Last May 13, the toy and hobbyist retail scene in the metropolis, and in the country in general, got itself a big boost when toy building company LEGO opened its first LEGO certified store right at the newly-developed Park Triangle in Bonifacio Global City. This comes right off the heels of last year’s success of LEGO in the release of The Lego Movie and the recently-concluded BRICKXHIBIT and ABRICKcadabra events that were held at Resorts World Manila the previous month which showcased a growing community of LEGO builders and enthusiasts in the country. Thus, the opening of a LEGO certified store here not only boosts the presence of LEGO in the country…
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Reading Club 2000: An Open Community “Library” in the City
When we think of libraries, we always think of them as buildings filled with bookshelves and reading desks in a strictly enforced quiet atmosphere. But then there are the open community libraries that thrive in the midst of a busy neighborhood or community that are hidden gems in a bustling city. Today, the Urban Roamer visits one of those libraries that have managed to be one of the most well-known community libraries out there, located in one of Makati’s working class neighborhoods in Barangay La Paz north of the commercial district.
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The Urban Roamer’s ePassport Guide – 2015 Edition
More than five years ago, the Urban Roamer wrote the ePassport Guide, one of the first entries written here which aims to share to the reader how to go about applying for the Philippine ePassport. At that time, it was a fairly new “product” which was only introduced months before it was written. It also coincided with the time I needed to renew my passport, so I decided to renew my passport with the ePassport one as I noted my experiences for the blog. During those five years that I’ve gotten to travel with my passport, much has changed in the ePassport application system. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has opened a separate consular facility and…
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The Saga of Malate Church
Malate district in Manila has gone through so much in the last 100 years or so. From being once part of the city’s so-called “Millionaire’s Row” in the prewar years to the district’s destruction as well as much of the city during World War II into becoming a beloved evening hangout that’s had its share of ups and downs. Regardless of those transformations and the changing fate of this fabled district, there is one constant that has managed to weather them, becoming a beloved Malate landmark in its own right. Today, the Urban Roamer checks out this storied structure that is the Our Lady of Remedies Church, also known as the…