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June, 2009

  1. VNC shoes, for showing off your feet

    June 13, 2009 by ajay

    As a woman, I have a love affair between shoes ~ and bags. I still have to think about what weighs more in my heart. Although logic should easily tell us you wear your shoes wherever you go, but a bag is something you can leave sitting on a chair or desk. So yes, shoes will always be a practical option. Just ask Madam Imelda Marcos :D

    Being a shoe lover, I was quite thrilled when the company behind VNC shoes (through their publicist First Tier) invited women-bloggers to view their latest collection. I haven’t been attending blog events lately, but this was one I couldn’t resist. VNC is one of my favorite brands. In fact, my preferred pair these days is this VNC strappy sandals I bought for a little more than P1K at a recent sale in MOA.

    VNC shoes

    The predominant shoe color in my closet is black, but a review of VNC’s spring-summer collection shows that bright colors are “in.” And yes, they do have bags too!

    VNC shoes and bags
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    Category Shopping Etc. | Tags: ,,, | 5 Comments

  2. When Katrina said ‘Binaboy ako,’ swine flu cases went up

    June 9, 2009 by ajay

    Katrina's line

    This week in Barrio Siete, I speak about the ramifications of language and the many meanings it can conjure.

    Take for instance Katrina Halili’s famous line in the Most Downloaded Video of the Year. Whereas other phrases can easily be translated from Tagalog to English, her utterance of “Binaboy ako” was lost on some experts. “I was swined” or “I was porkified” is kinda awkward and is just for joking. ” I was treated like a pig” is rather harsh for something that she probably enjoyed, if only it was kept more private.

    Being “lost in translation” is something we always encounter. In this country of 7,107 islands, there exists several hundred dialects. A word in one province can have a nasty meaning in another, and this is where the riot comes in.

    A few of the strange words that cropped up in the comments:

    Utong sa Tagalog means nipples. In Ilocos, it’s perfectly okay to munch on utong because it means string beans :D
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    Category Life & Living | Tags: ,,, | No Comments

  3. Saizen store shopping tips, when everything is 85 pesos…

    June 8, 2009 by ajay

    Mind you, 85 pesos sounds cheap, but when compounded to 25 or so items, can add up to a lot already. This is what happened to me when I bought 36 cute knick-knacks at the store, while still promising to come back for more. It’s just good that the staff and cashiers are friendly and helpful. Here are my own tips for shopping sanely and effectively in Saizen, the authentic 100-yen (hyaku-en) shop in Manila, after Japan’s very own Daiso chain of stores:

    1. Look out for their products labelled Made in Japan. Some of the stuff is Made in China, and if you say China, you might as well look in Divisoria. Japan-made means you’re assured of the quality and the uniqueness of the item, such as those bento picks, onigiri rice ball maker and other kitchen accessories I chose.

    2. Have a shopping budget, and stick to it. It’s hard when everything you see is cute and pretty so you might as well set money aside. The difficult part is that the store accepts credit cards, which brings you the illusion that you can have this and have that :P

    3. Be ready with your own shopping list. Related to No. 2. Having a list means you’re guided on what to buy, and will not act on impulse.

    4. Look elsewhere before you buy. The shopping savvy would do well being familiar with various shopping destinations in the metro and compare prices. This is so you’ll not be overwhelmed on your first Saizen visit and scoop up something you see at the first opportunity.

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    Category Shopping Etc. | Tags: ,,,,,, | 7 Comments

  4. Carnival of Cities- here they go…..

    June 6, 2009 by ajay

    It’s already June 5th, and am two days delayed for my round-up of the Carnival of Cities. Apologies to all those who submitted, as consistently bad weather in Manila the past few days prevented me from being online most of the time. Also, I was deluged with entries. It was good actually, since it opened up my eyes to other parts of the world I haven’t visited, or explored. Reading about them made me feel like am there already. Thanks to all those who participated.

    Jon, the DCtraveler, recounts in his post: ” While people are staying away from travel to Mexico, I had a wonderful long weekend in Cozumel and with prices low, NOW is the time to go.” He also adds “a few fun, silly and goofy “photo ops” of the Washington Monument in Washington, DC.”

    Julian Dobson writes about Sheffield, which claims to be the UK’s greenest city. Here’s his thoughts on why it’s at risk.

    Orlando Restaurant Reviews focuses on Roys, which prides itself of Hawaiian-style seafood in Florida.

    Eyeflare – Travel Articles and Tips opens our eyes to cheap eats in Berlin: ” Berlin food isn’t all currywurst, a bratwurst covered in ketchup and curry powder. While you’ll find those on every streetcorner of Berlin, there are better options to be had. So if you’re looking for good cheap eats in Berlin, here are some great options for pizza, Indian and Asian food, and the more genuinely German. ”

    Liz Wright of Travelogged gives us a peek on the good life with her wine tasting at Domaine Chandon in Napa Valley : “The tasting room has the atmosphere of celebration since most people are sipping — or gulping — sparkling wine. Another nice touch is that they serve food: sandwiches, seafood and caviar.”
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    Category Carnival of Cities | Tags: | 4 Comments

  5. Saizen, 85-peso shop in Robinsons Galleria: the house of cute

    June 4, 2009 by ajay

    Truth to tell, during my first (and only) visit to Tokyo in ’05, budget constraints forced me to visit the 100-yen stores as my only option for buying ‘pasalubong.’ They were huge, housed in three to four-storey buildings with all kinds of stuff available.

    Fast forward to 2009, one need not fly as far because the real 100-yen (hyaku-en) shop named Saizen opened its first branch at the Robinsons Galleria last April 29. Everything at 85 pesos each! I have to admit: the extent of their offerings makes Japan Home Center a poor cousin. Must-buys here, in my opinion: beauty aids, home organizers and kitchen tools, including bento accessories that I’ve been looking for. And of course, things related to Japan!

    I just wish Saizen would go forth and multiply soon, and not limit its store to faraway Ortigas.

    Saizen - 100 Yen Store
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    Category Shopping Etc. | Tags: ,,,,,,,, | 11 Comments

  6. Meet me in Barrio Siete

    June 2, 2009 by ajay

    As I said in my Plurk, I need to evolve in my blogging and that’s why I joined Barrio Siete, the refuge of all barrio folks who have made their mark in the city. It is always nice to go back to one’s roots and smell the breeze. My only mistake is that I thought we would all reminisce about all things promdi. I didn’t quite expect that we would talk about current affairs and intellectual chorva of the highest order. Napasabak tuloy ako!

    Take for instance my post yesterday. Usually, I prefer writing about food, travel and other kakikayan sa buhay. I never really thought I’d go back to writing about Katrina Halili and the danged video scandal again. I had to because I need to blend in and be a trying hard social climber with all those heavyweights in BarrioCity like Reynz, the CPA with MBA from George Washington U, Cath ~ the CPA with doctorate and former dean, and other twinkle twinkle little stars (stand up to be counted na lang mga bro…. at bra).
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    Category Barrio Siete | Tags: , | 8 Comments

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