Makati Nightlife: Three Weekend Night Out Alternatives for People Who Hate Bars

“No one looks back on their life and remembers the nights they got plenty of sleep. –Author Unknown

To many people, Friday and Saturday nights mean getting to enjoy a night all to yourself without worrying about work the next day. It means getting to unwind and relax from a long and excruciating week and fully embracing the fact that for the next two days, you would not have to put work in your mind and focus on the things one enjoys. While some people would enjoy a quiet day in and spending the weekends entirely at home with nothing but the telly on, some people would not want to waste a single moment of what they see as a golden opportunity of unabridged fun . This is particularly true for individuals who are in their early to late twenties. In this regard, many would opt to enjoy a drink or two with friends or co-workers as early as Friday nights (with some even going as far as to enjoying them on Thursday nights).

In fact, it can be safely assumed that in the workplace—particularly one dominated by millennials—there would only be a handful of people who would not enjoy whiling away the time in a pub or bar enjoying their favorite beer or signature cocktail. After all, apart from getting finally having that weekly chance to relax, it is also seen as an avenue for socialization. And for singles, Friday and Saturday nights are prime nights for checking out the scene and dating pool in clubs insomuch that these are the days slated for hunting their next targets. However, what about those of us who have outgrown the nightlife scene or are otherwise weary of it? What if we are sick of the big city shenaningans and are desirous of something a little different? After all, we cannot realistically expect to stay in the Makati nightlife scene and sphere for the rest of our lives, can we? At some point in our lives, we would inevitably retire our party flags and look for a more subdued way to enjoy our nights during the weekends without getting smashed in the club. If you are one of such individuals looking for feasible alternatives, take a gander at the list below for some suggestions as to how you can spend your Saturday nights sans going to bars or clubs:

 Invite your friends or co-workers to a Trivia Night

 If you feel like the club scene is somewhat repetitive with basically what you are doing inside as redundant, you might be one of the few individuals wishful of intellectual stimulation while you are there. In this regard, round up your squad or the office gang and invite them for a drink on a Trivia Night. More often than not, most bars in Makati or any major city in the Philippines would have themed nights so as to appeal to a wider range of club goers. More importantly, it keeps them relevant and prevents them from progressively declining into a place wherein the same thing happens night after night. So, for a change, go ahead and enjoy a few beers while taking part in Trivia Night. Who knows? You might just be the lucky group to bag the first prize that can range anything from cash money to free drinks for a year.

     Belt it out at a Karaoke Bar

 Filipinos are known for their penchant for singing and unique affinity for Karaoke bars. Those 5Peso Karaoke machines you can spot in almost every sidewalk bar in the Philippines can attest to that fact. In this regard, why not spend your next weekend night out at a Karaoke bar in lieu of a regular bar. Admittedly, it might be just as loud as a regular bar is but at least, only you and your friends would be making the noise in a private function room. More importantly, karaoke nights always make for fond memories as you and your squad would be doing more than just drinking. If you want to take it up a notch, you can even turn the entire thing into your own version of the American Idol where some of your friends who do not want their own turn on the mic can stand in to judge the singing prowess of those that do.

    Watch a comedy show

 Instead of staying in on weekend nights binging on comedy shows on Netflix, why not witness a live stand-up comedy with your gang? Go out and see comedians live and who knows? You might just discover the next comedy icon that would soon take the world by storm. Stand-up comedy shows usually feature a variety of comics that are guaranteed to appeal to a range of humor styles and preferences. If you do not enjoy the first comedian or comedienne, do not be so quick to dismiss the idea and stay for a while.

Image source

Condo Living: Things to Keep in Mind When Raising Kids in Condos

“Discipline is helping a child solve a problem. Punishment is making a child suffer for having a problem. To raise problem solvers, focus on solutions not retribution.”-L.R. Knost

With the increasing prices of prime real estate nowadays, more and more people are looking into housing alternatives. Among the myriad of options is condo living which apparently is a crowd favorite—especially in the Philippines. After all, in this time and age wherein condo expenses in the country have become reasonable, it is more financially sound and reasonable to pay a monthly premium for a condo which you would then already own than rent every single month. Apart from that, condominium payment terms have become rather flexible that what was once viewed as a luxury afforded only by the wealthy is now within the means of more Filipinos. In this regard, more and more homeowners are opting to live in a condo.

After all, living in condos give homeowners more leverage in terms of convenience and accessibility insomuch that they need not go far for things such as groceries, entertainment and the like. Indeed, in the Philippines condo living has become the norm that you can find a condo development in almost every nook and cranny in any major Philippine cities. More importantly, these condo developments are emerging in districts and communities that are pretty much like mini cities themselves. One such example would be Circuit Makati condos where everything is within reach---from malls, offices, to even schools. With more and more homeowners opting to live in condos, it should come as no surprise that many kids would inevitably be raised in condos as well.

Keep in mind however, that rearing children in condominiums is drastically different from raising them in a conventional home. In this regard, you need to be sensitive of your children’s needs and may even need to make certain lifestyle adjustments to ensure that the environment of your condo would suit the needs of your child. In any case, here are some of the indispensable tips to keep in mind when you are raising children in condos:

    Do not bore your children

Your children will be naturally restless and playful. Unfortunately, looking for opportunities and avenues for play might prove to be a challenge in small spaces such as in the case of a condo unit. In this regard, it is imperative that you do not keep your child holed up in your condo for too long especially since most of them would throw tantrums if they are constrained to staying in one spot. Similarly, incorporate various activities into playtime in such a way that they would not feel repetitive. Allow them to enjoy the sunshine as well by accompanying them to the outdoor play area which would encourage them to be physical as well.

   Take your child to a nearby park

Outdoor exercise is essential to the growth and health of your child. More importantly, outdoor exercise helps them interact with nature and would inspire curiosity in what surrounds them. Take your kids to a near park and engage in fitness activities yourself such as jogging, walking and biking. However, if you want to unwind and relax, sit by a shade and share some stories that would enrich his or her knowledge.

   Buy an appropriate stroller

 Strollers are excellent for carrying your little tots around or basically taking them anywhere with you. Unfortunately, in limited spaces such as condos, your stroller choices might be rather limited. In this regard, make sure to have a stroller that is neither too big to push around in your condo unit nor too small that there would not be much space for your toddler. Go for a medium-sized stroller that would fit inside your elevators just right so as not to have a difficult time taking your child around and would not have you struggling with your baby’s stuff as well.

    Coordinate with security

 While security in condos remains rather tight, you might never know who might come barging in whenever you leave your child alone. In cases such as these, remind your kids to ring the security guard in the condo lobby to ring any visitors you might have through the intercom. More importantly, inform the security personnel if you are expecting any guests within the day and not to let any unauthorized person into your home.

    Inform and orient your kids about the fire exits 

 Another crucial thing to keep in mind when raising children in a condo is to have them know where the fire exit is. Guide them through the hallways and show them where they should exit whenever a fire occurs. Understandably, you would not be in the house with your children all the time which makes it imperative to inform them of where the location of the fire exits are in your building to expedite an evacuation should there be any emergencies. More importantly, you should teach them what to do in case there are emergencies such as fires and earthquakes that would prompt them to vacate your condo unit.

Image source

Shop and Save: Four Ingenious Ways to Save on Your Grocery Expenses

“Groceries became a revelation: the people coming out with food. It is all like a great ceremony, and the whole drudgery of shopping has become my inspiration.”-Corita Kent

Groceries take up a significant chunk of our monthly expenses and with the rising cost of shopping goods today, that expense will inevitably increase.

Unfortunately, if you are constrained to a strict monthly budget or if the results of the inflation rate are getting to you, it can be rather difficult to fill your grocery cart with all of your shopping needs. However, when the rising cost of groceries becomes a rather pressing problem, you need to understand the difference between the items that are absolutely necessary and the ones that are considered luxury. Furthermore, you would also need to rethink your spending and budgeting habits insomuch that you do not live from paycheck to paycheck and allocate enough of what you earn for savings.

In any case, one of the best avenues for having a better leverage on your finances is to manage your grocery expenses and give your grocery shopping a strategic approach. In any case, if you have been looking for ways to mitigate your grocery expenses, here are some of the ingenious tips you can keep in mind before you visit the supermarket aisles in Ayala CenterMakati or your preferred grocer:

1    

            1.)    Take advantage of sales

An excellent way to save money on grocery expenses is to take advantage of discount items. More often than not, the grocery would have a few items that would be marked down per week so be sure to include those instead of going for the full-priced ones. However, be sure that these are items that you would use almost immediately or at least within the week. More often than not, items would be marked down because they need to be disposed of immediately. Alternatively, you can shop during a grocery sale and stock up on items you know you would be using quite often. Meat can be stored up until three months in the freezer and would still be safe to use. Other items such as dish-washing liquid, detergents and other products would have a longer shelf life. In this regard, you might be able to stock up more on those items. Be sure to be a little meticulous about the amount of produce you buy. Remember, vegetables have a short shelf life so be sure that anything you shop, you can consume within the week.

      2.)    Have a price book

A price book is generally a listing of all comparable grocery products across all nearby grocery shopping centers with their corresponding prices. You can create this yourself by listing down the price of the goods you have shopped for in one particular grocery shop and then compare it with the others should that you would know which store sells the cheapest grocery items. Similarly, you can track sales patters so that you would know when the best time to stock up on a particular item is. Keeping tabs on sales and listing down prices would enable you to determine how much you can potentially save and how much you really are saving every single time you do your grocery shopping. Furthermore, it helps you make better choices as to which grocery shop you should patronize.

      3.)    Have a list when doing groceries

This should go without saying, but you should never go grocery shopping without a list. Having a list keeps you from putting grocery items into your cart arbitrarily. Moreover, it helps you from making return trips to the grocery store because you have forgotten to buy an item. In this regard, you should create a list of household items you would need to shop for. Buy everything that you have listed on it and stick to it. Anything that is not written in the list should not be included. Having this list would not only save you money, it would save you time as well.

      4.)    Plan your menus

Planning your menus gives you an idea of what grocery items you are going to need for the week instead of just randomly putting shopping goods into your cart. With this in mind, plan your menus a week or even a month in advance so that you would know which items to stock up and take advantage of bulk buying opportunities. Similarly, planning menus for the week would prevent you from eating out too much. To save time, you can cook your main dishes in a single day and reheat them as the week progresses which can be very helpful on days wherein you do not have any time to cook or simply do not feel like cooking at all. However, if planning your menu is way too much of a hassle, you can always go online and look for similar sample menus.  

Image Source

Movie Magic: Five Ways to Improve Your Cinematic Experience

"People do not go to the movies to get the news, people do not go to the movies to learn a lesson. People go to the movie to get an emotional experience."-Micahel Shannon

With the rising popularity of streaming apps and websites such as Netflix and the like, it is a wonder at all why people still go to the movies. Why do people even watch movies? Moreover, what is it about a film that amplifies a moviegoer's experience? While true enough, cinemas provide the perfect and most conducive avenue of which movies are to be viewed; there are some factors that can truly elevate one's viewing experience. These set of techniques are varied and useful insomuch that you would be convinced that there is no other way to enjoy a cinematic release than in the movie house alone. So, before heading out to the Circuit Makati Cinema for the next blockbuster, here are some of the things you can think of doing to bring your cinematic experience to the next level:

1.) Book your movie tickets online

One of the most frustrating things about watching movies is queuing up to buy your tickets. This is even more infuriating when you see a blockbuster with the movie queues longer and the ticket counters full. To avoid such a scenario, book your ticket online. Furthermore, you should book them in advance to ensure that you can select the best seats in the cinema. In this way, when you arrive at the mall, all you would have to do is buy yourself some movie snacks and wait for your movie schedule to start.

2.) Get settled in early

Apart from getting to see sneak previews and theatrical trailers, getting settled in early mitigates the chances of you disrupting other moviegoers who have already settled in before you. There is nothing more galling that enjoying the movie only to have someone block your view as they get settled in their seat as soon as the movie is starting or when the movie has long started. In this regard, be sure to arrive at least thirty minutes before your scheduled movie is to begin. Besides, coming early means you would not miss any part of the movie at all.

3.) Be app savvy

Rotten Tomatoes and Click the City are rudimentary apps in the smartphone of any seasoned moviegoer. However, take it up a notch and instead of more movie review and schedule apps, go for apps that would actually prove useful to you while you are in the movies. New innovative apps such as Runpee would let you know when the perfect time to use the bathroom is. This is particularly useful for long movies and individuals with heavy bladders. In any case, the app would feature every film that is currently showing in theaters and would highlight long-winded scenes that are not precisely crucial to the plot. With this app, you would not be missing any major plot twists, comedic scenes, thrilling action sequences and the like when you have to go and relieve yourself.

4.) Choose your seats carefully

Where you seat yourself plays a pivotal role in your cinematic experience insomuch that strategically seating yourself can contribute to how well or how bad you would enjoy your movie. While where you sit is a matter of personal preference, some seats in the movie house are better than the rest, and for this reason, you need to book and select your seats ahead of everyone else by booking them online. If you want clean and crisp audio, you should situate yourself in the center of the theater as it has been found that audio technicians check the sound about two-thirds of the way back and in the center of the auditorium. However, if you are someone who frequently uses the bathroom even for an hour-long movie, you might want to sit on the corners to avoid distracting anyone should you need to get up and relieve yourself in the comfort room.

5.) Do not be afraid to walk out

Although this mostly depends on the cinema, you can usually swap tickets if you are about twenty to thirty minutes into a movie and realize that you do not like it. However, this is a pure case to case basis, so it might be best if you asked the movie attendant if they have this policy before booking your ticket.


Image Source

Philippine Living: Four Reasons Why Filipinos Love Shopping

“We used to build civilizations. Now we build shopping malls.”-Bill Bryson

There has never been any doubt about the Filipinos love for their shopping malls. After all, who else has come up with the term “malling” other than the Filipino themselves?

With the myriad of shopping malls peppered across the country—each one promising to offer its
patrons something a little different than the last—these malls are hailed and recognized as cities of their own. A true testament to a Filipino’s unique obsession with shopping malls is not only hinged the fact that the Philippines has some of the world’s biggest shopping malls and districts (from SM Shopping Districts to Circuit Makati Mall), but also in the direct observation of how an average Filipino’s weekend seems to involve going to the mall for one reason or another.

But to what reason can we truly attribute this general fascination (and at times, fixation) to these cathedrals of consumerism? Why do Filipinos have a proclivity for spending their downtime at the mall more than any other place? Is it because of their incessant penchant to shop? Or because they wish to emulate their western neighbors in their love and flair for shopping? Well, while shopping malls are not as revered and celebrated in western countries as they are in the Philippines, these western countries do not exactly have humid weather all year long which would constrain its locals to stay indoors. In this regard, Filipinos have grown to love their shopping malls insomuch that they can even spend the entire day in there. Apart from the temperature controlled environment, malls also serve as a social outlet as they are likely to bump into people they know there (because again, everyone seems to love the mall!). The Philippines is known for its hot weather, and in metropolitan cities such as Manila, you would be hard-pressed for activities to do either because it is blazing hot or raining hard outside. Furthermore, you can do pretty much anything and everything in Philippine shopping malls whether that may be trying out to ice-skate, bowl or catching a late night flick. Although having shopping malls in almost every nook and cranny in the city might be taken as a sign of progress, it could also mean the gradual decline of cultural centers such as museums—so having a string of them might not be so good after all.

So, why does an average Filipino love the mall so much? And how have this corrugated structures become a highlight to their weekends? Well, the reasons below might enlighten you as to why:

1.) Ease of convenience

Back in the day, a trip to the mall would involve packing everyone into the car and be driving to it. However, with a myriad of malls peppered across the country, it might be easier and far more convenient to walk instead of taking the car. Moreover, as most malls are now strategically placed near condos and offices, they are made even more accessible to everyone.

2.) They have it all in one roof

Shopping malls go above and beyond to ensure that they provide the best experience to their shoppers possible. In this regard, they are more than just your ordinary shopping mall, and you can, in fact, do everything you wish and need to in one mall—given that it provides all the services and activities you are looking for. Today, most shopping malls have partnered up with local government agencies such as LTO and Philhealth rendering the mall as a one-stop place for everything you might need.

3.) Experience mini-concerts

Apart from yearly sales and events, malls entice people to favor their malls the best by hosting free roadshows, events, and even mini-concerts. To ensure an influx of people and potential customers  would be coming in, they would often invite esteemed individuals and even musicians and celebrities who you can get to see for free! It mutually benefits the invited guest, and the mall as the guest might be promoting something while the mall can expect hordes upon hordes of fans and possibly potential shoppers who wish to take a glimpse of their esteemed invited guest.

4.) Attend mass

The Philippines is a devoutly Catholic country, and as a result, many of the locals are deeply religious. To ensure that the shopping mall would be a guaranteed destination for religious individuals, malls have scheduled masses on Sundays with hourly intervals—depending on the mall. Some malls would even hold novenas and First Friday masses. In this regard, families who wish to spend their mornings in worship would not need to go to two destinations and just spend their day in one place. After the mass, they can easily attend a movie or eat at their favorite restaurant which would be located in the general vicinity.


Image Source

Better Movie Experiences: How to be a Considerate Moviegoer

“Being considerate of others will take you and your children further in life than any college or
professional degree.” -Marian Wright Edelman

A cinematic experience has always been one of those few things in the world that brings us true joy and entertainment.

For a couple of hours or so, in a darkened room, you will get to see an artist’s creative interpretation of a story—a visual art if you may. And in those few hours in the cinema, you would somehow be transported to another world—for the time being at least. In this regard, movies have become more than just mere avenues for entertainment, but rather they can be considered as momentary escapes from the real world. For this reason, the world is never in shortage of moviegoers as there is still a market for new movie releases—regardless of how many online movie streaming sites there might be.

However, do remember that watching a movie is a shared experience and much of what makes it
enjoyable is the overall behavior of its audiences. In this regard, you ought to keep yourself in check and be considerate of other audience members at all times. Remember, they are paying to see the movie as well. So, you might as well conduct yourself appropriately while watching the movie. So, before checking out the movie schedules in Circuit Makati Cinema or elsewhere, here are things you might want to bear in mind to make the experience enjoyable for yourself and for everyone around you:

1.) Turn your phone off

Nothing can be more annoying than being in a darkened theater only to get suddenly blinded by a cellular phone’s bright light. Be considerate and keep your phones on silent or even better, turn it off. No one wants to see the glaring light of your screen. If you are expecting calls, take them outside. While you are at that, refrain from posting any part of the movie to your social media feed. Not only would you be distracting the viewers behind you, but you could potentially land yourself in hot water should the security spot you whipping out your phone to record parts of the movie.

2.) Throw your trash

Once the movie is done, do not leave your trash in your seats. Take them with you and dispose of them accordingly. Leave your seat clean and ready for the next viewers. It is the only common courtesy. Regardless of whether there will be someone to clean up for you, always take the trash with you. You were not raised in a barn after all.

3.) Keep your phone in your pocket

Remember how we told you not to whip out your phone every now and then, you might want to
keep it in your pocket instead. If you have the urge to update your social media feed with reactions (and spoilers) from the movie, you might as well stay home.

4.) Keep your voice down

While it is best to enjoy the movie in total silence, throwing out comments here and there to your companion is at times unavoidable. Not to worry though, just make sure that you keep your voices down and try not to talk so much during the movie. Remember, other viewers, are watching too and might be distracted by your talking.

5.) Occupy only your space

We know you want a little legroom and a bit of space to stretch out. However, try to leave a little space between yourself and other audience members and try not to encroach on their space so much. Remember, cinemas are communal spaces, so be nice and share the space. Today, most cinemas
reserve seats for you in advance provided that you have already bought a ticket, so there would be no issue of having other audience members occupy your designated seats.

6.) Treat the movie house with a modicum of respect

The movie theater is not an extension of your living room where you can freely remove your shoes and put up your legs on the seat in front of you. Treat the movie theaters and other cinema patrons with respect and act accordingly. You might be paying to see the movie, but again, so are they.


Image Source

Shop Smarter: Five Ingenious Tips to Keep in Mind during Mall Sales

“Admit it, we all feel cool when we walk around the mall with tons of shopping bags in our arms.”-
Author Unknown

Sale (n.) a fashionista’s favorite four letter word.

Shopping malls have been around for years. In some countries, they are regarded as little more than simply cathedrals of consumerism. In the Philippines however, these structures are viewed as more than the answer to our retail needs. For some, it has become somewhat like a second home. Malls in the Philippines such as the Circuit Makati Mall and the like come with various attractions such as cinemas, restaurants, nightclubs, bars and even activity and entertainment centers. In this regard, mall developers hope to generate more revenue by appealing to a wider variety of individuals.

However, there has never been any doubt that one of the tried and tested methods to have people patronize and purchase products from a particular mall is to conduct a mall-wide sale. Indeed, whenever a sale happens, you can expect a crowd of shoppers and patrons to arrive by the droves. This influx of shoppers is mainly precipitated by bargain deals. In this regard, some malls can expect shoppers to arrive even before opening hours. If you wish to shop on a projected sale one of these months, know that it takes so much more than just arriving at the mall on time to get the best bargains and deals. If you wish to make the most out of your shopping excursion, here are some of the tips to keep in mind:

1.) Do your research

Before you start planning what to buy, it is highly recommended that you do your research before the actual day of the sale itself. Note that many brands would be participating during the sale and your research would help you identify what these brands would be. Furthermore, some brands might be a little detailed as to the terms of their sale such as which items would be included and whether or not there would be promo deals. If you did your research beforehand, you would effectively be able to narrow down your options and make the most out of your time shopping.

2.) List it down

One of the excellent ways to shop and ensure you stay within your budget is to shop with a list. Make this list beforehand so that you can mitigate the possibility of impulse shopping. In this regard, you would also be able to delineate your reasons for buying a particular item. Sure, an item you are looking to buy might be on sale, but do you really need it? Or are you just buying it because it is half off? Making a list will help you be smarter about what you put into your cart during sale day. Prepare this list beforehand, note down all the items you wish and need to buy and prioritize them.

3.) Arrive early

One of the most annoying things about shopping during mall sales is having to contend with long queues. That and looking for an available parking space once you arrive at the mall. To address this, be sure to come early—if possible before opening hours. Apart from getting the best parking spot and not having to queue up, arriving early means you get first dibs on deals and items on sale. Whenever possible, try to arrive on the first day of the mall-wide sale and try to get there before opening hours.

4.) Take your time

No one is clocking you, so there is no need to be pressured about finishing up your shopping within a specified time limit. Take your time, peruse the aisles and look for the best deals. Do not immediately throw everything into your cart just because it has the world SALE plastered on it. Be as discerning about your purchases as you would be when they are not on sale. Remember, you are simply shopping which is not time-sensitive at all. So relax, and take your time. Just enjoy browsing racks and aisles and do not forget to hunt for the best bargain!

5.) Compare

Remember, the first item you pick up is not always the cheapest. However, that does not mean that the next item you will come by would also be the best. In this regard, be sure to look around and make some comparisons. You might think you have landed the best offer and deal now, but you might end up regretting that decision later when you find out that the next store sells the same item for much cheaper.

Image Source