Adto na 'ta

If you don't mind a few strangers singing you the birthday song while the people in the nearby tables are looking, then I encourage you to celebrate your birthday in Sambokojin.  Sambokojin has this promo where someone who is celebrating his birthday can enjoy a free buffet meal which is worth 699 on weekends and 669 on weekdays.   The promo is good  for three days before the actual date, three days after the actual date of the birthday and the day itself.   Only the companions of the  celebrator will pay for their meals while the celebrator gets a complimentary buffet meal.  He has to produce a valid ID containing his birth information to qualify for the promo though, so you had better prepare it before you make a reservation.   Sambokojin has four convenient branches that you can go whichever is convenient for you.  They have a branch in  Edsa, Eastwood, Alabang and West Avenue.   We went to Eastwood City and it was a meal that ...

My first visit to the local Walk of Fame , which can be seen in the interior part of Eastwood City, across the newly opened Eastwood Mall was accidental, but it was a pleasant experience anyhow.  I was there by chance, only to join a friend's despedida , or a send-off dinner before he leaves for abroad.  A despedida is a party thrown for someone or by someone who is departing or leaving.   I was lucky to be there on the night when some stars would be unveiled.   I was able to see some local celebrities.  The Walk of Fame in Eastwood City is a brainchild of Master Showman German Moreno or Kuya Germs.   According to many, he is a star-builder or star-discoverer. The '80s reality-talent show "That's Entertainment" is just one of the long-running TV shows that can be attributed to his brilliance.   One of the stars that would be unveiled that night is Megan Young's.  Megan Young is the newly-crowned Miss World, the most coveted title yet a...

If you are fond or a lover of organic food, the kind that screams of chemical-free goodness and gourmet cooking, then you should definitely drive to Los Banos , Laguna and try the meals and preparations that only Herb Republic can create.  Herb Republic is located conveniently at Lopez Avenue, the road that will take you at the doorstep of UP Los Banos.  I can guarantee that every centavo you will be paying for the meal is well-spent.  You will enjoy their food, just like I did.   One of the best-seller is their very own Herb Republic Sandwich.  What I like about it is the soft bread that they use.  It probably was the softest sandwich bread I have ever had the pleasure to eat.  It is packed and complete with the greens and meat that you are looking for in a sandwich.  It is a good starter if you ask me. While you are still debating which to order.   The price is not really that average if you ask me but if you consider the goo...

Finally, after so many attempts to share information about Phuong Vietnamese Restaurant , one of the favorites of the locals of Los Banos for serious international food, I finally made it. And if I thought I was the only one thinking along those lines, i was wrong 'cause others have already beat me to it, but I am writing about it anyway.  So, this is Phuong , probably one of the authentic Vietnamese restaurants in the country.  It is managed by the owner herself who is a genuine Vietnamese and whose failed attempts to speak in Tagalog does not diminish the excellence of her food preparation.   Phuong does not need an elaborate signage and marketing for anyone who's been there once will definitely return a hundred times.   Phuong has been written about and featured in some major dailies because of its popularity and of course, excellent food. My favorite and one that I would order whenever I would get assigned in Los Banos is the beef noodle , or the Pho ...

  Yes, finally, our representative bagged that elusive crown we have attempted to bring home for many decades.  In the paradise island of Bali, one of 17,500 islands of the largest archipelago in the world, Indonesia, Megan Young would make history for she is the first Filipina who would reign as Miss World for one year.  Her bright and round expressive eyes, statuesque figure and confident answer (never mind if it is generic) would convince the judges that the crown belongs to her.  She'd been a favorite from the moment she arrived in Bali, captivating the hearts of many.   Megan maintained her top post throughout the entire process, winning some minor awards and even performing one of the epic dances from our Muslim brothers. Indeed, the Philippines got the perfect ticket and she was ripe and for the opportunity.  The timing was simply impeccable. The timing couldn't be more perfect especially that the Philippines needed a silver lining when everyt...

    One of the reasons that tourists go to Mt. Mayon in droves is the ATV Adventure.   This activity allows tourists to go to the foot of Mt.  Mayon and see the beauty of this great lady up close by means of an all-terrain vehicle.  Up there, visitors can also enjoy the view of the city of Legaspi.  They can also savor the scent of the clean mountain air and get lots and lots of photographs amid the verdant background.  ATV stands for all-terrain vehicle.  This transportation is especially built to enable riders to get past all kinds of terrain , may it be rough, rocky, watery, sandy, muddy, hilly, etc.  It is basically automatic, but it also has gears (I wouldn't know when to use them, if you ask me.)    Before I started my three-hour drive to the foot of Mt. Mayon, I had a quick dry-run just to test if the machine was working well.  Also I made sure that  I was wearing all the necessary gears to keep me sa...

Yours truly is still reeling from the experience of actually seeing the majestic Mayon Volcano down in Legazpi, a city which is about an hour away from Manila by plane.  I was able to get a reservation when Air Philippines had super discounted rates last summer and had it scheduled last week when monsoon rains were pouring in Manila .  It was cloudy and humid in this area of Luzon.  Despite the dry weather, we still could not see the perfect cone of Mt. Mayon, which was a damper to many excursionists that were also in Legazpi at that time.  But, as the locals would say beautiful, " Magayon " is not enough to describe how awesome and breathtaking a lady Mt. Mayon is. Like a woman, Mt. Mayon is regal, cool and collected, but also mysterious and there's no telling when she will explode, scary thought, right?  Mt. Mayon is the major landmark of the province, rising tall and proud at 2,462 meters.  It can be seen from at least 8 neighboring towns.  How wo...