Spotted - The First Zombie Survival Car in Philippines

I spotted this morning the first zombie survival car  in the Philippines at the Atrium of The Block, SM North EDSA.

This deadly car is a collaboration between Hyundai Philippines and FOX Philippines just in time for the 4th season of The Walking Dead.

This Hyundai Tucson turned into zombie survival car is designed by Atoy Customs, an established name in local car industry. A machine gun has been installed at the roof of this car while all windows have been protected by metal grills. If a zombie will survive the relentless burst of the machine gun then it won't stand a chance to its deadly bumper armed with metallic spikes. It has other killing accessories around itself that can maim any living dead.

So what are you waiting for Zombie fans? 

Mama Chit's Coffee House - Marikina City

inside Mama Chit's Coffee House

Yes! We found time yesterday to have a quick bite at Mama Chit's Coffee House at Marikina City.

We learned about this place while watching Kris TV a few weeks back. We tried visiting this place on the same day that Mama Chit's was featured on the said TV show. Unfortunately, the place was full at that time so we ended up taking our afternoon snack at Cafe Lidia; another restaurant in Marikina City featured by Kris TV.

Vintage Decor Everywhere

To avoid long queue and to avail a limited parking slot along the main road we left our house at San Mateo at quarter to three in the afternoon and arrived at Mama Chit's after 15 minutes. The place was half-empty when we arrived. We occupied the wooden long table beside the entrance door.

The place is quite hot considering that it is not yet summer season. We never thought that the temperature would be slightly uncomfortable inside due to absence of air-conditioning. The only ventilation we got was from a wall mounted electric fan. However, you can dine alfresco style outside minus the vintage decorations.

I found the last remaining parking slot in front of Mama Chit's along the main road. Another car behind me tried to park at a limited space but after realizing that it would be pretty difficult to make a parallel parking the car left the place.

Huge Family Burger

note the space along the side of the Burger Patty 

my share

We ordered the famous Family Burger. I remembered that Mama Chit's owner mentioned to Kris during the interview that the Family Burger cost 450 pesos only. Hence I was surprised to note that they were selling the same burger for 600 pesos nowadays. The soft drink in can was 50 pesos each while the chips was worth 50 pesos per order. Quite pricey I believe.

Chips with dipping

Furthermore, I was expecting a huge circular burger patty but as you can see on the picture, the patty wasn't round at all. It seems that they combined several burger patties to make a Family Burger. The huge burger is serve on a wooden plate accompanied by a long narrow bread knife.

In fairness, the Family Burger tastes OK but nothing especial; the bun is more on spongy and bland side. Actually, we prefer the bigger Big Bob Grilled Cheeseburger at Mezza Norte; the Jollibee Champ is even better and more filling if I may say so.

Forget about the 50 pesos Chips as appetizer.

To sum it all, we visited the place to have a taste of their famous Family Burger. The dining experience is actually enjoyable due to vintage decorations and a chance to eat a huge and famous Cheeseburger though the experience might be different during summer time where the place could be terribly hot.

We got carried by the frenzy and we told ourselves that once is enough.

Mama Chit's is located at 278 J.P. Rizal Street at San Roque, Marikina City. If you are coming from Cubao area just drive along Aurora Boulevard and right after Katipunan take the left overpass going to Marikina City; follow the main road until you reach Marikina Bridge. Turn right immediately after the bridge and follow the road (J.P. Rizal); this is a one-way street. Upon reaching Marikina Shoe Museum try to locate a parking area long the road since Mama Chit's is just opposite the museum.

If you are coming from other places simply locate Marikina Bridge or Marikina Bayan and take Calumpang or Rosario (Pasig) jeepneys; they will pass at Mama Chit's and Marikina Shoe Musem.

Robbers preying on students after UAAP championship game

Last Saturday I got a "red flag" FB pm from my wife. My eldest son wasn't home yet at almost 10 PM and she couldn't contact him for hours. Text messages remained unanswered and his girlfriend was also trying to reach him without success. His phone simply kept on ringing and most of the time was busy. Mother's instinct has driven my wife nervous; she knew something happened to our son thus I wasn't able to concentrate on my job in Yemen as well. After almost an hour, I received another pm from wife expressing her relief that my son arrived home safely after being robbed inside an FX taxi.

Earlier on that day, my son met his girlfriend and after they parted ways he proceeded to Araneta Coliseum with his former classmates to watch the second game between DLSU and UST men's senior basketball championship. Being an alumnus of UST it was his utmost desire to show his support to their team.

The game ended at past 5 PM; together with his friends they took their dinner before they called it a day. As expected, thousands of students were roaming around Cubao area and most public transports within the vicinity would be occupied by them.

From Cubao to San Mateo, my son would normally take FX taxi from Gateway Mall where these taxis are always in queue. Three men boarded the FX taxi together with my son and other UST students. They sat separately inside the taxi. Upon reaching Marikina City, these men brought out their weapons and declared a holdup. The second man seated beside my son pointed his bladed weapon at his neck and asked for his mobile phone. What was surprising was the robbers only demanded the mobile phones of all the passengers; no wallets or other valuables were taken from them. Could it be that the robbers were a bit merciful knowing that these college students have only their allowances inside their wallets aside from their fancy phones?

At any rate, during the heist, one of the robbers asked the FX driver to drive in some remote areas in Marikina City while they divest the passengers of their mobile phones. Fortunately, my son's Nokia X6 mobile phone was about 3 years old; I bought it in Singapore for 10,500 pesos. It was about to be replaced actually.

That was the third time my eldest son was robbed. The first time was many years back and occurred just outside our subdivision, he was accosted by a burly guy and a bladed weapon was pointed at his ribs. He lost his mobile phone and wallet. The second time was inside an FX taxi also while he was on his way home from UST after his evening classes a few years back. He was lucky since the robbers got his dummy myPhone he used for music thus saving his Nokia mobile phone inside his pocket from being taken. However, last Saturday, it didn't survive the heist, lol.

Last year, my daughter also was accosted at Philcoa area on her way to UP Diliman. The thief got her 1 month old Samsung Corby phone. As parents, the only consolation that we got was that our kids were never harmed by these unscrupulous individuals. Perhaps because I used to remind them that in case they would face this kind of situation they should give any material belongings that the thief would demand. Fighting or resisting should be out of the equation unless it is a matter of life and death.

This coming Saturday, the final match between DLSU and UST will be held at Mall of Asia Arena. There is a high probability that these robbers will strike again at those unsuspecting students who will be watching the game to support their teams. Hence, to all parents who'll be able to read this post and have kids that will be at MOA this Saturday, you have been forewarned.

I hope the local police where these games are being held will try their best to protect these students so they will not be in harm's way after watching the game.

Finally, let's us not put our guard down. Christmas is just around the corner and many "good-for-nothing" humans will try to raise their funds so they will have a happy Christmas at the expense of other people.

Al Mukalla, an ancient city in Yemen, South of Arabia

Al Mukalla is the capital of Hadramaut, a coastal province South of Yemen. It used to be a part of Oman until it was annexed by Yemen.

This place is undeniably rich in history aside from being a melting pot of Indian and Arab cultures due to its proximity to both Indian and Arabian Seas.

I am fortunate to have visited this place twice. Before the so-called "Arab Spring" reached Yemen the expats workers in our company used to travel to Mukalla City to undergo blood test for our residence visa renewal.



We would travel for 4 hours along plateaus and barren landscapes before we reach this place. It was a welcome relief for us after spending many days on top of the mountains to be back to civilization again.

The place is truly magical. I could see the unadulterated crystal clear sea even from afar while inside the city is a man-made canal that is connected to the wide expanse of the sea. Along its banks are roads with lamp posts that remind me of Grenoble City in Southern France.

What complement its natural beauty aside from the absence of tall structures is the unique Arabic design of each and every houses and miniscule buildings dotting the river bank while having barren and rocky hills at the background. All told, there is something about this place that will make one long to stay here for a few more days than just several hours.

Famished, together with our local driver cum guide, we would take our lunch in one of the eateries at the public market along the coastline and would order "kubosh" (arabic bread) and fresh grilled fish. We would delightfully eat with our bare hands unmindful of curious eyes staring on strangers who eat like locals and can communicate in basic Arabic as well, lol.  

After our business has been completed, we would leave this place at mid-afternoon and arrived in our work site late evening.

I have never seen a place like this in all the countries that I have visited and to say the least, this place is indeed breathtaking!