On October 7, 2015, before we went to
Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Parañaque City,
Philippines, we travelled from Baliuag, Bulacan, the rest of towns in
Bulacan thru North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), Caloocan City, Quezon City,
Mandaluyong City, Makati City, Pasay City, and Parañaque City thru EDSA,
Tramo Boulevard, Domestic Avenue, and finally Airport Avenue.
We left earlier around 12:00pm from Baliuag, Bulacan because we know
that traffic is so terrible and heavy especially in Metro Manila Area.
There was a rain that why the traffic is more terrible and heavy.
The province of Bulacan is also crowded because there are many shopping
malls, establishments, and subdivisions. There are many companies and
industries as well that's why the province is also crowded. Although my
vacation is only 15 days, I enjoyed it with my relatives at my mother's
side. My aunts cooked our meals during our stay. I'm the one will go
back home in USA and my mom will go back home on October 21, 2015. She
will complete her 1 month vacation exactly unlike me, it's only 15 days.
We visited also our relatives and family friends in Caloocan
City. Caloocan City is also crowded when I visit it after 6 years. We
used to live there and spend my childhood days. The traffic along Samson
Road, Rizal Avenue, 10th Avenue, Monumento, and EDSA are terrible and
heavy.
At around 2:30pm, we proceed to NAIA in Parañaque City
thru EDSA. We passed Caloocan City, Quezon City, Mandaluyong City,
Makati City, Pasay City, and then Parañaque City. From EDSA, we took
Tramo Boulevard, Domestic Avenue, and then Airport Avenue. We finally
arrived at the airport around 5:30pm. Not bad because the traffic along
EDSA is moderate.
This is my memorable visit in Philippines
although my vacation is only 15 days. I would like to give thanks to my
cousin, Rodelio Magtalas, who gave us a ride using her sister in law's
minivan. I hope that I can visit in Philippines again on November 2017. I
will attend our Silver Jubilarian later at MIT ChE Chm Alumni
Homecoming.
#Baliuag #Bulacan #Caloocan #NLEX #QuezonCity #Mandaluyong #Makati #Pasay #Parañaque #MNL #NAIA #Rizal
On September 25, 2015, we went to RJ
Bistro at the lower basement of Dusit Thani Hotel along Epifanio delos
Santos Avenue (EDSA) corner Pasong Tamo in Makati City, Philippines
after we had our tour in Makati City.
Mr. Ramon P. Jacinto or
RJ Jacinto in short is a well known musician and guitarist in
Philippines. He owns RJ Guitar Stores, RJTV 29, and radio stations (DZRJ
810AM and RJ 100.3FM). He is a King of Rock and Roll in Philippines.
He's a legendary and respected musician in Philippines.
Since I
visited in Philippines, I decided to have a mini-reunion with my high
school classmates of Mapua Institute of Technology at RJ Bistro. I chose
RJ Bistro because I want to watch the concert of RJ Jacinto again. He's
my favorite musician since my high school days. We scheduled our
mini-reunion on Friday so that we can watch RJ Jacinto in the concert.
The entrance fee is PHP 500 per person but the good news is that the
entrance fee is waived only that day for any reason. We just paid the
drinks and snacks. The whole area was full and the concert was also
tapped live at RJTV 29. RJ Jacinto's wife, Frannie Jacinto was also
there in the bistro.
We love the music from 1960s, 1970s, and
1980s. Everyone were enjoying in watching the concert even my
classmates. RJ Jacinto started his concert from 9:00pm to 11:00pm
although the bistro started at 8:00pm. I suggested to come early as much
as you can so that you can get a nice spot at the nearest.
There's a promotion also. If your total bill is PHP 2000, you will get 1
free t-shirt. If PHP 4000, 2 free t-short. If PHP 6000, 3 free t-shirt
and so on.
You can visit the official website of RJ Jacinto for more information:
http://www.rjplanet.com/
#RJJacinto #RJBistro #DusitThani #EDSA #Makati #Rizal
After we had lunch at Dampa or Seaside
Seafood in Baclaran, Parañaque City, we went to Makati City to have a
tour at Ayala Center, Landmark, and Greenbelt. Because of heavy traffic
and limited parking space, we decided to park at Ayala Center and then
we walk along Ayala Avenue, Makati Avenue, Buendia Avenue, Paseo de
Roxas, and Pasong Tamo. Most of the corporate headquarters are located
in Makati City that's why it is always busy at anytime.
Makati
City is the richest city in Philippines. Before, it was the richest
town in Rizal that's why Rizal was a premiere province in Philippines.
Right now, Makati is now a multimillion income earner city in
Philippines. It is also a Business Capital of the Philippines.
After six years since my last visit in Philippines in 2009, Makati is
now more crowded, congested traffic, and more establishments that why
the government decided to change the traffic plan. Be careful when you
visit in Makati because there are many one way road there.
Most of the foreigners are staying in the luxury hotels in Makati
because it is peaceful and not so crowded compared with Manila. Makati
is a clean city because they want to keep it clean and attractive as
well especially for the foreign visitors.
We enjoyed our tour
in Makati City although we walked along the streets and roads. The peace
and order is also excellent with the help of Makati police as well as
the flow of traffic.
#AyalaCenter #Glorietta #Landmark #Makati #Rizal
After we arrived at Ninoy Aquino
International Airport (MNL) on September 23, 2015 at 4:00am, my
relatives like my aunts Leonila Magtalas and Estelita Zapanta and my
cousin Rodelio Magtalas gave us a tour ride after they picked up us from
the airport. Thanks God that our flight was good although there's a
rain with thunderstorms during our landing. The rain finally stopped
when we arrived at NAIA. Thanks God also that my luggage and my mom's
luggage are passed the X-ray inspection after we gave the Declaration
Form at the Immigration Department.
Well, from NAIA airport,
the traffic begins at Airport Avenue, Domestic Avenue, Tramo Avenue, and
then Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA). After 6 years since my last
visit in 2009, the traffic conditions are worse than before and there
are more vehicles as well. While driving along EDSA, there are more
buildings, malls, and new establishments. There are many billboards
along EDSA also.
When we reached to Balintawak Cloverleaf, the
area is also congested in traffic especially along A. Bonifacio Avenue,
Quirino Hi-way, and North Luzon Expressway (NLEX). The NLEX is better
now than before because the highways are repaired and the systems of
paying at the toll gates are now different also. The traffic there is
lesser and faster.
When we exit at Santa Rita exit in
Guiguinto, Bulacan, the roads are now crowded with many vehicles like
jeepneys and trycycles. The province of Bulacan is now crowded also
because there are many factories, industries, subdivisions, and shopping
malls. It is also close to Manila.
Once we reached to
Baliuag, Bulacan, we went first to Baliuag Memorial Park to visit the
grave of my grandparents and my uncles at their mausoleum. My mother
didn't see the grave of her parents and her brothers for 12 years. The
memorial park is expensive and most of the graves there are came from
the rich and business families. We made a promise that we will improve
the mausoleum of my grandparents and my uncles later.
Our
hometown in Baliuag, Bulacan is also crowded. There are many
subdivisions as well as shopping malls like SM Baliuag. The traffic is
also congested especially during rush hours and raining. I almost got
lost there in finding my grandparents' residence because the
surrounding is now different than the last time that I visited in 2009.
They put blue gates at my grandparents' residence. The caimito trees
that we planted since 1975 are still there at the backyard.
After this, we sleep for few hours because we have jet lag. The time in
Philippines is 15 hours ahead from California. The weather here in
Philippines is warm right now like 95*F during daylight and 85*F during
nighttime. We experienced sweating all the time because it is humid.
#MNL #Parañaque #Rizal #EDSA #NLEX #Baliuag #Bulacan
