Posts Tagged ‘Starbucks

26
Sep
10

BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE FREE!

at CBTL, Queensbay Mall, Penang Island, 25 September 2010

23 September 2010, Saturday –Weekend is the only time we get to unwind from our daily schedule and do things to keep our expats’ minds perfectly sane and  in full control of everything despite our my homesickness…

For more than 7 hours, I and my housemates (who happen to be my colleagues & friends too) enjoyed FREE wifi, electricity, working spaces and yes, even cups of iced water at Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf at Queensbay Mall, Penang Island.

Believe it or now, it was the first and longest time  I stayed in a coffee shop where I chanced upon talking to Gabby and Tina via Skype and got to do other stuff over the net at no expense!  *homesickness for the day remedied!*

Before having our dinner at the mall, I only had CBTL’s large Double Chocolate Iced Blended Coffee in the afternoon and the rest was for free!  I have my own broadband plug-in but who needs it in a public place where free wifi is so accessible. :D

Indeed, the best things in life are free! :D

How was your weekend? Did you get any freebies recently?

Have a great new days ahead!

28
May
10

UNUSUAL PASYAL

Guess where I took my kid for a walk?

Even my wife, Tina had no word to explain what got into me when I decided to bring Gabby to this park on one weekend morning.  Perhaps, I wanted a breather between our usual routine of going to malls, coffee shops and restaurants or maybe I just wanted our son to experience a different space that may enhance his appreciation of things. Either way, we both enjoyed our 30 minutes in Paco Park, Manila.

It has been ages since my last visit to Paco Park. It was during those Holy Weeks back in the early 80s when we started to accompany my mom in her annual Visita Iglesia in 30 churches (Yes, you read it right–thirty churches including St. Pancratius Chapel inside Paco Park; probably it’s also the reason why I sort of memorized the sidestreets and main thoroughfares of Metro Manila).

Paco Park was initially a cemetery. So when I told Gabby that I’m bringing him to a park and a former burial ground, he was puzzled and just shrugged his shoulders.

The charm of this former cemetery lies on its architecture. It’s circular in shaped with thick hollow walls; old as history.

In 1912, burial or interment at the Paco Park ceased. It had been the burial ground for several generations and descendants of those who were buried in the park had the remains of their ancestors transferred. (Sourced via Wiki)

Walking through these walls reminded me that change is inevitable. The previously built cemetery for aristocratic Spanish families has been accessible for years now as a recreational garden for all and at present can be enjoyed for as cheap as FIVE PESOS ENTRANCE FEE.

There’s an area formerly dedicated to angels…

But the most famous Pinoy secretly interred after his execution at Bagumbayan in Paco Cemetery is no less than Dr. Jose P. Rizal.  Note that his initials at the cross was written in reverse to hide his remains’ identity.

Gabby asked me who RPJ is and I just simply replied he’s our National Hero. Although I got 1.50 in Philippine History and 1.25 in Rizal, the subject (1.0 being the highest) back in my pre-Med days in FEU, I cannot explain his works and life in few statements to my almost-6-year-old kid; I’ll let him discover who Rizal is as Gabby studies Philippine History when he grows up.

The St. Pancratius Chapel inside Paco Park is one of the favorite wedding venues of most Pinoy couples. I think it depends on one’s perception of the place; either you feel creepy about it or be lured to its uniquely amazing aura.  Every Friday afternoon, there’s always a free concert held titled Paco Park Presents.

As our half-hour stroll in this park came to a close, it was then Gabby became more fascinated and at ease with it. He ran and jumped around the lifeless fountain; he sat and assumed his favorite yoga-like pose; and probably began to absorb a little sense of the place.

Gabby requested if he can have his favorite drink. So guess where we ended up our morning?  We went to the nearest mall, Robinson’s Place Manila and he savored a grande of chocolate frappuccino.

The odd weekend became usual again in a blink sip. :)

Have you been to Paco Park? What do you think of the place?

27
Dec
09

PLANS AND PLANNERS

On the late afternoon of Christmas Day, soon after we left our paternal Lola’s house in Calumpang, Marikina City, I with my wife, Tina, our son, Gabby and my brother JC went to Eastwood Mall…

Gabby asked for a grande cup of Chocolate frappuccino and a slice of Oreo Cheesecake from Starbucks.  He finished the entire decadent while I shared the Banoffee Pie (one of my favorites!) with Tina.  I also enjoyed Dark Cherry Mocha frap and she had a hot grande cup of Toffee Nut.

Then after several weeks of caffeine indulgence, finally I got my 2010 Starbucks Coffee Planner. :D   It’s probably one of the most expensive planners but one cannot purchase it directly; and can only be redeemed via a completed promo sticker card. 

Each Starbucks Planner Promo Card requires interested patrons to collect 8 stickers (at 1 sticker per cup of any size) of Holiday blends (Toffee Nut, Peppermint Mocha and Dark Cherry Mocha) and another 8 stickers (or cups) from the usual Starbucks beverages.

I’ve been religiously using the planners from Starbucks for 3 years now and found it so functional to jot down schedules, appointments, small notes and whatnot. I am the type of guy who needs to write down important things in order to avoid missing them.  Are we the same who need a pen and paper most of the time ?  FYI, I sometimes suffer from selective amnesia, that’s why, LOL! :D

One of the unique features of  the 2010 edtion is its coffee bean shaped marker which I wish to keep and hope would not be lost throughout the year.

For the 2010 planner, the collector can choose from 3 cover designs  –coffee beans, coffee blender and coffee roaster which I like best. 

The planner also comes with different discount coupons with specified dates. 

Now that I’ve claimed mine, I’m just glad to have another partner (other than Tina,LOL!)  that can aid me to be more organized.

Come to think of it, I have no plans yet for January 08… Hmmm… do you have any clue what’s worth anticipating with the eighth day of the first month of the year?  Abangan! :D

Who does not want to plan for wonderful travels and awesome dining pleasures all throughout the year?  

:D What are your biggest plans for next year ?

:D Can you keep schedules efficiently or do you also need someone or something to put everything properly ?

27
Nov
09

WHAT’S FOR MERIENDA?

My wife, Tina, our son, Gabby and I are just like most Pinoys who love eating and eating in between meals. :D   Whenever at home, particularly during weekends, we usually have morning light meal few hours after breakfast or more likely before lunch. Same thing goes in the afternoon; a snack is always perfect as a prelude to dinner. :D   But unlike others, we oftenly skip midnight snacks for the fear of taxing our pancreas too much that might lead to its rupture during sleep; now that’s another topic.

Merienda or midday meal is one of Spain’s legacies to Pinoys that I am thankful for, aren’t you also? :D

Here are some of the yummies we enjoy during merienda. 

Are you a popcorn-person?  Have you tried Chef Tony’s?  What flavor/s do you like?

I don’t know about you, but Gabby and I just love it when Tina fries fish balls and serves it hot off the pan with vinegar+soy sauce+onions!  :D   We prefer only fish balls cooked at home rather than those sold in streets.  And you?

Other than chips ahoy, oreo, or the locally made m.y.san buttercookies, lady fingers or broas (I love broas!), prima and marie (which reminds me of my childhood), I and my family also enjoy munching these cookies…

  

Try it, make sure it’s Double Fudge Sugar-Free! They’re heavenly delicious in each bite! :D

Sometimes, we have fruits during snack time and nothing compares to sweet and plump bunch of lanzones which happens to be in season until now.  Do you like lanzones too?

I usually grab two large orders of  Khaleb Shawarma for Tina and me as our merienda before we go grocery shopping.

  

We also like dimsum! Among our favorites are shrimp cheong fan and shrimp dumpling a.k.a. hakao!

 

And who would say no to pizza for merienda ?

or to either venti of frappucino, iced macchiato or any hot blends from Starbucks Coffee and pastries or a slice of cake perhaps…

Our latest to-go purchase was done just yesterday afternoon, soon after Tina and Gabby tagged along with me as I went to my dentist in Marikina, we spotted a carinderia that sells freshly cooked rice cakes…

Nevermind if it’s cheaply priced at PhP 25 per bibingka and at PhP 20 per order of puto-bumbong;  regardless whether these two are far from Ferino’s or Via Mare’s or even from Kamayan’s, what was important yesterday was the fact that we enjoyed our first bites at these Holiday season favorites. :D  If only we have muscovado, everything could have been almost perfect with Anchor butter and those coconut shavings.  

Tastes, smells and feels like Christmas already! :D   Aren’t you excited ?

Well, we are!  Both for Christmas and enjoying another satisfying snack! :D

What’s your usual merienda?

01
Jul
09

COFFEE BREAK

I am biased with Starbucks Coffee. I like their Frappuccinos, twice-blended please- from Java chip, Mocha, White Choco Mocha, Dark Mocha and I love their Caramel Macchiato, iced or hot for as long as it’s venti, it’ll surely make my day.  But I always welcome the chance to get that caffeine dose from other coffee shops (except for two where my wife and I developed the aversion of going to their shops after a couple of unpleasant experiences). 

Since my wife introduced me to Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf  few years ago, I also like some of their blends and their cakes and pastries.  However, we find their coffee a bit pricey compared to Starbucks’ or it’s just really me who is so partial to my favorite, LOL.  Nonetheless, resistance is futile when we really crave for CBTL.

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How can you say no to that delectable multi-layered chocolate cheese cake ? IMG_2370IMG_2377

That melt-in-your-mouth slice of cheese cake was gone in few seconds! LOL.

18
Apr
09

TWICE BLENDED, PLEASE!

Tina and I are coffee addicts. Not that we can’t last a day without it, but one to three cups are our usual consumption of instant coffee to brewed, even a cup of coffee from a vendo machine to any dose of caffeine. It just have to be a part of our breakfast or at least our day.

Since coffee shops have grown big business in every corner of Metro Manila, I and Tina have probably tasted most of them if not all, and I have been biased with STARBUCKS COFFEE. I thank God that Rustan’s Corp. brought STARBUCKS COFFEE to the Philippines, and since my youngest brother had been a Starbucks barista for a year, we have been sipping different blends and have been familiar with the tastes of our individual favorites.

I like hot blends and frappuccinos, coffee or cream-based. I also dig iced coffees, depending on my mood and the weather. From the usual expresso to ICED or HOT CARAMEL MACCHIATO, to JAVA CHIP, MOCHA, WHITE CHOCOLATE FRAPPUCINOS, every sip is shared with moments of BONDING with family and friends.

I also like the pastries and breads of Starbucks. There was one holiday season they offered ITALIAN DARK MOCHA FRAP and CAKE, wow, those were indeed unforgettable! Coffee mugs and tumblers are also good collectibles from Starbucks and we have some of them and would want to have more (greedy undertone).
Tina and I also have the 2009 Starbucks planner which we availed for free after completing 2 sets of sticker-promo cards.

Our malling with family or friends usually include ventis or grandes from Starbucks. And this afternoon is no exception. We went to TriNoma mall in Quezon City for our usual family weekend bonding and our little bundle of joy Gabby had initiated the call for cups of frappucinos. We tried the Starbucks Coffee summer blends which include DARK BERRY MOCHA FRAPPUCCINO and DARK MOCHA FRAPPUCCINO and a mango-based pastry to satisfy my craving.

And by the way, Tina and I like our frappuccinos TWICE BLENDED, or as baristas put it, somewhat like “watery”…

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DARK BERRY MOCHA FRAPPUCCINO, grande PhP 170 (for me),
DARK MOCHA FRAPPUCCINO grande PhP 130 (for Tina).
Our son Gabby took small sips of both frap.

I’m a sucker for mango-based cakes and pastries
so I failed to resist this sweet temptation from Starbucks….
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MANGO MADNESS, PhP 130.
This one has great texture with not-so-sweet taste, just right summer.

Here’s the nutritional fact table of a 16 fl. oz / grande serving of
Starbucks Mocha Frappuccino with whipped cream…
It’s absolutely SINFUL (but delicious).

Calories…………………….380
Fat Calories………………. 130
Total Fat (g)…………….. 15
Saturated Fat (g)………… 9
Trans Fat (g)……………… 0
Cholesterol (mg)…………….55
Sodium (mg) ……………….240
Total Carbohydrates (g)……57
Fiber (g) …………………….0
Sugars (g) …………………47
Protein (g) ………………….6
Vitamin A ………………….10%
Vitamin C ……………………0%
Calcium …………………….20%
Iron …………………………. 4%
Caffeine (mg) …………….115

Sourced from starbucks.com

01
Mar
09

AFTER THE WIN

The morning after Gabby’s win from his declamation contest, Tina, Gabby & I went Eastwood City, Serendra & Bonifacio High Street just to have another weekend of family bonding.

We went to Something Fishy in Eastwood to avail of their buffet breakfast. It wasn’t our first time to dine there but after today, I’m not sure if it’ll be our last.

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I & Tina are very picky on food taste & service. Both of us are very particular on courtesy and smiles from waiters & resto staff. It makes dining a better experience if all of the crew is as pleasant as the food they serve. The service crew & staff of Something Fishy Grill & Bar did not offer a smile or welcoming gestures except for their security guard who also serves as their door man. IMO, the food on the buffet table of Something fishy was not that impressive. It’s just too plain for me & ordinary or something like “you-only-get-your-money’s-worth” kind of thing. It’s perhaps one of the cheapest eat-all-you-want-breakfast at PhP 114 per pax, exclusive of drinks, inclusive of charges, offered from 12MN till 10AM. We gave it a second shot after our rush buffet breakfast there a couple of weeks ago thinking that there might be changes on the menu list or at least a little improvement. We were disappointed because we were wishful thinkers hoping there would be new addition to their buffet menu list, but there was none. There was NO corn cereals, bacon, ham, fresh fruits, fish fillet, longanisa, tocino, pan de sal & other Pinoy breakfast favorites. Although I admit there are many food choices offered at their breakfast buffet, the taste is just mediocre for me. The fried eggs contained NO salt at all or at least there should have been a salt & pepper at the tables, the daing na bangus was less salty as well, the beef tapa was too oily, the palabok (or was it pancit malabon) was too bland. The price is ofcourse affordable but it should not discount the taste or the food quality. I believe there is always room for improvement & I just wish this establishment will consider doing this.

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Moving on from a not-so-impressive dining experience, we walked around Eastwood City & made Gabby pose for some photos before goint to Serendra…

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Then at around 7:30AM we were in Boni High Street already. Since most of the shops there open at 11AM, we took a stroll, read the Sunday broadsheets (FYI, I read Manila Bulletin, PDI, Phil. Star every Sunday AM), did some people-watching, just enjoyed the morning….

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Tina took this photo while I was scanning the papers & Gabby was busy with his gameboy…

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care for some green telephones? these tubes conduct sounds from end to end…

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The fountain that looks like something from outer space. I so like it. Neat and edgy !

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Bonifacio High Street also has these unusual but creative & playful stuffs, something for kids and the kids at heart…

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Wish we have puppy(ies) to walk here. We both wanted a PUG, but aren’t sure if we can maintain it.

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EYESOLOVETHISBANNER!!!

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If God wills it one day, Tina & I with our kid(s) will have our own place in Tagaytay or wherever, definitely we’ll find a space for this trellis…

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We found a store that sells toys, mostly collectible items & I just love these YODA icon and bubble heads…

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These are sold in this store…

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Our bonding is not complete without getting a dose of caffeine from wherelse but Starbucks Coffee…

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We allowed Gabby to stroll alone, even tested him of what he’ll do when we leave him. We left him walking ahead of us in Serendra & we hid from him. When he found out that we’re out of sight, he quickly ran back towards where we were. What a reflex from a 4-year-old kid. Tina & I were glad to see he did not cry nor panic given the situation.

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This is one of Ramon Orlina’s glass sculpture masterpieces which serves as a fountain & Serendra’s public attraction…

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We tried CUPCAKES by Sonja in Serendra for the first time & liked it !!! The place, though small, is attractive with retro interiors in pastel colors. The cupcakes are good as they look. But again there were no smiles or kind gestures from the staff. I feel sorry for them because they’re not as pleasant as their work place & work gears…

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Tina had the PEPPERMINT PATTY cupcake, PhP 68 (the one with pink whip, the base was tasty but the cream whip was too sweet), Gabby had the VANILLA SUNSHINE cupcake, PhP 55 (the one with a powder blue whip), & I had the PISTACHIO BERRIES & CREAM, PhP 85 (the one with white whip & green cupcake with thin slices of strawberries in between); we all agreed it’s the BEST among the 3, so yummy, flavorful & not to sweet… I did not expect cupcakes can be this yummy!

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The fridge of Cupcakes by Sonja is so hip in its light blue color…

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They bake their cupcakes just before store’s opening and flavor it with these sweet treats…

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And just before going home, we went to a public toilet in Serendra right across where Cupcakes is located & Tina can’t resist but to document how Ayala management keeps everything at its best. Even restrooms are posh, similar to toilets of premium hotels, fully airconditioned, clean, well-maintained with supplies of tissues & liquid soap with sensors, even had a landscaping of some greens at the center…

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All in all, we ended the 2nd month of the year grateful to the Lord for everything & we’re happy & hopeful to start the month of March. =)

17
Jan
09

CONFESSIONS OF A COFFEE-ADDICT

 

16012009806My 2009 Starbucks Coffee planner, enjoyed with Cappuccino and Corned beef pan de sal.  The planner came with a free cup promo stub (to be claimed on the next visit) to compromise to its delay.  Good enough!

As early as November, there’s always a mad rush of caffeine binges for Starbucks Coffee drinkers here in Manila.  We get excited every holidays as Starbucks traditionally introduces its exclusive Christmas blends in red cups that are only offerred during the season.  And as everyone knows, those coffee blends come with the promotional sticker cards that once completed with every cup, entitles the bearer to avail of the planner and to help the coffee store send 3000 students to school in their charity called Sparkle of Hope.  So being a Starbucks addict gives you a reason to enjoy doses of caffeine while reaching out to to the needy.

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Yesterday I already claimed my 2009 Starbucks Coffee planner from Starbucks Gateway Mall branch in Quezon City.  My wife claimed her planner 3 weeks before I completed my stickers on the promo card.  She had it in red,  I chose the blue one.   It took around 2 weeks to wait since Rustan’s Coffee (the company that runs Starbucks Coffee in the Philippines) had a delay in the issuance of those planners as posted in their shops.  Most Starbucks patrons, including myself,  were a little disappointed with the obvious austerity they observed, evident in the design of the planner for 2009 here in Manila.  I did not expect that their planner will be that simple & commonly-looking, its appearance if far from their planner last year which I also had and became so useful in jotting down schedules and what-have-yous.

2008 Starbucks Coffee planner came with a pencil & looked stylish as this …

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It’s not that easy to get a planner.   One needs to complete a promo-sticker card after drinking 8 cups of regular blend coffee and another 8 cups of  Starbucks Christmas blend (Toffee nut latte, Praline Mocha & Dark Cherry Mocha). 

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The requirements are down to 16 cups compared to 24 cup-stickers for last year’s planner.  For some it’s too pricey, but the planners are just a  thank-you gift of Starbucks to its loyal patrons.  I personally enjoy sipping coffee from their stores so completing the promo card stickers was not a pressure to me nor a requirement but some sort of a bonus on my end.   

starbucksI say bye-bye to those red cups!  See you again on the next holiday season…

10
Jan
09

mug shots

we went to one of our favorite malls & our son gabby’s frequent stroll place – glorietta in makati this morning and munched lunch at dad’s, saisaki & kamayan’s ultimate buffet. we did a bit shopping and before doing the grocery at rustan’s, we took merienda & sipped coffee not at starbucks this time but at krispy kreme doughnuts. it wasn’t our first time to eat at krispy kreme but it was only awhile ago when we noticed their other stuffs. besides beverages and amazing doughnuts that melt in your mouth, they have head caps, t-shirts and ofcourse, coffee mugs!

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tina and i had the same impulse to buy those mugs. One is bigger and cheaper at P135 and the other one is smaller and a bit costly at P150. But what makes the smaller mug more interesting is it’s small chocolate doughnut glued at its bottom.

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Can’t take this headstrong doughnut off my mug!!! it’s a reason to finish every cup of any beverage prepared using this mug! cool huh? these are cheaper than our starbucks mugs but heck we like it too!

30
Nov
08

old time favorite coffee in a newly explored mall

28 November 2008, Friday.  After a week-long work, Ity texted me on her way home from work if I wanted to go to Starbucks for a sip of venti or grande frappuccino.  I asked first our 4-year-old son Gabby if he also wanted to go and ofcourse he became excited.  So I quickly surrendered to my wife’s querry.  My knees are weak when it comes to food and coffee.

Since both of us do not have any bad habits, we’re not alcoholhics and neither are smokers,  I’m giving ourselves rationale of deviating our so-called addiction to buffet-eating, coffee drinking and mall hopping.  These I think are little life’s pleasures that we reward ourselves with.  If only Starbucks coffee can be taken intravenously or in capsules, addiction to it will be more fun, don’t you wish? hehehe…

starbucks-ivf1            starbucks21

We agreed to go to Eastwood Mall, the new upscale mall located wherelse but in Eastwood City, Libis Quezon CIty where my youngest brother JC is a Starbucks Coffee barista.   The new mall is a fusion of Greenbelt and Bonifacio High Street’s exteriors and Powerplant mall, Glorietta and Shangri-la malls’ interiors. What makes it unique from these posh malls is the presence of mall buttlers. These mall buttlers offer service like carrying shopping bags from shop to shops and anything to make it a hotel-like shopping experience. One buttler even politely greeted us on the escalator as we head for Starbucks Coffee located at its 4th floor.

We met JC in their store, ordered our favorite white choco moccha frap, and a grande of toffee nut latte hot coffee and muched on chicken empanada and a slice of choloate bliss cake.  Ity claimed her Starbucks Coffee 2009 planner in red since she already completed the stickers in the promo card.

Here are our photos of that Friday evening as we end our week…

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23
Nov
08

A DAY IN SERENDRA & BONIFACIO HIGH STREET

We love Ayala Malls.  Since the day Tina and I started dating about eight years ago, Glorietta has been our favorite.  Tina admittedly, was never frequent goer to malls in Makati before she met me.  Then came Gabby who also made Glorietta, Greenbelt and TriNoma his play and stroll places.  He has been enjoying Timezone arcades and Starbucks frappuccinos in those malls since he learned to walk.  I realized that I accidentally made my family mall-rats like me.  Going to a mall has been an outlet for me to recharged and relax after a week-long work or during times of hassles.  What I like most about these Ayala malls beside being family-oriented environment is that they are eco-friendly too. Having trees and gardens in between their posh establishments made them unique at least here in Manila.  I have been to most of them including the one in Alabang and in Cebu but never to Bonifacio High Street and Serendra until a day before Tina turned 32. 

       

We had our lunch first at our favorite Dad’s, Saisaki, Kamayan’s Ultimate buffet in Glorietta.  Take a look at my first plate, it’ll make you salivate…

   I started heavily with assorted seafood kebab in pesto sauce, ham and lengua from Dad’s and tamago rolls and some yakisoba from Saisaki.. then ebi tempura and plate after plates, we heartily satisfied our gastronomic cravings.

        

Then we went window-shopping at Rustan’s, took a peak at the good-buys for the holidays, ofcourse we took pictures too for we are photo-addicts. 

        

And we decided to finally go to Bonifacio High Street and Serendra to see and experience the current ”it” place that people talk about.  It was like Botany mall in Auckland, New Zealand where we used to stroll and enjoy for few weeks 3 years ago when we were there for a vacation.  Boni High Street and Serendra are not only made of food shops and boutiques but an expensive community in the middle of Taguig where few years back was just a vast land of cogon grass. Though most shops are of high-end, it’s a great place to have a morning or an afternoon stroll, where one can walk a dog, window-shop, or spend a good dinner.  

      

       

          

          

          

    

       

If my familiarity with some things serves me right, I think this emerald sculptured fountain in Serendra across Boni High Street is without a doubt one of Orlina’s glass masterpieces.

   

        

Then our mall-hopping won’t be complete without a cup of coffee and frappuccino from Starbucks. We had it at 3rd floor of Fullybooked before ending our day with a smile.

09
Nov
08

STARBUCKS 2009 PLANNER

Holidays is in the air.  As one proof,  Starbucks Coffee here started their red-cup season last November 04.  Part of it is their promo that most patrons collect, it’s the Starbucks planner for 2009. 

I had the Starbucks 2008 planner, which I have been using religiously; jotting my schedules, notable events, budget etc.. I got that planner after I drank 24 cups of promotional and regular-blended coffee last year;  I claimed it from  Starbucks Gateway Mall a few days after Christmas.  It looks like this.

          It’s stylish and has really functional pages. 

As my youngest brother who works as a Starbucks barista now after working in Costa Atlantica cruises for 5 months across 30 countries in Europe last year informed us the date of the start of the sticker-collection promo of Starbucks for their infamous planners, I first got excited to sip more caffeine from their branches.  But he told us that though the planners for 2009 are available in 3 different colors, its look is more ordinary compared to the previous ones; this was not only his perception but of most patrons’.   The Starbucks 2009 planners are in red, blue and black colors that appear like an ordinary moleskined-planner in any bookstore.  The only good thing despite of it’s plain look is that patrons should only complete collecting 16 stickers with control numbers instead of the previos 24 stickers to claim one planner.

But since my only earthly-petty addictions are to collect Mark and Spencer silk neck ties (which ofcourse is practical and wearable) and to sip Starbuck coffee once in while, (OK, once in a while may mean more frequently depending on moods and budget), and buffet eating with Tina & Gabby, I decided to get a promo card for myself (and for Tina too) to collect stickers as I enjoy Starbucks toffeenut blended coffee frappuccino twice blended this season less the excitement of the look of the planner, but heck, it’s still from Starbucks.

      




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