2009 April | Ajay's Writings on the Wall

April, 2009

Flapjacks One Peso Pancakes

April 13, 2009 by ajay

Here’s a tummy-filler we can’t possibly resist. All-day breakfast place Flapjacks is offering these divine stack of pancakes at one peso each from April 13 to 17, to celebrate their first year anniversary.

Conditions apply:

A maximum of three pancakes per table

Available only from 1 to 5 p.m.

Still, it’s good enough. Considering that Flapjacks is known for their filling but pricey offerings, one peso for a pancake….. is better than street food!!!

I just bumped into this promotion actually. The server (who was on OJT) didn’t even mention it to me So much for letting OJT trainees on the frontline. I went to Flapjacks Robinsons Midtown because I wanted to snack and was craving for their Endless Coffee (P75) to keep me awake, while in the office

Besides, I really like the phrase Endless Coffee. I think it’s better than the much abused word “Bottomless.”

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Category Munchin' | Tags: | 6 Comments
Manila’s dine-in seafood markets

April 12, 2009 by ajay

With a mainly no-meat diet being imposed by Filipino Roman Catholics among themselves this past Holy Week, allow me to talk about seafood markets that have mushroomed in the city. When you’re craving for cooked seafood in these parts, you can think of three major sources: the Filipino restos where you can feast on local specialties like guinataang kuhol (snail), the Chinese restos which have offerings like crispy shrimps or crab with sotanghon (vermicelli), and the open-air markets where you can pick your seafood fresh and have it cooked in the adjoining restaurant of your choice.

I dined in two of these seafood markets recently and the experience hasn’t been disappointing. A bit on the pricey side, yes, but then again, seafood doesn’t really come cheap, unless you’re in a coastal town or something.

Dampa sa Libis was quite a revelation. I liked it because it was clean and didn’t suffocate me with the crowds. For someone like me who’s based in the center of Manila, its location in Libis, along C5, was definitely out of my way. It would pay to be here at least once a year, he he, and what’s good is that after eating here, you can take a short five minute drive to Eastwood City and have coffee there. The malls in Eastwood also close late, around midnight or so.

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Category Munchin', My Manila | Tags: dampa,Manila,paluto,seafood market,seaside | 6 Comments
Little Tokyo Makati

April 10, 2009 by ajay

Fast forward to 2009 and I am happy to find Little Tokyo in Makati. Fellow bloggers have been talking about this place and it was time to see It warmed my heart at first sight.

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Category My Manila, Road Adventures | Tags: Little Tokyo,Makati,Manila | 9 Comments
Tokyo memories 2005

April 10, 2009 by ajay

In 2005, I was able to set foot in one of my dream countries, Japan, and one of my dream cities, Tokyo. “Lost in Translation” had quite an effect on me and I was more than happy to absorb Tokyo’s glittering lights, even though we didn’t have much of a night life to speak of.

My pics of this trip was also misplaced in another Flickr account and it was only recently that I found it. Picture quality isn’t so great either. Around this time, I was still lugging around my first digital camera which was a Kodak Easyshare (officially stolen). Still, they’re good enough for keeping my fond Tokyo memories alive.

A lovely spring day at a park in Ueno. In search of the cheapest box of Cup Noodles to bring home as pasalubong, the Pinays told me to go to Ueno. I went there alone, even though I couldn’t read much the signages at the train station.

At the train, I took a shot of this woman garbed in traditional kimono. She gamely posed for the camera, a far cry from riding the train in New York where I was warned not to look at people in the eye.
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Category Travel | Tags: Japan,Tokyo | 1 Comment
(Another) laptop robbery, this time in S & R Macapagal

April 9, 2009 by ajay

I was about to park my car to buy a pair of tires in S & R Macapagal (Aseana Business Park) last night when I chanced upon this angry scene.

A group found out too late that their brand new Montero SUV had been broken in, its glass windows smashed. In a relatively well-lit parking lot with security guards. Losses included a brand new Acer laptop and money in six figures.

The victim (not in picture) was mainly mourning the loss of his laptop, placed in a knapsack, which contained important work records. We learned he’s a vice president of Volvo cars based in Singapore.

It seems only a few weeks ago when we wrote here the rash of laptop robberies in vehicles. This is the reason why I’d never venture out of the house these days with the Mac, even for the sole reason of “looking good while using wi-fi in a tony coffeeshop.” The prevailing moral lesson is that you should never leave your laptop and other gadgets in your car, even if you just have to pee for five minutes, or less.
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Category My Manila, News | Tags: | 8 Comments
So long, Joe Capadocia

April 9, 2009 by ajay

I was quite shocked to read the news this morning that one of the presidential choppers went missing. One of the passengers, Joe Capadocia, was someone I’ve known since the 80s, one of the few colleagues in media who eventually got appointed to sensitive positions in government. Prior to his untimely fate, he was Press Undersecretary of the Arroyo administration who treated his job of supervising media coverages like he was still tenaciously covering the beat.

Joe Capadocia was one of the first grizzled veterans I saw in the newsroom of the old Roces-owned Manila Times, back when I was a third year journalism student and just starting to get my feet wet in the media. As our defense reporter, he was so serious with his job and pursued it with a passion. There was a time when I wasn’t pleased because I wrote a typhoon report and it was only his byline that made it. JoeCap always wore a vest with many pockets in them and smoked cigarettes like crazy. I recall those days when the internet was unheard of, or even unthought of and news stories were dictated over the phone, then transcribed in the noisy typewriters of yore.
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Category News | Tags: | No Comments
Three things you can do in Boracay this Holy Week

April 6, 2009 by ajay

With a large number of people expected to troop to the paradise island of Boracay this coming Holy Week, environmentalists are stepping up their campaign to save the island too.

Greenpeace, in cooperation with Boracay Foundation and Boracay Yuppies, are reminding holiday-goers to protect the environment by doing three simple acts:

-Save energy by switching off and unplugging all electrical appliances when they leave their resort room;
- Reduce waste by bringing their own bag when they go out and saying no
to plastic bags, straws and sachets; and
- Walk more, to enjoy the beach and lessen air pollution.

This is something you can do in any part of the Philippines too.
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Category Boracay | Tags: Boracay,environment,Greenpeace,Holy Week 2009,Seair | 1 Comment
Where to go, what to do during Holy Week 2009

April 6, 2009 by ajay

I’ve received a few press releases from some friends, so I’d figure I’d do a little guide on where to go for Holy Week 2009 in the Philippines, including Easter:

1. Visita Iglesia. The Church Visit is quite common among Catholics,and the more churches, the better. I can still remember the times spent in my mother’s hometown in Bulacan and how authentic the commemoration of Christ’s suffering there was, with flagellants walking along the road. You’ll never see a better picture of Catholicism in action that in the week leading up to Easter Sunday.

2. Trek to Mt. Banahaw. Thousands will once again trek to the mountain deemed as holy by its devotees and who don’t mind making the long pilgrimage. While you’re in Dolores, Quezon, don’t forget to stay and sample the culinary offerings of Kinabuhayan Cafe.

3. Go on a retreat. Ateneo de Manila will be holding a Holy Week Triduum Retreat for its alumni, while those of us glued most of the time to the internet can join the Online Holy Week Retreat of the Jesuits.

4. Restaurants open in SM Mall of Asia on Holy Thursday and Good Friday. The mall will be closed, but dining establishments open are Bucharest, China Palace, Fish & Co, Gerry’s Grill, Guilly’s Island, Highlands Steakhouse, Italianni’s, Jatujak, Tanabe, TGI Friday’s & most restaurants in San Miguel By The Bay.

5. Kusina Salud Lenten Specials. One of my favorite restaurants south of the metro prepares a tempting array of fish and seafood treats from Holy Wednesday to Black Saturday. These are: Lumpiang Seafood Shanghai (P175), Bacalao Espanyol (P215), Kinamyasang Hipon (P245), and Bangus a la Pobre (P265). They also have an Easter Sunday Lunch Buffet at P399 per person plus an Easter Egg shell art activity for P350 per person. All these makes me want to make the lone drive, I swear
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Category Holidays, Holy Week | Tags: | 2 Comments
LP 52: Paboritong Litrato (Kalikasan)

April 3, 2009 by ajay

Mahirap ang tema ng Litratong Pinoy ngayong linggo na ito kasi kailangang pumili ng paboritong photos. Mahirap kasi halos apat na libo na rin ang mga larawan ko sa Flickr, at ang iba namang paborito ko ay hindi na inabot ng digital age. Katulad ng mga coup d’etat nung late 80s at ang pagguho ng mga gusali sa Baguio. Kasagsagan pa yun ng aking mga coverage sa dyaryo. Sayang di ko iningatan kaya nawala na ang mga yun.

Ipapakita ko na lang ang ilang pictures sa mga paboritong lugar na napuntahan ko sa Pilipinas. Kung lalabas lang din tayong mga taga-Maynila ay masasabi nating pinagpapala pa rin ang Pilipinas sa angking ganda. Heto ang ilang magagandang tanawin:

Us-usan Sandbar sa Guimaras. Di ko makalimutan ang lugar na ito kasi hanep sa pagka-birhen ang beach. Hindi rin dinadayo mg madlang people kaya heaven talaga pag pinuntahan mo.
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Category Road Adventures, Travel | Tags: | 18 Comments

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