New Maria Makiling Statue in UPLB

University of the Philippines Los Baños has got a new beautiful Maria Makiling statue. It was donated by the Sigma Delta Phi Sorority on 31 March 2012.

It is located between the popular fertility tree and the College of Veterinary Medicine of UPLB. Maria's statue is positioned in the middle of a fountain.

Now, here is the dedication in front of it:

Marya Fountain is our tribute to women

who exemplify commitment to honor,

excellence and service.

Hereon, Let generations of women who

come to UPLB draw inspiration from Marya.

Star City

Been months since my last visit in Star City. They already uprooted the ferris wheel to give way for a bigger one. Something as big as the one in Enchanted Kingdom I think.

Star City has setup beautiful statues. One of them is the one at the Blizzard roller coaster. The mammoth and other cold-place-dwelling animals created a different ambiance even with limited space.

Another great picture-taking spot is the pirate ship is docked near the foodcourt. It serves as the entrance to an exhibit of pirate statues inside while riding a round boat.

KZ Tandingan - The Lady Who Never Gave Up

During X-Factor
KZ Tandingan is one of those who auditioned during the last fews days of X-Factor Philippines in Davao City (below are Charice Pempengco, Gary Valenciano, Pilita Corrales, Martin Nievera).

The Judges of X-Factor Philippines

In the audition, she tells about her vocal problem in the past which changed her singing style. The vocal problem caused her not able to belt high-note songs anymore. But then KZ wowed the judges and the audience after singing her rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow.

KC Concepcion on Stage with Guests on the Show

The audience asked for more after the first song and she sang Ready or Not with her own twist to it. It turns out she can not just sing, but can rap and scap. People have no idea she can dance until she did while singing Forever by Cris Brown during her X-Factor Top 4 performance.

KZ Tandingan Poses with Fan

After X-Factor

PAGCOR at Sucat, Paranaque

Now, she's the grand winner. All the efforts of KZers (supporters of KZ) and Chasters (supporters of Charice Pempengco) around the globe are not in vain. These two groups were the ones who cheered her in PAGCOR at Sucat, Paranaque and also bought the sims, e-pins & ABS-CBN vote cards, campaigned and provided venues as meeting places for voting.

KZers at PAGCOR

Being one of the KZers admins, I remember a Filipina chatted and called me all the way from Taiwan  at night just to sponsor votes for KZ.

The PAGCOR Grand Theater

KZ is a God-fearing person as her mother also told me in Facebook. It's obvious as she gives thanks always to God before giving her gratitude to anybody else.

Before X-Factor

The Night the Tandingan Family Watched X-Factor Live

Now this is a story I personally heard from KZ's parents while queueing with them outside PAGCOR to watch the X-Factor finals live. With teary eyes, KZ's father told that before X-Factor Philippines even started, he was asked by their church pastor to make a plan for their collapsing church building. Mr. Tex Tandingan is an engineer.

KZ with Her Father and Friends

The pastor asked what amount will they promise to give. He boldly said with faith that his family is giving a million for the construction of the church. Nobody from them expected that KZ will make it through the X-Factor audition and continue to the finals and finally, be hailed as the grand winner.

KZ Tandingan - The First Winner of X-Factor Philippines

It's a pleasure meeting KZ and I was really touched meeting her family and hearing their testimony. It's no accident that God allowed these wonderful things to happen to her and her family.

Oranges on a Plate

Sitting on the white plate are two fruits packed with Vitamin C.

In the picture is the most delicious orange variety I've ever tasted... so far. And I observed the darker color is always sweeter.  Compared to other common oranges, they have firmer peeling, more tasteful and better aroma. Worth the price I would say.

Mary Grace Cafe

Haven't entered Mary Grace Cafe before. Climbing upstairs reveals a home's ambiance in the line of cocktail drink and restaurant shops in Greenbelt 3.

The cafe is known for the Ensaymadas they serve and it is really delicious. I also tried their chocolate drink and was satisfied with its thick texture and tasteful flavor.

X-Factor Live - Top 8 Performance Result

Watched X-Factor live at Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) in Sucat, Paranaque for the Top 8 results night episode.

X Factor Stage

Not the first time to watch live though and I am with fellow supporters of KZ Tandingan known as KZers.

PAGCOR at Sucat

The grand theater is packed with people screaming for their bet.

Joan Da singing her Survival Song

The show became more intense as it arrives to the bottom two for last night's performance votes result among the finalists.

KC Concepcion, Gary V and Takeoff

The judge's decision between Joan Da (mentee of Pilita Corales) and Takeoff (mentee of Gary V) ended to a deadlock: two votes for Joan and two for Takeoff.

Just a Parking Lot Sign in PAGCOR :)

After the deadlock, decision was based on the number of votes and the singing group Takeoff went home during the night.

John Carlo Tan in Makati Square

Here is a picture with plain background that emphasizes the subject.

It's John Carlo Tan. Haha I had to chase him with the camera as he hurries to get to his seat. He joined the Makati Square Got Talent contest and belted Beyonce's Listen. Maybe he will win when the proper time for him arrives.

You may have seen him in the recent ABS-CBN's Maalaala Mo Kaya (MMK) 'Tinapay' episode with Mylene Dizon (as mother) and Deydey Amansec (as older brother).

Just One Summer with Elmo and Julie Anne

I recommend the movie to everyone. :)

The actors of Just One Summer movie appeared when the movie has finished playing in Cinema 5 of Trinoma mall.

Elmo Magalona

 Julie Anne San Jose and Elmo Magalona later entertained the audience (most of them are their solid fans) by giving aways prizes to holders of drawn tickets numbers.

Elmo Magalona and Julie Anne San Jose posing in front of Camera with Prize Winner

Their love team made the audience 'shriek' most of the time while watching though no kissing scene was in the movie. Great tandem right?

Alapad Rock Formations - Batanes

Who can forget these majestic rock formations in Alapad, Batanes.

Looking closely at the shore reveals colorful fishes swimming and feeding beside live corals in the crystal-clear water of the sea.

It's been years since I first went to Batanes
and a voice always screams in mind: "I want to be there again!"

Shangri-La Beach in Cebu

Shangri-La Beach

Swimming in Shangri-La Cebu is fun. Aside from their number of pools, you get a beach wide enough for you to explore around.

Speedboat

Their hotel accomodation has a package where you can just sign-up and borrow some of their non-motorized swimming gears like towels, snorkel, beach shoes and kayak.

Shangri-La Beach Shore

Shangri-La Mactan Resort and Spa is located in the island of Mactan. It is quite far from Cebu Island but they have a free ride going there at specific time every day.

Seashell

One fun to know is that the beach is actually man-made, and yet you still experience swimming with different kind of fishes above living corals.

Poster of Fishes

Penpen's Restaurant in Cubao

Saw these cute utensils when friends and I went to eat dinner at Penpen's.

Cute Spoon and Fork Handle

Penpen's can be found at Cubao Expo Exit far behind Gateway Mall. I would recommend the delicious Filipino cuisines they serve to anyone.

Tokwa't Baboy (Tofu and Pork)

If you are familiar with the Nescafe 3 in 1 Sweet and Mild advertisement ('Good morning sa inyo...') the shooting took place near Penpen's for its old-fashioned ambiance.

Front of Penpen's restaurant

When asked for the bill, the waiter handed us this beautiful miniature chest box containing (approximately 4 inches) the bill statement.

Mini-Chest Box

SM Mall of Asia Arena

Front View of SM MOA Arena

SM MOA Arena has finally opened on June 16, 2011. I was there of course to watch the Icons concert in this big coliseum.

The Arena officially opened weeks after Lady Gaga had a concert in it and weeks before Nicki Minaj had hers. A good vibe that more internationally known artists will perform there in the future.

The Pinoy Music Icons singing the Last Song for the Concert

I bought a general admission ticket and it seems like I am 100 meters away from the stage. I'm not exaggerating here. Thanks for the big screens so we can still see the faces of the performers.

Rear View of SM Moa Arena

I finished the concert and left the coliseum with a smile having watched so many Pinoy icons live in one concert. Let's see if I can list the artists here: Gary Valenciano, Regine Velasquez, Lea Salonga, Arnel Pineda, Martin Nievera, Ogie Alcasid, Juris Fernandez, Dulce, Verni Varga, Freddie Aguilar, Richard Pood, Piolo Pascual, Erik Santos, Christian Bautista, Basil Valdes, Jose Mari Chan, The Company, Bamboo, G-force, Pokwang, Jose, Wally, Jim Paredes, Pops Fernandez, Ryan Cayabyab.

You might get tired reading the lists of artists above but not if you watch the video of their performance I uploaded in  YouTube.

Father and Son

Something inside tells me to post this pic and I realized maybe because of Fathers Day celebration.

In this candid photo, Kuya Rico looks and smiles as he holds Joaquin and the cute baby stares at him in return.

Kuya Rico is a father and Joaquin is a son but they are not related by blood. Kuya Rico is just carrying a friend's son during a wedding reception at Boston Cafe, Los Baños, Laguna.

The picture proves a photography tip I read recently. There is more connection and feeling between the subjects when taking picture of people looking at each other, instead of them looking at the camera.

Here's Pocholo Bismonte and friends. Was with them after Pocholo's recital at the De La Salle - College of Saint Benilde in Taft for the first's summer workshop. Pocholo's belted the song This is the Moment (from the broadway Jekyll & Hyde) in a ccapella - his first ever performance at his college school.

The show was properly rehearsed and appeared natural. It showcased talents of both existing and new members of the Coro San Benildo singing group.

It was fun watching the show. Thanks to Tita Rose (Pocholo's Mom) for informing me about the event.

Gary V's On Higher Ground Concert

After a series of successful On Higher Ground concerts this year, Gary Valenciano had a repeat of the concert on June 8 and 9. Luckily I was able to watch at its last date.

The stage production was very colorful. And what's amazing was they also planned this monochromatic scene with Gary jut wearing pure white.

Gary had a duet with Julianne, also a singer and composer. They sang songs from Gary's existing albums.

The concert was full of contrasts. Gary sang songs both old and new. In this outfit, he wears an outfit he usually wore before as he sings with the band popular 80's songs.

Gary sang soap opera songs he recorded accompanied by visually appealing landscape backgrounds. There are times he stops to tell a story about a song before he sings that make the audience chuckles before he starts to sing.

Overall, the concert was awesome. It was also an experience for me after taking video and pics of the concert at the same time. Imagine a digicam on my left hand and a camera on my right. I just don't know how I look that moment.

In case you want to watch some videos of the concert, check out this link.