A Day at Eastwood Mall - Quezon City

Who doesn't love going to the mall? Most especially when it's the Eastwood Mall in Libis, Quezon City.

I'm partial to the promenade around the pond. The waters provide a calming effect, and there's always something - or someone - to see!

People walking their prized pooches, celebrities enjoying their down time, burgers at the Flying Pig, pizzas at MoMo, saying a prayer at the chapel nearby, punishing yourself at the gym treadmill, adventures at the cinema, window shopping at the upmarket shops - the mall provides endless hours for our contemporary lifestyle!

For me though, I just love the interplay of geometric patterns, colors, structural curves, the waters of the pond and spurts of the fountain, of course! At night, the place transforms into a mecca pulsating feverishly through party atmosphere! There is a frenzied energy waiting to be consumated!

This is the Eye in the Sky!

"Silent Companion" by Seb Chua

In honor of the "Aspin", the Filipino dog, as commissioned by Artasia, PAWS and Eastwood management.

Born to show boxers. 

Geometric pieces at the waiting lounge, 3rd floor of the mall.

"Beam me up, Scotty!" Second floor lanes.

Soft opening at an upmarket restaurant where a food order (per plate of viand) averages a minimum of P900 ($20.30). At least they have dessert preparations at just P90 ($2). ;->

Couldn't resist taking a photo of the men's toilet.

Later that day, they were already taking down the balloons (balls) and dismantling the "tree".

Next up: More images around Eastwood City

City Life in Eastwood & Philippines' Walk of Fame - http://eye-in-the-blue-sky.blogspot.com/2011/01/city-life-in-eastwood-city-quezon-city.html

Dog watching around Eastwood City - http://eye-in-the-blue-sky.blogspot.com/2011/01/of-pooches-fine-dines-eastwood-city.html

Dancing fountain starts to groove at 6PM.

MoMo Cafe at the Eastwood Mall

A few days ago, after a sumptuous meal at Dencio's in Eastwood City with a friend of mine, I thought coffee and dessert would compliment our unfinished conversation. On knee jerk reaction, I decided to check out Eastwood Mall's MoMo Cafe.

The place is hard to miss since it fronts the mall's entrance. The diner, reputed to be upmarket (since it hails from the people behind Ayala's Museum Cafe), is also known to have inattentive and snooty waitresses. The crowd wasn't there when we got in which is unusual since the place is usually packed. But we went there just for the desserts on offer - and there were plenty of cakes on display. Fortunately for us, our waiter (pictured somewhere here) was more than competent and "watchful" without being obtrusive. And service was brisk. After all, the horde of dining crowd wasn't up to show until a couple of hours more.

I liked the no-frills, bright atmosphere, allowing people to enjoy a decent, albeit animated conversation with friends. Since we were still obviously satiated from Dencio's filling food, we opted to get slices of their Brazo Limon and Cheesecake (about P170 per slice, I think - $3.90) and a couple of "tall glasses" of coffee (P150 each or $3.40).

The look of each slice of cake was piquantly salivating. When we finally dug in for a bite, the "cut" felt a little too hard; wasn't as tender as it looked. No wonder a knife was among its utensils. True enough, this wasn't food (the cheesecake) that "melts in your mouth". Brazo was tender, but it was poor choice on my part since I wasn't too fond of the lemon taste in desserts. And theirs was too sweet for my palate.

MoMo is known for their monster beef burgers and pizzas, not the desserts. That is something we look forward to next time. Two coffees and 2 slices of cakes cost us around P730 ($16.60), but for its attentive staff and wholesomely chic atmosphere, allowing me a laidback tete-a-tete with my friend. It was all worth my Asian currency.

This is the Eye in the Sky!

Attentive waiter, should be promoted restaurant manager. LOL

Contact Details:

MoMo Cafe Eastwood
Eastwood Mall , Libis, Quezon City
+632 900 1006 or 1007

Email address:reservations@eatmomo.com

Bittersweet coffee a la Saigon's authentic brew.

Christmas Grandeur in Manila

Christmas is most vibrantly celebrated in the Philippines, Asia's Christmas capital - where the whole "Christmastide" season starts after Halloween and runs midway through January. Asia's only Catholic country, the Philippines lives and breathes the holidays with ebullient spirits. Malls and shops are lavishly decorated, bringing out the colors that bring cheer to everyone. Except for the "holiday rush" that goes along with manic gift-buying for children (I have 7 godchildren), friends, and family - I love Christmas as well! It's the Philippines' most festive time - thus the best season for tourists who suffer the doldrums of a very commercial time of the year. Pinoys carry an extra smile in their pockets, an infectious demeanor that rightfully puts Ebenezer Scrooge to shame.

The holiday has become a significant event and a key sales period for retailers and businesses. The economic impact of Christmas is a factor that has grown steadily over the past few centuries in many regions of the world, even in non-Christian states. Heard about the $11-million Christmas Tree that stood proudly at the foyer of the Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi? It's quite ironic that a Guinness World Record entry richly symbolizing Christianity sits in the heart of an Arab country. It signifies the watering down of stringent religious polarization. And who is to benefit from all these liberal and permissive trends, but most of humanity.

Indeed, peace on earth and good will to men.

This is the Eye in the Sky!

Eastwood Mall, Libis, Quezon City

One of the malls in Eastwood (above and below).

Activity area, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City (above and below).

Decked in smooth-green lights, SM Megamall Building A.

Activity area at the Podium.

Curiously sparse "Christmas Tree" - the dullest we've seen. Poor Podium sales, Mr. Sy?

A giant Christmas Tree made from indigenous materials - cones from coconut husk, Christmas balls from rattan, and hundreds of lights at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 Arrival Hall (above and below).

Even the plants decorating NAIA Terminal 3 are Christmas-inspired.

Christmas wreath deconstructed, NAIA Terminal 3 Arrival Hall.

Traditional parols (Christmas lanterns): sincerity in simplicity.