The Balisong family
Sinong Pinoy ba ang di nakakikilala sa balisong? Perhaps, there is no dagger as (in)famous in Philippine pop culture as balisong. The small, light and foldable dagger is really easy for anyone to hide it in their pockets—that is why it’s a crowd favourite. Being a “star” in Gus Abelgas’s show in the crime scene, balisong’s infamous legacy has developed a stereotypical image that “if you have a balisong, you’re feared by anyone.” Wow, seems that Panday has met his match! But people still wonder where does balisong came from, and they’ll soon find out that its origins are from the Land of A’la eh!
Continued…
Posted in Batangas, Luzon, Pitstop, Trip.
Tagged with .dagger, Balisong, Batangas, handicraft, Luzon, Philippines, Taal.
By Berniemack Arellano
– March 18, 2010
Slow-cooked corned beef of Le Bistro Vert
The stress of fast-paced city life has left us something to crave beyond the usual stuff that we see, feel or eat. We look at the countryside and imagine the fresh foods that the people consume there. How we wish we could have those in the metropolis, however, we are imprisoned with a whole lot of love from MSG and other stuff. The good thing though, fresh farm produce cooked to perfection and served by one of the country’s best chefs, is just located right at the heart of Philippines’ financial capital—right at the heart of Makati City!
Le Bistro Vert (“The Green Bistro” in English) promotes sustainable food by sourcing out its food ingredients locally, from small farmers, organic farms or community groups. In turn, these fresh produce–void of those fertilisers and other harmful ingredients—are cooked to perfection by Chef Sau Del Rosario, one of the finest chefs in the country.
Continued…
Posted in Food Trip, MetroManila.
Tagged with food, Kape Isla, Le Bistro Vert, Makati, Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines, restaurant, sustainable food.
By Berniemack Arellano
– March 6, 2010
An Epic Struggle: Inside Manila's MRT on a rush hour
Saturday, 28 February 2010. 5:45PM Manila Time. Ayala MRT Station – It was rush hour (on a Saturday ha!) and the northbound MRT was late for more than 5 minutes. Obviously, if the train is late, passengers-in-waiting increase. I was running out of time, so I forced myself to get into a jam-packed MRT and went to Ortigas. A lot of foul words are hurling inside the MRT as people still struggle to push themselves in already full MRT. Kulang na lang sarsa, we are packed and smelled like sardines!
6PM Manila Time, Shaw MRT Station – I thought there would be many passengers that would go out of Shaw Boulevard Station. I was wrong. Instead, it went towards the extreme of kissing your fellow passenger beside you or the door. The driver may have lost patience because of so many people forcing themselves to come in. He then said in a firm tone, “sa susunod na lang po na tren ang iba. Next train na lang po ang iba!” But his plea fell on deaf (and stupid) ears. The train closed its door and moved towards Ortigas. Bueno, viva sardinas!
Continued…
Posted in Land Transportation, MetroManila, Travel Tips.
Tagged with commute, commuting, Manila, MRT, Philippines, public transport.
By Berniemack Arellano
– March 3, 2010
Deco's La Paz Bathoy
I haven’t eaten La Paz Batchoy since…I don’t remember. Heck, I haven’t eaten Batchoy when I went home in Iloilo just a couple of weeks ago! Although there are batchoyans here in Metro Manila, but I wanted to taste something different from the usual batchoy (yes, Lucky Me! therapy! Haha!)
I just found out that Deco’s La Paz Batchoy has opened up its first branch here in Manila…even though if the outlet has been open since last year pa! It’s located in the newly-opened Southgate Mall near Magallanes Interchange in Makati (for commuters, its the big blue building with a television on top…and its on “EDSA-Mantrade”…sabihin nyo lang sa konduktor na “Mantrade”). Continued…
Posted in Food Trip, Iloilo, MetroManila.
Tagged with batchoy, Decos, filipino, food, Food Trip, Iloilo, la paz batchoy, Makati, Manila, Philippines, soup.
By Berniemack Arellano
– February 21, 2010
It was my first time I went to this festival…or fiesta. It is not the usual street dancing competition or handaan sa bahay-bahay festivities but it was a perfect way of celebrating Valentine’s Day and the Chinese New Year out of the hustle and bustle of Metro Manila. Nah, not the “Age of Aquarius” song again, but it’s “up, up and away, my beautiful, my beautiful balloon” in Clark Field in Pampanga as the people celebrate the 15th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta. The feast of hot air balloons and anything aviation has been running since February 11 (Thursday) and I was just in time for the final day of the said event (Feb 14)! Hurray for Flight Sim! Continued…
Posted in Festivals, Luzon, Pampanga.
Tagged with 15th Philippine Hot Air Balloon Fiesta, Central luzon, Clark Air Base, Clark Field, Festivals, Hot Air Balloon Fiesta, Pampanga, Philippines.
By Berniemack Arellano
– February 17, 2010
Wow…It’s been almost two weeks since the festivities and I still can’t get over the January celebrations either. That January though, I came home for somewhat like an annual pilgrimage for myself. I couldn’t resist the temptation of those throbbing drums pounding loud and hard in this southern Philippine city every January. I’ve been with this festival since 2003, yet it never failed to amaze me as it continually innovates itself year after year it is being celebrated by the Ilonggos. Outrageous and frenzy as some say it may seem but this is Iloilo’s grandest fiesta at its finest!
It was one crisp morning of January that the city streets were starting to feel the throbbing beat of the drums, as if Iloilo City’s core was a heart. As the sun shines in this central Philippine city, the crowd gradually increased to witness and enjoy Iloilo’s grandest fiesta, the Dinagyang Festival. Now, this is the time you’ll be seeing those dancers painted in dark brown (back then it was black…welcome to the era of political correctness, hehe!) with colourful costumes and choreography so agile and fast that you shouldn’t blink during their performance! Continued…
Posted in Festivals, Iloilo, Visayas.
Tagged with 2010 Dinagyang Festival, Ati-Ati, Dinagyang, festival, Iloilo, Iloilo City, Philippines, Visayas.
By Berniemack Arellano
– February 10, 2010
Valentines Day is fast approaching and so is the season of displaying love from the simplest way to the most sophisticated. Yet, are you far from your loved ones? Do you like to send them something sweet and thoughtful? Is it something that would they really appreciate and think that you care? Do you like to give them a piece of your love and passion as if you are just nearby? Well, worry no more. Island Rose keeps relationships alive by giving service to the people who would like to deliver flowers to their ones they love anywhere in the Philippines! Continued…
Posted in Uncategorized.
Tagged with Deliver Flowers to the Philippines, Island Rose, Philippine flowers.
By Berniemack Arellano
– February 7, 2010
Tribu Kasag of Banate in Kasadyahan 2010
Magsinadya kita! That’s what we do during Dinagyang. Sadya is a Hiligaynon term meaning “happy, joy or fun.” The Dinagyang Festival street dancing starts not on the Ati-Ati competition but with the Kasadyahan Festival. Held on a Saturday before the Ati-Atihan highlight of Dinagyang, it is a cultural dance parade, contest and showcase of Iloilo’s kabanwahanan or towns and several institutions within the city and the province (and I heard it is also open to all towns in Panay Island as well!) You don’t get to see soot-covered Ati warriors dancing during Kasadyahan like what most of us know about Dinagyang though. By the beat of the music and interpretative dance, the contingents showcase a myriad of cultural topics that is incorporated in every Ilonggo, from history to current events.
Continued…
Posted in Festivals, Iloilo, Visayas.
Tagged with 2010, Dinagyang, festival, Iloilo, Iloilo City, Kasadyahan, Philippines.
By Berniemack Arellano
– February 1, 2010
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