Xin nian Kuai Le!

It’s Chinese New Year again! The Extroverts’ Escapade went to Binondo! 

The most important holiday for Chinese around the world is undoubtedly Chinese New Year -- and it all started out of fear. Though the holiday is only about a week-long, traditionally it is a 15-day holiday during which firecrackers are lit, drums can be heard on the streets, red lanterns glow at night, and red paper cutouts and calligraphy hangings are hung on doors. Celebrations conclude on the 15th day with the Lantern Festival.

Children are also given red envelopes with money inside. Many cities around the world also hold New Year parades complete with a dragon and lion dance.

Food is an important component to New Year. Traditional foods include nian gao or sweet sticky rice cake and savory dumplings - which are round and symbolize never-ending wealth. 

One of the highlights of Chinese New Year is the food. On Chinese New Year's Day,a huge feast is served. Since Chinese New Year is a national holiday in China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, nearly everyone returns home for Chinese New Year. For some families, it is the only time each year that the entire family will be together. In some cases, not all family members can return so a place setting is set in their honor.

Each item eaten has special symbolism. The Chinese New Year’s feast includes:

·         Dumplings = wealth because shaped like ancient silver and gold ingots. 

·         Fish = surplus because 鱼 (yú, fish) sounds like 餘 (yú, surplus). Leaving a little extra fish on the plate is customary as it symbolizes there will be enough for the family in the coming year. The family is careful not to break the bones of the fish as this could bring bad luck.

·         Hard liquor = longevity because 酒 (jiǔ, alcohol) sounds like 久 (jiǔ, longevity).

Mahjong (麻將, má jiàng) is a fast-paced, four-player game played throughout the year but particularly during Chinese New Year.

Fireworks of all shapes and sizes are launched at midnight and throughout New Year’s Day. Firecrackers with red paper are the most popular. The fireworks tradition began with the Legend of Nian, a ferocious monster that was afraid of the color red and loud noises. It is believed the noisy fireworks scared the monster. Now, it is believed the more fireworks and noise there are, the more luck there will be in the New Year.

Pit Senyor Santo Niño!

Sinulog Festival is one of the grandest and most colorful festivals in our country. Annually, there are presentations of dance, music and colorful floats which attracts millions of people from all over the country as well as foreign travelers, making it one of the tourist attractions in the Philippines.

This is held during the third Saturday of January,it is being celebrated in the honor of the Santo Nino (the Child Jesus) which was brought to Cebu by Ferdinand Magellan when he arrived in the island on April 7, 1521. The image was said to be a baptismal gift for Hara Amihan, the wife of the ruler of the island, Raja Humabon.

 That is the reason why during the street parade, women in colorful and intricately decorated costumes presenting a parade, women in colorful and intricately decorated costumes presenting a parade dance on the street holding replicas of the image of Santo Nino. It is also the most anticipated part of the Sinulog Festival. Last January 17,2012, seven colorful floats, depiciting the seven different periods of history are accompaniedby thousands of men and women in magnificently designed Philippine costumes dance their way through a planned route around Cebu City. There are also activities and events during the Sinulog Festival, like the cultural shows and the Sinulog Queen Pageant.

As for the tourists who might want to catch up Sinulog next year, here are some tips.

1.      1. Come early. Even though the street parade will not start as early as 9am, it is always good to come early for you to take the good spot. Some people arrive even before dawn just to have a good spot.

2.       2. Always prepare a sunblock. The Sinulog Festival can last all day and that would mean spending hours under the sun, so protect yourself from it. Bring a cap or a hat, bottled water and a ziplock for your gadgets, because there are some events where people throw neon paint on everybody that’ll probably give the cutesy dirty party in Sinulog.

3.       3. Bring your important things only. Backpackers are a no-no on in this kind of event. It is given that in a crowded place like this, there will always be thieves, so minimize or hold your belongings.

4.       4. Wear comfortable clothes. Always wear comfortable clothes whenever you plan on attending the Sinulog Festival. It will always be scorching hot during the festivals, of course you don’t want to be sweaty and smelly while partying, right? Majority of the women here wear shorts and cropped top while partying. As comfy as that!

*All photos used are owned by theextrovertsescapade.

Mega or Preview?

Who rocked the January issue of a fashion magazine the better? Both Jinkee Pacquiao and Charice Pempengco looked perfect posing for their respective magazine covers which gained harsh comments from  a lot of Filipino netizens, most especially to those who have a twitter account.

Some says that Jinkee’s cover’s not her anymore. The best comment that had retweeted the most is that it is Kristine Hermosa –not her. Anyhow, it was good. People are just overreacting or jealous because she’s a lot more different from the first time she had seen on tv. However, her photograph on the cover seemed smart-blurred. Belo gave her what she needs which totally made her more glamorous. I bet if these jealous people had Jinkee’s money, they would also do the same. I can’t see anything wrong with it. Besides, Jinkee’s already beautiful even before, she had just undergone some enhancement. Good Job Mega!

I’ve always been a fan of Preview Magazine. I make sure that I don’t buy any other local fashion magazines but Preview. Like everyone who’s into it, I always expect for a breathtaking cover from them every month. Not until now, because they didn’t give justice to the cover. Charice Pempengco will never ever going to be a Barbie doll! Wait, did I say never? She will not become one! She doesn’t even look like one. Even if you put one thick inch of make-up, she will not going to be one! If you look closer at the cover of Preview, Charice’s jaw is not proportional, the background isn’t smooth, it’s like a draft. Pink and orange didn’t went well. The wig is too obvious, and if even if Preview can do wonders, she still looked like a midget here. This is like an unfinished versionof  the magazine. I can say that this is the worst cover of Preview Magazine since it started, definitely not a good start for the year 2012.

Dear Preview, you’re like a fashion bible to me, but what happened? Knowing that this is for your January issue, really?

It's More Fun in the Philippines Controversy

Issues has been set by critics of the Department of Tourism as to the new advertisement slogan of the country--- "It's more fun in the Philippines". Rumors has it that the said slogan was a reused one coming from the former tourism slogan of the country Switzerland.

The above picture is the 1951 slogan of Switzerland with the same slogan. Comments has been made that the DOT had spent millions for the new campaign not knowing that it is used already and will never be an original concept coming from Filipinos. Also the ad has been 60 years old and that gives an impression of stealing other's idea.

But a tourist advocate, netizen,.commented that the the slogan speaks for our country itself saying "It's simply the truth in about our country. Don't be swayed by people who are trying to put hole in it", in one of his recent tweets on Twitter.

Though certain controversies has been raised in our country's new tourism slogan, it can still be seen the Filipino had easily embraced the "It's more fun in the Philippines" tag. The slogan had been a trending topic in Twitter and also various pictures showing why it's more fun in the Philippines had been circulating in the web now.

Some collage of different "It's more fun in the Philippines" pictures showing the different sides of Philippine culture.

The famous Filipino version of Starbucks Coffee, Starbuko Ice drop which is indeed more fun in the Philippines.

After all, it is indeed more fun in the Philippines specially if each and every Filipino is showing nationalistic pride and love to our country. So to justify this slogan we should not just based our love to pictures but rather act why and how Philippines is a country that's more fun than the others.

BOURN THIS WAY

The much awaited film Bourn Legacy installment has been shooting for days in the busy streets of Manila, Philippines. Bourn Legacy which stars Jeremy Renner, RaChel Weisz and Edward Norton is a first mega-budget film that will feature Philippines on its storyline.

Though the country has been used serveral times as the double city of other countries famous location like, as Jakarta in Peter Weir’s 1982 drama “The Year of Living Dangerously,” Bangkok in Jonathan Kaplan’s 1999 thriller “Brokedown Palace,” and Panama City in Showtime’s 2000 biopic “Noriega: God’s Favorite, Bourn Legacy will featture the capital of the Philippines, Manila, as itself. 

Various reports  had verified that some of the shooting locations that will most likely be used are the streets of Metro Manila and Palawan for its astonishing beauty as well as the busy and demanding walks in Ayala Avenue, Makati City. Bourne Legacy will highlight the country's culture and way of living even shooting the Navotas City Fish Port.

The on going shoots defy the Philippines and may help rebuilding the nations tourism state. It also gives a great impression of the cool city and that it can be used as a applicable shooting location. The group had also shoot in Ninoy Aquino International Airport terminal proving that the Philippine's airport is not the worst airport after all.

Below is the complete list of schedule as well as location of the Bourne Legacy shoots conducting in the Philippines.

	Marikina City Public Market
	Navotas City Fish Port
	Jorge Bocobo St., corner Remedios Circle Jan. 18 to 19 (Wednesday to Thursday)
	Jones Bridge Feb. 5 (Sunday)
	Remedios Circle Jan. 18 to 19 (Wednesday to Thursday)
	EDSA corner Taft Ave. Car chase scene
	El Nido, Palawan
	San Andres Market Jan. 14 (Saturday)
	Leveriza St January 11 - 14, 2012 (Wednesday to Saturday)
	Sta. Lucia St. Jan. 25 (Wednesday), Feb. 17 and 18 (Friday and Saturday)
	Real St Jan. 25 (Wednesday), Feb. 17 and 18 (Friday and Saturday)
	Riverside Drive (Muelle Del Rio) Jan. 25 (Wednesday), Feb. 17 and 18 (Friday and Saturday)
	Ayala Ave.
	Ramon Magsaysay Blvd. Feb. 8 to 15 (Wednesday to Wednesday)
	San Andres St. from Orosa to Guerrero Jan. 11 - 13 (Wednesday to Friday)
	Quirino Avenue Jan. 11 - 13 (Wednesday to Friday), Jan. 15 (Sunday)
	San Andres St. from Guerrero to Taft Jan. 14 (Saturday)
	Leveriza St. from Ilang-Ilang to Quirino Ave. Jan. 15 (Sunday)