Tagaytay's Enduring Charm

By Yong Chavez
www.FilipinOnline.com

One of the most invigorating things I did last year was visit the Philippines. Though it was only for 10 days, the break did my weary body and mind a lot of good.

In October, I went straight from the airport to One Tagaytay Place, which was highly recommended by my friend and kababayan Manny Ilagan of the Philippine Tourism office in Los Angeles.

Like anyone who's traveled the fatiguing LAX to Manila flight, I was crabby and sore by the time I arrived at the hotel.

But as soon as our group (I was joined by my mom, sister and niece) arrived, the staff starting with the concierge put me at ease with the kind of hospitality that us Filipinos are known for.

Juday Aniceto, my contact at the hotel, greeted me like a long-lost friend even though we've only met through email when I was making the reservation back in Los Angeles.

Chatting with her reminded me why we Filipinos make it anywhere we go: we're naturally friendly and supportive of every kababayan we meet. In America,no matter where I am, I break into the widest smile whenever I hear someone speaking Tagalog or talking about anything remotely Filipino.

When we got into our room, a basket filled with local fruits and pineapple drinks artfully stored in the fruit itself were waiting for us. As a kid, I had enough warnings about not eating different fruits at the same time. Fruits sold in U.S. stores taste bland in comparison to the kinds grown in the Philippines so I was tempted to inhale the whole basket in one sitting. Thankfully, mom stopped me before a tummy ache could ruin my already too-short trip.

The room was tastefully decorated. It had modern features but the native touches were endearing. I loved the soft bed with pristine white sheets. It was perfect for what I had in mind at that moment: rest my jet lagged body.

After grabbing a two-hour sleep, I was ready for the day's activities. I made arrangements to interview the hotel's general manager to talk about tourism in Tagaytay and visit noteworthy places in the area.

Here's my chat with Karl:

After, Juday took us to a chapel, a zoo, and a bee farm.

At the chapel, I saw a counter where you can write down your prayers and drop it in a box. Putting personal thoughts down on anything that will be read by another person is usually a no-no for me. But there's something so peaceful about the place that allowed my usually cynical self to let go. Faith is a very personal thing to me - I never publicly discuss it. But in the presence of other supplicants, I found myself not just able but liberated to bare my soul. Afterwards, I quietly repeated what I wrote when I kneeled down in front of a Mother Mary statue.

We went to the zoo next. I've been to the Los Angeles zoo and I have to admit, this zoo was very small in comparison. But my visit to the LA zoo was missing a major component: I didn't go there with a child. I experienced the Tagaytay Zoo with my adorable niece, an urban girl whose dealings with animals are limited to cats and dogs. She was so ecstatic to see the animals up close that we jaded adults found ourselves enjoying the visit as well. The monkeys were especially entertaining as they gracefully swung and interacted with each other in their cage as if mounting a choreographed stage production.

Lastly we went to a bee farm where personal care products are made. Entering the simple shop, I'm reminded how much it differed from my favorite Bath and Body Works branch back home, but they share the same vibe and scent. They both offer simple bliss in a bottle. I bought several items and smelled lovely the whole time. I snuck a peek at their back area and saw young women happily chatting away while mixing ingredients.

On our way back to the hotel, I saw an image that for me encapsulates Tagaytay's appeal: an old woman with a makeshift cane casually walking into the woods like she probably has been doing all her life, oblivious to the hustle and noise of passing cars and the modern yet quaint hotels housing busy people just a few feet away from her. Through the years, Tagaytay has managed to retain its old-world charm yet it's able to provide world-class amenities for tourists.

Back at One Tagaytay, the final appointment in my packed arrival day schedule was waiting. I couldn't be happier. All day, as soon as I deplaned, I was aching for this: a full-body massage guaranteed to take away all the stress that I've put my body through.

After an hour of being kneaded by a pair of professional in-house massage therapists, I was boneless and satisfied. And extremely sleepy. The massage knocked me out faster than any sleeping aid I've ever had. But before I nodded off, I remember asking the therapists to come back with me to Los Angeles. We all laughed and I wished wasn't just kidding.

The following day, I woke up refreshed and hungry. Before we checked out, my family enjoyed the hotel's sumptuous breakfast buffet. I skipped the Continental breakfast selections and filled my plate with Filipino food. Sarap-to-the-bones. In all my years in the U.S., there's one part of me that will always be 100% Pinay - my tummy still belongs to Philippine food.

After, I said my reluctant goodbyes to the friendly staff. I wish I had a week, at least, to stay in the hotel but I had appointments to get to.

I don't know when I will be going home to the Philippines again, but this I know for sure: when I do, a stay at One Tagaytay Place is a must.

PasyaLAn: Bauer Daffodil Gardens

By: Yong Chavez

www.FilipinOnline.com

If you're in the Los Angeles area and have some free time this week, go to the Bauer Daffodil Gardens in Ranch Springs. It's about an hour-and-a-half away from Los Angeles but in terms of tranquility, it might as well be a different planet.

After 40 years of offering visits to their gorgeous mountainside garden, the Bauers are closing the place to the public on April 12.

My family drove up there yesterday and I swear, until now, I can still smell the flowers. The place is so peaceful and pretty. We saw several kababayans there and we were greeted back with a hearty "Mabuti!" when we said "Kumusta!" to every Tagalog-speaking visitor we encountered.

Parking and admission is free. The highway going up the mountains is curlier than Cheez Curls so if you get dizzy easily, be warned. Here's the address to St Anne's Church where you will park: 30480 Fredalba Road Running Springs, CA 92382. Hours are from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily.

[photo credits: Flowers/A Visitor at the Garden by Janine Chavez]

PASYALAN:Bowers Museum's Chinese Terra Cotta Warriors

By: Jon dela Cruz

For FilipinOnline

I guess I can say I was at the right place and at the right time.

The Terra Cotta Warriors: Guardians of China's First Emperor exhibit is one of the most amazing archeological findings of the 20th century. Often referred to as the Eighth Wonder of the Ancient World, this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness its grandeur was just too much for me to pass-up. The exhibit runs through October 16.

After attending my high school reunion in SoCal's Dana Point, I spent my remaining weekend with my daughter in the Newport area. It didn't take me a beat to say "YES" when my daughter, Michelle, asked me if I want to go to Bowers Museum in Sta Ana, Calif. to see China's national treasure, the Terra Cotta warriors. The museum presents the largest exhibit of Emperor Qin's Terra Cotta Army ever seen outside of China.

My wife and I are both so into this Terra Cotta warriors, you can see replicas of them scattered around our house.

China's First Emperor Qin Shi Huang, the boy king who united the country in 221 BC and began construction of the first Great wall, was not only obsessed with building but also a fanatic about death. After experimenting with potions to prolong his life, the megalomaniac king abdicated himself to death on his own terms. He would build a standing army of 8,000 soldiers to enforce his rule over the afterlife.

Since his birth in 259 B.C., China's First Emperor was destined to become one of the most important political leaders to rule the country. Beginning at age 13, and for the next 38 years, he assigned over 700,000 workers to build an enormous mausoleum with life-size terra cotta warriors to protect him throughout eternity. The figures vary in height (6ft–6ft 5 in), according to their roles, the tallest being the Generals. The figures include warriors, chariots, horses, officials, acrobats, strongmen, and musicians.

Current estimates are that in the three pits containing the Terracotta Army, there were over 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots with 520 horses and 150 cavalry horses, the majority of which are still buried in the pits. The exhibition provides a deeper knowledge of this historical site and showcases 100 sets of objects, which includes approximately 20 life-size figures.

A noted egomaniac, Qin Shi Huang was also known for building large, extravagant structures. Almost immediately after taking power, he began construction on a large wall that would link up bits and pieces of existing defensive walls throughout the country. This would become the forerunner to the Great Wall that's still in existence, most of which was completed under a later dynasty.

This terra cotta army of soldiers, servants, musicians, acrobats, and animals silently remained underground for two thousand years. Until, in 1974, Chinese farmers digging a well made the startling discovery of a terra cotta head. The chariot is one of the only two reproductions displayed at Bowers Museum which is a fifty (50) percent scaled down of the original.

It was noted that the emperor suffered from extreme paranoia as a result of several attempts on his life from outsiders and from within the walls of his palace. He moved from one palace to another to avoid future effort to overthrow him.

Just three years after Qin Shi Huang's death in 210 B.C., the Qin dynasty was overthrown. The imperial system that he'd set in motion, however, would remain at work in China until 1912, when the last Emperor abdicated and China became a Republic.

Despite his reputation as an autocratic ruler, Emperor Qin Shi Huang is still regarded by many today as a pivotal figure in Chinese history whose unification of China has endured for more than two millennia.

[The writer at the exhibit]
So if you happen to be in Southern California, don't miss out on this outstanding array of China's cultural treasure. Visit Bowers museum website at http://www.bowers.org/index.jsp. After its first stop in Southern California, the exhibit travels to the Houston Museum of Natural Science and the National Geographic Society museum in Washington in 2009.

PASYAL Tips:
There are several exciting ways to experience Bowers museum besides the five (5) permanent and the on-going exhibitions. On the date of my visit, we were treated to some activities that went on at the museum's courtyard. Persian and Mexican non-profit groups rendered their own cultural presentations that include music, dances and arts displays. Weekends are usually crowded due to the Terra Cotta warriors exhibit and it is advisable to call or buy tickets in advance. Cameras are allowed in the facility except inside the exhibit areas. So bring your tiniest camera and you maybe able to capture some memorable photos for keeps but you didn't hear that from me.

Ticket, museum hours, and parking information:
Address: 2002 N. Main Street, Santa Ana, CA 92706
Website: http://www.bowers.org/index.jsp
Parking Fee - $8.00 or free at the sourrounding streets
Bowers Museum: (714) 567-3600

Hours: Tuesday-Thursday, 10 AM-4 PM; Friday, 10 AM-8 PM; Sunday-Saturday, 10 AM-4 PM; The fourth Thursday of every month, 10 AM-8 PM

Pricing:
All ticket prices include the exhibition audio tour and access to all other museum galleries.
Weekdays: $25 adults, $19 students and seniors (62+), *$8 children 6-17
Weekends: $27 adults, $21 students and seniors (62+)
Admission for children under 6 is free*Valid June 24 - September 1. Weekdays Only. Must be accompanied by a full price paid adult. Cannot be combined with any other offer or discount.

Tickets are currently on sale for Terra Cotta Warriors: Guardians of China's First Emperor. This is a date and time stamped, specially ticketed exhibition. The last entry is one hour before the museum closes. Tickets can be purchased at the Visitors Services desk at the Bowers Museum, online or via phone through Ticketmaster: 877.250.8999.

FREE DAYS
Sta Ana residents - Free admission to the Bowers' permanent exhibits to Santa Ana residents, with proof of residency (e.g., driver's license, utility bill, etc), on the first Sunday and third Tuesdays of every month.
Target Free Sundays - Starting Sunday, October 5, visitors to the Bowers can enjoy free access to the museum and all activities on the first Sunday of every month.
PIMCO's Free Friday Nights - Free admission for up to 100 visitors per hour at 4:00, 5:00, 6:00 and 7:00 pm. The museum will close at 8:00 pm.

PASYALAN: Universal Studios

When I was still living in the Philippines, Universal Studios Hollywood theme park was a dream destination. That's why, the first time I got in in 2000, I was like a kid in...Universal Studios Hollywood theme park.

Sure it's a tad pricey (click here for ticket prices info), especially in these economic times, but it is a must-visit whenever you have out-of-town (and country) visitors so it makes sense for us SoCal peeps to have annual passes.

The weekend before the July 4th holiday, we visited Universal Studios in Hollywood. But what put a damper on an otherwise fun day at the world-famous "entertainment capital of L.A." was an incident I witnessed at the gate: at least two Pinoy families were not able to come in because they didn't realize that they came on a black-out date. They drove from far away, with multiple disappointed family members in tow, and didn't realize that their annual passes are not valid on certain dates. Sayang!

Mga kababayan, if you have an annual pass, you have to be aware of the black-out dates. They are specified in your pass cards - the same one you present at the gate. If you'd rather not deal with black-out dates, you should purchase the slightly more expensive no-black-out pass rather than the regular one.

Our passes also had date restrictions but we were able to get in because we had a limited-time-only coupon that allowed us to get in on a black-out day. My best friend (and Universal Studios frequent guest) Teeny clued me in on how to get them AT NO COST: register your annual pass at the Universal Studios website and get exclusive member benefits, which in this case was a coupon for entrance on June's black-out date. Through this, we also got Priority Boarding and 20% discount on food & merchandise purchases.

For one member of our group who didn't have an annual pass, we were also able to save by using a $15 off coupon that I clipped from the L.A. Times Sunday coupons.

It was our second visit this year, and the first ever for my mom. No matter how many times you've been to Universal, the park never ceases to entertain.

The newest attraction was the Simpson's Ride. My friends gave it a two thumbs up - I couldn't go this visit because I was keeping my mom company and she wouldn't be able to stand the ride's sudden movements. But there are plenty of other enjoyable attractions for the whole family: For instance, we all had a blast at WaterWorld. Action, adventure, a handsome cast, and lots of water - what's not to enjoy? (Digression: The guy currently playing Mariner is already worth the price of admission, if you ask the girls in our group. Sigh. What a hunk.)

Of course, a trip at Universal isn't complete without taking the Studio Tour. In fact, on the official studio map given out at the gate, they mention this one as the first thing to do. "See how Hollywood magic really happens. Explore Hollywood's backlot..." Yes, all that & more.

Though I've seen them before, I was still enthralled with the eeriness of the War of the Worlds crash set, still yelled like a little girl at the faux earthquake subway scene, and still got wowed by the two dancing and hurtling cars of The Fast & the Furious. If you're a silly bunch, as we are, the ride could be rife with funny moments: For instance, we are still laughing to this day when we recall how one of our companions, a manly man in all respects, yelped when Jaws suddenly appeared on his side. Ha-ha-ha! I think that's the one that's really worth the price of admission.

The Shrek 4-D attraction is also a must-see for the whole family. It's funny, and I have five words for you: Watch out for the squirts! Also, a tip, when you're lining up outside the auditorium where the "prisoners" are doing their bit, try to get through the middle door as they are the best seats in my experience. Heavily pregnant women & others who can't stand it when the chairs suddenly move can occupy the back seats where they could enjoy the show without the jarring movements.

We ate at Doc's Brown's which has really great chicken & okay prices, but unfortunately, they have uneven service. Tip: When you're lining up to order & you're paying by credit card, you can skip the regular long line & go to the right line where you can pay self-service - so much faster, though we were stuck by a few minutes when the cashier can't complete the transaction for some reason.

At lunch, we were serenaded by an awesome mariachi band. After that, we went around some more, and took photos with the characters. Before we knew it, the day is done! We missed going to The Mummy & Jurassic Park rides & others but our aching feet told us that we've had enough for the day.

If you're planning a visit soon, here's extra info from Universal: "If you are a "Regular Annual Pass" or "2008 Pass" member and you would like to re-visit on a Black-Out Date, there are two ways you can: (1) Purchase a special 1-day upgrade; or (2) Purchase a full upgrade to a "Premium" or "No Black-Out Annual Pass". Both upgrade options are available at the Annual Pass Center near the Universal Studios Hollywood entrance turnstiles when you arrive at the Park."

For the rest of us, there's always (the almost black-out-free) September!

PASYAL TIPS:

1. Go early. The park opens at 9 am so you'll have more chances of stuffing your day with all the park has to offer.

2. Don't forget to get a studio map at the entrance.

3. Bring some light snacks para tipid.

4. You can ask any employee about your fave character appearance times. For WaterWorld, you can pose with the actors right after the show.

5. When you get the Sunday paper, clip the Universal coupon. You never know when you or a friend might need it. Sayang din yung $15 discount per person, di ba?

[The lovely lady up top is my friend, L.T. The other one is of another friend, Nini & her fam. The high-flying girl is from WaterWorld. All PHOTOS are from our February '08 visit.]

PASYALAN: Hollywood

If you think that Hollywood Walk of Fame's bronze-rimmed stars won't be enough to satisfy your appetite for star-sighting, maybe seeing the real kind will.

On a recent trip to see this famous landmark, we shared an escalator ride with Amaury Nolasco (that's Sucre to you, Prison Break watchers) as we came in from the Hollywood and Highland parking structure.

Although there's never a guarantee that you'll be seeing stars in this popular tourist spot, you can be sure that you can literally step in their footsteps. In front of Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood Ave., you can measure the hand and footprints of mega-celebs like Will Smith, the Harry Potter stars, and Tom Cruise against yours. Morgan Freeman's was most impressive to me.

For souvenir photos, you can pose with the street performers dressed as your favorite movie and TV characters. Caution: you do have to pay at least $1 per photo with these mascots, and some of them can be pushy so prepare for the hard-sell.

Other paid activities include taking the Hollywood bus tours, or if you want to avoid the harsh summer sun, you can buy a ticket for a tour of the Kodak Theater and have your Oscar moment indoors. Outside, for free, you can have your picture taken on the steps where celebrities walk on their way to the theater during Oscar ceremonies.

Don't miss the chance to pose against the Hollywood sign background. Best spots to see the giant iconic sign would be on the California Pizza Kitchen patio on the ground floor, or at the second floor hallway overlooking the fountain.

If you're flush with sightseeing money, you can also go to the Hollywood Wax Museum and Ripley's "Believe it or Not" Museum (a bit creepy for my scaredy-cat taste), or see Wicked in the Pantages theater while you're in the area.

There are souvenirs and shops galore in the Hollywood and Highland (H&H) mall so there are plenty of opportunities to choose a memento to remember your Hollywood visit by.

TIP: To save on parking costs, park inside the Hollywood and Highland parking structure and have your ticket validated by buying water or cookie from any shop that offers validation (almost every shop in the H&H mall does). If you're coming from Hollywood Ave., make a right on Highland and enter the structure on your left. It's a big parking lot so don't forget where you parked!

PASYAL COST:

Validated Parking: $2

Entrance Fee to H&H: None

Kodak Theater tour: Adults $15/kids under 3 Free

FilipinOnline's PASYALAN features fun places to go. I'll include tips to save and where to get the most bang for buck. Write me if you have a Pasyalan to recommend. Don't forget to include pics and enjoyment tips for our kababayans!

[topmost photo from wikipedia]