Celebrating Unity and Love: A Look Back at the Metro Manila Pride Parade 2017

 Join us as we take you on a colorful journey through the Metro Manila Pride Parade 2017, held at Marikina City! Under the theme #HereTogether 🌈, this event was a powerful celebration of love, unity, and the LGBTQ+ community. Year after year, Metro Manila Pride continues to foster a safe and inclusive space for all, where voices are heard, plans are made, and policies are realized. This year’s parade, held on June 24, 2017, at Plaza De Los Alcaldes, J. Chanyungco St., Marikina City, was no exception. The atmosphere was electric, filled with vibrant floats, inspiring performances, and a shared sense of purpose and pride.

The Metro Manila Pride Parade 2017 was more than just a march; it was a testament to the strength and resilience of the LGBTQ+ community. Participants from all walks of life came together to celebrate their identities and support each other. The theme #HereTogether encapsulated the spirit of the day, emphasizing the importance of unity and solidarity in the fight for equality. From the colorful outfits to the powerful speeches, every moment of the parade was a vivid reminder of the progress made and the work still to be done.

As the sun set and the day turned into night, the celebration continued with even more energy and enthusiasm. The streets of Marikina City were alive with music, dancing, and a palpable sense of joy. It was a space where everyone could express themselves freely, without fear of judgment or discrimination. The performances were a highlight of the event, showcasing the incredible talent and creativity within the LGBTQ+ community. Each act was a powerful statement of pride and a call for continued support and acceptance.

Love truly wins as we come together to support and uplift each other, creating a brighter and more inclusive future for all. The Metro Manila Pride Parade 2017 was an unforgettable event, filled with joy, love, and positivity. It was a day where the community stood together, stronger and more united than ever. Let’s continue to spread love and acceptance, one rainbow at a time, and work towards a world where equality and inclusion are not just goals but realities. Don’t miss out on the joy, love, and positivity radiating from this incredible event. #LoveWins #PrideParade #MetroManilaPride #Unity #EqualityMatters

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🍽 BEST BITE: Mama Ting’s Marikina Famous Rellenong Bangus.

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Mama Ting’s Rellenong Bangus is one of Marikina’s Prides. It is a family business that runs for almost a how many decades now. It is located at 1800, 248 J. P. Rizal St, Marikina, 1800 Metro Manila

Mama Ting sells homemade famous Rellenong Bangus which has been mentioned that the original secret recipe was created by Mama Tings – the proponent of such business and got inherited to her daughters and sons after she passed away. This family business is now managed by Mama Ting’s siblings and continuously running as a form of their family’s legacy.

Meanwhile, just to give you a heads up what is Rellenong Bangus. It is one of the most popular dish in the Philippines. On top of the delicious taste and exceptional process of preparation compared to other fish recipes, the amount of work involve is tiresome. Separating the skin from the meat and deboning and peeling of the milkfish meat requires a lot of patience.


Aside from Rellenong Bangus that made them popular, they also venture out in selling other food products such as Everlasting (Click Here to Read about my first ever Everlasting experience), Side Dishes, Desserts, Hamonado, Dinuguan and Morcon – all are homemade and original recipe.



“Malakas sa amin kapag Pasko, (Peak season is during Christmas)” daughter of Mama Ting.
“Actually, we hired more manpower during peak season because of the massive orders” she added.


If you want to give a try their product while you’re sauntering the cleanest city in Manila, then drop by to their store.  Give also your review about their products; just leave your comments below on the comments box.

🥘 Cocina - Most Affordable Eat All You Can Buffet in Marikina City.

It is our second week attending zumba session in Marikina Sport Center every Sunday. Indeed, it is our routine also to eat after the intense dancing. This week we will aim to satisfy our gastronomical craving by giving a try on this buffet restaurant within the vicinity of Marikina.

Cocina by Kusina ni Kambal is an eat all you can buffet restaurant located at ground floor Kapitan Moy Building. J.P. Rizal Street ,Sta Elena, Marikina City. It  just a walking distance from the Public Market. 

Cocina by Kusina ni Kambal also accepts catering services for various events.  

OPENING HOURS:

                          Breakfast                        Lunch                Dinner

Monday     -7:30 AM to 9:30 AM,   11 AM to 2 PM,  7 PM to 10 PM

Tuesday      -7:30 AM to 9:30 AM,  11 AM to 2 PM,  7 PM to 10 PM

Wednesday -7:30 AM to 9:30 AM,  11 AM to 2 PM,  7 PM to 10 PM

Thursday     -7:30 AM to 9:30 AM,  11 AM to 2 PM,  7 PM to 10 PM

Friday         -7:30 AM to 9:30 AM,  11 AM to 2 PM,  7 PM to 10 PM

Saturday     - 7:30 AM to 9:30 AM,  11 AM to 2 PM,  7 PM to 10 PM

Sun day        7:30 AM to 9:30 AM,  11 AM to 2 PM,  7 PM to 10 PM

Ok! Let us start to review this restaurant. 

Design : 

Personally, I was amazed by the design because it is very old. The concept of the facade is based on Spanish pre-historic. Since the said restaurant is inside the Capitan Moy Building – they truly maintained and renovated the place to make it functional despite the oldness.  

Nancy noticed the ceiling fan in the middle of the place. It is made of old abaniko - An abaniko (from the Spanish word abanico, meaning fan) is a type of hand-held fan that originated from the Philippines. The abaniko, together with the baro't saya, is a part of a lady's attire. Various ways of using and holding the abaniko may convey different meanings. For example, an open abaniko that covers the chest area is a sign of modesty while rapid fan movements express the lady's displeasure.

She took a picture of that eye-catching ceiling fan.

I also love the lightings of the place. It is quite dim, and you can feel the calmness of the area.  Attached to each post is a white tree made of UWAY with series lightings – it gives a dynamic effect to its dull spot.

An old concept of a restaurant is incomplete without antiques. On the other corner of the resto is an old piano which truly adds up to the detailed design of the place.

On the right side of the room is where the window is located at. They did not open that portal hence they put some old antiques like painted plates, drinking glass, lampshade, and some photos.

There is also Sungka - Sungká is a popular traditional board game. The board is a carved length of wood called a sungkahan and the game involves moving shells or pebbles around the pits carved into the board.

Restaurant: 

To sum it up, upon sitting the dinette set, it will truly bring you back to the Spanish era. It seems that you are inside Intramuros City.  It feels like you’re visiting grandma in the province and she prepared you food. The homey and classic place will let you remember our history when we were colonized by the Spaniards. 

It is also an air-conditioned place, so even how hot outside, you can’t feel it from inside.  There is also background music which ironically plays Justin Beiber music.

In fairness, the place is clean which is a huge factor why customer patronizes this resto.

Ok! Let us start eating and review the foods.

With its reasonable price, no one can afford to ignore this EAT ALL YOU CAN BUFFET compared to those buffet resto which is located inside the mall.

The majority of the foods they served here are Filipino dishes. Philippine cuisine (Filipino: Lutuing Pilipino or Pagkaing Pilipino) consists of the food, preparation methods, and eating customs found in the Philippines. The style of cooking and the food associated with it have evolved over many centuries from their Austronesian origins to a mixed cuisine of Malay, Indian, Spanish, Chinese, and American, as well as other Asian Indian cuisine adapted to indigenous ingredients and the local palate.

Since we arrived at the resto at 8AM, they offered a breakfast menu to us.

Belone is available; the sweetness is ok to balance the meat.

Chicken Adobo is perfect for us since we came from the extreme workout. “ang lakas makakanin”. Adobo (from Spanish adobar: "marinade," "sauce" or "seasoning") is a popular dish and cooking process in Philippine cuisine that involves meat, seafood, or vegetables marinated in vinegar, soy sauce, and garlic, which is browned in oil, and simmered in the marinade. It is perfect for morning hungry people like us.

Pork Afritada is also one of my favorites. Pork Afritada is simply “Stewed pork in tomato sauce”. This dish is similar to Menudo and Kaldereta (or Caldereta) and is usually cooked with wedges of carrots and potatoes. The Pork is tender enough, perfect for the rice.

Wow Tokwa - perfecr to sa akin lalo na at naghahabol ako ng protina for summer.

Fried Danggit - perfect siya papakpapakin at isawsaw sa suka.

Danggit is the local Philippine name for a fish also known as the rabbitfish or spine foot (part of the Siganus family). Other local names include samaral, taragbago, kitang, or tabago. It can be eaten fresh or dried; dried and salted danggit is a popular Filipino food and is well known as a product of Cebu. When fried, it becomes crispy and is often eaten dipped in vinegar

Wala ng tatalo sa fried rice sa umaga.

Allan's favorite is the small hotcakes topped with chocolate syrup.

Nancy's favorite is the palitaw. It is a small, flat, sweet rice cake eaten in the Philippines. They are made from washed, soaked, and ground malagkit (sticky rice). After excess water is let out from the grinding process, scoops of the batter are rolled and flattened to a circular shape and cooked by dropping into boiling water; floating to the surface is an indication that they're done. Before serving, they are dipped in grated coconut and presented with a separate mix of sugar and toasted sesame seeds

Side Orders :

• Lechon Baka - PHP29,000
• Lechon - PHP 7,000
• Lumpia Bar (for  50 pax) - PHP3,000
• Halo-Halo Bar - PHP60 per head
• Buffet Canapes - PHP 150 per head
• Cold cuts - PHP 100 per head
• Salad Bar - PHP 100 per head
• Pasta Bar - PHP 100 per head
• Crepes Bar  - PHP 100 per head
• Grilled Prawns - - PHP 150 per head
• Sushi Bar - PHP 150 per head
• Tempura Shrimps - PHP 150 per head
• Ice Cream Bar - - PHP 75 per head
• Dessert Buffet - - PHP 150 per head
• Puto Bungbong (min of 100 pax ) - PHP 80 per head
• Puto Bibingka (min. of  100 pax ) - PHP 80 per head
• Chocolate fountain - PHP7,000

Take note : 

• 1. Inclusive of Catering Fee
• 2. Inclusive of EVAT
• 3. Additional PHP1,500 for below minimum.
• 4. Minimum of 50 pax reservation within Metro Manila.
• 5 50% Down payment upon signing the contract, and full payment should be made 3 days before the event.
• 6. For Out of Town Caterings. 15% Overhead charge for catering venue Alabang, Las Pinas and MuntinLupa.
• 7. For Out of Town Caterings. 25% Overhead charge for catering venue, Laguna, Cavite and Batangas, Bulacan Minimum reservation of 100 pax (below minimum additional 10% overhead charge)
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Cocina

By :Kusina ni Kambal 

Eat all you can Buffet

Breakfast PHP120.00 per head

Lunch PHP 200 per head

Merienda and Dinner by Reservation

Tel. Nos. : 682-0561 or 646-4071

Mobile number : 0918-9022957

Marikina Sports Complex - Adventure, Sweat and Sweets

Our Sunday adventure goes to Marikina City.

Marikina officially the City of Marikina, located on the island of Luzon in the Philippines, is one of the cities that make up Metro Manila, the National Capital Region. Marikina became the capital of the Province of Manila from 1898 to 1899. Marikina was given the title Shoe Capital of the Philippines because of its notable shoe industry, being the biggest manufacturer of shoes in the Philippines, producing almost 70% of shoes manufactured in the country.


This is my second time to visit the said city. My first time – that was August 2015 - when I was able to taste their local cuisine “EverLasting”.



This time, it’s a different approach because it requires strength and endurance trip. Together with Nancy and Allan, I am visiting the Marikina Sports Complex.



The Marikina Sports Complex, also known as Marikina Sports Park and formerly known as Rodriguez Sports Center, is a sports complex located in Marikina, at the corner of Shoe Avenue and Sumulong Highway in Metro Manila, Philippines.


In history, it is a former site of a train station in early 20th century prior to the construction of the complex. It is built in 1969 under the Rizal provincial government under Gov. Isidro Rodriguez Sr. in the land of the then Rizal municipality of Marikina. It is turned over to the Marikina City Government under Mayor Bayani Fernando in 1995 and was renovated in 2001 under Mayor Maria Lourdes Fernando. It hosts an Olympic-size swimming pool, two grandstands seating a total of 15,000, a 400-meter track oval, a sports building, an indoor gymnasium and several courts.
 

The area has been host to several sports competitions – both national and regional including the 2014 ASEAN School Games which serves as the main venue, as well as entertainment such as grand concerts, finals night and live television shows, and other events such as for private uses and other community and local government activities.

Aside from hosting events, Marikina Sports Complex also host sports clinics for the residents of Marikina during the summer season yearly, dubbed as the "Summer Sports Camp".


Marikina Sports Complex is open 24 hours open for free to public except – if there is schedule sport event.  It is open to jogger and to all sports enthusiast.  Swimming pool is also available for public use with corresponding amount as an entrance fee that will cost you PHP50-PHP100 depending on the schedule. Morning schedule starts at 8AM to 11AM, after schedule starts on 1PM to 4PM and evening schedule starts on 6PM to 9PM, seven days.

We started our adventure by completing the 30 minutes jog.



While we were on rest, we noticed a dynamic music behind us. We did check and it was a zumba session. With the amount of PHP50, we were able to burn our calories by dancing the popular hits for one hour.


We ended up in the Wet Market for our breakfast which is adjacent to Marikina Sports Complex. With only PHP25 – you can satisfy your tummy with a glass of halo halo partnered with various foods (e.g fresh lumpia, pancit bihon, palabok, spaghetti , beef mami , lugaw or malabon)



I really admire the cleanliness of their wet and dry market, too clean for a public market. I can’t even see any scattered garbage and there is no foul smell on the entire vicinity.

Lastly, when I was about to go home, I notice the people were truly following the pedestrian policy.