Here’s the announcement from Adarna:

‘PS. Mahal kita.’ A Valentine Tertulia at Adarna

Date:   Saturday. February 13, 2010

Time:   7:00pm ~ 10:00pm

Location: 119 Kalayaan Ave., Quezon City

A tertulia is a social gathering common during the turn of the century. Friends usually congregate in someone’s home late in the afternoon or early evening to enjoy conversation, art and culture. The mood is informal and the guests themselves provide the entertainment.

In celebration of Valentine’s day, you are cordially invited to participate in this special tertulia by sharing real love letters, poems or songs expressing Pinoy romance .

This is a FREE event but guests are requested to come in Filipiniana attire—regional, period, or even as literary or historical Pinoy lovers!

Come and celebrate the timelessness of Pinoy love at Adarna.

For questions and reservations please send us a message through our FB accounts or through:

adarnafoodandculture@yahoo.com, and adarnafoodandculture@gmail.com

====================

Guidelines for the Love Letter Contest

1. All entries must be authentic (actually sent/received) and unpublished.

2. Love letters refer to those actually sent/ received in whatever manner (electronic, postal, hand-carried) expressing/professing ROMANTIC love. This means, that letters expressing love for country, children, pets, nature etc. will not be allowed at this time.

3. Love letters may express the whole range of:
• emotions—crush, passion, lust, sadness, rage, madness, rapture;
• states—beginnings, endings, long-term, it’s complicated;
• forms– proposals, odes, affirmations, vows;
• or cover a range of situations—unrequited, lost, long-distance, second chances, wartime, forbidden, secret, marriage, young love, May- December, LGBT, cyber, interracial, virtual etc.
• letters may be old or new but not written for purposes of joining the contest.

4. Love letter readers may or may not necessarily be the writers and vice versa

5. The entire letter, or an excerpt thereof may be read provided that it does not exceed one short bond, double space, 12 font. For letters written in long hand, it must not exceed 350 words.

6. It is not necessary to reveal the identity of the writer or receiver, however a brief (2 mins!) background on the context of the letter is requested to help the audience appreciate the letter.

7. Only two letters written/sent/received by the same person will be considered.

8. A reader can only read a maximum of two letters.

9. Ideally, the letters should be in Filipino or English so more people can understand it. However, love letters in other Filipino languages, or Spanish may be read and briefly translated.

10. The manner of judging and prizes will be revealed during the tertulia.

Performances
1. Guests are encouraged to share their talents during the program. Songs, dances, poems or the playing of musical instruments are welcome provided that it is in keeping with the theme.

2. Please advise Adarna at the latest, February 10 so we could queue you in the program.

3. In case you require any special set up or intend to bring special equipment, please give us at least three days notice, so we can in turn inform you if such can be arranged/accommodated.

COMING SOON!
• February 6 Pinoy Cocktails

Enjoy old and new Pinoy cocktails beginning February 6. Perfect while waiting for your lunch or dinner orders or just to unwind.

HAPPENING NOW!

For the whole month of February, enjoy 20% off when you order a bottle of any of our red, white and local wines.

Try our new appetizers available only this February!
• Higados- Filipinos of old, used to ‘feel’ strong emotions not with their heart, but their liver called ‘atay’ or ‘hati’. With this as inspiration, Adarna offers chicken liver cooked in wine and spices liberally sprinkled with freshly ground pepper. Excellent with red wine.

• Garbanzos y patatas picante – Fiery crunchy chickpeas and crisp chili potatoes are a fun vegetarian hot treat. Goes very well with chilled white or fruit wine.

• Albondigas en salsa – A dish of meatballs in spicy olive tomato sauce served with bread sticks for some serious flavor. Try this with red wine.

Noah’s Park combines leisure and nature–very suitable for bonding with your family or friends. Of course, who can resist the inviting warm pools. Noah’s Park is probably one of the resorts with very safe pools, especially for  children.

Pool(s) of fun and cottages to rest

Beyond  fun in the Water

Aside from enjoying an all-day dip in the water, Noah’s Park offers other equally enjoyable activities. From the entrance of the resort, guests are greeted by a large fishing area.  If you’re not up to swimming, go fishing! You can rent one of the cottages surrounding the lagoon, grill your catch and voila! Then share it with your barkada.

Fishing lagoon. The uphill road leads to the pool area.

Since the pool area is several meters away from the entrance, a multicab services the guests to and from the swimming area. But why spoil the fun? Go hike and enjoy the green surrounding instead. Detour to the hanging bridge for a while, climb to the foot of a man-made waterfalls, and if you get tired, take a few minutes rest at one of the wooden benches placed just before you reach the pool area. You’ll definitely appreciate the water more.

Breathtaking views (see the mountains of Montalban?)

Beautiful floras.

You can also do karaoke for everyone to hear your vocal prowess, get a henna tattoo with your friends at the tattoo parlor and face painting for the kids.

The lush greenery and natural beauty surrounding  makes it an appropriate place to hold reunions, parties and weddings. Noah’s Park is located in Brgy. San Isidro, Montalban, Rizal just across Avilon Zoo. They can be reached at the following numbers: +63922-8544410 / (+632)517-1242 / (+632)401-4735

_________

*barkada – group of friends

*multicab – vehicle for mass transportation, resembles a jeepney but smaller in size.

A familiar sight? When was the last time you were here?

Located at the heart of Manila, Rizal Park is one of the main attractions of the city. In the Spanish colonial era, it used to be a cleared area aimed to buffer any rebellious acts of the locals against the walled city of Intramuros, which, at that time, was the center of business and social activities. The area was then named Bagumbayan or New Town, but was better known as Luneta because its shape was like a small moon or lunette (Spanish). In 1912, Act No. 243 of the Philippine Assembly, declared the place as the site where a monument of Dr. Jose Rizal and a mausoleum which will house his remains will be erected. This location is almost the same spot where Dr. Jose Rizal was executed on December 30, 1896. Up to this day, two ceremonial guards known as Kabalyeros de Rizal or Knights of Rizal guard the National Hero’s monument twenty-four hours a day and all throughout the week.

How much of Luneta have you seen so far? Do you have a photo by the Rizal monument? Or are you one of those who find this idea appalling? But leaders from other countries do not think so. In fact most visiting dignitaries make it a point to pay respect and lay a wreath at the monument. The many times I’ve been in Luneta, groups of foreign visitors excitedly pose in front to take pictures.

Today, aside from the Rizal monument, Luneta Park has other attractions like the man-made lake with a replica of the archipelago in it, the Quirino Grandstand, the Chinese and Japanese Gardens (favorite venues of students for rehearsals of school presentations), a monument of Lapu-Lapu and a few meters from the monument is the National Museum, and the big flagpole in front of Rizal monument (marks kilometer zero). At night, visitors can catch the light and sound show about the last days of the National Hero in the park’s open theater.

Let me end this post with snapshots of Bagumbayan today:

Photos: marker of Jose Rizal’s execution site; a series of relief sculptures depicting the life of the National Hero; a scene in the light and sound show

Photos: La Madre Filipina (a detail on the right side of the Rizal monument also depicts a mother and has this inscription below: “La Madre Filipina cria el porvenir del pais”*); Binhi ng Kalayaan (unveiled during the Philippine Centennial, dedicated to the heroes of the country); a very attractive tree, Natinal Museum of the Filipino People (used to be the Finance Building); Lapu-Lapu monument; bulova clock

—————

*Rough translation: The Filipina mother nurtures the future of the country (Fil.: Ang ina ang humuhubog sa kinabukasan ng bayan)

Some of the photos in this post courtesy of my friend Agnes. Used with permission.

Pan de Amerikana embodies quality dining experience. The concept of the restaurant is meant to make every diner feel at ease. The ambiance is a fusion of European, Asian and Filipiniana that blended well together, creating a homey environment and a perfect garden set up. Unlike other concept dining places, Pan de Amerikana is not restrictive. Guests are free to wander around while waiting for their food to be served and linger some more after they have finished eating. And speaking of food, the restaurant serves authentic Marikina dishes and other Filipino foods. Marikina boasts of its Everlasting and Waknatoy. Everlasting is similar to embotido but it is placed and cooked in a “llanera.” It is named as such because it in the olden days, this dish is ever present in festivities and gatherings. Waknatoy on the other hand is like menudo. And like everlasting, it is also always on the table of almost every family gathering. The Chinese settlers in Marikina during that time would always complain and say, “Ito na naman? Wak na `toy!” (This dish again? No, not this dish again!). Other notable dishes in Pan de Amerikana are the Ilocano sarabasab, Bicolano express-laing, Cebuano sinugba and sisig rice. But the taste of these foods is not the only reason to dine at Pan de Amerikana. With a very nice ambiance, you’ll be surprised at how affordable their meals are.

Some of the things to look forward to at Pan de Amerikana

More than a place to eat, Pan de Amerikana is also an educational facility. As an added attraction, people can play chess for free. There are rows and rows of tables embedded or etched with a chessboard. Chess pieces are also available near the counter, which people can use. They just have to return them afterwards. But that’s not all! Kids can start appreciating chess also despite their young age through Pan de Amerikana’s giant chessboard. The big chess pieces, according to Mr. Jun Salvador of Pan de Amerikana, are instructional materials, like those used in Russia, Canada and Singapore.

The giant chessboard

The restaurant is also a haven for Marikina artists. There is an art session in Pan de Amerika every Tuesday and artists can display their pieces there until they are sold.

But why is the restaurant named Pan de Amerikana? What started it all?

Before the restaurant, Pan de Amerikana used to be a bakery selling 1950′s pandesal. It is different from the pandesal we are familiar with because its main ingredient is whole wheat flour and it is cooked using firewood, so the taste is really different. The size of the bread is big and sold for only five pesos and fifty centavos (Php5.50) a piece. They also sell a loaf-like pandesal (pandesal pan Amerikano) for fifty-five pesos (Php55.00). The pan Amerikano and Marikina are among the basis for the name of the restaurant.

Other attractions at Pan de Amerikana are the tree house, the rope bridge, and it offers free Wi-Fi service. Pan de Amerikana is located at 92 Ordoñez Street, Concepcion Dos, Marikana City. You may reach the restaurant at 475-2398. It is open from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm from Mondays to Saturdays and 7:00 am to 3:00 pm on Sundays.

For more photos of Pan de Amerikana, click here.

I may be wrong, but most people think that museums are meant solely for the well-off members of the society, an activity only the rich people can afford and enjoy. That is a HUGE misconception. If you can afford buying tokens for a videoke machine (don’t shoot me, I have nothing against karaoke singing. I’m Pinoy, so I like it, too), you definitely can afford museum entrance fees. Some of them do not even charge a dime!

You see, museums are there for you — for you to learn more about your community, your country, a religion, a new technology, history, etc. Spending time in a museum somehow changes, in a positive way, your view of yourself as part the society. Sometimes you can find the missing aspects of your life. It can be fun, only when you start appreciating what you see there. You can even say, museums rock!

It had been a little while since I’ve been to one. This year I plan to visit as many as I can (that’s the GRAND plan!). And since I’m based in Metro Manila, I’ll start here. I’ve made a list of the museums here and grouped them by locality.  You might want to visit them also. Or join me!

Here goes my list with a few basic details:

City of Manila
Museo Pambata (Ermita)
Museum Hours:
Sunday 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Tuesday-Saturday 8:00 am-5:00 pm (Aug – March), 9:00 am-5:00 pm (April-July)
Admission: Php 100 (children & adults), Free/discounted for Manila residents (bring ID); Free for museum workers and teachers (bring ID); Free for street children, infants

Archdiocesan Museum of Manila (Intramuros)
Museum Hours:
Monday-Thursday 9:00 am-11:30 am, 1:30 pm-4:30 pm
Friday 9:00 am-11:30 pm
Admission: Free

Casa Manila Museum (Intramuros)
Museum Hours:
Tuesday-Sunday 9:00 am-12:00 nn, 1:00 pm-6:00 pm
Admission: Less than Php 20

San Agustin Museum (Intramuros)
Museum Hours:
Open Daily 9:00 am-12:00nn, 1:00 pm-5:00 pm
Admission: Free (you have the option of making a donation at the museum)

The National Museum of the Philippines (Rizal Park)
Museum Hours:
Wednesday-Sunday 10:00 am-4:30 pm
Admission: Php 100 (adults), Php 30 (students with ID), Free on Thursdays

Pasay City
The CCP Museum (Roxas Blvd.)
Museum Hours
Tuesday-Sunday: 10:00 am-6:00pm
Admission: Php 40 (adults), Php 20 (students and children)

Philippine Airforce Aerospace Museum (Villamor Airbase)
Museum Hours:
Monday-Friday 8:00 am-5:00 pm
Saturday 8:00 am-12:00 nn
Admission: Php 20

Metropolitan Museum of Manila (Roxas Blvd.)
Museum Hours:
Monday-Saturday 9:00 am-6:00 pm (closed on Sundays and Holidays)
Admission: Php 80

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, The Money Museum (Roxas Blvd.)
Museum Hours:
Monday-Friday 9:00 am-4:00 pm (lunch break at 12:00 nn-1:00 pm)

Makati City
The Ayala Museum (Greenbelt Park)
Museum Hours:
Tuesday-Friday 9:00 am-6:00pm
Saturday-Sunday 10:00am-7:00 pm
Admission:
Ground-Third Floor Galleries
Adult: Php 150 (Makati resident), Php 350 (non-resident)
Senior Citizen/Child/Student: Php 75 (Makati resident), Php 250 (non-resident)
Ground-Fourth Floor Galleries
Adult: Php 225 (Makati resident), Php 425 (non resident)
Senior Citizen/Student: Php 125 (Makati resident), Php 300 (non-resident)

Museo ng Makati (Brgy. Poblacion)
Museum Hours:
Monday-Friday 8:00 am-5:00 pm
Admission:

Philippine Army Museum (Fort Bonifacio)
Museum Hours:
Monday-Friday 8:00 am-4:00 pm
Weekends – only for group/organized tour (advanced reservation required)
Admission: less than Php 20 (info needs verification)

Marikina City
Shoe Museum (Brgy. San Roque)
Museum Hours:
Monday-Sunday 8:00 am-5:00 pm (lunch break at 12:00 nn-1:00 pm)
Admission: Php 20

Miniature Museum (Brgy. Sta. Elena)
Museum Hours:
Monday-Sunday 8:00 am-5:00 pm (lunch break at 12:00 nn-1:00 pm)
Admission: Php 30

Belen Museum (Brgy. Sta. Elena)
Museum Hours:
Monday-Sunday 8:00 am-5:00 pm (lunch break at 12:00 nn-1:00 pm)
Admission: Php 30

Doll Museum (Brgy. Sto. Niño)
Museum Hours:
Monday-Sunday 8:00 am-5:00 pm (lunch break at 12:00 nn-1:00 pm)
Admission: Php 25

Quezon City
Jorge B. Vargas Museum (UP-Diliman Campus)
Museum Hours:
Tuesday-Sunday 9:00 am-4:00 pm
Admission: Php 20 (UP student), Php 30 (non-UP student)

This is sort of my birthday gift for myself also. I thought that a little culture/art appreciation won’t hurt.

Hey, if I missed something on the list, feel free to add it up in the comments section. Also, I’m going to post details of my visits to these museums.

Unknown to many, a nature sanctuary is nestled right in the heart of Quezon City, where one can experience serenity, even for a while. The La Mesa Eco Park has been there for years. It has been rehabilitated a few years ago and is now open to the public again. It is a sanctuary for nature lovers, health buffs and for families who want to spend some quality time with each other.

Whatever your interests are, something will definitely suit you at the eco park. Enjoy a boat ride with friends at the boating lagoon, located just a few meters from the administration building. As you go around, you’ll have the view of the old dam. Fitness buffs have a reason to love La Mesa Eco Park. It has a fitness trail equipped with courses and obstacles designed to help improve the physical condition of the body. If you feel like swimming, you can do that, too. The eco park boasts of its saltwater pool, which is healthier, friendlier to your skin compared to regular swimming pools. Shaded by trees, surrounded by floras and varieties of orchids, the Orchidarium is a haven for horticulturists and of course, orchid lovers. It’s one of the most peaceful areas of the park. You can sit on a bench, read a book and you won’t even notice the passing of time. And, you get an extra treat from the birds with their melodious chirping. This area is also very conducive for students reviewing for an exam. No one will bother you here. Not so far from the Orchidarium is the amphitheater, a good venue for concerts, programs, stage plays and other cultural or artistic endeavor. You may also want to climb the stairs leading to the top of the flower terraces, where you can witness an explosion of colors when flowers are in bloom. After seeing these places, you can take a rest, eat lunch or snacks at the picnic tables and engage in a hearty chat with the whole family or barkada for as long as long as you like. You can even try the fishing lagoon for a catch or two that you cook after.

Personally, I wasn’t aware that the eco park still operates until a colleague asked me to take photos of the park for her newspaper article. My only knowledge of it is that it is part of La Mesa Watershed. Located in East Fairview, Quezon City, La Mesa Eco Park is very accessible. You can either drive or take a bus, FX-taxi or jeepney bound for Fairview and ask the driver to drop you off at East Fairview Subdivision. From there, ride a tricycle that will take you to the park. If you’re feeling adventurous, you may also hike. Just make sure you ask for proper direction first so you wouldn’t get lost. For a very low entrance fee, commune with nature and breathe fresh air, because nature tripping is something that you can still do in the city.

Since the island was a military reservation during World War II, Corregidor is a favorite destination among war veterans, Filipinos and Americans alike. It is also frequented by students, teachers, foreign visitors, and Pinoy travelers, too. Like myself.

Going to Corregidor is more or less an hour’s ferry ride from Manila. The ferry leaves CCP terminal at around eight o’clock in the morning. As the boat traverse the sea, you are free to go around; buy some snacks, take pictures, or you may go to the second deck where you’ll be able to enjoy the panorama of the ocean, the islands and mountains from afar and even the diminishing view of the city you left behind. When the ferry finally docks in Corregidor, tourist guides, tranvias and their drivers await the visitors at the port, ready to take them around the island.

In the tranvia, the tour guide gives an overview of the island, explains why its geographical location made it a perfect site for an army reservation camp, and introduces the structures around and the various military installations in the whole island. The tranvia stops at some points — for the tourist to explore and take a closer look.

Points of Interests in Corregidor:

1. The Mile-Long Barracks - Ruins of a three-story structure that measures around 1, 500 feet long and housed an estimated 2,000 American soldiers. Gen. Douglas McArthur’s headquarters was also located in this building. It became popular worldwide as the longest military barracks.

2. Batteries - Batteries are scattered in the island; strategically placed to protect Manila from outside forces. Twenty batteries were installed in Corregidor and some of the most well-known are: Battery Way, which has four 12-inch mortars capable of firing in any direction (360 degrees); Battery Geary, whose six 13-ton, 12-inch guns are the most effective; Battery Crocket, which has two seacoast mortars; and Battery Hearn, which has the longest seacoast gun capable of firing up to a distance of 17 miles.

3. Spanish Lighthouse – From the top of the lighthouse, one can enjoy a breathtaking view of Manila Bay, South China Sea and even the rest of the island.

4. Pacific War Memorial - Built by the American government in honor of the Filipinos and American soldiers who fought during thr second World War. Highlight of the memorial is a dome with an open ceiling, where, on the 6th of May (the fall of Corregidor), the rays of the sun directly shines on the marble altar in the middle.

5. Filipino Heroes Memorial – Dedicated to the Filipino heroes who fought for freedom. The memorial has 14 murals depicting the battle of Filipinos from the Spanish era up to EDSA People Power. From here, you can see Caballo Island, which is very near Corregidor.

6. Malinta Tunnel (Light-and-Sound Show) – A tour in Corregidor will not be complete without experiencing the 30-minute light-and-sound show inside the Malinta Tunnel. The show presents the many functions of the tunnel during the war: a hospital for the soldiers, fuel storage, weaponry, headquarters, and how it became the home and office of President Quezon’s government. The presentation ends with the Philippine national anthem and raising of the Philippine flag.

Maligayang ika-110 Araw ng Kalayaan sa lahat ng Pilipino. Saang dako ka man naroroon, saludo sa iyo ang mundo. Ipagbunyi ang iyong kalayaan! Nawa’y patuloy mong pangalaan ang kalayaang ipinaglaban ng iyong mga ninuno at patuloy na makibaka para sa iyong dakilang bayan.

Laging taas-noo. Dahil ikaw ay malayang Pilipino.

(Larawang may kahalintulad na paksa)

Anyway, on the last day of April, my colleagues/friends at the office decided to push trough with our plan of dining together at Adarna Food & Culture. It was also a farewell dinner for Conrad as it was his last day at the company. That was my third time at Adarna, and like my previous visits, it was again an enjoyable experience. This restaurant really keeps on surprising me and my taste bud.

There were thirteen of us who dined at Adarna. Butch, the waiter assigned to serve us, ushered us to our reserved table near the piano (we really specified that our table be by the piano because we planned to sing some songs after eating). Everybody instantly liked the homey ambiance. We ordered several platters of Batanes yellow rice, dilis, piassok, sigarilyas salad, Adobong Batangas ala Adarna, Pochero, Tapa served with a very interesting dip, and Gising-Gising. It was a delightful dinner; every bite a moment to relish. Personally, I have never imagined that sigarilyas (winged bean) could taste that good. The salad was one of the groups favorite. Piassok was a sure hit, of course—the beef melts in your mouth. This dish is a must-try at Adarna. Everything is a must-try at Adarna!

The Group (from left: Che, Avi , Yme, Chris, Tet, Leng-leng, Gemma & Alan, MJ, Obet, Conrad, Sir Jojo, and Sir Jay) Just finishing our cups of coffee, tea and hot choco. Thanks to Chef Giney for this photo.

Adarna Food & Culture is open until 10:30 in the evening. But we were enjoying the place, the company of each other and the singing that we somehow lost track of time. It was half past eleven when we left; many thanks to Ms. Beth and Chef Giney for allowing us to stay that long.

Here are some more pictures:

Jamming time! Yeah, we weren’t “that ready” for a night of music (`yan may baon talagang songbook )

Havin’ some good time.

Another group photo, taken just before we left Adarna.

Recently, I discovered a restaurant along Kalayaan Avenue in Diliman, Quezon City that serves delicious authentic Filipino dishes. Diners can take their pick of favorite dishes from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

The restaurant’s name is Adarna Food & Culture. It’s a cozy place that gives a homey ambiance while you’re dining. The whole concept is very Filipino, like a home, and the place looks like a restored old stone house. You can also dine alfresco, by the fountain. Interesting memorabilia and other collections adorn the main dining room and the function rooms. Customers also get a treat from the sari-sari store (Choices are chocnut, white rabbit candy, chocolate coin,  cigarette, and many other goodies available in a sari-sari store). It gives an exciting feel, like you’re a child again visiting your suking sari-sari sa may kanto.

One of the dishes served at the resto. Pinoy Pasta — it has chorizo instead of ham or hotdog.

A Muslim dish from Mindanao — Piassok. It is cooked in smoked coconut milk. The meat is so tender you won’t need a knife.

Different angels of the smaller dining area — perfect place to have coffee with friends. The sari-sari store is also located in this area.

Sherma & I, taking turns posing at the main dining hall.

______

You may reach Adarna Food & Culture at these numbers:

(+632)926-8712/(+63917)961-8113

E-mail: adarnafoodandculture@yahoo.com

(The have a graduation promo this month.)

Note: See photo of Adarna Food & Culture facade from previous entry.