cynthia alexander

not all filipinos know who cynthia alexander is, but all filipinos who know good music know her and her music.

her groundbreaking initial album entitled "insomia & other lullabyes" was released in 1997 and became an instant favorite among alternative listeners and was greeted with massive critical acclaim. songs like "insomia" and "comfort in your strangeness" sounded so fresh yet familiar were just some of the most requested songs in nu107. she was nominated for best new artist and best bass player at the 1997 nu107 rock awards, and also at the 1998 katha music awards were she received 15 nominations, winning for best new artist and best alternative music album. she has recorded a total of three full-length albums; all of them were highly-praised by the music critics and fellow musicians. her debut album was followed by "rippingyarns" in 2000, and "comet's tail" in 2005.

in tribute to cynthia's exceptional knowledge and unselfish talent for music, i will have her music play in my listening section for a month. cynthia performs often at 70's bistro in anonas, quezon city.

firemen of binondo, manila

i was visiting binondo when i saw this fire station located right next to the binondo church. there we firemen washing their truck. there's one purple firetruck and the other one's an ambulance. i've asked permission first if i could take their pictures. they've said it's okay. i told them not to mind me and just continue what they were doing.

dennis is one of the volunteer firemen stationed in binondo, manila. he is a graduate student of the university of the philippines manila. he said that he works in the fire station part-time. it's a volunteer work so he doesn't earn from doing it. i thought that he likes what he is doing. there were about ten firemen, and just like dennis, they also work voluntarily.

i've noticed the color of their truck, thinking it might mean something, so i've asked him why the firetruck was painted in purple. he said that the owner of it is a filipino-chinese that is into ube business. it put a smile on my face.