Silverlens Portfolio Review with Romy Vitug, Derek Soriano, and Isa Lorenzo

By Anton Diaz
Topics: Awesome Filipinos

I wanted to take my photography to the next level and I’m glad that Silverlens organized these portfolio reviews with the photography masters. … I was devastated and thanks to Silverlens photos for organizing these portfolio reviews to get direct feedback from the masters on how I can take my photography to the next level.
…I do hope to discover my own artistic style to the point that people looking at my photos will immediately identify that it was my photo.

No More World Pyro…

By Anton Diaz
Topics: Passionate about PYRO

I was sad when I learned that there won’t be any World Pyro Olympics for this year. … I was looking for more info from the net and I can’t find one. Have you heard anything about why they decided to cancel World Pyro this year?

Pampanga’s Giant Lanterns

By Anton Diaz
Topics: Food Tours

Last December, I met Ivan Henares and he was kind enough to tour me around Pampanga which culminated in the Giant Lantern Festival of San Fernando, Pampanga !
…Last year’s winner was Barangay San Felipe whose lantern was created by Roland Quiambao — one of the famous lantern makers in Pampanga.
…From Baroque to Betute, its fun-filled day as we poke around and get intimate with the very best of Pampanga’s cultural offerings.

The Starbucks Planner

By Anton Diaz
Topics: Awesome Festivals

A P100+ Starbucks coffee was a big deal at that time and there was a debate on why you should pay for that price.
…In our office, it is cool to have one of these planners and the race for these planners started last November 6, 2007.
…For each redeemed planner, Starbucks will make a donation to Project Sparkhope, a joint program with UNICEF Philippines providing early learning facilities for pre-school children in remote barangays all over the Philippines.

The Ultimate Kapampangan Show-Off!

By Anton Diaz
Topics: Food Tours

It is a bold statement I know, but the Filipinos can do it and we can show the world the beauty of the Philippines. Our vision is to provide hassle-free worry-free all-in-cost tours to all the awesome places in the Philippines starting with Pampanga.
…We are going back to Pampanga this Sunday to do more research, to do a travel time study, and to brainstorm further on how we can make this worth more than P 4,500 J

Claude Tayag’s Bale Dutung – The Best Kapampangan Restaurant in Pampanga

By Anton Diaz
Topics: #Restaurants

Six (6) months after that experience, my brother, Lorenz and wife, Carmina, who got married just last October, requested me to organize a Pampanga Tour with Claude Tayag’s Bale Dutung as the highlight of the trip.
…You are paying for the experience of a 4-hour slow lunch cooked by one of the country’s most respected artist and served personally by his wife like their own family guests in their home.
…On our first visit, I can still remember the serving of Kapampangan sushi plate composed of sushi topped with taba ng talangka and camias, rolled mustasa leaves filled with balo balo (fermented rice) and fried hito (catfish) and mini tapsilog bites made with pindang (traditional carabeef tapa).

The Big Garment Sale (Nov 29-Dec 1)

By Anton Diaz
Topics: Shopping Secrets

We usually would go on Thursday/ Friday so that the crowd is still manageable. … But I think we will have to pass this time because Rache is still recuperating.
… All the clothes that are not sold here are sent to their Off Price Stores in Ortigas/ Makati/ Malate.

Light Symphonies and ROX @ Boni High Street

By Anton Diaz
Topics: Kids

There are two areas: the first area is near ROX side and it lights up at 7pm. While the second area , which is in the activity area around the spider rock, lights up 30 minutes after.
…Remember that the activity area near the spider rock lights up every 7.30pm, 8.30pm, 9.30pm, 10.30pm, and 11.30pm.

Pia Y Damaso’s Philippine Colonial Cuisine?

By Anton Diaz
Topics: #Restaurants

According to Bambi, the cuisine is called ” comido antigo ” and it is probably what Damaso ate, Maria Clara was accustomed to, and what Ibarra and the other young accused subversives found comfort in.”
… After eating in John and Yoko , or Fish Out of Water or Chateau 1771 in Greenbelt 5, go to Pia Y Damaso for desserts! … BTW, La Maison Brasserie is also open in Greenbelt 5 but we already had a trauma with how lousy the food was when we celebrated my birthday in Trinoma @ La Maison.

The Rebirth of Chateau 1771 @ Greenbelt 5

By Anton Diaz
Topics: #Restaurants

They invited friends and family of the owners last weekend to try out Chateau 1771 for FREE while they fine tune the operation of their kitchen. We got a slot for last Sunday’s brunch @ Chateau 1771 and we fell in love with the interiors, the food, and warm service.
… Loyal followers of Chateau 1771 in El Pueblo, Ortigas will be happy to know that their favorite resto has a new home at the ground floor of Greenbelt 5.