Capture it! Lights & Sounds at Ayala Triangle

Ayala Center has begun a tradition of holding a lights and sounds show at the Ayala Triangle Park. Every year, there'd be a new set of lights display made to sync with the music being played. Admittedly, I missed last year's show. So I made sure I'd make it this year. So on the 25th of December, I tagged along with my family--mom, brother, sister-in-law, and niece--to witness this light and music spectacle. We stayed for two shows. I didn't realize till then that each show would have a different set of music and lights display going on. I captured both shows on video using just a phone cam. Between the two shows, this is the one I liked.

Christmas around the Metro

It's December! But as early as November, the various malls and commercial establishments around the Metro have put up Christmas decorations and set up Pre-Christmas sales. I've been to some of these malls and I've been taking shots of the mall's Christmas motifs this year. Let's visit some of them today.

SM City Masinag

At the entrance to the mall, you'll be greeted with a giant air-filled Santa Clause. Unfortunately, it doesn't stay up all the time.

At the atrium, the theme of their Christmas decoration is Santa's Toy House--fitting the welcoming presence of Santa at the entrance.

Robinsons Magnolia

Just recently opened, Robinsons is a new mall along Aurora Boulevard where the Magnolia ice cream factory used to be located--hence, the name Robinsons Magnolia. The entrance at the corner of the street welcomes guests with a huge Christmas tree.

While we're at it, let's explore the usual mall features.

Located on the 2nd floor, kinda small for a big mall

Entrance of the Mall

For moviegoers, located on the 3rd floor

Food court at the basement, you can also come here to just sit and relax after going around

SM Megamall

Megamall's Christmas theme is Disneyland. Last November, in cooperation with Hongkong Disneyland, the mall had a three-day presentation as a way of promoting Hongkong Disneyland. The highlight of this show is the appearance of Mickey and Minnie mouse. After the show, guests had the rare privilege of having their pictures taken with Mickey and Minnie.

Performers from Disneyland Hongkong

Mickey and Minnie Mouse performing

Until now, the castle-designed stage still stands. But another main attraction is this huge Christmas tree at the SM Atrium, ornamented with lots of Mickey and Minnie stuff dolls! This is a nice place to have family pictures taken.

Disneyland Christmas tree

Mickey Mouse stuff toys on the tree

Minnie Mouse stuff toys on the tree

Araneta Center Cubao

Speaking of huge Christmas trees, such a set up has been a long-time tradition at the Araneta Center Cubao. With all the changes happening in this commercial center, it is good to know that they've continued the tradition of setting up a huge Christmas tree. This time, it's a musical Christmas tree.

A closer look at the lights, the base has speakers and it plays music

Additionally, at the base of the Christmas tree are beautiful Christmas lights decorated and shaped into various forms of flowers and animals.

Shangrila Plaza Mall

Shangrila has had a nice Christmas tradition of featuring various Filipino choirs to perform on all weekends of December. Keeping up with its commercial neighbors, it also has its own elaborate Christmas motif consisting of the usual huge Christmas tree. Their theme is sort of like featuring International figures.

At the base of the tree, you'll find life-size figures wearing costumes of different countries

Ceiling decorations

But what's really attractive in this mall now is the White Christmas tree that greets its customers at the entrance of Rustan's on the 2nd floor, in front of the Atrium.

Christmas is really close now. Tune in next time for other motifs and light shows around the metro.

The Busy Streets of Ortigas CBD

Ortigas Center in Pasig City has been one of the busiest business districts in Metro Manila. I've lived, studied, and even worked here for almost 20 years. Currently, the district still has construction sites and newly constructed buildings. I know these things because I've walked around the streets in this steadily growing business district. Makati CBD is bigger and more crowded but Ortigas seems to be catching up...at least in terms of being one of the business centers in Metro Manila that has many commercial and residential buildings--even skyscraper types.

Well, I'm here to highlight some of the major streets of the Ortigas CBD. In several trips I've made to Ortigas Center, if you're coming from the Eastern part--that is from the Province of Rizal (Antipolo, Tanay, Binangonan, and Angono to name a few), including the cities of Marikina and Pasig, you'd most likely reach Ortigas CBD via the Ortigas Avenue Extension. A major stop light highlights one of the busiest streets of Ortigas CBD--Meralco Avenue. This street begins from Ortigas Avenue--directly in front of the Meralco Main Office--and ends at Shaw Boulevard. Meralco Avenue is where you'll find the Metrowalk, the Philippine Sports Arena (formerly the Ultra), and many condominium complexes including the Renaissance, Alexandra Condominium, and others.

Meralco Avenue: that building to the left side of the picture is part of the Meralco Compound

Meralco Avenue, going towards the flyover that intersects Julia Vargas Avenue

Meralco Avenue also contains the fly over that passes over another busy main thoroughfare of Ortigas CBD--Dona Julia Vargas Avenue. This avenue begins from C-5 and ends at EDSA. You could divide the Avenue into two distinct halves--the eastern half passes by the Valle Verde Residential complexes as well as some commercial centers like  Frontera Verde (along C-5) and the Ortigas Home Depot (closer to Meralco Avenue). The western half passes by the business district itself including El Pueblo, Emerald Avenue (where many office /residential buildings are built), and the San Miguel Corporation. Finally, Julia Vargas is the main road that leads to SM Megamall.

Julia Vargas Avenue, vehicles moving towards SM Megamall / EDSA

Speaking of San Miguel, this is also the name of one of the busiest streets in Ortigas--San Miguel Avenue. It begins where the company's namesake is located and ends at Shaw Boulevard. Cutting through Julia Vargas, San Miguel Avenue is renamed ADB Avenue. This avenue not only hosts the Asian Development Bank HQ, but also houses The Podium, the JMT Corporate Center, the Discovery Suites, as well as Robinsons Galleria.

San Miguel Avenue, vehicles moving towards San Miguel-Julia Vargas Intersection;  San Miguel Corporation at the background

San Miguel - Julia Vargas Avenue Intersection, Metrobank and the Philippine Stock Exchange Towers at the background

ADB Avenue, the building further down the road is Robinsons Equitable Tower

ADB Avenue,  the building across the street is Joy-Nostalg Center

I've mentioned Emerald Avenue. Well, it's no longer named that. It was renamed to F. Ortigas Jr. Road. This used to be the place where the Ortigas Center Association holds its weekend night market, the Banchetto. One Sunday morning, I happen to pass by this road. On weekends, this avenue is closed to cars and public transports. Keeping up with environmentalist concerns, they turn F. Ortigas Jr. Road pollution free by making it a Bike Day. It's a nice place for family bonding. There'd be bikes for rent and kids can actually play on the road. After all, the weekends is a rest day and the business centers are normally closed especially along this road.

F. Ortigas Jr. Road on a Sunday morning

F. Ortigas Road, to the left is Strata 2000, to the right is Strata 100

F. Ortigas Jr. Road, bikes for rent--weekends

F. Ortigas Jr. Road, imagine this place on weekdays--rows of office buildings found on both sides, on the right is Strata 100

Another busy area is the Exchange Road--named after the area's main business center, the Philippine Stock Exchange. On weekdays, this encircling road gets filled up with cars and public transports especially during peak hours in the morning and late afternoon.

Exchange Road, the Philippine Stock Exchange Towers

Jade Drive,  a road parallel Exchange Road

access road connecting Jade Drive to Exchange Road

After several days touring the area, my long walk is done. Let me leave you with his image below. This is Escriva Drive. So much has changed on this avenue that it has given me a unique nostalgic feeling. But I'll reserve that for another blog perhaps. Till the next adventure!

Escriva Drive, coming in from Shaw Boulevard

Sunday Morning At Antipolo

One Sunday morning in September, I rode a jeep going to "Antipolo-Sumulong-Shopwise." As I haven't been to the town proper for quite some time, I figured I'd check the place out. I heard that there's a new mall there and other things. After almost getting lost because the jeeps were given a new route, I found my way to the two main busy roads that intersect the town proper--ML Quezon and P. Oliveros St.

The Antipolo Cathedral is a well-known pilgrimage area. Since it is a Sunday, crowds of people would go for Sunday mass. Here they are just after the mass.

I found my way to Victory Park & Shop. I think one of its attractions is the "Tiangge" area where there are clothes, shoes and other items on sale.

Starbucks is found just outside of the mall.

On both streets, you'll see other fast food restaurants.

McDonald's across Victory Park and Mall

Along P. Oliveros, Greenwich, Jollibee, and Mang Inasal

KFC along ML Quezon St.

This is just across 7-11, along P. Oliveros St. I didn't see this restaurant before and I don't remember what establishment it replaced. This is one of my fave eating places: Chick-Boy. Their Cebu Lechon Kawali is so good!

Kasoy, suman and other goodies--these are some of the popular delicacies of Antipolo. This is a good way to end a short walk in Antipolo proper.

Till the next trip! Bye for now! :)

What happened to EDSA Central? Say Hello to the Greenfield District

What ever happened to EDSA Central? I've worked for several years at Ortigas Center and EDSA Central has been one of the many places I go to when I feel like just walking around and discovering new places. Ever since I've worked at Eastwood City and then at Makati City, I haven't gone back to EDSA Central...until our office decided to relocate to Greenfield District.

What's Greenfield District? Later on, I realized that the entire area that I used to know as EDSA Central is now being re-developed and re-vitalized by a company called Greenfield. So many changes have occurred here. Since I love walking around, care to join me in exploring what has changed in what was once the EDSA Central.

View of the Park from Mayflower St.

Greenfield District Park

What made this place popular? Well, this park you see in the picture used to be the area that occupied EDSA Central's jeepney terminals. The public transports travel from the eastern part of Metro Manila (e.g. Pasig, Antipolo, Taytay, Angono, Binangonan, etc.) to its terminal at EDSA Central. There used to be a video wall here and at times, I'd see movies being projected here. Now, it's a park covered with green grass that's regularly trimmed and walk ways to get you moving around the areas of the park. On overcast skies, there'd be a lot of people sitting on the grass, just relaxing and taking in the peaceful scenery.

Twin Oaks Tower, Mayflower St.

 

Here at the corner of Shaw Boulevard and Mayflower St., you'll see one finished building and one that's still being constructed. If I'm not mistaken, this is the Twin Oaks Tower.

The Hub, Mayflower St.

Along Mayflower St., you'll see the cite where kiosks of dried goods and fast food stores used to thrive. This is now being developed as the Greenfield District Hub.

The site of the old wet and dry market, now being developed into a strip mall

This is the corner of Mayflower St. and United Street. That ongoing construction site used to be EDSA Central's Wet and Dry Market.

Intersection of United St. and Mayflower St.

This is the intersection of Mayflower St. and United St. which leads to EDSA. Along this road, you'll see restos and food stores as well as a call center company.

The Pavilion, Sto. Cristo Street

This is the Greenfield District Pavilion. I think it hasn't changed much on the inside. The Pavilion houses various dry goods kiosks or "tiangge" selling cheap goods. It also houses factory outlets of some branded apparel and shoe stores.

The Square Building

This building is called the Square. This building used to be a cinema theater. It now houses a call center company but the appliance store has been there as far as I could remember. What's new in this area is the presence of a bar and a casual dinning resto. Moreover, the building beside the Square is where the showroom of Greenfield is located.


The terminal is still around by the way. It just moved into another open space at Mayflower Street. Christmas is just around the corner. Wouldn't it be nice if this place would be up and running with all the establishments open for service and shopping by the time December comes?