June 2008 Archives

By Fung Yu, Contributor INQUIRER.net Author's note: This article uses QuickTime and Adobe Flash in providing an immersive experience by means of virtual reality technology. QuickTime and/or Flash 9.0 are required to view the 360-degree VRs. Average VR size is 2.3Mb each. WHEN news first broke out that Manila will soon have an oceanarium at par with those in other Asian countries, I just couldn’t contain my anticipation! So after a long construction wait, and a few supposed openings that got postponed, the Manila Ocean Park finally opened its "waters" last February 28. The park’s journey starts with "Agos," one of the seven water environments. This exhibit simulates the flow of fresh water from the land out to the seas. Other environments include "Bahura," the reef with its myriad of colorful corals and fishes; "Laot," the fishing ground features mostly bigger fishes, including some that you’ll find in your tables; "Buhay na Karagatan," the living ocean is the main attraction of the ocean park, with its 220-degree tunnel, where you will witness the interaction of many marine animals in their natural habitat; "Ang Kalaliman," the deep ocean, which displays the pelagic barracudas; "Pagi," stingrays viewed from an overhead tank; and "Pating," with young sharks that seem to fascinate just about everyone. Agos (The Flow) View in Flash View in QuickTime Agos, with the waterfalls View in Flash View in QuickTime Majority of the fauna were sourced from Philippine waters, so what you’ll see are actually some of the rich marine life within our archipelago. Notable exceptions like the giant Japanese spider crab are of course endemic to Japan. For the purpose of conservation, the colorful corals are artificial, and the fishes can't seem to tell the difference. The Underwater Tunnel View in Flash View in QuickTime Another View of the Tunnel View in Flash View in QuickTime A lot of resistance from concerned groups pertaining to conservation surfaced amid the operation of the park. While the issues may be complex, what’s important is that everyone strikes a balance between preservation and education. Appreciation sometimes precedes protection, and knowledge certainly empowers conservation. The marine park is just the beginning. Future expansions will include a boutique hotel, a mall, open marine habitats, function rooms and exhibition areas. Our country finally has a modern oceanarium. I’m beginning to wonder when we’ll have a modern planetarium. Now that we can appreciate the seas, let’s also set our sights upon the stars! VRs taken on March 2008 during the soft launch period. The Manila Ocean Park website is at www.manilaoceanpark.com. The author can be reached at fung@firefly.ph

By Lawrence Casiraya INQUIRER.net ARRIVING in Bangkok past midnight without a hotel booking, I took my chances on Khao San Road tagging along with two French women I met at the airport. I figured it was a lot easier to find a place to stay there. Turns out I had to cherry pick hotels in the wee hours of the morning. Khao San greeted me with its bright lights, thumping music (Blur’s “Girls Against Boys” mixed with this shalala-la ditty), streetwalkers and all the revelry -- exactly like that scene in ”The Beach” as I remember it. After scouring through every available signboard I laid my eyes on, I spotted one leading to an alley -- Sawasdee Bangkok Inn, the familiar purple giving me some sort of comfort after flying Thai Airways thrice in the last two days. Patience is indeed a virtue, it was the most decent-looking room I found -- the rest were either too big or too ratty, depending on your tolerance. D&D Inn (where the two French women were staying -- WITH RESERVATION) looked really nice but it was full, apparently a traveler’s favorite. Stay away from Khao San Palace, shitty rooms. O My room was cozy enough in size, the TV small but an essential antidote to loneliness. Hot shower, check. With breakfast, check. 1,375 baht for a three-day promo, not bad. Nevermind the not-so-picturesque window view, the al-fresco restaurant downstairs makes up for it. A Continental breakfast and watching the NBA Finals on their big screen TV while I was writing this was a huge plus -- and they have wifi.

THE FLORES de Mayo, a Catholic festival held in May, is celebrated extravagantly at Barangay Bungahan in Cuenca, Batangas. Video interviews of Let Javier and Cornalia Marasigan conducted by INQUIRER.net multimedia specialist Erika Tapalla. Video taken by Eribelle Tapalla.