Breakfast

I consider myself having a rather broad and adventurous palate (up to a point). But even after 27 years of living here, I still cannot stomach the Asian breakfast.

Filipinos typically start their day with a plate of tapsilog: meat/fish with garlic rice and a fried egg. Favorite meats include tapa (cured beef), corned beef, spam, longganisa or chorizo sausage, and tocino (bacon). Fried marinated bangus (milkfish) is popular,too.

Manila, 2012

This restaurant - Big Plate - is currently offering a special: a standard range of tapsilog versions with a cup of coffee for just over US$2 - all day. I wonder whether the brewed coffee is the native grown kape barako.

They make it look appetizing. But no meat or fried before noon for me! I'll stick to my organic cereal or oatmeal with fruit. And of course, coffee!

How do you break your fast?

Linking with Signs, Signs.

Reposo Mural: Hermes Alegre

Hermes Alegre is an artist who likes his women... to paint them, that is. 

This internationally recognized Filipino talent is known for his sultry and exotic women surrounded by lush fantasies of tropical foliage (click to see more of his wonderful work).

In 2006 I chanced upon Hermes contributing to the Reposo fine art wall (featured earlier on my blog here, here and here). Although most of his canvasses are a delicious profusion of colors, this spot on the wall seems perfect for this black and white portrait.

 Manila, 2006

I recently drove by the wall and was saddened to see that new construction had all but demolished most this amazing fine art. I'm so glad I have a digital record of much of it.

Joining the community at Monday Mural.

Brown Deer

Almost two years ago I showed you some white deer in a private zoo quite near my home. Yesterday when we drove by there was a new herd of deer, this time mostly brown.

Since I know as little about animals as I know about flowers and plants, I'll refrain from trying to guess what species of deer these are. But they sure are cute Camera Critters!

Manila, 2012

This last one, better viewed enlarged, is for the meme Mosaic Monday.

We're solidly in the wet season now, but you can see from the dried out vegetation that it's been a long dry summer in Manila.

Just A Pair of Sunsets

Brilliant sunset skies captured in the past two weeks. The first pair were taken near my friends' homes in Hong Kong, while the second pair are near our own home in Manila.

 Hong Kong, 2012

Manila, 2012

In the distance I spot a plane and feel the peace of not wanting to be on it.

For sky-watchers at SkyWatch Friday.

Smoker's Area

It seems to me that in most developed countries, smoking cigarettes has to a large extent lost its appeal. Not only is there now strong social pressure against it, prohibitive taxes and legal proscriptions have made the habit inconvenient.

In Asia, many people still smoke. While bans on public smoking are increasingly being introduced, in general nonsmokers remain quietly tolerant of the smoker. The culture values group harmony over personal rights.

And yet, perhaps it's just a matter of time... Here's a fun mixed message I saw at our humble tennis club this week (more fun enlarged):

 Manila, 2012

Earlier this week I saw this advertisement to encourage smokers to quit. Pretty effective, don't you agree?

This joins other fun, creative and interesting signs over at Signs, Signs.

Monday Mural - Reposo III

This is the third of the Reposo fine art murals. The first post explains the setting and the second post is here.

Today's beautiful painting is by Aileen Lenozo.

Manila, 2006

About this multi-awarded artist:

Lanuza made a name for herself painting realistic works of women in traditional garb but set in a highly conceptual context. Her interest evolved into portraying women as super heroes in their own right but set in highly interesting, conceptual and oftentimes amusing circumstances.

See some of her recent paintings and read more about her here.

I dedicate this post to all mothers - whether or not your corner of the globe celebrated Mother's Day yesterday. Here in China it was.

And I link with Monday Mural. 

Holy Mosaic Mural

This large mosaic mural of Christ lying on a bed of thorns graces the wall beside the basement parking lot ramp for Alliance Française de Manille that promotes French language, culture and friendly relations with Filipinos through art and educational programs. Unfortunately, I can't tell you who the artist is.

This mural is across the street from a wall mosaic with a lighter subject I posted on this blog before.

Makati, 2008

For those of you who observe it, I hope you had a joyful Easter.

Linking with Monday Mural.

:::::::

On a very different note, I am supporting a fundraising drive for a very special group of children. This is my appeal to YOU to CHIP IN to help get ONE child like Resty here to elementary school.

Meet Resty. At five years old, he must have already experienced life at its worst than most of us do. But poverty doesn't stop this amazing boy to dream big and to work for his dream to get out of Ulingan.

Resty is the youngest entrepreneur I have met in my life. He collects nails from burned wood for hours just so he will have enough money to buy himself soap and shampoo. He collects empty... cardboard boxes to help his grandparents put food on the table.

Resty, a very proud nursery graduate, is on his way on fulfilling his dream.  (~Melissa Villa founder of Project Pearls)

 
Ulingan (which means charcoal) is a small squatter community in Manila where many children subsist by working to make charcoal.

With your help of $5, $10, $20 or more we can raise the $200 to give ONE child in Ulingan the gift of education and make a huge difference in his or her life. Please go to the form on the top of my right side bar and securely chip in. I'm happy to answer questions or concerns. 

Project Pearls helps the poorest of the poor children in the Philippines have a better life by providing them with PEARLS: Peace, Education, Aspiration, Respect, Love, Smile.  You can read more details about the PEARLS Scholarship Program.

Manila Street Scene Murals

Last fall, President Noynoy Aquino declared the third week of October and March Design Week Philippines. On the CITEM (Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions) website it explains:

A national celebration that fosters local and global awareness on the importance of creativity and design capability of the Filipino people. It aims to promote the Philippines as a design hub in Asia and a leading knowledge center in design, as well as a premier tourism destination in art, culture and heritage.

I say amen to that.

Design Week is timed to coincide with the Manila FAME show, a trade fair showcasing exporters of furniture & furnishings, holiday & gifts, and fashion. Although I now no longer work in this industry, last month during the fair I went to say hello to my many participating friends.

Here inside the trade halls I found creativity in action, as art students painted murals on walls to depict "various popular facets of street life in the metropolis."

This is like no street life I've seen, but hey, we did say creative, right?

Manila, 2012

I'm linking with Monday Mural.

Monday Mural V - Reposo II

This is the second of the Reposo fine art murals.

The artist is Eddie Cabisada. The only information I could find about him is from his social media profiles: he is a self-described muralist who works in acrylics, oil and water colors, and he "doesn't like people who are liar and cheaters."

I like his bold use of colors here.

Manila, 2008

Find more murals here, here, here, here, and here. Our little mural group is expanding. How about you, you have a mural to share next Monday?

Monday Mural III - Reposo I

Today's mural could start a sub-series under the heading Monday Mural that I will name Reposo. 

I have in my photo archives a good number of interesting outdoor wall paintings that were created as part of an annual art and culture festival in Manila. For the past seven years the art party has been held the last weekend of May on what was formerly called Reposo Street. I've attended the street party twice, in 2006 and 2008. (If you're in Manila, go check out the street and the art and lifestyle studios in the LRI building.)

Besides the painting of a wide range of murals on a long wall by well-known as well as not-so-known Filipino artists, the festival offers a full schedule of live performances (singers, dancers, story-tellers), an arts/crafts/food bazaar, body painting for children, portraiture, movie screenings, lectures on art and culture, and much more.

Two 2006 murals by the celebrated artist Egai Fernandez are the first I will showcase. 

In this first image you can see Egai at work on one of his murals, as well as a part of the long wall used for the event.

Manila, 2006

Egai describes himself as "A Filipino Social Realist Artist. Who's hands and art are dedicated to art and placing the word 'fine' in it."

Here is a second mural he was nearly finished painting, one I particularly like.

And finally a charming smile from the artist.

None have committed to post a weekly linky, but there are a few of us playing with Monday Murals. Find more murals here, here and here.

Tonight's Sunset

Watching a big round sun set on Manila Bay is my extra special bonus when I am called to an early evening meeting at Hotel Sofitel Philippine Plaza.

Manila, 2011

This sunset [more beautiful enlarged] is linked with SkyWatch Friday. Check out the hundreds of stunning skies seen and captured from around our globe.

Red Powder Puff

By now my regular visitors know that I don't know the first thing about flowers or plants. Except that they sure are pretty. And I like to get my camera close to them.

Manila, 2011

It would be safe just to call these red powder puffs. No one would take me seriously. But I'm going to stick my neck out... again... and identify these as Calliandra, a genus of flowering plants in the pea family. Maybe of the species Calliandra emarginata.

[Enlarge for better view.]

"Success in life is founded upon attention to the small things rather than to the large things; to the every day things nearest to us rather than to the things that are remote and uncommon." 

~ Booker Taliaferro Washington (1856–1915), American author

"I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all."

~ Laura Ingalls Wilder (1867–1957) American writer

This bush stands right at the front gate to our house. The powder puffs bloom right after it rains; then the puffs go away until after the next downpour. I'd never really taken notice before. Here you can see that it's a rather ordinary looking bush... until you look closely.

I link with Today's Flower, Mosaic Monday and Macro Monday.

Mystery Colors in My Garden

We recently moved houses and that, of course, meant we got a new garden. One morning shortly after a rainfall, I explored the grounds and found a lot of colorful flowers I could not name. Maybe you can help me.

PS. I have added the scientific names below as they were identified with a little help from my blogger friends. Thank you! The names link to sites with more information and, when available, I've linked to a site that describes the plant's medicinal values. 

Ixora coccinea

Ochna thomasiana (Mickey Mouse plant)

Averrhoa bilimbi

This next photo is added after many comments to show the fruit of this bilimbi plant. One of the English common names is cucumber tree. As you can read in the comments or the linked page, the fruit is sour and is used in sinigang (a very sour Filipino soup) and bagoong (shrimp paste). Also go visit fellow blogger Andrea, a Filipina horticultural expert, where her post today elucidates on the properties of this sour fruit. And no, I have not yet tasted this fruit from our tree.

Manila, 2011

 

Heliconia and Mussaenda philippica 'Aurorae'

I'm joining the blogging communities at Today's Flower, Weekend Flowers, Macro Flower Saturday, Flowers on Saturday, Macro Monday and Mosaic Monday. Do check out these meme for awesome flowers, macros and mosaics.

Ready for Coffee

Manila, 2011

A few days ago I readied my cafetière à piston to make my habitual morning cup of arabica. As I placed it on our marble kitchen counter I noticed and savored the light effects and shadows. [Better viewed enlarged.]

Linking with the meme communities at Weekend in Black and White and Shadow Shot Sunday. 

And for the season:

[SkyWatch] Skies after the Storm

These sky images I captured today may look pretty so-so to you, but to those of us here in the Philippines who just got battered by yet another hellish typhoon the past days, the blue and white is heavenly.

Manila, 2011

After billboards caused serious injury to man and property during a typhoon last year it was decreed that billboard canopies be rolled up before the high winds rolled in. 

While I stayed safely under cover in my home, inconvenienced only by a 20-hour cut to internet access in my area, other photographers far braver than I captured the havoc. 

The city is quickly being cleaned up, but sigh, the blue skies may be short-lived. We are bracing for another storm predicted to land on the weekend. So if you don't see me online...

 
I'm linking with SkyWatch Friday.

[Our World] Tree Trimming

Tree trimming is done for various reasons - safety, health or aesthetics.

Close to my home in a suburb in Manila there is a long boulevard lined with eucalyptus trees. I've noticed that once a year, the branches of these trees are completely hacked down and I've yet to learn the reason.

A few days ago, I captured these men at work and thought they'd make an interesting story for Our World Tuesday. It's a pity I missed seeing how the man got up into the tree.

Manila, 2011

First he attaches a rope to the branch that is about to be felled.

Then he hacks the branch with a machete, leaving what to me looks like a rather crude cut. And I see he wears no safety equipment of any kind.

But down it comes! The men on the ground ensure it doesn't hit the home.

And soon the boulevard will be entirely denuded of its shade-giving branches. You can see the trunk left standing on the left of the one being worked on. The first time I witnessed this I was pained.

Yet then I saw that within mere weeks, new healthy branches sprouted out, and before long, the boulevard was once more lush in green. I'm thinking that the tree trimming does make the tree stronger and healthier, despite the violence to its limbs.

Is there a moral to this story?