Musical Interlude: Lex Vandyke

I've recently come across the very soothing latin guitar music of Lex Vandyke. The CD that I bought was called "Latin Sound of Shanghai" and it is a collection of Chinese classic tunes from the Shanghai era. Really beautiful stuff.

I also see this album as a reflection of the globalised world we live in. Here we have a Dutch musician playing Latin guitar and reproducing the classic sounds of Shanghai, China ...East meets West indeed.

Anyway, enough words. Turn up the volume of your PC and enjoy this piece called "Night of Shanghai" ...

Do share your thoughts and impressions.

An Inspiring Commencement Speech from 2006

He is currently facing a tough time in politics, but I believe in this man. I think he is smart, sincere and truly has the country's best interests at heart. I think some Americans do themselves a grave injustice by not working with him.

I enjoyed this commencement address he made at Northwestern University to the graduating class of 2006. He was then still Senator Barack Obama.

Have a good day.

Election Fever in Thailand

This is certainly a year of elections ...  I was in Bangkok for work last week and witnessed political campaigning in full swing on the streets of the capital city. The Thais go to the polls on Sunday 3rd July 2011, and I think it'll be another exciting one to watch. We've all heard about the shenanigans of the red shirts and the yellow shirts, the huge protests in the heart of Bangkok, the forced closures of the Suvarnabhumi International Airport and the tragic crackdown of the protests by the military. One wonders what will happen after the election results are known this time.

The two key parties are the Democratic party, led by Abhisit Vejjajiva, the sitting Prime Minister, who some ladies think is handsome, and the Pheu Thai party, led by Yingluck Shinawatra, sister of ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who some guys think is hot (I'm referring to Yingluck, not Thaksin!)

Anyway, here's a sample of the posters I saw on the streets.

Pheu Thai party's poster with Yingluck Shinawatra on the right

Democratic party, with Abhisit Vejjajiva on the right

 Can't remember the name of this smaller party ... will check later

Sometimes it is quite easy to spot which politician some people don't like ...

Horny politicians take on a different meaning here

Interesting times ...

Asian Milestone in Sports History

June 4th 2011. Roland Garros stadium, France.

More words are not needed ...

Manila - Old and New (Part 1)

I've visited Manila several times over the past six months as part of my work. The country is going through a period of much optimism under the new leadership of the President Benigno "Noy Noy" Aquino III (also called PNoy). PNoy's stated priorities on reducing poverty and fighting corruption have been much welcomed by the people. Admittedly, the process has not been easy or smooth (remember the HK tourist hostage crisis?). However in my dealings with various politicians and senior officials, I've met many smart and committed individuals and I'm hopeful that there will be significant national progress.. Many global companies have also stepped up their exploration of new opportunities arising in the Philippines.

Manila (or more strictly Metro Manila, since it is made up of many different cities, of which Manila is just one) is a culturally rich and vibrant metropolis. There are many interesting places to visit, and also a sharp contrast between different cities.

For today, let me share one place in Metro Manila which is OLD, and another place relatively NEW .

I've been doing some reading up on Philippine history. I believe that a good understanding of what happened on these islands in the past will make my encounters and explorations of various places in and around Metro Manila more meaningful.. Take for instance the walled city called Intramuros ...

Pic 1

Intramuros (which literally means "within the walls") was built by the Spaniards in the 16th century. The Spanish explorer Miguel Lopez de Lagaspi first arrived from Mexico (then under Spain) landing at Cebu in 1564, and at Luzon in 1570. After discovering the rich resources and location of Manila, Legazpi declared the area as the new capital of the Spanish colony in the Philippines in 1571.

One impressive structure in the heart of the Intramuros is the Roman Catholic Cathedral of Manila. Originally built in 1591 by the Spaniards, it has undergone destruction by fires, earthquakes and other calamities, but each time it has been rebuilt (see Pic 4).

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Not far away  is the Church of San Agustin. Completed in 1607, this is apparently the oldest church still standing in the Philippines. No other surviving building in the Philippines has been claimed to pre-date St Agustin Church. This building is also designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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At another part of the Intramuros, beside the Pasig River, stands a wall which commemorates the maritime expeditions between Mexico and the Philippines. This place is called Plaza Mexico. This apparently was the actual port of call of the fabled galleons of the past. Indeed the galleon trade which lasted almost three centuries was one of the economic engines driving the Spanish Empire of the day.

Pic 7

Another notable site within Intramuros is Fort Santiago, a 16th century defence structure which has borne testimony to the valor and bravery of the Filipino through the centuries. Originally, what stood on the site of Fort Santiago was a wooden fort of Raja Sulaiman, a Muslim chieftain of the pre-Hispanic Manila. It was destroyed by conquistadors when they arrived in 1570. The Spaniards rebuilt the fort (as well as the rest of the Intramuros) in 1571. Much of the fort was destroyed during the Spanish-Chinese War (1574-75) and rebuilt again. It became the main fort for the spice trade to America and Europe over the next three centuries.

There are various interesting spots within the fort, but the centrepiece must be the Rizal Shrine, dedicated to the national hero Jose Rizal who was executed by the Spaniards on 30th December 1896. Here one can see some of the books written by Rizal as well as the cell he spent his last nights before he was executed.

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Next let's move to something relatively NEW in Metro Manila.

The SM Mall of Asia is reputedly the 3rd largest mall in Asia and the 4th largest in the world. It was built in 2006 on 19.5 hectares of reclaimed land and has a gross floor area of some 390,000 sq metres.

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Well, that's it for Old and New Manila ... for now anyway. Enjoy and do share any comments.

Quotations on Democracy and Government

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It's one day before the state of Sarawak goes to the polls (for those who don't know, Sarawak is the largest state in Malaysia, and where I grew up). Those who have been following this election would have observed the high and growing tension - fiery speeches, huge crowds and all kinds of snipes in the media. It is also rumoured that the Malaysian GE will probably come not too long after this. Other countries in Asia, such as Singapore and Thailand, are also having elections this year.

With all this happening, I felt it might be interesting and useful for us to take a few minutes, still our minds and reflect on a variety of quotations on the subjects of Democracy and Government, since that's really what all this is about. Some of the quotations are wise, some are cynical, some humourous. Think about them in the context what it is you are about to do or not do ...

And if by chance, some aspiring political candidates may be reading this, it might also serve as food for thought on what kind of government leader you will be if indeed you are elected.


No.1
"No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed it has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time"
(Sir Winston Churchill, former British PM)


No 2
"Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve"
(George Bernard Shaw, author & playwright)


No.3
"It's not the voting that's democracy, it's the counting"
(Tom Stoppard, author)


No.4
"Democracy consists of choosing your dictators, after they've told you what you think it is you want to hear"
(Alan Coren, British humourist, writer & satirist)


No.5
"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb deciding what to have for dinner. Liberty is a well-armed lamb"
(Benjamin Franklin, one of the founding fathers of the USA)


No.6
"The most important political office is that of the private citizen."
(Louis Brandeis)


No.7
"Democracy is the government of the people, by the people, for the people."
(Abraham Lincoln, 16th US President)


No.8
"When a country is well governed, poverty and a mean condition are something to be ashamed of. When a country is ill governed, riches and honors are something to be ashamed of."
(Confucius)



Choose well. And have a good day.

Remembering "Thrilla in Manila"

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I've been to the Philippines for work a couple of times over the past year. I usually go to Metro Manila. Recently I got to thinking about one of the most exciting sporting events that happened there back in the 1970s. How many of you remember the spectacle that the media called "Thrilla in Manila"?

Yes indeed, this was the World Heavyweight Championship boxing match between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier on 1st October 1975. It was fought at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Metro Manila.

I went pass Araneta Coliseum on one of my recent visits. It's still looking good and hosting big shows. In fact in February and March, Taylor Swift and Don McLean are performing there. I believe Araneta Coliseum is still one of the largest indoor facilities in South-East Asia.

Anyway, back to the World Heavyweight Championship match ... The bout is often regarded as one of the greatest fights of 20th century boxing. It was the climax to the long-standing rivalry between Ali and Frazier over who was the legitimate Heavyweight Champion.  What happened before was that Ali (or Cassius Clay as he was previously known) had been stripped of the title in 1967 for his refusal to join the Army when drafted during the Vietnam War. Some years later, Frazier petitioned President Nixon to restore Ali's right to box, thereby bringing about a classic Trilogy of Fights between two undisputed heavyweight champions.


Fight #1 (Madison Square Garden, NY, 8 March 1971)




Both men were offered USD 2.5 million each, the biggest payout up to that time in boxing history. Anyone who was anyone was there. Even Frank Sinatra was ringside taking photos.

The bout was very brutal and ended with Frazier winning on points. Both men had to be taken to hospital but Frazier spent a little longer in hospital which allowed Ali to boast bout how much damage he had done, even as the left side of his own face was swollen.



Fight #2 (Madison Square Garden, NY, January 1974)

Although the rematch was a non-title fight, Ali put on one of his best performances and almost stopped Frazier in Round 2, but the referee Tony Perez stepped in thinking the round had ended. Ali won by a unanimous decision, thus earning himself the right to challenge George Foreman (who had beaten Frazier in 1973) to try to regain the Heavyweight title.

Ali did beat Foreman in Kinshasa, Zaire in the so-called "Rumble in the Jungle" in Oct 1974. The bout ended in a very convincing 8th round knockout.

Fight #3 (Araneta Coliseum, Metro Manila, 1 October 1975)


This time Ali got USD 4.5 million and Frazier USD 2 million. In his taunting usual way, Ali promised that it would be"a killa and thrilla and a chilla when he got the gorilla in Manila". About 28,000 people packed the area, and 700 million more watched the match on TV worldwide.

Ali started attacking Frazier for the first 3 rounds.  In Round 5, there was a change in momentum when Frazier backed Ali into a corner and began pounding him. Ali rallied in the 11th, 12th and 13th Rounds and Frazier's eyes and cheeks began to puff up.Ali kept up the pressure in Round 14, trying his best to put Frazier away. Both men were exhausted but Frazier was clearly the worse off. His trainer, fearing a fatality as Joe had been taking countless punches in the head, decided not to allow Joe to come out for Round 15. It was all over.

Ali sensing the fight was done stood up to celebrate but almost collapsed in exhaustion. He later said of Joe Frazier, "He's the greatest fighter of all time ... next to me".

Here's a video clip of the last rounds of the fight ... enjoy.

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