VALUE-FOR -MONEY HOT CHOCOLATE: Pan De Manila, C-5, Pasig City

On my way to Katipunan last Friday to pick up my children from school,  I decided to take a short stop at at gasoline station on  C-5, the side of  Pasig City.  At the same site was an outlet  of Pan de Manila.

I decided to try a piece of pesto pan de sal with cheese, which I decided to pair with a cup of hot chocolate.  I was told by the lady behind the counter that they only serve  3-in-one chocolate  in  sachets. I agreed to try it.  The chocolate powder was readily mixed in hot water in a  disposable cup. I did not expect  much until I took a sip.

The chocolate what evidently strong but not overpowering.  It had the right sweetness buffered by some creaminess from the milk that went with the mix.  Compared to my usual hot chocolate that I order from this ubiquitous US-based fastfood company that serves some of the better breakfast meals,  the hot chocolate from Pan de Manila  was thicker and heavier. At the price of just  Ps 25 per cup-- that is value-for-money.   Give it a try.

P.S.  In case you-- a relative, or friend-- are looking for value-for-money properties in Pasig City, check out RushDealPh.com.  Recently repriced is this  fully furnished  181 sqm  3-BR unit  with parking at the Manila Luxury Condominium near the University of Asia and the Pacific.  Asking price is only Ps12.5M, just click on this link:  MANILA LUXURY.

VALUE-FOR-MONEY: Fish Oil Capsules at S&R ALABANG

I bought a bottle of Nature  Made 1200mg Fish Oil bottle of 200s online last month.   It was delivered to my house and I gladly paid in cash.  I knew that similar fish oil capsules sell for at least Ps 6.00 at the drugstore.  I thought I got a great deal from that online shop, until I went to S&R in Alabang today.

This  morning, after I  got the supplies and groceries  in my list  for the long weekend, I was  heading for the check out counter, when I noticed one of the gondolas  along  the shop's  center aisle.  It was an entire selection of food supplements and I saw  rows  upon rows  of Nature Made 1200mg Fish Oil bottles. I looked at the price on the shelf:  Ps 1,149.00.


I was ready to wheel by with my shopping cart when I realized that the price referred to not one but TWO bottles of Nature Made.  That translated to  just Ps 2.87 per capsule.   I snapped a photo of the price tag and the bottles.

I am still consuming the bottle of Nature Made 1200mg Fish Oil capsules  that I bought online.   In two weeks, I will be back definitely at S&R Alabang  to buy these value-for-money fish oil capsules.

P.S.  If you-- or a relative or friend-- are looking for value-for-money property to buy in Alabang, check out . RushDealPh.com.   All properties listed n the site are priced below market, like this house in  San Jose Village, across Alabang Town Center.

VALUE-FOR-MONEY Herbal Tea: Family Mart

I have been weaning myself away  from coffee so my preference nowadays has  shifted to herbal tea. Yesterday morning, after a viewing appointment in Salcedo Village, Makati,  I decided to get  my first cup  of  tea for the day.

I parked along Carlos Palanca St. in Legaspi Village and   headed for  the Family Mart branch. I asked the cashier for green tea and I was directed to the shelf where  I picked the Camomile variant  from Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf.

When I  went back to the cashier, I was pleasantly surprised to be charged Ps 19.75 only. I was given a paper cup  with a lid  that was marked "UCC," to fill with hot water from the dispenser at the side of the counter.  I thought I was going to be charged for the water and that  cup, but no,  they were for free.

I walked out of the store glad   that I got my steaming cup of herbal tea for less than the  minimum street parking fee  in Makati.

P.S.  If you, your relatives or friends are  looking for  value-for-money   properties for sale in Makati, please visit  RushDealPh.com.

VALUE-FOR-MONEY Anti-Rabies Shots: Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM)

Facade of RITM

 More than a month ago,  LT (short for Long Tail)-- one of our  house cats  jumped excitedly  at me  as I was about to put down their food dish on the floor.   LT's claws pierced through my shirt and into my skin.  The scratch bled a bit.  

The following day, I was prodded by Maita to take anti-rabies shots.  I hesitated to return to this medical clinic in Alabang, wherin each  shot cost Ps 1,800  exclusive of the Ps 400 doctor's consultation fee.  My daugher Mira last May had her shots there, all five of them, after  her skin was grazed by one of our  foundling dogs--Pinot--while it was playing.

I was told by a doctor friend to go to RITM or  the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in Alabang.  The place was just a few minutes  away by car from Alabang-Zapote Road.   I drove past the greeneries  of Filinvest City and into  the perimeter close to the Skyway exit  where  I found  RITM tucked behind big trees.

When I went to the reception area, I was instructed to go the consultation room for a Triage-- the process of determining the severity of one's possible exposure to the rabies virus. At the Triage room, the attending doctor asked about  our cat,  and I showed him my scratch, which was on my torso just below my right ribs.  The doctor informed me that patients for anti-rabies shots are classified under 3 categories.

• Category One: Prophylaxis for those individuals at risk of getting bitten or scratched by animals that can potentially carry the rabies virus:  cats and dogs.  Number of anti-rabies shots required: 3

• Category Two:  For individuals who were scratched or whose skin was grazed by animals that can potentially transmit the rabies virus.  Number of anti-rabies shots required:  4

• Category Three:  For individuals who were bitten, or worse, mangled by   animals suspected to be carrying the rabies virus-- specifically those stray animals  roaming the streets.    Number of anti-rabies shots required:  5 

My case was classified as Category Two.  I had to get a total of 4 shots,  intervals of which are:  Day 1: during consultation itself.  Day 3, Day 7 and Day 30. That meant I had to return to RITM for three times after my first consultation.

I was only charged Ps 50 per consultation.  I was told  by one of the doctors that the vaccines were provided for free by government, a benefit  started during Nonoy Aquino's term.

Now before this becomes a rabid political discussion-- pun intended-- let me state that the  medical services at RITM Alabang  were definitely value-for-money. It was all worth those trips. I would have paid about Ps 8,800 for the same series of shots  someplace else.  

To learn more about RITM, please visit its official webpage.

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And  for value-for-money properties for sale in Alabang and other parts of Metro Manila, please look up www.rushdealph.com.   

P.S. Here is LT, the culprit behind  my 4 anti-rabies shots.

VALUE-FOR-MONEY Chinese Dinner in Alabang: CHAIRMAN WANG'S

There are a number of Filipno-owned restaturants that could pass off as franchises from abroad.   Chaiman Wang's  Prime Beef Noodle House in Molito, Alabang is one of them.

The exterior  dark stone  finish   softened by   warm white lighting gives Chairman Wang's  a  strong elegant feel.  When  Maita   prodded  me a few weeks back  to try the place,  I thought it was  expensive.  I was wrong.

The specialty of Chairman Wang's  is obviously beef noodle, which  was shared by Maita and my daughter Mira-- an order comes in a  big bowl  good for 2.  I could only take a  small sip of  the stock  given that    my genetics allows me only that much to take as  beef has high purine level.   But from the little I ingested,  I found  the soup   rich and tasty. The three of us shared (Sachi was still in her college dorm)  slices of radish cake that were topped by cilantro. For myself, I ordered the Fragrant Chicken with Spicy Eggplant.  I have never tried anything like that before, but it was  a pleasant surprise.

The fragrant chicken with shared order of beef noodle soup.

Radish Cake with Cilantro

There was  something remarkable  about the  house  tea.  It was not Jasmine but  it was  dark with a tinge of what seemed to be  red berry that had an understandably  fruity aftertaste.   And yes,  it was for free.

After dinner, I went around the place and gazed at the walls with black  wooden accents, and at the   huge chandeliers-- which our  food server said were directly imported from mainland China.

When the bill came, it was less than Ps 780, VAT and Service Charge included.  Given the ambience, the interiors,  and the innovative take on the traditional,   I considered the meal  value-for-money.  I knew  that I found  another personal  favorite Chinese restaurant in the South.

Check out Chairman Wang's on FB https://www.facebook.com/chairmanwangs/?fref=ts

And for value-for-money properties for sale in the Alabang area, check out www.rushdealph.com

VALUE-FOR-MONEY Lunch in BF Homes Paranaque: HK ROAST KITCHEN

One noontime last week, I found myself driving along Aguirre Avenue in BF Homes.  I decided to pull over and get a quick lunch at  one of the  no-frills  restaurants on that  row:  HK Roast Kitchen.

It serves the usual staple HK dishes:  sweet sour pork,  wanton noodles,  and  lechon Macau.  My favorite are its chicken items:   Roasted,  Soy,  and White  Chicken.  I like the Soy chicken better, specially when dipped in their special ginger sauce.

I also like their Yang Chow Rice, which is not overwhelmingly seasoned.   I always ask for the bits of pork asado  be separated from the rest of the heap, simply because I  do not  want the chicken flavor to   compete with that of  cured pork's.

The  servings at HK Roast Kitchen  are generous,  I did not finish what I ordered.  The Soy Chicken and Yang Chow Rice can be good for 2 to 3 persons.

My Soy Half-Chicken and Yang Chow Rice

Chinese tea--which I really enjoy gulping by the  cup after heavy meals-- was complimentary. All things considered, the bill of Ps 370  (Ps 250 for Soy Half-Chicken and Ps 120 for Yang Chow) was well worth it.   I left the place with a heavy take-out  paper bag.

Shot of HK Roast Chicken Menu Cover

HK Roast Kitchen: 
138 Aguirre Avenue, BF Homes,Parañaque
0933-0111-035, 0947-777-6716
Open:  11:00AM - 11:00PM

P.S.  To find value-for-money properties for sale  near HK Roast Kitchen  and in other parts of Metro Manila,  visit  RushDealPh.com

VALUE-FOR-MONEY Breakfast in Alabang: TORCH RESTAURANT

Last Thursday,  Maita and I decided to take breakfast at Molito  Alabang. We saw a tarp announcing:  "Now Serving Breakfast"  at Torch Restaurant, located near Commerce Avenue entrance.

Torch Alabang started  serving breakfast only last week. The menu has Filipino and American breakfast items.   I ordered the  "Fisher's Bangus," while Maita, "High Ribs."   What caught my attention was that each breakfast order came with bottomless brewed Italian Coffee until 10:30am.

My fried bangus was presented differently, slightly coiled and standing on its side.  It tasted fresh and was practically unsalted. Good for those on diet.

Fisher's Bangus

Today, Sunday,  Maita and I returned  to Torch Alabang  and this time, I asked for  "High Ribs"-- same thing  Maita ordered last time.   It was tender,  done just right, with no  strong barbecue  flavor, and the portion was adequate  for me.

High Ribs

Maita ordered "Steak and Egg"--  US Angus steak wrapped with bacon.   I asked for a small bit just for the taste of it--  and I found it  delightfully juicy.

Steak and Egg

The bill  for the two breakfast orders, together with the bottomless Italian brewed coffee for two, was just a little over  P 500.  That is value-for-money breakfast  deal for me this Father's Day.

Torch Restaurant on Facebook

P.S.  To find value-for-money properties for sale  near Torch Alabang and in other parts of Metro Manila,  visit  RushDealPh.com