Makati City's Caracol 2014

If you think that the most developed city in the country is nothing but advancement and tall buildings, Caracol 2014 proves that there is more in  Makati City that you could think of. Dubbed as the city's Mardi Gras, Caracol is the celebration of earth's beauty and love through a street dance parade that showcases the beauty of our planet and the talent of Makati students and residents.

A total of 12 contingents from Makati's elementary schools, secondary schools and clusters competed on this year's Caracol Festival. Three groups are elementary pupils from Palanan, Maximo Estrella and Fort Bonifacio Elementary Schools, another three are high school students from Bangkal, Pitugo and San Antonio High Schools and six came from the six residential clusters of Makati City.

On this year's festival, the final street dance competition was held at the 21-hectare family entertainment and leisure village, Circuit Makati. This is this their second year here, and with a space as wide as a coliseum that can fit huge number of people, the place was unimaginably full yesterday with spectators and supporters who eager to see each contingent's performance.

Art Fair Philippines 2014

Time is indeed flying so fast, and just like that the 2nd Art Fair Philippines has just opened and it will be open to the public starting today, February 20 until February 23, 2014. And just like last year, it is still at the 6th and 7th floor of The Link, Ayala Center, Makati City.

I was one of the lucky few who got to see first the pieces that will be on display as the organizer decided this year to hold a collectors' day a day before the official opening. I'm not a collector, but luckily, since I'm now connected to Habitat for Humanity Philippines, and Kenneth Cobonpue, who is one of the featured artists of this fair, has chosen his latest piece, The First Light, to be on display in this exciting and artistically orgasmic display of Filipino artistry - which by the way is created to help raise funds for the families affected by Super Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda, local name) - I am here!

This year's Art Fair Philippines still features modern and contemporary art, but with a much wider space with the exhibition venue designed by Leandro V. Locsin and styled by design luminary Kenneth Cobonpue, more galleries were showcased, both local and international, but still with emphasis to local ingenuity.

Azalea Residences: A Refreshing Take on Baguio's Accommodation

With the culminating activities of Panagbenga Festival 2014 just around the corner, which include the grand street dance and float parade, I know that a lot of you are now preparing for the weekend to witness one of the freshest, blossoming and really colorful festivals in the country. But wait, before you pack your bags and head up on to the mountains, let me ask you this - Do you have a place to stay? I'm not sure if they are already fully booked now, but if not yet, then let me tell you why Azalea Residences is the best place in Baguio City to stay in for the Panagbenga Festival 2014.

Celebrated on the entire month of February, few months before the country faces another exciting summer season, Panagbenga is one festival that's no doubt keeps making this city in the Cordillera more lovely. With its natural beauty that comes from its people, beautiful tourist spots and great bargains, don't be surprise why the Summer Capital of the Philippines keeps on blossoming and keeps on attracting more tourists, both local and international. 

Strawberry Galore at Azalea Residences

And one addition to its beauty that never fails to amaze me, the newly established and well-kept Azalea Residences.

Dinagyang 2014: The First Day to My Dream Philippine Festival

Funny it may seem that it took me a year to prepare for this and yet I'm still unprepared to what I'll be doing here. One thing I'm sure of, I'm excited to experience one of the most colorful and celebrated festivals in the Philippines - Dinagyang Festival.

Happening every fourth weekend of January here in Iloilo City, Dinagyang is celebrated with tons of fun and excitement together with some faith as the Señor Sto. Niño of Cebu brought into a procession on the streets of Iloilo along with a great number of street dancers all dressed in shinning and shimmering costumes and swaying to unique drumbeats made by different band groups.

This year, there are about 16 contingents from different parts of Iloilo and of the Visayas are vying to be the Dinagyang 2014 champion. And on the first day of my Dinagyang vacation here in Iloilo, January 23, I am welcomed by not just some drumbeats and colorful masks and costumes but also genuine sweet smiles from Ilonggos, who made the festivity more memorable and worth-experiencing.

Feast of the Black Nazarene 2014: To God be the Glory

I won't deny the fact that for the past years that I've been witnessing and writing about the celebration of the Feast of the Black Nazarene, I mostly discuss the things that could make anyone's heart heavy, disappointed and afraid. The way this feast is celebrated is truly different and quite dangerous, and if you are not that serious and brave enough, fear more. But since I feel that I'm in this "Moving On" stage, I wanna start my year on a positive note, hence I will just share the things that made me feel how big God's love to me.

First, my new boss allowed me to take a time off from work to be here in Quiapo for the Feast of the Black Nazarene. I'm honestly not expecting him to allow me, but I'm really, really glad that he let me go. This is one of the many festivals in the country that is so important to me, and I'm glad that I witnessed it again.

Second, I was at the right time and at the right moment when I saw the replica. If I'm not mistaken, this is the first time that the procession will be taking Escolta Street, and with its rich and colorful history just like the replica of the Black Nazarene, this is one great moment that I don't want to miss.