INSIDE CITI HARDWARE - TANGUB, A HOME IMPROVEMENT SHOP IN THE SOUTH OF BACOLOD

If you are into construction, DIY and Home Improvement, what comes to mind is a gargantuan task of searching for the right materials, equipment, interior ornaments and the like.

THE PAST During the 90s, all you need to do is go to many stores or hardware shops that specializes in different brands and materials.  It takes days for you and your contractor to decide what's the best material with reasonable prices.

ONE STOP SHOP But when CITI Hardware popularized the one-stop-shop hardware, everything changed. This time people can go check what they need and purchase them under one roof. The warehouse offer you almost all you need to build a shelter or furniture. 

WHAT'S INSIDE Inside CITI Hardware is an array of simple to beautifully-designed tiles. They sell a lot of lighting and bathroom fixtures. They do have garden decorations too. If you need a door, they do sell made to install doors from simple to complex design.

PAINT BRANDS
Also inside are many aisle of paint brands for different purpose and the great thing there are people who can electronically mix your paint. Brands like Boysen has a Mix and Match Paint Mixing Station inside and Davies has Computerized Paint Mixing Machine. 

A DEPOT FOR EVERYONE CITI Hardware pioneered this kind of business model and it inspired some companies to do the same. Now you can find many big names in this kind of industry with their own style of depot like Triumph Depot and Wilcon Depot.

Your Future Home: Megaworld The Upper East Herald Parksuites Showrooms

 Looking for a Condo in Bacolod? Then you've come to the right web page. Megaworld The Upper East is bringing dynamic and vibrant life in Bacolod with the development of their township projects. 

FUTURE HOME
The Upper East is one of the two brands (the other is Forbes Hill) that are fueling growth in the Eastern side of the City of Smiles. 

Below are some videos of the Herald Parksuite showrooms: 

TRANSFORMING BACOLOD
Being a realty powerhouse, Megaworld appreciates business to mix with leisure. That's why the people behind The Upper East took to the table a former milling space to be transformed to a New York-inspired ( A Mini-Manhattan) community where people can have a balanced lifestyle. 

CONDO FEATURES
Herald Parksuites is the 4th residential condo development inside the 34 hectare land. Each unit boasting of spacious floor plans and wireless smart home systems. For a township living like this, people can enjoy amenities like swimming pools, reading books, children's playground and daycare center, a private dining room, and game room. 

Megaworld The Upper East MAP

PRIME LOCATION
The building is also near big establishments like Lander's Superstore, Splash Park Bacolod, McDonald's East, Lopue's East Department Store, Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC), Starbucks Circumferential Road, Jollibee East, KFC East and more.

HELPFUL GUIDE/INFO for BUYERS (LOCALS and FOREIGNERS)

HERALD PARKSUITES CONDOMINIUM 🗺️ Address: The Upper East, Galo St. Bacolod City Google Maps Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/oUpKSvHjBkLJmUtR8 FB page: https://www.facebook.com/MegaworldBacolodOfficial6100

HELLO E-JEEPNEY (Philippine Transport Modernization)

Jeepneys are rare these days. These transports are truly endangered with the sudden changes in the Philippine transport industry. Considered to be a cultural icon and heritage, jeepneys has been considered as obsolete and are now slowly phased out to pave way for modernization.

JEEPNEY HISTORY
Many knew that this transport was a product of Pinoy ingenuity - wherein military jeeps used in World War 2. That's why it's hard for its existence to vanish without considering its cultural vale. Jeepneys were actually forgotten. Americans left many jeeps in the country after World War 2. 

POSTWAR EFFECT
Because pinoys were out job after the war, they saw the opportunity to develop  the parts that were salvaged and dismantled from the Army jeeps into something useful and can be a source of income. The product of that endeavor was a hit - the Jeep became Jeepney.  It is a portmanteau of post-war words "jeep" (brand) and pre-war "jitney" (a bus or other vehicle carrying passengers for a low fare.

A TOURISM POSTER BOY
The jeepney ruled the Philippines streets for decades. It has become one of the so-called poster boys of the Tourism Industry just like the Chocolate Hills, the Tarsier and the Philippine Eagle.

ENDANGERED TRANSPORT
Foreign and local tourists are enamored by this road beast. However, time and also new modern innovations endangered this well-loved  mode of transportation.  When the biggest jeepney maker Sarao company closed due to financial difficulties, it was a telltale sign that Modernization of the transport industry is at the horizon.

BACOLOD BUSES
Indeed, the inevitable happened. Nowadays, modern buses with AC and other amenities, replaced the Sarao-type transport and even the boxed ones. Many were sad that the new buses were too ugly, too modern and are stiff looking. Gone are the colorful motif that truly gave jeepneys its identities. 

THE ADVENT OF MODERN BUS (E-JEEPNEYS)

However, there were others who are okay with the change but wanted to preserve the traditional image of a Jeepney. Thus, a hybrid was born, the e-jeepneys, an innovative form of Pinoy transportation that looks modern but with the some old-fashion form. So, is Bacolod really going further as a Super City starting from this electric transport?

INSIDE STARBUCKS EAST CIRCUMFERENTIAL BACOLOD

Bacolod coffee lovers have a new reason to celebrate - STARBUCKS EAST CIRCUMFERENTIAL has finally opened. And this time, it's in the EAST area where new developments are sprouting like mushrooms. First, there's the city resort Splash Park Bacolod near BCGC (Bacolod Government Center). 

Developments at the East
There's the Megaworld The Upper East where Herald Parksuites Condominium, new McDonald's, Landers Superstore Bacolod and other buildings. Then along the circumferential road are new establishments like the DIY/Home improvement store, Triumph Depot. There's Rockwell to the North too. 

Branches in Bacolod The new standalone branch, compared to its, predecessor, the first ever Starbucks in Lacson St., has 3 distinct new features: a Drive-Thru, a 2nd floor and a balcony area. 

Starbucks for Riders Though the parking area is limited, the Drive-Thru serves as an option for those who have cars yet they wanted to have their morning coffee, a hot Starbucks cup.

Second Floor Area The 2nd floor is idea for those who are looking to CoWork or work away from home. Virtual assistants, those who are coders, social media managers can work on the large large table good provided by the coffee chain. 

Balcony Area The balcony is welcome idea especially those who just wanted to drink coffee or relax. This is a place that you can look at time without worrying or just watch passing cars while thinking of new ideas or a new business. Couples will find the balcony an ideal dating area too. From the balcony, one can see a vantage view of mountains of Negros Occidental.

Tambayan at the East Well, it's good to have an international chain opening in a once solitary place. It's a sign that Bacolod, indeed, is growing and new opportunities are coming. It's an added tambayan for Bacolod MassKara Festival revelers every October. 

STREET FOOD CULTURE in BACOLOD

Asia is one of continents in the world that has a different street vibe compared to other places. For one, like in Thailand and China, exotic street food abound. The different aroma in the air are so strong that you get easily hungry. Being a tourist, cultural food should be a must on the list in the itinerary. 

Grilled Balut

THRIVING INDUSTRY
Street food is a big industry albeit however some see the people behind it, the vendors as nuisance or illegals. However, this thriving economy has become a part of Asian or Filipino culture.

EVOLUTION IN THE MODERN ERA
Originally, kanto food is focused on carinderias (food eatery by the road) but now, it has evolved into something mobile. Vendors now show up at any places like parks, townships (like in the Megaworld The Upper East or at the back of Bacolod City Government Center in Bacolod City, and pop-up carts or food trucks.  

On sticks and plastic cups

SOME CHALLENGES
Now, with these foldable or mobile trucks, people can pay affordable food and enjoy it outdoors or simply, order them as a take away. The only drawback with this kind of business is the weather. When it rains or if there's an incoming typhoom, only few customers might show up.

GLOBAL CULINARY INVASION
Philippines' street food scene is not focused solely on Pinoy cuisine as a whole but it has become a fusion of cultures, traditions, tastes, cooking and styles. It has evolved so much.  Now, you can find  Arabic cuisines like Shawarma, Hummus, Shawarma Rice as well as Chinese ice candy Tanghulu and siomai; Japanese Tempura and Kikiam, Korean's Kimbop and Cordog, Mexican Burritos, Tacos, Nachos, Chimi Changa, Italian's Pizza and there's the Taiwanese Milk Tea too. 

Beef Pares Overload is so trendy now thanks to Paresan queen, Diwata in Manila

TRENDY AND CLASSIC PINOY FOOD
And for authentic Filipino traditional street food, there's the tasty and popular Balut, bbq on sticks like the Chicken Inasal,  Beef Pares Overload. For the kids, there are pancake, cotton
candy, choros and popcorn.

GOVERNMENT SUPPORT
If given the training and support from Government like from DOT (Department of Trade), people especially those who are jobless can embrace this kind of opportunities, giving them hope to start small, but also to dream big. Having a street venture with value, cleanliness and respect customer is an honest work, after all. 

5 Public Outdoor Resorts in Bacolod (WITH SWIMMING POOLS)

Are you searching for a place for family outing with a pool within Bacolod City? Fret no more! Here are some public resorts that has swimming pools and activities that the family will do and enjoy.
Here's your guide (with YouTube Video features)

1. Bacolod Splash Park 
Bacolod Splash Park is just within the city centre. It is the most accessible resort in the city as it is just in front of the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC), Megaworld The Upper East and beside Sixty Fifth Hotel along circumferential road. 

Inside are modern giant slides, train ride, playground, animal statues, food stalls, a JT Manokan Restaurant, and a Safari lazy river. At night, the place glows with beautifully-placed  lamp posts and light effects that adorn its garden landscape. Splash Park is one of the locations of the new Bacolod MassKara Festival 2024 official theme song's music video featuring Josh Collen of SB19 and Tiana Kocher.

KTV and PINOY KARAOKE Lifestyle (9 RULES TO FOLLOW)

Karaoke is a very popular Japanese innovation. It's a type of interactive entertainment that changed the night lifestyle of partygoers. If swaying in the dance floor was the in-thing in the 90s, Karaoke singing has become the staple of restobar hunters these days.

Can't Stop the KTV Culture
For one, they can sing their heart out.
Karaoke systems are popular in clubs, bars and beach resorts or at home. People get to sing along to their fave pre-recorded accompaniment using a mic and imagine themselves they are the star and in a concert. In Asia, it became a staple entertainment system then spread worldwide. The Philippines is one country that took karaoke and made it a cultural element.

Evolution of the Room
Through the years, Karaoke culture and lifestyle have evolved. There are private rooms catering to groups who just wanted to be with themselves.

Cursed Song There are also public KTVs but deemed dangerous in the Philippines where some unlucky patrons were killed during Karaoke session. It's seemed to a a mystery, a phenomenon of some sorts. We may never know what's the real motive behind the KTV deaths but the song "My Way" by Frank Sinatra is seen as the culprit. it's odd but it made headlines.

Here are some Karaoke Bar Etiquette to be followed (Subject to change).

9 Rules to follow: 1. R.E.S.P.E.C.T - When someone is singing, don't grab his or her mic. Even he or she sings in out of tune. Still respect to avoid problems esp if it's a public karaoke bar. 2. Don't force anyone to sing. Some people are shy and introvert. 3. Never Boo anyone (esp if there is a score system) 4. Don't stand in front of the screen when somebody is singing . This is a practice that is annoying. 5. Don't destroy equipment. These are not cheap. Don't throw mirophones or remote control. 6. Drink Moderately. Too much drinking can cause fights or misunderstanding in the bar. 7. Share the mic, Give others a chance to sing. 8. Don't brag if you feel you have a high score. It will make others feel low. 9. Don't sing "My Way" if you are in public KTV Bars. It's better to sing it alone at home.