FLIGHT 001 lands at SM Lanang

"LADIES and gentlemen, the captain has just turned off the fasten seat belt sign...Flight 001 (pronounced flight one), the world's premiere travel store, is excited to announce its touchdown in the Philippines!"

With the travel products retail market being highly fragmented consisting of primarily luggage stores, department stores, mass marts, outdoor adventure stores and online travel specialty sites, these establishments only partially address a segment of the traveling consumer -- offering limited product selection catered mostly to the adventure traveler. "None of these stores address the style-conscious, urban traveler; nor do they have a full product selection that addresses all the style-conscious consumer’s travel needs under one roof," explained Flight 001 founder John Sencion.

Chinese painting show set at SM Lanang

AFTER its successful grand opening, SM Lanang Premier ushers in "So Much More" with exciting treats for Dabawenyo mall patrons.

Over a hundred original scrolled Chinese artworks and Chinese paintings on Chinese fans -- a first in the Philippines -- will be on display at the mall's atrium from October 13 to 26.

Coffee Bean opens 2nd store at SM Lanang

THEY started the cold coffee beverage that is now popular all over the world, and they just opened their second branch in Davao City at SM Lanang Premier.

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf (CBTL) was started by Herb and Mona Hyman in 1963 in Los Angeles, California in USA. Coffee lovers themselves, the couple toured Europe for the best coffee shops and decided to bring the specialty coffeehouse concept to America.

Every day is Ozone Day

IT MAY not be well known locally but September 16 was the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, a United Nations General Assembly proclamation commemorating the same day in 1987 when the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer was signed.

In Davao, there's no big celebration of the Ozone Day, but other parts of the globe devote this date to raising awareness on what depletes the ozone layer and how it can be prevented, by holding "Ozone Day" activities across environmentally-aware schools, organizations, cities, and countries.

Cambodia in red

MAKING it to Siem Reap and finally seeing Angkor Wat was fulfilling. But knowing a little more of the country I was visiting would be a plus, and this is why I found myself in Phnom Penh.

A fellow traveler wanted us to make the most of our visit to Cambodia and planned a side trip to the capital city for us to see another facet of the country’s history, a more recent one.

Dining at Ban Khun Mae

THE gastronomic delights of Thailand are considered among the world’s most delicious. It has unique blend of tastes -- hot and spicy, salty, sweet and the flavors always highlighted with citrus from a lemon wedge or lime. These well executed balances of flavors are evident from the roadside eateries to quaint homey restaurants.

And to get our fill of Thai goodies, Ban Khun Mae at Siam Square, Soi 8 is a favorite. The place is softly lit and live traditional Thai music softly plays in the background serenading you and your company.

DCWD sets deadline for school tilts

THE Davao City Water District has sent invitations to all elementary and secondary schools in the city to join its annual inter-school competitions slated this November during the Davao Citywide Water Consciousness Month celebration.

This is also an annual celebration declared by by then mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte on September 27, 2001 with DCWD as the lead agency.

Bankers' Night

SOME 500 bankers, each coming from different banks in Davao City, gathered in the night of fellowship and camaraderie during the annual Bankers' Night on Friday at the Grand Men Seng Hotel.

Just for a night, men and women in the banking industry are not in competition with one another, brushing off the idea of rivalry. All of them rather enjoyed the night, which seemed to be an opportunity to meet-and-greet others from rival banks.

Phoenix adopts an eagle

LEADING independent oil company Phoenix Petroleum Philippines recently committed to adopt a Philippine Eagle for five years in support for its advocacy on environmental conservation.

Phoenix Petroleum and the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) signed the commitment for the five year adoption on September 25, 2012 at the Phoenix Bulk Depot in Davao City.

Food to improve brain performance

DEAR Dr. Fritz,

I am one of your avid followers. I am writing you because I noticed lately that my brain seemed to be not as its best, as when I am much younger. My memory is not as good as before. I can feel -- that it is not the way it used to be. I have tried puzzles -- but, it seems my memory is still failing. Are there any foods that can help me improve my brain performance? Please help me.

SM Lanang Premier opens

THE who's who of Davao mingled with the members of the media and other VIPs as SM Lanang Premier opened its doors to the community a day before its official public opening on September 28.

After the mass and ribbon cutting, officials and special guests led by SM Prime Holdings president Hans Sy and Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and other SM VIPs went the rounds of what is touted to be Mindanao's biggest mall.

Lizada: Invitations

CHONA and I got invited to the opening of Forever 21 at SM Lanang. We really did not want to go because we both were not feeling well, cough and colds. But it was the girlfriend of Raphael who invited us (she is one of the top people at Forever 21).

We were expecting a huge crowd but it was just the right size. We were just in time for the fashion show and then the cutting of the ribbon. We met a lot of people and it was fun.

Best Western Boracay Tropics: Still the best!

IT WAS the second time I stayed in this paradise on the island of Boracay, the country's top tourist destination.

The first was four years ago during a familiarization trip sponsored by Cebu Pacific Air.

Seminar on quantum leadership at AdDU

A STUDY on quantum leadership and organizational dimensions of local government will be conducted by Dr. Anthony M. Penaso of Central Mindanao University in Musuan, Maramag, Bukidnon.

Dr. Penaso will present his dissertation proposal in a public seminar today from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon at the School of Business and Governance of the Ateneo de Davao University where he is enrolled as a Doctor of Public Administration student. Researchers, academics and local government officials are invited to attend the said seminar for free.

Davao's first Blog Bootcamp

THE Davao Bloggers led by its president Dulce Lada organized its first successful workshop entitled Blog Weekend Bootcamp this month. Around a hundred participants showed up from different parts of the island and as far as Manila.

This was an intensive three-day live-in conference with breakout sessions and hands-on workshop from September 21-23 at the Malagos Garden Resort in Davao City.

Iba na

THINGS have really changed since when I was a teen ager. That is stating the obvious isn’t it? But really things have indeed changed. I was listening to a conversation a few days ago. It was Gabo and he was talking with some of his college friends. They were planning a trip. A trip to Sinulog. Whoa!

Miguel is spending this sembreak with his friends. They are all going on a trip. To Cambodia. Whoa, part two.

A night of magic

THEY CAME, we saw and we were conquered.

The magicians came; we watched them performed, and we were completely under their spell for more than two hours.

The Pearl of Asia

FOUR hours. I thought I heard that right. Obviously, I did not. The road trip from Siem Reap to the capital city of Cambodia took six hours plus. The ongoing “major, major” rehabilitation on the national road before the Phnom Penh border didn’t help at all; it slowed us down to snail’s pace.

So we crept on the dusty road towards the capital and largest city of Cambodia and made it to our hotel by mid-afternoon, but not before crossing the Mekong River and admiring it from the banks of Phnom Penh this time. I’ve rode its waves in Vietnam and flown over it in Thailand, and there’s still Burma, China and Laos where this powerful long river can be viewed from.

Dining in Ho Chi Minh

HOLIDAYS seem to be the perfect excuse for excess. We'd save our money so we can afford to be buttered up and be deliciously sloshed overseas that when we come back, we’re almost always full of exotic cravings. There's a shared unspoken belief where we consume a lot and feel half as guilty.

Lucky for our frail livers and cholesterol concerns, Vietnamese cuisine tips the scale on the healthier side. The Vietnamese are largely known and admired for their use of fresh ingredients with an abundance of fruits and vegetables and a whole universe of herbs. Most meats are only briefly cooked to retain their original color and grain. Fish sauce and soy sauce are used to season their dishes. As it is, every bite is a delightful mix and contrast of texture and a fusion of flavors.

Family weekend at Abreeza

AFTER a busy workweek, everyone looks forward to a weekend shared with family and friends. As a perfect venue for building and nurturing relationships, Abreeza Mall offers Family Weekend Treats, a whole weekend of fun and entertainment fit for family bonding from September 28-30, 2012.

KIDS RULE!

Space

GOD will give you the right persons. He will send you people whom you can be yourself, who will lift you, who will inspire you. And in the same breath, you must let go of those who do the opposite. You let go in order for you to let the right people in your life. It is a matter of space. Who do you allow to be in your life? And who do you let go?

McDonald's donates old cellphones, accessories

FOR the second time since the launch of i-rEcover, i-rEcycle program a year ago, McDonald's Philippines again donated hundreds of old cellular phones, batteries, and chargers to support the recycling program initiated by Nokia Philippines, Globe Telecom, Ayala Foundation Inc., and Philippine Tarsier Foundation Inc (PTFI).

The new donation of 398 items was in addition to the 613 defective mobile phones and accessories which McDonald’s turned over in November 2011, bringing the total to 1,011.

Chic & Green

AFTER the month-long contest for the best Eco-bag design, Trust Home Depot unveiled the tilt's winning design. The new, stylish and durable eco-bag debuted in-store as Trust Home Depot celebrated its first year anniversary.

During the presentation, THD Marketing Manager Stephanie Ong said, "In line with today's thanksgiving celebration, we are launching the Trust Home Depot Eco-Bag. The new THD eco-bag is durable, functional and visually pleasing, a bag the customers can tote in and out of the store. It's also a showcase of how talented the Dabawenyos are in the field of art and graphic design."

Totally Tangled

FOR the past few years, the princesses we watch on movies have been breaking out of the traditional mold. Gone are the days when the distressed maiden waits for his knight in shining armor to save her.

When young mom and registered nurse Barbie Tan-Uyking first saw the Disney movie, "Tangled," which is based on the well-loved tale of Rapunzel, she began visualizing her daughter Johanna Blair's 1st birthday party to carry the enchanting theme.

A grand party

IT WAS a week-long celebration that befitting a grand dame, Generosa "Susing" Tarranza-Hernaez as she turned 94 last July 17.

The celebration started with a series of intimate dinner parties for various groups and organizations where Ms. Tarranza-Hernaez is affiliated.

More fun in birthday bash

THEY came, they celebrated, and they left.

Stars, businessmen, politicians, and friends came to the 28th birthday of Kenneth Dong recently. The party was held at Bellisimo Restaurant, which is owned by movie actor and director Cesar Montano and his wife, Sunshine Cruz.

Road trip to Phnom Penh

SIEM Reap has been lovely and good to us (so was Raffles Hotel). Our timing was perfect, not too much tourists were in town and elbowing for space to get a shot in the Angkorian temples was non-existent. The photos were surreal. Void of other people, it seemed like we had the temples to ourselves.

Now, it was time to move to another Cambodian destination- Phnom Penh. For the six-hour drive from Siem Reap, we opted to rent a car (with a driver) to take us to the capital city of Cambodia. It's a few dollars more than taking the bus, the cheapest way to commute, but with three of us splitting the rental cost, it came out quite reasonable. Factoring in the comfort, the US$5 over the bus fare was nothing.

Transit, sleeping in Suzhou, China

"WE WILL be stopping on the next station in a few minutes. Next station Suzhou. Next Station Suzhou. Be careful not to forget your luggage behind or pick up other passengers luggage by mistake." Word for word transcript of the the recorded voice that drones on the overhead speaker with a subtle warning for TOURONS (tourist morons) and notorious bag thieves that prowls the trains.

When we travel outside of our Lupang Sinilangan and Bayang Magiliw, we also like to check out the scenes in the neighboring province, so for our China trip we decided to venture some 120 kilometers out of Shanghai to see the "Venice of the East – Suzhou."

Iba Na

THINGS have really changed since when I was a teen ager. That is stating the obvious isn’t it?

Gerry's Grill: A choice for celebrations

GERRY'S Grill takes pride in being the restaurant-of-choice among diners for celebrations, big or small.

"It's food that makes our guests want to visit us again and again. And in any occasion such a perfect fit. There's nothing like enjoying bountiful food to celebrate a special occasion," said Gerry Apolinario.