Thursday, October 26, 2006

DYLAN WAVES HELLO!

Guys, thanks for always visiting Guts. Grit. Gumption.

Since Blogger has turned Beta, I have forgotten to check my Moderate Comments page and since I haven't linked the comment system to my email, I had no way of knowing if you were leaving a comment or not.

This morning (say, 3:00 AM) while at work, my cusiousity got the better of me and I checked. Lo and behold, it seems like I owe you all a lot of answers to your queries! I'd find the time to answer some comments as soon as I am able to comb through the blog this weekend.

Once again, thanks so much!

Sunday, October 22, 2006

A NEW STREETFOOD JOINS THE LONG LIST

A new streetfood joins the long, long list of things you can eat off the streets of Manila. This one is fried squid, made of squid slices / slabs dipped in batter and deep fried. There is vinegar with chillies for the dip. Very good!


FRIED SIOPAO, RECTO

I noticed this small shop while walking along C.M. Recto Avenue. The bustle is enough to get me curious. I have always loved siopao (who doesn't?) and fried siopao, even with the spectre of oil looms in the horizon, didn't deter me from getting my hands on these hot buns. The only filling available is asado. It's steamed first, then the base is seared on those huge pans. It does make it taste a bit different. You must try it at least once in your life. And it's so cheap (and good)!



Two pleasures side by side. Siopao and sex mix in Recto.

THE MARIKINA SHOE EXPO, CUBAO

Opened in Cubao by a group headed by Pacifico Enriquez, the Marikina Shoe Expo was meant to be a showroom for the product that Marikina is known for - shoes. Today, new members have moved into this U-shaped compound. New artist havens like Pablo, Future Prospects and Chunky Far Flung Gallery have settled here. Shops like Bong Salaveria's Vintage Pop and bookstores like Datelines by Business World's Iris Cecilia Gonzales bring in a different set of crowd. And then there is Bellini's, the Italian restaurant that continues to be the talk of the town. The collective is now more known as Cubao X.

Now, more than ever, there's a reason to give Cubao a second chance. Visit Cubao today! I believe Carlos Celdran has walking tours in this area.





Vintage Pop. I already bought several pieces from this store. Things can range from really vintage stuff (records, curios, etc) to newly-created pop art by Artist / Director Bong Salaveria. If you recall, a Close Up commercial was shot in front of this shop. Well, only if you noticed that. :-)


Datelines. From old to new titles, there's something for everyone. And the attendant is really friendly too.





Toys, toys, toys! Childhood goodies from the Chunky Far Flung Gallery.




Lomo love by Blacksoup Projects.

Lomo photos! This is a recent (and currently running as of this writing) exhibit of www.lomo.ph here in MAREX

PASALUBONG: MARANG



One of the perks of visiting the Visayas is the chance to eat fruits that most Manila people find unusual or exotic. Marang is one of them. Sold at Php 35/each here in Bacolod, it sells at Php 50+ in SM Malls.

The Johey Oak (Artocarpus odoratissimus), also called Marang and Tarap, is a tree related to Jackfruit, Cempedak, and Breadfruit, native to Borneo. Once opened, the marang should be consumed quickly (in a few hours), as it loses flavour rapidly and fruit oxidises. The seeds are also edible after boiling or roasting. More here.

The tree is not cold tolerant (as is the breadfruit). It can grow between latitude 15º north and south, and in coastal regions where temperatures never stay under 7 ºC. It is cultivated for its fruit in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and southern Thailand. The species is largely grown for local consumption; the short shelf-life of the fruit limits its wider use.



Information source: Wickipedia
Photos: Dylan Yap Gozum, Bacolod 2006

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

ALL DRESSED UP AND READY TO GO


We all know how many Filipino households love dressing up their houses. Oh, yeah. Tell me about it! From electric fans, telephones, televisions, the fridge, the couch, the oven toaster - everything is ultimately covered in fabric with frilly trimmings.

Now this obsession has moved to vehicles like this Tamaraw FX taxi plying Roxas Boulevard. Be careful what you wear next time. It might just match the seat covers.

ANG GALING! ANG GALING, GALING!


This blog congratulates SM's Mall of Asia for putting up the country's first-ever Breastfeeding Station in a mall setting. I read somewhere that they will be doing the same in Megamall. I hope other malls follow suit.

Two thumbs up!

Sunday, October 15, 2006

BACOLOD, ILOILO, GUIMARAS 2006


The Provincial Capitol of Negros Occidental located in Bacolod City.

Fresh oysters in Iloilo at only Php 35 / plate! (Think 20-25 pieces of this / plate).

When in Iloilo, it is a mortal sin to miss batchoy, and where else to get it but in La Paz?!


I was in the Western Visayas lately to attend to some things and while I was on a tight schedule, I tried my best to take in as much as I can of the local culture. The rest of the photos are in Radioactive Adobo, my personal blog. Cheers!

A GHOST FROM THE PAST


I saw this in Marikina. I suddenly had visions of JD Liner, which used to ply EDSA. JD Liner buses are red, had wooden floors and the first half of the bus had seats on the sides where passengers sit facing each other. The rest of the bus had normal rows of seats.

SCENES FROM AVENIDA RIZAL











Innocent happiness. Too young to realize the hardships of living in such a city as Manila.

CONCERTS, AVENIDA STYLE



Was passing through Avenida Rizal lately on my way to Recto when I noticed a huge crowd underneath the Carriedo LRT1 Station. And there's music and singing in the air. Ah! One of those frequent open-air "concerts" in this area where blind musicians play and sing every weekend.

Calling themselves "D'Blind Performers", the singer was very, very good and she almost sounds like that young singer in the Philippines, Sarah Geronimo. Obviously, the huge crowd is enough proof that great talent do not have to come in CDs and cassettes.

Refreshments and snacks (dried squid hot off the grill and fake but very cold "fruit" juices) are readily available around the area. Enjoy!




MANILA'S UNDERPASSES




Underpass in Quiapo. Sorry for the blurred shots. Taken in the evening and this is Quiapo after all (still, not an excuse). The network of underpasses are collectively called Lacson Underpass after Mayor Arsenio Lacson, probably Manila's most famous mayor (his statues can be found in several places around the city, the latest being that on Roxas Boulevard where he is depicted reading a broadsheet). Diosdado Macapagal was the President of the Philippines when Lacson was Mayor of Manila.

These lagusans (passageways), commissioned in the 1960's, connect Hidaldo, Escaldo and Arlegui streets to Carriedo and Villalobos, both of which bring you to the historic Plaza Miranda and Quiapo Church across the highway, Quezon Boulevard.