Love, Your PAL (Philippine Airlines)

As far as i can remember when i was younger, I travel a lot from luzon to visayas from air travel to sea travel. During the 90s, PAL is the emirates of asia, it competes with cathay pacific. I recall when i first fly with PAL, it was a B747 to Hong Kong and that was 1997. Back then, PAL was extremely a very classy airline. My grandfather had unlimited alcoholic beverages at that time. PAL Flight Attendants were very friendly, and many of them foreigners. Food serving was same but drinks were limited at this time.

Throughout the years and due to the asian financial crisis, PAL became a corporate failure. They had to downsize their route slashing half of their domestic route and terminating their long haul flights. 

last 2011, PAL went trough a very tough crisis with their ground staff. almost 2000 are lay offed and these positions are outsourced. Over the years, PAL have reported losses due to oil prices and weaker passenger rate. Also, it was the re-birth of Cebu Pacific in becoming a budget airline.

Browse the pictures below:

NAIA Terminal 2 (international)

PAL A320

Boarding Pass

My Plane A340 going to Bangkok

Old Drop-down Monitor

Cathay Pacific Cargo

Safety Manual

Hugo

Interior

Leg Room

Believe it or not, these was the exact look of PAL during the 90s. Although it's old but it was comfy and well maintained. The cabin pressure upon taxi was humid but upon take off, it goes back to cool temperature.

I was glad the load factor was 90% at that time.

The DOTC is boosting it's resources to address the congestion problem that is happening in NAIA. NAIA currently has 2 runway crossing each other.

PAL was awarded before as the most punctual airline in Asia, but apparently not anymore. It became a part of the delayed airlines in the country.

Honestly, when San Miguel Corp. bought 49% of PAL, i was thrilled. Finally! a bright future ahead. As of now, the airline is on their final stage of ordering wide body aircraft such as B787-8 (dreamliner) and B747-8 (intercontinental). Too bad they slash the A380 but rationally, no domestic airport can handle such besides NAIA and Clark Airport. The ne B787-8 and B747-8 will replace PAL's ageing wide body aircraft such as B747-400, A330 and A340. 

I hope CAAP address the Category 2 status of country.

With SMC in the picture, the future of Asia's First Airline will Shine Trough.

Lunch at Jipan

Having kidney stones sucks! you can't have any salty foods or foods with msg. Also, you have to shy away mostly from american, japanese, and chinese food. :( 

Due to my intense craving for japanese food, i went straight to my fave japanese restaurant and bakeshop: Jipan.

Tempura Udon: Large hot soup bowl of tempura and udon noodles. I love the taste of this soup. it's very fresh and invigorating, it's best to eat when it rains and especially during cold weather.  

Shogayaki Teishoku (Bento Set of Marinated Pork Strips, Sweet Egg Roll, Fish Fillet, Vegetable Tempura, Salad, and Miso Soup, w/ Japanese Rice.)

egg roll / salad

Marinated Pork Strips: The pork strips was quite dry but tasty. the texture is nice, but the meat was a little hard but good enough to eat. It's a little salty which is a big no no for me. 

Vegetable Tempura (quite good it was not too thick nor too thin), Fish Fillet (very flaky and very tasty. i love the fillet), Appetizer (odd and yet tasty, sweet and a little sour)

Nokia Lumia 610 and all things in between

Yes, I got robbed. I paid P26,000 / $620 for my BB Torch 9800 which i pay in installment for 12 months. Luckily, i just finished paying the last payment of the bb. I was really scared at the time the robber point a knife at me and took my other bag. Luckily, I have another small bag which is in front of me (the robber was behind me) and the robber didn't notice my small bag (my wallet, samsung galaxy tablet, wallet, itouch was inside the small bag) I was so thankful nothing happened. I remembered what my dad told me: "just give your things to the robber so you wont get hurt" and so i did. 

That week was the most heartbreaking and nerve wracking in my life. 

1) I was rushed to the ER just a day before the robbery took place.

2) I spent a lot of money for my medication (medicines were not covered by the health card)

3) I was admitted to the hospital for my kidney stones.

After all the brouhaha, i was able to understand life and i came to realization how God can take away everything, and how he can protect you. I'm so lucky that after all what happened to me, I'm still alive and living well.

Last sunday, I bought a Nokia Lumia 610 the 710 was exclusive for a network provider (you have to avail a plan to get 710) then there's 800 / 900 which is quite expensive. Forget the 800 and 900. 

I was so happy! it only costs me P11,800 / $280. Lumia is OH SO GREAT. if you like something new, very social media friendly, user friendly, cool, and Hi-Tech then Lumia is you choice.

My Babies.

Dinner @ Johnny Rockets

It's my first time to eat at a diner and it's a lot of fun! 

The first time johnny rocket's caught my attention when the waitress and waiters danced the songs during the 60s/70s i think. 

Anyways, johnny rocket's isn't cheap actually, it's quite expensive but size is big and taste quality is good. It's an all american diner which serves mouth watering burgers.

Menu

 Bacon Cheddar Single w/ Fries: It was mouthwatering and delicious! the whole burger can be for sharing. the beef patty was excellent, it was so tasty and juicy! the bacon and the cheese was a divine combination. I just don't like the thick slice of the tomato and the onion. the fries was crispy and hot.

Bacon Cheddar Single w/ Onion Rings

Unlimited Fries

 Mac and Cheese: It was creamy and very cheesy. The macaroni was firm and good to eat. 

Dancing Crew

Iv'ed been cheating my diet since I was on low salt and high fiber diet as prescribed my doctor. I have to watch my diet.

Fine French Food at La Creperie

I never thought that french food can be so good. I thought it was just an exaggeration from movies, I'm so in love with this restaurant. 

I love the variety of their menu from breakfast, lunch, crepes, pastas, french toast, and especially luxurious tea. 

I ask the waiter if they sell those tea at the rack, and thank God he said yes. He recommended the Silvermoon Tea w/c i find so fragrant. I'm eyeing for the Moroccan Mint Tea, and the 1837 Black tea when i go back for another Coq Au Vin and Ratatouille. 

My refillable Teacup 1837 Black Tea. TWG tea is lighter than any other strongly brewed tea at some japanese and chinese restaurant. TWG cam from singapore. for a box set of P990 you have 15 cotton bags (I bought the creme caramel)

Menu

Interior

Coq Au Vin costs around P365 but it's worth the price. 

There was mushroom, carrots, thin strips of beef, and 2 chicken part. The chicken was so soft, moist and so so so so so tasty. the carrots and the mushrooms were soft. the sauce was not sweet and not salty, it's something i have never tasted before. It was a fine french cuisine. 

Ratatouille. It was totally different from what i saw from the animated movie ratatouille, It looks like a local filipino dish called Pakbet. The taste was very very unexpected, It was like eating a pizza. Ingredients were: Eggplant, tomatoes, zucchini, onions, green & red pepper, parsley, olive oil. 

Strawberry Jubilee = Bliss  

will go back to try more of their food and buy other tea flavor.

Lunch at Kaya (Korean Restaurant)

I always wonder what would that taste of those korean actors/actress eat in the movies and series in which I'm dying to try.

I'm so in love with korean food right now, sorry japanese food but we're cool off right now. I always pass by to this restaurant and ignore it most of the time due to lack of eating customers and of course food prices. 

surprisingly it's very cheap for it's good taste quality.

Kimchi (Spicy radish): I love the crisp of the radish tht goes with the spiciness of it.

Chulpan Sewu (Grilled Garlic Shrimps): I love the freshness of the shirmp, the tastiness and sweetness of the sauce. the garlic grilled sauce was a cherry on top.

Yook Gye Jang (Spicy Beef and Vegetable Noodle Soup) For those who love a little spicy beef noodle soup then this is your dish. The dish wasn't very spicy at all but, the spiciness adds flavor and excitement to the dish. The noodles were good.

Bibimbap (Rice topped with assorted vegetable, and egg in a bowl) this was the highlight of my lunch. You have to mix all the ingredients with the toppings and add a little spicy paste for best tasting. The rice was very very good and sticky, the vegetables was fresh especially the mushroom! the mushroom was very very tasty and soft. The dish was so refreshing and something new.

spicy paste

Kimbap (rice seaweed roll with pickled radish, carrot, spina egg, and ground beef): It was like sushi, but different in taste. You can tell upon eating the differenceof japanese sushi with kimbap. 

Bulgogi (grilled marinated sirloin strips) The taste is similar with "Sukiyaki Japanese Dish" though bulgogi is grilled.

Love it.