Mark Your Calendars!

The 'ber months officially start tomorrow. And of course, as we give way to Christmas, along with it comes the bazaar season! It's definitely my favorite time of the year. All four MONTHS of the year, that is! ;-)

Mark your calendars now as there's a lot to look forward to in the month of September alone! And we're not only talking about shopping here. Have a look at the list below and sing with me: "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas..." ;-)

FOOD AND DRINKS ASIA 2010

WHAT: According to ClicktheCity, it's an "international exposition on Specialty Foods, Delicatessen, Confectionery, Beverages, Beers, Wines & Spirits in conjunction with Food Franchising 2010." It's open to all -- whether you already have a food business, or are interested in having one, or is just simply interested in food. ;-) That means it's open to everyone. Who isn't interested in food anyway? ;-)

WHEN: September 2-5, 2010

HOURS: Thurs 11 am-7 pm, Fri/Sat 10 am-7 pm, Sun 10 am-8 pm

WHERE: World Trade Center, Pasay City

FOR MORE INFO: Click the City site

ASIA FOOD EXPO 2010

WHAT: According to the Clickthecity site, it's an "international exposition on Food Processing, Packaging and Handling Machinery Equipment and Technology in conjunction with Food Serv Asia 2010 and Bakery Asia 2010." I remember going to one of these a few years back. Please note that they might require visitors to wear closed shoes because of the fact that there are baking, cooking, and assembly-line type machineries at the expo.

WHEN: September 8-11, 2010

HOURS: Open to everyone on Saturday, Sept 11 from 10 am-6 pm; Open to trade business operators on the other days -- Wed, Sept 8 from 11 am-7 pm and Thurs/Fri, Sept 9 and 10 from 10 am-7 pm

WHERE: World Trade Center, Pasay City

FOR MORE INFO: Click the City site

13TH CINE EUROPA

WHAT: The schedule and movie line-up are not posted yet. But from the poster, it says that the Shangrila Cineplex will feature movies from Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Italy, Spain, France, Switzerland, UK, Denmark, Finland, Greece, and many others. Admission is free but it's on a first-come, first-served basis.

WHEN: September 10-19, 2010

WHERE: Cinema 2, Shangrila Plaza Mall, Mandaluyong City

FOR MORE INFO: Shangrila Website, DELPHL Website

MANILA INTERNATIONAL BOOK FAIR 2010

WHAT: It's a trade fair that brings all publishers and book suppliers in one place. You can also find suppliers of school materials, educational supplies, and facilities here. Along with that, there are a number of launches, seminars, talks, contests, and storytelling for children, teachers, librarians and all book lovers.

WHEN: September 15-19, 2010 from 10 am-8 pm

WHERE: SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City

FOR MORE INFO: MIBF site

ROSEWOOD WELLNESS FAIR AND BAZAAR

WHAT: We are having a wellness-themed bazaar at our community. There will be sugar-free goodies, healthy treats, organic fare, natural beauty products, free massages and treatments, and any other product or services related to promoting your general well-being.

WHEN: September 18, 2010 from 9 am-10 pm

WHERE: Rosewood Pointe Clubhouse, Brgy. Ususan, Taguig City

FOR MORE INFO: This is actually a shameless plug since I might be one of the bazaaristas. ;-) If you have other questions, just leave a comment on this entry.

THE 9th SPANISH FILM FESTIVAL

WHAT: If I were to list the top 5 things that I look forward to each year, I would have to include the annual Spanish Film Festival as one. I think I look forward to it more than my actual birthday! ;-) Anyway, I see Spanish directors and writers as the most talented in the world. They showcase their best and most popular movies in this film festival. See the best for only 65 pesos per movie! ;-)

WHEN: September 30-October 10, 2010

WHERE: Greenbelt 3, Makati City

FOR MORE INFO: Pelicula Website, Instituto Cervantes Site

Photo Sources:

http://www.clickthecity.com

http://wellness.ucsd.edu/images/wellness2.jpg

What else is going on this month, Manila?

There's a lot to look forward to this month. Not only are we heading to KL next week, but there's a bunch of things going on around the metro. Check these out:


LATE NIGHT SHOW WITH THE COMEDY CARTEL
WHAT: For 150 pesos, you can watch stand-up comedy like how it should be done! None of the corny, below-the-belt bashing that is common in local comedy bars. Take your friends, have dinner, a few drinks, and share a lot of laughs this Monday after a possibly long day at work! ;-)

WHEN: Monday, April 12, 2010 at 8 pm

WHERE: Spicy Fingers Restaurant, Greenbelt 2, Makati City

FOR MORE INFO: eCircle Entertainment website



JON SANTOS' FOR VOTER OR FOR WORSE
WHAT: This came highly recommended by a friend. Jon Santos, apparently, has done this show a number of times in the Teatrino Promenade at Greenhills. It was initially slated for just a couple of runs but due to a high demand, they decided to extend the show at a theater in Makati this time. In his comedy act, For Voter or For Worse, Jon Santos impersonates the likes of Noynoy Aquino, Kris Aquino, Joseph Estrada, Gloria Arroyo, Aling Dionisia (Manny Pacquiao's mother), Korina Sanchez, and many others. And I heard he's really good at it too. It sounds like this is sure to bring a lot of giggles! ;-)

WHEN: April 14, 21, and 28, 2010 at 8:30 pm

WHERE: PowerPlant Mall, Cinema 2, Makati City

HOW TO GET TICKETS: Call 898-1441 or 898-1441 to book your tickets.

FOR MORE INFO: Check out this SITE to see Jon Santos in action. Here you'll see videos and short excerpts of his impersonation of Korina Sanchez, Gloria Arroyo, and Joseph Estrada. ;-)



AWESOME PLANET'S ULTIMATE TASTE TEST 4.0
WHAT: Anton, the blog writer of Awesome Planet, has put together this event for start-up food suppliers who would like to break into the market AND foodies who would be more than willing to try what they have to offer and rate them. It's a win-win thing where food suppliers get no-holds-barred feedback as a way to improve their products and foodies simply get to awaken their tastebuds from all these yummy samples of food! On top of that, the St. Michael the Archangel Parish is happy too since 100% of the proceeds (P150/person entrance fee) goes to the building and construction of this new church at the Fort. ;-)

WHEN: Friday, April 16, 2010 at 7 pm

WHERE: You will be informed of the location after your email registration. Just email rache@diaz.ph with your full name and contact info to join either as a supplier or a foodie.

FOR MORE INFO: Awesome Planet website



MALL OF ASIA SALE
WHAT: It's a mallwide sale with discounts of up to 70%! And if you have an SM Advantage card, you might not want to miss the special 10 am-12 pm sale that they have in the department store. You'll get an additional 10% discount on everything! And that's on top of the sale prices already.

WHEN: Friday, April 16-Sunday, April 18, 2010, 10 am to midnight (Friday and Saturday) and 10 am to 11 pm (Sunday)

WHERE: Mall of Asia, Pasay City



EARTH DAY RUN 2010
WHAT: Join a marathon and choose between 3K, 5K or 10K. Proceeds of this fundraising will support Design Against the Elements Competition. This competition is said to bring "innovative solutions to climate-vulnerable communities in developing countries."

WHEN: Sunday, April 18, 2010, morning

WHERE: near Mall of Asia, Pasay City

HOW TO REGISTER: Register online at http://natgeorun.com/ or go to Timex at the Mall of Asia or SM North Edsa to personally register. Registration costs 500 pesos for a 3K run, 600 pesos for 5K, and 700 pesos for 10K.



"MAS FLAMENCO" SHOW
WHAT: It's a fundraising show for the benefit of the Dance Scholarship Fund at Clara Ramona's school -- Centro de Danza Flamenca. Have a chance to see Clara Ramona dance. I've had a bit of exposure to Flamenco dance and I believe that Clara Ramona is the best there is here in the Philippines. She's very passionate and just completely breathtaking when she dances. For this show, she will also be accompanied by six other female dancers who she has trained and molded to become the amazing Flamenco dancers that they are!
For just 700 pesos, you'll get to see the whole show and enjoy Spanish tapas too.

WHEN: Thursday, April 29, 2010 at 8 pm

WHERE: Clara Ramona Centro de Danza Flamenca, 5062 P. Burgos Street, corner Guerrero, Brgy. Poblacion, Makati City

HOW TO GET TICKETS: Call 899-1346 or 0915-434-5789 to reserve.


Photo Credits:
Juice website, http://www.juice.ph/nightout/event/jon-santos-in-kuring-gluring-syerrap-at-dyuning-election-is-nearing
Comedy Cartel, http://www.comedycartel.com.ph/
Eating Asia, http://eatingasia.typepad.com/eatingasia/2007/09/index.html
Jun Acullador's Flicker account, http://www.flickr.com/photos/acullador/1377674349/
Running Pinoy, http://runningpinoy.wordpress.com/2010/02/24/national-geographic-channel%E2%80%99s-earth-day-run/
Life of Guangzhao, http://www.lifeofguangzhou.com/node_10/node_35/node_112/node_264/2007/12/06/119692370831324.shtml

Thinking green (and white!) this coming weekend

I was just trying to get my schedule organized this week and realized that there are two things that I'm looking forward to this weekend. I thought I'd share them with you so that you can also take part in them.

First off, this Saturday -- March 27 is Earth Hour. It's a global event which aims to increase awareness and encourage responsibility for our environment and future. Whichever country you're in, turn off the lights between 8:30 and 9:30 pm to show your support. You can even go the extra mile and turn off all your appliances too and other electrical gadgets at home. Based on their website, they said that 1 billion people from 88 countries participated in this last year. Of that, there were 10 million Filipinos who participated from all over the world! That's the most out of any other nationality! This year, they're aiming for 15 million Filipinos to take part. Hopefully we can reach this number or possibly, even surpass it! ;-) For more information, check out their website HERE. The website outlines the many other different ways that you can help.

The following day - Sunday the 28th, is another "Green" event over at Pasong Tamo, Makati. It's called the Whitespace Green Market. They hold this event every last Sunday of the month. I haven't been to it but my husband's client had raved about it. I also came across a website found HERE that detailed the various products and food items that you can find there. I LOVE discovering new things! And from Heart 2 Heart Online's website, I can tell that there's a lot to try! There's the paraben-free soaps and cosmetic products, healthy pastries and sweets, organic vegetables, rustic jewellery, environmentally-friendly bags, and clothes that are made of silk and pineapple fibers! There's a whole lot more to find there. I could see from the picture that Delimondo has a stall there. We've just been recently introduced to Delimondo's products. We tried the ranch and corned beef first and we were not at all disappointed. It's verrry yummy! Oh there's just so much more! Check out Market Manila's post on the event HERE too. He said that you can get a buffet lunch for as low as 200 pesos! Amazing! Check it out and we'll see you there! ;-)

Touring the National Museum with John Silva

It's just of late that I've actually become determined to resurrect this blog. So I'm backed up with a number of entries that I've been meaning to post. Here's one of them -- the National Museum Tour that we went to from more than a month ago. That was in February 13, to be exact. Here goes:

Having lived here in the Philippines for six years now, it's embarrassing to admit that I haven't been to the National Museum until just recently. In fact, if my husband hadn't suprised me with this tour, I'm not entirely sure how long it would take before I'd think of going there. The National Museum just haven't gotten enough exposure and I wasn't even sure of their hours of operation, or for that matter, how to find out about them and get more information.

My husband just happened to come across a blog that talked about a tour that was offered there and decided to try it because of the awesome reviews. He booked us by getting in touch with John Silva himself at 0926 729 9029. You can also email him at jsilva79@mac.com. The tour was on a Saturday from 10 am to 1 pm. You get to tour two buildings. It's collectively called the National Museum. But to be specific, they're the Museum of the Filipino People and National Gallery of Art. The 800 pesos that you pay for the tour includes the entrance fee to the two buildings. So really, after the tour, you can choose to stay and see the other galleries and collections that were not covered in the tour. There's really a lot to see in both buildings. And as John Silva said, there are a million artifacts which would probably take a whole week to peruse. From my estimate, I think the tour only covered about 30% or 40% of the whole collection?

Nonetheless, 30% of the collection is still a LOT. We started with the Salvacion Lim (SLIM) Fashion exhibit and it was just absolutely impressive! Salvacion Lim was a brilliant couturier who was able to fuse Philippine fashion sensibilities and style along with the French, American, Malay, and even African influences! I found myself gasping in delight after seeing the wedding gowns that she made as well as these French-looking designs that could complement any female form or shape. How I wish she was still alive today so I could marvel at more of her creations.

I don't want to give it all away so I'll keep my descriptions brief. In fact, I'll talk about some of the highlights instead. Apart from the SLIM exhibit, I really liked the San Diego galleon and how neatly everything was displayed. A lot of thought was put into it from the lighting to the way everything was arranged and grouped together. We also got to see the most expensive porcelain plate here in the Philippines. John Silva said that it would have cost thousands of dollars to pay for its insurance alone. He said it won't be on display for very long because of this very reason. Hopefully you'll still be able to see it though.

Another thing that was memorable to me was the exhibit called "War and Dissent." It documented the time between 1898 and 1915 during the American colonization of the Philippines. It's impossible not to have that strong sense of national pride after seeing this exhibit. There's the story about this courageous Filipina who wrote books and lobbied in the United States for our freedom. It caught the attention of many famous American authors and personalities who tried to help us too. And at the time, did you know that we're the only American colony which resisted and fought for our freedom? There's also that interesting bit about these African-American soldiers who came here to fight against us but ended up switching and joining the Filipinos to fight against the Americans instead??!?? John Silva has a lot of these interesting tidbits to share and anecdotes too -- some funny, some enlightening, and ALL very amusing! ;-)

Oh there's also that eerie exhibit which included statues and sculptures of deities and burial jars too. John Silva had a funny funny thing to share about that. My husband -- Jojo and I couldn't stop laughing! ;-)

Throughout, there are thousands of paintings to marvel at too. There are paintings by High School students in tribute to Cory Aquino. There are also paintings from many many years ago which depicted the struggles of the Filipino people as victims of imperialism. Then there are paintings too by our national artists. The highlight of this, of course, is the Spoliarium. There are other paintings by Juan Luna, Felix Hidalgo, Jose Rizal, Amorsolo, Bencab, and MANY others. Did you know that one of our national artists murdered his wife and mother-in-law? Oh my. John Silva had a lot of these trivia to share. It's very interesting to know the story behind some of the paintings. John Silva made it all very interesting. He's very knowledgeable and during the tour, there wasn't a dull moment with him.

Whatever your interest is -- whether it be plain history, archaeology, nauticals, architecture, art, etc., there is something for you to enjoy here at the National Museum. Having John Silva as a guide makes it all the more interesting though. It's very obvious that he's passionate about what he does. He's a true advocate of history and art appreciation -- not just for those who can afford it, but for everyone! As the senior consultant of the museum, he has deemed the entrance free for everyone on Sundays. He said that he's very particular about the upkeep and cleanliness of the museum not for anything else but for the very reason that he wants the streetchildren who come in to see a different way of life. He reasons that when they see and understand beauty and aesthetics, maybe they'll fight against what they have been exposed to while living in shanties. They'll know that things can be better and maybe begin to dream and aim for more. John Silva is truly admirable. I hope that you can come and join him in one of his tours so you'll see for yourself what I'm talking about.

The National Museum is very close to Binondo. While you're at it, why not make it a true day of culture and exploration? ;-) See culture in a museum and in the sights, smells, and action in the streets of Binondo? ;-) After the museum, Jojo and I headed for Binondo to have our lunch there. We ate at Ramon Lee Panciteria. Not a bad Chinese restaurant or should I say "institution"?!?? ;-) We rode a calesa and bought hopia and mochi balls at Eng Bee Tin store and Poland Bakery. We felt like tourists and it was a whole lot of fun! ;-)

For more information about the National Museum tour, visit John Silva's blog at http://johnsilva.blogspot.com/

Jason Castro Fever!

I'm loving Jason Castro so much that my husband is almost jealous. ;-) I took notice of him in the early rounds of American Idol a couple of seasons ago. I remember that he didn't get much exposure (or any at all) during the auditions. But with his talent and charm, he was able to get to the Top 4 before he was eliminated. David Cook became the winner that season. But truthfully, I think that Jason Castro deserved to be a finalist over David Archuleta or at least, he shouldn't have been eliminated before Syesha Mercado.

Not only do I love Jason Castro's voice, but I also love his style and the carefree, happy, and playful vibe of his songs. When he does go serious -- such as in "Hallelujah" and "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," it's very heartfelt and genuine.



The good news is that Jason Castro has five new songs out! These songs include "Let's Just Fall in Love Again," "Love Uncompromised," "You Can Always Come Home," "If I Were You," and "Sweet Medicine." I like them all but my favorite would have to be "Let's Just Fall in Love Again." Check out the music video here:



If you're wanting to put the tracks in your iPod, the even better news is that you won't have to go out and buy the CD or pay iTunes. I've got the link HERE where you can download all 6 songs for free!

And the best news of all? Did you know that Jason Castro is here in Manila as we speak??!?? He's been here since the 17th. So far, he's had performances at Trinoma Mall, Glorietta 5, and today at Ayala Center Cebu. If you're in Manila, our last chance to see him would be at Market, Market tomorrow at 6 pm!


I'll definitely be there. Even if I have to drag my husband to go see him too! ;-)

Looking Forward to November....

I've been browsing my favorite blogs, reading the paper, and basically, have been trying to get updated on the latest events and happenings in the metro. Wow! There's really a lot to look forward to in November! I can't wait! Have a look at some of the events. You might be interested in going to one of them. ;-)

MICHAEL JACKSON'S "THIS IS IT" CONCERT/TRIBUTE
WHAT: See how Michael Jackson -- a true legend and talent, prepared for what his concert would-have been. He truly was an incredible talent. He knew music well, could outdance anyone, and had a very big heart. Get to know the real "MJ" through this candid documentary. He was just misunderstood, that's all.

WHEN: October 28 - November 11, 2009

WHERE: All local movie theatres

FOR MORE INFO: Click the City Site (cinema schedules)


YULETIDE SOUK BAZAAR '09
WHAT: A fundraising event brought by the Got Heart Foundation. They'll feature 100 independent designers and entrepreneurs. I imagine this will be an excellent opportunity to discover interesting, creative, and unique items that you can buy for yourself or as a head start for Christmas shopping! ;-)

WHEN: November 7-8, 2009, 10 am-10 pm

WHERE: Rockwell Tent, Makati City

FOR MORE INFO: PH Best Deals Blog, Got Heart Foundation



ANTON'S ULTIMATE TASTE TEST III
WHAT: This is a venue for home bakers, chefs, etc. to introduce their food products and get feedback on them. With a rating of 3.5 out of 5 and above, you can be featured in the Awesome Planet website too to get more business out of your start-up venture. On the other end of the spectrum, you can join this event to be one of the "taste testers." That's what we're doing. ;-) You'll need to register though and I think they have a cap of 300 people. Get more info in the Awesome Planet website below.

WHEN: November 8, 2009, 11 am-2 pm

WHERE: The Fort, Taguig City (The exact location will be revealed once you register for this event)

FOR MORE INFO: Our Awesome Planet Site


CONSUMER ELECTRONICS FAIR
WHAT: Learn about the new technologies and gadgets available in the market and purchase them on the spot! I'm not too sure about this but most of the stuff here will probably be available at discounted rates. So make sure to have your credit cards handy! But before that, make sure to click on the link below to register to the event for free. That means free entrance! ;-)

WHEN: November 13-15, 2009

WHERE: World Trade Center, Pasay City

FOR MORE INFO: CEL Manila Site


WORLD PYRO OLYMPICS 2009
WHAT: It's the first pyro musical competition between Canada, Australia, China, Germany, Japan, Italy, South Korea, Philippines, and the United States. This is an event professional photographers and "hobby-ists" look forward to every year. Because of its romantic atmosphere (a dinner offered in the VIP area), this is also a chance for couples and "would-be" ones to spend a special evening together -- underneath the stars and fireworks. ;-)

WHEN: November 21, 28 and December 5, 12, and 19, 2009, 6:30 pm onwards

WHERE: Bonifacio Global City, Taguig (near MC Home Depot)

FOR MORE INFO: World Pyro Olympics Site


FIT N' RIGHT FUN RUN
WHAT: A fun run SLASH fundraising event where part of the proceeds will go to the victims of Typhoon Ondoy and Pepeng. There are cash prizes for those who win first, second, and third place in the marathon. Regardless of your ranking, you're automatically entered in a raffle to win a Lenovo laptop too! All these while trying to do something healthy! It's a win-win-win-win situation! ;-)

WHEN: November 22, 2009, 4 am call time

WHERE: Mall of Asia, Pasay City

FOR MORE INFO: Animetric's World Site

The "ber" months are officially here!

To be exact, the "ber" month started 12 days ago. ;-) You can tell that the holiday season is coming up by the number of events to look forward to. There's soooo many things going on! So if you're looking for something to do and a place to go, have a look at the list below. Click on the headings to be directed to a website which will give you more info on the event. These are mostly shopping events intended to prepare us for Christmas. But there are events there too to cover other interests. Have fun and hopefully I'll see you at one of these! You know I'll be there. ;-)

1.) Negros Trade Fair
Date: September 11-16, 2009
Location: Rockwell Tent, Makati City




2.) Mall of Asia Midnight Madness
Date: September 18-20, 2009
Location: Mall of Asia, Pasay City



3.) Manila International Book Fair
Date: September 16-20, 2009, 10 am-8 pm
Location: SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia, Pasay City




4.) Hobbes and LandesWarehouse Sale
Date: September 17-19, 2009, 9 am-5 pm
Location: Unit 3, Topy's Building, 3 Economia St., Bagumbayan, Libis, Quezon City



5.) New Balance Power Run
Date: September 27, 2009, 5:30 am
Location: Fort Bonifacio Global City, Taguig




6.) 8th Spanish Film Festival
Date: October 1-14, 2009
Location: Greenbelt 3 Cinemas, Makati City

"Mad Max" at the Spicy Fingers

We've known about the comedy shows at Greenbelt's Spicy Fingers for a while now. We've been wanting to go. Jojo and I had even called to reserve once -- only to cancel it hours before. Something always gets in the way. And it didn't exactly help that all of these shows are scheduled only on Mondays.

Somehow, things worked out and we were able to go just last Monday. We reserved days before and came to Greenbelt quite early. The show doesn't start until 8 pm. But we had planned to come to Spicy Fingers early so that we could have dinner there and reserve good seats too. But when we dropped by the restaurant, not one person was inside. We found out from their waiters that the seats were reserved beforehand anyway. I guess the promoters (E-Circle) choose the seats for you depending on the number of people in your group.

We decided to have dinner elsewhere and at exactly 7:30, we were right at the door of Spicy Fingers. We paid for our tickets at the entrance (P150 each) and looked for the table which had my name on it. I guess it doesn't really matter where you end up sitting. It's a small and intimate place and any seat can assure you of a good view. Ours happened to be in the center -- second row from the front. We were so close that we didn't need to zoom to take pictures. ;-) My only beef was how packed the place got come show time. It's really best to take the trip to the bathroom before the place fills up. Because there's really no way to get around when all the chairs are occupied.

As expected, the show didn't start until 8:45ish. That's 45 minutes late! The performers were ready. They could have started on time if they wanted to. With "Filipino" time in effect, there were only 3 tables occupied when it got to 8:00. That's only 6 or 7 audience members. I can understand why they had to start late. I just wish it didn't have to be so. Uggghhhh.

All this was forgiven and forgotten right after the first act. The show was sooo packed! There were about 6 or 7 (I've lost count!) acts. And the topics and jokes ranged from school rivalries, married life, to living as a Chinese, local/international transport, to maid foibles, and the like. It's really all about finding comedy in the most everyday, mundane things. From the laughter and applause, you can easily tell that yes, everyone can relate! ;-)

Of the 6 or 7, I have two favorites. I absolutely LOVED Mike Unson and Alex Calleja. Mike Unson's thoughts on our MRT system left me in absolute stitches. ;-) Alex Calleja, seemingly a more experienced and "senior" one, also had a lot of interesting (and oh so very true and factual!) things to say about marriage. ;-) It's obvious that he has given all this a lot of thought. ;-) He even gave the married ladies in the crowd a foolproof way of finding out whether your husband is cheating on you. Just hilarious!!!

The other 4 or 5 had their moments too. But it really was Mike and Alex that stood out the most. To get a taste of their comedy, click the links below. These are short video excerpts of their spiel taken from Youtube.





You may also click this link to find out about their upcoming shows. I know I'm going to the April 27 one for sure. Maybe I'll see you there? ;-)