Bistro Michelle is what your idea of a first-class dining place should be

Say that Bistro Michelle is just another dining place that is strategically located between Roxas Boulevard and United Nations Avenue. In front is Museo Pambata, a museum of arts and a venue, too, for story-telling for kids living in the Metro Manila, Philippines. Beside Museo is the Embassy of the United States so you can imagine more or less that Bistro, like other restaurants in the vicinities, caters to people from all walks of life.

What makes it unique, then?

Service.

The amiable crew of a dining place that has to survive the competition of hundreds of other dining places along Roxas Boulevard is what makes Bistro Michelle a standout as it offers French, Chinese, and Filipino cuisines as well.

Do not be intimidated by its ambience of elegance. You will be assisted by a helpful crew. They are always ready to lend a helping hand.

Michelle also offers an array of soups- with P170, there is a good serving for four. You will love the hototay (a mix of squid, shrimp, and egg with plenty of carrots and other vegetables done the Chinese way).

Surf the net for one hour for P 240 only as this goes with your choice of sandwich like ham, cheese, beef, egg, or you name it, plus juice.

Photo captions: Bistro Michelle is all elegance from the entrance (top left photo) to its interior features as the furniture. The grand piano (middle, right photo), the wine section (lower right photo) and the European-inspired mural (top right photo) all add up to its touch of class.

Paging Calamba and MERALCO!

Barangay Look in Calamba City has no electricity.

Surprised?

You don’t think that a barangay with around 200 families right in the heart of a city south of Metro Manila, Philippines, would be without power supply (for years) like it has been abandoned by God. How come?

I and my third-year college students in public relations at the University of Perpetual Help System-Calamba were to conduct our dengue awareness and prevention campaign at the Blue House on September 25 this year. Yes, that particular place at Barangay Look, Calamba City was originally called a Blue House when upon the wrath of the storm Milenyo which ravaged the country in 2006 and left major households without power for two weeks, local residents from different barangays in Calamba were relocated to the place and a blue tent was built to accommodate the affected families.

Mr. Nanding Gatdula, homeowners’ association president, said that they have asked the local government to at least give them a MERALCO post so any resident who may choose to apply for an electric current may do so.

What could be a consequence of non-electricity?

Residents confirmed one rape case of a teen-ager early dawn.

Photo caption: Ms. Maria Evelyn D. Morita (fourth from right) treats kids for an ice cream so they would not make noise while UPHS-Calamba faculty members, the Public Relations Class, third-year, and Ms. Rusela Noel, representative, City Health Office, Calamba City, Philippines hold a dengue awareness and prevention lecture-forum. UPHS joins the Department of Health in its dengue awareness and prevention campaign nationwide as dengue cases rise to over 70,000, resulting to over 500 deaths, many of which involved children. Venue was the Blue House, Barangay Look, Calamba City on Sept. 25, 2010.

Students, teachers and health professionals hold dengue seminar in Calamba

A group of public relations students, teachers and health professionals from the University of Perpetual Help System-Calamba branch held a lecture-forum titled "Tamang Kaalaman upang Malabanan ang Dengue"(The Proper Information to Fight Dengue) in Barangay Look, Calamba City, Laguna, Philippines, on September 25, 2010.

Barangay Look has been identified as a "dengue" hotspot, according to Ms. Rusela Noel, representative of the city health office, Calamba City, and one of the speakers during the lecture-forum. Barangay Aplaya had 27 dengue cases this August while Look had 19; fortunately, all have been outgoing patients now, said Noel.


The Department of Health has intensified campaign as dengue cases in the Pilippines has reached over 70 thousand with over 500 deaths; many of which involved children.

Dengue comes from the bite of an aedis egyptis, a female mosquito. The fever virus spreads rapidly.

Dr. Teresita Falome, Ed.D., and and Ms. Cristina Elauria, professors and professional nurses of the UPHSD-Calamba were among the lecturers and speakers.


Photo captions: (Upper right photo) Ms. Rusela Noel of the City Health Office, Calamba City, Philippines, talks about dengue awareness and prevention before residents (upper left photo) of Barangay Look on Sept. 25, 2010. The campaign was held at the Blue House of the same barangay and city. (Lower left photo) Teachers Teresita Falome, Cristina Elauria, Justin Rodriguez, Noel, and Anadelfa Bernardo of University of Perpetual Help System, Calamba City Philippines pose for a souvenir shot. (Lower right photo) The same group of teachers and Noel, with the student-organizers of UPHS-Calamba (from l) Mhia Cherry Ciceron, Kaye delos Santos, Michelle Rose Caringal, Joannes Margaret Abunal, Crystal Joy Espiridion, Davey Langit, and Aileen Capuno.

It is for the Public Relations Society of the Philippines

I have been teaching public relations lately and I have asked my students if they can uphold the six public relations standards of advocacy, honesty, expertise, independence, loyalty, and fairness.

I was amazed that their answers were almost the same when it came to honesty--- that of course they would have to abide by the terms of their contract.

There was no right or wrong answer. Now I am curious; where does the Public Relations Society of the Philippines stand- about honesty as a PR standard? and up to what extent?

I am thankful to Ms. Deirdre Breakenridge for responding to my e-mail. She is a four-time published author, a 20-year veteran in the PR industry, contributing editor of the Public Relations Society of America, and president and executive director of communications at PFS Marketwyse, a marketing communications agency based in Totowa, New Jersey.

Thank you.

Stop cutting trees!

Around Laguna, Philippines, almost the last frontier of flora and fauna here in the south right after Metro Manila, cutting trees is unabated, in the name of industrialization.

The latest casualty is Sta. Rosa, where a sprawling 1,000-hectare residential enclave dubbed Makati of the South or Eton City, is now under construction.

This high-end subdivision will have a 35-hectare man-made lake for its highlight.

In one of the storms that flooded and ravaged this southern part wayback 2007, some residents from Bucal, Calamba City would be heard cursing a well-known land developer for turning a big portion of the town into a golf course, and for making them swim in the muddy floodwaters. Laguna Lake overflowed and there was just not enough trees nor watershed to protect the city from flooding.

Meanwhile, Mount Makiling spewed stones into nearby residents as if it were an active volcano during the same storm. Quarrying has eroded the mountain, and the ravishing goes unabated so that one can see the clear baldness of a big portion of the mythical mountain from one of its sides.

Right in the heart of Canlubang, inside an old golf course, grows old old trees protecting people from heat and storms. Indeed, this is mother nature's another last frontier.

Laguna is used to be inhabited by hundreds and thousands of species of plants and trees.

When to learn the lesson? Maybe next time that mother nature throws its wrath.

Local and foreign tourists visit this healing spring

Iron, magnesium, sulphur, and borax are minerals extracted from these cinder pebbles which serves as the ground flooring of this modest-sized hot pool in Laguna, Philippines.

This is what actually what differentiates Laguna Hot Spring (LHS) from other resorts in the place. It is unglazed, and not tiled.

"I felt yuck the first time I saw what were under my feet. Then I got some water in the palm of my hands and I was surprised that it was clear," said Geraldo de Leon.

"I was even surprised with the small fish that were surviving under what-was-not a salty water. Once they bite into your foot or leg they gave a tickling sensation."

De Leon has suffered from two hypertensive strokes and he can hardly move his left arm due to some problems in his upper back muscles.

"I feel great and strong every time I soak in this pool," he said.

The water from LHS is a natural hot spring coming from the surrounding mountains including the famed Mount Makiling which is said to be a volcano although it never had any history of eruption.

The action of water-- once it comes in contact with what-looked-like burnt stones produce the mineral substances-- believed to be responsible for many healed cases of arthritis and skin allergies.

Sulphur and borax are also believed to make the skin smooth; and iron and magnesium are believed to be good for focus. Magnesium compounds are actually used in medicine as laxatives and antacids and "plays a major role in manipulating important biological polyphosphate compounds like ATP, DNA, and RNA." (Wikipedia)

The water is also believed to be good for treatment of neuralgia and myalgia.

Many Koreans also frequent the place.

Hi!

Cant' customize my blog due to some errors... ooops! Hi, call me Ana.

I am from the Philippines; from the historic city of Calamba, where our national hero, Jose Rizal lived. He calls the Philippines a country full of sunshine.

I am inviting friends to come; let us talk over a cup of coffee about anything and everything under the beautiful sun.