Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Earthquake preparedness is everyone's business


Representatives of Laguna's Provincial Disaster Risk Management and Reduction Team have been conducting seminars on how to prepare in case a big earthquake hits the Philippines.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) conducted a "Walk the Fault" exercise to ascertain the exact location of fault lines along the West Valley Fault system. Red markers were placed on the identified fault lines.The Valley Fault System Atlas can be downloaded, upon registration, from the PHIVOLCS website.

Philippine residents who can be affected by a major earthquake are encouraged to prepare their own emergency grab bags.  These bags can include food and water, candy, first aid medicines, whistle, small blanket, workman's gloves and pocket knife (for adults), extra clothes and rubber shoes, plus extra cash. They should be easy to carry and not too heavy.

Saturday, June 27, 2015

Emergency response from an airline coffee spill





When I first read about the Gaisano family incident where a 10-year old daughter suffered from second degree burns on a Philippine Airlines flight from Bangkok to Manila, I remembered my own coffee spill experience that happened more than 10 years ago on a Northwest Airlines flight to Los Angeles, California. 

In my case, some people casually suggested that I sue the airline (in America, there were other incidents of coffee spills that won court cases) but I told them that as long as the airline managed the incident well, I was okay with that. 

I was then traveling with my husband and baby.  We even had to request for a bassinet that was temporarily attached to the wall, as we sat right in front of it.  After we ate our meal, I requested for coffee.  The Filipina flight attendant brought the very hot beverage and handed it to me.  As I was mixing the creamer and sugar, the beverage spilled on my lap.  I was locked to my seat table and could not immediately get out of my seat so I sustained second degree burns.  Instead of helping me out of my difficult position, the attendant left to get a dry rag.

I later discussed this incident with the Northwest Airlines manager who met me at the Los Angeles airport.  He agreed with me that there is a correct way in serving a hot beverage.  It should be served on a tray.  This wasn’t done in my situation.  Although the ultimate question on who or what caused the spill appears moot at this point, it is the airline’s emergency response that deserves notice.

More than the flight attendant who served the coffee, it was the purser who managed the situation better.  She even lent me her dress while we were drying my clothes.  Of course, I cannot forget what the airline did to ensure that I was taken care of, all the way to America.

Upon reaching the Narita International Airport in Japan, I was whisked to an airport clinic where the Japanese doctor applied a thick bandage on my wound.  He even suggested that I should convalesce for around a week in Japan.  Since the airline was rushing to get me to my connecting flight, the suggestion was not followed.

When we reached the tarmac of the Los Angeles International Airport, I was surprised to find paramedics at the scene in order to check on my wound.  When they saw that it was well bandaged and that I was functioning normally, they said that they wouldn’t care to touch it.  Instead the airline sent me to a clinic.

At the clinic, the doctor inspected the wound and gave lots of white cream that I was supposed to apply every day in order to heal the burn.  They provided all the medicines that I needed.  I followed the doctor’s advice and in a few weeks, my burns healed completely without any scars.


In this day and age when airline travel seems filled with nightmare scenarios, it is good to look back at a time when extraordinary situations were handled efficiently.  Hopefully, it will give ideas on how future incidents can also be addressed.

Thursday, June 18, 2015

Happy birthday Jose Rizal

A few years ago, we had the chance to visit the Calamba Rizal Shrine, the historical place where Jose Rizal grew up.  

Jose Rizal was born 19 June 1861.


The shrine features a reproduction of the grand house where Rizal grew up.
During his years in exile, Rizal longed for his home in Calamba.
A few crude cooking instruments. It has been narrated that Rizal learned his alphabet in the kitchen.
A glimpse of life more than 100 years ago.
In this modern age where water just flows out of the tap, we appreciate how comfortable life has become.

Friday, June 12, 2015

Holiday Inn & Suites Makati keeps families in mind

Compared to a nearby luxury hotel, the rooms at Holiday Inn appear more spacious and allow space for children.
Family members can choose between soft and firm pillows.

The mini bar also includes kiddie items.

According to the staff at Flavors Restaurant located in the hotel lobby, children 12 years and below (of checked-in guests) eat free depending on the number of paying guests.

In other countries, however, Holiday Inn appears to provide a more lenient approach to the Kids Stay and Eat Free offer.  The hotel's global website states:

http://www.ihg.com/holidayinn/hotels/us/en/global/offers/amenities/kids


"Up to four kids ages 12 and under eat free any time of the day in any Holiday Inn® on-site restaurant. Our kids’ menu features a variety of kids’ favorites, which means your little ones will be full and happy. Up to four kids ages 12 and under eat free any time of the day in any Holiday Inn® hotel.** [Terms and Conditions also listed on the website]."

Tuesday, June 2, 2015

Nuvali Solenad 3 looms large with new openings















As of January 2016, additional stores have opened including the movie theaters. 

Among the newer restaurants spotted were TGIFridays, Pepper Lunch, Bonchon, Sbarro, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, and Savory. 


Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken is a Filipino restaurant chain and has a branch in Myanmar:

http://joyposadaswrites.blogspot.com/2016/01/peri-peri-charcoal-chicken-attracts.html?m=0


So far, we tried their cakes. This restaurant allows diners to cook their own pancakes at the table. They open early around 7am on weekends and 10am on weekdays.





Craft Coffee Revolution also open:

http://joyposadaswrites.blogspot.com/2016/01/craft-coffee-revolution-opens-in.html?m=0

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Here are a few restaurants that were among the first to open:

Banapple Restaurant




The Morning After





Sisig Society





Early Bird Breakfast Club




Harry's Cafe de Wheels





The Solenad 3 food court opened an Indonesian food stall called Sendok and Garpu.  We tried their food at the original branch in another mall:

Sendok and Garpu













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OTHER FOOD COMMENTS:

Bistro Charlemagne



The restaurant's food concept is not very clear. This Coconut Fish Fillet dish does not seem to match the seemingly New Orleans interiors.

Milky Moustache


This White Chocolate Mocha was delicious but can do better presentation with more whipped cream.

Bawai Restaurant



These fresh spring rolls lacked flavor.


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As of June 2015

Ayala Land's real estate project in Sta. Rosa, Laguna known as Nuvali Solenad 3 is on the last stretch of its construction phase. The mall's nature-friendly thrust can be gleaned from the plant-filled themes that abound. However, it remains to be seen if substantial efforts in reducing carbon footprints, conserving water and other natural resources have been included in the whole plan. For example, recycling water or using solar energy are among the technologies that consumers can look out for.

Still under construction but expected to launch this year, Nuvali's Solenad 3 presents an imposing facade with its sheer size and seems to suggest its mighty reign versus competitors in the area. Ayala Land reports that the new mall is expected to add 2,000 square meters of gross leasable area.
Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf is among the first establishments to open in the new mall.
Another restaurant, The Morning After, is also on soft opening. Their facade is filled with plants.
An open air market is now selling potted plants and flowers. 

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Here are more pictures on some stores that were among the first ones to open in Nuvali Solenad 3:





http://joyposadaswrites.blogspot.com/2015/08/more-stores-open-at-nuvalli-solenad-3.html


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Solenad 3 also holds a few bazaars:






http://joyposadaswrites.blogspot.com/2015/10/solenad-3-attempts-first-artisans-fair.html



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At the older Solenad 2, you will also encounter bazaars:






http://joyposadaswrites.blogspot.com/2015/11/solenad-2-bazaar-introduces-artsy-flair.html


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An update: as of Christmas 2015, the movie theaters at Solenad 3 have opened.


As of March 2016, we have watched two movies and each theater had a different experience. The more expensive theater (P330 for a 2D movie) had very comfortable, wide seats while the cheaper movie (P200 for a 2D movie) had the usual seating capacity inside the theater.



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Very near the Nuvali mall area is an Ayala hotel known as Seda Nuvali:






http://joyposadaswrites.blogspot.com/2015/05/seda-nuvali-club-lounge-emerges-in.html


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If you wish to explore other attractions around the Nuvali area, check out this page:





http://joyposadaswrites.blogspot.com/2016/01/apart-from-malls-seven-things-to.html