2013-01-13 ~ Wazzup Pilipinas News and Events

Friday, January 18, 2013

Chicken Charlie: Yummy Delights That's Soooo Good!

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Despite my determination for healthier palates as my food choices, I couldn't really avoid eating my favorite food since childhood. Fried chicken has been a long time favorite and I grew up with either my mother's home-cooked meals or a quick take-out order of fried chicken value meals from fastfood restaurants whenever she was too busy to cook. It would always be fried chicken - not beef, not seafood, but chicken!

Chicken Charlie was the first to introduce me to what they call as double-fried chicken. Their chicken has none of those chicken breading or extenders. Its 100% pure chicken deep fried twice to bring out a crispness that's so deliriously sensational, and the special soy-based sauce that they already put on the chicken before serving adds a delightful flavor already that you won't look for any gravy or ketchup anymore.

My first day out to tour London, specifically Central London. My hosts has invited me to join them for some tea at the Ritz Hotel and for lunch at the Rules restaurant. A separate blog about my adventures there were posted also in this blog.

I had to take the train to go to Central London, and took a few taxis to go from one location to another. For sure, I didn't want to get messed up and looking sweaty on the outfit I was wearing that day. I also continued my tour on the second day wearing similar classy formal outfit making me look like a distinguished guest of the city.

PMMA Fest 2013: Takbo Para sa Marino 5k Fun Run

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Running is an easily accessible activity. Anyone can run. You just need a decent pair of shoes,some determination and a lot of discipline.This rigorous cardiovascular exercise allows us to burn an average of 100 calories per each mile of running.

This means running 5 miles a day can burn an additional 500 calories, making it a legitimate way to lose weight. Other popular activities, such as biking and walking, only burn a fraction of those calories in the same amount of time.

The Philippine Merchant Marine Academy Alumni Association, Inc. is cordially inviting all running enthusiasts and families to join the first PMMA Alumni First Host Classes “Takbo Para sa Marino 5k Fun Run” on February 17, 2013 at the Venice Piazza McKinley Hill, Taguig City.

Skullcandy Philippines unveils the arrival of the NBA line

The most anticipated Skullcandy NBA collection is finally here, as it the line now available in over 100 retail stores in the country.

Skullcandy, a high-growth performance lifestyle brand, collaborated with the NBA to offer officially licensed headphones, showcasing the names and team logos of six of today’s hottest NBA players - Kobe Bryant, Derrick Rose, Kevin Durant, Rajon Rondo, and Dwyane Wade. Meanwhile, the NBA earphone line features the logos of prolific teams with the LA Lakers, Chicago Bulls, Boston Celtics, NY Knicks, and Miami Heat.

Skullcandy Philippines proudly carries the NBA Player series for the HESH headphones, and the NBA Team series Ink’d earphones with an eye on Filipinos’ love for both music and basketball.

Get your game on with the NBA Hesh’s banging 50mm speaker drivers for some high-powered audio goodness. It comes with an in-line Mic1 control to keep your phone and playlist close at hand, every time.

The Ink’d earphones are back and they’re better than ever with their Supreme Sound capabilities. Expect nothing but a full range of attacking bass, natural vocals, and precision highs in its all-new version.

From its massive international success and reception, Anil Menghrajani, President of Rains International, Skullcandy’s exclusive local distributor, only expects the same level of reaction from the Filipino NBA fans. “We’re so happy that we’ve finally brought the NBA collection to the Philippines. A lot of our partner stores have been waiting for this since last year due to the numerous requests they get from our NBA fans. The country is bursting with the NBA spirit; we even flood the social networking sites every time the season is on.”

Menghrajani is confident that this line will be one of its fastest moving products, especially with a brand new look and a more powerful performance brought by the Skullcandy Supreme Sound feature.

2013 Business Trend: Switching to SaaS and the Cloud for Data Quality

To start off, businesses also commit to New Year's resolutions. From new marketing strategies to in-depth customer analytics, companies seek innovative services and programs that will enhance business operations and increase revenues. Software-as-a-service (SaaS) is a software distribution model that's designed to store applications and data on a reliable, external digital space, which is also known as the cloud. Switching to SaaS may be your business's essential resolution for 2013.

According to research from Martinwolf Global M&A Advisors that's reported on gigaom.com, SaaS companies experienced "hypergrowth" or "white-hot growth" in 2012 Although the value of SaaS slowed down at the end of the year, it still surpassed traditional IT services and providers. You may ask as you remodel and update your marketing plan: Do I really need SaaS and cloud computing? SaaS in addition to other efficiency solutions, such as address validation and customer profiling, can provide higher-quality data for marketing campaigns and reduction costs.

If you're unfamiliar with cloud computing or SaaS deployment solutions, the following facts may help you feel more comfortable while deciding whether or not your business needs to adopt this trend:

What is SaaS?

SaaS is an "on-demand" software delivery model in which your organization's applications, such as accounting, customer relationship management (CRM) and enterprise resource planning (ERP), are located and accessed. The SaaS cloud serves as a virtual space or data center where resources are stored and allocated.

How Does SaaS Improve Data Quality?

Cloud computing, also known as cloud data storage, is secure and accurate, which improves the quality of your data. Vendors also provide data redundancy, data backup and disaster recovery plans for organizations that use cloud computing. Upgraded software that keeps sensitive enterprise data and private customer information protected and easily accessible for updates and collaboration ensures data quality for your business.

Why Do I Need SaaS?

Integrating SaaS and using the cloud eliminate the need for onsite IT support, equipment, hardware and software maintenance.

SaaS also provides:

Scalability & Affordability: Services can increase and decrease based on demand, which improves efficiency and reduces costly expenditures.
Mobility & Availability: Because SaaS applications are stored on a cloud, data is accessible anywhere, anytime.
Collaboration: Employees can communicate and access information via the cloud in real-time from any location via smartphones, tablets and laptops.
Upgrades & New Installations: SaaS vendors are equipped with the IT capabilities to keep your software applications and systems up-to-date with the latest versions.
Efficiency: SaaS vendors have the expertise and resources to deploy applications, ensuring security and accuracy. SaaS eliminates the burden and responsibility of managing traditional software from your organization, which could take months to deploy onsite.
Competitiveness: If you're an SMB, you can still operate with the same applications that larger enterprises with more technological resources and larger budgets use — keeping you competitive.
Financial Reductions: Support, upgrades and maintenance are taken care of by the provider and included in the subscription.

What Will it Cost to Integrate SaaS?

Integrating SaaS into your current IT infrastructure can be challenging and costly. Ease into cloud computing by creating an IT environment that combines onsite IT as well as SaaS cloud applications. Ensure that an SaaS vendor can seamlessly integrate SaaS solutions with your existing on-premise IT system. Keep in mind you're eliminating the need for time-consuming and costly resources (e.g. consultations and installation services) that are necessary to deploy new technologies and software in the future.

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Rules Restaurant : Celebrating A Birthday at the Famous Oldest Restaurant in London

It was a very nice and great opportunity to dine and enjoy the lunch hour and the birthday celebration of Mr. Steve Saunders at the Rules restaurant, the oldest restaurant in London and one of the most celebrated in the world.

Rules was established by Thomas Rule in 1798 making it the oldest restaurant in London. Its located at 35 Maiden Lane, London WC2E 7LB, England (Charing Cross / Trafalgar Square).

Rules still flourishes and it serves traditional British food, specialising in classic game cookery, oysters, pies and puddings.

The Ritz Hotel: Anybody for Some Tea?

Wazzup Pilipinas!

I was invited to have tea at The Ritz London hotel with Mrs. Saunders and Mrs. Hersborg. It was my first day and my first event.

Still no sleep and just arrived in London 4 hours ago. Thanks to the cold water shower and lots of caffeine to keep me awake and going.

Overlooking London’s Green Park is the world-famous 5-star Ritz Hotel located in Piccadilly, London. This stunning Neoclassical building offers the height of opulence with luxurious bedrooms, exquisite British cuisine, and classic afternoon teas. It is best known for Louis XVI luxury, aristocratic tradition, chandeliers and champagne, Colonialism cornices and columns.

The Olympic Park, now known as the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park,in London, United Kingdom occupies an area straddling four east London boroughs; Newham, Tower Hamlets, Hackney and Waltham Forest.

It was the sporting complex situated to the east of the city adjacent to the Stratford City development built for the 2012 Summer Olympics and the 2012 Summer Paralympics.

It contains the athletes' Olympic Village and several of the sporting venues including the Olympic Stadium and London Aquatics Centre, besides the London Olympics Media Centre.

Continuing the London adventure is a visit to a sort of museum all about horses and carriages.

Adjacent to the Buckingham palace is the Royal Mews, designed by Nash, where the royal carriages, including the Gold State Coach, are housed. This rococo gilt coach, designed by Sir William Chambers in 1760, has painted panels by G. B. Cipriani.

It was first used for the State Opening of Parliament by George III in 1762 and has been used by the monarch for every coronation since George IV. It was last used for the Golden Jubilee of Elizabeth II. Also housed in the Mews are the carriage horses used in royal ceremonial processions.

The Queen's Gallery is a public art gallery located at the west front of the Buckingham Palace, home of the British monarch, in London. It exhibits works of art from the Royal Collection (i.e., those works owned by the Queen "in trust for the nation" rather than privately) on a rotating basis; about 450 works are on display at any one time.

The exhibit during my visit featured the works of Leonardo Da Vinci. It was entitled Anatomist as most of the works of Da Vinci were also about the anatomy of humans.

There was so much to see and everything had a mystery!

Another part of my trip to London is a visit to the official residence of her majesty the Queen.

Buckingham Palace has served as the official London residence of Britain's sovereigns since 1837 and today is the administrative headquarters of the Monarch. It is where The Queen carries out her official and ceremonial duties as Head of State of the United Kingdom and Head of the Commonwealth.

Originally known as Buckingham House, it is a symbol and home of the British monarchy, an art gallery and tourist attraction. Behind the gilded railings and gates which were made by the Bromsgrove Guild and Webb's famous façade which has been described in a book published by the Royal Collection as looking "like everybody's idea of a palace"; is not only the weekday home of the Queen and Prince Philip but also the London residence of the Duke of York and the Earl and Countess of Wessex.

The palace also houses the offices of the Royal Household and is the workplace of 450 people.

Arc De Triomphe Etoile (Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile) is one of the most famous monuments in Paris. The Arc is located on the right bank of the Seine at the centre of a dodecagonal configuration of twelve radiating avenues. It stands in the centre of the Place Charles de Gaulle (originally named Place de l'Étoile), at the western end of the Champs-Élysées.

The Arc de Triomphe (in English: "Triumphal Arch") honours those who fought and died for France in the French Revolutionary and the Napoleonic Wars, with the names of all French victories and generals inscribed on its inner and outer surfaces. Beneath its vault lies the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from World War I.

Musee De Louvre is a museum among museums. Founded in 1793 as a museum for all, it celebrates humanity's long journey with the remarkable scope of a collection that spans thousands of years, reaches from America to the borders of India and China, and is highlighted by such iconic, universally admired works as the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo and the Victory of Samothrace.

Once a home to kings, the Louvre has enduring, intimate links with French history, drawing on the spirit of the Revolution and its notion of perpetual evolution, innovation, influence, and alertness to the new

Experience life at court as though you had been there yourself.

The next stop was at the Palace of Versailles where I went around the gardens first before I visited the palace's royal apartments.I was blown away by the magnificent apartments of the king and queen as well as the impressive Hall of Mirrors.

If you're passionate about art and history, come and explore Louis XIV's Palace of Versailles. Let the Palace of Versailles take you back in time to the era of the great French monarchs.

I passed by this magnificent structure known as the Justice building of France.

The Palais de Justice is located in the Ile de la Cite in central Paris, France. It is built on the site of the former royal palace of Saint Louis, of which the Sainte Chapelle remains. Thus the justice of the state has been dispensed at this site since medieval times.

The real essence of the city of Paris is captured by the Siene River, a 776 km (482 mi)-long river and an important commercial waterway within the Paris Basin in the north of France. This famous river flows from east to west through the heart of the city and divides Paris's Left Bank and Right Bank.

It is definitely an unparalleled romantic experience as you lazily drift down the Seine River or Paris' miles-long network of canals. Get a glimpse of some of the city's most mythical spots, enjoy a romantic dinner amid the soft glow of light on the water, or just sit back and revel in the fresh air and delicious floating in a scenic setting.

Paris, France!...and of course, the primary target tourist attraction to look for is the Eiffel Tower!

The Eiffel Tower, or the "metal asparagus", as some Parisians snidely called it, was named after its designer, Gustave Eiffel.

I was totally inspired as history comes alive right before my eyes. I will forever cherish the memories.

I journeyed via Metro Train to Paris to witness the splendor of the grand monuments. The Paris Metro (subway) and RER (express interurban train) have stations all throughout Central Paris. Paris airports are accessible via the RER train system, rather than the Paris Metro.

London Eye : Is This Where The MOA Eye Got Its Inspiration?

London Eye is totally different from the MOA Eye we have in the Philippines. The London Eye is actually more like an observation deck described as a giant observation wheel where it can take people up above to get a spectacular view of the city.

The 135 meter (443ft) tall structure, located in the Jubilee Gardens on the South Bank, is a very popular tourist attraction that was built as part of London's millennium celebrations.

The architectural team of David Marks and Julia Barfield, husband and wife designed the structure as part of a competition to design a landmark for the new millennium.

None of the entrants won the competition, but the couple pressed on and eventually got the backing of British Airways, who sponsored the project.

Foo Bar is an upscale bar with tons of attitude and an atmosphere with an upscale edge. You can hear anything from 80's to good old classic favorites during the week weekday nights, but the music turns into house music during weekends. This place goes from spacious and roomy to butt to belly button on Thursday through Saturday nights.

It's the only bar in downtown Melbourne that was decorated by a professional interior designer. The female owner has taken great pride in showing off all of the hard work she has put into the place. The outside patio that has huge comfy cushiony couches and coffee tables. There is a gorgeous custom made all wood bar and back wall. The leather bar stools and ottomans are studded and there is a customized couch that wraps around one wall. It had a very asian, Mr Miyagi's house kind of feel to it.

Wazzup Pilipinas!

We went out to River Rocks Dining and Drinks Dockside, one of Brevard County’s most attractive riverside restaurant locations, for a night of fun and celebration - in fact two celebrations, my friend's birthday and Christmas eve.

River Rocks is located in Rockledge, Florida at one great waterfront location near the Indian River Lagoon. It has full banquet facilities to accommodate any size of event. It's actually two different restaurants in one great waterfront location.

The restaurant offers expansive views from every table and an upscale chef inspired menu. The dock outside features a 5,000 sq. ft. deck over looking the river. It is open daily for lunch and dinner, featuring a casual seafood menu and handmade frozen cocktails.

I was invited at The Westin Melbourne hotel by Steve and Nanette Saunders to celebrate with them and their friends Christmas eve and Nanette Saunders 40th birthday. Ooopppsss, sorry if I divulged your age, Nanette!

Surrounded by theatres, designer boutiques, galleries and the city’s finest attractions, The Westin Melbourne combines stylish newly refurbished accommodation, luxurious facilities and intuitive service with the most commanding Melbourne address.

Modern, chic and elegantly understated, the Westin’s dramatic staircase and light filled lobby overlooking City Square sets the tone for this premier 5 star hotel. The property’s extensive contemporary art collection, serene Wellness Centre and sophisticated restaurant and bar enhance the atmosphere – and ensure guests leave feeling better than when they arrived.

"Miami is considered to be the epicenter of the Sunshine State, and within its confines, the Miccosukee Indian Tribe has erected an alcazar dedicated to gaming enthusiasts - the Miccosukee Resort and Gaming Hotel. In an age where so many enterprises are disregarding the personal touch that leads to a memorable guest experience, the Miccosukee Resort is using the depth of its tribe’s affluent tradition to present players with a sanctuary where they can escape the mundane."

Miccosukee Resort and Gaming is a charming hotel that offers 302 guestrooms (256 rooms, 46 suites) all offering 27-inch TVs, Wi-Fi, and minibars. The hotel features onsite amenities like a full-service spa, a casino, fitness center with cardiovascular and strength-training equipment and an indoor splash pool with spa tub and jacuzzi. The resort's 8,500-square-foot childcare center includes an indoor playground, interactive video games, nature field trips, and water aerobics. A video arcade is also on site.

Road Trip!Out of town trip to Key Largo, Florida. It was a great weather that day and an amazing blue sky was upon us.

Key Largo is a popular tourist destination called "the first of the Florida Keys" because of its northernmost location along the Florida Keys chain. It is the "Dive Capital of the World" because the living coral reef a few miles offshore attracts thousands of scuba divers and sport-fishing enthusiasts, and boasts some of the most fascinating botanical scenery in the state. It is home to the original African Queen boat also known as S/L Livingstone is the boat used in the movie The African Queen in which starred Humprey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn.

I laughed out loud after reading the statements below because I got confirmation that I was not alone in my wondering thoughts . My wife and I watched the movie "One More Try" starring Angelica Panganiban, Dingdong Dantes, Angel Locsin and Zanjoe Marudo last Friday night at SM Megamall Cinema 7.

Though we loved their acting very much, I however was a little dubious of the "technicalities" associated with the film.

Were the facts accurate? Was the natural method of fertilization the only resort to make a baby, and save the life of a child?