LUGANG CAFE FOOD

I, together with my brother, friend and her husband, ordered and ate at Lugang Cafe the following:

Pineapple Fried Rice

Enoki Mushroom, Radish & Fish Cake Soup

I personally recommend this dish! Hainan Boneless Chicken 

Vegetarian Dumplings with Truffle Oil - (7)seven pieces per basket

Steamed Pork Xiao Long Bao - seven (7) pieces per basket

Steamed Crab Roe and Pork Xiao Long Bao

 Cantonese Mushroom Stir Fried Noodles

Cantonese Fried Prawns

For our drinks we had Rejuvenating Flower Tea.

Conclusion: Expensive but ambiance and the taste of some of the foods are okay~!

Lugang Café, Greenhills

115 Connecticut St., Northeast Greenhills

San Juan City, Metro Manila

Philippines

(02) 775-7599

HOW TO RENEW YOUR PHILIPPINE PASSPORT

First Set an Appointment at:

www.passport.com.ph 
or
www.megamall.passport.com.ph
or
you can call the DFA Hotline at (02) 737-1000 

This is a FREE service provided for the convenience of Filipinos. There is no charge for making an appointment with the DFA Main office (at Bradco corner Diosdado Macapagal Blvd. Aseana Business Park, Pasay City) or its sattelite offices.

For your convenience, you can file your application for Philippine Passport or its renewal at the following DFA offices in malls:

DFA in SM Manila (at the back of Manila City Hall) 

DFA Megamall Consular Office, 7th floor of SM Megamall Building C in Mandaluyong 

(10am-8pm)

DFA NCR Central at Level 1, West Lane of Robinsons Galleria in Ortigas (10am-7pm)

DFA Robinsons Gen. Santos City (opens on September 3, 2013)

DFA Lipa City at Level 2 Expansion Area, Robinsons Place in Lipa City

DFA office in Pacific Mall Cebu

DFA office in Robinsons Starmills, San Fernando, Pampanga

DFA office in Marquee Mall, Angeles City

DFA Legazpi in Pacific Mall, Legazpi City

DFA Consular offices will be opening soon in other malls.

DFA offices in malls are usually open to the public from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Mondays to Saturdays for both processing and releasing and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sundays for releasing only.

Those in provinces can also apply at the nearest Regional Consular Office or during Mobile Passport Service (MPS).

Requirements for those who are applying for renewal of expired or expiring passports.


Applicants renewing a brown passport (issued before 1996) with foreign sounding family names are required to submit the following documents:

• Birth Certificate issued by NSO (by birth).
• Certificate of No Marriage Record of Mother issued by NSO/LCR (if illegitimate status, foreign father);
• Marriage Certificate.of parents issued by NSO (if legitimate status);
• Bureau of Immigration Identification Cerficate No. (by naturalization; by election; by marriage; by recognition).

Applicants who availed of Dual Citizenship under RA 9225 are required ot submit the following:

• 1. Birth Certificate issued by NSO / Old Philippine Passport
• 2. Identification Certificate No.
• 3. Oath of Allegiance
• 4. Report of Birth (for those born abroad)

Brown Passport or issued prior to 01 May 1995

• Old passport and photocopy of passport pages 1,2,3 (amendment). The pages showing latest Bureau of Immigration departure and arrival stamps.
• Supporting document with complete middle name.

MRP & Green Passport or issued after 01 May 1995

• Present passport and photocopy of inside and back cover.
• The pages showing latest Bureau of Immigration departure and arrival stamps.
• For illegitimate minor, personal appearance of mother is required.

For married women, who want to use surname of their spouse:

• Personal Appearance is required
• Marriage Contract (MC) in Security Paper issued by NSO or CTC issued by the Local Civil Registrar duly authenticated by NSO.

For Minors (below 18 years old): Personal appearance of either parent is required.

• If minor is NOT traveling with either parent:
• Original and photocopy of DSWD Clearance
• Affidavit of Support and Consent
• If both parents are abroad:
• Affidavit of support and consent (must be authenticated by the nearest Philippine Embassy or Consulate General if not executed before a Philippine Consul).
• Special Power of Attorney (must be authenticated by the nearest Philippine Embassy or Consulate if not executed before a Philippine Consul designating the representative by name and authorizing him to apply for a passport on behalf of the minor).
• Passport and photocopy of the passport of person travelling with the minor.

The Department of Foreign Affairs accepts and processes passport applications and authentication services at the new Office of Consular Affairs building at Bradco corner Macapagal Avenues, Aseana Business Park near the Mall of Asia.

The DFA new office is a 7,000-square meter, four-storey building located a few blocks from the old DFA building. 


The DFA accepts online requests for appointment for passport applicants.

Here are the official passport fees:
P500.00 for the 44-page Machine-Readable Passport (MRP)
P950.00 for the 44-page Electronic Passport Passport (ePass)
P250.00 additional payment for expedited processing of either the MRP or the ePass
P700.00 for replacement of lost valid passport (MRP)

HOW TO APPLY FOR PHILIPPINE PASSPORT FOR FIRST TIME APPLICANTS

To apply for a Philippine passport, an applicant must fill out a Passport application form this is FREE and submit the requirements. 

Requirements for first-time applicants :

PASSPORT REQUIREMENTS FOR FIRST-TIME APPLICANTS:

• Personal Appearance is required.

• Duly accomplished application form.

• Birth Certificate (BC) in Security Paper (SECPA) issued by the National Statistics Office (NSO) or Certified True Copy (CTC) of BC issued by the Local Civil Registrar duly authenticated by NSO.

• Proof of identity / Supporting documents indicating full name, date and place of birth and citizenship

• Other Supporting documents.

Additional Requirements:

• For married women, who want to use surname of their spouse

• Marriage Contract (MC) in Security Paper issued by NSO or Certified True Copy issued by the Local Civil Registrar duly authenticated by NSO.

• For married women who would like to revert back to their maiden name

If already widowed: Death Certificate of the deceased husband;

• If marriage is annulled: Certified true copy and photocopy of the first page and the dispositive portion of the judgment on annulment and NSO-issued MC with the annotation on the annulment decree;

• If divorced: Certified true copy and photocopy of the first page and the dispositive portion of the judgment on divorce secured by foreign spouse authenticated by the Philippine Embassy or Consulate where the divorce is obtained.

For Minors (below 18 years old)

• Personal appearance of either parent (if minor is of legitimate status).

• Personal appearance of mother (if minor is of illegitimate status)

If minor is NOT traveling with either parent:

• Original and photocopy of DSWD Clearance

• Affidavit of Support and Consent

If both parents are abroad:

• Affidavit of support and consent (must be authenticated by the nearest Philippine Embassy or Consulate General if not executed before a Consul).

• Special Power of Attorney (must be authenticated by the nearest Philippine Embassy or Consulate General if not executed before a Consul designating the representative by name and authorizing him to apply for a passport on behalf of the minor).

• Passport and photocopy of the passport of the traveling companion of the minor.

• Identification Card and photocopy thereof of the duly authorized person.

For Muslim applicants

• For those whose births were registered:

Please refer to requirements for first time passport applicants.

For those whose births were not registered:

• Late registered Birth Certificate (BC) in Security Paper (SECPA) issued by the National Statistics Office (NSO)

• Original and photocopy of Voter's Affidavit or other supporting documents indicating date and place of birth and citizenship, identity and tribal affiliation.

• Certificate from the Office on Muslim Affairs (OMA)

For Applicants with Foreign-Sounding Family Names: (e.g. Lim, Cho, Sy, Lee, Samadi, Singh, Nakamura, Hasegawa, etc.) are required to submit the following documents:

• Birth Certificate (BC) issued by the National Statistics Office (NSO) (by birth)
• Certificate of No Marriage Record of Mother issued by NSO / LCR (if illegiitimate status, foreign father)
• Marriage Certificate of Parents issued by NSO (if legitimate status)
• Bureau of Immigration Identifacation Certificate No. (by naturalization; by election; by marriage; by recognition) 
Applicant who availed of Dual Citizenship under RA9225 are required to submit the following:
1. Birth Certificate issued by NSO/OLD Philippine Passport
2. Identification certificate No.
3. Oath of Allegiance
4. Report of Birth (for those born abroad)

The Department of Foreign Affairs accepts and processes passport applications  and authentication services at the new Office of Consular Affairs building at Bradco corner Macapagal Avenues, Aseana Business Park near the Mall of Asia.
 
The DFA new office is a 7,000-square meter, four-storey building located a few blocks from the old DFA building. 


The DFA accepts online requests for appointment for passport applicants.

Here are the official passport fees:
P500.00 for the 44-page Machine-Readable Passport (MRP)
P950.00 for the 44-page Electronic Passport Passport (ePass)
P250.00 additional payment for expedited processing of either the MRP or the ePass
P700.00 for replacement of lost valid passport (MRP)

LIST OF COUNTRIES WITH VISA-FREE ENTRY FOR FILIPINO PASSPORT HOLDERS

The countries listed below don’t require tourist or visit visa for Filipino Passport Holders:

ASEAN Countries                               Number of days allowed to stay

• Brunei Darussalam                                                    14 days
• Cambodia                                                                   21 days
• Indonesia                                                                     30 days
• Laos                                                                             30 days
• Malaysia                                                                      30 days
• Singapore                                                                   30 days
• Thailand                                                                       30 days
• Vietnam                                                                       21 days

Non-ASEAN Countries

• Azerbaijan                                          30 days visa issued upon arrival for US$100
• Bangladesh                                        90-days visa issued upon arrival for US$50
• Republic of China (Taiwan)          30 days, if holding a valid visa for Australia, Canada,  Japan, New Zealand, Schengen countries, United Kingdom or United States
• Georgia                                               90 days visa issued on arrival for US$10 ~ US$200
• Hong Kong                                         14 days
• India                                                     30 days visa issued upon arrival
• Iran                                                      15 days visa issued upon arrival for US$50
• Israel                                                    90 days
• South Korea (Jeju Island only)          30 days
• Macau                                                  30 days
• Maldives                                              30 days visa issued upon arrival (free of charge)
• Mongolia                                  21 days Philippines - no need a visa for a visit not exceeding three weeks
• Nepal                                              15/30/90 days visa issued upon arrival for US$25/40/100
• Sri Lanka                                             30 days
• Timor-Leste                                         30 days visa issued upon arrival for US$30

Europe

• Kosovo                                                 90 days

Oceania

• Cook Islands                                       31 days
• Fiji                                             120 days Visitor's Permit issued upon arrival (free of charge)
• Marshall Islands                                  30 days visa issued upon arrival (free of charge)
• Federated States of Micronesia       30 days
• Niue                                                      30 days
• Palau                                                    30 days visa issued upon arrival (free of charge)
• Samoa                                       60 days Visitor's Permit issued upon arrival (free of charge)
• Tuvalu                                                    30 days visa issued upon arrival (free of charge)
• Vanuatu                                                 30 days

North America

• Costa Rica                              120 days Visitor's Permit issued upon arrival (free of charge)
• Dominica                                 30 days visa issued upon arrival (free of charge)
• Haiti                                          30 days
• Nicaragua                                30 days
• Saint Kitts and Nevis              30 days visa issued upon arrival (free of charge)
• Saint Lucia                               60 days Visitor's Permit issued upon arrival (free of charge)
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: 30 days visa issued upon arrival (free of charge)
• Turks and Caicos Islands       30 days

South America

• Bolivia                                       59 days
• Brazil                                         90 days
• Colombia                                  90 days
• Ecuador                                    90 days
• Peru                                          90 days
• Suriname                                120 days

Africa

• Burundi                                     visa issued upon arrival
• Cape Verde                             visa issued upon arrival
• Comoros                         A free 24 hour transit visa issued upon arrival at the airport.             Within 24 hours this must be converted into a full visa at the immigration office in Moroni (fee payable)
• Djibouti                               10 days visa issued upon arrival for DJF3,000; 30 days visa issued upon arrival for DJF5,000
• Gambia                                 At port of entry passport 24-72 hour transit pass is issued. This must be converted into a full visa valid up to 1 month at the immigration department in Banjul (fee payable)
• Kenya                                     90 days visa issued upon arrival for US$50
• Madagascar                          90 days visa issued upon arrival for MGA140,000
• Morocco                                 90 days
• Mozambique                         30 days visa issued upon arrival for US$25
• Saint Helena                          visa issued upon arrival
• Seychelles                             30 days
• Tanzania                                 visa issued upon arrival for US$50
• Togo                                        7 days visa issued upon arrival
• Uganda                                 180 days visa issued upon arrival for US$50
• Zambia                                   90 days visa issued upon arrival for US$50

Since the above details may change,  it is best to double-check the immigration laws of the country that you are planning to visit.

Transit visa may be required when you are not on a direct flight.

LUGANG CAFE THE BEST XIAO LONG BAO IN TOWN

 

We traveled more than an hour just to reach Lugang Cafe located at 115 Connecticut St. Northeast Greenhills, San Juan, Metro Manila.

Telephone # 775-7599 . 570-9011 . 09176992254

 According to my friend, Lugang Cafe has private dining rooms and has an outdoor patio at the third floor which is great for private parties.

My friend has been raving about Lugang Cafe since it opened in November 2010.

 

Lugang, pronounced as “Lu-Kang”, is a franchise from Shanghai, China.

We were greeted by a receptionist @ the entrance

  The ambiance is very cheerful and bright.

 They have very sleek interiors and doors.

 This is where they prepare the food.

Lugang Cafe's xiao long bao is comparable to that of the restaurant I've tried in Shanghai. I really miss the food in Shanghai and it is good to know that I can eat xiao long bao in my own homeland.

The food is so yummy at Lugang Cafe. They make for a complete dining experience. Two thumbs-up for ambiance, cleanliness and taste.

BAGUIO COOLEST CHRISTMAS

I know this is a late post. Because I was having second thoughts whether to publish this or not. As you know the supervisor/ manager @ SM Novaliches apprehended me for taking photographs of their Christmas decor. Bawal mag Shoot doon. No wonder there's very few people shopping @ that particular SM branch.  

Last Christmas I promised myself not to promote any SM Malls on my site. I've been promoting SM MALLS for FREE.  What a nice way to thank someone who promote them. SM Management should double check the attitude of their supervisor/manager in SM Novaliches. Calling the attention of SM heads. Look how that particular supervisor/ manager scare away potential customers please train him.

Why would SM put that Christmas display if people could not pose in front of them in the first place right? The supervisor/manager NEEDS TRAINING AND PROPER ORIENTATION. HE IS DISGUSTING. SM NEED CUSTOMER ORIENTED PEOPLE SO SHOPPERS WON'T SHY AWAY FROM THAT PARTICULAR BRANCH. 

The pictures I have here are photographs from Baguio City SM Branch's Christmas display.

 

Ramgen Revilla - Janelle Manahan Private Video

Ramgen Revilla - Janelle Manahan Private Video 

Janelle's lawyer Argee Guevarra accused the slain actor’s immediate family as the ones behind the uploading of the private video. Saying that the video represents the second assassination of Ramgen and second frustrated murder of Janelle orchestrated and masterminded by the Bautista household.

According to her lawyer Manahan “confirms” she is the woman in a video showing her and Revilla in the bathroom. 

Janelle Manahan was distraught when she learned that her private video with boyfriend Ram Revilla (Ramgen Bautista in real life) spread like wildfire on the internet just before the end of the year 2011.  Janelle was really shocked and cried after learning through social networking sites Facebook and Twitter on Thursday that someone has uploaded the video.

Atty. Guevarra alleged that one of the younger siblings of Revilla had been blackmailing Janelle through Facebook messages. “She was told ‘you are not clean ate Janelle".

"Only someone with an access to the Bautista’s computer can upload the video. That video was stored in Ramgen’s computer and later transferred to one of the computers of the Bautista household" said Atty. Guevarra

The one who uploaded the video on You Tube has turned access to the video into private mode. Before said video became private, I was able to see said video that he uploaded on You Tube and found that it does not contain any private act or kissing scenes at all. People must have interpreted the video as containing private acts when there is really none. Maybe the video I saw is different from the other videos uploaded on Facebook before 2011 ends.

 

NORTH POLE ADVENTURE

Have you ever wondered how it is to celebrate the holiday season with Santa Claus in the North Pole?  

When I was younger I used to write Santa Claus in his North Pole address. 

Year after year, I diligently wrote Santa and every year I was disappointed because Santa don't answer my letter.  

My mom and dad said it was because there are millions of children in the world and Santa can't answer us all. So I tried to understand Santa I said to myself Santa Claus must be  very busy preparing gifts for good little girls and boys that's why letter writing is the least of his worries.

 Frosty the snowman with the author.

 The superstar of my life my ever loyal kuya!

We had an opportunity to experience North Pole in one of our trip when we decided to drop by the much talked about North Pole Adventure @ SM City North Edsa~!