I find it very convenient that I can book trips on Cebu Pacific without having to use a credit…read morecard. I don't like accumulating debt, so I always pay cash whenever I need to book tickets. For my birthday trip, I booked very cheap return airline tickets through the Cebu Pacific website, and I am glad that they thought of the option of paying through payment centers like Cebuana Lhuillier. My previous option was to pay via BDO's payments function, but I was afraid my booking would be cancelled if I didn't pay within 24 hours of reserving the booking. Good thing Cebuana Lhuiller's branch over at Philcoa was very helpful and accommodating. They were patient enough in handling my transaction though I messed up the booking numbers on the form twice. The service was prompt because they knew I was in a hurry to get to class. If you ever need to book tickets, know that there is this option that you can go for instead of going for credit. Thanks, Cebuana Lhuillier!

I always pass by the Coastal Mall Terminal on my way home and I notice the buses going to Cavite…read moreand Batangas - yes, this terminal is meant for provincial routes. It would really be convenient if there were also buses bound for Las Piñas (and also Sucat, for those living there), so that those of us who rode a bus from Edsa need not walk through the terminal and cross the overpass to get to the other side of the road where we could ride the bus going home. In any case, though, this one-stop terminal for those going to Cavite or Batangas is definitely convenient. They have some food stalls, though, and even a tiangge. I noted many stalls selling nice clothes. Some even sell household items and decorations. The terminal is at least well-lighted enough so that even when I go home late and pass by this terminal to walk up the overpass, I feel safe enough.

Consider the Coastal Mall Terminal your gateway to all that the south has to offer. Home to a…read morenumber of bus lines like Jam And San Agustin, its an easy jump off point if you want to head out to say Mt. Pico de Loro or Mt. Batulao, both of which are in Batangas. Unlike other bus stations, the buses here run or regular schedules (hourly schedules) so most of the trips these buses take aren't express. The terminals are labeled properly so it's easy enough to find the bus you need to get on. If you're unsure, simply ask one of yhe conductors and they will graciously point you to the right terminal and bus. While waiting, there's an ample waiting shed and the terminal is equipped with wifi if you can believe that! It's a pretty busy station so food concessionaires are not in short supply. Have a go at experiencing the south side and drop by this terminal for your next adventure.

Not to brag or anything, but I've been to the City Club thanks to a seminar conducted by our…read morepartner Challenge Systems, Inc. A place this nice generated a swirl of rumors among attendees: They say it costs 1.5M pesos to join, and only members have access. They say you're no really standing across the Makati fire station, and you've really been transported to a floating edifice floating across the Atlantic. They say the paper towel dispensers are robots, and dispenses paper towels when it deems you worthy (trick protocol: second law of robotics clearly state that you can loudly demand for the paper towel). The coolest pat about this place, however, is that there seems to be so many things to see and do, and more importantly, eat at. But what really caught my attention was the kendo lessons. It's not some kendo club that had nowhere to meet up, and had no other recourse but an exclusive club gym (this makes for a great gag anime setup, too), they actually have the armor and a shinai in display, daring you to go and ask (where you get whupped by the members only part. Remember, 1.5M). the facilities are nice too, the seminar hall was roomy and posh, even if the food wasn't really anything special. All said, if you find yourself somehow being granted access here, take pictures, and loudly demand for a paper towel from the dispenser. EDIT: They now apparently accept non-members, so that explains why they let me in. HA!

I am not finicky when it comes to public restrooms so I don't see the need to pay five or ten pesos…read morefor something that I can get for free. Besides, I'm of the opinion that majority of men who pay for the use of a clean comfort room means only one thing -- that they ate something bad and can't wait to go home to use their own toilet. Yuck! Still, the pay lounge in SM Mall of Asia caught my fancy because of an added service. Apart from clean comfort rooms which one can use for a fee of PHP 10.00 per entry, the lounge also has a shower room that can be rented for PHP 100.00 per use. I was not prepared to shell out a hundred bucks just to satisfy my curiosity about the shower room, so I just paid ten pesos for the use of the comfort room. On my way out, I also chatted with the attendant. I asked her if I could take a peek at their shower room and she obliged. The room is big and has its own toilet. All the things you need for a nice shower are provided - towels, shampoo, soap and even cotton buds. Plus, you can use the facility for 30 minutes. As for the pay restroom, well it was huge and clean, with many urinals and cubicles. Lotion, hand sanitizer, and cotton buds are also available for use. Seniors are given 20% discount for the use of the restroom or shower room.

Nice to have a pay shower at the mall, but there's only one stall and I had to wait an hour to use…read moreit. It was not cleaned between uses, and there's no hot water.

Look at the store's name. Ikaw @ Aqua. Did you get the pun? That's okay, neither did I. Let me…read moreexplain: ikaw at ako...ikaw @ aqua...geddit? I know, I know. That was a horrible pun, but the horribleness of that pun is inversely proportional to just how great their service is. Like most purified water providers, they do pickups and deliveries, because you cannot honestly expect me to lug a full-sized water container up eight flights of stairs to my apartment. What's great though is that because their shop is in my apartment building, they offer us free water refills every time we pay our rent, which is totally awesome.

This has to be the most organized SSS Office in Metro Manila. It's smaller than the other branches…read morebut, because not many people see it, the wait in line is not long. Also, the entire office has air-conditioning and many seating areas. Near this branch, there is a PhilHealth & BIR office. Across the street is Pag-iba Fund office. So, it's the perfect place to get ALL your government ID's. The staff, from the guard to the people at the counters, are very accommodating and patient with everyone. The process is quite efficient and I did not wait long for my turn in line. Unfortunately, I could not finish the processing of my SSS ID because of an injury on my index finger. So, I couldn't complete the Biometrics. So frustrating! But, the lady kept my application and all I need to do is go back once my finger is healed. Yay! Just so you know, all SSS now offer the UMID! This is the Universal ID that contains government info such as you SSS, Pag-Ibig + PhilHealth identification numbers. So, it's the one ID you'll every need! I would have applied but, I don't have my Pag-Ibig ID yet. Sayang! Oh well, lessened learned.

If you're still into sending hand written letters to your boyfriend or girlfriend, then this is one…read moreof the places in Makati you can drop that letter off at. If you're sending a postcard, the last time, it cost me Php20. It's more expensive by a few pesos, but at least you don't have to go to the post office and it's a lot cheaper than sending it by LBC. It just takes a bit longer to receive the postcard though. This little stall can also make photocopies of your documents. You don't also have to deal with the long lines 'cause few people come here. Sometimes, I'm in a rush and I'm too lazy to buy load in cards where I have to scratch of the protective covering to reveal some numbers. When I'm that lazy, I pass by this shop, tell them how much I need and the lady sends me the load.

It's not very often that one comes across bayad centers where the owner is present, but that's how…read morethings are at JEB Payment Services and that's also how I got the inkling that I would receive good service here. One can come through here to pay bills to their network providers, utility bills, cable service providers, and everything in between. It's a typical bayad center in that regard but what I'd like to highlight here is the exceptional service. The tellers here do their jobs with a smile and you won't feel uncomfortable waiting your turn as the place is air-conditioned, plus there's hardly ever more than two people in there at a time anyhow.