BFMFINS eMAGAZINE

The miss-conception about Las Vegas is, there is no life outside of the strip!. I do not want to get into the details of real state dilemma when foreclosure was happening in every corner of the city and at present, the total contrast as there is not enough inventory that housing construction has flourish again. Now, outside the world famous Las Vegas strip, are tourist spots that shows the terrain, landscape and the true beauty of Las Vegas with out the neon lights. I have included photographs of Red Rock Canyon which is a part of the National Landscape Conservation System located about 15 miles west of Las Vegas. This beautiful landscape is visited by about 1 million visitors from all over the world. The rock formation and the color of the rock mountain dominates the landscape of the whole canyon against the clear blue sky. The pictures below are taken from the vista park overlook of the canyon on the early days of the spring of 2014. Next time you come to our beautiful city, consider a tour of our sights and the sound of nature that will make your Las Vegas experience will be complete. Photos by Bobet Torres www.focalcenterphotography.com

Undas, Araw ng mga Patay, Day of the Dead, All Saints Day, Todos Los Santos, all means the same thing no matter how it is called, is a highly celebrated holiday in the Philippines. The Filipinos visit graveyards and pay respect to their dearly departed by means of praying and offerings at he grave site of their love ones. After the solemnity of Todos Los Santos, comes the festive atmosphere of the thousands of people conglomerating on cemeteries all over the Philippines. The entrepreneurs take advantage of the opportunity by setting up small services to all of the families that visits their deceased love ones. A small fair (peria) with ferris wheel, rat racing (karera ng daga), and other games that is meant to encourage you into spending, naturally. Fish ball push carts and ballot vendors (egg with a duckling inside), would litter the area and they will be open for business for as long as there are prospective customers. This was the scene, the ambiance, the festive feeling that I remembered from growing up in the Philippines and became one of the many, that experienced the celebration of Todos Los Santos.... boy! how I've miss that.

Today, it is the Halloween, though celebrated differently, still has the same direction, meaning, purpose, which is honoring and respecting the love ones who had passed on. I was fortunate to have been invited at the Jacinto residence and joined the family and friends in celebrating Halloween. This are a group of young Filipinos who gets together for a Halloween costume party and celebrating Todos Los Santos, America style. Below are pictures of participants in costumes, which by the way the best attire gets a price. To motivate the participants in dawning a variety of expensive outfit a price money is collected amongst themselves, then divided for the first, second, and third prize winners, not to mention food, food, food.

Though the disparity of the way Halloween / Todos Los Santos is celebrated, it still carries with it the same intentions and respect for our deceased love ones who are still missed, remembered and forever loved. Happy Halloween 2013....... Photos by: Bobet Torres