The Sky Garden At SM City North Edsa- An Oasis In The Heart of Suburbia

Ryan 5 Comments

 

The Sky Garden at SM City North Edsa is an oasis in the heart of suburbia.I was invited on two occasions to tour ,this new addition to the SM City compound.

 

Situated on the second floor of the former parking lot fronting the main building and The Block, the long curvilinear park offers much needed greenery not only to the mall, but to the whole city as a whole.

 

The Sky Garden’s different attractions include the Sky Dome, the Roof Garden, Water Features, and a string of restaurants, cafes, and retail shops.

 

A canopied walk way that meanders through the entire garden brigns you from one point to the other.

 

The Roof Garden has about fifty five species of plants, including shrubs, trees and grass.

 

These include gingers, white angels, peanut plants and several bonsai trees. Modern sculptures dot the area amidst undulating lawns and borders of river stones.

 

 

The Sky Dome is the latest event and performance area of the mall, where one can hold concerts, shows and other events.

 

It has a seating capacity of more thatn 1,000, and also features a movable stage and a huge sky light.

 

Near one end of the Sky Garden is a waterfall on the edge of the second floor.

 

This waterfall is fed by a simulated stream that flows through the garden and also acts a huge screen onto which montages can be projected. Other water features are fountains on either end of the garden.

 

Completing the experience will be food and retail outlets that will give customers an al fresco dining and shopping experience. Starbucks, Coffee Experience, Coffee Works and Churasco Express are some of the outdoor cafes on the garden. Marina, La mesa Grill, Ineng’s BBQ and Padi’s Point are some of the restaurants that make up the diverse choices one has. Cello’s Donuts & Dips, Tita Lyn’s Suman, Art’s Bibingka, Blushing Cupcakes are some of the fun, specialty food stores in the area.

 

The Sky Garden also serves as a connection to all three buildings in the SM City compound. It also serves as a roof for the parking lot, and public transportation terminal, where customers and pedestrians alike can access the Sky Garden via escalators and stairs.

 

There’s also an elevator nearby for the disabled. Soon, the entire development will be connected to the combined LRT 1, MRT 1 and MRT 7 Grand Terminal.

Enough of me babbling. Why don’t you go see for yourself what new things await you at this new oasis in the heart of suburbia- the SM City Sky Garden.

 

My Memories of SM City North Edsa

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Ibang-iba na ngayon ang SM City North Edsa. May, nabawas; may nadagdag. Gaya ng The Block at ang bagong Sky Garden.

Marami akong masasayang alaala sa SM City North Edsa. Nariyan nag mga oras na patambay-tambay kasama ng aking mga kaibigan. Pag tiantamad pumasok sa paaralan doon din ang aming puntahan. O di kaya pagkagaling sa school o kaya pag half-day, diyan siguro ang aming punta.

Tatambay kami sa food court at magkwekwentuhan habang kumakain ng chichiriya at french fries. O di kaya ay pupunta kami ng aking mga kaibigan at ang kakain sa Cafe’ Elysee’. Minsan kasi feeling “soysal” kami. Oorder kami ng iced tea at isang bandehado ng nacho salad– okay na kami dun. Dati itong nasa second floor ng main building, sa pwesto ngayon ng shakeys. Naalala ko pa nga may escalator pa ito sa gilid, na sa ilalim nun ay ang gallery ni Peck Pinon. Isa pang tambayan namin ang A&W at Wendy’s sa dating Annex.

At pagkatapos kumain ay maglalaro na kami ng Tekken at Street Fighter II sa may video arcade. Air hockey, yung basketball game, maski ang DANCE DANCE Revolution ay aming nilalalaro. Pag nagasawa na kami ay nagiikot-ikot kami sa boung mall.

Kapag bored sa bahay at walang magawa, dito din ako pumupunta. Nagwi-window shopping sa Giordano, Guess at Benetton. Nagkakape o di kaya kumakain ng takoyaki sa Samurai Express sa may Super Sale Club. Pupunta sa BookSale para maghanap at bumili ng murang pocket book at magazine. Isa pang paboritiong kong pinupuntahan noon ay ang Nova Fontana sa Carpark.Mura at maganda kasi ang mga laruan doon. Lagi silang may naka-sale at doon ako nakabili ng mga G.I. Joe na tig-50 pesos lamang.

Ang aking mga kapatid ay may ilang beses na din nagcelebrate ng kanilang kaarawan sa Jollibee sa lumang Annex. Masaya mag-party dun kasi may mascots, may games at syempre may Chicken Joy!

Isa ito sa mga kinasasabikan kong pangyayari nung ako’y bata pa–ang aming bonding session ng aking ama– sa maikling panahong kami’y magkapiling. Bihira kaming magkasama. Bihira kasi sya umuwi. Minsan sa isang taon lamang. Nariyan din ang pagkakakataong minsan sa 2 taon. Lumagaligi sya dito ng isang buwan hanggang 2 buwan. Ito ang kanyang bakasyon mula sa kanyang pinagtatrabahuang kumpanya sa Saudi. Kadalasang itinataon nya ang kanyang bakasyon tuwing Marso, kasabay ng aking bakasyon sa paaralan.

Naalala ko tuwing bakasyon at nandito ang aking ama, isa sa mga gawain namin ay ang magpunta sa SM City North Edsa.

Pag siya’y dumarating, kami ay umuuwi sa bahay nila sa Candaba. Dun kami namamalagi hanggang sa huling araw ng kanyang bakasyon. Paminsan-minsan kami’y lumuluwas at nagpupunta sa SM City. Wala namang kasing pasyalang katulad nito nung panahon na iyon probinsya namin.

Mamimili kami ng damit, sapatos, mga gamit sa aking pag-aaral. Natatandaan ko pa ang unang Bench t-shirt na binili namin. Kulay puti ito at may nakasulat dun na “Bench Brats” sa harap. Pero ang a pinakapaborito ko ay ang aming pagpunta sa ToyLand para bumili ng aking laruan. Siyempre, hindi pwedeng hindi kami bumili ng laruan. Pagkatapos naming mamimili kami nama’y kumakain sa Jollibee. Minsan nanunood din kami ng pelikula. Madalas inaabot kami ng gabi kaya’t malimit kaming duamting sa bahay ng malalim na ang gabi.

Ito ay ilan lamang sa mga alaalang nabuo ko na kasama ang SM City North Edsa. Ang mga alaalang aking binabalik-balikan sa tuwing ako’y pumapasok sa kanyang pintuan. parte na ito ng aking buhay. At kahit ibang-iba na ngayon ang hitsura nito, ito pa rin ang aking SM City na kinalakihan.

My American Idol Experience

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Last week on May 21st, the final episode of Season 8 aired. The finale, which aired live at 8 A.M. here in the Philippines, –beamed from the Nokia Theater in Hollywood–was watched by millions across the globe. The whole world watched as Kris Allen was crowned this year’s American Idol. I was one of them. I rooted for Adam Lambert, but deep in my gut I know Kris would emerge as the victor.

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Eastpak’s New Designs

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I’m a self-confessed bag man. I never really grew out of using bags– from attending school to going out– I can’t ever seem to leave the house without one. Be it my messenger bag, one of my backpacks or my “fanny pack”–I always, always have to have one with me. Whenever I go out I have to bring with me a number of items like my asthma meds; a notebook and pen; a camera… the list goes on.


I can’t really fit all of those items in my pockets, so a bag is always a must have. Of course, it can’t be just any bag–it has to be both functional and stylish. Which is why I love Eastpak’s new designs I saw at the Bratpack Store in Greenbelt 5! The designs are unconventional, quite bizarre, and definitely unique!


Taking on the punk theme, Eastpak proudly introduced eye-catching lines created in collaboration with A-list fashion designer Raf Simons, sought-after surface decorators Eley Kishimoto, international recording giant Ed Banger Records, and modern goth front runner Rick Owens of Drkshdw.



Created in 1960, Eastpak has since set the benchmark in innovation, style and value for money. The brand has been synonymous with toughness and functionality and has a reputation for producing packs, bags and luggage sets that cleverly combine form and function. Its latest collaboration with internationally renowned artists is a testament to Eastpak’s dedication to remain at the forefront of style that complements its distinct durability.


This one , in particular, really caught my eye:

 

There was another number in in sky blue that I liked, but I don’t have a photo of it.

The exclusive Eastpak collections are sold at selected The Travel Club and Bratpack Stores nationwide. The Eley Kishimoto collection is available at Bunker (Unit 5, Karport Bldg., 32nd St., Bonifacio Global City, Taguig) and will be available at Bratpack stores in May 2009. The Raf Simons line is currently available while the Drkshdw line will be out in September 2009 and the Ed Banger collection in October 2009.

Summer Komikon 2009- My First Comicon Experience

Ryan 4 Comments

I went to the Summer Komikon 2009 with 3 goals: 1) to buy a box for my comic books; 2) to look for issues 2-4 of Cursed; and 3) to enjoy the experience. It was my first time, after all.

 

So the first order of the day was to look for the box. Lucky for me when I entered the venue, an opportunity to hit 2 birds with one stone presented itself. Right smack when I entered was the booth of Comic Odyssey with their boxes of comic books all priced at Php 20 pesos!

It took me a while to actually get to the comics because there were so many people surrounding the booth, scouring boxes upon boxes of those comic books being sold so cheaply! I eventually did manage to wrangle my way to the front ( after waiting patiently for my turn, of course) so that I may take my turn in going through the boxes.

 

As I was going through the boxes, I asked the lady owner ( I forgot to ask her name) if they had storage boxes for sale. Unfortunately, they didn’t have any. But the kind soul that she was, she told me where I could buy since they don’t currently sell them at any of their shops.

But! Luck was on my side! I found issues 2 and 4 of Cursed, a comic I picked up at the Free Comic Book Day event.  I also picked up an X-men Vol 2 Issue 2! I’ve been wanting to get my hands on it for years and finally I have it. And at Php 20 pesos each, I sure got lucky!

 

I moved on to Hobby Point’s booth which is just on the right side of Comic Odyssey’s booth were I picked a WildCATS Vol 1 Issue 2 for Php 100 pesos- still quite inexpensive because the last time I saw one, it was being sold at Php 200 pesos. It made me one comic book closer to completing the Jim Lee mini-series.I already have issue 4, and I know I have issue 1 somewhere in the house so all I need is issue number 3.

I went around the venue countless times, going though boxes and stacks of comics and books. I managed to pick up some locally made comic books. I bought my very first Mangaholix comic book at the Mangaholix booth. I bought issue 1 for only Php 40 pesos and it also came with a free sketch! The artists at the booth were very accommodating when I requested for a sketch of a particular character. I have read it from cover to cover and I  enjoyed reading the stories. And the art was amazing! I’m going to get the other issues next chance I get.

 

I also got the Kubori Kikiam book “Kubori Strips For The Soul”! It’s been so long since I have read a Kubori Kikiam comic! I last saw the strip a few years ago when Culture Crash published it’s last issue. The artist, David, was kind enough to sign it for me and even pose for a photo.


The book is a compilation of Kubori Kikiam strips from kuborikikiam.com and was sold for Php 80 pesos. I’ve finished reading the book and I have to say it was such a hoot!

 

Going around, I also picked up two titles from independent publishers. Gerilya Komiks  and Aswang Files: Declassified. Gerilya Komiks is published by Saging Komiks.

 

I got all three issues in the series. Each issue contained 3 stories. Each issue was sold for only Php 15 pesos!

 

Another indie title I picked up was issue 1 of Aswang Files: Declassified. It was Komikon 2006’s winner of the Best Indie award!

 

The comic book was sold for Php 50 pesos and came with a short novel titled ” Pare I love You.” The artists say the next issue will debut at the next comic con later this year.

 

I also had an artist do a sketch of myself. Actually I walked away with 2 sketches since another artist joined in and started to sketch me as well. The sketches had no set price. There was just a tip box on their table where satisfied “models” could place any amount.

After a snack and one more round of going around the venue, I left the Summer Komikon. While I may not have fully accomplished goal number 1, I did accomplish goals 2 and 3, with a few more kicks thrown in. I went home tired, but truly satisfied with my first Komikon experience! I can’t wait for the next one!