Sailing away

May 12, 2017 | 9:31 am

IN JANUARY, Star Cruises — a Hong Kong-based cruise line under the Genting Hong Kong umbrella — announced that its flagship, the Superstar Virgo, was to use Manila as its home port from March to May.

This was a very welcome development for a country whose tourism industry is playing catch-up with its neighbors and it was the first time in recent memory that such a well-known cruise line has set its sights on the Philippines as a homeport.

For three months, the line’s 18-year-old flagship would be shuttling Filipinos and international passengers from Manila to Laoag, Ilocos Norte to Kaohsiung, Taiwan, and Hong Kong before returning to Manila.

But while this is the kind of break that the country needs — it welcomed close to six million international visitors last year compared with Indonesia’s 12 million international visitors and Malaysia’s estimated 27 million international visitors — it was a fact that the ports are not yet ready to handle a cruise ship which can regularly handle close to 2,000 tourists and more than a thousand crew members.

“We were pitching Manila as a home port, maybe three years down the line when the infrastructure is ready but Star Cruises was adamant that they would home port in Manila this year,” Maria Corazon G. Jorda-Apo, director IV of the market development group of the Department of Tourism (DoT), told reporters during the inaugural cruise which ran from March 19 to 24.

It was a vote of confidence, she said, that such a large cruise operator was insistent that they use Manila as a home port. It was a sign that the market — if not the infrastructure — is ready for a full-fledged cruise industry.

Star Cruises is the third-largest cruise operator in the world (after Carnival Corp. and the Royal Caribbean Cruises) and certainly the largest in Asia.

THE CURRENT CRUISING INDUSTRY
Last year, the country welcomed 72 port calls. This year the number is expected to reach 117 port calls and with it an estimated 122,000 passengers.

Compared to other Asian ports such as Singapore and Hong Kong, which welcomed 374 and 200 port calls in 2014, the Philippines still has a lot of catching up to do. The DoT is banking on improving the industry as it is one of the nine product portfolios identified in the DoT’s National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) 2016-2022 which aims to “enhance the competitiveness of the country as a tourist destination in the Asia Pacific region,” according to a press release.

Other portfolios are nature-based; cultural, sun and beach; MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions); leisure and entertainment; diving and marine sports; health, wellness and retirement; and, educational tourism.

“As a key element of our strategy, we are determined to build new dedicated cruise facilities, most especially in Manila. A superior cruise port and terminal in the capital, with its extensive airlift and ground facilities, will create a compelling reason for large ships to spend time in the Philippines,” said Benito C. Bengzon, Jr., undersecretary and heads the Cruise Development Committee for the Philippines in the press release.

In March, Mr. Bengzon, Jr. represented the Philippines in signing an agreement with Royal Caribbean Cruises which “will be providing all the necessary technical and financial support towards the building of a purpose-built terminal either in Caticlan or Boracay,” said a press release.

The construction of the terminal is said to “further open Western Visayas to the global cruising market,” specifically the “Turquoise Triangle” — a sea route connecting popular destinations in the area such as Boracay and Puerto Princesa.

“We foresee that by the end of the Duterte administration, we would see the realization of the first dedicated cruise terminal… Our ultimate goal is to be as seamless as possible and to gain competitiveness as a major cruise hub in Asia,” said Ms. Jorda-Apo in a release.

The upgrading of other harbors, piers, and terminals would increase the carrying capacity, making it possible to welcome bigger ships carrying as many as 5,000 passengers, she added.

THE INAUGURAL MANILA CRUISE
Superstar Virgo arrived in Manila on March 19 and will stay until its final voyage on May 23. The route encompasses what the company called “Jewels of the South China Sea”: Manila-Laoag-Kaohsiung-Hong Kong.

BusinessWorld together with a handful of other media were invited to the inaugural voyage and what welcomed all the thousand or so passengers were incredibly long lines the moment they entered Pier 15 of the Manila South Harbor.

It was evident from the get-go that the pier wasn’t equipped to handle crowds such as this, and lines for the baggage drop snaked from the small covered area to the roundabout causing heavy traffic.

It took more than 30 minutes for a bag to be dropped and tagged, and for people to move from baggage to check-in.

The check-in area where passengers get their access cards (which function as a room card and a charge card onboard the cruise ship) and get cleared by immigration officers, was a large air-conditioned tent, but since the crowd was so big, it became unbearably hot and one passenger was reported to have fainted.

Ms. Jorda-Apo said that it was Star Cruises that set up the air-conditioned tent after an ocular inspection revealed that aside from the small — albeit air-conditioned — waiting area, Pier 15 had nothing else to offer.

It took about three hours from baggage drop to boarding.

The ship, which was supposed to leave the port by 6 p.m., left by 6:30 p.m.

It wasn’t a very good start for a cruise, but according to subsequent passengers this reporter talked to, the company apparently made enough adjustments to decrease boarding time to around 30 minutes or so.

The six-day/five-night trip itself was quite uneventful unless one counts the long queues to the complimentary restaurants: the Mediterranean (an all-day dining buffet restaurant), the Genting Palace (a semi-fine dining restaurant which serves Western cuisine), and the Pavillion (a semi-fine dining restaurant serving Chinese cuisine).

Of course there are other dining options onboard if one is willing to pay: Noble House, which serves Chinese cuisine; the fine-dining Palazzo which serves Italian fare; Samurai, which serves Japanese cuisine; the Taverna which is a poolside snack bar; and Taj, which offers Indian cuisine.

On the second night, the media members decided to dine at Samurai because the lines for dinner at the complimentary restaurants were too long, and for about HK$150 we enjoyed a fine Japanese teishoku meal (set meal) which consisted of Wagyu beef cubes, salmon sashimi, and a few pieces of shrimp and vegetable tempura. It was the best dinner we had on the trip, so it was definitely worth it.

It might seem a chore, lining up for food every time, but after a few nights and crowded meal times, it was easy to establish a routine — either take breakfast early at around 7 a.m. or settle for brunch at the Mediterranean.

In fact, the Mediterranean was always the answer if one run out of patience waiting for a table to open at the Genting Palace and Pavillion, and it offered adequate dish options.

Aside from food choices, the 13-storey cruise ship also offers solid entertainment options — some free and some pay-per-view (the adult shows such as Brazilian Bombshells in the Galaxy of the Stars club/bar must be paid for, while the Lido Theatre performances are free).

It should be noted that most singers/musicians are Filipino while the dancers are mostly Caucasians.

For those who are not interested in watching the performances or who would like to enjoy a leisurely cruise, the Library is a good refuge and it also has faster Wi-Fi than most parts of the ship. (Wi-Fi is a paid add-on and a 72-hour connection will set one back HK$255.)

Taking a dip at the pool with its three huge water slides and Jacuzzi is also an option, as is getting a massage or a salon treatment or a bit of retail therapy as the ship has a well-stocked Duty Free center on deck 8.

There’s also a “High Seas Gala Night” where people get to dress in their cocktail finery and dine in style. Do note that reservations in the participating restaurants should ideally be made on the first night of the cruise because seats get taken up fast.

The Gala Night affords passengers upgraded fare and a little performance from the staff — it was fun until you are ushered out of the restaurant because they need to prepare the room for the second batch of diners.

Basically, every creature comfort is on this ship, some for free and some for a sum.

The rooms are, of course, smaller than the usual hotel rooms and it would definitely feel cramped if more than two people share a single room. Balcony rooms, like the one this writer was billeted in, are a bit roomier but would still make two people very close — close enough to be very good friends (if they aren’t already) or hate each other as there’s little wiggle room, especially in the bathroom.

For the most part, the sea was calm though we experienced rough seas on the way to Kaohsiung and then to Hong Kong, therefore it is imperative that one brings enough motion sickness medicine.

The almost 20-year-old ship, while still a beauty, is beginning to show its age — from the worn patches on the carpet to the old bathroom fixtures — but it’s definitely not shabby. Yet.

ON LAND
Once the ship reaches the ports on its route, passengers can opt to explore the destinations on their own or buy an excursion for about HK$300 or so and are able to choose their own itineraries.

Each stopover takes around seven to eight hours.

In Laoag, passengers are taken to the Currimao port via boats (a 20-minute trip) and from there continue on to Laoag and see the Paoay Church (the 300+-year-old Baroque church is a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and go for a ride on the Paoay dunes.

Or one can continue on for another hour or so to Vigan, Ilocos Sur, another UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a town known for its Spanish Colonial architecture.

At Kaohsiung, an industrial municipality in south Taiwan — which looks like a cross between the Manila’s Chinatown and an earlier version of Makati City (sans a lot of skyscrapers) — one can see the Love River (a 12-kilometer stretch which got its name from a pair of lovers who jumped to their deaths in the 1940s), and the remnants of the Dutch occupation through former forts such as Fort Provintia (now named Chikhan Tower) which was built in 1653 but was destroyed by an earthquake and rebuilt in the 19th century.

Hong Kong, of course, needs no introduction as “Asia’s Global City” is familiar to most Filipinos. It is home to a famous shopping district Tsim Sha Tsui which contains the Harbor City mall complex, the first-ever Peninsula Hotel, and the Avenue of the Stars, modelled after the Hollywood’s Walk of Fame, which pays tribute to famous Hong Kong stars.

In all, it was quite an experience — sleeping in a ship decked out to the nines and waking up in another country — and it wasn’t all that costly either as rates start at $758 per person for a twin sharing room (not including the mandatory $100/night gratuity and visa charges if applicable). One can visit three destinations for less than $1,000 and the package comes with complete full-board meals, entertainment, and lodging.

And even though the Virgo is still in Manila (its last voyage is on May 23), Star Cruises, according to Ms. Jorda-Apo, has been so happy with the reception that they are already planning on coming back in December for a five-month home port stint.

So for people who are still on the fence or weren’t able to book their cruise for the first round, the Virgo is coming back soon.

Jeju island: a destination for nature lovers and K-pop fans

May 12, 2017 | 9:31 am

JEJU ISLAND, SOUTH KOREA — Off the coast of the Korean peninsula is an island that was once known as a honeymoon destination for locals, but has since drawn the interest of international tourists for its “warm and cozy” experience.

“People think Jeju is a small island, but in reality, its perimeter is more than 200 kilometers,” Ian Rhee of the Jeju Tourism Organization (JTO) told reporters on a recent familiarization tour. With a population of just over 660,000 people, Jeju Island has become a favorite among tourists for its breathtaking natural beauty.

For Filipinos enamored by Korean pop culture, especially its television dramas, competitive airline fares have made hopping on a plane to see their favorite show’s locations an easy option.

FEWER CROWDS
As tension continues to mount between the People’s Republic of China and South Korea over the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense — the anti-ballistic missile system being set up by the United States Army to defend South Korea from threats from North Korea, China’s ally — tourism has taken a hit.

According to Forbes magazine, “Chinese authorities… ordered all of the countries’ online travel agencies to stop selling South Korea-related tours.”

The JTO admitted that the island’s tourism industry has felt the effect — after all, until recently, 85% of it’s foreign tourists came from China — but this has had a surprisingly positive effect for other visitors: other tourists can now enjoy a less crowded Jeju island.

South Korean nationals have already taken advantage of the situation, booking trips to explore its 26 hiking trails.

Since the problems with China, the South Korean government has taken a more aggressive stance in attracting visitors from the South East Asian market, including the Philippines.

“Tourism organizations have been focusing in Southeast Asia… we’ve been getting too many Chinese tourists but the government, now, could pay enough attention to Southeast Asia,” Mr. Rhee said.

JTO said that 8,980 Filipino tourists visited the island in 2016, and Mr. Rhee said they’re hoping to attract more than 10,000 this year with the easing of visa requirements.

Filipinos traveling to Jeju do not need to get a Korean visa (but they do if they plan to travel elsewhere in the country).

Philippine Airlines has started offering chartered flights to Jeju Island via Makati’s Rakso Travel, which offers four day/three night and five day/four night travel packages to the island.

A more encompassing option may soon be available. As Mr. Rhee explained, tourists on a package tour by a designated travel agency can also visit Gimpo, Seoul, and Busan visa-free for five days if they enter through Jeju. But he emphasized that this option “only applies to package tours but there has to be designated travel agencies.”

The problem is there are no designated Philippine travel agencies yet.

“The Philippines has not yet designated those travel agencies. I don’t know how long it takes. The Korean government has to coordinate with the Philippine government to designate those travel agencies,” said Mr. Rhee.

BusinessWorld reached out to Tourism Undersecretary Katherine S. de Castro for an update on this, had no reply by press time.

TREES, TEA, AND SEA
A recent Korean romantic comedy titled Maendorong Ttottot, which translates to Warm and Cozy, chose to use Jeju Island as its location since the island displayed these precise characteristics.

Jeju is literally warmer than the mainland, and also receives more rain, conditions that proved conducive to the “growth of sensitive and fastidious trees,” according to a JTO brief on the O’sulloc Tea Museum.

The O’sulloc Tea Museum, which opened in 1970, is found in Andeok-myeon, Seogwi-po, Jeju and has a scenic view of fields of green tea plants.

Still, there is not that much farmland on the island, so fresh seafood takes centerstage on the dining tables of Jeju’s homes and restaurants.

“Haenyo or female sea divers is one of the significant cultures in Jeju island,” said Mr. Rhee, adding: “Last year, in December, UNESCO (United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization) designated haenyo as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity.”

It is thanks to these haenyos — who hold demonstrations of their skills at the seaside of Seongsan Ilchubong in the afternoons — that one can enjoy a plate of grilled abalone on the island.

Jeju-do City lights up at night, and visitors can stroll through the streets listening to streets performers strumming their tunes and trying out the street food like odeng (fish cake) while deciding which of the city’s many restaurants and cafés to have diner at.

One must-have meal is samgyupsal — Jeju black pig barbecue — with thick slices of pork cooked on table-side barbecue grills. You can ask the friendly servers to grill them for you, or have the youngest person at the table grill the pork as the Koreans do. Wrap the cooked meat in fresh lettuce leaves with a bit of kimchi, and accompany it with a Soju Bomb — a shot of soju mixed into a short glass of beer — which is a perfect way to end a night of walking around Jeju.

FLOWER POWER
Those dreaming of seeing sakura – Japan’s famous cherry blossoms — up close need not go to Japan as Jeju island also boasts of these trees which bloom in early March. The main streets of the island are lined with them, and the public parks are filled with the pinkish white flowering trees. Best to catch them as the sun starts to set, casting a mesmerizing, magical yellow light on the scene.

Jeju island also celebrates a Canola Flower festival with bright yellow canola flowers and sakura trees lining a long stretch of road. Traffic may be a problem, but there are designated parking areas at the start of the canola stands, and the walking is a pleasure surrounded by flowers dancing to the spring breeze.

Also worth visiting is the Jusangjeolli Cliff in Daepo. The spot is popular for its hexagonal rock pillars, formed when lava erupted from the Halla-san mountain. The blue sea and the oddly shaped dark pillars make for a calming view.

For those prepared to go on a quick hike, Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak — the result of an ancient volcanic eruption — is the perfect spot. Designated as natural monument No. 420 in 2000, according to the JTO, it is also a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, World Natural Heritage and Global Geopark. A 30- to 45-minute walk along the trail will lead you to an observation deck with a breathtaking view of Halla-san and hills around Jeju.

JEJU FOR K-POP FANS
The café Monsant d’Aewol is owned by Kwon Ji Yong, an international rapper better known as G-Dragon, the leader of Korea’s “national boy band,” Big Bang. The café’s facade is made of mirrors that reflect the sunset, while the interiors reflect the international pop star’s aesthetic as seen in his instagram feed.

Fans of G-Dragon flock to the café hoping to get a glimpse of one of Korea’s most famous pop stars, as he sometimes visits. According to our tour guide, Kim Tae Hyung, the price of real estate in the area increased after G-Dragon built the café.

Beside Monsant is Bonmal, a café and guesthouse where Warm and Cozy shot most of its scenes.

If they can’t see their idols in the flesh, it is now possible for K-pop fans to have holographic dates with them, dance and sing to their latest hits, and watch their concerts at the Play KPop Museum.

Another place that fans of Korean pop culture can visit is the Teddy Bear Museum where one of the earlier K-drama hits Goong (Princess Hours) was shot. Take a tour around the museum and gave your photo taken with teddy bear versions of Steve Jobs, Marilyn Monroe, and Charlie Chaplin.

With the recent resurgence of popularity of Korean dramas in the Philippines, fans can relive their favorite scenes from the following series that took their One True Pairing (OTP) to Jeju Island: My Name is Kim Sam Soon, Boys over Flowers, Secret Garden, and Playful Kiss.

BusinessWorld went to Jeju Island with other members of the Philippine press upon the invitation of the Korean Tourism Organization.

Incidental information

The famous Jeju Volcanic clay pore mask, a hit among skincare enthusiasts in the Philippines, can be found in Innisfree stores around the city.
The Korean government has said that 5,400 free Wi-Fi zones will be established by the end of next year.
Going around the island can be done by buses, private car rentals, or government-accredited taxis.
Those with won to spare will be able to stay for a few days at the luxurious condominium units of Landing Jeju Development Co. Ltd. which opened on April 25. Each unit has three rooms and two bathrooms and may be rented by families for a few days stay. The rest of the development, which includes three condominium buildings; three-, four-, five-, and six-star hotels; a shopping center; a convention center; a destination spa; and a theme park, is scheduled to open in June 2019.

Nature tripping in Tanay

May 12, 2017 | 9:31 am

THERE is a place close to Metro Manila where one can enjoy nature at its finest.

The Haranah Eco Park, a privately owned 16.2-hectare property in Cuyambay, Tanay, Rizal, is just two hours away from the hustle and bustle of the city. It officially opens its doors to the public this month.

Haranah Tours Corp. President Jaime Tan said the eco park was purposely built as a haven for his family, but when clients from his travel agency learned about it, they asked if they could visit. He then thought that it was a good idea to rent it out to big groups instead. The eco park had its soft opening in 2014 and initially accepted groups of not less than 200 people for team buildings and seminars.

Though it has been operating for about two years now, it took a while before they finally opened it fully to the public. Now, Haranah Eco Park accepts even a reservation for just one person.

“I wanted to promote Haranah as a venue for activities, family bonding, retreat, relaxation, and Tanay as a peaceful and secure place to visit,” he told BusinessWorld during a media familiarization tour organized by the Tourism Promotions Board on March 17 and 18.

Haranah Eco Park is a convenient place to stay at over a weekend since it is very near Manila.

“If you are going to compare the eco parks in Manila and Haranah, there is a huge difference. It’s mostly [about] nature here and you can even go for a trek without seeing a lot of buildings inside the vicinity,” he said.

Though it has been operating for about two years now, it took a while before they finally opened it fully to the public. Now, Haranah Eco Park accepts even a reservation for just one person.

Haranah Eco Park is a convenient place to stay at over a weekend since it is very near Manila.

Before turning in, a suggested night cap for guests would be roasting s’mores over the bonfire while stargazing.

There is poor cellular reception in the area, but that is okay as there are various ways to busy one’s self throughout the day. Recommended activities include tree and herb planting, rock balancing, bird watching, and team building (supervised by accredited facilitators).

“If you really want to disconnect and take your mind off, this is the place you have to be,” said Mr. Tan.

Day tours are held every Saturday. Priced at P1,000 per person, this includes a set lunch with fresh coconut juice. Team building and group package rates are given upon inquiry. Guests, especially those with food restrictions, are encouraged to book their reservations at least a day before so the necessary changes in the menu can be made.

“They will surely love this place — it is very clean and nature-oriented because we care about sustainability. City people will definitely love it because it’s very accessible,” Mr. Tan said.

Haranah Eco Park is located at Sitio Mayagay 2, Barangay Cuyambay, Tanay, Rizal. It is near the old PAGASA Radar Station, about 300 meters away from Marcos Highway and around two kilometers from Sierra Madre Hotel. For inquiries and reservations, call (02) 376-6645, (02) 411-6567, or e-mail postmaster@haranahecopark.com.ph. For updates, visit www.haranahecopark.com.ph or www.facebook.com/HaranahEcoPark.

Thai ‘Sin City’ finds abstaining from sex hard

May 12, 2017 | 9:31 am

PATTAYA, THAILAND — In a daring nautical themed outfit, sex worker May confidently predicts the survival of Thai sleaze town Pattaya despite a junta attempt to tame the kingdom’s “Sin City.”

She is bullish because she, like tens of thousands of others in the industry, have no plans to give up their jobs. And there are no signs the hordes of foreign sex tourists are abating.

Two hours east of Bangkok, Pattaya’s bawdy reputation hails from the Vietnam War era when American GIs partied in their downtime.

Today it spins money off its no-holds-barred reputation and its most successful sex workers earn anywhere between 70-150,000 baht ($2-4,400) a month, as much as ten times the national average wage.

“I make good money here, for me and my family,” May told AFP as she touted for clients near Walking Street — a mile-long drag festooned with bars and clubs pouring out ear-crushing EDM music.

But concerns about the impact on Thailand’s reputation have spurred authorities to act, while frequent reports of underage sex workers, drug abuse and mafia operations further muddy Pattaya’s name.

May, who is transgender, said the strip has felt more subdued in recent weeks as police and soldiers conduct frequent patrols as part of a clean-up ordered by the censorious ruling junta.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Sulasak Kalokwilas is one of those tasked with what many might deem the ultimate Sisyphean task: weaning Pattaya off sex.

“We are suppressing obscene and dirty shows. We’re trying to make those bars disappear,” he explained.

As he spoke, lines of women stood behind him in revealing outfits enticing punters into bars with names like Taboo and G-Spot as well as Fahrenheit — a nightspot boasting “The Hottest Girls in Pattaya.”

“The lady boys and women working there, they are not involved in the sex trade,” said Pattaya’s police chief Colonel Apichai Kroppeth, echoing the kind of Thai police rhetoric commonly divorced from reality.

“They work as waitresses, sit and chat with customers, some dance in shows,” he said.

BAR FINES, SHORT-TIMES
For many residents of the city the latest moral outrage fits a familiar pattern: negative overseas headlines prompt authorities to launch high-visibility — yet limited — crackdowns on an industry that pays the bills for everyone.

“You’re expecting the poachers to be the gamekeepers?” said one westerner who has made Pattaya his home, when asked if the latest clean-up will work.

The sex trade is a cash cow for the bar owners, girls, massage parlors, hotels, taxis, mafia and, many have long alleged, the cops charged with policing.

Thais call it “pon prayote,” says British journalist Andrew Drummond who reported on crime in Thailand for two decades.

“It means everyone benefits… it brings in massive amounts of money and simply couldn’t happen without police connivance.”

Apichai insisted there was “no bribery for sure” in his force.

Prostitution is illegal in conservative Thailand. Yet it remains ubiquitous for local and foreign customers alike.

Businesses use a well worn loophole to avoid prosecution, hiring sex workers inside the bars merely to entertain and talk to patrons.

A small “bar fine,” usually around 500 baht ($14), secures private “short time” away from the bar where any deal struck for sex is purely between the punter and prostitute.

While authorities have vowed to shutter the trade, there is little discussion on what happens to the sex workers — who often support large families with their earnings.

There are no exact numbers, but a 2014 UNAIDS report suggested some 140,000 females are employed by sex work across Thailand. Tens of thousands are thought to operate in Pattaya alone.

PAR FOR THE COURSE
Tourism officials are optimistic for change, citing the increasing number of families coming to the town’s resorts and its popularity for sports, such as jet-skiing and golf.

“In terms of facilities I think we are already there,” said Suladda Sarutilavan, Pattaya’s director of tourism.

Last year some 12 million tourists — 70% foreigners — visited a city which now boasts over 100,000 rooms across 2,000 hotels, from cheap backpackers to swanky golf courses and family apartments.

While not everyone who comes is a sex tourist, she admits the city’s seedy image and crime headlines are a problem.

“It makes us feel a little bit uncomfortable,” she said.

Two recent killings have renewed the spotlight on the city’s reputation as a bolthole for foreign criminals.

In January, British businessman Tony Kenway was gunned down as he left the gym, a hit police linked to “boiler room” scams.

In 2015 an Australian former Hells Angel was kidnapped in broad daylight and murdered.

Foreigners who have made Pattaya home lament the killings, but say they fail to tell the wider picture of a largely safe, affordable city.

“Every night I went out in Coventry there was always one or two fights. I feel completely safe here,” said Briton Bryan Flowers, who moved to Pattaya a decade ago and now owns a dozen bars.

Others argue fancy hotels, malls and golf courses can flourish in step with the town’s party reputation.

“It’s why a lot of people come here,” Simon Peatfield, another Brit who owns restaurants and sports bars, said.

“There’s only so much golf you can play.” — AFP

Hammock floors take overwater bungalows to a new level of luxury

May 12, 2017 | 9:31 am

CLOSE your eyes and think about the most relaxing place in the world. Is it a private pool overlooking a volcano in Costa Rica? An outdoor massage table in Mexico? The top deck of a yacht in the South Pacific?

All of those (very good) answers might just be out of date.

In 2017, it’s all about hammock floors, or small trapeze nets built into the bottom of your patio, rather than slung from trees. The design takes a cue from the catamaran, whose seating almost always comes in the form of an aerodynamic net that acts like a stretchy sundeck on the back of the boat.

The advantages over traditional hammocks are plentiful. First, there’s no limit on how large you can make one, since each is custom-built. (Which makes cuddling up a lot more convenient.) Then there’s the fact that you can build a hammock floor on almost any overhang, regardless of whether there are trees or walls to serve as structural support. (Think: the private pool deck of an overwater bungalow, or a dizzying perch high up in a treehouse.) They’re made of bouncy, tightly woven netting, making them feel almost like trampolines. (Which means you won’t be laying on knotty ropes.) And maybe the icing on the cake: You don’t have to awkwardly climb in. (Tipping over into a net is easier and more fun.)

Here’s where to find them, from Bora Bora to the Dominican Republic.

SONEVA JANI, MALDIVES
Hotelier Sonu Shivdasani calls the hammock floors in his properties’ overwater bungalows “dream zones,” and with good reason: There’s nothing quite like dozing off as you’re dangled gently over lapping waves. But there’s also something to be said about the ones he built into the outdoor movie theater and bar at Soneva Jani, where the ledges of the hammocks double as cocktail tables. “It acts as a very informal gathering point,” he said, “but can also make for a romantic cocktail experience.” Sundowners have never been so sweet. From $1,870 per night.

CONRAD BORA BORA NUI, BORA BORA, FRENCH POLYNESIA
It’s the first five-star resort to open in Bora Bora in a decade, but the Conrad Bora Bora Nui was worth waiting for. It debuted on Monday with 86 overwater bungalows — each outfitted with customizable pillow menus, massive soaking tubs, and yes, hammock floors on the private decks. “Any resort worldwide provides sun beds,” said Daniele Venuti, regional director of sales and marketing. “Within a few years, most of the beach resorts will probably feature overwater hammocks, too, and we’ll be thinking about something newer.” From $880 per night.

FOUR SEASONS GOLDEN TRIANGLE, CHIANG RAI, THAILAND
The new Explorer’s Lodge at this five-star elephant camp is possibly one of the most beautiful places to stay in all Thailand: The two-bedroom suite spreads across two pavilions, each surrounded by jungle thickets and flanking a full-sized private pool. The most novel features are the built-in hammock floors that line an entire side of the compound, acting like a sunken deck. Dive in early in the morning and watch the sun rise while you listen for elephants rumbling in the distance. From $5,008 per night, sleeps four.

ST. REGIS LANGKAWI, MALAYSIA
When it opened nearly a year ago, the St. Regis Langkawi introduced Andaman Sea-facing hammock floors off the back deck of its pan-Asian Kayu Puti restaurant; they’ve proved so popular they were built into every one of the 77 overwater villas at the just-opened St. Regis Maldives.

“The closeness to nature that these floors provide is really special,” said Lisa Holladay, global brand leader of St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, who noted that they’re also gold mines on social media. “We’ve been excited to see the hammocks appear as the ultimate Instagram picture!” Rooms in Langkawi from $650 per night.

GANSEVOORT TURKS AND CAICOS
Most properties on this paradise island put the focus on the pearl-white sand beaches and turquoise waters — and so does Gansevoort, which has been a mainstay since opening in 2009. But its new villas, which will go online for rentals later this year, sit on the edge of a bluff, with hammock floors built into overwater terraces that stretch down into untouched waters. From $8,000 per night.

GILI LAKANFUSHI, MALDIVES
This hotel claims to have the largest overwater villa in the world — the “Private Reserve” structure clocks in at a whopping 18,300 square feet. Naturally, it has every bell and whistle in the book, hammock floor included. Also on the amenity list: a private cinema, a spa, and a two-storey waterslide that plunges directly into a fully private lagoon. From $14,700 per night, sleeps eight. — Bloomberg

An ethnographic museum is Baguio’s latest attraction

May 12, 2017 | 9:31 am

MUSEO KORDILYERA, which opened on Jan. 31, is an addition to the must-visit sites in Baguio City.

Inside, the Museo Kordilyera–UPB Ethnographic Museum is a place where the visitor gets an understanding of a facet of Filipino culture which is still evolving, and comes to a deeper realization that there’s more to learn about our past in order to move forward. The museum’s goal is to help make people understand and respect the diverse culture and identity of the indigenous peoples of the Cordillera and Northern Luzon.

Of the museum’s three floors, only the reception level is above the ground. According to the UP Baguio Web site, the museum houses exhibition spaces for both its permanent collection and temporary exhibits, a visitor’s room, an audio-visual room, and a museum shop and café.

Hotels worth booking for the workout

May 12, 2017 | 9:31 am

THE ETHOS that guides those who are permanently fit — other than staying permanently fit — is that working out is a luxury, not a chore. High-end hotels have started applying that philosophy in a literal way, with unique training regimens that allow you to train with shamans on the Adriatic Sea or prepare like an extra in 300 at a minimalist Miami Beach lodge. It seems the more exotic the location and the stranger the amenity, the bigger the adrenaline charge. Here are five spots where fitness junkies can take a break from vacation.

(1) EDEN ROCK, ST. BARTH
Let’s be real. Eden Rock is not a tough sell. The St. Barth staple has hosted the likes of Mick Jagger, Tom Hanks, Lorne Michaels, and Beyoncé, and there’s a Jean-Georges restaurant looking out over the water. But the resort isn’t about only the scene: This year it has introduced a new electro stimulation program — yes, the one where trainers send low-pulse electric shocks straight to the muscle. How does it work? Under the supervision of a coach, guests are wired up and instructed to perform dynamic movements to resist the muscle contractions while getting (mildly) zapped in the right places. If it sounds intense, well, so is Eden Rock. At least now you can stand out in the scene.

(2) 1 HOTEL SOUTH BEACH, MIAMI
If it were any other Miami Beach hotel, maybe not. But the 1 Hotel South Beach is so aggressively sustainable — reclaimed driftwood, recycled coral, walls made out of plant biomatter — it’s the perfect place to launch the first-ever Spartan Gym, born of the famed Spartan Races. The beachfront property’s 14,000-square-foot space is an adult-sized jungle gym of ceiling ropes, cargo nets, monkey bars, and wall climbs. For more intensive private sessions, guests can work directly with certified Spartan trainers. At its core, the “primal” workout method focuses equally on inner and outer strength. Test both afterward, and head to the hotel restaurant run by Tom Colicchio.

(3) BORGO EGNAZIA, ITALY
The Puglia-based Borgo Egnazia is a grand destination of castles and authentic Italian cuisine. Currently, it is also where the ortho-bionomist Stefano Battaglia is kicking off three-, five-, and seven-day “shaman” sessions geared toward recovery from emotional and physical stress. The program combines elements of psychology, psychotherapy, and massage therapy taught by a team with expertise that spans aromatherapy, graphology, naturopathy, and music. For more of a calorie-burning session, Battaglia teaches a practice known as Vipassana, also called “mindful running,” in which guests run intensely while keeping in tune with their increased heartbeat. If that’s not enough, or if the Borgo’s massive, crystal blue pools leave you wanting something more intense than a brisk swim, the Puglian Dance, a nightly tradition, will help take off that extra helping of orecchiette ai broccoletti.

(4) NEKUPE, NICARAGUA
Nekupe, a new eight-room property in the mountainous Nicaraguan countryside, has secretly built one of the best runs in Central America. The resort, which means “heaven” in the local indigenous language, is set on a 1,300-acre nature reserve through which guests can ride mountain bikes or just meditate around the dormant Mombacho volcano. But the real fitness draw is the two-mile-long running track, which winds around exotic plants, mango trees, monkeys, a butterfly sanctuary, and 78 species of birds. It’s so big, Nekupe provides personal rangers to go along on the run to keep you from getting lost in all the lushness.

(5) TERRANEA, RANCHO PALOS VERDES
A bright, vibrant oasis, Terranea feels like Tuscany — if Tuscany were 35 minutes from downtown Los Angeles. With a 50,000-square-foot wing devoted to fitness overlooking the Pacific Ocean, working out is already a huge part of Terranea’s culture. But since everyone at Terranea is already fit, the resort has taken it a step further with a post-workout “Sound Sleep” program at the spa, a growing trend in wellness-focused hotels. The treatment integrates the senses of touch, smell, and sound with a specialized light-touch massage to promote deep relaxation and rest. Keep your eyes out for similar programs around the world; chances are one will soon be near you. — Bloomberg

The flowers of Panagbenga

May 12, 2017 | 9:31 am

THE CITY of Baguio blooms in February when it holds its annual flower festival, the Panagbenga — a Kankanaey term which means “a season of blossoming, a time for flowering.” Locals and tourists gather in the streets to view the vibrant, colorful parade of street dances and floats decorated with every flower the region has to offer.

One might ask though — what happens to all the flowers afterwards?

“After we display the floats for a week, we donate them to churches and schools,” said Baguio Flower Festival Foundation, Inc. (BFFFI) co-chairman Freddie Alquiroz during a press briefing at the Baguio Country Club on Feb. 27.

The flowers that remain fresh are donated while the wilted ones are composted. Mr. Alquiroz said they often hear people complain that it is a waste for the government to use thousands of cut flowers for the festival.

“We tried to use potted plants before but it’s so difficult [to use them to decorate] in floats and it’s not practical,” he said. “So we stick to cut flowers. It’s not a waste because [the flower] was grown for that.”

Baguio City Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan said they encourage their local government units to plant the flowers to bloom in time for the festival. The flowers used for the floats are usually sourced within the region, mostly from La Trinidad, Benguet, while some participating groups grow their own at home. He said 80-90% of the flowers used come from the local government units.

“They are benefitting from it as they do not have to market them just to sell,” the mayor said. “That is why we always tell them to ‘please plant flowers in time for the festival.’”

STARS AND ‘HOTTIES’
Besides the explosion of floral colors, also awaited are the celebrities who grace the festival.

Among the most popular this year were GMA television love team Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza, and ABS-CBN’s stars Bea Alonzo and Enchong Dee, who rode on their respective networks’ floats. M Lhuillier Pawnshop’s float had film and TV actor (and its brand ambassador) Jericho Rosales, while Tropicana invited Miss International 2016 Kylie Verzosa on board its float.

Four attractive young men walking down the parade route in traditional bahag (loincloth) piqued onlookers’ attention. Photos of University of the Cordilleras students John Rey Tenedero, Kayzer Brooks Gewan, and Renz Lou Lagria, and caregiver Kelvin Aguilan-Vicente went viral on social media where they were called the “Panagbenga hotties.”

Meanwhile, “Carrot Man” Jeyrick Sigmaton, another Igorot who gained fame on the Internet, rode on the Wedding Memories’ float.

NLEx/MTC’s “Beauty of the Wild” float took top spot in the Big Float category, with the Trolls-inspired entry of Sitel, and the Department of Tourism’s “More Fun in the Philippines” float bagging second and third place, respectively.

For the Small Float category, Maybank’s Tiger float took the first prize, with Coke’s Feel Fest in second, and Zenfone’s Owl toon character in third.

Baguio’s sister cities also participated in the street parade, with delegations coming from Quezon province, Isabela, Pangasinan, Ilocos Sur, and cities from South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan.

The winners in the Street Dance competition were Apolinario Mabini Elementary School (Elementary School division), Baguio City National High School (High School division), and Pugo Catholic School (Open division).

P4-M BUDGET DREW A 2M CROWD
“Despite of its magnitude, we are not putting a lot in [the event’s] budget,” Mayor Domogan said. “We are happy, but it will be good if we can increase the price.”

The mayor said the city spent just P4 million for this year’s Panagbenga, compared to the usual P60 million spent by local governments in other festivals around the country. It became a grander spectacle thanks to the generous financial help given by sponsors.

He added that they were happy with this year’s turnout, with an estimated crowd of two million people lining the streets for the two-day parade of street dances and floats. They estimated that about 85-90% of the tourists were Filipinos and 10-15% were foreign.

“We were somehow expecting a decrease in number because weeks before the festival, there were rumors that there were rebel attacks happening in the area,” Mr. Alquiroz said. “But there was a lot of improvement not only with the crowd, but in the quality of floats and performances.”

True to his word, people swarmed the busy streets between Session Road and Burnham Park to witness the annual celebration. To assure everyone’s safety, 250 officers from the Baguio City Police and 50 from the regional police were deployed, along with an additional 300 officers who had just finished their training. Also helping with the event’s security were criminology students from Baguio and the Cordilleras, boy and girl scouts, and uniformed men from the Civil Defense Office who volunteered their services.

Mr. Alquiroz said preparations for the February festival started back in September. Panagbenga, which began 22 years ago through the efforts of the BFFFI secretariat, has been a boon for Baguio City’s tourism — most visitors come in the summer and Christmas seasons — so much so that the officials are looking into improving it further in the coming years.

“We want other areas in the region to have complimentary festivals as well so that tourists would find their travel up here all worth it,” Mr. Domogan said, suggesting that there should be a mining festival, a strawberry festival, or pineapple festival, among other suggestions. — Camille Anne M. Arcilla

Tourism Enterprise Zones pushed

May 12, 2017 | 9:31 am

By Zsarlene B. Chua

In hopes of attracting more investment in the tourism sector, the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) has finally put into place the Tourism Enterprise Zone (TEZ) model which an executive described as a “paradigm shift in how we approach development towards tourism industry.”

“This has been an ongoing concern and we were actually trying to implement this since 2009 but the appropriate revenue regulation has only been released last December 2016. So we are introducing this concept in hopes that we can already ensure the development of Philippine tourism through investments,” said Guiller B. Asido, COO of TIEZA during a Feb. 22 press conference at the Club Intramuros in Manila.

A TEZ is a tract of land no less than five hectares with “defined boundaries, master-planned for development into an integrated tourism complex with prescribed carrying capacities, to host tourism, enterprise facilities within,” said a press release.

The model seeks to attract public and private sector investors who are keen to develop a part of a prescribed TEZ by granting them fiscal and non-fiscal incentives such as a six-year income tax holiday which can be further extended for another six years, and import tax exemptions for capital goods and equipment needed for TIEZA-registered activities, among others.

“The current direction of the Department of Tourism (DoT) is not just upon arrivals but also in generating investments through tourism,” Mr. Asido said.

While the revenue regulations were released just a month ago, the Department of Tourism-attached agency has already designated several private TEZs such as Resorts World Manila in Parañaque City which is currently composed of hotels, a casino and other entertainment offerings; Queen’s Castle in Cebu, a resort and golf club; Hijo Plantation, a banana and coconut plantation that also features environmentally conscious accommodations in Tagum, Metro Davao; and the Kingdom Global City, a mixed-used development with a 70,000-person capacity arena set to rise in Davao City, among several others. (Kingdom Global City is owned by President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s friend and supporter Apollo Carreon Quiboloy, founder and leader of the religious group Kingdom of Jesus Christ, The Name Above Every Name, Inc.)

Aside from the private TEZs, the authority also named five flagship TEZs with another set to be chosen after a year or so. Unlike private TEZs where a private sector applicant applies to be recognized as a TEZ, flagship TEZs are sites earmarked for infrastructure development by the DoT and TIEZA.

The five flagship TEZs include San Vicente in Palawan which boasts of a 14 km-long beach and is being developed to include beach and mountain resorts, agri-tourism, a cultural heritage village, a retirement village, and other accommodations; and the Rizal Park Complex with its 54 hectares to be developed into amenity cores, museums/antique shops, interactive/recreational activity centers; a cruise ship dock and an esplanade with a wharf.

Also included in the flagship TEZs is the Mt. Samat Shrine of Valor in Bataan. While it is still currently being planned, the TEZ currently has a colonnade with a museum and the memorial cross with a viewing gallery.

Bucas Grande in Surigao del Norte as well as Panglao Bay Premiere in Bohol are also in the master-planning stage. Both locations are known for their beaches.

To further its TEZ objectives, TIEZA will be holding a series of road shows to attract potential investors.

For more information on the TIEZA and TEZ model, visit www.tieza.gov.ph or contact the TEZ Management Sector at 551-9556 or at tez-secretariat@gmail.com.

Good JRPG but lovers of story-driven games should stay away

May 12, 2017 | 8:49 am

By Alexander O. Cuaycong
and Anthony L. Cuaycong

Video Game Review
Atelier Firis: The
Alchemist and the
Mysterious Journey
PlayStation 4

THE ATELIER SERIES has always had a soft spot in the hearts of lovers of Japanese role playing games (JRPG). Instead of focusing on universe-ending disasters or on savage demons bent on conquering the known world, this JRPG series starts off its stories small and simple. Featuring light-hearted characters and compelling gameplay mechanics, games in the series are refreshing takes on the genre, showing that you don’t need a deep and dark story to be invested and engrossed. Atelier Firis: The Alchemist and the Mysterious Journey is no exception. As the 18th game to be released in the main series, it offers very little deviation from the formula followed by the other Atelier games.

Atelier Firis starts off with Firis Mistlud, who dreams of a day when she can leave her home and explore the outside world. A chance encounter with Sophie Neuenmuller, the protagonist in Atelier Sophie: The Alchemist and the Mysterious Book, gives Firis an idea: By asking Sophie to teach her alchemy, she would not only be able to defend herself should the need arise; she would also have the perfect reason to leave her home and satisfy her wanderlust.

This is Atelier Firis’s story and, overall, it works very well in tandem with the gameplay. Explore the world, make items, and defend yourself against monsters as you look for new recipes and ingredients. Create a variety of potions and equipment to better prepare yourself for the journey ahead. Use items to poison and damage enemies, or give yourself and your allies buffs to make fights go smoother.

A core mechanic of the game is that items are not just run-of-the-mill potions and store-bought equipment; while those do exist, a majority of what you’ll use are objects crafted by Firis herself. These items are dependent not only on the type of material used, but also on the quality of the ingredients. For example, rain water might have a marginal effect on your potion, but spring water from the mountains can give out buffs and defensive boosts during battle.

This type of crafting system allows you to customize the items you make, and there’s a real sense of fulfilment when you manage to create a powerful item made by combining high-tier ingredients together. It not only encourages you to explore, scavenge, and create; it also rewards you for taking the time to pore through each location thoroughly. It makes discovering new dungeons a joy, as the items gathered on the field aren’t just fodder to sell off to the nearest merchant, but are actively helpful in your recipes. It gives off a constant feeling of progression as Firis’s alchemy gets more and more refined and she is able to create more effective items to use in battle.

However, as good as the game is, it does have its flaws. For one, the system encourages grinding and serves to slow down the gameplay. While not explicitly bad in and of itself, it can sometimes feel like padding as you trudge through the dungeon, hunting for specific items over and over again. For another, the story suffers greatly from lack of pacing. While players are originally given a time limit, this is set aside for a large part of the game. There is more than enough time to hit most major story bits even for those who like to dally. In fact, the time limit goes away halfway through the story, and Atelier Firis starts to favor a more open-world type of gameplay to let you explore at you own pace. At this point, story bits come few and far between, feeling like an afterthought. While the game does feature multiple endings, it doesn’t disabuse you of the notion that the story has taken a backseat to its gameplay.

And as for the open world? While the maps are large and fun to explore, and a variety of quests exist to give the player meaningful and concrete goals, eventually, due to the nature of the game, you’ll hit a point where a large part of it feels empty and lifeless. There are no random events, and while the game does incorporate a day-and-night cycle, it affects the battles more than anything, and time in terms of gameplay becomes essentially meaningless.

All in all, Atelier Firis is a good JRPG, but little else. It’s got a simple story, stylish art, and good game mechanics, but it suffers heavily from its elephant-walk pace and an inevitable need to grind. Fans of previous Atelier titles and of the genre will find a lot to like about it, but those who prefer more story-driven games would do well to stay away.

THE GOOD

Wonderfully drawn environments
Cute art style and characters
Big and open world with plenty to explore
A wide variety of items to craft with varying effects
Good game mechanics
Multiple endings

THE BAD

Grinding cannot be avoided
Simplistic and oftentimes slow-paced
Large maps that are often empty

RATING: 7.5/10

Jazz, faith, and inspiration

May 12, 2017 | 8:49 am

Music Review
Solid Ground
By Jireh Calo
EP

AT AGE 17, Jireh Calo was the keyboardist of the band Mann Atti, and together with her eldest sister Nicole, the band became a grand finalist in the Boy Katindig Jazz Competition. She had also qualified for, and was the Best Performance Awardee, of the very competitive and prestigious Elements National Singing & Songwriting Camp. At the age of 19, she represented the Philippines at the 2014 World Youth Jazz Festival in Putrajaya, Malaysia on top of her first EP, Jireh.

JIREH CALO performing at the International Folk Festival, representing the Philippines.
There was no shortage in the genres she explored, describing her first EP as “a mix of organic jazz, fusion, and hip-hop, touched with electronic elements.” She has dabbled in singing, song writing, keyboard, and music arrangement.

She’s almost done with her baccalaureate degree in Contemporary Writing and Production at the Berklee College of Music and has released a new EP titled Solid Ground. With two years of formal training now under her belt, how does her second EP stack up?

THE SONGS
“Flame” opens with some keyboard and Calo singing, “Walk with me, barefoot along this path…” A very apt intro, very cleverly written, I thought, as Calo is pictured in the EP as barefoot in the middle of a forest path, as if she’s inviting you on a musical journey.

Just the opening made me realize that Solid Ground has a fuller timbre compared to her first EP. Although the music sounded clean in the previous EP, it lacked timbre in the baritone and tenor ranges. This gives it a hollow sound. In Solid Ground, you can hear the warm sound of the piano complementing Calo’s full bodied voice; it’s as if you were drinking creamed dark roast coffee coupled with that oh-so-sweet-and-warm caramel. Then, again, maybe it’s just my preference, but I think music is best served “warm.”

THE EP COVER for Calo’s first EP in 2014, the self-titled Jireh.
The opening is then broken by the cacophony of the other accompanying instruments. And the music plays out from there.

The next song’s title — “Be Still” — is most likely taken from Psalm 46:10’s, “Be still and know that I am God.”

After the meditative vocalization and guitar intro, Calo breaks with “Your ways are far beyond my own,” taken from Isaiah 55:8. She follows with “So I seek your face and I hear your voice,” which can be attributed to Isaiah 55:6.

I personally interpret this song as a declaration of Jireh’s trust in God’s faithfulness, despite the hardships she has faced or will face in life. It is theologically rich and may be appreciated by people who are believers and also love jazz. It’s a good song to remind you of where to put your faith in during difficult times.

Although “Sonder” and “In the Silence” are two different songs, I would say these middle tracks are similar because they mostly contain instrumentals. People who are into singing might not appreciate these two that much, but lovers of the more improvisational flavors of jazz would like to listen to this.

In Calo’s Bandcamp page, she explains that, “Solid Ground is a collection of songs born from experiences that have taught me to stay true to my heart while staying grounded amidst the challenges and changes that come with that.” “Little Dreamer” is the crowning song for holding the Solid Ground concept. It talks about dreaming big, yet being a person of integrity while pursuing them.

“Joy” is the victory dance for the completion of dreams; alternatively, it could be a declaration of faith that dreams would be fulfilled. “Joy” is probably the most contemporary song among the six tracks, containing some rap sections and an R&B sound. However, compared to its counterpart “Drift” in the Jireh EP, this is one step down when it comes to R&B and one step up when it comes to jazz.

THE EP COVER for her second EP, Solid Ground.
NEW HOPE FOR JAZZ
I think a reason why jazz is not as popular in the Philippines is because we have formulaic sounding singers, singing covers of overused songs again and again. People always crave for something new, and if you want people to keep listening to you, you need to churn out something fresh. Think of Michael Jackson, the Beatles, Madonna, and Lady Gaga. They were always relevant, because they reinvented themselves again and again and gave the world something new to enjoy.

Of course, we also like to listen to old music from time to time — but only if it’s really good music. Think about your friends who listen to Elvis, Metallica, or Beethoven. An old song done well, played excellently, and written very thoughtfully, is as refreshing as a new song. Today, we have a lot of artists who lack that sharpness in their fundamentals. It’s like some pretty face was hastily taught the bare bones of singing to sell music purely for profit.

Calo challenges the current music meta by being both sharp in her fundamentals, being able to create something new, and, in addition, having real soul in her music. I appreciate that her EP is not just a mishmash of totally unrelated songs, but a very conceptual album about faith, dreams, and integrity. It proves that she’s a real artist who puts soul into her art, and is not just in it for the money.

Artists like Calo give me hope that jazz music will continue through the next generations as living and thriving music, and not just performance art that people begrudgingly play in school functions.

If you’re a person who likes jazz, uplifting music with a good message, or just any kind of music done well, Jireh Calo’s Solid Ground is a for you. I give it a 4.5 out 5 stars.

Calo is currently raising funds for her last semesters in school. Her albums Jireh and Solid Ground are available on iTunes, Google Play, Amazon, Spotify and on Bandcamp at www.jirehcalo.bandcamp.com. Physical copies of her albums are available at events organized by TTT MVMT (www.facebook.com/tttmvmnt); the latest event is LOVE, on May 7, 9 p.m., at Tago Jazz Café, 14 Main Ave, Cubao, Quezon City. Calo will also sell CDs in Boston at shows and events.

Iggy Pop turns 70, sings on experimental jazz album

May 12, 2017 | 8:49 am

NEW YORK — Punk legend Iggy Pop has turned 70 with news he is singing on an experimental jazz album, saying the genre’s bare exposure of his voice appealed to him artistically.

The “Lust for Life” singer, who turned 70 on April 21, contributes in three songs on New York pianist and composer Jamie Saft’s upcoming Loneliness Road.

Pop said that his voice on the songs has imperfections but that he decided they were appropriate.

“I was a little surprised at how feeble I sounded on certain parts of it, but I thought that was OK,” he told Rolling Stone magazine.

Pop said he was drawn to jazz as “there’s no big, bashing thing or echo trick to hide behind.”

Saft, who has worked with artists as diverse as leading contemporary composer John Adams and hardcore punks Bad Brains, said he improvised around Pop rather than just having the star singer offer his voice.

“It’s a deeper concept of original improvised music that transcends genre,” he explained.

Pop, known for his intense live performances in which he works his bare-chested body into a sweat, last year released Post Pop Depression which had the air of a career-capping album.

His two previous albums had strong jazz influences — Preliminaires, which took inspiration from provocative French novelist Michel Houellebecq’s The Possibility of an Island, and Apres, which is mostly covers of French songs.

Pop told Rolling Stone he was also working on music for an upcoming French film.

The rocker was able to reach 70 unlike his close friend and collaborator David Bowie, who died last year at 69 after releasing his jazz-infused final album Blackstar.

Metallica frontman James Hetfield, 53, celebrated Pop’s recent birthday by releasing a video in which he pulls off his own shirt to show his heavily tattooed torso.

“You don’t look a day over 30,” Hetfield said of Pop, calling him a “huge inspiration” for musicians who are getting older. — AFP

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