Cheapipay

I was out and about doing errands yesterday for this party I'm organizing, when I realized, ang dami palang mapupuntahan dito at mabibilhan ng stuff, I just didn't know where to look when I first came here.


My first stop was at CO-EN, more popularly known as NOVO. It's a huge shop located at the ground floor of Columban Plaza in Lingayen with tons of stuff from kitchenware, electrical thingies, baby stuff, school stuff, storage solutions, beauty products, clothes and a whole lot more, all at very affordable prices. Prices range from Php 3-Php 500! I don't think I've seen anything there that's worth more than 500 bucks. It's worth a look-see if you plan to buy anything from the mall as they offer practically everything.

Talk about cheap! A Cake Decorator retails for only Php 30 at NOVO! Notice the spelling? LOL

Next stop was at the 100 Peso Store, it's near Jollibee Lingayen. It's a 2-storey boutique and, like NOVO, they sell almost everything but mainly focuses on apparel and shoes. You can buy really cute lingerie there for as low as 30 bucks. They also have perfumes and makeup. Most of their items don't really retail at 100 pesos, more like 130 or something, but they're still a steal. They've got a really nice selection this summer so you might want to check that out.


Another stop I made was at the J&C Lucky 99 Store. Like NOVO and 100 Peso Store, dito mura rin talaga. I even bought these cute summery boardshorts for my toddler for only Php 25 each!

Shorts are available in a rainbow of colors. =)

Last stop I made before heading home (Napaka-init naman kasi sa labas di ba? Nagpapaka-Dora the Explorer na naman kasi ako, tanghaling tapat, haha) was this ukay place I've been frequenting lately. I don't know the name but it's located at the back, back, back of Chowking Lingayen, there's gotta be a drugstore first, then BHF, then you'll see a decrepit building. The ukay is at the ground floor of that building. It's fairly easy to spot since they peddle their stuff way out in front of their shop. What's really nice about them is they sell branded stuff from places all over the world, I guess. I was able to buy a Belo summer bag from them a few months back, and it's in perfectly good condition. Yesterday when I went there, I spotted this nice pair of grey denim shorts from WAREHOUSE. It's a brand from the UK. Check their online shop here:  http://www.warehouse.co.uk/ and it's in good condition. It's really soft, all the buttons are still intact, the zipper's working well, and it's just Php 60! Ang saya 'no?!

I'm not really a fan of ukay-ukay (Segunda Mano anyone?! LOL), but when I discovered the Saturday ukay here in Lingayen, I got hooked. I've "unearthed" clothes from GAP, Carter's, H&M and lots more during my weekly rummage there. And it's really fun when you get to see branded stuff like that. I mean hey, it only takes a day in the washer to get the dirt off those clothes, come on. And sabi nga nila, nasa taong nagdadala yan, wala sa presyo ng damit. You can  buy a 1k peso blouse pero kung di mo carry, waley pa rin, hahaha!

A Chef Abroad... In Pangasinan

As part of my immersion in the Pangasinense culture, I found it fitting to attend seminars and demos around the area. I feel like I should go and take a look at what people actually spend their time on, what their interests are.


So imagine my delight when I was invited to see a cooking demo so I can blog about it. =)

The cooking demo hosted by the capitol government was graced by an international executive chef, Brian Meehan. Chef Brian is Irish but was born in the UK. He told us he studied art, and paints and sculpts in his free time, but was drawn towards becoming a chef mainly because food was his real passion. So he traveled around and worked in hotels in the UK, France, then Bangkok, until finally landing here in the Philippines. For good, we hope.


Most of the audience were HRM students and Pangasinan resorts and hotel owners and their staff.


More than a cooking demo, Chef Brian discussed stuff like careers in the culinary and hospitality industry, what to do and where to go, what your plans and focus should be. If I were an HRM student, I would really take notes as Chef Brian gave such amazing advice.


Then came the demo itself. Chef Brian whipped up a mean Fish and Chips, then fried up a chicken dish as well(I forgot the name, I'm sorry!!!).

Everything was so yummy and tastefully done, we all felt like we were in a real, live cooking show! Helloooo AFC! Haha.


What I loved most was that the dishes were done in less than 15 minutes, which means anyone who doesn't have time to cook or super hungry can whip this up in a jiffy. You know how everything's instant nowadays? This one's close to being instant, though.

So kudos to Chef Brian for an awesome afternoon! I'm sure everyone learned a lot. =)


  

Bagong Tambayan: Robinson's Place Pangasinan

I've been thinking about going to the opening of Robinson's Place Pangasinan in Calasiao for about two weeks now when a great opportunity presented itself in the form of Siapno-Tada Optical. As part of the Asinan Bloggers of Pangasinan, we were requested to blog about their grand opening (and I already have, check it out). Of course I willingly went to their opening if it meant also being able to blog about the new mall's opening. Talk about hitting two birds with one stone, lucky me.  

photo courtesy of the What's Up Dagupan website

I roamed the mall for a while, looking for the usual mall brand staples-National Bookstore, Bench, Toys R Us, the department and appliance store and the supermarket. They were some of the few stalls that were open then since it was only supposed to be a soft opening. Most of the other shops were still boarded up and will probably open on or before the grand opening slated on May.

WHAT I LOVE:


First and foremost, I highly commend Robinson's for coming up with really modern architecture- everything looked so fresh and modern, especially the domed atrium. I really love how their hallways are huge! If you were there, people were just swarming about like ants but that didn't seem to bother anybody because the space was just wide, man!


Kudos to Robinson's for that. Shopping will never be the same in Pangasinan, thanks to your spacious halls. =)


What's really nice was I got to see some new brands like Kenko, a shop selling home and wellness products. They also have a CD-R King branch and it was huge! I'm sure most techies would love to drop by sometime. National Bookstore also had a wide, airy space and we got to browse through a large selection of books and whatnots.

uber cute tweezers, nail files all at very affordable prices

massage chairs and other wellness products at Kenko

huge CD-R King branch

I really loved Robinson's Department Store's variety of shoes and clothing, especially when I saw that most prices range from Php 300-800 pesos. And they were really nice! I told myself I'd come back to buy me and my boys a pair of shoes each because they offer really cute and affordable shoes. No girl can ever resist shoes. Ever.


Their department store also carries makeup brands like REVLON, Maybelline, Ever Bilena and Careline. Good to know they have variety. I tried Revlon's Grow Luscious mascara and it was truly divine! Talk about having practically weightless mascara no matter how much you put on! More on makeup next time. =P 

customers checking out makeup products at the department store

I also appreciated the fact that the mall has a BOOKSALE shop! I love their wide selection of books and magazines and absolutely like how they're dirt cheap. I recommend this shop to every bookworm out there. =)


They also have a 3D cinema, so that's good news for avid Pangasinan moviegoers out there. I'm not much of a fan of 3D though, it makes my head spin, but most people like it, so there, Pangasinan's 2nd ever cinema with 3D at Robinson's Place Pangasinan. =) And if you're thinking where to buy grub before watching a flick, head on to Tater's by the cinema entrance, they offer lots of yummy movie snacks.

WHAT I HATE:


What bugged me was the lack of food stalls and restaurants at their opening. I mean, grabe gutom ko just walking around ha! Did you know you can burn tons of calories while walking inside a mall? I saw ChicBoy and Gerry's Grill but they weren't open yet. The foodcourt was quite empty of food concessionaires, except for an Ilonggo food stall/ Good thing there were various food novelties scattered on kiosks around the mall like Jelly n Juice, Master Siomai, Fruitas, and Buko Republic among others.

a view of the foodcourt

I think people would also appreciate the mall better if there were benches along the mall corridors, walking around and shopping can be tiring, you know. I remember going to Trinoma and SM North and they had these nice benches and couches scattered along their halls.


BOTTOMLINE:


I'm sure once the mall opens on May there'll be more to discover, so I'm holding on to this bit first.  


HOW TO GO THERE:


From Dagupan's Perez Blvd., hail a jeep en route to Sta. Barbara. It should drop you directly in front of the new mall. If you have a car, you can take the De Venecia Road (the one with the famous Jech's and Panaderia Antonio), drive straight through the Calasiao intersection and you should see Robinson's Place at your right. 


Hope this helped. =)

Siapno-Tada Optical GRAND Opening in Robinson's Calasiao

And when I say grand, I really meant that.


Tons of people swarmed Siapno-Tada's storefront yesterday as they held their grand opening at the ground floor of Robinson's Place Calasiao (will definitely blog about the mall's soft opening later, watch out for that).


And why wouldn't they? A rotating sunglasses display case filled with an assortment of chic glasses ranging from wayfarers and aviators to oversized shades were being sold for just Php 45! And if you buy a pair, you can have your photo taken at their photo booth located just beside the shop's entrance FOR FREE! Knowing Filipinos and their love for anything that flashes, the photo booth and the sunglasses were surely a hit. Yours truly actually bought a pair for myself and my hubby, haha.

Besides the sunglasses, Siapno-Tada also offers a wide range of designer prescription eyewear, together with branded contact lenses in very affordable rates. Their brands vary from D&G, Rudy Project, Guess, and Freshlook among others. Such is their variety it seems Siapno-Tada Optical is bent on targeting not just the high-end market but also people on a budget. 

inside Siapno-Tada Optical's shop 

For their grand opening, Siapno-Tada Optical also welcomed guests and clients with a superbly sumptuous buffet. Below are photos of the buffet setup and my merienda plate, haha : 

Add caption

Sorry, I ate some of it already, haha

Enough with the food, this is making me hungry again, haha.

Aside from retailing quality eyewear, Siapno-Tada Optical also offers eye care services using the most technologically-advanced equipment. They actually have free eye checkups for their customers as part of their grand opening so if you think there's something wrong with your vision, feel free to drop by any Siapno-Tada Optical branch.

And FYI, their Robinson's Place Calasiao branch is their 15th to date, and from the looks of things, Siapno-Tada Optical is not looking to stop branching out anytime soon.

HOW TO GO TO SIAPNO-TADA OPTICAL:

Commute: From Dagupan, ride a jeep going to Sta. Barbara, it should take you directly in front of the mall. Once inside, turn right at National Bookstore, walk down that hallway and you should see Siapno-Tada Optical on your left, right below the escalator.

Capitol Cafe: Comfy Meets Delicious

So I was out yesterday with the gang of Asinan bloggers and we were instructed to have the weekly meeting at the Capitol Cafe. Now I've been roaming the beach since last year with my beach bum of a toddler, and this is the first time I've heard of a coffee shop there, much to my surprise. LOL


It's not really your typical coffee shop, though. It's more like a big beach hut with quaint chairs and tables and a really homey ambiance. They have cute pink and white curtains adorning the walls and windows, and it was really airy inside, you wouldn't have a need for aircons. The only downside to the coziness was the loud videoke set up near the end of the cafe. That was really a bummer since we couldn't hear much of what the other bloggers were saying.


Too bad I wasn't able to take pictures, so you'd get to see the cafe's comfy ambiance here. Next time. =)


We got ourselves seated in a long table, since there were about 18 of us then, and we were served a simple merienda of pansit and lumpiang shanghai. That pansit was the bomb! I really like it, especially because it's not greasy at all and it had tons of veggies on it. I really, really enjoyed the food. 


Nakakainggit lang when we saw this group having a whole lechon on their table, hahaha!


I would recommend you go check out this place because of the great food and the ambiance, above all else. Also, if you're a beer drinker and love to sing while drinking, this place can be the best place to hang out with your friends and family. 

Covelandia du Labrador

Looking for a beach vacation but don't know where to go? Or on a tight budget? Think no more, Covelandia du Labrador offers you a cozy and enjoyable beach outing for less than ten grand! =)

We frequent Covelandia because of its proximity, but other than that, I would still recommend this resort for beach-goers from Bulacan and Manila (where I'm initially from) because it's cheaper than any other resorts out here yet they offer the same quality and same beach experience. 

They have hotel rooms and suites, townhouse-looking suites just across the pool area that can easily accommodate 4-10 pax in one suite, and most of their units even have kitchens! 

HOW TO GO THERE:

If you're coming from Manila, ride on a Victory Liner bus going to Alaminos, the bus will pass by the resort mismo so you'll just have to ask the conductor to drop you off at Covelandia. If you have a car naman, take NLEX to Dau, then take the SCTEX, follow the routes to Alaminos and you should drive by it.

 

WHAT I LOVE:

What I really like about their suites is that most of them have terraces that face the pool area, so I can conveniently sit there and watch my boys swim. 

They have grills if you're into barbecues, free to use of course, and beach huts facing the sea can also be rented for the day. They also have a restaurant and bar located at the ground floor of the hotel. You can actually have your meals ordered by phone and then they'll deliver it to your suite. Neat, huh?

WHAT I HATE:

I really don't like the beds that much, they're kinda creaky. Isang galaw lang, maingay na. Pano pag honeymoon n'yo? LOL =P

And then the hot and cold showers also don't work well (I don't know if it's the same with the other rooms though, I hope not). They have 4 dials for it, pero pag ginamit mo doon sa first dial which is supposed to just make the water a teeny bit warm, super init yung lalabas. If you try to spin the dial hanggang sa 4th, ganun pa rin yung temperature ng water. Weird di ba? But it was okay pa rin, considering na we came from the pool and it was really windy outside so giniginaw kami talaga, haha. 

BOTTOMLINE:

If you want to go on a beach vacay and you're on a budget, go to Covelandia. Here's the link to their website so you can see the rates and more photos of the resort. 

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Covelandia-Du-Labrador-Family-Beach-Resort/261162153905845

  

My Very Bus-y Experience

I just blogged about being back in Pangasinan and I thought of blogging about my commute from Cubao to Socony on the Victory Liner, one of North Luzon's fastest-growing bus companies.

It was uneventful, to say the least.

Except for Matteo (my 2 year old toddler) who kept on jumping, squirming, sliding and standing on the seat, the bus ride was ho-hum.

What I did notice though, were the new BENQ LCD screens installed right in front of the passenger seats there. They were, in my calculations, about 19 inches, so you can see the images clearly even if you were way down the back. It was okay for movie-watching, until the advertisements came out every 15 minutes or so and virtually smashed my mood for watching.

The wi-fi was okay, as hubby was on the internet on his Iphone most of the time. My freakin' Nokia C3 took a longer time to connect to the wi-fi and poor me didn't really have the patience to wait for it anyway. I just tried to concentrate on Matteo's acrobatics.

Now, the thing that really bugged me the entire trip were the slippery seats and the aircon. My butt kept on slipping on the plastic-covered seat, it was hard to stay on it especially whenever manong driver hits on the brakes! Ay, katawan! The aircon also did little to disperse the afternoon heat. I took a bath as soon as I got home and even gave Matteo one since he looks and feels sticky as well.

All in all, I think I would still ride on Victory Liner's buses given that I have no choice anyway and I think they have the safest and most professional drivers around. I just hope I get to ride on the plushly-upholstered bus seats next time.

I Shall Return

So I'm back from Bulacan and I just can't wait to blog again.=)


With the upcoming grand opening of Robinson's Calasiao next week (Yey! A new mall in Pangasinan!), I can't help but think about applying for a job there.  I was thinking it would help augment the family income a bit since hubby's digital photography services is doing okay, but not as much as we initially expected.


What do you think? Should I, or should I not? 


And oh, I will blog about that new mall once it opens. Watch out for that. Ciao!

Bored in Bulacan

You might think, "Bakit sya bored doon e di ba taga-Bulacan naman sya talaga?!". 


Yeah, true. Yet Bulacan can't hold me enthralled anymore with its big malls and establishments.


I'm actually missing the beach now, and thinking about how I would go and play there with my toddler tomorrow pagbalik namin sa Lingayen. 


Ironic. Three years ago I felt the opposite, haha.  

Palarong Pambansa 2012 seen to boost Pangasinan's socio-economic status

Lingayen, Pangasinan- Businesses in Lingayen and its neighboring towns will definitely pick up once the Palarong Pambansa 2012 goes underway on May 6-12, 2012.

Flanked by the Pangasinan National High School, Pangasinan School of Arts and Trades and numerous establishments, the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center (NRSCC) will be the venue for most of the events of the annual youth sports meet.

This fact brings much excitement to various business owners who hold shop near the Palaro venues. Entrepreneur Jeff Vila, a resident and shop owner at Artacho St., Lingayen, sums it all up in his statement, "Lalakas ang benta namin pati lahat ng mga tindahan dito, kasi dadami ang tao e."

Palarong Pambansa 2012 will not only boost Pangasinan's economy, it will also lift the Pangasinense's self-esteem as they take pride in the grandeur of the newly-renovated sports facilitiesthat the provincial capitol and its people have worked on for the games.

A Fight For Life

I find myself thinking about what it means to fight for something. I kept digging deep into the recesses of my mind and soul until finally, I found "something".

You see, I came from a family of big people with equally huge appetites. Suffice it to say, most of us are obese, have high blood pressure, and most of the ailments that people with heavy weights normally have to contend with.

So let me introduce you to Daddy Boy, as we so fondly call my uncle. At 48 years old, he weighs in at 250 kilos and has 43 inches for a waistline. And that was before disease struck him.

Diabetes is like a silent thief, robbing you of important elements in your body, until it completely devours you.

And devour, diabetes did. My uncle came back to the Philippines a ravaged man, almost unrecognizable. He was full of scars and open wounds, his hair and stubble unkempt, his fingernails a half inch long. It was truly devastating to just look at him. Miraculously, he managed to make a recovery.

I couldn't help but ask him then, "How did you overcome all this?" And he smiled at me and told me this: "When I think about all the aches and pains, I really want to die. But when I think about my family, I can't help but feel that there is still hope for me. And then, I fight."

So when I find myself thinking about what it means to fight for something, I think about my family, and how life would me blissfully sweeter with them.

Background Check

I really wanted to blog but I didn't know how so I just did some write-ups and reviews about makeup earlier this year using my facebook page, Fab Makeup by Joanne. It was great since facebook is very user friendly, and I check my facebook account a couple times a day naman, so no hassle or anything.

Then a friend of mine sent me this link for an all-expense paid training for people who want to learn how to blog, and needless to say, I jumped on the opportunity to get a slot. I mean, it's free, it's practically a few blocks away from home, and it's what I've really been wanting to do anyway, so why not, right?

So off I went and applied, and thankfully, got in without much fuss. Training started yesterday and everything's been a blast. I've been re-learning some stuff on writing from my college days (I'm a Mass Comm degree holder, BTW, not that it's much), and I'm learning new things especially about blogging and domains, and other tech stuff, although I can't really say I understood everything right away since I'm no techie.

I started this blog mainly because I got inspired to write about the things you can see in Pangasinan, particularly in Lingayen where I live with my husband and 2 year old toddler.

Admittedly, when I first got here, my initial reaction was, WTF??? Am I still in the freakin' Philippines?? I felt so out of my element, so out of place, so out there. I didn't have any friends, I was jobless, and what's worse is, I didn't know the dialect! Feeling ko minumura ako ng mga tao!

It was crazy as hell, and I wasn't coping and adjusting well. I think I only got to manage my homesickness when I finally gave birth to my son, Matteo. LOL

I thought of things I can do while in Pangasinan, the skills I have that I can turn into something, and finally came up with event coordination and makeup.

And then I also started to write makeup reviews on facebook to help pass the time, since it's really one subject I can talk about at length.

Now I can understand the dialect a bit better, I now know that people are not cursing me unless they say 'baoninam' or 'baoninato' (I'm not sure I spelled them right though, LOL), I'm actually enjoying Lingayen now that I have a friend (it's just Matteo BTW) and we take long, leisurely walks on the beach and around the plaza and capitol complex.

Suffice it to say, I think I'm happier now.

And it's actually a nice feeling to have. =)

Sison Auditorium: A Million Helping Hands Make One Stunning Beauty

facade of the Sison Auditorium

numerous seats line the balcony

a view from the top

The grand chandelier at the middle of the auditorium. It especially looks really gorgeous when lit. 

"Our destiny as a province and our future as a people depend not upon one single person, much less the governor, even with all the powers in his hands." So goes Governor Amado T. Espino's speech during his 007 oath-taking, giving emphasis on the province's need for its people to act with the current government.

Oner very good example for the governor's quote is the Sison Auditorium's security personnel who have given yours truly an in-depth record of Pangasinan's numerous awards and achievements. It's amazing to know how much one can learn from these humble security guards. It's sad though, that I wasn't given enough time to ask their names.

Built in 1927, the Sison Auditorium has been home to Pangasinan National High School as their main auditorium. Now fully rejuvenated under Governor Espino's reign, it serves as the cultural center of the province, showcasing Pangasinan's rich history, culture, and arts.

As one wanders around the auditorium, be prepared to be amazed by a spectacle of lights from the auditorium's numerous grand chandeliers. The dome can be very overwhelming as one absorbs not only the high ceilings but the intricately-carved wood paneling as well.

True to the words of our governor, our province's destiny lies not just in his hands, but in the hands of everybody who has helped make our province's vision into reality.
Just take a look around the capitol complex and experience not only a blast from the past with its neo-classical architecture, but get to see the outcome from the helping hands of everyone who made all this beauty possible.