MMDA Traffic Navigator

I am so excited with this website, the MMDA Traffic Navigator (tears of joy forming). I have always wanted to write about MMDA and commend their pro-active use of the internet, just haven't gotten around to it yet.  The different online avenues they use are always so helpful and easily accessible.

And now, this. The Traffic Navigator shocked and awed me. Happies!!! :-D
I have not fully used it, but so far, I have found that the usability of the site is excellent.

• Areas are easy to find
• Color coding of degree of traffic is simple so it will be quick to see at a glance.  This is especially handy when people tend to check their mobile phones for traffic.
• The 2 items in the Navigation is a top need (south/ north bound and areas)
• No. of minutes ago updated is shown
• Plus a map of the area is provided and easily seen

Still in beta, so works only in the mornings, for now. But two thumbs up!

Monitors 6 areas:
- EDSA
- Quezon Avenue
- Espana
- C5
- Roxas Blvd.
- SLEX

Just click then it will show more specific areas, and whether traffic is light, moderate, heavy.

See http://mmdatraffic.interaksyon.com/system-view.php

This is the type of work I expect from the government and all its agencies.
Kudos also to ABC-5 for this joint project.  

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What to Eat for Holy Week - Chili Sardine Angel Hair Pasta and Kani Sandwich at Figaro

I'm not Catholic. Since most of you are, I'm just sharing this because I know you'll be looking for yummy food on no-meat Fridays. Visit Figaro for their yummy Chili Sardine Angel Hair Pasta or Kani Sandwich. You'll surely enjoy these filling meals. It may be no-meat but maybe you'll still sin because you'll surely find pleasure eating it.




I love sardines pasta. I cook it when I get the chance. Figaro's Chili Sardine Angel Hair Pasta though, is the way I envision how my sardines pasta should taste (which I never get quite right, btw.) The amount of olive oil is just right. The pasta is not dry or greasy. The spiciness from the Spanish sardines and the chili flakes is mild enough for everyone, I suppose. Plus the combi of the olives, parmesan and parsley are will leave your restless tastebuds satisfied. Ah yes, angel hair is the perfect pasta used for this little beauty. I always use spaghetti when I cook sardines pasta. The thickness of the noodle in my own version takes away some of the flavor.

Anyway, why tire yourself to cook pasta? You can just hop on over to Figaro to get a nicely cooked, warm and perfect sardines pasta, right.

The Kani Sandwich is okay. I love kani salads, so this sandwich is okay for me. I just wish the bread had a rougher texture (like wheat or rye) to balance out the softness of the crabstick and vegetables. That's just me though. It's overall yummy.

Prices are also reasonable - P180 for the pasta and P179 for the sammich. It's okay because it's a meal in itself and satisfying.

P.S.  My officemate (also an avid pasta cook)  and I ate at Figaro again last Wednesday.  She tried out the Chili Sardine Angel Hair Pasta.  The verdict from this pasta fan:  Thumbs up.  She wanted more.  

Go on over to Figaro and try out these lite meals today! 




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Magnolia Ice Cream Frozen Delights are Back! :-p

I have a gazillion memories about Magnolia Ice Cream and Magnolia Ice Cream Frozen Delights. My family loves to eat. Through time I get to associate food with happy memories, especially if this food was a basic commodity in my childhood.

So of course, when I saw that Magnolia Ice Cream was launching their frozen delights line, I felt a weird mixture of emotions, from "Squeeee!" "Yum." "Yay!"

And of course, when I tasted these, it was the closest one could get to a time machine ride. Same delicious taste I remember. I suddenly had vivid memories of my dad taking me to the Magnolia House buy ice cream cake and several boxes of frozen delights (It was always his contribution to cousins' birthday parties.). Or an earlier memory in my pre-school, when he'd take me to the Magnolia kiosk for an ice cream cone. I would grab his big burly hand with my sticky little one, and we would walk back to the car as I licked the strawberry cone.

Ah, memories. Freud would dedicate an entire section on ice cream for psychoanalysis if I was one of his subjects. lol.

So folks, check out these nostalgic but updatedly hip Magnolia Ice Cream Frozen Delights.

Pinipig Crunch:  SRP : P13

I had to have the sweet corn pinipig crunch first.  *Tears on first bite*  lol.  

Popsies: SRP: P10

No longer twins, but still yum as singles.

Fun Bar:  SRP: P10

Turns your lips and tongue blue for extra goofing around.  heehee. 

Sweetie Bites:  SRP: P11

A sweetie bite for a sweetie (hopefully that's you)

My pops woulda been delighted with the return of these frozen delights if he was still around.  :-)



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GSM Flavors - Yummy, Affordable, Funtime with the Barkada

Been fortunate enough to attend the Ginebra San Miguel (GSM) Flavors iParty last March 25, 2011 at the Makati Grand Tower.

Yeah, I know my blog is more on net and marketing but I just had to include this flavored spirits drink here because 1) I liked their angling on the marketing and 2) I am an overt fan of r&r drinking. Everybody who knows me offline (and on) know that. It would be hypocritical of me to suppress my thoughts online on drinking.

The bloggers were having fun during the iParty and I decided to sample the mixed drinks. I liked Lychee Kiss, which had the GSM Flavours Lychee, strawberry syrup and lychee puree. Nyummers.

I've been to countless laid-back kwentuhans over alcohol at friends' homes in my teens and 20's. It all seems like a ridiculous, foolish phase to non-drinkers. But I did a lot of learning and bonding with people during those years, so all is not a waste. So yeah, I love that GSM is angling the drink as a reliable beverage during barkada tambays. At the suggested retail price of P60-something at stores, it's quite affordable for barkadas compared to the usual P80-100 bottle. Plus, the lychee or apple flavored spirits tastes nice, really. Right now, GSM Flavors can be bought at Pure Gold, Mini-stop, 7-11, Andoks and South Supermarket.

Anyway, for those who are interested to serve something interesting to your friends next time you hang out at home, below is GSM Flavors' recipe for the yummy Lychee Kiss I was telling you about:

Needless to say, I'm also contemplating on serving this for the next time my online friends hang out offline. Hello friends *wave*, see you soonest! Cheers!

Disclaimer: Like anything else you do in life, drink moderately. You don't want to be the drunk one doing the funny stuff while all your friends stay generally sober because they drank moderately. Your friends will definitely remember your weird antics for years to come, and they will still love you regardless, but still drink wisely.




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Be careful what you issue, cause it just might get posted...

When I was younger, say the word "conversion" and what pops into my head are halos, saints, fluffy clouds, angels and the like.  In the past, "conversion" to me denoted more a change of heart to do what god wills you. 

The past years, I have passionately studied "conversions" too, or how to convert, but this time over the internet. These days, in the age of everything in the net, conversion is convincing your web visitors to click on, do what you intend them to do in your site, such as buy, sign up, email to a friend, etc. etc.

Both conversions may be worlds away, you might think, but the objectives are the same :  1)  To get on your good side, 2) reel you in, and 3) When you are reeled, to have you follow what is designed to be followed. 

So the other day I click this link that points to a CBCP directive  to pro-repro health Catholics to NOT receive communion during mass. 

I was appalled of such intolerance documented on paper.  And this act, as is wont of any documentation these days, was scanned and published in Scribd, no less.


While it is this group's utmost right to not tolerate members that do not go along their creed, I'm just saying it is still bad PR to have the world see something so ghastly be posted for posterity on the net.

As long as the net exists, there is the documentation that during the 21st century, there is proof that bigotry existed (and from a denomination that preaches love and godliness. So that really sucks.)

A copy of the CBCP directive 

to pro-RH Catholics to 

NOT receive communion during mass.

If you do not want to re-examine your principles on tolerance and rights, you are entitled to that.  At least avoid having it posted on the net.  These things, posted on the net:   1) don't get into your potential or existing members' good side, 2) you are not reeling in but blocking access to current members and 3) Having your members follow your wishes when they are banned is strange, so that's out.  So yeah, do I even have to point out that things like these do not lead to conversions? 

When online traffic does not convert, they abandon their cart.  And when people abandon carts, they never go back.

You may say we're not a business.  What is this foolishness of abandoned carts, etc.?  Well then, a little imagination will say that any kind of organization will always have similarities to a business.  If you want to shun people for differences in opinion, that is your call.  If you want to be an island in this age of engaging with people, then that is your choice, even if no man is.

It is not my goal to post this to convert, I'm just thinking since yeah, this is my blog.  You should try it sometime. 



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Online Shopping on a Lazy Sunday

It's a nice Sunday morning.

Like many moms who want to snatch some quiet time before the household stirs, I open up my computer and do an online activity I don't usually have the time to do on any day: online shopping for stuff I intend to buy soon, or in a year or two.

Some moms I know who shop online during Sundays usually look for little knick knacks, clothes or gadgets. For me, online shopping would mean I will surf around for computers, cars and real estate.  I like looking these things up once in a while, so I am updated on what are regular prices.  Also, it all adds up in my head to help set some of my life goals.  This way I can estimate when to get myself a house, a car, etc. considering current income.

One of the things that are clear to me are: I don't want to pay monthly for a spanking new, shiny car.  So I'll settle for looking through 2nd hand cars I can pay for in one go, as long as it's reliable and sturdy.  So today, I settle for one of the more reliable buy and sell Philippines websites. 

Ooh, so many cars to choose from.... Just from the simple search, ayosdito.ph came up with this many cars for NCR alone.  So yeah, this site is the go-to for cars.

I think I like this and will fit my budget:

Plus, this is a proven hardy and reliable car.  So I wouldn't mind having one of these.

I've also been looking through the real estate section and some properties have already caught my attention already.   Another one of my long-term plans is to live away from Metro Manila someday... and it's so easy to find real estate according to regions.   I've already noted some communities I would want to settle in.  Something to pen into my plans and fix in the next few....

As for computers, I haven't had the chance to look around... yet I've been hearing some shuffling upstairs signalling that my lazy reverie is about to end.  I will just consult my computer buying guide first, and reserve my shopping-surfing for this next time. 

Resorts World Casino Philippines

Resorts World Manila is a 6-star resort with hotel, casino, mall and the grandest string of entertainment programs located across the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3, in Manila.

For our balikbayans, OFW friends (the overseas kind, this time) and Filipino families, the resort is a one-stop entertainment haven that can accommodate travelers and locals.

Me and my friend Renz of Pinay Mommy A Dreamer won some slot machine funds last night and had a lot of fun at the Resort World Casino.

Slot Machines Galore

At the casino, you won't get bored with the assorted entertainment and the gambling. Of course, there were the gaming tables, but we were only interested in the slot machines.  And there were A LOT of slot machines, with different kinds of ways to win.

I felt like a kid on a field day at Time Zone.

Iffy to Try the Slot Machines?  It's fun and easy

The casino uses strip cards instead of the traditional tokens (the card is also the Membship Card, btw).  You just insert the card in the slot to play (yes, slot machine is still an appropriate word regardless the new currency). Then you key in your PIN, choose your bet and the stakes and you're playing.

Bets at the slot machine start at P1. The minimum bet for other machines are P20, P30, P50, P100.

Renz was so good at figuring out the instructions based on the drawings on the machine.  I've never had problems with figuring out  instructions from graphics, but my mind was addled last night.  So if you're good at understanding illustrations, figure out which games appeal to you first and think if you can win better with the object of the game.

There were also digital roulette tables where you still get to play with people, just that the service is digitized.  Lowest bets there start at P10.

Availing of Winnings

Then if you think you've won enough, you can avail of your winnings at the Resorts World ATMs scattered around the casino. Fun, diba $_$  Or if you like to redeem some beautiful items at the counter, you may choose to do so.  See, I told you it's just like Time Zone, but with better perks.


Sorry I can't tell you about the gaming tables, they are not my thing. I don't play even the regular, non-betting games among friends and family.

But we had so much fun with the little amount we played with.  We won some, we lost some.  Our funds lasted until 12AM.  We went home tired, with zero funds in our card, but happy.

Kudos also to the kind staff of Resorts World.  Whatever we needed, we were assisted graciously by security, service people, kitchen staff, etc.  Yes, now that I think about it, we asked so many people for instructions and we were always accommodated nicely.

Yep, Resorts World Casino is a great place to go to and have fun.


How to Get There

Resorts World Manila is at Newport Boulevard, Newport City Cybertourism Zone, Pasay, Manila Philippines

Here is the Resorts World Manila map (PDF file).
-  Instructions how to get to Resorts World Manila
-  Schedules of Shuttle Service to Resorts World Manila 

For inquiries, call the hotline:  63-2-836-6333 or 63-2-908-8833
or visit their website  http://www.rwmanila.com



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Where to Buy Musical Instruments in Manila - Quiapo, Philippines

Summary:


If you are looking for musical instruments and accessories, visit Evangelista Street in Quiapo, Manila, Philippines for a smorgasbord of musical equipment. I think the prices are lower too.

Just came in from my little field trip in Quiapo.  My teen son is totally into music.  His birthday is coming up and I wanted to see what musical instruments were there in Quiapo.  I wanted to get him something related to his music, but wasn't able to get one today.  

I counted how many years he has been totally interested in music.  It has been 5 years since he went home and asked for a guitar.  When he bought him one, it turned out he already knew how to play.   We had no idea where he picked it up.

A year later, same thing with the keyboard.  He just knew how, we just had to get him the instrument.  He has shown his diligence in studying music pieces all by himself.  He watches how to do a song in YouTube and practices repeatedly everyday.  He is a far cry from how I had been with piano.  I had a teacher and I resented that the teacher had to eat up my Saturdays with boring piano lessons.  (Saturday shows are:  Thundercats, Fraggle Rock, Dungeons and Dragons the Animation, Rainbow Brite and my favoritest Shirt Tales, so yeah, I pretty much hated the lessons.)  I loved playing piano pieces everyday, but totally slept through the lessons and drillszzzzzzz....

So if you want high quality musical instruments and items and you want to get it for lower prices, you can try scouting around in Evangelista St. in Quiapo and ask around for prices.  I was in a rush so I didn't get to ask around for the prices of different instruments. I just asked around for the item I was looking for. Depending on your interest in this post, I can go back and note items for you.  But for now let's discuss

How to get to Evangelista Street, Quiapo

I took the FX to Quiapo (the Quezon Avenue - Espana Boulevard route). At the end of Espana Boulevard still coast along toward the curved road going left.  Your transportation will go through an underpass and 

• When you get up to the main road Quezon Boulevard, you will immediately see signs to the right saying Raon.  
• Get down and walk a little heading to the direction where you came from.  You won't reach the Quiapo Church, but if you reach the Church that is okay, you'll still easily get to Evangelista.  
• Today I got down 2 streets before the Church, G. Puyat.  If you enter another street from Quezon Boulevard, it's alright.  
• Just walk through the street a bit and the first adjacent busy street you will see is Evangelista.
• If you got down at Qiuapo Church, just go to the side of the Church and see the first parallel street beside the Church.  That is Evangelista Street as well.  
•  You will  know it's Evangelista when you see that most shops are electronics stores, motor stores, music lighting stores, speakers stores and sporting goods and music Stores.

There are about 4 Music and Sporting Goods stores near each other from where I emerged from in Gil Puyat.  There might be more but I did not trek Evangelista St. on both ends.

Musical Stores and Sporting Goods usually share a shop.  So if you see trophies outside a store, take a peek if there are guitars hanging inside.  You  have come to the right place then.

I did not see keyboards or pianos, but what I did see today are lots of guitars, drum sets, violins, saxophones, and other smaller percussion instruments.  Of course you can get the other accessories of the instruments there, like guitar strings and picks, amplifiers, drum sticks, cymbals, etc. etc.

Same thing with sports equipment.  If you need lots of trophies, score sheets, etc. for your sports fest;  or if you need exercise equipment, you will find them in Evangelista. I bought a sleeping bag there for my son. The price is about half? or 2/3 the price of a sleeping bag with same specs from sporting goods stalls in the mall.

If you are nearer to Quezon City and don't want to go to Manila, you may also look for musical instruments in Sta. Mesa.


If you have kids who are totally into music for a long time and you know they will do this for a long time, visit Evangelista Street in Quiapo and be surprised at the price differences in music stores that you can find in malls.



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Talaandig Day 2010 and Tribal Wedding

Went to the mountains to witness one of my besties from work get married to a datu. It's been a while since a datu got married in their tribe so it was a very special day for the Talaandigs.  Their wedding day also coincided with the day of the tribe so the atmosphere was really festive.

(Note for researchers who want to copy the pictures:  Please respect the Talaandig Tribe and use their pictures prudently.  They have their own rules about these things that I would not want to intrude on.)

Entrance marker to the Talaandig Ancestral Land.

Crowd was waiting...

I love that most of the tribe were wearing their beautiful dresses.

Program in the morning.

1001 Artworks Exhibit at noon before the wedding. 

Total number of artworks they got was 2000-plus since the nanays in the tribe also flexed their creative muscles. Media used on the canvasses are paint made from clay soil from their land and oil.

 Wood  and clay sculptures

A wall post in the tribal hall depicting the tribal members. 

There are more posts like this in the tribal hall. I think these are made of clay as well.

Painting of Talaandig warrior.

 Painting of Talaandig couple dancing

Another beautiful painting.  There are lots more.

By now, you may have noticed that the Talaandig tribe take their art and culture seriously. I was surprised at how each native REALLY looked at each artwork for a long time before moving on to the next. 

Wedding of Datu Anilaw and Lorie 

My friend Lorie works in an NGO advocating for Indigenous People's Rights.  Anilaw visited their office one day and the rest is literally history.

Start of the wedding. Groom waited at another house. 

They had their own pre-wedding rituals there. 

Then they marched on to the main hall where the bride and the tribe were waiting.

 Groom's march.

  Negotiation of the Dowry.

Money for dowry. Each family member contributes a coin. 

The bride's party also gave coins... Interestingly enough, the total from both parties randomly tied at the same amount (traditionally the groom's party's money should be greater... something indicative about equal standing there, I guess...) 10 chickens were also sacrificed but no one took pictures of that. And the chicken blood was brushed over the money.

 Blessing of the couple.  

Commitment of both families (in this case, the whole tribe) to support them and their family.

 First meal together, courtesy of the sacrificed chikons.

 Ladies of the tribe danced in the hall to seal the deal.

 First dance. I cried at this part. heehee.

 Everybody dance. 

Dances were usually inspired by the animals found in Mt. Kitanlad. I learned of the bird dance and monkey dance. I was with the bride so no dancing for me. I'm so kj.

 Tribal Disco after. 

Music courtesy of local resident artist-musician-poet Waway. Their music that night had reggae and rock beats.  The concert rocked on 'til 4am.

Mt. Kitanlad

We chanced upon several ladies in native dress. This lady is the daughter of a datu.

 Intricate beading on the dresses. 

I think they embellish their own dresses and headdresses.

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Laser Tag in Greenhills, Manila, Philippines

For my niece's birthday, we took her to the Cosplay mania event in the SM MOA then some laser tagging after.  There are several laser tag arenas in the Metro, but we took her and the boys to the Lazer Maxx Laser Tag Arena in Greenhills Shopping Center Roofdeck.

Barney Stinson of How I Met your Mother loved laser tagging and why not, it brings out the natural predatorial spirit that humans repress.  It's quite safe because even if you shoot people, there is generally no impact (unlike paintball, I suppose, where there is some mild impact).

How Laser Tagging Works: The area is set up with obstacles and mazes.  The object of the game is to shoot as many players as possible, despite the obstacles.  It is up to you and your team to be strategic and shoot/tag people as many times as you can.  If you get shot, your laser system is paralyzed for a few seconds, so avoid getting hit.

Laser Tag Cost/ Price:  P190 for 15 minutes in the Greenhills branch (as of October 2010).  Minus P20 for each subsequent game after.  Iced tea is P25 I think, you will surely get thirsty from all that attacking.

What to Expect when you laser tag: 

1)  Pay for your game.

2)  Watch a 5-minute video for instructions.   You will also be provided your alias for the game.

3)  Suit up in the next room.

4)  Laser tag for your life and have fun.

5)  Remove suits

6)  Get the printouts of your scores (but your scores are also in the LCD screen in the lobby).

You have to wear one of these babies so you can play.

I don't think there are lockers there if you have bags with you but maybe you can request for assistance with the bags from the staff.   You can't laser tag lugging your stuff around, of course.

Bring an extra shirt if you want, the place is airconditioned but the adrenaline level will be high you will surely perspire from all the excitement.  Big kids and teen boys even had their yayas mop up their sweat when we were there.  Unkewl, if you haven't heard of self-reliance, it's in the dictionary. 

Yep, you are all lighted up so you can't hide in the dark.

How to get to the Lazer Maxx Laser Tag Arena -  Once in Greenhills Shopping Center, you can park in the open parking facing Ortigas Avenue.  Look for the old Shakeys at the corner facing the parking lot and Ortigas, and Chowking, you will find the entrance-stairway to the Lifestyle Center.  Go up a few floors, at the roofdeck you will find the Lazer Maxx Laser Tag Arena.

To those who are curious where the other laser tag arenas are, I think there are branches in Market! Market!, Alabang Town Center,  Star City and a new one soon to open in Eton Centris Walk in Quezon Avenue-EDSA.   Please add the other branches in the comments section if I missed any.

I hope you all have fun and leave your nannies behind when you go. 

If you want to ask Lazer Maxx Laser Tag Arena Greenhills for more details, call tel. no. 584-5958/ 727-9948/ 726-6517/ 0922-8764962

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Blue Water Day Spa Fun Run on October 17, 2010

It is not uncommon for Online Filipino Workers to have blogs and the perks that come with it.  Perks include getting invites to events, the freebies, some other earning methods.  I'm not too familiar with these, my main interest to earn with a blog is through Adsense.  I have lived under the rock for most of my life so I'm sure I'm not upto much socializing.

One of my bestfriends and also online worker Adreamer though likes going to blog events if the products or advocacy interest her (and if she  actually uses the products).  She allowed me to tag-along to the Blue Water Day Spa press conference last September 2, 2010.  Since I was there anyway might as well blog about it. 

Anyhoo, Blue Water Spa announced they are having a fun run this October 17, 2010 (that's a Sunday) at the seaside of SM Mall of Asia.  It starts real early, 5AM so be sure you get enough sleep.  Interesting though that for this fun run, singlets can be jazzed and snazzed up.  Plus at the end of the race, you can choose to get a massage!  They also have a whole slew of celebrities endorsing and running that day, so you have some eye candy while you put one foot in front of the other.  Yes, Blue Water Spa thinks of everything so that you'll surely be contented and balanced.   See more info and register for the Blue Water Day Spa Fun Run.

Blue Water Spa is encouraging people to go for total wellness.  Being fit is not just exercising alone, or having a massage alone.  It is best to be combine everything in taking care of yourself - good diet, exercise, good health practices.  I have to agree with that. Plus add in lots of love joy, and passion for your interests, I'm sure you will live life well. 


Since I'm writing about Blue Water Day Spa anyway (Please  note:  they don't know me and I don't know them.)  I'm adding their services here just in case you are thinking of getting a massage or some relaxing body treatment. 

• Body Scrub
• Special Touch Treatments
• Head and Feet Treatments
• Facial Treatments

Here is the list of Blue Water Day Spa branches. 

Alright, now I'm tempted to drop by... maybe I'll drag Adreamer there and get me some full body scrub...


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Lung Center Sunday Market is Nice

Mmm... Mmm... Mmmm....

Went to the Lung Center Sunday Market with a friend and we had lots of fun poking great food, rare items and chatting up the friendly Ates and Kuyas with their wares.

As you can get from the name, this weekly market is at Lung Center Hospital along Quezon Blvd and they are set up only on Sundays during morning until 2PM.  It started taking off few years back because of their unique position in offering organically grown fruits and vegetables.  Today I'm not so sure if the veggies and fruits there really are organically grown, but I don't mind.  I didn't go there to get organic food so it doesn't defeat my purpose.  I went there to look and find stuff I don't usually see in grocery stores and I wasn't disappointed.

What you can find in the Lung Center Sunday Market

• Fresh fruits - I noted that the durian today cost PhP130/K since my teammate loves durian.
• Fresh Veggies
• Ready meals. Freshly cooked assortment of viands - meat dishes, sea food, veggie dishes
• Pasta
• Lots of dessert.  Saw cakes, pastries, pie
• Lots of chips  - I got me malunggay chips from Cavite. Yum.
• Lots of cookies.
• Deli items.  Meat cuts, siomai, siopai, etc.
• Fresh juices in different samalamig containers.  I also bought one carrot apple juice that was sooo yum, but as you know your granny is quite absent-minded and left the bottle behind, and did not note the company name.  I wanted to tell the name and contact number to my sister, just in case she wants to order healthy fresh juices for her office people, but alas, my temp amnesia got the best of me.  Sorry much, whoever you are.
• Yum coconut sorbet.  It was a great idea for my friend to coerce me to eat the coconut-lychee icy sherbet before we started walking under the sun.  Kept me cool.  My crazy friend said, as he tasted the sherbet and as we walked along "Ahh... this is the life... it's as if we're in  Provence..."  and here comes a young lass huffing and puffing behind us (the girl who sold us the sherbet)  since Provence boy apparently forgot to pay.  lmao. 
• Coffee.  They have civet coffee for PHP 1,200 for the small bottle and 2,400 for the large bottle. My friend also bought some corn coffee for PhP150.
• Cooking spices.  also yum.

Non-Food items:

• House decor, Thai wooden carvings.  My friend got these little bald Chinese dolls holding different vegetables for only PhP10 each for his kitchen.
• Oriental dishes.  Bento boxes, ceramic bowls, plates, delicate China plates with dainty designs
• Toys
• Usual DV items
• DVDs of classic movies, Discovery DVDs and the usual hodge podge of movies, shows, etc.  I'm extremely pleased with my "BBC DVD - Season 1 of History of Maths" purchase.
• Native stuff - mats, placemats, baskets, rain sticks
• Plants - fantastic, beautiful plants that I can't distinguish if plastic or not, because they're so beautiful
• Pets - I saw some dogs and birds
• Lots of clothes
• and lots lots more you can think of, its there.

What to expect from the Lung Center Sunday Market:

Lots of sun or rain. Whichever.  There are now lots of tents set up I was surprised.  It wasn't like that 2-3? years ago I last visited, so it's a little more comfortable now.

• So wear comfy clothes.
• Wear comfy foot wear, watch out for muddy areas or puddles
• Bring your washable shopping bags
• Expect to eat.  A lot.
• There's a lot of parking but it can get crowded so come early if you're bringing a car.

Going there to meet up with friends or hang with family is nice.  You can just relax and walk about and share some giggles and kwento with your companions, and you get to buy neat stuff, of course.


Please visit them and buy our local products :-))


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Friday Food Trip at Banchetto Emerald

Do you and your friends like hanging out and just eating?

Try going to Banchetto at Emerald.  Banchetto is a street event where food retailers congregate at 12AM at the bangketa (sounds like Banchetto, eh?) and people can buy and eat the foodies they like.

You'll be able to find real heavy meals, finger foodies, foodums on stick, lots of pasta, deli treats, pastries of all kinds, etc etc.

People just wing it there. You eat standing up, or if you arrive early you can reserve your tables and monobloc chairs. 

Either way, if you're with friends, you won't mind the crowds and standing up while eating.

There are other Banchetto days, like during Wedenesdays there's another one at Pioneer and another one somewhere I don't remember.

If you want alcohol there are none there, so those who want a drink better drink up after filling themselves up there.

And of course I did not take a photo.  

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How to Make Frozen Yogurt at Home, Pinoy Style

My garsh!  What a looong post for something so simple!
Here's a summary up here at the top, if you have more questions then you can read more below.

Summary:
1.  Need milk, store-bought yogurt, container with cap.
2. Put milk in container, put spoonful of yogurt. Seal.  Leave on sink counter, look after 24 hours, then freeze.

More below if you want it detailed.
- -

My online team mate introduced me to this yummy treat.  She kept whining online about wanting another and another serving (she lives beside a mall) until I couldn't stand it and finally ate one with her.  She introduced me to White Hat, which is REALLY excellent. The yoghurt there is the best tasting, so far.  I've tried some more brands, but some are too sour, some too unremarkable.  It's still White Hat that has perfectly captured my preference for sweet-sour foodums.  If my teammate had me taste another brand I don't think I'd be interested, really. I have even made up my silly ritual about White Hat "The only way to eat White Hat is to close your eyes at your first bite so you can really taste everything in your head!"

I started looking for ways to make yogurt because my sister said she saw a carinderia-looking mom-and-pop store in CP Garcia Avenue selling fro-yo.  She wondered how they made it.  So me, I looked for recipes and was shocked it was a no-brainer to make a batch!

The results for this when frozen are of course different from yogurt made by a yogurt maker.  The frozen final output bought outside is creamy and melts longer.  This one is more ... whut.. frosty? icy? maybe because of varying freezer temperatures or a lacking ingredient... I wouldn't know!  All I know is that it tastes great!  And I'm making some more!

Warning to the purists and faint-hearted:  My recipe writing is always freestyle, unprecise and with a big dose of lazy.  Meaning: You can just get an idea how it's done, then do it and repeat and repeat til you perfect the taste to your own liking.

Stuff you'll need:
Container with cap
Milk of your choice
(I use the non-fat, high calcium kind. Evap i haven't tried, and don't intend to, but if you're desperate to start today and that's what's there, then go ahead, just don't blame me if results are strange or radioactive.)
Store-bought yoghurt that indicates "LIVE" culture (live, not taped in the studio, okeh.)
Optional:  Sugar or condensed milk if you like it sweet and you aren't too-health manic
(I use condensed because I'm too lazy to stir and melt the sugar)

Then:
Really, it's just put a spoonful of bought yogurt into milk. Seal. Wait 24 hours.

If you feel motivated to read more about it, here it is with more detail:
1.  Put milk in your container (mine has measurement gradients, which I didn't realize til I made yogurt)  Quantity is your call.
2.  From my experimentation, not from youtube:  Add condensed milk or sugar, according to your preference of sweetness.  Shake or stir well.
3.  Put a tablespoon or 2 of the store-bought yogurt in the milk.  Mix a bit or tightly cap and shake.  Real cooks in Youtube put a tablespoon per liter or gallon of milk. 
4.  If it's a warm day, just leave it on your counter top overnight.  Or bring it out to the sun in the morning then bring in at night.
5.  After 24 hours,  put in the freezer.
6.  A bit later you can eat it as is, or add fruit and cereal and you'll be kilig if you are a fan of mall-bought fro-yo.

Note:  Real cooks explained that the live culture breed optimally in temperatures just a bit higher than our usual PH weather.  So if you think a bit, you can estimate adding a little warmth to your container will do the trick.  Me, I just put it on the sink counter on a warm day since my kitchen has an opaque galvanated roof that lets sunlight in .  The last batch I made the other day (when the weather was cool and balmy due to rains)  I wrapped the container in a clean kitchen towel, suffocated it in an SM grocery bag and let stay til the 24-hours was over.  Perfect consistency again!


Reminders  before you start:
-  No brainer:  Keep everything clean.  Purists do a lot of strange things to kill bacteria by heating etc.  but I figured if your containers are clean, and your box of milk and yogurt are freshly opened, you don't need to O-C things up in cleanliness for this little project.
-  Don't be afraid to experiment.  Change things around to suit you and make things convenient for you.  Just remember what you did so you can do it again or avoid it til you get to your perfect yogurt for yourself.
-  Make small batches at first.
-  If, after 24 hours you find funky stinky globs of milk separated from liquid, that's not yoghurt, that funky stinky spoiled milk. 
-  If you earn your own money to buy the ingredients, throw stuff out if yogurt is too funky for you.  If your mom bought the ingredients and it was a failed project, throw it out and claim you ate it all because it was too yummy.
-  Cooking with milk or tomatoes rule:   Do not dip spoons you tasted with back into the mixture.
-  Have your your fruit and cereal ready because you'll like the first batch so much  you'll regret not having toppings.
-  Set aside a small amount of your yogurt and put in the ref as your live culture, not taped from the studio, next time you make another batch.
- If you're health conscious, after your first batch, read up on which live culture bacteria and health benefit that you want in your next batch of yogurt.

Enjoy! 

Please tell me what happened if you do make this.  Come back and leave a message in the comments section.  Thanks!

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How to Pay for Cebu Pacific Online Booking at Banco de Oro

I totally agree with Cebu Pacific's tagline, It's time everyone flies.  Sale tickets are quite affordable.  Bring your family to an island in the Philippines.  Or if you are getting an OD of staying at home and working, treat yourself to a trip!  It doesn't have to be expensive.  You can research the places you can go to and stay at and choose what fits your budget. 

Don't have credit cards to book online?  Booking and paying for the trip is super easy!  You may pay over-the-counter at any Banco de Oro outlet.   Just make sure you have some cash with you when you book online, you will be required to pay at any BDO branch that same day you booked.  So be ready.

Now, are you excited?

First off, the sale page of the Cebu Pacific website is at
http://www.cebupacificair.com/flights-and-fares/seat-sale-promo.html

Pick the place and dates you are flying and fill in the names of all the guests.  Also fill in your contact numbers.

Important:  Note the ff. 
1)   14-digit confirmation number and
2)   EXACT amount to be paid.
*You do not need to print the page that appears after you complete your booking, just right those down.

Now go to BDO and get the orange Payments slip.

You will need your confirmation number and exact amount to pay.

Now fill up the Payments form.  It's super easy.

1 - Fill up Company Name  with  "Cebu Pacific"
2 - Add the date
3 - Under "Subscribers' Account Number" write in the 14-digit confirmation number
4 - Under "Subscriber's Name" put in only one name, either yours or your companions'
5 - Under "Total Cash Payment," write in the exact amount stated in your online booking.  If you put in another amount, Cebu Pacific will not be able to validate your payment. 
6-  Pay to the teller.

That's it.  It's very simple. In a few hours after payment, you will receive a text message from Cebu Pacific stating your travel details. You can also check your email for another confirmation message.

Hope you will be able to travel soon! 










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Yay! Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valour) is Respected this 2010!

The good news is our Araw ng Kagitingan commemoration falls on its exact date this year.

Only because it fell on a Friday.

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One of the things that irk me a lot is the disrespect of moving historical holidays to the nearest Friday or Monday.

A lot of times in the past 10 years, the Day of Valour in the Philippines (April 9) is not important enough.  The commemoration always gets moved a day or two, to accommodate a religious group's week-long holiday.


I'm offended, really.  How dare anyone just change a day that remembers how our grandfathers and grnadmothers died horrible deaths protecting this country's independence 60 years ago?

You can change holidays.  Long week-ends will be good for tourism, says the intrimitida officials.

Okay fine.  I hope somebody changes your birthdays and see how that feels.



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Public Service : Fastfood Delivery Hotlines in Metro Manila Philippines

If you're looking for delivery hotline numbers, I hope this post helps.

If I have posted an old delivery hotline number, please point out which has been updated so I can change it, thanks.  

(According to main food item)

BURGERS
Jollibee Delivery – 8-7000
McDonald’s – 8MCDO, that's 8-6236
Wendy’s Hamburgers – 533-3333
PIZZA

Pizza Hut Delivery – 911-1111

Greenwich Pizza – 5-5555

Yellow Cab Pizza - 789-9999

Domino’s (now called Angel's) – 922-2222
Shakey’s Pizza – 77-7777

CHICKEN
Kenny Rogers Roasters Delivery – 533-8888
KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) – 887-8888
Max’s Restaurant – 7-9000


CAKES and PASTRIES , etc. 
Goldilocks Bakeshop – 888-1-999
Red Ribbon Bakeshop Delivery– 8-7777


CHINESE
North Park Noodle House Delivery – 73737
Chowking – 9-8888


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