A beautuful hideaway called T HOUSE... in Tagaytay

location: 3195 Calamba Road, Tagaytay (046) 483 0011 Owned and operated by Mrs Fem Paguio. Its a cozy Bed & breakfast cum hideaway. T stands for Tranquility... and seeing the place you will like it too... she served us little canapes and pandan juice to wash it down. So refreshing! In case you want to stay for a weekend ... you have to book in advance. It opened 18 months ago. HOW TO GET THERE: at the sta rosa- tagayaty junction.... turn left going towards tagaytay highlands.... since T HOUSE is not on the ridge.... you have to look for the sign on your left.... the landmark will be a church Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church ( Ina ng laging saklolo church )...... right beside it.....

Giant Parols of Pampanga

Location: San Fernando, Pampanga. In the parking lot of the Robinsons Mall.

This event happens once a year.... at christmas time. Many of the barangays in Pampanga compete for " the Best Lantern ". This year... the competition was last December 20. The winners are farmed out to different locations such as.... Clark and Intramuros.

There were 5 giant lanterns ( measuring 20 - 25ft. tall ).... located in the parking lot when we arrived. They were from San Jose, San Nicolas, Del Pilar, San Juan Nepomuceno and Dolores....

The lantern show starts as soon as the sun sets..... the shows lasts for 90 minutes... first.... they start one at a time.... then... after the intermission... they start showing 2 or 3 at a time.... and lastly.... they do a simultaneous display of 5 lanterns... It starts at 6:30pm and ends at 8:00pm.

The giant lanterns are part of a tradition that started way back in the early 1900's when they were still using oil lamps to provide the illumination for the lanterns....

What is fascinating about this display ... is that it doesnt use modern high technology...the makers of the lanterns utilize old fashion techniques using rotors which switches the thousand bulbs on and off.....the colorful lights are synchronized to music, not by electronic devices but manually operated. These lanterns are mounted on the front of trucks which also contain the control rotors and switches....

Full Moon at Day Break!

Location: My balcony...... Woke up early today to pick up Joe at the airport....... looked up and saw the full moon.. Finally!!!! a full moon!!!! after so many days of clouds and rains..... today was just perfect!!!!