I always lose my TIN. I lose it so often that every time I need to present it, I just go to the…read morebarangay hall to get another one. Heh. The people in the barangay hall kind of know me already. Every time they see me, they don't ask me what I need. They tell me what I need. Almost all my friends have their own horror story about visiting their barangay hall for TINs and clearance and other stuff the barangay does. Let me start of by saying that Merville's barangay hall is air conditioned. You don't have to suffer in the heat while waiting for your name to be called or your form to be signed. Those who are helping you at the barangay hall do their job fast and well. Maybe that's why there are no long lines in this place. Oh, and those who work here always show up. Each time I visit this place, those who have to sign my forms are always here and ready to get to work. On those rare times when the people aren't in, they have called me at home to inform me when they'll be back or who else can help me. Such a great place.

Clean, organized and fast. Best way to get around to avoid traffic. It has separate cars for senior…read morecitizens, PWD and female only passengers. This is really nice.

This station is crazy!…read more I think I was just lucky yesterday. There weren't many people in the station and waiting for a train here wasn't that bad. But trust me. During rush hour, this place can get crazy. If you're waiting for a train here, be ready for people to push or shove you so they can get in. The people here have also mastered the art of packing themselves in the train even though they don't fit. If you do find yourself in this station during rush hour, hang on to your bag, stop texting or calling or chatting on your phone, put your wallet away and hope for the best.

I wanted to check out Binondo, the oldest Chinatown in the world. We got picked up by a rideshare…read moredriver. He was a pretty cool guy. Luckily we got matched with a good driver and for the duration of the trip he was our personal tour guide pointing out interesting places. The ride was $5. I learned early on, on our vacation, that rideshare trips are really affordable in the Philippines. If we did the same route distance in Seattle, the trip would have been 40 bucks. We crossed the Jones Bridge into Binondo. It was a surreal experience driving across a bridge with European-style architecture. A bridge named after an American. Then driving under a massive Chinatown Arch. That's a lot of history to unpack. After our visit to Binondo we requested another rideshare trip. We drove across the Jones Bridge again. This time I took note of the ornamental railings and ornate lamp posts reminiscent of the lamp posts on the Pont Alexandre III in Paris. Unfortunately, we didn't have time to walk along the Pasig River Esplanade which is connected to the Jones Bridge. The promenade is like the Berges de Seine, also in Paris. I'll have to visit the Pasig River Esplanade on my next trip to the PI. It looks like a pretty popular place.

Jones Bridge is a Manila landmark, first built over a hundred years ago and then reconstructed…read moreafter World War II. It's one of the prettiest parts of the city, with a long walkway--the Pasig Esplanade--lined with shops and eateries lining the adjacent area along the Pasig River. We were there at the wrong hours for this, but it apparently gets quite lively with foot traffic and street vendors. The bridge connects Binondo and Intramuros, two of the most tourist-friendly parts of the city. I ended up there twice during a five-day trip to Manila, and it was a definite highlight, with nice views of the city, even if the waters of the Pasig are not exactly crystalline blue. The neoclassical architecture was attractive with a touch of Euro kitsch, with black iron street lamps and little sculptures of people carrying shot glass-shaped candle holders. I didn't spend much time at Jones Bridge, but it was a lovely place to walk, and I'm sure it's fun when the vendors are out. Certainly worth a visit if you're traveling through Manila.

How many of you have a very visible Bureau of Fire Protection Team? Having transferred to different…read moreaddresses, I can attest that Marikina's BFP is one of the rare ones who are very, very visible to residents. Every March, they hold a fire and earthquake seminar which teaches us what to do when a fire or earthquake hits our area and how to do basic first aid. After a few days, they hold a drill that feels so real because they assign some residents and staff of our condominium to act as injured - with matching make-up to make their act look even more realistic. After which, they practice how to rescue people left inside the building and teach residents how to use a fire extinguisher. They ask for volunteers whom they teach in front of everybody else. I personally have volunteered for this activity and I have to say it was fun and informative. I realized you can't just aim the gas wherever, you need to hit the fire. So better to use it when the fire has just begun. While I hope I would never have to use this knowledge, it does help to be prepared. Thanks, BFP!

We were part of a US/ PI Ambassador Tour group with several dignitaries and business people. One of…read moreour stops were to meet some dignitaries and politicians at Malacanang Palace. We were invited to have lunch at the Palace as one of the politicians gave a keynote address. Unfortunately, the President was not on the groups during our visit. As our tour bus came on grounds, we had to wait for the all clear. Prior to us going inside the gates, we were already warned of no cell phones, so we left our phones on the bus. If we were to bring our cell phones, tape would be placed on the part of where the camera is. So we opted to just leave it altogether. We drove into the gates, and we had to be searched in the lobby before proceeding to the ballroom. Your name had to be checked off the list and then we were escorted to our table. The dress code is business casual, but for our luncheon, all guests were wearing the barong or the filipinana. Since I don't own a filipinana, I dressed in an appropriate conservative dress. We were served a buffet luncheon, and the food was really good! Sorry no photos since we left our phones on the bus. Nonetheless, the food and desserts were very good. We were then treated to a tour of the museum. What was NOT told to us was that photos are allowed in the museum. GRRRRR!!! So basically we didn't have our phones, but the museum was amazing! Luckily, one of our friends decided to bring his phone so we scabbed off him to take a few photos of us. Lots things to see on the grounds of the Palace. If you get invited or even a chance to go, do so!

There isn't anything more grand than the house that shelters the Head of State of the Philippines…read more Malcanang Palace has served as the home of our Presidents since the Commonwealth in 1935. Its halls are filled with history and stories of the Filipino People. By scheduling a tour through the Presidential Museum and Library Office you too can walk these halls and get a glimpse of the life inside the protected walls. I've done this tour several times since I was a kid and I learn something new each time! Up to today it's still being used by the President so be sure to follow the proper guidelines in booking your tour and don't forget the security measures! They don't charge too much (50 pesos for an adult) so missing out on this tour would really be your loss. If you're a Filipino or not, I would put this destination up there on your things to do!

I used to run a lot, and then life happened, and now I'm a bum. Luckily, I live near UP and I could…read morewalk there, which can serve as my warm up before I do a round or two around Sunken Garden. PROS: It's not a garden at all, but it is a sunken field. UP legend says it sinks a few inches every year because of the mosh pit and rocking and jumping that occurs during the UP Fair; Traffic's one way so it makes it safer for pedestrians crossing the road. Also, there's a bike lane and jogging path which people who attempt to get fit like me (and those who are legitimately fit already. WEYW.) can frequently use; Start at the Oblation in front of Quezon Hall as your inspiration to look better naked as you begin your run. Then, you see the breathtaking acacia trees lining Sunken and it does look like a leafy tunnel. CONS: Pets and skateboards are not allowed, according to the signs. But I still see the occasional pooches which I am always tempted to pet; I'M SORRY I COUNTERFLOW WHEN I RUN! Yes, I even make eye contact with those coming past me. It's just that if I run in the same direction as the cars and jeeps like everyone, the smoke from the vehicles hit me smack on the face. By the time you reach Vinzons where all the jeepneys are, it gets hard to breathe so I'd rather run against the tide of people and vehicles. If you happen to see me, and you have to run around me as I pummel towards you, I apologize in advance. TL;DR: I can exercise without having to pay anything! Also a good place with relatively clean air for general tambay and walks.

You can take the probinsyana dog out of the province, but you can't take the province out of the…read moreprobinsyana dog. Born and raised in the boondocks of Misamis Oriental, I had to take my poor Storm to the big city so she can see a proper vet. She was literally fresh off the boat and was missing the green, green grass of home terribly so we decided to take her to UP Sunken Garden. After a gruelling two-hour cab ride where Storm was literally shaking in fear (so many metal beasts!), we finally got to UP, where there were free-range grass and tall trees for miles around. I could see my little doggy tear up at the sight of all the green, and she wasted no time running around and taking it all in (translation: she started peeing all over the place, claiming the entire garden as her territory). It took a lot of coaxing and passionate promises of regular trips to her new kingdom to get her into a cab and back to the concrete jungle of Makati, but at least she had her day of fun. Here's to more days of fun in her doggy future.

I admire this nongovernment organization/nonprofit's work so much. Tulong sa Kapwa Kapatid is the…read morebrainchild of philanthropist/all-around Filipina Mother Teresa, Kritzia Santos. I spent last weekend at Enchanted Kingdom where 2KK held an event for the benefit of impoverished kids from Payatas. For a day, volunteers would pay a fee and get to spend several hours with the kids while they enjoyed a theme park for the very first time. That kind of stuff is priceless. You can't make it up. Tulong sa Kapwa Kapatid has several charitable proejcts ongoing throughout the year and they also provide scholarships to gifted students that otherwise can't afford them. God bless you, 2KK!

Before every film showing at Robinson's Movie World, a commercial featuring Maja Salvador airs,…read morewhere she introduces the Lingkod Pinoy Center. The center is a service offered in selected Robinson's malls, and it is intended as a one-stop shop for government transactions, including Philhealth, SSS, Pag-ibig, and NBI. Anyway, I had the first taste of this convenience when I had to apply for an NBI clearance for work recently. I applied and provided my details online, paid through a payment center (LBC in my case as there's one near me), then went to the Lingkod Pinoy Center to pick up my form. Lo and behold, there was no line at the NBI booth. I shuddered in horror as I recalled the last time I applied for an NBI clearance (in 2008, I think). That time, I had to line up for HOURS in the non-air-conditioned (read: SWELTERING HOT) NBI office in Quiapo. By the time I had to have my photo taken for the form, I was already looking like an unkempt murderer. Anyway, at the Lingkod Pinoy Center, I was asked to have my fingerprints recorded (using a fingerprint scanner so none of the messy ink here, yay!), had my picture taken, and instructed to come back a week after for my document. Boo on that last one! I had expected my clearance to be released instantly, but perhaps they're still working on that. The Lingkod Pinoy Center at Robinson's Place is located near the Sun Cellular shop at the Pedro Gil Wing. There's a tarp and stairs going down to the Basement Parking. The SSS and Pag-ibig booths were a bit more crowded so prepare for a line of maybe 10-20 people. It could get hot there, though there are electric fans, so it may be best to bring your own fan and keep hydrated.