Tuesday, July 26, 2016

An Authentic Taste of Japan: Aki Oishi at Brgy. Coloong 2, Valenzuela City


If you have been to Japan, you more likely have fallen in love with their local cuisine other than their sakura blossoms, picturesque parks, and the very comfortable train rides. One Valenzuela can still remember how good the food was from their miso soup to their ramen and bento meals in a short trip that she had several months ago. 

Thus, it is indeed a welcoming treat to find Aki Oishi at Coloong II. It is owned by the Sato family, led by Chef Aki, and is on its ninth month of serving wonderful Japanese dishes. It has become popular to many Valenzuela residents looking for authentic Japanese cuisine. Their menu is pretty extensive for they have several starters, maki, sushi, donburi, gyoza, sashimi, shoyu and miso ramen, a variety of bento meals, burgers, tempura and takoyaki platters. They also have milkshakes and kakigori (shaved ice) for dessert.
Aki Oishi's red door invitingly welcomes everyone to sample their dishes.
Vibrant lanterns and kawaii food images greet and surround diners at Aki Oishi.
One particular dish that One Valenzuela really aimed to eat here was their Ise Ebi, or Japanese spiny lobster. Eating lobster has been sitting in her bucket list for so long since it is quite expensive, reaching Php1,500 to Php3,000 a piece at Seaside Macapagal. Who would have known that a Japanese restaurant in Coloong would offer such wonderfully baked lobsters?

The lobster takes some time to cook and so ordering something else on the menu will help you tide over your hunger pangs. One Valenzuela also got a few more staples to eat together with her group. One Valenzuela has eaten a ton of california maki in several places within and outside the city and she has to say that Aki Oishi's california maki is highly recommended. On the other hand, their bowl of hot miso ramen is quite big and is good for sharing (as what they did). The texture of the noodles is smooth, chewy, and renders a firm bite. Very Japanese. 
Do not miss ordering some california maki at Aki Oishi. (Php60 for 4 pcs.; Php120 for 8pcs.) 
A bowl of miso ramen can already be shared by two hungry Valenzuelanos. (Php190.00)
The ebi tempura bento meal and lobster dish eventually followed. The bento meal was bigger than what One Valenzuela expected. The set includes some egg soup, veggies, nicely fried ebi tempura, rice, and a scoop of what she believes is chocolate ice cream. The lobster dish was the showstopper! It was nicely baked with creamy bechamel sauce and topped with some melted mozzarella cheese.
The ebi tempura bento meal will leave you with a very happy tummy. (Php195.00)
Aki Oishi's baked Japanese spiny lobster. The one in the photo is worth Php750.00. Aki Oishi also has small ones which are priced at Php250.00 (200grams).
Dining at Aki Oishi was another great opportunity to experience good food with fantastic people in tow. The Land of the Rising Sun may be around two thousand miles away from the Philippines but through Aki Oishi, Valenzuelanos can recreate their own little Japan experience without leaving home.

Gochisousama deshita.
------
Aki Oishi
Address: #198 Coloong 2, Valenzuela City
Open Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 10:30am-10:00pm (closed on Mondays)
Contact number: (02)277-0662 / (0975)789-3667 (accepts reservation)
Like Aki Oishi on Facebook here for updates on their menu and more.

How to get to Aki Oishi via public transportation: 



From Brgy. Malinta along McArthur Highway, ride a jeepney going to Malanday (Php7.00). Then take any of the following options:
Option 1: Look for the terminal of jeepneys going to Paco. Ask the driver to drop you at Brgy. Coloong II (Php7.00). Then ride a pedicab to reach Aki Oishi (Php10.00).
Option 2: Ride a tricycle at Malanday. Give the exact address of Aki Oishi. (Estimate: Php36.00-40.00 for a special ride)

Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Isang Pangarap: Reflecting on the Alternative Learning System in Valenzuela City


Schools are quite busy again. It has also been several months since One Valenzuela, together with a classmate, visited and interviewed Valenzuelanos who form part of the Alternative Learning System (ALS) in Valenzuela City for their Reading class project. To give you readers a general perspective, ALS is a program for individuals who were not able to finish their elementary and secondary school studies. After completing a series of class sessions and passing an examination, they are then allowed to pursue higher levels of education.
The Alternative Learning System Building of Valenzuela City
There, One Valenzuela and her classmate learned that there were 148,968 students from kindergarten to secondary school in Valenzuela City in 2015. Other than that, 1,814 are studying under the ALS Program in the city and from there, 168 are in the elementary level while 1,646 are in the secondary school level. Upon further online research, they also gathered that Valenzuela City was also able to top the Accreditation and Equivalency (A and E) test given to ALS learners (see article: Valenzuela City Tops Accreditation and Equivalency Test for ALS Learners).
ALS learners are asked to write essays about their ambitions in life.
One Valenzuela and her classmate were able to interview Ms. Charry Villanueva of DepEd-Valenzuela. Here, they learned that there are 33 ALS centers in the various barangays of Valenzuela City. Literacy and livelihood skills are taught in class which are useful in their daily needs. It is also worth mentioning that adult learners who were able to pass and get excellent remarks in the A and E test are given incentives by the Local Government Unit of Valenzuela City for doing a job well done. Additionally, they visited two ALS centers- the class of Sir Henri in Valenzuela City Jail which is composed of male inmates and then the class of Ms. Aurora Ocampo in Malanday which is composed of a merry mix of teenagers, adults, and senior citizens. Both ALS Centers cater to unique sets of learners which have different learning needs. One Valenzuela and her classmate interviewed several learners from both classes to get a profounder glimpse of their goals in learning and experiences while undergoing the program.
A day in the ALS classroom with Mam Au and her students in Brgy. Malanday.
Sir Henri prepares his lesson for the day at the Valenzuela City Jail.
Surface information about the Alternative Learning System is all what One Valenzuela has before proceeding with the activity. Hence, immersing in the said field was indeed an enlightening one. A deep connection between the teachers and the learners was also present. One Valenzuela sensed the learners’ earnest desire to learn and the ALS instructors’ yearning for the learners to reach their educational aspirations. The commitment to reach their dreams, which together with the whole group form one collective goal, is spirited and certainly inspiring. 
Mrs. Zenaida Macapagal, 71, took ALS classes in Malanday to get her long sought diploma. One Valenzuela is happy to announce that Mommy Aida passed the recently held A & E test and will be pursuing a course in Valenzuela Polytechnic College.
The Alternative Learning System in Valenzuela City is a prevailing proof that adults who dream that they finished their education when they were younger can still pursue their studies and get their diplomas. Together with the support of the local community, one’s determined pangarap can,without doubt, turn into reality.
------
Sincerest thanks to DepEd-Valenzuela,Valenzuela City Jail, the ALS instructors, and learners. To all ALS Learners, keep striving. To all who passed the recent A & E Test, congratulations!

Popular Posts

BLOG ARCHIVE

Labels

#ExperienceValenzuela #GoManny #LabanManny 100 Tula para kay Stella 150th birth anniversary 2016 2018 24 hours 34th MIBF 5th Fun fishing tournament 65 years old at Jollibee 7-Eleven A. Pablo Street Abenson About the Blog ABSCBN Activity Adobong Igat Adult learners Advocacy aerobics Affordable accommodation affordable tarpaulin Airphil Express Aling Simang All Day Convenience Store ALS in Valenzuela Alternative Learning System Amazing Mocha Amy Yulo Animal Shop Veterinary Clinic Anti-rabies Apple Cinnamon Art Arturo Valenzuela Asus Philippines Auto Show award Baconsilog badminton Bag of Beans bagac Bagnet Bagsak Presyo sa Balik-Eskwelang Valenzuelano! Baguio Bahay Kalinga Bahay ni Bantay Bahay Pag-asa bait baked goods Baker's Hill bakery bakeshop Balanlay Catering Services Balanlay Seafood and Steak House Balay Inato Balibago Balubaran Bangus Barangay Palasan barbecue bataan Batang Monumento Batangas Battle of Malinta Bayantel Valenzuela BBB beach beaches and resorts Bell! Beyond Valenzuela bibingka Bibingkinitan Big Bad Burgers Big Burger big donuts biking Binalot Binondo Binondo foodtrip Birth Anniversary Birthday birthday party Birthplace Bisig Valenzuela Blog Blueberry Cheesecake boating boneless lechon Boodlefight Book Donation Book Drive Books Bookstore Boracay Bowling Boxing Brazillian Bread Bread with salt Breakfast Brgy. Balangkas Brgy. Mabolo Brgy. Malinta Brgy. Pariancillo Villa brownies Buenas Diaz Resort Buenos Diaz Resort buffet Buko Buko Pie in Valenzuela City Bulacan Burgers Bus ride C & E Bookstore Valenzuela Cafe Mezzanine cakes cakes. Maysan Caloocan City Camus Garden Candy Gourlay Canumay east Cappucino Captains Yard Car Show carinderia Carino Resort CariƱo Resort carnivorous plants Carriedo Caruhatan Carvajal Street cassava cake Catanghalan Cats CD-R King celebration cereal bar champorado cheap tarpaulin Check up Check-up cheesy donuts Chestnuts chicharon chicken Children children's party Chinatown Chinese food Chinese New Year Chocolate Cake Chocolate Kiss Chocolates Chowking Christmas Christmas Bazaar Church cinema City Auditorium cliff dive cliff diving cliff jump cliff jumping Clothes Coffee Coffee Shop Colette's Buko Pie Coloong Color Manila comfort food Compuware Contest cookie buffet cookies Cora Palawan Pearl and Souvenir Shop Costume covid-19 covid. coronavirus Cowrie island Crocodile farm cuchinta cupcakes customized cake customized cookies customized cupcake Daiso Japan Dalandanan Day Care Center Dalandanan Valenzuela Date Davao David's Tea House December Delfin Velilla Dengue dengue on dogs Developments Diliman Quezon City Dinakdakan dining dinner directory Divisoria DIY Do It Yourself dog food dogfood Dogs Dong Bei Dumplings Doroteo Jose DOST Dr. Ambeth Ocampo Dr. Isagani Esteban Dr. Pio Valenzuela Dragon dance dreams dryer Dulong Tangke Dumplings Duper Burger DZUP 1602 eat eat here Eat like a local Eat local eatery eatsplorations eatsplore eatsplore Valenzuela Eco-Friendly Education Ehrlichia Ehrlichiosis El Nido Election 2013 ensaymada Ersao Fatima Ersao Marulas Ersao Valenzuela Escape Esteban Kanan Valenzuela City Ester Azurin Events Events Place Events Venue Exciting Exercise Explorations Explore Valenzuela Eyeglasses facial inflammation family dining Fast Food Restaurant fastfood Father Fatima Feast of San Roque Festivities Fiesta Filipino Filipino cuisine Fish fish spa Fishing fishing spot Fitness flowers Food food fest Food park food parks in Valenzuela City food trip foodie Foodie Giveaway foodpark foodtrip foot reflex foot spa footwear Fortune cookies Freebies Fun Fun Run Funaki Building game garapata Gawad Dr. Pio Valenzuela Gen. T. De Leon Geronimo Angeles Gift Giveaway Golden Crown good drinks good food Good service Gourmet Cafe Gov. I. Santiago Road Grand opening Great Falls Resort Greening grilled burger Grooming Growers guilt free Gym Hainanese Delights Hair care Hair Cut Halloween Hardware One Harry Clay Egbert Hashish shawarma Hazelnut Mocha HBC Healot House Health Healthier Coffee healthy food Heaven Cafe Hello Kitty Holidays Holy Cross Church Honda Bay Honesty store Hongma Hospital Hot meals Hotel Dominique Hotel in Valenzuela Hotel near Burnham Park Hotel near Valenzuela Huge Burger hungry icps Ilaya Street Ilocos Ilocos empanada Ilog Maria Indian cuisine Indian food infected tick bite Infinima Valenzuela International Book Giving Day Isabelo T. Crisostomo italian JAM Terminal Japanese cuisine Japanese food Jasper Tejano JE Hapag-Kainan Jesus Nazareno Jhun's Native Lechon JL's Cebu Lechon Belly jogging Jollibee Kiddie Party Jollibee Malinta Jonathan Balsamo Jose Rizal Juana Ka Medy's Palabok Kainan Kalborger’s Kalborgers Kap. Larry's Pond Kapitan Delfin Velilla Karuhatan Kiampong kiddie party Kikiam Kingpin Bowling and Gaming Center Kopi Corner Kopi_Corner Kung Hei Fat Choi La Casa Antigo La Casa Antigo Pavilion and Fishing Resort laba day Labanan sa Malinta laing Laundromat services laundry Lawang Bato Lawang Bato National High School LBC Lechon Lechon in Valenzuela City leisure Lemon Square Lenten season LibRadio Librarian Reads Librarians sa Radio Libraries Library Libre Lingunan list Little Mermaid party Local Merienda lollipops lomi Love Love story LRT Lugaw Lugawan lunch Lydia Marcing M.H. Del Pilar Road Made in Valenzuela Madlang Away Magazine Mahal na Araw Makati Maki Malabon Malabon Grand Malabon Pancit Festival Malanday Malinta Malinta Elementary School Malinta Exit/Tollgate Malinta High School Malinta Market Mall malling Malunggay bread Malunggay pan de sal mami Mang Delfin Mang Inasal manicure Manila Manila Grand Opera Hotel & Casino Manila International Book Fair Manila Zoo Manny Pacquiao Marathon March Marciana De Castro-Valenzuela Maricopa Marikina Market Marulas Valenzuela massage Max's Mayor Rex Gatchalian Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian Maysan Bridge Maysan Road Mc Domeng McArthur Hiway McDonald's McDonalds MCU Medical Clinic Menard's Tinapayan Mercury Drugstore Merienda Merry Christmas Metal Slug Meycauayan Meycauayan Institute Michael's Bakery Milcu Deodorant Milk fish Milk tea milkfish Milkshake mini pinscher Misunderstood Patriot Mitra's Ranch mobile photography Mocha Amaretto mojos Monumento Mosquito Trap Mother's Day Movie tickets movies Mug Gift Museo Valezuela mushroom mushroom chicharon Muslim must try Nail Salon Nail services Narcisa Rizal Nasugbu National Bookstore National Library of the Philippines National Women's Month near Valenzuela City Nellie Young Egbert Nelly Young Egbert New Year New Year Resolution Newspaper Nikki Bautista Nini Bautista nomnom noodles North Park Valenzuela Nutribar Obando occassion Oh So Healthy OL trap Old Valenzuela City Hall Olivarez Plaza One Mall One Valenzuela One Valenzuela Information Ongpin Opening Organic Coffee Organo Gold Our Lady of Fatima University Ovi/larvicidal trap Paciano Rizal Palawan Palawan Baywalk Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Valenzuela Pambato reef pan de coco Pan de sal Pancit Malabon Pandan island Pansit Palabok Paper Cut Parada Elementary School Paraiso ni Baste pares Park Park s in Valenzuela Parks in Valenzuela Party party food Pasko Paso de Blas Pasolo Pasta PCCI Valenzuela pedicure People of Valenzuela People's Park personalized cake personalized cupcake Pets Philcoa Philippines photography picnic area Pineapple Bread Pio Valenzuela PioAt150 pitcher plant PixelMaster pizza PLAI play playground Plaza Cuartel Poblacion Poblacion 2 poem Poetry Polo Poster Making Contest Potrero Products Products of Valenzuela City Program Progress Public Library Puerto Princesa Punturin Pure Love Puregold Puregold Paso de Blas Puregold Valenzuela puto bumbong Putong Pulo Quantum Quekiam Quezon City Circle Quirino Avenue Ramadan Reading Rebond recreational activities Red Line Gym reel Relationships Relax relaxation Relizza Fernando renewable energy Residence Inn Tagaytay Resonance cafe Resort Resorts Resorts in Valenzuela City Responsible Dog Ownership. Organization restaurant Retirement Party at Jollibee Reverse Poem Review Rice Rincon Rizal Rizal Day Rizalfabeto roasted pig Robinsons Bee Hive Mall Robredo's Robredo's Restaurant Rochelle Silverio rod Roman Ongpin Roosters Roots and Herbs Rotary Club of Valenzuela Rowena's Tagaytay rubber shoes Running Sabang beach sabaw Sahur Saint Roche Salon Samahang Pangkababaihan ng Marulas Sampaguita street Sandals sandwiches Sarap ng Malinta Sarap ng Valenzuela sawdust Serial Sesquicentennial Shakey's Valenzuela Shane Shanghai Fried Siopao Shoe Festival Shoes Shooting shopping Sincerity Restaurant Siopao sisig Sleep SLIAN NAILS SM Center Valenzuela SM Mall of Asia Sm North EDSA SM Valenzuela SMX Convention Center snacks Social Media Solar Library Sonia Zaide sopas South Supermarket Valenzuela spanish bread sports St. Louis College of Valenzuela St. Peter's Fish Sta. Cruz Church staycation Steak Storytelling STreet Photography Streets Students Studying Sugong Cave Suhoor Summer Capital of the Philippines Summer vacation Support Local sweets Swimming swimming pool Swollen face Tagalag Tagaytay Taiwanese Food Tamaraw Hills Tamarraw Hills Tamilok Tangke ng Tubig tapsilog tapsilogan in Valenzuela Taraw Restaurant tarpaulin printing service Tasty Dumplings Tatay Tea Tea 101 Taiwan's No. 1 Drink teddy bear tempura Teresa Magbanua Thank you things to do tiangge Tiangge Tiangge Tierra Santa Tigasin Tilapia Total Gas Station Toy Roosters Travel Trinoma tsamporado Tully's Coffee ulam Under construction Under the Sea Underground River University of the Philippines UNLI GRAVY UNLI RICE UP Vet UP Vet Med Updates vacation Vaccines Valentine's Day Valenzuela Valenzuela 3 Day Mega Trade Fair Valenzuela Astrodome Valenzuela bakery Valenzuela Central Post Office Valenzuela City Valenzuela City Center for the Performing Arts Valenzuela City Complex Valenzuela City Emergency Hospital Valenzuela City Hall Valenzuela City Library Valenzuela City Museum Valenzuela City People's park Valenzuela City Post Office Valenzuela City Public Library Valenzuela City Valenzuela Valenzuela Food Fiesta Valenzuela Gateway Complex Valenzuela Hall of Justice Valenzuela New City Government Complex Valenzuela Street Valenzuela trade fair Valenzuelano of the Month Valenzuelano Reads ValenzuelanoReads Valenzuelanos VCCPA vegan snack vegetables vegetarian Veinte Reales venus flytraps Veterinarian Veterinary Clinic Veterinary Hospital Victory Liner Caloocan Villa Martha Resort Ville Martha Resort Vim Nadera Visit Valenzuela Visita Iglesia Visual Arts Walking walking tour washing machine water activity Wedding Reception What to Buy in Valenzuela what to do when in Valenzuela Where to buy shoes Where to eat Where to eat in Valenzuela Where to go where to go in Bataan Where to go in Valenzuela Where to stay in Valenzuela who to meet Whom to Meet Wild Song Winner Workshop Wrangler Jeans Writing X ray for dogs Year of the Pig Ylaya Street Ylaya Tondo You got to eat here Young Adult Literature Yuchengco Street Zenfone 5 zipline Zumba