buildings and billboards...

To continue my vacation saga here, I am posting the pictures of the towering buildings in Makati City that's part of the skyline that can be seen in greater Manila. Some were taken while I was standing in a little tiny balcony at the 25th floor of Millennium Plaza hotel, scary huh! Also I would like to show some of the huge billboards advertisement that grace along EDSA Avenue, only in the Philippines I guess... not true though, other Asian countries have the same.






Manila Bay afar




popular local actress/TV host Toni Gonzaga


under the MRT train line


along Ortigas Ave.










another popular local actress Angel Locsin


Nutrilite.. I sell that...LOL


more billboards





Hope you guys enjoy..


That's it for now and hope to see you here again soon


Cheers!

My dive trip in Batangas, Philippines

Batangas is one of the best dive sites. Corals and marine life are spectacular.  Since it is a tropical water donning a wetsuit is optional. We stayed in Eaglepoint Resort in Mabini, Batangas. It is about 2 1/2 hours drive for Makati City. The place is so secluded. All of the cottages and rooms are along the cliff overlooking the sea.

I found Nemo!. This is probably my best shot.

school of fish....

another view.....

a tropical fish saying "hi"

a live plant...

anemone hiding...

another school of yellow fish

another version of Nemo..huh!

a sea fern

a starfish... 

another live plant

not sure what it is.. but is it's alive

another fish

fish feeding session

come to me....

hello for down below

"baby nemos"

Surely will come back to this place again. Happy diving.

Boracay beach, Philippines

I was so excited to be here. This was my first time to see this beautiful island with pristine white sand...kind of... off white I should say.  Boracay Beach was rated No. 1 in 2007  by Yahoo users. no wonder why... the place is so laid back and yet amenities are modernized  and its true to the saying "anything under the sun" . Fun is endless so is the nightlife. 

Boracay is accessible  via  air from Manila to Kalibo or Caticlan and  another 10 minutes motorized boat from Caticlan port.

sand castle built by locals. Donations are welcome

me and my wifey...with sunset on the background

amazing sunset..

the famous beach

my wife and kids collecting shells...

sunny day...let's have some fun

where did they go?

paddle boats for rent

another view

no life guard on duty.. swim at your own risk

Scuba diving at Boracay

My favorite hobby.. I was so excited to go diving in mainly because it is tropical water meaning I don't have to don my 7 mm wet suit, just a board shorts and rash guard shirt, Yippeh! My first dive was wreck diving into a sunken vessel. My buddy and I went down 97 feet and was able to penetrate the vessel.

The second dive was shallower just about 40-60 feet with "mini wall" diving. Corals and marine life were all beautiful.

an eel...

a lobster peeking through....

a soft sea urchin..

I met Nemo...

me and some Korean divers

I will be posting Batangas diving pictures next..pls stay tuned

Cheers!

the most beautiful sunset

I finally got a chance to start organizing all the pictures I took while on vacation at the beautiful islands of the Philippines. All my posting  for now will be " vacation pictures". To start off is the most spectacular sunset I've seen in long time. This was taken at Boracay beach. They say travel photos is not complete without a sunset . It was pretty amazing watching the sun go down. Radiant colors filled the sky. Below the pictures are the times these pictures were taken to give  you guys an idea how long it took for the sun to disappear from the horizon. Enjoy !

6:05:17 PM 

6:09:41 PM 

6:11:53 PM 

6:12:16 PM 

6:13:13 PM

back in town

It was indeed a fun and exciting vacation, short but full of memories. I was nice to see my family and old friends back home, my native land the Philippines. Of course the highlights of my trip were
1. Attend the first Toboso family grand reunion in Ilioilo
2. escapades in Boracay- enjoyed the beach, diving and nightlife
3. spent time in Marinduque, my hometown-we were given an grand welcome by a tradition called "putong" where we were serenaded and was given crown and bouquet of flowers
4. Diving in Batangas-that was so awesome. Corals and marine life are magnificent. I will go back there in a heartbeat
5. Manila-the traffic, overcrowded malls. went to have some clean fun at comedy bars in the Library and Music Box. that was fun....

I will be posting pictures soon..so please come and visit again. Cheers!