Philippine Travel Notes

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 ...

After office evening walk, sosy ako this evening, Ortigas Center eh! Not that I crave to live anywhere in Metro Manila again.., but at times I feel this little 'kick' at being back and walking around like a tourist! So there I went, strolling along a pre-determined route: from Holiday Inn, walk eastwards along Garnet Road, turn right at Emerald Ave., right again at Ortigas Park straight to Opal Road, another right turn at ADB Ave., and back to Holiday Inn Manila Galleria! That's only about 1km, but a pleasing enough stroll. But.., the only thing constant in this world is change, right? Indeed it is. And it happened tonight! As I stood at the sidewalk of Citiland Grand Emerald Tower (Emerald cor Garnet), I looked diagonally across to that fairly new Eton Emerald Lofts (I often passed here when it was still being constructed) and wondered how their condo units looked like (I like lofts). So I crossed perchance get information! Eto na.., at ground-level corner of the ...

As we go on with our daily lives, especially as we move from place to place for whatever reason/s, the world keeps showing things that make us act or be gladly amused. Thus we keep learning. It's a cycle! Like today, a gloomy afternoon, on my way from Tacloban to Manila, was a fascinating example. My curious happy 'today' was made a notch happier by this jeep. It says 'Remnant of the Little Flock'. I instantly recognized that, that expression has religious connotation, so my trend of thought flowed in that context, but even I was amazed of my self when I said 'isn't the Little Flock already the Remnant'? I am no religious, so I wondered... where did I ever know about that 'remnant' and 'little flock' thing. All I attended since kinder were public schools. No way will I have been told of that topic! Oh okay, some nights ago, when I was busy doing 'work', I unconsciously left the TV on, not changing channels, until a religiou...

I was passing by some barangay in Kananga Leyte, when I saw ducks wading on a brook. They looked interestingly noisy, so I went near for a closer look at what they were all quacking about. Just curious! In no time, the owner of them ducks came to check what I was in his farm for. He probably suspected I was about to snatch and run away with one or two or more of his birds heheh! I said "pa-picture ha"? Well, it turned out, not only me was curious about something.., all of them quackers were also curious about me, if I might be some heaven-sent food angel descending upon them with lots of poultry feast. It started with a few ducks checking me out.., all of a sudden, there was a commotion, a stampede, a stream of ducks of all ages, quacking scuffling to get to me, only to find out there was nothing to eat! [I will insert a video clip here, soon] The manong told me this was a small-scale duck farm. But, for me, their numbers was overwhelming! Nakakatuwa nakakaaliw to se...

8AM, waiting for boarding of my Cebu-to-Tacloban flight, this caught my delighted attention.., That, is a very rare scene nowadays , which means the traveling public should be very concerned, if not even alarmed, due to the noticeable decline in the frequency of cabin cleaning service among airlines. In the 1990s or earlier, anyone who already often traveled by air could attest that, any time an airplane arrived at any airport, there were already the cabin cleaners lined up by the stairs, ready to "attack" the plane with cleaning paraphernalia. This 'service' was true at every PAL station in our country everyday. Then came the era of budget airlines (also called LCC or low cost carriers), heralded in this country by Cebu Pacific. They hyped the 'no frills' service that was supposed to make them competitive by 'doing away with' or 'doing less of' many traditional airline services or amenities, but offering cheaper tickets. The most obvi...

This happened a number of times before. In fact, the latest of which was just two weeks ago, right? But, every travel has a different story, so hear my notes on this latest trip. New tsismax.., ayaw mo?! Okay, just joking on the 'tsismax' thing! But there are new things I want to tell you starting with this.., That's the last picture of the previous story . Aside from how cute the scene was, that actually portrays how clean their train stations are. Otherwise, teachers won't allow kids to sit bare like that on the floor. That is the airport end of the MRT where thousands of passengers, employees and well-wishers pass everyday. Yet, apparently, always kept spankingly clean all the time. Imagine making your little tyke sit on the floor of any MRT or LRT station in Metro Manila.., maaatim mo? Yet there're more people here! My flight was departing from Terminal 1, but I was still early, so I made my way to Terminal 3. Pasyal.., This one is at the 4th floor viewin...

Another HIE in one day. This time in the heart of Singapore's 'nerve center' that is Orchard Road! Even I was awed at my obvious loyalty. Imagine, in the morning I departed from one HIE ( Phuket ), and arrived at this HIE in the afternoon! Not that I did this to avail of some bundled economic benefits, this just happens when I'm too occupied with work-related and social obligation activities that I don't have much time to think about places to stay (especially if just overnight). HIE is always my trusted default ! There are always 'minor' differences among HIE hotels, but I know what they 'generally' have (or don't have), and what they can (or cannot) do, to make my stay worry-free. Thus, if I don't have the luxury of time to ponder on this and that of a hotel, it's HIE! If there's none in my destination, I check IHG haha! Actually, for now, I have nothing much to say about HIE Orchard Road. Why? Because when I arrived in the af...

As said in the previous story, I came to Singapore from Phuket and needed to stay overnight for some meetings and kitakits I had to do. And though I have been describing notable places that I've been to on this island, there were those that I think I didn't previously have pictures of. Here are some of them. Let's start with the always-crowded original (pioneer) branch of Jollibee Singapore (6F Lucky Plaza).., I swung by to surprise-greet someone having a birthday bash. Oh yes, they also have 'functions' here! I just walked as this is near HIE, probably just about 200 to 300 meters along Orchard Road mismo. Ah, I mean the Jollibee branch at Level 6. Not that one at the basement (foodcourt), also of Lucky Plaza. Meron lang akong hinihiling.., sana magbago na ang branch na ito ng kanilang soft drinks hehehe.., I think it's not in all branches (in Singapore) that they have pepsi-only. Parang ang naaalala ko nga eh originally, even this branch started with Co...