Farewell, Whitney/Signs

Spotted this at the mall two weekends ago on my way to the supermarket.  Whitney is very popular in the Philippines---fans and music artists mourned her passing.  People wrote messages here to bid farewell to a great singer.  In this country of music-lovers, Whitney's vocal intensity and power have greatly influenced a generation of singers and aspiring singers.  I remember when "All at Once" was first heard over the airwaves in the 80's, my friends and I were awed by her incredible vocal range, and we did our karaoke versions every time we got the chance.:p 

Goodbye, Whitney...your music lives on!

Linking to Signs, Signs

G/ABC Wednesday

G is for Gazebo


Gazebo is a freestanding, roofed, usually open-sided structure providing a shady resting place.
This gazebo is located on the slopes of the gorgeous Mount Tapyas.  The mingling scents of the sea and mountain air, the breathtaking views of Coron town and the nearby islands of the Calamianes filled the senses. 

Linking to ABC Wednesday

Mellow Yellow Monday: Colorful

A colorful outrigger anchored at Coron Bay.  It brightened up the cloudy, foggy morning.

"The whole world, as we experience it visually, comes to us through the mystic realm of color."  ~ Hans Hofmann

Linking to Mellow Yellow Monday

Anthurium

Anthurium - Kaumana (red), Pink Exotica (light pink), Flamingo Flower, Painted Tongue

With its open, heart-shaped flower and tropical disposition, Anthurium symbolizes hospitality and has an incredible vase life.   It is a large genus of about 600-800 species belonging to the araceae family.   The species thrive mostly in wet tropical mountain forest of Central and South America, no members of this genus are indigenous to Asia.  The flowers are hermaphrodite, containing male and female flowers. Anthurium is one of the flowers commercially grown in the Philippines for the cut flower industry.

Love is of all passions the strongest, for it attacks simultaneously the head, the heart and the senses.

~ Lao Tzu

Linking to Macro Flower Saturday and Today's Flowers

Sign @ Camayan Beach

A sign at Camayan Beach Resort & Hotel, one of the popular resorts in Subic Freeport.  I'm glad there are signs like this to remind people that this planet is not only for humans.

Linking to Lesley's Signs, Signs

F/ABC Wednesday

 F is for Fritz

F is a no-brainer...I have an in-house model.  Here is Fritz, my 4-year old buddy who makes me smile and laugh out loud everyday.  He can be demanding at times, especially when he needs to go out to do his business, but he's an affectionate, good-natured dog.  He's loved by everybody in our street, even strangers fall for him because of his gentle ways.  Fritz taught me to be patient and nurturing, and I think I'm a much better person because of this guy.

Linking to ABC Wednesday

Mellow Yellow Monday: Up close

Thunbergia mysorensis, Indian Clock Vine 

Here's a Clock Vine up close---a beautiful, vibrant flowering vine.

Chase your blues away @ Mellow Yellow Monday

A rose is a rose is a rose...

Love is much like a wild rose, beautiful and calm, but willing to draw blood in its defense.

~ Mark Overby

Linking to Macro Flower Saturday and Today's Flowers

Oriental Chicken Salad

@ mirandablue

Met two friends friends for dinner recently at High Street.  I had this Oriental Chicken Salad for starter but decided to skip the main course and went straight for dessert.  The grilled chicken was tasty, loved the crisp salad greens, crispy noodles and tangy sesame-ginger dressing.  A delicious, healthy meal.  

I had frozen yogurt for dessert.:p

@ mirandablue

Linking to Food Friday and Food Trip Friday

Signs: Love and Doughnut

@ mirandablue

Share the calories!

I hope you had something sweet on Valentine's Day!

Linking to Signs, Signs

E/ABC Wednesday

 E is for Edge

The person(s) who built these huts on an islet must love living on the edge.  This is one of the islets facing an open sea, the Sulu Sea, and the huts are made of light materials like bamboo and nipa.  Clearly, these huts are perched on precarious ground, and at the mercy of the elements.  I was somehow relieved when the boatman told us that nobody lives here full-time because there was no fresh water.  Fishermen use these huts as a rest-stop where they cook and eat their meals, sleep and take refuge during a rain storm. I couldn't help thinking what a storm surge or an earthquake would do to this islet.  A 6.9 magnitude earthquake hit this area on Monday last week, and I hope this islet didn't disappear after the earthquake.

Linking to ABC Wednesday

Mellow Yellow Monday: Sunset

Perfect is your smile

that I can't stop thinking about.

Perfect are your eyes,

they warm me up inside;

Perfect  is your kiss,

it tells me how you feel;

Perfect is the sunset

by your side.

Happy Valentine's Day to you!

Linking to Mellow Yellow Monday

Musa Ornata

Banana Heart/Puso ng Saging, Musa Ornata

Musa Ornata is one of more than 50 species of banana, it is usually grown for decorative purposes. It originated in southeast Asia and widely distributed throughout tropical regions.  It grows up to 8 to 10 feet and produces pink flowers and small, dark pink or crimson fruit that tends to be inedible.  The fruit is a banana that is seeded and also inedible.  A fast grower, Musa Ornata provides a lush tropical feel to the garden, inflorescence and fruit are an interesting sight.

For all that you are and all that you do, and for the many ways you make my heart sing.  ~ Leland Thomas

Linking to Macro Flowers Saturday and Today's Flowers

Signs: World Heritage Site

@ mirandablue

One of the four UNESCO World Heritage Sites Baroque Churches of the Philippines, Nuestra Senora de la Asuncion was built in 1765 in the town of Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur.  The church sits on top of a solitary hill beside the town plaza.

My contribution to Lesley's Signs, Signs 

D/ABC Wednesday

D is for Doorstep

There must be a door here a long time ago.  I could easily imagine children sitting or playing on the doorstep, or young girls having girl-talk---a reminder of a gentler time.  Built at the turn of the century, this is what remains of a beautiful mansion that was burned down by American and Filipino soldiers in 1942 to deflect the Japanese forces from establishing a headquarters here.  The Ruins in Talisay City has become a local attraction after the heirs cleaned up the property, and opened the place and garden as venue for parties and wedding reception.

Linking to ABC Wednesday

Mellow Yellow Monday: Yellow door

From my archive---a yellow door with capiz at one of the old Spanish houses in Calle Crisologo in Vigan.  I hope somebody would remember the terrace was gone before stepping out of this door.

More cheerful yellows @ Mellow Yellow Monday

White Frangipani

White Frangipani, Plumeria obtusa, Plumeria pudica, Kalachuchi, Everlasting Love

Frangipanis originate from South America and  there are some 300 species.  There is a theory that Catholic missionary priests spread frangipanis around the world as they traveled.  The reason why different species are popular and common throughout the Philippines and Thailand, and rare in Vietnam and China.   Locally known as kalachuchi, the flowers give off a strong perfume at night to attract hawk moths that pollinate the flowers.  This flowering tree loves warm climates and can survive months of hot weather without water.  I associate the heady scent of frangipani with death as the flowers were popularly used as sympathy flowers and  wreaths at funerals when I was growing up.

We do not remember days, we remember moments.


~ Cesare Pavese

Linking to Macro Flower Saturday and Today's Flowers

GoodAh's Classic Goto

If you remember a light aircraft that crashed in Paranaque in early December, it was more or less a kilometer away from GoodAh.  I was on my way home when it happened and the traffic was just horrible.  GoodAh was a lifesaver---I was having this Goto while firetrucks and ambulances rushed to the scene of the crash.

Goto is a Filipino version of Congee, it has tripe, pork cracklings, ginger, fried garlic, boiled egg and green onions.  I had tokwa't baboy as a side dish.

Linking to Maiylah's Food Friday and Willa's Food Trip Friday