Worth a try

THE new cluster of hangouts along Palma Gil Street in Barrio Obrero between the Wheels ‘n More cluster of bars and Sobrecarey Street has one more restaurant within its vicinity. Nope, this time it’s not part of the cluster. Rather, it’s across the street where a buffet restaurant used to be.

I noticed it while we were trying out the Bagnetian Kitchen in this new cluster.

Michaelangelo's mother

I WONDER how the great artists like Michaelangelo, Botticelli and Vasari, BenCab, Ang Kiukok and Malang spent their summers as kids? Were they sent to art classes as well? Was it the spark in their illustrious career?

If so, these kids are lucky. Their paths are paved to their possible stardom. Leave it to Mom to uncover hidden talent…. while saving the home from shambles.

One Midsummer Night on May 16

IT’S the end of the summer break and Locsin’s Ballet Studio is very busy in its recital preparations. With so many dancers from tiny pre-schoolers skipping around as elves, to adult dancers with the sleek professional grace of a balletomane, it’s going to be one long recital that will be worth a ticket.

The recital is set on May 16 at 6 p.m. the CAP Auditorium. For more information on tickets, call 2274753, or text 09169095099, or email at locsindanceworkshop@yahoo.com.

Seafood and stuff

LAST week’s visit to The Bagnetian Kitchen in the new food and beverage complex along Palma Gil Street in Barrio Obrero showed there was yet another restaurant to try (and around three more bars). We chose the restaurant because we only wanted to eat.

With just Imee and Miggy and Miggy being a pesca-vegetarian, the restaurant was just right along that line. Patti’s Grill and Seafood Restaurant read the lighted sign.

Finally, a real life skill

Matigsalugs find link between farm technology, biodiversity, and survival

BEFORE I was even born, our ancestors were just clearing areas to plant some crops in without care for how clearing the land destroys the soil. The forests were already logged over and they did not know any better except that there was so much land to plant in, Noli Tandangan of sitio Guilon said in the assessment meeting of participants to the experimental Sloping Agricultural Land Technology (Salt) farming in sitios Guilon, Malikongkong, Upian, and Lapinig in Barangay Marilog, Marilog District, Davao City.

Curtains up for Marks & Spencer

RUSTAN Marketing Specialists, Inc. unveiled its brand new Marks & Spencer in Abreeza Mall. The brand new 1,000 square meter store is the 19th in the family of Marks & Spencer stores around the country and the first in Davao City. Let’s look forward to a few more to open soon.

Michael Tantoco Huang (on behalf of Anton Tantoco Huang) joined General Manager, Steven Sarmenta to officially open the new Marks & Spencer store and welcomed their Davao guests to the opening day celebrations. It was an evening gathering the Southern loyalists of this popular British fashion label.

A taste of Bali

ONE must never leave Bali without learning about their dances and their tales. Having tourism to a craft of sorts, it’s not that hard, really. For one, you can just ride on to Jalan Earibang Kesiman in Denpasar and watch the Barong and Kris Dance for roughly P500 a person (100,000 Indonesian rupiah).

Just sit and watch, and follow the story through the English synopsis that is handed to you upon entrance. The show takes around an hour.

Bless our hearts

IAN G. gets all the blame. It was he who posted a photo of deep-fried pork with crackling skin on Facebook just when friends were thinking of gathering for that chitchat after work after a long time of not seeing each other.

Of course, my other friends wouldn’t have seen it since they’re not friends with Ian G. on FB. But who can resist from sharing such sumptuous photo on one’s wall knowing it’ll drive your friends crazy.

The World and the Earth

COMING from a rough year in Manila, I wanted nothing more than to get the city out of my system. I felt like my five senses were going to explode and I was just so tired. During the summer of my internship, I wanted to take a break and learn while I was at it. To my luck, I got what I wanted and much, much more.

Behind the city’s progress

A beautiful, rich and progressive city, these are few of the words that describe Davao City.

As you enter the heart of Davao City, you will be amazed by the different hotels, malls, supermarkets, and other establishments, and the mass of vehicles. The city has also different kinds of recreations, parks, beaches and tourist attractions that you can visit. It is indeed a highly-developed city.

An expedition to the Inner Spirit

MATI CITY -- It’s the first time that I encountered “Perry” the Platypus, the only mammal existing in Australia, and it was through Jaethan Aldridge “Jaeger” Nombrado and his painting. At eight years of age, this little bubbly boy has such big concerns that even in his playful strokes on the big canvas, his tiny unaccustomed fingers painted Perry with amazing detail, and the endangered eagle that he worked on earlier, that he said might be gone before he grows big himself.

Art everyday

THE island of Bali oozes culture and arts, thus it is not surprising to see craftsmen doing their crafts just along the road.

I bumped into the first group while in the market to shop for souvenirs. They were just there, right on the street, using the curb as their worktable of sorts, smoothing the intricate carvings on wooden figurines with sandpaper.

April Musings: Of RSVPs, Q&As & F&Bs

Répondez s'il vous plait.

The joy is in the details

IT IS our free day after the World Association of Newspapers and Newspaper Publishers (Wan-Ifra) convention in Bali, Indonesia, and we get to tour the less intimidating districts of this island province.

Again, for all of us who thought Bali, Indonesia is but an island that we can walk around in or tour for an hour or two like Boracay or the much smaller Camiguin - it’s not. It’s huge and even has its own international airport. Its land area is more than twice the total area of Davao City. Yes, that big. And it’s not just about the sea.

Sunday Essays: The sound of health

BEING healthy gives us a lot of benefits. We boost the strength of our immune system that makes our body resistant to diseases and illnesses. Having a sound body, it follows that the mind is capable to think more clearly and make decisions effectively.

Sunday Essay: Online games - A factor in juvenile delinquency?

JUVENILE delinquency has been rampant and on the rise in recent times in the country. Since Senator Francis Pangilinan authored Republic Act 9344 or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006, which exempts individuals under 18 from trial for crimes of vagrancy, mendicancy, and involvement in illegal drugs, but are still subjected to counseling and rehabilitation programs, youngsters have the more reason to mindlessly or consciously violate the society.

The future of print

NAYSAYERS are saying the print media is on its way out, but those who are keenly observing how the print media industry is growing are saying, not yet.

There is something going on that goes beyond just technological advancements and the drop in interest to read among the young, such that the biggest newspaper company in Indonesia is even experiencing a sharp increase in circulation.

Summer dive

DIVING in Davao still has to make a splash in the international scene, although it’s mentioned every once in a while in dive magazines, but we’re not complaining because we know what we have and are enjoying it to the max: critters that may come aplenty in many dive spots but may not be in huge numbers over here, but in unimaginable varieties. Every dive is exciting because you will never know what you will find, but definitely you will find something.

A depot for art

“ART is everywhere,” expressed Mary Anne Tan-Guinoo, an artist, a painter and teacher, when asked about the unconventional venue of her “Kids at Art (and Adults, too!)” classes from May 2nd until the 23rd. “If there is one thing I have learned in my craft, it is to keep an open mind and appreciate everything around me. One can never know when and where inspiration may strike. What may be odd to you may be beautiful to others.

CUT redefines American steak

THE name Wolfgang Puck is said to be synonymous with the best of restaurant hospitality and the ultimate in all aspects of the culinary arts.

I was fortunate to experience CUT restaurant in Singapore, the third location for master chef and restaurateur Wolfgang Puck’s critically acclaimed, award-winning Beverly Hills steakhouse of the same name in the Beverly Wilshire, a four seasons hotel in the US.

Paragliding: Sarangani's newest attraction

MAASIM, Sarangani -- Sarangani is a good-flying site for paragliding said Armand Dard, a French national and a visiting paragliding professional instructor.

"This is my second time in the Philippines and my first time in Sarangani. Last year I did some paragliding in Carmona, Cavite and also in Boracay but this place which I discovered one month ago is a better flight site," Dard said.

The other side of the golden coin

PANTUKAN, Compostela Valley -- Instant millionaires. This is every miners' dream of becoming thus they sacrifice their life and limb in finding that elusive vein of gold under the bowels of the earth.

The province of Compostela Valley has been gifted with vast reserves of minerals that it has now become the subject of interest of miners, from small-scale to large-scale.

Resurrections

Aaaaand He’s back! And in good company.

It’s been forty-six days ago since day one of Lent, the onset of your penance and penitence- fasting from food or Facebook. Included in the count is the much-awaited Holy Week, which you were quite eager to observe- in church, at the beach or other destination of choice. Today is the finale of the season. Saved (again). Rejoice!

Preserving heritage, respecting the past

IF THERE is any place outside Manila that has deserved to have its own walking tour on heritage sites, it is Cebu with its history and relics going back to the Spanish period.

Nurturing a fascination for old houses since I can’t remember when, there was always that feeling of anticipation whenever I see familiar landmarks going toward that very old house at a street corner, whenever my work brings me to Cebu.

No longer tiny

IT WAS Maundy Thursday and many establishments were closed. It was thus a relief to learn that one place where you are assured of really good food is open… but no longer in its tiny space at the corner of Mabini and F. Torres Streets because Tiny Kitchen has already moved to a bigger place.

It’s still along F. Torres, but this time, in the midst of all the eating bustle. Tiny Kitchen has taken over the dining space once occupied by Buona Terra in that white building at the entrance driveway of Holiday Spa and Fitness Center.

Teacher never stops learning and will not stop teaching

FORTY-FIVE years as an educator may be difficult for some and boring to others, but not to a woman whose laughter made learning easy and fun. Milagros C. Manon-og, who just retired this March, is known for her smile, comic moves, and stories of happy moments. She is a picture of a contented mother and wife and a successful educator who rose from being a classroom elementary teacher to education supervisor in the Department of Education division of Davao del Sur.

Like Mila, her husband Cornelio was also an educator and retired as an elementary school principal. Her children are now living abroad and with her retirement, she intends to spend the rest of her time with them. Dennis and Leah, both registered nurses, are now based in U.S.A.

Pinoy teachers make history in Microsoft Regional Education Forum

BESTING 60 teachers from all over Asia Pacific, three Filipinos emerged victorious in this year’s Partners in Learning Regional Education Forum conducted by Microsoft in Auckland, New Zealand. This is the first in the history of the Regional Forum that all the representatives of the country win.

Participated in by 14 countries, 63 teachers competed for one country winner each and six categories namely Extended Learning Beyond the Classroom; Collaboration; Knowledge Building & Critical Thinking; Innovation in Challenging Contexts; Cutting Edge Use of Microsoft Technology for Learning; and Educators’ Choice. This forum aims to drive collaboration among educators and school leaders in promoting innovative programs.

Random scribbles

VANDALS are those who with hostility willfully or maliciously destroy public property. It can be mere scribbles or it can be physical destruction.

Graffiti on the other hand are in forms of paintings to express oneself publicly.

Inside Computer Shops: Where the law should work

TODAY’S Information Age has been marked by the use of high-end gadgets and the internet as well. Most people are really into purchasing laptops, computers and tablets where they can conveniently access the internet. Those who cannot afford these gadgets make full use of the internet through internet cafés.

In less than 10 years, Filipinos fully utilized the internet and started benefitting from it. It has advanced communication, education and industrialization paving the way for a new source of income. It is the business of selling internet consumptions through internet cafés.

Wisdom from the trees, Poetry from nature

HE’S someone you’d easily be comfortable with and love. A man honed in the ways of the farm and forest, of very humble beginnings and ways; who could’ve have easily been exchanging wits with bards and poets, except that, as he admits, he wasn’t able to get enough formal education and thus seems unaware of his wisdom.

He’s Rene “Tatay Ete” Vedniola, whom after listening to him in a press conference organized by the Roberto Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (Rafi) for its 5th Rafi Triennial Awards, became my bet.