Tres Restaurant : Authentic Filipino and Spanish Cuisine ... A Must Try!

I promised my BFF a pizza treat if she would hang on until the next weekend to watch the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 Movie with me. We're both Potter-head fanatics and she wanted to see it on the first Saturday of showing but I think my offer was too good for her to resist, knowing how "kuripot" (stingy) I am hehe.

We both enjoyed the movie, so much, that it made us both ravenously hungry after! It was around 4:30 PM when we got out of the theater, we checked the pizza parlors but they were all jam packed! Turned off, we decided not to eat pizza anymore and looked for an alternative. We went to the Information Booth and asked for new restaurants at the  Block (SM North EDSA). The mall employee suggested the usual diners and one unfamiliar restaurant,  Tres .... hmmn... we were informed however that the restaurant is located outside the mall so I was a little hesitant but BFF wanted to check it out so the lazy feet went along. It would later on prove to be a great find!

Photo Credit: Tres Cuisine

The restaurant's facade did not come as imposing (Read: expensive looking; read further: scary) but looked clean and inviting. We saw 3 occupied tables through the glass panel windows, which was good because there was more than enough room for us to enjoy a quiet, early dinner. The door opened to a  waiting area with a small bench and a divider made of  colored glass encased on a wooden frame parallel to the entrance. The interior was modest and homey with just about 10 dining tables. The over all design made the room appear bigger than it really was, although the dining area's ceiling was quite low but not at all obtrusive. The motif  was a contrast of Mediterranean colors, that complimented their Spanish and Filipino Cuisine. Small acrylic paintings of Filipino and Hispanic themes  hang on the egg-shell white walls. The lighting was not too dim but had a relaxing effect which was perfect for dining. We chose a table at one corner with a cushioned seat braced on a wall and two wooden chairs on the other side. It was actually big for the two of us but as there are many more available tables, we chose the most comfortable spot. This was because it was still early for dinner but later on, we noticed that a long table had been set up to accommodate a big family who seemed to frequent the place because the children were requesting for their favorites without looking on the menu! More diners seem to fill the room and we found out that there was actually a second floor!



The waiter named William was very courteous as he patiently waited for us to make up our minds and place our orders. The selection on the menu were so delectable, the pictures were mouth watering and the prices so reasonable that we actually had a hard time choosing which ones to pick. After a long deliberation with my BFF, who as I mentioned on my previous blog, was my total opposite, we finally came to a compromise:

1. Laing Rice - Steamed rice in coconut milk with taro leaves

Laing Rice P133 good for 3

I love vegetables, she's carnivorous! She didn't want to order a veggie course so we agreed on Laing Rice instead.

There are actually 6 choices of rice which we'd all love to try because some are really new to our ears and the descriptions and pictures on the menu list are so inviting. But according to William, each serving is already good for 3! We were later delighted to find out that Tres is truly generous in their servings! The Laing Rice could actually be good for 4 persons!

The Laing Rice was served steaming hot. The texture was perfectly soft, tacky and moist. The flavorful mix of rice and Laing burst in the mouth in delightful creaminess in every spoonful, complementing the other viands we ordered. It was so good it could stand  on its own and actually be eaten without any ulam (viand)!

2. My Pick: Lengua Con Setas (Ox tongue with chickpeas)

Lengua Con Setas P253

This dish is of Hispanic origin that had been passed on to the Filipinos for generations. The preparation of Lengua Con Setas is not an easy feat so it is rarely seen on the family table on ordinary days but during special occasions and gathering of relatives, the self-professed "chefs" in our family would love to show off their kitchen prowess by preparing this meal. It's been awhile since I last had a taste of Lengua Con Setas so I picked this dish and was actually not surprised that there was no opposition! My BFF had no objection so long as it was meat, but I still crossed my fingers in case she raise a tongue-issue, which she didn't! hehe.

The lengua (ox tongue) was soft and smooth, it melted in my mouth and tasted like a prime cut beef tenderloin! The sauce's consistency was thick but not oily and coagulated. I think the garbanzos (chick peas) were grounded to achieve the perfect thickness and texture because I did not notice it with the button mushrooms. It had the right balance of tangy sourness and sweetness from the tomatoes, and  just enough saltiness combined with mysterious spices creating a wholesome umami flavor fullness! Ayayay!

The Lengua Con Setas was also served in ample proportions along with the others, what more can we ask for?

3. Her pick: Crispy Sisig with egg  (Crispy Diced Pork)

Crispy Sisig P193

Much as I want to be as openhanded as my BFF when I made my pick, I really had to put up a logical argument before acceding to her choice. Sisig?!? Really now, why not fish instead? We already chose a beef viand! But the truth was, I never really liked Sisig and she knows it, so why pick on me now? Grr! First of all, it is served in a hot sizzling plate that splatters oil all over and fills the entire room with mist and smoke then the smell of it will all stick to your clothes! Ugh! Secondly, the Sisig I know has a soggy texture of pork fat and a gummy overcooked pork liver all swimming in a pool of oil that leaves a foul after taste! Eeew! But I already had my pick so I had to give in and be fair, after all it was a treat for my BFF, right?

But surprise, surprise! Tres' Crispy Sisig did not fit my former description at all! In fact, it is now officially my favorite dish in this restaurant although I am of course speaking too soon because I have not tasted all their specialties yet!

It was served hot on a sizzling plate but was not spitting oil all over the table nor did it set the smoke detector in alarm mode! I was pretending to ignore it at first trying to live up to my conviction that I hate Sisig and also to make BFF feel guilty because she seemed to be enjoying it so much, but I guess I wasn't really a spiteful person (Read: No pride haha!) so I got an initial spoonful of serving and my oh my! Truly, the Lord rewards those who are forgiving because it was the crispiest and best tasting Sisig I have ever tried! The crispiness of the pork sealed in the flavor that blended so well with the other ingredients! It was heavenly delish!

Tres' Crispy Sisig brought back a childhood eating habit that I thought was long ago corrected... when my mom's cooking was so good I used to say "Ummm... sarap!" (Ummm....delicious!) after every spoonful and grin as I chew the food slowly while swinging my crossed legs under the table *happiness*! I caught myself doing it in three consecutive spoonfuls of Tres' Crispy Sisig with Laing Rice! I had to stop myself 'though because BFF was giving me the "you're-embarrasing-look" LOL!






4. Lucky Pick: Binagoongang Lechon Kawali for only P3! That's right! It's not a typo error! P3 only for a minimum purchase of P500! Alas, the name TRES! You will also notice in the menu that all prices end with the number 3! This promo will run until August 31, you might want to take advantage of it too!

Binagoongang Lechon Kawali P3 for every minimum purchase of P500 until August 31, 2011 Regular Price: P193

Tres Cuisine always cooks up promos at the price of P3, P33, or anything to do with this number! We were lucky to avail the priceless Binagoongang Lechon Kawali (Pan-fried Roasted Pork in coconut oil and shrimp paste) for just P3!

The usual Pork Binagoongan is sauteed in shrimp paste and simmered with coconut milk making the pork tender and soft. The Tres' Bingagoongang Lechon Kawali has an extraordinary twist of crispy pork combined with the lush creaminess of the coconut milk and the distinctive taste of shrimp paste! Oohlala!

We would have loved to try their desserts but there were no more room for it as we were both full and lightheaded (Read: Food High! Yeah!) but for sure we will come back very soon at Tres Cuisine!
Too bad they only have one branch for now, I hope they open one in Metro East or Pasig City where it's nearer from my place and also in Makati City where my work place is.

Me and my BFF were happy as can be! A great movie and a great dinner... perfect weekend! On our way home, we both agreed that we made the best compromise ever at Tres! Talk about a win-win situation!

Review : Rating the IMAX 3D Theater in SM North EDSA

Going to see a movie or skiing? 3D glasses looked more like goggles!

I had a real good time last Saturday and as promised on my most recent blog, I will post my review for the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 this week.

Preparing for my weekend activity proved to be a good decision although some things don't really go as planned. Nevertheless, the day lived up to my expectation of one, enjoyable movie weekend treat! It was so good and full of fun that I have to make my review in 3 parts covering 3 different subjects or this blog entry would be classified as a novela!



First, my rating for the IMAX 3D Movie Theater at SM North EDSA.


In a scale of 1-5 Stars

5 Stars - Woohoo! :))

4 Stars - Yay! :)

3 Stars - So, So... :(

2 Stars - Ugh! :((

1 Star - Eeewww! :P

E-Ticketing Rating: 5 Stars Woohoo! :))

SM Cinemas' E-ticketing System is very convenient. All you have to do is register at their website to choose your movie, the schedule, the type of cinema, the branch, the mode of payment and your seat number!

They have 4 types of theaters to choose from:

1. Ordinary (this is the usual movie theater, we're all used to) - the price ranges from P160 -P185 in Metro Manila and P110-P180 in the provinces.

2. Digital 2D Theaters - Price fixed at P250, available in Davao City and Bacolod City.

3. Digital 3D Theaters - Price is P250 in some provinces and P350 in Metro Manila.

4. IMAX 3D Theaters - They have 4 IMAX 3D Theaters, 3 in Metro Manila and 1 in Cebu City. Price is fixed at P450.

If you think you have no choice but to fall in line to watch your to-die-for box office movie hit, now you have a better alternative by booking your tickets online! It's fast and easy!

The Red Boxes are seats taken, the Yellow are reserved seats, they also have Green boxes at the farther bottom portion from the theater screen reserved for SM, (not shown in this screen shot) which could be complimentary seats and the Blue boxes are my reserved seats. I chose K26 and K27 because the seats are still in the middle although this would not matter so much when watching an IMAX Movie because it creates a vision that centers on each viewer, peripheral vision would not be necessary. There is a convenience charge or service charge of P20 for each ticket, which I think is a reasonable price to pay than falling in line!

Next, you will be shown the breakdown of details of your booking and will be asked for the preferred mode of payment. They have 3 payment options, the Globe GCash, Credit Card or the Smart Money. If you use your credit card like I did, make sure to pay for it immediately in cash when you have the time; don't wait 'till your next credit card billing statement so as to avoid accruing interest rate of 3.5% (prorate) which is not very wise! You also have an option to receive your e-ticket (BCode) on your mobile phone which you are supposed to scan at the BCode machines at the cinema lobby. However, our sms message with the BCode as well as the printed out email confirmation were not scanned. We just fell in line along with the others who bought their tickets there and were ushered in. Hmmnn... I wonder if they're using another system of checking aside from the scanners or was it overlooked?

Then you will receive a confirmation that the tickets had been purchased. You will also receive an online receipt via email with the official receipt number and all the details of the purchase including the BCode for scanning in case you erased your SMS confirmation. You may print out and bring the email confirmation with you. I brought a copy with me, but again it was not scanned nor requested to be presented at the entrance.

Lounging Room Rating: 4 Stars Yay! :)

As planned (by me, due to ulterior motive hehe), my BFF and I came earlier at around 12:30 PM for the photo shoot, however, I purposefully did not bring a camera with me so it would not appear as premeditated, we can use our mobile phones anyway! The "unsuspecting official photog" was really uptight in taking pictures because she thought it to be "jologs" (colloquial for poor taste, with no class). I knew this was going to be a problem, knowing very well my prim and proper friend, but a true friend that she was, she succumbed at last to my puppy-eyed begging (Read: pesky badgering) and got the hang of it. In fact, I think she quite enjoyed taking pictures and posing herself, as well haha!

Look at her first shot taken in haste and shame, it was blurred and really out of focus.. grrr! Too bad because I think I made a good striking pose, which was actually the cause for her shame! Me and my BFF are total opposites and I sometimes shock her with my crazy antics but we get along really well. After the shot, the model begged the photographer to allow her to love the camera, oh please! I told her she needs to be a good friend and support me with my blogging. I even chided her that I know she never reads it, but I won't take offense if she would just take take my pics, puhleaaase! Hehe, it worked! No need for blackmail or threats, LOL!

Oh, bad shot! One more please!

My plan to come early for the photo shoot worked well in my favor! The SM North EDSA IMAX 3D Theater has a separate lounging area with its own glass door entrance manned by its own security. There are 3 sets of big couches, with no back rests and center tables (I think the management doesn't want us to be too comfortable, LOL!). One set has an LCD TV for movie trailers. The floor area is carpeted, wall-to-wall. It also has a snack bar with tall dining tables and no chairs, designed for stand-up eating. I wouldn't have taken Yellow Cab's Eat All You Can Pizza in the given dining set up, even if still available, because I will surely not enjoy eating standing up! The lighting effect of the room was dim and cozy and there were also lighted poster areas, good for taking pictures. All in all, the lounge area's design was cool.. The 11:30 AM screening was still ongoing when we arrived so we had a chance to shoot in the area all by ourselves!

My Best Friend Forever!!!

Hermione Hehehe!

1 1/2 Hrs Before the 2:30 PM Screening

15 minutes before the 2:30 PM Screening

We had a lot more time in our hands after the picture taking, so we decided to grab a quick snack first of Siopao and Siomai (Pork filled steamed buns and pork dumplings with chili garlic sauce) at Hen Lin's. We went back fifteen minutes before our scheduled screening time and was surprised to see a full packed lounge with diners!

FACILITIES: 

Ladies Room Rating: 1 Star Eeeew :P

We regret not visiting the ladies room earlier because at around 10 minutes before the show starts, the cubicles looked more like ticketing booths due to long lines of ladies waiting for their turns. But the worst part really was, each out going user was apologetic to the next because there was no flush! Eeeew! As we were on our way to find another comfort room on the floor, I saw a maintenance lady and told her about the situation but she just shrugged it off by saying "Mahina po talaga ang tubig sa floor na 'to, ma'am." (The water pressure is really low on this floor, ma'am.). The management should take this problem seriously and find a solution. Never mind that there was also no provision of liquid soap, just make sure that there is enough water pressure to allow flushing! The customers deserve hygienic comfort rooms.

Theater Rating: 3 Stars So, So... :(

The theater was not as big as I imagined it to be, but you see I really have a big imagination. Nothing great and extraordinary, just a normal looking movie theater. What I really didn't like about it was the pacing of the seat rows. It was too close to the next that a big man passing by to go over his assigned seat tripped and almost toppled over me! Geez! My legs also felt a little cramped during the movie that I wanted to stand up and stretch. I refrained from doing so because I glanced at the big man and I thought he could be in a much worse situation but looked composed... hmnnn a virtuous man, very patient... hehe. By the way, the chair's design was also not very comfortable, I found myself twisting and looking for better positions.

I was wearing a jacket but I took it off after sometime because the A/C was not really very cool, but in fairness, the temp was generally okay without a coat on. However, I would say that the Robinson's Movieworld in Galleria was a lot better in terms of comfort and cleanliness, especially the rest rooms and air conditioning.

3D Glasses Rating: 2 Stars Ugh! :((

SM's 3D Goggles!

The pile of 3D glasses were in a rack and distributed to the viewers as they enter the theater in single file. There was a note that said the 3D glasses were sanitized, which was a good assurance because nobody would like to go home with sore eyes! The usher and usherettes kept on reminding each viewer as they hand the 3D glasses that it must be returned after the movie. It came across as an over kill because they kept on saying it over and over each time they hand it out when everyone already heard it for the nth time, they should have just worn a sign. But I thought it could be that they have lost some, charged to them, which was why they were so vigilant.

The most annoying part however was the 3D glasses itself! It's so big it looked more like ski goggles! The nose bridge were too wide it kept sliding down my nose that I had to support it with my hand the whole time I was watching the movie! Ugh! I took it off to check if BFF was having the same trouble and yes she was pressing it to her face too. I investigated further and saw two children on the front row with their mom doing the same thing! So I confirmed that the problem was not my small nose after all! The 3D glasses' nose bridge should be narrower or adjustable for a good comfortable fit for everyone, male, female or child especially those with flat noses (mine is not really flat, it's just small hehe).

IMAX 3D Technology Rating: 5 Stars Woohoo! :))

The visual impact is superb! The sound is engulfing! The sensory systems are synthesized and stimulated giving one an illusion of being in the scene ... feeling, touching, and even smelling and tasting the film! It is recommendable to have your children experience this technology. It will be a joy to watch them be mesmerized. There was an ash fall scene in the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows Part 2 where I saw the two children in front of me both raised their hands to catch the falling ashes, It was magical! Good thing I stopped myself from doing the same! Hmmp! At my age it wouldn't look magical but stupid!

All in all, the movie was so good that nothing could really put me in a bad mood. Everything else was just taken in stride.

Next stop: Tres Restaurant for early dinner. Read HERE my separate review for this great find! :)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 on IMAX 3D at SM North EDSA

I love to watch movies but don't like so much to see it in theaters. I'd rather watch it in the comfort of my home where I can lay and cry or scream or laugh or comment noisily, if I feel like it! I can eat spaghetti instead of just popcorn and chips, while my eyes are glued on the screen which would be very messy and hard to do if in a dark room. I can frequent the rest room without worrying about missing a thing because the movie would surely pause and wait for me! Most of all, one can even smoke or drink beer while watching a suspense filled movie! Aha!

But there are movies that are best watched only on the big screen and an IMAX 3D at that! One such is Warner Bros.' Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2. The Final of the Harry Potter flicks, capped as the most successful and grossed an All Time Domestic Best of $169,189,427 (Opening Weekend Gross in 4,375 U.S. theaters). Source Yahoo Movies




The Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 Philippine Premiere was held on July 14, 2011, Thursday. I had to keep myself from rushing with fellow Potter-head fanatics in queue because I know it would ruin the whole experience. So I am patiently waiting for the next weekend and refraining from browsing spoiler reviews of the movie to contain the excitement. While at it, I am also trying to keep my obsessive tendencies at bay by blogging about it and at the same time planning for my weekend movie special treat! (Tsk! Excessively exagge!)






1. Who to watch it with

My friends couldn't stop themselves from watching it on the 1st day, some did during the first week of showing. But I was able to convince my BFF to hold on and watch it with me 'till the next week end by bribing her with a pizza treat! Yay!

2. Where to watch, the best time to pick and early booking of tickets

There are only three options in Manila to watch an IMAX Movie, either in SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City, SM South Mall in Las Pinas City and SM City North EDSA in Quezon City. I opted for Q.C. because it's nearer from my place. The BFF Movie Date was set on July 23, a Saturday, which happens to be the birthday of one of my sisters! Ayayay! It sure is gonna be a long day for me, so I must start early.

There is an 11:40 AM screening but I'm afraid not to make it on time considering the horrible EDSA traffic so I picked the 2:30 PM instead. Then I registered at SM Cinemas' website to use their online booking system or e-ticketing system. Done!

3. What to wear

Seriously, it's not as if I'm going on a date, date! But I might as well plan for my outfit for the photo shoot c/o the BFF, as the unsuspecting official photog (hehe) ... so, it's gonna be jeans and tee! Great plan!

4. Where to eat

Hmmn... this must be meticulously planned or BFF would kill me haha! We both must have taken our lunch before meeting up or we'll be late (Read: good for my pocket *wink*). We'll just grab a pizza after the movie. My choices, Pizza Hut or Shakey's. I'll let her pick, but definitely Yellow Cab is not on the menu LOL!

Too bad we missed Yellow Cab's Pizza All You Can for only P199 from July 14-17, 2011. It was open to all IMAX viewers from 1PM-6PM by presenting the IMAX Tickets at the snack bars of  IMAX North EDSA and Mall of Asia, but it must be enjoyed in the designated dining areas only. Avalable flavors were Cheese and my favorite New York Classic! Oh well! Maybe we'll just take advantage of the Drink All You can Promo for only P65 from July 14-31, with choices of Coke, Coke Zero, Sprite, Royal, Sarsi and Nestea! Designated refilling stations are open from 1PM-4PM and 6PM-10PM only. Rest rooms available until closing time hehe.

5. What to do after?

 Party! Party!

Advance happy birthday to my Sis!

I will write my Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows Part 2 Review next week. For now, I'm going to watch for the nth time, Part 1, to make sure I will easily follow the causal cohesion and coherence of the two-part movie to make a fair review... and also to give in to my strong obsessive tendencies! Hmmn... I think it would be better if I start from Harry Potter 1 to part 1 of 7!  :)) 

Franchising : Beware of Food Cart Franchising Scams!

Street foods are no longer on the streets, they're in the malls! With the success in the country of the big food industry players in the franchising business such as Mc Donald's, Jollibee, KFC and 7-Eleven come the proliferation of franchisor wannabees, thus the mushrooming of food carts or mobile kitchens all over the different establishments! The food products sold by street vendors and hawkers although locally known to be delicious and cheap are sometimes not patronized due to concerns on freshness and cleanliness, as these products are normally displayed without refrigeration for several hours mostly on portable stalls on the streets. The street vendors, more often than not also do not have business permits therefore did not pass food quality and sanitation tests required for legit food vendors.

Some street foods however are now packaged and presented to consumers in a seemingly much cleaner and healthier fashion through food carts or mobile kitchens in malls and other similar establishments where the vendors wear uniforms; some even have hair nets, plastic gloves and aprons! We see mothers easing up a bit, allowing their children to buy iskrambol (Shaved ice with sugar, pink food coloring and artificial flavoring topped with powdered milk and chocolate syrup), kwek-kwek (dip fried quail eggs coated in an orange batter served with vinegar), deep fried squid balls, sago't gulaman (a sweet cold beverage of tapioca balls and diced gelatin with artificial flavoring) and the likes.

A lot of people are dreaming of becoming successful entrepreneurs but lack the expertise or the capital needed to put up one. While some, may just be lacking in initiative or imagination. Thus, the idea of franchising for as low as P20,000 - P30,000 is sometimes considered as a good opportunity to start up a business quick and easy. However, many are disappointed with the result. One, is a friend of mine who just recently closed her food cart of dimsums. She said the overhead cost was way above the expected income and actual sales! She opted to buy out and pre-terminate her franchising contract rather than lose more in rentals and wages! Ugh!

Franchising is actually riding on the proven successful sales track record of a business by carrying the company's trademark and business model. It is a business venture that most of the time equally benefit the franchisor as well as the franchisee. On the part of the franchisor, it enables him to expand by building a chain of stores to distribute his products and/or services while avoiding direct investment and liability over the stores. On the the other hand, the franchisee will have the advantage of starting up a business quickly by adapting the successful business operation strategies and carrying the brand name or trademark of the franchisor instead of developing his own which is more costly and risky. The downside however for the franchisee is that it never really is his own business. He merely leases an opportunity in a territory that usually lasts for a fixed time period as stipulated on the Franchising Agreement with an option for renewal.




In practice, there are normally 2 types of  payments made to the franchisor namely the "royalty" for the use of its trademark and the up-front, one time, franchise fee for the training and advisory services provided.

In consideration of the above, these are the points one must consider before acquiring a franchise:

1. Corporate Image

The company and its products must be an established name in the industry. It must enjoy a widespread positive brand name awareness as evident by consumer patronage and loyalty. If the the product is popular but not the brand itself, then think again. For example, we all know that Siopao (steamed buns with pork filling) is a popular snack but consumers would definitely go for Hen Lin's, Chowking's or Kowloon's than an unknown brand say, Pao-Pao's Siopao.

2. Disclosure Document

The franchisor makes claims in the disclosure document regarding his earnings, actual and/or forecasted. Said claims must be backed by supporting papers that are verifiable. The disclosure document must also include not only the franchisor/s financial background but also his criminal records, if any, especially those dealing with financial crimes such as swindling, estafa, fraud, cheque fraud, credit card fraud, mortgage fraud, scams or confidence tricks.

A full disclosure of the investment requirements, potential profits, performance records of existing franchises as well as those of terminated ones and the likes must be presented by the franchisor. Failure of a full disclosure is a misrepresentation. 

 It will not hurt if you do you own background checking, one can never be too careful!

3. Longevity

How long has the business been operating successfully? Best rule of thumb must be at least more than 10 years! If it is any less than this, then you might want to consider putting up your own business instead.

4. Number of franchisees

Make sure you're not the first one to franchise from a company or only a handful did prior to you! Check also if there are frequent terminations, cancellations and  non-renewals of franchise. This should be a problem indicator.

5. Support

You must ascertain that you will be given enough support with regards to training of employees as well as advertising. Franchisees are often required to contribute a percentage of their income to a common advertising fund. Find out also how the fund is disbursed. Check also if you get discounts or reimbursements if you finance your own advertising campaigns.

6. Costs (Initial and On-going)

Of course you must be prepared to pay the cost of franchising a business. Needless to point out that it must be less than the projected income to gain a good margin of profit based on the time frame of leasing the business. Compute your overhead expenses or on-going expenses such as rentals, wages, utilities, transportation and taxes against the projected gross income before plunging in!

7. Location, location, location

Aside from your good business management and the support that you will get from the franchisor, the business' location will play a major role in the success of your franchise. Therefore, great attention should be taken by studying the product, the target market, the population's demographic profile, even the traffic of transient visitors in the area you wish to operate your franchise.

8.  Get a good lawyer

There is no specific franchise legislation yet in the Philippines so obviously there are also no franchise lawyers, but it is covered under commercial law. So, go find yourself a good advise from a commercial law expert before signing a franchise agreement.

Good luck and beware of franchise scams!

Food : Condiments and Seasonings Are Essential Part of Philippine Cuisine

Filipinos love food so much that they actually enhance their already savory meals with different sawsawan (dipping sauces). Sauces and dressings are normally put on top to garnish the meal or mixed in with the salad, the sasawan on the otherhand, is served separately on the side in a platito (saucer).  The Filipino cook or chef do not take offense by the use of sawsawan because it is not an indication that the food lacks flavor but more to complement the Pinoy's (colloquial demonym for Filipinos) distinctive palate characterized by strong and bold flavor combination of salty, sweet, sour and spicy. We are also very visual people and love to feast with our eyes which is why it is observable that our foods are colorful and also tend to be served all at once and not in courses! Our country is very rich in spices which according to history was one of the reasons for the Spanish Colonization. We take full advantage of these resources not only in our cooking but also as sawsawan.

The penchant for sawsawan is noticeable in a typical Pinoy table setting that includes a platito and different condiments on the dining table. Check also their cupboards and you'll surely find different bottles of dipping sauces used as flavoring for cooking as well as seasoning for cooked meals. I just checked mine and was surprised that I'm well stocked hehe...

I've got Datu Puti Patis (Fish Salt), Datu Puti Soy Sauce, Datu Puti Vinegar, Sinamak (Spiced Cane Vinegar), Sukang Iloko (Dark Cane Vinegar from the Ilocos Region), Del Monte Catsup, Mang Tomas All-Around Sarsa, Knorr Seasoning, KikkoMan Soy Sauce, Barrio Fiesta Bagoong Alamang (Shrimp paste) Lorin's Bagoong Isda (Anchovy Paste), Mama Sita's Siling Labuyo Sauce (Red Hot Pepper Sauce), UFC Sweet Chili Sauce, rock and iodized salt.... hmnn I think that's about it! You see, I patronize all local products when it comes to sawsawan!

Here are some popular Filipino dishes that would not be fully enjoyed therefore, should never be served without its corresponding dipping sauces:

1. Bulalo  (Beef shanks and bone marrow stew with vegetables)

This is a delectable dish from Batangas. The beef is tenderized by hours of boiling it with spices like whole pepper, onion, garlic and ginger then simmered with vegetables such as corn, saba banana, head cabbage, Chinese cabbage, potatoes and Baguio beans. It is served piping hot and never complete without its dipping sauce.

 Sawsawan: Patis, calamansi at siling labuyo 

(fish sauce, golden lime and cayenne pepper)

2. Kare-Kare (Oxtail, Tripe and Beef Stew with vegetables)

This authentic Pinoy recipe is very much different from the Bulalo although they're both beef stew.  While the Bulalo is classified as a clear soup, the Kare-Kare Stew is heavy and saucy due to the thickeners used such as the grounded malagkit (glutinous rice), peanut butter and grounded peanuts. The color is a pale orange because of the atsuete (annatto). The vegetables for this recipe are puso ng saging (Banana bud), string beans, eggplant and Chinese cabbage.

 Sawsawan:  Guinisang Alamang (sauteed shrimp paste)

3. Crispy Pata (Deep Fried Pok Leg)

A savory Pinoy especialty, the Crispy Pata is also a perfect pulutan (finger food served with alcoholic beverage, usually beer). There are different "secret" styles of preparing the crispy pata to achieve the crispness and maintain the meat's juiciness and succulence. I will share mine: First, boil the pork leg for about 30-45 minutes with the following ingredients  2 cloves garlic, 2 medium sized onions,  black pepper and salt to taste, make sure  it is fully immersed in water (I prefer to use the front leg than the hind because it is meatier). Be careful also not to make the meat too tender because it will not achieve the crispiness we want when deep fried. Then drain and air dry the boiled pork leg. After drying, rub the pork leg with spices and salt, I use garlic and ginger. Put it in the refrigerator overnight. Then blanch fully immersed in oil at low temperature until the color turns into light brown. Drip dry or use paper towel before finally deep frying in high temp until golden brown and skin blisters pop! Never serve without its sawsawan.

Sawsawan: Toyo, suka, calamansi, bawang, sibuyas, luya, 
paminta, siling haba, siling labuyo at konting asukal 

 (Soy sauce, vinegar, golden lime, garlic, onion, ginger, 

black pepper, finger chili, cayenne pepper and a little sugar).

4. Inihaw na Bangus (Grilled Milk Fish)

The milk fish is the Philippine National Fish and also the nation's favorite! It's best to debone the fish, splitting the dorsal side from tail to head. Then, stuff it with spices such as tomatoes, ginger, onion, onion spring, black pepper, and rock salt then sew back to keep the filling from falling off. I usually wrap it in aluminum foil before grilling to keep the flavorful juice although many prefer grilling it bare to get the "burnt" taste especially if it will be used as additional ingredient for the the Pinakbet (Vegetable Stew), an Ilokano dish.

Sawsawan: Ensaladang talong sa Bagoong Isda o Bagoong Alamang

(grilled eggplant in salted anchovy paste or shrimp paste mixed with
tomatoes, onion, golden lime and cayenne pepper)

5. Pinasingawang Gulay (Steamed vegetables usually eggplant, lettuce, okra, cabbage swamp, camote tops and mustard).

Steamed vegetables are also popular in the country. The very simple dish with no other ingredients except the vegetables becomes an exotic delicacy when paired with its sawsawan and eaten kinamot or kamayan style  (Bare hand eating! Hey, that's not gross, okay? We wash our hands thoroughly before magkamay. Try it hehe!)

Sawsawan: Binuro or Buro (Salty fermented rice and shimps)

We have a lot more sawsawan  like the Sisi (salted oyster) of Visayan origin, the Bagoong Padas (salted ziganid) of Pangasinan, the tasty Taba ng Talangka (river crab fat paste) and different achara (sweet pickled vegetables commonly green papaya).

Kainan na! (Eating time!)

Blog Marketing and Promotion : Conceptualize Interesting Online Contests

I just came across a weekly online fiction writing contest that lasts for 5 minutes! Whoah! Squeezing creative juices under time pressure with great talents as competitors would surely give one an adrenaline rush and make the tiny little braincells all tingly wanting to shoot at different directions  at the same time. The heart rate pumps double its normal pace as you try to control your excitement and focus on your spontaneous plot, all the while berating your fingers to keep up with the race as you punish your keyboard!

But that's just my imagination because I actually did not join it :)) However, I was able to read the latest entries for the week and was awed by the writers' tremendous talents , I think they scared me and got me envious at the same time. I have great respect for fiction writers' ability to draw a clear visual with words as their medium. It's magical how they can paint this way! Such artists!




The contest is called #5MinuteFiction by @LeahPetersen who I just recently followed on Twitter as #ff by @MakeAnEbook.

The 5 Minute Fiction Writing contest happens every Tuesdays at 1:30 Eastern Time hosted on Leah Petersen's Web Site. She gives a prompt via tweeter to signal the start with the word or the phrase as the subject for the week's competition, which should never leak beforehand for obvious reasons. The entry must be posted as a comment to where she posted the "prompt." Contestants are actually given a total of 15 minutes to submit their entries. 5 minutes for writing your piece of poetry or prose in any style or genre (keeping away from hate speeches or similar, as noted by the host) and 10 minutes for any technical mishaps like accidentally deleting your entry (Bwahaha! *evil laugh, my bad!*). She also has a guest judge every week to nominate 5 finalists which is very wise to avoid bad feelings by sour losers (read: Unfollow Clicks LOL). Then the roster of finalists will be posted the following day for a poll for the voters' active participation. The poll will close at 9:00 EDT with the declaration of the winner.



What's the prize? Sometimes there are giveaways but mostly it's all fun and glory!

As the host puts it:  "What’s the prize? Well, nothing, obviously. But we’ll all agree to tweet and/or blog about the winner of today’s contest so their fame and fortune will be assured."

Above is an example of an effective blog marketing and promotion that benefits not just the host and the contestants but also the readers like myself. It was truly a pleasure reading the contestants' pieces, generously shared for free!




As for me, would I dare join? Hmmnn, I'll probably stick to my feature writing and come up with my own blog promotion. What about a #5MinuteProductReview Writing contest with my "prompts" as branded products and services that consumers have tested? A proof of purchase must be submitted along with the entry to ensure that they actually used the products and therefore qualified to make a review. In view of  fairness, negative reviews will be accepted for the product-in-review's improvement and taken as constructive criticisms. Advertisers are welcome to have their products be "prompts" for review and sponsor the prizes. Nice concept, eh?

Let me know what you think. :)

Weight Loss : How to Lose 10 Pounds in 3 Months (Follow at Your Own Risk)

I've been watching Pinoy Biggest Loser since day one of its airing. The reality show is about overweight contestants vying for the biggest weight loss percentage to be the first Pinoy Biggest Loser with equally big prizes, including a condominium unit and 1 Million Pesos! There were originally 14 contestants and now they're down to 10.

On today's episode, one of the trainers, Jim Saret said that they're only on their 7th week in the Biggest Losers Camp but I could actually see drastic and massive weight loss on some of the contestants and the most imminent is that of Larry Martin's who was the biggest loser on the first individual weigh in competition last Thursday, July 7. This was actually his second time to win the title Biggest Loser of the Week, the first one was during a collective team weigh in.
-->


Larry, 36,  is a former policeman from Camarines Sur who said he lost his job after he failed the 34" waistline limit set by the Philippine National Police leadership in 2000 headed by then PNP Chief, Director General Panfilo Lacson.

Each of the contestants have different stories and motivations but they share the same goal of winning the competition. The difference lies on discipline, self-control and willpower, not so much on physical strength. The contest, although physical in nature is actually a mind game that tests each contestant's character and attitude.

I especially liked the "first temptation episode" where the contestants were left alone in a booth with a serving of 1 kilo of lechon (roasted whole pig, rotisserie style) and a weighing scale for 5 minutes. Lechon is a Philippine delicacy mostly served on special occasions like fiestas (feasts), Binyag (Baptism) and Kasal (weddings). Aside from the very tempting platter of lechon with sarsa (sweet gravy sauce) the contestant who eats the heaviest portion will also enjoy immunity in the next elimination round. Ooh that made the Lechon Temptation even more tempting... however, only two gave in and they're both girls! It looked like it's once again The Temptation of Eve in the Garden of Eden haha. Hazel ate more than Win-win so she got the immunity. They both denied losing control of themselves over the food but more because of the immunity. But in my opinion, it was really the food that got them, the immunity was just the scape goat.
-->

Losing weight in my case, was also very difficult. That is why I'm so amazed that the contestants of the show lost so much in just a short time. I wonder how much the trainers, Jim and Chinggay charge as their professional fees? I'm convinced they're the best in their field so their expertise must cost a fortune! The contestants are so lucky to have the opportunity to work with these trainers for free and get a chance to bag home big prizes too!

As for me, I'm lucky too to get back my inspiration and really work on shedding away my extra pounds! I lost 10 lbs. in about 3 months. It's not a lot compared to the contestants' achievements in just 7 weeks but it's quite a feat for me!

My supposed ideal weight corresponding my height (Ooops! You might think I'm a midget, but I'm Asian so this is the normal height for ... pre-teens haha ) should be 95 lbs. to 115 lbs. This is according to the free weight calculators on the internet and not by any doctor.

Before at 95 Lbs.

After at 110 Lbs.

My weight when I started to think of losing some was 110 lbs. which was still so much within the "ideal" range for my height. What made me decide to lose a few pounds was actually not the reality show because I started working on it even before the show's first airing on TV, although it really inspired me. The desire however, was not triggered at all by inspiration but rather by disgust with the ugliest little dimples I've ever seen a.k.a. celluliti (just found out the plural form of cellulite, yes, they're many!) at the back of my thighs! I always thought dimples were cute but not anymore. It was actually a friend who pointed it out to me after I wore a short, tight skirt in one of those parties. It seems when your gaining weight, you're always the last one to notice.

At 100 Lbs.

So, below are the things I did to lose 10 lbs. in 3 months or so and I'm still working on 5 more to get back my 95 lbs. and 24" waistline (as if.... LOL!).

Now back to 95 lbs.

Warning: Follow these tips at your own risk; better if you consult first your physician, nutritionist and physical trainer :P

1.  Hit the Gym

For the first time, I went to a gym and didn't have an idea how to use any of the fitness equipments that all looked dangerously bone breaking to me. A loyal friend who came with me (because she was loyal ) was also a first timer so we were both wearing friendly smiles for somebody to show us how to hop on the treadmill and get it running haha. Then we tried the stationary bicycles which I managed to ride for 5 minutes (I coudn't believe she was able to stay on longer!). We stayed for a total of 20 minutes tops, including breaks. I came back 3 times more, of course with the same loyal friend and that's it!

2. Brisk Walking

I didn't have enough time for the gym so I thought I will just do some brisk walking (because jogging is too exhausting!) for at least 15-30 minutes every morning inside the subdivision. So I did, for a few times. But I really don't like being out in the sun so much and feel conspicuous (read: stupid) wearing shades and earplugs while walking on a brisk pace around the neighborhood in my running shoes... with an umbrella on one hand! But the main reason really was, I'm not an early riser. So I had to pass this one too.

3. Buy Your Own Fitness Equipments

Hmmn... since time was the major element of constraint for my daily exercises, I bought my own equipments so I could use it on my free time. I first Googled the best sport stores, of course in my location, and compared prices. I came across Chris Sports House that said to offer fitness equipments at reasonable prices. I called their listed number to inquire and they were really pleasant and eager to entertain customer's queries. So, I went to their shop in Megamall and bought a hydraulic stationary bike with resistance control and a reader for the heart rate, distance, speed and caloric expenditure for only P6,000 plus! Then I thought the purple dumbbells (I wonder why these weights are called dumb) were cute so I bought a pair of the lightest at .5 lbs. and also a new bathroom scale to replace the old one that seems to give out a "plateau" weight measurement. Chris Sports House delivered my equipments right on schedule with a very minimal charge of P300 only! I rode it like the first time I had a bike ... everyday, straight for 2 weeks! I started at 15 minutes per session then extended it up to an hour, alternately cycling in sitting and standing positions! Then, like my old bike, I parked it somewhere out of sight.

4. Indoor Sports

I was never the athletic type but I was a cheerleader back in High School, if that is any consolation. But I heard Jim Saret's statement that he believes everyone is an athlete inside (or something to that effect...) so I thought he may have a point, there could be an athlete in me wanting to come out hmmn... but still, I don't think now is the right time to start contact sports so I opted to pick up on my ten-pin bowling (which I am also not very good at but I once scored a turkey, probably by pure luck!). I use the 7 or 8 pound ball which I think is heavy enough to keep it on the lane and not fall off the gutter. My rolling is a little too lame that I always wonder if  the ball would actually reach the pins as I release it. I enjoy this sport very much (although I rarely win) because for one, you play it in an air conditioned area and secondly, it also burns calories fast. Problem is, my friends don't and I won't dare play alone (hello!). So, I only bowl if I can trick one of them to play a game or two with me after shopping and dining in Sta. Lucia or Mega Mall  hehe. The bowling alleys at these malls are pretty good, it's also fully automated and with computerized scoring system.

-->


5. Diet

I lost some weight by doing all of the above but it's very far from my goal. So, I went back to my old reliable slimming tactic, I crashed! For 4 weeks, it was a once a day full meal diet and water therapy for me (I think I drank more than a gallon of water everyday).

Breakfast - my usual 2 cups of coffee, food supplements and lots of water.

Snack time around 10-11 AM - Yogurt with lots of water.

Lunch - 3 pieces of Sky Flakes Crackers with lots of water.

Snack time around 3 PM - Coffee and lots of water.

Dinner around 6-7 PM - Full meal, normally protein rich food with 1 cup rice and lots of water.

X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - X

Nothing follows after dinner 'till bed time, except coffee and water. If you think it's odd that I take my full meal during night time and not in the morning, well it's because I sleep really late at night (actually early dawn) and is very active writing, researching or reading the whole time so I will need the energy the food brings :) 

I now lost considerable weight along with the ugly celluliti! I'm back to normal high protein and low carb diet including my regular intake of food supplements and lots of water (and coffee of course). What I need to do next is to tone the muscles to get a good form. So, I'm incorporating daily light exercises of 10 jumping jacks, 10 squats, 10 lunges and 10 push ups with my regular diet. Yes, as advised on TV by the Pinoy Biggest Loser trainer, Jim Saret.

Gosh, I'm such a fan!

Trending Worldwide : Media Curation

Newspaper Publishing, a dying industry?

Do you also wonder what Paper.li is? Or does everyone know already, except me 10 minutes ago?

I got curious about it after some of my blogs were featured on several online newspapers, some of which even landed as headline news stories! At first, I was wondering how the Publishers were able to find my links although I already have a hint that it could be from my Tweeter account where I promote my blogs' links and also where I get the notifications that I've been featured. But then again, the Publishers were not on my tweeter's list of followers so I thought either they found it on my tweets with hash tags or the blogs were actually really good (Ha! Seriously, you're shameless! LOL!). Whatever the reason, I was really happy about it because it means there's a new avenue for my blogs to reach a wider readership and it's even in a daily newspaper format! So I am very appreciative each time I get a promo tweet like this, "Book Beat is out! http://bit.ly/bjYqTN ▸ Top stories today via @mcloanpro...."  Therefore, I always make it a point to be gracious by retweeting and replying my thanks to the Publishers (although I know now that the notifications could be automated which is why the publishers don't usually reply to my thanks. Oh well!).




But I want to know how it works so I did some snooping and here's what I got:

Paper.li is has been in circulation since April of 2010 so blogging about it maybe old news but hey, I may have some fresh insights, right? :P

Their "A (very) short introduction" on their website defined their service as a "content curation service." 

An Orphan Article (few or no other articles link to it) in Wikipedia further defines media curation as follow:

"Media Curation is the emerging trend toward integrating and pondering media content using a mix of machine and human resources. The practice includes Aggregation (gathering) and Curation (sorting, categorizing, art directing, and presenting) such that material from multiple sources creates a unique editorial experience for readers/visitors."

So Paper.li sweeps and extracts from Tweeter (and also from public posts on Facebook) the stream of million links, videos and photos that come in by the minute then analyze and rank them (per topic) to create the paper.  Signing up is FREE and and voila, you're a publisher!

However, there are some issues on ethics with regards to media and content curation. Mostly based on the traditional print publishing and journalism practice wherein the writer submits his story and gets the credit for his work by having his byline on the prints. The byline vouches for the truthfulness and originality of the writer's story. The section editor, editor-in-chief and the publisher likewise share these responsibilities by editing, approving and publishing the story for circulation and distribution. Thereby, in an event that the story is legally contested to be false and malicious, a libel suit is filed against the three namely the writer, the editor-in-chief and the publisher. Therefore, there is clear accountability and also credit.




Contrary to the above, media or content curation (blog, video, photo, audio, text or any content) could be done without the prior approval or even the knowledge of the original creators. The materials could be downloaded or copied and re-published without giving credit to whom it is due. The material could be edited, altered even twisted and later on claimed to be someone else's original. The curated materials, when presented in a much organized manner such as a newspaper or magazine format could also be used for profit by the media curator by capitalizing on the contents to get paid advertisements! 

Internet Super Highway

Nevertheless, with the flood of information being uploaded, downloaded and shared in the web every minute, there is no way to monitor, much more, police this practice. There isn't even a law prohibiting it, except for piracy which is totally a different case.




Yet from the given definition above, are we not all content curators in some way? If you share videos from YouTube to your Facebook friends then you are a curator. If you Retweet a link, then you are promoting someone else's material, therefore you are practicing curation. Copying a photo from Photobucket and saving it in your album for uploading in you blog, is also content curation. It's all about information gathering and sharing it to your network to build friendship, trust or even commerce. But your audience, visitors or readers can only be interested in certain types of information and could not digest everything available on the web! So you sift, search and filter to get the information you think might interest them and share it. If a tool or service is provided to make this process easier, then so much the better. I think content curation's advantages far outweighs its critics and cynics' ethical concerns.

Cybergoth Fashion

In this Information Era, content (information) has both been the prime commodity and currency. While it is true, that the source may suffer devaluation if the traffic has been rerouted, the fact still remains that sharing of information now almost travel in a speed of light. Access  to information has been revolutionized and now free for all!

The Computer Age has bred a hierarchy of cyberspace species adroitly traversing the terrain of the Information Superhighway and the stronger and wiser ones are dominating it. They exchange goods and services along the way via electronic fund transfer hopefully advocating fair e-commerce. Nonetheless, in this virtual ecosystem, somehow we must find the balance of symbiotic coexistence just like in the "real world."