TravelswithCharie

The Evolution of Philippine Culture The story of The Evolution of Philippine Culture began in 1957 when the Fleur de Lis Auditorium at St. Paul University Manila was under construction. Jose L. Reynoso, the architect of the Fleur de Lis, asked his townmate, Carlos “Botong” Francisco, to paint a mural which he envisioned as the focal point of the auditorium’s lobby. The 3.5 meters by 4.5 meters mural was fitted between two pilasters and it is the first thing a theatergoer would see as they enter the foyer from the main portal. The theme, The Evolution of Philippine Culture, was carefully considered to complement the purpose of the Fleur de Lis, that is, to bring to the stage noteworthy musicals and concerts which have since earned the theater the name, “Broadway of Herran”. (Herran was the former name of Pedro Gil Street.) The central figure is that of a muscular Filipino who is intensely beating the drum. The sound is almost palpable. Above him is a Caucasian woman whose head is caugh...

Museo del Tango When you listen to La Cumparsita, you probably will identify it with Argentine tango. But it was composed and first played here in Montevideo in this approximate spot where La Giralda Café and Confectionery once stood. Now it’s part of the iconic Palacio Salvo on Plaza de Independencia in the center of the city. (Link to music video and tango below.) Gerardo Matos Rodriguez The inscription behind Rodriguez reads as follows: “On April 19, 1917, the most famous Tango of all times ‘La Cumparsita’ was played for the first time in this precise spot. Masterpiece of the great Uruguayan composer, Gerardo Matos Rodriguez.” This was the piano where Rodriguez first played La Cumparsita. Sheet Music for La Cumparsita Listen to the music here and watch tango dancers perform to La Cumparsita:  https://youtu.be/19hOIdOw77w?feature=shared Photograph of La Giralda Café and Confectionery, 1917 Notice that there are only men in La Giralda as women were not allowed here. Also note that...

The Chronicle of Georgia, front entrance The Chronicle of Georgia (or the History of Georgia) monument was created by Zurab Tsereteli when Georgia was part of the Soviet Union. Soviet funding made possible the production of this monumental piece which many refer to as the “Stonehenge” of Georgia. After the fall of the Soviet Union and the Russian Georgian War, work on the monument was halted due to lack of funds. The monument has yet to be completed.  The three figures at the front entrance columns are those of the poet Shota Rustaveli (left), David the Builder (right) and the Chronicler (center).  Notice the Chronicler holding a scroll. The verses alongside these three figures explain their prominent place in Georgian history. Translated verses:* “He made wisdom into a shield, he made the sword into a wall, he made Georgia into the fortress of the east.”  David the Builder  “Mozar the engraver of our past, the spinning wheel, the proof of our glory, the master histo...

Glenworth Carbonell-Antolín Dalisay at the Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago About Glen Dalisay Glen Dalisay is a nurse who was inspired by his father to travel the world at a very young age. His dad told him to see the world before ever settling down and gave him a secondhand globe which he studied for hours and wondered what it would be like to be in these foreign lands. Dalisay never thought it would be possible to see every country until he became a travel nurse and decided to do a trip every month. Starting with Europe and the Americas, he then slowly traveled into Asia and the Pacific, and finally to Africa. He now sees himself finishing this goal he never thought was possible. But he won’t stop there. His love for exploring, learning and meeting new people will continue for the rest of his life. You can follow Glen’s journey on Instagram at @drworldwide . Where and when was your first trip outside your home country?  Canada when I was 4 years old. I had an aunt living there th...