Merry Christmas 2009!!!!

Street Reborn..

Singapore: Tiger of South East Asia

Singapore, officially the Republic of Singapore, is an island city-state located at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, 137 kilometres (85 mi) north of the equator, south of the Malaysian state of Johor and north of Indonesia's Riau Islands. At 710.2 km2 (274.2 sq mi), Singapore is a microstate and the smallest nation in Southeast Asia. It is substantially larger than Monaco and Vatican City, the only other surviving sovereign city-states.

Before European settlement, the island now known as Singapore was the site of a Malay fishing village at the mouth of the Singapore River. Several hundred indigenous Orang Laut people also lived along the nearby coast, rivers and on smaller islands. In 1819, the British East India Company, led by Sir Stamford Raffles, established a trading post on the island, which was used as a port along the spice route.Singapore became one of the most important commercial and military centres of the British Empire, and the hub of British power in Southeast Asia.

DAY 1: Sentosa > Airforce Museum > Marina Bay

Day 2: Boat Tour > Jurong Bird Park > Singapore Zoo > Orchard > Singapore Flyer

Day 3: Orchard > Botanical Garden > Marina Square > Clark Quay

All Saints Day 2009

All Saints' Day (in the Catholic Church officially the Solemnity of All Saints and also called All Hallows or Hallowmas[1]), often shortened to All Saints, is a solemnity celebrated on 1 November in Western Christianity, and on the first Sunday after Pentecost in Eastern Christianity, in honour of all the saints, known and unknown.

Roman Catholic Obligation

In the Catholic Church All Saints Day is a Holy Day of Obligation, meaning going to Mass on the date is required (unless one is ill or elderly). However, in the United States, All Saints Day is not considered a Holy Day of Obligation when it falls on Monday or Saturday, as well as having no obligation at all in Hawaii.

In the Philippines, this day, called "Undas", "Todos los Santos" (literally "All Saints"), and sometimes "Araw ng mga Namayapa" (approximately "Day of the deceased") is observed as All Souls' Day. This day and the one before and one after it is spent visiting the graves of deceased relatives, where prayers and flowers are offered, candles are lit and the graves themselves are cleaned, repaired and repainted.

Former President Cory Aquino's Funeral Procession

Maria Corazon "Cory" Sumulong Cojuangco Aquino (January 25, 1933 – August 1, 2009) was the 11th President of the Philippines, serving from 1986 to 1992. She was the first female president of the Philippines and was Asia's first female president.


A self-proclaimed "plain housewife", Aquino was married to Senator Benigno Aquino, Jr. (1932–1983), a leading figure in the political opposition against the autocratic rule of President Ferdinand Marcos. After her husband was assassinated upon his return from exile in the United States on August 21, 1983, Aquino, who had no prior political experience, became a focal point and unifying force of the opposition against Marcos. She was drafted to run against Marcos in the 1986 snap presidential elections. After Marcos was proclaimed the winner despite widespread reports of electoral fraud, Aquino was installed as President by the peaceful 1986 People Power Revolution.


Aquino's presidency saw the restoration of democratic institutions in the Philippines, through the enactment of a new Constitution which limited the powers of the presidency, restored the bicameral Congress, and renewed emphasis on civil liberties. Her administration was likewise hampered by several military coup attempts by disaffected members of the Philippine military which derailed a return to full political stability and economic development.


Aquino died on August 1, 2009 from colon cancer.


I arrived in Intramuros at around 9:45AM and I walk directly to the nearest 7-11 store. I took my heavy breakfast and bought a bottle of water to rehydrate myself along the way. The heavy rains fall and flooded the streets of Intramuros. I have no choice but to move ahead according to plan. I need to move around the Cathedral to get a good spot for taking photos.

You can click on the photos for higher resolution.

The flooded streets of Intramuros...

I arrived in the Cathedral around 10:15AM.




I saw this little girl selling yellow Sampaguitas.






People waiting outside of the Cathedral with their banners.
The church gave communion to people in the street.



The arrival of the PNP battalion in front of the Cathedral.



"The Law applies to all, otherwise none at all"




Taking photography to the highest level. A photographer taking photos on the roof of the Cathedral



Father Catalino Arevalo

Manila City Mayor Alfredo Lim





The National Anthem...



The remains of the former President being transferred on the Truck.





The Aquino Family...



Confetti was falling as the PNP arrange the former President's coffin.





The Funeral procession begins...














This is one of my favorite photos...




This is how Manila Bay looks like this morning. Huge waves due to the incoming storm...

I decided to go home when I was in Quirino station. I ate my lunch in the nearest McDonalds and changed my shirt...