Lighting Up the Bay, Lighting Up Kids’ Lives

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Nighttime Metro Manila is more beautiful than the daytime one, I think.

Itâ€™s in these hours when youâ€™ll really appreciate the urban setting around you. In the day, the metropolis is a choking cesspool of humanity, iron horses, and smog, but in the night, itâ€™s far more civilized.

Back then, I was referring to the neon lights of Quezon Avenue’s famed whorehouses. Last night’s trip to the 2007 World Light Expo Philippines, both a few kilometers and an entire world removed from Q-Ave, gave a new meaning to the text.

(Thus goes the prelude to my first photo-centric post here, further proof of how unproductive I’ve become lit-wise. Enjoy the pics below, nonetheless. Don’t forget to click ‘em for the bigger versions.)

A month ago, Manila Bay was illumined by the spectacular World Pyro Olympics. The current attraction, found at the Roxas Boulevard and Coastal Road Junction (D. Macapagal Avenue) at Paranaque City, began just last Tuesday and will run up to April 22.

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However, whereas the Pyrolympics drew thousands upon thousands of spectators, the Light Expo crowd was really, really thin — we only encountered less than forty visitors, who were like stars scattered across the galaxy given the sprawling Expo grounds. The Expo’s teen-aged, extra-courteous volunteers even outnumbered the visitors (I’m guessing they’re volunteers, as the Expo’s beneficiary is the Pangarap ng Lupa Foundation for children with sight impairments).

Quite sad, if you think about it. Many of the Foundation’s kids probably won’t be able to appreciate the grandeur we experienced at the Expo. That said, do drop by the World Light Expo. Yes, there’s an admission price (quite steep at Php 300 for adults and 200 for kids above three years of age, which might be one of the reasons behind the thin crowd), but I’m sure you’ll agree that you’ll be spending for a noble cause.

If that isn’t enough encouragement for you, I hope the smattering of images below does the trick!

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The pimped fish in the middle moves. Or at least its jaws do.

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Goody, our own Eiffel Tower! Imported nga lang.

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I thought this was one of the most spectacular sights in the Expo. Don’t you agree?

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This biggie’s a real eye-catcher.

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A purty little garden, with a blue dragon in the background.

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A decked out pagoda, with mannequins to boot.

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Meralco must be happy with this one.

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WTF? Oh well, ’tis the year of the fire pig anyway. But he does look like someone out of Winnie the Pooh’s troop.

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By the looks of it, this one has a Philippine theme.

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Erm…the customary solo shot. The world’s tilted to my right a few degrees, you didn’t know?

All shots were taken using my cheapo Olympus FE-100, except for the last two (captured using the trusty Nokia 7610 I wrote about on Mobile Exchange Philippines).

Some other facts about the World Light Expo according to the programme/flyer — the design teams for the jaw-dropping displays hail from Korea, China, Italy, and yes, the Philippines. Six million US dollars is the supposed production cost, involving two million bulbs and ten thousand persons. I do hope the visitors multiply as the weeks go by, seeing the effort they put into the displays…not to mention the Foundation’s cause!

Update (02/27/07): I’m removing the link to the World Light Expo site. As of this moment, the domain has fallen into the hands of a domain parking firm. Tsk.

47 comments so far. Subscribe to comments feed.

I like the very first pic the most. It’s telling me “come to the light (oh yes you’re dying.”

lol! should’ve used that caption, but you get dibs on it, mwehe.

do visit the expo with your parents some time soon. it’s worth it, i promise.

I like the first one, too. Kinda reminds me of St. Peter’s Cathedral in Rome. Breathtaking.

And the photos look great, too. ;)

I like the first and second pics a lot more than the others. At first glance, I was half-expecting the first one to be some sort of demonic gate. (Really, I have no idea why fractals seem to be staples of classic demonic sigils)

The second one reminded me of Warcraft 3’s summoning sequence for the Undead’s Necropolis.

The price is, indeed, kinda steep… I suppose I’m off to look for someone who’d pay for me then ^_^

Oh, by the way, Kung Hei Fat Choi :P

thanks, abbi! now that you mention it, the 1st pic does look like the facade of a cathedral ;)

mavi, me too, though the ninth pic (the ‘meralco’ one) is a close third, hehe. WC3 necropolis? now you remind me of DoTA! (and my 2 month-long separation from it…gah, i miss the game.)

Kung Hei Fat Choi! :D

how much is the enrance fee?

ehley, it’s 300 pesos for adults and 200 for kids above three years of age. those below 3 yrs old can enter for free, i believe.

hey, thanks for this entry! My friends and I are planning to go there sometime next month. Anyway…I read somewhere that there were ice sculptures at the EXPO, is that true?

no prob, sarah :) the programme/flyer also mentions ice sculptures, but i didn’t get to see any. i think we went there too early — there were still about five exhibits/displays under construction. hopefully when you go there, the expo will be in full blast.

until when will this expo be? :)

hi porky, if i’m not mistaken, the expo will be open until april 22, 2007 :)

how much it cost?

hi iris, as i mentioned earlier:

“itâ€™s 300 pesos for adults and 200 for kids above three years of age. those below 3 yrs old can enter for free, i believe.”

I say, you take great photos. Hmm…

Awww… Some of the exhibits are still closed? I know the fee is for a good cause, but they could’ve lowered the fee first, then increase as the other attractions open.

Hmmm… Which made me think: Maybe the 300 pesos is already a lowered fee… ZOMG, if that’s the case, the real entrance might cost around 500 bucks O.o Ouch~

Will be taking my gramma and sister there :)

thanks, dividend.

vee, i’m sure your grandma and sister will be delighted by the expo. i hope by now all of them are up and basking in their glory :D

i hope i can return there in april, when the exhibits will surely be in full swing. from the latest pics i’ve seen on the net, I’m led to believe that the visitors have increased!

nice pics! my kids will surely love this! i sometimes pass by the place and i noticed that there are no parking areas? is this true? it’ll be easy for commuters since its just in the intersection of mia road and macapagal blvd. but how about those with transportation? thanks! =)

racky, thanks! yes, your kids will love the bright lights there, as well as the mini-rides (though when i was there, they shut them down due to the lack of patrons).

the parking area is across the avenue (dimly lit so you might not notice it at first glance, though don’t worry, there are guards and parking attendants to watch over your vehicle).

crossing the avenue would be a dangerous exercise, so bide your time until the volunteers across the road (the ones standing in front of the expo grounds) notice that you’re all set to cross. they’ll head over to your side to accompany you and your kids to safety. :)

loooooooove it!!!! except for the pig.! ahaahaah! ohwell. . wish I can go see those some time. . btw where can I purchase the ticket.? can you give me any contact no. where I can further discuss my queries.? tenks alot!

thanks, sangrita! yeah, extra ung pig e hehe. the ticket can be purchased on-site (in front of the expo entrance).

unfortunately, i don’t have any contact details (they’re missing from my programme/flyer, and the website of the Expo has been hijacked as of this writing..tsk) :(

Beautiful photos! Stupid question — where is the expo, exactly? How does one get to it? ^^;

Mia, thanks! Actually, I’m not familiar with the environs, as it was my dad who did the driving…but if you’re coming out of SM Mall of Asia, turn right at the new Diosdado Macapagal Avenue, and from there I think it’s just a straight drive. I hope I’m right, though :P

I’m sorry I can’t give specific directions, as I’ve…lost the programme/flyer with the map on it >_<

I’ve seen the expo first on TV, and then when I went to manila, I asked my driver na umikot sa Expo for a while, un., sobrang ganda, i dont hve much time back then.. so di na muna kame pumasok.. Anyway, i asked my parents to treat me there on my bday as i turn 23 by the end of march.. ;)

is it open on weekdays? what time ang opening?

hi amge, advance birthday greetings to you, then! :D i agree, the expo would be a great treat not only for you, but for your parents, too.

diane, yes, it’s open on weekdays. i believe the expo runs from 4:00 PM until 12 midnight.

parang ang ganda nga!
punta kme jan ng mga batchmates ko!
tnx for d info!
can’t wait to b there!

shrli, you’re very much welcome! hope you and your friends get a literally dazzling experience at the expo ;)

i hope mkapunta din ako maybe if time permits…se yah!

wow thanks. will celebrate my BF’s bday here on Tues!

thanks po corsarius. hope ul keep postin’ wonderful gimmick spots here in Phils!

bless, have fun! :)

diane, you’re very much welcome. looks like a lot of bday celebrants will be going to the expo for their treats! when we visited less than a month ago, it was part of my dad’s birthday celebration, hehe.

hope you and your loved one will have a romantic time at the expo. :)

nice shots!!! i’m definitely going to visit that place!:)

thanks, isha. do visit the expo, it’ll be worth your time!

are foods allowed inside? is there fastfood/restaurant around? I need advice, para di magutom… hehe

carol, there’s a restaurant inside the expo grounds :) when we were there last month, the youthful volunteers were going around and inviting expo guests to dine at the resto. unfortunately, i don’t know if bringing in your own food and drinks is allowed.

hope this helps.

finally we got here na. impressive really lalo na yung show ng mga chinese!and we only got the tix at P200 only, they lowered it nga.

thanks guys!

wow, they lowered the price? hmmm. now i’m thinking of going there again, hehe. glad to be of help, diane!

I never knew you are a good photographer. Great shots.

me, a great photographer? no way! those shots just look good because they’ve been resized ;)

are you open on black saturday?

jp, unfortunately, i do not know if the light expo is open during black saturday. (also, i’m not in anyway affiliated with them :P) your best bet is just to go there the next day, easter sunday.

fantastic very nice….

thanks dane. do visit before the expo closes shop!

we also got d ticket for 200! saya! we really had a great time! we stayed till 12mn!
loved d hologram show…kk teary eyed ung theme hehe! U still have few days left to catch it!

the place is really wonderful. i have been here last april 15 with my korean students. just like me they were amazed by the grandeur beauty of the different lights. see by yourself

shrli and reuben, thanks for sharing your experiences! too bad i wasn’t able to come back and catch the expo before it closed :)

hopefully, there will be another one next year…and i plan to not go early, when the action’s still not in full swing, hehe.

ask ko lang is this place still open?

geej, i’m not sure as i failed to visit again, but i think it’s closed already. april 22 was the supposed closing date of the expo :)

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