10th Sudoku Super Challenge Batangas Eliminations Set At SM Lipa

This will be a chance for Batangas’ Sudoku enthusiasts to be part of the 10th Sudoku Super Challenge Regional Eliminations which will be held at The Events Center of SM City Lipa on October 17, Saturday.

The regional eliminations will be done simultaneously on SM Supermalls in Cagayan de Oro, Dasmarinas (Cavite), Sta. Rosa (Laguna), Baguio, Cebu, Pampanga, Iloilo, Lucena, Baliwag, Bacolod, Lipa (Batangas), Rosales (Pangasinan), Tarlac, Davao, Naga, Gen. Santos, Olongapo and Marikina, while the national finals will be on January 30, 2016 at SM City North EDSA.

Interested participants may contact MTG’s Batangas Coordinator Susan Ignacio of First Asia Institute of Technology at 09258242729.

Boodap: Great Food In The Neighborhood

Whenever I pronounce Boodap, I can always attached it to late 90s song MMMBop by American band Hanson. Boodap is combination of childhood names of its restaurant owners who are Anne Pastor, former Master Chef Pinoy Edition contestant, and her brother Kesniel. They are from Lipa City and has finally decided to put up their own resto along Ayala highway just before SM mall.

Anne and Kes love to cook food since they were young. According to their mother, they are spending a lot for groceries but never in gadgets or clothes just to fill in their passion for cooking.

Boodap caters American and Asian dishes like my ultimate favorite among their menu which is Lemon Chicken with Raspberry-Mint oil. They also have Grilled Thyme Breaded Beef and Seared Peppery Tuna Steak from their Gourmet list. For Starters, they have Wassabi Tuna, Buffalo Wings, Beef Salpicao, among others. You can also choose from their Pasta, Sandwiches, Desserts, Greens for vegetarians, Desserts and Big Plates like Paella and Baby Back Ribs.

Their price is ranging from 140 to 970 pesos per order. For budget conscious foodies, they have 99 pesos rice meals like Sour Grilled Chicken, Grilled Pork Belly, Grilled Rosemary Chicken Fillet, Grilled Porkchop and Fried Chili Chicken Fillet. All is served with vegetables and iced tea.

Boodap also offers drinks who would like to stay overnight and hang out with friends. They have stage where customers are free to use if they would like to sing with other guests. Boodap would like to create great bonding experience among their customers other than serving really great tasting food at affordable price. You can also request to customized food or order anything that is not in their menu.

My Boodap experience was awesome and worth recommending to colleagues, friends and family just like singing MMMBop again and again. It's like eating in a fine dine in restaurant at reasonable price.

To know more about Boodap, you can visit their FB link: https://www.facebook.com/Boodap

Coke Man of Lipa

Did you know that Midel Umali Lacorte of Lipa has the biggest collections of Coca Cola memorabilia in the Philippines? There is no official confirmation but he could have the most number of Coca Cola collectible items in the country from about 500 collectors of the same brand.

Midel started collecting in 1990 and his very first item is a red die-cast car. From then, his collections from different parts of the world has increased and is occupying almost the entire 3rd floor of their home in Katipunan road. One of the rooms of his collections is fully air-conditioned to protect them from damage and fading. Some of the items were bought personally by Midel from different countries for as much as 13,000 pesos per piece while the rest were traded & given by his family and friends.

His love for Coke souvenir items has reached Coca Cola Mexican executive and personally visited his collections in Lipa the last time he was in the Philippines. You will find there different Coke products from around the world, 125 years Coke souvenir, die-cast cars, posters, wall clock, umbrella, toys, tumblers, Christmas decors, ice box with cd player, chairs, blanket, curtains and so on. Name it and he has it. His collections could be worth millions but for him its priceless.

Other than maintaining his collections, Midel is busy with their family business and taking care of 23 cute dogs. For now, his collections is not open to public and is by personal invitations only.

Most Favorite Lomi House In Lipa

Lipa City is a true home to authentic & delicious thick noodles and sauce with variety of toppings known as Lomi. It started in 1968 when To Kim Eng, a Chinese who came to live in Lipa, became so fond of cooking lomi for his friends and he became known for it.

We conducted a survey in Lipa City Philippines group, currently the biggest dedicated group for Lipa with more than 35K filtered members, to pulse the top most favorite lomi house in the city. Here's the result:

1. Lipa City Panciteria/ Lomi King
The mother of all lomi houses in Lipa is still the most favorite by Lipeños. Owned by To Kim Eng himself or better known as "Timing" with his wife Natalia. We included Lomi King along Lipa City Panciteria since both is owned by the same family.
Lipa City Panciteria is located in A. Mabini Street near Lipa public market while Lomi King is infront of De La Salle Lipa.

2. Liam's Lomi House
Located in Sabang infront of Limcoma, Liam's started as a small nipa hut type restaurant and eventually became bigger after it attracted more customers. Their lomi has several toppings to choose from like asado, chicken, and lechon. They also serve other Filipino dishes like sisig, chopsuey, barbecue, goto etc.

3. Benok's Lomi House
They have branches in Marawoy infront of baranggay hall which is open 24 hours and another one at the back of Lipa City Cultural center. Similar to Liam's, they have several toppings to choose from.

4. Renfel
They have branches in Sabang near SSS and the other one near Lipa public market.

5. Bee Gee's Lomi
Located in Levitown along the highway in Marawoy.

6. Traveller's Lomi House (Pangao)
7. LBN Lomi House (Marawoy)
8. 5 Brothers' Lomi
9. Lomi (Lodlod) note: no specific name just lomi
10. LDC Lomi (Antipolo del Norte)

Other lomi houses to visit are Centro, Rose, Sizzling Lomi, Japong's, LGB, MGM, Etring, Lomian ni Ate Gemma, and SheLomi. There were few other lomi houses in every baranggay in Lipa that were not voted during the 3 days survey.

If someone asked you where he or she can bring her visiting friend for a lomi treat, the above list may help.

source: Lipa City Philippines group survey from Sep 18-20 2015, wowbatangas.com
photo credits: marizedelrio.files.wordpress, rovingrani.files.wordpress, willyforfood.net

Hippest and Coolest Hangout Spot in Lipa Soon

Have you seen the most recent tarp along "Ayala" highway after Army Navy if you are coming from the north? It says "be part of the zone" with a girl carrying shopping bags.

Metro South Event Zone is opening along the upscale street of Lipa City, JP Laurel or widely known as "Ayala Highway". According to one of its owners, it will be the hippest and coolest hangout spot in the south of Metro Manila.

Metro South has a total land area of 3,000 sqm where 1,000 sqm will be developed into a food park for food trucks and kiosks. Another 1,000 sqm will be for tented bazaar stalls and 400 sqm at its center for party, events and concerts. The remaining 1,000 sqm will be for parking or outdoor activities.

This soon newest hangout in the south specifically in Lipa will have its ground breaking ceremony on Oct 1 and is targeting to open on Nov 3 this year. In photo is the perspective of their "zone".

Rianne Won Miss Asia In Miss Tourism Universe 2015

Rianne Kalaw of Lipa City representing the Philippines failed to make it to the final cut of Miss Tourism Universe 2015 in Beirut, Lebanon but she won Miss Asia special award.

Rianne who is only 17 years old student of University of Batangas, Lipa Campus was among the crowd favorite and a stunner during the finals night according to one of spectators of the pageant. Miss Romania won while Sweden and Switzerland were runners up.

Lipa City is proud of you.

photo: Miss Tourism Universe FB page

SUNDAY MEAL: Lipa's Mary Mediatrix Apparition Declaration

"The events and apparition of 1948 also known as the Marian phenomenon in Lipa and its aftermath, even in recent times, do exhibit supernatural character and is worthy of belief." has been declared by Archibishop Raymond Arguelles, Archdioces of Lipa last Sep 12 2015 during 12th National Pilgrimage celebration in Lipa City.

"This is the first time in the history that an Archibshop has overturned the Vatican judgement from negative to positive [which is] a pretty bold move.", Brian Patrick comments in his EWTN News Nightly.
Michael O'Neill of MiracleHunter.com explained that it boils down to a great Marian devotion of Archbishop Arguelles and the people of the Philippines. He said that it will fall to the category of "Senses Fidelium" or sense of the Faithfuls have honored that title and the Archbishop is showing that with his approval.
The declaration was 67 years after Mary Mediatrix believed to appear to a former postulant Teresita Castillo last Sep 12 1948. She is now 88 years old. It was followed by showers of rose petals. It will also be remembered that the same phenomenon was pushed and supported by June Keithley, EDSA hero and Marian devotee, through her full documentary "The Woman Clothed With A Sun" which is still available in Youtube. June passed away last 2013 but she could be one of the happiest with this declaration.
The declaration will also trigger for more foreign and local devotees to come to Lipa and visit Mary Mediatrix Parish and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church. One columnist in the Philippines comment that the place is easy to locate but they had a bad traffic experience going to the site and he is appealing to resolve the issue. Another devotee expressed her gratitude of the declaration as it has solidify the "Lourdes" apparition to Bernadette Soubirous in France.
Video: Brian Patrick's interview to Michael O'Neill