Enjoying Wonderful World

October 31, 2014

What-A-Kuya? Check this out ! " Kuya J" in SM Novaliches !

What a "Kuya" means? Who is "Kuya"?

"Kuya" is a Filipino term of endearment and respect used for a male older than you and especially that you are close with. So you can call your older male brother, cousin, older male friend. Someone who takes care of you, protect you and trying everything he can, gives you something you want.

If you call a close someone who does something for you, it's 'kuya." It’s when Kuya cooks for you and just imagine Kuya preparing his delicious dishes for you every time. You would definitely want to be present at every dinner. Because everything is special, when it comes to Kuya.

That is the picture that will be always captured in the new restaurant in town, Kuya J.

We were excitingly witnessed an opening of the Kuya J Restaurant in SM Novaliches, Quirino Highway, Quezon City. Kuya J started the Filipino cuisine in Cebu and now is opening more here in Metro Manila.

Kuya J is a casual Filipino cuisine restaurant that offers great gastronomic delights using quality and unique tasting dishes in a homey dining experience that relaxes you, enveloping you with the warmth and care of a brother.

Miss Gelli Victor , the event host

Kuya J values meaningful bonds above anything else. That is why he serves delectable Filipino dishes in a comfortable atmosphere. The interiors themselves feel a lot like Kuya’s room: the modern dining furniture, the warm lighting fixtures and the signature bookshelves filled with books of various topics. Once you step inside, you’ll be received with a wholehearted welcome and a good-natured staff.

Kuya J promotes family gatherings and love for food, that’s why affordability is a must. So don’t worry about the price points because Kuya J will always give a value for money. You’ll even be surprised at how much you can eat on a limited budget. At Kuya J’s, there’s more fun for everyone.

What can you expect from Kuya J? You can always count on him to adapt local cuisine and add a different spin to each dish. His signature dishes, namely Crispy Pata, Grilled Scallops, Lumpia Presko, Crispy Catfish and Tablea Coffee Flan are definitely a must try.

Luckily and super enjoy, we were able to sample almost all of the food available on their menu during the opening at SM City Novaliches. Starting from the Appetizers, Soups, Salads, House Specialties and Desserts!

KUYA J’S CRISPY PATA

Perfectly deep-fried pork skin, with tender juicy pata meat. Crispy delicious! Specialty ni Kuya!

KARE-KARE

GUINATAANG MONGGO

BINAGOONGAN RICE

POCHERO

TOKWA'T BABOY in Soy-Suba Sauce

LUMPIA PRESKO

Sautéed crabmeat and bamboo shoots stuffed in rolled malunggay-infused wrapper with sweet garlic sauce. Ito ang favorite ng date ni Kuya.

MANGGA TUNA SALAD

CHORIZO DINAMITAS with Garlic Dip

GRILLED SCALLOPS

Grilled scallops na punong-puno ng cheesy butter topping. Favorite ni Kuya!

MANGO PANDAN

Ang classic panghimagas, creamy mango pandan. Ito ang favorite ni Kuya.

TABLEA COFFEE FLAN

Batangas tablea-flavored flan with coffee caramel topped with dried coconut meat and cream.

Kuya J has finally arrived in Manila to share his brotherly love, in the form of his delicious meals. Just last Saturday, celebrity siblings Camille and John Prats plus Phil and James Younghusband graced the opening of Kuya J at SM City Novaliches to spend their sibling bonding moments along with other guests.

Camille and John Prats

Phil and James Younghusband

Aside from SM Novaliches, Kuya J has also opened branches in SM City Marikina, SM City BF Parañaque and SM Sta. Mesa. Kuya J will soon open a branch in GMA, as well as stores in nearby Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

So that eventually, Kuya J will spread his brotherly love all over the country!

If you’re looking for a place to spend quality time with your loved ones, especially your Kuya, look no further than Kuya J. It’s a unique dining experience you should never pass up. ‘Yan si Kuya, laging special!

Enjoy the wonderful world of Kuya J! Kuya J’s unique twist on Filipino cuisine is no doubt, a special treat for the appetite. So embrace Kuya’s love and try out his featured dishes! And expect for more stories of Kuya J. . . Ang luto ni Kuya, masarap talaga and .... masarap pa ikwento!

Visit Kuya J outlets nationwide:

Kuya J- SM Novaliches

Ground Floor SM Novaliches

Quirino Avenue, Quezon City

Kuya J - SM City Sta. Mesa

3rd Floor SM City Sta. Mesa

Sta. Mesa, Metro Manila, Philippines

(02) 254.8148

Kuya J - SM City BF Parañaque

3rd Floor, SM City Parañaque, Metro Manila, Philippines

(02) 478.7810

Kuya J - SM City Marikina

Ground Floor Level, SM City Marikina

Marikina City, Metro Manila, Philippines

Kuya J Escario corner Tojong Street, Brgy Camputhaw, Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines 6000

(032) 260.2991

Kuya J - SM City Cebu

Upper Ground Level, SM City Cebu

Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines 6000

(032) 266.8600

Kuya J - SM City Consolacion

Ground Level, SM City Consolacion

Consolacion, Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines 6001

(032) 266.8688

October 30, 2014

DepEd, DPWH to construct 1,500 classrooms with PAGCOR funds Manila

The Department of Education (DepEd) signed a memorandum of agreement with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for the construction of around 1,500 classrooms worth P2B.

“Our vision is to be a pillar of national development in investing in education. Over the past years, PAGCOR has made substantial changes to ensure that part of vision is really implemented,” DepEd Secretary Br. Armin Luistro FSC said.

Luistro expressed his gratitude to the agencies that continue to help in ensuring that “Filipino students get what they deserve.” He said, “We want to thank PAGCOR for being the biggest and most consistent partner in substantially investing in education, and DPWH for ensuring that school buildings will have building integrity.”

“Classrooms are the most basic social infrastructure that we should continue to provide all over the country,” DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson said. He added that DPWH will deliver their commitment in building classrooms that are safe and beneficial for the students.

PAGCOR Chairman Cristino Naguiat, Jr. said, “Kami ay nagagalak na kami ay kabahagi kami ng DepEd para sa aming project na “Matuwid na Daan para sa Paaraalan.” Naguiat reiterated PAGCOR’s commitment in the continued delivery of education to the learners.

He said that PAGCOR believes that the future of the country lies in the youth. “The classrooms we are going to build are for them. Tuluy-tuloy po ang ating pagtulong sa DepEd. Hindi po tayo nagtatapos dito. Makakaasa po kayo na may karagdagan pa ito—either sa school buildings or computers. Let us work together for the dreams of our youth to be realized.”

The classrooms to be built will be constructed by DPHW in accordance to the “build-back better” design with specific PAGCOR design elements. PAGCOR shall designate certain locations based on DepEd’s data on classroom needs which will be prioritized for the construction of classrooms.

'Wanderlust' photography exhibition at Water Dragon Gallery

"Branching Out"

Writer/ curator Giselle P. Kasilag combines her twin passions for travel and photography in her first solo exhibition dubbed "Wanderlust: Windows to Asia." Featuring 40 photographs, the exhibit opens on November 13, 2014 -- which is also Kasilag's 40th birthday -- at the Water Dragon Gallery of the Yuchengco Museum.

"Master and Commander"

"Wanderlust" showcases photographs Kasilag has taken on her trips to various places in Asia, including South Korea, Cambodia, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Vietnam and the Philippines. Her favorite subjects include architecture, especially windows and staircases, as well as street scenes and nature views.

"I like anything that can serve as a portal into another world. I enjoy it when I come across things that are different but still strangely familiar, or so familiar but vaguely different," says Kasilag.

Through her photographs, she hopes others can join her in discovering the extraordinary in the everyday.

Kasilag became a journalist because she wanted to be the person who visits far-off places and gets to write about them for other people's benefit. Back then, she would find herself in a different Philippine city almost every weekend, listing down names of places she could barely pronounce and trying out every food and activity that each one offered.

"Sign in Blue"

For her, wandering became a career.

In recent years, she rediscovered her love affair with the camera which provided her with the best excuse to travel. Her photographs were shown in New York as part of the 2013 event entitled "The Story of Creative." Another piece was projected onto the side of a building in Long Island as part of the "Creatives Rising" event held in the same year. In July 2014, her photograph was shown on electronic billboards covering an entire building in Times Square, New York.

"Pigeonhole"

When not taking photographs or travelling, Kasilag produces and curates exhibits for Project Art, a company she co-owns and runs. She also writes for different publications.

"Spiral Orange"

The Yuchengco Museum is located at the RCBC Plaza, Ayala Avenue corner Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City. For inquiries, call (+632) 889-1234 or (+63)917-5631008.)

DepEd, UP-CFA train visual artists and practitioners

In its mission to provide quality K to 12 learning materials, the Department of Education (DepEd), in partnership with the University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts (UP-CFA), conducted a five-day workshop for 35 DepEd visual artists and practitioners to enhance learning and teaching resources.

“We want to ensure young learners’ interest in our learning materials. We can do this by putting photographs and artwork in our textbooks,” DepEd Undersecretary for Programs and Projects Dina S. Ocampo said. Ocampo also said that DepEd aims to raise the quality of its learning materials. “Visuals are only one aspect. Ultimately, we want learning materials that do not only sustain learners’ interest to learn but also help them learn.”

DepEd Instructional Materials Council Secretariat (IMCS) Director Socorro A. Pilor emphasized the role of visuals in teaching. “Visuals are important especially among early grade students. Effective visuals help them understand and enjoy their lessons more.”

The workshop was designed to enhance participants’ skill in creating contextualized and effective illustrations for learner’s materials and teacher’s guides. It included discussion and application of practices in publishing, visual design, visual perception, and photography. The workshop ran from October 13 to 17 at UP Diliman.