Great Natural Wonders of the World

Palawan Underground River, Philippines

I feel bad for all the Pinoys around the world and the Philippines, since not one natural wonder of the Philppines such as the Palawan Underground river, Mayon Volcano, Ifugao Rice terraces or the Bohol Chocolate Hiils was mentioned in this video. As Filipino-American I still love the natural wonders of the Philippines specially in my second home in the province of Marinduque.

The Dolphin Island of Marinduque

Do you know there is a Dolphin Island in Marinduque? No,there is no Dolphin Island in Marinduque. The correct name is Maniwaya but the shaped of the island ( see photo) made me feel calling it Dolphin Island. There are several articles in the web about Maniwaya Island.. Here's some excerpts from the latest articles in the Web of this beautiful tourist spot in my second home-Marinduque Island.

“The Boracay looked alike beach closest to Manila”: The place seems enchanting and inviting the first time one step on Maniwaya Island shore. It has white sand beaches, pristine clear blue water and magnificent natural views. It looks like a virgin and unpolluted island never been discovered by many travelers, so the place is not crowded but one has the feeling like in a paradise undiscovered island".

Freddie Pelaez, former village chair of Maniwaya, said the island got its name from the Filipino word maniwala (believe). According to old-timers, a story went that a visitor with a speech disorder was asked by locals about his impression of the island, and he replied, “Maganda. Maniwaya kayo sa akin (It’s beautiful. Believe me).”

Maniwaya has a land area of 264 hectares and a population of 1,900 or 370 households. The residents’ major sources of livelihood are fishing and farming, Pelaez said.

Local blogger Eli Obligacion in his blog site Marinduque Rising said nights could be creepy on the island with the “strangest bird sounds you’ll ever hear. But when the moon is full and the water is still, you might experience some state of freedom and enlightenment.”

“Maniwaya is still untouched by commercial developers so the bigger number of visitors just come by to spend the whole day swimming and exploring the shore—and maybe taste the bibingka (rice cake) or agar-agar seaweed jelly that the local inhabitants make,” he wrote.

Time-lapse Photography and Happy July 4th

Happy July 4th to All Americans around the world. Instead of fireworks and parades, I am offering you these two time-lapse videos of one of my favorite National Park in the US to celebrate the 237th birthday of America. Keep cool if you reside in the West and dry if you reside in the East and South East.

Photo Credit: Frank Cabunoc

Here are two time-lapse photos of Yosemite National Park-stunning, beautiful and magnificent. Agree?



Yosemite is just not a great valley, but a shrine to human foresight, but also the strength of granite, the power of glaciers, the persistence of life, and the tranquility of the High Sierras. First protected in 1864, Yosemite National Park is best known for its waterfalls, but within its nearly 1,200 square miles, you can find deep valleys, grand meadows, ancient giant sequoias, a vast wilderness area, and much more. What is time-lapse photography?

Time-lapse photography is a technique whereby the frequency at which film frames are captured (the frame rate) is much lower than that used to view the sequence. When played at normal speed, time appears to be moving faster and thus lapsing. For example, an image of a scene may be captured once every second, then played back at 30 frames per second. The result is an apparent 30-times speed increase. Time-lapse photography can be considered the opposite of high speed photography or slow motion.

The Filipino-American Highway in Southern California

The Filipino-American Highway is a seven-mile stretch of the State Highway Route 54 that connects the I-5, I-805 and CA-125 freeways in San Diego, California. Assembly Concurrent Resolution (ACR) 157, drafted by former Assemblyman Juan Vargas, proposed that a portion of the CA-54 highway, formerly called the South Bay Freeway, be renamed as the Filipino-American Highway. The Council of Philippine American Organizations (COPAO) funded the cost of creating and putting up the signs. On October 6, 2007, California State and local officials, including Philippine Consul General Mary Jo Aragon, unveiled the signs marking the first designated Filipino-American Highway in the U.S.

The Filipino-American Highway passes through National City, Paradise Valley, Paradise Hills, and Chula Vista, communities with significant Filipino-American populations. Filipino-Americans make up 4.7% of the total population of San Diego County. ACR 157 acknowledges the contributions of Filipino-American pioneers, such as Carlos Bulosan and Philip Veracruz, as well as the service of Filipino-American teachers, medical professionals, and business leaders. The Filipino-American Highway is the first public highway that has been renamed to recognize the contributions that Filipinos and Filipino-Americans have made to the state and the nation. It also serves as a reminder of the struggles and successes that Filipino-Americans experienced to establish these communities.

Reference: http://www.bakitwhy.com/articles/first-filipino-american-highway-us#

Have You Heard of the Il Volo Trio?

Il Volo (English: The Flight) is a trio of Italian operatic pop teenage singers, consisting of Piero Barone, Ignazio Boschetto, and Gianluca Ginoble.

Heat Wave in California Until Wednesday this Week

Is this heat wave the result of global warming? I bet it is.. Time for us as individuals think, how we can help reduced global warming.

The West Of the USA has replaced Manila as the Gates of Hell( Brown's Inferno) just last week and this coming two days.