#7 Cool Dragons

Amazing! How To Train a Dragon is by far the greatest animation film, and in my opinion even better than Toy Story Three. With its well written story, amazingly drawn dragons, outstanding soundtrack and shocking vista it really gives you that good ol’ Goosebumps that only good films provide.

The scene that I really liked was the part when Toothless (the dragon) and Hiccup had their first test flight. When I watch that scene the music really sets you in a “feel-good” vibe. They start of flying around and Hiccup testing the rig that he built by rolling and doing dives. They were doing pretty good when Hiccup saving his cheat sheet suddenly was detached from Toothless. They spiralled out of control and fell pretty fast and colliding mid fall. Hiccup then got a hold of Toothless’ saddle and got some control on their flight but huge stacks of rocks where before them. That was when the amazing thing happened, with the awesome music you could really feel the chill inside you as Hiccup threw his cheat sheet and just went with his guts. That moment was the best part of the film.

You know a good movie when you dream of it afterwards and boy did I dream. For the next few days all I could think was owning a pet dragon and flying with it.

Again this film is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!! and you should not miss it.  

#5 Ming-Ming

It was not the first time I watched a play performed by IPAG. When I was in highschool it was sort of a requirement to watch their performances. When I was in first year I saw “Ranaw: Isang Alamat” a story about Bato Lakungan and his adventures I have forgotten the plot but I remember  the last part of the play where the spaniards came; in my second year I saw another play but I couldn’t recall the title but I’m pretty sure there was a performance about men chasing a girl and all the while singing tusok-tusok; in my third year I saw “Suhi” but all I could remember about that play was the hanging chair and the entrance that looked and figuratively was a vagina; and all I could remember about the play they did in my fourth year was the man who was swinging way up in the gym. There are other acts that I could not classify into but surely was part of an IPAG performance mentioned above like the naked man, the origami thing, and the Oedipus like story.

Ming-Ming like the rest of the IPAG performances that I have since was amazingly good. The first thing you would notice when entering the mini-theater was the shrouded stage. The stage located at the center of the theatre was shrouded in thin white fabric and within the stage there was a bed on one side and a dining set on the other. The other conspicuous object was found in the center of the stage, a white bulky cloth that was later revealed to cover the dead body of Ming-ming. The story was well written but with a very radical approach to its story telling. The acting was also superb with very talented and experienced cast. The lighting was also good; it really set the mood and gave hints on what was happening in the story if you were lost.

All in all Ming-ming is another success that the IPAG performers should be proud of. If you are contemplating the idea of watching Ming-ming then I urge you to please do. It really is a good show.  

#4 Chess

A board game like no other, chess is probably one of the oldest board game and still the one of the best out there. Beginning with sixteen pieces; eight pawns lined up in the front row, the rooks, knights and bishops in the rear to support the royalty and cause disarray in the opposing army. With such pieces you’ll be amazed at how much variations and how many possibilities the game contains.

I got my first glimpse of the game when my grandfather and brother played the game when I was a kid. They were so engrossed with the game that the barely moved. Even if I didn’t understand what was happening I could sense the seriousness that surrounded them. It took minutes for them to move a single piece and sometimes they would snap out from their trance and smile sheepishly as if the other guy telepathically told the other guy a joke. It was such an amazing experience, it was a very quiet game but it was quite amusing. And from that moment I was hooked to the game.

At first it was very hard to start playing the game. I didn’t know anything about chess other than the fact that horse moved in a L-shaped but even in that I was mistaken since I moved the horse five sometimes six squares farther than it should have landed. My father who I knew was as good a player as they come told me that if wanted to learn chess I should read a chess book. That was very disappointing.  At that age I was really scared of big old books and the chess book my father had was a big old book.  And once you open it, it gets much harder as the text inside was a language alien to me. Letters and numbers side by side, weird symbols, and just the length of the introduction made me dizzy. The introduction was such a drag ten pages in it was still talking about history and the great games that happened in the past. That was very annoying and that made me close the book.

But the book fiasco did not stop me from wanting to learn the game. I asked my brother how and he taught me. He was the one who really taught me the basics. Every time I played with him, he would talk about how controlling the center was important and that piece development was more import than capturing enemy pieces. He was not a really good chess player but he was decent enough to defeat medium level computer opponents. Sometimes I would just watch him play at the computer and comment on the moves he just did. As I played with him I got better and a time came that I could finally made him think twice. It was like the first time I saw him play chess with my grandfather but instead he was playing with me. The first time I beat my brother I was so happy that I literally jumped and announced it in the household. He was pretty embarrassed then.

As I got better I began challenging my dad to a game. At first we’d play a handicap game, he playing without a queen and even then I couldn’t beat him. So I played a lot of chess in school with my buddies and I got better and better everyday that my dad and I would play a serious game.

I am still trying to beat my dad at this game. I still have a lot to learn but someday I’d beat him too.

 

Iligan

If you want to have a grand adventure or a simple educational and fun tour, then Iligan will surely offer you this and much more. Iligan “The City of Majestic Waterfalls” is a must destination in Mindanao. If you happen to find yourself in Iligan you would certainly not regret it.

What generally comes into mind if one says Iligan?

Well waterfalls of course. Iligan is nicknamed "The City of Majestic Waterfalls" because of the fact that there about 23 known waterfalls in and around Iligan. And the best known landmark of Iligan, the magnificent and powerful Maria Cristina Falls, powers the city and other neighboring barangays. The importance of Maria Cristina to the people of Iligan can really be seen due to fact that the waterfall itself is in the official seal of the city.

  

       Another spot that might be of interest is the Tinago falls, which means hidden in Cebuano. This secluded vista located in Barangay Ditucalan, is in a league different from the other falls located near the city. You can experience the power of the falls by using a raft and going into the falls. If you plunge in the water you would be refreshed by its coldness.

         

 

       Iligan is also known for its pools. Located at Timoga-Buru-un, Timoga Springs pools  is well known locally for its cool and crystal-clear springs that flows from Lake Lanao. These pools use fresh water that really energizes your body. There are slides kiddie pools, Olympic size pools, and elevated boards that would really make your visit a fun time.

         

    

 The food in Iligan are also delicious. Macki’s Fried of Iligan chicken can be compared to other leading food franchise in the Philippines. With as little as 50 pesos you could fill your stomach with their tasty chicken. Chideng’s peanuts can be called pasalubong ng Iligan. Chideng’s peanuts is a must pasalubong to your family and friends. Iligan is also known for its tasty lechon. Lechon Iligan like lechon Cebu does not need any sauce, its tasty meat and crunchy skin would definitely put your belly at ease. Lechon Iligan would even taste better if complemented with the local Sukang pinakurat.

    

                      

 The local Fiesta "Diyandi Festival" in honor the city's patron saint Saint Michael the Archangel is a very colorful and fun celebration. A month long celebration, by the start of September the air in Iligan gradually

changes to that of a heightened festive atmosphere. Trade fairs, dancing competitions, streets parades and many other activities are held in the city. The Kasadya street dancing competition is a very vibrant and energetic activity. The people during the feast would shout Viva Senor san Miguel. It's really a marvelous feast.

Iligan is really a good place to visit and I hope you would have fun here. Its More fun in Iligan