Pansit Batil-Patong of Tuguegarao

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Pansit Batil-Patong of Tuguegarao (P35) with Liver (P45)

Related Pansit Posts:
Pansit Batil-Patong of Tuguegarao
Pansit Cabagan of Isabella


It is highly recommended to go on a Pansit Food Trip when you are in Tuguegarao.

For such a little town, you can see pansiteria in almost every corner like Starbucks in Makati. The popular ones are Boks, Budjoks, Clare, Gretchens, and Natans. Ask any person in Tuguegarao and they would have their own pansiteria favorites. Don't worry most of them are the same in taste and they differ in the ambiance, cleanliness and service of the place.


The Tuguegarao Pansit is called Batil-Patong. The main ingredients are pansit miki Tuguegarao, cara beef, togue with an egg on top. Our Batil-Patong has these two slices of red hotdog as accent on top of the pansit. The miki is freshly made in Tuguegarao.


It goes very well with a sauce mix of freshly sliced onions, vinegar, toyo and lots of calamansi.


It is very affordable and very filling. As much as we want to hop from one pansiteria to another, if you finish one bowl you'll be guaranteed full for 4 hours.


Gretchen's Special (P40) is a slight variation of the standard Batil-Patong. The toppings are lechon carahay, chicken, mixed vegetables, egg on top and an option to have liver on top for additional P10. It is a fusion of Batil-Patong and Pancit Cabagan pansit.


Gretchen's was awarded as one of the cleanest pansiteria in town so we decided to eat here.

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Blog: www.OurAwesomePlanet.com
Mobile: +63917-LOVEOAP (5683627)
Email: anton@diaz.ph

Kaya Ng Pinoy

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Congratulations to Manny Pacquiao for beating Oscar de la Hoya! Also, Congratulations to Art Valdez for the launch of his Mt. Everest Book entitled "Live the Dream! The Saga of the Philippine Mount Everest Expedition Team Book "


This Everest Book should be in every Filipino household to inspire the next generation of Young Filipinos that nothing is impossible for us, Filipinos! The Everest book sells for P2,000. Please email me if you want to buy a copy.


It was very inspiring to meet the people the Philippine Mount Everest Team!


Art Valdez also announced his latest project of building the legendary Balangay to sail around the Philippines in 2009! I will do a separate blog post about the "Voyage of the Balangay" project.


On a personal note, my wife and I have finally survived all the white water rafting adventures in Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Tuguegarao, and Kalinga! We survived two Class 4 white water in Kalinga! Thanks to Anton Carag for an awesome weekend!

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Blog: www.OurAwesomePlanet.com
Mobile: +63917-LOVEOAP (5683627)
Email: anton@diaz.ph

Top Meals - Makati's Secret Bicol Comfort Food

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We love good food from the French Fine Dining Places to Hole-in-the-Wall restaurants. Our recent quest led us to Makati's secret place for Bicol comfort food. Top Meal Food Haus specializes on Bicol favorites like the Pork Binagoongan and Bicol Express. It is also popular for its Pancit selection which includes Pancit Lucban with Chili.

If you like Som's Thai restaurant in Makati, check out Top Meals Food House within its Makati neighborhood (at the back of Rockwell). There are 5 small tables inside and 2 small tables outside that can sit 2-3 people. You would see native artworks from Sorsogon around the resto and a single ceiling fan to cool the surroundings. Allegedly, this place is a favorite hang-out of Atenistas, Rockwell people and foodies.


Bicol Specials, Value Meals, and Sizzlers | Pansit, Drinks and Desserts

What I like about Top House is that it is not like a carinderia where the food is prepared in the morning and served all day. Most of the dishes are cooked when you order it so that it is served hot and fresh from the kitchen. It is best if Wilson Tan is in the resto because he will be the one to cook for you.


Ripe Mango Shake (P35) and Iced Milo (P20).

We tried out the cool drinks and it tasted like it was over diluted with water. For less than P40, you should lower your expectations on these drinks.


Bicol Express (P65) and Pork Binangoongan (P61)

Wilson's specialty is the Pork Binangoongan which is prepared with toasted alamang. The Bicol Express is made with gata and a good mix of fatty and lean meat pork. You can specify if you want your food to be really (chili) hot like how they enjoy it in Bicol. The serving plates are small (in proportion with the small tables) but its flavor is enough to compensate for its size.


Pinakbet (P64).
We ordered vegetables to go with the pork bicol specialties. It was a bit dry.


Halo-Halo (P59)

The Halo-Halo was a bit different because it had a slimy texture because of the Ube made with gata. In Tiwi Halo-Halo tradition, it was served with cheese sprinkled on top. The Leche Plan tasted like it was sugar free. This one is a matter of preference -- I like it because it has its own character, while my wife hates it because it was slimy.


Wilson Tan, a computer graduate turned into chef entreprenuer. You can contact him at +632 895 1249, or +63915-391 4571.



Top Meals Food Haus

5994 J.D. Villena St. cor. Mabini St. Poblacion, Makati.

The place is beside Estelle Salon.

(Villena St. is the street in the middle of Museo ng Makati and Rockwell, along J.P. Rizal)


Live an Awesome Life in God's Grace,

Text and Photos (Using a Canon Point & Shoot Camera) by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Blog: www.OurAwesomePlanet.com
Mobile: +63917-LOVEOAP (5683627)
Email: anton@diaz.ph

P.S. Thanks to Elaine for the foodie Tip!

The End Times by Fr. Bill Halbing (Kerygma Conference 2008)

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Kerygma Conference 2008: Awaken the Miracle Within (US Stream Channel)

Video clips at Ustream

I would like to greet all OAP Readers, a Blessed Christmas to all of you!

Can you feel the cool Christmas breeze this morning? Did you see the smiling face formed by two visible planets and the crescent moon last night?

My family attended the Kerygma Conference 2008: Awaken the Miracle Within last weekend. I want to share with you my personal insights and things to ponder upon this Christmas 2008.

Fr. Bill Halbing's talks and homily touched me a lot. He is a parish priest of St. Andrews Parish in Newark, New Jersey. He is known for his insightful and down-to earth homilies laced with humor. Although not a Filipino, he always proclaims that he is a Filipino at heart. The Pre-Recorded US Stream above is his homily about the Signs of the End Times (starting from the Third sign).


All Five (5) Signs of the End Times are present now (based on the official Catholic doctrine):

1. Jews come back to the Catholic Faith. The Jews will start to accept that Jesus Christ is the Messiah.

2. Gospel is preached around the World. More people will be preaching the Gospel all around the world. We will see the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in the Philippines and in the World.

Worry is a sin. If you truly believe in the Lord, you should not worry.

3. The Anti-Christ is Coming. Watch out for people holding a bible without preaching the gospel. Do not be involved with the Maisons.

4. A Period of Apostacy. The greatest sin anybody can commit is unbelief. We would see a lot of people falling away of the Christian Faith. Your kids are the greatest prey for Satan to destroy. Having a Tattoo is against the bible. We are living a world of Vanity.

If you are living in the spirit of the Holy Spirit, the best way to show it is by the power of Testimony by leaving your past life behind, accepting Jesus as your personal savior, and showing the world your new life.

5. The Great Tribulation. We are going to see the greatest tribulation on Earth. A period where People will not care anymore.


After the Great Tribulation, you will be judged on:
1. The Knowledge, The Grace, and The Opportunity God gave you
2. How You Love (as defined by Laying down your life for one another)
3. Everything We Said (if we inspire or lead people astray)
4. Did you Follow Your Calling?


Last Kerygma 2007, the Holy Spirit blessed me by letting me realize my calling. In this year's conference, the message is loud and clear to take my spiritual self to the next level by getting to know Jesus more and accepting Him as my personal savior.


Live an Awesome Life in God's Grace,

Text by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Blog: www.OurAwesomePlanet.com
Mobile: +63917-LOVEOAP (5683627)
Email: anton@diaz.ph

Ultimate Kapampangan Christmas Tour 2008

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(Ultimate Pampanga Tour Group Photo - October 2008. Photo Courtesy of Meg Koh)

First of all, Happy Thanksgiving to all Filipinos and Americans celebrating this special occasion!

I would like to personally invite OAP readers to join us for a once-in-a-lifetime Ultimate Pampanga Experience with Ivan Man Dy of Old Manila Walks, Ivan Henares of Ivan, Spanx Enriquez of Manila Boy Blog, and yours truly.

Ultimate Kapampangan Christmas Tour 2008 |
December 20, 2008, Saturday | 7am to 12 mn

Why you should go this year?
1. A Kapampangan Christmas. Since our tour this year is close to Christmas, Claude is preparing a Kapampangan Noche Buena for us. Also, get to experience the biggest parol fiesta in the country :) See the Awesome Beauty of Pampanga!

2. Awesome 5-ways Lechon! Most of the Ultimate Pampanga Tour participants last October were raving about the 5-ways Lechon. You got to check out Ivan's post on the 5-ways Lechon: Claude Tayag's Bale Dutung, Everybody's Cafe and more from Pampanga

3. Meet Anthony Bourdain's Tour Guide in Manila and Pampanga. Two of the persons featured in the No Reservations Philippine Episode are no other than Claude Tayag and Ivan Man Dy! Get to bond with them during the tour.

4. Special Christmas Tour for a special group of 25 people only. We already have 17 reservations even before I market this tour. We are only looking for 10 more people to complete our tour this year. Join us now!

5. Plus Surprises! Here is a glimpse of what happened last year.

The Ultimate Pampanga Show-Off 2007
Claude Tayag's Bale Dutung - The Best Kapampangan Restaurant in Pampanga
a Memorable Ultimate Kapampangan Show-Off (7.30am-12.30nn)
Lunch with Claude Tayag and Among Ed (12.30pm to 4.30pm)
Ligligan Parul - Pampanga's Giant Lantern Festival (4.30pm to 12.30mn)

Tour Description
Journey to the central heartland as we immerse ourselves in things Kapampangan!

From Baroque to Betute, its fun-filled day as we poke around and get intimate with the very best of Pampanga's cultural offerings. Gawk at the jewel-box of church in Betis while wading through the lahar-buried town of Bacolor.

We'll stuff ourselves silly with the best Kapampangan fare by one of the country's best known Pampango chefs! To it cap-off, we'll have front-row view of the most dazzling display of Kapmpangan artistry- the Ligligan Parul Festival of San Fernando! A tour with nothing but Kapampangan cool!

The Tour Experience
Betis Church* Town of Bacolor* Claude Tayag's Bale Dutung Restaurant* Pampanga Specialty Shops* Giant Parul Festival in San Fernando* Plus Surprises

Rate: P4,800.00/head (full board, includes: transfers, meals,tour, Lantern festival seats and some SERIOUS food binging!)

Reserve Your Spot Online
Major Credit Cards are Accepted. No Need for a Paypal Account. The transaction is securely processed by Paypal. Plus your earn points from your Credit Card!

• Pay with:
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  Ultimate Kapampangan Christmas Tour
  P4,800/ person ($95 - Adult Rate)
  
  
  Ultimate Kapampangan Christmas Tour
  P2,400/ child ($45 - Child Rate 5-12 years old)
  
  (Note: Kids below 5 years old are free)
  
  
  
  

Brought to you by the Ultimate Philippine Brothers,

Anton of Our Awesome Planet,

Ivan Henares of Ivan About Town,

Ivan Man Dy of Old Manila Walks and

Spanx of Manila Boy.

Text by Anton Diaz. Photo by Meg Koh. Copyright 2008.

Blog: www.OurAwesomePlanet.com
Mobile: +63917-LOVEOAP (5683627)
Email: anton@diaz.ph

Manila’s Best Kept Restaurant Secrets Award Winners

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Congratulations to Ines Cabarrus and Elian Habayeb for the very first Manila’s Best Kept Restaurant Secrets Awards!

The two big winners during the awards are Lolo Dad's for the Best Intercontinental Cuisine and Best Chef Ariel Manuel; and Colin Mackay for People's Palace - Best Thai Restaurant and Sala Bistro for the Best Bistro!

Most of my favorites won like Je Suis Gourmand for the Best French Restaurant; Elbert's Steak House for the Best Steak House; Terry's Selection for the Best Spanish Restaurant; Abe for the Best Filipino Restaurant (I like both Abe and Cafe Juanita); Old Swiss Inn for the Best Central European Cuisine; and Aubergine as the Best New Comer. MBKRS honored Larry Cruz with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Related Posts:
My Votes for the Manila’s Best Kept Restaurant Secrets Award
The 2008 MBKRS Awards. And the winners are...


While I agree with 80% of the winners, I noticed that there are some "bias" despite the fact that it was voted by 75 judges who loves food:

1. Antonio's did not win any awards. One of the Top 10 restaurants in Asia according to Miele Guide did not win surprisingly.
2. All of the winners are located in Makati with exception of Spiral and Lolo Dad's which are located in Manila. The restaurants outside Manila did not stand any chance.
3. Zong the Fort won as the Best Chinese Restaurant? huh?
4. Sugi, which is owned by Ines' Father won the Best Japanese Restaurant. BTW, Ines and Elian are not part of the judging committee.
5. Although in the ballot, MKBRS put an option of Others, it did not matter because they were not even recognized during the awards night.

There were some bias because both the nominees and the academy of judges were decided by Ines and Elian. It would be helpful though if the names of the 75 judges will be published just to be transparent.

Update! Here are the list of the Judges who decided the winners below:
2008 MBKRS Awards Judges

Abba Napa – L’Opera
Amanda Griffin Jacob – Lifestyle TV personality
Anastacio de Alba – Alba’s Restaurante Español
Annie Nisce – Appetite Magazine
Anton Diaz – Food Blogger
Arnie del Rosario – Chaine des Rotisseurs
Audrey Carpio – Metro Magazine
Bel Castro – Manila Bulletin; Enderun Colleges
Boyet Sison – TV Personality
Cacay Moras – Lifestyle and Entertainment Specialist
Carrie Lagdameo – Je Suis Gourmand
Cecile Zamora Van Straten – Chuvaness.com Lifestyle and Fashion Blog
Chad Davis – Enderun Colleges
Chris Lacson – Habitat
Christine Nunag – F&B World
CJ Juntereal – Manila Bulletin
Coco Anne & Baby Imperial – B+C Design
Colin McKay – Sala and People’s Palace
Cristina Metelmann – Palato Fino
Cyril Ermita – Enderun Colleges
David Pardo de Ayala – Discovery Group
Dr Efren Vasquez – Café Juanita
Ed Quimson – Chef
Edward Simon – Photographer, Manila’s Best Kept Restaurant Secrets
Eri Neeman – WAVE 89.1 FM
Eric Kahn – Future Trade International
Ferdi Salvador – Discovery Group
Gabby Licauco – Powerbooks
Gene Gonzalez – Café Ysabel
Gwen Cariño – GJC Public Relations
Hossein Sohrabi – Hossein’s Persian Kebabs
James Aspinall – Call Search
Javi Berenger-Testa – Renaissance Makati City Hotel
Lexi Schulze-Testa – Media Personality
Javier Infante – Enderun Colleges
Jermaine Brown – Manila’s Best Kept Restaurant Secrets
Johnny Litton – Inquirer, Lifestyle Columnist and Host
Jenny Serrano-Silverio – ABS-CBN
Jose Mari Ugarte – ROGUE Magazine
Joshua Tiu – Zong
Katrina Tuason Cruz – ROGUE Magazine
Kimmie Assad-Lamata – Di’ Mark’s
Kitt Schroeder – Lemuria
Koby Parcell – Chocolate Fire
Lori Baltazar – Food Blogger
Lorraine Belmonte – Appetite Magazine
Louie Ysmael – Manila nightlife mogul (NUVO, Members Only, Silk)
Luis de Terry – Specialty Foods Expert
Mari Ressa – ABS-CBN
Marivic Diaz-Lim – Apartment 1B
Mark Jentes – PTFJ Ad Consult
Martin Wisniewski – Discovery Group
Mila Tan – International Food and Wine Society (Women’s Chapter)
Nino Laus – In Yo
Paco Magsaysay – Tuesday Dinner Group
Paul Huang – Fire Lake Grill
Pazzy Navarro – Pazzy Manila
Peter Jentes – Schwarzwalder
Pilar Barrenechea – Catholic Women’s Club
Rachelle Ismael – Appetite Magazine
Raymond Rufino – The Net Group
Rene Baltazar – Harbor View
Robert Spakowski – Restaurant Consultant
Rosanna Escudero – Cancer Research Advocate
Roxs Cailao – Katre
Santi Picornell – Entrepreneur
Sau Del Rosario – Kingdom
Sec. Joseph Durano – Department of Tourism
Sergi Rostoll – Barcino Gourmet
Sergio Menendez – CEMEX
Teddy Montelibano – Food and Travel Columnist
Thomas Wenger – Enderun Colleges
Tina Pamintuan – Celebrity Chef
Tita Trillo – Titania Wine Cellars, La Vigne
Tricia Tensuan – Enderun Colleges
U-Sec Oscar Palabyab – Department of Tourism
Vanessa Conanan – Enderun Colleges
Vanessa Fernando – Zafra Motors
Vanessa Vitrano – Galileo Enoteca
Werner Berger – Werdenberg Group


The MKBRS Awards Night Venue in Enderun Colleges

1. Best Italian Restaurant - L'Opera

2. Best French Restaurant - Je Suis Gourmand

3. Best Spanish Restaurant - Terry's Selection

4. Best Continental Cuisine - Lolo Dad's

5. Best Steakhouse - Elbert's Steak Room



The pioneers behind my favorite magazine, Rogue :)

6. Best Japanese Restaurant - Sugi

7. Best Filipino Restaurant - Abe

8. Best Thai Restaurant - People's Palace

9. Best Chinese Restaurant - Zong (fort)

10. Best Central European Restaurant - Old Swiss Inn


I can't wait to go to Thai Kingdom by Chef Sau!

11. Best Specialty Restaurant - Hossein's Persian Kebab (Makati)

12. Best Bistro - Sala Bistro

13. Best Enoteca - Barcino Gourmet

14. Best Fusion Cuisine - M Cafe

15. Best Newcomer - Aubergine


The lovely Vanessa of Galileo Enoteca (leftmost).

16. Best Restaurant/Bar - NU-VO

17. Best Wine List - CAV

18. Best Hotel Restaurant: International Buffet - Spiral (Sofitel)

19. Best Hotel Restaurant: Fine Dining - Tivoli (Mandarin Oriental) and Prince Albert (Intercontinental)

20. Best Hotel Restaurant: Specialty - Benjarong (Dusit)

21. Best Chef - Chef Ariel Manuel (Lolo Dad's)

22. Lifetime Achievement Award - Larry Cruz

Text and Photos by by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Blog: www.OurAwesomePlanet.com
Mobile: +63917-LOVEOAP (5683627)
Email: anton@diaz.ph

After Lego Island, Enjoy Yoh-Gurt Froz!

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After your Lego Island adventure, you can treat your kid to a Yoh-Gurt Froz frozen yogurt inside Hobbes and Landes.


Yoh-Gurt Froz Classic Fro-Yo Plain Medium (P80) + 3 Top-Ins (P40)

Yoh-Gurt Froz has gone a long way from the first time we tried it in Mall of Asia. This was the first Fro-yo we tasted ever in Manila but we did not like it because they were using frozen toppings. The quality of the frozen yogurt has improved over time. The frozen yogurt is noticeably tangy with a lingering taste of powder milk (which I liked).


(Click for a bigger version)

I would recommend the popular fresh fruit combination of Strawberry, Mango and Kiwi! Next time I will go all white with Nata de Coco, Mochi and Cheese combination.


You can also play different board games and with other toys inside Hobbes and Landes. Setting up a Yoh-Gurt Froz inside was a brilliant idea :)

Hobbes and Landes
Bonifacio High Street
Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City

Related OAP Posts on Frozen Yogurt:
Cold Spoon Frozen Yogurt - The Next Dessert Craze in the Philippines!
Sorry Ice Cream, I'm On My Way to Pinkberry!
Red Mango-licious
I Love Berries Frozen Yogurt -- The Best Froyo so far in Manila...
Ice Cream Bar (Flavors by FIC)
Yogurbud
The White Hat - Let the Fro-Yo Wars Begin in Manila!
The Buzz About Froyo's
California Berry Frozen Yogurt
Lulubelle
After Lego Island, Enjoy Yoh-Gurt Froz!

Text and Photos by by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Blog: www.OurAwesomePlanet.com
Mobile: +63917-LOVEOAP (5683627)
Email: anton@diaz.ph

How to Surprise Your Kid with "The Legend of the LEGO Island"

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Most kids love and play with Lego at home. At home, we only have a few Lego blocks and Aidan would love to create a boat or an airplane. You would need a lot of imagination to create one just from a few standard blocks.


This is my cue to tell him a story of an Island entirely made of Lego in a far far away land...


Of Big Ships and a Shipyard entirely made of Lego...


An island where the citizens and buildings are made of Lego...


Legends of actual airplanes made of Lego...


I let him imagine what a lego gasoline station would look like...


Aidan's favorite is the helicopter and I would share stories about helicopters flying over the Lego Island...


If he loves horses, tell a story about a farm full of trees, corns pineapples and horses...


Or tell a story about MRT Lego trains around the island...

LEGO ISLAND CHARITY CAMPAIGN
Entrance is FREE to see the Lego Island Exhibit. It is a fund raising campaign for UNICEF and WORLD VISION to aid in their efforts to help the Filipino Children. (see: official mechanics)


For every P50 Donation, you'll get:
- a chance to guess the number of LEGO Santa Claus mini-figures in the Christmas Land
- the first (5) correct entries or the closest guess (without going over the actual number) wins a LEGO Set.
- all entries will be checked on January 11, 2009 and posted at hobbes & Landes Fort on January 13, 2009


For every P300 Donation, you'll get:
- one (1) raffle entry where you can win a Canon Printer or a Special Lego Set (2 winners every week), or three (3) Grand Prize winners of a Canon Camera and a Special Lego Set.
- a chance to build with a bucket full of LEGO bricks (which means you cannot bring it home)
- after building your LEGO creation, Canon will take your picture and post it on the LEGO Photo wall above and uploaded to LEGO Christmas Land.

(Warning: The website is just another LEGO marketing gimmick, the photos are not even uploaded immediately. I guess that is why there is no commitment on when it will be uploaded, maybe next year :)


For every P200 donation, you'll get:
- get and build your own LEGO mini Santa Claus OR Christmas Tree. (You can choose to build a Mrs. Santa Claus )
- after building your LEGO creation, Canon will take your picture and post it on the LEGO Photo wall above and uploaded to LEGO Christmas Land (asa pa :)
- the best part is, you can take home your LEGO Santa Claus!


Aidan with his LEGO Santa Claus! (at least, already uploaded in OAP :)


He was so happy and when we came home, he introduced the Santa to his LEGO friends at home.


LEGO ISLAND
Located in front of Hobbes and Landes in Bonifacio High Street Makati
Mondays to Thursdays 12nn to 9pm
Fridays to Sundays 12nn to 12mn (?)

Text and Photos by by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Blog: www.OurAwesomePlanet.com
Mobile: +63917-LOVEOAP (5683627)
Email: anton@diaz.ph

Takoyaki Man in Hana

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Why settle for anything less than the authentic Takoyaki? Manila is crazy over Takoyaki these days and I'm glad that Hana is selling an authentic Takoyaki in Little Tokyo.


Meet Takumi, the Takoyaki Man who has been cooking authentic Takoyaki for less than a month now in Hana.


Takoyaki (P100 for 6 pieces).

So far, this is the best Takoyaki for us, better than the New Hatchin Takoyaki. It uses a sweeter Okonomi Sauce with bits of Nori, Tenkatsu (dried fish), Spring Onions, and Kyupy (Japanese Mayonnaise) on top. The Takoyaki is also bigger than usual with red ginger, a secret Takoyaki mix, and a big chunk of Octopus inside.


We decided to eat in Hana. It is a smaller resto with 3 normal tables and 1 private Japanese table. Hana is famous for their Kakigori, a Japanese shaved ice dessert. The owner is a big fan of the Giants Baseball Team in Japan.

Hana Menu: Agemono, Tempura, Yakimono, Yakizakana | A La Karte, Salada, Donburi, Noodl, Gohanmono


Related Posts on Hana, Little Tokyo:
Urameshi Ya - One of the Best Yakiniku Place in Manila
Hana: Authentic Takoyaki in the heart of Makati by Kitchen Cow


HANA RESTAURANT
Little Tokyo
Telephone: +632 339-3855

Text and Photos by by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Blog: www.OurAwesomePlanet.com
Mobile: +63917-LOVEOAP (5683627)
Email: anton@diaz.ph

Going Crazy Over Japanese Ice Cream @ Yamazaki

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We are going crazy over Japanese Ice Cream these days. After your Japanese meal in any of the Japanese restaurants in Little Tokyo, I would recommend going to Yamazaki grocery to have Japanese Ice Cream for dessert!


The Japanese Ice Creams are freshly delivered every Saturday and Tuesday.


Our favorite is this Pino Ice Cream which is a chocolate covered ice cream that sells for P88 for 6 pieces. We were literally fighting over these little pieces of chocolate heaven.


Most people love this Azuki Waffle Ice Cream (P76.79) and it is highly recommended by my Japanese friend.


One Waffle Ice Cream is good to share with your love ones.


We also tried the Tiramisu Ice Cream (P81.25) but we did not like it because of its chocolate covering which tastes like old bread. We also did not like the Uji Kiniki (P69.64) that comes in different flavors like Green Tea because it was too sweet and has an icy consistency.


You can also buy other Japanese goodies in the Yamazaki Japanese Grocery Store.


Besides the grocery, you can also dine in. Yamazaki Menu: Ramen, and Set Menu | Teishoku and Drinks

YAMAZAKI GROCERY
2288 Fernando, Makati City
Besides Fuji Spa which is besides Seryna
Across Plaza Fair in Makati Cinema Square.

Text and Photos by by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Blog: www.OurAwesomePlanet.com
Mobile: +63917-LOVEOAP (5683627)
Email: anton@diaz.ph

Maruchan Dining - Seryna Japanese Food with Chinese, Korean, and Western Dishes?

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What happens when the owners of Seryna learned their lessons from their first restaurant and decided to open a new one? Welcome to Maruchan Dining! It is owned by partners Mizushima and Sachu Maru. I guess instead of the name Maru-san, they used Maru-chan instead (as in Jose Mari Chan? :).


Maruchan Dining is much bigger and can hosts big groups and families versus the Seryna location. It is a big two-story restaurant with the first floor as non-smoking, while the second floor as an entirely smoking floor. So don't be surprised if most Japanese would eat in the second floor. The main elements of its interior design are geographic patterns mostly of squares and rectangles. Wood is often used to soften concrete and the open ceiling. The tables are arranged in a formal setting for big groups of 4 or more.

Maruchan Dining Menu: Appetizer, Sashimi, Salad | Tempura Fried, Grill | Donburi, Gohanmono, Korean Food | Chinese Food | Fish, Vegetables, Noodles | Ramen, Ala Carte, Western Food | Drinks | Kaisen Menu

(I now understand my Japanese friend when he said that he did not like this "Japanese" restaurant. It is like finding a Filipino Restaurant in the US that also serves Thai and Vietnamese Food. The menu is not focused and I also find it weird to see Chinese, Korean and Western Dishes in a Japanese Restaurant.)


Chyashyu Men (P300). All Meat Ramen with Shoyu Sauce.

Thanks to Tim who recommended this Chayashyu Men in Maruchan. I personally like the dark but clean taste of the shoyu broth and the al-dente noodles that slides off your tongue. The four big pieces of meat slices surrounding the ramen are composed of layers of lean meat with the right amount of fat in between.


Kani Salad (P240)

Their Kani Salad differentiates itself from other Japanese resto by using more of the Shoyu Sauce instead of covering the entire salad with Japanese Mayonnaise. This salad is definitely healthy with Lettuce, Tomato, Egg and strips of Kani (crab meat).


We are happy that Aidan is showing more independence these days. He would insist on getting his own share of the salad and feeding himself.

Negima (P40), Bara (P50), and Toriniku (P40) Grill. (order Japanese rice to go with it)

Here is a simple guide to navigate your way through the Grill choices:

Tebasaki - Chicken Wings
Toriniku - Chicken Meat *
Negima - Chicken Meat with Onion Sleek *
Nankotsu - Chicken White Bone
Sunagimo - Balun Balunan
Lever - Liver
Kashira - Pigi ng Baboy
Torikawa - Chicken Skin
Tan Shio - Beef tongue *
Bara - Pork Liempo *
Shiro - Pork Intestines

* Recommended :)



MARUCHAN DINING
2282 Chino Roces Avenue, Makati City
(across Kikufuji or Makati Cinema Square)
Telephone : +632 759-7777

Open Daily
11.30am - 2.00pm Lunch Time
6.00pm - 11.00pm Dinner Time

Happy Hour (Monday to Saturday)
11.00pm - 4.00am
3 Pilsen + 1 for P150 Only
Ladies Set (Fish or Meat) for P180 only

Text and Photos by by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Blog: www.OurAwesomePlanet.com
Mobile: +63917-LOVEOAP (5683627)
Email: anton@diaz.ph

3 Tips on How To Have An Awesome Lunch @ Seryna

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Seryna continues to be the favorite Japanese Restaurant among both Japanese and Filipinos. I wrote about Seryna almost two years ago in this post: Japanese Delights @ Seryna, Little Tokyo. The best time to go is during lunch time when most of the Japanese restos would have an affordable set lunch menu. Here are three (3) tips on how to have an Awesome Lunch at Seryna.

1. RESERVE.

Seryna is quite small and has limited rooms. Call Seryna @ +632 8943855 to reserve preferably one week in advance.

2. KNOW WHAT TO ORDER.

• The lunch set menu is fixed at P320 all-in (I love it when restaurants put an all-in price in the menu).
• If you look at my previous post, the Kaisen Gozen is priced originally at P250 :)
• Seryna is famous for their Kaisen Gozen and the orange label on the menu says that there are only 30 sets available
• Gozen is like a set lunch meal where the items are put in different dishes. In a bento, it is put in a box type container.
• Yakizakana is grilled fish.
• Higawari gozen is like Gozen for the day and it changes daily.
• Makunouchi is a popular type of Japanese bento which consists of fish, meat, pickles, eggs and vegetables along with rice and an umeboshi. (source: Wikipedia)

3. ENJOY!

I would order the Kaisen Gozen which is a serving of fresh sashimi on a bed of radish with Japanese rice. The set comes with soup, salad, appetizers and dessert. At P320, it is still a very good deal. I don't think there is really a particular order on how you should eat it. Just Enjoy your lunch!


You can park in front of Seryna if you are early (around 11.30am). Otherwise, I recommend that you park in Makati Cinema Square basement parking.

SERYNA
2277 Chino Roces Avenue, Makati City
Telephone: +632 894-3855
Fax: +632 894-3853
Email: info@seryna.ph

Text and Photos by by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Blog: www.OurAwesomePlanet.com
Mobile: +63917-LOVEOAP (5683627)
Email: anton@diaz.ph

New Hatchin Japanese Grocery - Probably, the Best Japanese Grocery in Manila

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Authentic Takoyaki (P78 for 8 pieces)

New Hatchin Japanese Grocery continues to be voted by both Filipino and Japanese as the number 1 Japanese Grocery Store in Manila. It is famous for Fresh Sashimi, Authentic Takoyaki, and Dorayaki (A pancake with sweet red bean paste inside).

Their authentic Takoyaki is made of Octopus, Cabbage, Tempura Flakes, Benishoga (red ginger) with Okonomiyaki sauce, shrimp flakes and noni (seaweed bits) on top. Once you tasted an authentic Takoyaki, you won't settle for anything less than the authentic ones.


Fresh Salmon and Maguro Sashimi! (Depending on the weight it ranges from P100 - P200)

Make sure you have Japanese Soy Sauce and Wasabi at home. You can also buy that from this Japanese store. The fresh sashimi are only available during weekend.


Japanese deli treats (3 for P100) --

We bought the sweet egg, vegetable tempura, and seaweeds with vegetables just to try out their different japanese treats. We were disappointed because the vegetable tempura was soggy, and Rache did not really like the other two.


NEW HATCHIN JAPANESE GROCERY

Makati Branch
7602 Sacred Heart St. cor Metropolitan Ave
San Antonio village Makati City
+632 8977207/ 8905038/ 8901648
store hours 8 am - 7 pm

Text and Photos by by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Blog: www.OurAwesomePlanet.com
Mobile: +63917-LOVEOAP (5683627)
Email: anton@diaz.ph

8 Things I learned About Home Schooling in the Philippines

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I'm seriously considering to home school Aidan in 2009. I would like to be one out of the 4,000+ Homeschoolers in the Philippines.


We attended the 2nd Philippine Homeschool Conference led by The Masters Academy Home School Program last Saturday. My quest for finding the best education for my sons (initiated by this post: Reedley International School), led me to conclude that Homeschooling is the best education that I can give the next generation of Filipino Leaders. Let me share with you some of my learnings and insights about homeschooling:

1. There are four (4) kinds of education in the country today: Traditional Education ( like Xavier, ICA, Ateneo and De La Salle); Progressive School (Explorations/ Keys, Raya School, Multiple Intelligences, Makati Gospel, Waldorf School), International Schools (Beacon, International School, Brent, Chinese International School, and Reedley IS), and Homeschool.

2. There are three (3) types of Homeschool: a. Independent (not affiliated with any program but gets the best from available modules), b. Local Homeschool Program (most popular would be The Masters Academy with bias on Christian teachings, and Catholic Filipino Academy with bias on Catholic teachings by Bo Sanchez), and c. US Based (like Calvert Home School Program).

3. Homeschooling is a privilege and a blessing. Not everyone can afford to homeschool because one of the parents needs to be full time in the Home School Program. Homeschooling is one of the opportunities I wanted to pursue when I decided to change career.

4. There are three (3) major reasons for Home Schooling: a. To give the best education at home, b. For Religious Reasons, and c. Because of poor learning environment at traditional schools. It would be wrong to do it solely for the purpose of cost savings.

5. Homeschooling is bringing a customized educational experience at home. This is the best definition of homeschooling and it aims to enhance the natural gifts of your child with academics as a foundation.

6. Here are successful case studies of Home-schooled kids, check out: Christopher Paolini who wrote Eragon, Tim Tebow who is the first sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy, and locally, Paul and Carolyn Tan-Chi of Ateneo UAAP Basketball fame.

7 Three (3) Success Factors for a Home School program -- a. An Obedient Environment, b. a Nurturing Mother, and c. Parents as role models for the kids as demonstrated by the Holy Family:

" Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men." (See Luke 2: 51-52)

8. The no. 1 critical element for Home Schooling -- Jesus Christ needs to be at the center of the Home School Program to be successful.

Live an Awesome Life,

Text and Photos by by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Blog: www.OurAwesomePlanet.com
Mobile: +63917-LOVEOAP (5683627)
Email: anton@diaz.ph

Chef Peter Ayson and Raymund Magdaluyo's Texas Smoke 'Em

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Texas Smoke 'Em Menu: TSE Smoke house, Wraps, and Lucks | Small Blinds, Bonus, Drinks and Cocktails

Texas Smoke 'Em (or TSE for short) is the newest BBQ/ Mexican Fast Food Restaurant in town by Chef Peter Ayson (of Red Crab fame) and Restaurateur Raymund Magdaluyo. I'm not really a fan of any of the restaurant chains of Red Crab, Claw Daddy, or New Orleans. We decided to give this a try because we are looking for a good barbecue and mexican place in the Metro.



BBQ and Jalapeno Nacho Platter (P355 + SC)

We saw most of the tables ordering this Nacho Platter. We were intrigued by it, and decided to order it too but with the toppings on the side (for Aidan's sake). The choices of the sidings are interesting which includes jalapenos, black beans, cheese, cream, slices of chicken, and lime. It would have been better if we mixed it.


Two Pair. Jumbo Beef Reefs and Mixed Texas BBQ Sausages (P488+SC) with Black Beans Rice, Mexican Chorizo Rice, and Beans Soup

You can either choose from four types of BBQ: Baby Back Ribs, Quarter Chicken BBQ, Jumbo Beef Ribs, and Texas BBQ Sausages. Individually, they would cost around P300+ each so if you are two or more, it is better to order the Two Pair combination or the Full House meal (see: TSE Smoke house, Wraps, and Lucks ) It comes with exciting side dishes but we decided to stick with the small cups of rice. I love the black beans soup which reminded me of Beans in a sinigang broth.

You'll love the Texas andue and chili sausages which always come as a pair of long and short sausages. We were disappointed with the Jumbo Beef Ribs barbecue because the BBQ taste is only skin deep. Most of the orders are delivered immediately so you don't have to wait.


Overall, we think that it is over priced for a fast food type of barbecue place. If we were to go back, we will check out their mexican offerings. Please let us know what you think about TSE.

Texas Smoke 'Em
(located in the Cinema Area of Greenbelt 3 near the Red Box Side)
3/F Greenbelt 3
Ayala Center, Makati City
Telephone# +632 728-3056

Text and Photos by by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Blog: www.OurAwesomePlanet.com
Mobile: +63917-LOVEOAP (5683627)
Email: anton@diaz.ph

My Votes for the Manila’s Best Kept Restaurant Secrets Award

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I would like to share with you my perspective on my votes for the MBKRS Awards. I based my votes on the personality of the restaurant, the overall awesome experience it provides and the positive buzz it gets from the community.

The voting period ended last November 14, and the winners will be announced on November 26 in the Enderun Colleges at the Fort. Thank you to Ines Cabarrus and Elian Habayeb for including me as one of the judges.


What is the MBKRS Awards?

• The First Annual Manila’s Best Kept Restaurant Secrets Award promise to be "the Oscars" of Manila's restaurant industry, and there are approximately 100 judges in total deciding the MBKRS Awards, made up mostly of restaurant owners, top-chefs, educators in the hospitality industry, hotel GMs, columnists and food critics, magazine editors, and other celebrities and reputable foodies.
• The awards are named after and inspired by the bestselling coffee-table book MANILA'S BEST KEPT RESTAURANT SECRETS, available at all major bookstores nationwide and now available internationally through Amazon.com.
  
• As a general rule, we avoid franchises and prefer family-owned restaurants, with few locations (preferably only one), not located in malls (or originating outside of shopping malls, before having moved to a mall location). All restaurants must have authentic quality food, excellent service, and a great ambiance.
  
• The MBKRS Awarding Ceremony is an invite only event that will happen on November 26 at Enderun Colleges, Fort Bonifacio Campus

1. Best Italian Restaurant
I voted for Bellini's because of the Italian personalities behind the restaurant and its warm family ambiance. a) L'Opera

b) Café Caruso
c) Bellini's
d) Amoroma (I've never been to Amoroma and I will review it soon :)
e) L'Incontro
f) Other: C Italian Dining (The number 1 Italian Restaurant for me is C Italian Dining in Angeles, Pampanga. But ever since Chef Chris Locher is not anymore connected with C Italian Dining, I cannot vote for it anymore. I'm surprised that the MBKRS Awards did not include him in the nominated list. )

2. Best French Restaurant
Je Suis Gourmand is probably one of the few restaurants that consistently WOW its customers and I've never heard any negative reviews about it.

a) Le Soufflé (Fort)
b) Je Suis Gourmand
c) La Cabane
d) La Regalade
e) Cuillère
f) Other: Cicou (Watch out for my review next week)

3. Best Spanish Restaurant
I don't really have a solid opinion on Spanish restaurant because my standard for good Spanish food is Chef Ed's Mestizo Spanish cuisine and Market Manila's Paella. . I voted for my favorite -- Terry's Selection (and it should be in Pasong Tamo Ext.).

a) Alba Restaurante Español (Makati)
b) La Tienda
c) Terry's Selection (Pasong Tamo Ext.)
d) Amalia's ( must confess that I've never been to Amalia so I will review it soon too :)
e) Casa Armas (Malate)
f) Other: Chef Ed's 21 Restaurant

4. Best Continental Cuisine
Antonio's is the Best Restaurant in the Philippines and Still the Best after all these years!

a) Chateau 1771
b) Sala
c) Aubergine
d) Lolo Dad's
e) Katre
f) Lemuria
g) Antonio's
h) Other: __________

5. Best Steakhouse
My vote goes to Elbert and the buzz is he is the undisputed king of steaks in Manila!

a) Fire Lake Grill
b) Mamou
c) Elbert's Steak Room
d) Myron's Place
e) Duo
f) Other: House of Wagyu

6. Best Japanese Restaurant
Seryna is the only Japanese restaurant that is loved by both Filipino Foodies and Japanese in Manila.

a) Sushi Tsumura
b) Tsukiji
c) Kai
d) Sugi (Greenbelt)
e) Seryna
f) Other: __________

7. Best Filipino Restaurant
Cafe Juanita's ambiance resembles a typical filipino home and serves authentic Filipino cuisine (not fusion).

a) Café Juanita
b) Harbor View
c) Abé
d) Laudico Bistro Filipino
e) La Cocina de Tita Moning
f) Other: Adarna

8. Best Thai Restaurant
I don't think we have a really good Thai restaurant in Manila. The closest would be People's Palace.

a) Silk
b) Azuthai
c) People's Palace
d) Kingdom (I can't wait to try this in Angeles, Pampanga)
e) Other: __________

9. Best Chinese Restaurant
Choi Garden in Greenhills and Golden Fortune in Binondo are the best Chinese restaurant for me!

a) Zong (Fort)
b) Hai Shin Lou
c) Gloria Maris (Greenhills)
d) The Good Earth (Fort)
e) Cantonese Kitchen
f) Other: Choi Garden

10. Best Central European Restaurant
I love Vieux Chalet because of the fresh ingredients used in the dishes, and spectacular view of Manila (from Antipolo)

a) Schwartzwalder
b) Old Swiss Inn (Makati)
c) Bianca's
d) Mickey's Deli (Makati)
e) Vieux Chalet
f) Other: Chateau Hestia

11. Best Specialty Restaurant
Nobody will beat the most authentic Vietnamese restaurant in Manila!

a) Hossein's Persian Kebab (Makati)
b) Ziggurat
c) Manos Greek Taverna
d) Korean Garden
e) Zapata's Mexican Restaurant
f) Other: Bawai Vietnamese Kitchen

12. Best Bistro
I voted Sala Bistro because of the quality of its simple dishes and its weekend Champagne Brunch.

a) Apartment 1B
b) Sala Bistro
c) Palato Fino
d) Chelsea
e) Di' Mark's (QC)
f) Other: Culliere

13. Best Enoteca
Galileo practically introduced me to the concept of Enoteca. My vote goes to them!

a) Galileo Enoteca (Mandaluyong)
b) La Vigne
c) Barcino Gourmet
d) Terry's Selection (Pasong Tamo Ext.)
e) Cav
f) Purple Feet (Wine Depot Makati)
g) Other: __________

14. Best Fusion Cuisine
The French Japanese Fusion of In Yo is the best in the Philippines.

a) M Café
b) InYo
c) Portico 1771
d) Other: __________

15. Best Newcomer
Ever since Aubergine opened, I only hear positive reviews about it and you can expect to have a good meal every time.

a) Aubergine
b) Purple Feet
c) Cav
d) La Regalade
e) Other: Lolo Dad's Brassiree

16. Best Restaurant/Bar
You should go to Handle Bar on weekends and see why this is the best restaurant/bar in Makati.

a) NU-VO
b) Piedra
c) Handle Bar
d) Cuisine
e) Brava
f) Other: __________

17. Best Wine ListI want to be a wine connoisseur someday...
a) Sala
b) Restaurant 101
c) Cav
d) Balducci
e) Lemuria
f) Other: Ralph's Wine Museum

18. Best Hotel Restaurant: International Buffet
I must admit that I'm biased towards Circles buffet. I'm doing an article on the best buffets in Manila in December (watch out for that!)

a) Spirals (Sofitel)
b) Paseo Uno (Mandarin Oriental)
c) M2M (Renaissance New World)
d) Circles (Makati Shangri-La)
e) Nielsen's (Manila Peninsula)
f) Café-on-the-ridge (Taal Vista)
g) Other: __________

19. Best Hotel Restaurant: Fine Dining
I'm not really a fan of Hotel Restaurants but if I were to go to one on a date, I would go to Red for its prestige and quality of food.

a) The Fireplace (Hyatt Hotel & Casino)
b) Prince Albert (Intercontinental)
c) Verbena (Discovery Country Suites)
d) Le Bellevue (Manila Diamond)
e) Red (Makati Shangri-La)
f) Tivoli (Mandarin Oriental)
g) Other: __________

20. Best Hotel Restaurant: Specialty
I can still taste the Chinese Dimsum Buffet in Li Li ... yummy!

a) Paparazzi (Edsa Shangri-La)
b) Li Li (Hyatt Hotel & Casino)
c) Spices (Manila Peninsula)
d) Benjarong (Dusit)
e) Inagiku (Makati Shangri-La)

21. Best Chef
The Best Restaurant in the Philippines also has the Best Chef.
a) Colin McKay (Sala)
b) Marivic Diaz-Lim (Apartment 1B)
c) Sau Del Rosario (Kingdom)
d) Ariel Manuel (Lolo Dad's)
e) David Pardo de Ayala (Discovery)
f) Marc Aubrey (Je Suis Gourmand)
g) Other: Chef Tony Boy Escalante

22. Lifetime Achievement Award
My only regret in my blogging life is that I've never met Larry Cruz when he was alive.
a) Larry Cruz (posthumous)
b) Margarita Fores
c) Gene Gonzalez
d) Anastacio de Alba
e) Other: _________

Text and Photos by by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Blog: www.OurAwesomePlanet.com
Mobile: +63917-LOVEOAP (5683627)
Email: anton@diaz.ph

Bungee is Out, Swinging is the "IN" Thing... (Caption This!)

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Edwin Sacdalan gave us a sneak peek on his latest crazy idea of doing a pendulum swing, high above the tree in Camp Sabros. I must admit, I did not have the guts to try it. Instead of Bungee jumping, you got to try pendulum swinging instead!


Caption 1


Caption 2


Caption 3


Caption 4


Caption 5

Tree Rappelling - The Latest and Most Raved About Experience in Camp Sabros

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The latest addition to the zip line adventure in Camp Sabros is the 80ft. Tree Rappelling. Most of the people I met who tried it, raved about it more than the longest zip line ride.


At the time that we did this, the attraction was only 2 weeks old. First you have to zip seated on your harness to the _________ tree.


The adventure is to rappel down the swaying 80-feet high tree via the Freefall Rapelling technique.


It looks so easy from this photo of Rache rappelling midway down the tree with no hands on the rope.


To go down, you grip a rappel device by your right hand which releases the rope steadily while your left hand guides the rope behind your waist.

Then you are hoisted back up with a machine. This is the scarier part of the adventure because at one point, you would feel as if the rope was cut loose.


A sigh of relief once you are back up in the tree.


Animo La Salle sign while wearing a blue shirt amidst a green pine tree background.


Finally, zipping back to the cable car ride....


As we walk to the cable car, we reflected on how awesome the adventure was at Camp Sabros ( which stands for SAcdalan BROtherS ).


This was the final cable car ride back to our normal reality.


On the way back, you get to appreciate the entire Mt. Apo view and the view of the trees below.


The best part of being the last person to do the rappel for the day is you get a chance to ride back with Edwin Sacdalan -- the maverick behind Camp Sabros.


Once Aidan saw us walking back, he started to run to meet and give us a warm celebration hug.

Text and Photos by by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Blog: www.OurAwesomePlanet.com
Mobile: +63917-LOVEOAP (5683627)
Email: anton@diaz.ph

400m Zip Line - Longest Zip Line in the Philippines (or is it the 700m of Outland Adventure?)

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The second time around was more fun. Rache is more confident now to attempt the zip on her own.


We knew the drill and we felt totally safe. The thing that will scare you is thinking about "what if you fall?"


You need to relax and just fly like superman.




This is the first zip line which measures 380 meters in length point-to-point (which means it is one continuous line).


After the 380m, you hike up for a few minutes to a higher elevation to zip back on the 400m zip line.


This is a much faster and scarier zip line than the first. 400 meters is so far the longest zip line point-to-point in the Philippines.

The world record is 2 kilometers in South Africa (see Pronutro Zip 2000). Camp Sabros plans to beat that world record. Would you ride a 2km+ zip line?

Text and Photos by by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Blog: www.OurAwesomePlanet.com
Mobile: +63917-LOVEOAP (5683627)
Email: anton@diaz.ph

Flying Like Superman in Camp Sabros!

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Anton: "Do you want to fly like Superman, Aidan?"
Aidan: "Yes, Poppa."


Rache: "This is the first time we are doing this... Can we really do it?"

This was our first tandem zip line ride. There's no turning back...


All set to fly with Aidan riding on my back while holding on the cables.


Yes, we are flying! (Look at Aidan's face :)


Tandem Flying in the 380 meters zip line in Camp Sambros, Davao del Sur --- Our best family adventure to date! Priceless!



We rode a Cable Car on our way back while enjoying the a top view of the pine trees and a view of Mt. Apo.


We survived! (What a relief... I was really scared too...)

We live to tell Syoti about our family flying adventure. We will do it with Syoti next time...


We dare you to do it too :) (Please share your own Camp Sabros experience)

Camp Sabros
Cool highlands of Kapatagan in Digos City,
Davao del Sur

Text and Photos by by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Blog: www.OurAwesomePlanet.com
Mobile: +63917-LOVEOAP (5683627)
Email: anton@diaz.ph

Hairspray Moments

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(Left to Right) Nyoy Volante as Seaweed J. Stubbs, Dulce plays Motor Mouth Maybelle, Madel Ching as Tracy Turnblad, Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo as the villainous Velma Von Tussle, Tim Espinosa as Link Larkin

It's Hairspray Fever

When the Hairspray preview ended, we all agreed this is one musical show that Manila will talk about when it opens tonight in Star Theater. (see: Everything You Need To Know About Hairspray, Manila)

Michael de Mesa's portrayal of Mrs. Turnblad was both hilarious and believable. You gotta see Michael de Mesa in "drag" outfit :)

I would give the best performance for the night to Menchu's Velma Von Tussle. She portrayed the sexy, ambitious and evil beauty queen role quite well.  Her performance of The Legend of the Miss Baltimore Crabs was memorable and realistic.

I still can remember  Motor Mouth Maybelle's (played by Dulce) belting of her solo songs ala Witney Houston.   

Madel Ching as Tracy Turnblad and Tim Espinosa as Link Larkin

Madel and Tim's Love Team

Bravo to Madel Ching for successfully performing the role of Tracy Turnblad!  Her youth gives her the energy to dance (as if she was athetic) and to sing at the same time. She lasted the entire show with the same energy she started with. She was a little nervous during the opening scene but was able to gain her confidence towards the middle of the show. You gotta see her shake and shimmy dance! (Now I know why they chose Madel)

Tim Espinosa was a heart rob and I'm sure most of the teenage girls will fall in love with his performance.

Memorable Hairspray Moments

These are my favorite song and dance scenes in Hairspray:

Act I
Mama I'm a Big Girl Now - The Iconic Mother and Daughter Song/Dance Acts between Amber + Velma Von Tussle, Tracy + Mrs. Turnblad, and Penny + her mother.
Welcome to the 60's - You'll sing "Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh" after this act

Act II
The Mr. and Mrs. Turnblad's Romantic Dance in You're Timeless to Me
The finale Shake and Shimmy dance!  ( I actually wanted to dance with them! )

What's your Memorable Hairspray Moment?


Monica Reynoso as Penny and Nyoy Volante as Seaweed J. Stubbs

I was surprised that Nyoy can really dance like Gary V! 

My personal favorite performance throughout the entire show was Monico Reynoso's portrayal of Penny - Tracy's best friend. I was smitten by her awkward performance, funny expressions and energetic finale dance. 

Comedian Gabe Mercado and Enchang Caimo's performances, as the Male and Female Authoritative Figure respectively, deserve a standing ovation. 

Thanks to Bobby Garcia for another awesome broadway musical show!

Overall, Don't be left out... You Gotta Watch Hairspray!

(see: Everything You Need To Know About Hairspray, Manila)

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Blog: www.OurAwesomePlanet.com
Mobile: +63917-LOVEOAP (5683627)
Email: anton@diaz.ph

P.S. Please post a link to your own Hairspray Review in the Comments

5 Things You Need to Know About Star Theater

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1. Star Theater is NOT Aliw Theater.
I personally made this mistake of thinking that Star Theater and Aliw Theater is the same theater since both of the venues are beside Star City. Star Theater is located at the back of Star City while Aliw Theater is in front of Star City.

2. Star Theater is NOT inside Star City.
Star City is the entertainment park with different fun rides, and home to the Snow World and Dino Park attractions.

Read More About Star City:
10 Reasons Why Star City is the Place to be...
Snow World @ Star City

Star City Park Schedule:
Monday to Thursday : 4pm to 11pm (or 12 mn at the latest)
Friday to Sunday: 2pm to 12mn (or 1pm at the latest)

Star City Entrance Fees:
Star City Entrance Fee - P60
Snow World Entrance Fee - P160
Dino World Entrance Fee - P160
3 Cheers (3 Rides) - P250

Ride-All-You-Can (RAYC) - P300
Ride-All-You-Can (RAYC) with Dino World OR Snow World - P375
Ride-All-You-Can (RAYC) with Dino World AND Snow World - P450 (BEST VALUE)

3. The best seats in Star Theater are in Rows G to L.
For Hairspray, Lower Orchestra seats cost Php 1,200 (Rows A-I), Upper Orchestra seats cost Php 1,000 (Rows J-S), Loge seats cost Php 800 (Rows T-X), and finally Balcony seats cost Php 600 (Rows Y-Z). The best value-for-money seats are the Upper Orchestra (Rows J-S) because they have the best natural view and cheaper by P200. I would recommend buying the seats in J-K-L specially the center seats from seats 10-20.

4. Star Theater Recommended Itineraries

For Matinee Show (2pm Saturday and 3pm Sunday) - P2,500/person budget
10am -- Morning Massage/Lunch @ Wensha Spa (P1,000/head)
2pm/3pm -- Watch Hairspray ( 2 hours and 40 minutes) (P1,000/head)
6pm -- Ride-All-You-Can Star City with Snow World (P450/head)

For Evening Show (8pm Friday, Saturday, Sunday) - P2,500/person budget
6pm -- Dinner at Legend Hong Kong Seafood Restaurant (beside Wensha Spa) (P500/head)
7pm -- Park early to get good parking spots (FREE)
8pm -- Watch Hairspray ( 2 hours and 40 minutes) (P1,000/head)
11pm -- End the night with a Wensha Spa Massage (P1,000/head)

Don't Miss to Watch Hairspray, Manila !

Buy Your Hairspray Tickets Online Now from OAP!

November 22, Saturday 2pm (Seatplan)
Lower Orchestra P1,200 (Rows A-I) - $22 Special Online Price
Upper Orchestra P1,000 (Rows J-S) - $19 Special Online Price
Loge P800 (Rows T-X) - $15 Special Online Price
Balcony P600 (Rows Y-Z) - $11 Special Online Price

November 29, Saturday 8pm (Seatplan)
Lower Orchestra Php 1,200 (Rows A-I) - $22 Special Online Price
Upper Orchestra Php 1,000 (Rows J-S) - $19 Special Online Price
Loge Php 800 (Rows T-X) - $15 Special Online Price
Balcony Php 600 (Rows Y-Z) - $11 Special Online Price

Three Compelling Reasons Why You Should Buy Online!
1. You can earn credit card points on your Purchase. No Need to Have a Paypal Account if you want to pay via Credit card.
Major Credit Cards are Accepted.
2. It is cheaper and less hassle. We ensure that we pass on some efficiency savings to people who buys online. Shipment within Metro Manila is FREE courtesy of 2GO Express - The Official Shipment Sponsor of OurAwesomePlanet.com
3. It is secure because I'm Paypal verified. Paypal securely processes the Credit Card transaction.


Try it Now!

5. Parking is FREE in Star Theater !
If you are coming from Diosdado Macapagal Blvd or Buendia, turn right when you see this Star City Parking sign. Don't miss this turn which is at the back of Star City. If you miss this, you'll end up with parking slots in front of Star City. The street parking are operated by CCP Management and they charge P60.

Live an Awesome Life,

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Blog: www.OurAwesomePlanet.com
Mobile: +63917-LOVEOAP (5683627)
Email: anton@diaz.ph

Lolo Dad's Brasserie @ 6750

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When I was still courting Rache, I was looking for a cool restaurant place for our romantic date near La Salle. We were adventurous already back then but also we are budget-conscious. We saw a nice old house converted into a restaurant and we thought this might be a good inihaw place. We decided to go in and noticed there were only a few tables. When the waiter presented to us the menu, we realized that it was a Fine Dining Restaurant!

That was our first encounter with Lolo Dad's in Malate. We ate there when it opened (unfortunately I was not yet blogging at that time). The menu in the 1-week old Lolo Dad's Brasserie in 6750 looks almost exactly as the menu when they first opened in Malate. The key difference with the brasserie menu is that they expanded the menu with pasta and sandwiches options. The prices are still shocking but you are paying for good quality food.

Lolo Dad's Brasserie Menu
Appetizers | Soups, Pasta & Filled Bread | Main Dishes, Steaks, and Desserts

Lolo Dad's Brasserie is the latest (and hopefully the last) reincarnation of the corner restaurant in the prestigious 6750 address. This is the same spot where Giraffe, Dream Bar, Quisine and Gaster Deli (see: Gaster Deli-cious!) once stood. This is a favorite hang-out of P&G and Caltex people specially every Friday night. You can still see the remnants of Gaster Deli's chairs and ambiance.

You would notice that the ambiance is still boring. It lacks the homey Malate vibe of its main restaurant and it feels like it could use a few paintings and art accents. The table locations are also not ideal so you have to reserve in advance to get a good spot.

"Only for the Rich" Salad (P1,650 +SC). Combination of Diver Scallops, Lobster, Seared Duck Liver, Jamon Serrano and Cured Salmon with Mesclun greens in Pomegranate and Molasses dressing.

Lolo Dad's is famous for their salads (see Salad Menu) . We felt "rich" that day so we ordered the salad that we can share for a group of three. At first, it looked like a smorgasbord of all the expensive ingredients you can put in a salad -- lobster, foie gras, salmon and jamon serrano. Its "Only for the Rich" name has a double meaning of being the most expensive salad and having a lot of flavorful ingredients.

Each ingredient was cooked to perfection. However, the vinaigrette dressing was too strong for our taste. Overall, we were satisfied and the salad price was justified. (That rhyme is for you Aidan :)

Smoked Salmon Creamed Fettucine (P420 +SC) with grilled Pizza Omellet

I ordered the smoked salmon pasta. Everything seems to be perfect -- al dente pasta, right saltiness in the salmon, and clean creamy sauce. I appreciated the ingenuity of pairing the pasta with mushroom omelet on top of a flat crunchy pizza base. I also liked the clean 3D presentation of this pasta dish. It is very hard to complain about an almost P500 pasta dish if it tastes this good.

Prawn Rigatoni Pasta in Garlic and Olive Oil (P480 +SC) with Prosciutto and Aragula Toast

We finally met with a long lost friend, Cai and she ordered the Prawn Rigatoni Pasta. Check out the other pasta dishes (see Soups, Pasta & Filled Bread )

Lamb Chops (P1,100 +SC) with grilled fruits, and appropriate sauces, and a choice of Rice, Mashed Potato.

My wife Rache loves lamb chops which is one of the bestsellers in the house (see Main Dishes, Steaks, and Desserts). It is predictably good but nothing special. The presentation could be improved by using a different plate or being creative in its arrangement. The hollandaise sauce (white one) tastes like liquid butter and the au jus (black one) made of brown stock and rosemary complemented the taste of the lamb.

I was pleasantly surprised with the awesome dessert line-up in Lolo Dad's (see Desserts Menu). I would definitely go there just for the dessert. I would recommend a romantic dinner date in La Regalade or Hotel Cicou and then hop on to Lolo Dad's for dessert.

Chocolate Almond Segafredo (P200 +SC) Orange Popsicle and Berry Sauce

This is the best dessert for me. It taste like chocolate powder densely packed into a bar mixed with almond nuts. It is rich in chocolate taste and crumbles every time you bite into it. It is best to mix it with slices of oranges. The Dalandan popsicles are a must try!


Baked Cheese Cake (P250 +SC) Lavender and Honey Ice Cream with Fruit Compote

I would give this 5 stars for creativity. The cheese cake tastes like bread pudding with a pastillas consistently. We were turned off by the Lavender and Honey Ice cream which brings us memories of having a massage in the spa every time we tasted it. I don't know why this is one of their best selling desserts.

This is the best table in the house! When you reserve, request for the leather chairs with long backrest and insist on the tables in front of the restaurant. The particular table above is located in the front corner of the restaurant.

Congratulations to Ariel Manuel for a successful Lolo Dad's Brasserie opening in 6750! I hope to meet him one of these days with Aidan. (The shot above was taken at around 5pm and I was surprised that all of the tables were reserved.)

Lolo Dad's Brasserie
Ground Floor 6750
6750 Ayala Avenue Makati City
Telephone Number: +632 8136750 (Reserve!)

Text and Photos by by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Blog: www.OurAwesomePlanet.com
Mobile: +63917-LOVEOAP (5683627)
Email: anton@diaz.ph

The Biggest Bargain Blog (BBB)

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I'm doing a soft launch of The Biggest Bargain Blog (BBB). I'm separating all my blog posts about Manila's best bargains and deals in the BBB Blog. This is where I also put some of my commercial posts and attractive promotions from different companies that are worth mentioning.

Check out my first few blog posts:
The Mango Outlet
Delifrance's My Secret Santa
Free Nike Running Clinic

If you noticed, I'm launching sub-blogs under the Our Awesome Planet franchise. As promised, I am keeping the Main OAP blog focused on Food and Travel Secrets. You can subscribe separately for The Biggest Bargain blog. I also put a link on the right sidebar for easy access to the blog.


Please feel free to let me know if you have feedback or other suggestions.

Text and Photos by by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Blog: www.OurAwesomePlanet.com
Mobile: +63917-LOVEOAP (5683627)
Email: anton@diaz.ph

Urameshi Ya - One of the Best Yakiniku Place in Manila

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Uramesi ya | Uramesi ya (Continued...) by Mrs Awesome Planet


As we parked our car near the Pasong Tamo entrance of Little Tokyo, I can't help but think of backing out and going to another place instead of Little Tokyo. This little Japanese town besides Makati Cinema Square transports you to a restaurant strip in Japan. Every time I enter the little red arc that welcomes you to Little Tokyo, I felt uneasy because I can't read Japanese and I don't know how to confidently choose among the different Japanese watering holes and restaurants.

Armed with a tip from a Japanese friend that the best Yakiniku place is hidden in Little Tokyo, we decided to proceed with meeting Chris (one of my best buddies in P&G) and his wife Sharon in Urameshi Ya inside Little Tokyo. Yakiniku is a Japanese term which refers to grilled meat dishes. Usually it is enjoyed with friends over long conversations and a few bottles of beer. This was the right place for our "reunion" meeting with Chris after his short expat stint in China.


Urameshi Ya is located in a little corner in the heart of Little Tokyo. A lot of Japanese frequent this place which is usually a good sign but since you are in Little Tokyo you can find mostly Japanese nationals in most of the restaurants. Since we already know where we are going, we can confidently refuse all the invitations from waitresses inviting us to eat in their restaurant. If you are on a date, you will get pogi points for being confident in navigating your way around Little Tokyo.


As you enter the restaurant, you'll see bottles of Japanese wine on your right and the bar on your left. You'll be greeted with a warm welcome by the Filipina waitresses who would accompany you to your Yakiniku table. I don't think you would need a reservation but I noticed that the place fills up quickly around 7pm. Better go there earlier so that you can choose the right table for your group.


Yakiniku 101. If you are a big group of 4 or more, try to order the Tarafuku-set (P1,545) or the Wagyu set (P2,665). You can supplement it with a seafood set or additional meat servings. You have to cook the meat yourselves and you can't rely on the waitresses during the peak hours. They would show you how to cook the first time and change the griller top once in a while. Budget P700- P1,000/ person when you eat in a Yakiniku place.

If you decide to eat here, check out the menu ahead of time:

Set Menu, Sashimi, and Tukemono | Yakiniku and Horumon | Jingsisukan and Nabe | Yakai and Salad | Yakitori and Ramen | Other Japanese Treats | Karubi | Drinks


The meals starts off with a sotanghon with a slices of squid? ball meat.


Filipinos love sauces and I particularly love Japaneses sauces like the Yakiniku sauce with chili paste called kujijang and fresh garlic.


A yakiniku experience is not complete without enjoying it with friends or barkada. Make sure that this is your last stop for the night because it is guaranteed that you will smell like grilled meat.


Tofu Salad (P190). Be prepared for the name dropping selling line that Gretchen Barretto loves ordering the Gyushabu Salad or this Tofu Salad. We were skeptical but we ordered it anyway. The greens were fresh and the tofu has a clean soft taste just like eating a white pillow of tasteless gelatin. The Japanese sweet and sour sauce adds magic to this salad and we can't stop raving about it.



Tarafuku-Set (P1,545). The set comes with three (3) plates of beef -- tongue, beef meat and beef karubi (beef ribs); two (2) servings of pork -- pork butabara (belly) and buta horumon (intestines); a bowl of Wakami (seaweed) soup; a small place of choligi salad; and a cup of rice. It is typically good for two persons but you can stretch it to up to three. Just order extra servings of Japanese rice.


Horumon Santenmori (P1,097). We also ordered the Seafood Set that consisted of two (2) pieces of prawn, four (4) big round pieces of scallops , and two (2) slices of squid-- all seasoned with salt and pepper.

According to Rache, "Timing is very essential in yakiniku style of cooking…especially with seafoods. Grilling it too long would be a no-no while taking it out the grill prematurely would be like having a gum in your mouth. "


Aidan was happy to join us and played around with the Japanese books. The place is not really for kids because you'll see a "different" kind of magazines.


I don't really know how to cook (at least not yet) so I let my wife Rache do all the cooking. The meats are already cut in bite-size portions and it doesn't take long to cook the meat. You need to have a perfect timing when to declare the meat is cook and ready to eat.


Karubi (P380). Finally, we ordered the featured Karubi meat which was highly recommended by the waitresses as one of the meat best sellers next to the Tarafuku set.


Enma Ramen (P160). We ended the dinner with the "devil's" ramen. You have a choice to order from a scale of 1 to 20 which represents degrees of chiliness. We went for the usual choice which is 5 (bearable) and how I wish I ordered 10 just for the experience.


The coating of chili was different. This is definitely a must try for all foodies out there who likes an adventure with their ramen.


Hana Flavored Ice Shavings
Aidan was demanding a dessert so we ordered the best dessert in Little Tokyo -- the flavored ice shavings from Hana. We got the peach flavor instead of their chocolate with banana bestseller because it was out of stock.


It was a great Japanese Yakiniku night! Thanks to Atsushi Matsuura for the foodie tip!

Urameshi-ya Yakiniku Restaurant
Little Tokyo Makati
2277 bet. Pasong Tamo and Amorsolo Street
(beside Makati Cinema Square) Makati City, Metro Manila
Telephone: +632 8132210

Text and Photos by by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Blog: www.OurAwesomePlanet.com
Mobile: +63917-LOVEOAP (5683627)
Email: anton@diaz.ph

Anthony Bourdain in Manila: Ivan Man Dy Exclusive!

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Our Ultimate Philippines' Brother and Street Walker, Ivan Man Dy of Old Manila Walks fame was one of Anthony Bourdain's hosts around Manila. He is our main cultural tour guide for the Ultimate Pampanga and Tagaytay tours. He blogged about his Anthony Bourdain encounter in his blog post: On One Steamy Saturday Morning...

In this OAP Exclusive, I tried to get some juicy anecdotes and kwentos by sending him 10 Questions about the Anthony Bourdain encounter. Check out Ivan Man Dy's answers below:


Tony sampling local street food. Thank you bystander Christian Annonuevo for immortalizing this moment.

1. How does it feel like to be the person to tour Anthony Bourdain (AB) around Manila?

I feel giddy at the same time honored, it's only right now that I'm beginning to digest everything. I know Anthony Bourdain, and I used to watch his shows but never read any of his book (and it totally slipped of my mind that he is also a writer). In short, I didn't realize that he was demi-god in his industry. I'm glad I prepared and researched before the actual shoot .

2. What particular thing that you like about AB?

I appreciated his depth and spontaneity. Initially, I had this impression he was a man of few words but once you start the ball rolling and talk about food, he just delivers. I also noticed that there is a certain perceptiveness to him. I think this clearly shows how well-versed he is with the culture of food and to a lesser degree, in the things that surround him.

3. Can you share a sneak peak on AB's Manila itinerary?

I could do a tell-all right now of the repertoire right now for but I am only a part of the Manila segment. It was actually a two day-shoot and I only covered the 1st day. I think pre-empting what happened in the the shoot might just ruin the viewer's element of surprise when they watch the show and I don't want to be a spoil sport. However, in words of the show's producer, the menu I prepared for my Manila segment (3 places in total) went around the theme of being " gritty by tasty."

4. What was the most memorable moment you had with Anthony?

I spent a total of 4 hours with Tony during the whole shoot. Every moment and morsel was savored.



Shooting Prep. Getting ready to indulge!


5. What did AB like about Filipino Food?

I think what left a deep impression in him is how quite unexpected our culinary culture here as compared with our neighboring Asian countries. He did mention in our lunch conversation that he was not (yet) able to find an exact reference with regard to the Malay/ Chinese/ Hispanic melting pot ingredients that I emphasized in my presentation of Filipino cuisine. And then one day, I read an article on a local newspaper, he was referring to our cuisine as very 'New World. In my opinion, that summed up what he like about our food, perhaps initially confusing but at the end of the day, our flavors really mixed well and defined the essence of our culinary heritage.

6. What was the most exotic food that you let him try?

If you mean exotic in the instant-shock 'Fear-Factor' context, none. I feel strongly about portraying our culture (including our food) in a balanced and 'taken-in-the-proper-context' way. The big question, and I've seen a lot of comments out there, is that did Tony eat 'balut'? No, he did not. As much as I like this delicacy, I think its been negatively overused to represent Filipino food. Worse thing is, what they keep showing in Western television is the balut which we most of us (including me) do not eat - the over ripe one with feathers, beaks and all the scary half-fertilized membranes. And besides, Tony himself admitted that doing 'balut' again was so 'last week!'!

Taken in a different context, I think most, if not all, of the food I fed him was exotic in the sense that they were all new to his palate. And most of them are everyday food that I think reflected a typical Manileno's eating habits. Seen in a bigger spectrum, it's food someone from Apparri to Jolo would probablly eat. No frills, just the real deal.

Oh, and they are also dishes that I really like to eat.

7. Why do you think the producers selected you to be part of the No Reservations show?

I think this question should be addressed to the producers. I was only referred to them by my half-cabalen (from my matrilineal Kapmpangan side) Claude Tayag but I can tell you people behind No Reservations did a whole lot of back ground research ( I suspect I was also googled a lot) and did not just just take things from the tourist bureau as if the were gospel truth. Why they even asked me about ube hopia and one-day-old chicks! My hats off to the show's researchers for doing their assignment properly and picking people who were knowledgeable and passionate in their own fields. In total, I think we were six in all: two chefs, one popular food blogger, one famous local actress, the Fil-Am winner of the No Reservations FAN-atic contest and the only cultural tour guide, me.


After the meal. All smiles.

8. Can you share some anecdotes about AB's visit for all his fans out there?

He doesnt take too much to sweets. I tried offering halo-halo, didnt take it. I tried counter-offering mango sago, still no. And that was our own PHILIPPINE mangoes too, the best in the world! I guess to each their own really.

9. What can we expect from the No Reservations Philippines' episode?

I'm hoping it comes out really good. Diverse as our backgrounds were, I'd like to think that all those who were chosen for No Reservations Philippines had one goal in common, that is putting a positive light as well as giving a better understanding to this often misrepresented and misunderstood aspect of culture: food. That alone should make the show yummy! Watch out for it, I think it's coming out in the US early 2009.

10. Is there anything else that you want to share about AB's visit?

Tony, if you are reading this, next time you come back to the Philippines, Im making you eat spicy binagoogang baboy and buko-sherbet from Pampanga!

Text and Questions by Anton Diaz.
Photos and Answers by Ivan Man Dy. Copyright 2008.

Blog: www.OurAwesomePlanet.com
Mobile: +63917-LOVEOAP (5683627)
Email: anton@diaz.ph

Barbara Gonzalez' Lily Pad in Calamba, Laguna

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As we arrived in Lily Pad, I immediately understood why it was called an origami house. It was designed by architect Jorge Yulo with Lighting Design by Shoko Matsumoto. As we parked the car directly in front of the house, I saw Barbara at the door waiting to welcome the entire family. I literally dragged the entire family on a Halloween Friday and drove for 2 hours to Calamba for this historical encounter -- OAP meets Second Wind. (Second Wind is the title of Barbara's STAR column formerly known as Lily Pad Lectures)

I was a bit nervous and I'm trying hard not to show it. I don't think she knew who I was and I want it that way to have a very objective review about Lily Pad. I heard a lot about Barbara Gonzales because of her legendary J.Romero & Associates career and lately because of her creative writing classes. The moment I shook her hand, I knew she was welcoming us like her own personal guests visiting her artsy Calamba home and not as paying customers.

Lily Pad Index
Three Things I Love About Barbara Gonzalez' Lily Pad.
1. Meeting The Barbara Gonzalez
2. The Art of Lily Pad
3. Lily Pad Home-Cooked Meal
Prescriptions for an Awesome Experience in Lily Pad
How to get to Lily Pad



Lily Pad is the newest, out-of-town, by-reservation only, intimate restaurant in Manila. They serve home-cooked meals by Barbara's friend, Tina Tan for P1,000/ head with a minimum of 5 persons (preferably 10). On Saturdays, they serve Mediterranean with limited customization options and on Sundays, you can choose from the Filipino set menu. It is open lunch time only on weekends but you can reserve it for dinner and on a Friday depending on the arrangement. We were able to eat on a Friday because they were closed for the Nov. 1 weekend.

Is driving for 2 hours to Barbara's Lily Pad in Calamba to eat a home-cooked meal from a passionate chef for P1,000/ head , really worth it?

Let me start with the Three Things I Love About Barbara Gonzalez' Lily Pad.


1. Meeting The Barbara Gonzalez

The highlight of our trip was meeting Barbara. She welcomed us like her own personal guests. What I like about her is that she is very candid and direct to the point. I asked her about the story of Lily Pad and she told me that it was in the market for a while until her friend saw it and suggested to turn it into a "Sonya's Garden" kind of place in Calamba. I bombarded her with questions about her stroke, her mother's alzheimer's disease, and about what she thinks about the advertising life. She answered all of them candidly, without any hesitation and without a hint of being politically correct about her answers.


I did not even feel an air of celebrity or snootiness during our conversations. She would serve us and often show us how to enjoy a particular dish like putting Bacalao on top of the slices of French bread. There were moments of silence and she would often break it by playing with Aidan. I can honestly feel the sincerity in making us feel at home.


She entertained my mom with stories of her paintings which were all about her mother's Alzheimer's disease with her butterfly signature. They also connected on Barbara's stroke recovery story and how Ramon Tan's Carica products were instrumental in her breakthrough recovery.

At the end of our Lily Pad lunch, my mom agreed to sponsor my tuition fee to Barbara's Creative Writing Class (8 Saturdays) starting second week of January. (Yes!) Barbara also teaches Travel Writing in Sonya's Garden this coming weekend.
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2. The Art of Lily Pad
I'm glad that Barbara pioneered the Dining with Style scene in Calamba. Could this be the start of another "Viaje del Sol" effect in the Calamba area? I certainly hope so. Most of her paintings are hanged on the wall and she would quickly point out which ones are from the other artists she admire. You can visit the small gallery in the second floor. The theme is feminine with focus on images of beautiful women.


Her sold paintings are now displayed as post cards. They represent the Alzheimer's world of her mother. It is better for Barbara to tell you the story behind each of the paintings. (I don't want to spoil that experience for you)


The restroom can accommodate our entire family and it is as big as our one bedroom condo in Burgundy. I like the garden scene outside and how I wish I can have this restroom experience in our own home.


You are literally eating in the middle of the pond. You can feed the coi's and go around the garden while waiting for lunch to be served. The entire dining room has a matrix of rectangular glass views of the garden. The steel rectangular frames were made to have a wood-like illusion.

The house was named after the lilies that grow abundantly around the house.


Please specify to eat in this heirloom circular table which could easily seat 8 people comfortably and 10 people max.

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3. Lily Pad Home-Cooked Meal


For Appetizers, Bacalao or Gambas. The only thing I remember about Bacalao was how oily it was. I would suggest to go with the gambas instead not unless you really like Bacalao.


Crispy Dried Beef. In the original Lily Pad brochure, you have an option of Baked Clams or Chili Relleno. I'm glad she served this crispy dried beef with vinegar instead. It was so crispy that the dried beef shatters every time you take a bite like a pure meat chicharon. I kept on going back to take a piece, dip it in vinegar and munch on it as I go explore the different art pieces in Lily Pad.


The main lunch is served buffet style and the entire family agreed that the servings are worth more than the P1,000/ head that we paid for.


Arugula with Pesto Tomatoes. The arugula looked tired (maybe it travelled all the way from Manila).


Grilled Taningue. We were so thankful about the huge proportions of Tanigue (or is it spelled Tangigue?). However, thick slices really doesn't work for this kind of fish because the insides become dry. It becomes boring eating this fish after 2-3 spoonfuls. I do hope they can slice this a little bit thinner so that you can still get a juicy finish for this fish.


Duck for Oscars Farm. I like the crispy pata version of this Duck. I also like the entire story of where the duck comes from which is probably similar to appreciating the terroir of where a particular wine comes from. The plum sauce adds magic to this dish like what a good bagoong would do to a dull Kare-Kare.


Pasta with Mushroom Sauce. When we were counting the dishes on our way home to Manila, we realized that this pasta dish was added on top of what was promised in the buffet lunch. What a pleasant surprise because Aidan loves pasta. (BTW, I forgot to mention to Barbara that we have kids with us so I'm sure this was not added because of Aidan). The mushroom sauce was clean without any overpowering cream or other sauces.


Lengua. I'm glad she served Lengua instead of Mechado or Roast Beef. When I reserved, I did not specify my particular preference for any dish. I like it freestyle and I let them decide the best menu for us -- usually. Most of OAP readers would know that Rache loves a good lengua -- soft, juicy, tasty and oily. For me, my only criteria for Lengua is that it does not evoke an image of a live cow's tongue which is triggered when the meat becomes tough and dry when you chew it.

Rice. You have an option to specify to have the Clam Rice or the Jasmine Rice to go with your lunch buffet.


Apple Pie. One of the downsides of letting them serve what ever they like is that you regret that you should have specified to have the Pecan Pie instead of the Apple Pie. If you are a party of 10, they can serve the Pecan Pie and Apple Pie together. You also have an option of ordering the bread pudding.

For me, Apple Pie is enjoyed when it is served hot and ala mode (with a creamy ice cream on top).


Coconut Tea. They would serve Dalandan Juice, Softdrinks and the Carica Coconut Tea. You can bring wines for a P200 corkage fee. My intuition tells me not to trust their wine list.


Alternatively, Here is the Filipino Lunch Set

Appetizers: Crispy Shrimp or Tapa | Local Boquerones or Botarga
Lunch: Lato Salad | Crabs or Crispy Pata or Duck | Kare-Kare or Ginataang Pusit | Grilled Tanigue or Talakitok
Desserts: Glazed Banana or Kamote
Soda or Iced Herbal Tea | Coffee or Tea
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Prescriptions for an Awesome Experience in Lily Pad


There is no doubt for me that Lily Pad will be the IN place to dine-in this Christmas season. I would like to contribute to its success by giving suggestions on how the entire experience could truly be awesome. The place has a high potential and I'm already planning to include it in our Ultimate Laguna Food Tour in February.

Uniquely Barbara?

Aside from the dry Tangingue and the tired Arugula, we love our Lily Pad lunch and we actually thought that it was too much. There was an ongoing debate on whether P1,000 / head is something I would pay for a home-cooked meal. The debate erupted when we found out that Barbara was not the one who cooked it but it was her chef friend Tina Tan. (just a side debate, can anyone be called a chef if he/she did not graduate in any culinary school?)
The food did not have any of Barbara Gonzalez' personality. You would go to Lily Pad because of the "Barbara Gonzalez" brand and I would have expected to eat some of her favorite dishes or favorite desserts. She candidly would tell the story about how tired she was eating the dishes.

To make the dining experience truly something that you would rave about, I would like to eat something uniquely Barbara. Is there any particular dish or dessert she would rave about? Is there any secret Calamba dish that she can serve? Is there any family heirloom recipe that can be served in Lily Pad?


Dining under the Stairs and Bathroom.
I was surprised to see the appetizers served under the stairs and directly in front of the restroom. These are two places that have negative energy and you don't want to eat that kind of energy. It would have been more polite to serve it in the sala receiving area.


Drink-All-You-Can Fresh Dalandan Juice
It is an absolute No-No to run out of a delicious dalandan juice. We don't drink softdrinks. I think we only have on average 2 glasses of Dalandan juice before it ran out just when we are about to start our lunch.


Kitchen Ambiance?
I don't think that seeing the kitchen is cute. A divider to partially hide the kitchen would have been more appropriate. The maximum capacity of the dining area is 20 but I think it will be crowded already. The best experience would be to have the entire Lily Pad all for your group.


Makiling Greenheights Tour?
It would be lovely if you can tour around the houses and gardens in Makiling Greenheights. It would be nice if Barbara could rally the Makiling Greenheights community to make it a destination in itself rather than just Lily Pad. Maybe there is an awesome viewpoint of Mt. Makiling in the subdivision. A Makiling Greenheights ala Viaje del Sol map would be a good marketing tactic.


So going back to the question:
Is driving for 2 hours to Barbara's Lily Pad in Calamba to eat a home-cooked meal from a passionate chef for P1,000/ head , really worth it?
Yes, I believe it is worth it and I'm going back to try the Filipino Menu with a barkada group. Thanks to Barbara for accommodating our Family for 3-hours lazy lunch. Now, I'm sure she would get back to me with constructive criticisms on my writing. I'm excited to attend her creative writing class in January.

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How to get to Lily Pad:



Take SLEX, Calamba exit. (This is your LAST turnleaf exit in SLEX)
Go straight as if going to Calamba. (This is the left side of SLEX, the right side goes to Batangas)
On your right watch out for a sign that says ALTERNATE ROUTE TO LOS BANOS.
TURN FULLY RIGHT at intersection where you see a faded yellow sign advertising
SUNCREST LPG and LAONG-LAAN RESTAURANT with a lechon picture. (You won't miss this sign)
TURN (First) LEFT at next road to dead end
TURN (First) RIGHT for a short time THEN
TURN (First) LEFT again at a corner store called A.V. BAUTISTA TRADING.
Now you are on the SHORTCUT to Los Banos.
(An easier way to give the directions would be to just follow the jeeps and majority of the private cars)


Directly across the first SHELL STATION is
sign saying BARANGAY LA MESA
and an ad for SAN MIGUEL PALE PILSEN.
TURN RIGHT into this road.


Follow the concrete road to the top. (This view of the road is on our way back to Manila. You should see this kind of scenery)


TURN RIGHT then TURN LEFT into the gated community.
You are in MAKILING GREENHEIGHTS.
You are on MARJORAM ROAD.


Go straight until you see a big white cement origami house on your left.That is LILY PAD.
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Barbara Gonzalez' Lily Pad
Majoram Road, Makiling Greenheights
Calamba, Laguna
Telephone Numbers: +632 401-3558
Mobile: +63918-3624176 or +63917-8452902
Email: barbarac.gonzalez@gmail.com

Text and Photos by by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Blog: www.OurAwesomePlanet.com
Mobile: +63917-LOVEOAP (5683627)
Email: anton@diaz.ph

P.S. I'm experimenting on a new blog post format which are long with navigation links instead of posts broken down into 3 blog post series. What do you think?

Hairspray, Manila: Still Undecided About Watching Hairspray?

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Two weeks to go, are you still undecided about watching Hairspray?

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HAIRSPRAY, MANILA!
1. What is the story about?
2. Star-Studded Casts
3. Madel Who?
4. Hairspray Songs and Dances
5. A Sneak Peek at the Hairspray Rehearsals
6. Why You Should Watch Hairspray?
7. When is it Showing?
8. Where is it Showing?
9. How to Buy Tickets?
10. Buy Your Tickets Now from OurAwesomePlanet!

Don't Miss to Watch Hairspray, Manila !


Buy Your Hairspray Tickets Online Now from OAP!

Hairspray Show November 22, Saturday 2pm (Seatplan)
Lower Orchestra P1,200 (Rows A-I) - $22 Special Online Price
Upper Orchestra P1,000 (Rows J-S) - $19 Special Online Price
Loge P800 (Rows T-X) - $15 Special Online Price
Balcony P600 (Rows Y-Z) - $11 Special Online Price

Hairspray Show November 29, Saturday 8pm (Seatplan)
Lower Orchestra Php 1,200 (Rows A-I) - $22 Special Online Price
Upper Orchestra Php 1,000 (Rows J-S) - $19 Special Online Price
Loge Php 800 (Rows T-X) - $15 Special Online Price
Balcony Php 600 (Rows Y-Z) - $11 Special Online Price

Email me anton@diaz.ph | Call me +63917-LOVEOAP (5683627)



EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HAIRSPRAY, MANILA!

1. What is the story about?

Hairspray, Manila Synopsis (source: Official Hairspray Website)

The running time of Hairspray is approximately 2 hours 40 minutes, with a 15 minute intermission.

Hairspray is based upon the New Line Cinema film written and directed by John Waters, with a book by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan, music by Marc Shaiman, and lyrics by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. Hairspray is directed by Jack O'Brien and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell.

In Hairspray, it's 1962 - the '50s are out and change is in the air. Baltimore's Tracy Turnblad, a big girl with big hair and an even bigger heart, has only one passion--to dance. She wins a spot on the local TV dance program, "The Corny Collins Show" and, overnight, is transformed from outsider to irrepressible teen celebrity. But can a trendsetter in dance and fashion vanquish the program's reigning princess, win the heart of heartthrob Link Larkin, and integrate a television show without denting her 'do? Only in Hairspray! Welcome to the '60s!

The musical features an original score by Marc Shaiman (who co-wrote the music and lyrics for the acclaimed animated musical, South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut) and Scott Wittman. Their songs take Tracy from the soundstage of a 60's-style dance show to the streets of Baltimore to a downtown rhythm and blues record shop.

Hairspray is the winner of eight Tony awards including Best Musical. It was recently made into a hit film starring John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer and Queen Latifah. After 2,641 performances and 31 previews, the 19th longest running show on Broadway history will close on 04 January 2009.

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2. Star-Studded Hairspray Casts

Michael de Mesa as Edna (played by John Travolta)

Headlining the cast is award winning film/television/stage actor Michael de Mesa. For the first time in his illustrious career, Michael will be playing a woman on stage as he takes on the role of Edna Turnblad, made famous in the original film by Divine, on Broadway by Harvey Fierstein and in the recent movie musical by John Travolta. Michael has been seen in numerous Atlantis show’s such as RENT, PROOF, TICK,TICK…BOOM!, THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW and, most recently, in DOGEATERS.

Dulce as Motormouth Maybelle (played by Queen Latifah)

Multi-awarded singer Dulce plays Motor Mouth Maybelle, a role that Queen Latifah made famous in the movie musical version of HAIRSPRAY. She gets to sing the second act power ballad I KNOW WHERE I’VE BEN. Dulce was last seen on stage in the musical HIMALA, and marks her 30th year in showbiz with her performance in HAIRSPRAY.

Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo as Velma Von Tussle (played by Michelle Pfeiffer)

Musical Theatre sensation and now stage director Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo returns to perform as the villainous Velma Von Tussle, played in the film by Michelle Pfeiffer. Menchu has appeared in many shows for Atlantis including PROOF and BABY and recently directed WEST SIDE STORY for STAGES. She continues to be one of the country’s most sought after musical theatre actresses.


Nyoy Volante as Seaweed J. Stubbs (played by Elijah Kelley)

Singer/Songwriter Nyoy Volante returns to his theatre roots in HAIRSPRAY where he plays Seaweed J. Stubbs. Nyoy recently released his fifth album entitled HEARTSTRINGS with the hit single BECAUSE. He last appeared on stage alternating with Jett Pangan as James Thunder Early in Atlantis’ DREAMGIRLS.


Leo Rialp as Wilbur (played by Christopher Walken)

Actor/Director Leo Rialp plays Wilbur Turnblad, Edna’s loving and devoted husband. Leo continues to juggle directing with performing and last appeared with Atlantis in DOGEATERS and most recently, appeared on stage in THE GOLDEN CHILD.


Also joining the cast are comedian Gabe Mercado who will be playing numerous roles as The Male Authority Figure, theatre veteran Enchang Kaimo as the Female Authority Figure and Noel Rayos, who returns from Hong Kong Disneyland to play Corny Collins (played by James Marsden).

Other cast members include Tim Espinosa as Link Larkin (played by Zac Efron), Christine Allado as Amber (played by Brittany Snow) -- performed with Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, and Monica Reynoso as Penny (played by Amanda Bynes) -- performed with Enchang Kaimo.

In the ensemble are Jordan Aguilar, Emy Alcid, Caisa Borromeo, Erika Cedilla, Red Concepcion, Gerlin Francisco, Bea Garcia, Crienna House, Yanah Laurel, Cheeno Macaraig, Michael Odoemene, Anthony Ong, Myrene Santos, Mark Tayag, and Lee Villoria.


HAIRSPRAY is directed by Bobby Garcia, choreographed by Cecille Martinez, Production Design by Gino Gonzale, Lighting Design by Shoko Matsumoto while Musical Director Archie Castillo will be conducting the FILharmoniKA orchestra.


And, introducing Madel Ching as Tracy Turnblad!
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3. Madel WHO?!?


Like most Tracy Turnbalds before her, Madel will be making her professional debut in Hairspray. She is a Junior at Ateneo de Manila majoring in AB Political Science. ( I can hear Ateneans cheering "Go Ateneo!" ) Having performed in school productions including High School Musical, Madel is thrilled to take on her first major role.

She says, "Girls like me don't get opportunities like this! Honestly, I feel like I'm the modern-day Filipina version of Tracy. A big girl with big dreams It's a little scary to take on a role this big, but I'm really looking forward to taking on the challenge of playing a character with this much spirit and energy."

We recently interviewed Madel after one of the Hairspray Rehearsals. Get to know her and watch the Video below:


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4. Hairspray Songs and Dances

One of the ways to enjoy watching Hairspray is to familiarize yourself with the songs and dances. Here are some links to You Tube videos of the original Hairspray movie, Hairspray song lyrics and a sneak peak of the Hairspray Manila rehearsals.

Hairspray Songs | Videos | Lyrics

Act 1
Good Morning Baltimore | Video | Lyrics
The Nicest Kids In Town | Video | Lyrics
Mama, I'm A Big Girl Now | Video | Lyrics
I Can Hear The Bells | Video | Lyrics
(The Legend of) Miss Baltimore Crabs | Video | Lyrics
Detention Grove | Video
It Takes Two | Lyrics
Welcome To The 60's | Video | Lyrics
Run And Tell That! | Video | Lyrics
Big, Blonde And Beautiful | Video | Lyrics

Act 2
The Big Dollhouse | Video | Lyrics
Good Morning Baltimore Reprise | Video | Lyrics
(You're) Timeless To Me | Video | Lyrics
Without Love | Video | Lyrics
I Know Where I've Been | Video | Lyrics
(It's) Hairspray | Video | Lyrics
Cooties | Video | Lyrics
You Can't Stop The Beat | Video | Lyrics
Ladies Choice | Video | Lyrics
The New Girl in Town | Video | Lyrics
Blood On The Pavement | Lyrics
Come So Far (Got So Far To Go) | Video | Lyrics

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5. A Sneak Peek at the Hairspray Rehearsals

Mama, I'm a Big Girl Now (Photos)

Welcome to the 60's! (Video)

Run and Tell That! (Photos)



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6. Why You Should Watch Hairspray?

I can't wait to watch Hairspray after this exciting interview with Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo. Watch it!


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7. When is it Showing?

HAIRSPRAY runs every Friday 8pm, Saturday 2pm/ 8pm and Sunday 3pm/ 8pm from November 14 to December 7, 2008.

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8. Where is it Showing?
Hairspray runs at the Star Theatre, CCP Complex besides STAR City.

The BEST seats would be the center front seats.

Lower Orchestra Php 1,200 (Rows A-I)
Upper Orchestra Php 1,000 (Rows J-S)
Loge Php 800 (Rows T-X)
Balcony Php 600 (Rows Y-Z)

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9. How to Buy the Tickets?

Please buy your tickets from the show buyers by contacting them directly! It will maximize their profit and this will encourage more show buyers in the future!

HAIRSPRAY MANILA SHOW BUYER'S DIRECTORY
Date/Time | Show Buyer, Contact Number, and Email

Opening Night
Nov. 14, 2008 Friday 8:pm | Timothy Liong +639178735405

Nov. 15, 2008 Saturday 2:00pm | Allan Marasigan +63917-4382299

Nov. 15, 2008 Saturday 8:00pm | Fritzie Villacorta +63917-8337489 email: fsioson@yahoo.com apvillacorta@globetel.com.ph

Michelle Chan Show
Nov. 16, 2008 Sunday 3:00pm | Michelle Chan +63917-5393369 email: masychan@gmail.com

Nov. 16, 2008 Sunday 8:00pm | Rosanne Unson +63917-8300312 email: rkrodriguez@gmail.com

Nov. 21, 2008 Fri 8:00pm | Atlantis Atlantis Productions at +632 892-7078, 840-118 c/o Ticketworld +632 891-9999

OurAwesomePlanet Show: Buy Your Tickets Now!
Nov. 22, 2008 Sat 2:00pm | Camille Bautista +63917-8908905, Anton +63917-5683627

Nov. 22, 2008 Sat 8:00pm | Shirley Alinea +63917-8903564

Nov. 23, 2008 Sun 3:00pm | Jill Pena +63919-3608974 email: jill_mari@yahoo.com

Nov. 23, 2008 Sun 8:00pm | Timothy Liong +63917-8735405

Andrea Go & Daphne Uy's Show
Nov. 28, 2008 Fri 8:00pm | Andrea Go +63917-8867968 email: andreanicoleuygo@gmail.com

Nov. 29, 2008 Sat 2:00pm | Theody Demaisip +63920-9326067 email: tdemaisip@fastmail.fm

OurAwesomePlanet Show: Buy Your Tickets Now!
Nov. 29, 2008 Sat 8:00pm | Joelle Ona +63920-9010863 email: jhorca@gmail.com; Anton +63917-5683627

Nov. 30, 2008 Sun 3;00pm | Jill Pena +63919-3608974 email: jill_mari@yahoo.com

Nov. 30, 2008 Sun 8;00pm | Janna Chua +63928-5024066 Roan Isberto 0918-9133793

Dec. 5, 2008 Friday 8:00pm | Ticketworld +632 891-9999

Bachelor Girl Shake & Shimmy Show
Dec. 6, 2008 Sat 2:00pm | Lorna Lopez +632 913-157 +63922-3875729 email: thebachelorgirl@gmail.com

December 6, 2008 Sat 8:00pm | Ticketworld +632 891-9999

December 7, 2008 Sun 3:00pm | Teody Demaisip +63920-9326067 email: tdemaisip@fastmail.fm

Closing Night
Dec. 7, 2008 Sun 8:00 pm | Mae Castro +63906-3414559

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10. Buy Your Tickets Now from OurAwesomePlanet!

Don't Miss to Watch Hairspray, Manila !


Buy Your Hairspray Tickets Online Now from OAP!

November 22, Saturday 2pm (Seatplan)
Lower Orchestra P1,200 (Rows A-I) - $22 Special Online Price
Upper Orchestra P1,000 (Rows J-S) - $19 Special Online Price
Loge P800 (Rows T-X) - $15 Special Online Price
Balcony P600 (Rows Y-Z) - $11 Special Online Price

November 29, Saturday 8pm (Seatplan)
Lower Orchestra Php 1,200 (Rows A-I) - $22 Special Online Price
Upper Orchestra Php 1,000 (Rows J-S) - $19 Special Online Price
Loge Php 800 (Rows T-X) - $15 Special Online Price
Balcony Php 600 (Rows Y-Z) - $11 Special Online Price

Three Compelling Reasons Why You Should Buy Online!
1. You can earn credit card points on your Purchase. No Need to Have a Paypal Account if you want to pay via Credit card.
Major Credit Cards are Accepted.
2. It is cheaper and less hassle. We ensure that we pass on some efficiency savings to people who buys online. Shipment within Metro Manila is FREE courtesy of 2GO Express - The Official Shipment Sponsor of OurAwesomePlanet.com
3. It is secure because I'm Paypal verified. Paypal securely processes the Credit Card transaction.


Try it Now!

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May you Live an Awesome Life,

Text and Photos by Atlantis Productions.
Rehearsal Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Blog: www.OurAwesomePlanet.com
Mobile: +63917-LOVEOAP (5683627)
Email: anton@diaz.ph

Antonio's - Asia's Top 10 Restaurant by the Miele Guide

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Congratulations to Chef Tony Boy Escalante's for being recognized by the Miele Guide as Asia's Top 10 Restaurant! I'm happy for him because I voted for him as my number #1 restaurant in the Philippines. The Miele Guide launched last October 31, Friday in the Miele Guide Gala Dinner held at Grand Hyatt Singapore. You can buy your copy online at the Miele Shop for $15 + Shipping $.

OAP Related Links About Antonio's Fine Dining Restaurant
1. Nothing beats an Antonio's Dinner @ Tagaytay!
This is my very first post last February 2006. Read this first because I shared the entire menu of Antonio's in that post.

2. Breakfast @ Antonio's "Halfway House"
A few months later, I wrote about Antonio's Breakfast which has now move to the original Antonio's fine dining restaurant.

3. Antonio's, Tagaytay -- Still the Best
When my brother was looking for a wedding reception venue, I took shots of the facade, ambiance and entire surrounding last April 2007. You might want to check this out if you are planning to attend a wedding here.

4. Top 10 Awesome Restaurants of the Philippines
In September 2007, I wrote an article in Sunday Inquirer Magazine and named Antonio's Fine Dining as one of the Top 10 Awesome Restaurants in the Philippines!

5. Antonio's - Asia's Top 10 Restaurant by Miele Guide
Antonio's is recognized as one of the top 20 restaurants in Asia!


Here is the excerpt from the Miele Guide Website:

10. Antonio’s Fine Dining
Tagaytay City, Cavite, Philippines

" Standing for over five years now, Antonio’s menu has proven to be as spoon-worthy as its ambience is swoon-worthy. It has consistently been considered among the top five restaurants in the Philippines and a favourite for proposals and intimate weddings. Chef Antonio Escalante’s commitment to fine cuisine remains strong. A la carte ordering is simple enough although the pre fixe menu may prove a little tricky as it allows guests a mix and match of salads and desserts with select entrees. Don’t skip the salads as Tagaytay offers the best greens in and around Metro Manila. Duck has also been known to steal the show, especially the duck confit in Grand Marnier beurre blanc or the roasted duck breast served with foie gras. The service here at Antonio’s is excellent. The wait is never long and within minutes you are seated, handed a menu and offered the restaurant's signature dalandan juice. " - Miele Guide Asia's Top 20

Call Antonio's Restaurant at +63918-899-2866 for reservations!
Congratulations to Charee Guico of Quezon City, Philippines for winning in the Miele Guide Lucky Draw! She won a dinner for two at Iggy's, the top ranked restaurant in Singapore, and two nights stay in one of Asia's most luxurious hotels, the Grand Hyatt Singapore!

May You Live an Awesome Life,

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.
Blog: www.OurAwesomePlanet.com
Mobile: +63917-LOVEOAP (5683627)
Email: anton@diaz.ph

Happy Halloween! (A Photo Essay of Our Halloween 2008)

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Angel Joshua Xavier


The Angel, Barbarian and the Princess


Halloween Party in our Community


The Hogwartz and the Barbarian Aidan
The Barbarian goes to office and meets Jollibee!


Aidan and the three Princess


Lion King Joshua with Aidan the Knight

May You Live an Awesome Life,

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.
Blog: www.OurAwesomePlanet.com
Mobile: +63917-LOVEOAP (5683627)
Email: anton@diaz.ph

1,000th Blog Post and the Next 1,000

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After 1,000 blog posts in 3 years and 10 months, our family is thankful for the 4,000+ OAP friends who read our family's food and travel adventures. We are honored and blessed for achieving this blogging milestone.

An AWESOME THANK YOU to all our OAP Friends!

I want to take this milestone opportunity to share with you the results of the OAP survey conducted last June 2008. A total of 543 OAP friends responded to the survey. I read each one's comment and reflected on how I can apply them to take OAP to the next level. I'm committed to constantly improve Our Awesome Planet until the day I have to pass it on to Aidan and Joshua. Based on the readership's candid feedback, I would like to share with you my strategies and plans for OAP 2.0!

The Next 1,000 Blog Posts

1. The Mission of Our Awesome Planet:
" To use my never ending curiosity to discover new things and my internet marketing experience to inspire the minds and touch the hearts of Filipinos to live an Awesome Life in the Philippines! "

One of the secrets of OAP success is our desire to give as much value as possible to our OAP readers. OAP will continue to be the story of our family's adventures. It will continue to be the number one source of food and travel insider's secrets in Manila shared through word-of-mouth.

Our Awesome Planet will NEVER ...
- be formatted or written like a lifestyle magazine. I want to keep the content fresh, honest and most importantly, fun.
- spam our readers with advertorials. I have a policy of not accepting any freebies from restaurants and hotels before or after I review them. I'm committed to remove any bias and perceptions of any conflict of interests in my posts.

OAP will continue to support blog advertising through Blog Bank, Google Adsense Network, and Red Sight Media. I will let the Blog Advertising Networks to talk to advertisers and create a firewall between us.

2. National Geographic Photography, Conde Nast Traveller Writing Quality and Doreen Fernandez Food Writing Caliber

I am committed to "kaizen" or continuous improvement. OAP is a historical view of my professional development as a photographer, travel writer, and food critic. I am happy that 82% of the readers are either Very Satisfied (50%) or rated OAP as Awesome (33%). The Photography is rated highly at 84.5% (44% Very Satisfied/ 41% Awesome!) - my photography classes have paid out. The Articles are rated 78.6% (58% Very Satisfied / 21% Awesome!) overall because they are relevant, engaging and honest.

For the next 1,000 blog posts in OAP, I'm focusing on improving my Writing. I aspire to write Philippines-related articles for Conde Nast Traveller. I'm inspired to write as good as Doreen Fernandez when it comes to food reviews. In order to achieve that dream, I need to improve the way I write. I already mastered writing from the heart, and I will master editing with the mind. I tried to get an editor for the blog but with the fast rate I am writing my blog posts, the editors cannot keep up. Releasing timely, relevant and engaging articles is key to the success of OAP.

I get the message loud and clear from the comments. Thank you for the concern and I can only return your love with noticeable improvement on my grammar and writing style.

3. Focus on New Restaurants and Travel Destinations in the Philippines

I tried to experiment with a lot of topics in the survey and most OAP readers love the blog posts on New Restos and Travel Destinations in the Philippines. I will focus 80% of OAP's content on these topics. (20% will be focused on Aidan and Joshua and other cool topics.) To be specific, I will write more on proposed itineraries and budget travel deals. I will describe better the taste of the food. In order to do this, I plan to attend culinary classes and learn the ins and outs of the cooking process. I will also learn more about wines -- watch out for it.

I got comments to make the blog less personal by not showing posed pictures of my family in the restaurants and places that I review. I acknowledge this comment but at the same time I cannot help featuring my family in most of my blog posts. What I can do is make the shots as candid as possible and less on the posed shots.

Culture and arts scene in Manila will always have a spot in my heart. From time to time articles on these matter will be seen in OAP. It is a personal advocacy to show the world the best of the Philippines.

As for the other topics in the survey, I decided to create separate blogs for them. I will announce them in due time. I promised not to write anything about blogging, internet marketing or IT related stuff in OAP. I agree it is not appropriate and I'm launching antondiaz.com soon to tackle these topics separately.

4. Give Back to OAP Readers by sharing knowledge on Photography, Blogging and Building an Online Business.

As a way of expressing my gratitude, I am going to honor OAP readers by giving exclusive deals! The first batch of my Internet Marketing School will be offered solely to avid OAP readers. I will teach photography, blogging and how to build an online business to aspiring internet mavens. OAP readers will get a very good offer for those who want to be in the pilot group. This is my own way of saying Thank you!

5. Actively contribute to shaping the History of the Philippines in 2010.

The year 2010 is a historic milestone for the Philippines. I am excited because for the first time we will have a chance to shape the history of the Philippines. There are three events that will dramatically change our lives in the Philippines:

1. For the first time, the young will select the best President for the Philippines. Traditional Politicians should be scared. Don't ever underestimate the collective power of the youth.

2. For the first time, Philippines will be in the Tourism Map of the World when Chocolate Hills in Bohol and Underground River in Palawan win as one of the seven natural wonders of the world!

3. For the first time, Internet Marketing businesses will boom and change the business model of the different industries in the Philippines.

I am sharing with you my personal predictions and I'm excited to see what will happen in 2010.

May You Live an Awesome Life,

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.
Blog: www.OurAwesomePlanet.com
Mobile: +63917-LOVEOAP (5683627)
Email: anton@diaz.ph

Ukkokei Ramen Ron - One of the Best Shoyu Ramen in Manila!

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Ukkokei Ramen Ron by Mrs Awesome Planet

OAP Goes Japanese Related Links
Ukkokei Ramen Ron - One of the Best Shoyu Ramen in Manila!


Ukkokei Ramen Ron serves the best shoyu ramen in town! I got this tip from my Japanese foodie friend, Atsushi Matsuura.

Before reading the rest of the blog post, you need to be aware of unique policies of this ramen house:
1. The Ramen is not available for take-out. You can only enjoy it in the restaurant.
2. There is a NO-SHARING Ramen policy which means you cannot share the ramen between two people. (Even if it is good for two people)
There is NO dessert in Ukkokei Ramen Ron.

Drinks | Lunch Set | Miso Based Ramen | Shoyu and Shio Ramen | Other Japanese Treats


Ukkokei Shoyu Koumi (P330 + 5% S.C.) Beef Ramen with Shoyu Sauce. Savor the smell of the ramen and look at the glittering oil before eating it.

Ramen 101
There are three types of Ramen: Shoyu (soy-sauce based), Shio (salt based) and Miso (Miso soup based). You can have it hot or cold.

In Ron, we would highly recommend ordering the Shoyu Ramen. Most of the ramen would have this sesame oily taste. The shoyu taste is smooth and clean like swimming in Kayangan Lake in Coron. I like the way the ramen noodles are cooked al dente. It is fatter than most of the commercialized ramen houses in Manila. The miso based ramen did not leave a good impression on us.


The best time to go is during lunch time. They have a set lunch menu (P380) of Ramen, Mini Donburi, Salad and Kobachi. Order the ones with gyoza and rice. During dinner time, the ramen is usually priced individually at P300-P360.



Ukkokei Nirra Niniku Karamiso (P360 + 5% S.C.) Vegetable Ramen with Miso Sauce.

" ... This was all-vegetable soup with some spiciness. The slices of shitake mushroom you see were not very tasty…maybe because it all went to the soup. I liked the soup for it was very flavorful but I always get distracted with the soup’s oiliness and the vegetable (I had lots of the hard parts of the petchay.) that I forgot to really take note of the flavor. I would like to think that the oil that I was referring too was the chili oil. "

-- Ukkokei Ramen Ron by Mrs Awesome Planet


Ukkokei Ramen Ron has a simple modern japanese interiors with a ramen and bowl display as the highlight. I like the Japanese tables where you leave your shoes before sitting on a thin seat cushion and letting your feet hang and swing around.


Gyoza (P120). This was gone in seconds. Eating gyoza is the best way to start your meal. We heard that Shinjuku serves the best gyoza in town.

What is your favorite Japanese Restaurant in Manila?


Ukkokei. Tesoro Bldg.,
822 A. Arnaiz Ave. (Pasay Road), Makati.
In between Paseo de Roxas and Amorsolo St.

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.
Email: anton@diaz.ph
Mobile: +63917-LOVEOAP (5683627)
Blog: www.OurAwesomePlanet.com

Mang Rudy's Puto @ T-House (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 8 of 8)

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The Ultimate Tagaytay Tour Related Links

Loumars Buko Pie (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 1 of 8)
Ilog Maria Story (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 2 of 8)
Ilog Maria Store (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 3 of 8)
Bawai Vietnamese Lunch (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 4 of 8)
Chateau Hestia Happiness (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 5 of 8)
Yoki's Treasure (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 6 of 8)
Yoki's Farm (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 7 of 8)
Mang Rudy's Puto @ T-House (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 8 of 8)


Our final stop of the tour is a sunset chill-out merienda with Mang Rudy's Puto in T-house Dining.

OAP Related Posts:
The Definitive Guide to T-House, Tagaytay
T-House Dining's Fluffy Pancakes!
T-House Romance


It is a very relaxing place specially during sunset. It lives up to its name T-house which stands for House of Tranquility.


I just love hanging out here for chika chika until the sun sets and before we go back to Manila.


Mang Rudy's Puto is a very traditional puto made of galapong rice. This is the best kept secret puto in Tagaytay.


Most of the people love this simple Japanese salad with Japanese sauce and nori on top.
Aidan loves these big pebbles fountain in T-house.


The Flavored Banana Fritters with langka, ube or macapuno are our personal favorite. You don't know which flavor you'll get until you take a bite.


A healthy merienda of fresh fruits skewer...


Yes, our Lil' Mr. Terror :)



Thank you to our Ultimate Tagaytay Tour Pioneering Participants: Charles, Asunta, Oskie, Dodjie, Teng, Wendy and Andy, Franklin and Jasmine.

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.
Email: anton@diaz.ph
Blog: www.OurAwesomePlanet.com

Destination Wedding Tagaytay – Lessons and Tips On How to Make Your Day Special

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Happy Anniversary Enzo and Carmina! They are expecting their first baby soon! I'm sharing with you a blog post from my brother about that special day. - Anton

Destination Wedding Tagaytay – Lessons and Tips On How to Make Your Day Special
By Enzo Diaz

Readers of OAP are privy to the little experiment I had two years ago. I went to a regression session. See the article here: a Frances Gloria Regression Experience . My brother Anton gave me a surprise experiential Christmas gift-- that of having a regression session with Frances Gloria. Part of the experience is supposedly taking a peek into the future. Based on the notes from Frances, the name of my future wife is supposed to be “Carly”. We are supposed to be married in some vineyard setting and the date is September 14th, 2007. The honeymoon will be at some mountain retreat in some foreign country.

My date in the altar came on October 28 2007 (date is off by 44 days). I got married to Carmina (first syllable is correct though). I got married in Caleruega, a chapel on top of a hill in Tagaytay (not really a vineyard) and we had our honeymoon in a beach resort at El Nido, Palawan (really far from the predicted mountain retreat in some foreign land).

Lesson: Don’t ever believe in hula, predictions and pre-destinations.

In this blog entry, I will share with you our experiences in setting up what I consider a destination wedding. Being based in Los Angeles, making it happen 8,000 miles away is a real project management challenge. I hope I will be able to add value to other couples out there who are based outside the Philippines and want to get hitched in their home country. We hope that by sharing our hindsight views and experiences with our vendors/ suppliers, you will be able to make your day awesome and memorable.

On Setting the Date

The date of the wedding is usually the first thing that the couple will decide on. There are different methods by which couples decide on “the” day. Some people like to be guided by feng-shui. Others take their cue from availability of suppliers, priests or church or reception area. For some, they probably take into consideration the low seasonality for travel since this will be easy on the couple and their guests to make travel arrangements - and this is exactly what we prioritized. We decided on October precisely because of this reason. Air ticket to Manila is only $800.00 per person roundtrip as opposed to more than a thousand if it is near Christmas. We ended up having it on 28th due to the availability of Caleruega.

We set this date hoping that we will not be rained on. But nature and the Almighty decided to shower us with a lot of blessings.

Lesson: The weather could spell a big difference on how your day will be remembered.

On Choosing the Church

Being a photographer myself, my primary consideration in choosing the church is its sheer beauty and the photogenic images it will render. There are a lot of good looking churches in Manila but for me nothing beats Calereuga. Its size is just right for 200 of your guest to easily fill up the pews.

We also tried to be unique and get something off the beaten track but we didn’t find any church that would satisfy our criteria. Aside from this, we had a great time here during the wedding of Anton and Rache. Akin to starting a family tradition, we decided to make it all happen here.

On choosing Caleruega, there’s one thing that we didn’t count on. Tagaytay is considered “out of town”. Our suppliers added traveling fees ranging from 10% to 50% of their normal.

Lesson: Be prepared for out of town costs, for this could affect your budget.

On Selecting the Reception Venue

After selecting the church, the next thing you need to nail is deciding on the reception venue. Of all the decisions that we made, the reception venue selection proved to be an ordeal by itself. The reception usually commands the biggest part of the budget so you want to get it right.

There are a lot of reception venues in Tagaytay. You have a wide variety of choices that range from restaurants to club houses. When we decided on our venue, our primary consideration is uniqueness…meaning it is not yet gasgas as far as usage is concerned. We wanted something that was less photographed and less popular yet will still deliver.

When we were selecting the venue, we trimmed the list down to these four sites:

1. Balai Taal
2. Antonio’s
3. Hacienda Isabelle
4. Ville Sommet
   

We decided to go for Balai Taal due to that pioneering feeling that we were one of the first few people to have a reception party there. When we were researching for wedding photos in Balai Taal in the Internet, we were only able to find a couple. This was a solid sign to us that the place was relatively undiscovered. We learned that that there was only one wedding held here in 2005. In 2006, there were only six. For 2007, they were set to hit 18 weddings by year end.

Another reason why we went for Balai Taal is the theme and motif of our wedding. We threaded our wedding with the Verdant Leaf theme. Nothing comes close to Balai Taal in providing a good fit to our wedding concept. For photos and articles related to what’s in Balai Taal, see previous entry here: Balai Taal, Tagaytay

Antonio’s recent renovation and expansion made it an ideal venue for weddings. The food here there is hailed as the best in all Tagaytay bar none. Only problem with this site is that the tables are spread across different floors. You will not have that “intimacy” since guests are spread out. On top of that, you will have to really limit your guest since it can accommodate only up to 150 to 160 guests. See article here: Antonio's Tagaytay, Still the Best and Nothing Beats an Antonio's Dinner @ Tagaytay .

Another unique reception area is the Ledesma’s Hacienda Isabelle. This was originally a private Tagaytay retreat that recently opened its doors to the public as a dining place (by reservation only) It is a place of character in its own. We didn’t go with them because they only allow food served by their chef. We figured that if we factor in the food, we are better off going with Antonio’s. See article here: Ville Sommet, Tagaytay

Ville Sommet is another area that is well manicured and set up for big weddings. Their glass house pavilion is something to be admired once you do your set-up. The glass house is huge and we figured that we will be spending a lot of resources in styling the place. If you are having a wedding in a rainy month, you might want to go for the very well covered area they provided. See article here: Hacienda Isabella's Lazy Sunday Lunch and Hacienda !sabella , Celebrate Life!

Other venues that you might want to consider are Splendido and Tagaytay Highlands.

In the end, selecting the venue is a matter relegated to preference, wedding concept, budget and weather. You will never go wrong with the choices listed here.

Tip: Have a wedding concept or theme. This will make your decision making faster. Make this theme as unique as possible since this will help making your wedding distinct from the rest.

Yoki's Farm (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 7 of 8)

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The Ultimate Tagaytay Tour Related Links

Loumars Buko Pie (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 1 of 8)
Ilog Maria Story (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 2 of 8)
Ilog Maria Store (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 3 of 8)
Bawai Vietnamese Lunch (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 4 of 8)
Chateau Hestia Happiness (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 5 of 8)
Yoki's Treasure (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 6 of 8)
Yoki's Farm (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 7 of 8)
Mang Rudy's Puto @ T-House (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 8 of 8)


We drove for 30 minutes crossing over the Tagaytay Ridge and finding our way to Yoki's Farm. It is a hydroponics farm which houses a private collection of Yoki's artifacts collection.


The vegetables are not grown on soil but on water with nutrients. We love buying our salad ingredients here which is one of the sources of Tagaytay Greens for Tagaytay's famous restaurants..


Aside from Yoki's treasure, buying cheap and good quality vegetables is one of the highlights of the leg of this tour.

You have to get a special permission to see the private collection at Yoki's farm.

We would usually go around the simple farm as a break before we head off to our final foodie destination.


Don't forget to take your lucky picture with one of the biggest buddha I have seen in Manila.

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.
Email: anton@diaz.ph
Blog: www.OurAwesomePlanet.com

Yoki's Treasure (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 6 of 8)

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The Ultimate Tagaytay Tour Related Links

Loumars Buko Pie (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 1 of 8)
Ilog Maria Story (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 2 of 8)
Ilog Maria Store (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 3 of 8)
Bawai Vietnamese Lunch (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 4 of 8)
Chateau Hestia Happiness (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 5 of 8)
Yoki's Treasure (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 6 of 8)
Yoki's Farm (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 7 of 8)
Mang Rudy's Puto @ T-House (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 8 of 8)


Let me share with you one of my latest amazing discovery in Tagaytay. We visit this place after lunch during the Ultimate Tagaytay Tour. Are you ready for this?

Welcome to Yoki's Treasures!

I Love Yoki's!

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.
Email: anton@diaz.ph
Blog: www.OurAwesomePlanet.com

Chateau Hestia Happiness (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 5 of 8)

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The Ultimate Tagaytay Tour Related Links

Loumars Buko Pie (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 1 of 8)
Ilog Maria Story (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 2 of 8)
Ilog Maria Store (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 3 of 8)
Bawai Vietnamese Lunch (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 4 of 8)
Chateau Hestia Happiness (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 5 of 8)
Yoki's Treasure (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 6 of 8)
Yoki's Farm (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 7 of 8)
Mang Rudy's Puto @ T-House (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 8 of 8)


After the Bawai lunch, the group walked over to Chateau Hestia, my personal favorite dessert and wine place in Tagaytay.

OAP RELATED LINKS: A Chateau Hestia Birthday Celebration (January 8, 2008)


We ate a dessert trio of Ferero Rocher Ice Cream, Mango Napoleon, and Panna Cota.


We finished the Ultimate Tagaytay lunch with a toast of Lemon Cello and/or Vin de Orange. Both wines are proudly made by Johannes in the Philippines!

It was indeed a Happy Lunch after all...

Dodjie's happiness...

Ivan Man Dy's Jump for Joy for being featured in No Reservations.


Hep, Hep.... Hurray!


Aidan's imaginary house in Chateau Hestia.


A Spanky Ending...

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.
Email: anton@diaz.ph
Blog: www.OurAwesomePlanet.com

Sister Raquel Reodica, Cancer Healer of the Lord

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One of my pro bono projects is to do a total site makeover of Sister Raquel's website from a Web 1.0 site (Mother Ignacia Healing Ministry) to a Web 2.0 Site (Sister Raquel Blog).

Sister Raquel is one of the Mother Ignacia nuns who is known as a Cancer Healer of the Lord. You can subscribe to the blog to get inspirational photos and poems by Eastwind and Sister Raquel. You can also pray for people from all around the world who requested for prayers for their sickness. You can also send your own prayer requests to the prayer warriors.

We visited Sister Raquel and had a healing pray over session for my mom.



My partner for the blog site, Bernie Lopez was busy filming testimonials on how Jesus was able to heal the sick through Sister Raquel.

Check out SisterRaquel.com if you want to know more about the Mother Ignacia Healing Ministry of Sister Raquel, RVM.

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.
Email: anton@diaz.ph
Blog: www.OurAwesomePlanet.com

Astralis by Diamond Hotel, Rockwell Power Plant Mall

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We wanted to try out Astralis by Diamond Hotel ever since it opened to give new life to the Rockwell strip.

Every time we visit, the restaurant is empty with one or two groups eating. We hesitated to try it because we find the ambiance boring, and we expected the food to be hotel prices with + 12% VAT and (We just verified that the menu prices are inclusive of VAT) +10% service charge added to the menu price. I really don't understand why the prices are higher than the Serendra or Boni High Street restaurants. Despite the fact that it is located in a once-famous gimmick strip of a mall. In the end, we decided to go because we wanted a quiet date in a new restaurant we haven't tried.
Astralis Main Menu
Appetizers, Cheese & Cold Cuts | Salads, Sandwiches and Tarts, Soups, and Pasta, Risotto and Gnocchi | Seafood, Meat, and Desserts | Drinks and Beverages

Tapas Selection | Red Wines | Sparkling and White Wines | Astralis Flights: Red Wines from 3 Continents | Vignoble des Verdots by David Fourtout and Vin de Pays Wines of France


The meal starts with a choice of bread with butter. The waiter was kind enough to bring us a pesto dip and a balsamic vinegar dip upon request. The sun-dried tomato bread tasted a lot better with the dips. One of the thing I like about Astralis is the attentive and friendly service that you can only find in hotels. After eating the bread, the waiter was kind enough to clean the crumbs off our table.


Baked double-broiled mushroom soup (P220+) with swirl of pesto cream.

The phyllo pastry cover was a nice touch and it added excitement to our mushroom soup. My wife loves mushroom soup and she orders it every time. She thought that it lack an ingredient to really give it the mushroom ommph. For me, it tasted like monggo soup because of its consistency and the flavor.


The restaurant is named after this expensive Astralis Wine. Astralis means stars and stands for high quality product and service.

Can anybody guess how much a bottle of Clarendon Hil 2005 Astralis wine would cost?

Sato-san's Japanese Mentaiko Spaghetti (P460 +) spicy cod roe, nori on cream sauce

We love the combination of cream sauce with nori (japanese seaweed). We ordered extra servings of nori to truly enjoy this Japanese Spaghetti. It was served on an elongated white dish where two people can eat on both ends.


Chicken stuff with gorgonzola, mozzarella, and stilton (P390+) with mashed potatoes and grilled zucchini

We love the combination of the 3 cheeses highlighted by the strawberry sauce. According to the waiter, this is one of their bestseller together with the Wagyu Steak.


Astralis recently did a blogger's PR event on their Astralis Wine & Raclette Buffet. Just search on google and you'll easily find them. I like Noemi's post educating people about the Raclette.

Astralis Wine & Raclette Buffet
Every Mondays and Thursdays from 5pm onwards
Wine and Raclette - Php 950+
Wine Only - Php 650+
Raclette only - Php 390+
For reservations call Astralis by Diamond Hotel at +632 703-2688



Astralis by Diamond Hotel
Lopez Drive, Power Plant Mall
Along Rockwell Strip, Besides Via Mare
Telephone Number: +632 703-2688

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.
Email: anton@diaz.ph
Blog: www.OurAwesomePlanet.com

Where is your favorite place to travel on a rainy day and Why?

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Where to Travel on a Rainy Day and Why? a Pluey's Blog Contest

I love traveling during the rainy season because of the off peak rates and the lesser crowd in the different tourist destinations in the Philippines. For today's blog contest Friday, I am interested to know: Where is your favorite place to travel on a rainy day and Why? You can write your answer (maximum of 100 words) in the comment section below or link your blog post with photos (a plus!).

The best answer will win one Pluey and you can choose from the Pluey's 2008 collection. 10 runner-ups will be chosen and will be given a 10% discount to Plueys (with January 31, 2009 expiry date).




Deadline for submission of entries is on October 30, 2008, Thursday. I will announce the winner next Friday in time for the next blog contest Friday :)

Text by Anton Diaz and Photos c/o Pluey's Manila.
Copyright 2008.
Email: anton@diaz.ph
Blog: www.OurAwesomePlanet.com

Bawai Vietnamese Lunch (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 4 of 8)

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The Ultimate Tagaytay Tour Related Links

Loumars Buko Pie (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 1 of 8)
Ilog Maria Story (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 2 of 8)
Ilog Maria Store (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 3 of 8)
Bawai Vietnamese Lunch (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 4 of 8)
Chateau Hestia Happiness (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 5 of 8)
Yoki's Treasure (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 6 of 8)
Yoki's Farm (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 7 of 8)
Mang Rudy's Puto @ T-House (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 8 of 8)



I always love to go to Bawai for the best vietnamese meal I ever tasted in Manila. Also, I love to hear the love story of Bawai on how they courted each other via sign language and how they ended up in Manila. I would like to share the experience to more people via the Ultimate Tagaytay Tour.


The secret to Bawai's success is that she personally prepares the food with love. They don't want to expand the operation because they don't want to commercialize the taste of Bawai.


Everyone was raving about this vietnamese salad which hits the right vietnamese notes and tunes.


The salad was followed by the vietnamese lumpia, chagio and barbecue with the sweet patis sauce and peanut sauce.


My brother Rommel is the one taking the pictures during the Tagaytay tour and he would often take care of Aidan as well.


Aidan loves to go with me during the tours. He often promised to behave and entertain our foodie friends. The entire family is joining the Ultimate Pampanga Food Tour tomorrow.

Bawai, tagaytay, Tagaytay

The main meal is the vietnamese beef soup or the pho. I prefer the pho and I took a mental note to serve rice in the next Tagaytay tour.


Aside from the salad, most people rave about these chicken dogs as the finale for our Bawai lunch.


Bawai was kind enough to serve us a complimentary serving of banana pie dessert with cream sauce.


Ultimate Tagaytay Food Tour Souvenir Photo!

Text by Anton Diaz and Photos by Rommel Diaz. Copyright 2008.
Email: anton@diaz.ph
Blog: www.OurAwesomePlanet.com

F*#%^! Word

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Director Erik Matti's F*#%^! Word restaurant is the latest hang-out place along C. Palanca which replaced Sake Club. Spanx, Ivan H and I decided to do our pre-production meeting here for the Ultimate Pampanga Tour this coming Saturday. We had fun figuring out what the F*#%^! Word stands for. The most likely meaning, if I would guess, is Filipino Fusion Food.

The open well-lighted restaurant entices you to go in and just chill out. Most people just drink and we found out the reason why after our dinner.

You cannot see the F Word logo from the outside but you can see all the cartoon paintings on the wall. The paintings are not for sale.



Peanut Butter Soup (P170).

When I invited Spanx and Ivan to F*#%^! Word, my hook was the peanut butter soup. We were surprised when we learned that it was replaced already by the pakbet soup. We were tempted to say the "What the F*#%^!" Word, but I'm glad that the waiter succumbed to our request and insistence to order the peanut butter soup.

As it turns out, the peanut butter soup is the highlight of our meal for the night. It tasted like curry with a peanut butter twist. It is interesting enough for me to rave about F*#%^!. I guess they want to keep the peanut soup as an off menu secret item :)


F*#%^! Word Menu
Appetizers | Soup and Salad | Pasta | Meats and Fish | Off the Grill and Dessert | Merienda and Sandwiches | Drinks

The menu has humor and it would have been funny if they were able to deliver with good food. The restaurant is promising but something has to be done with the people running the kitchen.


Spaghetti de Bilbao (P290). Guiltless all meat pasta for the ones who live to eat.

Ivan ordered this spaghetti and requested to remove all the cheese. This tasted more like tomato than meat. I don't know if it was intentional for the meat to have subdued taste.


Ventre Croustillant de Porc Avec le Demi-glace de Pomme a.k.a. Lechon Kawali (P280). Crispy pork belly a la lechon kawali with apple demi-glace and pan fried apple-banana sidings.

With all the funny french translation, this lechon kawali tasted ordinary according to Spanx. It is just like the ones you can cook at home.


Sole Fillet with Seafood Paella Risotto (P380). Pan fried sole fillet with taba ng talangka-caper sauce on Paella flavored risotto.

My waiter recommended this Sole Fillet as the best food in the house. I fell for the upsell again and I tasted more salt in this dish than what I expected. The risotto was harder than expected. The dish concept is very good and I fell for it. But the experience of eating it makes you regret ordering it. I should have ordered the sweet adobo, Pork Onnie.


"Uber Healthy" Sisig Wrap (P230). Grilled Pork cheek, Pork ear, Pork snout, Pork sweetbreads, Chicken Liver and Butter wrapped in really, really fresh, healthy and green lettuce.

The waiter told us that there will be 12 pieces of lettuce which turns out to be only 3. You have to pay P40 for extra pieces of lettuce. There is nothing unique about wrapping sisig in lettuce. But this is a good appetizer to kick off the drinking session.


Ivan Henares and Spanx Hizon will be our tour guide for tomorrow's Ultimate Pampanga Tour.


Durian Cheese Cake (P210). The taste of durian without the stench masked behind a creamy, tasty cheese cake.

We all agreed that this would have been a great dessert if it was not frozen. I guess it needs to be "Frozen" to conform with the theme of the resto.


I love the ambiance specifically the open ceiling with flat cylinder lights, cartoon painting effects on the wall, and the F emblem. I do hope Erik Matti improves the food.

F*#%^! Word
C. Palanca St., Makati City
(Besides Gweillos)

Live an Awesome Life,

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.
Email: anton@diaz.ph
Blog: www.OurAwesomePlanet.com

Ilog Maria Store (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 3 of 8)

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The Ultimate Tagaytay Tour Related Links

Loumars Buko Pie (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 1 of 8)
Ilog Maria Story (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 2 of 8)
Ilog Maria Store (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 3 of 8)
Bawai Vietnamese Lunch (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 4 of 8)
Chateau Hestia Happiness (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 5 of 8)
Yoki's Treasure (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 6 of 8)
Yoki's Farm (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 7 of 8)
Mang Rudy's Puto @ T-House (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 8 of 8)


The highlight of the Ilog Maria Tour is the honey tasting straight from the honey bee comb. (I heard Paul Calvin tried to do this kind of honey tasting in their restaurant)


At first it was scary because you don't know how clean the bee hive is.


But once you tasted it, you'll swear that it is the sweetest honey you ever tasted.


The best part of the trip is shopping from the Ilog Maria Store. My wife would often have pabilins to buy from Ilog Maria.

Ilog Maria Store
Telefax: +63 46 - 865 – 0018.
Email: info@ilogmaria.com
Mailing Address: P. O. Box # 1 , Silang 4118, Cavite, Philippines
Our favorite Ilog Maria Products are the Lip Balm, Oatmeal and Spearmint Soap, and the Insect Repellant. What is your favorite Ilog Maria product?

Here are the current pricelist (as of October 2008)

Honey
Virgin Honey 500g (P230)
Honey Cider Vinegar (P115)

Propolis
Propolis Gold 30/ 320 ml (P110/ P930)
Propolis Throat Spray (P75)
Propolis Ointment B/S (P175/ P100)
Propolis Cider Linement (P95)
Feminine Wash (P45)
Liquid Soap - Lavender (P77)
Liquid Soap - Green Tea (P70)
Propolis Toothpaste (P155)
Propolis Pet Soap (P60)

Royal Jelly
Fresh Frozen Royal Jelly (14g/58g) - (P160/P600)
Royal Jelly Cleanser Moisturizer (P80)
Royal Jelly Honeymilk Lotion (P120)
Royal Jelly Face Oil (P110)
Royal Jelly Hair Oil (P110)
Royal Jelly Hair & Hand Cream (P110)

Fresh Bee Pollen 40g/225g (P100/P530)

Soaps
Mini Soaps (P35)
Baby Soap (P45)
Mint & Oatmeal (P60)
Kalamansi Ginger (P60)
Bamboo Charcoal (P60)
Coffee (P60)
Sandalwood (P60)
Cinnamon (P60)
Lavender (P65)
Milk (P65)
Carrot (P60)
Rosemary (P60)
Rose Milled (P60)
Honey Glycerin Face Soap (P80)
Saddle Soap (P30/P80)
Shaving Soap (P110)
Spa
Propolis Bath Salts (P95)
Eucalyptus Bath Gel (P70)
Honey Face Scrub (P130)
Massage Oil: Floral/ Citrus/ Chamomile (P155)
Shampoo (Handy// Family) - (P70 / P140)

Beeswax
Lip Balm (P65)
Beeswax Hair Styling Balsam (P90)
Beeswax Sheets (P88)
Beeswax Clay (P90)
Candle Rolling Kit (P140)
Leather Balsam (P80/P130/P230)
Wood Polish (P115/P220)
Beeswax Candles

Oils
Aromatherapy Oil, 15ml (P90)
Sting-Less (P70)
Citronella Fly Repellant (P300/P275)

Gifts
Gift Packs (P75/P85/P95)
Stoneware (P75/P85/P95)
Pineware Buckets (P75/P85/P95)
Pinewood Boxes (P75/P85/P95)
Native Bags (P75/P85/P95)

Ilog Maria Fresh Roasted Coffee (P170) 500g


It is also interesting to read on how Ilog Maria Store started . Here is a catalog of the Ilog Maria Products.

" Ilog Maria Honey Cider Vinegar is best for removing wastes & toxins from your body and improving digestion & bowel movement. Together with this inner cleansing action, Ilog Maria Honey Cider Vinegar changes your body's chemical reaction from acid to alkaline in reaction. This triggers a host of beneficial co-reactions in your body. Wastes in our bodies precipitate as salts. Many times, these salt deposits are so large they cannot be expelled or excreted by normal body processes. These salts or “stones” only start to melt when we are able to change our body's chemical reactions to alkaline by regularly drinking 1 tablespoonful of Ilog Maria Honey Cider Vinegar in a glassful of water every morning before breakfast. Because of these and many other beneficial body reactions, regular use of Ilog Maria Honey Cider Vinegar helps lower uric acid, cholesterol and blood sugar & arthritis (especially when taken together with Ilog MariaBee Propolis. Ilog Maria Honey Cider Vinegar also helps ease migraine headaches, melt gallstones, lower hypertension and melt kidney & bladder stones. " (see The Farm - Fresh from the Bee Hive)

We love the natural soaps particularly the oatmeal and spearmint. I like the coarseness of the oatmeal and the minty cooling effect after using it.

We often use the sore throat spray with Bee Propolis at the first signs of itchiness of the throat due to coughs/ colds.

" Ilog Maria Bee Propolis is nature's most powerful probiotic. Propolis is an essential part of the immune system of trees. It is a sticky resinous substance secreted by flowering buds and under the bark of trees. Our honeybees collect propolis to seal, varnish and, thus, disinfect their honeycombs and insides of their beehives. Ilog MariaBee Propolis possesses antiviral, antibacterial and fungicidal properties. It is even capable of destroying some bacteria & viruses that have now become resistant to modern synthetic antibiotics. Ilog Maria Bee Propolis is effective against infections of the skin, mouth, throat, respiratory and digestive systems. Ilog Maria Bee Propolis stimulates tissue regeneration, antibody formation and strengthens & stimulates the immune system. It is also effective in treating hypertension, arteriosclerosis and coronary disease. Dermatological disorders and rheumatism respond to propolis therapy. Ilog Maria Bee Propolis is a potent anti-oxidant, which combats the ill effects of eating processed and preserved foods. " (see The Farm - Fresh from the Bee Hive)


Ivan Man Dy is the shopping winner bringing home P3,000+ worth of Ilog Maria products for his sister :)

Text by Anton Diaz and Photos by Rommel Diaz. Copyright 2008.
Email: anton@diaz.ph
Blog: www.OurAwesomePlanet.com

Ilog Maria Story (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 2 of 8)

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The Ultimate Tagaytay Tour Related Links

Loumars Buko Pie (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 1 of 8)
Ilog Maria Story (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 2 of 8)
Ilog Maria Store (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 3 of 8)
Bawai Vietnamese Lunch (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 4 of 8)
Chateau Hestia Happiness (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 5 of 8)
Yoki's Treasure (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 6 of 8)
Yoki's Farm (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 7 of 8)
Mang Rudy's Puto @ T-House (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 8 of 8)


I always love going to Ilog Maria because I'm always energized by the love story of Joel and Violaine Magsaysay. Also, Ilog Maria products have a cult following because of their natural ingredients. You can only buy them onsite at wholesale prices. (see How to Buy -- New Priorities for Handling Orders)


Our mini-bus had a hard time navigating through the narrow rough roads leading to Ilog Maria. They are open Tuesdays to Sundays 8.30am to 5.30pm. (see How to Contact Ilog Maria)


It is one thing to read their humble beginnings from their website (see The Farm - Why Honey Bees) and it is another thing hearing the story first hand from Joel. He would often point out the humble house where Ilog Maria started.


I love going to Tagaytay to meet the Personalities and Families behind the most successful establishments and foodie places.


Joel is proud to share the story of the Bees and why it is called Ilog Maria in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary.


Ivan Man Dy gets up close and personal with the Ilog Maria bees.
On a special tour arrangement, you can see the Ilog Maria Bee Museum.


A Video Presentation is shown to educate people on bees, their behavior and natural habitat. Also, it gives a sales pitch about why you should buy the natural products of Ilog Maria. (see Fresh from the Bee Hive)


It is too good to be true living an eco-friendly life, and using only natural products not harmful to your body or the environment.


Dodjie and Teng listens attentively to the Ilog Maria Story...

Text by Anton Diaz and Photos by Rommel Diaz. Copyright 2008.
Email: anton@diaz.ph
Blog: www.OurAwesomePlanet.com

Loumars Buko Pie (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 1 of 8)

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The Ultimate Tagaytay Tour Related Links

Loumars Buko Pie (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 1 of 8)
Ilog Maria Story (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 2 of 8)
Ilog Maria Store (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 3 of 8)
Bawai Vietnamese Lunch (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 4 of 8)
Chateau Hestia Happiness (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 5 of 8)
Yoki's Treasure (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 6 of 8)
Yoki's Farm (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 7 of 8)
Mang Rudy's Puto @ T-House (Ultimate Tagaytay Tour 8 of 8)



We left Starbucks 6750 at around 8am and arrived in Tagaytay around 9.30am onboard a mini-Bus. Our first stop is my favorite drive-thru buko pie tart place called Loumars.


This was our first public Tagaytay Food Tour after two successful private tours with Alveo (formerly Community Innovations). The first tour was for media as a marketing tour to promote Verdana Homes Mamplasan. We got rave reviews from both bloggers and media. It was followed by another successful tour with the top sales people of Alveo. Ivan Man Dy of Old Manila Walk fame is our official tour guide for the trip.


There are three buko pie places you should try: The Laguna Buko Pies which include Letty's, Original Buko Pie and Collette's; the Nueva Vizcaya Buko Pie; and the Buko Pie Tarts of Tagaytay. I was informed by Wendy that there is another popular buko pie in Iloilo which tastes like a bibingka. (Can anyone share details about this place?)

In Tagaytay, there are three popular brands of buko pie tarts: Loumars, Rowena and Amira. We always buy Loumars.

The secret to eating buko pies is that it should be eaten fresh out of the oven and bought from the source. A box of 9 buko crumble costs P130.


Thanks to Wendy, Andy, Dodgie, and Teng for joining us in all the Ultimate Philippines Food Tour!

Text by Anton Diaz and Photos by Rommel Diaz. Copyright 2008.
Email: anton@diaz.ph
Blog: www.OurAwesomePlanet.com

How to Drink a Heavenly Cup of Chocolate? (Caption This!)

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Caption this just for fun! The best captions will win a California Berry Frozen Yogurt Gift Certificate!

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Heavenly Chocolates

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Hot Dark Chocolate Drinks 5oz (P80)

We literally closed our eyes when we tasted the Ecuador Hot Chocolate Drink of Heavenly Chocolates. This new chocolate haven is teaching the foodies in Manila on how to enjoy cocoa from different origins (similar to wines). We fell in love with the strong full bodied Ecuador and we would recommend this for all chocoholics out there. For Aidan, we ordered the chocolate from Ghana which offers a smoother taste.



Flavor Guide to Cacao Origins
ECUADOR - Strong and intense, full-bodied, bitter, hint of smoky notes. For true-blue chocoholics.
GHANA - Smooth, rounded, uncomplicated. Well-received in Japan and Korea, and by children too.
IVORY COAST - Rich cocoa with a nutty flavor. Provides more than a third of world's cocoa bean supply.
MADAGASCAR - Unique and exotic, with distinct fruity notes of raisins. Avaiable on Seasonal Basis
PERU - A Mild cocoa delicate floral notes, with a background of dry flowers. Currently in limited supply worldwide.


1 pack of Ecuador chocolate (P175). It was so good that we decide to buy our own Ecuador chocolate buttons so that we can enjoy the hot chocolate at home. We know that this pack could easily serve 5 cups.

Recipe for Hot Chocolate:
110 ml of Anchor Milk Chocolate
40-55g of chocolate origin buttons (with a scoop serving as big as the one above)
whipped cream (optional)

In a small saucepan, heat the milk until it just begins to simmer. Remove the pan from heat and whisk in the chocolate buttons until melted. Pur hot chocolate drink to a cup and top with tablespoon of whipped cream.
(recipe from Reggie Aspiras' Kitchen Rescue Article)

I'm tempted to try my own chocolate fountain fondue at home. They sell unique chocolate stuff mostly coming from Singapore.


Heavenly Chocolate Menu: Hot Drinks, Cold Drinks, Fondue Dips

The ambiance is simple and we were disappointed that they were not able to execute a "heavenly" ambiance. The signage is not well lighted and it looks like an ordinary chocolate place.


You can have a free taste of Sachi Nama chocolates!


Sachi is similar to the more popular Royce Nama Chocolates and it has the same melt-in-your-mouth experience. I can't really taste the difference from Royce. If you buy one, you can only travel with it for 30-60 minutes without refrigeration. Unfortunately, they don't have dry ice which they would give you when you buy Royce in Singapore.

Could this be the start of the Chocolate Craze in the Philippines?


The facade looks dilapidated and I wonder where are the pearly gates? I'm not surprised that they are not able to attract the crowd from Taste of L.A. Despite this, I highly recommend their hot chocolate!

Heavenly Chocolates
Benjamin Pedro, Chocolatier and Ellaine S. Sevilla, Store Manager
Unit 1, Roces Centre
127 Roces Avenue, Quezon City, Philippines
Telephone: +632 666-2208
Mobile: +65 9743-9375 and +63915-788-2105
Email: benjaminvpedro@yahoo.com and ellainessevilla@yahoo.com


Live an Awesome Life,

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.
Email: anton@diaz.ph
Blog: www.OurAwesomePlanet.com

How to Serve Bellissimo Pizza? (Caption This!)

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Caption this Aidan Photo Essay on How To Serve Bellissimo Pizza. The best captions will win a Delifrance Tray Couture*. To enter this contest, just enter your best captions in the comments.


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* Delifrance Tray Couture is a tray of several small meals that can lead to an exploration of epicurean flavors. This latest Delifrance offering introduces Filipinos to the French gourmet sampler trend that has gained a following of food connoisseurs across the globe. It comes in four (4) flavors: Premiere Clubhouse and Shrimp Pesto Pasta, Seafood Deluxe Clubhouse and Pomodoro Angel Hair Pasta, California Chicken Clubhouse and Garlic Pesto Pasta and Tuna Onion Mayo Clubhouse and Beef Stroganoff Pasta.

Bellissimo Pizza

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Gorgonzola Pizza (P330). Tomato, Mozzarela, Blue Cheese, Oregano, Olive Oil.

I am skeptic about the good reviews of restaurants owned by artistas. I did not expect the pizza in Bellissimo to be really good. All the raves about Cesar Montano's pizza was true after all. The crust is crunchy and chewy with the right amount of ingredients on top. All the pizzas are line-priced at P330 (P40 per slice) so all you need to do is choose the toppings and taste of your pizza.
We love the Tre Formaggi pizza of Friuli so we are looking for a "blue cheese" pizza like the Gorgonzola. We know that if we order the Quattro Formaggi pizza that the blue cheese will be drowned by the taste of all the other cheeses. The pizza servings are big and we brought home 2 slices to eat the next day.


Cannelloni agli Spinaci (P298). Baked Cannelloni stuffed with spinach and cheese topped with bechamel and parmesan cheese.

The cannelloni we ordered was reheated and our server was quick to admit it. We regret ordering a pasta that tasted like microwave reheated lasagna from last night's dinner. At ~P300 per pasta, I'll stick to the pizza. I guess that is why we don't hear any raves about Bellissimo's pasta.

Bellissimo Menu
Pizza Menu 1 | Pizza Menu 2 | Pasta | Antipasti, Soup, Insalate, Sausage, Entree, Gelato | Coffee, Hot and Cold Drinks

The menu is simple and reminds of the menu from any Amici-trained Chef Italian restaurant.

It was packed on a Monday night surprisingly. I like the siksikan-feel and Italianis-type ambiance. Meeting Angela Montano, daugther of Cesar and General Manager of the restaurant is a treat in itself.

It was refreshing to see this cobra snake toy which "bites" you when you press the red button. It is the first time I've seen one. Aidan was surprised, kept on pressing the red button and reacted the scared every time.


This garage-turned-into-waiting area was a cool touch. It resembles a tunnel that prepares you for a homey ambiance ahead.

This is the first corner after the T.Morato and Roces Avenue stop-light intersection.

Bellissimo Ristorante
Angela P. Montano, General Manager
105 Unit E & F Scout Castor corner Tomas Morato, Quezon City 1103
Telephone: +632 376-5746, 414-0274, 411-8335
Mobile: +63922 882-1701
Email: akmontano@gmail.com

Live an Awesome Life,

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.
Email: anton@diaz.ph
Blog: www.OurAwesomePlanet.com

My Ultimate Day

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(I am attending the WakeUp Productive Class of Eban Pagan and this is one of the class exercises I wanted to share with you. We are encouraged to create Our Ultimate Scenario 90 days from today)

My Ultimate Day

I wake up at 4.00am. I feel refresh knowing that I got 8 hours of sleep and I had quality time with my wife and kids at night. The very first thing I do is thank God for the new day and for all the blessings I received.

I already prepared all the things I need to do this morning. I wash my mouth with water and drink half liter of water from my Sigg. I proceeded to our clutter-free bathroom and start to floss and brush my teeth. I clean myself and prepare for my morning exercise routine. My exercise outfits and gadgets are ready for my morning exercise. I'm happy that I am able to follow my triathlon training schedule. Before 5am, I am off either running or biking around Bonifacio High Street. After an hour, I end my exercise with lifting weights at the gym or having a good swim. By 6.00am, I am ready to eat my breakfast of fruits, oatmeal and milk. After breakfast, I'll do one blog post for the day and finish it in 30 minutes.

By 7am, I am ready to play with my youngest son, Joshua and waiting for my other son, Aidan to wake up. I would greet my wife "Good Morning" and "I Love You" which sets the happiness throughout the entire day. I dedicate the entire morning playing, reading, and spending quality time with my sons and my wife. I live for this morning every day and each day is the best day of my life. By 11am, we either have healthy lunch at home or go to the newest restaurant in town. By 12.30pm, Aidan is excited to go to school and we will drop him off to the best pre-school in Manila.

By 1pm, I start to work on my internet marketing business. I prioritize working on the items that suck the most energy out of my day. These are items that are urgent this week, or obligations I need to fulfill. I allot the first 90 minutes to complete this. At 2.30pm, I take a break and eat another healthy snack to prepare for the next 90 minutes. At 3pm, I am studying either photography, writing or internet marketing training to take myself to the next skill level. At 4.30pm, I start to work on my blog posts and answer all my emails for the day.

At 5.30pm, my son arrives from school and we celebrate this moment by jumping around and giving each other a warm welcome hug. This is the time for either reading, playing, swimming or watching the sunset together. At 6.30pm, we eat our healthy dinner over good conversations. By 7.30pm, we are cleaning up and preparing all my things for the next day. We perform our nightly ritual of brushing teeth, sharing bedtime stories, and saying our goodnight prayer. Before 9pm, we are already asleep ready for the next day ahead.

I sleep contented knowing that I spent 8 hours of my day with the family, 4 hours on my internet marketing business and 1 hour for exercise every single day.

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.
Email: anton@diaz.ph
Blog: www.OurAwesomePlanet.com

Aidan's First Blog Post

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The Stock Market Flying High in Boni High

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The first time I heard about The Stock Market (TSM), the Philippine Stock Exchange popped into my mind. TSM is the newest restaurant at Fort Bonifacio High Street beside Fridays. It is owned by Del Monte Philippines (who has offices on the second floor of Boni High) and operated by the TOSH (The Old Spaghetti House), Grilla, Chilly Willy's Restaurant group. It is called "Stock Market" because it is a place where Del Monte intends to sell its stock of products which include Del Monte drinks, fruits, and its own line of salad dressing.

They are still on Dry Run phase so you still get less 10% on card and 15% on cash purchase. The grand opening is set on October 15, Wednesday. This is the perfect time to go since they have stabilized their operation for 2+ weeks now and you still can get the discount. Please share your experience in the comments section.

The Stock Market Menu
4S Soup, Starter, Salad, Sandwich | Beef & Lamb, Chicken & Pork, Seafood, Pasta | Drinks and Desserts

Some of the interesting things on the menu are the Pan-Seared Roast Beef and Prime Burger which use the famous pineapple-fed premium Australia Beef from the Del Monte Lodge, Bukidnon. You can also try the dishes with mashed sweet potatos (Kamote) like the Pan-Fried Catfish or the Pulled Pork Barbecue. You can also try the fresh stock market salad with the unique pineapple vinaigrette.

The prices are a bit on the expensive side. Even the Del Monte Drinks are priced at P85. I was disappointed that I can't even get a pineapple juice at a lower price.

Cream of Porcini Mushroom Soup with Truffle Oil (P260)

We savored every bit of this soup. I think you won't go wrong with truffle oil and mushroom. Although, we are still guessing if this mushroom has a little bit of Campbell mushroom soup...

Prime Burger with Grilled Pineapple, Bacon and Caramelized Onion (P380)

It tasted like ground beef packed into a thick burger without the use of other ingredients to artificially make it big. I like the sweet combination of pineapple, caramelized onion, and tomato. I was trying to see if there is a noticeable difference in the taste of a pineapple-fed Australian beef but it tasted just the same. Is there really a difference or is this just a marketing tactic?

Fork-Tender Beef Short Ribs with Sauteed Beans and Corn Risotto (P420).

This was the best seller recommended by our servers. The beef tasted like corned beef and my wife didn't like it. We both fell in love with the risotto which we ate slowly to last throughout the entire dinner.

Cornmeal-Crusted Salmon with Horseradish Hollandaise and Rice Casserole (P490).

We were wondering what a Rice Casserole is and we joked that it is rice from the two days ago cooked in machang style. The salmon was a bit bland and mushy inside but it complemented the crunchy and salty crust.

Desserts?
Our waiter recommended Creamy Banana Trifle and Key Lime Pie for dessert but the description was just too boring for me. The dessert display didn't look appealing either. Let me know if you tried the desserts and what you would recommend?

The Stock Market
Beside Fridays in Bonifacio HighStreet
Telephone:          +632 8566300        , 8566301

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.
Email: anton@diaz.ph
Blog: www.OurAwesomePlanet.com

Lulubelle

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Lulubelle has the best ambiance among all the Frozen Yogurt establishments we have visited to date. The hot pink & white ambiance with purple pink christmas tree accent draws you inside this little corner store at the 3/F of Rockwell Power Plant Mall. The Lulubelle logo resembles the cow version of Santa Butsiki of Ang Unang Baboy sa Langit. Lori has the scoop on why it is named Lulubelle in her post, "A Cow Named Lulubelle".

Related OAP Posts on Frozen Yogurt:
Cold Spoon Frozen Yogurt - The Next Dessert Craze in the Philippines!
Sorry Ice Cream, I'm On My Way to Pinkberry!
Red Mango-licious
I Love Berries Frozen Yogurt -- The Best Froyo so far in Manila...
Ice Cream Bar (Flavors by FIC)
Yogurbud
The White Hat - Let the Fro-Yo Wars Begin in Manila!
The Buzz About Froyo's
California Berry Frozen Yogurt
Lulubelle
After Lego Island, Enjoy Yoh-Gurt Froz!

These days, we are training Aidan on how to boost his self confidence. We asked him to choose what he likes by looking over at the counter. He preferred just the plain frozen yogurt despite seeing all the fresh fruits, chocolate and cereal topping options.

Lulubelle's Plain Yogurt Small (P80) and Flavored Yogurt Small (P80) with granola toppings (P20).

We tried both the plain and strawberry frozen yogurt of Lulubelle. The tanginess and sweetness taste of the frozen yogurt was a bit awkward. We should have listened to Lori's recommendation to try out the smoothies instead. Have you tried Lulubelle's frozen yogurt already?

Lulubelle is a sister company of Fruits in Ice Cream. I don't quite understand why Lulubelle's FIC Ice Cream is 30%+ more expensive than the Fruit in Ice Cream Stall at the ground floor of Rockwell. Maybe the serving is more than what the FIC stall is serving and you pay the premium for the ambiance and the topping options.

Lulubelle is the frozen yogurt dessert place to be in Rockwell.

Lulubelle
3F Playground area and at the opposite end of Fully Booked
Power Plant Mall, Rockwell
Telephone: +632 515.8129

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.
Email: anton@diaz.ph
Blog: www.OurAwesomePlanet.com

100 Awesome

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I would like to share with you a rough draft of my outline for the OAP book. The emphasis is on "rough" since this is my personal brainstorm list of the experiences that really wowed me or the things that I can't wait to experience. I would like to get the collective thoughts of OAP Friends about what you think about the outline and what are your inputs/feedback. The list is focused on three awesome aspects of life in the Philippines: food (food trips, and restaurants), travel (beaches and fiestas) and spiritual experiences only in the Philippines.

My simple objectives are:
1. To honor the best experiences Only in the Philippines
2. To inspire Filipinos to experience them and realize how beautiful the country really is.
3. To immortalize the Filipinos behind these experiences.

It will be a 100% ad-free book and it will be our family's contribution to a better Philippines. I'll put a facility to give Donations if you want to contribute financially to the OAP book. Donors will be appropriately acknowledge in the book.

100 Awesome Experiences Only In The Philippines

1. Bale Dutung Experience
2. Isla Naburot
3. Halo Halo Food Trip
4. UP Food Trip
5. Experiencing Coron
6. 7 Day Bicol Trip
7. Rustic Beauty of Batanes
8. El Nido, Palawan
9. Ligligan Parul Fiesta
10. Hot Air Balloon Fiesta
11. Foodie Haven of Pampanga
12. Chocolate Hills, Bohol
13. Kota Beach, Bantayan
14. Batad Experience
15. Viaje del Sol
16. Forever Tagaytay Secrets
17. Walking San Juanico Bridge
18. Donsol Whale Sharks
19. Daet
20. Caramoan
21. Surfing in Baler
22. Siargao Experience
23. Rafting in CDO, Davao, Kalinga, Cagayan
24. Road Trip CDO-Iligan-Osamis-Dakak
25. PSI Experience
26. Bora Night Life
27. 4 hours Massage
28. Masscara of Bohol
29. Sinulog Cebu Festival
30. Dinagyang Iloilo
31. Blue Lagoon, Pagudpud
32. Baguio
33. Callao Caves, Tuguegarao
34. Mayaoyao Harvest
35. Romblon
36. Apo Reef Experience
37. Tubataha
38. Underground River Palawan
39. Romantic Restos of the Philippines
40. Lea Salonga and Joanna Ampil
41. Bohol Beach Club Bumming
42. Milo Marathon Experience
43. Pangasinan Loop
44. World Pyro Olympics
45. Anawangin
46. Mall of Asia, Biggest Mall
47. Balesin Experience
48. Cagbalete
50. GK Volunteer Experience

51. Penafrancia Pilgrimage
52. Manaog, Dagupan
53. Flower Festival of Baguio
54. Mt. Pinatubo Trek
55. Chef Popit and Artist Chef Experience
56. Carinderia Tour of the Philippines
57. Pagsanjan Falls
58. Healing Centers of the Philippines
59. Sister Raquel & Father Suarez
60. Homily of Fr. Armand
61. Be inspired by Why Not Forum?
62. Kerygma Feast
63. Inner Child Retreat
64. Laguna Loop Tour
65. Antonio's Tagaytay
66. Climbing Taal Volcano
67. The Beaches of Cebu
68. Lighthouse Tour of the Philippines
69. Corregidor Island
70. Amanpulo
71. Lengua of Chef Ed Quimson
72. Salcedo and Legaspi Weekend Market
73. Wake Boarding in Camsur
74. Surfing La Union
75. Old Manila Walks
76. Tina Decal's Tours
77. Pink Beach, Zamboanga
78. Beaches of Tawi Tawi
79. Kadayawan, Davao
80. Sunset Paraw
81. Mt. Pulag Climb
82. Anilao Diving
83. Giving Birth @ Asian Hospital
84. Buko Pie Trip
85. Puto of the Philippines
86. Pansit of the Philippines
87. Suman of the Philippines
88. Bukidnon Monks
89. Surfing Purar-an
90. Quiapo Devotion
91. Divisoria
92. The Farm 7-Day Detox Experience
93. Artist Haven of Antipolo
94. Delicacies of the Philippines
95. Amanpulo
96. Ateneo Food Trip
97. Flavors of La Salle
98. Virtual Tour of the Philippines
99. Romantic Resorts in the Philippines
100. Massage Havens

Pink Kitchen Tips

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Pink Kitchen is one of the foodie events of the year you shouldn't miss. The first Pink Kitchen last year was a lot of foodie fun. Here are some tips for an awesome Pink Kitchen experience on Oct. 18 and 19, 2008:

1. Expect a lot of foodies. The rockwell tent will be packed with people so expect that it would be hot and there will be a constant battle for seats. Since there are a lot of foodies, expect to see a lot of people from the foodie community from magazines and blogs. Also, you'll get to meet the chef and people behind the food. Unfortunately, I'll miss this event because I will be traveling at that time.

2. Have a foodie plan of attack. You will be overwhelmed with a number of options you can buy from. I included the complete list of vendors and their specialty so that you can plan what you will order. Pink Kitchen is great because there are chefs that you can only have access to during the Pink kitchen event. For example, you should must try Rob & Sunshine Pengson French cuisine and WynnWynn Ong Burmese Cuisine. Also, don't miss to pay a visit to Margaux Salcedo, the infamous Food Writer of Sunday Inquirer Magazine, as she personally serves you a hot Nana Meng Tsokolate.

3. Best time to visit is Saturday Lunch. It is best to be there as early as 11am for the Saturday lunch opening day. You can easily reserve a clean table and ensure that you won't run out of the best-selling food. If you are a blogger, it is best to be the first one to blog about it. I wonder if there is wifi in rockwell tent where you can live blog about pink kitchen :)

4. It is best to eat in groups of 5 or more. You should try as many cuisine as possible. You can do that by sharing the food family style between groups of 5 or more. Try to celebrate your special event in Pink Kitchen so that you can experience all of the cuisine. Also, if you are a big group you can reserve a whole table for your group.

5. P200 is to support women with cancer. Some people might be turned-off by the P200 entrance fee per day. Think about it as your contribution to the ICANSERVE foundation. In fact, most of the foodies I know would go back on both days to support the foundation and eat good food that you cannot find anywhere else.

I do hope through this blog post, I'm able to help the foundation in my own little way even if I'm not available on the actual pink kitchen dates.

Pink Kitchen 2008 Vendor and Their Specialty
Bambina Herbosa Tapa / Bibingka Galapong
Bettina Legarda Mediterranean
Boyd's Coffee (Robert Francisco) coffee & tea
Buddy Trinidad desserts
Café Juanita (Boy Vasquez) Asian, Filipino
Chariya Thaikupt Thai
Chelsea Deli sandwiches
Chocolat Bakeshop Mini cream puffs
Cristina Santiago Rivera desserts / Strawberry Charlotte
Dely Fernandez Tuscan Provencale
Dimpy Camara Frozen Brazo de Mercedes
Enderun Salad & Smoothies Station
Estrel's Caramel Cake
Fina Quimson Mexican
Everybody's Café (Poch Jorolan) Kapangpangan
Galileo Enoteca (Vanessa Vitrano) cold cuts and cheeses
Ipe Cruz & Mariko Jacinto Italian & Japanese
Jaemark's Tuna Panga, Belly & Buntot
Jasmin Magallanes Healthy Cuisine
Judah Liu Spanish
Kai (Chef Gilbert Pangilinan) Neo Japanese
Kanin Club (Tony Cancio) Crispy Dinuguan
Karen Young Red Velvet Cake
La Tasca & Pazzo Gelato (Marilou Senn) Spanish & Gelato
Maj Lazatin Italian
Malu del Rosario pastries
Mara de la Rama desserts
Maricel Cunanan Cunanan Ensaymada
Michele D'Orival French
Minnie Puno Wraps
Mona Valdes Indonesian
Myrna Segismundo Beef Belly / Continental
Nana Meng (Margaux Salcedo) Tsokolate
Offie Benavides Filipino
Old Swiss Inn (Katrina Limcaoco) Fresh Corned Beef
Pauline Gorriceta Banusing Iloilo Specialties
Picole Healthy Pops (Candy Mejia) Healthy Pops
Quito Jose Thai
Rob & Sunshine Pengson French
Roselyn Tiango Desserts
Suman Gogna Indian
Susie Quiros Lasagna
The Farm at San Benito Macrobiotic Cuisine
Tippi Tambunting Continental
Vargas Kitchen Comfort Food
Wendy Ozamis Singapore Hawker Style
WynnWynn Ong Burmese
Happy Living Wines wines
Premium Wine Exchange wines

KAI Revisited

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We celebrated my Mom's birthday last September and decided to try out an old favorite. Kai recently transferred to the new Greenbelt 5 beside Myron's with a classy intimidating look. Kai is the japanese word for "gathering" and specializes on Japanese fusion cuisine. It was started by four (4) young filipino chefs Ricky Estrellado, Gilbert Panilinan, Rex Soriano and Pierre Angeli Dee who had extensive experience with Chef Nobu Matshushita's Nobu Japanese-Peruvian Restaurant in New York.
KAI is known for interesting dishes with a surprising taste. Let me share with you the food that we thought were winners.

Miso Soup (P70+) Simple soup served in a flower shaped bowl. It was a bit cold and too salty. Too bad, it ruined our miso soup experience.

Wasabi Oysters Tempura with Balsamic Dynamite (P250+). I'm not fond of oysters but this one was interesting enough to try.

Age Dashi Tofu (P140+) Soft huge squares of tofu with just the right crunch on the outside with seaweeds as the topping to add flavor.

California Maki "Kani" (P120+). The maki was perfect and it is what you would expect from a good California Maki.

Dragon Roll (P240). The crunchy unagi in these rolls were gone in a jiff. Reminds me of my Omakaze experience.

KAI Neo Japanese Cuisine Menu
Special Sushi Rolls and Vegetarian Sushi Rolls
Cold Appetizers, Salad, Hot Appetizers
Hot Dishes Seafood
Meat, Beef Ishiyaki, Kushiyaki
Vegetarian, Soup, Rice and Noodle, Table Cooking on Paper
Sushi and Sashimi
Flavored Shake & Ice Tea, House Sake, Bottled Sake, and Flavored Sake
Beer, Coffee, Bottled Water, Soda
Liquer, Whisky, Cognac/Brandy, Rhum, Gin, Tequilla, Vodka
Dessert

Portobello Mushroom Confit Salad with Maple Ponzu Vinaigrette (P280+).
We love Kai's salads. The quality of the Portobello Mushroom and the Maple Ponzu Vinaigrette sauce mades this the bestseller in Kai.

Roasted Grapes and Tomato Salad with Sesame Dressing (P280+).
The simple combination of roasted grapes and juicy cherry tomato worked together with the thinly sliced of shitake mushroom.

10 hours Buta Kakuni "Braised Pork Belly" (P350+).

We can't resist ordering this and imagining how soft and tasty the pork belly is after 10 hours. It delivered its promise and we savored every slice and partnered it with additional cup of plump white rice.

Banana Nutella Harumaki (P180+) rolled in sesame fillo topped with caramel, chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla ice cream. "Kai's interpretation of banana split".

If you find yourself looking for a unique dessert to impress your date, order this at KAI and this should give you pogi points. I loved the crunchy sesame coating with a shot of ice cream.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Bar (P110) with glazed bananas and walnuts

This was a big disappointed but I guess if you like peanut butter so much, you might want to give this a try.

Warm Valrhona Chocolate Cake (P220+) with green tea ice cream and vanilla sauce.

I liked the twist of the green tea ice cream on top of this all-time favorite Valrhona cake.

Happy Birthday Momsy! (with Aidan doing the honor of blowing the candle.)

KAI Neo Japanese Cuisine
Unit 1-112 Greenbelt 5
Ayala Center, Makati City
Telephone: +632 75705209 to 10
Email: kairestaurant@yahoo.com

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. www.OurAwesomePlanet.com Copyright 2008.

La Boheme Manila

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Scenes from Act III.

La Boheme is all set for the Gala Opening on Oct. 3 Friday 8pm! We were able to watch the run through of Acts III and Acts IV of La Boheme. The voices of the La Boheme cast were solid even without microphones. The love songs were beautiful even if you don't understand the lyrics.

The biggest complaint from first time Opera watchers is that they don't understand what is going on. Before watching the show, it is your responsibility to read the synopsis of the 4 acts and the translation of the songs to english. Here is a helpful site to learn more about La Boheme.

Related Posts: 10 Reasons Why You Should Not Miss Watching La Boheme in Manila!


Check out the Tony Awards performance of La Boheme. They performed the Musseta scene in Act. 2 with English Translations.


Mimi's Death Finale Scene in Act IV

Congratulations to the following people who commented on the post: 10 Reasons Why You Should Not Miss Watching La Boheme in Manila! You just won 2 tickets to the gala opening night of La Boheme on Oct. 3 8pm! You can claim the tickets by texting me at Anton +63 917 5683 627 or email me at anton@diaz.ph

1. Comment Posted by: Frugal Pinoy | Sep 24, 2008 1:03:36 AM

I've been meaning to watch this, especially since my partner and I are having our second anniversary that week (on the 4th to be exact)! Ang alam ko nga, may afternoon showing.
I actually have the mp3s of the songs in my computer, and they make good background music when I'm writing. But thanks for the video clips! It's much more emotional seeing the songs acted out.

2. Comment Posted by: heidi morales | Sep 24, 2008 12:02:15 PM

Can't wait to see jennifer perform mimi. Naiinip na ako. 1st time ko watch opera thanks for posting the synopsis and songs. Been reading on it nga eh para may idea din. Gonna borrow the best of Opera Music from my dads CD collection, to hear more.

3. Comment Posted by: Posted by: travelgirl11 | Sep 29, 2008 8:57:23 PM

my lola started humming bits of the famous scenes after we saw the trailer from lifestyle network. she's a big fan of the opera, having loads of classical CDs in her small library! too bad we don't get to watch shows as they are really pricey. hope we get a chance this time through your kindness! :D

Live an Awesome Life,

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. www.OurAwesomePlanet.com Copyright 2008.

Manila Grand Opera Hotel and the New President

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We are excited and finalizing our plans for the Ultimate Tagaytay (10 days to go) and Pampanga Tours (24 days to go). Spanx's Uncle sponsored our meeting in the newest hotel in the heart of Manila -- Manila Grand Opera Hotel. One of its main attraction is the New President's Sharks Fin & Seafood Restaurant and Circa Bar & Restaurant. You might have heard the news that President's Restaurant along Ongpin in Binondo closed down recently because of internal problems. The two restaurants have no connections whatsoever. I was even surprised that they were able to reuse another restaurant name by just putting in "New".

I was surprised to see an 8-storey elegant hotel in the middle of all the old houses and buildings.  The hotel is located at the corner of Dorotheo Jose and Rizal Avenue where LRT1 is located.

The Manila Grand Opera Hotel is significant because this is the place where the First Philippine Assembly was inaugurated on October 16, 1907.

One of the interesting restaurant is the Circa Bar and Restaurant at the first floor. The actors who started their career and performed in the Manila Grand Opera were honored with a big portrait surrounding the restaurant.

In each of the floor, you'll be greeted with panels showcasing the significance of the Manila Grand Opera in Phil history.

This is a sample of the rooms in Manila Grand Opera Hotel. Spanx was right to compare the rooms with Tides Hotel in Boracay or G Hotel in Roxas Blvd. One thing I noticed was the absence of a window in the room but I don't think there is even a good view out there, if you are familiar with the location. The curtains creates an llusion so that you don't get claustrophobic. Take advantage of the P1,500/ room opening promo rate!

The 8th floor houses the ballroom where you can reserve it for weddings and grand functions.

General Manager Lawrence Li Tan showed us how high tech their kitchen is, particularly their oven wherein you'll just choose what type of cooking you'd like to have. The young GM's claim to fame is that he started Club Ultima in Cebu, Avenue Hotel in Naga City and now Manila Grand Opera Hotel in Manila.

Full Disclosure: Our meal was courtesy of Spanx's Uncle who is promoting the new Manila Grand Opera Hotel. The photos are taken by Iggy Bilbao with my Canon DSLR camera.

The New President's Sharks Fin and Seafood Restaurant has a grand buffet by Chef Lau Wai Chung. Chef Lau is the former chief cook and working for 20 years at Century Seafood Restaurant before transferring to the New President Restaurant. The restaurant serves a mix of Chinese and Western cuisine.

I don't like buffet style especially if you arrive late because the best parts have been taken and the food is a bit cold already. I would recommend ordering from the Ala Carte menu instead.

Chef Lau showed us the fresh and authentic ingredients used (including the Shark's fin) by the New President's restaurant.

Check out the Chinese Menu 1 | Menu 2 and the International Cuisine Menu.

Sauteed Australian Scallops with seasonal vegetables (S-P920, M-P1,470, L-P2,070).

We enjoyed these big and soft scallops from Australia and the fresh crunchy cauliflower.

These shrimps were forgettable because you need to exert an effort to separate the skin from the shrimp's meat.

Steamed Lapu Lapu was soft, juicy and fresh. We all enjoyed it and this was gone in a few minutes.


GM's Cocktail fave is the huge Margarita to share via straw. Chef Lawrence was kind enough to serve us this margarita he created. The alcohol content was deadly but I liked it.

Lamb Chops (P665). Don't be surprised to see a chinese restaurant serving delicious lamb chops.

We tried out the desserts at the Circa Bar and Restaurant. I would not rave about them but if you have to choose one, get the Chocolate Cake.

The Manila Grand Opera Hotel
925 Rizal Avenue Corner Doroteo Jose St. Sta. Cruz
Website: www.ManilaGrandOpera.com
Telephone: +632 314-0090-99

Live an Awesome Life,

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. www.OurAwesomePlanet.com Copyright 2008.

Rich Schefren Guided Profit System

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A lot of people are asking me about Blogging and Internet Marketing. I just gave a talk to graduating IT students from different top universities and it was the most remarkable talk of the entire conference. I got interviewed in Masigasig Magazine and a lot of people are calling me to coach them on how to get started with professional blogging or internet marketing.

I learned most of my internet marketing strategies from my coach, Rich Schefren. He is launching a new internet marketing coaching program called Guided Profit System. (with my affiliate links) You might be interested to learn directly from my coach. The coaching program is $2,497 for a one-time payment or a payment plan of $750 now and 3 payments of $750. Check out the Top10 frequently asked questions about the Guided Profit System in Rich' Blog.

This is the last time I will be posting about internet marketing related post in OAP. I will be launching AntonDiaz.com soon focused on professional blogging, and internet marketing. OAP will be focused on Food , Travel and Lifestyle. Due to insistent public demand, I will be teaching a pilot group of students on how to become successful in their internet marketing business. Just let me know if you are interested. I would like to prioritize OAP friends in that pilot group.

Live an Awesome Life,

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. www.OurAwesomePlanet.com Copyright 2008.

Focaccia - a Slice of Italy in A.Venue Mall

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A.Venue Restaurant Reviews in OAP
Fluke
A Tale of Two Art Cafes in A.Venue
Gasthof - Home of Boracay's Famous Baby Back Ribs!
Burger Avenue's Ridiculous Challenge
Foccacia, A Slice of Italy in A.Venue Mall


This is probably my favorite AVenue restaurant at the moment. Focaccia Slice of Italy is the meeting of two of my favorites -- C Italian Dining Panizza and Italianis FREE Focaccia bread. Finally somebody copied the panizza of Chris Locher's C-Italian Dining in Pampanga and I must say it is really good. Finally, I don't have to drive all the way to Pampanga to get a taste of Panizza.


Marina Pazzo Rollio (Mini P130). Fresh Tomato, Sundried Tomato, Garlic and Pomodoro.

Focaccia's pizza is branded as Pazzo Rollio Crazy Rolls. It is best if you order the ones with meat like Milano, Prosciutto or Slice of Italy. The pizza is super thin cut-up diagonally into 8 slices for the mini and 12 slices for the normal one. You put arugula leaves and alfalfa sprouts at the end of one slice and carefully roll it up. You can eat it in half or just swallow the entire thing in your mouth. The arugula gives it a bitter finish.


Foccacia Bread with Balsamic Vinegar, Olive Oil, Chili Flakes and Parmesan Cheese. It is FREE but technically the cost is already folded into the prices of the other dishes. Their focaccia is the crunchier commercialized version. I actually love the balsamic vinegar, olive oil and lots of parmesan cheese combination and I can take any bread to go with it. So far, Focaccia is the best complimentary to that combination.



Tuscan Garlic Chicken in Parmesan Cream Sauce (P250). Baked Garlic Chicken served on fettucini noodles in parmesan cream sauce.

This pasta was a disaster and I regret following my waiter's recommendation. I was tempted to return it because the pasta was overcooked and the chicken tasted frozen. You can check out the other dishes in their menu: Starters, Appetizers, Pasta, and Secondi Piatti, and Pazza Rollio, Drinks and Desserts.


Angelati Italia Gelato (P80). I love Angelati Italia but the gelato servings in Focaccia is so small that P80 pesos is like stealing money from you consciously. How I wish I Love Berries Frozen Yogurt opens already so that I don't fall for this expensive gelato. I think the waiters need to be trained to put more gelato into the cup rather than air.


Focaccia a Slice of Italy
Ground Floor, A.Venue Mall, Makati Avenue, Makati City
Telephone: +632 729 9403

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. www.OurAwesomePlanet.com Copyright 2008.

Burger Avenue's Ridiculous Challenge

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A.Venue Restaurant Reviews in OAP
Fluke
A Tale of Two Art Cafes in A.Venue
Gasthof - Home of Boracay's Famous Baby Back Ribs!
Burger Avenue's Ridiculous Challenge
Foccacia, A Slice of Italy in A.Venue Mall


These are the people who got FREE Burgers by beating the Ridiculous Challenge of Burger Avenue.

The ridiculous challenge is you have to finish a freshly grilled all-beef triple patty sandwiched on an oatmeal bun laced with crisp lettuce, juicy tomatoes, and three cheese slices in 5 minutes and it is free! The Ridiculous Burger is equivalent to 3 burgers and it costs P224 if you don't finish it in 5 minutes. Most of the winners are men and recently a 10 years old kid was able to finish the burger in 5 minutes. After 5+ months in operation, they are still looking for more women to win this challenge :)

You can only win this once. I have not done it because I'm reserving it for a special occasion like after finishing a half-marathon :) What was your experience in taking this challenge? (Any tips?)



The seats in front of the counter are usually reserve for the ridiculous challenge. There is an official timer in the counter and they would watch you carefully if you really finish everything in 5 minutes.
Check out their Burger Prices --P90 for a burger and P101 for a cheese burger!


Burger Avenue
Avenue Mall, B. Valdez St. corner Makati Avenue, Makati City
Telephone : +632 729-9108

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. www.OurAwesomePlanet.com Copyright 2008.

Gasthof - Home of Boracay's Famous Baby Back Ribs!

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A.Venue Restaurant Reviews in OAP
Fluke
A Tale of Two Art Cafes in A.Venue
Gasthof - Home of Boracay's Famous Baby Back Ribs!
Burger Avenue's Ridiculous Challenge
Foccacia, A Slice of Italy in A.Venue Mall


I'm surprised why Gasthof is not taking off well in Avenue in Makati. With a heritage of serving good baby back ribs in Boracay and a branch in Legaspi City, I would have thought Manila would welcome it with open arms. Gasthof is owned by a German with a Bicolana wife so expect a Filipino-German mix in the cuisine. I've been going back to Avenue for some time now to complete my AVenue series and Gasthof is nearly empty during Lunch time. Maybe because they are still constructing it, most people think it is close or the prices are too expensive. (What do you think? )


Baby Back Ribs Half Order (P450). The dish that started it all and became the all-time favorite of Boracay's for local guests and tourists. Succulent pork back ribs marinated in our special Gasthof sauce.

The only reason I included Gasthof is that there are a lot of people of who love Gasthof ribs. You don't have to go to Boracay to satisfy your craving. Although I heard lately that the Boracay branch is declining in popularity (not sure also what is the reason? any comment?).


Caesar's Salad (P180). Crunchy Fresh Lettuce with grated Parmesan cheese, bacon bits, and croutons in Caesar's dressing.
The salad serving is huge and can easily serve 3-4 people. Our salad was fresh and no complains about it.


Laing Pinangat (P120). I've been to Bicol and tasted really good pinangat. But this one failed my expectation because I'm looking for a more tastier and hotter version.


Like in any German restaurant, expect a deli where you can buy sausages and cheese!

Gasthof Menu
Native Specialties, Ensaladas, Vegetables and Rice
Grill Specialties and Seafood Festival
Pasta! Pasta! Wolfgang's Kueche, German Specialties
Starters and Salads
Deli Sandwiches and Breakfast
Desserts and Gasthof Wine List
Cocktails and Drinks



Gasthof, Home of Boracay's Famous Baby Back Ribs
Ground Floor A.Venue Mall, Makati City
Telephone Number: +632 382-8407

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. www.OurAwesomePlanet.com Copyright 2008.

10 Reasons Why You Should Not Miss Watching La Boheme in Manila!

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10 Reasons Why You Should Not Miss Watching La Boheme in Manila!

1. If you love Opera, witness the first ever full length all-Filipino cast Opera in the Philippines!

" This 2008 production brings a talented young cast and fresh inventive staging making it a real operatic tour-de-force. Playing the lead roles are tenors Juan Alberto Gaerlan, Dondi Ong and Gary del Rosario, who by the way also sang “Parpignol” in the Rolando Tinio version of Boheme at the CCP in the 90s. He is also presently a resident artist of the Seattle Opera House after spending many years with Cleveland Opera. Mimi, on the other hand, will be performed by Jennifer Uy, a finalist in the 2001 Maria Callas Opera Grand Prix in Athens, Greece, where she has worked intensively with Dame Joan Sutherland and Gundula Janowitz. Alternating as Mimi is Maribel Miguel who is making her opera debut while sopranos Ana Feleo and Elaine Lee play Musetta. Baritones Lawrence Jatayna and Jesus Baang plays Marcello while Joseleo Logdat and John Ocampos plays Colline and Schaunard, respectively. " (Philippine Opera Company)

2. If you are watching an Opera for the first time, join us in our excitement in watching the "World's Most Popular Opera" according to the New York Times!

I am excited to watch my first Opera. I don't have to fly all the way to La Scala in Milan or Metropolitan Opera House in New York to watch one. Also, La Boheme in Manila is more targeted to the youth rather than the elite society of Manila. I like the Philippine Opera Company's advocacy of bringing the Opera to more Filipinos as possible. The biggest misconception of the Opera is that it is only for the elite who can appreciate Italian music. I love a lot foreign songs which I don't even know the lyrics like Con Te Partiro (Time to Say Goodbye), Pie Jesu, and a couple of Josh Groban songs. I know a lot of friends who also listen to Italian or Opera music.

La Boheme will be purely in Italian and there will be no subtitles. The trick in watching this opera is you need to read the synopsis of all the 4 acts before watching it. In this way, you already know the gist of what is happening and you can concentrate in appreciating the beautiful love songs in Italian. It would be better if you can listen to La Boheme music before watching the show. I included the synopsis of La Boheme Manila in this post and the you tube videos of the 1979 La Scala performance of La Boheme.

3. If you have watched La Boheme Opera before, why not watch La Boheme with Manila as the setting?

LA BOHEME IN MODERN DAY MANILA? WHY NOT? by Floy Quintos, Director of La Boheme
When Giacomo Puccini wrote his immortal opera, “La Boheme”, he gave the world a view of love and lovers that was far from pretty or sanitized. And yet, the opera about Mimi, Rodolfo, Musetta, Marcello and their band of young bohemians is still called, “the greatest love story ever sung”. Perhaps the real glory of “La Boheme” lies in the fact that the storyline delves into youthful passion, obsessive jealousy, co-dependency and love-at-first sight and makes these rather unruly and uncontainable feelings soar with beauty of his music.

Puccini was also very concerned with the concept of “verissimo”, a truthful rendition of life even in an art-form like opera that is governed by artifice. He wrote about young people on the fringe of society, young people who make art and who can’t pay their bills, and yet are given to grand passions and extravagant gestures, like falling in love and breaking up on a whim. In short, it is a love story all about the dizzy joys and deep pitfalls of young love, as all young people experience it. The universality of Puccini’s themes transcends borders and, yes, physical settings.

Thus, it seems only right that the Philippine Opera Company’s exciting new production of “La Boheme”, while retaining the original Italian libretto, is set in present-day Manila, a city obsessed with youth and beauty. In this new production, Rodolfo and Marcello are Indie artists working on their manuscripts and their multi-media art forms. Mimi is a creator of silk accessories, and Musetta, an ambitious and brazen performer out to make a name for herself. The horizon that Rodolfo’s garret looks out to, is a jungle of billboards advertising the promises of youth and beauty. The famous Café Momus is set in a street full of tiangge stands. The third act, traditionally set in a camp outside an army garrison, is now a tired perya in the off-season. The characters of Puccini’s masterpiece could be any young person wanting to make a name in a city that doesn’t care. That is the look and feel of the POC production. Aside from being a statement on the impermanence of love, the POC “Boheme” is also about a statement about young people on the fringe of society.

4. If you are a RENT fan, watch ACT I where you will see the original version of RENT's Would You Light My Candle song.

La Boheme, Manila ACT I. In their small apartment, the painter Marcello and indie film art director Rodolfo try to keep warm by burning pages from Rodolfo's latest drama. They are joined by their comrades — Colline, a young philosopher, and Schaunard, a musician who has landed a job and brings food, fuel and funds. But while they celebrate their unexpected fortune, the landlord, Benoit, arrives to collect the rent. Plying the older man with wine, they urge him to tell of his flirtations, then throw him out in mock indignation. As the friends depart for a celebration at the nearby Café Momus, Rodolfo promises to join them soon, staying behind to finish writing an article. There is another knock: a neighbor, Mimì, says her candle has gone out on the drafty stairs. Offering her wine when she feels faint, Rodolfo relights her candle and helps her to the door. Mimì realizes she has dropped her key, and as the two search for it, both candles are blown out. In the moonlight the art director takes the girl's shivering hand, telling her his dreams. She then recounts her solitary life, embroidering flowers and waiting for spring. Drawn to each other, Mimì and Rodolfo leave for the café.

La Bohème 01 - La Scala 1979 - Che gelida manina


LaBohème 02 - La Scala 1979 - Sì, mi chiamano Mimì


La Bohème 03 - La Scala 1979 - O soave fanciulla


5. If you are an Ana Feleo fan, watch ACT II where I can't wait to see how Ana Feleo would perform the sexy Musetta.

La Boheme, Manila ACT II. Amid shouts of street hawkers, Rodolfo buys Mimì a bonnet near the Café Momus before introducing her to his friends. They all sit down and order supper. A toy vendor, Parpignol, passes by, besieged by children. Marcello's former lover, Musetta, enters ostentatiously on the arm of the elderly, wealthy Alcindoro. Trying to regain the painter's attention, she sings a waltz about her popularity. Complaining that her shoe pinches, Musetta sends Alcindoro to fetch a new pair, then falls into Marcello's arms. Joining a group of marching soldiers, the Bohemians leave Alcindoro to face the bill when he returns.

La Bohème 04 - La Scala 1979 - Quando m'en vo'


6. If you are a blogger, Bachelor Girl is inviting bloggers for a special La Boheme preview!

7. If you are heart broken, you might be able to empathize with the emotions of the songs in Act III of La Boheme in Manila!

La Boheme, Manila ACT III. At dawn on a rainy night, a Customs Officer admits farm women to the city. Musetta and revelers are heard inside a tavern. Soon Mimì walks by, searching for the place where the reunited Marcello and Musetta now live. When the painter emerges, she pours out her distress over Rodolfo's incessant jealousy. It is best they part, she says. Rodolfo, who has been asleep in the tavern, is heard, and Mimì hides; Marcello thinks she has left. Rodolfo tells Marcello he wants to separate from his fickle sweetheart. Pressed further, he breaks down, saying Mimì is dying; her ill health can only worsen in the poverty they share. Overcome, Mimì stumbles forward to bid her lover farewell as Marcello runs back into the tavern to investigate Musetta's raucous laughter. While Mimì and Rodolfo recall their happiness, Musetta quarrels with Marcello. The painter and his mistress part in fury, but Mimì and Rodolfo decide to stay together until spring.

La Bohème 05 - La Scala 1979 - Donde lieta uscì


La Bohème 06 - La Scala 1979 - Dunque è proprio finita


8. If you are a fan of Jennifer Uy, I can't wait to see her performs the death love scene of Mimi and Rodolfo !

La Boheme, Manila ACT IV. Some months later, Rodolfo and Marcello lament their loneliness in the garret. Colline and Schaunard bring a meager meal. The four stage a dance, which turns into a mock fight. The merrymaking is ended when Musetta bursts in, saying Mimì is downstairs, too weak to climb up. As Rodolfo runs to her, Musetta tells how Mimì has begged to be taken to her lover to die. While Mimì is made comfortable, Marcello goes with Musetta to sell her earrings for medicine, and Colline leaves to pawn his cherished overcoat. Alone, Mimì and Rodolfo recall their first days together, but she is seized with coughing. When the others return, Musetta gives Mimì a muff to warm her hands and prays for her life. Mimì dies quietly, and when Schaunard discovers she is dead, Rodolfo runs to her side, calling her name.

La Bohème 07 - La Scala 1979 - Mi sento assai megli


La Bohème 08 - La Scala 1979 - Sono andati?


9. If you are watching Paul Potts, please watch FIRST our very own talented Filipino Opera Singers sing Italian Songs in La Boheme.

La Boheme will be performed on October 3-5, 2008, a few days before the Paul Potts performance on October 8. Let us support our very own Filipino Opera talents!

Tickets for 2008 LA BOHEME, CCP Main Theater
( For OAP Friends, I can help you get the tickets please text me Anton +63917-5683627 or email me Anton@Diaz.PH)

Oct. 3 (8pm) GALA NIGHT
Orchestra center P4,000.00
Orchestra side P3,000.00
Balcony 1 center P1,500.00
Balcony 1 side P1,000.00
Balcony 2 P 500.00

Box (6 exclusive seats)
Parterre Box (6 exclusive seats) P30,000.00
Upper Box P20,000.00
Lower Box P10,000.00

Oct. 4 (8pm), Oct. 5 (3pm)
Orchestra center P3,000.00
Orchestra side P2,500.00
Balcony 1 center P1,500.00
Balcony 1 side P1,000.00
Balcony 2 P 500.00

Box (6 exclusive seats)
Parterre Box P20,000.00
Upper Box P15,000.00
Lower Box P10,000.00

Discounts:
Senior Citizen 20%
Students 50% (for Balcony 1 and 2 sections only)

Please contact the Philippine Opera Company at 892-8786 or visit www.philippineoperacompany.com for more details.
Tickets are also available at all TicketWorld outlets with trunkline number 891-9999.

10. If you comment on this post, you might just win tickets to La Boheme in Manila!

Our Awesome Planet fully supports the most awaited opera La Boheme in Manila! OAP will give prizes to the best comments and reactions to this blog post.


Live an Awesome Life!

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. www.OurAwesomePlanet.com Copyright 2008.

Our FaMEALy Day

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I must admit that I often dragged my feet whenever we would go to my in-laws for Sunday lunch with the entire family. When we started to have kids, I learned that having a family meal is one of the best gifts we could ever give our children. Last Sunday, I realized how blessed we were to be together. The children loved to play and it is always a riot when they meet. Sunday lunch would often be a coordinated potluck event between my wife's siblings. It is a feast complete with dessert. We'd call our parents via Skype to greet them and express how much we missed them during these times. It is usually a long lunch with lots of chikahan about the latest happening in our lives. Often, it would be stories about the kids, latest finds or a new girlfriend would be introduced. After lunch, the kids look forward to swimming time and spend the entire afternoon in the pool until sunset. It is always a long farewell process whenever the kids part ways. It seemed that one full day is never enough for them.
I asked Aidan before we went to sleep that night, "Are you happy playing with your cousins today?". Aidan paused and replied, "Yes Poppa, I'm happy!" At that point, I realized that these moments were priceless. We vowed not to take it for granted ever again and continue to create loving childhood memories for our kids and their cousins.

Our Awesome Planet supports the celebration of National FaMEALY Day 2008! This is my official entry for the FAMEALY VALUES: What I Learned from the Dinner Table Lucky Me! and Philippine Star Photo Contest!


Syoti Josh starting to type in the computer at 10 months old.


Josh and Aidan latest wacky photo.

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008

A Tale of Two Art Cafes in A.Venue

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A.Venue Restaurant Reviews in OAP
Fluke
A Tale of Two Art Cafes in A.Venue
Gasthof - Home of Boracay's Famous Baby Back Ribs!
Burger Avenue's Ridiculous Challenge
Foccacia, A Slice of Italy in A.Venue Mall


I've been checking out A.Venue mall lately and this is one of the places in Makati that is less crowded during lunch or dinner time. I would like to share with you our experience on two of the Art Cafes in A.Venue. Botong's Restobar and Artina Gallery Cafe both feature paintings of different artists as part of their overall ambiance. It is interesting to go there on a regular day or if you just want to get out of the business district crowd.


Artina Gallery Cafe @ A. Venue

Artina claims that their food is based on classic French cooking techniques. The food is more western fusion with salads, pastas, and sandwiches ranging from P150-250 and main entrees from P350-400. Check out --> Artina Gallery Cafe Menu. It tries to recreate a garden type ambiance with the use of heavy iron black chairs and different plant accents. The art gallery display is the main highlight of the resto featuring Artist Jose Guillermo Cristobal Naval's paintings.


Mesclun with Italian Vinaigrette with crisp phyllo-stuffed mushrooms (P190+). We liked this lumpia variation with fresh greens salad.


Trio of Mushrooms with Hint of Fresh Herbs ( P 135+). Too mushroom in taste but this is how we like our mushroom soup.


Risotto with al Funghi with Fragrant Truffle Oil and Shaved Parmigiano (P 220+). You can't go wrong with this risotto with truffle oil. This reminded me of the same dish we enjoyed at Sala.



Classic Beef Pot Roast with Vegetables and Mushroom Jus Lie (P380+). Tender beef cubes with sweet vegetables.


Grilled Salmon Fillet with Citrin Risotto, Pesto Glaze, and Grilled Vegetables (P360+). Our salmon was a bit mushy either because of the way it was cooked or the quality of the salmon meat was not good.


LemonGrass Tea (P70+). Lemongrass tea is quite common these days and it is quite easy to do this. Order this if you are looking for a refreshing drink.



Artina Gallery Cafe
Ground Level, A. Venue Mall
Makati Ave. cor. Juan Luna St.Website: Artina Hotel Suite Website
Phone Number: +632 729-8983

Botong's Restobar @ A.Venue

Botong's Restobar was named after Botong Francisco but the place serves as an exhibit hall for different artists. I don't like the all black theme which includes waiters in black uniform. Botong serves Filipino cuisine that tries to be different by adding a twist to the ingredients (to justify its price perhaps?).
Starters, Appetizer, Soup, Pasta,
Vegetables, Entrees, Desserts, Grill, Sizzling, Dessert, Drinks
Drinks and Wine


Spicy Bulalo Soup (P360+) If you are craving for a spicy bulalo then check this out at Botong's resto cafe.

Pinakbet with Lechon Kawali (P170+)
I arrived from an Ilocos Norte trip when we tried this so it would be unfair to compare this with the Pinakbet with Bagnet (which is way better). I love my pinakbet with huge chunks of crispy meat.

Botong's Restobar has a mezzanine and a third floor (photo above). The black sofa and white walls were intentional to bring out the colors of the paintings.

I asked Aidan what he likes among the paintings and he pointed the UFO paintings.


Botong's Restobar
7829 A.Venue Lifestyle Center
Ground Level, Avenue Mall
Makati Avenue, Makati CIty
Telephone: +632 756-0346
Mobile: +63 918 2380059 (c/o Mayi Mirabueno)

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008

Friuli Trattoria and Ateneo Foodies

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I got invited by the cool dudes of MIS Association of Ateneo to give a talk on blog marketing in the KinEITics IT conference. It was nice to meet Lance, Lorenz, Francine and Mark in Friuli Trattoria in UP Village for our pre-meet before the conference. I've know a lot of restaurants in QC area but this is my first time to hear Fruili. Thanks to the MISA guys for suggesting Friuli to me. Fruili is a small Italian restaurant that is a favorite among Ateneo and UP foodies.

Tre Formaggi (P160). Another classic pizza of three cheeses - mozzarella, cheddar & blue. A treat for cheese lovers.

This is the best pizza of the house and you can order one for takeout because this is quite unique. The blue cheese taste stands out in this 3-cheese pizza with wheat bread crust.


Magherita (P160). Simply a combination of garlic and herbs smothered with 2 layers of mozzarella cheese topped with fresh tomatoes.

The magherita is done well and this is another bestseller for Fruili.

Spaghetti Meatsauce ( P 110). Beefy Tomato sauce served with spaghetti.
Lance recommended this meat sauce and Friuli is a master of simple pizza and pasta with simple ingredients cooked well. If there is one pasta you would want to try, this is it.


Putanesca (P120). Angel hair with our version of putanesca - made of tomatoes, capers, anchovies & olives.

I also love their simple putanesca pasta.


Carbonara (P115). White sauce with egg & bacon served with linguini

For some reason, this is the only dish that has some left overs... It speaks for the quality of this dish.

Fruili Trattoria Menu: Soups, Pasta | Pizzas | Desserts, Gelato Cakes, Drinks | What's New

Can you recommend other best restaurants in the Ateneo area?

Fruili Trattoria in UP Village.

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008

Chef Alain Raye's La Regalade in Manila!

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Update 9/20/2008 - I heard from my wife that the Valhrona dessert we are craving is not that good and it is really small than expected... Also, getting a buzz about La Regalade being a hit/ miss and the food is not consistent.

La Regalade by Mrs Awesome Planet

There are only a few times when I feel I'm in the presence of great food and dining in La Regalade Manila was one of them. It lives up to its name, La Regalade, which perhaps mean a place where you would often go to eat great food. I felt I was not worthy to review the newest French Bistro in town that would redefine the discriminating palate of Filipinos.

Eating in La Regalade is an education on fine French cuisine from a 2-star Mechelin Chef Alain Raye. La Regalade is the Manila branch of the famous French Bistro La Regalade in West Vancouver , and from the chef who authored the cookbook La Regalade, simple French Bistro Food at Home. (Any OAP readers from Vancouver who tried La Regalade in Canada and can share their foodie experience?)

Read: The Story of La Regalade French Bistro Manila Page 1, Page 2,

From the outside, La Regalade is intimidating because of the formal ambiance it creates when you passby Pasay Road. It didn't help that we saw some foreigners and personalities in their nice looking clothes while we were in our casual jeans attire. Upon entering the bistro, some of the insecurities melted down because of the genuine smile and warmth greeting by the bistro staff. We loved the exclusive French-only background music which makes us comfortable little by little. Opened only for one and a half months, it is one of those places where you would create memories with your special love ones and price of the food is not even a consideration. If you bring a date to La Regalade, it sends a message that she is someone dear to you. Better book in advance especially on a Saturday night for they really get full and you wouldn't want to be turned down with your date.

You can check out the partial La Regale menu so that you'll be somewhat ready emotionally and financially. Most of the specials are not in the menu but are written on a black board above the kitchen counter. It would be reasonable to budget P1,000 - 1,500 (with wine) per person, you'll see why when you are there for their special menu of the day. We would definitely come back to try the desserts which ranges from P350-P450 per dessert. I'm already curious how a P450 Warm Valhrona Chocolate Tart would taste like.

Soupes, Entrees, Plats Principaux (Main Courses)
La Regale Wines: Champagne, Sparkling Wines, White Wines
La Regalade Wines: Red Wines


The meal starts with a serving of baguette with butter. This is the only unimpressive part of the La Regale dining experience. They serve commercially available baguette with a simple butter.


Gratinee A L'oignon (P200). Gratinated Onion Soup.

On a rainy day, I always crave for hot french onion soup. This is a sweeter version of a French Onion Soup and uses locally available red onions which gives it a sweeter taste than expected.


Salad Regalade (P450). This is one of those moments where you eat this salad and you can't help but just close your eyes in gratitude. My mind was overwhelmed and giving thanks to Him for all the blessings I receive each day and for the opportunity to be alive to taste this great food. My amateur palate can't comprehend how a combination of squid, shrimp, bacon, parmesan cheese, spices and greens can be a spiritual experience. The salad seemed too perfect and I don't want to ruin the experience by describing it in detail.


Navarin D'Agneau Aux Epices Et Abricots Secs (P750). Stewed Lamb with Dried Apricots and Spices served with Rice Pilaf.

The braised lamb is slowly cooked with dried apricots, spices, ginger, tomato, carrots and other secret ingredients. Only the tender lamb meat and the sweet carrot can be recognized when served. The servings are good for two but a typical Filipino would order more rice to go with the somewhat sweet sauce. I regret not ordering wine to go with this.


The ladies' restroom is blessed with sofa chairs that would surely make every woman's trip to the La Regale restroom a little longer. It is unfair that the men's restroom is a bit cramp.


Even the takehome brown bag was designed well.


We love to eat in places where we can easily get a table pronto because we cannot let the tummy wait long at past 9pm.


Chef Alain Raye
La Regalade Manila
820 Arnaiz Avenue Makati City, 1226, Philippines
(in the middle of Paseo de Roxas and Amorsolo along Arnaiz Avenue formerly Pasay Road)
Telephone: +632 7502104, 750-2105
Website: www.laregalademanila.com
Email: Fritzweber@gmail.com (Fritz Weber is the general Manager)
Mobile: +63 917-855 3652.

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

P.S. Chef Alain Raye will be back in Manila on October 19. Fellow Frenchman Chef Pierre Cornelis is the current Executive Chef.

Adarna Food & Culture - The Magic of the Rich Filipino Heritage

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Currently, I'm inspired to promote really good Filipino restaurants. Technically, this is not part of the series 10 Restaurants We Love But Never Blogged Before. LA from Studio 23 News Central raved about this when we were in Sitio Remedios, Currimao. This is so far away from where we live but the trip was worth it! Check out Adarna Food & Culture :)


Adarna Food & Culture was conceptualized by partners Beth Angsioco and Chef Giney Villar showcasing Filipino antiques and different Filipino flavors around the country. The restaurant is a reapplication of Beth Angsioco's Adarna house and the first resto for AHA-graduate Chef Giney Villar. The food and ambiance is quite unique so you got to check this out and let me know what you think.

Adarna Food & Culture Menu:
Soup | Salads & Vegetables | Appetizers | Historic Regional Dishes 1 | Historic Regional Dishes 2 | Historic Regional Dishes 3 | Rice | Dessert | Drinks | Cold Drinks | New on the Menu | New Desserts | New Cold Drinks | Heirloom Recipes 1 | Heirloom Recipes 2 | Old & New World Pinoy Plates |
(Don't be intimidated with the menu, I'll give you some recommendations below)


Coincidentally, we bought a book from Adarna House (in the recent book fair) about the Ibong Adarna. We read the story to Aidan regularly and we promised him that we will bring him to see Ibong Adarna. He would love to see that painting of the Ibong Adarna above. Adarna is a Filipino magical bird that can cure sickness just by listening to its songs and can turn you into stone with its poop. The restaurant was named Adarna to proclaim its Filipino heritage and the "magical" dining experience it offers.


I love to see old newspapers and this one with a headline about Magsaysay's inauguration and later on his funeral.


Felicidad (P 120). A luxurious drink made from eggs, cream, milk with a splash of rhum and vanilla. Nice with a naughty streak. An unauthorized deviation from a secret originally wholesome family recipe.

This is something unique that you got to try. It is like drinking sweet cream that is very addicting.


Seafood Special (P471). A true-blue Manila family shares an Iberian style seafood dish of shrimps, scallops and fish in a flavorful tomato-olive oil suace topped with bell pepper, fried onions and parsley.

This is one of their best sellers. Adarna specializes on unique sauces like this oily tomato sauce that is sweet with a spicy kick in the end.


Piassok (P304).From Mindanao, experience this exotic Sulu dish of beef chunks cooked slowly in smoked coconut cream and ten spices till tender then buttered and grilled just before serving.

With a description like exotic Sulu dish, we decided to try this. The coconut cream is not offensive. The sauce is rich and complicated.


Batanes Yellow Rice Family Size (P130). From up north, a rice dish that is so simple it is elegant. Turmeric, garlic and a bit of pork flavors the rice for a special treat.

A different treat from your usual garlic or paella rice. I didn't know they have this rice in Batanes...


Platanillos con Mangga (P150). Light cream on crepe twirled into a cone and finished with rhum-flavored mango slices.

Technically it is mango crepe but the light creme and rhum gives it a different yummy treat and a fitting end to the magical meal.


Room of the Stars

Adarna has two special rooms that you can reserve with a minimum consumable of P5,000. The first room showcases the partner's collection of old movie stars.


Can you spot Vilma Santos and Tirso Cruz (see Bigger version)?


Check out these old Filipino Movie Actors and Actresses.

Room of the Carnival Queens

Before Miss Philippines, there was the Carnival Queens of the Philippines. It is the first time I heard about Carnival Queens and I'm starting to learn a lot about our rich Filipino heritage.


Check out the different Carnival Queens in their majestic poses.


Collection of Old Long Playing Discs... Too bad the LP player is not working...

Old Bottles Collection

I can't identify any of the old bottles on top.

FREE old Sari Sari Store

Live out your childhood memories by grabbing any of the FREE goodies in this sari sari store!


Old Pinoy Comics, Old Softdrinks Trays, Takalan ng Kanin, Tirador and many more...


The Space Balloon is the best seller so it is often out of stock. You can get chocnut and white rabbit for FREE before you home.



Adarna Food & Culture
119 Kalayaan Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City
Telephone: +632 926-8712
Mobile: +63 917 961 8113
adarnafoodandculture@yahoo.com

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Cafe Juanita - Eclectically Romantic

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Cafe Juanita is an all time favorite for romantic dates within the metro.


Its biggest asset is the sort of mish mash of things mixed with different kind of lights to create an eclectic romantic ambiance.


It appears small from the outside because of the unassuming entrance but you'll be surprised with the different world that awaits you.


You have a lot of nook to choose from as you go deeper into Cafe Juanita.


For special occasions like engagement, you can reserve this small and less complicated second floor.
I'm glad that the place is now well lighted because it looks creepy otherwise. It felt like the walls have eyes.

Cafe Juanita Menu (Even the prices are a bit eclectic)
Soup, Salad, Appetizers | Asian Favorites | Filipino Flavors | Pasta, Steak, and Mediterranean Entries | Dessert | Drinks


Juanita's Caesar Salad (P 242). There are as many variations of this classic salad as there are chefs.
The caesar salad is a classic with a creamy dressing ( you can taste the egg yolk used). It is simple, tasty and fresh.


Kare-Kare ni Juanita (P483). Always served with pride as one of our specialties: Ox-tail and tripes stewed in peanuts and toasted rice with tropical vegetables.

This is one of the best Kare Kare I tasted but I should have bought the Bagoong Club Special from Bagoong Club to go with this Kare Kare.


The pianist plays old love songs to add a romantic feel to the setting.


Dinuguan with chicharon (P230?). This is a new addition to the menu which tries to recreate Kanin Club's Crispy Dinuguan.


Sticky Toffee Pudding (P89). Don't leave without trying their signature dessert.


No need to reserve on ordinary days except during their popular Sunday Lunch Buffet!

Cafe Juanita
No.2 United Street corner West Capitol Street, Brgy Kapitolyo, Pasig.
Telephone Number: +632 632-0357.

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Bagoong Club - a Bagoong Themed Restaurant Everyone is Raving About

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Bagoong Overload by MrsAwesomePlanet


FREE APPETIZER. Singkamas with Bagoong Asya (asian flavor spices) and Bagoong Umaga (with Chili)

If you are looking for a unique Filipino restaurant where to bring your balikbayan or foreigner guests, you have to drive all the way to Bagoong Club (BC) in the Tomas Morato area in Quezon City. Most Filipinos are raving about this restaurant specializing on bagoong (salted and fermented fish paste). There are 7 variations of the Bagoong and you'll encounter the first two-- Bagoong Asya (P15) and Bagoong Umaga (P15), with the free singkamas appetizer. The traditional bagoong version is called Bagoong Lipunan (P15).


All Vegetable Kare Kare (P180). Kare Kare is one of their best sellers and the perfect partner for bagoong and rice. Bagoong Club's Kare Kare is a bit sweeter and nuttier in taste. It is a bit different and seems to be created to match the Bagoong Lipunan that comes with it. What's good with BC's Bagoong is that you'll never get tired of its taste. It is addicting and you can easily finish 3 cups of rice if you don't watch what you eat.


Club Binagoongan Special (P240). Another favorite combination is the Binagoongan Tomato Sauce, Bagoong and Rice. It is better to just serve this binagoongan without the pork meat which are all fatty anyway. The sauce was wiped out like somebody licked it.

Check out the other combinations you can try with Bagoong: Bagoong Club Main Dishes Menu 1 | Bagoong Club Main Dishes Menu 2


Bagoong Club Special (P25) a mixture of our special bagoong and our secret ingredient. If the Bagoong Lipunan is not enough for you, try this deadly special combination of bagoong with taba ng talangka.

If you want to try all the versions of Bagoong, I would recommend you order the Bagoong Sampler for P100.

Bagoong Club Pasta (P190). Just stay away from the pasta dishes. I felt that I will have kidney stones with this dish.

Calamansi Torte (P130). Exclusively made for Bagoong Club by Chef Pixie Sevilla - Santos. You have a choice to end your bagoong food trip with Pastillas de Leche Cheesecake or the Calamansi Torte. Both desserts are very good and created by one of the Sevilla siblings who owns Bagoong Club. I prefer a contrasting Calamansi ending to our Bagoong Club visit.

Highly Recommended and you got to check them out in Tomas Morato area. If you are coming from St. Luke's area, turn left to Tomas Morato and turn right when you see Starbucks.

Bagoong Club Resto
122 Scout Dr. Lazcano, Sacred Heart, Quezon City
Telephone Numbers: +632 929-0544, 929-5450

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Manila International Book Fair

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We bought and collected the 25 Best-Loved Children's Books of all time from Adarna House, Lampara, Anvil Publishing and OMF. The Children's Books are normally priced from P55-P65 and you can avail of 20-25% off depending on the publishing house and if you have a Manila International Book Fair 5-day pass card.


We met Augie Rivera, author of Alamat ng Ampalaya and Rhandee Garlitos, author of Chenelyn! Chenelyn!


Power Books, National Bookstore, and Anvil are 20% off across the board. That is a significant discount from published prices. Most of the religious publication houses are also present but their books are not discounted. We bought some DVDs of the life of St. Don Bosco (P500) and St. Francis Xavier (P450).


I've always wanted to buy the Childcraft books but I'm still thinking how effective they are. Any experience with Childcrafts book?


We were crazy about the Cheese Sponge Crunch from Oishi! Check out the free samples from Oishi booth...


Finally, we were able to buy back issues of FOOD magazine at 3 for 100 :)
Did we miss any awesome find in the MIBF?

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

25 Best-Loved Pinoy Children's Book Characters of all Time

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Ang Ilustrador ng Kabataan (Ang INK) and Philippine Board on Books for Young People mounted a touring exhibit of the 25 of the Best-Loved Pinoy Children's Books Characters of all time. It is based on a survey among hundreds of Filipino school children. I'm ashamed that I only know 3 out of the 25 pinoy characters. We decided to buy all the children's books in the ongoing Manila International Book Fair in SMX Convention Center. You can catch the exhibit in the lobby of SMX Convention Center.

1. Santa Butsiki of Ang Unang Baboy sa Langit

Ang Unang Baboy sa Langit
Writer: Rene O Villanueva
Illustrator: Ibarra C. Crisostomo


2. Pilo of Si Pilong-Patago tago



Si Pilong Patago-tago
Writer: Kristine Canon
Illustrator: Leo Alvarado

3. Kas of Ang Barumbadong Bus



Ang Barumbadong Bus
Writer: Rene O. Villanueva
Illustrator: Jo Ann Bereber-Gando

4. Lola of Ang Pambihirang Buhok ni Lola



Ang Pambihirang Buhok ni Lola
Writer: Rene O. Villanueva
Illustrator: Ibarra Crisostomo

5. Raquel of Ang Pambihirang Buhok ni Raquel



Ang Pambihirang Buhok ni Raquel
Writer: Luis P. Gatmaitan, M.D.
Illustrator: Beth Parrocha-Doctolero


6. Onyok of Ang Mahiyaing Manok


Ang Mahiyaing Manok
Writer: Rebecca T. Anonuevo
Illustrator: Ruben De Jesus

7. Pilandok of Pilandok Series



Pilandok Series
Writer: Victoria Anonuevo
Illustrator: Kora Dandan-Albano

8. Mariang Sinukuan of Ang Hukuman ni Sinukuan



Ang Hukuman ni Sinukuan
Writer: Virgilio S. Almario
Illustrator: Mitxi Villavecer

9. Ampalaya of Alamat ng Ampalaya



Alamat ng Ampalaya
Writer: Augie D. Rivera Jr.
Illustrator: Kora D. Albano

10. Si Langgam at Si Tipaklong



Si Langgam at si Tipaklong
Writer: Alberta Angeles
Illustrator: Ibarra Crisostomo

11. Si Pagong at si Matsing



Si Pagong at Si Matsing
Writer: Danilo Consumido
Illustrator: Hubert Fucio

12. Filemon Mamon


Filemon Mamon
Writer: Christine Bellen
Illustrator: Jason Moss

13. Emang Engkantada at ang Tatlong Harangan



Si Emang Engkantada at ang Tatlong Haragan
Writer: Rene Villanueva
Illustrator: Alfonso Onate and Wilfredo Pollarco

14. Pandakotyong



Si Pandakotyong
Writer: Christine S. Bellen
Illustrator: Albert E. Gamos

15. Tiktaktok at Pikpakbum



Tiktaktok at Pikpakbum
Writer: Rene Villanueva
Illustrator: Renato Gamos

16. Peles of Ang Kamatis ni Peles



Ang Kamatis ni Peles
Writer: Alberta Angeles
Illustrator: Renato Gamos

17. Rosamistica



Rosamistica
Writer: Christine S. Belen
Illustrator: Liza A. Flores
18. Mateo of Oh Mateo! Series



Oh Mateo! Series
Writer: Grace D. Chong
Illustrator: Beth Parrocha-Doctolero

19. Ang Parusa ng Dwende


Illustrator: Elbert Or.

20. Chenelyn



Chenelyn! Chenelyn!
Writer: Rhandee Garlitos
Illustrator: Liza Flores

21. Carancal



Carancal Series
Writer: Rene O. Villanueva
Illustrator: Kora Dandan-Albano

22. Ibong Adarna



(I'm Still looking for these 3 books.... )
23. Ug Uhug



24. Mariang Alimango



25. Juan Tamad

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Philippine Travel Fair Tips

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The Philippine Travel Fair is the Best Domestic Travel Fairs in the country where you can find cheap tickets, very good deals from airline, hotels, and resorts. All of the major tourist destinations in the country are represented in this travel fair. It is usually held around September and this year it happens Sept. 12-14, 2008 in Megatrade Hall in Megamall.

Here are some tips to maximize your P50 entrance fee to this travel fair:

1. Decide on the places you want to go for vacation next year in the Philippines. Prioritize going to the booth of the places you want to visit. You can already get all the travel information you need to plan your vacation next year. The resorts offer as much as 20-50% discounted rates depending on the destination. There is a lot of clutter in the trade fair and you will be confused if you don't have a set destination in mind.

2. Leverage expert travel resources in the travel fair to enhance your travel research. I'm planning a trip to Anini-Y and Butuan/ Surigao del Sur at the end of the month. Most of the local travel tourism officers are in the travel fair. I was able to do my research in less than 1 hours. I also was able to establish connections with the local people in that place.

3. Benchmark Travel Packages. I'm exploring the possibility of creating the best travel packages to certain destinations and offer it in OAP. It is easy to do a national benchmark of all the travel packages from different travel operators. Most people would collect all of the brochures and marketing materials from the different booths.

4. Best time to go is when the travel fair opens. Allot 3 hours just to go around the entire travel fair.

5. Reward the best booth by voting with your sticker. There is a competition for best booth that is why most of the booths are creative and done well. You can vote by putting your sticker on the booth that you like.



I was a bit disappointed that most of the deals are for travel during the off peak season and before the year ends. I was expecting to find a travel package offer that I can't resist but it failed to meet my expectation. For those who went to the travel fair, can you share the best deal you bought in the travel fair?


Don't forget to vote for the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park and get a chance to win in their raffle at the end of the year.

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

THE Ultimate Pampanga Food Tour

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Pampanga in a Plate full!
The Ultimate Pampanga Food Tour

We are excited to bring you THE Ultimate Pampanga Food Tour. We are doing a first ever 5-ways Lechon with Claude Tayag. Join us for this Ultimate Pampanga Tour!

Date: October 25, 2008, Saturday

Time: 7am - 7pm

Meeting Place: Starbucks 6750

Journey to the central heartland as we immerse ourselves in things Kapampangan! From Baroque to betute, its fun-filled day as we poke around and get intimate with the very best of Pampanga's cultural offerings. Gawk at the jewel-box of church in Betis while wading through the lahar-buried town of Bacolor.

We'll stuff ourselves silly with the best Kapampangan fare by one of the country's best known Pampango chefs! A tour with nothing but Kapampangan cool!

The Tour Experience: Betis Church * Town of Bacolor * Claude Tayag's Bale Dutung Restaurant * Pampanga Specialty Shops

Tour Fee: P3,800/ Person inclusive of tour, lunch, snacks and surprises. (Maximum of 30 people)

Tours brought to you by: Ultimate Philippines Travel Experiences in collaboration with Our Awesome Planet, Ivan About Town, Ivan Man Dy of Old Manila Walks and Spanx Manila Boy. See the Awesome Beauty of the Philippines!

Contact me anton@diaz.ph +63917 (5683-627) to reserve your slot!

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

THE Ultimate Tagaytay Food Tour

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Southern Secrets by the Spoonful!

A Tagaytay Culinary Tryst

We are excited to finally open this tour to everyone. This is the Tagaytay Food Tour everyone was raving about. Join us for the first Ultimate Tagaytay Food Tour!

Date: October 12, 2008, Sunday

Time: 7am - 7pm

Meeting Place: Starbucks 6750

Up up to the highlands!

Let's us savor a smorgasbord as we explore the BEST international kitchen

in THE COOLEST CITY SOUTH OF MANILA!

From the best Buko Pie to the tastiest Banh da Lon,

let us cruise along this city by the ridge, taking in her scenic views,

mountain weather and best of all, indulging in her UNDISCOVERED culinary delights!

More than the food, let us meet the people

behind some of Tagaytay's most DELICIOUS dining establishments

as we share the stories and behind the recipes

A tour to nourish your stomach and spirit!

Tour Route: Ilog Maria Bee Farm * Bawai Vietnamese Kitchen * Chateau Hestia European Garden Restaurant * Yoki's Treasures and Hydroponic Farm (upon availability) * T-House Dining

Tour Fee: P2,800/ Person inclusive of tour, lunch, snacks and surprises. (Maximum of 30 people)

Tours brought to you by: Ultimate Philippines Travel Experiences in collaboration with Our Awesome Planet, Ivan About Town, Ivan Man Dy of Old Manila Walks and Spanx Manila Boy. See the Awesome Beauty of the Philippines!

Contact me anton@diaz.ph +63917 (5683-627) to reserve your slot!

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Charice, We are Proud of You!

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Charice Pempengco, David Foster, Celine Dion, and Andrea Bocelli in the Oprah Show. I'm so proud to be a Filipino watching this special Oprah show featuring Charice. Congratulations!

Awesome Sale That I Don't Want You To Miss!

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I just came from the Ultimate Ilocos Norte Trip which included surfing sessions in Blue Lagoon. While I'm getting back to the blogging grove again, I don't want you to miss five (5) four (4) awesome sale events that are happening in Manila this coming week.

19th Philippine Travel Fair Triple X:
Xtreme Adventure, Xtreme Wellness and Xtreme Leisure in the Philippines
Date: September 12-14, 2008
Venue: SM MegaMall Mega Trade Hall
What Makes it Awesome: This is where you can get the cheapest airline tickets, and hotel rates you can use for 6-12 months.


The Big Garment Sale
Date: September 11-13, 2008
Venue: STAC Warehouse in Meycauyan, Bulacan
Blog Posts: The Great Bulacan Sale
What Makes it Awesome: Otherwise known as the Bulacan Sale that only happens 3x a year. This is the best and much anticipated factory sale event in Manila. This is where we buy cheap fashion branded clothes.


The 29th Manila International Book Fair: Words without Borders
Date: September 12— 16, 2008 10:00 A.M.— 8:00 P.M.
Venue: Halls 1-4, SMX Convention Center Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City
Website: www.manilabookfair.com
What Makes it Awesome: This is where you can find really good books at a good price.



Oakley Sale
Date: September 18-20, 2008
Venue: 8062 JASRA BLDG ESTRELLA ST COR ST. PAUL ROAD SAN ANTONIO VILLAGE MAKATI
What Makes it Awesome: This is where you buy Oakley from the distributor sale.


Style Theraphy at Trinoma
Date: September 11-14, 2008
Venue: Various Brands, Trinoma Mall
What Makes it Awesome: Fashion Brands Sale. We will check this out this weekend.

(got feedback from OAP reader that the selections are not that good so I'm scrapping this from the list)
Live an Awesome Life!

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

La Boheme Opera - First Full Length and All Filipino Cast Opera in the Philippines

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Kawayan Cove Photography Class

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Here is an official invitation to Bloggers who would like to learn photography skills with an excellent subject like Bamboo Beach! Please let me know if you would like to join this photo class by texting me +63917-LOVEOAP (5683627). It is sponsored by Kawayan Cove so it is FREE to join but you need to be a blogger or photographer to join this activity.

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Meralco Theater Views

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Click here for the full Meralco Theater Seat Map Version.

The most frequently asked question when buying West Side Story tickets is what is the best seat to buy. This is a matter of preference based on eyesight, company, status, and budget. Most of the views are generally OK for me except for the extreme A334 in Orchestra Left and A101 in Orchestra right which have a blind side. As an OAP exclusive, here are the different views of Meralco Theater based on the highlighted seats in the West Side Story seatmap above. Enjoy!

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Related OAP Posts on West Side Story:
West Side Story Complete List of Direct Show Buyers
The Most Romantic or Tragic Love Story Ever Blogged Contest
West Side Story -The Most Romantic and Tragic Love Story Ever Blogged Winners
West Side Story -- The Two Faces of West Side Story
Meralco Theater Views


Orchestra Center H225 View


Orchestra Left H343 View


Orchestra Right H101 View


Balcony Right X101 View


Balcony Center V217 View

Balcony Left X311 View



Loge Center O234 View

Loge Left N350 View


Loge Right P101 View


Orchestra Right A108 View


Orchestra Center A218 View


Orchestra Left A336 View


Orchestra Center K224 View - Best view for me.


Orchestra Right A101 View

West Side Story -- The Two Faces of West Side Story

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Christian Bautista's West Side Story is the best West Side Story to date in Manila. WSS has been shown once in every decade in Manila and this version is focused on the young generation. (Young is generally defined as <40 years old.)

You will fall in love with the romance between Tony and Maria. I'm sure everyone can relate to Tony's struggle of loving Maria with a different cultural background. Tony is American and belongs to the Jets while Maria is Puerto Rican and belongs to the Sharks. I'm sure that the people who submitted entries to the Most Romantic and Most Tragic love story ever blogged would be able to relate.

Also, the dance fights between the sharks and jets are engaging and fun. It has a variety show production appeal with a broadway twist because they have to sing, dance, and act at the same time. I wanted to give a standing ovation to the AMERICA and GEE, OFFICER KRUPKE! dance performances.


There are three technical rehearsals before the opening night on Sept. 5, Friday. The first one was held last tuesday for the Meralco employees, last night was for the press and tonight is for ABS-CBN. Also, there are two good versions of the show, the Joanna Ampil version and the Karylle version. We watched last night's Karylle's version of West Side Story.



The Karylle West Side Story version is fresh and entertaining in a showbiz kind of way. What I love about her version is the chemistry between Tony and Maria. They both share the same vocal range so their voices blend perfectly well. Karylle's and Christian Bautista's version of TONIGHT and SOMEWHERE are memorable and you can't help but fall in love with the characters.

Since both of them don't have that broadway vocal range, there are times when you would feel that their voices fell short of what the song demands. But they compensate it with a loving performance that looks real. With Joanna, I'm afraid that her voice would dominate the love song duets and would ruin the loving moment. (Anybody watched Joanna Ampil's version yet ?)



I wonder how Dingdong Dantes would feel when Christian Bautista kisses Karylle more than 3 times in West Side Story. Multiply that with the number of West Side Story shows, and...


Thanks to Gerard Salonga and the Phil Harmonic Orchestra for the lovely West Side Story Music!


Congratulations to Audie Gemora and Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo for the best West Side Story production in Manila!

I want to watch the Joanna Ampil to really see the broadway version of West Side Story Manila.

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

P.S. Just a tip, there is a canteen in the basement of Meralco theater if you lack time to eat outside to catch the 8pm show.

West Side Story -The Most Romantic and Tragic Love Story Ever Blogged Winners

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The Most Romantic or Tragic Love Story Ever Blogged Contest

And the winners are...
Thanks for sharing a part of your most romantic and tragic story ever blogged. It was very tough for us to decide the winner because each love story is special. We decided to award an OAP second choice as a third prize. Here are the winners:

OAP's Choice:
Chocolate Stars and Sapphire Dreams' The Best Night of My Life.
Thanks for sharing your most romantic adventure, Cat! A must read for romantics like us :)

OAP's Choice (P4,400 Prize)
Two (2) Orchestra Center Tickets (P2,400 worth) to the Sept. 6, Saturday Opening Night of West Side Story
One (1) P2,000 Gift Certificate in Alchemy (Manila's Only 3 Floor Euro Superclub)

Mrs OAP's Choice
TheFool's Notebook Regrets.
Mrs. OAP’s Winner for the WSS Contest

Mrs OAP's Choice (P 3,400 Prize)
Two (2) Orchestra Center Tickets (P2,400 worth) to the Sept. 5, Friday Opening Night of West Side Story
One (1) P1,000 Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf Gift Certificate

OAP's Second Choice
Like it Or Not's The Last Quarter of 2004.
Thanks for sharing your detailed tragic love story via email. We really appreciate it.

OAP's Second Choice (P1,400 Prize)
Two (2) Balcony Center Tickets (P1,400 worth) to the Sept. 6, Saturday Opening Night of West Side Story

Congratulations! Email me at anton@diaz.ph to arrange for the shipping of your prizes.

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Mom and Tina's Bakery Cafe

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The hottest restaurant in Makati these days is in the corner of Perea and De La Rosa St. in Makati. Barely a month old, Mom (Belen Vergara Torres) and Tina's (Torres-Santos) Bakery Cafe is creating an unstoppable foodie buzz and long queues during lunch time. I've never seen such excitement and warm welcome for this Bakery Cafe originally based in Ortigas.

Mom and Tina's formula for success is simple. They promise to serve home-cooked meals with fresh ingredients and fresh-from-the-oven pastries and baked goodies. I was pleasantly surprise about how affordable gourmet food is in this cafe.

The cafe can accommodate roughly 100 people and opens daily (10am to 11pm at night). This is a favorite hangout for late night dinners or weekend hangout in Makati. It is often difficult to find a good restaurant open during weekends in Makati.

Mom & Tina Bakery Cafe Menu:
Soup of the Day, Starters, Salads, Pasta & Tomato Dishes.
Pasta & Tomato Dishes, Hearty Main Dishes
Hearty Main Dishes & Sandwiches
Desserts, Hot & Cold Beverages

Chicken Spinach Lasagna (P125). Layers of chicken and tomato and cream sauce with homemade spinach lasagna pasta. Served with Garlic Cheese rolls.

If you don't know what to order, just give this rich lasagna a try. You would savor the thick cream sauce in every bite. The garlic cheese roll is crunchy and shape like a flower you can peel one layer at a time.

Next time, I'm coming back for Paella Valenciana (P170), Chicken Relleno (P160), and Lengua con Setas (P295). I heard they are great from other foodies and the price is quite reasonable.

Mini-Oreo Cheesecake (P125).

According to Marbee Go of Wedding Essentials and Manila Bulletin Travel, this is the best Oreo Cheesecake in town. We have to agree and this is a must try!


Mom & Tina's Bakery Cafe
Perea corner De La Rosa, Makati City
Telephone: +632 894 3598, 840-4299

106 E. Rodriguez Jr, Avenue Ugong, Pasig City
Telephone: +632 571-1540 to 41, 914-0833

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Cucina Gayuma's Laing Pasta

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The name Cucina Gayuma intrigued us for some time now. We were hoping to try it sooner but it was closed on a Monday when we visited the area. Gayuma is a filipino term for love potion or food that will make you fall in love with a person. In a sense, the Gayuma term is misleading because the food is actually experimental meals on Filipino fusion. Gayuma is used to refer to food that seduces your senses. I remember that there was a Gayuma restaurant before (in Katipunan?) but this one is not related to it.


Laing Pasta (P190). Taro Leaves, coconut milk and cream topped with smoked fish and crumbled white cheese.

The Laing Pasta of Cucina Gayuma is getting a buzz in the foodie community. It is the best and if you have only one dish to try this is it. We love laing made from gabi leaves and authentically made in Bicol. It is a little bit creamy and the laing taste blended well with the pasta.


The ambiance is characterized by old wooden tables, mismatched chairs, antique accents, and red motif. The small office before was transformed into a Filipino Spanish home. The only thing that was off for us was the waiters in black. In Chinese, wearing black is a sign of bad luck and death.

Cucina Gayuma Special Menu
Appetizer, Salads, Beef, Pork, Chicken
Fish, Pasta, Dessert, Drinks.


Pesto Pita Pizza (P95). Pesto Pizza topped with sun dried tomatoes, tuyo, olives and mixed cheeses.

The menu prices are affordable with servings proportionate to its price. Take the pesto pizza pizza as an example. For less than hundred pesos, you get a small platito size pizza. It compensates its small slice with a rich taste of cheeses and tuyo.


Alimaki (P120). Alique and avocado stuffed Japanese style maki.

A deadly high-blood combination of aligue and avocado is a cute concoction but not memorable.


Cheese Crusted Baked Fish (P230). Baked dory fillets infused with mushrooms and shallots, and topped with mixed cheeses.

This is one of the best ways to enjoy the dory fish - baked and with a lot of cheese! Dory is usually bland in taste, the baked cheese on top gives it a salty ending.


Lamb Goulasch (P300). Lamb shanks and sausages in a Hungarian tomato stew.

The tomato stew is thick, rich and a bit salty. Eat it with the beans and rice to complement the tender lamb meat.


Leche Flan (P60). A rich flan that melts in your mouth.

We would recommend to end your meal with an old-school rich leche flan that is guaranteed to give you flashback of your childhood memories.

Cucina Gayuma
Villa Ortigas Unit 22,
Granada St. Quezon City
Telephone: (+63 2) 723-2975
Website: welovecucinagayuma.multiply.com
Store Hours: 11:30am-2pm (Tues-Sun), 6pm-10pm (Tues to Thurs, Sun), 6pm-11pm (Fri-Sat)


Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

NAIA T3 Food

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So far, Delifrance is the best food available in NAIA Terminal 3. A sandwich would cost anywhere from Php 120-Php 240. We would order it to go and bring it to the airplane with us. Yes, you can eat on the airplane as long as the tray tables are stowed during take off.



Finally, I'm happy that we have a world class airport for our Cebu Pacific and PAL Express flights. Just another tip, Philippine Air Line EXPRESS terminal is in NAIA Terminal 3 and not in NAIA Terminal 2.

I made a mistake last Friday of assuming all Philippine Air Line flights are in NAIA terminal 2. My brother Rommel dropped us off in Terminal 2 and found out that we are in the wrong terminal. I'm glad that we had enough time (45mins before the flight) to transfer from T2 to T3 and catch the PAL Express flight to Busuanga. Did you make the same mistake before?

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

PS. Here are the other food options in NAIA Terminal 3...
Go Nuts Donuts


Cinnabon


A Sari Sari Store

My Human Race

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I love Nike Plus because it motivates you to run by joining virtual races like last Sunday's Nike Human Race 10K.

On 8/31/08, I already planned to run on Calauit Island for my 10k Nike Human Race. One good thing about the Nike Sports band is that it is light and you can wear it like a watch. I own a Garmin 305 and a Nike Plus iPod Kit but I find the Nike Sportsband to be traveller friendly. You can bring it anywhere and the battery life lasts for 3 days. With the iPod Kit, I had to bring an iPod, a Sennheiser earphones, and the Nike Plus transmitter. It is inconvenient to run with the iPod because you have to strap it to your body or use a special Nike Plus shorts to hold the iPod in place when running. For the Garmin 305, it is a bit bulky and you need to ensure to charge it before using it. It is notorious for its short battery life. Since the Nike sportsband uses pedometer technology it is not as accurate as the Garmin 305. It has an error of +/- 1 Km with the actual distance (in my experience). You have to calibrate it properly and it is accurate for shorter distances.



On Human Race day, I ended up running 3k on the Calauit Island with the Giraffes and Zebras. Then we travelled one and a half hours by boat to Club Paradise where I continued to run for the next 7k. Unfortunately, you cannot pause a run for 90 mins so I had to start a new run in the Nike Plus Sportsband. Club Paradise Island is quite small so I ran around the island a couple of times and climbed up Eagles point - the highest point in the island. It was more of a trail run that lasted for 2 hours. We celebrated the completion of my virtual Nike Human Race with a lunch buffet at Club Paradise.

Thanks to Nike Plus technology, I'm proud to be part of 1 Million runners globally who ran for the first Nike Human Race 10K!

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Comedy Cartel Open Mic FREE Session @ Kape Isla

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The Comedy Cartel - The Best Stand-Up Comedy Act in Manila!

Here is an awesome tip for you. If you are in Serendra on Wednesdays 9pm, why not attend the Comedy Cartel's Open Mic Session for FREE at Kape Isla? They would usually try new jokes in this open mic session so it would be fun. You'll get to see Mike Unson bomb on some jokes. I brought my family last Wednesday at Kape Isla, and Mike Unson is the only comic who was able to make my Mom laugh. Of course, the rest of the gang were great as usual.
If you decide to eat in Kape Isla, you can order in Healthy Kitchen and have the food delivered at Kape Isla. It is perfectly OK because they have a partnership. Also, you got to try the local coffee @ Kape Isla. Enjoy!


Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Nike Human Race 10K Bracelet

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Wow! Nice Human Race 10K bracelet for all runners who will finish 10k on August 31, 2008.

First 241 virtual race participants to upload their 10K run will get a finisher bracelet Nike+ Human Race must be claimed on 8.31.08 at Nike Park, Bonifacio High Street. For you to qualify, simply be one of the first to sync your run in any of these 2 ways:
1. Sync your run immediately after completing the 10K during the scheduled run. After the race, just go to the available laptops and upload your run. The race marshal will be affixing a stamp and a number on your race bib after you've successfully uploaded your run. Present your marked race bib at Nike Park, Bonifacio High Street to claim your finisher bracelet. Open to attendees of the scheduled run.

OR

2. If you didn't get the chance to upload your run after the scheduled run, you can simply go to Nike Park, Bonifacio High Street any time during the day from 9:30am - 5:00pm. A laptop and wi-fi will be specially made available on the race day so that you can sync your 10K. You will be given a stub once you've successfully uploaded your run. Present this to the counter to claim your finisher bracelet. Open to both attendees and non-attendees of the scheduled run.

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

P.S. Virtual race participants have until 11:59pm on September 2nd to upload their run.

P.P.S. I still have 20% discount for the Nike Sports Band or iPod Kit. Please email me anton@diaz.ph, your complete name, contact number, and shipping address. I'll send the discount coupon tomorrow.

Syoti Joshua @ 9 months and 12 days old...

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Just sharing with you a cute picture of syoti Joshua @ 9 months old (taken by my brother Rommel).

Top 10 Legaspi Sunday Market All Stars !

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Thanks to my Ultimate Philippines Brothers -- Ivan Man Dy of Old Manila Walks, Ivan Henares of Ivan About Town, and Spanx of Manila Boy for organizing a Sunday Legaspi Food Trip coinciding with my birthday. Also, thanks to the Filipino Food Blogging community for attending the Legaspi Sunday Market Food Trip. Lastly, thanks to the great Legaspi Market people for the wonderful food, desserts and other treats!

I also did a survey among the food bloggers, food stall owners, and friends eating in the Legaspi Sunday Market. I would like to share with you the best of Legaspi Sunday Market based on who are generating buzz among the foodie community.

Top 10 Legaspi Sunday Market All Stars! (in no particular order)


Imang Salud Classic Ensaimada (P 160). One of the biggest classic Ensaimada in town based on an old family recipe inherited from Ivan Henares' great-grandmother, Salud Dayrit-Santos of San Fernando, Pampanga. It literally melts in your mouth in softness with a yummy buttery taste and topped with generous servings of queso de bola. Also, one of my favorites in Imang Salud is the plantanilla, super sweet latik in egg crepe. You have to order in advance for the plantanilla.

Imang Salud Dayrit's Kapampangan Homemade Classic EnsaimadaHeirloom recipes of Imang Salud Dayrit-Santos of San Fernando Pampanga passed on to three generations in the Dayrit-Santos Family. Telephone: +63 920 947 8819, +632 837-0842

Related OAP Posts: a Memorable Ultimate Kapampangan Show-Off


Japanese Tofu Steak (P230 Takeout 600g). The savory tofu cakes of Denise Celdran (yes, the sister of Carlos Celdran) is raved about even by non-vegetarian foodies like us. The combination of tofu, peanuts, sesame seeds and japanese seaweeds is their best seller.

Edgy Veggie Productions
Savory Tofu Cakes, Vegetarian Lumpia Shanghai, Siomai & Other Goodies, Veggie Meat, Hotdogs, Burgers, Gluten Barbecue, Choplets, Tocino and Spam.
Denise Celdran - +63917 820 208


Freshly Made Vegetarian Noodles, Boiled or Stir Fried with Seafood (P90). The polanchai noodles are made on site. You can see how they mix the polanchai with flour and create the vegetarian noodles in the morning. People rave about Manvy not only because of its freshly made noodles but also the sauces you can put on your noodles. Think about it as mongolian dish where you have the following sauces as toppings: Peanut Sauce, Sweet Chili Sauce, Chili Sauce, Oyster Sauce, Sate Sauce and Soy Sauce.

Manvy Foods
Veggie Wrap, Kikiam, Siomai, Misua Gisado, Kiampong, Lumpia
Telephone Number:+632 254-7404
Mobile Number: +63917 8486012, +63920 9212675


Shaahi Paneer (P280 Regular) and Mango Honey Lassi (P120). Abhra is getting raves about his Indian Food and All Natural Drinks in the Legaspi Sunday Market. We like the Shaahi Paneer which is made from Indian cheese that is rubbery when cold and with a soft, mozzarella-type texture when cooked . For the first time, I like the taste of Lassi - a lactose free yogurt smoothie. The Masala Lassi (P100) and the Mango Honey Lassi (P120) are the best sellers.

Indian Gourmet (Legaspi Sunday Market)
Abhra Dam and Ria A. Villanueva-Dam
Mobile Number: Ria +63920 903-6256


Galette Egg, Ham & Cheese (P140). Gigi's claim to fame is that he serves the real Crepe made from right proportions of wheat flour, eggs, milk and Galettes made from right proportions of buck wheat flour, eggs, water, and salt. We love the galette complete with egg, ham and cheese.
Gigi La Crepe
The Real Traditional Breton Crepe and Gallette
Telephone: +632 729 7783
Mobile Number: +63 926 879-5980/ +63 926 599-8756



Quattro Formaggio (P150) Pizza. Tomato Sauce, Mozzarella, Kesong Puti, Danish Cheese & Parmessan. What makes the Pizza's unique is the way it is cooked in charcoal. Other flavors include Margherita, Tutti Carne, Four Seasons, Napolitana and Antonio's Special.

Pizza di Grazzia
Food Alley, King's Court Building. Pasong Tamo St. Corner De La Rosa St. Makati City
Miguel Ongpin | Grace Valdoz
Mobile Number: +63 927 339 0462 | +63 906 442 9669
Email: miguelongpin@yahoo.com | geevaldoz@yahoo.com


Assorted Desserts: Sobyet and Baklava with Walnut, Hazelnut, Pistachio (P250) This must be the best dessert in both Salcedo and Legaspi Market. All of the people I talked to raved about this. Thank you Mehmet and Levend for introducing this Turkish pastries in Manila! Don't miss this!

Anatolia Cuisine
Turkish Pastries & Desserts
Mehmet Serce and Levend Ekizoglu
Telephone Number: +632 437-4249
Mobile Number: +63 917 855-8006, +63 922 855-7690
Email: anatoliacuisine@gmail.com


Froyo Frozen Yogurt (P65). The popular frozen yogurt in the Salcedo Market is now available also in the Legaspi Market. My favorite flavors are Vanilla and Deep Chococolate. Nothing beats this healthy yogurt treat! (See my related blog post on Froyo's.)

Froyo's
Dave +63 918 614-7479
Rob +63927-263-9198


Budbud Kabog (P30) and Sugar-free Budbud Kabog (P35). Most of the food bloggers love this. Budbud Kabog is a suman made from millet seeds. We love the Budbud with Mangga, Langka, Purple Rice and Ube-Langka.

Budbud Gourmet Suman
Maribel Van Hoven
Telephone Number: +632 807 1636, 842-8261
Mobile Number: +63 929 366 1999


Citrocello Lemon Liqueur. A Lemon Liquer is made from the peels of organic lemons, carefully microplanned, mixed with vodka and simple syrup and left to steep from 60 to 80 days. Ever since I tasted the lemon cello in Chateau Hestia, I got hooked with this drink. Usually it is taken as a digestive but you can drink it anytime during the course of the meal. I like the higher alcohol levels (20%) of Citrocello.

Citrocello Lemon Liqueur
Nel
Telephone Number: +632 840 0193
Mobile Number: +63 917 846 1135


These are my top 10 favorites. Let me know what are your favorites in the Legaspi Sunday Market. I should do a similar list for the Salcedo Saturday Market one of these days...

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

California Berry Frozen Yogurt

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California Berry Banana Split Signature Creation (P115) - Banana, Strawberry, White Chocolate chips

The resemblance of California Berry to the famous Pink Berry is obvious. The color scheme and menu is a bit similar. I like the frozen yogurt which tastes similar to Pink Berry as well. It was great to see nutrition facts for the California Berry yogurt.

Related OAP Posts on Frozen Yogurt:
Cold Spoon Frozen Yogurt - The Next Dessert Craze in the Philippines!
Sorry Ice Cream, I'm On My Way to Pinkberry!
Red Mango-licious
I Love Berries Frozen Yogurt -- The Best Froyo so far in Manila...
Ice Cream Bar (Flavors by FIC)
Yogurbud
The White Hat - Let the Fro-Yo Wars Begin in Manila!
The Buzz About Froyo's
California Berry Frozen Yogurt
Lulubelle
After Lego Island, Enjoy Yoh-Gurt Froz!


The toppings are usually cereals, chocolate, canned fruits (except for the kiwi, bananas, mangoes) and bottled berries. Based on the nutrition facts, Total Fat is 0g but Carbohydrates from sugar is 17g.

California Berry Signature Creations Menu
Small | P60 + 15 Each Topping P75
Medium | P85 + 3 Toppings P115
Large | P115 + 3 Toppings P145


The Ortigas outlet is actually small and hidden inside Silver City Mall. It is not an ideal place to hang-out because of its location beside the parking lot. I do hope they get a better location for their future outlets. You would need the map below to locate it.


I would recommend eating the frozen yogurt naked to really enjoy it.

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Mom's a Stewardess Viral Book

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Reading Mom's a Stewardess feels like reading the woman version of Bo Sanchez.

I travelled to Bohol to do a research on what an Ultimate Tour of Bohol would be. I only planned to spend two (2) days to explore the Chocolate Hills tourist route and Panglao Island. Unfortunately due to airplane flight constraints, I had to extend my stay for another day. I knew that I don't have anything else to do on the third day except wait for the boarding time for my flight back to Manila.

I don't know why I settled for this kind of predicament but I felt that I had to do it. I realized later on that it is God's way of pausing my busy life. In that moment of peaceful existence waiting for my 5pm flight back to Manila, I finished reading Angel Viloria's book : My Mom's a Stewardess.

How I wish that I could write a book called "My Dad is a Steward". I'm still in my "personal searching" stage. In a way, I find myself following Angel's life path...

I decided to quit my CIO job for one of the best multinational company in the Philippines after close to 13 years of loyal employment. It was my first job so it was difficult leave. I felt like a traitor leaving all my stressed friends behind in the front line of the battle for improving consumer's lives.

Angel left her professional career in the Philippine (audit) Rating Services Corporation for 14 years. Like her, I found peace in the company of my family, friends, and OAP friends after resigning. I became more thankful and in constant search for a meaning in life.

I'm happy that Angel accomplished her dream of becoming a published author. Like her, I'm eager to publish my OAP book: 100 Awesome Experiences Only in the Philippines.

Mom's a stewardess is certainly a blessing for me. It gave me a reassurance that I'm on the right path and direction in life. It fueled my search for knowing more about Him and finding my own steward niche.

I wanted to be part of Bo Sanchez's Light of Jesus Community but don't know anybody who is a part of that community. Sometimes, I wanted to give back to my alma matter, Don Bosco Makati and support all the Salesian's projects and undertakings. I also had an encounter with the born again organization and got invited to the Union Church's Bible Studies.

Also, the book left me reflecting on how I would celebrate my 40th Birthday, 6 years from now. Or, how my 10 years Wedding Anniversary would be like. Thanks Angel for inspiring me and blessing us with your stewardship stories.


OAP GIFT
I'm giving away a FREE copy of Mom's a Stewardess Book to the first OAP reader who wants it. I want it to be a viral book where after you read it, you promise to write a comment on the book and give it away to the next person. In this way, this viral book will be able to bless more people all around the world!


It was indeed a blessing being stuck in Bohol on my third day. I was able to write this reflection.

May God Bless You and May you Live an Awesome Life,

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Kerygma Conference 2008 - Awaken the Miracle in You

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" Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose hope is the Lord.
He is like a tree planted beside the waters that stretches out its roots to the stream:
It fears not the heat when it comes, its leaves stay green;
In the year of drought it shows no distress, but still bears fruit."
(Jeremiah 17: 7-8)

I attended the Kerygma Conference 2007 with Aidan last November entitled " You have the Power! Nourished. Empowered. Unleashed. " I was so blessed that it led me to my Independence Day decision and to pursue my dreams. I don't want you to miss the 2008 Kerygma Conference entitled "Awaken the Miracle in You!"


Be inspired and be blessed in the biggest, most powerful catholic learning event of the year!

2008 Conference Details

Date: November 29-30, 2008

Time:

November 29 - 8:30am to 5:30pm

November 30 - 8:30am to 12:00 noon

(see detailed program)

Venue: Philsport Stadium (formerly ULTRA)

click here to REGISTER NOW

Last year, I love the inspiring and funny talk of Arun Gogna on " You're more gifted than you can ever imagine" and Bo Sanchez' talk on "Don't Burn-out, Burn-Up!".

As a gratitude to all my family's blessings on my birthday weekend, I would like to share five (5) copies of the Kerygma Conference audio recordings for FREE. I can guarantee that these recordings would bless your life. I'll give it to the first 5 people who would like it and comment on this post. I will ship it for FREE thanks to OAP delivery sponsor 2GO Express.

May God Bless You and Your Family! Live an Awesome Life,

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Choi Garden - A Chinese Restaurant Worth Raving About

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Our family loves chinese food. On my father's birthday, I reserved this special chinese restaurant -- Choi Garden in Annapolis Greenhills. It is seldom that you hear a buzz on Chinese restaurants. Most people rave about Choi Garden because of the food prepared by their Hongkong Chef and the interesting interiors.

Choi Garden occupies the hole left by Country Waffles in Greenhills. It has two floors -- the first floor is for shabu shabu, while the second floor is for fine dining. For special occasions, better reserve the rooms on the 2nd floor. The first floor is for casual meetings and romantic dates. Better reserve to get the best seats in the house. I love the dramatic tunnel entrance, and the interesting chandelier lighting effects. The word "opium den" comes to mind (I don't know why) when I entered the first floor because of its bloody motif.

The specialties of the house are usually not found in the menu. Choi Garden is famous for their Pigeons (which you have to order in advance) and 3-way Lapu Lapu.


Choi Garden Pigeons (P350/ pigeon). I don't eat pigeons ever because usually it is oily and rubbery in texture. This is the first time I've eaten pigeons because it is a bit crispy without the oil. A must try in Choi Garden for special occasions.


3-way Lapu Lapu (P3,000). First, the lapu lapu is served in Miso Soup. We kept raving about how good the soup is. It tastes like Japanese miso soup and appears like Lapu Lapu sinigang with a smoother taste.


The second way is to steam the lapu lapu with brocolli. The fresh and soft taste of lapu lapu stands out. There is no need for seasoning. My mom kept raving about this!


Finally, the rest of the lapu lapu is cooked adobo style in hot pot with tofu. This one got mixed reaction because it was mixed with meat and adobo sauce was super thick.
We also ordered the Crab cooked in Singaporean Chili-crab style. The sauce is a bit gingery in taste. (I don't know why Manila can't reproduce an authentic Singapore chili-crab?) We should have stopped with the pigeon and lapu lapu.


Of course, we ordered birthday noodles for my Father's Birthday.


This is the best room in the fine dining area located behind the massive Choi Garden logo. (Minimum consumable isP8,000)



Happy Birthday Popsy!! Brobo and Ate Mina -- we missed you in Popsy's celebration.


Choi Garden Seafood and Shark's Fin Restaurant, Annapolis
Contact Person: Helen Tang
# 12 Annapolis St. cor. Purdue St. San Juan, Metro Manila
(+632) 727-6042 , 727 7489
Website: www.choigarden.com
Email: Choi@yahoo.com

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

West Side Story Complete List of Direct Show Buyers

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One of the greatest lessons I learned from my PSI experience, is the principle of "Scoring as many points as possible without hindering the chances of other people to score points." Ok, this is a bit vague. Let me give an example by applying the principle to selling West Side Story tickets. I know I've been promoting our Sept. 6, 8pm West Side Story tickets for weeks now. I'm also promoting Minnie's Sept. 5 Opening Night show. But what about the rest? I'm really promoting the entire West Side Story and I would like to share with you the rest of the contact numbers for the other shows.

The frequently asked question about West Side Story is when will Joanna Ampil perform? Nobody knows except the people from Stages. This is also to protect the show buyers. There are theories that Joanna Ampil will perform on opening nights since it is a tradition in the theater that the senior actress are given priority on opening nights. But this is not confirmed.

Also, please buy directly from the West Side Story Show Buyers for them to maximize their profits. Most of them have charity institutions or foundations as beneficiary for their West Side Story sponsored show. Of course, we would love it if you buy your West Side Story tickets from us.

WEST SIDE STORY 2008 SHOW DATES | SHOW BUYERS | CONTACT INFO.
Sept. 5 Friday 8pm | Minnie Fong | +639178676332 minnie_fong@yahoo.com
Sept. 6 Saturday 3pm | CBN Asia | +632 8124747
Sept. 6 Saturday 8pm | Our Awesome Planet : Anton Diaz +63917 5683627 anton@diaz.ph
Sept. 7 Sunday 3:30pm | Catherine Zobel | Contact Angie: +63 9178981419 + 632 8438472 +632 7572984
Sept.12 Friday 8pm | Timothy Liong | +639178735405 tliong@jnjph.jnj.com
Sept. 13 Saturday 3pm | Justice Raoul Victorino | +632 5529510 +63 9209389429 raoulvictorino@yahoo.com
Sept. 13 Saturday 8pm | Marc Ong / Ria Buenafe | +63 9209623918 +63 9175349437 bauerpb@yahoo.com rrbuenafe@yahoo.com
Sept.14 Sunday 3:30pm | Marissa Saba | +639178637770
Sept. 19 Friday 8pm | SM-Contact Imee Aquino | +632 8349565
Sept. 20 Saturday 3pm | Christopher De Venecia | +63 9178908633 imcalledtoffee@mac.com
Sept. 20 Saturday 8pm | Benjamin Chua | +63 9209704089 alexander_martos@yahoo.com
Sept. 21 Sunday 3:30pm | Williamson Nocom | +632 4008716 +63 9228994647 williamson@pldtdsl.net w_nocom@yahoo.com
Oct. 3 Friday 8pm | Bruno Omlin/Khaki Delos Reyes/Evita Bunyi | +639167179186 +639184216565 +639052969055 bfo@gmx.ch
Oct. 4 Saturday 3pm | 49 Polaris Productions Co. (Contact Emily Kho) | +639177956397
Oct. 4 Saturday 8pm | Mike Luakian / JayDuran | +63 9175386688 mluakian@pldtdsl.net
Oct. 5 Sunday 3:30pm | FILHARMONIKA
Oct. 10 Friday 8pm | Big Pounder Entertainment Alan Ranola | +63 9175310607 alr_bigpounder@yahoo.com
Oct. 11 Saturday 3pm |
Oct. 11 Saturday 8pm | Karylle Tatlonghari | k3hari@gmail.com
Oct. 12 Sunday 3:30pm | STAGES OWNED

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Related Posts:
West Side Story Manila - 10 Things You Should Know Before Going on a West Side Story Romantic Date
The Most Romantic or Tragic Love Story Ever Blogged

West Side Story Saturday Opening Night!

Our Awesome Planet in partnership with Ticket2Me invites you to the Saturday Opening Night of West Side Story Manila!
September 6, 2008,Opening Saturday Night 8pm at the Meralco Theater, Ortigas, Pasig

Buy Your West Side Story Tickets Now from OAP!

West Side Story Manila. (Click-->Seat Plan) Reserve Your Best Seats Now!

Orchestra and Loge Center ($26) ~ P1,200
Orchestra and Loge Sides ($22) ~ P1,000
Balcony Center ($15) ~ P 700
Balcony Sides ($11) ~ P 500
It is cheaper to buy online! All Major Credit Cards accepted.
Credit Card charges would be based on prevailing exchange rate. (see BSP Exchange Rate)

Email me: anton@diaz.ph or call me +63917-LOVEOAP (5683627) to order and pay via Bank Deposit

JT's and Rocci's @ The Zone

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If you have been playing badminton in the Zone area, then you would have noticed the newly opened Makati outlet of JT's Manukan. After eating inasal, you can hop on to Rocci's coffee and chocolate cafe beside it. Bacolod Chicken Inasal Express is still the best versus the commercialized version of JT Manukan. Since JT Manukan has an open kitchen, just notice that all the chicken are half-cooked already. This makes the chicken dry versus grilling the chicken raw. It is still a good alternative specially if you want to taste other Bacolod treats like Kansi and Batchoy.


Pecho (Chicken Breast with Wings) P88 or Paa (Chicken Legs with Thigh) P85 + Rice (P20)


Kansi (ilonggo Version of Bulalo) - P110. A bit more oily than your usual bulalo.

JT Manukan's Main Dishes and Side Orders | Beverages and Pasalubong Items

JT Manukan Grille
The Zone, 7224 Malugay Street Corner Gil Puyat Avenue Bel-Air, Makati
Telephone +632 8130106
For dessert, the rich chocolate cookies and drinks of Rocci are recommended. The place is cute but it could only accommodate four small tables.


Dark Hot Chocolate and Cookies (P128). An intense hot chocolate drink made of pure belgian chocolate and paired with 2 pcs. of Belgian Chocolate Bliss Cookies. Aidan loves it but he was wide awake until 12 midnight because of the richness of the chocolate.

Rocci Coffee Company
Specialty Coffee & Chocolate
Email: rocci.coffee@gmail.com
The Zone, 7224 Malugay corner Buendia St., Makati City
Telephone: +632 474 8084
Mobile Numbers: +63 922 824-7236, +63 917 526 8689

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

The Most Romantic or Tragic Love Story Ever Blogged

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A West Side Story Contest

Related Posts:
West Side Story Manila - 10 Things You Should Know Before Going on a West Side Story Romantic Date
West Side Story Complete List of Direct Show Buyers

West Side Story is one of the most popular storylines based on William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Two feuding street gangs – the Jets and the Sharks – are on a collision course in the gritty slums of New York City. Out of the chaos, a passionate romance blooms between Tony and Maria, teenagers caught on opposite sides of the turf war. But can they find a place for their love amid the prejudice and turmoil that surrounds them?

Rache and I were wondering what is the most romantic or tragic love story ever blogged in the Philippines?

Two winners with the following prizes:
OAP's Choice (P4,400 Prize)
Two (2) Orchestra Center Tickets (P2,400 worth) to the Sept. 6, Saturday Opening Night of West Side Story
One (1) P2,000 Gift Certificate in Alchemy (Manila's Only 3 Floor Euro Superclub)

Mrs OAP's Choice (P 3,400 Prize)
Two (2) Orchestra Center Tickets (P2,400 worth) to the Sept. 5, Friday Opening Night of West Side Story
One (1) P1,000 Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf Gift Certificate


I'll start first. Rache and I met in college in 1991. We were classmates during our first year. We both took up the same Engineering course. During our time, there were only a handful of ladies that would take up Electronics and Communications Engineering.

When I saw Rache the first time, I instantly had a crush on her. I came from an exclusive all-boys school and I was focused on my studies only. So, the only courting technique I was familiar was called: "Style Ninja". (Not sure if this style is still relevant these days) This style ensures that I am not rejected outright but I have the opportunity to get to know my crush better. Basically, my goal was to become part of my crush's circle of friends. This way, I would have numerous occasion to be with her and get to know her more. My immediate goal was to become her confidant. We often meet in the Library for study sessions and I would tutor her on some subjects. All of this, under the disguise of being a concerned good friend instead of an admirer. It is a level above being torpe.

The style Ninja did not work for me during the first two years of college. We had separate relationships while in college. Eventually, we had our different group of friends and we got busy with our own school acitivites. At the same time, we have different cultural backgrounds -- a very pinoy family and a traditional chinese family. After graduation in 1995, we were both busy already with our respective love life and careers.

Not until a few years later, we met again because our common college friends left Philippines to work abroad. We, the three of us, were thrown back together just like our college years. It became an opportunity for us to get together once again and console each other's misery. I remembered one time, we had to drive all the way to Tagaytay just to forget our former partners. We went out together on gimmicks, road trips and barkada outings almost every weekend. I just grabbed every opportunity I had so I can show my pure intentions for Rache.

Finally, in 2001 (after 10 years), she finally said yes to our relationship. We got married in 2003 at a church where I prayed and prayed that Rache will become my lifetime partner. Aidan came into our life in 2005 and soon after, syoti Josh joined our family in 2007.

So what's your love story? To join this contest, you just need to put a comment and link back your most romantic or tragic love story ever blogged. It could be your own or your friend's story. It could be written years ago or just recently. Winners will be based on what we think is the most romantic or tragic story for us. Deadline will be by 11.59pm on August 25, 2008 and we will announce the winners on Sept. 1!

Two winners with the following prizes:

OAP's Choice (P4,400 Prize)
Two (2) Orchestra Center Tickets (P2,400 worth) to the Sept. 6, Saturday Opening Night of West Side Story
One (1) P2,000 Gift Certificate in Alchemy (Manila's Only 3 Floor Euro Superclub)

Mrs OAP's Choice (P 3,400 Prize)
Two (2) Orchestra Center Tickets (P2,400 worth) to the Sept. 5, Friday Opening Night of West Side Story
One (1) P1,000 Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf Gift Certificate

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Our Awesome Planet in partnership with Ticket2Me invites you to the Saturday Opening Night of West Side Story Manila!
September 6, 2008,Opening Saturday Night 8pm at the Meralco Theater, Ortigas, Pasig

Buy Your West Side Story Tickets Now from OAP!

West Side Story Manila. (Click-->Seat Plan) Reserve Your Best Seats Now!

Orchestra and Loge Center ($26) ~ P1,200
Orchestra and Loge Sides ($22) ~ P1,000
Balcony Center ($15) ~ P 700
Balcony Sides ($11) ~ P 500
It is cheaper to buy online! All Major Credit Cards accepted.
Credit Card charges would be based on prevailing exchange rate. (see BSP Exchange Rate)

Email me: anton@diaz.ph or call me +63917-LOVEOAP (5683627) to order and pay via Bank Deposit

Related Posts: West Side Story Complete List of Direct Show Buyers

Secrets of PAL NAIA Terminal 2

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Set A - Kaya Toast Set (P175). 2 Slices of Kaya Toast with Butter, Hot Coffee, 2 soft-boiled eggs.

I love flying via PAL in NAIA Terminal 2. It is the only place where you can find the best and original Kaya Toast and the best Arrozcaldo in Manila for FREE.

I've been addicted to Kaya, a singaporean local spread of egg and coconut. Like Frozen Yogurt, I've been tracking down all the places that serve it. Just check out all my posts about Kaya, :
My Kaya Addiction
Kopi Roti Love!
Toast Box opens in Trinoma!
Heads or Tails - a new kaya place in Mall of Asia
Old World Kopitiam, Banaue
[Singapore #1] Makan Food Trip - My Top 10 Favorites!


Ya Kun Kaya Toast Menu | The History of Ya Kun

The best of them all is the original Ya Kun Kaya Toast of Singapore. Their one and only outlet is in NAIA terminal 2. Finally, Loi Ah Koon's coffee stall since 1944 has reached the shores of Manila after 64 years. The only downside is the Ya Kun price is almost double versus the local Kopi Roti since it is located in the airport. One cost saving tip: if you don't like to eat raw soft boiled egg, just order the coffee and Ya Kun kaya separately. This should cost only P150 versus the set meal of P175. ( I think eating soft boiled eggs is a chinese / Singapore thing.)


The Best Arrozcaldo in Manila is only available in Mabuhay Lounge for FREE! Yes, I've never tasted any arrozcaldo in Manila that can rival this. Not even, the Jose Goto in SM Makati or any carinderia for that matter. It has generous servings of big chunks of chicken and a complete set of condiments to suit your taste. What's your favorite arrozcaldo?


There are two ways you can have access to Mabuhay Lounge. It is either you fly Business Class OR you are a Mabuhay Miles Elite member. Recently, I just found out that my mabuhay miles elite membership was downgraded already. I was sad because I'm already craving for this goto which you cannot find anywhere. Time to earn miles again and buying promo fare tickets won't help.

With all the buzz about NAIA 3, I still prefer to fly via PAL NAIA 2 Terminal :)

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Spicy Fingers Laffamania

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Related Posts: The Comedy Cartel - The Best Stand-Up Comedy Act in Manila!

Your Monday Nights will never be the same with Laffamania @ Spicy Fingers in Greenbelt 2. The show starts promptly at 8pm with entrance fee of P150. Better reserve a table with Spicy Fingers and be there by 7pm. The food is OK and nothing to rave about. Don't bother to ask recommendations from the waiters because they would often say, "Lahat po sa menu ay masarap." That is one sign of either the waiters are not trained very well (and have not tasted the food yet) or there is nothing remarkable about the food. Better check out the menu already and order based on your personal preference. Budget P500/ head for your Spicy Fingers dinner.

Spicy Fingers Menu:
Starters & Soup | Pasta, Burger Platter, Sandwiches | Specials Grill and Steaks | Spicy Fingers Snack Menu | Desserts | Spicy Fingers Drinks List #1 | Spicy Fingers Drinks List #2


Tim Tayag @ Laffamania in Spicy Fingers.

Tim started performing stand-up comedy in 1997 in a little cafe in San Francisco. In a few years, he developed his act and showcased it in world famous comedy clubs such as Punch Line and Cobb's where famous comics like Robin Williams, Chris Rock and Drew Carey took their first comedy steps.

In 2002, Tim decided to go back to the Philippines and share his style of comedy with Filipinos. (Hooray! We should always celebrate when Filipinos decide to go back to the Philppines :)


Mike Unson @ Laffamania in Spicy Fingers

Mike first started with an improv theater group Big Bang Cheery, and once the bang fizzled out, he moved on to going solo. From there, he's opened for Rex Navarette on numerous occasions during his Philippine tour of duty, and even taught Stand-up comedy courses at the Ateneo law school in Rockwell. His next big break was when he performed in "Jojo A. All the Way" and "Men's Room" on Channel 23. In 2005, Mike out-laughed his contemporaries at a stand-up comedy stand-off, to take home the grand prize.
We were pleasantly surprised to see Donita Rose' husband Eric Villarama doing one of the opening acts for Comedy Cartel. I like his humor because some of it is based on his unique situation as the husband of a Filipina celebrity.


Seafood Fettucine (P370 + SC). Pasta with melange of seafood cooked in white wine and olive oil. The white wine and olive oil sauce was not as tasty as we expected.



Spicy Fingers Chicken Coconut Curry (P360+SC). Chicken fillet cooked with red curry paste and creamy coconut cream. We were not happy with the coconut curry sauce. Maybe, we are just used to the Thai sweet curry sauce of Sukho Thai.


Sticky Nachos (P360+SC). Nacho Chips with Guacamole, Salsa and Sour Cream. We were happy with the huge serving of spicy fingers nachos. Beer + Nachos + Comedy Cartel Jokes = Winner!



Spicy Fingers
Ground Level, Greenbelt 2 Ayala Center, Makati, Metro Manila
Phone Number: (+63 2) 729-8761, (+63 2) 729-8932, (+63 2) 817-4729

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

The Comedy Cartel - The Best Stand-Up Comedy Act in Manila!

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Have you seen the Best Stand-Up Comedy Act in Manila?

I highly recommend Comedy Cartel if you are sick and tired of the usual gay comedy or slapstick humor in the comedy bars in Manila. I like the more intelligent humor (and sometimes green jokes) of the Comedy Cartel based on taboo truths about the Filipinos. However, I don't like some of the proteges' tasteless jokes about Christianity just to get a laugh from the crowd. Also, I'm hoping they could get a female stand-up comic to be part of the cartel.

I created a video sampler of the best jokes during the Laffamania last July 28 in Spicy Fingers. It features my favorite jokes by Eric Villarama, Alex Calleja, Mike Unson and Tim Tayag. It is guaranteed to make you laugh. You can watch the full Laffamania show every other monday by 8pm in Spicy Fingers. The show runs for two hours featuring the Comedy Cartel and their proteges. The next shows would be August 11 & 25, and September 15 & 29, 2008. They also have practice Open Mic sessions to test new jokes every 9pm Wednesday at my favorite wi-fi place in Serendra -- Kape Isla.


The Comedy Cartel is a guild of professional comic artists whose aim is to expand and master the art of comedy beyond the usual definitions through the practice of the classic monologue form of standup and through sketch comedy. In other words, it was created to impress chicks...

This group is the first of its kind in the Philippines. As the Comedy Cartel, they hope to instill in each artist, professionalism, mastery, and respect for the art of comedy by providing training and building resources to further the craft. If they fail, then it's back to selling hot dogs!

The Comedy Cartel is composed of Alex Calleja, Stanley Chi, JB Dela Cruz, Marlon Olivan, Tim Tayag, and Mike Unson. Other members include: Vic Anastacio, Trian Lauang, Red Ollero, Uli Oposa, Chickie Manio, Ryan Puno, Raffy Taruc, and Eric Villarama.

The Comedy Cartel is exclusively managed by:
eCircle Entertainment (www.eCircleEntertainment.com).
Telephone: +632 533-9316.
Mobile Number: +63917-8860706.
Email: info@eCircleEntertainment.com

Cinderella Tips - 10 Tips When Watching Cinderella in CCP Main Theater

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10 Tips When Watching Cinderella in CCP Main Theater

1. Don't bring your camera. You would have to deposit your camera with the security guards. You don't want the hassle of lining up to get it after the show.

2. The show starts on time at 8pm. There is a major construction along Vito Cruz which creates a traffic jam around the CCP area. Target to be in the CCP area around 7pm. There are plenty of parking spaces beside CCP.

3. Mobile phones are allowed. Please turn it off or put it in silent mode. I hate it when a phone rings in the middle of the show.

4. Buy the Souvenir Program. It would cost you P200 for the souvenir program. I also bought the original soundtrack of Lea Salonga's Cinderella for P550. Buy them during the intermission period. I still regret that I did not buy the Miss Saigon Manila Souvenir Program.

5. If you are watching in Balcony 1 or 2, please bring binoculars. In the balcony section, you can only appreciate the music and see the live orchestra. You can't see the facial expressions not unless you have binoculars. Also, you won't be able to see the top portion of the stage.

6. My favorite performances are the Impossible/ It's Possible and Step Sisters' Lament. Impossible/ It's Possible is the last act before the intermission where Godmother turns the pumpkin into a golden carriage, the mouse into horses, and Cinderella into a beautiful princess. Step Sisters' Lament is the sour graping of Joy and Portia over Cinderella which is the third song after the intermission. Don't miss it.

7. Sleep before watching it. Some of the love songs can have a lullaby-effect and induce sleep. The plot of the story is of course predictable. Watch it for Lea Salonga, for the lavish costumes, and for the enchanting waltzes and marches.

8. Watch it with your daughter. This is one of the musical plays where you should bring your daughter. It is very inspirational.

9. After the show, eat in Ice Bergs. The nearest hangout place is Harbour View Square besides CCP. You can hangout in Starbucks, Figaro, Dencio's, Pancake House or Ice Bergs after the show.

10. Don't miss watching Cinderella. The cheapest ticket is P500 Balcony. I would recommend to watch in the lower area if you can. You can buy the tickets in National Bookstore outlets. Cinderella will play in the Philippines from July 29 to August 24, 2008 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the tour will also play in mainland China, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Related Posts:

Cinderella in Manila! I'm Proud to be a Filipino : )
Cinderella Tips - 10 Tips When Watching Cinderella in CCP Main Theater
Cinderella - Interesting Facts You Should Know About Cinderella Before Watching It

Cinderella - Interesting Facts You Should Know About Cinderella Before Watching It

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Interesting Facts You Should Know About Cinderella Before Watching It
(from the Cinderella Souvenir Program)

1. Cinderella was the only musical written by Rodgers & Hammerstein for Television. Its live premier on CBS was viewed by 107,000,000 people - the largest television audience to date.

2. Julie Andrews was the first Cinderella. She wrote Lea Salonga a goodluck letter and I quote:

" My Dear Lea, I know that you'll soon be starting the tour of 'Cinderella' - and I just want to send you my thoughts and all good wishes for a wonderful success. The music is so pretty -- and I would love to see you in the play. Enjoy! Much Love to you-- and I hope we meet up again soon. Julie"

3. Cinderella made an easy transition to the stage and began appearing in theaters around the US. In 1996, according to the R&H Theatre Library, more than 250 productions of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella were presented in the US alone.

4. CBS re-staged the television version of Cinderella with a taped broadcast. It featured a cast as remarkable as the original with Ginger Rogers and Walter Pidgeon as the King and Queen and a young Broadway star-to-be, Lesley Ann Warren, playing Cinderella.

5. Cinderella made television history again when 60 million viewers tuned to ABC-TV's "The Wonderful World of Disney," for the dazzling 21st century remake. Its all-star cast included Whitney Houston as The Fairy Godmother, singing and TV sensation Brandy in the title role, Bernadette Peters as the Wicked Stepmother, Whoopi Goldberg as The Queen, Victor Garber as The King, newcomer Paolo Montalban as The Prince, Jason Alexander as his Steward and with Veanne Cox and Natalie Desselle as the Wicked Stepsisters.

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Related Posts:

Cinderella in Manila! I'm Proud to be a Filipino : )
Cinderella Tips - 10 Tips When Watching Cinderella in CCP Main Theater
Cinderella - Interesting Facts You Should Know About Cinderella Before Watching It

Cinderella in Manila! Relive the Miss Saigon Feeling of being Proud to be a Filipino!

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I love watching musical plays because of its timeless lessons that shape my life today.

Rent taught me that there is "No Day but Today". I also learned how to measure your life -- not in terms of five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes but in terms of Seasons of Love. It is the reason why I pursued my wife despite all odds at that time.

Kate Monster from Avenue Q taught me: "You gotta go after the things you want while you’re still in your prime." That is one of the reason why I am pursuing my passion today - blogging my heart away and sharing with people how awesome the Philippines is.

The valuable lesson I learned from Cinderella is that: "Impossible Things are Happening Every Day!". I watched how Filipinos -- Lea Salonga as Cinderella and Bobby Garcia as Director - are leading a predominantly American Broadway cast in the Asian premiere of Cinderella. Is it impossible for Filipinos to be a great nation in 2010? It's Possible!!

I can't get this song off my mind:
" Impossible! But the world is full of zanies and fools
who don't believe in sensible rules
and won't believe what sensible people say..
and because these daft and dewey eyed dopes
keep building up impossible hopes
impossible things are happening every day! "
- Cinderella's Godmother

We are so proud of both -- Lea Salonga and Bobby Garcia! You guys deserve the sold-out opening night which ended in a standing ovation! Thanks for showing us that Filipinos can lead the world!

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Related Posts:

Cinderella in Manila! I'm Proud to be a Filipino : )
Cinderella Tips - 10 Tips When Watching Cinderella in CCP Main Theater
Cinderella - Interesting Facts You Should Know About Cinderella Before Watching It

Where in the Philippines is the Next Destination of OAP?

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OAP Contest: Where in the Philippines is the Next Destination of OAP?

This contest will be easy. Guess my next destination in the Philippines this coming August and win a prize. The first one to guess the right destination will win a JanSport Graphix Remix Bag. Just enter your guess in the comments and that will serve as your official entry to this contest.

Thanks to Bratpack for sponsoring the JanSport Bag for this contest.

About JanSport's Graphic Remix Line of Bags

Now after 40 years, JanSport continues to celebrate its hippie heritage through its Graphic Remix line of bags as inspired by this generation's most definitive counterculture -- the Indie community. The Graphic Remix line's quirky and anti-conformist designs like graffiti, doodles, pop art and calligraphy fits the Indie community's passion for creativity, originality and individuality.

"For us a bag is more than just for carrying your stuff around, but as a practical and personal billboard of expression that's why we came up with the concept of the Graphic Remix line individually designed by the country's best graphic designers," says Clytie Choa, Brand Manager for Jansport.

Froyo's in Serendra

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The Froyo's cart is now parked in Arama (formerly Chocolate de Batirol). This is the place-to-be to have your frozen yogurt dessert in Serendra.


Froyo's Chocolate Frozen Yogurt (P70). Intense Deep Chocolate Taste. For adults only. You gotta try this!

Related OAP Posts on Frozen Yogurt:
Cold Spoon Frozen Yogurt - The Next Dessert Craze in the Philippines!
Sorry Ice Cream, I'm On My Way to Pinkberry!
Red Mango-licious
I Love Berries Frozen Yogurt -- The Best Froyo so far in Manila...
Ice Cream Bar (Flavors by FIC)
Yogurbud
The White Hat - Let the Fro-Yo Wars Begin in Manila!
The Buzz About Froyo's
California Berry Frozen Yogurt
Lulubelle
After Lego Island, Enjoy Yoh-Gurt Froz!

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.
Email: anton@diaz.ph
Blog: www.OurAwesomePlanet.com

Jonas' Pares

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All-Time-Favorite Pares (P100)

Another unique treat in Robinson's Place - Pioneer, is one of the mall outlet of the popular Jonas Pares restaurant in Quezon City.

Jonas is credited for inventing the term "Pares" which means the pairing of beef and rice.. It also refers to the value meal of beef, rice and soup. It was founded by Lolly Tiu in 1979 who envisioned a restaurant providing fine-dining quality food at a price affordable to masses. What makes Pares so special is how the beef was prepared and cooked. Seventy percent (70%) of the beef is lean meat from beef flanks; the rest of the 30% is from fat. The beef is tender because it was slow-cooked in a charcoal-fed fire for at least 12 hours! Anythying you cook for this length in time will definitely becomes soft; add to these the various spices it is definitely tasty and yummy.


Jonas has a simple menu. Aside from Pares, you can order mami, siomai, siopao or spring rolls.
All Time Favorites and Mami | Siopao, Drinks and Desserts | The Story of Jonas


Be honest, have you tried pares before? If you haven't tried the carinderia version, check out the upscale Jonas restaurant version in Robinson Place Pioneer.

Chili Willy's - Best Tex-Mex Restaurant in Manila

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Taquitos (P95). 6 pieces mini-tacos.

I miss eating in a good Mexican restaurant like Zapata in Angeles. So far, the best Mexican food in Manila is hidden in the alfresco restaurants of Robinson's Pioneer. The name of the Tex-Mex restaurant is called Chili Willy's. It serves Tex-Mex cuisine which is a cultural blending of Southern Texas and Northern Mexico usually found in San Antonio, Texas. Just think of it as Fajitas and Burritos meet Steaks and Burgers.


This is the best restaurant in Robinson's Pioneer. (Actually, I was surprised to find one in this mall.) So if you have friends working in Robinson's offices in Pioneer (like Summit Media or Accenture), ask them to have lunch or dinner with you at Chili Willy's.

Chili Willy's Menu
Appetizers, Tacos Enchiladas Quesadillas, Fajitas & Burritos, Soups & Salads.
Texican Combo Plates, Mexican Bowls, Texan Pasta, Chili Willy's Burgers
Texas Grill and Entrees
Beverage, The Classic Cocktails, Wine
Side Orders, Desserts



Blackened Catfish with Mango Salsa (P 170). Catfish coated in black spice rub, topped with crispy tortilla chips, served with refried beans, mango salsa and cilantro rice.

One of the interesting and unique dish that I would recommend is this Blackened Catfish. I like the peppery spice of the catfish complemented by the cilantro rice.

Mexican "Mock-Fried" Ice Cream Choco-Hazel Nut (P110)

Don't forget to order the ice cream dessert. The ice cream is wrapped in tiny bits of peanuts and set on top of fried tortilla with a yummy layer of nutella.


Chili Willy's Tex-Mex Grill
Robinson's Place Pioneer
The Forum Al Freso
30 Edsa corner Pioneer St. Mandaluyong City
+632 68704218

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Why Blog?

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I love blogging and I'm addicted to it. I love it not because of the money or fame it brings but because of its essence. It came to a point in my P&G career that I had to choose between a senior IT management career or a professional blogging and internet marketing career. I decided to pursue what I love and what keeps me burning inside. Let me share with you what the essence of blogging for me is and why you should blog too.

1. Our Blog is a love letter to our sons. OAP and Mrs. OAP blogs are proclamation of our love to Ahiya Aidan and Syoti Josh. The blog entries are written memories of our family life and a testament to their childhood. We want them to relive the fun when they grow up. We want them to feel how much we love them by sharing with them our hopes, dreams and aspirations despite the struggles in life. We want them to see how we reached for our dreams during this time of uncertainties.

2. I'm writing the modern history of the Philippines. I firmly believe that bloggers will shape the country's future. I want to write the history of the Philippines based on my family's point of view. I write from the heart because I want to capture the feeling of the moment in time in the Philippines. I've always wondered what Boracay would looked like in its virgin state. This fueled my passion to write about the virgin state of our beautiful and undiscovered beaches. History has never been this personal.

3. To sow good deeds. The Law of Fairness states that: What you sow is what you reap. If you sow positive good deeds, expect to receive a lot of good deeds in return. I've proven this law many times over. When I write something negative about somebody with malicious intent, I always get negative feedback and criticism in return. When I proclaim about the goodness of people and places, I reap a following that I never imagined would happen in my lifetime. I love to rave about places without expecting anything in return. I know that when I rave about them, I bring in a lot of business that they deserve. I also know that they will pay it forward in terms of great service for more people.

4. Ninoy Aquino is a blogger. If Ninoy was alive today, he would be one of the top political bloggers in the Philippines. Blogs are platforms for advocacy. You fuel the flames of the advocacy on each blog post you writeBlogs are infectious if used with pure intentions.. Bloggers with advocacy are the modern Ninoy Aquinos of this country. Don't expect to build an advocacy in a few months time. How long do you think Ninoy took to flame the hearts of the Filipinos? I imagine that Ninoy had to do a lot of speeches and press releases to communicate his advocacy. As a blogger, you can now do it anytime you want to and as frequent as you want to.

5. Inspire 1 Mind, Touch 1 Heart. This is my personal mission in life. I get fulfilled every time a reader would tell me that I inspired them or I touched their heart. No amount of SEO tactics can do this. A blogger needs to talk from his heart every time. The goal of every blog post is to give the readers an "Aha!" moment or to make them cry. I would rather have a tear or an inspired thought any time instead of six-figure-adsense dollars.

6. To have fun. A blog is your ticket to blog contests and blogging parties. It is also a marketing medium to become famous in your niche. It is your own platform for debates and to share your point of view.

7. OAP is my personal art space. All bloggers are artists and blogs are their creative outlet. Each blog post is an expression of oneself. If you carefully examine it, the blog is the digital persona of the artist. Like any work of art, you can marvel at how magnificent the person is. Blogs are priceless if you do it with passion and not for monetary purposes.

8. Build personal brand. Your blog defines who you are, your values/principles, and purpose in life. If you are lost in life, expect your blog to be lost in the blogosphere as well. If you are just blogging for the money, expect your blog to look like adsense dollars by doing all the SEO tactics possible at the expense of your personal brand. If you are a leader, there is no doubt that you will be a King in your niche.

9. I write to globalize the local. I want to bring to the world's attention the significance and essence of the Philippines-- that we are not defined by our corrupt politicians and pathetic public servants. We are a nation that loves nature. We are a nation of people who are talented and can compete with the best of the best. We are Filipinos. Happy. Positive. God-loving.

10. To live forever. Julia Campbell is not dead. She is alive in her blog, just read Julia in the Philippines. If I only have 24 hours to live, one of the things that I would do is write my last blog post. I would write a blog post that would forever inspire the next generation of Filipinos. I would write a blog post that would forever express my gratitude to God, Family and all the people who influenced me along the way. This is why I try to write each of my blog posts as if it were my last.

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

P.S. Thanks to Migs for inspiring this post.

Leyte Pasalubong

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Tacloban is the Ultimate Leyte Pasalubong haven. The top 4 pasalubong from Tacloban are Binagol, Chocolate Moron, Sagmani and Carigara's Pastillas. I would recommend that you buy all your pasalubong from Tita Aida's delicacies along P.Zamora St. (across Chowking).


Binagol (P25? /each) is made in the town of Dagami. It is made of talyan (a root crop similar to gabi). coconut milk and sugar. It is called binagol because the mixture is placed inside a coconut shell called "bagol" and steamed inside. We love the sweet surprise hidden at the bottom of the coconut shell.


Moron (P25? / each) is a suman with chocolate flavor. It is made of ground rice cooked in coconut milk then flavored with cocoa. It is smooth like a budbud kabog. Just imagine a suman dipped in chocolate batirol. Our favorite!


Sagmani (P25? /each) is the less popular among the pasalubong delicacies. It is similar to Binagol but it is made of cassava, gabi or sweet potatoes. It is cooked with coconut cream, sugar and sometimes coconut meat.



Carigara's Pastillas Special (P150). The special pastillas of Carigara is made of pure carabao's milk. . Addicting.

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

PS. For Tacloban folks -- can you validate my price for Binagol, Moron and Sagmani? I forgot.

The Buzz About Froyo's

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Good Morning, Manila!

David's Pure Frozen Yogurt from the Salcedo Market is generating a lot of buzz lately. After 4 weeks of continuous product sampling in the Salcedo Market, Froyo's is definitely a winner. Let me share with you a bit of trivia about it:

- These Froyos are flavored fresh yogurt. They are indeed made from 100% fresh yogurt. No Refined Sugar. Nothing Artificial. Just Fresh Yogurt and another flavor. Don't expect to get a plain yogurt flavor because it would be a bit sour. Most of the other frozen yogurt are made from powdered yogurt. My mom would love this!

- Yogurt is made from New Zealand Milk. According to David, New Zealand milk is the best source for the yogurt. He makes it fresh and it is the secret to his highly raved about Froyo's.

- My favorite flavors are Dutch Chocolate and Vanilla. The Dutch Chocolate is an adult flavor that gives an intense dark chocolate taste. (I think he uses champorado, don't you think?). Vanilla is a favorite because the taste is clean and refreshing. Aidan loves the vanilla flavor. The other flavors are Mango Blast (made with fresh mangoes), Mud Slide (coffee & chocolate with fudge & walnuts), Coffee and Coffee Strawberry.

- Froyo's is named after the popular American term for Frozen Yogurt. Why not name your product with how college students call Frozen Yogurt? It is indeed clever.

- David's healthy stuff is popular in a Waldorf school. The buzz is David sells healthy products in a Waldorf school. Every meal time, his stuff gets wiped out by the kids. When he decided to apply in Salcedo Market, the waiting list was long. The organizers gave him a break on the waiting list and asked him to bring his cart around the Salcedo Market to see how his product will go.

- David is opening a Dessert Bar in Arama, Serendra. Arama is the new name of Chcocolate de Batirol in Serendra (besides Larry's Bar). They got the first franchise and I'm excited that I can get my healthy dose of Froyo's in Serendra. I do hope they open next weekend.

- Froyo's are sold in 3 sizes. 140 gms single serving at P65 , a pint(475 gms) at P190 and 1/2 gallon (1.9 kilos) at P650. To order call Dave +63 918 614-7479 or Rob +63927-263-9198. They also sell Rice Cremes made from organic rice.

Related OAP Posts on Frozen Yogurt:
Cold Spoon Frozen Yogurt - The Next Dessert Craze in the Philippines!
Sorry Ice Cream, I'm On My Way to Pinkberry!
Red Mango-licious
I Love Berries Frozen Yogurt -- The Best Froyo so far in Manila...
Ice Cream Bar (Flavors by FIC)
Yogurbud
The White Hat - Let the Fro-Yo Wars Begin in Manila!
The Buzz About Froyo's
California Berry Frozen Yogurt
Lulubelle
After Lego Island, Enjoy Yoh-Gurt Froz!

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

The White Hat - Let the Fro-Yo Wars Begin in Manila!

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You gotta try this! The White Hat is the closest frozen yogurt taste to Pink Berry. The yogurt is more on the creamy side with a tangy kick. This is the kind of frozen yogurt taste that started the fro-yo craze in the US.

They serve fresh fruit ingredients (finally!) unlike the Korean-owned yogurt establishments which include Cold Spoon in Clark and Yogurbud. What makes Pink Berry and Red Mango so unique is the assortment of ingredients. In White Hat, their signature ingredient is home-made cinnamon flavored granola. I would recommend that you combine the granola with any fresh fruit toppings.


Related OAP Posts on Frozen Yogurt:
Cold Spoon Frozen Yogurt - The Next Dessert Craze in the Philippines!
Sorry Ice Cream, I'm On My Way to Pinkberry!
Red Mango-licious
I Love Berries Frozen Yogurt -- The Best Froyo so far in Manila...
Ice Cream Bar (Flavors by FIC)
Yogurbud
The White Hat - Let the Fro-Yo Wars Begin in Manila!
The Buzz About Froyo's
California Berry Frozen Yogurt
Lulubelle
After Lego Island, Enjoy Yoh-Gurt Froz!


Check out the White Hat Menu

This one is super expensive. The small one (4oz) sells for P85 yogurt only while the large one (6oz) at P115. You would have to pay P35 for two toppings. Net, you would have to pay P140 just to indulge on this frozen yogurt treat. The Pink Berry and Red Mango in the US are expensive because their store is as big as a Starbucks cafe with bright funky colors. White Hat on the other hand is just located in a small booth in Mall of Asia.

Net, White Hat is recommended in terms of fro-yo taste, but it is expensive. It is definitely a healthier alternative than a Frapuccino from Starbucks.


Let the Fro-yo Dessert Craze begin!!

The White Hat Italian Frozen Yogurt2/F Entertainment Mall, SM Mall of Asia
(near SM Discovery Center)
Telephone Number: +632 727-4198Store hours: 10AM – 10PMwww.thewhitehat.com.ph


Print out this coupon...

Mamma Mia in Manila! 2009?

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A Petition to bring the Smash Hit Musical Mamma Mia to Manila!

I just watched the movie Mamma Mia and enjoyed it, because of the songs and the wacky adaptation of the smash hit musical Mamma Mia on screen. Most of the Filipinos watching in the movie theaters were singing along the ABBA songs and having a great time. All of the people leaving the cinemas had a Last Song Syndrome of either Mamma Mia or Dancing Queen. Mamma Mia is a certified hit in Manila!

I watched the Mamma Mia musical live in Las Vegas in 2003. The live performance is 10x better than the movie. Just imagine bringing the live Broadway show Mamma Mia to Manila. This is the kind of show that would attract more Filipinos to watch and appreciate Broadway shows. Mamma Mia in Manila would be the greatest show ever played, in the tradition of Miss Saigon and Rent.

Why would Mamma Mia in Manila will be such a hit?

- We have so much talent here who can sing, dance and act as part of the cast of Mamma Mia Live.

- The sets of Mamma Mia are simple. We can even be more creative with the set.

- Manila has proven that it can successfully stage Rent, Miss Saigon, Avenue Q, and West Side Story.

- Filipinos love ABBA and any karaoke session is not complete without singing and gyrating to the song Dancing Queen.

- The target market of Broadway musical shows belong to the ABBA generation.

I do hope that Audie Gemora or Bobby Garcia will be able to get the rights for this show. I can't wait to see Mamma Mia in Manila.

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

About Diabetes - Why should we care about Diabetes?

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First 100 Buyers of West Side Story Tickets from OAP get a FREE copy of the book "What You Should Know About Diabetes."


In celebration of the Diabetes Awareness Week (July 14-20, 2008) in the Philippines, Our Awesome Planet in cooperation with Ampalaya Plus will be giving out 100 copies of the book "What You Should Know About Diabetes". We will give out the book to the first 100 buyers of West Side Story Tickets from OAP.

The book is written by doctors from UP College of Medicine It is written in very simple and easy to understand English and Tagalog. The book is geared towards educating the patient and the caregiver (from the patients relatives to their househelp). The book also includes a sample meal plan that is easy to follow.

I personally know of some bloggers and food writers who are diabetic. I'm very concerned about this as well and I want to contribute to the awareness of this disease in the blogosphere. Maybe you also have some tips on how to battle this disease.

Why should we care about Diabetes?

• There is no denying that diabetes is a growing problem with an ever increasing number of diabetic being diagnosed of the condition at an alarmingly young age.

• There is no cure for diabetes. The best way to control diabetes is by changing one's lifestyle. The way we live plays a strong part in determining how early the condition sets in and how fast the condition progresses. Most doctors agree that the best approach to diabetes would be diet and exercise. Medication is prescribed when the blood sugar level remains uncontrollable or if the patient admits being unable to comply to the diet and regular exercise.
  
• There is a new label called Pre-Diabetic. This refers to those who are highly predisposed to diabetes either because of hereditary predisposition or because of the nature of their lifestyle (no execise, poor diet, stress, overweight, etc). Research shows that most Pre-Diabetic develop diabetes within 10-years from the time this condition is first recognized, UNLESS THE PATIENT SHIFTS TO A HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE.

• The Philippines is poised to join the ranks of the top 10 countries with the most number of diabetics.
  
  

For more information regarding the book please visit www.gonatural.com.ph or email ampalayaplus@gmail.com.

Our Awesome Planet in partnership with Ticket2Me invites you to the Saturday Opening Night of West Side Story Manila!
September 6, 2008,Opening Saturday Night 8pm at the Meralco Theater, Ortigas, Pasig

Buy Your West Side Story Tickets Now from OAP!

West Side Story Manila. Seat Plan: Reserve Your Best Seats Now!

Orchestra and Loge Center (1,200)
Orchestra and Loge Sides (P1,000)
Balcony Center (P 700)
Balcony Sides (P 500)
All Major Credit Cards accepted.

Email me: anton@diaz.ph or call me +63917-LOVEOAP (5683627) to order and pay via Bank Deposit

Tacloban City -- Top 10 Foodie Secrets of Tacloban (Part 2)

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6. Ayo Cafe

I like the cozy and homy vibe of this cafe. They are famous for their Spanish-style bangus and orange ribs. One of the interesting displays inside the restaurant is Anjanette Cabansag's (the owner) collection of Coke stuff.

Ayo Cafe Menu
Entree, Salad, Omelets, Pasta, Main Meals, and Hot Coffee and Tea
Waffles, Desserts, Shakes and Smoothies, Fruit Juices, Lemon Lime, Nature Chillers, Coke and Pepsi, Beer

Spanish Style Bangus (P130). Brings back memories of the spanish style sardines I used to love when I was a child.

Assorted Cheese Wraps (P60). Simple with a nice presentation.

Anjanette Cabansag's Coca Cola Collection. I wonder if this is also part of Coke's campaign to paint the town red like in most sari-sari-store in the city.

Ayo Cafe
#5 JCO Arcade Apitong Road, Tacloban City
(+63 53) 325-4461

7. Guiseppe's Italian Restaurant

For 16 years, Guiseppe is the best italian restaurant in Tacloban. Joseph (Guiseppe in italian) Bonavitacola married a filipina and decided to establish a family in Tacloban. Taclobanons would go to Guiseppe for special occasions and celebrations. They are famous for their steaks and pizzas. For Manila tourists, people would come here if they don't know where else to eat in Tacloban. Guiseppe is to Tacloban as Sutokil is to Cebu. The food is really good but why would you want to eat in a Manila-style restaurant when you are in the province.

Antipasta, Pasta, and Beef | Pizza, Desserts, Shakes and Beverages | Seafood, Pork, Chicken, Vegetable and Filipino Specialty

Pizza All Toppings (P185) served on thin crunchy crust.

Steak with garlic and herbs

Joseph Bonavitacola's Guiseppe's Restaurant
173 Avenida Veteranos
Tacloban City, Leyte

Telephone: +63 53- 321-4910 or 327-0832
Mobile: +63 917 3060122
Email: jbona123@yahoo.com
www.giuseppesresto.com

8. Jose Karlos Cafe

Jose Karlos is the best and original Filipino designed cafe in the Philippines. This is better than any of the Filipino cafes I have seen (like Kape Isla, Bo's Coffee, etc.) in Metro Manila. Starbucks would look like an ordinary chain of coffee stores compared to Jose Karlos. I would like to commend the owner for a job well done with this cafe.

Jose Karlos Coffee Menu: Expresso, Brewed Coffee, Iced Expresso Beverage, Froccino, Chocolato, Tea, Fruit Chills, Pancakes and Waffle Special, Sandwiches.

It is nice to hang out here instead of Gloria Jeans or Bo's Coffee. In fact, the only edge of those other coffee shops is the free WIFI they offer. For Jose Karlos, I don't understand why they prefer to have an internet cafe and decided not to offer Free Wifi. Most local tourist these days are looking for FREE Wifi spot and I do hope they can offer this service.

The ambiance feels like you are just hanging out with your college friends at home.

Jose Karlos Cafe
in Front of Santo Nino Church

9. Calle Zaragosa Cafe

Calle Z is one of the best local hangout place in Tacloban. The restaurant is known for their bulalo. Gerry Ruiz, the owner, is a respected photographer and Tacloban Blogger (blogging at gerryruiz.wordpress.com).

Calle Z's d Chief Cook Menu
From the Grill, Chicken, Beef, Rice, Noodles, Seafood, Pork and Snacks
Pulutan! From the grill, seafoods, beef/pork, atbp, drinks.


I prefer to dine out al fresco and here you can see the slice of the Tacloban gimmick life.



Calle Zaragoza Cafe
Telephone: +63 53 325-8582 or 321-3197
Email: frontdesk@callezaragosa.com
Website: www.callezaragosa.com

10. Local Favorites

Timo Romano's Lechon. Don't miss to eat the Tacloban version of Lechon. It is similar to Cebu's CNT lechon where you don't need sauce anymore to enjoy it.

In Tacloban, the lechon is usually eaten with gaway (gabi).

Tacloban's lechon is served best with vinegar and lots of garlic.

Nestor Lechon Manok (+63 53 325 7957) is Tacloban's version of Andok's.



If you are looking for a local fast food, you should try Tops of the World. They are famous for their pinangat.


If you are craving for Kare-Kare, try out Ritz tower's Tacloban version.


Tacloban Royal Seafood is famous for their chami pansit.



Fresh Seafood in Yolanda's Seafood. Yolanda's is near the airport so most tourist would stop by to eat seafood in an authentic provincial hut ambiance before boarding their flight.


Bibingka in T. Claudio. I missed this during my trip. The Bibingka in T.Claudio is still cooked pugon-style and they only open at 1pm in the afternoon.

Did I miss anything in Tacloban?

Tacloban City -- Top 10 Foodie Secrets of Tacloban (Part 1)

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The foodie scene in Tacloban City is underrated. Most people think that Guiseppe Italian restaurant is the only exciting foodie place in the city. I was so excited to explore the different flavors of Tacloban. I'm planning to share it with people via a Food trip/ Heritage/ Sangyaw Festival Tour of Tacloban next year. In the meantime, let me share with you the top 10 foodie secrets of Tacloban.

1. Rafael Farms Garden Restaurant

Rafael Farms is a cross between Sonya's Garden in Tagaytay and The Farm @ San Benito. Named after the adopted son (or grandson) of entreprenuer Rene Tampi, Rafael Farms is my vote for the best restaurant in Tacloban City. Rene started with a restaurant in Tacloban called "Join Us". It is a favorite meat place in the city and popular for ready-to-cook food and supply of meat.

A set menu only costs P220 which gives you a choice of salad; a side dish of green rice, potato sticks or sweet corn; a main course of pork, chicken, fish or baby back ribs, dessert and drinks. In Manila, P220 is the average cost of one gourmet dish. Check out the rest of the menu @ Rafael Farms.

From the Sandwich Bar, Drinks, Desserts, Barista Specials
Rafael's Farm Special Treat (P220), From Grandma's Recipe Box, Noodles from East and West
Family Favorites: Cool and Light, Grilled Pork from our Barbecue Pit, Chicken, Seafoot, Marinated Steak.


You can conveniently visit San Juanico Bridge which is only approx. 20 minutes from the farm.

Rafael Farms
Brgy. Pagsulhugon, Babatngon,
LeyteTelephone: +63 915 9200325 or +63 53 -325 0729.website: www.rafaelfarm.com


Inside the main dining area, the ambiance is characterized by crocheted tablecloths, wooden/ garden chairs, seats covered with banig, and artwork-for-sale all around the dining area.


I would also recommend the big servings of Halo Halo ala Rafael Farms for merienda!


2. Rizal Avenue Barbecue Stalls and Aling Manang's Native Chicken.

If Bacolod is Manukan country, Tacloban is Barbecue country! Eating barbecue at night is an experience you shouldn't miss.


There are two recommended barbecue places to go. First, is the Baldevia Siblings's Barbecue stand along Rizal Avenue near the Tacloban Market. They use a special kind of marinate for their barbecue which is served with a special kind of vinegar. I have eaten in the RTR plaza, or the barbecue places near the bay, the Baldevia's barbecue stands out to be the best.


Second, I would recommend Manang's Native Chicken barbecue stand. You can see Manang's stall along Justice Romualdez at night. She serves a special kind of native chicken barbecue that only she can provide.


Don't miss to eat these Tacloban longganiza. It is sweeter and more meat than fat.

3. Ocho Seafood Grill
Cristina Gonzales would probably agree that this is the best fresh seafood restaurant place in Tacloban.


Eating baked scallops is one of the guilty treats when you visit Tacloban.

Ocho grill is a modern seafood paluto restaurant where you order from a fresh display of seafood and specify how you want it cooked.


Don't forget to order the fish skin chicharon that I've only seen in Ocho grill.

Ocho Seafood & Grill
Sen. Enage Street, Tacloban City
Telephone: +63 53 325-4171. 523-8808 4. Sunzibar


Mayanne Wenceslao's Sunzibar is a cozy secret mexican restaurant in Tacloban. Sunzibar is famous for their nachos and rum ribs. They are proud of home-made fresh ingredients they use for their dishes.

Sunzibar Menu
Starters and Appetizers, Pastas, Sopas and Ensalada and Sandwiches
Pork barrel, Chicken Run, Rice, Beef, Beverages


Nachos (P88). Chessy, crunchy, and dripping with goodness! Everybody's all time favorite!


Rum Ribs (P325). "Our ribs are so tender, the meat falls off the bone. Our ribs are so good, people keep coming back for more. It comes with 2 glasses of iced tea, salad and rice which means more people can share"


It is almost a hole-in-the-wall restaurant and there is some kind of thrill in finding this resto.

SunziBar. Good Food Always.Burgus St. +63 53 523-4565


5. Cafe Urbana
Cafe Urbana, Santo Nino St., Tacloban City
Cafe Urbana Menu:
Dips and Starters | Salads | Paninis and Sandwiches | Pasta | Bakes | Ala Carte Main Dish | Sweet Temptations | Coffee Corner

I was pleasantly surprised to find a modern cafe restaurant that serves filipino and french fusion at less than P200 per meal. Jitka with her french husband, decided to setup the cafe to cater to the local urban crowd and occasional tourist. If you are looking for a dessert place in Tacloban, try out their flourless chocolate cake or their french hot chocolate.

Baked Fish Marinara (P155). Baked seasonal fish, with basil-tomato sauce topped with cream cheese. Served with rice.


French Gateau au Chocolat (P65). A flourless chocolate cake. Sinfully good!


French Hot Chocolat Chaud (P65). French Hot Chocolate

(to be continued... Tacloban City -- Top 10 Foodie Secrets of Tacloban (Part 2))

The Dark Knight Premieres in IMAX SM Mall of Asia, Manila

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BATMAN - The Dark Knight
premiered in IMAX SM Mall of Asia in Manila, Philippines last night.

It is brilliant, dark and disturbing.
It is definitely, a Christopher Nolan masterpiece.
We were emotionally involved with the fears and hopes of the citizen of Gotham.

I was scared of Joker. Heath Ledger's performance was no joke.
I'm torn between giving him a standing ovation for his performance or
Feeling angry with the way he terrorized the citizens of Gotham.

The IMAX screen brought Batman to life.
It was responsible for the fears and drama that the audience felt.
I felt like I'm a citizen of Gotham City.

Most of the cinematic and action scenes are filmed in the highest IMAX film resolution.
You can distinguish the IMAX 2D scenes where the pictures are taller than it is wide.
With this, you are engulfed by the emotions and drama of the entire scene.

The trailer was just a teaser.
If you love it, wait till you see the rest of the movie.
Bravo to the brilliant writer of The Dark Knight!

A lot of people died in the movie.
Heath Ledger died after shooting this movie.
It was neither a happy or sad ending.

Saying that this is "The Movie Event of the Year" is an understatement.
This is not for kids and I would not consider this a cartoon anymore.
Just watch it.

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

P.S. Reserve your tickets @ SM IMAX (+632) 556 IMAX (4629) / 5560242). P350.
The Dark Knight opens on July 17, 2008.
The best seats in Imax are the top rows M,N,P,Q and pick the center seats.

House of Wagyu Heaven

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Rache and I went on a date in wagyu heaven last Friday. We decided to try the Premium Rib Eye 8oz Grade 8 Wagyu of House of Wagyu in Podium. Most of the wagyu we tasted before are only Grade 5 and these are usually the ones available in Manila. The highest grade is 12 or 13 (I think) which is only available in Japan. We were so excited to try out a Grade 8 wagyu for the first time in our life!

House of Wagyu serves Wagyu steaks exclusively and associated with Melo's steakhouse. The wagyu steaks are imported from Australia. If you are a Wagyu fan like me, you should try the House of Wagyu in Podium.


Wagyu (和牛 wagyū?) (source: Wagyu on Wikipedia)
" refers to several breeds of cattle genetically predisposed to intense marbling and to producing a high percentage of oleaginous unsaturated fat. Also known as Kobe beef or Mishima beef, the meat from wagyu cattle is known worldwide for its marbling characteristics, increased eating quality through a naturally enhanced flavor, tenderness and juiciness, and thus a high market value.... Because of the wagyu cattle's genetic predisposition wagyu yields a beef that contains a higher percentage of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids[1] than typical beef. The increased marbling also improves the ratio of monounsaturated fats to saturated fats."

Related Posts:
Walking Tour of Wagyu Beef Fest & the P120,000 Wagyu Fantasy Meal
Malcolm's Place and Wagyu Rib Eye Steak!



I must admit it is very intimidating to go to House of Wagyu because of the steep prices of the steak and other dishes. If you decide to go on a date here, please check out the menu in advance so that you already know what you will order. (and importantly, your budget :)

House of Wagyu Menu
Appetizers and Salads | Wagyu Beef | Fish & Shellfish and other specialties | Desserts, Beverages and Wines
The House of Wagyu ambiance is formal with an imposing poster of the Wagyu breed at the back. Since it is inside the mall (ironically), you need to dress smart casual at a minimum.

Check out this huge chiller of Wagyu Beef!


The wagyu steaks come with a free serving of Soup of the Day. The mushroom soup was almost perfect.


Caesar Salad for One ( P225 + SC) We ordered caesar salad and had it divided into two servings.


Premium Rib Eye 8oz Wagyu Grade 8 - ( P2,850 + SC)

All of the cliches about Wagyu is true. It is soft and it melts in your mouth. You don't need a sauce anymore because the meat itself is tasty. We shared one steak and it was enough for both of us. Slice the beef thinly and savor each bite.
After finishing our meal, we were in Wagyu heaven and we both agree that it was worth it.


The prices in the menu are VAT inclusive. They would charge 10% for service and you won't regret it because the service is friendly, professional and worth it.



House of Wagyu, The Podium
5/F The Podium, Ortigas Commercial Center
Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila
Telephone: (+632) 635-3056

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

P.S. (Tip: This is perfect dinner place before watching West Side Story on Sept. 6, Saturday 8pm -- just plugging our show)

Yogurbud

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Yogurbud is the latest dessert place capitalizing on the healthy benefits of yogurt. Surprisingly, they now have three branches in Metro Manila - Megamall, Podium and Tomas Morato. You can really taste the sourness of the yogurt. The frozen mango topping was a turnoff for me and how I wish they provided fresh ingredients instead. For P90, the entire cup is not full and we were disappointed that there is so much air inside the cup.

I haven't tried the other yogurt offerings. Have you tried yogurbud?

Related OAP Posts on Frozen Yogurt:
Cold Spoon Frozen Yogurt - The Next Dessert Craze in the Philippines!
Sorry Ice Cream, I'm On My Way to Pinkberry!
Red Mango-licious
I Love Berries Frozen Yogurt -- The Best Froyo so far in Manila...
Ice Cream Bar (Flavors by FIC)
Yogurbud
The White Hat - Let the Fro-Yo Wars Begin in Manila!
The Buzz About Froyo's
California Berry Frozen Yogurt
Lulubelle
After Lego Island, Enjoy Yoh-Gurt Froz!



In Megamall, they are located in the 2nd floor above the skating rink. In Podium, they are located in the 3rd floor. In Tomas Morato, they are located in the ground floor 170 Tomas Morato corner Scout Castor Quezon. I'm glad that we are starting to have healthy dessert options in Manila.


Yogurbud Menu. More info: www.yogurbud.com
#3 Francis Court M. Paterno St. San Juan, Metro Manila
+632 723-6333

This is still not exactly the frozen yogurt I was craving for. I'm still waiting for the day, Pink Berry and Red Mango will open in Manila.

Angelati Italia in Megamall

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Angelati Italia - One of the best gelato in Manila opened their first store in Megamall. We love their Hazelnut, Pure Pistachio, and Mascarpone Crumble flavor.


Angelati Italia is located in the ground floor of Megamall A (this is where the skating rink is located).


Here is the retail prices for Angelati Italia. You can Text or Call them for delivery @ +63917-889-0110.

I'm planning to do a posts on the top 10 ice cream of Manila. What is your favorite ice cream/gelato/frozen yogurt secret in Manila?

OTOP Food Trip

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Most of the foodies in Manila are raving about the One Town One Product (OTOP) Fair in Megatrade Hall in MegaMall. After doing an OTOP food trip, we can't stop raving about it! Let me share with you our discoveries when we went around. The fair runs until tomorrow, Sunday and you should not miss it.


To start off the food trip, have a taste of Bing Angeles' Tahong Chips (P20/P45)dipped in their own version of Sinamak. Tahong Chips is an OTOP product of Bacoor, Cavite. Then visit Teresita Verano's colorful brooms which is a proud OTOP product from Caramoran, Catanduanes.



Check out the innovative C&C foods' traditional Kesong Puti Dips and Spreads (P100), a product OTOP of Nueva Ecija. Usually there is a crowd that forms around this booth to taste the different flavors of Kesong Puti Dips and Spreads. Most of the people who tasted it, end up buying the product.


We don't really need a hat but the Aurora Hats were so cute that we ended up buying one. The one that Rache bought costs P150.


Fly over to La Trinidad, Benguet and have a wine tasting at Jason's Quality Wines. Check out their Strawberry, Blueberry, Yacon and Bugnay Wine. Bugnay Wine is our local red wine. I liked the blueberry and yacon wines.


The No. 1 Foodie Secret in the OTOP Fair is the Okey na Okoy booth. It serves the best Kalabasang Okoy (P15) which is a proud OTOP product of Baliuag, Bulacan.


For lunch, don't forget to try the P70 Hero's 250g Hungarian Sausage. We loved this and wondered where we can order one in Manila.


Don't miss Aling Nene of Binan's version of Buchi, only P10. Aling Nene is famous for their Puto Binan.


Now for your second wine tasting event, check out the Dory's flavored Lambanog of Candelaria, Quezon. I loved the blueberry lambanog flavor with 22% alcohol.


For dessert, check out the different versions of Pili Nuts, Pastillas, and sweets. No one really stands out. I wondered is there a famous brand of Pili product in Bicol?


To end the food trip, don't miss the naturally fermented and organically grown Basi Wine of Laoag City.


For pasalubong, buy this unique Wrapsody product from Albay, Bicol for only P180. This is Bicol's version of the Greek Baklava dessert.

Nagutom ka na ba? (Are you getting hungry?) We can't stop raving about this OTOP Fair! We'll surely go to the next event!

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Healthy Kitchen, Serendra

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The newest kid on the Serendra block is the Healthy Kitchen restaurant in between Cafe Via Mare and Guava. Most restaurants in this Serendra driveway area facing Market Market are struggling and they only survive because of the weekend crowd. Healthy Kitchen's formula for success is providing yummy healthy food + nice homy ambiance + FREE wifi. They have an extensive selection of salad, innovative healthy appetizers, signature brown rice toppings, healthy burgers and satisfying whole wheat pasta assortment. If you love tofu, they serve Tofu Sisig, Tofu Steak Salad or Tofu Adobo Brown Rice. The only downside with Healthy Kitchen is that the main dishes cost around P200-P300.

I love the entire concept of Healthy Kitchen including the FREE wifi! We sincerely hope that more people will patronize Healthy Kitchen.


Healthy Kitchen Menu Cover | Appetizers and Salads | Whole Wheat Pizza, Whole Pizza Pasta, and Wraps, Sandwiches and Burgers | Brown Rice and Beverages

Lory Petry-Tydingco owns the successful chain of Brown Bag restaurants in Guam. She first opened Brown Bag in Eastwood but it was not successful because the term Brown Bag is an American concept that was lost in translation in Manila. She opened Healthy Kitchen less than a few weeks ago in Serendra. You would often see Lory in the restaurant. She would always strike up a conversation after you finish your meal to get feedback and suggestions.


Edamame Pate (P130). A flavorful pate made primarily with soy bean pods. Served with red and blue corn tortilla chips.

Replace your creamy dips with this soy beans pate. They have a way of making ordinary healthy food like this taste and look great. It was surprisingly small and how I wish that they could add more chips into the serving.
Lory's Pizza (P250). Lory created this pizza for herself one day and everyone started ordering it and calling it Lory's Pizza. Made with turkey bacon, mushrooms, tomatoes in an alfredo sauce and topped with organic fresh mozzarella. Really good!

We fell in love with Lory's whole wheat pizza and it was served in thin crispy crust. The turkey bacon was the key factor in providing the texture and yummy taste to this pizza.


I'm not sure if the servings in Healthy Kitchen are intentionally small so that you don't over-eat or it is small because the healthy ingredients used are expensive.


Salmon Blueberry Brown Rice (P320). Salmon, assorted veggies, blueberry raisins fried into organic brown rice.

This is one of their brown rice best sellers. I liked the different layers of taste because of the different complimentary ingredients. I also liked the orange slices that were included in the meal. If you are on a budget, try the Tofu Adobo Brown Rice for only P165.



The Healthy Kitchen "Eat Good, Feel Good!"
Lory Petry-Tydingco
141 C, Serendra Place,
Bonifacio High Street, Global City, Taguig
Telephone: +632 900-6514
healthy_kitchen_serendra@yahoo.com

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

West Side Story Manila - 10 Things You Should Know Before Going on a West Side Story Romantic Date

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Christian Bautista invites you to watch West Side Story Manila!

Our Awesome Planet in partnership with Ticket2Me invites you to the Saturday Opening Night of West Side Story Manila!
September 6, 2008,Opening Saturday Night 8pm at the Meralco Theater, Ortigas, Pasig

Buy Your West Side Story Tickets Now from OAP!

West Side Story Manila. (Click-->Seat Plan) Reserve Your Best Seats Now!

Orchestra and Loge Center ($26) ~ P1,200
Orchestra and Loge Sides ($22) ~ P1,000
Balcony Center ($15) ~ P 700
Balcony Sides ($11) ~ P 500
It is cheaper to buy online! All Major Credit Cards accepted.
Credit Card charges would be based on prevailing exchange rate. (see BSP Exchange Rate)

Email me: anton@diaz.ph or call me +63917-LOVEOAP (5683627) to order and pay via Bank Deposit

Related Posts: West Side Story Complete List of Direct Show Buyers

10 Things You Should Know Before Going on a West Side Story Romantic Date

1. First, one should know what West Side Story is all about.
West Side Story is one of the most popular storylines based on William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Two feuding street gangs – the Jets and the Sharks – are on a collision course in the gritty slums of New York City. Out of the chaos, a passionate romance blooms between Tony and Maria, teenagers caught on opposite sides of the turf war. But can they find a place for their love amid the prejudice and turmoil that surrounds them?

2. Why should you watch it?
"West Side Story" is one of the greatest musicals of all-time with music by Leonard Bernstein, and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. It is a beautiful, dramatic dance musical with many show-stopping numbers and immortal songs like “Maria,” "Somewhere," "Tonight," "One Hand One Heart," "America," and "Something's Coming." It was the winner of 10 Academy Awards and two Tony Awards.

3. Why are people raving about the cast members of West Side Story Manila?
"West Side Story," STAGES' major musical offering in 2008, is all set to go on stage with an assembly of a strong cast headlined by Christian Bautista, Karylle, and London West End's Joanna Ampil; and a first-rate artistic team with Audie Gemora as executive producer, and Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo as director.
Balladeer Christian Bautista is given the role of Tony. He is tall, handsome, and has the makings of a perfect romantic leading man. Singer and actress Karylle could match Natalie Wood's film version of Maria. She is young, beautiful and sings her songs with utmost conviction. Meanwhile, the Philippines will get the rare chance to watch Joanna Ampil in her first musical theater assignment in Manila after sixteen years playing lead roles in London.

4. Why are people excited about Joanna Ampil?
Just think about Lea Salonga is to Broadway while Joanna Ampil is to London's West End. Joanna has agreed to share the role of Maria with Karylle because she has long wanted to perform for her “kababayans” who cannot easily afford to go to London to watch her in a musical. She just finished her stint in Les Miserables in London's West End. Local audiences have to see why Joanna is a favorite of British producer Cameron Mackintosh. Joanna, at one time, was even handpicked by Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber to play Mary Magdalene in "Jesus Christ Superstar." (Nobody knows which dates she will be playing.)

(Related Posts: Audie Gemora explains How West Side Story Manila Cast Joanna Ampil .)

5. This is the second time West Side Story is played in Manila.
"West Side Story" was first staged in Manila back in 1982 with Audie as Riff and Menchu as Maria. This Manila re-staging will precede a Broadway revival in 2009. 2008 is the 50th year anniversary of West Side Story!

6. Who produced the show?

"West Side Story" Manila is produced by Audie Gemora's STAGES production which will run this coming September and October 2008. It is their third major musical production after "Footloose" in 2005 and "High School Musical On Stage" in 2007.

Since "West Side Story" is primarily a dance musical, the artistic team had to call professional dance groups, and handpick very strong dancers for the supporting cast. Rest assured that the show would be a night of great dancing. Jazz choreographer James Laforteza is tasked to reconstruct Jerome Robbins' original choreography in the Broadway production.

It is interesting to note that musical director Gerard Salonga has been longing to do "West Side Story." Lea Salonga's husband Rob Chien, who now manages the FILharmoniKA orchestra under Ambient Media, went the extra mile to make it possible for them to play for the production.

7. Where do you eat before the show?
There is no restaurant in Meralco Theater so you can either go to Podium, Robinsons Galleria, Metrowalk or the restaurant rows near Medical City. Have dinner at around 6pm and be sure to be at the Meralco Theater 30 minutes before the show. It is usually traffic around that area so allot ample time to navigate through the traffic. There are plenty of parking spaces available at Meralco Theater.

8. What is the attire?
Usually theater goers in Manila wear casual chic. Jeans are usually OK and you can wear coat and tie if you want. The key is that your attire matches with your partner. Bring jacket.

9. If it is your first time watching a musical play, remember to keep these etiquette in mind:
- Be on time. No excuses. Since Meralco theater is big, you will be disturbing a lot of people when you are late.
- Put your mobile phone on silent mode or turn it off during the duration of the show.
- Sit quietly and don't disturb others. Talking or humming the songs during the show is a sign of discourtesy to your seat mates.
- Go easy on the perfume. People go to the show to watch it and not to smell your strong perfume.
- Don't forget your breath fresheners. Or just watch out what you eat during dinner. Avoid eating food with lots of garlic and onions.

10. Listen to the songs first before watching the play.
Make sure to listen to the songs “Maria,” "Somewhere," "Tonight," "One Hand One Heart," "America," and "Something's Coming." You will be more involved with the show and appreciate the performance of our Filipino artists.

Our Awesome Planet in partnership with Ticket2Me invites you to the Saturday Opening Night of West Side Story Manila!
September 6, 2008,Opening Saturday Night 8pm at the Meralco Theater, Ortigas, Pasig

Buy Your West Side Story Tickets Now from OAP!

West Side Story Manila. Seat Plan: Reserve Your Best Seats Now!

Orchestra and Loge Center (1,200)
Orchestra and Loge Sides (P1,000)
Balcony Center (P 700)
Balcony Sides (P 500)

Email me: anton@diaz.ph or call me +63917-LOVEOAP (5683627) to order and pay via Bank Deposit

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

P.S. Have you ever wondered how to become a sponsor in the souvenir program of West Side Story? You still have a chance to sponsor before the end of July. Download this West Side Story Souvenir Program Letter.

Ensaymada Factory, Savanna Market

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After eating in Bacolod Chicken Inasal Express, don't miss ordering desserts or pasalubong from Ensaymada Factory next door. Ironically, the Ensaymada Factory is known for their big cheese rolls, chicken empanada, caramel cake (with yummy toppings), and canonigo instead of the ensaymada. You got to try their new flourless cookies. Most of the goodies are baked fresh from this main store. They also sell their goodies in the Salcedo Saturday Market.


With only three tables-for-two inside the resto, the Ensaymada Factory also serves lunch meals. Check out Ensaymada's Factory lunch menu.


Make sure to greet and have a chat with the owner, Josie Illesias.

The Ensaymada Factory,
Savanna Market (Beside Bacolod Chicken Inasal Express and infront of Shopwise Makati)
Telephone: +632 895-9476
Mobile: +63 917-834-7198
Email: josie_illesias@yahoo.com

Bacolod Chicken Inasal Express - The Best Bacolod Chicken Inasal Place in the Heart of Makati

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8 Secrets of the Authentic Bacolod Chicken Inasal

Paa (P88) or Pecho (88) Authentic Bacolod Chicken Inasal.

Do you know that there is an authentic Bacolod Chicken Inasal in the heart of the Makati District? Two of the authentic Bacolod Chicken Inasal places in Manila are Joel Torre's (JT's) Manukan in Greenhills and Bacolod Chicken House Express in Makati. These are the two places where people from Bacolod satisfy their craving for an authentic chicken inasal. Here are the 8 secrets of the authentic Bacolod Chicken Inasal:


1. The authentic Bacolod Chicken Inasal place cooks the chicken 100% raw which makes it juicier than the commercialized version. Some of the commercialized Bacolod Chicken Inasal places use chicken that is already half-cooked (or worse cooked already and just reheated).


2. The secret in the flavor of the Chicken Inasal is in the orange atsuete oil sauce.


3. One of the Bacolod favorites is the Isol (P38). In Bacolod, Isol means atras and it refers to the chicken ass. The right way to eat isol is to put everything in your mouth and eat it (including the tail bone).


Other Bacolod favorites are the Baticolon (P30) and Atay (P40).
4. Grilled Liempo (P65) marinate sauce is good but the quality of meat is poor. They should find a better meat supplier for their liempo.


5. Enjoy Chicken Inasal with a sauce of Sinamak Vinegar, Kalamansi, Soy Sauce and Chili. Always make sure that sinamak vinegar is available.


6. The best way to enjoy the rice is to put a little bit of the orange atsuete sauce and a pinch of rock salt.


7. To complete the authentic Manukan experience, eat Bacolod Chicken Inasal with your hands.


8. Carlo's Bacolod Chicken House Express is one of the authentic Bacolod Chicken Houses in Manila! It is located in the Savana Market in front of Shopwise Makati. The resto is owned by Jose Carlo Cajili who is the son of the owner of the Main Bacolod Chicken House in Bacolod City.


Bacolod Chicken House Express
114 k Savana Market, Metropolitan Avenue, Pasong Tamo, Makati

PSI Philosophy

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Last Weekend, I got bitten by the PSI Philosophy bug.

PSI stands for People Synergistically Involved (PSI) Leadership Success Seminar. "The seminar is based on the fundamental principle that each individual possesses unlimited untapped potential. Unlocking this allows a person to achieve greater results and abundance. What hinder us from achieving what we want are self-limiting beliefs about who we are and what we can do. These act as barriers between our goals and us. The PSI Leadership Success Seminar provides the opportunity for us to examine these beliefs as well as experience new ways to overcome them."

I know that it is a bit vague and that was my first reaction too. At first, I don't understand why I need to pay P10,080 for leadership principles and strategies that I thought I already learned in P&G. I was dead wrong. The 4-day PSI Basic seminar blew my mind away and woke me up from my degrading and doomed life. I became aware of what life is all about and how to live life to its fullest.

So what is PSI Basic Course all about?
- It is a lesson about life and provides a formula for achieving peace of mind.
- It simplifies complex ideas into basic guiding principles through experiential learning environment.
- It is based on universal Christian values and the Laws of Attraction and Fairness.

I cannot share beyond this point because we have an agreement on confidentiality. Majority of the seminar is based on experiential exercises and heart-felt sharing from the participants. I would like to respect that confidentiality because if I share some of the concepts, it might be taken out of context.

Thanks to Kokoy Reonisto for waking me up from my doomed life. Keep up the great work!!


How much will you pay for peace of mind? How much will you pay for getting the secrets to a life of abundance and wealth?



Thank you to the PSI Family for the warm welcome! My journey to a life of wealth and abundance starts now.


I am a proud member of PSI Basic Batch 222! Thank you to Ka Edong for inviting me to this life changing seminar.

If you would like to attend, the next batch is on:

PSI Leadership Success Batch 223: August 7-10, 2008
August 7, Thursday – 6pm to 12mn
August 8, Friday – 6pm to 12mn
August 9, Saturday – 9am to 7pm
August 10, Sunday – 9am to 8pm

PSI Leadership Success Website
Purposeful Stewardship InstituteUnit 604 Metropolitan Terraces, Metropolitan Ave., Makati City
Mobile: +63 (918) 578 5981Mobile: +63 (927) 221 2460

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

PS. Congratulations to Ateneo for winning last Sunday's game against La Salle! Babawi kami sa second round.

Awesome Journey Winners

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Thanks to all the bloggers who joined the Awesome Journey to the Islands of the Philippines contest. I'm sure all of you had fun reading all the entries. I took me a day to select the winners based on the awesomeness of their journey. Congratulations for winning 2 tickets to the Special 3D Movie Screening of Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D on 9 July 2008, 6pm at the D-Cinema, The Block, SM North Edsa. (To the winners: we can meet in D-Cinema tomorrow before 6pm. Text me at 0917-LOVEOAP (5683627).

Here are my top 3 favorites (in no particular order)

Pinoy Lakwatsa's Puerto Princesa Palawan Journey
I've been to El Nido and Coron, Palawan but I've never been to Puerto Princesa. I was enticed to go to Puerto Princesa because of Pinoy Lakwatsa's blog post on Palawan. I'm starting to love her blog because it reminds me of OAP.

Puerto Princesa City, Palawan
Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park

Missyosigirl's Baler Trip
After reading her entry, I'm going to Baler this surfing season. Check out Missyosigirl's adventure in Baler.

Back to Baler, Part 1: Dibulalan and Dicasalarin Island
Back to Baler, Part 2: Random Fun-ness!

Manila Boy's Caramoan Typhoon Frank Adventure
Despite the imminent danger of Typhoon Frank, Spanx and friends proceeded to go to Caramoan via Tiwi Albay (instead of via Naga). Spanx can't stop raving about Caramoan and check out his wacky series on their adventure:

CARAMOAN : All That You Can't Leave Behind...
CARAMOAN, part one : Getting There
CARAMOAN, part two : Small Town Downtown
CARAMOAN, part three : Things To Do in PANIMAN When You're Stranded
CARAMOAN, part four : Forget Gota Beach, Go Straight to HUNONGAN COVE!!!
CARAMOAN, part five : The Twin Beachfronts of LAHUS ISLAND
CARAMOAN, part six : Boracay + Palawan = MATUKAD!!!

New 7 Wonders of Nature - Vote for the Philippine Nominees!

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Four (4) Philippine nominees for the New 7 Wonders of Nature are in the top 10 in the latest New 7 Wonders of Nature Live Ranking.


Tubbataha Reef in Palawan, Chocolate Hills in Bohol, Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park in Palawan, and Mayon Volcano in Bicol have a greater chance of becoming the New 7 Wonders of Nature by Summer of 2010! I could already imagine the boom of tourism in the Philippines and the additional jobs that it will create in these areas. Philippines will become a serious player in the tourism industry.

The selection process has started and you can vote for your nominees until December 31, 2008. Please vote --> New 7 Wonders of Nature Nominees from the Philippines.

By January 2009, a panel of experts led by Prof. Federico Mayor, former Director-General of UNESCO, would shortlist the 200+ nominees to 21 Finalist. Hopefully the four (4) top Philippine entries will be included in the shortlist. So Please vote --> New 7 Wonders of Nature Nominees from the Philippines. Afterwards, the 21 finalist will be put on a popular vote for the New 7 Wonders of Nature until summer of 2010. We would need all Filipinos to vote for the Philippine finalists.


My vote for the New 7 Wonders of Nature.

Related Posts:The New 7 Wonders -- I'm Zero out of 7 in 7.7.07

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Awesome Journey to the Islands of the Philippines

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Win 2 Tickets to the Special 3D Movie Screening of Journey to the Center of the Earth on July 9, 2008!


I'm still savoring the memories of my latest awesome journey to Tacloban City in Leyte. We had fun celebrating with the Taclobanons during their twin fiesta celebration -- Pintados Kasadyaan Festival last Friday and Sangyaw Festival last Sunday. I discovered most of the foodie secrets of Tacloban-- it is definitely more than just Guiseppe's Italian restaurant. Finally, I was able to check off San Juanico Bridge, Sto.Nino Shrine and Mac Arthur Park in my must see list of awesome places. Watch out for my Tacloban blog post series. We would definitely do an Ultimate Tacloban Tour next year!

What is your latest awesome journey to the Islands of the Philippines?
The top 3 entries will win 2 tickets to the Special 3D Movie Screening of Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D on 9 July 2008, 6pm at the D-Cinema, The Block, SM North Edsa.

Here are the mechanics on how to win the contest:
1. Write a blog post about your latest awesome journey to any of the 7,107 islands of the Philippines.
2. Place your comment on this blog post with the title and a link to your official blog post entry.
3. Deadline of submission is on 6 July, Sunday midnight.
4. Top 3 winners will be announced on 7 July, Monday morning.
5. I will select the top 3 best entries based on awesomeness of the journey.



Journey to the Center of the Earth
Opens on 10 July Exclusively at D-Cinema Cinema 1, The Block SM City North EDSA
Telephone No: 929-542
Email : dcinema@smsupermalls.com

An exciting adventure based on the classic Jules Verne novel “Journey to the Center of the Earth,” Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D stars Brendan Fraser (Crash, The Mummy) as a science professor whose untraditional hypotheses have made him the laughing stock of the academic community. But on an expedition in Iceland, he and his nephew stumble upon a major discovery that launches them on a thrilling journey deep beneath the Earth’s surface, where they travel through never-before-seen worlds and encounter a variety of unusual creatures. Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D is directed by Academy Award-winning visual effects veteran Eric Brevig (Total Recall, Pearl Harbor) from a screenplay by Michael Weiss and Jennifer Flackett & Mark Levin. The film is a co-venture between New Line Cinema and Walden Media.

“RealD is building a groundbreaking 3D platform which paves the way for the release of such films as our upcoming Journey to the Center of the Earth, which, in the 3D version, is the first live-action narrative 3D film ever released,” said Dan Fellman. Journey to the Center of the Earth marks the first full-length live-action narrative film to be released by a major studio at digital 3D theatres; and it will be the widest 3D release in the history of the technology. The film will also be simultaneously featured in 2D theaters.

What is D-Cinema?
Digital Cinema describes the use of movies with a digital data representation in best quality. Traditionally movies are shot on film and projected with film. In the future this will be done with digital cameras and digital projectors. Because of the huge amount of data within this application area data compression will be necessary. In contrast to Electronic Cinema, which uses the digitization of the film for new commercialization pathes, Digital Cinema replaces only the film chain from the acquisition to the film theatres. Therefore Digital Cinema must achieve and surpass today's best film quality. The parameters for the digital representation of the movie have to be much more extensive than in standard videos.

Romancing San Juanico Bridge, Tacloban City

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8 Things You Ought To Know About the Longest Bridge in the Philippines

1. San Juanico Bridge is the longest bridge in the Philippines measuring 2.162 kilometers in length.

2. The bridge connects the province of Leyte and the province of Samar.

3. It is also called the Bridge of Love because it was (allegedly) a gift of Ferdinand Marcos to Imelda Romualdez and to the city of Tacloban.

4. It was constructed in August 1969 and completed (before I was born) in December 1972.

5. The best angle to photograph San Juanico Bridge is via an aerial shot according to Master George Tapan.

6. The bridge is shaped like the letters L S which stands for Leyte and Samar.

7. The best time to shoot San Juanico bridge is during sunrise.

8. The best way to experience San Juanico Bridge is to do a 5 km walk from one end of the bridge to the other end and then go back.

OAP Contest Winners

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Thanks to all who responded to the OAP Readers Survey. We got 500+ responses to date and I had to significantly change some of my blog strategy based on your responses. I'll keep the survey open until end of June. Salamat po ng marami!

As part of cleaning up, I would like to close out the past contests conducted in OAP. Sorry for not announcing the winners properly, and I would like to announce them in this post. Moving forward, I plan to do monthly contests on food and travel related topics. Let me know if you have any contest ideas or suggestions.

1. Genki Umbrella Photo Contest Winners:
( Please email me - anton@diaz.ph - on how to claim the Bawai GC's)

Kate's Slug Love Genki Photos (P 1,000 Food Gift Certificate to Bawai Authentic Vietnamese Kitchen in Tagaytay)


Joanna's Genki Photos (P 1,000 Food Gift Certificate to Bawai Authentic Vietnamese Kitchen in Tagaytay)

2. My IKEA Valentines Contest Winners:
(Please claim your prizes at IKEA.PH. Please contact Eugene Enriquez at ikeaph@gmail.com or +63 920-9276514)

First Place: Ohhhh…Ikea Products Now in the Philippines by Jade-Ceres of Violet Door

IKEA Uplighter + 1 Transparent Genki Umbrella

Second Place: Why I Love IKEA! by Jane of Here's To Life

Collage Photo Frame + 1 Transparent Genki Umbrella

Third Place. IKEAn't get enuf of it! by Hazel of Working Title

Rajtan Spice Jars + 1 Transparent Genki Umbrella

Consolation Prices: The other contest participants get SKAMT Tealights as consolation prize.

Donation to Kythe: P 4,500

3. Thank You Art Contest Winners:

The following entries won an autographed copy of Our Awesome Planet: Philippines Book in 2009.

A Million Thanks by Pac

thank you to paul by fran

Je vous remercie de tout coeur by Amy Leigh

TO MY BEBE!

That's it! Let me know if you have specific contests ideas and suggestions for OAP!

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Romi Garduce - The First Filipino to Climb the Seven Summits

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Romi Garduce resting after the summit climb of Mt. Denali. Notice the ice formed on their neck bibs and googles.

Related Information: Garduce defies snowstorm to reach Denali summit

Congratulations to Romi Garduce for climbing Mt. Denali in North America!

Five Down and Two to go, Romi! We are proud of you and we will celebrate the Seven Summits in 2010!

PMt. Kilimanjaro, Africa (5,895 meters or 19,341 feet) - highest peak in Africa; Climbed September 2002
P Mt. Aconcagua, Argentina (6,962 meters or 22,841 feet) - highest peak in South America; Climbed January 2005.
P Mt. Everest, Nepal (8,848 meters or 29,029 feet) - highest mountain in the World; Climbed May 2006.
P Mt. Elbrus, Russia (5,642 meters or 18,510 feet) - highest peak in Europe; Climbed August 2007.

P Mt. McKinley or Denali (6,194 meters or 20,320 feet) - highest peak in North America; Climbed June 2008

Carstensz Pyramid (4,884 meters or 16,024 feet) in the Australian continent; To climb in 2009!

Vinzon Massif, Antartica (4,892 meters or 16,050 feet) in 2010!

The Mt. Denali climb is dedicated for Romi's tree-planting campaign to fight global warming (hence the snowman w/ seedling).

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Princess Urduja - The First Filipino Animated Film

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(Thanks to Michelle Morelos for the Urduja photos)

Congratulations to Producer Tony Tuviera (of Eat Bulaga fame) and Director Reggie Entienza for Urduja! It is "the first-ever Philippine full-length digital and traditional animation film" that showcase Filipino talent and animation capabilities (see more info: Life is an Animation) This is history in the making. Who said that the Filipino film industry is dead?

Urduja is a fictional story of a warrior princess in the land of Taliwisi which is in Pangasinan. The story revolves around the forbidden love story of Princess Urduja(voiced by Regine Velasquez) and the Chinese Pirate, Lim Hang (voiced by Cesar Montano). It also offers a view of the tribal lives and ancient traditions in the Philippines. I love the movie's theme song "Babae Ako" sang by Regine Velasquez.

Urduja reapplies some of Hollywood animation's winning formula which uses a woman as a lead character like in Snow White, Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty. The musical romance scenes of Urduja and Lim Hang are reminiscent of Pocahontas. It is like watching anime-like cartoons but dubbed in Tagalog. You'll get entertained by the Eat Bulaga humor between Tasir (a tarsier voiced by Allan K) and Kutkut (a rat voiced by Michael V). They resemble the tandem of Timon (a meerkat), and Pumbaa (a warthog) from the Lion King.

What I did not like about the movie is the over use of romantic cliches,and tired Eat Bulaga jokes. The plot is also predictable.

I sincerely hope that this opens the door to animated movies featuring the enchanted tales of Filipino folklore or the lost island of Lemuria in the Philippines.
I am proud that we finally have our first Filipino-made animated film! Watch it for its historical significance and realize that "Kaya pala natin ito (We can do it!)!"


Have you watched Urduja? What do you think of it?

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

OAP Readers Survey

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*** June 19 Update: *** 250+ responses and counting. We are so thankful for all the support! I am reading each of the comments and listening to each one of them. You gave me a lot of good ideas on how we can take OAP to the next level. I will wait for a few more days before I close the survey. Salamat!

Aidan and Josh would like to hear from you!

Feedbacks and comments are very important for us. We would like to hear your thoughts on our ideas and plans to bring Our Awesome Planet to the next level. It would only take you 5 minutes to answer this survey. The first part of the survey focuses on our plans for OAP while the second part focuses on getting to know more about you.

Take the survey here: Our Awesome Planet Survey

Thank you for all your support! May you live an Awesome Life,

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Have a Piquant Dinner before Watching Avenue Q

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A great musical play like Avenue Q should go with a great dinner like Piquant in RCBC. It is surprising to find a restaurant that promises delicious healthy food inside an office buidling like RCBC.

With an engaging name like Piquant, expect the food to offer sharp and distinct taste. Piquant menu offers low fat diet meals, and Atkins/ South Beach diet-friendly dishes. Most of the food are either grilled, roasted, baked, broiled, poached, steamed or dry-sauteed. Brown rice, whole wheat bread and whole wheat spaghetti are readily available anytime of the day.

Welcome to Piquant and Beverages | Breakfast and Power Breakfast | Soups | Pinoy Please and Executive Meals | Salads and Sandwiches | Entrees | Pastas | Take-out Toppings and Desserts | Healthy Information from Piquant

For people watching Avenue Q on weekdays, don't miss dining at Piquant, 3rd floor of RCBC. Unfortunately, they are closed on weekends.

Grilled Rosemary Chicken (P225 + SC) with Roasted Tomato and Cucumber Sauce. (Rosemary Marinated Chicken Breast)

This is a certified Atkins/ South Beach diet compliant meal. I loved the grilled chicken dipped in the sweetness of the tomato sauce accented by the taste of rosemary. I can eat this everyday.

Broiled Tuna Steak (P175+) with Chilled Horseradish Cream Sauce. Served with White Beans Brittone.

Who says that a healthy meal needs to be expensive? Piquant was very creative in terms of serving healthy food with the right combination of taste and color of the ingredients.


Thai Style Chopped Chicken with Basil and Chiles (P245+). sauteed chopped chicken with eggplant and bell peppers - served with brown rice.

This is a complete healthy meal in itself with a huge serving good for sharing. This is balanced diet meal with all the right quantity from the different food groups -- grains, meat, and vegetables.


Pasta Florentine (P175+) with spinach, mushrooms, spring onions, anchovies and basil in light cream sauce.

Most of their pasta dishes are priced at less than P200. You have the option to order whole wheat spaghetti with your pasta with an additional P40.



Piquant
+632 729-3452 or +63 905 241 7059
piquant.health@gmail.com
rt012 Podium 3 RCBC plaza Ayala Avenue, Makati
It is a corner restaurant hidden in the 3rd floor restaurant area near the Buendia side.

Happy Father's Day Popsy!

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Happy Father's Day to Popsy and all the fathers out there! Having been blessed with two wonderful sons, I realize how hard it is to be a father.

The leadership responsibility is crucial to the financial and spiritual success of the family. It is not easy to raise two sons. Teaching them the right values and instilling discipline entail a lot of energy and thought. I now appreciate what fatherhood means.

I like to thank my dad for taking care of us! He brought us to the school every single day and yet never hear him complain about anything. He is also kind enough to always give whatever we want (within reasonable financial terms of course). I can also feel that he loves Aidan so much and cares for him the same way he cared for me all these years. Popsy, I love you. Please don't forget to greet your fathers in a very special way today.

Carla's Avenue Q

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***** June 13, 2007 Opening Night Update *****

Carla's performance was really something else on opening night. It is indeed like watching an entirely new show. We are glad to introduce the show to people who never watched it before. Every Filipino in Makati should be watching this world-class show. If US has Broadway in New York and Europe has West End in London, Asia has Manila as the capital of world-class musical theater shows. I am so proud of our theater guys!

The show only runs until June 22 Sunday. So don't miss it! This is the finale run and you won't see it in Manila ever again.

Here are the contact numbers where you can buy your tickets:
June 13 Friday 8pm  Joelle Horca +63920-9010863
June 14 Saturday 2pm Lorna Lopez +63917-9256505
June 14 Saturday 8pm Joelle Horca +63920-9010863
June 15 Sunday 3pm Pamela Cruz +63906-3414545
June 15 Sunday 8pm Theody Demaisip +63920-9326067
June 17 Tuesday 8pm Women of Aleitheia +63915-9263965
June 18 Wednesday 8pm Alexandra Orosa +63917-8432252
June 19 Thursday 8pm Ticketworld +632 891-9999
June 20 Friday 8pm Ticketworld +632 891-9999
June 21 Saturday 2pm Jay Duran +63917-5366832
June 21 Saturday 8pm Lorna Lopez +63917-9256505
June 22 Sunday 3pm Theody Demaisip +63920-9326067
June 22 Sunday 8pm Mae Castro +63906-3414559

June 12, Original Post

Great Job, Carla! Most of the audience, who attended Avenue Q's technical dress rehearsal last night, would agree that Atlantis made a great decision in selecting Carla Guevarra to play the leading female role, replacing Rachel Alejandro.

Carla did it! She was able to perform Kate Monster very well and delivered a seamless switching of character as Kate and Lucy T. Slut.

As I watched the show, I realized that she was more beautiful than Rachel Alejandro (my personal opinion). Carla was able to convincingly portray the seductiveness of Lucy The Slut better than Rachel. You shouldn't miss this! You've got to watch the show to see how a puppet can be as seductive as a real female thru Carla's right combination of voice and movement.

I also liked the pa-tweetums effect of Kate Monster and the romantic chemistry she had with Princeton. The courting scenes between Kate and Princeton were more alive than I remembered it from the previous Avenue Q shows I've watched.

Since it was a technical dress rehearsal, I could see Carla's nervousness at the start but her acting performance slowly transformed with confidence as the show went on. Towards the middle of the show, Carla got that puppet magic where you won't notice her as a person anymore because she was able to mirror her facial expression through the puppet. At the end, you'll just noticed that you were already watching the puppet's act and forgot that Carla was even there.

I honestly thought that Rachel Alejandro's performance as Kate Monster cannot be replaced but Carla elevated the sweet and seductive roles of Kate Monster and Lucy the Slut into a different level. Although, I must admit that Rachel's version of "There's A Fine, Fine Line..." cannot be matched and will forever be remembered to those who have watched Avenue Q several times.

I would commend Aiza Seguerra as she portrayed the role of Gary Coleman, Joel Trinidad as Trekkie Monster, and Frenchie Dy as Christmas Eve for their great performance. They have mastered it and are ready for their Singapore stint!

Thanks to Atlantis Productions and Lorna, the Bachelor Girl, for inviting me to this technical dress rehearsal! Lorna is selling tickets for the 21 June, Saturday, 8pm show of Avenue Q.

Avenue Q - The Farewell Run:

13-22 June 2008 at

Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza.

All tickets may be bought from Atlantis Productions (www.atlantisproductionsinc.com, 892-7078)

Ticketworld (www.ticketworld.com.ph, 891-9999).

Some Final Reminders and Tips for those watching Avenue Q on its Finale Run:

1. Casual Chic dress code. Wearing jeans is perfectly OK.

2. Given Carla's exceptional performance of Lucy T. Slut and the sex scene of Kate Monster, you might need to talk to your kids about the adult content of the show before it starts.

3. Parking at RCBC Plaza is P40 for 2 hours and visitor's parking is on the Basement 5.

4. You can eat at Piquant, Kangaroo Jack (for free Wifi), located at the 3rd floor or Hexagon Lounge at 4th floor. There are a lot of fast food outlet in the third floor (Starbucks, Olivers, Subway, Mexicali, etc.) for those who only have a few minutes left before the show starts.

5. Show starts and ends on time with a 15-minute intermission in between sets.

6. After the intermission, there is a scene in the second act where they will ask the audience for donation for the Monterssori school. Be prepared to give money when they pass around the hat.

7. Throughout the entire show, you might be tempted to sing and dance but you have to control yourself and respect the people beside you.

8. Expect the show to end on or before 10:30pm. If you brought and parked your car at the RCBC parking lot, expect that there would be people traffic going to the basement via the elevator after the show.

9. Balcony and Orchestra Center seats are almost sold out in most of the shows but there are still available Orchestra Sides and Loge tickets. For last minute buyers, you can still buy tickets on the night of the show.

10. If you have friends who never watched it before, invite them to watch one of the awesome musical broadway show in the Philippines since The Rent days. They only have until this and next weekend to watch it before it goes to SIngapore. Matinee Show starts at 2pm while evening show starts at 8pm.

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Summer of 2008: Love for Philippines, Rogin E Update, and Taking OAP to the Next Level

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Summer of 2008 is a turning point in my life. As we end the summer season, allow me to share with you my own reflections and learnings.

1. The more you explore the Philippines, the more you will love it.
I went on a blogging sabbatical and decided to explore the beauty of the Philippines. Just this summer, I've been to Coron in Palawan, Basco/ Sabtang in Batanes, Batad in Banaue, Bolinao in Pangasinan, 100 Islands in Pangasinan, Pahiyas in Quezon, Caramoan in Camarines Sur, Donsol in Sorsogon, Calaguas Islands in Camarines Norte, Callao Caves in Tuguegarao, and Palaui Island in Cagayan. I met Filipinos along the way who love the Philippines because they see how beautiful it is. This is the spirit behind OAP's advocacy. I would like to show the world how beautiful the Philippines is, so that each Filipino will love their country.

2. I'm committed to improving the quality of the blog posts in OAP.
I'm taking OAP to the next level both in terms of quality and frequency of blog posts. Also, I have resolved to decline tasting previews or accept free stuff to blog about. Favorable reviews cannot be bought and I want to be objective. In the next six months, I will be writing my book Our Awesome Planet: Philippines. I would like you to be a part of it. I'll share more details about how you can contribute to the book. Also, I'm looking for a publisher who will publish an awesome book about the Philippines. If you know anyone who may be interested in this partnership, please shoot me an e-mail.

3. How to leverage blog as an effective decision making tool.
Thanks to all the parents who helped us in deciding the school for Aidan. We were able to narrow down the best pre-school for Aidan based on independent comments and suggestions from OAP readers. I plan to post our research on the different schools available in Manila.

4. You attract people with the same "core identity".
Via OAP, I was able to meet foodies, travelers and passionate Filipinos who love the Philippines. This is the single biggest reward that I get from Our Awesome Planet. Thank you for all the support and watch out for exciting things in the next few months.

5. To be a maven, you need to be emotionally independent.
I'm usually not affected by criticisms. I actually welcome them because I learn a lot. I would not tolerate, however, vulgarity in any form or shape, especially if the comments become personal attacks that degrade other people. I'm thankful to all the OAP friends who send me letters of support to continue what I am doing.

6. Public Accountability via Rogin-E contest does not work for me.
The Rogin-E biggest losers contest was really good but it did not work for me. I was able to go back to the gym but it did not help in controlling my habits in eating and restaurant hopping. It is another failed attempt for me at losing weight and I congratulate Carlos Celdran for his awesome transformation. I'm now a user of Rogin-E vitamins because I feel the difference in terms of the energy it provides me. I need to be more accountable to myself and modify my eating lifestyle

7. I hate moderating the comments.
I tried to moderate the comments for a few days as suggested by Carlos Celdran but I discovered that I hate it. I've decided to moderate the comments after publication as usual. I would also like to call on the readers to refrain from impersonating another commenter’s identity. You know what I mean. I also use the website address of commenters instead of their email address as the hyperlink of the commenters' name to protect their privacy.

8. I love P&G but it’s time to move on to a higher calling.
I am lucky to experience working in P&G. (I honestly believe that P&G is the Best Company in the Philippines (period).) I learned a lot from my 13 years career in P&G in the areas of coaching other people, project management (got certified in PMP), creating innovative information solutions, and developing winning business strategies. This is the summer that quelled the what-ifs. The road is forked and I decided to follow my passion instead and go full time as a professional blogger and internet marketer in the Philippines. By being independent, I remove any conflict of interests in future projects

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Fluke, a Stroke of Luck

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A.Venue Restaurant Reviews in OAP
Fluke
A Tale of Two Art Cafes in A.Venue
Gasthof - Home of Boracay's Famous Baby Back Ribs!
Burger Avenue's Ridiculous Challenge
Foccacia, A Slice of Italy in A.Venue Mall


I must admit that the name of the restaurant is catchy but it has a negative connotation. Fluke (pronounced as flook), literally means a stroke of luck. It is usually used to describe a one-hit wonder or in Filipino, I guess the closest word I could think of is chamba. From a home-based Miniatures Bakeshop and catering service, the Palanca family decided to setup their first restaurant at the A.Venue Mall along Makati Avenue.

I liked their best sellers -- Beef Salpicao, Three Cheese Lasagna and especially the mini-eclairs and mini-cream puffs. No doubt that this home-style cooking resto would be a hit and won't be a fluke!



Fluke Soft Opening Menu:
All Day Breakfasts, Picas and Soups | Salads, Pasta, Beef, and Pork | Chicken, Seafood, Rice Bowls, and Snacks/Merienda | Drinks, Desserts, Others
Mushroom Soup (P85). For a resto who promises a home-style cooking, we were surprised to be served a Campbell's mushroom soup with skyflakes. Fluke should create their own soup instead of serving something out of the can.



Beef Salpicao (P 230). Grilled beef cubes aged in our special homemade marinade.

The beef was tender, juicy and tasty. It is evident that the beef was chosen carefully and marinated for a few days. I now know why people keep coming back for this.


Three-Cheese Lasagna (P 280). A perfected recipe of layers or rich meat sauce, creamy white sauce, and a mixture of Mozzarella, Parmesan and Edam cheese in between layers of homemade pasta noodles.

Yummy and fatty came into my mind when I saw the lasagna floating in its own oily sauce and freshly baked layers of cheese. We can't resist finishing this even though Rache finds it a bit salty to her taste.


This was the first time we heard of Miniatures bakeshop which is a home-based business. Their specialties are the mini version of the popular cakes and pastries. Have you heard of them before? What are the goodies you keep on ordering from them? I'd love to hear it from you too!


Cream Puffs (6 pcs). - (P55). I can't believe that this only costs P9 per mini cream puff with caramelized sugar coating.


Eclairs (4pcs.) (P55). The eclairs are equally good and we made sure to bring some for Aidan as pasalubong.


Check them out at the center ground floor of A.Venue Mall.

Fluke
A.Venue Mall, Makati Avenue
Santi Palanca
+632 728-0857

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Havaianas: Flipping for the Beach Judging

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Related Posts: 7 Tips on Havaianas' Flipping for the Beach Contest

I was happy to be one of the judges for the "Havaianas Flipping for the Beach" contest. Thanks to all OAP friends for all your support! I learned a lot as a judge and I want to share my learnings with you.

Learning #1: Follow the instructions to the detail or you'll get pre-screened. There were a total of 300 entries which were pre-screened to 21 finalists. The agency handling the entries removed those who did not follow instructions. Most of the criteria were focused on being unique so Boracay and Palawan entries were removed. If you join a contest, your first goal is to get past the pre-screening committee. I guess this is true for all contests -- writing or photo.

It was so cool to judge alongside Simeon Jun Ventura, Jr. , Editor-in-Chief of Mabuhay Magazine, Liza Ilarde, Editor-in-Chief of Travel Life, Anne Arcenas Gonzalez, Managing Director of Terry S.A, and Marbee Go, Travel and Tourism Editor of Manila Bulletin among others...

Learning #2: Impress the judges by making your presentation stand out of the crowd.
The most creative entry made a lasting impression thus, influenced the scoring of the judge. The judging were very subjective based on the background of the judge. In this particular contest, there were 9 judges to average out that subjective bias. Your second goal in a contest entry is to impress the judge with a presentation that would knock the judge off her chair and say wow.
I loved the presentation and personality of this particular entry. I rated this entry a 91% because of the uniqueness of the experience and creativity presented in the Camotes Island entry. The entry was able to present the author's unique activities and experience and the beach being one unique destination through a big postcard collage-type presentation. Most of the other entries were forgettable because the authors formatted their entries like a travelogue versus a celebration of the uniqueness of the place.

LEARNING #3: Give the judges what they are looking for.
The judges were looking for evidences that will address the judging criteria. For this particular contest, the criteria were: Uniqueness of Experience (50%), Uniqueness of Beach Destination (20%), Uniqueness of Activities in the Destination (20%), and Presentation/Creativity of Entry (10%). Give the judge very good reasons why he should rate you high in each criteria.


The Balicasag photobook was also a memorable one. The Balicasag Island is a nearby island in Bohol. This was the highest rating I gave out, 93%. Inside the book was a collage about their experience and showcasing why Balicasag Island is an awesome place to visit.

Learning #4. Show versus Tell.
There is a big difference between telling the judge what the place is about versus showing the judge what the experience looks and feels like. I'm trying to practice this in OAP by making each reader of the blog experience what it feels like to be there through excellent photos, and concise description of the place by using nouns more than adjectives. (It is hard and I try to improve my writing each day).

This should apply to videos, as well. However, we were disappointed with the submitted video entry because they were more of AVP-type versus a video showing the unique experience.


I wanted to acknowledge the effort of the person who submitted this Pagudpud entry, complete with props of seashells and sands from Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte. Although, I have personal issues with people getting sand from the place because I adhere to the principle: "Take nothing but pictures and Leave nothing except footprints." Pagudpud is not a unique destination anymore but the presentation was so good that it got past the pre-screening committee.

The 21 finalists featured the following destinations: Bohol; Cloud 9, Siargao; Coron; Busuanga, Isla Naburot, Guimaras; Anawangin (2x), Zambales; Pandan Island (2x); Misamis Oriental Aquamarine Park; Buslon Beach, Surigao del Sur; Sugar Beach, Sipalay, Negros Occidental; Balicasag Island, Bohol; Animasola and Sombrero Island in Burias Masbate, Camsur; Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte; Malapascua, Cebu; Cagbalete Island, Mauban, Quezon; Anini-y Antique Nogas Island, ; Hundred Islands, Pangasinan; Mabini Beach,Compostela Valley and Camotes Island, Cebu.

Learning #5: Why did I not submit my entry? It was easy for any travel writer and photographer to win this contest. Most of the entries were personal and blog-type entries so I could have joined the contest if I was not invited to be one of the judge. I was personally disappointed that Caramoan or Calaguas Island did not make it. I would love to go back there and promote the islands. I do hope Havaianas would organize Flipping for the Beach contest every year.


The distinguished panel of judges of Havaianas Flipping for the Beach 2008! Thanks to Terry S.A. for inviting me to be one of the judge in this prestigious contest.

7 winners will be announced very soon...

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Euro Wine 2008

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I'm tempted to attend EuroWine @ Mandarin Oriental Manila this coming June 5, 2008 8PM Thursdays. But I'm still contemplating if the P3,000 nett price tag would be all worth it. I wanted to learn Food and Wine pairing and this is the perfect way to experience pairing European food with European wine -- Eat all you can and Drink all you can.

BTW, thanks to all OAP friends who shared their advice on where to learn Food and Wine pairing. The Best Recommendation so far is Chef Gene Gonzalez's Center for Asian Culinary Arts @ Cafe Ysabel. They have a basic course for 65,000k for 20 Saturdays (or Sundays). The tuition fee includes ingredients, a Chef's kit with the chef's knife, uniform, manual, wine pairing dinner class, and cocktails during graduation. Plus, they also add in a basic French class for better pronunciation and understanding of the French cooking terms, . Alternatively, I can just attend the three-day wine seminar of Chef Gene Gonzalez which is part of their diploma course. In the meantime, I plan to hang out in the first online Wines and Spirits Club in the Philippines founded by Gianina Gonzalez (daugther of Chef Gene).


Euro Wine featured dishes include Spain's Paella, Portugal's Bacalao and egg tarts, Germany's Thuringer sausages, and roast pork knuckle saukerkraut, France's Coque au vin and oysters, Austria's Wiener Schnitzel and linzer torte, Switzerland's Cervelat and Cheese Salad, and Italy's antipasti and tiramisu. You can pair it with the Old World Wines from Austria, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, Italy, France, and Germany.

I attended the tasting preview in Mandarin and we got to pair the heavy goulash soup with Terre di Chieti's Sangriovese, Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot. Each wine enhances a different flavor of the food -- its sweetness, spiciness or its pepper taste. I personally like the combination of sweet desserts with Asti wine.


Accordionist Rudolf Kubis will perform on that night. He will be joined by Skaramouche, a jazz trio from Switzerland, Franz Langer, Austrian folk music singer , and Cynthia Saunders, Martini's bar jazz singer to provide entertainment for the Euro Wine Night.


Euro Wine 2008
Wine and Spirit Festival
Ballroom, Mandarin Oriental Manila
June 5, Thursday 8pm

For tickets and inquiries, call 750-8888 ext 2401.
Or the Lobby Shop at Mandarin Oriental, Manila.

Best Piaya in the Philippines is available in Manila!

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Bailon's Piaya (P70 per pack of 10).

I love Piaya and I just learned this foodie secret from Manny. The Best Piaya in the Philippines is Bailon's Piaya and it is available in Manila! It is crispy thin but airy. The thin coating of muzcovado inside is evenly spread out so that you get a taste of it in every bite. I love the toasty taste of sesame seeds with my piaya. It is crispy when you bite into it but it becomes chewy as you go along.

Small Fresh Lumpiang Ubod (P18 per piece). They also sell these yummy bite-sized lumpia for P18 per piece which would be great for potluck sessions. Remember to keep them refrigerated because it can spoil easily.

Big Lumpiang Ubod (P28 per piece). A bigger version of the lumpia.

Let me share with you this Piaya foodie find...

Just enter this unassuming Bailon's carinderia. They don't display the piaya and lumpia. You have to order in advance to get the freshest lumpia and piaya available.

Bailon Homemade Ilonggo Delicacies
1115 Rodriguez Avenue, Bangkal, Makati City
+632 843 6673 / 843 3721
+ 63 916- 751 9071
bailonfoods@hotmail.com

Directions:
From SLEX Buendia, drive going to Magallanes. Don't take the ramp to the bridge going to the Magallanes. Instead, take the road going under the bridge on the rightmost side. Turn right on Bonifacio street and turn right again on the first corner.This area in Bangkal is full of one way street so read the signs before making a turn. Bailon is located in front of the Fatima church.

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Kustaa Saksi: OFFPISTE In the Land of Kustaa Saksi

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One of the things I learned from Master George Tapan is that you need to look at the works of great artists in order to train your eyes in photography. So together with Rache, we went to our first art show.

It was great to meet and have an inspiring chat with Scandinavian illustractor, Kustaa Saksi during his art show launch at the CCP Main Theater driveway. Manila is the final leg in his Asian tour after Singapore and Bangkok.

His artwork is greatly influenced by his growing up years in Finland. An example would be the artwork (photo above), he said that there were a lot of mosquitoes when he was growing up and they would often eat the apple. It is a simple concept but great execution on the design.

The show was impressive with a projection bomb of all Kustaa's artwork on the facade of CCP. Also, no less than Imelda Marcos attended the art show as their guest of honor but it was great to see a young crowd appreciating the illustrator's artwork.

How I wish we can also celebrate the works of the great Pinoy illustrators and give them this kind of Art Show in Manila. Maybe I just don't know about them...

Sugar Assault ($400). Digital Giclee Print [50]. 80 x 60 cm. Most people love this artwork.

Kustaa's artwork is described as:
" Kaleidoscopic prisms and psychedelic poetics interplay in the work of Scandinavian illustrator Kustaa Saksi. Retro and futuristic elements are interspersed, these two extremes complementing each other effortlessly, radiating energy, a vision of music and life manifest. "

Get a chance to view the "OFFPISTE In the Land of Kustaa Saksi " exhibit in Archeology, Rockwell only until 1 June 2008.

Aidan's first shoot for CPK Father's Day Promo - Create Your Own Pizza

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This is Aidan's first modeling stint. We did a print ad shoot for CPK's Father's Day promo of Do-It-Yourself Pizza.


Aidan created a Hawaiian style pizza (P156). First, we put the tomato base on the pizza dough. Then, we sprinkled it with cheese. Lastly, we garnished it with slices of ham and pineapples.

Aidan loves to play Chef these days and the shoot was a perfect opportunity to show off his baby cooking skills. I do hope that the print ad pushes through -- it was fun doing this.

Petra and Pilar - High Style Carinderia Dining in Makati (with Delimondo Store)

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Petra and Pilar is an interesting restaurant concept. Just imagine gourmet spanish and filipino food served carinderia style and priced at less than P150 per ulam in a minimalist restaurant ambiance. The concept is a winner and this will be my comfort food place in Makati from now on. Thanks to Chef Ed and the JAKA group for leading the restaurant industry with the best-value-for-money restaurant in the heart of Makati.

I do hope Chef Mia will be able to maintain the quality of the food. I have this perception that after a while the quality of the food suffers in a JAKA restaurant. They seem to short-cut the cooking process or they are tempted to commercialize the taste of the food like what happened in La Esquina in Splendido.


When Chef Ed was describing the concept, I can't imagine how a sosy carinderia would look like. They did a great job with executing the sosy carinderia concept and they ensured that the restroom is likewise appealing. Rache was raving about their clean restroom and I was raving about our less than P500 gourmet lunch :)

The restaurant is named after Katrina Ponce Enrile's grandmothers - Petra being the mother of Senator Juan Ponce Enrile and Pilar being the mother of Mdm. Cristina Ponce Enrile. This restaurant is indeed a great tribute to Katrina's Lolas.

Fans of Delimondo from the Legaspi Saturday market can now get the best Corned Beef in the country today in Petra and Pilar. Their sausage bestsellers - Hungarian and Cheese, Schublig with Cheese, Smoked Kielbasa are also available. I admire the vision of Delimondo of promoting the Philippines' deli products to the world. For our balikbayans, these Delimondo products are excellent pasalubong for your family and friends in the US.

Sausages
Chorizo Bilbao (P160)
Chicken and Chunky Apple (P150)
Chicken and Pesto (P150)
Schublig and Cheese (P110)
Chili and Garlic (P100)
Smoked Kielbasa (P110)
Spanish Longanisa (P100)
Hungarian and Cheese (P130)English Pork (P130)


Delimondo's concept is to provide gourmet food that you can serve easily at home. Here are the choices you can choose from:

Pasta Sauces
Puttanesca (P450)
Bolognese (P350)
Nona Consuelo (P350)

Oils
Sundried Tomato, Peperoncino and Basil (P350)
Anchovies, Garlic and Cream (P350)
Rosemary and Caperberries (P250)
Chili and Garlic (P150)

Cooked Food
Bacalao Ala Vizcaina (P450)
Callos Al Estilo "Morado" (P300)
Marinades
Iberian Chicken Mix (P380)
Universal Sauce (P250)
Guava Jelly and Coffee (P250)


Ranch Style Corned Beef (P100). The Best Corned Beef in the Philippines today!

Other Delimondo products
Sardine Pate (P120)
Chicken Liver Pate (P100)
Milk Chocolate Fondue (P250)
Fresh Bacon (P200)
Jamon Iberico Bellota (P900)
Satay Sauce (P100)
Java Sauce (P100)

Katrina Ponce Enrile's Delimondo
For inquiries: Please call / text Paolo Santiago
+632 844-3362 or +63 920 921-6305


The food is served carinderia-style where you order your food, you get a number and it is delivered to your table.


Beef Caldereta (P130). One of the best I've tasted. I can recognize the signature chef Ed style -- rich flavorful sauce, super tender beef and sweet vegetables.


Bangus Embotido (P105). This is a healthier alternative to the usual embotido. The size is right for its price.


Beef Mushroom Kalitiran (P110) -- This is the best seller in the house. I do hope that they will serve this every lunch time.


Truffles are sold for 3 pieces for P20. Aidan was very happy :) except for the dark chocolate truffles which he finds bitter for his baby taste.


Katrina's Chocolate Cake (P120). The cake is good but nothing to rave about.


Petra and Pilar
Ground Floor JAKA Center Building
Exportbank Drive corner Chino Roces Avenue (formerly Pasong tamo) , Makati
Near Buendia and Pasong Tamo intersection.
Open from 11am to 11pm

Note: Exportbank Drive is ONE WAY. So you need to pass through the back of Makati Med or if you are coming from Buendia in SLEX, make a U-Turn in Mercury Drug.

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

[Bolinao] Puerto del Sol - The Place to be in Bolinao

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Bolinao is 50+ kilometers away (approximately 1 hour drive) from 100 Islands in Pangasinan. After traveling for 300+ kilometers (approx. 9 hours drive 4-5 hours via shortcut )from Manila, you should see both places to maximize your trip to Pangasinan.

For me, the main attraction of Bolinao is its unique sunset. This is the only place where you feel you are so close to the sun that you can touch it. The illusion is created by the low tide area which extends all the way to the horizon. It is a very romantic scene and a perfect time to propose to your special someone.


The most popular place in Bolinao is Puerto del Sol. This is the place to be when you are in Bolinao. They have a signature floating hut where you can hang-out during sunset. Also, their beach area is the best among all of the resorts I've been to. I love their Cafe del Sol restaurant.


Aidan and syoti Josh enjoy the Bolinao Sunset from Puerto del Sol's floating hut. BOLINAO BEACH

The beach is so low that you cannot really swim in Bolinao's beaches.


A closer look of the beach...



Puerto del Sol enjoys the best beach area among all the other resorts.


PUERTO DEL SOL RESORT


Puerto del Sol Promo Rates - It is very expensive but worth it. The price is inclusive of breakfast.


Mansion Villa (Deluxe Rooms) - Php 4,200 (2 pax)
Spacious two-storey building done in the Mediterranean style. Each unit has two double beds with individual balconies.

Bahay Kubo (Premier Suites) - Php 6,500 (2 pax)
Two-storey single detached units named after homey Filipino native dwelling place. The ground level has spacious open-air living and dining area. Bedroom is on the second level with a king-size bed and veranda facing the turf.

Casitas (Family Suites) - Php 9.100 (4 pax)
Two bedroom detached units which can accommodate up to four people with living and dining area. It has an all glass wall with sliding doors, giving you a view of the South China Sea.

Nipa Hut - Php 2,100
Fourteen detached units which can accommodate up to maximum of four to five guests, an open air ambiance accented with curtains for guests to enjoy the luxury of relaxing serene surroundings of the resort.

Family Room - Php 7,500
A dormitory style accommodation that has a seven single bunk bed in each room perfect for the family, students or company outings traveling together.

Extra Person - Php 980


We stayed on the second floor mansion villa. We were surprised to find a nice room with a cute veranda in the province of Pangasinan. Rooms are fully air-conditioned, with mini-ref, and 21-inch colored TV with Satellite cable. Our only complaint was the poor location of the air-conditioning unit.


Here is the sunrise view of Puerto del Sol's swimming pool from the second floor veranda. The resort's centerpiece is the adult swimming pool, kiddie pool and outdoor jacuzzi.
Puerto del Sol
Beach Resort and Hotel Club
Brgy. Ilog Malino, Bolinao, Pangasinan

Manila Sales Office
G/F Renaissance Tower, Meralco Avenue, Ortigas Center, Pasig City
Telephone# +632 637 8963. +632 635-2547
Email: info@puertodelsol.com.ph
Website: www.puertodelsol.com.ph


CAFE DEL SOL @ PUERTO DEL SOL

I was surprised to have a restaurant in Bolinao which is at par with the Manila restaurants. The specialty in Pangasinan is the availability of fresh bangus. So, we tried Kare-Kareng Bangus and Stuffed Bangus Belly. We were not that adventurous enough to try the Fruity Bangus. The breakfast that comes with the accommodation was worth it. Although I generally find the Pangasinan bangus thinner than the ones you would see in LZM in Tagaytay.


All Day Dining: Appetizers, Salads, Soup, Main Courses International
From our Vegetable Corner, Pasta and Noodles, Dessert, Sandwich Board and Little Ones
Filipino Dishes: All Time Favorites, Puerto's House Specialty, From Our Native Soup


Kare-Kareng Bangus (P240 + 10% SC). Braised boneless bangus in peanut sauce with eggplant stringbeans and native pechay.


Stuffed Bangus Belly (P225 + 10% SC). Grilled milk fish belly stuffed with ginger, tomato, bellpepper and onion.


ADDANGSILOG. Adobo and Danggit with Garlic Rice and Scrambled Eggs.


BALONGSILOG. Bangus and Longganisa with Garlic Rice and Scrambled Eggs.

Another complaint about Puerto del Sol is despite their expensive prices, you don't get the customer service that you deserve. So, how was your experience in Puerto del Sol?

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Bolinao, Pangasinan: Where Else to Stay and What to do

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There are a lot of resorts in the Bolinao, Pangasinan area. There are two other resorts worth visiting -- Punta Riviera and Treasures of Bolinao aside from Puerto del Sol. They are not as nice as Puerto del Sol but their prices are a bit cheaper. I finished this Bolinao series with a visual land tour of Bolinao. Do share your getaway if we missed any awesome place in Bolinao?

PUNTA RIVIERA RESORT
" An upmarket, stunning, romantic beach and river resort in a unique environmental setting located less than one hour drive from Hundred Islands with infinity pool and quality cuisine, catering for tours, family reunions, weddings, business conventions for up to 300 persons."


Punta Riviera has the best infinity pool in the Bolinao, Pangasinan area. Just imagine sitting by the pool whle watching the sunset. Unlike Puerto del Sol, they don't have an enclosed structure. Punta Riviera enjoys a wide 15km beach area you can use for beach activities. Also, the resort is strategically located where Ilog Malino meets the South China Sea. You can do Kayaking along Ilog Malino.

It is marketed as:


Room Rates ( + 10% Service Charge)
Riviera -- 4 pax - Php 4,500
La Breeza -- 6 pax - Php 5,500
Sunset - 5 pax - Php 5,000
La Marea - 6 pax - Php 5,500
Familia 8 - 8-10 pax - Php 11,000
El Grande - 10-15 pax - Php 10,900
Familia 7 - 4 pax - Php 4,500
Cabanas (no Aircon) - 3 pax - Php 1,850
Cabana Big (No Aircon) - 6 pax - Php 3,000
El Grande - 15-20 pax - Php 13,000
Familia 14 - 10-12 pax - Php 11,000

Extra Person - Php 500

Take the Nestea Ice Tea plunge... Have you stayed in Punta Riviera? Any experience to wanna share?

Punta Riviera Resort,
Brgy. Ilog Malino, Bolinao, Pangasinan
Mobile: +63 918 591 7148
email: punta_riviera_resort@yahoo.comwww.puntarivieraresort.com


TREASURES OF BOLINAO RESORT

" Your visit to Bolinao is not complete until you see the Patar beach & the century old lighthouse. Treasures of Bolinao is the only resort located in the heart of Patar white beach. "


This is the key competitor of Punta del Sol in Bolinao but it pales in comparison based on the swimming pool. I would agree that it is the only resort located near Patar white beach and the lighthouse -- but so what? You can always drive to Patar beach anytime and see the lighthouse along the way.


Treasures of Bolinao Room Rates (+ 10% Service Charge)
Villa 1,2,3,4,5 - 2 pax - Php 3,500 (Extra Pax is php 500)
Coconut Cottage 1, 1B, 2, 2B, 3, 3B, 4, 4B, 5, 5B - 2 pax - Php 3,500 (Extra Pax is Php 400)
Jr. Suite 1,2 - 4 pax - Php 5,500 (Extra Pax is Php 400)
Suite 1,2,3 - 4 pax - Php 6,500 (Extra Pax is Php 500)
Conservatory - 4 pax - Php 5,000 (Extra Pax is Php 400)Corkage Fees (bring in Food) (Adult - Php 200, Kids - Php 150)

Day Tour
Entrance (Adult - Php 150, Kids - Php 100)
Use of Swimming Pool (Adult - Php 100, Kids - Php 75)
Corkage (Adult - Php 100, Kids - Php 75)

Treasures of Bolinao, Pangasinan
Manila Office: +632 375-8884. +632 413-4914
Mobile Numbers: +63 920 381-8888. +63 921 559-2732. +63 910 783-6648


Here is your sunbathing view from the resort obstructed by this concrete bridge. We don't want you to see this in the brochures, don't we?


The best asset of Treasures in Bolinao is walking along this concrete bridge with an awesome view of the Rock formations.


This is one awesome view! I would book in Treasures of Bolinao just to enjoy this view. I am surprised that they are not marketing this in their brochures. But if you are staying at Puerto del Sol, you can always enter Treasures of Bolinao and just say you are checking out the place for your next return trip to Bolinao.

Land Tour of Bolinao

Puerto del Sol charges P300/ head with VAN (P175 without VAN) with a minimum of 5 persons. You can definitely go to all the places by yourself because you can just drive down all the way to the Patar beach. Most of the points of interest are along the way.


Enchanted Cave. There are three caves in Bolinao and only the Enchanted Cave is worth visiting. I would not recommend swimming in the cave just because of the number of people swimming in a stale water environment.


Rock Formations. As part of the Puerto del Sol tour, you would go to this rock formations located beside Treasures of Bolinao. This rock formation is pathetic. I would recommend that you go inside Treasures of Bolinao and walk along the concrete path to see the awesome rock formations!


Patar Beach - This is a public swimmable beach. The current is super strong and I did not even attempt to swim here. The beach is brown - beige color and this is far from being the Boracay of the North.


Cape Bolinao, Lighthouse - Nice lighthouse but you cannot go up like the other lighthouse we've been to.

Don't miss the awesome sunset in Bolinao.


Binuguey -- Don't forget to buy Binuguey which is suman cooked inside a bamboo. You can only try this in Bolinao, we bought this in Bolinao town! Rache and Momsy loved it. I liked mine with a dash of splenda.

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Hundred Islands: Where to Stay and Eat

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I would recommend that you stay overnight in one of the islands in Hundred Islands in Pangasinan. I highly recommend that you book in Governor's Island either the Big Brother house or smaller cottages. Electricity is available in the island and you have access to the highest vantage point in the 100 islands. The other option would be to book in Quezon Island but there is only 1 hut (I believe) that has electricity.

Most people would stay overnight in one of the hotels or inn in Lucap especially if you have kids. I would highly recommend Maxine by the Sea. They have a nice restaurant with free wi-fi, secured parking lot, affordable rooms and nice location by the sea. I also included the other recommended hotel options below. Please let me know in the comments section if you have a particular hotel you want to recommend.


Governor's Island Rates
Telephone +63 75 551-2505

Big Brother House (10 pips) - P10,000 (with generator from 6pm to 6am)
Extra drum of water - P100
Extra Pax/ Extra Bed - P200
Table for Rent & Picnic Area -P200 (day tour); P300 (overnight)
Bahay Kubo (3 pips) - P1,500




Maxine by the Sea Restaurant and Lodge
Lucap, Alaminos City, Pangasinan
Telephone: +632 75 551 2537
Mobile: +63 9216428551
Email: maxine@maxinebythesea.com
www.maxinebythesea.com

16 fully airconditioned rooms with one single and one double beds (3 Person per Room) @ P1,100.
There is FREE Wi-fi in the dining area.


Bangus Bellies Sinigang (P250). A Pot of tamarind-based all filipino soup of bangus heads and bellies cooked in the traditional sinigang.

Maxine by the Sea Complete Menu
House Specialty Soup, Sotanghon, Sandwiches, Rice | Breakfast, Omelette, Pancake, Side Orders | Vegetables and Salad | Lobsters and Prawns | Shrimps | Pork | Beef | Chicken | Shellfish and Plated Fish Steak or Fillet Dishes | Whole Fish or Slice and Fresh Bangus |Calamares and Crabs | Drinks and Beverages, Fruit Shakes and Smoothies


Maxine's Famouse Calamares (P170). Deep Fried Rings of Squid in Maxine's Special Recipe. The best I ever tasted and you should never miss this on your visit in 100 Islands.


Kilawen Talaba (P150). Fresh-shelled and "cooked" in vinegar and calamansi topped with onions, ginger and red hot pepper.

100 Islands, Pangasinan: Where to Stay and Eat

Vista Delas Islas
Telephone: +63 75 551-2160

This is the most expensive resort in Lucap, Alaminos City. They have a swimming pool but not really swimmable because of its questionable cleanliness. We were attracted to this because of the big and secured parking space. It was our first time in 100 Islands and we thought that if the rooms are expensive then it must be good. Later on, I found out that other resorts have similar rooms at a much cheaper rate.


Vistas de las Islas (P2,300 / night). The rooms were clean and have a nice restroom. But I find them expensive. You can get a much cheaper room in the other resorts.


Quezon Island Room | Day Tour | Overnight Rates
Hundred Islands National Park Information +63 75 551-2505

Cottage without room [Nipa 1,2,3] | P350 | P500
Cottage without room [Nipa 4] | P500 | P1,000
Cottage with room (Nipa A) | P500 | P900
Cottage with room (Nipa B) | P600 | P1,100
Picnic Tables & Picnic Area | P200 | P300

Quezon Island Overnight Kubo with Electricity
c/o Ted +63 909 715642
Overnight on Quezon Island (P1,600) | Day Tour (P700) | Cottage only (P400-P500)


Villa Antolin Hotel
Telephone: +63 75 551-3604

6 persons room (P2,000-P2,500)
4 persons room (P1,800)
2 persons room (P1,200-P1,500)
Extra Bed (P200)



The Last Resort
Telephone # +63 75 551-5651

5 persons Room (P1,500)10 persons Room (3,000)
Kitchen (P200)



Ted's by the Sea Lodge and Restaurant
#18 East Blvd, Lucap, City of Alaminos, Pangasinan
Kgd. Teddy N. Ferrer, jr.
Telephone: +63 75 551-2160
Cellphone: +63 918 428-4828

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

100 Islands, Pangasinan: My Favorite Islands

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Have you been to 100 Islands in Pangasinan? If not, these tips would be helpful for you!
1. You can finish the island hopping tour of 100 islands in 4 hours. There are only 21 islands that has beach area and these are the only islands you can visit.
2. My favorite islands to visit are:

Governors - to see the Big Brother House and get to the highest vantage point in the island;
Quezon Island - for swimming;
Children's Island - for swimming with kids;
Marcos Island - for dipping and jumping into the Imelda Cave;
Lopez Island - for sunbathing.

What's your favorite island/s? Did I miss any island worth going to?

3. I would suggest that you go early in the morning and you will be back by lunch time. For overnight options, see (Hundred Islands: Where to Stay and Eat)
4. Eat lunch at Maxine by the Sea and order their super delicious calamares and fresh seafoods.
5. Get the medium boat and offer a nice tip to the boat man. Budget about P1,500 for the boat.

Any other tips?


Hundred Islands National Park
Lucap Alaminos City, Pangasinan
Tel: +63 75 551-2505

Victory Liner Trips to Alaminos

Entrance Fees:
Island Entrance Fee
(P20 day tour and P40 Overnight)
5 years old below free
20% discount for SENIOR Citizen

Motor Boat Rates
(with Island Hopping @ Quezon, Children and Governor's Island)
Small Boat (1-5pax) - P800 Day Tour | P 1,400 Overnight
Medium Boat (6-10pax) - P1,100 Day Tour | P1,800 Overnight
Large (11-15 pax) - P1,100 Day Tour | P2,000 Overnight

1. Quezon Island

Area: 13, 667 sq. m. (est.2000 sq. m. of beach area)
Flora: molave, kalumpang, igyo, maladuhat
Birds to watch: : pied fantail, Phil. Coucal, black-naped monarch, sunbird, little tern

One of the well-developed and most frequented islands in the Park which has facilities that includes 2 dining pavilions, and grilling area, where you and your family can do the eating and the grilling ;cottages and nipa huts for relaxation and restrooms that assure comfort. Lie in the sand, take in the salty breeze, savor the delectable seafood and swim to your heart`s content. Don`t pass up the chance to snorkel or dive in the island`s azure waters and see its thriving coral and giant clam garden. (source: Hundred Islands National Park)

Quezon Island Room | Day Tour | Overnight Rates
Hundred Islands National Park Information +63 75 551-2505

Cottage without room [Nipa 1,2,3] | P350 | P500
Cottage without room [Nipa 4] | P500 | P1,000
Cottage with room (Nipa A) | P500 | P900
Cottage with room (Nipa B) | P600 | P1,100
Picnic Tables & Picnic Area | P200 | P300

Quezon Island Overnight Kubo with Electricity
c/o Ted +63 909 715642
Overnight on Quezon Island (P1,600) | Day Tour (P700) | Cottage only (P400-P500)

Make Quezon Island your first stop because this would be a good place to swim and roam around for a while.

100 Islands, Pangasinan My Favorite Islands

2. Governors Island

Area: 74, 408 sq.m.(est.3000 sq. m. beach area)
Flora: molave type species, sablot, pamalaybayen, panalayapen, siar and molave, kalumpang, balete, kalumpit, kupang, malaikmo and other shrub species
Birds to watch: pied thriller, blue-naped monarch, black-naped monarch, yellow vented bulbul, shrikes, black-naped oriole, kingfisher, pied fantails

The island that captured Pinoy Big Brother`s eye, and turned its guest house into a unique PBB home which can accommodate 8 to 10 people. Ideal for family and barkada relaxation, with bedrooms, restroom / bathroom, working kitchen, dining room and living room, furnished with colorful furnitures and linens, ceiling fans and other amenities. It is also the largest island in the Park, which boasts of the sweeping views of the Park from its view decks. A small cave, which has no notable stone formations, that is home to bats and swiftlets. Its fine stretch of sand is ideal for sunbathing and its waters make an ideal spot for swimming, kayaking and snorkeling. (source: Hundred Islands National Park)

Governor's Island RatesTelephone +63 75 551-2505

Big Brother House (10 pips) - P10,000 (with generator from 6pm to 6am)
Extra drum of water (P100)
Extra Pax/ Extra Bed (P200)
Table for Rent & Picnic Area (P200-day tour, P300 overnight)
Bahay Kubo (3 pips) - P1,500

Aidan's pa-cute face after hiking to the highest point in Governor's Island.


3. Children's Island

Area: 24, 053 sq. m (est.1, 500 sq. m. beach area)
Flora: kalumpang, molave, balete,bani, panalayapn, is-is, tapinag, malakalumpit, ligas,longaray, botong, other molave type shrub to small tree species
Birds to watch: noisy sunbird, Eurasian tree sparrow, pied fantail, white collared kingfisher, black-naped oriole and Phil.Coucal, little pied fly catcher

It`s an island famed for its features ideal for family get-togethers, especially with children. Its waters near the beach are shallow enough for little kids to practice their budding swimming skills. Adults will have to swim a little further to stretch their limbs. With wooden cottages (beddings available), floating picnic shed, restrooms, tent rentals, camping, cooking and dining areas and amenities like linens and lighting – it`s indeed an oasis for single, family and big group vacationers. Panoramic views also await you as you snake around the island’s walkways and rock ladders leading to higher ground. (source: Hundred Islands National Park)

Nipa House (2-4 pax) - P1,500 day tour or overnight
Tables for Rent - P200 day tour, P300 overnight

Aidan can swim here all day long without worrying about getting drowned. The waters are shallow and calm.


3. Marcos Island

Area: 18, 916 sq. m. (est. 600 sq. m beach area)
Flora: kalumpang, molave, dapdap, igyo, maladuhat, bani, pandan are found at the lower periphery of the island
Birds to watch: white rumped swift, glossy starling, little pied flycatcher, long tailed shrikes

Near Quezon Island and anchored in front of Old Scout Island, is a one of a kind handiwork of nature, named after the former President Ferdinand Marcos. It has three mounds, a helipad and a dose of artfully sculpted mermaid statues. You can clamber the steep, jagged rock pathways around the island, leading to its many vantage points where a different, picturesque view of the shorelines and other islands greets your eye, uniquely captured by the sun at different hours. But the sweet dessert to your visit would be a walk at the 50 meter-trail that ends in a 70-feet drop leading to the cave named for the former President`s better half, Imelda. The single-chambered cave is about 18, 916 sq. m., rising about 8 meters from the water surface and is a haven for edible-nest swiftlets and insectivorous bats. It`s also accessible by kayak or a daring swim, if one intends to approach its cove from below. (source: Hundred Islands National Park)

4. Imelda Cave on Marcos Island

A cathedral-shaped nature cave, it has two chambers, with the outer chamber accessible via a submerged opening from one side of the island and from an open ceiling which can also be reached by a 30-m trail from the beach area. One of the favorite things to do here is to dive from the tip of the wooden stairs and into the water. The cave which can be reached by swimming, kayaking or rafting is a corner of serene beauty on which one can just lay back and enjoy the quiet atmosphere. (source: Hundred Islands National Park Island Caves)

5. Cuenco Island Cave

Nestling in Cuenco island`s twin white beaches is a lofty and charming delight. Cuenco Cave runs right in the middle of the island, making it an ideal explorer`s treat. Strike a pose with it`s intact and interesting limestone formations (e.g. stalagmites, stalactites, draperies,etc.) which continue to amaze locals and tourists. Then, you can reward yourself with a brisk swim in either of the two white sand beaches on its both ends. (source: Hundred Islands National Park Island Caves)

6. Lopez Island

Area: 7, 561 sq. m (est. 800 sq. m. beach area)
Flora: kalumpang, molave, climbing vines, talisai, maladuhat
Birds to watch: white collared kingfisher, pied fantail, yellow bellied whistler, pied bushcat, island collared dove

A sunbathing heaven with its white fine sand and sparsely covered limestone. Add to that, is the exhilarating atmosphere that welcomes both the daredevil and the fun guru in you. Indulge in adventure on or under the island`s surrounding water. You can immerse yourself to a relaxing snorkel or you can engage in a kayak challenge with friends. Then, camp late and enjoy a starry night, chatting or simply idling till the wee hours of the evening. (source: Hundred Islands National Park)

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

My Miele Votes

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" The Miele Guide will be Asia’s first truly independent regional restaurant guide when launched in October 2008, and also its most authoritative—we do not accept free meals or advertising from restaurants. Written by food lovers who know and love Asia, The Miele Guide will rank and profile restaurants across the region’s major cities, categorised by country, city and cuisine, in a slim, indispensable volume. " (www.mieleguide.com)

The Miele Guide is now in their second phase where the public can vote their best restaurants this month May 2008. I don't really believe that Miele Guide is 100% independent because they are sponsored by Visa and Hyatt Hotels. In order for you to vote, you need to key in your Visa card. I'm sure Visa and Hyatt would have a say on the judges, restaurant critics and respected foodies who would vote in the other phases. In any case, I participated in the online voting and I had to make sure that Claude Tayag's Bale Dutung and Chef Chris Locher's C Italian Dining are included in the list.

I'm campaigning for the top 3 finest restaurants in the Philippines. (You are only allowed to vote for 3 restaurants per country)


Antonio's Restaurant in Tagaytay


Claude Tayag's Bale Dutung in Pampanga


C's Italian Dining in Angeles, Pampanga.

Please VOTE for them to be included in the MieleGuide.com !

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Jollibee, Philippines and Our Awesome Planet 30 years from now.

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Aidan Congratulates Jollibee on their 30th year Anniversary!

I've always wanted to congratulate Jollibee, Philippines on their 30th Year Celebration! I got reminded about it when I saw their sponsored house during the Pahiyas Festival. This is one Filipino company I truly admire. Given a choice between Jollibee and McDonald's, I would go for Jollibee every time!

I'm just imaging, what would become of Our Awesome Planet 30 years from now. I will be in my senior retirement years. I still continue to blog away about how to eat healthy, lessons learned in 30 years of blogging and the secrets in living for 100 years. Aidan will be 33 years old and this was about the time I started OAP. We would be blogging together in OAP and we would have posts like what happened to the GB5 restaurants or what happened with Chef Florabel, Chef Laudico and others... I do hope OAP wins blogging awards locally and globally like Jollibee. OAP will be a multimedia site with photos, videos, and music about the beautiful things about the Philippines and Asia. In 4 years time, I would have posted my 1,000th blog post so 30 years from now, I do hope to post my 10,000th blog post. Market Manila and Dessert Comes First would still be there and we would reminisce together the early years of blogging in the Philippines. My imagination goes on and on...

What do you think will happen with OAP and the blogosphere 30 years from now? Please post your predictions and let's look back at this blog post 30 years from now, hahaha!

Jollibee, Philippines 30th Year Celebration
1975: The Tan Family opens ice cream parlors in Cubao & Quiapo, the first Jollibee outlets.
1978: Jollibee Foods Corporation is born as a 100% Filipino Company
1980: Chickenjoy is hatched. Jollibee Mascot debuts.
1984: The Champ is Launched1985: Jollibee becomes the #1 fastfood chain in the Philippines
1987: Efforts to establish a foothold abroad gained ground with the opening of an overseas outlet in Brunei
1991: Jollibee opens its 100th store in Bolton, Davao
1993: Jollibee becomes the first food service corporation to list its share in the PSE.
1995: Launch of MaAga ang Pasko sa Jollibee
1996: Jollibee opens its 200th store in Malolos, Bulacan and opens stores in Hongkong and Vietnam
1998: Jollibee opens its 300th store in Balagtas, Bulacan and its first in Daly City, USA.
2001: Jollibee opens its 400th store in historic Muralla, Intramuros.
2001: Jollibee hailed as Best Employer in the Philippines by Asian Wall Street Journal.
2003: For the 6th straight, the Far Eastern Economic Review ranked JFC as the Philippines' Leading Company
2004: Jollibee opens its 500th store in Basilan.
2004: Tony Tan Caktiong receives "World Entreprenuer of the Year" award from Earnst & Young
2006: CNBC Asia awards Ernesto Tanmantiong the "Corporate Citizen of the Year" award in Hong Kong
2007: Jollibee opens its 600th store in Aparri, Cagayan, and Las Vegas becomes the first US Jollibee store outside California

Anyway, Congratulations again to Jollibee! Paglaki ko, gagayahin ko kayo mga idol!

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Jollibee, Philippines

Halo Halo Foodie Secrets in Laguna...

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In your next adventure in Laguna, consider to drop by these foodie places.
Panaderia, Pantoja Bakery, Los Banos, Laguna

In the Los Banos intersection with Jollibee and Mercury Drug as landmarks, you should see the Panaderia Pantoja of Laguna.


Buy the Paborita -- the favorite bread in Laguna. This is a perfect partner for the Halo-Halo since 1933 in Pagsanjan.

Aling Taleng's Halo Halo since 1933, Pagsanjan, Laguna

One should never miss this when you go to Pagsanjan. When you drive to Pagsanjan from Los Banos, turn right (going to Lucban) in the T-road section in Pagsanjan. Just right after the bridge, turn right and you should see this Halo-Halo since 1933 on your right side.


Aling Taleng's halo halo has been passed on for 4 generations since 1933. It has 7 ingredients : Kaong, Tubo, Mongo Beans, Leche Flan, Macapuno, Ube and Kondol. This is Pagsanjan's best kept Halo Halo secret since 1933. Have you tried their halo halo?

Don't forget to eat the halo halo with the paborita. It is the best halo halo combination you've ever tasted in your life.

FoodTrip, Laguna, Laguna FoodTrip

Palaisdaan Restaurant, Tayabas, Quezon


Inihaw Pla-Pla (Fish) (180). I love their fresh Pla-Pla.

Another favorite is the Palaisdaan Restaurant in Tayabas Quezon. This is always a hit whether it is for lunch or dinner. The original Palaisdaan have two branches in Tayabas Quezon about 30 minutes away from Lucban.


Ihaw-Ihaw Pork Chop (P260). This is one of their best sellers aside from their fresh seafood selections. See Palaisdaan Menu.

Palaisdaan Restaurant
Bo. Dapdap (Lansonisan) Tayabas, Quezon
Cell Phone # +63 919 392 2433
Land Line: +63 42 793-3529

Home-cooked TIIM, Calauan, Laguna

After visiting Lucban, and Liliw in Laguna, we got invited again to another fiesta in Calauan, Laguna. We bought the best pineapples we ever tasted better than the ones in Tagaytay. We also got a taste of the very traditional dish called Tiim in Calauan.


Tiim. Pork Legs and Chicken slow cooked for 8 hours with only Fresh Paminta, Garlic and Salt. Even the locals don't know why it is called Tiim.


Thanks to Jojie for unselfishly sharing with me the foodie secrets of Laguna! Thanks :)

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Arabela, Liliw - The Foodie Place to be in Liliw, Laguna

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In the land of slippers in Liliw, Laguna, the Arabela restaurant is the foodie place to be in. Usually people visit Arabela before or after they visit the Pahiyas in Lucban. It is about 45 minutes away from Lucban via the Majayjay road. The low-ceiling restaurant is cute and patronized by even foreigners.

Named after their daugthers Ara and Bela, Bobby and Tonet Camello started the restaurant by just selling cakes and brownies. Tonet is the cook while Bobby just loves to eat. These days, they are known for Pasta, Pizza and their Salad inspired by Italianis. Tonet confessed that they don't really have a formal background on cooking but they are just passionate about the food.


Kesong Puti Pizza Large (P220). Mozzarella, onions, mushrooms, black olives, green bell peppers, native white cheese.

Arabela, Laguna, Liliw

Seafood Salad (P100). House Salad of assorted garden field greens, tomatoes, bell pepper, cucumber & feta cheese with assorted seafood on top. The honey mustard sauce was creamy with the right taste that I was expecting. The seafoods were cooked with the right crunch. Loved it!


Seafood Marinara (P140). Mixed Seafood in Marinara sauce. This pasta was so good that it would put some of the Greenbelt 5 restaurants to shame. The pasta were cooked al dente, topped with tomato sauce mixed with the right sweetness.


Thanks to Jojie and gang for sharing this little foodie secret in Liliw, Laguna.

Bread Pudding (P50). The bestseller dessert in the house.




Arabela Menu

Pasta House Specialties | Soup, Salad, Fresh Salad | Seafood | Meat | Tacos and Bread | Baked Pasta and Other Pasta | Pizza | Fresh Fruit Shake | Coffee and Beverages | Cold Drinks | Hot Drinks

Bobby & Tonet Camello
Arabela Cakes, Pastries, Pasta, Pizza and Coffee
503 Rizal Street, Liliw, Laguna
Mobile Number: +63 917 204 1447, +63 927 386 0639.
Telephone: +63 49 5632495


Liliw also celebrates the feast of St. Isidro Labrador. By 2pm, most of the houses would start throwing slippers, suman or coins as a thanksgiving for all the harvest and blessings of the family. I got stuck in the middle of this tradition and it was good to see it first hand. But I would suggest that you leave before this starts because it could get out of control.


For 30 minutes, the crowd enjoyed the shower of coins and paper money by one generous family. The traffic literally stopped to give way to this thanksgiving tradition.

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Pahiyas, Lucban - 8 Things We Love About Pahiyas

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8 Things We Love About Pahiyas

Pahiyas in Lucban, Quezon is celebrated in honor of St. Isidro Labrador every May 15. The date is fixed and this year, it fell on a Thursday. Saint Isidro is the Catholic patron saint of the farmers so it is not only celebrated in Lucban but all around the Laguna area during Harvest season. Coincidentally, Pahiyas celebration is within the rainy season.



1. Lucban Longganisa -- Ever since Tina Decal introduced us to lucban longganisa, we look forward to buying them every time we go to Lucban. It is made of natural ingredients (no preservatives) and lots of oregano. It is salty and not the sweet kind that we are used to. Dip it in vinegar and I bet you'll momentarily forget your diet. If you want to make your own, just inform me, I have the recipe to share with you.



2. Creative Harvest Displays - The families invest time and money to put up a good display that would look good during the day and at night. It is a photographer's haven (except when it rains heavily like last week).

Lucban, Pahiyas, Quezon

3. Tour of Lucban via Procession Route - Every year, the Pahiyas committee would determine the procession route which starts and ends at the Church. All the houses in the procession route are encouraged to decorate their houses and join in the decor contest. This route changes every year to give a chance for every family in Lucban to decorate their houses.

If you arrive early in the morning, you can join the procession at around 7am. Also, you can walk along this path on your own which serves as a mini-tour of Lucban town. If you arrive in the afternoon, you can follow the parade that goes along that route. In the evening, most of the houses will be lighted up for the night contest.




4. Noknok's Paintings by Erick Dator. Noknok is a name derived from the work Anok which means scarecrow. It is a stuff character known in portraying the life and people of Lucban, Quezon. Noknok is also the artist name of Erick Dator. He is known for his bright and vibrant paintings of the rustic scenes of Lucban and Pahiyas festival on board cut-outs in shape of kiping or rice wafers.


He is based in New York but every year, he showcases his paintings during the Pahiyas festival. If you buy his painting, you can get a free bayong with paintings of different fruits and vegetables.

Erick Dator
90 Fidel Rada St., Lucban, Quezon 4328 Philippines
Tel. # +6342 911-1940

80 Horton Drive, Huntington Stn., New York 11746, USA
Tel. # +631 424 2797
Email: erickdator@yahoo.com


5. Jollibee Characters in Lucban. This house was a particular hit for Aidan and you should see his face waiving at Hetti Spaghetti. Every year, the Pahiyas festival gets commercialize with advertisement banners all around the town. But the Jollibee Pahiyas house was done in good taste -- I liked it.


6. Meet and Greet the people of Lucban -- Thanks to Eric Nabos and family for hosting us in Lucban and we will definitely come back each year with Rache and syoti Josh :)


7. Pancit Habhab - For P10, you can enjoy this very popular pancit in Lucban. The best way to eat this is to shove the pancit directly into your mouth while warm without using any utensils.


8. Perfect time for a family portrait inside the Pahiyas houses. It was raining heavily during the Pahiyas so we were not able to get a family picture. At least, I got a lot of portraits of Aidan in Pahiyas.


Kiping softens and curls up when wet. Would you like to know how to make kiping? Let me know.

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Myron, Zuni or Felix? The Battle for the Best Greenbelt 5 Restaurant

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Have you ever wondered which is the best among the high-end restaurants in Greenbelt 5? Do you love Myron's Place, Zuni or Felix? If you can only spend on one restaurant, where would it be? Let me know your thoughts on this...

MYRON'S PLACE, GREENBELT 5

Mon Eugenio's Myron's in Rockwell created a blogging controversy in 2006 that generated significant profits to fund the new Myron's Place in Greenbelt. Named after his father-in-law, Myron's place is receiving good karma these days. They enjoy a unique nice location at the ground level of Greenbelt 5 where they have a convenient access to the basement parking and a nice view of the GB5 gardens. We love the dramatic view of the garden vista and we are quite impressed with the Noel Bernardo's interior design. Noel designed the high-end restaurants of Elbert's, Myron's, and CAV (would you know where else?). We love his dramatic, young and unique restaurant designs. You need to see and be impressed with the simple restroom of Myron's.



Myron's Place,
Greenbelt 5, Legaspi Street
Telephone: (+632) 757-8898, (+632) 757-9898

Sandwiches, Burgers, Ribs, Roast Beef, Seafood, House Favorites, Desserts | Small Bites, Spreads, Oysters, Salad, Soup, Pasta | Beverages and Wine


In-Store Theater drama inside Myron's. I love just seating here with a grand view of the garden vista. If you plan to reserve a table, specify that you'd want the spot with the couch area facing the garden.


Gordon Biersch Wheat Beer (P195 + 10% SC). I'm adventurous with food and I'm experimenting these days with food and wine or beer pairing. Myron's have unique grade A beers you can choose from. (Frankly, I'm not familiar with the grading system of beers. Would you know?). I tried the wheat beer and it was very interesting with my meal.

I don't want to rely on restaurant's pairing recommendation, any idea on where can I get training on pairing food with wines or beers?


Moroccan Lamb Shank with Apricots and Almond (P450 + 10% SC).

Rache loves to eat meat these days and this time, she tried Myron's moroccan lamb shank which was quite memorable. She had to use her hands to clean off the lamb shank with a bubble thought saying, "Sarap to the bones...".
Myron's is criticized for using cookbook recipes to serve in his restaurant in Rockwell but I do hope it's not true. Mon is a great cook but he chose to just create the recipes and menu, supervise the kitchen and manage the restaurant. They are coming out with a whole new menu in the next two weeks.



ZUNI, GREENBELT 5

Nand Prasad's Zuni executed their concept really well. They delivered their promise of an elegant dining venue with a relaxed and informal ambiance. They delivered their promise to serve creative continental and mediterranean entrees with meat and seafood cooked to perfection. They have the best restaurant service in Greenbelt 5 that I don't mind paying more than 10% for the service charge. Kudos to Chef Ding Lazona for a job well done in the kitchen. The paintings on the wall and roof, the uniforms of the waiters, and the overall ambiance would remind you of their sister company Duo in Serendra or Chef's Quarters in Malate.



Zuni Restaurant and Wine Bar
Greenbelt 5, Legaspi Street
Telephone: +632 467-3931, 757-0361, 757-0362

Appetizers and Salads | Create Your Own Salad, Soups, From the Grill, Seafoods and Meat | Zuni Specials-Seafoods and Zuni Specials-Meat Pasta, Rice, Desserts, Souffle | Wines Page 1, Wines Page 2



Norwegian Salmon (P485 + 10% SC) with Hollandaise Sauce. I like my salmon to be crispy with no black edges outside, and soft but juicy & flavorful meat. They cooked my dish to perfection in a reasonable amount of time.


Baked Roulade Sole Fillet (P425 + 10% SC) in nantua sauce, stuffed with mushroom, spinach and cheese, served with mashed potato.

Zuni likes to play with the sauces from Nantua Sauce to Ponzo-Wasabi Salsa to Port Wine Jus. Don't be intimidated by their food names. The Nantua sauce, in particular, is the same as the Tomato and Prawn Bisque Soup in their menu. We regretted ordering that soup because we got to taste it in our Baked Sole fillet. Anyway, we enjoyed the play of taste with this sole fillet.



FELIX, GREENBELT 5

Felix is yet another Chef Florabel restaurant in Greenbelt 5. I love their creative menu and would have raved about it if they were able to execute it well. In the foodie circle, it is either you love Chef Florabel's restaurants or never to eat in any of them. I just think that if Chef Florabel is not in the restaurant, the food is not consistent. The restaurant was named after the chef's father so I do hope they can stabilize the kitchen really soon. I personally don't like the oldie accomplished crowd it attracts and the untrained service.

Felix,
Greenbelt 5, Legaspi Street
Telephone: (+632) 729-9062

Appetizer | Salads, Soup | Entree Page 1, Entree Page 2 | All Filipino (Pasta, Noodle, RIce) | From the Grill | Desserts | Beverages and Wine


Hot Bonite Bread with Olive Oil, Basil and green/red pepper. This is something to rave about in Felix.


Dyesebel (P400 +10% SC). Luscious baked John Dory stuffed with shrimp & taro in coconut cream, served with white rice and fried eggplant. I love laing but do you think it taste good as it looked?



Ternera (P795 + 10% SC). Oven Roasted Veal Chop with Wild Mushroom Cream Sauce, Mashed Potatoes, and Broccoli Flowers

In Conclusion, the best Greenbelt 5 restaurant for me is Myron's Place because of the Noel Bernardo's design, a grand view of the Greenbelt 5 garden vista, and (I would like to believe) original recipes cooked to perfection ala Myron's. I'm not an expert, so I would be interested to hear your comments and opinion. What's your vote Myron, Zuni or Felix?

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

[Pepper Lunch, Rockwell] 8 Trivias About Pepper Lunch in the Philippines

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1. The original Pepper Lunch is definitely better than the pinoy copycat version, Sizzling Pepper Steak in Trinoma. The Japanese rice used in Pepper Lunch is consistently yummy. I learned that Pepper Lunch uses a patented Rice Robot to wash and measure the rice and the amount of water (talk about Japanese geek technology) to attain consistency on the rice to be served. Also, their cast iron plate is heated up to a 270 degrees centigrade to cook the meat instantly and retain its heat when it is delivered to your table. I remember that Sizzling Pepper Steak plates are not as hot as the Pepper Lunch ones.



2. Pepper Lunch in Rockwell will open on May 16, Friday! Yeah, the long wait is over! Currently, they are on a tasting preview for immediate family, close friends and Chuvaness' blogger friends within the week. Don't be surprised if you see this boarded Pepper Lunch outlet in Rockwell with some people entering it. You need to know the secret password to enter if you want to try it before Friday.


a sneak peak inside the interiors of Pepper Lunch in Rockwell...



3. The Pepper Lunch Philippines is 30% cheaper than Pepper Lunch in Singapore. The pricing for Pepper Lunch in the Philippines is lower than Singapore but similar to the prices in Thailand. The Pepper Lunch franchise ensured that the quality of food is consistent across the region via standardize equipment, procedure and sources of raw materials.

Pepper Lunch, Philippines Menu: Pepper Lunch Menu: Sizzle it Your Way!


Shake! Shake! Salad! Seaweed (P99) and Spicy Tuna (P99) -- For this amount, I think I would skip the salad next time.

4. Most of the ingredients and raw materials are imported except for the bean sprouts and the greens. The Japanese are control freaks and they want to make sure that the quality of Pepper Lunch in Manila is the same as the ones in Singapore or other franchises. Imagine all the meat, fish, corn, beans, etc are imported. This would also explain why the prices are on the high side. But at least, you don't need to fly to Singapore to satisfy your craving for authentic Pepper Lunch meal.


Beef Pepper Rice (P235) with Drinks. Only P198 A La Carte (without drinks). All prices are inclusive of VAT and No Service Charge.


Salmon Pepper Rice (P315) with drinks. Only P275 A La Carte (without drinks) - Our Favorite.

5. Pepper Rice is flavored with Black Pepper that is prepared every morning. They use only the outer shell of the peppercorn which is most fragrant.


Cut Steak and Hamburger Combo (P350). Only P280 A La Carte (without drinks). The cut steak was a little bit fatty than expected. We all loved the hamburger steak. A favorite of Chef Jeroen, husband of Chuvaness.




6. The killer food in Pepper Lunch is their Hamburger Steak! We all agree that we love the Pepper Lunch Hamburger Steak paired with the sweet onion sauce! If you order the Cut Steak and Hamburger Combo, make sure that you order the Onion sauce at the counter.



Steak and Hamburger Steak
1. You can cook both sides of your steak on the place as the beef is raw.
2. When the steak is ready. Please put a steak sauce (Amakuchi - Honey Brown Sauce or Karakuchi - Garlic Soy Sauce) on it.
3. You can place the cooked steak on vegetables so that it will not be overcooked.
4. You can also cook the vegetables on the place. Then you can taste it with a steak sauce.


Pepper Rice. Hurry!! Mix Them Up!!
1. Please mix them up equally as there is a butter and sauce in the middle of the plate.
2. The more you mix them up, the more delicious "Pepper Rice" you get!!! Why? You will see it!

7. I bet that you won't have time to read the instructions when the food arrives. Immediately after the food arrives, you need to mix it to maximize the heat of the plate and to cook the food really well. I posted the official instructions above so that you can be more prepared when you eat at Pepper Lunch. Anyway, the servers will be glad to help you in cooking your food.



8. Pepper Lunch Philippines is the only franchise that have desserts in their menu! I'm glad that they decided to include the dessert to complete the meal experience for the Filipino market. The desserts are proudly Philippine made and hopefully we export the recipe to other Pepper Lunch franchise.



Macha Cheese Cake (P140). Unique concept and taste but it reminds you of eating soap (as Mila would describe it).


Molten Milk Chococolate Cake (P120). Safe, Cheap but Delicious.


Vanilla Crepe Cake. Simple and Soft. Rache loves this dessert.


Aidan filled up his first restaurant comment card. Here are some of the downsides when eating in Pepper Lunch:

-- The prices are relatively on the high side.
-- Like in any Japanese or Korean grill places, you would smell like your food after eating.


Aidan with Chef Jeroen.

Pepper Lunch, Philippines
Rockwell Powerplant Mall, Food Court Level

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

[West Side Story] After Avenue Q, West Side Story is the Musical Play to Watch in Manila!

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I'm super excited to see the Manila production of West Side Story this coming September in Meralco Theater !

The Stages production of West Side Story will be directed by Audie Gamora (who himself starred as Bernardo). Christian Bautista will play Tony, and Joanna Ampil as Maria. I'm excited to see Joanna Ampil in a musical who is very successful in her performances in Miss Saigon, Jesus Christ Superstar and as Fantine in Les Miserables in West End, London.

Watch out for this!

West Side Story is a musical written by Arthur Laurents (book), Leonard Bernstein (music), and Stephen Sondheim (lyrics). The story is based loosely on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, which was, in turn, based on a narrative poem by Arthur Brooke entitled The Tragicall History of Romeus and Juliet (1562), which was in turn inspired by the legend of Tristan and Isolde.

Set on Manhattan's Upper West Side, the musical explores the rivalry between two teenage gangs of different ethnic and cultural backgrounds. The young protagonist, Anton ("Tony"), who belongs to the white gang, falls in love with Maria, the sister of the leader of the rival Puerto Rican gang. The dark theme, sophisticated music, extended dance scenes, and focus on social problems marked a turning point in American musical theater. Bernstein's score for the musical has become extremely popular; it includes "Something's Coming", "Maria", "America," "Somewhere," "Tonight", "Jet Song", "I Feel Pretty", "One Hand, One Heart", and "Cool".

(Source: Wikipedia on West Side Story)

Genki Umbrella - OAP Readers' Review

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Good News! All the people who commented on the blog post: Genki Umbrellas - The Coolest Transparent Umbrellas in Town... (until everyone has one) will be given a Genki Umbrella for your review. I will be sending an email separately on the date and time of the Genki Umby pick-up in Kape Isla, Serendra. Tamang tama, umuulan na. I want all my OAP readers to look cool in the rain :) You can send me a photo via email or a comment on this post about your Genki umbrella experience. You can also post the review in your blog and please let me know so that I can link you up! (Link Love from OAP!)


I love these cool umbrellas so we decided to launch the Genki Umby Photography Contest! It is simple to join. Just send me a creative photo of the Genki Umbrella via email. I will be posting all the photos I received in OAP. My wife and I will decide the most creative photograph (captions would help). We have a surprise gift to the person who would have the craziest and coolest photo.

Thanks to Jane for sending the first Genki Umby Photo!

" The Genki Umbrella is a significant item during my almost 1-month stay in Japan. It was light to carry around the huge park and just big enough to cover me thus letting me enjoy the rain without getting wet. Attached is a photo of me using a Genki Umbrella during a drizzling visit to Ritsurin Park. " - Jane of Between Bites www.janedchua.com

Kape Isla, Serendra - a Blogger's Secret Haven in Serendra

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Kape Isla is turning out to be our favorite bloggers' hangout in Serendra. They have all the elements to enable a blogger to be productive:

FREE WI-FI. They are the only FREE WI-FI in Serendra. Internet access should be FREE! I don't understand why establishments continue to charge a fee to have internet access.

Good Advocacy. Kape Isla promotes Philippine Coffee. So every time you drink a cup of coffee, you support the Philippine Coffee Bean industry.

Writer's Ambiance. On weekdays, you can have all the cafe to yourself. Most people go here to write, to study or to surf the internet. I want to promote Kape Isla a bit so that it does not close down.


For less than P100, you can enjoy Kape Isla all day long. However, they should have a killer dessert or meal to attract people to visit their place.
Kape Isla Menu
Hot Drinks, Coffee, Pandesal, Pasta, Salad, Rice Meals
House Specialties, Bars, Cookies, Loaves, Danishes and Cakes

A Raining World Pyro Night @ Hooters

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I was amazed that the Canada's World Pyro performance continued despite the heavy rains. The Genki umbrella was cool and we were able to use it as props for our shoot. My brother, Rommel was able to take a shot of the lightning above. He was experimenting on taking the fireworks with lightning.

Some additional tips for the World Pyro:
1. The WPO will continue rain or shine. It seems to be raining every Saturday night these days.
2. It is also very interesting to take World Pyro shots with lightning in the background.
3. For Genki umbrellas would be perfect for the World Pryo either to use it to watch the show or use it as props.
4. All the restaurants in the San Miguel by the Bay offer a very good view of the Pyro.
5. If you want to get a good parking spot in San Miguel by the Bay, better to go by 5pm to get a slot. By 6pm, it becomes very difficult to get a parking spot.


The rain stopped already before the 9pm performance. I was bored with the monochromatic performance of France.


We were not able to execute this properly but the idea was to have a Hooter Girl with a Genki umbrella in the foreground and World Pyro in the background.


We tried the super hot 911 wings while waiting for the fireworks. The wings still failed our expectation because it was not too hot at all and something is missing in the taste of its wings.


I was able to talk to Madel and Rhya about how they felt about the Hooter's comments in this blog post: Hooters Philippines. I learned that most of them came from Fridays The Fort and some were just hired because there were limited people applying to be a Hooters girl. In 100 days, they will be evaluated and so expect to hopefully see new girls after that period.

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Avenue Q Manila, The Final Run - Buy Your Tickets Now and Get a FREE Genki Umbrella!

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Related Posts: 5 Reasons Why You Should Not Miss the Opening Nigh of Avenue Q's Final Run!

OAP is selling the best value tickets for the opening night of Avenue Q’s Final Run!
In partnership with Ticket 2 Me, I’m personally selling limited tickets to the June 13, Friday 8pm Opening Night and June 14, Saturday 8pm Opening Night for the Avenue Q Final Run. The shows will be sold out before June. I want my OAP friends to never miss this opportunity to watch Avenue Q's final run!

MOTHER'S DAY OFFER!!
Also, we have surprises for people who will buy their tickets from OAP. For all the people who already bought Avenue Q tickets from us, we have already reserved each buyer one Genki Transparent Umbrella! That is a way of saying thank you for buying your tickets early from OAP. For those who will buy Avenue Q tickets over the weekend (until Mother's day), we will also give you a FREE Genki Transparent Umbrella! We will prioritize Avenue Q buyers (of course) for the Genki umbrellas -- but only until this weekend. Remember, this offer is valid only until Sunday.

“Avenue Q is what has become of Sesame Street while we're away getting a college degree.

Coming back, we find a grungier, less innocent neighborhood.”
- Socky Pitargue, Tennis and Conversations

Avenue Q: The Final Run! June 13, 2008. Friday. 8pm. RCBC Theater
June 13 Seatplan. Reserve Your Best Seats Now!

Orchestra Center (P 1, 300). Special Online OAP Price $ 30.0
Orchestra Sides (P 1,100). Special Online OAP Price $ 25.0
Loge (P 1,000). Special Online OAP Price $ 23.0
Balcony (P 500). Special Online OAP Price $ 11.0

All Major Credit Cards are accepted. No Service Fees or Processing Fee. Compare Prices @ Ticket World.

Avenue Q: The Final Run! June 14, 2008. Saturday. 8pm. RCBC Theater
June 14 Seatplan. Reserve Your Best Seats Now!

Orchestra Center (P 1, 300). Special Online OAP Price $ 30.0
Orchestra Sides (P 1,100). Special Online OAP Price $ 25.0
Loge (P 1,000). Special Online OAP Price $ 23.0
Balcony (P 500). Special Online OAP Price $ 11.0

All Major Credit Cards are accepted. No Service Fees or Processing Fee. Compare Prices @ Ticket World.

Alternatively, you can reserve via email (anton@diaz.ph) and pay me in regular peso rates by depositing payment in my BPI bank account.

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Genki Umbrellas - The Coolest Transparent Umbrellas in Town... (until everyone has one)

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Are you a fan of transparent umbrellas that you've seen Charlotte holding in Sex in the City or Scarlett Johansson of Lost in Translation (see a sample of the umbrellas in Shopcrazy)? The company asked me to review and feature it. I don't usually write these kind of stuff and I told them that the only way I will put it in my blog is if they would give me 100 umbrellas to give away to OAP readers. They agreed.

So, I'm giving away 100 transparent Genki Umbrellas which comes in white, pink and violet. Just buzz me if you want a Genki umbrella.  Reviews and photos will be greatly appreciated.  Please send them at anton@diaz.ph.

I'm reserving the first few umbrellas to OAP readers who already bought Avenue Q tickets and to past winners of the IKEA contest. For the rest, I'll give it on a first come first serve to people who would ask for it. We need to meet, of course, so I can give you the umbrella, preferably in Makati or Serendra area. I will be giving umbrellas away until supplies last! I can assure the first 50 people who commented below to have one.

BTW, the umbrellas are really cool! I like the white while Rache loves the violet...and pink. Though they are only cool until everybody in Manila has one. The umbrellas that I have to give away are manual umbrellas and they say that the plastic used is easily worn out. Also, you cannot use it for sunny days since it is transparent.

Watch out for my Genki umbrellas photos -- I'm just waiting for the rain so I can get a shot of the Genki umbrella in action.

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

PS If you want to buy in bulk, I can connect you with the distributor here in Manila.

I Love Berries Frozen Yogurt -- The Best Froyo so far in Manila...

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I Love Berries is so far the best Frozen Yogurt in Manila! They don't have an outlet yet and they are doing their rounds in the bazaars. Unlike Cold Spoon or Haven Frozen Yogurt in Pampanga, they use fresh fruits and their frozen yogurt is more creamy than tangy in taste. Aidan did not like the frozen yogurt in Cold Spoon because of its maasim taste but he loves to eat the yogurt his Momma buys for him. I Love Berries Froyo is similar to the taste of Pink Berry and I'm sure Aidan would love its creaminess taste (like ice cream already).

Related OAP Posts on Frozen Yogurt:
Cold Spoon Frozen Yogurt - The Next Dessert Craze in the Philippines!
Sorry Ice Cream, I'm On My Way to Pinkberry!
Red Mango-licious
I Love Berries Frozen Yogurt -- The Best Froyo so far in Manila...
Ice Cream Bar (Flavors by FIC)
Yogurbud
The White Hat - Let the Fro-Yo Wars Begin in Manila!
The Buzz About Froyo's
California Berry Frozen Yogurt
Lulubelle
After Lego Island, Enjoy Yoh-Gurt Froz!

You have to try their Tropical Mochi Frozen Yogurt! You can find them this weekend at Karl Edwards Bazaar in NBC Tent on Mother's Day weekend (May 10-11). This is the closest thing that you can get in Manila. Please let me know what you think of their Froyo (as people would call it :) For more info: check out their multiply site: iloveberries4.multiply.com

Tracking Down the Maverick Chef Ed Quimson

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The name of Chef Ed Quimson has been name-dropped and attached to restaurants a number of times. From Fig & Olives which replaced the original Chef Ed's, to the now closed Filos at the Fort, to the so-so spanish food at La Esquina in Splendido, to Tootsie's in Tagaytay. But these restaurants never came close to the famous Chef Ed's spanish mestizo cuisine which only the original Chef Ed can do. I've been intrigued by this chef with no formal culinary education except in the Tuazon's kitchen. I have been tracking him down to get to taste his cooking. Finally, I was able to fulfill that quest when I got invited to a special food writer's preview of Paseo Uno's Pasos del Tiempo (A Walk Through Time).

He is now part of the JAKA group and working closely with Heny Sison. Mandarin's Paseo Uno will be featuring Chef Ed's Quimson's Filipino heritage dishes with Spanish Influence. In short, he is featuring the dishes they ate at home, cooked by his mother and grandmother in the Tuazon's kitchen. His dishes will be featured on May 26 to 31 at Paseo Uno and he will be there in Mandarin Hotel to celebrate the Filipino Heritage Festival. Here is a scoop: his carinderia named Petra and Pilar will soon open in the JAKA building. But what I'm excited is that he is planning to open 21. It is a special by-reservations only room for 21 people for P15,000 only (consumable for food). Chef Ed will do a freestyle cooking for 21 people that will surely rock the foodie world of Manila!

Going back, I got to taste Chef Ed's menu line up for Paseo de Uno and you'll know that you are in the presence of slow-cooked-with-love food that your taste buds will never forget. We (my wife and I) were honored to be invited together with respected names in the food writing industry. We were in the presence of great food and great food writers -- we are so thankful for that. In return, I would like to share with you our experience with The Chef Ed Quimson's Spanish Mestizo cuisine based on home recipes of the Tuazons.

Chef Ed's Quimson's Menu @ Paseo de Uno's Pasos del Tiempo (May 26-31, 2008)

Sotanghon con Caldo. Sotanghon soup with a ball of chicken, ham, pork & prawn.

The amateurish adjective delicious is not enough to describe the soup. It is unique, home-cooked, and the type of soup where you just close your eyes and savor its taste.

Baked Fish Fillet with layers of potato, tomato and onions in white wine. Served with toasted bread immersed into the soup to absorb the white wine sauce.

The good thing about Chef Ed is that there is no cooking secrets and he is generous enough to share how he created the food. He said that the white wine sauce was made of olive oil, soy sauce, laurel, lea perrins and white wine. I don't cook but I appreciate how complicated the taste of the soup because of its ingredients.

Carne Frita, appetizer. This is Chef Ed's favorite and this is how his grandmother would cook it. I honestly did not like it because it was all meat and it is more appropriate to be a pulutan with an ice cold beer. ( Chef Ed -- Isn't this out of place in the overall menu? )

Pollo ala Caserole. It was lechon manok with bread stuffing inside. It was very predictable in taste.

Roasted Turkey with Tuazon Stuffing. The turkey and sauces were cooked to perfection. But after eating the Tuazon stuffing, I wanted to be a part of the Tuazon's culinary clan. You got to try it!


Lengua con Alcaparras. This dish alone brought the house down. I was silent eating this because I know I was in the presence of great food. This was the best lengua we have ever tasted and all the food writers would have to agree. The secret was in the tomato sauce mixed and aged over 5 days. Just imagine by the time the festival start, the tomato sauce will be tastier than ever. The lengua was cooked the day before. I admired Chef Ed for the patience and excellence in cooking this food. If you love Lengua like Rache, you should not miss this!


Sotanghon Chicharo and Shrimp.
The lengua was the highlight of the meal and everything after that tasted ordinary but perfectly cooked.

Chicken Galantina. Most of the food writers did not finish this dish. Is it because they are full already or did it fail to meet their expectations? I guess leaving the food on the plate is the food writer's polite way of saying I don't like it that much. (I'm just learning the ropes here, hehe)

Arroz con Leche and Dulce de Santol.
The Arroz con leche which is rice with cream, cinnamon and cooked like creme brulee, is an interesting dessert. Rice Pudding is very popular in Europe but the Tuazon version was made exciting by the cinnamon.
One of the desserts to rave about is Chef Ed's Dulce de Santol! Just look at how much sugar was put into it and just imagine putting mantikado ice cream on top of it.

If you are a Chef Ed Quimson groupie like me, don't miss Paseo de Uno's Pasos del Tiempo on May 26-31, 2008.  Don't forget to try the soup, lengua, turkey and the dessert. Make sure that Chef Ed is there to ensure that the food is prepared under his supervision. Thanks to Mandarin's Paseo de Uno for inviting us!!

Katrina R. Lardizabal, Restaurant Manager
Paseo Uno, Mandarin Oriental Manila, Makati Avenue, Makati 1226
Telephone: +63 750 8888
Email: kathrina1@mohg.com

Paseo de Uno Buffet Prices.
Monday to Sunday Lunch P 1,290 Net
Sunday Brunch P 1,590 Net
Breakfast P1,010 Net
Sunday - Thursday Dinner P1,450 Net
Friday to Saturday Seafood Night P1,590 Net

Chef Ed Quimson's featured menu above will be part of Paseo de Uno's buffet.

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

PS. For those who cannot afford Paseo de Uno's buffet, watch out for the opening of Petra and Pilar which is a carinderia concept with the most expensive food item at less than P200. See you there!!

Purple Feet: Chef Marco, I want my food to be exotic...

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Purple Feet is a restaurant that uses freestyle cooking.  which is inside the Wine Depot in Makati. There are no visible signs that the Purple Feet restaurant is inside. Freestyle cooking is an interesting and unconventional concept. There is no menu except for a Food and Wine Pairing recommendation which changes every week. If you bring a date, you need to be confident enough to order. I like the concept but you should know how to get the best of freestyle cooking. I'll share with you some of my tips (please do share your own tips when ordering in Purple Feet).

Tips when ordering Freestyle:

1. Freestyle cooking works best if all the ingredients are fresh. Begin by asking what are the fresh catch of the day or what are the freshest ingredients available. If needed, please specify that you don't like frozen ingredients to be part of your meal.

2. Decide if you like seafood, meat or chicken. You can also specify your food restrictions like, if you want to be healthy, on a particular diet, or a vegetarian. Ostrich and rabbit meat are also available in the menu should you prefer it.

3. Freestyle cooking is an art. Artists work best if you give them an end result rather than specify the nitty gritty details. Here are some of the words you can use to describe how you want your food to be prepared, cooked, and served:

Feed me, I'm hungry.
Chef Marco, Surprise me!
I want my food to be exotic.
Romantic. I want to fall in love with the food.

The trick is to challenge Chef Marco! Be creative with your descriptions of what you want your food to be. Expect to pay about P1,000 to have a very good meal.

4. Pair it with Wine. I would like to experiment with wine and food pairing one of these days. I'm not an expert on wine (not yet at least) so you can ask them for recommendations. They pride themselves of their motto: " Our Wine List is Our Wine Shop"! Remember, rules on wine like meat should go with red and fish should go with white wine are already old. These days, just go with what you like.

5. Pat the Chef on the back for a job well done. If you like your food, give a generous tip or simply give a compliment to the chef. If not, please give a constructive feedback so that they can improve.

It may be awkward to stand in front of the chalkboard menu. Check out Purple Feet before you go with your date so you'll know what to get. The cost of the meal is based on the ingredients that you choose.
Purple Feet Menu
Wine by the Glass Reds and Whites
Food and Wine Pairing Menu (Changes Weekly)
Vittorio Expresso and Beverages

Prepare a budget of P1,000 / head when you eat in Purple Feet. I prefer to eat inside.


Outside is actually more romantic during the cold season...


Stuffed Mushroom (P300+) in Red Sauce. Expensive and it was overcooked.
1 L Santa Vittoria Water. P80. They only serve this kind of water.

Rache ordered Lengua in Red Sauce and so she got this boring meal of Lengua in tomato sauce and vegetables. We did not like this dish because the lengua needs to be cooked longer to absorb the taste of the sauce.

Pam ordered Stuffed chicken with white sauce (I think). She got a disappointing meal of Chicken Stuff with Prawns & Scallop and Seafood Sauce. The sauce was very good but the prawns and scallops were frozen.

I ordered Cobbler with Prawns and described to Chef Marco that I wanted my food to be exotic. What I got is Cobbler stuff with prawns, creamy havarty, cheddar and foie gras sauce on the side. It was served in a chopping board decorated with spices.


Aidan tasted it first and he totally loved the Foie Gras sauce. We had to agree and I love Chef Marco for my food that night :)


Aidan kept on running around Wine Depot because he thought it was a supermarket. We were very nervous that he might hit those boxes of wine.



Chef Marco Legasto at Purple Feet
#217 Nicanor Garcia (formerly Reposo St.)
Bel-Air, Makati City
Telephone: +632 897-3220, +632 897 8167
Email: winedepot@winedirect.com.ph

[Batad, Banaue #3] Batad Sunrise - One of the 10 Awesome Experiences in Banaue

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Don't miss these 10 Awesome Experiences in Batad, Banaue! Also, check out Our Ultimate Guide to Batad, Banaue Rice Terraces.

[Batad, Banaue #2] I Love Sigg

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I totally love these environmental friendly Swiss Sigg Bottles! My bottle was sponsored and I took these shots of my Sigg as a token of gratitude. It is also a good foreground subject for my Banaue and Batad Shots...


Do you want to have a Sigg drink?


Sigg swimming in the Tapiya rapids...


A profile shot with the local flora in Batad. Tapiya falls is hidden in the background.


Sigg overlooking the Batad Rice Terraces


Sigg and the Tapiya Falls.


Sigg in the sea of greens...

For inquiries contact Ms. Marj at mobile # +63 922 848 1874
Exclusively distributed by: DKI Corp.
G/F SOL Bldg. 112 Amorsolo St., Legaspi Village, Makati 1129
Tel: (02) 893 2532/33 Fax: (02) 812 5422
Email: SIGGswitzerland@gmail.com
Website: www.sigg.com

[Batad, Banaue #1] I Survived Batad!

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I'm proud to have survived the Batad, Banaue trip organized by Michelle Morelos, photographer and JP Alipio, one of the Young Explorers of National Geographic. For those of you who have been to Batad, we share a special bond of being able to survive the Batad trek to see the Batad Village and the great Tapia Falls. It was a difficult trek and I slipped a few times in my Crocs. (Mental Note: Use proper hiking shoes when going to Batad). For those who have not been to Batad, this is one of the 100 awesome places you must see in the Philippines.

With each trip, I love the Philippines even more. Batad now holds a special memory in my heart together with our group who survived Batad. Thank you to all the people who were kind enough to share their tips and comments. I'm paying it forward with an Ultimate Guide to Batad, Banaue incorporating all the tips you shared and the experience I gained during the trip.

Our Ultimate Guide to Batad, Banaue (version 0.9)

Awesome Batad, Banaue
Flavors of Batad
Banaue Rice Terraces Myths
Tour Guides of Batad
Where to Stay in Batad, Banaue
How to get to Batad

I underestimated the greatness of these rice terraces. I just realized the terraces are 2-3 meters high and falling down from the terraces could be fatal. They were created 2,000+ years ago and each terrace would take 2-3 years to create. You need to be physically fit if you want to go up and down through the village. It took me 2 hours just to walk and cross the village towards the Tapiya Falls.


The steep climb down Tapiya Falls was easy. It took us 30 minutes of leisure walk to go to the hidden Tapiya. In the back of our minds, we are already agonizing on how difficult it is to climb back up.



It was raining when I took this shot. This was a priceless moment when the entire group was swimming in the mini-rapids of Tapiya falls. It is 2x bigger than Pagsanjan Falls and swimming near the falls is a priceless experience.



On our way back, it was raining very hard. We had no choice but to brave the rains and climb back to our inn. It was very dangerous... I was wearing crocs, the trails were muddy and worned out, and the rains were pouring non-stop. We can slip any moment. In the middle of the hike, I got cramps but I learned how to breathe through it during my marathon training. Thanks to Him for keeping us safe.



It took us 2 hours to hike back up to Hillside Inn from the Tapiya Falls. My entire camera bag was wet and not even an umbrella or rain coat can protect our body from the heavy rains. I learned my lesson to bring the black plastic bag to protect my bag and to bring a heavy-duty rain coat for situations like these.



We survived! Back in the Hillside Inn, the Lipton Gold Milk Tea brought by Unilever ABM, Minnie Fong was an instant hit! I must admit, I am now a convert of drinking milk tea instead of coffee. I was drinking it after every meal. JP commented that it is like the Nepalese Milk tea but just in a 3-in-1 pack. I will remember to always bring a pack every time I go to cold places like Banaue, Baguio or Tagaytay.

Here are my other survival stories...

I survived my first time to ride an 8 hour bus ride to Banaue. I never rode a bus before because I prefer to go on road trips. I think I can get used to it and create a backpacker's guide :) haha!


It was scary to walk through this make shift steel bridge in the town of Banaue. I survived crossing this bridge.


I also survived sleeping in simple accommodations with no aircon or electric fan. It was also my first time to use common bathrooms and take a bath in super cold spring waters in the mountain.


I survived the Batad rice terraces trek by walking through these small steps. Thanks to the cool walking stick that JP provided us. You must bring a walking stick on your Batad trek!


I survived not being able to be connect to the outside world for 3 days via text, call or email. In the Hillside Inn, there are only certain spots where you can get a one bar signal (if you are lucky). The photo above was the spot for all the Smart subscribers. I love my Moto Q above.


Thanks to Michelle, Arnel, Ben, JP and Roland for the safe and organized Batad, Banaue Trip!! It was memorable because of the dangerous experience we went through together.
I can't wait for the next adventure!

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Hooters Manila and Aidan's Chicken Wings Fantasy

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After 5 months of waiting, Hooters Philippines opens in Manila Bay, Esplanade, Mall of Asia! Finally, Filipinos can now taste Hooter's famous chicken wings in Manila. I'm sure you are excited like me. The best time to go is now while the Hooter girls from the US are training the Manila Hooters. Most of them will leave on May 2, some will leave on May 7 while the Hooters from Guam will stay on for a few more weeks. They opened just in time for the World Pyro Olympics -- Awesome!

Here is a photo essay of Aidan's first Hooter experience and some tips:


A photo-op with Hooter Girls or eating the chicken wings? Aidan surprisingly loves the chicken wings.


Aidan must be thinking " Excuse me, can I please finish my chicken wings?"



T-shirt (P367) says, " Hooters Girls can't take their hands OFF me!"


Hooters Girls Philippines (white sandos only). Our top 3 favorites are Leslie, Rhya, and Erica. Maybe you can request them when you reserve...


Diana, the store manager from Guam, will run the store this summer. She is the cutest among all the Hooters Girls...


Chickboy Aidan with Hooter Girls in the bar... I forgot to tell them to do a group hug...


If you are celebrating your birthday, you will be ask to stand up on the table with the girls chanting "Take that shirt off"... Be ready to take your shirt off...


Naked 10pcs. Chicken Wings (P375+) Medium and Mild. There is something about the service or the ambiance that makes these thin chicken wings tasty and delicious. Sometimes it is not about the taste, but it is about the service.

Hooters Manila Menu
Hooterstizers and Nearly World Famous Chicken Wings, Seafood
Burgers, Sandwiches, Salads
Drinks, Desserts and Hooters Stuff
Hooteriffic Cocktails and Hooters Beers


Every 30 minutes, they would dance on top of chairs... this one was to the tune of YMCA.


Seriously, Hooters is for the family :)


Hula Hoops anyone?



Original Hooters Manila Shirts... we bought one for Aidan and I'm planning to buy Rache a white sando and orange shorts :)


Finger lickin' good chicken wings...


The first Hooters store opens in Esplanade in Mall of Asia. It is currently located in:

Hooters of Philippines
Building D Units 1-6, San Miguel by the Bay, Mall of Asia, Pasay city
www.HOOTERSphilippines.com

Hooters Hotline: +63 906 956 4066
Eric Gutierrez - General Manager (ebgutierrez@grp57.com) +63917-899 6660

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

P.S. Tip: Reserve here for the World Pyro...

10 Best Ways to Experience and Enjoy Corregidor!

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I've been to Corregidor more than 3x already and this is the first time that I enjoyed every moment of it with Rache and Aidan (for the first time). Thanks to Carlos Celdran for creating a very cool itinerary and for attracting the best company! I would like to share with you the 10 best ways to experience and enjoy Corregidor.

1. Sunset Cocktail. Carlos is brilliant! He asked all the participants to bring potluck items for our sunset cocktail party. We had our cocktail party at the Battery Grubbs. The Corregidor Inn provided the waiter service while the participants brought the cheese, crackers and cold cuts. Carlos brought some Chile wines perfect for the Corregidor Sunset.




2. Dinner Bonfire by the Beach. Dinner Bonfire at the South Beach is another brilliant idea. Someone in our group brought the pasta while some brought the dessert. We brought the Mary Grace Chocolate cake to the party. The background music was sounds of the 1940s.




3. Ghost Hunting at the Hospital. When I first came here, it was super scary because of the imposing Balete tree guarding the hospital. In Filipino beliefs, the Balete tree is the home of the spirits. A few months ago, they cut down the Balete and the Ghost hunting @ night was more bearable. It is better to bring point and shoot camera with a third eye to capture the floating "orbs" The hospital was used as the barracks of the Jabidah secret group. The names of our muslim brothers who died in the Jabidah Massacre were written on the hospital walls.




4. Exploring the Lateral Tunnels of Malinta, Finally, I was able to explore all the lateral tunnels in Malinta. I highly recommend it and it was not scary as you would imagine. When we did the lights out inside the tunnels, there were no negative vibes not unlike in the ghost hunting in the hospital.



5. Experiencing the Lost Corregidor. Corregidor is the greek-like ruins of the American Empire during the 1940s... It was a paradise if you were assigned in Corregidor. Before going to the Rock, please read the Corregidor accounts of Selma Harrison Calmes, M.D.. ( Link provided below). In the Corregidor museum, check out the table wares used in one of the last Thanksgiving dinner in Corregidor.


The Lost Corregidor. The Home Front Life Before WWII Part 1 | Part 2




6. Star Gazing at the Eternal Flame. With San Mig Light on one hand, we watched the stars and the distant lights of Roxas Boulevard. The backdrop for the stargazing is the solar-powered Eternal Flame dramatically lighted every night. How we wished we could have brought some tents to sleep in the grassy area and wait for the sunrise.






7. Malinta Tunnel Lights & Sounds Show. This is still one of the best light and sound show in the country today. It tells the story of the fall of Corregidor and its liberation right inside the Malinta Tunnel.




8. Exploring the Mile Long Barracks in the Top Side. Your Corregidor experience won't be complete without walking through the halls of these mile long barracks. Try to find the ruins of the swimming pool inside the barracks.



9. Conquering the American and Japanese Tunnels. Don't miss to go inside this short American concrete tunnel in Battery Hearns. Compare it with the Japanese tunnel near the Eternal Flame of Freedom memorial.




10. Strike a Pose. Thanks to Carlos, I was able to bring Rache and Aidan to Corregidor! And we shall return with syoti Josh...


I'm happy and sad that Corregidor is not attracting the local and foreign tourists that much. I'm happy because we can enjoy Corregidor without the crowds. Last Saturday, we had the beach and most of the historical places to ourselves. However, I'm also sad because most Filipinos are missing on one of the most profound historical site in the Philippines.


I Wanna Rock with You with Carlos Celdran(Recommended :)

Summer Schedule:
APRIL 26 - 27, 2008
MAY 24 - 25, 2008
JUNE 7 - 8, 2008
JUNE 21 - 22, 2008

Departure 8:00am Saturday. Arrive Manila 3:45pm Sunday.

COST: Php 4,400.00 per person.
Child without bed: Php 3,300.00
Single occupancy for one room Php5,400.00

And be sure to bring a little snack or drink to the sunset potluck cocktail too.

Contact: Kristine Castro 5268888 loc. 9502 or anyone from the Reservations Department of Sun Cruises for more information and current rates.

See Carlos Blogpost: Rocking the Rock Again.

Corregidor Philippines' Standard Tours
Sun Cruises.
CCP Bay Terminal A, CCP Complex, Roxas Blvd. Pasay City (Near Harbour Square)
www.corregidorphilippines.com
Sales Telephone: 527-5555 loc 4511/ 12
Reservations: +63 922 337 0068 / + 632 834 6857 to 58

Day Tour with Buffet Lunch (P1,999). Child Rate ( P 1,111)( Includes roundtrip ferry transfers / shrine, entrance, and terminal fees / guided island tour / buffet lunch )
ETD in Manila (8.00am). ETA in Corregidor (9.15am). ETD in Corregidor (2.30pm). ETA in Manila (3.45pm).

Overnight Package: Single Occupancy (P2,880) Twin/ Double Triple Sharing (P1,999 + 500). Child without bed (P1,550), with bed (P2,250).
( Includes roundtrip ferry transfers / shrine, entrance, and terminal fees / guided island tour / 1 buffet lunch on day 1 / overnight accommodation at Corregidor Inn )

Optional Lights and Sounds Show: P150/ person

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

The Josh Baby Lingo Project

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Go! Baby Lingo!


Jaymie, the Bull Runner, is holding another Baby Lingo class on May 24, Saturday. We had fun when we last attended it (see Go! Baby Lingo! ). We wanted to teach syoti Josh about the baby signs when he turns 6 months this coming May. We might attend the May class as a refresher course.



The Saturday session was fun. Jaymie created a fun curriculum teaching the baby signs through games, demonstrations, and active participation of the parents. At the end of the session, we were able to do all the baby signs in the quick guide exclusively provided for the participants.



The venue has a playground outside for kids. Aidan was just playing outside while we attended the seminar.
Have you tried this? I'm planning to take a collection of photos of Baby Josh doing the baby signs.

BABY LINGO WORKSHOP

* WHEN: MAY 24, 2008, Saturday, 9:00am-12:00nn

* WHERE: Sacred Heart School – Bel Air, 3/F Goodwill Corporate Building, 393 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave., Makati City

* WHO CAN COME: Moms and Dads with 6 to 24 month old babies

* INSTRUCTOR: Jaymie C. Pizarro - U.S. Certified Baby Sign Language Instructor, Member of Sign2Me Presenters' Network

Here are common questions about baby sign language and how to sign up for a workshop:

How do I learn baby sign language?

Just sign up for a workshop and by the time we end the 3-hour session, you can start teaching your baby at home. The workshop is a fun-filled, informal session composed of a talk, video presentation, games, and hands-on training of over 70 signs you can teach your baby.

How big is the class?

We accept a maximum of only 20 people or 10 couples per class.

How much does it cost?

We have a fee of P1,500 for individuals and P2,000 for couples. You can also take yaya along for an additional P500 fee. The fee covers a Baby Lingo Workbook, Baby Lingo Reference Guide, snacks, Certificate of Attendance, and online support after the workshop.

To reserve a slot, deposit the fee at BPI S/A 1596-1205-66 under the name BABY LINGO WORKSHOPS SERVICES. Fax the deposit slip to TELEFAX NO. 823-5428 with the following details:

* Name/s of participants

* Name and age of baby

* Phone Number

* Cell Number

Wait for a confirmation via text or phone call.

Jaymie C. Pizarro - U.S. Certified Baby Sign Language Instructor,

World Pyro Olympics 2008 - Summer Fireworks

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DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO AWESOME WORLD PYRO EXPERIENCE 2008
Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Finally, the World Pyro Olympics is all set for all Saturdays of May! Thanks to Henry Sy's SM Mall of Asia and Pepsi for sponsoring this year's World Pyro! You should watch this because you have not seen any fireworks like this in your lifetime. Each year gets even better than the year before. If you can only watch one Saturday, I would suggest that you don't miss May 3 -- China and Germany's show; May 24 -- Australia's Show; or the Philippines Finale on May 31. For the first time, La Mancha will attempt to do a pyro-musical show that you shouldn't miss.

This year, the main stage of the World Pyro will be in the center of San Miguel by the Bay in Esplanade. I would recommend that you reserve your seats now (as in today). I would recommend all the 2nd Floor Entertainment Mall restaurants specially the center ones. It is best that you reserve the table outside overlooking the Bay Area. Also, I would recommend Padi's Point and Pier One areas if you want to hang out and party with friends. It took me almost an hour to collect the contact information from all the restaurants for OAP readers (see below). Expect to spend P500 - P1,500/ head for the entire night. I just talked to all of them last night and you can still conveniently reserve your spot.

If you don't plan to watch, avoid the Mall of Asia area at all cost -- all Saturday evenings. It will be super traffic -- please share this with your family and friends.

WORLD PYRO SATURDAYS OF MAY

May 3 WORLD PYRO OLYMPICS! | Mall of Asia, Pasay City | 3rd World Pyro Olympics
7.30pm China's The Glorious Group -- Its sensational pyrotechnic out-door sky painting concerts have no rival. In last year's WPO, I can hear the ooohhs and aaahhs throughout their presentation.

9.00pm Germany's Nico Lunig Event -- One of the leading and most requested pyrotechnics company in the globe.

May 10 WORLD PYRO OLYMPICS! | Mall of Asia, Pasay City | 3rd World Pyro Olympics
7.30pm Canada's Pyro Studios

9.00pm France's Fetes et Feux

May 17 WORLD PYRO OLYMPICS! | Mall of Asia, Pasay City | 3rd World Pyro Olympics
7.30pm Italy's Parente Fireworks

9.00pm Venezuela's Venefuegos Fireworks C.a.

May 24 WORLD PYRO OLYMPICS! | Mall of Asia, Pasay City | 3rd World Pyro Olympics
7.30pm South Korea's Hanwha Corporation -

9.00pm Australia's Explosive Productions Pty Ltd- 1st World Pyro Olympics Champion. They produced the designs used to win the 2005 and 2006 Gold Medals at the World Pyro Olympics.

May 24 WORLD PYRO OLYMPICS! | Mall of Asia, Pasay City | 3rd World Pyro Olympics

7.30pm Fellowship of Fire - Collaboration of all Countries with Philippines

9.00pm Philippines! La Mancha Pyromusical Grand Finale -- This is what I was waiting for... Pyrotechnics choreographed with music!

TIPS

1 Read FIRST: Tips for an Awesome World Pyro Experience
2 Don't Park in the Mall of Asia area. I would suggest that you park in Blue Wave or HK Sun Area at around 5pm and walk to Mall of Asia. When the last fireworks show is completed immediately start walking back to your car. You can watch the last full show after the World Pyro so that traffic would be less after the movie.
3 Reserve Your Seats NOW! I want OAP Readers to have the best seats during the World Pyro so I created the directory of recommended restos below.
4 Learn Fireworks Photography from OAP! I am still thinking if there will be people interested who would like to learn from me. Please let me know. I can accommodate 10-15 max per night. (You can form a group and I can join your group )
5 Any Tips? I learned many times that I'm not the authority and most of my readers have better tips than me. Some would watch in Folk Arts Theater Area or book a room in Sofitel with a view of Manila Bay. Can you share your own tips and tricks?

RECOMMENDED PLACES with PHOTOGRAPHER'S VIEW

1 WORLD PYRO OLYMPICS MAIN AREA | San Miguel by the Bay Center Esplanade (Near Fountain) | Ticket Net +632 991-5555. Main Office +632 817-3073 (x 102) | P150. P1,000. P1,500 with set menu
2 PIER ONE Bar and Grill | San Miguel by the Bay Center Esplanade (North Side of Fountain) | +632 636-5175 (For Big Groups only) | No Reservations. First come First Serve.
3 PADI'S POINT Restaurant and Bar | San Miguel by the Bay Center Esplanade (South Side of Fountain) | +632 386-3729. 986-9610. +63 921 738 4847 (Joanne). +63 921 738 4847 (Celeste) | P500 Consumable
4 TAGAYTAY HIGHLANDS STEAKHOUSE | 2F Entertainment Center Mall of Asia (Above IMAX North Side) | +632 556-0769. 5560768 | P 1,500 Set Menu
5 AZUL's Filipino Spanish Cuisine | 2F Entertainment Center Mall of Asia (North Side) | +632 556-0742 | Set Menu
6 CAFE VIA MARE Filipino Cuisine | 2F Entertainment Center Mall of Asia (North Side) | +632 556-0770. 5560812 | Set Menu
7 GUMBO A Taste of New Orleans | 2F Entertainment Center Mall of Asia (North Side) | +632 556-0238. 556-0239 | Set Menu
8 PRINCE OF JAIPUR North Indian Cuisine | 2F Entertainment Center Mall of Asia (North Side) | +632 556-0839. 556-0867. 556-0869. +63 915 870-3024 | Set Menu
9 PINK PEPPER French Restaurant & Lounge Bar | 2F Entertainment Center Mall of Asia (Center North Side) | +632 556-0397. 468-8388. +63 906 268 8388 | P 1,500 Buffet Menu
10 MOJITO BAY Reggae Corner | 2F Entertainment Center Mall of Asia (Center North Side) | +632 556-0608 | P 750 Set Menu (tentative)
11 UCC Coffee | 2F Entertainment Center Mall of Asia (Center South Side) | +632 556-0175 | P 499 + SC Set Menu
12 TANABE Japanese Restaurant | 2F Entertainment Center Mall of Asia (South Side) | +632 556-0360. +63 917 306257 | P 1,000 / head consumables
13 HAI Chinese Resto & Bar | 2F Entertainment Center Mall of Asia (South Side) | +632 556-0815 | P 800 Set Menu
14 HEALTHY SHABU-SHABU | 2F Entertainment Center Mall of Asia (South Side) | +632 556-0354. 556-0355 | Set Menu
15 ITALIANIS Italian Resto | 2F Entertainment Center Mall of Asia (South Side) | +632 556-0549. 901-1401 | Set Menu
16 TAGAYTAY HIGHLANDS CHINA PALACE | 2F Entertainment Center Mall of Asia (Above Discovery Center South Side) | +632 556-0291. 556-0442 | Set Menu

SPECIAL 4-HOUR YACHT CRUISE!

P1,800 with Dinner Buffet and Drinks. For inquiries and bookings, call or SMS Raymond at +63 917 8081039.

Assembly Time: 5:15 PM, Manila Yacht Club. Departure: 5:45 PM. Arrival: 10:00 PM, Manila Yacht Club

Please share this with your family and friends who would like to experience the World Pyro Olympics this May 2008!

Text me if you have more questions +63 917 LOVE OAP (5683627). Please don't hesitate to ask me, I just want to make sure that you have an awesome experience in the World Pyro!

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

El Rio Y Mar - 10 Reasons Why I Prefer El Rio over Club Paradise

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If El Nido has a Miniloc and Lagen Resort, Busuanga has the sister resorts of Club Paradise and El Rio Y Mar. El Rio is 30% cheaper than its sister company Club Paradise. In the same way that I like Miniloc Island in El Nido, I love El Rio Y Mar for its laid back friendly ambiance, safe beach, and near kayak-friendly lagoon area.

El Rio Resort is located in an island where the Busuanga river meets the South China Sea -- hence its name in Spanish, El Rio Y Mar.


The sister resorts are very complementary. Club Paradise's weaknesses are El Rio Y Mar's Strengths.

10 Reasons Why I Prefer El Rio over Club Paradise


1. An inviting Infinity Pool which is the centerpiece of the entire resort.


2. Elegant Cedar Wood Log Cabins with Hot and Cold Fresh Water Showers :) Better rooms and 30% cheaper than Club Paradise!


3. AwEsome Sunset where the lagoon acts as a mirror reflecting the stunning colors of the sunset.


4. Super Friendly People who pamper you with all the comforts and luxury by day...



.... and making your stay truly enjoyable, and memorable even at night.


5. A jamming Welcome session by day...


... Live acoustic guitar jamming session every night


6. A steep but manageable 30-minute Hiking Trail at the back of the resort.




7. Yummy Seafoods Galore on the Menu...



8. FREE drinks and FREE shirt by beating the 7 shots in 7 seconds (Let me know if you want to know the secret on how to drink 7 shots in 7 seconds)


9. Less Tourists because most of them are in Club Paradise. Most Filipinos prefer this resort especially honeymooners because it is quiet and private. Anyway, there are complimentary boat rides to Club Paradise if you want to visit for a day tour. It only takes 30 minutes to go to Club Paradise.


10. An extensive water sports facility --- from Kayaking to Banana Boat, etc.



Don't expect Boracay-sand-like quality beach in this resort. At night, you will see Jelly fish landings on the beach.


El Rio Y Mar
San Jose, Coron, Palawan

Manila Office:
Regent Bldg., Malunggay Road
FTI Complex, Taguig
Metro Manila, 1604, Philippines

Phone: (+632) 838-4462 and 4762
Email: info@elrioymar.com or elrioymar@europacific.ph
www.elrioymar.com

How to Get There:
From Manila: you can take One-hour flight from Manila to Busuanga (YKR) via SEAIR, ASIAN SPIRIT or a 12-hour Cruise from Manila to Coron via WGA Superferry.
From Coron Pier: Upon reaching Coron Pier, there will be a 1-hour jeepney ride from Coron Pier to YKR Airport (Busuanga)
From Busuanga Airport: Upon reaching Busuanga Island, there will be a 30-minute jeepney ride followed by a scenic 20-minute boat ride.

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Club Paradise, Coron, Palawan

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Have you heard of the term “Boracay of the North”? It is almost a cliché because a lot of resorts or beaches claim that they are the Boracay in the Northern part of the Philippines. So when I heard that Club Paradise is claiming that they have Boracay sand beaches in the island, I disregarded it as another marketing gimmick.

I was wrong!

Club Paradise is a high-end resort on Dimakya Island, Municipality of Coron. The island is part of the Calamian Group of Islands situated at the Northern tip of Palawan. Its biggest asset is its 700m Boracay-like sand beaches and the trapped-in-an-island kind of ambiance. In 2 hours you can already be in Club Paradise --- only 60 minutes via Sea Air / Asian Spirit and another 60 minutes land drive plus a boat ride to the island.



It is centrally located near the dive spot areas which includes:
1. the housereef (reef surrounding the island) with its abundant fish life
2. the nearby feeding ground for green turtles and dugong (sea cow) -- (yes not only in Donsol and it is more of a cute sea pig for me)
3. the Japanese freighter Kyokuzan Maru, (30 minutes away)
4. and, Apo Reef Natural Park, a world-class diving destination in the western side of Busuanga (about 3 hours)

Also, you can go on a 1 day Coron Tour and Caluit Safari tour. Both would be 2 hours away from Club Paradise. I would also recommend the island hopping tour of:
-- Isla Walang Lang-Aw (Island without Trees) -- a small sand bar with rocky cliffs on its left side;
-- Isla Walang Tao (Island without People) -- boasts of many tall, splendid corals; and,
-- Diatoy Island -- with its bountiful trees and wild flowers.

It has its own wine cellar with 24x7 air-conditioning which you can reserve for a private party with your friends.

Club Paradise is a nature-oriented resort where they are committed to preserve the natural habitat of endemic species. I spotted the Monitor Lizard and the Fruit Bats hanging over our heads.

MONITOR LIZARD (Varanus salvator). Monitors are among the oldest living lizards. Unlike many lizards, the monitor lizard cannot grow its tail back if it is lost. Monitors have forked tongue and they tend to swallow their prey whole, like snakes. They don’t flick out their tongue to threaten instead they use it to locate their food. When they are provoked, they use their powerful tails to whip or lash out their enemies. A unique characteristic of Monitor Lizard is its mobile head attached to its long neck. Its habitat may be aquatic (water) or terrestrial (land). Monitors are good swimmers, they can climb trees and they are scavengers of the land. They eat carrion (decaying food or prey), eggs, crabs, fish, insects, snakes, nestling birds and squirrels. Monitors are carnivorous and will devour anything. (see Club Paradise Fauna)


FRUIT BATS. Bats are the only flying mammals in the world. They roost in trees during daytime hanging upside down because they have feet that are not strong enough to be able to stand. They may hang with their wings wrapped around to protect their bodies, or if it is hot, may use their wings to fan themselves. Fruit Bats are good at flying but they cannot land gracefully. They must crash into bushes or trees to come to a stop, or try to latch onto a branch as they pass by. They are nocturnal, they fly at dusk to search for food and they feed on fruit juices and flower nectars. Fruit Bats are very important because they help in pollination and seed dispersal. They pollinate the plants they visit such as bananas, cashews, avocados, mangoes and almost every tropical night-blooming plant. And then, they disperse the plants' seeds by chewing the fruit to extract its juice and spitting out the seeds. (see Club Paradise Fauna)


I would recommend that you get the beach front cottages which would costs Php 12,000++ per night (full board, lodging and transfers). There is only a P1,000 peso difference between the beach front ones and the cottages at the back.


The resort has a nice cool bar called Dugong Bar which is known for its signature drink called 7 Shots in 7 seconds. If you finish 7 shots in 7 seconds the drinks are for free. Otherwise, you pay P1,500 for the drinks. I know the secret on how to beat this and let me know if you are interested.

The Negatives about Club Paradise

The pool is a diving pool so it is not really nice for swimming or hanging around with friends. It is ironic that the swimming pool have fresh water while salt water is used in your bathrooms.


There are plenty of tourist specially Koreans. This is not your ideal place if you want to escape to a peaceful and quiet resort.


Club Paradise is worth it specially if you want to travel to Busuanga/ Coron in style.

Club Paradise
Euro-Pacific Resorts Inc.
Regent Building, Malunggay Rd. FTI Complex.
Taguig City, Manila, Philippines.

Mobile: +63 928 9350265
Telephone: +632 838 4956 to 60
www.clubparadisepalawan.com

Wig Tysmans - 10 Secrets in Capturing the Money Shot

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I learned a lot of practical travel photography stuff from Wigg Tysmans. Although his expertise is portraiture and commercial photography, he is a master of what he calls as "The Money Shot". I'm sharing with you the secrets that I learned so that you can improve your own photography and take your own "money shot".

1. The best way to take panoramic shot using your DSLR is to take panning vertical shots. It is easy to stitch vertical shots of the panoramic scene instead of horizontal shots to avoid the vignetting due to the lens.



2. The pictures that you take is a reflection of who you are. Very philosophical but true. Don't attempt to copy the works of others because you will only be dismayed with the result. Take photos of things that you love and are passionate about.



3. The best shot is always taken from an elevation. This is a confirmation of what I also learned from Master George Tapan. Always be ready with a stairs. You can call or inquire from the resort / place to check if they have one.

4. The Magical Hour. The best shots during sunset is taken during the magical hour -- 30-45 minutes after the sun sets in the horizon. Always wait for this magical hour and be ready because the lighting conditions change very fast.



5. Take the shot, have fun and go back for the right lighting condition. This is the right practical approach to travel photography. You need to enjoy and take the shot even when it is not the perfect lighting condition. You don't know when you will be back in that place again. If you have the chance to go back during the right lighting conditions, then make every effort to do so.

6. The Concept of the Money Shot. "The Money Shot" is the photo that has a lot of commercial potential. You always have to be ready to take the money shot. These shots can only be taken at a unique point of time with the unique kind of lighting and circumstances. Some calls this the chamba shot but for a photographer who is ready, then you are just waiting for the perfect moment.

7. Photographic Balance. The best application of a vertical shot is when there is something happening on the upper half of the photograph and the lower half. Don't take a vertical shot for the sake of having a vertical shot with an empty upper half or lower half. When violating a rule of 3rds and taking a center shot, make sure that there is something happening on the left and right side of the subject. Square shots are perfect because you can place the subject in any location.



8. Portrait Moments. Always look for the perfect portrait moments when you travel. These moments could be priceless and it will never happen again. How I wish I could take a portrait shot of our family with zebras and giraffes in the background. Or having the Kayangan Lake as the perfect backdrop for your portrait.



9. Always Think Out-Of-The-Box. You can use different creative elements when you travel -- macro shots, reflection of image in the water, and play with shadows,



10. Don't intimidate your subjects. Take portraiture shots of people you meet when you travel. Talk to them to put them at ease and learn the art of quickly building rapport with your subjects.

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Caluit, Palawan - My Childish Dream Come True

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Ever since I heard of the Caluit Game Preserve Sanctuary in Palawan, I always dream of visiting this Philippines' version of a Safari. I would like to believe that the Caluit Game Preserve was created as a zoo playground for Bong Bong Marcos. But nobody really knows the story behind the creation of this sanctuary in Palawan (Would you know?). I actually admire Marcos for such an ambitious vision of creating our own safari in the 70's.

With childlike excitement, I patiently endured the 2-hour boat trip from El Rio Y Mar resort in Busuanga, Palawan to Caluit Island. I can't believe that my dream of seeing the Giraffes and Zebras with my own eyes is about to come true.
The problem with Caluit is you have to go with a group so that you can enjoy the safari-like trip with other people and to make the trip cost effective.

The beauty of Caluit Island is that all the animals are free to roam around in their natural habitat. So, they need to ensure that there are no predators like lions and tigers in the island. It was super hot and dry in Caluit when we got to the island. The first moment we saw the animals, all of us started taking pictures. I forgot for a moment the teachings of Master George that the enemy of the photographer is the excitement of pressing the shutter button too soon.
This trip was a dream come true.

My only disappointment was the entire island was not developed ever since the first couple of animals were transported in 1975 from Naomi, Kenya. The zebras and giraffes were already from the third generation. Most of them are "filipino" animals already because they were born here.

The best time to go to Caluit is early in the morning before 9am where most of the animals come out.

Trigger Happy Photographers with long lens to capture the Giraffe.

Feeding the giraffe in Caluit will definitely be in my top 100 awesome experiences in the Philippines!

One other animal attraction worth mentioning is the Palawan Bearcat. Also known locally as binturong, it is one of the biggest land mammals in mainland Palawan.

There was an interesting trivia about zebras. Is it a black animal with white stripes? or a white animal with black stripes? I believe that it was the latter. They were very elusive.  So you need to earn their trust before they would approach you instead of running away from you.

When Aidan turns 5-7 years old, I will bring him to Caluit to see these animals.

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Coron, Palawan - 8 Awesome Experiences in Coron, Palawan

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1. Kayangan Lake - one of the top 100 awesome places to go to in the Philippines!
The photo above is the most photographed scene that represents Coron in the travel magazines. This scene is halfway up the mountain trail leading to the cleanest lake in the Philippines. Swimming in the cleanest fresh water lake (with a bit of salt water) in the Philippines is an experience that every Filipino should have. The entire area is perfect for taking portrait shots with limestone cliffs in the background and clean lake in the middleground.


2. Twin Lagoons - A dare awaits the brave tourist
These twin lagoons are separated by limestone cliffs with a small underwater tunnel where a brave tourist could swim underneath. It is dangerous which adds to the appeal and challenge to tourist who dare to go to both lagoons. You need to take a deep breath and do a deep swim to avoid the jagged edges of the limestone cliffs. I tried to swim underneath but I came out with a deep wound on my left big toe. Lesson learned the *ouch* way.


3. Siete Picados - 7 Islands Snorkeling area.
Most of the corals around Coron are dead except for the Siete Picados area. This spot is perfect for Snorkeling without being disappointed with the scene the underwater scene that you will see.


4. Maquinit Hot Springs and its therapeutic properties.
Don't miss on the therapeutic properties of this natural hot spring in Coron. Don 't be discouraged with its super hot temperature. You will be rewarded after with a revitalizing feeling after dipping in this hot springs for a few minutes.

5. Shipwreck Diving in Coron
Coron became famous because of its dive spots and one of these days, I will take up diving and underwater photography. I'm not an expert on the Dive areas in Coron, would you know which are the awesome dive spots?


6. Coron Town and Public Market -- Fast disappearing rustic beauty of Coron
Coron is fast losing its rustic charm because it attracted investments to develop this little town. Boracay companies are starting to build massive hotels in the town to attract more tourists. Don't miss to just walk around the town, buy danggit and roasted cashew nuts in the public market. You should also see why Palawan is the cleanest city where people pocket their cigarette butts and you will see people picking up the trash on a frequent basis.

This is my first time in Coron and I heard stories of people staying with homestays in the town just to enjoy its beauty. Are you OK with the development happening in Coron?


7. Cashew Nuts Factory -- Appreciate how the cashew nuts are processed
We decided to buy our Roasted Cashew Nuts and the Cashew Nuts Panutcha from one of the Cashew Nuts factory in the town. You can see how they prepare and process the cashew. Our favorite pasalubong from Coron is the Cashew Nuts Panutcha which is a sweet brittle made of cashew nuts and heavy brown molasses. Yummy!


8. A Bonding Moment with Friends.
The Coron boat tour is a perfect bonding moment with friends. I wanted to go back with Rache, Aidan and our friends. I'm glad that I was with the company of cool people during the Wig Tysmans travel photography workshop.

Coron Tours & Travel
Manila Office:
Regent Bldg. Malunggay Road,
FTI Complex Taguig,
Metro Manila, 1607 Philippines

Telephone: +632 838 4992 or 4956 to 60
Mobile No.: +63 915 530 2682
Email: corontours@yahoo.com.ph, reservations@corontours.com

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Banaue & Batad Expedition

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I decided to join Michelle Morelos in her Battad and Banaue Expedition versus joining the Camiguin Travel Workshop. The Banaue expedition costs P9,000 inclusive of transportation (via Bus) and 3 days and 2 nights food, lodging, and local guide fees. I've been dreaming of visiting the Banaue Rice Terraces and I will finally visit it on Labor Day Weekend 2008. Watch out for my Banaue Rice Terraces photos... Any tips and things I should not miss?

For more info about the Photo Expedition...

Paul Calvin's Deli, Fort Bonifacio

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Serendra and Boni High Street are getting crowded these days. We would usually drive around the area hoping to find a hidden resto gem that is not busting with people but provides a good ambiance and would serve good food. One of such places in the Fort Boni area is Paul Calvin’s Deli. The yellow and orange color motif is warm and inviting that lured me into going inside and check it out.

Chef Jonnathan Paul Em has a passion for making great food with no gimmicks. He was one of the pioneer chefs of Gramercy Park Hotel in Manhattan and got his culinary studies degree at the Institute of Culinary Education. I always celebrate stories of Filipinos who decided to go back to the Philippines and live to share their learnings here. I prefer to promote establishments with personality.

The meats and cheeses selections are very good while the bread needs improvement.
The meal started with a complimentary pizza bread. The bread was quite dry and hard. A day-old and several times heated perhaps?


Breakfast, Pasta and Salads | Desserts and Pastries

The all-day bestsellers in this deli are the Home Made Tapa, Smoked Sausages and Ham Pasta and Paul's Pastrami. This was my ideal meeting place with Carla from Ogilvy One.



Croque Monsieur (P 199). It is a fancy ham & cheese sandwich... But you can't argue with classic Country ham, cheddar cheese topped with melted gruyere on whole wheat bread.
The bread is as big as an Oliver's sandwich which could be shared by 2 persons. We both love the farmer's ham! But the bread that prevented us from totally raving about the food. Carla said the Gardenia whole wheat bread is a lot better. This reminds me of French Baker's Walnut Whole Wheat (P78) which I now love munching.



Mac & Four Cheese (P199). Macaroni, Swiss Emmenthal, Australian Cheddar, Italian Mozzarella and Swiss Cheese. I love the 4 cheese :)


Malunggay Bread. It tasted more of a banana bread instead of malunggay bread. According to studies, malunggay leaves contain 7x the Vitamin C in oranges, 4 times the calcium in milk, 4 times the vitamin A in carrots, 2 times the protein in milk, and 3 times the potassium in banana. Wow! Very nutritional at the same time, made me violate my diet regime once again because of my curiosity. I should've just brought this miracle malunggay loaf to Rache to enhance her milk supply.


Paul Calvin's Deli
Unit F 111 Forbes Town Center, Rizal Drive Bonifacio Global City
Near Mcdonalds and Forbes Wood Heights
Take Out. Grab and Go. Call Order.
Delivery. Call: +632 856-5900

Old World Kopitiam, Banaue

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Old Chinatown Kopitiam


If you are in Banaue and craving for Chinese, Singaporean or Malaysian dishes, then you should definitely go to Old Chinatown Kopitiam (OCK). While waiting for your dishes to arrive, you can enjoy watching the NBA games like I did. You can even have your car washed at the nearby Tazza Cafe and walk to OCK.

I always like to know the story behind the name of the restaurant. I asked Darren, one of the owners, about the origin of Old World Kopitiam via email and he said,
"Actually, we thought of the name Old Chinatown because we wanted a place with nostalgia and rustic ambiance. We serve mostly Malaysian Chinese food inspired by the hawker stalls in Penang. The kopitiam concept is inspired from my Singapore trip. Kopi is Malay word for coffee and 'tiam' is Chinese word for 'shop'. So we just did a hybrid of a resto and coffeeshop concept. Our food are all Short orders.. good for sharing."


The place can only accommodate limited seats so it quickly fills up during lunch/ dinner time. Usually, the people who eats at OCK are repeat customers and you can tell by the way they make their orders. We would usually give the menu to Aidan and ask him to order what he likes. He would look at the menu and pretend to read it and he would shout hakaw. He loves shrimp dumplings and the closest that we can order is the jumbo siomai.

Our Traditional Dishes | Hawker's Classic | Hawker's Best | Noodles, Rice and Soup | Veggies and Beancurd/Tofu | Classic Conconctions

Char Kway Teow (P228). Despite its greasiness, we love this! Tasty! This is how I remembered when I have eaten this noodle dish at hawker stalls in Singapore. A lot better than the commercialized version of Banana Leaf and it taste more authentic.

King Fish in Spicy Meat Sauce (P248). I liked the spicy meat sauce. My wife and I agreed that the fish tasted "lupa". We were wondering if it was not washed properly or because it was the way it was and there's no way of knowing if it would taste good.

Jumbo Siomai (P98). We did not like this. It is like eating a jumbo dumpling of fat cleverly discussed as meat. I guess that's how they do it in Old Chinatown but some preferred it this way. We do hope it would be full of lean meat for the next customer to enjoy.

Don't forget to end your meal with their version of Kopi with condensed milk. Eating in Old Chinatown Kopitiam is the closest that you can get to the taste of Hawker Foods in Malaysia/ Singapore.

Old Chinatown Kopitiam
86 Maria Clara St., Sto. Domingo, Quezon City
Near the busy intersection of Maria Clara and Banaue.

For Reservations : 415-1145/ 467-6141
oldchinatownkopitiam@yahoo.com

My Mother's Garden, Formerly Called Garden Room

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My Mother’s Garden restaurant is Malu Antonio Veloso’s tribute to their mother, Dona Marina Antonio, wife of National Artist for Architecture Pablo S. Antonio. Malu Antonio Veloso and daughter Letlet Antonio Veloso are famous bridal gown / fashion designers, who alternately runs the restaurant depending on reservations.

The former Garden Room café in Pasay City was transferred to this 1940s residence of Pablo S Antonio and re-branded to My Mother’s Garden. If you are an architect, your house is a showcase of your architectural prowess.

The best time to go is during lunchtime to enjoy the garden views in this ancestral house and have a slow lazy lunch in the heart of Pasay City.

The set menus ranges from P700 to P900 and comes with Fresh Fruit Juice (Just OK), Fresh Green Salad (Just OK), Oil and Garlic Dressing (Just OK) and Assorted Dessert Tarts (Awesome!) .

Menu 1: (P700) Mustard Chicken. Seafood Pasta. Melanzane.
Menu 2: (P700) Mustard Chicken. Pasta with Black Olives. Melanzane.
Menu 3: (P700) Mustard Chicken. Putanesca. Melanzane.
Menu 4: (P800) Tenderloin. Chorizo Pasta. Baked Sole with Capers.
Menu 5: (P900) Roast Leg of Lamb. Pasta with Pesto Sauce. Baked Sole with Whole Tomatoes.

The best parts of the meal (you should try them) are the Mustard chicken, Pasta with Black Olives and the Dessert Tarts. So Menu 1,2,3 should already be a good choice and no need to go for the expensive ones unless you like the baked sole or do not eat meat..

The tenderloin should be called hardloin, while the chorizo pasta is a bit salty. I don't blame them because we reserved on the day itself and they were gracious enough to accommodate us. Don’t go at night because the mosquitoes are waiting to feast on you.

I totally lost my diet when I saw the dessert tarts plate of Mango Tart, Mango Square (We love this!) , Brownies, and Strawberry Tart.


We would recommend this place and we do hope that it will be wildly successful because there are rumors that the family is planning to demolish the ancestral house.

My Mother's Garden
2650 Zamora St. Pasay CityTel. No. 831-8407
Malu Antonio Veloso (+63 917 600 8886)
Letlet Antonio Veloso (+63 918 702 2125)

Driving Directions:
From Makati, drive along Edsa until you almost reach Taft Avenue. Almost near the LRT Taft Avenue Station overpass, you will see a small eskenita with Metropoint Mall at the corner. Turn right on that small street right before Taft Avenue and follow the jeepneys turning into the two-way Zamora St. Just drive along until you see 2650 Zamora St.

Related Posts: The Garden Room is Pasay's best kept secret by Ivan Henares

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Avenue Q Final Run - 5 Reasons Why You Should Not Miss the Opening Night of Avenue Q’s Final Run!

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1. Get to see the first time performance of Carla Guevarra-Laforteza as the new Kate Monster and Lucy T. Slut.
There is a long insider story on why Rachel Alejandro, 2007 Theater Best Actress-Musical Winner for Avenue Q, was replaced by Carla. Carla was a Miss Saigon alumni and honorable mention in the 2007 Theater awards for her performance in “Song & Dance”. Rachel is the soul of the past two sold-out performances of Avenue Q. Can Carla take Kate Monster and Lucy T. Slut to a whole different level? (If you know the insider story, please post on the comments section.)

 

  “ Rachel Alejandro (“Avenue Q”). The best word for her turn here is exquisite, if not awesome.
  Among the many pleasures of this musical, Alejandro’s aching rendition of
  “There’s a Fine, Fine Line” will be remembered for some time. ”
  - by Gibbs Cadiz

 

 

2. If you missed the first two runs of Avenue Q, this is your last chance to see it in Manila.
Avenue Q is performing in Singapore in late October at the Esplanade Theater for a three-week run produced by The Singapore Repertory Theater. I’m glad that they decided to have a final run in Manila. Don’t miss this for the third time – it is really good!

“ This definitely is the MUST-WATCH theater event of 2007.
IT WILL REALLY SUCK TO BE YOU if you miss it!!! ”
- Spanky Enriquez, Manila Boy

3. Be the first one to blog about it!
One of my SEO secrets for my OAP blog is to be the first one to write a review or post about an event. For the first run of Avenue Q, I probably published the first review ever: Avenue Q High on Sept 7, 2007. I got a lot of hits for this and that is why I’m watching on the opening night of Avenue Q: The Final Run. Also, you will be the star if you can participate in the chit chat and buzz about Avenue Q's opening night.

“I’m still on an Avenue Q high after watching the final dress rehearsals of Avenue Q last night at RCBC.
This is the best musical broadway show that I’ve ever seen since Rent in Manila.”
- Anton Diaz, Our Awesome Planet

4. OAP is selling the best value tickets for the opening night of Avenue Q’s Final Run!
In partnership with Ticket 2 Me, I’m personally selling limited tickets to the June 13, Friday 8pm Opening Night and June 14, Saturday 8pm Opening Night for the Avenue Q Final Run. The shows will be sold out before June. I want my OAP friends to never miss this opportunity to watch Avenue Q's final run!

  “Avenue Q is what has become of Sesame Street while we're away getting a college degree.

  Coming back, we find a grungier, less innocent neighborhood.”
  - Socky Pitargue, Tennis and Conversations
 

Avenue Q: The Final Run! June 13, 2008. Friday. 8pm. RCBC Theater
June 13 Seatplan. Reserve Your Best Seats Now!

Orchestra Center (P 1, 300). Special Online OAP Price $ 30.0
Orchestra Sides (P 1,100). Special Online OAP Price $ 25.0
Loge (P 1,000). Special Online OAP Price $ 23.0
Balcony (P 500). Special Online OAP Price $ 11.0

All Major Credit Cards are accepted. No Service Fees or Processing Fee. Compare Prices @ Ticket World.

 

Avenue Q: The Final Run! June 14, 2008. Saturday. 8pm. RCBC Theater
June 14 Seatplan. Reserve Your Best Seats Now!

Orchestra Center (P 1, 300). Special Online OAP Price $ 30.0
Orchestra Sides (P 1,100). Special Online OAP Price $ 25.0
Loge (P 1,000). Special Online OAP Price $ 23.0
Balcony (P 500). Special Online OAP Price $ 11.0

All Major Credit Cards are accepted. No Service Fees or Processing Fee. Compare Prices @ Ticket World.

Alternatively, you can reserve via email (anton@diaz.ph) and pay me in regular peso rates by depositing payment in my BPI bank account.

5. It is the best Happy Father’s Day gift you can ever give this 2008!
Manila celebrates Father's Day on the Third Sunday of June. Tickets to Avenue Q will be the best gift you can ever give this 2008. If you are away from Manila, you can purchase online and let me know if it is a gift so that we can personally wrap it with your greetings. Please specify it in your order above in the comments/ special delivery instructions.

 

“Look out for the wonderful performances that make you pause and think “am I reacting to the puppet or the actor?”,

the darn good singing from most of the cast (a few weak links won’t spoil the broth except for the overly picky),
moments of feeling transported back to childhood/young adulthood/actually most of life’s roller coaster

  moments throughout the show, and laughter that won’t stop till that last encore.”
  - Mila Tan, Watergirl.

7 Tips on Havaianas' Flipping for the Beach Contest

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Havaianas launched the "Flipping for the Beach" Contest this summer to discover the unexplored gems and favorite coastal destinations in the Philippines. Department of Tourism Secretary Ace Durano fully supports the contest and declares that the 7 winning destinations will be included in DOT's focused tourism destination next year. Secretary Durano, together with Vince Rodriguez, Executive Producer of Studio 23 's News Central, Ms. Anne Gonzalez, Managing Director of Terry S.A, and top 7 travel writers in the Philippines will form the panel of judges for the contest. I’m honored to be part of the panel of judges and recognized as one of the country's top travel writers along side with the editor in chief of Mabuhay Magazine, Travel Life and the other travel publications in the country.

I’m excited to be a part of the judging on May 10. We will choose seven (7) winners who will receive the following:
- An exclusive Havaianas pair
- A 3 day/ 2 night all-expense-paid trip for two to the destination he or she wrote about
- Summer goodies from David and Goliath, T-Box and Dakine


(7 Waves in Anawangin Beach. The 7 waves special Havaianas series celebrates the Brazilian ritual of welcoming the New Year. Dressed entirely in white, Brazilians go to the edge of the sea and hop over 7 waves just after midnight. This ritual is believed to bring good luck and to open new paths for the year that is just beginning. I think the 7 waves for Men was inspired by Anawangin beach..)


Please make sure that you adhere to the contest guidelines:

1. It should be about a Unique Beach Getaway in the Philippines
2. Focus on distinctive experiences that you can expect from that destination
3. Deadline is on May 1, 2008
4. Write with no more than 500 words!
5. With at least photos taken at the destination. Make sure to take a picture of yourself in the destination as proof that you have been there.
6. Document via video (60 to 90 seconds running time in VCD or DVD format)
7. Photos and videos don’t necessarily have to have Havaianas featured in them. (But if you have one, why not?) 


For more details on the mechanics, please see flyers and counter-standees in select stores and for other inquiries, please call the “Flipping for the Beach” Secretariat at (632) 7809898 landline, (0927) 6621127 mobile, or email promo@havaianasphilippines.com.

Some thoughts and tips:

1. Keywords are UNIQUE destination and DISTINCTIVE experiences. I still yet to receive the formal judging criteria but I would put higher rating on beach destination entries that I have not been to.

(7 Waves in Pundaquit Beach)

2. Remember that you enter the contest to promote the destination that you love. Because if you win, we will feature that destination and DOT will promote it next year.

(7 Waves in Capones Island)

3. Your entry should stand out. Remember that there are 10 different judges and all coming from different backgrounds. The top travel writers have been to most of the common beach places in the Philippines since they are the editor in chief of their publication.

(7 Waves in Capones Island Beach)

4. Tips to make it unique. The way to make it unique is to pick a destination that is undiscovered, put yourself and your family/ friends in the picture, and make sure the final product (essay, video) is technically good. Common beach places like Boracay can be unique if you have a unique angle that has never been written about.

(7 Waves in Anawangin Beach)

5. Be Creative. I’m looking for creative entries and keep in mind that you are promoting the destination. You do this by sharing your first hand experience of the place. Make it funny and entertaining as much as possible.

(7 Waves in Anawangin Beach)

6. Do it for the love of it. Don’t enter the contest just to have a chance to win. Do it because you love doing it because even before we judge the entry you are already a winner. It needs to be your own personal masterpiece.

(7 Waves for Men and Women)

7. 7 Waves Havaianas. Remember that this is to promote the exclusive, limited edition Havaianas 7 Waves for Men (in Black and Silver) and Women (available in slim beige/ gold style).

Anawangin's Mystical Beach

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My Unofficial Entry to Havaianas "Flipping For the Beach" Contest :)

Can you keep a beach secret? I finally discovered the mystical beach called Anawangin in Zambales. Its name, Anawangin, literally means full of carabaos (nuang is carabao in Ilokano). This beach is very popular in the mountaineering community. It is a very special beach and most people who have been there wants to keep it as a secret. With the imminent opening of the Subic – Clark – Tarlac expressway, the 5-hour long road trip to Barangay Pundaquit, San Antonio, Zambales (which protected Anawangin from Manila beach goers) will now be cut down to less than 3 hours.


Imagine this place...Pine trees grow and thrive along the beach to provide shade and protection from the sunny heat. The explosion of Mt. Pinatubo covered the boulders and the entire beach cove with fine ash fall sands. At noon, the grey sand turns pristine white giving an illusion of Boracay-like beach sand. A portion of the beach is protected and maintained by Aeta descendants. There are no resorts available so you have to camp for the night if you want to stay overnight. Your food/ water: clothes ratio should be 2:1.


The beach sands and waters are undoubtedly clean, which makes it deserving to be called a paradise.



Just swim close to the shore at waist deep high. Bless the soul of the person who drowned in Anawangin last Good Friday an hour after the commemoration of Christ death. The most probable cause is the strong under current in Anawangin.
There are two ways to go to Anawangin: You have to hike for 5 hours climbing Mt. Anawangin with a height of 464 meters above sea level. The other way is to take a boat from Pundaquit beach.


We took the road less taken and decided to do a very early morning trek (4am). Our Anawangin expedition team were Ivan of Ivan About Town travel blog, Gideon Lasco of Pinoy Mountaineer blog, and Sienna of the UP Medical Outdoor Society.


The hike up was very steep with mostly wild grass covering the mountains and occasional trees.


Ivan would agree that it was fortunate that we were with two UP Med students to give him the acupuncture relief.


From the summit of Mt. Anawangin, you can already see the white beach cove ahead.


All of us agreed that the most difficult part of the climb was the descent. I fell down a number of times on my back and had cut and bruises. I regretted not wearing the proper hiking attire for the climb. We encountered a wild carabao (abundant in the area) looking and waiting to attack us. Our guide was quick enough to throw stones at him to keep him far away from our trail. We even got lost on our descent because we were entertained by the witty riddles of our guide.


After getting back on track via a “short cut” (a metaphor for make-your-own trail), we saw a small pyramid-like mountain, which gives me the creeps. Pyramids are usually associated with sacred tombs, that's why!


We had to cross a photogenic marshland lined with pine trees before arriving at Anawangin’s beach paradise.


An easier way is to stay overnight at any of the resort of Pundaquit Beach and rent a boat the next day to go to Anawangin. You can choose from a budget friendly resort like Nora’s Beach Resort or the high end, Punta de Uian in Pundaquit Beach. The boatmen are very friendly and you can arrange a round trip boat ride for less than P1,000. The boats are small with a maximum capacity of 5 people. Just a tip, bring waterproof bags or don’t forget to cover your things in plastic bag.


While in Pundaquit, don’t forget to drop by and climb up the authentic Spanish lighthouse in Capones Island. Also, if you are lucky, you can catch the violinist Coke Bolipata’s performances at Casa San Miguel in San Antonio, Zambales. I missed both during our Anawangin visit and I vowed to come back with my son, Aidan.

Related Post: Anawangin Cove and the Capones Island Lighthouse by Ironwulf.

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.

Shhh...

U2 3D Premieres in Manila

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U2 3D Up Close

Official U2 3D Website: U2 3D Movie

I watched the premier press preview of U2 3D movie last night. I was not ready to witness a historic technological advancement in concert films history. I would agree that this is even better than watching the U2 concert live. At one point in the movie, I felt I was in the front row crowd singing "Sunday Bloody Sunday" with U2. The imagery created by the concert performance and video screens are something to see. You can be intimate with Bono who sings directly in front of you in virtual reality -- a defining moment in 3d movie history. The combination of 3d images and text, 5.1 surround sound quality and actual participation of the IMAX crowd, makes the experience surreal.

It would have been great if the entire crowd in IMAX was standing up with the crowd and singing. But again it was press night and most of the oldies just decided to sit back and watch. I know that you will be watching this specially the U2 fans out there. Please come with a mindset that you are attending a concert and having the best virtual reality interaction with U2 and the stadium crowd. Sing, wave your hands, clap, bring out your cellphones and forget for a moment that you are in a 3d IMAX theater.


U2 3D was shot during the last leg of the "Vertigo" tour in South America. U2 is not only recognized for their musical invention but also for reaching out to millions of fans through new technologies. This technologies include the use of video screens during the 1992-93 "ZooTv" tour, LED displays on their 1997-98 "PopMart" tour, and recently, the use of dimensional, light beaded video curtains above the stage at their 2005-06 "Vertigo" tour. They were also the first bands to embrace the Apple iPod device coming out with a U2 branded iPod. Bono wanted to go somewhere magical with the creation of U2 3D. He decided to shoot the South America Vertigo tour to capture the enthusiasm of the crowd who are excited to watch U2 after an eight-year hiatus from the continent.

Here is a 30 second clip on the U2 3D movie:

The images were so sharp that you notice the wedding ring worn by Edge or the half empty mineral water located beside the Larry Mullen Jr, the drummer.


They sang all our favorite U2 songs of our generation. U2 3D Song Lists:

VERTIGO
BEAUTIFUL DAY
NEW YEAR'S DAY
SOMETIMES YOU CAN"T MAKE IT ON YOUR OWN
LOVE AND PEACE
SUNDAY BLOODY SUNDAY -- I love this segment!
BULLET THE BLUE SKY
MISS SARAJEVO
U.N. DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS
PRIDE (IN THE NAME OF LOVE) -- memorable...
WHERE THE STREETS HAVE NO NAME
ONE -- The best!
Encore Songs
THE FLYWITH OR WITHOUT YOUYAHWEH


Bono singing "WHERE THE STREETS HAVE NO NAME" with the flags of the countries in the video screen.


There was a crowd scene where everybody were bouncing up and down in unison. Awesome crowd and I'm lucky to get a bird's eye view of the concert.


A bulk of the concert was shot in Buenos, Aires, Argentina (River Plate Stadium) to capture mid to long distance shots, capturing performances on stage and the passionate reactions of 80,000 fans from nine digital 3-D camera systems. They also shoot intimate close-ups of the U2 performance during a cameras-only show the night before two public concerts in Buenos Aires. The show is a love letter to U2's fans all over the world. Rache and I wanted to touch Bono's 3d face and regretted not doing it for fear of looking silly.


We love U2's last encore song, "With or Without You". Rache and I felt that we were in college again...


In the 3d version, you will see all the letters floating in 3d and you are immerse in a 3d showdown that you have never seen before.


Most of the shots are framed with a small crowd in the foreground. This creates a virtual effect where the people in front of you is a continuation of the crowd in the movie. You will feel that you are in the middle of the crowd.


One love
One life
When it's one need
In the night
One love
We get to share it
Leaves you baby if you
Don't care for it



Bono we will remember this! Thanks for reaching out to your fans here in the Philippines via the U2 3D movie.


Watch U2 3D in IMAX in SM Mall of Asia. P500 entrance ticket. Contact 556-IMAX(4629) or 556-0242

Copyright 2008. Our Awesome Planet

Massage Under Pagsanjan Falls

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Trip to Pagsanjan Falls

Have you experienced the full body massage under the Pagsanjan Falls? We finally did it. and it was fun, scary and something that is worth the hassle of going to Pagsanjan. The safest time to go to Pagsanjan Falls is during the summer season when the water level is low and the waterfall is smaller and less powerful. We have been always discouraged of going to the falls because of illegal boat flaggers on the way to Pagsanjan Falls. Here are some tips on planning your Pagsanjan Falls trip:

1. Avoid the weekend or holidays where there are a lot of tourists. We would recommend to go on a weekday to avoid the traffic jam on the way to Pagsanjan and the tourist crowd.

2. Don't ever stop or entertain the illegal flaggers who would offer you overpriced boat ride to the falls. In fact, they are rude and would shout at you as if you violated a one-way road. You'll be intimated with the number of people swarming to offer you boat rides. Some of them will follow you via a motorbike so don't even attempt to have an eye contact with them.

3. Go to an accredited resort directly where you can pay for the proper boat ride fees. Currently, It costs P635/ person for the boat ride to the falls and P90/person for the raft ride to have the massage under the falls. Unfortunately, there is no kids rate so we paid full price for Aidan. We went to Pagsanjan Falls Paradise Resort (+63 49) 808-4393, 808-5494.

4. Expect that you'll hear a pitch that the boatmen only earn from tips. The intent is to condition you to give a high tip. Currently, the tourists are giving them P200 or $5 per boatman (there are two boatman per canoe). For the Raft man, he is expecting P100 tip. In total, we gave P500 tip to make everyone happy. That is an expensive tip for a local tourist, and the right tip would have been half of that. On the other hand, it is also very hard to paddle all the way to the falls and they took care of us throughout the entire trip.

5. Allot a total of 5 hrs to go up to Pagsanjan Falls from Pansol, Laguna. We went to 88 Spa and Resort in Pansol, Laguna for lunch and drove to Pagsanjan for 90 minutes. The entire boat ride is 2 hours. You'll be going back for another 90 minutes in time for the sunset scene in Los Banos.



Aidan was scared at first but courageous enough to join us inside the Pagsanjan waterfall. He is already wearing a swim suit so that he is ready to get wet. BTW, we heard that the film crew who was filming when we went inside the Pagsanjan Falls was from Unang Hirit. It was a pleasant surprise. I wonder how it looked because Aidan was so scared of the sound of the Pagsanjan Falls.
The boat men would navigate via paddling, pulling and pushing the canoe through the rapids. Also, they would use their feet to navigate and give initial momentum to the canoe ride. Going up the river is difficult because of the downstream current.


At first we decided to sit Aidan in between us to give him assurance that he would be safe. Good thing, the water is clean so we don't have to worry about getting wet. On our way down, Aidan already sat in front.


The boat men have already created a system on how to handle one way streets. The boats going down are given priority because they have more momentum since they flow with the direction of the current.


Upon reaching the Pagsanjan Falls, you can ride the raft inside the falls and get a once in a lifetime massage under the falls.


It was indeed a great bonding session with Aidan. For me, I was able to check off Pagsanjan Falls in my list of awesome places to visit and blog about.

Explore Busuanga, Palawan with Wig Tysmans

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Next Stop: Palawan Travel Workshop with Wig Tysmans. I'm taking back to back travel photography courses and I've always dreamed of going to Busuanga, Palawan. I would like to share that experience with you.

If you would like to join, check out www.colorstravelguide.com for details.

Earth Hour 2008 - See The Difference You Can Make

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Our Awesome Planet officially supports Earth Hour 2008. I was excited to be a part of the lights out event today at 8pm-9pm. The main Earth Hour event was held in the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) lawn area. I decided to document the Earth Hour Manila 2008 in CCP via this Photo Essay. Also, can you share your own Earth Hour experience?


People eagerly waiting for the lights out event in front of CCP area.


30 seconds countdown to lights out.


CCP with full of lights. This is right before the lights were shut off by 8pm Manila time.


CCP, Star City, Jollibee, SM Malls, Meralco, and many others joined the lights out event. The entire Roxas Boulevard lights were shut off, SM Malls reduced lights by 50%, CCP/ Star City lights were off for an hour. The only lights that I see are coming from the hotel rooms in the area.



Our family is committed to live an environmentally friendly life.


During the lights out, there were a few performers to entertain the crowd. The one hour just passed by...


Earth Hour is perfect for Night Photography....


I'm a proud member of Manila Jaycees which fully supported Earth Hour 2008. Chef Garbs CEO Lex Adasa and Family in full support of Earth Hour 2008.


Roxas Boulevard @ Earth Hour 2008 Manila.

10 Timeless Lessons I Learned From Master Photographer George Tapan

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Saying I learned a lot from George Tapan would be an understatement. He unselfishly shared his secrets on why his photographs are timeless and priceless. He taught on the field by setting up the scene, capturing the photo and showing you how to produce a timeless photograph. He spent a lot of time in the critique session. He personally worked with each person to take their photography to the next level. It does not matter if you are a beginner, a hobbyist or a professional because he will make sure that you become a better photographer after his workshop.

In the same spirit, I’m sharing with you the 10 lessons I learned from the Master George Tapan to hopefully inspire you to take your photography to the next level:

· Choose the high ground point of view. Always see if you can take the high ground point of view by getting a ladder, taking it on top of the jeep or putting your subject on a lower plane.

· Colors are critical to a timeless photograph. Solid colors are very important and there were a number of times that Master Tapan would ask the subject to reverse their clothes. Most of the time branding logos and text creates a distraction in the image.

· Know the culture of the place before taking the photo. I’ve learned this before that there is no substitute with researching the culture of the place or subject. You can do this by researching before you travel or ask from the locals.

· Make your photos unique. I know from past workshops that you need to make your photos unique, but Master Tapan showed me how to actually do it. You can do it by getting a unique point of view that nobody else saw, put a subject on the right place at the right time, or taking your photos at the right time of day.

· Details are very important. Master George would stress that you should carefully create your scene and plan every aspect before actually clicking the shutter. Most of the times, we don’t care about the elements of the photograph as long as the subject is within the rule of thirds.

· Separating the Foreground from the Background. I know this conceptually, but this is the first time that I really understood how to do it. For example, when taking a photo of a person, you need to make sure that the head has a clutter free background.

· Ask properly from your subjects. We learned that it is easy to ask your subject to pose or act for you. The key is just to ask properly and with a confidence of a photographer.

· Live the Passion. I admired Master George Tapan because throughout the entire Batanes trip he was so excited to take photos like he was just starting. He is an amateur at heart who just really loves photography after 38 years. I’m only taking photography for 3 years and sometimes I feel the fatigue of taking shots.

· Excitement is the enemy of a good photograph. Most photographers are trigger-happy. The excitement of seeing a beautiful scene distracts a photographer from composing the perfect shot. Pause for a while and carefully examine the landscape and the subject before clicking that shutter button.

· Patience is the secret. The secret is taking the shot during the right time (early morning or late afternoon). If needed, you should go back a number of times in the scene to get the perfect lighting. Also, you should wait for the right subjects to include in your composition. If needed, orchestrate the scene to get that perfect photograph.

The Rustic Beauty of Batanes

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I expected Batanes to be awesome because of the rave reviews of people who came from this island. It exceeded my wildest expectation. You definitely have to go to Batanes once in your lifetime. (Unfortunately, Asian Spirit flights to Batanes are already fully booked for this summer) The landscape sceneries in Lord of the Rings and the rustic beauty of the Jurassic Park flashes through your mind as you explore the Batan and Sabtang islands in Batanes. Check out these awesome Batanes scenes! ( I do hope that Master George Tapan's will be proud of his student's work - I credit him for taking my photography to a different level )

1. Rakuh a Payaman – This is my favorite place in Batan Island especially during sunrise. Locals call this the Marlboro country and this is a grazing land for the carabaos and cows in Batan Island.
   

2. Dekey a Kanayan, Alapad – One of the magnificent views in Batan Island. You can see the ruins of the LORAN station a former US navigational facility.

3. Bo Savidug, Sabtang Island – Everyone falls in love with this old community of old stone houses called vahay in Ivatan.

4. Bo. Chavayan, Sabtang Island – Bo. Savidug and Bo. Chavayan are the two old stone house communities that makes Sabtang Island a must see visit during your Batanes trip. I love playing with the Ivatan children in Bo. Chavayan.

5. Chamantad-Tinyan Sitio Views, Sabtang Island – One of the grazing land views in Sabtang Island.

6. House of Dakay – This is the Oldest standing Ivana Stone House since 1887. Lola Florestida Estrella welcomes everyone who visits her house.

7. Valugan Bay Boulder Coast – The charms of the boulders in Valugan Bay gives this a Jurassic Park appeal.

8. Diura Fishing Village – one of the must see fishing community in Batan Island especially during the fishing season.

9. Batanes Sunset and Sunrise – You will literally jump for joy with the awesome Batanes Sunset and Sunrise scenes. Perfect time to capture those jump shots.

10. The Ivatan Children - Everyone falls in love with the Ivatan Children’s big anime-like eyes.
    
11. 

I’m creating the ultimate travel guide to Batanes and we’ll publish it soon for those traveling in Batanes. I was also hoping to create the Ultimate Batanes Tour sometime in End May/ First Week of June for a small group of people (if I can reserve the Asian Spirit flights). Let me know if you are interested.

The Filipina 2.0 Personality

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This is my official entry to WikiPilipinas and FilipinaImages Writing Project: “Filipina Stories”. WikiPilipinas, the Philippine Encyclopedia will unveil a special portal, The Encyclopedia of Philippine Women which will feature achievements of Filipinas all over the world.

The Iconography of the Modern Filipina
The Filipina 2.0 Personality -- A Digitally Extrovert, Modern Maria Clara

There is no doubt, a new breed of Filipina is emerging. In the surface, they have the qualities every Filipino men wants to have: beautiful and confident, reserved but knows what she wants, and super caring despite all odds. These are the same traits that Filipinas are known for around the world and most foreigners covet to have. You won't immediately recognize them when you meet them because you need to know them in a much deeper level. I'm sure you have met these new breed of Filipinas which I call, the Filipina 2.0 and here is how you can recognize them:

Digitally Extrovert

These new breed of Filipinas are introvert when you meet them but they are extrovert online. They are would usually share a part of their emotional shelf via their blogs / websites. Online, they share what they think about the places they have been to or the food that they ate and how they spend their life today. They are very honest about their opinions and feelings. Interacting with the online community is very important to them. They network with women who shares the same experiences or within the same life stage.

Modern Maria Clara

There is no doubt that they are beautiful in their own right and starting to embrace the unique Filipina qualities. They are reserved but she knows what she wants for the family, career and aspirations in life. She is still a super caring lady despite all odds and would die for love. She is always in touch with the latest trends and in touch with realities in life.

Her Own Boss

They are very entrepreneurial and decided that she wants to be her own boss. She is also the CFO of the household and ensures that cost savings program are in place. Kids are her most important asset in life. She would do whatever she can to develop the kids to the best of her abilities.

Mrs Awesome Planet – The Filipina 2.0 Personality

My wife belongs to this new breed of Filipina 2.0. I admire her because she sacrificed her career to be a stay at home mom to take care of Aidan and Josh. She continues to breastfeed Aidan after 3 years and syoti Josh as well. She takes care of both of them with the help from Tita D during weekdays. She does not fail to prepare food when I go home after office. She usually would call me throughout the day to ensure that I am fine at work. Recently, she convinced the family to turn off our Cable TV because of its harmful effect on the kids and watching most of the shows are a waste of time.

She started her own blog, Mrs. Awesome Planet (www.mrsawesomeplanet.com) to generously share her point of view about the places we visit or the food that we ate. She is starting to get a following and sees that the comments on her blog are steadily increasing. In the next few months, she will be launching a shopping vblog to share the hidden shopping secrets in Manila. She started to earn income online in only a few months.

Have you seen this new breed of Filipina 2.0 personality lately?

Ice Cream Bar (Flavors by FIC)

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It's Ice Cream Time!

The FIC Ice Cream Bar is now open at the Joya Tower (in front of 7/11 in Rockwell). I was excited to check it out because there is a new dessert bar that you can go to after dinner in Makati. Also, I want to check out their Frozen yogurt dessert. The ice cream bar menu is simpler than Five Cows in Trinoma. I would still vote for Five Cows in terms of creativity and uniqueness of the ice cream concoctions. But if you love FIC for its premium quality dairy and milk ingredients, then this is the place to be :)

Related OAP Posts on Frozen Yogurt:
Cold Spoon Frozen Yogurt - The Next Dessert Craze in the Philippines!
Sorry Ice Cream, I'm On My Way to Pinkberry!
Red Mango-licious
I Love Berries Frozen Yogurt -- The Best Froyo so far in Manila...
Ice Cream Bar (Flavors by FIC)
Yogurbud
The White Hat - Let the Fro-Yo Wars Begin in Manila!
The Buzz About Froyo's
California Berry Frozen Yogurt
Lulubelle
After Lego Island, Enjoy Yoh-Gurt Froz!

Soft Serve Frozen Yogurt (P120) with P15 for every topping. I was disappointed with the Frozen Yogurt because for the tiny serving it would costs P150 with 2 toppings. With Cold Spoon Frozen Yogurt, it only costs about P100. Secondly, it is more of an ice cream with a bit of a yogurt taste. But it is still a healthier option to choose versus the ice cream ones.

Ice Cream Bar Menu:
Splits | Parfaits | Sundaes | Specials | Signature Concoctions 1 and 2 | Drinks | Scoopings and Toppings | Real Bites

The chocolate overload (Signature Concoctions) for P320 is good for sharing.

Warm suman served with a serving of mangga't suman ice cream, caramelized muscovado and frozen chocolate shell (P120). This is a nice simple dessert to end your night.

The Chocolate Milkshake Kiddie Size (P110) is Aidan's choice!

The Ice Cream Bar (Flavors by FIC)
Store Hours: 10am to 10pm daily
Joya Tower, Joya Drive (beside Power Plant Mall) inside Rockwell Center.

[Flavors of La Salle] Solomon's Guest House

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Be Our Guest @ Solomon’s

One of Malate's secret places is called Solomon's Guest House. It is the practicum restaurant of De La Salle - College of St. Benilde School of Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management. Only the creme dela creme of the batch are allowed to operate and run the restaurant for a particular term. Since it opened in May 2003 to the public, they now have 14 batches of students serving the Solomon Guest House. Batch-14's theme is Mediterranean Cuisine and Solomon's House Classics.

It is named after a De La Salle brother - Br. Solomon Nicholas Leclerq who was martyred during the French Revolution on September 2, 1792 and the first to be beatified among the La Sallian brothers on October 17, 1926. The Solomon Guest House is hidden along one of the side streets from the corner of De La Salle - College of St. Benilde Angelo King Building.

What we love about Solomon house is that you can eat their Parm Crusted Fish classic complete with presentation and ambiance for less than P100. Also, their paninis are sold for P65 only. The service is very good and the students are very professional. We love to bring our guests here. However, the Solomon House fails in comparison with all the other practicum restaurants that I have been to. That is sad because CSB's culinary arts has the highest tuition and they are on trimestral basis.

The actual house is small so they decided to have al fresco dining with umbrellas and tents because more and more people are going back to Solomon's Guest House.

We had a lunch meeting with Chef Garbs' CEO Lex Adasa and wife. This place is popular for meetings so you better reserve ahead of time.

Solomon Guest House Batch 14 Menu 1 | Menu 2.

Solomon Special Panini (P65). Only 65 bucks for this yummy treat! I'm going back to Solomon house just for this.

Chicken Pesto Linguini (P75).The pastas should be cooked al dente style and not let it be drowned in its sauce. Oh well, for P75 this is way better than a Jollibee meal.

Parm Crusted Fish (P95). Pan-fried fish served with pesto pasta and side salad. They got the fish right and no wonder this is the best seller in the house. This is perfect for the lenten season if you happen to be in Malate area near La Salle.

Choco-Lava Cake (P60). Chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream and strawberry sauce.

The desserts are a waste of calories but I must admit this is already the best within the De La Salle area.

The Solomon Crepe (P60). Peach and blueberry crepe topped with heavy cream and chocolate.

Solomon Guest House
1025 C. Ayala St. corner Arellano, Malate Manila
Operating Hours: Monday - Friday: 8:00AM to 6PM, Saturday: 8:00AM - 2:00PM

Telephone Number: +632 536 6416

[Flavors of La Salle] Cerealicious

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Cerealicious - Are you Delicious?

 

Cerealicious is still the first and only Cereal Cafe in the Philippines. One of their first few branches was located in Sherwood Place in front of DLSU. On a normal day, it is packed with students just hanging out and enjoying the healthy cereals. The marketing of using movie titles to package their cereal creations is brilliant. It is young, fun and makes you feel like a kid again. No wonder, Cerealicious continues to expand to other school vicinities and other areas outside Metro Manila like Cebu and Davao. We need to have more of these healthy alternatives to the fatty ice cream and fatty chocolate cakes. They deserve all the media attention they are getting for the past 3 years. Congratulations on your success!

How I wish I was a student again... I'm tempted to enroll in a post graduate course just to hang out with students again. I love the Green feel of the Cerealicious Taft branch.

There are 30+ cereals and 40+ toppings to choose from. For starters, you just need to choose from the Cereal Blockbusters (tried and tested combinations). It consists of Cereals + Milkshakes + Toppings and Ice Cream. The small trailer bowl costs P43 while the blockbuster bowl costs P85. (see complete menu)


Jumango. Play the game, Sarah. Be on an adventure with one of our all time top hits. Cornflakes, mangoes and honey crumble. Don't you mumble. Let's play a game. Can you guess my name?

Nutting Hill. Can the most famous film star in the world fall for just an ordinary guy?

Aidan and Rache are certified Cereal Lovers :)

Ground floor Sherwood Place, Taft Avenue Manila (in front of DLSU) Tel: 484-3283
Open Monday to Friday 8:00am to 8:00pm and Saturday at 8:00am to 5:00pm
E-mail them at cerealiciouscafe@yahoo.com, call them at (02) 413 8320 or text at (0917)795-4481.
Official Website: www.cerealicious-ph.com

[Flavors of La Salle] Mama V Resto

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Beef Tapa (P89).

Mama V @ The Providence Tower is what I would call an All Filipino Restaurant. It probably serves all the Filipino food that we loved since our childhood. Beef tapa (in 12 special flavors), tocino, pork chop, corned beef, sisig, 9 pork variations (afritada, binagoongan, caldereta, kare kare, menudo, patatim, pochero, sinigang, sweet and sour), macaroni salad, spaghetti tomato, adobo, pork/chicken barbecue (in 12 special flavors) and chicharon.  The menu is targeted to students and most of the dishes are less than P100.

It was established way after we graduated from DLSU and it caters to La Salle, CSB and St. Scho crowd. The place is not sossy but it is patronized by the students. Finding a parking is always a challenge so better avoid the heavy traffic hours (usually late afternoons)

Mama V Restaurant Menu | The Mama V Story

One interesting thing worth checking out is the P5/per song 24 hours a day Karaoke. There is no entrance fee, no cover charge, no person/per hour charge. The private air conditioned rooms can comfortably sit 5-10 persons but I usually see more people inside the room. I miss the college days where you hang out in a karaoke to celebrate someone's birthday and the more squeezed you are inside the room-- the better it is (if you know what I mean :)

(For room reservations with advance food   orders, call Tita at  02 440 8749)

Sisig (150grams) - (P100).  The sisig is always a best seller in a Filipino food places you go to.

Chicharon Bulaklak (P100). The best that I have ever tasted because of its crunchiness and flavor.

French Fries with Chili Cheese Sauce (P59). This is a good pulutan to order and there is something special about these fries because of the way it is cooked.

Lengua ni Mama V (Made to order).  We loved this lengua and so did Aidan.  The meat was really tender so Aidan was able to chew and digest it.  He even asked for more that surprised us.  Hmmm....Aidan's beginning to eat like an adult. This is not in the menu but I guess you can request for it in advance.

Tocino (Pork) Tapa (P89). This is part of the breakfast meals which comes with the sinangag rice and egg.

Lemon Chicken. A healthier choice.

Ox Lengua w Mushroom Sauce. This is my personal favorite and you should request their lengua specialties if possible in advance.

They have a 24 hour convenience store in front of the restaurant and caters to the night people or during holidays when all the establishments are closed. 

Mama V and Tina V showing off their restaurant.

Mama V Restaurant
2471 Leon Guinto corner Estrada Street, Malate, Manila
Telephone: +632 523-8307, 440-8249, 524-4714
www.providencetowermanila.com

[Flavors of La Salle] Do you remember Garaje?

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Garaje

 

We have always wondered what happened to our favorite Garaje turo turo place in La Salle. Garaje was the favorite food hang out place for DLSU engineering back then and most student raved about that place in the 1990s. Fast forward to 2000, it already moved to a nearby location where there are no signs and you can only see a small door beside a sari sari store. We actually got lost and had to call a few folks to give us direction. This place gave us an idea to do a series on restaurants/ food places around the La Salle area that is worth blogging about.

We lived in the Malate area near DLSU, so we decided to have our family lunch in Garaje. Rache was still pregnant with Josh but this did not stop us from reminiscing our college days ignited by the Garaje food.

I think this is Aidan's first taste of a turo turo place and we asked him to order for us.

Inside Garaje, are rows of tables where students can hangout and watch Eat Bulaga or Wowowee. I love the ambiance of this place, reminds me of our childhood home in Chrysanthemum, Laguna.

The favorite dish in Garaje was Inihaw na Liempo. For all our meal with drinks, we only paid less than P200.

I love eating in a turo-turo place that has a reputation and history. We love Garaje :)

One Night in Manila

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I'm excited that my short contribution for Lara Day's One Night in Manila article in Time Magazine was published already. Lara asked three people about their recommendation to people if they only have one night in Manila. I was interviewed together with Jake Macapagal, 40, theater and independent-film actor and JLizette Claudio, 26, head of artist and media relations, MTV Philippines. Check it out:

One Night in Manila by Lara Day

The Mavens of Internet Marketing

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Read: New Beginnings! Strategic Profits Live 2008 Blog

I am still thrilled to have met and learned from almost all of the mavens in the Internet Marketing Industry namely: Rich Schefren, Jay Abraham, Frank Kern, Mike Filsaime, Jeff Walker, John Carlon, and Gary Vaynerchuk. The conference gave me the right internet marketing mindset, the strategies and techniques on how to succeed in the interactive marketing and web 2.0 age. I also met a lot of friends in the internet marketing space who I can trust. There are a lot of "Sharks" out there and you need to be very careful if you want to go into the internet marketing space. The only Filipino I know who is serious in this space is Joel Christopher of Master List Builder University. Let me know if you know of other Filipinos out there so that I can reach out and network with them effectively.

It was the best conference I attended in my life. It beats an AIM MBA education and even more cutting edge from what I learned in P&G. My favorite marketers are Rich Schefren, Frank Kern, Gary Vaynerchuk and master Jay Abraham. I would like to share with you some of my key learnings from the 6 days conference I attended:

1. Know your strengths and passion. Create a pre-eminent position leveraging on your strengths and passion. You are the king in the area of your strengths and where you are most passionate of.

2. Different. Unique. Authentic. -- These are the keys to win in the interactive age. Copy cats and black hats will not survive in the Web 2.0 era.

3. Create your Maven-ship position in the market place. You need to create a strategy to become a "Maven" of your niche. Be conscious of creating your own persona, character traits and unique communication channel in the market place.

4. Brand yourself online. Most Filipinos I see are seduced by the easy money schemes and seo tactical strategies that they are killing their brand online. This is the wrong way to approach winning in the online space.

5. Market from your CORE Identity. Marketing becomes very easy when you talk from your CORE Identity. The key is understanding yourself more and identifying what your perfect day would look like.


I know some of these might be confusing. I can explain some more for those who are interested. I'm starting a new blog focused on the internet marketing concepts so that we can start educating Filipinos on what would it take to succeed in this space. Please email me if you are interested in this area and if you have specific questions.

I'm going back to Manila already. I super miss Rache, Aidan and syoti Josh already...

Frank Kern - Mass Control

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Frank Kern is now my Internet Marketing Idol! He is so cool and he gave a "weird" presentation on CORE IDENTITY on how to effortlessly market and influence people. ( Sorry, I know this might be a weird incoherent post. )

Money Goals are not important and should not be your top most priority. What is important is to paint a picture of what your perfect day would look like. This day reflects the certain lifestyle that is centered on our passions, a happy family life and our legacy. This is your CORE Identity and the more you align yourself on the CORE identity, the happier you will be. Once you identified and attained your CORE Identity, help other people who has a similar CORE identity and guide them to reach the lifestyle they want to live.


Thanks Frank Kern for sharing with us your Jenius Internet Marketing stuff. I must admit the entire conference was raving about his presentation. Please see an excerpt on the conference:


New Beginnings! Strategic Profits Live 2008 Blog

Stragic Profits Live Event: New Beginnings

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New Beginnings Strategic Profit Live Event

Greetings from the house of the mouse in Orlando, Florida! Allow me to be off topic for a bit because I'm attending this awesome conference in Orlando called: New Beginnings Strategic Profit Live Event 2008! All the best internet marketers of the world are attending this no-pitch event conference to teach people like me on how to take our internet marketing to the next level. This is an awesome event and I would like to share with you some of the insights that I got from this conference.


I started the day by attending mass at the National Shrine of Mary Queen of the Universe in Orlando. This was built for the christian travelers going on vacation in Orlando so 80%+ are visitors. Anyway, after the homily, the priest wanted to bless all those people who have been married for more than 50 years. It was awesome to see a lot of married people who stood up and got blessed. At the same time, I have a realization that I don't want to enjoy travel when Rache and I are already 80 years old. I want to go to Orlando Florida with Aidan and syoti Josh when the boys are old enough to appreciate Disney.


Tom McCarthy, the inspirational speaker and hosts, opened the conference with the same spiel he used to open last year's strategic profits conference. The buzz around the conference halls is that he is doing a Tim Robbins thing. He was sweating like he is not a professional speaker. It was a good start but it could have been better and more energizing.

I'll share with you some of my insights for each presentations.

Diddy Riese Cookies

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LA is crazy about the Diddy Riese cookies and you can see the long lines above to prove it.

I love Diddy Riese cookies because they are fresh, crunchy in the outside but soft / chewy in the inside. The bestsellers is the Cookie Sandwiches where you can select any two flavor of cookies and a choice of Dryer's ice cream. Diddy Riese is 2x better than Mrs. Fields (yes, that is how good these cookies are). I do hope somebody franchises it in the Philippines.

Our recommendation is the Oatmeal Raisin Cookies with Walnut.


All the cookies are served fresh and people order it by the dozen. The cookie turnover is very high and usually you get your cookies hot.


a sneak peak into a dozen of Diddy Riese cookies... super yummy!

Thanks to ate Carmina for bringing us to Diddy Riese cookies...

We ended the night with an arcade game of Deal or No Deal ($2/play) . I think that a Kris Aquino Deal or No Deal arcade version would be a big hit in Manila.

Red Mango-licious

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Thanks to OAP friends for introducing us to Red Mango! I was curious about the so-called Fro-Yo wars. So, we drove all the way to Westwood in LA to find out what the fuss is all about.

Related OAP Posts on Frozen Yogurt:
Cold Spoon Frozen Yogurt - The Next Dessert Craze in the Philippines!
Sorry Ice Cream, I'm On My Way to Pinkberry!
Red Mango-licious
I Love Berries Frozen Yogurt -- The Best Froyo so far in Manila...
Ice Cream Bar (Flavors by FIC)
Yogurbud
The White Hat - Let the Fro-Yo Wars Begin in Manila!
The Buzz About Froyo's
California Berry Frozen Yogurt
Lulubelle
After Lego Island, Enjoy Yoh-Gurt Froz!

The tagline of Red Mango is authentic Frozen Yogurt. Indeed, you can taste the yogurt's tartiness and this is exactly the taste of Cold Spoon's frozen yogurt we tasted in Pampanga, Philippines. What makes Red Mango unique is their focus on making their froyo healthy. It is packed with live and active cultures and they have healthy options in terms of toppings -- Mandarin Orange packed with Vitamin C and they don't serve Oreo cookies. Our favorite toppings are the mochi and small bits of Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate -- both of which are not available in Pink Berry.

Red Mango cost the same as Pink Berry's yogurt. $2.50 for the small original yogurt and $3.50 for the green tea. One topping costs $1 and 3 toppings cost $1.50.

Thanks to Brobo Lorenz and wife, Carmina for the Westwood Food Trip!

The Verdict: I love Red Mango because of its yogurt taste and benefits vs the creamy deliciousness of Pink Berry. My brother and Mina still love Pink Berry.
Official Website: Red Mango USA

Piccolo Mondo's Pizzas

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Piccolo My Mondo

Aidan or Josh?

Piccolo Mondo is now located in Tagaytay for some time now coming from its humble beginnings in Aguirre St and Casa Susana in Alabang. It is owned by celebrity Chef Mervyn Whitfield's whose claim to fame is being the chef of the Beatles at one point of his career.

Piccolo serves the BEST pizza in Tagaytay. Their pizza is known for its thin crust but with a fluffy bite because it is baked on volcanic slabs. A lot more people in Tagaytay are raving about Piccolo's Pizza. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same for their pasta which suffered from overcooking or commercialization of its operation.

This is one of the places close to Hotel Kimberly along the main Highway Aguinaldo road.

Piccolo Mondo means small world.

Our Chef | Soups and Salads | Le Pizze | Appetizers | Breakfast | Catering Packages | Beverages | Coffee and Drinks | Rissoti & Desserts

We ate at Piccolo the day after Valentines so you can still see some decent attempt to have a romantic atmosphere using cut out hearts. I liked the homey feel of the resto and it would have been nice if Chef Mervyn was around. One of the draw of the restaurant is meeting the British celebrity chef himself.

Pizza al Quattro Formaggi and Pizza Margherita (price of the higher value pizza, P385).

You can order half pizza's because the pizza dough, tomato base and cheese are the same.

Zuppra di Asparagi (Cream of Asparagus) - P75

Seafood Pasta. We were disappointed with the noodles which was overcooked and swimming in its sauce. The taste was good so we finished it.

Piccolo Mondo Restaurant
5940 Aguinaldo Highway, Tagaytay City
Telephone Number: +63 46 413 1942

World Pyro Olympics Revised Schedule

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Related Posts: Tips for an awesome World Pyro Experience

Here is the revised schedule for the World Pyro Olympics! It was postponed to after Holy Week. Tickets will be available on the first week of March.

MARCH

Best Time to go watch and shoot the awesome Manila sunset!
Start of the Donsol Season in Bicol!

17-23 MORIONES FESTIVAL | Marinduque
Re-enact the story of Longinus, a Roman centurion who speared the crucified body of Jesus Christ.

17-23 HOLY WEEK! | Philippines
Philippines' most sacred week!

20 HOLY THURSDAY!
Commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles.

21 GOOD FRIDAY!
Commemorates the crucifixion and death of Jesus at Calvary.

23 EASTER SUNDAY
Celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ

30 FEAST OF THE DIVINE MERCY | Philippines | Plenary Indulgence for Divine Mercy Sunday
The soul that will go to confession and receive holy communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment!

APRIL

The Peak Time in Boracay.

5 WORLD PYRO OLYMPICS! | Mall of Asia, Pasay City | 3rd World Pyro Olympics
China (2nd World Pyro Olympics Awardee) vs. Germany

12 WORLD PYRO OLYMPICS! | Mall of Asia, Pasay City | 3rd World Pyro Olympics
Japan vs. Canada

7 BATAAN DAY (ARAW NG KAGITINGAN) | Monday
In lieu of April 9, Bataan Day

19 WORLD PYRO OLYMPICS! | Mall of Asia, Pasay City | 3rd World Pyro Olympics
Italy vs. Venezuela

26 WORLD PYRO OLYMPICS! | Mall of Asia, Pasay City | 3rd World Pyro Olympics
France vs. Korea

MAY

3 WORLD PYRO OLYMPICS! | Mall of Asia, Pasay City | 3rd World Pyro Olympics
Australia (1st World Pyro Olympics Champion) vs. Philippines! The Grand Finale

Hotel Kimberly and Little Souls - A Peaceful Escape in Tagaytay

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Away for a Quiet Weekend



I would recommend Hotel Kimberly if you are looking for a quiet escape in Tagaytay away from the hustle and bustle of the Tagaytay Ridge. This 4 star hotel is located 3 km away from the main Tagaytay ridge road. Once you see the Korean Resto Neul Boom Garden along the main road, turn to Amadeo road and drive for 5 mins to the hotel.

Its location is surrounded by subdivision which gives it a provincial feel. It targets couples who want a secluded escape and families with kids who want a peaceful existence. The place is conducive for relaxing and we slept most of the time with Syoti and Aidan.

Aidan loved the playground and wanted to try the swimming pool but it was too cold. Overall, the food is just OK so you would see people only eating in the restaurant because of the free breakfast included with the stay. I like the zen and modern feel of the rooms and specially the lobby! The best part of your stay in Hotel Kimberly is the super warm service of the 100% Filipino staff!

Thanks to Hotel Kimberly for a relaxing stay!


We got a twin deluxe room that can comfortable accommodate 4 people. The bed, TV, shower are all new. They are still waiting for wifi to be available in the rooms. There is no complimentary water so make sure to bring some.


We love the high celing lobby with the accent lights! It is so cool to hang out in this lobby with Aidan.



The original plan is to go swimming but it was too cold in Tagaytay. I wonder how can other people enjoy this swimming pool ever since they opened.


This is the view of the hotel from the Gazebo area. I can imagine that this would be nice for a wedding reception.


Aidan owned the playground that day. This is a very good idea for kids.


The service size of the breakfast was disappointing and nothing to rave about.


I love going out with Aidan on a road trip like this. How I wish syoti Josh can walk already so that we can play together with Aidan.


Here is a tip when you stay in Hotel Kimberly. Make sure to visit the Peach Sister in the Little Souls Chapel. Read the story of this church from Maan's Pilgrim site below. Always remember to attend the 10am Sunday Mass in this church. The Little Souls Convent and Chapel is located after the MAHOGANY MARKET. Actually turn right after the Mater Dei Academy on Mahogany Avenue. (See here for the location map)

Little Souls Convent and the Sacred Crucifix from Belgium

Little Souls Sisters
Order of Little Souls of the Merciful Heart of Jesus
( Healing Holy Oil from the Sacred Crucifix is available at the convent)
Telephone Number: +63 46 860 1619, +63 2 809 2409
Mon to Friday 6pm
Sunday 10am
Saturday 10am and 6pmwww.littlesoulssisters.com

Hotel Kimberly
Brgy Kaybagal, Amadeo Road, Tagaytay City
(632) 521-1888; (632) 526-4957
www.hotelkimberly-tagaytay.com

Tootsie's Tagaytay

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Tootsie’s Patootsie

I'm sure you must have seen Tootsie's banners along the Tagaytay ridge inviting you to try them during their dry run. You won't miss it and I bet you were also curious on what Tootsie offers. Named after its owner, Tootsie, takes pride in serving Filipino Home Style cooking and sharing their family recipes. I was happy to see an alternative Filipino restaurant other than Viewsite, Josephine's, Leslie's or the grill restaurants along the ridge. Unfortunately, the kitchen is still unstable after 2+ months of operation. The dishes are innovative and unique but taste like commercialized home cooked meals.

Have you tried Tootsie's?

Entrees, Starters, Salad, Pasta | Filipino Homestyle Cooking | Desserts and Beverages

We ate brunch @ Tootsie's on a Friday morning when we went up to Tagaytay to check out Hotel Kimberly. It was empty and sometimes we prefer it that way because Aidan can freely roam around.

Pancit Molo Valentino (P334). A soup cooked the traditional way with the freshest ingredient - live shrimp, native chicken... Lola Marina's recipe, improved by Carol, our cook and a special favorite of our dad, Valentin. Always copied but never duplicated!

This was the best seller of the house and rightfully so. The soup was thick with the native chicken broth, the essence of the shrimp and some ingredients that made the soup kinda yellow. I liked the generous serving of Molo soup. This is perfect during the cold windy season in Tagaytay. I would recommend going to Tootsie's if just for this Pancit Molo Valentino.

Tinoyong Bangus (P235) Fried Batangas boneless bangus marinated in soy sauce and calamansi juice, another family favorite.

It was big and very salty. But I guess what should you expect with Tinoyong Bangus? I can't understand why this was a family favorite if it causes kidney stones.

Pancit Buko (P173). Stir fried Chinese noodles sauteed with fresh vegetables and buko slivers.

This was an interesting combination. It was weird to combine the pancit noodles with sweet buko juice and slivers. Try this if you are adventureous and always seeking out a different kind of Filipino food experience.

As Rache said in her blog post, Tootsie's Patootsie , we'll give it a try after a few more months. Hopefully we meet the owner, Tootsie herself.

Tootsie’s Tagaytay
Ms. Hanna Liwag (Operations Head)
(63.922)888.3435

Sorry Ice Cream, I'm On My Way to Pinkberry!

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I'm now a Frozen Yogurt addict after I tasted the holy grail of Frozen Yogurt -- Pink Berry in LA! Pink Berry opened in LA last 2005 by two Korean entrepreneurs, Shelly Hwang and Young Lee. (see: The taste that launched 1,000 parking tickets) It has been a craze in LA ever since and in fact, Pink Berry was bought by Starbucks . (see: Starbucks founder bites into Pink Berry)

The official theme song in Pink Berry's website says it all and I can't get it out of my head.
" Sorry Ice Cream, I'm dreaming of a different dessert.
Pink Berry Shave Ice and Frozen Yogurt.
It doesn't feel like I'm cheating when I'm eating it.
Coz its healthy...I feel better already..."
...
"Sorry Ice Cream, I'm on my way to P-I-N-K-B-E-R-R-Y Pink Berry!"

A Shout Out to Starbucks, Manila -- when can you bring Pink Berry to the Philippines?! I'm craving for Pink Berry Frozen Yogurt!

Related OAP Posts on Frozen Yogurt:
Cold Spoon Frozen Yogurt - The Next Dessert Craze in the Philippines!
Sorry Ice Cream, I'm On My Way to Pinkberry!
Red Mango-licious
I Love Berries Frozen Yogurt -- The Best Froyo so far in Manila...
Ice Cream Bar (Flavors by FIC)
Yogurbud
The White Hat - Let the Fro-Yo Wars Begin in Manila!
The Buzz About Froyo's
California Berry Frozen Yogurt
Lulubelle
After Lego Island, Enjoy Yoh-Gurt Froz!

Pink Berry Frozen Yogurt has three yogurt flavors: Original Yogurt, Green Tea and Coffee. I tasted all three and I love the Green Tea yogurt specially with a kiwi topping. The original yogurt has a gelato smoothness feel and has the right sour and sweet taste. The coffee flavor is new because of Starbucks influence. It has a weird acquired taste -- just think about a sour coffee with a sweet yogurt taste. Given the pricing below, expect that this will be a P100+ frozen yogurt when it arrives in Manila.
Original Frozen Yogurt
Small $2.50 + each topping $0.95
Medium $3.50, with 3 toppings $4.95
Large $5.50, with 3 toppings $6.95
Green Tea and Coffee Frozen Yogurt
Small $3.50 + each topping $0.95
Medium $4.50, with 3 toppings $5.95
Large $6.50, with 3 toppings $7.95

Thanks to my brother Enzo and wife Mina for treating me to a Pink Berry Frozen Yogurt experience!


They now sell these cute and playful kitchen accessories.


Check out Pink Berry's official website: www.pinkberry.com
(Warning: Please don't go to their official website if you don't want to get the Pink Berry Last Song Syndrome)

Cold Spoon Frozen Yogurt - The Next Dessert Craze in the Philippines!

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If you love Mcdonalds' McFlurry or Jollibee's Sundae, you will definitely love Cold Spoon Frozen Yogurt. It is a much healthier dessert alternative because it is Yogurt instead of Ice Cream. It is non-fat, low calories, with vitamin c, with calcium and live lactobacilli! I can't wait for the first franchise to open in Manila.

Thanks to Spanx for this Korean dessert discovery in Angeles, Pampanga.
Cold Spoon serves the best frozen yogurt! by Ivan Henares
The Best Little FROZEN YOGURT Shop in the Philippines by Spanx

Related OAP Posts on Frozen Yogurt:
Cold Spoon Frozen Yogurt - The Next Dessert Craze in the Philippines!
Sorry Ice Cream, I'm On My Way to Pinkberry!
Red Mango-licious
I Love Berries Frozen Yogurt -- The Best Froyo so far in Manila...
Ice Cream Bar (Flavors by FIC)
Yogurbud
The White Hat - Let the Fro-Yo Wars Begin in Manila!
The Buzz About Froyo's
California Berry Frozen Yogurt
Lulubelle
After Lego Island, Enjoy Yoh-Gurt Froz!

We LOVE Frozen Yogurt! The Frozen Yogurt is as smooth and sweet as ice cream but has that yogurt-asim taste and healthy benefits.

A medium-sized cup with premium toppings is P90
(Spanx suggests Comstock blueberry or cherry, or Butterfinger bits)

Other toppings are available at P85:
Oreo, M&Ms, gummy bears, almond clusters,banana nut clusters, raisins, chocolate or strawberry syrup,Mueslix cereal, or Maltesers candy.

Joan, the Korean owner, was personally serving us during the Ultimate Kapampangan Tour 2.0 during the Hot Air Balloon Fiesta!


Cold Spoon is located along the Fil-Am highway,a diversion road that's a shortcut from angeles city to clark.

If you're coming from inside Clark, exit the Friendship gate, just go straight along the main road, don't turn left or right. That main road exiting Friendship gate leads directly to the Fil-Am road that goes all the way to the Nepo Mart area of Angeles City. Just follow the road, you'll cross a long bridge along the way,and traverse the highway until you see the Grand Palazzo Royale complex on your right;that would be Barangay CutCut, Angeles City.

Cold Spoon will be 2 minutes away on the left side. If you get lost, text Joan at 0918-5680134 , she owns the store ",)

What the Survey Says About the Ultimate Kapampangan Show-Off 2.0

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Ultimate Kapampangan Show-Off 2.0 Thanks to all of our tour friends who joined us for the Ultimate Kapampangan Tour 2.0: Up Up and Away! Hupping, Puffing, and Pumping in Pampanga! Also, thank you for the gift of feedback because we learned a lot from this tour.


Rating Scale: (1) Horrible (2) It is OK. (3) We had a good time. (4) I love it! (5) Awesome! I would recommend it!

Overall Tour Experience Rating: 4.0 (I love it!).
Our target is to get a 5.0 (Awesome! I would recommend it) on all our tours and we learned a lot from the Hot Air Balloon Fiesta tour.

What do the tour participants have to say about Ultimate Kapampangan Show-Off 2.0?

" The hot air balloon, the massage, the farm, the food, and the pizza are all wonderful experiences. However, you need to focus more on avoiding long lulls. We stayed too long in the farm it became boring. And to top it, we left two hours too late (based on my understanding was the plan), we missed the migratory bird experience. Because of bad roads, the migratory bird experience is a one-off arrangement. No more going back. Sayang. But the effort and perseverance is noted. The perseverance alone should make future tours with you worthwhile. Just plan better. "

" The trip was a good start for me....I don't mind the early call time and we left quite on time. I think it would have made a big impact if the ride was more comfortable than it was...i guess its also because i'm quite tall and i also encounter the same discomfort when riding planes on economy class......I really enjoyed the balloonfest since my objective was to take pictures...the press passes made all that difference from just going on a trip on my own. As for the food, I think i expected more in terms of variety and "yum" factor......the massage was a lot better than expected.....the ambiance in that small little cabana was a pleasant surprise......"

" I totally enjoyed. Would like to go to another tour in the future."

" I'm supposed to click on the "Awesome! I would recommend it!" kaya lang baka mawalan ako ng slot next time. "

" It was a PERFECT day tour for me and Kristine since it was our first time in a group tour locally and especially the Hot Air balloon festival. We are already looking forward to the next ULTIMATE destination tour of the group:-) Food is fantastic. Recommendations reached a lot of people already with what we have experienced. Thanks a lot guys and More Power!!! "

" The tour was well planned. "

" The tour was great. Everyone’s warm and friendly especially Anton, the Ivans, Spanky and Rommel who are equally nice, informative and affable. And I love the fact that Aidan was also there.. I think he’s even cuter in person. *wink*"

" really had a blast... i especially liked how some places were surprises. good times!! =)"

" What a great food trip!"

" Our heartfelt thanks to all of you for putting this together. We know it takes A LOT of imagination and dedication to get something like this off the ground, we're behind you 100% of the way. Count us in your future trips, we keep meeting the most interesting people! Hope this feedback helps with the succeeding tours. "

PART 1. OVERALL NIGHT TOUR EXPERIENCE: 3.3 (We had a good time.)
The night tour failed our expectations and we vow to learn and improve next time around.


BUS/ LOGISTICS: 2.54 (It is OK)
Although the bus driver and services are reliable, we won't be using that coaster anymore in our future tours.


OASIS HOTEL: 3.67 (We had a good time.)
The garden hotel was cute but not enough to impress our guests. We will go to ABC Hotel next time!


HOT AIR BALLOON NIGHT GLOW: 2.0 (It is OK.)
On Saturday, the winds were so strong, it prevented the balloons to inflate. The saturday crowd in the hot air balloon festival was very disappointed. A lot of Hot Air but no Balloons.


C ITALIAN DINING: 5.0 (Awesome! I would recommend it!)
C Italian Dining exceeded all our expectations. I'll dedicate a separate post on this.


WALKING TOUR OF ANGELES NIGHT LIFE: 4.0 (I Love it!)
This walking tour has a potential. The Angeles Beach Club Hotel was out of this world.

Q. What do you think made this tour a memorable experience?

" The hot air balloon, of course."

" the balloonfest was great......the full body massage was also refreshing.....the resthouse of LJC was a good photoshoot experience too....."

" Meeting new people!"

" Yung food!!! saka ang kukulet ng mga participants!!! i think you guys were able to achieve the "barkada experience". Mas masaya kasi pag barkada although ang setback nun eh hindi mo yun ma-a-achieve sa first try. I think nag-work this time kasi familiar na yung iba with some people. Saka buti na lang yung iba magaan kasama. Saka ang laki pala talaga ng mga Lobo. Yikes!"

" The camaraderie of meeting new people from all walks of life is an experience"

" Aside from watching the hot air balloons take off, Abe's farm really is a treat since it was the place where everyone really felt at peace and relaxed during the tour compliments of the massages and the sumptuous buffet! "

" the food (kapampangan, yum)! the heavenly massage (i'm such a sucker so i have lots to compare it with pero ang sarap parin sobra... parang the best so far for me)"

" Memorable for me since I did not have any friend/s with me in the tour (since my friend backed out the last minute due to an urgent rendezvous) so it was really a new (and exciting) experience for me."

" Albeit that, I was able to meet new friends who have similar passions, i.e. food, travel, photography & lomography"

" people, food, surprises..."

" an owner of the hot air balloon was so nice & let me get inside his square-like basket & took a souvenir shot of me while he blew up the light up up the sky as though he is going to let me fly with them,,for free maybe...hahahahha!"

PART 2. OVERALL DAY TOUR EXPERIENCE: 3.85 (We had a good time!)

We could have improved the execution of the day tour specially during the latter part after the Abe's Farm experience.

HOT AIR BALLOON TAKE-OFF: 4.58 (I Love it!)
Most of us fell in love with the balloons. We felt like kids again except for Aidan who got scared.


VFW BREAKFAST: 3.38 (We had a good time!)
I think the food was not impressive to the participants. We got to find a different breakfast place for next year's fiesta.


COLD SPOON: 4.25 (I Love it!)
The next dessert craze in the Philippines is Frozen Yogurt!


ABE'S FARM LUNCH: 4.08 (I Love it!)
The participants loved it but personally the Ivans, Spanx and me was a bit disappointed with quality and quantity of the food.


NURTURE SPA: 4.08 (I Love it!)
Most people appreciated this after waking up at 2am in the morning!


CAMALIG PIZZA: 3.33 (We had a good time!)
This is the best Filipino pizza but it is best to be eaten in the restaurant itself. The crust was not anymore crunchy when we ate it at Abe's Farm.


CANDABA WILD LIFE PRESERVE: 2.58 (It is OK!)
This was poorly executed and should have been the best way to end the tour. We were late by 10mins to see all the white egret birds fly. Also, we failed to give the story of these birds.

My IKEA Valentines -- Blog Writing Contest For a Cause!

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IKEA PH and Our Awesome Planet present:

My IKEA Valentines Blog Writing Contest For a Cause!

ABOUT IKEA PH
IKEA PH is an importer of quality IKEA products and they source most of their stuff from IKEA in China. I know of 2-3 IKEA importers but IKEA PH provides the best reasonable prices out there. If they don't have it locally, you can order from the IKEA catalog and they would make sure to bring it in their next shipment. They have a small showroom store in 120 Kamias, Quezon City but you can see most of their inventory at ikeaph.multiply.com.

SIMPLE MECHANICS
1. Write a blog post on the theme: Why I love IKEA!
2. Put the following links inside your blog post:
IKEA linked to ikeaph.multiply.com
Valentines linked to Valentines.com.ph
3. Put a comment on this post linking your official blog post entry.
4. Deadline for entries will be on February 29, 2008!

BONUS:
Throughout the duration of the Blog Writing Contest, all Friends of Our Awesome Planet are entitled to a 5% discount at IKEA Philippines.
For each purchase, an additional 5% will be donated to Kythe in your name!

BOARD OF JUDGES
Eugene Enriquez of IKEA Philippines
Rache Diaz of Mrs Awesome Planet

PRIZES
1st Prize: Uplighter (P980).

2nd Prize. Collage Photo Frame (P350). (rightmost side photo frame)

3rd Prize. Rajtan Spice Jars (P150)

BONUS DISCOUNT COUPON

Additional 5% is donated to Kythe in your name!

One of the bestsellers in IKEA Ph is this flexible cutting board.

Another bestseller is the Reading Lamp and Uplighter combination (middle of the photo) which sells for only P1,250.

IKEA Philippines

Our showroom is located at 120 Kamias Road, QC.

We are open Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 7pm, weekdays from 8am to 5pm.

Kindly email us at ikeaph@gmail.com or text 0920-9276514 for inquiries. Thanks!

Kiong Hee Huat Tsai is Happy New Year in Binondo

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Kiong Hee Huat Tsai!!
In Binondo and with most tsinoys that I met, Kiong Hee Huat Tsai is the proper way to greet Happy New Year! Kung Hei Fat Choi is a more commercialized greeting (I guess).
Personally, I am starting to get the hang of celebrating Chinese New Year after 5 years of being married to a Chinese family. I started to appreciate the family gatherings the night before Chinese New Year. Also, for the second straight year, we visited Binondo and joined the Chinese community in celebrating the Year of the Rat. I shifted my mindset to think about Chinese New Year the same way we celebrate the first of January. We are starting to build family traditions around Chinese New Year, so let me share with you how we celebrated it this year!

The night before Chinese New Year is always celebrated with a simple family gathering because it was the Chinese Christmas. Everyone was in red to bring good luck for the new year ahead. We played with Syoti Josh in the morning before Momma Rache and Aidan went out to meet Happy Slip.

Happy Slip Meet and Greet

It was nice to see Christine again during the Happy Slip meet-and-greet. The online community was smitten by her beauty and by her welcoming aura. She is no doubt a celebrity but she is still down-to-earth when dealing with other people. The event started with lunch at Mag:Net cafe and a solo performance by no other than Josh Verdes. I love Happy Slip's message to the online community to pursue your passion and trust God to open the doors for you. I'm proud that she is a Filipina -- beautiful, creative, and God-centered.

The online community was generally behaved and everyone was trying to get a video of Josh' performance and her speech. Aside from the crowded Mag:Net cafe, the event was well managed by Yehey! Congrats Donald for a very successful meet and greet event!

I liked this picture of my Happy Wife in Red. This photo was taken by Aidan!

Chinese New Year in Binondo

We visited Binondo after, so that Aidan can chase the dragons. This dragon in particular is the longest one I have seen going around the Ongpin area. Aidan got scared of the loud firecrackers so we were not able to go near one. My original plan was to take a picture of the dragon with Aidan wearing his Stitch hat: Kiong Hee Huat Tsai!!

Once again, we tagged along with Ivan ManDy's tour and we met Mr. Ube himself in his restaurant, Cafe Mezzanine!

Our favorite in Ivan's Binondo Walk tours is the Kuchay Dumplings of Dong Bei! It is now a tradition in the family to eat Dong Bei Dumplings on Chinese New Year.

Crepe de Chine

Chinatown's Crepe de  Chine

Sometimes, when you are in Binondo, you want to escape the crowded Ongpin scene and try out a restaurant that has the convenience of a Makati resto. Crepe de Chine (Chinese crepe) offers this convenience with unique crepe inspired food, the best restrooms in Binondo area, and a free WiFi! Thanks to Dianna for the Chinese new year treat @ Cafe de Chine!
Starter Crepes, Savory Crepes, Sandwiches | Pastas, Dessert Crepes, Merienda | Crepe de Chine photo Menu 1 | Crepe de Chine photo Menu 2

CDC Crepe Roll (P180). A delicious blend of assorted greens topped with grilled chicken slices, tomato wedges & pineapple tidbits drizzled with our special CDC sauce. Perfect for those who want to eat healthy and be full.
This was a surprisingly delicious and healthy. It is a simple salad wrapped by crepe with honey mustard sauce. Highly recommended.

Pasta Nepolitina (P190). A sweet and spicy combination of bacon, mushroom, olives and sun dried tomato that will explode in your mouth.

This is the bestseller in Crepe de Chine. We find it soaked in too much olive oil but we liked the ingredients more than the pasta itself.

Pizza Crepe (P130). Taking our crepes one step further! You truly won't go wrong with this one.

What is the thinnest pizza in Manila? Of course, it is the crepe pizza of Crepe de Chine! Just imagine a pizza with crepe as its base (instead of dough) and put the pizza toppings. I finished most of it.


Mangoteena (P155). Mangoes, caramel honey chips, and MORE caramel! Need we say more?
Finally, a decent dessert place in Binondo!

Mad Nutter (P165). Banana smothered in our choco-peanut sauce topped with ice cream and loaded with nuts! You'll go choco-nutty with this dessert!
I was supposed to abstain on chocolates but I just can't resist this one.

Crepe de ChineLower Ground World Trade Exchange (tallest building in Binondo)
215 Juan Luna St. Binondo Manila (walking distance from Binondo Church)
Telephone: +632 244-2270. +632 243-4867
email: crepedechine@gmail.com
Plenty of parking space in the building.

World Trade Exchange View of Manila

The Best View of Manila is on top of Crepe de Chine's building! I heard from Sidney about the magnificent views on top of the World Trade Exchange Building. We were so lucky to get a chance to see an aerial view of Manila from the helipad. They should have a promo that every P500 worth of food purchase entitles you to a great view of Manila!

Beautiful intramuros!

Binondo Church and Plaza.


Manila Sunset View!

Kiong Hee Huat Tsai to all!!

Mt. Pinatubo Hiking Experience

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We visited Mt. Pinatubo Spa last November 2005 and vowed to go back to hike Mt. Pinatubo. After two years, I was able to fulfill that vow last January 20 2008!

The Mt. Pinatubo Spa Experience

I was flabbergasted with the awesome 2.5 hours trip to the top of Mt. Pinatubo. It was a combination of a one hour 4x4 ride, and a 1.5 hours leisurely hike up to the Mt. Pinatubo crater. Upon reaching the crater, you'll be rewarded with the scene of blue green waters that you can dip in. We celebrated our conquer of Mt. Pinatubo with a Korean and Filipino lunch back at Mt. Pinatubo Spa. We indulged in a shiatsu-thai massage before heading back home to Manila.
Pictures will not do justice to the experience but this is a humble attempt to capture the Mt. Pinatubo Hiking Experience.... Enjoy!
We started off in Mt. Pinatubo Spa. The package which includes a hike to Mt. Pinatubo costs P1,500 inclusive of lunch. If you want to avail of the massage, you have to pay extra P500 pesos. Mt. Pinatubo Spa is 3 hours away from Manila. We would recommend that you take the Mabalacat road instead of the Concepcion route. Please read related post below:

The Mt. Pinatubo Spa Experience

9.35am
We started the trip with a ride on a 4x4. It would take a one hour ride through deserted lahar and mountains before reaching the Sky Way point.
9.53am
It was a nice sunny day and we recommend to go here in January when the air is still cool.
10.04am
How I wish I could have my own 4x4 to try out on these lahar roads... Beautiful scenery isn't it?
10.12am
This is the Sky Way. This is the short cut and it made it possible to be able to hike MT. Pinatubo for one hour. In the past, after the 4x4 ride you have to hike for 3 more hours up to the top of Mt. Pinatubo.
10.18am
We made our ascent up to the sky way. It would take 40 more minutes before we reached the take-off point for the hike.
10.57am
After going down the 4x4, this is the sight that you will see before you start the hike up Mt. Pinatubo.
11.00am
We hiked down a slippery lahar slope.

11.05am
This is the base of the level grounds going up to Mt. Pinatubo. We saw different volcanic rocks, streams of water, and tints of sulphur along the way.
11.12am
Ivan of Ivan About Time, Lauren of Laurganism and my friend Maong joined me for the hike.
11.14am
Mt. Pinatubo erupted and created these huge Mountains of lahar. Landslide is still possible so we have to be very careful. We truly enjoyed the hike.
11.18am
11.19am
At this point, I was feeling cold already and how I wished I brought my jacket! But it is cool, we love the weather in January.
11.23am
11.30am
11.33am
After the valley of rocks and streams, we made our ascent into the forest going up the Mt. Pinatubo crater. After 2 hours, we can't wait to see how the crater looks like.
11.43am
11.48am
11.48am
It is common to see these rock signs along the way which serves as a marker for the guides that this is the right way.
11.58am
12.04pm
12.06pm
At 12.06pm, our guide said, yes we are a stairway away from the crater!
12.09pm
The hike is manageable for any individual. Because you gradually go up to the crater.
12.10pm
Finally the Mt. Pinatubo Crater!!
12.12pm
Ivan was already shouting at this point on how beautiful the crater is!!
12.16pm
We were not prepared for the beauty that was in front of us. I cannot describe in words how beautiful this experience of reaching the crater. You have to experience it yourself!
12.17pm
At this point, we decided to swim in the blue-green lake. During the rainy season, the color of the lake is brown so the best time to go is January.
12.20pm
The most difficult part of the hike was descending / ascending down this steep stairs going to the summit lake.
12.40pm
The water is cold and it was raining. But these did not stop these brave souls from conquering the waters of Mt. Pinatubo crater.

Trekking and 4x4 to Mt. Pinatubo by Ivan Henares

2.29pm
The hike was about 80 minutes on average.
2.30pm
At 2.30pm, we are ready to ride back on our 4x4.
2.31pm
A souvenir photo for conquering Mt. Pinatubo!
3.46pm
In total, you have to allot 6 hours for your hike to Mt. Pinatubo from the Mt. Pinatubo Spa (which is 3 hours away from Manila). I would recommend to leave Manila before 6am so that you can also go back home early.
4.15pm
I tried the hot volcanic ash treatment last time we went here. I would not recommend this because this is an additional P500. If you want to do it just for the experience, then go ahead.
4.26pm
This is the best part of the experience -- dry shiatsu with combination of Thai massage!
5.15pm
There is a free mud pack facial that would cool your face. Ivan was happy.

January is the best time to go to Mt. Pinatubo crater.
Mt. Pinatubo Spa Contact Numbers:

+63 45.4930031

Warning: Please don't book it through Jovi who would charge you P1,750 instead of the usual P1,500/head.

70 KM Banaue - Sagada Trail Run to support Kythe's children with cancer.

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Our friends from the Pinoy Ultra Runners are running once again for their life to support Kythe. This time, they will do a 70km trail run from Banaue to Sagada on February 9. Please support them by pledging P500 for every kilometer run (minimum of 5 kms.). All proceeds will go to Kythe.

Last year, Ben of Photographer on the Run, Jaymie- The Bullrunner and Our Awesome Planet (all proud members of Happy Feet) joined the Pinoy Ultra runners to raise funds for Kythe. The ultra runners were running the Philippines first 100km ultra marathon at the same time with the Manila Eliminations of the Milo Marathon. Ben, Jaymie and I were running a 42km Milo Marathon for a cause. It was a memorable first marathon for me and thanks for all the support!

I am a Marathoner and I live to Tell about it

Together the Marathon-For-A-Cause raised a total of P60,000 pesos to support Kythe. Ben and I turned over the money last September 22 (a mOrninG with Kythe). Thanks to all those who supported us! The money that we raised was only good for a week that supported the expenses of the cancer kids patients. Let me tell you about the sad reality of these kids and why we should continue to support Kythe in their endeavors.

Kythe is a volunteer organization that promotes awareness and supports children with cancer. Their vision is to improve the Quality of Life for pediatric patients by uplifting their spirits and strengthening HOPE in these patients and their families. Kudos to the Ateneans for starting up Kythe!

We went to AFP V Luna Hospital at East Avenue Quezon City to meet the children that Kythe supports. We interviewed a few parents and learned that anyone's child could have Leukemia. There is no logical reason why it develops and the chances of survival is 1 is to 10. I immediately thought about Aidan and Joshua. How lucky we are that they are healthy boys. Leukemia is a very tough cancer to beat. The parents will bring their kids to the AFP V Luna children's hospital because they would rely on volunteer donation support to fund the chemotheraphy treatments.

Ben and I with Tita Aida and Ninin of Kythe during the turnover of the P60,000 donation to Kythe. (see: a mOrninG with Kythe)

Kythe provides one volunteer who would supervise this Kiddie Corner in the AFP children's hospital. Tita Aida from Kythe ensures that the children are happy each day through games and other interactive activities.

During our visit, we met the Kythe Ateneo undergrad organization. How I wish La Salle had a similar program like this. One Big Fight to Kythe!

Allan Cabisaga created the Kapitan Kimo children's book to explain to the young ones the ordeal that they will go through. My heart melted when I saw these children's books.

During our visit, Foundation for Hospital Arts was sponsoring a painting activity for the kids.

We were privileged to meet the greatest president of the Philippines so far, Fidel V. Ramos.

Of course, the Kythe volunteers and parents pose with a thumbs up sign with President Ramos.

Before we left, we visited the children's ward and found a patient named Baby Joshua who was just diagnosed with Leukemia. How could that be? The parents where shocked to find out about Joshua's condition because this was the first case of Leukemia in their family...

So on February 9, Please Please support the Pinoy Ultra Runners as they run from Banaue to Sagada to support Kythe. You can donate directly to Kythe via:
1. Depositing to "Kythe Inc." BPI Family Bank, East Avenue Branch, Account Number 6031-0529-02.
2. Visit any North Face Stores and donate through the Share the Passion Campaign.

Aidan meets Happy Slip!

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So, You’re Happy Slip! (a.k.a. Christine Gambito)

Related Post:Welcome to Happy Slip in Manila! Mabuhay!

Meeting Christine Gambito was like watching Happy Slip live... She is as bubbly and down to earth as what you can see in her you tube videos. She is a beautiful filipina in person with a nice dimple. My heart melted when she cried on her first day in Manila. Manila will simply love her because of her crusade to make your life a little brighter each day because of her entertaining videos.

I missed watching her in the Wowowee today and she was sharing with us her crazy moments in the show. They have already been to Bohol, Boracay and Cebu in a week's time. I was so happy listening to her awesome encounters with the beauty of the Philippines. She is flying off to Puerto Princessa tomorrow. Christine --- you should go back to the Philippines and visit El Nido, Palawan!

She wants to sincerely meet ALL her fans in Manila but the meet and greet on Chinese New Year at Mag:net, Fort venue is not be large enough to accommodate them. When she came to Manila, she never thought that she would have a huge fan base here. She will be giving an inspirational talk on video blogging during the meet and greet with a Q&A session followed by photo sessions.

See Happy Slip's update on the Manila Meet and Greet Session. If you are a fan and you were not able to register for the meet and greet event, please do a shout out on the comments to petition for a bigger venue.

Watch her You Tube Videos and see why she is THE Filipina You Tube Goddess:

Watch the latest videos on YouTube.com

Random Thoughts on Branding the Philippines

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Download BrandingthePhilippines.pdf (975.8K)

I just want to share with you an interesting article on Branding the Philippines by Junie del Mundo and Robert de Quelen. You can download the entire article here: Download BrandingthePhilippines.pdf (975.8K). I would like to share with you my insights based on that article...

1. A Core Ingredient of the Philippine Brand is the Filipino People.

We need to instill in the hearts of every Filipino the deep sense of pride in our country. We grew up programmed to think negative of our country because of the corruptions in the government and negative publicity about our country. We need to start to be proud of "Made in the Philippines" products and appreciate our country even more. This has been the 3 year crusade of Our Awesome Planet. Each year, the passion to showcase the Philippines grows inside of me and one day I will dedicate my life to it.

Some practical tips for the new generation of Filipinos:
-- We literally stopped watching TV already because media is a bad influence to our kids.
-- Align your family to the "good side" of the Philippines and stay away from the "dark side" by choosing carefully the people you interact with.
-- Every Juan should travel and see the beauty of the Philippines. Start with Boracay, then El Nido, Palawan, and then Batanes.
-- Every March, go to Manila Bay and watch one of the Awesome Sunsets in the world.
-- Live a life of passion and fear of the Lord.

2. Filipinos key characteristics: Caring, Colorful, Creative, and Collaborative.
We need to showcase the caring, colorful, creative and collaborative traits of the Filipinos. It does not matter if you are based in the Philippines or in US. What matters is, we touched the lives of the people we encounter each day. Share with them the beautiful traits of the Filipinos.

Some practical tips for the new generation of Filipinos:
-- Let's continue to export nurses, doctors, musicians, IT people, to showcase to the world what Filipinos are made of. -- Develop Filipino websites that showcase the colorful and creative talents of the Filipinos.
-- Attend the Sinulog -- one of the best fiesta in the Philippines and showcases the 4C's of the Filipinos.
-- Appreciate the Halo Halo which is a metaphor for what it means to be a Filipino.
-- Be creative and free!

3. Change our "alila" paradigm instilled by the Spaniards and the Americans.
I hate it that we have this mentality that the Spaniards and Americans are more superior than the Filipinos. We are brainwashed during our childhood and this cycle should stop in this generation.

Some practical tips for the new generation of Filipinos:
-- Stop watching TV to stop the hollywood brainwashing.
-- Listen to OPM music each morning.
-- Buy proudly "Made in the Philippines" products.
-- Blog in Filipino (One of these days I'll launch a Filipino blog)
-- Celebrate the world class achievements of Filipinos.

Any thoughts or reactions on how we can have strengthen the Philippine brand?

Ultimate Kapampangan Tour 2: Hot Air Balloon Fiesta

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We are overwhelmed with the response from the tour and we got 35 reservations to date for the day tour. We are waiting for the payment to confirm their reservation. Also, we are opening up the overnight option so that you can witness the night glow of the balloons. At most, we would only accept 30 people maximum (for both day tour and overnight) because we want to continue to have quality interactions among the people joining the tour.

Well, not quite Manila but STILL close….

Really, another way to pump up your boring weekend and get your spirits soaring as we conquer the high and mighty in Pampanga! Gawk at the giant hot-air balloons at 12th Annual Philippine Hot Air Balloon Fiesta while poking around Pampanga’s culinary secrets. Lounge away in a rustic, relaxing farm retreat while feasting over a sumptuous Kapampangan spread by one the country’s most artistic restaurateurs. A feast for the body, mind and soul!

Tour Experience:

12th Philippine Balloon Fiesta* VFW Outpost * Abe’s Farm* Nurture’s Spa*

*This tour leaves Makati at 3 a.m. (yes 3:00 AM!) and includes front-ticket seats to the 12th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta, an authentic American Soldier’s breakfast at the VFW Outpost, an optional five-hour hike up Mt. Arayat and a soothing massage at Nurture’s Spa.

Date: February 10, 2008, Sunday

Time: 3:00 am - 4:00 pm (yes, 3:00 AM!) Times are approximate.

Tour Cost: P4,800.00/head (includes -transfers, meals, tour, massage and others)

SPLURGE!

Go the extra mile…start a step ahead, spend an overnight stay and catch the spectacular ‘Night Glow” (think GIANT light bulbs floating in the sky) . Dine at one of the most acclaimed Italian restaurants this side of the Pacific. And to top it off, a one-of-kind walking tour as we bare it all and take down one of the country’s most famous Red-Light districts!

Tour Experience

*Balloon Fiesta ‘Night Glow’* C Italian Dining* Clark Red and Light District* 12th Philippine Balloon Fiesta* VFW Outpost * Abe’s Farm* Nurture’s Spa Pampanga

Date: February 9-10, 2008, Sunday

Time: February 09 at 3:00pm - February 10 at 4:00 pm

Tour Cost: P8,888.00/head (includes -transfers, hotels, meals, tour, massage, the works!)

This ADVENTURE tour is co-organized by:

Our Awesome Planet

Manila Boy

Ivan About Town

Old Manila Walks.

Hot Air Balloon Fiesta FAQs

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1. Do we really need to leave by 3am in the morning?
Yes you do. At the latest you should leave Manila by 3.30am. The Hot Air Balloons are inflated at around 5.30am and all of them fly out before 7am. If you arrive late, you will already experience the traffic going inside Clark and the parking queue would have build up by that time. I see people arriving in Clark at around 7am and they don't see the balloons anymore. I don't want that to happen to you.

2. Can we ride the Hot Air Balloon?
There are only 5 ways you can ride in the hot air balloon.
-- You can pay $150/ head for the ride
-- You win in the daily photo contest and win a ride in the balloons courtesy of SM
-- You are part of Media and you request to ride the balloon. You have higher chances to do this on Thursday but definitely not on the weekend.
-- You hosted the balloonist in Manila and they give you a free ride as a token of their appreciation.
-- You own a balloon or you have a relative that flies the balloon.

For the last two years I have been attending the festival, it continues to be a dream for me to ride a hot air balloon. I might just pay the $150  one of these days...

3. Can we get close to the Balloon?
The entrance fee to the festival is P100 and this will give you access to the general viewing area where you can see the balloon from a distance. Usually, they issue 100 special shooter's pass per day so that you can have a close encounter with the balloons. This year, the photo contest is sponsored by Epson and One Workshop. They sold the passes for P350 which includes, EPSON signature cap and a FREE entrance to attend the glamour fashion shoot and daily photo / digital retouching workshops. As of now, the passes are sold out and we manage to get the passes for our Ultimate Kapampangan Tour on Sunday Feb. 10.

4. Any recommendations on where to stay in Clark?
The most popular places are Clark Holiday Inn and Fontana. During our tour, we will have people stay in Oasis Hotel outside Clark.

5. What are the mechanics of the Photo Contest?

EPSON Photo Contest Mechanics

The EPSON Photo Contest Marathon is open to all visitors and guests of the 12th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta.

Students, amateurs, hobbyists and professional photographer are welcome to use any digital SLR, digital point-and-shoot or cell phone camera to interpret the given theme for the day.

DAILY CONTEST THEMES

Day 1: Happiness and beauty:

e.g. nature, beautiful people, family, colors, camaraderie, hot air balloon formations etc

Day 2: Triumph, passion and love:

e.g human interest, event activities, decisive moments etc

Day 3: Majestic view:

e.g sunrise, sunset, landscape, cloud formations, nature etc

Day 4: Creative moment:

e.g Hot Air Balloons and Clark and Pampanga landscape in focus etc

Photos for all daily themes are allowed to show entire or partial logos, signage or references to the 12th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta and/or EPSON.

Participants are allowed to submit multiple entries per daily theme.

Participants may win multiple daily prizes and compete for the Grand Prize.

6. What can you do in the festival?
The highlight of the festival is the take-off of the Hot Air Balloons in the morning. After all the balloons left, you can watch the micro light demonstrations, sky diving, small plane fly-bys, helicopter exhibitions and kite flying exhibitions. There is also a display of military tanks, planes and aerospace exhibits. Usually, we would go out after the balloons left and have a Pampanga food trip around the Angeles area. If time permits, we go back to see the night glow of the Hot Air Balloons. The only problem with the night glow is that everyone leaves after that and it creates a traffic jam going outside of Clark.

Do you have a question? Let me know so that I can answer them and share with you my experience regarding this festival.

The Tirta Spa Difference

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,m

What is the difference between a P250 Massage on the white sands beach of Bora and a P4,000 Massage in Tirta Spa in Boracay?

This debate went on and on in my mind. But the practical side of my brain is already losing the debate to the adventurous part who is yearning for a new spa experience in Boracay. Unfortunately, the debate happened when I was already in the main reception of Tirta Spa. At that time, all of my senses are now excited with the serenity and peacefulness of the place. Meeting the lovely owner, En Calvert, just fueled my desire to experience the unique spa packages that I have not seen even in Mandala Spa. It is the irrational side of me that won finally in the end because I can't resist how awesome this place is.

My Mandala Spa Experience

Let me share with you the Tirta Spa difference in Boracay...