Fond Duty Free Shopping Memories With My OFW Dad in the ‘90’s

One of the things I fondly remember as a kid was the thrill of going to the NAIA airport and waiting to be reunited with my dad returning home from working abroad. It was also exciting because one of the benefits we were looking forward to was shopping privileges at the Duty Free Outlets. In the 90's, the biggest Duty Free store was located just across NAIA 1 along Ninoy Aquino Road (connecting Sucat Road). It was called Fiesta Shopping Center.

Sometimes we would come here the day after my dad arrived from the airport. If he's not too tired, we sometimes head straight to the Fiesta Shopping Center for Duty-Free shopping, which is conveniently located just minutes away from the airport.

This mall was exciting because it sold only imported brands. Items such as liquor, perfumes and cosmetics, fashion accessories and apparel, electronics, sporting goods, chocolates, confectioneries, home furnishings, housewares, and grocery items were on display. My favorite sections were the toy section and grocery section, where we would buy our favorite chocolates and snacks. It was also a unique experience to see every item priced in US dollars. We expected the duty- and tax-free items to be significantly less expensive than purchasing them elsewhere. Those times, though, I just had to worry about placing what I wanted to buy in our shopping cart, more than the price tag.

The new Duty Free Philippines Fiesta Shopping Center. The old location is now Gold City condos.

1997, Fiesta Shopping Center relocated to a larger location just across the street, where it remains today. The shopping experience became bigger too, with more items on display (and more things to buy).

Every time I get a chance to pass Duty Free along Sucat Road, I remember these fond memories.

Huge Fire in Sucat, Paranaque

We were about to head to the bedroom last night when we heard a lot of sirens. Immediately checked Twitter and saw a news channel say it was in our area. Alarmed we looked for the warehouse, but results did not show any DPWH offices in our area. After monitoring a bit more we eventually found out the fire was in Sucat, Paranaque. It was later on clarified it was a warehouse for lumber and not the DPWH office. 

As of writing, BFP has not declared fire out. Bam Alegre of GMA News mentioned in his report that BFP had a hard time getting water in the area. Maynilad has been turning off water in parts of Paranaque in the past two weeks. We stayed up until about 3 in the morning monitoring the situation. The fire happened just behind a gas station and that was really concerning. We knew though from the fire that happened in December 2022 that it will take awhile before it's fully out. 

Here's the news by TeleRadyo about the fire -

Here's the area of the https://goo.gl/maps/rdeNhDqA6ma9E8Bn6

The huge fire in Sucat was the second one in Paranaque in less than a week. There was a fire in Saudi Street in Barangay Don Bosco last week according to txtfire.net. It was a storage facility, luckily the fire was put out within an hour. 

Hope and praying for the safety of everyone. Take care always mga kapitbahay!

Paranaque Resumes Number Coding Scheme Starting December 1, 2011

The Unified Vehicle Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP) or more popularly known as the number coding scheme will be reimposed in Paranaque city as a result of a sudden increase in the volume of traffic along the Bicutan area causing a horrendous traffic along the Bicutan interchange.

The number coding schemes takes into effect starting December 1, 2011 and will include the following major roads:

• San Antonio Avenue,Pres.Aguinaldo Street,Dominique Savio street,Japan street,Michael Rua street and France street in Barangay Don Bosco.
• E.Rodriguez street in Barangay Moonwalk,Doña Soledad extension and Doña Soledad Avenue in Barangay Don Bosco.
• East Service road from Dr.Santos Avenue up to FTI Parañaque area.
• West Service road from Dr.Santos Avenue up to Merville Park Subdivision Parañaque area.

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In addition, the truck ban as provided under the Parañaque Traffic Code as well as in Ordinance No.99-14 be strictly implemented along those streets mentioned herein.

Not everyone was immediately informed about the sudden enforcement of the number coding scheme and coverage area as people were asking @MMDA through their twitter account about the details.

Photo: C5 Extension

This is the 1st kilometer of the highly controversial C5 extension which starts from Multinational Village and crosses Sucat Road via a flyover. Then it passes between the two buildings of SM Sucat mall and extends all the way to Las Pinas.

Sizzling Pepper Steak Opens Near BF Homes

Sizzling Pepper Steak opens its newest branch at the CMSR Bldg along Presiden't Avenue in BF Homes, Sucat.

The restaurant which serves the popular Japanese pepper steak concept and variations has opened their 18th store in the Philippines. They offer cot-plate steak meals and side dishes at affordable prices.