More Information:
Inquirer – Jets start flying out of NAIA 3 for 1st time

Mall operators also cited that they do not earn from parking structures (yeah right) and that they charge parking so that people who don’t patronize their malls do not park at their parking structures (someone needs to go back to philo 1).

ABS-CBN News – Manila still has one of lowest parking rates

While we understand that this oversight was caused by the agency’s possible lack of budget to buy better machines for predicting the weather or perhaps the outdated models that they use to predict typhoon direction, we fail to comprehend why the change in direction of the typhoon, which PAGASA can monitor, did not prompt anyone from the agency to contact the coastguard and thereby alert any ships on open water?

Blame game asides, we hope that they everyone on the ship will soon be rescued.

For the rest of us in relatively dry land, classes have been suspended tomorrow for Elementary and High School all over the Metro. College students will have to wait until 11pm tonight for the announcement. Those still experience power outages may call MERALCO’s hotline at 16211. Stay safe to all.

Designed as an ‘executive brief’, the Groovy Map N Guide has everything you need to get the most of a city in a short time. With clear maps and independent reviews, we’ll lead you to the best in the city. Guaranteed.

We list and locate places on the map in five categories: Groovy Dining, Groovy Bars & Pubs, Groovy Shopping, Groovy Culture, Groovy Clubbing. Leave the guidebook at home — and go out and enjoy a “city made simple”.

Chris Mitchell summarized in his Travelhappy blog: With a map, you don’t want a lot of information – you want the best information, efficiently organised to let you look at it and understand it rapidly – and that’s precisely what the Groovy Map does.

Mr. Celdran himself offers a quick review:

I assure you that it has NONE of the useless crap, advertising and flagrant product placements that the other city maps have. Filled to the brim with useful information about dining, sightseeing, gay and straight bar hopping, and shopping, the map gives you the insider’s view of what to expect as seen through the eyes of someone who you assume is as groovy as you might be. The choices are also rather progressive, the map features underground insider secrets like Fat Michaels, Filling Station, the Evangelista flea markets, and the fantastic Cubao X art scene among many others (like yours truly). Best of all, the map is printed on super thick lamination paper so that it wouldn’t rip or get soggy on the streets steamy ol’ Manila. Be sure to pick one up before you arrive in the city. Or if you are a resident Manileno, just buy a whole bunch to give to visiting friends who wish to independently explore Manila in a fast and funky way. No surprise, that the Groovy Guide was the 2006 Winner ‘Best Tourist/Free Map’ Award from the International Map Trade Association (IMTA) and a recipient of a 5 star rating from Amazon.com.

Groovy. Get one so you can get around.

Apple what?

Last Thursday in Prince of Jaipur at The Fort, Dell Philippines launched its award-winning XPS and Inspiron laptop computer systems for the consumer segment.

And what an arrival it was! In a dazzling display of colors and artistry – featuring a stunning glow-in-the-dark pantomime performance and an enthralling capoeira number – Dell offered possible in-store buyers a vibrant peek of the beauty and power of its Consumer Brands. “Experience Inspiration,” went the tagline.

For the first time in the Philippines, Dell will be making available through retail partners the award-winning XPS M1330 and the Inspiron 1420 laptops, as well as the Inspiron 530 and slim-build 530s desktops. These were on display during the launch, and then later raffled off to lucky guests, which of course did not include me.

In a statement, Dell Philippines Country Manager Barry Bunyi said: “This is an important initiative for Dell and a great way for us to connect with the Philippine customers we may not have reached in the past. We have had strong success in the corporate segment and the time is right for us to allow the general populace to experience what Dell has to offer.”

For more information, visit www.dell.com, or to communicate directly with Dell via a variety of online channels, go to www.dell.com/conversations. To get Dell news direct, visit www.dell.com/RSS.

Photos by Nykko Santos.

Are you a fan of jazz? Are you a fan of music?

If you are, then prove it by joining the biggest musical festival in the country this year: The Philippine International Jazz and Arts Festival 2008, which started last 29^th of February in Manila and runs until the 15^th of March. Featured international artists include Lee Ritenour, Kurt Elling, Omar Sosa, Sara Gazarek, Chico and the Gypsies, and Incognito. From local shores we have Johnny Alegre, Bob Aves Group, Toti Fuentes, Gerard Salonga, Manuel Baldemor, and the Brass Munkeys, among others.

The event this year is made more special because the organizer, P.I. Jazz Foundation, is now involved with UNICEF. Efforts are being made to bring jazz to the youth through development programs such as school workshops in Far Eastern University and the University of Santo Tomas, summer music training courses, a talent search contest, and mall tours featuring our top local musicians.

The real reason why I am all hyped up about it, however, is the phenomenal Raul Midón. You’ve simply got to see him! The blind New York City-based singer-songwriter and guitarist will be down at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza to give a free workshop on March 12. And on March 13, he’ll be featured in the main concert with Montreal-based jazz pianist Lorraine Demarais.

For more information, visit the official website at http://www.pijazzfest.com.

Dining at an Italian restaurant located at Tomas Morato, Bellissimo Ristorante, was a good experience. The serving time is fast enough and the staff quick to check on our needs. The best seller is their Aglio Olio with anchovies and Pasta Montano.

No wonder the owner of the restaurant, actor Cesar Montano, stamped it with his name. See the picture on the top right. It has a generous filling of cheese, red sauce and sausage. The sausage completes the full flavor of the pasta.

The interior is something of interest. There’s a brick oven, a deli, collection of wines and the paintings on the walls are feasts for the eyes. Try the place when you’re in the vicinity.

How about watching the hit Broadway musical, Avenue Q at the RCBC Plaza? Co-directed by Bobby Garcia and Chari Arespacochaga, the 2004 Tony Award winning musical stars Rachel Alejandro, Felix Rivera, Joel Trinidad, Aiza Seguerra, Frenchie Dy, Rycharde Everley and Teenee Chan.

The show is wrapping up this weekend, so if you want to watch the show (it’s really great and a defintie must watch!), buy your tickets now! Ticket prices start at Php500 for balcony seats, Php1,000 for loge seats and Php1,250 for orchestra seats. Tickets are available through Ticketworld.

Show schedule for this weekend are as follow:
Friday – 8pm
Saturday – 2pm and 8pm
Sunday – 3pm

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If musicals aren’t your thing, how about heading over to the PAGCOR Airport Casino to watch the amazing Wanders show? It’s two hours of music and amazing acrobatic stunts. Prices may be too expensivefor some (starting at Php1,200, all the way up to Php3,000), but considering what the performers do for a living, it is well worth it. Here’s a preview of what you can expect from the Wanders show:

Tickets are available through Ticketworld. The show runs every Wednesday, Friday and Saturdays until December 29.

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Still, if that’s not your thing (or if the price is too steep), how about heading over to the Mall of Asia to view the Shroud of Turin exhibit?

A centuries-old linen cloth bearing the image of a crucified man, the Shroud of Turin has been revered for hundreds of years as the burial shroud of Jesus of Nazareth. Locked away in a cathedral in Turin, Italy, the Shroud is only displayed three or four times a century, drawing pilgrims from all over the world to witness its exposition.

Although the next official exposition of the Shroud is slated in 2025, Filipinos do not have to wait for a couple more decades nor travel thousands of miles to see it. For the first time in the Philippines, and the first time in Asia, Shroud Exhibits International, Inc. presents the Philippine Exhibition of The Mystery of the Shroud of Turin.

After enlightening New Zealand, the exhibit’s journey continues in the Philippines–the only predominantly Christian nation in Southeast Asia–as the country plays host to this very special exhibit that would allow visitors to journey with the Shroud’s history, discover the facts and myths behind the most studied archaeological artifact of all time, and unravel the mystery behind this treasured piece.

The Philippine Exhibition of The Mystery of the Shroud of Turin opened on July 20 at SM City-Pampanga. It is now on exhibit at the SM Mall of Asia until Dec. 9. From here, it will travel to SM Davao on Jan. 18 to Feb. 3, 2008; and SM City Cebu on April 4-27, 2008. Ticket for the exhibit is priced at Php250, with discounts for senior citizens and groups of 50 and above.

please read after the jump….

dear friends,

i just met with a friend yesterday who had just emerged from a 9-hour ordeal. he was kidnapped in the heart of the makati business district!

around noon the day before, he emerged from lpl towers on leviste st., salcedo village to go to a lunch meeting in pasong tamo. he decided not to take his car because parking in makati can be a hassle. talking on the phone, he hopped into the first available cab.

later he realized the cab was taking a route that was unusual. he called the driver’s attention to this but was ignored. the cab entered into urban road, the road by urban bank which is parallel to buendia. it stopped and three other men got in.

he tried to struggle but they stabbed his wrist which of course bled profusely. when he heard the sound of a gun being cocked, he stopped struggling and gave in to all their demands. they had him withdraw from all four bank accounts, took his cel phone and palm pilot and dropped him off in cavite somewhere near trece martires. the motorists ignored him as he tried to flag them down but he was finally able to make it back to makati somehow.

he reported the incident to the makati police and was told that it was the third such incident in the week. one happened to a student who got a cab in rockwell, the other to a citibank female executive who was taking a cab
from paseo de roxas to glorietta but ended up in cavite. the cabs were stolen. i assume all targets were well-dressed (my friend was in coat and tie) and upwardly-mobile looking. where hapless expats and tourist used to be the victims of similar crimes, young executies and students are now the new targets. the please warn your friends to be careful about taxicabs especially in the makati district.

Okay lang sana, kaso napapadalas din ang pagbigay ng envelope.