Adto na 'ta

I hate to say it, but Manny Pacquiao 's loss against Bradley was a sign that he should have taken it slow in 2012.    Like all the other Filipinos, I waited for his fourth fight against El Dinamita but not eagerly, and did not stay glued to the tube because I've always viewed boxing as a violent sport or trade or whatchamacallit.   I do not know the mechanics of the trade but have accepted that fact that a lot of people live off the sport that is boxing.   Today's game, where Manny lost to Marquez, is really a testament that there is a time for everything and if something is meant for you, no amount of prevention or other forces can stop it.   So I guess, Filipinos, being fatalistic that we are, have accepted the fact that Manny's winning streak ended, but it does not mean that he did not do his best to win today's match.   Manny has always been a serious athlete, and I have respect for him and admire the respect that he has for the sport.  He ...

The second item on my list of comfort foods is:  The Buko Pie.  When you go down south of Manila especially in Laguna , you will notice many ambulant vendors selling this, specially to bus riders.  This is a very common and tasty " pasalubong " when somebody is coming from Laguna area.  For Filipinos, bringing a present from where we went for a trip or holiday is part of our culture.  It seems odd if we don't get anything for the people awaiting our arrival and this is what we call 'pasalubong'.   Buko pie from Laguna is almost like a trademark of the province.   Laguna is not only known for being the hometown of our national hero , but it is also known for many delicacies, topping the list of these delicacies is the buko pie. Its main ingredient is of course the flesh of the buko, which is a young coconut when the "flesh" is still soft and tender.   It is best eaten when it is hot and fresh from the oven, and its sweetness goes well with ...

Filipinos are fond of eating.  As a matter of fact, we eat 6 or even 7 times a day.  We have breakfast, lunch and supper and in-between-meal refreshments .  Sometimes, we have a small meal before a big breakfast.  In the Visayas, they call it, " painit ".   We find a lot of reasons to celebrate and prepare food.  We have different food for different occasions, events and gatherings.  And we also have comfort foods.  These are foods that are associated to feeling a sense of contentment or home or anything that's familiar to us, like our childhood.  The Ilocos Empanada is one of the food that I consider comfort food.    It is a treat I give myself when I am in the pleasure of the company of friends. Nowadays, we can see a few stalls that sell Ilocos empanada in Quezon City, but this specialty originated from the Ilocos Region as its name would imply   There is empanada from Vigan and Batac (which is also called Laoag em...

Well, after 5 weeks and about 10 phone calls, Lazada finally sent the items I bought. I want to express my gratitude for the packaging which looked very decent and well-done  I heard that they were not as fastidious as they were with other buyers in the past (see lazada facebook).  I can't wait to try the items  which I really was looking forward to using for a month ago already.    Well, what can I say, but muchos gracias.  Please ignore my previous posts.

" It's more fun in the Philippines " is the 2012 slogan of the Department of Tourism for its promotion of the Philippines in order to attract tourists, something that I was never convinced about from the start, BUT that might just change now as election fever started or shall we say, that the "circus" has arrived.   If you were monitoring the characters or personalities or whatchamacallit, that filed their certificates of candidacy for the 2013 elections, you'd be surprised at the vast  reserve of talents (OMG) that we have.   I did not realize there were a lot of Dolphy-wannabes in this country.   The supply is overflowing it can keep a comedy club open for 24 or more hours. It seems that every election season we keep adding more clowns or discovering more comedians.   The new addition to the portfolio is the 'brother-in-law' of the incumbent president who claimed that he is married to  the president's celebrity sister, Kris.   I know tha...

You all probably have heard about Lazada, which is an online store or something like that.  I'm sure you have heard of them because whenever you visit a website, their big banner just appears before you, flashing their new promos and enticing people to make a purchase.  But wait, before you give your credit card number, think 100 times if you don't want to subject yourself to the agony that I'm suffering till now.  It just is simply not for the fainthearted. You see, I have been waiting (im)patiently for Lazada to deliver the items I purchased last September 4, 2012  and it is going to be a month of waiting by tomorrow.  Am I waiting for Godot? It's been a month and I should have been enjoying the Coby Kyros and the hair dryer already but still there is no positive indication that Lazada will ever send them.  I have called Lazada  five (5) times to follow up and I have talked to Len, Pete and Nathan and sent a snapshot of the deposit slip (so th...

San Agustin Church should be in the places-to-see list for tourists who come to Manila.  Not only is it the oldest stone church in the country, but it is a reservoir of historical artifacts collected from the 440 years that it stood even after the British, American and Japanese occupations.  I would like to think that it is our version of the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence because of the many areas around the entire complex (a monastery has been added to the church) although its simple facade conceal this fact.  San Agustin has undergone many reconstructions in its 440 years and in 1993 was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO. There are many interesting items inside the church starting from the entrance where an antique bell weighing 3,400 kgs. welcomes visitors.  This bell was originally in the belfry but a strong earthquake in 1863 damaged the belfry so it was finally taken down in 1926. From the entrance where one pays P100,...

Loyal patrons of the annual Legazpi Sunday Market are in for a treat as GeiserMaclang Marketing Communications and the organizers of the successful Sunday street souk, as well as Alveo, opens Makati Street Market for 4 successive Sundays starting September 23, 30, October 7 and 17.    This soon-to-be mecca of weekend shoppers is an elevated version of the successful Legazpi Sunday Market which has run for seven (7) years and showcased, among others, international cuisines, organic finds, hand-made products, green items, and local products. This undertaking is in line with the campaign of Ayala Land Inc.  (ALI) which is Make it Happen! Make it Makati! and the local government to cater to the ever-changing lifestyle of the dynamic denizens of the city.    The location of the market is highlighted as a lifestyle spot for the present breed of creative denizens because of the array of bars, shopping spots, museums and concept stores located in the area.

I  thought I have seen everything that Rizal Park has to offer so I often would take it for granted whenever I would tour some visitors around Manila.  However, this day, I saw some new additions that are worth noting.  For those who have not been to this area of Manila (probably hiding under some big rocks, or preferred traveling overseas than locally)  it might interest you that some historical figures' busts were added along the area where the fountain is.   I only have seen and recognized one really closely, Pantaleon Villegas, so I think this new feature is a history refresher course.  Pantaleon Villegas is Leon Kilat and he led the revolution in Cebu , which was not really successful because, as you guessed it, a betrayal from one of his assistants.    There are others still who have made it to our history books, but some sadly sounded obscure to me, so I definitely would suggest to history teachers to take school kids and conduct histo...

Eugene Domingo's popularity both as a TV actress and movie star is undeniable.  Every Filipino, young or old, knows Eugene because of her movies that are box-office hits for their entertainment quality.  I cannot forget the first movie of Eugene that I watched, Kimi Dora.  The plot is really simple and common, but Eugene's deadpan portrayal of her characters is just funny and totally hilarious.  I tried not to miss the chance to see "Ang Babae sa Septic Tank," an indie film that also earned Eugene many awards and brought her fame, both here and abroad. Eugene took a hiatus from theater and concentrated in other projects in tv and the movies but her real ticket to entering the world of acting is theater.  And now, she made a comeback through the classic Lino Brocka film 'Bona'.   PETA's Bona is set in current times where Bona is more empowered and have a stronger spirit. The story line is the same, but the situations and circumstances leading to the...

If you are a coffee and donut afficionado (like me), better head for the nearest Krispy Kreme branch and get The Coffee Passport that Krispy Kreme is offering its loyal customers on its 75th birthday.  Start enjoying the Krispy Kreme donut and coffee goodness by buying a medium or large cup of Signature Coffee or Espresso to get the Coffee Passport.  Beginning August 17 (about 4 days ago) this passport, will give you a chance to get free treats from Krispy Kreme.  All a customer has to do is to collect stamps to fill it: one cup of Signature Coffee or espresso for one stamp, and a Brew Box or a Brew Box Jr. for two. The completion of three stamps will get a customer a free half dozen of Original Glazed doughnuts (Yum, my favorite). Six stamps will equate to a free Krispy Kreme birthday mug, while a box of a dozen Original Glazed doughnuts will be given in exchange of a dozen stamps.  (Wow, that's a week's supply of donut!) These passports will be availa...

If there is something that I will bet that will make people come to Liliw , it most definitely will be Chef Mau's restaurant.   Liliw is one of the smaller towns of Laguna , a province in the south of Luzon.  It is popular for its shoe industry that is really gaining attention and popularity nationwide because of their colorful appearance and casual appeal.   Chef Mau's is a motorists dream because of the big serving and very reasonable price of  their menu which is a combination of local and international fare. A small serving of hotpot would be a good opening salvo, especially on rainy days.  Not only is it tasty but also very filling.  As you can see, there are heavy contents to it.  It's already a complete meal itself. Aside from the common spices, Chef Mau's hot pot has thin noodles, slices of meat and thin egg fries that add to its substance. This serving costs only  P80. This number is not your usual pansit because it...

  If you've ever thought about taking a vacation and exploring the Philippines , now would be the best time to turn that idea into a reality. It doesn't matter if you want a quiet retreat or a thrilling adventure ; whether you're planning your honeymoon or just going out with friends, there is no shortage of options in the upcoming 23 rd Philippine Travel Mart (PTM) this coming August 10 to 12 at the SMX convention Center in Pasay City. Now bigger than ever, the Philippine Travel Mart (PTM)—the longest-running travel trade show in the country—is set to showcase the Philippines in the upcoming Sale ng Bayan . Featuring heritage and eco-adventure tours from all over the Philippines, the 23 rd PTM is the result of various familiarization and exploration trips that bring new tour products into the market every year. The annual event is organized by the Philippine Tour Operators Association (PHILTOA), in cooperation with the Department of Tourism. With almost ...

I had to rush to this popular department store in Calamba because I desperately needed to get a new pair of slippers.  My old ones succumbed to the harsh punishment that my sweaty feet subject them to, so I needed to find another set of victims.   After going around the mall and selecting a really good and durable pair, I went to the cashier to pay and I was pleasantly surprised to see that their No Plastic Bag policy seemed to be implemented strictly by the store employees.  I mentally congratulated the folks at the mall and wished that the same dedication could be done in some bigger malls in bigger cities in the country.    Actually, I did not know that this mall in Calamba has already followed the example that stores in Los Banos (a municipality in Laguna also) have been strictly implementing for the past several years.  So my surprise included a big question mark because I  wondered why stores in Laguna can implement it strictly, ...

Here's great news for foodies, and those who want to indulge in their culinary cravings this weekend, you’re in luck friends because the Mezza Norte night food market opens in Quezon City on Thursday and the Ulimate Taste Test holds its ninth round in Alabang on Sunday! From the same organizers of the popular Mercato Centrale food market in Bonifacio Global City, Mezza Norte in UP-AyalaLand Technohub along Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City brings together the best in home-cooked foods and pastry and dessert finds that the North has to offer, along with your Mercato Centrale favorite food stands! Mezza Norte opens on Thursday (July 26) and will be open every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 6:00pm to 3:00am.   Organized by  Anton Diaz, of www.OurAwesomePlanet.com , the Ultimate Taste Test 9.0 is an opportunity to try out and personally critique different specialty foods and new or soon-to-be-launched dishes straight from the kitchens of up and coming and pop...

Pan de Amerikano has been written about countless times and by word-of-mouth became one of the top party venues in the Metro.  Out of curiousity, I jumped at the chance to attend a birthday party held here just to view it the second time around.  The facade is so simple, but classic.   I tried to recall what I saw the first time i stepped inside the premises one or two years ago.  And I remembered a wide party venue with unique decors and fancy ornaments.  I asked my friend what the charm of Pan de Amerikano is and she said the vines hanging from the ceiling and the stream with a bridge seems to be an image from a forest or jungle and she was right.  I immediately got lost in  the forest and thought of birds flitting and butterflies floating around. What's a jungle without a waterfall to cool hikers and hunters?  This backdrop is enough to cool guests during a warm summer afternoon while enjoying Pan De Amerikano's afford...

The " Pambansang Kamao " is hard at work again in preparation for his upcoming match with Tom Bradley on June 9, 2012.  Like his previous matches, Manny endured all sorts of pain and countless hours to be physically and mentally ready in defending his title in order to bring honor to the country.  On this particular day, the entire country and Alaxan FR fully supports the "Pacman."  Support our Pambansag Kamao and wear your Philippine pride through the special edition Aray Mo, Galing Natin Pilipinas shirts by Alaxan FR. You can get one of these shirts simply by joining my promo and following these rules:   1. Show your support for Manny by taking a photo greeting for him for his upcoming fight against Timothy Bradley on June 10. Hold a placard, a board, or a paper with your one-liner message and don’t forget to include “Aray Mo, Galing Natin Pilipinas!” 2. Send the photo to pacquiaobradley@gmail.com . State your name, contact number, and for tracking ...

If you are looking for a perfect getaway for the weekend, during summer or even during Christmas vacation when people have almost three weeks of respite from their jobs, the "Queen City of the South" is the place to go and chill for the following reasons: 1. Cebu provides a refresher course of Philippine history especially on the topic of Spanish colonization .     It is a reservoir of historical landmarks , an example of which is the Cross which Magellan planted when he arrived in 1521.  Another one that you can see is Fort San Pedro, the oldest Spanish fortress in the country which was built in the 16th century.   2.  Being an island province, Cebu's entire coastline can practically become your resort or bathing area.   The options are limitless.  From the northern part down to the south,  swim, chillax and engage in your favorite water activity at all kinds of accommodations imaginable. 3.   Low crime rate ....

Spotted at Rizal Park before turning right to T. M. Kalaw from the kilometer 0 marker is this signboard  bearing the new slogan of the Department of Tourism .  So it's official.  I don't want to be a wet blanket because as a Filipino, it's my duty to support our government in its endeavors to make our society or country a better place to be in than others, but I need more convincing that  indeed it's more fun in the Philippines .  I guess so do other Pinoys.  It is easy to say it, but convincing ourselves especially might be a difficult task.  There should be more that we can offer other than the Filipino hospitality we are so well known for and the world-class resorts and destinations .  

Metro Manila has become one of the most popular travel destinations in Asia.  Tourists come here for various reasons.  Some would be here for a short stop before going to their real destination which is probably one of the small islands in the country, well, especially for the sun-worshippers.  Whatever is the reason for one's travel, finding a suitable accommodation is one of the things to consider.  Many factors should be considered also in finding a suitable accommodation.  One of the considerations is the budget you have allocated for the accommodation, be it budget or sky is the limit. And your choice of hotel should jive with your purpose of coming to Manila.  Personally, if it is a business trip then I would book at a hotel that serves breakfast or has included breakfast in the payment per room as it will save me time which I could use for preparing for the business meetings that I should be attending.  However, if my schedule is really liberal ...

  Taft Avenue just got more exciting as the famed street welcomes the latest addition to its line of dynamic dining and lifestyle establishments —The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® Set to open in One Archer’s Place on Fidel Reyes St. near De La Salle University (DLSU), the new The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® shop will be ready to open its doors to its first customers starting January 30—serving everyone with their  full selection of internationally-acclaimed signature blends and gourmet treats and dishes.

Do you want to increase your chances of getting more lucky for the year 2012?  Then waste no time and head for the nearest Fully Booked branch before the Year of the Dragon officially begins so that you can still purchase some of the remaining copies of The 2012 Water Dragon Lunar Calendar .  The world-renowned feng shui master Joseph Chau has given us the ultimate guide to enhance our luck for this year by including in this guide the following: - luck readings for all the different signs - a directory of all feng shui particulars for the year 2012 - a fertility table/calendar - a feng shui chart of 2012 and - your complete guide to 2012 on lucky days for your sign :-) This year's Lunar New Year's Day is on Jan 23, 2012 and this year is a water dragon year.  If you need more understanding on what the water dragon brings to us, whether it is luck or bad luck, then purchase this ultimate guide.  Kong Hei Fat Choi!!!