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Author: Rochkirstin Santos-Sioco

  • Review of Hok Kee Food Haus (Binondo, Manila)

    Review of Hok Kee Food Haus (Binondo, Manila)

    Eating is the best way to spend your money in Chinatown, Binondo, Manila. Planning for a food trip here? Then please don’t miss out on Hok Kee (福記) Food Haus in Yuchengco Street (parallel to Quintin Paredes Street). Note I’m not a shareholder or a part-owner of this Chinese restaurant 🙂 ; I’m just a foodie turned new fan of their food specialties. Let’s see how Hok Kee Food Haus delivers its own spin on Chinese cooking.

    Before I go on, however, I should apologize for the poor quality of the photos, which were all taken on my iPhone 4 camera. Because this dinner last Saturday was not at all planned, I did not carry my DSLR for blogging.

    Review of Hok Kee Food Haus (Binondo, Manila)

    Ambiance: ★★★☆☆

    Hok Kee Food Haus is a hole-in-the-wall Chinese restaurant that’s minimally designed. Plain white walls, clean tables, green and orange chairs, and a “vertically rectangular” area welcomed us. Bright lights illuminated the colorful photos of food posted on the walls.

    A door at the back further brings more room to diners (yup, we were surprised). At one glance, you would not notice that Hok Kee Food Haus could accommodate up to about 70 people. Add the dining area on the second floor, which is currently under renovation, and this house can end up serving up to 100 diners altogether.

    Service: ★★★★★

    Three staffs worked very efficiently as they greeted, mingled and served customers in quick paces. They were cheerful, the type that deserves to receive some customer service tip at the end of the meal.

    Food: ★★★★☆

    I’ve never read any review of this restaurant before, but we had a clue that the food here are generally delicious and full-flavored, thanks to Chinoy TV’s feature in one of its episodes.

    One of Hok Kee’s most recommended dish happens to also be my favorite: Hok Kee Hot Shrimp Salad (PhP 310). Their version of the hot shrimp salad is very similar to Wan Chai Tea House and Uno Seafood Wharf Restaurant. Essentially, it’s a platter of skinless shrimps with fruit salad and mayonnaise. The shrimps were fried until just-crisp. The subtle flavor of the shrimps held its own against the other elements.

    Next was another seafood dish: Hok Kee Oyster Cake (PhP 175) which did not scrimp on quality and ingredients. The “cake” was bounty with oysters unlike other oyster cakes served in most Chinese restaurants. In fact, this oyster cake wowed us. We were also suitably impressed at how the busy flavors of egg and veggies give one another massive amounts of flavor high-fives!

    Perhaps everyone would love the Hok Kee Fried Chicken (Half, PhP 200). Perfectly cooked, the white meat was tender and moist. Taste was unpretentious and was even improved with the accompanying gravy. The chicken skin brought a satisfying crunch and crisp which was just so good! Oh, we could forget about being allergic for one moment.

    The Kiampong (Chinese Rice Casserole or 鹹飯) was not transcendentally good; it was okay. It’s pretty close to the kiampong prepared in Buddhist temples. It was saddening that this bowl of sticky rice did not contain any shiitake mushroom I was expecting.

    Desserts options on the menu are quite limited, so your meal may seem to finish rather abruptly. Chances are, by the time you are done eating, you’d be full and leave happy anyway.

    Menu (and my sister behind ^_^):

    Price for Value: ★★★★☆

    If there’s any Chinese restaurant that should draw you into coming to Chinatown and trying out the best of Chinese food, Hok Kee Food Haus must one of them in your list of destinations. Prices are decent and reasonable for the quality of tastes. They are especially fair if you’re more accustomed to prices of food in highly commercialized places. Serving sizes are generous. (One order is enough to feed two to three.)

    Unsure of what to get? Follow ours or follow your nose—you’ll smell delicious food in other tables and before you know it, you’re already sold, craving for their food over and over again. 😛

    [schema type=”review” name=”Hok Kee Food Haus” description=”433 Yuchengco St. near Padilla St. (formerly Nueva St.) Binondo Manila” rev_name=”For inquiries, call 554-5555″ author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2014-05-26″ user_review=”16″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”20″ ]

  • How WeChat Relates to Filipino Slang via the Sticker Gallery

    How WeChat Relates to Filipino Slang via the Sticker Gallery

    In every generation, there emerges a language (lingo) that its people alone understand. The same is true with every nation over the globe. Bringing the topic closer to home, let’s put the Philippines as an instance. For a country with 11 recognized languages and over 175 dialects spoken throughout its islands, the Philippines today has also ingrained in its popular culture a distinctive form of communication known as Filipino slang.

    A hodgepodge of preexisting languages, Filipino slang is highly dynamic compared to the usual colloquialisms and allows for more freedom of expression among its speakers. Words and phrases don’t follow a standardized set of rules and can flow from Taglish to celebrity names to gay lingo or be a mix of all set with new meanings in different contexts.

    OMG! Filipino Flair Reaches WeChat’s Sticker Gallery

    As Filipino slang gets more recognized as a language of everyday usage, one of the country’s top social mobile apps WeChat joins in the bandwagon of color and humor as it releases 16 animated stickers that reflect the wit, candor, and inventiveness that Filipinos apply to such slangs.

    About to wing an emergency meeting? Send out a “Bahala na si Batman!” sticker to your teammate to lighten up the air. An excellent presentation could also garner a “Boom!” at the end of the day to highlight a job well done. On the other hand, if your sister is about to begin a new project, stickers like “Push mo yan!” and “Gorabels!” could give her a quick confidence boost. Intensify your daily digital conversations with this set available at WeChat’s Sticker Gallery by clicking on Me > Sticker Gallery.

    About WeChat

    WeChat envisions and innovates new ways for people to connect, communicate and share. A mobile social communication app designed for smartphone users, WeChat is the world’s fastest growing social app with over 100 million registered accounts internationally.

    WeChat empowers users in fun and dynamic ways by bringing together messaging, social communication and gaming in one seamless, interactive experience, with comprehensive privacy and security settings that can be tailored as needed.

    WeChat is an all-in-one app that enables users to add friends with several innovative features. These include highly convenient and reliable QR code scanning, phonebook and location-based connection services such as “Hold Together”, “Friend Radar” and “Shake.” The platform facilitates social interaction with real-time “Walkie Talkie,” “Voice Call,” and “Video Call.” Supported on data networks and Wi-Fi, WeChat makes it easy to stay connected with friends anywhere, anytime.

    Users can choose to communicate and share photos one-on-one, or within their closed social network through “Moments”. The popular WeChat Sticker Shop has a variety of fun animated emoticons to express any emotion.  Also, with a host of addictive WeChat Games, users can play and challenge their friends on the move, share scores and even find competitors nearby.

    WeChat is available free for download on Android, BlackBerry, iOS, Symbian and Windows operating systems.

    Learn more about WeChat and download the app at www.wechat.com
    WeChat Philippines Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/WeChatPH

  • Review of Mother’s Crepe and Cafe (SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City)

    Review of Mother’s Crepe and Cafe (SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City)

    Last Monday, after dinner at Royal View Seafood Restaurant, I was craving for some dessert. Unfortunately, my top two selections for desserts on their menu were unavailable. That meant we had to exit and find another one that could be a perfect alternative. The good news is that having such wonderful restaurants in SM Mall of Asia (MOA) guarantees a fantastic meal that’s merely a few steps away.

    One of the cafes I have bookmarked as a priority for “snacks and desserts” way before is Mother’s Crepe and Cafe (マザーズクレープ). I have always wanted to try the Mazazu crepes, but because I know I could not finish one alone without feeling guilty, I had it planned to devour and share a plate with my family. This came in good timing!

    Mother’s Crepe and Cafe serves French-style crepes with fillings that range from fruits, seafood and meat to sweets and dairy. Below is a snapshot of their best offerings. The crepes are presented in either cone-like shape or plated down neatly, according to your preference. In both ways, these Japanese crepes would come out as an indulgent snack or dessert which you would love looking at as much as eating. 😀

    Review of Mother’s Crepe and Cafe (SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City)

    Ambiance: ★★★☆☆

    Mother’s Crepe and Cafe has limited space in SM Mall of Asia. Cramped for a dine-in hang-out spot, it’s a simple cafe where customers order based on what they see on display and the long menu near the cashier and across the “kitchen counter.”  The bottles and boxes of ingredients are arranged in an orderly fashion. Everything just looked dainty and colorful. Since air conditioning is reliant to the mall and dining tables and chairs are placed outside, customers have to endure the heat especially this summer. Anyway, chill food and drinks must be enough to do that part of providing a cool breeze and burst of delight.

    Service: ★★★★★

    Alone serving customers in the cafe, the staff was eloquent and fast in preparing food and drinks. This establishment is a one-woman team. She is in charge of taking orders, taking the bill, making food, serving orders, cleaning tables, fulfilling customer requests, and so on. Wow! I thought that’s very efficient, indeed. As you can see, she’s also friendly, welcoming our questions and smiling to the camera as asked.

    Food: ★★★★☆

    The Pinoy Halo-Halo Crepe (PhP 125) did not taste as sweet as I imagined. Made with bran (a healthy dietary fiber) and top quality ingredients, this crepe was filled with the combination of coconut, banana, leche flan, yam and nuts—all essential flavor elements that are mostly what Philippines is known for. The whipped cream and ube ice cream were soft and rich, bringing great complementary tastes, fruity notes and zero trace of bitterness.

    Price for Value: ★★★☆☆

    Mother’s Crepe and Cafe is not just another crepe stall. Though similar in flavor and texture to regular crepes, theirs are technically a different beast. It all comes down to the ingredients used and the presentation. Aside from crepes, Mother’s Crepe and Cafe also serves key coffee from Japan, smoothies, float and a number of soda tapioca drinks. With fair prices to beat, I want to try them all only if I’m not too weight-conscious. :mrgreen:

    This dining experience was our extended celebration for Mother’s Day. My mom deserves the treat and all the love from us. Her birthday is coming up next month, and I wonder where we will head to pig out next. One thing I’m sure of is that we gotta buy her new shoes. Maybe it’s time for us to browse for Women’s Shoes Online via ZALORA Philippines. 🙂

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/motherscrepePH” name=”Mother’s (Mazazu) Crepe and Cafe Philippines” description=”2/F Entertainment Mall Area (near Chatime), SM Mall of Asia” rev_name=”For inquiries, contact (02) 804-1910 or email alyns@digicom-ph.com” author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2014-05-19″ user_review=”15″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”20″ ]

  • Review of Royal View Seafood Restaurant (SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City)

    Review of Royal View Seafood Restaurant (SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City)

    The last time we ate at Royal View Seafood Restaurant was on Valentine’s Day. I came straight from a date with Louie and spent dinner with my family. This time ’round, we had the opportunity to sample a featured set meal for four (bought by Mom from MetroDeal). We are well-acquainted with the food selection, so there was no great discovery. Still, this Chinese restaurant in SM Mall of Asia proved to excel in the authenticity of the delicacy; good tastes tingled in our tongues just the way we like it. 😉

    Review of Royal View Seafood Restaurant (SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City)

    Ambiance: ★★★★☆

    It’s hard to comprehend just how many people dine at Royal View Seafood Restaurant in MOA in any given day. The dining areas are massive, spread right across both “public” and “private” functional rooms. Chandeliers give a classy and grandiose touch to the overall modern, “imperial” vibe. Also providing a good visual impact is the wall opposite the entrance. If it were not for the poor air conditioning, this restaurant would be rated with complete five stars for ambiance.

    Service: ★★★★★

    The management must know that the restaurant would often be busy, hence the count of the staff dealing with guests here. At Royal View Seafood Restaurant, I have no complains about the efficient and quick delivery of service. Treatment was amiable and pleasant. Tea was served as I arrived as well with the menu when requested.

    Food: ★★★★★

    From the featured set meal, we got carbs, seafood and veggies in one go. As appetizer, the Combination of Soy Chicken and Tofu came out first. A maintstay of the Chinese table, these classic cold cuts remain to be a “good for the neighborhood” bite at best.

    The Steamed Shrimps were cooked well. Seasoned nicely, the shrimps were plump, not rubbery and just remarkable. We added ginger sauce to enhance the taste further. The result? Pretty good for something so simple.

    You can’t go wrong with the Vietnamese Spring Rolls either. These spring rolls had a hint of sweetness from the sweet-and-sour sauce. Each piece was fitted with savory textures from the tightly packed vermicelli inside and a crispy and slightly crunchy exterior.

    The Steamed Fish with Garlic consisted of soft fish fillet that demonstrated how carefully building subtle flavors can amount to more than the sum of its parts. It’s complemented well with thinly sliced garlic chives, spring onions and cellophane noodles that absorbed much of the light soy sauce taste.

    Royal View Seafood Restaurant’s Yang Chow Fried Rice can be noted as a treasure hunt in every spoonful. With small shrimps and veggies, this food would always be comforting, balanced, true to the ingredients and, perhaps perennially soul-satisfying. That’s why when you don’t know what to order based on the long menu, take Yang Chow Fried Rice. It’s the only one you need.

    Finally, the Mixed Vegetables with Seafood gave us quite a respite from the different flavors of the previous dishes. The giant squids and greens absolutely did not miss that vibrant summer punch. Light and fresh, this can be a good start in your attempt to eat healthier this season. 😛

    Price for Value: ★★★★★

    Chinese restaurants in the Philippines can be a hit or a miss. After all, isn’t hunting down good ones part of a foodie’s adventure? Royal View Seafood Restaurant in MOA is definitely recommendable! It’s is a good introduction for the Chinese food novitiate—clean, bright, and reasonably accommodating.

    For the most part though, eating here may not be for a casual affair because regular prices of food on the menu are expensive. It will take more planning than a typical lunch or dinner out. Preferably, since they have big servings, you should go and dine with a group of at least three to get the most variety of Chinese food.

    Thanks to the MetroDeal voucher, we had 66% discount (PhP 499 instead of PhP 1488) on our meal. Based on that, I give price for value a perfect rating; else, it still deserves at least 4/5.

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/RoyalViewSeafoodRestaurant” name=”Royal View Seafood Restaurant” description=”2nd Floor, South Wing, Mall of Asia Complex (MOA), Pasay City” rev_name=”For inquiries, contact (02) 5569520″ author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2014-05-17″ user_review=”19″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”20″ ]

  • Review of The Vegetarian Kitchen (Mother Ignacia Avenue, Quezon City)

    Review of The Vegetarian Kitchen (Mother Ignacia Avenue, Quezon City)

    We have been to Quezon City area a number of times for years without paying much attention to Mother Ignacia Avenue. That said, I had little knowledge of what exists along that avenue—until Louie brought us into this “secret” establishment at dinnertime on our fifth-year anniversary as a couple. Where? At The Vegetarian Kitchen, a house-turned-restaurant located on Mother Ignacia Street, right across St. Mary’s Academy.

    Being raised in a vegetarian family, I am always in the lookout for vegetarian restaurants offering completely zero meat, not even seafood and dishes containing dairy products. According to Kiko Soliongco, son of The Vegetarian Kitchen’s owner, their menu has items for both vegetarians and vegans, as a result of suggestions raised by customers. Those with “V” at the side are vegan food, while those without are good for vegetarians. Anyway, we’re okay to try anything as long as they’re delicious and satisfying!

    Review of The Vegetarian Kitchen (Mother Ignacia Avenue, Quezon City)

    Ambiance: ★★★☆☆

    The vibe at The Vegetarian Kitchen was laid-back and a bit boring. Lighting was dim; no music was played in the background; and air conditioning was not sufficient. Simple yet clean and sturdy tables and seats occupied the dining area. The lack of tablecloths gave it a feel of a less than special place. Hence, I just kept reminding myself deep inside that we were here for the food, and you should be, too.

    Service: ★★★★★

    The menu is available for viewing on blackboard on the wall, so customers must either stand to read and choose which to order. I guess that staffs are asked for recommendations often, since the meatless (vegetarian) food at The Vegetarian Kitchen aren’t those that most of people in Metro Manila are familiar with.

    Given that the vegetarian segment in the market remains to be small, staffs in this vegetarian restaurant must be more patient in explaining their food repeatedly or as required. On that note, I commend the friendly workers for being hospitable and helpful. Food came to our table relatively fast. Our glasses were also refilled with water whenever they were seen empty. Operations run smooth from 11AM to 3PM and from 5PM to 9PM on Tuesdays to Saturdays.

    Food: ★★★★★

    The Spinach and Cream Cheese Dumplings (PhP 160) is one of the most popular items on the menu, and it’s no surprise. Tasty spinach was layered inside an incredible crisp, fresh dumplings skin that’s baked in-house. We decided to try it with the white sauce provided on the platter and scattered in small blobs here and there. If Dad were here with us for dinner, I’m sure he would be unstoppable and he’d take them all. 🙂

    Next was the Spanish Lengua (PhP 240) with cucumber salad and organic rice. The “lengua” was made from gluten, which arrived swimming in tomato and mushroom sauce sauce. Louie said it bears semblance to the non-vegetarian version. However, for how bright and colorful this dish was, I had initially dismissed it as dull but certainly not bland. (Sorry, I’ve just grown tired of eating this taste as cooked by my mom at home.) The Lengua was like classic Filipino recipe Beef Mechado—but one whose ingredients were mock meat.

    Finally, we took a stab at the Rich Tomato and Malunggay Lasagna (PhP 270), which was a showstopper. Every bite of the square piece of vegetarian lasagna was heavenly. The globs of uncommonly delicious and sweet baked cheese on top was so good that you’d almost forget to notice how tender and perfect the pasta are. For the record, Louie said he would rather want to become vegetarian if food he’d be served every day are cooked like this.

    Price for Value: ★★★★★

    The ingredients used were of high quality, and the presentation of food looked really good. Generally, the dishes at The Vegetarian Kitchen surpass one’s typical preconceptions of vegetarian food. So stop thinking that vegetarian food equates to just salads and greens. 😛 With prices of food ranging from PhP 120 to PhP 250, you can definitely get yourself a decent vegetarian meal here.

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/TheVegetarianKitchen” name=”The Vegetarian Kitchen” description=”62 B Mother Ignacia Ave., Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines” rev_name=”For inquiries, contact (02) 544-7733 or 0915-8300511″ author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2014-05-10″ user_review=”18″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”20″ ]

  • WeChat Video Call Promo for Moms this Mother’s Day

    WeChat Video Call Promo for Moms this Mother’s Day

    My mom’s life story starts like a million others. Girl graduates from college, works in the office, meets a guy, gets married, gives birth to kids, and fulfills motherly duties that entail a lengthy list. But unlike a million other stories, hers is not the fancy, smooth-sailing sort. Rather, it has been full of heartaches, pains and struggles.

    Indeed, a mother’s job is never over. From the chores she has to painstakingly attend to daily, to the demands of properly raising her kids, her dedication towards accomplishing the role that motherhood requires is nothing short of remarkable. With that said, we truly cherish and love our mother so much.

    Make Your Mom Smile!

    If you appreciate your mom’s love like we do, check this out: WeChat, the fastest growing mobile social messaging app in the country, is giving people a chance to give back the love they get from their moms through an exciting promo centered on connecting with their loved ones through the power of technology.

    WeChat Promo for Moms this Mother’s Day

    By making WeChat Video Calls to three different people on different days this week, you get an awesome gift of prepaid credits to help you connect and share your intimate moments with the people you hold dear.

    Not only that, video calling three different people and taking a screenshot of you sharing WeChat tips along with your best wishes for your mom on Moments gets you an even more special prize that you and your mom can both enjoy. Just don’t forget to share it to WeChat by posting the screenshot on Facebook while tagging their Facebook page at WeChat Philippines for them to know how much you want to make your mother feel special this coming Mother’s Day.

    How to Win Prepaid Credits and More From WeChat

    1. Make three video calls to three different people on WeChat for three different days. You are sure to win Php 100 prepaid card.

    2. Upon completing the Video Call task, you will have to send the keyword “HMD” to WeChat Fans OA (ID: wechatfansph) to write down your information for prize delivery.

    3. Win another special prize by doing the additional task of sharing WeChat tips to Moments along with your best wishes for your mom. To avail of this opportunity, you must take a screenshot of you sharing WeChat tips on Moments and posting it on Facebook while tagging @WeChat Philippines.

    WeChat’s Video Call feature is an exciting platform for bringing people closer together. It’s an easy way to check up on your loved ones and show them how much you care. This Mother’s Day, celebrate the warmth of a mother’s love in a unique and modern way by giving them a kiss and a heartfelt greeting through Video Call on WeChat.

    About WeChat

    WeChat envisions and innovates new ways for people to connect, communicate and share. A mobile social communication app designed for smartphone users, WeChat is the world’s fastest growing social app with over 100 million registered accounts internationally.

    WeChat empowers users in fun and dynamic ways by bringing together messaging, social communication and gaming in one seamless, interactive experience, with comprehensive privacy and security settings that can be tailored as needed.

    WeChat is an all-in-one app that enables users to add friends with several innovative features. These include highly convenient and reliable QR code scanning, phone book and location-based connection services such as “Hold Together”, “People Nearby” and “Shake.” The platform facilitates social interaction with real-time “Walkie Talkie,” “Voice Call,” and “Video Call.”

    Supported on data networks and Wi-Fi, WeChat makes it easy to stay connected with friends anywhere, anytime. Users can choose to communicate and share photos one-on-one, or within their closed social network through “Moments”. The popular WeChat Sticker Shop has a variety of fun animated emoticons to express any emotion.  Also, with a host of addictive WeChat Games, users can play and challenge their friends on the move, share scores and even find competitors nearby.

    WeChat is available free for download on Android, BlackBerry, iOS, Symbian and Windows operating systems.

    Learn more about WeChat and download the app at www.wechat.com
    WeChat Philippines Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/WeChatPH

  • Top 3 Activities We Did in Magaul Bird Park at JEST Camp, Subic

    Top 3 Activities We Did in Magaul Bird Park at JEST Camp, Subic

    The Philippines boasts several tourist destinations. It’s like a big world out there—so big that it can be daunting to plan which to visit. From natural to man-made masterpieces, wildlife to city-scapes, the choices are endless. Can’t decide? Here’s a tip: if you’re interested in theme parks, SUBIC must be the ideal place for you.

    Roberto Garcia, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Chairman says Subic should be popularized as the theme park capital of the Philippines.

    Why? Subic houses the five major theme parks in the country, namely: Ocean Adventure, Zoobic Safari, Tree Top Adventure, Holy Land and the Jungle Environment Survival Training (JEST) Camp. In this post, let me share with you about our recent trip to JEST Camp.

    Top 3 Activities We Did in Magaul Bird Park

    1. Winged Wonders Bird Show

    This was primarily the highlight of our trip to Magaul Bird Park at JEST Camp since it was officially launched last Saturday, May 3, 2014. The event was warmly graced by CEO Joselito Lacap and his family who manages the bird park and the operations team who takes care of their collection of birds in the park. Adventura, the Marketing Arm of Magaul Bird Park, partners and Canon PIXMA Printers (sponsor) were also present.

    We had a sneak preview of their birds at the outdoor amphitheater. Before that, a group of dancers performed and successfully took everyone’s attention.

    Later we learned through Operations Manager Katrina Lacap that the dance number was not carried out only to display talents and entertain guests.

    Rather, it was used to signify an important story in the most creative and compelling way. This story is about the birth of Magaul Bird Park and why it was named “Magaul.” Apparently, Magaul is the Sarimanok, a Philippine mythical bird, who pecked the bamboo where Malakas and Maganda came from (the Philippine version of Adam and Eve).

    All the birds look interesting and equally charming species! They are human-friendly and well-trained. With that, I bet that this amusing open-air bird show in JEST Camp will be a huge hit among tourists. It will be held daily at 11AM and 3AM if weather permits.

    2. Giant Swing: Goliath’s Swing

    Perched on the edge of JEST camp’s ground, this giant swing is a self-releasing swing over a cliff where you get to see Subic’s best view. At PHp 200/pax, you get to experience the coolest ride in the camp. Imagine being hoisted 30 meters in the air with the staff pulling the rip cord behind for exhilarating drop and swing!

    3. Bird Watching

    JEST Camp’s Magaul Bird Park features different types of birds you can watch and feed. Labels and descriptions of the birds are placed outside their respective cages. Additionally, staffs of the camp offer help in providing more explanations. Hence, I guarantee that you will go out of the bird park with new-found knowledge.

    Wrap Up

    We all need an escape from our daily lives from time to time, yes? If you’ve run out of places to go to in the city, Magaul Bird Park at JEST Camp may come to the rescue. Give yourself a break and enter its wondrous world.

    There are much more fun and exhilarating activities (Jungle Survival, Maze Quest, etc.) we didn’t try, given the limited hours of our stay. For those who intend to go ahead and tour around Subic, I suggest you visit Magaul Bird Park at JEST Camp. Pick one activity or pick them all—you can’t go wrong! 😛

    The daytour (PHp 200/head) can be completed in two hours, excluding the shows.

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/JESTCamp” name=”JEST Camp” description=”Upper Mau, Cubi-Triboa, Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Zambales, Olongapo 2200″ rev_name=”For inquiries, call phone number: (047) 252 1489 or Manila Office of Jest Camp: (02) 2189023 or 09179048777″ author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2014-05-05″ ]

  • A Digital Anatomy: What Filipino Online Entertainment Is Made Of

    A Digital Anatomy: What Filipino Online Entertainment Is Made Of

    Infusing “fun” to make something pleasurable, many of us post daily commentaries that go from random fascinations to substantial opinions on the web. I give a chuckle of amusement on how certain people can do just that—filling conversations jolted with entertainment value. 😛

    In this post, we delve into the topics that headline the internet culture of Filipinos—of which the most active are university students and young professionals aged 16-24—and discover how social media apps such as WeChat have become influences as to why our smartphones, tablets and desktops have evolved into our amusement favorites.

    A Digital Anatomy: What Filipino Online Entertainment Is Made Of

    1. The Political Brainwave

    From peace processes with the Bangsamoro to the never-ending issue of pork barrel allocations, the Internet brims with political news on a minute-to-minute basis, thanks to the presence of local social news networks as well as online versions of broadsheets and television news channels.

    With real-time information made more shareable today, our online conversations have been bustling with the topic of politics—making it the topic discussed by 55% of internet users and 57% of WeChat users.

    2.  The Superstar Reflex

    Idolizing people has been ingrained in our social culture so much so that our television screens and online news feeds are studded with the presence of personalities.

    Entertained by the goings-on of these influential people, 54% of average internet users and 55% of WeChat users go online for their daily fix of celebrity news and gossip, which they are able to satiate through photo updates, video clips, and other multimedia posts.

    3.  Nerves of Speed

    It’s no surprise why events such as the recently concluded Manila International Auto Show are such big hits in the country. With various modes of transportation—from Philippine jeepneys to foreign race cars—vying for the “king of the road” title, automobiles and the functions that make them parts of Filipinos’ daily lives have become the third most talked about topics across social networking services.

    4. Adventure Hormones

    Summer has dawned upon our side of the world which is probably why most of us are into the subject of adventure, sports, and wildlife.

    The study reveals that 51% of average internet users and 55% of WeChat users talk about adrenaline-inducing activities—be it of surfing through the waves of La Union or booking trips to the Labor Day zone that is Boracay.

    5. The Beauty Bone

    With more and more lifestyles open to influence by technology, clicking through 5-minute tutorials and looking up reviews online have become more rampant to those who are in the topic of beauty, which is the fifth conversation driver in the local internet scene.

    Through videos and photos, experts and enthusiasts are now more easily able to engage in such health and beauty-related exchanges. Consequently, WeChat users are into similar topics but more for their furry friends with 57% talking about pet grooming and care.

    About WeChat

    WeChat envisions and innovates new ways for people to connect, communicate and share. A mobile social communication app designed for smartphone users, WeChat is the world’s fastest growing social app with over 100 million registered accounts internationally.

    WeChat empowers users in fun and dynamic ways by bringing together messaging, social communication and gaming in one seamless, interactive experience, with comprehensive privacy and security settings that can be tailored as needed.

    WeChat is an all-in-one app that enables users to add friends with several innovative features. These include highly convenient and reliable QR code scanning, phonebook and location-based connection services such as “Hold Together”, “People Nearby” and “Shake.” The platform facilitates social interaction with real-time “Walkie Talkie,” “Voice Call,” and “Video Call.” Supported on data networks and Wi-Fi, WeChat makes it easy to stay connected with friends anywhere, anytime. Users can choose to communicate and share photos one-on-one, or within their closed social network through “Moments”. The popular WeChat Sticker Shop has a variety of fun animated emoticons to express any emotion.  Also, with a host of addictive WeChat Games, users can play and challenge their friends on the move, share scores and even find competitors nearby.

    WeChat is available free for download on Android, BlackBerry, iOS, Symbian and Windows operating systems.

    Learn more about WeChat and download the app at www.wechat.com
    WeChat Philippines Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/WeChatPH