Wake-uppers:
Scene:
During
the pre-pageant activities, two Boholana beauties have done well in the 2014 Mutya ng Pilipinas. Candidate # 20 Candy Cumayas is Miss Fishers
Mall, while candidate #2 Dorina Loseñada Doerr (half German half Filipina) is
Miss Photogenic. The grand coronation night on August 8 will have the theme,
“Mutya ng Pilipinas, Where Beauty Begins…” The top 3 most coveted titles are
Mutya ng Pilipinas-Asia Pacific, Mutya ng Pilipinas - Overseas
Communities and Mutya ng Pilipinas-Tourism
International. To vote for Candy and Dorina, visit www.mutyapilipinas.com/vote-your-mutya-ng-pilipinas.
 |
| Mrs. Aumentado |
Seen:
Vanessa
Cadorna-Aumentado, wife of Bohol 2nd district Rep. Erico Aristotle
Aumentado, was wearing a black Filipiniana accentuated with white fern and
gumamela flower (the provincial flower of Bohol) created by fashion icon EJ
Relampagos during the President’s fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA).
Someone requested a solo pic with Mrs. Aumentado who looked gorgeous on the red
carpet.
Scene: The memorable church
wedding of Abdul Wallace and Chandrina Elluiska Schreurs at St. Augustine
Church in Panglao. “To our families of both sides
thank you for knowing us deeply.. to our friends who came: thank you for
witnessing and for sparing some time on our day..” said Chandrina.
***
Pardon
my ignorance (blush, blush, blush!) but I didn’t know that Hong Kong was the
shopping capital of world and Macau was world’s gambling capital until last week
my cousin Eva Aquino-Idon with her daughter Shiela Mae, my nephew Jerwin Jala
and I came here for a vacy on such a hot summer weekdays arranged by IJEA
Travel and Tours (31-A Airport Road, fronting DILG, Tagbilaran City, Tel
No: 038-412-3885/09182610130).
During
the four-day tour, we explored and loved Hong Kong’s and Macau’s vibrant and
cosmopolitan lifestyle, it’s cultural fusion and diversity, as evident in
everything from its shopping, dining, arts, history, entertainment, nightlife,
festivals and events.
 |
|
Your
VRS at the St. Paul Ruins, arguably Macau’s most famous landmark.
|
We used our first day in Hong Kong as a
walking day. We
roamed around the city’s Central watching the dramatic skyline with 1,251
skyscrapers and high-rises, the most in the world.
“HK
has amazing skyscrapers!” exclaimed Shiela Mae.
On
the second day, we visited the Avenue of Stars (modelled on the Hollywood Walk
of Fame which pays tribute to Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan,
Chow Yun Fat, Maggie Cheung, John Woo, Wong Kar-wai and Hong Kong's
rich cinematic tradition), Aberdeen Fishing Village, Mid-Level of
Victoria Peak, Jewelry Shop and Chocolate Shop.
After
the city tour, we went to Disneyland until fireworks displayed at 9 p.m. The
smallest in the world, Disneyland Hong Kong has a legendary fairy tale kingdom
which celebrates the spirit of fantasy and an amazing world of tomorrow with a
forever-young sense of adventure.
 |
|
Hong
Kong offers travelers the opportunity to experience a vibrant living culture
featuring a unique blend of East and West.
|
Shiela
Mae and Jerwin did enjoy the seven theme parks (The Main Street of USA, Adventure
land, Fantasy land, Tomorrow Land, Toy Story Land, Grizzly Gulch and the Mystic
Point) in Disneyland. However, they confessed that they liked the It’s a Small World, a
musical boat ride located in the Fantasyland which features over 300
brightly costumed audio-animatronic dolls in the style of children of the
world, frolicking in a spirit of international unity, and singing the
attraction's title song, which has a theme of global peace.
“Look,
there’s a tarsier!” said Jerwin while we’re approaching Asia. The Philippines spot
has two dolls wearing Filipiniana inside a bahay
kubo, tarsier and chocolate hills.
 |
| Inside Venetian Hotel |
People
go shopping in Hong Kong, by day or night. They have many night markets (Mong
Kok, Stanley and Temple Street) where you can bargain certain products at the
lowest price. Your shopping in Hong Kong would not be complete if you would not
try their street foods.
After
visiting Temple Street, my VRS (noted for dishing out, ehem, hard to guess
blind items) were sending some “goodies” straight from Bohol:
1)
This “center of the class (COC)” likes to grab the responsibilities from his
co-COC. Flashing a Garfield smile, this COC is close to the controversial head
of all COC. This psychopant Garfield has been known for his character of
humiliating their heavenly leader and creating faction within the community.
“Careful, this Garfield is cunning,” warned VRS.
2)
This businessman envisioned to earn millions outside the south pearl. He became
successful only to find out his girlfriend spent all his cash and pawned his jewelries.
“He is back in Bohol,” VRS said, “empty-handed. No money. No girlfriend.”
3)
“Since you’re there in Hong Kong maybe you’ll bump into this son of a wealthy
family who is doing a miracle while far away from home,” texted VRS. “Last
month, he was spotted at Kow Loon in HK holding hands with a young gentleman
while giggling and whispering sweet nothings into each other’s ears.” Confirmed!
I
just smiled...
On
the third day, we went to Macau, Asia’s Sin City. It is just an hour by ferry
(TurboJet) from Hong Kong.
Tourism
is a major industry in Macau. It is famous for the blend of Portuguese and
Chinese cultures and its gambling industry and entertainment.
Most
come to Macau for the casinos, but it has a wealth of activity to offer for
those who want to enjoy a non-gaming environment, such as a UNESCO world
heritage site, museums, historic buildings and areas.
Macau
is a small place just like Panglao Island but it has striking
architecture and ambitious new developments.
The
best part for visitors is that the city is compact, making the best of Macau
simple to explore. We visited the Kuan Iam statue considered as one of Macau’s
finest Buddhist temples, and the Ama Temple, a destination offering silence and
spectacular views, has a classical Chinese architectural treasures.
We
also visited the Macau Tower, a new tourist spot with cinema, cafes and
restaurants, shopping mall, 360° Cafe, 180° Lounge, conference centre, theatre
and exhibition hall and a local cake shop for some delicious treat found only
in Macau.
Of
course, we went to St. Paul Ruins (also known as Sam Ba Sing Tzik), the most
famous sight in Macau. The front façade and the grand stone stairs are the only
remains of the greatest church in Macau. It is said the original church was
probably designed by an Italian Jesuit in the early 17th century. It reflects
great Catholic history of this former Portuguese colony.
Our
guide Ken laughed when I told him about lutong
Macau in Philippines. "Lutong Macau" is coined from the way the
Chinese (Macau) prepared their food in advance.
When Pinoy says "lutong Macau,"
it means that there is something wrong or unscrupulous with the transaction
from the beginning. It also means the transaction was "fixed" already
before it was started to give way to a "favored" party just like in
beauty pageants or singing contests.
 |
| Harbor in Hong Kong |
The
remaining hours in Macau were spent at the Venetian Hotel to experience a
lavish full-service haven featuring sophisticated accommodations and numerous
dining establishments and entertainment facilities. The Venetian
Macau has fake perfect skies.
Eva
and Shiela Mae insisted that we should have an authentic gondola ride down the
canals of the Shoppes at the Venetian.
Our
gondolier was a Filipino who is working in Macau for four years. He was singing
Italian opera melodies during our ride. He engaged us in a breezy,
free-wheeling and delightful conversation, calling us by names and making us
feel we’re in the Philippines.
“You
will love my next song,” he said.
Surprisingly,
he was singing “Usahay” ala Luciano Pavarotti. Before he was able to finish the
song, people were clapping and saying bravo! He captured the attention and
affection of the tourists with his heart-rending rendition of the Visayan love
song.
We
took home a souvenir photograph to remember our wonderful experience.
How
can you not love Hong Kong and Macau? I asked my co-turistas.
“What
a beautiful experience!” gushed Eva.
 |
| Night market in Hong Kong |
Said
Shiela Mae: “I want to come back!”
Jerwin
commented, “I love Disneyland!”
It’s
only a quick three hour flight away to see you again Hong Kong and Macau!
***
Thanks for your
letters, all will be answered. Comments welcome at leoudtohan@yahoo.com, follow
leoudtohan at Twitter /Facebook.
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