THE OFFICIAL ZINE OF WIKIPILIPINAS.ORG JULY 2008

in this issueMetropolitan Hubs • Legal Graffi tti • Mall Kings • Art in the City • Philippines’ Tallest Structures Indie Manila • Drizzle Day Demure • Everybody Lomo • Urban Warfare • Wonders of Old Sentro ng Kultura • Celestina • PLUS! E-turo • Philippine Online Chronicles • MUST

WikiPilipinas is about Filipinos, for Filipinos, and by Filipinos.The spirit of revolution is action, and it was the action of

the millions of Filipinos who went to EDSA in February 1986demanding to be heard, armed with nothing but prayers, yel-low shirts, and the courage to change things together, which ignited the People Power Revolution.

The spirit of EDSA lives as long as Filipinos continue to come together, believing in the idea of a world that is com-mon to all, revolutionizing our society even as we keep onbuilding it.

WikiPilipinas provides us with a place where our histories and memories can be represented, where we tell our stories and document our society through collaborating with fellow Filipinos all over the world. Memory is the basis of a nation’ssurvival, and the store of its knowledge is the true measure of its worth.

Animated with the spirit of action, empowered by WikiPi-lipinas, the revolution comes alive.

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COVER: Image remixed from Marcelo Tourne’s “MaKati”, from Flickr.

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from the editors

Philippine cities have always been thirsty for the new, the recent, and the up-dated. This July, WikiPilipinas presents the WikiZine Metro issue: a collectionof articles about the latest in the city. Be in the know, as we have compileda list of informative articles revolving around the idea metropolitan living in2008. From fashion to sports, engineering to business, gadgets to icons—wegot it all covered. And with a little dose of attitude too, as we spiced it up withmore features and a fresher look.

Our sidebars feature MUST: a selection of the urbanite’s hippest and trendiestitems, gadgets, looks, and happenings. Never feel left out again as you discoverwhat you have to try, buy, and wear next time you venture into the city.

You also get to take a peek at two of Vibal Foundation’s newest websites:The Philippine Online Chronicles and E-Turo. The Philippine Online Chronicles(www.thepoc.net) is an online publication of a new breed. It compiles newsfrom different sources, including blogs, student papers, and other alternativepublications. E-turo (www.e-turo.org) is a website containing free and openeducational resources. Filipino teachers, students, parents, and learners canaccess and share educational materials in E-turo.

With this Wikizine, we bring you not only the newest in the city, but alsothe newest we can offer. Together, let us read more, write more, learn more,and share more.

ABOUT THIS ISSUE

Make your way downtown and pick up facts and scoops along the way. Allow us to be your guide on your journey to the metropolis.

DON’T JUST WALK THE STREET. OWN IT.

1

2 GEOGRAPHY&TRAVEL

METROPOLITAN

H U B SThe emergence of multiple metropolises is an observed global trend within developing nations. Following the footsteps of established countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom, these countries are developing their cities with the objectives of improving commerce and increasing employment.

In the Philippines, three important metropolitan areas have emerged: Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, and Metro Davao. The hubs share similar characteristics: early infrastructure development, huge economic potential, and young populations. Major cities included in the urban agglomerations were listed as Asian Cities of the Future for 2007/08 by Foreign Direct Investment magazine, suggesting the latent potential of the areas in terms of global success.

Photo: “Makati City, Manila At Night” by neilalderney123 of Flickr.

METRO CEBU METRO DAVAO

3

Metro Manila is the densest Philippine metropolis in terms of population, with more than 11 million residents concen-trated in an area of 636 square kilome-ters. Located on the western coast of the island of Luzon, facing the Manila Bay, Metro Manila consists of 16 cities and one municipality. Three of the most popu-lous cities in the country, the City of Ma-nila, Quezon City, and Caloocan City, are all constituent cities of Metro Manila.

Metro Manila is the center of govern-ment, business, society, and culture in the Philippines. The City of Manila is the of-fi cial seat of Philippine government while most of the government offi ces are scat-tered throughout the metropolis. Makati City is regarded as the Philippines’ cen-tral business district and is home to most Philippine corporations. Majority of the Filipino culturati are also based in the Metro, which is home to important muse-ums and exposition venues.

In 2005, Metro Manila ranked as the 42nd richest urban agglomeration with a GDP of $108 billion, according to a study made by PriceWaterhouseCoopers. With an annual growth rate of 5.9%, the metropolis is expected to climb to the 30th spot by 2020.

Metro Cebu is located in the province of Cebu, at the heart of the Visayas Region. Cebu City is its center, with neighboring

cities Carcar, Danao, Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu, Naga, and Talisay comprising the rest of the urban area. The municipalities of Compostela, Consolacion, Cordova, Liloan, Minglanilla, and San Fernando are also included. Its population currently stands at 2.3 million people dispersed in an area of 998 square kilometers.

Cebu Business Park, which currently is being built in the city, is the largest urban metropolitan development project outside Metro Manila. Major industrial compa-nies are located in Mandaue City, while Lapu-Lapu City in Mactan Island boasts international hotels, the export process-ing zone, and an international airport.

While still unoffi cial as a metropolis, Metro Davao is the premier economic zone down south. Davao City, the urban center, is the largest city in the Philippines in terms of land area. Foreign Direct Investment re-cognized its potential as a business and industrial area, and listed it tenth on their 2007/08 list of Asian Cities of the Future.

Davao City possesses competent infra-structure, including an international airport, seaports, roads, and bridges. While still under discussion, the possibility of merg-ing with nearby local governments, par-ticularly the Island Garden City of Samal, Panabo City, and the Municipality of Sta. Cruz, may even improve the potential of Metro Davao as an urban conglomeration.

METRO MANILA

For the complete article, visit en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=Metropolitan_Centers_in_the_Philippines.

MMDA Art is a term coined to refer to the “offi cial artwork” Acommissioned by the Metropolitan Manila Development Au-thority to be painted over graffi ti along the streets of the Metro. These abstract works are usually composed of random squares and circles in different colors, though some depict more vivid subjects like a family waiting at a bus stop.

The term MMDA art was later expanded to encompass all Abeautifi cation projects by the MMDA, such as overpasses and public toilets painted in hot pink and sky blue, colors which have now been associated with the MMDA.

ControversiesMMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando was criticized by ParañaqueRepresentative Roilo Golez for violating international color standards with his pink and blue color scheme. According to Golez, pink signs are for incident management warning like typhoons, emergency shelters, and civil defense warnings. Road signs, Golez said, should be red and white.

According to Fernando, however, there is no hard-and-fast rule as to the color of traffi c signs, with the exception of the red, yellow and green traffi c lights, and that other cit-ies around the world use different colors to guide motorists and pedestrians. He justifi ed his color preference by sayingthat the unique shades of the MMDA signs make them readily Avisible and immediately attract the notice of motorists and pedestrians....

LEGAL GRAFFITTI

4 GOVERNMENT&POLITICS

The Hyperdunk is a new line of shoes manufactured by global sportswear company Nike. At only 13 ounces, the Hyperdunk is 18 percent lighter than the average basketball shoe. The shoe company also says it is the strongest basketball shoe it has produced so far. Shoe designer Eric Avar, taking in inspiration from the 90s and 2K4 Huaraches, infused the Hyperdunk with two new cutting-edge innova-tions: Flywire and Lunarlite foam. Flywire fiber technology works by de-creasing weight and adding strength to the shoe, allowing athletes to be lighter on their feet and faster on the court. The Lunarlite foam on the other hand features a special cell structure which makes it a lightweight and res-ponsive cushioning base for the foot. Along with a Zoom Air heel, Lunarlite equips athletes with heightened re-action potential and bounce. Nike President and CEO Mark Parker along with NBA superstar Kobe Bryant, in-troduced the Hyperdunk to the global media at the Nike World Headquar-ters in Beaverton, Oregon in April. The shoe will be available in Philippine retail stores in July or August 2008.

HYPERDUNK

For the complete article, visit en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=MMDA_Art.

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BUSINESS&ECONOMY 5

Nintendo Wii (pronounced as the pro-noun “we”) is the fifth home video game console released by Nintendo. Weighing 2.7 pounds and measuring 8.5 by 6 inches, it is considered the most compact of the next-generation consoles. Originally released in its glossy white color, there is speculation that colored Wii consoles will soon be sold. The Wii Remote is slender and can sense three-dimensional motion—up and down, back and forward, side to side. It is bundled with the Nunchuk, a unit which features an accelerometer and a traditional analog stick with two trigger buttons. Because of its mo-tion-sensing controllers, games like baseball, boxing, bowling, and tennis became more realistic, active, and entertaining. This Remote can be used as a sword, bat, knife, laser or racket depending on the games played. PC World ranked Nintendo Wii as num-ber four in their “20 Most Innovative Products of the Year” in 2006.

NINTENDO WII

For the complete article, visit en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=The_Patriarchs_of_Shopping_Malls.

The mall comprises a huge part of Filipinos’ every day itin-erary. It is the usual business meeting place, the weekend family getaway, and the emergency shopping center. It’s where we eat, shop, and unwind. Who set up these places anyway? In the world of Philippine malls, there are three men who matter most.

The Ayala PioneerJaime Zobel de Ayala is the patriarch of Ayala Corporation, the oldest conglome-rate in the Philippines. The corporation’s business interests include fi nance, tele-communications, infrastructure, and infor-

mation technology. Ayala Land, the real estate arm of the corporation, operates seven malls in the country, including Greenbelt, Glorietta, and Trinoma. He came in third in the Forbes list of richest Filipinos in 2006, but surged to clinch the top spot in 2007. He retired as chairman in April 2006.

Robinsons’ Father Considered one of the most powerful indus-trialists in the country, John Gokongwei, Jr. is the founder of JG Summit Holdings. He started his retail career in Cebu at the age of 15 by selling household products as

a market vendor. He went to Manila at the age of 19 to expand his venture. He founded the Universal Robina Cor-poration at age 30. Gokongwei’s businesses later on diver-sifi ed into a wider range of industries, which includes the establishment of Robinsons Land Corporation, the company that runs the Robinsons chain of malls.

The Man Behind SMRegarded as the “Father of Philippine Retail-ing”, Henry Sy, Sr. is the founder and chairman of the SM Group of Companies. He came a long Mway from operating a humble shoe store in Quiapo in 1946 to building the Philippines’

biggest and largest chain of shopping centers—the SM malls. He founded Shoe Mart in 1958 and thereafter set up the fi rst air conditioned shoe store, the fi rst integrated mall, and the third biggest mall in the world. With a net worth of 1.7 bil-lion dollars, he is one of only four Filipino billionaires. He also came in second in Forbes list of 40 Richest Filipinos in 2007....

MALL KINGS

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One of the country’s leading cultural institutions, the AyalaMuseum hosts the fi nest collection of Philippine historical dioramas and Filipino painters’ obra maestras.

HistoryThe late Filipino painter Fernando Zobel de Ayala y Montojo conceived the establishment of the Ayala Museum in the 1950s. This vision fi nally materialized in 1967 as a project of the Ayala Foundation, formerly known as the Filipinas Foundation. The Museum was initially housed in the Insu-lar Life Building on Ayala Avenue, Makati City. In 1974, the inauguration of the fi rst Ayala Museum building designedby National Artist Leandro V. Locsin on Makati Avenuewas held. The Museum moved to its present home on the cor-ner of De La Rosa Street on September 28, 2004, in time for the celebration of the Ayala Foundation’s 170th anniversary. This new building was designed by the architectural fi rm Le-andro V. Locsin and Partners led by Leandro Y. Locsin himself.

CollectionsAyala Museum is home to various displays of Filipino cul-ture, art, and history. The galleries of the museum containa wide range of collections which include the following:

Diorama Experience - The museum owns sixty handcrafteddioramas chronicling the history of the Philippines. Thesedioramas, created by artists from Paete, Laguna, high-light the sixty major events in Philippine history: frompre-historic times to the declaration of Philippine inde-pendence on July 4, 1946. This exhibit also features a multimedia presentation of the Martial Law years and the1986 People Power Revolution.Maritime Vessels - The boat gallery is part of the muse-um’s diorama collections. This gallery showcases mini-ature versions of different watercrafts showing the evo-lution of maritime vessels from logs to modern boats. Fine Arts Collection - Highlighting the museum’s fi ne artscollection are the works of the three renowned Filipino painters, namely: Juan Luna, Fernando Amorsolo, and Fernando Zobel....

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The EEE PC is a subnotebook computer designed by Taiwan-based electronic company ASUS. It features a low-end Intel Mobile CPU, 512 megabytes of RAM, a 4 gigabyte solid-state flash hard drive, and pre-installed software packages. The name Eee derives from ASUS advertising slogan for the sub-notebook “Easy to learn, Easy to work, Easy to play”. It became popular in the Philippines and in other parts of the world because of its compact size, light weight, and low cost. Despite criticisms of its small hard drive space and low screen resolution, the Eee PC’s affordable price plus its system that allows light web surfing and basic productivity offsets any of its short-comings.

EEE PCART IN THE CITY

For the complete article, visit en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=Ayala_Museum.

CULTURE&ARTS

&TECHNOLOGY

Manila has always been a favorite setting for independent fi lms. Following in the footsteps of Philippine fi lm legendsLino Brocka and Ishmael Bernal, indie fi lmmakers of today depict the city at its grittiest. A recent wave of indie fea-tures gave Filipino audiences a momentary peek into the ur-ban world, unmasking the harsh realities faced by its inhab-itants. Through these movies, fi lmmakers are able to boldly articulate the Filipino experience of living in the city.

Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo OliverosThis fi lm deals with the coming-of-age of Maximo, a teenagehomosexual who lives in one of Manila’s notorious slums. While dealing with the usual problems teens face, he gets torn between protecting his family of thieves and his admiration for Victor, a police offi cer. The fi lm brilliantly captures the blossoming of Maximo who, amid the troubles of poverty, sexism, and injustice, still fi nds himself.

KubradorThe movie is a social commen-tary that centers on jueteng. Set in the slums of Manila, the fi lm follows the life of Ameli-ta, a middle-aged woman who works as a bet collector for an illegal jueteng operation. Haunted by the ghost of her fallen son, she braves all risks just to earn a living. The fi lm depicts the life of the urban poor who rely heavily on chances—through prohibited games and surreptitious activi-ties—in the hope of fi nding a better life.

TiradorA fi lm by Brillante Mendoza, Tirador tells about the lives of Caloy, Leo, Rex and Odie, who all live in the depressed areas of Quiapo. The setting takes place in Holy Week amidst the 2007 elections. The fi lm presents Manila as swarming with hired killers, drug addicts, snatchers, and other tiradors—people who make hits. The fi lm reveals the plight of Filipinos living in poverty and illustrates how politics and faith intertwine in a society molded by a deeply-rooted tradition....

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INDIE MANILA

The Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival is a Philippine visual art cele-bration committed to the developmentof Filipino independent films. Organiz-ers of the festival set up the filmfest to provide young filmmakers a suitable venue to express their ideas, unbridled by commercial considerations. In 2008, the 4th Cinemalaya Film Fest which car-ries the theme Anong Kwento Mo? will run from July 11 to 20 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Featured films for this season present stories of Filipi-nos from all walks of life, put to film by brilliant film makers. Finalists of the competition include ten full-length and ten short feature films chosen from a total of 194 entries submitted last year.

CINEMALAYA

For the complete article, visit en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=Philippine_Independent_Films_in_Urban_Setting.

MEDIA&ENTERTAINMENT

Yes, rainy days and Mondays sometimes get you down, but a rainy week will totally freak you out. What about your planned wardrobe for the whole month? What about those chic dresses and stilettos, those cute skirts paired with your sleeveless tops? Don’t fret, this is not a case of panic. Rainy days do not really equate to shoddy fashion statements, because you can still stay trendy even when it’s raining cats and dogs. Here are some tips from WikiPilipinas on how to stay in a sunny fashion state during an otherwise gloomy day.

Colored hoodies, jackets and trench coatsYes, they really need to be bright. Dark colored hoodies, jackets, or even trench coats don’t look good on rainy days. Not only do they match the weather, they make you look like you are mourning. Brighten up and look fab—start with the clothes you are wearing.

UmbrellasThis is a staple on rainy days, but this time, don’t use your typical umbrella. On days when the rain makes you feel tired and ugly, opt for printed umbrellas to add an extra oomph to your ensemble. Look for umbrellas with cute de-signs like stars, cherries, hearts, or checkered and striped brollies. If yofi nd the pattern that you like, cthe colorful ones instead! If youstill undecided, there’s always transparent umbrella right aroundthe corner.

Flat sandals and fl ip fl opsNothing makes you feel more uduring rainy days than having wet soside your equally wet shoes. So, to tryavoid catching fungal infection, mighwell go for fl at sandals or fl ip fl ops you can easily wash your feet and lthem dry whenever you get the chanceJust be ready to get a pedicure almoevery week though.

Rain bootsRain boots in different prints look cute especially when paired with mid length trench coats and short skirts. Wearing them is a sure way of pro-tecting your feet from puddles...

9

Gladiator sandals are flat sandals accentuated by straps that go up until below the knee. Fashion fore-casts for the year 2008 predict that these sandals are going to be “in” for women the whole year. Because of their comfortable feel and style, these sandals, usually seen in histori-cal films like Russell Crowe’s Gladia-

tor and the cult favorite 300, can be a great alternative to flip flops worn by a lot of Filipinas. Gladiator sandals are very versatile. They can be paired with almost any type of outfit, from mini-dresses and skirts to pants and shorts. For a more casual look, style magazines recommend tie-dye or denim outfits, while for an edgier ap-peal, match the sandals with formal clothes. Of course, a decent pedicure is always the best accompaniment to any sandal—flip flip or gladiator.

GLADIATOR SANDALS

For the complete article, visit en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=How_to_Stay_Fashionable_on_Rainy_Days.

DRIZZLE DAYDEMURE

FASHION

Lomography is a style of photography that emphasizes casual and snapshot picture-taking. Using cameras by photography company Lomographische AG from which lomography derives its name, enthusiasts push for a more expressive attitude in capturing photos, usually producing over-saturated and high contrast images. Filipinos like the style so much that they have set up groups for fellow enthusiasts to interact and share their creative masterpieces with.

Lomographic Embassy ManilaA subsidiary of Lomography International under the manage-ment of Team Manila. It is the prime representative of Lomo-graphy and the exclusive distributor of the brand in the Philip-pines. Team Manila is responsible for educating people about lomography and spreading the creative lifestyle it promotes.

LomomanilaFounded on February 24, 2003, the group started as a mailing list of Filipino lomography enthusiasts on Yahoo! Groups in 2003. Five years later, the mailing list has expanded into an online community with over 1,000 registered members.

Lomofi lipinas A group of lomography artists under Lomomanila, the com-munity encourages the establishment of more photography groups in the Philippines to broaden the venue for creative community outputs. Lomofi lipinas pursues projects on a grand scale, the fi rst being the downloadable magazine LOFI.

Lomographic Society of the PhilippinesAn online community composed of lomographers who show-case photos that exhibit candid shots of objects, people, and scenes. An online gallery, which features sections likeFavorite Photos, Top Rated, and Most Viewed, is available for ...

EVERYBODY LOMO

10 COMMUNITIES

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BitTorrent is a peer-to-peer file sharing communications tool, designed to dis-tribute large amounts of data through the Internet. With this system, users who have copies of the file (seeders) become capable of sharing the file or a portion of it to other users (leechers). This dramatically reduces the costs incurred in distributing large amounts of data as the original distributor only needs one copy of the file, a com-puter, and a fast Internet connection. While providing a useful platform for independent artists and software producers, the BitTorrent system has been criticized for allowing copy-righted material, such as television episodes, films, entire albums, and computer software, to be distributed very easily. Torrent tracker websites such as ThePirateBay.org and De-monoid.com have faced legal issues and were asked to close down, but a significant number of similar sites are still online.

BITTORRENT

For the complete article, visit en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=Lomographic_Communities_in_the_Philippines.

SPORTS&LEISURE 11

URBAN WARFARE

Grand Theft Auto IV is an action-ad-venture game developed by Rockstar North for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. It is the ninth installment of the Grand Theft series and the first in its fourth generation games. It is also the first to feature an online multiplayer mode, which contains fifteen different game types. The game follows the life of Niko Bellic, a war veteran from Eastern Europe, who comes to the US in search of the American Dream. Set in Liberty City, a fictional city based on modern day New York, GTA IV features an “open-world” gameplay that gives the play-er more control over their character and environment. Regarded as one of the most successful game releases of all time, Grand Theft Auto IV broke sales records by selling 3.6 million units on its first day of release and grossing over $500 million in its first week. The game, which has acquired a cult following in the Philippines, has also received overwhelming posi-tive reviews from sites like Gamespot and Metacritic.

GTA IV

The fi rst paintballs were created by the Nelson Paint Compa-ny in the US in the 1970s. These balls, then made from wax, were used by foresters to mark trees from a distance, and by cattlemen to mark their herd. In 1976, American Hayes Noel and his friends were walking home chatting about one of his friends’ trip to Africa. Intrigued by stories about hunting buffalo, and inspired by Richard Connell’s short story The Most Dangerous Game, the group thought of recreating the game where they could stalk and hunt each other. A year and a half later, after seeing a paintball gun in an agricultural catalog, the friends gathered twelve players and competed against each other in the very fi rst paintball game held on June 27, 1981.

PaintballPaintball is an extreme sport in which players eliminate op-ponents from play by hitting them with paint-fi lled gela-tin capsules called “paintballs”. The game usually involves two opposing teams seeking to wipe out all of the other team’s players or to complete some other objective, such as retrieving a fl ag or targeting a designated player. While players of a team try to achieve these objectives, they can oust opposing players by tagging them with paintballs shot by air-powered markers. While the sports’ gameplay vary form fi eld to fi eld, a usual paintball game lasts for about thirty minutes.

An extreme sportA game of paintball requires a signifi cant amount of equip-ment. The early wax-made balls posed durability problems during early games, so after some research, paintballs were packaged using softgel encapsulation. With the new material, the paintball’s projectile survived rapid fi ring, yet still breaks upon making contact. Aside from paintballs and markers (fi ring equipment), paintball players must also wear full-face goggles to guard their eyes and face. Body vests also provide additional safety from shots to the body. Many paintball courses install trained paintball referees during games to protect the players...

For the complete article, visit en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=Paintball.

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he Philippines is a country rich in architectural history. Built along our streets—from the Spanish period to the Japanese occupation—

were stone and brick houses, magnifi cent church facades, huge court-yards, and extravagant archways. Many of these structures were lost after World War II, but luckily, a number survived. Listed below are some of the most splendid old metropolitan infrastructures that give us a glimpse of our aesthetic past:

Hotel de Oriente served as offi ces of the Philippine Constabulary, American Circulating Library, Offi cial Gazette and the Commercial Museum. A portion of the building was partially devastated by the end of World War II in 1945, and years later, it was demolished to give way to a new building.

Hotel de Oriente Th e Hotel de Oriente is a three-story building believed to be the fi rst hotel in the Philippines. Strategically located in Binondo, Manila near the Binondo Church, this hotel had over 80 rooms. Its scenic view of the plaza’s lawns and foun-tains made it a favorite among American tourists. Spanish architect Juan Jose Huervas y Arizmendi built the ho-tel and adorned its interiors with fl oral decorations and exquisite punkahs (large swinging fans). Th e hotel was opened publicly in January 1889. Jose Rizal stayed in this hotel in 1892 upon his return from Hong Kong. In 1904, the

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Fonda de Lala (Fonda Francesca de Lala Ary) Th e Fonda Francesca de Lala Ary, more popularly known as Fonda de Lala, was a famous hotel during the Spanish colo-nial era. Th e US fi rm Russel and Stur-gis Company built the hotel in 1810, but later sold it to a Hindu by the name of Lala Ary. Th is foreign house used to

stand at 37 Calle de la Barraca (Calle Anloague, now Juan Luna Street) in Bi-nondo, Manila, where the Allied Bank is now situated. Th is famous hotel was mentioned in Jose Rizal’s fi rst novel, Noli Me Tangere where the fi ctional character Crisostomo Ibarra stayed upon his arrival from Europe.

Luneta Hotel One of the few remaining structures that survived the devastation of World War II, the Luneta Hotel is a six-story building located in San Luis Street (T.M. Kalaw), Ermita, Manila. It was designed by Spanish architect-engineer Salvador Farre and was completed in 1918. Dur-ing that period, the Luneta Hotel was the only building in the area with French Re-naissance-style windows and balconies,

decorated with cast-iron grilles. Owned by the Litonjua family, the hotel faces the picturesque Manila Bay and was sur-rounded by storage houses and bahay na bato. Th e Luneta Hotel became popular during the early American period as it served as the resting spot for American G.I.s. After withstanding a series of ini-tial bombardment during the war, the hotel’s edifi ce started to collapse in 1972. Government offi cials considered demol-ishing the building, but its new owner, the Beaumont Holdings, denounced the move and believed that it can still be re-stored. Th e Luneta Hotel was declared a historical landmark by the National His-torical Institute and was protected by a Presidential Decree in 1973.

San Juan de Dios Hospital Recognized as the oldest hospital in the Philippines, San Juan de Dios Hospital was established upon the arrival of Fran-ciscan missionaries, among whom was lay-man Fray Juan Clemente, in the islands on June 24, 1578. Th e friar, having diffi cul-ties in learning the native language, began studying the tropical plants of the Philip-pines and their medicinal values. By the last quarter of 1578, Fray Clemente built a nipa hut and bamboo hospital with two 300 square meters yard, serving the sick and the poor. In 1596, Hermanidad de la Misericordia (Confraternity of Mercy) took charge of the hospital after serving in the 1594 wars. In 1603 and 1645, the hospital was struck by fi re and earthquake and drained the confraternity...

For the complete article, visit en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=Old_Metropolis_Infrastructures.

WIKIFILIPINO

Sentrong Pangkultura ng Pilipinas (Cultural Center of thePhilippines/CCP) ang pangunahing institusyon para sa kul-tura at sining sa bansa. Taglay nito ang pinakamataas na pamantayan ng kahusayan at may mga serbisyong tumu-tugon sa Filipino at sa daigdig.

Nililinang at itinataguyod ng CCP ang artistikong ka-husayan, estetikong Filipino at pagkakilanlan, at positi-bong halagahang pangkultura tungo sa makataong lipunangpandaigdig.

KasaysayanPinasinayaan ang CCP noong 1969 at nagsilbing tahanan ngmga sining sa Pilipinas. Nilikha ang CCP sa bisa ng Kau-tusang Tagapagpaganap Bilang 30 na may layong itampok at panatilihin ang mga Filipinong sining at kultura. Pormalitong binuksan noong 8 Setyembre 1969. Mula nang itatag ang nasabing institusyon, sinikap na nitong isabuhay anglogo nitong sumasagisag sa “katotohanan, kagandahan, atkabutihan” ang tatlong “K” na kahalintulad sa Katipunan nina Andres Bonifacio at Emilio Jacinto.

Nasa ilalim ng Opisina ng Pangulo ang CCP, at saklaw ng Pambansang Komisyon para sa Kultura at mga Sining,alinsunod sa isinasaad ng Kautusang Tagapagpaganap Bi-lang 80.

Itinatanghal ng CCP ang mga tagumpay sa sining ng Filipino; hinihikayat ang paglikha ng orihinal na obrang inspirado ng tema at tradisyong Filipino; at tumutulong na mailapit ang sining sa lahat ng sektor ng lipunan. Iti-nataguyod din nito ang pagtatatag ng mga sentrong pan-rehiyon sa pakikipagtulungan sa mga samahang lokal, atinililibot ang mga residenteng artista at iba pang alagad ngsining mula sa mga rehiyon sa pamamagitan ng CCP Out-reach Program....

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SENTRO NG KULTURA

Noon pa man ay bahagi na ng pang-araw-araw na kasuotan ng mga Muslim ang bandana. Bahagi ito ng kinamulatan nilang tradisyon at kultura. Sa kasalukuyan, kapan-sin-pansin ang malayang paggamit nito sa pananamit ng tao. Anuman ang kanilang kasarian, relihiyon, at pinagmulan, napapanahon ang paggamit ng bandana lalo na kapag dumarating ang buwan ng tag-lamig, habang tag-ulan naman sa Pilipinas. Bukod sa pakinabang nito laban sa lamig, karaniwang isinusuot ang bandana sa leeg, balikat, o baywang upang lumitaw ang kani-kaniyang estilo ng pananamit. Sa katunayan, mula sa pag-eeksperimento at pagig-ing malikhain ay maaaring maging ganap na pusturyoso ang simpleng kasuotan sa pamamagitan ng pag-gamit ng bandana.

BANDANA

For the complete article, visit fi l.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=Sentrong_Pangkultura_ng_Pilipinas.

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CELESTINA

Sa ikalawang pagkakataon ay napili para sa taong ito ang kaaya-ayang mga shell bags mula sa Celestina bilang Ac-cessory of Choice ni Anna Wintour, ang punong patnugot ng Vogue at ang itinuturing na pinakamaimpluwensiyang tao sa larangan ng fashion sa ngayon. Shell minaudieres (mee-nod-yers) kung ito ay tawagin para sa mga maliliit na lalagyan na pangkosmetiko. Ang mga ito ay nagkakahalaga mula $600 hanggang $800. Ang nagpapaligsahan sa ganda at disenyong bags ay konsepto ng isang Pinay, si Tina Maris-tela Ocampo na dati ay isang modelo. Ngayon ay isa nang entrepreneur at siyang may-ari ng Celestina si Ocampo.

Gawa ng PilipinoNakilala siya sa kanyang talento na gamitin ang shells at iba pang katutubong materyales na galing sa Pilipinas. Ang imahe ng Celestina ay nagbibigay-halaga sa likas na ya-man ng Pilipinas at sa angking kakayahan ng mga Filipino sa tradisyunal na paggawa gaya ng paghahabi. Ipinasadya ang hugis ng clutch bags na “trapezoid” na may disenyong hango sa hayopdagat na page, ikat fabrics, at balat ng bu-waya. Ang bakal na ginamit ay gawa sa Baguio, ang burl-wood, mahogany, at ebony naman ay mula pa sa Pampanga at Cebu. Ang mga alahas ay gawa sa Bulacan. Nagsimula ang lahat dahil sa isang kahong gawa sa shell. Ang konsepto ay gawing natural at organiko ang dating. Nagdala ng ilang halimbawa ang mag-asawang Ricco at Tina Ocampo at sa tulong ng tagadisenyo na si Rafé Totengco ay nagkaroon sila ng pagkakataong maipakita ang mga ito sa mga taga-panuri ng aksesorya para sa Vogue magazine. Mula noon ay nakasama na sila sa Paris Trade Fair at New York Fashion Week. Kasama sa naturang pagpipili ay ang pamosong mga pangalan na Louie Vuitton at Bottega Venetta na mababasa sa pahinang “The Last Look”, kung saan ay ipinakikita ang itinuturing na “the next big thing.” Ilan lamang sa mga sikat na artista na bumili ng kanyang gawa ay sina Halle Berry (moonlight loop clutch) at Drew Barrymore....

WIKIFILIPINO 15

Ang iPhone ay isa sa mga pinaka-makabagong uri ng kagamitang pangkomunikasyon na pinaunlad at pinaghusay ng kumpanyang Apple Inc. Ito ay isang aparato na pinuno ng samu’t saring kakayahan at ka-galingan. Kaya nitong makakonekta sa Internet sa tulong ng teknolohi-yang Wi-Fi. Binubuo ito ng ‘’multi-touch screen’’ at birtwal na pindutan at tipaan upang mapadali ang pag-gamit. Mayroon din itong panloob na kamera at kapasidad na mag-imbak ng mga larawan at panoorin. Higit sa lahat, kaya nitong magpatugtog ng musika at makapanood ng mga palabas. Nakapagpapadala ito ng mensahe sa pamamagitan ng SMS at voicemail gaya ng iba pang kahanay na telepono.

Inanunsyo ng kumpanyang Apple ang paglalabas ng iPhone noong Enero 9, 2007 at unang isina-merkado sa bansang Estados Unidos noong Hunyo 28 ng nabanggit na taon, at unti-unti na ring kumalat sa buong mundo. Kinilala ito ng magasin na Time bilang “Natatanging Imbensyon ng Taong 2007.”

iPHONE

For the complete article, visit fi l.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=Celestina_Shell_Bag.

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PHILIPPINE ONLINE CHRONICLES

POC