west end live

West End Live is an annual event showcasing the best entertainment West End has to offer. Because Leicester Square is currently undergoing a face-lift, this year it is being held in Trafalgar Square. I heard about this on the radio and since I'm not working today, I went. After all it's free! But it's not just about songs and dances because aside from musical performances, there are exhibits from The Science Museum, the London Film Museum, Ripley's Believe It or Not, the National Gallery and more.

A picture paints a thousand words, daw. Kaya, I'll just let these photos do the talking.

At least 10,000 people witnessed today's event.

Even Crazy Frog was there.

And Jack Sparrow.

Where's Waldo?

Apparently, Free Run has 15 Guiness World Records. Members of the group take on parkour, stunts and martial arts.

Defying Gravity at 1120.

Phantom 2.0

I wonder if this is as "bad" as the movie?

Billy Elliott

Lend Me a Tenor is a new Musical Comedy that opened just last week.

Betty Blue Eyes is about a pig with, you guess it, blue eyes. The musical is a Cameron Mackintosh production.

Velma and Roxie.

The cast literally rocked the crowd. I hope to see this show soon.

Dark clouds mean ...

Mother. . . Rain

Amazingly, everybody stayed where they were.

The Jersey Boys singing in the rain. Great performance.

The music of Abba.

Thriller Live is a show celebrating the career of the King of Pop - Michael Jackson.

Didn't enjoy this act so much. The American humor seemed lost.

Seriously?!? I really didn't get this.

Hope to see this one soon, too. A movie starring Tom Cruise is actually in the works.

The London production stars Shane Ward - winner of X-Factor.

Vintage Batmobile.

And if you needed reminding, the Olympics is coming to London real soon.

jollibee

One of the only 5 pictures we took in Hong Kong.

Macau

We are in China!

Will tell you more about it by and by.

A380

I only want simple things in life. A friend told me once I am quite easy to please. Perhaps. But to be honest I just know what I want and when I have it, I am happy.

The A380 is the world's largest commercial aircraft. It's a double-deck, wide-body, four-engine airliner that provides seating for 525 people in a typical three-class configuration or up to 853 people in all- economy configurations. I was lucky to fly in it from London to Singapore via Singapore Airlines.

The plane is massive. I can't imagine this getting filled. In fact, our flight was only about 50% full. View of the cattle class.

I had the whole row to myself! Managed to lie down, it felt like I was in first-class. Not! hehehe.

Singapore Airlines has one of the best entertainment programs. Saw 5 movies in total whilst on this flight. A quick look at the monitor and we were flying over Romania.

Call me strange but I actually like airline food. Singapore Air's food selection was really good. The first course was Indian Prawn Curry.

We were served snacks in between. Roasted peanuts and pineapple juice. FYI, this was my first orange juice in more than two years.

Ham and Egg sandwich with crisps. That was actually my favorite flavour until I tried the flame grilled steak crisps (also from McCoys) the other day. Sarap!

A couple of hours before landing and we were served one last meal. Stir-fried beef and Singapore noodles.


Half a check off my bucket list. When I ride the largest ship in the world, it'll be a full check.

wow philippines

spotted somewhere in the west end.

Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition 2011

This is why God created HD.

neighborhood

I couldn't have picked a better place to live in the city. It's close to my work, has great access to transport links and best of all, it's in a quiet and peaceful area in the middle of the Docklands.

Although I've been to London numerous times before, this is the first time that I am actually living in the British capital. My previous visits only lasted 4 days at the most and I've only been to the touristy and nicer parts of London.

When I got the offer to work in London, looking for accommodation was my biggest challenge. My soon to be employers suggested that I look for flats in the East end area as it would be easier and more convenient to get to work via the DLR. They forgot to mention though that this side of London is, to put it simply, rough. I checked out places in Stratford, Upton Park, Plaistow and Canning Town. The air in those places smelled danger. I tought to myself, I would need to wear an armour everytime I would be going out of the house. Lewisham and Deptford weren't good either. In fact, I saw a flat in Lewisham that was really dodge, I didn't think I was going to get out alive!

I eventually found this maisonette in Island Gardens. Located in the borough of Tower Hamlets, I like that it feels like you're not in the middle of the city. There are 3 parks nearby, a football pitch, tennis courts and miles and miles of bike lane. I imagine the area coming alive in the summer.

Below is a picture of the street I live in. It's only 5 minutes to the DLR which can take me to work in less than 10 minutes or I can walk for about 20 minutes to reach Canary Wharf centre.

Island Gardens DLR station.

There's an abundance of open space! Time to put my running shoes on and start jogging. Below are photos of Millwall Park which is practically at my doorstep.

The skyscrapers in Canary Wharf.

The following are pictures Mudchute Farm & Park, literally in my backyard. This is the route I take to work.

Can you see the llama?

Island Gardens Park.

Old Royal Navy College in Greenwich as seen from the park.

pepito in the city

The monkey has landed in the Isle of Dogs six years after he set foot on this country.

The new year brought along a new job in Britain's financial hub. And whilst this is far from my ideal job, this is a start. Some of the world's most amazing success stories began at the bottom of the pit, you know? Case in point, ex-President Vicente Fox of Mexico drove a delivery truck in his first job at Coca Cola. Eventually, he went on to become the supervisor of Coca-Cola's operations, and later in all of Latin America.

Canary Wharf looks stunning in winter. This area of London is just cool. It looks like a sci-fi movie. In fact, try riding the DLR and as you approach the Canary Wharf station, tell me it doesn't feel and look like Gotham.

Proof that he is definitely a true blue Londoner. An oyster card!

Basil King said: "Be bold and the mighty forces will come to your aid."

London better be ready because I am going for my destiny. Brace yourself.

snowed in

It has been almost a week now of reaaally cold weather. The snow hasn't stopped falling for more than 24 hours. I was supposed to go to the City today but trains aren't running and I don't even want to think of travelling down the motorway. I know someone who was stuck in the M25 for about 12 hours without food nor drink.

What we need now is for the temperature to go above freezing and a heavy downpour of rain to wash all the ice. I must go to London and seize an opportunity, you see. And I can't do that unless this side of the world begins to thaw out.

the cove

The Cove is an Oscar-winning documentary that depicts in painful detail the horrors of dolphin fishing in Taiji, Japan. From the outside, the town seems to be devoted to the majestic creatures swimming off it's shores. Statues are erected, boats designed to look like dolphins cruise the shore, and a whale museum is the pinnacle of the town. But the small fishing village has a big secret. Every year from September to March, fishermen motivated by the multi-million dollar dolphin trading industry gather in this cove for the hunt. Slaughter, or perhaps massacre. I don't know which word is stronger.

Do not mistake my words as those of a hardcore animal activist. I am far from it. As a carnivore, I can't imagine life without meat. Even if the only fish I eat is tuna in a can.

I can only describe what wen't on in the cove as evil, pure and simple. As men, we've learnt enough about dolphins to know that they are probably the smartest creatures on earth. One only need common sense to know that they can communicate with each other and just like us they know pain. Watching them being gored to death whilst the young are made to listen to the agonising calls of their parents is horrifying.

There's a quote in the film that says, "If you're not an activist, you're an inactivist." I guess, it's easy and convenient for people like me to make strong pronouncements condemning acts of barbarity like this. After all, talk words are cheap. But I hope through this blog, I can spread the word and will eventually reach someone like Richard O'Barry, a former dolphin trainer who has since recanted and become the mammal's strongest ally.

To all the men and women who were involved in the making of this film, congratulations for a powerful, compelling and an absolute brilliant documentary and thank you for bringing this to our attention. I hope more people will see this film and become involved in your advocacy.

amana

There's no denying summer is here in this part of the world. My adoptive country has been experiencing hot warm weather the last couple of days and and everyone's in high spirits. And although the UK is an archipelago, it doesn't really have the great beaches where one can swim in because the water's still cold even if the temperatures are high.

Hot temperature reminds me of home and the water. Let me take you down memory lane as I reminisce my visit, with the missus' family, to the Amana Water Park in Bulacan exactly 1 year ago today.

Tagaytay Cottages

Baler Cottages

Iron Guard

The biggest wave pool in the Philippines.

Calm water