Shanghai World Expo Travelogue

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The month of June was a good time to visit Shanghai. The sprawling World Expo complex there is as large as the territory of Makati I’m told. This being the case, there’s a lot of outdoor strolling to be done. For many visitors, several days will be required just to see the best among the exhibits. Bili and Oni did exactly that during their 4-day visit. After days of walking the Expo expanse, Oni's weary legs confirm the adage that people should travel when they are young. Nonetheless, and especially with help from CAFA stalwarts Nore and Didi (who are temporary residents in Shanghai), they savored many of what the Expo had to offer.

The facilities showed country exhibits and technical exhibits. The country exhibits emphasized natural resources and the spirit of people. The technical exhibits showcased the new urbanism movement and sustainable development theme. The exhibits utilized the latest in high-tech materials, gadgets and presentation systems. 4D projections (dizzying surround screens including ceilings and floors) were common place and interactive touch screen panels amused the audience no end. The USA show even had sense surround effects (strategic speakers, seat shaking and water droplets). These effects embellished the USA appeal for a more environmentally responsible world. Particularly impressive was the US cinematography that successfully integrated humor and theme.






























The Philippine pavilion meanwhile emphasized the country’s musicality if not its many tourism sites. The design of the pavilion integrated three separate performing stages. On cue and following each other's performance, different artists took turns ‘rocking and jazzing up’ visitors. (If the CAFASingers had been there, they might have squeezed in a ‘Tennessee Babe’ or two as guest performers). Travel Café, the accredited food emporium within the pavilion, dished out their tested Pinoy fare to the crowd. The pancit and turron were a favorite of the mainly Chinese customers. Didi had his hands full attending not only to the logistics of the store but also acting at times as floor manager assisting customers. At one point, Didi was observed admonishing someone who sat was hogging the limited seating without ordering anything.
















The special support by Nore and Didi to their visiting Pinoy friends made the visit all worthwhile. Not only were they able to procure the special VIP passes that enabled their friends to enter pavilions without hassle but they also acted as tour guides for shopping in the city. Bili and Oni had not planned on shopping this trip. However, the ridiculously low prices in the stores (especially after haggling) got them into it. One cannot be too careful in haggling. Nore thought she had quoted a riduculously low price (on something she didn't really need) and got the surpirse of her life when the salesgirl accepted her bid. Clothes, bags, trinkets, eyewear, electronic – you name it – it was there. How can one resist buying a bargain branded clothing (about half the price of Greenhills) that became even more of a bargain when you buy three of them?










Shanghai’s infrastructure and private buildings are impressive. With 20M inhabitants, Shanghai has about double the population of Metro Manila. On the basis of the visitors to the Expo (mostly locals), the people have shown purchasing power and manifested great curiosity. Even to afford the 150 Yuan entrance fee per day (more than P1k?) means that many are gainfully employed. Many owned cameras that they used to click away with at most anything. An interesting trivia are the cucumber wholes sticking out of their knapsacks that they munch as merienda .

Due to the limited time, Oni and Bili were just able to go to retail stores in the Nanjing and Science Fair area (outside Expo). In these places, the bargain prices and wide range of the latest in products rivals the HK appeal that enjoins shoppers. The mainland Chinese have clearly come a long way. They are now beginning to embrace the free market system that should make them live up to the world’s economic expectations from them. To feel this phenomenon better, you must try to go to China.

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May in New York City

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It's the eve of the Memorial Day holidays and the weather was fine. Oni and Bili also happened to be visiting in NY and so die hard CAFASingers from the Tri-State met up once again in keeping up with the CAFA tradition of brotherhood. The meeting place was at Bryant Park on 42nd and 5th for a change. Those who came that day to swap news and corny jokes were Tong and Rita Salgado, Tito Valbuena, Rody Picar, and Oni and Bili Mayo.










At first the gang assembled for formalities at the covered public plaza of the spanking new BA Tower - reportedly the greenest building in NY today. From there the group secured their food from the carts around before proceeding to the park. Bryant park right beside the NYC library was convenient for the group's purposes. The park garden was filled with people meeting up, fiddling with their computers (yes, the garden had Wifi), having a meal or just lounging around enjoying the clear day. The CAFA friends went about their activity picnic-style in convenient open air sitting facilities in the park.

It was good to see Tito again after a long time. We know that Tito just lost Girlie last year and it was a good opportunity to offer condolences to him personally. Tito’s remaining immediate family consists of Arel, an IT person and Pete, a film editor in Boston. Daughter Camille is a medical technologist who fortunately stays on with Tito still. Because of the renewed ties (and the flack he got from the gang for not attending the 2008 CAFA concert reunion), Tito expressed that he would consider visiting the Philippines next year.

Rody no longer resides in Long Island and is now based in the exciting Chelsea district of the city. Early in the late afternoon, Rody came in his typical tees, cut-offs and sandals for the spot reunion. Towards the evening he was seen wearing a sweater though. He had to suddenly buy the garment as the unpredictable NY weather turned chilly in the darkening park. After his recent medical ordeal in Manila, Rody is fine today but needs to take it easy - like resting every so often as he navigates New York's endless sidewalks. Despite everything, Rody is not lacking in activities. Did you know that he has built himself a beach place in La Union? He has also finally sold his family's Pension building and is now contemplating reinvesting in a pad in Makati for when he comes over to the Philippines.

Retired Tong organized the CAFA rendezvous and had to travel himself from Rockland County to make the meeting. After decades of performing A&E work, Tong is enjoying his retirement (and granddaughter Simone) so much that he recently declined a comeback work offer from another firm. According to him, Rita concurs with this decision. Rita came direct from her TIAA office in Third Avenue. During the get together, the group got absorbed in chika business that they lost track of time. The last bus to Rockland was due any second when Tong remembered. Racing to the nearby bus stop with Rita in tow, Tong stood his ground in the middle of 42nd to flag down the bus (that was starting to leave). Oni and Bili are on the last week of their visit to America and are due back in the Philippines on Sunday. It was a fruitful annual vacation for the couple who spent quality time with daughters Carla and Lia now living in NY (and youngest daughter Apol who came over with them from the Philippines). It was a feat trying to get everyone’s vacation plans to synchronize. Within a week of their arrival back in Manila, Oni and Bili are scheduled to join Nore and Didi in Shanghai for a little CAFA reunion at the World Expo there. As we know, the Lims are temporarily based in the Expo site to look after their interest (Travel Cafe) that they had committed to the Expo event.

Despite his promise to come to the mini reunion at Bryant Park, unpredictable Sam Sta. Maria didn't make it to the get together. Rumors floated that Sandy grounded him for disobedience. The group was clearly observing the CAFA protocol of talking about absentees especially when they have lame excuses. As a matter of fact, they talked about everyone else with a juicy life story to tell including the hapless Dinky (who is busy minding his business in his office in Manila). As expected, intriguing new versions of old tales were concocted then. Knowing that most CAFAs are creative sneaky fellows, I leave the topic of conversation in this regard to their fertile imagination.

So long and until the next time, this is the CAFA Whirl signing off.
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