September 27, 2006

Miss Tourism

I admit it’s awesome having my blog visited by more and more people from every nook and cranny of the globe.

However, I’m pretty sure most of my international cyberfriends can't help but harbor some form of (morbid?) curiosity about the Philippines, that mysterious exotic location out of which the loony wife and mommy of Pregnant Pauses was borne.

I am aware – as most Filipinos are – that majority of the news that reach abroad from our shores have been grossly exaggerated by conspiratorial media forces, depicting my country as a frighteningly war-torn, poverty-ridden, cockroach-infested (thanks,
Claire Danes!) inferno selfishly run by blatantly corrupt government officials propelled into power by illiterate island savages.

Well, I'm telling you now that this is not true.

We definitely have more mosquitoes than cockroaches.

BWAHAHAHA!

Kidding aside, the Philippines isn’t all that bad. Really. Most of the foreigners who come here for the first time are almost always pleasantly surprised at what they experience and find themselves wanting to stay longer, if not, forever.

I thought I’d do my own part, as infinitesimal as it may be, for my native land by sharing with you a series of images taken by my photographer husband. Hopefully, they will allow you a glimpse of some of the beauty that lies in the Philippines.

Bohol Beach Club

Panglao Island Resort

El Nido Resort, Palawan

Club Punta Fuego, Batangas

Inside The Ayala Museum

Makati City Nightscape

Greenbelt Lifestyle Mall, Makati

Malarayat Golf & Country Club, Batangas

Boracay Island Sunset

So what do you say?

Still not convinced?

Then maybe this will change your mind:


Don't hesitate. Grab that phone and call your travel agent now!

BWAHAHAHA! c",)

49 comments:

Anonymous said...

Now THAT, Irene, is hot!

=)

thethinker said...

I know where my next vacation destination will be.

Anonymous said...

Great photos!!! Looking at those beach scenes.....well, I'm on the next flight over!!!

Wow, now I'm booking my vacations because of blogs? Will the wondernet ever cease to amaze me?

Thank you, Miss Tourism ;-)

Irene said...

Houseband - You can't see me now but I'm blushing. c",)

The Thinker & Michael C - If ever you do visit, you'll be my first successful draws as Miss Tourism. WOOHOO! c",) HaHaHa!

Cherry Popcorn said...

Really beautiful pictures!!! U sure ur hubby took it? haha.. =) can i make it as a wallpaper? but the miss tourism is..haha.. joking..! See ya.. ^.^

Ian said...

Lovely picture, Irene. And let me just add that BWAHAHAHAHA is one of my favorite ways of reading a belly laugh. It reminds me of the great times of the Justice Leage International comic book of the 90s when Keith Giffen was making EVERYBODY laugh like that.

Ian <----nerd

Jules said...

So beautiful! You and the islands! :-)

I just posted the movie meme. Finally!

Bazza said...

Hello Irene, I just spent 15 minutes looking through your entire blog. Some of your posts are comprehensive, to say the least, and its all beautifully written. I really enjoyed the Sesame Street analysis.
The photos on this post are terrific and have a real richness of character. I like the way they are, mostly, devoid of people!

M said...

Wow!Irene the place looks like heaven!!hope i can make it there some day.
and about enjoying life, lets say am going through one of the happiest phases of my life. :)

Irene said...

Pretty Princess - Yes, my hubby really took the pictures (except the Boracay sunset). However, I am permitting you to use only MY MISS TOURISM PHOTO as your wallpaper. Bwahahaha! c",)

Teleporter Ian - Hey, you're one step ahead of me! I was really planning on blogging next about my signature all-out laugh. Watch out for it. In the meantime, I leave you with what else but one huge resounding BWAHAHAHAHA! c",)

Sexy Julie - Thanks! Can't wait to see your movie list!

Bazza - Wow. Thanks so much for the great feedback! I'm tickled pink. Hope to catch you again! c",)

Melanie - Thanks, girl! Stay happy!!!

chandra said...

Hi Irene,

lovely post. good write up. good photos. come, lets meet at my place ;

chandrasart.blogspot.com

warm wishes

chandra

ela zawrat said...

Hi Irene, I'm one of these… I've never been in South-Eastern Asia, only once in the North. Philippines seems to be a fascinating place. A friend of mine, who is half-Philippina by birth and raised in a Caucasian American adoptive family, is planning to go to the Philippines for the first time sometime next year… And I'm learning about the Philippines over the blog from you! Thank you! Hugs. Ela

Deepak Gopi said...

Hi from India,
First time here.Nice post.Excellent pics.

Irene said...

Chandra - Thank you for visiting! Please make yourself at home. c",)

Ela - Do try to visit this part of the world. I'm sure you will discover more amazing sources of inspiration for your fabulous art. c",)

Deepak - It's a pleasure to have you drop by. Come again! c",)

phaedrus said...

you know, in claire danes' defense, she DID say that "Those comments were really taken out of context."

just kidding, irene!! i think you'd have to be a spoiled brat to think that there isn't extraordinary beauty in your country, and in you.

Christina_the_wench said...

Wow. I had a friend who was born in the Philippines and she never let on how beautiful it was.

Great photo of you! You're gorgeous.

Irene said...

Rainy Phaedrus - In spite the awful things Claire Danes said about my country, I paid to watch her recent movie "Shopgirl". It totally sucked. HAHA! c",) But really, it did.

Christina - Awwww. Thanks so much! I'm really not gorgeous...just fabulously photogenic. BWAHAHA! c",)

Dr Syndrom said...

Man, I've always wanted to go to the Philippines!!!

- Mental Dribble.

Irene said...

Then go, David, go! (",)

abovo99 said...

Hi Irene

The comment that you left on NY bathroom blog make me check out your blog. You got a beautiful blog, girl! I love it!

I know Philippines is a beautiful country. People over ther are so nice.

Anyway, Later!


The BodyTalk

Occasional said...

Irene,

Awesome post and photos! I haven't been to the Phillipines since the mid-eighties and your husband's photos brought it all flooding back.

She's not kidding folks, the Phillipine Islands are some of the most beautiful places anywhere! It's a darn long way from New England though :-(

John

slaghammer said...

I don’t know, I heard somewhere that the Philippines has illiterate mosquitoes and savage cockroaches. Ha! When I was just a tiny runt, being raised in a wasteland of dirt, wasps and stagnant pools of brown water, I dreamed of escaping to paradise. My visions of paradise were always of green hills and blue water. You live in my paradise.

ditzymoi said...

beautiful photos!
your husband has a great eye :)
thanks for stopping by my site.. i hope you see your friend again soon

Annie said...

thank you for the comment! :)

i had a lot of friends from the philippines when i lived overseas, and thanks to them, i never had a negative image of the country.

one day i will definitely have to visit! those are some beautiful pictures.

Anonymous said...

hello irene!! first of all thank you for visiting my blog. I checked yours and I found it very good! and you have the cutest son :D
really loved the photos you posted, maybe one time I get to know your country. I hope so.
portuguese kisses!! :)

Bobby Griffin said...

Hey Irene!

You've been chosen as "Bestest Blog of the Day" for tomorrow (Friday).

Please email me at bobbygriffin@gmail.com so I can fill you in on all the details.

Congrats!

Mr. RN said...

that really does make me wanna go there!!! :)

Mimi Lenox said...

Irene....Congratulations on being chosen as Bestest Blog of the Day! This blog is delightful and the pictures in this post are incredible.
I will continue to follow your blog. I enjoy your writing style.
You do know how to turn a phrase.
Congratulations!

Lizza said...

Congratulations for being chosen Bestest Blog today! Hope you and yours are okay.

Anonymous said...

Hey Irene! Thanks for saying hi , haha. Actually, Dave told me to check out your page weeks ago, when you dedicated a whole entry to him on his birthday. (That "davolyu" thing gets me laughing hysterically every time)... i've been an avid reader since. :P

By the way, your El Nido picture was actually taken from Miniloc Island. I have a similar picture on my site. :)

jana said...

Well I have to admit the Philippines is a beautiful country. And I love it so very much...

Still need to get used to it though.

Can't help it, after ten years of living somewhere else, you tend to get a great big culture shock.

Bazza said...

Well done on 'Best Blog'. Only the very best blogs get that!

High Power Rocketry said...

Great images.

Maryanne Moll said...

you forgot your tiara. you deserve a large one! :)

Anonymous said...

Congratulations on being voted bestest blog! You are a fantastic Tourism Department!

Author said...

Wow, great pics thanks for posting them!

Anonymous said...

AWesome photos. you never needed to convince me, but it is cool to see such awesome places. thanks!

Peg said...

Cheers to you for Bestest Blog of the Day!!

A fine choice by Bobby & Julie!

Have a great weekend!

Deepak Gopi said...

Hi Irene;
Thanks for the visit.
(sorry for the delay to respond)
Hope to seemore photos of your land
through your post.
Visit my post always.

Deepak Gopi said...

Are you a model/ Actress in Philippines?

Jules said...

I hope you're ok! I heard from Mimi Lenox that there's a typhoon in the Phillipines right now??? What the?? Make sure to post soon so I know you're ok. I'm worried!

Irene said...

A great big THANK YOU to everyone who did any of the following:

1) congratulated me on being awarded Bestest Blog of the Day;
2) expressed concern for my well-being after hearing news of the terrrific typhoon that hit our shores;
3) shared positive feedback regarding this post (hope you all still consider visiting the Philippines in times of GOOD WEATHER); and
4) visited my site and simply admired it in awed silence. (Bwahaha!)

Thank you for your fantastic support! I truly appreciate it. Mwaaaaah! c",)

Irene said...

Dashing Deepak - No, I am not a professional model/actress.

I am a Drama Queen.

Bwahahaha! c",)

Girlie said...

These are beautiful pictures. Bohol Beach Club...that is beautiful. I went back there 5 years ago with all my sibblings and had a great time. Diving is great in Panglao also.

Irene said...

Shoshana - Ah, so you're a kababayan! Wonderful! Hope to catch you more often. c",)

alphawoman said...

Your husband is very talented!!!

balikbayan_box said...

blog hopping from jase blog and love the Phil Resorts pictures

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