MARY JANE GOMEZ VISA CONSULTANCY

Places I spent last weekends....

2009-01-11T17:35:00.000-08:00

Black Nazarene Celebration is always be an historical event in Manila where about millions of Catholic devotees attended just to kiss and touch the image of Black Nazarene. Devotees don't mind standing outsides a very sacrificing event where devotees have the longest procession, some walking barefoot. Though celebration is over, still there are lots of people attended mass last weekends and even some stay standing outside .

"Kung Hei Fat Choi! ". Black Nazarene Celebration is already over, people are now busy preparing for Chinese New Year. We try to visit Binondo known for Chinese town in Manila where people enjoyed shopping to a big sale on Chinese malls. Many also Filipinos find fun an exciting in celebrating Chinese New Year there are parades together with the Millennium Dragon and the two more small dragons. Many people also believe on Chinese horoscope and even wear red to scare ghosts, give more luck and use firecrackers to drive bad luck away. Giving Tikoy food and money on a red envelope is already a habit.

After a long hour of roaming around the Chinese town, we have decided to celebrate the birthday of my Japanese business partner on a Spanish-Filipino century-old restaurant just a small restaurant located near the corner of C. Recto and Florentino Torres Street. This attract us maybe because it was featured in GMA7 as an old-timer restaurant. It's quite simple-old restaurant and as we enter, struck us two very old snoring boars and quite strange fish on the collective room on 2nd floor and the attractive Spanish portaits posted on walls. We try to order some of their menu and we observed one of the Spanish manners like maniana habit where it takes almost hour to wait for the order and as we started to eat its mushy, actually not disappointing but maybe it does not gratify us as what we have seen on TV. It's quite unsatisfactory service which time span of restaurant is not guarantee for a well-good restaurant. Maybe if you need a navigating and adventurous eating which needs to leave your culinary expectations outdoor, Ambos Mundos would be one but still I prefer to eat on modern restaurant because sanitation and clean ambiance matters me much which gives appetite in eating. But maybe there are reasons why Ambus Mundos survive that long as an historical restaurant.

Christmas In Our Hearts

2009-01-05T17:51:00.001-08:00

Christmas Season is the most traditional celebration on giving gifts and merry making. Filipino has the most longest period in celebrating Christmas season from the month of ber (September) up to first Sunday of January (Three Kings). As September comes, Christmas carol on shops, radio stations and TV started, series lights on the streets specially the very iconic and symbolic parol ( Christmas lantern) and abundant beautiful Christmas decor includes the adapted western Christmas tree and the Christmas streamers and buntings hanged up in and out of houses.

Christmas celebration is formally started December 16 where "Misa de Gallo or Misa de Aguinaldo" a pre-dawn mass held on early 4:00 a.m. Devotees go to mass for nine consecutive days before Christmas Eve. This shows their anticipation and faith of the Nativity of Jesus. Every after novena, there are lots of Christmas delicacies and food like puto bumbong (steamed-sticky rice), bibinka(rice-flour cake), salabat(hot tea) and tsokolate( hot chocolate from cocoa).

Finally comes Christmas Eve after series of dawn masses. This is celebrated every 24th of December with a midnight mass celebration and immediate after, a big "salo-salo" or "Noche Buena" where families, friends, and relatives dine together on big table. Relatives abroad came home to spend Christmas together. A lot of food are prepared specially the queso de bola and Christmas ham where neighbors try to exchange foods and gifts. There are Kris Kringles - like Secret Santa that give gifts to his her manito or manita.

Hang over on Christmas Celebration is not yet fully ended and yet New Years Eve has come with bang and sounds. The same way to other countries, at exactly 12:00 midnight, skies are lights on with different beautiful fireworks display while children have so much fun playing the dancing firecrackers (watusi) and very noisy firecrackers like judas belt, kwitis, super lolo and bawang. Horns and whistles are blown, empty cans and barrels are dragged , pots and pans are clanged to make noise as much as possible. This is one of the beliefs to let all the evil spirits and misfortunes leave from you and your places. Some thoroughly clean the house to welcome new year spotless and fresh. Some people wear polka dots to welcome prosperity and pockets are filled with round coins or put on top of the table or widow to attract wealth. At exactly the clock strikes at 12:00 midnight, some people open the doors and windows to let the good luck enter the house . Children jumped several times, nose are stretched to become taller.

After a very exciting noise barrage, family are happy together to eat the food prepared as "Media Noche" where ham, crispy pata (fried leg of pig), lechon (roasted whole pig) and other delicious food are set on the big table.. Some celebration ends up till morning with lots of drinks like liquiors and matching sing-a-long or videoke. But celebration will still continue on Three Kings Feast every first Sunday of January.

The Mark of Pinay.............

2008-12-02T20:56:00.000-08:00

It is a great honor and pleasure to be with and spent even an evening with the most popular First Lady in the Philippines - Madame Imelda Romualdez Marcos with great respect despite she's known for her extravagance and the dictatorship of her loving husband former President Ferdinand Marcos, we have also experienced the great changes in terms of economic and social growth including excellent promotion of arts and culture during their governance. It is good to be with a very influential woman in the Philippines that would inspire us to be ambitious in our businesses and cherished the real beauty in life. A very strong woman from inside and out to whom I admire much on how she resurrected the Marcos legacy, clear their names from allegation on corruption and political persecution; restore the glory on their family. The strength and tactical initiative she got during her struggles is much helpful from global economic crisis in restoring back stability in our businesses.

The first remarkable moments when I have started to work in giving haven for retirees. It is posted headline in the Japanese Newspaper having the largest circulation that promote Philippine tourism as well. Together me is Mr. Kazutami Shiga who wrote a book introducing Philippines which made to attract most Japanese to travel, study and even stay for good in the Philippines.

Together my young Filipino staffs on P.A.S.Co and Japanese business partners on Estimation Outsourcing for which we started only five employees. We always desire quality excellence and comprehensive services which almost of the contractors and homeowners in Japan are our clients. We are the most dominating of Bill of quantity of Finishing Materials both exterior and interior specially tiles.

2008-11-17T20:46:00.000-08:00

Mall of Asia - The Ultimate Shopping Destination

Filipino Cuisine

2008-11-06T21:58:00.000-08:00

Philippine is an archipelago compose of more than 7,000 islands and islets having
three major islands namely Luzon,Visayas, and Mindanao. And to resolve such hassle travel, one way of comfortable trip is through planes.... Going back home safe and sound while　enjoying the beautiful topographic views and attractions.....

For busy and crowded city like Manila and Makati, the very fastest way to commute is through MRT or LRT very advisable in avoiding traffic during peak hours. It is very affordable compared to buses specially if you have along distance to travel along Manila. Onething quite problem is you will experience people pushing.

2008-11-05T19:31:00.000-08:00

A more convenient transportation rather than jeep but quite expensive. It is very helpful going to unfamiliar places or to known places which you have not gone before. The taxi will send you door-to-door.

Another usual transportation in the Philippines is riding on a jeep instead of taxi or bus, which advisable for short distances only. It is common to commuters whose houses that are far from railways or on which places that buses cannot go through. It is much affordable compared to taxi which is almost five times cheaper.

2008-11-05T18:58:00.000-08:00

A very affordable transportation which is very applicable only to a very short or distances if you are trying to travel only around the village. Instead of riding a taxi, tricycle is advisable.

A very old and traditional way of transportation. Kalesa a Spanish word Old Church Slavonic word meaning "wheels." It is a horse driven which is rarely used as transportation now a days but it could still be found in Intramuros and Binondo Manila.

Different Beautiful Destination just around Manila.

2008-11-05T18:24:00.000-08:00

Makati the center of commercial trading is one of the favorite places to visit here in Manila specially for elite people wants shopping, dinner and have time for recreations. It has its finest hotels and restaurants, bars and shopping malls and even the highest building the PB COM tower located along Ayala ave., Makati. It has millions of people during working days due to many people come to work, shopping and enjoy their vacation stay. But people living here do not reach million due to a very expensive housing, subdivisions and villages.

Greenbelt 1 to 5 located in Makati has its finest restaurants enjoying a very romantic dinner for couples and even a very relaxing place to stay for those who are stressed and toxic in work and businesses. This is also very good meeting place for business appointments.

Manila is the national capital city where the tomb of our national hero Dr. Jose Rizal is kept on Luneta Park. It has a very spacious park very good place to stay to families for dry picnic and the Baywatch along Roxas Boulevard where you can enjoy a breath taking sunset on the city the Manila Bay. It is a harbor which served as the Manila port. In fact the largest Ocean Park is located just near here.

Right in the heart of Manila where you can find the Intramuros called as the Walled City with old churches and buildings. The oldest structure of church for the entire Manila was built here name San Agustin Church and the very historic place Fort Bonifacio where heroic Filipinos are put in jail and killed. The official residence of highest chief the Malacanang Palace/Museum is also located here and the Manila zoo where different specie of animals are cared. And of course the Malate and Ermita considered as the Manila showcase which offers a very wild variety nightlife like clubs, restaurants, bars and party hopping.... You may also enjoy shopping even to to its very countless bargain offered. We do have also open bazaars like in Divisioria and Binondo.

Quezon City is also one of the interesting place to visit around Manila where the Quezon Memorial Circle/Shrine where the highest structure is erect at the center of 27 hectares with 66 meters tall in honor of the 2nd former President Manuel Quezon. Research Center and the subsidy from national government the University of the Philippines which is the center of fermentation of ideas and training. The Araneta Coliseum in Cubao considered as the largest dome in our country. It has seating capacity of 32,000. The important military headquarter the Camp Crame and Aguinaldo is also located here. There are luxurious restaurants, hotels, nightclubs and bars in Tomas Morato and Timog Ave and of course the two largest broadcasting famous network in the Philippines the ABS-CBN and GMA Broadcasting Network are located here. We can also find the largest reservoir the La Mesa Dams - source for water supply of National Capital Region. Quezon City is considered as the competitor to Makati regarding commercial and establishments.

Pasay considered best in dry goods and wet market known in Baclaran where you can find a terrific place to purchase fresh seafoods in Mart of Baclaran (Seaside or Dampa).

You can also have wonderful carnival thrill and great experience to Star City rides and enjoying shopping, malling and even playing bowling, skating and time zone on Mall of Asia the largest mall in the Philippines. The most attended Church in Asia (Shrine of Mother Perpetual Help) is also located here where thousands of devotees just come here to visit their devotion.

Paranaque a large urban good for residential and other commercial establishments. NAIA (Ninoy Aquino International Airport) is located at the border of Pasay and Paranaque. It is the only gateway for international travel here in Manila.

Alabang is the the southernmost of Manila considered has the most expensive villages especially the Ayala Alabang Village where the wealthy and famous lives, like families of the politicians, great leaders, celebrities and other wealthy businessmen. People living from Makati try to move to Alabang maybe Makati is already crowded due to big establishments. villagers have their very expensive shopping malls like the Ayala Town Center where the very famous wealthy men are .

Study, Stay, and Live the Beauty of Philippine Enchantment.....

2008-11-04T18:37:00.000-08:00

Aside that Philippines is known to its natural beauty attraction - a wonderful place to travel , it is a very perfect place to live as well. It has a very affordable lifestyle compared to other countries like housing, food and education.and it is very easy to put up or start small business specially to retiring people and those who are getting older.

It is not hard to live in the Philippines because people living here are known to its compassion and sympathy like the "pakikisama or bayanihan" extending help and support to neighbors specially if you have troubles and problems in accordance of what they have and what they can offer. And if you are very kind and helpful, in due time you will reap your goodness because they will give due recognition in your small donation or services that's what we called "utang na loob" or debt of goodwill and gratitude. The time you need help, those people you are helping will also rescue you and offers you something.

In terms of education , you can send your kids to exclusive schools which is quite cheaper than other countries. Just imagine a big family where only the father goes to work. Usual numbers of kids is at least three to five. The couple still can send their kids to school and sometimes, in a

home there are two to three family living, like the aunties and uncles, the lolo and lola and only two to three are working. I am not actually tolerating what is not ideal, but only to prove that lifestyle here is much cheaper than other countries.