Pio's 4th Birthday Celebration at Kenny Rogers Roasters Katipunan

04 June 2016

Today, we went to Kenny Rogers Roasters in Katipunan to celebrate Pio's 4th Birthday.  We left pretty early to avoid the traffic and we made it in time to slide into the last remaining slot in the parking :)
This was the first time we've attended a birthday party at Kenny Rogers so it was interesting to see how they managed the party.

Picking up a Parcel from the Philippine Postal Office

03 June 2016

We don't normally get notices to pick up parcels at the Post Office.  Usually, any package that we receive is delivered door to door by couriers because they're faster and they don't get opened.  So, when I received a Postal Notice to pick up something at the Post Office, my first thought was, "Who could possibly have sent me something through postal services?"  My 2nd thought was, "Oh no, I don't want to be overcharged for the package!" There was a time when people were up in arms because they were being charged obscene amounts for packages that were being claimed at the Post Office.  Well, with trepidation in my heart, this is what happened at the Post Office.

Steps to Filing for Amnesty for Real Estate Taxes in Manila

31 May 2016

Today, Patrick and I went to the Manila City Hall to get our real estate taxes in order.  We've lapsed on our payments (yep, our bad!) and so we wanted to get our affairs in order.  Fortunately, as we were trying to figure out our way at the Tax Payers' Lounge, we noticed that there were "amnesty" signs around the area which prompted us to ask if we were eligible.  So, yeah, it turned out that we were and these are the steps that we took to file for Amnesty for Real Estate Taxes in Manila.  Hope it helps others even if the Amnesty is only until June 30.

Dinner at Ponte Rialto Ristorante Italiano in McKinley Hill

29 May 2016

After 2 hours of listening to great music from Bituin Escalante and the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra Jazz Ensemble (read about it here), we all trooped to Ponte Rialto Ristorante Italiano in McKinley Hill.  This restaurant is owned by long-time friends and it's only been recently opened so we were simply honored to be invited.  They offer authentic Italian cuisine, a varied selection of wines and drinks, and an altogether cozy and warm atmosphere perfect for dining amidst the replica of the Venice Grand Canal.

Jazz for a Summer Evening with Bituin Escalante and the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra Jazz Ensemble

29 May 2016

It's always a privilege to be able to watch our good friend Bito perform, whether she's on stage as an actor (she's a fine theater actor) or as a singer (one of the best vocal talents of the Philippines!). Yesterday, we saw that she was performing at the Jaime Velasquez Park in Salcedo Village, Makati together with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra Jazz Ensemble and we immediately got excited and prepared to watch them.  Oh and it was free so it really was a great opportunity for us to enjoy great music in the open air! :)