Villa Sto. Nino Resort

I live near Vista Valley and I had no idea there was a resort within the subdivision.  I'm talking about the Villa Sto. Nino resort which is located at the far end of Vista Valley Executive Village.

The resort has both recreational and sports facilities.   You can play billiards, basketball and go for a swim in their pool.   As for recreation, a sound system with videoke is available as well as 2 gazebos, a fountain and a garden good enough to fit receptions for birthdays, debuts and weddings.   

The have ample parking space and a standby generator.  Villa Sto. Nino also has 2 air-conditioned VIP lounges with a powder room for the celebrants use for retouching, dressing or photo and video coverage.  The garden has a huge semi-transparent green ceiling which makes it usable regardless of weather conditions.

For Marikenos, you don't have to go out of town just to go to a resort, and you don't have to go to hotel to hold an event.

Villa Sto. Nino is located at Lot 30, Block 4 Macapagal Street, Vista Valley Executive Village, Sto. Nino.  Visit http://villastonino.com for more details or contact them at (632) 682-5266 (632) 682-6448.

Twonhouses For Sale at Vista Valley

Crystal Homes is offering a house and lot for sale within Vista Valley along Sumulong Highway, Barangay Sto. Nino. 

The lot is located at the corner of  M.A. Roxas Cor. J.P. Laurel Sts., Phase 1 Vista Valley.  From the gate, go straight along the main road and turn right at the end.

You can check out more pics from the developer's website at http://crystaldevcorp.multiply.com/photos/album/5/5

Cordillera Coffee, Mountain Coffee in Marikina

Cordillera Coffee is another specialty coffee shop located at the Marikina Riverbanks.    Being named after the Cordillera mountain ridge leading up to the north, this cafe serves coffee grounded from beans harvested from the north Luzon region.

Aside from the regular, lattes, mochas and common blends, they also serve exotic beverages like Civet Coffee (D'kapetismusang) which is a rich chocolatey aroma in a one-of-a-kind brew.

The coffee shop goes further by offering full meals as well.   Their menu is also influenced by the Cordilleras.  Pancit Cordillera for example is pancit cabagan with vegetables, chicken liver and native longanisa topped with crispy garlic bits and chicharon.  Cordillera Risotto is served with mountain rice mixed with mushroom bechamel sauce and native longanisa bits, topped with mushrooms and parmesan cheese. 

They also serve cakes and cupcakes to complement your coffee.

World's Largest Shoes

The Largest Shoes in the World are located in Marikina City !

Officially recognized and certified by the Guinness Book Of World Records, the pair of shoes measurre 529 centimeter(5.29 meters)long measures 237 centimeters(2.37 meters)width and is made of genuine leather. The upper lining it took 77 days to finish(August 5, 2002 to October 21,2002).  Due to its sheer size, it was built at the Marikina Sports Center.   Upcon completion, the shoes were displayed at the entrance of the Sports Center, then later transferred to the Marikina Riverbanks where it is located until present.

The shoes can be worn by a person with a height of 125 feet can fit 30 people inside the shoes can produce 250 pairs of regular shoes from the materials used.

You can see the shoes for yourselves by visiting the Marikina Riverbanks Center.  It's at the far end of the mall and beside several shoes on display for sale.    There are also some souvenirs you can buy like t-shirts and keychains.

Pillars for Workers

Scattered around Marikina City are several pillars with statues placed above them.  Each pillar has a worker whether a profession or work-related activity.   The pillars reflect the hard working people of Marikina in all walks of life.  

Bayan-bayan Avenue has one of the most number of statues which are alternately placed on each sides of the avenue's stretch.  Some of them include a tricycle driver (with an actual tricycle statue) a gas boy, and a construction worker.

As you travel within the city roads, try to find one around the corner or along the road and guess what the statue's profession is.

World Of Butterflies

At the foot of one of the hills of Marikina Heights is the World Of Butterflies.   This elongated structure houses a botanical garden and breeding area for butterflies.   When you enter, you'll be greeted by butterflies freely roaming around the area.    A trail leads you to a landscaped garden where you can get a glimpse of butterflies flying from branch to branch and bush to bush.   If you're lucky, a butterfly may even land on your head or hand if you hold it out like a branch.   There are butterflies of different shapes, sizes and colors.

Aside from the full-grown butterflies, there are also several cages with catterpillars who are in different stages of their metaporphoses in eventually becoming a butterfly.  Here you'll see the catterpillars slowly crawling on leaves eating them as source of nutrition.

If you wish to learn more about the entire life cycle of a butterfly, there is a viewing room on the 2nd floor where you can watch an educational audio-video documentary of the butterfly.  

The place is also decorated with huge artificial butterflies placed on the walls and 2 lifesize butterfly mascots at the entrance.

The World of Butterflies is located at the corner of Champagnat and Gen. Ordonez Streets, Barangay Marikina Heights and right beside Marikina Heights National High School.  They're open every day from 8am-5pm (excluding holidays).  Entrance fee is P20. for Marikina residents and senior citizens and P40. for non-residents. For more info, call 941-3747. 

View Larger Map

Free Diagnostic Tests for E.nopi Math and English

E.nopi Math and English programs are now being offered at the 2nd floor of C & B Mall, at the Liwasang Kalayaan Road in Marikina Heights.

E.nopi Math cultivates student's basic computational, logical and analytical thinking skills through challenging word problems, spatial reasoning puzzles and other critical thinking activities.  This innovative curriculum is a balanced program that effectively develops the 9 areas of math (numbers, algebra, functions, patterns, measurement, geometry, statistics, reasoning and data analysis)

E.nopi English enhanced student's language and literay skills through listening, speaking, reading (comprehension) and writing (composition) exercises.

The primary aim of standard, school-based educational systems is to provide a general base of knowledge and skills that all students should possess. The E.nopi program supplements this fundamental learning experience by preparing students for school classes and helping them to achieve maximum benefit from their academic practices. E.nopi encourages students to acquire self-motivation, independence, and proactive learning methods by placing them at the center of all learning activities.

For more details, contact their office at 933-1102, 942-4984 and via mobile at 0920 817-9122.  For more information, you can visit their website at http://ph.enopi.com/Philippines

Colorful Beginnings of SSS Village

In 1969, former president Ferdinand Marcos spearheaded a project giving SSS members an opportunity to own their own houses with long-term but convenient plans.   The idea was to offer 500 SSS members a slot for the opportunity to avail of the low-cost housing via raffle.  The area where these houses would be located was to be known as SSS Village.

My mom, which was then looking for a house to own, joined the raffle and luckily won a slot.   And she, along with the other 499 lucky draws all became the first homeowners of this brand new village.

Since the village didn't have any street names to begin with, all the houses were addressed by lot and block numbers.  Since it was confusing, the homeowners association decided to hold a meeting and brainstorm for possible street name themes.  One of the proposed themes were Filipino song names, like Sarunbanggi.  Fortunately, it didn't receive such a favorable response due to its difficulty in coming up with several names not to mention difficult ones.

The theme which was finally agreed on were colors.  And so, up to this day, Phase 1 and 2 of SSS Village all comprise of colorful street names.  Aquamarine, Tangerine, Olive, Crimson, Peach, Gold, White, Purple, Azure, Scarlet and Russet are just a few of the names within SSS Village.

View Larger Map