Gat Andres Bonifacio’s 152nd Birth Anniversary and Wreath Laying Ceremony at Tutuban Center

Plaza Andres Bonifacio and Monument , Tutuban Center, Tondo, Manila- Philippines

Knights of Columbus

Tutuban Center Mall management in cooperation with National Historical Commission of the Philippines ( NHCP) , Manila City government , Gregorio Perfecto High School , Knights of Columbus had the traditional flag raising and wreath laying ceremonies held at the Andres Bonifacio Plaza within Tutuban Center.

guests of honor together with the mall management

Among the guests of honor includes Honorable Benjamin Asilo (congressman first district of Manila) , Ms. Carminda R. Arevallo – Deputy Executive Director for Administration- NHCP , Engineer Joseph Allan Dilay ( General Manager- Philippine National Railway ) and Ms. Sylvia L. Tecson ( Vice President for Leasing and Marketing ) Tutuban Center.

 Gat Andres Bonifacio statute with wreaths offering from NHCP, Office of the President and Tutuban Center

Gat Andres Bonifacio was born in Tondo, Manila. Though Bonifacio was unable attend college and was forced to sell canes and fans to support his siblings after their parents’ death.

He was still able to educate himself by reading influential novels like the works of Jose Rizal.

 

The program started with the flag raising ceremony

wreath laying ceremony

wreath with yellow flowers

NHCP offered wreath with white orchids and white anthuriums  .While President Benigno Simeon Aquino III  presented an all yellow chrysanthemum , yellow liliums ( star gazer) and yellow -colored Zantedeschia .

Binislakan fold dance performed by grade 8 students

Binislakan is a dance which originated from (Almazin – Lingayen ) the province of Pangasinan. The name was derived from Chinese word ” Li-King-Tung  meaning to look backward and forward.

Binislakan which means ” the use of sticks” . The use of sticks with fast movements imitating the  chopsticks and its movements.

Maria Carpa

Maria Carpa is a courtship dance imitating the fantail bird in flight.

Bulaklakan

This dance is a dance of floral garlands, dedicated to the Virgin Mary during the Roman Catholic celebration of their holy week. This dance have its origins from the province of Bulacan and Pampanga .

Binasuan

Binasuan is another folk dance using glass with wine or colored liquids. The dancers must be able to dance balancing the glass with wine without spilling its contents . The folk dance were performed by grade 9 students of Gregorio Perfecto High School.

 

Polka sa Nayon

Polka sa Nayon was introduced during the Spanish colonial era, it was among the national dance of Bohemia ( formerly known as Czechoslovakia)  It was popularized in the islands by Spaniards and Friars in the mid-1850’s . It was performed during social events and fiestas in the Southern Tagalog provinces of Batangas , Mindoro , Quezon , Bulacan , Bataan eventually spread across the Visayan islands and developing a slightly different steps.

Tinikling

 The highlight of the program is the tinikling dance . This is the most popular and best known of the Philippine dances.

Tutuban Center is located along Claro M. Recto Avenue in Manila and is open daily from 9:00am to 12midnight .

We were also given soft drink and pillow courtesy of Pepsi Cola- Philippines. Pepsi Cola -Philippines is one of the official partners of the event.

Website: https://www.pepsiphilippines.com/

Note: I would like to Thank ” Mr. Jerome Samson -AMPR Publicity and Communications Inc. , Tutuban Center management for the invitation to the event.

Website: http://www.tutuban.com.ph

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/TutubanCenter

Titter: https://twitter.com/tutubancenter

Instagram: https://instagram.com/explore/tags/tutuban/

A Gastronomic Treat at the Coconut House

Coconut House , Quezon City Memorial Circle , Quezon City -Philippines

coconut house

Whenever we would go to Quezon Memorial Circle or organize a walking tour within the area. I would always recommend a unique restaurant which offers the best of Philippines regional foods . One of the country’s top export and is known for. It is no other than the Coconuts !

patio area

I think we were among the first customers who were able to dine at the restaurant way back in 2010. The restaurant used to be a coffee and pasta shop called ” Bialetti Coffee ” before 2010 . I do not know if the current Bialetti Caffe located at Matino street corner Matahimik street nearby is also the same as the one that used to be located before. But is seems to be the same business , They almost have the same business logo.

Phalaenopsis equestris

Phalaenopsis equestris – This Philippine orchid species was additional treat to those dining at the patio area. This is the traditional way on growing orchids in many parts of the country. Coconut husk is the cheapest growing media ( medium )

fried buko with buko achara ( pickled coconut) and mayonnaise

One can easily mistake this dish as fried squid ring . The coconut is coated with batter and deep fried . It is presented in a square plate with young coconut , red bell pepper and chopped onion ( achara- style )  

chicken binakol

Chicken Binakol is a delicious chicken soup dish. It is similar to Chicken Tinola, although the use of of coconut meat and coconut water makes this dish unique .

pork sinigang sa buko

Pork Sinigang sa Buko is a MUST TRY – The use of coconut water and coconut makes this dish different from the usual pork sinigang

interesting menus

The business had a nice tag-line ” Nice Things Coconuts” indicative that almost all their menus and products sold at the place have coconuts. Coconuts is known as TREE of LIFE in the Philippines and in Asia. Almost all parts of the coconut palm can be utilized for food, medicine, housing materials, furniture, beauty care products, cooking oil, laxative, potting media for orchids and plants, house hold utensils among others…….

indoor dining area

The restaurant indoor air-conditioned area can accommodate up to 80 people at any given time while the outdoor patio area ideal for al fresco dining can accommodate a further 40 to 60 people with different kinds of ice buko and buko ice cream. The indoor area is quite full when our group went there for our lunch .

Buko Pancit

The restaurant also offer Buko halal value meals like Buko Mami Php 95, Buko Palabok Php 105, Buko Pancit Php105, Buko Carbonara Php125 and Buko Spaghetti Php125 – For those planning to bring their families and friends- It is best to order the buko pancit bilao which only cost around Php 625 good for 5 to 7 people.

buko pie and buko -ube pie

This restaurant also got a Zomato review sticker and was featured several times on television shows like Kapuso Mo Jessica Soho on GMA channel 7 among others. The menus had expanded since they first opened its doors in 2010 .

buko halo-halo

A dessert after a hearty meal includes buko halo-halo, buko pandan , buko ice cream , ice buko

Note: Prices quoted are based from the recent visit by the author and may be subject to change without prior notice

Operation Hours: Monday to Sunday 7:00am to 9:00pm

Stall 29 D-4, Elliptical Rd, Diliman, Quezon Memorial Circle, Quezon City, 1100 Metro Manila
(02) 513 0142

 

Philippine Native Plant Conservation Society Inc. Pre-Symposium Tree Walk

 

MSI- Arboretum and Auditorium, University of the Philippines, Diliman , Quezon City -Philippines

PNPCSI symposium secretariat

This is the 3rd PNPCSI Pre- Symposium registration and after the successful hosting of the 2 previous symposium – National Museum in 2013 and Pampanga Agricultural College in 2014 , It is now the University of the Philippines- Diliman ( Institute of Marine Science and Institute of Botany ) which so-hosted the venue place.

UP Tree walk participants

Compared to the previous symposium . There are more people which are interested in joining the pre-symposium tree walk and botanical museum tour. I have not got the exact participants since it was the pre-registration period . Publicity and Promotion is quite good . There is an active FB event page made for the event : https://www.facebook.com/events/661942930616629/

The author saw some moving ads at several hybrid bus routes of  Bonifacio Global City last week .

Architect Andrew Patrick -Gozon

Unluckily, I was stuck at the horrendous traffic jam created by the sudden closure of the main street leading to the University of the Philippines from SM North EDSA terminal – There are very few jeepneys going to the campus and it took me more than 1 hour just waiting . The closure was cause by the yearly Christmas lightning  ceremony and by-standers thought it was due to the Monthly SALE and road drainage excavations in North Avenue and Quezon Avenue that traffic was almost took to a standstill .

herbarium tour

The herbarium tour started at around past 3:00pm with a short introduction from the professors and staffs. This is a niche tour since most of the participants are botany, biology  professors , students and enthusiasts.

herbarium specimen

Sudden attack of arthritis prompted our jeepney driver to cut his route forcing us just to walk along C.P. Garcia on the way to the symposium site .  I arrived past 2:00pm after over 2 hours of being stuck in the traffic and walking several kilometers along C.P. Garcia street.

AGHAM

I joined the herbarium tour and UP native tree walk organized by the organization and led by Architect Andrew Patrick Gozon. This area is now being developed as an arboretum  and living botanical collections of the University . We met a group of AGHAM students taking group photo and they are not connected with the party-list group which also bears similar name and almost the same platform – Science and Technology.

t-shirts with pnpcsi logo being sold at Php 100 small, Php 120 medium and Php 150 extra-large

for souvenir hunters and memorabilia collectors -there are small booth which sells t-shirt, mugs with pnpcsi logo and 2016 Philippine Native Plant Conservation Society Inc. native plant detachable calendar set . They are ideal Christmas and New Year present .

 Mr. Niel Maceda- LOC-PHIL ( League of Conservation -Philippines ) together with Dr. Pieter Pelse

For postcard and letter collectors around the world will surely marvel the limited edition postcards. They are being sold for Php 150 per calendar for non-members . Proceeds will go to the various environmental and tree planting activities by the society.

Philippine Native Plant Conservation Society 2016-calendar /postcard

There are already over 100 species of native and indigenous tree planted over the  2 to 3 years and markers are now being installed . The 2 hectares of land is being dedicated to Professor Leonard Co – a well known botanist of the country who was killed in a tragic death in Leyte on November 15, 2010.

 L-R Mr. JM Pacheco, Ms. Abby Dizon and Mr. Jojo Vale

Leslie Food Corporation – manufacturer of Leslie’s Clover chips , Clover Cheezy gave away some free sampling of their chips to the participants. The company is one of the staunch supporter and sponsors of the event.

Address: Main Office: #4 Dama de Noche St., United Parañaque Subdivision 4, Parañaque City

Facebook Page : https://www.facebook.com/lesliecorporation

Luckily i was given a piece of paper by one of the board member of the society . It seems that some of the event partners staffs are quite shy to answer some queries when they heard that i am blogging and writing a story about the event.

Here are some of the event sponsors which donated some of the company products, services and sponsorship .

1.) Leslie Corporation -Mr. Boby Wong Jr. and Deng Montealegre

2.) AyalaLand Development Corporation – Ms. Anna Gonzales

3.) First Gas Power Corporation – Mr. Chito P. Panzo

4.) Philippine Tropical Forest Conservation Foundation , Inc.- Atty. Jose Andres Canivel

5.) Energy Development Corporation -Atty. Allan Barcena and Mr. Jimson Solatre

6.) Quezon Power Plant Corporation-  Chukie Rivera and Ms. Eliza Rehal

7.) TeaM Energy Corporation- Ms. Hazel Caasi and Jules Escasura

8.) MRL Gold Corporation : Mr. Eduardo Manuel and Herbert Banados Jr.

9.) JSA Company : Mr. Joseph Server and  Ms. Rose Palou

10.) Biodiversity Partnership Project of BMB: Mr. Joey Regunay and Edge Genciagan

11.) CORE/ Prime group: Ms. Kristine Villaflor

Those who wanted to join the symposium, there are still slots available for the symposium to be held tomorrow at the MSI ( Marine Science Institute ) Auditorium within the University of the Philippines- Diliman , Quezon City .

Note: I will write the tree walk by Architect Andrew Patrick Gozon in my next post. I walk again together with Ms. Kaye Tayamora from MSI auditorium to PHLCOA ( before she took an AUV ) then  to Trinoma before getting a decent jeepney ride home. This is like APEC walkathon going back home. 

 

 

 

 

FOLDABOTS TOYBOOK 8 Launching and Signing

Foldabots Toy Book 8, the eighth volume in a series of successful spin off books of Foldabots as featured inside K-Zone magazine. Foldabots are cardboard robot patterns that kids can assemble into automobiles, mythical creatures, and other cool beasts.

These Foldabots are enveloped by a strong Filipino culture that harness the interest of Filipino kids, which gives the brand a strong fan base.

The event is set to happen on November 28, 2015, from 12:00pm – 5:00pm, at the National Bookstore, Glorietta 1. The creator himself, Jomike Tejido, will grace the book launching with his presence.

For more information about these book , Please try to visit the link:

K-Zone Philippines: https://www.facebook.com/kzoneph/

Website: http://www.kzone.com.ph/
Twitter: @kzoneph
Instagram: @kzoneph

 

 

LGV10 New Innovative Smartphone Grand Launching

The Brewery at the Palace , Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City -Philippines

Mr. Jay Wun and Mr. Sung Wun Nam

LG Electronics has always been in the forefront of coming up with impressive innovations and up to date technologies.

It had been announced last month that it was going to be offered in some countries.  LGV10 had its grand launching a few hours ago at the 2nd floor The Brewery at the Palace in Bonifacio Global City .

For people who like to take their selfies or make a short movie videos with the hassle of getting all sorts of permits . This new mobile phone come in very handy.

LGV10

What primarily sets the LGV10 apart is its distinctive dual-screen and its dual-selfie, front-facing cameras that show off LG’s interest in trying new technologies.

Some reviewers have called those features “trendy” or even “oddball,” but analysts said the features also demonstrate a capable manufacturer willing to explore new things and add more features to an existing phone.

 Mr. Charliebebs Gohetia-award winning director

LG had made some collaboration with local award winning director Mr. Charliebebs Gohetia in making a short movie out of the new LG V10 phone. He shot some beautiful Manila sunset using the mobile phones.

Farewell Fair Weather band

Farewell Fair Weather band is composed of Vocals/Guitar: Mic Manalo Keys: Gani Palabyab Bass: Ethan Muriel Guitar: Kim Hue Jin

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/farewellfairweather/

Website : http://www.farewellfairweather.com/

There were a lot of fanfare and product demonstration at the grand launching . There were on -the spot raffle , video dub-smash making contest  , sumptuous buffet meals, rock band performing , taking time to chill out and relax.

official video: courtesy of LG Mobile Global

Features

They have pioneered unique smartphones features such as Rear – Key design, Knock Code and Gesture Shot which now comes standard issue with LG’s mobile line.

Durability

LG has been known to innovate the Knock code , a personalized security feature for most of their smartphones, Taking things to the next level , LG V10 now also features a finger sensor to unlock the smartphone and turn on the display simultaneously .

It is durable both inside and outside , V10 sports a resilient Dura Gaud frame that firmly secures the display from accidental drops. the frame is composed of SAE grade 316L stainless steel , the same tough ,hypoallergenic material used to make surgical tools and high-end watches.

DURA Skin is soft to the touch but also is highly resistant to nicks and scratches . What’s more , the back grid pattern was designed specifically to offer a more secure grip.

Price

The LG V10had begun to roll out in South Korea , United States and key countries in Asia, Latin America and in the Middle East . as the country welcomes the LG V 10 to the local market for a retail price of just Php 37,990

Promo

LG Mobile -Philippines will be giving away a FREE 200 GB memory SD card valued at Php 11,000 starting from November 27 to November 29, 2015 in participating LG concept stores in the country.

For more information about their latest products and promos:

LG Philippines : http://www.lg.com/ph

Mobile Phones: http://www.lg.com/ph/mobile-phones/lg-H960

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/LGMobilePH/?fref=ts

Follow @LGPhilippines on Twitter and Instagram