ROCK AND RUN FOR HISTORY WEEK: Join Rock Rizal and Run Rizal!!!

RockEd Philippines and the National Historical Commission of the Philippines is celebrating History Week with a BANG! with the Rock Rizal Concert on September 16 and the Run Rizal, this September 18.

“History should not be boring. This is why the commission is trying its best to come up with different activities that encourage students to participate and be more involved,” says Dra. Serena Diokno, Chairperson of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines.

“Music has become the language of the youth. If we take time to listen to, say, Gloc 9 then we'll realize that his music reflects as much truth as we see in the streets of Manila--and perhaps, for this reason, we have labeled rap 'ang bagong balagtasan.' I'd also like to believe that running is more than just a fad. For some people, running is instrumental to achieving a cause, to beginning a day right, to becoming healthier. A passion for sports and an appreciation for the arts, whether visual, drama, or music--they are all attributes of Rizal.” she further enthuses.

Continuing the celebration of the 150th birth anniversary of Jose Rizal and participating in the week-long celebration of our country’s history, nine of the country’s biggest artists will come together on September 16 at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall for Rock Rizal, a concert highlighting the songs that reflects the life and works of our national hero. 

Prepare yourself to be captured in different performances by artists Ely Buendia, Sandwich, Gloc-9, Ebe Dancel, Jett Pangan, Peryodiko, Hijo, Aiza Seguerra and Radio Active Sago Project, all of who pledged for this monumental project to happen.

“With our goal to take Rizal out of the classroom and into radio stations, the Rock Rizal concert is a true testament and celebration of the youth’s passion for learning, for music and for history” says Pepe Diokno, Executive Director of Rock Ed Philippines.

And if music is not enough to give you the adrenaline rush you’re looking for, join the Run Rizal on September 18. Proceeds of this activity will be given to continue the preservation of the three Rizal Shrines administered by the NHCP—Rizal Shrine in Calamba, Rizal Shrine in Dapitan, and Rizal Shrine in Fort Santiago.

The run starts and ends at the Rizal Monument and will wind through Roxas Blvd. and Diosdado Macapagal Avenue. Runners can participate in the 3K, 5K, 10K, and 16K categories.

For updates, you may visit the National Historical Commission of the Philippines at http://nchp.gov.ph for more details.

Relive history with RockEd and the National Historical Commission's

Rock Rizal Concert and Run Rizal activities!!!

Bayview Park Hotel Manila: A Feast on Filipino Food Fare

One shouldn't pass up the chance to taste interesting variations of Filipino cuisine as Philippines' Department of Tourism, Hotel and Restaurant Association of the Philippines, and Bayview Park Hotel Manila's Kulinarya Festival will mark its end this coming July 29.

 

   

We were invited at its launch last May 2011 and they gave us a local food splurge of Bicolano dishes.  Bicol express, pinangat, and native delicacies -- all familiar to us, have never really tasted as good as when you're eating them right under the fiesta-inspired buffet area of Bayview Park Hotel.

And now on its last week, Bayview Park Hotel welcome us with a buffet lunch from selected regions of the country.


Bistek Tagalog from the Katagalugan Region.

Pinakbet from my own region... Ilocos Region! (",)

Kapampangan's Igado

Pancit Habhab  from the Province of Quezon

And the crowd favorite... Kinilaw na Tanigue also from the Ilocano Region.  It is also most requested by those who frequent Bayview's daily buffet said marketing assistant, Ms. Precy Mendoza.

The lineup of sweet delicacies from different provinces remind us of our childhood, especially the palitaw which we rarely see in the city this time.

The place is filled with office employees enjoying their 450-peso lunch break and packed with families and tourists who drop by to satisfy the innate craving for the real Filipino taste.

Bayview Park Hotel Manila's Kulinarya Secret Weapon.

I, together with the other bloggers Leira Pagaspas of DulceDeLeirs, Ning Buning of Ning4U, and Tita Lucy of Pinay Corner were truly appreciative to see these cultural delights for the second time.

Bayview Park Hotel Manila is set in the tourism complex of Manila.  Ideally located at the corner of Roxas Boulevard and United Nations Avenue, the hotel is within walking distance to malls, hospitals, universities, and electronic railway transit.  Affording a splendid view of Manila Bay, it boasts 283 guests rooms, pool deck swimming pool and indoor gym facilities.  Bayview Park Hotel Manila has a concessionaire, Starbucks, for your mini-meeting needs.  With a variety of amenities and facilities, you will never run out of things to do.

Bayview Park Hotel Manila
1118 Roxas Boulevard corner United Nations Avenue
Manila, Philippines

Phone Number: +63-2-2479000
Fax Number: +63-2-5223040
Toll Free Number: 1800-1888-5555
Website: www.bayviewparkhotel.com

For the Kulinarya Festival buffet reservations, you may also call +63-2-2479000

Cirque Du Soleil: Varekai in Manila

In an effort to bring world-class entertainment to the country, Hoopla Inc., official promoter of Cirque du Soleil in the Philippines, finally brings one of the Cirque du Soleil big top live production Varekai.  Cirque du Soleil is a major Québec-based organization providing high-quality artistic entertainment.

 Varekai has been touring in the last nine years in North America, Australia, New Zealand and Europe. This year, Varekai finally visits Asia beginning with Taiwan in January. They are currently performing in South Korea and will be premiering in the Philippines in June 2011.

Hoopla, Inc. believes that the Manila staging of Varekai will help boost the image of the Philippines as an entertainment destination and will encourage other big-ticket productions to consider the country for their shows. The official promoter also shares that they are very excited to bring Cirque du Soleil to the Philippines because they feel that the local audience deserves only the best. Made possible by the show’s presenting sponsors, Manila Hotel and Banco De Oro, together with its official sponsor, Sun Life Financial, they stressed that there is huge market for high-quality productions in the Philippines, affirming the Filipinos’ passion for art, music and entertainment.

Cirque du Soleil will set up its trademark blue and yellow Grand Chapiteau (Big Top) which can house up to over 2,500 audiences across Quirino Grandstand. Varekai will perform in Manila for a limited engagement from June 22-July 8, 2011. Tickets are available through our online box office at www.hoopla.ph or www.cirquedusoleil.com. For inquiries, call 775-0939, 881-0947, 0919-4508125 and 0917-4436463.

Kulinarya Festival at Bayview Park Hotel Featuring Bicolano Dishes

Bayview Park Hotel, one of the premiere hotels in the metropolis, hosts the run-through of  Kulinarya Festival on May 23, 2011, in cooperation with Hotel and Restaurant Association of the Philippines (HRAP) and the Department of Tourism (DOT).

The Kulinarya Festival is a brainchild of Bayview Park Hotel to adhere to one of the activities that the Department of Tourism has lined up this year to promote culture and heritage of the Philippines not just to the tourists but also with the locals.  In particular, Kulinarya Festival aims to promote authentic Filipino cuisines that our country has to offer.

Hotel and Restaurant Association of the Philippines

This year, Bayview Park Hotel successfully hosts the said project of the DOT and together with the other HRAP members namely the Century Park Hotel, Discovery Suites, Café Illustrado, Bacolod Chicken Inasal and Serye Restaurant, they will also simultaneously showcase our culinary heritage in the coming months.


Native dishes and  delicacies of Bicol Region (Region V) spearheaded the Kulinarya Festival experience.   Bicolano foods calls to mind if we say hot and spicy.  The locals are really known for their love of spicy foods but in Kulinarya no need to worry about the spices as you will have your choice on the level of spiciness.


Rice is a must for hot and spicy lovers so dig in to Bicol Express and Dahon ng Gabi na Pinangat. 

Noodle lovers can recharge with Pansit Bato.

Don't have a tooth for chilis?  Well, here are the Bicolanos native desserts and one unique food to them is the sweetened/caramelized pili nuts.

 I, together with the other bloggers Sire Arevalo of Munch and Gulps, Leira Pagaspas of DulceDeLeirs, Jay L Aquino of Blog-PH, Ning Buning of Ning4U, Michelle of Manila Stuff, and Tita Lucy of Pinay Corner were truly appreciative to see these cultural delights first hand.

This buffet experience at the Bayview Park Hotel is really authentic as we were greeted by a festive barrio-styled ambiance and welcomed by Ms. Precy Mendoza and Mr. Eugene Yap of Bayview Park Hotel.

Staff of Bayview Park Hotel

Bayview Park Hotel General Manager Eugene Yap

Here are my favorites and if you happen to pass by Bayview Park Hotel on July, which is the start of the Kulinarya Festival, this would be some of the dishes that you would also expect to feast on.

I begin the meal with a sampling of the Lato Salad.  Lato is a kind of seaweed that is shaped like grapes.  We call it in Ilocano as ar-arosep.  It's been a while since I have eaten lato and it is really refreshing.

How would I forget the this... the pinangat or tinadtaran.  It is bathed in gata and I love the ground fish inside it.  It is really a meal for vegetarians.

And for the final flourish, pili nuts and halo-halo refresh the palate, concluding the meal on a high note.

Bayview Park Hotel will make every lunch a most special treat with Kulinarya Festival this July 2011.  Enjoy Filipino favorites buffet including Ilocano, Bicolano, Kapampangan, and a lot more for only P600.

After the festive treats, we were lucky to be able to roam around Bayview Park Hotel's elegant rooms and facilities.

The Executive Suite

Deluxe Room

Of all the rooms, my eye candy is the executive suite with spacious and Comfortable Living area, Dinning area and Powder room with separate Bedroom with bathroom.  Ms. Precy Mendoza, marketing officer of Bayview Park Hotel, said that this room also serves as a debutante or bride's room so it is really meticulously and elegantly designed.


We also went at the roof deck pool where Ms. Precy Mendoza mentioned that hotel guests are entitled of free use of the facilities once you're booked in the hotel.

It was really tiring but a fun-filled day.  I still haven't digested that ample lunch buffet when I got home and my eyes still feasted on the elegant rooms of Bayview Park Hotel.  I really won't forget that debutante suite...

Bayview Park Hotel Manila
1118 Roxas Boulevard corner United Nations Avenue
Manila, Philippines

Phone Number: +63-2-2479000
Fax Number: +63-2-5223040
Toll Free Number: 1800-1888-5555
Website: www.bayviewparkhotel.com

For the Kulinarya Festival buffet reservations, you may also call +63-2-2479000

Join Museo Pambata's Annual Toy and Book Drive

Let us help 2000 kids this Christmas 2010!!!

With the help of your old Barbie doll, teddy bear, or book, you can make one of the 2000 kids of Museo Pambata happy.

Museo Pambata will be celebrating their 16th anniversary with a bang!  They will be having a gift-giving activity with 2000 kids on December 19, 2010.  Isn't that great?

And with Ate Myla's mom's crafty ideas, we will be donating some of their DIY hair clips, ribbons, and head bands to these kids.

Thank you Ate!

So if you also want to share your blessings, just click on the e-flyer.

You can drop off your donations at Museo Pambata, Roxas Blvd. corner South, Drive, Manila (beside the US Embassy) from 9AM-5 PM (Mon-Sat) and Sundays 1-5 PM only. For some who started a local donation drive in schools and offices (only within Metro Manila) Museo Pambata can pick-up the donation boxes before December 15, 2010. They can be reached through Tel. 523-1797/98 local 103 and 106 and Fax 5221246.

If you're in Makati, drop off your donations at JWT Manila,7th floor Equitable Bank Tower, Paseo de Roxas Makati on or before December 10, 2010 c/o JWT Manila.

Thank you very much!  Advanced Merry Christmas!!!