Monthly Archives: September 2012

A Little Bit of Heaven

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The crowd is simply in gasp when I arrived at the 2012 Pink O Matic Writers League at the Makati Shangrila Hotel on the asian resto. Guess what? The bludgeoning movie of Merell Strip is on!

Almost a fair number admire her. Anyways I picked the right amount of food at the service area cause I never knew that we will be setting it off around 2am already! Too much book geeks are there and I can’t really miss the opportunity to discover and share ideas with these great people.  It was actually posting my sonnet on the freedom wall area when the Saramago books arrived. Great! Fully Booked made my day! I just want to read everything there!
The literature arena is indeed a place for someone like me. Ben Singkol is on the list of top books for my age at the poll area.  The night is filled with merriment with no politics—- involved. That’s great since it focused more on the artistic side of the writers. I need to cut this short and will solemnly swear to post the books this month!

Saramago is Saramago. Excellent!

Love as I See It

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You have the power to inspire all people from different cultures with such energy. ..

There is a mystery in every smile. Truth is it is often longing for an answer.

But the type one longs for is a smile that cracks you up comfortably.

A smile that makes giggles in all forms of colors. The one that breaks boundaries!

The feeling of butterflies in your tummy!  A solid burst of laughter and freedom.

You carry it everywhere, you carry it all the time.

A smile with such calmness and warmth with undivided attention,

is a smile asking for an answer…

“Can I keep you?”

*Here it is! For all the smiles and inspiration from you guys! Thanks for Sienna and Michelle (models).

This is my entry on island rose and I hope you would visit their site too. It is extremely romantic!

I am caught with the services and goodies at their official site. Better check it.

Stay inspired!

Kulay Kikay

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A SHOW BY EIGHT WOMEN IS A FITTING tribute to womanhood, and more so if the artists, of widely divergent styles, have come together and bonded in art’s name, sprung from the well-tended valley of Marikina.

“Kulay Kikay” (Renaissance Gallery, Artwalk, SM Megamall, March 24-31), so-called because of its allusion to the modern Filipina’s fashion sense, features senior artists Remy Boquiren and Lydia Velasco, junior artists Sheila Tiangco, Armida Francisco and Lisa Villaseñor, and emergent artist Honey Banal, and sisters Chie and Chigo Cruz (Velasco’s daughters).

Boquiren, in “Calla Lily Gatherer,” shows her trademark maiden clad in stylish bandanna and jeans, hugging a bouquet of long-stemmed lilies. With her hues in bold profusion, and her women svelte and willowy, Boquiren has clearly evolved into a colorist who has no qualms about seducing the eye.

Velasco has her usual Mother and Child figure in “Puso ng Isang Ina,” shrouded in shimmering white cloth, their eyes gazing on each other with tenderly maternal affection. Surely, such a scene may now be considered de rigueur, but given the artist’s proclivity for updating religious icons, the work may well liberate artists enamored with convention or tradition, coming in such sensual fashion, as only Velasco could decree.

The works of Tiangco, though encapsulated in still-life genre, are potentially alluring to the viewer. A restaurateur who dabbles in flower painting, Tiangco comes off as a realist who, like Georgia O’Keeffe, magnifies her subjects by rendering them in larger-than-life and allegorical mode.

Given her expertise with tropical blooms, these works cast a seductive and suggestive erotic presence, more so with their partly or generously exposed petals, reddish pistils to boot.

Francisco, who has worked as illustrator and interior designer, has a festive sense of color and mirthful sensibility of composition, most evident in her attempt to render the subject of the body as primal seat of energy. She has done a lot of ethnic themes, indigenous subjects with a dose of universal mirth.

The works of Villaseñor are, of course, no less alluring, simply because they are endowed with joie de vivre, generated by her use of textures and depth. She knows her plant life amazingly well, evident in her use of tropical and garden plants growing abundantly.

Banal, on the other hand, celebrates the banality of images with her two-level compositions, often depicting the collaborative works of children and adults. This she does by actually enlisting the scribbling of her own two kids.

In “Puting Pader,” for instance, the diptych shows a two-paneled painting, the bigger part in off-white configuration, and the smaller part in darkened color, with a contrasting sharper image of the same subject.

The pieces of sisters Chie and Chigo Cruz are executed in mixed-media painting and sculpture, respectively. The latter has a quirky, irreverent and quasi-primitive painting style that works in uncharted ways, while the former works in resin and plaster of Paris to depict body parts, as in “Hope,” where she has two open palms showing olive-hued leaves. It is still too early to say where these experiments will ultimately lead to, but her derring-do coupled with unblushing view of sexuality is quite affecting, to say the least.

 

THOSE WHO STILL THINK OF art-making as an elitist preoccupation have it all wrong. They only have to look around and see the numerous auction sales of artworks and art objects to raise funds for one special project or another.

Artists don’t have to adopt Socialist Realism to propagandize their social conscience. One may create decadent art and still make this a tool to help the poor, protect the environment, or uphold the well-being of society.

Take Kulay Marikina. This new artists’ organization aims to help the community not only in promoting cultural awareness and uplifting the stature of the arts, but also in aiding people’s basic needs.

For its first anniversary, the group is holding “Affairs of the heART,” some 75 artworks, paintings and a few sculptural pieces by 25 artists, until March 20 in Gallerie Hues, MC Home Depot, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.

Sponsored by Kamayan, the exhibit is meant for Project Brave Kids. Proceeds of the artworks will go to the indigent patients of the Children’s Cancer Ward of the Philippine Children’s Medical Center in Quezon City.

As could be expected, the styles, techniques and mediums here are as variegated as there are number of members in the group.

Notable pieces

Of the more notable ones, Ige Concepcion’s monochromatic abstraction in mixed media stands out for its size and as it is one of the very few nonfigurative pieces in the show. “Fleeting Moments of Summer” has the canvas studded with what look like buttons, glued with a swatch of jute, then daubed brown, umber, tinges of red.

On the other hand, Andy Pernia’s abstract “Tinalikdan,” in acrylic on canvas, encompasses the color wheel in blocks of red, yellow, orange, blue, green, violet, pink, purple and white.

Here, too, are Remy Boquiren’s luminous maidens shrouded in batik and Lydia Velasco’s incandescent maidens among lilies.

Both are multihued and in brilliant tones, but Boquiren’s, smoothly limned in pastel on paper and leaning toward folk art, has an ethereality about it, while Velasco’s, roughly rendered in acrylic on canvas and as Expressionist as any, looks rather heavy-set.

Rougher still and more Expressionistic are Josè Ibay’s pieces in acrylic, oil stick and charcoal on paper. Here, notwithstanding the titles “Calla Lilies” and “Because You’re Beautiful,” the floral still life is rendered almost with violence.

A celebration of the human body can be seen in Armida Francisco’s “Figure,” in acrylic on canvas, with its profile of the male nude in impasto of brown, yellow, red, orange, blue, green and iridescent gold.

It is remarkably celebrated, almost worshipped, in the curves and highlights of the lovers’ writhing bodies in brown monochrome in Elmer Torio’s pieces in oil on canvas.

In Chie Cruz’s high reliefs in silver-gray resin, however, the human form appears violated-and what violation! In “Nurture,” a baby is suckling on the bosom of its mother’s headless and halved body. In “Music Muse,” a violin bursts out of the torn abdomen of a female torso.

Intimacy

Honey Banal’s pieces in acrylic on canvas are notable for their suggestion and absence, aptly rendered in monochrome or muted tone. “Mother and Child” shows nothing but a pair of brown adult’s slippers, a pair of blue child’s shoes, and a child’s pencil scrawling and doodling on the gray wall-yet one feels a sense of intimacy.

“White Wall” is just that, with pencil scratching on it and an old wrought-iron chair against it-yet one feels someone has just been sitting on the furniture.

The natural world is mysteriously conjured in Norlie Meimban’s dusk-green “Gulod,” in acrylic on canvas, showing silhouettes of trees, river and a point of light.

It is lambently limned in Roland Santos’ “Go with the Flow,” in watercolor on paper, with its school of fish in yellow, red, blue and white, swimming parallel in blue-violet water.

It is softly evoked in Andy Urag’s “Morning Mood,” in acrylic on canvas, a seascape of blue-green wash.

The artworks in this show are priced relatively lower than if they’re exhibited in other galleries, presumably to sell them faster for the fund-raising.

Here is art called to the service of society. Yet among the pieces on display, not one could we call a specimen of Social Realism, none propagandistic or utilitarian.

Art to the rescue

An institution that has discovered a practical use for art is the Philippine General Hospital. At the forefront of this move is the PGH Medical Foundation, the hospital’s official support institution.

PGH’s only known association with art is National Artist Botong Francisco’s mural of Philippine medical history at its main building’s foyer. To people who come and go, it’s just a fading memorial, something to be stared at on the wall as they wait for the doctor, their patient, or their turn at the entrance.

PGH serves an annual average of 600,000 patients. Of these, 80-90 percent are classified as indigents.

Says foundation president Dr. Gregorio T. Alvior Jr.: “However, as with most government-funded institutions, PGH’s annual budget always falls short of its actual expenditure by about 30 percent. Every year it has a shortfall of some P300 million for patient care.”

This is where the foundation enters. It helps in raising resources “to augment funds for free medicines; repairs and purchases of equipment and instruments for direct patient care; training needs of medical staff; administrative needs of the hospital.” Not to mention the improvement and renovation of hospital infrastructure.

A-list donors

For its Alay sa PGH campaign drive, the foundation recently held at the Manila Polo Club main lounge “Sining at Awit para sa PGH,” a mini concert and auction sale of paintings, sculptures, antiques, jewelry and other objets d’art.

Artists who donated their artworks included National Artists Napoleon Abueva and Arturo Luz, Juvenal Sans¢, Augusto Albor, Phyllis Zaballero, Nestor Vinluan, Manuel Baldemor, Lito Carating, Valeria Cavestany and Stella Rojas.

Dr. Danny David donated a Romulo Olazo piece, while Dr. Gerard Parungao donated his Solomon Saprid.

We suggest that part of the proceeds of the auction be used to conserve and protect that giant masterwork at the hospital’s entrance, which, being exposed to the elements, seems to be vanishing in time. Then art would have expanded its role to include one as savior of its own.

The Artists of Kulay Marikina part 1

(in alphabetical order)

Honey Banal

For some, art may be associated with the shocking and striking, but for this artist and mother, there is joy and beauty in simplicity. With Honey’s paintings, viewers find themselves face-to-face with walls upon walls of scenes that evoke the subjects of everyday life. A closer look reveals messy scribbles and crayon drawings that are actually contributed by the artist’s own two little girls.

Remy Boquiren
Renowned for her vivid paintings of graceful, charming women, Remy Boquiren’s works are a constant reflection of the values she holds dear: love of God, caring for nature and the environment, family togetherness and self-sufficiency.
Dressed in ethnic finery or swathed in colorful fabrics, her radiant beauties are shown engaged in everyday activities: harvesting golden stalks of rice, gathering blooms from the garden, cradling an infant, or hands clasped and head bowed humbly in prayer.

Ramon Cañeza
When asked why he paints, Ramon Cañeza cryptically answered: “To exit my life into another color wheel of life.”
Born in Tabaco, Albay in 1958, Monn Cañeza has been painting since the age of 18. He has tried his hand at oil, pastel, watercolor and acrylic mediums, while painting in what he calls a partly surrealistic, partly expressionistic style. He finds inspiration in his family, and admits that painting eases his boredom with life.

Ige Concepcion
A self-confessed Zen artist, Ige Concepcion is drawn to non-figurative modern art because of its ineffability. He uses mixed media to create abstract works that are often monochromatic yet rich in texture, resulting in mysterious shadow forms. Although possessed of no formal training in the arts, he is constantly aware of transcending his works in order to create visual predicaments. Among his favorite artists are Wassily Kandinsky, Willem de Kooning, Mark Rothko, and Gus Albor.

Rosario “Chie” Cruz

Inspired by a famous mother (Lydia Velasco), Chie Cruz took up painting after studying Fine Arts in 1991.
In 1999, she took up masters classes at the UP College of Fine Arts. Chie’s works include figurative sculptures – mostly of women and children – in terracotta, life casts, and installations. Mundane things, what she calls “the gifts of creation, as seen in everyday life,” are her inspiration.

Cris Cruz As a veteran adman, Cris Cruz held various creative and management positions in several agencies. While employed, he joined several group shows locally and abroad until he decided to paint full time.
An award-winning watercolorist, he is recognized for his poetic and exotic paintings of flowers. He has 21 one-man shows to his credit. He is the chairman of the well-known Saturday Group of artists.

posted by Kulay Marikina | 8:38 PM | 0 comments

The Artists of Kulay Marikina part 2

Ernesto “Ambie” Flores
Born on August 25, 1957 in Pagsanjan, Laguna, Ambie Flores started painting when he was still in elementary school. He took up Fine Arts in PWU and later honed his skill in landscape painting under the great Ibarra de la Rosa.
Inspired by renaissance painter Ambert Buccioni and other contemporaries of Leonardo da Vinci, Ambie paints landscapes in a “futurist-impressionist” style. He is an active member of the Art Association of the Philippines and is a regular participant in art competitions.

Armida Francisco
Graphic designer, painter and freelance illustrator, Armida Francisco has worked in illustrator design, animation and illustrator for many comics magazines and children’s books. She has had two solo exhibits and participated in trade fairs in Iran where she used to live with her husband. Her works are distinguished by rich strokes of paint and impressionistic use of color.

Luis Gabriel
Born in Marikina in December 11, 1959, “Gab” is a self-taught artist who began dabbling with watercolor painting as a hobby in 1998. Fellow watercolorists like Ernie Patricio, Domeng Labordo, Roland Santos, Bong Gojar, and Andy Urag have inspired him and helped him learn the intricacies of this medium. He calls himself a minimalist who “plays with water in color,” combining and experimenting with both watercolor and acrylic.

Bong Gajar

Hailing from Ozamis City, Bong Gajar is a commercial advertising artist by training. He began painting in 1998, inspired by the “transparency of the watercolors” of portrait artist Domeng Labordo. His watercolor or paste works are characterized by dominant hues of magenta and sap green. His favorite subjects include nudes, portraits and landscapes.

Jose Ibay

By profession, Ibay is an advertising photographer, a consistent awardee in the Philippine Advertising Congress and Creative Guild. He has been painting for only five years and has had two solo shows.
Like a true child of Expressionism, Ibay has learned to equate each stress of paint with all the vexing problems of man.

Ben Infante
Ben Infante derives inspiration from nature’s beauty: a sunny day with interesting cloud formations, colorful flowers, fruits on a windowsill, farm workers during harvest season and other landscapes. Though traditional, his subjects are rendered in exquisitely detailed life-like consistency.
Now approaching his sunset years, painting has kept him busy and up-and-about. Many may say that he has arrived at the zenith of his skills, yet still he strives to improve his art.

posted by Kulay Marikina | 8:10 PM | 1 comments

The Artists of Kulay Marikina part 3

Norlie Meimban

Norlie Meimban’s works are inspired by figuristic style influence in Salvador Dali. He admits that his style can be categorized as impressionism and expressionism put in a stylistic blender, with bits of surrealism added to artistic brew. One of his paintings depicts the two figures whose outstretched limbs become the hands of a clock; the work is called “Time Framed.” It’s about how man can’t beat time unless he comes up with the time framed.

Ernie Patricio Born in 1944 in Oas, Albay, Ernie Patricio studied Art Education at the University of the East School of Fine Arts. Cartoonist, illustrator, art director, mural painter and sculptor, Ernie has won several art competitions including first place in the Shell On-the-Spot Painting and Poster Contests and the SPIC Illustration Contest. He has twice been chosen as among the Top Five Watercolorists and twice a runner-up in the annual Kulay sa Tubig competition mounted by Gallery Genesis.

Andy F. Pernia
A native of Bohol, Andy Pernia considers himself a latecomer to the art scene. After studying basic ceramic making, he started his career in art as a clay artist. His association with several visual artist groups inspired him to try his hand in painting. He has a special preference working with oil pastel on felt paper. His love in experimenting with colors is often reflected in the outcome of his works, which are mostly figurative and rich in hue.

Noel Rile
Noel Rile did not have the chance to discover his talent in painting until later in life.
Through sheer curiosity, Noel Rile took up painting in 1999 upon the encouragement of fellow Marikina artists Cris Cruz and Roland Santos. His association with Kulay Marikina has inspired him to continue exploring and developing his God-given artisitic gifts with “a burning zeal,” despite the many concerns and vicissitudes of everyday life.

Roland Santos

“The ultimate tuition fee was persistence, self-sacrifice; the entrance qualification had to be pure talent.”
Critics have dubbed him “The Young Renaissance Man.” A veteran of various group and solo exhibits since the early 1990s, native Marikeño Roland Santos cultivated his skill with the brush through several years of discipline soul-searching and self-discovery.

Demetrio A. Tamayo
A Fine Arts graduate who majored in advertising at UST, Trio Tamayo is a veteran in the local advertising industry being a studio manager of one of the biggest advertising agencies in the country.
He started painting as a hobby. In a style that may be identified as semi-realism, Trio paints landscapes, still life, and human-interest subjects using watercolor, pastel, oil and acrylic.

posted by Kulay Marikina | 6:14 PM | 0 comments

The Artists of Kulay Marikina part 4

Sheila Tiangco
Flowers, fruit, and other still life loom upclose and meticulously detailed in Sheila Tiangco’s canvases. Born November 5, 1952, Sheila is a marketing graduate of UST and an accomplished restauranteur. She discovered painting as a source of recreation and respite from the hectic pace of business. Through her paintings, she expresses her thanksgiving to God for all the blessings of life.

Elmer Torio

Born in 1960 in the quiet mountain town of Magdalena, Laguna, Elmer Torio has been dabbling in art since his elementary school days. A self-taught artist, he paints in oil and watercolor, favoring the subjects of nature and children playing.

Andy B. Urag
Having studied Fine Arts at UE Caloocan, Abu honed his skill using various media and techniques. He has found his forte in watercolor, however, and had a solo exhibit in 2001 entitled “Transparent,” featuring works in this medium. He has also participated in several group shows and received a number of awards and citations. Abu’s work may be viewed on his website: www.andy-abu-studio.com

Tam Urao
Graphic artist and photographer by profession, Tamerlane Urao found his skill with illustration and freehand drawing at a young age.
Immersion in the art world helps him open his mind. His facility with different mediums lets him explore the many facets of creation. His work is constantly evolving – a never-ending exploration of new ideas and the different ways of expressing them.

Melissa Juliano Villaseñor
“I wish my heart could speak through art – how grateful I am to God for giving me this gift.”
A Fine Arts graduate of UST, Liza Juliano Villaseñor further honed her skill in art workshops at the Ayala Museum and the UP College of Fine Arts. After graduation, she went to work as a fashion designer and later established her own garments manufacturing business.

Lydia Velasco

Her works may be subconscious diaries of a colorful past, or they may be just products of her imagination. Whatever the reason and inspiration, Lydia Velasco’s works are inseparable from her being: her reflections on the shifting moods, the tumultuous desires and the unfathomable mysteries of a woman in her various roles in wife, mother, lover.

 

Credits to kulaymarikina view it here.

Marikenyo Foodtrip Quick List

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QUICK DIRECTORY

ALEXEI’S DINER AND CAFE
7 Gil Fernando Avenue, Sto. Nino, Marikina City
(Walking distance from Robinson’s Blue Wave. Walk towards the direction of San Mateo bound FXs / jeepneys, not towards Sta. Lucia bound jeepneys.)

Tel. No.: (02) 901-4674
Operating hours: All days of the week from 10:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Visit their Facebook page here.
Munching Budget per person: starts at 100 PhP

ALING REMY’S SPECIAL DELICIOUS PUTO AND KUTSINTA
229 J.P. Rizal Street, San Roque, Marikina City, Metro Manila
Tel. No.: (02) 467 9806 / 09163191811
Munching Budget per person: starts at 10 PhP

AUNTIE’S BAKESHOP AND PASALUBONG
44 Mayor Gil Fernando Ave., San Roque, Marikina City
Tel. No.: (02) 645-3549
Visit their website here.

They deliver to selected areas too! Just give them a ring for delivery inquiries.

Munching Budget per person: starts at 50 PhP
BACOLOD CHICKEN PARILLA
Extension B, C&B Circle Mall, Liwasang Kalayaan Avenue, 1810 Marikina Heights, Marikina City

Tel. No.: (02) 477-3755 (They deliver!!!)
Munching Budget per person: starts at 50 PhP

BERRY YUMMY
Ground Floor, Blue Wave Mall Marquinton
Just beside Perfect Moments!
Sumulong Highway, Sto. Nino, Marikina City
Visit their Facebook page here.
Munching Budget per person: starts at 50 PhP
BIKSA COFFEE
18 Gil Fernando Avenue corner Dragon St., Marikina City

Tel. No.: (02) 682-6912
For their complete menu and directions going to Biksa, visit their website here.
Check out their e-menu here.
Munching Budget per person: starts at 75 PhP

BOYONG’S

#15 E. Dela Paz St., San Roque, Marikina City
Tel. No.: (02) 682-0403 / (02) 682-5615
Open Mondays to Saturdays, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Munching Budget per person: starts at 30 PhP

BUBBA LAB
Extension B, C&B Circle Mall, Liwasang Kalayaan Avenue, 1810 Marikina Heights, Marikina City

Operating hours: DAILY, 10AM – 10PM
Visit their Facebook page here.
Munching Budget per person: starts at 70 PhP

BURRITO BROTHERS
69 Lilac St., SSS Village
Concepcion Dos, Marikina City, Metro Manila

Tel. No.: (0905) 413-7651 / (02) 377-TACO (8226)
E-mail: mexicanburritobrothers@gmail.com
Munching Budget per person: starts at 60 PhP 

CAFE KAPITAN
Ground Floor, Kapitan Moy Building

Sta. Elena, Marikina City, Metro Manila
Right across Our Lady of the Abandoned Church
Opens daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Tel. No.: (0918) 933-7896 / (02) 646-4303
Munching Budget per person: starts at 150 PhP

CAFE LIDIA
#64 Calderon Street, Calumpang, Marikina City

Tel. No.: (632) 6477606
Munching Budget per person: starts at 100 PhP

CAFE VIA ANGELO
333 Christ the King Bldg., J.P. Rizal St., Sta. Elena, Marikina City, Metro Manila
Tel. No.: 09198191833
Open 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
For commuters, take the Calumpang jeep and get off right in front of the cafe. It is right across Macky’s Goto, and a few meters from Our Lady of the Abandoned Church. 🙂
Munching Budget per person: starts at 100 PhPCASA FELIZ

95 Rainbow St., Hacienda Heights, Concepcion Dos, Marikina City
Tel. No.: (02) 933-6653
Open from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
You can also visit wwww casafelizcakes.com
Munching Budget per person: starts at 100 PhP

CHA DAO TEA PLACE

2nd Level, SM Marikina
Marcos Highway, Marikina City

Munching Budget per person: starts at 40 PhP
CHIC-BOY

Riverbanks Center (beside Dencio’s), Marikina City, Metro Manila
Visit their website for the complete menu.
Munching Budget per person: starts at 100 PhP

CORAZON’S (The Village Platter)

60 Sapphire St., corner Sandalwood, SSS Village Phase II, Concepcion Dos
Marikina City, Metro Manila
Tel. No.: (02) 948-3734
For commuters, take the SSS jeep or FX and get off right in front of Corazon’s.
Munching Budget per person: starts at 50 PhP

CRAZY KATSU
#48 Lilac St. Hacienda Heights, Concepcion II, Marikina City

Operating hours: Mon-Thurs 11am to10pm,  Fri & Sat 11am to 11pm, and  Sundays 11am to 10pm
Visit their website here and their Facebook page here.

Munching Budget per person: starts at 120 PhP
DADDY BERTZ CAFE
70 Lilac St., Brgy. Concepcion 2, Marikina Heights, Marikina City

Tel. No.: (02) 514-1853
Visit their Facebook page here.
WIFI – yes / Credit card – yes
Munching Budget per person: starts at 100 PhP

DEE COFFEE HOUSE (Since 1960’s)

280 J.P. Rizal Street, San Roque, Marikina City, Metro Manila
Tel. No.: (02) 646-8549 / 09179130009
Open Monday to Saturday, 2:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M.
Visit their Facebook page here.
Munching Budget per person: starts at 60 PhP

DOLORA’S HAUZ OF PANCIT MALABON

394 J.P. Rizal St., Sto. Nino

Marikina City, Metro Manila
With branches in San Roque/Kalumpang/Barangka/Parang
Tel. No.: (02) 942-3485 / (02) 407-4533
Munching Budget per person: starts at 100 PhP
FIRUZ MEDITERRANEAN CUISINE
382-B J.P. Rizal Street, Sto. Nino, Marikina City
(Walking distance from 7-11 / Pizza Smile right after the Marikina bridge)

Tel. No.:09272642123 / 09321853154
Operating hours: 5:00 PM – 12 Midnight (You can also text them if they are open at an earlier time)
Visit their Facebook page here.
Munching Budget per person: starts at 60 PhP

GENERAL’S PIZZERIA

Lilac Street, Hacienda Heights, Marikina City, Philippines
Right across Rancho Estate’s main gate
Tel. No.: (02) 227-3253
Visit their Facebook page here.
Munching Budget per person: starts at 100 PhP

GOODTHYMES RESTAURANT AND BAR

Gil Fernando Ave, San Roque, 1801 Marikina City, Philippines
Tel. No.: (02) 655-8801
Mon – Thu: 11:00 am – 1:00 am / Fri – Sat: 11:00 am – 2:00 am / Sun: 11:00 am – 1:00 am
Visit their Facebook page here.
Munching Budget per person: starts at 100 PhP

ISABELO GARDEN RESTAURANT

Isabelo Mendoza Street, San Roque, Marikina City
RESERVATION is a must via http://www.isabelogarden.com/
Munching Budget per person: starts at 500 PhP

KRUNG THAI

Marikina Public Market
M. Cruz Street corner W.C. Paz, Sta. Elena, Marikina City
Tel. No.: (02) 646-2005 / (02) 681-7696 / 09277920587
OPEN EVERYDAY from 9am to 9pm
Munching Budget per person: starts at 100 PhP

LUYONG RESTAURANT

39 Gil Fernando Avenue
San Roque, Marikina City
Tel. No: 645-0162
Store Hours
10:30AM – 2:00PM
4:30PM – 10:00PM
Munching Budget per person: starts at 100 PhP

MACKY’S GOTO

J.P. Rizal St., San Roque, Marikina City

Tel. No.: 933-2676

Munching Budget per person: starts at 20 PhP

MAKABAYAN GOTO TAPSI

Along J.P. Rizal Street, Lamuan, Malanday, Marikina City, Philippines
Near South Supermarket and Roosevelt College Lamuan
Open 24 hours daily
Munching Budget per person: starts at 12 PhP

MAMA CHIT’S
278 J.P. Rizal Street, San Roque, Marikina City

Tel. No.: (02) 646-8547

It’s just across the Shoe Museum, near Our Lady of the Abandoned Church
Munching Budget per person: starts at 100 PhP
MANG FREDERICK’S BARBECUE

Beside San Roque’s OUR LADY OF THE ABANDONED CHURCH
San Roque, Marikina City, Metro Manila
With another branch at 129 E. DELA PAZ ST., San Roque, Marikina City
Tel. No.: 6463685
Ihaw-ihaw set up usually starts at noon. 🙂
Munching Budget per person: starts at 10 PhP

MANING’S KUTSINTA AND PUTO

#3 Gen. F. Santos St., Kalumpang, Marikina City
Near San Antonio de Padua Church
Tel. No.: 6460126
Munching Budget per person: starts at 50 PhP

MEDITERRASIA
3/F 7-JL Domingo Bldg., Marcos Highway

Marikina City, Metro Manila

The restaurant is located on top of Weed Bar
Opens daily from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Tel. No.: (0915) 354-8543
Munching Budget per person: starts at 150 PhP

MOONLEAF TEA SHOP

#25 Gen. Ordonez St., Concepcion, Marikina City, Philippines
In front of OLOPSC
For commuters, take the SSS Jeepney or FX, they pass in front of OLOPSC.
Opens daily from 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM
Tel. No.: (02) 508-9371
Visit their website here / Their Facebook page here.
Munching Budget per person: starts at 45 PhP

OGGO AND JULLZ Resto Grill
727 J.P. Rizal Street, Malanday, Marikina City
Tel. No.: (02) 227-6869
Visit their website here.

Right across South Supermarket

Munching Budget per person: starts at 50 PhP
PAN DE AMERIKANA
92 Ordonez St.

Marikina City, Metro Manila
Philippines
Tel. No.: (02) 475-2398
Munching Budget per person: starts at 100 PhP

PANCITERIA NI EDONG

#34 Pikador St. corner Dragon St., Midtown Subdivision,
San Roque, Marikina City, Philippines
Opens daily from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM / 4:00 PM to 11:00 PM
Tel. No.: (02) 645-1350 / (02) 903-7389 / 09192955555
THEY DELIVER! Minimum 250 PhP. Allow 45-60 minutes delivery. Delivery is limited to coverage area.
Munching Budget per person: starts at 100 PhP

PARIKIT INASAL

378 De Guangco St., Sta. Elena, Marikina City, Metro Manila
Across Our Lady of the Abandoned church and Kapitan Moy
Tel. No.: (02) 346-0024 / 09193509647 / 09228988261
Visit their Facebook page here.
THEY DELIVER! Just contact the numbers listed above.
Munching Budget per person: starts at 25 PhP

PERFECT MOMENTS BAKESHOP
Ground Floor, Blue Wave Mall Marquinton
Sumulong Highway, Sto. Nino, Marikina City
Tel. No.: (02) 385-9133 / (02) 668-5555
For made to order cakes, contact JOJIE at (02) 347-6419 / 09228116419
For cooking / baking lesson, contact CHEF RAI at 09997671867
Munching Budget per person: starts at 85 PhP

QIZIA CAFE
SDS Medical Center Compound, Katipunan Ext. cor Pio del Pilar St. Concepcion II

Marikina City, Metro Manila
(02) 489-0760
Munching Budget per person: starts at 100 PhP
REE CHICHIE CASSAVA CAKE
Lot 2-A J.P. Rizal St., Nangka, Marikina City
Tel. No.: (02) 881-4883 / (02) 782-9795 / 09228725822
Munching Budget per person: starts at 85 PhP

SM MARIKINA CITY
Marcos Highway, Marikina City

Munching Budget per person: starts at 50 PhP 
SOME KIND OF WONDERFUL CAFE (SKOW)

11 Birch Rd. cor. Rainbow St., Hacienda Heights, Concepcion Dos
(Right across St. Paul Parish, if you’re commuting, take the SSS jeep and ask Manong Driver to let you off near Saint Paul)
Marikina City, Metro Manila
(02) 409-1242 / 09282714998
OPEN everyday EXCEPT Tuesdays FROM 12nn to 10pm
Munching Budget per person: starts at 100 PhP

TAPSI NI VIVIAN
32 Gil Fernandez Avenue (Walking distance from Sta. Lucia Metro East mall)
Marikina City, Metro Manila, Philippines

Tel. No.: (02) 645-0125
Open everyday until late hours!
Munching Budget per person: starts at 100 PhP

TEASOME PLACE
324 J.P. Rizal Street, Sto. Nino, Marikina City
(Walking distance from 7-11 right after the Marikina bridge. Walk along the Calumpang jeep route, not along the market!)

Tel. No.: (02) 480-3921
As of writing time, they are on soft opening and are closed on Sundays. They serve yummy milk teas Monday to Saturday, from 11 am to 9 or 10 pm 🙂 If you badly need a milk tea fix, just call the number to check if they’re open.
Visit their Facebook page here.
Munching Budget per person: starts at 70 PhP

THE HIDDEN KOREAN PLACE
20 Ipil Extension (near East Drive and UMAC)
Marikina Heights, Marikina City (Reservations required. View map here)
Tel. No.: (02) 544-1684 (IMPORTANT: Please call at least a day in advance to reserve.)
Visit their website at: THE HIDDEN KOREAN PLACE
Munching Budget per person: starts at 100 PhP
WOW LEGS!
J.P. Rizal St., San Roque, Marikina City (All Calumpang-bound jeepneys pass by the place)
Munching Budget per person: starts at 49 PhP
ZAKEE SHAWERMA AND KEBAB MEDITERRANEAN CUISINE

#23 Gil Fernando Avenue, San Roque, Marikina City
Tel. No.: 09058080317 (Mr. Mon Momani)
OPEN EVERYDAY from 10am to 4am (Perfect place where you can grab a midnight snack, or hang out after all your weekend gimmicks!)

*credits on All Over Marikina blog from Ms. Roni 🙂

World’s Largest Shoes

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The world’s largest shoes, recognized by the Guinness Book World of Records, are 5.29 meters long, 2.37 meters wide, and 1.83 meters high, and could hold 30 pairs of normal-sized feet.

The gigantic pair can be found in Marikina City, the shoe capital of the Philippines found northeast of the Manila metropolitan area. It took 77 days in 2002 to build them, using enough material to make 250 regular pairs.

The city also houses the Shoe Museum, which exhibits part of the infamous shoe collection of former First Lady Imelda Marcos, together with shoes of world leaders, past presidents, famous celebrities, and other notable personages. It is said to be the largest gathering of shoes from around the world.

One would expect, with all the attention paid to footwear, that the Philippines, or Marikina City for that matter, would be a formidable center for the shoe industry. Alas, the local industry has long been struggling and has been declared to be in its death throes.

So it is certainly good news to learn that there are still some local shoe houses that are alive and kicking. One such venture is Figura shoes, which has a factory of workers in Tanon, Marikina and uses good-quality local materials.

Ali Figueroa, Figura’s proprietor, has told me that it hasn’t been easy, but based on his stories about his trips to the south where he has gathered inspiration from fabrics and jewelry for footwear, it seems Figura is up to its task to start reconfiguring the local shoe industry.
Credits to Benetton check out the blog here.

Marikina Sapatos Festival 2012 Launch

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Do you like or want quality and trendy, yet inexpensive shoes? “Walk this Way” to Marikina.

Marikina is living up to its tag of being the ‘Shoe Capital of the Philippines’ when it launched this morning the 2012 Sapatos Festival. The program was held in front of the the newly constructed and conceptualized ‘Patio Del Zapateros’ near the Marikina Shoe Museum along J.P. Rizal St., in Barangay Sta. Elena.

Shoe shoppers are invited inside ’Patio Del Zapateros’ for the best deals in Marikina shoes.  Shoe tripping to this place will give you a glimpse of  history, of how the industry of ‘sapatos’ started in the Marikina one hundred twenty (125) years ago, through the Marikina Shoe Museum (which is close to the ancestral house of the father of ‘shoemaking industry’ in Marikina, Don Laureano Guevarra or Kapitan Moy); and a huge selection of quality and affordable Marikina-made shoes ready for shopping!

(Some of the shoes on sale at the ‘Patio Del Zapateros’)

Tip: Don’t forget to haggle (politely) with shoe salespersons at the fair. Use your charm to get better bargains! :D

 

Credits to http://www.marikenya.com visit her blog here.

Marikina Shoe Festival 2012: “Walk This Way”

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It did not take even a week for me to crack and spazz the usual spazz — wanting so much to see the event with my own eyes and shooting to my heart’s delight. I simply love it when Marikina does this. And it gets even better because my city has once again promoting what it does best: Shoe Production!

So today, me and my friend Chesca started our adventure by walking along Calumpang road (aka JP Rizal st.) towards where one of the venues was. The weather was great, the breeze was picking up… it was a best day to see and document!

But first, I’d happily commend the creative strategies Marikina did to promote the event. If I’m not mistaken, this be a Guerrilla style of advertising which worked just wonderful!

(Introductory banners along Dong Juan Sumulong Ave. with arrows navigating people to where the venues were. There was “Elegant,” “World Class,” “Affordable,” — proud traits of Marikina shoes!)

There were the “paper bag” displays around Plazas with the details of the event — the title, the venues and how long the event would run (until December 2012, ladies and gentlemen).

And there were foot prints of their tagline, Walk This Way, on the pavement starting from the Marikina Bridge running to JP Rizal st. (and Shoe Ave, if I’m not mistaken?). One could not simply miss these since it was painted hugely and artistically; I literally smiled the first time I saw it.

Arriving at the venue (at the Patio Del Zapateros), we were greeted by merriment of visitors and attentive store keepers. I actually quite liked the fact that there were Marikina Officers around the place, a mini stage with a screen (for entertainment, I’mma sure), free seats and table and really spacious (and mighty clean!) area to go around.

I also noticed that there were selective local brands outside and have their own stalls while others were inside another building. I think these local brands do a rotational exposure: 10 selected brands would have a chance to showcase their works on a bigger and noticeable outdoor area and then the next 10 would do the same, after a certain period of time. I’m just guessing really.

(the other local brands found inside the building. There were so many! I couldn’t go around with the amount of visitors inside. Heh. Heh.)

A small section of the venue where they placed historical details and facts regarding the blooming of shoe production here at Marikina plus photos.

Oh. Whoever thought of that, “Shoe-Kat ka!” and “Shoe-per star of the Week!” I SEE WHAT YOU DID THERE. I couldn’t help but giggle at it. Fine fine word play, if I do say so myself. I love it really.

Price range, you ask? My buddy and I went around to inspect and saw pairs of shoes amounting from 200PHP to 700PHP (I’d confirm once more if I have time to go back! I want to buy myself a pair or more!). Not bad, really. And with a sturdy quality like that, it’s definitely a catch. One can find themselves in treasures of designs and types — all having different sizes. Great, yeah?

That saying, for shoe-loving persons like me! and for those who are interested to see Marikina’s local branded shoes and the event itself, come by here and experience Marikina’s Walk This Way Shoe Festival! There are so much fun going, styles to choose from, and affordable shoes to buy buy buy!

Thank you for this event, Marikina!

– Jiandra, ever the Marikina City-fan

 

Credits to Ms. Jiandra go on and visit her wonderful blog here.

 

Quick List Marikina Schools

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Sto.Nino HS
Pamantasan ng Marikina PLM
*comment below for new Marikina schools.

OFFICE OF THE SECONDARY PRINCIPALS

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A

Nelly S. Conde

PRINCIPAL IV- FORTUNE HIGH SCHOOL

Email: FHS_09@depedmarikina.ph

Contact: +632-496.40.10
Lagrimas B. Garcia

PRINCIPAL IV – MALANDAY NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

Email:

Contact: +632-942-6326 / 494-4720
Lydia B. Timoteo

PRINCIPAL IV – STA. ELENA HIGH SCHOOL

Email: SEHS_09@depedmarikina.ph

Contact: +632-646-9793 / 682-3568
Victoria D. Naranja

PRINCIPAL IV – MARIKINA SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL

Email: MSHS_09@depedmarikina.ph

Contact: +632-647-4262 / 647-9457

B

2
Edgardo L. Nieto

PRINCIPAL II- PARANG HIGH SCHOOL

Email: PHS_09@depedmarikina.ph

Contact: +632-941-9374 / 933-1955
Albert B. Mutia

PRINCIPAL II- MARIKINA HIGH SCHOOL

Email: MHS_09@depedmarikina.ph

Contact: +632-942-2479 / 942-0568
Wilfredo S. Jabal

PRINCIPAL I- MARIKINA HEIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL

Email: MHHS_09@depedmarikina.ph

Contact: +632-934.89.13
Alberto D. Villamor

PRINCIPAL I – TAÑONG HIGH SCHOOL

Email:THS_09@depedmarikina.ph

Contact: +632-948-8403
Uriel Teodoro

OIC – CONCEPCION INTEGRATED SCHOOL

Email:CIS_09@depedmarikina.ph

Contact: +632-576-7614

C

Emily G. Santos

OIC – BARANGKA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

Email:egsantos_09@depedmarikina.ph

Contact:386-1960
Mita A. Abergos

OIC – SAN ROQUE NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

Email:

Contact:474-3849
Freddie D. Viernes

OIC – NANGKA HIGH SCHOOL

Email:NHS_09@depedmarikina.ph

Contact: 997-3187
Teresita J. Cervantes

OIC- KALUMPANG NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

Email:

Contact:227-2537
Clay A. Balgua

OIC- STO. NIÑO NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

Email:

Contact:494-8422