What is Buyanihan?

Each day, Buyanihan features an unbeatable deal on the best stuff to do, see, eat, and buy in Metro Manila (for the time being) . By promising businesses a minimum number of customers, we get discounts you won’t find anywhere else. We call it “collective buying power!”

More info and FAQs on: http://www.buyanihan.com/learnmore.php

Pretty much, BUYanihan is based of the “Groupon” buying concept that’s VERY popular and successful in the U.S. right now! Using the power of the internet, you’re able to buy single retail items with the power of the group buying discount!

Anywayz, this week’s Best for Less, BUYanihan deal is:

50% Off on Swedish Massage at Blue Water Day Spa. Pay only P325 (instead of P650)!

Step into a world of wellness. Renew your energy. Purify your soul. Blue Water is the place where serenity wraps around you, comforting you amidst the chaos of city life. World-class quality standards ensure our customers emerge worry-free! We take pride of our experienced massage therapists and the latest spa technology to give customers the ultimate spa experience in the Metro.

Relax in serene and calm interiors. Blue Water Day Spa interiors echo the beaches of Ibiza, giving clients the illusion of being surrounded by water. Cooling blues and hues of silver take the weight off their shoulders. The atmosphere of serenity pervades.

Our holistic approach to wellness means we take care of our customers inside and out. Blue Water Day Spa thinks of how discerning clients want to relax and renew their energy to face the challenges of balancing work, life and family. No other spa offers unique signature treatments and technology that are available to everyone who needs to relax and enjoy a stress-free day.

The business of beauty and wellness has grown over the last decade due to the increasing demands of modern life on our bodies and minds. Blue Water Day Spa is committed to excellent service, adhering to nothing less than global standards in the spa industry.

From Signature Massage Treatments, Certified Masseuse and Therapists, European products, to Advanced Spa Technology, all these create the unique Blue Water Day Spa total wellness experience.

So next time, When In Manila, check out BUYanihan.com to get the best deals from around the metro! BUYAnihan offers the best for less! Be sure to take advantage of their awesome deal this week with my personal favorite luxury massage place in Manila: The BlueWater Day Spa! Try out their awesome Swedish Massage!

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Blue Water Day Spa Capitol Hills

BlueWater Day Spa Capitol Hills Official Website

211-29-49 / 952-48-29

Annex Bldg Capitol Golf and Country Clubhouse Capitol Hills Drive Diliman
Philippines, 1100

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Being a guy, I never really knew much about hairstyles, salons, hair services and all that other hairy stuff. All I know is that I go to the barber and sit down. They do the rest. Sometimes I like the results, sometimes I don’t.

Thankfully, I had my friend Bea Chua who invited me and Hannah of FlairCandy.com to try out their luxury hair services at Vivere Salon!

We checked out the Vivere Salon at Robinsons Place Ermita. You could tell from the looks of the salon alone that these people probably know what they’re doing!

Vivere Salon: Live it up by looking good!

Vivere Salon is what’s happening in hair and make up today. Vivere is known for precision cutting, styling and make up, color and texture – these are our specialties.

Geared towards fashion-savvy clients, Vivere Salon is a chain of full-service salons located at major sites in the Metropolis.

Vivere Salon offers clients with top of the line services in styling and make-up. Along with the relaxing ambiance of its salon minimalist interiors inspired by the best in Asia and Europe.

Bring life to your classic, everyday or formal beauty with the Vivere edge when you need it, when you want it!

What I really enjoyed about the experience here at Vivere Salon was how they also gave me a back massage while my hair was getting colored and also a head massage while I was being shampooed. I’m no diva, but they definitely seem to treat everyone like one.. SNAP SNAP!

Hannah LOVES her new hair and can’t stop talking about it. She complemented her stylist, the assistants, the venue and even the comfy chairs. If anything, I’d take her word for it.

Now…

Well… I’m still a guy, so I still can’t really tell you any in depth info on whether-or-not they followed proper protocol for hair cutting and if I indeed got the best style for the odd shape of my head or anything like that. All I know is that I really like my new hair cut.

I did ask them to fix up my face as well…. but unfortunately… they said that they can only take care of my hair…. and I’m happy with the results of that.

But now that we’ve experienced that luxury type of hair cuts at Vivere Salon, I don’t think I could ever go back to the regular barber Joe’s. With that said, WhenInManila.com and Vivere Salon have partnered up to give you guys the best hair that your face can withstand! Do follow WhenInManila.com on Twitter – @WhenInManila to win cool makeovers from Vivere Salon!!!

So remember, When In Manila, you can’t mess around with them raggedy hair cutting people. Only mess with the best! Get your hair services done at Vivere Salon! Oh and special thanks to my stylist: Peng Guevarra and Hannah’s stylist: Leo Antifino. Also, much thanks to Bea Chua for inviting us!

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VIVERE SALON LOCATIONS:

Robinsons Galleria, 3/L West Wing
Tel. No: (02) 910 5489

Robinsons Ermita, 4/L Midtown Wing
Tel. No: (02) 567 1955

SM Megamall, 5/L Mega B
Tel. No: (02)501 2158

SM North EDSA, The Annex, Lower GF
Tel. No: (02)501 2158

MarQuee Mall, 2/L
Tel. No: (045) 304-0627

VIVERE SALON WEBSITE:http://viveresalon.com/

VIVERE SALON Facebook Fan Page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Manila/Vivere-Salon/154663021226089?v=wall

VIVERE SALON Twitter:
http://twitter.com/vivere_salon

Vivere Salon: Live it up by looking good!

MMMMMMMMM mmmmmmmmm mmmmmmmm mmmmmmm!!!!!

That’s really all I have to say about this feature of “The Sweet Life by Ange.”

Thanks for visiting our site… enjoy the cupcakes!

Ok ok ok, so you want more info….

Well let me start out by telling you that Ange started baking in high school. Her pastries and goodies were soooooo good, like sooooo good soooo good, that people started wanting it more and more. So she set up a little business where she sold a few to friends and family. Of course, anything that’s as good as her cupcakes won’t stay a secret for long.

Very soon after, orders from all over started coming in. Before she knew it, Ange had set up a mini home business and was even recognized as an aspiring young entrepreneur!

The Sweet Life by Ange was born!

Her best seller is The Sweet Surrender cake which is her version of the Brazo de Mercedes with Ice Cream! It’s layer upon layer of ultimate sweet temptation that will have you surrender yourself for more! The Sweet Surrender: Brazo de Mercedes unlike you’ve ever tasted before. A mélange of soft meringue, custard and French Vanilla ice cream on a graham cracker crust.

This Sweet Surrender cake is also available in mango, strawberry, and chocolate (by special request).

Other than the Sweet Surrender, you also need to check out the other bestsellers – Ange’s Signature Cupcakes!!!

Marie Antoinette Cupcakes:

A Vanilla cupcake with Tequila Rose buttercream (available in virgin as well)

If the frivolous queen had gotten a bite out of this cupcake, she certainly would have said “Let them eat cupcakes!” instead. A buttery vanilla cake is topped with a swirl of Tequila Rose buttercream and a cherry on top! (also available in virgin). That’s the Marie Antoinette cupcake.

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Chanel Cupcakes:

A moist chocolate cupcake with Valrhona buttercream

The Chanel Cupcake is a luscious chocolate experience inspired by the timeless label. Valrhona dark chocolate buttercream atop a moist chocolate cupcake. The edible silver candy on top is reminiscent of the brand’s popular hand-woven handle. Tres jolie!

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Sugar Daddy Cupcakes:

A moist chocolate cupcake with Bailey’s buttercream

Diamonds are so five minutes ago. Cupcakes are a girl’s new best friend, especially this one. A creamy Bailey’s-infused buttercream frosting lavishes on a moist chocolate cupcake. Luxurious would be an understatement! Sugar Daddy Cupcakes from the Sweet Life by Ange.

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Satine Cupcakes:

A red velvet cupcake with cream cheese

The Sparkling Diamond of the Moulin Rouge encompassed beauty, freedom, and love. Her cupcake counterpart is certainly no exception. A rich, moist red velvet cupcake coupled with an alluring cream cheese frosting. The Satine cupcake is a delicious sin indeed!

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And MANY MORE other cupcakes, desserts and sweets!

So next time, When In Manila, satisfy your sweet tooth and order the home made goodies from “The Sweet Life by Ange!” Be sure to try out their specialty and best seller: The Sweet Surrender, Brazo de Mercedes. Also have a taste of  The Sweet Life Cupcakes that’ll have you on a sweet sugar high that’ll last for days!

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THE SWEET LIFE by Ange

5B Mabini Street, Barangay Poblacion Makati City

Mobile: 0917.8238198
Tel: 815.0188
Telefax: 752.8692
inquiry@thesweetlifebyange.com

Ange de la Cruz 
ange@thesweetlifebyange.com

ONLINE: TheSweetLifeByAnge.com

Multiply: http://thesweetlife.multiply.com

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OK… I’m freakin’ HUNGRY now!!!!

Looking at the pictures and viewing that video again as I try to write this blog post is possibly one of the most difficult things I’ve had to do in my life…. well right next to child-birth…. but I’ll tell you about that some other time…

Seriously though! The food at Chi’s Brick Oven Kitchen by BF Homes Paranaque is A-F-ING-MAZING!!!!

Chi’s Brick Oven Kitchen is an extension of Chi’s kitchen that started with authentic wood fired pizza. Slowly, from that original tiny pizza store, they’ve added more and more amazing dishes to their menu and now have the most spectacular selection known to pizza restaurants!

Furthermore, their authentic wood fired pizza gets even more authentic when you try the special flavors they have. Other than the usual pizzas you can get, Chi’s Brick Oven Kitchen also serves authentic wood fired Pinoy Pizzas! What’s a Pinoy / Filipino Pizza you ask? Well, some samples we tried were the Sisig Pizza and the Binagoongan Pizza!

I personally liked Binagoongan Pizza a whole lot, especially since I love Bagoong! Especially with my Kare-Kare! (For those not familiar, Bagoong is a shrimp based sauce that’s very common here in the Philippines especially with the local dish called Kare-Kare).

OH OH and we weren’t able to try it, but they also had Balut Pizza on the menu! So we’ll definitely be back for that one! (Balut is another Philippine delicacy, in a nutshell, it’s a duck egg)

Everything was so tasty and so well presented. I fell in love with every dish they laid in front of us.

Other than the authentic wood fired brick oven pizzas, I also recommend the Puchon, which is a Pugon cooked Lechon Kawali. First, a Pugon is the Filipino term for a Brick Oven. Secondly, Lechon Kawali is another very popular Filipino dish made from pork where the mead becomes very juicy and tender while the skin turns super crispy and yummy!

Along with that, we had the Adobo Flakes Fried Rice which was equally tasty!

Also, do not dare forget to have dessert at Chi’s Brick Oven Kitchen by BF Homes Paranaque.

We tried the Volcano Lava Chocolate Cake (forgot what it was called exactly) but pretty much it was like a volcano oozing out chocolate lava! You can check out the cool footage on the video above that shows how nice the presentation of this dessert really is.

We also got to thy the Blueberry Cheesecake Pizza Dessert. I don’t think I’ll need to explain what that is… pretty much a combination of a Blueberry Cheesecake and a pizza. Again, check out the video to see how cool that was!

Anywayz, I’m definitely hungry now! A road trip down south to the BF Homes / Paranaque area is definitely worth it if I can have some Chi’s Brick Oven Goodness!!!!

But don’t take my word for it! You need to try it out yourself! Here’s their menu:

Welcome to Chi’s Brick Oven Kitchen! 
Looking for a relaxing and cozy place to dine in the South? Come and try our kitchen…Chi’s Brick Oven Kitchen, where you’ll get to see, smell, feel and taste the raw earthiness and sincerity of our wood-fired brick oven fare. Experience authentic brick oven pizzas, rustic renditions of classic favorites, as well as home-cooked originals, delectable dessert pizzas and our one-of-a-kind brick oven chocolate cake.
So come and drop by our kitchen soon and feel right at home!

So next time, When In Manila, head down south to the BF Homes Paranaque are and try out Chi’s Brick Oven Kitchen! Be sure to try the authentic wood fired pinoy pizza flavors, the puchon and definitely the desserts!!!!

Visit Chi’s Brick Oven Kitchen at 209 Aguirre Ave., B.F. Homes, Paranaque City, Philippines

Chi’s Brick Oven Kitchen is open 
Tuesdays thru Fridays:
11:30 am to 2:00 pm
6:00 pm to 10:00 pm

Saturdays and Sundays
11:30 am to 10:00 pm

We’re closed on Mondays.

For Reservations and Inquiries call 63.2.820.7210 or 0917.8971117/0917.9260555

Imagine the greatest fight in the history of boxing… Pacquiao vs Floyd Mayweather. Now imagine that Pacquiao vs Mayweather fight in 3D!

We were invited to the press event where Manny Pacquiao hopes to make that 3D wet dream of ours happen. The Pacman Pacquiao signed up to be an endorser for Sony’s new line of 3D Tvs.

I was able to sneak in a question during the Q&A and Manny showed us that he’s got some funny in him too! Sorry about the motion sickness the video might give you. My camera was zoomed in all the way so every tiny movement was exaggerated.

The Main Event:

The Biggest Name in Boxing Tandems with the Biggest Name in 3D Entertainment

He was the very first boxer in sports history to win world titles in seven different weight divisions.  The first boxer ever to win the lineal championship in four different weight classes.  The best pound for pound boxer in the world and a committed public servant.

A living legend in the field of boxing is teaming up with another titan, this time in the consumer technology and entertainment industry, for one historic moment.   At the New World Hotel in Makati City, Manny “The Pacman” Pacquiao was introduced by Sony Philippines as its newest partner in bringing the 3D World experience closer to Filipinos.

“It is our honor to welcome this great hero into the Sony family,” said Mr. Takao Kuroda, President and Managing Director, Sony Philippines.  “Pacquiao is a man whose personal achievements have given his countrymen a shared experience of national glory.  Being a true symbol of power and triumph make him the perfect ambassador in our campaign to bring the sensational experience of the Sony 3D World to the Philippines.”

Pacquiao is excited to be part of this project. “I am very happy that Sony Philippines is investing in bringing their most advanced 3D products to the country,” he said.  “I am also happy that they have entrusted me to help Filipinos appreciate their 3D technology.”

Sony’s heritage of innovation and renowned breakthrough technologies have brought to life many well-loved products, from wonderful movies, beautiful music, and epic games, to the sleek and powerful gadgets you have in your home.   With its pioneering 3D technology, Sony is the only tech company that has the ability to offer consumers everything from creating and producing 3D content (with the use of impressive 3D hardware products) and delivering the most complete 3D experience possible to our homes today.

Sony’s showcase of the 3D TV last February of this year was followed by the highly anticipated introduction of PlayStation in the country.  PlayStation, being one of the consoles which can playback content (games and movies) in 3D – the other one being the Blu-ray player.  As competitors can only offer 3D TV and playback, for Sony, the 3D madness does not stop there.  The NEX-5 – which is able to capture photos in 3D Sweep Panorama shots – was also launched in Philippine shores last July.  Through the 3D Mall Tours, Sony was able to reach more Filipinos as they showcased 2010 FIFA World Cup Finals in 3D.

Beyond the leadership position Sony and Pacquiao both enjoy in their respective fields, the team-up is also the result of their shared commitment to the value of bridging imagination and action, vision into concrete reality.

“With every endeavor, we try to capture the spirit of our make.believe brand message,” said Mr. Kuroda.  “Manny Pacquiao represents what Sony has always believed in; he was able to make his dreams a reality through his strong commitment to the value of hard work, and just as importantly, his desire to inspire the people who believe in him.  This is something the company as a global leader shares with the People’s Champ.  ”

As Manny Pacquaio continues to raise the bar of excellence in the field of sports, Sony remains to set the trends that others can just follow.  The biggest name in 3D entertainment only deserves a world class act in boxing.  This epic clash generated by these two iconic giants signifies the beginning of legendary breakthroughs in 3D technology.  Sit back and watch out for more exciting revelations from Sony and Manny.

For more information, please call (02) 878-7600 or 0917-8077669, email info@sph.sony.com, or log on to www.sony.com.ph.

When In Manila, be sure to watch every Manny Pacquiao fight on a 3D TV to get that awesome feel of being in the ring yourself! GO MANNY!!!!

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Having the desire to carry on the rich culture and heritage of Barrio Fiesta, the Ibayo concept was put to life. Ibayo, literally meaning “the next town,” offers the same classic Filipino favorites such as the famous Crispy Pata, the mouth-watering Sinalab Special, and the crave satisfying Mama Chit’s Special. While loyal to its Barrio Fiesta roots, Ibayo offers a new and exciting line of signature food and cocktail, redefining the classic Filipino dining experience with a modern bistro twist.

To complete the Ibayo experience, it is highly recommended for one to try the Ibayo Sunset. Other must-try concoctions include the Skywalker, the Two Alpha, and the Mango Bongo – each offering a different range of flavors that will surely leave you asking for more. Ibayo also offers a bar chow menu including reinvented Filipino favorites like Inihaw na Liempo, Grilled Tuna Belly, Sizzling Mushrooms, Pork Barbecue and Sizzling Corn that will definitely satisfy your short cravings. For the enthusiasts looking for an out-of-the-ordinary meal, Ibayo Filipino Restaurant recommends starting with the Ibayo Firesticks, Ibayo White Adobo and the Ibayo Crispy Catfish.

I was able to try the White Adobo dish and LOVED it! Hannah of FlairCandy.com‘s favorite was the Black Seafood Paella / Seafood Paella Negra dish (seen in picture above).

So next time, When In Manila, try out some local Filipino food! Try Ibayo across the SM Mall of Asia and get your Pinoy Food cravings taken care of! Remember that Ibayo is from the same people that have brought us Barrio Fiesta food so  we know we can count on them to bring us great new recipes for traditionally great Filipino food!

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Recently, I was invited by Thunderbird Resorts Philippines to come check out their Mediterranean-inspired architecture at Poro Point. The Thunderbird Resorts Philippines’ San Fernando, La Union hotel!

It was a wonderful three day stay for me and my friends! The resort itself was very beautiful and seemed like the ideal place to have the best rest and relaxation sessions of your life! I was told that weddings and company retreats are also very common here, but most often, guests come to relax and get away from the crazy busy city life.

Here’s an except from theirsite:

Discover the exotic charm and majestic beauty of Thunderbird Resorts’ first destination in Asia: the island archipelago of the Philippines. With our two integrated luxury resort venues in the highland oasis of Rizal and in the Mediterranean-inspired peninsula of Poro Point, you can live your dream – and live it spectacularly.

Leisure, business, travel, recreation: no matter the purpose of your visit, book your stay at Thunderbird Resorts, and you’ll get that delightful feeling of not wanting to be elsewhere. Be charmed by the inspired, mood-setting architecture of our resorts. Embrace the pleasures of modern comfort and privilege that we offer. Indulge in our smorgasbord of international cuisine and innovative dining. Enjoy our world-class service, and then be surprised by the warmth of local hospitality. Delight at the scenic, dreamy views of nature, and be thrilled by the vibrancy of nightlife and entertainment.

We invite you to Thunderbird Resorts Philippines. It’s an invitation to an experience of luxury, set amid the tropical havens.

Overall, it was a great experience! The rooms were clean and I love their beds and how it just seemingly made me melt into them. In the room was also a nice flat screen television and WiFi access throughout the Thunderbird Resort. There was an amazing view from the patio.

The bathroom was beautiful and clean. Best of all, it was really spacious. Unfortunately, the rainfall shower was broken in my room and they weren’t able to fix it before I left so I wasn’t quite able to enjoy the very spacious bathroom as much as I had hoped. I’m sure it would have been a very relaxing shower had it worked.

Oh and did I mention the extra cool stuff at the resort? They had everything from an 18 hole golf course to a giant pool with a pool bar!

Also, do try out the restaurant “Olives” within the Thunderbird Resort. The breakfast buffet was great and we also tried some wood-fired / brick oven pizza for lunch which tasted great.

Most of all, you really need to just come here to relax and melt your stress away. The amazing sceneries, the breathtaking architecture, the serene surroundings and pretty much a complete package of serenity will surely make you wash away any worries.

So next time, When In Manila, take a relaxing trip out of town to Poro Point San Fernando, La Union and stay at the Thunderbird Resorts! Do try out their golf course, swim in their pool, appreciate their Greek / Mediterranean style architecture or just come to relax. Oh and I’ll also share with you our city tour that Thunderbird Resorts took us on in a later post.

ThunderBird Resorts Poro Point San Fernando La Union Facts

Rooms

22 Deluxe Rooms

10 Deluxe VO Rooms

4 Deluxe Suites

Room Features and Amenities

HD LCD Television with Home Theatre Surround Sound System

Ipod Docking Station with Speakers

In-room Electronic Safety Box

Pantry with Coffee and Tea-making facilities

Free Wi-Fi Access

Jacuzzi bath tub and microwave oven (Deluxe VO Rooms)

Furnished living room, kitchenette and dining  areas (Deluxe Suites)

With hair dryer Daily Newspaper!

Sports Facilities

The Cliffs Golf and Beach Club

Santorini Swimming Pool

Half Court Basketball Area

Water Sports

Jogging Path at the Boardwalk

Volleyball Area

And of course, don’t forget the Beach Area

Other Facilities

Meeting & Banquet Facilities (Patio Santorini, Lobby Meeting Room, Amphitheater)

Hotel Food and Beverage Outlets (Olives Restaurant, Patio Santorini, Pool Bar)

Gaming Facilities (Fiesta that’s open 24 hours)

Food and Beverage Outlets (Vegas Cafe and Cabana Bar)

25 hour Shuttle Service (drives within the compound)

ThunderBird Resorts Asia Contact Details

Resort Address: Poro point Freeport Zone, San Fernando City, La Union

Telephone no.: +63.72.888.7777

Makati Office:  24 F Salcedo Towers, 169 H.V. Dela Costa St., Salcedo Village, Makati City

Telephone no.: +63.2.886.5555

Fax no.: +63.2.894.3333

Email: pororeservations@thunderbird-asia.com

Website: www.thunderbird-asia.com

On a quiet Saturday night, I was suddenly called to action by a friend of mine. He said: ”Vince, we need someone to host an event tonight… it’s a lingerie fashion show at Metrowalk and…” This is the point where I interrupted him: “You had me at hello…. or lingeire… but yeah, you had me…”

So it came to be, I hosted the first ever major event of Prime Elite Events and of POUT Lingerie – the Angels and Devils Intimate Lingerie Fashion Show!

The POUT Lingerie exclusive fashion show was held at Metrowalk at Club Phi.

Metrowalk itself is a nice place to hang out in Manila. It’s close to the business offices in the Ortigas Business District. There’s bars, clubs, poker rooms, live music, food and a lot of other cool stuff here. Though I have yet to personally confirm, I’ve heard stories that there are also massage parlors with “happy ending” type services close by.

Furthermore, Metrowalk is close to other places like City Golf driving range and the Home Depot center which has tons of other seafood restaurants, clubs and bars.

I was actually there in the Ortigas San Juan area recently having a crazy crazy night with the Mellow 94.7 listeners party.

Anywayz, back to the event, again it was the POUT Lingerie premier fashion show.

Our collection is based on the liking of today’s modern woman. We carry baby doll dresses, loungewear, corsets and seductive lingerie for ladies that drive men crazy! Go ahead and intensify your passion and desire or simply feel good about your curves. Now, owning that sexy and yet affordable lingerie is simply a click away!

Our aspiration is to treat every client as an individual and present a pleasant, enjoyable shopping experience. So indulge yourself and your romantic nature and explore our items featuring quality products for women.

Pout Lingerie offers first hand customer service and acquires products from the finest manufacturers around the world and are continuously on the lookout for fresh and new collections and styles. Enjoy our first batch of limited alluring lingerie and order now!

This was the POUT Lingerie “Angels and Devils” Intimate Lingerie Fashion Show at the Ortigas Metrowalk Club Phi.

As you can see from the video and pictures, I’m pretty sure these people at POUT Lingerie definitely know what they’re doing.

So next time, When In Manila, be sure to check out the cool events and restaurants at Metrowalk. Also, When In Manila, do get yourself a set of sweet, sexy lingerie from POUT Lingerie!

POUT Lingerie website = www.pout-lingerie.com

The Philippine Daily Inquirer asked WhenInManila.com to come up with our 10 favorite things to do “When In Manila!” I was, of course, glad to oblige.

Pick up your copy of the July 31, 2010 Saturday edition of The Philippine Daily Inquirer.

See a summary of my 10 Must-Do’s in the Metro article below with links to the posts we had for them here on WhenInManila.com. Check those internal links to get more info, see pics and watch the video of our favorite must-do’s in Manila.

Here are the top 10 things to do in Manila!

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10 Must-Do’s in the Metro:

1. Be an artsy fartsy – Cubao X

2. Run like Forest or skate like Hawk – around the Fort

3. Adventure eating – Zenses Neo Shnaghai Cuisine

4. Get lost in a desert of dessert – Dezato Café

5. When it’s all at stake – Melo’s Steak Restaurant

6. Freestyle in the Park – Parkour running in Luneta

7. Avocado like never before – Lia’s Cakes

8. Movie and a massage… at the same time! – BlueWater Day Spa

9. Learn to drive your car sideways – Drift school

10. Take it to the streets – Street food

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You can read the full article: “10 Must-Do’s in the Metro” from The Philippine Daily Inquirer here – http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/super/super/view/20100731-284058/10-must-dos-in-the-Metro

Anywayz, do remember that When In Manila, check out WhenInManila.com to see all the coolest things to do in and around the Philippines!

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Cebu Pacific Airlines recently conducted a “Backpacking Adventure Challenge” for 10 lucky (and brave) souls. I was fortunate enough to be selected as one of the participants for this cool journey. You know me, anytime there’s adventure involved, I’ll usually be at the front seat asking: “Are we there yet?”

The challenge was to head out and have the most number of adventures with the least amount of money spent. So we had to travel like a backpacker, live like a backpacker, think like a backpacker and spend like a backpacker. We were given a budget of P24,000 (approx $530 US Dollars) to spend among the two of us. The only fees that had been paid were our flights with Cebu Pacific Air. They showed us the total airfare and I was impressed by how truly affordable they were.

Cebu Pacific Airfare (lowest year-round fare)

• Manila – Cebu = P748
• Cebu – Cagayan De Oro = P648
• Cagayan De Oro - Davao = P648
• Cagayan De Oro - Iloilo = P1,288
• Iloilo - Manila = P748

Total airfare: P4,080

So it was set, five teams of two members each headed out to conquer the backpacking world in the Philippines! I was partnered up with fellow blogger Jonel Up of LetsGoSago.net. The good news was that Jonel was DETERMINED to win this, the bad news was that he was REALLY DETERMINED to win this.

Think of a pharaoh in Egypt whipping his slaves and telling them to keep working… well, that’s pretty much how Jonel ran this operation. LOL, I exaggerate but I swear Jonel did so much research for this and would not sleep or rest throughout the trip.

In the end, we amassed over 100 videos, about 1,500 photos, 2 aching bodies and priceless stories to last a lifetime… including one about us almost being eaten by a Crocodile!!!!

This video is a quick preview of the journey we had from Manila to Cebu to Cagayan De Oro to Davao to Iloilo and back to Manila. Four destinations in five days! I’ll go into detail for each destination and even more into detail for my favorite special travel spots in the posts to come. In the end…. well I’ll tell you those stories later….

So yeah, remember that When In Manila, you need to try backpacking around the Philippines so you can save lots of $$$ while still allowing yourself to explore the awesomeness of this country! Do visit Cebu, Cagayan De Oro, Davao and Iloilo! I’ll give more details on what to do at those destinations soon.

Special thanks and shout outs to Mark Christian Parladé, Charisse Vilchez, Michelle Eve De Guzman, Jonel Uy, Katrina Paras, Julie Alegre, Bryan Garcia, Alexander Pastor II, Jill Lejano, Pamela Pastor, Rhiannon Halley, Diana Uy

Thanks to the Sabah Tourism Board of Malaysia for helping make this event happen. Will write more about them when I go visit and get their tour in September-ish.

Sabah Tourism Board, 51 Gaya Street, 88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah Malaysia.
Tel: +6088 212121   Fax: +6088 212075   Email: info@sabahtourism.com

http://www.sabahtourism.com

Thanks to Stratworks Marketing Communications, Cebu Pacific Airlines, the Primer Group ( High Sierra, Sanuk, Columbia Sportswear, Recreational Outdoor eXchange R.O.X., and Eagle Creek ), and to Canon Cameras for putting together an AWESOME experience.

The Most Affordable Way to Travel Around the Philippines: Backpacking!

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Life In A Day is a historic global experiment to create the world’s largest user-generated feature film: a documentary, shot in a single day, by you. On July 24, you have 24 hours to capture a glimpse of your life on camera. The most compelling and distinctive footage will be edited into an experimental documentary film, executive produced by Ridley Scott and directed by Kevin Macdonald.

The film will premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2011 and will be available on YouTube. If your footage makes it into the finished film, you’ll be credited as a co-director and you could be one of 20 contributors brought to Sundance to ce;ebrate with Kevin Macdonald.

For more information, visit youtube.com/lifeinaday

Mellow 94.7 radio DJ Vince Golangco of http://WhenInManila.com http://VinceGolangco.com and Top Blogger Hannah Villasis of http://FlairCandy.com spotted on ETC Vibe and ANC’s Citiscape at the Meg Magazine Anniversary party at the Amber Ultra Lounge!

One of the goals of Gawad Kalinga is to empower people through the elimination of poverty. Gawad Kalinga (GK) defines poverty as:

“Poverty is not an economic problem, but a behavioral one.”

Poverty strips people of their dignity. Force a man to live like an animal and sooner than later, he will begin acting like one. The root cause of poverty is the loss of human dignity, and this is the foundation of the work of Gawad Kalinga.

According to GK, we can empower people by making them feel dignified. One of the basic necessities of life is a place for shelter. So building homes is one way for GK to help the millions of people start re-building their homes and lives. Gawad Kalinga is not a charity… it’s a movement!

We visited the Gawad Kalinga Pinagsama site in Taguig. The WhenInManila.com crew, with Vince Golangco, Harold Soon and Jason Qua got to see first hand how truly powerful this project and community is.

Thanks so much to Myra Ortega and Michael Kevin De Veyra Goco for accompanying us on this eye-opening journey!

If you want to help out and volunteer some time to the Gawad Kalinga communities, visit http://GK1world.com and see how you too can bring empowerment to those who really need it.

When In Manila, lend a helping hand at building communities and ending poverty by volunteering some time and love with Gawad Kalinga. You’ll be sure to empower and uplift lives of other with a positive ripple effect having no foreseeable end. “Gawad Kalinga Building communities to end poverty.”

*Some photos courtesy of Myra Ortega of Gawad Kalinga

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Contact Gawad Kalinga:

Partnerships
Email: partnerships@gk1world.com

Volunteerism
Email: volunteers@gk1world.com 

International Volunteer/Internship Program
Email: builders@gk1world.com

Tours
Email: tours@gk1world.com

If your question does not fall under any of the above, you can e-mail us at: info@gk1world.comor call the GK Secretariat in the Philippines at (02) 718-1738 to 41.

You can also visit the GK Global Headquarters :
4/F Profriends Center, 55 Tinio Street
Barangay Addition Hills, Mandaluyong City
Metro Manila, Philippines 1552

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Surfing is my absolute favorite thing in the world. I can remember the days when I lived in San Diego and the beach was just 5 short minutes away. In Manila though, you’d have to drive hours out of the city just to get some good surf. Fortunately, you can just come to Club Manila East water park, Philippines instead to fill your surfing needs.

The Club Manila East water park is no more than a 45 minute drive away from Manila!

It’s a cool water park with enough fun pools to keep you entertained. They have multiple wave pools for surfing and swimming, along with a kayaking pool, a giant slide, a lap pool, a shaded pool, a cliff diving pool and my all time favorite: the kiddie pool!

Only one wave pool was operational when I went there since it was a weekday on their non-peak season. It was a great pool for beginners who are just learning the basics of surfing. I wouldn’t really recommend it to professionals who already have their sea-legs cut out and who love the feel of nature. Either way, it was great to get on a board again! Again, this I believe would be perfect for newbies who have never tried surfing before.

The surf instructors were really cool too! They were very patient and fun to hang with. Plus, the surfing coaches did some cool tricks for us to check out!

They also have a “Giant Slide” at Club Manila East. I couldn’t quite get my speed going and didn’t really get to go on a full ride down the slide, but my siblings somehow found a way to do so. There’s only one slide here so hopefully you can figure out how to ride it the right way. Supposedly, you should only let your shoulder blades and your feet touch the slide as you slide down… I guess my ass was too big and fat so it was giving me too much friction to be able to get any speed going…

Another one of the cool attractions at Club Manila East water park includes the Cliff Diving Pool! There was a ledge you could jump off of that was 20 feet high and there’s an even higher wall you could climb up on that takes you up to a 27 foot dive. Having cliff dived in Ariel’s Point Boracay on the 45 foot jump, I thought this would be a piece of cake… but standing there at the edge of the plank is still different and scary every single time!

This is a cool place to get your first jump in though as it’s a very controlled environment in case you’re afraid of the actual cliffs and the deep blue sea. I really recommend you try this, even if you’re scared. The feeling of actually overcoming this fear of mine really registered on my “accomplishment” meter!

Oh and the video we took showed someone doing the “Eagle Swan Dive” that was made popular by Marc Nelson and coined here first! Do check out that other video and also the FAIL belly flops of my friends from the first time I tried cliff diving.

http://www.wheninmanila.com/cliff-diving-at-ariels-point-in-boracay/

http://www.wheninmanila.com/how-not-to-cliff-dive-and-falling-in-gay-love-with-marc-nelson/

Anywayz, When In Manila, do drive out a short while to get to the Club Manila East water park in Taytay Rizal. It’s a cool place to cool off from the crazy weather in the Philippines. Do make sure to get some surfing classes and to try the Cliff Dive to maximize your time at Club Manila East water park.

Club Manila East water park

Km. 24 Manila East Road Taytay, Rizal 1920

Phone: 284-4740 to 41 / 284-4754 or 58 / 284-4768 to 69 / 660-2801 to 02

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If you weren’t there, then you totally missed out! Manila Nightlife will never be the same….

YOUR favorite radio station, Mellow 94.7, threw a party for the listeners, by the listeners and with the listeners! This was the Mellow 94.7 626 Listeners’ Party at Club Enigma at the Ortigas Home Depot Center.

It was a complete BLAST! We got to meet the coolest listeners and the most awesome people there! It was a bit packed but we still had way too much fun!

There were overflowing Bacardi drinks, Poi Dancers, a Photo Booth and of course, the best beats being spun by your very own DJ Chris of Mellow 94.7′s C&C Music Factory!

Thanks to everyone who came and we’re definitely looking forward to the next Mellow 94.7 Listeners’ Party!

Club Enigma is Manila Nightlife’s new party central located at the Food Street of Home Depot Julia Vargas, Ortigas Centre, Pasig City Metro Manila Philippines.

Enigma at the Ortigas Home Depot Center was a cozy little venue. It was perfect for our intimate night with our favorite listeners. Parking is a BIATCH though at the Ortigas Home Depot Center so I do recommend going there early. There are like 10 restaurants and 20 clubs / bars plus an open field for concerts there so I’m sure you’ll find one that fits your need. Again though, parking is a big pain, so go there early.

Be sure to tune in to Mellow 94.7 to hear about the hippest and hottest future parties and events! You can listen from anywhere in the world! LISTEN WORLDWIDE – http://Mellow947.fm

When In Manila, do tune in to YOUR favorite radio station: Mellow 94.7 – Sounds Good! Also, do check out Club Enigma at the Home Depot Ortigas Center if you’re looking to party it up!

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Mellow 94.7 Sounds Good! – http://Mellow947.fm

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Club Enigma -

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When In Manila, here’s the one holiday you might want to take note of… not because you get gifts or because you get to see cool fireworks. You want to take note of this day because you are going to get WET!

The City of San Juan Philippines in Metro Manila is named after St. John the Baptist who was the person that supposedly baptized Jesus Christ himself with water. So to commemorate this, every June 24, which is the Feast Day of St. John the Baptist, people of San Juan, Manila celebrate this by wetting everyone they see!

Kids run around with buckets of water, houses turn on their hoses and squirt any unsuspecting on-comer and firetrucks roam the streets in mayhem just to get people wet.

Sounds fun right?

WRONG!

See this would be perfectly cool and awesome if this was some sort of national holiday where we stayed home and just ran out in our bikinis to bask in some water wasting activities… but nooooo…. it’s actually a work day and San Juan happens to have one of the biggest business districts in the country! So this means, we suits at work.

Thankfully, I had my doors locked in my car as some crazy people tried to open the door while holding buckets in their hand. I later on heard horror stories about people commuting to work or riding bikes to work who forgot about this or who weren’t expecting it to reach a certain street or something… well they got completely drenched!

So anyway, When In Manila, and you’re not working, then go have some fun by wetting yourself at the “Araw ng San Juan” or San Juan Day Festival. If you have work or aren’t ready to get wet, do make sure to avoid the city of San Juan on June 24 of every year! Unless of course you like going to the office drenched.

I’m not kidding when I say that my tenderloin steak at Melo’s Steakhouse pretty much melted in my mouth! You can even check out my video where I show my butter knife smoothly slicing through my tenderloin steak like it was a tomato.

I haven’t had a good quality steak in a long time so Melo’s Steakhouse in Makati was exactly what I needed!

The best part of it all was how they also taught me how to properly know my steak. I guess you can call it a Steak 101 Class. Here’s the info you need to help you order the right steak. Let me  share what you need to know about steaks:

STEAK 101: Everything you need to know about STEAK!

What is Wagyu Beef?

Wagyu Beef is the softest beef you can ever find! (Melts in your mouth, not in your knife!) Wagyu is the Japanese breed of cow used to produce Kobe beef, which is known to be the softest beef in the world.

What is Certified Angus Beef?

Angus Beef that is 100% certified by the USDA. It’s definitely a cut above the rest!

What are the different kinds of Steak?

Rib-eye -  Fine-grained steak. Rich, beefy flavorful. Juicy with generous marbling throughout. One of the most tender beef cuts.

Tenderloin - The highest-quality beef roast. Fine texture and mild, yet succulent flavor. Pure lean meat.

Striploin - Lean, tender and flavorful roast that is fine-grained with a sturdy texture.

T-Bone - Combines two lean, tender steaks. Consists of both striploin and tenderloin steaks  If diameter of tenderloin is smaller than golf ball, it’s usually considered a T-bone.

Porterhouse - Combines two lean, tender steaks.  Consist of both striploin and tenderloin steaks  If diameter of tenderloin is larger than a golf ball, it’s generally considered a Porterhouse.

How do you want your steak?

Blue – Hot on the outside, raw on the inside. It’s RARELY eaten in the Philippines.

Rare – Hot on the outside, cold on the inside.

Medium Rare – Hot on the outside, warm on the inside. This steak should have a firm surface but be soft in the middle.

Medium – It exudes a pinkish hue. This steak is the trickiest to cook.

Medium Well – The steak will be very stiff but will still have a little squish in the middle.

Well-Done – This steak is the easiest to cook. Give it a good grilled look and voila!

***MELO’S HIGHLT RECOMMENDS that you do not order a steak cooked more than a Medium. They say it looses flavor and juiciness.

What’s the right steak for you?

Rib-eye – if you like steaks with full flavor and fats.

Tenderloin – if you want pure lean meat with no fats.  This steak is very soft.

Striploin – semi-marbled and a little bit chewy to the bite.

Porterhouse – 2 steaks in 1 cut and very flavourful because it’s still attached to the bone.

T-Bone – 2 steaks in 1 cut and very favourful because it’s still attached to the bone.

Tenderloin - smaller in a Tbone than a Porterhouse steak.

Extra tips on finding the right steak for you:

The more marbled the meat is the softer it is.  Marbling doesn’t mean fatty.  It’s good fat that melts away when you cook the steak

ALSO, I highly recommend that you try the desserts here at Melo’s. The desserts are made specially for Melo’s by “Sweet Bella” cakes and pastries. I was drowning in pleasure from the steak and the yummy desserts so didn’t get the different names of the desserts, so just show them this picture and be sure to try the dessert cake with the Mangoes and also the Chocolate Mouse dessert thingy.

So When In Manila and you’re craving for a GOOD STEAK, then Melo’s is the place to go! Try their super juicy tenderloin steak like I did and see what it feels like to have a steak melt in your mouth (that’s what she said). Oh and don’t forget to try the Melo’s Steak House desserts from Sweet Bella cakes and pastries!

*P.S. I swear this steak (iSteak) was SOOOO GOOD! I’d have to say it was even better than a free iPhone… (at least I keep telling myself that)

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Melo’s Steak Restaurant: Home of Certified Angus Beef and Authentic Wagyu Beef

RESERVATIONS

Alabang:  771-2288 & 771-3945

Makati:  899-2456 & 899-9403

Quezon City:  924-9194 & 924-9168

Fort Bonifacio:  403-5969 & 403-5969

Melo’s Steakhouse Restaurant Website: http://melosteaks.com

Email and functions inquiry:   comments@melosteaks.com

Makati & Quezon City tinrivera@melosteaks.com

Alabang Branch paulmacasaet@yahoo.com

Fort Bonifacio cricketmesias@yahoo.com

TO VOTE FOR DJ ISSA DO THIS:

Key in MYXVJ (space) 4 and send it to 2366.

You can vote as many times as you want/can.

Issa is one of the DJs on Mellow 94.7. She hosts the Wake-Up Show / The Mens Room every weekday morning. She’s one of the perkiest, sweetest and smartest DJs I know. Which is why I’m a firm believer that she’ll be an AWESOME VJ!

Issa is currently trying out for the MYX VJ Search. She was selected to be in the Top 12 Finalists! Show my good friend some love by casting a vote for her! Please let us know you did so we can thank you on air as well! =)

You can see more of her, or listen to her DJ live from anywhere in the world on Mellow947.fm

TO VOTE FOR DJ ISSA DO THIS:

Key in MYXVJ (space) 4 and send it to 2366.

You can vote as many times as you want/can.

TO VOTE FOR DJ ISSA DO THIS:

Key in MYXVJ (space) 4 and send it to 2366.

You can vote as many times as you want/can.

TO VOTE FOR DJ ISSA DO THIS:

Key in MYXVJ (space) 4 and send it to 2366.

You can vote as many times as you want/can.

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OK so first of all we want to than Annalyn S. Jusay of http://Annalyn.net for this awesome feature in the Manila Bulletin!

The WhenInManila.com feature in the Manila Bulletin came out on the Monday edition of the paper on June 7, 2010.

Funny story is that I didn’t even know it was out until late that night when my Google Alerts notified me. After finding out at about 8pm that we were in the Monday paper, I rushed out and hit three 7-Eleven stores as well as 2 Mini-Stops in hopes of picking up a copy of the paper. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to find any left. I searched among a few street vendors but still to no avail.

Fortunately, my lucky charm Hannah of FlairCandy.com was able to find another copy leftover at a bookstore the next day. SWEET! She found the last copy at a bookstore near our favorite restaurant, Singapore Chicken Rice after we ate lunch there.

Anyway, here’s some pictures of the Manila Bulletin from the June 7, 2010 Monday paper.

We were featured in the Manila Bulletin Tech section under the Blog-o-Rama column of Annalyn Jusay in an article titled: “wheninmanila.com (and beyond!)”

Also, you can read the full article on the Manila Bulletin’s website here: -http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/260898/wheninmanilacom-and-beyond

When In Manila, do pick up a copy of the Manila Bulletin, the Philippines’ leading newspaper!

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So if you want to find the center of artistic talent in the Metro… You need to come to Marikina Shoe Expo / Cubao Expo, better known to many as Cubao-X !!!

Cubao-X is the hub for everything that as to do with creativity and ART! You’ll find artsy chic shops, art galleries, art museums, artistic fashion stores, contemporary art, modern art, old art, new art, crazy art, oh and did I mention they have art?

I love the feel of this place. You can just sense the creative minds walking around full of Avant-Garde ideas!

Anyway, we were gracious enough to be welcomed to the Pablo Galleries where our friend Nico and Katwo Puertollano, of the graphic  design boutique http://2720.tv, had an exhibit.

We got to meet the owners of Pablo Galleries, Osie Tiangco and Yo Garcia, who told us a bit more about Pablo Gallery and the store n.a.p.a. (Not A Play Area) right above.

Write-up and picture below from Pablo Gallery’s website (http://pablogalleries.com)

Pablo’s original gallery is located at the famed Cubao X area (also known as Marikina Shoe Expo) and was founded on September 16, 2005. Its owners envisioned a space where the works of talented young artists could be showcased. The gallery has caught the attention of critics, older artists, members of academe, art collectors, and other gallerists. Today, Pablo Cubao X has also presented exhibitions by established artists like Romeo Lee, Poklong Anading, Neil Fettling, MM Yu, Bea Camacho, and Jason Moss. Among the young and upcoming artists to watch for and who have exhibited at the gallery are Mark Salvatus, who has been nominated at the recent Ateneo Art Awards and recipient of several international grants; Nelz Yumul; CJ Tanedo; and James Almario.

The new Pablo Fort is situated at an ideal location. Besides its accessibility to the Makati business district, Fort Bonifacio is also evolving as a hub for the modern arts. One only has to consider the small galleries sprouting in the area as well as view its interesting outdoor art installations spread all over the place.

Pablo Cubao X will continue being a steppingstone for young artists to break into the bigger, commercial galleries. Pablo Fort, on the other hand, will be working with older, mid-career, or more established artists as well as under-recognized older artists.

Personally, I really enjoy coming back to Cubao-X to see what kinds of cool and creative stuff they have there. There’s also lots of fun events that happen there so do keep an eye out.

So next time, When In Manila, come check out some artistic artsy fartsy stuff at the Marikina Shoe Expo, better known today as Cubao-X. Don’t forget to swing by Shop # 7 which is the Pablo Gallery to see if they have any new exhibits.

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PABLO GALLERY

Shop 7 Cubao Expo
Araneta Center, Cubao
Quezon City, Philippines

Open Tuesday to Saturday
12:00 to 8:00 PM

+63 (2) 440.8807
cubao@pablogalleries.com

http://pablogalleries.com

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