Tim Ho Wan, anyone?

*This is a long due Tim Ho Wan review. Throwbacks are coming in. Stay tuned!

If you visited SM Mega Fashion Hall in the past months, you probably noticed a long queue at the ground floor. Nope, it's not a fashion store, it's no other than Tim Ho Wan! So what's so special about this restaurant that people patiently fall in line for it?
 

United State of Pop: Pop or Flop?

DJ Earworm's most-awaited mashup for 2013 is already up!

So then I decided to do a review on the other mashups of DJ Earworm from 2008 to present.

Photo credits: DJ Earworm's Facebook Fanpage

I first learned DJ Earworm's mashup in 2009. The United State of Pop 2009 (Blame it on the Pop) was being played in the game Night Club City on Facebook and it immediately gave me the Last Song Syndrome. It was a love at first hear. 

Later on, I learned that it was an annual thing. DJ Earworm compiles the pop songs and music videos in the US which made it to the charts or made an impact in the music scene for each year, hence dubbed "United State of Pop". He also creates a theme every year. IMO, that makes him better than the other DJs who make annual mashups because he could always summarize the year into one theme which was hard because there are many artists, songs, music videos to consider but that's where he's good at. It's not just the mix of the songs and videos, it's "what happened" to the music for every year that's why it's something to look forward to. 

Sometimes I don't realize we're closing the year until I hear his craft. It has been my year-end indicator. I'm glad DJ Earworm always pull off good year-ender mashups. It makes me realize that several things are happening in the span of 365 days.

Here's an ordered review of DJ Earworm's United State of Pop mashups from 2008 to 2013. (Order from my least favorite to the best mashup by far)

TOP 6: United State of Pop 2013 (Living the Fantasy)

My rate: 2/5 Youtube views: 279K ++ 

Sorry 2013, I love the songs, but this mashup just didn't have a recall. I'm looking for something that is remarkable but I can't find one for this. It's good that there's Miley Cyrus, Rihanna, Lorde, Bruno Mars, Swedish House Mafia, Pink and others but why is Lady Gaga's Applause and Katy Perry's Roar not included? Their videos were included but I wasn't able to hear it. My ears just might have missed it but it should be used in the chorus or something. These tracks are phenomenal. Plus, Pink's Just give me a reason deserve to have more exposure because I believe it is the song of the year at least for the general masses. The tune is kinda off as well but I gotta hand it to the man behind it because he did create the right mashup in terms of his song choices, it's just that my choice of songs weren't included. On a recent post of Andi Manzano, she mentioned that DJ Earworm highlights 25 of the year's top tracks according to Billboard's Hot 100.

Manila Ocean Park Year 1

Wonder how Manila Ocean Park looked like in 2009?

I could not believe it's been four years since Manila Ocean Park opened. Time flies cliche hits again and again. This is one of the many experiences I failed to blog. As promised I'd be blogging them one by one. (Not necessarily in order). Here's a post dedicated to my first visit to Manila Ocean Park in March 2009.

I've never been to Subic's Ocean Adventure so I have nothing to compare with MOP locally speaking, however, I've been to Osaka Japan's Ocean Park so that may be the closest thing I could compare it with. Of course, OJOP's bigger than MOP but it was alright for me. During my first visit, I gave it a benefit of the doubt since it just opened and there are room for improvements. By now, I can say I was right.  In 2009, some facilities were still under construction, no Hotel H2O yet, no shows just pure life-sized aquarium with different species being displayed. Some of the stores and restaurants were still closed then but yes, there was already a fish spa. I already forgot how much the entrance fee was then by I think it's around 500 PhP or below.

Here goes a sort-of-photo-blog to give you a view:

Crocs

Upon entering MOP, you will see a dark hall leading to a dry place where reptiles and fish pond's located. There are plants and man-made falls placed on that area establishing nature's beauty. You will be welcomed by these crocodiles. They are real but you can't touch them. They are living in a very secured area so no worries.

Something fishy

There's a stair leading to the fish village, I forgot what it's called but that place is really dark. Cameras with flashes weren't allowed. Several species could be found there, for instance on the photo above: stone fish, star fish, sea horse, eel fishes and the rest of Nemo's gang.

A little anecdote on the place, however, dark, I saw my then blockmate Alya. It was unexpected, she's with her family and I'm with my mom and relatives. We hugged, introduced each other to the parties we were with and had a little catch-up since that was a summer vacation.

What's inside your bag?

The photo above were embryos of a certain fish, again I forgot which kind. It's amazing to watch because they got heart beats already. I'm thinking it could pop-out any time soon.

Big fish

Here we go to the Oceanarium part of MOP. I actually have a photo seemingly kissing this big fish on my 2009 and 2012 visit. I might show them to you on my future MOP post as a throwback. We'll see.

Floating Malabon resto afloat for more than a decade

text and photos by ROSETTE S. ADEL

University of Santo Tomas Journalism program

MALABON CITY—A FISHING pond here has become the 12-year-old beehive of a floating restaurant here in this flood-prone city. 

Now, 12-year-old Balsa sa Niugan added a relaxing place for coffee lovers out there.

This floating restaurant and fishing garden in M. Aquino Street, the first in the city, just opened its coffee shop. Its capacity is 300-strong.

Balsa sa Niugan was established on July 18, 1998 under the ownership of a family-owned corporation, the Centennial Raft and Allied Services Inc..

Asked about the name ‘Balsa sa Niugan’, Manager Loreta Geronimo said that it was her husband, Santy, who had thought of it. Most of the facilities they have were made of rafts which are literally called ‘Balsa’ meaning floating raft made from bamboos that is why they used the name ‘Balsa sa Niugan’. 

Mr. Geronimo was also the one who conceptualized the design of Balsa sa Niugan—to cover the dining area, extension area, The Balsa area, Kubo area, Pavilion area, fishing area, and the “Kapihan sa Balsa,” which was opened last June 20 (Father’s Day). 

“Each area was gradually added as extensions for our facilities,” Mrs. Geronimo said.

The said areas may be used for events like weddings, baptismal, seminars, reunions, birthday parties and conferences as well as occasional reservations.

“Balsa sa Niugan caters to people from all walks of life, from classes A to C,” says Mrs. Geronimo. 

The restaurant’s menu consists of Filipino dishes, seafoods, sizzlings, Japanese and Chinese foods, and cocktail drinks which are being served daily on their operating hours from noon till midnight. “Kapihan sa Balsa” serves brewed coffee, cakes, and pastries.

Dining afloat in a fishpond with a cool relaxing ambiance of our open-air place makes us distinct, says Mrs. Geronimo.

Having been in the industry for 12 years now, Balsa sa Niugan has established its niche in the food retail industry in Malabon. 

However, like any other business in Malabon, the location itself is a drawback. Mrs. Geronimo said that because Malabon City is a flood-prone area, whenever there is flood or typhoon, they cannot operate. 

Its owners refuse to disclose how much the restaurant earns annually.

As for the community, Barangay Kagawad Rizalito De Guzman said that he sees no problem with the establishment of Balsa sa Niugan.

“Since the establishment is being featured on television and newspapers, our Barangay (Brgy. Niugan) is also being promoted in the process.” Johanne Bautista a resident of Brgy. Flores, Malabon City said that the concept of Balsa sa Niugan being a floating restaurant “is a good one”. She said that because of this people from other places visit Malabon to experience dining in Balsa, therefore it promotes local tourism benefitting the flood-prone city.

“Balsa sa Niugan a good place for sightseeing, although one thing I find negative about it is that there are lots of mosquitoes during night time because the water is stagnant,” says Marion Karenina Sagun, a resident of Brgy. Tinajeros.

But with simple rafts serving as the restaurant’s humble beginnings, the little pond where Balsa sa Niugan started has become a sea of livelihood for the Geronimo family and the city.

Rosette Adel, a third year Journalism student of UST, submitted this story for her Newspaper Practice and Management class.

Author's note: *I am just reposting my article from our Newspaper Practice and Management class. It was also posted in Pinoy Community Newswire 

-September 13, 2010. This was a site organized by our then Asst.Prof. Jeremaiah Opiniano. This article was also published in: The Philippine Business and News Forum

-November 10, 2010. However they already removed it when they updated their website.*

On why you should Overexposed

Overexposed album cover (Photo from Google Images)

Isn’t it ironic that an introvert like me is a concert-goer? I don’t know maybe this is just the fan girl in me I can’t seem to just shrug off. Part of the mainstream me, I guess. This is also the late bloomer outgoing self I have been gradually cultivating since College. For almost four years that I’ve been fan-girling, I already lost count on  how many concerts, fashion shows, plays, gigs etc. event I’ve seen and gone to, paid or for free. God, I’m such a scenester! Well, admittedly.

This year, I’ve been really looking forward to seeing Maroon 5 perform live. I already mentioned that on my personal blog. That’s because I missed two of their concerts here in Manila and I just can’t miss their concert on September 18. However, to my dismay, tickets are screaming SOLD-OUT! Heartbreak right there. But there are buts:

1) But I’ve already prepared myself for this. I’ve been saving money once I found out that they’d be having a concert in the hope of purchasing tickets by September. Bad news though, the tickets were sold out earlier this July. Up to now, I still cannot believe it. The persistent Rosette is still hoping for she is more than willing to spend all her cash to see ADAM LEVINE in flesh! Who wouldn’t want that?

2.) But I’ve already prepared myself for this part 2.  Sorry for the piracy, baby Adam. I immediately downloaded the Overexposed album after the release of Payphone so that I can memorize it and sing along with your band come your tour. Yes, I almost memorized every track. Even the awws, whoahs and the lalalas.

3) But there can’t be no tickets. Sold-out? Nah, I don’t think so. I’d like to believe that Ticketnet or whoever’s in-charge of the ticket selling is bluffing us, that there are still tickets hoarded and will be sold on the day of the concert itself. Hello scalpers! Oops. I mean… Hello ticket promos here and there? I really hope I am right. For if not, lemme just mourn and bawl for a sec for this is my fault. Deluding on some false hope my brain made me believe. Here’s to the hope that we’ll all score tickets for September 18, cheerios! Or maybe, just maybe there’d be Day 2 of their concert.

I’d love to write a track by track review on Maroon 5’s Overexposed album but Billboard already did that and what they wrote were somehow similar to my thoughts. You can check it out here. Besides, I don’t know how to review a track. Everything sounds good to me. I’m sure those tracks will hit like Moves like Jagger hit. Otherwise, I’m just being biased. So go and be the judge. I would just write about the reasons why you should (at least) listen to Maroon5’s Overexposed album, here it goes:

1.       The Wiz Khalifa Collab- Unlike their Hands all over album with several collabs, there’s only one for this album. Go on raise your eyebrows for the Black and Yellow rapper but then again the point of this collab is that it shows the versatility of Maroon 5. From Pop Christina Aguilera and Lady Antebellum to Gym Class Heroes and Wiz Khalifa. Different genres, still making a hit. Come on, the truth is there are only few band who can pull this off.  Widening their horizons and jumping from one genre to another yet still leaving their fans in awe.  Don’t you agree with me? No? Alright, listen to Payphone (Never mind the MTV) and tell me I’m wrong. I’m just waiting for a cover from them. Something like the Coldplay did with Rihanna’s We found love. I believe they actually don’t need that but it wouldn’t hurt if we’d hear them sing another song.

2.       Lyrics- Admit it, most of the songs nowadays have blah blah blah lyrics which really doesn’t make sense at all. It’s disappointing that however good its melody is, they just don’t make sense. Some are just about obscenity and some are just words jumbled. Maroon 5 has a gift in lyric-writing though. Over the years, from This Love to the present, they can pull off a song and yet send the message and emotion of it. We’ve seen it, She will be loved, Sunday Morning, Never gonna leave this bed, I won’t go home without you, etc. In this album, they did it again. Yes there were tracks with songs which have repeated lines but most songs still contain good lyrics. It’s even viral on statuses and other posts. Take Payphone as an example once again. Even the rap part made sense. I know you have that line you wish to tweet… or maybe you haven’t decided which yet. Altogether now: I’m at a payphone…

3.       Tracks are picker-upper- Maroon 5 stayed upbeat on this album. Very eargasmic. There were just about three or a couple of tracks which sounded sappy, “Sad" is one of them, given the title. The rest will make you groove and sing to it however sad the lyrics of the songs are. Most tracks are heartbreak songs but it doesn’t feel that way. I think that’s a good thing. Singing a heartbreak song or dancing on a heartbreak song won’t make you feel sad anymore. It’s like a happy pill that gives you positive vibes. I’m glad this band decided to reinvent their usual lonely-tuned songs into happy-sounding sad songs. Something to look forward to the new Maroon 5.

4.       Promising tracks- Let’s exclude Payphone because it already got million views on Youtube and made it to the Billboard 100. I’ll play Fortuneteller like one of their tracks titled Fortuneteller. I can see a bright future on most of the tracks from this album. If I’d rate this, it will definitely get a ten, ten being the highest. I’d say 9/10 out of 12 tracks have a potential to make it to the charts. However, I just chose 6 tracks aside from Payphone which you may have to prioritize: Beautiful goodbye, Love Somebody, Wipe your eyes, Sad, One more night and Lucky strike. The rest can be equally rated. Those were just my picks because I find them very promising. I could listen to every single track all day without getting bored. The moment I listened to the album, I knew it will one day land on the charts and will give people LSS like the Moves like Jagger hit.

5.       And Lastly, Adam Levine- Yeah, just ADAM LEVINE, in bold and in all caps. The Voice. The music. The body. One man team actually. His voice swoon me over on this album. What is Maroon 5 without him? I can’t imagine. Plus his good looks and hot body, more reasons to Overexposed.  No need to elaborate. Photos as proofs:

Photo from Google Images

Photo from Google Images

Still a no? One more.

Photo from Google Images

 In less than three days he’d be painting the town maroon, can’t wait! But if we can’t go to the concert, let’s just play their album, blast the volumes and have a mini-concert on our rooms! Come on now, Why don’t you overexposed with me?

*Original blog post was posted on Stay at Home Club., September 15, 2012.  All photos are from Google Images, could not retrieve the exact source anymore, will have to provide exact url for future attributions next time. Apologies.*