Blessings & Prosperity Food Court Opens on Ayala Corner Rufino Streets

A new food court opens on Ayala Avenue and Rufino Street, Makati City. Called Blessings and Prosperity Food Court, it houses stalls that offer street food such as fish balls or kwek-kwek (quail eggs covered with flour and deep fried), or even siomai.

It’s a  welcome treat for all workers in the area. If you like eating street food in an air-conditioned restaurant, then this food court is for you. Check it out!

SM Supermarkets Green Wednesday

Last Wednesday, I went to SM Makati Supermarket and did some grocery. At the check-out counter, I was asked, “Ma’am, paper bag or plastic bag?”

I said, “OK, paper bag.”

The bagger then put all my groceries in two paper bags. I had to carry the two paper bags by hugging them. With my shoulder bag and camera sling, I realized that it would be difficult for me to carry all of them to the shuttle parking. So, I asked the bagger if I could have a plastic bag to put my two paper bags in.

The bagger went, “You will have to pay Php3.00 ma’am. It’s our Green Wednesday rule.” Or something to that effect.

SM Supermarket’s purpose for this Green Wednesday dawned on me. Feeling guilty and since I’m also an advocate of going green, I endured the little inconvenience and carry the paper bags.

I commend SM really for all their green initiatives!

CityKart Racing Opens at Park Square 1, Makati

Kart racing enthusiasts out there, head for Level 5 7, Park Square 1, Ayala Center, Makati now. The CityKart Racing has just opened an outlet there.

Schedule:

Weekdays (Monday to Thursday): 3:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Weekends (Friday to Sunday): 10:00 am - 10:00 pm

I took this photo quickly as we were going out the parking one night. Will take better photos one of these days.

Cleaning Up Ayala Avenue

I was away for a week’s vacation  and was pleasantly surprised when I went back to work that Monday morning and saw these trash bins along Ayala Avenue.

What’s even more interesting is that the trash bins are categorized according to the kind of waste: non-biodegradable and biodegradable. The trash bins come in pair and are strategically placed, about every 10 meters away from the others.

I really hope people, especially those people smoking outside PBCOM building, would use these trash bins, and make Ayala Avenue much cleaner than it already is.

Kudos to those who have thought of this!

Let’s love this Earth. It’s all we got!

Easter Fun at Tapella Restaurant

Easter gives more reasons to have fun with family and friends with Tapella Restaurant’s Easter Fun. Kids will jump for joy and have a blast on Sunday April 04, 2010 from 4pm-7pm with magics, mimes and clowns! Games and tricks, egg painting contests, balloon twisting, fun filled activities and loads of prizes await kids in the much Easter Egg Hunt. Gather the most number of eggs and get prizes from Star Paper. What’s more is that kid’s will be delighted with dunkin’ donuts upon registration plus yummy spaghetti and other kiddie snacks while enjoying the event. For only php500nett, kids and family will have a holistic Easter Sunday.

Kids at heart will also enjoy sumptuous Easter especial starting from php300 and delight in the comforts of Tapella’s serene ambiance.

TAPELLA is another Spanish dining creation by Gaudi. Located in the cosmopolitan Greenbelt 5, TAPELLA is open all day and night and offers a wide variety of Spanish cuisine served in an informal and relaxed ambience. Headed by Executive Chef Alexandra Cacho, the restaurant specializes in tapas and paellas plus a wider range of salads, pastas and desserts served the Spanish way that will surely perk up your gustatory spree. The wine selection is from around the world valued well for money. The ambiance gives a modern and relaxed atmosphere with interiors designed with red and beige accent.

For inquiries and reservations please call 7572710.

Globe Telecom’s Run for Home 2010

Run for Habitat for Humanity on March 25th! Be on the starting point at 5AM.

Click here for more info!

Friday Wine Nights at Tapella, Greenbelt 3

Tapas, Paella and more - this is TAPELLA by Gaudi where Spanish dining has become innovative and exciting.  Located in the cosmopolitan Greenbelt 5, TAPELLA is the restaurant where the hip generation can satisfy their demanding appetite, maintain their youthful health and enjoy time.

Top caliber Chef Alexandra G. has prepared a menu of tapas, paellas, salads, seafood, pastas and deserts in the way they are served in Spain and in servings that can fit just one or to be shared by a group.  The wine selection is from around the world valued well for money.  Many are available by the glass.  The bar list comprises the most popular cocktails and drinks.

The ambiance gives a modern and relaxed atmosphere with interiors designed with wooden chairs and tables and soothing music to complete the setting.

Every Friday, Tapella offers Wine Night from 6:00pm-9:00pm indulge in all the wines and cocktail you want for only Php600. Savor carefully selected wines from around the world or enjoy a cocktail from the wide array of drinks, canapés, tapas and more available at the bar. Relax in a cozy, modern, no-frills atmosphere with authentic Spanish music and feel like you’ve stepped onto the Iberian Peninsula.

For more information and reservations, visit us at Ground Floor, Greenbelt 5, Ayala Center, Makati City or call 757-2710 to 11, visit www.tapella-restaurant.com, or email inquiry@tapella-restaurant.com.

E-jeepney Plying Makati Central Business District

Early this month, e-jeepneys started plying the streets of the Makati Central Business District.

According to Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, the e-jeepneys represent the future of road travel in the financial capital.

Athena Ronquillo, GRIPP chair and lead proponent of the e-jeepney initiative further said, “The e-jeepneys aim to demonstrate that there are climate-friendly alternatives to the current polluting modes of public transportation in the Philippines.”

Read more…

Now, look who did the design! It’s a work of a true artist: Toym Imao, who happens to by my freshman dormmate and friend in (Kalayaan Residence Hall) UP.

Converse Opens in Glorietta 3

Check it out!

Being on the (Philippine) Streets

For the past couple of days, I witnessed helplessness in the face of an authorized-to-nab traffic enforcer.

First.

I know my husband to be a careful driver and a law-abiding citizen. I am not saying this because he is my husband. He really is. His and my friends can attest to this. Despite that, he was nabbed for violating traffic rules twice.

The first one was on SLEX for running slow on a fast lane. The second incident happened last Sunday. He was arrested for beating the red light. Unfortunately, in the two incidents he was just a victim—he was at the wrong place at the wrong time. For who would be in his right mind would be slowing down on a fast lane? In last Sunday’s incident, it took place on the pedestrian lane between Glorietta and SM Makati (Yes, the beating-the-red-light regulation is enforced there. Surprised?!). He crossed the pedestrian lane on a green light but since the road was rugged because it was being reconstructed, the red light went on even before he reached the other side. But he was already an inch away from the finish-line so to speak. And he, who is a firm advocate of road courtesy and pedestrian lanes, would beat the red light? A good hour after, we went back to the same place and observed the motorists there. Many were beating the red light. Luckily for them, the traffic enforcers already were not around.

In both occasions, Wizheart had to surrender his license. I wonder what happened to the MMDA’s ticketing system where you get a ticket and you settle the penalty in the bank. That system is to me more in keeping with the times.

Second.

The other morning on my way to work, I saw a traffic enforcer again altercating with a jeepney driver at the West Service Road corner Merville Access Road. The jeepney driver—I didn’t know for what reason he was being arrested—refused to completely stop and give the traffic enforcer the chance to arrest him. The traffic enforcer even had to stand in front of the jeepney, but the driver didn’t budge. The traffic enforcer had no choice but to step aside. The driver took that chance to speed down the service road and escape. This was the same traffic enforcer who accused my husband of swerving, when Wizheart was only trying to avoid the out-of-line jeepney. He let go of us. Why? My observation below may explain that.

My observation.

In other countries, Filipinos are known to be good people—law abiding and hardworking. Why is it that here in their own country, many of them mess up?

I think because, we have reactive rules, and worse these reactive rules are implemented at random. Not clear. Illogical, even. Not consistent.

If you want people to follow the rules, be clear about your rules and implement them justly. But I’m just talking to my hand here really.

My (unsolicited) advice.

For pedestrians and motorists out there, pray every day that you won’t be in the wrong place at the wrong time.