Tag: Alabang

My Observations: New Starbucks and the Village Food Fair at Madison Galeries

My Observations: New Starbucks and the Village Food Fair at Madison Galeries

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Now open and serving customers at Madison Galeries!

Have you been to Madison Galeries lately in Alabang, Muntinlupa City?

For the newcomers reading this, Madison Galeries is a nice, open-air shopping mall located along Don Jesus Boulevard. It is located between Alabang Hills Village and the West Service Road.

During my recent stop at the mall, I visited, for the first time, the brand new Starbucks coffee shop at the ground floor which occupies the commercial space previously occupied by Manila’s Best Coffee plus even more space going inside.

The result? Starbucks Madison Galeries has LOTS of space where customers can come in, buy drinks or food, sit down comfortably and enjoy.

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A very spacious Starbucks at Madison Galeries.

After that, I went upstairs to check on the Village Food Fair which was a one-day event. There I looked around at the varied food and drinks prepared for customers. Shawarma, cakes, fruits, sodas, pies, snacks, fruit juices, sushi and maki, imported cheese, rice meals of chicken, beef, pork and fish, shakes and dessert were offered. Among the many vendors selling there, what caught my attention was one selling organic pasta (to be cooked).

Check out these pics I posted. Just click to enlarge.

I hope that the Village Food Fair will be held again at Madison Galeries.

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. Also my fantasy book The World of Havenor is still available in paperback and e-book format. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me as well. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me at HavenorFantasy@twitter.com

My Observations: Starbucks Vermosa

My Observations: Starbucks Vermosa

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In South Metro Manila, Daang Hari is one very long road used by thousands of motorists each day. It stretches from a corner of Alabang Zapote Road in Las Pinas which goes through portions of Alabang (Muntinlupa City), goes past Evia Lifestyle Center and the connection with Muntinlupa Cavite Expressway (MCX) and more notably the road leads further into the province of Cavite.

Along Daang Hari within the jurisdiction of Imus City, Cavite, is the world-class Vermosa Sports Hub which is home to a very modern looking swimming pool, track oval and some facilities.

Just outside Vermosa Sports Hub, however, along Daang Hari is a new branch of Starbucks Coffee which I visited.

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The front of Starbucks Vermosa coffee shop.

As expected, the Vermosa Starbucks branch has a very modern design on its exterior and interior. Its interior is quite spacious with lots of seats and tables that can accommodate groups of friends and family members. The place is good enough for employees or business executives to have group meetings in while having coffee.

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This is where you choose, line up, pay and pick up your order.
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Nice interior.

Upon my examination of the place, I noticed some parking slots in the rear of the coffee shop (with the Vermosa Sports Hub visible). Like the Starbucks coffee shop at Evia Lifestyle Center, this coffee shop has a drive-thru.

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Parking slots.
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The drive-thru lane.

So if you are coming from Cavite heading to Las Pinas or Muntinlupa and you want coffee to help you complete your long drive along Daang Hari, know that the Vermosa Starbucks branch is operating.

Muntinlupa City Mayor Emphasizes 9-point Development Agenda

Muntinlupa City Mayor Emphasizes 9-point Development Agenda

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Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi with the 9th City Council in their Inaugural Session on July 1 at Session Hall, People’s Center, Muntinlupa City Hall, Brgy. Putatan. Fresnedi called for the support of new councilors to advance his 9-Point Program of Governance.

On July 1, Muntinlupa City Mayor Jaime Fresnedi reached out to the new members of the City Council calling for their support for his 9-Point Program of Governance during the inaugural session of the legislative body at the Session Hall, People’s Center, Muntinlupa City Hall.

Now on his 3rd and final term, the mayor delivered his response message in the resumption of the City Council sessions led by newly elected Vice Mayor Artemio Simundac. Simundac expressed the Council’s support to compliment initiatives carried by executive departments through local legislation.

Local majority floor leader Coun. Raul Corro said the 9th City Council will be a “Working Council” and committed to uphold professionalism and pro-activeness.

For the next three years, the Fresnedi administration will focus on delivering programs and projects for the following development areas: Health and Wellness, Local History and Culture, Education and Youth, Livelihood and Employment, Peace and Order, Socialized Housing, Good Governance, Economic Development, and Environmental Protection.

Very recently, Mayor Fresnedi was sworn into office and his third term was inaugurated. He was sworn in by Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Judge Antonietta Medina on June 28 before his supporters and other guests.

 

 

Cyberzone Mobile Fest 2019 at SM City BF Parañaque a Success

Cyberzone Mobile Fest 2019 at SM City BF Parañaque a Success

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Cyberzone Mobile Fest 2019 at SM City BF Parañaque a Success

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The Cyberzone Mobile Fest 2019 at the Atrium of the mall.

This past weekend at SM City BF Parañaque, the Cyberzone Mobile Fest 2019 held at the Atrium turned out a successful event filled with excitement and surprise that delighted both attendees and the spectators.

The event started on Friday (June 22) with technology event partners Huawei, Smart, Samsung, Real Me, Xiaomi, Vivo and Power Mac Center each having their own booths showcasing their latest products and services to customers who passed by.

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The 2019 Mobile Legends tournament.

The excitement really ramped up the following day (June 23) as the highly anticipated Mobile Legends Tournament took place. Right from the start, many players (predominantly males) lined up to register themselves and eagerly waited. Once the tournament started, the action and excitement really made the Cyberzone Mobile Fest 2019 more energetic. As the competitors focused on their smartphones, action of the 2019 Mobile Legends Tournament were displayed on the large screen which was nicely spiced up by the two tournament commentators. There were bouts of cheers and awe in between. By the evening, the tournament was won by Avalance which received P5,000 as the grand winner.

Next to them were KZTL at 2nd place and Fantasy Sports at 3rd place. They received P3,000 and P2,000 respectively.

Grand Champion Avalanche
2019 Mobile Legends tournament grand champion Avalanche.
2nd Place KTZL
Team KZTL won 2nd place.
3rd Place Esports Fantasy
3rd placer was team Fantasy Sports.

Along the way, special programs took place. The event organizers formally unveiled the brand new and more modern looking logo of Cyberzone which wowed the audience.

 

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The new logo.

For the newcomers reading this, Cyberzone is the largest chain of IT retail stores in the Philippines. Aside from holding the biggest I.T. fairs, gaming events, and social networking engagements; Cyberzone is known for its notable product mix and quality.

Back to the event, a digital quiz took place as well as fun tech talks. A raffle draw was held and after several attempts of calling out the names of the winner, it was Joie Reyes who was called and she made her way to the stage to claim the Realme 3 smartphone. Being physically present is a requirement to claim the raffle prize.

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Very lucky raffle prize winner Joie Reyes with her Realme 3 smartphone. With her were Cyberzone marketing officer Shaquiel Segarra and SM City BF Paranaque’s Inah Bunyi.

One of the major partners of the event, Huawei, had its officer named Elton present the company’s achievements and vision for the world of technology. He announced that Huawei’s smartphone shipment surpassed 206 million in 2018 alone and that the company ensured that each unit is designed to give users full functionality, the best digital photography capability and enduring battery life.

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Huawei’s Elton gave an in-depth presentation of the company’s technology strategy.

Huawei was not limited to smartphones. Its business is quite diverse as its non-smartphone product shipments in 2018 exceeded the 100,000,000 mark. The figure includes tablets, laptops, watches and accessories. Huawei also strives to create more value through the innovative “1+8+N” all-scenario intelligent product ecosystem. From smartphones to cars and to home appliances, the company has a strategy to give a wide variety of users the means to enhance their lifestyles through technology.

For the future, Huawei is leading the next phase of the 5G innovation with the Balong 5000 which is the most powerful 5G modem in the world. It contains the world’s first chipset to support both NSA and SA architectures, the world’s fastest peak downlink speed of 4.6 gigabytes per second and uplink speed of 2.5 gigabytes per second, and the world’s first R14 V2X on 5G chipset.

Overall, the Cyberzone Mobile Fest 2019 at SM City BF Parañaque was a tremendously successful event that had fun, excitement and enlightenment brought together at the Atrium with a strong emphasis on technology. Cyberzone meanwhile will remain a very significant commercial chain for anyone around the nation looking for the latest in technology.

The Cyberzone Mobile Fest 2019 will continue in the following SM malls: Cebu (June 28-30), Sucat (July 5-7), Davao (July 12-14), Legazpi (July 19-21), and North EDSA (July 26-28).

For more information, visit http://www.smsupermalls.com.

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. Also my fantasy book The World of Havenor is still available in paperback and e-book format. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me as well. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me at HavenorFantasy@twitter.com

 

 

Alabang Hills Pass Thru Vehicular Stickers (1-year) for Non-Residents Now Available!

Alabang Hills Pass Thru Vehicular Stickers (1-year) for Non-Residents Now Available!

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Here’s a big update for people of South Metro Manila! The Alabang Hills Village Association, Inc. (AHVA) just started processing applications for the 1-year pass thru vehicular stickers for non-resident motorists and already they released the said stickers to the successful applicants.

The fee for the said AHVA stickers (marked with 2019-2020 as the period of validity) is at P1,200 each according to the association’s personnel I talked with over the counter at their office. Application forms (see the pictures below for reference) are available at the AHVA’s office.

Take note of the requirements listed on the form.

For those who are wondering, the 2-year AHVA pass thru vehicular stickers for non-residents are not yet available as of this writing and the association has yet to make a formal announcement as to when such stickers will be made available.

For the San Beda College Alabang (SBCA) students, faculty, campus workers, service providers and the like, the AHVA special pass thru stickers for them will be available on July 20, 2019.

The AHVA also announced that the pass thru stickers dated 2018 shall expire on July 31, 2019.

If you are based in BF Homes, securing Alabang Hills pass thru stickers for your vehicle can be beneficial as it will help you reach the Alabang Town Center, Ayala Alabang Village, Madrigal Business Park, Avida Towers Alabang, Commercenter, Filinvest City, Festival Mall and Molito through the village and Alabang Zapote Road in case Concha Cruz Drive gets too congested. Passing through Alabang Hills can also help you reach the West Service Road within Muntinlupa’s jurisdiction and along the way you can visit Madison Galeries and other villages.

For your inquiries regarding the vehicular stickers, the processes and requirements to acquire new ones and more, visit the Alabang Hills Village Association’s office along Don Jesus Boulevard inside the village.

You may also call the association at phone numbers 850-8254, 850-9631 and fax number 850-7685. They can be reached by email at ahvainc08@yahoo.com

 

Beware of Covetousness

Beware of Covetousness

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In previous times, I discussed that the Lord rewards the faithful abundantly in return for their faith and accomplishment of assigned tasks.

As I learned from our pastors during bible study sessions at our church, the Lord truly rewards His faithful followers and He truly wants each and every one to prosper. In His Kingdom, there is indeed kingdom wealth and this clearly shows that there is no lack and no poverty.

For as long as we put God first while we live in the flesh being faithful, we can enjoy riches, the good stuff, the luxuries and other forms of profit plus even more so that we can afford to give to others. As I discussed before, the profit, luxuries and good stuff we enjoy here on Earth is only a fraction of the kingdom wealth that awaits us in Heaven.

While we the faithful enjoy rewards from the Lord, we must never lose track of Him. It is a fact that it is impossible to worship both the Lord and mammon. At the same time, we the faithful must be aware of covetousness and its corrupting effects.

In the Holy Bible, covetousness is a sin directed towards the acquisition of more possessions. This means wanting to acquire more things (while living in the flesh) and this is ultimately self-defeating and futile. Earthly things that are acquired without prioritizing the Lord are clearly not blessings from Him.

Covetousness is clearly emphasized in Luke 12: 15 which states

And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”

To understand the whole story, Luke 12: 13-21 was about the Parable of the Rich Fool. Our Eternal Savior Jesus was speaking to a crowd when a man said to him “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” Jesus asked him who made Him a judge or an arbitrator over him, then he told the crowd about covetousness.

Jesus then spoke a parable to them…the parable of the rich fool. The rich man in the parable wondered what to do with his crops as he no longer had any room left for storage. Then he said he will pull down his barns and build greater so that his crops and goods will be stored. As he was focused on his possessions, he would say to his soul that with many goods laid up to last for many years ahead, take ease, eat, drink and be merry.

Then God said to him: Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided? (Luke 12: 20)

“So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12: 21)

God called the rich man a fool because he was so short-sighted with his life, he focused only on his wealth and possessions living in the flesh. Clearly that rich fool did not prioritize the Lord and only cared of his own interest. Covetousness will not only lead to a hollow life, it will also lead to greed which itself leads to conflicts, crime, being self-centered and carrying other negative things of life.

The acquiring of more possessions under covetousness is not limited to material things and wealth. To covet also means getting someone and this is made clear in the Ten Commandments. Here’s a scripture for you and the words are from God.

You shall not covet your neighbor’s house, you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s. (Exodus 20: 17)

And then there is also the coveting of the false god or idols. Long ago, God warned the people of Israel to not covet the gods of other nations. The coveting in this case on the part of the Israelites was about them coveting the freedom to commit sin that other nations had incorporated into their worship of gods or idols of pagan origin. Heed the words of God below…

You shall burn the carved images of their gods with fire; you shall not covet the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it for yourselves, lest you be snared by it; for it is an abomination to the LORD your God. (Deuteronomy 7: 25)

So it is clear. Put the Lord first, be faithful to Him, accomplish the tasks He assigned you with (note: God has a plan for each and every one of us) and then you will enjoy riches and the good life. What could be greater than abundant rewards coming from the Lord Himself? Think about that!

Jesus said, “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.” (Revelations 22: 12)

You don’t put the Lord first, then you are not rich towards God, you will be consumed by covetousness, and you won’t really enjoy your life and even your accumulated wealth. Trust me. There are rich people, in different parts of the world, living a sad and empty life. Covetousness is to think about or desire something so much, you will go to unreasonable measures to get it. To covet tells the Lord that you are not satisfied with what you have been blessed with. This, of course, blinds you of good judgment and what really matters most in your life.

Look at the different societies around the world. Covetousness clearly and negatively affected the lives of people and it is not limited towards the rich. Look at those bank robberies in which the robbers armed themselves, threatened people and even used tactics to break-in, disable security and organize planned getaways with the goal of escaping with a large stack of money or very valuable metals? The sad thing here is that these robbers are determined to harm and kill just for money! Think about that! Armed robbers would disregard other people’s lives for the sake of coveting wealth that they don’t even deserve!

Look at impoverished people who, during night time, go to a small business joint (or a family home), break in through the windows (or through a vacant aircon opening on the wall) then steal whatever valuable items they find inside. I’m talking about trespassing, damaging property and then stealing involved.

And then there are those “crime-less” acts of covetousness that get committed. A person can strive hard to earn money and/or find ways to get discounts all for the sake of buying the most anticipated video games for his gaming console. A person can go as far as exploiting the discounts of a big online sale ordering so many items that are not even needed. Along the way, the people committing covetousness can also harm himself/herself with the next bad thing – overspending!

Covetousness, again, is about desiring something or someone so much, you will take extreme measures to acquire successfully.

Clearly the Lord does not want people to commit crime or commit any bad deeds to gain something. The Lord knows fully well that criminals and other people consumed by covetousness are indeed foolish and sinful. The Lord is watching us all on how we spend or use the blessings He gave us, how we react on what is made available for acquiring within the flawed world system we are living in and what we do with what was acquired.

To really enjoy rewards from the Lord, you need to have faith in Him, repent to Him, prioritize Him and accomplish His assignment for you. This means opportunities to become a Kingdom Investor which I will emphasize in the future.

Clearly, you can enjoy riches, luxuries and the good life that the Lord will bless you with for as long as you prioritize Him and be faithful to Him. Don’t forget to discipline yourself with the money and other forms of blessings you received from the Lord.

What I have discussed with you here is not religion…it is the Biblical Truth. In my old life, there was never a single religious leader who ever warned me about covetousness or how we should handle the blessings we receive from the Lord. Religion did not help me connect to the Lord.

Religion will trap you. Religion will frustrate you. Religion will even corrupt you and lead you to greed and covetousness. The truth from the Holy Bible and having faith in the Lord and worshiping Him directly will set you free. I know! Because I experienced these in my life. I have been saved by Lord Jesus through His Instrument (a very dear friend of mine). Religion in my old life was darkness. As I learned along the way, it is better to be faithful to the Lord than to be religious.

There is more to your personal relationship with God than religion. You also need the Holy Spirit. You need to be born again and become a new creation in Jesus. Those are all true and you will realize it all eventually.

Are you a lost soul right now? Have you been living in darkness? Were you corrupted by covetousness and greed? You can still be saved and you have the power to decide to truly reform yourself! Reform does not happen because of a pretentious idealist who rants a lot on Facebook. Reform truly happens with the Lord and with His Spirit in your heart.

If you seek salvation now, learn that the first step is to receive Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior. Clean yourself of the religious values that prevented you from connecting to the Lord.

Then pray the simple prayer in one of my past Christianity articles. It’s located at the end of my article Trust in God, Disregard those Idols and you only need to click here.

Remember that the Lord always blesses the faithful abundantly and He really wants us, the faithful ones, to prosper, be happy, be good and be able to give to others. Along the way, we ourselves have responsibilities to handle and we are still responsible over our circumstances just as we receive love and blessings from the Lord.

Resist the devil (whose tools include covetousness, lust, the frustration caused by religion and wickedness) by always being faithful to Jesus whose victory we should always remember.

With faith in the Lord and the Holy Spirit in your heart, you can be victorious, prosperous and happy eternally. Also never forget what Jesus said in Revelations 22:  12 in the Holy Bible.

Thank you for reading. If you find this Christianity article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. Also my fantasy book The World of Havenor is still available in paperback and e-book format. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me as well. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me at HavenorFantasy@twitter.com

 

 

 

My Observations: Mang Pandesal in BF International

My Observations: Mang Pandesal in BF International

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In recent times, I spotted a new business at the corner of Tropical Avenue and El Grande Avenue in BF International, Las Piñas City. It was Mang Pandesal and their store was easy to spot with its red and yellow colors.

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Mang Pandesal is located at the corner of Tropical Avenue and El Grande Avenue in BF International, Las Piñas City. It is along the way to the nearby Village Sports Club.

To put things in perspective, especially for the foreign readers viewing this, pandesal is a common roll of bread in the Philippines composed of eggs, sugar, flour, salt and yeast. It is found in many places all over the country from the rural areas to the commercial joints along city roads.

On the small business joint Mang Pandesal, simplicity is the best way to describe what they offer. The first time I went inside, I saw the counter and behind it was the space where the pandesal was orderly stored and there was an oven. They bake and sell small-sized pandesal at a very affordable P2 each. That’s it! Simple as that! Take a look at what I had the first time I bought a pandesal there.

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The lady carefully puts the freshly baked pandesal into a paper bag after I ordered some.
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This is the small pandesal sold at P2 each.
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The other freshly baked pandesal just waiting to be bought!

 

After receiving the pandesal I bought, I opened the paper bag and looked inside. These small pandesal pieces look really cute. Then I pulled out one and ate it for the first time ever. It tasted good!

Clearly, Mang Pandesal’s bread really lived up to the Tagalog sign outside that said, “Masarap at malaman kahit walang palaman.” That loosely translates to, “Delicious and satisfying even without filling.”

One pandesal gave a good taste. Consuming two or more pieces means more of the good taste plus the satisfaction. Don’t forget the low price of each pandesal for sale which makes it ideal for buying by the bulk for the family or friends.

And then there was a holy scripture at the counter – 1 Corinthians 10: 31.

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The scripture displayed prominently.

According to the New King James Version (NKJV) Holy Bible I’m using, 1 Corinthians 10: 31 goes as follows:

Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

That scripture truly meant something. The next few times I passed by Mang Pandesal, I saw the store had a line of customers (some with their cars parked nearby) waiting to be served. There was a time when the customers were buying the available pandesal by the bulk.

And there was another time when there were customers ahead of mean just standing in line waiting for the next batch of pandesal to finish baking at the oven as the available supply of pandesal ran out!

From time to time, I failed to buy a single piece of pandesal there but I have no regret.

In fact, I can say out loud that Mang Pandesal in BF International is a blessed business by the Lord! They have the Word of God with them and it is truthful that the Lord blesses the faithful abundantly!

There is no poverty nor lack in the Kingdom of God. For as long as we are faithful to Him, we pray to Him, we follow and do His Word, and honor Him, the Lord will bless us and prosper us.

Going back to Mang Pandesal, I highly recommend buying pandesal from them whenever you pass by their store at Tropical Avenue corner El Grande Avenue. They are a blessed business and what they sell is unsurprisingly good.

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. Also my fantasy book The World of Havenor is still available in paperback and e-book format. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me as well. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me at HavenorFantasy@twitter.com

 

 

My Observations: New Starbucks at Madison Galeries Coming Plus Fatmelts Diner’s Expansion at Pergola Mall

My Observations: New Starbucks at Madison Galeries Coming Plus Fatmelts Diner’s Expansion at Pergola Mall

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If there is anything notable about South Metro Manila, it is the fact that there is a “thin” border between the cities of Parañaque, Muntinlupa and Las Piñas in close proximity to Alabang-Zapote Road.

Look Concha Cruz Drive inside BF Homes subdivision. Part of it falls under Parañaque while the remaining part leading to Alabang-Zapote Road falls under Las Piñas City. Parallel to Concha Cruz Drive is Ramon Tirona street connecting Parañaque to Muntinlupa City through Alabang Hills Village.

Along the straight, long road that links Alabang Hills Village to the West Service Road is the nice looking, open-air mall called Madison Galeries which I occasionally visit. During my latest visit, I noticed something on the ground level…Manila’s Best Coffee is gone and in its place is the ongoing establishment of a new Starbucks Coffee branch.

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The upcoming Starbucks Coffee shop at Madison Galeries.

Not only that. I noticed the said Starbucks also took a lot more space of the mall. There was another commercial joint beside Manila’s Best Coffee that is no more and its space got consumed. This is a huge Starbucks coming and there is always that possibility that it will help Madison Galeries attract even more customers. Consumers coming from BF Homes who wish to visit Madison Galeries by car will need a passing-through car sticker from the Alabang Hills Village Association first. Otherwise they will have to travel the long way along Dr. A. Santos Avenue or Alabang-Zapote Road to make it to the mall through the West Service Road.

Speaking of new things, I also noticed a change going on at the ground floor level of the Pergola Mall in Barangay BF Homes, Parañaque City. Check the picture below.

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Fatmelts Diner is renovating and expanding at Pergola Mall.

Fatmelts Diner, a favorite food and beverage joint in the BF Homes community that has operated for many years now, is undergoing renovation and expansion. Similar to the upcoming Starbucks at Madison Galeries, the diner also consumed additional commercial space (not pictured) that was previously occupied by Di’ Mark’s Pizza.

I can only speculate that more space will mean more seats and tables for customers and more kitchen space and cooking equipment. How this will improve the quality of the food and service remains in question. Still this is something to look forward to once Fatmelts Diner reopens.

The thing about Pergola Mall and Madison Galeries is that, if you drive a car and you have the required car stickers (to pass through the villages), they are both reachable and you can enjoy what each place has to offer. This is one of the charms of South Metro Manila.

 

 

 

 

 

2019 National & Local Elections: Fresnedi, Simundac and Biazon Win Big in Muntinlupa

2019 National & Local Elections: Fresnedi, Simundac and Biazon Win Big in Muntinlupa

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The Commission on Elections proclaimed re-electionist Muntinlupa City Mayor Jaime Fresnedi (4th from left), along with his running mates Temy Simundac (5th from left) for Vice-Mayor and Ruffy Biazon (right) for Congressman, as winners in the local midterm elections. On Tuesday morning, 16 out 19 candidates from Team Fresnedi were declared winners in the local executive and Sangguniang Panlungsod positions. Fresnedi is serving his third consecutive and last term as Muntinlupa City mayor. The local exec garnered 164,144 votes over his rival mayoralty bet and former Bureau of Immigration Deputy Commissioner Red Mariñas trailing behind with 52,127 votes. (from Muntinlupa PIO press release)

This past Monday (May 13), over two hundred thousand people around Muntinlupa City  trooped to different venues to cast their votes to select which officials will serve them for the period of mid-2019 to mid-2022.

The result? Landslide victories particularly in the races for Mayor, Vice Mayor and the long Congressional seat of the City.

Muntinlupa City Mayor Jaime Fresnedi won a third consecutive term with landslide victory, along with allies who proved to be strong in the local polls. The mayor defeated his rival former Bureau of Immigration Deputy Commissioner Red Mariñas by a score of 164,144 votes to 52,127. Do that math, that’s a wide margin of 112,017 votes.

In the race for Vice Mayor, Fresnedi’s running mate Temy Simundac defeated the incumbent Vice Mayor Celso Dioko by a score of 116,825 to 85,889. That’s a difference of almost 31,000 votes! What makes the victory notable was that in the 2016 local election, Vice Mayor Dioko was Fresnedi’s running mate while Simundac was one of the latter’s opponents for the office of Mayor.

For the lone Congressional seat of the City, Congressman Ruffy Biazon got elected easily with 169,756. Far behind him were Paeng Arciaga and Rodolfo Llorca with 36,317 and 2,326 respectively.

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) proclaimed Fresnedi (Liberal Party), and his running mates Temy Simundac for Vice-Mayor and Congressman Ruffy Biazon (both under the PDP-Laban), as winners in on the morning of May 14.

COMELEC Muntinlupa Atty. Kimberley Joy T. Alzate – Cu said the board of canvassers canvassed 373 clustered precincts with over 225,226 voters in Muntinlupa City.

Team Fresnedi City Council bets also took the lead in two districts. In District 1, winning councilors under Fresnedi’s team include Atty. Raul Corro, Alexson Diaz, Paty Katy Boncayao, Louie Arciaga, Allan Camilon, and Valentino Niefes. While completing the list were opposition party bets Phanie Teves and Ivee Arciaga.

In District 2, winners under the local exec’s team include Nep Santiago, Marissa Rongavilla, Ryan Bagatsing, Lester Baes, Jun Metong Sevilla, Arlene Hilapo, and Eliot Martinez. Dhes Arevalo was the only member of the opposition party to be proclaimed as winner in District 2.

The Mayor extended his gratitude to the people of Muntinlupa for trusting his administration and vowed to continue to advocate good governance in the city.

Analysis: Was Mayor Fresnedi’s re-election and his team’s dominance surprising? Not at all since the City was honored with several awards reflecting achievements made with public service. Under his administration, Muntinlupa was declared the Most Business-Friendly City in 2017 and 2018; the Most Child-Friendly City in the National Capital Region in 2016 and 2017; the Outstanding LGU in Nutrition Program Management for 2018

Through the years, the city has garnered several awards and citations from various governing bodies, including the Most Business-Friendly City Award for 2001, 2002, 2017, and 2018; Most Child-Friendly City in NCR for 2016 and 2017; Green Banner Award and Outstanding LGU in Nutrition Program Management for 2018; MERALCO Luminaries Award for 2018; and the Government Efficiency and Resilience Award (3rd Place) in the Regional Competitiveness Summit and Awards for 2017 and 2018 to name some.

Being awarded by credible organizations is a testament of the quality of the public service rendered by the City Government. It really helps not only the city officials but also helps build up the local economy (making it more attractive to investors) and honoring the people of Muntinlupa in return.

Here in the Philippines, national and local elections are held every three years. The democratic exercise has long been a part of Philippine culture. If the incumbents do well with governance, local naturally will prefer to retain them so that the good governance will continue. In situations like these, it is truly difficult for any challenger to overcome the incumbents. Any new challenger can come into arena promising reform but that alone is not good enough to convince people to vote for them. It’s a fact.

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. Also my fantasy book The World of Havenor is still available in paperback and e-book format. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me as well. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me at HavenorFantasy@twitter.com

My Observations: Sigekiya Ramen’s Chicken Teriyakidon Set

My Observations: Sigekiya Ramen’s Chicken Teriyakidon Set

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A few months ago, I had lunch at Sigekiya Ramen inside Commercenter, Filinvest City, Alabang. Many times have I been consuming Tsukemen or ramen at that restaurant which has been operating since April 2016. The notable thing about Sigekiya Ramen is that they maintain a high level of quality on their food (which explains why they use many imported ingredients) which, in my opinion, justify the prices.

After some thinking during my visit, I decided to try, for the first time ever, one of their rice meals and I ordered their Chicken Teriyakidon Set.

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The Chicken Teriyakidon Set.

It did not take too long for them to serve me the meal which came with a bowl of rice topped with chicken laced with teriyaki sauce and some sesame seeds, a cup of miso soup and a small serving of salad.

Slowly I took a sip first of the miso soup which tasted good. Then I examined the chicken on the rice bowl which turned out to be boneless. In terms of serving, the amount of chicken was generous.

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A close look.

 

Using chopsticks, I went for a portion of both chicken and rice. The result? A delightful taste! I can say that the chicken and rice were both well cooked and the teriyaki sauce prepared was pretty flavorful. Slowly, I kept consuming more of the rice and chicken, alternating with the soup and the salad.

To put things in perspective, teriyaki refers to a Japanese dish consisting of fish or meat marinated in soy sauce and grilled.

Overall, Sigekiya Ramen’s Chicken Teriyakidon Set was a nice hit and I can say that I got my money’s worth.

Thank you for reading. If you find this lifestyle article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. Also my fantasy book The World of Havenor is still available in paperback and e-book format. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me as well. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me at HavenorFantasy@twitter.com