OUR AWESOME PLANET

Why Not Live An Awesome Life in the Philippines?

I would like to invite you to attend the Why Not Forum 6.0 this coming Saturday. Ever since the first Why Not Forum, I said to myself I would love to speak in that forum and share my advocacy with Filipinos that we ALL can live an Awesome Life in the Philippines. In fact, my ultimate goal is to bring my brother back from the US for him to start a family here instead of in a foreign land.

The Philippines is so beautiful and we are blessed with a lot of Natural Wonders that it would take an entire lifetime to explore them all. Still, a lot of Filipinos leave the country to look for greener pastures elsewhere. However, the real key to living an awesome life here is if you can set up a system where you earn in US Dollars, produce products in Yuan or Rupees, and live on Pesos.

Entrepreneur's Home Based Businesses 101 Talk

I would like to invite you to my 10-minute talk on Entrepreneur's Home Based Businesses 101 tomorrow April 21, 2009 in Whistlestop Jupiter from 6pm to 9pm. I was featured in the April issue of Entrepreneur Magazine for my internet marketing business.

I decided to talk about the 10 different proven business models on the Internet. Did you know that my blog income through ads is only 10% of my total income? Earning money through blog ads is the lowest form of earning money online. In fact, I plan to remove all advertising in OAP within the year.

Machiavelli Chocolatier - The Hottest Eurasian Chocolates in Town

Machiavelli Chocolatier (P75 per piece - biggest size in rectangle)

The Chocolate Craze in Manila is heating up with the launch of Machiavelli Chocolatier Eurasian Fusion chocolates. The chocolates combine the best of European and Asian ingredients.

Machiavelli Chocolatier was founded by Raul D. Matias, a Filipino world-class chocolatier who left his physical therapy career to pursue his passion. It was named after Niccolo Machiavelli, who "was a philosopher, writer, and Italian politician and is considered one of the main founders of modern political science." (Source: Wikipedia)

My cousin-in-law Pam, another Filipina chocolatier of Risa Chocolate Truffles fame, described it as ice cream wrapped in chocolate coating. Her favorites are the Ube, Yema, and Cashew Praline.

As for us, we are savoring our box of Machiavelli chocolates, which we bought before the Holy Week. We did not like the Guava Asia (Southeast Asian Guava Paste added to Dark Chocolate Ganache) and Ivorie Jack (Jack Fruit Puree, White Chocolate and coated with Dark Chocolate). I love the classic Grand Marnier with French cocoa powder, though. (I will update this post as we finish our box of mach-chocos.)

What's your favorite Machiavelli Chocolate so far?

HARANA, A Musical Cultural Journey of Authentic Filipino Music

Are you a Filipino who is hungry to hear our very own Kundiman Music celebrated through a musical concert, reviewing the very best of Filipino music from the indigenous Cordilleras to pre-colonial to contemporary and fusion music?

Are you a Foreigner who wants to be immersed in authentic Filipino music and to understand the musical heritage of the Filipino?

Are you a Generation Y Filipino who is yearning to find your own Filipino identity, break away from our colonizers' musical influences and celebrate our rich Filipino heritage through our very own music?

Finally, Philippine Opera is restaging HARANA, which got a long standing ovation and emotional applause when it was shown last year. Harana is a courtship tradition of the Filipinos, where the suitor sings underneath a woman's window to win her heart.

I wasn't able to watch it last year, but we won't miss it again...and we don't want our OAP readers to miss it as well. This is one of the musical shows that is culturally uplifting and it's something we Filipinos can be proud of.

Our Awesome Planet supports and sponsors HARANA!

We are selling tickets for the May 30 (Saturday), 8pm Last Show of Harana. The show will be held in Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Towers, Makati. Ticket Prices are P1,200, P1,000 and P500. For tickets, please call my wife Rache at +63 917 5683 627 or email her at rache@diaz.ph.

 Buy Your HARANA Tickets Online Now from OAP!

Harana May 30, Saturday 8pm

Orchestra P1,200 - $25

Loge P1,000 - $21 

Balcony P500 - $11

MESA, Filipino Moderne, Greenbelt 5

I would never trust a politician, especially if he/she set up a restaurant (even if it was promoted by Sharon Cuneta herself). That's the reason why I've never been to Lamesa Grill, which opened in the SM Mall of Asia. Recently, though, the Lamesa Grill group (owned by Kiko Pangilinan and friends) opened the high-end Modern Filipino restaurant called MESA in Greenbelt 5.

I must humbly admit it is one of the best Filipino restaurants in Greenbelt in terms of price, ambiance, presentation of food and variety of Filipino dishes that we love (including suwahe, elephant clams and lechon). I wouldn't say that it is Filipino fusion. It is more of Filipino dishes with authentic flavor, but they are given a different twist in the presentation. It would be best to eat here family-style, where you pass the dishes around since the serving sizes are good for 2-3 persons.

Chef Laudico Easter Sunday Brunch Buffet!

I usually don't like buffets because there is a higher chance of food contamination from the saliva of people talking while getting the food, and the food is prepared beforehand, so you don't get the freshly cooked yumminess.

Chef Laudico's Weekend Buffet is brilliant and different, though. For P788 net per adult and P488 for kids 10 years and below, you can order from over 50 popular dishes and desserts from the buffet menu. The food is only cooked and served as you order them, which addresses my buffet concerns above.

The dishes served are half of their regular ala carte portions but they actually look like a serving good for one person. It follows the Clean Plate, No Leftover policy -- you will pay P100 for every unfinished dish ordered. Of course, you cannot share unless all of you order from the buffet.

It was the best Easter Brunch Buffet we've ever had in Makati. The only thing is their popular Adobo Overload dish is not included in the buffet menu. (Chef Rolly, I do hope it will be included in the menu.)

Related Post: Bistro Filipino by Chef Laudico -- Best Filipino Fusion Food!

 

Santo Entierro Procession: Good Friday Traditions of San Fernando, Pampanga

Kapampangans are proud of the 6pm Santo Entierro (meaning Holy Burial) Procession in San Fernando. The Crucifixions in Brgy San Pedro Cutud finish around 3pm. People would then have a late lunch or merienda and rest before the 6pm procession in the San Fernando Cathedral.

Here is a photo essay of one of the solemn and well-attended traditions in San Fernando, Pampanga...

Cutud Crucifixions: Good Friday Traditions of San Fernando, Pampanga

Spanky once said to us that we need to experience the Cutud Crucifixions before we can be certified as adopted Kapampangans. Our family went to San Fernando, Pampanga on Good Friday to see the 50+-year old solemn tradition of crucifixions in San Pedro Cutud, Pampanga.

Here is our photo essay about a unique experience only in the Philippines...