• Home
  • About me
  • My Privacy Policy

Inside Philippine politics & beyond

Pia Guanio and Steeve Mago in Rome

August 20, 2011

Share:
Twitter0
Facebook0
LinkedIn0
Pinterest0

 

By Raïssa Robles

“Awesome” was the word Pia often used to describe the blitz trip she and Steeve took recently.

It was Pia’s first trip ever to Europe – something that my husband Alan had been prodding her to do for YEARS AND YEARS.

But Pia’s right. The best way to see Europe, especially Italy, is with someone you love and care for.

Before I go any further, I’d like to explain why a hard-boiled journalist like me – whose specialty is writing on politics and the Muslim rebellion – is also writing about Pia.

First off, I am proud to say I didn’t start out as a journalist but as a fiction writer and for me, no subject is off limits. Especially love.

It sort of balances all the evil, depressing and murderous things I regularly write about. Love has to be part of life or we would just be leading “lives of quiet desperation,” as that American visionary Henry David Thoreau wrote shortly before our national hero Dr. Jose Rizal was born.

People have asked me why we know Pia. I met Pia through Alan who hired her to be first a writer, then an editor of his Internet lifestyle magazine Link. Even back then, Alan was already telling Pia she should see Europe.

So when Pia finally said she and Steeve wanted to go to Italy, Alan gave them tips for their journey. Alan goes regularly to Berlin to lecture on Internet journalism, and then passes by Italy on his way home.

To put you in that romantic mood, I’m including a YouTube video below of Frank Sinatra’s “Three Coins in the Fountain”, which refers to the fountain that Steeve and Pia visited.

The video’s intro starts with a panoramic view of the central fountain at the Piazza Navona, where the Fontana di Trevi is located on one side.

So, just play it while you look at their photographs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuLI2G9HNtM&feature=related

I asked Pia to give me some for uploading for her fans and here they are.

Coins in the fountain

The fountain is called Fontana di Trevi and is the most famous lovers’ fountain in the world. It was originally built to be like our very own MWSS – the end point of a waterworks system where fresh water was brought to Rome through 14 miles of pipes. The original was built over 400 years ago but the way it’s designed now was put up only in 1762.

A 1954 movie made it popular for lovers to toss coins in the fountain with their backs turned. If you do that, the saying goes, you would come back to Rome and seal your love forever. All those tossed coins are gathered nightly and placed in a fund to help Rome’s poor.

Pia-ROME-Steve-fountain-RES

By stretching out his left arm while holding a camera, Steeve Mago takes his and Pia Guanio's photo in front of the Fontana di Trevi in Rome - PHOTO by Steeve Mago

Pia and Steeve inside St. Peter’s Church in the Vatican

No trip to Rome is complete without visiting the colossal St. Peter’s Church.

Pia-ROME--church-inside-RES

Pia Guanio inside St. Peter's Church, Vatican - PHOTO by Steeve Mago

They were both struck by this sculpture of the Holy Mother and Jesus Christ, located at the entrance of St. Peter’s Church.  They don’t recall which one of them took the photo.

Pia-ROME--Pieta-vatican-RES

La Pieta by Michelangelo, inside St. Peter's Church, Vatican - PHOTO by either Steeve Mago or Pia Guanio

Around Rome

Steeve and Pia did not join any tour group but walked all day long in the streets of Rome, using a guidebook and an audio tour – finding beauty in unexpected places.

Which I guess was one of the reasons they were beaming :

Pia-ROME-Steve-in-white-rom

Steeve Mago - PHOTO by Pia Guanio

 

Pia-ROME-church-outside-pho

Pia Guanio - PHOTO by Steeve Mago

And now I’ll have to meet my deadline. I’ll upload some more photos soon.

Tagged With: Fontana di Trevi, Italy, Pia Guanio, Rome, St. Peter's Church, Steeve Mago, Three Coins in the Fountain, Vatican

Comments

  1. S-Class says

    July 6, 2012 at 1:51 PM

    weee bakulaw asawa ni pia sayang lang kagandahan nya cguro nagayuma yan si pia sa bakulaw na yan ang pangit na itsura ng asawa mo pia cgurado maghilaway lng kau tagal2x

    • raissa says

      July 6, 2012 at 4:08 PM

      wa-class ka.

  2. bahjoy says

    March 27, 2012 at 7:00 PM

    i visited italy last november, though alone, i still find it fascinating. this year i plan to go back with my hubby. another city worth visiting is Foggia, where you will find the Shrine of Padre Pio.. it was just heavenly

  3. ric says

    March 5, 2012 at 10:28 PM

    Right, Rome is a great place for walking. Unfortunately, I was without a girl when I toured it.

    • DaveofBacolod says

      July 6, 2012 at 5:27 PM

      Ok lang yan isipin mu na lang yung mga forever alone na nag totour sa Paris :)

« Older Comments
First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Socialist Then they came fof the Trade Unionists, and I did not out speak out— Because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me— And there was no one left to speak for me. —Martin Niemöller (1892-1984)

Subscribe to raissarobles.com

Please select all the ways you would like to hear from raissarobles.com:

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. For information about our privacy practices, please visit our website.

This blog uses MailChimp as a mass mailing platform. By clicking below to subscribe, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to MailChimp but only for processing. Learn more about MailChimp's privacy practices here.

Christopher “Bong” Go is a billionaire – Duterte

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NmX1Px57cI

Find more of my articles by typing here:

My Stories (2009 – Present)

Cyber-Tambayan on Twitter:

Tweets by raissawriter

Copyright © 2023 · News Pro Theme On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Decline Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT