Quantcast
Channel: Mustachioventures
Viewing all 585 articles
Browse latest View live
↧

Mt. Pinatubo: Things that Matter

September 21, 2013, 7:00 pm
$
0
0
Location Matters
Mt. Pinatubo, a volcano located in Luzon, is bordered by the provinces of Tarlac, Pampanga, and Zambales. If you were born before the 90s, then you know that it erupted in 1991. Before the eruption, its summit was at 1745 meters (5725 feet). Now it's at 1486 meters (4875 feet) above sea level.

Mt Pinatubo before the 1991 eruption (Source)

To get there:
1. Take a bus to Capas, Tarlac (buses from Cubao going to Baguio, Alaminos, and Lingayen will pass by Capas) and ask to be dropped at Capas Junction. From Cubao: Five Star Bus schedule every 30 minutes. Travel time: 2 hours. Fare: Php 172
2. At Capas Junction, hire a tricycle to take you to the tourism office in Sta Juliana. Travel time: 45 minutes. Fare: Php 300/tricycle/3 pax

If you need to fly in, the closest airport to Tarlac would be Clark Airport in Pampanga. From Clark, take a taxi or any public transportation to Mabalacat bus terminal. At the terminal, take a bus bound for Dagupan or Pangasinan and tell the bus conductor you will be getting off at Capas, Tarlac. The bus ride will just be an hour.

Mt. Pinatubo's Crater Lake, May 2013

Time Matters
How this trip actually went...
0100 Left Cubao Terminal (bus)
0300 Reached McDonald's Capas Junction, Tarlac; breakfast at 3AM
0400 Left McDonald's Capas Junction (tricycle)
0445 Reached Tourism Office in Sta Juliana
0500 Tourism Office opens
0530 And we're off on a 4x4
0630 ETA 7km from crater lake
0730 ETA 1km from crater lake
0800 Crater lake! Take photos, eat, snooze
1000 Started walking back to where we left our 4x4
1030 Drove back to the tourism office
1130 Reached the tourism office in an hour since we didn't make any stops
1200 Went back to Capas Junction (tricycle)
1245 Reached McDonald's Capas Junction; lunch
1400 Caught a bus to Cubao
1600 Arrived in Cubao bus terminal


Money Matters
Five Star Bus from Cubao to Capas, Tarlac Php 172
Tricycle from Capas Junction to tourism office in Sta Juliana Php 300/tricycle/3 pax
4x4 vehicle (can fit up to five passengers) Php 3000/vehicle
Guide per 4x4 Php 500
Conservation fee Php 300/person
Packed lunch Php 200/person
Aeta community Php 150/person
Bus from Capas to Cubao Php 167

A parade of 4x4s

Other Things that Might Matter
♦ Check the weather. Have a Plan B. Your trip to Mt. Pinatubo could get cancelled a day or two before your schedule, depending on the weather and the condition of the area (heavy rains can cause landslides, rendering the way impassable).
♦ Book your 4x4 ahead through Wendell Mercado (former president of the 4x4 association in Tarlac) at 0919 608 4313. You can also check out his website for more information.
♦ Avail of a packed lunch (also thru Wendell Mercado) for Php 200. Pricey, yes, but it exceeded my expectation. It was a complete lunch! It had rice, fish, pork, eggplant, tomato and salted egg salad, and a banana. It also included a 500ml bottle of water.
♦ Tourism office opens at 5AM. If you go on a weekend or on a holiday, it is best to be at the tourism office as soon as it opens so you can start ahead of the others.
♦ Go pee before you get on your 4x4. Toilets (fee of Php 10) are available at the store across the tourism office. Once you get on the 4x4, the next available toilet is still 24 km (or two to four hours) away.
♦ Bring something to cover your nose. It's going to be a long and dusty ride (one to two hours per way).
♦ Bring a hat. It'll be a long ride under the heat of the sun. Lucky if it's cloudy.
♦ If you're a lazy bum like us, pray for really good weather and pray that the 4x4 can make it all the way to a kilometer from the crater. Then you'd only have to do an easy 20– to 30–minute walk to the crater.
♦ There will be times when the last stop of the 4x4 is 7 km from the crater lake. Prepare to walk for two to three hours across streams, loose rocks, and boulders, with no trees to give respite from the heat. Best to wear hiking sandals.
♦ Bring a liter of water (or half a liter if you avail of the packed lunch) and some trail food in case you have to do the 7 km hike.
♦ Nothing doing at the crater. No swimming. No boating. Just eating—there's a store selling drinks and snacks—and snoozing.
♦ Locals say it usually rains in the afternoon and heavy rains could be dangerous. Listen to your driver and guide. They know best when to leave.
♦ You might want to wash away the thick layer of dust on your skin after the trip. Bring towel, toiletries, and extra clothes. You can use the shower room at the store across the tourism office for a fee of Php 50.
♦ Lastly, get enough sleep before the trip. Do not be like us—just two hours of sleep...on the bus!



Mt. Pinatubo:
Good News/Bad News
Things that Matter (you're here!)
↧
Search

What's in a (Business) Name? Veintidos

September 29, 2013, 7:00 pm
$
0
0
Bad hair day? Go curl up and die dye.
Spotted along Imus Avenue, Cebu City

↧
↧

Wisdom from the Road #8

September 30, 2013, 7:00 pm
↧

Nangita og Uban Pa sa Torta og Uban Pa

October 2, 2013, 7:00 pm
$
0
0
The Saturday afternoon I brought myself to Torta og Uban Pa's doorstep, they had torta (of course! They wouldn't call themselves Torta og Uban Pa if they didn't have torta). The "og Uban Pa" (and others) were cake bars, cake pops, and chiffon cupcakes. 


I was disappointed that Torta og Uban Pa didn't have the "og Uban Pa" I came here for: cupcakes. All your fault Babe for Food, for posting all those pretty cupcakes on your blog! Okay, maybe it's my fault for going nine months after reading that post. But let's look at my health's bright side: I won't have to go on a cupcake eating spree.

While I was mulling over what to buy, a kid came by and bought a mallows bar. So that's what I had (when it takes me too long to decide, I will have whatever the other customer is having :D) and a revel bar (the chocolate that oozed through the cracks was calling me). The place is named Torta og Uban Pa, that tells me I should try the torta, too.

Left to right: Mallows bar, revel bar, and torta (photo by Mike Libby)

Kids would probably love all the mallows on the mallows bar but for me, on the whole, it was nothing fancy. The revel bar on the other hand, I loved. It was chewy and chocolatey. And the torta? I never liked torta because I always see it as oily cake. But that's torta from Argao. This torta from Catmon is crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, doesn't crumble, and is not at all oily.

Presently Torta og Uban Pa's cupcakes are on order basis. Good news is, even if they are based in Catmon, 58 kilometers from Cebu City, I (and you, too!) can place an order (be it cupcakes, cakes, or torta) and orders can be picked up in the city. Yahoo!


Torta og Uban Pa
679 National Road, Catmon, Cebu
* If you're coming from Cebu City, this is on the right side of the road, across Community Rural Bank of Catmon.
0917 620 6940
Daily 830AM to 530PM


How easy on the pocket Torta og Uban Pa is:
Mallows bar Php 10
Revel bar Php 10
Torta Php 14 (Save if you buy by box! Box of 6, Php 80 / Box of 12, Php 150 / Box of 24, Php 275)

↧

National Art Gallery at the National Museum

October 4, 2013, 7:00 pm
$
0
0
I am no art expert, I am just an art gawker. When in Manila, a visit to the National Art Gallery at the National Museum is a must for art lovers. 

P Burgos Drive, Rizal Park, Manila
Tuesdays to Sundays 10AM-5PM

Entrance Fee:
Adults Php 150
Senior Citizens Php 120
Students Php 50
Free admission on Sundays

The entrance fee gives access to the following:
National Art Gallery
Planetarium

Taking photos is allowed but no flash photography, commercial photography, videography, and tripods.

 


The National Art Gallery is housed in a grand old building that was originally designed to be a public library, then transformed into the Legislative Building. It was only in 2003 that the building was renovated to become the National Art Gallery.

There are eleven galleries in the National Art Gallery exhibiting the works of Juan Luna, Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo, Jose Rizal, and Fernando Amorsolo, among others. Regrettably, I only had time to see to see one gallery and I chose to spend my very limited time in the Hall of the Masters.

In awe of Spoliarium

Two works of art that have been declared as National Cultural Treasures can be found in the Hall of the Masters: Juan Luna's Spoliarium and Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo's La Tragedia de Gubernador Bustamante. Juan Luna's Spoliarium received a gold medal in the 1884 Madrid Exposition.

I know the Spoliarium is big, but I did not expect it to be that big. 4 meters by 7 meters! I just stood back, opened my eyes as wide as I could, and tried to take it all in. How I wish I had the whole day to spend at the National Art Gallery, but for the few minutes I had, I am glad to have spent it being dwarfed by Juan Luna's Spoliarium.



The National Museum:
National Art Gallery (you're here!)
Museum of the Filipino People
↧
↧

Museum of the Filipino People

October 9, 2013, 1:37 am
$
0
0
Boring. Nerdy. Ignorant. Call me any or all of these and I will agree with you. Boring because I'd rather go to museums than malls. Nerdy because I like learning (but have no patience to read the lengthy descriptions in an exhibit). Ignorant because I didn't know until early this year that we have the Museum of the Filipino People.

The Museum of the Filipino People is part of the National Museum. It is in the old Finance building located behind the National Art Gallery.

P Burgos Drive, Rizal Park, Manila
Tuesdays to Sundays 10AM-5PM

Entrance Fee:
Adults Php 150
Senior Citizens Php 120
Students Php 50
Free admission on Sundays

The entrance fee gives access to the following:
Museum of the Filipino People
National Planetarium

Taking photos is allowed but no flash photography, commercial photography, videography, and tripods.




The Museum of the Filipino People has the following on exhibit:

San Diego
The San Diego was a galleon built in Cebu in 1590 by Spanish, Chinese, and Filipino shipbuilders. It sunk near the province of Batangas in 1600. The wreck was discovered in the early 1990s with more than 30,000 artifacts recovered. The exhibit toured around the world before becoming a permanent exhibit in the Museum of the Filipino People.


Kaban ng Lahi (Archaeological Treasures)
This gallery contains a collection of burial jars and vessels unearthed from various caves around the Philippines. Here, you will see jars and pots of different designs (there were burial jars shaped like heads) and learn how our ancestors buried their dead.
Clockwise from top left: a diorama of the discovery of burial jars in a cave; Manunggul jar, a burial jar discovered in Tabon Cave in Palawan; and Masuso pots (look closely it's got breasts!)


Kinahinatnan (The Filipinos and their Rich Cultural Heritage)
An exhibit about the different ethnolinguistic groups in the Philippines. My favorite gallery!


Baybayin
This gallery was just opened in February 2013. It's a small exhibit about Baybayin, the ancient Philippine script. What caught my eye in this exhibit was the Laguna Copper plate, the earliest known written document in the Philippines. It was discovered in Laguna in 1986. (The Laguna Copper plate is not the only thing on exhibit in the gallery but it's the only thing I took a photo of. :-)
 The Laguna Copper plate and its translation (click to enlarge).


There is also a zoological collection where you will find preserved insects and animals (what else!). I was too mesmerized by the creepy stuffed birds that I forgot to take some photos of the gallery. And here are exhibits that I forgot which gallery they belonged to:
Clockwise from top: Butuan Boat (evidence of an ancient maritime culture in the Philippines, one of the Butuan boats have been dated 320AD); a diorama of how archaeologists conduct underwater research; and a diorama of Rakuh-a-idi, a pre-Hispanic settlement in Batan Island (Batanes)


I am truly glad we have the Museum of the Filipino People and the National Art Gallery (can't say anything about the National Planetarium because I have not been there). Great job curators!

When in Manila, I encourage you to spend a few hours at the Museum of the Filipino People and the National Art Gallery.




The National Museum:
National Art Gallery
Museum of the Filipino People (you're here!)
↧

Sunday 1PM at Sunday 2PM

October 27, 2013, 2:24 am
$
0
0
Photo by: H. Ersando
It is Sunday, 1PM and I am at Sunday 2PM, a mini book cafe tucked in the corner of Sarrosa Hotel.

Sunday 2PM Cafe
Sarrosa Hotel, Mabolo, Cebu City
(032) 520 5174
Monday to Saturday 10AM to 11PM
Sunday 2PM to 11PM

I have been summoned to tag along to act as a PA or Personal Assistant PE or Props Eater for a photoshoot (tigkaon sa mga props paghoman sa photoshoot).

The cafe opens at 2PM on a Sunday, but our six–man team was in the cafe an hour before opening time. The owner was kind enough to open the cafe early (the bride–to–be asked permission thru phone a few days in advance).

While the couple were busy making lovey–dovey poses in the corner of this small cafe (it can only sit 19 people—I counted the chairs, not including the two kiddie chairs stacked near the refrigerator), I got busy...


...studying the menu (food and drinks go from Php80 to Php120)
Photo by H Ersando

...admiring the cakes in the display case (brownies for Php 85 and cakes for Php120)

...looking at the thousands of Post–It notes covering the walls and shelves

...peering at the tiny faces on the Instax photos hoping to see familiar faces
Photo by H. Ersando

...inspecting the knickknacks

...reading the title on every bookspine on the shelves
(the books can be borrowed for a week, you just need to deposit 
Php200 for English books or Php400 for Korean books)
Photo by H Ersando

...drawing a self portrait on a Post–It note
Photo by H Ersando

...and getting my picture taken for Sunday 2PM's facebook page. Ha! Just kidding.
The cafe has a photobooth by the counter. Photos taken at the booth will be automatically uploaded to Sunday 2PM's facebook page.

L–R: Pink lemonade slush (Php120), blue lemonade (Php100), chocolate sin mousse (Php120)

The time came to wrap up the shoot and do my duty: consume the props. First in line: pink lemonade slush. The first word that registered upon first sip: sweet. Second: Cold. This icy cold and very sweet drink is an excellent drink to have on a very hot day.

Drink number two: blue lemonade. This, compared to the pink lemonade, wasn't too sweet. If I had tried this before the pink one, I'm not certain I'd have the same opinion. It could just be the pink sugar being stuck to my tongue.

The Chocolate Sin mousse was put in a take out box for later consumption. Later consumption came. Moist, triple chocolate, sinfully sugary, this cake is meant to be shared. But not meant to be paired with either of the two colored drinks I had mentioned. Sweet and sweet make a deathly diabetic combination.

Because of the tininess of the cafe, each person who chooses to stay in the cafe is required to have one order. So why just three for the six-man team? Sorry, Sunday 2PM, but I honestly didn't know this rule. Thank you though for not kicking three of us out. And a big thank you to the couple for letting me eat the props! :D
↧

What's in a (Business) Name? Veintitres

October 29, 2013, 7:00 pm
$
0
0
Manglaba na si Mang Laba...
Spotted along H. Cortes St., Mandaue City, Cebu
↧
Search

Wisdom from the Road #9

October 31, 2013, 7:00 pm
$
0
0
On indecision
If you can't decide where to eat, ask the locals.
If you can't decide where to go, ask the locals.
 If you can't decide where to sit in a boat, follow the locals.
A local is your best compass.


If you can't decide where to eat, ask the locals. In tiny towns, I usually just ask the hostel attendant or the tricycle driver where I could eat. In Hinatuan (Surigao del Sur), I was pointed to Drawde's Kamayan. It looked like a simple carenderia, but don't let the facade fool you. They serve really good food! I especially loved the fresh shrimps (a heap for just Php 50)!

If you can't decide where to go, ask the locals. When we went to Kawasan Falls last year, it was closed to the public. We could not think of an alternative that was close by and asked around for suggestions. An old man suggested "Canyoning falls." That suggestion took us to Canlaob river (by "Canyoning falls," he meant Canlaob) — a refreshing discovery.

If you can't decide where to sit in a boat, follow the locals. On the boat from Carabao Island to Caticlan, we could not decide whether to sit on the left or on the right side of the boat. We just followed where most of the locals sat and it turned out to be the right decision. They were sitting on the side away from the big waves, therefore staying dry the whole boat ride.







↧
↧

The Mövenpick Hotel Experiment

November 2, 2013, 7:00 pm
$
0
0

I'm snoozing under the covers in the huge room on the 22nd floor of Mövenpick Hotel when I am rudely awakened by a grand shake and the sound of things crashing... Ha! Just a dream (being at the penthouse) and a nightmare (the hotel crumbling to pieces with me crashing along with it).

True, I am in Mövenpick Hotel, but in a room just five floors aboveground. A relief, given it has only been a week since the earth shook. And a disappointment; I was half hoping to be put up in the penthouse or whatever they call the room at the topmost floor. I am here to act as a guinea pig, might as well put me to the ultimate test.

No, really, I am just happy to be a guinea pig. Put me on any floor you want, Mövenpick, and I shall oblige. It is not everyday that I get to be invited (well, I have never been invited, until today) to stay in a hotel (or anywhere swanky for that matter). I was genuinely happy when Justinne of Babe for Food invited me to be part of this experiment. (Thank you Justinne for thinking me a worthy test subject.)

The goal here is to survive (along with all three Mövenpick towers) the aftershocks and assure everyone, or at least everyone who cares to read our blogs, that the building is still safe after that strong earth shake. Before the survival test, Mövenpick's General Manager, Mr. Knuth Kiefer, assures us that the hotel has been structurally designed beyond the local building code. In layman's terms, no need to worry.

 
Ibiza Beach Club

The assurance is paired with a Churrasco dinner at Mövenpick's Ibiza Beach Club. Churrasco is, to quote the hotel, "a Brazilian–style barbecue laden with mouth–watering fire–roasted meats and seafood, cooked in a churrasco grill and served from a sword–like skewer at your table." Before the grilled fare is served, we are given a plate with garlic rice, vegetables, and beans, and a separate plate of four condiments for the grilled meats and seafood: chimichurri, butter, red wine butter, and herb butter. Each guest is given a disc, with one red side and the other green. Turn the disc to green to signal the server to start carving the meat, and turn it over to red for stop. Salads can be had before diving into the meats and seafood.

 Please excuse the color cast.
For photos of the churrasco meats and seafood, check out Babe for Food's blogpost

I do not get to flip my disc to green but the servers wielding sword–like skewers come one by one: lamb chop, rib eye, filet mignon, lamb leg, pork belly, pork rib, chicken, ostrich, fish, squid, lobster, prawn. Each one is mighty scrumptious. I think I will lose this battle. By dessert—churrasco pineapple with yogurt, honey, and pistachio—I am as weak as an overfed pig. Weak but, still, I manage to wipe my plate clean with the last bit of pineapple, and pat my happily bulging stomach, "We are done."

Wrong. Something else comes our way: a scoop of maple walnut ice cream, which is not part of the churrasco dinner. I hastily make some space for this creamy, generously sprinkled with walnuts, delight. I spoon some in my mouth, and another, and another. If I had more space, I would have easily finished two or three more scoops. Best ice cream I have ever had. Congratulations, tummy, we are still alive. Those skewer–wielding people almost killed us with their delicious swords, but we are tougher than we look.

 Maple Walnut ice cream
Again, please excuse the color cast.

But we don't act so tough when we encounter SSB—sakit sa baboy. It's time to hit the sack. Nice, comfy, fluffy sack that is. In my room on the fifth floor, I draw the drapes close, snuggle under the covers, and sink (literally) in my pillow. Sweet slumber. And then a big jolt. I sleepily crack my eyelids open, listen to the walls shake, and reach for my watch: 2:42AM. This time it's not a dream. But I remain in bed and wait for the shaking to die down and switch back to hibernate mode.


I am awakened at 630AM. By my alarm. Hey, I'm alive. And the three towers are still standing. After a quick shower, I head down for breakfast at The Sails: A glorious spread of breads, cheese, cereals, waffles, bacon, sausages, eggs (omelet with mozzarella cheese!), soup, salad, yogurt, fruits (lots!), juice. Then explore the hotel one last time to admire the well–maintained beach and pool, and to survey the game room.

 Breakfast at The Sails


I check out early, say goodbye, and rush to work. That part I wish were just a dream. I would have happily stayed under the sheets all morning, with just a short break from bed to have that sumptuous breakfast in between. Thank you, Mövenpick, for that impressive experiment. I am one happy guinea pig.



Mövenpick Hotel Mactan Island Cebu
Punta Engaño, Mactan Island, Cebu
(032) 492 7777


Was I was worth this experiment? I hope Mövenpick thinks so.
Rooms at Mövenpick start at Php7800, inclusive of breakfast for two.
Churrasco dinner (all you can eat salad, meats, seafood) costs Php2000. Add Php500 for bottomless wine.
A scoop of maple walnut ice cream for about Php300.

↧

Cafe Caw, is the Third Time the Charm?

November 4, 2013, 6:00 pm
$
0
0
Third time's the charm, so they say. The first and second times I have been to Cafe Caw, at their Banilad branch, Cafe Caw failed me. On my first visit, I couldn't find value for my money. The second time was worse—I paid 60 pesos for a cupcake that was almost as hard as a rock. (I suspect it was an old batch that they forgot to throw out.) I posted it on their facebook page and the owner offered me a refund and a box of cupcakes. It was very kind of him, but I was ashamed to take his offer.

My third visit was at their newly opened branch in SSY Building in Lahug. The place had comfy settees and ottomans, which means (if you have been to their Banilad branch) that the Lahug branch is bigger—five times bigger—but with the same pastel–colored interiors. At their new place, it wasn't the interiors that caught my eye; it was the display case containing drool–inducing cakes. Cakes I had not seen in their Banilad branch. Cakes which I did not take a photo of (it slipped my mind).

The hosts (I was invited by a couple to come along to the cafe) ordered two drinks and the chopping board, which is a collection of five goodies: one cake, two cupcakes, one cookie, and one bar. I actually don't know what they call the set, I just called it the chopping board for all five goodies are served on a wooden chopping board. 


The hosts chose the following for our chopping board:
Blueberry cheesecake. I am not a fan of cheesecakes but the female half of the couple said it's one of the best cheesecakes she's tasted.
Choco oatmeal bar. Loved the gooey fudge.
Choco chunk cookie. Chocolate chunks, yessirree! Yum!
Green tea cupcake. The cupcake did have a hint of green tea, but much as I like green tea, I probably wouldn't care to have this again.
Mocha cupcake. The cupcake had a moist chocolate cake bottom and mocha icing.

The chopping board set could make at least four dessert–loving people happy. I did not get to try any of the drinks but the couple did say the drinks were too strong for their taste.

The verdict: Charmed. Yup, third time's the charm.


Cafe Caw
SSY Building, Lahug, Cebu City
(032) 418 1012
Daily 11AM to 12MN

Gov. M Cuenco Ave., Banilad, Cebu City
(032) 316 4595
Daily 11AM to 10PM



How much each goodie would cost:
Oatmeal fudge melt Php75
Cookies Php50 each
Cupcakes Php60 each
Cakes Php150 each
Drinks Php65-135
How much a chopping board set of goodies would cost: Php 375 (you save Php20)
↧

Downtown Food Hunt: Mingnan Chinese Cuisine

November 6, 2013, 6:00 pm
$
0
0
The visit to JRG Halad Museum made me hungry. Not because I associate music and musical instruments with food, but because it was almost lunch time. Where's a good, cheap place to eat downtown? My brain cells work extra fast and grasp this memory: reading about a Chinese restaurant in Brennan's blog Baktin Corporation. My fingers work extra, extra fast and dial Brennan's number. After all the pleasantries, I get to the point...
Mustachio: Bren, I need directions for Mingnan, that Chinese carenderia I read in your blog.
Brennan: When facing Metro Gaisano Colon, turn left and go straight. It's two or three blocks from Metro. After about two or three blocks, turn right at a small street, a street where it looks like you would most likely get mugged.
Ha ha. Nice description Brennan. That doesn't scare me from looking for Mingnan. When I get to Metro Gaisano Colon, I realize there are two "lefts"—Colon St. and Osmeña Blvd.—so my friends and I play ask-random-people-for-directions game. That didn't result in anything. And then I remember Babe for Food, the blog I rely on when it comes to food. How could I have forgotten her? Justinne aka Babe for Food wrote about the same place two years ago! I send an SOS message and, thankfully, hear back from her with complete directions and some tips on what to order. Yay!

 

When we spot Mingnan Chinese Cuisine, I mentally raise my fist in the air, yes! And get a pleasant surprise upon stepping in—it's air conditioned! (Being greeted by a blast of cool air after walking downtown at noon, you'd be ecstatic, too.)


Too bad, none of the dishes Justinne mentioned in her text message were available. But I am not complaining, what's available looked good too. I did not bother asking for the names of the dishes, my friends and I just pointed to whatever looked delicious.


Linat-an baboy (pork stew)

Clockwise from bottom left: tofu, tomatoes with egg, fried chicken, mushrooms

A plate of one rice and two viands costs only Php50. My friends and I were very happy with our lunch; flavorful food for just Php50, now who wouldn't be happy? You, Mingnan, were worth bugging Brennan and Justinne for.


Mingnan Chinese Cuisine
Plaridel Ext., Cebu City
(032) 253 5522 / 511 8400
Daily 830AM to 10PM



How Mingnan makes Mustachio want to go back to the most-likely-to-get-mugged-in street:
Meal (one rice and two viands) Php 50
Soup Php... I forgot
Softdrinks Php 15
↧

Learn Science at The Mind Museum

November 8, 2013, 6:00 pm
$
0
0
Science doesn't have to be boring. The Mind Museum agrees. The Mind Museum is an interactive science museum where guests, young and old alike, are encouraged to perform tasks in order to understand a particular concept.


The Mind Museum is the first (and only, that I am aware of) science museum in the Philippines. Visitors can either choose the 3-hour pass (Php600 for adults, Php450 for students) or the all-day pass (Php750). There are three time slots for the 3-hour pass: 9AM, 12NN, and 3PM.

For the love of science, I, the thrifty one, gave up my 600 pesos. The three-hour access pass, in my experience, gave me enough time to check out all 250 interactive exhibits in the museum.

Aedi (left) and a Mind Mover on a Segway (right)

Before we began our scientific journey, we were welcomed by Aedi the robot and by Mind Movers (the museum's resident scientists) on Segways. The kids were definitely awestruck with the talking robot.

The Mind Museum has five galleries, namely: Atom, Earth, Life, Universe, and Technology. I was hoping a Mind Mover would act as a guide and explain what each gallery is about, but that was not the case. We were to learn and experience on our own.

 
Exhibits from the Atom (left) and Earth (right) galleries.
I am not going to post too many photos so as not to spoil your visit.

 Earthquake simulator

When trying out the exhibits, do remember to be considerate of other visitors and not hog the exhibits. One must also have the patience to read and follow instructions. Do not just randomly press buttons and pull levers. One, the experiment wouldn't work. Two, you might break it.

Some of the galleries show short films or have experiment demonstrations. Spare some time to watch the shows, it will be interesting. If your level of interest is not the same as mine, at least you can nap on the couch in the Space Shell while the film runs.

 Science in the Park

Learning is not only limited within the walls of the museum. Kids will surely enjoy the park outside. There, they can learn science through play. To gain entry to the park, one just needs to present their museum pass.


The Mind Museum
JY Campos Park, 3rd Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
(02) 909 6463
inquiry@themindmuseum.org
Tuesdays to Sundays 9AM-6PM (Closes at 9PM on Saturdays)
↧
↧

My Greek Taverna

November 10, 2013, 6:00 pm
$
0
0
What is a taverna? A taverna is a small restaurant serving Greek food.

What is a Greek taverna? A redundancy.

What is My Greek Taverna? It is...not mine.

Where is My Greek Taverna? My Greek Taverna is in Mango Square, along Mango Avenue, across One Mango. Just remember those three mangoes and you'll find it.


What's in My Greek Taverna? The taverna serves gyros, pitas, kebabs, and salads. Prices range from Php85 to Php215.

Please excuse the crappy photo of the menu.

How's the food at My Greek Taverna? It was okay. I wasn't wowed by it. But I was wowed by the price...wow, it's so expensive! I could get twice the size somewhere else for the same price of their half serving of kebab. It won't be Greek food, but it's the same concept as a gyro/kebab. Hint: shawarma.

I requested for the gyro and the Doner Kebab to be portioned into three. The photo of the Doner Kebab is just the half size.

What else would you like to say? My sister did air out that My Greek Taverna could have used reusable plates for customers dining in and just use the Styrofoam containers for take out. Yeah, why don't they?


My Greek Taverna
Mango Square, Mango Ave., Cebu City
0917 622 6993
Daily 5PM to 5AM


How My Greek Taverna robbed My Filipino Pitaka (wallet):
Hummus with pita Php85
Gyro Php185
Doner Kebab (half size) Php85

↧

Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda: How Can We Help the Philippines?

November 12, 2013, 6:25 pm
$
0
0
Donate in Kind
There are many donation centers around the Philippines, I am sure there's one near you.

In Cebu, here are a few suggestions:
ABS CBN at North Road, Jagobiao, Mandaue City
DSWD Field Office VII at MJ Cuenco Avenue cor. Gen Maxilom Avenue, Cebu City
The Freeman at D Jakosalem St corner V Gullas St, Cebu City
Gawad Kalinga at the old Sacred Heart School along Gen. Maxilom Avenue, Cebu City
The Philippine Red Cross along Osmeña Blvd., Cebu City (beside Jose Rizal Memorial Library)


If you'd like to donate for a specific area, visit these pages:
Malapascua Island, Cebu: Help Malapascua
Bantayan Island, Cebu: Bangon Bantayanons
Carigara, Leyte: Bulig Para Carigara
Isabel, Leyte: Bangon Isabel, Leyte
Ormoc, Leyte: Hope for Ormoc
Tanauan, Leyte: Burublig para ha Tanauan
Guiuan, Eastern Samar: Bangon Guiuan


Donate Time

If you're in Cebu, volunteer to pack goods at:
Operating 24/7 in these locations:

DSWD 7 AVRC II Camomot-Franza Rd. Labangon, Cebu City

DSWD Field Office VII MJ Cuenco Avenue cor. Gen Maxilom Avenue

Benito Ebuen Airbase in Mactan, Cebu
Contact persons: Mary Jane Muaña 0926 633 8652 or Beth Canalda 0916 437 1532
Rules: No wearing of shorts and slippers. No cameras/picture taking allowed.

Cebu International Convention Center in Guizo, Mandaue City, Cebu
Contact 032 343 9441

1PM to 10PM
Old Sacred Heart School along Gen. Maxilom Avenue
0925 574 8292 / (032) 266 1288

Operating 24/7
Osmeña Blvd., Cebu City (beside Jose Rizal Memorial Library)
(032) 253 9793 / (032) 412 4140

Please visit their facebook page for schedules
or contact 0942 359 1097

Casa Gorordo, #35 Lopez Jaena St. Cebu City
November 16 (Saturday) 8AM to 1PM
November 17 (Sunday) Shifts: 8AM-11AM / 11AM-2PM / 2PM-5PM
November 18 (Monday) Starts at 10AM
November 19 (Tuesday) Starts at 9AM
Register through their facebook page or call (032) 418 7234 loc 511 or text Ms Rose 0917 316 9888

University of San Carlos (USC) Main, P del Rosario St. Cebu City
Ongoing
Please bring ID
Contact Edelyn Juntila 0917 624 8439 for questions

Or volunteer to cook and pack hard-boiled eggs at  
Kaona Grill
Wilson St. Lahug, Cebu City
0917 323 0020 / 0917 310 7699 / 0917 303 8638
Starts at 11AM. Operations end on November 22.

For those outside Cebu, please visit this article from Rappler to find relief operations centers around the Philippines.


Donate to Rebuild Homes



Donate Money
Donate to any of these organizations. No amount is ever too small.


Australia / Belgium / Canada / China / Denmark / Finland / Germany / Hungary / Indonesia
Israel / Japan / Malaysia / The Netherlands / New Zealand / Norway / Russia / Singapore
Spain / Sweden / Turkey / United Arab Emirates / United Kingdom / United States of America


I know there are many small groups who are also doing their share that I missed to include in the list above.
Please send me an email so I can add you to the list.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank YOU!
↧
Search

Fuzion Gourmet

November 18, 2013, 6:00 pm
$
0
0
Your restaurant is kind of hidden with only the sign "Fuzion Gourmet" giving a hint of what's a few steps down and behind the door. How can you lure my friends and me into your restaurant?

Start a conversation. That's what Ms Divina Veloso-Couvreux, the owner of Fuzion Gourmet, did when we were walking by in September, a week before they launched. I did not catch how she hooked my friend into a long conversation, but long conversation they had. While they kept talking and talking, another friend and I observed somebody filling tables with different types of pasta before putting on the glass top. In the course of their conversation, she handed each of us 15% discount coupons and said to take a look inside.

Moroccan–inspired interiors

We are such easy targets. The peek into the restaurant metamorphosed into a two-hour stay. We had dinner and desserts. I chose the chicken tajine with couscous because it sounded exotic. My friends decided to have the trusted roasted baby back ribs.

Chicken Tajine (left) and Roasted baby back ribs (right)

Homemade Iced tea

What is chicken tajine? The menu describes it as "Moroccan stew with vegetables and spices served with ratatouille and couscous grain." Ratatouille is not that awesome rat cook in the animated movie, it's a French vegetable dish. Couscous is like rice but not really (oh just google it or, better yet, try it). I have no idea what Moroccan food is and how it tastes but I found my chicken tajine quite interesting, though lacking in quantity. My friends' baby back ribs were, yeah, ribs. Tender but nothing impressive. The homemade iced tea they said is brewed differently, I just can't remember how nor can I say the taste was any different from other iced teas I've had.

From left to right: Green tea muffin, red velvet muffin, vegetable samosa, and chicken pie

Now for desserts: muffins (not found on their menu but in the display case), samosa, and pie. First the samosa and pie. Just Php 25 each. The samosa was like empanada in disguise. In my opinion, the only difference was the shape. The chicken pie was okay. But for just Php 25, I'll pick this over the samosa (size wins this round). Of the four, I like the muffins best! The muffins were packed (not at all crumbly) and moist. And they were big!

Fuzion Gourmet claims to have "a thousand tastes in one place." Yes, the food we had were just a few, but check out their facebook page for the other 993 tastes. Maybe not exactly 993, but there are more choices on the menu, thus more reasons to visit again.


Fuzion Gourmet
Mango Square Mall, Cebu City
(032) 254 1586
Sunday to Thursday 10AM to 11PM
Friday and Saturday 10AM to 2AM


How a discount coupon made us spend for dinner:
Chicken tajine Php 165
Roasted baby back ribs Php 175
Homemade iced tea Php 45
Green tea muffin Php 85
Red velvet muffin Php 65
Vegetable samosa Php 25
Chicken pie Php 25
↧

Marley & Me

November 20, 2013, 6:00 pm
$
0
0
Marley & Me
John Grogan

This is the story of a family and their bumbling beast, Marley, a Labrador retriever, who was with them from puppyhood to senior citizenship (13 years). 

I knew I'd enjoy this book after reading the first few chapters. Throughout the book I found myself smiling. John Grogan writes with humor and affection. I think even those not so crazy about dogs would appreciate this book.
↧
↧

Mt. Uragay Spring

November 22, 2013, 6:00 pm
$
0
0
Itching to go for a swim?
Living in Cebu City and all the above suggestions are too far for you? Then try the cold spring in Carmen, Cebu—Mt. Uragay Spring. Carmen is just 40 km from Cebu City. Mt. Uragay Spring can be reached by taking a north bound bus, then alighting at the Carmen Public Market (or at the turn off before Carmen National High School, if you can spot the signboard for Mt Urugay Spring). Then take a motorcycle to the spring (if you want to walk, it's about 5km from the highway). Sorry, I can't provide estimated fares as I only hitched a ride with friends.


Brgy. Corte, Carmen, Cebu
(032) 429 8200

Entrance Fees:
Adult Php 50 / Child Php 25

Rentals:
Table only Php 100
Table with 4 chairs Php 150
Single Cottage Php 300
Family Cottage Php 500

Parking Fees:
Car Php 15
Motorcycle Php 10

Corkage Fee:
Drinks/Beer Php 50/case


This is a simple place with simple amenities. The basics are provided: tables and chairs or an open cottage (both for a fee), changing rooms, and a small sari-sari store at the entrance if you want some drinks and snacks. If you plan to have lunch/dinner there, best to bring your own food.

Mt. Uragay Spring has two pools. The smaller one (on the mid left of the photo above) is shallow, made especially for kids. The large pool is quite deep and very cold. For those who don't know how to swim, you might want to stay on the sides or deprive kids of space at the kiddie pool.
↧

What Time is It at Chatime?

November 24, 2013, 6:00 pm
$
0
0
What time is it at Chatime?

First Time. The first time I tried Chatime was early this year. Since then I have consumed about a dozen of their drinks. There are over a hundred drinks to choose from and from the few that I have tried, I keep coming back for their pearl milk tea, QQ milk tea, and strawberry milk tea (with real strawberry bits!).

Tea Time. Or coffee time? Both. Coffee + milk + tea = coffee milk tea (regular Php 100 / large Php 110 / add Php 20 for coffee jelly). Welcome to Mustachio's Favorites Club, Coffee Milk Tea! But I must remember not to drink this at night for it will keep me up until three in the morning.
Coffee milk tea with coffee jelly

Snack Time. The chicken chops sandwich (regular or spicy, Php 95) makes an everyday appearance on the menu but, shame on me, this is the first time I have tried it. Pros: tender and not at all dry. Con: Too spicy. I like spicy food but this was too spicy for me. Next time I will have the regular one. Another snack option is the fries. Potato lovers will like Chatime's fries (Php 65). Choose from three flavors: barbecue, cheddar cheese, or parmesan cheese. 
Chicken chops sandwich and fries

Lunch (or Dinner) Time. Also making an everyday appearance on the menu are the pepper salt chicken chops (regular or spicy, Php 75) and the annatto rice pilaf (Php 18). A good combination for a full meal. But if I were to choose between this and the sandwich, I will have the sandwich. Or maybe I am just saying this because at this point, my stomach was telling me to stop eating.
Pepper salt chicken chops and annatto rice pilaf

Thank You Time. Thank you Chatime for serving me three times—tea (coffee), snack, and meal—at one time.

Opening and Closing Times.
Chatime
eBloc 2, Cebu IT Park, Lahug, Cebu City
Sundays to Thursdays 11AM to 12MN
Fridays and Saturdays 11AM to 1AM

Expansion Time. Soon it will be time to expand. Chatime will open in SM City Cebu by December 2013.

↧

What's in a (Business) Name? Veintiquatro

November 29, 2013, 6:00 pm
↧
Viewing all 585 articles
Browse latest View live
Search