Upper East Mall envisioned as Bacolod’s first “green” mall

by Claire Algarmebusiness travelPosted on No Comments

Megaworld, the country’s largest developer of integrated urban townships, is building a three-level lifestyle mall inside its 34-hectare The Upper East township in Bacolod City. Covering a gross floor area of 24,200-square meters, the P1.2-B lifestyle place Upper East Mall is set to become Bacolod’s new architectural landmark as it showcases a blend of neo-classical …

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First-time in Halong Bay

by Claire AlgarmeAsia, VietnamPosted on No Comments

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Halong Bay is one of the postcard pictures of Vietnam. Thousands of isles and limestone karsts are cast around this famous bay in Quang Ninh Province in the northern part of the country. Now, millions of visitors flock to Ha Long, which means “descending dragon”, to see this beauty up …

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First-time in Hanoi

by Claire AlgarmeAsia, VietnamPosted on No Comments

Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, is a sprawling city in the northern part of the country that has much old architecture and cultural and historical attractions that give off a charm that delights visitors and locals alike. Although it’s not my first time in Vietnam, since I have visited Ho Chi Minh City in the …

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The gift of a CityMall Movie Card

by Claire Algarmeevents, products and promoPosted on No Comments

There are great movies coming up year after year. If you are a movie buff yourself or if you have friends or colleagues who enjoy the comforts of the cinema, there’s a great way to make them feel you think about them. CityMall recently launched its movie card. It can be purchased at Php200 each …

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10 Things to See in Iloilo City

by Claire AlgarmeAsia, Philippines, VisayasPosted on No Comments

Dubbed as the “City of Love”, Iloilo City is the capital of the province of Iloilo in Panay Island, Philippines. It is one of the country’s gem when it comes to heritage sites and the site of the Dinagyang Festival. It has an international airport with flights to and from Hong Kong and Singapore. Iloilo …

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First-time in the Balsa River Cruise and Floating Restaurant

by Claire AlgarmeAsia, Philippines, VisayasPosted on No Comments

A sumptuous lunch. Beautiful scenery. Fresh air. Lovely birds. All these you can enjoy at the Balsa River Cruise and Floating Restaurant right after the Malabong Bridge in Ilog, the southern part of Negros Occidental in the Philippines. The river cruise started only recently, so if you want to try it out yourself and visit …

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First-time in Richmonde Hotel Iloilo

by Claire AlgarmeAsia, Philippines, VisayasPosted on No Comments

It’s been quite some time when I last roamed Iloilo City, which is in Panay Island, Philippines. Iloilo has an international airport that serves local flights to Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Clark, Davao, General Santos, Manila and Puerto Princesa and international flights to Hong Kong and Singapore. But for us from Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, …

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A Community Learning Center in Iloilo

by Claire Algarmeevents, products and promo, PhilippinesPosted on No Comments

Residents of Sitio Nagpana, Barotac Viejo in Iloilo has something to look forward to when it comes to raising their children because of the community learning center that was recently inaugurated through the help of FPG Insurance, the major player in the general insurance industry and Cebuana Lhuillier Foundation, Inc. (CLFI), the CSR arm of …

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A peek to Forbes Hill’s luxurious village Clubhouse

by Claire Algarmeevents, products and promo, PhilippinesPosted on No Comments

and more Megaworld development on the rise in Bacolod The view of the serene mountains, the gush of fresh wind and the quiet relaxed surroundings are enough to say that being in this prime location is a great privilege and living in this area is a blessing. I was fortunate to be invited by Megaworld to join the media …

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First-time in the Maokong Gondola

by Claire AlgarmeAsia, TaiwanPosted on No Comments

My second trip to Taiwan provided me with the opportunity to Maokong area in the Wenshan District of Taipei. It’s located on top of a mountain, so we had to take the Maokong Gondola to visit the place. Getting there To get to the gondola lift, we had to take the MRT from Ximen Station …

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Ximending Taipei

Hop-On Hop-Off Around Taipei

by Claire AlgarmeAsia, TaiwanPosted on No Comments

Visiting Taiwan, there are several choices on how to explore Taipei if you have limited time. The most convenient way, but a bit pricey, is to get a private tour. You can also go around Taipei by taxi, but there may be drivers who may not be able to communicate well in English. The cheapest …

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First-time in Zhongshe Flower Market

by Claire AlgarmeAsia, TaiwanPosted on 5 Comments

My second trip to Taiwan was met with rainy days. Good thing that the sun shone brightly during our visit to the Zhongshe Flower Market or Chungshe Flower Garden. If my first trip to Taiwan brought me around Taipei and to New Taipei City in the north (READ: First-time in Taiwan), my recent trip gave …

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Binondo feels in Bacolod at Binondo888

by Claire AlgarmefoodPosted on No Comments

A new eatery has opened in Bacolod City that can put smiles to the faces of those who are craving for Binondo street food. Binondo 888 is located at Unit 105, Del Rio 2, San Agustin Drive, right beside Riverside Hospital. It opened its doors on December’s new moon for a soft launch. [UPDATE 2023: …

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Merzci! A sweet gift from Bacolod for all occasions

by Claire AlgarmefoodPosted on No Comments

When you hear or read the word “Merzci” you will unmistakeably connect it to Bacolod City, the capital of the province of Negros Occidental, which is the Sugarbowl of the Philippines. Although it is based on the French word “Merci” for “thank you”, Merzci is synonymous to sweet treats produced in this province. Every time …

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Negros Occidental, Philippines

Negros Occidental: Ready for the World

by Claire AlgarmeAsia, PhilippinesPosted on No Comments

As a single entity out of the over 3 million population in the province of Negros Occidental, Philippines, it may seem that there’s nothing much or very little I can do that can make a difference for my home province. But the proverbial pen is mighty indeed because the stories I have shared, whether they …

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