Tomadachi At The East Wing

One of the reasons why I love Shangri-La Plaza over other malls is because it doesn't just offer shops, restaurants and cinemas but it immerses its mall-goers to Arts and Culture also.

Lovely masks and drums. These are used in Kabuki, or classical dance and drama theatre.

BOOK REVIEW: The Carrie Diaries

Because I've been too focused on koreanovelas lately that I've been neglecting my other passion- which is reading. Luckily, a friend gave my daughter a copy of The Carrie Diaries. But my maternal instinct warned me to read the book first just in case the story is full of teenager angst and some girl and boy thing that is not yet appropriate for pre-teeners. Glad that I read it and banned daughter from reading the book until maybe she is 16 years old. Hahaha

On the other hand, I did enjoy the book. I find it fun and compared to the Clash of Kings which I started reading last February and still haven't finished reading up to now. :P Also, I love Sex And The City Series so falling in-love with the younger Carrie Bradshaw is easy.

The story begins with the usual High School environment with the MEAN girls, the nerd, the love story, the love angle, etc. Although a bit cliche, I think the success of the book (and The Carrie Diaries Series) is mainly because teenagers can easily relate to the characters themselves. And there's redemption (for some of the characters) before the story ended. I can't say much for the TV Series because I haven't seen it. But looking forward to watching it with daughter in the near future.

Now I can't wait to read--- Summer and The City! :)

Fiesta Bahia

Another reason to celebrate --- this time at the SM Mall of Asia By the Bay.
Grand Opening on July 12, 2013.

A Fiesta !!!

It was a rainy Wednesday morning but the weather didn't dampen the fiesta mood at the Grand Opening of Binalot Harrison Plaza Branch. And according to our elders --- a rain is a blessing. :)

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This fiesta-scene reminds me of Larry Alcala. And Binalot is exactly just like that- A Fiesta! It is a place of food, merriment, and camaraderie. A hodgepodge of all the good things that is akin to Filipinos.

Cocina Centrale: A Reunion

Last Saturday, I attended the launch of Cocina Central in Maquee Mall, Pampanga and was excited to reunite with Carlo's Kitchen. Yes, I'm a fan. In fact, I already blogged about them here. And like the last time, the crunchy belly didn't disappoint. Oh so good and sinfully delish! Hello cholesterol, let's be friends. ;)

EVENT: Kultura, Musika ... Saya

DOT Initiates Fun Activities in Intramuros: "Kultura ... Musika ... Saya!" Kicks-off at Maestranza

The Department of Tourism (DOT) will be holding various fun activities in Intramuros in line with its “It's More Fun in the Philippines" campaign through the Intramuros Redevelopment Project. As a project kick-off, a free admission concert night dubbed as the Kultura...Musika...Saya! featuring "Intramuros Rocks" will be held on 05 July 2013, Friday at the Maestranza Park, Intramuros, Manila.

I.T. Competition for Intelligent Trip-Planning by The DOTC

July 1, 2013

THE PHILIPPINE TRANSIT APP CHALLENGE:

I.T. COMPETITION FOR INTELLIGENT TRIP-PLANNING BY THE DOTC

Manila, Philippines – The launch of the first national transport application (app) development competition led by the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) will be heldtomorrow, 2 July 2013, in partnership with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Cebu City Government.

In a move to maximize the conveniences made possible by modern technology in delivering its services to the people, the transport agency is opening its database on bus, train, and jeepney routes in Metro Manila, called the Philippine Transit Information Service (PTIS), to the public, via the Philippine Transit App Challenge.

The competition will be a three (3)-month long hack-at-home event – a new trend in the IT community which allows software developers to create apps at their own pace and on their own time, using the same datasets provided to them.  Based on the international experience, hack-at-home events lead to the development of a broad spectrum of apps, many of which were not previously conceived and which give end-users a wide range of products to utilize and enjoy.

“We are very excited about the Challenge and we expect it to bring out a lot of innovation from software developers.  The goal is to create all sorts of apps which will make commuting in Metro Manila much more convenient,” said DOTC spokesperson Migs Sagcal.

The PTIS database contains previously-unavailable data gathered from participating agencies such as the MMDA, the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA), the Metro Rail Transit 3 (MRT-3), the Philippine National Railways (PNR), the Land Transportation Franchising & Regulatory Board (LTFRB), and the Cebu City Traffic Operations Management (CITOM).

It will contain two (2) kinds of datasets: regularly-updated geographic location and service information on bus, train, and jeepney routes in Metro Manila, as well as live traffic incident data streams in both Metro Manila and Cebu City.

This means that the commuters will now be able to easily check the various routes available to take from one point to another, including how many transfers each route will require, how much fare will be needed, and how much travel time will be involved.  This will allow the public to make better-informed decisions when they plan their trips, resulting in more convenience and efficiency, and a better passenger experience overall.

“The point is to empower the public with better decision-making abilities using our data.  This project stems from government’s effort to look at public service delivery from the viewpoint of the end-user, and to make commuting better for everyone,” Sagcal remarked.

The Philippine Transit App Challenge, which will be open to all interested app developers, will be launched at the Toyota Auditorium of the University of the Philippines’ Asia Learning Center in Diliman, Quezon City, on 2 July 2013 at 9:30am.  More details about the event are available on the competition’s official website, http://philippine-transit.hackathome.com/.

PROMO: Sugarhouse @ 30

Here's another Monday Treat and this time its from Sugarhouse. The cakes here are L-O-V-E. My family loves Choco Bliss, Concorde and Dulce de Leche. We also love the caramel candy.

It's not always that a cakeshop gets to celebrate 30 years and if it does, it only mean one thing-- the food in this place tastes superb.

Congratulations, Sugarhouse !!! Wishing you another 30 sweet years. :)

PROMO: Chili's P999

Another great food promo. :)

Visit Chili's FB Page here for details.

PROMO: Starbucks' Frappuccino Treat For Two

Time to mark your calendars --- July 8 & 9 for the Frappuccino Treat. Please read details below. :)

Visit Starbucks FB Page for details.

DOTC To Make Commuting In Metro Manila More Convenient

June 30, 2013

Manila, Philippines – An exhaustive, two (2)-year effort to gather and organize previously-unavailable data on buses, jeepneys, and trains in Metro Manila has been completed by the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), now making it possible for commuters to plan their trips more efficiently and conveniently.

The initiative of building the Philippine Transit Information Service (PTIS) began in 2011, at a time when the Transport agency could not immediately provide certain essential information to commuters, such as the best route to take at a particular time, as well as the travel times involved. 

“The need to gather reliable data at that time in order to deliver convenient and efficient services to the public was immediately recognized and pursued,” explained DOTC spokesperson Migs Sagcal.

Pergola

I attended an event last week at The Pergola. It was my first time to visit the place.

EVENT: Corporate Giveaways 2013

Inviting everyone to the 26th Annual Buyer's Show on Business Gifts, Premiums, Promotional Ideas & Merchandise Incentives