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Balay Indang, The Red Ginger Farm and Garden

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" Balay Indang is a garden refuge comfortably located in Indang, Cavite. The wide, expansive gardens are filled with some of the finest flowering plants, trees and cacti making them some of the most relaxing and beautiful settings you could ever imagine. Our sanctuary boast of a variety of amenities including a large, well-maintained swimming pool, a luxurious and airy pool-side pavilion with billiards, mahjong and a collection of classic board games, a fishing pond with Red Kingfish Tilapia where you and your family can enjoy hours of fishing, and a well-stocked kitchen and restaurant specializing in local and foreign home-cooked meals. "

Balay Indang is a simple bed and breakfast place. It is perfect for corporate events, retreat, or if you want to simply escape from the busy city life. You can eat for P600/head and they serve simple home-cooked food (nothing to rave about). You can stay overnight complete with meals for P1,850/ head and you add P1,000/room if you prefer the air-conditioned room.

We want to be thorough in helping my brother in selecting the best reception place for their wedding so we had to check this out. I was only able to took pictures of the main Balay Indang house since we arrived late at night. Overall, it has a nice ambiance, a friendly staff and a relaxing eclectic atmosphere. This is a good place to escape with the family or go for a team building session.

Check this out...

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The Food

The meal starts with a simple salad with ranch dressing similar to Sonya's garden in Tagaytay. The meal comes with ordinary powdered ice tea and brewed coffee. Everything is home cooked so don't expect a gourmet dining experience.

The ribs are tender and home cooked.

The pasta dishes failed to meet our expectation because it was not fresh and pasta seemed overcooked.

The rice was just OK.

The fish, although imported, was also OK.

The Balay Indang Ambiance

My dad poses with different kinds of mirror in the background.

By design, the tables, chairs and door knobs are different throughout the house to give an eclectic effect.

Aidan poses with the different buddhas as the background. This is one of the signature displays in Balay Indang.

A view from the second floor of the main house. On the second floor, you can find the three air-conditioned rooms.

" Our three rustic cottage house eight well-appointed and extremely comfortable rooms designed to maximize their closeness to the natural beauty of the gardens.The rooms are made for ultimate comfort and serenity, fusing both the comforts of modern living with Old World charm and vibrancy. Furthermore, each room has its own distinct character, with interiors and accessories specially designed to make our stay as comfortable and as unique as possible. Here, your total relaxation is our key. At Balay Indang, our well-trained and friendly staff will make sure that your every need is met. "

Hannah Room

A view of the small bed and the door that leads to the restroom.

A glimpse of the homey filipino inspired comfort room.

A view of the main king sized bed in the Hannah Room.

Deborah Room

This is the main room typically used as the brides' room when weddings are held in Balay Indang.

There are a total of 3 beds in the Deborah room.

EVE Room

This is a smaller room among the three.

with a sofa convertible bed.

Balay Indang, The Red Ginger Farm & Garden
"A refuge to commune with God Nature One's Self.
At Balay Indang, discover Life as it should be. "

Reservations: +63 917-837 4261, +63 919-5595884, +63 921 980 7154 (9am-8pm daily)
Marge Tan, Manager (Mobile: +63 917 866 5825)

Driving Directions:
From the South Super Highway, take Santa Rosa Exit and drive towards Tagaytay.
From the Tagaytay rotunda, head to the market located after Taal Vista Lodge.
You will pass by Taal Vista, Casino Filipino, and Total Gasoline station.
As you approach the Mendez market intersection, you should see mercury drug on your right.
Turn right on the stoplight after Mercury along Mendez drive.
Drive along this very long Mendez stretch until you hit a dead intersection.
Turn right and Balay Indang should be 3km from this point.
You would go past the Balay Indang Welcome Arc .
Look for a wooden gate on your left with no.88 (shown in the picture above).

Antonio's, Tagaytay -- Still the Best

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The new Antonio's Main Gate.

We went back to Antonio's to check out their wedding package for my brother's wedding. As I posted a while back, I still think that nothing beats an Antonio's Dinner in Tagaytay. It is still the best if you want to hold a grand wedding for your closest friends. Antonio's beats any other places in Tagaytay in terms of great food and great ambiance. There is no set package in Antonio's for wedding and they leave it up to you to order from the menu and the beverages menu. You should budget a minimum of at least P2,000/ head and it doesn't make sense to go cheap on your guest if you decide to hold your wedding in Antonio's. There is a corkage fee of P500/ bottle so they highly discourage you to bring your own wine.

The Antonio's Garden.

This was the view taken from the well manicured garden of Antonio's. You can see the 3-level main house on the right and the huge door on the left is used for the grand entrance of the couple. You can use the garden for cocktails and this serves as the waiting area. Also, it is advisable to finish all the program in the garden and conduct the wedding reception in the main restaurant. It would definitely be a challenge to hold a program in the restaurant because of its 3-level structure so you will want to set up wide screens around the restaurant to stream the video of the program so as not to alienate your other guests.

Overall, Antonio's is the best ideal place for a wedding reception but be sure to willingly spend P2,000+/ head.

Related Posts:
Nothing beats an Antonio's Dinner @ Tagaytay!
Anton & Rache pre-nuptial shots in Antonio's

Check out the rest of the Antonio's ambiance....

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I've always love this door ever since we discovered Antonio's when it opened in 2003.

As you enter the door, you will be greeted by this receiving area with an old leather sofa. (This is the first level)

Behind the receiving area is the bathroom above that usually everyone falls in love with. I love it then and even better now.

As you look below in the second lower level, you'll see the tables set in a lush garden with a koi pond to add to the overall romantic ambiance.

You can decide to eat in the "main" restaurant with blue chandeliers. For a group dinner, our favorite spot is the patio of this main level resto.

You can continue to descend down via the grand staircase to the third lower level.

To your right is this high ceiling reception area which may be good for 20-30 people. I could imagine doing the wedding program here but you need to stream the programs via a wide screen to other areas of the resto.

To your left, group of tables with their own unique table setting and ambiance.

I'm not really fascinated with the table setup in this part of the resto maybe because of its low ceiling. It does not give you a feeling that you are eating in a garden.

This table has an interesting chef painting at the end of the wall. I've always wanted to ask Antonio's one of these days, the story about the painting.

As you go down further, this staircase now leads to the garden.

Here is a view of the garden from the staircase. This is the first time I've seen it . They have done a great job with creating and maintaining this garden.

So bro, what's your decision? Will you go for Antonio's?

P.S. I heard rumors before that Antonio's and his wife parted ways. Antonio's got that breakfast place while his wife runs the main Antonio's restaurant. But apparently, that may not be true since Antonio's still cooks in the main resto. Not sure if anyone can give a confirmation on this?

Batungbakal Zambales Mangoes

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One of our awesome indulgences unique to the Philippines, is to eat as much mangoes as you want! Not just any mangoes, but you need to try out these super delicious Batungbakal Zambales Mangoes! They are in season this summer and we are loving them now. This is also the best time to indulge in Dulcelin's Mango Torte because they would be using mangoes from Zambales.

At first, we were kinda disappointed to receive our box of zambales mangoes because when we opened it, the mangoes were green. But we now understand that it was necessary to prolong your indulgence for two+ weeks. Because once these mangoes ripen and becomes golden, oh man, we can't stop eating it for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I can even make my own mango torte or my own mango dessert. We bought two boxes of the Large Batungbakal Mangoes which cost us about P350/ box.

Personally, I love my mango green with a mix of yellow to give it a sweet and sour taste. My wife loves the ripe ones and it is perfect for the lihi period. Check out the email that we got from watergirl below... (Thanks so much!!)

BTW, I'm also looking for other zambales mangoes sources, please please let us know...

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You may contact Jane or Melot at 729-3265 or 729-5413 for your orders.

Pickup will be at 26 Narra, South Forbes anytime after 9 am.

The mangoes come in 5 kg. boxes and the prices are as follows:

Size Weight Range/pc in g Price/5kg. box Approx # to a Box
Small 160 to 209 P200.00 26 pcs. +/-
Regular 210 to 259 P250.00 20 pcs. +/-
Medium 260 to 309 P300.00 17 pcs. +/-
Large 310 to 359 P350.00 14 pcs. +/-
Extra Large 360 to 409 P400.00 13 pcs. +/-
Jumbo 410 and up P500.00 12 pcs. +/-
> >>
Please indicate the size and how many boxes you'd be ordering.

Hacienda !sabella , Celebrate Life!

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" You need a getaway. And fast. What's holding you back? You don't want to feel as if you were far, far away from the city.

You want to pay good money for a nice place. But somehow, every other resort feels too generic. Same old cabanas, same old bungalows. As if it would hurt to have just a little more uniqueness and style.

You need to feel refreshed and recharged after, not tired out and exhausted. You've realized that taking a break is as much a need of the spirit as it is of the boy. It isn't about running away and spending all your money and burning out. It's about coming home to a place that allows you and your family to be the best people you can be, in a place where the true luxury is that of choice.

Hacienda Isabella... The possibilities are endless... Dream Weddings, power team buildings, intimate parties, fabulous events and enchanting moments.

Welcome to the World of Hacienda Isabella!"

In the past, when Republic of Malate was burned down, I remembered Kuh Ledesma opened her Pasay home for dinner reservations so that the chef(s) @ Good Earth would continue to be employed despite the closing of the restaurant. It is too bad, I was still not blogging back then. We ate there when it opened and Kuh's place has a relaxing zen feel to it (Have you eaten @ Kuh's place before?). Kuh would sometimes go down to greet and meet with the guests but we never had a chance to meet her. When OAP was born, I was wondering if I can feature that place but I heard they don't operate anymore.

So imagine how happy I was, when I saw Hacienda Isabella in Tagaytay which is Kuh Ledesma's Tagaytay Residence. It has been opened to the public for two years now for weddings, team buildings. This is strictly- by-reservation lunch/ dinner (reserve 1 week in advance) only. It has exactly the same look and feel that I was looking for. It is just far from the main Tagaytay highway. After Bag of Beans, you need to turn on the first right (you should see the sign to Hacienda Isabella) and drive for 8kms (about 20 minutes by car). I was telling my brother that this was just perfect for a wedding and if I was going to be married now, I would make the reservations immediately.

Only issue I see with this place is that it is far from the main highway and you can piss off some of your guest. Parking would be an issue and you need to park your guest's cars outside the Hacienda along the road. They have their in-house chef named Joseph who cooks for the Ledesma family. I'm not sure how good the food is, but it should be great because they are charging P650/ head (Anyone of you who has been or tried Hacienda Isabella before? Do share your experience!).

For weddings, they charge P1,300/ Head + 12% VAT which already includes the venue, the food, and the three rooms on the second floor which can be used by the bride and immediate family members for the night. They have 19 villas that you can rent out for your guests and have an all night party with your close friends and family. My kind of wedding place.

Let me tour you around Hacienda Isabella....

Technorati Tags: Hacienda Isabella, tagaytay

After entering the main door, you would see the main dining table on your right .

To your left, would be a series of group tables for a party of 8-10 people. Hacienda !sabella is strictly by reservations only because the main chef comes from Manila and they plan the meal based on exact number of people.

The stairs leading to the bedrooms. Can't wait to see the rooms!

As you walk up the stairs going to the 2nd floor, if you pause for a while and look behind your back, you would see the entire scene above. For a Sunday lunch, the place looks empty and they are waiting for only one group for lunch that day.

As you walk up to the second floor, you would see this space for entertaining your guests (if ever) and this is just outside the three bedrooms included in the wedding package.

Here is a top view for the second floor of the main dining area. Check out the cute lamps.

A sneak preview of the romantic couple's bedroom. Aidan beat you to it!

The couple's bed. Isn't it just great? It looks so inviting!!! This room is only reserved for the bride.

Here is the bride's bathroom where you can stay for hours!

Another bed inside the couple's bedroom. Maybe for Kuh's daughter, Isabella. The opening on the left side of the photo leads to the bathroom.

This is the middle bedroom in the second floor. This room is quite small and the only room that does not have an aircon.

The third bedroom. I like the way they had set up the rooms where all are for sharing, bonding with family and friends.

This one's also nice. Definitely a room for everyone else! Located downstairs. This is not included in the wedding package but can still rent this room for P5,000+ (I believe). They offer the room with breakfast.

Look how vast the lot is for the reception area! I wonder how will they transform the place into a dream wedding reception.... Searching through the web, you would see a few concept on how other couples transformed this place into a romantic dinner event.

I walked around the Hacienda and tried to capture the sceneries to give my brother a feel of the ambiance.

There are a lot of big paintings around which really enhances the serenity of the place.

A room by itself. Kinda spooky when it turns dark though. There are 19 villas/ rooms around the hacienda.

One of the villas you can rent out. If this was my wedding, I would ask my close friends and family to stay over and make the wedding an overnight affair.

Here is a view of the main house.

Old stuff?

I want this painting!!

Hacienda !sabella
(contact person: Jojo Jacob)
#8 Carasuchi St. , Indang Cavite
Tel. No. (02)551.7253 to 55
Mobile No. (0920) 953.9488; (0917) 813.9065; (0920) 565.9635; (0919) 301.9525
Site: www.haciendaisabella.com
Email: jo2_jacob@yahoo.com, reen15shey@yahoo.com, verymalo@yahoo.com

Ville Sommet, Tagaytay

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" You feel calm the moment you set foot into the gardens. You will completely let go and commune with nature. Out of the blue you feel the buzz. The air is electric. It is palpable. Suddenly you find yourself in the middle of a party. You've found what you came for."

"Welcome to Ville Sommet... explore the possibilities. "

Wedding season is in the air and we are helping our big brother choose the perfect venue for their wedding in October 07. First stop, the Ville Sommet garden in Tagaytay. This was used to be the setting of the Seasons restaurant which ceased operation already. It is the first time I've been to this place and this reminded me of our Caleruega wedding while walking the path to the glass house and chalet. I've seen photos on their website but I need to see with my very own eyes and get the feel of the place.

As we stepped into the reception hall, we saw that the glass house has a high ceiling with cloth draped to add touch to the venue. The glass house can fit 350 people in one event. This covered reception hall is very useful specially during the rainy season. Lodging for the couple at the Chalet is also available as part of their wedding package. It would have been perfect if they built a chapel on top of the garden.

Overall, it was very nice and the landscaping is perfect if you like the garden setting for your wedding. For a 200 pax wedding, Ville Sommet will cost about P260,000+ (approx..) for an exclusive garden reception.

Here is the rundown of the Ville Sommet costs:
Chalet -- P12,500 + 12% VAT (with breakfast) but P10,000 if part of the wedding package. Jacuzzi available for use.
GlassHouse -- P85,000 + 12% VAT
Caterer -- P635/head +10% Service Charge +12% VAT (Cheapest package anyone of the four caterers)
(I was advised by Ville Sommet not to publish the rates because it changes over time. Better to call: +632 5513422 to 23 for the rates. )

Let me tour you around Ville Sommet in its raw beauty...

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This is the main private house of the owner of Ville Sommet but it is off limits.

Ville Sommet Chalet

The Chalet. Luxurious appointed 2 bedroom Chalet with living and dining area, Sauna/ Steam room and Jacuzzi.

"True to its name, Ville Sommet does indeed have a house on a hill—THE CHALET. Designed by architect Jose Mañosa to resemble a mountain cabin, the two-bedroom chalet can comfortably accommodate a party of two to a family of six. Furnished tastefully with Cebu’s finest creations, it has a living and dining area, a working kitchen, and even an outdoor whirlpool and sauna room which are overlooked by a trellis of stephanotises, artfully filtering the sunlight." (www.villesommet.com.ph)

As you enter the chalet, you'll be greeted by the homy sofa and a kitchen.

It is well maintained and I like the log cabin type of ambiance.

This will be the couple's bedroom during their stay should they decide to get the Chalet.

There is an adjacent twin bed room for additional guests or kids.

The Parkland
Discover this Grand Garden dotted with exotic fruits, vibrant blooms, an enchanting lagoon, trellis, and winding paths. This oasis can hold up to 300.

The small lagoon is quite impressive and it adds to the overall romantic ambiance of the place.

This is a good set-up place for the wedding photo-ops. This is under the tree and near the lagoon.

You can see the huge glass house in the background from the lagoon area.

The Glasshouse. A covered area that is enveloped in nature and can easily transform into a dream party space.

"The largest structure on VILLE SOMMET also looks its most gentle and fragile. THE GLASSHOUSE is ideal for large parties of up to 350 people, who can wine and dine no matter the weather outside. With views of the sprawling gardens all around, THE GLASSHOUSE is also home to a garden of its own right inside its glass walls. If you’re looking for the perfect venue that delivers drama and high-impact, this is it." (www.villesommet.com.ph)

Real plants accentuate the overall ambiance of the the Glass house. This photo gives you a sense of how big the place is.

You might wonder, so where is the restroom? I'm glad that there is a stand alone restroom. As of this moment, they are constructing another one that is nearer to the glass house.

This is just one of the winding path across the Ville Sommet garden that reminded me of the path to the Chapel of the Transfiguration in Caleruega where we got married.

The Pavilion. An open air luxury Caban that could easily hold a party of 80.

This used to be the location of Seasons restaurant but they decided to stop it even before I had the chance to try it out.

Here is the insider's look of the pavilion.

Ville Sommet, Tagaytay
Website: www.villesommet.com.ph
Cell no: +63 917 832 3908
Tel#: +632 551 8940, +632 551-3422 to 23
Directions: Coming from Tagaytay Circle/ Manila, after reaching Tagaytay-Alfonso Arch, turn right to Barangay Sikat. This turn is directly in front of Residence Inn, Tagaytay. Just a few minute drive from the highway.

Ville Sommet has 19 parking slots inside their compound. Parking is allowed along the streets. Do not fret for Ville Sommet will ask the assistance from their Baranggay tanod to guard the parked vehicles.

Ville Sommet Qualified Caterers:

Juan Carlo the caterer
Main Office: 78-C Cenacle Drive Sanville Subdivision Q.C.
Tel. Nos. +63 (2) 9293674
Telefax: +63 (2) 4530071
Email: juan_carlo_thecaterer@yahoo.com
Website: www.juancarlothecaterer.com

Josiah's Catering, Incorporated
Main Office: 34 East Drive Marikina Heights, Marikina City
Tel. Nos. +63 (2) 9342163; +63 (2) 9417032 loc. 101-107
Telefax: +63 (2) 9482669
Email: info@josiahscatering.com
Website: www.josiahscatering.com

Seasons Catering Services
Main Office: 247 Milelong Bldg. cor. Herrera St., Makati City
Tel. Nos. +63 (2) 8445315
Mobile: 0927-7327667

Cibo di M. Signature Caterer
owned & operated by SOSTANZA, INC.
U-12 Session Apt., Session Rd. Araneta Center
Quezon City, Philippines 1109
Tel: 911.9970 • 913.3965 Fax: 439.5884
Mobile: 0917-830.5053 • 0917-881.5237

Paalam, Julia -- Your Spirit lives on.

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As shared in my iBlog 3 speech, life is too short that you should concentrate your blogging on all things beautiful and positive. Because you will be remembered by what you wrote and how you live your life. Now that it is confirmed that Julia Campbell died in Batad, we should remember her for not how she died but how she lived and loved the Philippines so much more than most of us Filipinos.

(From Interesting Snippets)

Her last entry on her blog, Julia in the Philippines last January 13, 2007 was entitled "Buhay Pa Tayo"

"Buhay Pa Tayo
One of the most familiar phrases people say here when you ask them how they are is "Eto" (here) or "Buhay pa" (still alive). Never has it had more meaning than in recent weeks here as we recover from one of the worst typhoons to hit the Philippines in decades..." - Julia Campbell

How many of us Filipinos would say that I want to live in the Philippines! Only a few, and most would rather immigrate. As for Julia, her blog introduction says it all:

"Mabuhay! (Welcome) For those of you who could not be convinced to follow me into the Peace Corps, this is for you! Welcome to my new adventure in the Philippines! At the age of 38, I decided to step out of the rat race of New York, join the Peace Corps and board a plane for Manila. This blog is dedicated to my adventures in the Philippines for the next two years. Wish me luck.... " - Julia Campbell

As for me, I envision this last blog entry on my tombstone and this drives my blogging passion:

So for all bloggers out there, how do you want to be remembered? What will be your last blog entry?

Chelsea, Chelsea by the Market Market!

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Chelsea, the sister restaurant of M Cafe, opened in Serendra last April 13, 2007. Now, one of my favorite resto in Serendra.

Freshest Ingredients, Satisfying Portions, Value for Money, Tasty and Juicy Freshness, Widest Menu Selection, they also have Wagyu Beef in the menu.

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Super Friendly Staff in Black. But of course, you need to be patient with them since they are in their soft launch period.

A market for exotic local and foreign ingredients.

The best place to reserve for a group of 10-12 family/ friends.

Aidan poses for the camera. The only issue with Chelsea is that the airconditioning is not functioning well inside the restaurant. They should fix this one.

The Chelsea Food
Soup, Salad, Starters, Refreshers and Cheese
Sandwiches, Chelsea Signature, Dinner Plates, Pizzas, Cakes & Milkshakes

Focaccia Bread with mushrooms and pesto on top with roasted garlic. Free up to a second round.

Butternut Squash & Marinated Goat Cheese (120++). Whoa! Good for 6 people! Isn't that great! Good thing we didn't order another soup.

Roasted Portabello Mushroom, Marinated Artichokes, Roasted Asparagus, Tomato Confit 10 in. (P295++). The best vegetarian pizza in Makati!

Grandma's Crispy Duck Confit & Mushroom Risotto, Peppercorn Sauce, Roasted Organic Vegetables (P295++). We loved the Risotto and fresh sweet vegetables. The duck breast was decent.

One of the best places for dessert in Serendra.

Toblerone Torte Sansrival (P150++) - Their Best Seller and Killer Dessert! Too much of a slice for us.

Watermelon Green Mango Shake (P110++). Recommended -- Watermelon color but still taste more of the green mango.

Why would you need 10 variants of Rock Sea Salt? Can somebody explain, they all taste like salt right?

Chelsea Market Cafe @ Serendra
Tel# +632 9091711 for reservations.

Heritage Park Sunset Airplane Watching

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One of our favorite hang-out place is the Heritage Park and it took us a while to be comfortable with the idea of going to a cemetery- technically. But Heritage Park is a special kind of cemetery. We hang out there around 5pm-6pm where we can see the planes landing and taking off from NAIA. Some of the planes were so close that Aidan began to be afraid of the sound of the plane engine, contrary to his previous reaction of being excited to see the real life size airplane.

I'm sure when Aidan grows up, he will conquer come to understand where the sound comes from and eventually overcome his fear of the plane engine sound. We were actually teasing Aidan while he was crying especially with the plane still so far away. His sense of hearing is soo sharp that he was already whining while we wonder why.

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Actually, when we told him that we were going to see the planes once again, he was very excited so we thought he was already fine with the sound. Apparently, we still need do it more often so he will be used to it.

This was soo close that you can see the detail of the bottom of the plane.

We had to hold Aidan because he wanted to desperately escape at the sound of these planes.

We always hang out in the Eternity area in Heritage Park.

We usually go to Heritage Park via C5. If you are going towards Libis, you need to turn left by going underneath the first overpass after the C5 Tollway. You won't miss heritage park and we usually just go in pretending that we are visiting our love ones. After passing by the overpass, turn right into the Heritage park and immediately turn left into Filipiniana street.

It is also cool to catch the sunset in the Fort. The sun is so beautiful during summer that you need to make sure to catch it every day. Don't forget to bring your mat and umbrella to shield you from the rays of the sun.

Bonifacio High Street and Serendra Piazza (a Photo Essay)

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As predicted, Serendra area is one of the coolest place to hang out during weekdays/ weekends. Although, lately it feels too crowded but you cannot ignore how cool the place look. Here is a sneak peak on the latest places to see in Serendra and Bonifacio High Street. I'm sure by now you have a favorite place to hang-out, or places that you are anticipating to open. Let me know what are your favorites.

For me, my favorite resto is Chelsea -- I love it, and I can't wait for The Spa to open! Aidan loves a Different Bookstore, and Gymboree -- wee! Rache loves the shopping places in the second floor of the Piazza and I'm sure she can't wait for Charles & Keith to open :)

Very innovative rock waterfall which looks like aliens invading Bonifacio High Street.

Chelsea just opened and probably one of the Best Resto in Serendra (watch out for my detailed post on this)!

Technorati Tags: Bonifacio High Street, Serendra

After eating, walking along Bonifacio High Street is the popular past time. It is just humid this summer, so expect to sweat after walking the entire area.

Conti's Serendra is now open and Zao vietnamese Bistro adds to the asian cuisine of Serendra.

Aidan recognizes this as the "mouse". Interesting art work.

Here is a traditional phone setup. You can speak on one end and be heard on the other end. See Aidan in green talking to Mommy Rache in Red on the other end.

Check out the complete assortment of Crocs!

A Trio of Dessert Places : Sonja's Cupcakes, Miss Desserts and Xocolat.

After the fading of the Krisky Kreme hype, you can now comfortably check out KK's flagship store without any hassle.

An Inconvenient Truth

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We always talk about this movie within our leadership team but I never got a chance to watch it. We talk about it in the sense of how well the movie provided the truth about global warming that no one can dispute. Despite this fact, most would still turn a blind eye from the truth or decide to continue what they are doing to make the situation worse. If you have not watched it yet, watch it this Sunday in SM Cinema Malls. I'm sure there will be a lot of people watching this since it is free, but I will try my luck in Mall of Asia.

Global Warming affects everyone. See how you can help.

Watch it only at SM Cinemas.

April 22, 2007 - 1pm, 3pm and 5pm. Admission is FREE!

For more information, please call 831.7000 loc 2671 or log on to www.smcinema.com.

Participating branches: Mall of Asia, SM Megamall, SM North Edsa, SM Manila, SM Centerpoint,
SM Fairview, SM Southmall, SM San Lazaro, SM Cebu, SM Clark, SM Pampanga, SM Davao

Pinays on Everest 2007 -- The First Filipina in Everest!!

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Janet Belarmino, Carina Dayondon and Noelle Wenceslao. Good Luck and Make us Proud!

After so much controversy (which I won't discuss anymore), I'm glad that the three filipina mountain climbers are now at Everest Base Camp in Tibet! They will be climbing the Tibetan / North Side of Everest which is cheaper by more than half versus climbing the Nepal side. This side is more dangerous so lets pray for their safe climb! They should be climbing Everest in May and they are now training in the The Summit Of Gokyo Ri.

" Early last week, the team climbed a 5,000+ meter peak in the Everest Region called Gokyo Ri. This was a training climb to allow the womens' bodies to get used to the thin air at high altitude. According to the team physician, Dr. Ted Esguerra, the women performed extremely well. While in an e-mail, team member Noelle Wenceslao said the climb up Gokyo Ri boosted their morale, as the perfect weather enabled them to see Mt. Everest in its full glory." (pinaysoneverest.blogspot.com-- official Pinays on Everest blog)

Check out this video of the Pinay Mountain-Climbers in Action:

Music: Adiemus from The Official Athens 2004 Classical Album

I'll be monitoring their progress and give them support in my own little way.

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3 Filipino women off to Everest
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a Silver Lining for Mothers of Bicol Project

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SILVER LINING '82: Women helping women heal.

"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give." - Winston Churchill

Twenty-five years ago this year, we left the confines of our respective high schools to step into the Ateneo de Manila University, where one of the principles drilled into us by our Jesuit mentors was to become "Women for others." The challenge back then was to live it after we left the hallowed halls of Ateneo. Twenty-five years down the road, as we celebrate our respective high school silver jubilees, we asked ourselves—have we lived up to that ideal?

Early last month, five of us, representing various exclusive girl's schools, got together to form Silver Lining '82, a group whose mission is to help bring cheer to women and children affected by calamities throughout the Philippines . Our group is made up of Dimples Reyes-Rara for St. Paul, Mickey Rodriguez for St. Scholastica, Alya Honasan for Institucion Teresiana (now Poveda Learning Center), Vina Francisco for Assumption, and myself for Maryknoll (now Miriam College).

For our first project, it is our hope to bring some cheer and hope to the women in the towns of Daraga and Guinobatan, Albay, who to this day languish in evacuation centers, caring for their children while living under appalling conditions and suffering from various women's illnesses. Urinary tract infection is the most widespread and prevalent ailment among the women. Many of these women are single parents, having lost their husbands because of Typhoon Reming. Now, they have become the sole breadwinners and caregiver for their families.

To help alleviate their plight, our target is to bring 500 bags containing toiletries and underwear to the women in these centers. Five hundred may not be much, but providing care and kindness to even one soul can sometimes spell the difference between hope and despair in the life of a woman who toils day and night for her family.

Each bag is worth P200, and contains the following items—one toothbrush, a tube of toothpaste, bath soap, three pieces of underwear, a wash towel, a bottle of shampoo, and a bar of laundry soap. The items will be placed in a re-usable katsa bag to be sewn by a community of indigent women here in Manila. These seemingly insignificant items, basic stuff which we often take for granted, will mean a lot to the women we hope to reach. When you think about it, the price of one bag is equivalent only to a medium-sized coffee at your favorite coffee shop. Our target is to raise P100,000 by May 13, Mother's Day, so that we can bring the bags to the Bicol mothers the week after.

How can you help? You can either commit to sponsor a number of bags or commit to donate a number of goods to place in the gift bags. Please let us know via e-mail how you wish to help out. We can pick up cash donations of at least P2,000 pesos (to subsidize 10 bags) or a minimum of 50 pieces of whichever item you choose to donate.

We hope that you will partner with us in bringing some degree of joy and hope to these women this coming May. May God bless you more as you become a blessing to other women. We thank you in advance for helping us.

Sincerely,

Cathy S. Babao Guballa
For Silver Lining '82
cathybabao@gmail.com

Spidey 3 on Imax!

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The Biggest Sticker Wrap in the World -- 113ft by 75ft Spiderman 3 (may be a Guiness Book of World Record in the making)

Yes! Spidey is coming to town! This is another reason to go back and watch Spiderman in the Imax big screen! I'm excited and I'm very happy that SM Cinema gave me a few tickets to the premier opening on May 2 12.01am which is also the press screening. (I don't consider myself as press, but I would like to have the freedom to take pictures inside IMAX -- hopefully) As shared during the iBlog 3 talk, I'll be sharing two tickets to the blogger who would give me a great feedback about the presentation. I'll just wait for a few days before I select the winner.

Here are the official dates from SM Cinema and reserve your tickets now (after reading this) for the May 4,5,6 weekend!

May 1(Tuesday) first day opening of Spiderman on regular cinemas
May 1 (Tuesday) first day opening of Spiderman on IMAX Theatre ( it is 2d just like the normal movies but you get to watch it in the biggest movie screen in the country.)

For ticket inquiries and reservations for IMAX Theatre you can call 556-0242 or 556-4629

If you are not going out of town on May 1, you can check out the Spiderman 3 launch events starting 4pm onwards in SM Mall of Asia. Most notably, there will be a local group of college students from U.P., Ateneo, & La Salle who will do a Parkour stunt similar to the chase scene in Casino Royale. If you are not familiar with the Parkour group, check out this You Tube video on Parkour.

Thanks SM Cinema for the insider's tip on this!

Here's an excerpt of an early review posted online:
"Raimi has proven himself a spider god thrice over now, and really I want this film to be the last one. It ends every major plot line and doesn’t leave much open, albeit it doesn’t really zip things shut either, but really this is a great ending. This is the most emotional, and epic entry in the series, and like its predecessors, it never loses sight that action is a bonus to the character drama, and not the main attraction, it really is amazing.

I loved this film and I think critics will too, and it will probably be the fan favorite as well, don’t worry guys; Raimi hasn’t let us down yet.

My scores for all three movies:
Spider-Man: 8/10
Spider-Man 2: 9/10
Spider-Man 3: 9.5/10

That’s right folks 3 is my favorite, the trilogy curse is broken at last and we finally have a complete vision of a comic book character, which was yet to be done until now."

Please click link to see full AICN review. (Warning: some spoilers.)

The Blooming of Playa Calatagan

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Garden Cabana View of the Playa Calatagan River Pool

Unfortunately, the best beaches in Nasugbu and Calatagan areas are private beaches. In the case of Playa Calatagan, there will be a public beach area and a private pool/ clubhouse area for lot owners. There is no membership fee in this residential resort (which is a new concept) but you need to be a lot owner to use the facilities. Some time in the future, there will be commercial establishments for the public crowd and I can't wait to share this with you.

Aidan's Bonakid Pose.

For now, the pool area is for private lot owner's use and their dependents. Just to give you a flavor of how much it would cost to enjoy a day trip in Playa Calatagan:

Pool Usage Fee:
Lot Owner & Dependents (P100/ Adult, P50/ Child).
Guests (P200/adult, P100/ child)

Towel & Shower Fee Rental (P70)
Whole Body Massage (P350/ 1hour)

Cabana Usage Fee:

Week days:
Pool Cabanas (Small | Medium | Large) -- We love the pool cabanas, it is like having your private jacuzzi in the cabana.
9am-1:00pm (P200 | P300 | P400)
1:00pm-6:00pm (P200 | P300 | P400)
9am - 6:00pm (P400 | P600 | P800)

Garden Cabanas (Medium) -- We love the 2nd floor garden cabanas because of the privacy it offers.
9am-1:00pm (P300 )
1:00pm-6:00pm (P300)
9am - 6:00pm (P600)

Weekends/ Holidays:
Pool Cabanas (Small | Medium | Large)
9am-1:00pm (P300 | P500 | P700)
1:00pm-6:00pm (P300 | P500 | P700)
9am - 6:00pm (P600 | P1,000 | P1,400)

Garden Cabanas (Medium)
9am-1:00pm (P500 )
1:00pm-6:00pm (P500)
9am - 6:00pm (P1000)

Golden Calatagan Sunset at Playa Calatagan

Beach Club Complex is open from:
9am-6pm on Tuesday to Friday
9am-7pm on Saturday to Sunday.

Technorati Tags: Playa Calatagan

Aidan with Lolo Popsy in the cool blue river pool. It is so tempting to jump into this pool with the hot weather we have now!

The Playa Calatagan Beach

Playa Calatagan Menu

The food is decent based on Manila standards but this is the best resto in the Calatagan area. Don't try the halo-halo though...

Chicken Yakitori (P140+). Chicken Skewers served with Teriyaki Sauce

Chicken BBQ (P180+) Marinated chicken quarters with our special native sweet barbeque sauce. Skewed then grilled into desired doneness.

Beef Steak Pinoy (P160+). Filipino Style fillets served with caramelized onions.

Grilled Suchi Fillets (P170+). Grilled Fillet of Suchi fish drizzled with Lemon cream sauce served with Mango Salsa.

We stayed in the 2nd floor garden cabana. We loved the cool Calatagan summer winds... ang sarap!!!

Playa Calatagan, Calatagan, Batangas.
Check out the details of the April 14, Open house event.

Malcolm's Place and Wagyu Rib Eye Steak!

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Wagyu Rib-Eye (P1,750). "The king of steaks! It's the premium steak cut fit for the royal appetite."

Malcolm's Place, one of the coolest place to hang out in Salcedo Village in Makati, next to Apartment 1B. Named after Chef Malcolm, the resto’s claim to fame is their mouth-watering selection of Wagyu Beef. I came to a conclusion that if you really want to get the best Wagyu experience, you have to order the rib-eye. All the other wagyu dishes fail in comparison to the rib-eye and you will just be disappointed with the sirloin, striploin or the burgers.

So your dilemma will start with its whopping P1,750 price tag. Fortunately, the meat was huge that it can satisfy three hungry carnivores on a tight budget. (Didi argued 3 hungry female carnivores) I didn't really have to worry about this because the timing was just perfect. We celebrated the despedida of Chris for his China assignment and the bienvenida of Tina to my team.

It is Wagyu Rib-Eye P1,750 or don’t try the other wagyu dish at all because they would just taste like over-hyped meat branded as wagyu. The Rib-Eye was soo good that it would satisfy your Wagyu fantasies of tender and tasty steak meat. Try to cut it as thin as possible to get that melt in your mouth experience.

****

Malcolm's Menu: Steaks Menu, Soup, salad, pasta Menu and Desserts

All About Waghu (From Malcolm's Menu)
"Wagyu is the Japanese word for beef. "wa" means japanese style and "gyu" means beef. It refers to several beef breeds of cattle genetically predisposed to intense marbling, and produces a high percentage of unsaturated fat. Also known as Kobe-style beef. The meat from Wagyu cattle are known worldwide for marbling characteristics."

"Wagyu is no ordinary breed of livestock. Traditionally raised in Kobe, Japan, they are pampered with sake wine massages and fed grain diets and beer in order to produce intensely marbled steaks. Fine strands of meat are embedded in dense ribbons of fat swirling into beds of exquisite flavor. This is also the reason Wagyu beef practically melts on the tongue when thinly sliced. Marbling is regarded as the finest measure of meat quality. And with Wagyu beef cuts looking like fine Italian slabs of Marble, it has surpassed USDA prime-grade beef standards. Often referred to as the "foie gras of beef". Wagyu has an intensely juicy, tender natural buttery and richly flavorful quality beyond compare. The beef contains essential combined nutrients that cannot be found elsewhere. Those nutrients for which beef is a significant source are: protein, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin 812, phosphorous, iron and zinc. All essential amino acids are present in the correct ratio to build protein for strong and healthy bones. Because of Wagyu cattle's genetic predisposition and a special diet, wagyu yields a beef that contains a higher percentage of omega-3 fatty acids and the tell-tale sign of a highly marbled beef. The increase marbling also improves the ratio of monounsaturated fats to saturated fats."

Apple Crumble Ala Mode (P125). Surprisingly, you can go to Malcolm even just for the dessert. I never liked Apple crumble ala-mode until I tasted Malcolm’s. This is one killer dessert that you got to try after that Wagyu steak to finish the meal with a bang.

Cheers to a great service provided by the Malcolm's Place staff! Glad you were open last April 9!

Check out the rest of the photo essay on Malcolm's Place...

Technorati Tags: Makati, malcolm, malcolm's place, puppy, wagyu

The Malcolm's Place Ambiance

Malcolm's place is small with the first floor occupied by the kitchen and an overflow table.

(L-R) Chris Alano, Ethel Blanco, Mui Ling Lee (our boss) and Tina Vaswani.

This is the second floor of Malcolm's. Limited seating so go there early to get a seat.

Malcolm's Menu: Steaks Menu, Soup, salad, pasta Menu and Desserts

Hello, Pumpkin (P110). "A lovely way to greet your day. Thick, golden pumpkin soup with aromatic spices bursting with fresh flavors."

This is always a good choice but don't expect a fresh pumpkin taste.

Shrimply the Best (P250). "Simple Shrimp and garlic pasta with an extraordinary flair! Your basic tomato sauce made sophisticated with white wine and a generous drizzle of lemon."

This was disappointing to carnivores like most of us. Surprisingly, this appeals to non-beef eaters or pescetarians.

Salmon Says (P220). "Salmo says, 'Try this!' Spaghetti embellished with smoke salmon and an utterly unique lemon cream sauce."

If you have to order pasta, order this Salmon pasta dish. Superb and definitely yummy!

Wagyu Wasabe Steak Sandwich (P240). "Prime slices of Wagyu steak laced with Wasabi mayo for a touch of piquant that will jolt your palate into an unforgettable eating experience. "

The wagyu steak tasted like discarded meat cuts from the rib eye. I should have ordered the burger instead.

Wagyu Sirloin Steak (P995). "Enjoy a choice beef cut that's definitely more tender and tasty than other sirloins."

If you want to taste an over-priced and over-hyped wagyu steak then order the sirloin or the striploin. Sometimes, it is just not worth it to go cheap on your steak.

Wagyu Rib-Eye (P1,750). "The king of steaks! It's the premium steak cut fit for the royal appetite."

AMEN! I can still remember our faces when we ate this rib-eye :)

Apple Crumble Ala Mode (P125). The killer dessert at Malcolm's. I wonder who is the pastry chef?

Coffee Crunch (P115). This is my favorite and this resembles a mini-version of Red Ribbon's Coffee Crunch.

Malcolm's Place
+632 844 0000
108 HV de la Costa Street corner Tordesillas St.
(Salcedo Village Makati, City)

Taj-aytay

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Aidan meets the Taj Buddha.

I must admit that the Taj banners along the national highway was quite cheesy in a sense that it turns people off and makes one wonder if their marketing claims are true. It shows photos of the food branded as "Not Your Usual Tagaytay Food", or "Exotic Vegetarian Food". For me, I was hungry for something new in Tagaytay so the moment I saw it, we decided to check out this less than a month old Indian restaurant in Tagaytay.

Leonard and Grace (hope I did get it right), friends of OAP, were right. The Mutton Biryani and Mutton Masala were the best seller of the house. My mom immediately concluded that most of the food would increase her cholesterol level, mother's knows best! While I liked the flavorful dishes, my wife didn't at this stage of her pregnancy. The place was not ready for prime time since the glass for the railings were not yet complete (they should have installed it because this is for safety of the kids! There were many kids at this time already!) and they have yet to complete the 6 rooms beneath the restaurant. You could see that they had to open up to catch on the Holy Week crowd and there are obvious glitches in the kitchen operation. Try visiting this in a month or two maybe they've stabilized their operations and rooms will be ready for occupancy.

Despite that, the place was small and cozy. Wifi/ free Internet is available which is always a plus factor. If you are hungry for unusual Tagaytay Indian food, then this is definitely the place to be. I also like their selection of Vegetarian dishes which would include: Vegetable Curry. Vegetable Biryani. Vegetable Samosa (Empanada-like). Yellow, Black and Mixed Dal (Mongo-like). Eggplant Barta. Aloo Bindi (Okra-Potato). Aloo Gobhi Matar (Potato, Cauli-flower & Green peas). Bindi Do Pyaza (Okra). Lastly, the prices in the menu are net prices without the + 10% and +12% taxes. So, in a sense we should call this Taj Mura :)

Looking into the restaurant from our al fresco freezy table view. Those light roof turrets are nice addition to the overall theme and ambiance of the place.

Technorati Tags: tagaytay, TAJ

The Taj Ambiance

The Al-Fresco Dining setup which is a mix of chairs and sofa. Very cozy.

Indoor setting.

There is a coffee shop inside which serves a nasty Barako coffee guaranteed to keep you awake on your way down from Tagaytay.

Free Wifi! Yahoo! Aidan was excited to check out his favorite site. I'll let you in on a secret. For toddlers, this is one of the best sites: www.starfall.com. I was hesitant to post this because the server might slow down but hey, I also got this through the net so why not share it also with you and your toddler. A sure entertainment for your toddler while waiting for your food to arrive. Just a word of advice, tell your kid that you will only be using it for a while since there would be other guests who would also be wanting to use the computer.

Taj Indian Food

Click below to check out Taj's Menu:
Taj Indian Cuisine Menu
Andanita Coffee Shop Menu

Papadum (P50). Loved this but a little bit salty.

Plain Naan (P90). Ordinary and we wanted to order the chapati but it was out of stock.

Mutton Biryani (P240). Definitely Yummy! But after some time, you would feel your cholesterol level's increasing on each munch.

'

Mutton Masala (P240). The Best! What you see is what you get! We love how soft the meat was! I think this is already one of their expensive dishes.

Chicken Kebab (P120). I love this because of the herb taste -- the coriander flavor was very dominant.

Vegetable Curry (P180). Even this curry dish would make your trip worthwhile.

Chicken Shawarma (P65). Forget about this. We shouldn't have ordered this in the first place.

Our panel of culinary experts (kuno). Healthy Eater Momsy, Pregnant Rache, Toddler Aidan reading the menu, and Senior Citizen Popsy.

Taj of Tagaytay.
Indian. Mediterranean. Asian Fusion
Located along National road 300 meters after Tagaytay Zoo (Residence Inn) from Manila and 1.5km after Splendido/ Sonya's Garden.
Tel# +63 916 936 4219, +63 927 711 4247

Hey, Tagaytay also got those halo-halo lights. What's up with these lights?!

Labyrinth @ Chapel on the Hill -- The Journey to Inner Peace

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Happy Easter Everyone! We rested at home the entire holy week and it was great. We decided to stay at home because Rache is still adjusting to her pregnancy. The only reason we went out to Tagaytay last Saturday was to check out the Chapel on the Hill in Don Bosco Batulao, Nasugbu Batangas for my Kuya's wedding. Finally, he is getting married and since he is based in the US, we are helping him out with the preparations.

One of the interesting thing that you will see in Chapel on the Hill is the concept of the Labyrinth. Here is an excerpt of the article posted at the entrance of the chapel-- Labyrinth - Journey into Inner Peace:

What is it?
The labyrinth is a sacred circle with a single path that leads to its center. Walking the path lends itself to prayer and meditation. The kinesthetic style of prayer is especially valuable during those times when words cannot express the depths or heights of our experience.

History:
The labyrinth has a long history in the Christian