BATCHOY for RAINY DAYS

BATCHOY IS A PERFECT RAINY DAYS COMFORT FOOD, WOULD YOU AGREE? BATCHOY or batsoy is a very popular FIlipino noodle soup cuisine that originated in the Visayas. Some say it started in La Paz in Iloilo.

21 resto's batchoy

It is usually composed o pork offal, crushed pork cracklings, chicken stock, beef loin, and round noodles. There are many origin stories about this delicious dish. The original and most popular variant, the La Paz Batchoy, traces its roots to the Iloilo City district of La Paz, in the Philippines. However, the origin of the La Paz Batchoy is unclear with several accounts claiming credit for the dish.

One restaurant that's filled to to brim especially during rainy days is Super Batchoy House. Super Batchoy House is located in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental. They have branches spread all over the city. Their delicious Batchoy has been sold for many years and still has the consistent flavor that many are still hooked to eat even up to this day.

Meanwhile, a Shell gasoline station in Bacolod where its convenience store serves Special Batchoy with cheaper price. It's very tasty for its price. However, drinks are sold with the usual convenience store pricing which is usually higher compared in restaurant or eatery. Batchoy is a Filipino noodle soup of pork offal, crushed pork cracklings, chicken stock, beef loin and round noodles. There are more restaurants that serve batchoy and these are Ted's, Deco, 21 restaurant in Bacolod, Nick's in Manapla, and even Shell convenience stores.

Different VARIANTS of BATCHOY:

ORDINARY or REGULAR BATCHOY - no egg and no offals or chicharon (sometimes smaller serving) SPECIAL BATCHOY - with egg, chicaron and offals (bigger serving) SUPER BATCHOY - with raw egg, offals, chicharon, bone marrow. usually served in bigger bowl

MASSKARA FESTIVAL FIREWORKS and the MOON

 MASSKARA FIREWORKS and the MOON

WATCH

Beautiful MassKara Festival Fireworks was accompanied by the glowing Friday moon during the eve of the opening day or locally called (salubong).

This shot (video above) was taken near the back of the carnival area and only features the last 1 minute that highlights the most beautiful explosions saved for the end part. 

Video: Inside a Jollibee Party

 WHAT TO EXPECT in a JOLLIBEE CHILDREN'S PARTY (last is a bonus)

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What happens in a Jollibee party?
Well, every Jollibee Children's Birthday Party follows a template - parlor games, food, prizes and more.
But of course, when you are present in one of these birthdays, you will always see the kids' excitement and that the love for the mascot is overwhelming.
Watch the video where Jollibee has to hide  before he shows his antics in a Meet and Greet session -  a surprise that always make guests and the birthday celebrator jump up with glee. So, check out 10 What to Expect inside the usual Jollibee event.
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VIDEO: S&R Christmas Decors

 S&R Decorations will light up 
your homes and offices

Christmas season is here. The Ber months are almost over soon. With this in mind, we need not to rush for our holiday's needs. You name it- colorful Christmas decors.
As early as October, establishments like S&R has already selling beautiful Christmas decorations.

WATCH THE VIDEO

S&R, a membership shopping store, are providing their members a lot of options for Xmas ornaments from the usual giant Christmas tree to unique decorations such as lamp posts, a giant ball ornament, Santa and white bear soap collection, Belen (Holy Family), Xmas Gingerbread man baking set, Cute Christmas Village and more.
These ornaments are or not your usual displays. These are innovations with class and are crafted well.

This YouTube video is a walk through guide for the holiday products that are displayed in their Bacolod city branch, Philippines just beside SM mall Bacolod.

10 Usual Decorations in a Filipino Home

1. Santa socks 

2. Christmas Lights

3. Star Lanterns or Parols

4. Christmas Tree

5. Belen (Holy Family)

6. Merry Christmas Letter Banners

7. Santa Claus statues or paper hangers

8. Images of Angels Blowing Horns 

9. Bethlehem Star

10. Santa driving his sleigh posters

TWO FACES OF BORACAY: NATURE and BUSINESS

THE BORACAY THAT 

WE USED TO KNOW

(Nature and More Modernity) 
WITH TIPS for Tourists

No doubt, Boracay is one of the top tourist destinations 
in the Philippines. With its long white beach and strings of leisure hotels, travelers love to spend their vacation because they wanted to enjoy the best of both worlds. The picturesque places of Boracay indeed are worth a thousand words.

However, there's always an endless debate if the modernization of the island did harm than good. If compared to decades ago, the Boracay that few knew esp the locals, is a virgin island where the only shelter you'll see is a kubo surrounded by tropical forests. Then massive development began due to influx of tourists thanks to a 70s Hollywood film. International hotels (some with gold courses), stores and brands sprouted like mushrooms, changing the island's landscape. (See videos below)

Walking Tour video at Boracay's Station 2 and D*Mall

Road Trip video at Boracay's Station 2

Also, there was only D*Mall, an array of stores lined up beside the shore, selling stuff from shirt to bikinis to sandals and souvenir.

It was just the beginning. Now, the streets of Boracay is mostly establishments ranging from banks to hotels to pop up stores to restaurants, one can be surprised of new developments each year. you'll see this if you look around. Ride a motorcyle or e-bike, if you will. 

TIPS for VISITORS IN BORACAY:
1. Travel light (there are lots of stores in Boracay)
2. Bring enough cash but be wary of the prices (Before you buy, check if you are buying or paying an overpriced food, goods, souvenirs or services like tattoos or massage. 

3. Observe safety when riding risky rides like parasailing and banana boat (Unfortunately, these exciting fun rides caused deaths to some of tourists in the past due to accidents and the lack of checking or following safety nets). Don't make pranks when you're riding.
4. Observe safety when swimming. Use a floating device if you must. Always check the head counts if you are a group.
5. If you have a drone, check out for places that are ok for flying one. Most of the places in Boracay have a strict ordinance on drone use as crashes can hit tourists.
6. Don't drink too much and get crazy during a party. Just enjoy! Check your phone always. It could slip through and lost in the sand.
7. No lovemaking on the beach (It's illegal).
8. Be aware of people forcing visitors to join their dinner seminars in the guise of free good, fast profitable returns or a famous star (their endorser) Usually, you can't get out easily once you ate the free food and they will force you to invest spot on. Just say No! to them and the free food. 
9. Keep your phones and laptops safe always. Some hostels have reports of burglars and thievery. Report your missing items by filing a blotter report at the island police station.

10. Throw garbage on the proper bin. Make Boracay's beach clean always. 

DOT Slogan through the Years (HATE and LOVE RELATIONSHIP)

DOT Slogan through the Years 
(HATE and LOVE RELATIONSHIP)

Remember when The Department of Tourism (DOT) unveiled its tourism campaign slogan "LOVE THE PHILIPPINES?" Well, it caused some controversy among Filipinos but the DOT was fast to counter that - by creating a campaign video and posters on how they can use wordplay on the slogan to capture attention. 

Screen grab from the DOT's new Love the Philippines advertisement in YouTube

However, the video was also met with a massive backlash when a netizen pointed out that some clips were taken from a stock website and worse, one video doesn't represent the Philippines at all but another country. 

WATCH THIS VIDEO for all DOT Slogan through the years

The I LOVE THE PHILIPPINES replaced the 11-year-old slogan "MORE FUN IN THE PHILIPPINES", a word play on tourism that was also controversial when it was also launched. It caused rants social media platforms, a hate-love relationship among netizens who initially were against it but eventually came to love the idea.

Screen grab from the DOT's new Love the Philippines advertisement in YouTube

Indeed, there are many fun activities in the Philippines. The fact that the country is made of thousand of islands with beautiful and scenic tourist spots, one can say that spending time in the Philippines for one's vacation is indeed fun. 

Many tried to explain why they hated it. Even the advertising agency that did the campaign was rocked with the controversies. Is it just that many are harder to please? or many netizens have a valid reason to be angry and critic it.

WOW Philippines, meanwhile, under Sen. Gordon, was a well-loved slogan as it has a high recall among many locals and foreigners alike. But, of course, it should change after years of usage. 
For you, what's the best slogan among the slogans you've seen and liked?

HOME IMPROVEMENT DEPOT WAREHOUSE

 CITI HARDWARE

The Pioneer in One-stop-shop Home Improvement Warehouse business

CITI HARDWARE's Business model spawned many more Depots 

like Triumph Depot, Wilcon Depot and AllHome (See videos below)

If you are into construction, DIY and Home Improvement, what comes to mind is a gargantuan task of searching for the right materials, equipment, interior ornaments and the like. 
During the 90s, all you need to do is go to many stores or hardware shops that specializes in different brands and materials.  It takes days for you and your contractor to decide what's the best material with reasonable prices. 

But when CITIHardware popularized the one-stop-shop hardware, everything changed. This time people can go check what they need and purchase them under one roof. The warehouse offer you almost all you need to build a shelter or furniture. 

Inside CITIHardware is an array of simple to beautifully-designed tiles. They sell a lot of lighting and bathroom fixtures. They do have garden decorations too. If you need a door, they do sell made to install doors from simple to complex design. Also inside are many aisle of paint brands for different purpose and the great thing there are people who can electronically mix your paint. Brands like Boysen has a Mix and Match Paint Mixing Station inside and Davies has Computerized Paint Mixing Machine. 

CITI Hardware pioneered this kind of business model and it inspired some companies to do the same. Now you can find many big names in this kind of industry with their own style of depot like Triumph Depot and Wilcon Depot. 

HERE ARE OTHER DIY/HOME IMPROVEMENT WAREHOUSES

1. Triumph Hardware Depot (Hilado St. branch) sells many local brands such as Firefly products for lighting. They also sell Off grid solar lighting systems, paints, read-made doors, bathroom fixtures and more.

2. Wilcon Depot (Villamonte branch near Villa Angela and Bacolod City Government Center) has a wide array of product offerings which include local and international brands of tiles and flooring, plumbing and sanitary wares, electrical and  more.

3. AllHome by Villar Group (Buri Road, Mandalagan, Bacolod City branch) is within the AllValue Home complex of stores that sells furnitures, decorations, ornaments, tiles, construction materials and more.