Strata - Work sweet work

Putting Things in Perspective

Traffic Jam - Most Popular After Strawberry

Sundays are always best for driving. The skies are usually clearer than on any other day of the week and the streets are perfectly lonely. You can usually drive through as many as 4 cities (i.e. Makati, Mandaluyong, Pasig, Quezon) in about 30 minutes via Edsa, legendary for its modern history and its rush hour helterskelter. On any other day, this would take you more than an hour if you drive and around 2 if you commute, but this is against the rush hour traffic. Thankfully enough, living inside Makati, I’ve managed to avoid having to travel with the daily work and homeward exoduses.

Traffic is almost always a mess in big cities the world over and the case in Metro Manila is not much different - it just may be worse. Being the megapolis or mega city that it is, with more or less 15 million inhabitants in about a dozen cities, providing safe, secure and seamless transportation is next to impossible. It’s an itch in the government’s back that it can’t seem to ever reach.

It is quite understandable how some foreigners find it unbearable to travel inside the metropolis seeing that the vehicles in their hundreds of thousands that plough through it everyday not only congest the already obsolete road systems but also saturate the morning and afternoon air with smog. In fact, a lot of Filipinos can’t take it either. Those who can afford it move elsewhere to greener pastures, live in expensive condos that are more like climate controlled bubbles than anything else or drive the most expensive cars their money can buy just so they can look cool even if they’re stuck in the middle of nowhere. Most Filipinos however - drivers, commuters and pedestrians alike - have no other choice but to get used to the smouldering heat of it all.

Drivers

You’ll never find better drivers anywhere in the world and in the same numbers as the ones you find making a living out of the streets of the metro. They are a different breed. Fearless in that they stand ever defiant of the boys in blue (policemen, not Ateneans), breaking traffic laws and regulations whenever they can to gain that momentary advantage in a gridlock, and ravaging their way through tight roads mere inches away from, among others, pedestrians, gutters and fellow comrades on the road. Frighteningly, their courage seems to grow with the size of their vehicle, bus drivers being the most relentless of all with their gas-guzzling behemoths, literally muscling there way in a jam or causing it altogether.

With the way Filipinos drive, you’d think there’d be a mangled heap of automobiles and pools of blood every hundred meters, and yet fatal and car-obliterating accidents aren’t as often (bumper-benders are). You have to admire their one-ness with their metal steeds, impeccable timing and unbelievable spatial cognition. It’s like Formula One, only slower.

Commuters and pedestrians are just about as fearless as their motorized counterparts except a little more fragile. They cross streets and jay-walk to their hearts content, weaving in and out and through the streets, from the tightest bumper-to-bumper traffic jams to the fastest moving highways. They’re also just as likely to ignore signals and traffic signs. In fact, except that they aren’t driving their own vehicles, they’re not much different.

Of course Metro Manila traffic wasn’t always like that. It started out with more archaic transportation for the masses in the form of the kalesa, a horse-drawn carriage set on two wheels. As progress would have it and a population boom, traffic was inevitable as it always is in any developing or developed country with a significant population density problem. And so came the jeep, an ingenious metamorphosis of a relic from the second world war, from war-engine to cheap and convenient mass transport. Of course buses followed suit and then came the FX, a cheap family/sports utility vehicle of sorts.

Popular for it’s load capacity and relative affordability, the FX quickly became a hit in the mid-90’s. First used as a taxi, many drivers plied long unsactioned routes at cheap per head prices until it became evident to the government that not only was the use of this vehicle for mass transport inevitable, it was also necessary. Now legal, commuters living in the far off reaches of the common bus or jeep, now enjoy more comfortable traveling.

Ortigas and Makati Traffic

Traffic isn’t always as bad as it looks in Edsa. I would much rather go via Edsa and face the slow yet certain trudge rather than take a alternate and uncertain route where you can hope to find a more liberated pace or an even deadlier backup than the one you were running away from. However, that also depends on your destination. There are reliable alternatives.

Take for example Makati, Ayala Avenue in particular. It is, more or less, organized traffic. At rush hour, cars span the entire stretch, it becomes a virtual parking lot. If you’re just moving within the city, take the sidestreets. Otherwise, if you’re taking the sidestreets just to cover a huge swath of Ayala Avenue looking to get out at Edsa quicker, then don’t bother because a thousand more cars are doing the same thing.

Ortigas Center, on the other hand, does not have to deal with the same kind of traffic problems as Makati, at least not to the same extent. It has not reached that critical population density, not yet anyway. It is blessed with relatively wider, straighter, more evenly spaced and appropriately painted roads. It has even implemented a u-turn scheme, eliminating left and right turns that go across the other direction, to ensure an unhindered flow. It has also developed its infrastructure in anticipation of but mainly in response to growing traffic concerns. This kind of urban planning and funding doesn’t come as a shock since Pasig is home to some of the most affluent urban enclaves such as Valle Verde and Corinthians, housing some of the country’s wealthiest families. However, this isn’t to say that the Ortigas Center has completely avoided traffic problems. In fact, it has some of pretty major problems itself hence the experimentation on different traffic programs.

Nonetheless, during non-rush hours, the Ortigas area remains comparatively blisful and stress-free unlike the Makati domain where traffic conditions are inconsistent and petty problems such as quirky stoplights make matters worse. And it is ages beyond the traffic woes of cities such as Manila and Caloocan where the last urban planning meetings were probably held way back in the times of Spanish Governor-Generals.

Problems and Solutions

Some of the metropolis’ problems stem from very simple and easy to solve problems that are often overlooked or un-addressed by the government. These include broken, fast or un-synchronized stoplights, unpaved and mismanaged roads, as well protracted road works. There’s also the issue of objects or even people, such as sidewalk establishments, vendors as well as garbage and other material that impede the flow of traffic. Accidents and break-downs are also a cause of much irritation but cannot be foreseen, however these should be quickly resolved or removed.

Stoplights are supposed to organize the flow of traffic but are, at certain instances, a huge source of frustration for drivers. Broken stoplights should be immediately fixed but usually take days. Certain city intersections are managed by stoplights that change colors too quickly resulting in backups. Synchronization is a lot more complicated because you have to take into consideration the traffic density from all sides of an intersection. There are cases where traffic lights can be synchronized for one street and as such cannot be synchronized for the other. Intersections of more than two streets as well as those with left and right turns also make it difficult. However, there are also instances where this becomes rather absurd and traffic would be so much better without the stoplight.

Roads must be properly maintained. I reckon that if the government spends a little more to invest in stronger materials and apply a thin layer of asphalt on each road, then they would not have to service it as regularly as they do now. Roads must be evenly spaced to prevent slow-downs and adequately painted to ensure organized flow. Repairs and other works must be finished immediately and coordinated so that they do not damage the road’s integrity. They should also be repaved with the same materials and the road should be restored to its original state.

The asphalt layer is necessary because this protects the concrete, and this can be cheaply and easily repaired when damaged. Certain types of asphalt are also stronger and can be chemically manipulated for certain weather conditions. It is actually more harmful to simply cover damaged concrete with asphalt because loose asphalt will grind into the road destroying it even further or aggravating the pothole it was covering. This is also one of the major causes of unexpected bumps on the road that can cause vehicular damage as well as accidents.

Roads should also be flat. They can be angled a little so that water is drained into the gutters or when the curve requires it for safety. They should not be concave as is the case of Buendia where the middle is significantly higher and the incline is so extreme that cars on the left or rightmost lanes are uncomfortably tilted. This happened because the previous layers of asphalt were not removed but simply topped off.

There’s a lot of work to do but not only on the government’s part. Civilian and corporate citizens must also do their duty to ensure our stake at a progressive future. Discipline is key. While it is amusing that so many people get away with little misbehaviors, eventually this attitude has to be demolished. Indeed, there is a lot to do.

Some limited information on Manila - TrapikdotCom Manila

90 Proof - A Place for Drinking

One of the good things about Ortigas Center and the Emerald Avenue strip ,in particular, is that it isn’t as expensive as Makati and not as inconvenient as Libis. It’s generally quite heavy on the wallet alright but not as much as the Makati scene. There are so many establishments hidden away in the nooks and crannies of Ortigas Center that you can usually find something that’s more on the affordable side.

Take for example 90 Proof. In plain sight yet hidden from view. I remember having to double back and make a few u-turns the first time I visited the place. They have a frosted window marking the territory but not much else, and usually this is obscured from view by customers lounging for fresh air or, ironically, to smoke.

90 Proof is noteable and is known mainly for its cheap drinks, with the usual pale or light beer costing around 35 clams. Drinks on the higher end such as alcopops, cruisers and mixes are also relatively cheaper than those sold in 90 Proof’s Makati counterparts. They also serve your usual and average fare of sisig and the like for lunch and dinner but their menu dwindles to a handful of choices at around 10 pm with options ranging from those popularized in the sidestreets of Manila like tapsilog and longsilog to beer matches like nachos and fries.

As with many other bars, 90 Proof is pretty snug and can get pretty hot and humid once the crowd grows, couple this with the unbelievable amounts of cigarette smoke, poor ventilation and weak air-conditioning. From the looks of it, they can probably seat no more than 40 people inside with an additional 20 or so outside but the numbers go well beyond acceptable proportions on event nights.

You may read more about 90 Proof from Planet Philippines here — > 90 Proof

And here courtesy of The Manila Times — > 90 Proof Again

90 Proof is best visited on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Expect to see a crowd. It is located at the Raffles Builging just beside Mocha Blends.

Do Not Enter Turo-Turo - At last!!

At the beginning of this blog, I mentioned something about searching for that special place that offered “quality food for low low prices.” A place where I, as the commoner, can frequent and rely on for my everyday lunch sans the wallet pressure. At last, I may have actually found that place.

Today I faced the usual crisis that I’ve been facing for the past two weeks every 12 noon at lunch. Lost that I am, I had a very hard time figuring out where to go. Ministop was always one of the first things that pop into my head but I’m pretty much fed up with their food and the relatively high prices. My friend was insisting that I should take a jeep to Robinson’s Galleria and try out Piadina’s. For lack of a better option, I proceeded to Ruby Road, just behind Emerald Avenue hoping to catch that elusive jeepney but, apparently, about a million other people were thinking the same thing. Then I remembered seeing a quaint little canteen or, more precisely, turo-turo a couple of buildings from Strata 100.

At the back of the old low-rising Emerald Building right next to the very expensive Le Souffle, hidden away at a corner of its parking lot is an un-named stall which you could easily mistake for a shanty were not it not for the number of workers and professionals lining up just outside. Since it has no marks of any kind except for a worn out circular “Do Not Enter” sign painted on the outside wall, then I shall call this place the “Do Not Enter Turo-Turo”.

It’s a very tight squeeze going in, you’ll have to bend your neck a little if you’re tall enough so that your head doesn’t hit the misshapen celing. The place is like a little nipa hut complete with bright green bamboo walls and long wooden chairs and tables covered in tacky plastic mantelpieces reminiscent of the older days. Nonetheless the place was packed, there were 4 lines converging into the glass display housing some 8 to 10 of your most common dishes such as bistik, menudo, pritong bangus, etc., and some other favorites such as fried chicken (prayd tsiken) and breaded pork chops (pork tsaps). There was an entire family of about 8 to 10 running the affair with 4 young females taking and shouting orders, a few males fixing tables, cleaning and picking up plates while a few others in the background prepared food. They moved at a furious pace making a flurry out of the smallest orders even if the place was so small I could walk from end to the other in no more than 7 normal steps.

Naturally, I imagine a place like this isn’t exactly for the faint of heart or of stomach and yet I find that it attracts just about every kind of soul you can find in the Emerald Avenue/Ruby Road enclave. Speaking of which, I was amused to find this very attractive young girl, on stilletos wearing tight low-rise jeans and a pink cardigan over a white baby-tee, seated at one of the tables heartily downing a large piece of fried chicken. Unexpected. And right behind her, a middle-aged woman in a faded orange or pink office blazer who was seated in front of an elderly woman in plain house clothes. Lining up were men coming in droves wearing barongs and long-sleeved executive shirts.

The lines moved faster than I imagined and I was quickly pushed to the front where I ordered my bistik and one serving of rice. It was, at 35 pesos, a steal. I suppose the other dishes are just around or about the same price. The bistik had that home-made mother’s touch essence to it despite being a bit too gamey with all the tendons and ligaments, but the meat was nevertheless very tender. The rice was a bit dry and the portion was small but, at 5 bucks a pop, you can easily order a second round. No wonder everyone else was ordering one-and-a-half or two servings.

Now, would I come back here? Definitely. I think that for ordinary workers such as myself, the only alternative, other than brining your own lunch, to having a good meal for a low low price would be to stop by at the Do Not Enter Turo Turo. Forget about the ambience, here’s real food that caters to the Filipino taste. Of course, you do have to visit something more expensive once in a while to soften up that palate and indulge your senses.

As I mentioned earlier, the Do Not Enter Turo-Turo can be found at the rear parking of the Emerald Building at Ruby Road. If you have a difficult time finding it, look for the Le Souffle sign and there it is.

Post Script:

And another thing, if you’re planning to eat there, bring a friend and prepare to be smouldered by the heat. I suggest you just buy your food, this takes no more than 5 maybe 10 minutes, and then eat lunch at your office’s pantry.

McDo - Love ko ‘to

Ahh, the Golden Arches. This restaurant has made such an impact on this world that it’s become an economic index. After all, “Billions and Billions” have been served. It even has a local (Filipino) term of endearment - Mcdo or should I say, Makdo - with a very hard “o” (otherwise, non-Filipino readers would mistake it for Mc - do, which isn’t very wholesome at all). Mcdonald’s scope is such that it’s marketing strategy has to develop in line with its local host, hence the translations of their ever-changing slogans. And their mascots are nothing but celebrities in their own right - impressing themselves very early into children’s minds.

I don’t remember when I first tasted the salty sweet taste that I have come to love about Mcdonald’s. I suppose it was long time ago, at a very impressionable age. To be subjected to that kind of commercialism so early in my life must have been overwhelming.

Quite recently, Mcdonald’s has made use of a very different approach and that is through our hearts but not our stomachs, brain-washing us with heart-warming commercials centered on families and relationships (i.e. Karen/Gina) - targeting the more introspective and perceptive - creating an association not only between it and good food but also to genuine Filipino values of kinship and morals.

Without a doubt, Mcdonald’s strives to uphold the image as the fastfood chain for the masses. One can only surmise the amounts spent on its marketing. And one can only guess at the number of customers it serves everyday. Sometimes you have to ask yourself, “is there something in their burgers that makes me come back again and again?” Not that their burger is anything special, I believe Jolibee’s is better, but what makes us come back? Has the advertising been so effective that Mcdonald’s has all been but ingrained into our minds? It is not uncommon to have a group of friends fighting or mulling over where to eat, and many times the decision is easily Mcdonald’s for lack of a better choice or just for the sake of ending an argument. Mcdonald’s is an easy decision to make. First of all, simply because it’s popular and familiar and second, because it is a place we have come to trust. We have to admit, there are alternatives - cheaper or even healthier ones at that - which we never take.

The first time I moved to Emerald Avenue, Mcdonald’s was quickly one of my choices. Though a few blocks away, I had the patience enough to walk it. The lines are usually long, but I had the patience to wait it. The service is usually bad, but I had the patience to take it. This I willingly endured, thoughtlessly.

As I mentioned, Mcdonald’s sells itself as the fastfood chain for the masses. Despite this, Mcdonald’s prices are well beyond any commoner’s budget. Yet, we are drawn to the shimmer of the Golden Arches and aroma of french fries frying.

However, as any culinary connoisseur will tell you, Mcdonald’s is a bane not only to public health (as it is often objectified as a major cause of obesity, mostly in America) but also to fine cultural cuisines and the gastronomic experience. Mcdonald’s has, in fact, been involved in some lawsuits for causing health problems which I believe to have been later dropped. These lawsuits I think are inane not in that I root for the Mcdonald’s cause but because we are responsible for what we eat, and it is absurd to think that Mcdonald’s should have to warn anyone that their food is fattening. Nonetheless, these lawsuits and criticisms no matter how defiant have failed to thwart Mcdonald’s success as a fastfood chain.

Mcdonald’s does not exactly cater to the health-conscious or to those looking for variety for that unique taste. Mcdonald’s caters to the everyman who would rather have a bite of that burger or those fries which have been, time and again, tried and tested as sure winners with the crowd. The food isn’t bad at all, in fact the fries are quite a favorite. There isn’t much to be said about its ambience, it is a fastfood restaurant after all. It only needs to be clean and shiny, and with the kind of workforce any Mcdonald’s branch has at its disposal, cleanliness is nothing to worry about, most of the time.

The Mcdonald’s nearest Emerald Avenue is located at St. Francis Square at the corner of Julio Vargas Avenue and San Miguel Avenue, behind SM MegaMall Building A.

Apparently and unfortunately, it is against their copyrights for me to copy and re-produce images from their website.

The BigMac index can be found here — > BigMac Index

You may find a related article by Lia here — > cheesedip

Plaid - The Sandwich Company

Plaid, pronounced “plad” and not “played”, is what I would call a “sandwich cafe.” This stems of course from the simple fact that sandwiches appear to be the singular theme of their restaurant, drinks and side dishes of course playing supportive roles in uplifting the good name of the sandwich.

The word “plaid” could mean any of the following courtesy of Merriam-Webster online.

1. a rectangular length of tartan worn over the left shoulder
as part of the Scottish national costume

2. a: a twilled woolen fabric with a tartan pattern
b : a fabric with a pattern of tartan or an imitation of tartan

3 a : TARTAN 1
b : a pattern of unevenly spaced repeated
stripes crossing at right angles

How the above definitions could relate to a sandwich is anyone’s guess but I suppose the relationship is derived from the patterns created on the sandwich after it has been grilled. Or the fact that Plaid originally hails from the United Kingdom.

The main motivation behind the restaurant is providing quality healthy sandwiches for people on the go - freshly made sandwiches are set up on a chilled shelf for display and are ready for the customer’s taking along with other conconctions that are available. If you have a hard time imagining the scenario, think of the grocery shelves where you find the cheeses and the butters. (Note, however, that by healthy they mean all-natural organic products with no preservatives and not fat, cholesterol or salt free.) This little twist certainly earns it a few points for novelty but does not take my breath away. To be honest, I find no objective value in that except that it would shave a few minutes off your ordering time.

A few days ago, while pondering on what sandwich I would spend my 130 pesos on, I realized that they had but one sandwich for each flavor which they would replace as each one was plucked from the shelf. Certainly this defeats the entire purpose of the “sandwiches on the go” motto, or as Female Network’s Joanna Manalastas and Lynn Lopez put it, Pret A Manger, which is French for ready-to-eat. In fact, I missed my sandwich by mere seconds that very day.

Nonetheless, I find Plaid to be a fairly good place to spend your afternoon break were it not for the high prices. The shop is clean with crip and clear cut lines, minimalist furnishings and a fresh ambience. Yet, it still remains to be a choice primarily for the blessed corporate officers, ordinary worker come in but are few and far between. After all this is not a place to have your everyday lunch.

There are around about 20 flavors to choose from ranging from your classic BLT sandwich (The Classic BLT) to the more unorthodox such as The Big Bangus. Certainly there is a flavor for everybody on this menu, whether you crave for pork, beef, poultry, seafood or vegetable. Plaid promises that each one is a uniquely delightful experience.

Plaid also offers salads, pasta and deserts

If you find yourself lusting for a sandwich, I suggest you visit the store at Orient Square and order the Crispy Chicken or the Roast Beef Redux. You may have the sandwich grilled and is best eaten right after. You may also wish to come after 7 pm when they drop prices on all sandwiches by 30%.

You may read an article on Plaid from the Female Network here — >Plaid

My thanks to them for these wonderful pictures.

Plaid is located at G/F, The Orient Square Building, Ruby Road, Ortigas Center, Pasig City. There’s also have a small stall at Level 4, The Podium.

Post Script

You also have to try their Roast Beef Redux. It’s absolutely wonderful just very messy and difficult to eat. Have someone cut it up for you, which is what I should have done and I would’ve avoided messing up my shirt.

You also have to try their Roast Beef Redux. It’s absolutely wonderful just very messy and difficult to eat. Have someone cut it up for you, which is what I should have done and I would’ve avoided messing up my shirt.

Cafe Agogo

I tried Cafe Agogo yesterday due mostly to the persistent lobbying of my friends. I was looking forward to a scrumptious serving of Panini - apparently that’s what they call hot sandwiches in Italy.

Upon closer inspection, you realize that Cafe Agogo is not a cafe at all but a restaurant-slash-bar. A restaurant in the morning serving a complete array of Italian dishes from Paninis to Deli Sandwiches to full on rice meals, at night it transforms into a bar serving an array of three alcoholic drinks!! - San Mig, Vodka Ice and Erg. It also features acoustic performances by up-and-coming and aspiring bands and artists on Thursday nights.

Inside, the lighting is poor, the walls are dark, the furnishings are disorganized and un-coordinated. To say the least, the interiors are gloomy and brooding, which I think are more appropriate for rock concerts rather than mellow tearjerking acoustics. There is a large window facing Emerald Avenue but this is largely obcured by hangings, allowing very little light to enter. The main counter is nothing but a high wooden table covered in cloth to hide boxes and wires underneath it, and cases of beer are stacked just beside it. However, it does have that appeal of a quaint little get-away that nobody else knows about. And because it is cluttered and disorganized, it manages to provide a more personal and comfortable atmosphere great for little coffee breaks and get-togethers.

As per suggestions, I ordered Chicken Basil which at 115 bucks came quite as a surprise, expecting something around the area of 80 pesos. The girl taking my order quickly asked if I would like cheese with it, to which I unwittingly nodded in approval not knowing that a flat square piece of cheese you can buy off the shelf in any grocery or conveniece store would cost me an additional 15 bucks. I should’ve checked the menu.

The bread they use is something similar to ciabatta only flatter and wider, about twice the length of a slice of your regular american loaf bread and just as wide. The sandwich was pretty good actually (so, I have not been deceived by my friends after all) but not as grand as you would expect from 115, or should I say, 130 pesos. A few potato chips do come with the order, but I think there should at least be a choice of cold or hot drink. For that, I found my way to Figaro for a nice warm cappuccino.

In any case, some people still find it to be a worthwhile place as this blogger put it.

While others find that Cafe Agogo’s unisex bathroom has a little too many harrowing stories to tell.

If you happen to stop by the place, I would also suggest the Chicken Basil Panini if 115 pesos isn’t too much for you to shell out. Their Paninis range from 90 to 140 pesos, Combo Meals at 139, Deli Sandwiches in and around the area of 125 pesos, Pizzas at 115 to 129 (no clue how big) and rice meals from 139 to 169. They also serve your San Mig at 35 pesos.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t find any pictures of Cafe Agogo on the internet. It is located just right in front of Strata 100 at the G/F, Emerald Mansion, Emerald Avenu, Ortigas Center, Pasig City.

Ministop - The Salaryman’s Haven

Ministop is without a doubt the country’s most prolific convenience store chain. As of June 2004, there were already 99 stores in the Philippines. Originally from Japan, this franchising phenomenon also has 1630 stores in its home country and 911 all throughout china. True to form and name, it is the epitome of convenience, you can find one at almost every corner in Makati, Ortigas and other areas, and more are popping up every month.

The popularity of Ministop stems largely from it’s down-to-earth approach to retailing, it is a haven to the ordinary worker. While not as cheap as the sari-sari store around the corner or the friendly neighborhood jollijeep, it succesfully provides an affordable alternative. Ministop has all but a static list of options in its menu. Apart from the usual groceries such as bread, canned goods, bottled and canned drinks, junkfood, etc., it also offers quick and affordable meals such as fried chicken, kariman, siomai, siopao, hotdog sandwiches and other foodstuff. They also provide a number of meal combinations that give even more value for your money. And because it is open 24 hours, it is often a watering hole for call center workers plying the night shift. It is also often a refuge to those who travel at night, offering a comfortable respite.

I’d give you their website but it’s in Japanese so why bother. Ministop Emerald Avenue is also located at G/F Hanston Bldg, Emerald Avenue, Pasig City.

Figaro - The Coffee Shop of Choice

One of many coffee shops on Emerald Avenue, Figaro is quite easily one of the more expensive if not the most expensive, catering to and attracting mostly company higher-ups and professionals as well as the occasional yuppie and call center coffee addict. The prices are not significantly any higher than your local Starbucks or Seattle’s Best Coffee shops and in fact some coffee products may be cheaper but I have not had the opportunity to fully compare prices.

Figaro is the coffee shop of choice for several reasons.

Firstly, Figaro is more all-around, offering a wider array of food choices than any other coffee shop apart from the usual small cakes and pastries. Their sandwiches offer you more bang-for-the-buck as opposed to the dry ready-made givings at Starbucks. They are fresh and hot off the grill, heftier and simply more delicious. However, the drinks menu is not quite as extensive as those of the more commercialized coffee shops and cannot quite compare to their mass appeal. Figaro promptly compensates for these shortcomings by providing quality service. This is the second reason.

Figaro is not your ordinary coffee shop, they are, in more ways than one, a full-service restaurant. Your orders and change are delivered right to the table and waiters are available to serve you should you require any assistance.

The Figaro Concept

“Figaro is a Total Coffee Store designed to make the experience of coffee drinking a pleasure for our customers. To accomplish this, we offer a variety of proprietary coffee blends, flavors, coffee concoctions and food recipes, and the best coffee-making equipment.”

Finally, the shop is well-maintained and clean, less cluttered and is luxuriously furnished with steel and wood chairs as well as leather lounge chairs and sofas. The interior design is based largely on earthen and natural colors, with glossy wood finishings for the counter and marble floors. There is ample to prominent lighting and a large glass window allows natural light to seep in while mirrors give the illusion of space. The ambience certainly gives depth and value to the coffee experience.

Filipinos will be extremely pleased to learn that Figaro is actually a local enterprise with around 40 branches all over Luzon. They’ve also managed to set up shop in Hong Kong.

Should you decide to try it out for yourself, I would suggest the grilled tuna and cheese sandwich and a cappuccino. It will set you back by 150 - 180 pesos.

Figaro Emerald Avenue is located at G/F Hanston Bldg, Emerald Avenue, Pasig City. You can visit their website here - Figaro Coffee

You may find some related comments here –> Mudslinger on Figaro

Food Experiece

As I mentioned in my previous entry, I’ve been to 6 food places in the last 9 working days. These are Figaro (3 times), Ministop (many times), Plaid (twice), Cafe Agogo (once), the food court at Orient Square (once) and Macdonald’s (twice). I will deconstruct the experience at each location separately in terms of quality including taste and presentation, ambience, service, price and overall appeal and impression. Of course, I will also discuss each and every new place that I visit.

emeraldpastures - A Brief History Of Its Brief History

Just recently, I moved to a new company comfortably situated smack dab in the middle of Emerald Avenue in an ancient building called Strata 100. It is a minimally populated low-rise building just across the parking lot behind Discovery Suites, not 5 minutes away from Podium, 10 from Megamall and 15 from the MRT Ortigas Station. I have been working here exactly 9 days.

Podium

Sm Megamall

So far, the only routine I have mastered is walking from the MRT station, through Megamall, through the un-cemented parking lot beside podium, through Discovery suites (shamefully I might add) and through the Strata 100 back door. And the opposite direction going home. The routine, the more important one, which I haven’t mastered is having lunch. Unfortunately, Ortigas does not have the same luxury as Makati of having Jollijeeps. In the 9 days I’ve been here, I’ve visited exaclty 6 restaurants/cafes, all of which do not live up to my standards of quality food for low low prices. Finally, I also have to deal with getting around the center itself. Anyone who has spent enough time here will know that walking is the primary method of transportation due mainly to the lack of any viable and reliably consistent alternatives. Taxis are dinstinctly more abundant here than in Makati in relation to the number of people flagging them down (meaning, there are more empty cabs). Alas, taxi rides are too much of a luxury and absurd if you mean to travel well within your field of vision. There are also jeepneys that make short loops around the district but are few and far between while walking too far with so little time just isn’t worth it. That is but one of my dilemmas.

And that is the central theme of this blog - my (mis)adventures as I try to discover and learn the ins and outs of the Ortigas area. In due time, I am hopeful that I will have mastered this new world.

Tabula Rasa - An Introduction

Moving to a new and different place to live or work exacts quite a toll on the human body and mind. First of all, there’s the matter of getting used to the general environment. After staying in the same place for quite a certain period of time, you develop certain reflexes on how to move around and about your environment. For example, while it’s almost entirely an unconscious action on our part, we reach for light switches, door knobs, faucet handles, railings without even looking or thinking. This mental map of course becomes obsolete in our new surroundings. There is always a mental struggle or at the very least a conscious effort to determine each next step in the first few days or even weeks in a new environment. Then there’s also the matter of getting used to the environment immediately surrounding your area. There’s the issue of transportation, basic utilities, food sources, etc. Food sources in the form restaurants, cafeterias, cafes, convenience stores, manongs, manangs and the like is a major inspiration for this blog.