WHERE TO BUY DIY STUFF: HOME IMPROVEMENT DEPOT WAREHOUSES

 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.

Your Future Home: Megaworld The Upper East Herald Parksuites Showroom

 HERALD PARKSUITES at The UPPER EAST

Megaworld's first Smart Condo in Bacolod

Looking for a Condo in Bacolod? 
Then you've come to the right web page. Megaworld The Upper East is bringing dynamic and vibrant life in Bacolod with the development of their township projects. The Upper East is one of the two brands (the other is Forbes Hill) that are fueling growth in the Eastern side of the City of Smiles. 

Below are some videos of the Herald Parksuite showroom (WATCH THE VIDEOS) 

Video of Studio Unit Showroom

Being a realty powerhouse, Megaworld appreciates business to mix with leisure. That's why the people behind The Upper East took to the table a former milling space to be transformed to a New York-inspired community where people can have a balanced lifestyle. 
Herald Parksuites is the 4th residential condo development inside the 34 hectare land. Each unit boasting of spacious floor plans and wireless smart home systems.

Video of 2-bedroom unit Showroom

Megaworld The Upper East MAP

For a township living like this, people can enjoy amenities like swimming pools, reading books, children's playground and daycare center, a private dining room, and game room. The building is also near big establishments like Lander's Superstore, Splash Park Bacolod McDonald's East, Lopue's East Department Store, Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC), Starbucks Circumferential Road, Jollibee East, KFC East and more.

E-JEEPNEY (Philippine Transport Modernization)

 

Goodbye JEEPNEYS! Hello e-jeepneys

Jeepneys are rare these days. These transports are truly endangered with the sudden changes in the Philippine transport industry. Considered to be a cultural icon and heritage, jeepneys has been considered as obsolete and are now slowly phased out to pave way for modernization.

Many knew that this transport was a product of Pinoy inguinity - wherein military jeeps used in World War 2. That's why it's hard for its existence to vanish without considering its cultural vale. Jeepneys were actually forgotten. Americans left many jeeps in the country after World War 2. Because pinoys were out job after the war, they saw the opportunity to develop  the parts that were salvaged and dismantled from the Army jeeps into something useful and can be a source of income. The product of that endeavor was a hit - the Jeep became Jeepney.  It is a portmanteu of post-war words "jeep" (brand) and pre-war "jitney" (a bus or other vehicle carrying passengers for a low fare.

The jeepney ruled the Philippines streets for decades. It has become one of the so-called poster boys of the Tourism Industry just like the Chocolate Hills, the Tarsier and the Philippine Eagle.

WATCH THIS VIDEO

Foreign and local tourists are enamored by this road beast. However, time and also new modern innovations endangered this well-loved  mode of transportation.  When the biggest jeepney maker Sarao company closed due to financial difficulties, it was a telltale sign that Modernization of the transport industry is at the horizon.

Indeed, the inevitable happened. Nowadays, modern buses with AC and other amenities, replaced the Sarao-type transport and even the boxed ones. Many were sad that the new buses were too ugly, too modern and are stiff looking. Gone are the colorful motif that truly gave jeepneys its identities. 
However, there were others who are okay with the change but wanted to preserve the traditional image of a Jeepney. Thus, a hybrid was born, the e-jeepneys, an innovative form of Pinoy transportation that looks modern but with the some old-fashion form.

Starbucks BACOLOD opens CIRCUMFERENTIAL EAST branch

STARBUCKS opens another Branch in the EAST side of Bacolod, the City of Smiles
Just in time for the Bacolod MassKara Festival

 Bacolod coffee lovers have a new reason to celebrate - STARBUCKS Circumrenal Road has finally opened. And this time, it's in the EAST area where new developments are sprouting like mushrooms. First, there's the city resort Splash Park Bacolod near BCGC (Bacolod Government Center).  There's the Megaworld The Upper East where Herald Parksuites Condominium, new McDonald's, Landers Superstore Bacolod and other buildings. Tthen along the circumferential road are new establishments like the DIY/Home improvement store, Triumph Depot. There's Rockwell to the North too. 

The new standalone branch, compared to its, predecessor, the first ever Starbucks in Lacson St., has 3 distinct new features: a Drive-Thru, a 2nd floor and a balcony area. 

Though the parking area is limited, the Drive-Thru serves as an option for those who have cars yet they wanted to have their morning coffee, a hot Starbucks cup.

WATCH THIS VIDEO

The 2nd floor is idea for those who are looking to CoWork or work away from home. Virtual assistans, those who are coders, social media managers can work on the large large table good provided by the coffee chain. 

The balcony is welcome idea especially those who just wanted to drink coffee or relax. This is a place that you can look at time without worrying or just watch passing cars while thinking of new ideas or a new business. Couples will find the balcony an ideal dating area too. From the balcony, one can see a vantage view of mountains of Negros Occidental.

Well, it's good to have an international chain opening in a once solitary place. It's a sign that Bacolod, indeed, is growing and new opportunities are coming. It's an added tambayan for Bacolod MassKara Festival revelers come October. 

WALKING TOUR - Pinoy Streetfood Overload

 Street Food in the Philippines
(With YouTube Videos)

Asia is one of continents in the world that has a different street vibe compared to other places. For one, like in Thailand and China, exotic street food abound. The different aroma in the air are so strong that you get easily hungry. Being a tourist, cultural food should be a must on the list in the itinerary. 

Grilled Balut

Street food is a big industry albeit however some see the people behind it, the vendors as nuisance or illegals. However, this thriving economy has become a part of Asian or Filipino culture.

Originally, kanto food is focused on carinderias (food eatery by the road) but now, it has evolved into something mobile. Vendors now show up at any places like parks, townships (like in the Megaworld The Upper East or at the back of Bacolod City Government Center in Bacolod City, and pop-up carts or food trucks.  

On sticks and plastic cups

Now, with these foldable or mobile trucks, people can pay affordable food and enjoy it outdoors or simply, order them as a take away. The only drawback with this kind of business is the weather. When it rains, few customers might show up.

Philippines' street food scene is not focused solely on Pinoy cuisine as a whole but it has become a fusion of cultures, traditions, tastes, cooking and styles. It has evolved so much. 
  Now, you can find  Arabic cuisines like Shawarma, Hummus, Shawarma Rice as well as Chinese ice candy Tanghulu and siomai; Japanese Tempura and Kikiam, Korean's Kimbop and Cordog, Mexican Burritos, Tacos, Nachos, Chimi Changa, Italian's Pizza and there's the Taiwanese Milk Tea too. 

Beef Pares Overload is so trendy now thanks to Paresan queen, Diwata in Manila

And for authentic Filipino traditional street food, there's the tasty and popular Balut, bbq on sticks like the Chicken Inasal,  Beef Pares Overload,

For the kids, there are pancake, cotton candy, choros and popcorn.

 If given the training and support from Government like from DOT (Department of Trade), people especially those who are jobless can embrace this kind of opportunities, giving them hope to start small, but also to dream big. Having a street venture with value, cleanliness and respect customer is an honest work, after all.