  So we kept walking and I noticed these signs---I've never been to Hooters, they opened their first branch here about 4 years ago.  Movie Stars Cafe is new to me, the marquee was blinding.  The interior looked interesting...will check them out next time.

We ended up having coffee at a friend's apartment.

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Mission Accomplished/Signs

A sign at the wall of Army Navy - Burger + Burrito.

I walked out definitely happy after demolishing a huge Carnitas Burrito with a dollop of sour cream.

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Full Stop/Signs

Do you put your foot down to a Full Stop or slow down to a crawl?

Or STOP means Squeal Tires On Pavement?

Linking to Lesley's Signs, Signs

BCG Impromptu/Signs

I heard music as I crossed the street to Bonifacio High Street.  I thought it was a band performing at the entertainment center.  I followed where the music was coming from and found a crowd gathered around a quadriplegic singing a Daughtry song.  A microphone was attached to his wheelchair and there were speakers by his feet--he was accompanied by a minus one.  He had a powerful voice, too!

On my next visit to High Street, I saw a juggler and an acoustic trio.  BCG's Impromptu gives unknown street artists a venue to share their passions and show off their exceptional talent and creativity.  Street artists don't have to pay for rent, the space is for free--all they need are their talent, instruments, props and the enthusiasm to perform.

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Lechon/Signs

These signs were calling my name. Artery-clogging Lechon, or suckling pig is a popular food around here.  There are festivals around the country to showcase Lechon.  In most regions, Lechon is the centerpiece during special occasions such as weddings, fiestas, reunions, birthdays and Christmas.  It's a kind of food that will not make you grow old---because you'd die young when you indulge often.  

Once in a while when I crave for Lechon, I buy a pound from this food cart.  But this time,  I congratulated myself for walking away without buying.:p

Linking to Signs, Signs