Taga-Q.C.!

A Layman's Take on Climate Change

noreply@blogger.com (Cielo) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:00:00 +0000

A disclaimer: I refer to myself as a "layman" on this post's title because the truth is, I'm not totally informed on climate change. I feel very strongly for environmental issues, but don't count on me facts and figures, and feel free to correct me if I get anything wrong. I'll also try to do research to make sure everything's accurate, but as I write this, I'm just speaking from what I know, and my goal is to get to the minds of those less informed than I am and the apathetic ones.

Do we want more rain in the future? How about snow?

For many Filipinos, climate change may seem like a buzz term - people often see and hear it, but has absolutely no idea what it's about. The coming of Typhoon Ondoy (international name: Ketsana), however, should change that. Although a number of factors come into play for causing the disastrous floods that Ondoy brought about, one cannot and should not rule out climate change as a primary cause. If there's anything Ondoy has taught us, it's that climate change is REAL: it's not a buzz term, it's actually happening, and we are all affected.

How is Ondoy a result of climate change? The flood level shocked everyone - laymen and experts alike, because people ha never seen this amount of water flooding the streets of Metro Manila. Even places that weren't prone to flood experienced it, and folks that were used to flooding were caught by surprise as the water rapidly, and silently, increased. It was that bad. Nobody was prepared for it at all, partly because PAGASA never seems to get it right, but also because Mother Nature outsmarted us: 334 millimeters of rain in the first six hours, the highest ever recorded rainfall in Metro Manila (source: Greenpeace). And this may be just the beginning. The weather has been extremely erratic lately, and I wouldn't be surprised if we continued to experience more typhoons, or even weather that shouldn't exist in tropical climates. (Secretly, I'm kind of hoping for snow. But if it starts snowing here in the Philippines, I'm gonna start panicking.) (See: The Day After Tomorrow movie)

I don't want to think that we can stop climate change from happening because it's already HERE. It's too late for prevention, but not for preparation. Average folks can prepare for climate change by changing their lifestyles and attitudes. I am hoping that we can still steer the direction of climate change by (these are all related):

Minimizing pollution - land, air, water, noise
Taking actions that are environmentally- and aesthetically-conscious
Becoming good citizens

Let me explain the third one. The Quezon City government, way before the Ondoy disaster, had already been attempting to discipline its citizens through environmental-friendly ordinances, programs, and incentives, and laws that prohibit littering and dumping garbage illegally. Unfortunately, these laws are poorly implemented and hardly adhered to. People may not be aware of the specifics, but I'm sure everyone's aware that they should not be littering on the streets. The problem with many Filipinos is the lack of long-term thinking and concern. They don't care. They throw trash anywhere they please. They don't mind that their vehicles are smoke belching. They are arrogant enough to think they aren't doing anything wrong, or that they can get away with it. They don't see how all the little things they do contribute to climate change.

As Robin Beck says in the Blog Action Day page, "Climate change has so many consequences and connects to nearly every imaginable topic." This does not just apply to blog topics. This applies to real life. Filipinos often think they are not hurting anyone with their actions, but the truth is, we all have to make an extra effort to be careful and think about what we're doing. We have to make an extra effort to learn about climate change and what can be done to deal with/prepare for it. Kailangan na magkaroon ng paki-alam. As a hip-hop song goes:

Out on the streets where I grew up
First thing they teach us: not to give a f*ck.
That type of thinking can’t get you nowhere
Someone has to care.
(The Roots - How I Got Over)

Climate change is HERE. It's not anymore a term that we learn in science; it's not anymore a prediction for the future. It's happening now, and we should learn in order to adjust and gear up for the many changes that would come.

The Quezon City Mayoral Race

noreply@blogger.com (Cielo) — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 23:55:00 +0000

The onslaught of Ondoy has served as an eye-opener about the lack of natural disaster preparation in Metro Manila. Compared to the provinces, city folks live in "highly developed" areas that are less prone to such natural calamities as floods and landslides. Or so we thought. Ondoy showed us that Mother Nature knows no social class and did not hesitate to rain upon whoever was in sight: exclusive villages, urban shanties, and middle class residences.

The coming of Pepeng has shown how Ondoy has traumatized Manileños - Facebook and Twitter are witnesses to that. Fortunately, Pepeng had spared us from its wrath but we should not slip back to complacency. More than anything, I think this experience provides the perfect opportunity to think about the upcoming local elections. LGUs play a very crucial role in disaster prevention, preparation, and mobilization, among other things. If we are to face another life-threatening challenge, we will need strong leadership, which shall serve as, quoting Mr. De Quiros, the "central authority apprising the public of the situation...coming to the aid of the victims...running the country".

Let's face it, the Philippines is centrally governed from Malacañang but I think having an effective local government would really do us good. One that is not afraid to step up for its own; one that can efficiently implement environmental laws and effective change, address current issues, and, in an ideal note, fight corruption. For years, Quezon City has been governed by political dynasties: the Mathays and the Belmontes. I have not been a very diligent political observer so I don't have a right to comment on Belmonte's effectiveness as the city mayor for eight years, but as a citizen, I would say that I'm happy about some developments like the improvement of sidewalks and commercialization of major areas.

But come 2010, and Belmonte has to step down and give others a chance. I would like to think that the forerunner for the mayoral post would be Herbert Bautista, since he has been waiting in line for so many years, sitting quietly as a vice mayor, even at the cost of switching political sides. However, news has surfaced that Willie Revillame has intentions of running as mayor, and given his enormous fan base, it is not impossible that he will win easily. Other likely contenders are 4th District Congresswoman Nanette Castelo Daza and 2nd District Representative Annie Rosa Susano.

Bautista started out as a comedian but his showbiz roots has been in hibernation ever since he became Vice Mayor of Quezon City. As a Vice Mayor, he has quite a list of accomplishments, including the establishment of the the QC Film Commission, and programs for sports development and environment protection and management. Daza has authored/co-authored pending bills pertaining to women, senior citizens, workers, and technology. Susano has sponsored pending house bills relating primarily to education, and has strongly spoken against the Batasan bombing.

I am anticipating the time when these mayoral wannabes would launch their campaigns. Hopefully they'll do it right, so we'd get to know about their platforms and be informed voters.

What is your opinion about this? What are the improvements we need to see in Quezon City, and who do you think can address these? Who do you picture to be the next Quezon City mayor? (Feel free to comment and answer the poll on the top-left, in case you haven't noticed it)

*On a lighter note, could Alfred Vargas be any more discreet? I have been seeing Alfred Vargas tents everywhere. Last August his mom confirmed his intentions to run for public office. What do you think about that? I find it pretty tacky (the tents, mind you).

Sources:
Local politics heating up in Quezon City and Nueva Ecija
Erap likely to endorse Bistek for Quezon City mayor in 2010
Willie and Dolphy meets Sen. Manny Villar

Be informed:
House Bills and Resolutions Online Query

Typhoon Ondoy... and What You Can Do To Help

noreply@blogger.com (Cielo) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 02:21:00 +0000

We all know about the devastation that had occurred during the past two days. While my family and I are fortunate enough to have been spared, a lot weren't. There were too many factors that contributed to the alarming levels of flood and stranded cases everywhere around the Metro: the extremely heavy downpour (a month's worth of rain in a day to be exact), release of water from the La Mesa Dam (poor zoning. Why are residents living next to a dam?), trash blocking the drainage systems, poor sewage systems, lack of trees, lack of awareness and preparation (complacency if you must), and short amount of contingency funds and supplies.

Now's not the time to point fingers, although I do agree with the alleged misuse of funds. We cannot blame politicians alone, because I highly believe that it is the citizens' own doing. Our carelessness for our surroundings and lack of long term thinking have finally caught up with us. I hope that when all of this have passed, all Filipinos would finally learn about global warming, pollution, and crisis management. Maybe this is Mother Nature's way of reminding us that we should change our ways and way of thinking, because in the future, our kids' generation may not be as lucky.

Sorry, I didn't intend to be all preachy over here. But I would like to raise the issue of what could have been done to prevent these things, and not just by the politicians. So in any case, feel free to comment, argue, and debate.

Ways you can help

Before that, however, we need to make sure that all survivors continue surviving. Everyone can pitch in, so don't hesitate to get out there and volunteer or donate.

You can also drop-off these things to the following locations:

Radio Veritas at Veritas Tower West Ave. Corner EDSA (tel no. 9257931-40)
Ateneo Cervini Hall lobby at 12nn. For details, please contact 0917 631 2423 AND 0917 703 5357
General Headquarters Gym in Camp Aguinaldo
ABS-CBN Sagip Kapamilya Warehouse at 13 Examiner St., West Triangle QC/ABS-CBN Center/ Road along Mother Ignacia QC/Scout Bayoran corner Tomas Morato, beside Alex III, QC.
INSA Center at Miriam College
All 7-11 outlets (drop-off points)
All Jollibee Stores (drop-off points)
All Petron stations (drop-off points)
PETA, Eymard Drive, QC. (Near E. Rodriguez)

I'll add more to the list as soon as I get more info. If you have more to add, let us know by sending a comment.

Find more info here. And here.

MioMondays at Pino Restaurant

noreply@blogger.com (Cielo) — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 11:36:00 +0000

This story breaks my heart. Cancer's a bitch. Well, life in general is a bitch, if you want to look at it that way, because it does to the most undeserving persons the most undeserving things. How, or rather, why would a 5-year-old healthy boy be diagnosed with Leukemia? But I guess we are beyond questioning God; what we can do is look forward to Mio's future: towards becoming well and living "a normal and dramatic life", as his mom would say. Kudos to his mom Jasmine for being strong with him, and finding ways to overcome this instead of moping around and giving up. In the end, life really is full of surprises; I bet she never thought she'd had to face such a trial.

Given that, she has found numerous ways to raise funds for finding a cure for cancer and dealing with medical bills. I wanted to take this as a chance to contribute - by reposting this event:

Mio Mondays
October 5 & 19, November 6 & 23 and December 7 2009 7-10 pm
Pino Restaurant, 122 Maginhawa St., Teacher's Village, QC.
For inquiries of reservations, contact 0917-7371376 (Alessa)

What to expect: an exquisite 6-course dinner prepared by Pino's Chef Edward Bugia, and of course, a gallery of 5-year-old Mio's artworks. I personally like the poster - my daughter is also a fan of Yo Gabba Gabba, an awesome children's show currently aired in Nick Jr. Mio must look so adorable while drawing his favorite characters.

It's amazing to witness the goodness in people, friends and strangers alike. Everyone suddenly seems to be willing to help, amidst all the stress and hatred and bickering going on around us. Heck, I don't even know both Mio and Jasmine, and I'm trying to help them, at least in my own little way. Hope you can take time to do so as well.

To read more about their story and learn the ways in which you can help, visit the Mio Fights Cancer blog.

Clever Laundry Shop Names and My Electrolux Frontload Contest Entry

noreply@blogger.com (Cielo) — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 07:07:00 +0000

Laundry shop franchises are in every corner, everywhere you go. Whether you're in a residential or commercial area, there's bound to be a small laundry shop nearby. But what's amusing about this is how creative storeowners can get when it comes to the names of their stores. Lists of witty and memorable small business names have been circulating in emails, blogs, and even books because Filipinos are so good at playing with words.

Not surprisingly, our beloved Quezon City, with its vast landspace, has a share of its wittily-named laundry shops. Here's a few I could whip up:

88th Laundry Room, Sikatuna
Boy Labandero, Lagro
Dean of Clean, Tandang Sora Ave.
Doctor Laundry, Timog
Fluff N Fold Laundry, Cubao
Heaven Scent, Novaliches
Kalinisan Steam Laundry, Bagumbayan
Kosh Kosh My Gosh, Balara
Let's Talk Dirty, Katipunan
Lost Socks Laundromat, Del Monte
Mr. Skid's Laundry, Brgy. Malaya
Sinabon Baesa Laundry Services, Baesa
Star Wash: Attack of the Clothes, Sikatuna
Ur Laundry Station, Central District
Washing Well, Kamuning
Wish Ko Laba Mo, Lagro
Wash-o-matte House of Laundry, Project 6

Which one's your favorite? I'm a bit torn between Star Wash, Lost Socks, Kosh Kosh and Heaven Scent. Do you have some more to add? I would love for you to add some more, feel free to comment!

Off-topic, have you wondered why small laundry shops are thriving, though? Does this indicate that nobody has the time or space to do their laundry anymore, that's why they just have to bring it to the cleaners? Personally, I think having your laundry cleaned somewhere else is a luxury, during the long run. If you can buy a front-load washer, which is what most laundry shops use anyway, you can get rid of the added expense and do the laundry by yourself. Front-load washers are quieter than your average washing machine, nicer to look at, and water and energy efficient.

I’m talking about this because Electrolux is sponsoring a blogging contest (they also have a raffle promo) that could win me a nice front-load washer if I answer the question, “How will an Electrolux Frontload washer complement your passion for clothes?” Here at home we’ve been taking our dirty clothes to the nearby laundry shop for some time now, and I’ve gotta be honest – it’s becoming a hassle to me! We wait for the clothes pile up until it's Saturday, which is laundry day. So when I’m looking for a shirt and realize that it’s still in the hamper, I get frustrated because now I have to rethink my outfit all over again. In other words, I often run out of nice clothes by the end of the week. Haha.

An Electrolux Frontload washer is easier to use and less messy, plus it’s quieter and environmental friendly. I think it'd be perfect for busy yuppies, students and mommies (I’m all of the above!) because they can just dump the clothes in the washer and let it finish, and not have to worry about checking on it too often. It is definitely water and energy efficient, which makes up for doing the laundry twice a week (hence, having more of your favorite clothes ready whenever you want it!) Plus, it’d force me to kneel rather than bend, which is more exercise.

Okay, just because I gushed all about the Electrolux Frontload washer doesn’t mean I’m putting down all laundry businesses. Remember, as of this writing I’m still dependent on our neighborhood laundry shop, which I must say does a pretty good job too.

We Want Our Quezon City Museum!

noreply@blogger.com (Cielo) — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 16:36:00 +0000

Passed by the Circle lately? If you have, then you've probably seen this: "On this site will rise the Quezon City Museum" (I'll upload the picture later)

Last January 2009, Belmonte had promised his loyal Taga-QCs that a 26-hectare Quezon City museum to be built inside the premises of the Quezon Memorial Circle. According to him, it is part of the redevelopment plans for the Quezon Memorial Circle. And, if you have been passing the Circle, you will see that there are constructions here and there, inside the circle and one near the entrance (in front of Philippine Coconut Authority building). I'm really glad they've preserved the Quezon Memorial Circle, because if there's one thing this country needs, it's a great big park where kids can play, family can have picnics, and health buffs can exercise while breathing fresh air (not airconditioned air from gyms).

I'm wondering though, what kind of redevelopment do they have in store for the QMC? Are they going to turn it into something like Eastwood City? On one hand, I'm looking forward to it, as I would like to have improvements in the pavement, gardening and general cleaning of the park. On the other hand, I'm hoping they won't t make it too commercialized, where there are just too many restaurants and there'd be a night life going on. We have Timog and Tomas Morato for that. QMC should remain a family-friendly place.

And what about the Quezon City museum? Obviously, it would contain history information and artifacts relevant to our beloved city. Sorry to disappoint but I haven't even seen the underpass built between the Memorial Park and Quezon City hall. I read somewhere that there was a QC history exhibit, so I guess the memorabilia displayed during this exhibit would be placed inside the museum. Now, how exciting is that? I would love to see what Quezon City was about; all I know about this city's history is that Tomas Morato was the first city mayor. We can read Wikipedia also, but seeing historical photos would definitely be a different kind of experience. I live near Brgy. Bahay Toro, Project 8, but I couldn't imagine Andres Bonifacio declaring war against the Spaniards in this area!

This is all pretty exciting, but I have three concerns. First, how long will this project continue? If it gets too much delays, it might never be realized if Belmonte steps down from office. Vice Herbert, will you continue this? Thankfully, Belmonte has been known to push through with his projects (e.g. road improvement), so Mr. Mayor, please include this one on your list of accomplishments.

Second, how do they attract more people to come, without making it commercial? Take me for example. I have QC pride and everything, but I hardly go visit the Memorial circle. Or maybe I'm just too urban to go to a park. I do see a lot of people coming and spending time there with their families, so I guess this isn't really much of a concern.

The next could be the only and the biggest concern: how do they protect it from people? I don't mean to be elitist here or anything, but Filipinos do have a tendency to be messy and careless, and do not have a high appreciation for aesthetics. "Jologs" is the term. How would they protect the park (current and redeveloped) from vandalism, litter, urine, spit, dirty bathrooms, lewd acts, and crime? Marikina is the cleanest city in the Philippines; maybe Belmonte should consult with the Fernandos about this?

Anyway, we'll just have to see right? What do you think?

UP Diliman now restricted by gates and crazy road rules

noreply@blogger.com (Cielo) — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 00:46:00 +0000

The bloody robbery/homicide in Bahay ng Alumni last November had everybody shocked - and the U.P. authorities in total panic mode. Because it was so easy for the robbers to get away, they realized that the only way to stop all crimes in the campus would be to further restrict access in and out of the university and place more guards and checkpoints everywhere. Sure, because these measures are very effective in preventing and stopping criminals.

Almost a year ago I posted and complained about the crazy one-way oval scheme that UP implemented for the sake of health buffs (not that I'm attacking you guys, kudos to you all!) and to control the traffic flow in that area of the university. Now, the Office of the Chancellor has vowed to "improve campus security and enhance the campus landscape" as part of its action plan, so precious funds were allotted to construct fancy (schmancy) gates in very important entry/exit points like the street where the NIGS building is, connecting to CP Garcia, and the shortcut to Commonwealth Avenue (sorry, I'm not doing my homework).

What's crazy about this is that the guards will require an UP Diliman faculty/staff/student ID before they let you pass the gate, even if you're exiting to Commonwealth Ave. already. I see the logic that they want to scare the seedy people leaving the campus (in case they just happened to rob the Philippine Veterans Bank), but they don't own Commonwealth Avenue, do they? Isn't it that when guards request for identification, it is because the visitor is entering a private area, and not exiting from it?

Again, they didn't even consider all the publics that use the university roads. What about the non-UP people that were kind enough to give UP students/faculty/staff a ride to work? Now they won't be able to access CP Garcia or Commonwealth through the most convenient ways just because they don't have UP IDs. And anyway, the guards at the University Avenue checkpoints don't ask for IDs, so if I were planning a crime, then I'd pass by the University Ave on my way and out.

There are still a lot of loopholes in the university's road rules - obviously, these have been done in rush and were not thought about carefully. The people that made these rules probably don't drive around much because they don't understand how completely illogical these rules are. One day I hope to see a very high UP official not get out of the Commonwealth gate because he or she forgot to bring his or her ID. But, just because we're Filipinos and we pay high reverence to the authority food chain, I doubt that's ever going to happen.

FREE Wi-Fi Hotspots in Quezon City

noreply@blogger.com (Cielo) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 07:06:00 +0000

I'm a big fan of free wi-fi, and am constantly searching for places around Quezon City that offers this service. Fortunately, a lot of other people had already compiled lists, so I am just reposting what I've found plus adding the places that I know. Some of these may not be updated, so please don't hold me responsible if you go to a place and find out it doesn't offer free wifi or that it had closed or something. Thanks :D

Araneta Center in Cubao - free wifi from Smart, as you can see from this press release
~~Arnelli's Pizza, E. Rodriguez Sr. Ave. near St. Luke's Hospital~~
Baang Coffee in Tomas Morato - just 3 sockets; and they'll charge P50 an hour if you plug in
The Bellagio - Tomas Morato
Bo's Coffee, Katipunan Avenue
Brewing Point-Tierra Pura
Burger King along Timog
Burger King Welcome Rotonda
Burger King at SM North
Burger King, near St. Lukes E. Rodriguez
Burgoo Tomas Morato
Cajun Burger - N.S. Amoranto Ave (Retiro)
Cafea in Bohol Avenue, Q.C.near the ABS-CBN complex, besides Singles
Cafe Xocolat, Katipunan Avenue
Cello's Katipunan Avenue
Coffee Bean, Ayala TechnoHub*
Coffee Bean, Capitol Hills*
Cocina ni Juan, Maginhawa St. Teachers Village
Cravings - Katipunan Ave
Danica D'Cafe @ Sgt. Esguerra, QC
Eastwood City Walk 1 & 2 - whole place is a WiGo hotspot (make sure to ask the restaurant if they are though. I'm not a fan of WiGo.)
Five Cows Trinoma
Gloria Jeans Tomas Morato
Gloria Jeans Trinoma
Grupong Barberro T. Morato
Italianni's Trinoma
~~Joey Pepperoni, Mother Ignacia~~
Jollibee, Don Antonio
Jollibee, TriNoma - no plugs allowed
Kape Tasyo, Anonas
Update 9/24/09: Kenny Rogers, Quezon Avenue
Krispy Kreme Trinoma
Kozui Green Tea, Tomas Morato
Mag:Net Cafe, Katipunan Avenue
Update 9/24/09: McDonalds Timog Avenue
Nitz Restaurant in Fairview
Pacio's Grill - Mindanao Avenue
Petron Treats, Katipunan Ave.
Pier One, Tomas Morato, Quezon City (BayanTel)
Quezon City Hall
TGIF Tomas Morato
TGIF Trinoma
Trinoma Computer Stores section (2nd floor, next to HandyMan)
Trinoma Timezone area
UPDATE 9/25/09: SM Megamall and SM North, everywhere!
Seattle's Best Katipunan*
Seattle's Best Trinoma*
Shakey's Pizza E. Rodriguez (next to Trinity College)
St. Peter Memorial Chapels - Quezon Avenue. Go browse the Internet while visiting a wake
~~Via Mare, SM North The Block~~ I think they closed. Plus, the whole of SM North has free wifi!

If you have some more to add, go comment!

*Oct 16 2007 - I'm removing Seattle's Best because they really don't offer free wi-fi. You get 1-hour free wi-fi for P150 worth of drinks/food. When you use up your 1-hour, you need to buy something worth P150 again. That's just not free wi-fi for me.

*Sep 25 2009 - I'm not sure if Coffee Bean outlets still offer free wifi, except in areas that really offer free wifi everywhere. Coffee Bean now offers a loyalty card that gives you free wifi, so now you'd have to purchase that card to access their Internet.

They really want us to consume gas

noreply@blogger.com (Cielo) — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 08:35:00 +0000

Another crazy road scheme has been implemented, and this time the school victims are Miriam College, Ateneo de Manila University, UPISHS (again!) Kostka School, and pre-schools and Montessori schools near or along Katipunan Avenue.

This time, the MMDA closed two important U-turns and one semi-important U-turn that would enable all motorists to go to the other side of the road (in order of importance): Ateneo-National Bookstore, Miriam-SM construction site (next to BPI), and La Vista gate-Shell station. All cars coming from the north headed to the northbound lane (going to Miriam, Ateneo or UP) must therefore use the U-turn under the bridge, and all cars coming from the south going to the southbound lane should use the big U-turn near UPIS and CP Garcia. Can you imagine the chaos?! This means the entire student body of the two schools, as well as their faculties and staff, must take a U-turn TOGETHER along with the jeepneys, tricycles, and other motorists for them to get to the northbound lane. And when they're going home they are also forced to drive together, bumper to bumper, literally.

It's not only crazy, it's stupid. I would say the U-turns are stupid, but I must admit that it did alleviate Katipunan traffic eventually, once we all got used to it. But I doubt it will happen again with this new scheme, because the problem here isn't that we're not used to it. The problem is volume. So even if all Filipino drivers suddenly became disciplined, considerate motorists, a miracle like this still wouldn't do anything about the traffic because there are just WAY TOO MANY VEHICLES passing by this road and needing to turn to get to the other side. Traffic will definitely build up, especially during rush hour when everyone's on their way to school or on their way home. Poor students... their perfect attendance records must have been wiped out by a week of tardiness.

What's more mind-boggling is that MMDA tried to defend or infuse logic to the damage they had done:

"Robert Esquivel, chief of the MMDA’s traffic enforcement unit, said he hoped the new scheme would ease traffic. Noting the relatively smooth traffic yesterday, Esquivel said there might not be any need to reopen the U-turn slot, especially if the new scheme worked. " (Source)

Oh, there are so many things wrong in these statements. First, they just all of a sudden implemented this scheme a week ago without notifying anybody. The all-day traffic gave everyone a headache and there wasn't even an MMDA official observing the disaster. Second, the idea of having everyone drive a couple of kilometers just to get to the other side, when they could've easily took a left or right turn, just plain hurts. Imagine how many liters of gas you could save if you didn't have to go all the way at the end of Katipunan road just so you can go to the other side. Imagine if you're coming from Ateneo and you need to go to, let's say, the Natural Spa in Rustan's and you need to take your car. That will be one heck of a drive to take a U-turn in CP Garcia, not to mention the traffic you'd have to face.

If there's anything good that will come out of this, it's that college students will be forced to stay in their schools, or walk and use pedestrian overpasses to get to the other side. But it'll definitely bad for the business establishments since they might lose frequent customers that don't want to walk just to hang out in their restaurant.

Plus, should you drive all the way up to Upper Katipunan, you'll find that there also aren't any U-turns around, except for the one in the intersection, which is easy to miss. If you're coming from the south and you want to go to Katips Bar or P. Tuazon or any other establishments in the southbound lane of Upper Katipunan, you'd have to drive all the way to main Katipunan Avenue and take the U-turn between Miriam and Ateneo, then drive all the way back to Upper Katipunan just to reach your destination.

Then there's Libis, which also does not have any U-turns going to the northbound lane. All Eastwood goers that come from Katipunan must take a turn nearing Ortigas intersection already. That's a very long drive!

There may be alternative routes, but if you're not very familiar with the place or driving at night, then shortcuts won't do you any good.

Gas prices are going up, and convenient roads are disappearing one by one. They really want us to pass by the longest route to get to our destinations. There must really be a scheme to get us to consume more gas. Who's behind it? The government? Gas vendors? You tell me.

Cafe Xocolat vs. Chocolat Cakes

noreply@blogger.com (Cielo) — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 03:38:00 +0000

vs.

A couple of weeks ago, I was craving for chocolate cake and immediately thought of Chocolat. Since I was headed to UP for an appointment, I decided to drop by Cafe Xocolat in B. Gonzales St., Loyola Heights, Katipunan to satisfy this craving. But guess what? No cakes. They had hot chocolate drinks, coffee, pasta, sandwiches, and brownies, but no cakes.

Turns out, Cafe Xocolat is NOT Chocolat Cakes. I've been to Cafe Xocolat (or Xocolat as I knew it at that time) once and it was two years ago; I just accompanied a friend and never really ordered anything. On the other hand, I've been to Chocolat in SM North The Block several times and had ordered cakes from them, which is why I craved for their cakes. I thought they are the same because:

They both have the namesake ch/x-ocolat. I know their names have a different spelling. But I thought it was just an inconsistency on their part. I thought: "Chocolat should really set the record straight about the spelling of their name, so that customers won't get confused." Haha.
They both offer chocolate as their special/favored ingredient
They both have a branch in the Katipunan area. I saw in the Chocolat brochure that they had a Katipunan branch, so I immediately assumed that it was the one I had been to two years ago.
The ambience of their restaurants are similar, at least the branches I've been to. They have an eclectic, gypsy, papemelroti-ish style (Sorry. I'm not an interior design/fine arts major. I don't know these things)

Call me stupid or unobservant. It's a simple mistake; a lot of people get confused too, as confirmed by the people from Chocolat. I sent a personal message to their Multiply account and asked if they were the same with Xocolat, and here's what they replied:

Hi, Cafe Xocolat is different and is a separate company altogether. Their specialty is more on hot drinks. But I guess we had the Chocolat name registered first so they altered the spelling (not sure with this though).

Adding to the confusion is that they also have that branch you visited near ours. Our shop is a bit more hidden though, in Llanar Building along Xavierville Ave. Coming from Xocolat, turn left at E. Abada then right at Xavierville; when you see a metrobank / meat shop / ababu sign turn right or park in one of the building's spaces. Our shop is in the side / ground floor of Llanar.

Look also at the comments in their Multiply albums: http://chocolatcakes.multiply.com/photos/album/4/Chcocolat_Stores#

Chocolat Cakes is really a cakeshop. They offer [delicious] cakes, [scrumptious] cakes, and maybe a few brownies and coffee and drinks. If you are looking for variety, some meals and of course craving for rich chocolate beverages (and fondue!!) then it's Cafe Xocolat you should look for.

Let's not compare them because their products do not really compete; this may be a blessing in disguise because if they did have competing products, then everybody would probably go chocolate crazy, fat, penniless, or develop tooth decay. Their chocolate delicacies are both so devilicious that you'd want to come back for more.

And if you do want to come back, or just try it out, you can visit the following branches in Quezon City:

Cafe Xocolat:

B. Gonzales Street, Katipunan (first street after Rustans Supermarket) - you might mistake it for a house. Free wifi!
Eastwood Citywalk 2, Libis

Chocolat Cakes:

Ground Floor, The Block, SM City North Edsa (in front of the entrance to the main mall)
Llanar Building, 77 Xavierville Avenue (directions from Chocolat Cakes: Coming from Xocolat, turn left at E. Abada then right at Xavierville; when you see a Metrobank / Meat Shop / Ababu sign turn right or park in one of the building's spaces. Our shop is in the side / ground floor of Llanar. )

Walter-Mart opens in Edsa-Munoz

noreply@blogger.com (Cielo) — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 12:48:00 +0000

The busy streets of Edsa and Munoz just got busier. Now, commuters can pass by the newly-opened Walter-Mart along Edsa to get a snack or just escape from the scorching heat. The new Walter-Mart is exactly like its counterpart near Don Bosco Makati - both seem like a place where you can do nothing but window shop and eat. And of course, buy groceries.

You'll find the usual restaurants in Walter-Mart: Chowking, McDonalds and Jollibee (soon to open), Red Ribbon, Pancake House and some newcomers or less recognized names in the dining industry (sorry I forgot :P). There are also a few tiangge stalls in the basement, as well as an arcade. A notable store is the Bakers' Depot, which sells baking equipment and ingredients too. We bought a pack of yummy semi-sweet chocolate bits, the type that you put as toppings on a cake or ice cream, for only P32.00.

The second floor houses the supermarket. In the third floor are Abensons Appliances and Furniture, a Handyman store, a ME store which sells various clothes, CD-R King, and our favorite, the Japan Store. The Japan Store is actually the Japan Home, you know, the store that sells Japanese goods for only P88.00 or P55.00 (Daiso!). I'm just not sure why they renamed it to Japan Store.

The day we decided to explore Walter-Mart just happened to be the day that Rhian Ramos, a GMA-7 starlet, had a promotional mall tour there. And while I didn't take pictures of the rest of Walter-Mart, I couldn't resist taking the photo of an artista:

Haha! The truth is, I just took it for a friend, who has this BIG CRUSH on her.

And that's the highlight of this "review."

As I said earlier, there's really not much to do in Walter-Mart. I wouldn't recommend it if you're in the mood for strolling around. It's better to go there if you have something in mind that you'd like to buy, like maybe from the Japan Store, Abensons, Bakers' Depot, or the supermarket. But then again, Walter-Mart isn't so bad, especially if you're a commuter passing by and looking for sanctuary from the very hot, very polluted and very overcrowded area.

Crazy UP implements one-way oval scheme

noreply@blogger.com (Cielo) — Fri, 09 May 2008 11:32:00 +0000

It has been ages since I passed by the University Oval, so when I did I was dumbfounded and very annoyed by the number of detours I had to take going to University Avenue coming from the Registrar's office. Can you imagine how short a ride that would've been if a one way oval scheme hadn't been implemented?

I cannot find a logical or practical reason for doing this so I Googled it and found the answer on the Inquirer:

The plan aims to lessen the number of vehicles passing through the university, subsequently reducing pollution and risks for UP students.
Ultimately, she said, the goal was a “car-less oval,” as recommended by the UP Transport Committee.

(I also found several blogs ranting about this too.)

My first thought was how inconsiderate they were to everyone. They want lesser cars passing by, but that really can't be helped now, could it? The entire campus is in the middle of major areas such as Philcoa, Commonwealth, and Katipunan. The whole time I was driving to take a U-turn, I thought, "has UP gone anti-environment?" With the high oil prices today, the last thing we need is another one-way/U-turn scheme, because instead of getting from point A to point B, we have to go to CDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ to get where we're going.

What about students with vehicles? They didn't seem to realize how HOT it is to walk or bike from one building to another, so no matter how much they try to encourage students to walk or bike, they wouldn't. They would still take the jeepney, or use their car. Or if they did walk or bike, it would be pure torture. They'd have students coming in to class sweating like a pig.

This is a really mindless decision. They say that they've conducted a study on this, but the only real time that there's traffic in the oval is during the UPCAT. So what are they trying to fix?

Like I said, crazy.

Danger Zone: Mindanao Avenue corner Road 20

noreply@blogger.com (Cielo) — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:18:00 +0000

I don't like posting about negative stuff in this blog, because it an opportunity to talk about and promote the wonderful things you'll find in Quezon City, but every time I pass by Mindanao Avenue corner Road 20, it really bothers me to see this:

The street post has been broken and dangerously entangled with electric wires for a couple of weeks now. Doesn't anyone see it at all? (Or nobody just cares.) What's the barangay and the Q.C. government doing about it? Or the MMDA? (BF, this is definitely not metro-gwapo.) Everyone seems to be turning a blind eye to this horrible sight. Do they really think they can let it be and that we can live with it? Sooner or later, somebody's gonna get hurt because of it. It's a double threat! Do we really want to wait until that happens before we do something about it?

And while we're on the topic of Mindanao Avenue and Road 20, another concern needs to be brought up: a pedestrian overpass urgently needs to be constructed in that intersection. It's very dangerous to cross Mindanao Avenue from Road 20 to Pluto Street, especially during the night. Large buses, trucks and other vehicles pass by that road speedily, and we all know how pedestrian-unfriendly Filipino drivers are (I'm not an exception at times). I pity the people that want to cross because it takes them a really long time to do so, waiting until there are no vehicles in sight, which hardly happens. The area's really accident-prone and I'm quite surprised that nobody has brought it up to the MMDA or Q.C. government. I'm relieved that nobody has also been hit while crossing. Do we really want to wait until that happens before we do something about it?

Magnolia Scooperman opens in SM The Block

noreply@blogger.com (Cielo) — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 14:55:00 +0000

Just what we need: another ice cream shop in SM The Block. When I'm in the mood for ice cream and I'm in SM North Edsa, the only place I could really go to where I'd have ice cream choices is Icebergs located in the main building, which is always full and crowded. That's why I let out a sigh of relief when Magnolia Scooperman Ice Cream Store had its grand opening today at the Activity Center of SM The Block. Magnolia Scooperman is actually located outdoors at the side of The Block; you won't miss it when you're crossing from the main building (Goldilocks/Watsons entrance) to The Block.

If you've been to Ocean Park in Manila, then you've probably been already introduced to the ice cream parlor. Magnolia Scooperman, as its name promises, serves different concoctions of Magnolia ice cream. I can't really say that they offer anything new to the ice cream restaurant industry. The menu includes typical ice cream treats like banana splits, ice cream shakes, ice cream served in a waffle cone, ice cream with oreo, and the like. However, what's really "cool" (pun intended) about the store is its very reasonable prices; unlike Icebergs, where most dishes cost a hundred pesos or more. If I recall correctly, all of the dishes cost less than P150 so when you're in the mood for a yummy ice cream treat, then this is the place. Aside from the ice cream, they also serve hotdogs, french fries, and chicken strips, although I wish that in time they'd serve more food other than ice cream. Another setback would be the small space of the store, so when it becomes really popular then it would get crowded just like Icebergs. Still, I'm happy that another ice cream shop has opened in The Block. SM North Edsa needs as many restaurants as it can get, to offer more variety to its customers.

So the next time you need an ice cream fix, you may want to head straight to Magnolia Scooperman instead of diving into the SM main building crowd to get to Icebergs. After all, ice cream is ice cream so there won't be much difference (unless you're into Icebergs specialties), except eating in Scooperman will be a little easier on the budget.

Can I have your used cup?

noreply@blogger.com (Cielo) — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 14:08:00 +0000

A strange thing happened to me today. My boyfriend and I had just finished shopping for groceries in Cherry Foodarama, and we decided to rest for a while in the French Baker branch inside the supermarket. We ordered two large cups of Iced Mocha and sat at the outer area of the store, where we could view the cashier stalls.

A guy enters a store. We noticed him because he was wearing thick round eyeglasses, where the lenses seemed to be like mirrors as it reflected things around it. He had long hair but the top part was like a mohawk. So anyway, he enters the store and we forget about him; then he walks out and passes by us. I thought that he had left already.

Then he goes back to us and points to my empty cup of Iced Mocha, complete with ice, cover, and straw. He says, "Excuse me, are you done with this?" Sort of freaked out, I say yes and he takes the cup, then goes to the counter.

It was so weird that I observed what he did once he arrived at the counter (my seat was facing that direction anyway). He talked to the cashier girl and seemed to gave her the cup. Their discussion took quite some time, and while waiting for what happens, we managed to come up with assumptions of why he took my used cup:

His car overheated and he needed water for it.
The store ran out of cups.
He is an environmentalist.

The first two assumptions have flaws, though.

First, if his car overheated, wouldn't he need a bigger water container for it? Or if this was true, why ask a cup from a stranger? Couldn't he just request for tap water from the store? After all, we had just done this since we wanted to drink water too.

Second, the store also couldn't have run out of cups, because they have a stack of the smaller cups that they use for water. They could've used these instead.

So I assumed he was an environmentalist that wanted to recycle plastic cups by having them washed and reused.

Assumptions 2 and 3 were closer to the case, because I saw him receiving a straw from the clerk and then a cup similar to mine. Then he was wiping the cup with tissue and paying the clerk. We couldn't believe it. Was it possible that he bought soda from the store using a cup already used by a complete stranger?!

After minutes of pondering, we couldn't take it anymore. I decided to just go to the front and ask the staff about it. I got to talk to the manager, and she told me the whole, baffling thing.

It turns out that they did run out of large cups, except for a large cup that was filled with Coke (probably due to a mistaken order). The guy ordered for Iced Mocha. The manager explained that they didn't have the right-sized cup, and offered to put the drink in two smaller-sized cups instead. But he wouldn't accept it because he wants just one cup, so he looked for a replacement, which was my cup.

The manager was grossed out by this since it was unsanitary, so she decided to empty the remaining Coke-filled cup, wash it, and that was the cup the guy left with. They threw away the used cup.

Like I said, strange. The guy must've been really thirsty to do this. And he must've had his hands full since he wouldn't accept two clean cups instead. If you happen to be this guy I'm writing about, please don't take any offense in this. I'm not saying you're weird, but what you did was unnecessarily weird and you probably know it.

More and more restaurants open along Matalino St.

noreply@blogger.com (Cielo) — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 12:13:00 +0000

You know a place has become a high-density commercial area when it has a Starbucks branch in it. West Avenue has two branches, Katipunan Avenue has three branches, almost all call center buildings have one nearby, and now there's one in Matalino St., Bgy. Central (Teacher's Village), also known as the street-slash-commercial-strip that connects Kalayaan Avenue to the East Avenue corner of Heart Center.

But Matalino St. had always been a busy place. I remember when the place was still bare, with only a few restaurants in sight, namely the old Little Quiapo branch and Trelis. Slowly, more and more restaurants were established; small eateries, videoke bars, and later, franchises of popular food joints such as KFC, McDonalds, and Kowloon House. Just recently, Chowking and Jollibee had their grand openings in Matalino St., next to the newly opened Heart Center parking lot. And even before Starbucks set foot there, Mocha Blends had already catered to the caffeine craving of nearby residents.

That's not all. Malakas St., the street perpendicular to Matalino (McDonalds stands in their corner) is also growing to become another restaurant hub. Pancake House, Muang Thai Restaurant, and Little Quiapo are located along Malakas St., together with smaller eateries. Another street in Teacher's Village that's popular for dine-in establishments would be Maginhawa St., though it holds mostly small and probably family-owned restos. I've been meaning to write about the business boom in Maginhawa, but it'll have to wait for later since I still have to gather my thoughts about it.

One landmark for Matalino St. would be the construction site for the building that was never finished. I have always been wondering what building it's supposed to be - is it a government building, a business center, a hotel, or a condominium? Just imagine what the street would be like if that building was established. Would there be more traffic? More establishments? Stores and boutiques? What would nearby residents say about it?

I have not done justice to Matalino St. since I've only written about the establishments that I could recall. There are still a lot of great restaurants that I haven't gone to; I never found the time to try one of them because I rarely pass by Matalino these days. I guess there's also too much variety, that it makes it difficult for you to decide which one to dine in. The traffic is also getting bad there; like I said, it's a shortcut from Teacher's Village to East Ave., so a lot of cars are passing by. And since it's originally a residential area, the lots and roads aren't that big. A lot of cars are parallel parked on the street, adding to the traffic. There's also a chance that you won't get to park in or near the restaurant that you want to have lunch or dinner in.

If you're still not convinced, here's a partial list of restaurants in Matalino St.

Natural Spa

noreply@blogger.com (Cielo) — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 09:40:00 +0000

Need to relax? Then you should probably go to Katipunan Avenue, not to lounge around in one of its three Starbucks branches, but to get some actual R&R in one of its best-kept secrets, the Natural Spa. A hideout for Brgy. Loyola Heights residents, celebrity and commoner alike, the Natural Spa guarantees relaxing spa and massage treatments for reasonable prices. The ambiance of the place alone makes you feel like you're in an authentic Japanese home, with a Zen interior design. The staff is very welcoming, but coming there on a weekend as a first-timer can make you feel out of place. Once regular clients arrive for their monthly or weekly treatments, they are received like family, and you'd realize that you're the only one there that they do not know personally. But that's not really a minus, just an observation.

The Natural Spa's services vary from massage therapies, facial therapies, and natural body treatments. The one-hour massages include the usual Swedish and Shiatsu techniques, plus herbal ball compress massage, pre-natal massage, four-hand massage and aromatherapy. They also have an anti-cellulite brushing and a hot stone massage, which takes up to an hour and 30 minutes. They also offer a 30-minute foot massage or chair massage.

Their body treatments are indeed natural, which include body scrubs, body wraps, and bath soaks. A leg spa, full body crystal exfoliation, whitening, wart removal Diamond Peel, and waxing services are also available.

I haven't tried all of their services, naturally. When we went there, they had a promo where you can avail of a Lavender Sugar scrub and an Aromatherapy massage for 1,100 php, instead of the usual price of 1,300. Not able to resist a good deal, we made our appointment and arrived 10 minutes early. Going earlier or on time allows you to take a steam bath first (for free), which was such a lovely experience. Cold iced teas are great with steam baths. We stayed in a room filled with steam for about 15 minutes, and wondered why it didn't feel that uncomfortable even though our whole bodies were sweating so much. What's the difference does being in a steam bath room and inside a car during lunch hour traffic? Oh yeah, we're in a spa. We're just sitting down, sipping our iced teas, and the steam felt really good (though hot).

After the steam bath, I proceeded to my room for the body scrub. First I went through a body cleansing, which was already heavenly, then the Lavander Sugar scrub. It was great; the sugar was a bit rough, but it was just what my skin needed to get rid of dead skin cells. It also helped lighten the skin.

Once the scrub was over, I took a shower in the room. It was the first time I showered in a room that also has air-conditioning turned on. And I get cold easily. Good thing the shower water was warm enough to balance it out. It was also the first time I showered with an unlocked door. The doors of the room are all sliding doors (in Japanese fashion) and cannot be locked (even if you're taking a shower inside) because, as one masseuse put it, "there's no hanky panky going on in here." I felt safe anyway, because the rooms are assigned so nobody's just going to enter and mistake it for an empty room, and, the masseuse assigned to me is also guarding the door outside, waiting for me to finish.

Next came the one-hour aromatherapy massage. I was taken to another room that was especially for massages. (I was actually surprised to see how big the place actually was, because it looked small when you're at the front desk.) While waiting for the masseuse I requested for another glass of iced tea again (their mix really tasted great!). Then the masseuse arrived, and she turned off the lights, allowing the candle light to shine while the massage started. And although I'm quite ticklish around my upper back and shoulders, the massage went really well. The masseuse even offered my hot tea to help me relax after the massage was over.

I knew about this spa a long time ago because it's beside my favorite salon, Profiles Salon. I never went inside though except when I'm buying gift certificates for my friends and family. This is the first time had a spa treatment because I never wanted to get massages since I was ticklish; I thought I'd just be wasting my money and not be able to go through the massage. But for a first-time spa goer, the experience was really great. No, I did not waste my money. It was well worth it, and I'd do it every month if I'm that rich and luxurious (but I'm not, haha). Peaceful, relaxing, a sanctuary, revitalizing, serene, calm, still, etc....yeah all words that you can associate with a spa applies here.

The Natural Spa is located at the second floor of Rustan's Supermarket building, after Profiles Salon. Massage therapy services range from 550-1200php; facial therapy, body scrubs, body wraps and leg spa are around 700-1200php, bath soaks at 450php, and body treatment from 600-1200php. For reservations, call Aileen or Maureen at426-9156, 426-9160, or 0927-924-7433. Reservations are recommended especially during the weekends.

Asian Environmental Issues Exhibition at SM The Block

noreply@blogger.com (Cielo) — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 00:21:00 +0000

The Japan Foundation Manila's 10th Asian Cartoon Exhibition is currently on display at the activity center of SM North EDSA's The Block. The exhibition's theme is Asian Environmental Issues. Drawings and sketches created by Asian cartoonists focus on environmental issues, but given that they are cartoons, the issues are portrayed with a touch of humor. It is a little ironic that the Japan Foundation is sponsoring this, because the Japanese government has plans to dump its country's toxic wastes in our country through the JPEPA deal. But...that's another story.

Representing the Philippines is Elizabeth T. Chionglo, creator of the comic strip Love Knots, which can be read in the Philippine Daily Inquirer from Mondays to Saturdays. Environmentally-related works from Love Knots and her other comic Bobita are displayed. I read the Love Knots series in the Inquirer everyday. It always focuses and sheds humor on major current events such as the Peninsula Siege and the ZTE Scandal. I'm not really a fan of her drawing style but when I saw her comic strips on display, with color, I was amazed. She's a great colorist! The drawings look really good when colored.

Colored all not, I love all the characters in Love Knots; they are so random and amusing. Not all the jokes are always funny, but the characters and their names are hilarious. The unforgettable characters De Niro and Bochok depict street children and their perspective in life. Love Knots' female protagonist, Jaja, her husband Jowa, and their friends and family are comical characterizations of the middle class working family and their peers. The nun-slash-reporter Sister Boni gets in "dangerous" situations as she interviews controversial personalities at the time; she was even "accused" of allowing some Magdalo soldiers to escape the Peninsula Siege. They truly represent a slice of Filipino life.

Chionglo's works are probably one of the funniest in the exhibit. A notable Love Knots strip on display was Jaja scolding Jowa for purchasing logs that came from illegal logging in Infanta, Quezon. She tells him that it's not a good choice, and as she lights a fire using the logs, ghosts come out in the smoke, as if haunting people for illegally cutting down trees in the forest, causing flash floods that killed thousands of Quezon residents. The drawing is funny but the message is very powerful.

Another sketch that was simple but has a lasting effect was by featured cartoonist Yokota Yoshiaki, a multi-awarded artist from Japan. His drawings are editorial and featured just one comic pane, but sent a strong message. My favorite would be the sketch of trees from a bird's eye view. The trees form a shape of a human lung, and at the bottom-right corner is a person watering the trees. The caption says, "Trees are nature's lungs" or something like that (I apologize for not being able to note it down).

Other artists include:

Em Sothya, cartoonist of the Cambodian-language Rasmei Kampuchea Daily
Chen Li Qing (a.k.a. Li Qing), senior staff writer at Jinan Daily, an influential Chinese-language daily of Shandong Province
Mohd Irfaan Khan, producer for the weekly talk show on children’s cartoons itni Si Baat on Sahara TV
Jitet Koestana, a freelance Indonesian cartoonist and illustrator
Kong Bo Hyuk, a freelance Korean cartoonist and illustrator who won the Lotus Best Cartoon Award of the National Buddhist Cartoon Contest in 2004
Tran Minh Dung (a.k.a. Nhop), cartoonist of the Vietnamese-language humor magazine for youths Tuoi Tre Cuoi
Thi-wa-wat Pattaragulwanit, editorial cartoonist of the Thai-language daily business paper Krunpthep Thurakip and English-language daily Bangkok Post.
John Pek Teck Leong (a.k.a. Zuan), a freelance Malaysian illustrator

Admission is free so if you're in SM North Edsa (or even Trinoma) you may as well pass by and view their works. It won't be a "boring" art exhibit since it is a display of comics! The exhibit is on display at The Block during mall hours from February 16 to 29. For inquiries, you can call the Japan Foundation Manila at 811-6155 to 58 or log on at their website at www.jfmo.org.ph.

And while we're on the topic of environment, may I just announce again that the Recycling Waste Market will be back again at SM North next Saturday, March 1 2008. For details on what products can be sold and for how much, see my previous post, Recycling Market Days at SM North.

Recycle Market Days at SM North

noreply@blogger.com (Cielo) — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 04:40:00 +0000

The SM Supermalls' Recycle Market has finally come to SM North! Turn your trash into cash (or exchange them for something useful) every first Saturdays of the month, from 8AM to 12NN at the open parking next to the former Super Sale Club building. Bring along whatever trash you can find and sell them.

For those interested, here's the price list (subject to change):

Paper (price per kilo)

Old newspaper - 5.00
White paper - 8.50
Assorted paper - 1.50
Old books / magazines - 2.00
Carton (corrugated) - 4.00

Plastic (per kilo)

PET (clean/washed) - 22.00
PET (dirty) - 17.00
Hard plastic - 17.00
Cup, spoon, fork - 10.00
PVC tubings - 2.00
Softdrink straw - 5.00

Metal (per kilo)

Scrap iron (bakal) - 11.00
Packaging cans (lata) - 5.00
Metal sheets (tapalodo/yero) - 9.00

Precious metal (per kilo)

Aluminum cans - 50.00
Aluminum - 60.00
Bronze - 150.00
Copper - 200.00

Bottles (per piece)

Gin - 0.50
Catsup (small or big) - 0.20
Lapad (Emperador) - 0.20
Long neck (Emperador/Tanduay) - 1.00
Softdrinks/Beer/Grande - 1.00
Softdrinks (1 liter) - 2.00
Bubog (clear empty bottles) - 0.50/kilo

Batteries - 21.60/kilo

Electronics (per kilo unless otherwise stated)

CPU, complete - 160.00/unit
CPU, no HDD/RAM - 100/unit
CRT monitor, colored, 14", 15", 17" - 35.00/unit
Printer, fax scanner, old appliances and other office equipment - 5.00
Motherboard/PC cards/Telecom cards - 90.00
Printer boards/med grade boards/hard disk - 20.00
Power boards/monitor boards - 5.00
Floppy drive/CDROM/Power supply - 12.00
CPU case/metal - 4.00
Wires/cables - 15.00
CDs - 12.00
Christmas light wires - 3.00
Aircon (complete unit) - 200.00/unit
CRT Monitors, 19" and up; TV, any size, complete parts - 20.00
Monochrome monitor and B/W TV sets, complete units - no value but will pick it up

Oil (per liter)

Cooking - 6.00
Engine / car - 6.00
Hydrolic - 8.00

Doy packs - 0.05 per piece

Styrofoam - no value but you can give them for proper disposal

The price offers aren't that high, but it's better than just getting rid of your trash for nothing and not having them recycled. We earned PHP 119.00 for three defunct laptops, an answering machine, and my old Magic Diary. We're a hundred bucks richer and have more storage space at home!

We shouldn't go there for the money but for the fact that we have a chance to recycle properly. Saving the environment is a community effort, and everything counts. Hopefully, accessible recycle markets/centers would become a permanent fixture not just in SM or other malls, but everywhere. We really, really need them!

Tayo'y um-AHON: Acts of Hope for the Nation Foundation

noreply@blogger.com (Cielo) — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 03:50:00 +0000

Blogging is fun, and it has become a pastime for most Filipinos everywhere. When I started blogging, I had no idea how many well-written Filipino blogs existed out there. These blogs contained just about everything and anything under the sun - personal memories and experiences, technology, moneymaking, art, music, politics and current events, education, showbiz gossip, gay/lesbian issues - you name it, it's out there (just look for it)! Blogging takes up so much of our time because it is the new form of edutainment; we not only get to write about what we want, we also get to read and learn from and become entertained by others.

Indeed, it has reestablished among us the love of writing and reading, which, sad to say, is not very common for majority of Filipinos. Those that have no access to the Internet most likely resort to television and radio as their source of information, primarily because they are not interested in reading or they don't know how to read. I'm not really sure which is worse between the two, not knowing how to read or not being interested in reading. The first is admittedly a dilemma for reasons I don't have to explain. The second, however, may be worse because even if one does have the skills but doesn't enjoy reading, then those skills remain stagnant and one'll never learn anything new. People won't read to become smarter, to gain new insight and ideas, to find out more about something they had forever been curious about. They'd just read to get by, to read road signs, television headlines, and short instructions.

That's why it's a good idea to start early. Teach children to read, and help them develop a love of reading. This is the idea behind the Acts of Hope for the Nation Foundation, cleverly nicknamed AHON Foundation. AHON, the social responsibility arm of Filway Marketing Inc., is a non-profit organization established in 2006 to strengthen reading and comprehension skills of public school students. Their goal is to develop free accessible libraries nationwide and promote a genuine love of reading among Filipino children.

One of the projects of AHON Foundation would be the Isang Milyong Aklat, Isang Milyong Pangarap campaign. You may have noticed dropboxes in Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, and Dairy Queen branches for this project. The concept of the campaign is self-explanatory, but I would elaborate anyway: AHON hopes to collect a million books via sponsorsihps and donations, to be distributed to public libraries and public schools nationwide. By doing so, children that are oh-so interested in reading would finally be able to live their dream and have access to quality books.

The AHON Foundation also adopts local public libraries in order to improve them: increase their book collections, refurbish furniture, and make the libraries child-friendly. To date, I think they have adopted a total 9 libraries in Quezon City and Marikina, with the help of the local government, local public schools and other organizations. The development of these libraries would hopefully benefit nearby neighborhoods. Children and students can now spend their time reading and learning in these libraries instead of being on the streets and getting involved in seedy activities.

I am not associated with the AHON Foundation, but I wrote this little entry because I firmly believe in and applaud their initiative. A culture of learning is one of the best ways to rise above the seemingly hopeless situation in our country. Education presents wonderful opportunties (financial, mental, emotional) locally and abroad.

The AHON Foundation office is located at 3/F Topy's Place, Industria cor. Economia Sts. Bagumbayan, Quezon City. I happen to know that they are currently looking for a Project Coordinator for their bookraising activities; if you are interested in the job then you can email your resume with picture to ahonfoundation@gmail.com on or before January 31, 2008. You can also visit their blog/website at http://ahonfoundation.blogspot.com/.

Wedding, Debut and Party Venues in Quezon City

noreply@blogger.com (Cielo) — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 03:59:00 +0000

My friend and I were talking the other day, and she told me she just came from a debut held in Grand Terrace, Commonwealth Q.C. She said, "I was surprised that a place like that even existed along Commonwealth!" I told her that there are a lot of places like that in the city, and most of the ones I know are in "hidden" locations, or at least the most unexpected ones:

1. Fernwood Gardens, Sanville Subdivision - I'm guessing this place is quite well-known, or that people have heard of it even though they're not exactly sure what or where it is. It is best known as a wedding spot because it has the "only air-conditioned garden venue". A number of celebrities and well-known personalities held important events in Fernwood - Aiko Melendez and Martin Jickain's wedding, television news journalist Katherine "Kat kat" de Castro and Eric Rada Cruz's wedding, and Nadine Samonte's debut, for example. Fernwood also played host to tapings for such local television programs as Pangarap sa Bituin, Wish Ko Lang, and Lovestruck.

I would say the only "downfall" to Fernwood is its location - if you're not from the area then you might have a difficult time going there. It is situated inside Sanville Subdivision, which is not exactly easy to find since it's more like an open village. But once you get to Sanville, there are a lot of signboards that point to Sanville, and they provide a map too.

2. Gazebo Royale, Visayas Avenue - According to its website, this place boasts of artistically landscaped surroundings where rare ornamental foliage abound. I'd say this is quite true (even though I haven't entered it yet) because when you look at Gazebo Royale from the outside (let's say you're passing by Visayas Avenue), it kind of looks like a place to buy plants and flowers. Gazebo Royale is a bit near Fernwood but probably easier to find since it's along a main road. It has also become a celebrity event place as tapings, press conferences and other important dinners were hosted here. Some scenes in the 2005 reality show, Close-Up to Fame in ABS-CBN was taped here, if I recall correctly. Save the Children UK Handover Event & the launching of Save the Children UK also took place here in 2006.

3. Grand Terrace, Commonwealth Avenue - Contrary to what Fernwood says, Grand Terrace's website claims that they house "the first fully air-conditioned garden venue in the country." Grand Terrace is new to me; the first time I've heard about it was when I was invited to a party held there a couple of weeks ago. I've heard that Regine Tolentino's mom celebrated her birthday here. The Grand Terrace has four air-conditioned venues that can accommodate 800 guests at one time. Venus Garden can accommodate 300 guests, Lotus Garden 100 and the main pavilion, which can be divided into two, about 400 people.

4. Patio Ibarra, Quezon Avenue - I've passed by Quezon Avenue a thousand times and I don't think I've noticed this place. Haha. However, I've read good reviews about Patio Ibarra and they seem to have good party packages for weddings, baptismal receptions, birthday parties (especially debuts), children's parties, and Christmas parties. As with the other venues, several tapings and press cons have also took place here, like some Boy & Kris episodes and press conferences of Ouija, Umagang Kay Ganda, and Now and Forever Presents Duyan

5. Plaza Ibarra, Timog Avenue - Plaza Ibarra and Patio Ibarra are both under the Ibarra group, so I guess they offer the same amenities and services. Tapings of TV shows and specials, as well as press conferences, are almost always held here too, since it's located between the offices of ABS-CBN and GMA.

6. Blue Gardens, Commonwealth Avenue - Blue Gardens is ideally a wedding venue, but recently I believe it accomodates other types of occasions as well. Their website boasts of celebrity events that took place in their venues, such as the Studio 23 Christmas Party, At Home Ka Dito taping, Ryan Agoncillo's surprise valentine's event for Judy Ann Santos, and Magandang Umaga Pilipinas Valentine's special.

7. Solea, Baler Street - Who would've thought that a place like Solea would exist in the San Fransisco del Monte area? Solea is also a garden venue affiliated with various churches like the Parish of the Holy Sacrifice (commonly known as the UP Chapel), Santo Domingo Church along Quezon Avenue, Santuario de San Jose in East Greenhills, and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Shrine Parish in New Manila.

8. Batis Asul, Hereos Hill - Batis Asul was established in 1981 by a family of caterers from Pampanga. They have wedding and kiddie party packages, as well as a "regular package" for other types of venues.

9. Windmills and Rainforest, Scout Borromeo St. South Triangle - Windmills is exclusively for special occasions like weddings, debuts, anniversaries, conferences, baptismal parties, kiddie parties and other special events.

10. Albergus, Capitol Hills Drive - Albergus, I think, used to be a restaurant and catering service, but they have established their own exclusive venue along Capitol Hills Drive (near Celebrity Sports Club). Albergus caters to weddings, kiddie parties, debuts, wakes, seminars, and other types of occasions, like reunions, community dinners and company parties. I think an edge Albergus has it the fact that it's a recgonized catering service, that's why you know that the food's gonna be great. Albergus catering is also affiliated with Gazebo Royale, Solea, and exclusive village clubhouses.

11. The Big Tent, Don Antonio Subdivision - The Big Tent, as I've read, is a Premier Tent venue in Quezon City. It boasts elegant cathedral windows and chandeliers in a white setting. It is an air-conditioned tent that can accomodate up to 500 guests. Other features include: imported ceiling liner designs, latest innovation in tentology, and air-conditioned restrooms.

UPDATE 12. Mr. Hardinero, Quezon Avenue - I really haven't heard of this place until it was suggested in a comment to this entry. From the looks of it, Mr. Hardinero is originally a landscaping and flower shop that expanded into a garden venue and catering service. The place specializes in weddings since they are after all a flower shop. The packages on their website are wedding flower packages and not food or party packages.

UPDATE 13. Amaranth Garden, Novaliches - I saw this one in 88db.com. They didn't have a website, but the post claimed it can house up to 200 guests. I was surprised to find out that a place as big as this is located in Novaliches! You can call 9838443 or 8175649 for details.

UPDATE 14. Casa Espanol, Mindanao Avenue - Wow, you really never know where wedding events places like this would show up. Or it is probably because I've never gotten around to exploring the rest of Mindanao Avenue up to the Novaliches areas. Anyway, the services of Casa Espanol are mostly for weddings, and I'm not really sure if they welcome other types of events.

I'm sure there are more to add to this list, so just make a comment if you want your venue to be known. I hope this is useful for those planning parties or weddings out there. If you want comparison of rates and packages, don't expect to find them here though. I'm not that diligent, haha. The venues on this list have functional websites so just check them out :)

Christmas Bazaars in Quezon City - December 2007

noreply@blogger.com (Cielo) — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 04:44:00 +0000

It's almost Christmas! You might want to drop by these bazaars as part of your Christmas shopping:

Bazaar sa Bulwagang Claret Year 5
December 2, 9, 16, 23
Immaculate Heart of Parish, UP Village, Diliman (Claret Church)

Christmas Kidz Kraze '07
Warehouse, Calle Industria, Libis
December 1-2, 7-9, 14-16, 19-21

Corinthian Bazaar '07
December 1-2
Corinthian Garden Clubhouse

Cubao Expo Holiday Weekend Bazaar
Marikina Shoe Expo Compound, Araneta Center, Cubao
December 1, 8, 15, 22

Grand Christmas Bazaar ’07 @ The Big Tent
Isidora Hills, Holy Spirit Drive, Don Antonio Village
December 1-2, 15, 23

Here Comes Santa Claus Christmas Bazaar
December 15-16
Celebrity Sports Club, Capitol Hills Drive (near Balara and Commonwealth)
http://apexevents.multiply.com/

Pasko na Naman Bazaar @ White Plains
December 1-2, 21-23
White Plains Subdivision

Santa's Christmas Bazaar
La Vista Clubhouse, Katipunan
December 15-16

If you'd like to post a bazaar event here (bazaars in Quezon City only!), just post a comment. :) Enjoy looking around/shopping!

Recycle at TriNoma's Waste Market

noreply@blogger.com (Cielo) — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 01:51:00 +0000

Good news! TriNoma Mall will be holding a Waste Market on November 23, 2007 from 8am to 3pm at the TriNoma Parking Lot (not sure which one). Get rid of your trash and earn money at the same time! You can bring and sell:

broken office/home electrical and electronic appliance;
used lead-acid batteries such as vehicle and UPS batteries;
nonworking and obsolete computers and monitors;
empty ink and toner cartridges;
plastic and mineral products;
paper and carton products; and
empty Tetra Pak cartons.

I'm not aware of any recycling centers in Quezon City, so we should take advantage of this event - clean our homes, earn money, and help the environment. It's a win-win situation, really. For more information, call Ayala Foundation at 752-1084 and look for Tin, Jess or Adel. You can also email them at swm(at)ayalafoundation(dot)org.

Big Brother Committed a Big Bad No-No in the "Pinoy Big Balita" Auditions

noreply@blogger.com (Cielo) — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 00:41:00 +0000

I'm not an avid fan of Pinoy Big Brother, but I was able to watch a portion of the show last night. Big Brother decided to launch Pinoy Big Balita and held "auditions" inside the house for a newscaster. All the housemates were asked to read actual news from a teleprompter. Since most of them aren't professional reporters or speakers, it was inevitable that they would commit mistakes that looked funny to the viewers. Unfortunately, the news they were asked to read about involved the recent findings for the investigation of the Glorietta 2 blast, which the housemates knew nothing about.

I found it inappropriate for Big Brother (or the show's producers) to use such a sensitive and serious issue as the topic for the Pinoy Big Balita auditions. The housemates had no idea if the news report they had read about was true or not. I switched channels when the auditions ended, so I did not really see them talk about their auditions. However, I caught some of them wondering about the news report, and it was Makoy (I think) that found the report devastating.

The Glorietta 2 explosion is a terrible and unfortunate incident in Philippine history, so I don't think it should be used for something that was meant to be funny. The show obviously presented the auditions as something to laugh at, through its editing and by adding comical background music. While the way the housemates read the teleprompter was funny, the subject matter of what they read wasn't. It was an awful way of informing them of such a tragic incident. What if they don't believe the news and make fun of it or take it lightly? What if one of them them realizes it was true and has relatives or friends that were killed in the blast? Would PBB focus on the possible drama in order to rake more ratings?

I don't know what happened after the auditions; I don't know if the housemates did talk about the Glorietta 2 news they reported. But I'm really hoping they didn't. I'm hoping none of them said things that would outrage the public, because it really wouldn't be their fault since they don't know anything about the blast. They should've been asked to read lighter news instead, like record-breaking feats or showbiz news maybe. Not serious ones that affect a lot of people and remain a sensitive topic to Filipinos. PBB or Kuya should be sensitive enough to show sympathy and respect to the blast victims and their loved ones.

A Taste of "Quiapo" in Quezon City

noreply@blogger.com (Cielo) — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 06:15:00 +0000

The last time I went to Little Quiapo, I was still a little kid who didn't want to eat there because the restaurant was not air-conditioned. It was still located along Matalino St. where the new KFC now stands, and I recall that it was sort of dark and maybe a bit dirty. Since my memory's a little fuzzy about it, here's a brief description (or a review, rather) of the old Little Quiapo:

"When the common TV is open for viewing, expect almost zero
service. The waiters are more likely watching TV than serving and they will get
angry if you call them during the climax. Haven't been to their toilet but will
surely expect unsavory sight. Monobloc chairs gives it authentic cheap
appearance complete with plastic washable table clothes. Don't go during peak
lunch hour or late dinner because they become beer garden-like with those
gang-looking patrons." (This was back in 2002.)

But hey, times change, and so do restaurants. Little Quiapo has not only moved its location, but also greatly improved its ambience and menu. You'll now find it as a charming little (well, not really) restaurant along Malakas St., just a few meters away from its old spot. Malakas St. is parallel to East Avenue; you'll easily find it (the street, not the restaurant) opposite Sulu Hotel and behind the Philippine Heart Center.

Let me tell you how (in my eyes) it has improved.

First, it has more parking space for their visitors! Their lot would probably house 10 cars if I estimate correctly. You'd probably have no problem finding a parking spot if you go there during the afternoons or off-peak hours.

Second, its interior and exterior design is fabulous. It's like a mixture of old-world, native Filipino, and, surprisingly, Mexican. I'm not really great at defining architectural styles so you'll have to excuse my description. The decorations inside the restaurant are a showcase of native Filipino artifacts such as native hats, wooden napkin holders, seashells, banigs and bilaos, and other native/tribal items. The colors of the walls and floors are warm and evoke a Mexican setting. The patio and exteriors are especially old-world, but the lighting also add to that feeling as well.

But let's not forget the food! Little Quiapo is best known for its delicious halo-halo and pancit palabok. But they offer a variety of other dishes as well - Filipino and Chinese cuisines, sizzling meals, salads, sandwiches, and breakfast. The prices are pretty good too, if you're into good food. Halo-halo dishes start at around 80php, while some meals would cost maybe 150php or more. Most dishes would probably serve two or more people, depending on your appetite, so it would be a good idea to order for the whole group and share, instead of having individual orders. You can also take out pancit, which they'll serve in a bilao. At the counter, native delicacies like pastillas and squashed seeds are sold.

What about the service, you ask? The food is served quickly, although the waiters aren't as refined compared to those from other restaurants. They're not arrogant but not exactly friendly either. They're not offensive or impolite either; but I would probably give the service a 6/10 in terms of interaction with the customers. Some waiters would also sit in bar stools located near the kitchen, probably waiting for orders; while you can see others eating in the backroom if you're seated nearby.

The restaurant has separate comfort rooms for men and women. The one for women isn't squeaky clean but you'll manage. Like its service, it's a mixture of good and bad: good because it's not really dirty, bad because it's kind of like a bathroom in an old house.

But like I said, Little Quiapo has greatly improved. It's not fine dining, but you'll definitely leave the restaurant satisfied and full. I would say dining there brings an enjoyable experience, especially if it's your first time there - or if you knew the old Little Quiapo.