Kaffe Razzo: Redefining Metro Living

Unless you’re a foreigner with your money multiplying up to the 80th power and can buy a soul for a dollar or euro, the word “Manila” elicits one to conjure up thought of incredibly high prices for regular commodities such as food, transportation, etc. While I lament in full bitterness about the rising cost of living in the metro, the opening of this restaurant in Aurora Boulevard in Quezon City where super cheap are food offered that even a beggar could afford comes like a refreshing aroma of plants and trees with all their dews falling on the ground during a sunrise. The name of the restaurant is Kaffe Razzo.

I feel honored to be part of the restaurant’s soft opening. The owner’s generosity to starving bloggers is inspiring. In seconds, the food cooked that were supposed to serve a hundred visitors were gormandized by 10 bloggers.

Kuya Edsel and I

Kidding aside, Kaffe Razzo is one of the few restaurants in Manila offering good food in a lower price. Nowadays, seldom you would find restaurants like this in Manila’s hungry economy. Imagine ordering a bowl of Mongolian rice filled with sea food and chicken meat for PhP65 (approx USD$1.44) and a cup of super rich mocha-latte coffee for the same price. Now, Starbucks has got to decide on lowering its coffee prices hehe!

Let me share some of the cool pictures taken during the event. I respect copyright. These pictures aren’t mine. They are mostly from Henry Allen Yu, Antonio Magno Carranza, Jr., and Jaypee David.

Sisig

Mongolian Rice

Kuya Edsel and I

Pier 1 Society

Proper posture when drinking coffee

Summer Getaway – Sagada, Mountain Province

This is a continuation to the Summer Getaway – Banaue, Ifugao I posted on April 7. We didn’t take much pictures here because we went inside Sumaging Cave in Sagada. It was such a beautiful place but looks like becoming polluted because people smoke inside the caves both the guides and tourists. Nevertheless, I enjoyed spelunking and looking at all the magnificent rock formations inside.

Here, I was with some of the casts of Up With People who visited the Philippines last month and some cool photos of the place. This place is kind of colder than Baguio. You can check out more pictures on my Facebook account.

Hanging Coffins of Sagada

The Best Paella is at Casino Español de Manila

In the past, I shared with you about my plans of going to Spain, hence, my studying in Spanish language, culture, and arts at Instituto Cervantes de Manila. Part of the topics we discuss on a daily basis in class is, of course, Spanish food! Now, when it comes to Spanish food, paella occupies the bulk of the discussion.

My teacher said that among all the restaurants she went to in the Philippines, the best paella she have ever tasted is the one at Casino Español de Manila. Before we ended our Spanish Level 2 Class last Thursday, she promised to bring us there; its just right beside the school and is considered as an international territory or technically territory of Spain.

I think I was in cloud 9 when I was eating paella at the Casino. It was the best I’ve ever tasted! Now I can call someone a cook! ¡Es muy sabrosa! Too bad, the restaurant inside the Casino Español de Manila is not open for everyone since its only for membership basis and for people working and studying at Instituto Cervantes de Manila. Let me share some of the pictures I took!

I don’t mind you using the pictures, but, please, give me some sort of credit when you do. Thanks!

I invite you to visit Casino Español de Manila to play casino games and receive casino bonus and play with the elites.

Spanish Tortilla

'Paella Mixta', Mixed Paella

'Paella Mixta', Mixed Paella

15th Philippine Hot Air Balloon Festival, Clark, Pampanga

I almost failed to blog about the 15th Philippine Hot Air Balloon Festival, Clark, Pampanga. I was just reminded when I saw my post about Ibon-Ebon Festival of Candaba, Pampanga. The Hot Air Balloon festival is becoming more and more exciting owing the number of hot air balloon owners participating in this event. But some people just forget to come in early and fail to see the balloons before they fly in the air.

The Philippine Hot Air Balloon Festival in Clark has become a major tourist attraction in Central Luzon as evidenced on the number of people visiting the event every year. Visitors both from the North and South travel and converge to Pampanga’s international business district – Clark. So don’t be surprised if you see yourself stuck in bad traffic while on your way to the event area in spite of a wide road.

Here are some of the pictures I took at the Hot Air Balloon Festival in Clark.

Pictures taken using Sony Ericsson K810i phone camera.

This farm animals hot air balloon is my fave among the balloons in the event!

The one in front is the biggest!

This humongous bottle of beer balloon was kind of scary 😀

15th Philippine Hot Air Balloon Festival, Clark, Pampanga

Ibon-Ebon Festival of Candaba, Pampanga

The month of February proved to be very busy for me as I took a very long-term writing project. It’s obvious for I haven’t been writing about all the things that’s been happening to me for the past few weeks.

Well, last Saturday was fun because Jaypee and I headed to the 15th Philippine Hot Air Balloon Festival. I still haven’t wrote about that but I promise that I’ll soon post a few pictures on my blog.

Here are some pictures of Candaba, Pampanga’s Ibon-Ebon Festival which was held at the balloon ground during the event. The kids dressed in elaborate and colorful costumes started dancing to the tune of rhythmic sounds of festive music.

Candaba, Pampanga is known for being a local sanctuary for migratory birds which are taking winter breaks from their native abode abroad. For the record, just in 2008 more than 17,000 birds of more than 80 species visited the swampy area of Candaba. In the height of bird flu last year, people were warned to limit contact with the birds to avoid infection from the deadly bird flu virus.

I have a few pictures of Candaba, Pampanga’ Ibon-Ebon Festival here. Hope you like ’em. Have a great weekend!

The 15th Philippines Hot Air Balloon Festival/Air Show on Thursday!

It’s two days to go before the 15th Philippines Hot Air Balloon Festival/Air Show in Clark, Pampanga! I’m very excited because this is the first where I’ll get to capture images using my new Nikon D3000 SLR camera I bought two months ago (December 2009).

The 15th Philippines Hot Air Balloon Festival/Air Show will run from Thursday till Sunday, that’s February 11 to 14. I’ll probably visit on the 13th because I still yet to finish some projects at home and I figure that Saturday will be the best time to leave the house and put all the pending projects I have on hold.

If you’d like to get information about the schedule of the Philippines Hot Air Balloon Fest and the many exciting activities waiting for you there, please visit the Clark Subic Marketing Site.

Ticket costs PhP150.00 that allows single entry to the parade ground. You can buy tickets at designated ticket booths at site. And if you’re rich and brave enough, you can pay US$150 to get the chance to ride any of the designated hot-air-balloons-for-hire during the event. See you there!

The Courtyard Grand Launch (Angeles City, Philippines)

The Courtyard in Angeles City, Pampanga formally opened up to the public on last January 23, 2010. The construction of the Courtyard was made really really fast. It only started a few months before the “ber” season last year. The technology employed in construction nowadays is just amazing. I hope the government projects in the Philippines are done that way, too! LOL!

Gracie Ann David, a friend whom I used to work with at AOL in Clark, gave me tickets for the entrance. It didn’t occur to me that I would enjoy it that much! I hopped from one bar to another and saw some long time friends, too, who attended the event as well. Saw Tim Yap, Phoemela Baranda and Tuesday Vargas (hosts) and other local politicians such as Carmelo “Tarzan” Lazation and former Angeles City Mayor Eduardo Pamintuan.

Let me share some pictures taken at the grand opening of The Courtyard in Angeles City. More pictures on my Facebook account.

From L to R: Cris, Precious Candy Canlas, Me, Belinda Enriquez

The guy at the back wants a space in picture, Too.

At the Courtyard

Gracie Ann and Me at the Courtyard

“Color” Fountain at Marquee Mall (Angeles City)

Fountain, Marquee Mall Angeles City

Fountain, Marquee Mall Angeles City

Ayala Malls never ceases to amaze me. These “color” fountains at Ayala Marquee Mall in Angeles City is kids’ favorite. If you frequent the place, you’ll see children running and teasing around the area trying not to, while others do it with intention, get wet with fountain water. It’s such a nice venue for people who just want to “let all their stress dissipate” in the open air.

I was hoping to get a good picture but apparently, my camera didn’t cooperate with me. I still haven’t tapped into my Nikon D3000 camera’s potential as the shot didn’t turn out good. At least my purpose here is to let you know how it looks like rather than the flaunt the camera’s aesthetics. What am I explaining?! =D

Tallest Building in the World Opens

The Burj Khalifa or previously known as Burj Dubai, finally unveiled in Dubai, UAE yesterday. It surpassed Taipei 101, which used to be the tallest. Its total height is 828 m or 2,717 ft. Construction lasted for five years starting on September 21, 2004 and completed on October 1 last year (2009).

I saw the grand opening on TV; it was both dramatic and grand! I envy places in UAE sometimes. Their leaders seemed to have direction. The Philippines needs such leaders.

Burj Khalifa (Previously, Burj Dubai), The Tallest Building in the World to Date

SM City Pampanga Grand Wifi Launch

Jaypee and Jules at SM Clark

Jaypee and Jules at SM Clark

Jaypee and Jules at SM Clark

Jaypee and Jules at SM Clark

Last week, Jaypee of Jaytography and I spent the weekend SM Pampanga and participated in the blogging event conducted by the mall for its official mall-wide introduction of free Wi-Fi connection.

I had a pretty good time there. We didn’t win but we enjoyed the fun of being able to meet other people who shares the same interest as we do. Let me share some of the pictures I took at the event.