Rainy Manila

As of this date, we are still in the Philippines. It's been a lot of rain here since we came. Many say it's too early rainy season for a summer LOL! But the good thing is we didn't experience so much heat as what we had last 2007. It was cooler and only in the 80'sF instead of in the 90'sF as what we expected.

Anyway, rainy or sunny, we are still having fun, being with our family as well as meeting some friends. Whew! We had been busy every day for our scheduled activities but mostly for fun! Ha! Isn't it cool just being busy meeting loved ones everyday? LOL!

So much activities to be shared! Later!

World Light Expo

February 13, 2007 - World Light Expo, Paranaque, Manila - Philippines

This was actually the grand opening night of the World Light Expo sponsored by Korea. Although it was not yet fully complete and still under further construction, the lights went awesome that night.

It's me and the lights!

Hubby and me at a simulated lighted fountain.

Fort Santiago, Intramuros, Manila

January 19, 2006

Fort Santiago, in the medieval Spanish walled enclave of Intramuros, was where political prisoners through the ages, from Spanish to Japanese occupation, were held, tortured and sometimes executed.

The fort is shielded by 22-meter-high walls, with a thickness of 8 meters and an entrance measuring 40 meters high. It is located at the mouth of the Pasig River and it was once the premier defense fortress of the Spanish Government in the Philippines. During World War II it was captured by the Japanese, and sustained heavy damage from American & Filipino bombs during the Battle of Manila in February 1945. It was later restored by the Intramuros Administration during the 1980s. Today the fort serves as a museum which houses well-preserved legacies of the Spanish government, Jose Rizal (which is called the Plaza de Armas), Rizal Shrine, and the prison dungeons for criminals used by the Spanish officials.
José Rizal, the country's national hero, was imprisoned here before his execution in 1896.

Manila American Cemetery and Memorial Tour

January 19, 2006 - This was actually part of our Manila Tour which includes Fort Santiago, and some places in the city of Manila. Since I wasn't able to get much photos of the places where we toured in Manila, I would only be sharing this tour and another one from Fort Santiago. These two famous landmarks are the only places where we actually allowed to go down the tourist vehicle and take time to go around and take photos around the place. Other than that are mobile tours in which I think mostly it's not an ideal way of getting photos while you are in motion :)

The headstones:
These are arranged in concentric circular rows around the high point on which the memorial stands. Burial area is divided into 11 plots of varying sizes.

The Chapel Area: The chapel area stands between the south ends of the hemicycles. The photo below where I am is the chapel's door entrance going inside.

The Large Hemicycles - within which contains the Tablets of the Missing inscriptions.

We actually saw several missing soldiers who died during the war who carries our own family name...whether they are our relatives or not, we felt proud that we have those kind of heroes who died for our beloved countries.