Manny Pacquiao's Roadhaus Hotel

Manny and Jinky Pacquiao has always been GenSan's power celebrity couple. So it was no surprise that visitors to the city, especially first timers are curious to visit and some to stay at their very own

 Roadhaus Hotel. 

I for one couldn't contain my excitement to tour around the Pacman's hotel, hoping against hope that he might be there checking his business.

Their hotel's facade is of modern architecture that is predominantly composed of parallel steel  lines adorned with classy plants and bonsai trees which according to our host, cost about P25k per plant!

Upon entering the hotel, I noticed pictures upon pictures of the power couple. Of course this is understandable since most of the Pacman's establishments in the city are treated by visitors in the city as a tourist spot. It was even mentioned by our host that they are thinking of bundling a tour of the Pacquiao's famous mansion as part of the perks of staying at the Roadhaus Hotel. Hmmm... I for one wouldn't mind staying there if it means I could sneak a peak inside that posh mansion.

Roadhaus Hotel strikes me as a chic motor inn. They have rooms that have provisions for parking for the avid traveler. 

All of their rooms are fully air-conditioned  which comes with complimentary breakfast, bottled water (which I must mention is also bottled by the Pacman water station), WIFI Internet access, PABX telephone system, hot and cold shower, LCD TVs and a state of the art electronic door lock system. Airport Transfers  are also available upon request.

Their Standard Twin room will take you back for P2,240 per night with all the standard amenities mentioned above.

Standard Triple Room costs about P2,560 with three single beds, sofa, coffee table and chairs.

A Superior Room with 2 matrimonial beds, sofa, dinette, reading desk, mini bar, coffee/tee making facilities will cost about P3,200.

And the Roadhaus Suite P2,560 complete with a matrimonial bed and all other amenities.

The Roadhaus Hotel is located at Aparente Street, Bgy. Dadiangas Heights, General Santos City. You can book your rooms through these numbers: (083) 553-8888; 553-5335 or email them at inquiries@roadhaushotel.com Visit their website here.

The House of Cashews

Cashews. I remember my grandfather used to buy us a pack of these straight from Antipolo whenever he goes there to attend a mass. He introduced us to these delectable nuts and it has since been a personal favorite ever since.

Imagine my delight when I've learned about the 

House of Cashews 

in General Santos city! My first impression at first of course is that this is a store filled with bottles upon bottles of cashew nuts, sort of like a "pasalubong center". So it was a surprise for me when I learned that it was a restaurant serving a variety of yummy fares.

The restaurant takes healthy eating into a different level. They use only organic and natural ingredients freshly picked from their garden. They're the only restaurant in the city  that serve alkaline water. If only for this reason, we will surely be coming back to eat here often. And of course, it wouldn't be called The House of Cashew without incorporating this healthy nut into each and every dish that they serve here.

One of their best sellers was the Lumpiang Sariwa a.k.a. Fresh Lumpia, which of course I had to try to find out for myself if it really is worthy to be on every diner's "must try" dish. And sure enough, it never disappoints as I taste the crunchiness of the ubod ng niyog (heart of palm) and other veggies coupled with the delectable honey herb sauce with garlic and cashew nuts. Yum! This dish only costs P55 per serving.

The Aurora La Beef is another dish I tried which I heard was a personal recipe from the grandmother of the Fuentespinas. It is a dish mainly of braised sirloin steak simmered in herbs and spices. The cashew nuts sprinkled on it adds a tinge of robustness on the taste of the beef. For a solo order, it will take you back for a measly P90 and P200 for a regular order for sharing.

The Pimped Shrimp, aptly called since this dish is simmered with the cashew crab paste and garnished with bell peppers and sprinkled with cashew nuts. I didn't really get to taste this particular dish, but from the looks of it, shrimp lovers might enjoy ordering this dish.

Another favorite of mine is the Cashew Chicken in Garlic Sauce.  So sorry didn't have the chance to take photos of it prior to devouring since it was too good to be kept waiting sitting on the table. :) It is coated in what looks like cashew nuts and deep fried. Then a generous drizzle of their delectable cashew garlic sauce. For this dish, be prepared to shell out P90 for a solo dish and P200 for a regular serving.

The FK House of Cashews is tucked in a quiet corner of Eca Commercial Complex, National Highway, General Santos city. For inquiries and reservation, you can get in touch with them through these numbers: 083 5541331 or 0933 3440136 or 0927 8491545. Special thanks to Ms. Kathrina Hagoriles for accommodating us on a short notice. They also have power/promo meals at a reasonable price if you have need of a lunch or dinner meeting at their restaurant. The restaurant can accommodate small parties of 20-30 heads.

Bo's Coffee Invades GenSan

With the advent of coffee shops in the city, coffee drinkers such as myself find it hard to pin down a favorite. Maybe it comes down to taste, the robustness of the coffee bean used or the perfect blended frappe that is singular to the discerning palate of consumers. But then, whats more important at this point given the myriad of choices is to patronize a brand or a coffee shop that is proudly Filipino. 

Bo's Coffee takes pride not only in the fact that they are wholly Filipino owned but a huge percentage of their coffee beans are sourced from local growers in Bukidnon, Sagada, Benguet and Mt. Matutum in South Cotabato.  

The newly opened store at SM City General Santos also serves breakfast as soon as they open doors at 8AM and you can enjoy your coffee till 11 o'clock in the evening. 

Press Release from Bo's Coffee:

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Bo’s Coffee Opens its First Store in GenSan

Craving for a caffeine fix in GenSan?

There’s a new coffee shop in town you’ll definitely want to check out. It’s the recently opened Bo’s Coffee in SM City, GenSan! Go ahead, treat yourself to a well-deserved cup of homegrown brew.

Did you also know that they only serve freshly roasted beans from the Philippines? This means that not a single bean in the store is grinded and brewed has lasted a month at most, ensuring the best coffee experience every time.

Aside from great coffee, Bo’s Coffee gives plenty of reasons for you to drop by its new GenSan store. World-class beverages are up for you to discover and love: from perky Espresso Beverages, healthy and toothsome Green Tea Matcha Freeze, sweet Ice Blended Cookies and Cream, fruity Mixed Berry Freeze, and even tropical freshly-brewed Dalandan Iced Tea!

For quick snacks, healthy bites, and filling meals, Bo’s Coffee GenSan also has an array of food products and pastries for you to try. You can choose from Breakfast options such as hearty Bacon, specialty Sausage, and fluffy Omelette Sets. In the mood for pasta? Then have a try of these picks: meaty Bolognese, tasty Carrittiere, and traditional Aglio e Olio.

Grab a bite of these crusty sandwiches: Bo’s Turkey Club, Grilled Chicken BLT, Grilled Italian Veggie, and Tuna Salad. For dessert, why not have delectable cakes such as indulgent Blueberry Cheesecake and Supermoist Chocolate Cake. For a delightful bite, have a frosty Carrot Bar, zesty Lemon Square, or sweet and nutty Food for the Gods.

There are surely a lot of selections for you to try at the new Bo’s Coffee GenSan branch. It’s just not your usual coffee shop. Its wall interiors are even inspired by homegrown craftsmanship, accented by earthy and organic coffee sacks. The coffee lovers’ cozy nook gives homage to Philippine-origin coffee. 

Your entire coffee shop visit of course won’t be complete without the service of friendly Bo's Coffee baristas who view coffee preparation as an art. So come over and visit the newest Bo’s Coffee store at General Santos City!

With over 60 stores and counting all over the Philippines, Bo’s Coffee guarantees that homegrown, freshly-roasted coffee taste that Filipinos surely love. For more details, visit www.boscoffee.com.

VINTAGE: A Manny Librodo Workshop

Photo enthusiasts and hobbyists from General Santos City and other cities around Mindanao have converged once more for the GenSan leg of photography workshops given by world renowned and Bangkok based Filipino photographer, Mr. Manny Librodo.

Photo courtesy of Mr. Ronald Rivera

For the first day of the workshop, they had the privilege of having a photo shoot with one of the country's most photographed faces, the very versatile Ms. Kharunisia Jazmin. This lovely lass is a talented young lady who does her own styling and concepts, and is a very competent hair and make-up artist.

The 1st two sets of the photo shoot was shot on location at the Manilay Ancestral House in General Santos city. One of the first of its kind in GenSan housing a variety of antiques and vintage artifacts that the participants had a myriad of picture perfect possibilities to choose from. 

The third set of the photoshoot was shot at Mt. Sabrina, which was supposed to be a sunset shoot but the elusive sun decided not to show herself in this shoot. But still, the photos were still exquisite. 

This Manny Librodo workshop themed: Vintage was organized by Prism Events 

in coordination with the Gensan Camera Club.

Special thanks to Mr. Warren Manilay for allowing us to use the Manilay Ancestral House as well as Mr. Orman Manansala for sourcing out our male model for this workshop.
Thanks also to the following gentlemen who acted as assistants in this workshop: Omar Gallinero, Bong Maliwat, Ronald Rivera, Don Pagunsan and Ybrael Abergas.

For more information on future Manny Librodo workshops in Gen. Santos city, you can check out the facebook page of Prism Events here. Thank you to Sir Manny for letting us use his photos for this blog post. 

The Prestigious Mr and Ms Gensan Pageant 2012 Coronation

This year's pageant welcomes finalist number 6: Nasser Malaguiok who bested nine other candidates. He exudes a stance worthy to be called Mr. Gensan for this year. And of course, considering this year's roster of candidates, we couldn't agree more with this year's winner of Ms. Gensan, finalist number 6: Mary Elizabeth Eastes. Her grace and poise are apt for the much coveted title.

It truly was an awesome experience watching the Mr and Ms Gensan Pageant. The pageant never fails to instill awe and admiration from the Generals especially when the candidates paraded in their one of a kind festival costumes.

It was a different experience for these candidates as Project O! and consultants made this year's pageant different by making it an "invitation only" event. So each one of these gorgeous candidates are handpicked from a hefty list of wannabes.

Candidate number 5: Ms. Sheryle Mae Eyong won this year's Best Festival Costume.

For the gentlemen, candidate number 6: Mr. Nasser Malaguiok bagged the Best Festival Costume.

Of course I couldn't fail to mention this year's winners of Ms. Photogenic, chosen by master lensman and the pageant's official photographer: Mr. Omar Gallinero (yep Mr OSG to this blog :),  finalist number 6: Mary Elizabeth Eastes who is a true beauty in person and in print. In the same light,   finalist number 6:  Nasser Malaguiok  was chosen as Mr. Photogenic for this year.

Thailand Chronicles: Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

It was my first time to be at a floating market. So you can just imagine my excitement when it was final that we were going on the Floating Market Tour and have a 30-45 minute boat ride to the famous ...

Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

in Ratchaburi, Thailand. 

It is one of the most famously known floating markets, and a major tourist destination in Thailand.

Our guide keeps on stressing that the market has been around for decades. And riding on the small boat, I thought.. "boy.. she sure wasn't kidding!". On the way to the market, there were inhabitants on the sides of the man-made canals which were there probably for years and years. And I think we passed by a huge pipe or two which was literally connected to a Thai house's restroom!  I almost had a heart attack when the water on the stream was literally splashing on our faces. Talk about a real adventure. hehe.

Of course, I was just trying to be sarcastic about the polluted water. But the trip going to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, was like a trip back in history. It was as if I was living in the era where rivers were part of the main thoroughfares of this culture rich country. Most of the houses we passed by have their own boats so it means that in this part of Thailand, most of them still use the streams if only for the benefit of tourists since the floating market is a major tourist destination in Thailand. So it was obvious that most of the people living there mainly benefit from tourists frequenting the area.

At the floating market, the merchants are literally selling their wares in boats. There were fruits of every kind, food and snacks like traditional Thai rice cakes, and souvenirs for every avid tourist. 

SM Cinema's 44th Branch at SM GenSan

It was a wonderful experience being included in the select few invited to watch The Bourne Legacy at the newly opened SM Cinema GenSan.

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SM Cinema opens its 44th branch at SM General Santos on August 10, 2012. The Blessing Ceremony was held on August 9.SM Prime Holdings'President,Mr. Hans T. Sy, local officials and business heads graced the event.

Mr. Hans Sy with Cong. and Dr. Acharon, photo courtesy of Mr.Orman Manansala :)

The newest branch has 4 digital cinemas equipped with state-of-the-art projection system, high quality sound system and cozy seats. Cinema 1 boasts 504 seats, Cinema 2,3 and 4 have 308 seats each.

The branch screens chartbusters The Bourne Legacy, Step Up: Revolution, the animation Brave and SM Cinema's CinExclusive The Ring 3:Sadako on its first week.

SM Cinema currently has 236 theaters located in 43 branches scattered all throughout the country. SM Cinema will continue to hold the torch as the country's leading film exhibitor with its ongoing expansion and theater renovation. Before the year ends, it will open more digital theaters and IMAX theaters.

SM Cinema's goal is not only to reach far and wide, but also to provide excellent service to its patrons. Proof to this is its aggressive pursuit of technological advancement in order to bring efficiency to moviegoers. SM Cinema is the first in the country to introduce the turnstile system for a more convenient cinema entry. It also introduced Cinemobile which allows patrons to purchase tickets online and redeem them in their phones. Another interesting system that SM Cinema recently presented is e-PLUS. E-PLUS (Entertainment, Privileges, Lifestyle, Upgrades and Surprises) is designed to bring convenience and rewards to SM Cinema's patrons. It is convenient to use because one doesn't have to fall in line during blockbuster seasons if one has a loaded e-PLUS card. Patrons just have to go directly to the ticket booth and insert their e-PLUS cards.

Pacing alongside SM Cinema is SnackTime, SnackTime offers a wide array of quality snacks for moviegoers.

"At Your Service" now at SM Supermarket Gensan

The long wait is finally over! SM Supermarket in Gensan is now open! It was a wonderful experience being toured around SM Supermarket. They really did all the research in providing good customer service that will surely make grocery shopping at SM a good experience. 

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Brace yourself for exciting promos and deals, never seen before customer service innovation in the SM Supermarket history. SM Supermarket chooses GenSan, of all cities to introduce many firsts in its products and services. 

And that is just icing on the cake. Want to hear more food news? Here are more reasons to check out SM Supermarket at the ground floor of SM City in GenSan, at your service daily from 10am to 9pm, MOndays thru Thursdays and 9am to 9pm daily on weekends. 

800 Generals can win

From August 10 to September 6, a total of 800 winners of super exciting prizes will be drawn - week after week, after week!

Week 1 - 100 winners of super cool aircon

Week 2 - 500 winners of super strong industrial fans

Week 3 - 100 winners of amazing washing machines

And on week 4 - be one of the 100 winners of Magic Sing and sing like a pro!

Open to all SM Advantage, Prestige BDO Rewards or Card members, e very P500 grocery purchase entitles a shopper for one raffle ticket. So the more you buy the more chances of winning.

SWIPE your way to exciting promos and freebies

Simply swipe your SM Advantage Card, Prestige or BDO Rewards Card into the SWIPE machine to get a promo list of discounts and giveaways. The promo list is your ticket toa world of exciting deals at SM Supermarket.

Freshness all the way

Visit SM Supermarket fresh section and find the freshest meat, poultry and seafood - cut, sliced or marinated according to your choice of dish.

Be it adobo, sinigang, menudo or inasal, name it - SM Supermarket has a full line of meat and poultry cuts, and flavors that will suit your taste.

Craving for fish? Choose from a number of fish of different types and sizes - all fresh catch from the different regions in the country.

Freshness and more

In a rush and don't have time to cook? don't worry, ready-to-cook and ready-to-eat items are available to save your day.

If shopping on a budget, visit our takal-takal section for just the right amount of ingredients you need at very affordable prizes.

And with SM Supermarket's best price for the whole chiken, you can cook your family's all-time favorite chicken meal any time, any day.

For a nutritious and complete meal, have some veggies as your side dish or fruits as dessert for that sweet ending. The store has both local and imported, even those hard to find fruits and vegetables.




Get a BONUS in every Value Pack

 Value Packs are specially bundled packs with FREE SM Bonus item/s - with savings as much as 80%. Trust that there's always a mix of your favorite brands in every pack.

 Be a winner with Yellow Tag

Win instantly with a minimum P500 purchase of Yellow Tag items. Cool prizes wait you at the redemption booth.

Food Service Center- for the entrepreneur in you

Find the ingredients you need and other essentials for your food business operations at the Food Service Center. Check it out and be delighted with what you'll find.

Home sweet Home

SM Supermarket is not all about groceries and fresh items - you'll also find appliances, furniture and home and kitchen items at very affordable prices.

Supermarketing experience just got personalized and high-tech

Need assistance while shopping? SM Supermarket's friendly and reliable assistants will attend to you. Or look for press-for-help buttons and a store personnel will be with you shortly.

Allergic to long lines? Queue-busters will come to the rescue. SM Supermaket's assistants will scan your purchases even before you get to the cashier so when you finally get there, all you have to do is pay. Checkout will definitely be fast with our speed lane.

The store also has priority lanes for senior citizens and Prestige cardholders.

Lastly, your coffee is on them when you do your groceries on a Sunday. 

 

There's an SM Greenbag for every shopping occasion

SM Supermarket Gensan does its share in saving Mother Earth by encouraging the use of reusable bags when shopping through its JOIN THE M.O.B. or MyOWNBag campaign.

Shoppers are encouraged to bring their own bag and are given extra points on their SM Advantage Card each time they use an SM Green bag for their purchases.

Big or small size, or the chiller bag - there's an SM Greenbag for every shopping occasion.


All under one roof

After shopping (or before), grab a quick bite at the food court of SM Supermarket and choose from a variety of great tasting meals you surely can afford.

Have bills to pay or need to exchange or transfer money? You can run these errands at the bills payment and Western Union counters of the supermarket.