Manila Weekend Market Goes Full Blast

Ermita, Malate, Paco, Pandacan, Manila, Makati residents and bazaaristas would be happy to know that there is an upcoming weekend bazaar. The weekend bazaar will be held at the parking area of UN Square Mall which is divided into several sections like food, fashion accessories, ready to wear shirts, regional products, plants, small mammals, pet supplies, art works, orchids, home decors, t-shirts, cacti and succulents, pots among others.

Venue: UN Square Parking, United Nations Ave. Cor. San Marcelino Street, Ermita, Manila
Booth Size: 2m x 2m
Market Schedule: Every Saturdays and Sundays, Opens(4:00am-6:00pm)

Products to Sell: Plants, Planting materials , accessories, foods, fruits drinks, dry goods like ready to wear dress, furniture and more. Wet market sellers are welcome too.

The weekend market will be at the parking area and will start on May 18 and 19 Saturday and Sunday from 4:00 am until 6:00 pm and for inquiries please call:  09391290444 / 09267488898

UN Square Mall

This is in cooperation with UN Square Mall , Manila Bulletin and Agriculture Magazine.

How to Commute

UN Square Mall is located just less than 50 meters away from LRT line 1 United Nations Avenue. Accessible in all modes of transportation like jeep, auv express, passenger bus.

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Great Dishes at Srinidhi’s Cafe

Srinidhi’s Cafe serves south Indian dishes. We took time to eat at this Indian restaurant after attending a short talk at the recently concluded Cactus Fiesta Fair 4 held at UN Square Mall.

Srinidhi’s Cafe

The restaurant had already established a following among local Indian , Sri Lankan and even Pakistani residents. They also offer unlimited rice promo for their dishes.

It can accommodate between 30 to 50 people at any given time, with modern ambiance. One can adjust the amount of spiciness by telling the waitress your preference.

menu

Chicken Biryani – a highly aromatic and well-seasoned one-pot dish we would highly recommend this dish- Ideal for sharing between 2 to 3 people.

We ordered 1 chicken biryani rice, 1 south indian dish combo meal which comes with soup and unlimited white rice. 1 fish fry and 1 grilled fish.

soup had some spices, slices of tomatoes and vegetables.

grilled fish with some chopped cabbage, onions and slice of lemon.

fish pry with with sauteed cabbage, onions – We prefer this dish over the grilled fish which seems to be over cooked.

l-r Ms. Surya Nasmaskar, Mr. Frandel Recto along with Ms. Anita Are, Mrs. Luz Santa Ana

Overall, We would recommend this place for all those craving for Indian dishes.

Address: ground floor UN Square Mall, United Nations Avenue corner San Marcelino Street, Ermita, Manila

Operations: 10:00 AM – 9:30 PM Everyday

Contact : 0949- 118 1502

Duo Halo-halo and other Dishes at Kuya J, UN Square Mall

Duo halo-halo which combines milk and ube, roasted chicken, kaldereta, pinakbet are just some of the well known Filipino desserts and dishes served at Kuya J restaurant UN Square Mall branch.

Kuya J’s UN Square Mall branch is fitted with well-lighted and sophisticated interiors, while serving well-designed and well-executed native dishes that cut across regional palates.

pinakbet

Pinakbet had okra, bitter melon, squash, string beans, meat and shrimp paste. (Php 198 ) for sharing between 2 to 4 people.

roasted chicken

Roasted chicken also tried their version of their roasted chicken, It serve with slice tomatoes and cucumber and can be shared with 2 to 4 persons. The meat is tender and mildly spice. One can add hot sauce or liver sauce to add taste.

Beef Kaldereta we like the tender beef meat and the sauce, the slices of potatoes and carrot . Php 415 for sharing between 2 to 4 persons.

Duo Halo-halo

Duo Halo-halo which combines milk and ube flavors, The shave ice had infuse flavors, similar to the more popular halo-halo brands in the market. The halo-halo is not too sweet and just right. It is topped with corn flakes and leche flan with the usual mixed like saba banana , gelatin and strips of coconut. Php 109 is quite irresistible especially with the hot weather.

Note: Prices posted in this blog is subject to change without prior notice. The author is not connected with the management of the restaurant.

Kuya J Restaurant

Address: ground floor of UN Square Mall, San Marcelino street corner United Nations Avenue in Ermita, Manila.

Operations: 10:00 am to 9:00 pm Everyday

Holy Week operations might differ from Maundy Thursday to Black Saturday

Highlights of Cactus Fiesta Fair 4

National Cactus and Succulent Organization of the Philippines Inc. (NCSOPi)  in partnership with UN Square Mall, Manila Bulletin and Agriculture Magazine.

UN Square Mall facade

Tillandsia paintings

The bazaar, exhibit and lecture area were located at the 3rd level of UN Square Mall.

Dwende in a pot by Jennica Garcia –Uytingco

There were over 40 plant table bourse sellers, selling cacti soil mix, pots, cacti, succulents, orchids, ornamental plants, hoyas,tillandsias, bromeliads, ornamental plants, fertilizers and among other stuffs.

collectible pins, keychains and button pins for sale

My Piece of Earth booth

Pick a Plant booth

There is a portion which serves as an exhibit area or display area for cacti and succulents.

interesting array of different genera of cacti and succulents on display

The short talk started past 11:00 am with Mr. Mark Buizon ( what is your soil mix), they are the ones behind Mastera. According to the speaker, They started as an organic farm and event manager before venturing into cacti and succulent propagators and business.

Mastera had a booth within the fair but their products are available for sale at Lazada, Shopee and delivery options like grab and lalamove.

Among their popular items includes, organic pesticide made from neem oil, vermicast, cabonated rice hull , pots, greenhouse UV plastics and other items.

Manila Bulletin and Agriculture Magazine booth

Another lecture was held past 1:00pm with Mr. Marlon Valdellon ( Cactus and Succulent for Beginners).

There were beautiful trophies and ribbons for the winners of the cacti, succulents and tillandsia competition

UN Square Mall is accessible to all modes of public transportation. The mall is near LRT Line 1 UN Avenue station and just beside Manila Police district.

67th Annual Philippine Orchid Society- winners of the Landscape exhibit

Hardin ng mga Bulaklak ( Flower Garden ) Quezon Memorial Circle, Quezon City -Philippines

Dr. Eduardo Quisumbing -father of Philippine Botany and founder of the Philippine Orchid Society

Landscaping competition had always been part of the orchid and garden shows since its inception in 1946 by Dr. Eduardo Quisumbing .  Unlike other Asian countries which  held their orchid shows inside malls, convention centers or enclosed stadium ( maybe due to their climate conditions) The Philippine Orchid Society continues the orchid show tradition by holding the event in an outdoor setting .

(Photo courtesy of Arkitekturang Filipino). With the impending SM management control  of the current  Philam Life Building and Theater compound ,  I hope that they should retain the lush gardens of the famed place.

Malvarosa Orchid and Ornamental Exhibit during the 64th Annual orchid and Garden Show held at the Manila Seedling Bank  Greenhouse #2  held from February 25 to March 8, 2010

Since orchid shows venues  are not permanent ,   Orchid shows  had to move into several locations for the past 67 years.  Among the previous venues were Victoria Garden renamed  Aurora Garden in Intramuros , Wallace Field ( Luneta ) , Manila Zoo, Nayong Filipino .

L-R Mrs. Martha Rivilla,  Mrs. Mariquet Lopez ( wife of the Vice President of the Philippines Hon. Fernando Lopez ) , Dr. Eduardo Quisumbing and Mr. Johnny Escobar -Opening of the Orchid show at the PhilamLife Building Garden circa late 1960’s

PhilamLife Garden in United Nations Avenue , Greenhills , SM Makati near Hotel Dusit Nikko , Magallanes Drive- Makati , Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife , Folks Arts Theater ( 50th anniversary in 1996) , ruins of San Ignacio Church in Intramuros ( Flora Filipina 2006 ) ,  Manila Seedling Bank greenhouse, Quezon City hall lagoon area and now at the Quezon Memorial Circle ( Hardin ng Bulaklak ) area.

Architect Bimbo Vergara and Atty. Cipriano Mercado on February 27, 2013  during the construction phase. 

Architect Bimbo Vergara ornamental landscape exhibit

Cactus and Succulent Society of the Philippines executed by Architect Bimbo Vergara, Mr. Noel Vincent ” Botchie ” Canicula and Atty. Cirpriano Mercado

Orchid landscape exhibit of Ms. Erly Egargue and Ms. Lorna Latorre

vertical garden landscape exhibit with mini pond of Professor Serapion Metilla  ( METTS Plant Arts and Supplies )

University of the Philippines- student of landscape architecture exhibit with Professor Serapion Metilla’s vertical landscape complement each other

Malvarosa Orchids and Ornamental landscape exhibit

semi-terete Vanda Josephine Van Brero hybrids were mounted on driftwood.  Malvarosa Orchids and Ornamental Farm located in Malvar, Batangas also specializes in growing and selling this type of orchid varieties. Backyard growers would prefer growing this type of orchid hybrids in their garden landscape since they are hardy and can withstand full sun conditions ( when established ) flowers can last from 3 weeks up to 4 weeks in perfect conditions.

Professor Elias Banquillo and Mr. Rod Pagcatipunan, members of the Philippine Orchid Society admire the huge Grammatophyllum multiflorum  with at least 1,000 flowers !

orchid landscape of Malvarosa Orchid

However quite a number of the flowers are already pollinated by carpenter bees .  One visitor said ” Sayang hindi naka-abot sa judging , kundi baka nanalo ito ng ” Best Orchid  ” or ” Best Cultured Orchid ” sa show” .

Delia’s Native Orchids and Plant landscape used old Capiz window panels , old glass windows and adobe blocks .

Third Place : Corazon Purificacion and Ana Ruth Purificacion -Conde orchid landscape exhibit

Second Place: Corazon Purificacion and Ana Ruth Purificacion – Conde orchid landscape exhibit 

First Place : Ms. Evangeline ” Vangie” Go  ( won back to back title ) Best Ornamental landscape exhibit and Best Orchid landscape exhibit

Mr. Kelvin Niel Manubay , Ms. Evangeline ” Vangie” Go and Mayor Ramon ” Mon” Ilagan of Cainta

Source: page 3 and page 6  Philippine Orchid Review magazine volume 14 1&2 60th anniversary issue

Please Try to visit the other links of the 67th annual orchid and garden show highlights:

 First Part: https://renz15.wordpress.com/2013/02/28/highlights-of-the-67th-annual-orchid-and-garden-show/

Second Part : https://renz15.wordpress.com/2013/02/28/highlights-of-the-67th-philippine-orchid-society-annual-orchid-and-garden-show/

Third Part : https://renz15.wordpress.com/2013/03/02/67th-annual-philippine-orchid-society-show-winners/d-and-garden-show/