What to see

The heart of Manila’s Chinatown is Ongpin Street. Walk through the Chinese archway on its eastern end, and discover a decidedly un-Filipino world of smoking joss sticks, dragon statues and bright red paper lanterns. Saunter onwards to its other side to find the massive Binondo Church, which bears a curious mix of Spanish baroque and traditional Chinese architecture.

Where to shop

The stores along Ongpin Street carry a wide variety of trinkets, statues, and decor for any self-respecting Chinese. There’s also a tiny outlet of the city’s last known manufacturer of alpombras – colorful traditional beaded slippers — near the church. By far, Manila Chinatown’s biggest shopping draw is the dozens of gold jewelry shops, which the locals swear are the cheapest in the city. These you can find right under the pagoda arch at the end of Ongpin.

What to eat

Ongpin Street is a grazer’s delight. It’s possible to have a full meal on foot. Hop from one food stall to the other, and munch on traditional Chinese fare like pan-fried siopao meat dumplings and crunchy sugarcoating yu tiao fritters.

What to ride

Clip-clopping followed by a whinny signal a kalesa. This horse-drawn carriage, the turn-of-the-19th century transport, remains a popular means of getting around Binondo.

Past Cinemalaya participant Tara Illenberger’s full length entry, Brutus, is a personal film and advocacy of two Mangyan kids that smuggle wood for illegal loggers in the mountains of Mindoro. Ned Trespeces was inspired by his two years as a call center gent to craft a comedy titled My Fake American Accent. A former scriptwriter for a major Filipino film company, Ned mentions that being in the call center industry pays much better than scriptwriting.

20 finalists — 10 in the full length category and another 10 in the short film category — will compete for the ultimate standing as 2008′s indie filmmaker. Each finalist was given Php 500,000 as seed investment for their film. With a limited budget, Ned and writing partner Onnah Valera as well as Tara unanimously agreed that family is an important aspect when it comes to getting food, lending money for projects and most importantly acting in the films — for free.

Filipino filmmakers not only have to compete for a spot in  the limelight nowadays but they must also compete with foreign films that come to our country. In the ’70s and ’80s the Philippines was the third largest country to produce films with an average of 200-plus movies a year.

Nowadays the local film industry annually makes an average of only 50 films. The films shown by Cinemalaya prove to everyone that Filipinos have what it takes to be a leader in the film industry.

Paris Cinema 2008 has chosen the Philippines as the focus country of their own film festival: out of 41 Filipino films, 10 of them are from Cinemalaya. In fact, Ranchero, by Michael Christian Cardoz, has been chosen for the Paris Project Screening, which is a private exhibition for French buyers and industries.

The Cinemalaya Film Festival is worth watching because you get to experience the gift Filipinos have in making films that are simultaneously endearing and thought-provoking. The location, the problems, the humor, the food, the fashion, the language are 100% Filipino. Indie filmmakers not only need money to create a film but they need the support of Filipino moviegoers. Why watching something you can’t relate to when you can have films that are for and by your own countrymen?

The Cinemalaya Film Festival runs from July 11 until July 20, 2008 at the CCP venues. Fore more information, call 551-7930.

Some of us weren’t too sure about the guy in a goatee traipsing in and out with his Macbook — apparently he was there for the free wi-fi. We thought he was there doing performance art, or his impression of someone who had really waiting a long time for the Power Mac Center to relaunch (hence the beard). Wait’s over dude, time to hang ten on the information superhighway with your silver surfboard.

Power Mac Center is located at the 5/F Cyberzone Megamall B. They also have a branch in Greenbelt 3.

Along Kamias Road, a comfy little nook called CHAMP Pizza Pasta is surprising guests with its delectable Italian fare with a dash of Filipino flavor. Located at the ground floor of CHAMP School and CHAMP International Hostel, this new pizza & pasta haven is a school-operated restaurant. CHAMP stands for Center for Hospitality Arts Management Philippines, a name that will make you realize these guys regard the food and hospitality industries serious business.

I think setting up a school, a hotel and a restaurant under one name and roof is a brilliant idea. It proves that the students do not only stock knowledge from books but also get to experience first-hand how it is to apply their common sense and judgment. It’s a great combination of theory and application.

With dishes that do not scrimp on flavor and gourmet ingredients, it’s not surprising that CHAMP Pizza Pasta has gained a cult following. They serve homemade pizza that is prepared and cooked upon ordering, so you are assured of freshness. This means shushing your growling tummy for a good 10-15 minutes as you wait. Nevertheless, the free WiFi access and the 24′ wide screen Plasma television in the resto serve as effective distractions. I think with its free Internet access, CHAMP Pizza Pasta makes itself a very apt place for students and professionals to hang out or catch up on deadlines while enjoying a muy delicioso meal. No wonder, CHAMP Pizza Pasta is gaining raves from the Q.C. foodies.

CHAMP Pizza Pasta’s scrumptious dishes were made by Chef Billy Cabal, European and Western cuisine connoisseur from the Center of Culinary Arts – Manila. Sometimes, the chefs will personally serve your order when the kitchen’s not on red alert status. Other must-try specialties include the pasta (Seafood Alfredo, specifically) and rice bowls (specifically the classic adobo flavor). Savor the rich ingredients bursting with flavor as you devour dish after dish of yummy Italian goodness.

Aside from dining and studying at CHAMP, you can also make it your home away from home! CHAMP International Hostel offers affordable accommodations that cater to both locals and tourists. Staying true to its name, CHAMP does make your bed and dining experience excelente!

The City of Pasig is one of the fast-rising commercial and industrial cities of the metropolis. The city is host to major corporations, housed in the skyscrapers sprouting all over Ortigas.

This is no wonder as the City of Pasig has always been considered the country’s cradle of civilization. Even before Spain’s conquest of Manila, trading ships have been docking in the mouth of the Pasig River, spurring the settlement of merchants and ship owners even before the construction of the present-day Port of Manila.

Pasig City’s renaissance was boosted by the construction of the Asian Development Bank 10 years ago. The city has since boomed, with multinational corporations and major lending and financial institutions establishing their headquarters here. Some of these businesses include the RFM Corporation, Honda Cars Incorporated, LG Collins, Nestlé Philippines, San Miguel Corporation, MERALCO, Pure Foods Corporation and Jollibee Foods Corporation.

Today, the City of Pasig is rightly reclaiming its former status as the center of trade and commerce of Metro Manila, offering a balanced mix of shopping, business and recreational experiences to its visitors.

A Ferry through the Pasig River: An Alternative Way to Travel. If you want to be spared the daily congestion of vehicles that ply the major routes in the metropolis, a ferry through Pasig River may be the more pleasurable and comfortable alternative.

The scenic ferry ride along the historic Pasig River, the Philippines’ first nautical highway, takes an enjoyable 50 minutes from the Escolta station to the Guadalupe terminal. The ride costs only 25 pesos, with discounts given to senior citizens. The ferry transports its passengers through to six stations: Guadalupe, Hulo, Lambingan, Santa Ana, Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) and Escolta.

There are four air-conditioned ferries plying the River, with a seating capacity of 150 persons. The vessels load and unload passengers every thirty minutes, giving the more adventurous city dweller/visitor a front-view, center-seat chance to witness the on-going rehabilitation of the Pasig River. For the safety, comfort and security of its passengers, the Pasig River Ferry has other modern amenities like waiting areas, a ticketing system, scanners and metal detectors, comfort rooms, vending machines and elevators for persons with disabilities.

The City of Pasig: Home to the Philippine Stock Exchange. Now one of the more prestigious and significant landmarks in Ortigas, the Tektite Towers are sleek twin towers with 33 levels to their name. Rivaling Ayala’s Triangle, considered to be the centerpiece of Makati’s Central Business District [CBD], the Tektite Towers are the largest of all Philippine office complexes. Developed by Philrealty, the Tektite Towers have been home to the Philippine Stock Exchange since 1993. To date, 310 companies are listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange with a blue-chip sector, including giants such as San Miguel Corporation, FG Financial Co. Inc., and SkyCable to name a few. The Phisix Index is Manila’s counterpart to the Dow Jones Index of New York; both stock exchanges allow visitors to watch the proceedings on the trading floor from a public gallery. The Philippine Stock Exchange is located along Exchange Road, Ortigas Center, Pasig City. For more information on the Philippine Stock Exchange, please visit its web site at www.pse.com.ph.

A Quiet and Engaging Moment at Ortigas Park, Pasig City. The City of Pasig has become a haven for coffee lovers, with popular cafes and coffee shops in Ortigas including Starbucks and the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf. The latter has one of its 14th Philippine outlets located in the heart of the Ortigas Park in Ortigas Center, Pasig City.

Envisioned as an oasis in the midst of the urban jungle that is Pasig City, the Ortigas Park affords its visitors a quiet and engaging moment of tranquility. The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, nestled in its midst, reinforces this restive atmosphere by serving fresh coffee, cold drinks and food.

Ortigas Park, in its former incarnation, was an empty lot of gravel and grass, used as a passageway from Emerald Avenue to EDSA. Now, it is a landscaped park that provides solitude and rest to the denizens of Ortigas Center.

Medical City: the Philippines’ Premier Medical Tourism Destination. The Philippines is home to some of the best hospitals and stand-alone specialty clinics in the world, offering world-class expertise, state-of-the-art facilities and the distinct warmth of Filipino hospitality. One of these modern medical centers is The Medical City, located on Ortigas Avenue in Pasig City.

Sitting on a 1.5-hectare property along Ortigas Avenue, the Medical City is a self-contained healthcare complex. It has facilities for common procedures such as cosmetic and plastic surgery, dermatology, weight loss surgery, ophthalmology and dentistry as well as regular medical care. The complex has some 100,000 square meters of floor space and is composed of two towers joined by a podium and bridge ways.

Another unique feature is its advanced Building Management System (BMS) which serves as the brain of the complex. The BMS orchestrates Medical City’s many systems, including its centerpiece life safety features activated in emergencies such as fire or earthquake.

Tiendesitas: Pasig City’s novelty shopping village. Unique in its architectural design, Tiendesitas, a Maranaw-inspired shopping complex is a must-go place for Filipiniana lovers. Sitting on a total land area of 30,000-square-meter, this Pasig City specialty and novelty shopping hub hosts 450 shops rendering Filipino trademarks such as nipa huts and native products like rice cakes and vintage comics.

A visit to Tiendesitas is like touring the Philippines back in the day – it would not be complete without a ride on horse carriages. The shopping village is strategically located on Ortigas Avenue corner E. Rodriguez Avenue (C5), Pasig City. For further details, visit its website, www.tiendesitas.com.ph.

A Pampering Stay at Richmonde Hotel, Ortigas Center, Pasig City. The Richmonde Hotel along San Miguel Avenue in Pasig City is committed to redefining Filipino hospitality by providing its foreign and local guests with distinctive, home-away-from-home service. It stands apart from other hotels with its friendly concierge, professional housekeeping services and special courtesies.

The Hotel boasts of its Executive and Richmonde Suites, which come across as chic yet retain a classic ambience with the generous use of fine furnishings. The wooden finish of its furniture, the timeless motifs in its fixtures, the soothing hues of its rooms and the mellow lighting systems seek to recreate the cozy and comfortable atmosphere of home, hoping to invite guests to relax and be soothed by the tranquility of the place.

This soothing Pasig City hotel sits smack in the center of the pulsating business and financial district that is the Ortigas Center (21 San Miguel Avenue, Ortigas Center, Pasig City).