Architectural Wonders

Burj Khalifa (formerly Burj Dubai) is now the world's tallest building. Inaugurated last January 4, the building's architect and engineer is Skidmore, Owings and Merrill of Chicago. The majestic tower measures 2, 717 feet and houses a hotel, residential and office units, an observatory, a mosque and covers 160 floors for a total cost of $1.5 billion. It boasts of the world's fastest elevator. Outside, it has a fountain illuminated by 6,600 lights. This fountain shoots water 490 feet into the air amidst contemporary and Arabian music.

The lay-out--as the core of a lower-rise skyline--lets the Burj stand out prominently against the horizon. It is visible across dozens of miles of rolling dunes outside Dubai. From above, the spire appears as an almost solitary, slender needle.

Other notable architectural designs include the following:


What started out as a dream by Dave Longaberger, founder of The Longaberger Company, has been built Home Office into a giant basket to house the entire corporate offices of the company. Dave believed the idea was one of his best and would draw attention to the company, while simultaneously helping to build his brand. However, when he started spreading the idea of building a Home Office that was really a basket, he found that most people just thought that he was making a joke as Dave was a notorious practical joker. Not only did the bankers, architects and construction companies not take Dave seriously, neither did many of the employees who worked for The Longaberger Company, but Dave persevered. The dream was achieved on December 17, 1997 when the Home Office that is designed to resemble a basket finally opened for business.





The Dancing House is the nickname given to an office building in downtown Prague, Czech Republic. It was designed by Croatian-born Czech architect Vlado Milunic in cooperation with Canadian architect Frank Gehry on a vacant riverfront plot (where the previous building had been destroyed during the Bombing of Prague in 1945). The construction started in 1994 and was finished in 1996.

The very non-traditional design was controversial at the time. Czech president Vaclav Havel, who lived for decades next to the site, had supported it, hoping that the building would become a center of cultural activity. Originally named Fred and Ginger (after Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers - the house vaguely resembles a pair of dancers) the house stands out among the Neo-Baroque, Neo-Gothic and Art Nouveau buildings for which Prague is famous.


This unique piano house was built recently in An Hui Province, China. Inside of the violin is the escalator to the building. The building displays various city plans and development prospects in an effort to draw interest into the recently developed area.




Kansas City Library has one seriously cool façade. Local residents were asked to nominate influential books that represent the city, and humungous versions of the winning nominations were then used as the exterior of the library car-park.



The Robot Building, located in the Sathorn business district of Bangkok, Thailand, houses United Overseas Bank's Bangkok headquarters. It was designed for the Bank of Asia by Sumet Jumsai to reflect the computerization of banking; its architecture is a reaction against neoclassical and high-tech postmodern architecture.

The building's features, such as progressively receding walls, antennae, and eyes, contribute to its robotic appearance and to its practical function. Completed in 1986, the building is one of the last examples of modern architecture in Bangkok and has garnered international critical acclaim.


The borough of Delfshaven, Rotterdam, asked Schildersbedrijf N&F Hijnen to come up with a plan for a block of derelict buildings, which will eventually be demolished. The agreement with the neighborhood is that the block will remain blue as long as there isn't a new plan for the area.




The strange building is actually a brewery in Hamburg, Germany. The floors can move up or down on it's skinny column core. As of now, the unique building has been destroyed. One of it's more famous beer brands was recently bought by a big refreshment corporation. And that beer brand was called Astra.

Polish architect of the Crooked House, Szotynscy Zaleski, was inspired by the fairytale illustrations of Jan Marcin Szancer and the drawings of the Swedish artist and Sopot resident Per Dahlberg. The most photographed building in Poland, the 4,000 square meter house is located in Rezydent shopping center in Sopot, Poland

*Pictures and descriptions of buildings were taken from http://dreamsmania.com/hotels-famous-or-strange-architecture/world%27s-most-creative-buildings-by-nisar/5/

Traditional Filipino Flirting and Courtship

With Valentine's Day around the corner, one wonders how expressions of physical attraction and love were expressed by our foreparents. The harana (serenade) is of course, the manner by which the man expresses his love and admiration to the lady. The harana was an exclusively nocturnal practice. Because of the daytime tropical weather, the evening offers respite from the heat. It is the time when everybody comes alive, full of romantic ideas, and as is typical of Filipino nature, always ready to enjoy the company of friends and loved ones. It was during this old Philippines, before the widespread use of electricity, that harana was at its ripest.

In this endeavor, the most trusted instrument is the guitar with its intimate sound complementing Spanish-influenced songs, not to mention the breezy and quiet air of a tropical night.

For a young man in colonial Philippines, it was certainly advantageous to possess musical abilities as it was often useful in wooing a Filipina woman. However, all is not lost if he lacks the talent. It was common practice to enlist friends as well as hire the best musicians in town. Thus, harana is not always a solitary endeavor. In fact, it was also considered a social event. For the endeavor to be successful either or both of these two instances have to happen: if the lady invites the man and his company inside for refreshments. It then becomes an impromptu mini-soiree; and if the lady joins in the singing. 

The man would have to wait until the young lady opened a window to listen. It would be up to her if she wanted to invite them in for some refreshment and to chat after the song. Even if they had been asked to come in, the suitor would not expect that he could have the chance of a private moment with his object of affection. It was highly likely that the parents would also be there to entertain the man and his friends.

The love song, romantic and slow in tempo, is an expression of his undying love, even if this was unrequited. Thus, the kundiman was born (from the term, "kung hindi man). It is a little known fact that some kundiman pieces, such as Maala-ala Mo Kaya (lyrics Jose Corazon de Jesus, music Constancio de Guzman), Dahil sa Yo (lyrics Dominador Santiago, music Mike Velarde) are examples where the lady is invited to sing her part. 

In 1916, Dr. Juan V. Pagaspas, a doctor of philosophy from Indiana University and a much beloved educator in Tanauan, Batangas described the kundiman as "a pure Tagalog song which is usually very sentimental, so sentimental that if one should listen to it carefully watching the tenor of words and the way the voice is conducted to express the real meaning of the verses, he cannot but be conquered by a feeling of pity even so far as to shed tears." Dr. Francisco Santiago, the "Father of Filipino Musical Nationalism" declared in 1931 that the kundiman "is the love song par excellence of the Filipinos, the plaintive song which goes deepest into their hearts, song which brings them untold emotions." 

Ambeth Ocampo mentions Pascual Poblete's 1922 work, Patnubay ng Pagsinta, which sheds light to pre-war courtship and flirting of Filipinos. A woman does not directly communicate to the man: she shows restraint, even disinterestedness even if she felt otherwise. She believed that the man will love her more if he is made to work hard before giving him what he wants. She may also convey her message through her handkerchief and handheld fan. Poblete mentions in detail the meanings behind the signs:

SALITAAN SA PANYO CAHULUGAN

Ihaplos sa mga labi                      Ibig cong maquipagsulatan

Ihaplos sa mga mata                    Lubhang nalulungcot aco

Ihaplos sa kaliwang kamay         Ikaw ay quinapopootan co

Ihaplos sa dalawang pisngui       Iniibig quita

Bayaang malaglag                      Tayo i magcacaibigan

Ipatong sa pisnguing canan        Oo.

Ipatong sa pisnguing caliwa       Hindi.

Ihaplos sa balicat                        Sumunod ca sa aquin

Ihaplos sa dalawang mata          Lubha cang ualang aua

Ticlopin                                      Ibig cong maquipagusap sa iyo

Ticlopin ang mga dulo               Hintain mo aco

Pilipintin ng dalawang camay    Pagpapaualang halaga

Pilipitin sa camay na canan        May ibang iniibig aco

Pilipitin sa camay sa caliua         Pagpasial co, ayao cong maquialam sa iyo

Ibuhol sa hintuturo                       Mayroong casintahan aco

Ibuhol sa susuotang singsing       Mayroong asawa aco

Ibuhol sa buong camay                Aco ay sa iyo

Paglaroan ang panyo                   Pinaualan quitang halaga

SALITAAN SA PAMAYPAY CAHULUGAN

Dalhing nacabitin sa camay na canan     Ibig kong magcanovio

Dalhing nacabitin sa camay na caliua     Mayroong casintahan aco

Ipaypay ng madalas                                 Malaqui ang pag-ibig co sa yo!

Ipaypay ng marahan                                 Ualang halaga ca sa aquin!

Itiklop ng bigla                                        Quinapopootan quita!

Bayaang malaglag                                   Aco i tapat ang loob sa iyo

Tacpan ang calahating mucha                 Sumunod ca sa aquin

Bilangin ang mga tadyang                      Ibig cong magsalita sa iyo

Paglaroan ang horlas                             Umiibig aco sa iba at iniibig naman aco

Huag dalhin o ilagay sa bulsa               Ayao cong maquipagligawan

Loveletters were also exchanged by our foreparents. Again, Poblete mentions the use of invisible ink. Sticky substances like sap, milk or beer, when used in writing, can be read by the use of ground charcoal passing through it. letters with ink made of water and the local tawas can be deciphered by wetting or by exposing to sunlight. Letters using Ilocano vinegar or onion juice as ink may also be read when the letter is passed through fire.

Flowers, accordingly, were also symbolically used in loveletters. Names of flowers were substituted for phrases and times. Of course, the young man and the woman had to know the secret vocabulary. The first person pronoun was written as isang dahon lamang, while the second person was written as dalawang dahon and the third person was written as tatlong dahon. Thus, Ang pag-ibig mo i nacamamatay sa aquin is written as Dalauang dahon ng mirto at Cicuta or Cagalingan mong magsalita ay nacasisisra nang loob co becomes Dalawang dahon nang Nintea blanca at Verbena. Such system of communicating was effective for their generation!

Paninilbihan or service was also expected to be done by the young man. Doing household chores was a way to endear himself to the family of the woman, a concrete way of showing his sincere intention for her. He understands that in courting and hopefully marrying her, he enters into her family as well. Gentlemanliness was always a character associated with courtship.