Low-cost but quality apartments? Is there such a thing today in the Philippines? There are, but they are hard to come by---except when one looks really hard for them with the aid of some tips on scouring such rare apartments.
Of course, classified ads give lots of help in renting quality apartments. But it’s easy for anyone to advertize even ramshackle apartments for rent in such ads and give them a glamorous touch. And most “beautiful” apartments for rent show their Dr. Jackal features for a few months and then later turn Hyde the rest of the months. There is more to renting quality apartments than what one sees in paper ads. It’s got to be a more thorough search for low-cost but quality apartments for rent.
First step is to consult close friends, or those close to them. Ask for lots of reliable referrals. The technique is to be as relational in one’s approach as possible. Low-cost but quality apartments for rent are often not advertized on papers but only through word-of-mouth. The reason is clear: owners of such apartments don’t want just anybody using the units. They look for tenants referred by close friends. People referred by them are likely to be responsible tenants who’d care for the units as their own.
Second is to look for apartments for rent right inside an owner’s compound. Low-cost but quality apartments are often located just beside or at the back of an owner’s residence. Owners can afford to have them rented lower because of security considerations. They can rest assured that tenants will not escape any obligation---they see them everyday. Some apartments for rent are located away from the owner’s residence. As security, their owners charge high monthly fees that also mean high advances and deposits. Units inside an owner’s residence are quality apartments because they are well maintained by the owner.
Third, low-cost but quality apartments are often medium or small size. They are easier and cheaper to maintain. They often offer one or two small bedrooms, a small living, shared kitchen and dining, a small toilet, and a small laundry.
It’s pretty much like treasure hunting in deep mountain recesses and crannies. But they’re there. Low-cost but quality apartments do exist. The right searching guidelines must be in hand, accessed through close relationships---often they cannot be bought from stores. And one has to search hard to chance upon these rare gems of apartments for rent.
Mandarin Hotels are bywords among local businessmen, expatriates and even returning tourists to the Philippines. And one of the most occupied in Makati City is Mandarin Hotel Manila, which is located in the heart of the financial center of the country.
Businessmen, United Nations organizations, European, American and even domestic companies hold their meetings, product launchings and conferences at Mandarin Hotel Manila.
Why is this?
One, the service is the best in Asia and even comparable to European standards since the hotel is managed by Europeans.
Second, it is located on Makati Avenue corner Paseo de Roxas in the heart of Makati.
Third, it has a grand ballroom convertible to function rooms when less than a hundred guests are to be accommodated.
Fourth, all your destinations are within walking distance from Mandarin Hotel Manila--church, modern library, shopping center, cinemas, hospitals, fast-food outlets, convenience stores, Japanese or Korean stores, restaurants and even night life entertainment joints.
Even embassies and other consulates are also within walking distance from Mandarin Hotel Manila. Of course you can use the hotel's limo services if you need to travel around Metro Manila.
The Manila Golf & Country Club and the Manila Polo Club are about a three-minute drive away on a Sunday morning, when there's no traffic in Makati.
Also, if you opt to stay at the hotel on a weekend, you can use the hotel's swimming pool, gymnasium and nearby sports clubs at reasonable fees. A mini-golf range is also within walking distance from Mandarin Hotel Manila.
And if you want to commute around Makati, air-conditioned Filipino jeepneys pass by the hotel. Or you may take a ride in one of the two electric-solar powered jeepneys recently launched by the local government and Greenpeace and other groups to reduce gas emission in the area.
But what makes Mandarin Hotel Manila a magnet among businessmen is its menu and music and entertainment at Captain's Bar, which is at the mezzanine of the hotel.
What’s more, the parking fees are very reasonable compared to other hotels in its class in the vicinity.
Mandarin Hotel Manila has won scores of awards given by international organizations for its superb accommodation, fast and courteous service, cleanliness, business centers and other services which are second to none in the industry.
Mandarin Hotel Manila is the usual home in the Philippines for visiting European and Asian dignitaries and even internationally known entertainers. One of the regular clients of Mandarin Hotel Manila is the country's oldest most read magazine in the country, the Philippines Free Press, which will hold its centennial anniversary next year at the hotel.
Another popular client is the local government of Makati City, the richest local government in the Philippines. Every year the city government holds its anniversary bash and beauty pageants at the Mandarin Hotel Manila.
Hundreds of clients would swear that the services offered by Mandarin Hotel Manila are the best in the region and second to none.
Apart from being an island paradise, Cebu boasts of many other endearing qualities that make it a certified tourist hotspot. On top of the list is of course the diversity of Cebu restaurants.
Sutukil – Mactan island is one of the more popular choice for diners because it houses some of the most interesting Cebu restaurants. One of them is this humble food hub that boasts of authentic Cebuano dishes that are inclined on the province’s wealth of seafood. Eating here is an entertainment on its own. You pick your seafood, tell the staff how you want it cooked (SU for sugba or grilled; TU for tinula or soup; KIL for kinilaw or sashimi), and wait for your dish to be served in a few moments. But wait, those are not the only ways you can have your food at SUTUKIL. They also stew and sautee among others. [Mactan Shrine, Mactan, Cebu City]
Olio Bar and Restaurant – Seafood is the main happening in this cozy place. Then again, you must think about delectable seafood dishes and not the plain kind if you come around to Olio. Apart from seafood, this Cebu restaurant also offers meat dishes like beef tenderloin and oh, lamb! [Crossroads, Banilad, Cebu City; (6332) 232 3589]
Fuente O’ Restaurante – If you love to dine on fusion meals, you better get your stomach ready. This wonderful hub located at the Rajah Park Hotel is out to impress. It serves delicious salads, soups, and meat dishes. [Rajah Park Hotel, Fuente Osmeña, Cebu City; (6332) 254 7277]
Golden Cowrie – This is one of the most popular Cebu restaurants among tourists. Why, it serves various Filipino dishes that are a sold out to locals and foreigner alike. Dinuguan, Adobong Kangkong, and Crispy Pata are among the top favorites in this cozy, nice place. It is the best place to go to get a grasp of the Filipino food lifestyle! [Salinas Drive, Lahug, Cebu City; (6332) 233 4243, (6332) 233 4670]
Chateau de Busay – If you are looking for authentic French cuisine, this is the place to go. There are lots of interesting dishes served in here but there is nothing more remarkable than the view of Mactan island and the whole of Cebu city captured right out of the window. This one of the most amazing Cebu restaurants is located on top of a hill. [Busay Hills, Lahug, Cebu City; (6332) 231 2000]
A subtle savory of beef steak cooked with canned pineapple goodness. Native cuisine Pineapple steak, or “pinya con bistek,” is a native dish wonder that suits every discriminating taste bud well. And also, beef is a good source of iron for healthy red blood cells. Here’s how this native cuisine is cooked.
The ingredients of this native cuisine are as follows: a fourth kilogram of tender beef sirloin (sliced tapa-style); a piece of large onion (sliced into rings); a can (234 grams) of pineapple tidbits (drain and reserve syrup). After this comes the marinade of this native dish.
For the marinade of this native cuisine we need: eight cloves garlic which are crushed, three tablespoon soy sauce; one and one-half tablespoons calamansi or lemon juice; one-fourth teaspoon ground black pepper, and the reserved pineapple tidbit syrup. With this marinade prepared, we’re ready to cook this native dish.
To cook this native cuisine: First, we marinate the tender sirloin beef for about one hour in the refrigerator. After this, drain and reserve the marinade. Then fry the tender sirloin beef in one-fourth cup of oil until light brown. After frying, set it aside. Next, retain two tablespoons of oil in the pan. Use this to sauté onion until tender enough (about 10 seconds). Then add the marinade. Simmer everything for about two minutes. Then add the fried beef and Pineapple tidbits into the pan. Then let the whole thing simmer once. This native dish serves 5 persons.
Pineapple steaks are said to have originated from a Spanish recipe localized by early kitchen chefs working in Spanish haciendas and mansions in the country. This localized version was later called “pinya con bistek” or “pinya con carne” and handed down to grandmoms and moms for home cooking.
Some versions of this native cuisine apply pounding strokes on the beef using a big mortar and pestle to tenderize tough beef. Some people felt back then that tenderizing beef by simmering in water took away some of this native dish’s health benefits and flavors. So they pounded the meat instead. The effect was something like a crumpled or overused cardboard, unappealing to the sight. The taste was still intact, but its presentation was compromised.
Other beef tenderizing techniques for this native cuisine in the past were marinating beef in salt for a few minutes before cooking or drying the beef under the sun for days, as in the tenderizing technique used for the native dish beef “tapa.”
The Philippines is situated at the heart of the Southeast Asia. It is composed of almost 7,100 islands. Those island is divided into 3 main regions; Luzon, where the country's capital is located (Manila), The Visayas, and Mindanao.
The climate is mainly tropical and as such the weather is divided basically into 3 seasons; summer from March through May, rainy from June through November, and cold (well, cold for the Philippines) December through February.
For most tourists, traveling in the Philippines is not difficult. There are various methods of transportation including but not limited to ferries, taxis, jeeps, buses, or even tricycles. Filipino people are warm and friendly and usually willing to help a lost tourist. Even in the most modern times, most Filipino people remain hospitable to everybody, especially towards tourists who are just taking a vacation on the islands and need some help to find a place.
It is very easy to get accommodations as well. In most parts of the country there are an abundance of hotels, apartelles and houses that one may rent for a short periods of time.
Foreign exchange is also not a problem because almost all monetary units can easily be converted into Philippine Pesos. In addition to that, major credit cards are accepted nationwide.
Communication is never a problem here as most Filipinos can understand and speak English at least to a degree to find help or get information. Also, mobile phones and internet cafes are everywhere so you are never out of touch.
Taking a vacation in the Philippines is not only for summer. All year round there are many places to visit here. In Luzon, for example, you may take a day tour in Manila and see some historical places such as Luneta, Fort Santiago, National Museum, and many more places of interest. If you want to do some nature tripping you may want to check out the Parks and Wild Life or the La Mesa Water Park.
Further south, you can visit places like Tagaytay and take a breath taking view of the Taal Volcano, Batangas for the beach and water sports lovers, or down in Visayas, you can go to the famous island of Boracay, famous for its captivating white sand beaches.
Or perhaps a visit the city of Cebu is more to your liking. Then, in Mindanao, you can go to Palawan and see world class resorts, breath taking dive spots, or be one with nature by visiting some of the island’s secluded beaches.
Indeed, the Philippines Islands are one place anybody would surely want to visit. It is filled with breath taking views, one of kind delicacies, and most of all you will be welcomed by warm hearted Filipinos who will ensure you that you will feel most welcome to these fair lands.
[Tags]Tagaytay, Manila, Wild Life, Philippines, Fort Santiago, Visayas, Lake Taal, Volcano, Boracay, Mindanao, Cebu[/Tags]
Nenaco is also known as Negros Navigation Co., Inc., a shipping company in the Philippines. Negros Navigation is among the oldest shipping companies serving domestically in the Philippines.
Negros Navigation started its business on July 26, 1932. They have been pioneering in a lot of shipping industry programs that the quality of shipping services in the Philippines might elevate to world class standards.
In the 1960's, Negros Navigation was the first to have fast, luxurious, air conditioned, brand new passenger ships operating in the Philippines. In the 1970s, Negros Navigation was first shipping company in the Philippines to have a modern passenger terminal located in Manila's North Harbor. They also started offering cruises to various tourist spots in the Philippines.
In the 1980's, Negros Navigation launched what is called the containerization program in cooperation with the Roll-on Roll-off (RORO) project of the Philippine Government. In the 1990s, Negros Navigation was included in the list of companies of the Philippine stock exchange.
Today, Negros Navigation is already known as the safest, most enjoyable, and most economical means of transportation in the Philippine seas. Negros Navigation is said to be the home of the Dancing Porters. Their porters don't just transport the your baggage they also dance in choreographed numbers during the departure and arrival to entertain passengers.
On board the Negros Navigation vessels, various kinds of entertainment are available to all passengers. You can try their parlor games, videoke contests, bingo, variety shows, and comedy shows. Negros Navigation uses an online ticketing system to expand their clientele.
The following ports in the Philippines are currently being served by Negros Navigation: Bacolod, Dumaguit, Manila, Cagayan de Oro, Estancia, Ozamiz, Coron, General Santos, Puerto Princesa, Dipolog, Iligan, Roxas, Dumaguete, Iloilo, and Tagbilaran. The company's vessels are St. Peter the Apostle, St. Joseph the Worker, San Paolo, St. Ezekiel Moreno, Princess of Negros, San Lorenzo Ruiz, and Mary Queen of Peace.
Negros Navigation's passenger accommodations and services vary in every vessel. The accommodation classifications are Suite Room, Admiral Cabin, Business, Tourist, Tatami, and Budget room. All accommodations are air conditioned except for the Budget room.
Convenience, amusement, and comfort are the key attractions of Negros Navigation's vessels. Enjoy the cuisine and the ship's friendly ambiance. The crew is committed to give passengers a great experience aboard the ship. Well-trained and competent ship officers and crew assure the safety of Negros Navigation's passengers.
Through the years, Negros Navigation renders excellent passage and freight services in the Philippines' domestic shipping industry. They continue to bring innovative service to clients throughout the Philippines.
Hotels in Iloilo City can be found almost on top of each other. They are right beside or just a couple of blocks from each other. When competition’s everywhere, seldom is there a busy season. The off-season seems to happen all-year round. That can be both good and bad for guests who book their stay there.
The good part is that these hotels are CHEAP! There are a lot of package deals available, ranging from a weekend package with complementary breakfast for Php 3,000.00, to an overnight stay for only Php 1,250.00 per person. Offers are anything and everything that they can think of to make their prices cheaper than the competition.
These hotels have really nice rooms. Beds are tidy and there are always fresh sheets. You get cable TV and those little single-serving soaps, shampoo and conditioners, and shower caps in your bathroom. Yup, and you can just toss them in your bags too... single serving toiletries are so adorable, you just want to keep them rather than use them. Admit it, when we travel, we bring our own soaps and shampoos anyway. But it is curious that in some hotels, you also get a tiny bottle of bath foaming gel, and there’s no tub in the bathroom! That’s a little funny but, what the heck, we’d just toss that bottle in our luggage too!
Another good thing about it is that the staff really cares about you. The doorman will always greet you with a “Have a nice day ma’am” or a “Take care sir”. You call room service and they’re at your door in less than 5 minutes. Ask for an extra chair, you got. Ask for cold water in a pitcher, they’d bring it in no time. The staff is so friendly and helpful. And if you don’t speak Ilonggo (the native tongue in the city), it doesn’t matter. They can understand the typical Tagalog from Manila and, this is so endearing, they speak beautiful English. Well, connecting with the staff is no problem at all.
And the breakfast is awesome! You’ll really get that Pinoy experience with the tapsilog, tosilog, hotsilog, and all other meat-egg-fried rice combinations that you can find in Filipino homes. You can even get daing or dried fish with your fried garlic rice and sunny-side up eggs. There’s an array fresh fruits to choose from and the mangoes are so sweet!
Now, we’ll go to the bad parts. If you’re alone, the food situation is difficult. The only meal that you can get for a single guest is the breakfast. Turns out, the restaurants and food services in these hotels only make family style portions during lunch and dinner… that’s food for 3-4 people! And we all know that one of the joys of staying in a hotel is ordering room service. And when you’re getting platters of food when you’re only eating for one, it’s not very appetizing. Another bad detail is that there’s no internet access in most of these hotels. So if you’re traveling for business, that’s really inconvenient.
Hotels in Iloilo City are a dime a dozen. That’s both good and bad for the traveler in us. Though there are issues such as the lack of internet access and the family-sized food portions, the people, price and ambiance are worth having the hotel experience in the old city of Iloilo.
[Tags]Hotels, Iloilo, Panay, Philippines, Visayas, Pinoy, Travel, Hotel, Iloilo Hotels[/Tags]
In difficult times such as what our country is facing now, it is comforting that there are still a few places where a Filipino can be proud of his patrimony. Yes, as the title says, we won’t be visiting a beach or a ruin. For a change, travel in the Philippines with a relaxed pace. Come with me to a different place of discovery: the museum.
Sprawling lot
Nestled on the sprawling lot of LVN studios on P. Tuazon blvd. in Quezon City is the LVN Museum. Once inside the compound, the visitor has to inform the people at the front desk at the administration building of his purpose, or he can call beforehand and have his name registered so the security guard can let him through. There is an entrance fee of P30.
The museum is still housed in a one-storey building, but don’t be fooled because there is nothing simple about the facade or the front lawn. Both are colorfully decorated with bayonets, shields, coat of arms and old lighting equipment. It’s a prelude to what a visitor can expect to see inside the museum: more than two decades of film legacy!
Before I went to the museum, I read up on the history of LVN from a masteral dissertation of a university professor. I learned that the studio was established in 1938, shortly before the Second World War. The acronym LVN was taken from the first letter of the last names of its partners: Doña Narcisa Buencamino de Leon, Carmen Villongco and Eleuterio Navoa Sr.
Facilities
It was closed down during the war and opened again after the Liberation until 1961, when it finally stopped producing movies. LVN Studios’ facilities were revitalized to cater to post-production needs of its clients.
The museum is packed with surprises. I call them that because from what I’ve learned from my edifying interview with its curator and founder, Bernard Fernandez, the pieces on display were salvaged from a neglected state in storage. A museum was never in the plan of LVN.
Fernandez said that the museum was created by a mere stroke of fate, with a little initiative from him. He recalled seeing boxes and boxes of old costumes and props stacked in a bodega more than 10 years ago. Then in 1989, he had a vacant lot—where old and rotting cars were piled up—leveled down and a sort of open structure was erected. He employed a hired hand and moved the salvaged boxes to that site.
A super spiced up ready-to-cook delectable fish dish is dried milkfish. It is a popular local and native cuisine that is a favorite on family dinner tables. How is this special cuisine cooked?
Bangus (or Milk Fish) is the Philippine’s National fish. The milky white scales on its body earned its name of being a “milk” fish. It can be found all over the country. They are raised in fish ponds in large amounts. It is one of the favorite dishes of Filipinos and “balik-bayans.” Its cooking versatility ranges from simple to superb menus.
A simple but delicious bangus cuisine is “daing.” For cooking this native dish, we need the following ingredients: one kilo fresh bangus (sliced daing-style or butterfly cut). Cut it in half at the middle of the body. Better still, have it sliced for “daing” at the wet market upon buying. Then mix into a marinade for this cuisine the following: three-fourth cup of red cane vinegar; one and a half teaspoon of iodized fine salt (or one and a half iodized rock salt); one teaspoon of peppercorn (crushed), and one ear of garlic, finely crushed. Once these ingredients are ready, we’re ready to cook this native dish.
The cooking procedure for this milkfish cuisine is as follows: first, combine marinade and stir thoroughly to mix everything evenly. Then, arrange bangus slices in a plastic container. Pour marinade in the container with the sliced milkfish. Cover and refrigerate everything at least overnight. Turn the fish over at least once. Lastly, fry the marinated milkfish with a new batch of minced garlic until brown.
This native cuisine is perfect when accompanied with a dipping sauce of say sauce and lemon, or a mix of fish preserve sauce and vinegar or lemon. Another option for a dip of this native dish is a mix of two tablespoons of vinegar, two chili pepper pieces (chopped), an ear of garlic (crushed). Mix all the ingredients in a saucer for a hot and super spicy sauce that further enhances the taste of fried “bangus” milkfish. This native cuisine also goes excellently with many native spice concoctions preserved with water, salt, and a little vinegar, like preserved or “buro” onions, mangoes, or “kamias.”
This native cuisine, fried “daing” milkfish, is a favorite on both simple and grand family dinner tables. This native dish is one of the cuisines that bring out the rich savory flavors of Philippine milkfish.
Leyte’s role in the history of the Philippines is perhaps unmatched by any other province in the country. The most significant event in the country’s history transpired in the shores of Leyte where General Douglas Macarthur made his triumphant return to liberate the country. But this is not just the only event that makes Leyte one of the most important provinces in the country. This Leyte Sightseeing Guide will provide a brief description of other notable destinations in the province.
The MacArthur Landing Memorial
Red Beach in Palo, Leyte is the site of the triumphant return of General Douglas Macarthur and his troops. Today, it is one of the most important landmarks in the country.
The principal attractions in this sight are the statues of MacArthur and his soldiers which stand more than 10 feet tall. Situated in a lagoon, the Landing Memorial serves as a reminder of fulfillment of MacArthur’s words “I shall return.”
The Fish Sanctuary
For those who are fond of fishes, the Sanctuary is an ideal place to visit. This Leyte sightseeing guide will tell that aside from fish species local to Leyte, there are other varieties of fishes found in the sanctuary. A wide range of coral reefs of varying colors is another spectacle in the sanctuary.
The Fish Sanctuary is below a rocky hill which gives guests an additional option to go rock climbing.
The San Juanico Bridge
Half an hour away from the capital city of Tacloban is the San Juanico Bridge, considered as the longest bridge in the country and one of the well-maintained bridges in Leyte.
The San Juanico Bridge provides tourists a glimpse of the picturesque San Juanico Strait as well as several small islands.
Limasawa Island
Limasawa Island serves as the memorial where the first Christian mass was held when Ferdinand Magellan discovered the Philippines in March 1521.
Under Leyte Sightseeing Guide, Limasawa Island is one of the most visited memorial shrines in the province not only because of its historical significance but also because of the various corals as well as a wide range of marine species.
The Santo Nino Shrine
This shrine provides one of the most impressive gatherings of paintings, historical works, and relics in the Philippines. Located in Real Street in Tacloban City, the museum is divided into several sections, which include paintings of the fourteen Stations of the Cross. The most popular sight in the museum is the bas relief of Malakas and Maganda, believed to be the descendants of Filipinos.
Leyte Sightseeing Guide would tell that the museum likewise boasts of its collection of works by great Filipino artists. The most notable and cherished possession is that of the works of Fernando Amorsolo.
These are just some of the sights that make Leyte worth visiting. By checking out this Leyte Sightseeing Guide, one would be able to have a better understanding of the rich cultural heritage of this province.