Native Angeleno

This just in from Batangas City:

BATANGAS CITY—It was something only a movie star could have conceived.

Why not put up a towering “Batangas” sign on Taal Volcano island similar to the “Hollywood” sign in Los Angeles, California?

The provincial council approved on October 5 a resolution supporting the idea of Governor Vilma Santos-Recto, the award-winning actress, to erect a hard-to-miss landmark and potential tourism draw, according to Vice Governor Mark Leviste II.

Emelie Katigbak, officer in charge of the Batangas tourism office, said floating restaurants or fish pens can be set up on Taal Lake in such a way that their layout would form the famous Batangueño expression “Ala Eh.”

It could be such a dazzling sight especially if lit up at night, she said.

A hundred years ago, Hollywood had the great idea that to write it’s own name on a mountain, like a summer camper scrawling his name on his underwear in magic marker. For a century since, we’ve been trying to convince the world this is a brilliant, glamorous piece of showmanship.  Look!  We’re Hollywood!  It says so right on our mountain. 

Mostly the world has fallen for it.

But as of today, we’re not alone.

(via curbed)