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Planes, trains & automobiles: Transport nightmares

My First American Train Ride

Train travel in the United States has been around forever, of course. But in 1967 there was no outfit called Amtrak as we know it today. This was the year I immigrated to America and the last leg of my immigrant journey was a train trip from San Francisco to Chicago after an eighteen-day voyage from Manila to San Francisco on the SS President Wilson.

My wife, Francisca, purchased first class tickets on what I recall simply as a Santa Fe train. She and our ten-month old son Reggie, who both arrived in the United States a few months earlier, flew from Chicago to meet me at the piers in San Francisco.

We spent a night at a YMCA hotel. That’s where I had my first American dinner – a cold, greasy hamburger from a vending machine. No, I think I should take that back. My first American dinner, a more sumptuous one, may arguably be on the SS President Wilson while she was anchored on Manila Bay taking in passengers. An American ship, in my perception, is already American turf although the piers on Manila Bay are on the other side of the world from America.

Next day our train was supposed to leave at 10:30 a.m. so we felt we had time to visit a fellow immigrant, a young widow who has been living in San Francisco these past few years. When she learned that it will take us two and a half days to get to Chicago she fed us old-country breakfast – garlic fried rice, sunnyside up eggs, fried fish… stuff that I missed during my

eighteen-day voyage from Manila.

On top of the old country stuff she also served crisp bacon and fragrant American coffee. Wow, what a novel breakfast at the time! She warned us that we may get tired of train food although she admitted that she was not sure what train food is like.

Before we sat down for breakfast she discovered, to her horror, that we asked our cab to wait while we were visiting. We thought it would be tough to find a cab again after our visit and we wanted to be sure we had ready transportation to catch our train. She hastily went out to pay and dismiss the cab and assured us that we had plenty of time since she will drive us to the depot herself. It was only 7:00 a.m.

Then when it was time for us to go it was our turn to be horrified. She forgot that we were strangers to San Francisco and when she asked where to take us back we didn’t know, of course! Not used to taking train trips herself she did not know where the Santa Fe offices were. Instead of getting information from a phone

Kiteboarding Locations in the Philippines

Kiteboarding locations in the Philippines are beginning to mushroom in this group of 7, 100 islands. The popularity of kiteboarding is gaining steam in this tropical paradise because of numerous beautiful locations. A splendid destination is one thing, but for the perfect kiteboarding experience, you need the wind to be extreme in that location.

If you are looking for wind best for kiteboarding, the Philippines has Habagat. It is the wind that can turn gentle seascapes into furious giant waves or hoist kiteboarders 50 to 150 feet in the air. Habagat is perfect for kiteboarding.

There are several kiteboarding locations now in the Philippines.

In the northern part of Luzon, the beach of La Union is most suitable for this extreme sport. Just a six-hour drive from Manila, the beach is a renowned surfer’s paradise and is flocked by surfers and windsurfers all year round. Cottages run from 10 to 30 $ a day. Accommodations are good plus internet services. Equipment is available for rent on site.

In the south of the same island, you can find one of the best kept secret in Sorsogon – the Rizal Beach. It is still under the radar that there are no schools and equipment rentals yet for kiteboarding. The best and cheapest place to stay is at the Mercedes Country Lodge; just 10 minutes away. You can reach the place either by a 9-hour ride from Manila or by 1-hour plane ride to Legazpi City and a short bus ride. Flights cost around 100 – 150 $ and accommodations run from 15 – 20 $ a night.

But kiteboarding destination these days is still in Boracay which is synonymous with world class beaches and water and wind sports like kiteboarding as of late.

There are several schools on the island run by Filipinos, Aussies, Germans and Dutchmen. They are easy to find but are usually fully-booked. So, if you plan on a kiteboarding holiday in Boracay, you need to book ahead in time.

Kiteboarding locations in the Philippines are turning the country to a major player in this extreme sport. With a 7, 100 islands archipelago, kiteboarders have an ample choice to lay claim as their own kiteboarding site.

Travel destinations: Camiguin, Philippines – Part 1

Camiguin is a small island that attracts countless numbers of tourists every year due to its natural beauty. It is one of the top tourist spots in the Philippines and ranks number 7 as a diving spot in the world. Camiguin is a pear-shaped volcanic island which has a total land area of only 238 square kilometers. Small as it is, it could be a giant as far as beauty is concerned. Camiguin has a very unique setting with its 7 volcanoes, natural cold and hot springs, waterfalls, mountains and the hospitable, fun-loving and friendly people around. It makes a perfect and unforgettable experience for travelers and adventurers.

Camiguin is said to be, “Born of Fire.” One would not wonder why this tiny island has seven volcanoes. Despite being almost covered with volcanoes, it is a safe place to go and enjoy. The weather here is good with seasonal rain showers. From April to June, one is guaranteed a fine weather. The coldest month is from November to January and the rest of the year would be hotter.

Camiguin has a lot to offer guests. There is the Old Ruins of San Roque Church, Convent and Belfry which are remnants of the volcanic eruption in 1897. Along with this is the Sunken Cemetery, a large white cross stands in the water where once a cemetery stood but was eaten by the sea during the eruption of Old Vulcan Daan in 1987. This is a perfect place to view the sunset over the ocean. This island has all the remnants of the Spanish time when Philippines was colonized by the Spaniards. Catholicism has been introduced by the Spaniards in the 1800’s and Filipinos became Catholics. The Via Cruzes proves how faithful Filipinos are to their religion. This is an old volcano slope where life-size statues depicting the passion, death and ressurection of Jesus could be seen. Included here in the mountain are the 14 stations of the cross. There is also a centennial house that still stands to remind people of the Spanish era the 1800’s/

If you tire being sentimental, you can change your mood by watching the Katibawasan Falls. This is a 70 meter high, cascading falls and around it are orchids, wild ferns, trees and boulders. The waterfalls looks majestic. Tuasan Falls is ideal for a picnic and Binangawan Falls provides for a lovely view with its small and big falls rushing down majestic granite stones and joining as one big falls . The mist forms an arched rainbow when the sun’s rays shoots to the waters making it look like wonderland.

You can experience a hot pool bath which is therapeutic. The Ardent Hot Spring is a hot mineral pool with water that is 400 degrtees Celsius. This pool is very ideal for night bathers. There are picnic huts and tables for rent here and a restaurant is also available. There is no problem at all because everything here is accessible. Aside from the hot springs, Camiguin also has cold springs.

Mount Hibok-Hibok an extinct volcano which is 1250 meters high above sea level is ideal for climbing. Mountain climbers love this place for what it offers them. On top of this mountain is a crater-like lake and steam outlets. And here, you culd also have a panoramic view of the entire Bohol Province while enjoying your trek.

Camiguin is rich in natural resources and offers lots of fun and enertainment including sports. There is the Burias Shoal where one could enjoy a good dive at the same time have a close encounter with schools of different kinds of fish. What makes this Burias Shoal unique is the black coral covered bottom. There are more places to enjoy boating, fishing, snorkeling and diving and with what Camiguin could offer, where else would one choose to go? Camiguin is something to experience in life as it boosts its majestic beauty and rich natural resources.

Travel experiences: Off the beaten path

Cagayan de Oro: Certified Gold!

Experts do not agree on the etymology of the “cagayan” part of the Cagayan de Oro name. Local historian Dr.Antonio J. Montalvan II insists it means “place of the river,” as mentioned on the Olaging, the local epic chant. Folk epics, according to Dr. Montalvan, are handed down from generation to generation through authorized chanters who are the only ones allowed to do recite it. As such, the history it contains is authentic and free from error. Others, however, disagree.

Whatever the origin of “cagayan” may be, one thing is certain: the “de oro” part is true. Cagayan de Oro is certified gold.

I know. I have been here ten years.

It was May 1997. I was then the newly-assigned branch manager of a company and I was checking out my new assignment for the first time. With me was my son, he to enroll in sixth grade in a local Jesuit school , I to find a house for my family to move in.

As I am wont to do, I had a window seat and it was through one that I first got a glimpse of this city in northern Mindanao, Philippines. The one-and-half-hour flight from Manila was so smooth that I dozed off, to wake up only at the sugary voice of the flight attendant asking me to straighten up my seat.

Then I saw her. An uneven carpet of green punctuated by white sand traps with teeny-weeny tiny people walking lugging golf bags. A golf course! A highway presented itself next and I espiedas in a silent movie a slew of tiny cars going the same way, perhaps to the airport to meet the passengers of the plane I was in.

At the other side of the highway was more greenery: trees in a rolling terrain interrupted by magnificent houses. Then I saw an imposing Mediterranean structure with tennis courts and two deep-blue swimming pools. “Hmm, must be a club house,” I said to no one in particular.

As the plane made the final approach and before the whole vista was swallowed up by hangars, I saw this huge farm house surrounded by at least a hundred lean-tos. Fighting cocks! Interesting.

As the plane taxied down the tarmac, I remember thinking: “If I would be staying here, at least the place looks good. I hope the locals are friendly.”

They were. Friendly to the max.

I found out just how when I came back with my family two weeks later. We arrived in style in a manner of speaking. Our well-appointed room was more like a deluxe room of a first-class hotel than a cabin of a ferry: two queen-sized

Travel destinations: Tagaytay City, Philippines – Part 1

Getting to Tagaytay City is a breeze. It is only an hour ride from busy fast-paced Manila. Many come here just to relax and unwind! A bus ride is comfortable with the huge air-bus-like, air-conditioned ‘Crow’. In the bus some polite vendors sell bottled mineral water, juices, peanuts, pili nuts, sweets, boiled quail eggs, and pies to eat or drink along the way. Newspapers and tabloids in English are also sold. Better yet, go there by helicopter available daily from the Highlands.

A long winding blue lake along the cemented highway leads to Tagaytay. Nestled in the center, just a boat ride away is the crater of the lake, which is a sleeping volcano. Arm lengths away are rows and rows of different tropical flowers with darker and brighter hues. The warm sun, frequent rain showers, clean air and slightly cold weather made all the photo pigments darker. The anthuriums are redder, the dahlias are brighter and larger, the grass is greener this side of the earth.

A new community of vacationers was built in the highest altitude of the city, the Tagaytay Ridge and is aptly called Tagaytay Highlands. From this ridge a view of the city below; villages, subdivisions, food shops, including pineapple plantations and the awe-inspiring Taal Lake in the horizon can be seen.

Weekdays are generally quiet and laidback, but Saturdays and Sundays are entirely different when locals from Manila spend their weekends in their vacation houses, go horseback riding, fishing or just dine in Tagaytay. All weekends are considered holidays here.

More so, food of various origins can be tasted here. Not to miss are the following: ’sinigang na maliputo’ -sour soup usually tamarind based, with maliputo fish harvested only in this part of the world, from the Taal lake; crispy deep fried tawilis (also a kind of fish from Taal); ‘eruption’- a mound of chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream on top, slicing the cake would reveal melted chocolate which flows out and mix with the ice cream. Much visited is the mushroom burger conveniently located along the highway. Rice cakes like bibingka are specialties of the resort.

Fresh fruits are available in the ‘Mahogany Market’ everyday. Their pineapples are extra sweet. Bananas, avocado, and jackfruit are also abundant. Sample their sweet fried bananas with jackfruit wrapped in ‘lumpia’-thin flour and egg wrapper. Lettuce, bell peppers, cabbage, mushroom, eggplants, turnips, sweet potatoes, carrots, radish are just some of the crops locally grown and sold in the market or along the highway.

Who Says Business Can’t Coincide With Leisure?

The Pearl Manila Hotel is considered the Pearl of the Bay with its proximity to the famous tourist spot, the Manila Bay. It boasts of accommodations that are reasonably-priced yet hits every traveler’s needs right on the head. Giving its guests unparalleled service while making sure they get value for their money is the primary concern of the Pearl Manila Hotel’s management.

Out on a business trip? All work and no play makes for a very dull week. Have the best of both leisure and business in the comfort of Pearl Manila Hotel. Focus on matters that are important for work during the day then cap the night with a fun-filled rendezvous either in the hotel’s own entertainment hotspots or Manila’s captivating night life.

The location of this prime hotel is really apt for the demanding business traveler who also wants to get a slice of the leisure pie from time to time. There’s a myriad of things to do for the thirsty travel hound. Traverse the walled city of historic Intramuros, frolic at the bustling Rizal Park, take a trip down memory lane in the National Museum or score a hole in one in Club Intramuros’ 18-hole golf course. Whether you decide to while the time away doing nothing or doing everything, rest assured that you are at the hub of the Manila scene.

Guests may also opt to kick back and relax in Pearl Manila Hotel’s own restaurants and bars. Dine in Seven Seas Café and savor a wide selection of Asian cuisine via buffet or a la carte meals. Love seafood? Then, you’ll enjoy Oyster Bar, where the Piano Bar showcases different oyster presentations. Dine in Pret A’ Manger if you’re up for something light. Pret A’ Manager is a French Sandwich Bar, which offers premium sandwiches with an assortment of salads and pasta. It also offers value meals during lunch, plus ice cream and coffee preparations for the sweet tooth. For Japanese food lovers, there’s Nagoyami Mami, the hotel’s own sushi bar which offers delicate sushi.

At Pearl Manila Hotel, guests are treated to the best of both worlds. When the harried lifestyle gets the best of you, it’s good to be able to sit back and relax from time to time. Doing this whilst taking care of business and not missing important matters is easy when you choose a hotel that makes sure work and play is what you really get. For more information on how you can mix business and leisure in Pearl Manila Hotel, visit http://www.pearl-manila.com/

A Love Story

 

There’s only one good thing about breaking up and that’s making up, especially during the holidays. Why do people fall in love and the end up crying? Breaking up is something like untying a rope to a tree; breaking a glass or tearing a piece of paper. Being meant to be in a relationship in spite of the obstacle the couple encounter is not possible so long if any of them will do the first move to initiate the make up. If love is still prevailing, why not cope up the lost time?
I will share to you the love story of my friend. I had known this relationship because I was the “sumbungan” of their happy and sad memories of their relationship.

THE BREAK-UP:

“Looking back, I know that I freaked out; I became a commitment-phobe,’ says 25-year-old Samantha. After she graduated from college in 2002, Samantha returned home to- leaving behind Dave, her boyfriend of two years. ” Dave still had another year of school left,’ says Samantha. “We were totally in love, and I tried very hard to do the long- distance- relationship thing- we would see each other almost every weekend. But eventually we got so caught up in our own lives that we practically stopped talking.”
After a series of strained phone conversations, Samantha and Dave ended their relationship. Determined to make the most of her new freedom, Samantha began to date “a lot”, but she couldn’t stop thinking about Dave. No matter how many dinner dates she laughed through, he was on her mind: “I kept asking myself, how I could have let him go?’
The breakup wasn’t easy for Dave either. “When we ended, I was so upset, “remembers Dave, 24. “I missed Samantha terribly, but there was nothing I could do. She was in Cagayan; I was in Manila. I just had to get on with my life.”

THE MAKE-UP:

When Dave graduated a year later, he moved to Cebu City. Unknown to him, Samantha had also moved to the city to pursue her medical course. Then at 7:00 on New Year’s morning, Samantha received a call that made her heart sink. Her best friend was phoning to say that she had been to a bar the night before and had bumped into Dave- with his new girlfriend, a beautiful blond. “When my friend told me she saw Dave with another girl, I cried my eyes out and called him immediately, “Samantha recounts. ” It was vey weird. I cried even more on the phone. I just missed him so much.”
Understandably, Dave had his reservations. “I didn’t want to get hurt,” he says, “but I couldn’t not see her.” He agreed to meet Samantha for a holiday drink.
Samantha recalls her feelings when she met Dave again: “I felt like someone had kicked me in the stomach. My hands were shaking. The conversation was very awkward. We were both trying to pretend that life over the past year had been great, when in truth we were both hiding a lot of sadness.” But says Samantha with a big grin, “A couple of drinks were just like old times again.”
The evening ended with a good-night kiss, and they quickly picked up their relationship where they’d left off. “We fell in love all over again,” Dave says. “That was two years ago. Now. I can’t imagine life without her.” And that other blond? Promptly banished to Christmas past.

 

Miss Universe 2007 in Mexico City

MISS UNIVERSE 2007 IN MEXICO CITY

By Alejandro Guevara Onofre

Miss Universe’s my favorite Telecast. It’s really exciting. I always want my favorite “Miss” to win. When they win, I am really happy. But when my favorite lose…Every year, I have a favorite delegate. Last year was Miss Japan, Kurara Chibana. From my point of view, I think that Miss Japan 2006 is a perfect beauty… In 1978 was my countrywoman: In my opinion, I think that Miss Peru, Olga Roxana Zumaran Burga, has one of the best bodies in the Miss Universe History…she was a big favorite in Acapulco, Mexico… I think that Olga was eliminated this contest because she did not speak English…In this year I was a children…I was a fan of Miss Peru…

In 1985, my favorite was Miss Zaire, currently the Democratic Republic of Congo…. Miss Zaire ,Kayonga “Benita” Mureka Tete…Miss Africa and great favorite in Miss World 1985… …her exotic beauty was very special. Some people think that I am passionate about Miss Universe…It’s true…My mother is guilty of that. She has a great admiration for Gladys Zender, Miss Universe 1957.

I remember that my country was elected host the Miss Universe on January 1982. For me, was a surprised to read in the newspapers that Lima, Peru’s capital, hosted the Miss Universe. I felt very happy…My country made a great contest…were times against the terrorism by Shining Path… One of my favorites was Miss Brazil.. spectacular Cecyle Pinto Marques da Sylva (1,80m-18 years old and brown eyes) was born in Belem do Para, Amazonas (Amazonian jungle. She studied medicine. Glamorous Miss Amazonas said that her idol is the Supreme Pontieff John Paul II.

The Miss Universe Pageant originated in the 1950s in Long Beach, California. Certainly, Miss Universe has been compared to Olympic Games. I think that Miss Universe begin in Ancient Greece…More than 1,000 years… I remember that sports and beauty were important for the Ancient Greeks. Certainly, Cyprus Island was the sanctuary of Aphrodite, the Goddess of Beauty and Love

For the fourth time, Mexico will host the 56th the Miss Universe Pageant. The final will be at the National Auditorium in Mexico City, on May 28th.Mexico is one of the most wonderful places on Earth…There are very nice beaches: Cancun, Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta, La Paz, Puerto Escondido, and Acapulco. For example, Cozumel Island is a tropical paradise…The Mexican Jungle is the real fascination…paradisiac landscapes. Furthermore, Mexico has one of the oldest histories in the world. Like Peru, France and Thailand, Mexico is the home of International gastronomy…Mexico is very famous for its food…tacos, empanadas, moles, and enchiladas…Finally, the people are very warm and friendly. From my perspective, I think that Mexico is the perfect place for Miss Universe…Welcome to MEXICO!

FROM 1952 TO 2007:

1952: Long Beach, California. Miss Finland was the first Miss Universe…

1955: Long Beach, California. Miss Sweden was crowned Miss Universe. Miss El Salvador, Maribel Arrietta, was the big favorite. Miss El Salvador was compared to Marilyn Monroe by American journalists.

1957: Long Beach (California). Miss Peru, Gladys Zender Urbina was elected Miss Universe. She is the first Latin woman to win the Miss Universe.

1959: Long Beach, California. Miss Italy, Maria Grazia Buccella, was the big favourite, but she did not make the semifinals. Next day, Italian newspapers criticized Akiko Kojima…New Miss Universe from Japan….

1961: Long Beach, California. Marlene Schmidt became the first German woman to win the Miss Universe title.

1962: Miss Haiti, Evelyn Miot, was the first black woman to be a semifinalist at Miss Universe…

1964: Long Beach, California. Corina Tsopie was the first person from Greece to win the Pageant.

1968: Miami Beach, Florida.Martha Vasconcelos became the second Brazilian to win the Miss Universe title.

1969: Miami Beach, Florida. Miss Philippines, Gloria Diaz, became the third Miss universe from the Asia.

1975: San Salvador (El Salvador).The winner was Anne Pohtamo, Miss Finland. She looks like Grace Kelly, who was an American actress and Princess of Monaco (a small country in Europe).During her reign, she went to the USA, Australia, Hong Kong, Dominican Republic and other countries in the Third World…She was crowned in El Salvador, the birthplace of Maribel Arrieta, one of the most beautiful delegates in the chronology of MU…. Jackeline Gammarra, Miss Bolivia, was big favorite in San Salvador. Ironically, she had been eliminated in the semifinals of Miss Universe. She is one of the best South American delegates in the history of Miss Universe…

1978: Acapulco, Mexico. Miss South Africa won the title. The favorites were : 1-El Salvador, 2-Peru, 3-USA, 4-SAfrica, 5-Israel, 6-Sweden, 7-Wales, 8-Costa Rica. Miss Costa Rica, Maribel Fernandez (actress in the 1980s and 1990s), was eliminated. The great surprise was Miss Chile… very intelligent (she spoke English, French and German)… Miss Peru, Olga Roxana Zumaran Burga, has been the only Peruvian favorite in the Miss Universe History…but she did not speak English as Miss Colombia and Miss Spain. Another eliminated was Miss El Salvador, Iris Yvette Mazorra, one of the best Latin American delegates in MU.

1979: Perth (Australia). Miss Brazil was a big favorite until last minute, but she had poor speech in the finals. Miss Venezuela, Maritza Sayalero won the title.

1981: New York City. Under the leadership of Osmel Sousa, President of Miss Venezuela Organization, Venezuela’s Irene Saez was crowned Miss Universe. The final ranking:1-Venezuela, 2-Canada, 3-Sweden, 4-Brazil, 5-Belgium. After the Miss Universe, Miss Brazil, Adriana Alves de Oliveira had worked as professional model in Paris…In 1984 she was London, the United Kingdom, where she was the first favorite by international journalism and houses of best. With at 1.81m, she had a perfect body and European profile…But she only came between 7 semifinalists. She is the best delegate from Brazil since Magdalena Sbairini, other big favorite in Miss World 1977…

1982: Lima ,Peru. The favorites were: 1-Miss Chile, 2-Miss South Africa, 3-Miss Brazil, 4-Miss Finland 5-Miss Canada 6-Miss Austria 7-Greece 8-Miss Wales 9-Miss Italy 10-Miss Australia…Weren’t favorites: Guam, USA, Uruguay, Germany, Peru, Venezuela, England and Miss Sweden. Miss South Africa, Odett Octavia Scrooby, (18 years old, 173m, blue eyes and 54 k) was born in Skeerpoort. She had been a professional model in Johannesburg, a city in SA. Her hobbies are drawing and painting. Her dream was to become an international supermodel. She did not win because her country was the birthplace of Apartheid…However, Miss Canada won the title. Karen Baldwin was a student at university in Canada.Her dream was to become a businesswoman. Her hobbies were water sports and playing tennis, squash and racquetball. Like Gladys Zender, one of the judges, Karen was a sportswoman. “My idol is the Mother Theresa of Calcutta”, said in an interview with Mario Vargas Llosa (judge).In the International judge, Karen had had the support of Rod Duguay, her countrymen and a famous hockey player…

1984: Miami, Florida. Miss South Africa, Leticia Snyman, was a big favorite, but she did not win Miss Universe. After 1984,Miss Universe company did not accept South Africa contestants until 1995,when Namibia was host the Miss Universe.

1985: Miami, Florida. The final ranking: 1-PR,2-Spain,3-Zaire,4-Venezuela,5-Uruguay. Miss Zaire, Benita Mureka, was the first black African finalist in Miss Universe. Miss Zaire has her own style, very beautiful. Miss Puerto Rico, a girl very common, was elected Miss Universe…very strange result.

1986: Panama City. Miss Venezuela, Barbara Palacios Teyde. Venezuela has had many judges in the Miss Universe since 1984: Certainly, Carolina Herrera (1984 and 1997), Irene Saez (1983 and 1995), Maria Consuelo Alonso (1993 and 1998), Lupita Ferrer (1986), Barbara Palacios Teyde (1988) and Jose Luis Rodriguez (1991. Different from Venezuela, Jamaica has not had an judge in MU history…as Bolivia, Paraguay, Portugal, Austria, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Namibia, Curacao, Albania, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Iceland, Ireland…

1987: Singapore City. Miss Chile, Cecilia Bolocco was crowned Miss Universe Pageant. She had a sensational interview with judges. Miss Colombia, Patricia Lopez, did not qualify for the semifinals. After of won Miss South America-Universe and Miss Photogenic, Patricia Lopez became the big favorite to win the Miss Universe, but she did not speak English very well. Good bye Colombia…

1989: Cancun, Mexico. Andrea Stelzer was Miss South Africa 1985 but when she arrived at Miami Airport Immigration did not accept her entrance to Miami. Reasons: Radical protests by American Anti-Apartheid activists. After…like many South African, she became German citizen. In 1989 she won the Miss Germany title. She went to Cancun and was semifinalist at the Miss Universe…

1990: Venezuela was the dominant force in Miss Universe Pageant in the 1990s.

1993: Mexico City. Maria Consuelo Alonso, international judge, did not support Miss Venezuela, Milka Chulina, at the Miss Universe. In Caracas, there was many critics towards Maria Consuelo…She was born in Cuba.

1994: Manila, Philippines. The ranking final: 1-Miss India, 2-Miss Colombia, 3-Miss Venezuela. Many people think that Colombia never winner Miss Universe… because the narcotrafic. Colombia have had spectacular girls like Aura Maria Mojica and Paloma Turbay Ayala…

1996: Las Vegas, Nevada. Miss Venezuela, Alicia Machado, won the Miss Universe Pageant. She is always controversial and charismatic…

1999: Trinidad Tobago. Miss Botswana, Mpule Kwelagobe, became Miss Universe. Since 1999, she is an Anti-AIDS activist in the Third World.

2000: Nicosia, Cyprus, the birthplace of Aphrodite…Miss India, Lara Dutta was crowned Miss Universe. Miss France, Sonia Rolland, who speaks French, English and Spanish, was another bi-racial beauty. She has a Rwandan mother and a French father. Sonia was a child who lived at the time of the Rwandan War.

2006: Los Angeles, California. Miss Puerto Rico, Zuleyka Rivera, was crowned Miss Universe Pageant… Did you know that… Puerto Rico has had several judges in the Miss Universe History: Mapy Cortes (actress/1972), Marisol Malaret (former MU: 1977 and 2002),Deborah Carthy-Deu (ex-MU: 1987 and 2003), Dayanara Torres (2001),Marc Anthony (2001)and Maria Celeste Arraras (journalist/2003 and 2006)…but Chile only has had two judges: Cecilia Bolocco (1996) and Christian de la Fuente (20001)….

2007: Welcome to Mexico…Miss Universe 2007

Caliraya Re-creation Center: Asia’s First and Finest Christian Resort

The Caliraya Re-Creation Center opens its doors to the public, offering a holistic approach in breaking away from the hustle and bustle of city life. It’s the first Christian recreation center in the Philippines, and the rest of Asia.

Having a Christian culture, which means a no-smoking and no-drinking policy, the Caliraya Re-Creation Center aims to provide its guests solace away from the vices of the urban life. This Laguna resort, which is built on a 7.6 hectares of land, affords its guests with 72 family suites and 12 duplex rooms. All rooms are fully-equipped with air-conditioning units, private toilets and bathrooms. The accommodations also include double-deck beds with pullouts, provisions of daily broadsheets [upon request] and come either with a balcony or a deck that completes the guests’ pleasant stay. Because of the serenity of a rustic setting and the scenic mountain views in Lake Caliraya, guests are assured to experience a vacation like no other.

The Caliraya Re-creation Center is operated and managed by ABS Condotels and Resorts, which is known for granting its guests with a memorable and lasting impression of a great vacation. Coupled with the enchanting backdrop of Laguna’s Mother Nature, a getaway in the Caliraya Re-Creation Center is surely a most rejuvenating affair.

Situated in Lumban, Laguna, which is 104 kilometers Southeast of Manila and 500 meters away from Lumban Bridge, this Laguna resort is ideal for family outings, honeymooners, corporate events and teambuilding activities, organizational and school retreats.

For queries or further information, visit Caliraya Re-creation Center’s website, www.caliraya.net.

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