Rentable properties in the Philippines today go by either high rise buildings or bungalows. Both choices have advantages that renters can benefit from. Here are tips to see what will more likely be to one’s advantage---high rise or bungalow-type?
High rise rentable properties are either condo units or townhouses that offer vertical space or room arrangements. There are condotels in the country today--- rental properties combining the amenities of condo units and hotels. And lots more offer rentable properties with rental schemes that allow renters to own the property; rents are as good as installment payments. The same goes for bungalow-type rentable properties.
High rise rentable properties offer more views and more air circulation. Condo units, especially really tall ones, afford a panorama of the city skyline and a better view of the sunset. They also get more prevailing gentle winds and an escape from street pollution. High-rise rentable properties are often neighborhoods packed in well-planned snug buildings, so one gets to interact more with neighbors and share building amenities. Most high rise rentable properties are fitted with posh swimming pools, gyms, wide, open porches, and amusement areas. These are common in Makati, Ortigas Center, Manila, and Cubao.
The only downside to tall rentable properties is that one doesn’t get to own tangible land, and of course, danger scenarios in case of emergencies.
Bungalow-type rentable properties offer horizontal space or room arrangements. They afford privacy and quiet. They may not have the better air circulation and views that high rise rentable properties afford but they have better access and safety factors in emergency situations.
Also, neighbors get to be nosey around less than in a high rise context where one’s immediately face-to-face with neighbors upon exiting the front door. There is a likely chance of also enjoying posh community amenities like a swimming pool, gym, amusement areas, and open, wide spaces, but not as accessible as in high rise rentable properties---especially on rainy days.
When staying alone or when fewer than three, single detached rentable properties can be gloomy. Plus, security can easily be breached and help cannot be that accessible. Individualism often rules in such environments. But with the close community enjoyed in high rise rentable properties, familiarization breeds fellowship and fosters security.
Rentable properties in the Philippines, high rise or bungalow-type, have plus factors that make them ideal places to live in, and minus factors that make one think twice before settling in them. Purely renting schemes do not present many problems as do rent-to-own ones. These are crucial factors.
A visit to the beautiful city of Laoag in Ilocos Norte can always be fun and worthwhile as long as you are healthy and do not get sick. However, if it boils down to getting the needed medical attention, here are some of the Laoag hospitals and health care options that are available to you.
Dr. Antonio Ranada Lying-in Clinic is situated in Hernando Avenue in Laoag City. A member of the Newborn Screening Reference Center (NSRC) since 2008, it is a duly licensed health care facility which has a 10-bed capacity for the use of its patients.
Laoag City General Hospital
Located in the heart of Laoag, Laoag City General Hospital is headed by Dr. Eleazar Asuncion, its Medical Director. Likewise, this 15-bed capacity has been a member of the NSRC since 2008. It is also a legitimate hospital that caters to the medical and health needs of its patients.
Another hospital worth your consideration for medical and health needs is the Northern Doctors General Hospital. The facility has been accredited by the Philippine Government and has been an NSRC member since June 2008. Compared to other medical facilities in the city, Northern Doctors General Hospital has a 25-bed capacity which is more than what other facilities in the area are offering.
For people who require medical attention for a day or two, Our Lady of Fatima Medical Clinic & Hospital has eight beds which can cater to the health and medical needs of its patients. It is headed by Dr. Reuben Castillo.
Ranada General Hospital is an NSRC accredited hospital since May 2008. It is situated in Balintawak Street in the heart of Laoag City. It has room for around 20 patients and is headed by Dr. Francisco Ranada.
One of the many general hospitals in Laoag City is Santos Clinic & Hospital, with its Medical Director Dr. Ruth Santos. This 6-bed medical facility focuses on giving primary and medical attention to patients.
So next time you become sick when vacationing or taking a trip to Laoag, there is really nothing to bbe worried about because you can rely on Laoag hospitals and health care to get you up and going again. However, just make sure to always check the clinic hours of each hospital.
Crabs or “alimango” in the vernacular is a very sumptuous dish to feast on. Here’s a unique myth on a crab haunted by the spirit of a loving mother to protect her child. How mother, child, and crab are connected is narrated by this myth.
According to the myth, there was a beautiful girl named Maria. Her mother died when she was still young. Her father married again to a widow with two daughters. The daughters, says this myth, were envious of Maria’s natural beauty. The myth says envy forced them to get Maria to do all the housework. The poor girl was the last to eat and sometimes even missed meals altogether.
The myth says that one day, due to hardship, Maria cried by a well. The girl had missed breakfast and had just finished fetching water. She was about to begin washing clothes when a kind voice spoke to her saying “Don’t cry Maria, here’s some food. Eat, my child.” The myth says Maria saw some food but there was nobody around. Then the girl was shocked to see a big crab.
According to the myth, it was the crab speaking all along: “Don’t be scared, my child. I’m your dead mother. From this day on my spirit in this crab will take care of you.”
The myth continues that when Maria left for the market the big crab came to bring food for Maria. The stepmother saw it and cooked and ate it with her two daughters. The myth says that when Maria saw the shells that were left of the crab, the pitiful girl cried. But she heard a voice again, saying, ”Don’t cry, just pick up the shells and bury them in the yard. ” She did so, and the next morning, Maria saw a full grown tree on the spot where she buried the crab’s shells. The tree was laden with ripened golden fruits.
The myth says, there was a handsome man who saw the golden fruits and asked Maria’s two step sisters for some. For some mysterious reason they could not get close to the tree. Only Maria could. When the man reached out and saw Maria, he fell in love and asked her hand for marriage.
This Philippine myth on Maria and the Crab reminds us of a mother’s boundless love for her child, and how she would get out of her way just to protect her children.
Christmas is the most celebrated season of the year. Filipinos start to spread the spirit of Christmas as early as September. And with Christmas, comes the favorite Christmas specialties. The two favorite Christmas dishes in Philippine cuisine are Puto Bumbong and Bibingka.
Puto Bumbong is a part of Philippine cuisine that is based on rice. This is how to cook Puto Bumbong. For one hour, soak a kilo of glutinous (a special type of rice) and 125 grams of ordinary rice mixture in salted water. If you want you can add some food coloring. Dry the Puto Bumbong mixture overnight inside a clean flour sack. Squeeze out the excess water. The following morning, the Puto Bumbong mixture is ready for cooking.
Use a steamer to cook the Puto Bumbong mixture. Pour in a small measure of Puto Bumbong mixture in bamboo tubes (locally known as "bumbong"). Place the bamboo tubes in a steamer.
You'll know when Puto Bumbong is cooked when steam rise out of the bamboo tubes. Push out the cooked Puto Bumbong from the bamboo tubes. Serve the cooked Puto Bumbong with grated coconut and sugar on top.
The other favorite Christmas delicacy is Bibingka or rice cakes. Here's how to make them. Soak 250 grams of glutinous rice in water for six hours then grind it. Beat one egg. Have 25 grams goat milk's cheese sliced into desired thickness (you can try other cheese if you like).
In a saucepan, boil a half-liter of thin coconut milk. Continue boiling while adding in the ground rice, beaten egg, and one-fourth teaspoon salt. Lower the flame, then add 100 grams of sugar. Stir thoroughly to blend.
Put some banana leaves on small cake molds and pour the rice mixture in. Add in sliced cheese and 100 ml thick coconut milk. Sprinkle some anise powder on the top and cover the mixture to add to the aroma. Cook the Bibingka with live charcoal on the lid and below the cake mold for 15-20 minutes.
Unfortunately, there are no instant mixes of Puto Bumbong and Bibingka. There are no substitutes for these delicious Christmas rice specialties of the Philippines.
When you visit the Philippines for the holidays, you'll be enchanted with the sweet smell of freshly cooked Puto Bumbong and Bibingka that blends well with the cold early mornings and nights. Though these rice specialties come in different sizes and shapes, having Puto Bumbong and Bibingka during the Christmas season helps make the Christmas spirit livelier.
A foreign national, when visiting in the Philippines, is classified according to his purpose, length of stay, civil status etc. Resident aliens are those who have acquired necessary requirements that permit them to stay in the Philippines for a lengthy time period. However, those who stay in the Philippines for no longer than 180 days are classified as “non-resident aliens”, doing or not doing business in the Philippines. Being classified as a non-resident alien has its own laws regarding employment.
Non-resident aliens can be employed in the Philippines. To satisfy this obligation, the foreign national is required to fulfil an Alien Employment Permit (AEP). This is a documentary form that grants the foreigner to work in the Philippines, as the country prohibits the employment of anyone who does not contain a work permit, alien or otherwise.
The AEP, or expat work permit, is to be filed at the regional office of the Department of Labour and Employment (DOLE) where the purposed place of work is under the office’s jurisdiction. The expat work permit requires documents for application.
A letter of request should be accomplished as an initial document for an expat work permit. This is a letter addressed to the Secretary of Labour to grant the expat the authorization of working in the Philippines. Obviously, another requirement for the filing of an expat work permit is for the foreign national has to sign a duly accomplished application form. Lastly, curriculum vitae will also be required of the foreign national. This is to prove the authorities that the foreign national is capable of employment. This criterion will play a major role for the approval of the expat work permit in the Philippines. The foreign citizen’s spouse is also required to file her own expat work permit should she be willing to be employed as well. Normally, in the cases of non-resident aliens or otherwise, the work permit is filed by the employer to complete the employment process.
An expat work permit is hard to accomplish due to a major criterion imposed by the Department of Labour. An expatriate has the greatest chance of his or her employment permit be approved should it be proved that he or she can perform a highly-specialized skill where no one in the Philippines is able to do so. The authorities provide top priority to able Filipinos to address the country’s high unemployment rate.
To be not required of an expat work permit, the expatriate should file for an alien certificate registration that transfers his or status to a resident alien. The expatriate can also choose to be naturalized as a bona fide Filipino citizen. Otherwise, the foreign national can secure a business permit to generate an income in the country.
In some parts of the Philippines, Holy Week has become a sort of street opera for tourists - with multiple crucifixions, marathon chants and a myriad of flagellants. This week-long spectacle draws thousands of participants, as well as interested spectators.
At the beginning of the week, people engage in marathon chanting of the Christ’s Passion in their little makeshift chapels. The devout singers are mostly comprised of old ladies who take their turns in singing hymns from the pages of the bible. This is a twenty four hour commitment which continues up to Black Saturday, as the religious await the Lord’s resurrection.
Be warned that many of these street tents are located near hotels and Inns and they broadcast their chants over loud speakers so you may want to re-think where you find lodging. During the day is one thing, but being kept up all night might ruin your daytime activities.
Meanwhile, other people are kept busy preparing their religious floats for the Holy Week processions. These are owned by the more affluent residents of the town and are mostly handed down from generation to generation and kept in impeccable condition due to their belief that the figures on their carriage guide them to a bountiful and comfortable life. Each carriage is decorated with gold and bronze plated frames and adorned with cloying flowers and set in blown glass and candlelight.
By three o'clock on Good Friday, the whole town is imbibed in a seemingly sullen mood. The pious kneel before household altars to recite various litanies. Some religious fanatics flog themselves to fulfill vows of penitence. Still others, test amulets, which they vow are authentic and would protect them from any harm, physical or otherwise. At Mount Banahaw, a supposedly sacred mountain in the province of Quezon, pilgrims from various religious sects and cults worship their deity at caves, rivers, rocks, waterfalls, streams, pools and springs until the dawn of Black Saturday.
Easter Sunday is the culmination of the whole commemoration of Holy Week. Unlike the previous days, this is a time for joy and merriment. The mood is festive and the people are busy preparing an Easter feast. A theatrical play takes place at dawn, the risen Christ meeting his sorrowful Mother. The two images come from different sides of the street and meet at the town church’s facade. The people clap and cheer and once again, sing praises of hymn.
It is truly a unique experience for a tourist to witness the Filipino’s celebration of Holy Week. For the locals, this is where religious fervor, theatrics and camaraderie blissfully collide.
[Tags]Holy week, Philippines, Events, Holidays, Holy Week Celebrations, Philippine Holy Week, Filipino, Good Friday[/Tags]
Mt. Isarog is a stratovolcano and is 1,966 meters above sea level. Located in Camarines Sur, Philippines, Mt. Isarog is considered as Southern Luzon's highest forested peak. This is the site of Mt. Isarog National Park. Six municipalities and a city have territorial jurisdiction of Mt. Isarog National Park. These are Calabanga, Tinambac, Ocampo, Tigaon, Goa, Pili, and Naga City.
Mountain climbers and backpackers will enjoy trekking on Mt. Isarog's slopes for a nature adventure. The best time to visit Mt. Isarog National Park is during the dry months of January to April. The temperature may be hot in the lowlands but it is cold and refreshing up in mountain's forest.
Going to Mt. Isarog National Park's summit is an eight to ten hour hike from Barangay Penicuason. This Penicuason trail leads to six campsites situated at various elevations. Bringing your own drinking water up to Camp One is a must. The clean streams and refreshing waterfalls can be the source of the hiker's drinking water for the trip from Camp One going up to Camp Six.
Mt. Isarog National Park is furnished by nature with many natural waterfalls and springs. The Malabsay Waterfalls is located near Mt. Isarog National Park's entrance. Here, visitors can go swimming and have picnics with friends and family. The Nabuntulan Spring is not far from Malabsay Waterfalls.
The Magragobrob Waterfalls is found inside Mt. Isarog's crater on the Goa side of Mt. Isarog National Park. A 40-meter waterfall that emanates sulfuric waters down to Rangas River. Hikers usually rest here. The Hiwacloy Sulfur Springs is found here where the warm sulfuric water is locally believed to cure minor ailments and skin diseases.
On the Tigaon side of Mt. Isarog National Park, the Bulalacao and Tumaguiti waterfalls and four other smaller waterfalls are situated. The Consocep Mountain Resort maintains the said waterfalls for rest and recreation.
There are other interesting places to visit in Mt. Isarog National Park. The World War II Tunnels along Pili and Ocampo that were constructed by the Japanese soldiers brings an eerie chill. The Deer Farm in Barangay Consocep keeps five species of Australian deer. The Butterfly Farm in Pili that take care of a wide classification of butterflies and flowers.
Mt. Isarog National Park has an entrance fee of P5.00 for Filipinos and 10 USD for foreigners. Staying overnight in Mt. Isarog National Park is allowed within the Protected Area Office. Food and accommodations are always available at the foot of Mt. Isarog where pension houses, hotels, and inns are everywhere.
If you travel by air, you'll have a 45-minute flight to Pili Airport from Manila. You then make a 30-minute drive to Naga City. It's a 10 to 12-hour ride to Naga City by bus from Manila.
One of the interesting cities in northern Philippines that many people like to see, Angeles City has a rich history and heritage. Every year, many foreigners visit the city for it plays home to attractive tourist destinations and first-rate commercial establishments. To offer comfort and luxury to travelers who spend their vacations in the city, most Angeles hotel guides offer information and directions on how to get to the famous hotels, lodges and inns, in the area. Additionally, the hotel guides feature star ratings, accommodation rates, location, as well as facilities of numerous hospitality service providers in the area.
Star Ratings of Hotels in Angeles City, Philippines
One of the main features of Angeles hotel guides is the star ratings of hospitality service providers in the area. For tourists, vacationers and foreigners who like to stay in luxurious hotels in Angeles City, Pampanga, they should refer to Angeles hotel guides to have ideas about the world-class and four-star hospitality service provider that offer well-maintained facilities to everyone, such as Fontana Leisure Parks and Casino, Angeles Beach Club Hotel, and Holiday Inn Clark. Meanwhile, for travelers who want to stay in standard hotels, they can also check Angeles hotel guides for three-star hotels in the place, which commonly include Hotel Hana, Marlim Mansions, and Montevista Hotel.
Hotel Facilities in Angeles City, Philippines
To assist travelers in the city to make wise decisions regarding the places where people can sleep in Angeles City, Philippines, Angeles travel guides feature the facilities and room amenities of hospitality service providers in the area. To accommodate people who like to have an elegant stay in the city, there are hotels that feature special leisure and dining facilities such as Orchid Inn Resort, Pacific Breeze Hotel and Resort, as well as Dollhouse Hotel. On the other hand, there are hotels that feature standard amenities, which normally include private bathrooms, cable television sets, and comfortable beds, such as Daddyo’s Apartelle, New Liberty Hotel, and L Tinio’s Inn.
Accommodation Rates and Locations of Hotels in Angeles City, Philippines
Other important features of Angeles hotel guides are accommodation rates and locations. Using these guides, people can easily find hospitality service providers that offer reasonable accommodations like La Casa, Europhil, and Ponderosa. Furthermore, by using Angeles hotel guides, travelers can find hotels that are accessible to various forms of land transportation such as Hotel Royal Amsterdam, Swiss Chalet Hotel and Restaurant, as well as Blue Nile Executive Hotel.
Just recently, I had the opportunity to meet up with my college friends. After more than 8 years of not bumping into each other, it was a chance to get updated in what we all have been doing after graduation.
One of my closest friends in college was Anne Capitulo who is now into a home business: food catering. Back then she was already fond of cooking. She would prepare pasta and pizza recipes for us to enjoy whenever we spend out afternoons at her place. Little did she know that this simple hobby of hers would turn into a booming home business. I immediately bombarded her with questions.
Q: What made you decide to venture into the catering business?
A: Around 1998 I had this business with other friends. We were into events planning for weddings, debuts, and other affairs. That time, there were instances when some of our clients would order a particular dish from me. So I would do it a sideline. Then in 2000, I decided to subcontract for my other friends who were into catering. As I realized how profitable this was, I decided to go into full-time catering by 2003.
Q: How did you actually start this business? What’s your initial investment?
A: My initial investment was around P70,000, but I tell you, this was not enough. However, you could start with this amount since you really don’t need to buy everything. The amount is actually used for the ingredients, the dinnerware/silverware, shaffing dishes. Initially, I had to rent the chairs and tables from other caterers, even the waiters. That is why it is important that you build contacts.
In fact, I had to go to thrift shops in Divisoria and Quiapo to purchase what I needed. It is definitely much cheaper in these places. Shaffing dishes and dinnerwares are priced lower by around P1,000 compared to those sold in department stores. Just imagine how much you could save if you know where to buy. Be patient though and try to do some haggling.
Also, one has to have an enclosed vehicle for the delivery of food. Enclosed because you need to keep your food clean. Fortunately, my dad gave me a van for this business. Otherwise, I have to rent whenever I had to deliver my food.
Q: What does it take to be in the food catering business?
A: First, you must know how to cook. Starting out in this business, you do all the cooking. Also, you need to be resourceful in establishing contacts. You need to build contacts not only for your clients but as a source for your supplies—like your favorite mean vendor, vegetable dealer, table-chair rentals, cake, flowers, waiters and other details.
One also has to be outgoing and you have to love attending parties. In catering, your work doesn’t start and end with cooking. You have to be present during the event itself. You actually organize the event too. You talk to the visitors and get their feedbacks. You talk to a lot of people during the affair. That is also one way of building contacts.
Subic is a progressive city in Zambales. It is just a two hour drive from Manila because of the new expressway. There are many things you can do in Subic like swimming or playing casino games in some hotels. Another best thing to do while you are in Subic is to check out the restaurants there.
1. Xtremely Xpresso – Many people recommend this restaurant for a pizza fill. The pizzas they serve are satisfying. Many young adults come here on a weekend. They also serve coffee and pasta. They also have varieties of sandwiches and tasty burgers. One of the best sellers in this restaurant is their cheese pizza and olio pasta. This place has a coffee shop ambience which gives a relaxed feel. The prices of the food here can range from eleven dollars up to twenty dollars. You can reach the place by taking a taxi that can cost anywhere from fifty to sixty pesos.
2. Bread Time - If you want to have coffee and some pastries of cakes then you can check out the Bread Time. They also serve hot pandesal or hot Filipino loaf which is also delicious. All the flavors of the cakes are delicious and their strawberry frappe is one of the best in town. The food prices here are less expensive you can buy them for less than ten dollars. This bread shop is beside the Aristocrat Restaurant.
3.A Tavola- This restaurant offers Italian meals. They specialize in Italian gourmet cuisine. Their best seller is their pizzas. The food costs can start with thirty one dollars. This is in front of the Bank of the Philippine Islands.
4. The Magic Lagoon Bar and Restaurant – This is a good restaurant to enjoy your vacation and stay in Subic. In this place you can let your children play and you can stay near the beach while you check your mails on your laptop. This is a place where you can enjoy good food while being in a beautiful and relaxing place.
5.Seafood by the Bay – This is an ideal dining place for couples. It provides customers with a good view of the sea. You can eat fresh seafood while you are gazing into the deep ocean. Many honeymooners visit this restaurant.
6.Tong Kyung Am Korean and Japanese Restaurant - This is a restaurant offering Korean and Japanese food in a hot pot. Customers can sit on the patio of the restaurant or you can eat inside where you can see the waters. This restaurant is beside the hotel called The Bayfront.