Jeepney

Jeepney is an ubiquitous symbol of Philippine culture and the most popular means of public transportation in the Philippines.  

This was collected from Papemelroti - SM San Lazaro, Manila  on July 29, 2012.

Project: Filipiniana de Papemelroti

Although I’ve started collecting these years ago, my addiction to ref magnets ignited just recently.  This was fueled by the blogs and photos of magnet collectors online.

One particular post which caught my attention, and from which I got the idea for the theme of my “new” magnet acquisitions, is a Philippine magnet from Papemelroti...  Since I am also a mall rat and the primary theme of my collection is “from trips”, my new project is on Filipiniana magnets gathered from Papemelroti branches around the metro.

Lost and Found?

I was browsing the net when I came across this picture and I was reminded of the first travel magnet I had…

Before my Road Magnet collection, during my first ever trip abroad in May 2006, I got one of this kind – the Snoopy Travel in Hong Kong magnets, from 7 Eleven store in Pratt St., Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong.

I displayed it with the other magnets on my steel cabinet at the office.  Unluckily, I think it went off the trash bin below it and I never saw it again. L

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Angkor Wat

Ate Rhoda, sister of my high school bestfriend, is also very supportive of my collections....  My pasalubong from her trip in Siem Reap, Cambodia last December 2011.

Emirati

My high school bestfriend, Elen, won’t forget bringing home something for my collection, be it keyring or magnet.  This is her latest pasabulong from Dubai, United Arab Emirates last December 2011.  She has already given me the BURJ AL ARAB before but I lost it. L

Maple leaf

I lost track of when was this acquired but I got it from Auntie Rosie, mama’s friend and a former teacher in grade school. She’s now in Canada and brought this home in one of her homecomings. J

White beach

Still from Ann’s summer escapade at El Nido, Palawan, she collected this one for me in May 2012.

Footprint in the sand

Extending our company’s summer outing, Ann went to El Nido, Palawan with some officemates and got this one for me in May 2012.

B-shirt

It was another homecoming for Ann and another add to my collection.  She got this for me from Bacolod City, Negros Occidental in April 2012.

Sugar rush

Together with the San Sebastian Cathedral, Ann’s pasalubong from her hometown, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental in January 2012.

San Sebastian Cathedral

Ann got this one, together with the Sugar Rush, for me when she went for another vacation at home in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental last January 2012.

Loto

This is so – Thai! Mommy Cion brought this home, together with the Wat Arun, from Bangkok, Thailand in September 2011.

Wat Arun

Mommy Cion got this, together with the Loto, from her holiday trip in Bangkok, Thailand last September 2012.

Malacca cathedral

Mommy Cion also collected fridge magnet for me from her trips abroad.  This one was from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in August 2011.

SG Cityscape

Even Dr. Carmel Harrow, CEM Davao Branch Manager, contributed in my Road Magnet collection.  She got this for me from Singapore in May 2011.

Seashells

Former officemate and friend, Gly, gave this to me from Bolinao, Pangasinan in December 2010.

Pink maskara

Another addition to my magnet collection from Eric.  He got this from Bacolod City, Negros Occidental in December 2010.

Flagship Bird Sanctuary

Eric also collected this from his official travel in Ilo-ilo City, Ilo-ilo in December 2010.

Bayong

Still part of her series of official travel, Katz brought home this magnet for me when she went to Cebu City, Cebu in December 2010.

Durian

My “ading” Katz, an officemate of younger batch, got this magnet from Davao City, Davao del Sur in November 2010 when she went there for official business.

Junk

My kapit-cubicle and also a very supportive kumpare, Eric gave this to me from Hong Kong in August 2010.

Vegas shirt

During the NMAT US test administration in November 2007, Noreen brought home this one for me from Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

London bridge

My high school friend, Ariel, sent this to me when some family friends went to London, UK in November 2007. Ariel is now based in London.

Maskara

My super-lab officemate and friend Ann never forgets to bring home an add to my collection whenever she goes on vacation to her hometown, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental.  This was her pasalubong in June 2007.

Flinders Station

One of those who made my early stay in CEM enjoyable, Ana Corina sent this home for me when my boss went to Melbourne, Australia in June 2007.  Ana is now based in Australia. 

KL Cityscape

I got this from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in June 2012 when I attended a workshop at Mimos Berhad, Technology Park in Bukit Jalil.  It features KL’s modern and historical architectures which include Petronas Twin Towers, KL Tower and Sultan Abdul Samad Building.  All three buildings remind me of the night tour around KL downtown with newly found Malay friends – Hamzah, Zu and Azri.

Starfish

This was collected from Puerto Princesa City, Palawan in May 2012 during CEM’s annual summer outing.  This was particularly chosen as souvenir since I was able to see a lot of it submerged in beach water during our island hopping activity at Honda Bay.

Retro Sign Post

There’s no argument needed, this retro signage is the best keepsake from Thailand’s oldest beach town, seeing it in all tourist spots around town.  I picked it up from Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Thailand in April 2012 during our visit to my nephew, Roven.

Wooden Art

My first trip to Puerto Princesa City, Palawan – National Geographic’s top 20 best destinations in the world for 2011, was in July 2011 with my very dear friend, Ann.  At an instant, this wooden art caught my attention, seeing it in all souvenir shops.  But to my surprise, this figure has no particular local significance.  It only showcases the local artistry.

Kabayongdagat

I got this from Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan in May 2011 during CEM’s annual summer outing.  Seahorse is locally called kabayongdagat.  I actually didn’t see any of this kind during our stay there. But its color reminds me of how vibrant the island is even in a stormy weather.

Bulol

This was collected from Baguio City where I was assigned as field representative during the NMAT test administration in December 2010.  Bulol is a famous wooden art from the Cordillera region depicting an Ifugao rice god in seated position.

Abugida

In August 2010, I went to Bangkok, Thailand for the 36^th IAEA Conference and I got to experience authentic Thai culture – from doing the “wai”, eating “Phad Thai”, joining a canal tour, visiting temples to haggling at night market.  So, I brought home this magnet which has Thai script, known as abugida, to remind me of the amazing Thailand experience. Sawatdee!

Mamag

Two things that must not be missed when you visit Bohol: the Chocolate Hills and the Philippine Tarsier.  I was lucky to see both when we went to Tagbilaran City, Bohol in May 2010 for the CEM annual summer outing.  So, I brought home this Mamag, local name for tarsier, as a souvenir.  Mamag is endemic to the country.

IAEA 2009

My first official trip abroad was in September 2009 when I attended the 35^th International Association for Educational Assessment (IAEA) Conference held at Brisbane, Australia.  I was not able to bring home any ‘Australian’ magnet but I got this from one of the booths in the conference to remind me of that trip. J

In a nutshell...

Traveling, be it personal or official trip, is one passion I share with most people around me and loved one.  Each travel won’t be complete without bringing home some mementos to remind us of the great times we had. As a proof, I am posting here some of the mementos collected throughout the past years and I call it - my Road Magnet collection.  

And to put more kakikayan on this collection, each magnet has its own name and some stories to tell.