Pozorrubio Orchidarium Farm

The Philippine Orchid Society held a field trip last April 19 to 22, 2008 . The group went to several provinces up in the Northern Regions of the country. The tour was called Baguio, Benguet , La Union , Pangasinan and Tarlac tour.

Pozorrubio is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Pangasinan. According to the latest census, it has a population of 63,689 people in 11,288 households. Often the town’s name is mistakenly written as “Pozzorubio” but the correct spelling is “Pozorrubio“.

group photo

The name were said to derived from old Hispanic name Pozo ( meaning well) rubio ( blonde  color) referring to the type of soil in the area.  Some people would say that the term was used in reference to the color of dried tobacco leaves – a large portion of the municipality was used as a tobacco plantation during the Spanish regime.

The municipality is politically divided into 34 barangays. The farm was located in Barangay Alipangpang beside the main highway , The town main livelihood is farming .

Mrs. Remedios Rodis- Santelices

The owner Mrs. Remedios ” Remy ” Rodis- Santelices is a lifetime member , a former board of director of the Philippine Orchid Society , Philippine Horticultural Society among others.

semi-terete vanda

She was born in the town and thus she named her farm ” Pozorrubio Orchidarium Farm” the farm according to Mrs. Santelices  had contributed somehow to the fame of the town . The farm would conduct  annual sale which buyers from all over Northern Luzon  would come and buy orchids , ornamental plants, ferns , hoyas among others.

Hoya meliflua- an endemic species from the Philippines

Her clientele includes local government officials, governors , generals , wholesalers, landscapers, ordinary hobbyists and even passers-by .

The group was treated with an assortment of native Pangalatok kakanins like Pangasinan puto,  biko and kutsinta.

a blooming sized Cymbidium finlaysonianum variety alba/flava

While the group hurriedly bought rare orchids like Cymbidium finlaysonianum variety alba ,Grammatophyllum multiflorum variety citrinum , various Hoya species , Platycerium grande ferns, Platycerium coronarium , Platycerium bifurcatum , Asplenium nidus , Asplenium musifolium among others.

This rare yellow  form of Cymbidium  finlaysonianum command a handsome price tag

She had several varieties of ferns which quickly germinate in the orchid  media pots.

Her farm would had several  cut flower orchid  varieties like Dendrobium, Vandas, Mokaras, Kagawaras, strap leaf Vanda.

Mrs. Santelices used to host a popular late afternoon agricultural show on IBC channel 13 during the early 1990’s together with Mr. Zacarias Sarian and Ka Philip  ” Ipe” Daffon.

She also operates a retail outlet within  Greenhouse 3, Manila Seedling Bank and in Project 8.

Jo’s Chicken Inato

Good old-fashioned chicken barbecue that’s really delicious that you can’t help but come back for more.

Jo’s Chicken Inato restaurant  located in 27 Visayas Avenue corner Congressional Avenue in  Quezon City

Why not try it in “Inato” style? Jo’s Chicken Inato has branches scattered all across the country—from far-away Cagayan de Oro to local Quezon City.

house specialty – barbecue chicken inato with atchara

Based on the story – Jo’s Chicken Inato started in mid 1980’s. It is owned by Jesse and Josephine Ng of Negros , where the name of the place was derived. The name originated from a shorten word “atin ito” thus  “inato” meant the way they cooked chicken.  compared to other Visayan  styled grilled barbecue ,this recipe is not salty and has a sweeter taste ( due to ingredients and special way of marinating )

The restuarant is not only famous for their chicken inato but also buko halo-halo , lumpia, pancit macao, bicol express  and special lechon kawali .

Christmas party conservation group of Philippine Orchid Society

The place had several nipa hut ideal for small meetings. The restaurant had an interesting aquariums stock  with kois, pangasius, tilapias  while a  special glass coop had several small bantam chickens . The place is perfect venue to hold medium to large  reception . Orchids and ornamental plants are distributed  all over the place . The high ceilings allows heat to escape during hot morning  with interesting banga ( jars) in place for washing hands.  People are encourage to used their hands when eating at this place ala “kamayan style” .

The Visayas avenue branch accepts delivery , catering and venue place.

Local celebrities like Kapuso Mo- Ms. Jessica Soho , Atty. Anthony Taberna -host Umagang Kay Ganda / Kalye and DZMM ,Ms. Charlene Gonzales- Mulach, Ms. Winnie Cordero, columnist Mr. Zacarias Sarian , GMA channel 7 reporter Mr. Cedric Castillo, former Caloocan City Mayor Rey Malonzo  were  said to be frequent patrons of the place.

native delicacies and pastries

THE original branch, located at Siliman Ave., Dumaguete City. This branch is famous for its charbroiled chicken, making it one of the culinary must-trys in the city. If you want to enjoy dining by the beach, you can visit this resto’s another branch in the city—Jo’s by the Sea. The good thing is, whichever branch you find your place in, you’re sure that you won’t spend much just to have a delightful chicken meal because you’re in Jo’s Chicken Inato.

Jo’s Chicken Inato also had provincial branches in  Cebu, Mandaue, Cagayan de Oro, General Santos, Ormoc, Tagbilaran, Roxas, Bacolod, Iloilo, Dipolog.

The owner had a bakeshop and a resort style garden with a huge blessed mother .

Contact Information:

27 Visayas Avenue Corner Congressional Avenue Quezon City,  Metro Manila
Phone: +63(2)9279224

Mr. Chinkee Tan at Philadelphia High School

Philadelphia High School

This is one of the Filipino- Chinese schools that is located in 126 Talayan Street in Talayan Village in Quezon City.

The school was founded over 36 years ago. The school had an air-conditioned auditorium that could fit over 500 people. The school had a medium sized library which houses books, sports trophies and other memorabilia’s from the school roster of graduates. The school had produced several notable alumni and some of them are in the field of entertainment, business, teaching, publishing, television etc….

old cd’s were given a new art form

High school department had several active student organizations like Environmental Awareness Club, Drama Club, Art Club, Newspaper, Scouting movement etc….

a tarpaulin poster of the event posted in the school auditorium

One of the events that the school had hosted is a forum that the school PTA had organized. Mr. Chinkee Tan a comedian, writer, lifestyle trainer, Christian minister, entrepreneur and a book author narrated in the forum “Till Debt do us Part” held last December 6, 2008.  The package included a dinner meal, a certificate of attendance and a book authored by Mr. Tan.

He started to speak short Mandarin phrases that reminded everyone present in the occasion of his Filipino-Chinese origin, the crowd was euphoric to hear him say simple greetings in perfect intonation.

How life was very hard during his elementary days. He narrated to the audience that he had a pair of worn –out shoes that he always used during school days, playing basketball and while when doing some errands.

He would always make a sideline by selling tissues, collecting garbage and all sort of meager jobs just to make both ends meet. As a result, He was not able to concentrate on his studies and at one time became a “ pasaway ” as a consequence; He had to repeat another year in grade six.  Years went by, he became one of the hawi boys (bodyguard and personal assistant) together Mr. Dennis Padilla, Mr. Willie Revillame, Mr. Jong Cuenco to actor Mr. Randy Santiago in the mid-1980’s. Their constant presence made them visible in the entertainment industry that slowly made each one of them a star in their own right! Mr. Randy Santiago gave his  showbiz name Chinkee because of his ‘chinkee‘ eyes.

Road to stardom is not very easy, He had to do all the meager jobs from crowd control, to buying some foods, sleeping on benches, retiring homes late at night, cleaning shoes etc…. then he was noticed by a director who had given him a short break in the local movie industry. His role was short but meaningful. He would always be known to the public from playing different characters like a Japanese exchange student, nerdy student, a sidekick, a rich guy, love team etc….

Stardom had help his family cope some financial problems but doing a sidekick role is just enough to make both ends meet. “ It was not a permanent source of income, and it depends on the number of movies. There were other more famous actors ”.

Quickly, he tried various schemes to augment his meager income. He does not want to rely on the movie industry. He also realized that a lot of his co-stars in the industry do not know how to save money. When they get their paychecks they would spend it in bars and other hangouts places.

A business management graduate of Philippine School of Business Administration (PSBA). He met his wife Nove Ann in 1999 during the prayer  meeting at Victory Christian Fellowship. His wife is a voice teacher at the UST Conservatory of Music where is also graduated magna cum laude.

He still worked in the wee hours of the morning doing different kinds of in -between jobs. This made him quite successful in the field of multi-level marketing, But despite being successful in the field of entrepreneurship. A second blow came to his life, His wife suffered a rare form of diseases which almost his entire savings including selling his homes and properties. Flat broke, he never forgets his creator and started his entrepreneurial skills. Slowly he rebounded from the deep slumber.

students performed  during the forum

After the very inspiring talk, the teary- eyed audience applauded him. Long lines of crowd went to Mr. Chinkee Tan in a corner of the auditorium for autograph signing.  “ His sold-out book is a must for everybody.  Children must know how to save and properly invest their money ”. A parent reiterated.

door prizes

As part of the program, solicited  raffle items that were donated by parents, sponsors , donors were raffled off to the audience.

I was one of the lucky individual which won an electric  water thermos.

For more details: Philadelphia High School

Tel: 711-46-04 / 711-40-68
Fax: 711-40-68