Airforce City - Clark Field Pampanga

 

A huge field with plenty of planes lying about spells - KIDS FUN TIME (and tired mommas running after their kiddos)!

 

It is very seldom we get to see such huge spaces - for our children to run wild and get crazy and I am glad this was part of the school's fieldtrip itinerary. 

 

 

Pedro Calungsod Chapel at SM Aura, BGC Taguig

We were on our way back home from a weekend staycation at Microtel Hotel near SM MOA. We were looking for church along to way and remembered SM Aura has a chapel.

  

Parking was a breeze. There were plenty of parking slots available, considering it was a weekend.  After parking we rushed towards the mall entrance and asked our way to the chapel.

 

The chapel of San Pedro Calungsod is located at SM Aura's top level (level 7).  We took a lift from the B2 parking to Level 5 and changed lift to reach the chapel.  We reached the chapel just in time for the 12nn mass.

  

 

 

It was a long way up, but worth it.  The chapel is beautifully designed and view outside breath-taking  (with fresh air to spare - although every now and then, we can smell grilled food, which I am guessing coming from the food court area).

 

The chapel can fill up to 300 people. Unfortunately, with the number of mall goers wanting to catch mass before shopping - expect SRO, especially if  you come it late. 

 

Mass-goers easily spill outside towards the deck and with people coming in / passing by it was quite difficult to concentrate (the cons of mall masses).

 

The Chapel of San Pedro Calungsod is located at the 7th level of SM Aura Premier, 26th Street corner McKinley Parkway Taguig City.
Mass schedules:
Mondays to Saturdays at 12nn and 5pm Sundays at 10am and 5pm.
 

 
 
 
 
 

Pyrolympics 2014 (Can't Wait for Next Year)

 

 

Next to Christmases and Birthdays, my boys look forward to the annual Philippines International Pyrolympics Competition. This is obviously fast becoming an yearly event for my family!

 

The competition normally scheduled, Saturdays of February and March held at the SM Mall of Asia, Bayfront.

 

This year, we got to see Spain and UK fireworks display.

 

If you haven't seen one yet, I strongly encourage you to do so and bring your entire family along.  The displays are truly world class.

NOTES:
If you have cash to spare, I recommend an overnight stay at Microtel Hotel, their Sunset View Rooms, have a perfect view of the bay.

DinosoaurROARR Land

  Finally got to visit Dinosaur Island in Clark Pampanga as part of my kiddo's school field trip.

 

Dinosaur Island is tagged as the 1st (and I think only) Animatronic Dinosaur Park in the country.

 

I was really impressed to find gigantic and life like  (moving) dinosaurs for the first time.  They all looked very real and it took me a while to explain to my son that these dinosaurs are fake.

 

 

For a 5 year old's wild imagination,

the dinosaurs looked real alright! 

 

My son was second guessing "to pose or not to pose"

beside Mr. T (Rex)!

 

 

The park entrance has a tall and huge wooden gate (similar to the Jurassic movies) that keeps visitors guessing what is inside.  

 

1. Guests are first led to a  Dinosaur Trail.  Here expect to see: Brontosaurus, Tyrannosaurus Rex, Brachiosaurus, Spirosaurus, Stegosaurus, Triceratops, Iritator, Raptors, Rhinoceros, Iguanodon, and many more!

 

2. The park also houses a small museum (dinosaur fossils) ~ not really interesting. 

 

3. After the tour, we were seated and entertained to some dancing dinosaurs (it was really funny, you know these guys are just in dinosaur costume and yet when they try to scare, some were actually scared).

 

4. An optional extra-pay tour is the Jurassic Safari "Adventure" Ride.   We rode on motorized carts on tracks and were chased by the same dancing dinosaurs (Remember to keep extra attention on your kids and explain that these dinosaurs are not real. I saw one child, who ended up crying).

Entrance fee as posted in their facebook site:
Adult - Php 350.00
Kids - Php 300.00
FREE for 2yrs old and below.

Jurassic Safari Ride
Entrance fee - Php 150.00

Dinosaur Island is located along Gil Puyat Ave. Clark Freeport Zone Angeles City Pampanga. (near El Kabayo at the back of Clark Pinic Grounds) is open daily from 9am to 5pm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glamour Box - SNOE's Special Edition (January 2014)

Glamour Box took a while to have this one delivered to my door step.  Unlike my December 2013 subscription, which surprisingly came early, I got my January box end of the month.  

 

You can just imagine huge grin on my face, when I finally received my loot!  And oh, was it heavy... really excited I finally got it! 

 

 

This month's subscription is a tie-up with SNOE products.

 

When Glamour asked me if I wanted the SNOE subscription,

I thought they meant "SNOW" and it was probably an acronym for "Special Nd Owsome, Wee" or something... Opps! 

 

I found out later that SNOE  (and not snow) is a Filipino brand of beauty products.  

 

 

My heavy glamour box!

My box contains seven (7) items (no fillers this time).

• Hair Heroes - Full size 250ml cost P599.  The guide card says it cleanses your hair and body without irritating.  I guess this fits my sensitive skin just perfect, however, I must admit it is rather pricey.  I have used it twice or thrice already, and my hair seems the same to me (maybe I should finish the whole bottle then re-write this portion after)!

• Two (2) Beauty Bars (in Organic Papaya and Licorice) - Full size 150g cost P139each.  I have been using the Organic Papaya for a week now and I am liking it.

• Body Ritual Recipe - Full size 150g cost P249.  It is a hydrating moisturizing lotion, infused with vitamin E, papaya extract and is SPF15.  I haven't tried this one yet, but it smells real nice and I am excited to try it on soon.

• Fizzy clean - Full size 50ml price P179.  It is quite expensive for a foaming hand sanitizer, but it smells real good and leaves your hands soft and moisturized. 

• Magic Besobalm - Full size 4g at P299.  Now this, I love the most.  It is a mentholated lip balm, that tints your lips red/pink as soon as you apply it on. I am definitely sold and will be buying this product again for sure.

• Poudre Extraordinaire - Full size 35g at P799.  It is a mineral face powder that is also supposed to protect the skin from radicals.  Tempting, but it was a sampler size?  Would probably last you 2-3 applications only.  I really hate sampler sizes.  I haven't given this a try yet, but should be good given the price.

Glamour boxes are really cool. Seven items worth close to P2000 for a little over P500 is a very good deal indeed!

Please check also my blog on Glamour Box' December 2013 box.
Glamour Box - Oh, La, La (happy)!!! - Santa's Secret (December 2013)

Restaurant Alert: BRASAS Gostoso

In search of good food, one work day ~ my lunch buddies and myself found ourselves seated at a Latin American Restaurant located at the recently opened SM Jazz Residence  :BRASAS (literal translation glowing piece of coal).

 

Our group of three ordered the house specialty Patacones as appetizer and Chivito al Plato as main dish.

 

Patacones are fried plantain fruit, which tastes a lot like baked banana chips only chewy like toasted potato fries.  It was topped with mixed salsa and shredded meat. 

 

For our main course we had Chivito al Plato for sharing, which was a combination of grilled pork, chicken and beef.    

 

We found both meals very gostoso (delicious) and filling.

 

The experience was an authentic Latin American one, with popular salsa and raggae rhythm as background.  I was really loving the place - brick-wooden walls, with hardwood chairs and tables. 

 

 If not for the poor ventilation (that leaves you and your coat smelling like "tapa") and the rather slow attendants (who took their time: a good 15 minutes to bill us and another 15 to punch our order, considering we paid cash),

I would have given Brasas an 8 out of 10.

 

If you are not in a hurry and this is your last stop for the day, 

I recommend this place a try, however,

if you have an afternoon meeting I would suggest you head straight to another restaurant next door.

 

 

 

 

 

This Brasas branch is located at SM Jazz Residences in Nicanor Garcia Makati.