Gear up at Foton’s Big Show 2013′s Grand Launch

Car is definitely a need nowadays. It caters on the comfort of going places without the hassle and bustle of commuting. I knew there are tons of reason why we swap our car to a different car. This are the reason why I had been rooting in buying a car. I haven't made any move yet because I haven't seen a car company who can provide me with everything that  I am looking for in a car. In my list aside from comfort, I wanted a car that is reliable and durable and of course budget friendly. Man! Who doesn't want those features.

Seat belt reminder, adjustable lumbar support, adjustable headrest for driver's seat, leather seats, 3 point seat belts child safety lock, dual airbags, adjustable intensity of meter guage back light, automatic dimming rear view mirror, reverse sensor, remote control power windows, AM/FM Radio + CD player + Audio Input (AUX + USB), interior lights OFF delay and one touch-Electric Windows Control for driver. Here's the catch, its not the usual brand of truck but rather it is a THUNDER FOTON CAR! These can make me swap or buy a FOTON CAR. Swap or buy yours too.

This FOTON TRUCK definitely rocks the world perfect for family getaways, for business and definitely for outreach program! This Thunder Foton Car is definitely a car worth investing for and this is the car I want for my outreach programs.

Swap your car or buy a Foton Car at Foton’s Big Show 2013′s Grand Launch. 

Get to know FOTON Car Register and Join Foton’s Big Show 2013′s Grand Launch at the World Trade Center on October 25 and witness the launching of the new FOTON View, the 1st dancing wheel loader in the Philippines. Get a chance to trade-in your old vehicles from October 26 to 27 avail of BIG DISCOUNTS and BIG REWARDS when purchasing FOTON vehicles at the event. Receive amazing giveaways just for coming and you get even more when you test drive our passenger vehicles or attend our forums and trainings. No entrance fee!

So Facebook friends, readers, tweetpeeps family and friends click here to register: 

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

SEE YOU THERE!!!
Like Foton's Facebook page: CLICK HERE

Alegre Special Bulalo at Mahogany Market in Tagaytay City

Its Tagaytay time again. Tagaytay is a haven for local tourist as it is a place to be for bulalo. It is a well known Filipino food and most desired by many because of its luscious aroma and steamingly comforting soup. I still am imagining the the good taste of bulalo up to this time... haha

Mahogany Market is just one of the so called Bulalo haven for most tourists and bulalo eaters. I myself find this indulgence a good reward after a months stressful activity at work. So when my brother came to fetch his wife at NAIA Airport I asked them to drop by my house so we could have a weekend bonding together as it may take few months to see them again. And so he drops by.

In the morning of September 29 2013, after a tiring Taal Lake horseback riding. We stopped by Mahogany Market as I heard from officemates that it is their place to be for bulalo. Of course I wanted to treat everyone with a luscious steamy bulalo and one of its kind fresh water fish called Tawilis.

I would say that you've never been to Tagaytay if you havent been to Mahogany Market to sip the wonders of Bulalo. Bulalo is definitely cook at its perfection.I don't know how to describe the sensual feeling every time I have a taste of a perfectly cooked bulalo. It is somehow similar when you eat the best food you've ever tasted.

Next time to visit Tagaytay, you gotta visit Alegre's Canteen at the Mahogany Market. Somehow I did love the way I was served there. The lady (sorry I forgot your name my bad) who served us knows how to host. I thought I was in a first class restaurant by that time. I felt very special while we are eating. She knows when she needs to talk, she knows when she needs to be quiet. She haven't stole our moments together with my siblings. I definitely recommend Alegre as a place to be when you are in Tagaytay Mahogany Market.

Bulalo would usually cost you approximately around Php 300 to Php 350 per serving and that will feed at least 4 people.

What about you guy? Have you ever been to Mahogany Market? What's your best restaurant be?

Oh by the way, Mahogany Market is located along the road going to Batangas. It is accessible through Jeepneys with route passing by NBI TAGAYTAY station. Just tell the jeepney driver to drop you off at Mahogany Market. Or if you are in a bus going to Tagaytay you can tell the conductor (the person who collects fare) to drop you by at Mahogany Market. Buses that will for sure pass by Mahogany Market are buses bound to Alfonso, Mendez, Cavite, Nasugbo, and Balayan Batangas.

If you are going to Tagaytay with your own car: From Tagaytay Rotonda or Junction, just drive straight to the road going to Batangas (ask someone from there to show you where you should take if you are not familiar). When you reache Petron Gasoline Station, take the road going right and look for the Hall of Justice building which is also located at the right side of the road. Mahogany Market is at the back of the building.

We ordered 1 serve of Special Bulalo (Chopped), 1 Serve of Fried Tawilis, 1 Serve of sizzling sisig, 1 1.5L of Coke Zero, 7 cups of rice and we only paid less than a thousand peso. Very good price with the quality of service we got and the quality of food we ate.

Exploring Taal Volcano and my not so good Experience

Taal Volcano is one of the most visited volcano here in the Philippines. So a dream come true for me to finally climb and explore Taal Volcano. To see, explore and experience is simply thrilling and somehow very exciting.

The experience for me is totally all new. Everyone is really excited on these new experience. It is everyone's first time to definitely visit these most talked about volcano in Batangas.

I admire the scenic spots in the Philippines and as much as my hearts desire I wanted to visit all of them. Of course one of the most accessible places is Batangas because its just a few hours away from Metro Manila.

How to go to Taal Lake?

The easiest route is going to Tagaytay. So from Metro Manila take a bus going to Tagaytay. Fare may cause you less than a hundred peso per person. Once you are in Tagaytay take a tricycle going to Taal Lake. You have to ask the tricycle driver first with how much their charge is or else you'd end up being shocked by their bill. They would also offer to wait for you until you arrived from the crater and then bring you back to Tagaytay. When we went their they charged us with Php 120 per person for a round trip (Tagaytay to Taal VV)

The tricycle driver will then bring you in a place for a boat ride going to Taal Volcano. They would normally charge you with Php 3000 for a round trip good for six person.

Then you would have to pay for Php 50 per person for an entrance fee and then you would have to choose if you would want to go to the crater by foot or by horseback riding. If you opted to walk and feel the beauty of Taal Volcano, you will only pay additional Php 500 for the tour guide. Or if you want another experience you might want to opt to horseback riding which would cost you Php 450 each person.

However, as first timer in visiting that place in general it was awesome. In our case, we end up paying more than the usual fee.

As a first timer, of course it is expected that you would go to a place using a public transportation because you dont know how to get to where you should go and of course it would add income to the community as well that you are visiting. So here's my story that I would like to share:

We got off the bus pretty excited when we reach Tagaytay. There were barkers as we call them since they are calling passengers to ride to their tricycle going to their destinations. So we asked the driver as to how much they charge per person going to Taal Lake. The tricycle clearly stated that its Php 20 per person. I myself would never ride until the driver gave me a figure on the fare. I am hesitant because I knew that Tagaytay to Taal is quite far. So I asked him again and he said its Php 20. So off we go to Taal Lake. We are happy and excited because all of us are first timers in visiting Taal Volcano.

The tricycle driver drove us down to Taal Lake. Fresh air, luscious rain forest, cool fresh air. I wanted to go down the tricycle and take some photos. But of course we are running out of time so I didnt. hehe. When we reached Taal Lake, the boat owner told us that it would cost us Php 3000 for a round trip from Taal Lake to the foot of Taal Volcano. Honestly, I thought it is really expensive because its will only take you 15 minute boat ride from the shore to the foot of the Taal Volcano.

When we reached the foot of the Taal Volcano, someone met us and asked for our names. It was a good thing at least they would have a record of tourist who is visiting the place. Then of course asked us to pay Php 1200 per person accordingly. We were quite for a moment because we have this instinct that it is too much for a horse and a guide that would cost us Php 4800 for 4 of us. So the man lowered it down to Php 3500. We still told them it is pretty expensive so he scratch his head and said we will meet half way at Php 3000 for the 4 of us. So we went up the crater with our horses. We had fun and we had moments of picture taking.

I have few TURN ON's in visiting TAAL VOLCANO:

1. The people there are of course helpful and jolly.
2. The scenes are of course majestic as ever.
3. The horseback riding experience is one of a kind.
4. The place is picture perfect a must see places in the Philippines.


The Taal Volcano Crater is an Awesome Experience however, I also have TURN OFF's

1. They force tourist to give a tip. (Giving Tip in the Philippines is not a culture. We give tip if we like to not because we have to give a tip.)
2. The tourism office don't manage the fees collection in general. I have visited few places in the Cordillera and everything there is centralized. You go to the municipal office and thats where you pay your dues or they have a uniform fees per destination. Ending we paid way too much for our TAAL VOLCANO Experience.
3. I conducted interview in Tagaytay and found out that the tricycles going to Taal Lake gets commission on the boat but we ended up paying the tricycle driver Php 120 per person as suppose to what we heard at first which is Php 20. So honesty is questioned. This happens when the Department of Tourism do not intervene or do not have an office for tourist to inquire. Department of Tourism should have at least have an office near Tagaytay for people to inquire about going to Taal Volcano.
4. There is no safety guidelines found anywhere in the TAAL VOLCANO Crater. There are no or should replace the weak fences as well in the view deck of the TAAL Crater. The safety guidelines and fences are needed to of course protect their visitors from untoward accidents.
5. There are no public comfort rooms. Yes the place is a volcano but that is also a tourist attraction so it might be a good idea to have a public comfort room to at least better manage sanitation.
6. The fees should be lowered as well to attract more local tourist. I am sure there are a lot of local tourist wanting to visit the place however no one is willing to pay more or less Php 10000 just to visit the crater of TAAL Volcano. We spent approximately around Php 10000 for the four of us including fare, food . boat ride and hinete (pony boys), horse ride when we visited the Taal Volcano and I think that is not a reasonable price. I would rather stay in Tagaytay have a horseback riding there and of course eat all we can there plus buy some souvenir to spend the whole Php 10000.

Here's our Awesome Taal Volcano Experience:

President Aquino Declares October 15 a Regular Holiday

Another holiday in the Philippines in observance of course of our Muslim brethren.

My Thoughts: "The Blame Games they have to Play?"

The pork barrel scam is in the big screen of every Filipino at this point in time. I hate to hear the fabulously crafted speeches of these senators and congressmen. It seems like, the moment they open their mouth, another lie is set to be uncovered and covered. I see the whole thing as: Guess that Name, Name Games, and of course there's always this BLAME GAMES.

I just dont get where these senators and congressmen their faces to brood on their chairs and a golden egg would hatch to a billion peso money in a span of their service. I was taught by my teachers way back then that being a politician is public service. I didn't agree nor disagree with them. It might be that it is in deed public service. However, to hear them talk today simply means otherwise.

I just wished that the Philippine Governent would focus more on farm to market road, health care like providing a free check up at Heart Center, Lung Center, government hospital, kidney center, education up to the tertiary level, and of course highways and roads. Instead of spending millions of pesos in flagpole, basketball court, and other soft projects.

Are these congressmen, senators, vice president, president, governors, and mayors project implementors? Are they suppose to be implementing projects? Are they not suppose to be creating laws for the common good of the Filipino public?

It is just so upsetting because I felt I am being robbed in my face. I worked hard and have sleepless nights just for me to have a milk and cheese in my table, a medicine for my weakening heart and of course to help with my siblings. Unfortunately, because of these tax I am forced to pay, I have to sacrifice some of these priorities. Then by the of the day you would hear a senator finger pointing and blaming games.

Every payday, its really difficult to see those deduction..... MOST SPECIALLY the INCOME TAX DEDUCTION. And when I go to the government hospitals, there are no room, no airconditioner, sometimes no doctors... We have abortion roads everywhere and if they do road repair it happens in a rainy season (WOW). The senators and congressmen should be a watchdog to their implementing agencies like Department of Agriculture, Education Public Works and Highways, etc.

I don't know... all i could do is rant for now.... because even during election these magical politicians do wonders and win! I remember during the election about a very popular joke which says: "Tuwid na daan o limang daan... Siyempre limang daan sa kumakalam na sikmura!" (Straight path or 500 pesos...Of course 500 pesos for an empty stomach!)

Look at what's happening now.... This is the wonder of that 500 pesos, a lousy and corrupt politicians brooding their golden egg hatching in a multi-million project scam. However these politicians may call it, they are still using the taxes grabbed from every Filipino. The government has savings but they disburse it and term it with whatever name they call it and fluff their you go its a multi million project. Bad news is, when the citizen goes to a public hospital, they dont get the service they need to get.

Hopefully this blame game ends and start focusing on healthcare and farm to market road improvement from Northern Luzon to Southern Mindanao. But please stop pocketing 70% of the budget.

(Please note that this is simply my personal thought and the way I see it. What about you? whats your thought about it?)

Devina DeDiva calls Filipinos Smelly and Uneducated after Meagan Young won Miss World 2013

The day after the new Miss World has been announced. Several reactions sprouted all across the globe many are happy but a few are disappointed. However, a comment from Devina Dediva angered the Filipino netizen.

I have much to say about Miss Devina who apparently hate the Filipino people and calls them uneducated, smelly maids.

Filipinos can go abroad and scrub toilets, take care of other children while leaving their child behind, wash clothes, do carpentry, works in a dirtiest places and most dangerous works anywhere in the world and take care of your oldies in the hope that they could send back home a penny for their child's education and a piece of cake and a glass of milk on their families table.

And I think people like Devina should be thankful because at least there are someone taking care of the things they should be doing for their own family. Can you imagine Devina if there are no one who could wash your dishes, do your nail and hair care, take care of your kids and cook for your food. Will you see us (Filipinos) differently?

I saw her post as well and took some screenshot in case she hides it.

So I did checked her profile and she claims from Manchester University. However the said University denies her being a student of Manchester University.

She then changed her facebook profile name after a few days.

I would like to challenge Devina to look around her, coffee shop, hospitals, home for the aged, government offices, banks, airports, ships, and houses, etc... I bet there will always be a Filipino working there. Filipino's work all across the globe again to have a piece of cheese and a bottle of milk on the table and of course for their child's education.

We work hard and we dont care if by the end of the day we end up smelly on your nose for as long as we work hard to provide for our own family.

Enough for her...

Fact: Philippines is the FIRST Country to bag all crowns.... GRAND SLAM IT IS for Philippines....

Photo Courtesy of Ms Kevin Balot