My future neighborhood

The Central Business District, where I work, is about an hour away from where I live. Forty minutes if I'm lucky, and twenty if I'm super lucky. Most days I wonder why I chose to work here, when the commute is a nightmare, but some days, I think it's not so bad. It's actually pretty. I can jog, everything's accessible, and it's relatively cleaner compared to other places. Which is why I'm moving in one of the residential places around here (har har). More on that in the coming weeks!

Urban oasis

Here's another watery shot and this time it's the facade of The Manila Peninsula, or Manila Pen for short. The Manila Pen is a five-star luxury hotel located at the Central Business District. I've never actually stayed there before, but I have eaten at some of the restaurants there and I must say their ice cream is fantastic as well as the pastries in this little restaurant called Jeepney Deli.

In 2007, a group of army officials stormed into the Manila Pen and seized the second floor of the hotel, calling for the ouster of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. They rammed their massive tanks into the hotel lobby, destroying the beautiful glass doors and the marble floors. The siege, often called, the Manila Peninsula rebelllion, lasted for 6 hours, until other members of the military arrested the mutineers. By then, the rebels had already destroyed over $1 million worth of property. Thankfully, the hotel has been restored to its original grandeur, as if nothing ever happened.