Philippine Travel Notes

I know what some of you would 'exclaim' by reading the title of this post - "Holiday Inn na naman"? But don't go away just yet, you'll thank me for sharing important details down to the last pic. Promise yan! Take note, while I am already starting to sound like a marketing ambassador of Holiday Inn or even its mother brand ( IHG ).., I already said that before and I'll say it again, no I am not! This blog just recounts my travel experiences as they come. Its just that my recent travels, involves/d staying at places where there are/were available IHG hotels, and as said before, they're a hard habit to break , a default for me! More are even coming! But let's talk about this one - Holiday Inn Manila Galleria. From the name alone, you would know where this hotel is located, right? On the eastern end, and just above Robinson's Galleria Mall. One of two towers, the other being Crowne Plaza (also an IHG Hotel). When I checked-in, the smiling...

I have forgotten that there's this branch at Robinson's Galleria, even if, now I remember, I have eaten at this place a number of times in the past. I am used to, and had been frequenting their Megamall store lately, although that one at Valero Street Parking Bldg. was my favorite when work was still in Makati. So I was happy to have stumbled (again) at this Galleria branch, and of course, I had dinner here.., Beef Misono, that's just it and my day was complete! Good that misono (and gyudon?) now comes in 2 sizes. I may be voracious when it comes to thinly sliced beef, but their 'large bowl' is too big for me! Anyway, there's really no issue or something special about this 'Japanese fastfood', except that I have been wondering how come they don't have many branches in Metro Manila and none in the provinces. I am just a regular Pinoy tongue-and-stomach. Thus, my view is.., if I like Yoshinoya food, many Pinoys must 'probably' also like ...

Another event, another activity in my exciting life. This time, venue was at the Acropolis Clubhouse in Greenmeadows QC. Evening-to-night-time event, so no need for too much thinking, this meant that the going-home time would be way too late in the night (if not the wee hours of the morning), plus, I could be drunk (if not wasted). Meaning, going home (to Fairview) would not have been even near practical. Thus, the need for me to find a place to stay overnight, and the easy choice was Microtel Acropolis! Not that I have stayed in this hotel before (I haven't even seen it yet), but being a Wyndham member, I already knew and know the quality of stay (yes, me ganun?) I would experience. Not grand, but good! Not to mention that this hotel sits right beside the gate of this posh village (Acropolis). How do I know that? A eh, even if I had been Visayas-based the past 7 or so years, in the decade immediately prior to that, I worked my ass in a (9AM to 9PM) office based inside Eastwoo...

It has been some while since I had my last taste of Vietnamese food! Thus, when I happened to pass by this restaurant while roaming around Robinson's Galleria, I immediately went to look at their menu!   Of course, I salivated.., And I took 'excruciating time' deciding on what I should order (I wanted them all, arrrghh)! Well.., (nainis na yata maghintay yung waitress na naka-Ao Dai pa man din).., I ended up with this.., And of course this.., Ahh... that just made my day!

Today, as I lined up to enter the airport, there was some guard with two nuns in tow and motioning for us to step aside so they could pass. A Tagalog-speaking passenger behind me casually said "eh bakit kung madre sila?". The guard overheard that and on return told the passenger, "respeto lang sa Diyos sir". Passenger still retorted with a sarcastic "madre ang mga yun, hindi Diyos"! I almost laughed at that remark, but kept my quiet since the guard in an obviously piqued face said "sumbaganay na lang ta, sir". Passenger answered with "wag kang mag-German, di ko naiintidihan”. I don't know why, I interpreted that for him and told him "suntukan na lang daw po kayo, sir"! Hehe, his wife reprimanded him to stop responding. But as that guard walked away, the man said "di lalo akong hindi nakapag-check-in, gago ka pala eh! End of story! This reminded me of my fascination with Pinoys (and I think many  people in the world are...

Folks, many of you will probably be interested to know that Mooon Cafe (yes, that's 3 of the letter “O”s), that famous Cebuano Mexican whatever restaurant, is opening soon in Metro Manila! I was a bit elated, bit disappointed, down to outright disgusted at how this is happening! How do I explain that? Here I go… Elated Eh of course, that is Cebu invading your Metro Manila AGAIN! What's so happy about that? If only to show that the Queen City is really making its mark, that it is not anymore the “kaulohan“ dictating the pace of everything. C'mon folksy folks, I have been resident of the queen city for the past 3 years, I claim, therefore I AM a Cebuano! So I am proud that another local joint is trying it out in the metropolis. Yeyeyehhh! Disappointed My shallow point, which many of you will agree, is --- that restaurant, especially their IT Park branch (at The Walk) has been one of my best places to bring visiting friends from Manila to! So my list of “Uniquely Cebu...

I had already a rough note on this topic re my hectic 1 week stay in Metro Manila (golly, I now consider myself a visitor) with that “smoking ban” in place. However, recent news have 'again' superseded me, so I had to make some little tweaks here and there in what I had to say. So, puffing travelers, listen up and listen well esp if you’re going to Metro Manila. Ban As far as I can remember, at least in QC, smoking has been banned in enclosed public places as early as before I finished college. Hint: si Cory ang commencement speaker namin (her first ever), so you’ll know how long it has been. Smoking Usually refers to people who puff cigarettes and cigars. It does not consider the smoke belching buses, cars, trucks and even private vehicles ALL OVER Metro Manila. Hey, do I hear anyone mentioning Baguio? OMG yes! It does not also consider your neighbors even as far as three blocks away burning trash that they have just swept from their yard – composed mostly of plastic b...

There has been that debate on the MRT fares for a time now, right? And I even had my take on that in this note , remember? Well, here is a real deal experience… I enjoyed a fine dinner with family over at Cyma in Trinoma. And after that, I told everyone (we’re all from different parts of QC) I’d be fine going home to my temporary abode of 1 week over at BGC. Even boasted that the MRT and the Fort Bonifacio Buses were a great and convenient combination. Alas, When I reached the North Avenue Station, the last train had just departed. Damn! So, I went down to EDSA and looked for a bus that would take me to Makati. There was plenty, and I even had a hard time choosing what I thought was cleanest and most comfortable. Still too many choices, so I hopped on one that had a lot of window seats vacant. Nice looong trip. It was like flying from Manila to Taipei – in terms of time consumed, I mean, when it was just from Trinoma to SM Makati. BUT, the fare was P35. Yes, THIRTY FIVE PESOS when that...

Its been there for a long time, I have lived in the metropolis for also a long time, and I have never actually seen this street where the lechon houses are lined up! Well I went there and OMG, lechon there are and salivate you will! If all the ‘whole’ cooked lechon I saw could have been gathered together, they’d easily be a platoon! Well, if I include those whole pigs waiting to be cooked, those that were already packed for delivery and those that were already being chopped in the many lechon stores… all the lechon I saw could probably be a battalion hehe. Yeah am exaggerating… But this was the first time I got to see so many whole cooked and uncooked lechon. Wow. Where is it? At the famous La Loma district of Quezon City. Or is it Manila? Or both? I think it’s the border of the two cities, whatever! Driver just asked around and voila we were there! The district though is more famous for something else far from lechon hehe. It is where the La Loma Cemetery (north cemetery?) is located ...

I have always said, never ask a local about what to see in his neighborhood cuz chances are he wont be able to tell you the best information about it. Take my case and the La Mesa Ecopark… many friends (some of you are reading this blog) kept asking me about it. My usual reply was “malay ko” or “not sure but its probably just another park by the edge of the dam”. While those replies would not be misleading, they were not very helpful at all, right? So, because of the so many questions, I decided to go for it – even if reluctantly hehe! Let’s set the mood please. I live in the Fairview area of QC and way past the La Mesa Ecopark or Dam from center of metropolis. That means I have been passing by (at least the corner leading to) the park for decades of my life. I did not think it most important to find myself in there since deep in me I thought, its just nearby anyway. But thanks to the coercive persistence of many of you, I went there… and I liked it! Where is it? Just google it! That w...