One Valenzuela went to Juan Luna Street at Divisoria to search for some floaters and hooks for her new found hobby. Since Binondo is quite near the shopping mecca of Manila, she rode a jeepney to Carriedo and walked her way to China Town.
She has long wanted to visit Dong Bei Dumplings to complete her modified Binondo Food Walk (modified: eat at only one restaurant in China Town per visit unlike the usual trips she has read in many online articles where people tryout many places all in one day).
Dong Bei Dumplings at Binondo, Manila
Ayayay! What to eat, what to eat...
Some of the items on the menu seem pretty interesting. The Dong Bei Dumplings store is quite small. When she got inside, One Valenzuela saw some of the personnel making kuchay and pork filled dumplings. She watched them as she waited for her order.
One Valenzuela asked them, "How many dumplings are sold in Dong Bei per day?". They smiled and said "Napakarami po." (English translation: A lot.)
One Valenzuela's order of steamed dumplings with kuchay and pork filling (Php110, if her memory serves her right; See? She ate the dumplings and forgot how much she exactly paid for it. It's that good.). Drank it with some ice cold Coke.
So how were the dumplings? The dumplings were very soft and light in taste. The kuchay leaves give the dumplings a refreshing taste too. Putting it into words would be a bit hard to describe and so One Valenzuela suggests Valenzuelanos to try it out.
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How to reach Dong Bei Dumplings from Valenzuela City (via public transportation):
From Brgy. Malinta, ride a jeepney bound to Sta. Cruz (Php19.00). Go down in front of Sta. Cruz Church. Walk along Ongpin Street which starts at the Arch of Goodwill. It is quite a long walk but let your eyes feast among colorful fruits, decors, and interesting finds.
Yuchengco Street
You will see the sign of Cafe Mezzanine at your left. Before you reach the said restaurant turn right at Yuchengco (Nueva) Street. Look for the Dong Bei Dumplings sign at your right as you walk along the said street.
Take note that it will be hard to dine at Dong Bei during the Chinese New Year celebration (trust One Valenzuela on this). It is still best to eat here on an ordinary day. Or better yet, take some dumplings for take out.
The Manila
International Book Fair (MIBF), now on its 34th year, is a yearly
event which gathers publishers, distributors, and other learning related
companies in one location.
The 34th Manila International Book Fair is said to be the biggest book fair in the Philippines.
No librarian,
including One Valenzuela, could hesitate the lure of a book fair. Just this
Thursday, One Valenzuela is back at MIBF for their library’s book selection.
She has plans of going back on Sunday, even if MOA might be full of people
because of the co-located cheerdance event. Bahala na si Batman!
MIBF in motion
So, what are
the 5 things that make One Valenzuela visit MIBF yearly? Read on.
1.Books! Most at discounted prices. Adarna House
usually has a lot of titles which can be bought at half its original price. Since
One Valenzuela is also intrigued with PSICOM’s Diary ng Panget, she bought a copy which is Php20 less than the
original price.
Loot from Scholastic: Fill one box with books for just Php500! Shown here are just some of the books that One Valenzuela got. What a steal!
Check the discounted prices
Hello there, Pilandok plushie!
CSM Publishing Book Madness
Got a book on running here for Php40.00
Let us also support our local writers and illustrators
by buying their book. Mmm, yeah, most of One Valenzuela’s stashed purchases
were Filipiniana. And a box full of books from Scholastic!
2.Author sightings and book signings. PSICOM’s writers
were there! One Valenzuela’s at the MIBF for the library book selection and is
a bit pressed for time that she has to pass lining up for the meet and greet.
Hayayay! -_- Take note that other participating exhibitors have also
scheduled book signings so try to check if your favorite authors will be at
the book fair too.
PSICOM
Marlene Munar, CSM Publishing
3.Freebies, raffle draws, and mini-contests!
Posters, bookmarks, notepads, back issues, bags, pens, umbrellas, t-shirts! Well, One Valenzuela got all of these except the umbrella and t-shirt (She is not that lucky when it comes to raffle draws.)
Did not get this prize but it was fun watching these two guys!
4.Activities for everyone. The MIBF schedule of
special events from day 1 to 5 lines up forums, book launchings, contests and
storytelling sessions. There are also other co-located events such as The Best
of Anime 2013 and EDUCARE: A Young Child Conference.
5. Have a few laughs with a friend. No need to expound on this.
One Valenzuela
encourages every Valenzuelano to read (thoughts of starting a long delayed book
blog crosses her mind). Even if we do not have a single cent in our pocket for
travel, we can always reach wonderful places through reading, right?
MIBF runs from September 11-15, 2013, 10:00am
to 8:00pm at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City. Fees:
Adults (Php20.00); Teachers, Librarians, Students (Php15.00). Note: There are
several publishers which give free passes before the book fair.
How to reach
SMX Convention Center from Malinta, Valenzuela City:
Ride a jeepney
going to Monumento (Php10.00). The fastest way to reach SMX Convention Center through
public transportation is via LRT-1. Go down EDSA Station. You will see
orange shuttles/jeepneys that will take you to SM Mall of Asia (Php8.00) where SMX
Convention Center is located.
------ Thank you for reading this post! Saan pa kaya dadalhin si One Valenzuela ng kanyang mga paa? Kindly give a suggestion/comment below. You may also check out her previous walks in Valenzuela below.
WHAT: Zumba Marathon
WHEN: September 28, 2013, Registration by 5:00 pm (Php150.00/head)
WHERE: Red Line Gym Quadrangle at Gen. T. De Leon, Valenzuela City (Beside Holy Cross Church)
WHO: Everyone!
Posting this event to help aerobics instructors in our city. Let us get fit, Valenzuelanos!
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Thank you for reading this post! Saan pa kaya dadalhin si One Valenzuela ng kanyang mga paa? Kindly post a comment or suggestion. Links of previous walks can also be seen below.
A charming little café lies to be discovered along
Maysan Road, Valenzuela City. One Valenzuela have seen it frequented by
students from surrounding schools. She has also eaten here quite a number of
times since it opened.
Resonance Cafe at Maysan Road, Valenzuela City. It is just across Landbank Valenzuela.
What’s on
the menu? Resonance offers grilled barbecue (Php15.00) and pork liempo
(Php75.00). They also have silogs which include tapsilog, longsilog, tocilog, hotsilog,
baconsilog, chixsilog, tuyosilog, barsilog, liempsilog, and adobosilog (Php35.00
to 60.00).
For a quick hunger fix, they also offer sandwiches (tuna, egg, ham,
bacon; Php25.00 to Php30.00) which are best paired with coffee/ softdrink floats
(Php25-35.00) or their milkshakes (comes in strawberry, chocolate, vanilla;
Php48.00). For those with a sweet tooth, Resonance Café also has cakes and ice
creams.
The wood decorations give Resonance Cafe a warm appeal to diners.
Take your pick from their menu
What to try?
One Valenzuela would go here when she craves for bacon (Baconsilog at
Phpp55.00). Their strawberry milkshake is also a must try since it is very
creamy. Their chocolate cake is bittersweet, not too sugary. She would love to try their blueberry cheesecake
one of these days. Haist!
One Valenzuela's bacon fix. On the upper right is a chocolate cake slice that she will take home.
One Valenzuela googled the definition of the café’s
name and among the hits is “Resonance (n). It is the ability to evoke emotions
and memories.”. Staying true to its name, Resonance Café has indeed made One
Valenzuela smile (and burp!) as she took her last spoonful of fried rice and
bacon.
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For Inquiries & Deliveries: (Information taken from Resonance Café Brochure)
Resonance Main Branch
Saluysoy, Meycauayan, Bulacan (Infront of St. Mary’s College of Meycauayan)
Tel. No. (044) 228-5843
Resonance Valenzuela Branch
G/F R. Funaki Bldg.
Maysan Road, Valenzuela City (Near Landbank Valenzuela and St. Louis College of Valenzuela)