Tealive Now Open at Dona Soledad

Tealive is now open at Shell Dona Soledad (the one near France)! They opened last April 2, 2025 and is open everyday from 12 noon to 2 am. Perfect for night time milk tea cravings.

We originally discovered Tealive in Kuala Lumpur a couple of years ago. It became one of our favorites especially for milk tea. We were ecstatic when they opened a branch in Sucat and would order via Grab. 

We also tried their sandwiches and we each have our own favorites. It's very filling and great for heavy merienda. Not fond of milk tea? They have coffee, chocolate and other fruity beverages.

Good news! They have some drinks available for buy 1 take 1 until April 30, 2025.

Location Map:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/8KqvB2rN7JydYhm78

Parañaque LRT Stations Now Open! (As of November 16, 2024)

The Light Rail Manila Corporation has announced the opening of the Paranaque LRT Stations. The new stations in Paranaque are as follows: Redemptorist, MIA, Asia World (PITX), Ninoy Aquino, and Dr. Santos (formerly Sucat). This will cut down travel time from Paranaque to Quezon City. 

Here's the opening and closing schedule:

Check out the new stations from this news clip:

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.

Wendys Dona Soledad is Finally Open!

After the long, suspenseful wait, Wendy's Dona Soledad is now open!

Hooray for us who live in Barangay Don Bosco, Sun Valley and Moonwalk! Tara! Let's go mga kapitbahay!

Wang Fu is Now Open at SM Bicutan

We spotted just before we left Dona Soledad last Sunday that Wangfu was open already. It's one of the restos we've been waiting to open at SM Bicutan. It's the second full restaurant that opened on Building C (first one was Old Town). We immediately planned to visit and try it out. 

Wang Fu Chinese Bistro has a number of branches across the metro. They offer a fushion of Chinese, Malay and Singaporean dishes. What struck me the first time we went was the interior of the resto. It reminded me so much of the food street at Changi Airport. It felt like we were transported to Singapore (especially with the ceiling fans!). 

The menu provided a huge variety to choose from. You can either go for ala carte meals that can be shared, bento meals, or rice meals. The menu reminded me a lot about the offerings at Singapore's Food Republic and a bit of Kim Gary*. Beverage options were also much like what they offer in Singapore and Malaysia. 

We were hungry when we went, so we each ordered a bento meals. I had the sweet & sour pork with lychee. I know I used to have it a lot in Singapore, but can't remember where I used to order it (maybe Kim Gary?). Jay had the black pepper beef which is one of the dishes he frequently ate while we lived in Singapore. Miggy got the salted egg chicken and he said he felt nostalgic after eating it. 

I wanted to try their HK milk tea, but the staff said it was phased out already (boo!). We all ended up having Nanyang white coffee (hot and cold). It was good. I'm just really sad they didn't have milk tea anymore. It would have matched the food perfectly. 

We went on a weekday and it was way past lunch. We immediately found seats, but the resto was busy even at odd hours. The staff were very nice and efficient, so we'll definitely visit again soon.  

*Kim Gary - a resto in Vivo City in Singapore we used to frequent. It unfortunately closed during the pandemic.

**After some research I found out the owner of Wang Fu is Richard Yap. Of course, I'm happy to support a fellow La Sallian :)

Free Mass Micro-chipping of Dogs and Cats in Paranaque

The Paranaque City Veterinary Services Office has announced the schedule for free micro-chipping for dogs and cats of Paranaque residents. You will need to show proof of residency to avail of the service.

Below is the schedule:

September 27 - Robinson’s Townville, BF 

September 28 - Ayala Malls, Manila Bay 

September 30 - “Yours in Public Service” Caravan in San Isidro (venue to be announced) 

October 2 - “Yours in Public Service” Caravan in Sampaloc Site, BF 

October 4 - Pet Blessing and Microchipping at Goodwill 2 

October 6 - Pet Blessing and Microchipping at Merville Park 

Oct 12/13 (date to be finalized) - Paw-ctober Pets-tival of Barangay BF 

The Veterinary Services Office will also announce the list of partner microchip private vet clinic stations. 

For more information, please follow or call the Paranaque City Veterinary Services Office:

FB: https://www.facebook.com/paranaqueveterinaryservicesoffice

Email: paranaque.vso@gmail.com

Landline: 02-88130813

Paranaque, No Classes on September 3, 2024

No classes in all levels in both public and private schools once again on September 3, 2024, Tuesday due to inclement weather. Local government offices are also closed except for those related to basic social services and emergency response. See list of local government offices that will be open below:

Paranaque, No Classes on September 2, 2024

No classes in all levels for both public and private schools in Paranaque City as announced by the Paranaque City Information Office.

Keep safe and stay dry everyone!

Old Town (White Coffee) Now Open at SM Bicutan!

We heard from a friend that "Old Town" is now open at SM Bicutan. Old Town (White Coffee) was one of the cafes we frequented in Singapore and Malaysia. We usually went to the branch in Kallang Mall (just beside the stadium). In Malaysia, I would usually hang out at the KLIA branch while waiting for my flight. I usually also got a box or two of their coffee and milk tea. Eventually though it was available in groceries, getting the beverage at the store was still much better. 

Anyway, we visited the branch at SM Bicutan. The crew said it was just their 4th day of soft opening. It was quite obvious since service took a long time and the shop still smelled very new (a.k.a. construction fumes). We were excited though and ordered some breakfast food. We certainly missed the peanut butter on steamed buns and the soft boiled egg. They serve light soy sauce though, but you can request for dark soy sauce which they will indulge. 

I'm happy they have an extensive menu for this branch. Here's a glimpse of their menu:

They said they will soon be available on Grab/FoodPanda. We hope they'll also eventually sell their beverage packets (good for rainy days when you can't go out!). 

What's New at SM City Bicutan Building C (Tower)

SM City Bicutan or SMB as we Paranaquenos fondly call it opened the doors of it's new building on the last weekend of July. We found out about it from friends, so we immediately planned a visit to find out what's new. 

The new building now has 4 levels. The lower ground level is dedicated for service shops. The upper ground level will have restaurants, coffee shops, a place for your pets, a sports shop etc. The second level is where the Cyberzone is located together with the cinema and a couple of snack shops. Level 3 will eventually have a couple more restaurants and a sky garden.

Here's a list of shops what are already open and will be opening soon:

If you're planning to visit, you can park in the new building (building C) or park in building B. The area is easily accessible through level 2 of either building A or B. We'll write more about our experience in the coming days :)

Paranaque City's New Garbage Pick-up Schedule

The Paranaque City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) announced the new garbage pick-up schedule on their FB page today, August 2, 2024. Below is the schedule posted by the office:

For inquiries, please contact CENRO through the following:

Telephone: 8826-6147  

Email: cenro@paranaquecity.gov.ph 

Facebook: CENRO Parañaque 

Source: CENRO FB

Wendy’s Soon To Open Its Newest Branch In Paranaque City

Wendy’s, the international fast-food chain known for its tasty hamburgers and sandwiches, frosty desserts, and refreshing iced teas, is opening its newest branch in Dona Soledad, Paranaque City. This marks another exciting milestone for the brand as it continues to expand its presence and cater to the growing demand for quality fast food in the Philippines.

finishing touches currently being made in preparation for its grand opening

The new Wendy's Dona Soledad branch will be the fourth to open in Paranaque City. In addition to its current stores in Phoenix, Sucat, PITX, and Phoenix Airport Road, Wendy's Dona Soledad is conveniently located along Dona Soledad Ave., near the intersection of France St. in Better Living, Paranaque City. Up to eight full-size vehicles can park in front of the store, with the possibility of a motorcycle parking as well. We hope to see the full range of Wendy's iconic menu items all day and night, as the store plans to be open 24/7.

According to the Wendy's Philippines website, there are 70 Wendy's stores scattered around the Philippines, with 48 of them within Metro Manila. For Paranaquenos, this is actually a "welcome back" greeting for Wendy's along Dona Soledad, as there used to be a Wendy's branch at SM Bicutan several years ago. The addition of this new Wendy's fast-food store in Paranaque City will provide local residents with more variety and options for in-person dining, takeout, and delivery. 

signs along Dona Soledad promoting Wendy's

As early as June 2023, the first sign of Wendy's coming soon in this location was put up here. And now that the store is opening very soon, we look forward to Wendy's becoming a beloved part of the neighborhood.

About Wendy’s

Wendy’s was founded in 1969 by Dave Thomas in Columbus, Ohio. Today, Wendy’s Company is one of the world’s largest restaurant companies, with thousands of restaurants worldwide. 

Visit other Wendy's branches here: 

Wendy's - Phoenix Sucat
2345 Dr. Arcadio Santos Avenue, San Antonio, Paranaque City, Parañaque, 1707

Wendy's - PITX
Level 1 Level 1 143-145 Paranaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX), Parañaque, 1701

Wendy's - Phoenix Airport Road
Kabihasnan Ninoy Aquino Ave, Parañaque, 1709

 

Google maps photo of Wendy's undergoing construction in April 2024.

SM Bicutan Christmas Hours

Rushing to prepare for Christmas? Here's the Christmas hours of SM Bicutan :)

Mall Hours

December 1 to 23 and 25 to 30 - 10 am to 10pm

December 24 and 31 - 9am to 7pm

January 1 - 12 noon to 10pm

SM Hypermarket

December 1 to 21 and 26 to 28 - 9am to 10pm

December 22 to 23 and 29 to 30 - 9am to 11pm

December 24 and 31 - 7am to 7pm

December 25 and January 1 - 12 noon to 11pm

For inquiries you may call (02) 8776-3061

 

How to Apply for a PWD ID in Paranaque City

It took us more than half a year before I finally got my PWD ID. Normal process requires you to get a clearance from your barangay health center. The doctor in ours was always out and it was frustrating to get hold of her, so we decided to go to the PDAO (PWD Affairs Office) at the Paranaque City Hall. They said my guardian could apply for me as long as I have an ID with my Paranaque address on it.

Here's the normal process:

1. Bring a photocopy of the medical certificate. Make sure your doctor indicates your type of disability in the medical certificate.

2. See the barangay health center doctor at the Barangay Health Center to assess and determine type of disability. Do call to check for availability (we were told our barangay doctor only stays until 10 a.m. and they have a limit on how many they accommodate per day).

3. Go to the barangay admin to get certificate for PWD. 

4. Secure a Social Service PWD form.  

5. Prepare 4 1x1 photos. 

6. Go to Paranaque City Hall and bring all forms and requirements. 

7. City Hall will issue a PWD ID. 

8. Give 1 xerox copy of PWD ID to your barangay's Social Services (DSWD) for records.

Requirements:

Medical certificate with type of disability indicated (make sure your certificate is stamped by the doctor)

Four 1 x 1 photo with your name and signature at the back of the photo

PWD ID form

ID with your address on it 

*Photocopy everything

Since we couldn't get hold of our barangay health center doctor, we went straight to the PDAO at the City Hall. They processed my application since my Voter's ID had my address on it. They also advised to use my passport with my address written on the emergency contact page (last page of the passport). I had to ask my doctor to indicate my type of disability on the medical certificate and the PDAO accepted it. 

The process has been arduous, but as long as you're really qualified and have all the requirements you should be able to apply easily.

Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Elections 2023 Schedule

Hello mga Kapitbahay! You've probably seen posters of "candidates" around your neighborhood and like me, you're probably wondering about the schedule of the barangay elections.

Here's the schedule:

August 28 to November 29, 2023 - election period, gun ban

August 28 to September 2, 2023 - filing of candidacy

September 3 to October 18, 2023 - campaigning is prohibited

October 19 to 28, 2023 - campaign period

October 29 to 30, 2023 - campaigning is prohibited

October 30, 2023 - election day, 7 am to 3 pm

Cubao Fire View from Paranaque

We were enjoying the good air quality yesterday when it suddenly went bad. Went outside to check the vicinity and was surprised to see a huge cloud of smoke billowing from the North. We saw the smoke at around 5:20 pm. 

5:22pm

Immediately checked Twitter and saw that the smoke was from an ongoing fire in Cubao. It was later on reported to be the old Araneta Center Bus Terminal. Video footage from netizens and the news showed the fire engulfed the whole block where the bus terminal was located. The fire was escalated to Task Force Bravo almost two hours after it first started. 

5:56pm

GMA News reported that the fire started past 4 in the afternoon. BFP and fire volunteers from different cities arrived to respond. The incident was declared fire out at 10:09 p.m., much faster than the recent incident in Paranaque City which took more than 12 hours to address (maybe their water supply was more reliable). 

Hope and pray for everyone's safety. Ingat lagi mga kapitbahay!

Suspicious Bag Found in Dona Soledad, Paranaque

A suspicious bag was found in the vicinity of a gas station late evening last February 9, 2023. Video of response made by the Bomb Squad and Sun Valley and Moonwalk fire department/brigade was posted by the Moonwalk Fire Rescue Brigade (video here).

Screenshot of incident from Moonwalk Fire Rescue Brigade video.

For safety, both lanes on Dona Soledad was closed to traffic while the bag was being assessed. After almost an hour, the team said the item was safe. No other info was provided regarding the contents or owner of the bag. 

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 Basura Collection Status

As advised by the Paranaque City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO), they would be prioritizing collecting trash from main roads. Saw the team collecting trash this morning. 

Hope everything will normalize soon.

Update on Paranaque Basura Collection

You would have noticed by now that trash hasn't been collected since last week. We've brought out our trash a couple of times in the past few days hoping it would be collected. The Paranaque City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) has posted this announcement on their FB page -

Like other residents we hope that the trash will be collected soon.