TaskUs Made These Ridiculous Pedestrian Lanes in Bohol

The good people from TaskUs just made things brighter at their Tagbilaran City site in the province of Bohol. The most common pedestrian lane they used in the city just got spruced up which they call Ridiculous Roads: BOHOL, a project aimed to uplift the morale of the people of this city after they got hit with Typhoon Odette. It's been hard for much of the populace and seeing these pedestrian lanes in colorful ways would surely give the Boholanons a needed boost.

The artwork was done by Pahid Murals, a local art group that can commission work. This also comes after their recent voluntary employee donation campaign which amassed 2.6 Million pesos to help build homes of those affected by the typhoon. They also have some done in Antipolo City for road safety causes, it's quite awesome to see how TaskUs does community projects like these til now.

Congratulations to the men and women who are striving hard to change the lives of the people of Bohol, I hope it comes back to you ten fold.

Lumina Homes Asks You to "Rush Your Move" in 16 Locations Nationwide

Finding a home has always been a dream for every Filipino. A place where they could take refuge, take care of their family, raise kids in a community that would make them well rounded individuals - and perhaps be accessible to every convenience in life. These days, acquiring homes have been complicated, tedious and not to mention hard to finance. Though if you're trying to find a good deal, Lumina Homes has got you covered with their "Rush Your Move" promo. As the name suggests, they now have made it easier to own a house of your own. Imagine how you would get you to save over Php 168,000 off the actual price, which certainly is something unprecedented in the industry... and pretty difficult to resist. 

See, they're offering two-storey houses at Php 35,000 down payment. They even went a mile and made that price payable in 2 months. Add to that figure a whopping 8 percent discount if your bank loan gets released in 2 months. Isn't that a good deal?

They also made it available in 16 Lumina Home locations nationwide. This includes historic Tarlac, Balanga in Bataan, Subic in Zambales, Baliwag Bulacan, their two townships Bacolod 1 and 2 in Negros, Iloilo, Bauan, Sto.Tomas, Lipa and Tanauan in Batangas, Quezon, Sariaya, Tanza Cavite, Cabanatuan and San Jose in Nueva Ecija. This makes the choices quite varied for those who prefer quiet provincial life, city dwelling, because they made sure it's still churches, restaurants, groceries, transport locations so you could live comfortably with your family. There are also business establishments around, if you're looking for work or more, being in these properties would make life so convenient.

If you're seriously considering to live here, get in touch with a friendly Lumina Homes Sales and Marketing representative so you could join their 360 degree tours and see quality made homes that's ready for occupancy. Available models include the Athena which is a Single Firewall house that's got 53 square meter floor area and 63 sq.m. lot area. They also have the Armina (also a Single Firewall house) with 42 square meter floor area and 54 square meter lot. The nice Adriana Townhouse on the other hand has 44 square meters of floor area and about 36 square meter lot area. The pretty Angeli Townhouse has got a 42 square meter floor area and about 36 square meter lot. They also have the Angelique Townhouse that's got a 35 square meter floor area and around 36 square meter lot which you can choose in different areas of these communities.

 

 

I wouldn't be surprised if this gets taken advantage of by people who would want to invest in real estate. You can buy one then have it rented out and have income early because it's all ready. It's an opportune time to buy a home and if that becomes an investment, you're in a good place. Engr. Joemi Tan, Lumina Homes Division Head for North and East Luzon says "It would be a good opportunity for people to invest in a Lumina property so they could have a home that can be leased and be a source of income. We've got different RFO units they can choose from."

If this interests you in any way, make sure to follow @LuminaHomesOfficial on Facebook or their official website www.lumina.com.ph today!

Best Spots for a Weekend Getaway in Ontario

Ontario, often referred to as "Canada's most populated province" is a beautiful and picturesque destination. Ontario has a lot to offer and it would be an injustice not to plan a trip there.

The best time for visiting the province of Ontario is during the winter months. The weather is pleasant and you can enjoy outdoor activities such as snowshoeing, cross-country skiing or ice-skating. But if the winter season isn’t for you, no worries! There is just as much to enjoy in the warmer months.

Check out these top 4 destinations in Ontario for your next weekend excursion!

Ottawa

Ottawa is the capital of Canada and is one of the most peaceful, quiet, and clean cities in North America.

It is a city that is full of culture and heritage. Ottawa is also home to many different museums, galleries, theaters, restaurants and more. There are plenty of things to do in Ottawa for both visitors and locals alike.

You can also enjoy some great food while visiting this destination, with many restaurants offering cuisine from around the world. The ByWard Market area is home to numerous pubs and restaurants and live music venues that offer a more traditional pub experience for those looking for something different than just fine-dining restaurants.

Toronto

Toronto is one of the most diverse cities in the world, so it’s no surprise that there are tons of things to do. If you are looking to get out and explore this amazing city, here are some suggestions for how to spend your weekend.

There are so many things you can do in Toronto on the weekend. You can explore the city’s neighborhoods, which each have their own unique vibe and charm. You can go shopping in Yorkville Village or Queen West Village for high-end fashion brands like Gucci or Chanel.

You can stop by the Eaton Centre during the day for great deals on clothes you never knew you wanted but need now! Or eat at one of Toronto's many restaurants that excel in cuisine.

Halton

Halton is a great destination for a weekend getaway. The town has its own charm and you can find many natural beauty spots to explore off the beaten path. The best way to do that is by bike or by car. There are also many restaurants in Halton, including some great spots for brunch on Sundays, like The King’s Head Pub & Restaurant.

Halton also offers interesting activities for all interests including golfing, water sports, fishing, hiking and more. If you are looking for culture there are some great museums in Oakville or live theater in Burlington that will keep you entertained during your stay here.

It may not come to a surprise to you that after visiting here you find yourself searching the current Halton real estate market because chances are, you’ll want to stay for longer than a weekend.

Lake Huron Shorelines

The Lake Huron shoreline stretches over 200 miles and is a popular destination for those looking to spend the weekend outdoors. There are plenty of things to do in this region when you have a free weekend.
 
Some activities include visiting Niagara on the Lake which is a charming town with excellent wineries to go tasting at, taking a walk along the sand dunes or Georgian Bay beach, or perhaps heading out on the water for a day of fishing or watersports.

ARJO ATAYDE Tests Positive for COVID-19

News about this spread like wildfire yesterday and as heard from the grapevine, an actor and several of his co-workers tested positive for COVID-19 and left Baguio City while shooting their movie.

Today, FEELMAKING Productions Inc. has released a statement and confirms the actor in question is the multi awarded Arjo Atayde. In the release, are 9 other individuals who have also been tested positive but are asymptomatic. Arjo was rushed to a hospital in Manila as he had difficulty breathing and had pre-existing conditions which had to be taken cared of. The production company also apologized for any inconvenience they caused to the local government unit of Baguio City and their current Mayor Benjamin Magalong.

We wish they would all recover soon.

Vivo V7 Launch in Bacolod City

If you haven't seen this photo, I'm sure you wouldn't believe it but man look at that crowd!

This is the Vivo V7 launch at the SM City Bacolod center. I've been here quite a number of times because it's my province too but man, this must have been overwhelming for them to do. One of the things that probably made them come is the chance to see the Vivo V7 up close. If you don't know, the Vivo V7 has a 24 MP front camera so you always get a clearer selfie. It also has got a 16MP Back Camera, a 5.7inch all screen display, quick Face ID access, it's own Funtouch OS 3.2, a 4GB RAM, a 32 GB ROM, Qualcomm Octa Core processor and a game mode where you can multitask while playing your favorite game. It also costs Php 14,990 which is a whole lot cheaper than other phones with the same specifications.

Boyband PH's Joao Constancia, Niel Murillo, Tristan Ramirez, Russell Reyes didn't let down because as soon as they got on stage, these guys danced like their life depended on it. Their fans surpassed that energy and went ballistic on the sidelines and the other floors of the very grand mall. It was like a concert of sorts and Vivo Philippines made it happen. They will introduce the same handset in different parts of the country and they will bring a lot of other artists too with them so you get to enjoy the features of the phone, and the entertainment these celebrities will bring you.

If you want to know more about their future events, visit www.vivo.com/ph or check their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/VivoPhil or their IG account @vivophil and Twitter account @vivo_phil.

Taste Cavite - A Gastronomic Adventure at Island Cove Philippines

A small banca signifying our culinary journey of Cavite, a rich food haven located an hour or so away at the outskirts, south of Manila.

I think I've been here, perhaps when I was a kid. Though I couldn't remember specifically when so in a nutshell this is a trip down south that I've been raring to go to because I've been hearing a lot about Island Cove Hotel and Leisure Park the past few months. Photos alone had me wondering, why haven't I gone there when it looked so good on photos, and people I know who go there actually had so much fun. The place is picturesque, have stunning views of the Cavite coastline. It's situated along Covelandia Road in Kawit, Cavite and can be accessed through the new line along the Cavite Expressway (CavitEx). You can drive and get there in an hour or so from Manila, perhaps ride to SM Bacoor and ride another van to Island Cove if you want to commute there. All along, I thought Island Cove was a membership only resort as it had some similarities to Fontana in Pampanga. I was wrong, because they're very much open to the public. 

Anyway, we were there for good reason. It's about the FOOD. The people at Island Cove find it a little unnerving why they haven't really featured much of the community to the people going there. They've got a mix of locals, foreigners, balik bayans and just about everyone who enjoys food go to their spot called the Fishing Village to have a meal with family and friends, but never solely to showcase what Cavite cooking is all about. Well, they've done the legwork for you and researched the dishes, even had recipes exhumed from long gone restaurants and use it to demystify what Cavite cooking is all about. Chef Vill Purificacion had us sample dishes of this place he calls home, let's just say I didn't know Cavite ever tasted this good! 

Lawlaw is a crispy, deep fried local fish dredged in flour/light batter mostly found in Cavite City.

Tahong Chips is originally from Bacoor. It's now one of the city's best exports. They also served it with local spiced vinegar, perfect for groups or beer pairing.

This is the Mutya ng Cavite Soup by Sabater. A thick creamy soup with a huge serving of local sea mollusks, crabs, shrimp, clams caught locally. The original restaurant closed down but they were able to get the recipe from the family. This was a hit among the crowd.

They call this Calandracas. It's got the ingredients of summer, a bit refreshing, but has chorizo so you get those bits of smoky pork flavor in each slice.

This is Bacalao, but they use Labahita fish as the former is a little too expensive. It's salted fish, and is perhaps a good thing to have with just hot, steamed white rice.

This is Adobong Imus which hails from the town of the same name. It's made of the usual, but use annatto oil in lieu of soy sauce. Surprisingly, it was good!

This one's called Valenciana. This version is from General Trias and uses coconut milk as base so it's quite different from the one I'm used to at home (the Bacolod version). It's different, I like how it's become a bit Asian rather than Spanish inspired. I was staying away from rice but this one got me skip a day for that rule. 

This is their Pansit Pusit. It reminds me of Black Ink Pasta dishes but they use local rice noodles, seasonal vegetables, seafood and strips of green mangoes, scallions and garlic. I thought it wouldn't work but it did. It tastes like the sea, in a good way. Something totally off beat from the usual Pansit, but would be really good for seafood lovers.

Hot weather calls for Fresh Buco! It was sweet and refreshing!

This one is Afritadang Gulay na may Baboy. Which I think is the usual afritada ingredients but uses pork for the meat. It's soft, would be good for hot white rice. I love anything with tomato sauce on it!

This is the Pansit with Puso ng Saging. It's a little tangy, much like that banana heart dish Mom used to make but made into a rice noodle dish. Don't laugh but I could imagine people eating this with rice too, with this as a viand. 

This is their Pansit Malabon. For those who don't know, parts of Cavite was actually called Malabon in Spanish times even before the actual Malabon in Metro Manila was established. This wreaks of shrimp goodness as it probably was made of shrimp head sauce, quite lovely with those bits of pork crackling, egg, spring onions, squid, and more pork.

For dessert, we had Kutsinta from nearby towns. They actually buy these rice cakes from locals the morning before they serve it.

This is the Kalamay, similar to the ones I get from Bacolod but this is flattened and served in individual plastic sheets. A bit modernized I think! This tastes like coconut spread, with coconut strips on it.

This is their Sapin Sapin which literally means layers in English. With different rice cakes, mixed with coconut milk, purple yam, it was totally something to look forward to in a trip to Cavite! Oh wait there's more!

My personal favorite among the things served that day was this! This is called Tamales. Made of corn meal, rice, pork fat, pork meat, paprika (I think because it was a bit smoky) and chili powder (as it felt a little spicy). I could have this for breakfast, lunch or dinner. It's a bit heavy, as it was designed to be a one dish meal that farmers would usually have after tolling the fields back in the days. I would totally go back for this!

If you haven't had enough of your cheese dreams come true, they've got a platter of Kesong Puti probably from cow's milk. I would love to have this with bread or on top of pizza. Or just about anything during breakfast.

To get you a little excited about what to expect at Island Cove Hotel and Leisure Park, I made a short video of our trip that afternoon and uploaded it on Youtube. If you haven't seen it yet, please subscribe to my channel or just check this one below. Check out our interview with the Chef and Gilbert Remulla who handles the property.

TIP: You can get a spot overlooking the shore for Php 4,500 consumable (3 hours, like a private cottage) which I think is good for 30 persons (although if you invite that much people chances are you're gonna need to spend a bit more for your birthdays/occasions). You may call them at 8107878 or 8105351 or email them at inquiry@islandcovephil.com if you want to have it arranged, if you expect guests coming to the Philippines or just about any reason to go there. They also have fishing areas, perfect for Father and Son bonding moments, aside from the good food of course!

The “Taste Cavite” menu featured on this article is now available at the Fishing Village on Fridays, Saturday and Sunday. starting November 18 and will be served daily starting December 22, 2016. I hope to get to see you there when I come and visit!

Just thank me later!

For more information about their food:

Island Cove Hotel and Leisure Park

Like them on Facebook


Visit their official website

http://www.islandcovephil.com/

A Cleaner, Brighter Tutuban Center

I know how exhausting it must be for people to go to Manila these days and I have been there a few times just to take photos of the Divisoria district, an adventure on its own. I'm sure a LOT of people shy away from this place because it's a mess, and vendors frequent ALL the streets at any time of the day. Well, here's the good news. They've pretty much cleaned up their act and got the vendors where they should be in the first place. Aside from that, the mall has been spruced up and there's A LOT of things you can buy at TUTUBAN Center now. This shot above was just shot two weeks ago at the front of the mall, notice anything different? Well there's no more vendors, there's an actual road in front of the mall and there's a LOT of people now shopping conveniently after A LOT of changes had been done to make it people friendly.

I bet you haven't seen it like this right? Exactly. When I was here a couple of months ago, I thought they were just doing it for the press and all, but look at the front of the Tutuban Center railway station, not even one vendor in sight. Impressive I know, but it takes a lot of police presence, local government will to do this. Now that it's safe and clean, isn't it the right time to go back and SHOP? I know, I did too!

Here's our shopping adventure with Php 1000 in our pockets, shopping was FUN!

It's almost Christmas, so if you haven't shopped yet, might I interest you in going to Tutuban Center today? It's better, brighter, more safe now.

For more information about their mall:

Tutuban Center

Like them on Facebook


Visit their official website

http://www.tutuban.com.ph/

PISMO Digital Opens New Store In Eastwood City

Yes! They're open now at the Eastwood Le Grande 3 Building's Ground Floor and offering the latest and best brands you can think of in phones, cameras and accessories. It's Christmas season so what opportune time to do it right? Here are some of the items I saw inside the new Pismo store.

They had us take photos using the Polaroid Cube and other cameras on their line. They also got us to test printing via the Polaroid Bluetooth Printer which you can use with your iPhone without the need of disconnecting from the wifi.

Linksys WRT1900AC sells around Php 14,990, you might think it's expensive but this is the BEST router there is in the market. I've worked with this so much literally but of course, you can only be as great as your existing connection. I wanna have one Linksys, yes? LOL I know you're reading this!

For smartphone lovers, Android users rejoice as the ASUS Zenfone 2 Laser and Zenfone Selfie is here too. It retails quite the same I think, but since they're a store you can probably lay away with credit card purchases which would be easier for you. 

For GoPro owners like me, lookie here! They've got several attatchments and GoPro Poles you can choose from. Some are cheap, some are really expensive but again since this is a store you have lots of options.

For those who love the outdoors, walk no more with these Segue and Smart Balance Wheel which is so popular with kids now. You should get one before stocks run out!

I also love the Parrot Drones. They've got indoor ones and outdoor models. Some last a few minutes to around 26 minutes for the professional ones. It's around 16K so if you're looking for one, you should experience it here first then decide which one to buy. Yes they do have test units you can use before you purchase them!

I also saw cellphone accessories, huge designer speakers which might interest you. I'll be looking around and wish this was my home lol. Congratulations PISMO on your new store in Eastwood City!

Ciao!

KUMAGCOW

Fresh Blogs Fast!