Yesterday, February 9, marks the official start of the campaign period for the 2016 Philippine elections. Something that is sure to elicit surprise since candidates have been doing this “campaigning” for months now, albeit they don’t really say “vote for him/her.” But I digress. Of the five main presidential bets and their tickets, three of them held their respective proclamation rallies in Metro Manila itself. So let’s see what is out there.
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“Kapitan Moy”: The Birthplace of Marikina Shoemaking
As you may probably know by now, (or if not…you’ll know anyway) one thing that has defined Marikina over the years is its shoemaking industry. And despite the challenges it has faced in recent years with the changing landscape of global trade being a key factor, it is an industry that has managed to survive as it strives to adapt to these changing times. Indeed, the shoemaking industry has come a long way since it was introduced in this then sleepy rural town on the outskirts of Manila. And the growth would not have been possible without the efforts of one man, Don Laureano Guevara, popularly known as “Kapitan Moy.”
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Thank You FlipTrip!
Last Wednesday, your Urban Roamer was at A Space Manila for what is known as a “travel meetup” organized by the cool folks at FlipTrip. It was an opportunity for this self-confessed travel bug to meet up and network with fellow travel bugs and perhaps pick an idea or two for my next trip. Admittedly, I haven’t been to as much adventures as I wanted to due to stuff that has happened in my life recently. But now that everything seems to have settled down, I am ready to go to more places in the future. And this time, with some company since traveling solo all these years can be dull…
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Starbucks at 6750 Ayala Avenue: Where the Modern Filipino Coffee Shop Experience Began
Filipinos love coffee, there is no doubt about that. Traditionally though, Filipinos are not really that fancy coffee drinkers. Just a simple cup of coffee bought at the sari-sari store, with perhaps some creamer and sugar would do. There are also the beloved regional blends like the kapeng barako of Batangas or the Philippine Civet Coffee or kapeng alamid which is sourced from the droppings (AKA, uhm…poop) of wild Philippine civets which also happens to be the most rare and expensive variety. In recent years however, Filipinos have come to appreciate the more “sophisticated” varieties of coffee like the cafe lattes, cappuccinos, frappes, etc. And we can all thank/blame (depending on…