Friday nights used to be "gimik" nights for a bottle of beer or two at nearby bars in Makati, Ortigas and even as far as SM Mall of Asia for Tutubi and his officemates but lately those nights became history as they switched from toxic ways to the detoxification rituals like yoga classes on Friday nights.

Free yoga classes were offered by Tutubi's company to employees every Friday night as a way to de-stress the already stressed-out employees after a week of pressure-filled work.

a yoga pose performed at a nice farm with detoxifying regimen of vegetarian cuisine in Lipa City, Batangas (still unposted, that's why)

On the first day of free yoga classes, many joined out of curiosity, but not Tutubi due to prior commitment, some came with yoga mats, many with 6x2 feet tarpaulins in lieu of the yoga mats that normally cost P300 each.

After a recent company trip to a nice farm in Lipa City where another yoga class was offered as part of the detoxification ritual ang healthy lifestyle promotion, Tutubi got hooked due to improvements of his chronic back pain that's been hounding him caused mainly by his sedentary work and lifestyle (lack of travel is more like it).

Months after the free yoga classes were offered, only a handful of regulars attend the sessions, the curious ones now gone, with many varied reasons: Tutubi due sto his back pains, his boss to manage his stress and relax, another to aid in scoliosis "treatment," while another curious case for improved sex life due to an article posted on the Internet claiming yoga improves sex life.

For whatever reason, why not try out yoga for a change?

Labels: Lifestyle

Just an updated information for people need to secure NBI clearances (or renewals) but not yet informed about the location of the NBI Clearance Center transferred from Carriedo to Victory Central Mall on Rizal Avenue, Caloocan City

UPDATE July 2011:

NBI clearance is currently at the NBI gymnasium on Taft Avenue as the main clearance center. NBI satellite centers are located at Robinsons malls in Manila, Pasig and Cainta; Ever Gotesco malls in Manila, Quezon City and Caloocan, and in some local government halls.

NBI Victory Mall is no more as of July 2011

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The new NBI Clerance Center is now located at this address:

Victory Central Mall
#717 Old Victory Liner Cmpd. Rizal Ave.,
Monumento, Caloocan City
Contact Number: 351-4149; 351-0619

Victory Central Mall shares the Victory Liner Bus Terminal (mainly for trips going to Zambales and other northern destinations)

For those too far from Caloocan the NBI has satellite offices at the Quezon City Hall, Muntinlupa City Hall, Las Pinas City Hall, Mandaluyong City Hall, Caloocan City Hall, Valenzuela City Hall, Rodriguez, Rizal Municipal Hall, Marikina Riverbanks, Taytay, Rizal Municipal Hall, Los Baños, Laguna Municipal Hall, and the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration in Ortigas.

NBI clearance renewal kiosks locations at the following malls: SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City, Park Square I in Makati City and Tutuban Center Mall in Divisoria.

How to get to Victory Central Mall, Rizal Avenue, Caloocan City:

Commuting to Victory Central Mall is very easy. It's just walking distance from LRT Monumento Station. From MRT North Avenue station, you need to ride a bus (until the LRT-MRT train link is completed) with signboard Monumento, drop off near the Bonifacio Monument then walk towards Avenida (going to Manila). Every jeepney with Monumento on their signboards pass by (e.g. Divisoria - MCU, Baclaran - MCU, Munoz - Balintawak - MCU).

Driving Directions to Victory Central Mall:

From Makati, it's just a straight drive on EDSA all the way to Monumento, go around the roundabout, turn right on Avenida Rizal (Rizal Avenue) then enter the mall entrance and parking area.

Labels: Government Offices

Among the many new attractions of Enchanted Kingdom that intrigued Tutubi, it's the 4D Discovery theater that piqued his interest.

4D movie theaters, as opposed with common 2D (two dimensional deals only with length and width like moving pictures) and 3D (adds a perception of depth, usually attained with specialized glasses to view the movie like iMax), adds a fourth dimension in the form of moving seats that go with movie scene (similar to Rialto ride) plus the addition of water squirts and sometimes scents to let viewers "believe" they're part of the movie itself.

Enchanted Kingdom's 4D Discovery Theater...sorry no photos/videos allowed inside the movie theater as usual, as if you can capture the whole 4D experience using a 2D camera

So how would Tutubi review Enchanted Kingdom's 4D Theater? Let Tutubi.Jr.'s own experience tells it all. He liked the movie, an episode of Dora The Explorer, for he's also a fan of the Nickelodeon mainstay (besides Barney, his favorite). He enjoyed much of the ride, even the sudden, quirky movements of the seats (he's seated on Tutubi's lap throughout the whole show) but the one thing that almost made him cry, good thing the show's almost over, was the squirting of water on his face whenever Dora and her friends pass over water to simulate splashing of waves, rain and the waterfalls.

Did you know, Tutubi Jr.'s first movie experience was at the 4D theater?

Labels: Laguna, Southern Tagalog, Theme Parks

Bad news for people, like Tutubi, with expired passports that need to be renewed and replaced with ePassports, the DFA's touted two weeks processing time and scheduling is now two months, meaning if you call DFA hotline now, expect your schedule of personal appearance two months from now.

That's because the "press release" passport application processing time has now doubled from 20 working days to 40 working days.

This is bad for those in a hurry to get new passport applicants or those with limited time to renew their old passports. However, DFA advises they accept special cases of express passport processing if applicants can really justify the rush and for express processing fees as usual without the need for expensive and illegal fixers who for a typical fee of P5000 promise three days release of passports.

For legal and sure passport applications, just call DFA Hotline: 737-1000 or visit Department of Foreign Affairs official website at www.dfa.gov.ph

Getting the services of fixers at DFA-OCA (DFA Macapagal) abets graft and corruption and also illegal, please transact only with legitimate DFA personnel to avoid scammers out to get your hard-earned money.

Related Posts:

Passport Application Requirements
Machine Readable Passports vs ePassports

DFA telephone number, DFA contact number, DFA personal appearance schedule for infants, babies, kids, children, minors, DFA fixers

Labels: Philippine Passports

How to get to Enchanted Kingdom using Shuttle Bus from EDSA Ayala Terminal in Makati:



Shuttle Bus service schedule posted at EK parking lot

Mondays to Fridays: No Trip Schedules

Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays

first trip 10:30am, last trip 12:30pm

Return trip from EK to EDSA Car Park Ayala Center
6pm first trip, last trip 9pm

Buy your tickets 2 hours in advance at the Group Sales Office

Enchanted Kingdom Shuttle Bus Fare: P250.00

How to get to EDSA Car Park, Ayala Center:
It's connected to MRT Ayala Station

From LRT Buendia station, board a bus with signboaard Ayala/Rustans, get off at Rustans then walk to the carpark terminal.

EDSA buses with signboard Ayala IBABAW can drop you off at the shuttle terminal (Ayala/LRT passes by Ayala Avenue but you need to walk about 300 meters more)

Related Posts on EK:

Enchanted Kingdom Rides and Attractions
4D Movie Theater

The first time Tutubi visited Enchanted Kingdom was in December 1998 with his friends, this time it's a company-initiated family day where all employees' families trooped to the theme park in Sta. Rosa, Laguna with families in tow all expenses paid.

So what are new attractions/rides at Enchanted Kingdom since the last time he's there? There's the Zorb ball on the water, Bungee fun which is like a trampoline and bungee jumping combined, the large swimming pools/wave pools (require separate entrance fees/tickets), go cart race track, 4D Discovery Theater et al...

the entrance of EK opens at 10am in the hot summer sun

besides the carousel, what's a theme park without the ferris wheel?

the Rialto, used to be Tutubi's favorite but now eclipsed by the 4D Discovery theater

The Rialto ride featured "Speed Racer" that's not really a good one since the point of view is of the spectator and did not feel like you're the one in the cockpit. Tutubi prefers the ride to be a simulation that he's the one driving and not the one watching the race.

Space Shuttle Max (not The Zyklon Loop as earlier posted, a roller coaster like ride, picture taken shortly before dusk, the only time Tutubi was able to roam around and take pictures due to the demands of Tutubi, Jr.

The floating Zorb on the water

Did Tutubi enjoyed the latest facilities of Enchanted Kingdom this time? He only got to experience the 4D Movie theater and the Rialto, beyond that, he merely stayed at a bench near the ferris wheel playing with Tutubi, Jr., who's too young to even ride the carousel

Family day ended with a musical titled "Electrifying Kiss of Summer" then capped by a fireworks display at 8pm (that scared Tutubi, Jr. and made him cry).

It's family day, bonding with family doesn't have to be expensive even if Tutubi has an unlimited day pass ride-all-you-can ticket.

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Enchanted Kingdom Entrance Fees(admission prices/tickets), shuttle service schedules, and other information can be found on Enchanted Kingdom's official website or by calling their published contact numbers.

How to get to Enchanted Kingdom?

The easiest way is to ride the Enchanted Kingdom shuttle service (fare: P250.00) at Ayala Terminal to and from the theme park. directions to Enchanted Kingdom If you're coming with your own car, from SLEx, take Sta. Rosa exit, turn left after paying the toll fees at the toll gate, drive past over the SLEx bridge then turn right to the road where the ferris wheel is visible. The same corner is also the spot to take tricycles to Enchanted Kingdom for those commuting there.

Enchanted Kingdom promos on Mother's day is free entrance for mothers on Mother's day, no information if an equivalent free tickets for fathers on Fathers Day June 20.

Labels: Laguna, Southern Tagalog, Theme Parks

A garden resort cum wedding venue cum spa set in the rainforest of Antipolo City in Rizal Province, Callospa Resort has been heard of by Tutubi only in mainstream media sponsored write ups that you really won't fully believe and swallow "hook, line, and sinker." Tutubi was able to visit the resort spa in Antipolo for mere two hours to attend an organization's family day outing then rushed back to Quezon City to attend to a family event at Philam Homes Clubhouse.

Pictures of Callospa Resort:

the swimming pool beckons to wash away the summer heat
another view of Callospa Resort's swimming pool and outdoor jacuzzi with hanging millionaire's vine on the foreground

a "floating" over a man-made lagoon is a romatic place for dinner or the place where the groom and bride may sit during their wedding day

an al fresco picnic/reception area near the small man-made lagoon shaded by trees
indoor reception hall/events venue converted into a badminton court for the Family Day activity

Tutubi would have wanted so much to enjoy Callospa Resort's facilities, especially the swimming pool, restaurant food and probably at least 1 hour massage at the resort spa to relieve his chronic back pain but would have to do so in the future, probably next year if the next family day will also be held there again.

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Callospa rates:
Swimming: P120.00 (up to 4pm)
Night Swimming: P150.00
Resort Day rate: P10000.00
Night rate: P12500.00

(rates much cheaper than comparable garden wedding venues in Manila but you need to travel farther to reach it. Cheapest massaage/spa therapy package is P650.00)

How to get to Callospa Resort, Antipolo, Rizal:

Driving Directions: Callospa is accessible via Ortigas Avenue extension past Tikling junction but Tutubi decided to get there via Marcos Highway and Sumulong highway to avoid heavy traffic on Ortigas Avenue.

From Marcos Highway, turn right to Sumulong at Masinag Market junction. Drive ahead until you reach and turn right to Sumulong Circle (the road that leads to Vieux Chalet and Hinulugang Taktak then turn right again when you see a hospital (Unciano Medical Center) then follow direction signs leading to the resort. Travel time from Trinoma mall is about 45 minutes via this route on a Saturday morning.

Commute to Callospa: board a jeepney or shuttle service to Antipolo City then request the driver to drop you off at Unciano Medical Center. Transfer to a waiting tricycle to take you to Callospa.


For inquiries, swimming pool rates, entrance fees, nigh swimming, overnight accommodations room rates, wedding reception venue and other parties (debut, birthdays et al), please call Callospa Resort's published contact numbers or via their official website.

Related Posts on Antipolo City:
Hinulugang Taktak
Overlook Resort
Antipolo Church
You may also be looking for Callo's Spa or Callo Spa Resort :P

Labels: Antipolo City, Hotels and Resorts, Rizal, Rizal Resorts, Southern Tagalog, Spas

On May 29 to 30, 2011 when Makati City celebrates the 341st Araw ng Makati with a grand parade on Ayala Avenue, herewith is the traffic advisory and re-routing scheme for your information:

The following roads are closed during the Makati day 2010 parade from 12nn to
finish of parade from May 29 to May 30:

Ayala Avenue from Makati Avenue to Herrera St. (Rufino St)
Paseo de Roxas from Sedeno to Dela Rosa St.
Rufino St from Valero St. to Dela Rosa St.

From 12nn to 4pm May 30, 2011:

Malugay St. from Pasong Tamo to Ayala Avenue; From Ayala Avenue to Gil Puyat Avenue (Beundia)
Ayala Avenue from Gil Puyat to Metropolitan; from Kamagong to Gil Puyat

all Public Utility buses (PUBs) are advised to use Gil Puyat Avenue to to destination.

Heavy traffic is expected in the area during the said schedule so plan accordingly or better avoid Makati on the said dates.

Labels: Floobydust