Merry Christmas!
This morning I joined the throng of Filipinos who went out to do their last minute shopping for the Noche Buena later tonight. I never thought that in spite having to wait in line for what seems like an eternity at the check out counter, I would actually enjoy the experience. There's something about being with a huge, pulsating shopping crowd to uplift one's spirit. Or maybe it is the non-stop playing of Christmas Carols in the background that did me in.
Whatever the reason, it made me feel even more that Christmas is indeed here.
I had a great time watching my fellow Filipinos happily buying the things they have saved up for and prepared for months. At least for this time of the year, all of us were able to let go of our worries that our budget will not be enough. And we all went home happy.
Next year, I will be part of this celebration again that we Pinoys have embraced for almost half a millennium already.
Food, gadgets, books, movies, music, places and everything else under the sun
Monday, December 24, 2007
Monday, October 29, 2007
Intramuros Surprise
My father requested that we visit Intramuros last Sunday to view an art exhibit. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that there are still a lot to see in the old city! Places of interest that I haven't been to before are still waiting to be discovered.
For example, the Silahis Art Center were the art exhibit was housed also has a lot of native products and artifacts inside. There are also books on Philippine history and culture. Some items are also on sale so any visitor can bring home a part of the Philippines.
A few steps away from there, one can find the "Casa Manila" Museum. It's an old house preserved from the Spanish era, which gives the visitors the chance to experience what it's like to live in a bygone era. Casa Manila contains exquisite art pieces and furniture. Photography is strictly forbidden and you cannot touch any of the displays, except in the kitchen area.
For example, the Silahis Art Center were the art exhibit was housed also has a lot of native products and artifacts inside. There are also books on Philippine history and culture. Some items are also on sale so any visitor can bring home a part of the Philippines.
A few steps away from there, one can find the "Casa Manila" Museum. It's an old house preserved from the Spanish era, which gives the visitors the chance to experience what it's like to live in a bygone era. Casa Manila contains exquisite art pieces and furniture. Photography is strictly forbidden and you cannot touch any of the displays, except in the kitchen area.
Monday, October 8, 2007
City Life
I was on my way to a mall yesterday when something straight out of a TV public affairs program happened to me.
While crossing a major roadway yesterday, through a pedestrian overpass, I felt a slight pull on my backpack on my right shoulder. I looked around and I saw a man behind me, holding on to one of the zippers of my bag's pocket. The pocket was already slightly open but the contents were still out of one's reach.
I was so surprised I could only say, "What are you doing, you fool!" The man raised his hand, with an innocent look on his face. I gave him a kick on his shin and he fell to the ground.
We stared at each other until he got up and ran away from the scene.
I've seen a report of this in one of those expose on TV. A gang of men and women opening backpacks of unsuspecting pedestrians, taking anything they could get their hands on. But that was in another part of the city, so I was surprised it happened to me.
But what really surprised me was that, it happened to me at 11 in the morning in a very busy pedestrian overpass. While the man was down, some people even passed him by. Nobody looked at him or at me.
It wasn't like that before. Had it happened a few years back, someone would have stopped and asked either me or the man what was happening. It made me think that this is part of a city's transformation. As a city gets big, people become callous and wouldn't want to get involved in situations like that.
Or may be a crime like this is so common, people are not surprised anymore. It was just another incident in their busy city life.
While crossing a major roadway yesterday, through a pedestrian overpass, I felt a slight pull on my backpack on my right shoulder. I looked around and I saw a man behind me, holding on to one of the zippers of my bag's pocket. The pocket was already slightly open but the contents were still out of one's reach.
I was so surprised I could only say, "What are you doing, you fool!" The man raised his hand, with an innocent look on his face. I gave him a kick on his shin and he fell to the ground.
We stared at each other until he got up and ran away from the scene.
I've seen a report of this in one of those expose on TV. A gang of men and women opening backpacks of unsuspecting pedestrians, taking anything they could get their hands on. But that was in another part of the city, so I was surprised it happened to me.
But what really surprised me was that, it happened to me at 11 in the morning in a very busy pedestrian overpass. While the man was down, some people even passed him by. Nobody looked at him or at me.
It wasn't like that before. Had it happened a few years back, someone would have stopped and asked either me or the man what was happening. It made me think that this is part of a city's transformation. As a city gets big, people become callous and wouldn't want to get involved in situations like that.
Or may be a crime like this is so common, people are not surprised anymore. It was just another incident in their busy city life.
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Cupcakes
There's a local donut in Manila that its patrons claim could give Krispy Cremes a run for the money. It's called Gonuts Donuts. I've tried their donuts before and found them good. Not as fluffy and smooth as KK but they give consumers a lot of variants to choose from.
They recently came out with cupcakes! Of course I had to try them. The cakes are yummy but the icing and toppings are way too sweet for me. Especially since I've been advised to cut down on the sweets.
One thing about these tiny cakes is that they are beautifully prepared. It really takes me sometime before deciding to bite in because I really feel sorry ruining such beauty.
They recently came out with cupcakes! Of course I had to try them. The cakes are yummy but the icing and toppings are way too sweet for me. Especially since I've been advised to cut down on the sweets.
One thing about these tiny cakes is that they are beautifully prepared. It really takes me sometime before deciding to bite in because I really feel sorry ruining such beauty.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Japan Home Center
With not so much to do at home, I decided to go to the Greenhills shopping center in San Juan, Metro Manila. Greenhills is a blog-inducing thing but I will write about it some other time.
This topic is all about Japan Home Center, a store found not only in Greenhills but in other shopping malls as well. It sells various Japanese products for home and personal use.
What's amazing about this store is everything sells for 88 pesos ($1.83 at the current peso-dollar exchange rate of 48:1)!
There are really nice things one can buy from this store. There are plastic containers to organize various objects at home. There are magazine holders as well as file containers.
One can even get soy sauce, sweet vinegar and white vinegar needed to make sushi. And of course, they carry my favorite snack, wasabi peas.
The store reminds me of the 99 cents store in the U.S. where one can buy practically everything to live. What's missing from Japan Home Center are the food stuff that are priced below one dollar.
Of course, buyers should understand that at that price, they shouldn't expect these things to last a lifetime.
This topic is all about Japan Home Center, a store found not only in Greenhills but in other shopping malls as well. It sells various Japanese products for home and personal use.
What's amazing about this store is everything sells for 88 pesos ($1.83 at the current peso-dollar exchange rate of 48:1)!
There are really nice things one can buy from this store. There are plastic containers to organize various objects at home. There are magazine holders as well as file containers.
One can even get soy sauce, sweet vinegar and white vinegar needed to make sushi. And of course, they carry my favorite snack, wasabi peas.
The store reminds me of the 99 cents store in the U.S. where one can buy practically everything to live. What's missing from Japan Home Center are the food stuff that are priced below one dollar.
Of course, buyers should understand that at that price, they shouldn't expect these things to last a lifetime.
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