Philippine in Perspective

African Safari at Calauit Island

2011-11-15T15:32:00.000-08:00

Just read about this and had to write about it. The Calauit Island lies in the Northwestern coast of Palawan was declared a game preserve and wildlife sanctuary in 1977 as the Philippines responded to an appeal by the IUCN or the International Union of Conservation of Nature to save endangered animals in Africa.

The Game Preserve and Wildlife Sanctuary is a natural area where the entire environment and all the plants and animals are allowed to live in a natural state with the absolute minimum of human interference or disturbance. In order to protect the sanctuary and preserve it for future generations, certain standards of Visitor Conduct are provided for in the National Integrated Protected Areas Act and the Strategic Environmental Plan for Palawan.

It really is like going to Africa no elephants and lions but Giraffe, Zebras and deers. The scenery is spectacular a bit like Jurassic Park..

Baguio & Ber Months again

2011-11-05T18:06:00.000-07:00

Today I saw this picture in the Inquirer of Baquio and just loved it.

Baquio is basically to Manila, what Cameron Highland is to KL or Chiangmai to Bangkok. Its the highland 'summer capital' where, in the olden days, the well-to-do used to go during the hot months. Its now the major source of fruits and vegetables for Manila. So the similarities is pretty obvious.

But Baguio is actually better. Whereas Cameron Highlands and Chiangmai is always all cloudy and rainy during the colder months, Baguio don't necessary will although it will be driest during the dry month of Feb-April. When it clears up like the picture shows it like Fall US East Coast. The scenery is fantastic and its just perfect right amount of chill, putting you in the mood for preparing for the coming Christmas hollidays.

Its the Ber month again in Philippines. I have mentioned this before. It stands for the month that ends with 'Ber' - SeptemBER, OctoberBER, NovemBER, DecemBER. But in reality it actually means the colder months between Oct-Feb. Its the perfect golf and outdoor weather in the Philippines time. When you come here, you will already start hearing Christmas music everywhere even before you get off the plane!!

I tell my friends especially those who are really stressed in Hong Kong and Singapore this time of the year with year-end review, taxes etc, that if they are fighting with their other half, they should just go away for a weekend in a place like Baguio or any resort outside Manila and it will do wonders for them.

But caveat to those who don't like it cold, it does get very cold especially at night in the month of Dec/Jan even possible to single digit degree Celsius although very very rare.

Steven Paul Jobs 1955-2011

2011-10-06T18:19:00.000-07:00

Sailing in Philippines

2011-09-24T21:01:00.000-07:00

I used to sail back in NY and Boston. I have had few opportunities here. The community is smaller but its growing.

I think there is a lot of potential for sailing as a tourism product here in Philippines. There are some excellent wind conditions for races and plenty of deep water around. I think I mentioned the potential here on my visit to Sangley Point, Cavite. There are a few facilities like marinas available although plenty of places that are suitable to built. The top yatch club here is in Manila but Manila bay water is well, unrecreational.

The other club I have been too is Subic Bay. Its really nice with some beautiful boats.

There are some new places such as is in Hamilo at Nusugbu - its basically a second/beach/country home place that is being built to catered to the well-to-do - two hours from Manila. They hold regular regattas although mostly cats (catamarans). It would be interesting to see bigger boats race out here during good conditions.

In other parts of the country, the Cebu Yatch club is very nice one and so is the one in Bohol.

FHM Philippine 100 Sexiest Women in the World 2011 winner

2011-07-15T22:32:00.000-07:00

The Winner - Sam Pinto

Past Photos

Don't know why I keep not going every year..Stupid I guess..

God, am I stupid..

http://serialtripper.com/2011/07/fhm-philippines-100-sexiest-women-in-the-world-2011-victory-party-pasay-city/

Top Education for Less in the Philippines - AFP

2011-06-01T23:25:00.000-07:00

This was an article from AFP. For countries with broken school systems and there are still many in this world, some schools here do offer a high quality education for very good price. U of P especially Diliman for example offer an incredible deal even if the infrastructure is not up to date.

The article:

Top education for less in the Philippines

Thousands of foreign university students are flocking to the Philippines, attracted by cheap yet high-quality courses conducted in English and an easy-going lifestyle outside class.

With more than 2,100 private and state-run institutions nationwide offering a wide array of courses, and an immigration policy friendly to foreign students, the former American colony is enjoying an enrolment boom.

Nearly 20,000 foreign students held special visas at the end of the school year in March, according to the immigration bureau, which said the number would rise when classes began in June.

This excludes the tens of thousands enrolled in small institutions that offer short courses in English and are particularly popular among South Korean and Chinese students.

Nigerian medical student Dike Edward Ikechukwu, 22, said he learnt about studying in the Philippines at an education road show conducted by Manila schools in his country.

Then already studying pharmacology in Lagos, Ikechukwu said he was intrigued by the prospect of studying in a foreign country where he could expand his medical knowledge without depleting the family resources.

"It was cost effective for me," said Ikechukwu, who is president of the 605-member foreign students' organisation at Manila's 400-year-old University of Santo Tomas.

"I would have spent so much more in the United States for the same quality of education."

A four-year degree course in the Philippines costs between 1,000 and 2,500 dollars a year, significantly cheaper than in the United States for example where one could spend more than 30,000 dollars annually, educators here say.

Another important factor for Ikechukwu was English. He said his father, a shipping consultant, travelled to the Philippines before he enrolled to inspect the university and liked the fact English was widely spoken.

The Philippines inherited English from the Americans, who colonised the archipelago at the end of a war with Spain in 1898.

American teachers fanned out across the country to open up schools in remote villages, teaching English grammar, diction and generally instilling a love for education in a legacy that lasts to this day.

Even though the Philippines is one of the poorest countries in Asia with one of the biggest wealth divides, the literacy rate remains one of the highest in the region at about 90 percent, according to government data.

The government began enticing foreign students to study in the Philippines in the 1980s, mostly in specialised fields such as medicine and agriculture.

The following decade saw an explosion of schools and institutions offering short-term courses in English language, aviation, hotel and restaurant management and maritime-related classes.

Then, in 2000, the government embarked on a strategy to promote the Philippines as a centre for education in Asia, with one plank making it easier for foreign students to apply for visas.

It also established exchange programmes between Philippine schools and universities in many countries, including Australia, the United States, South Korea, Canada and European nations.

Professor Evelyn Songco, assistant to the rector for student affairs at the University of Santo Tomas, credited the high number of foreigners to the government's strong push to make the Philippines an academic mecca in Asia.

"Many Philippine schools are accredited abroad, and those who graduated from here have created a good impression around the world," she said.

"Our diplomas are competitive abroad, and Philippine universities have always strived to do justice to the tuition fees these foreigners pay. We give them quality education, quality faculty members and facilities."

Beryl France Buendia, an American studying for a physical therapy degree at the University of Santo Tomas, said she believed studying in the Philippines would not disadvantage her in the US job market.

"I believe a Philippine diploma can be just as competitive in the States," the 22-year-old said, although she added cost was a big factor in deciding to study in Manila.

"My dad's quite old and my mom's going to retire soon so they had to budget the plan, so we decided to enrol here," she said.

A younger sister, Bethany, is finishing a degree in communication arts, also at Santo Tomas.

For South Korean psychology student Juhyun Kim, 18, learning English and low costs were important reasons for enrolling at the Ateneo de Manila University.

But she said another factor in choosing to study in the Philippines was the reputation of Filipinos for being so friendly.

"Koreans are very welcome here. Filipinos sincerely care. I like staying here," she said.

More Philippine Talent-Ahem

2011-01-25T01:25:00.000-08:00

Filipino univerity student wins 2010 World SuperModel
by Thelma Sioson San Juan

MANILA, Philippines - A 17-year-old student of the University of the Philippines, whose body has been described as the "perfect designer's body" - 30 (chest)/ 22 (waist)/ 30 inches (hips) - has been chosen the World SuperModel 2010 in New York over the weekend by the iconic modeling institution, Ford Models.

Danica Flores Magpantay bested young aspiring models from more than 40 countries.

This is the first time a Filipino was named World SuperModel-a much-coveted title that carries not only a $250,000 modeling contract, but also the chance to model for the world's top retail brands and fashion designers and work with leading photographers.

It is ironic that Magpantay, strictly speaking, isn't a model.

Except for a brief stint in Philippine Fashion Week late last year in Manila, she hasn't really modeled, neither on the runway nor for advertising campaigns.

This, even if her mother, Lala Flores, was a top model in the '90s and was a SuperModel winner herself in 1994.

Her mother is now a leading makeup artist for advertising campaigns, whose clients include stars like Sarah Geronimo.

Unusual, striking look

Asked what made Magpantay bag the prestigious and lucrative title, SuperModel Philippines executive producer Joey Espino said: "Mr. Rowland (Paul Rowland, new head of Ford models) and the rest of Ford found so striking the fusion of feminine and masculine features on that face. Hers is a very unusual facial bone structure-squarish on top, but softer toward the chin. And this is the time when Ford, under Mr. Rowland, is going for the unusual, striking look."

Espino added a crucial bit of precedence - "It was Mr. Rowland who discovered Kate Moss."

Global beauty

Indeed Magpantay, who is 5'8 3/4" tall, couldn't have gone to New York at a better time.

In an interview last year with New York Times' T Magazine, Rowland, who had just been named head of Ford Models and tasked with reinventing the "venerable institution," explained where he was coming from"… the idea of beauty [is] not only being classic but being, you know, global. I'm just obsessed with finding these amazing creatures in all these exotic countries." (Rowland, according to T, even opened a scouting center in North Africa.)

In such a short time, Rowland, it is said, was able to move up Ford among the top model agencies in the world, from the fifth to the third (the first being IMG who handles sports celebrities, like Tiger Woods and Roger Federer).

It is interesting to note that the two runners-up in the World SuperModel 2010 are from Lithuania and Poland.

Serendipitous

Magpantay's journey from Makati City, where her family lives, to the world's modeling capital, wasn't dramatic, but it was serendipitous. She is second in a brood of five.

One day, her father, Pogs, a businessman, was clearing up some house stuff.

He found the Betamax recording of Lala Flores when she was named 1994 SuperModel of the Philippines.

He had it converted into DVD, and his two eldest daughters Danielle and Danica got to see the DVD.

It was after watching the DVD of their mom that the two approached their parents to say that, yes, they, too, wanted to be models-to be SuperModels.

Until that moment, Espino said Lala never really pushed her daughters into a modeling career. They had to want it first, Espino recalled Lala's stance.

Scout

It was then that Lala turned over her two daughters to Espino, who has been the top models' scout in the country for more than two decades now.

He and his brother Audie have put up the industry leader, CalCarrie's, which fields models all over the world.

Espino unerringly saw Magpantay's potential. The older Danielle, 19, and Danica joined the Philippine search for SuperModel 2010, which Danica would win in October last year.

Intense screening

Unlike in previous years, there was no runway show in New York this year to proclaim the SuperModel. Instead, of the SuperModel winners from various countries, five were chosen, Magpantay among them. Only the five were flown to New York.

Magpantay, who graduated high school from Colegio de San Agustin, flew to New York last week. Like the four others, she came upon intense screening, from body measurements to how clothes would fall on her, to how she photographs.

The other four are Kristina Gromovaite of Lithuania, Zuzanna Bronczyck of Poland-the two became runners-up-Rufina Rudenko of Estonia and Natalia Haiden of Brazil.

While this is the first time a Filipino became World SuperModel, the Philippines had runners-up the previous years-Charo Ronquillo in 2006 and Charlene Almarvez in 2009.

Lucrative job

Just how lucrative is a SuperModel contract?

Ronquillo now struts among the world's best in New York, and has worked with top photographers, like Bruce Weber, for the American Living campaign of Ralph Lauren, Vogue photographer Arthur Elgort and Walter Chin.

She has done advertising campaigns of the world's top brands, such as Lacoste, Tory Burch, Armani Exchange, Kenneth Cole, DKNY, and retail giants, such as Macy's.

In short, it's a full-time lucrative job. And if one pursues it with passion, it could be a glamorous life.

Not bad at all for a 17-year-old on a Monday morning.

But one more thing, even as you read this, she'll already be in the salt mines early Monday morning in New York, working the SuperModel job.

Top Beaches

2011-01-06T18:49:00.000-08:00

For some reason, I am seeing a lot of news article on beaches lately all over the place - Reuters, National Geographic, etc. This morning there is one sensational piece on Boracay that showed up in Aussie, UK and regional papers. I decided I have to at least give my two cents worth about best beaches in Philippines.

I have to start with some caveats. I have actually only been to a few major beaches here - Boracay, Mactan, Cebu. Its just that you have to fly to most great places and then the cost of staying at resort is not cheap either but I have been to a number of small ones - there are literally hundreds if not thousands in Philippines. I go to the beach for nothing more than simple pleasures of nature and smell of sea air. I am not big on luxuries or parties at the beach although I consider bikini-spotting a legitimate visual sport.

Actually one of the thing that confuses me is how people rate beaches. What is considered a great world class beach? I think while there is commonality, its different for different people. I think most people think a great beach is one which is white sands, clear water and the longer the better - in my book they have to be like 2mile long beaches at least. In the Philippines actually there is only a few of these - the most famous being Boracay which is basically overdeveloped already. Other places are
1). Gamusa Beach, Glam, Southern Mindanao
2) Pugudpud, Illocos Norte, (most famous is Saud Beach)
3) Camiguin Northern Mindanao and
4). Panglao Island Bohol (near Cebu).

You will notice that Palawan does not figure in my list. At first I thought there was none very long contigously but was recently introduced to Long Beach at San Vincente - supposedly the longest beach in Philippines - 14km. Its easier to develop areas with long beaches because govt and developers just gets better scale of economies. San Vincente is in North Palawan - famous for the resort of El Nido and Amanpulo is viewed to have the highest potential for building a world famous large beach-resort industry like Cancun because a lot of the beaches are close to each other. Its likely that eventually the area will be like that when infrastructure are put in beginning with an airport. You can't really do much unless you have a decent airport that can land mid-range jets (737/A320).

BUT, there are so many smaller beaches or the larger beach is not all-white The top of the list for such smaller beaches are actually better in my view because usually there is better diving or surfing etc..The top of my list include
1. Siargao Island, Surigao Del Norte
2. Dakak, Mindanao
4. Malapascua Island Cebu
5. Honda Bay, Palawan
6. Camaroan Peninsula, Camarines Sur (often just locally called Camsur) - this is where they have the Ironman annually and other major beach events.

The closest one near Manila would be in small islands near Batangas like Tilog Island, Verde Island off Anilao/Mabini or Lubang & Ambil Island off Nusugbu. There is one off the nearby Puerto Galera, Mindoro area called North Pandan is like a small fishing village island where you can get freshly caught lobster lunches arranged for you. There is off course my misadventure to get to Potipot, Zambales. Its just that there is nothing else other than the beach in these places. You really wonder actually why most people go to the beach - is because of the beach or the beach is just a reason to make all the things that make people want to go to the beach?

Diving in the Philippines

2011-01-03T20:04:00.000-08:00

A number of my friends when diving over the hollidays and I regretted not doing it myself. Dives can be inexpensive here in places that are easy to reach and popular. An introduction dive which consist of lessons in a pool or shallow waters followed by one or two dive with the instructor will cost you P2,500. If you are already certified, each dive can be as cheap as P500 inclusive equipment. Getting certified will cost you P15,000 for a few of days lessons and diving - well worth it compared to an expensive health spa vacation, golf lesson, ski lessons vacation that cost even more.

Obviously Philippine is highly competitive as far as diving vacation is concern. But the problem is that its not really mainstream vacation plan. Actually most people don't know how to even swim (36% in US, 54% in the world). Although you don't have to know how to swim to dive, in the minds of people, they shy away if they don't swim well - that is most people even in developed countries.

If you look at the cost of diving, the product is not that different than skiing. But whereas skiing is a olympic and professional sports with lots of glamour, diving is recreational or for professional vocation. So the main reason why diving is not a bigger industry is simply because it lacks marketing angle to it. You can put skiing on a sports channel and make a movie about it, they only put diving on discovery channel. There are snow bunnies, no dive bunnies. Although you know, making a reality show out of diving is not out of the question...Hmmm wonder if I can interest Oprah with it?

Palawan voted in top 20 sites to visit in 2011 by National Geographic

2011-01-03T18:29:00.000-08:00

The article:
Palawan, Philippines
Photograph by JS Callahan, Tropicalpix/Alamy

Palawan’s limestone karst cliffs, coral atolls, mangrove forests, sugar-white sandy beaches, and extensive fringing reefs create one of the Philippines' most biodiverse terrestrial and marine environments. Designated as a fish and wildlife sanctuary in 1967, the Philippines' largest (in total land area) province encompasses nearly 1,240 miles (1,995 kilometers) of coastline stretching across 1,768 islands.

On the main island (also named Palawan) near Sabang, hike the three-mile (five-kilometer) Monkey Trail to Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park's navigable underground river. The five-mile (eight-kilometer) coastal rain forest route is home to long-tailed macaques, blue-naped parrots, and other indigenous wildlife. In the province’s northern Calamianes islands, Coron Island is considered one of the world’s top scuba diving destinations, offering World War II-vintage wreck diving and snorkeling in calm, crystalline waters. Nearby Culion Island, a former leper colony surrounded by sea grass beds and coral reefs, is an emerging ecotourism destination worth a day trip.

The link
http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/best-trips-2011-photos#/11-palawan-el-nido-surfers_30439_600x450.jpg

Anilao, Mabini, Calumbang Peninsula, Batangas

2010-12-26T22:47:00.000-08:00

Was eating and drinking with friends all the way to Christmas Eve, so I decided to get out to the province to explore further.

This time, I headed south to the Province of Batangas where the second busiest port in the country is. The highway south (SLEX & STAR) is two part highway but the last stretch of 20km where they only got half the highway built. Some of the views are spectacular as you get out with stretches of flat open spaces which were sugar cane plantations or rice fields. You can also see spectacular mountain ranges and dormant Taal volcano from a distance. The last stretch to get to Anilao is a bit of a pain with traffic chocked full of Jeepney, tri-cycles, buses, as well as cars. You have to head to the town of Bauan, and at the junction of Santa Rita barangay, make a left to sign pointing to Mabini. You will come near a junction, the right to Anilao and most of the better resorts and the left to the city proper of Mabini. Just before the pier, there is a sign that points to 'Outrigger Resort', the road will lead to most of the better resorts in the area which is the north facing side of the Calumbang Peninsula.

The area of Calumbang Peninsula, the leaping point which is Anilao, is a diving paradise in recovery. At one time it had spectacular reefs but bomb fishing and pollution destroyed a lot. A program was put in place to help recover the sites and its quite successful with many divers making short trips from Manila. The whole north-west facing side of the peninsula is dotted with resorts while the west facing side of Batangas Bay is more residential formerly fishing villages is my guess.

The municpality is called Mabini and there is a tourism office at the Anilao pier (the sign says Mabini pier) you can make inquiries about diving sites, boats, prices, accomodations, etc.. You can park your car overnight for P150/night at the pier.

If you drive into Mabini town proper, and pass it, the drive down the east facing peninsula, is very charming with nice colorful houses that line the roads. There is not much of beaches to speak of as they are rocky as such diving places are. The hills of the Calumbang peninsula hugs the coast closely so there is not much open spaces but the sights of the hills against the sea is spectacular. People still do fishing in the area but I saw nothing interesting at the markets that I visited.

There was only a bit of sun during my visit but I enjoyed having a snack at the beach and drinking cheap beer. I checked out some of the resorts but they were what you expect of dive resorts, comfortable but not luxurious and rustic. However I thought it was rather expensive with rooms for as much as P5000 peso per night although you can share a quad for P900 peso per night.

There is also not much of choice in terms of restaurants or places to eat outside the dive resorts. I did check out the local famous lomi but found it wanting. I did managed to find some good lechon (Batangas is suppose to be a main pork-producing area). Anything decent can only be found in the town of Bauan which seems always choked full of traffic with narrow roads.

It rained a lot and at night it was cold given the time of the year. So it was kind of boring although the peace and quiet and the sea air was very refreshing. Those who plan to visit should just get their own stuff and cook and eat outdoors. Do a whole pig roast which I saw a number of families doing.

On my way back, I checked out the city of Batangas and its actually quite a decent size with one SM Mall and another SM Hypermarket. There are lots of decent restaurants there too but traffic was murder. You also have to go through the town of Bauan and a few other small barangays which is also choked full of traffic.

Anilao and Mabini is definitely a nice place to relax if the traffic can be avoided but building anything in such mountainous terrain is not going to be easy. However room rates of the resorts seems to suggest its not entirely impossible for a determined developers. In Japan such places make a thriving business of 1 price-all inclusive getaways that include catch-of-the-day meals, hot baths, and health and beauty spas.

How badly do I want the BlackBerry Curve 3G

2010-12-21T23:44:00.000-08:00

How badly I want the Curve: TAKE A LOOK!

Pasig River

2010-12-05T17:23:00.000-08:00

I had a lot to think about this weekend and so was looking to just exercise and think about things but I did not feel like driving anywhere to get some outdoor. So I decided to just hike around the neighbourhood and for a number of small reasons I decided to head towards the Pasig river near Fort Bonifacio. I was apprehensive because it meant going through some rougher streets and even past Makati Jail.

To my surprise I ended up having a real great Sunday morning. I discovered Makati Park - this is a small park along the Pasig River in the West Rembo Barangay. Its actually very well kept with bird cages, an open air theatre park, and a public swimming pool. The view to the other side of the river was actually pretty spectacular with tall buildings of Pasig City but at the same time the typical Barangay multi-faceted colorful family homes that cover much of this city residential area that lined the river.

Pasig River source is in the North East of the city but in the city it flows two ways - one is west into Manila Bay via the oldest part of Manila and the other South-East into Laguna Lake. Essentially for centuries it was the main artery of transport in this city and even to this day is commercially used. Due to the lack of infrastructure, it was polluted because it was the means of waste disposal for industrial, commercial and even human sewage. Ten years ago, they started cleaning it up. And today, there are both govt and private effort to rehabilate the river.

The effort to clean it up is not just romantic but all along the river represent opportunities to develop and create great commercial and living spaces. At the mouth of the river in the old city, its possible to create incredible tourist attractions - Sorrounded by Binondo, incredible govt building buildings, the old Spanish build Intramuros, old middle class spanish residential areas of San Miguel with Presidential Palace. There are still some incredible old houses and buildings belonging to old families in San Miguel, Pandacan, Santa Ana district. All along the river to the east/south-east are big pieces of industrial properties that can be developed into top grade residential/commercial spaces like well-known Rockwell. The various smaller properties along the river all also offer interesting opportunities for creative redevelopment. If you walk along the river, you can actually spot incredible huge beautiful churches that stands out frequently as go along it. Visiting the churches is already a worthwhile attraction.

The river has come a long way since they started cleaning it up. They even catch 50kg large Chinese carps and catfish once in a while. NGOS and even companies are continually putting in effort to improve things all along the river. Its not ready as mainstream tourist destination but if you like to see things in raw form, I recommend taking ferries and boat rides that is possible along the river and imagine what can be done with it. Its really a great river that can be again. There are photos available of the river in past that I find interesting and remind you that Manila was a city like European cities when Singapore was not even a real port.

How to have a good time in Philippines

2010-11-21T23:58:00.000-08:00

Had a visitor here last week and he gave me the comment that he was surprised by how much he enjoyed visiting given that he was told by friends who have been here before that they found coming to Manila boring.

Actually the truth is Philippine is badly marketed place as far as foreign visitor is concern. There is a string of reason why its badly marketed and hence many visitors come here and miss the great things here.

There is only one easy answer to enjoying the Philippines - you have to know the people who understand what you enjoy to show or introduce it to you. Other than that, there is no easy answer. From the right food, to the right beaches, to not getting ripped off by taxi drivers and shops, to nice/fun places to hang out, this is not a place where just one size fits all. There are different things for different people. AND here is the strange thing - while this is a society that has free and open media, most people here just don't understand what foreigners and tourist want. Most of them have never travelled and don't have deep understanding of foreigners even those that have influenced them like the Spanish, Americans, Chinese, Japanese. Even the well-travelled well-to-do have not travelled to many places in Asia because they don't speak the languages. The disconnect between what foreigners don't understand and what most here don't understand about them, accounts for the disconnect between those who enjoy coming here and those that don't enjoy it. Its partly why I started this blog in the first place.

So what would I recommend someone who comes here for a few days?

1. Go to the beach - Boracay for parties, top of the line luxuries in Palawan and the adventurous - just google. There are many choices but getting there is not all laid out for tourist and visitors cheaply.
2. Enjoy the nightlife - most nights places have people hanging out. But Friday nights, weekend and hollidays are the most happening. You need to check out the music scene especially the original works of local bands - not the cover band stuff.
3. Food - 1) Try some pinoy dishes 2) Seafood is a good deal - go to a Dampa or a decent Chinese restaurant and order simple fresh stuff. Don't expect refinement and complexity with your Chinese food. 3) Japanese food is a GREAT here. 4) If you like beef, this is a good place to come especially if you are a fan of wagyu beef which they raise locally here 5) Alcohol is cheap - you can have fun anywhere if you drink enough. This is the most cost-effective place to hang out at wine bars in all of South East Asia. 6) Korean food is also getting really good here.- Forget spicy food, its not in their diet. 7) There is a long list of choices for desserts - if you like the sweet stuff this is a good place too. 8) If you get a chance to get out in the country - all you need to know is just look for someway to try the food in its simple basic fresh form - whether its the seafood, the dairy, the meats, or even the fruits and vege. For pork, just do the lechon or pork belly. For beef, just get a good steak, for seafood just stir-fry or steam. As to vege, the quality is very inconsistent but the pineapples, mangoes, strawberry is a must try.

4. Don't take the public tranport - take cabs and plan for traffic jams. You just got to pay for it.

Again, get to know someone who is from your home country or have lived in your country. Its possible because there is very good mix of people from all over here. Not in abundance but there is definitely people from almost everywhere in the world here. Then socialize and meet people - pinoys are very sociable - nothing beats just meeting people you enjoy spending time with.

Ber Months

2010-10-08T01:41:00.000-07:00

Its the beginning of October. Its the start of what is known as the Ber-months - months that end with -ber: October, November, December. For some reason people think of the Ber-months as starting in October rather than September. I think its because the weather change. Its starting to get a bit cooler. The pool water is not hot anymore and gets cold actually.

Its also the end of the rainy season. We had a few big downpour last week but you can tell the rain is on its last legs. Last year there was even a few typhoons up to the end of October. They tell me its unusual and that this year is less rain than normal and last year it was more rain than normal. The schizophrenic weather somehow is poetic to me.

The weather is going to be very nice from now on - cool, dry. If you go to any place with green open spaces, crowds are everywhere. People like sitting outside watching people. But there is a very very lack of public and open spaces. I had a beer in a strip mall with open spaces in lower-middle-income level neighbourhood and the prices there was as high as the high-end places. Progress.

Events outside are typically well attended. Some of these events are even black-tie and the women dressed to the hilt and live symphony. Its quite a spectacle.

The downside is that traffic can be counted on to be bad most evening. Its so pleasant, why go home? Well, the traffic for one thing. If I have to go out, I try to get there early to avoid it. I love the morning when there is no traffic. I wake up as early as 5am when its still dark go to a Park and get some exercise.

If only my work is not bothering me so much, I can really enjoy myself. At least its a busy social season. I seem to have to attend a lot of events and have dinners with people.

First Christmas Song of the year

2010-09-06T18:55:00.000-07:00

This morning I heard my first Christmas song for the year. Bing Crosby's Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow:

It gave me a flashback of last year when I was returning from Singapore and they played the music in the plane upon landing. Philippine is probably the first place you hear Christmas music publicly in the region, maybe even in the world.

Last year I wrote at length my love for the music and my Christmas here. I am actually trying to decide what to do for Christmas. I first thought of returning to KL to get a few things done but Christmas there is boring. I don't want to have my friend being charitable to me again this year so I like to plan something.

In the meantime, I know its crazy because its just after Labour day in the US but am really in the mood for more Christmas music.

Going into September

2010-09-02T18:15:00.000-07:00

This week, I suddenly realized that days was getting darker earlier and its US labour day weekend meaning the end of summer there.

Its actually kind of strange because we are still in the middle of the rainy season here so you don't think of a change in season. It does not end typically until October sometimes even way into. As I wrote before, the rain has not been anywhere close to what it was last year. There have only been one big storm in July and nothing since. The weather has been fantastic and I regret not getting out more. When its like these, coming to Philippine to vacation is really a good idea because the hotels are cheaper and the weather is just perfectly fine if you are not too fuzzy about a bit of rain in the evening and night. (Have you ever tried chilling out on a verandah/balcony with your girl while it rains outside? Trust me guys, its a really good idea.)

You actually can feel the air getting drier not that its ever really as humid as you get in Singapore/KL. So its really good weather if it does not rain. Its really like fall in Florida when there is no hurricane which don't happen often now these days it seems.

I think I will head out to the Esplanade/Manila Bay area again this weekend, maybe get a book to read and just chill out.

In the City on a Long Weekend

2010-08-30T00:35:00.000-07:00

This was a long weekend and although I have a number of things on my mind, I wanted to catch a short break and regretted not planning to get away. There are of course plenty of great places to go but the problem is that it require planning because it means flying somewhere usually. Tourism for Philippine has that issue because many, actually most, places require a flight from Manila.

BUT surprisingly, I had a great break. Its amazing what you can do if you put your mind to it.

Firtly, the day weather was great. It did not rain until the evening and very lightly. Most morning were sunny and cool. The afternoon was breezy and cloudy so it was not hot or too humid. Usually its rains like cats and dogs at least one part of the day this time of the year. Last year, I remember it rained almost every morning. But this weekend, the weather was really just right for some R&R. I hope the weather holds up for the rest of the rainy season.

In the morning, I actually managed to find some green around. In particular I headed out to the Manila Bay and Esplanade area. The weather was so good and the salt air was incredible refreshing that I almost lost track of time and almost got a ticket. You can only street park in the area until 8am. The only problem is the area is pretty bad for breakfast. All you have is the fast food joints and chain-coffee places. You can head over to Binondo later but I still havent't figured out how to park in there.

I also headed out to explore lesser part of the city known as municipalities of Las Pinas and Paranaque. These are basically townships that are part of the greater Metro Manila. Without traffic, it was actually very pleasant to drive around. Think of it like boroughs of Queens or Brooklyn in New York.

If you ever wonder where the call-center personnel, clerks, accountants, teachers, contractors live, your everyday unimprovished pinoy in other words, these townships give a good idea. These townships have a long history that began with small villages called barangays. The urban design were based on a time when there were no cars and no one dreamed of a two-car garage suburban homes. Malaysians and Singaporean don't typically understand that the planned two-story detached house suburban towns we grew up with are the contruct of late 20th century after the mass market car was invented. These planned development also do exist here and are typically gated communities called villages.

Think of barangays like new villages in Serdang, Kepong in Malaysia or colonial shop houses in Singapore or cobblestone lined streets historical part of European old cities and old cities of US like Boston or Georgetown. They were originally not designed for cars although typically the roads are paved but there are no pedestrians walkways. However there are the less older gated-villages that are very well plan and the houses are actually bungalows. The older part though, the plot of land can be small and the building built up to the street, most without parking bays. The plot of land are not uniform and the roads meandering again, without cars in mind. Each house and buildings is unique unlike the planned towns we are used to. Most of them are two and three storey concrete buildings with individual characters. Of course some of the buildings that are closer to the wide-enough-for-two-car roads have commercial activities like eateries, convenience stores, saloon/barber etc. At the entrance to these barangays are typically tricycles that can take you deep into the townships as these townships can be very big. They have schools, clinics, police station, community halls, basketball courts, churches, etc. There are even factories, offices, warehouses.

What you will notice is that the streets are clean and the houses mostly neat and well-maintained, some very colorful. I keep wondering where are the garbage cans? Each of them are unique in designed unlike what we are used to in uniform planned houses. Occasionally you will notice some very big buildings or houses of four five stories. They are either apartment buildings or house of someone who has made it pretty big with a big family and choses to continue to stay in the area rather than move to planned townships which are further away or older established houses that are very expensive that can't house a big family.

On a holliday weekend like these when cars and trucks don't run the streets, you will find children playing in the streets, people hanging out at major corners, hawkers with pushcarts. Walking to churches to markets, etc. Its actually very lively and you get a very small town close-knit feeling that neighbours know each other and socialize constantly. It reminded me of going to my grandmother in a new village in Gombak which I used to visit every weekend when I was a very young.

One of the things you will notice is that there are definite improvement going on on these towns. Many buildings have new coat of paint, new attachments and shingles, rebuilt bigger and better with parking bays. New cars/vans/trucks. New appliances. More new small business. More new advertising like billboards and signs. You can feel lives improving, neighbourhood getting organised, people enjoying their lives.

Not all townships are safe, clean and well-organised. Some like Tondo can be worst than the famous favellas of Brazilian cities. Even those that are safe, you may have to go through areas that may not be that safe. I would not recommend staying out late and taking buses and jeepney back if you stay at these places.. But its definitely an experience to visit and live in these areas. They are relatively cheap to stay in. Monthly rent can be halve or less of what you would pay at apartments in the newer organised planned condominium townships that are coming up. There typically are no room for a car. Public transport is of course another matter all together.

Way into the future, when they fix public transport in this city, these townships will actually be great places to experience and live. It feels cosy and small-townish. In coastal towns like Cavite City with sea breeze and great weather they have here like this year, it feels like staying in one of those expensive coastal town villas in the Greece or Italy.

Manila Hostage event

2010-08-27T00:58:00.000-07:00

I have not posted a number of weeks because I was preoccupied with other things. I really did not want to write about something so negative but admist the debate, I felt I have to bring my perspective on it.

Basically what happened was that things got out of control and it was not handled well. The details of the event is actually almost a soap opera, a drama. You really have to wonder why did it have to be so?

At the core of the issue is how could the career of a policeman and his pension money result in death of so many innocent lives? In the end, can't individual values protect each other from such extremes? Isn't such behaviour just a form of modern cannabalism?

The police officer was a college graduate and decorated officer, in 1986 voted one of top ten outstanding policeman by Jaycee International. BUT he did wrong and was dismissed and pension taken away. How he could not accept what happened to him, given that he is a career policeman, in essentially a corrupt system in this country for so long, is a testament that no matter who we are or how strong we are, all of us depend on society and systems for support as well as checks and balance. Most of us can easily get trap with entitlement and corrupt ourselves to losing perpective of the larger picture.

AND I am not talking about just the police officer.

What happened here is not unique. You constantly hear of extreme behaviour by individuals who have been unjustly done by China's corrupt and fast change of its economy and society. Oklahoma bombing, Colombine High School. What happened in Thailand recently over politics is not that different. Its just that in this case, guns was available to a particular individual and systems failure by decades of poor governance.

Lets take the raging debate in Hong Kong, China and other jurisdiction. ALL the people who make heavy criticism of what happened should ask themselves how much do they know about the Philippines other than their maids and call operators they deal with on occasion. How much do they know of the country, people, history, systems, social behaviour, education?

What has happened is something that most Pinoys regret and they themselves are torn about it. They debate here is just as fierce as anywhere. It does not help the situation that outsiders who knows little about them are bringing 21st century instant response impatience into the issues which has deep implications.

Do Hong Kongers/Chinese have a right to criticize? Yes. Do they have a right to debate it? Yes. Do the Philippines owe an explanation and duty to correct their problems? Yes. BUT do even Hong Kongers/Chinese who are not family members have a right to be impatient about it? No.

Many of the problems of the Philippines began with the failure of leadership starting from Marcos days that continued to this day. The elites of this country failed to lead a people not suited to suffer what they have had to suffer. In some way its remarkable this country has not turned communist and in fact a vibrant growing democracy that is slowly and increasing gaining its footing.

As I said, the kinds of things that happen here also happen in other places if you know where to look and give it a fair context. I would turn the problem to Hong Kongers and Chinese - is the senselessnes that happened here this week any more senseless than those that happened during the Cultural Revolution in China? if there is a similar failure of elites in China, are they so sure they won't turn back to communism? If the economy of China collapsed for two decades today would China remain capitalist and where would Hong Kong be? If those things happened, are you so sure the senselessness in China/HK would not be EVEN WORST? Just because the scenario are highly unlikely, does not give anyone any entitlement.

Put it in the right context and then make a judgement that you have a right to. Be careful of entitlement whether its someone with a gun or even if its just expressing it.

Rain is here

2010-07-17T20:55:00.000-07:00

The third season in Philippine is the rainy season - normally from July to September, it sometimes can be earlier and later a bit. The season is heralded basically with a big typhoon that well happened early this week (Conson). Last year, the season began with Ondoy which was really bad. Its still a tragedy this year but nothing like last year.

You will get a up to half a dozen typhoon in a year. I remember last year there were four of them. Except for two of the typhoon last year, the rest did not impact Manila greatly. The north and east of Luzon actually take the brunt of these storms. The impact is bad because a lot of structures are just not strong. In truth, if infrastruture such as drainage are better built, most of the tragedy can be avoided.

I actually like rainy days as I find it refreshing. There is smell of cut grass and leaves in the air that I find comforting. My favourite time of the year in SG and MY is Dec-Jan period when the rain comes. I especially like rainy days during weekend. I would actually choose a neighbourhood coffee shop/mamak stall/kopitiam to read my weekend papers there. If I have a laptop and there is wi-fi which some places do, I could spend many hours there.

Of course the rain puts a damper on my morning walk to the office if it rains which happens quite often. I have a route that I take that avoids me having to bring my umbrella but I still get a bit of rain. Most morning, I wake up early enough that I avoid the rain. For some reason, it does not rain early early morning but usually happens later in the morning, afternoon or evening.

The reputation that Manila/Philippine is a place to avoid during the rainy season is overblown. Its not a great time to go to the beach but really there is no reason not to visit it. Even if a typhoon happen to come while you are here, its just one-day thing that quickly blows over. Its actually a pretty interesting experience. Many years ago I was caught in the middle of one for the record and was in the eye of the typhoon for 10 minutes. The shops were shut down early and electricity do get cut off but other than that, its kind of surreal experience to be in a typhoon here. If I were someone planning say corporate, group retreats, meetings the rates of many places are so cheap, that its worth it to consider doing it here during this time of the year.

Philippine ahem Talent.

2010-07-09T18:12:00.000-07:00

A photography club which some members are known to me, had a session with the following girl and showed me this. Self-explanatory.

The Best Music Scene in Asia II - Dave Eggars

2010-07-07T18:15:00.000-07:00

An article in the Manila Times that I liked

http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/lifestyle/20398-bridging-brooklyn-and-manila-through-music?fontstyle=f-larger

I particularly like the line..

"continuing quest for high-risk collaborations that brought him back to the country."

It speaks to me because I think its only through the right mix of risk-taking and talent that truly great things happen.

World Cup in the Philippines 2

2010-07-03T21:56:00.000-07:00

In my last post, I said the World Cup fever here is not the same as there are only a few places to watch the games. But the German-Eng game resulted in twitter world going crazy here. Ever since then, the places that showed this games have been packed late into the night.

Not being aware of it, I decided to catch the game at a couple of bars here this weekend. They were packed. I was actually surprised how many places was showing the games in Makati especially. The papers and online don't get 10% of the places. You just got get out and walk around the major bar areas.

When I watched the game, for some reason I get asked by many people if I were Korean or Japanese. There is a large Korean community here who loves the game especially when South Korea plays. It also summer school hollidays in Korea and I met up with a whole bunch who are here on vacation or even doing summer jobs here.

Anyway, its getting fun to watch the World Cup here and I got my money on Germany to win it all. By the way, you can bet legally on the games with PAGCOR outlet.

World Cup in the Philippines

2010-06-27T01:36:00.000-07:00

You can actually catch the World Cup here. But the atmosphere is not the same. Its kind of reminded me of the days in US when you can't even catch it on cable TV. But its a little better, there are a couple of places you can catch the games but no one is watching the games. I look like a freak watching the game at a bar here.

However, the live games are all at night which means I am usually at home already. I only catch the first game live except on the weekend when I can catch the later games.

There is a growing group of kids who play soccer here like in the US. But it will never match basketball or boxing in popularity. Maybe it can grow to a decent size like badminton here which actually have a sizeable folllowing with organised competitions. After all in the US, the popularity is growing and the US team looks pretty good although they got knocked out by Ghana. People don't remember how bad US teams used to be - they could not even qualify for the longest time.

I tried to describe what its like to Pinoys here about watching the games in SG or Malaysia. Remember S.Korea? So many people played hookie and watched it a bars and restaurant in the middle of the day, people did not even lie to their bosses about it and the bosses gave up enforcing any kind of discipline. I say imagine a Manny Pacqiao fight in the middle of a work day - that last for a month.

The best Music Scene in Asia

2010-06-24T17:59:00.000-07:00

One of the best thing about my expat vagabond life is meeting interesting people. Its actually amazing some of the people I met. This week I met Dave Eggar. I did not even know of him until this week although I was a New Yorker for some six years.

Dave is prodigy musician from New York. His resume is perfect but his music is inventive. When I heard him it reminded me of the first time I heard The Who, U2, Nirvana, people who broke the mold of new genre in popular music. The more I hear his work, the more it reminds me of the very very best engineers in Silicon Valley that I have met - Steve Wozniak, Paul Allen, Dean Kamen. Dave is like them in the sense, his fundamental skills, his classical training, are as good as it gets and yet he is inventive and courageous, a rebel seeking to make new music and new ideas - just like the best of the best in Silicon Valley.

Listen to his classical skills.

Now listen to this.

He was here for one week playing in different clubs with some of the underground bands here. Did I mention that Manila have the best underground music scene in Asia? That is saying a lot because I have been to places in Japan, Korea, China which also have some activities but here in Manila there is scene here that is closest to what you will find in the Village in New York. Those who like these kind of music should check out bands like Drip, Sinosikat and sites like www.splintr.com

To have met Dave Eggar here in Manila playing in a hole-in-wall rustic bar and discovering all these great bands is going to be one of the greatest memory in my life.

Taking short breaks and hanging out

2010-06-09T02:29:00.000-07:00

I have mentioned before that I seek out greenery on the weekends to relax which is unfortunately in short supply here. In Malaysia, one of the way I relax is take a few hours drive to quiet nearby town or neighbourhood with some trees and grass and walk around stopping for snacks and coffee. I also do it in Singapore with HDB neighbourhoods. I read an article from Harvard business school a while back that its good management practice to have these 'alone time' to reflect and collect oneselves. I wanted a short break this weekend before plunging in back to work and missed that a lot.

I tried to think of places to do the same thing here and there just is not a lot of choices. I usually end up going to either Salcedo or Legazpi market on weekends for this. The place I work and live has lots of green space but choices for coffee and snacks is actually very limited unlike in Singapore and Malaysia. I usually end up at a fast food place for some pau and really bad coffee. I recently came across this small chain that serves donut and instant coffee in some neighbourhoods that its not quite the same as the ubiqutous mamak stalls and kopitiam in Malaysia

There is a lot of mall here to go to but its really crowded, the hours are very limited and after all its really about 'alone time'. Its one of the reason I do all my shopping early when it opens (8.30am). I can then go to the big foodcourts and just get some 'alone time' - it does not last long as the crowd comes in. (Did I mention that the malls here are really really crowded almost all the time. The only other place I have ever been that is equivalent are malls in China)

Actually I find it strange there are not more places to hang out given Philippine's Spanish history. Hanging out in plazas, gardens and neighourbood restaurant and tapa bars in Spain, morning, noon or evening, is one of the great living experience I have had. Pinoys certaintly like hanging out in places. Where I live, people hang out in the restaurants to wee hour of the night and during the hollidays. There is a couple of breakfast/coffee places here on the weekend that is jammed packed every weekend as soon as they open at 7.30am and people hang out until the sun gets too hot. Why they have not built it in the neighbourhoods, I don't get it. Our elders in Malaysia and Singapore have been hanging out in neighbourhood coffee shops and markets for generations. The neighbourhood road-side wet market here called Palengke is very crowded early but the sites are usually badly maintained and no place to have a cup of coffee. Even their larger farmer markets have limited offerings early in the morning.

Its possible, its all American influence whose idea of hanging out is at a bar. But even in US, well New York, there is the neigbourhood diner (remember Seinfeld?) where I used to take long breakfast with unlimited coffee on Sunday, read the papers and then check out the local neighbourhoods. But most of the US is just like here with malls and chain stores. I don't get the idea of hanging out in Starbucks - the highly yuppie crowd just reminds me all the things I have to do and I keep thinking of work!

There are a couple of places sort of worth strolling around for example in Alabang township which is very nice but a bit far away but the crowd and traffic does not get maddening except near the hollidays. The Ortigas neighbourhood is OK on a Sunday morning but the crowd and traffic shows up before noon. I walked the Roxas Boulevard by Manila Bay weekend mornings but again its downtown and traffic+crowds shows up pretty quickly. One of the better place actually is Intramuros which is the well-preserved historical Spanish city but I have been told its not safe to walk alone since its surrounding neighbourhood is pretty rough ones. There is Riverside Park in Marikina City which does not have much choices to get a bite. The University of Philippines Diliman which has the best green lungs in the city and the university dining places actually give some pretty good deals for a bite.

Maybe I just have to look harder...

Rain!

2010-06-05T16:41:00.000-07:00

I think the raining season officially started this week. Philippine basically has 3 season (cool, summer and wet) and this is the third one. On Wednesday it poured really hard. Should have expected it since last week the humidity was really high. Its the first sign of rain coming.

Traditionally in the rural areas it means that the planting season has begun. Passing through the provinces a week before its no wonder I saw people preparing their fields. You can see padi-fields just an hour out of the city as Manila is situated in traditionally one of the most fertile volcanic plain the world. It also marks the end of the major vacation period and children going back to schools.

The tourist spots are starting to clear out too. If you want bargain on the most popular places, its time to shop but its not as much fun as during the peak season of Feb-May when there are parties everywhere. Its one of the problem of developing tourism here. We were at very nice place called Anvaya Cove two hours from here and it was a great place with a nice little beach, lush greenery surounded by high hills but there were only a few rooms. I was told because of the seasonal nature of the business, its really hard to make money.

When it rains here it can really pour and the winds can get scary with typhoon later on in the year. Right now most of the time the rain is just moderate and cloudy most of the time. The temperature is way-off from the last couple of month but there is some humidity. But when its cloudy and with light wind, its actually very nice. I don't mind light rain (I just do laundry more frequently) when I am not working. Its sort of therapeutic - like heaven washing away our little worries.

Zambales

2010-05-02T17:30:00.000-07:00

It was labour day weekend and so although I had work to do, decided to do an overnight trip out of town to get some beach air and water before I hunker down. So headed for Zambales province.

I essentially drove North West of Manila - through Subic Bay and then just drove North on the coast. I was aiming for this little island called Potipot which is a small uninhabited white-sand island 1km from the shores.

But I did not make it. It took me nearly 8 hours to just the reach the towns of Botolan and Ida because of there was just too much traffic. The traffic did not came from the long weekend holliday crowd as much as because of events and electioning going on. At Subic Bay, they closed a lot of roads just for a bicycle race and that took up just an hour. There was a lot of election activities with slow moving convoys vehicles, procession and loudhorns blasting messages. Its more than just the presidential race here although that receives the most foreign press. Its election of Senate, Congress, Mayors, local Councilmen. AND there are multiple candidates for each seats. Senate seats are national, not provincial or state level seats like US. That adds up to a lot of campaigns to win over the voters. You see banners of so many people all over the place. They have these convoys with loudspeakers going around campaigning. Add all that and the activities of the summer like bicycle races and local festivals etc and the traffic was impossible.

When I hit the town of Botolan, the road got really bad. There was a lot of diverted path which were essentially just rocks. Its a major project by out-going president GMA who now want to be a local congresswoman. Since the car did not belong to me, I would risk damage as well as not make it in time to catch boat and return in time to find a place to stay. I may not find any place to stay near the island as all the major resorts are booked and its pretty rural in those parts.

So I decided to turn around and was going to head back to Subic when I saw some interesting beaches and decided to stop. However, the property was private and I could not get in. But next door to the property was a couple of small resort which I decided to get my much delayed lunch.

After lunch, I checked out the beach and while it was not beautiful, it was pretty OK especially the private property next door. A friend explained to me that a Japanese expert once explained to him that in the Philippines, the great beaches faces the East because the during the Monsoon season typically from June-Sept known as Habagat, the sands are washed up on the East sides of islands. If you look at the white sand beaches of Boracay, Palawan, Cebu, etc, they face the East. The only exception is down south in Mindanao where the monsoon is less pronounced.

Anyway for P125, I could sleep on the beach and use the facilities like the swimming pool, the bathroom. So instead of heading back to Subic, I decided to camp out until tomorrow. I drank beer, swam and chatted with some of the other guest and took some pictures. The sea was actually pretty calm and I was told that most of the times the waves are pretty strong and you could even do a bit of surfing. Dinner was basic, not cheap but not exorbitant like the top resorts. I grabbed an early night and headed back even before first light.

On the way back, I stopped at a couple of other places and was glad that I stayed where I did because the beaches did not get better. I stopped at Crystal Beach and Subic Bay.

At Subic Bay, I decided to explore it a bit further. The place pretty much still look like a piece of American small town with football/baseball field, strip malls but it has a gorgeous yatch club with some beautiful boats in it. You have to hand it to American military - when they built something, they do it right, probably expensive but they last forever.

There was less activities going on the return trip so I actually made it back less than half the time it took me to get there including all the stops. All and all it was a pretty good excursion.

37.3 deg C in Manila

2010-04-28T02:35:00.000-07:00

Highest temperature recorded in Manila this year.

And the air-conditioner in my office are broken. Holing myself in a conference room where the air-cond still works.

Being Good at What You Do and Doing a Good Job.

2010-04-26T23:19:00.000-07:00

One other thing that interest me is how some people are good at what they do. Its talent of course but finding talent is not so easy. Well, I came across someone that I thought worth talking about.

I get invited to all sorts of events due to work. Recently I was invited to this joint-campaign from Johnson & Johnson with a local retailer called Bayo and I thought was pretty innovative. It combined J&J's Body Care product with the retailer 'Soft-Look' Collection, Their product really fits into each other image.

But that is not what I wanted to talk about.

I want to talk about the model headlining the campaign. I forgot her name but she was really good at what she did.

This is her walking down the runway

This is her with the crowds after the show

What struck me really is how good she was in conducting herself at all times. She was professional down the runway giving the usual various model looks i.e. poutty, serious etc. , but when required, she turned on her killowatt smile on a dime. She did it all night for a long list of adoring fans and each time the camera flashed. At one time, I was actually hanging out with supermodels in Milan, Paris as part of my job. I met Claudia Schiffer, Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, etc. They were the same way at shows but of course they hung out only with the rich and famous. This is what it takes to be good like any job - talent and dedication.

I like people who are good at what they do and do their job well.

Hot Summer in the City

2010-04-20T21:01:00.000-07:00

I mentioned it was hot and hence hankering for either the beach or the mountain. One of my friend updated me that he thought the temperature hit 40.5 deg C. So I decided to check it. The papers said that it hit 36deg C last Sunday - no wonder it was still hot up in the hills of Antipolo. Yesterday it hit 36.5deg C

According to weather report most days the temperature is around 35deg C most days. But during the night, it falls to as low as 24deg C. It literally dessert weather we are looking at here. There is no cloud in the sky during the afternoon. There are some during the early morning. This is El Nino year which means this is as hot as it gets here. When and if the rain comes, the temperature should be better.

Nevertheless, the humidity is not very high so its actually not that bad. It kind of remind me of when I was in Arizona visiting my younger sister when she first entered college.

Its suppose to hit new records again this weekend. Just makes you want to go to the beach (or the mountain) but the nice beaches are at least a few hours away and can't do a day trip. Any small nice beaches nearby is owned by an expensive resort or gated-development. There is a bit of beach reclamation work being done as part of the Coastal Highway project - I think if it gets done decently right - it will help tourism in this country. Seriously which self-respecting European and Aussie don't want to head to good beach in this weather and then party all night in Makati, Ortigas and Malate later?

The Hills of AntiPolo

2010-04-19T02:33:00.000-07:00

If you look at the satellite map of Manila, you will see that Manila basically sits on a big plain with mountains to the North and East. The eastern hills are part of the Sierra Madre range that covers the Eastern side of Luzon Island. The current hot weather makes the hills look like California Hills from parts of the city. I was curious about it so decided to venture out to see it.

I took the Marcos Highway through Antipolo City all the way to Tanay province to a small town called, get this - PALO ALTO! (Palo Alto actually mean Tall Tree). The two-lane-each-side-road was choked full of Jeepneys and trucks and a few parts were not in good condition. Most part of the roads had either small shops, building. At various points there were actually large open air markets.

If you.glance at the roadside, there appear to be nothing interesting with small shops, buildings, stalls and some points were big open wet markets. On lower elevation, the hill houses are huts or looked make-shift - poor neighhourhoods. But as you climb up the hills the houses begin to look nicer and at some places, there were even big developments including golf resorts. I saw a few hillside resort signs but they did not look very promising. In this hot weather, its not very cool in the hot sun. During the 'Ber' months it should be pretty cold though.

There are no convenient point to stop along the road although you can catch some view of the city from a few places. I stopped at these points and the wet market to get an idea what people here do and why they live on these hills. At some point in the past there were labour-intensive factories nearer to the city and these people used to work for those factories. At nearby Marikina City, they are still known for their shoe making. Many people probably still commute to those towns for work by the look of the many Jeepneys plying the route.

What you do see is a lot of hardware stores, building suppliers and auto-shops although there are not many cars on the roads. Its obvious there are construction. But the markets do not look like they have strong agri-industry. The north and eastern part are mostly mountain and secondary forest. Building roads in these types of terrain is also difficult. But I expected some sort of strong hill economy like fruits and vegetables but there are none to be seen. There is not much traffic also because the eastern part of the Island do not have much of an economy. They have some great beaches and there are good surfing to be had but when the typhoon season comes, this eastern part of Luzon Island get the worst hit especially the North.

It dawned on me why there is so little development on these hills - while its only slightly cooler in the summer compared to the lowlands, in the 'Ber' months it could be cold especially at night requiring HEATING. Coupled with the higher cost to build roads, earth moving and building walls, having homes here is either out of necessity, tradition or a luxury. Just make sense to build on the plains than it is in these hills..

South West Manila - Coastal Road, Bacoor, Novoleta, Cavite City, Rosario

2010-04-10T16:46:00.000-07:00

Since I got here I have been wondering about the Coastal Road that goes from Manila to the South West Part of Luzon. I just like driving through coastal towns - something about sea air and open road just refreshes me. I have explored many parts of the world's coastal towns - they usually have rich history and interesting character.

Anyway, no one I know said much about it. Someone told me, there was some rough neigbourhoods. Others told me the traffic is bad and the roads are narrows. So given its a long holliday weekend, I decided to brave it and burn some gas.

The first part is pretty much a big highway. On one side is actually mostly sandy wetlands. Long time ago, there must have been thriving fishing activities. Whatever sea economic left are fish and salt farms. On the other side of the road it looks like any average urban neighbourhood in Manila with lots of billboards, narrow neighbourhood streets. There is a lot of roadwork being done. After the first big town Bacoor, then you noticed something - the roads are narrower especially if you turn towards the towns of Cavite City, Noveleta, Rosario.

One of the thing that struck me was, while you don't see a lot of wealth and economic activities and there are pockets of slums and huts along the many small river banks, pretty much most of the roads are clean, well-paved, well-lit, the houses are pretty and well-maintained (some even quite interesting with Spanish influence. Some parts is even quite charming with lots of 'beach colors' like GREEN(lots of green for some reason), ocean blue, red, yellow. There is a lot of tricycle like many small towns in Philippines and the colourful buses (its not jeepney!) that clog the roads, people look seemingly healthy, well-dressed, comfortable. I stopped by a few places to get refreshment and even walked the narrow neigbourhood streets and wet markets. The houses were VERY CLEAN and well-maintained. It looked like a new village or big politician kampung in Malaysia but more colourful and more interesting architecture close to the Carribean.

This is Cavite City town center

If you look at look at the background below, you will notice how nice the houses are although the streets are very narrow.

This is landmark building with old Spanish influence.

These are actually minibuses but they are not so mini and like Jeepneys and tricycles, they tend to block the roads..

What I could not figured out was what the people did for a living. There were good number of fish farms, some small resort hotels and a few up and coming big development and resorts but it does not explain what the very sigificant population do for a living. There are no big factories, no bpo activities, not much agriculture or offices - yet there are quite a few banks, a number of new malls, the many tricycles and buses are quite packed with people with shopping bags must be doing something to afford it. The houses really are pretty and well-maintained - many with a few new big cars too. There were skin care clinics, internet cafes, fast-food places and malls of course.

One thing I learned was that there is a big project called Sangley Point - its a former US Naval base and now a Philippine Naval Base that will be turned into a logistic hub port, airport, rail - a kind of Tanjung Pelepas but more integrated and with tourism added. It explains why there is a number of big infrastructure project including huge reclamation and highways being built. .Its a great idea. I would love to come by on weekends just to have a picnic, take some seafood, take in the sea air especially with the heat we are experiencing. (If you are thinking Jersey Shores, that is about right) The wind is really good for some great sailing. Someone should look into a Sangley Point Regatta at some point.

There are suppose to be some crispy chips made from mussels called Tahong Chips and one pickled in corn oil but I could not find them. Also supposedly a very famous pao place that everyone stops to get. Next time..

My Earth Hour 2010 in Manila

2010-03-27T19:11:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Saturday, I had to do some physical work which sucks given that I wanted to relax before my trip to Singapore next week which is always tiring. So I decided that for the rest of the weekend, I was going to do whatever I felt like and relaxed. By the time I got home, there was a Godfather marathon on TV. I just could not walk away especially when the movie came on, it was at my favourite line ("Leave the gun, take the Cannoli"). I even cooked dinner so that I could catch the end of part II.

So by the time nightfall came about I was in the mood to get out and get some air. But the streets was really crowded and when the lights started to get turned off, I realised that it was Earth Hour. Not wanting to face crowds and in line with spirit of saving energy, I headed back to my apartment.

I live in a big apartment complex with a number of buildings and a big garden with trees in the middle. With all the lights turned off, it was so peaceful although there was heavy traffic outside and big crowd at the malls and restaurants nearby. You could even see the stars in the skies.

The weather was also perfect. It was cool and dry with a light breeze. It was so nice, I bought some refreshment at a nearby convenience store and just sat in the veranda area of the garden and just relaxed for the entire Earth Hour. It felt like sitting at a porch in a great country house - right in the middle of one of the largest city in the world. I even had flashback to visiting one of those old great houses of the British-runned rubber estates that my father took me to when I was a boy.

I don't have a great apartment but the surroundings is pretty amazing. Of all the things I enjoy more than anything else in this city is to be able to walk to work every morning in as fantastic a neigbourhood as anywhere in as great weather as it can get anywhere. No commute, no crowds, no traffic snarl, AND never late...

Talent III - Jovit Baldivino

2010-03-24T01:55:00.000-07:00

This 16-yr old is getting over 2 million views on Youtube in 3 weeks of being posted. The reason is basically because he sound like a local real life fairy tale story Arnel Pineda (look it up). A lot of people are hoping he would be another one. In the end these things depend on whether he gets the right song writers and promoter to back him up.

More Chicken Rice and Singapore Food in Manila

2010-03-15T01:14:00.000-07:00

Somethings in life is just very strange. When you find time and try and do or look for your favourite things, you have a hard time finding it. BUT when you don't have the time, suddenly you find these things you had been looking for but don't have the time to do it.

So is the story with Chicken Rice and Singapore Foods (i.e., spicy food) in Manila which I am naturally on the lookout for.

In the last two weeks I have found 5 places that serve Hainanese Chicken Rice
1) RASA - Araneta Colliseum at Cubao
2) Original Singapore Chicken Rice also in Cubao
3) Chocolate Kiss - UP Diliman Alumni Centre, Quezon City
4) Shiok - Fort Bonifacio
5) Toastbox/BreadTalk in Trinoma Mall

In additon, there is a former top hotel chef Stevie who does a delivery service

I have not tasted all of them because I don't have the time. Can't be eating chicken rice, nasi lemak, char kuay teow all at once in every meal can I?

No 3), was a real surprise but they had ran out of it when I was there for dinner but Shiok is just within walking distance from my office and have decent sambal! Don't have to die for lack of sambal anymore..

Beach Weather

2010-03-07T17:14:00.000-08:00

The weather has been hot since the early part of February. I have mentioned that it feels a lot like Chinese New Year in Singapore and Malaysia but its actually not as hot and it last a lot longer. Its also dry, not very humid so it feel hot under the sun but in the shades, its actually pretty OK. Sometimes it gets windy and especially at night, its actually very pleasant.

I was at an event last week and there was this old telescope that was pointing to the hills at the north-east side of the city and when I peered into it, the hills were all brown. I remembered then its El Nino effect this year and then it struck me how much it looked like my brother's old house in Castro Valley, California.

I started hankering for the pool and the first chance I got I jumped into the pool, It then struck me, ITS PERFECT BEACH WEATHER. I started remembering Spring Break in Florida, California summers, Barbeques, wine coolers, beach volleyballs, ultimate frisbee, etc. This is the perfect time to come to the Philippines for the beach if you like those hot sunny weather that is not humid. Europeans go all the way to Spain and Greece for this weather. Japanese go to Hawaii and Maui in droves for this.

Unfortunately, there is no hollidays around this time of the year here and I work most weekends. I did manage to catch a good deal of pool time this weekend. But I am still dreaming of barbeques, wine coolers and tanned bikini bodies..

Chinese New Year

2010-02-17T00:59:00.000-08:00

I have been busy and did not celebrate Chinese New Year. Somehow I thought in the middle of sending out greetings that this picture was appropriate. She is baby Yok Shan - Google the story if you don't remember or have not heard..

GONG XI FA CAI, KONG HEI FATT CHOY, KEONG HEE HUAT CHAI..

The Battle of the Brains - ACM ICPC

2010-02-12T02:23:00.000-08:00

We sponsored the Philippine's team into ACM International Collegiate Programming Competition held this year in Harbin China. Otherwise known as 'The Battle of the Brains', this is the top programming competition for students in the world. The high school equivalent is called the International Olympiad in Informatics. The people in these competition are real problem solvers - they can solve really really tough programming problems. These are the people without which even good ideas do not turn into reality. These are the people that top tech companies from hot startups to Apple, Microsoft and Google like to hire and give stock options. These are the guys in the mold of Paul Allen of Microsoft and Steve Wozniak of Apple.

The Philippine team came in at among a group placed at 36 which actually don't sound impressive until you realise they only solved one less programming problem than teams from Stanford, MIT, Cornell, Carnegie Mellon. They beat the likes of National University of Singapore, Texas Austin, University of Illionois-Urbana, Australian Champions among others.

I thought they did pretty well and proves there are plenty of talent here in this country...

Weather

2010-02-03T00:34:00.000-08:00

One of the things I have enjoyed since I got here is the weather. From Nov-January its very cool like in Hawaii so I called it the Hawaii period. Pinoys call it the 'Ber' months but it really last through January. There is not much rain, not humid unlike in Singapore, KL and Jakarta so being outdoors is just fantastic.

Its February now and you can start to feel the weather getting hot. Its still cool late at night but the morning heats up quickly and you can feel hot air in day especially the late afternoon. The weather is like.. Chinese New Year in Malaysia and Singapore.

In Malaysia and Singapore, for some reason, it can rain like cats & dogs for days leading up to Chinese New Year and even after, but on Chinese New Year day and a few days after, you can almost guarantee that it will not rain and will be hot. In all my life, albeit I have only spend less than half of it in Malaysia and Singapore, I can only recall 1 year that it rained on Chinese New Year day. I have paid attention to this fact since I was a small boy because when my parents first said it to me as a young boy, the highly western educated greenhorn that I was called my parents superstitious and ignorant. My father even bet me. So I paid attention and as you grow up and learn the wisdom of your parents, these facts sort of stays with you how wrong you are. Even a couple of years ago when people started talking of climate change and it was raining like crazy, the rain stopped on Chinese New Year day.

Anyway, the weather is changing to like that. Not surprising given Chinese New Year is around the corners.

I miss the Hawaiian weather. But its time to take out the swimming trunks and Barbecue..

Teriyaki Boy's Ramen

2010-02-01T00:41:00.000-08:00

Last weekend, after a long day of conference, events and catching up on errands I was in the mood for Japanese but did not want to drive all the way to Little Tokyo in Makati where you get great Japanese food for really really low prices. So I headed over to Teriyaki Boy - its a mid-price Japanese chain here not one of the many cheap fast food joints you find around.

I really had low expectation and my initial idea was to order a bento box and be done with as I still had a lot to do. Unfortunately they had run out of the bento box I wanted so I settled on a bowl of Ramen and some fried Tofu. I was pleasantly surprised by the Ramen, not because it tasted like good Japanese Ramen but because it tasted like Hong Kong's wantan noodle - it was springy, thin, and tasty.

Compare

My only complain, the bowl of Ramen cost almost as much as the bowl of wanton noodle in HONG KONG!!

Hunan Restaurant - TopSpice

2010-02-01T00:26:00.000-08:00

Most Pinoy will eat some spicy food but unlike most South East Asian, they don't love it. Lets admit it, some of us even fall ill if we go for a long time without chilli. I have a good friend here who worked in Bangkok for a number of years and also lived in Singapore and his appetite for spicy is comparable to most of us. So he is on the hunt for spicy food in this town like I am.

Last Friday, he took me to an authentic Hunan restaurant. Its officially called Top Spice but many known it as Hunan Lutong Bahay. It is so reminiscent of those small family restaurants of new-villages in Old Klang Road, Jinjang, Chan Sow Lin in Malaysia or in small alleys and Hutongs in China cities. Bare furniture, no painting or decor, plates, bowls and cups are basic. There is not even a sign ourside that says its a restaurant. The menu is actually written in Chinese and the owner actually speak in Chinese only. You order from the Pinoy waitress using pictures..

The food was incredibly authentic. Spicy, oily, fragrant, hot, steaming, smoky. You know what I mean - Mapo Tofu, Spicy Beef, Smoked Duck.

The funny thing about this place is I had expected the place to be filled with Chinamen but there was only a couple when I ate here. The rest were ALL pinoys. So maybe there are more than a few Pinoys who like spicy food and there is hope yet..

Century Bangus

2010-01-24T20:54:00.000-08:00

Last weekend, I was invited to an event by Century Pacific Group or locally known as Century Tuna Bangus. I had low expectation of the event but decided to go to support the team organising it and well, its free lunch and I get to visit the Wack Wack Golf club. Its a pretty nice club in the middle of the city and you know how I love greenery on the weekends.

But I was actually pretty glad I went because it really was a good event where many people had a good time but I discovered that these guys may be on to something.

Century was basically a tuna and sardine canning company. Tuna and Sardine are wild stock fish and everybody who knows their seafood, fish stock everywhere is in rapid decline. For the ignorant, before the 20th century there were basically a dozen major fish-stock in the world. We are down to basically 1.5 major fish-stock at 21st century and rate of decline is even faster.

The new product Century is marketing is Bangus or Milkfish which is a aquaculture product and hence renewable. Bangus don't grow to the same size as Salmons but you can find them as big as Spanish Mackerals.

Being an avid seafood consumer especially fish, I don't generally like aquacultured product. They generally don't taste as good as wild ones and I can often tell the difference between a wild Salmon and a farmed one.

Bangus taste a bit like Salmon but honestly the taste is not as strong. I eat Salmon sashimi but generally I don't like cooked Salmon. Well, Bangus has sort of the same taste and I eat Bangus sinigang quite often, the local vinegar-lime soup here but I prefer other fish especially garouper(lapu-lapu), marlin, mahi-mahi which are common here.

Well, the Century group here showed me a thing of two. I LOVED the food they served. There was Bangus Tocino, Beer Battered Bangus, Bangus with Pasta and olive oil, Bangus with light Mustard, Bangus Panini sandwich, and Bangus spring-roll. ALL the food was really really good. It taste so much better than Tuna or Salmon. It did not have the strong aroma you associate with Tuna or Salmon.

Bangus is more expensive than Tuna but its cheaper than Salmon. Given its flexibility and taste, I say the product is a very good value proposition. I was going to suggest to the CEO they do a Bangus Sinigang Soup or Chowder to compete with Campbell Soup. I would buy it. They could do a Bangus Teriyaki (my favourite way to eat Salmon). I also wondered how a Cajun-style blackened Bangus Fillet taste like. A Bangus Jambalaya certainly works and although that would be more expensive than using cat-fish, it should taste better.

I am looking forward to experimenting with Bangus in my own cooking. For one thing, I am switching to Bangus sandwich instead of Tuna for lunch... Masala Curry Bangus Sandwich?

Friendship Kayak

2010-01-22T17:39:00.000-08:00

This was featured on ChannelNewsAsia and knowing a lot of adventure tourist, I had to write about it. Apparently it will be featured by National Geographic too. I did a lot of kayaking while in high school even considered joining the school team and remember how much fun it was. I always thought of doing it again.

They kayaked from one end of Philippines to the other 88 days, 3025km. Starting at south, Sarangani, Mindanao, around East Mindanao, heading straight through the heart of Visayas to Boracay, up around the West side of Luzon including Manila and then to the tip of North Luzon, Pagudpud

If you think about it, there is a period where the water is calm, October/November just after the rainy season and water is not cold yet, the weather is perfect for this activity. You can still do shorter distance in the other periods although the water is probably too rough in the peak of storm season. You can do it all year long in Mindanao where there is less storm and in Boracay for much of the year.

If I ever get a chance to take a Sabatical, this is one thing I have to consider doing..

Everyday food i.e. Street food/Cheap Eats and Corned Beef Pan De Sal

2010-01-21T19:27:00.000-08:00

Being Asian especially from South East Asia, I have to answer the question of cheap eats - the street foods, the food people eat everyday and a bargain. That is just who we are - We like cheap eats because some of the best foods we have are the cheap eats.

Firstly, there is no really street food in Philippines. This is because of building codes and sidewalk rules here where sale of food on the streets is actually a lost tradition. If you go through some literature, you will find that in the past, there were hawkers who moved around selling food but while you still see some on neigbourhoods streets, its actually rare to see them because the traffic of larger streets is really heavy with not a lot of room for pedestrians much less street vendors. You really don't have open air coffee shops or stalls can be seen only here and there and none at all in middle class or higher income neigbourhoods. Philippine building and street rules are very much like US and Europe where you don't see such things either. Even Chinatown (Binondo) here looks a lot like in Philadephia or Boston.

Having said that, there are stalls in malls, shops, and some markets. There is a lot of restaurants even chains that cater to demand for such food.

So what is my favourite?
1) Sinigang - vinegar and lime(calamansi actually) soup usually with seafood particularly fish but also with other meats too. There is a version with corned beef which strangely works.
2) Inasal
3) Bibingka
4) Pancit
5) Swarma

Other foods.
Sisig
Lechon
Tapa
Bagnet

I will talk more about these foods in later post but you also find some unique surprises for example corned-beef Pan-de-sal sandwich with cheese. Its strangely reminds me of Philadephia Cheesesteaks. Pan-de-Sal is a local bread roll made from very lean dough and slightly salted. For some reason, the bread is very powdery.

Anyway, I came across this outlet that served it with Corned Beef and Cheese. It was surprising good. Generally, I think of New York makes the best sandwiches and no one outside of Philadephia can make a good Cheesesteak sandwich. The Pan-de-sal cheese corn-beef is no New York sandwich or Philly foot-long but it surprisingly is very good sandwich that I would appreciate similarly..

Strawberry, Blueberries and Avocados

2010-01-17T20:52:00.000-08:00

I knew I had to work most of the weekend, so I needed to get a number of things out of the way quickly especially to stock up my fridge which is nearly empty.

So on Saturday, my first stop was the Salcedo Village Market. I spoke about this place before. Its basically a high-end open-air market much like farmers markets in US or Europe. The reason I come here is because you can get Malaysian, Thai and Vietnamese food. But they do sell some very very good quality vegetables. One of the find this weekend was BLUEBERRIES - locally grown. Its kind of small but sour but its really cheap P800/kg for those who know, is amazing especially in South East Asian countries.

Salcedo Village Saturday Market:

My next Stop is the Farmer's Market at Cubao. I come here for the seafood primarily but sometimes the fruits are pretty good deal for example, right now the strawberries are going for P45/250g.

The other is Avocados which is also in season. Its very hard to find perfectly ripe avocados in Singapore and Malaysia. Someone taught me to slice up avocados and eat it with wasabi and light-soy.

Vegetables and food in general are not cheap in Manila, its much cheaper out in the provinces. But sometimes there are some fantastic surprises including really high quality ones like these that make living here such a great experience.

Last Christmas/New Year Post

2010-01-07T19:43:00.000-08:00

The reason this is called a Last Christmas/New Year Post is because its really about my New Year Eve Party. Well, its actually a bit difficult to say but basically the video below is approximately what it was..

Happy New Year..

So how was Christmas?

2009-12-27T17:43:00.000-08:00

So inevitably, everyone ask you this coming back from the hollidays. Given its my first Christmas here in Philippines, I get a lot of it.

So how was it? In short, it was very very pleasant..

First, the weather was fantastic. It was chilly in the morning and late nights but the late morning and noon sun was in full force. So it was great to go out. The crowd is maddening before Christmas Eve but they were gone on the 24th morning streets are empty. I did a bit of last minute shopping but got in a good amount of exercise and rest.

On Christmas Eve night, I was invited to a family dinner and that was wonderful. Lots of good food, wine and pleasant conversation. I even got a couple of gifts which I did not expect. Gift-giving after so many years of not doing it is really difficult to get back into. I was asked about Christmas in Singapore and other places and I after some thought, I realised that Catholics really do Christmas better than anyone else. I have had great Christmases in Spain, Italy and Pinoys do it just as warm and joyous.

One thing I have to mention which supposedly is a tradition in Philippine. After main dinner, often they do some form of presentation/show. I was told that in the provinces where the families are big, they make everyone put on a show especially the children. I think its the equivalent of yuletide singing that is practised in other places. In my friends case, being the very upward-mobile people that they are, they make their children do all the presentations and singing. It was a riot with the kids being asked to do poems, sing, dance etc. Its a great time for the most precocious. I could not help smiling and laughing all the time.

As to the rest of Christmas, I spent it driving around areas I normally would not go to. Binondo or Chinatown, Quaipo, Malate, Mabini, Pasay. The weather was fantastic for driving and walking around and there was no traffic so I got around easily. You can tell this city was a grand place before World War II and there was so much potential. The opportunities wasted by Marcos was just unbelievable. If not for him, Manila would be the grandest place of all of South East Asia city, the Shanghai of South East Asia.

Tis was the night before Christmas

2009-12-22T16:41:00.000-08:00

Ok. Ok. Have time for one more post.

This is probably my favourite Christmas song. I just like it sung by children's choir on Christmas night. It has some sentimental memories for me..

Again, merry, merry Christmas

Its beginning to feel a lot like Christmas...

2009-12-20T18:24:00.000-08:00

Did I mention that I like Christmas songs/jingles?

Deck the halls with boughs of Holly..Tra.La.la la la...
Tis the season to be merry, tra la la..

They have been playing Christmas tunes since as far back as October. The lights around my apartment complex have been lit up for months now. They put in a Christmas Tree in the plaza last week with ornaments and lights. Hollies hanging everywhere.

THEN this Sunday, the weather got cold. It was drizzling and cloudy ALL day. I was out busy shopping to stock my fridge for the hollidays since most places will be closed. I try to get all my things done before noon to avoid being crushed by the crowds. The crowds is really amazing. Its just that the sizes of the malls here are HUGE and yet crowds everywhere.

As I was coming out of my last mall, it HIT me. It was still chilly although it was NOON time. It was in fact a bit foggy/misty. I could not tell. I had a huge flashback to Christmas in Boston or Philadelphia with the same crushing crowds and dreary weather. It makes you cold and want to eat all the time and go home to a warm toasty apartment, watch Christmas movies and drink Egg Nog or Cocoa. Seriously a scene out of Christmas movies.

IT REALLY REALLY FEEL LIKE CHRISTMAS..So, in case, I don't do another post before Christmas,

HAVE A MERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL. PEACE ON EARTH, GOOD WILL TOWARDS MEN
AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR TOO...

Don we now our gay apparel,
Tra la la, la la la, la la la.
Troll the ancient Yule tide carol,
Tra la la la la, la la la la.

(I told you I love the stuff)..

Midnight Mass (Misa De Gallo)

2009-12-16T16:36:00.000-08:00

You can notice the Christmas buzz going around here clearly. As long as three weeks ago, my apartment complex was lit up with Christmas lights. With great evening weather that is cool and dry, the restaurants at the Plaza outside my condo has a very festive and happy atmosphere with families and friends eating, drinking, chatting and laughing in large groups late into the night. You can literally feel the cheers in the air.

The atmosphere is really different. In the US, you feel the rush-rush of people preparing for Christmas, planning for hollidays, trying to finish up the year and the obligatory greetings and parties - its all too stressful actually. In Singapore, you see the big bucks been spend on Orchard Road, pretentious people organising pretentious parties, a large number of people planning to leave the city for hollidays. Its all lacks a certain spirit. While I was in Spain and Italy, the celebration is not as commercial and and there is lot less buzz going into the holliday - its really about family and friends getting together too.

But here the whole spirit starts earlier. And starting this week, every night I see people gathering everywhere for Midnight Mass - they do it everywhere - in malls, in open air spaces, around every church. They do this every night through Christmas Day.

I am believer in separation of religion and state but somehow this sounds good to me rather than the over commercialism and forced obligations that is the ritual of Christmas elsewhere. Sombre reflection and sharing of meals and conversation with friends and family. That should be the way of Christmas over gift giving, Christmas parties and winter vacations.

Malcom's

2009-12-03T20:21:00.000-08:00

Malcom's is a deli restaurant that fits perfectly within the main theme of my blog - something unique, little gems, from this country. Its basically a deli/restaurant that serves premium food at a reasonable, even very affordable, price. Wagyu Beef, Fine Cheeses, Premium Sausages, Good Coffee, Good Pasta, Salads and Sandwiches, desserts etc.

So what is so special? Its very affordable. This Wagyu Burger for example,

http://www.flickr.com/photos/carlospalma/4155141936/

cost only a very affordable P325. Its Wagyu - the stuff cost US$400/kg in Japan..

So how do they do it? Basically in two ways - they have their own farm where they raise their own Wagyu cattle and make their own sausages. And secondly they look for high quality but affordable products whether imported or locally.

Coupled such unique products with passionate and motivated employees, they are fast growing their outlets. They now have two outlet one in Salcedo Village (which may be moving soon) and the other one is at The Fort. They will soon be opening a grill across from ABS-CBN in Quezon City and a planning a few more outlets next year.

Little Gems

2009-11-30T16:13:00.000-08:00

I debated actually writing about this. I had a great long weekend at what can be described at a little gem of a place. I am torn at describing it because as much as I want to publicize it and bring development to the area, I hate to over commercialize it to the extend what makes the place special is lost. After debating it, I decided that eventually development will come and the best thing to do is warn about uncontrolled development.

The place is somewhere near the town of Nusugbu, about 120km to the South-West of Manila. The area is full of coves and small beaches that pretty much defines a lot of places in the Philippines. The more popular place to go near Manila now is around the Subic Bay area. But this place is different and I won't reveal everything but if you love rustic charm, this is a great place. It is relatively undeveloped because its actually rather hilly and roads are relatively new to the area. But in recent years, the wealthy have started to built weekend and vacation homes here including a number of big gated community development. There is even a golf course now. (I love golf but seriously, it has no place near the sea rich marine life because of the runoffs from all the chemicals they use. See what I mean about not wanting to over commercialize it??)

While its not that far away, it actually takes 2-3 hours to get there because almost 2/3 of the way are provincial roads. You have to pass through weekend tourist destination Tagaytay. This means the roads are full of motorised tricylces, jeepneys, trucks and buses. These makes going slow.

BUT after you get there, then what you see and experience especially when the weather is perfect like it is now, is simply relaxing and enjoyable. Let me put it another way, I felt like I was back at Monterey/Sausalito without the crowds and high-end shops and restaurants. There is no mall, there is no McDonalds although there is a Jollibee and they are building a Chowking which worries me. We hiked, swam, played badminton, a lot of cooking, eating and drinking, star gazing, reading, music etc. There was a lot of other things but I am not going to reveal them all to cause a stampede of spoilt tourists.

I will talk about one thing: Buffalo Milk or Carabao Milk. Its produced near Tagaytay and its delicious. It taste slightly sweet, creamy and tasty. I regret not getting the cheese and the yogurt. Those who knows Buffalo Mozzarella is a luxury item in Italy. Its supposed to be healthier has a unique taste. It is widely served fresh with olive oil, vinegar and a bit of herbs in restaurants in Italy and other Mediterranean countries. Its popularity continue to grow in US and rest of Europe. Its priced anywhere from US$35-$70/kg in the grocery stores in US. Its a lot cheaper here. Its one of the little gems around here.

In fact, this is what Philippine as a tourist destination is - its full of little gems to be discovered. I have a long list of stuff I want to try, see and experience. But I will keep the treasures of Nusugbu to myself and the friends who brought me there. Bargain tourists can stay away...

Gems of Legazpi Sunday Market

2009-11-24T00:50:00.000-08:00

As promised I would blog about the Sunday Market at Legazpi Village in Makati. Its actually located on the corner of Legazpi St. and V.A. Rufino St.

As I said before, its one of two Weekend Open air market in the Makati area. The bigger one is Salcedo Village Saturday Market. There are significant overlaps of the two markets i.e., many of the stalls are also available in both days but not entirely. If you been one, its still worth it to visit the other.

In Legazpi market I found a number of real gems. Firstly they have a big organic section with a wide variety of offerings. I tried some cakes and bread and they were quite good.

The real gem that I found was an Indonesian offering. You get Goreng Ayam, Gado-Gado, Kari Ayam, Rendang, Satay. But the best offering is the authentic Sambal Matah that was available either with boiled egg or eggplant. Those who have tasted the Indonesia fresh sambal most popular in Bali knows how different it is from Malaysian or Singapore sambal. It uses a version of shrimp paste called terasi but includes ingredients like lemongras, lime, shallots and also coconut oil. Its bright red in color and taste very fresh and natural. Its good with just about anything including just simple vegetables and eggs. I love it with simple Nasi Goreng or Mee Goreng. In Indonesia, I ate it with simple Bakso (or chicken noodle soup) or as a bread spread which the Indonesian find strange. In this city where spicy food is not anywhere, its really a good find.

There are other good finds in Legazpi Sunday Market including decent Spanish, Middle East, Italian, Malaysian, as well as offerings from different provinces here.

Noodles

2009-11-22T15:50:00.000-08:00

There are some of us who are noodle soup fans whether its wanton noodle, fish (including fish head and fish-ball) noodles, Japanese Ramen. Its why we take to instant noodles like no where else on earth. Here in Manila, its not that you can't find them, you just can't find them conveniently - at least not in a good enough quality in a lower price range. And its impossible in the early morning. Sometimes, you just want a bowl of noodles for breakfast.

Well, I found it this weekend at Legaszpi Village Sunday Market. I had only previously briefly visited the market after going to bigger Saturday Salcedo Village Market which I have been frequenting for the last few weeks. It had not looked different and smaller.

This weekend since my Saturday was shot because of events, I decided to spend my Sunday here. To my surprise it yielded a number of gems the big one being getting good wanton noodle on a Sunday Morning..

The place is called Your Daily DimSum and it did not attract me in my previous quick walk-through because you can get Dim Sum everywhere here even really early in the morning. Again, no decent noodle soup before 10am, attracted me. So for 120 Peso, I digged in what is pretty decent soup with acceptable noodle quality. The wanton was whole shrimp which impressed me. The noodle quality is what you would find in Malaysia in most places - on the soft side not like in Hong Kong which is has more 'spring' in it. But the best is the soup, very light on the MSG, quality soup like in decent places in Hong Kong and US Chinatowns - not the MSG-filled ones you get in Singapore and Malaysia hawkers. So value wise, it was a good buy. I definitely recommend it over most places here. Oh, the dimsum was good too - not the low quality ingredient type - pretty much restaurant quality.

There are other great finds in Legazpi Market but I will talk about it later...

Steaks and Beef

2009-11-18T21:14:00.000-08:00

I have to confess to the growing population of vegans that I keep meeting these days that I get craving for Beef once in a while. I would not call myself a Red Meat lover (do anyone still say that in these politically correct time?) but having worked in some of the places that produce great beef like in Texas, Osaka Japan, France and great restaurant places like in Chicago and New York, you learn to appreciate good beef. I like good steaks, burgers, roast beef, grilled beef slices, beef Bolgogi, beef noodles, beef stirred fried with brocolli or celery, beef slices with hot pot or shabu-shabu.

One of the things I gripe about in Singapore and Malaysia is a lack of affordable good beef. In Singapore, the beef noodle taste good but its all about the sauce and beef really is not of good quality. In Malaysia, it seems like there are Buddhist/Vegan everywhere who don't eat beef and few restaurants offer them. I do the Imbi Road Hor Fun every so often but that is treated and flavoured beef. The natural taste of good beef is really something unique. Its available at places like Morton's of Chicago at Suntec or other higher end restaurants but you pay a bomb!

Here in Manila, you can really get good beef at affordable price. If you are a steak lover or looking for a good burger (i.e., made from good cuts and not mass produced patties) or other simple beef dishes, Manila is a great place to be. Even the fast food Chinese restaurants serve up pretty OK beef. You have to try Beef Caldereta - a Spanish stew that is just delicious.

Yesterday I ate at Mamou at Fort Bonifacio. Having tasted steaks from great places all over the world, I have to declare that Mamou does not dissapoint. I have not had a real steak for a while and decided since the weather was fantastic and the pretty girls were out in full force, to enjoy a good steak in this, what I can only describe as 'simply charming', place while I watch the girls go by.

Some may not understand the enjoyment of this experience. If you don't appreciate Morton's of Chicago, Smith & Wollinsky or Peter Lugar in New York, you won't understand what I mean. My Mid-West and Japanese friends understand what I mean. The best pleasures in life are the simple ones and this is one of them. When the steak is done just right (medium rare - there is no other way to have a steak) and a glass of wine (the French and Spaniards taught me this), the taste is just simply like nothing else. No other meat taste like this done in such simple way. Its basically the same state of mind as appreciating sashimi or steamed fish. The simple rich natural taste made by nature (/god if you are religious).

I also like the portion which is just nice. Not too big, not small. Just right. The tendencies of most restaurants in Singapore is to serve up American size portion which is really too big for me these days. Its about the taste, not the filling of the stomach.

Now if only I can find Beef Noodle Ying-Yong done Malaysian style. (For explanation, keep tuning in), life will be perfect.

Mamou
Plaza Serendra
Bonifacio Global City

Pre-Christmas

2009-11-16T00:24:00.000-08:00

Its been many years since I celebrated Christmas in a big way. I hate crowds and have taken to avoiding the mad rush that is Christmas starting way back in New York. Then, I discovered that if I did not go anywhere, New York was THE BEST place to be during Christmas because people from New York comes from all over and the leave the city during that period. With the city empty, you can walk around leisurely enjoy the sights, no waiting at restaurants, movies and shops. If you go down to Chinatown during Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, its actually quite merry because New York is full of Jewish people as well as other denomination that go there to have a meal as most places are closed. Then there is Rockefeller Center, The Rocketts, the Nutcracker and great windows of Macy, Bloomingdale etc.

Since then, unless there is a compelling reason, I have a policy of not traveling during major holidays particularly Christmas. So with that default, I was planning on not going anywhere for the holidays but now I am not sure.

You can now hear Christmas songs in the air now (which I love). The lights are out in major Shopping and restaurants areas. The weather is so nice that people are out in full force hanging out in outdoor restaurants and cafes until past midnight. I do enjoy just hanging out at my regular bar and just people watching while surfing the net (reading my NY times online).

But it struck me this weekend that if its already so crowded with 7 weeks to go until Christmas, what is it going to be like as Christmas approach? Then what about New Year day which could be unbearable for me? I don't do New Year parties having done the Times Square thing while in NY. I prefer intimate meals with friends and family, going to bed early and then watching college ball all day next day.

This is not a city where half the people will leave during the holidays and they will be out in full force. The traffic will drive this shopping-hater nuts.

I need a plan..

Talent II - Julia Roman Abueva

2009-11-13T01:29:00.000-08:00

I talked about talent before and while I am not a fan of broadway music, I thought such global talent deserve mention. Her name is Julia Roman Abueva.

She actually is already famous, having being featured prominently by Oprah Winfrey Smartest and Talented Kids episode, sang in ASEAN games in Manila and have over a 100 major performance under her by age 13. She is now based in Singapore with regular gigs to the hoity-poity crowd (you know LKY, Annie at the Esplanade etc) and will be singing at the APEC for Obama this week. She is also actually the descendent of TWO Philippine President (wonder if LKY thought about his elitist genetic theory when he watched her performed!)

Actually there are a lot of talent like this that I am coming across. Names like Aria Clemente, Mark Mejia, Sam Concepcion, AJ Rafael, Albert Posis, Catherine Loria, Josephine Banig Roberto, Sarah Geronimo, Jessica Sanchez, Lica De Guzman.

ALL Of them deserve to be on the world stage and I pray they all get the chance...

Markets

2009-11-10T17:58:00.000-08:00

I love markets all sorts of markets. From esoteric derivatives, rare collectibles and intellectual properties to your basic neigbourhood wet markets, night-markets and flea markets. Wherever I go, I try to visit wet markets as part of my intinery when I can.

The origin of my love of market is the love of commerce and money that was infused since young by my basic-money-grubbing Chinese business family. But now it has become something else.

I think I love markets now because all day and week, I wreck my head to come up with ideas and plans for businesses that going back to these markets is sort of going back to basics, to go back to the basic idea of commerce and trade. Especially when I am lost or losing faith that I will find the next great idea or solve the toughest problem, going back to these places help you see how markets and business not only survives but you will notice how enterprise itself does not end. You will notice how fish-monger or the vegetable seller will sell a new item. You will notice how a new store will appear once in a while. You will even notice how the traders change their business to adapt to times.

Even if I don't get anything valuable in what I do, its stress relieve especially for a food-lover like myself. A fresh fish at a good price is something to look forward to that night. Seasonal fruits that I like gives something to look forward to that week. Then there is some of best food to eat without paying for restaurant prices - whether is just a good loaf of fresh bread, freshly roasted pork, nasi lemak with all the topping, its really all the good things in life..

I have visited many markets all over the world. While in school in Philadephia and even when I visit my brother there now, we always start weekend mornings at the Redding market before heading to Chinatown. Canal Street was first stop every weekend while in New York. In Spain, the open market of Sevilla is something to look forward to. In Italy and France there are markets everywhere with some of the best cheese, breads, pasta, vegetables, delis, jams etc. You go to Australia in any major city, the produce is worth visiting the local markets. In Japan, the Tsukiji market is a real sight to behold with the fresh fishes that comes in everyday but the best breakfast and frankly the best meal is available next door.

Anyway back to Philippines, I have visited
1) Farmers Market in Cubao
2) Salcedo Village Saturday market
3) Legaspi Village Sunday market
4) Public Market in Malate

I will be talking more about these places in future..

Breakfast

2009-11-07T16:08:00.000-08:00

I have been here a few months now and very happy actually. The original intent of this blog was to point to the positives of this country, the people and share it. I had planned on not making any negative post at all but I decided that sometimes, its not a bad thing to be a positive critic.

So my first gripe is: BREAKAST!!

One of my favourite thing to do is early exercise and early breakfast on the weekend. There is nothing I love to do than to wake up to great weather which they have now, go jog for a while and a long leisurely breakfast with my newspaper. Its something I started to do while in New York long time ago.

I come from a country that you can get a good meal 24-hours. In Singapore or Malaysia, I can actually walk somewhere near my homes and get a good bite anytime of the day. Its something I really missed while living in US and Europe. But even while living in NY, I could get a great bagel at the neigbourhood diner early in the morning.

Here in Manila, the only thing open at 7am is McDonalds/Jollibee and a chain belonging to my friend call Pancake House. Even Starbucks don't open until 8am and the bagel at Starbucks here is a poor poor distant relative to even in Singapore and a shame to its parentage in New York!

Seriously, I am not that demanding - a bagel, a croissant or Chee Cheung Fun, noodle, decent pao will do and most important - a decent cup of coffee!

For country strongly influence by coffee-loving Spanish and Americans, I can't understand why coffee drinking is not BIG here for the everyday man. We from Malaysia and Singapore were influenced by tea-drinking British and yet our kopitiam coffee is so ubiquitous and such a great deal! Furthermore, they actually have great coffee here. A significant portion of the supply of natural Luwak (they have faked ones from Vietnam ones now!), the most expensive coffee in the world, comes from here!

But back to breakfast, why is breakfast places not as ubiqutous? I noticed that a traditional breakfast here is rice and meat/fish. Traditional breakfast does not seem any different from lunch/dinner. Things like 'kuih' or cakes and 'noodles/beenhoon' is not part of breakfast although its part of their cuisine. They do have some good 'kuih' like cheese bun or ensaymada and rice-cake or bibingka which I like. BUT the only place you can get these early in the morning is of all places, STARBUCKS!! I would actually like their most famous noodle dish, pancit, in the morning but you can't find that in the morning in most places!!

I have to confess one thing, in keeping to the positive theme of the original intent of this blog, I just went to my first Saturday open market at Salcedo Village in Makati. It does offer the best place to get good breakfast at 7am in the morning on a weekened beside getting some other good stuff. You can even get Nasi Lemak, Roti Canai although it would be best to bring your own coffee!

Talent

2009-11-04T01:59:00.000-08:00

The entertainment talents of Filipino is well known and almost a cliche especially around Asia. Filipino bands play in bars and clubs all over Asia. There are a few well known global names. Lea Solanga is known anywhere and most have noted Apl de Ap of Black-Eyed Peas is from the Philippines. Long time ago there was Freddie Aguilar. Recently there was Charice Pempengco and Arnel Pineda. I have listened to Arnel Pineda so many times and I can't believe it took Journey and Youtube to discover the guy even though he has been around for literally decades.

But there are many more talents that are to be discovered by the world. My new favourite is Mocha girls. If you listen to them, you can't help but think of the Pussycat Dolls and style wise they are the same but listen to the voice, the vocal and more importantly the song - its all original and good. Their latest song Take a Sip makes me think of coffee in a whole different way. I can think of so many big corporate events in KL, Singapore that would go nuts having these girls perform for them..

Hawaiian weather

2009-11-01T01:04:00.000-07:00

I woke up this morning, like many weekend, just put a pair of shorts and t-shirt to go jogging, stepped out only to rush back in to grab a jacket. It was actually pretty cold!! It felt more like a California morning..

OK. so its been a long time since the days I consulted in Ottawa Canada in February and my school days in Boston but still, I have never experience this kind of cold since I came back to tropical weather. I have been in Singapore and Malaysia more than 12 years now..

One of the least known thing about Philippine is the weather. People who have never visited here think that just like other South East Asia country, its rain and heat. Most people have been in Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and even Indonesia gets some attention because of Bali and foreign businessmen in Jakarta. So many people think they know what its like in Manila.

The truth is the only comparison of Philippine is Vietnam weather and even then, its only the coastal area that is close to what Philippine is. You see while Singapore/Malaysia/Thailand/Indonesia experience hot weather, Philippine experience a lot of rain so its not as hot. During the rainy months in Singapore/Malaysia/Thailand/Indonesia, it does not rain as much here and in fact the weather is perfect for every imaginable outdoor activities. Essentially between Nov-Feb, its like Hawaii here.. I call it the Hawaiian period.. (Maybe that is why you see so many Hawaii loving Japanese and Koreans around !) Its one of the least marketed thing about the Philippine, the weather is perfect, it does not rain much - perfect golfing weather and just about every imaginable kind of out door activities. And its not humid.. Its actually kind of dry and you need to drink more water..

Those who love golf and dream of Hawaiian vacation they can't afford it, Philippine is the perfect alternative. At this time of the year, there is nothing better than to play around of golf in the day, go to the beach or have a picnic afterwards and then hang out at a cafe or outdoor bar and watch the sun go down.

Of course there are other things to do here besides golf and I will talk about it more soon. I am missing a lot of hot looking girls walking by the bar I am hanging out in go by.. My favourite outdoor activity!!.

All Saints Day

2009-10-30T19:15:00.000-07:00

For those people who don't know, All Saints day is a Catholic celebration. Its suppose to be a day or remembrance of the saints and suppose to be a solemn day of prayers and remembrance. However in various places around the world it is also a rememberance of the dead relatives and have some big festitivities including in places like New Orleans, Louisiana. In Spain it is really big occasion where you can see flowers everywhere not just the cemetary. There are festivals and the play of Don Juan is always staged in many places..

I have experienced All Saints Day both in New Orleans, Spain and here in Philippines and I have to say, Pinoy top the cake as far as this day is concern and that is saying a lot if you have been to New Orleans and invited to a Spanish event with their huge family gathering to eat, drink, music, singing, dancing all day and night..

The Filipinos does this even bigger. In Spain most of the celebration happens AFTER they go to the prayers and the visit to the graves in the morning. The Pinoys start the festivities at the graves itself.. But how do you celebrate at the graves? Well, you have to see it to believe. The graves are bigger and better than most houses in South East Asia. Its not that I have not seen graves these sizes before (there are a few still there in New Orleans) but the number of big graves or rather tomb-houses are incredible. And its incredibly elaborate. In those tombs are even kitchens, baths. I was told by architect friends that there are even jacuzzis and bedrooms, barbecue pits etc..

The Chinsee here, many are Catholics, also celebrate the day. One of the most curious thing I have ever seen is the Chinese cemetary here. We from Singapore and Malaysia practises QingMIng/Cheng Beng or ancestor celebration and we go to the graves to clean it. There are some pretty big graves around (just go to Nilai, Negeri Sembilan) BUT the Chinese graves here are just AMAZING. You have to see it seriously. They are almost mini emperor tombs. They are even bigger than than some of the old tombs of historical rich merchants in China. Its one of the things I keep thinking of showing to my parents. I keep wondering about how wealthy the Chinese were once upon a time here and how they adapted themselves to the local and Spanish influence BUT yet maintain their character (there are Chinese writings on them).

In the past, I have followed my pinoy friends to the family cemetary and joined in their celebration. But that was long ago when traffic was not as bad. Now the traffic on this day is the worst in the entire year, around the cemetary at least. Its actually unbelievable. Think of it like Johor causeway during a long holliday in Singapore like Hari Raya or Chinese New Year.

I was made to understand that they now don't allow the families to hold festivities at the cemetary now because of the traffic. Its a pity because its one of the most interesting and enjoyable experience I have ever had. On the bright side, it shows this country has progress to a stage it needs to managed such things and every year they do more to managed this day especially the traffic and the festivities that goes with it. It is ironically an indicator of progress. We in Singapore and Malaysia have long experience of having traditions changed because of progress. I use to go to my grandparents graves every QingMing as do many when they were young in my generation. Now I believe I am the only member of my generation in my family that remember where our grandparents graves are.

I doubt it will ever get so pathetic with Filipinos about their All Saints Day here. Its something to be said about the strength of their culture, influence and ideas. I must remember at least to go snap some pctures of the graves here for posterity and show them to my family and friends.

Best Hainanese Chicken Rice anywhere

2009-10-24T23:37:00.000-07:00

Its only natural that being from Singapore/Malaysia, I am a foodie and hence my first post will be about food. In particular my search for home food in this city with few Singaporean-Malaysian around. The craving for spicy food especially comes often and the food in Philippine while delicious, especially my favourite, Sinigang, is typically blander and lack the 'hot' element which other South East Asian cuisine has.

One of the food I have been looking for is the Hainanese Chicken rice. Its not that its my favourite food so much that I have many Pinoy friends who have tasted it and really liked it. So, since this city have some really good Chinese food these days, I thought it would not be difficult to find good Hainanese Chicken Rice.. However, those that I have tasted varies greatly from marginally acceptable to pretty bad..

Until today, when a new good friend took me to Tao Yuan at Malate. Its not just the chicken was well done and have the two version of boiled and fried-crispy skin, its not that the rice was perfectly fragrant, what made this experience worth mentioning was the Chilli sauce - I swear its as good as any tasted anywhere period. It was so good that we kept our large sauce plate refilled at least 5 times! In fact most places in Singapore and Malaysia cannot match this quality - the righ vinegar, chilli, ginger, garlic.. It was perfectly balance with a perfect sting of 'hot'.

Supposedly the owner of Tao Yuan is now a Singaporean who imports much of what is needed. He certaintly done his country proud. I swear the chilli is better than Boon Tong Kee, Wee Nam Kee in Singapore, Famosa and Chop Chung Wah Chicken Rice Ball in Malacca and Ong Kee or any other oulet in Ipoh. You would not imagine the one of the best Hainanese Chicken rice chilli in the world would be found of all places in Manila. How is that for unique perspective of the Philippines?

In addition, the chicken was interesting. Most of the chicken I have tasted here in the Philippine is a bit bland and soft typically of mass-produced types that you get in all supermarkets everywhere. You can get the run-free type (i.e., kampung chicken variety) in the rural areas which is hard to come by in the city. The kampung chicken here while tasty tend not to be well-fed and hence either too small or not enough meat to make decent chicken rice with. Tao Yuan chicken is tastier than any chicken you can buy at the supermarket but not as tasty as the kampung chicken variety BUT the meat is actually not as tender as the supermarket variety and not as tough as the kampung chicken variety.. I like my chicken this way.. And the there was little fat in it! I suspect he gets his chicken specially supplied to him on his specification!!

So for those craving for Hainanese Chicken rice especially bloggers who have been writing about it after going to the Nuffnang Asia Pacific Blog Awards. Now you can have your craving satisfied locally.. However, I have to warn you. My only complain is the price was pretty steep. We had half a crispy-skin and half boiled chicken with a small vege and the bill came to P1500 and we did not order any drinks.. But at least the parking is free (you can get it validated if you park next door to Tao Yuan).

I can't wait to go back to Tao Yuan to try its other dishes. Supposedly they also have fish-head curry and the roast duck and piglet looks faboulous to try...

Tao Yuan
General Malvar St. Cor of Mabini St
Malate