Panciteria Lido's Pugon Roasted Asado

From Chinatown to the south of Metro.

Panciteria Lido is a famous Chinese resto in Tomas Alonzo, Sta. Cruz, Manila. It's reportedly a favorite habitue of Mayor Fred Lim. Established in 1936, this authentic Chinese restaurant serves the best commercially available pugon-roasted asado. Commercially, I say, because my mother-in-law and my wife cook the best asado I have tasted (yes, really!).

A branch just opened along President's Avenue in BF Homes Paranaque, just across the Hap Chan restaurant, another equally authentic Chinese dining place.

I tried their specialties pugon-roasted asado and pancit plus the beef with broccoli. Yes, they taste good alright. But if they are the best-tasting ever, that needs to be contested still. Then again, if you're looking for some authentic Chinese food around BF Homes, Panciteria Lido is worth trying. Just be ready to pay a steeper price versus Hap Chan, compared to the the latter's better-dining experience.

Ugu Bigyan's House of Pottery

We are made of clay from the The Potter's hands.

As a Christian, I believe we were made and molded from clay by God, The Master Potter. This is probably what Ugu Bigyan's pieces may also believe in. :)

On a trip to Casa San Pablo in San Pablo City, Laguna, Boots Alcantara, the inn's owner, confided that the design of his inn was influenced by his long-time friend Ugu, when the master potter was starting his craft. So off we went to Lusacan in the town of Tiaong, Quezon, which was just 20 minutes away from San Pablo.

The place isn't hard to find as Ugu is well-known in the town.

His brick residence is large enough to accommodate his workshop at the back. Walking through the small garden in front, you are guided by one of the workers through the showcase area. You can then make your own discovery tour of the place from the kiln and dryer (oven) area, to where the workers make a bunch of creative products. I'd say Ugu's works are made using traditional ottery techniques which makes his products and designs almost one-of-a-kind. Though he also mass produces products such as tiles, the technique is the same.

Expect a bit of a steep price on many works that Ugu himself glazed. There are a lot of products ranging from plates, tea sets, wall decor, and various pots and vases. The wall decor and plates with leaf designs are my favorite. A dinner plate I bought as souvenir cost me 1,800 pesos. Well, it's a work of art and is one-of-a-kind in design. :)









How to get there.

Ugu Bigyan's house and workshop is in Alvarez Village. From the Tiaong market, go on further till you pass by the municipal hall and about a kilometer away, there's an old building to your left which was the former rural bank of Tiaong (it's a faded sign). Turn left on that street till you hit the village where Ugu's residence is. It's a brick house with a wide entrance.

Ugu Bigyan's place is not merely a small pottery factory. It's more of an art gallery for his unique pieces. His residence describes his talent and character. It's who Ugu Bigyan is.

Let the journey begin.

Yummy Yogurt @ Yogie Island

Yogurt ice cream everywhere!

I bet you have noticed the surge in Yogurt joints since White Hat came to town, eh? And I bet you've also noticed my family has been touring the BF Paranaque area and sampling their foodie places? Well, that's right. Both yogurt ice cream (everywhere) and restos in BF Homes are on the upswing. It's almost impossible not to notice.

It's as if every restaurant or coffee shop is carrying a variant of yogurt ice cream. There's Kenny Rogers, Teriyaki Boy, Pancake House and even Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf!

So what makes Yogie Island special?

Located beside the newly opened Starbucks along Aguirre Avenue across the Presentation Church, Yogie Island has a full range of toppings available. Though I only order the plain yogurt everywhere I go, Yogie's yogurt isn't that sour. They also have smoothies available.

Since I brought my family along, I found it cool for Yogie's Island to have board games available to play with. We chose the 3D version of Snakes & Ladders.

Yogie Island, still on its soft opening, is well lighted with a backdrop design of a cartoon beach which gives the place a fun and family ambiance. Despite it being a relatively small place, they have their own restroom.

If you're craving for some dessert or something to go with a Starbucks Coffee in BF, you know where to go. :)

The Best Gourmet Lugaw @ Lugawan Republic

Is there such a thing as Gourmet Lugaw?

I thought there wasn't until I tasted one at Lugawan Republic. It's not branded as gourmet though, but it sure tasted like one to me.

The place is attached to Iago's, another cool joint for al fresco dining and drinking. Both located in BF Homes Paranaque just near the guard house along Aguirre Avenue.

Let's talk about their Lugaw (rice porridge). We got the halo-halo instead of the basic lugaw. It was thick enough and yellowish in color. It had quail and chicken eggs, ox tripe, pork meat, and another thickening ingredient (i think it was sotanghon). Eat it with an order of tokwa, then you'll have a completely filling meal. Oh, so yummy indeed!

Since the airconditioned Lugawan Republic is attached to Iago's, you can order their other specialties such as: calamares, barbeque chicken fillet, lumpiang togue, fish & chips, green mango with bagoong and laing. Their service water is pandan-flavored. :)

The service is very good while the ambiance with its yellowish lights is just right. The only downside is the exhaust system is not that efficient that the smell of fried food somehow sticks to your shirt. :)

The next time you're in the south and looking for "safe" and delicious lugaw, visit Lugawan Republic. You'd be glad you did.

Mayors junk Edsa Odd-Even Scheme

By Tina Santos, Julie M. Aurelio
Reposted from Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 14:41:00 10/15/2010

Filed Under: Philippines - Metro

MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATE) The Metro Manila Council (MMC), the policy-making body of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) composed of the mayors of 16 cities and one town in the metropolis, on Friday decided to shelve the proposal to implement the odd-even scheme for private vehicles and city and provincial buses along Edsa in a move to decongest traffic in the major thoroughfare.

Experimental basis

In its place, the MMC agreed to include public utility buses (PUBs) in the Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP), the number coding scheme, on an experimental basis starting mid-November.

PUBs were covered by the UVVRP until 2004 when then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered their exemption upon the urging of bus operators.

Special committee

The MMC also decided to create a special committee on traffic to be headed by Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista, co-chaired by Marikina Mayor Del de Guzman.

The committee was tasked to craft guidelines on the UVVRP on buses, in close coordination with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino said the odd-even proposal was brought out following an evaluation of a study by the University of the Philippines’ National Center for Transportation Studies, which found that even under the current number coding scheme, Edsa private lanes had breached their maximum carrying capacity.

Another study conducted by the Japan International Cooperation Agency yielded findings that Edsa could physically accommodate up to 1,600 buses; around 3,800 city franchised buses currently use the Edsa route.

Innovative measures

The council deemed it best to explore other innovative measures aimed at reducing the traffic problem, such as including public buses in the current UVVRP or number coding scheme, he said.

It also resolved to step up traffic enforcement measures and drivers’ education, and crafting an Urban Transport Code of Corporate Social Responsibility, taking into consideration the welfare of the people, the MMDA chair added.

During a consultation with bus operators recently, bus operators expressed their willingness to be covered by the existing number coding scheme.

World Bank report

The MMDA also cited a 2009 World Bank report which estimated that traffic along Edsa and other major thoroughfares in Metro Manila cost the economy at least P277 million daily, or approximately $2 billion a year in terms of lost man-hours.

Present during Friday’s meeting were Mayors Bautista, Sherwin Gatchalian of Valenzuela, Enrico Echeverri of Caloocan, John Rey Tiangco of Navotas, Del de Guzman of Marikina, Benhur Abalaos of Mandaluyong, Alfredo Lim of Manila and Jaime Medina of the Municipality of Pateros.

Caloocan Vice Mayor and concurrent president of the Vice Mayor’s League of the Philippines Edgardo Erice and Councilors’ League of the Philippines president Serafin Bernardo also attended the meeting.

Stakeholders

Bautista said they would also consult the stakeholders -- from commuters to operators to drivers -- since there are many issues that need to be addressed first before any scheme is implemented.

The council initially planned to implement the odd-even scheme from November 15 to Jan. 15, 2011, but Abalos proposed that the number coding scheme for city buses be implemented in the meantime.

“There are many inputs that should be considered, so we cannot just impose it right away. The MMDA should find other ways how to decongest traffic along Edsa, like banning colorum (operating with no franchise) buses,” he said.

Bautista’s special committee is planning to finish its study and come up with a comprehensive traffic management plan by the end of the year.

The plan, he added, would serve as a “general framework” for traffic management policy in heavily congested Metro Manila, and will include the study of the proposed odd-even scheme.

Bautista added that they would confer with the LTFRB regarding the issue of franchises of buses traveling along Edsa.

“The LTFRB should strictly implement the regulation on the franchise of the buses. It should suspend the issuance of franchises to buses to those whose franchises have already expired. That is one way of reducing the number of vehicles plying the Edsa route,” he added.

Buko Express & Fried Ice Cream @ SM City Sucat

The joy of being on-leave.

On a Monday morning, Sweetie and I strolled into SM City Sucat at 10 in the morning -- the same hour it opens. It's been awhile since I went there. Going up the escalator across Body Shop, I was intrigued by a contraption in a buko (coconut) kiosk I passed on the way up. I asked Sweetie if she'd like to have some buko shake. Affirmative. So we went back down and went straight to the kiosk named Buko Express. Lo-and-behold, the contraption was some kind of cutting and boring device that cut and bore a hole into the coconut. I'd say the device was an original and cool invention that put finesse and art into opening a coconut. The juice and shake were very tasty.

With juice and shake in hand, Sweetie and I happily went on our way towards SM's department store which was on the other side of the mall. Walking through the bridgeway, we chanced upon a kiosk which read: Fried Ice Cream.

My mind first registered the words "Ice Cream." Yummy! How else can I describe ice cream? But wait, it's fried?!? Oh yeah baby, that's what the sign says.

How can you fry ice cream when everybody knows the stuff melts under the sun? So after some inquiry, the guys admitted it was just a gimmick. Underneath the supposed fryer is really a device that fast-freezes semi-melted and flattened ice cream. The hardened flat ice cream is then shaved and put in a tub where toppings are added, and voila! Fried Ice Cream!

Simple huh? Actually, the whole process takes between 7-10 minutes per order. So if you're ordering three tubs, you'll have to expect a long wait. It's obviously longer if the guy ahead of you ordered five tubs. Tough luck.

Then again, it's worth the wait. Besides the novelty of eating Fried Ice Cream, the stuff tastes great! Apart from the toppings, you can choose which ice cream flavor you'd like. So the next time you're in the area of SM City Sucat, drop by and sample Buko Express and Fried Ice Cream. There's a Scramble kiosk nearby, too. But that's another story to tell.

Tah-tah!

Classic Burger Heaven @ Tropical Hut

Oh so classic!

For me, Tropical Hut's classic all-beef hamburger has been an all-time favorite. I remember one of the first Tropical Hut restaurants near Don Bosco Makati at the corner of Pasong Tamo and (then) Pasay Road in Makati City. I bet today's generation don't have a clue where that was, huh? My parents treated us boys to the place whenever we received medals every graduation day. My favorite variant then was the Rancho Ranchero -- classic hamburger with sunny-side-up egg.

Today, Tropical Hut Hamburger has maintained its smallness with the coming of giants McDonalds and mighty Jollibee. Still, nothing beats the taste of Tropical Hut Hamburger. I haven't encountered any hamburger like that of Tropical's.

I frequent the Tropical Hut outlet at corner of Aguirre and President's Avenue in BF Paranaque. Coffee there is one of the best, if not, THE best! Congressman Roilo Golez frequents that branch where he conducts some of his small meetings. Yeah, he doesn't have an entourage.

Over lunch today, I sampled their Double Double Burger (2 patties of Classic Hamburger with veggies) together with french fries. Heaven! I dipped the piping hot fries in my special sauce of catsup and mustard and had some macaroni salad. After downing a cup of their classic brewed coffee, I could have died right there. haha. So there, I had to take Lesofat (Orlistat) after to rid myself of all that fat. haha.

Total bill for my heavenly meal: 150 pesos.

To all my readers and friends in the U.S. and elsewhere, is there a Tropical Hut Hamburger in your area?

Las Pinas' Manuyo Dos: Bring back the peace, please!

Battle-royale.

That's what I see brewing in the coming barangay elections this October 25th in barangay Manuyo Dos in Las Pinas City.

It's between incumbent chairman Gil Galvez and the contender, Abe Castillo who is currently Gatchalian Subdivision's phase 4 homeowners association president.

I have been in Manuyo Dos since 1976. It has always been a peaceful community with almost no flooding except for the low-lying areas of phase 7, 2, and some of phase 5. Today. it's a different story. It is said that since the establishment of SM Sucat and the C5 extension, flooding has been more widespread.

There are 2 main things that should be addressed in Manuyo Dos: Peace & Order and Flooding. Unfortunately, actions on these 2 things are close to nil in my books. Crime rate is up. The akyat-bahay gangs and street thugs seem to be having a field day. In Gatchalian Subdivision, there are even tragic road mishaps and cellphone snatchers!

All around the villages, you'll see flooding during a quick downpour. This has never happened before. With reportedly 15 million pesos in annual budget for the barangay, "where art thou?" Gosh, we don't even have an ambulance!

There are times when I miss the 1980's of Kapitan Vid Villegas who acted like Erap in his movies. One time, this guy chased a bunch of akyat-bahay gangmen with his Toyota Starlet and caught them in what is now phase 9 in Gatchalian. After the incident, on the way to his residence, he even accosted a "puto" vendor for not having a vending license. So it was just right that Kapitan Vid won a million pesos in the defunct Far East Bank raffle.

Then there was Inay Alday. She was always at odds with Kapitan Vid when she was a kagawad (councilwoman). Inay, as she's fondly called, led the barangay to new heights from the time of Mayor Casimiro, till her maximum term eventually ended. Well, there was the forgettable term of now-city councilor Oca Pena. Chairman Bong Nery was good and clean. I liked him for being straight-forward with his "walang masamang tinapay" attitude. However, he seemed to be more destined to be an entrepreneur than a "politician." He only did one term.

Well, Kapitan Vid has passed away many years ago, Inay and Bong are retired from barangay politics. We need solutions to peace and order and flooding.

I believe that there are only 2 main contenders in Manuyo Dos: the incumbent Gil Galvez and the Phase 4 Homewoners president Abe Castillo. The feisty Abe Castillo is reportedly a former military intelligence man, too. Can either man give us the solutions to what's bugging our community? Abangan.

To whoever gets elected, please give us back our peace of mind.

Cafe Boheme: A melting pot in the south metro

Do you speak Korean?

I asked because right here in Cafe Boheme, that's the "unofficial" langauge. Hey, I'm not in Korea. I'm in the upper middle class village of BF Homes in Paranaque City (the Philippines). Cafe Boheme is the Korean "coffee shop-tambayan." For some reason, Koreans like the place even though a new Starbucks has sprouted a few blocks away.

The younger set populate Cafe Boheme. It's probably the big lounge chairs and music that attracts them here. Food and coffee are withinnbudget range. Coffee which is the equivalent of a grande in Starbucks is only 65 pesos.

But Sweetie and I love this place, too. It's quieter than Starbucks, for one. The coffee may be so-so but the pastas and sandwiches are delicious. So what's a coffee shop without good coffee? Wi-fi is free, buddy! We all know that wi-fi isn't free in Starbucks (at least in the Philippines!).

For the not-so-young, newspapers are free and up-to-date. There's Manila Bulletin, Philippine Star and Inquirer.

The Koreans? Well, they're pretty cool here. They "tambay"just like we do. Sweetie is immersed in her book while I'm hammering away at my netbook. Oh, my netbook's LG -- Korean-made. So I guess I'm an honorary Korean, too, for today. :)

If you're in the BF Paranaque area, Cafe Boheme is across the Tides, and is past the Presentation Church. Drop by the place and come back to this blog to comment if you're not satisfied.

For now, I'm enjoying my coffee and raisin oatmeal cookie. Chow! (how do you say that in Korean?)