Pampering in the Philippines

I have recently returned home from a day of Manila pampering(an early birthday gift from Ian)

Started out with a hair cut from Fix Salon on commonwealth Av. It is a mid level hair salon chain. They say that they do nails and other such things, but I would recommend you stick just to hair cuts. It takes about and hour, you get a nice hair wash and blow-dry as well as the haircut. They did a great job and the hair cut is under P200( $4 USD)

Fix Salon is inside a small commercial center and just one space over is a nice nail salon where I got a mani-pedi package for p300. They women do a nice job, the paint is of average quality and the space is set up a bit awkwardly, but comfortable. 

Next I went to Dr.Estebans Cosmetic Surgery & Dermatology Clinic. I had a personal consultation with the Dr, and an amazing facial. The facial come with a short neck and shoulder massage with the whole process lasting around an hour. It costs p550 and comes with a free bar of soap! You can e-mail them at estabanjoseph@yahoo.com

I than literally walked next door to Lay Bare Waxing Studio. They have waxing package deals starting around p700, you can also have individual waxing done. Lay Bare offers a customer loyalty card and for ever four visits you get a p100 discount.  Lay Bare is another mid level chain. The one near Shopwise on Commonwealth is in need of an interior paint job, that aside, the women were very professional and did a good job (not 100%). During the waxing they have the AC on at a really nice temperature, and each space has a TV on the wall so you can watch a music video and be a bit distracted ;)

I am now home feeling very pampered and just pleased with my whole experience.  All in all it cost around p2500 or $50USD and consumed about 5 hrs of my day, really a great time!

Cerealicious Katipunan development

Since my last post about Cerealicious on Katipunan, I have been heading over there ever few days for another amazing cereal creation. This morning I was on my way out and was in a bit of a hurry but knew that I wanted to have a great start to my day with a cerealicious breakfast. The sign says they are open at 9am, the sign lies! I was so disappointed when I went over there at 9:10am to see it closed, when I asked the girl working she informed me that they did not open till 10am! I would suggest that you ovoid making any plans to go to ceralicious since the hours change, however if you do pass by and they are open enjoy (because it is still yummy), the last hour they are open they will make you feel super uncomfortable, as if they wish you would just hurry up and go home, so if its after 8pm just take your amazing treat to go.

Since the above post was published in december, the cerealicious location has posted new hours in what I hope is in response to my previous entry. I went over today to have the creation of the month a play off of the movie Pocahontas. It was very satisfying. Ian ordered a garlicky chicken sandwich that was without question good, but not amazing. 

MRT Improvments

Dear MRT,

I want to thank you and let you know that I appreciate your exorbitantly low price. As well as your existence in Manila. I enjoy how quickly you transport me from point A to point B all encompassed in a smooth and ACed car.

As women in relationship I believe so many things about you are perfect, but first I need to improve you;

• Please don't have your pre-pay cards expire, its petty and stupid
• Please install metal detectors and do away with counter preforming security guards
• Please increase your price so you will have extra money to spend on my comforts by having your escalators repaired
• Please add an extra train that runs after 10pm, your very last train is always so full and sometimes I want to come home after 10pm, even just 11pm please?
• Please create a formula to decrease the number of people per train so I don't worry about you de-railing during peak times
• And lastly please finish your line, so your connected both at Taft and Monumento, ending at North Ave is annoying

Thank you and love!
Laura

Pizza in Manila

Ian and I love pizza and have been trying pizza through Manila. Here is our evaluation thus far...

Yellow Cab : A Filipino chain that makes a good pizza. It is not Italian however it tastes like a standard American pizza, if there is such thing. They have sit down and deliver options at most locations. The pizza price is around 500 a pizza, and soda is only sold by the can. If you sit down, your pizza will be out reasonably fast and while you wait they have magazines and newspapers to read. If you have delivery, they do sometimes get backed up and it might take a while.

Greenwich : Just crap. The toppings taste strange and un-fresh, the sauce is extra sweet, the cheeses tasted like plastic. The prices are fairly low, 300, and they have fountain soda and juice. The restaurant is very fast food feeling. Also provide delivery as well as sit down

Shakeys : A Filipino chain that is a nice pizza restaurant. The sit down area is very family restaurant feeling. The pizza is a thin crust that costs about the same as Yellow Cab around 500 a pizza. They also offer delivery. Soda is sold by the glass or pitcher, also serving fruit juice and coffee. They make a good root beer float and have a yummy looking sandwich. Good fried chicken too. Service leaves something to be desired.

Pizza Hut : Not as awesome as the US, however they offer a much more classy sit down atmosphere than in the US. The pizza is a bit expensive 600, the taste is the same as in the US. They have fruit drinks, coffee and soda.

Cibo's : Just awesome. Filipino chain started by a Filipina woman who studied in Italy. The pizza serves two people, costs around 400 and is made with just amazing fresh ingredients. Huge beverage selections and a delicious looking non pizza menu. The restaurant itself has the feeling of a nice lunch cafe. They also have great service and are open on Christmas!

Organics helping Pacific agriculture

I have often expressed that the world needs more good news. Today while doing some research for my potential thesis, I came across the article below and it made me so pleased, I felt it only right to share it!

 

Organics: the key to helping Pacific agriculture conquer new markets

In the Pacific Islands, farmers have traditionally used organic farming methods, but because their produce was not officially certified, they were unable to enter the US$18 billion global market. Now, with the help of new regional organic standards, a growing number of island farmers are getting a good price for their produce in international markets, improving life for themselves and their families.
The 22 countries and territories of the Pacific Islands region include a mix of continental and volcanic islands, and low and raised coral atolls. They are island nations with small populations – totalling 9.5 million – scattered across an ocean area of approximately 30 million square kilometres. Less than 2 per cent of this area is land.
While outsiders may view the region as a palm-fringed paradise, life for the islanders can be difficult. The local economies are uncertain and slow-growing; domestic markets are small and poorly integrated.
But island farmers have a potentially lucrative asset: because of their widespread use of traditional farming methods, without the application of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides, they have been using organic farming methods for centuries.
In recognition of the potential benefits of linking farmers to organic markets, a Regional Organic Task Force (ROTF) was set up in 2007 to develop and implement a new organic standard for the region. The task force is a public/private partnership that includes experienced organic practitioners, farmers, processors, exporters, organic inspectors, researchers and staff members of agriculture ministries and NGOs. The programme led to the establishment of the third-ever worldwide organic standard in 2008. There have already been significant changes at the policy level, as government attitudes towards sustainable farming have changed. This should lead to benefits for local economies, food security and diet.
Farmers making a profit
Mano Lami’s coconut farm shows what has been achieved.

Organic certification provides market opportunities for Pacific island farmers and their families

“Before we joined the organics programme we earned nothing,” says Lami. But when her farm became fully certified as organic, the growth in her family’s prosperity and standing in the community was remarkable. “When our farm was fully certified as organic and the prices [we could charge] increased, we noticed a huge difference,” she says. “We used the income to extend our house and can now afford to pay our electricity bills as well as make church donations. We used to rely on remittances from my children and relatives overseas, but now we don’t.”



Overcoming obstacles
Farming in the Pacific Islands is predominantly small scale, low in productivity and based mainly on family labour, with limited use of modern technology. Would-be organic producers face a variety of obstacles, including the high cost of certifying, auditing and compliance needed to meet international organic standards.
To overcome these obstacles, IFAD funded two projects, one to help establish organic standards for the region, and another to build the capacity of farmers to meet organic – and subsequently fair-trade – standards. The first project set out to develop regional standards through a locally owned process, and to negotiate acceptance of them with certifying bodies in other regions. The intent was to create a regional strategy and national plans to build a strong foundation for sustainable organic agriculture in the region.
Ten Pacific Island countries – working with the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM), the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Women in Business Development Inc (WIBDI), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Governments of Australia and New Zealand  – formed a Regional Organic Task Force to create the organic standard. The task force is backed by the recently-created Pacific High Level Organics Group, which draws on work being done by the projects to advocate and raise awareness for organic development at regional and national levels. The Organic Group was chaired by the Prime Minister of Samoa, with other members including the Presidents of both Kiribati and Niue and the Prime Minister of Vanuatu.
The task force has evolved into the Pacific Organic and Ethical Trade Community (POETCom), reflecting the fair or ethical trade values incorporated in its work. Progress has been swift and the first Pacific Organic Standard was endorsed by Pacific leaders in September 2008.
Raising sails to conquer the Pacific
According to Ron Hartman, IFAD’s country programme manager for the Pacific Islands, organic products can help farmers overcome isolation from international markets.
“Thanks to the growing international demand for organic and fair-trade products, there is an opportunity for small farmers in the Pacific Islands to benefit from this expanding market,” he says. “But there are strict international requirements for organics, so products must first be certified to ensure that they can be exported to overseas markets and farmers can benefit from price premiums.”
Aleki Sisifa, Director of the Land Resources Division at the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), says the region is in dire need of this kind of support. “The Pacific is facing the effects of climate change, degradation of ecosystems and the need to generate livelihoods to maintain islands’ populations,” he said.
According to Sisifa, the Pacific Organic Standard “aims to provide a vehicle for organic production, as a sector, to raise its sails and conquer the Pacific.”
Samoan coconut oil for the Body Shop
The Cook Islands, Fiji, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Tahiti and Vanuatu all have organically certified land now. Organically certified crops and products currently being exported from the Pacific include beef, coffee, cocoa, coconut (as virgin coconut oil), vanilla and other spices, nonu (local spelling for the noni fruit) and both fresh and dried ‘lady’s finger’ bananas).

Organic and fair-trade products improve income opportunities for local communities

As some Samoan coconut farmers have discovered, there is considerable international demand for organic products from the Pacific. In 1991, WIBDI was established to support income generation in rural communities in Samoa. It has helped Samoan farmers reach organic certification standards and has developed a market link with the Body Shop in the United Kingdom to supply organic virgin coconut oil from smallholder Samoan farmers.

The financial benefits for local families are considerable. More children are attending school and families are able to expand their businesses. But there are other advantages to organic agriculture.
“Organics is more about a way of life than about certification and export,” says Adi Maimalaga Tafuna’I, Director of Samoa’s WIBDI. “It is about health, ecology, fairness and care. We want more than just sound technical regional standards. We want to incorporate a Pacific feel that acknowledges our past as organic farmers and the changes that have happened. We need to acknowledge our smallness in marketing terms and also recognize our culture and develop a brand that acknowledges that – as a holistic organic system.”

Source: IFAD

http://www.ruralpovertyportal.org/web/guest/region/voice/tags/oceania/organics_pacific

Cerealicious Katipunan

Cearealicious Menu

AMAZING Breakfast!

Enjoyed a short walk over to Katipunan Avenue this morning and found another amazing food spot in Quezon City.

Cerealicious on Katipunan

Let me introduce you to Cerealicious, claimed to be the first and only cereal cafe! This fun colored, fun ingredient breakfast place has won my heart. All of the combination's are creatively mixed with movie themes, This morning I ate The K After Tomorrow, and Ian had Harry Butter, Finger of Azkaban.

The combination's come in two sizes the smaller for p50 and the larger for p100. You will be satisfied after a small size, but your gluten will make you wish you had the large size =)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cerealicious Choices

The cold creamy base for these cereal creations is not too sweet or too tart, but really just perfect, good with the ultra sweets such as chocolates and marshmallow, but also amazing with granola's and fruits!

Here is the web site: http://www.cerealicious-ph.com/menu.htm

Teriyaki Boy Katipunan

I have a new restaurant find, and I realize that this blog is quickly becoming a food evaluation however I am ok with that. I think a HUGE part of being a student is eating, an equally as huge part of traveling is eating, thus the transformation.

Yesterday Ian and I ate at a wonderful restaurant. Teriyaki Boy. Its a fairly large chain in Manila, serving Japanese based fare.

You would guess that it is nothing special due to its strange color and lighting choices. Bright lights, with black and yellow striped decor. However a more fitting atmosphere would be something more sophisticated reflecting the truly delicious and well presented Japaneses dishes.

The prices are average for a sit down Japanese restaurant in Manila.
A California roll was around p150
All you can drink soda p100
Vegetable Crab Tempura p100

On our first visit  to the Katipunan location we had some of the best wait staff service since our arrival in the Philippines,on our second visit we were sat quickly and than ignored for 20 min, we ended up just leaving because the wait staff was ignoring us

Here is a the official link if your wanting to find a location: http://www.teriyakiboy.com.ph/tb/