QCX

     Though summer for most grade school and high school kids in the Philippines has ended but I just want to share one place where kids can go, a break from malls. Have you heard of QCX? It is an interactive and socio-culural museum at the heart of my city which is Quezon City! Thanks to blogger Amber of A Momma Abroad I found out about this. Shame on me! She is an American and has an adorable family living here in the Philippines. I have been here forever and pass by the museum almost every day of my life and never knew it was there. Also had it not been for Billie's host sister, Sora who was visiting from Japan whom we were touring around, I would no have been inclined to go in. 

     Anyway, it opened two years ago at the Quezon Memorial Circle. While we were touring. by the way we heard that this project was actually by the vice-mayor,  Joy Belmonte! Wonderful endeavor! Bravo!

     Okay, okay, you wanna hear about the museum.... Here goes, guys...

Lobby was sparse and modern. Liking it already. 

     We came on a weekday and early. I guess that is one tip for you.  The staff was just beginning to get ready. Downside though, the air-conditioning had also just been turned on.  You get a discount on the entrance ticket if one you are a Quezon City resident or if you are a student so bring your ID's.

     One of the first exhibits was about of the beginnings of Quezon City. This area represents the hill on which President Manuel L. Quezon dreamed of the city that would be. Our guide said, he sat on the rock like the middle. I made H sit there too... Haha! He is dreaming of what to have for lunch of course. 

     I won't give everything away but will gladly share my favorite parts of the museum and cute photos of Sora and Blue as they enjoyed the museum. 

There is a pod on transportation where they showcased the various forms of commute; the jeepney, bus, tricycle  etc.

 

So much selfie opportunities which the kids and adults will love....

A replica of Malacanan

Loved the scale models of the famous buildings in the city. One of which is the Araneta Coliseum now Smart Araneta. I can still remember very vividly how my grandmother, my brother and I would buy corn dogs from one of the food stands around the coliseum after a visit to the dentist. 
The best times!

UP Diliman

     Can you guess what these are?

     There was also a section of business; big and small.

        Blue got try what it was like being our favorite magtataho from our village. TAHOOOOOO!

     A cinema section. After all Sampaguita and LVN, pioneer production companies in the Philippines also were born in Quezon City. How cute if you can actually watch old black and white movies here. Hint! Hint!

      The exhibit on barangays and their origins were pretty informative too.

     The education pod is set up like a classroom with an interactive screen quiz. Fun!

        My most favorite part is the life size set up of an old mid-Century home, typical of the projects home in Quezon City. This is what some of the homes I grew up seeing look like.

     Overall a wonderful museum. There is more to see! Just come! For more info on QCX please look here!

     My only wish for this establishment is that the QC government maintains it. I mean clean and all. Sad to say, we Pinoys are bad at maintaining our establishments even homes for that matter. (Eye roll) I was not able to see their washrooms so I can't say anything about it though.

One of the touch screen displays of various landmarks in QC

   

 

     

Tagaytay Tripping

     Actually my mom does not even have to ask twice whenever she asks me to tag along with her to anything. I don't mind being her designated alalay. Besides, it's always a welcome break anyway from my cranky teenagers and H.

     Recently I went with Mom on a Tagaytay day trip with her friends?  I am talking about my mom's farmer friends who also love to eat. Remember them? Click here! Food tnor plants though were no first on the agenda that day.  We were going tripping.  (Secret as for whom.) Anyway, traffic was tolerable escaping Manila so we got to Tagaytay early enough to see the first development we were gonna do an ocular on.  The first one was Kasa Luntian by Alveo Properties. It is a condo type development. The developer itself speaks well of the project off-hand BUT the toilet in the showroom was yuck. So.. anyhoo....Back to...It is a beautiful condominium type development. It is good for families who want a weekend getaway without the hassle of hiring a caretaker or to worry about security. It is huge and I can imagine it to be a party type of place during Holy Week and Christmas.

      I loved the kiddie room of one of the model units. It was nautical-themed and oh so cute. Next development please. 

      We drove some 20 minutes more towards Nasugbu and nestled in a quiet, gated community is Tagô by Mañosa Properties. The visitor's lounge was already impressive but then again I am a fan of Arch't Bobby Mañosa. My own parents live in a Mañosa home. (So don't listen to me. ) Their guest washroom was clean too so 2 points extra for Tagô.
 

     We were able to tour the model unit which is amazing  It is well=planned, cozy, yet airy. Look, guys! 

Living and Dining Areas

Family Room

Second Bedroom

Kitchen

Master Bedroom

Love the seating area by the landing. I can sit here and read a book or watch my dramas. Haha!

                 Look how beautiful! This is modern Filipino architecture at its best!. Coco, if someone buys from this blog you owe me dinner! Hehe!

     Security is not a problem of course and if you need to have your house cleaned before you arrive, they can do it for you. And if you need a helper during your stay they have butlers on standby. Wow! Shut up already and take my money! (Duh? What money?)

     Anyhoo, all these salivating over something I can't have made me hungry for food and so were the golden girls so off we go to Balay Dako Yippee!!!! 

     I need not say more! We had a good, yummy lunch! Not bad for alalay's pay for the day. When is our next outing, Ma? 

Smile, all you diabetic ladies! 

    Which reminds me I haven't called my mom today......
     

Tayo na sa Antipolo!

     We are not spontaneous. If there is one thing about my little family, we like things planned. As early as when my kids were babies, their feeding was time, sleep time were scheduled. Everything in almost quartz precision time. ( Not as I had hoped.) Our travels are no different. Each adventure is born from meticulous research; reading numerous reviews, countless drops of Eye-Mo for eye strain from looking at the computer screen. Still a question hangs if H will approve or will be not too lazy to drive us. After all, he is the king of I-love-my-comfort-zone. If he does agree, then after the initial shock and disbelief, the thrill of spontineity begins. What? Huh? We are actually going? Well one day in April this year, luck was on our side and H was uh, spontaneous and agreed to go to my 'planned' Antipolo Day. 

     We left the house at around 7am and took the back door of our village (Marikina) to Antipolo. First stop was Antipolo Church or the Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage Shrine. We were just going to stop by and pray but luckily Holy Mass was starting and we decide to stay and hear mass. Though Red ( Yellow is now Red since she moved schools.) and I were wearing shorts the ladies in church had sky blue shawls ready to lend church goers and use as cover-ups. It was such a blessing to hear mass as Our Lady in Antipolo is the patroness of travel and we were leaving for two trips in May. Yey!!! Praise God!

Bought some rosaries for H's mom here.

     After church I bought a bunch of samplings of the suman and sapin-sapin (Native Filipino snacks) that are or me quintessentially Antipolo so the kids can try. I grew up going to Antipolo every month of May and eating these. Sadly my kids are not fond of local food like this. They tried them though and said ok. Okay! 

 I love this suman! I used to eat it with sugar now muscovado! Healthy daw!

     Next on our itinerary was Crescent Moon Cafe and Lanelle Abueva's pottery studio. I loooove pottery and I've been a fan of Lanelle forever. In fact the double sinks in our master bath are made by Lanelle. We got lost a bit. Waze's fault. It has been too long since I went there. 

Koi pond is still there!

     Lanelle makes the same kind of pottery though updated but I really go there for the rejects pieces in the back. The guy charged me P200 a kilo I think I read P150 somewhere but I was too excited to care plus he gave us lots of freebies. My mission was to buy condiment dishes and I did so I was happy! 

      Next stop PINTO Art Gallery!

 

     The last time I was there was to watch a Cecile Licad concert with my mom as we were invited by her med school senior who is the gallery owner, Dr. Joven Cuanang. Yup! Again, ages ago. It has expanded so much! We got a guide! We always get a guide or a docent when we go to museums. He was a student doing OJT and we learned a lot and appreciated the pieces more because of him. (Plus, he saved me yanking out my reading glasses to read about the pieces.) It was the height of summer and it got really hot. (If you intend to come here, please wera summer clothes.) We were thirsty and hungry after the tour and though the museum coffee shop was tempting, we were hungrier than the looks of the coffee shop. 

     Meanwhile please scroll all the way down and enjoy my Pinto porn! Too many beautiful art and spaces!  You'll know where we ate at the end of the post.

     I wanted to have lunch at a place owned by my high school friend Diana Lee and have read good reviews about. We had to go back up Antipolo a bit to get there from PINTO and the traffic was already bad. How sad that we are so limited sometimes by this terrible traffic jams. Anyway, after much debating we all agreed to drive down from Antipolo altogether and eat at Rustic Mornings in Marikina. Yummy, every one's favorite! So much for Antipolo Day... So there you go our planned, spontaneous Antipolo + Marikina Adventure! 

      Where to next?

Fried Chicken and Waffle at Rustic Mornings