Novotel, the Green Initiative and a Free Staycation

So…sometimes, I do get lucky!  I subscribed to Novotel-Araneta Facebook page to watch out for their promos.  Sometime in May, they posted about their Green Star contest where they gave information about some of their Earth Day initiatives or programs to protect and conserve the resources of Mother Earth, and participants to the contest were to vote for the best one.  Participants will then post their answer the question “How can you get involved with Novotel Manila Araneta Center’s commitment towards positive hospitality?” in the comment section.  Novotel will then select qualified answers and raffle them off.  

Novotel-Araneta, Manila

I was impressed with and voted for their HealthyNSustainable initiative where Novotel’s own El Dorado Farm in San Mateo, Rizal grows organic fruits, vegetables and herbs which they serve in the hotel restaurant.  The scraps from the fruits, vegetables and herbs are also used for their cocktail infusions, which results to less wastage. Under this initiative, they also do knowledge sharing by conducting workshops in the community on sustainability, and they campaign to their guests through inspiration boards in their hotel, to make a conscious choice on sustainable food and drinks.

And I won :).  I got a message in FB messenger informing me that I won an overnight stay in a Superior Room. I booked myself, mom and brother for July 15.

The hotel is very nice- not because it is free :) but because it is very new and because of its cleanliness, modern design and coziness.  The room size is just right and the bed and small sofa very comfortable.  The toiletries are sugar-cane based and smell really good. 

By the pool side

Breakfast is buffet and though there were lesser selection compared to 5 star hotels, the food is still ample.  My favorite would be the mixed fresh fruit juice- very yummy and very healthy! I finished around 5 bottles.

Thank you, Novotel-Araneta and kudos to your HealthyNSustainable initiative!

Book your stay at the Novotel website .

"The Heart of God's Country"- a Mural About Nature

Earlier this year, we were greeted with this work of art amidst the drab urban landscape that is Bonifacio Global City.  The mural is at W 5th building, in the very busy intersection of 5th Avenue and 32nd Street.The artist behind the mural is the California based muralist Andrew Schoultz.    "The Heart of God's County" depicts nature, and regeneration. It was one of the murals produced during the 10 day mural festival held this year where local and international artists turned BGC's wall into beautiful works of art.

Mind Museum Date with Miggy

Mind Museum give the children a chance to explore science in a fun way- it also makes adults fall in love with science , once again. Mind Museum is the best (or maybe the only?) interactive science museum in the country. It is similar- but on a much smaller scale- to San Francisco's Exploratorium.

My nephew attended a class in the Mind Museum and we went there one Saturday to meet with him and his baby sister. After his class, we explored the museum together- and he looked sooo happy, our little scientist.

The museum is also divided into galleries.   

In the Atom Gallery, they learn about the atoms, the different elements, gravity, magnets,energy, and frequencies among others. My favorite in the museum is the Van de Graff static ball in the Atom Gallery. It was fun. My nephew could not stop laughing when my long hair stood on its end. 

Another favorite is the impressive Universe Gallery, which was laid out to make you feel like you are in the outer space. Here you will learn about the solar system, stars, moon, and about the history of space quiz. I am sure many children would dream about being astronauts when they visit this gallery. 

In the technology gallery, kids will love MIMO, the freely roaming robot who detects obstacles in its path, and thus avoid it. 

The other galleries are Life Gallery and Earth Gallery.  There is a camera which will show your image in a TV screen, along with different kinds of dinosaurs which are either  roaming, running from you or "chasing" you.  

The price is 625 for adults and 425 for children- this is good for 3 hours. The museum is located in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig and as most museums, it is closed on Mondays.

Balut 101

Merriam-Webster defines balut as "a food in the Philippines consisting of duck eggs incubated almost to the point of hatching and then boiled".  To us, it is simply one of the street foods just like the barbecue (well...seriously...not really....). 

To most non-Filipinos, balut can be one of the "most disgusting, strange, terrifying food" . Which I understand, what with balut actually being a duck fetus :) .

Recently, our Swedish expat at work decided he will try the balut. And we taught him how to do it properly:

1. Crack a hole on the shell -usually by knocking the egg on the table
2. Sip the soup from the hole
3. Peel the rest of the egg
4. Put some salt, or vinegar
5. Eat everything in one go (for your sake :) ) 

Way to go ...just completed the first step to becoming a Filipino :)

Drop, Cover and Hold - the Metro Shake Drill

It was  the first ever in the Philippines. The Metro Shake Drill was organized by the Metro Manila Development Authority to raise awareness on how to prepare for and how to react in case a 7.2 magnitude earthquake happens.  This was done in anticipation of the predicted earthquake from the East Valley and West Valley faults (so called, the next Big One).

In Makati, where I work, our office was given an orientation on what to do, before, during and after the earthquake- and the importance of having an emergency action plan.  

We were oriented about the drill, which was set last July 30. For the drill, we were divided into 2 groups- one will get out from the back door, the other from the front door.  Dividing into 2 groups will also make it easier for us to account for each other.

And so in July 30, there was a siren -and we had to drop , cover (position self under the table), and hold for 45 seconds (which is the time expected for the earthquake to last).  After that, we are to get out of the building- with our bug-out bags covering our head- and proceed to Legaspi Park, which is the place where the MMDA will position a first aid team, in our area. Our office is in the ground floor so we were out of the building in 10 seconds (so I am thinking now...should I wait after 45 minutes before going out of the building...or should i just go for it knowing that I'll be out within 10 seconds...just a thought...)

In the park, we had to meet with the staffs of our Philippine coutry office. And this will be where our emergency preparedness plan will become handy (what to do when the park becomes an evacuation camp, who will do what- who will administer first aid, who will account for the staffs, who will bring the seriously injured to Villamor Airbase where the doctors and medical facilities will be , and so on.)

During the metro shake drill @ Legaspi Park, Makati

My colleagues from our other office  

Many companies participated in the drill.  And it was done in a very organized manner. But a drill is under a controlled environment - I am sure it wont be like that during the real thing. But at least, it did make us more prepared.  But I hope and pray it wont happpen in my lifetime-or in my nephew's and niece's lifetime.

Carlos Celdran's Free Walking Tour This Sunday

Something good and something free. What a treasure! Carlos Celdran is organizing a free walking tour of Manila's tourist areas this Sunday at 3 pm.  I have always wanted to join his walking tours having read a lot of awesome reviews about how interesting it is.  I couldn't come to this free tour, however, if anybody wishes to join , hurry and contact 0929-9092021.